gb news. good afternoon. >> britain. it's coming up to 1:00 on wednesday, the 20th of march. >> the irish premier, leo varadkar , has in the past hour varadkar, has in the past hour resigned. >> this follows two enormous referendum defeats in ireland , referendum defeats in ireland, where the public rejected the government's attempts to change constitutional language around the family and the role of women. >> an investigation is launched at the hospital which recently treated princess kate and king charles. at least one member of staff is suspected of trying to access kate's medical records. we'll bring you the very latest. >> are we about to see a drop in

interest rates.7 >> fingers crossed , all eyes >> fingers crossed, all eyes will be on the bank of england's announcement tomorrow after today's sensational, unexpected, bigger than expected drop of inflation. the rate is now at its lowest level for more than two years. >> i've never seen you more excited. tom, are britain's diversity and inclusion programs backfiring.7 >> the business secretary, kemi badenoch knock, certainly thinks so. she says inclusion policies come at the expense of white men. >> god forbid. >> god forbid. >> but there's a big question here, and it's the circumstance surrounding the resignation of leo varadkar. >> few saw it coming, but it was only a couple of weeks ago that he went to ireland with two referendums on the same day, to change wording in the constitution around what a family is, whether that's based

on the institution of marriage or not, but also on the role of women, not only within the home. all of the opinion polls said that leo varadkar and actually all of the major parties in ireland that were supporting this change, they all said that he was going to win it. >> they said by 20 points, by 30 points. >> there was a couple of polls, even lead. even with a 40 point lead. >> when it came to the >> and then when it came to the day the vote, these day of the vote, these two referendums that everyone expected would pass lost by 74. no. >> and 68% no huge loss, huge losses. i think it shows the irish people aren't actually that interested in woke virtue signalling when it comes to constitutional changes. and actually, women aren't so easily offended . and as are people like offended. and as are people like leo varadkar might seem to think. but it's very interesting what you were saying earlier . we what you were saying earlier. we were chatting in the break about how the governments across the world seem to get it so wrong when it comes to referendums.

they completely misjudged the pubuc they completely misjudged the public brexit, not least public mood. brexit, not least brexit, not least the government of course, they would of course, thought they would easily of course, thought they would eas but also of course, thought they would easbut also in october do >> but also in october 2023. do you the australian you remember the australian referendum on setting up a parliament? not quite a parliament, but a voice, they called it, for the aboriginal community. >> all the opinion polls said they were going to win by huge margins the day of the vote. >> they lost. it happens time and time again. >> do know what i think? >> do you know what i think? >> do you know what i think? >> should more >> should we have more referendums? i think a referendums? i think that's a question like. question i would like. politicians i'd politicians would hate it. i'd like to see them. i think the government and politicians get like to see them. i think the gcwrong ent and politicians get like to see them. i think the gcwrong far and politicians get like to see them. i think the gcwrong far tooi politicians get like to see them. i think the gcwrong far too much.:ians get like to see them. i think the gcwrong far too much. ask; get like to see them. i think the gcwrong far too much. ask the: it wrong far too much. ask the people, you think? people, what do you think? vaiews@gbnews.uk people, what do you think? vaiews@gbnyay.uk but referendums, yay or nay? but first headlines . first your headlines. >> good afternoon. it's 1:03. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom . your top story keir newsroom. your top story keir starmer says the prime minister has the sword of damocles hanging over him. speaking dunng hanging over him. speaking during pmqs, the labour leader criticised rishi sunak over the

cost of his rwanda plan and the lack of flights to the east african nation. but rishi sunak has insisted flights will get off the ground, and that the opposition doesn't have a plan to fix the issue. mps overturned ten amendments to the legislation made by peers when the bill was in the commons on monday . monday. >> the tragedy is we know the prime minister doesn't even believe in the rwanda gimmick, he tried to stop funding it, but he's now so diminished that his entire focus is stopping his mps holding the sword of damocles above his head. how has he managed to spend £600 million of taxpayer money on a gimmick to deport 300 people? yeah but the prime minister said labour is running out of ideas . running out of ideas. >> not only does the labour party not have a plan to fix this issue, but the truth is they don't actually care about fixing this issue. when he talks

about the gangs , when we gave about the gangs, when we gave the police new powers to crack down on the people smuggling gangs, he spent months campaigning and voting against him. if it was up to him, those criminals would still be out on our streets. mr speaker. and the truth is, if the truth is , if he truth is, if the truth is, if he wasn't the labour leader, he'd still want to be their lawyer for housing asylum seekers on barges , military bases and barges, military bases and student digs will cost taxpayers more than the hotels currently being used. >> the national audit office said. housing those waiting for asylum decisions in alternative accommodation, such as the bibby stockholm barge and former raf sites, would cost the home office £1.2 billion. that's 46 million more than using hotels and b&bs . in other news, leo and b&bs. in other news, leo varadkar has announced he's stepping down as ireland's prime minister. the 45 year old says he has resigned as the leader of the party immediately , and will the party immediately, and will stay on as taoiseach until his

successor is chosen. mr varadkar became the first openly gay man to lead the irish government when he came out during the 2015 marriage equality referendum. he described his time in the role as fulfilling and says it was the right time . the right time. >> i know this will come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some, and i hope at least you will understand my decision . i know understand my decision. i know that others will. how shall i put it ? cope with the news just put it? cope with the news just fine. that is the great thing about living in a democracy. there is never a right time to resign high office. however, this is as good a time as any and uk inflation has fallen more than expected to the lowest level in over two years, official figures show. >> uk inflation for february came in at 3.4. that's down from 4. it's a bigger fall than economists had forecast. inflation is now closer to the bank of england's 2% target, and comes ahead of the latest interest rate decision on

thursday . now a fresh wave of thursday. now a fresh wave of rail and london underground strikes is set to bring travel chaos next month. aslef the train drivers union, has called a series of walkouts from april the fifth until the eighth, coupled with a sixth day overtime ban involving 16 rail companies. they've also called tube strikes on the 8th of april and the 4th of may in the caphal and the 4th of may in the capital, aslef drivers have voted by 98% in favour of industrial action. time is running out for rishi sunak. that's the message from ed davey as he launches the liberal democrats local election campaign . the lib dem leader campaign. the lib dem leader kicked off his party's english local election campaign in blue wall, hertfordshire, where the lib made major gains last lib dems made major gains last yeah lib dems made major gains last year. ed davey revealed his message to the prime minister as he unveiled a blue and gold hourglass in front of liberal democrat activists is running out for rishi sunak. >> he might have bottled the may election . election.

>> he might be hoping the tide will turn as he squats in downing street for a few months more. >> but even the prime minister can't deny voters across england the chance to cast their vote in the chance to cast their vote in the local elections on may the 2nd. >> 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. now it's back to tom and . tom and. emily. >> right. well, we have some breaking news for you now. the world renowned hospital where king charles and princess catherine treated catherine were recently treated is dealing with a suspected security at least one security breach. at least one member of staff is suspected of trying the princess of trying to access the princess of wales notes. but in the last few minutes, chief executive of minutes, the chief executive of the london clinic, where the princess was treated princess of wales was treated earlier has this earlier this year, has said this is quote , all appropriate is the quote, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken

when looking at these alleged data breaches. >> so just to repeat the london clinic has acknowledged alleged data breaches and said all appropriate investigator , appropriate investigator, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken. >> very interesting indeed. >> very interesting indeed. >> let's cross live now to the london clinic because our royal reporter, our royal correspondent cameron walker, joins us now from the scene. cameron, a statement . cameron, a statement. >> yeah. clearly this is a huge headache for the london clinic. clinic. tom. it's a hospital in central london which is well used and trusted to treat royalty , politicians and royalty, politicians and celebrities as well. they say on their website that they pride themselves on providing excellence in one place. and as we know, the princess of wales was admitted here in january for what kensington palace described as planned abdominal surgery and last night it all kicked off a

bit because the mirror reported that at least one member of staff allegedly attempted to access the princess of wales's private medical notes. the paper also reported that bosses contacted kensington palace immediately after they discovered the alleged breach and were investigating. now, kensington palace told me last night that it is very much a matter for the hospital . the matter for the hospital. the statement from the hospital to the mirror last night said we firmly believe that all our patients, no matter their status , deserve total privacy and confidentiality . and of course, confidentiality. and of course, as you just said, tom, in the last couple of minutes, the chief executive of the london clinic said all appropriate clinic has said all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken when looking at this alleged data breach. now, the information commissioner office also released a statement to us this morning. they said we can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided. now, this is clearly very serious

because this is potentially a criminal offence to access someone's private medical details without their permission orindeed details without their permission or indeed the hospital's permission i.e. unless you're directly involved in the treatment of that patient, it could be a criminal offence. health minister maria caulfield caused a little bit of confusion this morning by suggesting that the police had been asked to look this. the metropolitan look into this. the metropolitan police spokesperson said that they're of any they're not aware of any referral to them this morning, but of course this is the but of course this is in the context of all these conspiracies surrounding the princess of wales when it comes to her health. it's also the hospital. it could have wider implications because this is also the hospital where king charles underwent a procedure on his enlarged prostate. and we know king charles is still receiving outpatient cancer treatment at an undisclosed private london hospital. so clearly huge implications . but clearly huge implications. but that statement, just to repeat in the last few minutes from the chief executive of the hospital that all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be

taken. >> thank you so much, cameron walker . it will be >> thank you so much, cameron walker. it will be incredibly important for the london clinic to get to the bottom of this, to get to the bottom of what exactly has happened, considering just how many high profile they not profile patients they have, not least family , of least the royal family, of course, certainly. least the royal family, of couand certainly. least the royal family, of couand is�*tainly. least the royal family, of couand is�*tainlone member >> and is this one rogue member of staff or is this a deeper problem? no denial, no denial, no denial. but some more breaking news now. in the past houn breaking news now. in the past hour, the irish premier, leo varadkar, has resigned . varadkar, has resigned. >> yes, varadkar's resignation as leader of his party is effective from today and he will step down as prime minister. as the irish say. taoiseach, when a successor is selected, well , successor is selected, well, this is what he had to say a little earlier. >> i know this will come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some, and i hope at least you will understand my decision. >> i know that others will. how should i put it? cope with the news just fine . that is the news just fine. that is the great thing about living in a democracy . there's never a right

democracy. there's never a right time to resign. high office. however, this is as good a time as any budget 2024 is done. negotiations have not yet commenced on the next one. the institutions of the good friday agreement are working again, and our trading relationship with the uk in the post—brexit era is settled and stable. my reasons for stepping down are both personal and political . but personal and political. but after careful consideration and some soul searching , i believe some soul searching, i believe that a new taoiseach and a new leader will be better placed than me to achieve that. to renew and strengthen the team, to focus our message and policies to drive implementation. and after seven years in office, i don't feel i'm the best person for that job anymore. >> seven years in office, of course, he took the role on in 2017, in the midst of the brexit wars . he was a 2017, in the midst of the brexit wars. he was a constant 2017, in the midst of the brexit wars . he was a constant presence wars. he was a constant presence on many of our screens for much of those negotiations. but let's get a bit more on the context behind this shock resignation. joining us now is the author and

