channel hello and welcome. it's just slip past midday and welcome to alastair stewart on friends. i'll be with you for the next 2 hours, keeping you company here on tv and radio with the stories that really matter across the country. we've plenty coming up on the programme , including the on the programme, including the breakthrough outside as drug that we might not be able to afford and the nhs might not be

up to administer string. is the system fit for purpose? a four day working week? does it sense and a love islander who is a paramedic and an age uk ambassador . paramedic and an age uk ambassador. but first, let's bnng ambassador. but first, let's bring you right up to date with all of the day's news. is bethany . alistair, thank you. bethany. alistair, thank you. good afternoon . it's 12:01. i'm good afternoon. it's 12:01. i'm bethany lc the gb newsroom hundreds of military personnel could stand in for border force and emergency services staff dunng and emergency services staff during strikes over the christmas period . around 2000 christmas period. around 2000 troops, civil servants and other government volunteers are being trained to help limit disruption dunng trained to help limit disruption during the festive period . the during the festive period. the government's contingency plans come as the country prepares for wave of industrial action across the public sector. wave of industrial action across the public sector . the wave of industrial action across the public sector. the head of the public sector. the head of the police watchdog has been forced to resign over an

historical allegation . it's now historical allegation. it's now emerged. michael lockwood , who emerged. michael lockwood, who has been the director general of the independent office for police, conducts 2018 inches facing a criminal investigation. the home secretary, suella braverman says she told him to quit or immediate suspension . quit or immediate suspension. learning about the probe when he announced his resignation on friday. he said it was for personal and domestic reasons. the conflict in is slowing down in us . officials say they expect in us. officials say they expect that to continue over the winter months . washington says kiev's months. washington says kiev's economy is now suffering after russia attacks targeting its power grid and other critical. the director of national intelligence. avril haines believes that will be a success for the ukrainian counter offensive the new year. we expect that frankly both militaries are going be in a situation where they're going to be looking to try to refit resupply in a said reconstitute

so that there kind of prepared for that counter offensive. but we actually have a fair amount of scepticism as to whether or not the russians will be, in fact, prepared to do that. and i think, yeah , i think more think, yeah, i think more optimistically for the ukrainians , matt hancock's ukrainians, matt hancock's account of how he managed care homes during the covid pandemic has been described as a deluded version of events . in his new version of events. in his new book, the former secretary insists , the virus was mainly insists, the virus was mainly brought into facilities by infected staff . but the chair of infected staff. but the chair of the national care association says that is no resemblance to the facts . she says in the early the facts. she says in the early stages of the outbreak, covid patients with discharged from hospitals and put into care homes without england will face senegal tonight in their first match in the knockout stage of the world cup. the africa cup of nafions the world cup. the africa cup of nations holders were runners up in group eight, but the three hons in group eight, but the three lions remain unbeaten . i'll lions remain unbeaten. i'll favourites to get through to the next. former england manager

sven—goran eriksson tells us why upfront has a lot of options. harry kane will play, i suppose , if he's if he's fit and he should play. of course . but then should play. of course. but then who's playing around him? it can be foden. it can sterling rashford , grealish . you cannot rashford, grealish. you cannot play rashford, grealish. you cannot play all of them. so yeah, i hope he played for dinner tonight. i hope so . and england tonight. i hope so. and england fansin tonight. i hope so. and england fans in qatar say , they're fans in qatar say, they're optimistic. if he you hopefully i'm very high score prediction for you one england okay how you feel about tonight guys incredibly nervous . we know it's incredibly nervous. we know it's going to be a tough game and it's easy at this stage. you know, the group stages out the way and if it can happen, senegal have a great team senegal have got a great team and going a tough and it's going to be a tough one. prediction three one. england is way too what to me. so i'm going go to one maybe so i'm going to go to one maybe all for extra then i'll be all for extra time, then i'll be in tears. so let's talk about. yeah, but hopefully no penalties. we'll just have to

wait. now, football legend wait. see, now, football legend . pele says he's feeling strong and hopeful after receiving further treatment for colon cancer. further treatment for colon cancer . the 82 year old was cancer. the 82 year old was responding to reports claiming his treatment had been suspended after was recently admitted after he was recently admitted to palliative care . his doctors to palliative care. his doctors say he's stable and responding well to treatment ahead of tonight's england game. captain harry kane described pele as an inspiration. said he cherished his advice and sent the best wishes of him and squad . and wishes of him and squad. and with just 150 days until king charles, two thirds coronation, the st edward's crown has been removed from the tower of london to be adjusted for him. king charles, the ceremony is expected to be smaller and shorter than the queen with around 2000 guests. instead of 8000. but the core elements of the traditional service will remain. royal commentator michael cole told gb news the crown was first worn by king charles the second. this crown is quite interesting . it's used is quite interesting. it's used only once in every reign. it

weighs only once in every reign. it weigh s £5. and before her weighs £5. and before her coronation during the second 1953 and i do remember it the, queen walked around the palace and obviously in our day clothes getting used to it because it is quite technique to keep that steady and straight . you're up steady and straight. you're up to date on gb news. we'll bring you more days as. it happens. now let's get back to alister . now let's get back to alister. bethany, thank you very much indeed. now when the news broke last week of , the successful last week of, the successful trial of new drug to help people with dementia. the harold were clouded by various concerns. could we afford it? and was the nhs up to adopt it? an 18 month trial of 1800 patients had

demonstrated that le cam a mab show slowed down. patients mental decline by as as 27, while many scientists hailed that as a new era in treatment. others said strains on the nhs s are going to mean going to be very difficult. it's already up against it on so many fronts and the scale and complexity of the disease mean that it could be a long time before patients and their families can finally get their families can finally get the benefits . in the united the benefits. in the united kingdom , some also mentioned kingdom, some also mentioned cost and another life enhancing treatment, but not free. now the national institute of clinical excellence makes the call . the excellence makes the call. the us food and drug administration is expected to approve le mab in january, paving the way for the united states hospitals to prescribing it next year in the early spring. but the nhs faces an enormous challenge in

preparing for the introduction of the drug. doctors saying that with patients unlikely to receive . before 2026. now receive. before 2026. now writing in the guardian, jonathan schott professor of neurology , ucl's queen square neurology, ucl's queen square institute of neurology and chief medical officer at alzheimer's research uk, says the nhs is nowhere near ready . deliver the nowhere near ready. deliver the kind of mab , while some kind of mab, while some specialist save have the capabilities required the wider nhs simply doesn't have the infrastructure or staff to diagnose potentially eligible patients, nor actually to deliver the drug which is given by in effusion every two weeks. nor even to perform and read multiple mri safety scans, he writes. so today we're going to look at the specifics , that look at the specifics, that drug, but more importantly , drug, but more importantly, going to focus on the capacity of the nhs and the tax payer to keep up with the genius is in

our pharmaceutical laboratories. we'd also to hear from you on this subject. if you live with someone who suffers from dementia or have had experience of it, let us know what you think and how you would with it and whether you think there's limit to expenditure on the nhs. when life saving and life enhancing drugs are available. just get in touch in all of the normal ways. vaiews@gbnews.uk uk . or tweet me. or tweet gb uk. or tweet me. or tweet gb news. and i will share the best with you as the programme progresses. there's also facebook . already a busy old day facebook. already a busy old day in the world of politics. so before we get to, i'm delighted to be joined live in the studio by our political reporter catherine foster to give us the political latest on it. thing that struck me really sharply in the newspapers this was the sense of just nhs and drug

treatments and costs, but is a growing battle . the lines are growing battle. the lines are being drawn . you've got the being drawn. you've got the government talking about, bringing in the pharmacy. government talking about, bringing in the pharmacy . you've bringing in the pharmacy. you've got people reporting. steve barclay angling for a fight with the nurses because the public sector have got to be put in their place. it's pretty ugly stuff, isn't it? it is . i think stuff, isn't it? it is. i think for december, which we're now obviously at the beginning of, is going be on strike every is going to be on strike every day and we're all going to feel the effects of this, whether it's posting parcels, getting a train, seeing a doctor , being in train, seeing a doctor, being in hospital . it's very serious train, seeing a doctor, being in hospital. it's very serious and very serious for the government. obviously the strike is potentially going to lose a large amounts of money . but the large amounts of money. but the nhs, as is in crisis, as we hear every year. but before nurses , every year. but before nurses, we're going to go on strike. if you don't give us 19. now the health secretary, steve barclay , is absolutely adamant they do not want to budge. they're saying if the government gave

all the public sector workers inflation level pay rises , that inflation level pay rises, that would cost them £18 billion, that they simply do not have . he that they simply do not have. he has been quite firm that sticking to the 3% that was reckoned tendered, but that, of course, was before inflation went to 11. the nursing unions are holding aloft the example of where it looks like is likely to be averted because holyrood got directly involved and an award between five and 11% depending on what pay grade on health is devolved. of course on health is devolved. of course on health is devolved. so will the government hold fast to this line? because of course the majority of the pubuc of course the majority of the public are very towards nurses , public are very towards nurses, we think, you know, they do an incredible job, especially dunng incredible job, especially during covid. but 19% would seem unlikely . 3. yeah, that's a big unlikely. 3. yeah, that's a big pay unlikely. 3. yeah, that's a big pay cuts, isn't it? you know, your take on the big picture where the government are clearly putting out signs that it's get tough time pressure, tougher rules on asylum and the rest of

it. labour's macro line is britain's just isn't working and we're ready now to move in. but they're also talking about maybe they're also talking about maybe the return of one david miliband. oh yes. yes, they are. and of course, it's easy for labour to say, isn't it? britain's broken because the have been in power since 2010. and so they put this at the conservative party's door . of conservative party's door. of course it's very difficult economically round the world. it would be very tough for whoever everis would be very tough for whoever ever is in power, but it's easy labour to paint this picture. yes, interesting rumours . david yes, interesting rumours. david miliband, who has been in new york working in the charity sector, may be planning a comeback. he was asked week he didn't it obviously didn't get the labour leadership back in 2010 his younger brother ed did, who then went to on lose in 2015. the rule change that brought in jeremy corbyn, who knows how different history

might have been. but david miliband is being talked of potential foreign secretary leader in waiting threatened returns and frank sinatra had farewell concerts . i'm not sure farewell concerts. i'm not sure what keir starmer will think of it. i doubt he'd be terribly. well, would you be good enough to come back at 1:00 and reflect on whatever else has happened whilst you've been out and about and to contacts? and talking to your contacts? and develop those and we'll develop those arguments further for the time being. foster, thank being. catherine foster, thank you much happening you very much so much happening and brilliant now, and such brilliant insight. now, as said, right at the as i said, right at the beginning, our main talking beginning, on our main talking point today, the dementia drug and the nhs . let's start with and the nhs. let's start with david thomas . now david and the nhs. let's start with david thomas. now david is and the nhs. let's start with david thomas . now david is the david thomas. now david is the head of policy at alzheimer's research uk and. you lead on alzheimer's research and the uk's access medicines and research innovation policy. is it possible? as worries me when i reflect upon this matter , that i reflect upon this matter, that our health system , predominantly our health system, predominantly the nhs , is out of step with the

