guru professorjohn curtice how it is that four years? yes four years after he left the european union, eu citizens still have a vote in uk elections . now, ten vote in uk elections. now, ten tory mps will defect to reform uk if nigel farage becomes leader of that party out of his retirement. that's according to business tycoon and former ukip donor arron banks. i sat down with arron banks earlier today for my brand new podcast, chopper's political podcast we'll bring you exclusive footage of that interview tonight before it airs in full tomorrow morning and after. merge. at more than a quarter of the uk's foreign aid budget is now being spent in britain to house asylum seekers. i'll be asking is good value for asking is this good value for money? that and more on money? all that and more on tonight's farage show. but first, the news with polly middlehurst . middlehurst. >> chris, thank you and good evening to you, will. the top

story from the newsroom tonight is that the former american footballer, oj simpson, has died of cancer at the age of 76, his family said in an announcement this afternoon . he died this afternoon. he died surrounded by his children and his grandchildren . oj simpson his grandchildren. oj simpson was acquitted of killing his ex—wife nicole brown simpson and her friend ron goldman in 1994, in a trial that gripped america and almost 100 million people watched live television coverage of the now famous pursuit of oj simpson driving a white ford bronco, followed by multiple police cars across l.a. after his record breaking career in the nfl , he became his record breaking career in the nfl, he became an his record breaking career in the nfl , he became an actor his record breaking career in the nfl, he became an actor and had roles in naked gun. but in 2008, he was convicted for his role in a las vegas armed robbery and served almost nine years in prison here at home. institutional bias prevented further investigation of complaints made by subpostmasters about the faulty post office horizon it system. former post office managing

director david smith has been giving evidence today at the honzon giving evidence today at the horizon it inquiry, and between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted due to the flawed software. mr smith apologised today for a 2010 email he'd sent, saying a pregnant subpostmistresses prison sentence was brilliant . prison sentence was brilliant. news. a moroccan asylum seeker on trial for the murder of a pensioner in hartlepool told police he was motivated by the conflict in gaza. 45 year old ahmed ali denies murdering 70 year old terence carney as well as the attempted murder of his housemate javid nouri last october. he says he carried out the attacks as an act of revenge for what he called israel's killing of children in the palestinian conflict. he also accused. he's also accused , accused. he's also accused, rather of assaulting two female police officers who'd interviewed him after his arrest . a change to family visa rules

comes into force today as part of the government's plan to reduce immigration in its part of the home secretary's promise to transform the uk's immigration system. cut off unfair levels of migration and ensure those arriving here don't burden the taxpayer. the measure will see the minimum income for a family visa rise by more than £10,000 to £29,000. that's an increase of more than 55, and by early 2025 that will increase once again two more times, rising to £38,700. and lastly, a new poll suggests rishi sunak and other conservatives may keep their seats in the next general election because of voter id confusion. a poll that's been released today by the campaign group best for britain found 16% of people didn't know they'd need a photo id to vote in upcoming general and local elections . that upcoming general and local elections. that means around 5 million people could be turned away from polling stations , the

away from polling stations, the poll says. the government passed the legislation in 2022, and the new rules came into force last yeah new rules came into force last year. that's the news for the latest stories. do sign up for gb news alerts. scan that qr code on your screen right now , code on your screen right now, or go to gb news .com/ alerts . or go to gb news .com/ alerts. >> now, when britain voted to leave the european union in june 2016, all those years ago, few people would have thought that nine years later, eu citizens were still automatically have the right to vote in british elections . but that's exactly elections. but that's exactly what's happening. why well, because of changes to the elections act in 2022 of local voting rights for eu citizens, where they will not take effect until immediately after the may 2024 election. so tonight, i'm asking you a simple question. is this right? should millions of eu citizens be able to vote in

the upcoming may elections ? the upcoming may elections? email me farage at gbnews.com or on ex tweet the hashtag farage on ex tweet the hashtag farage on gb news with your comment. now let's turn to polling expert. the legend that is the professor of politics at the university of strathclyde, sir john curtice . sirjohn, welcome john curtice. sir john, welcome to farage on gb news. great to see you there. >> hi, christopher. >> hi, christopher. >> can you explain just for laymen, why are eu citizens voting in uk elections? so long after we left the european union ? >> well, 7— >> well, it's 7_ >> well, it's a ? >> well, it's a perfectly good question though. i'm going to disappoint you because i'm actually going to tell you that actually, for the most part, eu citizens are to keep their citizens are going to keep their rights to vote in elections even beyond these 2024 local elections. the what the government has decided to do is to allow anybody who was already resident in the uk up to the end

of the transition period that is, to the end of 2020, to keep the voting rights they acquired as eu citizens. and i think that at least seems to be required, seems to regard it as maintaining fairness to the eu citizens who already had that right to vote. yeah. what will what will end after these local elections is the right of those eu citizens who have come to the uk since , the end of the uk since, the end of the transition period, unless it's, they come from spain, portugal, luxembourg or poland, because in the case of those four countries, we have reached a reciprocal agreement whereby british citizens will continue to have the right to vote in local elections there. and in return for that , the united return for that, the united kingdom is going to retain the right, even for new migrants from spain, portugal, etc, to vote here. so, the number of people who are going to fall off the register. well, at the

moment it's reckoned there are about 2 million eu citizens on the register. that's about 5% of the register. that's about 5% of the electorate able to vote in local elections, not in the general action, it's reckoned only around 120, 130,000 of them will be taken off. as i understand it, probably the reason why it's not already taken effect is that what returning officers are going to be required to do under the law is to spend three months trying to work out which of the eu citizens that are on the register will still have the right to be on the register, because they were here before the end of 2020, and i suspect , the end of 2020, and i suspect, therefore, what the government decided was we better not do that just before the local elections, because that's going to cause all sorts of mayhem. although of course it will be something the returning officers will have to cope between will have to cope with between now next year's local now and next year's local elections, with, of course, the small matter a general small matter of a general election out the way. >> goodness gracious, let's let's few questions then let's a few quick questions then . affects local . it only affects local elections mayoral elections ,

