gb news. >> it's 8:00 from the world headquarters of gb news. this is friday night live with me. mark dolan is international women's day still necessary? could joe biden survive another four years in the white house? is he wrong to slap your children on the wrist as rupert murdoch gets engaged at 92? does marriage in later life work ? and should the later life work? and should the pro—palestinian protests , who pro—palestinian protests, who did this? take a look at this video. slashing a historic painting at cambridge university with a knife . should they go to with a knife. should they go to jail? this is friday night live with me, mark dolan, bring your

own drinks. the admission is . free. on tonight's say my friday, friends, britain's best known political double act, neil and christine hamilton . plus tv christine hamilton. plus tv legend sue cook live in the studio. journalist and royal expert pandora forsythe and fearless us commentator mel k. would a donald trump victory be an early christmas present for the uk? my friday big opinion is on the way. britain is broke and politicians are not being honest with you about why. so some truth bombs coming after the news headlines and a good friend of mine, sam francis . of mine, sam francis. >> mark, thank you very much .

>> mark, thank you very much. good evening from the gb newsroom just after 8:00. and we start with news from northern ireland, families ireland, where families of alleged who were alleged informers who were killed by the ira say another step towards truth has been made after a report into the activities of a double agent was published today. the investigation revealed that more lives were probably lost than saved by the spy code named stakeknife. he was working covertly for the british army inside the ira's internal security unit, known for abductions, torture and murder. northern ireland's first minister has apologised today to the bereaved families and said she's wholeheartedly committed to healing wounds of the past. stakeknife is widely believed to have been a west belfast man who was 77 when he died last year. solicitor kevin winters, who represents a number of the victims families, says the agent needs to be officially identified . identified. >> the decision not to name freddie scappaticci as the agent stakeknife has been difficult

for many to accept the legal and tactical rationale for doing so will be lost on many people, particularly the next of kin of those murdered . those murdered. >> in other news, george galloway says that he has hundreds of candidates ready to run in the next general election . the leader of the workers party of britain was sworn into parliament on monday following his by—election win last week. speaking to neil oliver, the mp said his success in rochdale was the straw that broke the camel's back. >> the spread of candidates, challengers , new parties, challengers, new parties, independent candidates and so on is now proceeding like wildfire . is now proceeding like wildfire. >> if i tell you that i have now in my pocket, more than 300 prospective parliamentary candidates , all paying their own candidates, all paying their own election expenses by the way, because we can't pay them more than 300 workers party

parliamentary candidate . imagine parliamentary candidate. imagine that. >> well, you can see that full interview with george galloway on youtube and online on gb news. com, that's from tonight at 9:00. and then again on sunday with neil oliver at 6 pm. if you miss it. in other news, downing street says the prime minister does take concerns about the impact of pro—palestine protests extremely seriously. that's following claims that london has become a no go zone forjews. it comes no go zone for jews. it comes after rishi sunak said that forces are trying to tear the country apart . writing in the country apart. writing in the telegraph the government's counter extremism tsar said it was right that rishi sunak raised concerns about the increase in extremist disruption. and he also said ministers need to be willing to accept higher legal risk when they tackle extremism . well, you they tackle extremism. well, you may have heard earlier this afternoon that a historic piece of artwork was damaged by a group of pro—palestinian activists at cambridge

university. if you're watching on television, you can see here footage showing that painting of the former prime minister, lord balfour, being sprayed with red paint before it was slashed by an activist . the government an activist. the government adviser on political violence and disruption , has described and disruption, has described those actions as outrageous. and he said senseless , yes. but the he said senseless, yes. but the palestine action group claims the piece symbolised the bloodshed of the palestinian people since the balfour declaration in 1917. police have confirmed tonight that the broadcaster, india willoughby's accusation of misgendering the author, jk rowling, does not meet the criminal threshold. willoughby, who is transgender, had reported rolling to the police for an alleged hate crime after calling her a man on social media. the harry potter author, though, rejected those allegations, saying that it's not a crime to hold gender critical views . and finally, critical views. and finally, some quite astonishing news that we've heard in the last hour or so that police in north yorkshire have arrested an 11

year old boy who was caught driving a bmw on the m1 and towing a suspected stolen caravan . officers said they were caravan. officers said they were staggered when they found the boy driving down the motorway. he now faces charges including theft , burglary he now faces charges including theft, burglary and dangerous driving, but thankfully no injuries were reported . those injuries were reported. those are the headlines for now. i'll be back at 9:00. in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts. just scan the qr code there on your screen or go to gb news common alerts. now though, it's back to . mark. though, it's back to. mark. >> thanks, sam. so is international women's day still necessary? could joe biden survive another four years in the white house? is it wrong to slap your child on the wrist? and as rupert murdoch gets engaged at 92, does marriage in later life work? and what about this developing story? absolutely shocking. it broke this afternoon. should the pro—palestinian protester who did this slashing a historic

painting at cambridge university with a knife, go to jail ? all of with a knife, go to jail? all of that, plus much more on friday night live with me, mark dolan, sue cook, live in the studio, pandora forsythe and the hamiltons. this is not a drill. first, my friday big opinion . first, my friday big opinion. good evening. now the chancellor's budget statement ran to over 7000 words, but can be summed up in two. we're broke as the cost of the public sector goes up, the quality of our pubuc goes up, the quality of our public services goes down. we're running a deficit, which means that more income goes out than comes in for day to day spending. the national debt is well north of £2 trillion. 10 million brits of working age are not active in the economy . 10 not active in the economy. 10 million are they all ill and depressed ? and the cost of depressed? and the cost of interest on our debt alone is