the nhs, is out of step with the genius stuff that's coming out of our research laboratories and our pharmaceuticals industry just not matching up . hello, just not matching up. hello, alistair . yes, just not matching up. hello, alistair. yes, thank just not matching up. hello, alistair . yes, thank you very alistair. yes, thank you very much for having me on. and i do think there is a concern that the nhs is not ready for the sort of medicine that we saw data earlier this this week and the this this sort of medicine which is drug called la cama really relies on early diagnosis. so it is it's been tested with people on the very early stages of alzheimer's disease . so that really needs an disease. so that really needs an accurate diagnosis and an early diagnosis . and in the nhs right diagnosis. and in the nhs right now, we know that's not happening often . and there is a happening often. and there is a backlog of people for diagnosis that's you know in part due to the covid pandemic , but also the covid pandemic, but also people don't routinely have access to the sort of diagnostic tools you need to provide that for this sort of medicine. but

david, let put this to you. you knew that this drug was potentially coming down the track and. also, that the national institute of clinical excellence must also have known that it was potentially down the track because it's a big. why wasn't the even at that point getting its act together thinking will we be ready if this thumbs up from the trial . i this thumbs up from the trial. i think there's probably a few things i think as you highlighted honest we all know the you know there are on multiple fronts that are there affecting the health at the moment. so, you know we very sensitive and we recognise that that know that this is not the only forefront that to be addressed . i think the i guess addressed. i think the i guess the other thing is that there has been a long history failure in this in this area. we've seen a number of drug that haven't worked as we would want them to. it's a very high risk place for pharmaceuticals to invest . and pharmaceuticals to invest. and with that, i guess that litany of failure, i suppose you can understand why the health

systems across the world have been waiting, see that? waiting to get that signal. something is on horizon before they on the horizon before they expend energy , money in expend energy, money in diminish. you know better than i do, but dementia costs the united kingdom over do, but dementia costs the united kingdom ove r £300 million united kingdom over £300 million a year and individual families . a year and individual families. it can cost anything between hundred and 500,000 and pounds if it strikes . there has to be if it strikes. there has to be an economic upside to grabbing this , dealing with it. surely this, dealing with it. surely absolutely. i think you're absolutely right. i mean, the scale of the challenge, enormous. there are nearly a million people living in the uk now with an ageing population will increase. we think we'll probably just to 1.6 million by 2050. the are due to treble globally of people living with dementia 150 million people by 2050. so and obviously the economic impact i mean that there is an impact on individuals and families and that's a difficult one. but the economic impact is significant. so is absolutely we would

so there is absolutely we would argue we need the economic benefit that could benefit to medicines that could relieve that pressure and. i think what i think is important to recognise a lot of the costs currently of dementia are not borne by the service and social care, although there are costs course and big costs, but a significant of them are significant chunk of them are actually the individuals are actually the individuals who are needing to leave work to care for loved ones. so there is that is that factor as well, that societal. there's a brilliant piece , the observer, this piece, the observer, this morning written by michael olwen, whose has dementia , and olwen, whose has dementia, and it's a powerful personal account of just the impact it's had on them as a couple society. him economically vibrant and the rest of it but it also an intriguing point about the national will the national spirit he said if you think to the coronavirus and covid there was a kind of collective determination to crack it and the labs and the nhs and everybody else bolted together and made huge medical progress.

why is it that they're on and dementia generally ? so i think dementia generally? so i think think there is reason to be optimistic here as well. as, you know, i'm not denying the challenges that you highlight. i think that we have perception has changed as a society. i think historically people have seen dementia as a natural part of and that, you know, people get older and have problems with their memories. and i think we are seeing widespread recognition that it is a it is you know, it is caused by biological disease . and biological disease. and therefore, research can play a part . think as that part with. so i think as that perceptions change, i think this will focus minds about the power of medical research to happen to in the same with the pandemic to address this and that's why we as an organisation have calling for since pandemic for you know since the pandemic for you know since the pandemic for to apply the for the government to apply the approach they took to the vaccine task which also vaccine task force which also really delivered for britain to dementia . and in fairness again dementia. and in fairness again the government the the government and the government announced they government have announced they are place are putting in place the dementia they announced dementia mission. they announced that life

that last week as of the life sciences council. so there is reason, i think, hope that we reason, i think, to hope that we will the right action , the will get the right action, the right sort of work so people can benefit these medicines. benefit from these medicines. the covid the standout thing, the covid effort, it was linked effort, was that it was linked up you people like up so that you had people like kate working with kate bingham working with the private to develop drugs. our great universities pitching in there. everybody was tied together. the system that we have at the moment doesn't involve you directly in the assessment of this drop in the affordability it it doesn't link together department of health the charities working in these important areas. does it need ripping and starting again ? i ripping and starting again? i think there is a definite need for greater partnership. working and greater urgency. i completely agree. whether we need to step up and start again, i wouldn't go quite that. but i think we've seen with what is possible , we've seen that will possible, we've seen that will the way there a will, there is a way. so i think that's perfectly possible in the dementia mission which the government will put in place is best, i think motor place is the best, i think motor

for doing that. so that that will really be the test. does it bnng will really be the test. does it bring the right partners around the to grapple some the table to grapple with some of issues ? that's of some of these issues? that's the test. whether it's success or not. brilliant. david thomas of policy research at alzheimer's research uk. great to talk to you and thank very much indeed for breaking into your sunday to be with us. have a great weekend. thank you. pleasure. thank you very . i'm pleasure. thank you very. i'm delighted now to be joined by an old friend of mine and of this programmes and steven dahl. steven a former conservative member of parliament, more importantly, a former health . importantly, a former health. steven that general point that david and i finished on is our system in right now fit for purpose where you get the sign it is coming up with a brilliant breakthrough drug that the trials show might be effective and the americans love . now all and the americans love. now all hell for leather to do it but it's held up. the nhs isn't ready . we might not be able to ready. we might not be able to afford it . what's wrong with the afford it. what's wrong with the system that doesn't give hope to

millions of people? well, alastair, thank you for having me . i thought david thomas me. i thought david thomas talked to lots science actually. you asked him, should we tear it up the system and start again? an absolute in my answer to that actually more strongly than david expressed would be that would be the worst of addressing the problem that you rightly identified because what we've too often with our health and care system over many and the governments of all political complexions is to say that we need to start again. we need a clean sheet of paper. we need to, as you said, to tear it up, start again. and what we then is what i'd characterise as by guesswork instead of the experience that is there and building on it and recognising that there are failings in all systems and that we need to improve on it, we imagine that somehow we can recreate a system covering more than 10% of all and only economic activity in

britain . we can recreate it by britain. we can recreate it by a bunch of clever people sat together in a government department in whitehall and time and again we proved that work. so please god not that. all right, well, so that's the last question on and i'm sorry. okay, let let me grab because i like that answer very much indeed. let's say let's not be revolution theory, but let's be reformist . it were as this drug reformist. it were as this drug was being tested and trialled with thousands of people shouldn't be any nhs have been more plugged to in that process so that it would have early warning sign that hang on a here was something coming down the line we might not have the right people do testing the people do the testing the administration of it and the rest of it so that they got that warning signal and they would be ready to go. as it looks as if the americans clearly well , the the americans clearly well, the answer actually is rather better than the nhs preparedness is rather better than you're suggesting. if may say so, because at the time, i mean,

first of all, let me say i completely agree that the nhs needs to be plugged into progress in the life sciences industry. of course . right. and industry. of course. right. and better plugged it. i agree with that point. what point to the emphasis that david was placing on early for dementia sufferers is of course exactly the same argument as the emphasis on early diagnosis for cancer sufferers for and people who sufferers for and people who suffer from other conditions . suffer from other conditions. well, early diagnosis , certainly well, early diagnosis, certainly something is of a much greater and recognise this to be so than was traditionally the case. that's why nhs is developed a patent community diagnostic centres , 120 of them around the centres, 120 of them around the country . is that proceeding fast country. is that proceeding fast enough? no, it isn't. is it. can that programme improved? yes, it certainly can can we improve the connectedness ? yes, of course we connectedness? yes, of course we can . but the, the nhs is moving

can. but the, the nhs is moving more slowly than i would like , more slowly than i would like, but it is moving in the direction that you identify and it's also worth just reminding ourselves that these challenges of course we're emerging . at the of course we're emerging. at the time when the nhs was the whole country by how quickly it responded to, the pandemic, the covid pandemic , the ability, our covid pandemic, the ability, our ability to mobilise resources to take a new vaccine and administrate effectively is an success story . absolutely. that success story. absolutely. that was a matter of priority at that time . what we now need to do is time. what we now need to do is apply the same urgency to cancer care to dementia care and to a range of other conditions that are part of the rising demands being placed on the system . it being placed on the system. it is about linked up health services, isn't it? as nadhim zahawi in the situation , get zahawi in the situation, get them linked up. let me ask you a

final one. i was talking to catherine foster. you know, our political correspondent, a little earlier on. and this sense is that the government is spoiling for a fight with the nhs unions, not least the nurses , and bringing in pharmaceutical types to, to almost the strike. are you worried what's going on in the nhs in terms of industrial relations and the stance this government is taking 7 stance this government is taking ? yeah, short answer to that is yes, i am . i'm worried not just yes, i am. i'm worried not just in the health this but right around the public . we need to around the public. we need to remember that employment always based on consent from people all wanting to engage age and work together . and when the employer together. and when the employer takes to the hills, takes to grandstand. i think that's always bad news as catherine was quite rightly . nobody serious quite rightly. nobody serious really believes that the initial claim from the health union of

