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 breaches the equality act. >> i was very surprised when i heard that the police had decided to investigate this tory donon decided to investigate this tory donor, this tory donor who's apologised and whose comments have been widely publicised , have been widely publicised, quizzed alleged comments. >> i should say what it is there to investigate. i can't, it baffles me. >> do you know what annoys me about this? >> besides the fact that i don't think you should criminalise speech? really, is that the police are failing across the board to tackle what i would call real crimes, whether it's sexual assault , whether it's sexual assault, whether it's burglaries, whether it's muggings, whether it's whatever it is, they are failing on a grand scale . grand scale. >> something like 90% of crimes that are reported go unsolved. so the police, you know, if you

can't fight the real crime, what do you do? you fight the non—crime right? >> this guy is clearly not a threat. he's. he used foul language. language that i don't think any reasonable or civilised person should use. but does anyone actually think that he's going to go and kill diane abbott ? abbott? >> west yorkshire police, i would imagine have a lot more important things to be focused on, but let us know what you think. >> gb views gb news. com should the police be investigating speech? however horrible it was, however, it's been perceived as racist , the alleged remarks. racist, the alleged remarks. >> should the police be spending time on this ? time on this? >> it's your headlines. >> it's your headlines. >> tom. emily, thanks very much. 1202 the headlines from the gb newsroom this afternoon and the latest developments in the top story. rishi sunak has now criticised nike's alteration of the saint george's cross on its

new england football kit, after changing the colours to blue and purple . the company says the purple. the company says the redesign was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament in june. however speaking earlier, the prime minister said the traditional red and white colours are a mark of public pride and it shouldn't be messed with. >> 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. >> well, that follows similar comments from the culture secretary, frazer, who said secretary, lucy frazer, who said the multicoloured design is pointless unnecessary . and pointless and unnecessary. and the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has also urged the sports brand nike to revert to the original flag's colours. well we've been speaking to people outside nike's store in central london to get their thoughts. >> england is england, you know , >> england is england, you know, you start changing its colours, 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 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, sir geoffrey cox says that labour's projected landslide the next general 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 mp said 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 suggestion 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 today vowed to crack down on spiking by updating the law to hold perpetrators to account. legislation in england and in 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 food, drink, needles and modified vapes. campaigners though, 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. >> we've heard today that a man who's been described as a loner has been jailed for life with a

minimum of 37 years for the murder of a couple he was working for by poisoning them with the opioid fentanyl. luke dewitt pretended to be a doctor and a member of a fake support group before rewriting the wills of stephen and carol baxter in their 60s to benefit for himself . a jury found the 34 year old, from essex, was guilty on wednesday of this week and he was sentenced at chelmsford crown court earlier today . the crown court earlier today. the latest government figures show more than 800 people have illegally crossed the english channelin illegally crossed the english channel in small boats in the past week, 263 reached uk waters on thursday alone , as criminal on thursday alone, as criminal gangs took advantage of a brief weather improvement . that surge weather improvement. that 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 planned flights and

the latest on the alleged racist comments made by frank hester in 2019. we now know that the police in north—west yorkshire are investigating those alleged comments. the metropolitan police transferred the case because of his comments that were reported to have been made in leeds during a meeting. officers there say they are now looking at whether a crime was committed. the businessman, who's already given the party £10 million, is accused of saying the mp diane abbott, had made him want to hate all black women. the funeral of 15 year old mason rist is being held in bristol . later. he was stabbed bristol. later. he was stabbed to death there in january alongside his best friend max dixon, who was also laid to rest yesterday . a total of 12 people yesterday. 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 . and finally, in their memory. and finally, funding has been announced for nearly 1000 new electric buses in england . 25 councils are to in england. 25 councils are to get a share of £143 million, with rural areas prioritised. the department for transport claims the vehicles that will be fitted with wi—fi and usb charging points will be zero emission to help improve air quality . those are the latest quality. those are the latest headunes quality. those are the latest headlines more in the next half houn headlines more in the next half hour. in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code there on your screen, or go to our website, gbnews.com/alerts. but now it's back tom and . emily. back to tom and. emily. >> it's 1208. >> it's 1208. >> you're watching and listening to good afternoon britain. now the conservatives, labour and liberal democrats have all unhedin liberal democrats have all united in criticising the decision to give the saint

george's cross a playful colour update on the new england football shirt ready for the euros this summer. >> well, sir keir starmer told the sun newspaper that he thinks they should reconsider and they should just reconsider and change , as nigel farage change it back, as nigel farage and lee anderson have also criticised the decision . criticised the decision. previously, sir shirts have regularly featured the red and white saint george's flag and now there's this rather bizarre, multicoloured one. >> now the prime minister rishi sunak, also weighed in on the controversy a little earlier. let's take a listen. >> obviously i prefer the original , >> 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 perfect just the way they are perfect just the way they are. >> that's so sweet . >> that's so sweet. >> that's so sweet. >> you're perfect just the way you are. >> it's a line from bridget jones's diary. it is? >> yes it is. »- >> yes it is. >> it's a very romantic part of the film. but of course, all the politicians want to have their say this one. they think, say on this one. they think, good, i can show my national

pride. i can show i'm the man of the people. i can show i'm patriotic, do believe at patriotic, do you believe at home actually care ? home they actually care? >> interesting questions, but we've reporter theo we've sent our reporter theo chikomba to nike town in central london. theo what's the feeling on the ground ? on the ground? >> yeah, well, often football fans are used today to kind of see who's going to be in the team and who's going to be playing tomorrow. big game tomorrow. england versus brazil . tomorrow. england versus brazil. but the attention today is all on shirt. the new colours on on the shirt. the new colours on the saint george's flag. many people saying why has it changed? and others saying well actually you're quite like the new design. it represents the society that we live in at the moment. but here at nike town, which is the flagship store for nike here in central london, they have begun selling the shirts this morning ahead of that game tomorrow . but the that big game tomorrow. but the mood here, we've been getting the mood speaking to people, finding whether or not they finding out whether or not they do this design . and do like this new design. and this is what they had to say. >> england is england, you know,

you changing its colours. you start changing its colours. you the flags. you start changing the flags. yeah represents yeah it represents something that's perhaps that's traditional and perhaps it should stay that way. >> being welsh, i'm not really bothered , it's to be honest. but bothered, it's 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 think the old shirts like retro, i think they could have made them more like them because i think they're quite good shirts, like they're the best. >> change it? 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 we hear politicians from all sides coming together, but certainly this has unified . and everyone this has unified. and everyone saying actually the original design should be kept as it is. it's a sense of national pride . it's a sense of national pride. and the prime minister warning, you know, it shouldn't be changed. and he prefers the old design, but certainly ahead of the day tomorrow . so with that the day tomorrow. so with that big game, this is definitely the talking point of the town today. >> thank very much indeed,

>> thank you very much indeed, theo chikomba, and for bringing us the voices of the public there out and about on oxford street. good stuff. >> yeah. no, really really interesting. it's got seemingly the whole country this the whole country talking this morning . sports commentator morning. but sports commentator aidan now . and, aidan magee joins us now. and, aidan, how usual is it? it seems like there are lots and lots of new england shirts. is there a new one every year? this seems to have been the most controversial for quite a while. >> yeah , it's certainly the most >> yeah, it's certainly the most controversial. tom, good morning to you both. first of all, what i would say is that the deal used to be about every four years when i was a kid. then it went to about every two years. >> it's roughly that now. >> it's roughly that now. >> don't see anything >> i don't see anything inherently the inherently political about the symbol. i just don't think that supporters, particularly england fans , they tend to be quite fans, they tend to be quite patriotic they don't like patriotic lot. they don't like the of somebody else, like the idea of somebody else, like like commercial like like a commercial entity like such nike taking a national such as nike taking a national symbol and making it into something that they feel it should represent. i think that's what annoys people quite apart

from kind of cost from any kind of cost implications. mean, the implications. i mean, the stadium, level shirt is stadium, stadium level shirt is going to be costing about £125. this a football shirt we're this is a football shirt we're talking about. not it's not talking about. it's not it's not a so i don't think a car. so i don't think necessarily this is about this is about politics. yes. people can read things into it. it's just a change of colour. we saw it in the in london 2012, the olympics, the, the union flag was turned into a i guess the issue is blue and sky blue shirt. >> so you don't think there's anything about it anything political about it because people because lots of people are saying this is about wokery, this nonsense , that this is woke nonsense, that they're this. they're doing this. >> wouldn't do this with any >> you wouldn't do this with any other england other flag. why the england flag? george's flag? why the saint george's cross? i think i think it's cross? well i think i think it's true that it's perfectly true to say you probably wouldn't say that you probably wouldn't do other flags, and it do it with other flags, and it does bear passing resemblance does bear a passing resemblance to other symbols we've seen to some other symbols we've seen which inherently political. to some other symbols we've seen whiand inherently political. to some other symbols we've seen whiand icourse, ly political. to some other symbols we've seen whiand icourse, ly pifaa:al. to some other symbols we've seen whiand icourse,ly pifaa has >> and of course, the faa has had meddling in had no problem meddling in politics the last 5 or politics over the last 5 or 6 years. and i think that's probably at the behest of some of their sponsors. if you look at their website, they've at their their website, they've got got some got some very, they've got some very, interesting very, very interesting deals

with companies who've been involved not not afraid to involved in not or not afraid to meddle over the last meddle in politics over the last few years, but no, don't think few years, but no, i don't think the certainly haven't said the faa certainly haven't said it's the it's political. the manufacturers said it's manufacturers haven't said it's political. think there's political. i don't think there's going to be a huge pushback from, think there'll going to be a huge pushback fr huge think there'll going to be a huge pushback fr huge push think there'll going to be a huge pushback frhuge push back there'll going to be a huge pushback frhuge push back there nike a huge push back from nike themselves because there's a huge cost that goes huge production cost that goes into shirts. into producing these shirts. they about 1.8 they sell around about 1.8 million these per year. so million of these per year. so forget well. fa paid £400 forget as well. the fa paid £400 million over years this million over 12 years for this kit . so they're going to kit deal. so they're going to have some kind of say over, over the, the, the license or the design of the, of the emblems and the crest. but we have to we do have some precedent. precedent at club level. clark cardiff city, for example, tried to a red shirt. they wore to launch a red shirt. they wore a red for a season. the fans a red kit for a season. the fans were in arms about they were up in arms about it. they didn't buy it. i don't understand why these organisations trying organisations were trying to annoy customers. really annoy their customers. it really doesn't and the doesn't make any sense. and the final point for me on this would be football regulator has be the football regulator has been brought in to try and safeguard against owners safeguard clubs against owners coming with coming in and meddling with issues heritage. this which issues of heritage. this which issues of heritage. this which is the effort the faa is doing. the faa off on this.

the faa signed off on this. they're blame. this falls they're to blame. this falls exactly that category exactly into that category and probably faa is probably shows why the faa is not fit for purpose. >> interesting. the fa to blame, well, they're definitely to blame. they're definitely saying they've signed off on nike they've signed off on this nike a commercial they're a commercial entity. they're about making designs that will sell. so they're going to push the boundaries bit. the the boundaries a little bit. the fa the ones who said, yeah, fa are the ones who said, yeah, that's okay. fans will love it. >> but this isn't a reason to have a regulator so that have a regulator is it? so that they mess around with they don't mess around with shirts? mean, really shirts? i mean, is that really the issues they should be looking at? >> it's it's absolutely >> no it's not, it's absolutely not. but this is the point. the faa are meant to be the regulator of football and they're already failing on one of that the of the tests that the that the football or the football regulator or the government's paper government's white paper identified. brought this government's white paper identifieron brought this government's white paper identifieron themselves,iht this suppose. >> aidan, there's only so many ways can make a shirt look ways you can make a shirt look different. and you're different. and if you're bringing out a new one every two years, you're to to years, you're going to get to the they start the point where they start changing changing changing the flag or changing other elements it other fundamental elements of it because they're trying to sell these things. >> point of issue, >> the other point of issue, tom, sometimes tom, is that sometimes manufacturers been to manufacturers have been known to

just with small areas of just tinker with small areas of design in order to gain , to gain design in order to gain, to gain a bit of traction online or in order to make a kit a talking point. it's not a big deal at club level. now, when clubs change their kit, because it happens when i a happens every year. when i was a kid, i mean, there were some areas of the country like newcastle example, newcastle united, for example, back in the 80s, they refused to change any more change their kits any any more often than three years because often than three years because of unemployment area. of the high unemployment area. it unemployment it sorry the high unemployment in which meant that in the area, which meant that kids afford shirts. kids couldn't afford the shirts. we should as well that we should also say as well that most these shirts are sold to most of these shirts are sold to adults you would adults who you would think so that kind limits the that that kind of limits the argument you know, kids argument about, you know, kids complaining because they can't their afford shirts. >> yeah. i mean, if i bought an england expect it to england shirt, i'd expect it to be and red. be white and red. >> but there you go. thank you very much. >> it should cost less than £100. they are that it's £100. they are that much. it's crazy. £100. they are that much. it's crazhundred and 25, 125, 125. >> hundred and 25, 125, 125. >> hundred and 25, 125, 125. >> well, there you go. >> well, there you go. >> can start saving up. >> you can start saving up. >> you can start saving up. >> thank you very much. aidan magee. >> of course. but £125. what they didn't say over a million of these are sold. this is a lot

they didn't say over a million of money. re sold. this is a lot they didn't say over a million of money. it'sold. this is a lot they didn't say over a million of money. it's ad. this is a lot they didn't say over a million of money. it's a huge; is a lot they didn't say over a million of money. it's a huge industry. >> it's quite funny because the flag. they've done to the flag. what they've done to the flag. what they've done to the flag looks like the flag actually looks like the bisexual actually it's the bisexual flag. actually it's the colours colours of that. now colours of colours of that. now i that's they i don't think that's what they were blue and were trying to do here. blue and purple. quite funny. blue, purple. it's quite funny. blue, purple. it's quite funny. blue, purple pink. it looks, you purple and pink. it looks, you know, a little bit, i'm not saying conspiracy. i'm not saying any conspiracy. i'm not saying any conspiracy. i'm not saying what were saying that's what they were trying with it. trying to do with it. >> they're turning it in those colours. well, i mean, that's one stick it to saudi one way to stick it to saudi arabia, if arabia, isn't it? yes. if there's another, don't know there's another, i don't know where. don't know where where. i don't know where the euros are year, but, but euros are this year, but, but i mean, if there were another world cup to hosted in world cup to be hosted in a country like saudi arabia, perhaps they should make a perhaps they should make it a rainbow colour. there you go. >> should we read a statement from from nike, nike. >> nike, nike nike from from nike, nike. >> this nike, nike nike from from nike, nike. >> this is nike, nike nike from from nike, nike. >> this is a ike, nike nike from from nike, nike. >> this is a bigger> this is a bigger scandal. nike. this is a bigger scandal. this is biggest scandal in this is the biggest scandal in the colours. what do they have to say. >> the england 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take classic. the trim take on a classic. the trim on the cues the cuffs takes its cues from the cuffs takes its cues from the gear worn by the training gear worn by england's 1966 the training gear worn by england's1966 heroes, with a gradient blues and reds gradient of blues and reds topped with purple. the same colours feature an colours also feature an interpretation the flag, an

interpretation of the flag, an interpretation of the flag, an interpretation of the flag of saint george on the back of the collar. it'sjust saint george on the back of the collar. it's just a bit of modern art, tom. nothing to worry about, just a bit of modern art. >> i still think biggest >> i still think the biggest scandal here is how everyone's pronouncing what pronouncing nike but nike. what do nike coming up as do i know? nike coming up as police launch an investigation into a tory donor's alleged race comments. we're asking is raking over years old comments a good use of police time that to come. this is good afternoon britain on . on.