commentator on irish politics, kevin maher . kevin, commentator on irish politics, kevin maher. kevin, thank you for making the time for us this afternoon . many people will have afternoon. many people will have been surprised by this announcement yet, but many people will have also looked to the referendum results just a few weeks ago, where the government was unexpectedly sensationally defeated . do you sensationally defeated. do you think that's playing a role here? >> i don't think it is. >> i don't think it is. >> i don't think it is. >> i think the two things are probably discretely separate. i mean, i think i think, you know, leo varadkar is still only 45. >> incredibly, he was first taoiseach at 38. >> so he's been around for >> so, so he's been around for quite a long time. >> he's a very ambitious man, i think it's fair to say. >> and he sort of eludes to that a little bit in his statement, that some people will be probably glad to see back probably glad to see the back of him. probably glad to see the back of hinhe's a controversial >> he's often a controversial figure in irish politics, can figure in in irish politics, can be can a brittle be can be a bit brittle sometimes, can a bit abrasive sometimes, can be a bit abrasive , some people up the , can rub some people up the wrong way. >> he's very effective. >> but he's been very effective. he's wily character, and he's a very wily character, and he's survive at the he's managed to survive at the top of irish politics for quite

a long time. >> he was he was first made a cabinet minister back in 2011, >> he was he was first made a cthe's minister back in 2011, >> he was he was first made a cthe's been;ter back in 2011, >> he was he was first made a cthe's been aroundk in 2011, >> he was he was first made a cthe's been around ain 2011, >> he was he was first made a cthe's been around a long”, >> he was he was first made a cthe's been around a long time. so he's been around a long time. so there's been a kind so i think there's been a kind of an idea that, he would move on to perhaps something else at some stage. and, and as you pointed out, there's never an ideal time to quit these, to quit these roles, but i think, i think this has of been think this has kind of been pnced think this has kind of been priced in for some time that this, this, this day was coming. >> you take what he says at >> so you take what he says at face value. but he did say personal and political reasons. surely the failure to win that referendum. well, the two referenda and perhaps also all the controversy over illegal and legal migration that is very much kicked off in ireland in recent months. there's quite a lot that's been going wrong. lots of complaints to about the economy in ireland. joblessness also the health care system too. it's quite a lot of controversial issues at the moment for the taoiseach. so is surely this is this is political. there must be more to

this than i don't know. he's he's got a bit tired of the job. >> i think there is. i think there often comes a time when you've been in high office for quite a while that that actually you problems coming you see the same problems coming around again, and around again and again, and it gets bit, gets a little gets a little bit, gets a little bit boring. perhaps stage bit boring. perhaps the stage gets you've gets a bit small when you've been you've the head of been you've been the head of government quite time. government for quite some time. he was very, very keen to point out another out that he's not got another gig, lined up at the moment, but i don't think anybody believes him i suspect he's him on that one. i suspect he's got eye on something got his eye either on something at nations or at the united nations or something potentially at the at the of the european commission. of course, european course, there's a new european commission later year and course, there's a new european concurrent] later year and course, there's a new european concurrent irish,' year and course, there's a new european concurrent irish, european and the current irish, european commissioner is, is mairead mcguinness is a fine gael politician as well. so there may be an opportunity for him. there i think i think he's looking to move on to, to something move on to, to do something else. leaves behind else. but he leaves behind a situation where party fine situation where his party fine gael and the other great party of irish politics, fianna fail, are in coalition together since 2020. and that that's kind 2020. and that was that's kind of a sort of a kind of loveless, clammy embrace between two parties have 100 parties that have spent 100 years absolutely loathing each

other. the reason, of other. and the reason, of course, government course, they're in government together to keep fein together is to keep sinn fein out government. sinn out of out of government. sinn fein won the 2020 general election of the popular election in terms of the popular vote. we've got a general election coming up in irish politics sometime over the politics over sometime over the next year, a bit like the british system, can it british system, you can call it in hands the t shirt to in the hands of the t shirt to call that date, within call that date, but within the next 12 months it will be an irish election. leo irish general election. leo varadkar's not varadkar's party, fine gael not in fair to in great shape, it's fair to say. taking a lot of the brunt for decisions that have been made over a long period. as i say, he's been in power, in office himself and his party, you know, for a decade or more. so, very little room so, so there's very little room to move of the way of kind to move out of the way of kind of criticism or on the of public criticism or on the issues that, you know, you talked few few moments talked about a few a few moments ago. he's probably ago. so i think he's probably assessed, coming to end assessed, i'm coming to the end of as taoiseach. i'll go of my time as taoiseach. i'll go on my terms rather than the electorates , and i'll see what electorates, and i'll see what else is out and see if i else is out there and see if i can into a bigger can jump into a bigger international now. international job now. >> you raised >> very fascinating. you raised that a of a new that prospect of a of a new irish so in irish commissioner so often in the european union. it's when someone fails in their current

job, they can just, you know, move on and get something bigger and something better. we're going to have to leave it there. but very much for your but thank you very much for your time and your expert. do time and your expert. what do they call it? >> a retirement for failed >> a retirement home for failed politicians ? >> a retirement home for failed polyes, ns ? >> a retirement home for failed polyes, normally the >> yes, normally that's the house perhaps it's house of lords, but perhaps it's grander european commission. but is interesting how >> but no, it is interesting how he's just got back. he got on monday. he got back from visiting the united states, going to the house, having going to the white house, having his moment with his big handshake moment with joe saint patrick's joe biden on saint patrick's day, a good send off, perhaps moving off to grander things, perhaps. moving off to grander things, perwell, other news, eight >> well, in other news, eight small boats have been intercepted channel in intercepted in the channel in the of crossings. the latest surge of crossings. >> and french authorities >> the uk and french authorities are to the latest are responding to the latest rise in an improvement in weather conditions , as has seen weather conditions, as has seen criminal people smugglers attempt to launch multiple small boats from french beaches. >> well , joining us now is gb >> well, joining us now is gb news home and security editor mark white. mark, are we witnessing a surge in crossings then ? then? >> yeah we are. we're moving towards what could be a record

day for the year so far. the previous record was set on the fourth of this month, when 401 migrants came across in a number of small boats on that particular day, because weather conditions had improved this time of the year. it's always pretty rough out there in the channel pretty rough out there in the channel, but you get those days like today when it's just a bit calmer, and when that happens, you get a surge because the days like today are few and far between . so at the moment it between. so at the moment it looks like we've had eight small boats that have come across, the last of those boats is the dover lifeboat taking about 60, 65 migrants, into dover harbour. they've just come off the vessel, within the last few minutes. and that takes the total for today , to over 390. so total for today, to over 390. so you can see, we're pushing up towards that record day already ,

towards that record day already, and actually, this is pushing up now towards 4000 people who have come across the english channel so far this year. and we're very early on in the year , and that early on in the year, and that would be more than where we were at this point last year when the government, of course, said that it was doing so much to reduce numbers with a 36% reduction in the overall total arriving across the channel last year compared to the year before . compared to the year before. >> well, really concerning for the government then if it's starting to become more than last year because last year was such decline. but mark, such a decline. but, but mark, obviously more people coming into raises the into the country raises the question of asylum seeker hotels. they've been such a bone of contentiousness within this country. what will likely happen here? >> well, a couple of things to report on that. you remember, of course, that rishi sunak vowed last august to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers

because, of course, it takes these hotels out of use for the local communities. you can't have your wedding there. other important functions and sometimes these hotels are taken out of use for a year or two or even three years at a time. well, what the government have just announced is that by next friday, they will have handed back 100, of the hotels that have been requisitioned for use for asylum seekers. they have put them into other accommodations, such as these disused raf bases. scampton is not yet online, but raf wethersfield in essex is . and of wethersfield in essex is. and of course, the bibby stockholm barge, along with, a former student accommodation in huddersfield . but on that issue huddersfield. but on that issue as well, we've had the spending watchdog , the national audit watchdog, the national audit office, coming out with a report today saying that the cost of actually these big purpose built or redeveloped centres to put

all the migrants in is costing more than keeping them in the hotels. now, what the government says in response to that is the way that the national audit office have calculated. this doesn't tell the whole story. they are including the cost of redeveloping these disused sites into, habitable sites again. so thatis into, habitable sites again. so that is got an up front cost. but then in the longer terms it will be much cheaper. they say, to house people en masse in big centres like raf scampton, wethersfield, the bibby stockholm than having them in hotels at a cost of £8.2 million a day. >> well, thank you very much indeed. mark whyte, gb news home and security editor, doesn't seem like there are any good options. seem like there are any good opt no,. it is nice that 100 >> no, but it is nice that 100 hotels have returned serve hotels have returned to serve million use. >> now a lot of you have lots of different views on whether we should be having more referenda in this country. don't you get to some? we're going to get to some. hold your horses. still to

come. inflation has fallen come. uk inflation has fallen more will we see more than expected. will we see a interest rates. and a cut in interest rates. and yes, will get those views yes, we will get to those views on this good on referenda. this is good afternoon britain

i >> -- >> good afternoon. britain. >> good afternoon. britain. >> it's 1:25. >> good afternoon. britain. >> it's1:25. and there's some good news for the economy. yes. inflation has fallen down to 3.4. that's down from 4% in january. more than expected. but are brits actually feeling any richer? >> well, good news for you. gb news has been out and about in birmingham seeing how this fallen inflation impacts all of us. >> us. >> i don't know if i'm like everyone else is. i've never earned so much money. >> i've never earned so much money. but actually, i've never spent money either kind spent so much money either kind of these, you of thing. so all these, you know, gains in a little bit of interest means nothing to

interest rates means nothing to me. everything's a lot more expensive what it was . expensive than what it was. >> i think people are finding it very difficult in this country at i think people at the moment. i think people are struggling. people feel objectively and yeah, objectively poorer, and yeah, obviously it's great that it's come down a fraction of a percent, but what that practically means for, the average is not average man and woman is, is not average man and woman is, is not a lot at the moment. i think they mean absolutely nothing. >> you know, as a as a lay person in the street, i'm going and my beans. and buying my beans. >> my whatever, you and buying my beans. >> and my whatever, you and buying my beans. >> and the my whatever, you and buying my beans. >> and the prices1atever, you and buying my beans. >> and the prices just'er, you and buying my beans. >> and the prices just keep»u know, and the prices just keep going that way, you know. so i think it's bit of a, it's think it's a bit of a, it's a bit of a red herring. >> so we have to choose very carefully what we and what carefully what we eat and what we try and do it in the we buy and try and do it in the most economical way whereas most economical way now, whereas before really sort before we could just really sort of please ourselves a lot of food that we're cutting back on, a lot of stuff like, you know, specially food, we're specially branded food, we're going get cheaper type going to get the cheaper type ones. >> i think that really takes it home, doesn't it? lots of people have never earned more money, but never spent so much money as well. it's that relative. yeah

but, you might not be feeling the impact on inflation in coming down, but the chancellor, jeremy hunt, remains positive, saying inflation is forecast to hit that bank's 2% target within just a few months. >> and here to break down those figures a little bit further is our economics and business ednon our economics and business editor, liam halligan with on the money liam. inflation down, interest rates down soon. >> good to be with you guys . >> good to be with you guys. plenty of wisdom from brummies there in those clips. i think a lot of us feel like that don't we, our wages have gone up in money terms, but our spending power seems to have diminished and that's what inflation does. of course, just before we come to interest rates, because of course, we've got that decision from the bank of england tomorrow. the nine members of the monetary committee, the monetary policy committee, our interest rate is going to come down from 5.25, where they've been last august .

