of news, bringing you the state of the nations 2024 election coverage tonight . the tories coverage tonight. the tories have reached out to arguably the most important demographic of all pensioners. not only has sunak guaranteed the triple lock, he's also promised a tax cut for 12.5 million strong cohort . a triple lock plus. yet cohort. a triple lock plus. yet the question is can the nation afford these promises for a growing, ageing population .7 in growing, ageing population? in also, the supposedly impartial bbc has been lampooned for its coverage of nigel farages first keynote speech of the election campaign in dover this morning, and he has said that this is now and he has said that this is now a matter of national security. >> nigel farage, with his, customary inflammatory language, the bbc did subsequently apologise . apologise. >> meanwhile, the nhs in england is under fire for putting out a job advert for an assistant director of diversity, paying as much as £100,000 a year. we went

to a london university asking if students would consider a lucrative career in the diversity industry. >> £1,317 no, i think even the name the names bored me . name the names bored me. >> plus, how do you feel about members of parliament campaigning in different languages? labour member for bradford west, naz shah, has issued a campaign video in urdu , issued a campaign video in urdu, prompting strong views on both sides . and tonight what is going sides. and tonight what is going on in the labour party? it's returning the whip to diane abbott, or at least reportedly so, but not allowing her to stand as a labour candidate, it seems incredibly confused. do they have a plan? on friday, keir starmer said the investigation into abbott was ongoing and not resolved, but now it's been confirmed. the investigation concluded five months ago. the state of the nafion months ago. the state of the nation starts now .

nation starts now. and of course, through it all, i'll be joined by a most pugnacious panel. the former editor of the sun, kelvin mackenzie, and the pr consultant and former labour aide, stella santacruz. that's all coming up after the latest headlines with polly middlehurst . polly middlehurst. >> tom. thank you. good evening. well, some breaking news to bnng well, some breaking news to bring you this hour here on gb news. gary davis has announced he's standing down as a labour mp at the general election on the 4th of july. the swansea west mp is currently suspended from the labour party following allegations of sexual harassment , which he denies and has been sitting as an independent. he said he's disappointed that he hasn't yet had a labour party hearing, or any opportunity to clear his name, and some other breaking news to bring you that's just come to us within the last 20 minutes or so. it's understood as you've been hearing, diane abbott has been

given back the labour whip after previously having it removed more detail on that, of course, coming up with tom harwood in just a moment. but we can tell you that mr abbott was suspended from the party last year after suggesting that jewish people do not face racism, and that instead they suffer prejudice similar to redheads. she apologised and had remained sitting as an independent mp for more than a year while the investigation was carried out. miss abbott has been a labour mp since 1987. more on that with tom in the programme coming up now. in other news, today pensioners could be in for a tax break collectively worth up to £24 billion every year as part £2.4 billion every year as part of an election pledge by the conservative party. it could see tax free allowances rising, netting around £95 a year per pensioner. that's rising to £275 a year by 2029. the prime minister is saying it's going to be funded by reclaiming money

from those who deliberately evade tax . labour described the evade tax. labour described the plan as a desperate move, but rishi sunak said it's part of the government's broader initiative . initiative. >> what i believe is that if you work hard all your life, you should have dignity in retirement. that's why we've protected the triple lock, which is going up by £900 this year for pensioners. but today what we've announced is the triple lock. plus we're going to increase the personal allowance for pensioners, delivering a tax cut worth around £100 to millions of pensioners, demonstrating our commitment to them, making sure that we can deliver a secure future for them. and in contrast, the labour party have said they oppose that policy, which means pensioners will be paying tax under any future labour government. and that's a clear choice on offer at this election i >> -- >> well, hm >> well, that was rishi sunak earlier on this afternoon, but the shadow chancellor has told gb news that pensioners are in fact paying more tax because of rishi sunaks government. rachel reeves has used her first major speech of the election campaign to spotlight the much criticised

mini—budget of the former prime minister, liz truss, which she blamed for costing homeowners around £240 more every month. speaking to gb news political editor christopher hope, miss reeves said wages remain flat and taxpayers are being constantly asked to pay more for less. >> everything that i put forward will be fully costed and fully funded because i will never play fast and loose with the public finances, because when you do so , you put family finances and pensioners finances in peril. and the conservatives are now adding bauble after bauble to the christmas tree without any idea of how they're going to fund these new commitments. yesterday they said they were going to use this money to create national service scheme. today, they're saying they'll use the same pot of money to give a tax break for pensioners . give a tax break for pensioners. well, the reason that pensioners are paying more tax today is because of decisions by this conservative prime minister >> the deputy labour leader has

accused the conservatives of using desperate tactics after greater manchester police said today it's going to be taking no further action in its investigation into the sale of her council house. back in 2015, angela rayner had been closely scrutinised over whether or not she'd paid the right amount of tax on the sale of that house, after there were conflicting stories over whether or not it had been her principal residence . in a statement released this afternoon, police clarified that matters involving council tax don't fall under its jurisdiction . sir keir starmer jurisdiction. sir keir starmer welcomed the announcement . welcomed the announcement. >> i never doubted that angela hadnt >> i never doubted that angela hadn't done anything wrong, and now she's been completely cleared by the police, and that means that , angela can be means that, angela can be campaigning with us. this is an important moment for the country. this is an election thatis country. this is an election that is all about change. turning our back on 14 years of chaos and division . chaos and division. >> that's the news for the

