>> good morning to you. it's 930 on friday, 22nd march. this is britain's newsroom on gb news with me, ben leo and pip tomson >> own goal for nike . the >> own goal for nike. the american sportswear brand has been slammed for changing the saint george's cross on the new england football kit . is it ever england football kit. is it ever okay to tamper with a national flag .7 shadow attorney general flag.7 shadow attorney general emily thornberry gave her thoughts to gb news of nike done. >> i mean seriously, i could

hardly recognise it as the england flag , can you.7 i hardly recognise it as the england flag , can you? i mean, england flag, can you? i mean, england flag, can you? i mean, england flag, can you? i mean, england flag is a simple white background and a red cross. seems to me. why can't they just leave it alone ? leave it alone? >> define one's talk, isn't she, sickness benefit surge. the cost of those out of work will increase by more than a third by the end of the decade. do we need to get tough on those out of work ? of work? >> lancaster landmark, a charity constructing a full size avro lancaster monument to the world war ii bomber used by the raf, needs funding to finish the job. needs your help. we'll bring you that report shortly. >> and itv's come under fire for a commissioner allegedly telling industry execs that the broadcaster, quote, does not want white men as talent. we'll have the latest. >> so plenty to get you exercise

this morning. in a few minutes we are going to be talking to lee anderson about his thoughts on this england shirt. >> i wonder what he'll have to say. >> oh, i've got an idea. i don't think he's very happy, but we want to hear from you to gbviews@gbnews.com. let's get your latest headlines now. there your latest headlines now. there you go. >> pip. ben, thank you very much . good morning from the gb newsroom. it'sjust . good morning from the gb newsroom. it's just gone 932 the top story this morning sir geoffrey cox has warned that labour's projected landslide at the next general election, he says, could annihilate a credible opposition . the former credible opposition. the former attorney general says a win for sir keir starmer would leave the conservatives without a frontbench and called it a very dangerous thing for democracy in a gb news exclusive, the mp said that rishi sunak is a serious administrator but suggested the prime minister needs to reveal

more of himself to sway voters . more of himself to sway voters. >> hundred seat majority 80 seat majority is big but the proposal at the moment, the suggestion that labour might win a 200 seat majority, effectively annihilates any credible opposition. that's bad for democracy. but on our part, we need to show why legislation in england and wales is being updated to crack down on spiking and to make it clear that it's crime. >> the most recent figures show more than 560 spiking offences are reported every month involving food, drink, needles and modified vapes. campaigners say the true number of victims could be even higher. however, the home secretary, james cleverly, says the updated law will hold perpetrators to account. >> we know that with the drugs that are prevalent in spiking that are prevalent in spiking that speed is of the essence. and of course, what we're doing is we're updating the legislation to make it clear and

unambiguous that spiking is a crime. we prioritise the prevention of crimes against women and girls, and the people who perpetrate spiking will be held to account. >> well, as we've been hearing this morning, sir keir starmer has now backed calls for nike to scrap its new england football kit after redesigning the saint george's cross, the brand dropped the traditional red and white colours on the collar and replaced it with purple and blue stripes. the company says the change was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024. however, critics, including the labour leader , say the alteration leader, say the alteration undermines the unifying symbol. and sir keir starmer has also claimed the price of £125 for the shirt should be reduced, and offenders nationwide will be tasked with cleaning up vandalism within 48 hours of cases being reported to local councils in a bid to swiftly tackle anti—social behaviour,

tackle anti —social behaviour, the tackle anti—social behaviour, the ministry of justice says teams of people serving community sentences will scrub graffiti and collect litter, with the program rolling out across england and wales following a successful pilot in several regions. the move comes as main political parties are ramping up commitments on law and order ahead of the upcoming general election . those are the general election. those are the headlines. plenty more still to come with ben and pip. and in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts . just scan the gb news alerts. just scan the code there on your screen or go to gb news. common shirts. >> thanks very much, sam. good morning. welcome to britain's newsroom on gb news with ben leo and pip tomson. the fury well, there's only one story doing the rounds. only one story in town today. the fury growing over the fa and nike's decision to change the saint george's flag on england's new football kit. >> yeah, so the new kit features a modified flag using purple and

blue horizontal stripes. you can see it on your telly now and what the manufacturers nike have called, quote a playful update. >> the world cup winning goalkeeper peter shilton spoke about this on gb news a little earlier , well, i'm totally earlier, well, i'm totally against it , earlier, well, i'm totally against it, which i don't think is a surprise. i mean, i'm a traditionalist really , but i traditionalist really, but i think, you know, we've seen a lot of design changes on shirts. i think that's to get the fans to buy the new shirt every time it changes . but now they're it changes. but now they're messing with the colours on a, on a, on a national flag. and, you know, it's it. where would it stop once it starts, you know, is, is the next shirt going to be, going to have more changes in the colour? so i'm, i'm against it. i think it's wrong of nike. >> done. i mean, seriously , i >> done. i mean, seriously, i could hardly recognise it as the england flag, can you. i mean, england flag, can you. i mean, england flag, can you. i mean, england flag is a simple white background and a red cross . background and a red cross. seems to me. why can't they just

leave alone ? leave it alone? >> okay, so you heard from former england goalkeeper peter shilton and shadow attorney general labours emily thornberry. she had a little bit of a different take on this a few years ago. >> yeah, she's a fine one to talk. was it ten years ago she posted that, you know, rather derogatory picture of, somebody's a white somebody's house with a white van an england flag , van outside and an england flag, a saint george's flag hanging out front of sneering at out the front of it, sneering at it. was forced to apologise, it. she was forced to apologise, i think, and ended up i think, and she ended up falling her sword falling on her sword for it. now, clearly have now, though, clearly labour have been it, haven't been briefed about it, haven't they? of, you know, call they? so kind of, you know, call for the kit be reversed. do for the kit to be reversed. do you believe starmer when he says it be reversed . it should be reversed. >> well, know, he's given an >> well, you know, he's given an interview sun. he's interview to the sun. he's obviously appealing votes, obviously appealing for votes, and i don't know, i think to be fair, this does seem to be an issue this morning that is uniting every single party. yeah. everybody does appear to actually agree on this, we are yet to hear this morning from the fa. it would be nice to get

a comment this morning because you want to know who on earth signed this off. well, we spoke about emily thornberry there, and made reference what and made reference to what happened with her ten years ago. the that took of the photo that she took of a house in rochester adorned with three flags . three england flags. >> yeah, when we challenged >> so, yeah, when we challenged her this morning, you obviously saw what she had to say . saw what she had to say. >> it was a photograph, you know, and, and other people have decided what it was that i was thinking or saying, you know, i mean, as i say, it was a very long time ago, but i did, you know, as far as i was concerned, it was going to do damage to it was going to do any damage to the labour party. do you know what resigned. do you what i did? i resigned. do you remember when people used to do that? when they mistake? that? when they made a mistake? we that we haven't had haven't seen that forever from this lot. forever i think from this lot. >> the question is namby >> so the question is namby pamby woke nonsense or just a fuss about nothing? let's bring in the reform mp for ashfield , in the reform mp for ashfield, lee anderson, who i'm sure has plenty say. there you plenty to say. lee, there you are, bearing your away england kit and proud. what's your kit loud and proud. what's your thoughts on this controversy this morning? lee

>> well, i'll tell you what, ben. you know, when i bang on about we want our country back, this exactly the sort of woke this is exactly the sort of woke , namby pamby, clutching, , namby pamby, pearl clutching, hand—wringing that i'm hand—wringing nonsense that i'm talking about. and it's a bit rich from emily thornberry coming on ten years later. all of a sudden she's in love with the flag of saint george. she's an absolute hypocrite. and she was right about resigning and she should resign now , actually. she should resign now, actually. but you know, we got the but this you know, we got the england taking the knee . england team taking the knee. then got the england captain then we got the england captain wearing armbands. then we got the england captain wearing armbands . yeah. wearing rainbow armbands. yeah. hypocrites. a lot of them. now we've nonsense where we've got this nonsense where doesit we've got this nonsense where does it stop? it's a slippery slope. the fa should hang their headsin slope. the fa should hang their heads in shame. i i'll tell you what you should do, guys. they should go into a pub in ashfield on a sunday afternoon the on a sunday afternoon when the football's and talk to some football's on and talk to some real in real world. football's on and talk to some reaitell in real world. football's on and talk to some reaitell what. real world. football's on and talk to some reaitell what. they'll»rld. football's on and talk to some reaitell what. they'll get i'll tell you what. they'll get chased of town. chased out of town. >> i just want to put to >> lee, i just want to put to you obviously, the other side to this, which that nike say it this, which is that nike say it isn't about being woke. it is a nod to the 1966 world cup

winners . winners. >> really? what a load of rubbish that is. you know, it's a load of rubbish. it's nike once again interfering and i'm surprised. well, i'm not surprised, actually, that the fa's accepting this woke nonsense. and if the players have got any grit about them, they refuse to wear these shirts. absolutely 100. i don't know what's going on in this country, guys. it's happening every single day. they're trying to with our history, to interfere with our history, our heritage, our culture, our sports. now, i wear my england shirt with pride. i love the flag of saint george. it's a bit of our identity. we should keep it. and i tell you what. i wonder how many other national football team shirts they interfering with. i bet it's zero. >> yeah. lee, could you imagine nike giving a called playful nike giving a so called playful update palestinian or update to the palestinian or chinese and by the way, chinese shirts? and by the way, you've already touched it you've already touched on it with regards nike and the fa. with regards to nike and the fa. they've a history of they've got a history of treating their like trash. treating their fans like trash. not did nike thoroughly not only did nike thoroughly back the black lives matter campaign, which wasn't just about equality amongst races, it was anti—capital fist

anti—capitalist, anti—western, anti—police values. the fa made the england team take the knee for year after year. so did the premier league. and then we had the harry kane rainbow armband, for which gareth southgate, the english, the england manager, said england fans didn't said that if england fans didn't agree it then they were agree with it then they were essentially many words, essentially in so many words, bigots. you get the bigots. so do you get the feeling england are feeling that england fans are kind treated, you know, kind of being treated, you know, not well in respect. not very well in this respect. >> oh yeah. we are a bunch of bigots. all right, aren't we? and especially when we see and it's especially when we see some england going over some england players going over to, they don't to, countries where they don't treat of a certain group treat people of a certain group in fair way. treat people of a certain group in fairway. like treat people of a certain group in fair way. like say, treat people of a certain group in fairway. like say, ben, in a fair way. like i say, ben, they're just a bunch of hypocrites. and one of the biggest hypocrites is probably gareth southgate is not reading the reading the the room. he's not reading the mood the nation. some of mood of the nation. some of these players who idolised these players who are idolised by, you know, millions of young people around the world, they need up. people around the world, they need up . am allowed to need to man up. am i allowed to say up, and, you know, say that man up, and, you know, i might might be accused of i might be i might be accused of misgendering somebody the misgendering somebody in the national football team. national england football team. it's ridiculous. and it's absolutely ridiculous. and

again, is just another again, this is just another bandwagon which sir keir has jumped on. he sees he sees some mileage in this, some some political capital. and he says it's all about the labour party. when emily thornberry is coming out the flag saint out adoring the flag of saint george , it's just laughable. george, it's just laughable. laughable. >> what you say to those >> what would you say to those people , lee? and you know, people, lee? and you know, they're entitled their view, they're entitled to their view, which is that in recent years, the saint george's flag has been hijacked by far right hooligans. so actually in doing this is standing a is taking a stand against racism . against racism. >> i time to clear off. as simple as that. probably stronger words. >> lee this morning kensington palace has refused to comment on this growing story. of course , this growing story. of course, prince william is the president of the fa. do you think william should at least comment on it or, you know, give his take? >> no, i think william should keep his, take a leaf out of his, late great grandmother's book and keep his nose out of stuff like this. what about the cost , lee?

cost, lee? >> because the cost of these shirts is also causing a lot of angenl shirts is also causing a lot of anger. i mean, this this shirt for adults are £124, 99 for kids , £119.99. >> yeah, well , it would appear, >> yeah, well, it would appear, pippa, that we're living in a cost of england football shirt crisis. i mean, who the hell can afford these these shirts at £125? we're telling people in this country that they can't afford to pay for the gas, the electricity, they're going to food banks, etc. and then the fa deciding their wisdom not only to accept ridiculous, football to accept a ridiculous, football shirt with the, with the, the cross of saint george interfered with but charging people £125 for the pleasure of it. what a load of nonsense . load of nonsense. >> yeah, i'm sure you already know lee, but the previous england shirt for the world cup was made in a sweatshop in thailand. so they were flogging them for £150 a pop. yet the workers were paid something like £1 an hour, which was below or

level at the thai minimum wage at the time. can i just change gears very slightly and ask you about sir keir starmer's, bet or £50 that you'd lose your seat in ashfield? what do you make of that? >> well, is an exclusive for you guys. if he's if he's watching out flip flop , i'll bet him out flip flop, i'll bet him £5,000 that he needs to come up to ashfield and stand against me in ashfield. i bet him five grand that i beat him . five grand that i beat him. five grand. where'd you like them apples? where's that money going to go, lee? where's it going to go ? it'll go in my pocket. no, go? it'll go in my pocket. no, i'm joking . it'll go to my one i'm joking. it'll go to my one of my local charities, but. yeah. okay. come on, stand against me. five grand. here's a bet. come and stand against me in ashfield. if. if you beat me, i'll donate £5,000 to a charity of your choice, and if i win, it'll go to my local male suicide support group. >> lee, thanks very much. one final quick question. what's the score going to be tomorrow at wembley? england. brazil >> i don't know, mate. two

