me out and about again. we are live in whitehaven. why we ain't go .7 they love it, we love it. go.7 they love it, we love it. we're here go? they love it, we love it. we're here and we're here till, well, till 8:00, actually, because farage is after me too. we're here for one reason. we want to get into the budget with you. there is so much to discuss. we'll get it all. discuss. we'll get into it all. but before we do, let's cross live to polly middlehurst for tonight's headlines. tonight's latest news headlines. >> michelle, thank you and good evening to you . well, let's line evening to you. well, let's line up for you then. the spring budget and what it means to you. the chancellor says it will let people keep as much of their own money as possible. jeremy hunt said the government's fiscal performance means the economy is also expected to grow this year by 0.8, giving the government enough headroom to cut national insurance contributions from april the 6th. >> employee, national insurance will be cut by another toopi

from 10% to 8, and self—employed national insurance will be cut from 8% to 6. it means an additional £450 a year for the average employee, or £350 for someone self—employed . when someone self—employed. when combined with the autumn reductions, it means 27 million employees will get an average tax cut of £900 a year . tax cut of £900 a year. >> well, other announcements made by the chancellor today are that the non—dom tax status will be scrapped with the tax break for wealthy foreign residents replaced by what the chancellor called a modern residency system. and rounding out today's announcement , system. and rounding out today's announcement, pubs will also system. and rounding out today's announcement , pubs will also get announcement, pubs will also get announcement, pubs will also get a boost from a freeze on alcohol duty. the child benefit threshold goes up to £60,000, and the £0.05 cut to fuel duty is locked in for 12 months. let's take a look at other

measures in the budget as well. today, the vat registration threshold that's going up from £90,000 to £90,000, while threshold that's going up from £90,000 to £90,000, while the pensions regulator will get new powers ensuring people with defined contributions are getting value from their investment. there's also a new isa scheme with a £5,000 yearly allowance for british assets and it systems in the nhs will also get a £35 million upgrade paid well. funding some of the government's spending will be a new duty on vaping. we understand , though, taxes on understand, though, taxes on tobacco will go up and the windfall tax on oil and gas profits will continue until 2029. that's going to raise around £15 billion for the government's coffers. but the labour leader in response, sir keir starmer, said britain's credit card is maxed out. >> last desperate act of a party that has failed britain in recession. the national credit

card maxed out and despite the measures today, the highest tax burden for 70 years, the first parliament since records began to see living standards fall. confirmed by this budget today. thatis confirmed by this budget today. that is their record. it is still their record. give with one hand and take even more with the other. >> meanwhile, liberal democrats leader sir ed davey said unfair tax hikes still mean the average worker will be worse off. but tory mp sir robert buckland told gb news it puts britain on the right track. >> i think what we saw today was direct relief for working people andindeed direct relief for working people and indeed employers . let's not and indeed employers. let's not forget with the changes to national insurance contributions ahead of phase out of the ahead of a phase out of the entire system, which all know entire system, which we all know has never really been about insurance. another tax. insurance. it's another tax. i think a very good move, think that was a very good move, and particularly pleased that he's threshold on, he's raised the threshold on, child benefit to 60,000. that is

a huge plus for many working women in particular, who will now get child benefit or will find their taper , going at a, at find their taper, going at a, at a higher rate. so i think really practical moves to not just do something right, but to simplify the tax system, a very tory approach, which is why i approve of it. >> now the science secretary is facing calls to quit after taxpayers covered her £15,000 bill in damages and legal fees following false accusations she made about an academic michelle donelan, who has now retracted her comments , accused professor her comments, accused professor kate sang of supporting hamas, the terrorist group. however, an investigation found the claims were baseless. labour says miss donelan's false allegations are a new low in government standards and news that broke in the last hour or so. we can tell you now two sailors have died after a houthi missile attack on after a houthi missile attack on a vessel in the gulf of aden. it's understood three other crew members are missing and a number of other sailors are seriously injured. we understand 20 people

were on board at the time of the houthi attack. they're the first deaths to be reported since houthi militants , who are backed houthi militants, who are backed by iran, started attacking commercial shipping in the area. that's the news for the latest stories , sign up to gb news stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts . news. com slash alerts. thanks for that, colleague . for that, colleague. >> thank you , thank you. yes >> thank you, thank you. yes i am michelle dewberry. >> this is dewbs & co and you >> this is dewbs& co and you know what have you been snoozing a little sleep perhaps. we've just woken you up, haven't we? because, yes, you can tell we are not in the studio. no, we are not in the studio. no, we are not. we're out and about tonight. we are live from whitehaven. everybody yes, yes, you can probably tell, right? if

you're sitting at home thinking to yourself, where on earth is this whitehaven place that they're all so happy to be? >> i'm starting something now. >> i'm starting something now. >> i've said to them, i said to these guys, we're in whitehaven >> i've said to them, i said to theswe'res, we're in whitehaven >> i've said to them, i said to theswe're happy; in whitehaven >> i've said to them, i said to theswe're happy about1itehaven >> i've said to them, i said to theswe're happy about that. ven and we're happy about that. i know, i you don't have to know, i know, you don't have to do it every i mention the do it every time i mention the west. just a key moments , guys. west. just a key moments, guys. key moments say i love it. i absolutely love energy. absolutely love the energy. anyway, i've just shown absolutely love the energy. any'where i've just shown absolutely love the energy. any'where whitehaven;t shown absolutely love the energy. any'where whitehaven is. hown absolutely love the energy. any'where whitehaven is. it's n absolutely love the energy. any'where whitehaven is. it's in you where whitehaven is. it's in cumbria . i've got tell you as cumbria. i've got to tell you as well. i've never been here before. absolutely before. it's absolutely beautiful. you've been, i beautiful. if you've not been, i recommend visit. anyway, we're recommend a visit. anyway, we're here show till 7:00 here with this show till 7:00 tonight. this great tonight. i've got this great audience guess what else audience and guess what else i've what a treat for you i've got? what a treat for you all. my panel, the director of popular conservatives and the former general the former director general of the institute affairs, institute for economic affairs, mark evening to mark littlewood. good evening to you. your first time on this panel you. your first time on this panel. first time. >> great to be here in whitehaven. >> great to be here in wh are aven. >> great to be here in wh are you. >> great to be here in wh are you say, can you see >> are you say, can you see this? i can see where this is going. everyone also alongside him, a regular face to this show. the co—founder of novara media, aaron bastani. and you

know the drill , don't media, aaron bastani. and you know the drill, don't you? it's not just about charles rae. it's not just about charles rae. it's not just about my fabulous audience. oh, no, it's about you guys at home as well. what is on your mind tonight? you can get in touch all the usual ways. vaiews@gbnews.com, or you can tweet or text me at gb news. and i will certainly be bringing you into this conversation . if you into this conversation. if you are on twitter or i've got a poll running as well, because i want know, you had in poll running as well, because i wanbudget)w, you had in poll running as well, because i wanbudget today you had in poll running as well, because i wanbudget today asyou had in poll running as well, because i wanbudget today as itu had in poll running as well, because i wan budget today as it made in poll running as well, because i wan budget today as it made you the budget today as it made you more likely to vote for the tories, less likely , or made not tories, less likely, or made not a blind bit of difference whatsoever. should we start though? perhaps because maybe you've work day. you've been at work all day. maybe you've been sleeping, or maybe things maybe you've had better things to watch jeremy hunt do to do than watch jeremy hunt do his budget. but worry not, because i bring you up to because i shall bring you up to speed with some of the key measures that we're experiencing. and i've got to say, so many of these measures, they've been leaked, haven't they, . why do they do that? >> why do they? well, this is now a kind of political event, not an economic event, michel. >> it's all about, you know,