£100 billion a year, which is almost double the defence budget. so how did we get here? well, notwithstanding the years of anaemic growth with low gdp and low productivity being a british disease that goes back not just years but decades, there is the small matter of our two and a half year failed attempt to stop a seasonal respiratory virus called covid 19. now, yes, it was a nasty bug which took too many from us, but one non—fatal to the vast majority of the population. remember the ad campaign? act like you've got it. a disease so bad you had to pretend you had it . a disease for which a third it. a disease for which a third of the population had no symptoms at all. and for that we closed schools . we mothballed closed schools. we mothballed our health service, we created a mental health tsunami. we borrowed half £1 trillion. we paid perfectly healthy people to stay at home and bake banana bread, watch netflix and start a

wine collection. we closed down thousands of once viable businesses. it was mad if we taken the approach of sweden, who didn't bother with lockdowns or mask mandates or vaccine tyranny. we wouldn't have the debt, we would have a thriving economy and there wouldn't be 8 million people waiting for nhs treatment or a generation of damaged kids with post pandemic excess debts through the roof, lockdowns have got to be the most failed so—called public health policy in history. when excess deaths were high during the pandemic, we had to destroy the pandemic, we had to destroy the country to tackle it. now that they're still high, no one gives a toss or even wants to ask why ? why? well, it's not ask why? why? well, it's not just covid. there's another big thing britain lives beyond its means. you've been lied to by successive governments about just how much the state can do for you, whether it's the provision of welfare , the scope

provision of welfare, the scope of the nhs and the wider public sector footprint. now, i believe in all of these things, including welfare , but the cost including welfare, but the cost and scale of the state is out of touch with the balance sheet, andifs touch with the balance sheet, and it's out of touch with reality. in the last two decades, we've only evaded this truth with money printing and the accumulation of debt . this the accumulation of debt. this is dishonest and gravely immoral . why? because the buck will eventually stop with future generations . british kids who generations. british kids who haven't even been born yet, who will pick up the bill and inherit a country which is no longer financially solvent. solvent. we're already nearly there. all because politicians couldn't be honest with you about how much governments can do and how much needs to be personal responsibility . for personal responsibility. for example, we should all look after our health better, rather than burdening the nhs to the extent that we do . but when it's extent that we do. but when it's free, who cares, right? but that is simply not sustainable. the state has been wiping our

backside expensively for years now , and the result is that now, and the result is that britain is on the skids. now, and the result is that britain is on the skids . now, to britain is on the skids. now, to be fair to sunak and hunt, they have steadied the ship and the problem is that ship is the titanic . and at the moment it's titanic. and at the moment it's at a very awkward angle in the sea, and the deckchairs have long since washed away. the politicians won't tell you so i will. as well as the historic and disastrous covid overreaction, the real elephant in the room is that britain lives beyond its means. that is some big elephant tusk. tusk . some big elephant tusk. tusk. for reaction to the big stories of the day, my friday friends tonight don't get better than neil hamilton, former leader of ukip current leader. but on his way out, i should say . and the way out, i should say. and the brilliant christine hamilton, author and broadcaster. great to have both of you with me. first

of all, christine , do you think of all, christine, do you think and would you agree that generations of politicians have not been honest with the british pubuc not been honest with the british public about how much the state can do? >> well, how do you know when a politician is lying ? his lips politician is lying? his lips are moving. i mean, does that include way? of include neil, by the way? of course not. >> even he course not. >> even n course not. >> even i love you, >> even when he says i love you, he's hahahahahai he's about hahahahahai >> of course they have. and >> no, of course they have. and they doing it even they were still doing it even after the budget. i couldn't believe on social media believe it. out on social media they about a they were talking about a tax cutting budget. it's not. cutting budget. no, it's not. they haven't cut taxes at all by not changing thresholds . not changing the thresholds. they're still raking in four times i mean, they they times as much. i mean, they they do lie and the public aren't taken in anymore. people know you know, it's the economy stupid. it's the economy stupid. and people from pay and people know from their pay packets pensioners and packets where pensioners and we're of the millions who we're part of the millions who know all too well that the budget been really bad for budget has been really bad for pensioners. okay, pensioners. now we're okay, obviously, because we're in a lucky bracket, but, millions of pensioners to be pensioners are going to be seriously worse off. >> what about that triple lock, though? that was good for pensioners . pensioners. >> but we're not going

>> it was. but we're not going to be to the triple to be able to afford the triple lock the triple lock will lock and the triple lock will get whittled anyway. get whittled away anyway. if they change the they don't change the thresholds, lock will thresholds, the triple lock will become course . become meaningless. of course. >> now, neil, setting aside the pandemic because i do think that's one major elephant in the room. borrowed £1 room. we borrowed half £1 trillion to pay healthy people to at home. the government to stay at home. the government and the health authorities are very like very clear that measures like mask , vaccine mandates mask mandates, vaccine mandates and lockdowns saved and the lockdowns saved countless lives. they're very clear about that. that is mainstream scientific view. it's not mine, but that's it's important to point that out. but what about that other side of it? generations of politicians , it? generations of politicians, even when you were in the house of commons, not honest with the pubuc of commons, not honest with the public about what the state can actually public about what the state can act|well, think we were in my >> well, i think we were in my time because when margaret thatcher minister thatcher was the prime minister of country, i came into of this country, i came into office after the winter of discontent in where we discontent in 1979, where we were even able to bury the were not even able to bury the dead and rubbish piled up on the streets, or all over the country. it was a crisis which couldn't be avoided. and the thatcher government made a decisive change in this

