spending. >> has nigel farage changed his mind over standing for parliament? the honorary president of reform uk is to make what he says is an emergency election announcement later today , and preparations later today, and preparations are ramping up for the 80th anniversary of d—day. >> we'll hear about the enormous commemoration efforts this week from our reporters on both sides of the channel . of the channel. well, this exciting news breaking , what? in exciting news breaking, what? in the last hour or so, nigel farage and emergency general election announcement all capitalised . capitalised. >> and yes, what on earth could that mean? an emergency general election announcement seems to lean more on the policy side, and less on the policy side of things, and more on the, mechanics of an election, perhaps candidates strategy.

>> strategy? what is going on here? nigel said that he did want to. he had planned to stand as a candidate then because the election was called. so quickly. he said he did not have time to prepare and do a proper campaign. but could this be the moment? could this be the moment that he changes his mind? >> it would be his eighth attempt at winning a westminster parliamentary seat. he came very close in 2015, but was ultimately unsuccessful against craig mckinley in south thanet. could he try again in south thanet or is another seat that perhaps is more likely clacton in essex? that's the only seat in essex? that's the only seat in the country to have ever returned a ukip mp at a general election, and there was recently polling done for that seat, specifically with the question if nigel farage was a candidate, yes. would you vote for him ? and yes. would you vote for him? and he won in that polling? could this 37% change his mind, yes. but you know, if you fail in life, always best to get back on the horse . is that what nigel

the horse. is that what nigel farage will do? eighth time lucky. yes >> it could be his last and perhaps most opportunistic. opportunistic moment in order to get this done. because after all, nigel seems to do better when the tories are doing worse . when the tories are doing worse. yes, that's what happened in 2019, in the european elections . 2019, in the european elections. could you repeat the same trick? yes. >> would you like him to stand? let us know your thoughts. gbnews.com/yoursay is the way to get in touch. but it's your headunes get in touch. but it's your headlines with . aaron. headlines with. aaron. >> good afternoon to you. it's 12:03. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom. sir keir starmer says national security. excuse me. will always come first. under his changed labour party, he's reaffirmed the uk's commitment to a nuclear deterrent, claiming it's a fundamental, vital part of our defence. labour are pledging to build four new nuclear submarines and increase defence spending to 2.5% of gdp when economic conditions allow. the conservatives say they'll meet that target by 2030. sir keir has dismissed concerns that his

shadow foreign secretary and deputy party leader voted against the uk having nuclear weapons just eight years ago, and he's criticised the tories for politicising the issue. >> i would prefer if politics were kept out of this issue, even at this election , even at this election, throughout the whole of this parliament, i have deliberately not been partisan over security yet. just before this election , yet. just before this election, the tories questioned this labour party's commitment to national security, and i will not let that stand. the people of britain need to know that their leaders will keep them safe, and we will. >> the conservatives are pledging to clear up confusion over the legal definition of sex by amending the equality act. rishi sunak rishi sunak is campaigning in the south—east today. campaigning in the south—east today . he'll discuss gender

today. he'll discuss gender recognition reform. the conservatives plan would set out that the protected characteristic of sex means biological sex, allowing organisations to bar transgender women from single—sex spaces, including hospital wards and sports events. while labour has called the policy an election distraction, the lib dems say the tories are waging a phoney culture war. but cabinet minister kemi badenoch says the law needs to be clearly defined. >> the problem we're solving is, for many organisations like rape crisis centres, prisons, for instance , where people may instance, where people may identify as a woman even though they're biologically male and they're biologically male and they don't know what to do. and we are clarifying what public authorities need to do, what perhaps individual private institutions lie—ins rights are. a lot of them are worried about being sued even when they're doing the right thing. so this is a tidy up of law so that we can create a better space for this conversation .

this conversation. >> the liberal democrats are vowing to tackle water pollution as part of their manifesto. they've announced plans for a new protected blue flag status for rivers with legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping and special protection for swimmers and wildlife. it would include the expansion of marine protected areas to cover at least 50% of uk territorial waters by 2030. lib dem leader daisy cooper says the move will benefit everyone, and we've been leading the campaign to end the scandal of raw sewage dumping here in henley. >> local residents know all about that. they know that the sewage dumping is bad for wildlife. they know that it's causing real problems with tourism as well, and people want tourism as well, and people want to see an end to this particular scandal. that's why today , scandal. that's why today, liberal democrats are announcing our plans to introduce a blue flag status to protect local rivers, will reform uk's honorary president nigel farage says he'll be making an emergency announcement about the general election later this afternoon. >> it follows criticism over his

decision not to stand as an mp at this election. we can watch that on gb news at 4:00. prince william has praised rob burrow as a legend of rugby league with as a legend of rugby league with a huge heart after he passed away at the age of 41. the former england and leeds rhinos player and charity fundraiser was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019. he was later awarded a cbe for helping to raise millions of pounds to promote awareness of the condition when he retired, what just a few years ago after a stellar 17 year career, it included eight grand final wins. former team mate at leeds rhinos jamie jones—buchanan, says rob was one of a kind . was one of a kind. >> he was an amazing person. he was a superhero. i think everybody in life has got an origin story and this young, unassuming lad from castleford who had a gift, a physical gift, loved rugby league and decided to use that gift in rugby league. and it was one that everybody looked at and thought, oh, this fella is tiny. he's too small. he'll never be able to play small. he'll never be able to play a game like rugby. and not

just prove everybody wrong. but he used that gift to be world class , to stand out, to be class, to stand out, to be different. and he found his sense of purpose. >> the royal college of nursing is warning the number of patients being treated in hospital corridors amounts to a national emergency. the union says people are being left without access to oxygen and endunng without access to oxygen and enduring intimate examinations in places like cupboards and car parks, with some dying in the corridors. the rcn is calling for mandatory reporting of patients cared for in corridors to show the extent of hospital overcrowding. it follows a survey of almost 11,000 frontline staff across the uk, showing how widespread the practice has become, and smoking charities are urging the next government to revive legislation designed to ban young people from ever being able to legally smoke . new analysis has revealed smoke. new analysis has revealed the majority of british people are backing the plans. the law would have made it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone

born afterjanuary sell tobacco products to anyone born after january the sell tobacco products to anyone born afterjanuary the 1st, born after january the 1st, 2009. the prime minister says he's disappointed the law would not make it into the statute book before the general election . the latest stories you can sign up to our gb news alerts the qr codes on your screen. the details are on the website gb news .com/ alerts. now it's back to tom and . to tom and. emily. >> good afternoon britain. it's 12:09 and westminster or what's left of westminster at a time when parliaments be dissolved is all abuzz about what on earth nigel farage will say later this afternoon. yet it's not like a nigel farage, is it, to, you know , do this sort of thing. know, do this sort of thing. >> he likes to live, leave people on tenterhooks, doesn't he? >> dangle the tantalising prospect of whatever this announcement might be in the forefront of people's minds . it forefront of people's minds. it certainly has sort of cleared the grid to use westminster

speak. the tories wanted to talk about their changes to the equality act with regard to genden equality act with regard to gender, and the labour party wants to talk about its commitment to the trident nuclear deterrent. but frankly , nuclear deterrent. but frankly, those two stories have now been blown out of the water because everyone is awash with speculation. >> everyone is awash with speculation . i'm sure you at speculation. i'm sure you at home are too. we want to know whether you think it's a good idea if nigel farage does, in fact, announce today at 4:00 that he will be standing for the reform party. he's flirted with the idea. he told us that actually, yes, he was planning to. but then when the election was called so suddenly , he said was called so suddenly, he said he didn't have enough time to prepare to campaign properly for a seat and to and to win it. but perhaps, just maybe, he's changed his mind. i mean, what else could an emergency general election announcement be, tom? >> well, i have to say, given all of the speculation in giving the fevered pitch of sort of people speculating which

specific seat he might be going for, is it thanet south? is it clacton, is it, hartlepool, given all of that, he's got to he's got to say he's standing now because if he doesn't it will be the biggest damp squib of the general election. he'll look very, very silly. yes. >> and on the, the bbc's question time the other day , question time the other day, piers morgan was a goading him a little, wasn't he? or why he wasn't standing and saying, oh, you've lost so many times and all of this. >> do you think this is all down to ego , morgan? who knows? to ego, morgan? who knows? could, could, could piers morgan actually have inadvertent ? sally actually have inadvertent? sally reignited what would be perhaps the second or third comeback for nigel farage? >> i'm sure nigel would reject that, of course he would say, i don't care what piers morgan has to say. i imagine . don't care what piers morgan has to say. i imagine. i imagine that would be his response to that, but who knows? i mean, there's been a lot he's been out and about on the campaign. perhaps he's got the bug for it and thought, actually, you know what? there is enough support for me out there in the country, in specific areas, clacton, maybe , that i can do this, i can

maybe, that i can do this, i can do this. so anyway, we will bnng do this. so anyway, we will bring you that. but should we get the view of political commentator peter spencer , commentator peter spencer, peter, you've heard us, with our suggestions of what might come at 4:00. and when it comes to nigel farage, is emergency general election announcement. what are your thoughts ? what are your thoughts? >> my thoughts are. >> my thoughts are. >> i wouldn't just put a pony on him. >> standing as an mp, i think i'd put a ton on it, to be perfectly honest. oh, yeah , i perfectly honest. oh, yeah, i mean, you're quite right with what you've just said , which is what you've just said, which is that he doesn't. he's not particularly fond of the damp squib, stratagem . squib, stratagem. >> and there is a logic to it that that the opinion polls are consistently showing a rise in support for the reform party . support for the reform party. >> and of course, we've got a mega poll out this afternoon which could well confirm precisely that. and so i my thinking, my thinking is about his thinking is that he indeed does plan to stand in one of the

seats that you've mentioned. doesn't really matter which, and stand a reasonable chance of getting in. and i think what he's actually doing is looking beyond the election. if the opinion polls are to be believed at all, we're likely to see a seriously depleted conservative party and one which will be absolutely at war with itself. and so there is i mean , i've and so there is i mean, i've postulated the possibility before that we could even get an sdp style split in the in the conservative party in the months to come. >> now, if that were to happen, and there would be a right wing faction, it is perfectly possible that he could be he could be an mp working standing for the reform party. >> he could then decide to switch, as people do, from time to time, join the tory party and find himself the leader of a faction which is obviously a right wing faction, and suddenly find himself a leader

effectively of the conservative party and people have been speculating for a long, long time that that is actually nigel farage's big goal in life, that you can always do something more serious or more profound within a larger organisation. >> it was what donald trump did with the republican party. he could have stood as an independent. he did once try to for stand the reform party in the united states, which was a significant party in the 1990s, but of course, he decided in the end that going for the bigger party and changing it from within was the more effective political strategy. do you think that perhaps nigel is learning from his friend donald trump ? from his friend donald trump? >> i dare say he is. >> read a great many rooms , of >> read a great many rooms, of which one? >> that is clearly one. >> that is clearly one. >> but i mean , increasingly, as >> but i mean, increasingly, as this election drama , hyperdrama this election drama, hyperdrama unfolds, it is becoming clearer and clearer that the conservative party after the election, unless all the polls are completely wrong, which is possible but unlikely that there

really will be immense turbulence within the conservative party after the general election. >> we note actually, interestingly , that that, rishi interestingly, that that, rishi sunak has has said he's going to remain as an mp throughout the next, next parliament and not actually sworn after silicon valley. >> and he has to say that, doesn't he? peter he has to say that he does. >> yes, he sort of does. >> but with nigel, now he put out a statement . what was it out a statement. what was it only last week, that saying that he essentially wanted to prioritise the, the elections overin prioritise the, the elections over in the united states could what happened at the court in new york have something to do with this? perhaps he doesn't want to put his eggs in that donald trump basket. now he is, a convicted felon . a convicted felon. >> i mean, who knows? i mean, most certainly the impression i get from stateside is that the vast bulk of donald trump's , vast bulk of donald trump's, support support base actually buy into his theory about his

claim that it was all totally figged claim that it was all totally rigged and, in fact, that they therefore continue to stand by him. but against that, there is a possibility that some will say, look, this is a red line cross basically. and so it could tilt the other way and it could even be that nigel farage is thinking the same thing and think, look, you know, this guy and remember there was a judge years ago and a previous court case described him as a rapist. and so we now have a rapist and a criminal. and it could be that nigel farage thought, yeah, yeah, choose your friends with some care. maybe maybe this guy does cross the line. maybe i'll focus on my own stuff and but i come back to it. essentially, it's because of the fact that the opinion polls give reform such, such a big boost. and the conservatives look to be in so much trouble that he's thinking , much trouble that he's thinking, jesus, i'm really i'm going to take a chance this time. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> everyone was expecting a big reform squeeze. the tories have

announced policy after policy aimed at reform voters today on gender but also national service, the triple lock, plus all of this stuff aimed at that voter group. yeah. and that reform vote isn't going down. if anything, it's starting to tick up a little bit. perhaps peter spencer always appreciate your commentary. thank you very much for joining us on the program. well yes. >> so as we said, there's quite a lot going on with the tory and the labour campaign to the conservatives. have they failed our armed forces ? that's the our armed forces? that's the claim of sir keir starmer. he's laying out his party's defence policy earlier today, which includes what he called a nuclear deterrent triple lock. they love this triple lock don't they. >> you can't just use the word triple lock for everything. >> quadruple lock and spending 2.5% on defence. well the former labour mp graham stringer joins labour mp graham stringerjoins us now. us now. >> us now. >> and graham, first of all, isn't it a bit confusing talking about the triple lock when it comes to submarines? i mean can we can we think up new words perhaps. >> i think you're right, words like triple lock become fashionable, so fashionable that eventually become , completely,

meaningless. >> i think the most important thing, keir starmer said, was to try and take, defence out of party politics. i don't think the conservatives have done very well on defence over the last 14 years. our army and navy have both been , run down. we've got both been, run down. we've got aircraft carriers without aircraft carriers without aircraft on them. it is important that we have a strong, defence and that we do take, that the issues out of politics and look at them and focus on what is the best way to spend our money in order to defend this country. >> but hang on just a second. the labour party is not committing to as much money as the conservative party is committing on defence, they're only committing to maintain defence spending as it is right now. the tories say they'll get it up to 2.5% of gdp. how can labour say that they'll be stronger for the armed forces