19% can be afforded. of course it can't . but equally it seems it can't. but equally it seems to me most people this the applause that we all gave to the nhs during the pandemic would think that 3% isn't doesn't properly respond in particular, low paid nhs workers doesn't properly respond to the challenges of the moment and i would hope that steve barclay would hope that steve barclay would come out of the grandstand , engage with the people who he relies . he can't deliver health relies. he can't deliver health care, starting the secretary of state's office . he needs to state's office. he needs to engage with the people who deliver care and be seen , be deliver care and be seen, be a fair employer. okay and just to be fair to him, because he's not here, you and i are in conversation. he does say his dooris conversation. he does say his door is always open and he wants to try and have those. but like you, i am watching this space. great interest. final question. it's a very quick one. i think i know the michael portillo and his before an intriguing his before us had an intriguing just begging the question, given

everything that talked about and the nurses and all of it, is the nhs broken at the moment? i believe it's broken, but it certainly needs to increase the pace of change is your short answer . pace of change is your short answer. stephen, pace of change is your short answer . stephen, always pace of change is your short answer. stephen, always a pleasure to talk to thanks for breaking into your sunday to do just that and keep in touch with this. you're welcome any time as you well know, stephen donald, that former conservative mp and as i said at the very beginning, importantly a former health secretary awful lot secretary talking an awful lot of how nhs and of sense about how the nhs and the department of health can actually work together in interests of all of us, not just those are concerned about alzheimer's and dementia. you are watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends we have lots more coming up on today's programme england are geanng today's programme england are gearing to play against senegal later . you have noticed but the later. you have noticed but the tensions on whether they'll win is not just experienced on the pitch. figures from the national office for domestic show that

instead of abuse, increase when england lose so , we'll be england lose so, we'll be discussing that harrowing statistic next. but first, let's bnng statistic next. but first, let's bring you up to date with the ahead to this afternoon and the uk is looking fairly grey for many and chilly in a brisk easterly . let's look at the easterly. let's look at the details . northwest scotland will details. northwest scotland will likely the brighter skies across the uk thanks to the development of some sunny but scattered showers . cloud will push into showers. cloud will push into eastern scotland . showers will eastern scotland. showers will also affect eastern coasts of . also affect eastern coasts of. northern ireland arriving from the irish. it's western counties again. that may hold on to some brighter spells . north west brighter spells. north west england could be cloudier than saturday, but most the showers will remain east of the pennines affecting areas north of . the affecting areas north of. the a few of these showers push inland and reach north wales but for most here it will be a drier afternoon. a few bright spells

are also possible for the far west of wales . central areas of west of wales. central areas of england will tend to stay drier . they'll still be a large amount of around making it a rather dull second half of the weekend for many. like much of the uk southeast , weekend for many. like much of the uk southeast, england will experience a keen through this afternoon. it will it feel closer to two degrees celsius . a closer to two degrees celsius. a little light is possible for southern counties of england, but it will tend to stay largely dry like elsewhere. the best of sunshine will be in the west. it'll be a very similar set up through this evening with further showers pushing in from the east. and that's how the weather's shaping up for the rest of today today .

hello there. welcome back. it's

1231. i'm bethany lc in the gb newsroom hundreds of military personnel could in for border force and emergency services staff during strikes over christmas. around 2000 troops, civil servants and, other government volunteers are trained to help limit disruption dunng trained to help limit disruption during the festive period. government's contingency plans as the country prepares for a wave of industrial action , the wave of industrial action, the pubuc wave of industrial action, the public sector. the head of the police has been forced to resign . an historical allegation . it's . an historical allegation. it's now emerged. michael lockwood , now emerged. michael lockwood, who has been the director general for the interpol, penned an office for police conduct since 2018, is facing a criminal investigation . the home investigation. the home secretary suella braverman says she told him to quit or face immediate suspension after learning about the probe . matt learning about the probe. matt hancock's account of how he managed homes during the covid pandemic has been described as a deluded version of events in new

book, the former health secretary insists the virus was mainly brought into facilities by infected staff. but the chair of the national care associate says that bears no resemblance to the facts. she says , in the to the facts. she says, in the early stages of the outbreak , early stages of the outbreak, covid patients were discharged from hospitals and put into care homes without testing . and homes without testing. and england will face sinegal tonight in their first match in the knockout stage of the world cup.the the knockout stage of the world cup. the africa cup of nations holders runners up in group b, but the three lions remain unbeaten and are favourites to get through to the next round. england fans qatar are optimistic , feeling hopeful. i'm optimistic, feeling hopeful. i'm very score prediction three one england. how are you feeling about tonight, guys? incredibly nervous. we know it's going to be a tough game. it's never easy at this stage . now the group at this stage. now the group stages are out way . anything stages are out the way. anything can senegal got can happen. senegal are got a great and it's going to be a tough one. prediction three one england is way too optimistic. i'm going to go to one. maybe

all for extra time, but then i'll be in tears. so not go far, but no penalties . you're up to but no penalties. you're up to date on tv and ddb plus radio. this is jb news. now it's back to . to. alastair bethany. thank you very much indeed. bethany. thank you very much indeed . now for some , the indeed. now for some, the england squad world cup journey may have much higher costs than a trophy . may have much higher costs than atrophy. figures from may have much higher costs than a trophy . figures from the a trophy. figures from the national for domestic violence show that when the lions lose a match. incidents of increase by over a third. north west england reporter sophie reaper has the story . the beautiful game marred story. the beautiful game marred by an ugly reality. earlier this

week. over 18 million people tuned in to watch an intense world cup match between england and wales. but for some people, the result of that game have meant a great deal more . perhaps meant a great deal more. perhaps even the difference between life and death . figures show that and death. figures show that when england lose incidents of domestic violence increase . by domestic violence increase. by 38% using the world cup as a platform to start conversation nafions platform to start conversation nations about domestic abuse . nations about domestic abuse. tameside council in greater manchester is working to tackle this issue. for me when i was a victim , it was one voice, the victim, it was one voice, the voice of a friend and that when i was in a where i knew it was time to go, that voice resonated and carried on playing throughout my mind . so i suppose throughout my mind. so i suppose really in tameside what i want is to have lots voices saying . is to have lots voices saying. you know, you're safe, you'll be supported when your is right for you to . leave that relationship.

you to. leave that relationship. hear my voice. we will support you. as part of the national all white ribbon campaign council is working with its local football clubs to put an end to gender based domestic violence. i think it's really important that men see men talking about domestic abuse in terms fighting against the gender inequalities when we look at domestic violence . look at domestic violence. having men having a strong to say that this is an acceptable and i think having strong strong male figures sport kind of step forward and be the champions for that really encouraging so let's go . as the council works to make go. as the council works to make difference curzon ashton is just one of the clubs to step and get involved. football generally there are there are hope really . you know, local communities . . you know, local communities. so i think the work that our club's been doing through the white ribbon is fantastic. and it just shows , know, reassures it just shows, know, reassures

people within local communities that there is support out there . there are people and places that they can go, where they can speak to places are safe, where they'll be much feel welcome from local teams all the way up to england's lions. the aim of the campaign is to have voices every level in football, taking a stand against domestic abuse . a stand against domestic abuse. it's a national sport and you know, there's a hell of a lot of role models out there in both, you know, the men's on the women's game. so to see people speaking out about it can only be a positive thing. but also, you the people who are, you know, the people who are, you know, the people who are, you of, obviously you know, guilty of, obviously committing terrible acts committing such terrible acts and, you know, they need to be held to account. now, as england continue their world cup journey for the terrifying reality is if football doesn't come home, something far more sinister might sophie reaper gibney is . might sophie reaper gibney is. and as sophie and her guests in report say dramatically diminished threat to the horror

of domestic violence seen a ghastly rise the football games i'm pleased to be joined now by zoe dronfield. zoe herself is a domestic abuse and is now a campaigner and is also a written a book about the subject . two a book about the subject. two cufious a book about the subject. two curious questions to start off with . one is it is a very with. one is it is a very important positive that the owners have these numbers because in many respects says sophie's report demonstrate this is the abuse is the crime that almost dare not speak its name because . people don't want to because. people don't want to talk about it and people want to admit to it and do something about it. so that is an odd positive. yes yeah, absolutely. thank you for having me. i was and yeah, i'm all about the data. i mean, we know something that i've campaigned for a long time is a serial perpetrator registers so that those that are perpetrate some domestic abuse and they are that repeat offenders that picked up and

that put on a register and then they are trapped monitored monitored at appropriate they one of the most difficult court reasons folk not speaking up about it you detail very clearly in your campaigning and in your writing and that is and you have personal experience of this matter the judicial system and i'm afraid to say it even the perhaps do not take it as seriously as they might do. why is that ? i think , again, that is that? i think, again, that boils down to having the data available to them at time when they need it. so, for example, in my particular case , when in my particular case, when i made the first 999 call to the police, they wasn't flagged to them that they were dealing with a serial abuser. and he he had done this before , actually. had done this before, actually. had that had been flagged, they wouldn't have i would been a high risk as opposed to a standard risk. so it's really important they that we all given the tools to the police and able to do their job properly . but

to do theirjob properly. but there's also about culture as well because. there is a culture of sexism misogyny misogyny of sexism and misogyny misogyny . if you are tied together was in sophie's report, which the idea of having role models particularly in the game speaking up a about it that's equally important isn't it in the leadership of police to say to men and women because it's not only and it's predominantly women but it's men and women who face domestic speak out and you will be listened to . we will will be listened to. we will act. we want to hear from senior police officers, don't we? yeah, absolutely . and this is it. you absolutely. and this is it. you know, in to change culture, we need to ensure we are constantly talking about this , need it not talking about this, need it not to be a taboo subject . we need to be a taboo subject. we need it to be , you know, the shame to it to be, you know, the shame to be put where it should with the abusen be put where it should with the abuser. i know that when first spoke, spoke out about years ago now there was a there was quite a people i see people wincing about it. they didn't want talk about. it was very uncomfortable. i'm uncomfortable. but you know, i'm pleased we do talk

pleased to see that we do talk it more. and i think it's really important to keep that conversation going. well, we wanted talk about and wanted to talk about it, and i hope you agree with me that sophie brilliant with sophie did, a brilliant job with that listening to that report and listening to those that shared. those voices that she shared. and i just say personally, and can i just say personally, on behalf of whole team, on behalf of the whole team, i know this isn't easy for you, but thank you for coming on gb news and sharing your own personal experience. let's personal experience. and let's hope voice is. and hope that your voice is. and those sophie had will make those that sophie had will make some on this troubling some progress on this troubling and horror fighting offence. so great to talk to you. jay dronfield thank you very much indeed. dronfield thank you very much indeed . now, that was zoe indeed. now, that was zoe dronfield, domestic abuse survivor and a very articulate and powerful campaigner. survivor and a very articulate and powerful campaigner . you are and powerful campaigner. you are watching and listening alastair stewart& friends with many more. still to come this afternoon , still to come this afternoon, including with avian flu and turkey shortage . is that lovely turkey shortage. is that lovely man, good friend mine chef aldo zilli will be joining me live in the studio to give tips on how to rustle up the perfect

alternative christmas dinner. but first, we're going to take a quick break .

