bills are set to rise >> energy bills are set to rise by 10% as millions of pensioners are losing their winter fuel payments. here is sir keir starmer. two years ago though i understand i completely understand i completely understand why so many people are frustrated at the government that's not doing anything about their energy bills and under my leadership we can have a fresh start for britain. >> it's at the bbc again. one show and match of the day host jermaine jenas has been sacked over alleged inappropriate behaviour. he spoke about it on talksport. >> i'm not happy at all about the outcome of this, but, you know, there's two sides to this whole thing and. >> jermaine jenas wife ellie penfold, is said to be standing by him after he was sacked by the bbc. the former footballer says he is speaking to his lawyers . i accept your lawyers. i accept your nomination to be president of

the united states of america . the united states of america. >> and as you've just seen, kamala harris has officially accepted her party's nomination at the democratic national convention in chicago and asked america to choose freedom and fairness over trump extremism and the funeral for elsie dot stancombe. >> the seven year old girl killed in the southport stabbing attack is taking place this morning. we'll be outside the service . service. >> and a new lung cancer vaccine is being tested on patients in the uk for the first time, with hopesit the uk for the first time, with hopes it could improve survival rates. more on that coming up . rates. more on that coming up. in >> thank you forjoining us this >> thank you for joining us this morning. hope you're doing well at home. and also we're going to be covering this rather extraordinary story of a convicted child rapist who has been spared prison. the judge,

quote unquote, saying that in any other time a custody sentence would be inevitable. but our prisons are full, dawn. so you're going to get a suspended sentence. you can walk free. >> meanwhile, we had a 55 year old woman given a 15 year sentence. straight to jail. do not pass. go for a facebook post. what she posted was stupid , post. what she posted was stupid, but does that make sense to you.7 can but does that make sense to you? can someone make it make sense because i certainly can't. >> two tier justice in action. >> two tierjustice in action. let us know what you think gbnews.com/yoursay. but before before we do anything else, here's your news headlines with sophia wenzler. >> ben. thank you. good morning. i'm sophia wenzler with your headunes i'm sophia wenzler with your headlines at 930, households face higher energy bills this winter after ofgem increased the price cap to an average £1,717 from october, adding around £12 a month to an average bill. ofgem said that the 10% rise was largely due to higher wholesale

gas prices, energy and net zero. secretary ed miliband says he understands people's concerns. >> i know this will be really worrying for news lots of families who will face even greater struggles this winter, andifs greater struggles this winter, and it's a direct result of our country's exposure to international gas markets that are controlled by dictators. and thatis are controlled by dictators. and that is a legacy left to us by the last government. that's why this government has a plan to do something about it. our mission for clean home—grown power that we control in this country . we control in this country. >> in other news, match of the day and one show host, jermaine jenas has been sacked amid claims of inappropriate behaviour, it's been reported the termination followed allegations involving digital communications, such as allegedly sending unsolicited texts to junior members of staff . texts to junior members of staff. that's according to a report in the mail. the news broke yesterday afternoon while

jermaine was on air with talksport . talksport. >> it's being reported that you sent unsolicited texts to a female member of staff at the one show. is that true? >> there's, like i said , i'm not >> there's, like i said, i'm not happy about this situation. you know, i'm going to be speaking to my lawyers about it is all i can say right now. i'm not happy at all about the outcome of this, but, i've got to leave it in the hands of the lawyers right now. >> were you surprised that any complaint was made against you ? complaint was made against you? >> i can't really talk, maybe as much . i can't really talk right much. i can't really talk right now . how. >> now. >> and a man has been charged with murder after the death of a delivery driver in an alleged van jacking incident in leeds, 42 year old claudio carol condon 42 year old claudio carol condor, from sheffield, died as he tried to stop a thief stealing his van when out delivering parcels on tuesday

evening. 32 year old mark ross is due to appear before leeds magistrates court later. those are the latest gb news headlines. for now, i'm sophia wenzler more in half an hour for the very latest gb news direct to your smartphone , sign up to to your smartphone, sign up to news alerts by scanning the qr code, or go to gbnews.com >> forward slash alerts . >> forward slash alerts. >> forward slash alerts. >> good morning to you. it's 935. welcome to britain's newsroom with me ben leo, fresh off my holidays . off my holidays. >> you may have spotted this glowing, gorgeous tan that he has no sunbeds in sight. >> let me tell you, you weren't on a race to the sunbeds with the germans, were you? >> like a lot of people do on holiday. are you putting a towel out at 3:00 in the morning? >> i was definitely on the sunbeds. i meant the tanning bedsin sunbeds. i meant the tanning beds in on your high street. oh, right. >> okay.

>> okay. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> you've spent, like, literally three days on a sunbed. it was very strange because i've never had the chance in my life, really, since having kids at least, to just sit around all day and do nothing. >> it's kind of it takes a day or two to get into the swing of it without anyone saying, we need to be here by this time, or we need to go and do this. it takes some doing just sitting there all day. well, i'm glad you're back. >> i'm raring to go and not putting the rest of us to shame with that gorgeous tan of yours. >> thank you. good to be here. >> thank you. good to be here. >> right. okay. now, this story is going to get loads of you annoyed already. and me, i must say, pensioners have been dealt a double blow this morning. not only are millions of people set to lose their winter fuel payments, but now energy bills are set to rise by 10% in october 2nd. >> yeah, but it's a stark contrast, isn't it, to what sir keir starmer said in 2022 before labour came to power. take listen. >> i understand i completely understand why so many people are frustrated at the government that's not doing anything about their energy bills, that's dhhenng their energy bills, that's dithering and delaying , just dithering and delaying, just like it did at the beginning of the year . in like it did at the beginning of the year. in the end , politics the year. in the end, politics is about choices , and this

is about choices, and this government is choosing to protect the profits of oil and gas companies. unexpected profits of oil and gas companies, rather than sticking up for and helping hardworking families and struggling businesses. i hope that just as we did earlier this year, we can force them into a u—turn because under my leadership, labour is on the side of working people and under my leadership, we can have a fresh start for britain . right? >> would that be the fresh start that rachel reeves did on week one? by actually taking winter fuel payments away from pensioners? >> well, there we go. well, those train drivers and doctors need to be paid somehow. oh yeah, who cares about the pensioners? and we're giving more money away abroad as well aren't we. >> yeah. and our taxes are still helping to pay mps expenses for their fuel bills. >> it really irks me how pensioners in this country are treated as third class citizens. these are the people who built this country. they grafted for decades. they were lucky enough

to buy their own homes and again, lucky enough to enjoy the capital gain from that. but there seems to be some sort of like jealous, envious agenda. >> they're all millionaires, ben. they're all millionaire pensioners. well, someone said that they don't need that payment . exactly. payment. exactly. >> they're millionaires on papeh >> they're millionaires on paper. but, you know, they need to sell these houses, you know? anyway, i just find it despicable how these pensioners in this country, they're treated as if they're sort of like, you know, but less class. >> let us know what you think on this one because this is important. a lot of you are very angry already, gbnews.com/yoursay, because i know if you like my mum, you're going to be absolutely spitting feathers over this one. >> there's also lots of people who buy a couple of quid will fall over the threshold for the winter fuel payments, not because they're millionaires or well off, they're just a couple of quid and it affects them dramatically. >> hundreds of pounds 11,500. that's all you need. that's a couple of quid more. right. okay now we move on to the really sad story. we're seeing live pictures of the parents of seven year old elsie dot stancombe house. she is one of the three little girls killed in that horrific southport stabbing. and

her funeral will be taking place later this morning. >> yeah . awful scenes, i don't >> yeah. awful scenes, i don't know what to say when i see and heat know what to say when i see and hear. beautiful song. this is it. is it eva? eva. cassidy, let's listen to it. listen we'll be shining cause i feel that when i'm with you . when i'm with you. >> so . right . when i'm with you. >> so . right. i know it's right >> so. right. i know it's right. and the song for. and keep singing like they know the score . singing like they know the score. and i love you i love you, i love you like never before.

>> so, eva cassidy's beautiful song , songbird being played song, songbird being played there outside elsie's house in southport. the family released a statement last night calling her a devoted swiftie who brought light, love and joy to so many lives , they said elsie embraced lives, they said elsie embraced life and its positivity, hope and love that we celebrate her life today on elsie's special day and they went on to describe their family as the four best friends in the whole wide world. and that mantra will remain with

us for the rest of our lives. soundin us for the rest of our lives. sound in the knowledge that elsie is here with us and forever will be in our hearts , forever will be in our hearts, incredibly moving. >> and i know they particularly wanted to celebrate their little girl's life rather than mourn her. the sadness , the tragedy of her. the sadness, the tragedy of her. the sadness, the tragedy of her death. so that's why , you her death. so that's why, you know, there's all the pink balloons and the teddies and the flowers and everything. it's just incredibly moving . just incredibly moving. >> and her family said that she loved to dance , and it goes loved to dance, and it goes without saying. in the statement, she said she was always up for anything and gave every activity a go, and she went after them all. she found her real passion in cheerleading. her weekly classes couldn't come around quick enough. her persistence was admirable. from competing in three k runs and ten k charity walks for her local hospice, as well as moving up book spans in school and everything she did. she gave 100% and would never give up. elsie brought lights, love and joy to so many lives andifs love and joy to so many lives and it's been clear to us in the

overwhelming response from everybody that knew her and everybody that knew her and everybody within the community and do you know what? it's, it's lovely seeing and hearing about the girls behind this tragedy. there they are. >> the three, because this is what it should be about, ben. the whole thing, the whole tragedy of these little girls was overtaken by the events that followed that weren't connected to these three little girls. i mean, we should be thinking about them and what their families are going through . and families are going through. and it's this is a celebration of the incredibly stupidly short lives that they lived. and there were three there were three bestest friends. and they, they, you know, they were the excitement of going to that dance class together and it's just incredibly moving. so thoughts with everybody in southport today. and how do you explain to the little friends at school what's happened to their chums ? chums? >> yeah, the three girls bebe king who was six, elsie dot stancombe who was seven, alice da silva aguiar who was nine. and they were they were i admit, they were forgotten about in the

aftermath of the attack because the country descended into temporary chaos. yes, but i'm touched and i'm so glad now that we are having a chance to get past that. and remember what happened on that day. yeah yeah. >> god bless them. >> god bless them. >> god bless those little girls, their families. our thoughts are with them. the community, the emergency service workers who were there that day, the other girls who survived, the teachers of that class, everybody connected to it . connected to it. >> and that's an important thing as that's an important thing. we forget to mention that, you know, the other children, the teachers, the teachers that were in that class as well, the whole community. oh, and now you can see live pictures of the beautiful, white horses pulling the little white carriage there, with elsie obviously in it and people walking behind it. it's incredibly moving scene. it's one of those beautiful, like, cinderella type, white coaches

that young children tend to have at funerals, all in white with, with pink , and chrome moving the with pink, and chrome moving the silence in southport at the moment. or you can hear is those horses walking down the road? literally no one saying anything, just looking as that moves past them as rainbow blankets over the horses, there , blankets over the horses, there, and they're sort of like just walking through the, the, the streets are just silent. you could literally hear a pin drop there. people are just thinking about , you know, those little about, you know, those little girls and what happened to them . girls and what happened to them. and, and you know, southport has come together over this. you know what, ben? if there is anything that comes out of these tragedies is that people do come together and you can see there the people walking behind our house, elsa's hearse, quietly just thinking about the events that have happened recently. and you know, saying silent prayers for elsie and her family. >> so the carriage is making its way to saint john's church in

birkdale, where her funeral, which the family are redescribing as her special day , redescribing as her special day, will take place from 10 pm. that's in 15 minutes, and the reverend jenny hardy will preside over the church, she told bbc radio merseyside that elsie's parents described her as, quote , an extraordinary as, quote, an extraordinary little girl who was very kind natured, would look after other people. she loved chatting, loved having fun, loved a party and loved a celebration. she was unusualin and loved a celebration. she was unusual in some ways, said the reverend, that she could really connect and converse with adults along with children, and she was wise beyond her years, emotionally intelligent and an absolute joy to be around , absolute joy to be around, >> so many lovely tributes paid to all three of these little girls, elsie's is the last funeral we've seen , so we've funeral we've seen, so we've already said goodbye to the other girls. >> and i think dawn as well. at the funeral , the lighthouse

the funeral, the lighthouse choir from liverpool will perform throughout, while a singer and pianist will perform some of elsie's favourite songs, including by taylor swift. elsie's family were walking behind the carriage there from her home to the church along dunbar road , sandon road, dunbar road, sandon road, cardigan road and saint john's road. let's listen now to the procession outside her house. angels know they have how betty so nice up in heaven. >> since you arrived. tell me why do you do up in heaven ? are why do you do up in heaven? are your days with love and life ? is your days with love and life? is there music ? is there art and there music? is there art and invention ? are you happy? are invention? are you happy? are you more alive ? is here on

you more alive? is here on earth? it feels like everything goodis earth? it feels like everything good is missing. earth? it feels like everything good is missing . since you left . good is missing. since you left. and here on earth everything's different, isn't emptiness . oh different, isn't emptiness. oh l, different, isn't emptiness. oh i, i hope your dancing in the sky. and i hope you're singing in the angels choir. and i hope the angels know they have al fayed. it's so nice up in heaven. since you arrived .