trying to get newspaper coverage. in that's the coverage. in fact, that's the plan of the government more than it is to change our tax it is to really change our tax system spending system or our spending particularly. it's particularly. so of course, it's all linked . there was virtually all linked. there was virtually no surprise in the budget at all. if you'd been following gb news the papers over news or reading the papers over recent would be not recent days, there would be not a single surprise. >> i think i'll tell you what was quite surprising. don't was quite surprising. i don't know you managed to see it. know if you managed to see it. jeremy essentially getting jeremy hunt essentially getting locked that? locked out. did you see that? i can you clip if you can play you a clip if you missed arthur. it was bit missed it. arthur. it was a bit embarrassing, quite frankly, he's and he's standing there nice and proud with little briefcase. proud with his little briefcase. he to the door. he turns to the door. and i don't mean to be rude to whoever the fella is on the door, but you've got one job, my friend. you one job in you literally have one job in life. jeremy hunt turns life. when jeremy hunt turns back to the dog, that's what you do. it. not on this do. you open it. but not on this occasion. and playing it back for you. mainly because i do find it quite so hilarious. you can see stood there and then can see he stood there and then he had to knock. he had to knock on door. i mean, i bet on the door. i mean, i bet someone in trouble for that. someone got in trouble for that. i can tell you. anyway. look, apparently lower taxes mean

higher growth. that was one of the that jeremy hunt was the things that jeremy hunt was trying out today. trying to point out today. but in of of these key in terms of some of these key metrics, then, we knew, didn't we, national there we, national insurance, there was conversations about was lots of conversations about whether that was going whether or not that was going to be, not. well, be, the £0.02 cut or not. well, we know, yes, that's going we now know, yes, that's going to there was lots of to happen. there was lots of rumours about whether not rumours about whether or not income was going to be cut. income tax was going to be cut. i hate to break it to you all, but no, that didn't get cut at all, capital gains will come on to this. i can tell you there'll be a lot of people upset about this one because conversations we've people are saying we've had, people are saying actually, capital actually, we want capital gains to brought in line with to be brought more in line with income can you now, income. i can tell you now, right. this was a bit of a rabbit out of the hat. it went completely the opposite way. they reduced, capital gains completely the opposite way. they people d, capital gains completely the opposite way. theypeople d, toapital gains completely the opposite way. theypeople d, to pay,l gains completely the opposite way. they people d, to pay, really. that people have to pay, really good got say good news. i've got to say you've got to get your priorities life right, priorities in life right, haven't the alcohol duty haven't you? the alcohol duty that frozen. are we happy that was frozen. are we happy about that today? everybody. did you didn't ask you notice that? i didn't ask whitehaven was happy about whitehaven if it was happy about that. always coming. that. and you always coming. i knew was coming, child knew what was coming, child benefits there. the threshold, raise from 50 to 60 k the

non—dom. we're going to come on to this one. i found it fascinating that status was essentially scrapped , windfall essentially scrapped, windfall tax on the oil and gas companies . that was extended. nothing for banks, though. i found that interesting , let me start with interesting, let me start with my panel, then. can i have a brief show of hands, please ? who brief show of hands, please? who in this room was happy by what they saw? contained in the budget today? show of hands . they saw? contained in the budget today? show of hands. i don't believe that. right. if you're listening on the radio, you're listening on the radio, you don't know what on earth's going on, right? there's not a single solitary hand up in the air. now either. this is a few things. either it's because people are shy . people might people are shy. people might think, oh, i don't know. i've i've got sweaty armpits. i better not put my arm up. or it could actually be that genuinely, nobody at all is happy. to try one happy. so i'm going to try one more time. honestly is single more time. honestly is a single solitary person this room solitary person in this room happy ? yes, i found one. yayi happy? yes, i found one. yayi there. okay, can i get a microphone? he's going to regret putting his hand up now. up you stand, sir. hello. what's your name?

>> andrew. >> andrew. hello >> andrew. hello why >> andrew. hello why are >> andrew. hello why are you happy about the budget today? >> i'm with elements of it >> i'm happy with elements of it . given my earnings for . yeah, given my earnings for the household , the threshold the household, the threshold being moved up to 60,000 for child benefits is going to be beneficial, for my household , beneficial, for my household, but i can't help but think this is a bit of a rearguard action by the tories today. >> right. see, it's not that scary getting up, is it? thank you andy. you've got you very much, andy. you've got the rolling. anyone else the ball rolling. anyone else that's happy today? anyone? last chance.i that's happy today? anyone? last chance. i told you, don't wake up at 3:00 in the morning thinking. why didn't i tell her i was happy about the budget? i've missed my moment to shine. right. well, let's move on then. apparently, everyone at home, most not happy. which most people are not happy. which means unhappy most people are not happy. which mean so unhappy most people are not happy. which meanso show unhappy most people are not happy. which mean so show of unhappy most people are not happy. which meanso show of hands unhappy most people are not happy. which mean so show of hands thatippy most people are not happy. which meanso show of hands that are then. so show of hands that are unhappy. please right then who should pick there? a handsome should we pick there? a handsome bunch, right? let's have a look. let's on. who's happy and let's get on. who's happy and wants me why they're wants to tell me why they're happy or unhappy? i mean unhappy . i'm getting. i'm . i'm getting, i'm getting. i'm getting too excited. what getting a bit too excited. what can we've only just can i say? we've only just begun, hang on one second.

there's chap there. row. there's a chap there. this row. can we stand up? get a microphone him. right. why? microphone to him. right. why? what's and why what's your name, sir? and why are happy? are you happy? >> my name is colin. >> my name is colin. >> unhappy? you see, i'm just so positive. so positive. i'm positive. i'm so positive. i'm trying. unhappy? positive. i'm so positive. i'm tryi because unhappy? positive. i'm so positive. i'm tryi because as unhappy? positive. i'm so positive. i'm tryi because as a unhappy? positive. i'm so positive. i'm tryi because as a self—employed >> because as a self—employed businessman. fuel's gone businessman. farmer fuel's gone up £0.03 a litre. diesel has gone up £0.03 a litre in the last few days. cancels out everything that goes on the everything that goes on in the budget, you see. >> and a farmer figures, it >> and as a farmer figures, it has no effect. and as a farmer, because farmers are really unhappy the moment, we're unhappy at the moment, we're seeing not in seeing protests, not just in this country, the all this country, by the way, all across countries across a variety of countries at the moment. do you feel the media either? >> yeah, news is about the only one that's showing it. well, gb news is in preston, lancashire. >> why you think farmers are >> why do you think farmers are being failed? do you think we value you? >> we're totally undervalued, but it's the bigger picture. why is it, why is it farmers throughout the world are getting involved in this. we spend our entire life looking to the future. everything i do has a five year effect on my business. government has fetched out a