they've been since last august. well, these numbers will really impact the bank of england's thinking . inflation did come thinking. inflation did come down during the year to february to 3.4. so prices during that year rose on average by 3.4% dunng year rose on average by 3.4% during the year to january they were down by 4. so that's a pretty big reduction. and we're weighed back down from 11% inflation, which we had at the end of 2022. that was a 40 year high. why is inflation coming down. so why are prices still going up. but by going up by less in the round, that's because some prices are easing. so food price inflation was up at 19% this time last year. it's now down at 4.5. so the price rises in supermarket visits have really slowed down and some pnces really slowed down and some prices have actually come down in absolute terms over the year. so petrol and diesel petrol in february was roughly 4% cheaper than in february 2023, and diesel was 11% cheaper than in

february 2023. last month, though , in the last couple of though, in the last couple of weeks prices have started to go back up again as motorists will have noticed. so it's a mixed picture, inflation is lower, but it's still a lot higher than the bank of england's 2% target. >> and liam , what is this going >> and liam, what is this going to do to the decisions that are going to be made tomorrow at the bank of england , will it affect bank of england, will it affect their overall calculation . and their overall calculation. and frankly, has it affect mark? has it affected market expectations at all either. >> it's absolutely affected market expectations. let's do that one first. so mortgage rates have come down even since 7 am. this morning. you've got some of the big lenders saying either their rates are coming down straight away or they will lower standard variable lower their standard variable rates. better fixed rates. you'll get better fixed rates. you'll get better fixed rate deals, because now the markets feel that that bank of england interest rate cut when it comes and it will probably be

followed by 1 or 2 more cuts that will come sooner. but i don't think it's going to come tomorrow. tom and emily, now, a lot of gb news viewers and listeners who live on their savings, who lived on fixed income, who don't like the fact interest rates have been low for many , many years over the last many, many years over the last couple of decades. they like the fact that interest rates are now 5.25. they even want them to go higher. so of course, lots of younger people with younger people, people with mortgages and people who are struggling with personal debts, they want interest rates to fall and certainly when interest rates come down, it tends to give the overall economy a boost because it's more investment, more growth . but i don't more gdp growth. but i don't think it's going to happen tomorrow. the reason i don't think it's going happen think it's going to happen tomorrow is because inflation is still, know , 2% compared to still, you know, 2% compared to 3.4. it's still way above target. there are some members of the mpc , the monetary policy of the mpc, the monetary policy committee, the nine economists who just as recently as last month were voting for interest rates to go up even more, why is

that? because they're still quite a lot of pressures in the system. wages are still going up more sharply than the bank of england would like, because they think that's adding to firms costs, adding to inflation, because the firms those because the firms pass those costs on. and there's also 1 or 2 kind of what we call or what i call geopolitical whizz bangs knocking about in the mpc's thinking, what's going to happen to the price of oil? what's going to happen to the price of gas? of course, their interest rate don't impact the rate decisions don't impact the war in russia and ukraine or or relations between israel and hamas and the broader middle east and all these things that impact the oil price. but if the oil price starts ticking up, adding costs, petrol adding to firms costs, petrol and diesel going up again, pnces and diesel going up again, prices going up across the economy, because of course energy affects everything. it's hard for the bank of england to be seen to be cutting rates, because it looks if they because it looks as if they don't about getting don't care about getting inflation down and i would point

out, don't shoot the messenger in the last couple of weeks, the price of oil has actually gone up around 11. it's almost $90 up by around 11. it's almost $90 a barrel. at one point earlier this week. so there are some blots on the landscape. but overwhelming assumption is that interest rates will start to come down quite soon. possibly april, may or june, but not april, may orjune, but not certainly. hoping they can get some interest rate cuts in a number of them before the next election. but you know, this is this is economics. nobody really knows. it's all guesswork. some of it a bit more educated, will have to wait and see, won't we? >> well, thank you very much indeed. liam halligan , our indeed. liam halligan, our business and economics editor there. also noting that a there. also worth noting that a lot will be. yeah, lot of people will be. yeah, quite happy. lots journalists quite happy. lots of journalists as interest as well want to see interest rates go down. got big rates go down. they've got big mortgages, people mortgages, but some people watching will be quite happy with are. yeah. with where they are. yeah. >> to come. 1 in 5 >> well still to come. 1 in 5 muslim prisoners are now white, according to new data. that's not because they've changed colour. because new people

colour. it's because new people are converting within prisons . are converting within prisons. now, is this signs of, there are some concerns that there are signs of radicalisation in prisons. we'll get much more on that after your news headlines. >> it's 133. that after your news headlines. >> it's133. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. keir starmer says the prime minister has the sword of damocles hanging over him. speaking during pmqs, the labour leader criticised rishi sunak over the cost of his rwanda plan and the lack of flights to the east african nation. but rishi sunak has insisted flights will get off the ground, and that the opposition doesn't have a plan to fix the issue. mps overturned ten amendments to the legislation made by peers when the bill was in the commons on monday . monday. >> the tragedy is we know the prime minister doesn't even believe in the rwanda gimmick, he tried to stop funding it, but he's now so diminished that his

entire focus is stopping his mps holding the sword of damocles above his head. how has he managed to spend £600 million of taxpayer money on a gimmick to deport 300 people? >> leo varadkar has announced he's stepping down as islands prime minister the 45 year old says he has resigned as a leader of the party immediately, and will stay on as taoiseach until his successor is chosen. mr varadkar became the first openly gay man to lead the irish government when he came out dunng government when he came out during the 2015 marriage equality referendum . i'm a fresh equality referendum. i'm a fresh wave of rail and london underground strikes is set to bnng underground strikes is set to bring travel chaos next month. aslef, the train drivers union, has called a series of walkouts from april the 5th till the eighth, coupled with a sixth day overtime ban involving 16 rail companies. they've also called tube strikes on the 8th of april

and the 4th of may in the caphal and the 4th of may in the capital, aslef drivers have voted 98% in favour of industrial action and bosses at the london clinic, where the princess of wales had abdominal surgery, have said all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken when looking at medical data breaches . the at medical data breaches. the mirror has reported that at least one member of staff tried to access princess catherine's notes while she was a patient at the private hospital in central london in january . and for the london in january. 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 . news. common alerts. >> for a valuable legacy your family can own, gold coins will always shine bright . rosalind always shine bright. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report, and here's a quick snapshot of today's markets.

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i >> -- >> all lyman >> all right. well, at the top of the show, we asked whether we should have more referenda. and this was in the context of leo varadkar's resignation. following a two referenda defeats. i like how you condemn defeat. >> you keep using the word referendum, and it's, it's. is it because a viewer by the name of tom. hi tom has written in to say the plural is referenda , not say the plural is referenda, not referendum. do you know what i think a chap called andy also wrote in. >> i think lots of you wrote in to correct me on that. i do know

that, but i also think colloquially you are allowed to say referendums too. >> i think both are fine. i remember these linguistic battles in 2016, 17, 18, 19 and different folks for different strokes. yeah, one might be more technically correct than the other, but okay, john, john has written in to say there should be a referendum on leaving the echr and what sort of immigration we want in the country. >> andrew says we need a referendum on whether we need more referenda , and then he goes more referenda, and then he goes on he's pedantic with the on to say he's pedantic with the referenda. no, we like to be accurate on this show. andy says the country needs one referendum. a general election, to decide which party is the least worse to take us through the next five years. >> well, william, in birmingham has said the most important referendum this country could hold is to scrap house of hold is to scrap the house of lords. no, and nothing in lords. yes or no, and nothing in between. no fudging the question. >> and jonathan, he he says i live in brisbane, originally from swindon. nice and sunny over there, i imagine, he says a referendum in australia

generally only succeeds if it has bipartisan support. the voice to parliament didn't. initial polls showed it succeeding? yes, but the government pushed it and refused to explain how it would work . to explain how it would work. the polls then became less favourable, to the it favourable, to the point it looked fail . it then looked doomed to fail. it then failed. an extremely failed. it was an extremely divisive . more divisive campaign. more referendums would be dangerous. i think that's a good point . i i think that's a good point. i mean, brexit, whether you support it, having the referendum not, it was hugely referendum or not, it was hugely divisive and lots of people say we became more angry nation as we became a more angry nation as a result. >> and were lots of >> and there were lots of brexiteers it would brexiteers who said it would have better if we have been perhaps better if we had just elected a parliament that believed in leaving the european . they passed a european union. they passed a law without a referendum. then you wouldn't have had the battle between the people and the parliament when most mps didn't want to leave. and we had that sort of constant constitutional wrangling for years and years and years . and years. >> the lawyers and guy says i should peter cook's should watch peter cook's classical satirical film the rise and rise of michael rimmer , rise and rise of michael rimmer, in which he plays a tony blair

type prime minister who governs solely referendum in order to solely by referendum in order to stay popular. that fun. stay popular. that sounds fun. maybe i'll watch that. >> , let's move on to our >> well, let's move on to our next story, because 1 in 5 muslim prisoners are white. that's according to the new data out by the ministry of justice. >> now it's caused sparked some concerns that inmates are being encouraged to convert by who controls power in the prisons . controls power in the prisons. so the number of white muslims in prison is three times the rate in the general muslim population england and wales. rate in the general muslim poplwhilei england and wales. rate in the general muslim poplwhile evidencend and wales. rate in the general muslim poplwhile evidence suggestsales. rate in the general muslim poplwhile evidence suggests that and while evidence suggests that people may encouraged to people may be encouraged to convert experts are convert prison experts are insisting that authentic conversions should not be ruled out. so there are concerns that potentially there are islamist gangs that are forcing people to convert , to create hostile convert, to create hostile environments and to have a sort of gang culture that's led by religion. >> although what's the truth of it? some people have been suggesting that there are more conversions just because you get different food options. and perhaps bit of variety in perhaps a bit of variety in prison is nice. but let's talk

