the shots? calling the shots? >> and margaret thatcher has been listed as a punch and judy villain alongside wait for it, hitler and osama bin laden in a display hosted by london's prestigious v&a museum , headed prestigious v&a museum, headed up prestigious v&a museum, headed ”p by prestigious v&a museum, headed up by former labour mp tristram hunt , it hunt, it. >> i really want to understand how the rwanda scheme can be slowed down even further . not a slowed down even further. not a single migrant has moved, but but the detail here is, of course, that it's not yet slowed down. rwanda want to have a pause after the first few migrants go? if they ever go rwanda, then are saying hang about. how about we just sort of send a dozen , wait a few months send a dozen, wait a few months and see how they settle in? >> but this just so this irritated me so much. it's not even about whether you're supportive of the rwanda scheme.

there are many very good arguments for and against, but the that we have sent tens the fact that we have sent tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions, hundreds of millions of to rwanda, and now of pounds to rwanda, and now they're saying, oh, sorry, we've got to stagger it. we can only take a few for now. oh, let's slow down the scheme. they should be the shots should not be calling the shots on britain should on this. surely britain should be, the ones dishing be, if we're the ones dishing out the money. >> what this is, >> do you know what this is, though? is britain though? this is britain projecting weakness. it's exactly negotiations exactly like the eu negotiations . a united . if we had presented a united front, wasn't front, parliament wasn't bickering with itself. what kigali has seen here that, kigali has seen here is that, hang on, the house of lords are trying to stop this. the labour party are leading in the polls. they to it, undo they want to reverse it, undo it. get into power, they it. if they get into power, they see, perhaps, see, and quite rightly, perhaps, in in their view, this is an opportunity to squeeze more money out of the brits for their end of the bargain, doing even less. if this hadn't been amended ten times in the house of lords, would rwanda be saying what it is saying today about slowing the whole thing down? well, they did threaten to shut off whole scheme, didn't they?

>> because of the pr they >> because of the bad pr they were getting, which is understandable guess understandable too. but i guess it's those threats, it's just that those threats, when we're spending so much money scheme, really, money on this scheme, really, really wow me up this morning. but let me let us know what you make of it all. gb views gb news. com do you get the idea that it's actually rwanda who are calling the shots when it comes scheme? us comes to this scheme? let us know at gb news. com know gb views at gb news. com but let's get your headlines . but let's get your headlines. >> good afternoon. it's 12:02. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom . your top story. the newsroom. your top story. the prime minister has rebuffed speculation about a leadership challenge, saying he's not interested in westminster politics. speaking at a business eventin politics. speaking at a business event in warwickshire, rishi sunak urged his party to stick to the plan and told backbenchers that the economy is turning a corner. he was forced to speak out after rumours suggested that right wing tories were lining up penny mordaunt to replace him . the prime minister replace him. the prime minister says his focus is on the future of country . he.

of the country. he. >> i'm not interested in all westminster politics. it doesn't matter. what matters is the future of our country and that's what i'm squarely focussed on. that's what i get up every morning, working as hard as i can deliver, whether it's can to deliver, whether it's cutting people's taxes, increasing the state pension today , increasing the number of today, increasing the number of apprenticeships and talking to small businesses , those are all small businesses, those are all the things that matter to people. we've over people. and as we've seen over the weeks, our plan is the last few weeks, our plan is working. is coming working. inflation is coming down, wages are growing, the economy to growing again economy is back to growing again . and if we stick to this plan, i can deliver a brighter future for everyone our country. for everyone in our country. thatis for everyone in our country. that is what doing. in that is what i am doing. in warwickshire, the prime minister announced plans to create 20,000 new apprenticeships. >> sunak pledged £60 >> rishi sunak pledged £60 million of new investment to cover a series of reforms , cover a series of reforms, including fully funding training for young people and cutting red tape for small businesses. labour says after 14 years of tory economic failure, small firms were finding things harder and harder. but mr sunak says

the government is taking action and will pay the full cost of apprenticeships for people aged 21 or under at small firms from the 1st of april. in other news, the 1st of april. in other news, the foreign secretary has criticised the russian presidential election result, saying it wasn't free or fair. early results showed vladimir putin won nearly 88% of the vote, giving him a fifth time in office. defence secretary grant shapps said he's behaving like a modern day stalin and accused putin of stealing the election after having opponents imprisoned or murdered thousands of people turned up at polling stations in russia and cities across the world to protest the result. the kremlin responded by promising to imprison anyone taking part for up to five years. former kremlin adviser and russian exile valery. moross morozov says there is no viable opposition to putin now. >> the problem is that putin is still keeping russia moving, developing or in any case, well, there is no alternative. there

is no people who who can, who can, who have ideas, other ideas . you have putin, putin, russia is now, if you compare the development of russia, for example, or january 20th, 2023 to the, this january, it is 4.6% development. >> now, britain's most successful female olympian, dame laura kenny, has announced her retirement from professional cycling. the athlete posted the news on instagram saying it was time to move on. the five time gold medallist had been expected to compete at the paris games this summer, but the 31 year old welcomed her second son last year and said spending time at home with her family was proving more her. we could more important to her. we could see flying taxis to take the skies in two years under the government's new drones plan. the department for transport is proposing flying taxis without pilots on board by 2030 as part of its future flight action plan. it says the plan would

mean the adoption of technology that was once confined to the realms of science fiction and a state of emergency has been declared in southern iceland after another volcanic eruption on the reykjanes peninsula. it's the fourth eruption since december and follows weeks of warnings from the met office that magma was accumulating under the ground , making an under the ground, making an eruption likely. the eruption site is near grindavik, a coastal town of 3800 people about 30 miles southwest of iceland's capital of reykjavik. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. com slash alerts . to gb news. com slash alerts. now it's back to tom and . now it's back to tom and. emily. >> is the prime minister fighting for his political life? rishi sunak has delivered a landmark speech aimed at boosting british business, pledging to create 20,000 more apprenticeships for young people

and cut some red tape for small businesses. well, is that sort of announcement going to turn the tide? well, i'm not so sure, tom. >> i mean, you know, apprenticeships are very important. very important. we saw him focus on a—levels and maths to age 18, so why not also focus on apprenticeships? we know far too many people in my humble opinion, are going to university. a boost in apprenticeships is all right. is this turn a corner this enough to turn a corner for rishi he it is , but rishi sunak? he hopes it is, but this the week that matters. rishi sunak? he hopes it is, but thisthe he week that matters. rishi sunak? he hopes it is, but thisthe primeek that matters. rishi sunak? he hopes it is, but thisthe prime minister'stters. rishi sunak? he hopes it is, but thisthe prime minister's grip. rishi sunak? he hopes it is, but thisthe prime minister's grip on >> the prime minister's grip on power in the united kingdom is clearly, increasingly tenuous as rumours continue to grow that rebel conservative mps will attempt to oust him before the next election. penny mordaunt is said to be the preferred candidate to replace rishi sunak as prime minister. >> do you know what that's based on, tom? we've got penny morton everywhere. apparently penny mordaunt in the mordaunt is waiting in the wings. last week it was kemi badenoch. some people are talking about david cameron sukh coming in from the lords in from

the sidelines, coming in from the sidelines, coming in from the lords , penny mordaunt, is the lords, penny mordaunt, is there some truth to this that she's waiting there? >> well, she has stood to be leader of the conservative party twice , she came to rishi twice, she came second to rishi sunak , when he stood, didn't sunak, when he stood, didn't quite get the right number of nominations to get through. you needed 100 nominations at that, emergency replacement contest. but she is, by most polls, the most popular choice of all of the mps who could replace him. >> not within the conservative party, though. right, i've seen within the public, i've seen polls of the public. but she also does very well on cabinet rankings with conservative home members, surveys , there is there members, surveys, there is there is something quite attractive about her as sort of a leader. she looks prime ministerial in a way that many other candidates don't. >> and she likes a union flag. she does. so there you go. shall we speak to chief political correspondent at the times, aubrey allegretti, who believe

aubrey allegretti, who i believe is joining now. aubrey, thank is joining us now. aubrey, thank you indeed. is joining us now. aubrey, thank you indeed . so tell you very much indeed. so tell us, how much truth is there to this penny mordaunt story? she very much waiting. does she have the support of the party? could she be the one to oust the prime minister >> there is certainly something in i mean , people who in this. i mean, people who advocate this plan basically say that lots of the other leadership contenders have the luxury i.e. they might luxury of time, i.e. they might be able to launch a challenge or potentially run for the leadership after the general election, when the conservatives are presumed to be facing a significant defeat. >> penny mordaunt is in a more precarious situation in that her majority is much more fragile, and she might therefore not necessarily be around to try and attempt to run for the leadership. after the general election. time is potentially election. so time is potentially a pressing for her now. a bit more pressing for her now. her allies say that all of this has been completely cooked up, that, maybe is that, okay, maybe she is potentially getting potentially sort of getting ready in case there is a leadership contest, but it's not fair to say that she is in any

way stirring the pot or trying to get rid of rishi sunak herself. and it's hard for herself. and it's quite hard for a sort of leadership challenge to launched the to be launched without the person who is supposed to be replacing sunak it replacing rishi sunak giving it their backing . their full backing. >> now, other name in the >> now, the other name in the mix course, kemi badenoch mix is, of course, kemi badenoch , but seems her star , but it seems that her star might dimmed recently , might have dimmed recently, particularly with this morning's media round. wasn't given media round. she wasn't given stark reviews, but perhaps that's her pitch a more combative, abrasive form of leadership willing to take on the media. >> there is a sort of old adage in politics, which is he or she who wields the knife never wears the crown, and effectively, in politics, i suppose there's a concern that if you are the person who launches the putsch, then won't the person who then you won't be the person who ends being received and ends up being received and welcomed by the leaders. so kemi badenoch , if you badenoch sort of style, if you like, been to be incredibly like, has been to be incredibly publicly loyal to rishi sunak, and she's certainly been one of the more fervent in trying to sort slap down sort of slap down the speculation about a future leadership contest. we haven't

heard from penny heard anything from penny mordaunt quite so specifically, and on this and on the record on this subject. but allies tell me that she thinks it's all a nonsense and that ultimately it isn't doing anyone any favours. it kemi badenoch is the sort of presumed candidate who would probably lead the field and probably lead the field and probably have the sort of choice be the choice of the conservative members. if it went to a vote further down the line. but she clearly decides that ultimately she doesn't want to see rishi sunak go this side of the election and would see rishi sunak go this side of the wait, election and would see rishi sunak go this side of the wait, presumablyi would see rishi sunak go this side of the wait, presumably aubrey, rather wait, presumably aubrey, because she's just after an election. >> penny mordaunt might have lost her seat, whereas kemi is in one of the safest seats in the country. it's hers for the losing. if she waits for losing. if she if she waits for after election , building after the election, building back a defeated party. back sort of a defeated party. but , a lot of her but frankly, a lot of her potential opponents will be out . potential opponents will be out. >> and this is what rishi sunak allies are briefing the papers, aren't they ? hold your horses. aren't they? hold your horses. don't go for rishi sunak. he'll just an election and just call an early election and you be out of your seat . you might be out of your seat. >> and that's been one of the

most interesting things, just the battle for about not just the battle for hearts and sitting hearts and minds of sitting current conservative mps, but the new crop of conservative mps who will be making up the parliamentary party after the general election and therefore in very significant position in a very significant position to to choose the next to be able to choose the next leader, because, of course, the selection process itself is so dependent on what mps decide to do , and we're seeing so many of do, and we're seeing so many of them stand down, they're going to sort of en masse. to be replaced sort of en masse. so there is a lot of courting going on by potential leadership candidates of conservative candidates of conservative candidates who are likely to become the sort of new wave of mps at the next election. the only other thing i'd say is that there is still the problem of there is still the problem of the 2nd and the local the 2nd of may and the local elections , when rishi sunak elections, when rishi sunak expects quite expects sort of quite significant losses for the conservative party. one senior mp i spoke to recently said they thought that it was going to be a sort moment, 2019, a sort of moment, like in 2019, when performed when theresa may performed disastrously for the conservatives in the european parliament elections . and the mp parliament elections. and the mp ispoke parliament elections. and the mp i spoke to says we need the

electorate to sort of deliver us a punishment beating, and that can spark that we use to can be the spark that we use to get rid of the leader. so i think the real moment of danger for horizon think the real moment of danger fo in horizon think the real moment of danger fo in about horizon think the real moment of danger fo in about six horizon think the real moment of danger fo in about six time.zon is in about six weeks time. >> well , those six weeks will be >> well, those six weeks will be perhaps the most crucial of his political . but for now, political life. but for now, aubrey allegretti, you political life. but for now, aubrmuchagretti, you political life. but for now, aubrmuch forztti, you political life. but for now, aubrmuch for talking you political life. but for now, aubrmuch for talking us/ou political life. but for now, aubrmuch for talking us through very much for talking us through those issues. really those issues. really, really stark prime stark choices facing the prime minister and the conservative parliamentary party. >> yes, indeed. let's >> yes, indeed. well, let's discuss this further with pollster at savanta, chris hopkins , who has his finger on hopkins, who has his finger on the pulse of what the public are thinking. chris, thank you very much indeed . rishi sunak. all much indeed. rishi sunak. all the newspapers this morning reporting that this is a massive day, a massive week, and of course, a massive month for him in terms of, attempting to turn around his fate at the polls. how is it looking? does he stand a chance in hell of turning this around ? around? >> well, look, never say never, but , you know, all of the polls, but, you know, all of the polls, i think, at the minute are pointing to a conservative wipe—out at the next general

election . election. >> i think, you know, we're about to host a local elections briefing, and i was reflecting on the one that we hosted last yean on the one that we hosted last year, and it seemed like this time last year, there was a semblance of things starting to turn around for rishi sunak, you know, labour polling know, the labour lead in polling tended to be in the low teens. the conservative vote share was consistent above 30 points, our, our latest voting intention this year shows, you know, a 17 point lead. we've had 18 point leads, for the labour party in recent weeks. and the conservative vote share hit 25, which is the lowest that we'd seen since the last throes of the liz truss government. you know, rishi sunak hasn't really ever been able to turn things around from there. in since his sort there. in fact, since his sort of early good start, things have tended to go backwards . and i tended to go backwards. and i think it's therefore no surprise that there are consistent rumours about his status as the conservative party leader and therefore prime minister. and i think a bad set of local election results in a few weeks time could perhaps be the final

nail in the coffin for him. >> chris, hard to >> chris, it is hard to overstate the significance of local elections as aubrey local elections as as aubrey said , last time, when was it? in said, last time, when was it? in 20. in 2019, the local elections , well, it was only a few days after those that theresa may announced she was leaving as prime minister. indeed the local elections, this time last year , elections, this time last year, were almost the peak of rishi sunak's popularity as prime minister after then, you can see a precipitated decline in the conservative vote share across all pollsters , as this could all pollsters, as this could really be a turning point . really be a turning point. >> yeah, absolutely. and i you know, i think i think you both have just touched on it in terms of conservative members of parliament, those that aren't retiring are worried about losing seats losing their seats and ultimately , you know, local ultimately, you know, local elections. they're across elections. they're not across the great britain and the whole of great britain and northern ireland, but they do absolutely create a mood music. they create a mood music within the conservative party. and that

mood hasn't been particularly good all this year. and if good at all this year. and if there is a bad set of local election results , things are election results, things are only going to get worse. you election results, things are only inng to get worse. you election results, things are only gi think get worse. you election results, things are only gi think aet worse. you election results, things are only gi think a few orse. you election results, things are only gi think a few weeksou election results, things are only gi think a few weeks ago , know, i think a few weeks ago, we were potentially at we were potentially looking at a series that if it all series of events that if it all conspired to go well for rishi sunak, he could well be we could have well been looking at him, striking iron's hot have well been looking at him, strikgoing iron's hot have well been looking at him, strikgoing for iron's hot have well been looking at him, strikgoing for a iron's hot have well been looking at him, strikgoing for a general hot and going for a general election. but ultimately the budget pretty flat, you budget fell pretty flat, you know, the rwanda vote is going to continue to go through the commons, but whether commons, but but but whether the government up with the government ends up with the resolution, that policy, resolution, with that policy, remains to be seen. and ultimately they need to be seen to be delivering on, on some of their key pledges, and they're not at the minute. and then about local election about set of local election results anticipated, really results as anticipated, really on of may, all of on the 2nd of may, all of those things conspire to create things just conspire to create a really bad mood in the conservative party and therefore , as i say, it's no surprise that backbenchers are that some backbenchers are wondering , well, is it worth us wondering, well, is it worth us rolling a new rolling the dice with a new leader because we seem be leader because we seem to be facing, know, defeat facing, you know, pending defeat at election ? so at the next general election? so why not roll the dice with