hi. 17 minutes to our welcome back. and you are watching, listening to alastair stewart& friends here on gb news tv and radio. thank you very much indeed for so doing. it's time for our rural spotlight this week . we are looking at week. we are looking at a festive the turkey . but as you festive the turkey. but as you would have seen, i'm sure some reports suggest that the birds will be in short supply due to avian flu and. just the sheer cost of running a poultry farm . cost of running a poultry farm. others say, however, they'll a surplus due to shoppers buying frozen turkey this christmas to save some cash or possibly even look at alternatives . we want to look at alternatives. we want to try and get to the bottom what the truth of the matter is and

then we'll look at alternatives with lesley. after that, with christmas, just around the corner, time is somewhat pressing. so i'm delighted to be joined now by paul kelly, who is a farmer and there he is. a turkey farmer and there he is. well, he's got a smile on at the moment. is avian flu still the headune moment. is avian flu still the headline explanation of the problems in your sector ? yes, it problems in your sector? yes, it is . i problems in your sector? yes, it is. i mean, luckily, problems in your sector? yes, it is . i mean, luckily, over the is. i mean, luckily, over the past few weeks, it really has quietened down. so we're not the losses that we had seen in early october, but were a lot of turkeys that were lost . half turkeys that were lost. half a million went to east anglia. but that in mind, there's over 8 million turkeys sold at christmas . and, you know, there christmas. and, you know, there is a turkey to suit every pocket of cheap or frozen turkey right the way through to a dry plot town. premium through the butcher and the farm gate. but there's there'll be a shortage for those the for those supplies that had their farmers affected. they're going to short of turkeys but there's not going to be a desperate clamour for turkeys be there'll be turkeys that for but you might not get the turkey you were planning on

having was a free range. having if it was a free range. it's being suggested by it's also being suggested by folk write about this more folk who write about this more than deal it, that southern than we deal it, that southern turkey farmers actually have a surplus because exactly what you've just said there, some decided which it's a bit problematic. so going to buy a frozen one or i'm going to go down road, have some turkey farmers, a surplus , i'm not that farmers, a surplus, i'm not that i'm sales are just about the same last year so we're not any massive change in purchase saying i think what people are doing of course if the phone rang that supplier will it their butcher checking that they have turkeys and if they do they're ordering as normal so i don't think there's certainly not a lot of surplus out that a few pockets may be but generally consumers are buying as they normally do lots bought normally do lots have bought frozen . yeah. because just frozen. yeah. because just playing it safe and they'll probably find that if there's a fresh turkeys on the shelves at christmas they'll get fresh christmas they'll get a fresh one keep frozen and one to keep the frozen and frozen christmas. frozen until after christmas. but it's not it's not a huge problem that there's not a lot

of surplus turkeys about. not that the naughtiest gesture that the supermarkets actually gaming this because the are covered with shortages and shock horror worries which you very sensibly and in grown up way have confirmed. there are issues it's not perhaps all as bad as some are suggesting all the super markets gaming it a bit. no i really don't think they are they're certainly not hiking the pnces they're certainly not hiking the prices or anything like that. the prices are set a long time ago in the supermarket you know supporting the british turkey industry because they them next year so they're not gaming it now i think it's more the newspapers supermarkets newspapers than the supermarkets for hundred percent right . for sure hundred percent right. what's the outlook on avian ? i what's the outlook on avian? i always admit this to facebook . i always admit this to facebook. i do have to watch and listen to our programmes. we've got we've got chickens at home. it's not on the same scale as you, it's purely pets and we like them for the but the poor old things the eggs but the poor old things have up for ages now have been locked up for ages now by edict of the department. what? what's the word in

industry when might be industry as to when we might be on side of this ? on the? bright side of this? well, we're certainly looking now vaccinate eggs. i mean now to vaccinate eggs. i mean that the policy in the part been fighting avian influenza for 20 years battling it and i think we've accepted that pretty much lost the war. i think you really kelsey liken it to what's happenedin kelsey liken it to what's happened in china trying to lock down a zero tolerance policy. of course you're fighting fighting a nature . the chinese a force of nature. the chinese now we may have to now except we may have to vaccinate the difference of course, a tactical advantage. the chinese have over that is they can lock people down now our problem is we can't lock wild birds now and the primary source so source of infection so a vaccination i think is back vaccinating is the answer going forward within hopefully 12 months we'll have that solution . it's a it's a tricky 12 months, 18 months to get over until we get that vaccination in place. such a balanced and well—informed set of views that . paul kelly, thank you very much indeed . paul kelly, our much indeed. paul kelly, our turkey farmer and from all of us here, thanks for joining us this sunday afternoon. but we all we

wish well with the industry wish you well with the industry and i hope that manage to and i hope that you manage to have christmas yourself . have decent christmas yourself. paul have decent christmas yourself. paul, thank you very much. that'll now even . before that that'll be now even. before that conversation you've been getting in touch with what you're having for your christmas dinner this year because some of those problems that paul and i were talking about, let's with ms, who we are considering a rib of beef for a change rare slices of beef for a change rare slices of beef with the trimmings and of delicious. i bet i've four evans in front of me so that's how i say when kevin joins and says duck unusual enough easy and quick to cook pan fry it goes with a variety of bold flavours , accompaniments. so there we have it, james says. lobs is an alternative to turkey or goose lobster for christmas. what an intriguing idea. lobster for christmas. what an intriguing idea . now, do keep intriguing idea. now, do keep your views coming in. and to several of you said we're going to have swan i think unless you're the king or the duke of

norfolk you may just have a little difficulty in accessing the swan meat , but do keep the the swan meat, but do keep the views coming in and we'll them before we go off air at 2:00 and don't forget to subscribe to our youtube channel. we are at gb news. for all of our previous interviews, indeed for our previous programs. now i'm delighted to say he listening to my conversation with paul , my conversation with paul, they're one of the great est chefs in the land and a good friend of mine, aldo zilli, with some ideas. aldo was also founder and chef patron of london restaurants. senor deliciously greens alley cafe jilly bar. more recently, he won british restaurant awards best chef of 2022 and has written widely as well about vegetarian food. so there's a marvellous array for us to . start with array for us to. start with we've got a leg of turkey , we've we've got a leg of turkey, we've got breast of turkey that good lamb, oh lamb. i'm oh, now that's interesting, see, because

would love that. but mrs. stewart would not. and we've got pork belly. yeah, we've got porchetta in italy and i grew with this kind of food a christmas porchetta , you know, christmas porchetta, you know, every christmas i'm the youngest of nine children. so every christmas my dad would rear the pig christmas my dad would rear the pig and by christmas we would get the kid. the pig killed . get the kid. the pig killed. then we would have everything from the pig. so you're performing a brilliant chef. you're a brilliant internationalist italian. but but but watch all of things. and it is interesting, isn't it across europe and across the world there are different christmas traditions hundred and because i grew up with that tradition for me christmas day been turkey only i know i normally do a small turkey because i have a british family and the tradition here is big on turkey and this year i mean paul

been my supplier for a long time and hopefully he will give me a turkey for this christmas. but because there's a shortage. so we need to look outside the box at it . and let me back in with at it. and let me back in with one example of that, because one of my god sons is married to a fantastic polar woman and they always have fish very much in east european tradition. that's what i was coming to . i come what i was coming to. i come from a fishing village and growing up for us was a very large bass , very large fish in large bass, very large fish in the middle of the table with lots of herbs and potatoes and i mean, you have the tradition , mean, you have the tradition, all the trimmings but, you know, the centrepiece can be something , as you know, different as fish. but also, you know, someone said duck , which is someone said duck, which is a great meat to do for goose is a great meat to do for goose is a great meat to do for christmas, even a large is a good meat do for christmas. there's a lot of you are a master of sauces and

was the correspondent right . one was the correspondent right. one of the great things about duck is you can have or you can have orange, you can you can play the game with duck. it can be sweet or sour. anderson duck is i mean we do a sicily where i am in my in surrey. we do duck ragusa because my mum used to make these. so i have recipe of a duck ragu for so and love it because it's so different . yeah because it's so different. yeah you know and it's so interesting nowadays with all these different nationalities the foods this country has the best chefs in europe to guide people along over christmas every christmas i get asked the same questions i long do i cook my turkey for when do i cook do cook it the day before. do i cook it the day before. do i cook it the day before. do i cook it in the morning. and you know it's the answer that's always going to be the same. so what what makes me think this yearis what what makes me think this year is a great opportunity to look elsewhere. yes you know, i

think open the turkey . farmers think open the turkey. farmers are probably not going to like me saying this this morning, but, you know, it's really now for people to just like that guy said beef, you know a nice big rib of beef. why not? yeah. you know, several saying stuff , row know, several saying stuff, row and stir fry and stuff like that, whether it be based on beef , but taken aback by the beef, but taken aback by the turkey idea . but let me let me turkey idea. but let me let me weave in interesting twist to it which is the economics of it because you're very very good on the economics of food and being my maternal grandma was a kitchen maid in a grand house years and years and years ago and she said, all turkey is brilliant because not only is it a nice lunch or but then you can do a fricassee. the next day you can a soup for boxing day . it's can a soup for boxing day. it's a big bird and. it's got lots of applications turkey. stock is good but same with this. you know, the pig porchetta i mean if you like if you like pork

thatis if you like if you like pork that is probably the best way of doing it. rolling a pork belly with some sausages inside tie up, put it in the oven, slow roasted . and then the next day roasted. and then the next day like this is i this like this is i did this yesterday that day we can have sandwiches, we can have all sorts with it . because sorts of things with it. because the thing about meat is thinking , like you say, of people that, you know, this this year , you know, this this year, there's a lot of people that can't afford a nice beef filling , you know, so they have to go for the cuts like the chicken , for the cuts like the chicken, the, you know, cheaper cuts of meat. yeah, like that . there. meat. yeah, like that. there. that's a lamb shank. that's very inexpensive, but it needs to be cooked, right? it needs to be slow cooked needs to be cooked with lots of herbs. you need to give it flavour and, you know, that's why people can cook this the day before. yeah. and then reheat on day there's also people listening and watching. i know not only might want to but not go down the meat route because of the economics of it but vegetarians. and you've

written a brilliant book , vegan written a brilliant book, vegan food controversy. what's the top of your recommended list for a vegetarian family that still wants to have a big family dinner but wants to go veggie, see, vegetarian is very important to have the right stock so you have to make good flavoured stocks vegetarian food and you know vegetarian vast vegans. there's a lot of vegans, you know we have a lot of vegans come in because it's allowed lots of vegetarians and have to think outside the box. so we make ravioli with vegetables , make ravioli with vegetables, vegetarian ravioli, vegan ravioli . we do gluten free. now ravioli. we do gluten free. now there's got to be i mean, for me , mushroom , a big vegetarian , mushroom, a big vegetarian vegetable that gives a lot of flavour food. and especially if you can find wild mushrooms, there's a lot available to make nice stocks to make , nice nice stocks to make, nice stuffing. so many wonderful things you can do with 100. and, you know , everybody goes for the you know, everybody goes for the nut roast dinner a final point

andifs nut roast dinner a final point and it's from the heart. although is pudding sacrosanct or are there things that you can try out rather than a flaming, lovely, rich , fruity christmas lovely, rich, fruity christmas pudding panettone any day for me, the italian pudding . pudding panettone any day for me, the italian pudding. i'm pudding panettone any day for me, the italian pudding . i'm not me, the italian pudding. i'm not too keen on on their christmas pudding, but i do have a christmas day. i do have it because my mother in law insists on buying ten of them. the know why and. then we have them for about three months after that. but i do have it on christmas day and i do like flavour with a little brandy butter. yeah here, here. let's hear it. you've got to find it from all of us here. aldi last time we met, you were talking to michael portillo. delighted that you're not talking all of us talking to me, but all of us here at gb news. for here at gb news. thanks for sharing your with us. and sharing your time with us. and we you family we wish you and your family a very happy christmas. thank you very happy christmas. thank you very much. thank you. the leslie. thank having me, leslie. thank you for having me, chef. also with lots good chef. but also with lots of good ideas. you want to go down ideas. if you want to go down the meat route, if you want to

go down the vegetarian route, has on all of that. has great books on all of that. him and follow his word. he him up and follow his word. he does know what he's does genuinely know what he's talking about. award winning chef and restaurateur you are watching the alastair stewart indeed friends here on gb news and radio with lots more coming up on the programme this afternoon. i'll be talking to dr. dambulla to who is also a hospital doctor about the nhs and joining us will be love island , paige thorne , who is island, paige thorne, who is becoming an age uk ambassador. she's also a paramedic. but first, a quick break.

