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tv   Good Afternoon Britain  GB News  March 5, 2024 12:00pm-3:01pm GMT

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this year illegally entered the uk and birmingham city council is set to slash bin collections. >> dim street lights and raise taxes. the labour run council was forced to declare bankruptcy after spending nearly £1 billion on equal pay claims going back years. >> it really is astonishing this birmingham story. there have been a number of councils that have gone bankrupt . croydon is have gone bankrupt. croydon is another famous one, but the birmingham story is bigger than any other, and spending over £1 billion on back payments and legal fees around all of these equal pay claims. it's just astonishing the incompetence of this council. >> yes . so this council. >> yes. so certain this council. >> yes . so certain workers, >> yes. so certain workers, those working primarily indoors, claimed that they were being paid less than those working
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outdoors, for example , bin men. outdoors, for example, bin men. and so equal pay claims are plenty , came along and the plenty, came along and the councils had to splurge £1 billion on back payments . it's billion on back payments. it's quite incredible. despite the fact that they're different jobs , because the equal pay legislation in the equal pay act and the equality act aren't about equal pay for the same jobs, they're equal pay for this nebulous concept of the same value, which means different jobs can ensue. >> uh, a local authority or whoever else, and say we must be paid the same, even though they're different jobs. i mean, it's quite incredible, isn't it.7 >> and what happens now .7 what >> and what happens now.7 what happens of happens to the people of birmingham? they will have their lights dimmed. most likely they will have their bin collections go from weekly to fortnightly and what else? they'll have to pay and what else? they'll have to pay huge amounts more tax, by the looks of things. anyway, there's a vote today. let us know what you make of this all our council's just wasting our money. about that equal money. and what about that equal pay
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money. and what about that equal pay views at gb news. pay aspect? gb views at gb news. com be speaking to com we'll also be speaking to suella later in the suella braverman later in the show, let's get your show, but let's get your headunes. headlines. >> emily thank you. your top stories from the gb newsroom. the nhs could be facing real terms funding cuts of £2 billion as the chancellor comes under pressure ahead of tomorrow's budget . it pressure ahead of tomorrow's budget. it analysis by the institute for fiscal studies suggests the health service could suffer a 1.2% cut in day to day spending across england. it could mean the health service is forced to cut staffing or pay despite rising costs and a promise to tackle waiting lists. the warning comes after the king held an in—person press. budget audience with jeremy hunt this morning at buckingham palace business minister greg hands told gb news the government is being responsible. >> the government intervene , >> the government intervene, owed well and correctly over recent years. for example during the pandemic. in terms of the supporting people to remain in
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employment , the fact that employment, the fact that government paid a big part of people's energy bills over the last couple of winters. i think people support that . that is why people support that. that is why there's been an increase in pubuc there's been an increase in public spending. uh, but as i said earlier, the economy is now turning a corner and that then sets us up nicely to be able to afford things like tax cuts . afford things like tax cuts. >> but shadow paymaster general jonathan ashworth says the budget won't be enough and it's time for an election. >> it's why i think now, after 14 years of the conservatives, it really is time for change. but i think that opportunity for change is coming because i think there's going to be a major general election. lots of gossip swirling around in this place about a may general election. and i think rishi sunak and this is my demand for rishi sunak. i'm sure he's watching gb news this morning. my demand to rishi sunakis this morning. my demand to rishi sunak is name the date anticipations building ahead of the chancellor's budget , with the chancellor's budget, with experts suggesting that any cuts
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to courts, police or local authorities may not be realistic i >> -- >> we asked local residents in glasgow and in east yorkshire what they want to see in the budget. >> i'd like to see him listen to the people as well for a change. they seem to give all these promises and never keep them. it'd be nice for the petrol to go down and stop putting money on council tax and stuff like that. >> people can't afford it. >> people can't afford it. >> uh, businesses are struggling at the moment. >> the markets struggling. >> the markets struggling. >> so think they just need a >> so i think they just need a little, little bit of a more little, a little bit of a more stable background in the economy. >> raise your tax allowance because , uh, some pensioners because now, uh, some pensioners are going to find themselves in are going to find themselves in a tax bracket . passengers a tax bracket. passengers narrowly escaped injury this morning when a bus crashed into a shop front in central london. >> these are live pictures coming to us from new oxford street. if you're watching on television, you can see the double bus there after it double decker bus there after it crashed into all bar one. the incident happened in a busy part
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of the city as commuters were making their way into work. of the city as commuters were making their way into work . we making their way into work. we understand that no injuries were reported . and the rwanda bill reported. and the rwanda bill suffered another series of defeats in the house of lords last night. in many cases by unusually large margins of more than 100 votes. peers backed five changes to the government's flagship immigration bill, including an assurance that the safety of rwanda can be challenged in the courts . nearly challenged in the courts. nearly 50 amendments were tabled, with more to be voted on today. however the scale of last night's defeat raises the chances of a drawn out tussle between the lords and the commons. meanwhile, the home office has confirmed just over 400 migrants crossed the english channelin 400 migrants crossed the english channel in seven small boats yesterday , the highest number on yesterday, the highest number on a single day this year. shadow home secretary yvette cooper said it was a symptom of what she called incompetent leadership by the prime minister, rishi sunak made stopping small boat crossings one of his key election pledges . one of his key election pledges. an agreement on a revised offer
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for consultant doctors in england has been reached in a potential step towards solving the ongoing dispute at the british medical association and the hospital, consultants and specialist association will now recommend the offer to their members ahead of an expected vote. the health secretary says it paves the way for an end to the strikes, while the prime minister said it's proof that seeking a fair agreement the seeking a fair agreement is the best forward for everyone . a best way forward for everyone. a woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a ten year old girl was found dead in the west midlands police said they found the child with injuries at an address in sandwell yesterday afternoon. she was confirmed dead at the scene. a 33 year old woman, understood to be known to the girl, has been arrested and taken into custody . for the taken into custody. 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. com slash alerts. now it's back to tom and
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. emily. >> good afternoon britain. it's 12:07 and the princess of wales has been seen in public for the first time since her abdominal surgery in january, alongside her mother, carole middleton. yes it comes after it was claimed last night that kate's black sheep uncle gary goldsmith, was scolded after signing up to celebrity big brother amid fears he could spill secrets about the royal family >> well, there you go. it looks like he's already laid into prince harry a little. joining us to discuss this is our royal correspondent, cameron walker. now, we talked about at the top of the show a media blackout. it's funny, isn't it, of the show a media blackout. it's funny, isn't it , how we it's funny, isn't it, how we have pictures of the princess plastered across american, uh, out . let's. yet in britain, out. let's. yet in britain, broadcasters make the decision and the press makes the decision not to. >> yeah, this was an unauthorised paparazzi photograph , which, as you said, photograph, which, as you said, was published by a us magazine last night .
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was published by a us magazine last night. it is quite an intrusive photograph. it shows the princess of wales in the passenger seat of a car wearing black sunglasses, being driven by her mother, carole middleton. middleton it's understood that the photograph was taken at just after 9:00, so they would have been returning from a school run. it was on a road near windsor. it was a public road, in theory, there's nothing wrong with taking photographs in public, think this is public, but i think this is a taste and decency thing. and i think the british media have decided not to publish the image. we feel that the princess of wales is entitled to privacy to recover in private. but of course , what that doesn't stop course, what that doesn't stop and clearly the palace can't control is that the social media images or the images going on social media and going viral for the to world see if they wish to do so . but on the to world see if they wish to do so. but on the the to world see if they wish to do so . but on the positive note, do so. but on the positive note, what it has done is quashed . what it has done is quashed. some of those, perhaps slightly more distasteful rumours, which have been swirling online over the last couple of weeks about the last couple of weeks about the state of the princess of wales's health. because it does show her in the passenger seat
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of a car clearly she is well of a car so clearly she is well enough get in car and enough to get in the car and therefore we should therefore perhaps we should be slightly from that. slightly reassured from that. but suspect kensington palace but i suspect kensington palace are not too pleased with the idea and idea of unofficial and unauthorised photographs being taken princess. taken of the princess. >> this is where my >> cameron. this is where my slightly mindset slightly conspiratorial mindset kicks into gear, because obviously we'd seen a crescendo of rumour, of salacious gossip online, all sorts of, uh, suggestive things about where the princess of wales was ranging from the, uh, frankly, para d like to the more serious allegations, and then suddenly we see this picture , this we see this picture, this picture that is also released the day that , uh, the, the the day that, uh, the, the princess of wales uncle enters a television reality television program . is there some slice of program. is there some slice of this? just all that seems a bit too convenient. perhaps the princess of wales chose to get in that seat in that car on that pubuc in that seat in that car on that public road , because all of that public road, because all of that rumour was getting too much .
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rumour was getting too much. >> um, i doubt it, to be honest. and i think if you spin it on your on its head, tom, perhaps the newspaper publication in question or the us websites and the photographer were very, very keen to and snap a picture keen to try and snap a picture of the princess of wales because of the princess of wales because of they knew of all the rumour, and they knew how it would um, online how well it would do, um, online and, and in united states. and, and in the united states. but obviously never say never, and, and in the united states. but also ously never say never, and, and in the united states. but also ,jsly never say never, and, and in the united states. but also , um,�*|ever say never, and, and in the united states. but also , um, adding|y never, and, and in the united states. but also , um, adding to 1ever, and, and in the united states. but also , um, adding to that, but also, um, adding to that, gary goldsmith stuff with big brother, the princess, as the british army even has announced that the princess of wales is going to be attending a trooping the colour rehearsal on the 8th of june. but kensington palace, it's understood, was not consulted by about this british army announcement and not only that, um, it appears that only they can announce officially if they can announce officially if the princess is going to be taking part. so it's very, very murky. not been guaranteed murky. it's not been guaranteed that the princess is taking part in that engagement. however, it would the first would be, if true, the first pubuc would be, if true, the first public engagement announced postabdominal surgery. but of course, all of this . the timing
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course, all of this. the timing is significant . there's been so is significant. there's been so many things happening all at once today with very interesting and very interesting. >> and, uh, just lastly , gary >> and, uh, just lastly, gary goldsmith in celebrity big brother. seems he's already had something to say about his royal connections, but also he's spoken to the sun. >> yeah , he's done a big >> yeah, he's done a big interview with the sun where he really sings kate's praises. his niece saying that she's beautiful outside as well beautiful on the outside as well as the inside. he also slates as on the inside. he also slates harry meghan, saying that he harry and meghan, saying that he threw that harry threw his family under a bus , particularly family under a bus, particularly when it came to the princess of wales. he also called out omid scobie's biography ender's game or the royal book ends game, saying that it's absolute a word i can't repeat on television in the daytime. um, kate is 100% not racist, neither is carol, kate's mother. this is referred to the dutch translation of the book, which appears to allege that the princess of wales questions what colour archie's skin would be when he was born, which kensington palace hasn't commented said. but but commented on. he said. but but gary, her uncle, said that it's
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absolute rubbish and it's ridiculous. >> i find it very hard to believe that the princess would want him to be saying such things to a tabloid newspaper, but hey, don't know. thank but hey, we don't know. thank you indeed. cameron you very much indeed. cameron walker, gb news royal correspondent isn't he? walker, gb news royal cor|had»ndent isn't he? walker, gb news royal cor|had ajent isn't he? walker, gb news royal cor|had a very isn't he? walker, gb news royal cor|had a very good he? walker, gb news royal cor|had a very good answer for, >> had a very good answer for, uh, for the idea that, okay, yeah, there's all of this speculation online the speculation online and the picture appears. could picture appears. well, it could be that just the american outlets will now pay the outlets have will now pay the big those paparazzi big for bucks those paparazzi pictures. there's a bit of pictures. sure there's a bit of me that still thinks , why is she me that still thinks, why is she getting the car she's sort of getting the car if she's sort of laying low suddenly, all this speculation. well, maybe she just travel and, you just had to travel and, you know, there's only so many ways you could. >> it was probably through, you know . well, uh, maybe, maybe , know. well, uh, maybe, maybe, maybe let us know what you think at anyway, joining us now at home. anyway, joining us now to is to discuss this further is former protection officer former royal protection officer dave davies. thank you very much indeed joining us. uh, well, indeed for joining us. uh, well, that's a question. should we put that's a question. should we put that to him? >> let's put di what do you think this idea that that think about this idea that that perhaps this wasn't all
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accidental, that the princess deliberately got in that car , deliberately got in that car, deliberately got in that car, deliberately got in that car, deliberately got on that school run because of all the speculation about where she is ? speculation about where she is? >> well, good afternoon . uh, the >> well, good afternoon. uh, the straight answer would be no. i don't think it's any kind of conspiracy . i'm delighted that conspiracy. i'm delighted that princess is feeling better so that she can. and it's a presumption that she was going to or from the school . what to or from the school. what concerns me more is the security implication . uh, where was the implication. uh, where was the backup? how was a photographer able to get this direct photograph ? it reminds me of the photograph? it reminds me of the issues. what happened in the south of france. although they were more salacious in the fact that she was photographed with very little clothes on. it also reminds me of edward the eighth going back , uh, into the 30s, going back, uh, into the 30s, where the americans were publishing all manner of pictures of him and mrs. simpson in, um, here we are again , the in, um, here we are again, the americans doing this, i think the british press are to be commended for the fact that they
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have not published it, and they have not published it, and they have been restrained in doing anything. on the other hand , you anything. on the other hand, you know, there's so much, uh , know, there's so much, uh, speculation as to what was really wrong with her, etc, etc. so um, but on balance, i don't think it's reasonable. and i would hope that somebody gets a grip of this and stops this nonsense. as far as she's concerned. well di remind us as a former royal protection officer yourself, remind us the lengths the paparazzi go to and what techniques they use to get up close to the royals to get these kind of shots. >> well , they obviously can use >> well, they obviously can use long lenses , and today's cameras long lenses, and today's cameras are way advanced to the ones when diana was around, when i was in overall command of royalty protection . royalty protection. >> so things have moved on. you know, i'm no cameraman, but clearly now they can be some way away . what always worries me is away. what always worries me is the protection that surrounds our royals, and how good that protection should be. clearly,
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um , given a choice, i wouldn't um, given a choice, i wouldn't have her mother driving her. i would have a protection officer who's highly trained. because in this day and age, you never know what can come at you or your principles . and i'd always want principles. and i'd always want to know that they were, uh, support structures. if and when she's going anywhere these days. it always has been the case. so it always has been the case. so i wonder where and how and when this was actually taken. but my concern really is the security. and if somebody like this photographer, unless , face it, photographer, unless, face it, princess diana, that photograph with, uh, doe doe was was worth about a quarter of a million. um pounds. so i wonder what this chap has been, or female has been paid for it, i wonder. >> hmm. no the big, big questions. but i suppose just finally, with regard to what we would expect, the normal security of the princess of wales and her mother, might there have been in this car by themselves? might there have not been? whenever i've seen a royal motorcade, i see outriders. i
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see policemen on their motorcycles . but i suppose motorcycles. but i suppose that's not always the case for the royals . the royals. >> no, it's a balance. and again , depends on the risk assessment carried out by those charged with protecting both the prince and the princess and indeed her children . i wouldn't want to children. i wouldn't want to comment too much. clearly there are contingency plans . clearly are contingency plans. clearly there are support structures to and from, and i would hope they are in place. but, uh, one never discusses the actual how it's done or where it should be done. i think being the princess, she deserves the highest. i agree with one thing her uncle said . with one thing her uncle said. she is a huge asset to this country and long may she recover and long may she be the princess of wales. i think she's an incredible lady, has never put a foot wrong and she deserves everything we can give her as a society in my opinion. well thank you very much indeed for your expertise and insight. >> dai davies, former royal protection officer very interesting . yeah, definitely. interesting. yeah, definitely. >> definitely. and what a nice
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note to end on as well. but some breaking news in the past hour, the number of migrants crossing the number of migrants crossing the channel is at its the channel is now at its highest point since the crisis began. >> wow. more people have crossed in boats so this year in small boats so far this year compared to the same point in any previous year. the government have told us time and time getting time again that they're getting these numbers down and with better than year. better figures than last year. it doesn't look like it. >> last year. they were down by a on the year but a third on the year before, but it they could be it looks like they could be ticking year. ticking back up this year. does the weather to do with it? >> the home office has confirmed that 401 migrants entered the uk illegally that 401 migrants entered the uk illegaiboats. it's also the small boats. it's also the highest number crossing on a single day this year. >> well, it comes as the uk and france agreed a new partnership up yet another one aimed at smashing the channel. people smuggling gangs by disrupting their small boat supply chains. >> well, the home secretary, james cleverly, made the announcement following a meeting of calais of northern of the calais group of northern european yesterday , european countries yesterday, today and our home, white, our home and security editor , mark
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home and security editor, mark white, joins us with all of the salacious detail. >> now mark, um, how many deals have we seen in the last few years? it seems like every six months, a new deal is signed between the united kingdom and france. although this one, i suppose, is slightly different. it's about criminal gangs. >> yeah . >> yeah. >> yeah. >> i mean, i think at the end of the day, this deal actually might be a deal that could bring some tangible benefits in trying to disrupt the people smugglers , to disrupt the people smugglers, because it's all about trying to get various countries in the supply chain involved in coming together, sharing intelligence , together, sharing intelligence, uh, cooperating on operations as, uh, and trying to disrupt those component parts for the small boats that get shipped from china to where they are usually manufactured in backstreet factories , they're backstreet factories, they're smuggled through multiple countries. >> they end up in turkey, and then they make their way through europe before they are then
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assembled. of course , on the assembled. of course, on the beaches of northern france . so beaches of northern france. so this customs partnership has got two signatories initially. that's the uk and france. it's then being offered to other members of the calais group of northern european countries. so the other signatories or the other members of the khalife group are germany , the group are germany, the netherlands and belgium. they will be invited to join next month, and it's hoped that those countries together can make an impact on these boat parts that are coming in. uh, to obviously make the small boats that the migrants are coming across in ever greater numbers . that ever greater numbers. that record day reach yesterday , with record day reach yesterday, with 401 coming across on seven small boats . boats. >> mark. that's interesting. so this is about stopping the boat parts because we've talked quite a lot about how why can't they just ban these boats from getting to the coast. why can't they do something about the manufacturing. this is actually targeted at the boats itself .