someone else? >> very quickly >> and, chris, just very quickly , about a return of , lots of talk about a return of nigel frontline nigel farage to frontline politics. what proportion of the electorate could he, get to vote for ? for him? >> look, i think, you know, in the polling community at the minute, there's still a huge question mark about about reform, are they reform, you know, are they a conservative or are conservative protest vote or are they party? i think they a legitimate party? i think it really difficult to assess the impact that one person or one leader could end up having . one leader could end up having. but i do think that, you know, in terms of what nigel farage, you know, represents, he does increase reform's legitimacy . increase reform's legitimacy. and i think they they would be a far greater threat at local elections or indeed at a general elections or indeed at a general election if he was heavily involved , whether that's as involved, whether that's as leader or otherwise. so, yeah, you know, think that if he was you know, i think that if he was to make a return to frontline politics, i think that that could worse news for could spell even worse news for the come the the conservative party come the general election. >> really stark there, >> really stark stuff there, chris. thanks for joining >> really stark stuff there, chris. thanks forjoining us. let's go from one chris to another because christopher another now because christopher hope, our political editor, can join from downing

join us live from downing street, chris, you've just left an official briefing with the prime minister's official spokesman. what was said ? spokesman. what was said? >> so this week for the government, it's all about the rwanda bill tonight . tom and rwanda bill tonight. tom and ellie. and good morning to you both. we're being told is both. what we're being told is the government is now starting to cohort of people to contact a cohort of people who could be deported to rwanda. so finally , we're edging into so finally, we're edging into view flights taking off, of course, two prime ministers ago, when boris johnson was running the country in april 2022. this idea first emerged. fast forward nearly two years, we're facing the possibility of flights finally being taken off. if they can get this through the parliament starting tonight, we're expecting 2.5 hours of voting starting at 8 pm. a debate before that, when tory mps are expected to unite to vote down the ten amendments tabled in the house of lords, then go back to the lords on wednesday and it could come back to the commons again on wednesday evening. so it's a big

week here, i think, for the pm rishi sunak to try and take the focus away from the house of commons and back the commons and back to the governing and delivering on his promise as prime minister, christopher , we're hearing quite christopher, we're hearing quite a lot in the papers about how rwanda is quite demanding when it the scheme. it comes to the scheme. >> essentially insisting >> they're essentially insisting , that the scheme is slowed down. they're ready to have down. they're not ready to have all these people. they want to do a sort of test before you try, before you buy type thing, take see how it is, and take a few, see how it is, and then maybe take some more. it does like is calling does seem like kigali is calling the . the shots. >> well, it's obviously a two way treaty with rwanda, isn't it? the memorandum of understanding with kigali is that they would try and make sure that they can handle the numbers being flown over. they can political imperative can see the political imperative is on the government here to get hundreds taken to hundreds of people taken to rwanda, not just dozens in the run up to the next election. and that's probably why they're saying but it's very saying that. but it's very clear, i think, that there's a chance here, for the government

to get back on the front foot. what are making clear in what they are making clear in meetings i've been having is that as soon as this bill that when as soon as this bill becomes law and it should do a subject to a of them being ordered to use a parliament act, there may be further challenges in the courts on each of the individuals identified in the cohort. so it will be weeks away if it can get through the house of commons and parliament this week before the easter break, which week . which starts next week. >> and chris, there is all of this speculation in the midst of this speculation in the midst of this about rishi sunak own future, this big speech this morning was perhaps an attempt to draw the conversation away. talk about the things that the government's doing. but frankly, over the weekend, fevered speculation of who might replace rishi sunak, penny mordaunt's name being thrown around, all over the place . over the place. >> that's right. tom. emily. and as you know, when the herd

moves, it moves in politics. and i did feel over the weekend, i didn't really believe all this stuff about penny mordaunt , stuff about penny mordaunt, despite writing a piece for our website back in back on the 25th of january about the idea of a contract with britain that penny mordaunt could be installed to replace rishi sunak , and after replace rishi sunak, and after 100 days there will be a general election. that was all just chatter, amongst chatter, i think, amongst discontented mps. but there was a of momentum at the a feeling of momentum at the moment in parliament. it's a very place . i've been very febrile place. i've been told from two sources, as many as 40 letters might have gone in to brady , the chairman of to graham brady, the chairman of the 1922 committee. if that number goes above 53, there will be a vote of no confidence in in mr sunak as as tory leader that is the situation we're in, someone else said. there's a 5050 chance of him surviving until a november general election, so it is very risky. it feels like in parliament for the pm. the reason why that is , the pm. the reason why that is, is that mps are going home. they're campaigning for the local elections. the purdah penod local elections. the purdah period starts tomorrow for local

elections. that means mps are on the doorstep. they're talking to people they're finding for themselves, to find themselves, being forced to find out feelings about out the real feelings about rishi sunak. and it's not very pleasant i think pleasant for them. i think that's driving some of this chat. they also know they can replace leader very easily and replace a leader very easily and quickly in the tory party. that means had three prime means we've had three prime ministers in five years, but it also means that shows that labour do that. they stuck labour can't do that. they stuck with through two with jeremy corbyn through two losing why losing elections and that's why i think the tory party is so relentlessly successful at elections . when someone isn't elections. when someone isn't working, they change that person and why the chatter right and that's why the chatter right now in parliament is that very thing. well there you go. >> thank you very much indeed. christopher political christopher hope, our political editor . there 40 maybe editor. there 40 letters maybe already brady , already with graham brady, although i suppose it is always speculation. >> speculation. the only person who knows is the keeper of the letters himself, sir graham b ra dy. brady. >> well, there you go. but coming up, the political ping pong continues. but is rwanda holding all the balls? we'll find out. good afternoon britain, we're on

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 12:26. and the political ping pong of rishi sunak's rwanda bill returns to the house of commons today. >> yes. mps will debate recommendations made by the house of lords, of which there were many, which require the government to prove that rwanda is safe before deportation flights are allowed. it comes as new analysis reveals the true costs scheme are expected costs of the scheme are expected to hit the billions, with one deportation now estimated to be £230,000. although we don't know if that number is completely accurate. but either way, it's very high. >> but the bill could become law by thursday if mps vote in favour of those of those amendments to the bill that went through the house of lords, although that's not really

likely to happen. meanwhile, it's been reported that if the scheme gets the green light, this is the crucial bit. the rwanda want a rwanda government want a two month following the first month pause following the first arrivals to, as they say , ensure arrivals to, as they say, ensure arrivals to, as they say, ensure a smooth process. >> yeah, so they used quite a lot of different verbs. reports of this the stagger it, lot of different verbs. reports of this the stagger it , slow it of this the stagger it, slow it down, space it out. surprise >> they're not saying a humanitarian pause but there we go. should we get some of the detail on this from our political correspondent olivia utley? because olivia, the surprising thing, perhaps we knew that the lords amended this a lot. we know it's coming to the commons today. perhaps the surprising that is surprising thing is that is rwanda sensing weakness here, trying to slow it all down. >> well, i think that's absolutely a possibility. it sounds as though what's going to happenis sounds as though what's going to happen is there are these ten amendments which the lords made to bill, which essentially to the bill, which essentially was to water the bill was designed to water the bill down. and one of the most important amendments of those ten was an amendment which said

that migrants could be that no migrants could be deported to rwanda until a treaty that the united kingdom had signed with rwanda had been fully implemented, and that treaty was a treaty that rwanda is signing, saying that it will not move migrants on to another country . and that is something country. and that is something which is illegal under international law. and until rwanda had signed that treaty saying that it would not do that, then the, the, the, the bill was said to be illegal. now thatis bill was said to be illegal. now that is the one amendment to of these ten which are going to the commons tonight, which it looks as though some conservative mps might actually back, the expectation is that all of these amendments will be be voted down in the commons tonight. but paving the way for a smooth path to this bill. on to the third reading. but actually, robert buckland, former justice secretary, is saying that he might actually vote for the amendment, which would mean that rwanda has to legally implement

this treaty before any migrants are deported. and it could be for that reason that rwanda is now saying that it wants to slow things down. the kigali government is saying that they would only like to see 100 migrants deported at the beginning , migrants deported at the beginning, so that they can allow the scheme to bed in. it might be that, as you say, rwanda is sort of sensing a bit of weakness here. and obviously the incentives for rwanda to take, hundreds and hundreds of migrants aren't that high. quite a lot of the money for the scheme has already been paid to rwanda. but it could also be that rwanda is thinking, thought at some point that it might have had a bit of a loophole, that it might have been able to send migrants on to a third country. and now that there is this amendment going through the house of lords, going house of lords, now going through the house of commons, it's thinking, well, hang on a minute. actually might minute. that's actually might be more house more difficult for us to house all sorts refugees than we all sorts of refugees than we were thinking . so were originally thinking. so even bill does get even if the bill does get

through final stages in the through this final stages in the house of commons, it might go back to the lords, might go back, be passed back, might just be passed tonight commons. tonight in the commons. either way, like it'll be way, it does look like it'll be passed when that passed soon. but even when that happens , the problem is far from happens, the problem is far from off rishi sunaks plate, because because kigali itself is now slowing down, the process . slowing down, the process. >> well, thank you very much indeed. olivia utley, our political correspondent there, live from westminster. it does feel as though things are kicking on, though, but is kicking on, though, but it is becoming real possibility that becoming a real possibility that flights will take off. you've got the home office making phone calls , contacting some calls, contacting some of the first may be on those first people who may be on those flights if they do happen, if they do get off the ground, you've got it. you know, coming back with the amendments from you've got it. you know, coming bac lords, the amendments from you've got it. you know, coming bac lords, they're endments from you've got it. you know, coming bac lords, they're going nts from you've got it. you know, coming bac lords, they're going to; from you've got it. you know, coming bac lords, they're going to pass| you've got it. you know, coming bethrough they're going to pass| you've got it. you know, coming bethrough again. going to pass| it through again. >> does seem ping pong that >> it does seem ping pong that several months ago we were talking these flights talking about if these flights ever . now we're talking about ever go. now we're talking about how these flights will how many of these flights will go. i think it does. it does seem now odds on that there will be flight sent to rwanda. but the criticism of people like

suella braverman and robert jenrick, when the rwanda bill was being passed, the safety of rwanda bill was being passed. the criticism wasn't there won't be any flights going. it will be. will there be regular, unfettered, unadulterated flights going? and i think that's still the big political question. if it's just a trickle of a handful of people, is it the deterrent that it would be if there were thousands of people going, yes . people going, yes. >> if there are more >> and if there are more conditions on this treaty >> and if there are more condithe s on this treaty >> and if there are more condithe rwandan on this treaty >> and if there are more condithe rwandan side, s treaty >> and if there are more condithe rwandan side, thenaty from the rwandan side, then that, makes more that, of course, makes it more difficult . but we shall see. difficult. but we shall see. we'll bring you the latest as we get it. but coming up, labour's tax raid on private schools get it. but coming up, labour's tax raiend| private schools get it. but coming up, labour's tax raiend upivate schools get it. but coming up, labour's tax raiend up costing 1ools get it. but coming up, labour's tax raiend up costing the s could end up costing the taxpayer a whopping £1.6 billion. is this the politics of envy? back again ? envy? back again? >> it's 1232. envy? back again? >> it's1232. i'm envy? back again? >> it's 1232. i'm sofia wenzler in the gb newsroom. your headlines. the prime minister

has rebuffed speculation about a leadership challenge, saying he's not interested in westminster politics. speaking at a business event in warwickshire, rishi sunak urged his party to stick to the plan and told backbenchers that the economy is turning a corner. he was forced to speak out after rumours suggested right wing tories were lining up. penny mordaunt to replace him. the prime minister says his focus is on the future of the country. >> i'm not interested in westminster politics. it doesn't matter what matters is the future of our country. and that's what i'm squarely focussed on. that is what i get up every morning, working as hard as i can to deliver, whether it's cutting people's taxes, increasing the state pension today, increasing the number apprenticeships and number of apprenticeships and talking to small businesses, those are all the things that matter to people. as we've matter to people. and as we've seen weeks, seen over the last few weeks, our is working. inflation our plan is working. inflation is coming down, are is coming down, wages are growing , the economy is back to growing, the economy is back to growing, the economy is back to growing again. and if we stick to plan , i can deliver a to this plan, i can deliver a brighter future for everyone in our is what i'm doing.

>> in coventry, the prime minister also announced plans to create 20,000 new apprenticeships . create 20,000 new apprenticeships. rishi sunak pledged £60 million of new investment to cover a series of reforms, including fully funding training for young people and cutting red tape for small businesses . and britain's most businesses. and britain's most successful female olympian, dame laura kenny has announced her retirement from professional cycling. the five time gold medallist had been expected to compete at the paris games this summer, but the 31 year old welcomed her second son last year and said spending time at home with her family was proving more important to her. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gbnews.com/alerts

i >> -- >> all lyman m wm >> all right. it's 1237. you're watching and listening to good afternoon, britain with me. emily and him. tom. now in an attempt to boost british business, rishi sunak has today pledged to create 20,000 new apprenticeships cut tape apprenticeships and cut red tape for businesses . yeah. for small businesses. yeah. >> during his speech, his big relaunch the business relaunch speech at the business connect conference in warwickshire, prime minister warwickshire, the prime minister also acknowledged that things were businesses, were still tough for businesses, but insisted that the government's plan was starting to . to work. >> well. we can go live to coventry now and speak to gb news presenter pip tomson, who is with small business owners pip, where are you? tell me what the reaction has been . the reaction has been. >> good afternoon emily, i am with a lot of small businesses because this is the federation of small businesses business boot camp , which is taking place boot camp, which is taking place today in warwickshire. >> around 200 enterprises are here. it's a full on day,

listening to lots of speeches and such a cross—section of people. so i've grabbed a few of them. i want to talk to joe. first of all, joe is in nuneaton in warwickshire. now you've got a retail shop , in warwickshire. now you've got a retail shop, rishi sunak said. plenty of things, including about thousands more apprenticeships. does it interest you? what he had to say? what's your thoughts? >> yes it does. i've had an apprentice before and she went on to do amazing things and i would like to do that again and at the moment costs have been forefront and i've had to read budget the business as it is at the moment. so to have a fully funded apprenticeship, that would be fantastic for us. >> conservatives are saying economy. the economy's turned the corner . are you hearing the the corner. are you hearing the right words from rishi? >> i think it may be a little bit too late , obviously there's bit too late, obviously there's the announcement with regards to

the announcement with regards to the vat and then the, the women's task force. but we need to know more about that. and we could have done with this quite a few months ago. >> thank you joe. susan you've got an interesting business. you've got school . yeah. you've got a swim school. yeah. so coventry in in good old coventry . so what does it mean coventry. so what does it mean for you. what he had to say this morning again the apprenticeship bit is great. >> we've had apprentices in the past . so to get it fully funded past. so to get it fully funded will help because we can will really help because we can get more staff on boards, get more into work . get more staff on boards, get more into work. i get more staff on boards, get more into work . i really more people into work. i really want to hear more about the vat reliefs , i think we need to hear reliefs, i think we need to hear more. we need more support as a small business, especially one providing life saving skills on relief for that and potentially corporation tax is the conservative party the party for you when it comes to the economy? there's a question at the minute, isn't it? there's the minute, isn't it? there's the question. i think they're going the right way at the minute . i do actually think we minute. i do actually think we she's doing a pretty good job.