latest stories , do sign up to gb latest stories, do sign up to gb news alerts. scan the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. common alerts. >> good evening. it's 8:07 now before we get on to pensions . an before we get on to pensions. an important issue though it is. there's some confusing news tonight in westminster about diane abbott, a former shadow home secretary herself long standing labour mp, the first female black mp elected to the house of commons. well it's emerged that reportedly today she was given back the whip and sits as a labour member of parliament. that is until thursday, when parliament is dissolved and she ceases to be a member of parliament, according to reporting from the times. she is being blocked from standing again as a labour member of parliament and this was a decision that was reportedly made, perhaps even five months ago. this, despite keir starmer saying that the process was still ongoing last friday.

there's murky goings on at the top of the labour party this evening, and we'll bring you more throughout the programme. but to pensions now, 12.5 million people in the united kingdom are on the state pension as of february this year. that's up 140,000 on last year, with an estimated 60% of over 65 voting conservative in 2019. this group of people is arguably the conservative party's most important demographic. however there had been signs that rishi sunaks party is about to lose this demographic. a poll from february this year showed that only a quarter, just a quarter of over 65, were going to be lending their vote to the tories at the next election. so it's no wonder the conservatives today announced the quadruple triple lock doubleplusgood squared, as it originally stood, the triple lock guaranteed that the state pension would increase in line with inflation, average wage growth or 2.5, whichever is highest at a time of low inflation and low wage growth.

significant costs to the treasury were not incurred, however, since the advent of post—pandemic inflation, one year and significant wage catch up next, costs have skyrocketed . up next, costs have skyrocketed. last year, the state pension increased by a record 10.1, along with pensions winter package worth £5 billion. this year's increase to the state pension again was high 8.5. now in advance of the general election on the 4th of july, the so—called triple lock plus will increase the personal tax free pension allowance in line with the same measures of the triple lock itself, meaning a higher state pension alone will never be taxed. but this poses two fundamental questions one. will this be enough to bring over pensioners who are drifting away from the conservatives and two, for the rest of us are these levels of funding for pensions sustainable? willa levels of funding for pensions sustainable? will a state pension growing at this rate still be sustainable? by the

time i reach retirement, especially with an ageing population and a declining birth rate to pay for it all? well, state pensions are now costing the treasury £112 billion a yeah the treasury £112 billion a year. that's twice the defence budget and a number expected only to go up. well, here's what shadow chancellor rachel reeves had to say about it all earlier today is just another desperate gimmick from the conservatives >> even before today, they had racked up £64 billion of unfunded tax cuts . and last unfunded tax cuts. and last night they offered us another one.the night they offered us another one. the only reason that pensioners are looking for the first time at paying income tax on their basic state pension is because the conservatives lost control of the economy, saw inflation, inflation soaring and they have chosen to freeze the personal allowance, not just in this parliament, but going into the next parliament as well. now, i've been really clear i want taxes to be lower, but i'm not going to make any commitment where i can't say where the

money is going to come from. >> rachel reeves speaking earlier with me now is the former government minister now a reform party, head honcho. i suppose, and widdicombe and, this is a curious issue because of course, many older voters were having a look at reform. do you think that this is a worry, perhaps, that the conservatives have found a way to bring them back? >> well, i think it's quite true that, pensioners were looking at reform. they, after all, remember the conservative party in its heyday when it really was a massively impressive party. and they look at the chaos now and think, well, you know, there's got to be something better. so i think yes, they were looking at reform and i think they probably still are looking at reform, but the idea that this, could buy them off, i think is quite dubious. i mean, they all know that because the allowances have been frozen for so long. that is why a pensioners have been forced into paying pensioners have been forced into paying taxes , there is one thing

paying taxes, there is one thing to be said in favour of this, but it's a very, very small thing, which is that pensions are universal. you know, and even if you, you know, you're bill gates or something, you, you, you know, your pension is still universal, at least with this, because the highest earners don't actually get any allowances at all. at least by focusing on the allowances. there is a slight emphasis towards those who need it. but i think the government and it will be too scared to, has to do something much more radical than that. it has to look at the whole business of how pensions are universal and upgrades are universal. and, you know, i even get the £10 christmas bonus because that's universal. >> and i think that's a very interesting thing for you to propose . would that be, in propose. would that be, in a sense, abolishing or means testing the triple lock ? testing the triple lock? >> no, i don't think so. i think

what i've always argued in favour of, and i used to be a pensions minister many, many moons ago, what i've always argued in favour of, is that we should be targeting help on the poorest. now, there are some people who have either nothing or precious little above the state pension. and then there are other people who have very comfortable executive occupational pensions, and they're all treated in the same way. and that is why i think it is important that we start looking at the pensioners who really, really need this help, those who don't. >> well, the government say, of course, is that that is almost impossible to do in a fair way. and it's much, much easier to just slap throw money at everyone, even though you're giving money to millionaires as well. >> well, you are giving money to millionaires, and that's why i've always thought it , you i've always thought it, you know, spectacularly inappropriate, but but, certainly it can be done. what this is doing is addressing the issue that because allowances

