channel it is midday. hello. welcome alastair stewart. and for the next 2 hours, i'll be keeping you company on tv and radio with the stories that really matter across the country. and we have plenty coming up today. we're looking at sir keir starmer's plan to take charity status away from schools. and we're looking at charities generally . and the at charities generally. and the role of philanthropy in modern britain doing what state can't or won't do anymore. and often

it better. plus another brilliant small business and going green to save money . but going green to save money. but first, let's bring you right up date with all of the day's news. here's elsey . alastair, thank here's elsey. alastair, thank you . good afternoon. it's 12:01. you. good afternoon. it's 12:01. i'm bethany elsey, bringing you up to date from gb newsroom. parents are being urged to be vigilant to look out for symptoms of strep a after six children under the age of ten have died from the infection . have died from the infection. the uk. symptoms are mild but the uk security agency is now the uk security agency is now the rise in severe cases. experts say that a lack of mixing during the covid 19 pandemic could be a drop in immunity . while bacteriologist immunity. while bacteriologist at the university of aberdeen, hugh pennington says it early is key because the disease this being a manifestation of the disease is so relatively rare .

disease is so relatively rare. many doctors will have seen a case and they may not have that high index of suspicion . the high index of suspicion. the good news is that treatment is straightforward . with penicillin straightforward. with penicillin . this is not a bug that's developed antibiotic like so many other bacteria is still sensitive penicillin. the hope issue really is . can you get a issue really is. can you get a penicillin in there quickly enough .7 well, nhs, gp dr. veena enough? well, nhs, gp dr. veena babu told gb news symptoms that parents should look out for strep a presents most commonly in three ways you can get a sore throat, you can get scarlet fever, or you could a condition called impetigo. so scarlet fever presents muscle aches, fever presents muscle aches, fever you may get a rash on the skin which feels what we call your typical sandpaper rash. so your typical sandpaper rash. so you might get some bumps coming up on the skin that could be on the arms , the chest or on the the arms, the chest or on the tummy . i would advise tummy. i would advise parents what were saying, look, feel and how your kids are feeding . the

how your kids are feeding. the immigration minister has defended the government's handung defended the government's handling of migrants crossing the english channel after more than 44,000 have reached british shores year. speaking to gb newsroom, robert jenrick acknowledged stopping crossings was the priority for work for the government and that should it could cost the conservative lives at the next election. if numbers weren't reduced. mr. jenrick , uk and french jenrick, uk and french authorities need to work together . the authorities need to work together. the home authorities need to work together . the home secretary together. the home secretary signed a deal just a few weeks ago , which is an improvement on ago, which is an improvement on the situation, but it isn't the answer. certainly not a silver bullet. it mean that there will be more french officers on the beaches, intercepting boats . but beaches, intercepting boats. but arrests are low and it doesn't seem to break the people smugglers business. so we're clearly to have to go much further than that. some of that will be diplomatic. further than that. some of that will be diplomatic . and rishi will be diplomatic. and rishi sunak's seems to have built a good rapport with president macron , but a lot of it's going macron, but a lot of it's going to be harder edged than that.

the g7 and australia have to restrict the amount russia be paid for crude oil. the countries say the price cap $60 a barrel will prevent moscow from profiting from the energy crisis. on friday, crude oil was trading at around $67 a barrel while a senior aide to ukraine's president says . the price should president says. the price should be capped at 30 to hit russia's economy harder . thousands of tsa economy harder. thousands of tsa members are walk out on the 17th of december in a dispute . jobs, of december in a dispute. jobs, pay of december in a dispute. jobs, pay and conditions. services from six further train operators expected to be affected on top of the two previously announced . the union says its members feel they're being treated with contempt by train companies and the government while the department for transport has urged unions and rail operators to work together to find a resolution . and in the nhs, resolution. and in the nhs, neonatal and critical care units are among the service that will be protected from strikes in the

build up to christmas. the royal college of nursing says chemotherapy, dialysis and, paediatric intensive care will also not be impacted during planned industrial action on. the 15th and 20th of december. services, though, will be severely reduced. matt hancock has revealed he was warned that covid 19 could kill hundreds of thousands people in the uk. two months before the country was placed lockdown. in his new book, the former health secretary said chief medical officer for england , chris officer for england, chris whitty, told him january 2020 that in a worst case scenario, 820,000 people could die . the 820,000 people could die. the independent mp for suffolk made his first appearance in the house of commons yesterday after taking part in itv's i'm a celebrity show in australia , a celebrity show in australia, a company that makes alternative packaging from seaweed has become the first uk winner of prince william's earthshot prize

not plan . it's one of five not plan. it's one of five entrepreneurs who've been awarded entrepreneurs who've been awarde d £1,000,000 to scale up awarded £1,000,000 to scale up their green innovate projects. the prince of wales says the earthshot solutions will prove we can overcome climate change and change our future . and some and change our future. and some breaking news . a third man has breaking news. a third man has been charged with after two teenagers were fatally stabbed in south london last weekend. 18 year old hussain has been charged with murder after 216 year old boys were just a mile apart in east london. t with his age, 16 and 15, appeared at bexley magistrates court yesterday, charged with murder and were remanded in custody . and were remanded in custody. this is gb news to more news as it happens. now let's back to . alastair

bethany thank you very much indeed. now if clipping the wings of the trade unions and privatising ocean put clear blue water as the tory right used to call it between themselves, labour by that they will take charter notable tax status away from private schools. labour is putting the clearest of red water between themselves and the conservatives now in recent history. labour has always opposed grammar schools for reasons of selection and has long seen private and public schools as bastions of purchasable privilege. enjoying a leg up from the state through tax concessions. they don't levy vat on fees. they don't pay corporation tax . now, corporation tax. now, interestingly, tony shimmied away from the. but jeremy corbyn it. and now sir keir starmer has resurrect did it. it was the subject of one of the more fiery parts of pmqs queues earlier on

this week, which ended up with our ex private schoolboy prime minister accusing labour of being empty aspiration . speaker being empty aspiration. speaker whenever he attacks me about where i went to school. he is attacking the hardworking aspiration of millions of people in country . so aspiration of millions of people in country. so it is indeed meaty politics. get those advantages because . they are advantages because. they are deemed to be charity . with many deemed to be charity. with many offering bursaries and scholarships to the bright kids whose parents can't. however afford the full fees . now a afford the full fees. now a government spokesperson and i quote independent have an important role to play levelling up opportunities for children right across country by providing targeted bursaries and, by working with local states schools to share expertise , practise and expertise, practise and facilities . it is because of the facilities. it is because of the important educational service that independent schools provide

that independent schools provide that that they are exempt from v8. so you have it the government's position now this is really important and worth . is really important and worth. we all only talking about the eton's and the harrow and the winchester colleges of this great land of ours. we are talking about hundreds and thousands of other schools . thousands of other schools. there are reasons as to why hundreds and thousands of parents scrimp and, save to send their children to minor private schools. and indeed, in today's daily telegraph , camilla tominey daily telegraph, camilla tominey says labour's plan is, and i quote, a stock example of britain's on the middle classes . but sir keir says it isn't just an attack on privilege. last september, when she pledged to end that charitable status enjoyed by many fee paying , he enjoyed by many fee paying, he said it would raise . enjoyed by many fee paying, he said it would raise . £1.7 said it would raise. £1.7 billion in tax a year from the private schools, which would then be used to fund state education. schools would lose their 20% vat exemption and they

would then have to pay their 20% vat exemption and they would then have to pa y £104 would then have to pay £104 million in business rates as well . 20% tax on fees would mean well. 20% tax on fees would mean that tuition at the top institutions could rise by almost institutions could rise by almos t £10,000 in institutions could rise by almost £10,000 in some instances is with a £44,000. tuition increase . to nearly is with a £44,000. tuition increase. to nearl y £53,000 increase. to nearly £53,000 a yeah increase. to nearly £53,000 a year. now on that point, the former tory education secretary, nadhim zahawi, has warned that this policy would actually flood the state sector with new pupils and would ultimately cost taxpayer money. he said , i taxpayer money. he said, i quote, i saw some of the analysis on this that actually, if do it, you will not increase tax for take the exchequer. other tory have called it a spite that would make private only affordable to wealthy foreigners and pile further pressure on britain's state sector . sir john pressure on britain's state sector . sirjohn redwood, pressure on britain's state sector . sir john redwood, who pressure on britain's state sector . sirjohn redwood, who is sector. sirjohn redwood, who is in charge of margaret thatcher's policy , told the mail they are policy, told the mail they are clearly trying to price people

out of sending their children to private schools . from the uk it private schools. from the uk it will become foreigners only, he added. will become foreigners only, he added . it will therefore greatly added. it will therefore greatly increase the burden of public spending because all those people will full state places for free instead of paying for the private sector places themselves . it the private sector places themselves. it is a typical venture little tax to stop people getting on in the world which ends up costing all of us a lot more money and making many more people miss noble. interestingly, the chancellor, jeremy hunt isn't impressed ehhen jeremy hunt isn't impressed either. he took a swipe at the dunng either. he took a swipe at the during his autumn statement this month, branding it as ideologues and claiming it would cause 90,000 pupils to switch to the state schools. but a labour spokesperson said labour is determined that all children in respect of their family income , respect of their family income, have the chance to achieve their potential through high quality education. so that's our big debate today with great voices .

debate today with great voices. all sides of the argument. but we really want to hear from you as well. do you private schools or you agree perhaps with michael gove that it's a bastion of privilege , needs to go. one of privilege, needs to go. one final declaration to have our children were educated privately and two of them in the state system so i have a balanced interest in this debate . i would interest in this debate. i would love to hear from you. you've been busy overnight already sending in your thoughts. been busy overnight already sending in your thoughts . and i sending in your thoughts. and i will read out the best can will read out the best you can get via gb news at gb get in touch via gb news at gb news uk. you can tweet me direct or you tweet at gb news. of course you can also go facebook and i'll say you've been in touch on the big topic already. storm is pmqs comments about tax on private schools. hughes says my on private schools. hughes says my wife and i are emergency service workers, so we just work incredibly hard to find fees and give our children incredible experiences in and out of the classroom . the school helped us classroom. the school helped us with sports for their rugby team, which we were incredibly

grateful for. chris says, i. what irks labour is office of scholarships to bright children of less well—off parents. they think that they should stay in the state system getting rid of charitable status means that only rich parents can send their children and makes them an easier target to abolish. so that's just a taster . keep your that's just a taster. keep your views coming in and subscribe to our youtube channel as well we are at gb news. let's start the conversation with judy robinson. judy is the chief executive officer of the independent schools and she's sitting here with me live in the studio having listened that introduction , in short, do you introduction, in short, do you feel under attack ? yes, very feel under attack? yes, very much . i mean, we all agree don't much. i mean, we all agree don't we, that every child deserves the best education and parents should have an easy choice of lots of great schools in their local. everybody wants that everyone can get behind that. but it seems to us that the best to ensure the best possible

overview, the best across the uk is not to bash the private sector , but to encourage it to sector, but to encourage it to keep doing all the partnerships, providing increasing bursaries, not for just the most academic, by the way, but bursaries as many children as possible build the good work they're doing , the good work they're doing, setting up state schools, providing extra capacity and specialism across the whole piece. that's vital because it also defines what charitable status implies ? and we both know status implies? and we both know you more than i but but through our own family experience, we know great pride schools that really do open their doors to the state sector . they swap the state sector. they swap teachers. they swap experience playing fields, all sorts stuff. not everybody does. and if don't, then they shouldn't enjoy charitable status, absolute independent schools, completely accept civic, civic duty . they accept civic, civic duty. they know they have a duty to public, to be of general good. and that's why they're increasing work. so there are now 7000