profligate attitude, which has now come back again , because now come back again, because today's tory party has failed to learn the lessons of the 1980s, which at considerable cost, we managed to turn the country round again. but then, of course, the benefits of all that have now been thrown away. and today's government is nothing like what a conservative government should be. as christine said, we've had lies pounng christine said, we've had lies pouring out of them over the effect of the budget. they lie about national health about the national health service, clearly service, which is clearly unsustainable in its current incarnation , we, know, incarnation, we, you know, cannot level of cannot afford the level of health care that a country as wealthy as ours should be able to get with a soviet style model of health services, which nobody else in the world has copied, supposedly the envy of the world. nobody, absolutely world. but nobody, absolutely nobody, it. and yes, nobody, has copied it. and yes, it a for telling truth. it is a time for telling truth. but don't expect it. of the moral cowards that we've got in this government, you moral cowards that we've got in this government , you they this government, you know, they never to the real costs never faced up to the real costs of i'm pleased to say of covid. i'm pleased to say that a member of the welsh

that i was a member of the welsh parliament the time that the parliament at the time that the covid hit us, covid pandemic hit us, and i voted against all these control measures i asked the measures because i asked the right questions, which was what's the cost? as well as the so—called benefits of doing this and are other countries and what are other countries doing? as say in sweden, doing? and as you say in sweden, they had a completely different approach. got nothing approach. they have got nothing like problems we've got like the problems that we've got today. we haven't got today. and but we haven't got politicians with moral politicians with the moral courage to face up to these problems. >> of course, now, the government would argue that without those lockdowns, the country would be in a far worse shape, and have seen many shape, and we'd have seen many more casualties from the pandemic. it's all pandemic. of course, it's all a debating point. also, the government will defend tax government will defend major tax cuts unprecedented reductions in national insurance. but listen, let's another story if we let's get to another story if we can, neil and christine, because this one broke this afternoon. pro—palestinian protests . otters pro—palestinian protests. otters have destroyed a painting of lord balfour at trinity college, cambridge. take a look at the video and if you're listening on the radio, let me describe it. this is protest action group palestine action filming a video of demonstrator slashing

of a demonstrator slashing a portrait of lord balfour and spraying it with red paint. now the conservative politician balfour gave his name to the balfour gave his name to the balfour declaration, a public statement issued by the british government on the creation of a jewish homeland in palestine, paving the way for the founding of israel in 1948. is this neil? what serious public discourse now looks like? >> well, i suppose sadly it is by and large, for dim witted idiots like whoever that was who was slashing the painting. curiously, i think arthur balfour might have been rather more relaxed about it, because he famously said that in this life, no, nothing matters very much, and hardly anything matters he was a matters at all. yes he was a philosopher as well as a politician, but balfour was a great statesman in his day. he was prime minister and then became foreign secretary, and later only person who's ever later the only person who's ever done before since is david done that before since is david cameron. the cameron. but i don't think the comparison is quite leave it there. but, but no, i think it's outrageous, actually. and we

should expect that our legal system would be used to stop this. when i was up at cambridge in the mid 1970s, we had riots at the garden house hotel. they were suppressed by condign sentences that passed . sentences that were passed. students were sentenced to six months or a year in prison for the damage that they caused. and that's what should happen in this case too. >> well, indeed. i mean, your reaction to this, christine, because this this person is probably a middle class kid. >> oh, and for those listening on the radio, she didn't just slash that painting one once. i mean, it was one, two, three, four, almost five big slashes. it's been completely will never be the same again. it can be repaired, but it'll never be the same. and of course, she's educated. why did they choose balfour? because she knew the implications of balfour to the current wasn't current situation. it wasn't just random painting. she just a random painting. she should in prison. is should be in prison. there is absolutely no doubt about it. and if she will end up before some judge, and if we get some wishy judge, remember wishy washy judge, you remember the pulled the

the judges when they pulled the colston statue down, threw it into river? that clear . into the river? that was clear. criminal damage. there's nothing else they were all else for it. and they were all let off. >> so there was a jury that was a jury, wasn't? >> they were found not guilty by a jury. you're quite good to have a lawyer in the house. >> it's very useful. >> it's very useful. >> neil's back. yeah. >> neil's got our back. yeah. >> neil's got our back. yeah. >> have lawyer >> very useful to have a lawyer and economist, it's and an economist, because it's been week for gb news. been a good week for gb news. >> but we don't want a court case. >> no, we don't want a court case, so, of course they should be prison. it is criminal be in prison. it is criminal damage, no two ways damage, and there's no two ways about i know where about it. and i don't know where that it's trinity that painting is. it's trinity college, exactly college, cambridge, but exactly where chose where they obviously chose when there very easy. >> are 9 are these easy. >> are these folks 9 are these folks >> but are these folks are these folks not the suffragettes of their generation? what their generation? and what they're is stop they're trying to do is stop children and women being killed in . isn't that you get in gaza. isn't that how you get attention? talking about attention? we're talking about them this not of speech? >> well, when only talking about them they're common them because they're common criminals, not. but what criminals, i will not. but what about right protest ? about the right to protest? >> i mean, this is what the suffragettes did. >> the right? of course >> is that the right? of course it's not comparable. >> one if you >> and that's one that if you take the opposite have

take the opposite view, you have a the a right to knock down with the club who was causing club the person who was causing the this works two ways, the damage. this works two ways, you know. if you get you know. and if you get a reaction to a political reaction to what is happening, then all you get on the streets is violence and chaos. okay? no society can survive on the hamilton. >> they constantly try and justify their actions . these justify their actions. these people, by mentioning the suffragettes, the women do. and i think that is outrageous as well. >> we're talking about women in just moment. international just a moment. international women's this women's day. but i love this from my favourite women. from one of my favourite women. it's fox who was on it's claire fox who was on twitter earlier and she twitter earlier on x and she said, longer just said, no longer just performative said, no longerjust performative philistines, real perform ative philistines, real life performative philistines, real life , self—indulgent, nihilistic life, self—indulgent, nihilistic destroyers of art and history . destroyers of art and history. what an insult. narcissists hiding behind the palestinian cause to indulge in their own regressive , visceral culture regressive, visceral culture war, to declare they are virtuous activists. look at me, look at me. meanwhile, not one person in gaza will be helped or saved by this act of wanton cultural vandalism. eamonn to

vandalism, criminal vandalism. fascinating stuff. well, look , fascinating stuff. well, look, lots more to come. the hamiltons with me right through until 9:00. but next up is the international women's day. still necessary? we'll debate that with christine hamilton, royal journalist pandora forsythe and tv legend live in the studio sue cook. that's .