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targeted at the boats itself. >> yeah, we've been many people have been quite vocal for a while in saying why on earth can't you stop this further upstream ? can't you stop these upstream? can't you stop these boats being manufactured in the first place? well, that might be difficult if they're being manufactured in backstreet factories in china. but yes, the next best thing, of course, is to try to get those component parts as they enter , uh, into parts as they enter, uh, into turkey and indeed into europe for their journey to northern france. so this is what this is aimed at, trying to smash this kind of business operation by stopping these component parts, reaching northern france. and if theyif reaching northern france. and if they if they managed to do that, that will make a significant difference in the number of boats that are able to cross. because i remember a couple of years back when , uh, border years back when, uh, border force, the national crime agency, and some european partners managed to carry out a
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very significant operation to dismantle a people smuggling, uh , gang and they seized multiple motors and component parts. we then saw quite a significant drop off for a few months before the people smugglers were able to relinquish not relinquish. sorry to restock their supplies. no >> really, really interesting stuff. mark white, thank you very much for the latest on that. and that new deal . that. and that new deal. >> oh, i'm not sure if you can go off to the parts . >> oh, i'm not sure if you can go off to the parts. is that really going to work? another manufacturer will just up . manufacturer will just pop up. just you smash one gang, just like if you smash one gang, another it's another one pops up. surely it's about patrolling the border has to about that. yeah they're to be about that. yeah they're doing too though, to doing that too though, to be spending a lot of money patrol and patrols as and now doing joint patrols as well, rishi sunak says is well, which rishi sunak says is part reason for that part of the reason for that third of reductions. >> but coming up, we're going to be birmingham >> but coming up, we're going to be get birmingham >> but coming up, we're going to be get latest birmingham >> but coming up, we're going to beget latest on birmingham >> but coming up, we're going to be get latest on the 'mingham >> but coming up, we're going to be get latest on the councilm to get the latest on the council having make hundreds of having to make hundreds of millions in cuts after millions of pounds in cuts after being declared bankrupt last yeah being declared bankrupt last year. we'll have all the detail
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for you after this .
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good afternoon britain. it's . good afternoon britain. it's. 12:25 and birmingham city council will vote on its 2024 budget this afternoon. but that's not all. >> yes, the council that serves britain's second biggest city are having to make millions of pounds worth of cuts after they declared bankruptcy last year. >> but how will the cuts impact everyday life for the people of birmingham, and why are the cuts having to be made? our west midlands reporterjack having to be made? our west midlands reporter jack carson reports it's a budget that will change the lives of everyone in this city. >> after birmingham city council declared bankruptcy, it was clear that cuts were on their way and now this local authority has revealed where the hundreds of millions of pounds worth of funding will be taken away from . funding will be taken away from. £51.5 funding will be taken away from. £515 million, is set to be cut £51.5 million, is set to be cut from the children's young people and families budgets cuts , which and families budgets cuts, which have already been protested
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alongside the end of funding for all community centres . the all community centres. the council will make cuts to city operations in the hope they'll save £39 million in the next year. save £39 million in the next year . that includes save £39 million in the next year. that includes dimming streetlights . adult social care streetlights. adult social care will be cut by £23.7 million. birmingham is the youngest city in europe, so axing money for youth services will hurt. sabnna youth services will hurt. sabrina dennis is the ceo of charity first class foundation and works with young people in the west midlands. >> my concerns are the safe spaces , the genuine lack already spaces, the genuine lack already of safe spaces for young people. >> i think for that to all of a sudden disappear for at a time when, especially in birmingham, we're seeing so much , you know, we're seeing so much, you know, poverty cost of living, violence, youth violence, it's kind of scary . and my concern is kind of scary. and my concern is i don't actually know what it looks like on the other side. >> elsewhere, there's a worry parts of the city will fall into disrepair . disrepair. >> for as you can see at this cemetery , we have potholes in
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cemetery, we have potholes in the road , um, which are very large. >> we've also got this building behind us, which is derelict and with council cuts. >> how are the council going to put these things right in the future ? future? >> john gilmore has been campaigning for the council to better maintain public spaces like cemeteries . like cemeteries. >> i've had to literally beg the council for over a year to do things , which is literally what things, which is literally what i would call basic general maintenance of a cemetery . maintenance of a cemetery. >> um, and that can't go on. >> um, and that can't go on. >> but how do people in this city feel about these cuts and council tax rises? >> and i just do not see why the existing council tax payers should be asked to pay to pick up the tab for something that is, that is not their fault. >> disgraceful, really, isn't it ? >> 7- >> if you 7 >> if you listen to it and ? >> if you listen to it and all the work they've done on birmingham and they still haven't finished half the projects, mean, certainly projects, i mean, i'd certainly be raising council tax. >> i'd be less worried if i, you
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know, could see a proper plan of how it's going to be spent and what we're going to get as a benefit that, rather than benefit from that, rather than it just bailing out the council in response to the budget leader of birmingham john of birmingham city council, john cotton , said i want to apologise cotton, said i want to apologise unreservedly for both the significant spending restrictions and this year's substantial council tax increase. >> we have no alternate than to face these challenges head on, and we will do whatever is necessary to put the council back on a sound financial footing with the cuts coming to services and the rising costs for residents , there's dark days for residents, there's dark days ahead for the second city, jack carson gb news, birmingham . carson gb news, birmingham. >> right. well, let's speak to our west midlands reporter , jack our west midlands reporter, jack carson. jack uh, it's hard to overstate what a mess birmingham city council is in and the impact this is going to have on ordinary people's lives. everything is going to be slashed. it seems .
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slashed. it seems. >> that's right. these these cuts worth hundreds of millions of pounds over the next two years. don't leave any department unscathed . whether it department unscathed. whether it is young people and families and that department, as we were heanng that department, as we were hearing in that there from the from the youth leader who's worried that doesn't really know what the other side looks like when funding for community when all funding for community centres the next centres goes over the next couple of years. what does that support for young people? this is city europe, is the youngest city in europe, so those services that may be particularly more specialised for people , those for young people, those campaigners and those charities across this city will have to be trying finding extra trying and finding that extra funding can't have funding because they can't have it from the council . it from the council. additionally, of course, you've got just community spaces, whether it's whether it's whether it's parks, whether it's cemeteries, it's cemeteries, whether it's libraries as well, with many of those set to close their doors at, the community is going to lose out . that's not even lose out. that's not even touching likes funding touching on the likes of funding , going culture from , going from culture and from local theatres and course, local theatres and of course, just from generic maintenance of whether it's whether it's parks, whether it's whether it's parks, whether it's whether it's parks, whether it's £12 million going
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from the highway maintenance budget and dimming things like streetlights, which of course , streetlights, which of course, some campaigners in the city are saying they concerned, saying they are concerned, therefore, of therefore, for the impact of safety, how safety, particularly of how vibrant course nightlife here vibrant of course nightlife here is the city, and making sure is in the city, and making sure that the streets well lit that the streets are well lit and safe enough for people to get home. so these problems stretch single stretch all across every single department of this city. and of course, just the cuts. department of this city. and of cours you've just the cuts. department of this city. and of cours you've got st the cuts. department of this city. and of cours you've got the re cuts. department of this city. and of cours you've got the council tax then you've got the council tax rises everyone i've rises and everyone that i've been speaking here in been speaking to here in birmingham, you heard birmingham, um, as you heard there, why they're having to pick pieces , having to pick up the pieces, having to pay pick up the pieces, having to pay for the pay the price for the mismanagement of the finances of this council. mismanagement of the finances of thisjack. |cil. mismanagement of the finances of thisjack. the mismanagement is >> jack. the mismanagement is simply staggering here. a billion pounds in back payments for these equal pay claims and all the legal fees associated . all the legal fees associated. but also, was it the wisest idea for this council that was facing bankruptcy to have hosted the commonwealth games. >> well, that has been certainly some criticism in the past of whether using things like their reserves, financial reserves and
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whether they had the money in order to, of course, help fund those commonwealth games. it did bnng those commonwealth games. it did bring a huge, of course event to the city, brought a lot of people to the city. but given the situation , of course, many the situation, of course, many of these councillors, as we've now found out since the declaring effective bankruptcy that knew about these equal pay claims, whether that was the right decision, of course, that will be challenged of course, in this meeting so this council meeting today. so the council meet today at 2 pm. to vote this budget. there to vote on this budget. there are amendments being put are certain amendments being put forward other parties, forward by other parties, particularly birmingham particularly the birmingham conservatives. putting conservatives. here are putting forward an forward amendment in an amendment in trying to save the closure of some of these libraries as well . but of libraries as well. but of course, the financial mismanagement doesn't just stretch to equal pay . it's the stretch to equal pay. it's the implementation it implementation of a new it system, which not only, of course, has meant that they're not necessarily always been aware exactly what they're aware of exactly what they're spending meant to spending, but it was meant to cost around £30 million. it's already cost £131 million. and it's not effectively been implemented yet. >> well, thank you very much .
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>> well, thank you very much. jack carson there, our west midlands reporter from birmingham. an utter birmingham. what an utter shambles. and it's everyone else who's living there who's everyone living there who's everyone living there who's to have to pay the who's going to have to pay the cost mismanaged it. it's cost of this mismanaged it. it's quite lots people quite incredible. lots of people getting please keep getting in touch. please do keep your in. gb views your views coming in. gb views at to at gb news. com will come to some little later on. some a little later on. >> i just wonder what will happen at the local elections because lot of these because so often a lot of these councils will keep voting councils will just keep voting in people who mismanage in the same people who mismanage everything you're saying. >> the people of birmingham only have themselves to blame? >> not that at all. >> i'm not saying that at all. i'm perhaps the of i'm saying perhaps the people of birmingham good birmingham don't have a good enough choice. >> there is that. >> yeah, there is that. now coming up, pubs they coming up, welsh pubs are they under threat the welsh under threat from the welsh labour we'll labour government? we'll speak to welsh to the leader of the welsh conservatives his take in conservatives for his take in just a minute. is the welsh pub under threat? stay with. us. >> good afternoon. your top stories from the gb newsroom ? stories from the gb newsroom? i'm the nhs could be facing real time funding cuts of £2 billion as the chancellor comes under
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pressure ahead of tomorrow's budget analysis by the institute for fiscal studies suggests the health service could suffer a 1.2% cut in day to day spending across england, which would be the largest reduction since the 1970s. it could mean the health service is forced to cut staffing or pay despite rising costs and a promise to tackle waiting lists. the warning comes after the king held an in—person pre—budget audience with jeremy hunt this morning at buckingham palace . the rwanda bill suffered palace. the rwanda bill suffered another series of defeats in the house of lords last night. in many cases by unusually large margins of more than 100 votes. peers backed five changes to the government's flagship immigration bill, including an assurance that the safety of rwanda can be challenged in the courts , and nearly 50 amendments courts, and nearly 50 amendments were put forward with more to be voted on today. however the scale of last night's defeat raises the chances of a drawn out tussle between the lords in the commons , downing street says
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the commons, downing street says the commons, downing street says the new customs partnership , led the new customs partnership, led by britain and france, will make a difference to small boat crossings . number 10 says the crossings. number 10 says the joint work is already delivering, with more than 26,000 crossing attempts prevented last year. it comes after more than 400 people made the crossing in seven small boats yesterday , the highest boats yesterday, the highest number in a single day this year , and an agreement on a revised offer for consultant doctors in england has been reached in a potential step towards solving the ongoing issue. the british medical association and the hospital consultants and specialists association will now recommend the offer to their members ahead of an expected vote . the health secretary says vote. the health secretary says it paves the way for an end to the strikes , while the prime the strikes, while the prime minister said it's proof that seeking a fair agreement is the best way forward for everyone . best way forward for everyone. 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
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all right , well, could all right, well, could pints be cheaperin all right, well, could pints be cheaper in england? >> today is the final debate on the welsh government's final budget for next year. >> the proposed budget will see business relief rates cut from 75 to 40, and this is reportedly to invest more in wales's nhs. but of course , this takes away but of course, this takes away money from local businesses. >> well, we're joined now by andrew rt davies, leader of the welsh conservatives. andrew how will a pint maybe become cheaper in england as a result of this? well, good afternoon folks. >> you're quite right. it is the vote on the final welsh labour government's budget here today. >> the average pub will be >> and the average pub will be paying >> and the average pub will be paying £6,000 more in wales by these changes that labour are
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bringing in here, this side of offa's dyke so that cost has to be recouped from somewhere . and be recouped from somewhere. and obviously it's the customer coming the door that coming through the door that invariably increased invariably pays these increased costs. like to see the 75% costs. we'd like to see the 75% relief retained because businesses are struggling and uk hospitality have highlighted that nearly 20% of the hospitality businesses that existed prior to the covid pandemic here in wales are no longer in business. >> so this business rate relief increase will actually have a dramatic impact on the viability of pubs across the whole of wales . wales. >> it does sound fairly shocking over £6,000 extra being taxed on every pub in the land . but as every pub in the land. but as the welsh government say, isn't this money necessary for the nhs 7 this money necessary for the nhs ? is these tax rises that the that the welsh government is, is proposing ? they're justifying it proposing? they're justifying it in terms of this is money that needs to be spent . needs to be spent. >> well, we know for a fact due to the barnett formula, which is obviously the formula that's
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used on consequential monies that come from england into wales, that for every £1.20, sorry , £1 was spent in england sorry, £1 was spent in england on, on barnett consequentials, wales gets £1.20 for health. but yet the welsh government only spend £1 five of that. and so the welsh government are already getting a considerable uplift in the nhs budget . and you have to the nhs budget. and you have to have independent businesses to create the taxation revenue and the employment opportunity cities to create a prosperous economy. don't forget there's no such thing as government money. it comes from you, me and the many businesses and individuals that make up a country. and one thing that labour have been automatically poor at is creating new businesses, new start—ups and new opportunities. and so this is a retrograde step that will greatly impact on independent businesses here in wales. and as i said, a pub in the cheshire side of the border would be paying £6,000 less as opposed to a pub in wrexham. because of these changes this
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afternoon. >> and andrew, i'm just reading here that wales lost over 2% of its pubs just last year, 63 shutting down there won't be many pubs left to tax . many pubs left to tax. >> well, we know it's been a difficult climate for pubs , um, difficult climate for pubs, um, especially as they used to be such a core stone of our communities. but the covid pandemic really did change habhs pandemic really did change habits and what this business rate relief change will do is make it even more challenging for many of these businesses that are trying to make a go of it by employing staff locally , it by employing staff locally, creating a community hub within the villages and towns of wales and the welsh labour government . and the welsh labour government. putting this measure forward will increase the cost by £6,000. many of these small business owners don't bank that money, they invest it back into their businesses to upgrade the experience that the customers getting and create better employment opportunities for staff. and so this is a retrograde step, and it's typical of welsh labour when in government they try and shut
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down business rather than proactively work with business to create the opportunities . to create the opportunities. >> well, absolutely >> well, it's an absolutely staggering story. andrew rt davies, thank you very much for discussing it with us. leader of the welsh conservative, of course. really appreciate your time. >> i do think you know, governor agents, they see tax as this lever that's always going to be there them to pull. you there for them to pull. you know, we have enough for know, we don't have enough for money public spending or we'll just more, tax money public spending or we'll just and more, tax money public spending or we'll just and they more, tax money public spending or we'll just and they don't re, tax money public spending or we'll just and they don't realise more. and they don't realise that there are actually consequences of taxing more. you've already shutting you've got pubs already shutting down. yes. in england, massively . wales can see the . but in wales you can see the statistics. they're there for everyone read. they're everyone to read. they're shutting surely you'd shutting down. so surely you'd think, well one of the reasons they're shutting down is because they're shutting down is because they don't have enough money. they're enough money. they don't have enough money. theyou enough money. they don't have enough money. theyou know, enough money. they don't have enough money. theyou know, a enough money. they don't have enough money. theyou know, a bit enough money. they don't have enough money. theyou know, a bit of ough money. they don't have enough money. theyou know, a bit of reliefmoney. they don't have enough money. theyou know, a bit of relief on 1ey. so, you know, a bit of relief on the taxes surely a good the old taxes surely is a good thing, right? >> so have struggling >> and so you have a struggling industry, lots of pubs industry, you have lots of pubs closing what do you do? closing down. what do you do? you whack on them. £6,000 you whack a tax on them. £6,000 on . it's astonishing, on every pub. it's astonishing, i know. >> and with the energy costs and with the fact that consumers are
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changing their habits with changing their habits and with everything else that goes along with manufacturing with it, manufacturing costs, etcetera , etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, staffing costs very difficult to keep business open these days. keep a business open these days. that's why we have so many businesses bust, more tax businesses going bust, more tax is not answer. in my humble opinion. >> is it too much to ask just to have a cheap pint? just a cheap pint? i think it is end of the day. >> certainly down south it is certainly down south. is certainly down south. it is perhaps. at no. perhaps. are you at home? no. somewhere cheap perhaps. are you at home? no. so getvhere cheap perhaps. are you at home? no. so get one. cheap perhaps. are you at home? no. so get one. wetherspoons, cheap perhaps. are you at home? no. so get one. wetherspoons, i:heap to get one. wetherspoons, i guess, is always available up in durham, universal the durham, whereas at universal the pints you could get, you could get pints for £2. well there get pints for £2. £2. well there you you get pint you go. can you still get a pint for £2. know you're for £2. let us know you're watching listening gb watching and listening to gb news. coming up, george news. but coming up, george galloway says will galloway says his party will drive labour leader drive deputy labour leader angela seat. angela rayner out of her seat. should worried? with should she be worried? stay with
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us. thanks for getting in touch about birmingham city council. absolute shocker that council is having and huge amounts of tax increases and basically all your