>> oh, i don't know, mate. two nil. england. >> that's the first time i've ever seen you hesitate or sit on the fence. first time for everything. >> well, you know, we've got we've actually got the best group of english players ever. we've just not got the right manager. >> i'd expect you to be in that shirt, lee. not in the new one. i'll bet . i'll bet. >> thanks, lee. >> thanks, lee. >> guys, appreciate your time. thank you . thank you. >> well, our very own paul coyte joins us in the studio to discuss this more. >> well, follow that a well, i mean the fa they're in a bit of bother today with this. >> do you think they've underestimated. i think without doubt the feeling. >> yeah i do i do without doubt. all these accusations of this flag is a woke flag and there's this and that i honestly, honestly believe because if you look at the away shirt, it's very similar. it's a design and it's almost like what nike are trying to do is create a brand from this. and that's what it looks like. you know, you're absolutely right when it's a situation. if you couldn't do it

with any other country, you wouldn't see the swedish flag, the yellow cross on a blue background suddenly going red or green. just not going to green. that's just not going to work. what i think they're work. so what i think they're doing, also he's just used doing, and also he's just used that brand. so that's the that as a brand. so that's the cross which is on the back. and that as a brand. so that's the cris; which is on the back. and that as a brand. so that's the cris il'siich is on the back. and that as a brand. so that's the cris it's ah is on the back. and that as a brand. so that's the cris it's a you on the back. and that as a brand. so that's the cris it's a you know, back. and that as a brand. so that's the cris it's a you know, i)ack. and that as a brand. so that's the cris it's a you know, i hate and that as a brand. so that's the cris it's a you know, i hate to d it is it's a you know, i hate to use a pun, but it is an own goal here because i don't think they realised how much anger and upset would it's not upset it would create. it's not the official other the official aware of other kits, other the euros kits, other kits for the euros that have been tampered with in a similar way. well, not in that way . i mean, i've looked at way. i mean, i've looked at that, but the first thing i thought of was the only change that we've had recently. and if we back 2012 and we go we go back to 2012 and we go back to the olympics and the union which was done in union flag, which was done in blue and this was a stella mccartney designed, do you remember was. and remember that? and it was. and i remember that? and it was. and i remember looking at it and thinking, red on thinking, oh, where's the red on that? a bit bizarre because that? it's a bit bizarre because it everything done in it was everything was done in different shades of blue. there it was everything was done in diffen0|t shades of blue. there it was everything was done in diffe no furore es of blue. there it was everything was done in diffe no furore about)lue. there it was everything was done in diffeno furore about it.e. there it was everything was done in diffe no furore about it. it there it was everything was done in diffe no furore about it. it wase was no furore about it. it was just a design. it was just a scene that this is what we're doing. this is our take on the

union jack. but was union jack. but there was no major now, as major problem around it. now, as far england are concerned, far as england are concerned, the badge is the three the main badge is the three lions. that's the thing which is always been on an england shirt. going back, if you think of 66, there no there was no saint there was no there was no saint george's cross anywhere to be seen. it was the three lions then that obviously was introduced every now and again on an england shirt. and that's their take on it and actually forgetting everything else and the behind it just the theories behind it, it just the theories behind it, it just the design isn't that good. >> arguably would look >> arguably it would just look better a bit of colour in better having a bit of colour in it as it should be. >> i think that's i think then then ben, we start getting into looking at design because then ben, we start getting into l

number 10, maybe if, if jemmy greaves had it, he'd have to have it with extra long sleeves. there one shirt, training there was one shirt, training gean there was one shirt, training gear, great stuff. there was one shirt, training gea paul great stuff. there was one shirt, training gea paul coyte. great stuff. there was one shirt, training gea paul coyte. thanksat stuff. there was one shirt, training gea paul coyte. thanks veryrff. >> paul coyte. thanks very much, gareth southgate, of course, will press conference will have his press conference this evening. very keen to see what has but still to what he has to say. but still to come this morning itv are in a bit of hot water. find out who

us. >> hello. welcome back to britain's newsroom now, itv is in the news after a commissioner allegedly told industry executives that the broadcaster does not want white men in quotes on screen as talent. >> yeah, well i'm stuffed. we're joined now by our reporter, charlie peters. charlie, what's been going on? >> so we broke the story last night. it refers to an event that happened two days ago. the broadcast indie summit, hosted by magazine, where an by broadcast magazine, where an itv was sat on a itv commissioner was sat on a panel discussing getting in

talent for factual non—scripted and television programs. in that all important 9 pm. slot where she's reported to have said that they don't want white men as talent on the programmes. now, one of the people in the audience heard this, and immediately wrote a complaint to itv, which we understand is now under review. we haven't been able to listen to a recording of the panel, but we do know that a recording is there, as claimed by the magazine. they won't release any tapes unless they have the consent of all people on the panel, but the complaint is sharp. it goes on to say that this this statement was not made as a joke, and she did not seek to clarify her point any further . they also said that on behalf of itv, this commissioner has briefed people from the broadcast and entertainment industry that they will discriminate against people based on sex and ethnicity when casting talent for television

shows on itv. so a very strong complaint being put in under review at the moment. >> okay, charlie, thank you very much. well to talk about this a little bit more social policy analyst, doctor rakib ehsan , a analyst, doctor rakib ehsan, a very good morning to you. now, as charlie was saying there, we don't have a recording of this. we don't absolutely know the context, but what are your thoughts here? >> well firstly these alleged remarks , they seem to be remarks, they seem to be a common occurrence and it previously i've talked about, dei policy , how it's anything dei policy, how it's anything but progressive and inclusive. it's increasing deeply exclusionary, especially towards white males. we've seen the royal air force get himself or get itself in a right tangle when it comes to indulging in unlawful activity through its ethnic minority recruitment drives. so i'm very concerned as well that these comments were allegedly made in a professional forum. this wasn't some kind of leaked email, it's quite

remarkable that people who are in influential positions in very influential positions are willing to speak in such a way, openly . way, openly. >> yeah. raqib you mentioned the raf. i mean, when you hear stories like this, personally, i'm never surprised anymore because we hear it so often when in actual fact, the raf had to apologise last year for reverse racism against white people. and isn't it a sad state of affairs that when i heard this story, it wasn't much of a shock because it's become such a norm that white people, particularly white, straight, white men even are the brunt of most , well, a are the brunt of most, well, a lot of discrimination now in this country. it's a sad state of affairs, isn't it? >> no, absolutely. and that irrational hostility towards, white british males has become normalised . and, in our public, normalised. and, in our public, institutions , but also, the institutions, but also, the private sector and i think that this particular case for me, i think when it comes to television and casting, like all other sectors, we need to prioritise meritocracy, it needs

to be about ultimately bringing in the most talented people , in the most talented people, irrespective of their racial background and indeed their sex. and i think it's important to make the point that the terms such as reverse racism that you use there. ben, i don't believe in reverse racism. i think it's simply racism, much like positive discrimination. it's quite extraordinary oxymoron . quite an extraordinary oxymoron. discrimination is discrimination irrespective whetherthe irrespective of whether the person who's being targeted is has an ethnic minority background or belongs to the white british mainstream . white british mainstream. >> when you look at the talent pool across itv, though, it is actually full of white men. i mean, i know itv has a is has got a big diversity policy. they've spent millions on all this, but actually they don't seem to employ a lot of black or asian men . asian men. >> well, i think that what's quite interesting is many of these institutions which are supposedly committed to diversity, equality and inclusion, who often hoist themselves by their own

identitarian petard, including the guardian. where you had ethnic minority workers there recently accusing the guardian, not being particularly sensitive, to their own grievances and concerns. so perhaps organisations should set by set, set an example. but the point is, pip, is that i don't want this to be a forced process. you can talk about maybe engaging with the communities where there may be untapped potential, but when it comes excluding entire comes to, excluding entire groups of, based on race and genden groups of, based on race and gender, that's something that i would never possibly support. >> thank you, doctor raqib, i appreciate that. in reply, itv have said the panel discussion included ways pitch new ideas included ways to pitch new ideas and to further diversify and ways to further diversify content and talent offerings. we aim create and showcase aim to create and showcase content by, with, by, with and for everyone . i mean, it's for everyone. i mean, it's funny, isn't it? kemi badenoch, yesterday said that di is actually counterproductive , let actually counterproductive, let alone promoting equality. but stick with us. this is britain's newsroom on gb news big hour coming up, here's

weather. >> good morning. great to have you with us. it is 10 am. on friday, the 22nd of march. you are with britain's newsroom on gb news. with ben leo and pip tomson. >> own goal for nike . the >> own goal for nike. the american sportswear brand has been slammed for changing the saint george's cross on the new england football kit. so is it ever okay to tamper with the national flag? and does the president of the fa, prince william, need to step in? >> do civil servants deserve a pay >> do civil servants deserve a pay rise? mps are warning that their morale is being brought down by chronic pay issues and sickness benefits surge. >> the cost of those out of work will increase by more than a third by the end of the decade. do we need to get tough on those out of work ? out of work? >> small boats spike favourable

weather this week sees the highest number of small boat crossings so far this year. remember that pledge by the government to stop the boats? >> and of course, let us know your views and all the topics we're discussing this morning. not least that england shirt. pippa euphoria against it. what do you reckon? >> i'm against but i also >> i'm against it. but i also think for me, the anger is down to the price as well. expecting. if you've got a family of four, what would they be paying well for? shirts in excess of £500. >> if you want to get shirt for everybody and also itv not keen on hiring whites talent, do you agree? have we got too many talented white stars on our tv networks? of course bradley walsh , ant and dec, jeremy walsh, ant and dec, jeremy clarkson some of the biggest itv stars and their white. is it an own goal for itv, whose share price, by the way, is in the

gutter? over the past 7 or 8 years, gb views at gb news.com we will be reading out your thoughts very soon, straight after news sam francis i >> -- >> pip -_ >> pip ben, thank you very much. good morning from the newsroom . good morning from the newsroom. it's just gone 10:00 and leading the news this morning, sir geoffrey cox says that labour's projected landslide at the next general election could, he says, annihilate a credible opposition . the former attorney general is warning that a possible win for sir keir starmer would leave the conservatives without a frontbench , and called it a very frontbench, and called it a very dangerous thing for democracy in a gb news exclusive, the conservative mp said that rishi sunakis conservative mp said that rishi sunak is a serious administrator, but suggested the prime minister needs to reveal more of himself to sway voters . more of himself to sway voters. >> hundred seat majority 80 seat majority is big, but the proposal at the moment, majority is big, but the proposal at the moment , the proposal at the moment, the suggestion that labour might win a 200 seat majority, effectively annihilates any credible

opposition. that's bad for democracy. but on our part, we need to show why . need to show why. >> the home secretary has vowed to crack down on spiking by updating the law to hold. he says perpetrators to account legislation in england and wales is being changed to make it clear that it's a crime. the most recent figures show more than 560 spiking offences are reported every month involving food, drink, needles and modified vapes. campaigners say the true number of victims could be even higher. >> we know that with the drugs that are prevalent in spiking, that are prevalent in spiking, that speed is of the essence and of course what we're doing is we're updating the legislation to make it clear and unambiguous that spiking is a crime. we prioritise the prevention of crimes against women and girls and the people who perpetrate spiking will be held to account . spiking will be held to account. >> sir keir starmer has backed

calls for nike to scrap its new england football kit after redesigning the saint george's cross. it comes after the brand had ditched the traditional red and white cross on the collar and white cross on the collar and replaced it with blue and purple stripes. the company says the change was a playful update ahead of euro 2024, but critics, including the labour leader, have said the alteration undermines the unifying symbol. sir keir starmer has also claimed that the price of £125 for the shirts should be reduced. well, we've heard in the last hour or so that police in west yorkshire are now investigating alleged racist comments made in 2019 by the conservative party's biggest donor. conservative party's biggest donor . the metropolitan police donor. the metropolitan police have transferred the case because frank hester's comments are reported to have been made in leeds in their jurisdiction. in leeds in theirjurisdiction. officers there say that they are now looking at whether a crime was committed in 2019. during that alleged meeting, the businessman, who's already given

the party £10 million, is accused of saying that the mp diane abbott made him want to hate all black women . the hate all black women. the funeral of 15 year old mason rist is being held later in bristol, where he was stabbed to death in january alongside his best friend max dixon, who was also laid to rest yesterday. a total of 12 people were arrested in connection with their deaths , in connection with their deaths, and five people have been charged with their murder . the charged with their murder. the partner of max's mother is taking part in a charity walk between weston super mare, grand pier and bristol to raise funds in their memory. pier and bristol to raise funds in their memory . a man described in their memory. a man described as a loner will be sentenced later for the murder of a couple he was working for by poisoning them with the opioid fentanyl . them with the opioid fentanyl. luke dewitt invented fake personas and rewrote the wills of stephen and carol baxter, who were in their 60s, to take charge of their company. a jury found that the 34 year old, from

essex, was guilty on wednesday , essex, was guilty on wednesday, a man who was caught up in the westminster bridge terror attack says the prime minister's response to his campaign has been abysmal. today marks seven years since the incident near the houses of parliament. travis frayne has been pushing for a so—called survivors charter to improve support for people that are impacted by terrorism. six people died, including the attacker, and more than 50 were injured in the attack. in 2017. in mouth cancer could soon be diagnosed painlessly with the help of flavoured lollipops . help of flavoured lollipops. traditional methods involve invasive procedures like biopsies. however, researchers say they're quicker and kinder. alternative could be used in gp surgeries made from smart hydrogel. the lollies capture proteins in a patient's saliva with funding from cancer research uk, scientists are hoping the project could see patients freed from painful procedures and mean earlier

detection . consumer experts are detection. consumer experts are saying that scottish power , ovo saying that scottish power, ovo energy and british gas must urgently improve their customer service. a survey by which. has found customers are often left on hold or stuck in never ending loops with chatbots with no answers to their questions , as answers to their questions, as the companies insist they are. though working to improve . and though working to improve. and funding has been announced for nearly 1000 new electric buses in england. 25 councils are to get a share of £143 million, with rural areas prioritised. the department for transport is claiming the vehicles to be fitted with wi—fi and usb charging points will be zero emission to help improve local air quality. right, okay. those are the headlines. more in the next half an hour. in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts. just scan the code on your screen or go to gb news. com slash alerts. now though, it's back to pip and ben .