elections and mayoral elections, not the general election. is that right? >> correct. and it also affects the pcc election. i should also say, however, it doesn't affect local elections in either scotland or the scotland or wales or the devolved elections because both in scotland and in wales , the in scotland and in wales, the devolved institutions have decided that anybody who is permanently resident in scotland or in wales, irrespective of their citizenship, will not now have the right to vote. and that's already been implemented in both parts of the uk and that includes holyrood elections to the scottish assembly and the senate . it means american senate. it means american citizens, brazilian citizens. so it's long been the case that commonwealth citizens could vote here and that right will still remain. but if you live in scotland or wales, whether you're an eu or non—eu , anybody you're an eu or non—eu, anybody who is resident here will already has the right to vote in local elections . local elections. >> extraordinary, and do they have to be living here to vote or can you vote? can you move to spain or wherever? and then vote

by post? >> well, that's right. we're talking we're now talking about british citizens. british citizens , the right of british citizens, the right of british citizens, the right of british citizens to vote while living abroad . it actually has been abroad. it actually has been extended. there was a time limit that time limit is now being got rid of. and to that extent, at least so far as general elections are concerned, not local elections. the rights of british living abroad british citizens living abroad have extended , and eu have now been extended, and eu citizens go home they citizens who go home can they maintain a right to vote in the uk? having left they once though no longer resident here, they will their right to vote. will lose their right to vote. >> is this at all it's done to allow for an unwinding of the arrangement to being part of the european union . but arrangement to being part of the european union. but is it? do you find it surprising or acceptable , or kind of a very acceptable, or kind of a very british way to get round a difficult situation? >> well, i mean, i think you have to ask yourself, christopher. well why is it that somebody who was born , in somebody who was born, in southern ontario and who comes to the uk to live can vote while somebody who comes from northern

michigan cannot, somebody who comes from northern michigan cannot , the truth is michigan cannot, the truth is that our rules on voting are a result of historical accretion. we have long as i said earlier, allowed commonwealth citizens to vote. we have long allowed irish citizens to vote, then when we join the eu and the eu introduced local elections , introduced local elections, voting for eu citizens. we added that too, though only for local elections. at some point there is a argument for saying we ought to look at this sensibly and decide, well , ought to look at this sensibly and decide, well, is this only for british citizens, in which case we make it only for british citizens? or are the scotland and wales have decided? well, actually we allow anybody who is permanent resident here to vote. those are at least two logical positions. what we've got at the moment is, frankly, a bit of a historical potpourri , but it historical potpourri, but it should sort itself out, is what you're hoping. >> it just seems extraordinary that with nine years after we leave the we're still giving leave the eu, we're still giving the rights to vote on elections in country to eu citizens . in this country to eu citizens. >> yeah, sure. i mean, i

entirely understand your point, but the truth is, you know, history vie keeps a long legacy and the right of eu citizens who are already here before we got out of the eu, that that right has been retained and will be retained even after these local elections. we can argue about it. but of course, the historical decision legacy that we've decided to retain. >> just finally, sir john, i thank you for joining >> just finally, sir john, i thank you forjoining us >> just finally, sir john, i thank you for joining us tonight and thank you for giving us the chapter and verse for our viewers and listeners. i'll viewers and listeners. and i'll be you say. be responding to what you say. is are we over generous? are is it are we over generous? are the countries as generous as we are about the right to vote? well as i've already suggested, i scotland and wales are well as i've already suggested, i unique )tland and wales are well as i've already suggested, i unique )tl'moving wales are well as i've already suggested, i unique )tl'moving towards re well as i've already suggested, i unique )tl'moving towards the not unique in moving towards the results systems around a results based systems around a half or so of eu countries. >> give non—citizens the right to vote irrespective of whether they're from the eu or not. and those countries actually also uk citizens living there will also be able to vote. so in other words, there is actually something of a move , certainly something of a move, certainly

within europe towards a residency based qualification rather than a citizenship based one. >> well, listen, sir john curtice, professor of politics at strathclyde university, thanks for joining us. explaining that , to our explaining that, to our listeners and viewers tonight on farage, on gb news. thank you. well, today marks the first day of an asylum seeker standing trial at teesside crown court accused of the murder of a pensioner in hartlepool and the attempted murder of his housemate. this is the story we have covered at the time on this programme and gb news reporter anna riley has been watching in court, watching the first day unfold and is there in middlesbrough for us now. anna, what's latest ? what's the latest? >> well, chris, a jury today heard at teesside crown court that moroccan asylum seeker, 45 year old ahmad ali, who is on trial for the murder of a pensioner and the attempted murder of his housemate, told police that he was motivated by the conflict in gaza and to

further his desire that palestine would be free from the zionists. now, the 45 year old denies murdering 70 year old terrence khan in hartlepool town centre, as well as the attempted murder of his housemate javid noun murder of his housemate javid nouri on sunday. the 15 of october last year. we heard from the prosecution that ali was living in home office accommodation along with three other asylum seekers, one of these being javid noori, and they heard that the pair initially got on and that the defendant believed that nuri javid nuri was a muslim because of his cleanliness. but it was when mr noori started attending church and converting from the islam faith to christianity that things broke down between the two and that mr noori then went on to contact police because he felt threatened by the defendant. it was then heard

that on the 15th of october, in the early hours of the morning , the early hours of the morning, that the defendant entered mr norris room as he lay sleeping and stabbed him multiple times while shouting allahu akbar, allahu akbar, meaning god is great. another housemate contacted police and that 999 call was played to the jury in which the cries of allahu akbar were heard. now mr nouri managed to fight off the defendant due to fight off the defendant due to his larger size and eject him from his room. then we heard from his room. then we heard from the prosecution then that the defendant went out into hartlepool and stabbed terrence khan to death as he was out on his morning walk. police then managed to apprehend the defendant and we heard from body cam footage that was shown that were recorded him in the custody suite, which was played to the jury suite, which was played to the jury . he said, that he launched jury. he said, that he launched into a speech in arabic, and he

said that for the people of gaza and allah willing, gaza would return to be an arab country. and that he then went on to praise allah and spoke of him being displeased with those who went astray. he spoke about palestine and said that jews had divided arabs, and said that his hands were injured . otherwise he hands were injured. otherwise he would have continued what he referred to as the raid. he then was next. the next day interviewed by police, and in this he made several statements saying that the murder of mr khan was an javid. nouri's attempted murder was in revenge for what he believed to be the killing of children by israel, and that he said they killed children and i killed an old man . when he said that two victims being lost was better than the whole of britain being lost, and said the attacks were for the sake of palestine so that we could live in peace. the interview concluded with the defendant swearing to allah that he ready shadow shadowy he was ready for shadow shadowy martyrdom, then the martyrdom, and then the prosecution on to say that he

prosecution go on to say that he attacked two female police officers and that his own solicitor had to make a 999 call for assistance. this trial will continue for around four weeks and we will be providing the latest updates as that trial continues . continues. >> anna o'reilly. thank you. now coming up, we'll be hearing from british businessman and former ukip donor arron banks, and he doesn't hold back on what he thinks will happen if nigel farage. yes, that man again returns to political fold later this year. this is farage with me.