about the issue of conversion and whether it's an issue at all. joining us is the founder of the oxford institute for british doctor taj british islam, doctor taj hargey. and doctor taj. thank you so much forjoining us, are you so much forjoining us, are you surprised by the relatively high conversion rate figures that we've seen from the ministry of justice today? >> yeah, but before commenting on that , i think we really need on that, i think we really need to highlight what you've already mentioned that , muslims are only mentioned that, muslims are only 60% of the population in this country, and yet they comprise 18% of the prison inmates. >> so this is truly scandalous. i mean, it's really a there's something seriously wrong in the muslim community with the leadership and the cultural the theological leadership is not addressing this fact that why are muslims three times more likely to be in jail? so that's the issue that we really need to come to grips with. secondly, the issue of conversion, you know, for example, how know, i mean, for example, how many how much of this conversion is actually genuine and or

expedient that that's the issue , expedient that that's the issue, if it's a genuine conversion, you can't prevent people to, to accept, a new religion because it's freedom of faith in, in this country. but if it's a coercive, because, for example, you mentioned because it's a better deal they're getting halal food or the or some better treatment or they're avoiding, gang fights in jail. then clearly, that this is something we should address because the type of islam that usually, is found in prisons are the fundamentalist, the fanatical, and the fruitcake variety. and when we have these three f's, fundamentalists , fanatical and fundamentalists, fanatical and fruitcake variety being a, imposed onto a naive white muslims or white people who become muslim, they actually pose an incredible danger to society upon their release. because this is the type of islam they'll be bringing to, to the community that they will, be welcomed back in. so this is

something really frightening and dangerous, and we should be alarmed about it. >> could it be that you have prisoners as, muslim inmates who are using religion as a way to, exert some control in the ways that there are usually gangs within jails , or so i hear. and within jails, or so i hear. and this is just one way to exert control over other inmates and to have some kind of power within the jail . within the jail. >> absolutely. they are gangs every in every jail throughout the world. so, i mean, this is clearly something it's just a fact of life . but the issue here fact of life. but the issue here is that if they're converting, what kind are they converting to a peaceful, meaningful , tolerant a peaceful, meaningful, tolerant islam? or are they coming into this islamic radicalism , this islamic radicalism, extremism and so forth? my understanding is that that type of islam, the extremist, radical, militant brand, is a prevalent and predominant in jails . if that's the case, then jails. if that's the case, then these whites who are becoming muslim are being infected and in, by this contagion , and they

in, by this contagion, and they will come out with this type of warped ideology and programming that will pose a great, danger to, to the public. >> well, it's really interesting. you mentioned the three f's there, the fundamentalists, the fanatical , fundamentalists, the fanatical, and the fruitcakes. well, doctor haj, doctor taj hajji, really appreciate your time here, from the oxford institute for british islam, of course. >> you make me laugh, tom, >> oh, you make me laugh, tom, on a very serious matter, yes. very good speak to you, taj. very good to speak to you, taj. but come a cambridge but still to come a cambridge college. now, this has made me angry. embroiled in a row angry. it's embroiled in a row over plans to scrap an anglican choir they've had for choir that they've had for presumably decades, not presumably decades, if not centuries, make way for more centuries, to make way for more diverse musical genres. what's all this about? you're watching good afternoon britain. we're

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it is 10 to 2, and a cambridge college has sparked outrage for

its plans to cut its church choir. >> yes. saint john's college says funding will be stopped for their mixed church choir, called saint john's voices us in order to fund a more diverse range of music instead. >> well, the decision has met backlash as soprano undergraduates will no longer be able to sing in chapel choral services, limiting church choir spaces for female singers. >> well, joining us now to discuss this further is journalist, author and presenter jasmine birtles. jasmine is hard not to feel sometimes that traditions are being erased in this country. and yes, this is just one choir, but it's important to a lot of people . important to a lot of people. it's an example of our heritage and tradition. yes absolutely. >> and saint john's is has a particularly good choir , they've particularly good choir, they've been going for nearly 400 years. they have a very good level of singing and, you know, with, with this, when i first heard

the story , i thought, gosh, the story, i thought, gosh, that's appalling. they're getting rid of their church choir. actually it's not true. the choir still going the chapel choir is still going to be there, they do allow females to sing alto , but it's females to sing alto, but it's the little boys that are singing the little boys that are singing the soprano. levels. so by getting rid of this mixed choir , getting rid of this mixed choir, they are definitely reducing the amount of choral work they do and reducing, as you say, reducing the opportunities for female sopranos to sing early church music, new church music, which i'm personally a big fan of. >> yeah, it's important to recognise guys just how important things like this are. i should declare an interest. i grew up in cambridge. i did go to saint john's. i've been to, christmas services at saint john's , to carol services there. john's, to carol services there. and it is a it's a lovely place and i just i worry when these sort of institutions are being chipped away at, they're saying that this is to replace it with more diverse music, but surely , more diverse music, but surely, surely they could do that as

well other parts of the well in other parts of the building as well. >> i agree. absolutely. i went to cambridge university, i went to cambridge university, i went to christ's college, our our , to christ's college, our our, choral, output was not nearly as good as john's or indeed trinity or certainly king's, but it was, you know, it was all right . and you know, it was all right. and i agree that, we have here at oxbridge and also in very much in the church of england itself, a chipping away at not just traditions, but, the finer elements of what they do, really the fundamentals of what they're doing in the name of words like diversity and inclusion and both diversity and inclusion and both diversity and inclusion can can be good or bad, depending on what you include and, and what you have in your diversity . i you have in your diversity. i mean, you know, including stuff thatis mean, you know, including stuff that is bad could be diverse , that is bad could be diverse, but that's not necessarily a good thing. or including, you know, harmful elements is inclusive , but it's not inclusive, but it's not necessarily a good thing, and i

think there is a throwing out of the baby with the bathwater here. it's the baby with the bathwater progress, the baby with the bathwater could do. but to throw out things that have that are very popular and have , a real quality popular and have, a real quality to them, a genuine quality and goodness to them is not clever, i would think. and particularly here where it's actually harming women again, surely it's that's a that's a very good point jasmine. >> we're going to have to leave it there. but thank you very much for on to talk about much for coming on to talk about this. jasmine birtles, journalist, author and presenter. this links to presenter. i mean, this links to what we're going to be talking aboutin what we're going to be talking about in the next hour. kemi badenoch comments. the business secretary, enough secretary, she's had enough of diversity and inclusion, or at least the way in which it's implemented backfired , that it's backfired. >> all of these diversity initiatives, particularly in corporate culture in the uk, apparently more. apparently we're doing more. we're more and we're we're spending more and we're applying more of this sort of stuff than many other countries. >> yes, we've got most jobs

>> yes, we've got the most jobs per capita that are diversity and inclusion related than any other country . i believe we'll other country. i believe we'll get to the bottom of that, get to the of kemi says. do to the bottom of kemi says. do you got too much you think we've got too much diversity inclusion? diversity and inclusion? let us not much diversity, too not too much diversity, but too much mandated that . much mandated schemes of that. >> that's coming up in the next houn >> stick with . us. >> stick with. us. >> stick with. us. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello and welcome to your latest gb news, weather forecast from the met office. as we head through this evening, the rain we've seen across england and wales today will start to ease, but wet and windy but further wet and windy weather returns the weather returns to the northwest. because northwest. and that's because we're out towards the we're looking out towards the west this next west for this next weather system to spread west for this next weather sysway to spread west for this next weather sysway in. to spread west for this next weather sysway in. this to spread west for this next weather sysway in. this feature, spread its way in. this feature, though, starts away, so though, starts to ease away, so the rain and low cloud will start to just push its way south eastwards . but for start to just push its way south eastwards. but for most of us, it does leave quite a lot of

cloud overnight. tonight a few pockets skies, but pockets of clearer skies, but where those see where we see those we'll see some and patches some mist and fog patches developing. to developing. but you can see to the northwest the return of that wet and windy weather spilling in. what does mean is in. but what it does mean is that for most places, temperatures be falling temperatures won't be falling away too typically between away too low, typically between 5 to 10 c. it's a wet and windy start to the day , though. for start to the day, though. for western parts of scotland and northern ireland, some heavy bursts of rain filtering their way to through the way west to east through the morning . it will start to fringe morning. it will start to fringe in across northern england, perhaps wales, as well. perhaps north wales, as well. but of england and but for most of england and wales, bright thursday wales, a dry and bright thursday afternoon, with spells of afternoon, with some spells of sunshine stronger breeze sunshine but a stronger breeze for all of us. so temperatures still getting to 14 to 16 degrees in the sunny skies but feeling just that little bit fresher. fast forward to friday morning and that weather front starts to filter its way southwards, murky southwards, so a grey and murky start to day here, but start to the day here, but brighter following on brighter skies following on behind with a mixture of sunshine showers. it is sunshine and showers. but it is turning cooler , our temperatures turning cooler, our temperatures sliding away towards sliding away in towards the weekend. winds at weekend. some stronger winds at times too, and some heavy

downpours. now . downpours. bye for now. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 2:00 on wednesday, the 20th of march. and investigation is launched at the hospital, which recently treated princess catherine and king charles. >> the london clinic has now confirmed that all disciplinary steps will be taken in an alleged data breach of catherine's medical records . catherine's medical records. >> fears that vaping causes cancer a shock study has revealed that e—cigarettes could cause the same dna damage as smoking . they are associated, smoking. they are associated, but no causal link has yet been found. this comes as the government pledges to create a smoke free generation. >> and are britain's diversity

and inclusion programs backfiring? the business secretary kemi badenoch, certainly thinks so. thinks so, she says. inclusion policies can come at the expense of white men . will debate this in just .will debate this in just a moment. well, is diversity and inclusion in the jobs in the program as in the schemes in government? is it backfiring and is it penalising white men? well what do you think, tom? you're a white man. >> i am, i you're not going to fit into any diversity and inclusion box anytime soon. so i've got a lot of friends who have just sort of entered the corporate world, and they're sort of working their way up. and do you know what? when we when the end of a when we talk at the end of a working and thank goodness working day and thank goodness we have out these we don't have to fill out these sorts here gb sorts of forms over here at gb news. goodness, got news. but my goodness, i've got