heap of schemes in this country that just echo what the world economic forum want to have. you want to cut down food production 7 want to cut down food production ? guy anker. >> thank you . thank you . >> thank you. thank you. >> thank you. thank you. >> thank you for that. say very , >> thank you for that. say very, very important topics. and i'm proud actually, that we do indeed cover them, on this channel. anyone else that's unhappy ? i'll remember where i unhappy? i'll remember where i am now. unhappy. are you everyone in this room told me that you was pretty much so. stop being shy. stop it! stop being oh, yes. there we go, being shy. oh, yes. there we go, young can we get a young man. can we get a microphone to him? what's your name? and tell me why you're unhappy tonight. so you're finally cottoned on. now we're talking trying to talking unhappy. i was trying to keep positive. it's not going keep it positive. it's not going to work, is it? >> hello. my name is paul. hello, paul. >> so everyone appreciate >> so everyone can appreciate your come on up. your beauty. come on up. >> my name's paul . yeah, i >> yeah, my name's paul. yeah, i live in workington. yeah, i'm not happy. it's. it's a very minor increase that i'm going to get back from the national

insurance already. the road tax has gone up. the council tax is going to go up, there'll be something else, stealth under the radar that's going to go up. it's just it's not a sexy budget, is it? >> it is not a sexy budget. i think that is a that is a very apt summary there. thank you very much for that. we'll take that microphone. it's not a sexy budget. has there ever been such a thing? is there ever been such a thing? is there ever been such a thing? is there ever been such a thing as a sexy budget that people have loved? mark. >> yeah, there have been sexy budgets. you probably need to go back to the 80s there to find. really? i'm too young. i'm too young. tell us about it. young. but tell us about it. i mean, nigel lawson mean, when nigel lawson radically taxation radically reduced taxation across was across the board, that was pretty and going back to pretty sexy. and going back to your point, michelle, it your first point, michelle, it was it was held was a surprise. it was held back. you couldn't watch parliament television on parliament on television on those cameras those days because cameras weren't but it a weren't allowed. but it was a genuine surprise . and i do think genuine surprise. and i do think these things should be announced genuine surprise. and i do think thethe hings should be announced genuine surprise. and i do think thethe floor should be announced genuine surprise. and i do think thethe floor of|ould be announced genuine surprise. and i do think thethe floor of thei be announced genuine surprise. and i do think thethe floor of the house|nounced genuine surprise. and i do think thethe floor of the house of unced on the floor of the house of commons, slipped to commons, not slipped to a friendly journalist sunday friendly journalist on a sunday newspaper beforehand. but i

agree with was it this was agree with paul. was it this was pretty unsexy. overall, this was pretty unsexy. overall, this was pretty plain and some of it was a little bit ugly, actually. >> oh, a bit ugly. well, we'll come back to the ugliness there. was i trying to make it all positive? it's just not going to happen. i need to accept that, where are you on this? i mean, we'll leave the sexiness for a moment, of the moment, but in terms of the overall positioning of the budget, make you happy budget, did it make you happy today well, if today or unhappy? well, if you're earning 26 and you're earning between 26 and £60,000 your net up, £60,000 a year, your net up, because course, thresholds because of course, thresholds have changed. >> national insurance has >> but national insurance has gone child gone down now 4. the child benefit change is welcome. but if mortgage is £4,500 more if your mortgage is £4,500 more than year, i met than it was last year, i met this gentleman over there, mentioned council tax, cost of living, food inflation. you know, it doesn't touch the surface . so even if they went surface. so even if they went 2 or 3 times more in the direction that you're talking about in terms of tax cuts to give more people more cash in their pocket, which of course necessitates more public spending cuts. but park that for a . even did that, a moment. even if you did that, you're not really giving

you're still not really giving people back the cash they've lost over the last 18 months, two years. we're all feeling considerably poorer, and this wasn't do much wasn't really going to do much about that. >> well, i want to bring you guysin >> well, i want to bring you guys in at home, vincent said. you mince your words, you didn't mince your words, my friend. was the most friend. you say it was the most useless budget in decades, marty says it was absolutely useless for pensioners , surely he says for pensioners, surely he says we are their core voters. but what's about us. graham says he couldn't have hammered the nail into the tory coffin any better . into the tory coffin any better. oh, that's quite harsh, isn't it. andrew said, why would any of this win anybody's votes? he basically has taken back from us what he gave to us a few months ago, john says this is simple. michelle cut the overseas aid budget and reduce tax for uk taxpayers was would that measure get support ? yes i think . you get support? yes i think. you see that is a that is a comment

that we hear often. what do you think is that many people will say why are we spending so much money on overseas, whether it's this kind of bottomless pit when it comes to funding the ukraine war, aid war, whether it's foreign aid here, everywhere, here, there and everywhere, spend home. do you agree spend more at home. do you agree with that sentiment? spend more at home. do you agree witi it's at sentiment? spend more at home. do you agree witiit's a sentiment? spend more at home. do you agree witiit's a fairtiment? spend more at home. do you agree witiit's a fair sentiment, and >> it's a fair sentiment, and i understand particularly on overseas aid, not just a overseas aid, it's not just a question spending more at question of spending more at home. that vast of home. it's that vast amounts of that wasted home. it's that vast amounts of that so wasted home. it's that vast amounts of that so it's wasted home. it's that vast amounts of that so it's not, wasted home. it's that vast amounts of that so it's not, i wasted home. it's that vast amounts of that so it's not, i think,ed anyway. so it's not, i think, having a particularly good effect abroad, but wasted. >> it goes on projects >> how well it goes on projects that are not really improving the lives education or the lives or the education or the lives or the education or the sanitation various areas. the sanitation in various areas. >> of it is hoovered up by >> a lot of it is hoovered up by corrupt regimes. i'm not sure it's a particular force for good, i'm going to level good, but i'm going to level with you and the audience here. michelle, if you really want to get taxes down and i do, you're going to have to make some big, big decisions on spending. and overseas reasonable overseas aid is a reasonable amount of but it's amount of money, but it's nothing to, the nothing compared to, say, the british welfare budget . it's an british welfare budget. it's an absolute rounding error. if absolute rounding error. and if you want to see taxes you really want to see taxes come down to help some of the audience members you've heard

from here, we're going to have to take some pretty difficult decisions spending. and i've decisions on spending. and i've got this conservative got to say, this conservative government willing government has not been willing to difficult decisions to take any difficult decisions on there's no on spending. there's no everything to be a everything seems to be a priority for spending. and if everything's priority , everything's a priority, nothing's and if we everything's a priority, notiget s and if we everything's a priority, notiget spending and if we everything's a priority, notiget spending down, if we everything's a priority, notiget spending down, thene everything's a priority, notiget spending down, then we can get spending down, then we can get spending down, then we can get spending down, then we can get taxes down. and then some the cost of living some of the cost of living pinches aaron's been pinches that aaron's been talking at least a talking about at least become a bit stands bit easier because as it stands at the moment, the average household to be poorer. household is going to be poorer. but general election but the next general election than they at the previous than they were at the previous general election. >> that in this room >> do you feel that in this room do you feel poorer than what you once don't don't worry. once did? i don't don't worry. i'm going to get to put i'm not going to get you to put your up and go telly your hands up and go on telly and tell what you wear, and and tell me what you wear, and don't worry, your secrets are safe. but just as a general kind of feeling, how you feel, of feeling, how do you feel, less off. poorer in fact, less well, off. poorer in fact, to put it once, a better word. >> who doesn't? >> who doesn't? >> there? well, he says, who >> is there? well, he says, who doesn't? he doesn't. well, i don't there anyone in don't know. is there anyone in this that doesn't feel this room that doesn't feel less, less well off anyone that's minted and single and wants nicely? wants to make themselves nicely? >> divorce

