vb), ' by the time little drier and warmer by the time we get to the second week of august. thank you, sarah. back now to the news that none of us in the newsroom wanted to hear or to give — that of our much—loved colleague george alagiah, who has died at the age of 67. for so many of us — and particularly for colleagues from an ethnic minority background — george was a trailblazer whom we all looked up to and all wanted to emulate. he was such a modest man that he wore his status as the role model very lightly — but that is exactly what he was, a complete natural on the air, and a total gentleman off it. for a last word, here's his good friend sophie raworth. we're going to end the programme tonight with a special tribute to george. 20 years ago, we launched the new six o'clock news together, back in january 2003. he was a foreign correspondent at heart. that was his passion, but he felt enormously proud and privileged to be presenting the bbc�*s evening news, and he loved it.

he loved being in the newsroom, being part of the team, and we all adored him. he felt a real connection with the audience too. after he was diagnosed with cancer just over nine years ago, he received thousands of letters and messages from people who wrote to him as if they knew each other, strangers who spoke to him as a friend, and he was really touched by your support. george was a man of great values and indomitable spirit, a big smile, a velvety laugh, a great friend. i saw him just a few weeks ago. he told me he had hoped to come back to work one last time to say thank you and goodbye right here, live on air. he didn't get the chance, so we have done it for him. i'll leave you now with george alagiah in his own words. my life is, for what it's worth, is divided into pre—cancer and post—cancer.

yeah, the weird thing about a bowel cancerjourney is, you don't really know the beginning and you don't really know the end. so i know the day i was diagnosed with bowel cancer, but i don't know when it started because i was at the top of my game, i was having a fantastic time at work, at home. then suddenly, you hear those words, "i'm sorry to have to tell you, mr alagiah, you've got bowel cancer." at first when you're told, you don't know how to kind of respond. it took me a while to understand what i needed to do. for me, i had to get to a place of contentment and the only way i knew how to do that was literally to look back at my life. actually, when i look back, i looked at myjourney, where it all started, looked at the family i had,

is this a corrective to the power of the court or an assault on the country's democracy? it's a movejoe biden urged israel's prime minister not to make. what happens to the country now? we're live with tom bateman injerusalem. we'll be speaking to the former knesset opposition leader, tzipi livni, and former israeli ambassador to italy, dr dror eydar. also tonight... there are many votes to be won or lost over housing and ulez at the election — but where are the bold plans to solve the housing crisis? the former tory mayoral hopeful fears his party's the end of the parliament does not amount to a radical policy.

newsnight has repeatedy reported on government restrictions on who can and cannot speak in government departments — now they've withdrawn guidance in two of them for revision. why not wholesale change? we'll be speaking to the security expert, and liberal democrat candidate, edward lucas, who broke the story. and from starring in the oc to starring at the senate committee on banking, the actor turned investigator ben mckenzie is warning the world about the dangers of cryptocurrency. hejoins us live. good evening. thousands upon thousands of people protesting in israel tonight, as they have been for 28 weeks straight, and are being met with fierce water cannon, noxious fumes and arrests. they are reacting to prime minister netanyahu's new law removing the government actions it considers unreasonable. we have

jerusalem and the water midnight injerusalem and the water cannon is still firing on the protesters are still out in strength. boycotted the final vote. in the knesset, the opposition leader yair lapid called the new law a takeover by an extreme minority over the israel majority. israel's president warned political leaders that the country was in a state of emergency. relationship with the us, given thatjoe biden has been unusually explicit in his opposition to the law. in a moment we'll hear from tom bateman injerusalem. the moment dreaded by opponents of benjamin netanyahu came this afternoon. the prime minister casting his own vote in a judicial reform that's caused bitter division. well, it is a huge victory for his coalition. they've been pushing since they came

into power six months ago to get some of thisjudicial overhaul package through. and this is the first piece of it that has received final approval and will turn into law. the opposition mps, shouting defiantly, had withdrawn from the chamber as it became apparent that defeat was inevitable. they boycotted the vote, which will lessen the ability on government power here. and what the government, this government is now doing is weakening the court and making it less powerful, curbing its authorities and making it therefore less independent. those outside the parliament denounced mr netanyahu

it was a bitter pill for the opposition, who'd marched the vote was also a snub to the phalanx of former who threatened in a petition published at the weekend to abandon critical roles. a great deal of the demonstrations and the organising and so forth, you can find both the most senior former military figures and also the rank and file reservists that are united in opposing this particular bill, but more generally thejudicial reform. i can tell you, people are torn by commitment to the country and the responsibility you take to defend it. and on the other hand, your strong belief and attachment to the democratic institutions.

