gb news way. >> good afternoon britain . it's >> good afternoon britain. it's 12:00 on thursday the 15th of february is justice blind. >> one judge faces escalating accusations of bias as he let three protesters brandishing hamas paraglider images walk free despite their terror charges . judge ikram had charges. judge ikram had recently liked a social media post branding israel a terrorist. there are calls now for a retrial . for a retrial. >> britain in recession the uk has joined the ranks of ireland, denmark, the netherlands , denmark, the netherlands, austria, sweden and norway as one of the many european countries to have entered a technical recession this morning. but with growth so close to zero either side of the line, has anything really changed? >> and sadiq khan has announced

a £63 million rebrand of overground train lines in london. new line names include the suffragette line, the windrush line and, of course, the lyonesse line. money. well spent. >> well, that's what sadiq khan varne wants us to talk about. all those new line names. but let's take a listen to this. >> i'm only going upon what i've read in the media, so i've not seen the transcripts, but as far as of as i'm concerned, that sort of language is unacceptable, and it certainly shouldn't be acceptable like mine. acceptable in a party like mine. that to both that is proud to be both anti—racist but also anti—semitic . and we'll come anti—semitic. and we'll come back to some of those. beg your pardon? tackling anti—semitism . pardon? tackling anti—semitism. >> good grief . that's not the >> good grief. that's not the gaff you want to make when there are accusations of anti—semitism. well, pervading everything the tory party have been hot on this.

>> they posted out a clip of it without that clear context that we included here saying. he said the part out loud. the quiet part out loud. >> oh dear, oh dear. well there you sadiq khan wants us to you go. sadiq khan wants us to talk £63 million of talk about the £63 million of our spent our money. he spent on rebranding overground rebranding the overground goodness knows why. and then he makes gaffe that. makes a gaffe like that. you can't make could you really? >> no. and i think there's a lot more to say about all of those issues to how some extent, issues and to how some extent, they but we'll they tie together. but we'll be getting after getting to that. after your headunes getting to that. after your headlines tatiana . headlines with tatiana. tom thank you very much. >> and good afternoon. these are your from gp your top stories from the gp newsroom . the chancellor says newsroom. the chancellor says despite the uk entering into recession , the economy is recession, the economy is turning corner . official turning a corner. official figures show that the economy shrank by 0.3% at the end of last year , following a period of last year, following a period of decline in the previous three months. it's the first time the uk's gdp has dropped since the first half of 2020, after the first half of 2020, after the first covid lockdown . jeremy

first covid lockdown. jeremy hunt insists there's light at the end of the tunnel . the end of the tunnel. >> we always expected growth to be weaker while we prioritise tackling inflation. that means higher interest rates and that's the right thing to do because you can't have a long terme. healthy growth with high inflation, but also for families when the when there's a cost of living crisis, when the cost of their weekly shop is going up, their weekly shop is going up, their energy bills are much higher. it's the right thing to do.the higher. it's the right thing to do. the underlying picture here is an economy that is more resilient than most people predicted. inflation is coming down. real wages have been going up now for six months and if we stick to our guns , independent stick to our guns, independent forecasters say that by the early summer we could start to see interest rates falling. >> however , shadow chancellor >> however, shadow chancellor rachel reeves says the prime minister's economic pledge is in tatters. the confirmation of recession exposes a government and a prime minister completely out of touch with the realities on the ground , a government that

on the ground, a government that for too long has looked on economic failure with complacency , content to be the complacency, content to be the managers of decline . managers of decline. >> rishi sunak claims that he has a plan , but the plan is not has a plan, but the plan is not working . working. >> the boss of british gas's parent company has renewed calls for a social tariff , which will for a social tariff, which will allow people to pay less for their gas and electric. allow people to pay less for their gas and electric . the their gas and electric. the centrica boss said a special tariff would be the best thing for the customers, as the energy suppuer for the customers, as the energy supplier reveals a jump in profit . it's after new figures profit. it's after new figures found 3 million low income households in england struggled to pay their energy bills last yeah to pay their energy bills last year. the government figures found that 13% were in fuel poverty . a 16 year old boy has poverty. a 16 year old boy has died after being stabbed in the saint philips area of bristol yesterday morning . he was yesterday morning. he was attacked in rawnsley park by two

people wearing masks , who then people wearing masks, who then fled the scene on bicycles . a fled the scene on bicycles. a murder investigation has been launched. murder investigation has been launched . this, of course, comes launched. this, of course, comes weeks after the deaths of teenagers mason rist and max dixon, who was stabbed in the knowle west area of the city. more than 4000 anti—semitic incidents were recorded in the uk last year, an all time high. the figures more than doubled the previous all time high in 2021, and marks a rise of 589% compared to 2022. the soaring figures being put down to the sheer volume which took place following the hamas attacks of october 7th. the community security trust, a charity which provides protection for british jews against anti—semitic attacks , said the explosion in attacks, said the explosion in hatred is absolutely disgraceful . meanwhile, activists have been staging a blockade at a defence company's shipyard in glasgow in solidarity with palestinians . solidarity with palestinians. more than 100 demonstrators blocked entrances to the bae

systems site in govan from the early hours of this morning, calling for an immediate ceasefire in gaza. they're taking action in response to a call from palestinian trade unions for workers around the world to disrupt the flow of arms to israel . winter pressures arms to israel. winter pressures on the nhs are showing no sign of easing, according to health bosses. they say it's down to high levels of flu and a struggle to clear beds for new patients. ambulance issues are also continuing to face long delays and handing patients over to accident and emergency . it to accident and emergency. it comes as the health service prepares for a fresh round of strike action by junior doctors later this month . an average of later this month. an average of 2300 people were in hospital each day last week, with the flu , including 98 in critical care beds. , including 98 in critical care beds . the number of overseas beds. the number of overseas students applying for university places in the uk has risen for a second year, running new data shows. over 100 and 15,500

students from outside the country applied to start in september. that is up from almost 115,000 last year. however, the number of international applicants remains below the high of just over 116,000. before the covid pandemic . the data comes after pandemic. the data comes after university uk announced it would review overseas admissions processes following allegations of bad practice by agents recruiting students . and the us recruiting students. and the us has launched its first lunar lander to the moon. >> 321 ignition and lift—off off a spacex falcon nine rocket was used to launch the spacecraft , used to launch the spacecraft, nicknamed odysseus, with the hope that it will touch down near the south pole of the moon next week. >> if all goes well, it would be the first time a private firm has successfully landed a spacecraft moon . for the spacecraft on the moon. for the latest stories , you can sign up latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning

the qr code on your screen . or the qr code on your screen. or you can go to gb news. comment alerts. now back to tom and . emily >> well, let's touch on the economy to begin. after it was announced this morning that the uk entered a technical recession , ons figures show gdp shrank by 0.3% between october . and 0.3% between october. and december 2023. and how big a story is this one? >> because we know that growth has been stagnating for rather a long time . not much movement long time. not much movement either way when it comes to growth or the opposite of growth and shrinking . and shrinking. >> that is the key key point here. we're talking about tiny adjustments below or above a line , whilst the media and line, whilst the media and indeed we saw rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor out this morning, trying to claim that this is a rishi sunak recession. she find much more she might find much more agreement from economists by calling it a rishi sunak

stagnation . then that might be stagnation. then that might be a more accurate way to describe the sort of flatlining that we're seeing. >> it's not positive, actually, but it's anything to do with rishi sunak. >> is it more the bank of england upping interest rates? that, some that, of course, decreases some economic activity . economic activity. >> this is deliberate bank of england policy. >> this is deliberate bank of england policy . the whole point england policy. the whole point about raising interest rates is that households spend less a lower of household lower level of household spending has just dipped us below line . and of course, below that line. and of course, what tackling what they say about tackling inflation through interest rate rises they've said for rises and what they've said for decades now, if it ain't hurting, working. not hurting, it ain't working. not to immigration into to bring immigration back into it, i will, um, the promise it, but i will, um, the promise that, you know, having high levels of immigration will boost gdp and we're all benefit when it comes to economic growth . it comes to economic growth. >> well, when you look at the stagnation we're seeing, it's very hard to make that case. is it not. yeah it is. >> and i think that that's where you look at of you need to look at types of immigration. have immigration. if you have immigration. if you have immigration are immigration coming in that are dependent. that's obviously dependent. but that's obviously not economically, economically productive. if you have productive. whereas if you have immigration in who are

immigration coming in who are economically productive people who are contributors , then who are net contributors, then thatis who are net contributors, then that is economically productive because you would have not all immigration if immigration is created equal. if you have net migration of 700,000 year, would 700,000 in 1 year, you would have thought you'd see a boost in figure, wouldn't you in that gdp figure, wouldn't you 7 in that gdp figure, wouldn't you ? but anyway, you would if they were working . but clearly were all working. but clearly a huge number of those 700,000 are not in jobs. >> us know not in jobs. >> well, let us know what you think. sunak think. is it a rishi sunak recession or is it a bank of england? uh, recession? and of course, many european course, many other european countries have had the same thing. to thing. well, we returning to that the show, that story later in the show, but yes, the judge who decided not to punish three women displaying parachute art images, paragliding images at a pro—palestine march may now face disciplinary action after liking a social media post branding israel a terrorist state, indeed calling for a free palestine two yes judge tan ikram was criticised by various jewish groups for letting the three women off scot free, and now questions are being asked of whether we have a biased judicial system here in the uk .

judicial system here in the uk. was his ruling impartial ? was his ruling impartial? >> well, well, let's bring in our reporter , ray addison, with our reporter, ray addison, with the very latest and ray , what the very latest and ray, what precisely happened in this case? >> well, this was the case of three women. >> uh, heba al—haq , pauline and >> uh, heba al—haq, pauline and kunda, and namuchi patel, who had all attended a, uh , had all attended a, uh, pro—palestine rally seven days after that horrific attack by hamas on israel. >> now, the women had on or about their person , uh, images about their person, uh, images of what were described as paragliders . but what the paragliders. but what the defence argued in court were actually parachutes . two of the actually parachutes. two of the women had them sellotaped to their backs and the third woman had it on a placard. now the prosecution, their case, they needed to prove that by displaying that article it would arouse reasonable suspicion in the reasonable person that they were supporters of a banned

organisation. in this case, hamas . and obviously in this hamas. and obviously in this case, the judge found that there was the reasonable person would have assumed that those images were of hamas and that is where it gets very, very interesting , it gets very, very interesting, ray, because this is yes , these ray, because this is yes, these three individuals were found to have breached that anti—terror law. >> they were found to have been, uh, displaying images in support of hamas, who, of course, famously paraglided into that music festival . and shooting music festival. and shooting from the sky, murdered innocent civilians in israel . all. but civilians in israel. all. but then there came the sentencing and many people raised an eyebrow that there was almost sort of no punishment beyond a criminal record here. >> well , it's criminal record here. >> well, it's interesting because in finding that the reasonable person may have believed that those images were representation of support for hamas or a banned organisation , hamas or a banned organisation, it didn't necessarily mean it didn't have to be proven that

the women, uh, thought that those images or wanted those images to represent hamas. so it's a kind of a weird element within the law. it's you could you could you could arguably go wearing something which somebody thought was a declaration of support without it actually ever having been your intention to support them. so, um, miss um, ikram in his , in his summation, ikram in his, in his summation, said that he decided not to punish the women he said also that emotions ran very high on this issue. so they got no prison time. but they did get, um, a 12 month conditional discharges and two of the women received small fines . received small fines. >> ray, um, the former home >> now, ray, um, the former home secretary called for secretary has called for a review of this ruling. and this is, of course , after it was is, of course, after it was revealed that the judge in question had liked social media that had likened israel well called israel a terrorist and also free palestine. the suggestion is that he was impartial when it came to this,

and that it needs to be escalated higher, and someone else needs to make a decision. >> well , i else needs to make a decision. >> well, i think we need to be really the judicial press really clear. the judicial press office told us and other office has told us and other outlets , um, that the judge has outlets, um, that the judge has said that he didn't realise that he'd liked it. he certainly hadnt he'd liked it. he certainly hadn't liked it on purpose. and so that's, that's the, the line that we're, we're hearing there by the sounds of it. this, um, is being presented as an accident . but, um, we have heard accident. but, um, we have heard as you said, from former home secretary suella braverman, she described this as utterly shocking. uh, to quote her tweet, that a member of the judiciary may have behaved in this way , especially, she says, this way, especially, she says, with anti—semitism at an all time high, judges must be impartial and beyond reproach . impartial and beyond reproach. she's calling for the sentence now to be reviewed . the campaign now to be reviewed. the campaign against anti—semitism , um, as against anti—semitism, um, as well, is calling for various judicial organisations to look into this and potentially review this case as well. but judge ikram, being clear to the

through the judicial press office that he did not intentionally like that post. >> it's a classic , classic line. >> it's a classic, classic line. often we hear that from politicians who found to like things, but judges is a new one. ray allison, thank you very much for bringing us the very latest. >> yes. and uh, read that he's >> yes. and uh, i read that he's , uh, his linkedin , uh, removed his linkedin account, deleted it, or suspended it for now. >> that's very often what very innocent people do. um let's bnngin innocent people do. um let's bring in the lawyer and legal affairs commentator, joshua rozenberg . kc. um, thank you so rozenberg. kc. um, thank you so much for joining rozenberg. kc. um, thank you so much forjoining us here. i i'm struggling to think what the defence was that seemed to be relatively successful from these three individuals saying that , three individuals saying that, well, some people might have seen this as a pro—hamas symbol, but we displaying these badges at this protest didn't possibly think they were linked to hamas. i mean, paracha artists hadn't been linked to the pro—palestinian cause up until october the 7th. how how did they get away with it? >> they didn't get away with it. they were convicted. they were

found guilty by the magistrate. uh, given uh, they were given a conditional discharge, as your reporter said . but reporter correctly said. but they were guilty, and the they were found guilty, and the district judge did not believe their defence. well it is not a conditional discharge . conditional discharge. >> not the lightest >> is that not the lightest possible punishment? just about. >> you can get an absolute discharge. a conditional discharge. a conditional discharge means that if you behave yourself for the period in question, months in question, which is 12 months in question, which is 12 months in case, then nothing more in this case, then nothing more will be heard about it. but she, uh, the three defendants are on nofice uh, the three defendants are on notice that if they commit other offences, then they could be sentenced for this offence as well. >> do you think accusations of bias towards this judge are fair ? >> well, 7 >> well, that's a very ? >> well, that's a very difficult question. if you look at the advice to judges, it is that that participation in any public debate on any topic may risk undermining public perception in the impartiality of the judiciary . judiciary. >> in other words, it doesn't matter whether you intended to

favour one side or another in a pubuc favour one side or another in a public debate, simply taking part in it will risk , uh, issues part in it will risk, uh, issues of bias or prejudge in future cases, as the guidance puts it, and judges are told they must always be circum spect before taking part in public debate . so taking part in public debate. so clearly, if judges are on social media and some are often under pseudonyms, um, they certainly shouldn't say anything on social media. and that includes liking other people's comments, which might give rise to a perception of bias. >> so here's the interesting point. it almost doesn't matter if this judge did or did not deliberately like the post. the fact is that he did, and the fact is that he did, and the fact is that there is now a huge amount of questioning really over his, uh, over his impartiality or otherwise . and impartiality or otherwise. and it's the perception here that perhaps matters more than the facti perhaps matters more than the fact i think that's absolutely

right . right. >> uh, we know that , uh, >> uh, we know that, uh, complaint has been made to a body called the judicial conduct investigations office . that's an investigations office. that's an office which acts on behalf of senior judges to deal with complaints about, not a judge's sentence or , uh, the decisions sentence or, uh, the decisions that judges take in court. but the judges conduct it, uh, and it's clear from the, uh, publication made by this office that it can investigate misusing social media, uh, including content that could damage public confidence in judicial impartiality. so it's clearly something that the office will investigate . but there will be a investigate. but there will be a senior judge who will look investigate. but there will be a seniorjudge who will look at, senior judge who will look at, uh, this perhaps speak to judge ikram , ask him, uh , whether he ikram, ask him, uh, whether he was deliberate, whether he was as he said through this statement, you've reported, uh, acting unintentionally and then

decide whether any advice or even a reprimand is due to judge ikram just, just lastly, joshua , ikram just, just lastly, joshua, there were, of course, accusations of potential bias or people questioning why he was lenient on these three women because of previous cases where he's ruled in a much harsher way. >> for example, he jailed a police constable for 20 weeks for sharing racist whatsapp memes mocking george floyd . to memes mocking george floyd. to some people, that would seem very harsh . and then to i know very harsh. and then to i know you say these three women have been convicted. of course they have, but they have been let off with very minimal punishment. >> difficult to say what >> it's difficult to say what the appropriate punishment is in these circumstances . after all, these circumstances. after all, judge ikram found no evidence that the defendants were seeking to show support for hamas. uh, they they did what they did. and this is an offence. it's a fairly new offence in the sense that people are not completely aware of it . sometimes it's aware of it. sometimes it's appropriate. the first time an offence is charged and or the

first time in a high profile case not to give somebody too severe a sentence . uh, it could severe a sentence. uh, it could have been a heavier fine of course. uh, i don't think , uh, course. uh, i don't think, uh, that people really want the prisons to be full of people who take part in demonstrations such as this. uh, it's very difficult to say that this was the wrong sentence . maybe in a future sentence. maybe in a future case, a heavier sentence will be passed. yeah. >> i think the thing is, people just want to know that it's consists aren't fair and unbiased. thank you very much. >> also, think are >> also, i think people are baffled didn't baffled that the judge didn't find that that there was any seeking to show support for hamas. mean, that's something seeking to show support for ha heard. mean, that's something he heard. >> he heard the evidence. we >> he he heard the evidence. we didn't uh, and, uh , people can didn't uh, and, uh, people can obviously argue about it, but that's what the judge said. well joshua rosenberg kc, thank you very much for your expert analysis here. very much for your expert ana really ere. very much for your expert anareally appreciate it. >> really appreciate it. >> really appreciate it. >> interesting i'm not convinced. >> i just find it. i just find it utterly, utterly baffling what i would like to sort of read, what the full judgement is