settlement. >> anyone? but no serious question. is there anyone that doesn't feel worse off? >> there's at the doesn't feel worse off? >> tthere. at the doesn't feel worse off? >> tthere. where? at the doesn't feel worse off? >> tthere. where? whot the doesn't feel worse off? >> oh,ere. where? whot the doesn't feel worse off? >> oh, yes,where? whot the doesn't feel worse off? >> oh, yes, i here? whot the doesn't feel worse off? >> oh, yes, i foundwhot the doesn't feel worse off? >> oh, yes, i found someone. can you me why? do you mind? you tell me why? do you mind? oh, we get. here we go. i found the guy that's minted in the room. go on, tell us. hello. what's name? what's your name? >> and i didn't >> i work now, and i didn't before. >> yeah, n before. >> yeah, i like this. >> yeah, you see, i like this. >> yeah, you see, i like this. >> i like this talk to me. so tell me your story briefly. >> well, i was 14 at the last general election. all right, there you go. >> he was. he 40. >> he was. he was 40. >> he was. he was 40. >> he was. he was 40. >> he was 14. now is not and now is in work. and actually, i think that is a really key point because so many people now are struggling to get on in the world of work. so it's brilliant. so tell just tell me briefly what work do you do. >> so i'm a sixth form at the moment, but on the weekends i work at a software area into the microphone. >> we want to hear your story. >> we want to hear your story. >> i'm a sixth form at the moment, but i work at a software on the weekends right? >> so i just say what

>> so can i just say what a positive story, right? because we're here the time, don't we're here all the time, don't we? about the younger generation, always off. we? about the younger gene|don't always off. we? about the younger gene|don't want always off. we? about the younger gene|don't want to always off. we? about the younger gene|don't want to works off. we? about the younger gene|don't want to work or)ff. they don't want to work or whatever him. whatever they go. found him. excellent. you excellent. i appreciate you talking. right. well, i'm asking you if you are on twitter or x, i've got a poll running until about quarter two, and i'm asking you, do you think you are more inclined to vote for the tories now or less? that's the conversation i want to have. i also want to ask you, do you think there should be a general election now or wait until november? i bet lots will november? i bet these lots will have strong opinions on have some strong opinions on that. want to know yours too. that. i want to know yours too. and of course, we'll look at some of the announcements that were made in more detail. i'll some of the announcements that wer

welcome back. this is dewbs& co with me. michelle dewberry with you till 7:00. you might have

noficed you till 7:00. you might have noticed my audience. we are out and about. we're in whitehall. and tonight it is a budget special. alongside me, mark littlewood and aaron bastani remain lots of support. i've got to say, if you just tuned in, you've missed some of the audience interaction. we just heard from a farmer. there saying basically it didn't feel valued at all, there's lots of there's been a lot of appreciation for you on the twitter on the x, i've got to call it these days, saying, please, can you let the farmer know that so many of us british people really do respect and appreciate the work you and appreciate the work you do and they gutted that the government are going. also, are people getting in touch and saying, you asked your audience who's happy and who's unhappy at the budget? so many people, if you just tuned in, pretty much every single was unhappy quite single person was unhappy quite frankly. are getting frankly. and people are getting in that these in touch saying that these guys reflect the state of the nation. i was happy, by the way. i think i was happy, by the way. i think i i wasn't particularly i was. i wasn't particularly happy about necessarily bits happy about necessarily the bits in was trying

in the budget. i was just trying to some positivity to get some positivity because i think so much depressing think there's so much depressing stuff, on. i also stuff, going on. i was also going to where i'm happy to going to say where i'm happy to be but i won't because be again, but i won't because i'll get loud cheer and then i i'll get a loud cheer and then i won't hear anything, right. i want ask you a question want to ask you a question before the ins and before i get into the ins and outs of the budget. do you think at they should be now at home they should be now a general election? that is the question on my mind. do question that's on my mind. do you think there should be a general election ? in fact, general election? in fact, actually, me the actually, let me go to the glorious people of whitehaven, hands you think hands up, guys, do you think there be a general there should be a general election he put his hand up election now? he put his hand up before he'd even heard the question. lad. he's hands. question. that lad. he's hands. he's he's i appreciate. he's he's keen i appreciate. right. me start again. so right. so let me start again. so who thinks there should be a general now that's my general election now that's my question. i would that's question. so i would say that's surprisingly low. aaron bastani, if you're listening on the radio, he's got his hands up, who thinks then that means we basically have to wait till november. who wants see that ? november. who wants to see that? see, i mean, there's a lot of people that didn't put their hands up, so i don't really think. i think there must be

really happy with the tories as they are and not want an election. that got a groan. i don't think that's happy. right? someone me someone someone quickly tell me someone that general election. that wants a general election. now your hand up i can now put your hand up so i can ask so if want ask you why. so if you want a general election now behind me, they're me. let me hear they're telling me. let me hear from someone i've not heard from someone that i've not heard from someone that i've not heard from hello, the from before. hello, chap on the front there, please. chloe. hello. name? and why hello. what's your name? and why do you want a general election? hello, alan. >> should get the >> i think we should get the pain get this pain over now. get this government out of the way because they've been an absolute disgrace. very disappointed, disgrace. i'm very disappointed, very voted for very disappointed. i voted for them would have a them thinking we would have a change of. i didn't like jeremy corbyn's policies and we've had those implemented. i am disgusted, disgusted. >> i think i can tell you now, i think that's a sentiment that is echoed by many people. thanks for that insight. anyone that wants wait until november, for that insight. anyone that wanyou wait until november, for that insight. anyone that wanyou quickly|til november, for that insight. anyone that wan you quickly telliovember, for that insight. anyone that wan you quickly tell me mber, for that insight. anyone that wan you quickly tell me whyr, can you quickly tell me why we've got a chap here? can i get a microphone to him? hello, what's name? and do you what's your name? and why do you want till november? please >> hello, my name phil. i'm >> hello, my name is phil. i'm from barrow. hello i've been a conservative party for conservative party member for

the last 5 or 6 years, and i've just grown disillusioned with them . and looking for them. and i'm looking for reform. really there you go . reform. really there you go. >> you can hear it for yourself. the reaction to that, general election. now, mark or not, i'm an old fashioned kind of guy. >> whatever you think of this government, and it seems to have a pretty dim reputation from amongst voters here, even those who voted for them. i think governments seek to serve governments should seek to serve their year we can't their five year terme. we can't run the way through the run right the way through the five year terms, because if we do, campaign will be do, the campaign will be happening whilst christmas dinner on table. if dinner is on your table. and if there's one that would there's one thing that would make even more make politicians even more unpopular are now, it unpopular than they are now, it will be knocking your door will be knocking on your door and leaflets through and putting leaflets through your christmas day or your door on christmas day or boxing can't run it boxing day, so we can't run it that late, but i think they should try and run terme. should try and run a full terme. and you who are and then those of you who are pleased them seems to be pleased with them seems to be a minority or disgusted with them. then then have your say. and but i government do i think government should do the