the netanyahu government had pushed ahead despite appeals from the biden administration, too. in culture war terms, the us and israeli governments are decidedly opposed now. you know, i think for many americans they also see parallels with what has gone on or could go on under another trump administration. but israel is more vulnerable. it's a smaller country. it's in a tough neighbourhood. and it has many, many internal challenges now which are just bursting out into the open. for the protest movement, parliament's summer recess will provide an opportunity for action and mobilisation before several more planks ofjudicial reform come to the vote after the summer. the aim of those opposing this platform is to whittle away

in particular the prime minister's likud party mps. what's happening to society at large, then i think that the pressure's on quite a few of likud members that are not comfortable at all with these measures. what i'm saying is that this coalition cannot survive over time. a summer of unrest beckons, then. but for the moment, mr netanyahu is winning. tom bateman, whojoins me now from jerusalem. we see that the protests are still

continuing tonight. and pretty fierce response from the authorities.— fierce response from the authorities. ~ , , , authorities. absolutely. it is 12:40am — authorities. absolutely. it is 12:40am in _ authorities. absolutely. it is 12:40am in the _ authorities. absolutely. it is 12:40am in the morning - authorities. absolutely. it is 12:40am in the morning and authorities. absolutely. it is. 12:40am in the morning and i authorities. absolutely. it is - 12:40am in the morning and i was 12:1i0am in the morning and i was here from 9am and we were seeing the protests already in full swing and that pretty fierce response from the security forces and we have seen that growing through the day. and still into the night, water cannon being used and people being dragged off the streets and with the use of force that is very rare, not unprecedented but rare when it comes to internal issues insidejewish israeli society so i think throughout we have seen a series of threshold is crossed and i have watched this grow from the beginning of the year since the religious nationalist coalition was elected. and we have reached a point, the protesters always said that today would be the red line, when they try

to push through this amendment to a basic law in israel and so here it was and you saw the statement from the opposition, walking out of parliament and then the protesters saying they will simply continue and the protests potentially are likely to intensify. one critical issue is what happens within the security forces because we have seen the descent going well into the ranks of israel's military, hundreds of reservists threatened to withdraw their duty of this went ahead and we are seeing increasing numbers of reports denied that many of them will do that. that will take time to play out but that is what is making this such an unprecedented chasm within jewish israeli this such an unprecedented chasm withinjewish israeli society this such an unprecedented chasm within jewish israeli society and why i think this is withinjewish israeli society and why i think this is going to be over the next few weeks and months the big test for mr netanyahu, whether you can hold us together and as far as ordinary israelis are concerned, i have seen people talking about the country reaching a precipice that

they never believed could happen. he wants to push the rest of this through by november and i think the opposition is going to be very staunch to try to prevent that. thanks very much indeed. earlier i spoke to the former israeli vice prime minister and opposition leader, tzipi livni. how critical a moment is this for the state of israel? it's a dramatic moment frankly, we heard this plan of the government to act against law enforcement, the judicial institutions. but this is stage one. for more than six months the protests succeeded in stopping or postponing some. today they passed one. but we are going to continue in resisting. israel is fighting for its democracy and this is what we are doing in the streets, not only in the parliament. why should the supreme court have a veto on what politicians like you, after all you were elected, what politicians decide? well, yes, but democracy is not

majority rule to do whatever they want. so, yes, the government was elected, so they can pursue and move forward their policy, but it doesn't mean that they can act against the nature of israel as a democracy. or unleash limitation or act without checks and balances. this is the nature of democracy, it is also about rights and human rights and they should respect it. but the opposition leader in the knesset is going to challenge the law using the supreme court. doesn't that make binyamin netanyahu's argument for him? no, this is part of the system and this is what we need, the real supervision on politicians in israel. and they cannotjust do whatever they want. joe biden was very explicit that he was against these moves today. how damaging do you think this is for israel's international standing and indeed that special relationship? i do believe that it