it's back to pip and ben. >> thanks, sam. ulez britain's newsroom on gb news. i want to bnng newsroom on gb news. i want to bring you this breaking news about west yorkshire police investigating alleged racist comments made by tory party donor frank hester about diane abbott at a meeting in 2019. olivia utley , our political olivia utley, our political correspondent i think can join us now. olivia interesting this because the government has kind of tried to get past this now. i think it was kemi badenoch that described it all as trivia. well, it's very much back in the news today if police are investigating the comments . investigating the comments. >> well, absolutely. rishi sunak was very much hoping that he had put this whole saga behind him. as you'll probably remember when the when it first broke that frank hester had made these comments back in 2019, rishi sunak and his ministers avoided saying that he had used racist

language for quite a few days. there was a lot of heat on the government. there was a lot of people saying that they should admit that the comments from this donor had been racist. finally, kemi badenoch, a cabinet minister, did say the remarks racist rest remarks were racist and the rest of cabinet followed suit. of the cabinet followed suit. but wasn't really the end but that wasn't really the end of the issue because of course , of the issue because of course, frank hester donated £10 million to the conservative party and there are rumours that there was another £5 million in the pipeline so far. rishi sunak and the rest of his cabinet have stopped short of saying that they are going to hand that money back. but with the latest news that this matter has now been handed over to west yorkshire police, the spotlight will be on the government yet again, and the conservative party to hand back that money. will they give in to pressure this time round , and what point this time round, and what point will they do it. because last time this issue erupted, rishi sunak got a lot of criticism for not acting faster. might he feel

that now is the moment to show decisiveness and do something quickly before he's pulled through the quagmire about this ' 7 m. again? >> olivia, any idea how long this police attention on frank hester will take? will it be dragged out over the course of the year and potentially into the year and potentially into the election as well ? the election as well? >> well, it's quite possible that it will be dragged out. i mean, the west yorkshire police are giving us no timeline at the moment. they say that they have only just been alerted to the issue. the, the matter was passed on from the metropolitan police to west yorkshire police. but from experience , you know, but from experience, you know, police matters like this aren't cleared up particularly quickly. it probably won't a top it probably won't be a top priority west yorkshire priority for west yorkshire police. so it is quite possible that it continues to drag out over the course of this election yean over the course of this election year, making life difficult for rishi sunak. >> absolutely. olivia utley political correspondent, thank you for bringing us the breaking news on that. let's go back to

all this discussion and debate about nike changing the saint george's cross, colour on the england shirt. sir keir starmer has called on nike to change it. what do you think? plenty of thoughts. >> benjamin barry says leave our engush >> benjamin barry says leave our english flag alone. we don't celebrate saint george's day because of offending people and ruby says england fans should boycott the football shirt and don't buy it. shame on the fa that authorised it . that authorised it. >> you'd save yourself a bit of money as well. £125 for an adult shirt. linda, the english shirt is another tradition that is trying to stamp out stamp out the british existence. what nationality was the person that tried to erase english flag? tried to erase the english flag? which other flag in the world has been changed? and mark, good morning. it's ridiculous to change the colours in any national flag. imagine the french doing that on the tricolour would never happen. >> good point. would never happen. let's bring in ben everitt, conservative mp for milton north. good milton keynes north. good morning ben. thanks for

morning to you ben. thanks for joining us. ben. you joining us. morning, ben. you are surprisingly as a conservative on the other side of the fence compared to sir keir starmer and even emily thornberry this morning, you don't think there's a problem with this? don't think there's a problem witido|is? don't think there's a problem witido you know who told you >> do you know who told you that? no i think it's bonkers. i think it's i mean, it's not the biggest political issue in the world, is it? i mean, why world, is it? but i mean, why mess with flag and the mess with the flag and the reasoning they've put reasoning that they've put behind well you know, behind it as well as, you know, the historical references, the 1966 kit and all that 1966 training kit and all that kind you can, you can kind of stuff, you can, you can you can sort out historical references on a kit without messing with flag. and messing with the flag. and i think of your, one of your think one of your, one of your callers, one of your viewers callers, or one of your viewers just then absolutely nailed it. what country in the world what other country in the world would would accept this with, you , messing about the you know, messing about with the national national national flag? the national identity it's a fairly simple identity is it's a fairly simple thing, just leave it alone . thing, just leave it alone. >> and i think lynn as well, she says, is this a playful change in quotes of saint george's flag by another stage towards a

rainbow flag? i mean, this is the point some people initially might think, well, what's all the fuss about it? it's very small. it's on the back of the shirt, but actually, once you start doing this, where it start doing this, where could it end ? end? >> well, well, quite. i mean, i probably wouldn't follow the threads on on that kind of theory. for me it's just a matter of simplicity. you know, there's , there's plenty of ways there's, there's plenty of ways to show to show our appreciation for the efforts of the 1966 team to be playful, but if you want to be playful, but if you want to be playful, don't be playful with the flag. >> have you spoken to the prime minister this morning or any cabinet members about this? what's their thoughts? do you know, i haven't actually, i caught a tweet, from , from the caught a tweet, from, from the main party account saying there's, there's only one saint george's flag, which i think is absolutely nails it. that's, we don't need detailed discussion on this one, do we? we just we just need night to do one and mess with somebody else's flag. >> what about prince william as president of the fa? should he

weighed into this and come out with sort statement with any sort of statement because he might be listened to? >> i tell you what, if i was if i was doing nyc's public affairs and the phone buzzed and it's prince william, i'd probably change it back . change it back. >> so, ben, do you get the feeling that actually people like the fa and nike don't give a damn about english football fans? because we've had nike supporting black lives matter, which on the surface is a great cause. of course you want equality for all races, but actually blm is all about anti—capitalist, anti—police, anti—western , society. then we anti—western, society. then we had the taking the knee from, from the england team. then we had harry redknapp , harry kane's had harry redknapp, harry kane's rainbow armband, which caused a lot of controversy at the world cup. gareth southgate indicating that england fans who weren't happy with it were. i mean, there was something bigoted about them. and now we've got this situation where you wouldn't find any other nation having tampered having their flag tampered with like it always like this. why is it always england england fans that england and england fans that

are the doormat for this kind of agenda? >> yeah, ben , you've nailed it. >> yeah, ben, you've nailed it. and it is. we need to put fans front and centre of football. and in many ways the story is, is, is quite live politically because last week we brought in the independent football regulator. and one of the real purposes of the legislation that we've laid down is to put fans at the heart of decision making so that when big decisions about their clubs are made, fans get a say. now, there's plenty of other great stuff in there about supporting the football pyramid, making the finances fairer, making the finances fairer, making sure that the owners of clubs are fit and proper and everything and, you know, my colleagues have worked really hard on that. tracey crouch, sara bristol britcliffe. they've all really hard to get all worked really hard to get this thing, the this through. but the thing, the thing highlights this is this through. but the thing, the thin wouldn'tjhlights this is this through. but the thing, the thinwouldn't haveits this is this through. but the thing, the thin wouldn't have thought; this through. but the thing, the thin wouldn't have thought that a you wouldn't have thought that a shirt would be so, so, so shirt design would be so, so, so intrinsic to the direction of this. but this, this is where we are, you know, and we need to put fans front and centre of football, but it happens this

week. this is what we're doing with the, with the legislation . with the, with the legislation. >> but ben we're putting fans front and centre. it's not putting fans front and centre when you're expecting them to pay when you're expecting them to pay £124.99 for one of these blooming shirts. >> that's insane. i mean, you'd want you'd want the shirt to actually score the goals for you at that price. it's utterly nuts. >> okay, conservative mp for milton keynes north, ben everett, thank you very much, actually , do you know what? actually, do you know what? i don't think nike or the fa give a damn about football fans. they sell these shirts for £125 a p0p- sell these shirts for £125 a pop. obscene amounts money. pop. obscene amounts of money. they're places like they're made in places like thailand, sweatshops where thailand, in sweatshops where the there was the workers. there was an investigation in the mirror a couple of years back from the world where they get paid world cup, where they get paid £1 an to make these £150 £1 an hour to make these £150 shirts. they most of the shirts. they keep most of the proceeds themselves, and they expect football expect england fans and football fans up with it every fans to put up with it every yean fans to put up with it every year, coming back to buy more shirts, more shirts shirts, buying more shirts for their today for the their kids and today for the euros, desecrating the saint george's flag. they don't care. they don't care about england fans, of course.

>> i mean nike, they're not here to challenge you on that. they would say do. of course would say they do. of course they , but as charles says, they do, but as charles says, what is nike an american company doing designing our english shirt? and if that was a plan to do that, why not put it out to some sort of consulting station? why weren't fans? why didn't the fa do some sort of consultation? >> nothing, nothing, nothing is nothing sacred? and even lee anderson hinted at it, that it's you know, as an isolated incident. fine. you can maybe let it pass, but it's a gradual nudge and a push, on what he said was the erasure of english culture. you saw it with hot cross buns. oh, don't. >> let's not get started on hot cross buns. >> they've taken the. they've taken the christian, design of the hot cross bun and put a tick on it, which actually looks like a nike tick. >> yeah, let's let's not even get started on that. we'll get stuck into about story. let stuck into about this story. let us what you think about it. us know what you think about it. gb news. gb views gb news. >> com still to come, we're

going be telling you more going to be telling you more about labour mp fiona wilson about the labour mp fiona wilson . sure. well, . who exactly what? sure. well, some of you say you've heard of her, but how can you heard of her? because i'm not even sure she exists. we'll explain more very shortly. first, here's your weather. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hi there. good morning. welcome to the gb news forecast from the met office. it is a damp start out there in the south. a lot of cloud as well, but it does turn brighter from the north, albeit with a cold wind arriving by the end of the day. it's the extent of the cloud and rain through the morning across east anglia, the south southeast england. south and southeast of england. eventually the rain becomes confined and the far confined to london and the far south—east. by the afternoon, brighter arrive from the brighter skies arrive from the north and northwest, but with a cold wind and frequent showers already packing in across scotland. northern ireland arriving into northern england, parts of wales and the midlands. later going to feel cold

later it's going to feel cold wherever you though, with wherever you are though, with that coming in from the that wind coming in from the arctic temperatures arctic and temperatures will feel like the mid to high feel more like the mid to high single figures than 11 or 12 celsius as the wind gets even stronger on friday night, with the risk of gales for the far north of scotland. frequent downpours and it's cold enough for those showers to be falling as snow over the tops of the pennines and the scottish mountains . a touch of frost mountains. a touch of frost possible overnight. but because of blood free air, well, of the blood free air, well, it's not going to be widespread. just sheltered spots really waking up to —1 or —2 celsius nevertheless could affect gardens across the land. now into saturday morning we're going to see further showers arriving initially in the north and the west , arriving initially in the north and the west, but just about anywhere by the afternoon could be prone to those downpours. they'll be heavy at times, but they'll be interspersed some they'll be interspersed by some brighter interludes. however, it will cold in will continue to feel cold in that , that warm feeling that wind, that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> welcome back. and good morning to you. it's 1022. morning to you. it's1022. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news. with me, ben leo and pip tomson. >> we're joined this morning by amy nicole turner and emma webb in the studio. a very good morning to you both, emma, let's start with this story about fiona wilson, a labour mp , which fiona wilson, a labour mp, which lots of people think they've heard of, which would be fine if she actually existed. >> this is an absolutely hilarious story. so some polling by times radio , into people's by times radio, into people's recognition and ratings of ministers has, put in a fake name, fake labour shadow minister who actually had higher recognition than some of the labour party's more media, sort of media savvy. they appear on

the media quite often. so the people that you would think would be most known by the public, and actually this fake labour minister came out, came out as having more recognition isn't a real mp . no, and i mean, isn't a real mp. no, and i mean, if it's fascinating because i think it's an amy mentioned this before we were on air, that maybe it's because wilson is a name that is associated in people's minds with politics. i'd be interesting to sort of have a psychologist explain why this might be the case, but it is. i think it suggestive of the overall disengagement that people are experiencing with politics over the last five or so years and people feeling very disenchanted, but it's fascinating that people would think that they recognised a minister who actually doesn't exist. >> or is it that, you know, labour wheels out always the same faces to do the media interviews, the good performers like know because one of the, one of the names on the list was tang andy burnham, who was doing

loads of press last week. >> but i think this speaks to the fact that when we're here, we forget how few people are actually interested or engaged we forget how few people are ac'politics. terested or engaged we forget how few people are ac' politics. terested it's engaged in politics. i think it's actually like 10% of the population who consider themselves interested and into any at all. and we any politics at all. and we don't teach politics properly to children in schools . i think children in schools. i think there really is like this westminster bubble and, and people just aren't interested in learning about it because they feel like it's nothing like more people know andrew tate than know rishi sunak , well, in know rishi sunak, well, in a certain age bracket, i think you're right. and it may, it may have something also to do with disengagement with mainstream media. >> so a lot of these labour ministers will likely be appearing on there doing the media rounds on mainstream media. so media. that's what's so interesting that so in this polling, 15% of respondents were favourable towards this fake shadow minister. which was higher than a number of these other ministers that are listed here, jonathan reynolds, bridget phillipson , who do the media

phillipson, who do the media rounds often. so maybe it's that people are watching alternative media and are just not exposed to. >> they did do this with the conservative cabinet as well, asking for views on a fictional minister called henry thorpe. and he ended up being better known than claire coutinho, the energy secretary. >> and this fake henry thorpe also had a net favorability of minus five, putting him in the top tier of real tory ministers. >> i think, to according this polling, the whole tory psychodrama we had over the weekend when people were throwing all these names around as if public really care, as if the public really care, when nobody actually when actually nobody actually cares. that are being cares. the names that are being chucked, they just don't like the conservative party. it is their feelings about the party rather individuals. so rather than the individuals. so if to an ordinary if you said to an ordinary person on the street the name penny mordaunt, tom tugendhat, i wouldn't surprised if most wouldn't be surprised if most of them have clue who you them didn't have a clue who you were was were talking about. penny was from sword. exactly. from cold in the sword. exactly. this how people get get these this is how people get get these names. oh. dominic cummings oh, isn't one that threw the isn't he the one that threw the tomato? that's. that is tomato? oh, no. that's. that is dominic raab who threw the you