who've who ? i hope your dancing who've who? i hope your dancing in the sky. and i hope you singing in the angels choir. and ihope singing in the angels choir. and i hope the angels know what they have i'll bet it's so nice up in heaven. since you arrived . since heaven. since you arrived. since you arrived .

you arrived. >> that was a song there by danny and lizzie nelson. dancing in the sky. another beautiful track chosen to remember young elsie . elsie. >> you're watching our. you're watching live coverage of her funeral. elsie and her little friends alice da silva aguiar and bebe king, were the three little girls that lost their lives on that horrific knife attack in southport at the end of july, at the taylor swift dance class they were attending on, sort of like during the school holidays, elsie's is the last funeral to take place in southport. the family are saying this is a celebration of her life, and they've issued a new photo of them with elsie and her three year old sister rosie. incredibly moving and the order of service shows has elsie's

special day on it and a drawing of elsie dancing, which is the great love of her life. and she. yeah, that's the picture there. that's the issue by the family today. that's elsie , her mum and today. that's elsie, her mum and dad and her little sister rosie. and how do you explain what happened to a three year old? i have no idea. an 18 year old has been charged with the murder and attempted murder over the attack. on that awful day, the king has visited southport earlier this week and met some of the children who survived. he also looked at the sea of tributes outside the town hall and thanked emergency workers who responded, we have also had taylor swift, our , talking to taylor swift, our, talking to the families and to the survivors as well . and let's not survivors as well. and let's not forget, it was a taylor swift dance class that these little girls lost their lives. thankfully, all the other children that were injured on that day are now out of hospital, as well as the incredibly brave teacher who was looking after them and people that tried to help as well, but you are incredibly moved by what

you're seeing today, janet says in tears. those poor little girls. very sad today , saying girls. very sad today, saying goodbye to elsie . oh, and jade goodbye to elsie. oh, and jade say you had that song at your son's funeral and you're sitting here in tears thinking about those beautiful little girls and their poor mums and dads. oh my god.so their poor mums and dads. oh my god. so emotional, >> a statement released ahead of elsie's special day as the family are describing it today, said that we were as a family, the four best friends in the whole wide world and that mantra will remain with us for the rest of our lives. sound in the knowledge that elsie is here with us and forever will be in our hearts. elsie's family said she spent every day just simply enjoying life with determination , enjoying life with determination, persistence, love and kindness . persistence, love and kindness. they said she was a devoted swiftie . her coffin now is being swiftie. her coffin now is being taken in to the church in southport. >> yeah, being carried by the

four pallbearers. a little white coffin there with i think with a balloon on top. is it, and multi—coloured pastel balloons in an arch around our saint john's church and people filing in, in silence after elsie's coffin ? i said she was, you coffin? i said she was, you know, she was a devoted swiftie. and they they will be celebrating her life with some taylor swift songs as well, which is lovely, isn't it, and, you know, as a family say she lit up the room. she was a truly unforgettable, unforgettable girl. loved her dancing and cheerleading and cheerleading and gave 100% to everything . i and gave 100% to everything. i mean, thoughts really are with those people in southport today . those people in southport today. >> lost the more i just, >> lost the more i just, >> i just can't imagine the pain of losing a. >> oh, you have two little boys yourself, don't you? ben and i think, you know, i mean, but, you know, people on here are commenting that you know, you know, it is just incredibly

emotional. janet. nanny, all of you commenting how moved you are by watching these scenes of, as we say farewell to elsie dot stancombe elsie stancombe up in southport today to till tomorrow starts tonight. >> tonight and let this promise in me start like an anthem in my heart . heart. >> from now one from now . >> from now one from now. one. >> from now one from now. one. >> i drank champagne with kings and queens . and queens. >> the politicians parade. >> the politicians parade. >> so if you're just tuning in live pictures here from southport for the funeral of

elsie dot stancombe, one of the three little girls killed in that horrific southport attack. and we said, dawn, didn't we? we've kind of forgot as they chase their feet a brighter outlook with boxt solar, sponsors of weather on gb news. >> okay , that was my mic live there. >> good morning . welcome to your >> good morning. welcome to your latest gb news weather update storm lillian has moved in overnight and will bring some wet and windy weather through the next few hours. but into this afternoon it will turn much dner this afternoon it will turn much drier as storm lillian clears into the north sea. but there are weather warnings in force for wind and rain through this morning. for northern areas of the uk, so there could be some travel disruption that may last towards lunchtime. for more southern areas, though, it will be a fairly dry day, some sunshine around as well. still a bit of a breeze out there. well into this afternoon, so temperatures across western coasts in particular still

feeling pretty fresh, but across the east we could see temperatures into the mid 20s across parts of eastern england. so a fairly fine end to the day tonight, particularly across eastern areas. so definitely a brighter end to the day for parts of scotland and the start of today. but there's still a few showers around and particularly across the west we still got quite a southwesterly breeze, so it is going to be feeling quite fresh into parts of northern ireland as well. some of these showers could be quite heavy, but for more southern areas, england and wales it will be a drier end to the day . not exactly wall to the day. not exactly wall to wall sunshine, but plenty more sunshine this afternoon compared to this morning. sunshine this afternoon compared to this morning . overnight, to this morning. overnight, though, the next area of rain will build to in more southern areas, so it will turn much wetter across southern counties of england overnight, as well as northern ireland and western areas of scotland, where some quite heavy showers will start to break out by tomorrow morning. so with plenty of cloud and rain around, it's going to be a mild night tonight. the winds won't be quite as strong overnight as they will be this morning, however, so a bit of a damp start to the bank holiday

weekend for much of eastern and southern areas of england that rain will gradually clear away to the east, but it will likely be replaced by quite heavy showers across many central areas of england. parts of wales too, and showers are going to continue for north and western areas too. so fairly limited sunshine to come on saturday. a bit of a drier afternoon for parts of northern england and wales, but temperatures definitely below par . definitely below par. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather

>> oh well . >> oh well. >> oh well. >> good morning. it's 10:00 >> oh well. >> good morning. it's10:00 on friday the 23rd of august. live across the united kingdom. this is britain's newsroom with ben leo and dawn neesom. >> very good morning to you. hope you're doing well . now. the hope you're doing well. now. the funeral for elsie dot stancombe, the seven year old girl killed in the southport stabbing attack is taking place this morning . we

is taking place this morning. we go now to live pictures in southport, where her funeral described as her special day by her parents, is taking place . i her parents, is taking place. i want you to know, i know that . want you to know, i know that. >> and meanwhile a breaking news this morning. >> and meanwhile a breaking news this morning . energy bills are this morning. energy bills are set to rise by 10% as millions of pensioners are losing their winter fuel payments. here are sir keir starmer. two years ago, though i understand, i completely understand why so many people are frustrated at the government. >> that's not doing anything about their energy bills and under my leadership we can have a fresh start for britain elsewhere. >> crisis at the bbc one show and match of the day host jermaine jenas has been sacked over alleged inappropriate behaviour. he spoke about it on talksport . talksport. >> i'm not happy at all about the outcome of this but, you know, there's two sides to this

whole thing and, you know, my lawyers are going to be taking over from now on. i accept your nomination to be president of the united states of america , the united states of america, >> kamala harris has officially accepted her party's nomination at the democratic national convention in chicago and asked america to choose freedom and fairness over trumps extremism . fairness over trumps extremism. well, an incredibly emotional start to the show today, ben, with the saying farewell to little el—sisi up in southport. so thoughts with everybody in that it's incredibly emotional morning. yeah. >> i was saying before we got cut off previously, i'm so happy now and happy and honoured for the families that we can finally now address what happened in southport. think about the

little girls who died, everybody who was involved. and we don't just see the rioting and the reaction to it. we go back and we understand what happened that day. who was affected, what's going on now? our thoughts are really are with all those girls, the families, the paramedics who were there at the start, the hospital staff who treated everybody , everybody involved. everybody, everybody involved. my everybody, everybody involved. my thoughts and prayers are with you today. >> and that's the important message this morning, how we're coming together to remember and say farewell to elsie, who sounded a cracking little girl. but this show is nothing without your views and your comments, especially on that, fuel bill issue. how are you going to be paying issue. how are you going to be paying 10% more? and many of you have lost your winter fuel payments? very simple. to get in touch. you go to gbnews.com/yoursay. but first let's get the news headlines with sophia wenzler. >> dawn thank you. good morning from the gb newsroom . it's just from the gb newsroom. it's just gone. 10:00. your headlines

households face higher energy bills this winter after ofgem increased the price cap to an average £1,717 from october. that's adding around £12 a month to the average bill. ofgem said that the 10% rise was largely due to higher wholesale gas pnces due to higher wholesale gas prices , energy and net zero. prices, energy and net zero. secretary ed miliband says he understands people's concerns . understands people's concerns. >> i know this will be really worrying news for lots of families who will face even greater struggles this winter, andifs greater struggles this winter, and it's a direct result of our country's exposure to international gas markets that are controlled by dictators. and thatis are controlled by dictators. and that is a legacy left to us by the last government. that's why this government has a plan to do something about it. our mission for clean , home—grown power that for clean, home—grown power that we control in this country. >> in other news, match of the day and one show host, jermaine jenas has been sacked amid

claims of inappropriate behaviour , it's been reported behaviour, it's been reported the termination followed allegations involving digital communications such as allegedly sending unsolicited texts to a junior member of staff. the news broke yesterday afternoon while jermaine was on air with talksport . talksport. >> it's being reported that you sent unsolicited texts to a female member of staff at the one show. is that true? >> there's like i said, i'm not happy about this situation. you know, i'm going to be speaking to my lawyers about it is all i can say right now. i'm not happy at all about the outcome of this, but, i've got to leave it in the hands of the lawyers right now. >> were you surprised that any complaint was made against you ? complaint was made against you? >> i can't really talk, maybe as much . i can't really talk right much. i can't really talk right now . now. >> now, a man has been charged with murder after the death of a

delivery driver in an alleged van jacking incident in leeds, 42 year old claudio carol condor from sheffield, died as he tried to stop a thief stealing his van when he was out delivering parcels on tuesday evening. 32 year old mark ross is due to appear before leeds magistrates court later in the us vice president kamala harris has formally accepted the democratic nomination for president on the final night of the party's convention in chicago. she also took aim at her opponent, opposition candidate, during her speech. the vice president went on to say that donald trump's only client he ever served was himself . himself. >> consider the power he will have , especially after the have, especially after the united states supreme court just ruled that he would be immune from criminal prosecution . just

from criminal prosecution. just imagine donald trump with no guardrails, but america, we are not going back. we are not going back to domestic politics. >> now, where tory leadership candidate tom tugendhat has apologised for record migration figures during the conservatives time in power. he sat down figures during the conservatives time in power . he sat down with time in power. he sat down with our political editor christopher hope, in this exclusive conversation on immigration. >> how do we finally, once and for all, deal with this issue of big let net immigration? and would you like to apologise for seeing those big numbers come? absolutely. >> look absolutely . and you know >> look absolutely. and you know we've all got to stand on our record. >> is it wrong then to allow, you know, 1.2 million to arrive in two years legally? >> no question. absolutely no question about it. because what we've got to do is we've got to make sure immigration is at a level that the british people and british society and what's your level can integrate ? well, your level can integrate? well, look, i'm interested in the

levels that we saw between 1990 and 2010. then it was what is that? it was about 100,000, roughly 120. >> and the funeral for the seven year old girl killed in the southport tragedy last month is taking place this morning . the taking place this morning. the parents of elsie dot stancombe have asked for her funeral to be referred to as el—sisi special day funerals have already taken place for bebe king, age six, and alice da silva aguiar, aged nine. the three girls were all killed attending a taylor swift themed dance class in an attack that shocked the nation . those that shocked the nation. those are the latest gb news headlines. for now, i'm sophia wenzler more in half an hour for the very latest gb news direct to your smartphone, sign up to news alerts by scanning the qr code , or go to gbnews.com code, or go to gbnews.com forward slash alerts .