damages netanyahu's image. he wants to be an international leader and this is not happening. and it is clear that president biden refers to something that the leaders used to say on a daily basis in the us, the relationship is based on shared values. and in order to continue and keep this relationship, we need to keep these values. i do believe that the message, the demonstrations and the protests are doing, or spreading around the world, is that israel is fighting for its democracy, or the people in israel, the citizens are fighting for its democracy. so israel did not change yet. i hope it will never change and will keep its values as a jewish democratic state when these two values are living

in harmony and not in contradiction. but if netanyahu holds sway, and this is not changed, then what happens to israel? we are in the midsts of a fight, of a battle for israel's values. therefore, i don't want to think about the situation that this will continue without restrictions. but it's a threat, a real threat to israel's nature as a democracy, to israel's identity and this is why we are fighting against it. these are historical days, i don't want to undermine the situation at all. no, but ijust want finally to say that the demonstrationss on the streets for 28 weeks, there's water cannon and other... more than that. more than 28 weeks. is netanyahu banking on the protests just dissipating? frankly, i think he only cares about other things,

not the protesters unfortunately. i'm not sure he takes our demonstrations in account when he makes his decision, but, yes, what president biden is saying is important for the situation of israel, the economy is important for him, and those in service, the army that are saying that, according their values, they will not participate, or will not volunteer any more. this is a real drama in israel and he cannot ignore it or turn a blind eye thinking that everything is ok, he knows that it's not ok. thank you very much forjoining us. thank you. dr dror eydarjoins me now — the former israeli ambassador to italy. he supports these reforms. good evening, thank you forjoining us. good evening. you

evening, thank you for “oining us. good eveningfi evening, thank you for “oining us. good evening. you heard tzipi livni sa in: good evening. you heard tzipi livni saying democracy _ good evening. you heard tzipi livni saying democracy is _ good evening. you heard tzipi livni saying democracy is at _ good evening. you heard tzipi livni saying democracy is at stake, - good evening. you heard tzipi livni saying democracy is at stake, does| saying democracy is at stake, does it matter to you there is no consensus for this reform? yes, it does matter. _ consensus for this reform? yes, it does matter, but _ consensus for this reform? yes, it does matter, but we _ consensus for this reform? yes, it does matter, but we have - consensus for this reform? yes, it does matter, but we have to - does matter, but we have to understand that this is democracy and in fact as a historian i don't see any danger to democracy. we have a very long debate more than 3,000 years, as a very ancient nation, about our identity. and since the foundation of israel, we are arguing, we are arguing who is this nation that was awakened after 2,000 years of exile? and now, you know, people want to change something in and the legal system.

this the legal system. this change, l system. this change, or ystem. this change, or this 11. this change, or this law the this change, or this law the this ci voted orthis law the this ci voted tonight, aw nonsense is ci voted tonight, aw nonsense in cl voted tonight, aw nonsense in historicalinight, aw nonsense in historical terms aw nonsense in historical terms that so nonsense in historical terms that all the... let's say so nonsense in historical terms that all the. hear's say so nonsense in historical terms that all the. hear here and there from that we hear here and there from historical point of view that we hear here and there from historica but nt of view that we hear here and there from historic. view _ that we hear here and there from historica-kw _ that we hear here and there from histori . �* u, , that we hear here and there from histori . �* , , i. nothing. but can i “ust is you, we have got demonstrators saying they're worried that israel will have got i theorocy tors saying have got 1 theorocy israelaying have got 1 theorocy israel will; i they're worried that israel wi why have got 1 theorocy israel will; - they're worried that israel wi why is his joe biden so explicit in his opposition? becausejoe biden joe biden so explicit in his opposition�* he acausejoe biden joe biden so explicit in his opposition�* he lovesejoe biden joe biden so explicit in his opposition�* he loves israel iden joe biden so explicit in his