know, get reputations know, they get these reputations or jenkins, who or poor andrea jenkins, who i adore and who gets adore actually and who gets known as the one that stuck a finger up to the paparazzi. so they get known for these rather tabloid things than their tabloid things rather than their actual tabloid things rather than their act|is. tabloid things rather than their act|is there an argument >> is there is there an argument that they need to that maybe they need to politicians to be a bit politicians need to be a bit flexible when it comes to getting their message out for example, farage, he's example, nigel farage, he's massive tiktok and up until a massive on tiktok and up until a couple of years ago, he wasn't aware of the reach that tiktok had. he's bang on it all the time now, putting videos out his reach his audience on there reach and his audience on there is massive, he seems be reach and his audience on there is mofsive, he seems be reach and his audience on there is mof the he seems be reach and his audience on there is mof the very he seems be reach and his audience on there is mof the very fewseems be reach and his audience on there is mof the very few politicianse one of the very few politicians to actually be encompassing, encompassing space encompassing that tiktok space at moment. at the moment. >> you're actually, you're >> you're actually, yeah, you're bang that. bang on with that. and especially he on the especially since he went on the very mainstream i'm a celebrity especially since he went on the verymeiinstream i'm a celebrity especially since he went on the veryme outream i'm a celebrity especially since he went on the veryme out ofm i'm a celebrity especially since he went on the veryme out of here, a celebrity especially since he went on the veryme out of here, 11 celebrity especially since he went on the very me out of here, i expectrity especially since he went on the very me out of here, i expect so get me out of here, i expect so many more people because what do we love in this country? we love celebrities. side celebrities. we love that side of things. and i actually think that gets in danger that gets us in danger sometimes, because sometimes when to when we are too attracted to personality, up with personality, we end up with people boris johnson in people like boris johnson in charge people oh, charge because people like, oh, he's a pint with him he's i go for a pint with him

down the pub. and that speaks more people than actual down the pub. and that speaks more just ople than actual down the pub. and that speaks more just becausen actual down the pub. and that speaks more just because youtual down the pub. and that speaks more just because you like policy just because you like their video. think they their video. but i think they do. think they would. it's do. i think they would. it's also got to be something to do with fact that we don't with the fact that we don't really, with the exception of people boris johnson in people like boris johnson in politics, don't. people like boris johnson in pol it's , don't. people like boris johnson in pol it's a don't. people like boris johnson in pol it's a combination of things. >> it's a combination of things. i really the i think we don't really have the charismatic, leaders charismatic, potential leaders on either in either main party, but at the same time, i think you've also seen this trend towards westminster becoming very focused on itself. so a lot of the westminster news is very westminster bubble. it's all of these names and scandals and so on.and these names and scandals and so on. and people have, i think, have slowly disengaged from that. anecdotally and i think the combination of the kind of lack of lack of personality and also though the over interest of politicians in themselves rather than communicating the important messages to the public. yeah could be part of the reason for this. >> it will be interesting to see what the turnout is like at the general election. i think this summer or this autumn, i think it'll very low.

it'll be very low. >> but i think you need personality and character. you know, i want to see from keir starmer well. starmer rishi sunak as well. i want i want to know about want to i want to know about them. i want to know who's going to be running country. to be running the country. i just don't want to know just just i don't want to know just about their policies and, you know, the but also know, all the time, but you also want know them as want to know them as politicians, i think people like. >> e-a e“ >> matt hancock is a good example this. who almost want example of this. who almost want to known celebrities, and to be known as celebrities, and it's an old cliche that politics is, showbusiness for ugly is, is showbusiness for ugly people, want want people, but you want you want them to be, you know, the old figures, you know, people like tony benn, who i'm no fan of. but he he was a man with charisma and standing, and he was known as a politician. and i'm sure that in, in ten years ago or earlier than that, that you wouldn't have had this issue with, with recognition of sir keir starmer is trying to do it today, isn't he to an extent with this podcast with the sun, answering or not answering questions about, you know, what his favourite alcohol is? how many sexual partners he's had. he it's not what. he was. it's not what. >> not what we need to

know. >> he was asked the last time he took drugs, which he's previously admitted was in his student days . and actually the student days. and actually the way he described he said, way he described it, he said, i had fun in my student days. so he's actually saying doing drugs is , which quite. is fun, which i found quite. >> i don't think anybody's really paying attention to that particular podcast, though, because it was the sun. well, the sun, it, it it didn't. people are not interested in any interviews with politicians. what interested in at what people are interested in at the moment is looking their the moment is looking at their bills the end of the month bills at the end of the month and to afford and not being able to afford them, don't what them, and they don't care what name on, what hat is on top. name is on, what hat is on top. they just want to vote for a party that's going to change that. but don't. >> don't you think that those kinds they're kinds of podcasts where they're being sort of banal, being asked these sort of banal, irrelevant questions are actually people actually what turn people off that that's actually one of the reasons for disengagement is that that so many politicians in senior positions in both parties come across as so unserious. senior positions in both parties come across as so unserious . and come across as so unserious. and when we are facing a crisis, i mean, one of the other stories

today is about council tax rises. we are facing serious problems as a country, but we're being presented with these very, very unserious figures because i think it's almost like they're trying to get down with the kids. they're misunderstanding how they need to communicate with the public. >> if you've got a drugs minister who is making as an example from we're just example from what we're just talking about, if you've got a drugs making on drugs minister making policy on drugs, they've had an drugs, surely if they've had an experience of using drugs, they're going be more they're going to be more informed about putting forward policy disagree. >> i think the reason they talk about stuff like that is because we don't have the political literacy this country that we literacy in this country that we should really, if should have. really, if we brought to brought that in earlier to schools, we have schools, then we could have a better conversations as adults. >> ladies, for now. >> thank you ladies, for now. we'll see again very we'll see you again very shortly. but you're going to shortly. but now you're going to see francis, who your see sam francis, who has your headlines. >> pip, thank you very much. 1031 i'm sam francis in the newsroom. the top story this morning, sir geoffrey cox has

warned that labour's projected landslide at the next general election could annihilate a credible opposition in. the former attorney general says a win for sir keir starmer would leave the conservatives without a frontbench calling it a very dangerous thing for democracy in a gb news exclusive, the mp added that rishi sunak is a serious administrator , but he serious administrator, but he suggested the prime minister should reveal more of himself to win voters legislation in england and wales is being updated to crack down on spiking to make it clear that it's a crime. the most recent figures show more than 560 spiking offences are reported every month, involving food, drink, needles and modified vapes. campaigners say the true number of victims could be even higher. however, the home secretary says that the updated law will hold perpetrators to account . a man perpetrators to account. a man that's been described as a loner will be sentenced later for the

murder of a couple that he worked for by poisoning them with fentanyl, luke de wit invented fake personas, including a solicitor , and including a solicitor, and rewrote the wills of stephen and carol baxter , who were in their carol baxter, who were in their 60s at the time, to take charge of their company. a jury found the 34 year old, from essex, was guilty on wednesday . the snp's guilty on wednesday. the snp's westminster leader is expected to tell the plied country spring conference that they, along with his party, must break up the cosy westminster consensus . the cosy westminster consensus. the two parties share similar political outlooks in several areas and they're seeking separate independence referendums . stephen flynn will referendums. stephen flynn will criticise labour leader sir keir starmer , calling him an active starmer, calling him an active fanboy for the new thatcherism . fanboy for the new thatcherism. the culture secretary has now joined calls for nike to change the colour of the saint george's cross on its new england football shirt after a row over its design. in a post in the last hour on social media, lucy

frazer has said that the multicoloured design is pointless and unnecessary, adding that it's not what fans want. it follows similar comments from the labour leader, who says the sports brand should revert to the original flag's colours . the company, though, colours. the company, though, says the change was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament in june . and tournament in june. and offenders in england and wales will be tasked with cleaning up vandalism in a bid to swiftly tackle anti—social behaviour, tackle anti —social behaviour, the tackle anti—social behaviour, the ministry of justice says. teams of people serving community sentences will scrub graffiti and collect litter within just 48 hours of cases being reported. the move comes as main political parties ramp up their commitments on law and order ahead of the upcoming general election . those are the general election. those are the headlines. more to come with pip and ben, but in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts . just scan the qr code alerts. just scan the qr code there on your screen. or if you're listening on radio, go to

gbnews.com/alerts . gbnews.com/alerts. >> for stunning gold and silver coins, you'll always value rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report , the gb news financial report, and here's a look at the markets this morning. >> the pound will buy you $1.2578 and ,1.1627. the price of gold is currently £1,722.14. that's per ounce, and the ftse 100 is 7959 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> wright fladgate still raging the culture secretary says sort it out. what are you doing? we're going to hear from rishi sunak next to see what he has to say. this is britain's newsroom on news with ben leo and pip on gb news with ben leo and pip tomson

welcome back. now, we've been talking about british culture, haven't we? so how would you fancy a landmark? a tribute to a world war ii bomber, the lancaster near you. a charity is desperately trying to find the money to complete a tribute or what it calls a landmark to the lancaster bombers. it needs to raise £80,000 before it can finish the job, and it will be taller than the angel of the north. >> the angel of the north is striking. if you ever if you ever drive down that that a road past it. well, the local council and the government haven't provided any funding yet. we've got the full story now from our east midlands reporter will hollis . hollis. >> the plane that took the fight to germany . to germany. >> it's a lancaster, the mightiest aerial engine of destruction ever conceived and built. >> now a charity in lincolnshire , is building a permanent landmark to remember the

aircraft's vital role in winning the campaign against nazi germany at timmins engineering, near lincoln. the frame is forming. ken sadler is chair of the bomber county gateway trust. >> when you talk about lincolnshire, it's inextricably unked lincolnshire, it's inextricably linked to the raf and arguably the lancaster defended the freedom that we all enjoy today. >> most of the 7000 lancasters built were stationed in the county with their crew. today, britain's only flying lancaster is based to here at raf coningsby. the lancaster landmark will weigh around 92 tonnes when it's finished . tonnes when it's finished. that's six times heavier than the real one and when it's in place it will be taller than the angel of the north. but building it isn't cheap. dave starlings firm timmins is working for free. both his grandparents were in the raf. >> it's nice to be able to do it and to honour the lancaster.

it's such a such a statement piece for lincolnshire. you know, we are bomber county and we're proud of it. >> the pace of the million pound project has dropped as the price of materials like steel rises , of materials like steel rises, as the charity has already raised £200,000, mainly from pubuc raised £200,000, mainly from public donations, but needs another 80,000 to finish the job. >> we've actually been gifted the steel for these ribs, which again is about £20,000, but we need some cash now to pay for the labour to fabricate them soon the lancaster will be lifted onto a frame at charlie white's farm, on a hillside overlooking the border with nottinghamshire , here to be seen nottinghamshire, here to be seen by 34,000 drivers. >> every day they're going to look up and see this landmark on the side of a hill in lincolnshire and think what an amazing tribute to the county's . amazing tribute to the county's. >> although designed as a heritage landmark, the charity understands how meaningful the lancaster will be to those who

remember lives lost. >> hopefully this will just remind people of the sacrifice and the values that we that we hold dear and should hold dear. >> the trust hopes to complete the structure in 2025. the cost exceeds many thousands of pounds, but a far greater price has already been paid. >> yes, they did a grand job all right. >> will hollis gb news in lincolnshire . lincolnshire. >> all right. so the project cost a million. they only need 80 k, which in the grand scheme of things isn't that much. so we're joined now by former chief of staff at the raf, sir michael graydon. good graydon. sir michael, good morning. joining morning. thank you for joining us. we can find £1 million for a muslim war memorial in the budget, but these guys can't gather from the government gather 8—k from the government to this, know, rather to finish this, you know, rather fitting very fitting tribute to a very important piece aviation important piece of our aviation history . history. >> yes, there are there are a lot of memorials around the country. and i have no doubt

that each one of them feels that they have a particular, grab on, on, on available money, and, you know, i'm delighted to see that, progress has been made to, to finish off the lancaster. it will be a tremendous gateway into the county, i think we just need to remember that we all see it. you'll pass it. and i hope that people will think, gosh , that people will think, gosh, yes. wonderful, remembrance of what happened in world war two and bomber county. but i hope they'll also do a bit more than that, because we have the international bomber command centre in lincolnshire, and i declare an interest . i'm the declare an interest. i'm the chairman of it, and it's been doing most wonderful work to doing the most wonderful work to continue that remembrance, to continue that remembrance, to continue recognition of the continue that recognition of the sacrifice made by nearly 58,000 men and women in bomber command in world war ii. >> and do you feel that more of these monuments, these landmarks , are needed? because as the veterans pass away , as the years

veterans pass away, as the years go on, more and more people may be feel more distant from it when they shouldn't feel like that. but but it feels like way back when. >> i think you need more than just memorials. there are an awful lot of memorials in london, and if you walk past them, sometimes you don't even nofice them, sometimes you don't even notice they're there. i think this one, the lancaster, will stand out . it's a fine gateway stand out. it's a fine gateway into the county, but i would plead that people do a bit more than just pass it. they think about it and go and see. now the international bomber command centre, you will find the records of every single person that served in bomber command. you will be able to trace their story. you will see their names, all those who on the all of those who died on the walls around the memorial. in other words, you'll have a follow through. it be much follow through. it will be much more for to more important for them to remember that way than just passing a memorial. so i think lincolnshire can be very proud of what's going on, and the remembrance of being applied to