examples of partnership work . examples of partnership work. operating across the 1400 schools. you sent out examples of best practise to your members? yes. we collect examples of best practise we celebrate them each year. we keep track of them all and. we encourage more. there's a brand new charity launching in january to encourage good impact measurement, to encourage good impact measurement , to ensure that the measurement, to ensure that the kinds of what we're doing has the best possible effect . the best possible effect. because it's a vast array of partnership work that's going on already. and wouldn't it be a terrible to harm that rather than to encourage more and more increasing linking together so that we just part of the overall education package. have you also done the crucial sums which of your members if they have to levy vat and charge their mums and dads percent more because of it would go to the wall? yes there's an independent report by baines cutler and their financial benchmark expert. is

that the one that seems always responsive? that's the very same one. and have a lot of information . parents surveys information. parents surveys over thousand parents from actually quite a long time ago 2018. so before the current cost of living crisis and they've worked out the drop off to be something like 100,000 or more pupils . we don't know exactly pupils. we don't know exactly which schools because it depends on the pattern of affordability for parents and, their own circumstances. but certainly if you put the cost of something up by 20, all in one go, it's going to price parents out of that market. it's going to mean that not only do you lose the tax, take, but those parents who are no longer in the independent sector but they become a cost to the taxpayer . what would you say the taxpayer. what would you say was the top single thing that a mum, dad, guardian, or a couple parents get for parting with what is not an insignificant amount of money to send their or daughter or both of them to a private school? what's your key selling point in defence? well,

i remember when i was a prep school head myself. parents wanting their child to feel comfortable. some of them want academic results, but on the whole, i had parents who they perhaps felt they weren't going to get what they wanted to quite get what they wanted from the local state offer. they might have wanted extra arts extra music extras , sport extra music extras, sport opportunities . they might have opportunities. they might have been dual income . they wanted a been dual income. they wanted a longer day with all the built in to the school . so they were to the school. so they were looking for a broad basis. a child who could be nurtured positively . now this is the same positively. now this is the same as in the state sector, so it's not to criticise the state sector . our youngest son to an sector. our youngest son to an absolute standout state in old angers, which is utterly , angers, which is utterly, utterly brilliant. let me one final question to you, which actually does have a foot in both of your answers. there and thatis both of your answers. there and that is it strikes me reading carefully what sir keir has said about it and looking at the defence from a government spokesperson and senior ministers. this is a central a

moral, political issue. it's not just about and it's not just about money and it's labour's strongest single argument against you and your sector is you should not be able to purchase advantage and privilege , and this is where the sector been characterised wrongly because it is not the preserve the superrich. there are plenty and in fact the majority of parents are working really hard, striving to choose what they feel is the right education for their children. i think to attack people like that, the middle, if you like , it just middle, if you like, it just doesn't seem logical . in current doesn't seem logical. in current debate, yeah. well i'm glad we've had you to join our debate on it. i personally , it's an on it. i personally, it's an incredibly important issue and i think it will become a major issue in the general election whenever that around. but thank you for being our first guest on that subject. judy robinson, ceo of the independent schools council. thank you . joining me

council. thank you. joining me now is , dr. zena hopson zenas, a now is, dr. zena hopson zenas, a former chair of the schools regulator , ofsted and. they are regulator, ofsted and. they are the governing body the regulators that keep an eye on just the quality of work that is being done in schools right across state sector and privately as well zena, do you think parents are getting value for money in the main from private schools? i think it's a really mixed bag and certainly ofsted we only expect independence schools that wishes to preserve the independence schools inspectorate service and so actually the majority of schools them but we still have an overview we actually we formally ofsted actually oversees the inspections . so for oversees the inspections. so for me it's not a question of a value money and i you know i'll put my cards on the table. i've been a chair of an independent school. my eldest daughter works in kids went to state in one, my kids went to state and you know, it's and independent you know, it's not have , as you said,

not that i have, as you said, a moral, political , philosophical moral, political, philosophical view, but i do think that the arguments for ensuring that independent schools retain status are a little flaky at best . interesting. julie from best. interesting. julie from the advanced council was just saying that there are some very good examples what private schools do to defend, as it were, that claim of charitable status and enjoy the tax arrangements that they do . but arrangements that they do. but not all of them. just wonder if whether or not there are bigger questions for the charity commission be putting to the private schools rather than ofsted ? absolutely i mean, ofsted? absolutely i mean, i think that the argument that a fee, a fee business, which is what it is should get charitable status because it does some charitable activity, actually just doesn't hold any water. but currently run a charity at the moment and we get enormous

support from the private sector, from companies , from instruction from companies, from instruction to goods really take the social, environmental , know what we used environmental, know what we used to call a sort of csr piece really, really . and they give really, really. and they give all time and yet they pay all the tax they pay they, i'd say. and so i the simple argument that well independent schools do some stuff the charity for state schools doesn't wash because so does every other private business frankly right now and probably do as much, if not more than independent schools . judy than independent schools. judy robinson. right reply. well, education is for the public good and there isn't tax on other types of education offer like nurseries and university fees, coaching tuition . so i don't coaching tuition. so i don't quite understand why independent schools be any different in that debate in terms of their benefit . these are schools who do an immense amount of good this. these are schools which are .

these are schools which are. a national asset socially and economically. they do pay tax . economically. they do pay tax. they pay over economically. they do pay tax. they pay ove r £5 billion worth they pay over £5 billion worth of tax per year. and then they also save the taxpayer, four and also save the taxpayer, four and a half billion by educating in the private . let me bring 50 the private. let me bring 50 million children. let me bring zena back on that point, because the other educational and that was very fair exchange and was a very fair exchange and balanced exchange about charitable status thing. but the other issue is whether or not the state sector, which you and colleagues inspected when were the chair of ofsted could cope with the likely influx of children who are currently being educated in the private sector, whose parents might be able to afford the fees plus vat and the rest of it business rates and so on. you think the state system is up muster to meet that likely demand ? i think it is in certain demand? i think it is in certain groups and certainly you always

see spare capacity when you've got low birthrate . so i think got low birthrate. so i think there is the absolute potential for that. but i think absolute be clear, we're not talking about getting of independent schools and i'm not saying that they shouldn't be treated in the same way as other education establishments might be like independent nurseries . what independent nurseries. what we're saying is, do they deserve to have the full chargeable status that all other charity, the required to meet their obligations? and that's the bit that i'm questioning, i'm not i'm advocating scrapping all independent schools. i suppose that was one of the things i would say , that we're seeing a would say, that we're seeing a huge debate about this. and, you know, the house of commons got really exercised i want say really exercised well i want say desperately is this government getting as passionate as i've exercised and as concerned about what we're doing in state education at the moment, what we're thinking about our curriculum because frankly, the curriculum because frankly, the curriculum right is busted curriculum right now is busted flush. and that's actually i have to say indeed, absolutely as well . well, former as well. well, with the former apprentice ship girl as

secretary of state that may just happen. we shall see . but zeenat happen. we shall see. but zeenat and jane, thank very much indeed for those exchanges . that was for those exchanges. that was zena hopson there, the last voice that you heard. former of the regulator and the schools regulator and inspectorate ofsted. thank you both very much indeed for a great start to our conversation. i'm now joined. last by no means least in this chunk by tom richmond. now tom's former government adviser in the for department who worked both with michael and with nicky who was on the program a couple of weeks ago. more importantly , though, ago. more importantly, though, perhaps. he's also the director of dsk, which is a think that designs new and better ways for policymaking us and educators to help every learner succeed . what help every learner succeed. what zener was just saying that at the end, a little more passion, perhaps, for the for the state schools . well. do you see this schools. well. do you see this policy statement by sir keir as being essentially about the

politics of envy, as the prime minister accused him . well, minister accused him. well, that's exactly point. what i think should be a policy question has become a political question. and i don't think that's very healthy . if you look that's very healthy. if you look at the labour party's announcements that it's going to raise announcements that it's going to rais e £1.7 billion if they get raise £1.7 billion if they get rid of charitable status and start putting vat on private fees, that's fine . but actually fees, that's fine. but actually the policy question is how much that money will sustain over time. and you just heard julie robinson's talking about the report by the advisory spain's cut a few years ago saying, well, it might start off with saving 1.7 billion, but once some people start to come back into the state sector, then how much of that? into the state sector, then how much of that ? £1.7 billion is much of that? £1.7 billion is going be left? even if going to be left? and even if the £1.7 billion sustained, that's probably about 60 to £70000 per state school in this country. if you divided the money up across all the state schools, it's about 60 to £70000. we have got a major education funding crisis right now . i'm sure teachers will be

now. i'm sure teachers will be very grateful for money, but it's going stop it's not going to stop them going wall over the next going to the wall over the next few in the state. are they few years in the state. are they still having got what they wanted catch pay wanted in terms of catch pay based covid? but but. but it is a political issue. it is a moral issue as well. and your old boss, michael gove , said that boss, michael gove, said that there is something fundamentally wrong with egregious support. private schools should that not be a big wake up call not fitting. keir starmer, he agrees with . but for the tory party with. but for the tory party yeah, it's fascinating isn't it. it wasn't just michael gove who to complain about the support for schools. theresa may, when she was prime minister. if you go back and at the 2017 conservative party manifesto into the election, it wasn't just jeremy corbyn on the labour side putting forward changes to private schools. theresa was saying if private school was do not do more to support state schools than the government has a right to intervene and potentially their charitable status . so this really should be status. so this really should be a cross—party question, but that's why i worry that it's

become more of a political football. absolutely. well, that needs to be seen to underline , needs to be seen to underline, because we are in agreement, which is a jolly good thing. and i that why both jean i think that is why both jean and former ofsted boss, and zena, a former ofsted boss, was , i think, agreed that maybe was, i think, agreed that maybe there are more questions for the charity commission to be putting the than perhaps there is for ofsted to be putting. and jim is saying there is best practise and they circulate examples of that and all private schools aspire to the best . they do aspire to the best. they do indeed. and so this is why when you look at just about every single newspaper that's ever written about private school was probably going to have a picture of eton harrow or winchester college , where the prime college, where the prime minister went . but college, where the prime minister went. but as college, where the prime minister went . but as julie was minister went. but as julie was saying, the sector is actually very, diverse. about half very, very diverse. about half of private are primary of private schools are primary schools and i don't think anybody accuse primary anybody can accuse primary schools ruining our politics schools of ruining our politics or ruining our country over the past 30 or 40 or 50 years. in the same way they accuse some of the same way they accuse some of the prestigious private the most prestigious private schools so unless you

schools of doing so unless you take that take into account that diversity, real of diversity, there's a real of unintended consequences . if you unintended consequences. if you start trying to financially hurt these schools when some of the schools, not only a primary schools, not only a primary school but of them support children disabilities . children with disabilities. well, they start getting well, and if they start getting hit increase vat and are hit by increase in vat and are not considered charities anymore, i think the charity commission could have a very potato hands because it potato on their hands because it raises questions raises all sorts of questions about as were saying what about as you were saying what nurseries what about university tuition charging tuition fees that are charging parents we going to parents. well, are we going to put vat well? very put vat on as well? very difficult questions. absolutely fascinating. and thank you for elegantly and gently correcting me. of course , is judy robinson me. of course, is judy robinson . i don't know who gene is or where she came from, but she snuck into the studio briefly. but there we are, tom, absolutely fascinating, great contribution to debate . contribution to our debate. thank very much indeed. thank you very much indeed. especially the point there especially the last point there about education needs about special education needs vital, actually vital, which is actually something that julie and were something that julie and i were talking outside before. talking about outside before. we came thanks came in the studio thanks to keep touch. to talk to keep in touch. love to talk to you you watching you again. you are watching and listening stewart and listening to alison stewart and friends, including tom we have