friends who have just entered the world of sort top law the world of sort of top law firms and other big businesses where they spend so much of their time, very clever friends. so much of their time going through these dei initiatives, diversity, equality and inclusion . they're not doing inclusion. they're not doing theirjobs. inclusion. they're not doing their jobs. they're inclusion. they're not doing theirjobs. they're spent they spend days upon days doing these courses. and forms. and this can't be good for our economy . can't be good for our economy. >> no. and we do apparently have the most the largest number of these types of roles per capita than any other country. this is a huge industry . than any other country. this is a huge industry. but than any other country. this is a huge industry . but what than any other country. this is a huge industry. but what is it actually producing? is it having actually producing? is it having a positive impact on society, speaking to people from ethnic minorities? a lot of people think it's all about tick boxing. it doesn't help boxing. it doesn't actually help people lower socioeconomic people of lower socioeconomic backgrounds, can be backgrounds, and it can be tokenistic. so we'll get to the bottom. we'll have this debate just sitting on a zoom call being told, don't be a racist . being told, don't be a racist. >> is that actually going to change anything? i mean,

genuinely , these are things are genuinely, these are things are very well intentioned, but is there actually any empirical evidence that they change things? i'm not so sure we'll be getting to that question in after your headlines. >> do they penalise white men ? >> do they penalise white men? do they penalise white men? all this diversity and gb views at gb news. >> com you know how to get in touch. but we'll get to that after your headlines with sophia i >> -- >> thanks, hum >> thanks, tom. good afternoon. it's 2:03. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom is keir starmer. says the prime minister has a sword of damocles hanging over him. speaking during pmqs, the labour leader criticised rishi sunak over the cost of his rwanda plan and the lack of flights to the east african nation. but rishi sunak has insisted flights will get off the ground and that the opposition doesn't have a plan to fix the issue. mps overturned ten amendments to the legislation made by peers when the bill was in the commons on

monday . monday. >> the tragedy is we know the prime minister doesn't even believe in the rwanda gimmick. he tried to stop funding it, but he's now so diminished that his entire focus is stopping his mps holding the sword of damocles above his head . how has he above his head. how has he managed to spend £600 million of taxpayer money on a gimmick to deport 300 people? >> but the prime minister said labouris >> but the prime minister said labour is running out of ideas not only does the labour party not only does the labour party not have a plan to fix this issue, but the truth is they don't actually care about fixing this issue. >> when he talks about the gangs, when we gave the police new powers to crack down on the people smuggling gangs , he spent people smuggling gangs, he spent months campaigning and voting against him. if it was up to him, those criminals would still be out on our streets. mr speaken be out on our streets. mr speaker, and the truth is, if

the truth is, if he wasn't the labour leader, he'd still want to be their lawyer . to be their lawyer. >> meanwhile, housing asylum seekers on barges, military bases and student digs will cost taxpayers more than the hotels currently being used. the national audit office said. housing those waiting for asylum decisions in alternative accommodation, such as the bibby stockholm barge and former raf sites, would cost the home office £1.2 billion and nearly 400 migrants have arrived in the uk on small boats today. 400 migrants have arrived in the uk on small boats today . uk and uk on small boats today. uk and french authorities responded after at least eight dinghies carrying asylum seekers were reported in the channel. this takes the number of migrants arriving on small boats this year to 3900. in other news, leo varadkar has announced he's stepping down as ireland's prime minister the 45 year old says he has resigned as a leader of the party immediately, and will stay on as taoiseach until his successor is chosen. mr varadkar became the first openly gay man

to lead the irish government when he came out during the 2015 marriage equality referendum. he described his time in the role as fulfilling and says it was the right time . the right time. >> all this will come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some, and i hope at least you will understand my decision. i know that others will. how should i putit? that others will. how should i put it? cope with the news just fine . that is the great thing fine. that is the great thing about living in a democracy . about living in a democracy. there is never a right time to resign. high office. however, this is as good a time as any and vaughan gething has officially been elected as the first minister of wales, succeeding mark drakeford . succeeding mark drakeford. >> gething was supported by all the labour members as well as jane dodds, the senate only liberal democrat member. more conservative members voted for their respective party leaders . their respective party leaders. bosses at the london clinic, where the princess of wales had abdominal surgery, have said all appropriate investigatory ,

appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken when looking at medical data breaches. the mirror has reported that at least one member of staff tried to access princess catherine's notes while she was a patient at the private hospital in london in january, and uk inflation has fallen more than expected to the lowest level in two years, official figures show. uk inflation for february came in at 3.4. that's down from 4. it's at 3.4. that's down from 4. it's a bigger fool than it economists had forecast. inflation is now closer to the bank of england's 2% target, and comes ahead of the latest interest rate decision on thursday and a fresh wave of rail and london underground strikes is set to bnng underground strikes is set to bring travel chaos next month. aslef the train drivers union, has called a series of walkouts from april. the fifth to the eighth, coupled with a six day overtime ban involving 16 rail companies. they've also called tube strikes on the 8th of april and the 4th of may in the caphal and the 4th of may in the capital, aslef drivers have

voted by 98% in favour of industrial action. 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. now it's back to tom and . emily. back to tom and. emily. >> all right. it's 2:07. now. in the past hour or so, the irish premier, leo varadkar, announced that he is to resign from office. >> well, varadkar's resignation as leader of his party, fine gael as leader of his party, fine gael, is effective from today. but he will step down as prime minister or as the irish say, taoiseach when a successor is selected. >> well, joining us now to discuss this is gb news political editor, christopher hope. political editor, christopher hope . christopher, why do you hope. christopher, why do you suspect leo varadkar has decided at this point in time that he will stand down? >> well and often both, he said

it, hasn't he, that he's done it for personal reasons. his race is run , seven years at the top is run, seven years at the top of politics in ireland. we saw this, didn't we, in new zealand when we saw the prime minister resign there, we saw it with nicola sturgeon. it's an increasingly the case. i think, that some leaders are trying to exit politics on their own terms when they're ready to go, rather than being forced we are than being forced out. we are more of the latter. more of a habit of the latter. i think in uk politics it's fascinating. i think who might replace him? i've been talking to colleagues ours in in to colleagues of ours in in northern ireland and ireland today, and helen mccarthy, the justice minister, and simon harris, a former health minister. look, look at the favourites. but of course, it all hinges on whether the other members of the of the three pronged coalition that run ireland at the moment, if they support that person, if not simon coveney could come back. and what i'm told is if coveney comes back, it makes it more likely there'll be an early general election in ireland , general election in ireland, probably october, around the probably in october, around the same to the same time that we go to the country to in the uk, and also,

of course , america on the 5th of of course, america on the 5th of november, if you if, helen mccarthy or simon harris become the taoiseach, it's likely that they'll go long and the election in northern ireland, in ireland itself will be in april or at least as late as april next yeah least as late as april next year. so it's all in flux. least as late as april next year. so it's all in flux . why? year. so it's all in flux. why? why now? of course they look, the government lost this recent referendum on the role of mothers in in the constitution. i think they were quite surprised by the fact that lots of the irish population voted against what the what the elite in dublin wanted. if you use that that language , there's also that that language, there's also concern about immigration, the, the of ireland has the population of ireland has gone up by 1.5 million in the past ten years. and the feeling is that is immigration being is being a tough enough line taken by the dublin government. so i think it may it's all come. it's all building up i think on the on the t shirt. and he decided to resign suddenly, so more uncertainty and it could bring an early election. >> no. it's interesting that of

course that election can come any point in the next year. and currently sinn fein is ahead in the polls , which will be the polls, which will be concerning for many people. on our islands here or across the british isles, not just in ireland. i've >> yeah. of course. tom, you're totally right. now, the big concern is for anyone concerned about the uk's union is if you have a sinn fein run government in the republic of ireland and of course, with the sinn fein, with sinn fein, first minister, as we have at the moment in northern ireland, it makes it the two party, the one party running the administrations in both north and south of the island, and the feeling about the idea of, of uniting ireland at some point, the idea of a border poll, of course, that lies in the hands of the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, he must be assured that it's worth having the border poll there might be a majority in northern ireland to vote to unite with southern ireland , so having the two two

ireland, so having the two two governments sinn fein governments run by sinn fein will certainly be a moment to sit up for those concerned about the union. >> well, of course, in northern ireland, the deputy minister, deputy first minister and first minister technically minister are technically co—equal despite their slightly different let's, well , different names. so let's, well, it'll be an interesting co—equal. co—equal, but christopher, hope you also have some news on this battle between the house of commons and the house of lords over the rwanda bill. what's going on here? >> yes. thanks, tom. i don't want to try the patience of our viewers and listeners too much about the rwanda plan . of about the rwanda plan. of course. it started life two prime ministers ago when boris johnson was prime minister back in april 2022. now i have on very, very good authority from one of the most senior people in government that they ministers are expecting to see seven of the amendments back , the ten amendments back, rejected by the house or reinstated by the house of lords in the safety of rwanda bill today. in the safety of rwanda bill today . and those seven probably today. and those seven probably will face the issue of ping pong

again in the week after easter. so what's being planned at the moment? and this is the this is the timetable they've got worked out, is in the week starting april the 15th, the safety of rwanda bill will finally be settled . so afraid say settled. so i'm afraid to say there's another of there's another month of uncertainty the rwanda plan. >> well, kicked into the long run, another month . yeah. run, another month. yeah. >> just month. just >> just another month. just another another another month. what's another month? another month? month? what's another month? thank very much indeed, thank you very much indeed, christopher hope gb news political live from political editor, live from westminster. let's cross westminster. well let's cross from westminster over to another posh part of london, where the world renowned hospital where king charles and princess catherine were recently treated, has confirmed that it's investigating a potential data breach. yes. this comes after at least one member of staff was suspected of trying to access the princess of wales private medical notes this afternoon. the chief executive of the london clinic said all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken when looking at alleged data breaches. so

talking in general terms , but talking in general terms, but certainly not denying, i think one could say confirming that something has gone on that should not have gone on and that they're investigating. so yes, let's get more on this with our royal correspondent cameron walker, who joins us now outside the clinic mayfair . the london clinic in mayfair. >> and cameron, a pretty stark, almost admission there from the clinic . clinic. >> yeah, it's certainly been a busy hour here, tom, outside the london clinic, as you said, the chief executive appears to acknowledge these allegations . acknowledge these allegations. fans surrounding the london clinic and indeed the potential breach, the alleged breach of the princess of wales's private medical notes. also this hour, the health and care professions council, which kind of is , is council, which kind of is, is head of the standards of clinics such as this said that its standards clearly states that patients information is treated confidentially. but they did not

confirm whether or not a registrant, i.e. confirm whether or not a registrant, le. a hospital, is being investigated or a complaint has been made by a patient or somebody else. downing street has also got involved this morning saying that people should get behind the princess of wales. the prime minister's spokesperson has said in the last hour clearly there are strict rules on patient data that must be followed so clearly this is very serious. this is a hospital renowned for treating royalty, politicians and indeed celebrities . it prides itself celebrities. it prides itself on, in its own words, providing excellence in one place. we know the princess was in there for planned abdominal surgery in january. she spent just over two weeks inside the hospital. and then the mirror broke. the story about this potential breach last night, kensington palace says it's a matter for the hospital, but all of this is in the context of the months, really, of harassment of the princess of wales online and the conspiracy theories which have only been amplified by a the photoshop job