next. coming up. is it wrong to slap your child on the wrist? and as rupert murdoch gets engaged at 92, does marriage later in life work? but first, today is international women's day, which is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and which seeks a gender equal world free from bias, stereotypes and discrimination. but is international women's day

still necessary? well, to debate this, we have sent neil hamilton into the sin bin for ten minutes. he's in the green room. i think he's got a gin and tonic, and with me in the studio , three fabulous and deeply inspiring political inspiring women. political commentator christine hamilton, journalist pandora forsythe and tv news legend sue cook . sue, do tv news legend sue cook. sue, do women still need international women's day? >> well, we shouldn't, should we? it's a shame that we have to have it at all, but unfortunately, i think maybe we still do . i mean, women's wages still do. i mean, women's wages are below of men even are still below that of men even after all these years, all these battles fought and, i think battles we fought and, i think one one of the things that worries me a lot is that women, still two women are weaker, killed by their partners in domestic abuse every week. nothing's changed. it's not getting any better. it's getting worse. so where's international women's day? you know why can't we do something about that? right. >> and where's the substance? the sexual assaults. rapes are famously, horribly underreported. and of course, as

a former presenter of crimewatch, you'll have been across that it was a problem when you were the beeb. and when you were at the beeb. and it's still a problem now. yes it's still a problem now. yes it's problem. it's still a problem. >> have tried to >> and the police have tried to take on. they've take it on. they've tried different methods, you different methods, but, you know, the know, it's still still the figures the same and it's shocking. >> pandora, do you think that women still need international women's day? >> think we need >> yeah, i do think we need international women's day. as you said, domestic violence . we you said, domestic violence. we only have to look at the sarah everard case, but it's actually looking at institutions such as the police there's still the police where there's still misogyny within it, and it's actually looking deeper than just a day. you know, real work does need to be put in money needs to be put into this. and actually changing these institutions which run our society to make sure that, you know, we actually put an end to domestic violence, to rapes, to sexual assaults, which are so predominantly aimed at women. but it's a societal problem. but one day of the year saying international women's day, you know, from commercial companies,

let's give women cupcakes. we don't want cupcakes. we just want change. and you feel that businesses have jumped on the bandwagon a bit. >> they're virtually signalling they they honour international women's day and 364 other days it doesn't really register. >> well, quite exactly that, let's put together a panel and speak about international women's day. but actually, when it comes down to equal pay, getting a you know, there's such a small percentage of women who are ceos and yes, things do take time granted. and we've come a long way, but not far enough. christine are you going to put a spannerin christine are you going to put a spanner in the works? >> are you going to upset the apple cart? do you think we should have international women's day? >> absolutely not. going to upset the apple cart. and i'm delighted three delighted that you've got three strong, the panel strong, real women on the panel to the key, i think, to discuss it. the key, i think, is word international. i is in the word international. i don't would be so don't think i would be so enthusiastic day enthusiastic about women's day just country, although just in this country, although all these issues two all these issues that the two others spoken about others have just spoken about obviously still so obviously still exist. so there's for women to there's a long way for women to go. don't think a women's day

go. i don't think a women's day would but taking the would hit it, but taking the world as a whole, women are in the most appalling situations across the world. they are in penury, they're in slavery . i penury, they're in slavery. i mean, you know, you name it, second class citizens in many societies, third class citizens, not many parts not even citizens in many parts of the world. so i think if it can draw attention to that , the can draw attention to that, the situation of women across the world, then i'm all in favour. but think international but i think international women's it should be women's day is what it should be and and should remain. and is and should remain. >> were this with >> we were debating this with the before we came on air, the team before we came on air, and one person, of my and one person, one of my colleagues, suggested that international is international women's day is patronising. do you think, sue? >> well, it it isn't really. and it sounds as though it is, but there is, there are so many issues that we really need to tackle, as christine was saying, and think of all the women we have to sit on our sofas, watching television, watching the television, the women they're women in gaza, the way they're suffering. and what about the women hostages the un women hostages in israel? the un finally in a report finally acknowledged in a report two days ago that that something needs to be done and that women

are being actually assaulted and raped on an ongoing daily basis since october the 7th. nobody's mentioned . nobody's debated mentioned it. nobody's debated it in the un, the mainstream media in the world's media, the world's politicians don't mention least on a day mention it. at least on a day like today, we can perhaps bring it to people's attention. and let's women home. let's bring these women home. >> obviously fully, fully >> now, i obviously fully, fully back this day we don't do back this day and we don't do nearly and it should be back this day and we don't do n

get into women's sports, which seems completely utterly seems completely and utterly ludicrous. how ludicrous. i can't think how that's must that's allowed. there must be a way that. you know, way around that. just, you know, hormone or something. >> well, indeed. what was your reaction story this reaction to that story this weekend? local weekend? okay. it's a local story, but i think it has national and it's national implications. and it's a north london. a women's pond in north london. i know the patrons voted to allow trans women to use the women's pond, where that would be a biological male, fully intact, usually male, who identifies as female in the women's pond. i think that's a topic that's relevant to international women's day , international women's day, because i just wonder whether this concept of women's only spaces being sacrosanct is now being eroded. >> yes, at least we can talk about issues like that for once. yeah, know those ponds very yeah, i know those ponds very well. there's well. and there's a great freedom pond freedom about that pond in hampstead. are, know, hampstead. there are, you know, women can all shapes, women you can be of all shapes, all shapes, sizes. you all shapes, all sizes. you neednt all shapes, all sizes. you needn't about your body . needn't worry about your body. all you can relax, all you can do, you can relax, you have a swim. if you can have a swim. but if you've got you know you're you've got men you know you're feeling, your body is being judged and scrutinised and looked it changes whole looked at. it changes the whole atmosphere . atmosphere. >> yeah, well, what do you think