gb news. now before the break, i asked you if you thought it was right that eu citizens would be able to vote at the upcoming may elections and here's what you had to say. pam says only british voters should be allowed to vote in the uk. i'm sure

british citizens cannot vote in the eu. patricia says. no, they should not be allowed to vote in the uk elections has no exceptions. terry says eu citizens should absolutely not be allowed to vote. exclamation mark this once great country is going right down the pan and sally says the world's gone mad . sally says the world's gone mad. this cannot be right. no, no, we should refuse . keep them coming should refuse. keep them coming in now. we'll be reading them out on our through the show now. earlier today, i sat down for an explosive interview with arron banks, the former ukip donor and multi—millionaire businessman. you can catch the full podcast from 6 am. tomorrow on spotify, youtube, gb news website or wherever you get your podcasts. but for now, here's a sneak preview you won't want to miss it. >> frankly, the polls have suggested that, so tory is going to be dozens come across, i think more than dozens tory mps just say that because, you know, they're at a point where they can't win as a conservative, but

they might have half a chance as a reform. when you say that you say that you think, yeah. >> or have you do you know names that you can't say now? or you can say, i know least 3 or 4 names of who are in talks now. yeah. the people are talking about that. >> and i would expect this just to accelerate. but this is the farage factor that if he comes back and then they pick up another 2 or 3 points in the polls. so richard tice has done a good job. but i think the when you see 15 points in the polls, that's really the hope factor that's really the hope factor that nigel's coming back. right. but actually if he does come back and gets traction and you start to see, i think there's some polls out already saying that they're ahead in with men in the midlands. and if you break it down, break it down. they're already leading in certain places. and i think the tory party have given up on they know going to so know they're going to lose. so they're trying focus on, you they're trying to focus on, you know, re—emergence or one nation soft tory, the mp for reigate, you know, was that kind of tory

mp should be quite clear if nigel farage came to lead reform uk . i think ten, nigel farage came to lead reform uk. i think ten, i nigel farage came to lead reform uk . i think ten, i think ten uk. i think ten, i think ten tory mps will walk across the, the thing straight away and i think as well that that's part of his calculus. you know , mps of his calculus. you know, mps are in contact with him daily about this kind of thing and i think, you know, if he does come back, it will be on the back of something fairly spectacular , something fairly spectacular, fairly spectacular interview indeed. >> now joining me now to discuss this is conservative holmes, deputy editor henry hill. henry, good evening . good evening. >> good evening, did you hear aaron banks there? henry he's saying there that the farage factor could pull ten tory mps across to reform uk if farage decides to take a leading role in the party, i did hear him. he. we've heard this before. of course, when nigel farage was leader of ukip, there was constant talk of defections and they got to in the end, the rest of them never materialised .

of them never materialised. nigel farage is very good at sort of playing footsie with the conservative party and constantly encouraging speculation about defections. i think because he realises that his party, whichever party it is, is usually most effective when it's spooking the conservatives into doing something. i think the challenge for reform is that whilst it is true that nigel would lift their performance and that that would potentially tempt some conservative mps, especially given the party's dire state in the polls . reform, unlike ukip, the polls. reform, unlike ukip, doesn't have a ground machine . doesn't have a ground machine. it doesn't have an activist base. it has no track record of posting significant electoral victories. its only ever managed to get a double digit vote share in two by elections, and so you're joining a much less, convincing ship than ukip was a few years ago. and given that ukip only managed to get two defections, it would be interesting to see how many tory mps really thought that they would be have a better chance of holding their seat as a reform candidate, without access to

conservative money and potentially hardly any potentially with hardly any activists on the ground . activists on the ground. >> it's all about data, isn't it? so we certainly found when i was covering ukip in previous jobs that they had no idea where their voters were, whereas the established parties do know where their voters and supporters are, and they can go and knock them off again and get the vote out. >> yeah, absolutely. right if you defect, you don't take your your with you. you also your data with you. you also probably take of your probably don't take many of your activists you know, activists with you. you know, those troops who most those ground troops who do most of even when ukip had of the work, even when ukip had lots of activists, it had a persistent problem that they were happy to leaflet. were really happy to leaflet. they leaflet until they would leaflet until they dropped the but dropped dead in the street, but they didn't like canvassing. and canvassing you collect canvassing is how you collect that important voter that all important voter information. think is information. so that i think is the challenge. if you if someone if arron banks or nigel farage says conservative mp is going says a conservative mp is going to have better chance of to have a better chance of holding seat, reform, to have a better chance of holdclaim seat, reform, to have a better chance of holdclaim is seat, reform, to have a better chance of holdclaim is really reform, to have a better chance of holdclaim is really thatform, to have a better chance of hold claim is really that the|, that claim is really that the reform brand can do all the work. and i don't think that's the case. what do you think to darren banks's contention there that 15 points that reform