, because the act of parachuting or paragliding had , until or paragliding had, until october the 7th, not been associated in any way, shape or form with the pro—palestinian movement . not form with the pro—palestinian movement. not a single march did someone wave a banner showing a parachutist or a paraglider. only after that awful massacre where gunman parachute and paraglided in to civilian areas and slaughtered innocent civilians , civilians partying at civilians, civilians partying at a music festival? only at that point did this image get associated with the israel palestine conflict. >> and i do think it's important to look how he has treated cases previously and been far harsher when it comes to sentencing . um, when it comes to sentencing. um, for other things like that. police constable, i mentioned who was mocking george floyd in private whatsapp messages . so, private whatsapp messages. so, you know, whether whether these , you know, whether whether these, uh, judges are always impartial, good question. well, picking up on this much more in the show, but let us know what you think, because coming up, a gb news

exclusive live on the explosion of high shops being of high street shops being exploited to exploited by criminals to launder money and employ illegal immigrants, this is good afternoon, britain on .

radio. >> good afternoon britain. it's . >> good afternoon britain. it's. 12:25, and gb news has been told of an explosive phone in the number of barber shops in particular, that are now being exploited by criminals to launder money and to employ illegal launder money and to employ illeyes, we've been given >> yes, we've been given exclusive access a in exclusive access to a raid in oxford where minister oxford where the minister for illegal immigration, michael tomlinson, joined enforcement officers targeting a barber's suspected . of employing foreign suspected. of employing foreign nationals illegally . our home nationals illegally. our home and security editor mark white reports . reports. >> heading into this suburb of oxford, these immigration enforcement officers are en

route a local barber route to raid a local barber shop. route to raid a local barber shop . it's suspected of shop. it's suspected of employing illegal immigrants , employing illegal immigrants, part of a growing phenomenon where these high street businesses are being increasingly exploited . as increasingly exploited. as fronts for criminality . these fronts for criminality. these officers are looking for an albanian asylum seeker who's absconded . and believed to be absconded. and believed to be working . here for a while. working. here for a while. there's no trace of him. they have detained this colombian man, another asylum seeker working here in breach of employment , as well as employment laws, as well as officers continue to search this business. the albanian owner arrived here. he now faces the prospect of a much higher fine . prospect of a much higher fine. with tougher penalties for businesses is introduced this week of up to £45,000 for each immigrant caught working illegally. >> immigration enforcement raids

are up by nearly 70% last year. that's a huge increase, and . that's a huge increase, and. talking to the illegal enforcement team here, they've been ramping up. in the enforcement team here, they've been ramping up . in the west been ramping up. in the west midlands as well. you can really sense it. you can sense the work they're doing and that work is going continue the country. >> the number of barber shops has exploded. almost 18,000 in total, just total, up 50% in just a few years. are perfectly years. while most are perfectly legitimate and a valuable addition to the high street, sources have told us that increasing numbers of barber shops are fronts for criminality . billions of pounds from the proceeds of crime are laundered through these businesses, which don't just employ illegal immigrants but are often involved in modern slavery, coercing and threatening victims of human trafficking to work for little to nothing . little to nothing. >> there is broad organised crime behind this. these sort of premises do not pop up overnight without money behind them, and it's really important that we work with agencies as

work with agencies such as national agency , as national crime agency, such as policing such as hmrc and other government departments to ensure that of all the that the weight of all the government's powers is brought to who seek to to bear on those who seek to exploit individuals exploit vulnerable individuals as and car washes have as nail bars and car washes have long been associated with criminal gangs, often employing and exploiting illegal immigrants, but sources. and exploiting illegal immigrants, but sources . say immigrants, but sources. say barber shops are rapidly overtaking them as a front for criminality . criminality. >> the authorities are keen to reiterate that the majority of barbers are legitimate and law abiding , but barbers are legitimate and law abiding, but they say barbers are legitimate and law abiding , but they say they won't abiding, but they say they won't hesitate to go after those they suspect of breaking the law. >> mark white, gb news i'm shocked, shocked, i tell you that some of these barbers that have sprung up everywhere might be fronts for illegal activity. >> do i detect . a note of >> do i detect. a note of sarcasm in your voice? >> you may. you may because i don't think there's one person in this country who can honestly say that they have not noticed

that, are so many that, that there are so many more springing that, that there are so many morjust springing that, that there are so many morjust looking springing that, that there are so many morjust looking at springing that, that there are so many morjust looking at the nging i'm just looking at the statistics the federation statistics here. the federation of beauty of national hair and beauty almost 1000 new barber shops have opened past have been opened in the past year there's been a 50% year alone. there's been a 50% rise in just five years. i mean, are there that many? is there that much more demand for, uh, for barber than there was before? >> but do you know what? do you know what, to some extent is this just a consequence this is this just a consequence of the success of the gb news don't kill cash campaign? i would wager that all of these barbers are cash only, as we often see in this situation. and there aren't sort of traces and tracking. well, as long as there are reasons, that's good. but also we can see that there are many, legitimate , fantastic barbers. >> of course . um, but yes, we >> of course. um, but yes, we need to make sure that not employing illegal migrants or, uh, taxes . uh, not paying taxes. >> um, but no, it's absolutely fascinating story. and thank you to mark for that report . uh, but to mark for that report. uh, but now a 16 year old boy has died after being stabbed in bristol. avon and somerset police said the incident happened in the

saint phillips area last night. >> yes, his death comes as the latest knife sentencing statistics are released. so these are the sentencing statistics. they show a 17% increase in the number of knife offences over the last decade . offences over the last decade. and joining us now in the studio is our reporter charlie peters . is our reporter charlie peters. very sad news from bristol. we've seen a number of very, very serious knife crimes in in recent weeks. and it doesn't look based on these statistics that things are getting any safer out there. >> well, that's 17% rise over the last decade of knife offences relates to possession offences relates to possession of blades or offensive weapons. and it comes, as you say , emily, and it comes, as you say, emily, after a 16 year old boy was confirmed to have been killed last night in bristol, he ran after being attacked in a park and was helped by a member of the public nearby , but died at the public nearby, but died at the public nearby, but died at the scene after an ambulance was called at 6 pm. and the police

said this morning that that two attackers fled the scene on bicycles and they were wearing masks at the time. so with this information coming in from bristol of another killing, remember there were two teenagers killed just two weeks ago. even in somerset, police said they were launching a new proactive and high profile campaign to clamp down on knife crime. but the statistics released this morning show more information about the trends over the last year to september 2023, but also the last decade. now, 31% of those dealt with under those increase in crimes do receive a custodial sentence , do receive a custodial sentence, according to the ons . and that according to the ons. and that is a decrease . however, what is a decrease. however, what kind of custodial sentence are they getting? well, the ons also revealed today that it's an average 7.8 months for a custodial sentence for the

possession of a blade or offensive weapon. that's a rise from 7.5 months from the previous year and a rise from 7.2 months from 2017. we've also learned that the number of first time offenders was 69. that's a decrease in six percentage points from the previous year , points from the previous year, which could lead some to say the number of first time offenders is declining. so more repeat offenders for the possession of blades . so is offenders for the possession of blades. so is that 7.8 months enough ? the maximum sentence for enough? the maximum sentence for the possession of a knife is four years. >> well, charlie, thank you very much for bringing us that. and it does get back to what we were talking yesterday. talking about this yesterday. we were before the were talking about it before the number who reoffend, were talking about it before the nun small who reoffend, were talking about it before the nunsmall proportionio reoffend, were talking about it before the nun small proportion of reoffend, were talking about it before the nunsmall proportion of people i, the small proportion of people who do . a large proportion of who do. a large proportion of the crime. yeah just that that section of road in society, 69% of 69% still time of 69% still first time offenders, though . offenders, though. >> but a good sign is it is

dropping. but also we were talking about this what last week, maybe the week before , week, maybe the week before, whether there should be mandatory jail time for carrying a you total zero a knife. you know, total zero tolerance approach if you're carrying a knife , don't care carrying a knife, don't care why. what about the boy scouts to jail ? to jail? >> what about the boy scouts i carry? i carried a knife when i went out hunting. not hunting ? went out hunting. not hunting? no camping. not the not the boy scouts, but the zombie knife carriers. yeah, think urban carriers. yeah, i think urban areas versus i think there is an urban divide . urban rural divide. >> then you get into all >> well, then you get into all sorts problems, you, sorts of problems, don't you, you know. >> what councils want to >> well, what councils want to discriminate against, you know, an urban area. well, you can discriminate against a metropolitan shall call metropolitan area. shall we call it yeah. it that? yeah. >> there you go. let us >> well, there you go. let us know what think. know what you think. vaiews@gbnews.uk but coming up, speaking of metropolitan areas, go on. >> london underground. well, they've it's been given a makeover by none other than sadiq khan . yes. new lines sadiq khan. yes. new lines include the lioness line, the suffragette line and the windrush line. >> you know, when i read this,

it just made me fume. we'll tell you why in, uh, after the break. this is. good afternoon, britain on . gb news. on. gb news. >> good afternoon, 1233. these are your top stories from the gb newsroom. chancellor jeremy hunt says newsroom. chancellorjeremy hunt says despite the uk entering recession , the economy is recession, the economy is turning a corner and official figures show the economy shrank by 0.3% at the end of last year following a period of decline in the previous three months. it's the previous three months. it's the first time the uk's gdp has dropped since the first half of 2020, after the first covid lockdown . shadow chancellor lockdown. shadow chancellor rachel reeves says the prime minister is completely out of touch with the realities on the ground, adding his economic pledge tatters . british pledge is in tatters. british gas owner centrica has renewed calls for a . social tariff to calls for a. social tariff to allow people to pay less for their gas and electric. it comes as new data reveals british gas benefited last year from being able to claw back money lost dunng able to claw back money lost during the energy crisis. this

comes as new figures released today show 3 million low income households in england struggled to pay their energy bills last yean to pay their energy bills last year, government figures found that 13% were in fuel poverty , that 13% were in fuel poverty, largely unchanged from the year before . winter. pressures on the before. winter. pressures on the nhs are showing no sign of easing, according to health bosses. they say it's down to high levels of flu and a struggle to clear beds for new patients, as it comes as the health service prepares for a fresh round of strike action by junior doctors later this month. an average of 2300 people were in hospital each day last week, with the flu, including 98 in critical care beds . and more critical care beds. and more than 4000 anti—semitic incidents were recorded in the uk last yeah were recorded in the uk last year. that's an all time high. the figures more than double the previous all time high in 2021, and marks a rise of 589% compared to 2022. the soaring figures being put down to the sheer volume which took place

following the hamas attacks on october 7th. 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 gb news. comment alerts

>> you're listening to gb news radio . radio. >> it's 1239. you're watching good afternoon britain. now, london's overground train line has had a huge rebrand. this is as tfl tries to make the routes more distinct for passengers. apparently it's been a little bit controversial. >> the new services are now divided into the lioness line. the mild may line, the windrush line, the weaver line, the suffragette line , the liberty suffragette line, the liberty line. i like the liberty line a lot more. and these all mark moments , they say in london's moments, they say in london's history . history. >> how have they managed to make liberty sound naff?

>> i know i know, that's the one i dislike least . but let's look i dislike least. but let's look at some of the more controversial aspects of this rebrand now with the political commentator emma webb now , emma, commentator emma webb now, emma, i've got my own least favourite name here. do you have a least favourite name of a line and probably more to the point, why have they spent so many millions of pounds doing this ? of pounds doing this? >> yeah, almost £7 million. and actually, emily, you took the words right out of my mouth there because overall it's just a bit naff, isn't it? >> and obviously, um, all of them are, uh , a bit naff in them are, uh, a bit naff in their own ways, but the one that i dislike, the most, surprisingly, is the liberty line. um, because it seems so symbolic that the liberty line is the stretch of track between romford and upminster , which is romford and upminster, which is actually where i'm from, and it's where a lot of the old cockneys and east londoners, all of their descendants, sort of live out that direction. live out in that direction. >> it seems so symbolic that >> and it seems so symbolic that sadiq khan has relegated liberty

to this tiny stretch of track thatis to this tiny stretch of track that is almost a shuttle. it takes about ten minutes or less to get between those two stops is relegated it to the outskirts of london, where very few londoners will ever need to travel on the on the liberty line. um, so for me, that's almost the most insulting. but yeah, i mean, it's an enormous waste of money. um, for a rebrand that is, is really a bit sort of icky , i think. sort of icky, i think. >> i just think the, the self—confidence it takes, if that's what you want to call it, to spend nearly £7 million of hard working taxpayers money on this absolutely useless rebrand . this absolutely useless rebrand. and, uh, for what purpose? oh, to make it easier for people to get around . get around. >> i just it makes no difference. and who's going to say i'm just going to hop on the suffragette line? um, that's not how people think about the overground and it's not really surprising because sadiq khan is we anybody who is in london or travels in london knows that

sadiq khan uses tfl as his main sort of propaganda outlet. um, he has all sorts of politicised poems and things like that on the underground, and everybody is sort of it's become an ongoing joke . the don't stare ongoing joke. the don't stare sign as the, um, various babying and patronising signs telling people to, um, do x, y and z. >> yeah, we're paying for those two. i'm paying for those two. >> but emma isn't. isn't this getting the rebrand that london deserves ? is the rebrand that deserves? is the rebrand that london voted for? was this not in sadiq khan's manifesto? and he is the elected mayor of london? >> how many people vote in mayoral elections? i'm not sure, but i just think that if, if, if it were put to the people, whether they wanted to spend, um, over 6 million, almost £7 million of their own money on naming and rebranding overground lines, it would make absolutely no difference to people's lives. that's money that could be spent on making existing existing

on making the existing existing services more efficient, cheaper and run on time because and actually run on time because they're constantly. i've noticed recently, particularly on the central line, they're always central line, um, they're always talking about having a shortage of trains and that that's the reason for the delays. so there are all sorts of things that need tfl. this is need fixing on tfl. and this is just a, um, a cosmetic exercise that of sadiq khan's that is part of sadiq khan's personal propaganda campaign, in the way he made the the same way that he made the london, , new year's london, um, uh, new year's fireworks all about himself, all about his pet political causes . about his pet political causes. and it reminds me of the various street renaming things like equality street , um, which equality street, um, which actually sounds a bit like quality street, but they are a bit sort of, um , as you said, bit sort of, um, as you said, emily, they are just a bit naff and a bit cringe . and a bit cringe. >> i mean, emma, at least he didn't call it the sadiq line or the nhs line or or something like that . like that. >> the nhs line or nhs line. like that. >> the nhs line or nhs line . we >> the nhs line or nhs line. we should, we should take. >> yeah, we could have ended up

with the nhs line. we could have ended up with some worse names for sure. but know, we for sure. um, but you know, we should a maybe, and should take a poll maybe, and see think the worst see what we think is the worst london underground and see what we think is the worst lond�*wejnderground and see what we think is the worst lond�*we shouldound and see what we think is the worst lond�*we should alld and see what we think is the worst lond�*we should all nicknamei then we should all nickname that then we should all nickname that the line. the sadiq line. >> oh, well, you >> oh, well, there you go. that's place finish. that's a good place to finish. thank much, emma webb. thank you very much, emma webb. political commentator. always good to talk to you. >> know what my favourite >> do you know what my favourite line rather line is? just from naming rather than bakerloo line, because than the bakerloo line, because it's to of baker it's this portman to of baker street and moore waterloo . street and moore and waterloo. and i just think we should just take first stop and the last take the first stop and the last stop end of each of these stop on the end of each of these lines them lines and just mush them together. there's no together. and there's no controversy. no politics. >> for example, the mildmay line, a small line, named after a small charitable hospital in shoreditch played shoreditch which played an important during the hiv important role during the hiv aids crisis in the 1980s, no doubt it did. >> but am i wrong to think that's quite random? >> i yeah, i don't know. >> i yeah, i don't know. >> i yeah, i don't know. >> i hadn't heard of it before. i mean, it might be a good opportunity to learn a bit about london's history, because i hadnt london's history, because i hadn't heard that. but the one that gets my go on, go on the suffragette line, the suffragette line, the suffragette now. suffragette line. right now. now, were lots of

now, there were lots of campaigns for women's suffrage , campaigns for women's suffrage, most notably perhaps the suffragists who have been honoured by a statue of millicent fawcett . now, she did millicent fawcett. now, she did not like the suffragettes , the not like the suffragettes, the suffragettes were were peaceful. the suffragette . it's the the suffragette. it's the suffragists were peaceful. sorry. the suffragettes were violent. they bombed things . violent. they bombed things. they smashed things. >> to be fair, though , tom and i >> to be fair, though, tom and i appreciate your point. and it's factually correct. but a lot of people do just use suffragette interchange with suffragists. i went to a girls school, and when i was young we used to sing about suffragette on the screen. >> there we saw the statue of millicent fawcett. she's holding up courage to up this banner, courage to courage this is how courage everywhere. this is how the sadiq khan has advertised the sadiq khan has advertised the suffragette line with someone who wasn't a suffragette. we should be honounng suffragette. we should be honouring millicent fawcett. we should be honouring the suffragists . but the suffragists. but the suffragettes were a violent political campaign . and it was political campaign. and it was such an opportunity to put to. to just swap an eye for an e

when you've got potential tourists, business people and of course, residents in our great capital complain that they're worried they're going to be mugged, have their cars broken into and stolen, and potentially have assault on the street. >> perhaps sadiq khan could spend our money a little more wisely . i'd spend our money a little more wisely. i'd quite like my tax to go to something else, but that's just me coming up. putin backs biden over trump despite having previously called donald trump outstanding. what's going on here? why the change of heart? is there a double bluff going on? i think so we'll find out

radio. >> well, it's 1249 in the afternoon, and vladimir putin has endorsed joe biden for the upcoming us presidential election , saying he's more election, saying he's more experienced and predictable than donald trump. >> yes . donald trump. >> yes. speaking to his donald trump.