gb news. good afternoon. britain. it's 12:21. and the prime minister, rishi sunak, has refused to comment on a police investigation into the alleged racist comments made by tory party donor frank hester. yes. >> this all comes as mr hester's alleged racist comments from

2019 are now being investigated by west yorkshire police. >> well, a spokesperson for the force said that officers were now working to establish the facts and ultimately ascertain whether a crime has been committed. >> so they haven't yet decided whether there's been a crime, but they are beginning an investigation. so gb news political correspondent olivia utley joins us now , olivia, were utley joins us now, olivia, were we expecting the police to get involved? do we know who reported the comments to the police? did diane abbott report them, or is it someone else ? them, or is it someone else? it's not clear who reported the comments to the police. all we know is that it was first, reported to the metropolitan police and the metropolitan police and the metropolitan police passed it on to west yorkshire police, who are opening an investigation of west yorkshire police say that the incident has only just been, they've only just been alerted to the, the incident and we can expect the investigation to go on for, for quite a while. it puts rishi sunak in a pretty

difficult spot. he was criticised when the scandal first broke a couple of weeks ago for refusing at first to call out mr hester's comments as racist. it was only when kemi badenoch said, on air that these comments were racist, that other ministers ended up falling in behind her. but rishi sunak was accused of weak leadership for only acting once another minister act. it's not exactly sort of leading from the front. he had hoped that now the conversation had sort of gone away again. frank hester donated £10 million to the conservative party, and there was some talk of the conservative party having to hand that back. so far, rishi sunak has managed to avoid that fate, but now the matter has been referred to the police. it will trundle on, possibly for months, and will certainly be fuel to labour's fire when criticising sunak . criticising sunak. >> it's slightly baffling to me why this is a police investigation. frank hester has

apologised for the comments, the comments were widely reported. i mean, might an element of this, i suppose, be finding out precisely what the comments were? because we haven't heard any recording of we've any recording of these. we've only got the guardian reports to go on. >> well, i think that's i think that's a really important point. we haven't yet heard a recording of this, and i think if west yorkshire were to determine that a crime had been committed , they a crime had been committed, they would have to hear some sort of recording. i think there be recording. i think there will be viewers this viewers possibly watching this who this isn't who think that maybe this isn't the best use of the resources of west yorkshire police. it's not quite clear exactly what the crime would be. possibly a hate crime, but the problem is that because this probably isn't the top of the to do list for west yorkshire police, there are obviously more urgent crimes that they are investigating. it means that it will probably go on for quite a long time, and the longer this is a live investigation, the more difficult it becomes for rishi sunak, not just because of it

is, of course, problematic. having one of your donors be called a racist, but also because it means that it makes it very difficult for the prime minister to bury a scandal which painted him personally in quite a bad light. the very fact that he didn't act and then did act purely because kemi badenoch spoke first, doesn't speak particularly well of him , and particularly well of him, and that there is often a complaint both within the conservative party and outside it, that rishi sunak sort of isn't particularly good at politics. he's a bit wet behind the ears. he was only, elected as an mp, very recently and all of this just adds to that impression . so the longer that impression. so the longer this goes on, the harder it is for rishi sunak to sort of bury that that that idea. >> yeah . >> yeah. >> yeah. >> just as they seem to be putting it behind them in terms of where the political conversation had gone. it's now reared its ugly head again. well, olivia utley, thank you very much joining us. and very much forjoining us. and i suppose a crucial, crucial suppose it's a crucial, crucial

question yorkshire question for west yorkshire constabulary . question for west yorkshire constabulary. i'm sure question for west yorkshire constabulary . i'm sure they'll constabulary. i'm sure they'll spend time, lots of spend lots of time, lots of resources determining was resources on determining was this a hate crime or a non—crime hate incident , really good this a hate crime or a non—crime hate incident, really good use of everyone's time there. >> yes. well, i want to know whether there could be a crime here and whether it's a good use of police time. so let's discuss this with the former police officer and head of the officer and former head of the national counter—terrorism security phillips. security office, chris phillips. >> you very much >> chris, thank you very much for joining us. now, some are forjoining us. now, some are saying that perhaps under the law what frank hester, the tory donon law what frank hester, the tory donor, allegedly said could be construed as , incitement to construed as, incitement to violence against black women in, legally speaking , what could the legally speaking, what could the police do here? >> well, in my opinion, the police are quite right to open the investigation and then should close it almost immediately because it's clearly a nonsense. >> the police here have to be seen to be doing the right thing . and of course, they'll be

criticised. whatever decision they make , and just, what it they make, and just, what it actually needs is someone at a reasonably senior level in the police to say, listen, we've got far more serious crimes than this to deal with. it's not unlikely even to be a crime. if it was a crime, it's five years old. under any other circumstances, we wouldn't investigate and make investigate this and make a decision and then stand by it. and, i'm afraid what we don't have these days are much is strong leadership in the police to do that. >> do you think that this is just a matter of media pressure and had these comments been made by someone who wasn't in the pubuc by someone who wasn't in the public eye, this perhaps wouldn't have been an investigation. >> it's completely that. yes, it is media pressure. and we do have to look at the media and say, well, listen, who's running the show here? you know, the police, have to do a very difficult job. west yorkshire has got the highest crime rate, i think, in the country. certainly them, and certainly one of them, and they've to do without they've got plenty to do without these kind things being these kind of things being stirred of all the stirred up. and of all the people, diane abbott is, you know, could investigate some

know, you could investigate some of she said live on of the things she said live on tv over the if you really tv over the years if you really wanted to go down this route, tv over the years if you really wan know, go down this route, tv over the years if you really wan know, evenywn this route, tv over the years if you really wan know, even even1is route, tv over the years if you really wan know, even even things e, tv over the years if you really wan know, even even things that you know, even even things that she said more recently, you know, you'd say, well , you know, know, you'd say, well, you know, they could be a problem if you're going to treat this as a crime as well. >> i mean, chris, the police are often accused of not following up on basic crimes and also very serious crimes like sexual assault and burglaries , armed assault and burglaries, armed burglaries and the like. i mean, i saw a stat recently that 90% of crimes are going unsolved, which is terrible. so is this a case of the police? you know, they can't go, they can't solve real crime. so they're going after non—crime times or what's going on here. well listen, it's easy to blame the police on this. >> you know, the investigation, you know, probably had to be open as political need for it to be open. but it does need someone to say, look , you know, someone to say, look, you know, we've got our hands full with everything that we're doing. and on on crime. and this is just not important enough to deal with, you know, the police have

been decimated over the last 15 years. policing has been decimated. lack of, a lack of resources. police stations being closed, young police officers who are staying 2 or 3 years and thinking they've had enough. the police have got so many problems on their hands to deal with. what they don't need is the media and, and media and the, and, and politicians effectively stirring up these kind of things. because let's be quite frank, if we're going to be offended by everything comes out the everything that comes out on the television otherwise, then, television or otherwise, then, you just just you know, we're just we're just stuck because , the police are stuck because, the police are going to be doing nothing other than and, and i know 99% than that. and, and i know 99% of the public do not want police to focusing on kind of to be focusing on this kind of nonsense, why wise words? well, chris phillips, thank you very much for joining chris phillips, thank you very much forjoining us. the former much for joining us. the former head the national counter head of the national counter terrorism office. terrorism security office. really appreciate your thoughts. yes. >> let us know what you think about this. >> the views are coming in. >> the views are coming in. >> some of you saying, actually, her racist and >> some of you saying, actually, her could racist and >> some of you saying, actually, her could seen racist and >> some of you saying, actually, her could seen ascist and >> some of you saying, actually, her could seen as inciting violence. >> others saying this is absolutely absurd police

absolutely absurd use of police time. let us know what you time. so let us know what you think about it. we'll come to your views, very shortly, but let's get headlines . let's get your headlines. >> tom. emily, thanks very much. good afternoon. it's exactly 1230. a recap of the headlines this half hour. rishi sunak has now criticised nike's alteration of the saint george's cross on its new england football kit, after changing the colours to blue and purple. the company says the redesign was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament in june. however, speaking earlier, the prime minister said the traditional red and white colours are a mark of public pride and he said it shouldn't be messed with. >> 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 . they are. >> a man who's been described as

a loner has today been jailed for life for the murder of a couple he worked for by poisoning them with the opioid fentanyl. luke de wit invented fake personas and rewrote the wills of stephen and carol baxter, who were in their 60s, to take charge of their company. speaking in the last hour, the couple's daughter told the court that the 34 year old killer had completely brainwashed her mother by posing as a fake doctor. he was sentenced today and will serve a minimum of 37 years behind bars , sir geoffrey years behind bars, 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. speaking to gb news, the mp said that rishi sunak is a serious administrator, but he suggested the prime minister still needs to reveal more of himself to sway voters . the latest sway voters. the latest government figures have shown

that more than 800 people have illegally crossed the english channelin illegally crossed the english channel in small boats in the in the past week, 263 people reached uk waters on thursday alone as criminal gangs took advantage of a brief weather improvement. that 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 4300. that's 600 more than the same time last year. 600 more than the same time last year . and legislation in england year. and legislation in england and wales is being updated to crack down on spiking. and to make it clear 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, though, of victims, could be even higher. however, the home secretary says the updated law will hold perpetrators to account . those perpetrators to account. those are the latest headlines. for more, you can sign up to gb news

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i >> -- >> good afternoon. britain. it's 36 minutes past midday. and you have been getting in touch over

your views on this police investigation. frank hester is a conservative party donor . investigation. frank hester is a conservative party donor. he's given the party £10 million. and his comments caused a political ferrari in the last few weeks around diane abbott, saying she made him want to hate all black women. but >> and also that, shoot her. >> and also that, shoot her. >> oh, she should be shot was the phrase he used. now, i don't think many people thought he was talking literally. but now there's a police investigation , there's a police investigation, and, john has written in to say once again, this shows the police are treating people from a tory background differently to people from a labour background , people from a labour background, margaret says after five years, it's totally ridiculous to be conducting a probe into this tory donor. >> now, haven't the police better things to do? i would argue, yes, they certainly do. margaret but, kevin says that he should be prosecuted for his evil racist comments . if you

evil racist comments. if you can't see that it's encouraging violence against black women , violence against black women, how do you know? so there you go i >> although neil says, aren't the police supposed to investigate crimes, not investigate crimes, not investigate whether things were crimes? although i can't say i necessarily agree with you there, neil, because how do you know something's a crime unless it's been investigated? i just i just think that it's unlikely that this speech given to a room full of people where the very bad taste things were said in a not at all appropriate way, whether that's actually a crime. well, so we have such we have such wide reaching hate speech laws that it could be laws now that it could be a crime. it's true. or it could be a non—crime hate incident which are logged. theresa may's are all logged. theresa may's speech as home secretary one yeanl speech as home secretary one year, i think it was 2014 or 2015, was reported to the police and lodged as a non crime hate incident. that's how that's how bonkers we got. >> sort of i thought i thought we clamped down on these a bit.

i thought the police had been told by the home secretary i'm not sure if it was suella braverman. we've had so many home secretary, going home secretary, we're not going to have non—crime hate incidents. can stop incidents. you can stop recording those. >> this is an interesting >> but this is an interesting point, roy says. >> but this is an interesting point, course/s. should be >> of course this should be investigated. two mps have been murdered and murdered in recent years and this man allegedly said that this man has allegedly said that abbott be shot. this abbott should be shot. this is incitement another headbanger incitement to another headbanger to kill an mp. to come along and kill an mp. what do you make of that? >> i think it's a stupid thing to say someone should be to say that someone should be shot, it's also obviously a shot, but it's also obviously a turn phrase . surely we've all turn of phrase. surely we've all heard people say, oh , ugly heard people say, oh, ugly should be. they should be shot like people don't always mean that literal way. it's that in a literal way. it's metaphorical language. it's deeply inappropriate language. it shouldn't used it obviously shouldn't be used about an mp, but it is. it is the way that some people do talk. well, paul says the manifold ways. >> paul says a man expressed his dislike for diane abbott. where is the crime if it's a crime to dislike politicians? millions are guilty. >> the way in which he >> it's the way in which he expressed his dislike it, expressed his dislike of it, though, like racist comments , though, like racist comments, it's there wouldn't be a

it's very there wouldn't be a scandal was just saying , it's very there wouldn't be a scandal was just saying, i scandal if he was just saying, i really don't like diane abbott, because she about because what she said about i don't know, the jewish people. i mean, if you if you just if you'd have stuck to the facts and not gone into conjecture and not gone into racist language, there wouldn't be an issue. >> another story that caught my eye today is a story for the nimbys out there. oh yes , nimbys out there. oh yes, there's outrage because there are plans to build 63,000 new homes in milton keynes. but is the outrage justified now? milton keynes is about what, 30 miles north of about an hour away from london, about an hour away, north of london. it's purpose built. >> isn't the bonkers thing here that if there was any place in the country, little italy, designed for new homes, it is milton keynes. this is a place that was confected as a new place. it's now a city, actually , the city of milton keynes, but originally a town that was built

after the war as a purpose built place to have new houses so that you could not have overcrowding and you could fit more people. >> well, tom, you just want to build everywhere you'd be happy to yodo. >> you'd be happy to concrete over the entirety of the united kingdom. not something so ridiculous, although i'm not sure you would like it if you were living in a village. and we're talking about villages here sort in and around here sort of in and around milton keynes that going to milton keynes that are going to allegedly go be swamped by allegedly go to be swamped by these homes, these thousands these new homes, these thousands and thousands of new homes. if you were living in that village and quite liked your life, and you quite liked your life, how was you had, you know, how it was you had, you know, a few shops or not even probably that many shops, maybe one pub, maybe school, maybe one maybe one school, maybe one something.talking about the same >> are we talking about the same milton milton milton keynes? because milton keynes , i'm sure, lots of keynes has, i'm sure, lots of lovely qualities. it's not the most beautiful part of the world. it's very concrete y. it's very post—war. it's a car place designed for cars with stretches of concrete, car parks

everywhere. actually, if i were to be doing anything in milton keynes, it would be making it a bit more walkable, a bit less car dependent, perhaps a bit more dense in terms of how by greenery. >> and that's where i think the villages are, where they don't want all these extra houses. the problem is not extra houses. the problem is not extra houses. the problem is not only extra houses, i don't think. i imagine it's also the fact that they may not feel they have adequate infrastructure to cope with that demand. so do they have the transport needed? do they have the schools? do they have the dentists? do they have the doctors surgeries? do they have, you everything ? and has you know, everything? and has that been planned before they come say, we're going to come and say, oh, we're going to have tens of thousands of new homes in the vicinity. homes plonked in the vicinity. and will look like? >> that's true. building codes, design codes , very important. design codes, very important. but for 2050. but this is this is for 2050. this is the number for 2050. that's a very long time away. that's a very long time away. that's true. and it should be surely should be the most simple thing to say. we're going to build a community rather than just plonk some houses in a

field. we're going to build a beautiful community with amenities and with infrastructure to go along with at home. >> i'd be interested to know if anyone at home lives in the picturesque villages, as they're called castlethorpe,hanslope called of castlethorpe, hanslope and haversham, because that's where be a new town, where there might be a new town, sort of with all these new sort of built with all these new homes. if you if you live in homes. so if you if you live in the vicinity, are you happy there's to be these there's going to be all these new homes? mean, we do need new homes? i mean, we do need them. we do. we have a housing shortage. they're shortage. so they're going to have somewhere. and milton have to go somewhere. and milton keynes good a place as any keynes is a good a place as any surely milton keynes is almost a purpose built place for such a thing, but we're going to be speaking to for milton speaking to the mp for milton keynes later keynes south a little bit later in show. been in the show. he's been campaigning against these housing developments, we'll housing developments, so we'll have he has to say. have to hear what he has to say. >> we will indeed. but a charity in lincolnshire has said it needs to raise £80,000 before it can complete a regional landmark, a tribute to a world war two bomber that will be taller than the angel of the north. >> but the local council and the government haven't provided any funding, local people, and

indeed the country indeed people across the country are crowdfunding instead, which i think is actually perhaps a nicer to do it. but our east nicer way to do it. but our east midlands reporter, will hollis, has more. >> on the plane that took the fight 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. but 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 . 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 here too. at raf coningsby. the lancaster landmark will weigh around 92