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services slashed. >> yeah, i mean even lights dimmed. jeff has written in to say i remember when incompetent councils were surcharged and had to sell their own houses to pay to sell their own houses to pay to pay for it . to pay for it. >> goodness me, suzy says, i live in birmingham and have just had a letter about renting creases, and there is an additional charge on there this year lighting . additional charge on there this year lighting. i'm year for communal lighting. i'm in six flats with six in a block of six flats with six light and the charge light bulbs, and the charge they're putting on this and i pay- they're putting on this and i pay. oh, she's just being paid through the nose. i wonder if that light, has to do that light, uh, cost has to do with dimming. that's with the light dimming. that's going on. with the light dimming. that's goiiwell, ken has written in to >> well, ken has written in to say, don't they just cut say, why don't they just cut payments to councillors? that would up to millions every would add up to millions every yeah would add up to millions every year. when years ago, they year. when 50 years ago, they did free. so i suppose it did it for free. so i suppose it would add up to a bit. but the deficits that birmingham council has , they'd have to fire all of has, they'd have to fire all of their councillors and then some. >> but uh, yeah. >> but uh, yeah. >> and it's a sentiment that steve in durham agrees with. he says i wage all councillors says i wage all the councillors have lavish pension schemes that says i wage all the councillors have la untouched n schemes that says i wage all the councillors have launtouched . schemes that remain untouched. >> quite possibly. terry says salford council have just bought
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a stadium , which for years a rugby stadium, which for years they were bailing out loans they were bailing out with loans , as stadium is a white , as the stadium is a white elephant , , as the stadium is a white elephant, doesn't have public support and it's essentially useless, he says . mayor burnham useless, he says. mayor burnham has wasted 33 million on cameras for his various schemes. well sandra says get rid of the head of the council, stop all stupid courses i.e. diversity, etc. make proper efficiency savings even if you have to get rid of idiots. now i saw they had it absolutely massive taxi bill. so for taxis, toing and froing from various places for council work and they were paying through the nose, they weren't getting the cheapest ubers , they were cheapest ubers, they were getting, you know, expensive taxi rides, i heard and it's not like there's terrible public transport in birmingham. >> i mean, it could be better maybe if, uh , birmingham maybe if, uh, birmingham councillors did their jobs bit councillors did their jobs a bit better better. but, better, it would be better. but, um , it does. it does seem um, it does. it does seem extraordinary . but um, it does. it does seem extraordinary. but again, all of these whether it's these things, whether it's wages, whether it's taxis, whether it's whatever, it doesn't up for the for the doesn't make up for the for the huge , huge, huge, huge, huge
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huge, huge, huge, huge, huge deficit that this council has . deficit that this council has. it's extraordinary. well in other news, george galloway has said he wants to oust labour's deputy leader angela rayner, from parliament. yes. speaking outside the palace of westminster yesterday , he westminster yesterday, he singled out rayner's constituency , ashton under lyne, constituency, ashton under lyne, where his party, the workers party of britain , could win at party of britain, could win at the next election . the next election. >> when he was sworn in as an mp , mp yesterday, of course, there he is after his by—election win in rochdale last week . in rochdale last week. >> well, joining us now to discuss the possibility of more workers party of britain mps is the chief political correspondent for the times. aubrey allegretti now aubrey, why did george galloway single out ashton under lyne ? out ashton under lyne? >> so i suspect that george galloway, obviously having run a very successful campaign and now becoming an mp, wants to keep up the momentum behind him . the momentum behind him. >> his party, the workers party , >> his party, the workers party, is not one that sort of polls particularly noticeably nationally. and so he is trying
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to sort of retain the attention that he's caught from newspapers and broadcasters over the last few days , pretty much trying to few days, pretty much trying to capitalise on that and build momentum. he knows that he can probably get quite lot of probably get quite a lot of attention for suggesting that angela rayner, the, uh, the mp, could be under threat now. she had a 4000 majority at the last election, but that was really an aberration. and in previous elections that seat has been a lot more safe. labour so george galloway probably targeting her because he thinks he can get some publicity out of this. he's he's also said it couldn't even be a workers party candidate. he could back an independent candidate. so i think this is quite early quite sort of early stage planning george galloway. planning from george galloway. >> this is the thing , >> well, this is the thing, isn't as you mentioned, that isn't it? as you mentioned, that it's just candidates from it's not just candidates from his own party, but he'll put a lot of effort potentially into backing independents who may have links to the constituency , have links to the constituency, who may be known by a lot of the electorate. he could really put the force of his , uh, charisma, electorate. he could really put the fsay of his , uh, charisma, electorate. he could really put the fsay ,>f his , uh, charisma, electorate. he could really put the fsay , and, , uh, charisma, electorate. he could really put the fsay , and, uh,1, charisma,
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let's say, and, uh, electioneering to use. and actually, it could be independence that win against labour candidates . labour candidates. >> he certainly does have a charisma and an appeal that's very sort of attracts to some people. and he does catch the headunes people. and he does catch the headlines as well. but i think we've got to be sort of careful about thinking he could easily replicate what happened in rochdale in angela rayner's constituency. when you look at the data, uh, in rochdale, according to the census population data conducted in 2021, 30% of constituents there are muslim in angela rayner seat. it's about 10. so we're talking a third. obviously at, uh, george galloway ran on a very vehemently sort of pro gaza pro—palestine stance in the by—election, at the general election . are people really election. are people really going to be focussed so much by a single issue ? i suspect that a single issue? i suspect that probably the issues that poll higher nationally , like the cost higher nationally, like the cost of living, the nhs , is of living, the nhs, is essentially immigration in some conservative held seats as well. those are issues that are more
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likely to be front of mind for voters angela rayner seat . voters in angela rayner seat. and therefore i'm not sure that gaza quite as gaza will feature quite as prominently specific prominently in the specific campaign in seat at the next campaign in her seat at the next election . election. >> 5 election. >> a new mp wins >> now, when a new mp wins a by—election, they're sort of formally introduced first to the house of commons by two members of on either of parliament, one on either side, they walk into the side, as they walk into the house commons chamber. there house of commons chamber. there was of speculation that was a lot of speculation that one former leader would one former labour leader would be introducing george galloway, namely jeremy corbyn. he in the end didn't introduce , uh, george end didn't introduce, uh, george galloway. but but there is a lot of speculation that some sort of corbyn galloway uh, sort of group of independents could be another threat to the labour party . might jeremy corbyn be party. might jeremy corbyn be looking to perhaps replicate what george galloway did at the next general election ? next general election? >> certainly the conservatives are kind of worried about being outflanked by another party on the right , outflanked by another party on the right, and there are some in labour wary that the same thing could happen on the left and
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that if there were some joint kind of ticket between george galloway and jeremy corbyn or various other sort of disaffected people very much on the left of the labour party , the left of the labour party, that that could, uh, if not sort of, uh, topple keir starmer and prevent him from getting power, then at least reduce his chances of doing so, or potentially , um, of doing so, or potentially, um, buttress his majority so that it's much smaller now . i think it's much smaller now. i think the chances of that are quite slim. george galloway is basically sent a message to jeremy corbyn saying, let's team up together. you should run for mayor of london. for example , mayor of london. for example, and that sort of thing . i think and that sort of thing. i think we've seen from the former labour isn't enticed labour leader he isn't enticed by yet. i don't think he by just yet. i don't think he wants to sort of give his critics the of the critics on the right of the party the satisfaction of running against labour. however, the still ticking down the clock is still ticking down to election which means the to election day, which means the labour has to make a final decision about who to select in islington north. so far, jeremy corbyn been corbyn has obviously been blocked what will blocked from standing what will he do when the moment comes where he's officially barred? that's of big question.
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that's the kind of big question. >> thank you very much >> well, thank you very much indeed. aubrey allegretti there, chief political correspondent for the times newspaper. i mean, it's quite incredible how many young people people really, really seem to love people like george galloway, people like jeremy corbyn. they seem to have the x factor . the x factor. >> yes, i think in terms of very pin ups , sometimes very engaged pin ups, sometimes very engaged young people. yes. but i think still most young people really couldn't give a fig about politics. well hopefully they don't. >> if it means voting anyway. >> if it means voting anyway. >> independent mp possibly. >> independent mp possibly. >> well, lots more to come, including those latest migration figures coming up after the news. stick with . us news. stick with. us >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsor of weather on . gb news. >> welcome to your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. a messy picture today. for many, it's a fine early spring day, but there
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are a few heavy showers around. low pressure is drifting away from northern ireland. we've got a couple of old weather fronts though, milling around , one though, milling around, one providing quite a lot of cloud across east and a little bit across the east and a little bit of showery rain and some heavy showers far showers possible across the far southeast, particularly through parts of kent. but a showery rain also drifting into rain also drifting its way into western parts of scotland. but a good chunk of wales, northwest england , southwest england, england, southwest england, northern ireland having a fine afternoon with some decent spells of sunshine. and in the afternoon with some decent spell it)f sunshine. and in the afternoon with some decent spell it feels shine. and in the afternoon with some decent spell it feels a|ine. and in the afternoon with some decent spell it feels a bit. and in the afternoon with some decent spell it feels a bit warmer the afternoon with some decent spell it feels a bit warmer than west it feels a bit warmer than yesterday. 11, maybe 12 c, yesterday. ten, 11, maybe 12 c, where rather glum. in where it stays rather glum. in the east, 7 or 8 celsius will still feel pretty chilly, particularly if you're caught out by one of these heavy showers across the southeast. it'll even cooler. it'll feel even cooler. they will fade through the will steadily fade through the evening, but further outbreaks of rain could trickle back across northeast across parts of northeast scotland many , it's a dry scotland for many, it's a dry night, and in the west, where scotland for many, it's a dry night, had in the west, where scotland for many, it's a dry night, had the he west, where scotland for many, it's a dry night, had the we'llest, where scotland for many, it's a dry night, had the we'll have here scotland for many, it's a dry night, had the we'll have the we've had the we'll have the highest temperatures today. we've had the we'll have the highe have nperatures today. we've had the we'll have the highe have the �*atures today. we've had the we'll have the highe have the lowest today. we'll have the lowest temperatures overnight and a frost parts of frost likely through parts of wales, midlands and wales, the west midlands and southwest england too. so a
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chilly start here, but a bright start could be some freezing fog patches around. be aware of patches around. just be aware of that thing in the morning. that first thing in the morning. quite across quite a grey day again across these eastern areas, eastern england, eastern scotland, a little bit of rain here and there and a few more showers. then come the afternoon over the east midlands down towards south east england again. best of the sunshine west, although sunshine in the west, although some rain could into some rain could creep into cornwall goodbye cornwall later on. goodbye that warm from boxt warm feeling inside from boxt boilers spot . boilers spot. >> hours of weather on gb news as
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i >> -- >> well . good afternoon britain. >> well. good afternoon britain. >> well. good afternoon britain. >> it's 1:00 >> well. good afternoon britain. >> it's1:00 on tuesday the >> well. good afternoon britain. >> it's 1:00 on tuesday the 5th of march. >> media blackout. the princess of wales has been seen for the first time in months , but the first time in months, but the british press are refusing to show the paparazzi picture . an show the paparazzi picture. an american outlet has plastered the photos across the internet . the photos across the internet. but which is the right approach ?
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but which is the right approach? >> and the government strikes yet another deal with france in a crackdown on people smuggling gangs.it a crackdown on people smuggling gangs . it comes as new figures gangs. it comes as new figures reveal that yesterday , a record reveal that yesterday, a record number for one single day this year illegally entered the uk. we'll be hearing from former home secretary suella braverman on this later in the program, so stay tuned for that for many, it's stirring, patriotic anthem conjuring up images of britain's proud history. >> but rule britannia can feel alienating to others. that's according to a labour spokesperson. so so should it be scrapped? we'll hear both sides of the argument . of the argument. >> should it be scrapped then? tom, it's aliens chanting. it's offensive. it's, uh , horrible offensive. it's, uh, horrible and jingoistic . and jingoistic. >> well, i mean, the only thing that you can say about it is that you can say about it is that it's sadly no longer the case.i that it's sadly no longer the case. i mean, we did rule the waves, pax britannica lasted for or pax britannia lasted for, uh,
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over 100 years. uh, we kept peace around the world. we abolished the slave trade . we abolished the slave trade. we did some marvellous, marvellous things as a country. um, but we passed on the baton to the united states as the as the. i just wonder why on earth. >> because, you know, a lot of people say, oh, it's the people on the conservative cause that want to keep the culture war going, have going, but then you have a labour spokesperson coming out to , which obviously is to say this, which obviously is going create headlines going to create headlines because really like going to create headlines be beise really like going to create headlines be be told really like going to create headlines be be told that really like going to create headlines be be told that one really like going to create headlines be be told that one their like to be told that one of their favourite national songs is actually jingoistic and alienating to others. and actually, if you actually ask a normal person on the street , i normal person on the street, i imagine they either couldn't care less or they quite like the song. >> it's a good song. it's rousing. i think it's much better song than our national anthem, quite frankly. >> would you swap it? can you imagine would totally imagine the. i would totally imagine the. i would totally imagine reaction, the imagine the reaction, the backlash . backlash that would receive. >> i know it might be controversial to say, but i think god save the king. it's a fine song. should. there is
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fine song. it should. there is a certain where certain occasions where it should before should be used, but before a sporting match, it's not. it's not the most rousing song that you possibly imagine. you could possibly imagine. whereas did rule britannia whereas if we did rule britannia or land of hope and glory, land of hope and glory . of hope and glory. >> now i'd go for that. i'd go for land of hope and glory, mother the free. let us know mother of the free. let us know what rule britannia what you think is rule britannia alienating a labour spokesperson thinks so. let us know. vaiews@gbnews.com. but let's get your headlines. >> emily. thank you. your top stories from the gb newsroom. official economic forecasts are expected to be downgraded as britain's finances continue to show few signs of improving . show few signs of improving. that's after an analyst suggested that the nhs could face real time funding cuts of £2 billion as part of the government's budget tomorrow analysis by the institute for fiscal studies suggests it would be the largest reduction since the 1970s, with the health service forced to cut staffing or pay a promise to tackle
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waiting lists. the warning comes after the king held an in—person press budget audience with jeremy hunt this morning at buckingham palace business minister greg hands told gb news the government is being responsible . responsible. >> the government intervened well and correctly over recent years, for example, during the pandemic , in terms of the pandemic, in terms of the support , urging people to remain support, urging people to remain in employment isn't the fact that government paid a big part of people's energy bills over the last couple of winters ? i the last couple of winters? i think people support that . that think people support that. that is why there's been an increase in public spending. uh, but as i said earlier, the economy is now turning a corner and that then sets us up nicely to be able to afford things like tax cuts . afford things like tax cuts. >> but shadow paymaster general jonathan ashworth says the budget won't be enough and it's time for an election. it's why i think now, after 14 years of the conservatives, it really is time for change. >> but i think that opportunity
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for change is coming because i think there's going to be a major general election. lots of gossip swirling around in this place about a may general election. and i think rishi sunak and this is my demand for rishi sunak. i'm sure he's watching gb news this morning . watching gb news this morning. my watching gb news this morning. my demand to rishi sunak is name the date anticipation is building ahead of the chancellor's budget tomorrow, with experts suggesting that any cuts to courts, police or local authorities may not be realistic. >> we asked local residents in glasgow and in east yorkshire what they want to see in the budget. >> i'd like to see him listen to the people as well for a change. they seem to give all these promises and never keep them. it'd be nice for the petrol to go down and stop putting money on council tax and stuff like that. >> people can't afford it. >> people can't afford it. >> uh, businesses are struggling at the moment. >> the markets struggling. so i think they just need a little, a little bit of a more stable background in economy. background in the economy. >> tax allowance >> raise your tax allowance because now, uh, some pensioners
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are going to find themselves in are going to find themselves in a tax bracket . a tax bracket. >> downing street says the new customs partnership , led by customs partnership, led by britain and france, will make a difference to small boat crossings . number 10 says the crossings. number 10 says the joint work is already delivering, with more than 26,000 crossing attempts prevented last year. this comes after more than 400 people made the crossing in seven small boats just yesterday , the boats just yesterday, the highest number in a single day this year . highest number in a single day this year. that is the rwanda bill suffered another series of defeats in the house of lords last night. in many cases by unusually large margins of more than 100 votes. peers backed five changes to the government's flagship immigration bill, including an assurance that the safety of rwanda can be challenged in the courts. nearly 50 amendments were put forward , 50 amendments were put forward, and the scale of the defeat raises the chances of a drawn out tussle between the lords in the commons . out tussle between the lords in the commons. police are searching for a teenager after a substance was thrown in a woman's face. lancashire police want to speak to 19 year old
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mikki blundell after the victim was attacked in fleetwood at the weekend. the force is appealing for help in the search, but a warning people not to approach him . it's believed the alleged him. it's believed the alleged assault isolated and assault was an isolated and targeted attack. the victim was taken to hospital but has since been discharged . an agreement on been discharged. an agreement on a revised offer for consultant doctors in england has been reached in a potential step towards solving the ongoing dispute, the british medical association and the hospital consultants and specialists association will now recommend the offer to their members ahead of an expected vote . the health of an expected vote. the health secretary says it paves the way for an end to the strikes, while the prime minister said it's proof that seeking a fair agreement best way agreement is the best way forward everyone . and forward for everyone. and passengers narrowly escaped injury this morning when a bus crashed into a shop front in central london. the incident happenedin central london. the incident happened in a busy part of the city on new oxford street , as city on new oxford street, as commuters were making their way into work. two people were treated for injuries, with one
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person taken to hospital . for person taken to hospital. 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 .com/ alerts. now it's back to tom and . emily >> good afternoon britain. it's 1:07 and the princess of wales has been seen in public for the first time since her abdominal surgery in january, alongside her mother, carole middleton. yes this comes after it was claimed last night that catherine's black sheep uncle gary goldsmith, was scolded after signing up to celebrity big brother amid fears he could spill secrets about the royal family >> and he's been speaking to the sun newspaper as well. well joining us now to discuss all this royal news is royal correspondent, former royal correspondent, former royal correspondent for the bbc and writer michael cole . writer michael cole. >> michael, thanks for joining us. first of all, can you explain the traditions in this
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country versus countries with perhaps more renegade press like the united states, although normally it's tended to be that the british tabloids are much more renegade than the american newspapers . but perhaps the newspapers. but perhaps the website era is different . why website era is different. why are the americans publishing this photograph ? but brits this photograph? but the brits aren't . aren't. >> good afternoon tom. good afternoon emily. first thing to say is good to see the princess of wales out and about enjoying the spring sunshine yesterday day. um, i think collectively i should start by saying we wish her a speedy and a complete recovery from her. what was quite clearly major, uh, abdominal surgery back on the 17th of january three. um, and also , it's worth saying that also, it's worth saying that this photograph , which, as you this photograph, which, as you say, isn't being published by british newspapers , uh, does at british newspapers, uh, does at least do one thing. it's which is the rumours that have been swirling around about wherever she was and how unwell she was.