lots more coming up on today's program. more on that particular debate . and in the last hour, it debate. and in the last hour, it has been revealed that the sacked minister, conor burns , sacked minister, conor burns, been cleared of misconduct. plus sajid javid has announced that he will not stand at the next general election , saying being general election, saying being an mp had been the privilege of his life all of that to come. but first, let's bring you up to date with the weekend weather . date with the weekend weather. looking ahead to this afternoon and the uk is looking cloudy for many with a chilly breeze. for some . let's take a look at the some. let's take a look at the details . the northern isles will details. the northern isles will see this breeze , though it will see this breeze, though it will stay calm if mainland rain and stay calm if a mainland rain and drizzle will linger across northwest scotland . skies northwest scotland. skies remaining great throughout today. the drizzle may framed the far west of northern ireland , while a few showers are possible along eastern coastlines during . the afternoon coastlines during. the afternoon northwest , coastlines during. the afternoon northwest, england has the best chance of seeing some sunny spells this afternoon and it will remain predominantly with

highs of around seven degrees celsius . a few sunny spells are celsius. a few sunny spells are also possible across wales, particular mainly in the far west, but variable amounts of cloud will for a delayed date at times in the east cloudy skies will originate from england, where they'll also be some scattered showers. the showers will affect coastal areas but could push across lincolnshire into midlands and breeze across england . wales will make it feel england. wales will make it feel chilly this . afternoon coasts of chilly this. afternoon coasts of east anglia will be particularly exposed to this, making it feel like a low single as the breeze also be present across southern england , it will again be mostly england, it will again be mostly dry and cloudy day here though . dry and cloudy day here though. southern counties could largely escape the showers. showers will continue across the eastern areas the evening. meanwhile, the rain across northwest scotland will gradually off and that's how the weather shaping for the rest of the day .

welcome back. you're watching gb news 1233. i'm bethany elsey . news 1233. i'm bethany elsey. your top stories, parents are being urged to be vigilant and, look out for symptoms of strep a after six children under the age of ten have died from the infection in the uk. symptoms are usually mild, but the uk health security agency is now investigate , citing the rise in investigate, citing the rise in severe cases . experts say that severe cases. experts say that a lack mixing during the covid 19 pandemic could be behind a drop in immunity . pandemic could be behind a drop in immunity. police have charged a third person with murder after teenage boys were fatally in south—east london last week . 18

south—east london last week. 18 year old hussain farr has been charged with murder after two six year olds were stabbed to death just a mile apart. t willis, age 16 and 15, appeared bexley magistrates court yesterday charged with murder and were remanded in youth custody . the g7 australia have custody. the g7 australia have agreed to restrict the amount russia can be paid for crude oil. the countries say the price cap of $60 a barrel will prevent moscow from profiting from energy crisis. on friday, russian crude oil was trading at around $67 a barrel. a senior aide to ukraine's president says the price should be capped at $30 to hit russia's economy harder . and $30 to hit russia's economy harder. and today marks years since the first ever text message was sent. one in three people still send and receive sms messages every day . and 20% sms messages every day. and 20% of us still use sms as their default messaging platform. the first text was sent by engineer neil papworth in december 1992.

it read merry christmas . you're it read merry christmas. you're up to date on tv, online and ddb plus radio this is gb news. now let's get back. alastair thank say thank you very much indeed. now a week is long time indeed. now a week is long time in politics this morning. the sacked collarbones was clear and of the alleged misconduct that he was accused of he'll now be readmitted to the conservative party . in another tory headline party. in another tory headline , as you will have heard in the news earlier on, sajid javid has confirmed yesterday that he will not be standing in the next election, saying that being an mp had, however, been the privilege of his lifetime. former chancellor , who's held former chancellor, who's held a number of other senior roles in government and stood for leadership . he is the high

leadership. he is the high profile conservative mp to decide to step down at the election in 24. and it does of course, come amid reports that the conservative has told its members that they have to decide about their future by monday, with a number of younger members confirming their exits, as it were . well, joining me now to were. well, joining me now to discuss that and more, i'm delighted to say , is gb news delighted to say, is gb news political reporter catherine foster and. she's here in the studio in. the interesting thing about connor is it's trial by accusation and it wrecked his political life for a while and now suddenly , oh, no, there was now suddenly, oh, no, there was never anything wrong . yes. he never anything wrong. yes. he says he's had two months of absolute hell. what happened was it was conservative party allegedly touched a young man's thigh . the person whose thigh he thigh. the person whose thigh he touched did not meet the complaint, but else who'd seen it did make the complaint. he was sacked as trade minister. he had the conservative withdrawn

immediately . an investigation immediately. an investigation has now cleared him completely. he will get the conservative whip back. it certainly looks like massive overreaction . chief like massive overreaction. chief whip wendy morton and liz truss, who of course having some problems with discipline in the party at the time. so good news for burns, but i think they were very keen to have a policy , zero very keen to have a policy, zero tolerance for sexual wrongdoing. they've obviously got it wrong in this instance . but now, in this instance. but now, again, in the last couple of days , allegations it's days, allegations it's a conservative mp is still walking around parliament with the whip intact tact accused of various sexual misconduct including rape . so we shall wait and what happens? we shall indeed . all happens? we shall indeed. all very troubling indeed . were you very troubling indeed. were you surprised as me at such decision? and as i said it, not entre a little bit earlier on, one of the most high profile

tory mps saying no , i don't tory mps saying no, i don't fancy this. do you suppose that that was slightly nudged along by the chest by—election result? possibly, but it had been rumoured a while that he might stand down at the next election , although his team had denied that, had said that he'd already put his papers in because monday is the day that you have asked conservative mp to confirm if they're going to stand or not to boundary changes and they want to have plenty of time before the next. so not entirely surprising, but a big loss for the conservative party. i mean he is a beast. he's been he's got a majority of 23,000 in bromsgrove. he's mp since 2010. he's had also of big cabinet positions including chancellor and of course if he hadn't resigned as chancellor just before the pandemic when number ten made a power grab basically and he said no, no, i'm having

this. and he stood down. that's of course, paved the way for rishi sunak's come in as chancellor. the furlough and everything that has gone through that. so i think it will be a blow for rishi sunak. that. so i think it will be a blow for rishi sunak . although blow for rishi sunak. although sajid javid not endorse him for the leadership , he endorsed liz the leadership, he endorsed liz truss and. that must have grated intriguing stuff. kathryn always pleasure to talk to you. thank you very much indeed for being with us. that is katharine foster gb news, political reporter, now labour deputy leader angela rayner said that rishi sunak has failed his first electoral test following our party's record byelection win in chester. following for my chancellor sajid javid announcement that he is stepping down in the next general election . so is that the election. so is that the beginning of the end of a conservative government? while labour mp for birmingham perry bar joins me live now bar mahmood joins me live now down the line and there is good friend of ours on this programme. always good to see you. chester numbers i think show that if there were a

general election tomorrow which of course they won't be? you'd have a majority, but it would be relatively slender compared to some of the headlines that we have endured . have labour got to have endured. have labour got to get a bit more realistic and a bit more objective about these results ? well, i think we are results? well, i think we are and i think this policy that we have to move along and to deliver for the country is what the what the people are saying and that's why we had the results that had in chester and. i think we will. we are determined to stay at that we are determined to stay on top of it. are determined . with sir it. we are determined. with sir keir starmer in the lead and rachel reeves as the shadow chancellor who's making real decisions about . of course we decisions about. of course we haven't got the full, full book yet at the moment in terms of what the spend is. but when we get that will give far more details on that as well. but we've got clear policies, energy. we've got clear policies on the environment in manufacturing and engineering .

manufacturing and engineering. so all of those issues are not clear. and where we want to move forward. you've also got a very clear policy now on education, which is to take charitable and those tax advantages that from it away from private schools . it away from private schools. that's a big discussion today in your view, and you've been around a while, is this an attempt by, sir keir, to say, look , really is a lot more than look, really is a lot more than a postage stamp between us and the tories, which one of the most brutal charges made of it. and by the way, here is a bit of red meat to distinguish us , the red meat to distinguish us, the blue . well, i think blue tories. well, i think clearly the kids trying to do is that clearly the kids trying to do is tha t £70,000 in a school is that £70,000 in a school is a lot of money . and i think you lot of money. and i think you give lot of money. and i think you giv e £70,000 to a head teacher give £70,000 to a head teacher that'll be very pleased with that. and they can really put some resources in to support young people who are coming through. we've got a lot people at the moment that are being excluded from schools. so that sort of money would really help people in back into education,

support them. and that's why the kids doing that. but what would what would sir keir do? and bridget , those state schools bridget, those state schools that you've just said need help and some of my other guests admitted and agreed with that as well, that suddenly to take on board quite a lot of boys and girls who were lined private schools but mums dads , guardians schools but mums dads, guardians can't afford the fees at 20% higher. is the state system up to picking up that slack ? well, to picking up that slack? well, look, the safest gyms there to pick up all the slack by both ends and the bottom end, which is what trying to do to make sure that the bottom is raised above. sure that the bottom is raised above . and that's what we've got above. and that's what we've got to do as a responsible politicians running the country is that we're going to keep raising the up and make sure that more people come in and make sure that people have a better education. so don't need to pay huge amounts money to go to pay huge amounts money to go to private education. that's what our objective is and always has been. do you reckon it's going to be a class driven ,

going to be a class driven, spiteful envy driven election ? spiteful envy driven election? no, absolutely not. i think this is about giving opportunity to the people looking at manufactured and industry back once kid's doing in terms of getting more that industry and privatising the energy sector to give them more to the people. improving the education sector. so no, no, i don't think the kids in i'm very relieved. the problem we didn't just call it i said to the top i repeat it now on the way out. it's always a pleasure to have you on the program. thanks for fitting us into your busy saturday and keep into your busy saturday and keep in touch. that's labour mp for birmingham perry khalid birmingham, perry bootle, khalid mahmood . you're watching mahmood. you're watching and listening stewart listening to alastair stewart and friends with plenty more. still afternoon still to come this afternoon include small business include doing its small business and former strictly star christina rhianna will join me to discuss her experiences running small business with her partner , ben cohen. but first, a partner, ben cohen. but first, a quick break .