opposition�* he loves israel and he is joe biden so explicit in his opposition about/es israel and he is joe biden so explicit in his opposition about/es sees land he is joe biden so explicit in his opposition about/es sees in nd he is joe biden so explicit in his opposition about/es sees in the ie is concerned about he sees in the media. but what i concerned about he sees in the m not. but what i concerned about he sees in the m not the twhat i concerned about he sees in the m not the same: i concerned about he sees in the m not the same thing. you concerned about he sees in the m not the same thing.- concerned about he sees in the m not the same thing. is not the same thing. you see the demonstrators _ is not the same thing. you see the demonstrators week _ is not the same thing. you see the demonstrators week after - is not the same thing. you see the demonstrators week after week, i is not the same thing. you see the - demonstrators week after week, these are israelis. we demonstrators week after week, these are israelis. ~ . ' :: ., citizens, how many demonstrators? thousands upon thousands. 100,000, 0k, thousands upon thousands. 100,000, ok, but from — thousands upon thousands. 100,000, ok, but from the _ thousands upon thousands. 100,000, ok, but from the other _ thousands upon thousands. 100,000, ok, but from the other side _ thousands upon thousands. 100,000, ok, but from the other side there - thousands upon thousands. 100,000, ok, but from the other side there is i ok, but from the other side there is our part of the people that for many years felt like slaves, like they did not have the to change, years felt like slaves, like they di�* to >t have the to change, years felt like slaves, like they di�* to decide the to change, years felt like slaves, like they di�* to decide their to change, years felt like slaves, like they di�* to decide their policy, o change, years felt like slaves, like they di�* to decide their policy, because , or to decide their policy, because of the fact that last 30 of the fact that during the last 30 years the court interfered more and more .,

more in a political questions. can i ask ou more in a political questions. can i ask you one _ more in a political questions. can i ask concerned _ more in a political questions. can i ask concerned about _ more in a political questions. can i ask concerned about members of you concerned about members of defence force who do not wish to take part and-.. c- to defence force who do not wish to take part and-.. fi to do take part and have anything to do with this, who are threatening to so they're so they in the threatening, many of them are in the in the age and until now in the age of serving and until now heard about very great we haven't heard about very great phenomenon, the phenomenon, ok, i know from the military that now in charge that there is no danger. to there is no danger. but i want to tell you something, we, thejewish people, are very used, with tell you something, we, thejewish people, are vs arguing, with tell you something, we, thejewish people, are vs arguing, this is the in arguing and arguing, this is the secret of our existence in history. wait, we are not afraid secret of our existence in history. wait, we it'e not afraid secret of our existence in history. wait, we it will >t afraid secret of our existence in history. wait, we it will be fraid secret of our existence in history. wait, we it will be ok, it will be about it. it will be ok, it will be ok. don't be afraid. thejewish people is very strong and the state

thank you very much for worry. thank you very much for 'oinin: worry. thank you very much for joining us _ worry. thank you very much for joining us tonight. _ searching in both main parties about what lessons to draw air policy in west london. rishi sunak and keir starmer both hinted at a new sense of timidity on some green policies — especially those that come with an upfront cost to voters. and today the splits within the conservative party over another contentious issue were laid bare as levelling up secretary michael gove announced plans to prioritise brownfield development for new homes in england. within hours, some within his own party had fought back, promising to block the plans. few believe the lack of housing in the country isn't a significant problem in need of bold solutions. we'll discuss the detail in a moment with a one—time aspiring conservative london mayoral candidate. first, here's nick on how both government and opposition are appearing to face fresh fears about how far they can push policy ahead of the next election.

over the next year these two are going to be slugging it out. but do they have something in common? are they both finding that grand ambitions falter when they come face—to—face with voters on the ground? so today we ve had a recalibration from the tories on housing. and last week labour had a wobble over the ulez anti—pollution car charge. so lets take housing. michael gove is seeking inspiration from this man — michael heseltine, who of course pioneered the development so, bruised by tory mps in the greenbelt saying not in my backyard michael gove wants a new wave of house building in cities. whats going on? housing is one area that most politicians think is electoral suicide. if you do something ambitious, you will lose those constituents, because we know people

tend to protest developments constituents, because we know people tend t iprotest developments aah”..- ”w..- constituents, because we know people tend t i think;t developments aah.-.” ”w..- constituents, because we know people tend t i think the evelopments aah”..- ”w..- constituents, because we know people tend t i think the speech|ents aah”..- ”w..- constituents, because we know people tend t i think the speech today gearfifi.” ”w..- constituents, because we know people tend t i think the speech today was w.-.” a-.- them. i think the speech today was more intelligent than a general big housing view, he has picked a couple of places, most obviously cambridge, housing view, he has picked a couple of places, most obviously 1 say, 'idge, housing view, he has picked a couple of places, most obviously 1 say, bute, which i'm sure he wouldn't say, but people would say be people would say probably won't be conservative at the next general election and are particularly important for growth. housing is a big issue for labour too. nye bevan, the father of the nhs, and adam smith, the father of modern capitallism, to show that the state away from local people and into the hands of large councils. a labour policy wonk sees some core elements in the party 5 plans.