on the mother's day photograph, which the princess apologised for. and then, of course, the footage taken by a member of the public, published by the sun and tmz of prince and princess tmz of the prince and princess of wales walking outside of the windsor farm shop and the conspiracy theories keep on coming . but it appears, as we've coming. but it appears, as we've been talking about, at least one member of staff at the london clinic allegedly tried to access the princess of wales's notes, which is potentially a criminal offence. the health minister, maria caulfield, this morning, seems to suggest that police had been asked to look into it. metropolitan police spokesperson said this morning that they're not any referral . not aware of any referral. >> thank you very much indeed, cameron walker, for bringing us the latest , good to speak to the latest, good to speak to you. that's cameron walker, our royal correspondent. he looks good mayfair, doesn't good in mayfair, doesn't he? >> fitting, in >> it's very fitting, very in place , very fitting. well, we've place, very fitting. well, we've been been westminster. been we've been in westminster. we've been in mayfair. >> something more down to earth. >> something more down to earth. >> across to >> shall we pop across to greggs, because many greggs stores, shops even have been

forced to close after an i.t. glitch is causing issues at the tills. 0h, glitch is causing issues at the tills. oh, dear. >> well, some outlets have been forced to put temporary closed notices on their doors , while notices on their doors, while others asked customers to place orders using the greggs app before arriving in store. oh, so you could still use the app ? so you could still use the app? so i imagine of people have, i imagine lots of people have, have download that app. >> well, this comes as last week, the consumer giant's mcdonald's, tesco, sainsbury's and argos also experienced technical issues which affected card payments and online deliveries. >> well, joining us now is our west midlands reporter, jack carson, who is currently enjoying a greggs in birmingham. well there you go. standing outside . have you got something outside. have you got something to eat. what's going on then? on, to eat. what's going on then? oh, we saw you. >> yeah. good afternoon to you both. so these shortages or these outages rather across the country happened mid—morning this morning when lots of customers and greggs were reporting that they were having to close many of their stores because of a technical glitch,

meaning they were unable to take card payments, were unsure about how just how many of the around 2500 odd of the chain's across the uk were exactly affected. but this one here in the jewellery quarter in birmingham did have to close its shutters. have a note saying that they were unable to open because of their being able to, of their lack of being able to, of course, take those card payments, later on. now, payments, though later on. now, a few hours later, greggs have confirmed in a statement that they say that this technical issue that was affecting tills has now the majority of shops affected have now been able to reopen. this one behind me has reopened. i've done some very, incisive and investigative journalism to confirm with the sausage roll at lunchtime that this shop has now been able to retake a card payments. but of course, as you mentioned there, it's not just greggs that has been experiencing these type of software and technical issues. sainsbury's had couldn't fulfil a lot of its online grocery deliveries on saturday due to an

overnight software update, which they then were able to resolve within 24 hours. tesco had to cancel a small number of orders as well. and of course, last friday, mcdonald's, due to a global outage which they say transpired during what they're calling a configuration chain change, meant that during, overnight from around 5 am. within the uk, a lot of their stores and chains couldn't take any orders for some periods of around two hours. so these technical glitches are seemingly whether it's just a coincidence that they've all happened over the past week, or whether it is more of a broader trend, of course, as more shops move to more card only or card preferred methods of payment, of course. what kind of are the reasons for these issues? well, a lot of it could be possibly common network or also maybe problems within the payment infrastructure , but the payment infrastructure, but certainly for greggs, while apologising to customers , their apologising to customers, their stores, the majority of them who

are experiencing these issues have now been able to start serving customers well , jack, serving customers well, jack, you have been doing the lord's work your investigative work with your investigative journalism there, making sure for nation that for the good of the nation that you're able to buy some food. >> and greggs just quickly, what did you get , >> and greggs just quickly, what did you get, sausage >> and greggs just quickly, what did you get , sausage roll, did you get, sausage roll, triple chocolate doughnut and a bottle of water just to keep the water. >> and i'm sure it was a proper sausage roll. >> not one of these vegan things . quite right. >> well, jack carson the gb news midlands reporter. good stuff. are you more of a gail's or greggs? >> i'm more of a greggs. i practically lived off greggs at university and gail's. i mean there are more of them around london now. >> moving. they're moving all over actually . over actually. >> but no, i've been i've always been much more of a greggs person . person. >> yeah, well, i think a sandwich salt of the earth sandwich salt of the earth sandwich gail's is probably sandwich at gail's is probably about greggs least, about £7. greggs at least, is still, affordable, still, reasonably affordable, but you go. but there you go. >> absolutely we

>> well, yes. absolutely we cannot be discussing so much more. stay with us. because britain's diversity and inclusion programs seem to be the most pernicious in the world. at least that's according to kemi badenoch , the business to kemi badenoch, the business secretary. she thinks they backfire against white backfire and work against white men in particular. more on that after these messages

i >> right. well, we asked you to get in touch about diversity and inclusion programs, particularly inclusion programs, particularly in the workplace, because kemi badenoch, has some views on this. she thinks they're backfiring and that they're, penalising white men. >> well, there are some studies that suggest this. i know that harvard looked into this in around 2015, 2016 and was seeing that sometimes these sort of schemes can promote resentment rather than inclusion and not promote the sort of atmosphere that they want to create. but,

peter has written in to say the problems arising from dei. that's diversity . equality and that's diversity. equality and inclusion programs are a direct result from when policies were first introduced a number of years ago. a company would employ someone to oversee the dei issues and their first instinct is to develop a role so that they need an assistant . so that they need an assistant. so they look for policy areas to expand. before you know it, expand. and before you know it, there's a dei team from one person to an assistant to a team who then convinced the executive directors they're indispensable. similar to the strategy employed by management consultants. and no boss wants to be oh, no, we don't need any diversity and inclusion here because they'll get shouted at. >> brian says, my friend's daughter is applying forjobs in daughter is applying for jobs in the insurance sector in london and having to answer and is having to answer questions like, you receive questions like, did you receive free meals ? what are your free school meals? what are your pronouns? and that's before her cv has even been viewed. companies also asking for companies are also asking for photos of her, and he goes on to suggest that presumably if

you're white and middle class, you're white and middle class, you won't, be the first to be chosen. >> it's interesting, stephen has written in to say i was made redundant after 30 years, just before christmas. so sorry, stephen, i'm 57 year old white male and feel that diversity and inclusion is excluding older white males . surely vacancies white males. surely vacancies should go to the right person with the right skill set and experience. >> and just one more andy from bedfordshire. he says diversity and inclusion absolutely penalises and causes penalises white men and causes a toxic environment . he says i toxic environment. he says i worked for a corporate manufacturing and manufacturing business and the amount of pointless courses was, quite everyone quite frankly, a joke. everyone was forced to participate of all backgrounds, joked about the courses and the woke hr team presenting them. worryingly, the number white men in senior number of white men in senior positions constantly positions has constantly dwindled launch. well, dwindled since its launch. well, the thing is, everyone there. this is the thing. everyone there, regardless of their background, was having a joke about the presentation. >> if you're in the middle of something very important at work, and then you have to take a day out to sit at a zoom

lecture to be told not to say racist things. mean, i racist things. i mean, am i good? do we have that low of an opinion this country? >> well, the business secretary kemi they're kemi badenoch claims they're counterproductive , a waste of counterproductive, a waste of money and make white worse money and make white men worse off. it's after a report she commissioned last year found that equality, diversity that most equality, diversity and schemes and inclusion schemes are performative and perform ative gestures and ineffective. performative gestures and ineffective. so is it time to just scrap the lot ? just scrap the lot? >> well, joining us now is social policy analyst doctor raqib hassan and doctor raqib. thank you so much for making time for us today. this is a pretty interesting report from kemi badenoch, or at least commissioned by her. what are the main takeaways? >> well, the main takeaways for me, tom, is that many dei policies which are being implemented in modern britain are deeply exclusionary. >> and i think we've seen instances of this, for example, with the royal air force, which has found to be indulging in a form of unlawful activity through ethnic minority through its ethnic minority recruitment. now, i think there's definitely a debate to

be had in terms of how companies and firms engage with communities in terms of trying to, you know, essentially look at forms of untapped potential . at forms of untapped potential. but i think, for me, the real issue here is that much of this issue here is that much of this is really forced at the moment. and i think things such as the introduction of racial quotas, these sort of arbitrary targets, i think they will do more harm than good. and i think another point to make, if we're looking at increasing ethnic minority representation organisations, at increasing ethnic minority reprithat'stion organisations, at increasing ethnic minority reprithat's not organisations, at increasing ethnic minority reprithat's not organi thatns, and that's not to say that they'll be increasing working class representation those class representation if those people are primarily from privately educated backgrounds , privately educated backgrounds, middle class families, you know, you'd have to really question how much being achieved in how much is being achieved in terms reducing economic, terms of reducing economic, inequality in the country. >> well, that's a very good point, because you may have internships, graduate schemes , internships, graduate schemes, positions on boards, all for ethnic minority candidates, but actually they end up taking ethnic minority candidates who

went to private school and are from a high socioeconomic status. and you're not actually getting that much diversity in terms of socioeconomic background, are you really? >> no, absolutely . >> no, absolutely. >> no, absolutely. >> emily, and i think this report, specifically mentions white working some of the most left out communities in our modern, economy. so i think that what we really need to talk about here is an obsession with protected characteristics, such as race. and the issue here is that actually social class is not a protected characteristic under existing equalities legislation . so i think what we legislation. so i think what we really need to look at is how do we reduce perhaps those class based barriers, in the market economy. and i think that when looking at dei, i also think that something that's largely overlooked terms overlooked is in terms of maximising potential of maximising the potential of people living with disabilities. if you at dei policy , there if you look at dei policy, there are quite often disability, which protected. which is also protected. characteristic actually very characteristic is actually very rarely mentioned. >> good point. now >> that's a very good point. now this all seemed to now i know

we've diversity and we've had diversity and inclusion policies and jobs and schemes and all that for many years now, but it did all, accelerate it. since black lives matter launched following the death of george floyd and everything that happened there, it seemed then that every single business in the land had to announce their policy on diversity and inclusion, and it all became, in my opinion, very tokenistic and virtue signalling. do you think that's also what kemi badenoch is talking about? >> oh, no. absolutely. so, for example, the sort of introduction of pronouns encouraging people to include pronouns in their sort of email signatures , the introduction of signatures, the introduction of rainbow lanyards. it material supporting the black lives matter movement . but for me, i matter movement. but for me, i don't think that's necessarily going to boost, don't think that's necessarily going to boost , inclusive going to boost, inclusive practices in the workforce at all, because many of these measures are very piecemeal and superficial, in my view. i think what companies and firms could be doing more is ultimately