when they're saying they'll spend less on them during the last labour government, the last time defence expenditure was at 2.5, well, mainly because we were fighting two wars. it is true that, in this election, because of the tightness of the money, basically , there is very money, basically, there is very little spare money, any commitment to extra expenditure will lead to screeches from the conservatives that there's a hole in the budget, actually, i believe that we will have to reach 2.5, of defence spending . reach 2.5, of defence spending. whether we say now or not, it is vital , given what's happening in vital, given what's happening in ukraine and elsewhere in the world, that we have strong defences , the tories, they want defences, the tories, they want to talk about, defences, the tories, they want to talk about , sex defences, the tories, they want to talk about, sex and gender, ensuring that biological sex is, in the equality act and making that clear , the labour party

that clear, the labour party seem to be saying, oh, this is just a distraction. this is just stoking the culture wars , what's stoking the culture wars, what's your view? >> well, i'm not interested in getting involved in culture wars. it's a cul de sac . it's wars. it's a cul de sac. it's a political cul de sac. however, i do think it is important that there is a clear definition of sex and that it's based on, biology. it is a ridiculous situation that we saw in scotland , where effectively, scotland, where effectively, a male rapist was put into , i was male rapist was put into, i was going to be put into a women's prison. i think that, future policy, future law, without going into the detail of it, has to have biology as the basis, of definitions . do you agree? definitions. do you agree? >> you agree basically, with kemi badenoch be able to access and have secure, safe spaces. okay. and just lastly, you must have seen and heard heard us

talking about this, emergency general election announcement from mr nigel farage coming at 4 pm, do you think that could p.m, do you think that could shake things up if he decides to stand? >> yes, i do, i mean, it's not my business where the nigel farage stands or not. and what the reform party do. i'm busy trying to get re—elected to the, house of commons. but there is no doubt that nigel farage and a number of people on on the right in politics, including some of them in the conservative party, want to destroy the conservative party as it currently stands. and if we are to believe the projections that you can read on electoral calculus, then the conservative party could be heading for a same situation that the canadian conservative party found them in some years ago . so i think that it would ago. so i think that it would make tactical sense for nigel,

for farage, because he hates the conservative party establishment to try and finish them off at the present time. and fundamentally change the conservative party or replace it. >> yeah. graham. really, really. right of you to mention canada in 1993 when a splinter party called reform stood and outplaced the governing conservative party, the conservative party, the conservative party, the conservative party went from party of government to a party of just two seats. the leader, the prime minister kim campbell, lost her seat . it's a it's a lost her seat. it's a it's a remarkably analogous situation when you talk about a conservative party, a party to its right, called reform and the possibility of electoral why it happened here. >> well, thank you very much indeed for your time. really appreciate it. graham stringer, former labour mp. thank you very much. >> well, coming up, we're going to be live in normandy as we approach the 80th anniversary of d—day. those preparations are in full swing. see you very shortly

>> well. good afternoon. britain it's 12:25 now. later this week, we'll mark 80 years since the largest amphibious landing in military history, which saw more than 150,000 allied troops risking their lives by storming nazi occupied beaches in normandy. >> well, it proved to be the major turning point in the second world war and ultimately led to the liberation of western europe and the defeat of nazi germany . germany. >> well, it's crossed now over to normandy, where our reporter sophie reaper is as preparations for thursday get underway. sophie, tell us what's going on. >> well, it's an absolute hive of activity already here in bayeux. as we build up to the

anniversary on thursday of this week. of course , we're only on week. of course, we're only on monday now, but we've already seen hundreds , if not thousands seen hundreds, if not thousands of people descending on bayeux. right in the centre of the normandy coastline. you can see above me here. they've already begun decorating. we can see union jacks along this strip of road. but there are also american flags , canadian flags. american flags, canadian flags. the royal standard is also being flown here in bayeux as they begin to prepare. there are also people here that we've been speaking to this morning, heanng speaking to this morning, hearing about why they've come all the way to france. we spoke to one couple who travelled over already from new york. one of them lost a family member in d—day, so it was incredibly important to her to be able to come over and mark this very sombre. but also celebratory occasion. this is what they had to tell us. >> they are here to celebrate the basically the liberation of the basically the liberation of the world. how the how the course of the world may have gone one way. fortunately for the allies and everybody else ,

the allies and everybody else, france included, we have, you know, it changed the course of the world. and now we, and now we can live in relative, you know, freedom. and it's, that's that's that's why it's so important to me. >> it's about liberation of a people of, of oppressed, you know , area, europe, which was know, area, europe, which was under siege by, by the nazi germany . and about that, that germany. and about that, that freedom isn't free, that in order to restore freedom, it we have to pay a price. sometimes and sadly, it was my family, but it could have been anybody's family. and yeah, coming together is really important. and i think it's important for heaung and i think it's important for healing and it's important in celebration of , of what we have celebration of, of what we have as people on this planet to be focused on more of what we have in common. and that's our humanity than what our differences might be.

>> and we heard marianne talking there about the importance of coming together. and i think thatis coming together. and i think that is going to be really crucial over the coming days here in not just baor, but across normandy, we'll be seeing people from all over the world coming together to celebrate and to mark this incredible 80th anniversary of d—day. >> it is so poignant to see all of those celebrations, and i think celebration is the right word. sometimes we sort of mince our words between commemoration and celebration. and of course , and celebration. and of course, there are people who lost their lives and we must remember. but also this was a huge victory for the western for world freedom, for democracy. and i suppose this is a time to remember that. to. >> absolutely. and we heard marianne talking there. she lost a family member on d—day, but she can still acknowledge that this is, in fact , a celebration. this is, in fact, a celebration. what those those veterans or those those people on that day did, those men who either gave their lives or risked their

lives, certainly for our freedom . it's incredibly important that, yes, we do show respect and on the day it will, of course, be quite a sombre day. but it is so incredibly important that we do celebrate d—day and those people who, 80 years ago, risked their lives for us. well thank you very much indeed. >> sophie reaper our reporter there in normandy . we hope to there in normandy. we hope to check in with you a little bit later as well. yesterday i had the honour, the privilege to chat to a 98 year old veteran who was there on d—day. he didn't even know, actually at the time what he was a part of. wow. he didn't know it was the d—day. he was involved in it. and then it's only just now, in the last few years that he's been able to talk about it. a suppressed quite a lot. and then it all comes out fascinating to talk to him . that was les talk to him. that was les underwood, his name. but yes , underwood, his name. but yes, lots of you've been getting in touch about, nigel nigel farage age. what will his big fat emergency general election announcement be. pete says i bet

nigel is returning to the tory party with the promise of a chance at a leadership challenge, roger says , make challenge, roger says, make nigel farage a president and get rid of those people in parliament. not sure about that, christina says farage, in my eyes, his moral integrity is questionable given his support for trump. so there you go. >> well, keith has said he was getting bored of this general election, but now things are looking up. perhaps this is the spice that this campaign needs . spice that this campaign needs. >> yes. and hoda says, i really hope nigel will announce he will stand. whether he wins or loses, he will create more debate and widen our choices. yes, he's always there to create debate, isn't he, stephen says i think nigel is going to defect to the labour party. well which is, which is about to say, well, a number of conservatives have they took natalie elphicke then? >> i mean, i suppose they take anyone , they might take nigel. anyone, they might take nigel. >> yeah. and valerie says, of course i would vote for nigel. i think most of the country would. come on, nigel, the rest show what? the rest what people want, i hope. will this get printed? i'm not sure what you're saying there. exactly, valerie, but

thank you for getting in touch. >> and gary says we need nigel, and we need him to work with the conservatives. there are, of course, some rumours about whether a deal has been signed or not. well, gary says they should both be grown up and work for the benefit of the country, although i think that is a rather unlikely at this late stage. >> and peter is not too impressed. he says, oh, nigel's making a big announcement again. exclamation mark, exclamation mark, really don't care. everyone's saying that he's going to save us all. am i witnessing the second coming and haven't realised it yet? so some sarcasm in the inbox as well, which is always good to see. gbnews.com/yoursay get in touch . gbnews.com/yoursay get in touch. >> well coming up, fans have been paying tributes to the rugby league legend rob burrow, who lost his battle with motor neurone disease. we'll be crossing to our reporter at headingley rugby stadium. this is good afternoon britain on . gb news. >> very good afternoon to you. it's 1232. i'm aaron armstrong. sir keir starmer has reiterated his commitment to maintaining

the uk's nuclear capabilities. the labour leader has committed to a deterrent triple lock, including the construction of four new nuclear submarines and an ambition to increase defence spending when economic conditions allow . speaking spending when economic conditions allow. speaking in bury alongside ex—forces members who will be standing for labour on the 4th of july, sir keir has said national security is the priority of a changed labour party , which has moved on from party, which has moved on from the jeremy corbyn era . the the jeremy corbyn era. the conservatives have been accused of phoney culture wars after announcing plans to amend the equality act. so when it refers to a person's sex, it can only mean biological sex rather than genden mean biological sex rather than gender. rishi sunak campaigning in the south east today, he will set out proposals to stipulate that those who are biologically male but identify as female should be barred from using single—sex spaces labour has called the policy an election distraction . the liberal distraction. the liberal democrats have announced new protections for rivers and coastlines as part of their manifesto. it will include a blue flag status for rivers,

which would set legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping. the party says. water bosses have been allowed to get away with environmental vandalism by being permitted to pollute waterways under toothless conservative policies , toothless conservative policies, and friends and fans of rob burrow has paid tribute to the unassuming lad with a superhero origin story following his death at the age of 41. burrow's passing was confirmed by his club, leeds rhinos, on sunday following a lengthy and high profile battle with motor neurone disease, he raised awareness and millions of pounds for charity. well—wishers have gathered outside headingley stadium in yorkshire, to pay their respects. they've laid flowers, scarves and other tributes . you can get more on tributes. you can get more on all of our stories by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts

>> good afternoon. britain. it's 12:37 now. tributes have been flowing in today for former england rugby league international player rob burrow, who has died aged 41 after a battle with motor neurone disease . disease. >> us burrow was one of the sport's most successful players, winning eight super league titles and two challenge cups. >> but during his five year battle with motor neurone disease, he raised millions of pounds for charity. >> yes, quite extraordinary. our yorkshire and humber reporter anna riley joins us now from headingley rugby stadium in leeds, and a so many people have watched his journey. there must be many tributes flooding in. >> yes, there really is. there's a huge outpouring of grief and sadness here at the leeds rhinos rugby club, as you might be able

to see behind me here. the leeds rhinos team have assembled to pay rhinos team have assembled to pay their respects, along with fans who have been here laying floral tributes, laying shirts, scarves , laying down pictures scarves, laying down pictures and messages all in tribute to rob, who was very well known in the rugby community. he was known as a rugby league legend. he also played international vie for great britain, as well as representing leeds rhinos in his 17 year career with the club. he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019. he was just 37 years old when he got his diagnosis, and it came two years after he retired from the club. when his diagnosis came , he when his diagnosis came, he spent and dedicated his life to campaigning for motor neurone disease and raising funds, along with his friend and former team—mate kevin sinfield, they

raised millions of pounds for motor neurone disease and today it was his wishes that the plan to build the rob burrow motor neurone disease centre in seacroft, near leeds, was to go ahead.so seacroft, near leeds, was to go ahead. so construction work has started on that today. now i've been speaking to fans here who have been coming and laying their tributes and this is what they had to say. >> you just want to have a spectator, helio, who followed his dream and played for leeds rhinos five foot five people, always said he was too small. >> i saw him playing at 15 years old and you thought this guy is not going to make it, but he's proven us all wrong. >> i heard about they were on the news this morning and then i found out and i started crying this morning. >> how did it make you feel? sad. >> when i saw it official, it was quite heartbreaking, to be honest with you. it was quite close to home. >> i've watched him all my life. growing up as a kid , my first growing up as a kid, my first player who i idolised was rob burrow and then when i saw that,

it yeah, it pulled on my heartstrings. >> they do . it's just everybody >> they do. it's just everybody felt like they knew rob burrow, you know , just because of his you know, just because of his illness. you know, he had time for everybody to pay my respects to one of the greatest scrum halves that i've had the privilege of seeing play the game in the modern era . game in the modern era. >> fans, they're reflecting on rob burrow and what a player he was. one of the fans there saying that he was small in stature, but mighty when he was out on the pitch, five foot four, they called him the pocket rocket. he did so much for rugby and so much for raising awareness of motor neurone disease. he leaves behind his wife and three young children and a real lasting legacy here in leeds for rugby and also for raising awareness for that disease that sadly left him unable to talk and confined to a

wheelchair . wheelchair. >> but what a legacy in the work that he did to raise all of that money and pretty profound that today was always the day that work was going to start. on the on the rob burrow centre for motor neurone disease, that £6 million centre near leeds, i understand the family are saying that work will still go ahead . that work will still go ahead. they were going to appear and announce it. perhaps they won't be there for the start of the construction, but it's still going ahead . going ahead. >> yes, it is , they said in >> yes, it is, they said in a statement last night. he died in pinderfields hospital surrounded by his family, but they said it was rob's wish that that construction work did go ahead. ispoke construction work did go ahead. i spoke to people from the motor neurone disease charity this morning . they were going to morning. they were going to seacroft. they were going to get that construction work started and be one of the first to put spades in the ground for rob's legacy. it's called seven storey, seven stories about people with motor neurone disease, and it's a one stop centre for people in the west

yorkshire area who have been diagnosed with the condition to get care all in one place or receive physiotherapy , doctors receive physiotherapy, doctors appointments, psychology, all in one spot to make it a little bit easier and to cope with. for people who have been given this diagnosis for a disease that currently has no cure. >> thank you very much indeed. anna riley, our yorkshire and humber reporter there in headingley . what a devastating headingley. what a devastating to far too young, far too young, 41 years old, motor neurone disease. devastating the way it can impact people's lives. but what a wonderful story , though, what a wonderful story, though, that he puts so much support behind this campaign to raise awareness. so hopefully people will be able to be treated in a better way in the future. >> yeah, a huge legacy of which he can be proud. >> very much so. >> very much so. >> now let's , turn to something >> now let's, turn to something a little bit off pieced , because a little bit off pieced, because if you think of bath, you may think of a period dramas, beautiful georgian houses, lovely crescent, the roman baths