forward slash alerts. >> thank you, sophia, and good morning to you at home. hope you're doing well ben and dawn with you this morning on britain's newsroom. only on gb news live across the uk, of course, and around the world now the funeral for elsie dot stancombe, the seven year old girl killed in the southport tragedy last month, is taking place this morning and we've just seen the incredibly moving images of the coffin being carried into a little white coffin being carried into the church . church. >> gb news reporter sophie reaperjoins >> gb news reporter sophie reaper joins us from southport now . now. >> morning, sophie. thanks for joining us. an incredibly moving service. from what we saw, some beautiful songs either cassidy's songbird amongst others. what's the atmosphere like down there? >> family to be together? >> family to be together? >> well, there are hundreds of people gathered here outside saint john's church in birkdale, southport, this morning. >> you can hear behind me that the funeral itself in the church has just begun. now they've got the speakers outside this church

and they've also got a live stream taking place elsewhere for the hundreds of people who have gathered, who have been touched by the horrendous attack that affected those families in southport on the 29th of july last month. now, this is the third and final of the funerals that will be taking place. of course, over the past few weeks, we we've seen the funerals of alice akua and bebe king. the two other little girls who were murdered at that taylor swift dance class. today it's the turn of elsie dot stancombe. the seven year old, who was murdered in that knife attack. but today , in that knife attack. but today, her family, her parents, they want this not to be known as elsie's funeral. they want this to be known as elsie's special day. this is to be a celebration of their daughter's life. not a time for mourning, not a time for sadness. they want it to be a positive. as you've just heard the lady speaking inside the

church. speaking. this is going to be called elsie fest. as people say goodbye to the seven year old. now this morning, as we saw the coffin of the seven year old, a coffin that was far too small for the little girl who was inside it. that too small for the little girl who was inside it . that life who was inside it. that life taken far, far too soon. we saw that carried in by the pallbearers, and it was followed by members of her family, cheerleaders from her cheerleading troupe. we also saw members of the royal mail, where her father works . there's a her father works. there's a prayer now taking place. dear god . and but this morning, her god. and but this morning, her family released a picture of the four of them mum, dad, elsie and her younger sister. they also released a statement in which said elsie spent every day just simply enjoying life with determination, persistence, love and kindness. elsie was an amazing little girl . she had the amazing little girl. she had the ability to light up any room that she entered. she was truly unforgettable. we are the four best friends in the whole wide

world and that mantra will remain with us for the rest of our lives. sending the knowledge that elsie is here with us forever and will be in our hearts . and i think that that hearts. and i think that that statement is incredibly emotional. they also spoke in the statement about about their little girl, about her love for dance and cheerleading, about her love for charity work, and of course, her love for taylor swift. we know that she was murdered at that taylor swift dance class last month , along dance class last month, along with the two other little girls who lost their lives. but it's not just those three little girls losing their lives that we think about today. it's all of the families who were affected. the two dance teachers who were affected, who spent time in hospital and the people of southport, this community who have come together at an incredibly difficult and tragic time, it's just it's an incredibly emotional time today. but as i say, it's also about

joy- but as i say, it's also about joy. it's about remembering elsie, but in a positive way. she only had seven years of life, but those seven years she spent were happy. and that is why today we have seen those pastel coloured balloons at the front door. mourners and guests were asked not to wear black, as you would see at a typical funeral. they were asked to wear pastel and bright colours. we've also seen balloons and bubbles blown, and that is because the little girl that is being mourned in this church right now was only seven years old when her life was snatched from her too soon. of course, now this is just an incredibly emotional time, but it isn't . it isn't the time, but it isn't. it isn't the end. once this is finished, there will be a procession through southport. and as we were driving in today, the sheer volume of pink ribbons that have been tied around this small

seaside town is unbelievable. and that is to mark the procession routes which will take place after this service at the church. and we're also expecting to see a small memorial from the royal mail. as i said before, elsie's father, david, works for the royal mail. so they will pay tribute to david's little girl. but as i say , just just just incredibly say, just just just incredibly emotional. we can hear songs taking place in that service as we speak and as the family and the funeral procession arrive. today we heard songs like the wind beneath my wings , a classic wind beneath my wings, a classic funeral song for the little girl. she arrived in a horse drawn carriage. the horses with a brightly coloured coloured feathers on their heads that the coffin itself , with pastel coffin itself, with pastel coloured flowers and balloons

tied to the top of it. because, as i say, this is supposed to be. this is elsie's special day. this is not going to be known as elsie's funeral, or as a day of mourning or sadness. this is elsie's special day . this is a elsie's special day. this is a day for family and her loved ones and this community here in southport, who have rallied over the past few weeks to not only support those families who have gone through the greatest tragedy that you could ever imagine , but to support imagine, but to support themselves. this is southport is a small seaside community that often people have very fond memories of. i myself have fond memories of. i myself have fond memories spent here in southport as a young girl and but this is community. they were rocked by the events at that taylor swift dance class, and the community have therefore had to rally. they've had to come together to support one another to get through an incredibly difficult time. and they are still going through that incredibly

difficult time. i think that's why we have seen so many hundreds of people gathering outside this church today, and they will line the streets here in southport as well . after the in southport as well. after the service as that procession takes place and as it travels through the streets of southport, people , the streets of southport, people, as i say, gathering, to reflect and to remember. and i'm going to stop now because we're heanng to stop now because we're hearing that statement from her parents has brought light, love and joy to so many lives in her seven and a half years . seven and a half years. >> from the moment her parents knew of her existence, she has brought them nothing but happiness and the life she has lived has been a true reflection of the love they have all shared together . jenny and david were together. jenny and david were absolutely delighted to discover they were going to become parents for the first time, and

they did all the things that you would expect them to do. and as anyone who knows jenny well, there was of course , a there was of course, a meticulously planned out order of things for everything to go except elsie always like to do things. the way she wanted to, and on her own watch. she arrived earthside a whole five weeks early. jenny had just finished work that day. she was looking forward to a few weeks rest, lunches out with her friends, last minute baby shopping, the things that we all think we're going to do in those first few weeks of maternity leave . elsie was far too excited leave. elsie was far too excited to meet her mummy and daddy , and to meet her mummy and daddy, and made it known that her time was now from the moment she was first placed in your arms , the first placed in your arms, the first placed in your arms, the first time you saw her special

name written on the board above the hospital bed , she filled you the hospital bed, she filled you both with a pride that words simply can't describe . that simply can't describe. that first night at home, when you both sat there wondering, what on earth do we do now ? how are on earth do we do now? how are we responsible for this perfect little girl? all new parents go through the exact same thought process , but elsie did not pick process, but elsie did not pick up on that fear or that worry that you had . she fitted into that you had. she fitted into your lives perfectly. she taught your lives perfectly. she taught you to how be the very best mummy and daddy , and she showed mummy and daddy, and she showed you right from the start that you right from the start that you were a team and that you were all in it together . jenny were all in it together. jenny fully embraced being a new mum and all that brought with it . and all that brought with it. she and elsie went to all of the baby classes. they made new friends along the way and they

learnt so much more about one another than she ever thought possible . as the months went by possible. as the months went by and the next chapter was about to begin , jenny and david to begin, jenny and david scoured the whole of southport for the perfect nursery for elsie, and they found that in natterjack, just down the road from here. elsie absolutely loved going to nursery. from here. elsie absolutely loved going to nursery . she was loved going to nursery. she was never one for looking back and wondering where on earth mum and dad had gone. she went in and embraced it all from the moment she could walk. she took herself off to play and explore and she was always the child everyone else wanted to play with. her kind and caring nature just welcomed everyone in from such a young age . she had such a high young age. she had such a high level of emotional intelligence . level of emotional intelligence. her confidence grew and grew and she was turning into this wonderfully polite and kind

little girl, a testament to all her parents and their grown ups in her life . her teachers at in her life. her teachers at farnborough road were always full of praise for her ability to always try her best, and she never once got cross. if something didn't quite go her way , her heart was too kind . it way, her heart was too kind. it was too kind for anger and for upset, and she would always find a way of working out a solution that would best support her. and on she went from there . elsie on she went from there. elsie lived out her school values every single day. she respected everyone she ever had an interaction with. she showed compassion for people in abundance. she persevered at everything. she tried her hand to even if she wasn't a massive fan of it. >> live from the funeral in southport of young elsie dot stancombe, the seven year old who was tragically killed in

that knife attack. describing how jenny and david, elsie's parents, were delighted to become parents for the first time with elsie, she came five weeks early to, they said, and they described how elsie couldn't wait to meet them because she was early, talking about how the mother , jenny, had about how the mother, jenny, had so many hopes and dreams for her young daughter. planning meticulously baby shopping, going to baby classes with her young girl once she was born , young girl once she was born, looking for the perfect nursery . looking for the perfect nursery. let's let's go back to the listen now. live again to the service. >> she would often be found as most seven year old girls do , most seven year old girls do, practising her cartwheels at any given opportunity and making sure she knew her routine in time for the next cheer practice. her dogged determination to complete a 10—k walk around southport on a cold,

dark friday evening in december just epitomised her strength and her want to make her loved ones proud . she even made a point of proud. she even made a point of saying to her dad at one point, i'd love to go on your shoulders right now, but we're nearly at the end. i'm going to keep going . the end. i'm going to keep going. she knew her nana would be watching and shining down on her with pride . and speaking of with pride. and speaking of pride, elsie's proudest moment came when she found out she was being given the title big sister. as any of us who are big sisters will know, it's an incredibly privileged title to hold and one that she was so excited for . she that she was so excited for. she absolutely adored her little sister rosie. she doted on her, mothered her, and loved her like no one else could. the three best friends became four best

friends and family. best friends became four best friends and family . time friends and family. time together was so, so precious . together was so, so precious. elsie and rosie have grown up with their parents, showing them how to truly live, how to embrace everything that life throws at you to and always, embrace everything that life throws at you to and always, always be there for one another. always be there for one another. they did all the things that we they did all the things that we so often for take granted, all so often for take granted, all the things that we don't give a the things that we don't give a second thought to. there are second thought to. there are days out near and far bike rides days out near and far bike rides down to ainsdale lake or the down to ainsdale lake or the fairy lake , as elsie named it. fairy lake , as elsie named it. did life fairy lake, as elsie named it. there were mummy and daughter fairy lake, as elsie named it. there were mummy and daughter coffee, lunches taking it in coffee, lunches taking it in turns to paint their nails turns to paint their nails together, baking in the kitchen, together, baking in the kitchen, going out for a sunday roast, or going out for a sunday roast, or simply just having music on in simply just having music on in the background and talking to the background and talking to each other about their days. each other about their days. elsie loved helping her dad elsie loved helping her dad

choose the next song, and she choose the next song, and she did also throw in the odd compliment here and there about his own choices and some of what we hear today is because of elsie and her dad's love of music, and the different types that they would have on at home and in the car. as elsie grew older and into the beautiful little girl that we love, her eye for fashion and detail grew with her. she had always had a good sense of style. she even managed to make one of her barbies a brand new dress, out of a little sweet wrapper that she'd found. she loved being creative and making new things, and the sewing machine for christmas brought her last year was the start of her thinking about bringing her designs to life. hobbycraft was one of her favourite shops. she could spend hours browsing all you feel