compared to some of his predecessors. but i want to see more. we need more. we need more help. >> well , he's help. >> well, he's only just down the road. has been down the road today. maybe. maybe he's hearing some of this. i just want to bnng some of this. i just want to bring a of more bring in a couple of more people. there's many people. there's so many people here to here that i've been trying to talk talk to kate. talk to. let's talk to kate. now, kate, you've got a coaching business. you're really interested in what he had to say about investing in women. this this task force. yeah >> i mean, it's a wonderful idea. >> women classically don't get the funding that they need at all stages. >> so from setting up the business right up to growth, men are so much more likely to get the funding they need for their business. >> part that because the >> part of that is because the organisations that provide the private sort private capital are really sort of mainly the top levels are all sort of men. so actually it's a bias in there. so they talked about this. what else they're going to be able to do. so having force to address having a task force to address it good. but want know it is good. but i'd want to know more detail. it is good. but i'd want to know more degraham you've got >> and graham you've got a onune >> and graham you've got a online marketing agency . is

online marketing agency. is rishi sunak coming out with the right things for you or are you a little bit a little bit disillusioned? >> i'm a disillusioned business owner at the moment. >> i think the last 3 to 4 months i've seen a common delay in people's decision making. i think economy is in a think the economy is in a stalling moment. it needs confidence. if this gives confidence. if this gives confidence to the market, so people are then to make people are then going to make decisions, but decisions, then great. but almost business almost every single business owner since about owner i've spoken to since about october year, the decisions october last year, the decisions aren't made to buy aren't being made to buy from them. also employment them. and also the employment industry . of employment industry. part of the employment is right is you can't find the right people work for , for your team. >> so it's about recruitment. i just lots of people say to me and i don't know where this comes from, they can't find the right people to work for them. >> apprenticeship scheme, right people to work for them. >> idea.apprenticeship scheme, right people to work for them. >> idea.apprthat'sship scheme, right people to work for them. >> idea.apprthat's not scheme, right people to work for them. >> idea.apprthat's not goingle, great idea. but that's not going to us right now. great idea. but that's not going to okay.s right now. great idea. but that's not going to okay. great. now. great idea. but that's not going to okay. great. thanks very much >> okay. great. thanks very much to do come to to all of you. do come back to us next or so, us in the next hour or so, because there's lots more people we're to talk a we're going to talk to from a huge cross section of businesses, have businesses, and they have got plenty here on gb news. plenty to say here on gb news. >> we certainly will. thank you

very , very much, pip, for very, very much, pip, for bringing us those views from small businesses in the west midlands. >> quite a lot of positivity, but , some cynicism >> quite a lot of positivity, but, some cynicism i sensed. >> but i suppose everyone >> but i suppose it's everyone recognises it's a it's a tough time globally. yeah. it's a tough time. the interest rates in the uk and canada and australia, in america, in europe, they're all high. i mean, the cost of doing business has been going up in all of these places. >> yes. not everyone blames rishi sunak no for all of their woes when it comes to their business or when it comes to their lives. not everyone does. it that sometimes , it may feel like that sometimes, but you what? the but do you know what? the government always being government is always being bashed. not? everyone bashed. were you not? everyone blames around world. >> you look around the world. justin weekend justin trudeau over the weekend has hates his job has been saying he hates his job and quitting daily. and thinks about quitting daily. he's 20 points behind in the polls in canada right now . you polls in canada right now. you look at martin schulz in germany, 20 points behind in the polls right now. you look at emmanuel macron. there is a marine biting at his marine le pen biting at his heels. you look at incumbents all around the world. joe biden

is looking at losing an election to donald trump. now a man facing indictments. facing federal indictments. wherever in power wherever anyone is in power right at this stage of the right now at this stage of the global economy, frankly, good luck them . they're facing an luck to them. they're facing an uphill battle. yes. >> surprising, is it? >> hardly surprising, is it? we're to some of we're going to get to some of your shortly. but your views very shortly. but coming dissecting coming up, we're dissecting a new report which warns labour's tax private schools tax raid on private schools could cost you billions more to come after this

break. it's 1246 now. labour's tax raid on private schools could cost the british taxpayer a whopping £1.6 billion a year. >> yeah, this is interesting. he wants to raise taxes, but there's a new report that says that this tax raise could actually lose lose money for the uk. so keir starmer has promised to introduce vat on independent school fees. but the party claims that would generate 1.7

billion to put towards state schools . new analysis from the schools. new analysis from the free market think tank, the adam smith institute claims that instead of raising 1.6 billion, it could actually cost about that much. >> who would have thought a should we get some more detail on that report from sam bidwell, who's adam smith who's from the adam smith institute himself, sam, thank who's from the adam smith inst very himself, sam, thank who's from the adam smith inst very much lf, sam, thank who's from the adam smith inst very much forsam, thank who's from the adam smith inst very much for joiningank so you very much forjoining us. so this might look curious to some. the labour party says it's going to save the taxpayer 1.7 billion. you say? actually it's going to cost the taxpayer 1.6 billion. >> yeah. that's right. and thank you both for, for speaking to me this afternoon about our new report, well, look, existing modelling subject has modelling on this subject has assumed a static, a static model whereby if none of the effects that we might expect from an increase in tax on private schools will actually take effect. what we're saying is that things like migration from the independent sector to the state sector, things like , the

state sector, things like, the additional cost of teaching children who move into the state sector from the independent sector from the independent sector and a bunch of other things that we've identified in the report, will actually mean that could cost the taxpayer that it could cost the taxpayer money, particularly we're money, particularly if we're looking , sort looking at school closures, sort of second order effects. >> if you look at the >> if you if you look at the first order effect, if you look at, what this you're going at, what what this you're going to tax these schools, therefore we're to get tax we're going to get the tax revenue but there are revenue money. but but there are effects tax. you're effects of this tax. you're saying actually will end up saying that actually will end up costing the exchequer money, and you benefits ? you lose all the benefits? >> well, that's exactly right. so let's take for example, a small independent school, not one of the big ones that we like to think about and demonise , you to think about and demonise, you know, the eton's, the harrows, etc. about kind etc. thinking about the kind of bread and butter independent school you see much school that you see in much of the country cases, an the country in those cases, an increase vat, putting vat increase on, on vat, putting vat on independent school fees could mean a closure, a bankruptcy. and so there you've got a loss of revenue to the, to the treasury, off the back of, of that school in the first instance, you've also got the

fact that hundreds of students will migrate then from that independent into the independent school into the state sector, which has a huge cost . and that's cost implications. and that's not to mention the impact on tax take from those teachers who will therefore stop teaching. in that end , an independent school, that end, an independent school, some of them might drop of some of them might drop out of the of them might the system, some of them might take lucrative take less lucrative work elsewhere. the board, elsewhere. so across the board, those second order impacts tell us that actually there would be a huge cost to the taxpayer from this measure . this measure. >> that's a good point. the teachers leaving the private sector , lower salary in the sector, lower salary in the state sector, less to money the tax, tax man. so why labour are doing this then? is it just ideology? is it the politics of envy ? what what is it if envy? what what is it if actually the numbers don't really stack up for them ? really stack up for them? >> well, look, i wouldn't wish to prescribe to anybody the reasons for pursuing this particular policy . it's not just particular policy. it's not just the labour party. it's not about any people any party in particular, people have suggested for a number of years that vat ought years now that vat ought to be levied on independent school fees. existing levied on independent school

fees. from existing levied on independent school fees. from the existing levied on independent school fees. from the ifs, :ing levied on independent school fees. from the ifs, which modelling from the ifs, which suggests that this would have a minimal impact and would would raise money the treasury. in raise money for the treasury. in fact, report is based on fact, that report is based on what the ifs itself admits to be thin and sparse evidence, which the economist calls a guess and the bulk of that research is based on a 2002 report into american catholic schools. so what we have here is a lack of information on the subject. we've got people saying, well, actually, private schools have had it too good too long. had it too good for too long. let's the classes let's give the middle classes a kicking. actually, at the kicking. we're actually, at the root of this is a whole bunch of families who are just about struggling to and who are struggling to get by and who are saving the treasury £28,000 a year on average , through their year on average, through their decision to put their children through independent school rather than to school them through the state sector. >> so it's often it's forgotten that people who pay for independent paying independent schools are paying twice, taxes to twice, they're paying taxes to pay twice, they're paying taxes to pay other kids going pay fund other kids going to school, they're for school, and they're paying for their privately. but, school, and they're paying for their bidwell, privately. but, school, and they're paying for their bidwell, thankately. but, school, and they're paying for their bidwell, thank you. but, school, and they're paying for their bidwell, thank you. b much school, and they're paying for thetalkingell, thank you. b much school, and they're paying for thetalking us thank you. b much school, and they're paying for thetalking us throughiux b much for talking us through that. really interesting report there from smith institute. from the adam smith institute. >> other news, following >> now, in other news, following

an spate of stabbings >> now, in other news, following an bristol spate of stabbings >> now, in other news, following an bristol recently, of stabbings >> now, in other news, following an bristol recently, a: stabbings >> now, in other news, following an bristol recently, a woman1gs in bristol recently, a woman fighting against knife crime has successfully campaigned to get bleed kits put in schools . bleed kits put in schools. >> well, this comes just two days, so sorry. this comes just days, so sorry. this comes just days after two more men were injured in a fresh knife attack injured in a fresh knife attack in the city. there seems to have been a spate of stabbings now. >> we're now joined by the founder of the bristol bleed kit campaign, leanne reynolds. leanne thank you very much for taking the time out of your day to talk to us. it's absolutely shocking to think that school children to know how to children need to know how to deal with stabbing wounds. it's not a great state of affairs, is it ? it? >> no, what we're doing is we're teaching them. >> so it's. i brought catastroph bleed kits to the city in 2021. and what we're doing, we're, teaching young people and professionals and adults how to use a catastrophic bleed kit. it could be for stab wounds. it could be for stab wounds. it could be for any other accidents. so it's for any catastrophic bleed, and we are teaching them and training them

how to use them if they need to. >> it's really staggering to see the numbers coming out of places like bristol that. but basically any large city in united any large city in the united kingdom has seen just just a staggering number of stabbings. how do people respond? communities respond to the new introduction of kits like yours of these bleed kits? because frankly , perhaps even a decade frankly, perhaps even a decade ago, this didn't seem to be as big of an issue. >> no, i've got a good response . >> no, i've got a good response. >> no, i've got a good response. >> the communities behind me. >> the communities behind me. >> so i'm not funded. i'm community based , the nhs bought community based, the nhs bought the first 150 kits. i now have businesses and like you said, schools are coming on board. we're making them accessible . we're making them accessible. they're in locked cabinets and they are publicly accessible . if they are publicly accessible. if you call 999, you will be directed to a call. if someone's bleeding, and the training you don't need training , but we are don't need training, but we are offering it. so you are aware of what's inside that kit, so god forbid if you have to use one,

which we hope you don't, it is available and you are fully aware of the contents and what each item does inside. >> and we're just running out of time, sadly. but, how receptive are the children? do they understand the gravity of what's going on on the streets? do they understand why it's so relevant to be prepared? >> yeah, the children are . it's >> yeah, the children are. it's been great. i've received great feedback . we now have a campaign feedback. we now have a campaign out. so we are requesting that government makes it in the in the curriculum that all children learn first aid, basic first aid skills, cpr and bleed kit training. at the moment, the whole country is experiencing serious violence, so it would benefit , up in serious violence, so it would benefit, up in that. >> well, leanne reynolds, founder of the bristol bleed kit campaign, thank you so much for joining us here on good afternoon britain. >> oh, it sounds like leanne is doing amazing work. it's just such a sorry state of affairs that this is needed. >> yes. it's almost like we're sort of accepted this level of

gang violence, this level of knife crime. and it's almost like we're sort of necessarily deaung like we're sort of necessarily dealing with the symptoms of that problem. but it's almost it reminds american schools reminds me of american schools doing, you know, training for school shooters. just sort of accepting that this is the state of affairs. >> yeah. not great. but coming up, sunak fights for his political with a speech political life with a speech insisting be year insisting this will be the year britain it britain bounces back. will it? >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the gb news forecast from the met office. it's a fine end to the day in the east with some bright sunshine , but turning cloudy in sunshine, but turning cloudy in the west with outbreaks of rain heading in weather fronts out to the west already bringing

thicker cloud into northern ireland. and those outbreaks of rain will soon sweep in and they'll push into western scotland. western fringes of england as well as wales, the wind picking up gales for exposed parts of western scotland and the rain by the end of the night, reaching central and southeastern parts of the uk but tending to fizzle out as it crosses the country. ten celsius by dawn. so the cloud, the wind and the rain tending to keep things relatively mild . but it things relatively mild. but it will be a damp start to the day in many spots. however soon enough the cloud will lift and break the rain clears to showers. showers could occur just about anywhere, but most likely across parts of the midlands into the south of the uk. some bright spells there for northern ireland and scotland into the afternoon . temperatures into the afternoon. temperatures here 12 celsius further south, mild again 17 or 18 celsius in the south—east wednesday, though, starts off on a damp note with outbreaks of rain

pushing north into central parts of the uk. staying sunny in the far northwest and staying mostly dry in the far southeast. that rain clears to showers once again on thursday and friday, and it does turn a bit colder. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 1:00 on monday, the 18th of march. >> rishi sunak fights for his political life with a speech insisting this will be the year britain quotes. bounces back . britain quotes. bounces back. but with sharks circling, calling for his head. could penny mordaunt swap her sword for the crown? >> could she indeed . and >> could she indeed. and margaret thatcher has been listed as a punch and judy villain alongside adolf hitler

and osama bin laden in a display hosted by london's prestigious v&a museum, headed up by former labour mp tristram hunt, hmm'hmm i >> -- >> and there are reports that the princess of wales has been seen out and about shopping. it comes as speculation continues to grow over the state of her . health. now rishi sunak has said that the uk is, quote, bouncing back and i thought, emily, i thought this morning when i heard that where have i heard that before? well, have a look this . the well, have a look at this. the front page of a satirical, quote unquote autobiography by alan partridge. and i do think the prime minister has opened himself up to a certain amount of ridicule here, perhaps bouncing back. do you know what? >> i think you've opened yourself up to a little bit of

ridicule there by that being the first thing that jumps to mind, i think alan partridge is an institution. he is an institution. >> he is an institution, but also, i mean, it's every broadcaster's fear to be compared to alan partridge. but i think, i think that the prime minister might have walked into a bit of a partridge moment there, bouncing back when, how many people believe that this is sort of a great, a great resurgence, a great bounce back? >> well, it certainly there's a there's a lot for it to bounce back to. it's true with the polls 18. the last one i saw for the conservative party, that's fewer than 1 in 5 people are planning vote conservative. planning to vote conservative. perhaps comes down perhaps when it comes to down it and is keir versus and it is keir starmer versus rishi sunak may be able to claw back a little bit more of the vote share, but it's not looking great, is it? >> like these >> it's like all of these ministers saw nought ministers who saw the nought point 2% growth quarter, point 2% growth last quarter, last, last month, in january this year and saying, okay, we've exited recession most likely on these numbers, but hooray , you know, sort of

hooray, you know, sort of cheering 0.2. i mean, that's just a rounding error between recession and not, by the way, has increased about a million in that time. >> so you would have hoped that gdp would be given a bit of a boost just virtue of there boost just by virtue of there being people , but being more people, but apparently not. let us know what you make of it all is, rishi sunak bit alan partridge sunak a bit like alan partridge gb views at gb news. com but first, your headlines. >> good afternoon. it's 1:01. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. the prime minister has rebuffed speculation about a leadership challenge, saying he's not interested in westminster politics. speaking at a business event in warwickshire, rishi sunak urged his party to stick to the plan and told backbenchers that the economy is turning corner . and told backbenchers that the economy is turning corner. he economy is turning a corner. he was forced to speak out after rumours suggested right wing tories were lining up penny mordaunt to replace him . the mordaunt to replace him. the prime minister says his focus is

on of the country . on the future of the country. >> i'm not interested in all westminster politics. it doesn't matter. what matters is the future of our country and that's what i'm squarely focussed on. thatis what i'm squarely focussed on. that is what i get up every morning, working as hard as i can deliver, whether it's can to deliver, whether it's cutting people's taxes, increasing the state pension today, the number of today, increasing the number of apprenticeships and talking to small businesses, those are all the things that matter to people. as we've seen over the things that matter to peo last as we've seen over the things that matter to peo last few as we've seen over the things that matter to peo last few weeks, ye seen over the things that matter to peo last few weeks, ourzen over the things that matter to peo last few weeks, our plan ver the things that matter to peo last few weeks, our plan is' the last few weeks, our plan is working. inflation coming working. inflation is coming down, are growing, the down, wages are growing, the economy is back to growing again and if we stick to this plan, i can deliver a brighter future for everyone in our country. thatis for everyone in our country. that is what doing in that is what i'm doing in coventry , the prime minister coventry, the prime minister announced plans to create 20,000 new . new apprenticeships. >> rishi sunak pledged £60 million of new investment to cover a series of reforms, including fully funding training for young people and cutting red tape for small businesses. labour has accused the government failure , government of economic failure, but mr sunak says action is being taken and the full cost of

apprenticeships will be paid for people aged under 21 at small firms from the 1st of april. business secretary kemi badenoch backed the prime minister and his plan. >> thank you to the prime minister for, because the efforts that he is making to advance opportunity across our united kingdom to champion innovation and aspiration and to build a society in which the hard work of all our small business owners is recognised and rewarded is absolutely critical. and i say that because it's the businesses represented in this room today from lucky sain to libby london, that are the backbone of our economy. >> in other news, the foreign secretary has criticised the russian election results, saying it wasn't free and fair. early results showed president vladimir putin won nearly 88% of the vote, giving him a fifth time in office. defence secretary grant shapps says he's behaving like a modern day stalin, and he accused putin of stealing the election after

having opponents imprisoned or murdered. thousands of people turned up at polling stations in russia and cities across the world to protest the result . the world to protest the result. the kremlin responded by promising to imprison anyone taking part for up to five years. former kremlin adviser and russian exile valery morozov says there is no viable option to against putin. >> win was that putin is still keeping russia moving in, developing or in any case, well, there is no alternative. there is no people who who can who can, who have ideas, other ideas. you have putin, putin, russia is now, if you compare the development of russia, for example, from january 20th, 2023 to this january, it is 4.6% development. >> now, britain's most successful female olympian, dame laura kenny, has announced her retirement from professional cycling. the athlete posted the news on instagram saying it was time to move on. the five time

gold medallist had been expected to compete at the paris games this summer, but the 31 year old welcomed her second son last year and said spending time at home was proving home with her family was proving more her. we could more important to her. we could see flying taxis take to the skies in two years under government's new drone plans, the department for transport is proposing flying taxis without pilots on board by 2030 as part of its future flight action plan. it says the plan would mean the adoption of technology that was once confined to the realms of science fiction and a state of emergency has been declared in southern iceland after another volcanic eruption on the reykjanes peninsula. it's the fourth eruption since december and follows weeks of warnings from the met office that magma was accumulating under ground , making an under the ground, making an eruption likely. the eruption site is near grindavik, a coastal town of 3800 people about 30 miles southwest of iceland's capital, reykjavik .