and a genteel way of life. >> yes , but residents of this >> yes, but residents of this somerset city are saying they're being terrorised in their sleep and plagued at every waking moment . moment. >> so we sent our south—west of england reporterjeff moody >> so we sent our south—west of england reporter jeff moody to find out just what is causing this problem . this problem. >> they're lurking on the rooftops, waiting to pounce. hungry, destructive, dirty and very loud. writer and historian tim newark has had enough of his new neighbours , but they're the new neighbours, but they're the very worst neighbours you can get. >> they wake us up at 4 am. in the morning and disturb our sleep. they rip open so—called gull proof bags and strew that rubbish all over the pavement, they deposit vast amounts of disease laden faeces on our streets, on our buildings, on our cars, everything but the new neighbours are of the feathered variety. >> seagulls , thousands of them >> seagulls, thousands of them coming in from the sea and claiming the streets of bath for

themselves. >> if people acted like that, the council would do something about it. but the girls , they about it. but the girls, they feel they can't touch them because of natural england's very strict rules that stop, stop us from even touching nests. so though the council feels their hands are tied, but it's a residents who have to put up with this, and i don't see why we should have to live with girls. >> no one voted for that, but they did vote for the council . they did vote for the council. in a statement, the council's cabinet member for neighbourhood services said we know that urban gulls can become a nuisance and even cause distress for people in some instances , however, we in some instances, however, we are limited in how much we can do to solve this because it is illegal to interfere with the birds or their nests. we urge residents and businesses who are experiencing problems with gulls to ensure they aren't making their roofs and gardens an attractive target by removing outdoor waste wherever possible . outdoor waste wherever possible. impossible though on bin day, a

census of the uk's main sea fowl species says seagulls have seen a drop in their population since 2002. there's 100,000 fewer gulls than there were at the millennium. that's a fall of 41, and that's why they're protected . but tim newark says this is wrong. i would like natural england to get sensible and see that it's not possible for residents , city centre residents residents, city centre residents to live next to gulls. >> and we must be able to control their numbers. we must be able to get rid of their nests, and we can't have these incredibly strict rules that are stopping councils from acting for us. >> bath anneliese somerset council have applied to natural england for a licence to destroy nests , but they're unlikely to nests, but they're unlikely to succeed unless they can prove that people are being physically attacked. until then , bath's attacked. until then, bath's noisy neighbours are here to stay. jeff moody, gb news i know, tom, we're a nation of

animal lovers , but surely people animal lovers, but surely people could get behind a cull or just could get behind a cull orjust sort of moving them on? >> yeah, no, i think i think a lot of people can. >> people of bath don't deserve this, do they? >> i know the nickname for these birds in ipswich. >> okay. >> okay. >> go on. i'm not sure i'm allowed to say it at this time. >> don't. we don't want to get turfed off air. >> well , i turfed off air. >> well, i mean, it's one of these marginal words that might not be that might that might be allowable and might not be. i'm being told in my ear, i'm absolutely not allowed to say, what it is or even spell it out. so there we go. so there we go. hawks, but yes, terrorising the neighbourhood, it looks like natural england is , going to natural england is, going to have to, sort this out. >> yeah. no absolutely. well, it's a huge it's a huge issue. and their pests , at the end of and their pests, at the end of the day, when you see those pictures of people at the beach and, you know, they dive in and they steal your chips. >> yes. straight out of your bucket or whatever. you're carrying them. >> always the least suspecting person. they've got this sixth sense for who's going to be most perturbed by, by a dive bombing or a or a sort of sneaky attack,

dive bombing. >> they take your chocolate 12th straight out of your mr whippy, but in other news, has nigel farage changed his mind over standing for parliament? could he throw his hat in the ring? he's got this emergency announcement at 4:00. more on that

break. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 10 to 1. now. here's one for you. is there a beast on the loose in cumbria? >> is . there scientific evidence >> is. there scientific evidence for the first time has found big cat dna on a sheep's carcase in the lake district. right. >> well, this comes after months of speculation around a large, inexplicable tracks laid by an animal. eyewitness accounts as well, and even blurred photographs like this one posted by a facebook group called big cats in cumbria . cats in cumbria. >> well, joining us now is a

geneticist at the university of warwick and the very man who analysed the dna sample, professor robin olivier , thank professor robin olivier, thank you very much, professor, for coming on the show. i thought this was a bit like the loch ness monster. i thought it was all sort of rumour and hearsay. but you're saying that actually the big cat exists , yeah, that the big cat exists, yeah, that appears to be the case, we've been looking for a good number of years now since 2011, actually was the first call out that we had to examine a carcase of a fawn. that time it was a baby deer, it was taken down by a predator , we didn't find, big a predator, we didn't find, big cat dna at that time. and we've had samples sent to us every year since then. and, towards the end of last year, we had this swab taken from a sheep in the south of the lake district . the south of the lake district. and i believe in that particular case, the lady that took the sample actually saw a cat on the carcase, that then ran off, so we got a very, very fresh swab that turns out to be quite

important. and there have been . important. and there have been. >> sorry, sorry to interrupt. there have been all of these this this huge speculation about what sort of a thing this is. this this huge speculation about what sort of a thing this is . it what sort of a thing this is. it seems like there have been more and more sightings in recent months as well. what did your dna sample actually find in terms of the genetic makeup of this animal? >> okay. so it is definitely something from the panthera genus. so that includes lions, tigers, panthers and leopards. so we there was a very small amount of dna, that we recovered. and when you have very, very small amounts , you very, very small amounts, you start to see the reactions that are going on between dna and the environment around, and that's a good thing in the sense that it makes it look more genuine. but the bad thing is, it didn't allow us to pinpoint exactly which of those big cats, it was, although apparently panther was was really highest on the on the list. there >> well, absolutely fascinating. i'm sorry to say we're going to have to leave it there because

we're running to the end of the houn we're running to the end of the hour. but we'd love to have you back on if you find out more about this big cat, find out exactly what species it is. >> how many of them are there? how many won? >> thank you very much indeed. professor robin allaby, who analysed this dna sample. how fascinating. >> absolutely fascinating story . >> absolutely fascinating story. >> absolutely fascinating story. >> big cat energy in cumbria. >> big cat energy in cumbria. >> goodness me, my big question now is how many of these cats are there? is it just one sort of panther like thing that has escaped from a zoo, or was imported by some criminal, or is or are they breeding? and are there wild panther like beings roaming the country? is it coming to a town near you? >> well, yes. coming up, we're going to be hearing from the prime minister, rishi sunak. he's out on the campaign trail. what is he going to serve up for us? what's he going to talk about? is he going to get stuck into these the equality act and women's rights safe spaces, all that. >> also being asked about nigel. >> also being asked about nigel. >> absolutely. >> absolutely. >> he will be that coming up after this .

after this. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello again. >> hello again. >> it's time for your latest gb news weather forecast brought to you by the met office. >> through the rest of today, it's actually likely to stay mostly dry, but there are some wet weather on the way as we go through tomorrow because of a system that's currently out in the atlantic, this is going to push its way eastwards and then southeastwards across the country. >> as we go through tomorrow . >> as we go through tomorrow. but for the time being, like i said, mostly dry a few spots of rain, perhaps across parts of northern england, northern ireland, where there is a decaying front lingering across us. but overnight , most places us. but overnight, most places staying dry with some cloud, a few clear spells perhaps, but some rain. then pushing into northern ireland as we head towards dawn. because of the largely cloudy skies, i'm not expecting temperatures to drop a huge amount, generally staying in double figures . if we take in double figures. if we take a closer look at what we can expect tomorrow morning, then it is going to be a bit of a damper

start across parts of scotland, some heavy bursts for the far north of scotland, particularly orkney. shetland could have some downpours here. elsewhere across much of scotland. quite a cloudy picture and there will be outbreaks of rain coming in from the west, a drier and brighter towards eastern parts , also towards eastern parts, also quite cloudy and damp across northern ireland. parts of northwest england and into wales as well, but more central southern and eastern parts of england. actually starting the day on a dry note. and there should even be some sunshine breaking through the cloud at times . we are going to see that times. we are going to see that rain in the northwest gradually making its way south eastwards, and there could be some heavy downpours mixed in with it. possibly the odd rumble of thunder too. in the southeast, likely to stay pretty dry through much of the day. by the time the rain arrives here, it will have broken up, so it should be mostly light temperatures in the southeast, rising to the low 20s, but colder air towards the northwest of this front means that it's going to be markedly fresher here, and there'll be plenty of showers pushing through. some of these could be heavy, possibly thundery. there could even be a bit of snow over the scottish

mountains, which not unheard of for the start of june. later on, as we go through the rest of this week, it's going to be a bit cloudier, a bit cooler than it has been recently, and most of us will see a bit of rain at times. by by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> well. good afternoon. britain. it's 1:00 >> well. good afternoon. britain. it's1:00 on monday, the 3rd of june. i'm emily carver, and i'm tom harwood. now. the tory war on gender law. the conservatives pledged to shake up the equality act to end confusion over the legal definition of sex and to protect female spaces. is this a much needed clarification, or are they stoking the culture war? we'll hear from rishi sunak shortly. >> don't say that ten times. very quickly. tory war on gender law, keir starmer has declared the labour party as the party for national security. he's

promising to build more nuclear submarines in barrow, but critics say that labour can't be trusted over defence and security. after their last leader. >> and has nigel farage changed his mind? will he be standing for parliament? the honorary president of reform is to make what he says is an emergency election announcement later today. what could it be? >> and preparations are ramping up for the 80th anniversary of d—day. we'll hear about the enormous commemoration efforts this week from our reporters on both sides of the channel . both sides of the channel. he's got to stand. he's got to. he can't whip up the media into the sort of frenzy that it's reached. i mean, people have cancelled trips. i know of political reporters who were going to be following , you know, going to be following, you know, the party of government today who have now upped sticks, left

rishi and gone to see what nigel is saying. i mean, this this has got to be a significant announcement. >> i mean, does that say more about our mainstream media than it does about nigel farage? >> does it say anything about the prime minister? >> well, does it say anything about the prime minister? but nigel farage, he is that type of person. i mean, there he is at the conservative conservative party conference, not the reform a party conference, but at the conservative party conference, being absolutely swamped by young people. there by young people. there are a lot of young people. there are a lot of young people who like a bit of nigel farage. >> i think it's because he sort of has a reputation for not mincing his words. and people do like that sort of cut through politics to some extent. and hear me out on this. it's a bit like jeremy corbyn, okay? because i think , i think nigel because i think, i think nigel does have a ceiling in politics. i think there are a lot of people who wouldn't vote for nigel farage. yes, but he has a more enthusiastic base than just about any other politician in the country today, save for jeremy corbyn. yes. >> well , i'm jeremy corbyn. yes. >> well, i'm sure if he heard you comparing him to jeremy corbyn, he wouldn't very much

like. but i could totally take your point. i totally take your point that he is able to whip up support and he's very energetic. he's very, very energetic. we've seen him putting a lot of effort into the campaign, out on the battle bus for a reform , taking battle bus for a reform, taking photos with everyone in london to the north. >> wherever he goes, he always attracts a crowd in a way that always attracts a crowd. did bofis always attracts a crowd. did boris johnson, jeremy corbyn, nigel farage, the big figures in politics, heaven forfend that we mentioned the prime minister or the leader of the opposition who are rather smaller figures, at least on their own. i sensing i sense from the inbox that a lot of you, or a few of you, at least, would be a bit upset if this amounted to not much . this amounted to not much. >> so let us know your thoughts. gbnews.com/yoursay it's your headunes gbnews.com/yoursay it's your headlines with . aaron. headlines with. aaron. >> good afternoon to you. it's 1:03. i'm aaron armstrong, sir keir starmer says national security will always come first under his change labour party, he's reaffirmed the uk's commitment to a nuclear deterrent, claiming it's a

fundamental, deterrent, claiming it's a fundamental , vital deterrent, claiming it's a fundamental, vital part of our defence. labour are pledging to build four new nuclear submarines and increase defence spending to 2.5% of gdp. when economic conditions are right, the conservatives say they'll meet that target by 2030. while sir keir dismissed concerns , his sir keir dismissed concerns, his shadow foreign secretary and deputy party leader voted against the uk having nuclear weapons just eight years ago. and he's criticised the tories for politicising the issue. i would prefer if politics were kept out of this issue, even at this election, throughout the whole of this parliament, i have deliberately not been partisan over security yet. >> just before this election, the tories questioned this labour party's commitment to national security, and i will not let that stand. the people of britain need to know that

their leaders will keep them safe, and we will. >> meanwhile, he, rishi sunak, has denied he is stoking a culture war with his pledge to amend the equality act to make clear sex means biological sex rather than gender. the conservatives have been out trying to clear up confusion over the legal definition. the conservatives plan would set out that the protected characteristic of sex means biological sex, allowing organisations to bar transgender women from single—sex spaces, including hospital wards and sports events. now labour have called the policy an election distraction . but cabinet distraction. but cabinet minister kemi badenoch says the law needs to be clearly defined. >> the problem we're solving is for many organisations like rape crisis centres, prisons, for instance, where people may identify as a woman, even though they're biologically male and they're biologically male and they don't know what to do. and we are clarifying what, public

authorities need to do . what authorities need to do. what perhaps individual private institutions rights are a lot of them are worried about being sued, even when they're doing the right thing. so this is a tidy up of law so that we can create a better space for this conversation . conversation. >> the liberal democrats are vowing to tackle water pollution as part of their manifesto. they've announced plans for a new protected blue flag status for rivers with legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping, and also special protection for swimmers and wildlife. it would include the expansion of marine protected areas to cover at least 50% of uk territorial waters by 2030. lib dem leader daisy cooper says the move will benefit everyone, and we've been leading the campaign to end the scandal of raw sewage dumping here in henley. >> local residents know all about that. they know that the sewage dumping is bad for wildlife. they know that it's causing real problems with tourism as well, and people want

tourism as well, and people want to see an end to this particular scandal. that's why today, liberal democrats are announcing our plans to introduce a blue flag status to protect local rivers. >> well, that was, of course , >> well, that was, of course, daisy cooper, the deputy lib dem leader. now reform uk have also been campaigning today. their honorary president, nigel farage, says he'll be making an emergency announcement about the general election later this afternoon. it follows criticism over his decision not to stand as an mp at this election. and you can watch that here at 4:00 on gb news. finally, prince william has praised rob burrow as a legend of rugby league with as a legend of rugby league with a huge heart after his passing at the age of 41, the former england international and charity fundraiser was died with diagnosed with motor neurone disease. in 2019, he was awarded a cbe for helping to raise millions of pounds to promote awareness of the disease. it came just two years after he retired from playing , following retired from playing, following a 17 year career that included eight grand final wins. former team—mate at leeds rhinos jamie jones—buchanan says rob was one