she instantly made you feel at ease. she was so bright and so articulate and you sometimes wondered how this beautiful little girl was intelligent enough to be conversing with you the way that she did . if she the way that she did. if she knew that you were heading out somewhere, if you were just popping somewhere, if you were just popping to the shop, or you were going on the next run, she would always offer to come with you for company. she never wanted you to be on your own. she also knew if you were going to the shop, there might be a sneaky little something in it for her as well . but that was her kind as well. but that was her kind and caring , as well. but that was her kind and caring, loving nature as well. but that was her kind and caring , loving nature that and caring, loving nature that she was just born with, simply just being elsie . she spent just being elsie. she spent every single day of her life just simply enjoying life, living her best life every single day. whether that was at home with her family, in school,

with her friends, or playing in the park with children . she had the park with children. she had just met elsie embraced life and the sadness that we feel at being here today is not just because of the life we have lost in elsie , but because of the in elsie, but because of the life we have lost in ourselves because of elsie not being here. she has made the biggest of impacts on so many people's lives, a number that is far too difficult to compute . her legacy difficult to compute. her legacy remains here on earth in you, her parents, in rosie and her grandparents, her cousins, her aunties, uncles and friends. your beautiful, aunties, uncles and friends. your beautiful , perfect little your beautiful, perfect little girl made you her mummy and daddy and that can never, ever be taken away. elsie was a gift given to you and to her sister,

and she made your lives immeasurably joyful . her story immeasurably joyful. her story does not end here today. her story will be told every single day by those who love her. her name. such a specially carefully chosen name will be said every single day. she will make you smile every single day , just as smile every single day, just as she did when she was by your side . elsie absolutely will side. elsie absolutely will continue to make a difference to this world because of her pure and kind heart. she always did what made her happy and she would want you to continue her happiness in your hearts . the happiness in your hearts. the light she brought to your lives will never , ever diminish. her will never, ever diminish. her sparkle will always shine, and the love we have for elsie in

our hearts will grow every single day . thank you, elsie, single day. thank you, elsie, for being exactly who you were made to be. thank you . made to be. thank you. >> just devastating words there to hear. absolutely heartbreaking. and it's those details, isn't it ? it's those details, isn't it? it's those details, isn't it? it's those details like her getting her ears pierced and scouring southport for a new pair of earrings with her father. it's heanng earrings with her father. it's hearing about the fact she got a sewing machine for christmas. it's those details that really make her into a real person. she may have only been seven, but she was still, as we say , had a she was still, as we say, had a huge impact on the lives of her family and friends. and now we'll hear from a school teacher at a school. >> we found comfort in sharing stories about elsie's time at farnborough road . as you can farnborough road. as you can imagine, there are thousands of memories that i could share with you, but hopefully these will demonstrate the amazing little

girl that we all love and remember when elsie first arrived at school on her dad's shoulders, she quickly made an impression. she wasn't just elsie, she was elsie dot with her hands on her hips and her usual sassy shimmer. she explains, that's my name because my mummy says i'm just like a little dot. people fondly remember the many ways that elsie travelled to school. dad shoulders eventually turned into a push along bike with a helmet. next came the stabilisers until eventually riding into school all on her own. whatever the transport, elsie always managed to do it with some style in nursery. when elsie returned to school after a day off, mrs. farmer assumed that elsie had been unwell. elsie quickly corrected her, explaining how she'd enjoyed a trip. a trip to a spa, with mum proudly showing off her latest sparkly nail varnish. we all know now how much elsie loved having her nails done. the more sparkle,

the better her show and tell. in reception will forever be a highlight in miss jackson's teaching career. each child bnngsin teaching career. each child brings in something special to school to share with their friends of course, elsie had to think slightly outside the box. she decided on a pair of glittery heels . after presenting glittery heels. after presenting her shoes to the class, she excitedly put them on. elsie then walked around the show and tell circle in her clippity clop shapps, asking everybody to feel them because obviously they were them because obviously they were the ultimate must have. i think if elsie could have, she would have worn them all day. definitely rather her than me. luckily for elsie, the school post was delivered by none other than her dad. it became elsie's daily mission to spot dad on his rounds, whether that be through the canteen window near the school office or on the year two playground. mrs. sinclair remembers waiting at the back of the class line with elsie , the class line with elsie, pretending that it was really tncky pretending that it was really tricky to lock the gate so that elsie could sneak an extra daddy

cuddle. she'd always proudly tell everybody , that's my dad, tell everybody, that's my dad, you know, it was obvious how important elsie's family were to her. elsie managed to end up in a class with her cousin , and a class with her cousin, and often referred to him with his full official title of cousin instead of thomas. they were incredibly protective of each other and proud of their relationship . elsie was a real relationship. elsie was a real font font of knowledge. she was always so inquisitive and she remembered facts with ease. miss calvert would specifically ask elsie to help. her recall dates from their history lessons. things might get past teachers, but they certainly wouldn't get past elsie. she really was an encyclopaedia of knowledge . encyclopaedia of knowledge. elsie loved performing, whether that be singing we don't talk about bruno making up dance routines with her friends or taking part in our school concerts. she was destined to be a performer. during our recent yean a performer. during our recent year, two concert, elsie amazed us from day one of rehearsals. mrs. flanagan and i were so impressed that our catchphrase

for the rest of year two became channel your inner elsie stancombe. she spoke so clearly and she even managed to take somebody else's part at the last minute. i won't ever forget the cheeky thumbs up and wink that i got when she'd finished. she knew that she'd nailed it . elsie knew that she'd nailed it. elsie was incredibly mature for her age. she loved catching up with the adults just as much as the children at playtime, she'd often say to me, miss sykes, should we just stay in here? it's quite cold out there, you know, if i glanced over at her dunng know, if i glanced over at her during a cold playtime, she'd make sure that she caught my eye and showed me how cold she really was. after showing me her chattering teeth, she giggle and carry on playing with her friends. it's always worth a try, isn't it? else a lot of room 12 are football enthusiasts, including myself. the first part of every day would be filled with the latest premier league scores and football achievements, to the dislike of many in our class. i'm a proud manchester city fan and this would often be included

in lots of the jokes. elsie would always roll her eyes and laugh, saying miss sykes , what laugh, saying miss sykes, what are they like? they never stop. do they? elsie always managed to be one of the last children out of the school door. she'd have to make sure that she'd said bye to make sure that she'd said bye to absolutely everybody left in the building and prioritised organising her friends. sorry, mum and dad . you just have to mum and dad. you just have to wait. these things need sorting and elsie was always the girl for the job. farnborough road will never be the same without elsie, but the memories that the children have are incredibly special and touching. their memories speak volumes and describe elsie in ways that singular words can't. she truly was one of a kind at the beginning of the year, i read a book to the children called what all wonders. it ends with a lovely quote when given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind. i often reflected on this quote with the class she always shaped the

memories of the children. highlight that elsie lived her life by this quote. she always show kindness to everybody around her. i'm now going to share some of the children's memories with you, elsie was a wonderful cheerleader. she was always teaching me when we played together. elsie chose for me to be the head cheerleader because i was so light and to easy lift. elsie loved to make me laugh. i remember when we race from the benches to the scoreboard and back, we were laughing so hard that we could barely run fast. the wind and laughter slowed us down, but we kept trying to catch up with each other. me and elsie love solving mysteries together. we would look around at the room at things on the table and solve who it belonged to or why it was there, and we would figure it out together. she made this game up for the two of us to play, so that i was always happy. i like dancing and being silly with elsie . i like lots of things, elsie. i like lots of things, but i love her. elsie was an

amazing friend and always made me laugh and cheered me up when i was sad. she was the best at playing freeze tag and i loved playing freeze tag and i loved playing with her. after we'd learned about mary anning , we learned about mary anning, we liked to dig in the playground for gems and fossils. we used to use the sticks and end up with dirty cardigans and hands. the world was a better place with elsie in it. elsie always had the prettiest socks and the shiniest shoes in the whole class . elsie, we have so many class. elsie, we have so many special memories of our happy times with you. we will cherish these forever. it's hard to put into words just how much we will all miss you. elsie. dot, you will always hold such a special place in our hearts. thanks, casey. it's amazing to hear those memories. >> they're incredibly heartbreaking, but i think it also really brings elsie dot stancombe to life for us. and those memories there from seven

year olds, from from children in her class and things like she always had the prettiest socks and she chose me to be head cheerleader. that's what this is all about. it's remembering the positives about a little girl who was killed alongside two others last month here in southport, merseyside fire and rescue service. >> whilst honouring the life of your daughter elsie , i know your daughter elsie, i know you've been deeply moved by the unwavering support of the emergency services who responded with professionalism, compassion and care and i want to thank you for letting us be part of elsie's special day . we all feel elsie's special day. we all feel extremely privileged to celebrate her life with you and pay celebrate her life with you and pay our respects . i know you pay our respects. i know you also want me to thank and extend those. thanks to all the emergency services who looked after all the girls affected by this incident. no words can adequately capture the depth of pain and loss felt by

yourselves, but you've shown extraordinary strength and grace despite the overwhelming sadness that has filled your days. you have found the courage to personally visit and express your gratitude to those who have stood by you in your darkest hour. stood by you in your darkest hour . the stood by you in your darkest hour. the outpouring of love and support from the community of southport and those around you has been overwhelming . in has been overwhelming. in a moment that touched the hearts of all who witnessed it, even your beloved dog bobby seemed to understand the gravity of the moment in his own way. bobby ran to a van full of officers, tail wagging to share their breakfast and appearing to offer his own form of thanks. it was a small act , but one that captured the act, but one that captured the deep bond that has united us all and reinforced that the heart of this. we are all family. we are all one community. i'm sure in a time of such great sorrow, the resolve and spirit of this

community has provided a source of comfort and reassurance through the many acts of kindness and solidarity, it is evident that southport is not just a place, it is your home and it will forever be elsie's home. i hope the warmth and care shown by neighbours, friends and the emergency services reminds you that you and your extended family are not alone . elsie bebe family are not alone. elsie bebe and alice will be forever in our hearts . hearts. >> representative. there from the emergency services here in merseyside , who were, of course merseyside, who were, of course the first to react on that day , the first to react on that day, and of course at the hospital with is now responsible for taking care of the little girls and the teachers who were affected, but those words there that elsie, alice and bebe, they

will always be remembered. i think that's part of the legacy that stands here in southport today. and it's so important that we remember that although their lives were taken from them too soon, that they will always be remembered , thrown away and be remembered, thrown away and broken things , gets excited broken things, gets excited about all my crazy dreams . about all my crazy dreams. >> got every sunset that she's ever seen memorised. >> saves them away for a rainy day. >> while you're joining us live now as we listen to the service of, elsie from southport this morning, she was the one of the victims of the southport stabbing. incredibly moving, tributes being paid by her family, by her teachers, and by the emergency services. and i think so many of you are getting in touch as well, saying you're in touch as well, saying you're in tears, listening in. you have

children and grandchildren yourself and you are incredibly moved listening to these words. i think the most important line that i'm taking from it is that the friend who was reading out the friend who was reading out the initial address said, our elsie's story doesn't end here, and it will be told every day . and it will be told every day. her sparkle will never end and i think that says everything you need to know. and also painting the portrait of this little girl, seven years old, about how she was creative. she loved painting her nails. she loved doing cartwheels. she loved riding on her dad's shoulders. she loved becoming a big sister. the proudest moment was when her little sister molly was born. rosie, she's three years old now, and just painting a portrait of an ordinary little girl growing up in southport, just living her life full of energy , full of hope, full of energy, full of hope, full of joy energy, full of hope, full of joy and as i particularly love the tribute about her. and when she went to get her ears pierced for the first time. and if you have daughters or grandchildren,

you'll know how important that is to little girls. and that just brought it home. the reality of what the family have lost. but i keep coming back to the fact that elsie's story doesn't end here. it will never be forgotten. i was sorry, i'm cracking up. it's horrible. it's incredibly emotional, and sophie is covering it so incredibly well for us. i'm sorry. i don't mean to get emotional here, but. sophie, can you bring us up to date on what's happening now at the actual church ? long before the actual church? long before she came into the picture, brought the beauty i was missing with her. >> showed me colours i ain't never seen . she took. never seen. she took. >> okay, i think we're sophie will be with us imminently. yes, there was also a family friend who spoke so poignantly about elsie's parents, jenny and david, who described the build up to elsie's birth. she was