bomber command in world war ii. the lancaster , we have, east the lancaster, we have, east kirkby. we have a number of airfields , but we have the airfields, but we have the international bomber command centre, which keeps it alive daily. and i think that's very important. over 100,000 visitors last year, 500,000 since it opened, and schoolchildren coming, 25,000 schoolchildren have been through . now that is have been through. now that is the way to remember, it seems to me in the future. >> what would you say to people who are looking to donate this morning? i mean, we've we've actually i should read out this email from chris, saying how lovely it has been to see the story being highlighted today. they knew nothing about it, but chris's dad was a navigator, most mostly night run hamburg. death rate was 75. he survived and passed away in 2006. they've gone on the website and this morning they've donated. >> that's marvellous. and i'm

delighted to see it. it will, as i say, be a gateway to the county. but i do plead that people do a bit more than just pass it, go and see the international bomber command centre and follow through. >> so michael, just very, very briefly, when you speak of or hear of, world war aviation and our planes, the spitfire of course, comes up pretty frequently. but what role exactly did the lancaster play? why was it so important just for those of us who are uneducated? >> well, it was a step change in capability, both in range and bomb carrying capability . it bomb carrying capability. it could fly non—stop, comfortably to berlin and back again. and it really opened the eyes of americans when they saw what we produced there, they were really amazed, it was a step change. i'd say an outstanding aircraft. and when you talk to people who flew it, they loved it. you know, it brought you home. if it was possible to get home, you could do that in a lancaster. whilst carrying an enormous bomb

load . load. >> okay. former chief of the air staff at the raf, sir michael graydon. thank you so much for being with us this morning. and if you'd like to help out in raising funds, you can visit bomber co.uk bomber gateway trust. co.uk that's trust that's bomber gateway trust co.uk and you can donate there. >> coming next. it is the 15th 15th anniversary of jade goody passing away from from cervical cancen passing away from from cervical cancer. she did such great work raising awareness for us women to go and get smear tests . but to go and get smear tests. but more recently that uptake of tests is falling . and we're tests is falling. and we're talking about that next year with britain's newsroom. good morning. this is

gb news. welcome back to britain's newsroom with ben leo and pip tomson. it has been. can you believe , 15 years since reality believe, 15 years since reality tv star jade believe, 15 years since reality tv starjade goody died from tv star jade goody died from cervical cancer, aged just 27? >> yes, but before her death,

she made it her mission to raise awareness for the illness. and in doing so , half a million more in doing so, half a million more women than usual attended cervical screenings. between 2008 and 2009. >> her campaigning is thought to have saved, saved thousands of women's lives, but there is still a long way to go, as according to latest nhs research , 4.6 million britons still need to be tested urgently. >> we're joined now by hayley rosindell, who, actually you say hayley , that jade goody helped hayley, that jade goody helped you in your life and with your medical situation. just explain what happened . what happened. >> thanks for having me, yeah . >> thanks for having me, yeah. so i was 29, at the time , and i so i was 29, at the time, and i was kind of the age where the age for smear tests kept getting changed. so when i was 18, it got changed to 21. when i was 21, it got changed to 25 and so on.andi 21, it got changed to 25 and so on. and i never actually went for my test, and i followed it

before jade. it wasn't kind of publicise it as much, and i followed her story very closely. i think back of my mind, but i knew i had to go for my test. i followed it a little too closely, and it had got to the point where i was kind of, i think i knew something was wrong. i don't know why i didn't have any symptoms or anything, but her story just really struck a chord with me, and i got tested and, and at the time. so she passed away. obviously in the march, i went for my test. and i remember at the time i had to wait about 2 or 3 months for my results because because of jade, a lot of which was jade, a lot of people, which was great, know, everyone were great, you know, everyone were going their and going for their testing, and i had abnormal cells, and it was actually my first test. and i wasn't overly worried. i didn't have any symptoms or anything. and that's when they found that i had an aggressive tumour. and you , you were successfully

you, you were successfully treated, weren't you, hayley , i treated, weren't you, hayley, i understand you had a hysterectomy, and you are now. well, and i think the thing is about jade goody is that she was so young. she still had so much life to live. she was the mum of two little boys, bobby and freddie . it was absolutely freddie. it was absolutely heartbreaking. and from diagnosis to passing away, it was so quick and yet what we hearis was so quick and yet what we hear is that if it is caught early, survival rates are very good. >> absolutely. and i think that's the thing that people don't realise. the actual smear test isn't a test to detect cancen test isn't a test to detect cancer, it's to detect any abnormalities to stop it. you know, anything happening . so if know, anything happening. so if i could, i always think to myself, if i could go back and what would i say to my younger self? and it would be go for your smear test because it's so easy. it takes minutes. you know, i'd rather that than have to go through . i'm obviously now to go through. i'm obviously now i'm kind of i had my last test

last year, and i'm kind of i'm still getting tested now, but, you know, i've had 14, 15 years of hospital appointments and, you know, it's the after effects of it as well, you know, that i'm kind of left with obviously, i'm kind of left with obviously, i don't i can't have my own family. you know, and i was 29 at the time, so that was a big thing as well, but i just i have it to all de to thank for, for all of it because she's definitely. would you say hi very quickly. >> what would you say to women who get the letter, file it away and go, oh, i'll get round to that vicky smear test. >> it literally takes minutes. honestly i tell all my friends now, they always say to me, oh, itook now, they always say to me, oh, i took my test because they know how, how serious it is, you know, and it's literally minutes. and as i say, it's not a test to detect cancer. it's to detect any abnormalities that can be caught very early. and we're very lucky to have this service in this country. hayley, we'll to leave it there. we'll have to leave it there. >> we're coming to the end of the hour, but really appreciate

you telling everybody every woman this morning. go and get your smear thanks, hayley. your smear test. thanks, hayley. >> with us news. >> stick with us on gb news. we're back a tick. we're back in a tick. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar, sponsors of weather on . solar, sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the gb news forecast from the met office. we're going to see rain clearing the southeast during the next few hours, followed by sunny spells and showers. but with a cold wind coming from the northwest. we've got low pressure to the north of scotland. tightly packed isobars, gales in the far north and northwest, and this cold front clears the southeast very slowly. actually through the rest afternoon , just rest of the afternoon, just about lingering across parts of kent, perhaps east sussex , into kent, perhaps east sussex, into the mid afternoon period. otherwise brighter skies follow some sunny spells, but frequent showers arriving into north wales, northern england, scotland and northern ireland on that cold wind, so temperatures

falling away through the day in the south, 12 celsius in the north, 6 or 7 in. now that wind continues to bring showers in overnight, some heavy downpours in places and the showers will be falling as snow over the hills of wales northern england and scotland, with some accumulations over the mountains of scotland, but certainly with that wind temperatures just staying up at 3 or 4 celsius in many places, a frost confined to higher parts of the uk. many places, a frost confined to higher parts of the uk . and we higher parts of the uk. and we start saturday with some sunshine about. but that chill in the air and the showers soon get going through the morning. some heavy downpours with the odd rumble of thunder, some hail to lower levels and some snow continuing to build up over the hills of northern uk. and that wind continuing to make it feel cold outside. single figures for most. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather

on

gb news. >> good morning to you. it's 11 am. on friday, march 22nd. this is britain's newsroom on gb news with me, ben eliot and pip tomson >> own goal for nike, the american sportswear brand has been criticised by, well, most people , but including the people, but including the conservatives, labour and lib dems for changing the saint george's cross on the new england football kit reform mp lee anderson. well, he's not impressed . impressed. >> the england team taking the knee dummy got the england captain wearing rainbow armbands. hypocrites. the lot of them. now we've got this nonsense. where does it stop? it's a slippery slope. the fa should hang their heads in shame i >> -- >> what? 5mm >> what? you really think? lee, next up, spiking crackdown. the home secretary is getting tough

on spiking with a new change to the law, and wants to provide greater support to spiking victims . victims. >> simpler cars, please. a new poll shows that many drivers want rid of touch screens on their dashboard and to bring back conventional buttons . back conventional buttons. >> and do civil servants deserve a pay >> and do civil servants deserve a pay rise? mps are warning that their morale is being brought down by chronic pay issues. >> so plenty to get your teeth into there . do keep your into there. do keep your thoughts coming in and we haven't even got to the hot cross buns issue. no hot cross, no hot tick buns . no hot tick buns. >> so what? they've removed the christian symbol from the hot cross buns. it's iceland involved in this, and they've replaced it with a tick, which ironically looks like a nike tick on same day. tick all on the same day. >> couldn't make it up. gb views rgv news.com. we look forward to

heanng rgv news.com. we look forward to hearing from you, we're also hearing from you, and we're also looking hearing from hearing from you, and we're also looki francis hearing from hearing from you, and we're also looki francis now hearing from hearing from you, and we're also looki francis now with|ring from sam francis now with your headunes. headlines. >> pip, thanks very much. it's just gone 11:00. the headlines this hour , sir geoffrey cox says this hour, sir geoffrey cox says that labour's projected landslide at the upcoming general election could, he says, annihilate a credible opposition. the former attorney general is warning that a possible win for sir keir starmer would leave the conservatives without a frontbench, calling it a very dangerous thing for democracy. well, in a gb news exclusive, the mp said that rishi sunak is a serious administrator but suggested the prime minister needs to reveal more of himself to sway voters. >> hundred seat majority 80 seat majority is big, but the proposal at the moment, the suggestion that labour might win a 200 seat majority, effectively annihilates any credible opposition. that's bad for democracy , but on our part, we

democracy, but on our part, we need to show why . need to show why. >> the home secretary has vowed to crack down on spiking by updating the law to hold. he says. perpetrators to account. legislation in england and wales is being changed to make it clear that it's a crime. the most recent figures show more than 560 spiking offences are reported every month involving food, drink, needles and modified vapes. campaigners say the true number of victims could be even higher. >> we know that with the drugs that are prevalent in spiking, that are prevalent in spiking, that speed is of the essence and of course, what we're doing is we're updating the legislation to make it clear and unambiguous that spiking is a crime . we that spiking is a crime. we prioritise the prevention of crimes against women and girls and the people who perpetrate spiking will be held to account . spiking will be held to account. >> the latest developments now in the story. leading the news today that the culture secretary has joined calls for nike to

change the colour of the saint george's cross on its new england football shirt after a row over design in a post on row over its design in a post on social media this morning, lucy frazer said the multicoloured design is pointless and unnecessary, adding that it's not what fans want. it follows similar comments from the labour leader sir keir starmer, who says the sports brand should revert to the original flag's colours. the company , though, colours. the company, though, says the change was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament in june. well we've been speaking to people outside the nike store in central london on oxford street to get their thoughts. here's what they had to say. >> england is england, you know, you start changing its colours. you start changing the flags. yeah it represents something that's traditional and perhaps it should stay that way. >> yes, i like it. i cannot it should stay that way. >> yes, i like it . i cannot say >> yes, i like it. i cannot say more, but i think it's good. looks great. >> i think it could have been better . i >> i think it could have been better. i think >> i think it could have been better . i think the old shirts better. i think the old shirts like retro. i think they could

have made them more like them because i think they're quite good shirts. they're the best. >> in other news, today, police in west yorkshire are investigating alleged racist comments made in 2019 by the conservative party's biggest donon conservative party's biggest donor. the metropolitan police have transferred the case because frank hester's comments are reported to have been made in leeds . officers there say in leeds. officers there say that they are now looking at whether a crime was committed in 2019. the businessman, who's already given the party £10 million, is accused of saying the mp diane abbott, made him want to hate all black women . want to hate all black women. the funeral of 15 year old masonry rest is being held later. he was stabbed to death in bristol in january alongside his best friend max dixon, who was also laid to rest this week . was also laid to rest this week. a total of 12 people were arrested in connection with their deaths, and five people have been charged with murder . have been charged with murder. the partner of max's mother is taking part in a charity walk between weston super mare, grand pier and bristol to raise funds

in their memory. pier and bristol to raise funds in their memory . a man that's in their memory. a man that's been described who has been described as a loner, will be sentenced later for the murder of a couple that he worked for by poisoning them with the opioid fentanyl. luke dewitt invented fake personas and rewrote the wills of stephen and carol baxter, who were in their 60s, to take charge of their company . a jury found the 34 company. a jury found the 34 year old, from essex, guilty on wednesday. yeah, a man caught up in the westminster westminster bridge terror attacks in 2017 has said that the prime minister's response has been abysmal. today marks seven years since that incident near the houses of parliament, travis frayne has been pushing for a so—called survivors charter to improve support for people who are impacted by terrorism. six people died, including the attacker , and more than 50 were attacker, and more than 50 were injured in that attack. in 2017. and consumer experts have said

that scottish power, ovo energy and british gas must urgently improve their customer service. a survey by which has found customers are often left on hold or stuck in never ending loops with chat bots with no answers to their questions. the companies, though, insist they are working to make improvements . and finally, 1 in 8 supermarkets are now offering electric car charging. despite asda deactivating most of its devices. figures show that 13% of all 12,800 stores across the uk have facilities available for charging. tesco has the biggest network, though sainsbury's has seen its largest increase year on year . seen its largest increase year on year. those are the latest headunes on year. those are the latest headlines i'll be back in half an hour. in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen, or go to gbnews.com slash alerts .