iceland's capital, reykjavik. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. common alerts. now it's back to tom and . emily. it's back to tom and. emily. >> good afternoon britain. it's 1:07 and we're asking is the prime minister fighting for his political life ? political life? >> and you've been getting in touch, and john says, well, this is actually on sunak and apprenticeships . is actually on sunak and apprenticeships. he is actually on sunak and apprenticeships . he says, why is apprenticeships. he says, why is it under margaret thatcher, no one under 18 got benefits unless they were on a its scheme. its scheme is that an apprenticeship type scheme? >> i imagine i'm not old enough. >> i imagine i'm not old enough. >> why can't they make an apprenticeship available to every person that's on every person that's signing on at centre to build all at a dwp centre to build all those hundreds of thousands of houses? we youth tories are houses? we need youth tories are too soft. youth training scheme. that's exactly it. the tories are too soft. well, lots of people would agree with you. i

do think if you refuse a job time time again, you, time and time again, you, you know, put worse use, know, could be put to worse use, couldn't you. know, could be put to worse use, couyout you. know, could be put to worse use, couyou certainly building a >> you certainly building a house. well we're talking house. well we're also talking about today and clark has about rwanda today and clark has got in touch to say when someone is an illegal, then the first safe land they are in, they need to stay. now, how many countries do they have to cross to get into the uk? that's a that's a common refrain. >> that is a common refrain. and we were also talking about how in bristol there have been so many stabbings that now we have people going into schools with bleed kits to teach students how to deal with wounds , which is to deal with wounds, which is quite something, ken says. when i was in school, we learned how to ride a bicycle properly and how to cross the road. now they're taught how to deal with stabbings. my goodness , what has stabbings. my goodness, what has gone wrong? i think that sums it up, honest. ken up, to be honest. ken >> my parents me to ride >> my parents taught me to ride a bike. >> my taught me how to ride a bike. >.bike. taught me how to ride a bike. >> i think school i did quadratic equations. if i can say quadratic equations, i say that quadratic equations, i don't, know, a don't, i don't know, riding a bike. did school

bike. it's did school teach people bikes? no. people to ride bikes? no. >> maybe in some schools? actually, no . you're right. it actually, no. you're right. it was a family affair. or your older brother or your older sister or whatever. and adrian, just on the rwanda says, i'm wondering get people wondering how they'll get people onto they're onto the planes if they're kicking not all kicking and screaming. not all will want to go voluntarily. i think a very good think that's a very good point to actually, in practice, the logistics who logistics of forcing people who probably don't want to make the trip onto a plane off to rwanda, that could be another hiccup. >> it could be a hiccup, although apparently there's been training schemes. there have been aircraft hangars commandeered by the government so that, employees of the government or indeed contractors can practice getting resistant people these trains. yeah, people onto these trains. yeah, i remember reading about that one. no. well, let's get back to our top story today, the prime minister. just how much trouble is he really in? >> well, he's delivered a speech today that's aimed at boosting british businesses, pledging to create up to 20,000 more apprenticeships for young people and cutting red tape for small businesses. he wants to unlock a

tidal wave of opportunity across the united kingdom . the united kingdom. >> however, there are shocks and they're seemingly circling around the prime minister as rumours continue to grow that rebel conservative mps will attempt to oust him before the next election. now penny mordaunt is said to be their preferred candidate to become the conservative party leader . the conservative party leader. >> well, let's speak to our political correspondent olivia utley on this, olivia, there's been headline after headline about the prime minister and the precarious position he's in. do you think it's a realistic possibility that the conservatives may swap in someone else ? someone else? >> well, conservative mps that i've spoken to are very keen to talk down any talk of a sort of concerts effort to remove the prime minister before the next election . publicly, they are all election. publicly, they are all saying that they stand with rishi sunak. that said, there are certainly some whisperings going on behind the scenes. morale has never really been lower in the conservative party.

they are at rock bottom in the polls, as low as they were in the aftermath of liz truss's disastrous budget and those poll ratings just show no signs of changing that budget that was delivered a couple of weeks ago was intended to give the tories a bit of boost, but that boost a bit of a boost, but that boost just materialised and just hasn't materialised and it's now minds are turning towards local elections at towards those local elections at the start of may, and conservative mps are sort of thinking, well, you know, we up until now have said that it would be very bad to get in another conservative prime minister, the fourth in as many years. but at this point they're beginning to say, well, hang on a minute. what if rishi sunak tanks at the polls on may the second, as most people are predicting as the polls are very much predicting, then perhaps the worst case scenario is to leave him in office. so then we get to the talk of who might replace him. now, penny mordaunt is seen as a sort of uniting candidate . she's popular with

candidate. she's popular with the moderates in the the centrist moderates in the party, but also she has some sway with the right, the speech that she did at party conference was very much sort of in the image of margaret thatcher. and although some on the right are a bit sceptical of her because of her on the trans issue, it her views on the trans issue, it seems though of them are seems as though some of them are coming . the other good coming around. the other good thing mordaunt, as thing about penny mordaunt, as far are far as the conservatives are concerned , is that has very concerned, is that she has very little may be little to lose. she may be willing to put herself forward before election before a general election because because she has a very small majority. once the boundanes small majority. once the boundaries have been changed and on current predictions, she is likely to lose her seat at a general election. so she might be one of the few people willing to head above the to put her head above the parapet a general parapet before a general election. that said, obviously the risk with that is that they do put penny mordaunt in place of rishi sunak before the election and she loses her seat for sitting prime minister lost her seat the election. it her seat at the election. it would pretty disastrous for would be pretty disastrous for the conservative party, but some mps clearly feeling now is

mps are clearly feeling now is the moment for that final roll of the dice . of the dice. >> really interesting stuff there. i can't remember an election, a single election in british history the leader british history where the leader of prime minister of the where the prime minister has his seat. did happen has lost his seat. it did happen in 1993, but that was in canada in 1993, but that was when the governing conservative party went from in government to just two seats, perhaps, perhaps thatis just two seats, perhaps, perhaps that is a facing the tories bit of trivia. who knows . olivia of trivia. who knows. olivia utley, thank you for bringing us that. those local elections are going to be such an important point, and it is interesting what olivia said about penny there to a bloodbath there going to be a bloodbath being only one who would being the only one who would want take into the want to take them into the general election, because i think if you're a conservative, if you're someone like kemi badenoch and everyone talks about potential future about you as a potential future leader, why would you want to take the at the worst take the reins at the worst possible time, only to lead in to a near—certain defeat? wouldn't you want to take the reins post election after that defeat and build back? whereas that option for that might not be an option for penny , so she would want to do penny, so she would want to do it and try and to it beforehand and try and to hope make the defeat less bad.

>> i think any >> exactly. and i think any conservatives are misguided if they think swapping in they think that swapping in a new at this stage is new leader at this stage is going to reverse current going to reverse the current situation or change it reverse entirely, but it could change because there is there's a branding problem, isn't there, that beyond rishi sunak that goes far beyond rishi sunak or liz truss boris johnson or or liz truss or boris johnson or any leaders that we've any of the leaders that we've had . it's about the brand itself had. it's about the brand itself and conservative party and about the conservative party whether they deserve to be where they . that's up to people at they are. that's up to people at home to decide, but that's the how it is. >> as we've discussed, sort of every, every incumbent around the world seems to be having a really tough time in germany . really tough time in germany. martin schulz is 20 points behind in canada. behind the polls in canada. justin trudeau is 20 points behind the polls in the behind in the polls in in the united states of america, even with their growing joe with their growing economy, joe biden he's going to biden looks like he's going to lose donald trump. so is lose to donald trump. so this is something that is occurring just about the world something that is occurring just aboutfrom the world something that is occurring just aboutfrom russia the world something that is occurring just aboutfrom russia , the world something that is occurring just aboutfrom russia , where,orld something that is occurring just aboutfrom russia , where, ofd apart from russia, where, of course, the incumbent is able able to win a miraculous victory in an entirely legitimate contest. >> i'm sure it is a tough time to be a politician, but i'm not

sure there'll be much, much sympathy at home. but shall we see the labour party make see what the labour party make of all of this? let's speak to khalid mp for khalid mahmood, mp for birmingham. barr. khalid, birmingham. perry barr. khalid, thank you very much for joining us. get you on what's us. i must get you on what's coming out of labour coming out of the labour party today or what's been reported about one of labour's key key policy issues. and this is, of course, the tax raid on private schools, adding vat on to fees. we're reading a report out today saying that this may actually cost the taxpayer up to 1.6 billion, because lots of students will have to move into the state sector and that will make state schools more crowded and everything else . is this a and everything else. is this a tax raid on private schools? just politics of envy . just politics of envy. >> well, i think first of all, we have to see where the figures are coming from in terms of transferring to the public sector. the in terms of what the students will do and the parents will do, i think, you know , at

will do, i think, you know, at the moment we've calculated the figures, we are happy , that the figures, we are happy, that the figures, we are happy, that the figures, the money that we get will go in to our normal schools. our government schools, local authority schools, and will provide a better level of standard of education for all of the students that go to those schools. >> we're hearing today that the numbers , as the labour party has numbers, as the labour party has rested on from the ifs , were rested on from the ifs, were mainly based on a 2001 report about american catholic schools. i mean, it doesn't seem like there's a lot of evidence to be going on here. is this something the labour party is going to stick with despite this new report ? report? >> well, look, i think the decision is made. we have looked at the figures. rachel reeves. before this was put out. rachel reeves has looked at the figures , and as far as that is concerned, we need to put reasonable resources into schools that the majority of our pupils go to. and that's what this is about, and that's what

this is about, and that's what this will happen if people then transitioned back into, the community schools that we have . community schools that we have. then the issue is that they will get also get better education as well . well. >> well, let's return to our top story , because looking at the story, because looking at the political situation right now, looking at the local elections and then the general election, you might be fighting a different prime minister to the one that is currently in post. how does the labour party triangulate and prepare for an uncertain six months ahead? well the labour party wants an election. >> we want an election as soon as possible , the first aid as possible, the first aid available is the 2nd of may, and we're very happy to move forward with that, rishi running around and trying to hide from the people is not going to help. it doesn't matter who comes forward. the people want to move forward. the people want to move forward . we have had huge, forward. we have had a huge, living we've got a huge living crisis, we've got a huge issue, with the international,

with the international trade figures that we have, we're not growing fast enough. we're bumbling on the bottom line at the moment. and we want to get a government in which will make a difference, and that will be the labour party . labour party. >> and how are you going to grow the economy in that the economy in ways that the government heard the economy in ways that the govemixedt heard the economy in ways that the gove mixed messages heard the economy in ways that the gove mixed messages from aard the economy in ways that the gove mixed messages from rachel very mixed messages from rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, over the tax burden. she says it's too high, but then won't point to any tax cuts. she says pubuc point to any tax cuts. she says public spending isn't high enough for certain public services, but can't point to raising public spending in any key areas. so at the moment, we've just got a promise from the labour party that the economy will do better, but no real evidence to show that it will. >> well, look, one of the key things that rachel is looking at is implement properly , the is implement properly, the windfall tax on the energy companies who have made an absolute fortune, through this period, the issues around banks, and what sort of money they've made. we need to look at that.

and i think also what we need to do is look other tax do is look at other tax potentials that have been cut off, taxing more. >> about growing the economy? >> so it's not taxing. it's not taxing the local people . it's taxing the local people. it's not taxing the people. it's taxing corporations taxing those huge corporations who've lived the back of the people. and that's why we have a, cost of living crisis. so that's it is taxing that's quite clear. it is taxing more. but people who need to be taxed properly . taxed properly. >> how will a higher windfall tax on oil and gas , which is tax on oil and gas, which is already 75, lead to economic growth ? how are those two, growth? how are those two, together ? together? >> because that is the money that you can you can invest back , into, the opportunities that we need to do. we need to look at housing, which is the labour party is committed on developing housing. construction traditionally has been always the best thing to make the economy grow. the labour party is looking at that. we need to work with the sector in work with the private sector in terms construction and we'll terms of construction and we'll hope do that well. so hope to do that as well. so there's opportunities not just based but developing, our based on tax but developing, our based on tax but developing, our

base , in terms of construction, base, in terms of construction, in terms of industry, we have huge potential in defence. we've got a huge potential in terms of getting our industry off with the aukus deal with the australians and the americans, and we want a government that actually works with the people , actually works with the people, get the working back in get the working people back in and working, and get people working, particularly in the manufacturing industry. particularly in the ma although g industry. particularly in the ma although g indusgiven fairly >> although you've given fairly mixed messages on this £28 billion of spending were billion of spending you were going energy going to do on energy infrastructure, where are you committed to the 28 billion or not? i'm not. it seems like it's sort of in this, this halfway house. >> well, at the moment, until we see the books , and what damage see the books, and what damage the conservative government has done , to our fiscal policies, we done, to our fiscal policies, we can't make a proper decision at the moment, but in principle , the moment, but in principle, when we start to move on manufacturing, green manufacturing, green manufacturing is part of manufacturing. and so therefore, what we have to do is get that proper manufacturing base back up running. well and up and running. well and therefore most of that will be covered by that. >> think the, i think the

>> i think the, i think the electorate would, would quite like to make decision like you to make a decision before rather than like you to make a decision beforit rather than like you to make a decision beforit . rather than like you to make a decision beforit . but rather than like you to make a decision beforit . but i'm rather than like you to make a decision beforit . but i'm afraid er than like you to make a decision beforit . but i'm afraid we're n after it. but i'm afraid we're going leave it there going to have to leave it there and but thank and get to a break. but thank you us, you very much for joining us, khalid really khalid mahmood. really, really appreciate mp for birmingham, >> yes. the mp for birmingham, perry up we're perry barr. but coming up we're asking margaret thatcher or asking is margaret thatcher or was villain this comes as was she a villain this comes as the v&a museum faces rather a lot of backlash after listing the former prime minister alongside adolf hitler and osama bin laden. we'll be having that debate after the

break. it's 125. you're watching break. it's125. you're watching and listening to good afternoon, britain. now was margaret thatcher a villain? well, a special exhibition at the v&a on british humour, discussing punch and judy puppets , said the following. >> over the years, the evil character in this seaside puppet show has shifted from the devil

to unpopular public figures, including adolf hitler, margaret thatcher and osama bin laden to offer contemporary villains. >> how can they slot margaret thatcher in between adolf hitler and osama bin laden ? but is it and osama bin laden? but is it fair? is the question. is it fair? is the question. is it fair to compare the iron lady with the likes of hitler and bin laden? clearly. >> exactly the same. clearly. exactly the same? no well, joining us now is the author and broadcaster doctor lisa mckenzie , who says thatcher was a menace. and we're also joined by the political commentator russell quirk, who says she was the best pm that saved britain. now, i suppose let's start with you, lisa. a menace on the level of hitler. i mean, really , not of hitler. i mean, really, not on the level of hits. >> she's on the sliding scale, though . i definitely put her on though. i definitely put her on that sliding scale. i mean, if you come to where i live, which is in nottinghamshire in the x

coalfields, you would definitely not see her as anything else but a villain. the communities where i live, and where my family's lived for generations , were lived for generations, were absolutely destroyed by the thatcher government, and then that her the thatcher ideology that her the thatcher ideology that came ever since with 40 years on since the miners strike and we we've had no infrastructure , we've had infrastructure, we've had nothing. and mrs. thatcher, what she did is she wanted to smash up the mining community. she wanted to smash the working class, and she had no idea or care of what she was going to do next. she was definitely a villain and absolutely needs to be put in the same room as the rest of the villainous characters. >> okay , well, russell quirk, >> okay, well, russell quirk, let's go to you, margaret thatcher is on the same sliding scale as adolf hitler , and she scale as adolf hitler, and she decimated parts of the country , decimated parts of the country, how ludicrous. >> and how outrageous. >> and how outrageous. >> margaret thatcher was one of

the two greatest prime ministers that this country has ever had, let us just be clear. in contrast to what lisa has just said, margaret thatcher didn't want to smash communities or to do any such thing to people living in britain . what she living in britain. what she wanted to do and did do, and it took proper strong advocacy and leadership to do so, was to fix the broken britain that she inherited from ten years of a left wing labour government, inherited from ten years of a left wing labour government , the left wing labour government, the likes of callaghan and wilson. famously, if you remember callaghan, even though there were mountains of rubbish piled up on the streets, we had sky high inflation. that's made our recent inflation here in britain, look pathetic by comparison. we had unemployment that was absolutely in the millions. margaret thatcher inherited that despite the likes of callaghan saying, do you remember crisis. what crisis? the labour party of course caused the trouble as usual and didn't even acknowledge it. so thatcher came along and had to be robust. she had to show

leadership something that perhaps our current politicians might note of. and might like to take note of. and the unions, by the way, were the ones that had put britain, along with their left wing overseers in in westminster, in exactly the position that thatcher then had to reverse. they were the ones that were arguing for three day weeks and huge wage rises , day weeks and huge wage rises, and wanted to work to rule. so the mining industries, i'm afraid, in contrast to lisa saying that it was thatcher that came broke them, the came along and broke them, the mining was already mining industry was already broken. already on its broken. it was already on its knees. it had to be closed down because it was wholly and utterly uncompetitive . utterly uncompetitive. >> well, lisa, what do you make of that? well let's just start with, society. >> there is no such thing as society. remember that that famous phrase, mrs. thatcher and the and her thatcherism purposely wanted to break working class people. she wanted to break unions because she wanted to have people in this