five stint elected five year stint they're elected for or less. do you agree for more or less. do you agree with that? >> bastani contain the >> aaron bastani contain the votes. coming. votes. keep coming. >> you might not have heard >> say, you might not have heard that home because didn't have that at home because didn't have a he says. the a microphone. he says. in the meantime, boats keep coming. meantime, the boats keep coming. was sentiment there was the sentiment there from that member. they that audience member. and they absolutely will all absolutely do. as you will all know. aaron bastani general election now or not, i would have it in may. >> that's when the local elections are save a bit of cash. and i think the country needs a it needs a broom. i think it's a good time of year to do it. you get good turnout. nice weather hopefully in may. fingers crossed. so i think that'd the best, time of that'd be the best, best time of yeah that'd be the best, best time of year. november. it's colder. it's to campaign. you it's harder to campaign. you don't to have don't want to have a conversation on doorstep conversation on your doorstep with when it's with a politician when it's raining, when it's you don't want have a conversation with want to have a conversation with a politician. sometimes do, a politician. sometimes you do, sometimes well, clearly, sometimes you do. well, clearly, if candidate came if a reform candidate came to many these they would many of these people, they would want conversation. want the conversation. so i think a sensible time, one think made a sensible time, one of that i found of the things that i found interesting that said interesting that you said earlier aaron, was earlier on, aaron, you was actually that don't actually saying that you don't want of cycles actually saying that you don't wathese of cycles actually saying that you don't

wathese regular of cycles actually saying that you don't wathese regular budgets. cycles actually saying that you don't wathese regular budgets. why?; of these regular budgets. why? >> should scrap >> i think we should scrap annual budgets. we basically have budgets every year. have two budgets every year. you have two budgets every year. you have the autumn statement, you have the autumn statement, you have budget. these have the spring budget. these are political this have the spring budget. these arlight political this have the spring budget. these arlight entertainment. this have the spring budget. these arlight entertainment. it's1is is light entertainment. it's a media product being sold to all of us by the government of the day. i don't think it's a serious way to run a country. this gentleman over here who's a farmer said he runs his business 4 or 5 years in advance. why on earth aren't doing that with earth aren't we doing that with the country? >> so what would you do then? what would that look like? i would at the beginning what would that look like? i wca.d at the beginning what would that look like? i wca government, the beginning what would that look like? i wca government, you beginning what would that look like? i wca government, you have|ning what would that look like? i wca government, you have aing what would that look like? i wca government, you have a set of a government, you have a set of a government, you have a set of targets. >> the government those >> the government lays those out. wants to do with out. what it wants to do with tax, what it wants to do with pubuc tax, what it wants to do with public spending. and course, public spending. and of course, you you can have you can amend that. you can have an of parliament. it can go an act of parliament. it can go through. but the idea that every six months this nonsense six months we have this nonsense which only which by the way, the only people enjoy are people that enjoy it are journalists and the press corps, because everything's leaked and briefed a bit briefed to them, they get a bit of social status, they some of social status, they get some retweets, it's not helping retweets, but it's not helping the public. it doesn't help business corporation business because corporation tax can minute can go up one minute and down the minute. there's no the next minute. there's no stability. know where

stability. you don't know where you're so i think get you're standing. so i think get rid these budgets. we rid of these annual budgets. we have some years we even have have two some years we even have three. there's emergency three. if there's an emergency budget and budget i don't like it. and i think we'd much better off as think we'd be much better off as a country without it. >> do agree with that, mark? >> do you agree with that, mark? >> do you agree with that, mark? >> i do a rare point of agreement between aaron and myself, theatre, myself, it is just theatre, it is to press is leaked to the press beforehand. you also get all of these debates about. ooh, what's these debates about. ooh, what's the rabbit? he's going to pull out of the hat? true. as if this is a magic show. yeah. i mean, this is affecting people's livelihoods and their take home pay livelihoods and their take home pay how much you've pay and how much money you've got on things. it's got to spend on things. it's farcical. so i roughly agree with that government with aaron that the government should its long terme should set out its long terme economic at start of economic plan at the start of a parliament, and obviously, as events that you can bring events buffer that you can bring forward a specific of forward a specific piece of legislation to change national insurance , to capital insurance, to change capital gains change inheritance gains tax, to change inheritance tax, don't need all of this tax, you don't need all of this theatre around it, which is, i think, bad like entertainment, but it's even worse economics, frankly . frankly. >> well, let's talk tax then, shall we? because that's what a lot of people in the inbox,

they're getting in touch about. a key thing seems to be a key thing that seems to be coming through from you guys at home. you're saying, was home. you're saying, why was this initial this threshold, the initial threshold? not threshold? why was it not raised? of you are saying raised? many of you are saying the £20,000, for example, the first £20,000, for example, should free. the first £20,000, for example, shoulrpeople free. the first £20,000, for example, shoulrpeople say free. the first £20,000, for example, shoulrpeople say maybe ze. the first £20,000, for example, shoulrpeople say maybe 15,000, some people say maybe 15,000, maybe 17,000. it won't surprise you know that of those you to know that none of those changes happened at all. one of the things that did happen, though, capital as though, was capital gains. as many remember rishi many people will remember rishi sunak day published sunak the other day published his which i is his tax return, which i think is a bit weird , by the way. so a bit weird, by the way. so i think it's none of our business, but let's just park that for a second. and he had effective second. and he had an effective tax rate of 20 odd percent based on tax. nothing on capital gains tax. nothing wrong with it didn't break wrong with that. it didn't break any that just a any rules. that is just a system. but one of those so—called rabbits out of the hat was tax. was changing capital gains tax. in lowered that higher in fact, it lowered that higher rate 28, down 20. was rate from 28, down to 20. was that right move in your mind? that a right move in your mind? >> well, i'm in favour of >> well, look, i'm in favour of getting all taxes down. i think we're taxed to death at the moment, and of the money moment, and much of the money that is spent that we're taxed on is spent quite government. quite badly by the government. and this argument and i understand this argument that should equalise capital that we should equalise capital

gains do gains and income tax. i do understand it. do you? but sometimes it's potential that you're taxed twice. you know, you're taxed twice. you know, you earn some money, you put it away into some capital, you draw that down later, you're being hit again . so i'm i'm hit on it again. so i'm i'm pretty clear i don't want double taxation. i want all rates everywhere fall. i would have everywhere to fall. i would have actually i know i know, it doesn't directly affect the pockets of many people in this room would have gone for corporation coming down corporation tax coming down because i want to see is because what i want to see is taxes go down actually help taxes go down to actually help the now, jeremy the economy grow. now, jeremy hunt that lower taxes means hunt said that lower taxes means more growth, we've now got more growth, but we've now got the tax burden the highest tax burden in britain since attlee's britain since clement attlee's post—war socialist government. this is after 14 years of the conservatives, the highest tax burden in most of our lifetimes. it's extraordinary and it's interesting. so i want i want all of the taxes to come down. but let's particularly focus on those that can get the economy moving the economy is flatlining. >> it's interesting that you say that people are not that these people are not everyone impacted everyone will be impacted by corp, corporation but corp, a corporation tax, but they actually because if they would actually because if corporation tax perhaps comes