>> yes . speaking to his state >> yes. speaking to his state run news network, as they all are in russia, the russian president also claimed that his government would be prepared to work whoever won the work with whoever won the election long they gain election as long as they gain the trust of the american public. hmm. >> well, joining us is the >> well, joining us now is the professor of international politics at the university of birmingham, . well, i birmingham, david dunn. well, i guess the first question is, why do you think vladimir putin has said endorsed biden? said this, endorsed biden? >> i think what we're seeing here is putin piling on to all the criticisms of biden's infirmity and memory loss . infirmity and memory loss. >> what he's suggesting is that he would rather deal with somebody who is, uh, mentally challenged. so given the coverage of biden in that regard, putin is hinting that that's the case. but it's also , that's the case. but it's also, of course, uh, damaged by with false praise by saying he's predictable. he's an old school politician . he's more politician. he's more experienced. what he's doing is identifying the things that trump supporters hate. uh, many people who like the idea of donald trump presidency, like

the idea that he is difficult to judge. he is unpredictable and therefore what what putin is doing is trying to, uh , um, doing is trying to, uh, um, effectively endorse, um, uh, trump's candidacy by suggesting that he would prefer, uh, biden . that he would prefer, uh, biden. but of course, that's entirely the opposite of what he really needs. uh, because a trump presidency, in fact , the trump presidency, in fact, the trump candidacy has been hugely beneficial to vladimir putin. uh, the fact that ukrainians are running out of ammunition right now is due to donald trump's efforts to derail the passage of ukrainian aid being passed through the house of representatives . uh, trump is, representatives. uh, trump is, uh , giving encouragement to uh, giving encouragement to putin. uh, putin just needs to hold on until, uh, next november orindeed hold on until, uh, next november or indeed next january, when he takes over if he should win . uh, takes over if he should win. uh, and under those circumstances , and under those circumstances, um, the, the american support for ukraine would disappear entirely. so the idea that putin

would actually prefer biden is just clearly aligned . just clearly aligned. >> it's interesting how he almost hits all of those talking points. this is obviously been sort of prepared. he's been looking at what political scientists like you look at every single day . but do you every single day. but do you think this will actually have an impact one way or the other, or will the american public be wise to it ? to it? >> @ american public are >> well, the american public are not necessarily a very sophisticated electorate when it comes to, uh, questions of what's in the wider news. uh, most of them get their news locally. uh it's not really international. well, it's, um , international. well, it's, um, if you if you look at, uh, if you look at vox box on things, uh, uh, when on any question you find that that the, the level of understanding of many issues is, is fairly limited. um uh, and therefore that, you know, the how this plays depends on which media outlet they, they watch. uh, and most of them probably

pass them by, but for a certain constituency it will be seen as, uh , endorsing, say, biden with, uh, endorsing, say, biden with, uh, endorsing, say, biden with, uh, uh, with false, uh, praise . uh, uh, with false, uh, praise. and in that respect, it will be seen as supporting, uh , seen as supporting, uh, reinforcing their idea that biden is seen as a pushover. >> um, very interesting to see how this plays out. thank you very much for your time. david dunn, professor of international politics university of politics at the university of birmingham. it is a good question, though. how much attention you does the attention do you does the average american pay to this stuff? >> well, i'm sure the good professor would never, never say that the british electorate was low , in fact. in low information, in fact. in fact, i think i think it's a fair assessment that every single electorate other than the people britain are deeply, people of britain are deeply, deeply and unsophisticated. >> i know david didn't mean it this way, but it did sound a bit like the americans are a bit a bit thick. >> well, it's not just the americans. any country that isn't . that's the isn't britain. that's how the world isn't britain. that's how the worwell, that's a uh, >> well, that's a bit, uh, what's the word? arrogant. >> perhaps not at all. not at

all. >> i mean, i tend to agree, but this is gb news. so there you go. yeah. with our with our apologies to our friends at gbn america. >> but yeah, it's quite interesting to think why vladimir putin would have, would have, have said made have, would have said that, made that clear. that so clear. >> why that so clear. stage. >> well, all it's all the >> well, it's all it's all the classic russian thing, isn't it. he just wants to muddy the waters. to throw waters. he wants to throw as many so there are many things out. so there are lots different versions of lots of different versions of what narrative truth and what is the narrative truth and if muddied, if the waters are muddied, it's much easy sort of push much more easy to sort of push one or get a subtle one agenda or get a subtle message through that muddy water. >> f- f— water. >> let us know what you >> well, let us know what you think at home. views news. think at home. gb views gb news. com let us know com also, why not let us know what name an what you'd like to name an overground indeed overground line or indeed a railway line? carver line railway line? emily carver line near the emily carver line near you. the emily carver line has good ring it. the has a good ring to it. the carver carver line. carver line. carver line. harwood not so harwood line not so. not so good. don't think. anyway, good. i don't think. anyway, coming to coming up, we'll be speaking to the adviser on the government's adviser on anti—semitism. that's because there's been an absolutely dramatic rise in hate incidents against british jews. why is that ? this is against british jews. why is that? this is good against british jews. why is that ? this is good afternoon that? this is good afternoon britain on gb news we're of course, britain's news channel .

course, britain's news channel. a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on gb news . news. >> hello there. welcome to your latest gb news weather update with me annie from the met office. it will be a cloudy and mild day for many of us. we do have rain warnings in force have some rain warnings in force as well as we'll see some heavy rain eastwards across rain push eastwards across the country today, but we do country through today, but we do have mild atlantic air have very mild atlantic air being brought in by this southerly breeze across us through today. the winds are quite light so in the south—east ahead of any the heavier rain ahead of any of the heavier rain will feel quite pleasant. almost spnng will feel quite pleasant. almost spring in sunshine spring like in any sunshine that does afternoon. does develop this afternoon. further north and west, though, heavy rain will persist, particularly across south wales, parts southwest england and parts of southwest england and into the midlands later. so there rainfall warnings there is some rainfall warnings in force here. we could see some spray on the roads and travel disruption from that heavy rain across parts of scotland, where

it across parts of scotland, where h been across parts of scotland, where it been a wet start to it has been quite a wet start to the day. will up through the day. it will dry up through this and into the this afternoon and into the evening, that dry weather evening, and that dry weather will spread eastwards throughout out is out tonight. but there is a spell of quite rain to spell of quite heavy rain to come southeast come across the southeast through this evening, but by and large night large it will be a drier night tonight. plenty of clear skies developing as well, so it will be a slightly cooler night, but still the time still fairly mild for the time of and there will be some of year. and there will be some early sunshine on friday, particularly parts particularly across parts of england and wales where the sunshine last a lot of the sunshine could last a lot of the day. however, be day. however, there will be slightly further slightly thicker cloud further north and west, that cloud north and west, and that cloud could thick enough for a few could be thick enough for a few showers, particularly over parts of the hills . of the pennines and the hills. but in any sunshine you do see, it will feel quite pleasant once again. above again. temperatures still above average. could highs average. we could see highs of around on friday. see around 16 degrees on friday. see you later. that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsor of weather on gb news .

>> good afternoon britain. >> good afternoon britain. >> it is 1:00 on thursday the 15th of february. >> britain in recession. the united kingdom has joined the ranks of ireland, denmark , the ranks of ireland, denmark, the netherlands, austria, sweden and norway as one of those many european countries to have entered a technical recession . entered a technical recession. with growth so close to zero either side of the line . has either side of the line. has anything really changed? >> isjustice blind ? anything really changed? >> is justice blind ? one judge >> is justice blind? one judge faces escalating accusations of bias as he let three protesters brandishing hamas paraglider images walk free despite their terror charges . judge ikram had terror charges. judge ikram had recently liked a social media post branding israel a terrorist , and there are calls for a retrial and will be debating whether asylum seekers should be allowed to work in the uk. >> as former immigration minister robert jenrick says , minister robert jenrick says, doing so only makes the country even more attractive to illegal

migrants. it's an interesting one. >> this debate on whether asylum seekers should be allowed to work while , while their claims work while, while their claims are being processed , just are being processed, just because some people . who think because some people. who think about these things only in terms of, uh, you know, the economics. yeah, well, we'll be yeah, think, well, yes, we'll be saving put to saving money if we put them to work. if you think about work. if but if you think about it terms of pull factor it in terms of the pull factor and also in terms of the fairness of actually legally applying for a visa, then it gets a bit more complicated. emily, do you think a emily, what do you think is a bigger pull factor? >> getting a free hotel room or even privately rented even a free privately rented flat out where you don't have to work? feet up work? you can kick your feet up and telly all day do and watch telly all day and do absolutely nothing. all on the taxpayer's dime. dime. i'm not an american. all the an american. all on the taxpayers pound. um, penny. taxpayers pound. um, or penny. penny or even penny. i think it's 6 or £8 million a day now.

anyway or if you have to, if you, if you, if you sort of need to work in order to put yourself up, is that a lesser or a greater pull factor? i'd argue that's a lesser pull factor. >> no, i don't even think that's a i think that's a silly question to ask , because the question to ask, because the whole point is that the government needs to control our borders and they're not doing it properly. and so can't just properly. and so you can't just because things are expensive at the say, okay, we'll the moment, say, okay, we'll just let anyone who comes over work before they've even had their refugee status, uh, process . ultimately, perhaps process. ultimately, perhaps you're wrong on this, but we're going to debate this at 120. >> that's what we could both agree with on this is that if it didn't take two years to process the wouldn't the claims, this wouldn't even be yeah, but if they be a question. yeah, but if they were processed a week, they were processed in a week, they wouldn't though too. . .so too. so there that. let us know >> so there is that. let us know gb views news. should gb views at gb news. com should asylum seekers be allowed to work while their work in the uk while their claims being processed? claims are being processed? protest, your protest, protest this your headunes .

protest, protest this your headlines . emily. headlines now. emily. >> thank you and good afternoon. your top stories from the gb newsroom. the chancellor says despite the uk entering a recession, the economy is turning a corner. official figures show the economy shrank by 0.3% at the end of last year, following a period of decline in the previous three months. it's the previous three months. it's the first time the uk's gdp has dropped since the first half of 2020, after the first covid lockdown . jeremy hunt insists lockdown. jeremy hunt insists there is light at the end of the tunnel. we always expected growth to be weaker while we prioritise tackling inflation. >> that means higher interest rates and that's the right thing to do because you can't have a long terme, healthy growth with high inflation, but also for families when the when there's a cost of living crisis, when the cost of living crisis, when the cost of living crisis, when the cost of their weekly shop is going up, their energy bills are much higher. it's the right thing do . the underlying thing to do. the underlying picture here is an economy that is more resilient than most people predicted. inflation is coming down. real wages have been going up now for six months

and if we stick to our guns, independent forecasters say that by the early summer we could start to see interest rates falling . falling. >> however, shadow chancellor rachel reeves says the prime minister's economic pledge is in tatters . tatters. >> the confirmation of recession exposes a government and a prime minister completely out of touch with the realities on the ground. a government that for too long has looked on economic failure with complacency , failure with complacency, content to be the managers of decline . rishi sunak claims that decline. rishi sunak claims that he has a plan , but the plan is he has a plan, but the plan is not working . not working. >> british gas owner centrica has renewed calls for a social tariff to allow people to pay less for their gas, and electricity. it comes as new data reveals british gas benefited last year from being able to claw back money lost dunng able to claw back money lost during energy crisis . this during the energy crisis. this comes figures released comes as new figures released today show 3 million low income

households in england struggled to pay their energy bills last yeah to pay their energy bills last year. government figures found that 13% were in fuel poverty last unchanged from the year before . voters are casting their before. voters are casting their ballots in wellingborough and kingswood, the public have until 10:00 this evening to choose their replacement mps , following their replacement mps, following their replacement mps, following the departures of chris skidmore and peter bone . a 16 year old and peter bone. a 16 year old boy has died after being stabbed in the saint philips area of bristol yesterday morning evening . he was attacked in evening. he was attacked in rawnsley park by two people wearing masks, who then fled the scene on bicycles . a murder scene on bicycles. a murder investigation has been launched . investigation has been launched. it comes weeks after the deaths of teenagers mason wrist and max dixon, who were stabbed in the knowle west area of the . city. knowle west area of the. city. a judge is facing criticism after liking a pro—palestine social media post. judge tan ikram spared jail for three women who displayed images of paraglider

at a protest just a week after hamas used paragliders to enter and attack israel in october. he was found to like posts which said free palestine and that branded israel a terrorist . but branded israel a terrorist. but judge ikram told gb news that he didn't know that he liked the post and that if he did, it was a genuine mistake . the foreign a genuine mistake. the foreign secretary has repeated calls for the us to pass a bill including support for ukraine. his comments come as the number of visa holders arriving into the uk having fled the war in ukraine, topped 200,000. the bill has passed through the senate, but faces an uncertain future in the house of representatives, where hardline republican is aligned with the presidential frontrunner, donald trump opposed legislation trump opposed the legislation dunng trump opposed the legislation during a visit to poland today , during a visit to poland today, lord cameron said the congress vote crucial to helping vote was crucial to helping ukraine succeed in the war against russia . against russia. >> we applaud what the eu has already done for our ukraine, but because of their strength and power in the world, we really do want to see congress

pass that money to support ukraine economically. >> but crucially militarily in the months ahead. we saw yet again yesterday in the black sea the huge success that ukraine is having against putin's russia . having against putin's russia. and winter pressures on the nhs are showing no sign of easing, according to health bosses. >> they say it's down to high levels of flu and struggle to clear beds for new patients. this comes as the health service prepares for fresh round of prepares for a fresh round of strikes by junior doctors later this month. an average of 2300 people were in hospital each day last week, with the flu , last week, with the flu, including 98 in critical care beds. including 98 in critical care beds . for the latest stories, beds. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts . now back to tom slash alerts. now back to tom and . emily

slash alerts. now back to tom and. emily when all it's 1:07. and. emily when all it's1:07. >> and let's kick off with the economy . after it was announced economy. after it was announced this morning that the uk had entered technical recession entered a technical recession following a 0.3 reduction . in following a 0.3 reduction. in 0.3, why can't i say the word? emily? >> am i going to do it? following a 0.3% reduction in the three months leading up to december? >> well, that's the mildest economic contraction we've seen in nearly 50 years. but as pressure grows on, rishi sunak, can he be wholly to blame for this? let's dig into the detail and see perhaps the international context to with our business and economics editor halligan . liam first editor liam halligan. liam first of all, i was struck by the sheer number of european countries that are in the same boat as us . boat as us. >> indeed , germany, europe's >> indeed, germany, europe's biggest economy. tom has been in and out of recession since early 2023. the irish economy has been in recession, as you say . the

in recession, as you say. the norwegian economy . um, right norwegian economy. um, right across the globe, there's a really kind of gloomy outlook . really kind of gloomy outlook. even china, on some definitions , even china, on some definitions, the biggest economy in the world has slowed down markedly. the us is really the only major economy that's showing any signs of buoyancy , and that's because buoyancy, and that's because they've been benefiting over recent years from very, very cheap energy, not least because of fracking revolution. so of their fracking revolution. so we had these gdp numbers out this morning. they showed that in the fourth quarter, october, november and december of last year , gdp, the sum total of all year, gdp, the sum total of all the goods and services in the economy in one year gdp fell compared to the same quarter in 2022 by 0.3. that followed a 0.1% contraction during the third quarter of 2023. that's july, august september. two successive quarters of economic contraction. that is a technical . recession, but it's a very shallow and a very shallow sort technical recession because almost nobody thinks that the

economy is contracting. now, a lot of the survey data shows there's signs of life in not just in our manufacturing sector. order books are growing , sector. order books are growing, but also in our services sector, which is 70 or 80% of the economy. look earlier i spoke with the chancellor , jeremy with the chancellor, jeremy hunt, and he said that his plan, the prime minister's plan to get the prime minister's plan to get the economy back on track, is working. this is what he said . working. this is what he said. >> he always expected growth to be weaker. while we prioritise tackling inflation, that means higher interest rates and that's the right thing to do because you can't have a long terme. healthy growth with high inflation, but also for families when the when there's a cost of living crisis, when the cost of their weekly shop is going up, their weekly shop is going up, their energy much their energy bills are much higher. right thing to higher. it's the right thing to do. underlying picture here do. the underlying picture here is an economy that is more resilient than most people predicted. inflation is coming down. real wages have been going up now for six months and if we stick to our guns , independent