welcome back. it's a quarter one. you're watching alastair stewart& friends here on gb news tv and today is due to be the fifth biggest shopping day of the year. a campaign highlights small business success and encourages consumer buyers to shop local support. small businesses , their communities businesses, their communities and mark the day. business secretary grant shapps launches payment review as he says that the uk's smallest firms are currently more than £23 billion, while we've had a terrific run recently on this with small businesses and celebrate small businesses and celebrate small businesses and celebrate small businesses and to discuss the situation, i am joined now by professional dancer and owner of shoe yoga , kristina rihanoff

shoe yoga, kristina rihanoff krysta is that she is perhaps best known for being a professional dancer on bbc's strictly come dancing. but goodness me she is a small business person with her partner as well and you told us that you and ben the business centre sue yoga in northampton in june 2019, nine months before the pandemic . needless to say , if pandemic. needless to say, if you had a crystal ball you'd probably things quite differently . what would you have differently. what would you have done differently and would you done differently and would you do if it was now no , i would do if it was now no, i would have done a lot of things completely. i went into it with an open heart and willingness to perhaps something very different and very for my community here . and very for my community here. and because i was a mum with a little baby and it was really hard to go any classes to look after my own wellbeing or fitness and i wanted to create the sense where it welcomes

everybody regardless of age, regardless of ability, disability and especially for mom because even now i'm talking to you from a crash, you know, we a crash facilities in ours yoga so the moms can leave the babies with a crash work and go classes but know we went big we went you know we took quite large premises and of course, you know, it was it was just an idea to create something really special for everyone here . but, special for everyone here. but, you know, we see the pandemic coming like i other small businesses of property would say i would have done things differently . i would make one differently. i would make one small shop today standing up in defence of your sector and saying that some businesses are owed great deal of money. and thatis owed great deal of money. and that is always a problem. of course it is. but did you feel that you got adequate support either central government or local government , when you were local government, when you were trying to get this business and running ? no, i haven't felt running? no, i haven't felt that. that's all and then i

still don't feel like because our west northamptonshire council is not really there to , council is not really there to, even support us now when . even support us now when. electricity prices literally doubled up and there is no break on the small businesses for like a business right? so anything like that, there is no business plan which allow you to foresee and actually kind of allocate something us for this kind of situation . you literally go from situation. you literally go from i don't know situation. you literally go from i don't kno w £3,000 a month to i don't know £3,000 a month to £6, i don't know £3,000 a month to £6 , £1,000 a month for £6, £1,000 a month for electricity bills . and i ask and electricity bills. and i ask and ask and ask local council to help mind you. we give back so much. we do free classes for cancer patients . we do kids cancer patients. we do kids performances for elderly and all this kind of things, but they're like , there is no nothing in like, there is no nothing in place and there is basically no help and here you are and here is your bill. and if you don't pay is your bill. and if you don't pay it on time, we're going to send you a court proceeding and the rest of it. and it's really upsetting because we're just our best to keep the business and we

provide something very important for the local community. you know, it's a mental health now where people really struggle . where people really struggle. they need to get out of the house. they need to some form of release, you know, go to fitness, to yoga go to fitness, go to yoga go to meditation classes . but people meditation classes. but people see now even the membership at places like ours as a luxury because they feel like, oh, i can't afford yoga classes because i just can't pay like, you know, because i just can't pay like, you know , £49 a month and you know, £49 a month and i think the free side , the flip think the free side, the flip side to that and i do understand is that what you are offering is very much in vogue at the moment . we are told to look after ourselves . we're told to be ourselves. we're told to be careful about our mental and so on services that you are offering . if they go well, for offering. if they go well, for me, my partner, my wife or whomsoever , ultimately that's whomsoever, ultimately that's going to save the money because we can of our own backs keep ourselves fitter, both mentally , physically , absolutely 100, , physically, absolutely 100, but somehow that whole circle of understanding what actually we

is not really there for the pubuc is not really there for the public knowledge or even for the government you know, i think for people essential to have some time to themselves to come to a facility like ours to have a yoga or fitness class or whatever it is for young mums to have a time for themselves . but have a time for themselves. but unfortunately it's you know, they see it as a luxury and it's really sad because people are going to be locked down at home and feel really sad and very down and depressed , you know, down and depressed, you know, and rather to come here feel part of the community , they'll part of the community, they'll just be left alone. and it's extreme mood set for me as someone who's trying to really put it out there and say, you've got to look after yourself , got got to look after yourself, got to look after your wellbeing and the yoga class so more the yoga class can do so more for than taking the for you than taking the medication and taking medication for depression or something like that. for depression or something like that . you've answered half of that. you've answered half of this question in saying that your biggest in terms of inflow is people looking at their memberships . oh, i've got to memberships. oh, i've got to scrimp and save because all got to get through higher bills and higher mortgages so on. what's

your biggest cost pressure . i'll your biggest cost pressure. i'll biggest cost pressure, i would say is electricity 100% and of course, business rates which is piling upon us and. you know it's yeah . it's what it is. yeah it's yeah. it's what it is. yeah and we don't know what's going to happen because there is no a plan , there is no plan to help plan, there is no plan to help small businesses. is we going forward and back with the government what's going to be is there a cap is there help? is there a cap is there help? is there not a help? what's going to happen with those electricity pnces? to happen with those electricity prices? really give to happen with those electricity priyanswer. really give to happen with those electricity priyanswer. we lly give to happen with those electricity priyanswer. we therefore ye an answer. and we therefore cannot plan forwards and see if we can survive this , i wonder we can survive this, i wonder maybe grant shapps shapps should take a closer look at those costs that he can influence in a way one way or another, rather than banging on about how much money small businesses are owed . but we'll pass that message . . but we'll pass that message. christina great talking . you christina great talking. you have thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. not because it's great to hear wisdom from the line, but also for such a

balanced and sensible take on the pressures that . so many the pressures that. so many small businesses are facing and the brilliant offer that you have to people that to help keep themselves mentally and physically fit best of both of you and thanks for breaking into your weekend to us, christine. thank you. rihanoff that now winter here as you may have noficed. winter here as you may have noticed . and temperatures, of noticed. and temperatures, of course , starting to plummet. course, starting to plummet. people across the united kingdom will be feeling the chill in their homes, but not as much as our country's homeless whilst living on the streets. take one, leave. one is a british initiative that we've covered before on the programme and i'm happy to revisit today because it's an initiative offering to homeless people and, those who are facing hardship simply being chilly . so they set up clothing, chilly. so they set up clothing, rails in four cities and you've got a spare coat, you put it there and somebody who has no coat at all takes it away. the

founding and good friend of this program is simonovic , and he program is simonovic, and he called fan take one and leave one. and there he now to tell us more. demand, i fear , is more. demand, i fear, is outstripping supply supply . outstripping supply supply. sadly, as always , take one. sadly, as always, take one. leave one more. originally, we set them up for that very cold winter. the beast of the east was coming. we put one outside the office where i work . central the office where i work. central london. just a very simple sign saying if you're cold, take one. if healthy it if you can healthy one. it filled up clothes . we're filled up with clothes. we're meant be there two weeks meant to be there for two weeks in for christmas. we in the run up for christmas. we stay three and we've stay for three months and we've been and we've been back every year and we've spread the four cities, spread not just the four cities, but country, over 150 but across country, over 150 rails have been set up . they rails have been set up. they always pop up at this time of yean always pop up at this time of year, just before the christmas because that's the time people think about and helping others. but we do it all year round. so some of the rails like the brighton one, like bowling vauxhall year round and vauxhall go all year round and we've actually shifted it. so

some of the signs in the but it's not the winter months say you need both take one if you can help to leave one so it's for anyone who feeling the pinch . it's because of the cost of living crisis. but originally it was, as you said set up for rough sleepers and homeless people. yeah, interesting . were people. yeah, interesting. were running pictures while you were giving that answer and was going to ask you how far to the expanded said in for other city centres . certainly you're not centres. certainly you're not talking about last time you talking about that last time you were ambition because was were on the ambition because was such that you wanted to roll it out those rails outside, out. but on those rails outside, i don't know if was outside the original your office or one of the other centres there lots of coats, but there were also sweaters, there were cardigans, there were other items of clothing. was that your decision to as it were broadened the offer or was it folk saying, do you know what i really need is not coat, it's x ? well, this is not coat, it's x? well, this is actually brighton road that actually the brighton road that you're seeing there . this is you're seeing there. this is with stickers rather than actually banners we actually banners. but we can send one these wherever

send you one of these wherever you are . decision to what? you are. the decision to what? we hang those up, you are. the decision to what? we hang those up , the people who we hang those up, the people who run the rails take one. ebola isn't an organisation it's not a charity. it's an idea. so anyone could do it. this is the beauty idea. you could do this right now . take some warm clothes from now. take some warm clothes from your loft put outside your your loft put them outside your house, city centre house, find a city centre somewhere, drive warm , keep the somewhere, drive warm, keep the shopkeepers about it, but just get so the is that anything could be there. some of the stalls food and drinks and coffee and warm clothes. as i say in, the summer people still need clothing . so some of these need clothing. so some of these things can go all year round. so the concept is an idea which can be expanded it can be taken. anyone could do come to us will send you a banner for free or set up yourself. it's very much a community thing as well. and we were exchange ing messages with each other earlier in the week about local heroes . your week about local heroes. your involvement in that. tell us about that . yeah we have

about that. yeah we have a company called belvita just chose take one live one. it's one of their organisation that is a local hero. so it's very much a community led grassroots thing that anyone do. the thing is, we ask people use the hashtag tolo , then the cities hashtag tolo, then the cities hotel in brighton tolo, peckham tolo , watford, wherever you you tolo, watford, wherever you you can set up your own. take one legal set and then people can find each other by using that hashtag on on twitter or on instagram on tik tok and find other people who are willing help. one of the ideas, if you to expand it and we did this year we went to the heads of all the charities, particularly the homeless charities. and i know yourself you yourself were an ambassador for shelter. you went to them and said, why the charity put a royal out charity shops put a royal out each of their shops just for homeless people that wouldn't close each winter and this could make that we have a take when we leave on rail on every high street the country now we

street in the country now we still waiting for a response from charities. i know from these charities. i know these but these things can take time, but i this idea , very simple i think this idea, very simple idea sure , because if idea of making sure, because if you're homeless and you to you're homeless and you need to get and you go to get a warm coat and you go to a charity have to pay charity shop, you have to pay 20, now the ideas , having 20, £30. now the ideas, having a surplus, having a place where you keep the clothes, having where you could put the round in and out, having volunteers to help charity shops have all that. so that's i love that we're still hoping to announce we're still hoping to announce we're doing a big press launch on the 9th of december. so if anyone wants to come down, i'd say it's a celebrity launch had boy george we've had gary lineker , we've had guy pratt lineker, we've had guy pratt from came down from pink floyd came down through our brighton launch last year. through our brighton launch last year . so, yeah, who wants year. so, yeah, anyone who wants to involved. all right, to get involved. all right, simon, it simon, we've got to leave it there. but i wish you well, as you know, and keep in touch and, keep across and i'm keep me across that. and i'm glad floyd be involved. glad pink floyd be involved. david terrific david gilmore, terrific supporter been supporter of crisis and has been for long, time. luck for a long, long time. good luck with doing it's with what you're doing it's a terrific fingers terrific idea and fingers crossed that you get good news on that front as well. that's

stefan simon of the founder of . stefan simon of the founder of. take one leave while you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends with more to come on the program this afternoon. health officials are investigating the condition strep a after six children have now died from the bacterial infection . we'll be speaking to infection. we'll be speaking to a doctor in the next. tell us what symptoms we to look out for if we have people in our homes. but first, we're going to take a quick break .

it's 1:01. it's1:01. hello. and it's 1:01. hello. and welcome if it's1:01. hello. and welcome if you've just joined us. hello thank you so much for being there . you've been with us since there. you've been with us since 12:00. this is alastair stewart friends . and we're into our friends. and we're into our second hour of the program this

afternoon. i'll be keeping a company on television and radio with animals. still to company on television and radio with animals . still to come, with animals. still to come, including more on that top lively discussion on our education system after the keir starmer hit out at the prime in this week's pmqs over private schools and charitable status . schools and charitable status. plus how can we stay warm a budget in this week's saturday savings. but first let's get you right up to date with all the rest of the day's news. here's stephanie elsey . alistair, thank stephanie elsey. alistair, thank you. good afternoon. it's 1:10. you. good afternoon. it's1:10. i am bethany. elsie in the gb newsroom parents are being urged to be vigilant and out for symptoms of strep a after six children under the age of ten have died from the infection in the uk. symptoms are usually but the uk. symptoms are usually but the uk. symptoms are usually but the uk health security agency is now investigating the rise in severe cases . experts say that severe cases. experts say that a lack of mixing during the covid