down, hunt. down, don't forget jeremy hunt. he campaigning to be he was campaigning for it to be down when he wants to be the down 15% when he wants to be the leader. if you've got leader. anyway. if you've got lower taxes as a business, you might. use this tum might. and i use this tum loosely. you might pass on those lower costs, perhaps to your customers in the form of lower prices. believe when prices. i'll believe it when i see but anyway, where are see it. but anyway, where are you on this? capital gains change? >>i change? >> i think it should go up. i think it's absolutely outrageous that we. >> what go up. >> what should go up. >> what should go up. >> capital gains tax >> i think capital gains tax should up. shouldn't be should go up. it shouldn't be going down. >> so you think was the high >> so you think it was the high rate 28. you think even rate was 28. you think even higher than that. >> well i think it's right >> well i don't think it's right that people pay more tax on work than wealth. would down than wealth. i would bring down vat. council tax vat. i'd bring down council tax and increase capital gains. and i'd increase capital gains. i it's outrageous, i think it's outrageous, frankly. that frankly. and you said that people twice on capital. people pay tax twice on capital. they don't. they pay once on they don't. they pay it once on work, pay it twice national insurance. >> and yeah, those are basically the tax. the same tax. >> so why. so i think average joe out there council and joe out there on council tax and income really being hit income tax really being hit hard. would increase those hard. i would not increase those one cut vat because one bit. i'd cut vat because small businesses are small businesses out there are being walk down the being smashed. walk down the high here. by the way,

high street here. by the way, what gorgeous to live what a gorgeous place to live here whitehaven. i'm not here in whitehaven. i'm not saying for is stunning. >> you didn't get a cheer? oh, i didn't know he's the lefty. >> you had to say whitehaven a bit more loud. >> you know. >> you know. >> but. >> but. >> at least, at least >> but at least, at least they've got traders there. there are so many empty shop fronts, he said. >> e- w- e way, in case, in case >> by the way, in case, in case you can't hear people you can't hear what people are saying, is saying, what they're saying is that been influx of that there's been an influx of barbers shops popping up. >> i saw one, i saw one, i didn't notice it though. >> well, yeah. >> well, yeah. >> five apparently i've only just here. apparently. i've just been here. apparently. i've got say, i confess, got to say, i must confess, i did not count the barber shop, so i don't know if it's 1 or 5 or somewhere in the middle, but thatis or somewhere in the middle, but that is a sentiment we hear, don't we? frequently these things popping up, some of us perhaps, suggest that perhaps, would suggest that it's not cutting hair, i'm not all about cutting hair, i'm not all about cutting hair, i'm not rude to the men of not being rude to the men of whitehaven, it's not like whitehaven, but it's not like they are incredibly follically blessed here and need these influx shops. influx of barber shops. i'm not being i'm just being rude. don't say i'm just being rude. don't say i'm just being anyway, being honest, anyway, i, i finish your point. >> i think the big problem >> well, i think the big problem is right now, business is is that right now, business is being smashed. can talk being smashed. you can talk about shops. that's fine.

about barber shops. that's fine. but are being hit but businesses are being hit really energy, on really hard on energy, on business costs really hard on energy, on busgoing costs really hard on energy, on busgoing because costs really hard on energy, on busgoing because of:osts really hard on energy, on busgoing because of income are going up because of income tax. and one way of helping deal with that for business would have vat. it puts have been to reduce vat. it puts more customers pocket. more money in customers pocket. my more money in customers pocket. my dad's a taxi driver. if i say to him, can the average punter afford use your taxis when afford to use your taxis when they come bournemouth? no, they come to bournemouth? no, they come to bournemouth? no, they need be giving they can't. we need to be giving people cash. a very simple people more cash. a very simple way that. pay less vat way of doing that. pay less vat when they buy goods and services. >> you go. do you have >> there you go. do you have a small business or anything at home? let me know. a home? let me know. i've got a round of applause for that one from i also, one. from aaron. i also, yeah, one. one person. all need. one person. that's all we need. that's we need. that's all we need. all we need. she's i want to talk to she's right. i want to talk to you about windfall tax as well. after break. you see after the break. did you see that? extended, but that? that was extended, but only and gas. what about only for oil and gas. what about the banks? they are raking it in, i tell you. should they have been affected by that move

welcome back. i am michelle

dewberry , this is dewbs& co. we dewberry, this is dewbs& co. we are live from whitehaven for a one hour budget special. we've been getting into the ins and outs of the budgets tonight, keeping me company. mark littlewood and aaron bastani remain. i want to ask you in a second about the windfall taxes. did you think it was appropriate to extend that on the oil and gas industry? what about the banks? why did they get off so lightly, as well, what lightly, also as well, what about all regions? do you about all the regions? do you think enough going on to think there's enough going on to support places whitehaven, support places like whitehaven, there's i'll get there's a chap here. i'll get a microphone to him. he feels quite passionate about how he's supported right now or not. microphone. guys, hang on one second. here we go. it's spoilt for choice . now you've got two for choice. now you've got two microphones coming your way. what's your name? >> what is it you want? my name is derek. hi, derek. i was interested to see the handouts given on this levelling up situation that we've got. and the handouts were quite substantial in certain areas. and he covered most of the country, with the exception of

the north west. so we were left out in the cold. so . i'd like to out in the cold. so. i'd like to invite him now. he won't be there very long, but while he's there very long, but while he's there to come down to whitehaven and meet the people. >> well, there you go. you've just extended an invitation . just extended an invitation. rishi sunak if you're watching, i think this chap might even offer you a cup of tea or something. he'll make his thoughts know. do you guys trust him? they him? do you remember they scrapped they said scrapped hs2 and they said actually they going to actually what they were going to do is level up all the different areas that do you areas with that cash. do you trust that would actually trust that that would actually happen? that happen? no. do you trust that would happen? aaron bastani no, it wouldn't. >> and think the solution to >> and i think the solution to this allowing local this is allowing local authorities more the authorities to keep more of the money raise. this whole money they raise. this whole patrician you of patrician system you have of westminster money westminster doling out money as if it's if it's money from them. it's not. money from it's not. it's money from you. it's your your taxpayers , as your money. your taxpayers, as the don't have to the councils don't have to spend it. well, the problem . so it. well, that's the problem. so you've massive cuts you've also had massive cuts from government local from central government to local councils last ten