have been frozen, therefore gradually pensioners are being sucked into the tax system. and they are, of course, the poorest because the others are paying anyway, you know, those of us with occupational pensions are paying with occupational pensions are paying anyway , so it has that paying anyway, so it has that much merit. but again, because it's universal, it's an awful lot of money going to be wasted. and i also haven't heard how they're going to pay for it. >> well, ann widdecombe, former pensions minister as well as many other hats, thank you very much for joining many other hats, thank you very much forjoining us and talking much for joining us and talking through that very important issue. joining me in the studio now is the uk director of more in common, luke tryl. and the director of public policy at investment platform aj bell. tom selby, luke, i'm going to start with you . clearly, this is an with you. clearly, this is an election gambit. is it popular? >> it is popular. and the one thing that i should say is that if the conservatives not only are going to avoid losing this election, but getting annihilated, they need to shore up their support amongst pensioners. we know the average

age at which someone starts voting conservative currently is actually well over retirement age. they really are the conservative base. and interestingly, we know that across the board , people are across the board, people are more likely to say that the triple lock is not generous enough than is too generous, even though it went up by 10.5% last year, 8.5% this year. absolutely. despite that, when you put the triple lock to people, they still say it's not generous enough. and interestingly, younger generations are even more likely to say that it's not generous enough. so this i suspect this will be a popular policy. i also think it's a correction from the budget . we did some focus groups budget. we did some focus groups after the budget with pensioners who were saying to us there was nothing in that for us. there was a national insurance cut for working people, pensions, nothing for us. pensioners don't pay - nothing for us. pensioners don't pay . of course, they were pay. of course, they were getting that 10% rise in the triple lock. just a month later , triple lock. just a month later, but they didn't see it like that. so i think that might have

been a bit of a fumble from the conservatives there trying to correct. well, there we go. >> that's the politics of it. should we turn to the economics of it now? because tom, this is, of it now? because tom, this is, of course, a growing cost to the treasury. sadly, when people think they're paying into their own pensions, they're actually funding those who are currently withdrawing pensions. yes. so how does it all add up? yep. well, so it's going to be challenging for future governments. >> and i think one of the, one of the big problems with the triple lock and it was actually summed up a little bit in the debate you had there, is that we don't really talk and politicians don't really talk about the state pension, about what the state pension is supposed to be worth. all they talk about is their commitment to the triple lock. and so it's become this kind of totem for doing right by older people. and what nobody's ever stated is what nobody's ever stated is what the triple lock is aiming to achieve. so what is a fair level for the state pension? are the flat rates worth about £11,500 at the moment, no political party and no politicians that i've heard have said this is the aim. this is where we're trying to get to

because correct me if i'm wrong, but we're not expecting the uk economy to grow by at least 2.5% every year. >> no. and so at some point, if we continue, if we're very silly about extrapolating this on a long term graph, the cost of the state pension will eclipse the size of the economy. if we run on for long enough . on for long enough. >> well, if you take it long enough, then the state pension will be worth more than average earnings. that's just the way the maths works. when you've got a 2.5% underpin. but the challenge is that no politician i've heard or spoken to is willing to have a really serious debate about the future of the state pensions. so what it should be worth and when people should be worth and when people should receive it. and one of the dangers is that if you keep increasing the state pension today, then you may have to increase the state pension age tomorrow . tomorrow. >> and that causes a big inter—generational trade off the higher it goes. perhaps the later in life you can take it simply because the maths, but luke talking about pensions, it scares people . because people, scares people. because people, because to people this is their security. people think they pay in all their lives and deserve something in retirement.

in all their lives and deserve something in retirement . well, absolutely. >> that that is exactly what you will hear back in focus groups when you talk about our pensions. too generous. you have people saying, i've paid into this. you know, i've done my bit for the country. it's now my turn to be looked after by the country, and it would take a very brave political party to challenge the triple lock. >> labour aren't doing that. and yet there is now this difference between the conservatives and the labour party. conservatives saying no tax on the state pension, the labour party saying, well, yes, the state pension would be dragged into tax. >> yeah, that is making a bit of a dividing line. but i think that's because the conservatives have a bigger job to do to win back pensioners like we know that that group who were conservative in 2019. but are now undecided, their average age is 61. so they're coming up to their pension age. they're actually largely women. so tend to rely on the state pension in a little bit more, than men do. and they're going to be trying to win that group back, because if that group don't vote or stay at home, you are heading to 1997 style territory. >> and just very finally, tom,