of a kind. >> he was an amazing person. he was a superhero . i think was a superhero. i think everybody in life has got an origin story and this young, unassuming lad from castleford, who had a gift, physical gift, loved rugby league and decided to use that gift in rugby league and it was one that everybody looked at and thought, oh, this fella is tiny, he's too small. he'll never be able to play a game like rugby and not. did he just prove everybody wrong . but just prove everybody wrong. but he used that gift to be world class to stand out , to be class to stand out, to be different. and he found his sense of purpose . sense of purpose. >> the royal college of nursing is warning hospital patients are dying in hospitals, describing the problem as a national emergency . the union says people emergency. the union says people are being treated in cupboards and car parks for long periods of time, and may even undergo cancer diagnosis or intimate examinations. they're almost three quarters of 11,000 frontline staff surveyed said the care they delivered in pubuc the care they delivered in public places compromised patients privacy and dignity and smoking. charities are urging the next government to revive

legislation designed to ban young people from ever being able to buy tobacco products, a new analysis has revealed. the majority of british people are behind the plans to phase out the ability for young people to smoke . the law would have made smoke. the law would have made it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after january 1st, 2009, and the prime minister has expressed his disappointment that the law was not able to make it into the statute book before he called the general election . you can the general election. you can sign up to our alerts for more on all of our stories, or scan the qr code on your screen right now it's back to tom and . emily. now it's back to tom and. emily. all right. >> well, thank you for joining us this afternoon . we're going us this afternoon. we're going to start this hour by hearing from the prime minister, rishi sunak's been speaking to journalists about his election pledge to amend the equalities act and clear up some of that confusion over the legal definition of sex. he also may have been asked a question about

nigel farage. let's see what he has to say to. >> the equalities act was passed over a decade ago, and what's clear today is that there's a lack of clarity in the law, and that's risking the safety of women and girls . so we've women and girls. so we've announced the bold action that we would change the law , change we would change the law, change the equalities act so that sex means biological sex. and what that will do will mean that providers of single sex services and single—sex spaces will be able to protect women and girls and ensure their safety and security . security. >> if this is so important, if it is, if it is, as you say about the safety of women and girls, why haven't you done it in the 14 years that you've been in the 14 years that you've been in power? >> well, this builds on the incredible progress we've made incredible progress we've made in this truly evolving area. actually, i'd urge everyone to read kemi's article that she wrote today in the times that sets out the strides that we've made, in particular, recently publishing new guidance for teachers and schools about how to treat these issues sensitively, but ensuring that parents are at the heart of all those conversations. i think that's common sense and right. it was widely welcomed by

children's campaigners. we were also , of course, dealing with also, of course, dealing with the snp's aims to try and make gender recognition on a self—id bafis gender recognition on a self—id basis , which wasn't right. so basis, which wasn't right. so that's what we've been dealing with. but kimmie's been working on this particular thing for a while, and it builds on our track record of ensuring the safety and security of women and girls and also our children in schools. >> is this really about treating the issue sensitively ? cchq has the issue sensitively? cchq has tweeted this morning, we know what a woman is. keir starmer doesn't. it's about stoking culture wars, isn't it ? culture wars, isn't it? >> no, it builds on our track record of treating these issues sensitively and with compassion, as of course, we should. but ensuring that our laws are right, our guidance is right to protect the safety and security of women and girls and the wellbeing of our children. and i think that's paramount in all of our minds. that's why i prioritise publishing guidance for schools. i heard a lot from teachers about wanting guidance from the government about how to deal with these issues. we provided clarity in that space, ensuring, crucially, that parents are put at the heart of

those conversations can't be excluded from those. and now saying that we will change the equalities act so that providers of single—sex spaces, whether that's refugee, is for women who have suffered from domestic abuses or single sex sports, can ensure the safety and security of women and girls. >> nigel farage says he has a big announcement this afternoon. how much do you fear that he's going to change his mind and stand at the end of the day on july 5th, one of two people will be prime minister either keir starmer or me. >> a vote for anyone who's not a conservative candidate is just a vote to put keir starmer in number 10. so if you're someone who cares about tackling migration, both the boats and legal migration, if you're someone who wants a more proportionate , pragmatic proportionate, pragmatic approach to net zero, that saves people money. and if you want, if you're someone who wants lower taxes, it's only the conservatives that are going to offer all those things. and that's the choice at this election. lower taxes with the conservatives, a plan to stop the boats legal migration coming down, and a sensible way to get to net zero that saves people money. that's what we offer.

keir starmer doesn't believe in any of those things, and that's the choice that people should consider, but is a big boost for reform. >> if he does stand at the end of the day, there's only two people that are going to be prime minister on july 5th, keir starmer or me. >> so on the issues that you care about, if that's tackling migration, cutting taxes, a sensible approach to net zero, i'm going to deliver that for you , not keir starmer. he's you, not keir starmer. he's going to cancel the flight. it's going to cancel the flight. it's going to cancel the flight. it's going to release everyone from the detention centres. he's going to put up everyone's taxes by £2,000. and he believes in getting to net zero in a way that will increase bills for ordinary working families across our country. that's the choice that people need to consider. who would they rather see in number 10 on july the 5th? working on these issues? is it keir starmer or is it me? and whether it's cutting taxes , whether it's cutting taxes, cutting migration or cutting your energy bills, it's the conservatives in me that are going to deliver that. >> there we go. the prime minister repeating his election mantra there. let's speak to our political editor now, christopher hope, on all of what was mentioned, because christopher, a little bit of a

swerve there on the question of nigel farage. >> yeah. like we're all swerving here, frankly, i'm here at leander rowing club, where the prime minister has just been meeting with locals here and trying to make the point about his his equality act reforms he's proposing. but frankly, all anyone is thinking about is what on earth will nigel farage say at 4:00? i've been talking to arron banks, who's a former ukip donon arron banks, who's a former ukip donor, this hour. he said to me this if nigel were to stand, there'll be a huge swell of tory donor support for him . tory donor support for him. tory donors will flock to reform uk according to arron banks, the former donor to the uk, ukip party. it really is a willy, willy, willy wonti debate this lunchtime. he's not saying anything. i know very, very senior people in reform uk, they are getting back to london quickly. they're changing their plans for whatever he does. at 4 pm. the man himself is not picking up . pm. the man himself is not picking up. he pm. the man himself is not picking up . he puts out these picking up. he puts out these these rather delphic, these sphinx like statements on the twitter. and let us all work out

what he's going to do next. now, i don't know, but if you look at what look at what's happened in the past five days, tom and emily. last wednesday, he did an interview with the sun youtube channel and asked, what will the tories offer to me? what will they give to me? he then the next day said that was banter. he didn't mean it. but if you listen to the words, it sounded like he did mean it. it looks to me like he was negotiating on air about what might the tories offer to the reform uk to party stop keir starmer? are the gb news mrp poll drops on friday, forecasting 12% votes for reform and zero mps. he's then mobbed on saturday in ashfield with lee anderson and now it's monday. it looks to me like it may be we're not there yet. we don't know, but it could be. we're about to see nigel farage re—enter this campaign as a candidate at the election and that will be extraordinary. but again , not, extraordinary. but again, not, not not we can't say for certain yet. >> well, the anticipation is certainly building, i'm sure you've seen isabel oakeshott. i think it's fair to say partner of richard tice . yes, she

of richard tice. yes, she tweeted an hour ago no pacts with the tories, because that was one suggestion, what this announcement might be. and then she tweeted, despite increasingly desperate phone calls from conservative mps, reform uk will not be standing down any candidates. hopefully that's clear enough, makes sense of that for us. >> well, that rules out the other big idea, which is there was some form of pact being offered. and again, i think that was the offer made by nigel farage on sun tv last wednesday. it wasn't taken up and there was some history going back here with nigel farage stood down about a third of his candidates in the brexit party back in 2019, and got nothing back from the tory party he felt he almost gave them that majority or helped support that majority that boris johnson won in 2019. i don't think he's in any mood for any kind of deal with them, and that's been said from the beginning by richard tice and obviously reiterated by his partner, isabel oakshot. all

eyes, by arron banks. he paid for a survey and found that it was a one seat. he felt that farage would win if he stood. that was a seat won by, douglas carswell back in 2015. it's the only seat ukip ever won at a at a general election. and that's why many are looking at clacton as the as the where he might go. but again, we don't know many people were surprised by the fact that we are now in a general election campaign. no one forecast that something else could happen at 4:00. but do tune in to gb news and we'll bnng tune in to gb news and we'll bring it to you first. >> absolutely. it's going to be an absolutely fascinating afternoon. but christopher, while you're there, of course, you're talking about the changes to the equality act. what does this actually mean? this proposal by kemi badenoch . proposal by kemi badenoch. >> that's right. it's a change to the equality act. now you might ask, why haven't the tories done that before? there have been in government for the past 14 years, and certainly this equality has been around for since the labour days. but

anyway, they haven't done that. they want to define a woman as they want to basically say that you define as how you were born. if you were born a woman, you are a woman . and then that would are a woman. and then that would follow that you have access to, to shared or not shared toilets in public bodies . now, currently in public bodies. now, currently kemi badenoch has been saying this is to give protection for pubuc this is to give protection for public authorities and other companies that want to enforce safe spaces for women and not face any legal action. but of course, it has caused it has meant that people like sir keir starmer and others are saying you're just reigniting a culture war and why are we getting politics involved? but earlier we had rishi sunak meeting with people here, some female rowers, i should say, by the way, there'll be some footage airing on gb news shortly of the lib dem boat floating by behind rishi sunak with daisy cooper on board. she's a deputy leader of lib dems, waving in a very friendly way . so as soon lib dems, waving in a very friendly way. so as soon as lib dems, waving in a very friendly way . so as soon as that friendly way. so as soon as that happened, the tories quickly wound up the coffee and doughnuts with the prime minister

>> oh wow. so they're in the same place. thank you very much indeed, christopher. hope our political editor there in henley on thames. >> i love campaign antics like that. they will have caught a whiff of where the pm was and organised to be there. hopefully there won't be any heckling. goodness me . well, let's now goodness me. well, let's now talk to the discrimination lawyer, robin moira white. because, robin, this change to the equality act, some people are saying this is just clarification. others are saying this would legalise a form of discrimination . discrimination. >> it clearly would. >> it clearly would. >> it clearly would. >> it excludes trans people from spaces which we've properly used for a quarter of a century , and for a quarter of a century, and it's solving a non—existent problem . problem. >> is that so? i mean, the labour party says, yes, that the equality act already has a clear definition of sex, but many others who have looked into this have found that actually it's rather vague. do you think it's possible to both protect biological sex and also those

who've gone through gender reassignment in an act like this? because it all does seem rather rather confused. and i think there have been court cases where it's all been a bit wishy washy . wishy washy. >> well, we have exactly that protection at the moment, so in sports, for example, if you can show that a trans person has an unfair advantage or it's unsafe to have a trans person playing with non trans members of the genderin with non trans members of the gender in which they identify, then you can exclude the trans person if you've good reason for doing it. now is there really good reason for doing it? when i good reason for doing it? when i go to sainsbury's on a saturday and go and use the loo, is that what we want to achieve? the evidence from bathroom bills in the us is that it wasn't the tiny number of trans people who get affected by such things. there are broadly about 40 times as many butch lesbians in society as there are trans people. >> and butch lesbians got to do with this . they biological with this. they biological women, they're biological women .

women, they're biological women. >> they're the people who got challenged under the bathroom bills. they were the people who were being pulled out by security guards and accused of being in the wrong. >> but then they'd have a very strong case, wouldn't they, to say, actually, i am a woman, a biological woman . biological woman. >> yeah, but they'd had to. they'd had to be exposed to that harassment and disadvantage. wasn't the trans people who were having a problem. >> i guess my question is, do biological women have a right to female only spaces ? you're female only spaces? you're saying they do? well, it has, yes, they do. >> in particular circumstances where there is a justifiable need service provider can decide to provide the service in that way. exactly as jk rowling's , way. exactly as jk rowling's, preferred count rate counselling service. beatrice place in edinburgh does then they're able to justify that difference and they can provide a service in that way under the existing legislation . legislation. >> so you think there's no need at all to clarify why, that biological that sex in equality

act means biological sex. we live in a complex society. >> we can simplify society. we could take away voting rights for people generally and go back to rotten boroughs. and that would simplify elections tremendously. but we don't do that. we recognise that people have rights across society and our laws reflect the complexity of society . of society. >> what do you say to the case that this is simply me returning a situation to a lack of government interference, and it's a very unlikely that there will be many businesses that decide to turn away customers , decide to turn away customers, and leaving it to being the choice of the individual businesses or services, rather than the choice of the central government . it might not government. it might not actually change all that much. >> well, would we be proposing to take away that protection for gay people or black people and leave it to business generally ? leave it to business generally? no, of course not. >> well, i mean, it's a

question. some people might suggest that you don't need government to protect because society might be, generous enough and the market might provide a sort of rational response whereby if you're turning away ideological, if you're turning away customers, you're turning away customers, you're not running a good business. >> i'm sorry to say, 30 years of working as a discrimination barrister only convinces me that the protections that people have , women have that people of colour have are essential in our society for protecting individual people. >> okay. well, thank you very much indeed for your time . much indeed for your time. robin. moira white, a discrimination lawyer. thank you very much . very much. >> no interesting stuff. >> no interesting stuff. >> still confused . coming up, >> still confused. coming up, the number of overseas participants in britain's got talent has soared, with barely any actual brits left in the final. >> it's confusing. one this. well, we're asking has britain actually got any talent or do we need to have people come from all around the world to compete here? well we're going to be debating that issue very shortly

good afternoon. britain. it's 1:26. and later this afternoon , 1:26. and later this afternoon, the honorary president of reform uk says he's got a very big election announcement. >> a very big an emergency general election announcement. now his tweet has, of course, now gone viral. i think it's got about 2 million views on it. the anticipation is growing as nigel knew it would. of course he knew it would. so all eyes will be on this announcement at 4:00. the assumption i think it's fair to say now, the assumption is that he actually is going to throw his hat in the ring. could he stand as a candidate after toing and froing on it? he said that he was going to. he said he was going to, but the general election was called too quickly .