country working for as little as possible. while those at the top took the most profit . and your took the most profit. and your perspective on this is depending on where you are in the country. if you are a middle class man who's quite wealthy, i'm sure you did very well out of mrs. thatcher. i'm sure she was great for you, but if you are working class and your communities were one of those communities that absolutely got destroyed and is still destroyed today, then obviously you're going to have a very different view of that. russell. that's, my view is best based in absolutely reality, where i live today. >> yeah. russell, that is a good point, isn't it? depending on your background, where you grew up, your family history, people do take a very different view on thatcher's legacy. that is true . thatcher's legacy. that is true. thatcher's legacy. that is true. thatis thatcher's legacy. that is true. that is very true. >> well, they do, but but it's not a good point. now, thatcher, actually, when it comes to socialism and what socialists believe in, of course, is the even redistribution of wealth or

some nonsense as if some such nonsense as if everybody truly everybody is actually truly equal , of course, everybody is actually truly equal, of course, in many equal, which of course, in many respects but what respects they're not. but what thatcher did, even though she was being a socialist, was far from being a socialist, she actually empowered this country probably she actually empowered this count political probably she actually empowered this count political leaderybably she actually empowered this count political leader that y other political leader that we've ever had. she gave us the ability to buy our own home at a discount. and in fact, the likes of angela rayner, of course, recently it's come to light has even taken advantage of such a policy. so that created wealth. big bang in the city where we were able to invest in, utility businesses. that then also meant that our pensions and our investments were buoyed, you know, she did many things for entrepreneurs. she cut taxes significantly. don't forget the labour government of the 70s wanted to tax hardworking industrialists and entrepreneurs and celebrities, people that actually created wealth in this country that trickled down to everybody through employment, tax and vat and so on. that was at 90% under callaghan and the like , mrs. thatcher and her then like, mrs. thatcher and her then chancellor, nigel lawson. so

slashed taxes, increased wealth and enabled everybody in britain, enabled everybody in britain, enabled everybody in britain to be much, much better off than they would have been if we continue , we're just running we continue, we're just running out of time. >> so, lisa, last word to you. last word? >> yeah. know, russell, when >> yeah. you know, russell, when you a hole, stop you when you're in a hole, stop digging. company. digging. water company. absolutely hole. absolutely making a hole. absolutely making a hole. absolutely out of absolutely making profit out of not doing the job they were supposed to do. council housing sold off. and now we've got nowhere live . and rents are nowhere to live. and rents are sky high. we've got a serious housing crisis. you have dug a hole. you have ? you've handed me hole. you have? you've handed me an argument there. thank you . an argument there. thank you. what we are reaping today is what thatcher sown . what thatcher sown. >> well, there we go. thank you. two very different views. thank you very much, russell quirk. and of course, lisa mckenzie. their brilliant thank their brilliant debate. thank you very we're going to you very much. we're going to get of your views get to some of your views because thick because they're coming in thick and , we'll to them and far, and we'll get to them very, shortly. first very, very shortly. but first it's headlines.

it's your news headlines. >> it's 132. it's your news headlines. >> it's132. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. the prime minister has rebuffed speculation about a leadership challenge, saying he's not interested in westminster politics. speaking at a business eventin politics. speaking at a business event in warwickshire , rishi event in warwickshire, rishi sunak urged his party to stick to the plan and told backbenchers that the economy is turning a corner. he was forced to speak out after rumours suggested right wing tories were lining up penny mordaunt to replace him. the prime minister says his focus is on the future of the country. interested in all westminster politics. >> it doesn't matter what matters is, is the future of our country and that's what i'm squarely focussed on. that is what i get up every morning, working as hard as i can to deren working as hard as i can to deliver, whether it's cutting people's increasing the people's taxes, increasing the state pension today, increasing the number apprenticeships the number of apprenticeships and talking to small businesses, those are things that those are all the things that matter to people. and as we've seen over the last few weeks, our working. inflation our plan is working. inflation is down, are is coming down, wages are growing , the economy is back to growing, the economy is back to growing, the economy is back to growing again. and if we stick

to this plan, i can deliver a brighter future for everyone in our is what i'm our country. that is what i'm doing in coventry. >> minister also >> the prime minister also announced plans to create 20,000 new apprenticeships. rishi sunak pledged £60 million of new investment to cover a series of reforms, including fully funding training for young people and cutting red tape for small businesses . britain's most businesses. britain's most successful female olympian , dame successful female olympian, dame laura kenny, has announced her retirement from professional cycling . the five times gold cycling. the five times gold medallist had been expected to compete at the paris games this summer, but the 31 year old welcomed her second son last year and said spending time at home with her family was proving more to her. and for more important to her. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. carmelites . gb news. carmelites. >> for a valuable legacy, your family can own, gold coins will always shine bright .

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i >> -- >> well, before the break, we debated whether it's fair to say margaret thatcher is a villain. is. and was a villain on a par, on a sliding scale. one of our guests said with adolf hitler and osama bin laden , which is and osama bin laden, which is quite the view. duncan says, i'm working class, very working class. but i say we need another maggie sort this country out. class. but i say we need another magwouldn'tyrt this country out. class. but i say we need another magwouldn't haves country out. class. but i say we need another magwouldn't have the untry out. class. but i say we need another magwouldn't have the problems we we wouldn't have the problems we now says. now have, he says. >> and has written to in

>> and paul has written to in say saved the say margaret thatcher saved the uk destroyed economy and uk from a destroyed economy and infrastructure. it was labour who closed more of our pits, closed more than double than margaret thatcher. everyone forgets that. and paul raises a very important point here, although i think the way that we phrase it, it's almost as if margaret thatcher said, want margaret thatcher said, i want to just to close this picnic. she just stopped subsidising economically unproductive bits. you can't have economy if you're have a growing economy if you're literally funnelling taxpayers money things that are not money to things that are not making any money at all, she transitioned the economy. could you imagine if we still had if we were still sending people down pits today? you couldn't possibly imagine it. we went from a poor country to a rich country. >> well, karen says she was a strong woman who took control of a trade a situation where the trade unions pursuing ruinous, unions were pursuing a ruinous, hard agenda, and the uk was hard left agenda, and the uk was the sick man of europe. she didn't shy away from making tough decisions. she was ahead of regarding green of her time regarding green issues too. but, leslie says she was a one trick pony, selling £60 billion of state assets at knock down prices. he says ,

knock down prices. he says, goodness me. >> but, sandra says, working class welsh woman here. and the lady talking about mrs. thatcher doesn't know what she's talking about. i lived through the thatcher years, and she gave the working more working class far more opportunity than socialist governments have done. governments ever have done. >> well, please do your >> well, please do keep your views this good views coming in. this is a good one. gb views com what one. gb views gb news. com what is thatcher's legacy one. gb views gb news. com what is is thatcher's legacy one. gb views gb news. com what is is she thatcher's legacy one. gb views gb news. com what is is she a'hatcher's legacy one. gb views gb news. com what is is she a villainr's legacy one. gb views gb news. com what is is she a villain onlegacy one. gb views gb news. com what is is she a villain on agacy one. gb views gb news. com what is is she a villain on a par' and is she a villain on a par with adolf hitler and osama bin laden? the mind boggles. >> goodness me, i can. i can just imagine the person who worked at the v&a museum who wrote display, sort of wrote that display, sort of having having little smirk having a having a little smirk on they did it, on their face as they did it, you oh, i mean, you know. oh, i mean, technically true. some technically it's true. some punch and judy shows have had mrs. as a villain , but mrs. thatcher as a villain, but writing the sentence, oh, how are we going to make this funny? how to this how are we going to make this sit line with my predisposed sit in line with my predisposed political ? know osama sit in line with my predisposed poliladen, ? know osama sit in line with my predisposed poliladen, margaret know osama sit in line with my predisposed poliladen, margaret thatcher,ama bin laden, margaret thatcher, adolf hitler, a funny list. i mean, we see what you're doing . mean, we see what you're doing. v&a museum, we see it, we see it. >> well, in other news, the prime minister rishi sunak, has set out plans to support female

entrepreneurs , cut red tape entrepreneurs, cut red tape for businesses apprenticeships. >> speaking at an event in the midlands, rishi sunak has pledged to create up to 20,000 more apprenticeships, saying that will pay the that the government will pay the full cost of these apprenticeships people aged apprenticeships for people aged 21 or under, but at small firms, and that's starting in april. >> so joining us now is gb news economics and business editor liam halligan with on the money . liam halligan with on the money. right. liam, what's your assessment of this announcement then? is this a good thing? it's going to get lots of young people, new jobs . people, new jobs. >> good to be with you guys, it's a real perennial of election campaigning or pre—election campaigning before the campaign starts in earnest for governments to talk about small businesses. >> why is that? it's because small businesses are such an important part of our economy. let's have a look at some numbers here, because it wouldn't be on the money without some numbers, would it? there wouldn't be on the money without son5.5|umbers, would it? there wouldn't be on the money without son5.5 million, would it? there wouldn't be on the money without son5.5 million smallj it? there wouldn't be on the money without son5.5 million small firms here wouldn't be on the money without son5.5 million small firms ,ere are 5.5 million small firms, small and medium sized firms in

this up to about this country. that's up to about 50 or 75 employees. and rishi sunak's just announced £60 million for 20,000 more apprenticeships. not a huge amount of money. that's £3,000 per apprenticeship. if an apprentice earns £1,000 a month, that's three months. that's not very much slash regulation for smes. it's being billed as a brexit bonus. and take it from me as somebody who comes from a small business background, it's regulation that really irks people that run small businesses , often family run businesses, endless calls for information from the taxman and all the rest of it, and also , rishi sunak of it, and also, rishi sunak announced a new task force for smes, for female founders. guys i know you know this. you're steeped in politics, but i can't stress enough how important small businesses are to our economy . as i said, there are economy. as i said, there are around five, 5.5 million of them. they accounts for 50% of our national income. that is 50%

of all the goods and services that we provide. and they employ two thirds of us, two thirds of people in work, work for a small or medium sized enterprise. rishi sunak knows this . business rishi sunak knows this. business secretary kemi badenoch knows this. that's why they went to coventry today, to this business connect event , trying to really connect event, trying to really reach out to the manufacturing heartland of the uk and fairness to the prime minister. this is the third such business connect event that he has held since he became prime minister in the autumn of 2022. not so long ago . autumn of 2022. not so long ago. but they know in downing street they know that small business owners, people that often work for small businesses, they're pragmatic swing voters. they're not really tribal voters . they not really tribal voters. they vote in a way, however, they need to vote labour, tory, lib dem, whatever it is, reform. we must say now sdp, house, greens. however they vote, it's because they think it's going to be the best thing for their livelihoods

and the best thing for their business. and the prime minister very much tried to tap in to that today. and i think we've got a little here of what got a little clip here of what he these business he said to these business leaders coventry, liam, we leaders in coventry, liam, we don't clip, but we'll don't have that clip, but we'll see if we can bring it a little bit later. >> it was going so well. >> it was going so well. >> it was going so well. >> i the graphic by the >> i love the new graphic by the way. getting able to see way. liam getting able to see you with with numbers you with the with the numbers next it's a marked improvement. >> tom. i know you and emily and indeed gb news viewers. indeed all the gb news viewers. and they if they and how would they feel if they couldn't see my little physiog? i mean, know, there i mean, you know, there are support there . there support groups out there. there are therapy sessions online. oh, we liam's face. no, we need to see liam's face. no, i think look, it just shows that gb news is evolving , you know? gb news is evolving, you know? >> liam. >> but liam. >> but liam. >> the female >> liam, on the female entrepreneurs, know , i'm a entrepreneurs, you know, i'm a female. choose to female. i may choose to start a business. is true that in business. it is true that in terms of getting investment, they are very far behind the men they are very far behind the men they are. >> emily and i must say , i'm >> emily and i must say, i'm glad you asked me that, because certainly in my experience , some certainly in my experience, some of the most impressive female, some most impressive some of the most impressive small businesses that i've come across have been started by

female entrepreneurs, you know, not just in the sort of cliched areas like health and beauty and lifestyle . not at all. i've met lifestyle. not at all. i've met many, many small business owners, female small business owners, female small business owners, and they tend to be really rooted in their communities. and female small business founders . they tend to business founders. they tend to they tend to found small businesses out of frustration , businesses out of frustration, not just out of frustration, because they they're because they may feel they're not always getting a fair crack of the whip at big companies , of the whip at big companies, and they want more flexible working. they tend found working. they tend to found small businesses based on their own experience. they may have their experience in their communities bringing up children, with, you know, children, maybe with, you know, interacting with, with other local businesses, retail, they they tend to found businesses that solve a problem that they have encountered in their own lives. and that's a really good way to start a business. and some people could, you know, i'm going to not give rishi sunak a hard time on this. i know he's had a hard time for a long time

on things recent on many things over recent months, fact months, but i know for a fact talking to him over the years that he is really, he does really want to help small businesses. he does know he comes from a small business background himself. of course, a pharmaceutical business. you know, he is from a family, one of the long line and honourable tradition of asian families coming to the uk and founding small businesses . this is what small businesses. this is what immigrants often do. you know, i'm from an irish background. as you know, relatives, they you know, all my relatives, they all businesses. all founded small businesses. maybe they were all just a bit too awkward want to work too awkward to want to work for other people, wanted to other people, but they wanted to build for themselves and build wealth for themselves and their good at their families. we are good at small uk. we their families. we are good at smtgood uk. we their families. we are good at smtgood at uk. we their families. we are good at smtgood at entrepreneurial we their families. we are good at smtgood at entrepreneurial ism. are good at entrepreneurial ism. what we're not very good at is those small businesses growing, getting the finance to become bigger businesses that employ more people and become more valuable . i'd prefer to hear valuable. i'd prefer to hear more from that. on that from rishi sunak today. how do we find the finance? how do we encourage banks and other investors to really back the best of british small businesses

in order that they become big businesses? because that's how you boost productivity, that's how you boost growth, that's how you boost wealth, pays you boost wealth, that pays for all the public finance, all the pubuc all the public finance, all the public services and everything else economy . else in the economy. >> well, it was napoleon who called nation of called us a nation of shopkeepers. meant it as an shopkeepers. he meant it as an insult. think probably the insult. but i think probably the biggest honour he could biggest badge of honour he could have possibly said. liam halligan. us. halligan. thanks forjoining us. >> who starts >> i admire anyone who starts a business. a lot business. takes a lot of gumption, it? gumption, doesn't it? >> rishi sunak's >> and actually, rishi sunak's mum well, there mum female founder. well, there you speaks the you go. that speaks from the heart though. >> you know it would be nice. nice that one. nice to rishi on that one. coming kate has been coming up princess kate has been spotted say rumours. spotted shopping so say rumours. but we haven't seen photos but we haven't seen any photos yet. this mark the end yet. but could this mark the end of weeks health of endless weeks of health speculation

? >> 7- >> good ? >> good afternoon. 7 >> good afternoon. britain. it's 10 to 2. and princess catherine.