in terms of what the conservatives are saying, how they're going to fund this in a sentence, does it add up? >> i don't think so. i think from what i've heard, the funding is going to come from tax avoidance, i think i've heard most politicians spend tax avoidance money about 20 times so far in the labour party's promise to spend that as well. >> on various things. >> on various things. >> so look, they'll say that they can fund it through those things, like getting money through tax avoidance and clamping down on tax evasion is famously very difficult. so i'd question whether that's doable or not. but it's clearly a very popular policy . popular policy. >> well, tom selby and luke tryl, thank you very much for talking through those big, big issues. now after the break, we'll be discussing what nigel farage had to say at a reformed press conference earlier with richard tice, the leader of reform uk, also , we're going to reform uk, also, we're going to be debating how members of parliament communicate . should parliament communicate. should they be using

good evening. it's 8:23. now, reform uk are holding a rally in south yorkshire this evening with the leader, richard tice, speaking to an audience there. and i'm delighted to be joined by him now. richard, thank you for making the time for us today. you've unveiled a six point plan to tackle illegal immigration to stop the boats. we can see it on our screens now, which include declaring a security threat, leaving the echr and even a turn back the boats policy . richard, what will boats policy. richard, what will declaring a national security threat actually do ? threat actually do? >> good evening, tom, and it's great to be here in the chill bar in barnsley, where actually you'll be delighted to know that the vast, vast majority of people in a survey of hands i carried out earlier and all put their hands up and say they're watched gb news. so that's great news. but also, tom, on the, the issue, you've just questioned

the national security threat . the national security threat. well, it's actually something that's required. and what australia did when they turned back the boats under the un 51 convention, you can actually declare a national security threat. and that's very important because the reality is thatis important because the reality is that is the truth, that this is a threat to our national security. and we've got to leave the european convention on human rights because we don't need a foreign overseas court to tell us what to do. but as nigel talked about this morning and i've talked about before, the truth is that the french have international obligations under the un convention of the law of the un convention of the law of the sea, 1982, to pick up and take back to france. the belgians are doing it and the boats have stopped and the french are failing in their duties. instead they're actually aiding and abetting criminality by bringing the boats to the halfway point where they hand them over to border force or the rnli. rnli and that's completely wrong. and this will only stop when you have proper leadership

in this country that will do what we know works, and that's pick up and take back. and as nigel said, this morning, if the french navy won't do it, then we need to use our own military. whether it's the marines border force. >> richard, does this not enter into the law of unintended consequences model, because the french don't operate in a vacuum 7 french don't operate in a vacuum ? and if the french are mightily annoyed by the british returning migrants to them, however logical it might seem to you or |, logical it might seem to you or i, the french would potentially declare trade sanctions on the united kingdom. they could shut the channel crossing. they could take our fish . the consequences take our fish. the consequences to the uk economy could be severe. >> they're in breach of international law. tom. it is as simple as that and requires leadership to make it very clear and to have a very hard nosed discussion with them and to say you've got to carry out your obligations. if not, we're going to do it for you. >> but richard, i'm talking about realpolitik here. i'm not

sure a hard nosed discussion. >> i'm talking about real work against french nationalism . against french nationalism. >> sorry. >> sorry. >> absolute nonsense. sorry, tom, what you've got to do is protect british interests , and protect british interests, and you've got to stop the boats from crossing the 12 mile line. the whole point of a government is to protect our borders, defend our citizens. and as nigel said, almost 4000 boats have crossed 125,000 people. and it's got to stop. and realpolitik is that actually, if you do this, you're doing the french a favour. joint processing centres in northern france assess people, make a decision within a fortnight, give them a week to a point, richard. >> then deport. you've mentioned the 1951 convention and of course offshore processing under the terms of the 51 convention. i mean, it's a very generous convention. i'm surprised that you don't actually suggest leaving it because one of the reasons the government has resisted offshore processing is that basically anyone coming from afghanistan or iran or many

people coming from china, even many countries, many tens of millions of people, perhaps even hundreds of millions of people around the world have a theoretical right under the 51 convention to come to the united kingdom, offshore processing would simply be a route for them to come here absolutely non—stop. >> no , they're all breaking the >> no, they're all breaking the law because they've come through a safe country. it is as simple as that. but the lefty lawyers won't have it and the echr won't have it, which is why we've got to leave the echr and an important part of declaring a national security threat is that actually, that gives you additional abilities to do what's required to protect british citizens. and to defend our borders. and that's the right thing. it's also, by the way, tom, if we show leadership and a shining example here, then firstly, most importantly, we'll save lives. the 15 or so who've sadly died already this year. but it's what the eu leaders should do in the mediterranean. pick up and take back to north africa. and then actually thousands of people in the

mediterranean will stop losing their lives. and i think there's a certain irony that we've actually got the kind and compassionate policy that will save lives. and it's the supposedly nice, fluffy lefty lawyers and do gooders, right? they're actually meaning that more people are dying, which means it's them that's got blood on their hands. >> i think a lot of people will buy this. unintended consequences argument you're making of the lefty lawyers, but i wonder if there is an unintended consequence argument economically for treating the french as the australians were so ably to treat much, much smaller countries? richard, i'm really sorry we've run to the end of this segment. we'll have to have you back very soon. and ihope to have you back very soon. and i hope that we continue this conversation, very soon indeed. richard tice there, now, of course, i'm joined by my panel, the former editor of the sun, kelvin mackenzie, and the pr consultant and former labour aide, stella santa stella. what did you make of what reform had to say there about stopping the boats? >> so i'm i'm surprised that richard tice keeps on talking about international law and how these, illegal migrants are