election was called too quickly. he didn't have enough time to prepare and campaign and all of that. everything that goes into running as an mp. so we shall see. >> yeah, i was surprised. so i was talking to him when he was, sort of saying that he wasn't going to stand. yes. of course, and he was saying it was all prepared. it was about to be announced. and then this just took him off guard . he believed took him off guard. he believed that the reason the general election was called , in the election was called, in the main, was to try and squash reform that had been rising in the polls, although it appears that hasn't happened . and maybe, that hasn't happened. and maybe, maybe his calculation is looking at the polls that we saw over the weekend, the possibility of a canada 93 style electoral event for the tories . that's event for the tories. that's when the canadian conservative government went down from being the party of government to just two seats in in an election and a party called reform. >> you absolutely love this comparison with canada. >> well, it's just the most extraordinary election result. and it's something that nigel has spoken about in the past, although sadly, as chris hope was telling us, he's gone to

ground, he's turned off his phone. no one can get in contact with him. he's loving the speculation. >> could it be that he doesn't fancy, heading off to the united states any more, and that actually he'd rather throw his hat in the ring in this country? anyway, let us know your thoughts. gbnews.com/yoursay se, but, first, the britain's got talent finale last night was won by 28 year old sydney christmas from kent with a rendition of somewhere over the rainbow. they're still singing that. >> oh , but the show's been hit >> oh, but the show's been hit with complaints over whether it can really be called britain's got talent, because five of the nine finalists weren't british at all. >> no, they were foreign acts. >> no, they were foreign acts. >> yes. so is it. >> no, they were foreign acts. >> yes. so is it . world's got >> yes. so is it. world's got talent these days. and does this mean that there's no talent left in britain? surely not. well we're joined now by media commentator paula london and the author and broadcaster rebecca reid. >> well , let's talk to, paula >> well, let's talk to, paula for her take. paula, i believe you're probably there, but we're

just. oh, no, i'm being told that we've got. we're talking to rebecca first, so rebecca, what is your take on this? lots of people are saying , is your take on this? lots of people are saying, hang on. if people are saying, hang on. if people are saying, hang on. if people are if there are acts from japan , what's going on here? >> i'm not sure. lots of people are upset about it. i think there are quite a lot of other things people are more worried about, but yes, absolutely. it was a final that wasn't entirely based on british citizens. >> but this show has been running since, like i was doing. >> i don't know, my gcses. >> i don't know, my gcses. >> everybody in britain who wants to be on britain's got talent may well have already done it, and this kind of television , where you are television, where you are expected to kind of provide a sob story and then performance stage and then do another sob story and then maybe slightly humiliate yourself, maybe british people are kind of over it. >> maybe people, maybe everybody in the country who's willing to do it. and now we've got to move on. >> i mean, maybe rebecca, but isn't the magic of this kind of show, that it fosters home—grown talent and we pluck someone out of a village in, in south wales and suddenly become a superstar.

>> personally, there's no magic for me in these shows because, broadly speaking, the pastoral care around them is very poor. often the prize package isn't what people are told it's going to be. very rarely do people's careers seem to actually take off in the way that they hope they do, and i think they can be quite exploitative. >> susan boyle, a star was that x factor. that was britain's got talent, that was britain's got talent. >> yeah, but i think they have made about sort of between 45 and 1 million of these shows, and 1 million of these shows, and the number of people who've come out of it well is quite slim. but i think also we see the sob story, and the joy of seeing somebody succeed is the same wherever they're from. as far as i'm concerned. i don't care whether you're a stranger from france or a stranger from scotland. it's all the same to me . me. >> well, paula, what do you make of this argument that this is something to be proud of? people from all around the world want to come and perform on british stages, because this is seen as sort of the pinnacle of where they could perform. i think that's fantastic, but they should change the name of the show to the world's got talent rather than britain's got talent, i was actually quite

surprised when i was checking the viewing figures, because they've got the lowest viewing figures they've ever had throughout 17 series, but it's still very high, 5.2 million views, viewers rather. so, i mean , the judges cost a lot of mean, the judges cost a lot of money. people do enjoy the show. it's not for me. i love the news or i love american reality shows and the housewives, etc. but i think i do agree . rebecca, think i do agree. rebecca, i think i do agree. rebecca, i think we are running out of talent and i think what's happening now, more and more professionals are doing the show and they're coming up with sob stories to please the producers. it's not just talent producers are looking for now. it's sob stories. and maybe this is why they have to go around the world to find people. but i refuse to believe there is not enough talent in this country. >> i mean, every kid in this country picks up a microphone and tries singing, or you know, tries is the opera singing. but then every now and again there is a diamond in the rough top. paula i think some of those days have gone, you know, i remember in 2009, 16.3

have gone, you know, i remember in 2009,16.3 million have gone, you know, i remember in 2009, 16.3 million people watched. >> that's obviously over three times what watched the, final. we've just seen . and that was we've just seen. and that was when diversity beat susan boyle. susan boyle was tv gold. absolutely amazing. you would never have thought she had the voice that she does. but you know , i was going to say maybe know, i was going to say maybe the show is going to be over. i mean, bookies are now have said that their odds have gone down. they think the show is going to be cut. but then once they've seen the viewing figures in this day and age, with a lot of platforms, 5.2 million people is still very high, but it's a lot lower than it used to be. but i do think it's a family friendly show. i mean , in america, around show. i mean, in america, around ten years ago, a japanese act actually won. i don't believe to my memory that any foreign actors actually won. they're just competing . but this year we just competing. but this year we had japan, south korea and south africa. >> and just lastly, to get the last word to rebecca, i mean , we last word to rebecca, i mean, we have so much diversity in this country. it's not exactly like if we want diverse acts that we need to, you know, take them from abroad. it should really be

britain. home—grown talent, shouldn't it? >> i don't think that anybody who is casting this show is doing it for diversity. i think they're doing it because they're trying to get the biggest number of eyes on screen and possibly cynically looking at distribution in other countries, looking at being able to expand to other territories. this is this is about money and not about being more inclusive. >> well, paula and rebecca, thank you very much for joining us. and what was a much more fruitful discussion than i was expecting, actually, it was good stuff. >> yeah. there we go . thank you >> yeah. there we go. thank you very much. paula london and rebecca read. well there you go. a little bit different for us. >> yes britain's got talent i didn't actually know that britain's got talent was still thing. >> oh well there you go. no. no idea of modern culture. no. anyway, we're going to hear more on keir starmers pledge, because i'm always watching gb news to bolster britain's nuclear capability. if he becomes prime minister, we'll be joined by labour's steve mccabe to tell us a little bit more. but first, your news headlines. >> it's 134. your news headlines. >> it's134. i'm aaron your news headlines. >> it's 134. i'm aaron armstrong

. rishi sunak has denied he is stoking a culture war with his pledge to amend the equality act to make clear sex means biological sex rather than genden biological sex rather than gender. the prime minister says the safety and security of women and girls means the current confusion over the legal definition can't be allowed to continue. the proposals would allow organisations to ban transgender women from single—sex spaces, like hospital wards or sports events. labour have called the policy an election distraction , but rishi election distraction, but rishi sunak says the conservatives are merely trying to clarify the law, not change it. >> so the equalities act was passed over a decade ago, and what's clear today is that there's a lack of clarity in the law and that's risking the safety of women and girls. so we've announced the bold action that we would change the law, change the equalities act so that sex means biological sex. and what that will do will mean that providers of single sex services and single—sex spaces will be able to protect women and girls and ensure their safety and security. >> sir keir starmer has

reiterated his commitment to maintaining the uk's nuclear capabilities. the labour leader is committed to a deterrent triple lock, including the construction of four new nuclear submarines and an ambition to increase defence spending when economic conditions allow . economic conditions allow. speaking in bury alongside ex—forces members who will be standing for labour in the general election, sir keir says national security is the priority of a changed labour party , which has moved on from party, which has moved on from the jeremy corbyn era . the the jeremy corbyn era. the liberal democrats have announced new protections for rivers and coastlines as part of their manifesto. it will include a blue flag status for rivers, which would set legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping, the party says. water bosses have been able to get away with environmental vandalism by being permitted to pollute waterways under toothless conservative policies. friends and fans of rob burrow have been paying tribute to an unassuming lad with a superhero origin story following his death

, aged 41. burrow's passing was confirmed by his club leeds rhinos, on sunday following a lengthy high profile battle with motor neurone disease. he raised awareness and millions of pounds for charity. a well—wishers gathered outside headingley stadium in yorkshire to pay their respects, laying flowers , their respects, laying flowers, scarves and other tributes . you scarves and other tributes. you can sign up to our alerts gb news alerts with a qr code on your screen. the details are also on our website . also on our website. >> cheers! britannia wine club proudly sponsors the gb news financial report. >> quick look at the markets the pound buys you $1.2731 and ,1.1741. gold will pound buys you $1.2731 and ,1.1741. gold will cost £1,832.37 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 8288 points. >> cheers, britannia wine club proudly sponsors the

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>> right. it's 140. >> right. it's140. good afternoon. britain. now the labour leader, keir starmer, has today touted labour's unshakeable commitment to the nuclear deterrent during a speech in greater manchester this morning, where he said that national security would always come first as he made what he called a triple lock pledge towards renewing our nuclear deterrent. well, let's speak to labour's steve mccabe . what labour's steve mccabe. what exactly does a triple lock pledge towards nuclear weapons mean ? mean? >> well, it means that we're going to do three things. >> we're going to guarantee building four new submarines. we're going to guarantee all necessary upgrades and refits to the equipment as we progress. >> and we're going to guarantee

a continuous at sea. >> 24 hour deterrent. >> 24 hour deterrent. >> now, i'm sure it's been pointed out that some members of the shadow cabinet cabinet haven't always been, so up for the nuclear deterrent as a as a concept. david lammy for one, i believe also angela rayner has equivocated on the issue, and i think keir starmer himself at one point wasn't for the nuclear deterrent . deterrent. >> well, it's labour policy. it's the policy that will be pursued by the labour government . it's settled and everyone in the shadow cabinet backs it. i don't think anyone, likes the prospect of, having to, use nuclear weapons. >> of course not. but it is the ultimate deterrent. i think lots of people can agree with you. >> it's the ultimate deterrent. but what people might be slightly concerned about is the fact that every single labour mp the last time around , stood on

the last time around, stood on a platform of making jeremy corbyn prime minister a man who said who has long standing opposition to nuclear weapons. and when this was all voted on, most recently in parliament, no fewer than over a dozen now shadow ministers voted to scrap it. and i think lots of people will be asking themselves, given that labour has clearly flip flopped on this issue repeatedly , how do on this issue repeatedly, how do we know that this time is for keeps and you won't flip flop again ? again? >> well, of course, even last time when the 2019 election was called, it was labour's policy to retain the nuclear deterrent . to retain the nuclear deterrent. >> labour, is pretty clear about our position on. >> steve, are you saying nothing has changed? >> well, obviously the labour party's changed beyond recognition since 2019, but it's the same policy as 2019. i know i was saying that it wasn't

policy in 2019 to scrap it, that was the point i was making . the was the point i was making. the point i'm making now is that we absolutely clear that defence is one of the cornerstones of labour policy, because that's what a government has to do . it what a government has to do. it has to set out to defend its citizens. >> okay . >> okay. >> okay. >> we still i don't believe we've had a commitment yet from the labour leader to that 2.5% of gdp to be spent on defence. why do you think that is? >> well, we have made a commitment to, work towards 2.5. the only difference between our position and the government's is they've plucked the figure out of thin air of saying they'll rikki neave it by 2030. i figured they plucked out of thin air just figured they plucked out of thin airjust before figured they plucked out of thin air just before they called figured they plucked out of thin airjust before they called an air just before they called an election. but without giving any details of how they hope to achieve that, we've said we will have a defence review immediately. we are in office if we're elected, and that will

enable us to work out what the real state of the defence budget is and how it will be possible to progress to 2.5, which, i'd remind you, was the figure when labour were last in office. it's the present government which has cut it. >> we've spoken to the defence secretary on this programme who's told us that 80,000 civil service jobs will be going in order to fund the uplift to 2.5% of gdp . that sounds like they've of gdp. that sounds like they've done some work towards it, like they can fund it because they can show where the money is coming from. why can't you just match them on that pledge? >> well, i think the simple answer is because the last time they made an identical promise, they made an identical promise, they ended up almost doubling they ended up almost doubling the number of civil servants rather than cutting them. so i don't have any faith in that kind of mathematics . kind of mathematics. >> and just lastly, do you think it's fair to say that , kemi it's fair to say that, kemi badenoch work on this equality act , the proposals for women's act, the proposals for women's rights and the like are just a

distraction, that they're stoking the culture war. >> well, to be honest, i wasn't entirely sure what she was announcing this morning. i don't know if she's proposing new legislation or if she's proposing to issue new guidance . proposing to issue new guidance. i mean, the sort of basic things that she's saying , if they if that she's saying, if they if we're going to issue some guidance to clarify the situation for service providers, i think i'd support that. that is broadly the labour party position as well. i suppose i'm really asking why hasn't she done something about it in the last two years, rather than concentrate on a culture war? >> okay. well, thank you very much indeed for your time . much indeed for your time. labour's steve mccabe there. great to speak to you. >> well, coming up, we're going to be live in normandy as we approach the 80th anniversary of d—day. the are really getting going. you want to

>> right. 149 is the time. and later this week , we'll mark 80 later this week, we'll mark 80 years since the largest amphibious landing in military history saw more than 150,000 allied troops risking their lives by storming nazi occupied beachesin lives by storming nazi occupied beaches in normandy. >> yeah, it proved a major turning point in the second world war and ultimately, of course, led to the liberation of western europe, the defeat of nazi germany and the modern world order in which we all enjoy today. but shall we cross to normandy, where our reporter sophie reaper is? as the preparations are really getting underway? and sophie, just tell us where you are . us where you are. >> good afternoon to you both. you are rejoining us in beautiful bayeux, which is right in the centre of the normandy coastline, between those five beaches, which on thursday it will be 80 years since those d—day landings. now preparations, as you say, are well and truly underway here in

bayeux. you can see all of these flags around me. we've been here since yesterday and we've seen people from the armed forces, current and in the past, we've seen military vehicles travelling around this area of france. it's been a little bit chaotic, i won't lie to you, but exciting all the same. now you'll see these flags behind me. of course, we can see the french flag there, the union jack. we've also seen canadian flags, american flags. but it isn't just those countries that were affected. of course, as we know, world war ii affects the whole world. so people from all over the planet will be coming to this part of france over the coming days. and just two of those people have come over from belgium. we spoke to them a little bit earlier on about why they've made the journey to france, and here's what they had to tell me. i think the first to come through here we have in belgium the first war, then after 20 years or about, it's the second world. >> this and many people is affected die for the freedom of us. this we are respect all all.