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 . 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, bomber county and 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. >> 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 . 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, 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 counties. although designed as a heritage landmark, the charity understands how meaningful the lancaster will be to those who remember lives lost . 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. >> they are fantastic planes. i remember going , much younger remember going, much younger one. yes, yes, there's a wonderful museum, duxford air museum, where i grew up, quite close to it, and we used to go and you can, you can see the spitfires, the hurricanes, and

indeed the bombers to my grandfather was in the raf and the raf in the raf. what he called it in the royal. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> is that is that because he had a very, cut glass accent as it seemed that all pilots did, they all like this and it they all talked like this and it was all very, posh. was all very, very posh. >> i don't know about that, but you can donate , by visiting you you can donate, by visiting the bomber county gateway trust website or their just giving page. so it's not bomber gateway trust .co.uk. i don't know if we can get that screen, just giving.com or just giving.com, slash campaign slash bomber county. >> there we go. >> there we go. >> there we go. >> there it is . >> there it is. >> there it is. >> there it is. >> there we go. but it's a very. yeah. and on the screen down there very important stuff. and these these sorts of memorials really do uplift an area, and it would be a lovely place. i think it's between it's just outside newark. >> i think it's quite dear, but i think worth it. >> no. why not? it would be a splendid, splendid memorial. but, coming up, a complaint is lodged itv after a senior lodged with itv after a senior

commissioner allegedly told a panel audience we don't want white men anymore. we'll have more on that very shortly.

tom good afternoon. britain. it's just gone. 10 to 1. and a complaint has been lodged with itv after a senior commissioner allegedly told a panel audience we don't want white men anymore . we don't want white men anymore. >> well, according to the complaint, seen exclusively by gb news, the executive producer made the comment in interesting. >> well, our reporter charlie peters, who broke the story, joins us now. charlie, frankly, this is a pretty, pretty astounding piece of news. >> that's right. solomon. the remark was made a couple of days ago at the broadcast indie summit, an event for television executives and producers and those pitching into the industry

to gather and discuss work in the industry . now, as far as we the industry. now, as far as we can tell, the comment was made at a panel discussion where about 60 people were in the audience and the senior commissioner, who works on factual entertainment pieces, says, we really don't want any more white men as talent. now, we were aware of this because a complaint was sent in to itv and exclusively by gb news by an anonymous member of the audience, and they said this was not said as a joke and she did not said as a joke and she did not seek to clarify her point any further. it was said as a clear instruction to the audience to not pitch white men as talent when developing new concepts for shows on itv. they went on to say that the commissioner, on behalf of itv, has briefed people from the entertainment industry that they will discriminate against people based on sex and ethnicity when

casting talent for television shows on itv now, this complaint said that people from all backgrounds should be given equal opportunity to apply for roles in television and casting should be based on talent, not a characteristic like this, however, they said is the first time i have heard a senior executive explicitly state in a professional forum that they are essentially comfortable discriminating against people based on sex and ethnicity. now, luke shared this complaint exclusively with gb news. that's how he signed off the complaint, and he has also urged for the release of the tape of the panel release of the tape of the panel. as we understand it, broadcast magazine, which hosted the panel, did record the gathering but has not released that information to any people. in response to our concern , itv in response to our concern, itv has said that the panel discussion included ways to pitch new ideas and ways to further diversify the content and talent offerings. they went on to say that we aim to create

and showcase content by with and for everyone. the more reaction has come in today, with senior backbench mps calling for itv to release the tapes and we've also heard from the former home secretary, suella braverman, who has told gb news it's a sad reflection of parts of our mainstream media class that some forms of racism and sexism are acceptable to them. while others promote utter fury. this double standard is very concerning. we should work towards inclusive and meritocratic workplaces where someone's sex or skin colour are not a factor, but rather their talent and skill. discrimination against white people is racism too. the former home secretary then said discrimination against men is sexist too. this is a truth that cannot be pretended away, however creepy and self—righteous some people are about it. so very stern reactions today on this issue, and many people calling for that

tape to be released so we can know once and for all. did an itv commissioner say that white men are not going to be hired as talent at the channel >> well, the tape exists. we look forward to seeing whether or not it will be released. it's interesting that they don't want to release it seemingly. >> got some thoughts on this one. we'll get to those after this short break. this quick short break. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on gb news . news. news. news. >> hi there and welcome to the forecast from the met office. it's going to feel cold in the wind for the rest of today . it's going to feel cold in the wind for the rest of today. in many places. heavy showers and even some snow on the hills of northern uk. low pressure now firmly in charge to the north of the country. tightly packed isobars and our winds coming from the west northwest with this rain clearing for the rest of the day from the south—east clear spells, yes, but also quite a number of showers coming

in on that northwesterly wind. and those showers frequent and heavy across northwestern parts of the country. not as many showers for the southeast, but for most places it's going to be a blustery night. and with those winds staying relatively brisk, it's going to be largely frost free as we start off saturday. even if temperatures are close to freezing in many places now , to freezing in many places now, we're going to start saturday with those heavy showers getting going very quickly across many parts of the country, some heavy downpours , even a rumble of downpours, even a rumble of thunder or two, some hail to lower levels, snow over the hills of wales, england hills of wales, northern england and scotland . in the wind it's and scotland. in the wind it's going to feel particularly cold. 9 or 10 celsius on the thermometer, feeling more like 4 to 6 degrees in the wind. going into sunday. less windy to start things, although still a brisk breeze down the north sea coast. some sunshine early on, still a few showers before further rain arrives later . that rain few showers before further rain arrives later. that rain heralds an unsettled start to next week

and it stays cold. >> that warm feeling

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 1:00 on friday, the 22nd of march. >> england . erasure. politicians >> england. erasure. politicians across all parties have united to decry the outrageous decision to decry the outrageous decision to alter the england flag on official football shirts. out with the red and white in with the blues and purples. with the red and white in with the blues and purples . playful the blues and purples. playful update or woke nonsense and britain's benefits crisis worsens the cost of sickness benefits could surge by more than a third in the next ten years, with health and disability handouts set to rise to a whopping £90.9 billion by 2028. >> has the mental health culture gone too far? as mp mel stride said yesterday. and can we afford this many people on

benefits ? benefits? >> hello, hello hello coppers have come calling on the tory donor who said diane abbott's made you want to hate all black women? despite his apology , it's women? despite his apology, it's is raking over comments, years old comments , a good use of old comments, a good use of police time. >> now i just want to reply to lorraine who's written in hi lorraine. she says that we're so predictable and essentially says that we're defending the tory donor by having this discussion about police time and that is absolutely not the case. i've said before, i said at the time, the comments clearly racist, they should be called out. but there is a very difference between that and the fact that he's had huge amounts of negative press about him. he's there's been conversations about whether the money should go back. all of that fine and good.

okay. but police time when police are so overstretched, when they're not solving crimes, real crimes. right now, i think it's fair enough to have a conversation about whether this is a good use of west yorkshire police's time. >> yeah, someone did write to in say, to remind us all of the comment that jo brand made back in. i think it was 2018 or 2019 about nigel farage saying that she wants to throw battery acid or something over him. i or something over him. now, i don't think people genuine only believe brand wanted to throw believe jo brand wanted to throw battery him , but the battery acid at him, but the police didn't investigate it. why the police investigate why are the police investigate eating frank hester? but they didn't investigate jo brand . didn't investigate jo brand. there seems to be an inequality there. >> i mean, it may be that they're not that they're only going to investigate it for a very short time and they'll shut the case, particularly as it was five years ago. they may not find that a crime has been committed here or anything, but i do think it's worth having that conversation. so yes. and i do think it's worth having tha us)nversation. so yes. and i do think it's worth having tha us)nverswhat so yes. and i do think it's worth having tha us)nverswhat you yes. and i do think it's worth having tha us)nverswhat you think. |d i do think it's worth having tha us)nverswhat you think. gb let us know what you think. gb views news. views at gb news.

>> but no, it's >> com but no, it's fundamentally it is possible to say that money should never say that the money should never should back or that that should go back or that that society should condemn this guy without saying that there needs to investigation. to be a police investigation. those different things, those are two different things, two two two different things, two different getting different things. before getting to and so many other to that and so many other stories, here your headlines stories, here are your headlines with francis. with sam francis. >> tom. emily, thanks very much. good afternoon from the gb news room. 1:03. and the top story of the day . rishi sunak has now the day. rishi sunak has now criticised nike's alteration of the saint george's cross on its new england football kit . after new england football kit. after changing the colours to blue and purple. the company says the redesign was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament. however, speaking earlier , the prime minister said earlier, the prime minister said the traditional red and white colours are a mark of public pride and he said it shouldn't be messed with. >> 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. >> well, that follows similar comments from the culture secretary, frazer, who said secretary, lucy frazer, who said the multicoloured design is pointless and unnecessary . and pointless and unnecessary. and the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has also urged the sports brand to revert back to the original flag's colours. we've been speaking to people outside nike's store in central london their thoughts . london to get their thoughts. >> england is england, you know, you start changing its colours, 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 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 think the old shirts, like retro . i think they could 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, sir geoffrey cox says labour's projects cox says that labour's projects 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 dangerous thing for democracy. in a gb news exclusive , the mp in a gb news exclusive, the mp said that rishi sunak is a serious administrator , but serious administrator, but suggested the prime minister still needs to reveal more of himself to win voters 100 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 i >> -- >> the 5mm >> the home secretary has vowed to crack down on spiking by updating the law to hold perpetrators to account. legislation in england and wales is being changed to make it clear that it is 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 today, an it worker from essex has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum tum of 37 years for the murder of a married couple who he worked for. >> luc de wit poisoned stephen and carol baxter with fentanyl after manipulating them with various fake personas. the couple's daughter told chelmsford crown court that the 34 year old had completely brainwashed her mother by posing as a fake doctor . speaking as a fake doctor. speaking outside court, detective inspector lydia george said the killer went to great lengths to

cover up his crimes. >> he clearly enjoyed the control he exerted over people, especially carol and stephen. ultimately, the only person in this world who knows why he did this world who knows why he did this is luc de wit, and he has proven time and time again to be a manipulator. >> what we do know is the significant sentence handed down is entirely fitting for the pathological liar that he is . pathological liar that he is. >> the latest government figures have shown that more than 800 people have illegally crossed the english channel in small boats in the past week, 263 reached uk waters yesterday alone, as criminal gangs took advantage of a brief weather improvement. that 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, up 600 more than the same time last year. mouth cancer could soon be diagnosed painlessly with the help of flavoured lollipops . traditional

flavoured lollipops. traditional methods involve invasive procedures like biopsies. however, researchers say that they're quicker and kinder. alternative could be used in gp surgeries made from smart hydrogel. the lollipops capture proteins in a patient's saliva, and they say with funding from cancer research uk, the project could help patients to avoid painful procedures and mean earlier detection . those are the earlier detection. those are the latest headlines. more in the next half hour. in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts just scan the qr code on your screen or go to our website, gb news. common alerts . website, gb news. common alerts. >> good afternoon britain. it's 1:08 and the national sickness benefit 1:08 and the national sickness benefit bill is rising, with costs set to surge by more than a third by the end of the decade. >> the office for budget responsibility predicts that

health and disability handouts will rise from £657 health and disability handouts will rise from £65.7 billion to 90.9 billion by 2028 to 29, a considerable increase . considerable increase. >> yeah, that's what, 3020 , 25 >> yeah, that's what, 3020, 25 billion increase. but this comes as the work and pensions secretary , mel stride, has secretary, mel stride, has warned that mental health culture has gone too far after thousands of brits have been signed off for work, while professor in organisational psychology and health at the university of manchester, sir cary cooper joins us university of manchester, sir cary cooperjoins us now. cary cooper joins us now. >> gary, thank you very much for joining us on the show today. are you surprised that so many people are off sick in this country with mental health related problems? >> no, not at all, emily. it's been going on for quite a while. by been going on for quite a while. by the way. we're not the only country the leading cause of long tum sickness absence in many developed countries now is, what we call the common mental disorders of depression, anxiety and stress. so right now we have

about 2.8 million people who are off ill with long term sickness, the majority of them, or the biggest single cause is mental health. but you know what? we don't invest in mental health. it represents probably something like 30 or 40% of morbidity, i.e. illness . but yet the budget i.e. illness. but yet the budget of the nhs, we haven't invested in mental health. it's probably less than 10% of it is dedicated to mental ill health, a big issue and mental health, by the way, if you're off with severe depression, you're going to be off longer in most cases than you would with cancer. so we have a problem. remember we've changed. we used to be a big heavy manufacturing. you know, engineering kind of company. we're now service based, or , we're now service based, or, country. and what we do is it's people. people are the issue. so take right now we're in a recession so people will lose theirjobs recession so people will lose their jobs because companies recession so people will lose theirjobs because companies are their jobs because companies are going to downsize. they inevitably during do during, recessionary times. and we've