sightings are amongst the headunes sightings are amongst the headlines again today. yes >> news has spread that the princess of wales has been spotted out and about on a weekend visit to a farm shop with prince william and the children. but where are the photos, tom? yeah there are the photos. >> this is the real. this is the real clincher in the articles that mentioned it, though, you've seen kate, there's a picture of her there. it turns out that there aren't any photographs of this supposed spotting. the spotting. but amid all the speculation rumours after speculation and rumours after that photoshopped photograph, is it that could put it possible that this could put an end to all these wild speculations? >> well here's hoping. joining us now to discuss this is royal commentator caroline aston. caroline, thank you very much indeed. caroline, thank you very much indeed . yes, the daily mail, the indeed. yes, the daily mail, the sun, the tabloids all talking about this spotting of princess catherine in this windsor farm shop. we don't have any evidence, but from your experience, are these types of reports true ? reports true? >> well, we've spotted the

princess of wales rather as though she was a rare bird or butterfly. and as the buds of spnng butterfly. and as the buds of spring burst, she's broken coven spring burst, she's broken cover, so it would appear. but i think there was a fairly tacit agreement that there wouldn't be any photograph taken of her until she revealed herself back on official duty. but my goodness me, what a rough old ride it's been, hasn't it, for the princess of wales. all sorts of conspiracy theories have been out there. in the absence of hard information , and some of hard information, and some of them beggar belief, going from reports of, well , rather exotic reports of, well, rather exotic buttock based surgery, breast implants, cyborgs of her in a coma , all sorts of things. and coma, all sorts of things. and i think the point remembering here is that the one thing, perhaps, that our late, great sovereign lady, queen elizabeth ii, never really had to face to the extent that the new modern face of the royal family does was the amount of stuff out there on social media, we're all so aware of

what we're all doing. we live, don't we? in an age of self—revelation, we put out there our surgeries , our love there our surgeries, our love affairs, our lives, our food, and we don't quite get it. when the royal family, who we see as pubuc the royal family, who we see as public property, maybe don't reciprocate . kate, don't bear reciprocate. kate, don't bear all normally, never complain, never explain. but my goodness, we complained loudly just lately and they've had to explain. or at least kate has interesting times for her. and come on, everybody recovering from a serious operation. well, that's hard indeed, isn't it? and it's a mental fight as well . so a mental fight as well. so goodness knows how the poor woman has felt with this constant debate and analysis of to what me appears to be cack handed photoshopping . handed photoshopping. >> yeah, caroline, it's a really, really good and interesting point that this vacuum has been filled with sort of online speculation, half of it of it somewhat

it joking, half of it somewhat serious, it sort of serious, and a lot of it sort of halfway between the two of them. i if you're recovering i suppose if you're recovering from , she might from an operation, she might just not want to be by just not want to be seen by anyone. might want anyone. she might not just want to be looking her to be seen, not be looking her best moment. best at the moment. >> always that's always >> that's always that's always a possibility. we're possibility. caroline, we're going have it going to have to wrap it up there, really appreciate going to have to wrap it up theretime really appreciate going to have to wrap it up theretime reathis. ppreciate going to have to wrap it up theretime reathis. caroline going to have to wrap it up theretitheireathis. caroline going to have to wrap it up thereti their royal. caroline going to have to wrap it up thereti their royal commentator. aston, their royal commentator. but something that's but this is something that's popped up but this is something that's popped up while we've been on air. >> yes. a tree mural in finsbury park that appeared on a residential building overnight is the work of banksy. according to anonymous street artist to the anonymous street artist himself . he to the anonymous street artist himself. he claimed that graffiti, although there's a picture corbyn that's picture of jeremy corbyn that's not the here is not banksy. the story here is that thinks that that jeremy corbyn thinks that this a wonderful artwork, this is a wonderful artwork, proving is for hope our proving there is for hope our natural world everywhere. >> may i just just explain what it looks like for our radio listeners it like a listeners so it looks like a wall of a block of flats? yeah. and in front of it is a tree with no leaves. so banksy has splattered the wall behind the tree in green paint. no leaves have been drawn. i guess it's an artistic interpretation of what artistic interpretation of what a tree might look like, splatter

on a flat surface, and jeremy corbyn has said what a wonderful artwork. he's delighted it's in his constituency. >> splatter of paint. i mean, this is this is not a great this isn't the mona lisa, jeremy. there isn't a great deal of work that's gone. someone's just splattered some paint at a wall. >> well, jeremy corbyn is very proud of it. i personally would not to be on the side not like that to be on the side of building, us know of my building, but let us know what that banksy. of my building, but let us know whacoming that banksy. of my building, but let us know whacoming up, that banksy. of my building, but let us know whacoming up, the1at banksy. of my building, but let us know whacoming up, the prime1ksy. but coming up, the prime minister punches in his minister pulls no punches in his fight for his political life. we'll bring you latest. we'll bring you the very latest. so with . us. so stay with. us. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the gb news forecast from the met office. it's a fine end to the day in the east with some bright sunshine, but turning cloudy in the west with outbreaks of rain

heading in weather fronts out to the west already bringing thicker cloud into northern ireland. and those outbreaks of rain will soon sweeping and they'll push into western scotland , western fringes of scotland, western fringes of england as well as wales. the wind picking up gales for exposed parts of western scotland and the rain by the end of the night, reaching central and southeastern parts of the uk but tending to fizzle out as it crosses the country ten celsius by dawn. so the cloud, the wind and the rain tending to keep things relatively mild. but it will be a damp start to the day in many spots. however, soon enough the cloud will lift and break. the rain clears to showers. showers could occur just about anywhere, but most likely across parts of the midlands into the south of the uk. some bright spells there for northern ireland and scotland into the afternoon. temperatures here 12 celsius further south. mild again 17 or 18 celsius in the south—east wednesday,

though, starts off on a damp note with outbreaks of rain pushing north into central parts of the uk. staying sunny in the far northwest and staying mostly dry in the far southeast. that rain clears to showers once again on thursday and friday, and it does turn a bit colder. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers , sponsors of boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 2:00 on monday, the 18th of march. >> rishi sunak fights for his political life with a speech insisting this will be the year britain bounces back. but with sharks circling, calling for his head. could penny mordaunt swap the sword for the crown >> rwanda deportation flights could get the green light this week, but mps set to vote on that flagship policy at 6 pm. today. but the rwanda government

is reported to want to slow down the resettlement scheme should kigali be calling the shots and there are reports that the princess of wales has been seen out and about shopping. >> it comes as speculation continues grow the state continues to grow over the state of her health. will they issue any more photos? >> this is the problem with that photograph. this is the problem. they issued it in the first place. initially they said kate's going to be out of action until after easter. we should expect her at easter. but then there was all of this speculation, and i think a lot of the speculation was just people having a joke, having a laugh online. not not seriously believing any of the wild conspiracy theories that have been up. but then been thought up. but then kensington palace felt under such pressure because of the fevered speculation online that they issued a photo . but they

they issued a photo. but they issued a photo and she wanted it to be photoshopped because she's just had a large operation. she's going be looking she's not going to be looking her best. she's not going to be feeling best. of course, feeling her best. of course, she's want sort of she's going to want to sort of perhaps up a bit. perhaps touch it up a bit. >> i saw princess >> well, i saw princess catherine down waitrose yesterday catherine down waitrose yesterd you? catherine down waitrose yes and you? catherine down waitrose yesand you? someone told me that >> and then someone told me that she took a quick trip to aldi. oh yeah. and then to the farm shop down the road. so there you go. big shop . and this is the go. big shop. and this is the problem, don't it problem, but you don't need it because tabloids running because the tabloids are running with she was with sources say that she was seen shop in windsor, seen at this shop in windsor, this farm shop, she may well have been seen there, but there isn't evidence. it won't isn't any evidence. so it won't stop speculation where stop the speculation over where she and where she isn't. and, she is and where she isn't. and, you know, unless someone comes, you know, unless someone comes, you know, unless someone comes, you know, posts a picture of her at this farm shop. we don't know. so it's just endless speculation . perhaps you think speculation. perhaps you think we should stop talking about it altogether. this altogether. but of course, this is woman will be queen is a woman who will be queen will queen, and i do think it will be queen, and i do think it is understandable why people are so concerned . that does not so concerned. that does not

excuse the amount of conspiracies that are going around and some of them are just cruel unkind. but it's cruel and unkind. but it's hardly considering hardly surprising considering heri mean, maybe >> i mean, maybe, maybe there was house here. was a halfway house here. there's been no speculation that the hasn't seen the king hasn't been seen for however long and whatever, because us exactly because he's told us exactly his problem. says he's he's been problem. he says he's he's been diagnosed with cancer, and we know that the problem is abdominal surgery is such a vague . it's sort of this vague thing. it's sort of this halfway house between saying what's going on and not saying what's going on and not saying what's going on and not saying what's going perhaps what's going on. and perhaps that has vacuum has created that has that vacuum has created the . if you'd have the speculation. if you'd have just said what operation had just said what operation she had and i'm not going to and then said, i'm not going to be seen until after after easter, there wouldn't easter, perhaps there wouldn't have been this for well, it's that question does she deserve have been this for well, it's th.have3stion does she deserve have been this for well, it's th.have ation does she deserve have been this for well, it's th.have a privates she deserve have been this for well, it's th.have a private life?! deserve to have a private life? >> does she have that right? this your headlines? >> good afternoon. it's 2:03. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. the prime minister has rebuffed speculation about a leadership challenge, saying he's not interested in

westminster politics. speaking at a business event in warwickshire, rishi sunak urged his party to stick to the plan and told backbenchers that the economy is turning a corner. he was forced to speak out after rumours suggested the right wing tories were lining up penny morden him. the prime morden to replace him. the prime minister says his focus is on the future of the country. i'm not interested in all westminster politics. >> it doesn't matter . what >> it doesn't matter. what matters is the future of our country that's what i'm country and that's what i'm squarely focussed on. that is what i get up every morning, working as hard as i can to deren working as hard as i can to deliver, cutting deliver, whether it's cutting people's and increasing people's taxes and increasing the state pension today, increasing number of increasing the number of apprenticeships and talking to small businesses, those are all the things that matter to people. we've seen over people. and as we've seen over the weeks, our is the last few weeks, our plan is working. coming working. inflation is coming down, wages are growing, the economy is back to growing again. if we stick to this again. and if we stick to this plan, i can deliver a brighter future everyone future for everyone in our country . is what doing country. that is what i'm doing in coventry. >> prime minister announced >> the prime minister announced plans to create 20,000 new apprenticeships . plans to create 20,000 new

apprenticeships. rishi sunak pledged £60 million of new investment to cover a series of reforms, including fully funding training young people and training for young people and cutting red tape for small businesses. labour has accused the government of economic failure, but mr sunak says action is being taken and the full cost of apprenticeships will be paid for people aged under 21 at small firms from the 1st of april. small businesses owners have welcomed the move . owners have welcomed the move. >> i think the apprenticeship, payment in full would be fantastic. we've had an apprentice before she did phenomenally well and but funds have been quite tight the last couple of years and that's not something that i've been able to enter into again, although i want to. so that will be is benefit. >> i think there's lots of positives in there. i think there's some great stuff for helping small businesses for our business. we need a bit more for the small businesses in the uk will see it as to what it is. >> it's probably a last ditch effort to get some confidence back. think done back. i don't think he's done enough. going enough. i don't think it's going to confidence to small

businesses. >> in other news, the foreign secretary has criticised the russian saying secretary has criticised the leasn't saying secretary has criticised the leasn't free saying secretary has criticised the leasn't free and saying secretary has criticised the leasn't free and fair. saying secretary has criticised the leasn't free and fair. early1g it wasn't free and fair. early results showed president vladimir putin won nearly 88% of the vote, giving him a fifth time in office. defence secretary grant shapps says he's behaving like a modern day stalin, and he accused putin of stealing the election after having opponents imprisoned or murdered . thousands of people murdered. thousands of people turned up at polling stations in russia and cities across the world to protest the result. the kremlin responded by promising to imprison anyone taking part for up to five years. former kremlin adviser and russian exile valery morozov says that there is no viable opposition to putin. >> wimereux is that putin is still keeping russia moving, developing or in any case, well, there is no alternative. there is no people who who can, who can, who have ideas, other ideas. you have putin, putin, russia is now, if you compare the development of russia, for example, from january 20, 2023,

to this january, it is 4.6% development. >> britain's most successful female olympian, dame laura kenny, has announced her retirement from professional cycling. the athlete posted the news on instagram saying it was time to move on. the five times gold medallist had been expected to compete at the paris games this summer , but the 31 year old this summer, but the 31 year old welcomed her second son last year and said spending time at home with her family proving home with her family was proving more to her. we could more important to her. we could see flying taxis take to the skies in two years under the government's new drones plan , government's new drones plan, the department for transport is proposing flying taxis without pilots on board by 2030 as proposing flying taxis without that was once confined to the realms of science fiction . and realms of science fiction. and for the latest story, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts. now

it's back to tom and . emily. it's back to tom and. emily. >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:07, and number 10 says that the government has started to identify illegal migrants who will be on the first flights to rwanda . they're saying that as rwanda. they're saying that as the prime minister today sought to change the narrative by pledging to create 20,000 more apprenticeships , although i'm apprenticeships, although i'm not sure 20,000 more apprenticeships is really the deal breaker to get the tories up from their languishing position in the. >> although liam halligan was at pains to say that rishi sunak does genuinely care about apprenticeships and small businesses and all that good stuff, so yeah, i mean it's a nice thing, but like the government can do lots of little nice things, fundamentally, this isn't his big, big sort of relaunch refresh that perhaps this enormous speech in coventry was trailed as by some. >> but it's very curious that

the government, the home office, are already contacting or identifying potential illegal migrants who may be deported to rwanda. is it a bit soon? is it a bit soon before all the t's are crossed and the i's are dotted? well they're voting on it at 6 pm. today in the commons. >> but, meanwhile, there are sharks circling around the prime minister. rumours continue to grow that rebel conservative mps will attempt to oust him before the next election , perhaps after the next election, perhaps after the next election, perhaps after the local elections. penny mordaunt is said to be their preferred candidate. >> yes. what do make of >> yes. what do you make of that? let us know. penny mordaunt for prime minister. that? let us know. penny morda another'rime minister. that? let us know. penny morda another onee minister. that? let us know. penny morda another one int01ister. that? let us know. penny morda another one into the r. that? let us know. penny morda another one into the ring. throw another one into the ring. >> let's speak political >> let's speak to our political editor , christopher hope, about editor, christopher hope, about all of the above. and christopher, suppose the big christopher, i suppose the big new of news today is this , new piece of news today is this, this rounding up of illegal migrants . migrants. >> yeah, not rounding up. that sounds a bit, ominous. i think , sounds a bit, ominous. i think, tom, a writing of letters to a cohort of people who could be on

the first flights out. the government clearly wants to get momentum behind what they intend to do. now, votes to to do. now, the votes to overturn the ten changes to the rwanda bill, pushed through by unelected peers start today, probably at 6 pm, not 8 pm, as we thought earlier. 2.5 hours of voting that will carry on today. and then they'll come back to the lords, probably on wednesday , the lords might then to vote reinstate those 1010 changes. it goes back to the commons , and goes back to the commons, and very, very quickly. and this the process called ping pong as like a ping pong ball. this bill goes between the different houses of commons, houses of parliament. and that could mean that it could be law by the end of the week. it speeds up as it goes on, it looks like the on, until it looks like the lords accept the lords will not accept the government's, demands. and we could a long delay , could even have a long delay, but it's likely to go through very shortly. the number 10 tell us are banking us today they are still banking on a on a spring deadline for the first flight taking off because even if it becomes law, any of those getting letters in

that will probably try that cohort will probably try and appeal. and then you might have court process have a short court process before it can happen. so the government say to government is trying to say to tory mps, look what we're up to. look at the knitting, forget all the noises off. forget what all the noises off. forget what all the are saying. look what the rebels are saying. look what we're up to. the problem is the rebels are talking very loudly. people me in people like people like me in parliament and not the usual ones either, two sources told me as many as 40 letters have been submitted graham brady, the submitted to graham brady, the chairman the 1922 committee chairman of the 1922 committee of tory mps. more than 53. there was a vote of no confidence in the in the prime minister as leader of the tory party, it is quite there's a feeling of jeopardy right now, i'm afraid, and that's because party and that's because this party knows replace a failing knows they can replace a failing leader they want to, and it leader if they want to, and it seems some of them are tempted to do so all over again , to do so all over again, christopher, in terms of identifying migrants for the rwanda deportation scheme, presumably that's anybody who's crossed the channel by irregular

means. that's according to the law, or so i thought. so it can't be that difficult to identify. but then, of course, on the other hand, we found out that the government doesn't know where tens of thousands of migrants in the country. so migrants are in the country. so that may prove difficult when it comes to identifying , saying, comes to identifying, saying, what do we know about what this identifying actually means? you say a letter may be written to them, an email, phone call. them, an email, a phone call. >> well, there are enough of them, aren't there? in hotel rooms across the country, also in some in some bases. rooms across the country, also in some in some bases . and in some in some army bases. and that's where that's how they can be got hold of. i mean, the numbers you're describing, emily, of course, there are a lot than those held held lot more than those held or held in camps in, in hotels, in these camps or in, in hotels, but those are the ones. they're starting small. the rwandan government has very clear government has made very clear they to with a few they want to start with a few hundred, and then hundred, maybe, and then grow towards maybe the thousands, but today from rishi today we've heard from rishi sunak, he's made very clear that the may deadline is still standing. he also had things to say about his own leadership. let's hear what he had to say.