that the 15 points that reform uk last week, their highest uk hit last week, their highest i think in one of the polls. >> there's a lot of he called it the hope factor in there in the sense that people are almost banking on a farage return . and banking on a farage return. and if farage ruled himself out and said , you know, i want reform or said, you know, i want reform or people who might vote reform to go with the tories and try and prevent a keir starmer supermajority at the election, then that number might fall down quite a lot, definitely quite a lot, it definitely might. if nigel went so far as to urge people not to vote reform. although i don't think he'll do that, but it's certainly the case that nigel would would substantially increase reform's chances. one, because he is a stand out campaigner, a really rare political talent , but two, political talent, but two, because unlike richard tice, he knows the way that you win knows that the way that you win over wavering tories is that you? you butter them up, right. he always very good being he was always very good at being like, conservatives like, well, the conservatives i wish conservatives left me. wish the conservatives left me. whereas tice is always whereas richard tice is always we need to and destroy the we need to smash and destroy the conservative party, which which we need to smash and destroy the comuchitive party, which which we need to smash and destroy the co much less party, which which we need to smash and destroy the co much less effective. ch which we need to smash and destroy the co much less effective. but/hich we need to smash and destroy the co much less effective. but you is much less effective. but you are if farage actively

are right. if farage actively anti endorsed reform and endorsed the conservatives, i don't think that would do him any favours. but certainly any favours. but it certainly wouldn't any favours. wouldn't do reform any favours. >> even if he just said >> well, or even if he just said i'm not going to do it, i'm going trump this yeah >> yeah. if that happened, the reform would suffer, partly because it would be. it would be a signal that didn't really a signal that he didn't really have that much confidence in have all that much confidence in reform. given reform. you'd think that given the party polling as well as the party is polling as well as as well as is that he would as well as it is that he would be in fighting that be interested in fighting that battle britain. and if be interested in fighting that batinformed britain. and if be interested in fighting that batinformed position and if be interested in fighting that batinformed position as1d if his informed position as somebody who presumably knows reform that reform very well is that actually he'd rather be actually he'd much rather be overseas, does tell voters overseas, that does tell voters something important about the real party real state of the reform party and the tory reform uk and away from the tory reform uk psychodrama. >> the other parties, labour, are rubbing their hands, aren't they? >> yeah, absolutely . the tories >> yeah, absolutely. the tories are in a really invidious position now because they are they are losing votes to reform, but they're also losing votes to the liberal democrats and to labouh the liberal democrats and to labour. and of course, the problem those vote, problem is that those vote, those parties the ones that those parties are the ones that will probably actually take tory seats. the constantly seats. so the cchq constantly needs it tacks to

needs to think, if it tacks to the right to try and box out, reform uk on this or that issue is it going to save more votes and in the right places than it is going to potentially lose to moderate or wavering conservative mps in the south, in the midlands, in north wales and other battlegrounds . and other key battlegrounds. >> do you think that the media, everyone is obsessing too much about farage? he's got an overblown importance now in the political debate . political debate. >> potentially he has earned it, you know, he he, he he is the single most important factor in the delivery of brexit and that can't be taken away from him. but i think that ukip was so effective because ukip had won ask a referendum on the european union. and nigel farage knew that to get that was to that the way to get that was to force was to pressure the conservatives into delivering it. was very, very good. it. and he was very, very good. ukip its most effective ukip was at its most effective when tories changing when the tories were changing policy deal with policy to try and deal with ukip. is not in that ukip. reform is not in that position. it doesn't have a single clear ask. richard tice and the other leadership figures keep it clear that they

keep making it clear that they hate conservative and hate the conservative party and they're not interested in a deal they're not interested in a deal. means that they deal. and that means that they don't have ability to shape don't have that ability to shape the in the same and the debate in the same way. and also, ukip came second in a hundred seats in if we hundred seats in 2015. if we hadnt hundred seats in 2015. if we hadn't referendum the hadn't had the referendum on the european a town european union, they had a town hall presence. would have hall presence. they would have become a substantial parliamentary a minor parliamentary force. as a minor party. has the party. reform has reset the clock all work. clock on all that work. >> yeah. the branding is any >> yeah. and the branding is any good. uk, i mean, the good. reform uk, i mean, the shades. i going back to shades. i think going back to canada, reform party canada, i think the reform party but doesn't does it cut but it's not doesn't does it cut through for you. >> really. too vague . >> not really. it's too vague. also reform uk is slightly corporate, you know the reform party in canada had was called the reform party. reform uk sounds like a lobby group or something that. it's too something like that. it's too vague. i think problem for vague. i think the problem for reform is that their policies, when you actually drill down into , are the wrong into them, are in the wrong place, the big gap in the place, right? the big gap in the especially for as a vulnerability the vulnerability for the conservatives those voters vulnerability for the consthey ives those voters vulnerability for the consthey want those voters vulnerability for the consthey want over se voters vulnerability for the consthey want over in voters vulnerability for the consthey want over in 2019,; vulnerability for the consthey want over in 2019, it's who they want over in 2019, it's voters in the red wall and other areas who still left on or areas who still lean left on or who lean right on social who are lean right on social issues and law and order, but do

actually lean left on the economy. and what reform offer instead really is they offer sort of reheated thatcherite economics because most of them are tory defectors. and then a load of sort of self—indulgent, liberal democrat style constitutional reform , which is constitutional reform, which is very obviously about just helping reform win more seats. so their their offer is miscalculated. and i think one thing farage would do if he came in is he would give that a serious overhaul, because one thing he's very good at is finding hot button issues and putting his party on the right side of 1 2. side of 1 or 2. >> well, for now, farage is a presenter on gb news, but has made clear he'll decide to what do in coming will? sure. do in coming weeks. will? sure. we'll you back on henry we'll get you back on henry to discuss that. but henry hill from thank from conservativehome, thank you for tonight on farage for joining us tonight on farage on now, coming up as on gb news. now, coming up as the crisis continues, the channel crisis continues, it's emerged that £4.3 it's now emerged that £4.3 billion of our aid budget is being spent here at home, helped to help with housing, refugees and asylum seekers, rather than being spent abroad, where it's

meant to be spent. i speak with doctor tamsin barton , the chief doctor tamsin barton, the chief commissioner of the independent commission for

next. now, new figures show that the uk houses so many asylum seekers that nearly a third of our aid budget is going, being spent on, people, asylum seekers living here and with. with me now is doctor tamsin barton from the independent commission for aid impact. doctor barton. why is it why is it that we're that this country, our government is allowed to spend aid money here. >> so the uk, along with other donors that belong to the oecd think tank division payment assistance committee, is allowed to spend money which counts as humanitarian spend in the country that they're paying from or other countries where refugees are housed, that that's allowed in the rules , but it allowed in the rules, but it isn't counted by everybody. in