all the people here die on the on the beach of for us. >> yeah. we like the celebrity. >> yeah. we like the celebrity. >> we like the all the people. yeah. for us, it's a pleasure for seeing and the remembering of, our our over great parents. they come with food from belgium to the normandy for, the first war for, the liberty . war for, the liberty. >> this we are very happy for. >> this we are very happy for. >> it's a fight. >> it's a fight. >> it's a fight. >> it's for us. it's to respect our side also . but we don't we our side also. but we don't we must. don't forget it. all the things they are this for the for the freedom of europe. >> of europe. >> of europe. >> yes . >> yes. >> yes. >> it was absolutely phenomenal getting to speak to chris and arnold. they're travelling all the way over from belgium and i think what they said, they're

right at the end about respect and freedom. it's so, so crucial. and that is exactly what we'll be taking place here in bayeux. but across normandy over the coming days, as we show our respect for the 80 years since d—day . since d—day. >> it's a remarkable, remarkable time to remember. and of course, there are so many people who gave their lives but also performed quite so heroically on storming those beaches. a celebration as well as a commemoration. sophie >> absolutely. and in the lead up to d—day, i know myself and my colleagues. emily, you mentioned earlier you've spoken to a veteran recently , and i to a veteran recently, and i know over the coming week we'll be having interviews with veterans with the royal british legion, who we've spoken to in advance. and whenever you speak to one of these veterans who was there on the day, it's always incredibly moving. and the line they always give is that they don't think of themselves as a hero because they survived . it hero because they survived. it was the men who lost their lives

on d—day that are the real heroes . so i know it will be heroes. so i know it will be incredibly moving over the coming days as we get to hear more and more of their stories, as we pay our respects and, as you say, celebrates the fact that we have our freedom now because of what the sacrifices they made 80 years ago. >> yes, indeed. thank you so much . sophie reaper gb news much. sophie reaper gb news reporter. there live in a very sunny normandy. thank you very much indeed for your time. yes, it is very moving. speaking to a 98 year old veteran , because 98 year old veteran, because there aren't that many of them left. unfortunately, as time goes on, that's why it's so important to keep remembering . important to keep remembering. >> it's one of those one of those facts about the about increasing number of obviously years since the since the war and, since those, heroic people really did so much to keep us free. yes indeed. >> well, coming up, we'll be asking if the tories plans to amend the equality act really add up to much. and of course, we'll be checking in on nigel farage. but first, your weather with alex burkill .

with alex burkill. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello again. it's time for your latest gb news weather forecast brought to you by the met office. through the rest of today, it's actually likely to stay mostly dry, but there are some wet weather on the way as we go through tomorrow because of a system that's currently out in the atlantic, this is going to push its way eastwards and then southeastwards across the country. as we go through tomorrow. but for the time being, like i said, mostly dry , being, like i said, mostly dry, a few spots of rain, perhaps across parts of northern england, northern ireland where there is a decaying front lingering across us. but overnight , most places staying overnight, most places staying dry with some cloud, a few clear spells perhaps, but some rain then pushing into northern ireland as we head towards dawn because of the largely cloudy skies, i'm not expecting temperatures to drop a huge amount, generally staying in double figures . if we take double figures. if we take a closer look at what we can expect tomorrow morning, then it is going to be a bit of a damp

start across parts of scotland. some heavy bursts for the far north of scotland, particularly orkney. shetland could have some downpours here. elsewhere across much of scotland quite a cloudy picture and there will be outbreaks of rain coming in from the west, a drier and brighter towards eastern parts , also towards eastern parts, also quite cloudy and damp across northern ireland. parts of northwest england and into wales as well, but more central southern and eastern parts of england. actually starting the day on a dry note . and there day on a dry note. and there should even be some sunshine breaking through the cloud at times . we are going to see that times. we are going to see that rain in the northwest gradually making its way south eastwards, and there could be some heavy downpours mixed in with it. possibly the odd rumble of thunder too. in the south—east, likely to stay pretty dry through much of the day by the time the rain arrives here it will have broken up, so it should be mostly light temperatures in the southeast, rising to the low 20s, but colder air towards the northwest of this front means that it's going to be markedly fresher here, and there'll be plenty of showers pushing through. some of these could be heavy, possibly thundery. there could even be a bit of snow over the scottish

mountains, which not unheard of for the start of june. later on, as we go through the rest of this week, it's going to be a bit cloudier, a bit cooler than it has been recently, and most of us will see a bit of rain at times by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather

gb news. >> right. good afternoon. britain >> should we just do the whole show in sync? >> it's 2:00 on monday, the 3rd of june. >> i'm emily carver and i'm tom harwood. >> as nigel farage changed his mind over standing for parliament. well, the honorary president of reform is to make what he says is an emergency election announcement later today. what could it be? >> and the tory war on gender law. the conservatives pledged to shake up the equality act and end confusion over the legal definition of sex in order to

protect female spaces. much needed clarification or simply stoking the culture war. >> and keir starmer has declared labour are the party for national security . they're national security. they're promising to build more nuclear submarines to keep britain safe . submarines to keep britain safe. critics say labour can't be trusted over defence and security , and preparations are security, and preparations are ramping up for the 80th anniversary of d—day. >> we'll hear about the enormous commemoration efforts this week from our reporters on both sides of the channel . of the channel. and this afternoon is really gearing up for what is perhaps going to be the most significant announcement of the general election since the date it was called. >> do you think? >> do you think? >> i think i think this will be the, i think, biggest cut through piece of news that we've heard , since the start of the heard, since the start of the election campaign. if mr nigel farage decides to stand for

parliament, he likes to tease, doesn't he? >> putting out this morning, or was it about midday that he's, he's going to make this emergency general election announcement? the urgency . lots announcement? the urgency. lots of people. everyone seems to be saying, oh, he must be standing . saying, oh, he must be standing. he must have decided that actually, he's going to throw his hat in the ring and run again for the chance to be an mp. >> of course , he's tried that >> of course, he's tried that seven times and seven times he's been unlucky. he did, of course come close in 2015, his last attempt in south thanet, although so could he try somewhere else? there's lots of people talking about clacton , people talking about clacton, which is the only seat in the whole country to ever have returned a ukip mp at a general election. >> yes, and there's been all this survey data, hasn't there, that shows that would be the safest bet for nigel. there's a lot of potential voters for the reform party. so what do you reckon? do you reckon he's going to throw his hat in the ring and say, you know what, now is the time to do it. he was, of course, talking a lot about going to the united states and helping out with the trump campaign and all of that. have things changed? we'll wait to

find out. >> of course, this would be a u—turn on the statement he put out just a week and a bit ago where he said that he's going to, focus on the united states after this election and help reform in his honorary capacity . reform in his honorary capacity. but, maybe, just maybe, he's changed his mind. >> has he got the campaign bug? have people been in his ear telling him, you've got to do it. you've got to do it, nigel. well, we'll find out very soon. gbnews.com/yoursay is the way to get in touch. but it's your headunes. headlines. >> very good afternoon to you. it's 2:03. i'm aaron armstrong, rishi sunak has denied he's stoking a culture war with his pledge to amend the equality act. to make clear sex means biological sex, rather than genden biological sex, rather than gender. the prime minister says the safety and security of women and girls means the current confusion over the legal definition can't be allowed to continue. the proposals would allow organisations to bar transgender women from single—sex spaces including

hospital wards and sports events. labour called the policy an election distraction. rishi sunak says the conservatives are just trying to clarify the law rather than change it. >> so the equalities act was passed over a decade ago and what's clear today is that there's a lack of clarity in the law, and that's risking the safety of women and girls. so we've announced the bold action that we would change the law, change the equalities act so that sex means biological sex. and what that will do will mean that providers of single sex services and single—sex spaces will be able to protect women and girls and ensure their safety and security , sir keir safety and security, sir keir starmer says national security will always come first. >> under his changed labour party, he reaffirmed the uk's commitment to a nuclear deterrent , claiming it's a deterrent, claiming it's a fundamental, vital part of our defence. labour are pledging to build four new nuclear submarines and increase defence spending to 2.5% of gdp when

economic conditions are right, the conservatives say they'll meet that target by 2030, while sir keir has dismissed concerns that his shadow foreign secretary and deputy party leader voted against the uk having nuclear weapons just eight years ago, and he's criticised the tories for politicising the issue. >> i would prefer if politics were kept out of this issue , were kept out of this issue, even at this election , even at this election, throughout the whole of this parliament, i have deliberately not been partisan over security . not been partisan over security. just before this election, the tories questioned this labour party's commitment to national security, and i will not let that stand. the people of britain need to know that their leaders will keep them safe, and we will. >> the liberal democrats are vowing to tackle water pollution as part of their manifesto.

they've announced plans for a new protected blue flag status for rivers with legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping, and also special protection for swimmers and wildlife. it would include the expansion of marine protected areas to cover at least 50% of the uk territorial waters by 2030, lib dem deputy leader daisy cooper says the move will benefit everyone , and we've been benefit everyone, and we've been leading the campaign to end the scandal of raw sewage dumping here in henley. >> local residents know all about that. they know that the sewage dumping is bad for wildlife, they know that it's causing real problems with tourism as well, and people want tourism as well, and people want to see an end to this particular scandal. that's why today liberal democrats are announcing our plans to introduce a blue flag status to protect local rivers. >> nigel farage has fuelled speculation he'll stand as a reform uk candidate after saying he'll make an emergency general election announcement later. the party's honorary president has previously stated he would instead focus on getting donald

trump re—elected as us president . mr farage has stood and failed seven times to gain election as an mp. you can watch that here on gb news at 4:00. friends and fans of rob burrow have paid tribute to the unassuming lad, with a superhero origin story following his death at the age of 41. burrow's passing was confirmed by leeds rhinos on sunday following a lengthy and high profile battle with motor neurone disease, he raised awareness and millions of pounds for charity. well—wishers gathered outside headingley stadium on monday morning to pay their respects, laying flowers , their respects, laying flowers, scarves and other tributes. former team—mate at leeds rhinos jamie jones buchanan said rob was one of a kind. >> he was an amazing person . he >> he was an amazing person. he was a superhero. i think everybody in life has got an origin story and this young, unassuming lad from castleford who had a gift, a physical gift. i love rugby league and decided to use that gift in rugby league, and it was one that everybody looked at and thought, oh, this fella is tiny, he's too

small. he'll never be able to play small. he'll never be able to play a game like rugby and not. did he just prove everybody wrong. but he used that gift to be world class, to stand out, to be world class, to stand out, to be different. and he found his sense of purpose . sense of purpose. >> four members of a dog fighting ring, including a kingpin known as doctor death, have been jailed for a string of animal welfare crimes. chelmsford crown court heard. dogs were given brutal training regimes and starved to make fighting weights before being put in bouts where they sometimes fought to the death. the ringleader, philip ali, was sentenced to five years in total , while other gang members received sentences for offences under the animal welfare act the royal college of nursing is warning hospital patients are dying in hospitals, describing the problem as a national emergency. the union says people are being treated in cupboards and car parks for long periods of time, and may even undergo cancer diagnosis or intimate examination there. almost three

quarters of 11,000 frontline staff surveyed said the care they delivered in public places compromised patient privacy and dignity , and smoking. charities dignity, and smoking. charities are urging the next government to revive legislation designed to revive legislation designed to ban young people from ever being able to legally smoke. new analysis has revealed the majority of people are backing the plans to phase out the sale of tobacco. the law would have made it illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone born after january. the first, 2009. the prime minister has expressed his disappointment that the law would not make it into the statute book before he called the general election . but for the general election. but for the general election. but for the latest on all of our stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts or the qr code on your screen. or you can go to our website now. and now it's back to tom and . emily. back to tom and. emily. >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:09, and i have to say, it's

turned into an incredibly busy start to the week. there's a huge amount to get through dunng huge amount to get through during this hour. and of course, we'll be looking ahead to nigel farage's emergency election announcement as he calls it, whatever that might be. >> yes. what could it be? is he planning to stand for parliament? that is what most people seem to be saying. most political commentators, most people who have thoughts on such things, but we will find out very soon. very 500“. >> very soon. >> meanwhile, the conservative party has been accused of failing the armed forces. sir keir starmer made the claim as he laid out his party's defence policy earlier today , which policy earlier today, which includes what he calls a nuclear deterrent triple lock and not to be confused with the pension triple lock, no, or indeed the pension quadruple lock, triple lock. plus, i'm looking forward to what? what other unrelated issue could be called a triple lock next? well, he's also said that he'd like to get to 2.5% of spending, but he hasn't said that he definitely will. so not a pledge. they're not matching

the tories. >> yes. rishi sunak has pledged to amend the equality act to end gender confusion and protect women's spaces, as he looks to target what is often considered an achilles heel for the labour party. in defining what a woman is . is. >> and the liberal democrats have swapped their battle bus for a battle boat as they've been campaigning in oxfordshire today on an issue that they're continuing to champion, protect britain's rivers and coastlines, which deputy leader daisy cooper spoke about earlier today , spoke about earlier today, liberal democrats have put health and social care front and centre of our campaign in this general election. we have a plan to tackle the cost of living, and we've been leading the campaign to end the scandal of raw sewage dumping here in henley, local residents know all about that. >> they know that the sewage dumping is bad for wildlife. >> they know that it's causing real problems with tourism as well, and people want to see an end to this particular scandal. that's why today liberal democrats are announcing our plans to introduce a blue flag status to protect local rivers.