five weeks early. they said she couldn't wait, of course, to meet her parents. the mum, jenny, i mean , it was such jenny, i mean, it was such emotional detail how as every parent does and every parents do, they go baby shopping for clothes, they go nursery planning, booking, booking, baby classes when elsie was born, as all parents do . and you know, all parents do. and you know, the hopes and the dreams they had for her little girl. who were they were dashed prematurely. >> but it's incredible. and a lot of you are getting angry. but as, a lot of you are saying, this isn't about what actually happened, about the piece of filth who did this, who took the lives of these three little girls. it is today about elsie . girls. it is today about elsie. and i love ben in particular the stories about her and about how she when she did the, the 10—k walk for charity and how she, you know, she was very tired. she was a little girl and she wanted to get on her dad's shoulders, but she goes, no, we're coming near the end. dad, i'm not going to i'm not going

to do that. i'm going to carry on walking. such a bright, gorgeous little girl and incredible tributes. there from family, friends from her school teachers. and she was described her name was elsie dot. and because she was a little dot and she was very proud of that name as well, and being called dot, we're going to go back to the service. >> now. let's see if we can tune in. >> remember me at my happiness in sunshine glow. >> you can stand on the highest mountain you could swim in. the deepest sea. it won't matter . deepest sea. it won't matter. because an invisible string ties us always. you and me . us always. you and me. >> a moving prayer there inside saint john's church. as the service for seven year old elsie

dot stancombe. also known as elsie special day , continues elsie special day, continues here in birkdale . some times in here in birkdale. some times in our lives we all have pain. >> we all have sorrow . >> we all have sorrow. >> we all have sorrow. >> but now, as this music plays, there are still people lining there are still people lining the streets here outside the church, many of whom have been in tears throughout hearing the audio from inside the church. as we've heard from a member of close to elsie's family who spoke directly to her mother and father, we also heard from a member of staff from the school that elsie attended, who read out some of the memories that children in her class had written down. and we also heard from a representative from the emergency services here in

merseyside who, as i mentioned before, were the first people to respond on the 29th of july when that knife attack took place. now, it's been an incredibly emotive service so far, but as i said to you before ben and dawn, that this day is all about remembering elsie as a bright, happy young seven year old. i just might have a problem that you'll understand. we're also been hearing some music which, as we heard as part of the service , are songs that the service, are songs that the family feel represents elsie and her father, as they both had a love of music and that is the soundtrack to today . soundtrack to today. >> i'm going, wow, what a morning! and i've said it this morning! and i've said it this morning already that i'm i'm glad we have a chance to

remember these three little girls who died in southport because in the immediate aftermath were , of course, the aftermath were, of course, the riots. and it kind of felt for a while that their memories were forgotten what happened to them and their families. and i'm glad now that you know, we are now back to where we should be. we should have been thinking about these little girls. >> i just want to read this particular. thank you so much for your messages and i'm sorry it is incredibly upsetting. a viewer, 47 says, i'm not the crying type, but what an unbelievable , tribute to this unbelievable, tribute to this little girl. i know how you feel. i'm not the crying type ehhen feel. i'm not the crying type either, but there's something about this that is just really, i think getting to all of us and. and you are saying that , and. and you are saying that, elsie had the most loving family, listened to his funeral. the family have done elsie proud. now the whole world will always love and remember little elsie dot. >> yeah, beautiful and again, i refer to the statement from the family last night. refer to the statement from the family last night . mum jenny, family last night. mum jenny, father david, who said we are.

we were the four best friends in the whole wide world, and that mantra will remain with us for the rest of our lives. sound in the rest of our lives. sound in the knowledge that elsie is here with us and forever will be in our hearts. so that's mum, jenny, dad, david, elsie and of course her little sister, who was. she was so proud. dawn, it was. she was so proud. dawn, it was said she was so proud to welcome her little sister. think. >> i mean, speaking as a big sister, i think the most amazing experience in the world is when you become a big sister and you remember elsie was only four when her little sister was born, and i was four, and my little sister was born. and it is the most amazing. suddenly it's like, oh my god, i'm a big sister. i have to. so the pride that elsie had in in in little rosie, they were incredibly close to two sisters, used to do everything together and sort of like, you know , how they. and i like, you know, how they. and i love the story about how elsie , love the story about how elsie, you know, obviously taylor swift and huge taylor swift fan would tell her dad off when he wanted to put his music on. and sort of like try and play taylor swift all the time. and we do know that taylor has been in touch with the families and the victims of the surviving victims

of southport. i think we can go back to sophie at the actual service now a million times. >> we needed you a million times. we cried . if love alone times. we cried. if love alone could have saved you, you never would have died . in life we would have died. in life we loved you dearly. in death we loved you dearly. in death we love you still . inside our love you still. inside our hearts you hold a place no one will ever fill . if tears could will ever fill. if tears could build a stairway. and heartache could make a lane. we'd walk the path to heaven. and bring you home again . path to heaven. and bring you home again. but as god path to heaven. and bring you home again . but as god calls us, home again. but as god calls us, one by one we know we will be

together again . together again. >> the poem read out there we only wanted you about elsie dot stankom, about the fact that the parents of her, jenny and david, they weren't interested in anything else. they just wanted her here in this very place . her here in this very place. >> mummy and daddy brought her here to offer to her god. and that was the start of a long journey. i have the privilege of being able to share something with a reading that actually is so powerful in its words. listen carefully. it's in matthew's gospel chapter 19. then people brought little children to jesus for him to place his hands on them and to pray for them. but

them and to pray for them. but the disciples , well, them and to pray for them. but the disciples , well , they the disciples, well, they rebuked them . jesus said , let rebuked them. jesus said, let the little children come to me and do not hinder them , for the and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these . and when he had such as these. and when he had placed his hands on them , he placed his hands on them, he went from that place . went from that place. >> i love stained glass windows. personally, i always find that they speak to me and they're always based on biblical stories and characters behind me, just above el—sisi now, and where she was baptised as a baby. you may have noticed our stained glass windows that depict the biblical story that roy has just read to us. there's two things in this

story that really stand out to me. one, jesus says , let the me. one, jesus says, let the little children come to me , and little children come to me, and two, that the kingdom of heaven belongs to these children . jesus belongs to these children. jesus loves little children we see on the window. he's chatting to them. he's even given one of them. he's even given one of them a carry . and we've heard them a carry. and we've heard how wise for her years elsie was, how she was emotionally intelligent and could hold conversations with adults, as well as playing with other children. i've had this beautiful image in my mind of elsie just sitting there with jesus, with all the children , jesus, with all the children, having a nice little chat. so naturally , i'm sure, because naturally, i'm sure, because elsie is so caring and she always thought about other people, she'd be asking jesus things like, well, what about me mum and dad? what about my family and my friends? are they going to be okay without me ? can going to be okay without me? can i just go back just for a minute,

just to let them know that i'm okay? there's a story called water bugs and dragonflies. i've got a pond in my back garden, and i often see these water bugs and i often see these water bugs and dragonflies. the story tells us of a group of water bugs who were friends every so often they see other water bugs rising to the top of the pond and disappearing , never to be seen disappearing, never to be seen again . one day, a little group again. one day, a little group of water bug friends decide to make a pact , of water bug friends decide to make a pact, and they say, if that ever happens to any of us, let's promise that we will come back and tell the rest of us where we've gone and what it's like. not long after this , the like. not long after this, the very water bug who made the suggestion finds himself rising to the surface . suddenly, he to the surface. suddenly, he wakes up on a lily pad and discovers that he has a new body and beautiful wings, and he's comfortable in the lovely warm sun. he begins to whizz around

with his wings, and he's just having a great time. all of a sudden he looks down and sees his old home. the pond, and he remembers his water bug friends and the pact that they had made. and he decides he'll go back and he'll tell them how amazing his new life really is. so he zooms to the pond. but no matter how hard he tries, he just can't make it underneath. back to his old friends . make it underneath. back to his old friends. i think jesus might be explaining something like this story to lc . lc has be explaining something like this story to lc. lc has a be explaining something like this story to lc . lc has a new this story to lc. lc has a new body and a new life, and it's not here on earth. it's in a place where there's no more pain, no more suffering or sadness. lc will be having a great time in her new body and her new home. lc is with jesus and all those that loved her who are in heaven with her now, the good news for us is that we have

this hope because jesus says, come to me , we're all invited as come to me, we're all invited as children of god to this place, to a forever home where it's beautiful and perfect, and there is no evil. and the best news is, and that we can come to jesus today just as we are, and he will bring us comfort too. one day we will all leave this place , but in the meantime, we place, but in the meantime, we can invite jesus into our hearts while we're still here. if we do this, the spirit of jesus will come into our hearts . it's hard come into our hearts. it's hard to understand, but we as christians believe in one god, father, son, and holy spirit. so as we come to jesus and his holy spirit comes to us, we are one as well. we are with lc in

spirit even while we are still here, and we can look forward to being together fully again one day because we are all children of god and we are all invited to come to jesus. earlier we heard the lighthouse choir sing these words and we will come back home. we will all go to our forever home. one day and be fully reunited. when we accept this invitation of jesus to come to him. it'sjust this invitation of jesus to come to him. it's just one more step along the world. el—sisi has gone and one day we will go too. but for now, lc continues to travel along with us in our hearts and through our connection by the spirit of god. so now we're going to stand together and we're going to sing the song one more step along the world. i go safe in the knowledge that elsie has travelled from her old to her

new, and she will continue to travel along with you. let's . stand. and . and. >> well, we heard there from a representative from saint john's church who gave comforting words to elsie's family , expressing to elsie's family, expressing that in their faith, the elsie has just gone on to the next stage , and that she will see her stage, and that she will see her family once again, and that all comes as part of elsie's special day here at saint john's church in birkdale . michael olise

in birkdale. michael olise. >> okay, so we're live. of course , from the funeral of course, from the funeral of young elsie in southport, who was horrifically murdered alongside her two friends in that attack. some really heartfelt tributes and memories there of the young girl and my thoughts now are just with the family. the dad , elsie's father family. the dad, elsie's father david, her mother jenny, you know, it's a wicked world at times, isn't it? it's a horrible dark world. but from hearing her funeral today, it seems that elsie was one of those human beings who really lit the place up with her presence, with her sassiness as it was described. her humour and the love she had for her family, for her friends, her school, her love for life. >> they painted an absolutely beautiful picture of a very vibrant little girl who loved her dancing, her loved her cartwheels, her loved her baby sister rosie. and so many of you are coming up with the same quote that i always think when you do lose someone. grief is

the price we pay for love, and i think that's so important. but i also just know that elsie is on also just know that elsie is on a journey with you. elsie will never leave you. her story doesn't end here. it will be told every day. her sparkle will never end. and i think that is so important for mum and dad and everyone that loved elsie to remember and keep with them. it's incredibly hard. obviously when you lose someone , but i when you lose someone, but i think what else his story does and what the funeral does is make us remember what this is about. make us remember what this is about . lots of you are saying about. lots of you are saying that you are feeling devastated by listening to the funeral service, but you're also very angry. and i think, yes, there is a moment for anger, but at the moment this is about elsie as her parents want to do to celebrate her life. a life, a vibrant life full of hope and joy vibrant life full of hope and joy and thoughts with everybody at that funeral and everybody listening this morning . listening this morning. >> the words amen simply means that we all agree, and that these prayers combined become our prayer. let's pray . heavenly

our prayer. let's pray. heavenly father, you know our hearts and share our sorrows. we are hurt by our temporary parting from elsie , who we loved so much. elsie, who we loved so much. when we are angry at the loss we have sustained , when we long for have sustained, when we long for words of comfort, yet find them hard to hear. turn our grief to more patient faith and our affliction to firmer hope in jesus christ, our lord. amen father, the loss of elsie brings an emptiness into our lives. father, the loss of elsie brings an emptiness into our lives . we an emptiness into our lives. we are separated from her and feel broken and bewildered. give us confidence that she is safe and her life is complete with you, and bring us together to the wholeness and fullness of your presence in heaven. in our time where your saints and angels endure, you forever and ever. amen amen. lord, we pray for

those who miss elsie, who will miss the joy and love that she brought each coming day . for brought each coming day. for jenny and david, and for rosie, for charlie and george. for grace . thomas, callum and grace. thomas, callum and spencen grace. thomas, callum and spencer. for all of her loving family, for elsie's friends, teachers and neighbours . be teachers and neighbours. be gentle with them in their grief . gentle with them in their grief. show them the depths of your love. a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven. spare them the torment of guilt and despair. be with them as they weep and comfort them with your holy spirit. amen most merciful god , spirit. amen most merciful god, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding, surrounds our seas. family, with your love that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your love and strength to meet the days to come. we ask this through christ, our lord. amen heavenly

father , you alone can heal our father, you alone can heal our broken hearts . you alone can broken hearts. you alone can wipe away the tears that well up inside us. you alone can give us the peace we need . you alone can the peace we need. you alone can strengthen us to carry on. we ask you to be near those whose time of joy has been turned into sadness. assure them that with you nothing is wasted or incomplete . and uphold them with incomplete. and uphold them with your tender love, supported by your tender love, supported by your strength. may our love for one another be deepened by the knowledge of your love for us all. amen. we'll now join together in saying the christian family prayer that jesus taught us. we pray together. our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come, thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. and ever. amen. in just a moment, we're going to sing another song, and it's one that elsie would regularly sing in hair school assemblies. and it's a song that has actions. so i'm going to ask my glamorous assistants from farnborough road school to join me, and we're going to lead you in the actions and we're going to look a bit silly if you don't join in. and so we'd appreciate if you stand and join in with the actions as we sing, be bold, be strong . garford beck

be strong. garford beck. >> and as we just heard, we're about to hear a song our stop so we can hear that song which we believe will have some actions to go along with it. a song that elsie would have sung on a regular basis with her school friends .