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and maybe emily, i was talking to you. and there we see the princess in happier times yesterday on on this very channel. and i said , perhaps channel. and i said, perhaps kensington palace ought to give us a little bit of guidance as to actually, uh , silence the to actually, uh, silence the rubbish that has been filling the vacuum, the news vacuum about it, about the princess of wales . and maybe this was their wales. and maybe this was their subtle way of doing so . so maybe subtle way of doing so. so maybe they're listening to gb news like everybody else . but to like everybody else. but to return to tom's point , it's return to tom's point, it's very, very simple . uh, this very, very simple. uh, this country and the press used to be wild west . we would publish wild west. we would publish anything , wild west. we would publish anything, uh, and we were just as adventurous as the americans . as adventurous as the americans. and in america, this photograph, which we don't know who took it in windsor great park, her sitting , uh, next to her mother sitting, uh, next to her mother in a 4x4, which was the same one, i believe that prince william drove when he visited
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her at the london clinic. that's been put on a celebrity website called tmz. i gave it the american pronunciation there for emphasis over here. not. and thatis emphasis over here. not. and that is because , uh, charles that is because, uh, charles spencer , the late and much spencer, the late and much missed diana , princess of missed diana, princess of wales's brother earl spencer, stood in the pulpit at westminster abbey. and i was sitting within ten yards of him , sitting within ten yards of him, uh, and he spoke about diana the huntress of classical mythology, becoming diana the hunted and hunted to her death in in paris on the night of 31st of august, 1997, and the editors and many of them were present, were taken aback by that , and there was a aback by that, and there was a silent , uh, maybe secret silent, uh, maybe secret agreement with them that they would never, ever again use paparazzi pictures. now i don't know whether this was a lucky
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member of the public or a paparazzo who was lurking in the bushesin paparazzo who was lurking in the bushes in windsor. great park, but the photograph is out there. uh, it shows the princess with a pair of large dark glasses . she pair of large dark glasses. she looks pretty well as far as i could see. sitting in the front seat next to her mother and she were. they were doing the school run. they were coming back from taking the children to school . taking the children to school. and, you know, emily, i, i think, uh, it's the children that has made the princess retina isn't about her. her condition in, uh, kensington palace put out a statement , uh, palace put out a statement, uh, which said that they they hoped or she hoped that the public would understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible and her wish that her personal medical information remains private, perfectly reasonable . and i perfectly reasonable. and i think what she didn't want is the children going to school and being in the playground, and some kids saying, what's wrong with she's got with your mum? i hear she's got x, with your mum? i hear she's got x, z, and i think she
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x, y or z, and i think she wanted to avoid that now in the past and we will remember before the birth of king george, uh, she into hospital with she went into hospital with very, severe morning very, very severe morning sickness , and she has spoken sickness, and she has spoken about since in the, in the about that since in the, in the hope. and i'm quite sure the reality would help other reality that it would help other people suffering from the same condition, which is quite common, but not as severe as she experienced it. so that is the division . i mean, in the past, division. i mean, in the past, the american press was very much more out there, fewer controls . more out there, fewer controls. uh, and, and in this country, the british press is lightly controlled. it's mainly self—policing . uh, but they have self—policing. uh, but they have taken, uh , the decision on a taken, uh, the decision on a question of taste . uh, and, uh, question of taste. uh, and, uh, they decided to publish her. >> will you suggest, were you suggesting that perhaps it might be. they might be pleased that this, uh, photo has appeared well, on this website so as to put to bed the idea that there's something more serious going wrong with the princess of wales
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i >> -- >> well, 5mm >> well, well, well, perhaps i'm being a little bit machiavellian. and you are too. but it wouldn't be beyond the dark arts of public relations for that to happen. and it does actually silence a lot of the rumours, because there have been some absolutely more bad stuff on the internet, but also some vile stuff too. and i think kensington palace was a bit fed up with having to say it's ludicrous. it's ridiculous. it's nonsense. but if you have a vacuum in nature, uh , nature vacuum in nature, uh, nature abhors that vacuum. and in a news vacuum, it gets filled with rubbish. you know, there's a wonderful thing called the internet. there's a wonderful thing called social media. why do human beings turn it into a cross between a cesspit and a piranha pool? but they do on a daily basis, saying things which they wouldn't say to anybody's face or in decent company and in the light of that, this is a very demonstrable way of showing that the princess of wales is alive and well and smiling and
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sitting in the front of a car and also we've heard today from the mod that on the 8th of june, which is three months and three days away, she will be at one of the two rehearsals for the trooping of the colour, the sovereign's birthday parade, and she will be inspecting the troops. she is, of course, colonel in chief of the irish guards , but i don't think she guards, but i don't think she will be at the saint patrick's day parade on the 17th of march, when tradition the colonel in chief. it used to be the old queen mother, uh, gives out the spngs queen mother, uh, gives out the sprigs of, uh, shamrock , uh, to sprigs of, uh, shamrock, uh, to the irish guardsmen , and they the irish guardsmen, and they all wear them in their hats very jolly. >> mhm. yes so we're not expecting to see her until easter at the earliest, but uh, but i suppose it's , uh, it's but i suppose it's, uh, it's a fortunate coincidence that perhaps this picture has made its way to the press or to the american press, just as that rumour reached, reached its crescendo. >> yes. thank you very much,
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michael. thank you very much. we're going to have to leave it there. michael cole, former royal correspondent for bbc royal correspondent for the bbc and . there you he may and writer. there you go. he may agree there that agree with you there that there's, know, happy there's, uh, you know, a happy coincidence. i think it is. >> it just slightly all time. >> it is just slightly all time. did you see the rumours about, uh, the princess of uh, where where the princess of wales was some of them were really quite. >> no, i don't bother reading such things. >> them were quite funny. there was there photoshop was one. there was one photoshop saying at this saying that she was at this disastrous willy wonka disastrous glasgow willy wonka experience. uh, as one as one of the oompa loompas. i don't know if you saw that rumour. i mean, there were there were lots of. well, she's far too numerous interpretations of where she could possibly too could possibly be far too elegant and to be an oompa elegant and slim to be an oompa loompa good timing as an oompa loompa. good timing as an oompa loompa. good timing as an oompa loompa. doubt that one. loompa. no no, i doubt that one. >> there go. fun >> but there you go. there's fun on social as well as on social media as well as nastiness. other nastiness. um, but in other news, the number migrants news, the number of migrants crossing is now at crossing the channel is now at its highest point since the crisis began. >> more people have crossed >> yes, more people have crossed in so far this year in small boats so far this year compared to the same point in the previous year. the home office has confirmed that 401
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migrants entered illegally . the migrants entered illegally. the uk yesterday on seven small boats . it's also the highest boats. it's also the highest number of crossings in a single day in this year. >> wow. well, it comes as the uk and france agree a new partnership aimed at smashing channel people smuggling gangs by boat by disrupting their small boat supply chains. home secretary james cleverly made the announcement following a meeting of group northern of the calais group of northern european countries yesterday . european countries yesterday. well, our home and security edhon well, our home and security editor, mark white joins us now . editor, mark white joins us now. mark, uh, thank you very much for joining us. we've been told forjoining us. we've been told james cleverly has said now we've had a bit of a defeat of sorts in the house of lords. this week, too, over the rwanda bill. james cleverly has accused some of the peers in the house of lords of being on the side of the people smugglers . the people smugglers. >> yeah, i mean, i think it was expected from the government side that there would be very significant issues in trying to get through the bill and the lords, they knew they were for
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in a battle. so no surprises . in a battle. so no surprises. but it's still deeply frustrating . and of course, the frustrating. and of course, the government has originally claimed that they believed rwanda flights could be heading off as soon as the spring. uh most of us that observe this particular issue very closely didn't think there was any chance of that happening happening. and sure enough , uh, happening. and sure enough, uh, it, you know, it's being bogged down not just by what's happening in parliament, but onceit happening in parliament, but once it gets out of parliament, it's going to have to go through the same process of being tested in the courts. there might be a new law, but it will be challenged and it will be up to the judges to determine whether that , uh, law the judges to determine whether that, uh, law and what the government is doing is lawful. so it will be many months yet before we're in a position where the government knows, finally, whether the rwanda bill, the new bill or not will be, uh, lawful. and people can get off that
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flight. and by that time, of course, can get on that flight. and by that time, of course, we may be looking at an election and perhaps a new government. >> mhm . and rwanda is still all >> mhm. and rwanda is still all in with this scheme because of course we heard quite a lot a few months ago now about how rwanda will may be having second thoughts. >> yeah. well we heard from president kagame actually uh who seemed to be pretty annoyed with the way that his country is just getting such an absolute kicking reputation . finally, uh, around , reputation. finally, uh, around, uh, in the uk, particularly , but uh, in the uk, particularly, but clearly internationally, as it's making international headlines from from human rights lawyers , from from human rights lawyers, uh, international charities , the uh, international charities, the un effectively in parts of the un effectively in parts of the un coming out and saying that rwanda is not a safe country to send these asylum seekers to, despite the fact, of course, that the un already uses rwanda,
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uh, to house a number of migrants or asylum seekers as part of un programs. so there's no doubt that the rwandan government is running out of patience . and i think if we get patience. and i think if we get any significant delays again this year, as looks likely , we this year, as looks likely, we might be facing a point where the rwandan government just says enoughis the rwandan government just says enough is enough. i'm half expecting the house of lords to say that the uk isn't a safe country. >> the rate they're going, i mean, how many countries around the world are possibly safe? if you're going to nitpick every single issue? mark white, thank you very much for explaining all of not that many, to be >> probably not that many, to be honest. western europe, honest. maybe western europe, the united states, canada , the united states, canada, australia, western europe, though , because i'm sure there though, because i'm sure there are lots mean , what are lots of i mean, what countries do you count in in western europe? >> them only very >> some of them only very recently equalised equal recently we equalised equal marriage . marriage. >> wouldn't use that >> well, they wouldn't use that as not. don't know . as a surely not. i don't know. well, stick with us because shortly going to shortly we're going to be
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discussing the song discussing debating the song rule britannia . should it be rule britannia. should it be scrapped. that's what a labour spokesperson says. well, she doesn't say should be doesn't say it should be scrapped, but does say it scrapped, but she does say it alienates modern alienates people in modern britain. is that true? does it alienate people ? really? you're alienate people? really? you're watching. afternoon watching. good afternoon britain. we're on
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gb news rule, britannia. >> british rules the waves . >> british rules the waves. britons never, never, never will be slaves. >> you enjoyed that , didn't you? >> you enjoyed that, didn't you? oh, i thought you were gonna. you know, burst into song like andrew pierce did earlier. >> i wouldn't put that upon the audience. they don't. they don't want awfully out want to hear my awfully out of tune, but incredibly enthusiastic singing. >> email. if you'd like me >> yeah, email. if you'd like me to because i'm very, to sing it, because i'm very, very you're a lot very willing. you're a lot better than singing. very willing, willing. well, better than singing. very wonce, willing. well, better than singing. very wonce rousingilling. well, better than singing. very wonce rousing patriotic well, better than singing. very wonce rousing patriotic anthem a once rousing patriotic anthem is considered alienating. is now considered alienating. that's according to shadow
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culture secretary thangam debbonaire . well, one person who debbonaire. well, one person who certainly not shy of singing is gb news presenter nigel farage. let's take a listen . daniel let's take a listen. daniel hagan. let's take a listen. daniel hagari . i always play the never, hagari. i always play the never, neven hagari. i always play the never, never, never shall we say . never, never shall we say. daniel sri shall i go away ? daniel sri shall i go away? >> brazier never, never shall we have. >> oh, amazing i >> oh, amazing! >> oh, amazing! >> oh, amazing! >> oh, it makes you pine for the days when we used to have a navy, doesn't it? >> look at that in the musiasem built it back out. >> well, let's debate whether or not this anthem should be scrapped. should be, uh, considered to be part of the roster of patriotic songs in this country. joining us is author and broadcaster rebecca reid, who thinks the anthem is controversial and the leader of
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ukip, neil hamilton, who does not think the anthem should be scrapped. well um, let's start with you, rebecca. why? why is this anthem controversial ? this anthem controversial? partial? why can't we celebrate it? how? uh, britain once ruled the waves . the waves. >> so i have two issues with it. first of all, i think it's quite rubbish. >> the scan is bad in the words. >> the scan is bad in the words. >> never, never, never shall be slaves. you have to extend it to make it fit. >> it's not a good piece of writing. so that's my first issue. my second. and i was actually quite surprised. i was at an event once, and i was with an irish friend and the song came on. an irish friend and the song canweyn. an irish friend and the song canwe were about 19, and i was >> we were about 19, and i was kind you know, going along kind of, you know, going along with it, and she like, with it, and she was like, i absolutely would i ever with it, and she was like, i abrablezly would i ever with it, and she was like, i abrable to would i ever with it, and she was like, i abrable to sing would i ever with it, and she was like, i abrable to sing thatould i ever with it, and she was like, i abrable to sing that song. ever be able to sing that song. >> and i was like, why? why is that a problem? she's like, that a problem? and she's like, it's celebrating dominance. it's celebrating the dominance. >> in her specific >> particularly in her specific experience the irish of experience of over the irish of the british. it's a really uncomfortable sort show off uncomfortable sort of show off song about how they had ownership and how they controlled things and it
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particularly harks back to things like the east india trading company, which is pretty icky chapter for us. >> not it. >> so yeah, not into it. >> so yeah, not into it. >> rebecca, surely for an irish person, it's england that is the perfidious for perfidious albion it was oliver cromwell and england, britain is a more universal expression of these islands. surely i mean that that wasn't how she felt . wasn't how she felt. >> she felt very much. >> she felt very much. >> she felt very much. >> she didn't want anything to do with it. and she certainly didn't want celebrate a time didn't want to celebrate a time where the britons felt that he'd go talking how go around talking about how great they were and how they owned everything, because just great they were and how they owneythinkything, because just great they were and how they owneythink ithing, because just great they were and how they owneythink i think because just great they were and how they owneythink i think it'sause just great they were and how they owneythink i think it's a se just don't think i think it's a chapter of our that we chapter of our history that we shouldn't personally, individually shouldn't personally, indivithink' shouldn't personally, indivi think that we walk don't think that we should walk around all because around crying all day because our country some bad things, around crying all day because our c
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british liberty, which is preserved by the strength of the british navy in the 1730s and 40s. when this song was written and the contrast was between england and which was largely the country in those days. only just after the union with scotland , uh, had preserved its scotland, uh, had preserved its liberties as a result of being able to stop foreign invasions like the spanish armada . whereas like the spanish armada. whereas in the 18th century the continent of europe was riven by internal wars with armies , internal wars with armies, invading countries were next door to them, and all of them controlled by absolute monarchies . and, you know, monarchies. and, you know, britain had a constitutional monarchy developing, of course , monarchy developing, of course, but nevertheless, in contrast with all our continental neighbours , britain was a beacon neighbours, britain was a beacon of liberty for them, actually. and so rule, britannia, all it doesis and so rule, britannia, all it does is to celebrate the fact that britain had maintained its own sovereignty as a nation and its own laws, and we weren't
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therefore subject to domination by others , rather than, as by others, rather than, as rebecca was saying , hymn of rebecca was saying, hymn of praise to britain as it dominated over others and after all, let's not forget that it was the british navy that suppressed the atlantic slave trade. so it's just as well that we did rule the in the we did rule the waves in the early when we early 19th century, when we stopped the horrible , uh, stopped the horrible, uh, tradition of slavery being exported from africa to the new world. so i'm very much in favour of celebrating that and singing rule britannia as lustily as we possibly can. >> well, rebecca, that's a good point. what's wrong with celebrating british? except journalism? i don't think there's anything wrong with celebrating british exceptionalism. >> i just think that the exceptionalism we celebrate exceptionalism that we celebrate could about could maybe not be about dominance. and, uh , control. and dominance. and, uh, control. and i think the word slave is quite a loaded one these days. the suggestion the britain's never, even suggestion the britain's never, ever, ever so many nevers will be for feels like an be slaves for feels like an unnecessary , uh, arena because. unnecessary, uh, arena because. yes, absolutely . we were yes, absolutely. we were instrumental in ending the slave
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trade , but we also directly trade, but we also directly benefited from the slave trade. and there's just so much great stuff that's british that we can sing that doesn't need to sing about that doesn't need to allude to the national allude to this. the national anthem it doesn't anthem is great. it doesn't matter cultural entity matter what your cultural entity is, creed is, it doesn't matter what creed you religion you are, you are, what religion you are, you are, what religion you are, you can get on board with it. it's easy peasy. nice. also the words all fit the tune. >> you're republican, >> if you're a republican, i guess. >> absolutely . but, but >> sure, absolutely. but, but but i think republican is, you know. absolutely . there are know. yes, absolutely. there are plenty of them in country, plenty of them in this country, but not tied to any class, but it's not tied to any class, religion, anything religion, ethnicity or anything else. individual else. it's a personal individual choice to make. and choice that you get to make. and i think, yes, it probably would be to republicans. be alienating to republicans. but feeling but republicans love feeling alienated fun a fun alienated. it's a fun it's a fun activity for them. >> entire identity . well, >> their entire identity. well, let's throw that back to neil. the word slaves here is perhaps a problem . a problem. >> it's not a problem for me. i mean, who wouldn't, uh, support the words of the song, which is an exhortation to freedom and against slavery? i mean, it's not britannia rules the waves, it's britannia rule the waves. those are the. those were the words in the song . and it's an
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words in the song. and it's an exhortation to us to maintain our freedoms. exhortation to us to maintain our freedoms . and indeed, as our freedoms. and indeed, as a result of our dominance over the seas in the 18th and 19th century, to extend those freedoms to other benighted folk who haven't had the benefit of british government in the past . british government in the past. and so i personally think that britain's history has masses of things to be celebrated. and the trouble with the left is, you know, they're ashamed of britain, ashamed of patriotism. i mean, george orwell said that, you know, british left intellectual would be more embarrassed by being found standing for god save the king than to be found stealing from a church. poor box. and that's the trouble with the left. and thangam debbonaire and the labour party fundamentally , of labour party fundamentally, of course, don't believe in patriotism . and keir starmer patriotism. and keir starmer said i think on desert island discs, his favourite piece of classical music was, um, was the, um, the beethoven's ninth symphony, the, the anthem of the, uh, of the european union.