when we talk about house building, it is both _ when we talk about house building, it is both and, you have got to have development in the middle of cities and on _ development in the middle of cities and on the — development in the middle of cities and on the green belt and you've got to have _ and on the green belt and you've got to have the _ and on the green belt and you've got to have the investment and the energy— to have the investment and the energy coming from both businesses and the _ energy coming from both businesses and the private sector and government. and finally the environment. are both leaders having a rethink after voters in borisjohnson s old seat of uxbridge and south ruislip gave a resounding no to the ulez charge on polluting cars? keir starmer really doesn t like that policy and rishi sunak zero in the slow lane. our think tankers have warnings for the parties they know well. there is a big risk on the conservative side that politicians think they can now be very net zero sceptic too a public that is still support of clyping measures. all

that said, i think support of clyping measures. all that said, ith something , fewest—w ~ ~ support of clyping measures. all that said, ith something that.-...-.,.,,, ~ ~ demonstrated something that politicians should know, that people don't like to be forced to spend their own money.— don't like to be forced to spend their own money. when you think about these _ their own money. when you think about these green _ their own money. when you think about these green policies - their own money. when you think about these green policies more. about these green policies more widely, — about these green policies more widely, you've got to think about the impact on people on low incomes who aren't _ the impact on people on low incomes who aren't in — the impact on people on low incomes who aren't in a position to make an adjustment — who aren't in a position to make an adjustment easily. i think the lesson— adjustment easily. i think the lesson to _ adjustment easily. i think the lesson to be learned is not don't introduce — lesson to be learned is not don't introduce important green measures, but think— introduce important green measures, but think about the impact on people's— but think about the impact on people's lifestyles, butter particularly on their finances. so a word of warning there to party leaders — be careful aboutjumping to conclusions on the basis of one set of by—elections. i'm joined by samuel kasumu, former special advisor to then—prime minister borisjohnson. this year he was also in the running to be the conservative london mayoral candidate. thank you forjoining us. you are passionate about housing and say

there is a moral imperative to build homes and compromise is immoral. do you think the announcement today by the conservatives, by michael gove represent a frustrating compromise? i think it was a good speech. the idea that you need to build potential quarter in cambridge mas senseif potential quarter in cambridge mas sense if you talk to people. hat potential quarter in cambridge mas sense if you talk to people.- sense if you talk to people. not to the local tory _ sense if you talk to people. not to the local tory mp. _ sense if you talk to people. not to the local tory mp. if _ sense if you talk to people. not to the local tory mp. if you _ sense if you talk to people. not to the local tory mp. if you talk- sense if you talk to people. not to the local tory mp. if you talk to i the local tory mp. if you talk to the local tory mp. if you talk to the tech and — the local tory mp. if you talk to the tech and science _ the local tory mp. if you talk to the tech and science sector - the local tory mp. if you talk to | the tech and science sector they the local tory mp. if you talk to - the tech and science sector they say they need more labs and homes and it is about making cities more densely populated. we have one of the least populated. we have one of the least populated cities in the western world. but there is more we have to do. this is a good start, but there is more that michael gove will have to do. it is more that michael gove will have to do. , ., ., is more that michael gove will have todo. , ., ., . , to do. it is not what necessarily was promised _ to do. it is not what necessarily was promised in _ to do. it is not what necessarily was promised in the _ to do. it is not what necessarilyj was promised in the manifesto. to do. it is not what necessarily i was promised in the manifesto. so what i'm going to ask you, you provide 300,000 houses a year? it was going to be a million. can you do it if you don't build on the

green built. this is about brownfield sites in cities. this was a aood brownfield sites in cities. this was a good speech. — brownfield sites in cities. this was a good speech, but _ brownfield sites in cities. this was a good speech, but not _ brownfield sites in cities. this was a good speech, but not enough, i brownfield sites in cities. this was i a good speech, but not enough, the prime minister and michael gove will have more ambitious and more honest with people in rural areas and the need to encroach on some green field sites. it is imperative that we will have to build. what.— sites. it is imperative that we will have to build. what. what will you sa to have to build. what. what will you say to conservative _ have to build. what. what will you say to conservative mps _ have to build. what. what will you | say to conservative mps defending in ruralareas? small majorities in rural areas? people can be sensible when you have better engagement. not all green belt is very green, a lot of it is wasteland. belt is very green, a lot of it is wasteland-— wasteland. what is affordable housina ? wasteland. what is affordable housing? and _ wasteland. what is affordable housing? and the _ wasteland. what is affordable housing? and the way - wasteland. what is affordable housing? and the way it - wasteland. what is affordable housing? and the way it is - constituted, is it affordable for most young people in particular? there are different ways of calculating that in the west midlands it is based on earnings.