>>i >> i know you're all going to go home with that song in your head , home with that song in your head, doing a little dance in your heart. please do take your seats for the notices. >> it's worth also adding that the weather here in southport is really rather beautiful. now, earlier on today it was really rainy and windy, but the sun is now shining almost as if elsie is shining down on this service and we are now hearing once again about elsie's journey. i'm

going to let you hear the goodbyes to her for being here today, for all of your support and kindness and was asked family and friends to make your way to the rugby club after the service. >> i'm going to say some final words in just a moment, and then we would like to ask you to remain in your seats as we listen to one of elsie's favourite songs. during this time, elsie will leave church with her close family, only as you remain seated . farewell, you remain seated. farewell, elsie . and elsie. we wave you elsie. and elsie. we wave you off now as you continue your life in heaven. in the comfort and love of your father, god . as and love of your father, god. as you live with jesus, your saviour and friend, safe in the knowledge that the same holy spirit of god that comforts you will comfort us too, as you are

welcomed by all those in heaven who love you. we know that you will have perfect love and perfect joy . amen all those of perfect joy. amen all those of heaven who love you, we know that you will have perfect love and perfect . and perfect. >> so we'll now hear that song . >> so we'll now hear that song. and we believe elsie's coffin will then be carried out of the church. here. saint john's followed by her close family members as the next stage of this of elsie's special day continues on a balcony in summer air. >> see the lights, see the party. >> the ball gowns. see you make your way through the crowd and say hello . little did i know

say hello. little did i know that you were romeo. you were throwing pebbles at my daddy. said stay away from juliet . and said stay away from juliet. and i was crying on the staircase begging you, please don't go and i said, romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. i'll be waiting. all there's left to do is run . you'll be the prince and is run. you'll be the prince and i'll be the princess. it's a love story, baby. just say yes . love story, baby. just say yes. so i sneak out to the garden to see you . we keep quiet cause see you. we keep quiet cause we're dead. if they knew. so close your eyes. escape this town for a little while . cause town for a little while. cause you were romeo. was a scarlet letter. and my daddy said stay

away from juliet. but you were everything to me. i was begging you . please don't go . and i said, you. please don't go. and i said, romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. i'll be waiting all that's left to do is run. you'll be the prince and i'll be the princess. it's a love story, baby. just say it's romeo. save me. they're trying to tell me how to feel. this love is difficult , but it's real. don't difficult, but it's real. don't be afraid . we'll make it out of be afraid. we'll make it out of this mess. it's a love story, baby. just say yes . baby. just say yes. i got tired of waiting . i got tired of waiting. wondering if you were ever

coming around. my faith in you was fading . when i met you on was fading. when i met you on the outskirts of town. and i said romeo, save me i've been feeling so alone i keep waiting for you. but you never come. is this in my head? i don't know what to think. he knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said, marry me, juliet. you'll never have to be alone . i love never have to be alone. i love you and that's all i really know. i talked to your dad. go pick out a white dress. it's a love story, baby. just say . love story, baby. just say. >> okay. we're just seeing the elsie's coffin now. leaving the funeral . i want to say funeral. i want to say emotional, heartfelt heart wrenching, gut wrenching. a

beautiful little girl remembered in the most beautiful way. >> and never to be forgotten. and i think that's the message. her story goes on. she will live forever in the hearts of all those who loved her. and i think her memory will remind us of what life should be about. and that's this little girl and her her vibrancy and the fact that she was so loved. and she is on a journey and she will never leave her mum and dad. they will always love her. you see live pictures now outside the church as the congregation leave behind the coffin a little white coffin. they're covered with flowers and cuddly toy and everything in pastel colours. the family requested that nobody wear black, everybody wore bright colours and pastels to remember the life of a vibrant seven year old. and that's what you're doing. and she had her little friends there from her

school. they formed a guard of honour as she was carried into the church, little cheerleading group, i think they were. and i think we heard the you'll correct me, ben, on this one, a taylor swift song at the end there, wasn't it, which obviously, you know, she was a huge fan, >> we're joined now by emma webb and benjamin butterworth in the studio, who have been sat by our side watching the funeral play out , side watching the funeral play out, benjamin, what's your thoughts on what you've seen over the past hour or so? >> well, i found the pictures that we just saw incredibly confronting to see a coffin so small is really, you know, no family should ever have to do that. >> but i have to say, i think the speakers at that funeral were incredibly eloquent, and they painted such a beautiful picture. and clearly it was a very happy family that she was in. and i think what dawn said earlier about the fact that now all the focus is on this little girl and the two others that lost their lives is how it

should be. and i think, you know , should be. and i think, you know, all of us have been incredibly moved by what a beautiful girl elsie clearly was, and also what's evident is that this is clearly an incredibly kind and loving community. you get that sense and i think the people of southport will be glad that that's come across after, you know, one man managed to do so much damage. >> i think that's so important, isn't it, emma? the fact that this community, a very tight knit community, you know, the girls went to school together, were best friends. everybody knows each other. they've been brought together by this. i mean her little schoolmates. i mean, they're only young. they're only seven, eight, nine year old. they're children. marking the loss of their friend by forming a little, little, sort of like, line up as her coffin was carried in. i don't know how you explain what has happened to a seven, eight, nine year old child here, but some incredibly brave children there. and obviously thinking so much about, you know, what they have all been through in this

community, it's incredibly hard to watch. >> well, as benjamin said, you know, the unbelievable eloquence of the of those speaking there, i've never heard a more beautiful tribute to anyone. >> and , the love of the >> and, the love of the community, the people who knew elsie, of her parents. it's so palpable. and you mentioned there the community around her, her school friends , all of those her school friends, all of those whose life, whose lives she touched. now through seeing this and through the nation seeing this. and you mentioned, you know, so many viewers who are brought to tears and also, you know, here in the studio as well. i think that that palpable feeling of love for elsie has now rippled across the whole nation. and everyone is even though you know, obviously the parents, grief is unfathomable, i think through through seeing these images and through hearing about elsie. i think that i can't imagine how, posterity in

living memory could ever forget her. >> i think , benjamin, it's this >> i think, benjamin, it's this is what we remember now . i mean, is what we remember now. i mean, it's like, you know, many of you getting in touch as well. and please do. it helps to share if you're upset. i it's bad enough in the studio. i completely understand that . and so, you understand that. and so, you know, i'm in tears now. i can't stop crying. i have children, i have grandchildren. this is making me cry. tansy, what a service. what a beautiful service. what a beautiful service can only be a cry, what a beautiful tribute, maxine says to a wonderful little girl. god bless you, elsie . more bless you, elsie. more unconditional love and compassion is needed in our society. sandra. yes, i think we would all agree with you on that. and meanwhile, being silent says not a day has gone by where, a thought and a tear hasn't been shed for those little girls. i don't know them in any way, but my heart is broken. may their memories and be of kindness and of love. i think so much this this is really affecting everyone, benjamin, isn't it? i mean, so many comments coming in. you can't watch these scenes and

you're still seeing live scenes of people filing out of the church of the ceremony. the beautiful, bright colours reflecting the vibrancy of elsie's life. >> yeah, absolutely. i mean, as we know, she was a huge taylor swift fan. yes. and they played the song romeo, one of taylor swift's biggest hits in the service. just there . and, you service. just there. and, you know, clearly that's something that this little girl and the other little girls that are still there will be able to celebrate and remember her for. and you know , i suppose what's and you know, i suppose what's nice is that the music of taylor swift , which, you know, grandmas swift, which, you know, grandmas and seven year olds love alike, you know, they can continue to listen to that. and that will be a memory of these little girls. >> yeah. and i love the fact she used to tell her dad for off playing music that wasn't taylor swift. i mean, that'sjust playing music that wasn't taylor swift. i mean, that's just so that just says so much, doesn't it? that one little tribute that was paid, it's like dad can we have something else? you know, i want to play taylor swift. i mean, that just gives you a little pen portrait of. of what this little girl was like. she sounds like. >> i mean, everybody across the

country is now seeing her picture, and she's such a beautiful little dot as you were saying, elsie .uk, isn't it? >> but she also from from heanng >> but she also from from hearing about her and her short life . life. >> it sounds like such an extraordinary and unusual little girl. and i think her sort of, you know, it's not just the love of everybody for her and for her family that is palpable. but also her goodness is so palpable . also her goodness is so palpable. and, obviously the service , is and, obviously the service, is everything that we've listened to there is very christian and that that contrast between her palpable goodness and the evil of this act that has taken her. >> you have a faith. you have a very strong faith. i mean, that really is clearly helping , really is clearly helping, elsie's family get through this. and you know, that is obviously a huge comfort for them. this morning . morning. >> i think. i mean, the, the, the reading there that mentioned

the reading there that mentioned the children's book, and, the, the children's book, and, the, the story of the water bug . and the story of the water bug. and i think lots of people have mentioned that in tears. i think that that really was a beautiful way of, sort of describing the way of, sort of describing the way as her family must be thinking of this, that, elsie can never really be taken away because she, she is still there. she is with christ , because she, she is still there. she is with christ, and in that sense, she, you know, has has been sort of elevated to a, to a state of glory that is, is beyond this world. and i think that that is something that is also reflected , like i say, in also reflected, like i say, in the sort of palpable goodness of her, of her short life. she sounds like such an extraordinary and beautiful little girl. and in, in every, you know, the most profound sense. >> and, david, i think you make a point that many , many people a point that many, many people watching, have said , david, i'm watching, have said, david, i'm watching, have said, david, i'm watching now. elsie dot stancombe, very moving reminds

you of how precious your own children are. can you imagine what this little girl's parents are feeling at their loss ? and i are feeling at their loss? and i think, i mean, you have two young, young sons , ben. i mean, young, young sons, ben. i mean, we're both being quite emotional in the studio here. i know it's. and so many of you are. and so thank you for being very kind to us. but it's incredibly hard, you know, losing someone you love, but especially a child, it's incredibly it's just, you know, i put myself in the parents shoes. >> jenny and david, there was a tribute there to elsie , tribute there to elsie, describing how they were so looking forward to welcoming their firstborn child. and then when she was born, looking for baby clothes picking out her nursery, all the things that every parent in this country and indeed around the world will do when they welcome their precious god given gift to the world and the hopes and the dreams they had for elsie , you know, no way had for elsie, you know, no way could they have imagined it would have been cut short in such a wicked and depraved way,