breaking the law, when in fact, the plan that he is suggesting would be breaking international law. so which one is it? does the reform party care about international law? and they want us to abide by it or they don't care. and they think that it is okayifin care. and they think that it is okay if in the eyes of the international community, we are seen to do something illegal, because that's what would be happening if we were turning around the boats. and i'm also very interested in what you said, tom, about the economic implications, because in this general election, the most important thing is the economy and the cost of living crisis. so how exactly is this policy going to help? i don't think it is. i think it's going to do the opposite. >> it might create a sort of blockade with france, kelvin, do you buy that, well, let's face the reality. we can't carry on like this. okay what, what, richard says has a shy charm. because something would happen and i accept the way you're questioning was going. well would france basically view this as an act of war? well, since there are two points to make there. one, he's already said it's a national security. we

will be passing a law. and secondly , we were we to end up secondly, we were we to end up in some kind of economic blockade with france would that be a price which the people of our country would be prepared to pay, our country would be prepared to pay, if it meant that we didn't have to take in? honestly, tens of thousands of people into an economy right now, which can't even service, our own people and humiliatingly doing so as well, given that the royal navy used to rule the waves, and now we're sort of acting as a chauffeur service on the channel, it's very odd that we can't control that small, well , out of land. that small, well, out of land. when we control all of the ocean on twitter, they have a there's a boat where where a sailor is leaning across looking at a boatload of migrants and say, would you like to become a tory candidate? >> right. and that is so now it's become a you mentioned the tories , kelvin, because one tories, kelvin, because one thing that we haven't mentioned at all in this discussion and, richard tice didn't mention it ehhenis richard tice didn't mention it either, is rwanda should we have

a listen to what the prime minister was saying on his trademark rwanda policy earlier today? >> we're the ones that have got a clear plan, and that's how we'll deliver a secure future. that particular topic of illegal migration is a case in point. we've got a bold plan, the rwanda scheme, to ensure that if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay and you will not be able to stay and you will be returned. that's how you create a deterrent. the penny is dropping across europe that that is the right approach . is the right approach. >> the prime minister speaking earlier, stella , you're shaking earlier, stella, you're shaking your head. >> i'm not buying it. if you thought that the rwanda plan was going to work, he was going to wait to call the election until the autumn. he's no, it's not going it's not going to work. he knows that the summer is going to be a mayhem. he knows it will look bad. >> what if one of the big obstacles to all of this is, in fact the house of lords? the house of lords can block anything that the commons passes. that wasn't in a manifesto. rwanda wasn't in the last manifesto. perhaps a general election can unstick that constitutional? >> not really, not really. in the end, the house of lords will allow will allow policy to go

by. they've had very, very good and serious concerns about the bill, which of course the labour party watered down, which they watered down and they had good reasons because you know what? the uk is a democratic country. you have very good. >> the house of lords isn't democratic, but it is part of your democratic institutions. >> it has a very good rule. the house of lords is the very opposite of democracy. it has a very it has it is as a legislative chamber, a chamber. it has a role to play. and i agree that it needs heavy institutional role to play, but not a democratic one. it has, it has it is part of it is part of your it's part of your constitutional institution. >> stella and kelvin, you'll be back a little bit later in the programme. but thank you very much to both of you. right now, of course, we've reached out to the labour party for comment as well. surprisingly nothing yet from them. but coming up, nhs england are advertising for the post of assistant director of equality, diversity and inclusion. can you guess how much the salary is? it will shock you. and don't forget we've got a live debate on whether it's proper for members of parliament to campaign in foreign languages.

good evening. this is state of the nation at 8.36. now, we've all seen over recent years the rise of what's known as edi in workplaces. for the uninitiated, that's equality, diversity and inclusion. but a new job advert suggests that one organisation at the heart of our country is perhaps more in the grip of edi requirements than others. this job advertisement within the nhs for an assistant director of equality, diversity and inclusion offers a salary of £91,317. very specific . while £91,317. very specific. while that figure is eye—watering on its own , it's only when we its own, it's only when we compare it to other roles that the full extent of this edi curiosity becomes clear. the treasury yes, that treasury advertised the role of head of cyber security are all on many, many , i'm sure, would suggest,

many, i'm sure, would suggest, is more important than diversity . well, that pays somewhere between 50 and £57,000. that means the treasury's cyber security head would be paid around half the salary of an nhs assistant diversity director . assistant diversity director. while that sinks in, what other comparisons can we make ? it comparisons can we make? it appears that the extraordinary feat of reaching outer space is not deserving of the same wage of an assistant director of diversity at the nhs, with an astronaut being expected to earn between 40 and £86,000, depending on experience . well, depending on experience. well, with me now is the journalist and broadcaster benjamin butterworth, and my panel remains with me as well . former remains with me as well. former labour adviser stella santykiu and former editor of the sun , and former editor of the sun, kelvin mackenzie benjamin. it's extraordinary when we compare these jobs to the equality, diversity and inclusion jobs. this is a racket. no, i don't think it's extraordinary at all.