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he said a party which is again based british independence because he was one who wanted a second referendum on brexit. it would certainly be against seeing britain because they're ashamed of their own country . ashamed of their own country. and i don't think they're in cahoots with the ordinary instincts of the people of this country. >> lastly , rebecca, the >> just lastly, rebecca, are the left blame for stoking up the left to blame for stoking up the culture war. i mean , the writer culture war. i mean, the writer often of it, but often accused of it, but actually it's the left who want to talk about getting rid of songs that most people find unifying. no i'm not sure that's fair, and i don't think to suggest that the left are ashamed of this country is fair ehhen >> there is a lot about this country that i celebrate. it just wouldn't be the same things i'm country of emma i'm from the country of emma thompson, waller—bridge, thompson, phoebe waller—bridge, the life, felicity the bbc, the good life, felicity kendal that of kendal i'm from that side of things. of things. i like the creator of the warm traditions. the lovely, warm traditions. i like writing and the music. like the writing and the music. i like that i just don't like the bit where used to go to the bit where we used to go to countries their countries and stamp out their religion. how religion. um, and tell them how to but there are lots of to live, but there are lots of ways be of ways to be proud of being british. i'm glad that we can
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all have different of being british. i'm glad that we can all ha'to different of being british. i'm glad that we can all ha'to be :erent of being british. i'm glad that we can all ha'to be british. of being proud to be british. >> well, there we go. at least we on that one. that we can agree on that one. that we can agree on that one. that we all can proud of britain we all can be proud of britain for different things. >> of. >> we can all be proud of. phoebe how about phoebe waller—bridge. how about we settle? yeah, we'll settle on that. we settle? yeah, we'll settle on tha thank very much. rebecca. >> thank you very much. rebecca. read there. oh read and neil hamilton there. oh there we go. we covered most of there we go. we covered most of the points there. i think, although i do think i do think i have disagree have to fundamentally disagree that worse that rule britannia is a worse song uh, than than than song than, uh, than than than the national anthem . she was the national anthem. she was right. it does go nearer. yeah she was right with that one. >> yeah, but it's so rousing. >> yeah, but it's so rousing. >> it is rousing. it is rousing. i mean, see how nigel farage was roused there now still to come. >> seen him more roused to >> i've seen him more roused to cut to cut tax. cut tax or not to cut tax. >> big question of >> the big question ahead of tomorrow's anticipated tomorrow's hotly anticipated budget, we'll be looking at what we from the we can expect from the chancellor's plans . we're also chancellor's plans. we're also going hearing suella going to be hearing from suella braverman channel braverman live on this channel very shortly too. but it's your news headlines . emily.
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news headlines. emily. >> thank you and good afternoon . >> thank you and good afternoon. your top stories from the gb newsroom i'm jeremy hunt. looks set to unveil a £0.02 cut to national insurance . that's as national insurance. that's as official economic forecasts are expected to be downgraded with britain's finances continue to show few signs of improving . show few signs of improving. it's after analysts suggested that the nhs could face real terms funding cuts of £2 billion as part of the government's budget tomorrow analysis by the institute for fiscal studies suggests it would be the largest reduction since the 1970s, with the health service forced to cut staffing or pay. the warning comes after the king held an in—person pre—budget audience with jeremy hunt this morning at buckingham palace . the rwanda buckingham palace. the rwanda bill suffered another series of defeats in the house of lords last night , defeats in the house of lords last night, in many cases by unusually large margins of more than 100 votes as peers backed five changes to the government's flagship immigration bill, including an assurance that the safety of rwanda can be
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challenged in the courts. nearly 50 amendments were put forward , 50 amendments were put forward, and the scale of last night's defeat raises the chances of a drawn out tussle between the lords and the commons. drawn out tussle between the lords and the commons . almost lords and the commons. almost 3000 migrants have crossed the engush 3000 migrants have crossed the english channel on small boats so far this year , the highest so far this year, the highest level for this point in the year since the crisis began . despite since the crisis began. despite the increase, downing street says a new customs partnership with france is making a difference with more than 26,000 crossing attempts prevented last year , an agreement on a revised year, an agreement on a revised offer for consultant doctors in england has been reached in a potential step towards solving the ongoing dispute , unions will the ongoing dispute, unions will now recommend the offer to their members ahead of an expected vote. the health secretary says it paves the way for an end to the strikes, while the prime minister said it's proof that seeking a fair agreement is the best way forward. a separate dispute doctors dispute involving junior doctors is still ongoing. dispute involving junior doctors is still ongoing . all the latest is still ongoing. all the latest stories sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code
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on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts . for news. com slash alerts. for a valuable legacy your family can own . 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 today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2686 and ,1.1692. the price of gold is £1,676.35 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7639 points. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . financial report. >> well , financial report. >> well, you're financial report. >> well , you're with good >> well, you're with good afternoon britain on gb news. >> now stay with us because very soon we'll be bringing you our exclusive interview with the home secretary, suella braverman . she addresses big issues like tory tax plans, the migrant boat crisis and even islamism
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it's 139 you're watching, listening to. >> good afternoon britain and it is the big budget day tomorrow we're going to be hosting a budget special live from westminster, live from westminster, live from westminster ? yes. now, westminster? yes. now, chancellor jeremy westminster? yes. now, chancellorjeremy hunt could chancellor jeremy hunt could squeeze public spending further in a bid to fund some of these tax cuts that we've heard about in tomorrow's spring budget . in tomorrow's spring budget. >> well, public service, public service work, circus, circus, pubuc service work, circus, circus, public circus. don't put it past the dcms . they'll be subsidising the dcms. they'll be subsidising circuses before you know it. but pubuc circuses before you know it. but public service workers, including nhs staff, teachers and firefighters and council staff prioritising politically dnven staff prioritising politically driven tax cuts over improving pubuc driven tax cuts over improving public services is wrong. i what? no good. let's move on. liam halligan will explain
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everything for us now with on the money . well, liam , uh, first the money. well, liam, uh, first of all, let's go through what are the sort of tax measures that are being rumoured to be in this budget? are we finally going to see some tax cuts? >> i think we are, tom. >> i think we are, tom. >> they're not going to be as substantial as maybe the chancellor , jeremy hunt, would chancellor, jeremy hunt, would have a few months ago. have wanted a few months ago. but there seems to be less fiscal headroom, less wiggle room in the public finances to cut taxes. >> but he is still going to go ahead with a headline cut in taxation . and the rumour mill is taxation. and the rumour mill is going gangbusters. and it's pretty clear to me i'd say that what the chancellor is going to do tomorrow is going to cut the headune do tomorrow is going to cut the headline rate, not of income tax, national insurance tax, but of national insurance by £0.02 in the pound that already fell national insurance in january from 12,12 already fell national insurance in january from 12, 12 in the pound to £0.10 in the pound . uh,
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pound to £0.10 in the pound. uh, that was announced in november. that cut came in january. and we're going to see a further reduction tomorrow to £0.08 in the pound on national insurance . the pound on national insurance. so it's a tax in all but name. but it's cheap crucially than an income tax cut. and the reason it's cheaper than an income tax cut is you and i and emily discussed right here yesterday on the money when i predicted that this would happen. is that income tax is also paid by pensioners and income tax is also paid by landlords on the rent they receive. so if you cut national insurance , which is national insurance, which is paid by all workers, whether or not their landlords , and then not their landlords, and then it's cheaper than cutting the headune it's cheaper than cutting the headline rate of income tax. also, an nic cut applies in scotland as well , whereas income scotland as well, whereas income tax in scotland is largely determined by the scottish government. so he is going to deliver this tax cut. he is going to be able to say we've cut the headline rate of national insurance from £0.12 in
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the pound, all the way to down £0.08 in the pound, but i still think you add in the impact think if you add in the impact of keeping income tax thresholds where they are so—called fiscal drag, people getting dragged into higher income tax brackets as their wages go up and as inflation goes up, uh, i still think, i don't know, i haven't seen the numbers yet, but even with this headline nine tax cuts, this national insurance cut, i still think the tax burden tomorrow is going to go up . up. >> liam, i wish they'd sort out some of the quirks in the tax system that seem to make no sense at all, particularly for middle middle earners and families and households. but we can talk about that perhaps tomorrow on the public spending front , public tomorrow on the public spending front, public spending tomorrow on the public spending front , public spending front, front, public spending front, lots of people saying we can't afford these tax cuts. you're going to have to slash public spending them. spending if you want them. >> this us down to >> well, this takes us down to the really philosophical the sort of really philosophical nub pubuc the sort of really philosophical nub public finances. emily nub of public finances. emily the so—called laffer curve, when you cut taxation tax rates, does the extra activity, the extra
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growth you expect with lower taxation generate more tax revenue or less tax revenue ? the revenue or less tax revenue? the historical evidence is mixed in the end, though , as jeremy hunt the end, though, as jeremy hunt himself has said , countries with himself has said, countries with lower tax rates tend to grow faster, which means they tend to have more revenue to use on pubuc have more revenue to use on public services . it's about public services. it's about getting from to here there and the amount you've got to borrow to get there. but look , tomorrow to get there. but look, tomorrow isn't really about public spending. that's more in the spending. that's more in the spending review. we'd expect that in the autumn. but we do know, don't we, that 7.6 million people are still on nhs waiting lists for elective measures. that's a only slightly down from the record high. we know also that in 2025, rate nhs spending is set to fall. if you add in inflation, it's going to fall by over 1. that's one of the
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biggest drops, according to the ifs in real post inflation, nhs spending since the 1970s and beyond, the nhs , a story that beyond, the nhs, a story that we've been covering here on gb news, a very, very important story. and i know the chancellor is going to talk about it tomorrow. we have many councils in this country that are at risk of going bankrupt. the in this country that are at risk of going bankrupt . the so—called of going bankrupt. the so—called section 114 notice, including the biggest council in europe , the biggest council in europe, birmingham council, birmingham city council , our second biggest city council, our second biggest city, a huge uh, unitary area . city, a huge uh, unitary area. and that is going to impact pubuc and that is going to impact public services , that is going public services, that is going to lead to increases in council tax, though, that is, of course, for local authorities to decide . for local authorities to decide. so the public finances are very, very tight. the front line of the public sector, if you like, local authorities, are are bleeding red ink across the country. a lot of them have done property deals that have gone wrong. a lot of them have not increased council tax for many, many years. but still, the
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chancellor is going to go ahead with at least one headline cuts to tax. but it's not income tax. it's national insurance . so it's national insurance. so we're going to be talking a lot tomorrow, guys, about the differences between the two. and ihope differences between the two. and i hope i've outlined to gb news viewers and listeners for now how the essence of those differences as we prepare for tomorrow . tomorrow. >> well, so it won't be. >> well, so it won't be. >> oh yeah . it won't impact >> oh yeah. it won't impact pensioners no no, pensioners then, will it? no no, no they won't get cheaper. >> but pensioners. >> but pensioners. >> is interesting . now it >> this is interesting. now it makes why the tories last makes sense why the tories last week said kind of randomly oh we're going to keep the triple lock for pensioners right. so the basic state pension will continue to rise under a conservative government by the highest of the growth in earnings . highest of the growth in earnings. the highest of the growth in earnings . the growth highest of the growth in earnings. the growth in . earnings. the growth in. inflation, 7 or 2.5, whichever is higher. that's seen an 8.9% increase in the basic state pension coming in in april. that's very, very expensive . that's very, very expensive. it's 12 million people also . so it's 12 million people also. so he's given that to pensioners . he's given that to pensioners. he's given that to the grey vote
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last week and now to workers, but not to pensioners, not to landlords . he's going to give landlords. he's going to give a cut in national insurance , cut in national insurance, higher spending on pensioners , higher spending on pensioners, less tax on working people. >> so you sound a bit like trussonomics isn't it. i'm sure they will make their sums add up some magic money way, money tree to shake. they'll well they'll thresholds are still of course frozen. so that's true. dragged into higher tax bands but still to come , that exclusive to come, that exclusive interview with suella braverman , interview with suella braverman, she's been speaking our she's been speaking to our political editor christopher hope, he'll be telling us hope, and he'll be telling us about what to expect . it don't about what to expect. it don't go anywhere. this is gb news, britain's election .