councils over the last ten years. so. well, last 14 years actually. some councils that actually. so some councils that have less money, they have have 50% less money, they have to council tax. you've to increase council tax. you've got cities country got cities in this country colchester, portsmouth , many colchester, portsmouth, many places. than most places. they're older than most countries. they have to get countries. but they have to get the begging bowl out to central government if they want to pay for something. it's crazy. so i think like vat, a portion think things like vat, a portion of stay in of income tax should stay in the areas where revenue is areas where that revenue is generated . that's an easy generated. that's an easy solution. but of course, politicians m25, they politicians within the m25, they want much power as want to keep as much power as possible. it's to take possible. so it's going to take people change that. people power to change that. >> people power. are you up for that bit people power to try that bit of people power to try and change policy? can tell and change policy? i can tell you won't mess with these guys you i won't mess with these guys in here. let's talk about oil and because and gas windfall tax because it's but only it's been extended now, but only within sector . some people within that sector. some people saying extended until saying it's been extended until i 2029, but some people i think 2029, but some people are that's not enough. it are saying that's not enough. it should rolled out to should have been rolled out to the likes of banks, example. the likes of banks, for example. where on that mark? yeah. >> no, i'm a bit sceptical about this. look tax profits okay. we have on profits. but i have a tax on profits. but i don't want our politicians deciding are going don't want our politicians de pay|g are going don't want our politicians de pay a are going don't want our politicians de pay a different are going

don't want our politicians de pay a different tax are going don't want our politicians de pay a different tax onre going to pay a different tax on profits to any other sector. we don't like the banks. so let's tax them more or we don't like this particular industry. let's tax them more. like that tax them more. we like that industry. them less. that's industry. tax them less. that's very , very bad economics. and very, very bad economics. and we've heard earlier the we've already heard earlier the cost of energy being incredibly difficult large number of difficult for a large number of businesses. the windfall tax on oil and gas is going to push the price of energy up over the long tum, because it makes investing in those businesses considerably less attractive . so i understand less attractive. so i understand the passion around it. and, you know , let's go for where the know, let's go for where the profits are biggest, but just have a straight profit tax across the board. and this windfall tax will actually make your even higher your energy bills even higher in years to come. >> where are you windfall >> where are you on windfall tax? aaron i don't agree with that. >> for one moment. tell us why shell bp have recorded all shell and bp have recorded all time high profits over the last 18 pay time high profits over the last 18 pay pay 18 months. so the idea pay pay corporation it? no. corporation tax on it? well, no. so that that so the idea that that necessarily means your bills would go up. and of would have to go up. and of course, we don't want energy bills to up. they're already bills to go up. they're already very high. you look at the very high. if you look at the banks, clever people that

banks, very clever people that work know that work in banks, we all know that you base of you have the base rate of interest. always this interest. they always play this little arbitrage. so if they get interest cuts, they don't interest rate cuts, they don't quite give to the rest quite give the cuts to the rest of you as quickly. right. so your credit card and your mortgage still stays quite mortgage rate still stays quite high. change there. high. they make a change there. and the other way and when it goes the other way they the same thing. and they do the same thing. and government's stupid. jeremy government's not stupid. jeremy hunt to his credit, hunt i think to his credit, said, look this can't carry on. you're making lots money said, look this can't carry on. you're nplaying)ts money said, look this can't carry on. you're nplaying that money said, look this can't carry on. you're nplaying that system. so through playing that system. so again, are going to do again, if banks are going to do that and take the taxpayer for a mug, i think they should mug, then i think they should pay mug, then i think they should pay more tax. you know, the taxpayer out the banking taxpayer bailed out the banking system this country in 2008, system in this country in 2008, and still take. and, and yet they still take. and, and yet they still take. and, andifs and yet they still take. and, and it's a it's a fair point. you say look just tax them like any other business. they aren't any other business. they aren't any other business. we bailed them out. yeah. we don't we don't bail out. we shouldn't have we don't bail out pubs or clothes retailers mechanics. clothes retailers or mechanics. we done. clothes retailers or mechanics. we and done. clothes retailers or mechanics. we and good done. clothes retailers or mechanics. we and good thinge. clothes retailers or mechanics. we and good thing in the >> and one good thing in the budget is are trying to get budget is we are trying to get the banks back private the banks back into private ownership, we ownership, right? not only we bailed them we're still bailed them out, we're still owning hell of a lot of these

owning a hell of a lot of these shares. and we've got to let banks fail like any other business. they're more complicated than a typical business because people have got their them. but when their savings in them. but when a goes pop, don't want it a bank goes pop, i don't want it to be much different to a department store going pop. the government not leap to government should not leap to their aid. >> their aid. theiraid. >> well, i'll let you guys have the on that. and by the final say on that. and by the final say on that. and by the anyone that was the way, anyone that was watching the budget announcement today, noticed today, you will have noticed something. got say, something. i've got to say, something. i've got to say, something personally something. i've got to say, somethi little personally something. i've got to say, somethi little bit personally something. i've got to say, somethi little bit peculiarly found a little bit peculiar because jeremy right. because jeremy hunt. right. his opening statement, do you opening statement, what do you think was? tax cuts, think the policy was? tax cuts, vat? it was about a memorial vat? no, it was about a memorial to celebrate muslim victims . to celebrate muslim victims. let's just have a look as we mourn the tragic loss of life in israel and gaza, the prime minister reminded us last week of the need to fight extremism. >> and he'll divisions. so i start today by remembering the muslims who died in two world wars in the service of freedom and democracy. we need a memorial to honour them. i have decided to allocate £1 million towards the cost of building

one. whatever your faith or colour or class, this country will never forget the sacrifices we made for our future , made for we made for our future, made for our future. >> i want to explore that in a second, but room? what did you make to that? >> so drunk. all strong feelings in this room. >> and i suspect at home will address that back into

hello there. i'm michelle dewberry this is dewbs& co with you till 7:00 tonight. mark a little word. aaron. bastani remain alongside me. who are they? you might be wondering. director of popular conservatives and co—founder conservatives and the co—founder of novara media. it was all a bit strange , if you ask me. the bit strange, if you ask me. the beginning of the budget today.

let's just remind ourselves if you just tuned in, you don't know what i'm talking about. let's just rewind. listen. >> we mourn the tragic loss >> as we mourn the tragic loss of life in israel and gaza, the prime minister reminded us last week of the need to fight extremism and heal divisions. so i today by remembering the i start today by remembering the muslims who died in two world wars in the service of freedom and democracy. we need a memorial to honour them. i have decided to allocate £1 million towards the cost of building one. whatever your faith or colour or class, this country will never forget the sacrifices made for our future . made for our future. >> made for our future. >> made for our future. >> well, i confess right ? >> made for our future. >> well, i confess right? i'm not a huge politico, so i don't really understand all the ins and outs of who advises who to do what, but i cannot for the life of me understand who on earth briefed jeremy hunt to say, do you know what? i know what we're going to do right at the very start of the budget. we're going to, you know, tell people how we're going to change

their for the better their lives for the better financially. i know what we're going going to going to do. we're going to announce memorial. i think announce a memorial. i think it's absurd. if it's absolutely absurd. and if it's absolutely absurd. and if it indeed to this it is indeed tagged to this nofion it is indeed tagged to this notion quelling extremism, it is indeed tagged to this notio kind quelling extremism, it is indeed tagged to this notio kind ofalling extremism, it is indeed tagged to this notio kind of extremistamism, it is indeed tagged to this notio kind of extremist isiism, it is indeed tagged to this notio kind of extremist is going what kind of extremist is going to sit one minute to sit there one minute thinking, what i'm going thinking, i know what i'm going to i'm going blow up an to do. i'm going to blow up an arena of kids. now, arena full of kids. whoa. now, weren't there's a there's a statue. i mean, it's absolutely nonsensical. all right . nonsensical. all right. >> this is so weird from jeremy hunt. look, looking at it in straight economics terms, it's £1 million, which is a lot. so each of us in the room. but it's not big in budgetary terms. but this is what's so weird about it. if you want to heal division in britain, you don't have different memorials for different memorials for different society. different sectors of society. you have british memorials guy anker by people into muslims and protestants and catholics and atheists. so i just did not understand the form of his argument at all. it is a waste of £1 million in my view, but is likely to exacerbate divisions,