stick to our guns, independent forecasters say that by the early summer we could start to see interest rates falling and that will be a very important relief for families with mortgages . the chancellor's mortgages. the chancellor's trying very, very hard not to be seen to be pushing the monetary policy committee of the bank of england to start lowering interest rates. >> interest rates are 5.25. of course, we had 14 successive rate rises as the bank of england tried to bear down on the 40 year high inflation figure that we had. inflation was over 11, of course, about 18 months ago, back in the autumn of 2022. but he, jeremy hunt, desperate , wants the bank of desperate, wants the bank of england to lower interest rates. but he doesn't want to be seen to be pushing them because their decisions are meant not decisions are meant to not be political, happens when political, as it happens when the mpc, the bank of england next meets on the 21st of march, i they're going to i don't think they're going to lower rates that i don't think they're going to lower i rates that i don't think they're going to lower ithink rates that i don't think they're going to lower i think thats that i don't think they're going to lower i think that won'tiat i don't think they're going to lower i think that won't happen point. i think that won't happen until april at the earliest,

possibly may, after the us central bank, the federal reserve, has cut interest rates off the back of this news that britain has gone into recession. the first recession since 2009, except for the covid era recession . so the first recession. so the first non—pandemic recession for 15 years later cobbled together very hastily convened press conference in in westminster. i got to talk to rachel reeves. she gave a kind of stump speech saying how the tory plans had failed, how labour would do much better, and how it was time for a change of government. here it is the confirmation of recession exposes a government and a prime minister completely out of touch with the realities on the ground. >> a government that for too long has looked on economic failure with complacency . be failure with complacency. be content to be the managers of decline in rishi sunak claims that he has a plan . but the plan

that he has a plan. but the plan is not working . is not working. >> i think what's absolutely clear , tom and emily, is that clear, tom and emily, is that while other subjects like perhaps the war in ukraine like immigration, uh, like asylum and housing will be important in the upcoming general election expected in the autumn, it will be the economy that's centre stage . it will be tax and spend. stage. it will be tax and spend. that's centre stage. it will be whether or not people feel better off under the tories. and if they don't, whether or not labour can exploit that without being seen to make spending pledges that are reckless and irresponsible . it will be, in my irresponsible. it will be, in my view , in the upcoming general view, in the upcoming general election. all about as the americans used to say, the economy, stupid . and i'm sure economy, stupid. and i'm sure there'll be plenty of economics coverage here on gb news >> liam, thank you very, very much for that. it's fascinating to see rachel reeves try and branded as rishi sunak

recession. will that sink in bank of england's recession? >> maybe . >> maybe. >> maybe. >> well i mean it's yeah, it's consumer spending down, interest rates up sort of the point isn't it. >> well there you go. yeah. um, but uh, i think i do really like rachel reeves standing there with the two flags behind. >> quite close to a wooden background. i don't know, the camera shot quite tight. it camera shot was quite tight. it sort how prime sort of looked like how prime ministers sort of low ministers do in sort of low budget tv shows. like she's budget tv shows. look like she's sort minister. sort of a prime minister. >> doctor who or something. >> so. >> so. >> well, in other news, and this is pretty shocking news actually. antisense autism in the has hit an all time high the uk has hit an all time high last year, and what's been described as an explosion of hatred following the october 7th attacks, the figures, published in a brand new report , show over in a brand new report, show over 4000 instances of anti—jewish hate. >> a 589% increase from 2022. >> a 589% increase from 2022. >> yes, the community security trust, which is a group that monitors anti—jewish abuse and attacks, said this was a watershed moment for anti—semitism in the uk . okay, anti—semitism in the uk. okay, what exactly does that mean?

should we speak to the uk government adviser on anti—semitism , lord john mann ? anti—semitism, lord john mann? um, for those who have been following this, they will see these , uh, these numbers, 589% these, uh, these numbers, 589% are not actually be shocked, but not surprised . tell us why, in not surprised. tell us why, in your view, you think the number of incidents has increased so dramatically ? dramatically? >> well, these numbers are people. of course. this is each and every one is something that's happened to an individual person. >> and the figures are very carefully put together. there's no exaggeration. so for example, if you get a pile on on the internet, that of anti—semitic, anti—semitic abuse that's just logged as one incident, not as thousands. >> so these figures are incredibly worrying . and the incredibly worrying. and the last three months after october 7 of last year , were more 7 of last year, were more incidents in that period than in any year in recorded history

before . it's a phenomenal before. it's a phenomenal explosion . it's obviously explosion. it's obviously a direct link to what's going on in israel and gaza . and there's in israel and gaza. and there's an underlying prejudice and hatred there that's exploding all over the place. and, you know, what's really happening ? know, what's really happening? individual jewish people are being targeted ad in the workplace. it's school in universities in their social settings . and the community's settings. and the community's just bombarded and battered by this. and people keep saying to me in the jewish community, can't they just leave us alone? can't we just be allowed to get on with our lives? well the answer is we wish that were the case, but it's not. and this is a huge problem across our country and our society. and by the way , you know , where one the way, you know, where one country amongst many there's not a bigger problem in britain than other countries . this a bigger problem in britain than other countries. this is happening. uh all over the world. um lord, man, you use the

words underlying is it your view that this is sort of something nascent that has always been there, just sort of below the surface , and it's only, only surface, and it's only, only moments like these when you have sort of flashpoints in the news media, particularly over israel and palestine and the conflict in gaza, that that nascent level of anti—semites ism comes to the fore . correct. it's absolutely fore. correct. it's absolutely the case. it just it doesn't come from nowhere . and the come from nowhere. and the prejudice that's there , there is prejudice that's there, there is deep rooted . and, you know, we deep rooted. and, you know, we could spend a lot of time and i do analysing and writing about where it comes from and training people to understand it. and, you know, i could give you a two hour training session at gb news for all your staff, and i think people would be shocked at what they don't know. and you're in they don't know. and you're in the industry , and it's not the news industry, and it's not that people are unwilling to listen and hear , but they don't listen and hear, but they don't know. they don't think about it with a small jewish community,

it's a tiny community, if you think about it, what, 350,000 people and where 6 million in this country, many parts of the country, there's a negligible numbers of jewish people , yet numbers of jewish people, yet there's still anti—semitism . and there's still anti—semitism. and where the found jewish people are being targeted and i'm dealing, you know , it's people dealing, you know, it's people i'm dealing with and people don't like to come forward . don't like to come forward. people aren't rushing to you with stories about what happened to their child rationally. so because they want to protect their child or their grandson or their child or their grandson or their neighbour or their brother or their sister, so they're not rushing around telling everybody they're quietly talking about it. and i get to hear more by that. uh, often by private whatsapp groups, by someone tells me what's going on in their family. tells me what's going on in their family . that's where their family. that's where i hear the worst stuff , not from hear the worst stuff, not from the media, where people have gone public and what that means is that these figures represent

something that's far more sinister , dangerous and sinister, dangerous and damaging. that is going on because rationally , people are because rationally, people are busy protecting themselves rather than exposing themselves by saying, you know, look, look what's happened at my child at school this week. and, uh, the politicians as, as, as a collective are not on top of this . you know, there's lots of this. you know, there's lots of good words . there's almost good words. there's almost a consensus in parliament. anti—semitism is bad. we need to do more about it. well, it's clearly not effective enough on that point. >> and lastly , john, um, anti >> and lastly, john, um, anti semitism and anti—jewish hatred is not evenly spread across the entire country . how do we entire country. how do we address anti—semitism in a targeted way? rather than broad brush statements from government point that anti—semitism is wrong. and of course there are fantastic charities that are doing a huge a lot of work to promote , um, well, promote, uh , promote, um, well, promote, uh, tolerance essentially . but what

tolerance essentially. but what can be done to target communities where anti—semitism really is a problem ? really is a problem? >> uh, by priority as in resource, by being honest about it, you know, it it is there. it's at the fore. it's easy to see. it's damaging people. it's particularly pernicious and damaging for children and younger adults and societies , younger adults and societies, kind of almost shrugging its shoulders . you know, we had that shoulders. you know, we had that incredible incident in the soho theatre where the problem used to be the bystander, the semantic semitism going on and everyone just stands and watches here in that theatre . last week , here in that theatre. last week, direct anti—semitism directed against a jewish couple, and the audience joins in. so no longer bystanders washing their hands of it. but joining in. that's the state of events. that's a random theatre in london that shows how bad it is. you know,

things have got out of control. we need to pull them back in, and that's going to need a lot of hard work and a lot of honesty about how big and how widespread the problem of anti—jewish hatred is in our country at the moment. >> well, lord, man, you speak very powerfully on it and thank you for your time on good afternoon, britain this afternoon , june. my goodness, afternoon, june. my goodness, i'm reminded. actually, i went for a drink with a friend of mine not so long and mine not so long ago, and i noficed mine not so long ago, and i noticed wasn't wearing the noticed he wasn't wearing the necklace normally necklace he normally wears. yeah, had star of yeah, because it had a star of david a family david on. yeah it was a family necklace. always this necklace. he always wore it this yeah he necklace. he always wore it this year. he doesn't it because year. he doesn't wear it because he's afraid of what people will say to him. not not not even sort of physical harm, but just of abuse . jews in the streets in of abuse. jews in the streets in our capital city heard a story of university student, a son of a of a friend and, uh, he was, you know, targeted in a in a kebab shop up in nottingham asked to say f israel kebab shop up in nottingham asked to sayf israel curse asked to say f israel curse israel . israel. >> he refused. and you know , was

>> he refused. and you know, was completely hounded for it. it's just that intimidation, isn't it? they probably suspected that he was jewish. so they asked him to, uh, say that really horrific gb views at gb news. com. >> well, next up, should asylum seekers be allowed to work whilst they await their approval on claims? big debate. on their claims? big debate. this strong views on either side don't go anywhere . this is. good don't go anywhere. this is. good afternoon britain on .

radio. >> right. it's 125 radio. >> right. it's125 in radio. >> right. it's 125 in the afternoon and the uk's former immigration minister, robert jenrick, thinks it's a good idea to block asylum seekers from working. >> yes, on a trip to the us, mexico border, jenrick said he wanted to make the uk less attractive to illegal migrants and stop them plugging workforce gaps. this is ahead of the government's migration advisory committee releasing plans to get asylum seekers working within six months.

>> so the big question of the day is should asylum seekers be allowed to work? simple simple question. joining to us discuss this is international human rights lawyer david hague and immigration lawyer hardeep singh bhangal . the debate of the two bhangal. the debate of the two lawyers, van—tam stuff. uh, david, let's start with you. i'm not sure actually what your view is on this, but we'll find we'll find out. should asylum seekers be allowed to work in this country, or would that , uh, country, or would that, uh, encourage people to encourage more people to illegally come to this country? >> i good afternoon to you both. >> i good afternoon to you both. >> i good afternoon to you both. >> i think the first thing to look at is that if we had a proper immigration system in the first and were first place and we were processing asylum seekers in a couple weeks, we wouldn't couple of weeks, we wouldn't need this debate because couple of weeks, we wouldn't need seekers is debate because couple of weeks, we wouldn't need seekers would ate because couple of weeks, we wouldn't need seekers would come:ause couple of weeks, we wouldn't need seekers would come in.se asylum seekers would come in. >> if they granted it, >> and if they were granted it, that be done quickly. and that would be done quickly. and if sent if not, there would be sent away. that's first away. that's that's the first thing really thing the government really should on, rather should be focusing on, rather than people work should be focusing on, rather th.shouldn't people work should be focusing on, rather th.shouldn't work. le work should be focusing on, rather th.shouldn't work. now, work should be focusing on, rather th.shouldn't work. now, the work or shouldn't work. now, the reality is, of course, we've got an lot asylum seekers an awful lot of asylum seekers here waiting lists for here on on waiting lists for years now. the at the moment, if

there's a shortage, occupation , there's a shortage, occupation, they've been here 12 months through no fault of their own. there is a system whereby asylum seekers can work. that's what we have the moment. um, now that have at the moment. um, now that was strengthened because i think it about 20 or so years ago. was strengthened because i think it was about 20 or so years ago. was strengthened because i think it was a)out 20 or so years ago. was strengthened because i think it was a lott 20 or so years ago. was strengthened because i think it was a lot lessor so years ago. was strengthened because i think it was a lot less in so years ago. was strengthened because i think it was a lot less in termsrs ago. was strengthened because i think it was a lot less in terms ofago. it was a lot less in terms of time. it's very complex time. so it's a very complex debate think, because debate, i think, emily, because i got to look at i think we've got to look at what the what we trying to what the what we are trying to achieve as a country. are we trying offer deterrent to trying to offer a deterrent to people here and saying people coming here and saying people coming here and saying people ? is that people cannot work? is that going be deterrent? it going to be a deterrent? is it already deterring people? or when i think scotland in when i think it was scotland in about december, did a study on whether or not they should change these laws ? um, and they change these laws? um, and they found that it would bring more money to the scottish economy by allowing asylum seekers to work and integrate into the country quicker. so i think it's a really you know, i would say in. yes, but with very strict systems around it. >> well, there we go . let's >> well, there we go. let's throw it right over to harjeet singh bhangal. we're wasting money. people are just sitting there as as as unproductive

people. it's costing us £8 million a day. why shouldn't they work? no. there should be allowed to work. >> i think they should be allowed to work from day one. >> we as a taxpayer >> why should we as a taxpayer have to put them up in hotels when fact they can work and when in fact they can work and they're willing to work and pay rent of we're not rent and some of them, we're not saying them, some of them saying all of them, some of them just might get these just might get into these shortage occupations and fulfil that. skills that we that. the skills gap that we have um, fact is, the have, um, the fact is, the government like, um, i guess, said this, this the system is flawed. >> if you're going to make these asylum seekers wait two years for a decision , how are you for a decision, how are you expect them to feed themselves to house themselves as the burden falls upon us now? >> yes, but where's the where's the deterrent, though? >> and where's the, um . so >> and where's the, um. so ideally we want people to apply for a visa, apply through legal ways to become a citizen of this country, to be granted asylum, or to be granted a work permit. aren't we essentially encouraging illegal behaviour ?

encouraging illegal behaviour? and won't allowing more and more asylum seekers to work while their claims are being processed actually more people actually encourage more people to take that treacherous journey over here, the deterrent is reintroduced . reintroduced. >> a fast track system like we used to have in 2002 and 2003. i used to have in 2002 and 2003. i used to have in 2002 and 2003. i used to be on the harmondsworth fast scheme, where cases fast track scheme, where cases would be decided in 15 days and someone could potentially be sent back after being refused after 20 days. it didn't take a yeah after 20 days. it didn't take a year, but that wasn't what i was asking haljarp i was asking about. >> that is a deterrent. >> that is a deterrent. >> if somebody knows their claim is going to be finished in 20 days allowed days and there won't be allowed to and they could be on to work, and they could be on a plane on the 25th day, that's deterrent. >> the deterrent announced yesterday by the government that they're going pay tiktokers they're going to pay tiktokers to say, please don't come to the uk, please. because prayer in delhi or marco in albania told them to is absolutely ludicrous . them to is absolutely ludicrous. >> with that money, half a million potentially being spent, we could have opened a processing centre in france which would discourage families from a trip across the from making a trip across the

channel there's safe routes , channel there's no safe routes, there's no actually sort of rwanda isn't a deterrent. >> we know that because there's not spaces there. the not enough spaces there. the gangs and the gangs gangs are laughing and the gangs are here and there. are operating here and there. i mean, i remember last week was it you did a news item where someone trying to get out of someone was trying to get out of the living under a boat, the uk's living under a boat, and he's trying to get out and the gangs wanted £1,800 off him to smuggle him out. gangs to smuggle him out. so the gangs are both are operating are operating both are operating both you catch the both ways until you catch the gangs, there will never be deterrent. >> okay, let's throw this back to david. now, david, presumably you'd that there should be you'd think that there should be more qualifications than just day here illegally, day one. arrive here illegally, start working . start working. >> yeah, i think i think i mean, i would fundamentally disagree. i would fundamentally disagree. i don't think that we should allow someone coming across the channel on day one to walk straight into a job. i think thatis straight into a job. i think that is something that shouldn't be permitted. and i think perhaps, you know, when the whole area needs to be reviewed. and one of things that we and one of the things that we could is people that are could look at is people that are claiming asylum and are here lawfully, and they do exist, and

people coming illegally people that are coming illegally across the channel. and whether we to draw we want to try and draw a distinction between the people that are here lawfully claim asylum, then people that asylum, and then the people that come unlawfully and illegally and but something, and claim asylum, but something, you know, i think if we allow the system if you come the system where if you come across you can across on a boat and you can work , i think that is a big work, i think that is a big problem. i also think it's a problem. i also think it's a problem from human rights as well, you will then well, because what you will then get, get people get, you will get people smugglers forced labour smugglers and forced labour gangs that the minute that knowing that the minute that they on these shores, they they land on these shores, they can that's a problem. they land on these shores, they can i that's a problem. they land on these shores, they can i think that's a problem. they land on these shores, they can i think it'sthat's a problem. they land on these shores, they can i think it's aat's a problem. they land on these shores, they can i think it's a very| problem. they land on these shores, they can i think it's a very complex. but i think it's a very complex area of course, from area because, of course, from attacks, we're looking at attacks, when we're looking at how costing us how much it's costing us to house them and house people and paying them and paying house people and paying them and paying for the housing, if we could be actually having those people generate tax and income and not having the burden on the, on the state. so it's a very it's a, you know, we could i think we could all sit for, here for hours and have this debate look at and debate and look at studies and whether effective. debate and look at studies and wh< i her effective. debate and look at studies and wh

said the global asylum system has become a back door to the labour market for economic migrants who are search of migrants who are in search of better but not in better prospects, but not in fear life. he's right, fear of their life. he's right, isn't he? >> well, the is , do we need >> well, the fact is, do we need unskilled labour in this country ? if you ask businesses, they will say yes. so is there a way for them to have unskilled labour after the end of free movement of workers ? possibly movement of workers? possibly not. visa schemes that not. all the visa schemes that are geared up are geared up towards highly skilled people , towards highly skilled people, towards highly skilled people, to investors, people with money or where we've got, um, specific shortages such as care workers even they can't bring their family over now from march the 11th, uh, you know, and the wages have have gone up to about 40,000 a requirements to come over permit. so the over on a work permit. so the fact is, are we going to listen to and needs or to businesses and their needs or are say, actually, are we going to say, actually, no, going to train the no, we're going to train the british do these british people up to do these unskilled jobs because we've had 7 do that post 7 or 8 years to do that post brexit, it doesn't seem to 7 or 8 years to do that post breworking.it doesn't seem to 7 or 8 years to do that post breworking. these n't seem to 7 or 8 years to do that post breworking. these vacancies o be working. these vacancies still british people be working. these vacancies still going british people be working. these vacancies still going out ritish people be working. these vacancies still going out and1 people be working. these vacancies still going out and filling.e aren't going out and filling them our own for them. we can't train our own for some . and, you know, it

some reason. and, you know, it does seem that many people do. british do not want to do british people do not want to do these jobs that migrants do and take for example, when we walk into any building in london, the security guards will be migrants. the cleaners will be migrants. the cleaners will be migrants. even the makeup people who do my makeup at news channels migrants . yeah. channels are migrants. yeah. now, why can't british people do these jobs? >> got a huge amount >> and we've got a huge amount of people who are on long terme sickness, long terme benefits, who out of work entirely, who are out of work entirely, aren't seeking work, so aren't seeking work, and so on. thank much. that was thank you very much. that was a great rajesh singh, great debate. rajesh singh, bhangal immigration and bhangal immigration lawyer and david hayes, who is a international human rights lawyer, and lawyers and lawyer, lawyers and lawyers and lawyers lawyer. lawyer, lawyers and lawyers and lawabsolutely'. lawyer, lawyers and lawyers and lawabsolutely . well, don't go >> absolutely. well, don't go anywhere. in a few moments. anywhere. in just a few moments. is judicial system by just is ourjudicial system by just we'll be putting that question to our expert but first, to our expert panel. but first, it's your headlines with tatiana i >> -- >> tom. m >> tom. thank you. your top stories from the gp newsroom . stories from the gp newsroom. chancellor jeremy stories from the gp newsroom.