should that be done in london and other places?— should that be done in london and other laces? . , , ., ., other places? where possible, london is a uniuue other places? where possible, london is a unique city. _ other places? where possible, london is a unique city, huge _ other places? where possible, london is a unique city, huge demand - other places? where possible, london is a unique city, huge demand for - is a unique city, huge demand for homes, a lot of people migrated into the setting, it might not always be possible. but we need to do more. we are in a situation where we are at the 17 months to january 2025 the most 17 months to january 2025 from an election f you say the most 17 months to january 2025 from an election f you 5 be bolder, it government have got to be bolder, it doesn't look like this is where they're aiming in they're aiming. they're aiming in cities and brown field? that they're aiming. they're aiming in cities and brown field?— they're aiming. they're aiming in cities and brown field? that is one ofthe cities and brown field? that is one of the audience _ cities and brown field? that is one of the audience said _ cities and brown field? that is one of the audience said it _ cities and brown field? that is one of the audience said it is _ cities and brown field? that is one of the audience said it is not - cities and brown field? that is one of the audience said it is notjust l you need cities or brown field, you need both. without both you don't build the homes you need. do do both. without both you don't build the homes you need. do— both. without both you don't build the homes you need. do do you think that will win — the homes you need. do do you think that will win votes _ the homes you need. do do you think that will win votes on _ the homes you need. do do you think that will win votes on the _ the homes you need. do do you think that will win votes on the doorstep. i that will win votes on the doorstep. depends on where you're talk about. there are also towns in the

surrounding areas where you need to build more. i love the idea of building more garden cities. we can be more ambitious. the building more garden cities. we can be more ambitious.— building more garden cities. we can be more ambitious. the idea to turn factory space _ be more ambitious. the idea to turn factory space and — be more ambitious. the idea to turn factory space and office _ be more ambitious. the idea to turn factory space and office buildings i factory space and office buildings into houses, permitted developments, how much will that solve, it is a few hundred a few thousand dwellings. it few hundred a few thousand dwellings-— dwellings. it will make a difference, _ dwellings. it will make a difference, but - dwellings. it will make a difference, but it - dwellings. it will make a difference, but it is i dwellings. it will make a difference, but it is not. dwellings. it will make a - difference, but it is not enough. you lost to susan hall, who backed liz truss and kwasi kwarteng's budget and donald trump, is that somebody you can support for london? i know susan personally and she has always been lovely to me. i will have to see her plans, particularly around house, it was my noi have to see her plans, particularly around house, it was my no i agenda when i ran to be the conservative candidate, but i fell short. when i ran to be the conservative candidate, but i fellshort. i when i ran to be the conservative candidate, but i fell short. i will be talking about them in the coming weeks. l be talking about them in the coming weeks. ., . , ., be talking about them in the coming weeks. ., . i. .,

be talking about them in the coming weeks. ., . ., ., , .,~ weeks. i once you want housing taken out of the political _ weeks. i once you want housing taken out of the political arena? _ weeks. i once you want housing taken out of the political arena? localism i out of the political arena? localism has failed when _ out of the political arena? localism has failed when it _ out of the political arena? localism has failed when it comes _ out of the political arena? localism has failed when it comes to - out of the political arena? localism | has failed when it comes to housing, we need to look at why it failed and we need to look at why it failed and we need to look at why it failed and we need more courageous politicians on this subject. we need more courageous politicians on this subject-— still to come... you may remember the actor ben mckenzie from oughties teen drama the oc. this year he found himself in a new role — testifying in front of the us senate about the dangers of cryptocurrency. ben joins us later in the show. the government has "withdrawn" controversial guidance which was being used to vet potential speakers for some of its events. on newsnight in recent months we ve spoken to some of those who have claimed they ve been what they call "blacklisted" for posting anti—government views on social media. you may recall dan kazetta ? a chemical weapons expert who was disinvited from a ministry of defence conference because of what he had posted on twitter. he accused ministers of clamping down on free speech. now this programme has seen a letter from government lawyers