been bumping along the bottom anyway economically, we're not really growing very much . so we really growing very much. so we have fewer people doing more work, feeling more job insecure, and as a consequence, working longer hours . and then we have longer hours. and then we have another issue, particularly to the uk aside from brexit. but one other issue, which is that do we have the right kind of manager in the new world of work we're in now? what people are working hybrid right . we're in now? what people are working hybrid right. some people in the office, some people in the office, some people working partly from home. the evidence, by the way, on flexible working. and there's tons it is is it does hit tons of it is it is it does hit the bottom line. it's better if people to and can given the people want to and can given the role they have. they're more they tend to be more productive, more job satisfied , and they more job satisfied, and they stay longer with the employer. >> is it is interesting >> it is it is interesting looking at the numbers because i think what you say there's a lot of truth to what you say and the sort of need for people to have structure in their lives and all the rest it's very the rest of it. it's very, very good in terms of our good for us in terms of our mental health. the rise in mental health. but the rise in terms of people clocking off

work, signing sickness work, signing on for sickness benefits started a year before the pandemic. so this benefits started a year before the pandemic . so this is benefits started a year before the pandemic. so this is what mel stride was pointing to this week. work and pensions week. the work and pensions secretary saying this big rise that we saw in people claiming mental health sickness benefits started before the pandemic by around a year. and it's just been rising and rising and rising ever since. it's hard to say what specifically this is, other than perhaps shapps a general sense that we might be over diagnosing mild conditions that really shouldn't have people leaving work. >> you know, tom, what used to happenis >> you know, tom, what used to happen is say, ten, 15 years ago, the leading cause of long tum sickness absence was muscular, skeletal backache and the like. but we all knew a funny psychologist. we all knew that a proportion of that was really a mental health issue . in really a mental health issue. in other words, because mental health was, not an acceptable thing to admit to, to admit you had depression , anxiety, there

had depression, anxiety, there was a stigma to it. people would, when they were feeling down, really down. you know what they do? they'd say, oh, i've got this bad back. difficult to diagnose your back, difficult to really identify it. so they used to sign off on backache and those kinds of things. we always knew that ages ago because it was a stigma associated with meeting, admitting you couldn't cope with stress and everything else. here's the other issue. if you think these people are , you you think these people are, you know, slinging the hook that they're just trying to get, you know, money for nothing and they're just trying to take off. here's the problem. we have as we we're in a recession , we we're in a recession, companies are trying to keep their labour costs down. they will . and they did that will downsize. and they did that in 2008. they did that in the in in 2008. they did that in the 19805. in in 2008. they did that in the 1980s. they downsized a lot to keep their labour costs down to be competitive. and in britain in particular, because we have brexit, we got to get trade deals. we got to be more competitive. so we have to keep

our costs down. if you go our labour costs down. if you go to your employer, you time to your employer, you take time off. of off mental off. a lot of time off on mental ill or you're using it. ill health or you're using it. you're using it for that purpose. you're going to be vulnerable to losing your job. >> so my own theory, what's something that's concerning, just that young people just lastly is that young people are disproportionately taking time off work because of mental health. is there not a question around whether young people are perhaps less resilient, or perhaps less resilient, or perhaps the focus in, you know, pubuc perhaps the focus in, you know, public life on, on mental health has maybe given some young people an excuse almost . has maybe given some young people an excuse almost. i'm has maybe given some young people an excuse almost . i'm not people an excuse almost. i'm not saying all, but it is striking that among young people , mental that among young people, mental health has got so much worse that there are so many more people who need to take time off work. >> but that's a generation you know, emily, that are really into talking about issues that trouble them. okay. yeah. if we had the right facilities , here's had the right facilities, here's what we need to do in the uk. we need to identify people early and we need to give them

treatment. you go with an anxiety problem or a depression problem and try to get an appointment with your gp. you get an appointment with your gp, then find a mental health then try to find a mental health professional help you. professional to help you. you. it might months, absolute it might take months, absolute months. unless we invest months. so unless we invest a lot more in in the mental health facilities we don't have in the nhs now , so we can get early nhs now, so we can get early identification, early treatment, that's what we need. they're not slinging the lead. these young people want to work, but they're prepared to talk about their problems. they want to get help. >> i don't think we can generalise either way. >> i don't think we can generalise entirely either way. so be lots of young so there may be lots of young people who are desperate to work but mental health but have awful mental health problems, and they're not getting they need. getting the help they need. but there who there may also be some who perhaps taking they perhaps are taking what they consider out. we consider an easy way out. we don't know exactly. we don't know, i doubt can say all know, but i doubt we can say all young people or all young. >> no, not saying that, but >> no, i'm not saying that, but i think the proportion is smaller than you're out. okay. >> that's fair, that's fair.

really interesting to talk to you. really interesting. so carrie cooper , take care. tom, carrie cooper, take care. tom, professor in organisational psychology health the psychology and health at the university of manchester. >> interesting stuff. >> yes. no interesting stuff. and, i hadn't considered the backache thing you used to hear a lot more about backache. that's interesting. >> yes. when actually it might have been a mental health problem. that was the other pressing issue. >> very working pressing issue. >> way very working pressing issue. >> way into ery working pressing issue. >> way into other working pressing issue. >> way into other issues. (ing pressing issue. >> way into other issues. but their way into other issues. but a hospital in manchester, in other news, is investigating allegations that staff treated a nine child nine year old child incompetently because he was jewish. >> yes. the uncle claims his nephew was made to lie on the floor when he wore his kippah , floor when he wore his kippah, but on a different occasion when he was not wearing his kippah and was, quote, visibly jewish. he received quick care . so the he received quick care. so the allegation is essentially that this boy was marked out as jewish and was therefore treated differently and treated badly. but what you're looking at now, this is the police are investigating a man for an arson attack here that occurred yesterday on a house in hackney.

dunng yesterday on a house in hackney. during his arrest, the man reportedly made comments that were deemed to anti—semitic. were deemed to be anti—semitic. so concerns this was so there are concerns this was an hate crime too. an anti—semitic hate crime too. >> there seem to be multiple >> so there seem to be multiple incidents here. there are different instances whereby things are clearly slightly off, slightly uncomfortable , dull and slightly uncomfortable, dull and perhaps nakedly anti—semitic in this country. well, joining us now is stephen silverman , now is stephen silverman, director of investigations and enforcement at the campaign against anti anti—semitism. thank you for making the time for us. this afternoon. i wonder, are you seeing a precipitated rise in instances like this ? like this? >> yeah. i mean we absolutely are. and, with regard to the hospital incident, we are in direct touch, not just with patients who we use jewish patients, we're using the nhs, but jewish health care practitioner within the nhs who are deeply concerned about the hostile environment that's being created for them, they tell us

that they are concerned that , that they are concerned that, the bma is taking a one sided approach to what is happening in the middle east, and that is worsening that environment for them, i've heard awful , stories them, i've heard awful, stories directly from doctors, for example, a patient due to undergo an invasive procedure thatis undergo an invasive procedure that is routinely done under sedation , one who insisted on sedation, one who insisted on having it without the sedation because they were too scared not to be alert throughout the procedure . procedure. >> so yeah, it is a massively growing problem , not just within growing problem, not just within this hospital and within the this hospital and within the this nhs trust, but around the nhs. >> i mean, they say that there were that this boy, this jewish boy was being treated by a number of pro—palestine nurses , number of pro—palestine nurses, a visibly pro—palestine nurses. so i guess the allegation here is that not only were they anti—semitic, but also this could be politically motivated, wanted to treat this boy, differently because he's jewish

and because clearly they've got very strong opinions about the conflict in the middle east. i mean , it's truly shocking that mean, it's truly shocking that when if it's true that when he was visibly jewish, as his uncle has said, that he was treated so differently from when he wasn't wearing his kippah. i mean, it's outrageous that this is happening in modern britain in 2024, that someone would be treated such a way, do you know how it's being investigated internally, or do you know what's going on there? >> no, i'm sure that the trust will be applying its usual its usual procedures for investigate matters these. but, you matters such as these. but, you know, there's one thing i'd like to i mean, it has not been, to say. i mean, it has not been, definitively proven that that was motivation . was the motivation. >> but clearly it's important to understand what the jewish experience is when they walk into a hospital and see, people displaying the flag of the palestinian authority on the, on their uniforms , the palestinian their uniforms, the palestinian authority pays terrorist acts

who murder jews in terrorist attacks in israel , a salary. attacks in israel, a salary. there's a sliding scale depending on how many people they murder, the palestinian authority has overseen the distribution of virulently anti—semitic material throughout its entire education system, and its entire education system, and it was directly involved in the celebrations of the atrocity of the 7th of october. now, jewish patients should not be having to wonder about the political views of the person treating them. >> they shouldn't be having to worry whether the person who didn't that staff were didn't know that nhs staff were allowed wear such things , allowed to wear such things, that could be deemed odd, but they should know that that was allowed. >> i don't know what the rules are, should be are, but there should be absolutely political symbols absolutely no political symbols worn staff indeed any staff. >> stephen, what do you say to those staff who might say , hey, those staff who might say, hey, we don't ascribe to every single objective of the or indeed practice of the palestinian authority. we don't, follow the politics of this, but we do believe that there should be a

palestinian state and perhaps having this flag and i've seen the lanyards in parliament. i mean, i'm sure there are. they're all over the place, can you always ascribe the idea that just because someone shows that flag, they necessarily believe in some of the horrific practices that are carried out in the name of that flag? >> well, look, i mean, obviously, advocating for a palestinian state isn't in itself anti—semitic, but the place to do it is not in a place of work. there should be no political symbols in a place of work, certainly not in the nhs, they should have their uniforms, their name badges, and that's it. and, you know, you're right. the problem is when somebody displays that flag, a jewish person looks at that and wonders, and they should not have to be wonder whether the person who is treating them , person who is treating them, sympathises with hamas and with the worst massacre of jews since has to be one rule, doesn't there? >> really? there has to be one

rule, because otherwise you could rock up in any type of political statement, and it's not when , of course, not appropriate when, of course, people, know, we have people, you know, we have a universal health system in this country where everyone has be country where everyone has to be treated much the same. treated very much the same. thank much, stephen, thank you very much, stephen, for your time. really appreciate it. director for your time. really appreciate it. investigations director for your time. really appreciate it. investigations and director of investigations and enforcement of investigations and enforceranti—semitism . against anti—semitism. >> yeah, we should say that gb news has reached out for comment. and we're waiting to hear back. but we do have a statement from the hospital below, we are aware of images and very serious claims which are on social media. are circulating on social media. we investigating we are rapidly investigating these to establish the situation and discussing them with and are discussing them with the family involved. royal manchester children's hospital family involved. royal m committed hildren's hospital family involved. royal m committed to dren's hospital family involved. royal m committed to providingpital family involved. royal m committed to providing high is committed to providing high quality care to all our patients i >> -- >> well, there you go. that's what the hospital is so far said. we'll bring you any update as we get it. but in other news, the fa is under fire of course, because it altered the official england flag on football shirts with many saying the football association's gone woke or just

completely mad. is it much ado about nothing though? some people are saying, you know, not a big deal, not a big deal. it's just a little playful. update. >> well, we'll be having that debate that, fiery debate after this

i >> -- >> it's 126. >> it's126. you're watching and listening to good afternoon, britain. now anger is continuing to bubble about the fa and nike's decision to change the saint george's flag on england's new football kit. or indeed, nike's decision. >> all right . the flag on the >> all right. the flag on the back collar of the shirts has been modified using purple and blue horizontal stripes in what the manufacturers called a playful update. so i wonder if they're going to stick to that. >> a playful update is what they call it, but many others have criticised the change. keir starmer has got involved. he's

called it wrong and the culture secretary lucy frazer, says it's pointless unnecessary . i pointless and unnecessary. i feel like this is the sort of question that politicians are actually enjoying . they actually actually enjoying. they actually like asked don't like being asked this, don't they? like being asked this, don't the because all seem to >> because they all seem to agree something different. but one politician today has a one politician today has gone a step last few step further in the last few minutes, cabinet minister penny mordaunt collect mordaunt has offered to collect complaints new complaints about nike's new england and take them to the england kit and take them to the us company. >> she's really getting involved, stepping it up, isn't she? >> really is. it's almost as if she sort of wants to raise her profile in some sort of way. maybe. >> maybe. but is this all much ado about nothing should we really be worrying ourselves about little colourful update about a little colourful update to the back of a football shirt? we shall see. joining us now is gb news presenter martin daubney , who thinks the change is outrageous and political commentator andy macdonald, who thinks the issue is being blown out of proportion. >> well martin, you kicked this all off. let's start with you . all off. let's start with you. >> yeah, so when this kit was

announced on monday, i jumped straight on it. i thought it was total sacrilege. and it's turned into actually the biggest political own goal for nike in history. it's united politicians of all stripes. it's united football fans of all colour stripes don't mess with flags. whatever the flag, any flag to do so fundamentally misunderstands several things. firstly, football fans, football fans don't want this second patriotism. patriots of any nafion patriotism. patriots of any nation don't want their flag meddling with. thirdly, the vast majority of football fans are working class and they don't share the liberal makeover beliefs of people like the nike team who think this is playful. it's not playful , it's totally it's not playful, it's totally disrespectful, and it has no place in the game. why target the english specifically, though? that's the interesting bit because the saint george's cross st george's day is routinely lambasted as racist, divisive and nationalism to be ashamed of. rather than be proud of. nike have absolutely shot

themselves in the foot. it's been a disaster. >> well, a strong opening statement there from you, martin. i'll put that to you, andy, if you don't think this is a big deal, then you misunderstand football fans. you misunderstand football fans. you misunderstand patriot and you misunderstand patriot and you misunderstand the working class. well you go. >> that's quite the, quite the bold statement there . bold statement there. >> i'm not too sure that i misunderstand the working class patriotic football fan. you know, realistically, we talk about class . about class. >> the football shirts are way too expensive for normal working class people to buy anyway. >> know, like £120 >> you know, they're like £120 for the top tier, £180 for the normal one. so, you know, if you're trying to bring it into a class issue, they're too expensive. anyway. class issue, they're too expensi\is anyway. class issue, they're too expensi\is like nay. class issue, they're too expensi\is like ridiculous. >> this is like ridiculous. >> this is like ridiculous. >> mordaunt she's >> you know penny mordaunt she's trying for prime minister. >> so she's making a big deal about it. politicians need to get stories that get back to the stories that really get back to the stories that reaiyou know, is absolutely ridiculous. >> this is leading the agenda for, what, two, three days on the trot? >> t’- e these shirts >> martin martin, these shirts are expensive that this are so expensive that this is really a niche issue . really a niche elitist issue. >> it's not this is an issue of