fact, the uk used not to count this until 2010, where it changed its position. but the reason it's come to the fore now is because that spend has increased so much. so 28% a lot, isn't it? >> i mean, that's that's 4.3 billion, as you say in your report. >> so it's actually even more than last year. so we were expecting that it would go down a bit. last year it was 3.7 billion. and we were told that was because there were so many people coming from ukraine. there were people coming from afghanistan . and it can only be afghanistan. and it can only be charged the aid budget for charged to the aid budget for the year. so you'd expect the first year. so you'd expect the first year. so you'd expect the to down if it was the cost to go down if it was about ukraine and afghanistan. but clearly that wasn't the main driver cost. what you're driver of the cost. what you're still seeing is high costs still seeing is very high costs of accommodation for asylum seekers refugees. seekers and refugees. >> so the failure of the home office to deal with the small boats crisis possibly means that we're spending aid money here when should be helping people when it should be helping people who poorer countries. who need it in poorer countries. >> well, it's obviously much more that more equitable to provide that aid needed the most. aid where it's needed the most. so that it can make the most

difference. but the other thing that we don't like and that we don't like about it, and why criticised as being why we've criticised it as being inefficient, is thinking about the taxpayer broadly, the taxpayer more broadly, not just relation the aid just in relation to the aid budget. in this strange budget. so in this strange setup, where they have to manage to hit this aid target, like landing the helicopter on the handkerchief, the foreign office 5% of gdp. exactly. they're aiming at 0.5. the way it works is that the foreign office is the spender and saver of last resort , and that's because it resort, and that's because it has the ability to move funds across financial and calendar years for various reasons. i could go into , and the other could go into, and the other departments don't, but that poses a massive problem if it means that the home office, which is mostly it's about more than two thirds of these costs, is able to spend as much as it likes without any impact on its own budget. now, that's completely against the normal way in which government, the home office has. >> no, doesn't really require >> no no, doesn't really require to the hotels bill. to bring down the hotels bill. it's not their bill. it's paid for by foreign office. for by the foreign office. >> how it ends up >> that's how it ends up working. now you know, we

working. now we you know, we realise that home realise it's not that the home office trying to waste money, office is trying to waste money, but not the right but it's not the right incentives. they're feeling incentives. they're not feeling that pockets , that pain in their pockets, else's money. >> and you how whitehall >> and you know how whitehall works. budget, governor. works. not my budget, governor. so that is something that clearly isn't a sensible clearly just isn't a sensible way manage a budget . way to manage a budget. >> that's where we feel that >> so that's where we feel that having a target managed in this way makes anyway. what way makes no sense. anyway. what it's led to is a situation where the incentives for the home office are more to respond in the short tum, so there's a lot of criticism. so they will try and find alternative sites to reduce costs, they not reduce costs, but they do not focus on long term solution to focus on a long term solution to get away from this crisis. because for the long term, the way you can reduce these costs for the taxpayer in general is , for the taxpayer in general is, is that you need to have cheaper accommodation, which is more suhed accommodation, which is more suited to people need to be suited to people who need to be living the community, in living in the community, in flats and houses they flats and in houses like they used before covid, when they used to before covid, when they started put in hotels. started being put in hotels. >> but right, though, that >> but is it right, though, that we're spending aid money on poorer people who arriving poorer people who are arriving here overseas? so is it here from overseas? so is it better value for the taxpayer,

given that, you know, 0.5% of our of our national income is given over to helping those much less fortunate than ourselves if they're uk , that's fine, they're in the uk, that's fine, because, you know, we're helping them, wherever they are. >> well, we'd certainly agree with principle of with the principle of humanitarianism nobody humanitarianism that nobody should destitute without should be left destitute without the of shelter, food, the basics of shelter, food, etc. but spending the money this way is not the best use of taxpayers money, because in effect, what you're ending up doing more is subsidising hotels than actually providing humanitarian services. now the target was 0.7, wasn't it? >> and of course, in that period you mentioned there, it went up to about 20.7% became law. i think in 2014. it's now down to 0.5. yes. when we've now gone past the end of the financial yeah past the end of the financial year, what was the amount of our of our gdp spent on aid in the last financial year? >> well, just to be confusing, the oecd dac measures by calendar year, i know. yes. and that doesn't always fit with the way budgets work. and that is why, in actual fact, in this year it's ended up being 0.58.

so nearest to the financial so it's nearest to the financial year the year that we're year 2023, the year that we're looking calendar year. the calendar year was 0.58. it was 0.58. and that is because the treasury, what they when they saw 2022 that the foreign saw in 2022 that the foreign office basically pause office basically had to pause its aid spending so it its entire aid spending so it didn't have money when the pakistan floods happened, for example, weren't able example, and they weren't able to pay where the where they legally had to pay, they realised that they needed to provide they provide some extra. so what they did provided an extra did was they provided an extra £25 billion over two financial £2.5 billion over two financial years . £2.5 billion over two financial years. right. and the £2.5 billion over two financial years . right. and the way that years. right. and the way that ended up. so they were thinking, we'll have a maximum of 0.55. >> is that a buffer? then basically it's a buffer. >> and actually we have suggested that if they're going to have this target, it's much better not to try and be so exact. that leads to more value for money. >> which landing helicopter on a moving vessel moving moving vessel you'll spend unnecessarily. spend money on unnecessarily. >> you know you're >> one year you know you're going be overspending, going to be overspending, and then underspending then you could be underspending when you to be. when you need to be. >> spending five eight is a huge overspend of it on the aid budget. >> well, over the two years it

probably would have because it was 0.51 the previous over was 0.51 in the previous over nought five. nought point five. >> it's over point five. >> i mean, it's over point five. >> i mean, it's over point five. >> and for years running >> and for two years running it's but then there's it's over 0.5. but then there's back question. most back to the question. most people think the people don't think the aid budget spent on people budget is being spent on people seeking refugees. seeking asylum here or refugees. so got such so actually you've got such a huge chunk, 28. that's where it's being spent. yeah. so we certainly take a position. certainly don't take a position. you that's that's for you know, that's that's for politicians and ultimately people to decide people voting for them to decide where the money should be spent. our is just to scrutinise ourjob is just to scrutinise how the aid budget is spent. is it good value for money? is it reaching the people that need it the most? >> and what's view on the >> and what's your view on the aid generally it has aid budget? generally it has been hasn't it, been criticised, hasn't it, by some newspapers for spending money schemes. money on frivolous schemes. >> don't view >> well, we don't have a view as such general, but we such on it in general, but we review it, we provide reports maybe to the maybe eight a year to the international development committee parliament. committee in parliament. and what our most thorough what we do for our most thorough reviews, we score them. and to give sort of quick give you a sort of quick snapshot, a little less than snapshot, a little bit less than two we view as broadly two thirds, we view as broadly satisfactory. that's that's the way give you the sort of