abouti >> yeah, well, what do you think about i mean, what that about i mean, what does that story us about the story tell us about the challenge face? because challenge women face? because i think group here are think the whole group here are very open liberal it very open and liberal when it comes if you're a trans comes to if you're a trans person, luck to you or person, good luck to you or respect your identity . but respect your new identity. but what about this issue around women's , christine? women's spaces, christine? >> well, i mean, i know 2 or 3 trans people and they in a million years would never want to invade our spaces . they would to invade our spaces. they would never want to go into join women's sports , etcetera, women's sports, etcetera, etcetera. but as sue said, it's the ones who are, frankly, they're bogus women. they're bogus they you see bogus trans women. they you see the pictures of them on social media all the time. i mean, they are just they are a bloke in a skirt and a wig and those are the people who do a tremendous disservice to the genuine trans gender people. i've forgotten the question. gender people. i've forgotten the questiin. gender people. i've forgotten the questi think you answered it >> well, i think you answered it and you answered it and you put it to me as well. and what do you think about all of this, pandora? is that a rabbit hole to get this issue, the idea to get down this issue, the idea of being cancelled or erased? >> think it's really >> well, i think it's really important we're having

important that we're having conversations and conversations like this and openly about this, openly talking about this, because people are so because i think people are so afraid of saying the wrong thing . but when you have conversations and you have debates and you have fair and balanced arguments, and then real change can happen, you know, unfortunately, there have been cases in women's changing rooms, etc. which is which is really actually brought down the trans community. and as you said, it's a very , very small said, it's a very, very small percentage. i just want to clarify that very small percentage. and there are people who are genuinely suffering and would like to go through that process, and that does take many, many years. and obviously, you know , i'm not in that you know, i'm not in that position, so i can't imagine what it would be like all i can be is very sympathetic. but we do also need to report on the stories such as, you know, such as these awful incidences in changing etc, because it changing rooms, etc, because it needs to be fair, it needs to be balanced. and just because people are afraid of having these conversations, they shouldn't we should be open

shouldn't be. we should be open to it briefly, if you can. >> christine, what were you going say? well, things going to say? well, two things i think should stop encouraging think we should stop encouraging children they , 4 or children as young as they, 4 or 5, i want to be a boy. 5, who say, i want to be a boy. >> me . just end it there >> excuse me. just end it there or yes, go and play in a tree or something. yeah. i think the something. yeah. and i think the vast people, not vast majority of people, not just but people just women, but people are behind the views all behind the views that we all seem share . yes. but somebody seem to share. yes. but somebody like rowling out and like j.k. rowling speaks out and look what happens to her. so normal, ordinary people are terrified of speaking out because they think that the world will cave in on them in the way that it has attempted to cave in on jk rowling . cave in on jk rowling. >> well, a fascinating debate. i think what we've learned from this is that international women's day. women's day should be every day. listen i'll get to more of these issues shortly . but next up, is issues shortly. but next up, is it wrong to slap your child on the wrist and as rupert murdoch gets engaged at 92, does marriage in later life work? we'll debate that with the hamiltons and tv news legend staying with me in the studio. sue cook, see you in two.

>> earlier on breakfast, that breaking news in the past few moments that theresa may, the former pm and of course, maidenhead mps to stand down after 27 years. >> well, i'm learning it through you. i'm so disappointed to hear this. >> well, this is obviously a really significant decision from theresa may to stand down at the next election as you said, it is a surprise people remember that, and the british are stubborn, we're known for being quite stubborn, so i'm not sure how this will help them . this will help them. >> my holiday was the holiday from hell from six. >> its breakfast on gb news

>> coming up. could joe biden survive another four years in the white house? and would a trump victory in november be an early christmas present for

britain? will head to the us and speak to a top commentator. but first, this is an astonishing story. a primary school headmistress unfair headmistress has won an unfair dismissal case after she was sacked for assault . this was for sacked for assault. this was for tapping her toddler son's hand whilst disciplining him. shelly ann mahlab , the goulbourne, was ann mahlab, the goulbourne, was trying to get her three year old to stop playing with the hand sanitiser in her office, when she used two fingers to attract his attention. the incident was witnessed by the teacher in charge of child safety, who accused her of hurting her son and completed a cause for concern form to report a safeguarding incident. the head teacher was found guilty of gross misconduct and sacked . gross misconduct and sacked. well, she's now in line for compensation after an employment judge concluded there was no evidence that she'd committed physical chastising or an assault and ruled her dismissal unfair . so is assault and ruled her dismissal unfair. so is it wrong to tap your child's hand as a form of discipline? let's get the views

of television news legend sue cook and my friday friends tonight. neil and christine hamilton. neil this sounds to me like a ridiculous story. potentially this woman's career in ruins. your reaction? >> well, of course there's a complete lack of common sense in lots of these kinds of situations today , and a stasi situations today, and a stasi mentality on the part of individuals who are extra officious in trying to enforce what clearly in this case was a misinterpretation of the law. yeah, but it's the lack of common sense and the busybody ness of the whole thing, which i think is so redolent of the nature of which our society is descended . and since this old descended. and since this old air culture. yeah this army of busybodies out there who are now being employed basically at everybody else's expense, because we all pay the bills in one way or another the cost one way or another for the cost of this thing. and, you know, what about parental responsibility? that's what was being exerted in this particular case. that's way it