the terraces and the terraces don't share the same polite society attitudes as the boardroom, or as the liberal press or the mainstream media. if you don't buy a shirt and many fans may not buy a shirt, they will see this as an affront . why change the flag? nike? also do the saudi arabia flag. do you think they'll change their flag? of course they won't . they've gone for the english flag and i think there's something specific in that. englishness is open game. it's fair game to be attacked, be it our monuments, our former prime ministers our our patron saint. whatever it is about england, it's okay. and when you complain, you're a gammon, you know, grow a pair. stop being so sensitive. try it with any nafion sensitive. try it with any nation on earth and i warrant the fans would do the same thing . you smirked. >> you smirked. >> you smirked. >> i just put that and they deserved to get it in the neck. >> yeah, can i put that down? because andy you did. you did smirk a little bit. you clearly think that martin is going over the top on this one, but can you

understand that? actually, there are english people who are a lot of english people who feel flag isn't feel like their flag isn't exactly celebrated. let's say . exactly celebrated. let's say. >> sure, and i appreciate that, but i mean , let's be real here. but i mean, let's be real here. it's an inch by a half inch of colour on the back of someone's neck. >> like, it's not like they've gone for the crest of the three lines. >> you know what i mean? like, nobody's probably even going to see it in the games because it's so small. it's really not that deep.i so small. it's really not that deep. i mean, i'm sure that the england has been desecrated england flag has been desecrated by many liberal elite by many, many liberal elite boardrooms, as martin claims. but this just isn't that big of a deal. there are bigger stories, more important things to talking about than an inch to be talking about than an inch by half inch on the back of a football player's net. >> martin. well, that just shows that you just do not understand the mindset of the football fan. you do understand the you do not understand the mindset the proud, patriotic mindset of the proud, patriotic englishman woman who are englishman and woman who are talking about this in their droves. get out. get out from the bbc or from the guardian. go into a wetherspoons. people are

talking about this non—stop. it does matter to them. it's not just a little logo on the back of a shirt, it's a gradual drip, drip, drip erosion of what it means to be british, to be english, to have our culture desecrated instead of respected. this would never be a throwaway issue if it was the jamaican shirt or another shirt, you know it, but the english shirt, it's fair game . fair game. >> well, martin, we started with you.so >> well, martin, we started with you. so let's finish with andy. andy, isn't the point here that this is an international competition. this is euros 2024. this is all about representing your country on the world stage. isn't national identity important in this instance ? important in this instance? >> well, of course, national identity is important, particularly on the international stage. but you look at the olympics in 2012, the union flag on the british shirts was completely changed regularly . the jamaican flag is regularly. the jamaican flag is changed in the olympics, you know, aren't just, you know, flags aren't just, you know, flags aren't just, you know, this kind of objective thing be touched thing that can't be touched regularly. see in regularly. we see in international sporting events, regularly. we see in intergetonal sporting events, regularly. we see in

interget modified, ng events, regularly. we see in interget modified, they lents, regularly. we see in interget modified, they gets, they get modified, they get changed artistic purposes. changed for artistic purposes. it's big a deal. it's not that big of a deal. okay >> so you think it's a playful update? martin certainly does not. was not. thank you. that was a fantastic head to head, martin daubney there. he'll be on 3:00. he's just getting ready. this is a warming up. a little warming up. >> warming up round. warm a little warming up. >> round.arming up round. warm a little warming up. >> round.armingmcdonald, warm a little warming up. >> round.armingmcdonald, thank a little warming up. >> rvery.armin1mcdonald, thank a little warming up. >> rvery muchumcdonald, thank a little warming up. >> rvery much .mcdonald, thank a little warming up. >> rvery much . now,1ald, thank a little warming up. >> rvery much . now,1ald, has|k a little warming up. >> rvery much . now,1ald, has got you very much. now, nike has got in to say that the england in touch to say that the england 2024 home disrupts history 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic. the trim on the cuffs takes its cues from the training gear worn by england's1966 cues from the training gear worn by england's 1966 heroes, with a by england's1966 heroes, with a gradient of blues and reds topped by purple, the same colours also feature an interpretation of the flag of saint george on the back of the collar. >> well, there you go. are you convinced? let us know what you think. vaiews@gbnews.com. but coming up we'll be hearing what you think. our reporter has been on the ground for us talking to all people be all the people who may be popping all the people who may be popping into nike shop, or popping into the nike shop, or will not be popping in? will they not be popping in? will they be popping in? will they not be popping in? perhaps won't. all right, perhaps they won't. all right, all right. >> get to after your

>> we'll get to that. after your headlines. >> tom, emily, thanks very much . >> tom, emily, thanks very much. good afternoon. from the newsroom. 133 and a recap of that top story leading the news today that rishi sunak has now criticised nike's alteration of the saint george's cross on its new england football kit. the redesign, featuring purple and blue stripes, has, as you've been hearing, sparked backlash with a change.org petition already gaining over 21,000 signatures. the nike company says that the update was though a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament. however, speaking earlier, the prime minister said the traditional red and white colours are a mark of public pride and that it shouldn't be messed with. >> 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 . they are. >> man who's been described as a

loner, has been jailed for life for the murder of a couple. he worked for by poisoning them with fentanyl. luke de wit invented fake personas and rewrote the will of stephen and carol baxter, who were in their 60s, to take charge of their company. the couple's daughter told chelmsford crown court that the 34 year old killer had completely brainwashed her mother by posing as a fake doctor. he was sentenced today and will serve a minimum of 37 years. the latest government figures show more than 800 people have illegally crossed the english channel in small boats in the past week, 263 reached uk waters on thursday alone, as criminal gangs took advantage of a brief weather improvement. 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 600 more than the same time last year . the prime minister last year. the prime minister has refused to comment on police investigations into alleged racist comments made by a

conservative party donor. west yorkshire police say they are now looking at whether a crime was committed by frank hester. it's reported that he told a meeting in 2019 that the mp diane abbott, made him want to hate all black women, and he said that she should be shot. and nationwide has apologised to customers. after all, payments in and out of accounts were delayed this morning. it says there was an issue impacting the faster payment system, but it has since been fixed. those are the headlines. for more, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen or visit our website gbnews.com/alerts . gbnews.com/alerts. >> for a valuable legacy your family can own, gold coins will always shine bright . rosalind always shine bright. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report, and here's a look at the markets

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i >> -- >> it's 140. >> it's140. you're watching and listening to good afternoon, britain with me. emily and tom. so let's return to the nike shirt row . oh, gosh, i so let's return to the nike shirt row. oh, gosh, i said nike. yes. okay. you see, i know you know, it's nike and you just say nike to annoy me. >> you do it deliberately. >> you do it deliberately. >> i know this, i'm being contrary. conservatives, labour and liberal democrats have unhedin and liberal democrats have united in criticising the decision to give the saint george's cross a playful update. martin about martin daubney is furious about this. i'm sure he'll be talking about it later on show,

about it later on his show, that's for sure. >> well, someone else's furious is leader of the opposition. is the leader of the opposition. sir starmer told sun sir keir starmer told the sun that he they should just that he thinks they should just reconsider and change it back. as search red as previously, search had red shirts had regularly featured the red and white saint george's flag , which the red and white saint george's flag, which is the only saint george's flag. >> well, yes, quite now lee anderson was on gb news earlier. should we have a listen to what he had to say about this? >> the england team taking the knee dummy got the england captain rainbow armbands captain wearing rainbow armbands . hypocrites. of them. now . 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 heads shame . heads in shame. >> well, there you go. they should hang their heads in shame i >> -- >> and we sent our reporter theo chikomba to nike town in central london, now, theo, what's the feeling on the ground ? feeling on the ground? >> yeah, well, mixed emotions here from people we've been speaking to here in central london, but we've had some strong words from the prime minister. rishi sunak today. don't mess with the flag on the

england shirt alongside many other politicians we've heard from today, all on the same side. and this is the day before the england and brazil match taking place at wembley tomorrow. normally on days like today, we're talking about who's going to be featuring. are there any injuries? even though it is any injuries? even though it is a match, it's a big a friendly match, it's a big game when some of england's best players together and players come together and they'll be facing a mighty brazil with players who are playing some of the best teams across the world. but of course , across the world. but of course, the story today is that flag a new colours on it, some saying it shouldn't have changed at all, and others actually all, and others saying actually it's representative the it's representative of the society in today . here's society we live in today. here's what some of the people we've spoken to have had to say this afternoon. >> england is england, you know, you start changing its colours, you start changing its colours, you changing the flags. you start changing the flags. yeah. represents something yeah. it represents something that's traditional and perhaps it stay that way . it should stay that way. >> being welsh, i'm not really bothered me, to be honest . but bothered me, 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 i think they're quite good they're the best. good shirts. they're the best. >> it? 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 sudden. >> it's not cheap to. it's fair to say it's definitely not cheap. £124.99 for the shirt with no shorts . no socks, just with no shorts. no socks, just the shirt itself. it's not cheap, but of course that flag is on it. the new shirt will be no doubt worn in the matches to come. potentially we might see tomorrow in that game against brazil, but this morning we first heard from the leader of the opposition , sir keir the opposition, sir keir starmer, saying the flag is used by everybody. it is a unify and it doesn't need to be changed. we've been hearing that from many others today, but the question does remain here, though, should it have changed or should simply stay as it or should it simply stay as it is? and does it represent the

society we live in? >> well, theo chikomba, thank you for bringing us those voices there outside of, one of the largest nike shops in the land. >> yes, nike is very popular , >> yes, nike is very popular, but will they get it again? will this shirt be? will more people buy it? do you think because of all of this hoo ha or fewer people, interesting. and will they change the design ? will they change the design? will they change the design? will they bow to public pressure and can they do now? can they do that now? >> have they already made them all? >> well, i don't know. well it won't be them making it will it. it will be, sweatshops. i have no idea. reams that make such an allegation. >> i can't make don't >> i can't make those. we don't know but but know where they're made, but but but fundamentally, for show. >> or, as theo rightly said, not 100, £124.99. excellent it makes it makes it seem so much cheapen it makes it seem so much cheaper, doesn't it? >> yeah. i know for a lot of parents, you know, they've got children who beg them for these shirts, you know, always wanting the new one, always wanting the most expensive kit. and it's a lot of money, but people do save up for a long time. i remember my, i think my brother was

always wanting one. always, always wanting one. always, always demanding shirt, always demanding a new shirt, but, sure if how often but, i'm not sure if how often he got one. certainly didn't he got one. i certainly didn't get every time it changed. get one every time it changed. >> no, no, but we'll be we'll be discussing much more after the break, the labour break, not least the labour leader, keir starmer. him leader, sir keir starmer. him again. refused seven times again. he's refused seven times to taking any drugs while to deny taking any drugs while at university. of course he was director of public prosecutions for some years , including for some years, including prosecuting people involved in drugs . well, we'll be talking drugs. well, we'll be talking about all of this after

break. good afternoon. britain. it's coming up to 10 to 2 now. should politicians be more transparent? even more transparent than they already are when it comes to questions around their past. why do we talk about this? last night , sir do we talk about this? last night, sir keir starmer refused seven times to say whether or

not he'd taken illegal drugs in his past, saying simply he had fun while he was at university. >> yes, it's interesting, isn't there? there seem to be a wave of politicians coming out and admitting that they'd taken drugs at one time or another, usually always talking about the university days or it was the days of their youth. >> i remember the week this happened. it was the 2019 conservative leadership election , and one candidate got asked whether they'd taken illegal drugs. it was the michael gove scandal . it was the it was the scandal. it was the it was the bombshell claims about michael gove and then every other candidate in that leadership election . every single one election. every single one couldn't get through an interview without being asked , interview without being asked, have you ever taken illegal drugs? and then rory stewart blew the whole thing open when he when he said he had, he said when he said he had, what was it? he said he'd he'd tried. don't want to libel tried. i don't want to libel anyone. so i'm not going to say the specific thing, but some rather exotic cocktail. when he was one of the exotic was abroad, in one of the exotic places he lived in.

places that he lived in. >> oh, gosh. >> oh, gosh. >> well, i mean, jeremy, jeremy hunt said he had a cannabis lassi, that one. >> i got a few questions for you at home. do you do you want to know whether politicians have ever dabbled illegal ever dabbled in illegal substances ? do you think we have substances? do you think we have the right to know? should they be more transparent? because i guess is that they guess the argument is that they make the law and we do have a war on drugs, or at least we have a drug policy. yeah. and it is illegal. so, you know, should politicians who are making the laws abide by the laws? and do we have every right to know, even if it was years and years and years ago, whether they have dabbled? >> there's two things on this. this is the thing that i think angers me the most about it all. go on that i don't actually mind if politicians in their youth have have dabbled in this or that. what do mind is that. what i do mind is inconsistency and hypocrisy. and if you're politician who is if you're a politician who is upholding this, this, this what i think is a broken approach to

how we approach drugs in this country, it would be much, much better if we approached these issues in a in a health way, as they do in portugal, because you don't like the sort of say as i say, do what i say, not what do. >> politician upholding laws that put people behind for that put people behind bars for doing exactly what they do, upholding that ruin lives upholding laws that ruin lives for doing what they did when they were younger. well, us they were younger. well, let us know do you think it's know at home. do you think it's hypocrisy action if, as hypocrisy in action if, as a politician, you support a crackdown on on drugs but actually have taken them yourself in the past, we yourself in the past, do we deserve to more? should deserve to know more? should they more transparent, or they be more transparent, or could care less? anyway, could you not care less? anyway, moving keir starmer has moving to on keir starmer has taken £50 bet that lee taken a £50 bet that lee anderson will lose his parliamentary in next parliamentary seat in the next general election . general election. >> yes. a mirror journalist asked him if he thought mr asked him if he thought that mr anderson would retain seat, anderson would retain his seat, to labour leader to which the labour leader replied no, i don't. asked if he would bet on it, he accepted the £50 bet with a handshake. now how is this appropriate? >> let's speak to justin larkham, a recovered gambling addict and author of the book

tails i lose . hello. thank you tails i lose. hello. thank you very much for joining tails i lose. hello. thank you very much forjoining us. do you think this is appropriate for our politicians, people in positions of power to be making these types of casual bets on, on policy and the like ? on policy and the like? >> well, i really don't i absolutely don't. and to go back to your previous story, politicians are engaging in things that are really quite harmful, from my own perspective, i had an addiction to online gambling, which i lost everything. i had ten years in the army, ten years working in the army, ten years working in the city. i had everything, and in three years i lost it all to an addiction to online gambling. 380,000 problem gamblers in the uk. nine people affected by every single problem. gambler, 3.5 million at risk and to be light—hearted and jokey and shaking hands about something that frankly, shouldn't be related to politics. i find a really quite painful and i can understand your position and it must be a really tough thing for many people who are susceptible to this to go through. >> but we do live in a society

where there are lots of elements of gambling, whether it's a coin, a coin toss or a handshake over this and a can, we can we find a way to talk about responsible gambling in a responsible gambling in a responsible way or must we sort of shut it all down? >> no. that's a brilliant word. responsible gambling is absolutely what we should do. i'm not anti—gambling. not at all, i'm just very much aware that i. i could never gamble again , just as an alcoholic, again, just as an alcoholic, having one drink. if i had one bet, i'd be right back to where i was. and i think, we need responsible gambling. and it's a shame that the people that make the laws and regulations around gambling in the uk , seem to have gambling in the uk, seem to have quite a light hearted view about it. >> justin, could. would you go as far as to say that this might these sort of casual bets might act as a trigger for people with gambling problems ? could they? gambling problems? could they? >> so, i did. i >> very much so, yeah, i did. i watched both those interviews, with the leader and keir

with both, the leader and keir starmer and, i felt that , you starmer and, i felt that, you know, it was just a handshake, but just a handshake . i couldn't but just a handshake. i couldn't even do that. i could not. i have to turn down bets frequently, sweepstake at work, you know, in the my son's rugby team, you know, having a having a bet and the coach before the game, i can't do it. and a casual bet is just the same as any other bet, for a problem gambler. and it could easily be a trigger for someone to get back. >> it's interesting, because there was obviously this very quickly. rishi sunak bet £1,000 on migration policy. starmer bet £50. does it matter to you that the level at which these bets are taken? >> no. for me and i do have to say that i'm talking from a personal perspective here. i couldn't do any of that. i couldn't do any of that. i couldn't even the handshake we call a sportsman's bet. so something you might do in a game of golf? or any other sport, really? i couldn't even do that. >> a bet's a bet. >> a bet's a bet. >> a bet's a bet, essentially.