>> and, of course, the liberal democrats have been up to a bit of mischief, as is always fun in general election campaigns. when rishi sunak went to meet a team of women rowers in henley today to talk about single—sex spaces, just have a look at who popped up in the background. yes, it's none other than daisy cooper , none other than daisy cooper, the deputy leader of the lib dems with a with a lot of her, lib dem friends there just quietly waving , lib dem friends there just quietly waving, making a casual photobomb for us, as it's known , photobomb for us, as it's known, it's probably the most polite protest i think i've ever seen in my life. >> yes. the liberal democrats there with their big neon signs, yes . rishi sunak probably didn't yes. rishi sunak probably didn't appreciate that. but hey, perhaps you can see the humour in it. >> there's a lesson to all political planners keep your plans under lock and key. otherwise. otherwise the lib dems will turn up with their cheery boat. >> well , let's now get the view >> well, let's now get the view of conservative heather wheeler . of conservative heather wheeler. >> heather, thank you very much

indeed, the labour party talking tough on defence, national security today they're parking their, their tanks on the on the tory lawn . tory lawn. >> yes. unfortunately anybody can read hansard and see how they all voted. so when it came to opportunities to, vote to support aukus vote to support nuclear deterrence , time and nuclear deterrence, time and time again, they voted against or even couldn't be bothered to turn up to vote at all. >> but keir starmer keeps saying he's changed his party, that the party is a completely different party is a completely different party from the party it was five years ago. are you not buying that? no. >> i mean, genuinely, people like lammy, who's going to be a very senior, sorry, is a front bench spokesman now for labour, you know, he voted against it. there's numerous, angela rayner voted against it, for goodness sakes. so, you know, let's, change what change? >> the problem, though, is, i mean, heather, i can't i can't count how many military chiefs

and people in the know have complained to us about depleted armed forces, about not enough money going into defence, about how the world is a dangerous place and the conservative government haven't provided enoughin government haven't provided enough in the way of resources. i mean, that's the that's the comeback here, isn't it? >> it's the comeback. but if they actually think that they're going to get better deal under laboun going to get better deal under labour, they are absolutely mistaken. straightforwardly we've put on the table 2.5% gdp on defence right now. labour are going to have a review. so for starters that means it's 0 to 2. it's going to be no increases whatsoever because it's not going to be a ten day review. it's at best it's a 100 day review. >> you're calling it a sprint review aren't they a sprint review aren't they a sprint review aren't they a sprint review a sprint review is 100 days. >> so if you think if the dear retired army chiefs think that they're going to get more money after 100 days with labour, i'm afraid they're deluded . no it's afraid they're deluded. no it's a, it's a profound question because of course it was rishi

sunak who in what was widely considered to be the sort of starting gun before the starting gun of the general election campaign. in a major speech, he was saying just how dangerous the world is and talking about china and talking about russia, iran, north korea . i mean, iran, north korea. i mean, defence is a serious issue in this campaign. >> it certainly is. and that's why one of the things that rishi has done so well over the last six months is taut with all of the local nato countries, because we've got to make sure that they're all doing 2% or 2.5% as an absolute minimum . and 2.5% as an absolute minimum. and so once we get that threshold going up from all of our partners joining in as well properly, then then , we will all properly, then then, we will all feel safer now. >> heather, the labour party setting out their stall on defence today. nuclear deterrent on big issues like that. the conservatives talking about confusion within the equality act, in which one has more cut through , certainly here there

through, certainly here there are major issues about, single sex wards, issues about access to, women's refuges , sports to, women's refuges, sports clubs, that sort of thing . and clubs, that sort of thing. and the emails i get in from constituents, as the candidate, obviously not as the mp , it's, obviously not as the mp, it's, it's really resonates very, very much with middle england. >> i think the problem is, though . though. >> sorry, heather, but, kemi badenoch was was doing the rounds this morning and she's the one who's, who's proposing , the one who's, who's proposing, proposing these changes. and it's still sounds quite confusing. i mean, i know it's a very complex area of legislation and the equality act has to work on, on rights of all different people . and it looks like people. and it looks like there's a conflict between women's rights and, rights for, for transgender people. but it's difficult to sell on the doorstep because it is so complicated and kemi badenoch. a lot of her answers were, you know, 2 or 3 minutes long.

>> kebbi is a very deep thinker, i prefer to go straight to the heart of it and straight to the heart of it and straight to the heart of it is there should be no equivocation. if you're running a running a women's refuge, you should have every right not to accept a trans person in that women's refuge. women are there because they are scared of men. that's the top and bottom of it. and so having somebody else come in who is biologically not a woman, then that means it gives them clarity on the single sex. >> that's the current law. there are refugees . there are refugees are refugees. there are refugees in this country that do decide to turn away trans people and have separate paths , right. have separate paths, right. let's really let's go back to the law at the minute. it is not 100% clear that if you're running a women's football team, that you can say you are not going to accept a transgender person. that's why it needs to go back to the original biological sex. yes a clear

definition of what biological sex and what sex means would be welcome, i'm sure, by many women. just lastly , nigel farage women. just lastly, nigel farage this big announcement at 4:00, this big announcement at 4:00, this big announcement at 4:00, this big general emergency general election announcement, he's calling it a thoughts. >> i imagine he's catching a plane and going to america and leaving the form to the, small numbers. it's going to get in the election. what do you think? >> i think i'd be surprised if that were to turn out to be the case. what if he were to stand? is this the conservatives worst nightmare ? nightmare? >> as you have said already today on the programme, he stood many times before and has not got elected before. >> right. well, thank you very much indeed. heather wheeler, you are a conservative. standing at the general election. thank you very much indeed . yes. you very much indeed. yes. >> the people that were mps up until about a week ago not allowed to call them mps. well, joining us, joining us now for more on labour's defence pledge is gb news reporter charlie

peters. >> charlie, you've looked at what detail there is. what's your assessment ? your assessment? >> well, three pledges as part of this triple lock on the at sea deterrent, as you've mentioned, it's going to be labour committing to maintaining that continuous at sea nuclear deterrent. they've also committed to the replacement of the current vanguard class nuclear submarines with four more of the upcoming dreadnought class. they're expected to enter service in 2030, and their final pledge is that they will commit to any of the necessary upgrades to any of the necessary upgrades to maintain and continue the lives of those submarines . the lives of those submarines. the last introduction of a nuclear submarine in the 1990s, it was meant to have a lifespan of just 25 years, but that's been added by 15 years, stretching into the 2030s. and it's interesting when the labour leader, sir keir starmer, made this announcement this morning in greater manchester, he did it in front of several labour candidates who

are military veterans and alongside the shadow defence minister, john healey, and he he repeatedly said that labour has changed permanently on the issue of national security. he said that that while he's being the leader of the opposition, he has not. he has not sought to battle with the conservatives on national security questions, trying to contrast, of course, the period when jeremy corbyn was in charge. there are several debates about intervention in iraq and syria to tackle isis and that long and bloody airstrikes campaign . but by airstrikes campaign. but by contrast, if you've looked to the recent airstrikes in yemen , the recent airstrikes in yemen, there's been no opposition from there's been no opposition from the labour party on that perspective. he was pressed, however, on these nuclear plans because, as has been mentioned, both angela rayner and david lammy, two senior members of his shadow cabinet, did vote against those dreadnought class submarines being reintroduced when the vote went before parliament in 2016. sir keir said he put himself very much

talking about this decision as a personal one, saying i will be prime minister if we are elected on july the 4th and the decision as is, the tactics and procedures for the deterrent, will lie with him, not with members of his shadow cabinet. well very interesting indeed. >> thank you very much, charlie. gb news reporter. of course. good stuff. >> now , how how's this for >> now, how how's this for a story? members of a dog fighting ring, including a kingpin known as doctor death. well, they've been jailed for a string of animal welfare crimes. >> yes. so dogs have endured brutal training regimes, starved to fighting weight before being put in bouts where they fought, sometimes to the death. >> well, the animals suffered serious injuries, including broken legs, and were kept in dirty conditions. some with no access to clean drinking water or proper bedding , being left or proper bedding, being left caged and alone for long periods. right >> well, let's get the latest on

this with gb news, south east of england reporter ray addison. i mean, ray, this sounds like the most cruel treatment of animals . most cruel treatment of animals. >> absolutely. well, the judge said during his sentencing of philip alley that he showed shocking barbarism and callousness in relation to the dogs. >> in this case, he received the toughest sentence of four , the toughest sentence of four, the five years in prison. and of course, it was ali's mobile phone discovered during a raid by the metropolitan police following alerts by the rspca that held a goldmine of evidence and then to led the other suspects. it documented ali's involvement in a brutal dog fighting ring across england, the republic of ireland and france as well. >> it held hours of voice notes detailing the planning for these fights, details of cash prizes

between 3000 and £5000 for the winner , deleted videos on that winner, deleted videos on that phone as well showing graphic pick, dog fights and fatally injured dogs. >> also, the met police finding in ali's home a sort of rudimentary diy vet kit containing numerous items including skin, staplers and steroids for the dogs as well. now, the judge said, though, that the real source of evidence that the real source of evidence that convicted the four was the injuries to the dogs themselves. now, ali, as i said, one of four people convicted today for a range of animal offences. also, billy and amy leadley, from takeley in essex, a married couple, mr leadley , getting four couple, mr leadley, getting four years in prison. his wife handed 200 hours of community service mainly, the judge said, because somebody had to stay and look after their two young children and also stephen brown of

chigwell in essex. >> he's been sent down for two years and six months, all of them, all four disqualified for keeping owning dogs for the next ten years. i spoke briefly to ian briggs, chief inspector of the rspca, who led this investigation afterwards, and he said that dog fighting is still a serious issue in england . a serious issue in england. >> the judges sent a clear message today that dog fights or organised dog fighting is a practice that should be consigned to the past. it's got no place in today's modern society and the new, improved sentencing under the animal welfare act allows the judge to give out maximum sentences like we've seen today. >> so, as mr briggs was saying there, the length of the sentences only possible because of that change in the law back in 2021, 2021, the previous maximum sentence was six months.

now it's five years, and ali is certainly experiencing that now. >> well, thank you very much indeed , ray anderson, for indeed, ray anderson, for telling us about that case and that sentencing truly shocking behaviour. you wouldn't have thought people would still be doing this type of thing, but thank you. ray anderson, gb news south east of england reporter. what disgusting treatment, i mean , jay says i would do to mean, jay says i would do to them what they did to those poor dogs. despicable beings. well, i'm sure a lot of people would agree with you. >> quite right. well, coming up, do we have the right to roam the countryside? well, we'll be discussing that very shortly

good afternoon. britain. it's 2:28. and it's a very, very busy political day today. i don't think anyone quite woke up this morning expecting that nigel farage could be attempting an

eighth and eighth attempt at being elected to parliament. that's the speculation. there's an announcement later this afternoon. >> we don't yet know yet, he's, teasing so far. just with this, tweet, this tweet that's been shared by the reform party that he has this emergency general election announcement to come at 4:00. we'll bring it to you live here, so keep your televisions or radio sets on. but in other news, kate humble, the television wildlife presenter and author , has defended the and author, has defended the right to exclude the public from designated areas to ensure the protection of wildlife . protection of wildlife. >> well, whilst only 8% of england and wales is covered by the right to roam freely, the rules have become a contentious issue in recent years, with humble attacking those who litter and pollute the landscape. >> so, should people have the right to roam across england's green and pleasant land , joining green and pleasant land, joining us now is tim bonner, chief executive of the countryside alliance. tim, explain this one to me because i think most

people would assume that they could sort of, you know, wander the english countryside as as free english people. >> well, i don't think they do . >> well, i don't think they do. >> well, i don't think they do. >> i mean, we have a we have an amazing network of rights of way in england, 140,000 miles of footpaths , bridleways and other footpaths, bridleways and other rights of ways. >> and as you say, there's 8% of the country uplands, unenclosed land, land that isn't isn't in fields, hasn't got a fence around it. and where you where you can wander as you like, but that's been the situation in england and wales forever, it's one that we think needs to be maintained, not least because we are a very crowded island, we have a, we have a crisis, we have a, we have a crisis, we have a, we have a crisis, we have a nature crisis. we have real issues with biodiversity , real issues with biodiversity, and we also need to produce food. so we think that the situation as it is at the moment is the right one. there's managed access. we should be encouraging people to come to the countryside , but people want the countryside, but people want to walk on paths anyway. they don't want to, they don't want to climb barbed wire fences and wander, you know, wander through farmer's crops. so the best opfion farmer's crops. so the best option is managed access, giving

people well, well laid out, well signposted paths and a route to follow. >> yes, i suppose it does come to the very fundamental, fairly english, issue of property rights, some people would describe it perhaps as trespass. if you just wander through and perhaps destroy a farmer's crop in the process. >> well, it's sort of the definition of trespass. yes, that's that's the point. and this is this is a political debate and there's no doubt about it. and since we're in the middle of an election, it's probably worth pointing out that that under jeremy corbyn and for some years afterwards, labour was very heavily moving towards a right to roam, and that that's it's a popular concept on the left of the party. there's essentially marxist because they don't like private property. the idea that people own land and therefore can control them, interestingly , and this is a interestingly, and this is a sort of catalyst issue, i think, in terms of labour's relationship with the countryside and keir starmer labour has very clearly backed away and said it will not introduce a right to roam. that's a commitment that we'll

certainly be holding them to, but as i said earlier, we think it's a sensible one because there are all sorts of ways in which we should be working. people in the countryside should be working with government to encourage people out in the countryside. it's good for our health, it's good for the rural economy, it's good for everyone. frankly. but we don't need a right to roam to do that. we just need to be progressive about the current network and making sure that it works for everyone, from whichever background they are, people protest this though, don't they? >> they turn up and protest and essentially trespass to stamp their right on the land . their right on the land. >> oh, it's a it's a classic activist issue . what more can activist issue. what more can you what more can you love if you're if you're a left wing activist than, than going and finding a richard benyon or benyon who is a landowner on the hampshire berkshire border, there was a big trespass there focusing on that, but it's an ideal opportunity for a political activist , isn't it? political activist, isn't it? but is there any demand for this in the public? no they they they know what they want. they want

pubuc know what they want. they want public access to get them or a car park so that they can get into the countryside and they want to be able to walk out there, see the joins the countryside. and there's very few places you can't see from, from a public right of way. but the other way around. >> do landowners have have a duty to preserve the land that they own? because some people own huge amounts of land, so surely they should also have a duty to protect that, that wildlife and everything that goes with it . goes with it. >> absolutely. they have a duty of care. some of that statutory , of care. some of that statutory, some of that i hope goes much further, and they also have a, have a duty to maintain access to that land where access rights are there, where there are footpaths, you can't close a footpaths, you can't close a footpath , nor should you be able footpath, nor should you be able to, and actually we, we would like to see more permissive access. so we'd like to see people saying, yes, this, this is a, this is somewhere where i can allow people to come, you know, and if that means that i can keep them away from a more sensitive habitat, that's the right way. we should be thinking rather than talking about rights, which , as i said, are rights, which, as i said, are essentially political and which