and, emma, i'd like to ask you, as a christian, how do you forgive such treachery as the murder of a child? >> well, i mean , it's a it's a >> well, i mean, it's a it's a difficult thing, particularly now, to talk about because i, like many viewers, i'm sure, feel extremely angry about this and obviously now isn't the isn't the day for it because now isn't the day for it because now is the time to be remembering. and for many of us, learning about, elsie dot stancombe , of about, elsie dot stancombe, of course, you know , christianity course, you know, christianity does teach that you you should forgive even, even the most evil among us. of course, that does not mean that people shouldn't be punished, under the law for the evil that they commit. and i can't think of a much more evil act to commit than the murder of act to commit than the murder of a child. i don't actually like referring to this in terms of their lives having, you know, been lost. their lives have been

taken from them. and i think forgiveness doesn't preclude, angeh forgiveness doesn't preclude, anger. and actually, in the christian, story, the, sort of christian, story, the, sort of christ himself is murdered. and in that sense, everybody in the, in that sense, everybody in the, in the suffering of their life, participates in that, the sort of horrors of, of christ's crucifixion. and i think in, in a, in an evil act like this, you can see the kind of, the resonance between this and, and christ's own suffering , so, yes, christ's own suffering, so, yes, of course , christians are told of course, christians are told to forgive and perhaps that can also bring some comfort, but i don't think that that in any way, in any way undoes the feeling of anger, if anything, i think that's the point of today. >> it is about the feeling of joy >> it is about the feeling of joy and love that this little girl, brought to her family for a very short, incredibly brief

time. but this is about thinking about elsie and the two other children whose lives were taken on that day. but, you know, the story doesn't end. it will never never end. it will be told every day, story doesn't end. it will never end. it will be told every day, thank you for now, emma and thank you for now, emma and benjamin butterworth, we will be benjamin butterworth, we will be going now to a quick break, but going now to a quick break, but we will be back we will be back a minute. a minute. this this britain's newsroom on britain's newsroom on

>> welcome back. 1124. you're with ben and dawn on britain's newsroom. only on gb news. some breaking news now in sicily, as the body of the last missing person from the superyacht that sank has, has now been found, to according reports, the bodies believed to be the one of mike lynchs 18 year old daughter, hannah. mike lynch, of course, was dubbed the british bill gates, a billionaire tech giant. we'll have more on this throughout the day on gb news, but live shots now from sicily,

where i believe that's the coastguard who has recovered a body believed to be the teenage daughter of missing . well, he's daughter of missing. well, he's now hannah hannah lynch, 18. yeah, but mike lynch, of course, his body was was found recovered yesterday. >> yeah. incredibly sad story again. now we are joined. there are other stories happening. we are other stories happening. we are joined by a political commentator, emma webb, and senior reporter at the i newspaper, benjamin butterworth, in the studio to talk about, indeed, some of those other stories. i mean, thank you so much for joining. stories. i mean, thank you so much forjoining. it's been an incredibly emotional morning with the, the, the incredibly sad funeral of elsie. but there are other stories going on in town. so which one would you like to start with, benjamin? >> well, i mean, anything feels so, so flimsy compared to that. but well, there is one. ricky gervais has been talking about free speech, and he's had he's got a vodka brand, and they put a big advert on the london underground to promote his

alcohol brand. but no one's going to see this advert because they've actually banned it before it made it up . so this before it made it up. so this brand had a slogan which said so it shows ricky gervais enjoying a drink and it says one day you'll be underground for good. and so it's funny. you'll be underground for good. and so it's funny . well, tfl, and so it's funny. well, tfl, transport for london, which is run by sadiq khan, didn't seem to think so. and so it's not made it to the tube because they said it could encourage people to have excessive drinking because obviously it says, you know, just keep, keep on drinking his vodka. now he says, this is sadiq london, sadiq khan's london, i should say, and that it's joyless. but, you know, i think it's probably is encouraging, lots of drinking. but can people make that decision for themselves? i mean, probably, isn't it the fun police? >> i mean, you know, emma, this is really the fun place in london is turning into a humourless puritan hellhole and the underground is sort of the first bastion of that, if you remember. >> actually, sadiq khan, or say

sadiq khan, tfl also has this rule around fast food advertising, high calorie food advertising. and there was a theatre poster that had to be altered, probably at great expense, to remove a cake, even though it wasn't advertising cake. wasn't selling cake. but just because this, this theatre show had a cake on its advertising poster that had to be altered . i just think it's be altered. i just think it's silly. and i think, you know, it's not. i mean, it is funny, it's not. i mean, it is funny, it's dark humour. it's ricky gervais, of course it's dark humour, but it is, it is joyless, it is humourless. and i think everybody's sick of it, to be honest. >> i don't know why they can't just treat people like adults. you know, why so much censorship and whole hand holding. just get on with it. grow up. we don't need the government and the state and the mayor to tell us what we can see or can't see, just grow up. >> i mean, it is a brilliant line. you know, it's a fantastic joke. it obviously works perfectly for being on the tube.

and so, you know, i think there is a question here because you don't want abusive post, you know, adverts, you don't want things that trigger people you don't want to cause angst in adverts. because one of the reasons why advertising on london's underground and most trains is so valuable is because you have to look at it. you can't look elsewhere. and so, you know, is there a burden of responsibility on the regulators to mean that the adverts are appropriate? >> i feel quite triggered by all of the woke advertising and woke messaging that obviously passes sadiq khan's census. do you remember? but i don't think we should bother about people being triggered by things . like ben triggered by things. like ben said, people just need to grow up where adults, and yeah, of course children do travel on the underground, but they're not going to go out and buy cake because they saw it in a theatre poster. it'sjust because they saw it in a theatre poster. it's just silliness or vodka. >> yeah, exactly. and i think, look, you know, whether people are going to drink excessively or not probably isn't affected by a poster they saw on the tube. no it's not, it's just humour. it's like i don't necessarily disagree with it, but at the end of any alcohol

advert, they have to say don't dnnk advert, they have to say don't drink excessively. and i don't know if that's ever stopped anybody drinking excessively. you know, i think it's wise to point people to help. if you know the drinkaware website stuff like that, that's fine. putting that in the corner of the poster. but the idea that a joke from ricky gervais is going to get you to have too much vodka than is wise. i don't think it's right. >> they just think people are stupid. that's why they they look down on the public so much as these, you know, thick, ignorant bunch of plebs who need to be told what to do. >> i think, i think, i think regulating these adverts will probably turn emma to drinking vodka. >> actually, i think i might join you if you have one. emma. right quickly. and we're running out of time, cancel culture also in the times. what's this one about? >> well, this is very serious, actually. so the government , the actually. so the government, the previous government introduced this piece of legislation, higher education, freedom of speech bill to protect freedom of speech at universities and also, obviously, academic freedom as part of that, that has without any debate in parliament, just been spiked by the new government, and they're

doing this on the grounds that firstly, they say it will be a financial strain, because of the burden to investigate, a burden to investigate under this bill, if universities are or in some way limiting people's freedom of speech, but also they're saying that, that this, this, this bill would protect, hate speech and cause increased harm at universities. but of course, the real harm at university is the fact that there that there is an has been for many years an increased limit on academic freedom . people can't speak freedom. people can't speak freely at universities. it has a real adverse effect on, on academic research. and so this was a really important piece of legislation that would have gone a long way to deal with the demonstrable well—evidenced problems of, of, of censorship on university campuses. and this has just been undemocratically spiked by this government

because they think it's going to cause harm. well actually, the real harm is the harm done to society when you start censoring freedom of speech and academic freedom of speech and academic freedom at a university where you're meant to be broadening your mind, meeting other people and having a debate about absolutely can't serve their purposes without free speech. you might as well not have a university if you can't have academic freedom. >> okay, well, we'll be back shortly. emma. thank you. benjamin. thank you, what are greater struggles this winter, and it's you, what are you laughing at? what are you benjamin. thank you, what are you laughing at? what are you giggling? oh, nothing. giggling? oh, nothing. >> he doesn't agree with me. >> he doesn't agree with me. that's what it is. that's what it is. >> we'll be back shortly. and we're going to bring you this ' ' shortly. and >> we'll be back shortly. and we're going to bring you this story about the convicted child story about the convicted child rapist who has been spared a rapist who has been spared a prison sentence because prisons prison sentence because prisons are too full. meanwhile, we're rapist who has been spared a prison sentence becausewe're 1s checking people who sent her are too full. meanwhile, we're checking people who sent her tweets for in long sentences and tweets for in long sentences and also the latest on jermaine also the latest on jermaine jenas as well. jenas as >> more on that story coming up. also the latest on jermaine jen more on that story coming up. >> more on that story coming up. >> sophia, has your news >> more on that story coming up. >> more on that story coming up. >> sophia, has your news headlines. headlines. >> ben thank you. good morning. >> ben thank you. good morning. i'm sophia wenzler with your i'm sophia wenzler with your headunes i'm sophia wenzler with your headlines just after 1130 now as headunes i'm sophia wenzler with your headlines just after 1130 now as you've been hearing, italian rescue divers have found the you've been hearing, italian rescue divers have found the

body of the last missing person body of the last missing person believed to be mike lynchs believed to be mike lynchs daughter, after the british tech daughter, after the british tech entrepreneur's yacht sank off entrepreneur's yacht sank off sicily this week. now that's sicily this week. now that's according to a source close to the matter. the body of mike according the body of mike lynch has been recovered from the matter. the body of mike lynch has been recovered from the wreck, but searches were the wreck, but searches were continuing for his missing 18 continuing for his missing year old daughter, hannah, and the wreck, but searches were contioldig for his missing the wreck, but searches were sources are now saying they have found another body . households contiold daughter,nissing found another body. households face higher energy bills this winter after ofgem increased the price cap to an average £1,717 from october, adding around £12 a month to an average bill. ofgem said that the 10% rise was largely due to higher wholesale gas prices. energy and net zero secretary ed miliband says he understands people's concerns . understands people's concerns. >> i know this will be really worrying news for lots of families who will face even greater struggles this winter,

andifs

the wreck, but searches were contiold daughter, are ting the wreck, but searches were contiold daughter, are the latest bite marks. those are the latest gb news headlines. for now, i'm sophia wenzler more in half an hour for the very latest gb news direct to your smartphone, sign up to news alerts by scanning the qr code or go to gbnews.com forward slash alerts . forward slash alerts. >> cheers! britannia wine club proudly sponsors the gb news financial report , and here's financial report, and here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. >> the pound will buy you $11,123 and >> the pound will buy you $1.3123 and ,1.1805. the price of gold is £1,903, and £0.72 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 8311 points. >> cheers britannia wine club proudly sponsors the gb news financial report .