way i can give you the sort of highest level picture. >> third are not satisfactory . >> third are not satisfactory. >> third are not satisfactory. >> so a third are they have have very concerning features but some positives. yes. so that's what we call an amber amber red score. we give it. and what we've done in this case actually we, we had a we had a review which didn't have a school because was what we call a because it was what we call a rapid review. but we have scored the up process. so this the follow up process. so this is a on from our review. we is a year on from our review. we gave as gave them recommendations as they of them, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, of them, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of them, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of of them, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of the 1em, which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of the four which gave them recommendations as th unusual, but of the four that h is unusual, but of the four that were left, we looked as hard as were left, we looked as hard as we could for improvements. there were left, we looked as hard as we c(some)r improvements. there were left, we looked as hard as we c( some they )rovements. there were left, we looked as hard as we c( some they have nents. there were left, we looked as hard as we c(some they have improvedere were some they have improved a little contract little bit. their contract management, but ultimately they haven't big things that haven't done the big things that make a difference. >> just going back to this, >> but just going back to this, the of the foreign aid the 28% of the foreign aid budget spent the uk, we're budget spent in the uk, we're not to get rapped on the not going to get rapped on the knuckles un. knuckles by the un. >> not as such, but the >> no, not as such, but the chair i was on an event with him recently, the chair of the oecd, dac, made some comments in dac, has made some comments in what's the peer review, what's called the peer review, which encouraging which is basically encouraging the look at why the government to look at why it is in the last year it was is in the uk. last year it was twice as much as a percentage of

the average of dac donors. well, we think based on our report that they're counting everything that they're counting everything that you could possibly imagine, you could charge to the aid budget. that's why it's so much of it. >> listen, doctor barton, it's great to chat, to chat through the budget and understand the aid budget and understand why money's spent why that money's being spent here. for coming to here. thank you for coming to the studio and joining us tonight. now, my tonight. thank you. now, my what the is that the farage moment is that it's been announced naval been announced that naval recruits need to be recruits no longer need to be able swim. yes. you heard able to swim. yes. you heard that right, folks. if recruits fail a swimming test, they simply stay in phase one while they then given lessons. at this rate , we can't be very far from rate, we can't be very far from pilots who can't fly planes and teachers that can't teach. i'm not quite sure why the royal navy should stood to attention. wearing inflatable armbands is really going to scare the enemy. coming up, we looked ahead to one of the biggest races of the yeah one of the biggest races of the year, the grand national, with horse racing expert and the legend is derek tommo legend that is derek tommo thompson. see you shortly

now for something a bit more light—hearted today. so the start of the 2024 aintree grand national festival. with punters flocking to the famous racecourse near where i grew up in liverpool , racecourse near where i grew up in liverpool, ahead of the main event on saturday. however, following safety concerns , the following safety concerns, the historic race, which dates back to 1839, has been changed. joining me to discuss the changes to the race and hopefully give me the winning tip for saturday is the legend himself, derek tom moore thompson tom moore, if i may. good evening . good evening. >> chris, are you well? >> chris, are you well? >> i'm definitely well . it's >> i'm definitely well. it's great to see you again and thank you for joining great to see you again and thank you forjoining us great to see you again and thank you for joining us tonight. great to see you again and thank you forjoining us tonight. i'm you for joining us tonight. i'm sorry, i'm replacing your friend nigel tonight, but very briefly , nigel tonight, but very briefly, as health and safety got at the great old grand national. >> no, it is still the greatest race in the world. it is unique. as you said, it started in 1839, and a horse called lottery won

the first ever grand national. and that's what the grand national is . as you know, it's national is. as you know, it's a lottery. and there was a jockey called captain bucha. he fell off at the sixth fence. and that's why the sixth fence is called beeches brook. so it's been going for hundreds of years. it is absolutely incredible . and yes, they have incredible. and yes, they have tweaked it a little bit. they used to be 60 odd runners. years ago it was reduced to 40. now it's reduced to 34 runners. they've shortened the trip. it's not four and a half miles anymore. it'sjust not four and a half miles anymore. it's just over four and anymore. it's just over four and a quarter, and it's going to be a quarter, and it's going to be a standing start. so they can't come in you know cantering in and going fast. so and the stewards will say to the jockeys now don't go crazy going down the first fence. they always do that. but of course you know what it's like if you're driving in a grand prix, you want to try and make the bend in first place. >> f worried f— place. >> worried about the >> are you worried about the changes are sensible? changes or are they sensible? are someone? we are you someone? obviously, we must always when must mourn all always when horses in the race. but part horses die in the race. but part of the horse's appeal is the

dangeh of the horse's appeal is the danger. but of course, no one wants to see deaths. danger. but of course, no one warno,o see deaths. danger. but of course, no one warno, there's.eaths. danger. but of course, no one warno, there's. youi. danger. but of course, no one warno, there's. you know, >> no, there's. you know, i'm the one, my love is horses the first one, my love is horses i've loved lived with horses all my so my love is horses. my life. so my love is horses. and i wouldn't do anything that they didn't want to and they didn't want to do. and horses. there were a couple of fallers today, but they were galloping alongside. in fact a loose horse won a race today. you know, it was lovely to see. obviously couldn't win without the jockey. and the jockey was okay. so but these things happen. yes, the old days happen. so yes, in the old days the fences were much, much more difficult, steeper and all difficult, much steeper and all that and it was much harder to win. but that's what gives the race that that extra. now obviously the fence is a little bit lower. so in a sense that's making them safer. but at the same time then it allows the horses to run a bit faster. having said that, the ground's going to be pretty testing. it was a lovely weather today at the track, but when we were the track, but then when we were coming it was starting to coming out it was starting to pour down. so the going is going to be all the full marks. the ground staff, they've very