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channel. channel good channel. good afternoon britain. it's 10 to 2, so it's time to talk to our political editor, chris hope. and, christopher, you've
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been speaking with the former home secretary but there are some huge issues to cover, not least those illegal boat crossings . things higher this crossings. things higher this yeah crossings. things higher this year. now by this point than they were last year . that's right. >> hi, tom. hi, emily. that's right. well, i did get to the issue of small boats crossing, of course, suella braverman until last november was the home secretary the secretary in charge of the policy and in fact drove the rwanda before got rwanda plan. but before we got to that , we spoke a lot about to that, we spoke a lot about tax . tomorrow, of course, the tax. tomorrow, of course, is the budget, were hearing budget, as you were hearing eloquently liam eloquently there from liam halligan. she's her own halligan. now she's got her own ideas. course , the issue halligan. now she's got her own ideas.you course , the issue halligan. now she's got her own ideas.you remove 'se , the issue halligan. now she's got her own ideas.you remove her the issue halligan. now she's got her own ideas.you remove her rightssue when you remove her right wingers from the top of the government, then where do they go? gb news to say what go? but to gb news to say what they want, what they, they they want, what they, what they think government should do? think the government should do? because there's very few people who are authentic right wingers around sunak the around rishi sunak at the cabinet table , she thinks that cabinet table, she thinks that the and the chancellor, the pm and the chancellor, jeremy tomorrow should cut jeremy hunt, tomorrow should cut income tax by toopy. she thinks that the income tax threshold should go up. she wants nurses
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and teachers to stop paying the higher rates of income tax. she also has some interesting ideas, innovative ideas , she might say innovative ideas, she might say to raise money. she thinks that companies which rely on foreign labour should should pay more in tax . so tax breaks for labour should should pay more in tax. so tax breaks for companies that employ british workers , that employ british workers, which is interesting way of deaung which is interesting way of dealing with net migration. she thinks less money should go to the train operators and she also thinks that there should be other money. the other ways to raise money. the cutting down on, on on waste in whitehall. so she's got her prescription and she set them out for our viewers today and that interview will air on the channel from 2 today. channel from 2 pm. today. >> tax breaks for companies that employ british workers. that's an intro one, a controversial one. i'd like to get stuck into that. see her reasoning for that one? we're looking forward to that. we're going to be showing the interview, of course, very, that. we're going to be showing the isooniew, of course, very, that. we're going to be showing the isoon indeedcourse, very, that. we're going to be showing the isoon indeed .yurse, very, that. we're going to be showing the isoon indeed . um,, very, very soon indeed. um, christopher, lots has been said today as well about the definition of extremism. the
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government's crackdown on extremism. there seems to be a lot of disagreement in cabinet, cabinet, perhaps , about how this cabinet, perhaps, about how this is actually going to work . is actually going to work. >> that's right. and the concern is going to be that when you start defining things in law, you ban other you may inadvertently ban other things which are not necessarily as offensive to some people. and that's why the law is often can be quite opaque and is left to the courts to try and interpret. she about small boats, she talked about small boats, and she said that it as we know she believes this , that the she believes this, that the rwanda plan which the lords will seek to weaken again tomorrow . seek to weaken again tomorrow. the rwanda is back in front the rwanda bill is back in front of tomorrow, not do of peers tomorrow, will not do the job. she she stuck by her line, which we know she believes in, that the only way to make this happen is to make sure that those arriving illegally here can't recourse to european can't have recourse to european convention on human rights that's get a plan that that's how you get a plan that will . um, we'll wait and will work. um, we'll wait and see work for her. see if that does work for her. but wasn't clearly but she wasn't clearly a depressed by the fact that 40,000 people arrived here by small boats . since rishi sunak
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small boats. since rishi sunak became minister she was became prime minister she was pretty grim. also um, about the polling, she thinks will be very, very difficult. local elections in may and also at the general election. she did say that she didn't think lee anderson was islam phobic and was a racist for claiming on was not a racist for claiming on this channel, of course, that the sadiq khan was controlled by islamists. language was being condemned by the prime minister and cabinet ministers, jeremy hunt and james cleverly. so she's not holding back in the interview. i think our viewers won't it. no it won't want to miss it. no it certainly sounds like it will be one of the moments to watch in the run up to the budget and just finally , christopher, um, just finally, christopher, um, we've heard a bit this week about george galloway's attempts to unseat angela rayner . to unseat angela rayner. >> uh, do you buy that as a possible party? >> yeah, well, i was lucky enough. if that's the right time to be right in front of that press conference yesterday outside parliament, when he said that now he thinks , uh, there
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that now he thinks, uh, there are around, um , seven, 15,000 are around, um, seven, 15,000 supporters of him who might go towards an independent party in angela rayner. ashton under lyne constituency , her majority there constituency, her majority there was 4263 at the last election, down from over 11,000 in 2019. he thinks that enough there are enough muslim voters there who will want to vote against her, and that could cost her her seat. so it shows why tom, emily, that this party, a galloway's party, can be like reform for the tories. yes we'll have to see. >> we'll have to see what happens there. um, all eyes on, uh, george galloway, at least for now. but in just a moment, we'll be bringing you that exclusive interview with the former secretary suella former home secretary suella braverman stay with. us. >> a brighter outlook with box solar, sponsors of whether on . solar, sponsors of whether on. gb news afternoon. >> welcome to your latest weather update from the met
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office for gb news. a few heavy showers around this afternoon, but they're going to fade through this evening. most of us having night, and having a dry night, some fog and frost in the southwest. that's where had the clearer where we've had the clearer skies through the day. still some showers across some heavy showers across the south—east. to some heavy showers across the so uti away t. to some heavy showers across the soutiaway a to some heavy showers across the soutiaway a few to some heavy showers across the soutiaway a few scattered o drift away a few scattered showers across parts of scotland , but for most, it's a dry night . we'll keep quite a lot of cloud the east that will help cloud in the east that will help to keep temperatures up to keep the temperatures up here, west the here, but further west with the clearer temperatures are clearer skies, temperatures are going to dip down close to freezing. likely in freezing. a frost likely in rural wales and rural parts of wales and southwest england, along with some fog patches. they some freezing fog patches. they could linger through the morning rush parts the m4 and rush hour. parts of the m4 and the in particular, so bear the m5 in particular, so bear that in mind. but they should clear away. and there much of the west will have a fine day on wednesday, to wednesday, mainly exception to that where there wednesday, mainly exception to that be where there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more where there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more cloud where there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more cloud and ere there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more cloud and eryfeware will be more cloud and a few showers in the east. again, quite cloud and we'll quite a lot of cloud and we'll see over parts of see a few showers over parts of eastern but over eastern england, but a rain over the grampians as well. a chilly day on some of those eastern coasts. six seven but coasts. six seven degrees but for west a bit of sunshine for the west a bit of sunshine in digits, maybe 12 in double digits, maybe 12 celsius. thursday will be a
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similar day and that western areas will see the lion's share of that dry and bright weather. always more clouds in the east. always more clouds in the east. a few more heavy showers likely on thursday though, particularly over of the midlands and over parts of the midlands and wales. 1 or 2 lively downpours possible again, where it's gloomy and glum. temperatures in single digits where we see a bit of brightness. temperatures should double figures, should climb to double figures, maybe in 1 or maybe up into the teens in 1 or 2 places that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .
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gb news. >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:00. our top story this hour. former home secretary suella braverman has spoken to gb news exclusively. she's spoken out on huge topics like tax , the huge topics like tax, the migrant boat crisis and the lee
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anderson islamist row. that's coming up shortly. >> you will not want to miss it. and media blackout. the princess of wales has been seen for the first time in months, but the british press are refusing to show the paparazzi picture. an american outlet has blasted the photos across the internet. who has the right approach ? has the right approach? >> and the government has striked a new deal with france in a crackdown on people smuggling gangs. it comes as the new figures reveal that yesterday a record number for the single day this year entered illegally into the uk. well, in the next couple of minutes we're going to be going to that exclusive interview with suella braverman now. >> suella braverman really pulls her she know it's her punches. does she know it's going to be feisty? >> very >> but it's also very interesting she's choosing interesting that she's choosing now, this moment on this program before the budget hit to make
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her intervention , lots of her intervention, lots of rumours will be swirling about what her plans are personally for her own future . for her own future. >> yes, and let us know what you make of what christopher said he said. she says there should make of what christopher said he sai(breaks;ays there should make of what christopher said he sai(breaks for! there should make of what christopher said he sai(breaks for companiesild make of what christopher said he sai(breaks for companies that tax breaks for companies that hire british workers rather than foreign workers. that's a very interesting proposal. not sure how that would work in practice, but let us know what you make of that. uh, tax breaks for companies that hire british workers. >> well, gbviews@gbnews.com is the address to email. but before we get to that interview, let's get a little update on your latest news headlines . latest news headlines. >> tom, thank you very much. and good afternoon. your top stories from the gb newsroom, jeremy hunt looks set to unveil a £0.02 cut to national insurance as he prepares to set out britain's budget tomorrow. the chancellor will attempt to put the uk economy back on track and revive rishi sunak polling , despite the rishi sunak polling, despite the fiscal watchdog giving the government little headroom for tax cuts . but analysts suggest
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tax cuts. but analysts suggest the nhs could be facing real terms funding cuts of £2 billion amid rising costs and a promise to tackle waiting lists. liberal democrat leader sir ed davey says more needs to be done to help people with the cost of living. >> the truth is the conservatives increased taxes . conservatives increased taxes. >> any tax cuts will really be a deception, a swindle the deception, a swindle on the british people because as the vast of people are vast majority of people are paying vast majority of people are paying thinks vast majority of people are pay conservatives thinks the conservatives >> what the democrats want to see in the budget tomorrow is an end to the cuts in the nhs. we're about to see the worst cuts in the nhs since the 1970s, and the choice at the next election is going to be a conservative chancellor, conservative government who want to cut our nhs or liberal democrats, liberal democrat candidates who want to make sure we our nhs . that's our candidates who want to make sure we priority)ur nhs . that's our candidates who want to make sure we priority .jr nhs . that's our top priority. >> almost 3000 migrants have crossed the english channel on small boats so far this year. that's the highest level for this point in the year since the crisis began . despite the crisis began. despite the increase, downing street says a
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new customs partnership with france is making a difference, with more than 26,000 crossing attempts prevented last year that , as the attempts prevented last year that, as the rwanda bill suffered another series of defeats in the house of lords last night, in many cases by unusually large margins of more than 100 votes, peers backed five changes to the government's flagship immigration bill, including an assurance that the safety of rwanda can be challenged in the courts. nearly 50 amendments were put forward in the scale of the defeat raises the chances of a drawn out tussle between the lords and the commons , and an agreement on the commons, and an agreement on a revised offer for consultant doctors in england has been reached in a potential step towards solving ongoing towards solving the ongoing issue, unions will now recommend the offer to their members ahead of an expected vote. the health secretary says it paves the way for the strikes, while for an end to the strikes, while the prime minister said it's proof that seeking fair proof that seeking a fair agreement is best agreement is the best way forward a separate forward for everyone. a separate dispute involving junior doctors are still ongoing . for the are still ongoing. for the latest stories , sign up to gb
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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 it's back to tom and . emily. back to tom and. emily. >> good afternoon britain . it's >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:04. and our top story this hourin 2:04. and our top story this hour in a gb news exclusive , the hour in a gb news exclusive, the former home secretary suella braverman has sat down with gb news political editor chris hope ahead of tomorrow's spring budget . ahead of tomorrow's spring budget. here's the full interview . interview. >> well, there's a budget tomorrow. maybe the last budget before the general election. and with me now in gb news studio, westminster, is suella braverman , the former home secretary. suella, welcome to the studio. hello. what? taxes would you cut? >> well, i should say , first of >> well, i should say, first of all, think we need take all, i think we need to take a pragmatic and responsible approach tax cuts. approach to tax cuts. >> need to put british >> we need to put the british taxpayer because we're taxpayer first because we're living through a 70 year high when it comes to the tax burden. but we also need to be able to afford tax cuts. and afford those tax cuts. and we
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can't promises. can't make uncosted promises. labour makes uncosted and unfunded promises , and we are unfunded promises, and we are not them. we take a prudent approach. tories did once, approach. the tories did once, of liz truss. well of course, under liz truss. well i want to ensure that our public services are safeguarded because at the day, i want at the end of the day, i want tax but no tax cut. tax cuts, but no tax cut. however, will make up however, radical will make up for the experience of people not being able to see a gp or a dentist , or getting police dentist, or getting a police officer attend a burglary. so officer to attend a burglary. so we to take a responsible we do need to take a responsible approach to our public service delivery and value for money for the british taxpayer. so that's the british taxpayer. so that's the approach i would the overall approach i would take. that's take. yes that's the that's the mood music. >> but what taxes would you cut if could. hear maybe 2% if you could. we hear maybe 2% £0.02 off national insurance for example. is that enough . example. is that enough. >> well i think personal taxes are good place to start. they are a good place to start. they given that 70 year high and it sends the british sends a message to the british taxpayer that we're on your side and you work pay. my and you work will pay. my preference would be to p off the bafic preference would be to p off the basic rate of income tax. and you know , rishi himself you know, rishi sunak himself promised take a penny off the promised to take a penny off the bafic promised to take a penny off the basic rate i would further basic rate i would go further with £0.02 because i think that
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would send message would really send the message that people will be to keep that people will be able to keep more of what they earn. i think it also needs to be accompanied with rising of the personal with a rising of the personal allowance , the personal allowance, the personal allowance, the personal allowance and tax income thresholds, because we've got the nvidia situation now that our tax system actually disincentivizes work, it disincentivizes work, it disincentivizes people from taking that promotion or working extra hours. and we've got millions of low and middle earners, particularly middle earners, particularly middle earners , nurses and teachers who earners, nurses and teachers who are being dragged into paying higher levels of tax in a way that was never intended, because they're frozen, because of inflation, because in 2021, the then chancellor rishi sunak, froze the thresholds. and so they haven't risen in line with inflation. and that fiscal drag is really quite punitive and a real disincentive on productivity. so if we really want to send the message that work pays, that people should work pays, that people should work harder and they should work longer, and actually they're not working tax they're working for the tax man, they're working for the tax man, they're working their working for themselves and their families. what we families. and that's what we
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stand as conservatives. stand for as conservatives. a bold but affordable measure would be to raise the personal allowance and also the income tax brackets. >> and cut tax by by income >> yes. and cut tax by by income tax by £0.02. how would you pay for that. there's the speculation about the non—dom status abolished or scaled status to be abolished or scaled back some measures about back or some measures about second holiday homes or and the fuel duty of course that, that that £0.05 increase won't go ahead. how would you pay for it. >> well there three >> well i think there are three ways. know that ways. first of all, we know that the treasury has about £15 billion of fiscal headroom thanks to lower than expected borrowing costs and a record surplus . and actually, we should surplus. and actually, we should remember the economic climate is a lot, a lot better than it was 12 months ago. inflation has fallen, economy growing fallen, the economy is growing and falling. i think and debt is falling. so i think that, , many, many of that, you know, many, many of these tax cuts will be affordable that affordable with that fiscal headroom that headroom and that leeway that the has. think that the chancellor has. i think that money to paying those money should go to paying those tax we tax cuts. i think secondly, we also to raise revenue also need to raise revenue and more i'm very more creative ways. i'm very interested in something i did as home secretary raising taxes home secretary in raising taxes and charges on businesses that employ foreign workers. so we
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have already an immigration health surcharge and an immigration skills charge. i think we need to increase those charges would not only charges that would not only raise revenue estimated to be up to £8 billion, but it was also have a benefit. a corollary benefit, i think, of lowering net migration. and we know the british people have voted time and again to lower overall and time again to lower overall numbers , and we have numbers, and we have unprecedented numbers of foreign workers coming in. and then lastly, i think we've got to take a long, rigorous look at, um, how whether we're getting value for money for the british taxpayer in whitehall. and i support jeremy hunt's, uh , you support jeremy hunt's, uh, you know, on immoral whitehall know, war on immoral whitehall waste he as he put it. waste as he as he put it. >> what's an example of that? >> what's an example of that? >> well, i mean, listen, i worked with jeremy quite closely as to trim the as home secretary to trim the fat office spending . fat on home office spending. it's a department which has over 40,000, 40, 40,000 civil servants. i think that's far too much for the work being done by that department. but more specifically are things specifically, there are things like £12 billion of taxpayer money goes towards the railways
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every year. that value for every year. is that value for money when many parts of the country trains, which are country see trains, which are running nearly empty and sometimes at all, because sometimes not at all, because the companies have fallen sometimes not at all, because the with:ompanies have fallen sometimes not at all, because the with theiranies have fallen sometimes not at all, because the with their employees allen sometimes not at all, because the with their employees oren sometimes not at all, because the with their employees or £20 out with their employees or £20 billion of taxpayers money going towards carbon capture and storage . i think that should be storage. i think that should be largely funded by private investment, limited investment, with limited taxpayer funding. i don't think that's value for money, and there are countless examples of where getting value where we're not getting value for and a rigorous for money and a rigorous assessment would really save billions, tens of billions of pounds, which can pay for tax cuts. >> lots of ideas there. one is fascinating. here you raise taxes on companies that employ immigrants labour to try and deal with net migration. was that an issue you raise when your home secretary? >> home secretary, >> well, as home secretary, i did succeed in the conversation and with the and secured agreement with the chancellor visa fees . chancellor on raising visa fees. and so we did see about a 10% hike in visa fees. and so we did see about a 10% hike in visa fees . um, but if hike in visa fees. um, but if you look at it, it's a very inelastic demand . numbers of inelastic demand. numbers of visas have gone up year on year. they've reached unprecedented
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levels 700,000 net migration number last year. i think it's only right that we try and attach an economic consequence to that. and so if businesses were to, uh, cover the costs of people using health services, they were to increase the tax they were to increase the tax they pay because they were working, employing foreign workers, i think we'd see an increase in revenue, but also see a fall in net migration . see a fall in net migration. >> believe that rishi >> do you believe that rishi sunak cutter? sunak is a tax cutter? >> think in his heart he is. >> i think in his heart he is. i think he's , you know, been very think he's, you know, been very prudent thus far. i think the time has come now, given the benefit of economic conditions . benefit of economic conditions. um, and the fall in inflation and a growing economy that we do need to be bold and we need to send the message. and i don't think we've quite done it yet that we're on the side the that we're on the side of the british taxpayer. we need to send the message that the send the message that we are the party that party of low tax and that fundamentally, we people can keep they earn. keep more of what they earn. >> just briefly on other >> and just briefly on other issues, you the on issues, you saw the speech on the steps downing last the steps of downing street last week prime minister
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week from the prime minister he said extremism is, he said that extremism is, he fears, tearing apart. fears, is tearing us apart. what was reaction to that? was your reaction to that? >> well, welcome words. i wouldn't disagree with that. uh, you know, his words , but, you you know, his words, but, you know, i think the time for words has come to an end, and we do need to see action. you know, the next day we saw tens of thousands of people take to the streets chanting hateful slogans and behaving in a totally unacceptable way in many instances overwhelming the police . notably where police police. notably where police resource has been disproportionate to actually what's happening. so i we need to say see a step change in the police response. they need to be enforcing the law. they need to be arresting people who are using, threatening or abusive language. we need to be holding the police to account in a better way. and i would have liked to have seen an emergency law introduced to actually empower and empower empower ministers and empower all of those policymakers who are, uh , responsible for this are, uh, responsible for this issue to actually take, uh, steps to restrict some of these marches. you know, this has been going on now for four months.