chancellorjeremy hunt says chancellor jeremy hunt says despite the uk entering into recession, the economy is turning a corner. official figures show the economy shrank . figures show the economy shrank. by figures show the economy shrank. by 0.3% at the end of last year, following a period of decline in the previous three months. it's the previous three months. it's the first time the uk's gdp has dropped since the first half of 2020, after the first covid lockdown . chancellor rachel lockdown. chancellor rachel reeves says the prime minister completely out of touch with the realities on the ground . british realities on the ground. british gas owner centrica has renewed calls for a social tariff to allow people to pay less for their gas and electricity. it comes as new data reveals british gas benefited last year from being able to claw back money lost during the energy crisis. this comes as new figures released today show 3 million low income households in england struggled to pay their energy bills last year, government figures found that 13% were in fuel poverty , 13% were in fuel poverty, largely unchanged from the year

before . voters are casting their before. voters are casting their ballots in wellingborough and kingswood . the public have until kingswood. the public have until 10:00 this evening to choose their replacement mps, following their replacement mps, following the departures of chris skidmore and peter bone . a judge is and peter bone. a judge is facing criticism after liking a pro—palestine social media post. judge tan ikram spared jail for three women who displayed images of paragliders at a protest just a week after hamas used paragliders to enter and attack israel. in october, he was found to like posts which said free palestine and that branded israel a terrorist . judge ikram israel a terrorist. judge ikram told gb news that he didn't know that he liked the post and that if he did, it was a genuine mistake . and the duke and mistake. and the duke and duchess of sussex are on a three day visit in canada . prince day visit in canada. prince harry and meghan have been visiting the winter training camp the invictus games, one camp of the invictus games, one year to the event . the year prior to the event. the pair spent time with athletes

and tournament staff in vancouver and military veterans harry founded the paralympic style sporting competition in 2014 for injured and sick military personnel and veterans to aid their recovery , he . for to aid their recovery, he. 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 gb news. comment alerts . for a valuable legacy, alerts. for a valuable legacy, your family can own, gold coins will always shine bright. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2544 and ,1.1673. the price of gold is £1,593.06 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7576 points. >> rosalind gold proudly

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and that's that's frightening. >> if you're listening to jvt news . radio. news. radio. >> good afternoon britain . it's >> good afternoon britain. it's coming up to 20 to 2. and can we rely on our judges not to be swayed by their own views? well, this question comes as judge this question comes as a judge who unquote, not who decided, quote unquote, not to punish three women displaying parachute images at a pro—palestine march could face disciplinary action taken. >> yes. well, he's also been caught liking a social media post branding israel a terrorist state and calling for a free palestine with questions now being asked, of course, about whether a whether we have a bit of a biased judicial system here in the uk whether man the uk and whether this man was appropriate particular case. >> let's discuss this now with the political commentator benedict spence the benedict spence and the journalist and former political adviser, joe phillips. um,

benedict, i'm going to start with you, i suppose, whether or not this judge was actually influenced by views influenced by his views or otherwise. pour otherwise. and we can't pour into his soul and no , sometimes into his soul and no, sometimes it's the perception of bias that really matters when it comes to confidence in our judiciary. it does. >> but we've always had bias in ourjudiciary, actually. it's always do always been to do with interpretation. and this is nothing new. and ultimately this is, so is, i don't think, so much a question a question of whether or not a judge's question of whether or not a judgmore do the and more to do with the sentencing guidelines. if the sentencing guidelines allow a judge punish somebody judge not to punish somebody with prison time, then i think that's a more pertinent question, is to turn around and say, that say, well, why is it that you can of can be accused or convicted of something can be accused or convicted of somethin actually there'd act? and actually there'd be no prison i would have prison sentence? i would have thought that terrorism would have been those things thought that terrorism would havewould those things thought that terrorism would havewould tmandatory; that would carry a mandatory prison sentence. i that is prison sentence. i think that is perhaps more revealing, more interest thing as to why it is that these three people were allowed uh, that allowed to go, uh, free that day. more allowed to go, uh, free that day. you more allowed to go, uh, free that day. you have more more allowed to go, uh, free that day. you have more concerns allowed to go, uh, free that day. the have more concerns allowed to go, uh, free that day. the lawe more concerns allowed to go, uh, free that day. the law itselfa concerns about the law itself? >> well, rather than ultimately the potential for this judge to

have been biased. >> well, the reason why you have sentencing guidelines is partly to make sure judge to make sure that a judge is biased, can only go so far. >> would very >> ultimately, it would be very easy if under our system for a judge to just let somebody go if actually there wasn't a sort of actually there wasn't a sort of a set of standards in place. >> that's why we have sentencing guidelines . >> that's why we have sentencing guidelines. so that then i think would be the question, because as i say, there has always been bias system. bias in ourjudicial system. >> is as wrong to >> it is it is as wrong to believe that judges entirely believe that judges are entirely impartial as as it is to believe that anybody that politicians or anybody else's , everybody that politicians or anybody else's into , everybody that politicians or anybody else's into these , everybody that politicians or anybody else's into these thingsbody that politicians or anybody else's into these things with comes into these things with their prejudices. >> just to do with >> and it's not just to do with ideological or background. it might just be the human condition of the person that they see in front of them, that they might decide actually, genuinely, this person doesn't deserve genuinely, this person doesn't dese are remorseful they genuinely, this person doesn't dese (theamorseful they genuinely, this person doesn't dese (theamorseperhapsiey genuinely, this person doesn't dese (theamorseperhaps believes were. the judge perhaps believes thatagain, that is why we have sentences. >> doesn't the sort of fundamental judicial fundamental of our judicial system that system rest upon this idea that justice yes . yes, i think it's >> um, yes. yes, i think it's very important to put this into context, because context, though, tom, because these women been found

these women have been found guilty, they have been convicted of terror offences as benedict rightly says, that is on their record. and that will have a huge impact on them in terms of jobs. huge impact on them in terms of jobs . if they want to travel to jobs. if they want to travel to certain countries , most notably certain countries, most notably america , perhaps getting loans, america, perhaps getting loans, mortgages , that sort of thing. mortgages, that sort of thing. so the idea that they gone so the idea that they have gone unpunished is not strictly true. they've now got this. >> well, it's the weakest possible punishment. he could have he spoke have dished out. yes. he spoke to a lawyer earlier who said yes, that is weakest yes, that is the weakest punishment. yeah >> but mean, what would be the >> but i mean, what would be the point? >> and he also said in his remarks that they were not seeking to show any support for hamas. so that's where it indicates that he had so much empathy . empathy. >> well, i don't know. i think no, i don't know what's true, you empathy no, i don't know what's true, you believed. empathy no, i don't know what's true, you believed. think empathy no, i don't know what's true, you believed. think ythought no, i don't know what's true, you ithey/ed. think ythought no, i don't know what's true, you ithey were think ythought no, i don't know what's true, you ithey were stupid ythought no, i don't know what's true, you ithey were stupid and|ought that they were stupid and naive and silly . and silly. >> and i think that's probably what they might be thinking as

they suddenly realise that they're going to have a problem. they suddenly realise that thei've going to have a problem. they suddenly realise that thei've just g to have a problem. they suddenly realise that thei've just g to igettingyroblem. as i've just said, getting a bank loan or getting a visa to go to america. yeah. um, so i think be think you know, what would be the benefit of sending three rather the benefit of sending three hmean, it would be a maximum of i mean, it would be a maximum of six months, so they'd probably be out three months. be out in three months. you know, prisons are overcrowded. what is the point? >> it's not that that i believe that should go, that they that he should go, that they should have gone to prison. that's not the point here. is that there are people who have highlights he's highlights the fact that he's been tougher on different been much tougher on different crimes. some private crimes. well, some private whatsapp messages a police whatsapp messages that a police officer sent that were deemed whatsapp messages that a police officerthey that were deemed whatsapp messages that a police officerthey that 'mocking�*ned whatsapp messages that a police officerthey that 'mocking george whatsapp messages that a police officeryes. that 'mocking george whatsapp messages that a police officeryes. and: 'mocking george whatsapp messages that a police officeryes. and he|ocking george whatsapp messages that a police officeryes. and he gaveig george whatsapp messages that a police officeryes. and he gave a george floyd. yes. and he gave a prison sentence one. sentence for that one. >> a police officer is >> well, a police officer is supposed be upholding the law. >> that was an abuse of power. these three women were individual citizens who went to a march and obviously , as he a march and obviously, as he said, they crossed the line. they behaved stupidly. they are, you know, they have got a conviction now. there is a huge difference between that stupidity and a police officer

knowingly doing something like that. when we are supposed to be able to look to the police to be unbiased and is that a point that these were three perhaps quite ignorant people who perhaps saw a stupid meme online, printed it off, thought they were being funny ? they were being funny? >> ultimately, with your call for higher minimum sentencing guidelines, straying for higher minimum sentencing guideliiand straying for higher minimum sentencing guideliiand further straying for higher minimum sentencing guideliiand further from ng for higher minimum sentencing guideliiand further from free speech? >>i speech? >> i think in this country, i mean, i understand the sort of the of the campaign for sort of absolute free speech, but this country has never had absolute free speech, and it will never have free speech, and it will never havwe be clear on >> we should be very clear on this. is actually this. no government is actually going a first going to pass a sort of a first amendment, because it's actually not that popular with with the country at large. i think realistically, to realistically, what we have to recognise that anti—semitism recognise is that anti—semitism is or certainly should be, a red line in a post—holocaust european country, and we should not, i think, be scared of saying to people that it comes

above all other kinds of prejudices, because it is so in, i suppose, insidious, it sort of . gets into so many different crevices. it is not simply a question of race. it is not simply a question religion. simply a question of religion. it is something that has caused tremendous on, i would tremendous damage on, i would say, an incomparable scale to any in any other kind of prejudice in europe, any other kind of prejudice in europthink unfair us don't think it's unfair for us to quite the to say, well, we quite like the idea free expression idea of free expression oppression and we try to facilitate that where we can, however, there is one community thatis however, there is one community that is the best integrated of any in any ethnic minority community in the kingdom that we feel the united kingdom that we feel that protect that we have to protect above all it all others. so actually, when it does yes, does come to anti—semitism, yes, there think that's don't think that that's a problem history of problem because the history of the jewish is always when the jewish people is always when you the anti—semites an you give the anti—semites an inch, they take a foot. and a lot of people die and suffer. >> but you have to be allowed to criticise the israeli government. >> to allowed >> you have to be allowed to criticise israeli foreign policy. that's fine. you have to be allowed. >> we're doing >> we're not doing that. >> we're not doing that. >> in your >> we're not doing that. >> just in your >> we're not doing that. >> just clarifying in your >> we're not doing that. >> just clarifying with in your >> we're not doing that. >> just clarifying with you your i'm just clarifying with you that, your that, you know, in your protection ian it has there has to be a point where, you know,

if you are seen to or if you want to criticise benjamin netanyahu for his government and the way he is running his government. there government. and of course, there are very not are a lot of very not anti—semitic there. are a lot of very not anti—segreat there. are a lot of very not anti—segreat irony is >> the great irony of this is that the biggest criticism, the criticisms be criticisms of israel, tend to be liberal to be islamists. >> it tends not to be islamists. there's quite actually no. but we're going to have to pause it there. >> wra- >> but we will be back coming up virtually. >> but we will be back coming up virtualljsadiq khan's overground failure. sadiq khan's overground makeover after

>> you're listening to gb news radio. >> it's 150 radio. >> it's150 sadiq khan had a rather exciting announcement today. he's revealed a brand works k

>> no. let's ask the political commentator benedict spence, alongside journalist and former political adviser joe phillips . political adviser joe phillips. um, uh, first of all, joe, the idea of naming lines is i suppose it's not that silly in and of itself, this is a navigation tool, perhaps. >> yes. >> yes. >> i mean, i have to say that for anybody outside london, this is probably we might well be speaking in completely foreign tongues . um, speaking in completely foreign tongues. um, and i have never , tongues. um, and i have never, uh, had had a particular problem with the overground . line. with the overground. line. >> i think that our viewers across the country like to hear stories about how awful london is, and the mayor and how much money is being wasted. £63 million. >> that's a different story, emily. and that's a different angle. but actual point of angle. but the actual point of naming lines, i mean, know, naming lines, i mean, you know, if me, you if somebody says to me, you know, i get from here to know, how do i get from here to there? if i'm in london, i'll there? i if i'm in london, i'll say, oh, no, the pink line or the blue line or whatever the country is littered with streets and named after long and buildings named after long forgotten councillors and old

men and stuff like that. so you know, in 30, 40 years time or possibly sooner , who will possibly sooner, who will remember . why these lines were remember. why these lines were called? it doesn't make it any easier to navigate to get around. >> then benedict raises the question, then why have we spent so on it? so much money on it? >> well, that's exactly what i'd say. about sort of say. if this is about sort of remembering people, if nobody is going remember them. and going to remember them. and a lot of these, i think are actually quite niche. and at the moment, i mean, the lioness is one in particular. know, the one in particular. you know, the men won the world men have actually won the world cup, world men have actually won the world cup, not world men have actually won the world cup, not the world men have actually won the world cup, not the euros. world men have actually won the world cup, not the euros. vmen have cup, not the euros. the men have done better. >> that was my not going >> that was my we're not going to in 1966. doesn't to that was in 1966. doesn't matter. doesn't matter. the matter. it doesn't matter. the battle was long battle of trafalgar was a long time ago. gets a square. time ago. it gets a square. >> the lioness. time ago. it gets a square. >> and the lioness. time ago. it gets a square. >> and does1e lioness. time ago. it gets a square. >> and does1e liytake;. time ago. it gets a square. >> and does1e liytake the lioness >> and does one take the lioness or does one ride it? this, you know, of very know, raises all kinds of very difficult time in the afternoon. well, it's serious well, it's a it's a serious concern, what the concern, you know, what is the appropriate etiquette to do with this line? >> suffragettes, >> all the suffragettes, one is one you've just one line that and you've just mentioned really of mentioned it has really sort of got irritated this got me slightly irritated this got me slightly irritated this go on the collar. go on, on that, on the collar. come on, tom, shall we at

come on, tom, shall we look at the way that khan has the way that sadiq khan has advertised suffrage jet line? >> now, if you notice there, that's a of millicent that's a statue of millicent fawcett, she a fawcett. she wasn't a suffragette. she was a suffragist. >> calm down, dear, this is a very, very important distinction. >> the suffragists were non—violent. the suffragettes blew things up, smashed windows. these days, there is one group who we should be lauding and one who we should be lauding and one who we should not. and the suffragists were bigger and more important. but it's the suffragettes . who blew things suffragettes. who blew things up. so they get the coverage and they get the line names. >> i like . your attention to >> i like. your attention to detail. are they having a do we get a drink? >> is an umbrella tum but it's not an umbrella turn. >> it's a violent group. >> it's a violent group. >> it's a it's a it's an umbrella turn. >> i'm don't know, >> i'm like, i don't know, islamic jihad is an umbrella tum. i suppose um, tum. i suppose much more, um, keen on direct action. >> yeah. um, they actually achieved out to achieved what they set out to achieve. people, they achieve. and most people, they were, more were, they were a more successful terrorist