to mr kazetta saying that they ve withdrawn the guidance because it could be "applied inaccurately". sima's been following the story. what can you tell us, sima? the government apologised to dan kazetta after withdrawing his invitation to an event because of what he posted on social media. in the letter the mod�*s agency said, the letter the mod�*s agency said, the decision was incorrectly taken following informal checks of your social media posts and due to a misapplication of cabinet office guidance that was referred to in media reports and applies only to cabinet office staff events. we know mr kazetta threatened the government with a judicial review and the government's lawyers have written to his lawyers saying that the guidance has been withdrawn. the letter from the government lawyers says, the minister's position, that isjeremy

quinn, is that the guidance was developed to ensure diversity. the letter says the government accepts mr kazetta's freedom of speech rights were impinged and the guidance will be reviewed. let's remember last week and the row over coutts bank and nigel farage. the government said freedom of speech was key. they won't want to send mixed messages. the cabinet office told us:

lawyers say they are worried that other government departments have similar rules in place and they are urgently requesting that they want to see those rules and that they are published openly so we can see them as well. thank you very much. with me now is edward lucas, who's written on government blacklisting. he's also the liberal democrat parliamentary candidate for the cities of london and westminster seat. hejust heard he just heard the case of dan kazetta and we also featured the case of kate devlin. what do you know of others, speaking to other departments? hate know of others, speaking to other departments?— know of others, speaking to other departments? we think there are at least 11 people _ departments? we think there are at least 11 people who _ departments? we think there are at least 11 people who have _ departments? we think there are at least 11 people who have been i departments? we think there are at least 11 people who have been hit i departments? we think there are atj least 11 people who have been hit by this one way or another but we think thatis this one way or another but we think that is also just the tip of the iceberg in what is interesting about

this is that within days of us launching this judicial review on behalf of dan kazetta, the government quickly apologised to him and then pulled the guidance that makes us think they are probably sitting on a rather unpleasant reality that they have been doing this and much more widely than they have admitted. find this and much more widely than they have admitted.— have admitted. and the lawyers for dan kazetta — have admitted. and the lawyers for dan kazetta have _ have admitted. and the lawyers for dan kazetta have asked _ have admitted. and the lawyers for dan kazetta have asked for- have admitted. and the lawyers for dan kazetta have asked for the i dan kazetta have asked for the guidance to be issued to other departments so that they are taking it on. as we just said, the government is coming clean about restrictions on freedom of speech within departments and presumably all of the guidance is what you want published? and one lot of... the guidance might be reasonable? the oriainal guidance might be reasonable? tue: original guidance guidance might be reasonable? tte: original guidance looks guidance might be reasonable? t'te: original guidance looks reasonable until you remember the human rights act and the equality act, which guarantee people's political freedoms and there is also data protection which governs the way in which the government can collect data on the guidance was not really drafted with that in mind. there is

another lot of guidance which has not yet been published so we do not know what it says. the key thing is to remember that it is notjust the civil rights of people like mr kazetta and the others, it is also the integrity of our decision—making and government groupthink has led this country into disaster after disaster and it is really important that the government hears uncomfortable truths and conflicting views and does not try to string them outjust by saying these people do not agree with us so we don't want to hear them. but do not agree with us so we don't want to hear them.— do not agree with us so we don't want to hear them. but they were very swiftly _ want to hear them. but they were very swiftly on — want to hear them. but they were very swiftly on the _ want to hear them. but they were very swiftly on the case _ want to hear them. but they were very swiftly on the case of the i very swiftly on the case of the nigel farage issue, saying that very swiftly on the case of the nigel farage be ue, saying that very swiftly on the case of the nigel farage be truth, ying that very swiftly on the case of the nigel farage be truth, there 1at very swiftly on the case of the nigel farage be truth, there had to there had to be truth, there had to be openness and there had to be his human rights. be openness and there had to be his human rights-— human rights. absolutely and i can see why they _ human rights. absolutely and i can see why they worry _ human rights. absolutely and i can see why they worry about - see why they worry about banks chucking people off the boots for political reasons and who knows whether that might happen in other directions as well. but the vital thing is that if you are going to have these rules they have to be