>> conservatives are united in wanting to deliver a brighter future for our country , and that future for our country, and that is why we are cutting people's taxes. £900 for a typical person in increasing the in work, we're increasing the state pension by £900 in just a few weeks. we're in the middle of one of the biggest expansions of one of the biggest expansions of that our of free childcare that our country has we're getting country has seen. we're getting the of boats down by the number of boats down by a third year, tackling the number of boats down by a third migration ckling the number of boats down by a third migration and|g the number of boats down by a third migration and today illegal migration and today announcing new numbers of apprenticeships supporting small businesses. these are all the things that matter to people and we are absolutely united in delivering the country delivering for the country on these matters . these important matters. >> when it comes to election funding, why would you take £5 million you've million from someone who you've said racist comments? said made racist comments? >> you know, he's already apologised for these comments, and my point of view is when someone apologises genuinely expresses remorse that should be accepted. that's that, when accepted. and that's that, when is the earliest of those planes will take off to take, asylum seekers to rwanda? >> yeah, i'm still committed to the timeline that i set out

previously, which was we aim to get off in the spring. get a flight off in the spring. it's that we get the it's important that we get the rwanda and running, rwanda scheme up and running, because have because we need to have a deterrent. we need it deterrent. we need to make it clear that you come here clear that if you come here illegally, not able illegally, you will not be able to we will be able to to stay and we will be able to remove that the only way to stay and we will be able to rerproperly that the only way to stay and we will be able to rerproperly solve: the only way to stay and we will be able to rerproperly solve the :he only way to stay and we will be able to rerproperly solve the issue ly way to stay and we will be able to rerproperly solve the issue of way to properly solve the issue of illegal migration. now we've made good progress. both numbers were down by a third last year, so that that our plan is so that shows that our plan is working. in finish working. but in order to finish the job, need the rwanda the job, we need the rwanda scheme are getting scheme through. we are getting it everyone it through parliament. everyone is us, including is trying to block us, including the labour party, because they don't have to tackle this don't have a plan to tackle this problem. . am determined don't have a plan to tackle this pr

the things that we're focussed on. if stick with that on. and if we stick with that plan, deliver a brighter plan, i can deliver a brighter future in future for everyone in our country. choice. country. that's the choice. at the election and that is what we will deliver . will deliver. >> that's the pm there saying stick plan, he clearly stick with our plan, he clearly thinks, doesn't he, that time will him. he's playing will help him. he's playing long, maybe for a november general election . people like general election. people like ben wallace, of course. former defence secretary leaving parliament at the election. he's saying the time for a challenge against has gone. the time against him has gone. the time to him as has to replace him as leader has gone. that's certainly the gone. and that's certainly the message number 10 and message from number 10 and allies sunak. your allies of rishi sunak. your moment's gone. just get on with it guy. but the it and back. our guy. but the problem that the rebels say to him is that nothing has worked. you've had all these speeches that budget, autumn that the budget, the autumn statement , the conference statement, the conference speech, worked. statement, the conference spee should worked. statement, the conference spee should we? worked. statement, the conference spee should we? whyrvorked. statement, the conference spee should we? why whyzd. statement, the conference spee should we? why why should we why should we? why why should we try, try a new a new candidate, maybe penny mordaunt . maybe penny mordaunt. >> chris. freeze that >> yes, chris. the freeze that ben was tories must ben wallace used was tories must march towards the guns , which march towards the guns, which sounds a bit, a bit dramatic. dramatic and it just just

reminded me of the of the charge of the light brigade into the valley of death. rode the 600, perhaps marched the 348, the number of tory mps. although when i wrote that and put that on twitter, a senior conservative mp messaged to me saying that the rate of attrition at at the charge of the light brigade was 40% who died or were casualties. and currently polling looks like an attrition rate of 60% for tory mps. so it would be worse than the charge of the light brigade. >> yes, yes. »- >> yes, yes. >> well, it probably, probably would be. i think worse than the charge of the light brigade. i think the problem they've got right is, rather going right now is, rather than going to valley death, they've to the valley of death, they've got of trying to got a chance of trying to save the day. i mean, guess there's the day. i mean, i guess there's little they went little choice. when they went into with little choice. when they went intocharge with little choice. when they went intocharge of with little choice. when they went intocharge of brigade.:h the charge of light brigade. if you've to and you've got an option to try and go different route, not into go a different route, not into the why not it? the valley, why not take it? and then party proven it then this party has proven it can leaders and do it can change. leaders and do it quickly. you think someone isn't working in the village ? they

working in the village? they think that the village. they think that the village. they think penny mordaunt cut through . she scares labour, i think that wouldn't win a vote that she wouldn't win a vote amongst the base because of her views on on woke in quotes issues, and it might be that if she can polls around , she can turn the polls around, the supporters of the membership might to way of might come round to her way of thinking. i should though, thinking. i should say, though, that supporting all that she is not supporting all this attempt at unseating or removing rishi sunak as leader. she's been very, very quiet. there's a word is she might try and say something at this thursday's leaders questions. but we're thursday's leaders questions. but to we're thursday's leaders questions. but to hear we're thursday's leaders questions. but to hear from we're thursday's leaders questions. but to hear from thez're thursday's leaders questions. but to hear from the pm going to hear from the pm addressing, backbenchers at addressing, tory backbenchers at the 1922 committee on wednesday. so we're we've got a long week to play out this week, tom and emily. >> yes, i reckon they most of them will probably bide their time election , time until after the election, but we shall see. thank you very much. hope, our much. christopher hope, our political . the military political editor. the military language, don't know how feel political editor. the military langu'that.ion't know how feel about that. >> oh , military as always. it's >> oh, military as always. it's a it's a campaign. an a it's a campaign. it's an election campaign . of course election campaign. of course it's language. it's military language. >> can now return >> yeah, well, we can now return to because gb news to coventry because gb news presenter is getting presenter thompson is getting

some in from small some reaction in from small businesses to the prime minister's speech . pip, who have minister's speech. pip, who have you been talking to? >> i've got asked to speak here today because of my tiktok. >> hi, emily. >> hi, emily. >> well , >> hi, emily. >> well, i'm actually at a federation of small businesses business boot camp. there's about 200 people here at this networking event. lots of interesting speeches going on. i'm keeping my voice a little low because i don't want to upstage the speaker currently, but i have managed to tempt three ladies away to talk to them about what the prime minister had to say this morning. it was all about cutting red tape, wasn't it? cutting taxes, creating thousands more apprenticeships. and also he's he's saying all the right things, saying that the right things, saying that the government's doing everything it can to turbocharge small businesses. they are the engines of economic growth . so, engines of economic growth. so, lily, hi. you're a nutrition consultant . you've got your own consultant. you've got your own business. was there anything you

heard that satisfied you today from the prime minister? >> so we know it works. >> so we know it works. >> listen, not necessarily to be honest. especially when on the issue of, apprentice, i'm i'm one woman band at the moment. i'm a small business, but i'd rather he supported his businesses like funding towards businesses like funding towards businesses than giving than the apprentice because we as i would love to grow my business and employ more people who are already experienced, people who know their job instead of me spending the time having to support apprentice because as a small business, it's just not practical at all. >> okay. and you're an accounting practitioner , just accounting practitioner, just tell me what that means in layman's terms. and was it helpful what this means in layman's terms, i help 350 clients and small businesses myself, the apprenticeship route for most small businesses isn't that helpful because they haven't got enough normal staff

to be able to support an apprentice properly , the other apprentice properly, the other measures, things like vat and things like that. again, that's not enough. as far as i'm concerned. there's nothing to help small businesses, as in employers like myself , so what employers like myself, so what what did you want to hear ? what did you want to hear? >> what's missing? and obviously he wants your vote. doesn't he? he thinks the conservative party is the party to improve the economy, a lot of small businesses, their growth is stunted by the current vat regime being 85,000. to register and with it only increasing to 90, that's not going to make any difference. we felt it needed to go over well over 100,000 in turnover and things people turnover and things like people who the who have got premises, the business rates needed to be addressed. so, know, they addressed. so, you know, they were two key areas and perhaps, giving a higher employment allowance for small businesses to help them with national insurance contributions. so lily, are you influenced today from what you've heard, when it

comes to the election at the moment, i'm undecided , to be moment, i'm undecided, to be honest, because i still feel that the is more to be done to us as business owners. >> so i haven't really decided whether i'll vote or not. sadly. i don't know whether you'll vote or not. >> excuse me. we're getting knocked balloons knocked out by balloons here. let's move those of the let's just move those out of the way. don't know way. just. you don't know whether to vote or not. >> yeah. i'm undecided, to be honest . yeah. honest. yeah. >> and yet, here's the government that government saying that businesses , you're businesses like yours, you're the engines of the economy . the engines of the economy. >> well, they want to turbo charge you. >> you're not seduced by any of that. >> no, no, i mean it's good. well and good. they can say it, but we want to see evidence like . what do you mean by turbo charge? how are you even supporting us? we are, you know, we are the backbone of economy, but we don't get the recognition and the support that we need as small businesses. >> okay, well, talking of support, let me just bring in angela. so your company , you're angela. so your company, you're a marketing officer and you've got a company that supports

businesses with, with loans. >> so the company that i work for supports small businesses through business support and business loans. >> we are an alternative lender and i'm interested to see more support from government when it comes to not just equity investment, but more debt investment, but more debt investment . investment. >> and i know they mentioned investing in women task force and it sounds brilliant, but at the same time that's equity investment. how accessible is that for smaller businesses? where is the debt investment? where is the debt investment? where is the support for training when it comes to financial management ? we would financial management? we would like to see that. and our clients are looking for that. we've seen a massive requirement for that kind of support. >> well, it was a seven minute speech from rishi sunak, but certainly here at this event, this federation of small businesses event, it does seem to be quite a lukewarm response

to be quite a lukewarm response to what the prime minister had to what the prime minister had to say. >> so the very interesting stuff i >> -- >> thank 5mm >> thank you very much. pip pip tomson there at, talking to small businesses in reaction to the prime minister's speech, three there . three female founders there. >> yes. very good. clearly women are doing well in the are doing very well in the business of small businesses. good stuff. yes. >> apparently >> although apparently not getting investment into getting as much investment into the businesses. so that's the small businesses. so that's that's that's no that's the. yeah, that's no guess what, sadiq khan, london mayor of course, has an absolutely huge number of jobs in city hall that are paid over £100,000. you won't believe just how many jobs there are at city hall, paid for by the taxpayer . hall, paid for by the taxpayer. that are six figures and over. i wonder how many are in pr? >> well, we'll we'll we'll keep that that number, to ourselves. so you'll have to join us after the break to find out what it is.

well, we promised to tell you the number of jobs that are city hall and its subsidiaries, have at over £100,000 the number of six figure salaries that the mayor of london is responsible for, that come out of taxpayers cash. what's the number, emily? >> it's , 1146 people. so 1146 >> it's, 1146 people. so 1146 people take home six figure salaries. and that's last year. now, sadiq khan has been accused of turning his office into quotes a gravy train. >> so these are these are one over 1100 jobs that the mayor is responsible for , that pay over responsible for, that pay over £100,000 a year. >> now some of these are in the met, some of these are in tfl. but what is striking is that the number of city hall and transport for london officials that are receiving more than £100,000 a year has almost

doubled under sadiq khan. is this just inflation at play, or is this the recruitment of more and more people paid for by the taxpayer? well with less than an interest in necessarily bringing those costs under control? >> well, of course it was the mayor's night tsar. have you heard of this? he's. gosh, yes. she'll be in this for the night time economy. she was originally hired. it was on 40,000. hired. i think it was on 40,000. and takes home over 100,000. and now takes home over 100,000. yeah, only does yeah, herjob has. she only does a few days a week and her job has spiralled in costs. meanwhile, do you know how many nightclubs in london have closed? do you know how many, pubs open after 10 or 11 pubs don't open after 10 or 11 pm? there is no night time economy in london. >> i'm tucked up in bed by 10:00. tell me i'm you. >> i wish i wasn't. i wish i could stroll through the streets and pubs. could sort of have a licence that went on later . and pubs. could sort of have a licence that went on later. but i mean sadiq khan spoke , was it i mean sadiq khan spoke, was it last week or the week before about sort of being delighted that he leads a 24 hour city

compared to other large city compared to any other large city around the world, any other city of 10 million people? london doesn't have a night time economy. no. >> well, we'll return to this because it is quite that because it is quite amazing that that jobs being paid that many jobs are being paid over six figures, but christopher revealed christopher hope revealed earlier in the hour that the government has started now to identify why the illegal migrants who will be on the first flights to rwanda . first flights to rwanda. >> yes, mps will today debate recommendations amendments recommendations or amendments amendments made by the house of lords, require the lords, which require the government prove that rwanda government to prove that rwanda is multiple different is safe in multiple different ways before those flights are allowed. >> yes, and this comes as analysis reveals the true costs of the scheme expected to hit billions , with one deportation billions, with one deportation now estimated to be £230,000. shall we speak to james hill, who's the political correspondent for the spectator, james. so the government are kicking themselves into action, identifying illegal migrants that may be on these first flights. are they putting the cart before the horses? >> well, i think it's about the

necessary planning, really involved with all of this because, at the moment rishi sunak wants to have, a rwanda scheme that's going to be up and serving as a deterrent. so there may be a couple of hundreds or so with this. so which are involved with this. >> or so, as we say >> about 350 or so, as we say from reports today, but obviously got backlog obviously you've got a backlog of so who've of around 55,000 or so who've arrived past couple of years. >> so really, it's more about a deterrent try and stop small deterrent to try and stop small boats crossing. >> question how >> and the question is how effective deterrent that effective a deterrent will that be? many we get be? depending on how many we get off and what the off the ground and what is the process to happen? off the ground and what is the pronowto happen? off the ground and what is the pro�*now clearly en? off the ground and what is the pro�*now clearly the of >> now clearly the house of commons well, i say clearly, commons is well, i say clearly, perhaps they won't, but they want strip away the want to strip away the amendments that the house of lords made . and what's going to lords made. and what's going to happen tonight. >> well, what we expect to see this week is the classic parliamentary game of ping pong. >> talking to mps today, it seems that there isn't much of a sort that we saw sort of struggle that we saw around sort second around the sort of second reading december we reading back in december when we saw group and saw the one nation group and bill all sort of bill cash's group all sort of making noise about making lots of noise about different amendments. >> ten >> we've got these ten amendments have put

amendments which have been put forward lords. forward by the house of lords. i think conservative mps can think the conservative mps can be all of be expected to defeat all of those, we have this sort those, because we have this sort of schrodinger's the of schrodinger's majority in the house of commons right now, which is obviously polls. which is obviously at the polls. rishi very far behind, rishi sunak is very far behind, but he still a but on paper he still has a majority should them majority that should enable them to that moments to ensure that all those moments are then back are rejected. it then goes back to lords on to the house of lords on wednesday . all tory peers, i wednesday. all tory peers, i understand, been told to understand, have been told to turn that and turn up for that vote. and then it's trying sure it's about trying to make sure that passes law, that bill passes into law, before next when before next tuesday when parliament if before next tuesday when par|lords1t if before next tuesday when par| lords still if before next tuesday when par| lords still are if before next tuesday when parilords still are opposing if before next tuesday when parilords still are opposing the the lords still are opposing the bill on wednesday, what will happen rather than those ten happen is, rather than those ten amendments, you might get 5 or 6 as oppositions weakened. as sort of oppositions weakened. but does depend on the but it really does depend on the strength of opposition, particularly , crossbench particularly among, crossbench peers, the of peers, who will be the sort of crucial bellwether upper crucial bellwether in the upper house. i this is all house. and i think this is all really tom, because really important, tom, because rishi has pledged rishi sunak has pledged repeatedly wants to see repeatedly he wants to see flights ground the flights off the ground by the spring. if he spring. and, of course, if he delays it after parliament delays it until after parliament goes we're goes into recess, then we're talking about mid—june rather than may as he hoped. >> and likes of robert >> and the likes of robert jenrick suella braverman jenrick and suella braverman have that have pointed out that individuals will still have the right their right to appeal their deportation to rwanda. the

courts are very much still going to involved . to be involved. >> ed well, yes, but i think that this was about a balancing act. this was a much about politics as was law. and i politics as it was law. and i think the sort of bare think really the sort of bare safeguards here what safeguards here was what was needed of the one needed to keep some of the one nafion needed to keep some of the one nation on side. and also, needed to keep some of the one nati remember)n side. and also, needed to keep some of the one nati remember thesee. and also, needed to keep some of the one nati remember these arguments you remember these arguments were made to peers in you remember these arguments werupper made to peers in you remember these arguments werupper house ade to peers in you remember these arguments werupper house thisto peers in you remember these arguments werupper house this weekers in the upper house this week saying, there some saying, look, there are some legal safeguards, why legal safeguards, and that's why you should allow this bill through and more is now through. and i think more is now about more about trying about it's now more about trying to kind of liberal to appease those kind of liberal minded of minded peers in the house of lords, rather necessarily , lords, rather than necessarily, talking about the concerns of people given people at robert jenrick, given that had the that we've already had the second and third reading the second and third reading of the safety the safety of rwanda bill in the house of commons in previous months. about the months. so now it's about the future the past. future rather than the past. >> tonight. >> so crucial votes tonight. tonight 6 pm, mps will start tonight at 6 pm, mps will start voting on this. probably rip out those amendments those lords amendments wednesday. the lords might put some back in. it's going some of them back in. it's going to go to and fro, but it's likely it will get passed. well james thank you so much likely it will get passed. well jantalking thank you so much likely it will get passed. well jantalking usthank you so much likely it will get passed. well jantalking us through u so much likely it will get passed. well jantalking us through what�*nuch for talking us through what exactly is going on today. sometimes parliamentary sometimes these parliamentary procedures can be slightly mystifying. >> perplexing, but coming up,

we're going to be speaking to miriam cates mp as rishi sunak continues to fight for his political life. she's also got something else very interesting political life. she's also got so talk|ing else very interesting political life. she's also got so talk to; else very interesting political life. she's also got so talk to us.se very interesting political life. she's also got so talk to us.se verywe'llesting to talk to us about. we'll reveal all after your headlines . reveal all after your headlines. >> it's 232. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. your headlines. the government has started to identify which illegal migrants will be on the first flight to rwanda. downing street says the initial cohort of people is now being contacted with the prime minister still determined to see the first plane departing later this spring. mps are due to vote this evening on ten changes to the rwanda bill, made by peers in the house of lords . the prime the house of lords. the prime minister has rebuffed speculation about a leadership challenge, saying he's not interested in westminster politics. speaking at a business eventin politics. speaking at a business event in warwickshire, rishi sunak urged his party to stick to the plan and told backbenchers that the economy is turning a corner. he was forced

to speak out after rumours suggested right wing tories were lining up penny mordaunt to replace him in coventry. the prime minister also announced plans to create 20,000 new apprenticeships. rishi sunak pledged £60 million of new investment to cover a series of reforms, including fully funding training for young people and cutting red tape for small businesses . and britain's most businesses. and britain's most successful female olympian, dame laura kenny, has announced her retirement from professional cycling. the five time gold medallist had been expected to compete at the paris games this summer. the 31 year old welcomed her second son last year and said spending time at home with her family was proving more important her. and for the important to her. and for the latest story, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen , or go to gb news on your screen, or go to gb news .com/ alerts