case. and that's the way it should be. parents discipline should be. so parents discipline their children. should be. so parents discipline the is:hildren. should be. so parents discipline the is:hiwrong to tap your child >> is it wrong to tap your child on the wrist? i mean, just the very christine. very action. christine. >> from what i >> no, i mean, from what i understand, the child had already in a, already been disciplined in a, in a verbal way for messing around with hand sanitiser. around with the hand sanitiser. so he was old enough so he knew he was old enough to know doing wrong. no. if know he was doing wrong. no. if she'd him on the wrist. she'd slapped him on the wrist. two fingers. what it's two fingers. i mean, what it's utterly, utterly and it utterly, utterly absurd. and it was own child now. okay, you was her own child now. okay, you may the school rules may say that the school rules are school rules, it was are the school rules, but it was her she her own child she was disciplining. i think disciplining. and i think parents allowed parents should be allowed to discipline children in discipline their children in their within limits, of their own way. within limits, of course. know , that was course. but you know, that was clearly nonsense. and that clearly a nonsense. and that woman of the trauma that woman think of the trauma that she has been through. i'm not quite sure how long she's been suspended, she must quite suspended, but she must be quite a head teacher, former a young head teacher, former head she's got head teacher, because she's got small small, small small children, small, small child. most child. she's had the most unbelievable she unbelievable will. i hope she gets massive of money as gets a massive ton of money as compensation . compensation. >> now you've skin in the >> now you've got skin in the game, because i think game, sue, because i think you're school governor. game, sue, because i think youthat's school governor. game, sue, because i think youthat's right.school governor. game, sue, because i think youthat's right. yes.)l governor. game, sue, because i think youthat's right. yes. and vernor. game, sue, because i think youthat's right. yes. and v> that's right. yes. and i know i governor for an academy i was a governor for an academy trust, and i just know how

stressful all the teachers feel all the time, because safeguarding is the thing, the thing they're all worried about. and this safeguarding teacher, she was obviously the safeguarding lead in the school, and she decided as a safeguarding person that she shouldn't have witnessed this tap on the hand. and i mean, what sort of person she must be is totally bonkers. but anyway, the police didn't think it was worth , nor did the worth prosecuting, nor did the local council. but the academy trust itself thought, oh, you know, we don't want to be accused of any safeguarding , you accused of any safeguarding, you know, we'd better. know, problems. we'd better. we'll discipline the woman and we'll sack her and she can go. she'll have to. we'll have to sacrifice her. and of course, you then had to sue you know, she then had to sue for dismissal. for unfair dismissal. as christine must have christine said, she must have gone hell or gone through hell for 2 or 3 years, and i hope she gets decent definitely decent compensation. definitely >> and a plum job at another school. who will be lucky to have her. meanwhile, rupert murdoch, the media magnate , is murdoch, the media magnate, is to tie the knot at the tender age of 92. he's now engaged to russian molecular biologist

elena sukova, who is just 67 and positive teenager. by comparison, the marriage is expected to take place at mr murdoch's lavish vineyard estate in california later this year. well, it'll be his fifth and fifth marriage, i should say, and you have to hope it is going to be successful. but there's marriage in later life work. what do you think, sukuk? >> well, i was . i was talking to >> well, i was. i was talking to prue leith only a couple of days ago. name drop. yes. and ago. nice name drop. yes. and she's. she got married seven years and she's and years ago, and she's 84 and looks amazing absolutely looks amazing and absolutely loves her marriage. and, you know, definitely say yes. know, she definitely say yes. otherwise i'm not entirely sure, but i think was sad that he but i think i was sad that he split up from jerry hall, but he looked very happy as a couple. those two. but i think covid got in the way there. and i think she thought she was too she he thought she was being too overprotective and, and dumped her. overprotective and, and dumped hen he overprotective and, and dumped her. he can be quite ruthless. >> right. i think the >> that's right. i think the family allegedly, family were concerned allegedly, that to that they couldn't get access to their father she'd their own father because she'd wrapped cotton wool wrapped a sort of cotton wool around security fence.

around him as security fence. but so the principle is that but so, so the principle is that it's never too late for love. but have to get married but do you have to get married when you're so old? >> he want to get >> why does he want to get married? do you think? i mean, what's for? i mean, triumph what's it for? i mean, triumph of hope over experience, isn't it? >> i mean, it's extraordinary . >> i mean, it's extraordinary. >> i mean, it's extraordinary. >> there speaks the voice of experience. blimey, we're dropping bombs tonight. >> when you. when you've had. what it? is it four failed what is it? is it four failed marriages or five failed marriages? >> would be his fifth. >> this would be his fifth. >> this would be his fifth. >> one where he got >> he had one where he got engaged didn't actually get engaged and didn't actually get married. can sort of married. so you can sort of almost count that well. almost count that as well. i mean, it is he wants to get mean, it is why he wants to get married. i don't know, because clearly there's going to be massive prenups she's not going. he longer. he can't last much longer. i mean, be honest. i mean, mean, let's be honest. i mean, he might last another ten years. >> will. >> we hope he will. >> we hope he will. >> ten years, of course. >> man. you're absolutely >> older man. you're absolutely right, there's bound be right, so there's bound to be all around prenups. all wrapped around with prenups. >> whether >> but i have no idea whether marriage a good marriage in later life is a good thing. hope to find out, thing. we hope to find out, don't darling? we get older. >> neil. neil, i hear that you made christine sign prenup so made christine sign a prenup so your safe. it's the your millions are safe. it's the other way. >> other way round. >> other way round. >> actually, we've been married so that keeps so long, it's inertia that keeps