hello. and it's slip past 1:00. welcome if you've just joined us here on gb news with alastair

stewart& friends hello. welcome back. if you've been here since 12:00, we are into the second hour of our programme keeping company here on tv and radio with many more still to come, including more on our top discussion. can we afford the breakthrough outside drug on the nhs ? breakthrough outside drug on the nhs 7 why breakthrough outside drug on the nhs ? why isn't the nhs fit for nhs? why isn't the nhs fit for purpose in administering it? you'll be hearing the views of my and also i'll be getting your take and sharing your messages with everybody out there. plus with everybody out there. plus with england team facing in the last 16 of the world cup i'll be getting the very latest live , getting the very latest live, qatar. but first, let's bring you right up to date with all of the day's news. here once again is bethany. elsie elsie . is bethany. elsie elsie. alistair, thank you. good afternoon . 1:01. i'm bethany. afternoon. 1:01. i'm bethany. elsie the gb newsroom hundreds military personnel could stand in for border force and emergency services staff during

strikes over christmas . around strikes over christmas. around 2000 troops, civil servants and other government volunteers are being trained to help disruption dunng being trained to help disruption during the festive period. the government's contention ac plans come as the country prepares for a wave of industrial across the pubuc a wave of industrial across the public sector. the head of the police watchdog has been forced to resign over an historical. it's now emerged lockwood he's been the director general of the independent office for police conduct since 2018 is facing a criminal investigation. the home secretary suella braverman says she him to quit or face immediate suspension after about the probe when he announced his resignation on friday said it was for personal and domestic reasons . the conflict in ukraine reasons. the conflict in ukraine is slowing down in us intelligence say they expect that to continue over the winter months . washington says kiev's months. washington says kiev's economy now suffering after russia launched attacks targeting its power grid and

other critical infrastructure . other critical infrastructure. the director of national avril haines believes will be a successful ukrainian in the new yeah successful ukrainian in the new year. we expect , frankly, both year. we expect, frankly, both militaries are going to be in a situation where they're going to be looking to try to refit, to resupply , in a sense, resupply, in a sense, reconstitute so that they're kind of prepared for that counteroffensive. but we actually have a fair amount of scepticism as to whether not the russians will be, in fact prepared do that. and prepared to do that. and i think, yeah, i think more optimistically for the ukrainians . matt hancock , the ukrainians. matt hancock, the account of how he managed care homes during the covid pandemic has been described as a deluded version of events in his new book, the former health secretary insists the virus was mainly into facilities by infected staff. but the chair of the national association says that bears resemblance to the facts . she says in the early facts. she says in the early stages of the outbreak, covid patients discharged from

hospitals and put into care homes without testing . england homes without testing. england will face senegal tonight in their first match in the knockout stage. the world cup. the africa cup nations holders were runners up in group eight, but the three lions remain unbeaten, are favourites to get through to the next round. former england manager spend again. eriksson told us gareth's has a strong squad to choose from. upfront he has a lot of options. harry will play, i suppose if he's if he's fit and he should play. of course . but he should play. of course. but then who's playing around him? it can be foden. it can be sterling rashford saka grealish . he cannot play all of them . . he cannot play all of them. yeah i hope he played foden our respect and i hope so. all england fans in qatar are optimistic if and hopeful. i'm very hopeful. score for when england. how do you feel about tonight, guys? incredibly nervous . we know it's going to

nervous. we know it's going to be a tough game and it's never at this stage. you know, the group stages out the way and if it can happen, have got a great team and it's going to be a tough one. prediction three one england. it's way too optimistic. i'm going to go to one, maybe all extra time, one, maybe all for extra time, but i'll be in tears. so but then i'll be in tears. so let's talk. but hopefully no penalties . let's talk. but hopefully no penalties. now let's talk. but hopefully no penalties . now football legend penalties. now football legend pele says he's feeling strong and hopeful after receiving further treatment for colon cancen further treatment for colon cancer. the 82 year old was responding to claiming his treatment had been after he was recently admitted to palliative care . his doctors say he's care. his doctors say he's stable and responding well to treatment and with 150 days until king charles the thirds coronation the st edward's crown has been removed from the tower of london to be adjusted for him. king charles the ceremony is expected to be and shorter than the late queen's with around 2000 guests. instead of 8000. but the court elements of the traditional service will remain. royal commentator michael cole told gb news the

crown first worn by king charles, the now this crown is quite interesting. it's used only once in every reign it quite interesting. it's used only once in every reign i t £5 only once in every reign it £5 and before her coronation during the second 1953 and i do remember it the queen walked around the palace and obviously in our day clothes getting used to it because it quite a technique to keep it steady and straight . europe today . tom technique to keep it steady and straight. europe today . tom gb straight. europe today. tom gb news, we'll bring you more news . it happens. now let's get back to alister . to alister. bethany, thank you very much indeed. delighted to be joined once again here in the studio, as requested by. gb news political reporter who can tell us the very latest from the political front . catherine

political front. catherine foster anything happened out there ? well, lots noises about there? well, lots noises about strikes. aren't but it was interesting what stephen dorrell said early on that to say , said early on that to say, forgive me, that's what i meant. so anything out there that couldn't talk a tory held of this programme telling steve barclay the current health secretary stopped get in there and sort it. wow. yeah. it wasn't that interesting. i mean he was health secretary john major. so going back clearly he knows his he was also chair of the health committee, wasn't he? yes. and so he understands the pressures on the health service very deeply. and his message clearly to steve barclay, the health secretary, stop. you know, just saying , well, 3% is know, just saying, well, 3% is your lord deal with it and get out and negotiate. and obviously the government desperate to keep awards to a minimum because . awards to a minimum because. they can't afford to give people pay they can't afford to give people pay inflation in line with

inflation or 19. clearly and they're making all these contingency plans . dowden from contingency plans. dowden from the cabinet office is in charge of coordinating . they're of coordinating. they're training up the army to drive ambulance fire engines because the list of people going on strikes is getting longer and longer and longer. but for the nurses although they're not going to get 19, 3. although that's what has been awarded that was before inflation went through the roof does seem rather miserly , doesn't it? and rather miserly, doesn't it? and of course, the pressures on them are considerable . but at the are considerable. but at the same time , we the government, by same time, we the government, by extension taxpayers, us are paying extension taxpayers, us are paying ever more money into the pot for the nhs than the demands of the nhs are getting greater and greater. we're getting older. we're getting fatter symptoms, treatments are getting more so on that subject. and you know, because we talked about it before that the main theme is discussing this new breakthrough

job drug that could help people with and i also it intriguing with. and i also it intriguing that both the head research in alzheimer's and stephen dorrell agreed that now is not the time to tear up and start again with nice and how we say yes to certain drugs and no to certain drugs but they both called out for better joined up drugs but they both called out for betterjoined up as nadhim zahawi achieved with the pandemic . yes that was very pandemic. yes that was very wasn't it the vaccine rollout but things like social care the fact that social care and the nhs completely, inextricably unked nhs completely, inextricably linked and when you have tens of thousands of elderly people stuck in hospital costing massive amounts of money who don't to be there, don't need to be there but can't be discharged because they're not the care packages in place , because packages in place, because they're not the care workers in place, because they can earn more working in their local lidl. it's very difficult. so more joined up thinking , more

more joined up thinking, more preventative care. but at the it looks like a struggle just to get through this winter just to cope and get through the other side but huge challenges . side but huge challenges. catherine thank you very much indeed. thanks for sharing part of your sunday with us. and whatever is left of it. i hope you enjoy it. thank you very much indeed. catherine foster there gb news political correspondent. we've talked to a range of people, i hope in some depth regarding the new depth today regarding the new alzheimer's drug that revealed this week . alzheimer's drug that revealed this week. but alzheimer's drug that revealed this week . but we've also asked this week. but we've also asked the question the nhs can afford it. and secondly , the nhs system it. and secondly, the nhs system ready to adopt it and administer it. it's being seen as a difficult time for the nhs generally and this year certainly no different ambulance waiting times in. england have never been this bad . so when the never been this bad. so when the system is already huge, pressures can deal with these new medical drugs. and how come

they've been offered up and approved by trials and yet nobody quite ready yet to administer them. i'm delighted now to be joined by the excellent doctor , dan poulter. excellent doctor, dan poulter. now for two reasons, doctor dan says it on the tin is actually a hospital doctor his own right and is conservative member of parliament for central suffolk and north ipswich and is also an nhs doctor. i just said that he works specific in mental health services . dan, great to see you. services. dan, great to see you. thanks for breaking into your sunday to talk to us . this isn't sunday to talk to us. this isn't a gotcha moment, but i nearly fell my chair and so did catherine . when stephen dahl catherine. when stephen dahl said rather wished that steve barclay would stop grandstanding and get in there and sort out. the problem is that the age nhs that you work for has it's ambulance waiting times or nurses pay . well, i've got nurses pay. well, i've got a little time . stephen doyle and little time. stephen doyle and you served on the health select

when i was first elected to parliament when he that committee and, he knows the nhs very well and one of the things that we have to look at is that if we have inflation the moment around about 10% and the pay dealis around about 10% and the pay deal is on the table is between three and 5% depending on which group health care workers we're talking about. and that is clearly below the rate of inflation . now, what tends to inflation. now, what tends to happen , staff feel undervalued happen, staff feel undervalued or they feel that they're not being paid enough is that they often decide move away from permanent employment and actually start working as agency or locum staff or moving into even working for private health care providers who might pay them more money. so in itself creates a problem for the nhs financially that nhs and has to pay financially that nhs and has to pay higher rates sometimes for the very same staff through paying the very same staff through paying them and as or as agency staff. so actually this is probably bad health care

economics. the government at the moment and i to see them sit down with the nurses you know my nursing colleagues very, very hard . and actually from both the hard. and actually from both the health care point of view, but also from the point of view of actually what is the cost of living at moment. let's get a better a better agreement in terms of pay that are up conversation. i couldn't agree with you more, although our main talking point which the team told you we wanted to ask you view on both a tory mp but also more importantly as an nhs hospital doctor . did it surprise hospital doctor. did it surprise you the clinical trials came back on this alzheimer drug that a lot of people said how all is a lot of people said how all is a breakthrough moment? but an awful lot of other people said , awful lot of other people said, the nhs as it's currently structured and managed , is not structured and managed, is not ready for it. we can't do it. we can't deliver well . there are can't deliver well. there are two issues there. first, is this a breakthrough moment? and i have expertise as as a psychiatrist in having having patients with dementia and it