only thing that's extraordinary is the fact that the treasury is paying is the fact that the treasury is paying someone with such a critical role, such a pathetic sum of money. i am strongly of the opinion that those kind of jobs in whitehall should be offering four times that salary, because then we might have a more effective civil service that can compete with the private sector. when you look at something like the nhs and nhs trusts, which are massive organisations with budgets of tens of millions of pounds, first of all, they have a legal requirement to ensure that they meet all of the diversity laws that staff aren't victims of racism and sexism. >> we know, for example, that women still earn less than men in many roles. >> the british medical association found that only if you compare different jobs . you compare different jobs. >> well, there were so many examples that you hear all the time of women not getting the promotions, not getting the same salaries, but take the british medical association's research that found that a third of ethnic minority doctors and nurses said that they'd considered leaving the profession because of things like racism and prejudice. now, it would cost a lot more than 91

grand to recruit all of those doctors and nurses . benjamin, doctors and nurses. benjamin, this isn't this isn't the head of diversity. this isn't assistant head of diversity. there are many people who have higher roles within the diversity department of nhs trusts and individual hospitals, even who are who are on more than this. it's a huge amount of money. it's not. it's far. are you saying £91,000 a year is not a huge amount of money? i don't think it is. well, that is well into the top 2% of salaries. not quite the top 2, but it's, it's not an unreasonable amount of money because first of all, as i say, there's the legal responsibility. i hate this idea that we have in this country. i'm sorry. i can't stand the line of questioning where people look at well—paid senior jobs and go, oh, how dare they earn that money? good. i want more, better paid jobs with that responsibility. but look at what the nhs. why is this? why is this such a responsibility? the nhs should be treating people. the nhs should be investing perhaps more in modern technology than in diversity managers. well the fact is take you know, what does the nhs

does. it treats people in their health care in some of the most critical moments in their lives. there was research only last year that found that black women were still far more likely to have serious complications dunng have serious complications during pregnancy compared to white women. now, how do you resolve serious inequality like that? you have to have a staff and a structure that can overcome it in their representation in how they see the problems in the nhs and that takes investment. are they doing that or are they just promoting, lots of lovely sort of cork boards with initiatives and, and ways for people to involve themselves in seminars, because it does seem that in much of the of the private sector and the pubuc of the private sector and the public sector, it's sort of after work drinks or mid work equality walks , i don't know, i equality walks, i don't know, i won't walk far for much . but won't walk far for much. but look, i think the problem the nhs doesn't, the problem the nhs faces isn't diversity officers trying to improve the service . trying to improve the service. it's a lots of straight white right wing blokes that have been running it from the tory government for the last 14. well, let's turn to a straight

white, white right wing bloke, kelvin mackenzie. what do you make of that? >> well, i clearly you haven't beenin >> well, i clearly you haven't been in a hospital lately, where if you go into a hospital, the actual people i suspect are this was set up in order to make sure that people of colour got a got a crack of the whip in every way. actually the nhs is, by and large, run by a minority party's majorities. so if you're actually saying what we should have is more people who are white trying to fight for the minority of employees who are white and aren't getting promoted, i could understand your argument. i can't believe that we need any more people to do this kind of jobs in places like news corp, right? that an organisation i know reasonably well . when that poor guy died well. when that poor guy died in, in america, george floyd you're talking about. yes. they had they had a nine minute silence for him. right a more

absurd and ridiculous idea. i'd never come across in my life because they're equality and diversity. people said, we've got to make a big show of that. how do you feel about nine minutes for george floyd? >> well, of course, that's the length of time that he was strangled. >> i know why it was, but how do you feel about that? >> well, i think a lot of the black staff, in particular in news corp, probably appreciated the fact that it was taking a stand. and if you look at businesses, what do they need to take a stand about what the police do in the united states? >> what about the guy? what about the jeweller tonight who is died in richmond in surrey? when two, how should we put them? hoodlums of colour actually had a chokehold. he went home and he killed himself. so how many minutes should we give to that? there are lots of things going on in our world, as you well know. right? which are very upsetting. and if we're going to stop every time that somebody dies in unfortunate circumstances , we'll never get circumstances, we'll never get any work done. and that is why i'm hostile to this.