thank you very much. really interesting perspective. thank you very much. really interesthought;pective. thank you very much. really interesthought aboute. thank you very much. really interesthought about it that hadn't thought about it that way. larkham recovered way. justin larkham recovered gambling addict and author of the i lose. coming the book tails i lose. coming up, though, police launch, an up, though, a police launch, an investigation into alleged comments tory donor is comments made by a tory donor is that a good use of police time? >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the forecast from the met office. it's going to feel cold in the wind for the rest of today. in many places. heavy showers and even some snow on the hills of northern uk . low pressure now northern uk. low pressure now firmly in charge to the north of the country . tightly packed the country. tightly packed isobars and our winds coming from the west, north—west with this rain clearing for the rest of the day from the south—east. clear spells, yes, but also quite a number of showers coming in on that northwesterly wind

and those showers frequent and heavy across northwestern parts of the country . not as heavy across northwestern parts of the country. not as many showers for the southeast, but for most places it's going to be a blustery night and with those winds staying relatively brisk, it's going to be largely frost free as we start off saturday. even if temperatures are close to freezing in many places now, we're going to start saturday with those heavy showers getting going very quickly across many parts of the country, some heavy downpours, even a rumble of thunder or two, some hail to lower levels, snow over the hills of wales, northern england and scotland. in the wind. it's going to feel particularly cold. 9 or 10 celsius on the thermometer, feeling more like 4 to 6 degrees in the wind. going into sunday. less windy to start things, although still a brisk breeze down the north sea coast. some sunshine early on, still a few showers before further rain arrives later . that rain few showers before further rain arrives later. that rain heralds an unsettled start to next week and it stays .

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain it's 2:00 on friday, the 22nd of march. >> england. erasure. politician across all parties have united to decry the outrageous decision to decry the outrageous decision to alter the england flag on official football shirts . out official football shirts. out with the red and white. we go in with the red and white. we go in with the red and white. we go in with the blues and purples . a with the blues and purples. a playful update or woke nonsense . playful update or woke nonsense. >> hello, hello, hello coppers have come calling on the tory donor who said diane abbott makes you want to hate all black women despite his apology, is raking over years old comments a good use of police time and mayhem in milton keynes plans to build 63,000 homes are wreaking havocin build 63,000 homes are wreaking havoc in the area, as locals

fear such the increase in properties will destroy their picturesque countryside . picturesque countryside. >> we'll hear from the mp himself from milton keynes, south. >> now i've got a problem with how milton keynes is built. >> oh, gosh. >> oh, gosh. >> okay. go on. >> it wastes so much space. you go there and you just see these enormous concrete car parks, and then there'll be a field in between them. there'll be a bit of greenery, and then there'll be another big slab of concrete with that. it's sprawls . it with that. it's sprawls. it sprawls over so much land that it doesn't need to spool across. >> maybe they like it that way. >> maybe they like it that way. >> not a nice way to build >> it's not a nice way to build a community because everything's miles away. if you just do concrete, green concrete, it's not a green place. it's a horrible mismatch.

>> tom, you've said this and you've said this online too. and what's people of what's happened? the people of milton saying that milton keynes are saying that you're everyone you're wrong and everyone else is that right. shall is saying that i'm right. shall we tom? who's been to we trust tom? who's been to milton keynes a couple of times in life? in his life? >> lots of times. >> lots of times. >> or should we trust the people who live there? because >> or should we trust the people visay live there? because >> or should we trust the people visay to live there? because >> or should we trust the people visay to milton:here? because >> or should we trust the people visay to milton keynes ecause i say go to milton keynes tonight. example, tonight. take for example, sarah. says, was born in sarah. she says, i was born in milton have lived in milton keynes, have lived in milton keynes, have lived in milton life. my milton keynes all my life. my in—laws live hanslope and in—laws live in hanslope and i have in castlethorpe. have family in castlethorpe. these are two villages that may be all of these new be impacted by all of these new houses, she says. it's quintessential, quintessentially engush english village, and we're aware of engulf of the houses which will engulf the says she's amazed the area, she says she's amazed at ignorance of people who at the ignorance of people who do in an area who then do not live in an area who then seek to spout incorrect information. tom nothing incorrect about my characterisation. >> characterisation the >> characterisation of the centre of milton keynes, which is dirt roads is sprawling concrete dirt roads everywhere, warehouse type buildings, big, big, big concrete car parks. >> you don't have to live there, do you? >> well, no, but you could fit. you could. you could densify the whole thing. you could actually take up less land with more housesif

take up less land with more houses if it was built like like like maida vale or like pimlico , like maida vale or like pimlico, with grand boulevards of charming, of charming terraced houses , maybe 5 or 6 stories houses, maybe 5 or 6 stories tall apiece. and you had rows upon rows of those with parks in between that would all right. that would house many more people in much less space. >> okay, well, not sure what to ask you at home. should tom stop talking about milton keynes as if he lives there? as if he has anyidea if he lives there? as if he has any idea what it's like to live in milton keynes? but yes, 63,000 new homes in milton keynes. what do you make very odd. do you make of that odd. what do you make of that very odd it's your very odd place? it's your headlines. >> tom. emily, thanks very much. good afternoon . from the good afternoon. from the newsroom, just after 2:00. i have lived in milton keynes , but have lived in milton keynes, but i will remain impartial. rishi sunak has criticised nike's alteration of the saint george's cross on its new england football kit, after changing the

colours from blue and purple. the company says the redesign was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament in june. however, speaking earlier, the prime minister said that the traditional red and white colours are a mark of public pride and that it shouldn't be messed with. >> 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, and they're perfect as they are . are. >> well, that follows similar comments from the culture secretary, frazer, who said secretary, lucy frazer, who said that the multicoloured design is pointless and unnecessary. and the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has also urged the sports brand to revert to the original flag's colours. sports brand to revert to the original flag's colours . we've original flag's colours. we've been speaking to people here in london, outside nike's store on oxford street to get their thoughts . thoughts. >> england is england, you know, you start changing its colours , you start changing its colours, you start changing its colours, you start changing the flags. yeah, it represents something that's traditional and perhaps it should stay that way .

it should stay that way. >> yes, i like it. i cannot say more but i think it's a good looks great. >> i think it could have been 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. >> sir geoffrey cox says that labour's projects landslide at the next general election could 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 dangerous thing for democracy . dangerous thing for democracy. in a gb news exclusive, the mp said that rishi sunak is a serious administrator, but suggested the prime minister still needs to reveal more of himself to win over voters . himself to win over 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 suggestion 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 the home

secretary has failed to crack down on spiking by updating the law to hold perpetrators to account . account. >> legislation in england and in 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, though, 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 today. >> an it worker from essex has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum tum of 37 years for the murder of a married

couple who he used to work for. luke dewitt poisoned stephen and carol baxter with fentanyl after manipulating them with various fake personas, the couple's daughter told chelmsford crown court that the 34 year old had completely brainwashed her mother by posing as a fake doctor . the latest government doctor. the latest government figures show that more than 800 people have illegally crossed the english channel in small boats in just the past week, 263 reached uk waters on thursday alone, as criminal gangs took advantage of brief weather improvements. 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 4300. that's 600 more than the same time last yeah 600 more than the same time last year. and finally, five alleged members of a spy ring have denied plotting to carry out surveillance in the uk on behalf of russia . over a period of two of russia. over a period of two and a half years. the group of

bulgarians appeared at the old bailey accused of espionage and possessing fake identity documents, including passports and identity cards, for at least eight countries. they are due to face trial in october alongside a sixth alleged plotter , who was a sixth alleged plotter, who was also implicated but did not enter a plea . those are the enter a plea. those are the headunes. enter a plea. those are the headlines . more to come with tom headlines. more to come with tom and emily throughout the next houn and emily throughout the next hour. but in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts. just scan the qr code on your screen or go to our website, gbnews.com/alerts. it's . gbnews.com/alerts. it's. >> right. it's 208 in the afternoon and the prime minister, rishi sunak, has refused to comment on the police investigation into the alleged racist comments made by tory party donor frank hester. >> yeah, this comes as mr hester's alleged racist comments from 2019 are being investigated by west yorkshire police. >> now, a spokesperson for the

force said officers were now working to establish the facts and to ultimately ascertain whether a crime has been committed. hopefully they can do that quite quickly. >> well, you'd hope, wouldn't you? should we get some more on this our political this with our political correspondent olivia utley joining live now from joining us live now from westminster. olivia, westminster. because, olivia, this come an this will have come as an unwelcome surprise to many people the building depicted people in the building depicted behind you who sort of thought this story had gone away . but this story had gone away. but no, here it comes back with a police investigation . police investigation. >> absolutely. >> absolutely. >> i mean, it is a huge headache for rishi sunak. just if you'll cast your minds back to a couple of weeks ago when this scandal all kicked off, it was reported to the guardian that frank hester, a conservative party donor who donated about £10 million to the party, made some comments in racist comments in 2019. now, over the next couple of days, rishi sunak and his ministers stopped short of actually saying that those comments were racist . list until

comments were racist. list until kemi badenoch. one cabinet minister bit the bullet and said that no , in fact, what frank that no, in fact, what frank hester said was racist. sure enough, other government ministers then, filed in behind her, said that those comments were racist. and slowly but surely it felt as though the story was ebbing away. now though, it is back in the headunes though, it is back in the headlines once again because west yorkshire police have opened an investigation to see if a crime was committed. when frank hester allegedly made these comments. now it's difficult for rishi sunak , not difficult for rishi sunak, not only because obviously the conservative party accepting £10 million from, from a racist would be a very bad look indeed, but also because it brings this it rakes back through this entire story, which was a pretty bad episode in rishi sunak's, premiership . he failed to show premiership. he failed to show leadership. he failed to show the leadership , required to leadership. he failed to show the leadership, required to come forward first and say that these comments were racist. and for that he got a lot of flak, both

from backbenchers and from the public. from backbenchers and from the pubuc.so from backbenchers and from the public. so it's a real headache for him that this has come out again, particularly as over 50% of the population already think that the conservative party should hand back that £10 million. and if this investigation drags on, then that percentage is very likely to go up. well, thank you very much indeed , olivia, yes. much indeed, olivia, yes. another headache for rishi sunak. we seem to say headache for rishi sunak nearly every day, at the moment. but we'll see how this police investigation goes. shall we speak to weyman bennett from stand up to racism ? that's stand up to racism? that's a group campaigning against racism, fascism, islamophobia and anti semitism, weyman, you have welcomed this police investigation, am i right? >> i think that , you know, >> i think that, you know, everybody's equal in front of the law and, it's one of the best things that could be done is an investigation into seeing if it was incitement and, that mr hsi was held accountable for his words and deeds .

his words and deeds. >> and that's what we'd expect by british law , i think one of by british law, i think one of the things that is disappointing is that, as you said, the failure of the prime minister to call out racism , has actually call out racism, has actually made it worse because there would have been probably the means of just sending the money back and condemning it. and that would drawn a line under would have drawn a line under it. but unfortunately, hasn't it. but unfortunately, he hasn't done to be honest with done that. and to be honest with you, neither has starmer you, neither has mr starmer played a good role in played a very good role in backing his own mp in saying backing up his own mp in saying that there should be some kind of investigation because we want to get rid of, as you said, racism, islamophobia , racism, islamophobia, anti—semitism. we want to build anti—semitism. we want to build a british society in which that's not a feature of it. it's an ongoing work of progress. this is something which how do you think it helps? >> how do you think it helps to litigate comments from five years ago that have been apologised for already? do you think that's more or less likely for everyone to be able to move forward together from, or , or

forward together from, or, or might this actually be a fairly divisive thing for the police to do to, to police language like this ? this? >> well, well, the reason why i think it should be looked at is because, you know, it's clearly a major donor to the conservative party. there is a connection between public services. it's our taxes that funds his company. it's a major contributor to his company from the from the nhs. and we have standards to uphold. and i believe if the nhs is his main profit from which he comes from, which is it's a multiracial how that relates to a police investigation, to his comments. >> well , well, because what one >> well, well, because what one of the things that has to be established is that he made the comments and if they if it reaches the threshold of whether it's criminal, because at the moment it's as allegations, isn't it, that he's made the comments. >> right. one of the things that could be done , i think, if could be done, i think, if someone makes open racist statements, which is illegal,

actually, i mean, it is illegal to racist. i know, is it? to be racist. i know, is it? some racists don't understand that actually is illegal to that it's actually is illegal to incite racial hatred. that's different . yeah. but to be different. yeah. but to be honest with you, when you talk about shooting a black women because they're black women, the question is, that cross the question is, does that cross the threshold inciting racial threshold of inciting racial hatred? down to the cps hatred? that's down to the cps and down to the police, but what i do think is very clear is that it should be investigated if people believe that crime is being committed, if he was, if he was just an average joe and he was just an average joe and he wasn't a donor to the conservative party and someone who's received contracts from the government for various things, do you think the police should investigate? so if it was just some random bloke who'd said this on on the street or in twitter, on twitter or in a, i don't know, in a council meeting or something, i don't know, would you think that the police should spend time investigating or it purely because this guy or is it purely because this guy has influence ? has influence? >> no, it's because, 99% of racist comments do not go to the

police, right . but when someone police, right. but when someone says you should shoot an mp in this country after we've lost jo cox , actually, we take that cox, actually, we take that quite seriously. we take that. and yet we've lost two mps because of people inciting violence to them. we do draw the line when public servants are threatened with being killed simply because of their race. but we do say you shouldn't do that, and therefore there is a sanction to that. and i think we can all agree that in this climate or in any climate, even joking about mps being killed is an awful thing to do. >> but but is there not a double standard here? when jo brand joked about throwing battery acid in the face of nigel farage, people realised that she didn't physically actually want to do that. there wasn't a police investigation. there is an unfortunate phrase that many people use oh, i would shoot them, but it doesn't actually mean that they're going to do that. mean that they're going to do that . that's are we are we not that. that's are we are we not treating these two similar things in very, very different

ways? jo brand and frank hester ? ways? jo brand and frank hester? >> no, no, there's plenty of comedians that have made racist jokes. there's people that pass, like bernard manning and various other people. they're not arrested for them. right. that's not what happens , however, when not what happens, however, when people who are in senior positions, in the way we manage our society and are funded through that, make racist comments , then actually they comments, then actually they held accountable to for that precise because we support them more financially . that is true. more financially. that is true. thatis more financially. that is true. that is because we use large amounts of very strong argument for him to be made accountable. >> but whether it needs to have police time, i think that's that's a more difficult question. i think accountable in terms of i don't know whether you in terms of the money perhaps being given back and that sort of thing and him being , penalised, very different from having the police investigate gate. >> the first comments, if somebody believes there's a crime being committed and that means it's reported to the

police, the police investigate it, hopefully they'll investigate it swiftly. >> they are the people that are in charge of investigating criminal offences. together with the cps . the cps. >> yeah, i think a lot of people would rather they focused on burglaries and sexual assault and robberies and fraud and everything else, rather than comments that were made quite a few years ago. >> now look, the problem , i've >> now look, the problem, i've gone back to the question if we want to protect mps from being shot right, or they're just their face in terms of we say you shouldn't do that or promote that, right ? that, right? >> and actually we will take action. if you do that, then there's a reason for him to be excused is simply because he gives £10 million to the tory party. if somebody wore a helicopter, on their jumper on the back of their jumper, they would be arrested on the streets of britain. and we would interpret that being behaving interpret that as being behaving interpret that as being behaving in certain way. in fact, in a certain way. in fact, people have been there have been 600 based on our concern