us do think? mean, >> do you think? i mean, speaking , can you speaking as a gentleman, can you understand, you the understand, as you raised the question, murdoch wants question, why, mr murdoch wants to married and can't just to be married and can't just have a girlfriend this stage? have a girlfriend at this stage? >> think sign of >> well, i think it's a sign of commitment, it? commitment, isn't it? >> age he is. he >> and he's the age he is. he grew up in the culture that he did, we want to things did, and we want to make things legal, don't we? yes. >> it that he wants to >> or is it that he wants to make sure there's someone to look in his old age? look after him in his old age? neil, a of tea? >> exactly. here's my carer. there go. there you go. >> hear it. not yet. >> glad to hear it. not yet. let's hope it's going to be a while before that happens. now, coming speaking of coming up, speaking of carer, could survive another could joe biden survive another four years in the white house and a trump victory in and would a trump victory in november christmas november be an early christmas present for britain? will debate that with of america's top that with one of america's top political commentators .

next. welcome back to friday night

live with me. mark dolan. now, donald trump's team have launched an attack ad on joe biden questioning whether he could make it for another four years in office. take a listen . years in office. take a listen. they want . me they want. me >> i guess i should clear my mind here a little bit. >> we can all see joe biden's weakness if biden wins , can he weakness if biden wins, can he even survive till 2029? the real question is , can we make america question is, can we make america great again? >> inc. is responsible for the content of this advertising . content of this advertising. >> powerful stuff. meanwhile, president joe biden has come out fighting in his annual state of the union address. in a fiery performance, he attacked his opponent , performance, he attacked his opponent, donald trump, calling him a threat to democracy. the 81 year old president also defended his record on the economy. here he is in action.

the middle class has finally has a fair shot and the wealthy have to pay their fair share in taxes. >> i see a future where we save the planet from the climate crisis and our country from gun violence . above all. i see a violence. above all. i see a future for all americans. i see a country for all americans, and i will always be president for all americans. so let's build the future together. let's remember who we are. we are the united states of america . united states of america. >> so would a november victory for president trump be an early christmas present for britain ? christmas present for britain? but first, let's look at that state of the union address from the sitting president, joe biden, in the company of one of america's most compelling political and social commentators, and the star of the hugely popular mel k show

podcast, mel k. mel, great to have you on the program. as joe biden proved as joe biden proved his critics wrong with this fiery performance . fiery performance. >> oh no. and thank you so much for having me . it's got to be for having me. it's got to be a real trip for the rest of the world to watch what's going on here. no, frankly. i mean, the american people as a whole are exhausted. the left and right, republican and democrat . it exhausted. the left and right, republican and democrat. it is proving to be a farce. more people see it ever. more people see it than ever. more people see it than ever. more people looking at dc and people are looking at dc and wondering is running and wondering who is running it. and i just biden i don't just mean joe biden or anyone america at anyone else. we in america at this have obviously had this point have obviously had some of capture by a some kind of capture by a i don't know, a rogue kind of, situation where they are keeping us divided. and he gets up there and basically says that 80 million people in donald trump are the problem, he's the are the problem, and he's the uniter all of that, where uniter and all of that, where the is, the of dc the truth is, the entire of dc is actually proving itself to be a l is actually proving itself to be a , unworkable and a incompr, unworkable and corrupt situation that i believe the people are actually getting forced closer together, watching

what's happening through this administration rather far administration rather than far apart, is what believe apart, which is what i believe these really want . these people really want. >> i mean, the question posed in that attack video from the trump camp is, could joe biden survive another four years in office? >> what's your view , well, first >> what's your view, well, first and foremost, i believe that we should wait and see what happens at the democratic convention. there's a lot of talk in the background about that. a and b, you know, the truth is that nobody really to continue nobody really wants to continue down endless war. and down a path of endless war. and america being all over the world. a lot of people want a different direction. right different direction. and right now more about now it's even more about ideology the american ideology and what the american people future, people want for our future, rather you a man. rather than, you know, a man. it's really about trump or it's not really about trump or biden at this point. and most americans getting that. it's americans are getting that. it's really direction of really about the direction of this our future. and this nation and our future. and i honestly believe that most people looking you people are now looking at, you know, is offering them know, who is offering them peace, to protect peace, who's offering to protect our border, who's offering to reinvest in america. that, reinvest in america. and that, obviously donald trump over obviously is donald trump over biden. but making it to election day seems very iffy. but we will

see the democratic convention. anything could happen there. >> there you go. well, reading between the lines, i wonder if, in that answer, you're suggesting the democrats might just throw biden under the just throw joe biden under the bus someone like gavin bus and put someone like gavin newsom in the hot seat? but let's talk about donald trump, who could be successful in november . let's if we can, mel november. let's if we can, mel k, bring my brilliant friday friends into this conversation. neil and christine hamilton , mel neil and christine hamilton, mel k, would a trump victory in november be an early christmas present for the united kingdom ? present for the united kingdom? >> well, in my opinion, i think that it would be an early christmas present for everyone on planet earth that like on planet earth that would like to and would to see peace ahead and would like see negotiations. and like to see negotiations. and i'd to us back on i'd like to see us get back on track instead of continuing down a that is not really good a path that is not really good for anyone on planet we for anyone on planet earth. we just need have some just really need to have some open there's been open conversations. there's been very talk about what very little talk about what peace like, what peace could look like, what prosperity could look like, and i think there's a lot of people looking at globalist looking at the globalist organisations and organisations like the un and the economic and