ground staff, they've done very well. the ground's to be well. the ground's going to be there going to be there ain't going to be any course records this weekend. >> the 1990s, tom >> well back in the 1990s, tom moore used a fun run moore they used to be a fun run on the sunday after the grand national, when could run and national, when you could run and jump national, when you could run and jump jump over the fence jump over, jump over the fence yourself. did that with yourself. and i did that with ladders and those fences are pretty painful, aren't they? because christmas because it's all it's, christmas tree jumping over tree that you're jumping over andifs tree that you're jumping over and it's really can scrape your legs quite badly. i went round in a long time, let me tell you. >> well done. did did you win? >> no. it was, it was. everyone's wearing fancy dress. it was a charity fun run over the over the national jumps. >> well done chris, well done for doing it. you raise money for doing it. you raise money for charity. that's what it's about. >> absolutely. but yeah, it will be the same, won't it? there'll still be the excitement. i mean, 34 runners a big field. it's 34 runners is a big field. it's not 60 as it was a few years ago. >> no, it's still it makes it a little bit easier for us commentators. i remember when we were commentating, you have four commentators on grand commentators on the grand national we national and in my day we had peter bromley, michael seth—smith, o'hare , the seth—smith, michael o'hare, the great commentator. and great irish commentator. and as they for valentine's, to

they go for valentine's, over to you , derek thompson. i hand you, derek thompson. and i hand it as the red cross liam it back as the red cross liam halligan back to peter bromley. and you know, there are stacks and and you've and stacks of horses and you've got out for got to watch out for the fallers. you've to say which fallers. you've got to say which horse is in front, which horse is behind. so it's not an easy job. i tell the job. i tell you, for the commentators so but commentators on saturday. so but 34 plenty and it's 34 runners is plenty and it's round to 1. the field round about 5 to 1. the field and crack rambler, as you know is to win it. he won is favourite to win it. he won it last year. won it for scotland derek fox, the jockey, has two grand nationals. has won two grand nationals. lucinda scottish lucinda russell, the scottish trainer, has won two grand nationals with carrick rambler. so who's to say the horse might win again? but the horse has gone the weights so it's gone up in the weights so it's going to take very good going to take a very good performance. despite finishing third out in the third last time out in the cheltenham gold cup, you've given runners there, given us the top runners there, but the tom harwood tip? but who's the tom harwood tip? >> obviously we're not giving any here any viewers any advice here to any viewers or listeners, just, you or listeners, but just, you know, bit of fun. know, a bit of fun. >> well , i'd know, a bit of fun. >> well, i'd love to know, a bit of fun. >> well , i'd love to see >> well, i'd love to see a trainer called christian williams trainer because his his very young daughter betsy is recovering from leukaemia , and

recovering from leukaemia, and it'd be lovely if kitty's light the horse he trains could win. and you know, the grand national has a habit of throwing up, lovely stories like that. you know, bob champion won it on aldaniti, you know, raised so much money for the bob champion cancer trust. a couple of horses. like james reavley, horses. i like james reavley, who was born in north yorkshire but french champion but is the french champion jockey, over to ride jockey, comes over to ride a horse called roy marsh that was seventh year and he's much seventh last year and he's much better off at the weight. so on the handicap he's got a good chance. and there's an amateur friend of mine called david maxwell rides. ain't maxwell who rides. ain't that a shame? now they're both run about 50 to 1 now. you never know . anything could happen to know. anything could happen to him. there's a couple of long shots that could finish in the first five. >> well, tom, i to hope be there on saturday too. and if i bump into you, i'll buy you a pint. it's great to see you again. thank you for joining it's great to see you again. thank you forjoining us it's great to see you again. thank you for joining us tonight on farage. >> i heard that he's going to buy pipe. i'll keep you to buy me a pipe. i'll keep you to that. chris buy me a pipe. i'll keep you to tha great.. buy me a pipe. i'll keep you to tha great. and finally, a sweet >> great. and finally, a sweet ending to show tonight.

ending to the show tonight. market kevin hilliard was market trader kevin hilliard was who ordered to close his who was ordered to close his pick'n'mix in suffolk who was ordered to close his pick'rdoing in suffolk who was ordered to close his pick'rdoing business)lk who was ordered to close his pick'rdoing business 25 after doing for business 25 years, his stall saved years, has had his stall saved off local u—turned off the local council, u—turned on its plans to use the market to focus on fresh produce only. and joining me now is tory mp for suffolk coastal, therese coffey , who met kevin yesterday. coffey, who met kevin yesterday. therese is this a victory for common sense? >> i think so, came as a surprise to people that, this stall that had been there for a long time all of a sudden, was being told it wasn't, how can i put it sufficiently on message, for the people of suffolk to be in this stall? and this is a market that's been there for hundreds of years, it's not quite as big as it used to be, but i was delighted this week to see, kevin back with his pick and mix back in, back in, situ. >> and there's a picture on screen now , what's your screen now, what's your favourite pick and mix? so is that some cola bottles or some some fangs in that bag there? tyrese i've got a soft spot for

liquorice, but, it's, you know, l, liquorice, but, it's, you know, i, i was just relieved that the town council, i think this had been delegated to people. >> other people. and i'm glad that when they , the elected, that when they, the elected, politicians came together, that they realised that this was a step too far. and, you know, ultimately, it's going to be about, freedom of choice for people. and, instead of necessarily just buying from the supermarkets or wherever . yeah, supermarkets or wherever. yeah, that they can go and literally pick what they want. you support your local market is a message, of course, is to therese coffey. >> how how was kevin? was he upbeat? was he joyful , yes. upbeat? was he joyful, yes. >> and i think he probably got a bit more trade than perhaps usual, because people were happy , to see him there, but like a lot of things, you know , shop lot of things, you know, shop local and this is something he's been doing for years , and, been doing for years, and, caused no offence to anybody, and delighted , that people can and delighted, that people can go and get their, their shrimp, shrimps or whatever their liquorice or whatever it is, their cola bottles as you say.