does seem that this is perhaps the beginning a process rather than an end, the end of the kind of map which is a sort of antibody type drug, helps to clear the amyloid the beta amyloid plaques that build up in dementia from brain. but even know it would have to be used from according to early trials. early in the disease process . early in the disease process. and effectively it would probably only by somebody around 18 months of the quality of life , not a silver bullet and what we now need to understand is what are the side effects and the risks of this drug and because we know that indications are are some risks, an are there are some risks, an increased of we increased risk of stroke, we also need understand how that also need to understand how that improves quality of life compared to treatment of nor as normal. we have some medication vs a local codemasters inhibitors which can improve our cognitive function again in the early stages of disease. so need to look at all of those things

and but what i would say is we know from the pandemic that when we have breakthrough medications we have breakthrough medications we to get something done quickly we to get something done quickly we can do that in the nhs we did it with, with the, with the covid vaccines and we've got to learn from that because learn lessons from that because the takes too long. the moment takes far too long. the new drugs to be the promising new drugs to be moved into mainstream use and that's something that i think we need to learn lessons of the pandemic about and the way the system works. the part of your question, alastair, was about can the nhs administer this drug? now this a drug that needs to be administered every two weeks? i understand via intravenous means and given the fact we'd be talking about probably half a million people with i would say off the top of my head and that is going to be a very very big ask for nhs to do so . we need to take a much do so. we need to take a much greater pace and delivering more care in the community. that is the big challenge the nhs needs to more of. and indeed as your

reporter mentioned a moment ago , much more joined up working, particularly in things like dementia health and dementia between health and social yeah that crucial social care. yeah that crucial point . my social care. yeah that crucial point. my final question in this area , dan, if i may, is that area, dan, if i may, is that both the alzheimer's society and dorrell said we need to make sure that all of the right voices around the table when nice says yes this is medically good yes it's economically viable and yes or no , it's viable and yes or no, it's logistically practical . do you logistically practical. do you think we've got right voices around that table ? well at the around that table? well at the moment, i mean, nice has understandably. i think you've got nice to look at, you know, value for money, cost effectiveness versus benefits and the benefit to patients over the treatment . but you've also the treatment. but you've also got sort of the trials process that drugs have to go through to make sure they're rigorously tested and safe. now, the point about dementia is it's a devastating illness . alzheimer's devastating illness. alzheimer's in particular. so families, it's

devastating to the patient, but it's also incredibly expensive for the nhs. so what i, what we need to do is work out as we did in the pandemic with the covid vaccine and ways of fast track tracking and improving the in which we can move promising medicines through the clinical trials and then and have more joined up working with nice at the moment there's quite lot of silos working in these areas and we need to join it up in a more effective way particularly for big areas of illness and disease in big areas of cost for the nhs like cancer, drugs and, like dementia care. so as i say, this is potentially very promising drug , but it's the moment where drug, but it's the moment where the beginning of a process and we need to bring the end of that process much closer and much further forward than we would be normally the case in this country with the current sort of drug drug testing and process is that nice to have in place common considered from the front line that i'm thrilled to thank you for launching last. what is one which is the day job at the

moment dan being tory mp or being hospital ? well, i mean being a hospital? well, i mean i love , love the privilege to be love, love the privilege to be an mp , love looking after an mp, love looking after patients and i think that brings a lot to my work as an mp. but i would say that it's been a very challenging times being a conservative mp over the last few months and particularly between september and the middle end of october so i'm very grateful in times like that for the fact that i have my constituency to do as an mp and indeedi constituency to do as an mp and indeed i have my patients to look after to take my mind away from some of the issues that we deal with in westminster patients and colleagues are great climate in which to try and chill out and understand the meaning of it all. dan, genuinely a pleasure talking to you again. we've done it once before. you are always welcome on this programme for your experience in the world of politics more importantly, politics but more importantly,

as experience in as it were, your experience in the medicine. thank the world of medicine. thank you. your sunday you. breaking into your sunday to and look to be with us again and look forward talking to you again forward to talking to you again that stampfel to that conservative member of parliament but parliament from east anglia but also hospital doctor with his also a hospital doctor with his views on the drug breakthrough and the state of the nhs now . my and the state of the nhs now. my next guest is a bit of a super famous for being itv's love island, but also a paramedic and an age uk ambassador as , an age an age uk ambassador as, an age uk ambassador. she's now of the many stars to support the cause and i was enough to attend an age concern reception at windsor castle. just look at that goodness gracious me. left to right. cilla there in the middle me smiling when you would if you're standing next to cilla black and over on the left hand side, roger moore james bond quiet next ordinary thing page great talk to you. and it's one derful it really does matter to the charity i know that folk like you from the younger generation to us oldies also in

brace the issue of ageing and how we can better care for look after and love older people in this country . after and love older people in this country. so is that simply what attracted you to it? oh absolutely. i had an amazing relationship . my grandparents , relationship. my grandparents, they're like my absolute best friends and the love and the laughter and the advice that they always surrounded me with, and especially the panama that i mean, these are funny people and they're the exact same. they have all these amazing things to offer, and often they no family or friends to any of that with or friends to any of that with or they've not got the ability to go out to coffee shops, for example, and interact. i want to bnng example, and interact. i want to bring so much awareness that and what they can really bring to people's lives and just really bndge people's lives and just really bridge the gap between youngsters and. alex i feel like there's a huge pride, a huge divide , because we've been divide, because we've been talking all about new drug treatment and how that tested

and how the nhs tried to minister. but, but i think downfall to the tory mp just made it crystal clear in that conversation that actually for elderly people may face dementia or alzheimer , whatever it may or alzheimer, whatever it may be, it is the domestic situation . it is just the quality of their life that matters so much and. you and your colleagues there have big plans for christmas, haven't ? yes, christmas, haven't? yes, absolutely . yes, we do indeed. absolutely. yes, we do indeed. and so when it comes to the domestic and all that age, uk, they provide such amazing activities where you can go and do anything from learn use the internet which a huge part of today's society and can make people feel like they more social and have a lot more people around them . amazing people around them. amazing service, even to chair yoga, getting a mobility go in again and you got to see go in again so that they're still fighting fit you know we even do in next

week a nice christmas dinner a nice christmas party with all i'm going to be there cooking some and having get all party with them. it's the little things that that maybe they don't have at that they can really get from this from this charity . really, really amazing charity. really, really amazing what they're doing . i couldn't what they're doing. i couldn't agree with you more and for some folk that will be much important than form of medicine that than any form of medicine that or be available. i don't or may not be available. i don't want to drag you into difficulty political territory. i genuinely don't because . that's not the don't because. that's not the purpose of our conversation . but purpose of our conversation. but you mentioned it yourself at the beginning of our conversation. it's to be pretty tricky out there as a paramedic at the moment, not only with all of those pressures you've just described, it's described, some folk, but it's just tough times in the nhs, isn't it ? yeah is really tough isn't it? yeah is really tough times throughout nhs and for all of the nhs, whether it's from social services down to, you know, the all passionate or you know, the all passionate or you know, paramedics, any just so

stretched. everybody so overworked, but we're all in the same our all wanting to do our best and, all want to help where we all of the time . and it's we all of the time. and it's just really is heart wrenching to see how much we're all what we need and how it can be better . but it's almost like some people higher up just aren't or maybe are listening to what seems like a simple answer. they just isn't coming forward , you just isn't coming forward, you know, all final question and it's cheeky one was was being love island one of the better decisions you've made in your life, one that you sometimes reflect on and just wonder, was that right ? not what do you that right? not what do you think? now, having been through how having been through it now and truthfully speaking, i a great time. i think it was great decision . i wouldn't change it decision. i wouldn't change it for the world. well, that's brilliant and thanks for sharing

all of that and thanks sharing part of your sunday afternoon with us. paige thorne as i said a bit of a superstar have a wonderful weekend what's left of it and the very best of luck and a huge list of thank you's for what you're doing with age uk as an ambassador and particularly that christmas campaign. the details i think are all available on the website too. age as well. paige thorne thank very much indeed forjoining now you've been getting in on our big topic of the day new dementia drug . and if the nhs dementia drug. and if the nhs can afford and administer it. ronald says my wife was displaying signs of memory in the middle of the eye. it in june and after tests including a ct brain scan by november , we'd ct brain scan by november, we'd been attended at the hertfordshire memory clinic in watford and received the confirmed diagnosis of alzheimer's while . the news was alzheimer's while. the news was not good. we were seen in reasonable time around for that

and we are now, in subsequent consultations regarding existing medications and other options to help maintain the quality of life overall , my wife and i have life overall, my wife and i have been satisfied by the attention given what we hope is an early diagnosis since the news of the new treatment was. and we certainly hope that the nhs can figure out how to make it widely available. we particularly want to include that message because it's just so balanced and it's so positive and. all of us wish you all the very best, both you and your wife. thank you very much indeed for leo says without understanding how the nhs budgets have been set for , new budgets have been set for, new treatments versus research , it's treatments versus research, it's impossible to guess it would be good to learn about timelines. i agree with that. and also good to know a little bit more, which we've tried to do today about how that whole process works and which all the voices around the table in making those decisions which are economic, but they are also medical. and as we now

know, as far as the nhs is concerned, they practical winston of course the nhs cannot afford it just the rich a bit more. okay clare says side effects need to be considered always. the clare very wise to point that out . but how much point that out. but how much would save in the long run ? if would save in the long run? if we can stave off symptoms of this dreadful disease? neil says side effects need to be considered. i think we've had that one, haven't we have said i'll keep the views coming in. it's 1:26. so still got about it's1:26. so still got about half an hour of the programme. and if there is time at the end we'll share a few more. as always, it is gb news gb news dot uk or to me directly on twitter or at gb news on twitter. and don't forget to subscribe to our youtube channel for all of my previous interviews and previous programmes . i hope you enjoy it programmes. i hope you enjoy it all. plenty more coming up this afternoon in final half an hour of alastair stewart friends after the break are gearing up to take on senegal in the last 16 clash. this evening. can

england do it? we'll be crossing live to shortly. but first, let's take a look at weather here . looking ahead to this here. looking ahead to this afternoon and the uk is looking fairly for many and chilly and a brisk easterly breeze. let's look the details. northwest scotland will likely see the brighter skies across the uk thanks to the development of some sunny intervals, but scattered showers and cloud will push into eastern scotland . push into eastern scotland. showers will also affect eastern coasts of northern ireland arriving from the irish sea. it's counties again that may hold on to some brighter spells .nonh hold on to some brighter spells . north west england could be cloudy saturday, but most of the showers remain east of the pennines , affecting areas north pennines, affecting areas north of the wash . a few of these of the wash. a few of these showers may inland and reach nonh showers may inland and reach north wales . showers may inland and reach north wales. for most here it will be a drier. north wales. for most here it will be a drier . a few bright will be a drier. a few bright spells possible for the far west

of . central areas of spells possible for the far west of. central areas of england will to stay dry air. but they'll still be a large amount of cloud around making it a rather dull second half of the weekend for many. like much of the uk southeast , weekend for many. like much of the uk southeast, england will experience a keen breeze through this afternoon. it will make it feel closer to two degrees celsius . a little light rain is celsius. a little light rain is possible southern counties of england, but it will tend to stay largely dry like elsewhere. the best of any sunshine will be in the west . it'll be the best of any sunshine will be in the west. it'll be a very the best of any sunshine will be in the west . it'll be a very set in the west. it'll be a very set up through this evening with further showers pushing in from the east and that's how the weather's shaping up for the rest of. join me every at 6 pm. for gloria meets in exclusive interviews i'll be finding out who are politicians really are and what they really think. it's something we would never want anyone to suffer. i know what channels there were be . i didn't channels there were be. i didn't think i'd be believed. i must have worried about stabbed and i'm sorry for a my instinct was to sort of this up i mean that

was a mistake. to sort of this up i mean that was a mistake . join me every was a mistake. join me every sunday at 6 pm. on gb news. choose the people's britain's news .