slash alerts. >> welcome back. it's 1107. this is britain's newsroom with me, ben leo and pip tomson. flag gate still raging at these now some emails flying in. >> well, robert morning. boycott the new england shirt, you say. and wear the old shirt. teach nike a lesson. >> yeah. and tom says it's not an english flag, it's a coloured cross. what next? removing the three lions and lots of you actually saying this morning, why don't we have an english manufacturer ? slazenger i manufacturer? slazenger i believe is based in derby or traditionally the england kit was always made by umbro, who i think are based in manchester. >> i mean, i think they totally underestimated the reaction to this and i think the fa is totally underestimated it as well because i haven't, i haven't i don't think anybody who's written in this morning is defending it. no. everybody is outraged. somebody somewhere needs to get in touch and say it's okay. >> although we have got a diversity and inclusion officer of some company coming on later to defend it. so that would be a

nice interaction. >> well, so to bring you up to date this is united all the parties actually, which doesn't happen very often. conservatives labour and the lib dems have unhed labour and the lib dems have united to condemn nike for its new cross of saint george on the england euro football shirt. >> yes. so the kit featured the modified flag using purple and blue horizontal stripes and what the manufacturers called a, quote, playful update. and actually, i think it was that playful update thing which riled people the most a playful update to a country's national flag . to a country's national flag. earlier we heard from reform uk mp anderson, who says mp lee anderson, who says probably not surprisingly, he's not this you know, we got not a fan. this you know, we got the england team taking the knee, then we got the england captain wearing rainbow armbands. >> hypocrites . a lot of them. >> hypocrites. a lot of them. now we've got this nonsense. where does it stop? it's a slippery slope. the fa should hang their heads in shame, i told i'll tell you what you should do, guys. they should go into a pub in ashfield on a sunday afternoon when the football's on and talk to some

real people in the real world. and i'll tell you what, they'll get chased out of town. >> winning goalkeeper get chased out of town. >> shilton. winning goalkeeper get chased out of town. >> shilton.wirspokejoalkeeper get chased out of town. >> shilton. wirspoke to lkeeper get chased out of town. >> shilton. wirspoke to gbeper peter shilton. he spoke to gb news too, well, i'm totally against it, which i don't think is a surprise. i mean, i'm a traditionalist really, but i think, you know, we've seen a lot of design changes on shirts. i think that's to get the fans to buy the new shirt every time it changes . but now they're it changes. but now they're messing with the colours on a, on a, on a national flag. and, you know, it's it. where would it stop once it starts, you know, is, is the next shirt going to be, going to have more changes in the colour? so i'm, i'm against it. i think it's wrong . wrong. >> and we also heard from shadow attorney general, labour's emily thornberry of nike. >> done. i mean, seriously, you could hardly recognise it as the england flag, can you. i mean, england flag, can you. i mean, england flag, can you. i mean, england flag is a simple white background and a red cross seems to me. why can't they just leave

it alone ? it alone? >> so let's talk to our reporter theo chikomba. now he is outside nike's flagship shop in central london. what are people saying to you there, theo ? to you there, theo? >> well, it's the eve of the england and brazil match. and normally on days like today, all the headlines will be full of who's missing, who's not going to be able to play. we already know this week players like harry england captain, know this week players like harrbukayo england captain, know this week players like harrbukayo saka ngland captain, know this week players like harrbukayo saka areand captain, know this week players like harrbukayo saka are notcaptain, know this week players like harrbukayo saka are not going], know this week players like harrbukayo saka are not going to and bukayo saka are not going to be featuring in tomorrow's game at least. but today, though, the england shirt has been unveiled andifs england shirt has been unveiled and it's got new colours in the cross of saint george, and for some people they feel well, why has it had to change? and of course a lot of people are looking forward to the game tomorrow, are now saying, well, actually no, it should be recalling these shirts and changing them. but nike have confirmed this morning that they won't recalling shirts won't be recalling these shirts or the designers to or asking the designers to change this shirt that they've come up with, and they say it's

been inspired by the training kit, which was worn by the team in 1966. but we've we've been speaking to people here in central london and there's been a mixed view, though, having to say whether or not they agree this change should have been made. and this is what some of those had to say. >> england is england, you know, you start changing its colours, you start changing its colours, you start changing flags. you start changing the flags. yeah. represents something yeah. it represents something that's traditional and perhaps it should stay that way . it should stay that way. >> being welsh, i'm not really bothered to be honest . bothered to be honest. >> but england's england, so it should be the original saint george's cross. >> i think it could have been better . i >> i think it could have been better. i think >> i think it could have been better . i think the old shirts better. i think the old shirts like retro. i think they could have made them more like them because they're quite have made them more like them becalshirts. they're quite have made them more like them becalshirts. they'rey're quite have made them more like them becalshirts. they're the quite have made them more like them becalshirts. they're the best. good shirts. they're the best. >> change why change it? >> why change it? why change it? it's a part of england, isn't it? so i don't know quite why they're changing it all of a sudden. >> well, it's not often that you hear a politicians from all sides coming together, unifying

on this one issue. we've heard from the labour leader , sir keir from the labour leader, sir keir starmer, saying, that the shirt should not have been changed and he's saying that everybody at the flag is used by everybody. it is a unifier and it doesn't need to be changed. and we've heard from some other voices as well. but certainly ahead of the game tomorrow , this is game tomorrow, this is definitely one of the talking points when it comes to the england shirt. >> okay. theo chikomba on oxford street flagship store. street at nyc's flagship store. thank you very much. let's bring in katie. john went now who is a diversity and inclusion facilitator . katie, diversity and inclusion facilitator. katie, good diversity and inclusion facilitator . katie, good morning facilitator. katie, good morning to you. thanks for joining facilitator. katie, good morning to you. thanks forjoining us. to you. thanks for joining us. what's your take on this , i kind what's your take on this, i kind of laugh and smile at a lot of it because obviously everyone's reacting to the thing that is present here and now , which no present here and now, which no one reacted to for like the first few hours, because no one could see the little darn flag. >> it's minuscule on the back of a collar thing. and a collar sort of thing. and everyone saying, oh, great, everyone was saying, oh, great, new then someone new kit. and then someone spotted the flag change. and then all the oh, this

then there was all the oh, this is gender fluid, is woke. this is gender fluid, this and the whole go this is weird. and the whole go woke, thing. well, woke, go broke thing. well, they're not going broke over it. they're fortune out of they're making a fortune out of it £125 a shirt, i you it at £125 a shirt, so i you know, i think it's a storm in a teacup because people don't actually do their history. and yes, breaking with yes, it's breaking with tradition, it's tradition tradition, but it's a tradition that actually very that is actually very, very short its own history. in short in its own history. and in fact, mentioning you fact, you were mentioning you mentioned in fact, mentioned umbro, and in fact, umbro different coloured umbro had different coloured saint on their kit saint george flags on their kit in us, they were on in 2012. for us, they were on the shoulders. there were little minuscule flags minuscule saint george flags done four different done in about four different colours, all on shoulders of colours, all on the shoulders of the it's happened before the kit. so it's happened before and we've only had the saint george flag england kit george flag on the england kit for 20 years. the 66 kit for about 20 years. the 66 kit didn't have an actual flag , and didn't have an actual flag, and it's colours from the 66 kit it's the colours from the 66 kit that have reinterpreted in that have been reinterpreted in the but this is not a woke the flag. but this is not a woke thing. this is what designers do. they have to play with colours and imagery and design to something to to come up with something to sell people. sell to people. >> i they keep >> yeah, i mean, they keep saying it's a, a playful, saying it's a, it's a playful, playful interpretation, isn't it just plain disrespectful? i

don't think it's disrespectful. >> it's you put a designer in a studio, give him a colour palette, my ex is a graphic designer. i know exactly what they do. they sit with a blank sheet of paper. they have, like, a series of colours that have been part of previous kits. and they go, what can we do with this? we have to reinvent the wheel year to justify wheel every year to justify a new to justify new sales, new kit, to justify new sales, to justify design contract. to justify the design contract. so have some blue sky so they have some blue sky thinking. someone came thinking. and then someone came up and it got pushed up with this and it got pushed out. perhaps they have out. perhaps they should have thought reactions, but thought about the reactions, but ultimately lot thought about the reactions, but ult reaction lot thought about the reactions, but ult reaction for lot thought about the reactions, but ult reaction for the lot thought about the reactions, but ult reaction for the kit. lot thought about the reactions, but ultreaction for the kit. andt of reaction for the kit. and it's those things that it's one of those things that a mixture news and bad mixture of good news and bad news still news. so it's news is still news. so it's getting the kit and heard getting the kit seen and heard and about, and it isn't and talked about, and it isn't even exclusively an english flag. mean , is it, one of the, flag. i mean, is it, one of the, cities and teams in italy and also barcelona same kind also barcelona use the same kind of george's flag , but it's modified. >> that's that's our flag. that is the saint george's cross. thatis is the saint george's cross. that is the flag of england. and actually say that it's not actually you say that it's not a big deal, but why haven't nike done this for any other country? why it always england on the

why is it always england on the receiving these kind of receiving end of these kind of changes, we've seen as a threat perhaps. knows ? think perhaps. who knows? i think it doesn't what it doesn't matter what colour it is. if win . is. if we win. >> thing is, you're laughing about but actually , this about this, but actually, this is something that that all the political parties are up in arms about as well. it's not just a few sensitive members of the public. it is actually every political party and saying, come on, this is, this is this is a joke. people should not be buying these shirts. i mean, there's calls this morning, not from i'm not saying from the political parties, but from our email is full of people saying boycott it. do not spend £125 on them. and that's another issue . them. and that's another issue. >> yeah. i mean, the irony is that the parties are united on it and it's the one thing that's got people united, which is a complete surprise to anyone. if only actual politics would go down that route. we might solve some the bigger issues, how some of the bigger issues, how important that is important it is, and that it is a sense pride. a sense of pride. >> the saint george's cross , it >> the saint george's cross, it come, it is part of our national

identity. so why muck around with it? >> well, it's only going to be for a season and then they'll change it yet again. everyone's going to be waving kind of, saint flags in the saint george's flags in the stadium . so that's that's the stadium. so that's that's the thing that's going to be seen as bigger it is a bigger as i say it is a minuscule part of the of the emblem of the kit, and is not emblem of the kit, and it is not always the kit anyway. always been on the kit anyway. so they've messed with it, so yes, they've messed with it, but we'll over it and we'll but we'll get over it and we'll be more interested whether or be more interested in whether or not win than whatever colour not we win than whatever colour the little symbol you can't the little symbol that you can't see except at the end a see except at the end of a photographer's mil photographer's like 500 mil lens. when someone's lens. you know, when someone's scoring see that the scoring and you see that on the back of their neck and you're going be irritated by the going to be irritated by the flag, or are you going to be irritated by the fact that he didn't get over it, >> you say, we'll get over it, but suspect, i mean, this is but i suspect, i mean, this is just the latest in a litany of things that the fa and the premier league and not the premier league and not the premier league and not the premier league case, premier league in this case, but nike to really, my nike have done to really, in my opinion, alienate fans opinion, alienate football fans in you alluded in recent years, you alluded alluded to it yourself. at the top of the conversation, you said may be said that this flag may be represented had hint of

represented or had a hint of maybe lgbt influence. why maybe some lgbt influence. why do think that? what does it do you think that? what does it look like? >> i don't think that at all. i just find it interesting that some reacting to just find it interesting that sorie reacting to just find it interesting that sori said, reacting to just find it interesting that sori said, oh reacting to just find it interesting that sori said, oh my reacting to just find it interesting that sori said, oh my gosh,acting to just find it interesting that sori said, oh my gosh, thisg to just find it interesting that sori said, oh my gosh, this is:o it, i said, oh my gosh, this is woke. this is gender fluid and things that. i say, the things like that. as i say, the colours that they have said that therefore are from 1966 therefore are from the 1966 training to training kit, they're nothing to do you you can do with the, you know, you can pick kind of lgbt flag. pick any kind of lgbt flag. >> have you seen the bisexual flag? >> yeah, i'm very aware of it. i don't think it looks very similar to that. yeah, but if you to any lgbt forum, you you go on to any lgbt forum, you will and discover there are will find and discover there are literally dozens flags you literally dozens of flags you could find a flag that it could easily find a flag that it ties in with. and that's no one's to be thinking one's going to be thinking that's a bisexual flag on the back someone's collar. back of someone's collar. do you not many flags? >> kc doing the rounds. there's a flag for everything these days, isn't there? >> yeah, creative, but. but >> yeah, it's creative, but. but it isn't exactly unifying. yeah >> katie, john won't really appreciate your thoughts this morning . diversity and inclusion morning. diversity and inclusion facilitator , appreciate all your facilitator, appreciate all your thoughts as well. at home or wherever you're watching or

listening to us from, john says, why is the white england kit always trimmed in blue? there's no blue in the england flag, only white and red, and then in james. since when was purple ever on an england flag ? derek, ever on an england flag? derek, would nike dare to change the stars and stripes ? stars and stripes? >> caroline says in 35 years as a pub landlord, i applied every year for an extension on saint george's day to keep open and keep serving pints. i was always refused as this was , quote, not refused as this was, quote, not important. however, it was granted all other national granted for all other national days. nike feel the english flag is not important sacred . and is not important or sacred. and that's that's kind of the that's the that's kind of the running theme morning. it's running theme this morning. it's a the scheme of a very, in the grand scheme of things, very small thing, things, a very small thing, isn't but as anderson isn't it? but as lee anderson hinted at earlier, it's the latest in a long line of things where english and where he feels english and british being eroded british culture is being eroded slowly, hacked away at. and that's why there's such a strong sense of feeling about it. >> and there is a feeling amongst our leading politicians as well, our political leaders. we're awaiting rishi sunak the

prime minister's response to all this. we'll bring it you here on

gb news. >> hello. welcome back. it's 1123. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news. with me, ben leo and pip tomson. >> we are joined again by amy nicole turner and emma webb in the studio. welcome back. what are we going to talk about? should we have a little bit of a rest this england rest from from this england shirt ? shirt? >> i think ben ben would benefit from a little rest. >> i've been raging. i've been raging off air. >> amy, what do you want to. what do you want to entertain us with? >> i think it's only right that we do talk about these waspi women. so these are the women who their state who missed out on their state pension in 1995 was it. pension because in 1995 was it. and they changed the age of women's that women could take their state pension. and but it wasn't properly communicated.