>> well, stellar, a final word to you, i think sometimes, yes. >> equality and diversity can be a waste of money when it when it goes to things that are not necessary for the function of the organisation. but when just last year you had birmingham council being pushed into bankruptcy because they were found out to not have given women equal wages, because they paid men more than they paid cooks. but then you can see ben's point that someone, if they had someone who was looking appropriately in equality and diversity and, and the, the actual practical policy implications of what they were doing, then maybe you wouldn't have the situation , you wouldn't have the situation, you wouldn't have the situation, you wouldn't have this legal liability. that's what ben is saying. this is a multi—million organisation, a multi—million pound organisation like it needs to have someone looking seriously and taking responsibility for these decisions. >> well, we asked the nhs about this job role and >> well, we asked the nhs about thisjob role and a >> well, we asked the nhs about this job role and a spokesperson said nhs has , nhs england has said nhs has, nhs england has saved over £400 million this year by shrinking its workforce money which is being diverted to the front line following a review of equality, diversity

and inclusion roles. nhs england has reduced these posts by more than a third, and the remaining positions are there to support the nhs to meet its legal duties, as well as to help recruit and retain staff . so recruit and retain staff. so perhaps, even though there are these jobs being advertised, there are fewer than there were just a few years ago . but coming just a few years ago. but coming up next, how do you feel about members of parliament campaigning in different languages? labour member for bradford west , naz shah, issued bradford west, naz shah, issued a campaign video in urdu , a campaign video in urdu, prompting strong views on both sides

good evening. it's 8:47 now. a labour member of parliament has caused a stir with regard to how she's campaigning. caused a stir with regard to how she's campaigning . yes, this is she's campaigning. yes, this is naz shah that we're talking about , which naz shah that we're talking about, which is, who's naz shah that we're talking about , which is, who's the about, which is, who's the member of parliament for bradford west ? well, she has

bradford west? well, she has been speaking in urdu . bradford west? well, she has been speaking in urdu. in a recent campaign video posted on x, naz shah , the member of x, naz shah, the member of parliament for bradford west, wrote along with an announcement, a video about a summer general election being set for july the 4th. well, summer general election being set forjuly the 4th. well, she set for july the 4th. well, she was speaking in the south asian language throughout , shall we language throughout, shall we discuss how the public think of talking about, campaigning in foreign languages? back with me is my panel, the former labour adviser stella salcedo, and the former editor of the sun , kelvin former editor of the sun, kelvin mackenzie. well, stella, your greek originally. yeah. and i don't think that many people campaign in, in greek. it would seem a little bit unusual to, i suppose i mean, there isn't there isn't such a big greek population as there is a pakistani population. >> but if you look at other countries like new zealand, australia, canada, the united states, there you will see that a lot of politicians actually will distribute material in the

language that people understand. and this is something that is seen from the local community as a very positive thing. it's seen as this politician wants to reach out to us. so it's not i understand what it what it may look like on twitter. and i'm very interested to hear your opinions on this, but i think there's nothing wrong with it, especially because, naz, you have to remember, this is also the vice president of the all party parliamentary group for british muslims . so and this is british muslims. so and this is not something that is done. it's not something that is done. it's not the first time that she's used, her urdu to, to, to campaign. and this is something that a lot of politicians do at the end of the day. >> kelvin. well the truth about the matter is i know bradford reasonably well. i used to own a business there. and the reality is that bradford is like is like another country, right . this is another country, right. this is another country, right. this is a very, very, very large muslim population and has been growing now for about, i think about 50 or 60 years. what i can't understand is what percentage. now this came up in the nigel farage discussion on in the other day when he was on tv .

other day when he was on tv. what percentage of the bradford population can't speak english? and my second question is, why is that ? is it because what is is that? is it because what is happening is that when the muslims arrive in dover, they eventually claim they have because you can do this. i don't think friends or family. because you can do this. i don't think friends or family . and think friends or family. and then you go and live up there. but i'm asking, why is it that they why is it that they still can't speak english? this is not bradford has been a muslim hotspot . it's been a muslim hotspot. it's been a muslim hotspot. it's been a muslim hotspot for literally six seven decades. so muslim hotspot or muslim hotspot? >> okay, so you're talking about a constituency that has a lot of muslim people. i think that's a better way to you because when you use the word hotspot, it's as if you're saying that muslim is the same thing as a criminal hotspot or no, it is a they didn't a hotspot, people didn't come here through dover. >> it is an attraction for other . what happened? hang on, hang on. >> this is not. these people

didn't come here on boats. >> these people came here probably on very legitimate visas, but they still went to one place, though. >> they went to bradford. >> they went to bradford. >> isn't this isn't this the significant point of this discussion in that if people come here on a visa, you would probably expect them to be able to speak the language of the country to which they're travelling to. in fact, in our new points based system, 100% proficiency in english is one of those requirements. is there a failure of integration? is that what this is showing here? >> there could be a failure of integration, but whose failure is it? is it is it just the failure of that community? is it also the failure of us as a country that we haven't managed to integrate them ? to integrate them? >> come on, it can't be our responsibility , but it can't be responsibility, but it can't be our responsibility. so what is do you think that their outreach has been there should you want to eat? >> and do you think it's helpful when you're using language such as saying muslim hotspot? >> yeah i do, hotspot is one thing. >> it is so offensive. >> it is so offensive. >> what it is that a muslim mp in london, which are muslim hotspots. >> if i become a greek mp, will