19 pandemic could be behind a drop in immunity. bacteriologist at the university of aberdeen, hugh pennington says spotting it early is key because the disease this severe manifestation is so relatively . many doctors were relatively. many doctors were have seen a case and they may not have thought high index of suspicion . the good news is that suspicion. the good news is that treatment is straightforward with penicillin. this is not a bug that's developed antibiotic resistance like so many other bacteria , is still sensitive to bacteria, is still sensitive to penicillin. the hope issue really is can you get a penicillin in there quickly enough ? well, nhs, gp, dr. veena enough? well, nhs, gp, dr. veena babu told gb news the that parents should look out strep a presents the most commonly in three ways. you can get a sore throat, you can get scarlet fever or you could get a condition called impetigo. so scarlet fever presents as muscle aches, fever , you may get a rash

aches, fever, you may get a rash on the skin , which feels what we on the skin, which feels what we call your typical sandpaper rash. so you might get some bumps coming up on the skin and that could be on the arms, on the chest or on the tummy . that could be on the arms, on the chest or on the tummy. i would advise parents what . we would advise parents what. we were saying, look, feel and your kids are feeding . in other news, kids are feeding. in other news, the immigration minister has defended the government's of migrants crossing english channel after more than 44,000 have reached british shores yeah have reached british shores year. speaking to gb news robert jenrick said stopping migrant crossings is a priority for the government. he also admitted could cost the conservatives at the election if numbers on. mr. jenrick said and french authorities need to together the home secretary signed a deal just a few weeks ago which is an improvement on situation, but it isn't the answer. it's certainly not a silver bullet. it does mean that there will be more french officers on, the beaches intercepting boats , but arrests intercepting boats, but arrests are low and it doesn't to break

the people smugglers business. so we're clearly going to have to go much further than that. some of that will be diplomatic . rishi sunak seems to have built a good rapport with president macron . but a lot of president macron. but a lot of it's going to be harder edged than that . a wealthy russian than that. a wealthy russian businessman has arrested in a major operation the uk's national crime agency . the 58 national crime agency. the 58 year old was arrested at his multi—million pound residence , multi—million pound residence, london, by a specialist unit oligarchs. he was detained on suspicion of money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the home office and conspiracy to commit perjury. two other men were also arrested in connection with the money laundering. all three men have since been released on bail . the eu and australia have agreed a price cap on russian oil in an effort to stop moscow profiting from the energy crisis. the limit is $60 a barrel and on friday, russian crude was trading at around $67

a barrel. a senior aide , a barrel. a senior aide, ukraine's president, says the price be capped at $30 to hit russia's economy harder . police russia's economy harder. police have have charged a person with murder after two teenage boys were fatally in south—east london last weekend . 18 year old london last weekend. 18 year old hussein bower has been charged with murder after 216 year olds were stabbed to death a mile apart. t willis, age 16 and 15, appeared at bexley magistrates court yesterday charged with murder and they were remanded in custody to thousands of ssa members are to walk on the 17th of december in a dispute over pay of december in a dispute over pay and conditions. services from six further train operators are expected to be affected on top of the two previously announced . the union says its announced. the union says its members feel they're being treated with contempt by train companies and the government. the department for transport has unions and rail operators to work together to find a

resolution and in the nhs neonatal and critical care unit are among the services that will be protected from strikes in the build up to christmas. the royal college of nursing says chemotherapy , dialysis and chemotherapy, dialysis and paediatric intensive care will also not be impacted during planned industrial on the 15th and 24th of december. other services will be severely reduced and the company makes plastic alternative packaging from seaweed has become the first uk winner of prince william's earthshot prize , not william's earthshot prize, not plough, is one of five entrepreneurs who've been awarded entrepreneurs who've been awarde d £1,000,000 to scale up awarded £1,000,000 to scale up their green innovation projects. the prince of wales . the the prince of wales. the earthshot solution's proof that we can overcome climate and change our future . europe eight change our future. europe eight on gb news will bring you monies as it happens now. let's get back to .

back to. alastair bethany. thank you much indeed. this week, opposition leader sir keir starmer hit out rishi sunak in pmqs over private school taxation . former grammar school taxation. former grammar school attendee sir keir starmer called an end to the charitable status enjoyed by private schools and said that this may lead to wider economic divisions . some may economic divisions. some may argue that grammar schools pose argue that grammar schools pose a similar problem . now, we've a similar problem. now, we've spoken about this at some length, so far in the programme. let's continue that conversation and i'm delighted to be joined by jonathan gallus mp. and he's a conservative member of parliament for stoke on trent and importantly is former minister for school standards andindeed minister for school standards and indeed former teacher. what are the in tackling minds against sir keir proposition which many people are saying is a statement of the blindingly

obvious. well, thank you also for the opportunity to come on. i think for me it's about choice and allowing and the fact that some parents lot of parents, middle income earners who choose not to buy a new house, choose not to buy a new house, choose not to buy a new house, choose not to have an extension their home, choose not to get the new car choose not to go on holiday every instead to every year but choose instead to use disposable income use all their disposable income to send their children to private school. is their rights and the state and their is not for the state to what they can and to tell them what they can and can't have. and seem have can't have. and we seem to have fall this under labour fall into this trap under labour party they like to ban party where they like to ban grammar schools because of ideology. also voted in ideology. they also voted in 2019 to abolish private schools. now starmer tried now keir starmer tried to do this the door by this through the back door by not allowing it yet they themselves allowed to attend themselves are allowed to attend them. so it's okay for them, but not everyone. was in not for everyone. i was in places like on trent, who places like stoke on trent, who may aspire, they may one day aspire, if they can, to children, to such to send their children, to such schools wonder agree schools. i wonder if you agree with though and with this, though and interestingly , the woman who was interestingly, the woman who was on earlier , who speaks for the on earlier, who speaks for the private sector was saying on the charitable element,

private sector was saying on the charitable element , there are charitable element, there are quite a lot of private schools out there, not the great eaton's and winchester and harrow's , but and winchester and harrow's, but ordinary middle ranking who really could do a lot on charitable work, whether it's bursaries or whether it's cooperating and working local with the local state schools there as well . do you agree with there as well. do you agree with that ? so i there as well. do you agree with that? so i agree in part, yes. i mean, if i give you an example where i grew up, warwick school and king's high school in warwick leamington constituency, a labour constituency, i work with our local state schools , with our local state schools, actually get students who once appued actually get students who once applied to oxford , cambridge and applied to oxford, cambridge and others through the interview . others through the interview. the application process and the assessment process . that's the assessment process. that's the kind of responsible work that we should be saying, is also that teams are harvey when he was in the children and families minister you introduced a scheme where certain private where we saw certain private schools children schools sign up to take children who care and allow them who are in care and allow them to become full time and cover the of those fees, which the costs of those fees, which

is another great example of what the private school sector can and be but of and should be doing. but of course there'll always be course there'll, always be someone weight someone pulling their weight enough. i don't think that enough. and i don't think that we should in calling we should have any in calling that i think that out. but i think it's important remember the important to remember that the overwhelming majority do to a good lot of their good job and a lot of their facilities example physically sporting facilities be sporting facilities these to be used round . former boss used all year round. former boss of ofsted said on the programme well that she like to hear celebration of what state schools do because there are undoubtedly really superb top drawer or state schools out there . and as i said in my there. and as i said in my introduction, you're a former teacher with gillian keegan there at the helm a former apprenticeship girl. there at the helm a former apprenticeship girl . you think apprenticeship girl. you think thatis apprenticeship girl. you think that is more likely to in the run up to the election? oh, look, i think personally this conservative government since 2010 has been extremely supportive of all of state schools and been doing all it can to really drag them up to , can to really drag them up to, be order , to be be competitive in order, to be the best there is, to make sure that no matter where you live in

this country, not a postcode lottery. now personally, would lottery. now personally, i would like the ban grammar like to see the ban of grammar schools lifted . i'm someone schools lifted. i'm someone who believes should allow believes that we should allow parents a choice in local communities choose, and i communities to choose, and i certainly want to see private schools offer more schools continue, offer more bursaries opportunities but bursaries and opportunities but there brilliant there are so many brilliant state schools. and let's look at mikayla the school that labour mikayla, the school that labour rallied against because they were for a third approach, were going for a third approach, a knowledge rich a knowledge based rich curriculum other curriculum which produces other outstanding ever outstanding results we've ever seen in fact out stretching the results that we see in some of our private schools and grammar schools. an where schools. that's an example where you've headteacher you've got a strong headteacher with , strict with a strong ethos, strict behaviour and passion behaviour management and passion for imparting knowledge into pupils that shows that, you know , if those state schools can all lift themselves that direction and celebrate ones and and we celebrate those ones and help that journey , those help them on that journey, those who to take that get who wish to take that own get their then can't be their then they can't be achieved. think it's achieved. but i think it's really honest that really to remember honest that labour's plans is on ideology. if just 10% of projected pupils left the private sector because obviously the costs became too much for parents, that's on

average we 60,000 pupils where the school price is going to be. there'll also be some major pressures in some geographical areas where those private schools more clustered than schools are more clustered than others know, labour others. you know, when labour are talking about of are already talking about of sizes of 30 entering 60,000 people since the state funded programme without funding to programme without the funding to build capacity in schools, build extra capacity in schools, without capacity because of without the capacity because of lack of free schools which they labour have opposed in the past , this is a real concern , i think this is a real concern and so it's a policy based on ideology, not based on actual reality. message reality. i've got your message loud and clear on what what the government should and government should be and celebrating about the state system . a of viewers and system. a lot of our viewers and listeners also been emailing in and that they would like to see the return of the assisted place scheme so that the government helps if your choice is to get your child educated in a private school because you don't think the state school is as good as some of them are . do you see any some of them are. do you see any prospects at all of that returning ? i don't know if we returning? i don't know if we will out of step, but what we do

know is as i say that there is a scheme in place run by the department for education for particularly the most vulnerable children, children children, all society children who after to able who are looked after to be able access and access private schools and to have for by have their fees paid for by those private schools. i think we should be doing all can to we should be doing all we can to get those that sector get those those that sector together the table to put together around the table to put more of that money into this scheme sure they're scheme, make sure they're delivering to , get more delivering on that to, get more of children care, the of their children in care, the education deserve the education they deserve and the opportunities deserve opportunities they deserve because of because through no fault of their find themselves their own find themselves obviously much more obviously in a much more precarious place than others. but think that actually but i do think that actually what should be focusing on, what we should be focusing on, as i say, is getting free schools absolutely and about as i say, is getting free s getting|bsolutely and about as i say, is getting free s getting|bso|besty and about as i say, is getting free s getting|bso|best multi—academy , getting the best multi—academy trust evenly our trust spread evenly across our country and lifting the ban on grammar schools so that if local areas want have selective areas want to have selective education because of their child's academics , let's not child's academics, let's not forget we won't have selective education by faith, by the ability sing, by the ability to act, ability play musical act, by the ability play musical instruments. not academics instruments. why not academics as well? me, this is just as well? for me, this is just common really hope common sense, but i really hope we turbocharge free. i think