not heal them. yeah and bastani your thoughts, it was pretty remarkable hearing that clip, because he basically says three sentences and none of them have anything to do with the previous one. >> completely incoherent. like you say, got amazing you say, we've got amazing monuments commemorate monuments to commemorate everyone, cenotaph and everyone, like the cenotaph and central london, designed by edward lutyens, one of my favourite architects . stunning, favourite architects. stunning, gorgeous we've also got gorgeous edifice. we've also got memorials specifically for commonwealth soldiers already , commonwealth soldiers already, onesinin commonwealth soldiers already, ones in in hyde park so it doesn't make any sense to me. and i think you're absolutely right. the core sort of political message here is that, you know, nothing brings us together, and we have to sort of reflect our differences instead of have in common. i of what we have in common. i think that's deeply dangerous think that's a deeply dangerous way society to conduct way for any society to conduct itself. and it doesn't bode well. >> absolutely absurd, any >> it's absolutely absurd, any muslims this do you sit muslims watching this do you sit there and think, yes, that's what i've been waiting for. i want this memorial. maybe i'm missing something. i don't know, i'm hoping in fact, if i am,

strong feelings in the room about this one. let's get a microphone. i think to the lady here. microphone, can you stand up? name? your up? what's your name? your thoughts, i'm julie. thoughts, please. hi, i'm julie. hello, sat watching hello, julie. i was sat watching the budget this afternoon and i was gobsmacked when i saw the war memorial for muslims was going to be. >> shall we put it £1 million reserve for them for that? when our own war memorials are getting torn down, this respect is shown to our mo mowlam ulez. >> where does that leave us? >> where does that leave us? >> i won't hold back because i am furious. i do believe that money should have gone to our war veterans or inputs more of our war memorials in place for our war memorials in place for our people . our people. >> thank you. i just find it such an odd. can i just ask a quick can i ask a question? i know, i think we've we've she's furious and i think a lot of

people are i mean, i might not be on to much here, but is there anyone in this room that actually thinks that was the right move, that celebrates that? don't want you that? and i don't want you because i know there's a big strength of that people because i know there's a big strethere's that people because i know there's a big strethere's a that people because i know there's a big strethere's a lot that people because i know there's a big strethere's a lot of that people because i know there's a big strethere's a lot of that peythat are there's a lot of people that are there's a lot of people that are anti that, but it's perfectly to be of the perfectly valid to be of the opposite persuasion. and think it's so can i just it's a good idea. so can i just ask genuinely, is there anybody that that is a good that thinks that that is a good idea that welcomes that? i'm trying anyone trying really hard. anyone at all? shy because all? please don't be shy because i no , you see, i, i wonder i want no, you see, i, i wonder if jeremy hunt and rishi sunak or the powers that be watched this programme . they've just this programme. they've just done their budget. the reaction tonight, i mean, surely they're not high fiving themselves, going to bed. this is not a good day for them, is it? >> well, they will focus on this tax cut. i'm a member of the tory party. i got an email from jeremy hunt saying tax cuts in the subject heading. he'll be getting quite a rude reply from me later on this i can me later on this evening. i can tell you that it was a circular. they're going focus on that. they're going to focus on that. they're going to focus on that. they're to taxes they're trying to get taxes

down, there's much to down, but there's not much to see here in this budget. and if you think the economy in you think the economy is in trouble, have trouble, aaron and i might have different strategies how different strategies about how you around . but this was you turn it around. but this was fiddling, this was fiddling, really. this was fiddling, really. this was fiddling sidelines. fiddling on the sidelines. nothing small ball nothing big in it. small ball stuff. tax bills going stuff. your tax bills are going to higher. you're not going to be higher. you're not going to be higher. you're not going to much richer. i was hoping to get much richer. i was hoping for something a lot bigger, a lot bolder and a lot more radical. and i'm bit radical. and i'm a bit disappointed didn't any disappointed we didn't get any of let me ask you this, erin. >> let me ask you this, erin. i want to ask you this because, of course you are of the left. one of the key policies of labour was this whole non—dom thing. long story short, the tories nicked it. so where do labour go with that then? >> it's a great question. i mean, it could raise a couple of billion, which we need and i'd far i'd far rather, you far right. i'd far rather, you know, non—doms paying more know, non—doms are paying more tax could cut things like tax and we could cut things like i but it is true i say like vat, but it is true that really now there's very little water between little clear water between labour the tories on labour and the tories on anything private school fees. >> very, very, very quick. paul, anyone this room? is there anyone in this room? is there anyone in this room? is there anyone budget anyone that's had the budget today? budget has made today? and that budget has made

you inclined vote tory you more inclined to vote tory at election? anybody, at the next election? anybody, anybody that is a resounding no. do you know what there you go from, from all of us here at whitehaven. i was just about to say goodbye, but actually, is there anyone now that's perhaps voted tory previously the absolutely will not vote tory again. so a previous tory voter that have lost you. i can tell you rishi sunak it's not looking goodin you rishi sunak it's not looking good in this room for you . good in this room for you. goodness gracious me. well, i very much enjoyed my show at whitehaven once more. thank you very much to everybody here at whitehaven. also to aaron bastani and mark littlewood and very importantly to all of you guys at home. thank you so much for your company. thank you for

i >> -- >> gb -_ >> gb news 5mm >> gb news is the home of free speech. we were created to champion it, and we deliver it day in, day out . free speech

day in, day out. free speech allows us all to explore and debate openly the issues most important to us, our families. and course , the british and of course, the british people challenging people having challenging conversations each conversations to enlighten each other. which is why we hear all sides of argument. sides of the argument. >> we are the people's channel. >> we are the people's channel. >> we are the people's channel. >> we will always stand by the freedom to express yourself on tv, radio and online. >> this is gb news, britain's news channel . news channel. >> good evening. well, i'm live here in whitehaven in cumbria. >> it's budget day. going to get a reaction from this audience . a reaction from this audience. do they feel better off? you know the local mp on the show with me. and of course, most important of all, questions and responses from members of the audience. >> but before all of that, let's get the news back in london from polly middlehurst.

>> nigel, thank you and good evening to you. well, the chancellor has cut national insurance in today's pre—election budget , but pre—election budget, but opposition leaders say living standards are still squeezed and millions of people face being dragged into higher tax bands. jeremy hunt said today the government's fiscal performance means the economy is expected, though, to grow this year by 0.8, giving, he says, the government enough headroom to make the cut to national insurance contributions from april the 6th in employee national insurance will be cut by another £0.02 from 10% to 8, and self—employed national insurance will be cut from 8% to 6. >> it means an additional £450 a year for the average employee, or £350 for someone self—employed. when combined with the autumn reductions, it