you have a problem if i release a video in greek? >> no. years from now, if you are appealing to a greek hotspot, i would be puzzled. will you have told me that in fact, there were many greeks in the country where greek can be released. >> the video in greek, because his constituency in north london has a big greek population. would you have the same problem that you have with not call it a greek hotspot? >> and i would wonder why it was, you know, why you wouldn't? >> because greek people are white, so you wouldn't. >> on on that point, i think it's probably worth at this point saying there was another member of parliament who once campaigned and spoke to constituents in urdu, and his name was enoch powell, a fluent speaker of the language. but just finally, on the issue of diane abbott, it seems that there's been a hokey cokey this evening with whether she's a labour mp, suspended, not allowed to stand. but given the whip back. kevin, where are we with this? >> well, it's like most things connected with the labour party. it's a complete farce. they're trying to hide the truth. literally. it now emerged as despite the fact that starmer said, actually, i have no idea what's happening on that

inquiry. in fact, six months ago she knew that she wasn't going to be allowed to stand again. but in a hokey cokey, they've allowed her to keep her, keep a role, probably so that she can get a decent pay off. stellar. this is. >> this is a joke, isn't it? she's an mp now for three days, and they're not allowed to stand. >> yeah, they're enabled. >> yeah, they're enabled. >> didn't know. i don't think that she had knowledge of this. i do think that it has been handled badly. i do not like the fact that we it is okay that we weren't made aware of it, but i do think that there should be more respect and dignity afforded to diane abbott. she has been an mp for 37 years. >> does it make starmer look a bit shifty? >> no it doesn't. >> no it doesn't. >> it makes him look ruthless. it makes him look like he's absolutely certain that he wants to rule. he wants to win. that's what it makes him look like. >> well stella kelvin, thank you very much for joining >> well stella kelvin, thank you very much forjoining us and talking with those spirited discussions, up next is patrick christys. patrick, what's on your show? >> yeah, massive show tonight. labour frontbencher james murray diane abbott's backed labour's flagship education policy is crumbling and so is their endorsement from business leaders. the bbc mask slipped when it came to nigel farage. do

youngsters need to stop whingeing about supporting the pensioners? all of that and much, much more looking forward to it. >> patrick, full of energy as even >> patrick, full of energy as ever. well, of course that's coming up immediately after your very latest weather forecast . very latest weather forecast. but i'm told to say it's definitely, definitely sunny in somerset . somerset. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> good evening from the met office . here's your latest gb office. here's your latest gb news weather update. whilst it is going to turn drier for most of us by the weekend, before then, we still have some thundery showers around earlier on today we had a weather system pushing its way north eastwards across the country, bringing some heavy persistent rain. for many of us, that's now starting to clear though lingering across some northeastern parts through this evening and overnight. and behind it, it isn't turning completely dry. further outbreaks of showery rain and some of these could still be heavy. possibly the odd rumble

of thunder overnight, many places staying quite cloudy so temperatures aren't going to drop a huge amount. but there will be some clear skies around, especially towards the south. and here we could see a few pockets of mist and fog developing tomorrow morning. if we take a closer look at what's happening tomorrow morning, though, quite a cloudy start across northeast scotland and some outbreaks of lingering rain here, maybe some brightness across northwest scotland around the central belt. but on a whole largely cloudy further outbreaks of showery rain to be had , of showery rain to be had, similar for northern ireland and northern england, though some bright spells possible. a brighter picture, though across central southern england . central southern england. greater chance of seeing some sunshine, particularly once any mist and fog patches clear away as we go through the rest of the day, and it is going to be quite a showery picture for most of us. any rain lingering towards the northeast may continue for a time, but the greater story will be the fact that there'll be some hefty showers, particularly for eastern scotland, northeast england, some of these turning heavy and thundery elsewhere, the showers may be not quite as intense , but some rumbles of intense, but some rumbles of thunder are possible. there will

be some sunny spells in between the showers, though, and temperatures rising into the mid to high. teens or possibly low 20s towards the southeast. thursday is going to be another showery day for many of us. perhaps the showers not quite as intense as on wednesday, but nonetheless some thundery downpours are still possible, though there will again be some bright or sunny spells in between any showers. like i said at the start, it is turning dner at the start, it is turning drier into the weekend and so particularly by saturday and sunday it's looking mostly fine and quite warm. by by looks like things are heating up boxt boiler as sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> away . >> away. >> away. >> it's 9 pm. i'm patrick christys tonight. >> yes. i would describe myself as a socialist. i describe myself as a progressive . myself as a progressive. >> does britain actually want socialism? and nigel says this,

i'm afraid. >> i'm worried to say , of >> i'm worried to say, of sectarian politics with women completely excluded. >> the bbc reacts like this farage with his, customary inflammatory language. >> there, at a reform uk press conference, the mask slips plus , conference, the mask slips plus, i'm ambitious for all of our children, including the 93% in our state schools. >> and that's why this policy is so important to give every child a decent start in life. >> but his labour are about to u—turn on its flagship policy. it's a mixed day in the polls. one has labour up, another shows the tories are clawing it back. it's also a mixed day for angela rayner. raynen >> me resigning as an mp now would bring the ceasefire. i would bring the ceasefire. i would do it. i would do it. >> she's copping it for that. but then there's this. >> the labour leader has accused the conservative of using desperate tactics after greater