looking at its own recruitment procedures . there are studies procedures. there are studies which show that people with culturally distant names maybe my name, for example, they don't fare so well compared to traditional english sounding names in recruitment processes , names in recruitment processes, even controlling for work experience, educational qualification and skill sets. so i'd rather rather see those practical measures. perhaps the expansion of name blind applications. i that would applications. i think that would be a more practical form of action, as opposed to many of these sort of piecemeal, tokenistic measures. >> really >> no, it's really, really interesting. i'm reminded amongst all of this that in 2010 and 2011, the french government had this, had this experiment where they did a cv blind recruitment, they took people's names off of recruitment, because they thought that certain names would be recruited less if they appeared. they came from minority backgrounds. but actually the inverse happened. really. found that fewer really. they found that fewer people with minority and ethnic names were being recruited when those names were taken off the

cvs. >> well , cvs. >> well, which was a which was a fascinating and unexpected outcome of that particular study. >> but i'm afraid we have run out of time here. doctor gibson would have loved to speak to you for much longer, but still to come on good afternoon come here on good afternoon britain , uk inflation fallen britain, uk inflation has fallen more expected . will we see more than expected. will we see a cut in interest rates tomorrow? big question. but before all of that hits your news headlines. >> it's 232. i'm sophia wenzler and the gb newsroom. your headunes and the gb newsroom. your headlines a record 450 migrants have arrived in the uk on small boats today, the highest number to arrive on a single day this yeah to arrive on a single day this year. uk and french authorities responded after at least eight dinghies carrying asylum seekers were reported in the channel. today's total beats the previous record for this year, when 401 migrants arrived on the 4th of

march. keir starmer says the prime minister has the sword of damocles hanging over him. speaking during pmqs, the labour leader criticised rishi sunak over the cost of his rwanda plan and the lack of flights to the east african nation. but rishi sunak has insisted flights will get off the ground and that the opposition doesn't have a plan to fix the issue. mps overturned ten amendments to the legislation made by peers when the bill was in the commons on monday. >> the tragedy is we know the prime minister doesn't even believe in the rwanda gimmick. he tried to stop funding it, but he's now so diminished that his entire focus is stopping his mps holding the sword of damocles above his head. how has he managed to spend £600 million of taxpayer money on a gimmick to deport 300 people? >> leo varadkar has announced he's stepping down as ireland's

prime minister. the 45 year old says he has resigned as the leader of the party immediately, and will stay on as taoiseach until his successor is chosen. mr varadkar became the first openly gay man to lead the irish government when he came out dunng government when he came out during the 2015 marriage equality referendum , and bosses equality referendum, and bosses at the london clinic, where the princess of wales had abdominal surgery, have said all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken when looking at medical data breaches. the mirror has reported that at least one member of staff tried to access princess catherine's notes while she was a patient at the private hospital london the private hospital in london in january . and for the latest in january. 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

i >> -- >> good afternoon. britain. it's 36. 2:37. but coming up, fears that vaping causes cancer shock. study has revealed that e—cigarettes may cause. they're correlated with the same sort of dna damage as smoking. it comes as the government pledges to create a smoke free generation. we'll be speaking to a conservative mp on this topic very shortly. >> yes, but first, some good economic news. inflation has fallen from 4% to 3.4. chancellor jeremy fallen from 4% to 3.4. chancellorjeremy hunt is chancellor jeremy hunt is positive. he says inflation will hit the bank's 2% target within months . months. >> well, gb news has been out and about in birmingham seeing how our audience feels, this inflation is impacting all of us. >> us. >> i don't know if i'm like everyone else is. i've never earned so much money. i've never earned so much money. i've never earned so much money. i've never earned so much money. but actually, i've never spent so

much either of thing. much money either kind of thing. so these, know, gains in so all these, you know, gains in a bit of interest rate a little bit of interest rate means nothing to me. everything's a lot more expensive than what it was. >> i think people are finding it very difficult in this country at think people at the moment. i think people are feel are struggling. people feel objectively , and yeah, objectively poorer, and yeah, obviously it's great that it's come down a fraction of a percent, but what that practically means for, the average man and woman is, is not average man and woman is, is not a lot at the moment. i think they absolutely nothing. they mean absolutely nothing. >> as as lay >> you know, as a as a lay person in the street, going person in the street, i'm going and my i'm buying and buying my beans. i'm buying my whatever , you know, and the my whatever, you know, and the pnces my whatever, you know, and the prices going that way, prices just keep going that way, you so i think it's a bit you know. so i think it's a bit of a, it's a bit of a red herring. >> so we have to choose very carefully what we eat and what we buy and try and do it in the most economical now, whereas most economical way now, whereas before we could just sort before we could just really sort of ourselves, a lot of of please ourselves, a lot of food that we're cutting back on, a like, you know , a lot of stuff like, you know, specially branded food, we're going the cheaper type one. >> well, that's what the people of birmingham have to say. but

joining us now is economist and businessman justin urquhart stewart. justin, thank you very much for joining stewart. justin, thank you very much forjoining us on this much for joining us on this important day. inflation down a good sign for the economy. will we see interest rates also follow? >> well they've certainly should. in fact, they shouldn't have actually gone up so much in the first place. this is the big issue that this issue here is that this inflation we're dealing with is nothing really with what's nothing to do really with what's been happening in the british economy, up economy, because you put up interest rates. if you've actually got, say, consumer demand very high and you demand being very high and you want to cool the economy. well, the that's the the past few months, that's the last consumers have had. last thing consumers have had. consumers just consumers have actually just hearing. all really hearing. then they're all really suffering. this inflation we were was all to do were dealing with was all to do with supply chain issues and that frankly , the government has that frankly, the government has no control over. so if they turn around haven't we been around and say haven't we been clever? cut inflation. no clever? we've cut inflation. no you didn't it . you haven't, you didn't do it. and so that that is you've got. so a you shouldn't put so therefore a you shouldn't put interest rates up quite so much anyway that speed . be. well anyway in that speed. be. well actually you want to do

something an election. something for an election. coming how about cutting coming up how about cutting interest it's interest rates right now, it's an and proposition. an interesting and proposition. but justin, surely there was an element of this that was to do with government policy. there was a lot of money printed dunng was a lot of money printed during covid. broad money supply growth, perhaps going on for more. i mean, there was more quantitative easing as it was known at the end of the period of covid there was during of covid than there was during the crisis. it seemed of covid than there was during the some crisis. it seemed of covid than there was during the some crisi did seemed of covid than there was during the some crisidid feed ned of covid than there was during the some crisidid feed into like some of this did feed into the we're experienced thing. >> yeah, if you're basically what they were doing is producing so much extra money with qe coming that with the qe coming through that was to be inflationary. was bound to be inflationary. now, therefore, they should have been interest rates been putting up interest rates beforehand. we beforehand. remember, what we had exceptionally had was very, very exceptionally low emergency rates. and when the emergency period was effectively over, they should have put them up slowly, gently, over time . and that would have over time. and that would have actually been better the actually been better for the economy, individuals. economy, better for individuals. okay interest rates okay no one likes interest rates going of course, going up, except of course, people who are actually saving, which actually than which is actually more than borrowing, nonetheless , they borrowing, but nonetheless, they could have done that in much

could have done that in a much brighter steady brighter way over a steady penod brighter way over a steady period of time. and quite period of time. and you're quite right. reach a stage right. it does reach a stage where actually , if you pump them where actually, if you pump them so much into the system, so much money into the system, it eventually become it will eventually become inflationary. and of course, towards this towards the latter stage of this penod towards the latter stage of this period we've had now, wage rises are going ahead of inflation, which is good news. now, if that carries on, that is inflationary but doesn't seem to be very strong at moment. so if strong at the moment. so if i were at the moment, i were them at the moment, i would, despite the we keep would, despite the fact we keep on apparently on thinking that apparently the bank independent, bank of england is independent, which and so which really it's not, and so they actually have only got one tool to try and control this and that interest rates that is putting interest rates up at the moment, up or down. so at the moment, while they'll probably up or down. so at the moment, wh nothing. they'll probably do nothing. >> justin, you put your >> so justin, if you put your consumer finance hat on, if, someone was looking to take out a mortgage in the next few months or perhaps take out a big loan , would you do it now or loan, would you do it now or would you hang on a little bit? >> oh, i think i would. i would be hanging on the basis that interest will down interest rates will come down when. nobody actually when. well, nobody actually knows a knows that. but i think it's a very chance you'll them

very good chance you'll see them coming down. some people say there's still further inflationary pressures to come through. that's possible. through. now that's possible. if we the we suddenly find the geopolitical issues, say, in ukraine and middle east, get significantly worse, that could actually then give us another bout of inflation happening. but let's assume we're going to let's assume we're not going to be dark side. be thinking on the dark side. it's more to come it's most likely more to come down. i would hang back. also down. so i would hang back. also though, back because the though, hang back because the rates particularly or the various packages from the banks for mortgages, lot have been for mortgages, a lot have been withdrawn this week. so unless you do you actually have to do something , pull back the something, pull it back for the time then wait for the time being and then wait for the next round of issuances to come out. >> it does seem that the market is expecting that rates will come in the future, but come down in the future, but when would you say that is most likely ? if not tomorrow? when? likely? if not tomorrow? when? >> well, the general view would be to be probably in the autumn, let's assume that everything stays roughly as it is at the moment. the global economy is still , and that's always still growing, and that's always one of the things always to underline things underline with all these things we talk actually, you we talk about actually, you know, gloom the know, it's doom and gloom the entire despite the entire time. well, despite the

fact covid, we've got fact we've had covid, we've got two on and a bout of two wars going on and a bout of inflation. you would think, actually that the global economy inflation. you would think, ac about that the global economy inflation. you would think, ac about to at the global economy inflation. you would think, ac about to fallie global economy inflation. you would think, ac about to fall off lobal economy inflation. you would think, ac about to fall off abal economy inflation. you would think, ac about to fall off a cliff. :onomy is about to fall off a cliff. actually, the economy's actually, the global economy's done in america. done quite well in america. actually, the economy's done well. find strange actually, the economy's done weamerica find strange actually, the economy's done weamerica , find strange actually, the economy's done weamerica , it's find strange actually, the economy's done weamerica , it's done strange actually, the economy's done weamerica , it's done well, je actually, the economy's done weamerica , it's done well, but in america, it's done well, but most americans don't actually believe and certainly don't believe it and certainly don't feel they've actually got much confidence. but it's quite difficult when you're at difficult when you're looking at an up with one an election coming up with one person who's nearly dead and the other probably should be. >> well, on that note, me , thank >> well, on that note, me, thank you very much indeed. >> economist and businessman justin urquhart stewart. good stuff. >> but it is true. it is true. the american economy has been growing by more than 2, rates by which could only dream or we which we could only dream or we 0.2% in january, barely growing at all. and the us is going relatively gangbusters. i mean, it's not it's not up where perhaps it was at the early 2000, but, but i think a lot of people in this country would kill for those rates of growths that the growth that the americans don't seem americans still don't seem satisfied yes. satisfied with. yes. >> 0.2% for us.