that's the solution. okay, final point i wonder whether or not point is i wonder whether or not people like sajid javid and many other colleagues who've decided not face the electorate next not to face the electorate next time up looked at the chester results and saw the way in, which only in chester, but perhaps the opinion polls suggest it's more wide that the tide has actually turned. here we are a row about elitism and about selection and about the rest of it . a lot of your rest of it. a lot of your colleagues have said this is an argument we can't win. therefore not even going to go into the battle. well, i saw here on your show ready to do battle? i can't wait to get into the trenches when they will be street by street by door. i'm going to see them the them and i'm going remind the people on trent north people of stoke on trent north kidsgrove it's kidsgrove and talk that it's a conservative led council. since 2019, conservative 2019, the conservative government brought 56 government that brought 56 million levelling up million for the levelling up fund, new home office fund, 500 brand new home office jobs, 17.6 million kidsgrove town deal. jobs, 17.6 million kidsgrove town deal . £31 million. to town deal. £31 million. to improve our local bus services and road infrastructure and obviously create reopen

obviously create and reopen things kidsgrove sports things like the kidsgrove sports . because . the labour closed because couldn't be bothered to spend a single pound coin to save it. back in 2017. i know that we've been getting that money. we've been getting that money. we've been delivering projects as well. quickly we well. not as quickly. we want, of inflation and of course, inflation and obviously on obviously is had an impact on the speed delivery but i can't begin to believe that labour, who ran places like stoke on trent for 70 years, have anyone's interest locally here. you this is labour that you know, this is a labour that is in north london. it is bedded in north london. it still view. they still a north london view. they talked on immigration, but we all know the starmer wants to defend movement . he said it defend free movement. he said it himself. they need to himself. we know they need to not. he still wants to defend it today. know that want to today. we know that they want to talk up, but talk about levelling up, but they mention until they didn't mention it until a conservative government got elected. we know they've suddenly stoke trent suddenly found stoke on trent because. helped because. google maps has helped them it is rather them find where it is rather actually understand where it is and time i can't and spend time there. i can't wait do battle. well, i'll be wait to do battle. well, i'll be on show. want other on your show. i want other shows. house of shows. and in the house of commons of people commons and in the of people around labour around country saying why labour is the answer to the problem . is the answer to the problem. jonathan, you're always welcome . this program or indeed any of

the other programmes on news the other programmes on gb news and breaking into and thank you for breaking into your talk to about your weekend to talk to us about schools we have schools as. well, that we have it jonathan gallus conservative member for parliament a stoke member of for parliament a stoke on trent as the rolling might on trent or as the rolling might describe fighting describe him street fighting man. looking forward to the man. i'm looking forward to the election now staying with our big story education debate . i'm big story education debate. i'm delighted to say that joining us is another good friend chris mcgovern, who's the chairman of the campaign for real education , who's also taught in both sectors importantly and attended secondary and modern and a grammar school. great to secondary and modern and a grammar school . great to see you grammar school. great to see you . do you think the conservative party are missing a few tricks, as i think jonathan has demonstrated, that there is a stronger case to be made for choice and the quality the private sector offers . but also private sector offers. but also there's much in the state that can be trumpeted to its pride. are they just not playing this argument terribly well and i

think that's an understatement i think that's an understatement i think they're hopeless . look, think they're hopeless. look, jonathan spoke very eloquently. you yourself pointed out as well there are many great state schools , many excellent state schools, many excellent state schools, many excellent state schools . you forgot to say schools. you forgot to say something which is rather important in to get into those excellent schools . at state excellent schools. at state schools, you need a pocket full of money you need loads of money because you need to buy in the because you need to buy a in the catchment area and social catchment area and the social mobility unit a few years ago showed that if you live in a poor area of the country you're 27 times more likely to go to a poor school. we do indeed to poor school. so we do indeed to pay poor school. so we do indeed to pay for our education in the state sector. most children in the country go to state schools and if you got a lot of money, you can buy a house in a good area. so it's hypocrisy. what labouris area. so it's hypocrisy. what labour is saying and it's hopelessness , what the tories hopelessness, what the tories are doing. they need to be far robust. private are a jewel robust. the private are a jewel in the crown . we need to in the crown. we need to preserve the good and we need to renovate the bad. so we need to focus on improving state schools

and being. so what can i say defensive about private school, private schools are excellent and if we close down because they can't afford to open because they lose their charitable status , all that will charitable status, all that will happenis charitable status, all that will happen is that the kids happen is that the rich kids will go to eton and will continue to go to eton and ladies college in these posh schools poorer, but just schools and the poorer, but just about make scrimping and saving parents what will have leave parents what will have to leave and state sector. and go to the state sector. that's out is the way that's no way out is the way forward is raise the standard forward is to raise the standard in state school, particularly in the schools, in poor areas . the the schools, in poor areas. the simple solution we need to bring back hundreds of grammar schools if we kept grammar schools most private schools would have withered vine. so this withered on the vine. so this government hopeless. government is hopeless. they need be more robust and need to be much more robust and the party are incredibly the labour party are incredibly hypocritical. where hypocritical. that's where i stand. alastair, is that robust enough you. think was enough you. i think it was wonderfully robust and stuck alongside jonathan glasses i think really will help our understand why many of have tweeted to us in the way that they have. let me just try one other thing with you as well, though, nodding to previous guests said the charter to

guests said that the charter to status is a tax decision , but status is a tax decision, but you've got to earn that charitable status and even the woman runs the independent said on this programme there are some exemplars of the best possible practise to earn and warrant that charitable status . there that charitable status. there are others who frankly could get their fingers out and do a little more . yes, i mean, of little more. yes, i mean, of course, private schools, which got great facilities, should supporting state schools . i look supporting state schools. i look to the future though, when we it the other way around when state can support private schools because some parents go to private schools not because they are apportioned lots of money, but because their children have special yeah, it's special needs. and so yeah, it's a thing. and of course a two way thing. and of course we sector we expect the private sector support the state sector. but the best way the sector can benefit main way they can benefit the main way they can benefit the main way they can benefit to start copying some benefit is to start copying some of things which go in the of the things which go on in the best private best private schools. private schools are a great, great success. go on about the success. i often go on about the success. i often go on about the success of the school system in singapore, shanghai tokyo and so on. what you find out if you

on. but what you find out if you go to singapore in shanghai is the the rich. in the richest of the rich. in shanghai , sending kids to shanghai, sending their kids to london or to britain the best london or to britain to the best private because they know best private because they know best private schools are the best in the world. i came out and one of my they also introduced our olympic team as well we've got a race i was really i've got to move it on chris but i was just going to point out as well that one of my best friends in the education world runs a school called harrow and the called harrow kong. and the chinese have purchased not harrow, but they've purchased the right to produce education equivalent that out there. and it's hugely successful message received loud and clear chris always very strong and great to have you on the show. thank you very much indeed . chris very much indeed. chris mcgovern. their campaign for education. have more education. and let's have more grammar schools. and let's defend choice. that's his position . joining me now, i'm position. joining me now, i'm delighted to say, is another old friend mine, steve chalke, friend of mine, steve chalke, who's the chief of the oasis academy trust . there he is. academy trust. there he is. great to see you . interestingly,

great to see you. interestingly, just a moment ago, jonathan gunness, the tory mp, was saying in many respects your sector is the answer, because the academies began as a result of generous individuals, had lots of money helping set them up and had a foot. therefore, in the in the private sector. but now, jonathan saying the absolute backbone of a brilliant secondary system that this tory government needs to celebrate more . well, i agree with that . i more. well, i agree with that. i began oasis . we run 52 schools began oasis. we run 52 schools now. they're all poor communities, actually agreeing with what chris just saying. we have with some independent school groups and we put back some of our expertise . but the some of our expertise. but the truth is, i think that rather than lose in the independent sector, what we need i'd say alice is a real reformation , a

alice is a real reformation, a genuine reform of . the way that genuine reform of. the way that these partnerships work with lots more accountability . i lots more accountability. i think it would be brilliant if an income in government set up a frame . in schools are going to frame. in schools are going to stay as charities . their own stay as charities. their own charities have to exist as you know for public good and have to be charitable. so we can't move those resources into the independent sector. they need to get out into the poor communities . jonathan was communities. jonathan was talking about much more than they are at the moment, and they're not getting out . do you they're not getting out. do you think that labour , under the think that labour, under the current leadership shape is unwise ? make this such unwise? make this such a vitriolic issue? because i can remember having lunch years ago with steve byers chap, we both knew. we both remember from the blair ii era who was a school minister and he was desperately keen to do exactly what you just said. and jonathan said a moment ago. and that is to and bolt

together the very best of the private with the very best of the state sector . starmer's the state sector. starmer's language is about. the state sector. starmer's language is about . yeah yeah. language is about. yeah yeah. well, when academies were first set out andrew adonis, now lord adonis wants the schools with that brought in about one of andrew's big pushes was to create this joined now they network in this working together partnership. it was partly successful but here's the problem . the people in the problem. the people in the independent sector will tell you that they give lots of bursaries. i think it's about 40,000 a year, actually they give bursaries to kids out of poor communities. but what that does actually , it lifts the does actually, it lifts the child out of the community and often is really alienating in for them, in their family, in their social. so they don't feel part of this new elite and they don't feel part of where they came from. rather than lifting out, what we need is a robust

system that works with schools , system that works with schools, the poorest communities , much the poorest communities, much more robustly and there are ways in which that happens . it's not in which that happens. it's not happening enough . now, i agree. happening enough. now, i agree. this is great that there's agreement on some of the more points. let me put one other thing to you and with your school manager on and oasis manage a hat on very, very clearly . how concerned are you clearly. how concerned are you as a professional educator that that if labour are successful on this measure and, the tax status does change ? those fees go up by does change? those fees go up by 20, 25, whatever it might that the existing state, including the existing state, including the academies, can cope with what will be the inevitable flow of boys and girls from private schools come knocking on your door or the local comprehensive . yeah, well, the one thing i didn't agree at home with , didn't agree at home with, jonathan, about, i think he's living a different planet is this current government is funding the state sector since

2010 as i'm sure you know, alistair the money is being drained in away from the state sector. it's unrecognisable to what it was a decade ago. there are few classroom assistants are able to give the personal care that we once could . schools are that we once could. schools are running on empty as you know state sector schools so current agreeing with what you say we couldn't cope with that influx that 40% of young professionals going into teaching in state sector schools current they leave within the first five years because they go in to serve kids and nurture and they get laid down and they can't survive. they leave in all the time. we've got to do a lot more for our state sector schools and that's why the independent sector is it's made properly can be part of that answer. sector is it's made properly can be part of that answer . we're be part of that answer. we're not levelling up as the point even though jonathan talked about levelling up. i don't know

where lives but it's not happening in stoke on trent. steve there . always a joy to steve there. always a joy to talk to you and always a joy to hear areas of agreement on areas of disagreement so eloquently expressed deep. thank you so much and have great weekend. love you, too, don't you stay there. chief executive of the oasis academy trust. it does what it says on the t—shirt he was wearing. there we go . the was wearing. there we go. the time is now. 1:27. we've got little over half an hour still go with plenty more to come on, alastair stewart& friends. after the break . there's been alastair stewart& friends. after the break. there's been an alarming rise strep a cases and experts are investigating after six primary school children have died. i'll be joined by dr. who can tell parents the signs to look out for . can tell parents the signs to look out for. but first, let's bnng look out for. but first, let's bring you up to date with the weather prospects this weekend . weather prospects this weekend. looking ahead to this afternoon and the uk is looking cloudy for many with a breeze for some. let's take a look at the details. the northern will see

this breeze, though it will calm for mainland scotland . rain and for mainland scotland. rain and drizzle will linger across northwest scotland with skies great throughout today . the great throughout today. the drizzle may framed into the far west of northern ireland . while west of northern ireland. while a few showers are possible eastern coastlines during the afternoon. northwest england has the best chance of seeing some sunny spells this afternoon , and sunny spells this afternoon, and it will remain predominantly dry with highs of around seven degrees celsius . a few sunny degrees celsius. a few sunny spells are also across wales, particularly the far west, but variable amounts of cloud will make it hard a day at times in the east . cloudy skies will the east. cloudy skies will originate from eastern england, where they'll also be some scattered showers . the showers scattered showers. the showers will mainly affect coastal but could push across lincolnshire , could push across lincolnshire, the midlands , a northeasterly the midlands, a northeasterly breeze across england wales will make it feel chilly this . make it feel chilly this. afternoon. coasts of east anglia will be particularly exposed to . this making it feel like a low single figures. the breeze will

be present across southern england , will again be mostly england, will again be mostly dry and cloudy day here though southern could largely escape from the showers. showers will continue across the eastern areas into the evening. meanwhile, the rain across north west scotland will gradually clear off and that's how the weather shaping up for the rest of the day .