proportionate, and lawful, properly scrutinised and none of that is happening so we will keep digging. scrutinised and none of that is happe you so we will keep digging. scrutinised and none of that is happe you very e will keep digging. scrutinised and none of that is happe you very much. .eep digging. the actor ben mckenzie is known to millions as ryan atwood, star of the tv drama series the oc, who found his way into the wealthy upper class community of orange county through new—found father figure and lawyer sandy cohen. dividend, because ben, an economics graduate, spent two years during lockdown investigating whether cryptocurrency is a scam — and his findings have proved to be so interesting that the cia asked him to talk to them, and he's provided testimony now he's turned his sleuthing into a book entitled easy money — cryptocurrency, casino capitalism and the golden age of fraud. bitcoin was the first on the most famous cryptocurrency, but there are now over 22,000 others out there. cryptocurrencies are digital virtual mone used to make online and offline purchases and with the potential

to be as easy as sending an e—mail. unlike physical cash, they exist solely in digital form and bypass middlemen, going directly to recipients. payments are processed by a global network of volunteers, who can earn bitcoin for processing transfers. while popular with criminals due to anonymity, supporters believe cryptocurrencies liberate people from government and banking control. most cryptocurrencies like bitcoin — which was the first in 2009 — started out affordable for many people. as they became more popular their prices increased, making trading them profitable for many. international banks and large corporations. of digital currencies, the old lady of threadneedle street, of launching a digital pound. there have been huge

gains and huge losses in the world of cryptocurrency. back in 2011 you could buy one bitcoin for a mere i9p. fast forward to early 2021, and it reached an astonishing £44,000. however, the summer of 2021 brought some turbulence to the bitcoin price and it dropped by 50%. later in the year there was a temporary rebound to above £38,000, but the ride wasn't over. as of now, one bitcoin is valued at around £22,600. cryptocurrencies are often touted as the future of money, but some experts raise concerns about their uncertain values and the potential for criminals to exploit their anonymity for illicit gain. benjoins me now from new york. thank you very much forjoining us.

you got fixed on cryptocurrency and then what happened? came you got fixed on cryptocurrency and then what happened? yes, i came down with a serious — then what happened? yes, i came down with a serious case _ then what happened? yes, i came down with a serious case of— then what happened? yes, i came down with a serious case of fear— then what happened? yes, i came down with a serious case of fear of— with a serious case of fear of missing out, it was a pandemic and i'm an actor by trade and showbiz was on ice and i decided i would take a look at the markets for the first time in my life, i have a degree in economics but i had not used that much in showbiz and i saw the bubble, perhaps a pretty spectacular bubble and people were buying things with cryptocurrencies and a friend of mine came to me and he saidi and a friend of mine came to me and he said i should buy bitcoin, so many americans in so many people around the world have had this experience and the problem was he gave me terrible financial advice in my 20s, he encouraged me to invest in an obscure stock and we put money in an obscure stock and we put money in and promptly lost it and we might have been victims of fraud. when he

told me to buy bitcoin, i said, i don't think so but tell me more. the first thing i bumped into was the word currency. of course cryptocurrencies are not currencies by economic definition and they are not used as currencies, people buy them and hope they go up in value and sell them and use the real money to buy things but that is an investment, not a currency in economics. 50 investment, not a currency in economics-— investment, not a currency in economics. , , economics. so your interest became turbo-charged _ economics. so your interest became turbo-charged and _ economics. so your interest became turbo-charged and you _ economics. so your interest became turbo-charged and you actually i turbo—charged and you actually started an investigative journalist, looking at what was happening to people with cryptocurrency? absolutely, we started with a first article attacking celebrities for shelling these unlicensed securities and we went to south by south west, and we went to south by south west, and music and tech festival in austin and we went to the largest crypto mine in the country and

interviewed a guy, he was the ceo of a crypto company who was arrested for fraud last friday, a crypto company who was arrested forfraud last friday, thursday. went to el salvador, the only country trying to make it real money and it is not working and that i interviewed... hate and it is not working and that i interviewed. . ._ and it is not working and that i interviewed... we had quite an adventure- _ interviewed... we had quite an adventure. we _ interviewed... we had quite an adventure. we are _ interviewed... we had quite an adventure. we are not - interviewed... we had quite an adventure. we are notjust i interviewed... we had quite an i adventure. we are notjust talking