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it's become weekly it's become a weekly fixture. parts of london have become, uh , parts of london have become, uh, you know, no go areas forjewish people. that is totally unacceptable. we've seen anti—semitism , um, skyrocket. anti—semitism, um, skyrocket. that cannot be the case in 21st century britain . and therefore century britain. and therefore it's century britain. and therefore wsfime century britain. and therefore it's time for action. often not words. >> and was the anderson wrong to say that sadiq khan is controlled by islamists? >> , lee anderson is a >> listen, uh, lee anderson is a great colleague of mine. i'm totally abhor the accusations that have been launched against him. he is not racist. he is not islamophobic. he's calling out very poor performance by the mayor of london, who is completely failed to hold the met commissioner to account, and which is why we've seen emboldened islamism in the streets of london. we've seen an mp hounded out of office because of islamism. we've seen parliament, uh, total be subverted in the proper procedures , is abused because procedures, is abused because out of fear, uh , from islamism out of fear, uh, from islamism we've seen anti—semitism at
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record highs. you know, i could go on, of course, but the remark is not islamophobe, nick. >> and there's no problem that of nature in a party. of that nature in a party. >> don't lee anderson is >> i don't think lee anderson is islamophobic. all. islamophobic. not at all. >> and just quickly, >> okay. and just very quickly, this that this today, we're seeing that the boats arrivals has the small boats arrivals has passed through 40,000, uh, 40,046 since the rishi sunak became prime minister. what's your are you embarrassed by that record as a tory? >> listen, i've spoken a lot about the boats in recent years. you know, the priority is that we need to pass a law that actually stops the boats. i made my views clear that i don't think the law currently going through parliament will do the job. i don't think it's going to be a sufficient deterrent. but, job. i don't think it's going to be abutficient deterrent. but, job. i don't think it's going to be abut the nt deterrent. but, job. i don't think it's going to be abut the solution ent. but, job. i don't think it's going to be abut the solution ,nt. but, job. i don't think it's going to be abut the solution , the5ut, um, but the solution, the solution is actually , uh, solution is actually, uh, ultimately to pass a law that excludes these people from making individual claims, excludes the totality of international law, the european convention of human rights, the refugee convention which stymie our ability control our our ability to control our borders, it via emergency borders, pass it via emergency measures, i.e. borders, pass it via emergency measures, he more quickly than is currently being done . so we
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is currently being done. so we get it on the statute books and we operationalise we can actually operationalise flights to rwanda on a on a, on a large scale with large numbers of passengers and on a regular basis, because that's the only way we get we send the message that coming to the uk on a small boat will not lead to a life in this country. and just very finally your 20 points finally having your 20 points behind figure finally having your 20 points behindas figure finally having your 20 points behindas been figure finally having your 20 points behindas been set figure finally having your 20 points behindas been set stones hasn't as been set in stone since the pm over in since the pm took over in downing street. >> reverse that before >> can he reverse that before the election? >> listen, the polls are very, very worrying. i just have to, you know, in my in my constituency, we are facing local elections. uh, and, you know, two months time and people are very, very concerned. um i, i worry , uh, very much for the i worry, uh, very much for the prospects of our party, not just at the local elections, but also at the local elections, but also at the local elections, but also at the general election . but at the general election. but more than that, i worry about, uh, labour taking the reins of power in this country. i think they would do untold damage to our economy. i think that they would be very weak. keir starmer would be very weak. keir starmer would be very weak. keir starmer would be incredibly weak in
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terms of this rising threat from extremism. i don't think he will be able to control his party. and i think when it comes to standing up for britain and standing up for britain and standing up for british people, all labour will be a total and utter and what utter failure. and that's what worries most . worries me the most. >> suella braverman thank you. >> suella braverman thank you. >> well there's the >> right. well there's the interview with suella braverman. >> she had lot say about >> she had a lot to say about the conservatives prospects at the conservatives prospects at the next election. she doesn't seem too, uh, confident about that. but let's discuss with christopher hope. uh, christopher hope. uh, christopher has lots to say on a number. great interview, by the way. interest eating. she very much stands by lee anderson. she insists he is absolutely not an islamophobe talking about this, uh, raising taxes on companies that , uh, uh, raising taxes on companies that, uh, that uh, raising taxes on companies that , uh, that recruit uh, raising taxes on companies that, uh, that recruit foreign workers is. that's an interesting one. clearly, she didn't get that through the home office when she was in charge . office when she was in charge. >> yes. i thought you might like that one. that's right. so net migration was 700,000 last year ,
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migration was 700,000 last year, fuelled in part by the ukraine crisis. uh, people arriving here from hong kong, china, from hong kong and hong kong, british nationals from hong kong . but nationals from hong kong. but the number far too big. and the number is far too big. and we've seen measures to control that james cleverly, the home that by james cleverly, the home secretary, on family secretary, recently on family members migrants. members arriving with migrants. but suella braverman home but the suella braverman home secretary to last november made clear had tried different clear she had tried different ways it . as she tried ways of doing it. as she tried to get idea through the to get this idea through the treasury taxes on treasury of increasing taxes on companies that rely on foreign labouh companies that rely on foreign labour. um, it's an echo, really. i think, of gordon brown's british jobs for british workers back in the noughties. but fascinating there that was blocked or apparently frustrated, um, when rishi sunak was maybe chancellor or before that. it's quite interesting that. it's quite interesting that she thought there were different ways to try and put pressure on companies to rely on british said there british workers, she said there that a skills that there is a skills surcharge, health surcharge . surcharge, a health surcharge. this should be increased. that visa fees, um, which all they got so far from the government are quite inelastic in controlling net migration . it's controlling net migration. it's much better, she thinks, to look
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at the impact that the money being spent the health being spent by the health service foreigners service on on foreigners arriving get more arriving here and get more companies to pay for that cost. um some of the ways of raising money quite interesting money were quite interesting and controversial . also, i think controversial. also, i think deaung controversial. also, i think dealing trying to cut money from the train operators £12 billion a year is not a great look politically in a week when we have seen a huge increase in rail fares for millions of commuters , and also dealing with commuters, and also dealing with that £20 billion carbon capture budget that might please those concerned about net zero. so she's got some ideas. i think what's interesting though, is suella braverman is no longer around the cabinet table. there's no one like her in cabinet. there's no real authentic right wingers around rishi sunak . so people like rishi sunak. so people like suella braverman have to come on to gb news and other channels to try and get their points across. and that might be a problem. i think, for mr hunt and mr sunak. when the budget is announced tomorrow when the budget is announced tonyeah, interesting >> yeah, really interesting listening some of those, uh, listening to some of those, uh, proposals around, uh, mandates
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for health insurance for companies hiring foreign workers . i mean, when i first heard, i think that's what she was suggesting. and when i first heard that, i was sort of thinking, goodness me, are we going to end up in a situation where foreign workers in the uk have rights have better health care rights than workers , as well? >> i suppose those those rights are of that health support is paid for by the companies that employ them through higher taxes . um, so i'm not sure whether it be necessarily we'll go on private health care. it's just an extra charge on if you don't want to hire someone from overseas rather than someone from down the road in darlington or derby. that is the idea behind she had some behind it. um, she had some defence for defence there, didn't she, for lee she wants to lee anderson. she she wants to see, i think the remarks made by the last friday on the step the pm last friday on the step of i was in of downing street and i was in the as them the the street as he made them the prime minister um, actions to follow those words . it's all follow those words. it's all very saying want to very well saying you want to deal extremism, he deal with extremism, that he says tearing apart as says is tearing us apart as a society . but where is the society. but where is the emergency law to ban what she
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would call hate marches? she says parts of london are no go areas for jewish people. says parts of london are no go areas forjewish people. this is language which you wouldn't hear from the government. but she's been . where's the been very clear. where's the action, minister and just action, prime minister and just finally, a thought on on the finally, a thought on the on the future elections this in future elections this year in may the elections in may and also the elections in in november . may and also the elections in in november. she's very clear there. is very , very there. she is very, very worried. she said for both elections and the future of the party. she's very worried party. and she's very worried about labour government, as about a labour government, as she senior tory. she would be as a senior tory. >> it was interesting looking at her words on lee anderson , her words on lee anderson, saying that lee anderson is a person , is not islamophobic , but person, is not islamophobic, but perhaps she danced around the head of a pin when it came to the remarks that lee anderson himself made and whether they were islamophobic . yeah and that were islamophobic. yeah and that goes to the heart of the future of lee anderson. >> of course, he's an independent mp now, the mp for ashfield. he's refusing to apologise and it hasn't been helped. i think there's no off ramp for him at the moment. he's saying the words are clumsy but he he's been
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saying the words are clumsy but he to he's been saying the words are clumsy but he to do he's been saying the words are clumsy but he to do so he's been saying the words are clumsy but he to do so by he's been saying the words are clumsy but he to do so by both e's been saying the words are clumsy but he to do so by both jameszn told to do so by both james cleverly, the home secretary and also at the weekend , jeremy also at the weekend, jeremy hunt, the chancellor . and i hunt, the chancellor. and i don't see how this is resolved. he won't say sorry . don't see how this is resolved. he won't say sorry. he don't see how this is resolved. he won't say sorry . he doesn't he won't say sorry. he doesn't want to say sorry. so the party's got to find some off ramp to use that time in west minster. find a way for him to form a word which allows him back into the party. so far, that hasn't happened , and it's that hasn't happened, and it's clear that although suella braverman wasn't going to go there the language used about there on the language used about sadiq khan, she doesn't think he's nor an ammo phobe. he's racist nor an ammo phobe. >> yes, it's interesting . it >> yes, it's interesting. it must for, uh , rishi must be difficult for, uh, rishi sunak the government at sunak and the government at the moment . you've former moment. you've got two former home ministers , suella home office ministers, suella braverman robert jenrick , braverman and robert jenrick, very much sticking the boot in and various policies. and proposing various policies. uh, very much indeed, uh, thank you very much indeed, christopher. our political christopher. hope our political editor . edhoh >> well, we've got some breaking news on how the police will approach this weekend's pro—palestinian protest . it's pro—palestinian protest. it's we'll be bringing that to you very shortly. you're watching good afternoon britain here on
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gb news .
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>> it's 224. you're watching and listening to good afternoon britain. now gb news can exclusively reveal that the policing of a huge pro—palestinian protest in london this weekend will be no different from usual this is despite rishi sunak's plea to police chiefs to crack down on extremists no different from usual. >> well, what's going on here? our homeland security editor, mark white, can join us to explain everything. mark, we were expecting at least some changes. >> well, certainly that would be the indication, given what rishi sunak said on the steps of downing street on friday evening . with very robust language , . with very robust language, saying that a line had to be drawn that of course people
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could still continue to protest passionately in support of gaza. but what could not be tolerated any longer are calls for violent jihad or calls for the eradication of an entire state, for other messages of hate and anti—semitism, such as the beaming, uh , projection of beaming, uh, projection of slogans onto parliament. and the prime minister said that he had spoken earlier in that week to police chiefs, where he made it clear that the public expected the police at these protests to police and not simply manage the protests. now, we've been speaking to sources, sources that have suggested that the policing of the protests this weekend and they are expecting again, hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets of the capital will be no different to the way in which it has been policed thus far, they pointed out to us that despite the robust language being used by
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rishi sunak at downing street, as far as they're concerned, the prime minister has signalled no change to legislation or public order laws. uh, currently these protests are policed under the pubuc protests are policed under the public order act and of course, under the counter—terrorism act . under the counter—terrorism act. that's the way the police have been interpreted . ring the been interpreted. ring the powers they have and dealing with the situation on the ground . unless there is a definitive change in the law , then the way change in the law, then the way that they are going to continue to police these protests will be consistent with the way they have done it thus far. >> so let's get this straight. so you can still probably project a what some people see as a genocidal chant on the side of big ben. you can still get away with wearing a face cover that may or may not be perceived as intimidating. that may or may not be perceived as intimidating . you can as intimidating. you can probably clamber all over statues and such things. you can have placards saying whatever ,
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have placards saying whatever, and you probably won't be the police probably won't do anything. they'll just watch . anything. they'll just watch. >> well, that has certainly been the accusation that's been levelled at the police over a number of these protests that they have not been robust enough in dealing with what many people see quite understandably, as breaches of the law by the activities of certain protest groups. i mean, what the police will always say with regard to pubuc will always say with regard to public order policing is it's a dynamic situation. decisions are made by commanders on the ground. it can, of course , be ground. it can, of course, be a decision that is taken because they don't want to make a potentially difficult situation more volatile , especially if more volatile, especially if there are large numbers of people. but that clearly irritates and angers many people when they see, uh, breaches in the law like this. and it seems, uh, in the eyes of many people,
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one law for one group of protesters, there's another law for another group of protesters . for another group of protesters. let's see just what happens this weekend, despite what we're being told by sources, i think given the very understandable anger at the rejection of these images on parliament, if that was to happen again , i think was to happen again, i think there's no doubt the commanders on the ground would be going in and trying to stop that mark very often, what the police say with regard to their policing is that it would be too dangerous to get involved with those that are perhaps, um, pro posting messages of hate or, or shouting the word jihad or whatever it is at the time. >> what they would rather do is collect evidence and prosecute later to avoid perhaps putting themselves in danger or creating a more dangerous situation overall , sparking up controversy overall, sparking up controversy and perhaps a brawl. is there any legitimacy to that point that perhaps it is better to for
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police to perhaps do less policing and more detective work 7 policing and more detective work ? well i think it's a very good point that you raise, and that is absolutely a policy that the police throughout the country really will use as an operating procedure for in terms of deaung procedure for in terms of dealing with certain protests, depending on the numbers there and whether the commanders on the ground feel that an immediate intervention to stop a potential breach of the law would cause that situation to deteriorate. >> and you're right, what you see in many of these protests over the years is it's now commonplace to see these evidence gatherers, these intelligence gathering officers who have video cameras still cameras there in and about the crowds. they're gathering as much information as possible. and then at a later date, they will identify or at least try to identify individuals and prosecute them. and to be fair,
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as opposed to the police, in that sense, we have had a fairly significant number of people who have subsequently been arrested and prosecuted since the protests that have taken place in recent months. so not on the day, but in the weeks after , day, but in the weeks after, such as those, um, protests , such as those, um, protests, those who had the stickers on the back of their rucksack , uh, the back of their rucksack, uh, that were showing the para gliders a nod, of course . uh, gliders a nod, of course. uh, the prosecution said to the paragliders that were used by hamas to go over the border from gaza and slaughter so many people . people. >> yeah, i guess it's difficult because you can't really have the government saying they want to clamp down on all of this and then have the police taking a different approach, a more relaxed approach. but thank you very much. mark whitehead, home and security editor i mean, tom, it's just a bit confusing for people, isn't it? you have rishi sunak standing up and saying, we
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can't extremism on our can't have extremism on our streets. can't this streets. we can't have this and that. need stand to that. we need to stand up to this. then the police, this. and then the police, businesses usual. i do accept your point that of course, they don't things a don't want things to turn into a brawl they want to brawl and they don't want to put, safety at risk put, you know, safety at risk for the general public. there's a bit mismatch, isn't a bit of a mismatch, isn't there, rhetoric and there, between the rhetoric and there, between the rhetoric and the action. the police action. >> one other point >> there's one other point here that is quite important, that i think is quite important, and that's what the prime minister speech, was minister said in his speech, was , if you're to go on these , if you're going to go on these marches and you see some extremism , it's on you to stop extremism, it's on you to stop it. there was almost this idea that there will be more announced later. if these marches continue in the way in which they have been going . which they have been going. ultimately, if there are law abiding, peaceful people on these marches and there are many , many people who aren't extremists who go on these marches, it should they should have the biggest motivation to kick out the terrorists sympathisers from marching beside them. it's not going to happen, though, is it? the anti—semites and if they don't,
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they could perhaps expect more repercussions as well. >> let us know what you think. >> let us know what you think. >> gb views at gb news. com but the princess wales has been the princess of wales has been seen for the first time in months, but the british press are refusing to show the paparazzi we'll be paparazzi picture. we'll be discussing more from discussing that and more from the family with royal the royal family with royal author robert jobson. very shortly. stay us. but shortly. stay with us. but first, your news headlines . first, your news headlines. >> emily. thank you. your top stories from the newsroom . stories from the newsroom. jeremy hunt looks set to unveil a £0.02 cut to national insurance as he prepares to set out britain's budget tomorrow. the chancellor will attempt to put the uk's economy back on track and revive rishi sunak polling. despite the fiscal watchdog giving the government little headroom for tax cuts. but analysts suggest the nhs could be facing real time funding cuts of £2 billion amid rising costs and a promise to tackle waiting lists. liberal democrats leader sir ed davey says the rising cost of living
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ought to be the priority. >> the truth is, the conservatives increased taxes any tax cuts will really be a deception, a swindle on the british people because the vast majority of people are paying much higher taxes, thinks the conservatives. what lib democrats want to see in the budget tomorrow is an end to the cuts in the nhs. we're about to see the worst cuts in the nhs since the 1970s, and the choice at the next election is going to be a conservative chancellor conservative government who want to cut our nhs or liberal democrats, liberal democrat candidates who to make sure candidates who want to make sure we our nhs. that's our we protect our nhs. that's our top priority . gb news can reveal top priority. gb news can reveal that the policing of a huge pro—palestinian protest in london this weekend will be no different from usual, despite rishi sunak plea to police chiefs to crack down on extremists on officers currently use public order and anti terror laws to police the demonstrations . demonstrations. >> it's understood officers will be told not to treat this weekend's protests any differently , and an agreement on
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differently, and an agreement on a revised offer for consultant doctors in england has been reached in a potential step towards solving the ongoing dispute, unions will now recommend the offer to their members ahead of an expected vote. the health secretary says it paves the way for an end to strikes, while the prime minister says it's proof that seeking fair agreement the seeking a fair agreement is the best forward for everyone. best way forward for everyone. a separate dispute involving junior doctors still ongoing . junior doctors is still ongoing. 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. com slash alerts
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i >> -- >> good afternoon britain . it's >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:38 and the princess of wales has been seen for the first time in public since her abdominal surgery in january alongside her
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mother, carole middleton . mother, carole middleton. >> yes, it comes after it was claimed last night that catherine's black sheep uncle gary goldsmith, was scolded after signing up to celebrity big brother amid fears he could spill secrets about the royal family >> well, joining us now to sort the facts from the fiction and discuss this is the royal journalist and author robert jobson. robert uh, first of all, why is there this huge, huge difference between the way that the american media approached photographs like this and the way the british media do ? way the british media do? >> well, i think that it's simply down to the fact that the british media has agreed to be self—regulatory . self—regulatory. >> you can't change the rules just because you want to change them. a private picture in them. put a private picture in them. put a private picture in the papers. know, we self the papers. you know, we self regulate in the media. so i think that the reality is the you'll encourage paparazzi to go after the, you know, the princess during her private time. if that's the case. um this it's a gentleman's agreement. really and, um, i
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think it's been working pretty well, and i don't think if kate is recuperating , she should be is recuperating, she should be expected to be papped . but in expected to be papped. but in the americans, obviously, because there's been so much onune because there's been so much online speculation, there's been so much , uh, fans , so many so much, uh, fans, so many fanciful stories about kate, and she hasn't been seen for so long. the cost and the, um, the currency of that paparazzi picture has gone up enough for them to take a chance, publish it, and cash in. >> robert, could it be a good thing? >> in some ways that this picture has appeared , um, for picture has appeared, um, for the royal family, because at least it shows the princess of wales is there and she's about it, and she must be in a recovery . and so it puts recovery. and so it puts a little bit of speculation to rest. maybe >> well, yes, seeing is believing . i think it's believing. i think it's a warning for people like me saying that she's doing well, or the palace issuing statements. but until you actually see her, she hasn't been seen for many, many weeks. people are going to
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be speculating. way that be speculating. so in a way that the paparazzi this time has done the paparazzi this time has done the palace a bit of a service. but, um, that's not always the case. >> no, it certainly isn't. although some might suggest that because sort of paparazzi because these sort of paparazzi pictures are quite so rare, it does seem a little bit convenient that this appeared in the american, uh, website media just as the speculation reached fever pitch about where the princess of wales was. could this have been done with a wink and a nod now i don't think so. >> i hear what you say. it wasn't an authorised picture, but, um, i just think that the speculation had increased the currency and the value of such a paparazzi picture. and enough for this. but it you for tmz to do this. but it you know, it doesn't mean that the tabloids going sort of tabloids are going to sort of break self—regulatory break their own self—regulatory set have changed in set up. things have changed in the of the newspapers, the landscape of the newspapers, you , almost. um, um, it's you know, almost. um, um, it's almost unrecognisable over the last 20 years. i mean , if you last 20 years. i mean, if you listen to prince harry, you wouldn't believe that. but the reality has changed. the
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reality is it has changed. the editors are very responsible and want to sure that they they want to make sure that they they are people are still the people that regulate . regulate. >> and what do you make, robert , >> and what do you make, robert, of goldsmith , the of this gary goldsmith, the uncle of prince of the princess of wales, going into celebrity big brother, mentioning his ties to the royal family he then speaking to the sun , the speaking to the sun, the newspaper, about how he feels about prince harry and what he said about the princess of wales before. it's all a bit, uh uh, it's not very classy, is it ? it's not very classy, is it? >> undignified. >> undignified. there >> undignified. there we >> undignified. there we go >> undignified. there we go . >> undignified. there we go. >> undignified. there we go. >> well, i'm at the end of the day. they've come to him and they've offered him a sum of money, he's decided to take money, and he's decided to take it. he's a grown man. he doesn't answer niece. he doesn't answer to his niece. he doesn't answer to his niece. he doesn't answer to. he answer to answer to. he doesn't answer to his sister, his older sister and as long as he, uh, i'm sure he's fully aware of what he will say and what he won't say. and he won't in any way being won't be in any way being disrespectful. it any disrespectful. is it any different mike tindall going different to mike tindall going into the jungle? i don't really
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think it is. >> well, it is a bit i don't know because obviously the princess of wales can't say anything to the media. >> so if he does say something that affects the royal family or affects her relationship shapps, then she can't really say much or do anything really , can she? or do anything really, can she? so it puts her in a difficult position. >> ian well, if he does and that happens, i'm sure that somehow now they'll get that story out themselves. i mean, the royal family aren't backwards at coming forwards when it comes to making their position clear. they've got i think, you know, i think the press offices could pay think the press offices could pay salaries of about £1 million altogether, you know, or more or so, you know, there are people there who can answer back on behalf of the royal family. and he's, you know, we live in a free country. if someone's approached him pay, the approached him to pay, pay the pay a approached him to pay, pay the pay a of money to do it, pay a load of money to do it, then up to him to decide then that's up to him to decide what do. don't what he wants to do. i don't think anything think he's done anything particularly yeah think he's done anything pit's:ularly yeah think he's done anything pit's not rly yeah think he's done anything pit's not it's yeah think he's done anything pit's not it's not yeah think he's done anything pit's not it's not classy. yeah think he's done anything pit's not it's not classy. and eah , it's not it's not classy. and i what did he say? that, i think what did he say? that, uh, kate be thinking? uh, what would kate be thinking?