600 arrests based on our concern about what people are thinking. >> i'm supporting terrorist organisations is slightly different. >> well, you're telling someone you're going to you want them shot is a terrorist act. we'd have to agree with that, right? i'm not sure. >> i'm not sure a reasonable person would interpret that figure of speech as a terrorist act. >> well, look, i'm sorry if you talk about going around shooting people because of their racial background , well, my view is background, well, my view is this the klu klux klan , the ku this the klu klux klan, the ku klux klan, the, british national party and various organisations that terrorised black people were terrorist organisations. yes no, people didn't accept that at the time. but i do believe that to be the case. >> and in fact, they well, i think i think inciting terrorism, i think that maybe is a bit too far, but we're going to have to leave it there. >> but it's been really good to get your opinion on all this, weyman bennett, from stand up to racism. you for your time. racism. thank you for your time. appreciate i think appreciate it, i think, i think if a member of the ku klux klan

said something like that, you'd you'd absolutely think, well, number hope the number one, you'd hope that the ku klan is proscribed. ku klux klan is proscribed. >> i mean, it is an american group. i'm sure the group. i'm not sure what the british state sort of british legal state sort of position on if it does position on it is. if it does exist this country, i'd hope exist in this country, i'd hope it's proscribed. but, people do say in language, oh, i want them shot and it's not. yeah. always an incitement, a figure of speech. it's a bad figure of speech. it's a bad figure of speech and people shouldn't say it. >> the question is whether should we say crime because of the fact that the that diane abbott's race and gender was the fact that the that diane abboagainst and gender was the fact that the that diane abboagainst and but der was the fact that the that diane abboagainst and but let was the fact that the that diane abboagainst and but let uss used against her. but let us know you think. gb views gb news. >> com this guy said say anything about anyone who wasn't diane abbott. was it because she was black? it because she was black? or was it because she was black? or was it because she was diane abbott? that's the question. mean, i think the >> well, i mean, i think the comments, people comments, most people would agree they racist. so agree that they were racist. so i whether the police time i think whether the police time is needed, that's very is needed, that's a very different question. my different question. in my opinion. but let's return to the nike row now. and because nike nike row now. and because conservatives, labour and liberal democrats have all unhed liberal democrats have all united and criticising the decision, they've all had go decision, they've all had a go at this, and is, of course, at this, and this is, of course, to give the saint george's cross

a of a playful update. a bit of a playful update. also they new england they thought on the new england football yes football shirt. yes >> so labour party leader, >> so the labour party leader, sir starmer, told the sun sir keir starmer, told the sun newspaper thinks they should newspaper he thinks they should just change it just reconsider and change it back. previously, the shirts have regularly featured the classic well, the only. the red and white cross of saint george. >> so the last hour though, here's your breaking news. in the last hour, cabinet minister penny mordaunt offered to collect complaints about nike's new england kit and take them to the us company. but how does the british public feel about all this? we've been in birmingham and nottingham speaking to you. let's have a listen. >> think they should change. >> i think they should change. >> i think they should change. >> i think should be changed >> i think it should be changed back, know, with the values back, you know, with the values that, that is built on, that, that flag is built on, even from scotland. you know, i appreciate england. i lived down here and i do want england to do. well. >> terrible. >> terrible. >> would never buy it. >> would never buy it. >> the shirt itself was a rip off price wise, so why change it? >> i love it, actually. >> i love it, actually. >> to be fair, i like the blue one and i've got a black one out

or a dark one. >> i love it, absolutely love it. >> better than last season's one. one. >> one. >> i'm not entirely sure why they've changed it. >> the saint george cross is the saint george's cross and doesn't need be changed all, does it? >> i'd call it more a desecration of the flag. >> it should stay as >> i think it should stay as saint george's cross. it should be white. that's the be red and white. that's the england colours. >> it's silly. >> i think it's silly. >> i think it's silly. >> i think it's silly. >> i mean, the flag is red and white, isn't it? yeah >> flag is red and white, so >> the flag is red and white, so it stay red and white. it should stay red and white. >> i think it's just traditional, isn't it. >> like always been like >> like it's always been like that. we shouldn't really that. so we shouldn't really change it. >> understand why people >> i don't understand why people at all should want change any at all should want to change any of and wanting at all should want to change any of those and wanting at all should want to change any of those lads and wanting at all should want to change any of those lads will nd wanting at all should want to change any of those lads will be wanting at all should want to change any of those lads will be going|g the. those lads will be going out representing england . i out representing england. i think if you, if you put a different colour into the irish shirt the scottish shirt or shirt or the scottish shirt or the welsh shirt, hell would the welsh shirt, all hell would have let loose. to be honest with you. think it's disgrace. >> too much walk stuff. that's all i'm going to say. >> oh, i loved listening to those views. were those views. they were fantastic, weren't it fantastic, weren't they? it seems everyone a there's seems everyone there's a there's a isn't there , that a consensus, isn't there, that

this a silly thing. this was a silly thing. >> also this is what gb news >> but also this is what gb news is getting not not not is about getting not not not just always talking to the politicians people in the politicians or the people in the media, but talking to real people out there the people out there in the real country views. country and getting real views. >> birmingham and >> that was birmingham and nottingham . yeah, you go. nottingham. yeah, there you go. lots people have an opinion. lots of people have an opinion. everyone have an everyone seems to have an opinion. hear from opinion. i'd like to hear from our who out and our reporters who went out and got just whether, how, how got that. just whether, how, how willing were. because willing people were. because sometimes a sometimes you ask people a question about and they question out and about and they don't an opinion. don't really have an opinion. they want to be they don't really want to be asked. know, they want you asked. you know, they want you to go away. essentially, sometimes when ask people, sometimes when you ask people, they desperate to have their they are desperate to have their say. i've a feeling that say. and i've got a feeling that this one those this might be one of those things an things that everyone has an opinion. it's everyone has an opinion. >> well, we should say what nike have said their statement. >> well, we should say what nike haveengland their statement. >> well, we should say what nike haveengland 2024statement. >> well, we should say what nike haveengland 2024 home ent. the england 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic. the trim of the cuffs takes its cues from the cuffs takes its cues from the training gear worn by england's1966 heroes, with a gradient of blues and reds topped with purple. the same colours also feature on an interpretation of the flag of saint george on the back of the

collar. >> it sounds to me like this was written by a chat bot . it does. written by a chat bot. it does. >> it sounds like chatgpt, doesn't it? >> talk about the new design in a in a flowery and poetic way, and then it writes it for you, we're not accusing nike of using ai for their of their press releases, but my goodness, they should probably make it seem like they do less. >> anyway, coming up, we'll be speaking to the member of parliament for milton keynes south as 63,000 houses. new builds, they're being planned , builds, they're being planned, or so they say. >> there's been uproar

right. well, should our politicians be transparent about whether they've taken drugs in the past and got up to no good? they are making policy in that

area. >> and this, of course, comes as keir starmer last night refused seven times to answer the question taken illegal question if he'd taken illegal drugs when he was younger, he said simply i had fun at university. >> i can't believe he was asked seven times. >> i mean, he kept four times. >> i mean, he kept four times. >> he he sounded like theresa may. he kept saying, i had fun at university. i had fun at university. at university i had fun, i had fun at university. just would say any other just would not say any other fun, any other having much fun. >> i would have thought he would have been, you know, in the library midnight. library till midnight. but perhaps partier. can't perhaps he was a partier. can't imagine myself, but well, he imagine it myself, but well, he he to leeds university, he went to leeds university, which bit of a which does have a bit of a reputation party, we reputation for party, but we don't know. we don't know because he's denied any, any drug we have. drug use. so we have. >> well no he hasn't, no, he hasn't denied it. >> hasn't denied it. >> he hasn't denied it. >> he hasn't denied it. >> or denied. he >> confirmed or denied. he hasn't said he's been very loyally, very annoying. yeah. >> so we say, glenda hello has written i want written in to say i do want to know if politicians taken know if politicians have taken or are taking drugs because drugs, drugs can skew the brain and it cannot be denied that our

political masters are making some interesting decisions. interesting. >> take glenda, andy says if the media has again. hi andy, andy writes in a lot. i like it when andy writes in. he says if the media has again started asking about politicians about drug habits, yawn. politics has truly been killed off by the blandness of the current political climate . oh, andy. andy, what gets you going? tell us. >> good. i would have thought that drugs is not particularly bland, but, it did all kick off in that 2019 tory leadership contest where you had the michael gove stuff, you had rory stewart's interesting escapades, jeremy hunts cannabis , lassie. jeremy hunts cannabis, lassie. although david cameron perhaps had the best answer for this, which he wrote about in his autobiography after leaving politics, admitting that he had smoked cannabis. but while he was mp , he said i have not was an mp, he said i have not taken drugs while i've been in pubuc taken drugs while i've been in public life. >> okay, well, and he sort of had this demarcation line before, you know, before he was elected to parliament was almost a different world after he was

elected parliament, he would elected to parliament, he would answer well, answer every question, well, keep your views coming in. >> it's interesting to >> it's an interesting way to cut it. >> yeah. david cameron, a great, orator a great interviewee. orator and a great interviewee. some might some might some some might say some might say probably the prime say he's probably the most prime ministerial in the cabinet. >> right now, harsh. >> right now, harsh. >> your coming in. >> keep your views coming in. vaiews@gbnews.uk moving on. vaiews@gbnews.uk but moving on. a in manchester is a hospital in manchester is investigating allegations that its staff treated year its staff treated a nine year old child very differently because he was jewish. now the uncle nephew was made uncle claims his nephew was made to lie on the floor, and they think this is because he was wearing his kippah, so was visibly jewish. but on a different occasion, when he wasn't jewish, he wasn't visibly jewish, he received very quick care. >> well, meanwhile , the police >> well, meanwhile, the police are investigating a man for an arson attack that occurred yesterday on a house in hackney dunng yesterday on a house in hackney during his arrest, the man reportedly made comments that were deemed to be anti—semitic . were deemed to be anti—semitic. fk it all comes as an israeli minister has labelled london as the most anti—semitic city in the most anti—semitic city in the west. >> not really what you want to be associated with our capital

city, is it? should we speak to david rose, politics and investigations editor at the jewish chronicle? now, i know, david, your publication has highlighted incidences of anti—semitism in london and across the country. of course, what do we know about this story, have we had a word from the hospital or anyone that works there? we understand there is an investigation ongoing. it is. it is terror bubble to think that a boy, visibly jewish was treated so badly. >> well, of course it is. >> i mean , he was nine years >> i mean, he was nine years old. he suffers from a severe blood disorder that requires him to have, frequent blood transfusions. and he was undergoing one of these transfusions when allegedly, two nurses wearing, badges that indicated that they supported the palestinians, forced him out of the bed and took the cannula out, stopped the transfusion that he needed, you know, to enable him to live a normal life, and then on another

occasion, as you say, apparently his treatment was quite normal when he wasn't wearing visible symbols of being jewish, so it is a matter of deep concern. but unfortunately, of course, it's just one of very many incidents that have been reported since the october the 7th terrorist attacks and all the evidence, especially the figures gathered by the community security trust, which is the jewish community's defence and, well, security organisation that guards premises like synagogues and jewish schools suggest there has been a tremendous upsurge with, you know, the last few months of last year being by far the worst penod last year being by far the worst period on record for recorded anti—semitic incidents. >> well, david, hold on, we're going to return to this conversation because it's time for our half hourly bulletins. but we're back with you in just a couple moments time. >> that's david rose on the line there. >> the investigations editor at the jewish chronicle.