and now the ombudsman has found that the women deserve the compensation. now the ombudsman is essentially the referee, the judge. so now the government are, in my opinion, really has a duty to these women to pay them. what they're owed because their retirement plans in so many cases were absolutely thrown into chaos because they went to get their pension. and then had to four years to work another four years unexpectedly because it just really communicate . really wasn't communicate. >> the government's not >> and the government's not really though, they are really said, though, if they are going think the government going to, i think the government are reluctant to this are reluctant to say this because it roll into billions. >> and that added to, you know, the postmasters scandal, the infected blood scandal, this is equating to so much money that the government's going to have to pay, but stop making grave mistakes then. >> well, exactly. >> well, exactly. >> they need they need to pay for these mistakes, like on a moral basis. you know, many of these women have waited so long that lots of them have died. you know, these women have been waiting so such, such a long time for this. so i think it's

really it's really at the moment. >> can they a suggestion the payout could be what, between 1000 and £3000. but campaigners say actually yeah women should be getting about £10,000 at least each. >> the problem is that actually some of these women are not happy with the compensation because they feel that they have been robbed of a large amount of money, one lady, i think, suggested that she's that the government had essentially stolen from that stolen £45,000 from her and that this compensation wouldn't be enough. but of course, the government can't pay out all of that money. it's just simply unaffordable , so yes, it does unaffordable, so yes, it does seem to be the case that this has been miscommunicated and the government do keep changing the goalposts when it comes to pensions. and you can see why people would feel that. that is extremely unfair. and one of the points that they have made is that they as, as the, as the sort of, boomer generation actually worked from a much earlier age, from 14, 15.

they've been paying into the system a long time. then the goalposts get moved. many of them didn't realise that the goalposts had been moved and then ended up in financial difficulty because they hadn't planned to retire as late as the new. new goalposts been new. the new goalposts had been sort back to , so you sort of pushed back to, so you can see why they would be annoyed. but is all part of annoyed. but this is all part of annoyed. but this is all part of a bigger picture of the fact that just simply cannot that we just simply cannot afford. pensions and afford. and, the pensions and we've created this almost sort of ponzi scheme of a, of a sort of ponzi scheme of a, of a sort of pyramid where we keep having to argue for bringing in more migrants in order to fund the pensions. but of course, then the migrants get old, too, and that puts more pressure on the system. >> like people like amy would say, migrants and migration is good for the economy. hang on a minute. >> particularly people like amy would particularly would be wrong, particularly when to our ageing when it comes to our ageing population. 200 population. we've got, what, 200 odd the odd thousand, vacancies in the care sector. like if we aren't going to invite migrants to take migrants, good for just working in to take up those jobs, then. well, who who's going to staff

them? because i haven't seen a rush of women. >> do you know what i mean ? >> do you know what i mean? >> do you know what i mean? >> you know what? i do think that there is a really strong argument for that. a lot of people want to care jobs, but people want to do care jobs, but care paid terribly. care jobs are paid terribly. £10, you'll be lucky £10, 33 an hour. you'll be lucky to . but the care sector is to get. but the care sector is one of the few health care one one of the few health care sectors which doesn't have a union. they don't have any way of collectively of really collectively bargaining so bargaining with anyone. so i agree, work needs to be agree, care work needs to be more attractive and there needs to be more on offer because a lot of people want to do it, but they they'd be better off working slightly. >> want to know whether it >> i do want to know whether it will take televised will take another televised drama actually sort this out. you it's only when you laugh, but it's only when you hear the stories from people and the emotion. i mean, i heard and the emotion. i mean, i heard a couple of women talking on the radio yesterday. they were in tears about what's happened to them with this, and i'm sorry. >> well, there are some women who have had to take from their private pot. one woman private pension pot. one woman was had take was saying she had to take from her private pension in order her private pension pot in order to retrain, to, to fill the financial gap between when she

had planned to retire and when she was able to take money from her state pension. and so she had to take, i think was had to take, i think it was £20,000 to retrain, in some kind of, i think it was reiki or something so that she could sort of tide herself over. >> do you know what we it's about time the government started looking after its own people. because if there's a will there to compensate these people who deserve it, can people who deserve it, they can find we're spending, you find it. we're spending, you know, spend, we sent £8.5 know, we spend, we sent £8.5 million to in foreign aid million to china in foreign aid last year. they're building a base on the moon. we've spent £1 million on a muslim war memorial. we spent 37 billion on test and trace. you are. you are never worked under the amount of money that we're spending on housing. >> illegal migrants who are coming across channel. we coming across the channel. we can't we just simply can't afford it. >> but it's weird because that whole magic money tree does seem to as ben said, they to appear, as ben said, if they want to afford it, they can certain things. they arguably look birmingham city council look at birmingham city council with equal claim, with the equal pay claim, completely bankrupted and

completely bankrupted it, and i think potentially the government wants down. the can wants to kick this down. the can to the next government because it cost well, tory it will cost well, there's tory councils that have gone bankrupt as labour ones. as well as labour ones. >> which brings us on to >> yeah, which brings us on to actually council because actually council tax because households receiving the first £5,000 council tax bill next week, the levy is soared by 50% since the conservatives came to power in 2010. >> heinous isn't it? i think a lot of people will be thinking that they are not getting their value for money. i certainly think that we don't get our value for money and our local council, our bins get collected once every two weeks, there are potholes everywhere there. time and time again. there have been reports by organisations like the taxpayers alliance alliance that shows that wild inefficiencies of local government spending and they i think people it's not just because of this , but people because of this, but people i think feel that they're almost being milked. people are being treated like a piggy bank, and this money just seems to

disappear with no benefit to them all. and £5,000 a year them at all. and £5,000 a year on your council tax bill is ridiculous. it's absolutely ridiculous. it's absolutely ridiculous . ridiculous. it's absolutely ridiculous. that's ridiculous. it's absolutely ridiculous . that's the ridiculous. it's absolutely ridiculous. that's the highest band. but some of the lower bands are even £2,000. i think in council tax a year is ridiculous. people can't afford this. >> they were doing their jobs and collecting bins properly and people wouldn't mind so much you wouldn't care. >> but the thing is that i think we're picking up the for bill the housing crisis because billions think £11 billion billions i think £11 billion a year of council money is spent on temporary accommodation. now if for who, if for, for homeless people, for people who should be in council housing, for people who are entitled to social housing, asylum seekers. >> but the social housing just isn't there. >> asylum seekers or people on low if the council low incomes? if the council houses built and they're houses were built and they're they would pay for and they would pay for rent and generate revenue for the council. currently you've got temporary which just council. currently you've got te bottomless which just council. currently you've got tebottomless pit. which just council. currently you've got tebottomless pit. it'shich just council. currently you've got tebottomless pit. it's like just a bottomless pit. it's like renting out hotels. >> does that not suggest to you then there's just too many

people. >> no. it suggests to me that we haven't hit our housing targets at all, our social housing at all, and our social housing has and there's has been sold off. and there's an private landlords an overuse of private landlords charging rents that charging massive rents that people can't afford. >> accept that. so why are we >> i accept that. so why are we taking in? are we taking taking in? why are we taking hundreds of thousands of migrants year? hundreds of thousands of migmigrants ear? hundreds of thousands of migmigrants and house building >> migrants and house building are two very separate we are two very separate things. we should be able. are two very separate things. we shoild be able. are two very separate things. we shoi agreeable. are two very separate things. we shoi agree with you. we haven't >> i agree with you. we haven't got infrastructure because got the infrastructure because everything back down everything comes back down to i'm most time it i'm sorry, most of the time it does actually, you i agree with you. we haven't got the infrastructure the housing. infrastructure or the housing. so it then acceptable to so why is it then acceptable to keep the size of keep having a city the size of birmingham every years? birmingham here every two years? >> that are you talking >> i think that are you talking about the legal migration. >> well yeah i mean the boats is another because another complete because if we look the number of shortages, look at the number of shortages, it pretty much it spans across pretty much every sector. >> a shortage of vets. >> we have a shortage of vets. we have shortage of engineers. we have a shortage of engineers. we have a shortage of engineers. we we have shortages we have we have shortages in every single sector, which actually other actually leads to the other story were to story that we were going to discuss number discuss about the number of economically people economically inactive people in this. got to go to the news, >> we've got to go to the news, but actually the latest gdp figures that gdp per head figures showed that gdp per head per capita contracted, which completely myth

completely blew apart the myth that migrants good for the that migrants are good for the economy. we must to the economy. but we must go to the news the job sam harris. >> migration. ben >> migration. ben >> really? we did. >> really? we did. >> of course we need migration. yeah. quality migration. >> of course we need migration. yeawell, quality migration. >> of course we need migration. yeawell, qsingle�*nigration. >> of course we need migration. yeawell, qsingle�*nigriodd. thousand. >> that's a figure to be, to be questioned, i think. >> i think we all. i'm only repeating the facts of gdp figures which showed gdp per capita, per contracted 0.7% capita, per head contracted 0.7% at time when the tories have at a time when the tories have flung open the doors to legal migration hundreds of thousands a year. here's francis with a year. here's sam francis with your. a year. here's sam francis with your . news. your. news. >> ben, thanks very much. it's just gone. 1130 and i just want to start with some breaking news. that's been coming to us in the last half hour or so that a man who's been described as a loner has been jailed for life with a minimum tum of 37 years. that's for the murder of a couple who he worked for by poisoning them with the opioid fentanyl . luke dewitt invented fentanyl. luke dewitt invented fake personas, including that of

a solicitor, and rewrote the wills of stephen and carol baxter, who were in their 60s, to take charge of their company. a jury had found that the 34 year old was guilty on wednesday of this week , and he was of this week, and he was sentenced at chelmsford crown court earlier this morning . the court earlier this morning. the other news leading today that the culture secretary has joined calls for nike to change the colour of the saint george's cross on its new england football shirt after a row over its design . football shirt after a row over its design. in a football shirt after a row over its design . in a post football shirt after a row over its design. in a post on football shirt after a row over its design . in a post on social its design. in a post on social media, lucy frazer has said that the multicoloured design is pointless and unnecessary, adding that it's not what fans want. it follows similar comments from the labour leader, who says the sports brand should revert to the original flag's colours. the company, though, says the change was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament in june . sir geoffrey tournament in june. sir geoffrey cox has warned that labour's projected landslide at the next general election could annihilate a credible opposition. the former attorney

general says a win for sir keir starmer would leave the conservatives without a frontbench, and called it a very dangerous thing for democracy . dangerous thing for democracy. speaking to gb news, the mp said that rishi sunak is a serious administrator. but he suggested the prime minister does need to reveal more of himself to sway voters as the latest government figures today have shown that more than 800 people have illegally crossed the english channelin illegally crossed the english channel in small boats in the past week, 263 reached the uk on thursday alone, as criminal gangs took advantage of a brief weather improvement . but the weather improvement. but the surge has prompted the government to declare a migrant emergency in the channel, and it takes the total number of crossings for the year so far to just over 4300. that's 600 more than the same time last year. meanwhile, delays are expected in the approval of the rwanda bill affecting the planned flights for asylum seekers . and flights for asylum seekers. and legislation in england and wales

is being updated to crack down on spiking and to make it clear that it's a crime. the most recent figures show more than 560 spiking offences are reported every month, involving food, drink, needles and modified vapes. campaigners say the truth the true numbers of victims could be even higher. however, the home secretary says the updated law will hold perpetrators to account. it those are the latest headlines. for more, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code there on your screen, or go to gb news. common alerts . gb news. common alerts. >> thanks very much, sam. it's almost that time for good afternoon britain with tom and emily. good afternoon. hello. what's coming up? >> good afternoon. >> good afternoon. >> not quite yet. >> not quite yet. >> 25 minutes, but my goodness . >> 25 minutes, but my goodness. >> 25 minutes, but my goodness. >> a number of big >> we've got a number of big debates show today , of debates on the show today, of course, the england shirts debacle. >> but also this was, of course,

kicked off largely by an interview that sir keir starmer gave last night. interview that sir keir starmer gave last night . also in that gave last night. also in that interview, he was asked sir keir starmer is the leader of the opposition. the former director of public prosecutions was asked seven times if he's ever taken illegal drugs. >> i saw that, yeah. >> i saw that, yeah. >> now he refused to answer and there are some questions there. >> well, he said he did in his student days and that he, quote, had fun with them, which i thought was quite an interesting answer. >> he didn't say. >> he didn't say. >> he didn't say. >> he didn't say did. >> he didn't say he did. >> he didn't say he did. >> he had fun in his >> he said he had fun in his student days and he refused to elaborate on what that necessarily the question is, should be should politicians be transparent this? transparent about this? >> have come >> other politicians have come out does this out and said, and what does this mean policy? can you mean for drug policy? can you advocate a crackdown for advocate for a crackdown for police time? can prosecute? police time? can you prosecute? can prosecute when you for can you prosecute when you for doing same thing that you doing the same thing that you tacitly i was saying to emma webb earlier, she said these questions about drug use are inane. >> and i said, actually, no, because if you've people because if you've got people making and they've got making policy and they've got experience, pro or for the experience, maybe pro or for the

thing making for, thing they're making policy for, it's a, it's an advantage. >> another debate we to >> but another debate we want to have is about whether politicians making politicians should be making bets live on air. >> oh, in tv studios . might this >> oh, in tv studios. might this be now? >> of course. rishi sunak, made a bet about the rwanda scheme. £1,000. i think he said, keir starmer. now making a £50 bet. and, lee addison also, is it the type of thing that politicians should be doing ? we might get on should be doing? we might get on a bit of a puritan to tell us why it's not, but it's interesting. >> is there a is there a sliding scale of acceptability? >> is it okay to bet a fiver but not £50? is it okay to bet £50 but not £1,000? >> or is this a moral principle. >> or is this a moral principle. >> well, it was also, i think, what rishi sunak was betting on was that people said was exactly right. >> f- f— f so does it matter >> exactly. so does it matter what you're betting well, if what you're betting on? well, if it's does it is it it's trivial, does it is it fine? but if it's actually serious, we're creating some for news your program. news your for your program. >> we'll run with news your for your program. >> but we'll run with news your for your program. >> but firstly we'll run with news your for your program. >> but firstly i we'll run with news your for your program. >> but firstly i like .l run with news your for your program. >> but firstly i like that| with news your for your program. >> but firstly i like that when it. but firstly i like that when there's, you know, a line running through symbiosis it