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he she'd be. he said, i'm sure she'd be. would she be watching? sure would she be watching? i'm sure from behind the sofa. probably. that but he that is the case. but is he really wrong? really doing anything wrong? i don't think he is. >> well, isn't there a difference between what mike tindall did? mike tindall was a sort of in and of himself. sort of name in and of himself. he respected for his his he was respected for his his rugby playing . he was sort of rugby playing. he was sort of known for what he did as far as i can understand it all. this quy's i can understand it all. this guy's done is, is be the uncle of the princess of wales . of the princess of wales. >> yeah, but he was invited into, i hear what you're saying, i don't i don't care one way or the other, but what i'm saying is was invited to the jungle is he was invited to the jungle because was the son in law because he was the son in law of, um, of princess not of, um, of princess anne, not because playing because of his rugby playing about ago when he won about 20 years ago when he won the world cup, there was no but, you know, at the of day, you know, at the end of the day, they obviously want viewing figures like we all do, and they all readers . and so, all want, uh, readers. and so, you the fact that you know, the fact that he's spoken and some of spoken to the son and some of the other people in the other people that are in there haven't , it's because they there haven't, it's because they know they put that know when they put that programme they're know when they put that programrget they're know when they put that programrget viewers they're know when they put that programrget viewers andy're know when they put that programrget viewers and clicks. going to get viewers and clicks. and that's what i mean. >> robert, he's launched. he's launched himself into the row
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over the royal racism . i mean, over the royal racism. i mean, well, why shouldn't they? >> i mean, why shouldn't he? i mean, i think that the fact is that his niece was accused of being a royal racist through whispers and nods and he said she absolutely isn't, is he saying anything wrong? don't saying anything wrong? i don't think . think he is. >> although perhaps, perhaps you won't appreciate all being won't appreciate it all being dragged up again. but robert johnson , thank you so johnson jobson, thank you so much talking through much for talking us through these really these big issues. really appreciate time on. appreciate your time here on. good thank robert good afternoon. thank you robert , speak you. , great to speak to you. >> newspapers isn't it. so yes. >> that's true a bad thing. and it gets an item on the on gb news. it's not the end of the world. >> there you go. >> well there you go. >> well there you go. >> wants. it's the way >> everyone wants. it's the way of the world, i guess. to be fair. says, know, fair. probably says, you know, we probably go at we should probably have a go at celebrity really celebrity big brother. really and reality tv shows, and these naff reality tv shows, rather individual rather than the individual himself. yeah, i guess he's just taking advantage of it all. i'd like to know much a like to know how much making a bit though. bit of money though. >> yeah, than nigel >> well, yeah, more than nigel got for i'm a celeb. >> of course not. well, that's still to come . um, still to
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come. >> yes. motorists are hoping for some good news from the chancellor's budget tomorrow. we're asking will fuel duty be kept at its current level? you're watching. could it go down even? >> could it go down even that would be good news. >> you're watching. good afternoon,
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gb news. >> it's 248. you're watching and listening to good afternoon britain . so let's have a look at britain. so let's have a look at what you've been saying in the inbox this afternoon . inbox this afternoon. >> yeah. andrew says i would like to know who is telling the police to treat saturday's march no differently . their chief sir. no differently. their chief sir. ultimately, sadiq khan, which could undermine the pm. well, i don't think sadiq khan has operational control over the metropolitan police, although sometimes what he says does have influence . but i can't think influence. but i can't think that he's made any public
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pronouncements on, well, they run together, pronouncements on, well, they run they? together, don't they? >> jeff the police stating >> jeff says the police stating that approach to that their policing approach to pro—palestinian is pro—palestinian marches is unacceptable . well, the response unacceptable. well, the response from the prime minister should publicly state that this that if this is what happens and the protests not challenged, the protests are not challenged, the prime minister should he prime minister should state he has confidence in the met has no confidence in the met police commissioner and the mayor of london, and they'll be removed of removed from post. well, of course, hearing this from course, we're hearing this from the sources . at this the police via sources. at this moment, they haven't pronounced anything publicly. >> says. the police >> jeanette says. the police have said that they are struggling financially and logistically to supervise these protest marches . why don't they protest marches. why don't they use their power until the organiser says that they must give days notice? currently give 30 days notice? currently they have give six before they have to give six before each demo that each march should be no longer than four hours. also the police should be in full protective gear . gosh yeah, full protective gear. gosh yeah, it does get organisational complicated, doesn't it? but perhaps a longer notice period could with some of these, could help with some of these, uh, costs . yeah, well, i uh, costs. yeah, well, i remember people around, didn't
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they? ban one of them from going down and then it went down whitehall and then it went down whitehall and then it went down whitehall. >> anyway. that's example >> anyway. so that's an example of police not really. of the police not really. >> i don't think it went down whitehall think it whitehall anyway. i think it did. the day, on the day did. no. on the day, on the day of the um of remembrance. >> no, not that a >> no, not on that day. a different one. >> banned it down whitehall different one. >> it banned it down whitehall different one. >> it didn't ned it down whitehall different one. >> it didn't ned it doywhitehall,|ll and it didn't go down whitehall, but a different one but there was a different one where want to go where they didn't want it to go down whitehall. where they didn't want it to go dovand hitehall. where they didn't want it to go dovand then all. where they didn't want it to go dovand then it.. where they didn't want it to go dovand then it did. anyway, >> and then it did. anyway, we'll we'll and get we'll check. we'll check and get back but i'm back to you. but i think i'm right that and, uh, right on that one. and, uh, juue right on that one. and, uh, julie says, why is no one mentioning that all these marches every weekend are stopping people going, going into and into london for pleasure and hurting economy? hurting the london economy? that's a very good point indeed. some people just don't want to go district at go into the shopping district at all. , speaking of all. um, well, speaking of people motoring , people moving around motoring, let's have seen fuel prices rise over the past year. >> that's according to the rac. >> that's according to the rac. >> yes. this comes as the chancellor is rumoured to freeze fuel for another year in fuel duty for another year in tomorrow's budget , a move tomorrow's spring budget, a move that presumably will be welcomed by motorists. but it's predicted to cost the treasury around £5 billion as well. >> joining us now is howard cox,
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the founder of fair fuel uk and also the reform party candidate for the mayoralty of london. now, howard, just to explain how things work here, the assumptions of the treasury, the way that they helped balance their books for this spending penod their books for this spending period is they assumed fuel duty would rise, would rise . by would rise, would rise. by around £5 billion for the coming year. around £5 billion for the coming year . now around £5 billion for the coming year. now we're hearing rumours it might not. >> yeah, i think it's more than a rumour. >> tom and emily and good afternoon. nice to be on your show. >> the. the fact is, the son wouldn't go big with an article like that. a double page spread to say fuel duty is going to be frozen again, or the £0.05 that was actually given to us two years rishi sunak. years ago by rishi sunak. >> uh, is not going to go >> um, uh, is not going to go back again. and we've a back up again. and we've got a year stabilisation . year of, of stabilisation. >> but bear in mind that jeremy hunt won't be chancellor and he won't be in government. >> uh, should imagine labour >> uh, i should imagine labour will put it back in their first budget, but am. budget, but i am. >> it'd be churlish for me not to say.
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to actually say. >> i'm really pleased that we're freezing i managed freezing duty. i. i managed to get 40 mps to and some heavyweight know, priti heavyweight mps, you know, priti patel redwood, duncan patel, john redwood, iain duncan smith and also a peer of the realm, david frost to sign a letter that went to jeremy hunt to say you'll be mad to put it up. >> in fact, we would prefer a cut. so part of me, i'm very pleased because been pleased because it's been frozen. have cut frozen. but we should have cut it even further. >> and not just fuel duty, >> and it's not just fuel duty, is costing motorists. >> and it's not just fuel duty, is also costing motorists. >> and it's not just fuel duty, is also gotting motorists. >> and it's not just fuel duty, is also got the motorists. >> and it's not just fuel duty, is also got the astronomic you've also got the astronomic fuel rises insurance costs. fuel rises in insurance costs. >> oh, yes. yes >> i mean it's ridiculous. i mean, i just renewed my insurance and i mean, i'm 70 years of age, never had an accident. everything's perfect. i've got a great i've been driving for 50 years and, you know , it's ridiculous. my know, it's ridiculous. my insurance was about £500. it's now gone up to £1,100. and i've shopped around and i managed to get down to about it's get it down to about 900. it's still up, you know. you still gone up, you know. you know, 80. and that can't be right. i'm looking at right. and i'm, i'm looking at that and people are asking me to campaign on but i'm campaign on that one. but i'm pretty stretched at the moment, you fighting london pretty stretched at the moment, you as fighting london
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pretty stretched at the moment, you as well. 1ting london there as well. >> so you're a busy man. i mean, i've heard that some, some cars are uninsurable now. are basically uninsurable now. it's so difficult to get insurance for some models of cars, even not that expensive vehicles. >> no, i know i'm hearing all sorts of things and it depends on the insurer, though, emily. >> i mean, you're dead right to actually highlight that sort of thing, but electric vehicles, for example, ones for example, they're ones particularly you know, particularly are being you know, the those are going the premiums on those are going up simply because up even more so simply because of rumour of this, this rumour and the threat the fact they threat of the fact that they they're , they're explodable they're, they're explodable devices where down the streets of london and various places across the country . but look, across the country. but look, the budget's tomorrow. we still don't know exactly what's going to might to happen. who knows, you might pull a hat and pull a rabbit out of a hat and say, there'll be a5p cut, and you heard you say you. and then i heard you say before break, you know, before the break, you know, maybe a cut. that'd be maybe there's a cut. that'd be good. i will go good. well, you and i will go and a celebratory of and have a celebratory bottle of champagne if it happens. >> watching with, >> well, we'll be watching with, uh , incredibly tentatively from uh, incredibly tentatively from around 12:30 tomorrow. that's when the budget will be delivered, when the chancellor gets to his feet. but for now, howard cox, founder of
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fairfueluk. you very much fairfueluk. thank you very much for us. fairfueluk. thank you very much for well, us. fairfueluk. thank you very much for well, that's it good >> well, that's it for good afternoon, >> well, that's it for good aftethank you for joining us. >> well, that's it for good aftethank you forjoining us. but >> thank you forjoining us. but not worry , martin daubney not to worry, martin daubney will you all the will be bringing you all the latest between 3 and he joins latest between 3 and 6. he joins us now. martin, what's coming up on your show? well that's suella braverman exclusive package full of red meat moments less tax for brits, more tax for foreign workers. >> talks about lee anderson and soaring anti—semitism and two tier policing rishi sunak says police steam in sadiq khan says police steam in sadiq khan says police stand down. >> we have clear politicised policing, plus the image that shames britain. >> a homeless woman just yards from an asylum hotel in farnham. >> jeremy hunt seat that's coming up on the show. but first time for your latest weather forecast . forecast. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> afternoon soon. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. a
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few heavy showers around this afternoon , but they're going to afternoon, but they're going to fade through this evening. most afternoon, but they're going to farusthrough this evening. most afternoon, but they're going to farusthrough a1is evening. most afternoon, but they're going to farusthrough a dryevening. most afternoon, but they're going to farusthrough a dry nightg. most afternoon, but they're going to farusthrough a dry night some;t of us having a dry night some fog and frost in the southwest . fog and frost in the southwest. that's where we've had the clearer through the day. clearer skies through the day. still heavy showers across still some heavy showers across the they'll the south—east. they'll tend to drift . scattered drift away. a few scattered showers parts of showers across parts of scotland, but most it's a scotland, but for most it's a dry night. we'll keep quite a lot of cloud in the that lot of cloud in the east that will keep the will help to keep the temperatures up but temperatures up here. but further , with the clearer further west, with the clearer skies, are to skies, temperatures are going to dip down close to freezing. a frost in rural parts of frost likely in rural parts of wales southwest england, wales and southwest england, along fog along with some freezing fog patches. could linger patches. they could linger through morning rush hour. through the morning rush hour. parts the the m5 in parts of the m4 and the m5 in particular, so bear that in mind. but they should clear away. then of west away. and then much of the west will a day on will have a fine day on wednesday, exception to wednesday, mainly exception to that where there wednesday, mainly exception to that be where there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more where there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more cloud where there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more cloud and ere there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more cloud and ae there wednesday, mainly exception to that be more cloud and a feware will be more cloud and a few showers in east. again, showers in the east. again, quite of cloud we'll quite a lot of cloud and we'll see showers over parts of see a few showers over parts of eastern england, but a rain over the well. a chilly the grampians as well. a chilly day on some of those eastern coasts six seven degrees but for the west a bit of sunshine in double digits, maybe celsius. double digits, maybe 12 celsius. thursday will be a similar day
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and that western areas will see the lion's share of that dry and bright weather. always more clouds in the east and a few more heavy showers likely on thursday though, particularly over midlands and over parts of the midlands and wales. or 2 lively downpours wales. 1 or 2 lively downpours possible again, where it's gloomy and glum. temperatures in single digits where we see a bit of brightness. temperatures should climb double figures, should climb to double figures, maybe in 1 or maybe up into the teens in 1 or 2 places that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on .
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gb news way. >> a very good afternoon to you all out there. it's 3 pm. welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news broadcasting live from the heart of westminster. >> all across the uk, we've got a corking show for you today, kicking off with an exclusive interview with suella braverman. >> he stole gb news the
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chancellor of the exchequer needs income tax in needs to slash income tax in tomorrow's budget and stand by tomorrow's budget and stand by to hear what she has to say about anderson and a load of about lee anderson and a load of other stuff. it's an absolute corker chris hope. next, no corker from chris hope. next, no matter what jeremy hunt announces tomorrow's budget announces in tomorrow's budget after a poll put the tories on a record low of just 20, i'll ask if holac can do anything to turn things around. perhaps suella braverman could be the comeback queen next, gb news can reveal the police will ignore rishi sunak and will not change their approach for this week's huge pro—palestine protest. and guess what? sadiq khan has waded in and after all the rumours and speculation about the princess of wales, i'll bring you a big update on when she's going to return to royal and public duty. we've got a cracker coming up and that's all coming between now and 6:00. honestly, people,
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