hello welcome back. you're watching gb news. it's 131. hello welcome back. you're watching gb news. it's131. i'm bethany elsey . your top stories, bethany elsey. your top stories, parents are being urged to be vigilant . parents are being urged to be vigilant. look out for symptoms of strep a after six children under the age of ten have died from the infection in the uk. symptoms are usually mild, but the uk health security agency is now investigating a rise in severe cases . experts say that

severe cases. experts say that a lack of during the covid 19 pandemic could be behind drop in immunity . a wealthy russian immunity. a wealthy russian businessman has been arrested on suspicion of money laundering, conspiracy , defraud, the home conspiracy, defraud, the home office , conspiracy to commit office, conspiracy to commit perjury office, conspiracy to commit perjury . the 58 year office, conspiracy to commit perjury. the 58 year old was arrested at his multi—million pound home in london by a specialist police investigating oligarch . two of the men were oligarch. two of the men were also arrested in connection with the money laundering. all three have since been released on. in a tweet responding to the arrest, security minister tom tugendhat , we will defend our tugendhat, we will defend our democracy and hunt the kremlin's criminals as police have charged a third person with murder after two teenage boys with fatally stabbed in south—east london weekend. 18 year old hussein barr has charged with murder after two six year olds were stabbed to death just a mile apart . two others, aged 16 and apart. two others, aged 16 and 15, appeared at bexley court yesterday charged with murder,

and they were both remanded . and they were both remanded. youth custody and in some brighton nese today marks 30 years since the first ever text message was sent. one in three people still send receive sms messages every day. the first text was sent by an engineer papworth in december 1992 and it read merry christmas , europe to read merry christmas, europe to date on tv, online and dab plus radio. this is gb news. now let's get back to alistair . let's get back to alistair. bethany, thanks very much indeed. as you just in, bethany's news bulletin. a four year old girl is fighting for her at alder hey, children's hospital in liverpool this morning after , developing strep morning after, developing strep a comes after six primary school children have from the bacterial infect . and health officials infect. and health officials issued a warning to parents when it comes spotting the symptoms .

it comes spotting the symptoms. well to give you some help upon that not to panic you but to help you. i'm delighted to be joined now by one of the very best a&e , dr. amika okocha and best a&e, dr. amika okocha and he is here to tell us about those signs and, the symptoms. i said at the top that i wasn't joking, not to stress folk to help folk. what should mums dads and guardians be looking if they fear their little one may be poorly . that was the link froze poorly. that was the link froze there for a moment. i'm just being told in my ear we're trying to reinstate it. we have any success in that? yeah. sorry. time it out . can you. can sorry. time it out. can you. can you hear me? i can't. sorry. time it out. can you. can you hear me? i can't . you. all you hear me? i can't. you. all right. so really? yes. how can. sorry a phrase that i just wanted you calmly to tell mums dads and guardians who are watching and listening what they need to out for if they fear

their little ones may be poorly . yeah that's a that's a very, very good question. first of all, condolences to the families of those who've lost kids, to strep have seen the articles. and it's something we generally for and fear especially myself working in emergency and paediatric and we're just basically telling the mums does for the major signs which have fever a child having a sore throat difficulty swallowing and then having read what we call fatigue or red rash around the tongue and tonsil area and even on the skin and it can feel a little like sandpaper and this can develop to days after exposure , of which is what we exposure, of which is what we call the incubation period, when they've been exposed to strep . they've been exposed to strep. and maybe another kid at school or nursery until developing symptoms . so if they feel any symptoms. so if they feel any kind of difficult use, breathing or swallowing and the child is severely unwell, they should be calling one, and calling one, one, one and getting medical attention getting severe medical attention because don't because at this point, we don't know how many children could be affected by this severe disease.

we know there's currently no vaccine. know this could be vaccine. we know this could be a result of potentially not mixing dunng result of potentially not mixing during and hate to see during covid and hate to see children on life and get sick. they will. yeah. and that's really point you just made there. what to do because we were putting up of what you were describing the rash, the swollen tongue . yeah. all of that stuff tongue. yeah. all of that stuff which clearly looks terrifying and an awful lot of mums and dads think that's a nine, nine, nine job. i've read all this stuff and my child now in deep, deep trouble . it is not a nine, deep trouble. it is not a nine, nine, nine call, it's an nhs111 call. i would suggest yes. nhs one long first informal told this discussed with them over the phone. they're very good triaging. what sign the symptoms are children. a child has had and how long they've had them. and then they can guide you on whether not they you can whether or not they you can bnng whether or not they you can bring your child by yourself. straight into a&e you see straight into a&e you can see one one of the one of us, one of the professionals to sit on professionals or to sit on it for days, on how for a few days, depending on how unwell gets what

unwell the child gets and what are the. let's end on an optimistic note and make that phone call talk to an expert at the other end the line maybe you end up at maybe you end up having to see the gp. what treatments is it going to antibiotic because i read in most of the newspapers this morning and you as a professional optimistic we can crack this thing . i'm very crack this thing. i'm very optimistic we can it like like seasons we do see seasonal bugs especially when it comes with children at their on this time of year . often they tend to be of year. often they tend to be viral and self—limiting diseases and usually they can go away in and usually they can go away in a and days or a week or so. we've seen severe chickenpox with children which can lead to complications and we've seen bacterial infections like streptococcus pathogens. now seeing what we call scarlet fever is a strep infection. we can get on top of it as professionals. what we just need to make sure is that mothers, fathers and carers and guardians of identify signs and of just identify the signs and get the right medical help. yeah

absolutely no heroics. but do the right thing. always good to talk to you. thank you very much indeed. dr. emeka okoro ocha, who is an eight and e doctor. so got the on his sleeve, knows what he's talking about. got the on his sleeve, knows what he's talking about . check what he's talking about. check out for those symptoms. the rashes, tongue swelling, the temperature and all the rest of it . and then dial nhs111. do it. and then dial nhs111. do not dial nine nine. and you all know what the problems with ambulances at the moment anyway so it really wouldn't help and it's not the right to do it's not the right thing to do hope helped you we want it to be calm, balanced and informative. now on our big subject today of education, you overwhelmed us with your emails about private school taxation . and here's just school taxation. and here's just a selection of what you've had to say. edward carries on the we have two boys in private school . it's hard work to afford and in the costs , but it is worth in the costs, but it is worth it. both boys excel in totally different areas and were in the state system until years ago. until were eight years old. 20%

vat makes it marginal. charles says i think labour supporters on the mistaken belief that these schools are all eton or winchester's when they're not. i'd say that 90% of uk pupils in schools come from middle income homes struggling to fund the fees. all of . and, ryan says fees. all of. and, ryan says politics for labour even if politics for labour even if politics even possibly the politics even possibly the politics of envy might hinder their ability to get a majority one of the reasons that tony stayed clear of the policy i think i said that at the very beginning our conversation now if missed any of it, don't forget to subscribe to our youtube because you can see all of the programs and previous ones well, plus really ones as well, plus the really excellent that i've had. i don't mean my questioning. i the brilliant answers i've had from a of people today of a full range of people today of subject. is at gb news on subject. it is all at gb news on youtube. so do subscribe and you won't miss a thing you're and

listening to alastair stewart and friends and many more still to come the afternoon including . how to come the afternoon including. how but a budget this week's saturday will explain all that's next. but first, a quick break.

welcome back . just inching welcome back. just inching towards 2:00 and you're watching and listening . alastair stewart& and listening. alastair stewart& friends here on gb news is now. it's time for this week's saturday savings. and goodness me we needed doctors are said to be prescribing heating to brits with medical conditions that worsen in the cold, while one in four are avoiding turning on the heating just to cut costs and keep budget supplies. found that brits have reduced their energy consumption by 10% since october. so just come. all of us stay and healthy. this winter and also avoid extra on those

bills as well. i'm delighted to be joined by by mark sait, who is founder of the uk's leading sustainability and money saving platform save money , cut carbon. platform save money, cut carbon. so you proposals that can keep us warm, save us money and save the planet. well if you go i did get off today nice and thanks opportunity. yeah i think there's a lot of advice for everyone to take in and we like to break it down into three chunks. i think the first one is around behaviour. the things you can do in the household and also in businesses because businesses are really struggling with this as at. the moment around as well at. the moment around changing behaviour and we changing your behaviour and we probably maybe probably know about the maybe not on stand not negative on stand by you a little bit that's water in the kettle the really kettle but the really interesting you can around interesting you can do around actually kind of your own home so advise do look at the so we advise do look at the thermostat and see you can knock back down a few degrees but particular look at your particular also look at your point what are timing set point what are your timing set to come at right to disappoint come at the right time you're the building time when you're in the building

look like fridges look at things like fridges freezers, can you turn them down a ? many people want know a little? many people want know that one of the biggest energy uses with freezer uses in your with your freezer because the because it's running all the time careful to turn it time be careful not to turn it too down to cause any damage to food but if you can turn those things down a little bit and even actual temperature your even the actual temperature your boiler recommend boiler and then we recommend people actually around the people actually go around the house maybe heat is on, house maybe when the heat is on, look radiator is have you look at the radiator is have you got radiators is the got radiators or heat is the only that you're not using only rooms that you're not using that and really start to turn them down throttle them back them down and throttle them back so there's range of so. there's a whole range of behaviour changes that can be made and then there's some really low cost retrofit things that you can do. so many of us will be sitting watching this programme sure that a light bulb on this is a standard 60 watt light bulb to give your viewers a bit of a clue, kind of 60 watts it's on hours a day, is watts if it's on hours a day, is going to be costing you somewhere between 25 an d £30 somewhere between 25 and £30 a year run bulb . a very, year to run that bulb. a very, very swap to an led light very simple swap to an led light bulb will save 90% of consumption. so you're now

looking , consumption. so you're now looking, instead 0 f £25, to run looking, instead of £25, to run a bowl maybe three or £4, turn out the lights, work expensive. but now you can buy them for a couple of pounds one odd one. we look at, bizarrely, is fitting. maybe an eco showerhead because people don't really tie that into water. but normally when you're a shower, you've heated that water . it's a you're a shower, you've heated that water. it's a big consumer effectively out of energy. so reducing amount of water being used in the shower is great. i think i think i read in the times the other day the government said, you know, when you a shower, a week you have a shower, once a week and more deodorant, some and use more deodorant, some people don't quite. i don't think the i think think that's the answer. i think there's small you there's lots small things you can your house, certainly. can do in your house, certainly. and an improvement on the 1960s. advice of during the energy crisis, which was bath with a friend. but that was the shower thing is i have read that as well and you find your favourite music, whether it's classical or p0p music, whether it's classical or pop that runs to that four minute period amongst your favourite piece of music