channel hello there. welcome back. it's 131. i'm bethany lc with your top stories from the gb newsroom. hundreds of military personnel stand in for border force and, energy emergency service staff during strikes over christmas . around 2000 over christmas. around 2000 troops, civil servants and other government volunteers are being trained to help limit during the festive period . the government's festive period. the government's contingency plans come as the country prepares for a wave industrial action across the pubuc industrial action across the public sector. the head of the police watchdog has forced to resign over an historic allegation. it's now emerged.

michael lockwood has been the director general of the independent for police conduct since 2018, is facing a criminal investigation. the home secretary suella braverman says she told him to quit or face immediate suspension . learning immediate suspension. learning about the probe . matt matt about the probe. matt matt hancock's account of how he managed homes during the covid pandemic been described as a deluded version of events in his book, the former health secretary in cysts, the virus was mainly brought into facilities by infected . but the facilities by infected. but the chair of the national association says that bears no resemblance to the facts . she resemblance to the facts. she says in the early stages of the outbreak, covid patients with discharged from hospitals and put into care homes without testing and england will face sinegal tonight in their first match in the knockout stage of the world cup, the africa cup of nafions the world cup, the africa cup of nations were runners up in group , but the three lions remain unbeaten tonight and all favourites to get through the

next round. england fans in qatar are optimistic , feeling qatar are optimistic, feeling hopeful. i'm very score prediction three one england. how do you feel tonight, guys? incredibly nervous. we know it's going to be a tough game. it's never easy at this stage. you know the group stages are out the way and it can happen. the way and if it can happen. senegal have got a team senegal have got a great team andifs senegal have got a great team and it's going to be a tough one. prediction three one england is way too optimistic. i'm going to one, maybe i'm going to go to one, maybe all extra time, then i'll be all for extra time, then i'll be in tears. so let's go. yeah, in tears. so let's not go. yeah, that's. hopefully that's. but hopefully no penalties up to date on penalties. you're up to date on tv, online and derby plus radio. this is gb news. now it's to alistair . alistair. that's me. thank very much indeed. tomorrow, world aids in birmingham. this week , a first birmingham. this week, a first of its kind memorial was unveiled to remember those who lost their lives because of hiv,

with one in six people living with one in six people living with in the united kingdom on a were that they have the virus the sub culture also aims . sorry the sub culture also aims. sorry the sub culture also aims. sorry the sculpture i do beg your pardon also aims to start a conversation about getting tested now this just proves huge medical advances can take place and can be celebrated and just how far the nhs has come with particular challenge. many of you of a certain age will i suppose, and terrifying warnings from the then conservative government about . but progress government about. but progress really has been made and there definitely is hope. gb news. reporterjack definitely is hope. gb news. reporter jack carson has this report. when say . a first of its report. when say. a first of its kind memorial was unveiled week to honour those who have lost their lives to aids and to start a brand new conversation about hiv it stands a proud six metres

tall at the end of birmingham's village, its design of intertwining heart ribbons was created . the founder of the created. the founder of the memorial. gary jones. created. the founder of the memorial. gary jones . after memorial. gary jones. after watching the tv series it's a sin. watching sitting just made me think of all those people that died, you know , horrible that died, you know, horrible deaths with no dignity in their lives, no dignity that that's, you know, no funeral no services in the beginning. and everybody was scared to, you know, touch bodies. my experience friends who would just put in body bags and, you know cremated so there's nothing to remember those people and not saw. i need to do something . these people to do something. these people that were forgotten . the that were forgotten. the fabricator and sculptor luke perry. it's been a complex project physically to be able to make this we did was take the largest piece of sheet metal we could get and bend it and then benditin could get and bend it and then bend it in other ways as. could get and bend it and then bend it in other ways as . well, bend it in other ways as. well, ways that the metal doesn't normally like to bend in ways that people thought we couldn't work with. but we had to develop

machinery , be able to physically machinery, be able to physically make and then make each individual sections four sections and then intertwine those and weld them together . so those and weld them together. so it's a very intricate process . it's a very intricate process. what ends up looking quite simple, but isn't that always the way? looking to the future. antiretroviral therapy might mean we see the end of new hiv in the uk in the coming decades. but dr. taylor from saving lives uk says more testing must be done on the stigmas around hiv broken. i think it's about normalising hiv and hiv testing. if would be tested when , they if would be tested when, they went to a&e or their general then it wouldn't such a big thing. we have to get away from this exceptionalism and we now have treatments available which can give you a normal life expectancy if you are diagnosed early . so what we need to get early. so what we need to get overis early. so what we need to get over is that hiv is not a condition which affects gay men or men who have with men. it is

a problem heterosexuals to thirds of all of the new diagnoses that we've been having at our hospital . hospital have at our hospital. hospital have been heterosexual. the co—founder of , the memorial co—founder of, the memorial fellow to show the ribbons for three things on the front of it says remembrance education celebration . and those are the celebration. and those are the three key words that we want to get out. remember the past. remember the journey been travel to educate those people about getting tested and living healthier with hiv today and to celebrate , celebrate the lies celebrate, celebrate the lies and celebrate journey that's been travelled. in a survey from sexual health charity deterrence trust, a third said their family, friends or workplace , family, friends or workplace, respectively had discriminated them because of their hiv . this them because of their hiv. this memorial is just the start of changing that . jack carson . gb changing that. jack carson. gb news. fascinating reminiscences and a food for thought indeed about how progress has been made

made, but how so many ? people made, but how so many? people have still been forgotten as . a have still been forgotten as. a result of that crisis that rocked this country. all those ago. jack carson with our report that. now our next topic , the that. now our next topic, the proposal that there perhaps should be a four day working week, a number of companies have tried it out and. we've got one who's joining us in just a moment. he's it really good. they like it and workers like it. put tweet out saying that it. i put tweet out saying that we going to be discussing we were going to be discussing it and you've come forward thick and fast with your thoughts upon it. debbie says a four day week would be good . compressed hours would be good. compressed hours over four days. it wouldn't suit everyone's circumstances, however , there are many however, there are many occupations for which a four day week just isn't an option, says dan farmer . week just isn't an option, says dan farmer. in particular. there was also somebody, i think, who was also somebody, i think, who was also somebody, i think, who was a regular worker said that that was a tricky for them as well. susan the conversation saying ha ha gp's are already

doing it. see how well that's working for them. ouch. susan, thank you very much indeed. steve says three day weeks are not uncommon. they've been around for decades in the financial industry . back when financial industry. back when the compressed hours were agreed with employer. well another example of sit down around a table and try and sort out for everybody's interests and. i think that's it. it is. but again keep them in because we're on an . 21 minutes to the top of on an. 21 minutes to the top of the hour. we've got about another half hour to go as however. we're going to reflect on this next big story. england, of course, face senegal tonight in the world cup. with football fever sweeping the nation and inspire perhaps the next generation. yorkshire. reporter anna riley has been speaking to the many england fans getting behind the big three lions . behind the big three lions. england's success in qatar has

been inspire bring the next generation of footballers and. world cup fever has certainly spread amongst the youngsters at pelican park community trust, with many of the players excited for tonight's game . i'm just for tonight's game. i'm just excited for it like because i think england are going to win against senegal. but yeah, i'm pretty tired . england's winning pretty tired. england's winning two tests like it brings everyone in together and like just to like , enjoy what just to like, enjoy what football. like would be footballers. i just like being creative and just inspiring the little kids and just like some of the girls, they just inspire me to try and do a school like it. i've been it's impact some of the girls or england and scotland all up. i think we're doing good at the local football school to sports coaches at the centre , get a kick out of seeing centre, get a kick out of seeing the kids passionate about the game . you can definitely tell

game. you can definitely tell the world cup has been on. we've had a lot of a lot more excited come down you go, you go into a primary and that's all they want to talk about was the world cup come down here. we've got a lot more children come down recently since the world cooper started the well, everyone's the world. well, everyone's football the minute. football mad at the minute. yeah so all up and so they're all coming up and talking about the games that so they're all coming up and talkirhappenedie games that so they're all coming up and talkirhappened likeimes that so they're all coming up and talkirhappened like trying�*nat so they're all coming up and talkirhappened like trying tricks have happened like trying tricks that the world that they've seen in the world cup that's a thing if cup and that's a big thing if they something on tally they they see something on tally they want it here. it's want to try it out here. it's incredible because they get to look at the role models on the tv like the england tv especially like the england the people kane the same people like harry kane and stellan like saka and rashford. they lot rashford. i know. they had a lot to live up to from the year. the resilience they're given in resilience that they're given in football, to see football, these kids get to see it and kind of take it and they kind of take characteristics from who they see on the tv. so it's really good. see on the tv. so it's really good . gareth southgate's side on good. gareth southgate's side on a mission to bring back the world cup trophy whilst at the same time making an impact. kids across the country ana riley gb

news hall . wonderful, loving the news hall. wonderful, loving the authentic voice of world that isn't just the adult fan world as well. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends here on gb news tv and radio, we have more still to come in the final hour of our programme this afternoon, including 100 uk companies have signed up for a permanent four day working . i'll be talking to day working. i'll be talking to one of those companies that's to adopt it. but first, let's have adopt it. but first, let's have a quick .