i >> -- >> it's 237. m >> it's 237. you're watching and listening to good afternoon, britain. now women are being exploited by large corporations which offer incentives to freeze their egg. so says eggs. so says §::'—': §::'=': . mp miriam cates. conservative mp miriam cates. >> yes, women do have more than one egg. hopefully, yes , but the one egg. hopefully, yes, but the mp for penistone and stocksbridge and mother of three, has highlighted that concerns that women are being falsely reassured by schemes like this , saying, quote, only a like this, saying, quote, only a tiny percentage of people who freeze their eggs will ever become pregnant. >> well, miriam cates joins us now. miriam, thank you very much for joining us to discuss this important issue. i mean, as a woman myself , i've spoken to woman myself, i've spoken to friends about this issue , people friends about this issue, people who perhaps don't have a partner yet or are very busy with their career thinking about whether they should make this decision

to freeze their eggs, and you're sending out a bit of a warning here? >> yes. that's right . >> yes. that's right. >> yes. that's right. >> so we know from polling that the vast majority of young women do want to become mothers. about 92, but that increasingly women are delaying having children. the average age of becoming a mother for the first time is getting later and later every yeah getting later and later every year. and of course, there are all sorts of reasons that, all sorts of reasons for that, some which just some of which you've just mentioned. find career, mentioned. find dance, career, all not finding mentioned. find dance, career, all right not finding mentioned. find dance, career, all right partner. not finding mentioned. find dance, career, all right partner. butfinding mentioned. find dance, career, all right partner. but whatg mentioned. find dance, career, all right partner. but what i'm the right partner. but what i'm concerned about is that fertility and fertility companies and increasingly employers are saying to women, you know, freeze , that's your freeze your eggs, that's your insurance policy. don't worry if you're ready or able to have you're not ready or able to have children right now. if you freeze eggs, you'll secure freeze your eggs, you'll secure your chance of a your chance of becoming a mother. unfortunately, mother. and unfortunately, it's just simple because the just not that simple because the process of freezing eggs doesn't necessarily always work. around 9 to 80 to 90% of them are. those eggs are thawed successfully, which sounds like quite a high success rate. but then you through all the

then when you go through all the other of fertilisation, other steps of fertilisation, implanting embryo, the same implanting the embryo, the same steps you would with ivf, very, very few of those eggs end up as a live birth. even if you do go through the process of thawing your eggs, it looks like only around 19% those eggs will around 19% of those eggs will actually result in you becoming actually result in you becoming a mother. now, you wouldn't buy an insurance policy , a car an insurance policy, a car insurance policy that only had a 19% chance of paying out if you had accident, that's what had an accident, and that's what we're looking at. and yet women themselves we're looking at. and yet women themselvezand thousands thousands and thousands of pounds our employers. pounds on this as our employers. and women need to have pounds on this as our employers. andfacts women need to have pounds on this as our employers. andfacts before1en need to have pounds on this as our employers. andfacts before they eed to have pounds on this as our employers. andfacts before they goi to have pounds on this as our employers. andfacts before they go down we the facts before they go down that route. >> but miriam, that would be an absolutely correct thing to say if women were only freezing one 999 if women were only freezing one egg around a 19% chance of a live birth, but on average , live birth, but on average, women freeze much more than one egg. i think many places recommend you freeze 15, which raises that chance of success. it's very, very high. if a woman under the age of 35 freezes 15 eggs, she's got an 80% chance of a of a healthy young live birth,

that's a much better success rate than just 20. >> well, well, we have to look at the data in sequences. so firstly the average age of egg freezing is actually 37, 38, because before then, women don't really see the necessity of doing that. and of course, sadly, the natural, decline of the health of those eggs means that eggs frozen at that age are far less likely to be successfully implanted as embryos. but also, yes , you can embryos. but also, yes, you can freeze, 15 eggs, let's say, but of course, you only fertilise one or perhaps two at a time, the woman has to be pumped full of hormones, ready to receive that embryo. then you have to implant embryo and see if it implant the embryo and see if it takes. and don't forget, this is incredibly expensive . now, the incredibly expensive. now, the whole treatment from start to finish costs £8,000 or finish probably costs £8,000 or so, each you want to so, but each time you want to thaw another egg, fertilise another implant another another egg, implant another 999, another egg, implant another egg, money. and egg, it costs more money. and sadly, ivf. even in healthy young women using fresh embryos, their own eggs only has a 20 or 30% chance of success each time

it's much, much lower for frozen eggs. frozen for a period of time and taken from women who are older. now, that's not to say these treatments aren't important, for many, many people . and of course, the research that's going is that's going into them is improving their success rate. but it's not fair tell women but it's not fair to tell women who are nearing the end of their their fertile life that they have this insurance policy. that means that they can absolutely become a mother at any time they want, then they find want, and then they find out later line they've later down the line that they've been effectively. is been sold effectively. what is a lie vast majority dodi lie for the vast majority dodi and that it won't actually result what they're thinking? result in what they're thinking? it yeah, you're right to >> yeah, i think you're right to point miriam, that point this out, miriam, that regardless the individual regardless of the individual statistics how eggs statistics on how many eggs can be fertilised, are the be fertilised, what are the chances of having live birth? there assumption among there is this assumption among some young women whatever some young women that whatever happens, decisions they happens, whatever decisions they make or whatever comes their way, they will be able to have a child through some kind of scientific intervention, whether it's freezing your egg, ivf, whatever it is . and actually, whatever it is. and actually, unfortunately, because of the

biological clock , it is biological clock, it is difficult. and women have so many decisions to make in their lives, and it's so difficult to know what to do, when to have a child. if you want children, whether you've even got a partner have one. but they partner to have one. but they shouldn't be selling a lie. it shouldn't be selling a lie. it should come with the warning that may unfortunately not that this may unfortunately not work you . work for you. >> yes, and in fact, the most likely outcome is that it won't work. i mean, that is clear from the data, but i think, you know, there's a much bigger conversation to have here because of course, there are some significant barriers that stop children when stop women having children when they want to and when they're most we can look most fertile. we can look at housing prices . that's an housing prices. that's an obvious finding obvious thing, not finding a partner. things . partner. all those things. there's definitely a role for government in but there is government in that. but there is also for education. i also a role for education. and i did in september did some polling in september last and found out that 70% last year and found out that 70% of women think that it's actually okay to wait until 35 to start thinking about having a baby. to start thinking about having a baby . of course, baby. and of course, sadly, that's true that's just not true biologically. i do think biologically. so i do think there's a role for better

fertility education to help people just understand what the chances are. and it doesn't help that we have lots of stories of celebrities having babies in their 40s. it gives this their late 40s. it gives this false impression anyone can false impression that anyone can do is just do that, which of course is just not true. and the chances are, sadly, if you had sadly, that if you haven't had a baby by 40, you've got a baby by 30 or 40, you've got a much, much less than evens chance of becoming a mother. so it is about it is about education. but of course, it's a much, much wider conversation that having about that we need to be having about the kinds barriers that there the kinds of barriers that there are all, government are and how we all, government included , try to break down some included, try to break down some of absolutely. of those barriers. absolutely. >> point , an >> it's an important point, an important discussion have, important discussion to have, particularly rate particularly as the birth rate continues to decline in this country. some really stark questions miriam , questions there. but miriam, while we've got you here, we've got about this got to talk about this speculation weekend speculation over the weekend about remove the prime about plots to remove the prime minister, going in minister, about letters going in to sir graham brady, about this groundhog day conversation. it seems we've had ever since 2016. but miriam cates , have you put but miriam cates, have you put in a letter to rishi to sir graham brady ? graham brady? >> look, i wouldn't tell you even if i had, because the whole

point is it's secret, but i am not going to add to the speculation. i don't recognise the vast majority of the stories that have appeared in the press over the last over the weekend. it seems to me a complete frenzy , particularly from the right wing press. look, the party's in a really , really difficult a really, really difficult position. the polls very position. the polls are very clear. know we've got an clear. we know we've got an enormous task, but i would think back to 2 or 3 years ago when, unfortunately , boris johnson was unfortunately, boris johnson was toppled. now we can all have a, an argument about whether he was an argument about whether he was a good prime minister or not, but he had a mandate. he won an election. he elected the election. he was elected by the conservative party members . and conservative party members. and unfortunately, that getting rid of set us on of boris johnson did set us on a path of this constant questions over leadership , and obviously over leadership, and obviously every individual conservative mp has just to , you know, weigh has just got to, you know, weigh up what the next move is . up what the next move is. >> well, there we go. thank you very much indeed. miriam cates , very much indeed. miriam cates, for joining us. miriam miriam forjoining us. miriam miriam cates mp gosh, my words come out. >> miriam miriam cates but not

that difficult to say is it is as as miriam says, different, different mps will have different mps will have different responses to what's going on in the polls right now. and indeed many people will have that that discussion. i know these conversations are happening sort of in the corridors of power at sort of late at night, mps talking to one another, thinking , gosh, one another, thinking, gosh, what do we do? each new relaunch, each new policy , each relaunch, each new policy, each new budget doesn't seem to be shifting dial . shifting the dial. >> yeah, you can't really be polling at 18% and not be having these conversations. i these conversations. yeah. i mean, got realistic mean, you've got to be realistic . is there any way that they can turn around their chances when it comes down to it at the general election, will those polling, will the polling at the moment be reflected in that result? we shall. >> big questions mate , november, >> big questions mate, november, june, maybe even january 25th. but still to come, royal rumours are rife that the princess of wales has been seen out and about doing some shopping as speculation continues to grow about her health. well you're

watching good afternoon britain on

gp news. good afternoon. britain. it's just coming up to 10 to 3. and you've been getting in touch on the stories of today, particularly . one question. got particularly. one question. got you talking more than anything else . and this was, of course, else. and this was, of course, the story that the v&a museum in london has listed margaret thatcher alongside villains of history in a in a piece about punch and judy, saying that she's in line with adolf hitler or osama bin laden. >> totally normal, totally normal. dave says she was mainly evil. a couple of good things . evil. a couple of good things. poll tax farce right to buy is disaster for social housing. the people who bought the council houses lost them when interest rates rose , cowboy builders, rates rose, cowboy builders, dodgy mortgages rampant, unemployed , claiming and

unemployed, claiming and working. also, the thatcher years were for the blind , years were great for the blind, deaf and dumb. well, there you go. >> well that's dave, keith says the best prime minister ever. not what? she put me in prison because i told her to what do with her poll tax. well, keith, if you choose to not pay a tax, you you do go to prison. i don't think that should be think that that should be particularly surprising, but but my goodness, we my goodness, should we just raise what rod has written? then he says, i lived in a mining village through both disastrous mines and strikes and i can tell you firsthand it wasn't thatcher who destroyed the communities . who destroyed the communities. it was the communist funded unions, the likes of scargill , unions, the likes of scargill, with their belief that the government would crumble. they led the miners and their families down a one way road to oblivion. >> and this made me laugh. >> and this one made me laugh. mark afternoon, tom mark says, good afternoon, tom and emily. margaret thatcher, she's in the left's she's still living in the left's head , rent free, over years head, rent free, over 33 years after left office. yes, you after she left office. yes, you know, love her or loathe her, she is an icon that very much lives on in the in the minds of

the left. >> well, perhaps you should finish with lucy, who says there's a professional curator. i would first state that political views have no place in our museums and galleries. it did seem that it was a little bit political , didn't it? bit political, didn't it? >> right. well, we're going to finish the show. you finish off the show. thank you very emails by the very much for your emails by the way. to finish off way. we're going to finish off the by speaking royal the show by speaking to royal broadcaster rafe broadcaster and commentator rafe heydel—mankoo seen heydel—mankoo raif. we've seen thank you joining us. we've thank you for joining us. we've seen of headlines . seen all sorts of headlines. apparently there have been spottings of princess catherine at the windsor farm shop. we don't have any evidence of this spotting of her. what do you say to it all? and has it got to the point where she should just be left alone? >> yes. >> yes. >> leave the princess of wales alone, please . alone, please. >> that is the message we're getting from the great british public. >> it's the way i personally feel. >> it's the emails that i'm getting . it's the vox pops that getting. it's the vox pops that i've seen and the comments that i've seen and the comments that i've seen and the comments that i've seen on social media. i

mean, we should be reassured, of course, that her royal highness has been seen around in the windsor farm shop as you've said, no photographs, unfortunately, which won't do much to stop some of the more outlandish conspiracy theories . outlandish conspiracy theories. but i think most people will be heartened to know that her royal highness is continuing to recover well and be seen recover well and will be seen after easter. >> and we should say when we say after easter , we're not talking after easter, we're not talking about the easter weekend, we're talking about easter school talking about the easter school holidays. so around april the 17th is when that will happen. although i will be very i'm pretty sure we will see her royal highness again , on easter royal highness again, on easter sunday for the easter sunday service , and all of this means service, and all of this means that everything we were told was going to happen is happening. we were told at the outset that the princess of wales would require three months of recovery and would be seen again after easter. so kate's absence from pubuc easter. so kate's absence from public life really shouldn't be causing so much drama and consternation. >> well, there we have it. two

dates for our diary. easter sunday is the 31st of march, but if we don't see her, then that wouldn't be entirely surprising given that three month timeline they set out. ralph, you're saying the 17th of april is the one we should really be looking out for? >> that's right. because of course we have the school holidays there and is on the 17th of april that the children return to their school near ascot. and so i'm sure there'll be photographs then of her royal highness, perhaps taking to highness, perhaps taking them to their to their first day back at school. >> right. well, that's really good to know. 17th of april. i've written it down here and i've written it down here and i've it twice. so rafe i've circled it twice. so rafe heydel—mankoo, very heydel—mankoo, thank you very much us. heydel—mankoo, thank you very mu thank us. heydel—mankoo, thank you very mu thank you us. heydel—mankoo, thank you very mu thank you very. heydel—mankoo, thank you very mu thank you very much indeed. >> thank you very much indeed. well, today. well, that's it for us today. we'll tomorrow at 12:00 we'll be back tomorrow at 12:00 as normal, but it's martin daubney next, martin, what's coming up on your fabulous show ? coming up on your fabulous show? >> well, if it's half as good as yours, i'll be happy. >> rishi on the ropes. >> rishi on the ropes. >> of course . >> of course. >> of course. >> there's that historic debate. >> there's that historic debate. >> 8:00 tonight. >> 8:00 tonight. >> the vote on rwanda, rwanda or

bust. >> 23 points behind. >> 23 points behind. >> now to the labour party and talk of a leadership challenge. can it get any worse for the prime minister? >> labour, meanwhile, seems to have a credible asylum plan. >> a thousand people in, in in getting people out of the country. it sounds like a good idea. we'll speak to yvette cooper channel. cooper on the channel. >> population >> london's population is through who to through the roof. who want to live there? >> answer is 10 million people. >> that's that. come on >> that's who got that. come on the three till six. but the show. three till six. but first, for your latest first, it's time for your latest weather guess what? >> probably to rain more. >> probably going to rain more. >> probably going to rain more. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the gb news forecast from the met office. it's a fine end to the day in the east with some bright sunshine, but turning cloudy in the west with outbreaks of rain heading in weather fronts out to the west already bringing thicker cloud into northern

ireland. and those outbreaks of rain will soon sweep in and they'll push into western scotland , western fringes of scotland, western fringes of england as well as wales. the wind picking up gales for exposed parts of western scotland and the rain by the end of the night, reaching central and southeastern parts of the uk but tending to fizzle out as it crosses the country ten celsius by dawn. so the cloud, the wind and the rain tending to keep things relatively mild. but it will be a damp start to the day in many spots. however soon enough the cloud will lift and break the rain clears to showers. showers could occur just about anywhere , but most just about anywhere, but most likely across parts of the midlands into the south of the uk. some bright spells there for northern ireland and scotland into the afternoon. temperatures here 12 celsius further south. mild again 17 or 18 celsius in the south—east wednesday, though, starts off on a damp note with outbreaks of rain pushing north into central parts

of the uk. staying sunny in the far northwest and staying mostly dry in the far southeast. that rain clears to showers once again on thursday and friday, and it does turn a bit colder. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers , sponsors of boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> a very good afternoon to you. and a very happy monday. it's 3 pm. welcome to the martin p.m. welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news. broadcasting live from the heart of westminster all across the uk. today, gb news understands that the first migrants will be deported to rwanda. have already begun to be identified by the government, as the infamous bill is debated once again today in the commons . is debated once again today in the commons. can rishi sunak finally bring home the bacon and deliver on rwanda? next up,

london population boom. new research has found that the capital has almost certainly surpassed its pre—pandemic peak of 10.1 million people and continues to climb. is britain finally over crowded and rishi sunak becomes comes out fighting, saying he has a plan to boost british business. it comes as speculation over his future as prime minister grows and grows . some tory mps are and grows. some tory mps are reported as wanting the commons leader, penny mordaunt, to replace him . and it wouldn't be replace him. and it wouldn't be easter without easter weather chaos. are we in for yet another wet easter weekend? this year certainly feels like it. that's all coming up in your next hour. welcome to the show. thank you for joining us. always a forjoining us. always a pleasure. i've already been

joined in the studio by