finishes, get of the shower, the final point you're expert in this field. how close do you think we are to being able to play think we are to being able to play again the compare and contrast tariffs because another huge way of saving money and it's long since gone how close are we to be getting back that yeah it's a really interesting comment i think the major cat's a dead you know have been being convinced for years and years and years that the way to save money is to keep swapping out bills and totally bills around. and i totally disagree with that i think the way money long time is disagree with that i think the waunderstandioney long time is disagree with that i think the waunderstand onzy long time is disagree with that i think the waunderstand on howng time is disagree with that i think the waunderstand on how we :ime is disagree with that i think the waunderstand on how we reduce to understand on how we reduce what we actually use in the household because that gives long term benefit your budget in the home or your business. it also helps the planet because the less energy we're using , the less energy we're using, less water we using, pumping round it really helps the planet a little bit. i think one of the upsides little bit if there is any upside in this energy crisis is people have really started at

reducing what they're using but i think governments maybe missing a trick because we're talking about 27 on one side and energy crisis on the other. actually, you that totally actually, mind you that totally interlinked. if we start reducing what we actually use, then we help our pockets, we help our budget to help businesses, and we help the planet terrific end on a win win equafion planet terrific end on a win win equation there. mark, it's a pleasure talking you. thank you very much indeed. marks there. the founder of the uk's leading sustainability and money saving platform save money carbon look it there'll lots of it up and there'll be lots of useful there for now we can useful tips there for now we can collective whose is to increase philanthropy and celebrate it and socially in the united kingdom held a forum in london on wednesday and. i was lucky enough to host a panel at that forum asking why people did philanthropy and what it actually achieved . we also asked actually achieved. we also asked whether do things than the state, given the current cost of living crisis charity and

philanthropy have never been important and i'm delighted . important and i'm delighted. welcome back to the programme to discuss all of that the co—founder of the beacon collaborative. there she kath davey, kath great see you at the forum and great to have you back on the programme . i loved every on the programme. i loved every minute of it but gus o'donnell, the former treasury boss and cabinet secretary , opened cabinet secretary, opened proceedings saying the economy is in a mess with little sign improvement. what the state do will decline the years rich people have got to get engaged in philanthropy or things just won't get done . absolutely and won't get done. absolutely and i think it was big theme through the day that we've got look at all the mechanisms to get money where it's needed . and, you where it's needed. and, you know, as we were talking about on the day, there is a difference between what government pays for and what private capital can pay for. government pays for and what private capital can pay for . and private capital can pay for. and philanthropy part of private philanthropy is part of private caphal philanthropy is part of private capital. i also this is what we

talked about last time here on the programme and i banged on about on wednesday as well is about it on wednesday as well is i think there are i personally think there are a range activities where range of activities where philanthropy donors charities can do things better and more responsibly than the poor old taxpayer via . the state 100. and taxpayer via. the state 100. and let's just give a couple of examples so we a short last night , this is all about night, this is all about innovation around the climate crisis and. you know, it's high risk capital trying to find new solutions . this problem, it's solutions. this problem, it's too risky for the government. it's too risky for the private sector . but, you know, private, sector. but, you know, private, intimate roles, the whales , the intimate roles, the whales, the whales or any private can put money into that innovation . you money into that innovation. you see this a lot in medical research before is commercial before an idea is commercial someone's got to fund one of the reasons philanthropists universities is because they find ideas before those ideas are commercial. so they're

trying to help move society forward by putting some risk capital the system i'm kind of unked capital the system i'm kind of linked that you have advocacy know if something's not on the government's radar that should be on the government's radar . be on the government's radar. it's private capital that can say hang on a minute, we've learnt this, let's share it with you . you know, how can we grow you. you know, how can we grow this together ? so those are this together? so those are two really, really important areas. another area that i think is really important and will be particularly we go through particularly as we go through this is around community this crisis, is around community . and i think the best way i can describe example. so describe is with an example. so at the forum we had barry who started a box for kids, which is a very simple idea corporates and executives can donate a box barry his team go out to the local hospitals find kids who are terminally ill, who've life limiting conditions and they say, come on, have a fabulous come on. what's your favourite sports team? come to this fabulous event. when get there. they meet their heroes , they're they meet their heroes, they're volunteers. they're just make make sure the family has a

fabulous day. what could be better ? bringing communities , as better? bringing communities, as you can guess, i see your barry and i raise you bill holroyd, youn and i raise you bill holroyd, your. your good friend , indeed your. your good friend, indeed a fellow of the foundation . i was fellow of the foundation. i was bowled over his example. he made an absolute fortune in the food industry and in restaurants . industry and in restaurants. he's ploughed a huge amount of that back into building a network of youth clubs, which of course the government do find it expensive to fund and local authorities don't have the money any more do it. and i said to any more to do it. and i said to him, greatest him, what's your greatest achievement in life? he achievement in life? and he said, looking those faces in my youth who are not hanging around on street corners, don't have knives down their back pocket and don't commit crime, they're safe and they're doing good stuff. i just thought that was a cause. stuff. i just thought that was a cause . total celebration . cause. total celebration. absolutely and you know, youth clubs reaching , absolutely and you know, youth clubs reaching, marginalised people, reaching people that the state can't reach. that's another area we had peter

simon's there first, so now that's charity that works with kids in care and helps them to get to university , you know, of get to university, you know, of course they go to school, it's funded the state, but if you haven't got stable family, maybe you need a bit of help and that's something that philanthropically funded charities do, which me charities can do, which takes me perfectly to my final but we're plugging all of our mates and people who made such great speeches samuelsen has speeches but peter samuelsen has get shout out he's not get get get a shout out he's not only my own industry, but only from my own industry, but but i thought his speech was brilliant at the of it brilliant because at the of it was that era of the was the idea that the era of the old bridge building council old bridge building a council building wonderful library or whatever it might be that's kind of gone it's now about sporting it's about supporting learning, it's about supporting learning, it's about supporting learning, it's about making society better and more cohesive save and the state is finding that tricky to do and philanthropy can do and make life for better . absolutely make life for better. absolutely you know, government funds pubuc you know, government funds public services and to the

fabulous job doing that we obviously need money to do that. philanthropy finds the gaps , not philanthropy finds the gaps, not bits that governments should fund , but bits that it can do. fund, but bits that it can do. in addition , what government in addition, what government funds and just make sure that we reach across communities and that we don't let anyone down. that's what it's all about. that's what it's all about. that's what it's all about. that's what the was about that's what the forum was about and it was brilliant. thank you for inviting and was honoured for inviting and i was honoured to part in. kath, great to to take part in. kath, great to talk again. keep in talk to you again. keep in touch. happy to have you touch. always happy to have you on that co—founder on the program that co—founder that of the beacon that got davey of the beacon collaborative , if any of what collaborative, if any of what she said said your fancy she said or i said your fancy your attention look them up they've they've got a brilliant website right they tell you who's involved and what they tried that's beacon be tried to do that's beacon be a ceo and collaborative it's just a brilliant thing . finally, a brilliant thing. finally, we've got time for a few more of your thoughts. i'm pleased to say on our main discussion today about the taxation of private schools and keir starmer's proposals , abolish it. sarah proposals, abolish it. sarah says worse will be classed as the ones who couldn't . the fees

the ones who couldn't. the fees when they turn up at their new state school kids be cruel and they therefore get it from both sectors . if labour want vat on sectors. if labour want vat on education fees will be vat on university fees as well as education classes . or are they education classes. or are they just aiming their spite and envy 7 just aiming their spite and envy ? not my words. your words that they are those that they claim are privileged , natalie says. are privileged, natalie says. what about those already the state system that will have knock on effect of an immediate influx of new kids. we talked that and all of my guests said that and all of my guests said thatis that and all of my guests said that is a real problem that needs perhaps further examination diana during the debate saying i would give every child the opportunity to go to a private school by offering the parents vouchers, the return vouchers to keep joseph too. they redeem at whatever school they choose let the schools compete for kids, not the other way around . how interesting. way around. how interesting. these are great, great comments. thank you so much, jamie also,

can you imagine being that teen happily settled in your school knowing that at a term's notice you might just have to attend the local? kids can be . we all the local? kids can be. we all know it but to from a private school to a comprehensive as my eldest have to do can be very , eldest have to do can be very, very tricky. finally edward says and i think speaks for very of you who've been kind enough to send your thoughts in. edward says. send your thoughts in. edward says . we have two boys in says. we have two boys in private schools . it's hard work private schools. it's hard work to afford it and the and to meet those costs, but it really is worth it both boys excel and totally different areas and in the state system until they were eight years old 20% vat makes it a marginal decision charles i think labour supporters under the mistaken belief that these schools all eaton's or winchester we've read that one out already. final word to ryan . easy politics for labour, even if the politics of envy , it if the politics of envy, it might be might hinder their

ability to get a majority. one reason, perhaps, why we've read that out as well. we're repeating these. so i'm going to a there at 5 minutes past a line there at 5 minutes past the of the hour. i will be back here again tomorrow at noon. i very much need that. you can join us then . meantime, enjoy join us then. meantime, enjoy the rest of your saturday. have a lovely day by my looking ahead to this afternoon and the uk is looking for many with a chilly breeze some. let's take a look at the details . the northern at the details. the northern isles will see this though it will stay calm if mainland scotland rain drizzle will unger scotland rain drizzle will linger across northwest scotland with skies remaining great today. the drizzle framed into the far west of northern ireland while a few showers are possible along eastern coastline lines dunng along eastern coastline lines during the afternoon , northwest during the afternoon, northwest england has the best chance of seeing some sunny spells this afternoon and it will remain predominantly dry with highs around seven degrees celsius . a around seven degrees celsius. a few sunny spells are also across wales, particularly the far

west, but variable amounts of cloud will make it hard to date at times in the east. cloudy skies originate from eastern england, where they'll be some scattered showers . the showers scattered showers. the showers will mainly affect coastal but could push across lincolnshire into the midlands and northeasterly breeze across england . wales will make it feel england. wales will make it feel chilly this afternoon . coasts of chilly this afternoon. coasts of east anglia will be particularly exposed to . this making it feel exposed to. this making it feel like a low single as the breeze will also be present across southern england . it will again southern england. it will again be mostly dry and cloudy day here though southern could largely escape from the showers. showers will continue across the eastern areas into the evening. meanwhile, the rain across north west scotland will gradually clear off and that's how the weather shaping up the rest of the day . join me every. sunday, the day. join me every. sunday, 6 pm. for glory meets in exclusive interviews. i'll be finding out who our politicians really are and what they really think . it's really are and what they really think. it's something that you

would never want anyone to see if i didn't know what channels they were be. i didn't. i'd be believed. i'm mystified about seven stabbed and i'm 5489 stinks was just of cover this up i mean that was a mistake. join me every sunday at 6 pm. on gb news the people's channel. britain's .

channel hello. it's 2 pm. that means it's hello. it's 2 pm. that means wsfime hello. it's 2 pm. that means it's time for real britain. with me, emily carver on your tv , me, emily carver on your tv, radio and online. now we've got a to get stuck into this afternoon. strikes, strikes , afternoon. strikes, strikes, more strikes. health workers, firefighters teachers, lecturers, civil servants , lecturers, civil servants, transport, postal and security workers are all threatening further strike action. there's talk of the army even being