>> well, a new study has raised fears that vaping could cause canceh fears that vaping could cause cancer. we'll be speaking to a conservative mp about this and the government's pledge to create a smoke free nation . will create a smoke free nation. will it work and is it desirable, even you're watching. good afternoon britain. we're on

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. now three things have happened today. number one, only the government has announced that it's going to ban smoking for anyone born after the year 2009. they'll never be able to buy a cigarette . number two, the cigarette. number two, the government is going to restrict the flavours of vapes that can be bought and coincidental . be bought and coincidental. number three, a shocking new study is warning that vape users might be at risk of lung cancer.

that's scientists at the university college london finding that using a vape could. there's been an association discovered that could change your dna in the same way that smoking does in your cheek. this, of course, the this, of course, as the government introduces its new bill, its new anti—smoking bill. what a coincidence. >> yes. oh, what are you suggesting there? i'm not. >> nothing at all. >> nothing at all. >> nothing. a happy coincidence, a happy coincidence. well, joining conservative joining us now is conservative mp adam afriyie. thank you very much joining us, adam. so much for joining us, adam. so there seems to be a concerted effort from government and of course from lots of anti—smoking groups and anti—vaping groups to put a complete stop to anyone using cigarettes and tobacco products. do you think that's fair to say? why not just ban the whole lot, well , you know what? >> i'm my sentiment is fairly similar to your own. i think there are some good things about there are some good things about the bill. i think that, you know, looking at the flavouring, making sure they're the

making sure they're not the names the packaging names of them, and the packaging is attractive is too not attractive to children. i think that is important. generational important. but this generational smoking ban is bizarre. i mean, these have been tried these things have been tried across world last across the world over the last century. they work . you century. they never work. you know, smoking rates and vaping rates amongst children are going up australia where they were up in australia where they were trying zealand have trying it. new zealand have reversed bhutan , they reversed it in bhutan, they reversed it in bhutan, they reversed smoking rates reversed it after smoking rates amongst kids went up to 20. so i'm sure it's the right i'm not sure it's the right approach and think are approach and i think there are better ways dealing better ways of dealing with smoking tum. it's smoking in the longer tum. it's interesting, this ban, interesting, this this ban, which would effectively mean someone one minute to someone born one minute to midnight on new year's eve, 2008 would not be allowed to buy a cigarette . cigarette. >> and yet someone born just a minute later would never, ever be allowed to buy a cigarette. i mean, it's very bizarre and impractical , but mean, it's very bizarre and impractical, but adam, you are one of perhaps only 70 odd mps in parliament that are going to vote against this. presumably, it seems that there is this coalition of both the tories and labour and the lib dems and the snp. they're all backing this in the main . the main. >> well, the bizarre thing is,

is actually, although we say we're a very liberal nation and mps say we're, you know, libertarians and we're for liberal values and for freedom of choice. actually, it of choice. actually, when it comes it, people to love comes to it, people seem to love a i'm hoping that we a good ban. i'm hoping that we can still do something with this to it, because to try to prevent it, because i think the ultimate result think that the ultimate result of probably that of this will probably be that more die from smoking. more people die from smoking. and despite the virtue and so, despite all the virtue signalling , despite all the, you signalling, despite all the, you know, we want to stop this. of course , you know, even smokers course, you know, even smokers want to smoking, this want to stop smoking, but this isn't approach doing it. isn't the approach to doing it. we most successful in we are the most successful in the seeing smoking the world of seeing smoking cessation from 40% in 1970s, down 12% now. it's down to about 12% now. it's going really well. it's going down and down and down. and then all of a sudden we come up with all of a sudden we come up with a policy that's been a new policy that's been abandoned the abandoned by the rest of the world. bizarre, i very world. it's bizarre, and i very much some, some much hope that some, some thought given it thought will be given to it before go steamrolling before they go steamrolling ahead because there's a ahead, because i think there's a better approach this. better way to approach this. >> there was some >> i remember there was some polling too long ago polling done not too long ago when policy surfaced , and when this, policy surfaced, and the majority of brits backed it. i think we are as a nation, we

like banning things that we don't do because smoking is already in decline. people already in decline. so people make the decision that they don't like it and therefore they want to ban it for others. i think we like good ban in this think we like a good ban in this country, don't we? >> i think so, and i think that is the mood. and i think also 1 or 2 media outlets have taken a editorial line that says, you know, vaping is shocking. it's going all when going to kill us all when actually the evidence not actually the evidence is not there at and quite frankly, there at all, and quite frankly, just ask yourself this question, you know, you prefer that you know, would you prefer that friends were vaping friends of yours were vaping rather smoking? the rather than smoking? and the answer course, yes, answer is, of course, yes, because safer, because it's so much safer, so much than smoking. because it's so much safer, so mu they're than smoking. because it's so much safer, so mu they're very than smoking. because it's so much safer, so mu they're very addictive»king. because it's so much safer, so mu they're very addictive , ing. >> they're very addictive, though, adam, i can speak from personal experience. are personal experience. they are very, very addictive. and i do think it's a case of the government enforcing the police enforcing the law as it stands, children shouldn't be getting their hands on them because i don't think it's a good thing that so many are that so many children are addicted nicotine , but also, addicted to nicotine, but also, i don't want them to turn to cigarettes either. >> no, no, you're quite you're quite right. >> if it's the choice

>> but if it's the choice between something that, you know, ten people are know, five out of ten people are going they smoke. and going to die if they smoke. and at moment looks zero at the moment it looks like zero out of going die if out of ten are going to die if they know, it's a they vape. you know, it's a standard health care practice. you what's so if you choose what's safer. so if this policy is going to skew that in some way, i think it's really, really dangerous. and like say, the is like i say, the evidence is where go this route that where you go this route that actually smoking rates amongst children go up. so we have to protect our children. there's no question about it. it's already currently illegal people, question about it. it's already currentlyipeople people, question about it. it's already currently ipeople to people, question about it. it's already currently ipeople to vape. 3, question about it. it's already currently ipeople to vape. it's for young people to vape. it's illegal already. so really the failure is in enforcement. illegal already. so really the failure is in enforcement . and failure is in enforcement. and let's just get on with enforcement. >> it's a really important point to make . there so many to make. there are so many people country who think people in this country who think that is bad that somehow vaping is as bad as smoking. now might smoking. and now it might be that vaping 100% but that vaping isn't 100% safe, but it's it's a lot more it's clear that it's a lot more safe than smoking is, and that that should always be remembered in this conversation. adam afriyie, you so much for afriyie, thank you so much for joining us live westminster joining us live from westminster on bizarre set of on these bizarre set of announcements from the government. >> yes, i'm not really sure what the i do think that rishi sunak

does. the i do think that rishi sunak does . you know, he wants this to does. you know, he wants this to be his legacy. yeah >> no i think it's, i think it's just because rishi sunak's got young children. he's treating the rest of the country like thank you adam. >> you very much indeed. >> thank you very much indeed. coming for today. >> thank you very much indeed. con i 1g for today. >> thank you very much indeed. coni believe for today. >> thank you very much indeed. coni believe it's for today. >> thank you very much indeed. coni believe it's martin )day. yes i believe it's martin daubney up next. >> and, martin, what's coming up on your program? >> cracking show guys. excellent stuff. well we've got, of course, a huge showdown. 5:00 tonight. >> the 1922 committee will be meeting. >> will the daggers be drawn for rishi sunak ? rishi sunak? >> and, of course, the lords are revolting once again on rwanda. >> we will have the inside line on the magnitude of that revolt. round and round we go. plus people power special. we speak to the organisers of the raf scampton and wethersfield protests against the fact thousands of asylum seekers have been dumped on their areas with no consultation. the lunatics have taken over the asylum system. £1.2 billion cost revealed ten times more than

initially stated . plus leo initially stated. plus leo varadkar quits ireland did he jump varadkar quits ireland did he jump before he was pushed? are we seeing a brexit party style revolution sweeping across ireland? that's all coming on my show 3 to 6 pm. but first, it's time for your latest weather forecast . forecast. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello and welcome to your latest gb news weather forecast from the met office. as we head through this evening, the rain we've seen across england and wales today start ease, wales today will start to ease, but wet and windy but further wet and windy weather returns to the northwest. that's because northwest. and that's because we're towards the we're looking out towards the west for this next weather system going spread west for this next weather sysway going spread west for this next weather sysway in. going spread west for this next weather sysway in. this oing spread west for this next weather sysway in. this feature, spread its way in. this feature, though, starts ease away, though, starts to ease away, so the rain and low cloud will start to just push its way south eastwards . but for start to just push its way south eastwards. but for most of us, it does quite a lot of it does leave quite a lot of cloud tonight a few cloud overnight. tonight a few pockets clearer skies. pockets of clearer skies. but where we'll see

where we see those we'll see some mist fog patches some mist and fog patches developing. can see to developing. but you can see to the the return of that the northwest the return of that wet and windy weather spilling in. what it does mean is in. but what it does mean is that for places, that for most places, temperatures falling temperatures won't be falling away low, typically between away too low, typically between 5 to 10 c. a wet and windy start to the day, though for western parts of scotland and northern ireland, some heavy bursts of rain filtering their way west to east through morning it will east through the morning it will start to fringe in across northern perhaps north northern england, perhaps north wales as well. for most of wales as well. but for most of england wales, a dry england and wales, a dry and bright thursday afternoon, with some spells of sunshine but a stronger breeze for all of us. so temperatures still getting to 14 to 16 degrees in the sunny skies, but feeling just that little bit fresher. fast forward to morning and that to friday morning and that weather front starts to filter its way southward, so a and its way southward, so a grey and murky start to the day here, but brighter following brighter skies following on behind a mixture of behind with a mixture of sunshine showers. it sunshine and showers. but it is turning our temperatures turning cooler. our temperatures sliding away in towards the weekend. winds at weekend. some stronger winds at times too, and some heavy downpours. bye now . downpours. bye for now. >> that warm feeling inside from

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i >> -- >> well . >> well. >> well. >> a very good afternoon to you folks. it's 3 pm. and welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news. broadcasting live from the heart westminster all across heart of westminster all across the uk. today there's been a surge in the number of asylum seekers crossing the channel today, adding to the 3500 who've already crossed from france already crossed from france already this year. and this comes as a new report shows the government's plans for housing asylum seekers is set to cost more than using hotels. we'll speak to an raf wethersfield campaigner and later on the show, an raf scampton campaigner for their thoughts. also this houh for their thoughts. also this hour, irish taoiseach leo varadkar has dramatically announced that he'd be stepping

down. we'll be discussing what