organisation than most. >> a statue. >> so they should get a statue. >> so they should get a statue. >> you >> but hang on, jo, you can't really that was the really think that it was the suffragettes who got women the right vote. the right vote right to vote. the right to vote happened for women first in 1918, world happened for women first in 1918 ended. world happened for women first in 1918 ended. after world happened for women first in 1918 ended. after wachieved happened for women first in 19the nded. after wachieved happened for women first in 19the place after wachieved happened for women first in 19the place their wachieved happened for women first in 19the place their rightful achieved a the place their rightful place in society because so many women got rightful space. got property, a rightful space. >> absolutely. >> absolutely. >> that's well, >> that's good. well, no, because many finally because so many women finally got position in got property and got position in society and a lot of men were killed. that wasn't anything society and a lot of men were kildo. that wasn't anything society and a lot of men were kildo with that wasn't anything society and a lot of men were kildo with thesuffragettes thing society and a lot of men were kildo with thesuffragettes .1ing to do with the suffragettes. >> you could use the same analogy the second world analogy about the second world war, went in war, when women went to work in the factories and, you the munitions factories and, you know, and childcare . know, nurseries and childcare. so much more important. >> so we should call it the inheritance tax line, maybe finish. >> well, i don't happen to agree with you. >> i think most people would not know the difference. and you're quite to point the quite right to point out the difference between the suffragists and the suffragettes. but as emily said earlier, from going an all earlier, from going to an all girls which i did not girls school, which i did not her school, but you know, actually most people would think of it. but yes, it is a bit silly to use millicent fawcett because if you were going to use

it, wouldn't you use emmeline pankhurst? know who pankhurst? you know who everybody knows. >> virtue >> so yeah, the virtue signalling went a little signalling went a went a little bit. >> i think it's gone into the sidings. yeah. >> that's all, all, that's >> well that's all, all, that's all left. all we've got left. >> but we will be back indeed with spence and joe phillips. >> we will be at the end of next houh >> we will be at the end of next hour, but that's for now . hour, but that's for now. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , sponsors of weather on . solar, sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> hello there. welcome to your latest gb news weather update with me, annie from the met office . it will be a cloudy and office. it will be a cloudy and mild day for many of us. we do have some rain warnings in force as well as we'll see some heavy rain across the rain push eastwards across the country through today. but we do have very mild atlantic air being brought in this being brought in by this southerly breeze across us through today. the are through today. the winds are quite light, in the southeast quite light, so in the southeast ahead of any of the heavier rain will feel quite pleasant, almost spnng will feel quite pleasant, almost spring . will feel quite pleasant, almost spnng .in will feel quite pleasant, almost

spring . in any sunshine spring like. in any sunshine that does develop. this afternoon. further north and west, though, heavy rain will persist , particularly across persist, particularly across south southwest south wales, parts of southwest england and into the midlands. later rainfall later so there is some rainfall warnings in force here. we could see some spray on the roads and travel disruption from that heavy across parts of heavy rain across parts of scotland, where it has been quite wet start to the day. it quite a wet start to the day. it will dry up through this afternoon into evening, afternoon and into the evening, and dry weather spread and that dry weather will spread eastwards throughout tonight. but there is a spell of quite heavy to come across heavy rain to come across the southeast this evening , southeast through this evening, but large it will a but by and large it will be a dner but by and large it will be a drier night tonight. plenty of clear skies developing as well, so be a slightly cooler so it will be a slightly cooler night, fairly mild for night, but still fairly mild for the year. and there will the time of year. and there will be sunshine on be some early sunshine on friday, particularly across parts of and wales where parts of england and wales where the could last a lot the sunshine could last a lot of the sunshine could last a lot of the day. however, will be the day. however, there will be slightly cloud further slightly thicker cloud further north west and that cloud north and west and that cloud could thick enough for few could be thick enough for a few showers, parts showers, particularly over parts of pennines and the hills. of the pennines and the hills. but in any sunshine you do see, of the pennines and the hills. blwill any sunshine you do see, of the pennines and the hills. blwill feel sunshine you do see, of the pennines and the hills. blwill feel quite ine you do see, of the pennines and the hills. blwill feel quite pleasantio see, of the pennines and the hills. blwill feel quite pleasant once , it will feel quite pleasant once again. temperatures still above average. highs average. we could see highs around degrees on friday. see around 16 degrees on friday. see you later . that warm

around 16 degrees on friday. see you later. that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news way. >> good afternoon britain . it's >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:00 on thursday the 15th of february. >> britain in recession. the uk has joined the ranks of ireland, denmark, the netherlands, austria, sweden and norway as one of the many european countries to have entered a technical recession. but with growth so close to zero, either side of the line has anything really changed? >> is justice really changed? >> isjustice blind ? really changed? >> is justice blind ? one judge >> is justice blind? one judge faces escalating accusations of bias as he let three protesters brandishing hamas paraglider images walk free despite their terror charges . judge ikram had terror charges. judge ikram had recently liked a social media post branding israel a terrorist. there are calls for a

retrial , and terrorist. there are calls for a retrial, and the mother of murdered transgender girl brianna ghey says smartphone manufacturers hold a moral responsibility for the protection of children . protection of children. >> do they? and should we ban the devices for both children and teenagers? perhaps a banning phone social media from from all children and teenagers is perhaps a bit of a knee jerk reaction. >> i just think, i think this is such a sad case and i think grieving parent s should be empathised with to the ends of the earth , but shouldn't the earth, but shouldn't necessarily be the start of a conversation about legislate ation because we know from this case that brianna herself, like loved social media, was on social media, had a big following on tiktok . she had so

following on tiktok. she had so many friends through there. she she had love and experience the best of the world. >> that doesn't mean it was her phone mental health, but the people who killed her weren't big on social media. >> people who killed her >> the people who killed her weren't prolific on instagram or twitter or tiktok. the people who killed her were on the opposite of social media. they were on the dark web . that's not were on the dark web. that's not something that any sort of legislation can cover. regulate twitter or instagram won't won't have changed that. it's just such a it's such a different issue. >> the truth is, though, tom, there is huge amounts of evidence to suggest that social media is bad for the mental health of children and teenagers. there is no escaping that. whether that is the responsibility of the social media companies themselves or parents or someone else, then that's the question. but there is absolutely no doubt that social media is bad for people's mental health in this. >> in this case, it was very, very good. >> no doubt. well, you don't know that. but yes, let us know what you should we ban

what you think. should we ban mobile for children? gb mobile phones for children? gb views at news. but first views at gb news. com but first your headlines. >> good afternoon. 2:02. your top stories from the gb newsroom. the chancellor says despite the uk entering into recession, the economy is turning a corner. recession, the economy is turning a corner . official turning a corner. official figures show the economy shrank by 0.3% at the end of last year, following a period of decline in the previous three months. it's the previous three months. it's the first time the uk's gdp has dropped since the first half of 2020, after the first covid lockdown, jeremy hunt insists there's light at the end of the tunnel. we always expected growth to be weaker while we prioritise tackling inflation. >> that means higher interest rates and that's the right thing to do because you can't have a long terme, healthy growth with high inflation, but also for families when the when there's a cost of living crisis, when the cost of living crisis, when the cost of living crisis, when the cost of their weekly shop is going up, their bills are going up, their energy bills are much higher .

going up, their energy bills are much higher. it's the right thing to do . the underlying thing to do. the underlying picture here is an economy that is more resilient than most people predicted. inflation is coming down. real wages have been going up now for six months and if we stick to our guns , and if we stick to our guns, independent forecasters say that by the early summer we could start to see interest rates falling . however shadow falling. however shadow chancellor rachel reeves says the prime minister's economic pledge is in tatters. >> the confirmation of recession exposes a government and a prime minister completely out of touch with the realities on the ground , a government that for too long has looked on economic failure with complacency , content to be with complacency, content to be the manager . the manager. >> years of decline . rishi sunak >> years of decline. rishi sunak claims that he has a plan , but claims that he has a plan, but the plan is not working . the plan is not working. >> british gas owner centrica has renewed calls for a social tariff to allow people to pay

less for their gas and electric city. it comes as new data reveals british gas benefited last year from being able to claw back money lost during the energy crisis. this comes as new figures released today show 3 million low income households in england struggled to pay their energy bills last year. government figures found that 13% were in fuel poverty, largely unchanged from the year before . the foreign secretary's before. the foreign secretary's repeated calls for the us to pass a bill including support for ukraine. his comments came as the number of visa holders arriving into the uk have fled the war in ukraine, topping 200,000. the bill has passed through the senate but faces an uncertain future in the house of representatives , where hardline representatives, where hardline republicans aligned with presidential frontrunner donald trump opposed the legislation . trump opposed the legislation. dufing trump opposed the legislation. during a visit to poland, lord cameron said the congress vote was crucial to helping ukraine succeed in the war against russia . russia. >> we applaud what the eu has

already done for our ukraine, but because of their strength and power in the world, we really do want to see congress pass that money to support ukraine economic but crucially, militarily . ukraine economic but crucially, militarily. in the months ahead, we saw yet again yesterday in the black sea, the huge success that ukraine is having against putin's russia , israeli special putin's russia, israeli special forces say they've raided the biggest functioning hospital in gaza. >> video shows chaos in al—nasser hospital and people gathering in corridors that are filled with dust and smoke. israeli forces said the search is based on credible information that hamas is hiding in the facility, and hostages are being kept there. israeli military spokesperson rear admiral daniel hagan spokesperson rear admiral daniel hagari described the raid on nasa hospital as precise and limited. we conduct precise rescue operations as we have in the past, where our intelligence

indicates that the bodies of hostages may be held. >> we have credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages, indicating that hamas held hostages at the nasa hospital in khan yunis , and that hospital in khan yunis, and that there may be bodies of our hostages in the nasa hospital facility . facility. >> a judge is facing criticism after liking a pro—palestine social media post. judge tan ikram spared jail for three women who displayed images of paragliders at a protest just a week after hamas used paragliders to enter and attack israel in october, he was found to like posts which said free palestine and that branded israel a terrorist. judge ikram told gb news that he didn't know that he'd like the post, and that he'd like the post, and that if he did, it was a genuine mistake . i a that if he did, it was a genuine mistake. i a 16 that if he did, it was a genuine mistake . i a 16 year old boy has mistake. ia 16 year old boy has died after being stabbed in a park in bristol. he was attacked in rawnsley park by two people wearing masks, who then fled the

scene on bicycles . a murder scene on bicycles. a murder investigation has been launched and it comes weeks after the deaths of teenagers mason rist and max dixon, who was stabbed in the knowle west area of the . in the knowle west area of the. city voters are now casting their ballots in wellingborough and kingswood. the public have until 10:00 this evening to choose their replacement mps, following the departures of chris skidmore and peter bone . chris skidmore and peter bone. for the latest stories , sign up for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen. or you can go to gb news. comment alerts . alerts. >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:08 and the judge who decided not to punish in quotation marks three women displaying parachute images at a pro—palestine march may now face disciplinary action. this is after liking a

social media post, branding israel a terrorist state and calling for a free palestine. yes, judge tan ikram was criticised has been criticised by various jewish groups for letting the three women off. >> scot free and now questions are being asked to whether we have a biased judicial system here in the uk. quite a lot to get stuck into. yeah >> it must be noted that accusations of getting off scot free aren't precisely correct, but no jail time was given. despite a sentence being handed down. let's bring in our reporter, ray addison, with all of the details. ray, what went on in this case? >> well, this was the case of three women who attended a pro—palestine rally exactly seven days after that horrific terror attack by hamas on israel. now, these women were filmed and the video went viral on social media. it showed two of them with pictures sellotaped to their backs of what appeared and were called paragliders on

social media and the third woman had one on a billboard type billboard that she was carrying. now they were subsequently arrested and obviously brought to trial. during the trial, the defence had claimed that it wasn't a paraglider image after all, it was simply parachutes , all, it was simply parachutes, and in palestinian culture they were symbols of freedom that was obviously rejected by the judge, who did convict them, convict them of this offence and obviously they were given a 12 month conditional discharge . month conditional discharge. >> well, thank you very much indeed for bringing us the very latest ray addison , who is our latest ray addison, who is our reporter, live from westminster . reporter, live from westminster. shall the verdict of shall we get the verdict of barrister stephen barrister and writer stephen barrett? stephen we're very interested to know your view on this case and the judge's ruling . there have accusations . there have been accusations that there is bias. stephen there? yes. he is. fantastic

accusations of bias. uh, are those fair? do you think ? those fair? do you think? >> well, i want to be very clear to your viewers that this is, i think, the greatest test that the modern structure of the of the modern structure of the of the judiciary of our judges has faced. >> this is a very serious incident. we restructured . how incident. we restructured. how the judiciary worked in in around 2005. >> in the noughties, we got rid of the old structure where we had a robust and single individual called the lord chancellor, who was responsible for controlling, uh, judges and holding them all to task. >> and we replaced them with a different, more corporate style structure. and i do want your viewers to think about that. >> maybe, maybe return to >> maybe, maybe we'll return to that instance. that in the first instance. >> is very concerning. and >> this is very concerning. and i am very concerned that the initial investigation has already closed , which sounds already closed, which sounds implausible , impossible, and implausible, impossible, and absurd. the alleged defences is

that the individual did this accidentally. well, it's on linkedin . it's very difficult to linkedin. it's very difficult to accidentally like a post on linkedin. it's not merely a pro—palestinian post. if you read what it says, it effectively threatens british jews. it calls them israeli terrorists . residents in the terrorists. residents in the united kingdom. well i don't think it's very difficult to assume that that means british jews for justice to be assume that that means british jews forjustice to be done. jews for justice to be done. what we say in the law is that it's important that it is seen to be done, not merely done, but seen to be done. and we say that it must be manifested manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done. and undoubtedly be seen to be done . and at the moment that is done. and at the moment that is a massive question. now the old system, a lord chancellor would have a grip on this, and we'd have a grip on this, and we'd have someone. you'd have someone to interview about this and ask very serious questions about what's next. how very serious questions about what's going next. how very serious questions about what's going to next. how very serious questions about what's going to fix next. how very serious questions about what's going to fix this?1ext. how very serious questions about what's going to fix this? how how are we going to fix this? how are we going to fix this? how are to restore trust are we going to restore trust and faith in the judiciary? because bbc. because this isn't just the bbc. you know , other institutions are you know, other institutions are less . the judiciary is less important. the judiciary is fundamental to our country, and the public must have faith in

it. so the most important question how going question now is how are we going to restore public trust and faith in the judiciary ? stephen, faith in the judiciary? stephen, that sorry that is fundamental. sorry >> what do you say to those who say this is all a storm in a teacup? this has all been whipped up online. this could have been an accidental post on linkedin, but more than that, these three individuals did face some form of punishment. yes, it wasn't the most significant punishment. they could have possibly and yes, they will possibly got. and yes, they will do service and do no community service and spend no time in prison. but they'll have something on their criminal record and they won't they'll have something on their cri|able. record and they won't they'll have something on their cri|able. revisit and they won't they'll have something on their cri|able. revisit the they won't they'll have something on their cri|able. revisit the united on't be able to visit the united states. there are some other states. and there are some other bits and bobs that imply, states. and there are some other bits athey)bs that imply, states. and there are some other bits athey were that imply, states. and there are some other bits athey were that iaiply, guys, they were handed a punishment . guys, they were handed a punishment. is there argument punishment. is there an argument that this justice done ? that this was justice done? >> no. this is far bigger than those individuals, far , far those individuals, far, far bigger. this goes to public trust and faith in the in the judiciary, in our judges. trust and faith in the in the judiciary, in our judges . and we judiciary, in ourjudges. and we have to look at what type of judge this was as well. why was he on social media at all? i mean , our understanding of mean, our understanding of impartiality is breaking down.