risk, you know, having too many people in the wrong places in the countryside . the countryside. >> very interesting, quite interesting. sometimes when you listen to activists, you wouldn't you wouldn't know that there are currently miles and miles and miles , hundreds of miles and miles, hundreds of miles and miles, hundreds of miles of footpaths and national parks and all the rest of it. but tim bonner, chief executive of the countryside alliance, really appreciate your time. this afternoon. thanks for joining us. >> a very interesting debate. that and the jeremy corbyn policy of, you know, right to roam and all that. right to trespass. yeah. very interesting. now on the way, we're going to be live in normandy as we approach the 80th anniversary of d—day. normandy as we approach the 80th anniversary of d—day . the anniversary of d—day. the preparations are very much ramping up. but first, let's get your latest news headlines . your latest news headlines. >> it's 234. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom. the conservatives have been accused of a phoney culture wars after announcing plans to amend the equality act. the proposals would make clear sex means biological sex rather than genden biological sex rather than gender, and would stipulate those who are biologically male but identify as female should be

barred from using single—sex spaces. labour have called the policy an election distraction, but the prime minister says the safety and security of women and girls means the current confusion over the legal definition cannot be allowed to continue. >> so the equalities act was passed over a decade ago, and what's clear today is that there's a lack of clarity in the law, and that's risking the safety of women and girls. so we've announced the bold action that we would change the law, change the equalities act so that sex means biological sex. and what that will do will mean that providers of single sex services and single—sex spaces will be able to protect women and girls and ensure their safety and security . safety and security. >> sir keir starmer says the labour party will never shy away from doing our duty at home and abroad . he also said national abroad. he also said national security and economic security must go hand in hand. he's reiterated labour's commitment to maintaining the uk's nuclear capabilities, pledging a deterrent triple lock which

includes the construction of four new nuclear submarines and an ambition to increase defence spending when economic conditions allow . sir spending when economic conditions allow. sir keir spending when economic conditions allow . sir keir says conditions allow. sir keir says the changed labour party has moved on from the jeremy corbyn era . the liberal democrats have era. the liberal democrats have announced new protections for rivers and coastlines as part of their manifesto. it will include a blue flag status for rivers, which would set legally binding targets to prevent sewage dumping. the party says. water bosses have been able to get away with environmental vandalism by being permitted to pollute our waterways under toothless conservative policies , toothless conservative policies, and friends and fans of rob burrow have been paying tribute to an unassuming lad with a superhero origin story following his death at the age of 41. burrow's passing was confirmed by leeds rhinos yesterday following a lengthy high profile battle with motor neurone disease. he raised awareness and millions of pounds for charity. well—wishers gathered outside headingley stadium in yorkshire to pay their respects, laying

flowers, scarves and other tributes . we'll have more news tributes. we'll have more news coming up at the top of the next houn coming up at the top of the next hour, or you can get more now by scanning the qr code for gb news alerts.

>> okay. it is now 240, and martin daubney is up next. he joins us now. martin, you're up at 3:00. i i've heard there might be a bit of an announcement in your time . announcement in your time. >> that's right. >> that's right. >> to stand or not to stand, thatis >> to stand or not to stand, that is the question. nigel farage will answer at 4 pm. and of course, we'll be live exclusively at reforms, general election, emergency vie announcement. chris hope will be on site to get an interview with

nigel himself straight after that announcement. will it be hotly tipped? clacton. and if so, what's changed? nigel's mind? well, two massive opinion polls are due to drop this afternoon. one at four, one at 5:00. both are expected to see, that rishi sunak campaign is flatlining. there's no real interest in the conservatives out there. is that making big tory donors scratch their heads and think, what's the point in bankrolling this? is it time to flip? could nigel standing see a triple header beast or farage? anderson and tice make a beachhead into parliament from there? could there be a tory takeover by crossing the floor? so many questions. if you're a student of politics. christmas just came early and the feast starts at 3 pm. >> oh, martin, it's going to be a rich, rich program , not only a rich, rich program, not only rich with content, but also with metaphors and similes and all thatis metaphors and similes and all that is good. in political commentary, martin, thank you very much. see you at three. >> yes. very exciting polls

dropping nigel farage, making his big statement for the reform party. what will it be anyway ? party. what will it be anyway? well, not just that. >> also, something cryptic that has been tweeted from a, well, a conservative candidate who was an mp up until dissolution. of course, no mps exist, right now. but have a look at what conservative tom hunt tweeted a short while ago. he tweeted much to ponder , now what could this to ponder, now what could this what could this mean? i mean , what could this mean? i mean, obviously the conservative election campaign, the polls aren't going that well, could he be talking about nigel farage? i mean, he is a he was a conservative on the right wing of the party, although there is some speculation. >> clutching eggs here, much to man tweets, much to ponder. tory rightwinger tweets two hours before nigel farage gets up and makes a big speech. so could, mr tom hunt be looking to defect to reform ? >> reform? >> well, there's some speculation about that. although we must say also, the neighbouring seat to his,

central suffolk and north ipswich, a very, very safe tory seat. yeah, there seems to be a bit of a selection stitch up going ahead. so this could be about the situation whereby activists in that seat were told at just 1145 last night, the three candidates who were on this shortlist imposed by the central party, one of whom is the party chairman and none of whom are local. so essentially he could be booted out of his seat for a more favourable candidate. >> no, no, no, it's the neighbouring seat to his, the neighbouring seat to his, the neighbouring seat. >> he's ipswich, the neighbouring seat is central suffolk and north ipswich. there was some speculation he'd want to swap to that seat. right, because it's a lot safer . but it because it's a lot safer. but it could be that tory chairman richard holden, whose seat is being abolished, north west durham is going to go and parachute himself in there. yeah. >> some suggestion that he could be saying i don't want to stand orjust be saying i don't want to stand or just that there's deeply undemocratic processes going on in the tory party, as there is in the tory party, as there is in the tory party, as there is in the labour party as there are whenever there's a snap election called the central party sort

of, takes control of selection processes, although slightly more democratic in the tory party in the labour party, they just plonk a candidate and say, no vote, nothing. >> this is your candidate in the tory party they say you can choose from. >> well, the people will have their decision, won't they? on july the 4th, a little sooner than some had hoped. anyway, later this week we'll mark 80 years since the largest amphibious landing in military history saw more than 150,000 allied troops risking their lives by storming nazi occupied beachesin lives by storming nazi occupied beaches in normandy. >> well, let's cross over to normandy now. where our reporter sophie reaper is as preparations for thursday get underway. and, sophie, i have to say, it does look like glorious sunshine where you are . where you are. >> it's absolutely divine here in bayeux. it has been all day, and we are expecting that to be the case for the rest of the week, which would just be absolutely perfect . just really absolutely perfect. just really top off these celebrations here for the 80th anniversary of d—day. now, you mentioned those preparations underway. we've seen quite a few emergency services in the past few hours.

police, especially as they prepare the security side of things. of course, a massive undertaking as we're expecting thousands, if not tens of thousands, if not tens of thousands of people to descend on this area of france over the coming days ahead of the anniversary on thursday. but there's also some more fun preparations underway. you'll see behind me the flags that have been hung ahead of this, the royal standard flying here behind me as well. you can see people in military is not an uncommon sight. today. we've seen hundreds of people wearing various armed forces uniforms just around the corner. they're hanging up big lights for a big display commemorating 80 years. it's really quite incredible. and that isn't just here in bayeux. it's across normandy, along that coastline where the five beaches were. where, back in 1944, the brits, americans and canadians descended on those beaches. now, of course it was. it was those three. but it wasn't just them . world war ii

wasn't just them. world war ii affected the entire globe. so there was people from all over here today in bayeux , just two here today in bayeux, just two of those from belgium. here's what they had to tell me . what they had to tell me. >> i think the first to come through here, we have in belgium, the first world. then after 20 years about it's the second world. this and many people is affected die for the freedom of us. this we are respect it all. all all the people here die on the on the beach of for us. yeah we like the celebrity. >> we like the all the people, yeah. >> for us, it's a pleasure for seeing and remembering of, our, our over great parents. they come with food from belgium to the normandy for, the first war for, the liberty. this we are very happy for. >> it's a fight. it's for us.

>> it's a fight. it's for us. >> it's to respect our side also. but we don't we must. don't forget it . all the things don't forget it. all the things they are this for the for the freedom of europe. >> of europe. yes yes. >> of europe. yes yes. >> hello . >> hello. >> hello. >> thank you very much, sophie. i really appreciate your report. there from normandy. we'll check in with you again tomorrow, i hope. yes. and it's always good to see a beret in the wild. >> you know, you're in france when you see one of those. >> thank you very much indeed. well, coming up, we'll be heading to leeds rhinos rugby stadium as tributes continue to pour in for rugby league legend rob burrow. stay tuned

>> good afternoon. britain. it's, ten minutes to three. now. tributes have been flowing in today for former england rugby league legend rob burrow , who's league legend rob burrow, who's died sadly at the age of 41

after his battle with motor neurone disease. >> yes. well our yorkshire and humber reporter anna riley joins us now from headingley rugby stadium in leeds. anna thank you very much indeed, for being there for us. tell me about the atmosphere there and what some of his fans have to say. >> it's a very sombre atmosphere here. lots of people have been coming in their droves throughout the day , hundreds to throughout the day, hundreds to come and pay their respects to rob burrow. he was a rugby league legend. he played here for leeds rhinos. he had a 17 year career and he lost his battle with motor motor neurone disease . yesterday leeds rhinos disease. yesterday leeds rhinos sent out a message yesterday saying that he passed away surrounded by his family at pinderfields hospital . fans are pinderfields hospital. fans are sad and shocked at the news and

they've been telling me what a legacy that he leaves behind and what a fantastic player he was. players and his former team—mates at leeds rhinos also gathered here earlier this afternoon to pay their respects and to lay tributes that you may be able to see behind me. the shirts . there's flowers, there's shirts. there's flowers, there's scarves. i spoke to cameron smith, the captain of leeds rhinos , and this is what he said. >> put some into words, you know, i think what rob meant to the whole rugby league community and, the whole of the uk up to this point has shown, you know, tonight, today and last night a lot have come and paid their respects today and, you know, i don't think you find many people that would have a bad, bad word to say about rob. and every person that is interacted with has they've left with, a positive thought about him. so yeah, it's really fitting that people have come and paid their

respects. >> and of course, as well as being so known for his rugby credentials , rob was also known credentials, rob was also known for the fundraising that he did for the fundraising that he did for motor neurone disease alongside his friend and previous team—mate, kevin sinfield. the pair raised millions of pounds for motor neurone disease and in fact, today the rob burrow motor neurone disease centre . neurone disease centre. construction began in seacroft , construction began in seacroft, near leeds. it's a centre for people with motor neurone disease, £6.8 million invested into that and in fact rob's mum and dad were there. they were the first ones to put a spade into the ground to start that construction. in rob's legacy , construction. in rob's legacy, vie wonderful legacy, it is to have that that £6 million centre that will be so vital for so many people in the country, it's just remarkable that the day construction was to begin is

just the day after he passed away. anna riley, thank you so much for joining away. anna riley, thank you so much forjoining us live from much for joining us live from headingley. >> thank you very much indeed. well i think that's up from us, but it's a very exciting hour to come. >> we're expecting reform uk's big announcement. is nigel farage going to u—turn and stand to be a member of parliament after all? >> is he going to stand? you'll find out. and also some polls dropping. what will they have to say? >> not only your common or garden poll, but the proper big, big, massive multilevel regression and post—stratification analysis polls, which are the enormously talented and very predictive models. >> well, there you go. tom's very excited about the particulars of this particular poll, but there you go. martin daubney is up next. and he'll be bringing you that big election announcement live . announcement live. >> but that's it from us on. good afternoon britain. see you back here again tomorrow . back here again tomorrow. >> a brighter outlook with boxt

solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello again. it's time for your latest gb news weather forecast brought to you by the met office through the rest of today, it's actually likely to stay mostly dry , but there are stay mostly dry, but there are some wet weather on the way as we go through tomorrow because of a system that's currently out in the atlantic, this is going to push its way eastwards and then southeastwards across the country as we go through tomorrow. but for the time being, like i said, mostly dry a few spots of rain, perhaps across parts of northern england, northern ireland where there is a decaying front lingering across us. but overnight, most places staying dry with some cloud, a few clear spells perhaps, but some rain then pushing into northern ireland as we head towards dawn because of the largely cloudy skies, i'm not expecting temperatures to drop a huge amount, generally staying in double figures . if we take double figures. if we take a closer look at what we can expect tomorrow morning, then it is going to be a bit of a damp start across parts of scotland . start across parts of scotland. some heavy bursts for the far north of scotland, particularly

orkney . shetland could have some orkney. shetland could have some downpours here. elsewhere across much of scotland. quite a cloudy picture and there will be outbreaks of rain coming in from the west, a drier and brighter towards eastern parts also quite cloudy and damp across northern ireland. parts of northwest england and into wales as well, but more central, southern and eastern parts of england. actually starting the day on a dry note and there should even be some sunshine breaking through the cloud at times . we through the cloud at times. we are going to see that rain in the northwest gradually making its way south eastwards, and there could be some heavy downpours mixed in with it. possibly the odd rumble of thunder too. in the south—east, likely to stay pretty dry through much of the day by the time the rain arrives here it will have broken up, so it should be mostly light temperatures in the southeast, rising to the low 20s, but colder air towards the northwest of this front means that it's going to be markedly fresher here, and there'll be plenty of showers pushing through. some of these could be heavy, possibly thundery. there could even be a bit of snow over the scottish mountains, which not unheard of for the start of june. later on, as we go through the rest of

this week, it's going to be a bit cloudier, a bit cooler than it has been recently, and most of us will see a bit of rain at times by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on gb

news. >> a very good afternoon to you. it's 3 pm. welcome to the martin dalby show on gb news broadcasting live from the heart of westminster and all across the a the uk. >> what a show we've got for you today. >> all eyes are on 4 pm. today as nigel farage makes a hugely anticipated hated emergency general election announcement in london. and with speculation running rife with nigel, is set that he will announce, after all, to stand as an mp. we'll have full analysis and of course , cover that announcement live with an interview as well with

nigel farage later in the show. and while rishi sunak will surely be nervously keeping an eye on nigel's big announcement, he's been at a sports centre today and the tories have today pledged to protect women's rights, in the course of which they've been accused of stoking a culture war. meanwhile, sir keir starmer is spending today trying to convince the electorate that labour would go nuclear on defence despite twice backing jeremy corbyn for prime minister, who pledged to scrap uk's trident plan. can we trust the labour party on defence and rugby league legend rob burrow has sadly passed away aged just 41, after a brave battle with motor neurone disease will pay tribute to the leeds rhinos star. the talk to former team—mate. that's all coming up in your next hour. well, welcome to the show to stand or not to stand, that is the big question.

and at 4:00 today, nigel farage will answer it