>> well, therese coffey, thank you for joining >> well, therese coffey, thank you forjoining us >> well, therese coffey, thank you for joining us tonight on farage a happy ending to farage with a happy ending to tonight's program. you. tonight's program. thank you. now, next on gb news now, coming up next on gb news is, of course, of the is, of course, state of the nafion is, of course, state of the nation with jacob rees—mogg. jacob me in the studio jacob is with me in the studio now. jacob what's on your show tonight? what am i going be tonight? what am i going to be talking about? there's talking about? well, there's this the un who says this man at the un who says we've got two to the we've got two years to save the world, not going to world, and as we're not going to save world in two years by save the world in two years by living in caves and not having any electricity and all of this, i should give up and i think we should give it up and just sensible and have cheap just be sensible and have cheap energy be competitive. energy and be competitive. >> i think has blown the gas >> i think he has blown the gas fracking the green. the green fracking on the green. the green ideology. well, fracking. ideology. yes. well, fracking. well is $0.44 per well our energy is $0.44 per kilowatt hour of electricity against $0.17 in the us. and this is having a terrible effect on our economy. and the least well off in our society. so we need do anything that we can need to do anything that we can to get price down. and yes, to get the price down. and yes, i'd certainly include fracking in that. >> we're pushing for that in >> and we're pushing for that in the manifesto. the tory manifesto. >> well, sure the tory >> well, i'm not sure the tory manifesto is going to written manifesto is going to be written by seems a really

by me, but it seems a really sensible we're sensible policy when we're sitting these cheap sitting on all these cheap energy. and the green agenda is about control and making about state control and making people become people poor. it's become absolute and years absolute hysteria. and two years to save world is just to save the world is just absurd. it's sort of looney stuff. >> $- $— stuff. >> you got a tip for >> have you got a tip for national, well, was hoping it national, well, i was hoping it might the ditcheat trainer, might be the ditcheat trainer, paul nicholls, hasn't got paul nicholls, but he hasn't got somebody ditcheat. course, paul nicholls, but he hasn't got someliniy ditcheat. course, paul nicholls, but he hasn't got somelin somerseteat. course, paul nicholls, but he hasn't got somelin somerset and course, paul nicholls, but he hasn't got somelin somerset and all:ourse, paul nicholls, but he hasn't got somelin somerset and all these, being in somerset and all the best things somerset. so i'm best things in somerset. so i'm going go for maximus going to go for iron maximus merely because love the name. merely because i love the name. i know anything about it. i don't know anything about it. well, check smog. >> you for >> thank you. thank you for joining tonight. nigel farage >> thank you. thank you for joinwell tonight. nigel farage >> thank you. thank you for joinwell soon.ght. nigel farage >> thank you. thank you for joinwell soon. coming el farage >> thank you. thank you for joinwell soon. coming up,arage >> thank you. thank you for joinwell soon. coming up, state get well soon. coming up, state of the nation with jacob rees—mogg. first the weather with shuttleworth. with annie shuttleworth. >> things are heating >> looks like things are heating up. sponsors of up. boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. >> good evening. welcome to your latest gb news weather update. well, it will be a cloudy start tomorrow but it should brighten up later on in the day. but for the far northwest we like to see fairly persistent rain. high pressure is starting to spread its influence into southern areas of the uk, but further north and west we'll see weather fronts push in through the next

few days, and this evening much of rain will be restricted of the rain will be restricted to the far and west of to the far north and west of scotland. also of scotland. also parts of northwest england. will northwest england. cumbria will likely heavy bursts of likely see some heavy bursts of rain throughout evening. rain throughout this evening. elsewhere throughout the night, it should stay largely dry away from the coast and over the hills, it's to be a hills, but it's going to be a very and mild night. very cloudy and mild night. temperatures double temperatures again, double digits for minimum across digits by for a minimum across the far north—east of scotland. it should be a fairly dry and bright start. perhaps some areas in midlands well, but by in the midlands as well, but by and it's going to and large it's going to be a fairly cloudy start to the day. it'll likely stay quite cloudy and wet for of the day and wet for much of the day across parts of western scotland, england, across parts of western scotland, ireland england, across parts of western scotland, ireland well, land, across parts of western scotland,ireland well, buti, northern ireland as well, but elsewhere brighten up elsewhere it should brighten up and will feel fairly warm once again in that sunshine . we could again in that sunshine. we could see temperatures high 21 see temperatures as high as 21 degrees on friday. that band of rain becomes a more weak feature, but it will sink into more northern areas of wales more northern areas of wales more widely across northern england, perhaps into the midlands on in the day and midlands later on in the day and saturday. behind it, it turns much unsettled. some much more unsettled. some showery of rain. it'll

showery outbreaks of rain. it'll also turn considerably colder for those northwestern areas, but in the south it should remain largely dry and bright for weekend . for the weekend. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> hello. good evening. it's me, jacob rees—mogg on state of the nation. tonight, the united nafions nation. tonight, the united nations climate chief has confidently declared we have two years to save the world. well in that case, it's too late. and i think that's our cue to abandon the green agenda. meanwhile, as the green agenda. meanwhile, as the home office is unable to confirm to gb news how many foreign criminals were deported last year, an afghan sex offender has won deportation offender has won a deportation case to risk of mob case owing to risk of mob violence in his home country. another loss for the democratic will people. the mighty will of the people. the mighty bofis will of the people. the mighty boris johnson has bravely and

boldly come out in defence of cigar smokers nanny state cigar smokers as the nanny state continues its attack, evoking one of our greatest statesmen , one of our greatest statesmen, winston churchill, who was known to chomp through ten cigars a day, plus state of the nations book club returns, this time with heir to one of europe's with an heir to one of europe's longest lasting dynasties, the habsburgs. archduke edward von habsburg. he is the ambassador from hungary to the holy see, and he'll be joining me to discuss his new book, the habsburg of the habsburg way. state of the nafion habsburg way. state of the nation starts now. i'll also be joined by my most intellectual panel, gb news senior political commentator nigel nelson, and the journalist and conservative peer paul goodman. as always, i want to hear from you. it's a crucial part of programme , email me. part of the programme, email me. mail margaret gbnews.com. but now your favourite of now it's your favourite part of the evening. it's the news of the evening. it's the news of the with polly middlehurst.