we seem to have structures now where we have an independent regulator, just means regulator, which just means effectively nobody is accountable because nobody knows who any of the half the time we don't the don't even know who the regulator let who regulator is, let alone who actually regulator . in actually is the regulator. in the days, we had accountable the old days, we had accountable through ministers who we through ministers who who we could see, who we could ask questions to and hold accountable. theory, this accountable. in theory, in this instance , lady justice instance, the lady chief justice is responsible the judges. is responsible for the judges. so the lady chief so in theory, the lady chief justice should be the justice should be doing the media and restoring trust and faith in the judiciary. but the lady justice has offered lady chief justice has offered no comment right okay. i'm no comment now. right okay. i'm worried we have a major worried that we have a major crisis , that it's got at least, crisis, that it's got at least, at least the whiff of, of a problem. and the public will have a genuine concern about it. and not just that , but and not just that, but structurally, we are unable to deal with it . structurally, we deal with it. structurally, we don't seem to be able to put a lid on it and restore trust and confidence. and if that's true , confidence. and if that's true, then just like with the bbc, this will turn out to be one incident of many, and there will be other incidents that will

come we find other come up. we will find other members of the judiciary. >> stephen, stephen, these accusations bias, some people accusations of bias, some people have drawn on harsher rulings that out in the past, that he's given out in the past, harsher punishments for, well , harsher punishments for, well, if not similar crimes for communications, crimes for things that could be called freedom of speech issues. >> so they've used that. but then also the idea that he he liked something, um, it's difficult , isn't it, because we difficult, isn't it, because we see this as evidence. but there may be many otherjudges see this as evidence. but there may be many other judges out there who are liking things in their head. you know, you can't control people's thoughts. can you know ? you know? >> so but that's why this is about perception. and this is why, realistically, in the old days, we kept judges out of the pubuc days, we kept judges out of the public arena because you just you just you can't be in the pubuc you just you can't be in the public arena and stay above reproach. and if there's one institution in this country that we need like caesar's we need, like caesar's wife, to be, to be utterly above reproach, is the judiciary. reproach, it is the judiciary. because if we don't have trust and faith the judges, even if and faith in the judges, even if that's totally illegitimate, even if actually all the judges

deserve our trust and faith and confidence, is probably confidence, which is probably what you know, what i believe. but you know, even if that's true, we must have it seen to be done . and have it seen to be done. and that means an effective investigation. it means somebody taking direct accountability. it means somebody can indicating to the public what going to be the public what is going to be done this. and probably it done about this. and probably it means the end of judges on social media at all, because why are even there? what what are they even there? what what benefit possibly give us? >> stephen, this might be a bit of a provocative question , but of a provocative question, but there quite a lot of lawyers there are quite a lot of lawyers as judges on social as well as judges on social media. does that help or hinder the public understand of law? and indeed, the reputation of the legal profession as it is very difficult to say. >> and of course, there is one fool who keeps going on on gb news. so you know that i'm not. i'm not really in the position to cast the first stone. it would be great. it would be. it's a political opinion, but i think it would be great for the

reputation of the profession. and for public understanding of the law . if lawyers did control the law. if lawyers did control themselves a little bit more than they currently do , and than they currently do, and certainly could behave certainly they could behave okay, let's get very personal. they could in a much they could behave in a much more polite mannered way . they polite and mannered way. they could each could stop being rude to each other in public. i mean, that that certainly that would certainly improve. >> always polite and >> you're always polite and never . we're going to have never rude. we're going to have to end it there. but thank you very much for your time, and i hope you're enjoying uh, hope you're enjoying the, uh, the i know you're hope you're enjoying the, uh, the busy i know you're hope you're enjoying the, uh, the busy indeed.1ow you're hope you're enjoying the, uh, the busy indeed. stephen'e very busy indeed. stephen barrett, barrister and barrett, uh, barrister and writer, course. good speak writer, of course. good to speak to interesting how he to him. uh, interesting how he talks about how this is so much bigger than this one case. >> it's about trust in the system overall. >> and to some extent, whether whether this individual was biased or not is immaterial to this matter of perception and trust in what is sort of how how we run our country. you have fundamentals of you have to believe that the law applies persistently, consistently . persistently, consistently. >> yeah. um, fairly and so on. but anyway, let's move on,

because it was announced this morning that the uk has entered a recession, a technical recession following a 0.3% reduction in the three months leading up to december. >> yes, it's the mildest economic contraction we've seen in nearly 50 years, but of course, the political effects could be huge. pressure is growing on rishi sunak. is he to blame ? well, let's speak to the blame? well, let's speak to the head of lifestyle economics at the institute of for economic affairs , christopher snowdon. affairs, christopher snowdon. uh, chris, is this all rishi's fault? >> uh, not really . fault? >> uh, not really. no. i mean, when you see the same thing happening all over the world and in many european countries, you can't it on rishi sunak can't blame it on rishi sunak specifically . what this is specifically. what this is really is this is paying for covid. um, you know, we printed and borrowed a huge amount of money during covid, as did the european central bank, as did the federal reserve. they've all had high inflation as a result of this epic splurge of money printing. and that has required , printing. and that has required, um, higher interest rates , which um, higher interest rates, which have brought down growth in order to bring down inflation. inflation is now down at 4.

looks like it's going to be down to 2, maybe by april, may, perhaps . um, to 2, maybe by april, may, perhaps. um, and i think the question when it comes to a recession or a technical recession or a technical recession is you, as you call it, is what is the effect on individuals , what's the effect individuals, what's the effect on normal people ? gdp is a very on normal people? gdp is a very good market for all sorts of good market for all sorts of good things in life . right. um, good things in life. right. um, and generally incomes, average incomes follow gdp quite closely. what we've seen last year for most of the last year for the last two thirds, last eight months of last year, we saw wages going above inflation very much in contrast to the previous year or so, wages previous year or so, when wages were really falling below inflation. that really hurt people. gdp falling by 0.3% in the last quarter probably isn't going to hurt people. it's not associated at the moment with falling living standards per se, insofar as people's incomes are going up rather than down on average. and it's not, fortunately associated with fortunately been associated with unemployment. so i'm not actually worried about that, actually too worried about that, about what the gdp says. and

incidentally, if we measure gdp properly per capita , rather than properly per capita, rather than just looking at the overall size of the economy, which is inflated by the very rapidly growing size of the population , growing size of the population, are we actually in recession throughout last year, gdp per capha throughout last year, gdp per capita fell every quarter last year. yeah >> well, that's a very interesting point to make, an important point to make. and your colleague julian jessop, christopher , i believe he said christopher, i believe he said that there might be a growing risk a greater risk of, uh, risk or a greater risk of, uh, deflation as well. >> yes , we shall say about that. >> yes, we shall say about that. i mean, julian is a monetarist and i'm certainly a monetarist sympathiser. and the monetarists were right. it had been right for most the last 3 or for most of the last 3 or 4 years. it was us who said that all this money printing was going to lead to inflation. we were by all were pooh poohed by all the so—called . and in the so—called experts. and in the establishment the bank of establishment and the bank of england, were about england, we were right about that monetarists are that. now the monetarists are saying we have restricted that. now the monetarists are sayimoney we have restricted that. now the monetarists are sayimoney supplyve restricted that. now the monetarists are sayimoney supply and stricted that. now the monetarists are sayimoney supply and put:ted that. now the monetarists are sayimoney supply and put up the money supply and put up interest rates too high, and that could indeed lead to

deflation. i don't actually have sleepless nights about deflation. i wouldn't mind a little deflation. um, i'm little bit of deflation. um, i'm not sure whether in actual fact it will happen, but i think, you know, certainly the consensus amongst we're not amongst economists is we're not going have to worry about going to have to worry about inflation next year. >> interesting. >> interesting. >> transit tary affair to coin >> a transit tary affair to coin a phrase. um, uh, chris snowden, thank you very much for talking us through that. and perhaps why this big media story isn't as big our own , uh, personal, big in our own, uh, personal, uh, situation as as the inflation was last year. >> yes. >> yes. >> well, let's see what the pubuc >> well, let's see what the public have to think. our reporter, jack carson, has been out and about. he's travelled to hay on wye in south wales. so what the people of hay what are the good people of hay on you know, on wye saying? well you know, it's really this market has been really, really interesting to speak to the speak to the traders here to find out actually the reality is actually what the reality is like ground. like on the ground. >> to many of them i've >> and to many of them that i've spoken to today, it's really not much surprise that much of a surprise that we've technically gone into an official recession. course, official recession. of course, though inflation the though, the inflation over the past as i've been learning past year as i've been learning today, hitting

today, has really been hitting many of these traders who make whether it's anything from artisan made to things artisan bread made to things like dog food to jams, because each of those constituents parts which make up those products have increased in price. and then these businesses face that challenge that businesses across the are going to be the country are going to be facing balance facing of. how do you balance your costs with, your own increased costs with, of course, not pricing your own products for products too much for the consumer because we know consumer because we know consumer is down in consumer spending is down in december, when usually, of course , that that rose. retail course, that that rose. retail figures . in the run up figures are huge. in the run up to christmas. we saw some of the lowest since back in the coronavirus january coronavirus lockdown in january 2021. so that's the way the balance is really coming from. but take a listen to what a few of the market traders told me a little bit earlier on. >> costs have gone through the roof, for instance. >> for me as a preserved producer, sugar used to be 69 a kilo. >> it's now £1, 19 a kilo. >>— >> it's now £1, 19 a kilo. >> it's now £1, 19 a kilo. >> it's nearly doubled in price. black currants are up 30% year on year. >> my glass that i buy by a pallet load has gone up 28% year on year .

on year. >> and those are costs that you can't really pass on to the customers willy nilly. >> really, since last september, i think we've noticed a bit of a downturn. >> um , children went back to >> um, children went back to school. i think the economy has hit people pretty hard. um, they tend to focus on, on foodstuffs . tend to focus on, on foodstuffs. >> every time i do an order for, for ingredients, they've gone up . so you're looking at can i continue with this business? is it going to continue to be viable or what? you have to really look at the costs and see what with electricity , see the what with electricity, see the cost of the raw materials. everything is going up . everything is going up. >> so as you can hear there about some of the, you know , about some of the, you know, real life examples of what these traders are going through right now, it's not just, of course, you know, that drop in consumer spending, things like the weather, it started weather, you know, it started raining while it's raining here now. and while it's not just before not so heavy just before christmas, some the times christmas, some of the times when these markets important christmas, some of the times wh

wh> so fascinating how the weather can have such. we live in the 21st century. you'd have thought that we'd sort thought that we'd have sort of beaten old beaten these sort of old medieval about whether beaten these sort of old merharvest about whether beaten these sort of old merharvest is about whether beaten these sort of old merharvest is good)ut whether beaten these sort of old merharvest is good this/hether beaten these sort of old merharvest is good this yearer beaten these sort of old merharvest is good this year or the harvest is good this year or not. jack carson, thank you not. but jack carson, thank you very bringing us the very much for bringing us the very much for bringing us the very from south wales. >> yes, thanks , jack. jack. >> yes, thanks, jack. jack. well, coming up, we get an inside look into the home office's raids on criminal gangs using barber shops to launder money and support illegal migrants. stay with

radio. >> well, here we are in new york, where former president of

the united states donald trump is arriving at court on charges of falsifying records in relation to hush money paid to the pornographic actress stormy daniels. yes indeed. >> there he is with his red tie suit on. seems to be talking there to the crowds that are outside, gathering outside , and outside, gathering outside, and it's hard to keep up with all of the different indictments that donald trump is under some to do with crimes to do with, uh, well, hush money, as this one is, others to do with holding documents back after he was, uh, after he left the office of president of the united states. >> but the real political question here for me is, do people pay attention to the particular laws, or does this look like a sort of political vendetta? he's been very, very successful in painting this as a political persecution, a political persecution, a political prosecution . political prosecution. >> he has indeed. >> he has indeed. >> will he gain support or will he lose support ? but, uh, the he lose support? but, uh, the judge here today is expected to announce when the trial will go

ahead. will it start on the 25th of march or will it be a different date from that? that's the one that was expected. so we'll find out some more details about on here. but about what's going on here. but there you go. trump the man himself. they're arriving at court. >> and for a lot of these appearances, he doesn't actually have to be there for a lot of these court appearances. he's decided almost make decided to go almost to make a political not to shy away political point, not to shy away from it all, but because he's wagered that this is actually good for him, that these images make him look like sort of he's under attack from the political establishment . and if there were establishment. and if there were some sort of democrat legal eagles who have been pursuing these things for political gains, well , these things for political gains, well, it seems to have rather backfired. >> i mean , there wasn't he and >> i mean, there wasn't he and his team selling mugshot t shirts, trying to make shirts, certainly trying to make the it. but let's move the most of it. but let's move on gb news has been told on because gb news has been told of an explosive the number of an explosive in the number of barber in particular, barber shops in particular, which are now being exploited by criminals launder and criminals to launder money, and also to employ illegal migrants. >> well , we were also to employ illegal migrants.

>> well, we were given also to employ illegal migrants. >> well , we were given exclusive >> well, we were given exclusive access to a raid in oxford, where the minister for illegal immigration , michael tomlinson, immigration, michael tomlinson, joined enforcement officers targeting a barber's suspected of employing foreign nationals illegally. our home and security editor mark white reports . editor mark white reports. heading into this suburb of oxford , these immigration oxford, these immigration enforcement officers are en route to raid a local barber shop. >> it's suspected of employing illegal immigrants, part of a growing phenomenon where these high street businesses are being increasingly exploited as fronts for criminality . these officers for criminality. these officers are looking for an albanian asylum seeker who's absconded and believed to be working here. >> for my wife. >> for my wife. >> while there's no trace of him, they have detained this colombian man, another asylum seeker working here in breach of employment laws , as well as

employment laws, as well as officers continue to search this business. the albanian owner arrived . he now faces the arrived. he now faces the prospect of a much higher fine with tougher penalties for businesses introduced this week of up to £45,000 for each immigrant caught working illegally. immigration enforcement raids are up by nearly 70% last year. >> that's a huge increase, and talking to the illegal enforcement team here, they've been ramping up in the west midlands as well. you can really sense it. you can sense the work they're doing, and that work is going to continue across the country. >> the number of barber shops has exploded, almost 18,000 in total, up 50% in just a few years . while most are perfectly years. while most are perfectly legitimate and a valuable addition to the high street, sources have told us that increasing numbers of barber shops are fronts for criminality . billions of pounds from the

proceeds of crime are laundered through these businesses, which don't just employ illegal immigrants but are often involved in modern slavery, coercing and threatening victims of human trafficking to work for little to nothing . little to nothing. >> there is broader organised crime behind this. these sort of premises do not pop up overnight without money behind them, and it's really important that we work with agencies such as national crime agency, such as policing as hmrc and other policing such as hmrc and other government departments. ensure that of the that the weight of all the government's brought that the weight of all the governron|t's brought that the weight of all the governron those brought that the weight of all the governron those who brought that the weight of all the governron those who seekyught that the weight of all the governron those who seek toiht to bear on those who seek to exploit vulnerable individuals in bars and car washes, in nail bars and car washes, have long associated with have long been associated with criminal gangs, often employing and exploiting illegal immigrants, but sources say barber shops are rapidly overtaking them as a front for criminality . criminality. >> the authorities are keen to reiterate that the majority of barbers are legitimate and law abiding , but barbers are legitimate and law abiding, but they say barbers are legitimate and law abiding , but they say they won't abiding, but they say they won't hesitate to go after those they suspect of breaking the law .

suspect of breaking the law. mark white, gb news. >> it'sjust mark white, gb news. >> it's just a shocking situation that so many are operating like this, that it's so easy to some extent for the police to find these things. there you go. >> the home office trying to do their thing and stop it. but >> the home office trying to do their weig and stop it. but >> the home office trying to do their we get1d stop it. but >> the home office trying to do their we get youryp it. but >> the home office trying to do their we get your headlines? shall we get your headlines? we'll back a sec. we'll be back in just a sec. >> emily, thank you to 33. these are your top stories from the gb newsroom. chancellor jeremy hunt says newsroom. chancellorjeremy hunt says despite the uk entering recession, the economy is turning a corner. official figures show the economy shrank by nought point 3% at the end of last year , following a period of last year, following a period of decline in the previous three months. it's the first time the uk's gdp has dropped since the first half of 2020, after the first half of 2020, after the first covid lockdown . shadow first covid lockdown. shadow chancellor rachel reeves says the prime minister is completely out of touch with the realities on the ground . british gas owner

on the ground. british gas owner centrica has renewed calls for a social tariff to allow people to pay social tariff to allow people to pay less for their gas and electricity . it comes as new electricity. it comes as new data reveals british gas benefited last year from being able to claw back money lost dunng able to claw back money lost during the energy crisis . this during the energy crisis. this comes as new figures released today show 3 million low income households in england struggled to pay their energy bills last yeah to pay their energy bills last year, government figures found that 13% were in fuel poverty, largely unchanged from the year before . voters are casting their before. voters are casting their ballots in wellingborough and kingswood. the public have until 10:00 this evening to choose their replacement mps, following their replacement mps, following the departures of chris skidmore and peter bone . and a judge is and peter bone. and a judge is facing criticism after liking a pro—palestine social media post. judge tan ikram spared jail for three women who displayed images of paragliders at a protest just a week after hamas used paragliders to enter and attack israel in october. he was found

to like posts which said free palestine and that branded israel a terrorist. judge ikram told gb news that he didn't know that he'd like the post, and that he'd like the post, and that if he did, it was a genuine mistake . for the latest stories, mistake. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. common alerts .