flows. >> symbiosis. >> symbiosis. >> yes. >> yes. >> thank you guys. look forward to it. right. and more to it. right. all that and more coming in just over what 25 coming up in just over what 25 minutes. under 25 minutes. minutes. just under 25 minutes. this is britain's newsroom. forgot where we were then on gb news ben lear and pip news with ben lear and pip tomson. we're to hear from tomson. we're going to hear from the minister next on the the prime minister next on the flag scandal. does he support nike? recalling the england kits to put proper saint george's to put the proper saint george's flag on? is he going to mimic what sir keir starmer said? find out the

break. >> some breaking news now. welcome back. rishi sunak. he has been speaking to reporters about this england shirt controversy . he. let's take controversy. he. let's take a look . look. >> obviously, i prefer the original and my general view is that when it comes to our national flags, we shouldn't mess with them because they're a source of pride, identity, who

we are and they're perfect as they are. >> we know a huge injustice was done to the millions of waspi women over changes to their state the state pension. will the government establish government now establish a compensation quickly and compensation scheme quickly and pay compensation scheme quickly and pay the money? >> as yesterday's report recommended ? recommended? >> well, i know there'll be a lot of interest in this matter and i completely get that and hopefully people are to hopefully people are going to appreciate we've just appreciate we've only just received report yesterday. received the report yesterday. it's and detailed and it's very long and detailed and the for us do is the right thing for us to do is to go through it carefully and then come back with a considered and thoughtful response. and more i would say more broadly, what i would say is want country where people is i want a country where people can their can actually put in all their lives and the dignity that lives and have the dignity that they deserve retirement . they deserve in retirement. that's protected the that's why we've protected the triple the state triple lock and the state pension going up £900 in pension is going up by £900 in just a few weeks time. >> but don't the waspi women deserve of fast compensation? >> look at my track record on these things is that we do act, and you've seen when and you've seen that when it comes office and the comes to the post office and the honzon comes to the post office and the horizon we've horizon scandal, we've introduced which is introduced legislation which is going parliament now to going through parliament now to quash people's convictions. we've already out we've already paid out 100 millions pounds

millions of pounds in compensation . i've described compensation. i've described that one the greatest that as one of the greatest injustices of time. i'm injustices of our time. i'm determined do everything to determined to do everything to put right. and it put that right. and when it comes pensioners, i want comes to pensioners, i want everyone to have dignity in retirement. we've retirement. that's why we've protected and protected the triple lock and why pension is going up. >> so rishi sunak speaking in the few minutes, he says the last few minutes, he says that he prefers the original england shirt and that we should not be messing with our national flags. >> he's not going to say otherwise, is he really? once sir keir starmer has come out and said it on the subject of football as well, harry kane, jordan henderson, their doubts for this friendly against brazil , they've missed group training. oh by the way , is the game oh and by the way, is the game tomorrow at wembley against brazil. is that going to be the first time they play with this kit? because i'll be keen to see the reaction from the fans at wembley, because of course, when the england team were taking the knee every other game a couple of years back, the boos from around the stadium massive. around the stadium were massive. they around the stadium . they echoed around the stadium. >> why doesn't the england team refuse to wear them?

>> they won't do that. they >> oh, they won't do that. they they give a damn what's they couldn't give a damn what's going took the knee going on. they took the knee without thinking about it. without even thinking about it. >> move to modern >> let's move on to modern technology. maybe isn't technology. maybe it isn't always better , because a new always better, because a new study has found that almost 90% of drivers much prefer cars with physical buttons, switches that you can push rather than these touchscreen controls, which seem touchscreen controls, which seem to be really common in many cars. >> yeah, and they say that they found touchscreens too distracting as they have to take their eyes off the road to use them. so let's get the thoughts of automotive journalist steve fowler . good afternoon. fowler on this. good afternoon. good yet. good morning steve. not yet. thank joining us. what's thank you for joining us. what's this all about then is our touchscreen displays really a safety risk when it comes to navigating our roads? >> well, let's put it this way when it comes to safety. euro ncap the new car assessment program, assesses cars on the safety. they do crash tests and they've now said that they are looking to include within their tests the safety of screens and

making sure major functions are, shall we say, analogue rather than digital . you know, i do than digital. you know, i do think this is a big issue if you if you're a driver yourself and you have one of the modern cars with touch screens, there's so much reliance on the touch screens. now, i'm a i'm a geek. i love my tech, but even i get frustrated that you have to go deep into menus to do deep into into menus to do things , and the user experience things, and the user experience of the touch screen isn't isn't that good now? it's fine on a phone, it's great on a phone because you're not driving, or you be you certainly shouldn't be driving. using your you certainly shouldn't be drivingand using your you certainly shouldn't be drivingand you'versing your you certainly shouldn't be drivingand you've got] your you certainly shouldn't be drivingand you've got it'our you certainly shouldn't be drivingand you've got it in r you certainly shouldn't be drivingand you've got it in your phone and you've got it in your handin phone and you've got it in your hand in front of you. but i love a screen. it's what doing a screen. it's what we're doing now, we're watching now, you know, we're watching you screen and the screen you on a screen and the screen is great. i don't want to go up and prod it to have to the and prod it to have to turn the turn volume or anything turn the volume up or anything else. got a remote control else. i've got a remote control that that. now we're not that does that. now we're not saying rid of touch screens, saying get rid of touch screens, but we are saying there's an overreliance on touch screens these buttons back. bnng back. bring the buttons. >> bring back the buttons. >> bring back the buttons. >> you mentioned there >> steve, you mentioned there the mobile phone, but doesn't this just undermine the ban on the mobile phone? because what's

the mobile phone? because what's the difference ? and if you touch the difference? and if you touch your phone at the wheel, it's six penalty points and a £200 phone. i've put £200 phone. fine, i should say so. but but touching a screen is no different. surely it's just as distracting. distracting >> you're right. as as i understand that the law is you can't pick your phone up so you can't pick your phone up so you can have your in a cradle can have your phone in a cradle and you can use your phone, but you actually pick the you can't actually pick the phone up. but i, i think you're right. you know, i think there are distractions. are too many distractions. driving these driving is hard enough these days. enough things on days. there are enough things on the , avoiding the potholes the roads, avoiding the potholes and everything touch and everything else that touch screens really becoming screens really are becoming a huge problem. right, huge problem. and you're right, if can't touch your your if you can't touch your your phone, why should you be able to touch a touch screen? the thing is away. is as well, they're so far away. sometimes to. you have sometimes you have to. you have to forward to touch them. to lean forward to touch them. so, you know, let's say i love a big screen, but bring back the buttons. >> so why car manufacturers ? >> so why are car manufacturers? i think there's mercedes i mean, i think there's mercedes benz, tesla, volkswagen , volvo. benz, tesla, volkswagen, volvo. they're making their touch screens bigger, more advanced. why are they doing that when it

can be so inherently dangerous? >> i think they get caught up in the whole tech thing of it. they're also building cars for the global market in the far east. in particular, they love their tech. they love their screens. was in screens. you know, i was in a mercedes recently, and i had the navigation on a screen in front of the passenger, the navigation on screen in front of in the on the screen in front of in the centre , navigation the centre, the navigation on the screen front of me and on screen in front of me and on a head up display. so four screens, know, we have screens, you know, we have reached screen and i think reached peak screen and i think the manufacturers beginning the manufacturers are beginning to that not every to realise that not every customer wants it. volkswagen, for example, i spoke with thomas schaefer, who's the boss of volkswagen, and he admitted , you volkswagen, and he admitted, you know, we've gone too far. know, maybe we've gone too far. they have sensitive they have touch sensitive controls their steering controls on their steering wheels. buttons wheels. they're putting buttons back onto the steering back onto onto the steering wheels. and skoda, for example, part group they use part of the same group they use a lot of the same technology. their boss, klaus zellmer, told me physical buttons me putting physical buttons into their very their cars is very, very important to them, particularly for functions. when you for major functions. when you want the temperature want to change the temperature or put the rear demister on or

find the fog light, there are some cars where even operating the light has to be through the fog light has to be through a menu system on the touch screen. >> yeah. okay great stuff. >> yeah. okay steve great stuff. thanks i always find thanks for that. i always find half problem with those half the problem with those touch the car's touch screens is if the car's slightly maybe a couple of slightly old, maybe a couple of years you often find especially i've the brand i've got to name the brand actually, the display is actually, but the display is quite so press quite laggy. so you press a button and it takes a couple of seconds, or even, you know, completely lags out you completely lags out before you get want. and get to the bit you want. and obviously when it's doing that, you're spending more time looking at the screen saying, come work . come on, work. >> i mean i've got a multi, what is it called? what do they call it, a multifunction steering wheel. i've got wheel. yeah. and then i've got the in front of me. so the screen in front of me. so my, my view is always there. >> have you got heads up >> have you got a heads up display it says the, the display where it says the, the speed. and if you're speed. and also if you're hurtling i i had to turn hurtling i mean i had to turn that off. it was completely distracting. also if you're distracting. and also if you're going slowly towards the going very slowly towards the back a my car goes, back of a car, my car goes, whoa, whoa as you whoa, whoa, whoa whoa. as if you know terrible's happened. cars too clever, aren't >> cars are too clever, aren't they too clever, right, next

home secretary, james cleverly. he crack down on he has vowed to crack down on spiking. how is going to do spiking. how is he going to do it? we'll tell you

good morning. welcome back . the home morning. welcome back. the home secretary. he has vowed to crack down on spiking by updating the law to hold perpetrators to account . legislation in england account. legislation in england and wales is being changed to make it clear it's a crime. >> joining us now is dawn dines , >> joining us now is dawn dines, head of stamp out spiking campaign group. good morning dawns. thank you for joining campaign group. good morning dawns. thank you forjoining us. dawns. thank you for joining us. what is being proposed here by james cleverly. and is it up to your satisfaction . your satisfaction. >> well, you know, we could always do more, of course, but after campaigning for 20 years, i've got to say that here at stamp out spiking, we're delighted with the news that it's actually going through parliament now . parliament now. >> we're going to be seeing

changes and we're going to be seeing that there is zero tolerance on any spiking related issues. so that's got to be good for the country. >> and what specifically are these changes? does it involve more training for door staff, for example, more money for testing kits? >> i mean, is that the antiquated laws of 1861, it's now going to show a clear message that there are spiking is an illegal and it's going to be a criminal offence. >> i mean, it has been before, but now it's going to be shown that in layman's terms , that in layman's terms, basically that putting any extra alcohol, drugs into people's food, drink by injection is all going to be made illegal. and it also means that training is going to be mandatory for people that work within the security industry authority. so all of these horror stories that we've been hearing over the past few decades, when men and women are getting their drinks spiked and they're being put outside of a

nightclub and they're in a vulnerable position, they could have been going in and out of consciousness, you know? now we're going to be able to train all of these door staff to show them the consequences of actions. what people look like, what they act like, so we can intervene. okay >> dawn dines, head of stamp out spiking. thanks very much. just very, very quickly in 10s is spiking on the increase very quickly . quickly. >> no, spiking has always been here. it'sjust >> no, spiking has always been here. it's just now with social media, people are sharing these stories and now it's more prevalent. >> okay. all right. that's it from britain's newsroom i'm covering patrick christys tonight. i've got a very special monologue on the small boats crisis. and a special guest, the former australian pm scott morrison. is and emily. morrison. here is tom and emily. >> have great day. >> have a great day. >> have a great day. >> looking forward to seeing that. >> scott morrison, big name . >> scott morrison, big name. >> scott morrison, big name. >> but we're going to be talking about something rather concerning that's taking place today. >> e! today. >> are investigating >> the police are investigating that former tory donor over his five year old comments. is that what should be doing ? what they should be doing? >> also we'll have

>> yes. and also we'll have a fiery debate guess what? fiery debate over guess what? whether we should ever mess with the england flag . the england flag. >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boiler year sponsors of weather on gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the gb news forecast from the met office. we're going to see rain clearing the southeast during the next few hours, followed by sunny spells and showers. but with a cold wind coming from the northwest. got low northwest. we've got low pressure to the north of scotland. packed isobars scotland. tightly packed isobars gale is in the far north and northwest, and this cold front clears the southeast very slowly. actually, through the rest of afternoon , just rest of the afternoon, just about lingering across parts of kent, east sussex , into kent, perhaps east sussex, into the mid afternoon period. otherwise brighter skies follow some sunny spells, but frequent showers arriving into north wales, northern england, scotland and northern ireland on that cold wind, so temperatures falling away through the day in

the south, 12 celsius in the north 6 or 7. now that wind continues to bring showers in overnight, some heavy downpours in places and the showers will be falling as snow over the hills of wales, northern england and scotland, with some accumulations over the mountains of scotland, but certainly with that wind temperatures just staying up at 3 or 4 celsius in many places, a frost confined to higher parts of the uk and we start saturday with some sunshine about. but that chill in the air and the showers soon get going through the morning. some heavy downpours with the odd rumble of thunder, some hail to lower levels and some snow continuing to build up over the hills of northern uk, and that wind continuing to make it feel cold outside. single figures for most . most. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather

on

gb news. away. >> good afternoon. britain. >> good afternoon. britain. >> it's 12:00 on friday, the 22nd of march. >> england. erasure. >> england. erasure. >> politicians across all parties have now united to decry the outrageous decision to alter the outrageous decision to alter the england flag on official football shirts. >> out with the red and white in with the blues and purples. playful update or woke nonsense . playful update or woke nonsense. >> hello, hello, hello. >> hello, hello, hello. >> coppers have come calling on the tory donor who said diane abbott made you want to hate all black women despite his apology? >> is raking over years old comments a good use of police time. >> no white men allowed. >> no white men allowed. >> alleged comments surfaced from itv commissioner nicola lloyd, saying we really don't want any more white men. when discussing prime time news anchors and official complaints,

says this discrimination