>> tom, emily, thank you very much . 231 and a look at the much. 231 and a look at the headunes much. 231 and a look at the headlines this half hour rishi sunak jack has criticised nike's alteration of the saint george's cross on its new england football kit after changing the colours to blue and purple. the company says the redesign was a playful update ahead of the euro 2024 tournament in june. well, this afternoon that kit was worn by england's under 21 side, who have secured a51 win by england's under 21 side, who have secured a51win against azerbaijan. however, speaking earlier, the prime minister said the traditional red and white colours are a mark of public pride and it shouldn't be messed with. >> 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 and they're perfect as we are and they're perfect as they are , and a man who's been they are, and a man who's been described as a loner has been jailed for life for the murder

of a couple he worked for by poisoning them with the opioid fentanyl . luke dewitt used fentanyl. luke dewitt used a string of fake online personas to manipulate carol and stephen baxter, and later changed their will. the couple's daughter told chelmsford crown court that the 34 year old killer had completely brainwashed her mother by posing as a fake doctor. he was sentenced today and will serve a minimum of 37 years. the latest government figures show more than 800 people have illegally crossed the english channel in small boats in the past week . 263 boats in the past week. 263 reached uk waters yesterday alone, as criminal gangs took advantage of a brief weather improvement. that 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 4300. that's up 600 on the same time last yean up 600 on the same time last year, and the prime minister has refused to comment on a police investigation into alleged racist comments made by a

conservative donor to west yorkshire. police say they are now looking at whether a crime was committed by frank hester. it's reported he told a meeting in 2019 that the mp diane abbott made him want to hate all black women, and said that she should be shot . and nationwide has be shot. and nationwide has apologised to customers. after all, payments in and out of accounts were delayed this morning. it says there was an issue impacting the faster payment system. but a spokesperson says the problem's now fixed and transactions are being processed . those are the being processed. those are the headlines. plenty more to come throughout the afternoon. for more, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts . com slash alerts. >> well, let's get straight back in with david rose , policy, in with david rose, policy, politics and investigations editor at the jewish chronicle.

now, david, when we left off, we were talking about the seeming pattern of rising incidents of hate against jewish people in this country . hate against jewish people in this country. is this a uniquely british problem ? british problem? >> no, it's not a uniquely british problem, we're seeing the same sort of thing taking place in the united states. we're very much seeing it in france. there have been numerous appalling examples in france, with, anti—semitic graffiti being daubed. jews being attacked and so on. so it is not in any sense unique to britain, what is very disturbing, though, is that every time there is a conflict between israel and the terrorist organisations in the middle east, especially, of course, hamas in gaza, that you see this reflection outside israel, where jews become targets, come under attack in much greater numbers, when these conflicts take place . now,

conflicts take place. now, obviously, this current conflict is by far the longest and worst, of any that have taken place, really in israel's history. of any that have taken place, really in israel's history . and, really in israel's history. and, therefore, i think it isn't any surprise to know that or to learn that, the number of incidents both in the uk and in other diaspora countries has been at an unprecedented level. i mean, in britain, the community security trust, the main jewish defence organisation , recorded last year 4103 incidents, a figure much higher than any previous total, 147% increase since, 2022. but almost all of that increase taking place in that short period after october the 7th, david, just lastly, do you agree with the israeli minister and his comments that, london is the most anti—semitic, well , city in most anti—semitic, well, city in the west? do you agree with that 7 the west? do you agree with that ? is that how jewish people feel now? >> i think jewish people, feel,

a tremendous polarisation since october the 7th. i have found as a jew and many jewish people who i know feel that they have found a complete absence of any kind of understanding as to why the attacks on october the 7th were so traumatic. why they have left such a deep psychological impact, both on jews outside israel and inside israel itself. but it, you know, that contributes to the sense of maybe isolation and at times hostility. but i don't think it's true to say that london is uniquely bad at all. i think, you know, most british people , you know, most british people, are remain tolerant, inclusive and, you know, entirely, i would say welcoming is ridiculous because the jewish community has been established here in very large numbers for well over 100 years. you know, i am a fourth generation immigrant, so and that, of course, is typical. and i'm not a young man. so, i think

it's an exaggeration. i don't think it's helpful , quite think it's helpful, quite frankly. i think it is an international problem . but i international problem. but i also think that it was one of hamas's main aims in launching this war. hamas are , you know, a this war. hamas are, you know, a fanatical terrorist organisation, but at the same time , they are rational. and time, they are rational. and i think it's very interesting to think it's very interesting to think , what did what did hamas think, what did what did hamas want when it attacked on october the 7th? they must have realised that after launching an attack which led to such horrendous violence, to so many deaths and sexual violence and everything else that israel would only respond in one way. therefore they we must assume that they wanted that to happen. and i think one of the reasons they wanted it to happen that wanted it to happen was that they that would lead to they knew that it would lead to a upsurge in anti—semitism, a huge upsurge in anti—semitism, not london, in in not only in london, but in in european and other cities across the world. >> and they're seeking to divide all of those communities. but david rose, thank you very much for joining us and talking forjoining us and talking through this really, really serious issue .

serious issue. >> yes, that's a very good point. i imagine hamas are very happy now. >> should say that we reached >> we should say that we reached out comment from this out for comment from this hospital about, hospital we were talking about, and a statement which and we have a statement which reads , we are aware of images reads, we are aware of images and serious claims, which and very serious claims, which are circulating on social media. we rapidly investigating we are rapidly investigating these to establish the situation and are discussing them with the family involved. royal manchester hospital family involved. royal m committed hospital family involved. royal m committed to hospital family involved. royal m committed to providingpital family involved. royal m committed to providing high is committed to providing high quality care to all our patients i >> -- >> all lyman >> all right, well, stick with us because coming up, there has been outrage sparked in milton keynes, not just because of tom's comments about how it's laid out, but over plans to build 63,000 new homes. we'll be speaking to one of the mps in

okay. well, let's return to the nike shirt row. because all the parties are united in criticising the decision to give

the saint george's cross a playful update on the new england football shirt. >> yes, well, let's discuss this story about the nike shirt with christopher hope, who joins us live from westminster. and, christopher, it's rare to see an issue have such uniformity of political response . political response. >> yeah. hi, tom. hi, emily. well, this really was an open goal for party leaders in the beginning of a local election campaign, a chance to have a go at a us company trying to reimagine our own saint george's flag on the eve of england playing england , brazil playing england, brazil tomorrow. and the england manager, gareth southgate due to face the press tonight. there was simply no other way any could respond. we've seen, haven't we, from lucy frazer, the culture secretary, saying the culture secretary, saying the rainbow crossing on the shirts is pointless and unnecessary. keir starmer. it doesn't to change. even the doesn't need to change. even the liberal democrats. it seems a bit odd to change the colours of the nation's nation's flag on a football shirt . we heard also

football shirt. we heard also from rishi sunak. he's given remarks out, but his remarks were slightly more lukewarm, i think, than than maybe his other colleagues , he said that he colleagues, he said that he prefers the original england shirt , we asked, number 10 shirt, we asked, number 10 earlier today, would he boycott the shirt? would he wear it for the shirt? would he wear it for the euros, there was no answer. and penny mordaunt, now she's the mp for portsmouth , some the mp for portsmouth, some would say she wants to be tory leader , she has subtweeted on leader, she has subtweeted on the on the x, platform rishi sunak and said, damn right i know how many times, how many people have strong feelings on this. sometimes it's hard to get your complaint heard by companies like nike. if you're from portsmouth north, that's her seat. email me , gives our her seat. email me, gives our email address and i'll make sure your concerns heard your concerns are heard alongside mine. >> chris, it's only for >> so chris, it's only for constituents. it's for not anyone around the country to get in touch only. only in touch with penny only. only her constituents only. her constituents know only. >> she she is doubling >> yeah. and she she is doubling or tripling down when the pm may

just have simply made his concerns known. there's an election on tom and emily. this is an easy hit for all three parties. in fact, i think reform uk have got involved. four parties lee anderson. parties with lee anderson. there's no doubt it's an easy there's no no doubt it's an easy hit on a friday for any of these parties who want to show how much they care about the saint george's flag. >> what >> yes, that's what it is, isn't it? an easy hit for them all to show patriotic are? i'm show how patriotic they are? i'm surprised the liberal surprised that the liberal democrats, they are democrats, usually they are a bit on these sorts of things. >> you'd think they'd want it to be yellow and blue. >> yeah, yellow and blue, perhaps. they say it's so, so funny they're i think funny how they're all i think rishi should a little rishi sunak should be a little less have less cautious. he could have really this one. yeah, really gone for this one. yeah, but you don't want to. >> you don't to >> you don't want to necessarily. yeah. get rebuffed by company, chris, thank you by a company, chris, thank you so for joining and so much forjoining us and talking a remarkable, so much forjoining us and téremarkable a remarkable, so much forjoining us and téremarkable unitya remarkable, so much forjoining us and té remarkable unity ofemarkable, so much forjoining us and téremarkable unity of purpose le, a remarkable unity of purpose there today. there in politics today. >> unity of purpose. >> remarkable unity of purpose. well, just moment, stay well, in just a moment, stay with because going with us, because we're going to be to mp for milton be speaking to the mp for milton keynes south because there's lots anger over this lots of anger around over this plan to build 63,000 new homes

in and

>> good afternoon. britain. it's coming up to ten minutes to three. and now, here's a story from a part of the world that has sparked a lot of outrage. yes. not in our back yard outrage in milton keynes over plans to build 63,000 new homes. yes. >> the town in buckingham city sits . sits. >> it has recently become a city. >> sorry. the city in buckinghamshire is a famous example of something that's called a planned city. so designed in the 1960s to alleviate housing congestion in london. but the new plans will see the city grow by more than half, and it seems as though quite a few residents and also local politicians aren't too pleased with all this. so shall we speak to ian stewart, who is a conservative mp for milton keynes south? ian, interested to get your views on this. the

spotlight is very much on milton keynes. 63,000 homes does seem an enormous number. is milton keynes ready ? keynes ready? >> well, i think you have to look at what what has made milton keynes a success, you rightly say it was properly planned and designed back in the late 1960s. >> it was designed for a population of, approximately a quarter of a million citizens. now, we've reached that and we've gone beyond it, but we've worked, the sunday times last weekend ranked us as one of the best places to live in the country . but best places to live in the country. but i'm best places to live in the country . but i'm really country. but i'm really concerned that if we continue to grow too fast, too soon, and in an unplanned way that isn't supported by proper infrastructure , that threatens infrastructure, that threatens some of the green spaces here in milton keynes and in the villages that surround it. we're going to undermine the basis of that success. so i'm not a

nimby. yes, we need to look at how we develop over the years, but i'm really concerned that this figure is far too much , and this figure is far too much, and as i say, we'll undermine some of the successes we've had . of the successes we've had. >> we've reached out to the council today, ian. and they seem fairly upset that this number, 63,000, keeps being bandied about. they number, 63,000, keeps being bandied about . they say that bandied about. they say that actually some of this number's already been built and the rest isn't until 2050 that it is going to be methodical and planned and grown in the way that you would like . that you would like. >> well, we've not seen any evidence of that. >> we're already meeting the requirements. we have to plan for new housing in the future. i see it from where i live in milton keynes. our new place is going up all the time. where more than meeting the five year, target that is required, but it's just it's about the scale of this. it's too much too soon

without us seeing any detail of how this is going to work, how our green space is going to be protected. it's the quality of life that i'm concerned about. and, you know, it's very easy just to say, we're going to pump new housing estates around the peripheries of milton keynes, without giving , proper thought without giving, proper thought to the transport links to the pubuc to the transport links to the public services that we all want to see, so , yes, we're not to see, so, yes, we're not milton keynes when it comes to that. >> can people get already, can they already find a dentist easily or are there enough schools, are there enough transport, buses, etc, etc. because this of course is the worry some people have been writing in who live in the villages or know people who live in the villages, and that's the concern that they're just simply, know, don't simply, you know, they don't want there because want those homes there because there's not enough, enough infrastructure. so there how infrastructure. so is there how is it in milton keynes? >> planning for the >> well, we are planning for the future. milton keynes hospital, for example, one of the for example, is one of the government's , 40 new hospitals, government's, 40 new hospitals, a new woman and maternity hospital , a new woman and maternity hospital, which is being designed for 20, 30 and beyond.

so to meet that demand. but that's on the basis of existing population , not, you know, population, not, you know, doubung population, not, you know, doubling the rate of new houses. so, you know, these are the things you have to think about. you know, i'm a great champion of the east west railway line, which is going to improve the connectivity from bletchley and milton keynes central, to oxford and other destinations. that's all good that's happening. but you can't just sort of suddenly say, we're going to have all these extra houses without properly planning the infrastructure in. >> we're looking across the >> if we're looking across the country, we know that we've not been hitting housing targets been hitting our housing targets for and and years for years and years and years for years and years and years for even. isn't milton for decades even. isn't milton keynes perhaps the perfect place to have a lot of these new houses? you spoke about the new railway line. you spoke about the new hospital. there is new infrastructure here. surely this milton keynes perhaps should be pulling than its own weight pulling more than its own weight compared to some other parts of the country don't have new the country that don't have new infrastructure milton keynes? >> well, let's say we're continuing to grow. it's not as

if saying, you know, put if we're saying, you know, put up stop signs where no more up the stop signs where no more houses, already houses, anywhere. we're already doing . but it's the doing that. but it's the alignment of that into, you know, proper planning, making sure that the houses are affordable if you look at the average cost of a new build in milton keynes, it's about 475,000. that is way above what many local people i've got. >> so we're running to the end. but i just do have to get a comment from you on this england shirt design. do you think that, it should be. it's classic red and white. >> well, i have to say, as a scotsman who represents milton keynes, i'm perhaps not the best person to answer that. but you know, we have our national colours. let's stick with that. we don't need to go down this route at all. so i don't know whether they, like, deliberately did this to for increase their marketing. but you know, we've got our national colours. let's stick with them . stick with them. >> okay. well, thank you very much indeed ian stewart there , much indeed ian stewart there, conservative mp for milton keynes south, absolutely a proud

scotsman, but representing an engush scotsman, but representing an english constituency. and interesting how that happens, isn't it. >> meld of all the of all the best of the united kingdom? >> well, it's been a fantastic show. fantastic week. thank you for us. daubney forjoining us. martin daubney is up next. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar, sponsors of weather on . solar, sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the forecast from the met office. it's going to feel cold in the wind for the rest of today. in many places. heavy showers and even some snow on the hills of northern uk. low pressure now firmly in charge to the north of the country. tightly packed isobars and our winds coming from the west northwest. with this rain clearing for the rest of the day. from the south—east clear spells, yes, but also quite a number of showers coming in on that northwesterly wind. and those showers frequent and heavy across northwestern parts of the country. not as many

showers for the southeast, but for most places it's going to be a blustery night. and with those winds staying relatively brisk, it's going to be largely frost free as we start off saturday. even if temperatures are close to freezing in many places now , to freezing in many places now, we're going to start saturday with those heavy showers getting going very quickly across many parts of the country, some heavy downpours, even a rumble of thunder or two, some hail to lower levels. snow over the hills of wales, northern england and . and in the wind and scotland. and in the wind it's going feel particularly it's going to feel particularly cold. 9 or 10 celsius on the thermometer , feeling more like 4 thermometer, feeling more like 4 to 6 degrees in the wind going into sunday. less windy to start things , although still a brisk things, although still a brisk breeze down the north sea coast. some sunshine early on, still a few showers before further rain arrives later . that rain few showers before further rain arrives later. that rain heralds an unsettled start to next week and it stays cold. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers , sponsors of

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gb news. away. >> a very good friday afternoon to you. happy friday. it's 3 to you. h lel appy friday i . t's 3 to you. happy friday. it's 3 pm. welcome to the martin p.m. welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news. broadcasting live from the heart of westminster all across the uk. today well, three days after i highlighted the cross of saint george on the new england shirts have been changed. rishi sunak sir keir starmer and every other tom, dick and harry but not yet harry kane are speaking out about the furore and i'm asking today is this a total disgrace or is it a complete and utter storm in a teacup ? also in the storm in a teacup? also in the news, police are investigating alleged racist comments made by tory party donor frank hester about diane abbott. is that a total waste of the police's