welcome back . it is 144 just welcome back. it is 144 just coming up towards 2:00. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends here on gb news. as i said just before the break , 100 uk before the break, 100 uk companies have decided they're going to permanently adopt a

four day working week for. going to permanently adopt a four day working week for . all four day working week for. all of their employees with no loss of their employees with no loss of pay. the 100 companies employ 2600 staff, a tiny fraction of the uk's working population . but the uk's working population. but the uk's working population. but the four day week campaign group is hoping that they will be the vanguard of major shift . so is vanguard of major shift. so is there room for change the way that we work? the campaign has some political support as and we're speaking to a labour mp in a moment who also supports the change. but joining live in the studio now, i'm delighted to say, is john barry jones. the sales and director. people, places and purpose at thai la grange, which is an environmental consultancy and they took part in the four day working week trial and more importantly . you loved it. your importantly. you loved it. your people loved it and you've adopted it. we did. alistair yeah, thanks for having me. yeah, thanks for having me. yeah, it's been big, big change for tyler grange . it's been for tyler grange. it's been hugely beneficial . the team love hugely beneficial. the team love it . it's been a lot of hard

it. it's been a lot of hard work, but overall seen a 21% increase in productivity . the increase in productivity. the team you see, that's fascinating and even drop because a lot of the people have been me about this. oh yeah but you won't get enough work done you won't productive enough because in the current economic climate that thatis current economic climate that that is almost the be all and end all we need productivity because need growth but it's work you it's work for us. work for you it's work for us. i think the it's the understanding difference work ethic difference between work ethic and productivity. think people and productivity. i think people working hard over four working really hard over four days a job that they enjoy days in a job that they enjoy and come back refreshed and then come back refreshed after a three day weekend. we see and a 10% increase in happiness we've seen a 70% reduction absentee ism. so reduction in absentee ism. so everything for us has been really positive and we recognise it's not right for every business for us. certainly it's given the business an to give everyone effectively 47 non—work king days a year absolutely and john also gather importantly that it's not a one size fits all that there's a template of how you might try it out but.

you and the team sat down around a table and worked out how it would work for them. and your company. yeah for us. we decided to take one day a week for the whole business. so nobody works fridays. that's had the biggest impact for us it gives us impact for us. it also gives us fridays do a lot work. you fridays to do a lot work. you know, one values is know, one of our values is caring, belonging and opportunity. a lot of opportunity. we do a lot of voluntary and community work on fridays. it has a huge impact for society and has a huge impact the people that work in our business. so it's not 47 days additional holiday. it's seven non—working days where people can still make a difference. and that might mean time with family as well as hobbies and more mundane things. but generally for us , the but generally for us, the businesses continue , thrive, our businesses continue, thrive, our clients are happy , the people we clients are happy, the people we collaborate with a happy and we see no reason to go back . how see no reason to go back. how fascinating . there is a tricky fascinating. there is a tricky potential downside. and i'm asking you as a business person about this and we all know about the rules working out directives

, things like that. in your view , an experienced business person , an experienced business person , is this something that should become the law of the land you have to you know, there's a maximum of how many days you can work or can it be worked out by a particular company like yours and a particular group of worker for everybody's interest, rather, making an edict? yeah, i think it has to be approached flexibly and every business has to adapt to it in a different way to mandate the number hours and has it apply how it gets appued and has it apply how it gets applied i don't think would be correct i think such a wide range of industries in the uk that would need to operate in different ways, make it a success to and put that into success to try and put that into statute law in my opinion, statute or law in my opinion, just wouldn't work . so you have just wouldn't work. so you have flexibility with a four day week is key and i think we'll obviously continue to monitor ourselves and altria as as and when we need to the interesting lead and talking to other companies have been involved in it and indeed it also affect your own company but we've had

those tweets and emails and people saying look it's tricky for or we're trying as gp's and that's been difficult and couldn't find the email earlier. but somebody said if you're an oil rig worker you must be joking. come on, there's going to too many shift, it's going to be too many shift, it's going to be too many shift, it's going to boost left, right and to boost costs left, right and centre. yeah the centre. yeah what are the problems have emerged need problems that have emerged need addressing a company is addressing if a company is sitting out there listening, thinking quite like idea thinking quite like the idea donna's telling me. it works for his company and it works for his workforce yes, there are workforce. yes, but there are a few tricky points. we need to think a little about. yeah, people do get concerned about compressed hours, five compressed hours, doing five days for there's days work into for there's additional pressure and anxiety that but actually by looking shift patterns, looking at the way people work, we have some going on through the night and actually we can still work with those members of the team and also some consultants outside our business to see to see that we can still offer seven days of work the core team work. it's just the core team only have work. four of those seven days. so i technology and

innovation also key making sure your business can cut out administration where it's not and also i mean environmentally for us it's big in terms of the investment in the right kit and you is as much about productivity as just working a bit harder it is and also you know that four day week applied across uk they've said by 2025 could see 27 million tonnes of carbon reduced our footprint. so it has big , carbon reduced our footprint. so it has big, big consequences for the environment socially. but i say i agree that for some businesses it would be difficult and it would be and that's one of the keys actually the run up to it, the preparation, the use of technology, all of that key considerations for being ready , considerations for being ready, work a four day week and for some people it will be difficult, but not for everybody . oh well, not insurmountable however. john, great to meet you.thank however. john, great to meet you. thank you very much indeed. well done on the experiment and thanks for sharing your there. that's john berry, who the sales director at tyler grange, an

environment consultancy saying he likes . and more importantly, he likes. and more importantly, i'm sure he'd , be the first to i'm sure he'd, be the first to admit his people like it. joining me now to discuss this with a bit more of a political angle, i'm delighted to say we're welcoming back another good friend , the programme. good friend, the programme. that's dowd. peter is the that's peter dowd. peter is the member, labour member of from bootle and has taken to social media this week to show his support for that shift to a four day working week. peter, how important is that last point that john and i were talking about that it's great as an aspiration if it works for you aspiration if it works for you as a worker or you as a campaign . that's grand but it doesn't need to be enforced or dictated from the top or it. well, can i say i congratulate barry and tyler grange , the work they've tyler grange, the work they've done on this one. and i think was as an exemplar as really very late, like an up to the point start he made in a very constructive and positive contribution . it's inevitably contribution. it's inevitably the way when you're dealing

issues around employment. we've done this for 150 years or more. in fact in terms of changes to employment law, when people used to work 60 hour day and at the time of the economy or fail. so let's not introduce it right across the spectrum and gradually it happens gradually moves from a 16 hour day, including children not working less and more than 12 hours, etc. these things move on a society on by moving from an agrarian age into a technological age . and so times technological age. and so times change and so people's working practises change . so i think practises change. so i think eventually there will be a move by businesses to move into this space to speak. and i think the state, the government, we all have a responsibility to push that along. and that's why i introduced the bill two or three weeks ago to sort of get debate about the four day week going . about the four day week going. yeah, well i hope we've added to debate as well. talking to john

. and actually, yeah, i'm getting a finger on the pulse of it. you're a former shadow . it. you're a former shadow. secretary to the treasury, so you know about the numbers, terms of the public finances. you know about the numbers, terms of the public finances . do terms of the public finances. do you think there's an or a downside to this as far as tax , downside to this as far as tax, national insurance revenue is to the treasury ? well, actually, i the treasury? well, actually, i think the that john makes is the point. i was going to make in terms of productivity. productivity goes up. what's not to like about the practical aspect , practical growth, the aspect, practical growth, the potential there for growth through productive gains, technological developments not to like about that. then put the human side to them less absenteeism . and people want to absenteeism. and people want to work for companies like that. i'm not quite sure what does not like to about the proposal now. i completely accept that in different industries it might be in different ways . a one size in different ways. a one size fits all approach to . this isn't fits all approach to. this isn't going to work, but have to work on the principle . the principle

on the principle. the principle thatis on the principle. the principle that is a good idea to good mechanism. it gives you a better work life balance . the company work life balance. the company benefits the employees benefit and the economy benefits . i and the economy benefits. i repeat, what's to not about that? and people time on a friday to do charitable work and stuff like that. so obviously a celebration . you know better celebration. you know better than i it was in the 2090 manifesto. i do . it's likely to manifesto. i do. it's likely to be in the manifesto for 2024 or wherever that general election is going to be. and have you personally, peter , talked to sir personally, peter, talked to sir keir and rachel reeves about it 7 keir and rachel reeves about it ? the answer to that, the one? no, i think we're sort concentrating on things where they are now, so to speak. but i will in due course, have conversations about this. i'm they will take them through whatever processes that need to be taken. so no, i have not those comments sections. it wasn't a manifesto in terms of testing. get out now. this has been at moment been voluntarily at the moment and we were proposing not just to test this out, let's see how

it operates . and again, if we it operates. and again, if we do, let's iron out all the holes in this as we've done with so many other things in the past like paid holiday leave, for example, equal pay, etc. whole range of issues that we've managed to introduce healthy is short out . our show today . so short out. our show today. so let's work on those in the next few years to see how this can operate on these pilots a great, a great way of doing that. peter, great to talk to you. always. thank you for breaking into your sunday to share some time with me . you're always time with me. you're always welcome on this programme and it's a pleasure. talk to it's always a pleasure. talk to you. you very much. that's you. thank you very much. that's peter the member of peter o'dowd, the member of parliament for bootle , whose parliament for bootle, whose private bill is pushing private member bill is pushing this idea and reflecting upon the sale of it. already a four day working week, which john was so enlightening about john barry that who adopted it, and both he and his company and his workforce like it as well. so it may coming your way. workforce like it as well. so it

may coming your way . we shall may be coming your way. we shall watch this space now . does this watch this space now. does this surprise you? no. sorry. i beg your pardon . not there . i'm your pardon. not there. i'm afraid. i've just been told that we can't go to doha because we have problems there. but i promise you that the rest of the day in the up to that big batch of 7:00 gb news will be across. we'll just make sure that the line work we don't want to line is work we don't want to inflict upon a line that doesn't work. that said, i'm delighted to back you next to say be back with you next saturday. sunday, both at 12:00. i very much indeed you've enjoyed today and yesterday and that you will enjoy the rest of this lovely day as well from all of here at news tv and of us here at gb news tv and radio. a very good afternoon to you.bye radio. a very good afternoon to you. bye looking to you. bye bye. looking ahead to this , uk this afternoon, the uk is looking fairly for many and chilly in brisk easterly breeze. let's look at the details. northwest will likely see the brighter skies . the northwest will likely see the brighter skies. the uk thanks to the development of some sunny intervals but showers and cloud will push eastern scotland . will push eastern scotland. showers will also affect eastern

coasts of northern ireland from the irish sea. it's western counties again, that may on to some brighter spells spells . some brighter spells spells. nonh some brighter spells spells. north west england could be cloudier saturday, but most of the showers will remain east of the showers will remain east of the pennines areas north of the wash . a few of these showers may wash. a few of these showers may push inland and reach north wales , but for most here it will wales, but for most here it will be a afternoon. a few bright spells are also possible for the far west of wales . central areas far west of wales. central areas of england tend to stay drier, but they'll be a large amount of cloud around, making it a rather dull second half of the weekend . many like much of the uk, southeast england will experience a keen breeze this afternoon. it will make it feel closer to two degrees celsius . a closer to two degrees celsius. a little light rain is possible for southern counties of england, but it will to stay largely dry . like elsewhere, the largely dry. like elsewhere, the best of any sunshine will be in

the west . it'll be a very the west. it'll be a very similar set up through the evening with further showers in from the east and that south. the weather shaping up for the rest of today .

i love the intro so much. we showed it twice. good and welcome to gb news. you are watching sense crusade with me. the reverend calvin robinson. on your tv wireless and online , the your tv wireless and online, the show is all about championing common. and today we will be discussing the census results showing. about less than half of england wales are christian. england and wales are christian. we'll also take a look back at what's been a very difficult week for the