the world economic forum and other groups thinking what other groups and thinking what is what are is their part, what what are they playing and aren't they playing and why? aren't nafions they playing and why? aren't nations getting nations and nations getting together things together to discuss things directly instead of going through third parties? so there's a lot out there that could happen for the world, and i believe for the better. honestly, i don't think the direction is going direction for anyone is going in a good pattern, well, mel a good, good pattern, well, mel k, that to neil k, let me put that to neil hamilton, who is the leader of ukip, a national political party in this country. neil. mel k there says that a trump victory would be good for the world. would it be good for britain? >> well, i would, but i think if we got keir starmer as prime minister bets are off, of minister all bets are off, of course donald trump is half british. his mother was born in scotland. >> he's an anglophile. >> he's an anglophile. he >> he's an anglophile. and he would to have a trade would he wanted to have a trade deal with this country, which our government foolishly put on the back burner. and i think trump would be, as we've just heard from mel, good for the world. putin, i don't think, would ever have dared to go into ukraine if trump were president of the united states. and i

don't think, xi jinping would be threatening taiwan in the obvious way that he does. if trump were the president. so i think that, you know, a trump victory would be good for us all in so many different ways . in so many different ways. >> however, christine, this is a guy that's been found guilty in a civil court of a sexual assault. he's mired in all sorts of legal woes. many think he's a criminal. is he fit for high office? >> well, the american people, it's their choice, not ours. the american people factored all that in when they voted for him in the first place. just like the british people factored all boris's in when they boris's faults in when they voted so they know what voted for him. so they know what they're getting with trump. and as think personally as neil said, i think personally the world would be safer the world would be a much safer place trump the place with trump because the other side, putin's etc, other side, the putin's etc, would know what he was going would not know what he was going to do next. my only big concern about trump is that he has said that he will stop sending money to ukraine, which i think will be tragic because ukraine is fighting on the front line for the of europe. and i would the rest of europe. and i would hope the united states

hope that the united states would ukraine. would stand by poor ukraine. >> of time. a >> mel k, i'm out of time. a couple of seconds if you can. do you think that donald wins you think that donald trump wins in november? >> yes, 100, okay. well, look, a straight answer to a straight question, let me tell you, you must check out the brilliant mel k show podcast. wherever, wherever you get your podcasts. it's a brilliant listen, mel k, do join us again soon. brilliant to you on program . to have you on the program. okay. thank you so much. oh, it's stuff. what an it's great stuff. what an interesting debate that was, next christys. what's next up patrick christys. what's happening, ? yeah. happening, big man? yeah. >> action packed show tonight. we've the feminists we've got the feminists for palestine movement, which is a bit like turkeys for christmas, isn't i've got ellen isn't it? but i've got ellen levy the israeli government levy on the israeli government spokesperson to give them some home truths about exactly what hamas female hamas are doing to the female hostages there. british hostages over there. british seaside towns being desecrated as by mass migration . seaside towns being desecrated as by mass migration. ian. as well by mass migration. ian. and should the art vandals be sent to prison and loads more, should we legalise cannabis? mark? >> listen, only if you're >> well, listen, only if you're going to join me in a in a toke. >> but you don't need it. you're naturally high. patrick i am.

>> yes. no, not for me, not for me. brilliant. >> stop listening to patrick. looking forward to that. patrick's up in a couple of minutes. do join me mark minutes. do join me for mark dolan tonight saturday and sunday. the big sunday. the take at ten. the big opinion meets and of course opinion mark meets and of course my pundits. my to the my top pundits. my thanks to the brilliant neil brilliant christina, neil hamilton, daniels and hamilton, the two daniels and arc. you tomorrow at arc. i'll see you tomorrow at nine. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers . sponsors of boxt boilers. sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello again. good evening. welcome to your latest gb news weather update. it should stay dry through this evening for many areas, but rain and showers will push up from the southwest to some showery outbreaks to bring some showery outbreaks of of us this of rain. for many of us this weekend, that's as a result of this low pressure system bringing fronts bringing these weather fronts into southwest through this into the southwest through this evening. will bring some evening. so that will bring some showery rain for showery outbreaks of rain for parts devon and cornwall parts of devon and cornwall through elsewhere through this evening. elsewhere though, it should be dry for much evening and through much of the evening and through much of the evening and through much having said much of the night. having said that, will be quite

that, but it will be quite cloudy breezy that will cloudy and breezy that will limit frost just the far limit any frost to just the far northwest scotland , but it northwest of scotland, but it will be a fairly chilly start to the weekend, with that easterly breeze continuing the breeze continuing the. the wind will strong , will be quite strong, particularly over the high ground northwestern areas ground and northwestern areas throughout saturday and further south. we'll see cloud thicken through afternoon with some through the afternoon with some drizzly outbreaks of rain to come around lunchtime across central and southeastern areas. there will some brighter there will be some brighter weather through the afternoon, but will allow some showers but that will allow some showers to out . those showers to break out. those showers could turn quite heavy across parts of southwest, so some parts of the southwest, so some very heavy rain is possible for parts of dartmoor, parts of south well. that rain south wales as well. that rain will more widespread will be much more widespread through sunday, particularly across , across eastern areas of england, as well as parts of scotland, where there will be some quite persistent and heavy rain at times, could be times, so there could be some flooding by end of flooding issues by the end of the weekend. will be quite the weekend. there will be quite a cloud around on sunday, a lot of cloud around on sunday, but spells in the but some brighter spells in the southwest rain slowly southwest that rain slowly clears through monday to leave a much brighter day on much drier and brighter day on tuesday by.

tuesday by by. >> looks like things are heating up . boxt boilers sponsors of up. boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

>> you're watching and listening to gb news with me. sam francis, the headlines at 11:00. northern ireland's first minister has apologised today to the families of alleged informers who were killed by the ira. and she says that she wholeheartedly is committed to healing the wounds of the past . it's after a major of the past. it's after a major investigation found it's likely that more lives were lost than saved by a double agent during the troubles . codenamed the troubles. codenamed stakeknife, he was working covertly for the british army inside the ira's internal security unit . he's widely

security unit. he's widely believed to have been