>> you're listening to gb news radio . radio. >> well, it's 238 watching good afternoon britain . afternoon britain. >> now, the mother of teenager brianna ghey is calling for smartphones to be banned for all under 16. esther ghey also stated that she feels the online safety bill is just not enough . safety bill is just not enough. >> well, joining us now to discuss this is the political commentator benedict spence and the journalist and former political adviser , joe phillips. political adviser, joe phillips.

uh benedict, let's start with you . i'm a little bit baffled you. i'm a little bit baffled here. social media was was nothing to do with this case. s in fact, the killers of brianna ghey communicated by old fashioned text message . we've fashioned text message. we've seen the text messages in the case. why are we suddenly talking about smartphones ? talking about smartphones? >> i think i mean, is it not more more of , more question more broadly of, uh, brianna ghey sort of general disposition, which was that her mother said that she became very sort of secret live and very sort of secret live and very sort of secret live and very sort of protective over her phone that she was worried phone and that she was worried that was contributing her that it was contributing to her sort of state of anxiety sort of general state of anxiety and unhappiness, which is in many ways what prompted her to be slightly more vulnerable to these two people in terms of trying to go out and make friends. i think it's more of a broader agree friends. i think it's more of a bro.not agree friends. i think it's more of a bro.not of agree friends. i think it's more of a bro.not of directly agree friends. i think it's more of a bro.not of directly linked it's not sort of directly linked to this case. i think it is an incident of mother trying to incident of a mother trying to use a very tragic event, uh, to sort of promote an agenda for greater well—being rather than specifically about one thing. and think that there are and i do think that there are some interesting things be

some interesting things to be said mean, there's said about it. i mean, there's no question things like no question that things like poor in younger poor mental health in younger people are like people are things like self—harming can be directly correlated with the rise in use of smartphones . and that's not of smartphones. and that's not to say that they affect lots of people, but you can you look at the stats at how sort of frequent these things become at the iphone the moment that the iphone is introduced, the moment that the iphone is intamerica. in america. >> america they do. yes but >> in america they do. yes but the smartphone is available in lots of countries every lots of countries and not every country skyrocket country has the same skyrocket rocketing problem . rocketing mental health problem. >> is sort of like >> this is more sort of like a philosophical question, which is actually consider the actually what do we consider the smartphone be? smartphone to be? >> increasingly i think it >> it's increasingly i think it is an extension of the self. it is an extension of the self. it is extension of your internal is an extension of your internal self, which why i think a lot self, which is why i think a lot of people become very attached to perhaps why people to them, and perhaps why people become protective them, become very protective of them, because innermost because you're innermost thoughts interests actually thoughts and interests actually are in the data. it is are there in the data. it is a mechanical extension of yourself and therefore it is in many ways and therefore it is in many ways a reflection of the health of a society. in of itself. i think that the smartphone can act as a conduh that the smartphone can act as a conduit to poor ill health, and to trends, and to memetic

phenomena, which can be sort of alleviated if a society is more healthy than another. but that doesn't a good thing in a in necessarily a good thing in a in a society that is already mentally very unhealthy. >> i think, well, brianna's >> so i think, well, brianna's mother has said that her daughter was accessing pro—anorexia content , self—harm pro—anorexia content, self—harm material online. >> she was very protective over her phone. so even if this case doesn't specifically relate to social media, perhaps the argument is that she was in a particularly vulnerable place because she was obsessed with her phone . looking at this her phone. looking at this nasty, mentally damaging content. something content. and that is something that to be talked that does need to be talked about. and think that's about. and i think that's benedict's broader which benedict's broader point, which is that if it was about brianna's vulnerabilities, not so much the people who killed her. >> and i think it is a huge problem. and we know the impact it has on young people's mental health. and we know do we? yes, i think we do. yes. we do. >> i think i don't think there's any data such as to suggest that. >> i think there is actually and

i you will find that i think that you will find that where, uh, school schools have i think that you will find that where away ;chool schools have i think that you will find that where away phones :hools have i think that you will find that where away phones is,ols have i think that you will find that where away phones is, um,|ave i think that you will find that where away phones is, um, they taken away phones is, um, they find a much greater level of concentration. >> no denial of that. >> no denial of that. >> um, they get much better attention span and all of that sort of stuff. and where people , sort of stuff. and where people, you know, even grown ups switch off their phones, they all, um, you know, people are paying to you go know p eople ar e pa i y|n g to you know, people are paying to go and detox from their phones, which is absolutely ridiculous, isn't but you know, people isn't it? but you know, people say, oh, i feel feel better. >> do you genuinely think social media doesn't have a negative impact teenage health? impact on teenage mental health? >> this to me. that >> i only say this to me. that is absurd. >> em- em— 5 it does. i've i've >> of course it does. i've i've actually looked at some of the information got. information here. i've got. i know a couple of people who run a podcast looks a scientific podcast that looks at different studies, and the, the, the result of, of their investigation was that, yes , investigation was that, yes, there is a mental health crisis in america , but the data isn't in america, but the data isn't borne out in lots of other developed countries that have just as wide prevalence of smartphones, which may be true . smartphones, which may be true. >> and there may be that some

developed countries have stricter rules, whether it's the using of smartphones or iphones or whatever in schools, whether there is i mean, i was in italy recently , you don't see people recently, you don't see people sitting down in restaurants on their phones like you do in this country. it's a cultural thing, as emily says. and i think that's really , really important. that's really, really important. >> i do think it's important to recognise, though, that anglosphere are anglosphere countries are downstream of the united states and that happen in the and things that happen in the united states do inevitably end up countries . up affecting other countries. >> is further down the >> and it is further down the line. language plays an important and one important part in this, and one of the interesting things is, of course, know, we about course, you know, we talk about the of and the crisis of wokeism and all this of thing uk. this sort of thing in the uk. you don't tend to find these things affecting many european countries very countries because of the very simple that there's simple fact that there's the language barrier. it doesn't transmit, transmit. >> i that a really >> i think that is a really important point, actually. but one issues, and one of the other issues, and perhaps should all be afraid perhaps we should all be afraid of it we're downstream of it if we're downstream from the united states, is that there is a general mental health crisis. not just young crisis. it's not just young girls, just girls, it's not just young people middle aged people in fact, it's middle aged men , men have the highest men, men who have the highest risk for, for mental health

issues and things associated with. >> you know, i was at a fascinating conference week fascinating conference last week in manchester, and of the in manchester, and one of the speakers a former speakers was a former footballer, stephens, who footballer, trevor stephens, who used everton, who is used to play for everton, who is now an ambassador, um, for mental health working with people who work on construction sites and the figures are absolutely shocking. there are about 30 people, 30 fatalities a year on construction sites . year on construction sites. there are 600 suicide related to construction workers. not always on site. and what he's doing is using football as a way to have those conversations. and there are many examples of really sort of smart ways of thinking about how you begin to have conversations, and particularly middle aged men who grow up at a time when you didn't show your feelings, you didn't. i mean, you know, look at the impact. if you know, look at the impact. if you like, and the reaction to the king talking about having canceh the king talking about having cancer. and, you before cancer. and, you know, before going in for the prostate operation , you know, once upon

operation, you know, once upon a time that would have never been heard of. so there is a mental health, but is it also because, though, benedict, that a lot of men, if we're talking about middle men, have that middle aged men, don't have that many relationships. >> that many >> so don't have that many friends to lean on, or is friends people to lean on, or is that a bit of a generalisation? >> well, i mean, is it a generalisation? i think men find it cultivate it harder to cultivate friendships as they go on, and i think collapse of sort of think the collapse of sort of traditional communities and traditional communities and traditional in this traditional industries in this country hasn't necessarily helped people have helped that as people have become more atomised in some ways, actually young become more atomised in some ways, are actually young become more atomised in some ways, are better ally young become more atomised in some ways, are better preparedg become more atomised in some ways, are better prepared for people are better prepared for that than older people are, because of because actually they're sort of having upon them having a world thrust upon them in formative years. in their post formative years. so think, you know, if we're so i think, you know, if we're going to be talking about, uh, mobile media, mobile phones, social media, i think instilling in people mental fortitude, robustness, actually giving people, uh, i hate the expression your strategy is coping mechanisms, but this is new technology . we but this is new technology. we this is something that actually we don't have a blueprint for. it is not life as it used to be. it is not life as it used to be. i think teaching people actually how to be more mentally resilient is a important resilient is a very important part people

part of allowing people to navigate the internet , social navigate the internet, social media a lot more healthily. we often hear, don't we, about how twitter be such a toxic twitter can be such a toxic place? well, it can be you place? well, it can be if you allow it be. actually allow it to be. but actually if you barriers you set yourself barriers in terms is you engage terms of what it is you engage with, how you engage with things, twitter is one of the most resources that most fantastic resources that has created. has ever been created. >> right? >> the point right? >> the point right? >> darkened shade >> there's darkened shade in everything. technology. >> there there's on >> yes, there is, but there's on the, you know, the broader point of how of the people >> how many of the people listening watching us listening and watching to us will spent god how will have spent god knows how many hours of their lives either trying to get through to somebody and being told, oh, your call is really important to us. have you thought of going on the internet? have you thought of website? of going on our website? >> if i could do it >> you think, if i could do it on the website, i wouldn't be on the phone? yeah. you know, so we are turned by are actually turned away by technology when so many of us actually crave the human conversation, which is something really simple. >> it might be about you know, getting or getting something fixed or finding out whether you can get a better deal on your mobile phone and that sort of phone contract. and that sort of

digital is creating huge digital divide is creating huge isolation. i think no doubt it has had an impact on mental health. >> not saying to ban social media, but it's definitely true. uh, benedict spence, joe phillips, thank you. coming up, putin backs biden, but is it just he just stirring the just is he just stirring the pot? we'll find out. see you shortly

radio. >> well, vladimir putin is getting involved in the united states election in backing joe biden. yeah. raise your eyebrow here. uh, as more experience and predictable than donald trump. but it is the russian president just stirring things up. well joining us now is political commentator benedict spence and the former journalist and commentator benedict spence and the formerjournalist and sorry. the former journalist and sorry. and the journalist and former political adviser, not the political adviser, not the political journalist in the former journalist. anyway, a lot formerjournalist. anyway, a lot openedin formerjournalist. anyway, a lot opened in joe phillips. so phillips, what went wrong? >> congratulations . >> congratulations. >> congratulations. >> sorry i almost sacked >> i'm sorry i almost sacked you. i was huge apologies.

>> reinstated. you are a former commentator. uh joe, um, what's putin up to? mischief >> i mean, you know, a would you believe a word that he says? no. uh, b he's already involved in the election and probably the election that we're going to have in this country and elections all around the world. uh, you know, there is no doubt we talking about social we were talking about social media just before went the media just before we went to the break. there is no break. you know, there is no doubt is interference doubt that there is interference from , um, let's call them rogue from, um, let's call them rogue states or not so friendly states going on. i mean , this is a going on. i mean, this is a perfect example of a double bluff, isn't it? it's sort of straight out of, um, ian fleming or something like that. so. oh, yes , i really like joe biden. yes, i really like joe biden. he's really nice. he's really predictable . so i really so all predictable. so i really so all the biden supporters are going to think, oh yeah, all the people who are perhaps less keen on trump are going to go, um, that that donald trump's that means that donald trump's going to be the only one that will to stand up putin. so let's vote trump.

will to stand up putin. so let's vote it trump. will to stand up putin. so let's vote it a'ump. will to stand up putin. so let's vote it a double bluff? benedict >> i don't think so. i don't think so. >> i i think actually >> i think i think actually people say that vladimir putin lies. actually tells lies. i actually think he tells you he thinks. you exactly what he thinks. i don't he real need don't think he has any real need to told us he was going to lie. he told us he was going to lie. he told us he was going to invade ukraine and he did. he'd that for a very he'd been saying that for a very long simply that long time. it was simply that people west decided that long time. it was simply that peopweren't west decided that long time. it was simply that peopweren't going decided that long time. it was simply that peopweren't going to ecided that long time. it was simply that peopweren't going to listen.:hat they weren't going to listen. >> call an >> he didn't call it an invasion. he said it was a special military operation. >> does that mean? >> and what does that mean? >> and what does that mean? >> that the vietnam >> it means that the vietnam war, invasion. war, not an invasion. >> was policing operation. >> it was a policing operation. so it's political language. but it's what's it's telling you exactly what's going to happen. the reunification means going to happen. the reurinvasion means going to happen. the reurinvasion of means going to happen. the reurinvasion of taiwan means going to happen. the reurinvasion of taiwan and eans going to happen. the reurinvasion of taiwan and the; the invasion of taiwan and the government beijing on government in beijing keeps on saying to happen. saying it's going to happen. you know, because sort of know, just because they sort of dance with the language dance around with the language they're exactly they're telling you exactly what they're telling you exactly what they're doing, they're planning on doing, telling was telling the west that he was building on the border building up troops on the border of for training of ukraine for training exercises, he exercises, not told the west. he told russia exactly told people in russia exactly what he built an what was going on. he built an entire military the entire military cathedral to the heroes the country were heroes of the country that were going to it was very going to come. it was very obvious anybody didn't going to come. it was very obvi listen anybody didn't going to come. it was very obvi listen to |ybody didn't going to come. it was very obvi listen to oneiy didn't going to come. it was very obvi listen to one side, didn't just listen to one side, actually, the plan and actually, what the plan was. and i this is part the i think that this is part of the problem, like to problem, is that we like to think, oh, everything is a

double bluff. no, no. >> think if we take we take >> i think if we take if we take putin word wants putin by his word and he wants biden president, of biden to remain president, of course. why? because he's he's very predictable. course. why? because he's he's vehyes. dictable. course. why? because he's he's vehyes. dictaivery he's >> yes. he's very weak. he's very predictable. it was entirely obvious was going entirely obvious what was going to instance, it to happen, for instance, when it came the came to biden's policy in the middle just going middle east. it was just going to policy in the to be obama's policy in the middle and biden's policy middle east and biden's policy in ukraine is exactly what obama's it's obama's was as well. and it's the china, because it the same with china, because it is simply an extension of the obama let's obama administration. now, let's take obama administration. now, let's taidonald trump? when he to donald trump? uh, when he became president and everybody said, going to usher said, oh, he's going to usher in this situation. this sort of chaotic situation. when actually happen? when did that actually happen? no, notice no, the world was put on notice when qassem soleimani when he blew up qassem soleimani on a whim because he decided, when he blew up qassem soleimani on inotyim because he decided, when he blew up qassem soleimani on (not interestede he decided, when he blew up qassem soleimani on (not interested in|e decided, when he blew up qassem soleimani on (not interested in|e demani, i'm not interested in this man running the show in iraq, at which point iranian the which point the iranian the iranian what iranian government went, what on earth going do in this earth are we going to do in this situation? the man who situation? he was the man who managed to get the north and south to south korean leaders to the table. who table. he was the man who managed the abraham managed to get the abraham accords signed because actually, most world you most of the world went, you can't necessarily this can't necessarily trust this man for reason his for the simple reason that his ego large that he has to ego is so large that he has to be in the room. be the biggest man in the room. >> there always of >> there is always a lot of people when came to the people when they came to the table, came out of

table, nothing came out of people to say that people like to say that if donald becomes president, donald trump becomes president, that to do that putin will be allowed to do whatever because he's whatever he wants because he's basically a putin stooge. >> cannot, >> donald trump's ego cannot, cannot is cannot accept somebody who is more more powerful more important, more powerful than simply not going than him. it simply is not going to case. final from to be the case. final word from putin allowed ride putin will be allowed to ride roughshod across. >> sorry, but am >> i'm sorry, but i am absolutely speechless. >> speechless >> almost speechless that i mean, is mean, donald trump, i think is incredibly . uh, putin incredibly dangerous. uh, putin is dangerous. i hear what you say egos. i think that's say about egos. i think that's quite interesting point. so quite an interesting point. so you think that putin would be more concerned about donald trump pressing the nuclear button biden ? button much more than joe biden? >> there you go. there it is. we don't want trump in double bluffing or telling us bluffing or is he telling us exactly what he means? >> you very much, joe. >> thank you very much, joe. thank you benedict. that's it for up next is martin for today. up next is martin daubney coming daubney martin. what is coming up ? up? >> well, hard show to follow. >> well, hard show to follow. >> but we've got some juicy stuff. so do we have a politically biased judiciary? we've got some fresh revelations on tan ikram di diversity campaigning past which may cast doubt on his ability to be

politically neutral. plus live from trump in the dock, the case that will shape american political future . but first, political future. but first, here's your latest weather forecast . forecast. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello there. welcome to your latest gb news weather update with me, annie from the met office. it will be a cloudy and mild day for many of us. we do have some rain warnings in force as well as we'll see some heavy rain push eastwards across the country but do country through today. but we do have atlantic have very mild atlantic air being brought in by this southerly breeze across us through today. the winds are quite light, so in the southeast ahead of any of the heavier rain will feel quite pleasant, almost spnng will feel quite pleasant, almost spring sunshine that spring like in any sunshine that does afternoon . does develop this afternoon. further west, though further north and west, though heavy rain persist, heavy rain will persist, particularly across south wales, parts of southwest england and into the midlands. later so there is some rainfall warnings

in force here. we could see some spray on the roads and travel disruption from that heavy rain across parts of scotland, where it a wet start to it has been quite a wet start to the day. will dry through the day. it will dry up through this afternoon the this afternoon and into the evening, and that dry weather will eastwards throughout will spread eastwards throughout tonight. there is a spell of tonight. but there is a spell of quite heavy rain to come across the southeast through this evening, and large evening, but by and large it will a night tonight . will be a drier night tonight. plenty clear skies developing plenty of clear skies developing as , so it will be as well, so it will be a slightly cooler night, still slightly cooler night, but still fairly year fairly mild for the time of year . and there will be some early sunshine particularly sunshine on friday, particularly across of england and across parts of england and wales, where the sunshine could last a lot of the day. however there will slightly thicker there will be slightly thicker cloud north and west, cloud further north and west, and cloud could thick and that cloud could be thick enough for few showers, enough for a few showers, particularly over parts of the pennines the hills. but in pennines and the hills. but in any sunshine you do see, will any sunshine you do see, it will feel quite once again, feel quite pleasant once again, temperatures still above average. highs average. we could see highs around friday. see around 16 degrees on friday. see you later. that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> good afternoon. >> good afternoon. >> it's 3 pm. welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news, broadcast live from the heart of westminster and all across the uk today there's the judge who didn't punish three women guilty of a terror offence at a pro—palestine protest. >> just a few weeks after he'd liked an anti—israel post on social media. today i'm asking the big question can we really trust our judiciary to be politically neutral ? next, the politically neutral? next, the uk is officially in recession. chancellor jeremy uk is officially in recession. chancellorjeremy hunt says the chancellor jeremy hunt says the economy is turning a corner. but is it our economics and business editor liam halligan , will give editor liam halligan, will give his verdict and he says keep calm and carry on and you don't want to miss our exclusive report on crime gangs or using high street businesses such as

barber shops to launder money