financial report. >> thank you sophia. up at noon . >> thank you sophia. up at noon. good afternoon, britain with it, says tom and emily. but cameron walker, you are not tom. it's me. >> definitely not tom. no, you can identify as tom if you want, but let's try it. >> let's see how we go. >>— >> let's see how we go. >> no. you'll be identifying as cameron walker. >> perfect. >> perfect. >> caroline walker? yes. cameron and emily. >> today we've got a lot on our plates. >> some news coming out of sicily. yeah. >> we do. in the last hour, it's been confirmed that the final body has been found in the wreckage of that superyacht. it is believed to be the daughter of mike lynch. hannah. of course. the telegraph reporting authorities have launched a manslaughter investigation into that yacht sinking. although the prosecutor's office is refusing to confirm that at this stage we are expecting a press conference tomorrow morning on that. yeah. >> so we'll bring you any updates as and when we get them on that. >> of course. >> of course. >> energy bills. big story today. could pensioners face a £500 increase in their energy bills. what does that mean for the average retiree who's worried about keeping their home warm? >> we know that older people spend far more time indoors. they need it to be warm in there. how much is this going to

impact? you've got keir starmer, who's before, has talked about how energy bills are out of control and how the tories should subsidise energy bills more. >> the price cap shouldn't be shouldn't be brought up, etcetera. >> so what exactly are they going to do about it? is gb energy the green energy company, going to solve all of this for us and free speech in our universities? >> is bridget phillipson a fan of cancel culture? >> it certainly looks like it. all of these academics are absolutely furious. >> yeah, furious. >> yeah, furious. >> hundreds of them have actually written to the education secretary saying, you need to do something about this. it's all about free speech. and it's a fine balance, of course, between that and hate speech. >> absolutely lovely. >> absolutely lovely. >> thank you very much. all of that and much more at midday. up next, remember when keir starmer said this? >> i understand i completely understand why so many people are frustrated at the government that's not doing anything about their energy bills. and under my leadership, we can have a fresh start for britain. >> well, well, well add that to the list of things that labour said they would do and aren't doing or wouldn't do, and now,

you know, it goes on and on. i wonder how much goodwill is left for this labour government. and we're only about, what, seven weeks in honeymoon period? >> well and truly over. indeed, this is britain's newsroom on gb news. back in

tick. welcome back. 1140. ben and dawn with you on britain's newsroom. only on gb news. >> right now pensioners have been dealt a double blow. this morning. not only are millions of people set to lose their winter fuel payments, but now energy bills are set to rise by 10% in october. two. >> very good. take a listen to what sir keir starmer said in 2022, before labour came into power. >> i understand i completely understand why so many people are frustrated at the government that's not doing anything about their energy bills, that's dhhenng their energy bills, that's dithering and delaying, just like it did at the beginning of the year . in like it did at the beginning of the year. in the end , politics

the year. in the end, politics is about choices , and this is about choices, and this government is choosing to protect the profits of oil and gas companies. unexpected profits of oil and gas companies, rather than sticking up for and helping hard working families and struggling businesses. i hope that just as we did earlier this year, we can force them into a u—turn because under my leadership, labour is on the side of working people and under my leadership, we can have a fresh start for britain . have a fresh start for britain. >> to be fair, he did say working people that doesn't involve pensioners, right? we're joined now . political editor joined now. political editor christopher hope to explain. christopher hope to explain. christopher make this make sense. what on earth is going on here? >> so that's a clip from sir keir starmer back in 2022. and to be fair to the tory government, they did bring in the energy price cap of 2500 on average bills after that. and

there has been a degree of taxation on all oil and gas companies. but politics is about a choice, as sir keir starmer said. and this labour government now is now they're in power, have made a choice to remove the £300, winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners and make it means tested . so they're it means tested. so they're trying to get a further 800,000 to sign up to these pension tax credits to ensure they can get money to help them with the fuel bills. it comes, though, that £300 comes though, as we are going to see the average fuel bill go up by £149 from october. that's a bill which many, many families and pensioners can't afford. and that's why the tory party has been making making some hay out of this. tom tugendhat on chopper's political podcast a podcast i do for gb news. he said there clearly that in his view, rachel reeves, the chancellor, has made a choice here to pay off her union paymasters. he says rather than support the interests of british people, pensioners and patients, what that means is, and the

tories are drawing attention to this, is the fact that you have got these 22% pay rises for doctors , you've got 14% for doctors, you've got 14% for train drivers, 5.5% for millions of public sector workers. all of those numbers are multiplied more than inflation. and that's what they're wondering . is the what they're wondering. is the choice being made here. why are , choice being made here. why are, the why is the government rewarding some unions that have been on strike, and then and then taking benefits away from millions of pensioners. and that's the, that's the that's the choice that's been made here by this government. and it's interesting to remind ourselves of what sir keir starmer was saying about the tory government. faced with the same problem two years ago this month. >> chopper, how much goodwill has this new government got left? and is the honeymoon penod left? and is the honeymoon period over? do you think ? period over? do you think? >> ben, it's a great question. the honeymoon is courses is whatever we think it is. i mean, the honeymoon seemed to go on forever back in 1997, that that dawn and i remember vividly when tony blair became leader. this one seems wafer thin. part of

the problem, i think, is that not that it wasn't a massive mandate from all the country , mandate from all the country, but only 1 in 5 adults voted for the labour party for it to get into power. only a third of those who actually voted voted for labour. so it's a it's a very it's a very shallow landslide . and i think that's landslide. and i think that's reflected in the, in the opinion polls, which show now, keir starmer and others falling quite, quite rapidly since that election landslide literally only 6 or 7 weeks ago. extraordinary. but here we are. i think the choices made are starting to bite. there's a bit of a battle about appointments of a battle about appointments of labour leaning people to the civil service. that's that's , civil service. that's that's, that's that's doing the rounds here in westminster, which is also causing, i think, issues for this government. so yeah, it feels to me, though, that this honeymoon has rapidly disappeared like sand, like water on a sandy beach. christopher with just one final quick question, with the with the with the price cap changing and bills getting more expensive, do you think there is any chance that labour will reverse this policy on the winter fuel payments ? no, it's

winter fuel payments? no, it's a simple answer. i don't think so. dawn, there is this, this this this benefit you can get if you're on a certain income . you're on a certain income. 800,000 pensioners have not signed up to it. probably because many didn't need to given the winter fuel payments was for everybody. i think they're going to focus on making it means tested, but this is an area which labour have attacked. the government, the tory government on before. so yeah, i think it looks awkward here and awkward to explain it to for this government. >> okay. christopher hope, thank you . you. >> yes. the problem pensioners have got is they don't vote labour and they can't go on strike. >> indeed. up next, jermaine jenas isn't taking being sacked by the bbc lying down. >> i'm not happy at all about the outcome of this. but, you know, there's two sides to this whole thing. and, you know, my lawyers are going to be taking over from now on. >> much more on that coming up. this is britain's on gb news. don't go too far. we'll

soon. hello and welcome back. it's coming up to 1150. time is flying this morning. now more scandal at the bbc as match of the day and one show. host jermaine jenas is sacked. >> yes. came out of the blue, didn't it? he's facing claims of inappropriate behaviour and the news broke yesterday afternoon whilst he was on air with talksport. take a listen. >> you know i'm going to be speaking to my lawyers about it. he's all i can say right now. i'm not happy at all about the outcome of this, but, i've got to leave it in the hands of the lawyers right now. >> were you surprised that any complaint was made against you? >> you know, there's two sides to this whole thing. and, you know, my lawyers are going to be taking over from now on. >> our reporter, ray addison is outside bbc broadcasting house in central london. good morning

ray. thanks for joining in central london. good morning ray. thanks forjoining us. what's the latest? have you managed to speak to any staff maybe going in and out of broadcasting house? >> well, staff here, as you would expect, are very tight upped would expect, are very tight lipped as they have been every other time that we've covered the myriad of scandals which, unfortunately have been besieging the broadcaster in recent years. the latest is coming from the sun newspaper, who broke the story yesterday. they're saying that jenas, his wife of 13 years, ellie, who's a former model, is standing by him following his sacking by the bbc. she is the mother of three of his four children. of course, the sun newspaper revealing yesterday that he had been fired, reportedly following complaints about inappropriate behaviour in the workplace that was made, we're told, by a female member of staff on the one show, which he's been presenting on and off since 2020. she claims , were told that 2020. she claims, were told that she received unsolicited

messages and they've been described by the sun as flirty texts. it's understood that this issue was flagged a couple of weeks ago, when a message was received, she informed. we're told a senior member of bbc staff and they launched an immediate investigation, and we understand that during that investigation, a number of other women we don't know the number also came forward and the decision was taken at that time to sack the star. in fact, the director of sport sending an email to staff saying that jenas no longer worked for the bbc and that was, as you would appreciate , received with shock appreciate, received with shock by many of his colleagues. he was on air. as you say at the time that the news broke. he then spoke to talksport news shortly afterwards, where he stressed that there are two sides to every story as we heard in that clip, he said he was also going to be speaking to his lawyers, but he declined to answer a series of questions at any kind of detail. he wouldn't

elaborate on what the complaint was about. he wouldn't say whether it concerned one or more than one colleague. he wouldn't say if he was surprised that a complaint had been made against him. when he'd found out that he was being sacked, and if any kind of legal proceedings were underway. bbc say we can confirm he's no longer part of our presenting line—up. obviously, that means he's no longer going to appear on the one show. he's no longer going to be appearing on match of the day, and he had been lined up as the potential kind of replacement for gary lineker if he were ever to leave that role. and it comes just months after he was given an ally of the year award by the women's football awards as well. so it really has shocked many, many people. his agency, we're told, has ditched him as well. mick saatchi, his profile page on their website, has simply been deleted , and we're told as been deleted, and we're told as well that he there's no plans

for him to appear in the near future. on talksport or on tnt sports. he's not pencilled in to present any games with them. >> okay, thanks very much, very much, ray . much, ray. >> well there you go. that's that story shocked me, i must admit. and it goes on. but there is no allegation so far of any illegality going on there. so but we will wait to see developments. right. well, that's it from us. this morning. thank you so much for staying with us. it's been a tough watch. i appreciate that and thoughts and prayers with everybody in southport today. up next is good afternoon britain with cameron and emily. however, emily have a brilliant show lined up for you. >> thanks both . coming up, >> thanks both. coming up, breaking news in the last hour. the final body has been found in the search of that luxury yacht off the coast of sicily. it is believed to be the daughter of mick lynch. more details shortly. >> yes, the telegraph are also reporting that there may be a manslaughter investigation into what happened. we'll bring you any developments on that. and energy bills. charities are warning that pensioners could

face £500 extra on their bills this winter. >> could it be the worst winter on record? >> and what answers do labour have? stay tuned for that after the weather. >> looks like things are heating up boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb. >> news . >> news. >> news. >> hello. good morning. welcome to your latest gb news. weather update storm lillian has moved in overnight and will bring some wet and windy weather through the next few hours. but into this afternoon it will turn much dner this afternoon it will turn much drier as storm lillian clears into the north sea. but there are weather warnings in force for wind and rain through this morning for northern areas of the uk, so there could be some travel disruption that may last towards lunchtime for more southern areas, though, it will be a fairly dry day, some sunshine around as well. still a bit of a breeze out there well into this afternoon, so temperatures across western coasts in particular still feeling pretty fresh, but across

the east we could see temperatures into the mid 20s across parts of eastern england . across parts of eastern england. so a fairly fine end to the day tonight , so a fairly fine end to the day tonight, particularly across eastern areas. so definitely a brighter end to the day for parts of scotland. and the start of today. but there's still a few showers around and particularly across the west we still got quite a southwesterly breeze. so it is going to be feeling quite fresh into parts of northern ireland as well. some of these showers could be quite heavy, but for more southern areas , england and southern areas, england and wales it will be a drier end to the day. not exactly wall to wall sunshine, but plenty more sunshine this afternoon compared to this morning. overnight, though, the next area of rain will build in to more southern areas, so it will turn much wetter across southern counties of england overnight, as well as northern ireland and western areas of scotland, where some quite heavy showers will start to break out by tomorrow morning. so with plenty of cloud and rain around, it's going to be a mild night tonight. the winds won't be quite as strong overnight as they will be this morning, however, so a bit of a damp start to the bank holiday weekend for much of eastern and

southern areas of england that rain will gradually clear away to the east, but it will likely be replaced by quite heavy showers across many central areas of england. parts of wales too, and showers are going to continue for north and western areas too, so fairly limited sunshine to come on saturday. a bit of a drier afternoon for parts of northern england and wales, but temperatures definitely below par. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers . sponsors of boxt boilers. sponsors of weather

gb news. >> good afternoon britain. it's 12:00 on friday the 23rd of august. i'm emily carver and i'm cameron walker. breaking news this hour. a body believed to be that of mike lynch's daughter hannah, the sixth and final person missing after a luxury yacht sank in a storm off the coast of sicily, has been found. that's according to the italian

coastguard. live shots here as rescue workers return to shore. we'll have the very latest with our homeland security editor. >> and a cold winter ahead . >> and a cold winter ahead. charities warn pensioners could face the worst winter on record with a £500 jump in their energy bills due to labour's decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance . this as the average allowance. this as the average household energy bill is set to rise by 10%. >> celebrating el—sisi special day, locals have lined streets decorated with pink ribbons to celebrate the life of seven year old elsie dot stancombe killed in the southport knife attack. >> and is labour the party of cancel culture? nearly 600 academics, including richard dawkins, have signed a letter urging the education secretary to rethink her decision to scrap the free speech act. they're warning that without action, staff and students could be hounded , censored and silenced hounded, censored and silenced for holding legitimate legal views. >> and kill a dog remains on the loose. police have caught two dogs believed to have attacked a

man found dead in a back garden in