hello and i'm alastair stewart and for the next 2 hours i'll be keeping you company on tv and radio with the stories that matter across the country. we have plenty coming up, including oscar king. how has the slew of strikes affected you this week .7 strikes affected you this week? the leader of the train drivers union, i'm delighted to say, is sitting to me live here in. the studio plus on the nurses strike, we'll be talking to a nurse and a tory mp who is also an nhs hospital doctor. lots of more besides that . but first more besides that. but first let's bring you right up to date with all of the news today. here's anderson . thanks, here's anderson. thanks, alistair. woman it past 12. here's the latest. nhs bosses are urging hospital aides to free up beds ahead of planned industrial action by ambulance crews in england. they say it's

vital that the government and talk urgently to resolve the pay dispute before the first day of action on the 21st of december. it comes after nhs data showed one in six patients. now more than an hour to be transferred from ambulance staff to any teams. former cabinet dr. liam fox, who also worked as a gp, told they need to overhaul long patients remain in critical care. and one of our problems is that we have so many people occupying acute beds in acute hospitals which are very expensive, very intensive for staff , and they really don't staff, and they really don't need to be . we need, in my view, need to be. we need, in my view, to go back to a concept of convalescent . and i think that convalescent. and i think that we need to ensure that people are getting appropriate care, because if you've got people occupying those acute beds who don't need to be there, it doesn't matter much money you pour into the system you're not going to get the output. that's appropriate . well, appropriate for that. well, meanwhile, the nurses union is

warning that the health macho negotiating style is hindering efforts to resolve their pay dispute. i'll sit and general secretary pat cullen says barclay undervalues the work of nurses because it's a% female profession. she's urging the prime minister to step before the dispute engulfs the nhs. union has been asking for a 19% pay union has been asking for a 19% pay rise, but says they would consider any new offer . consider any new offer. meanwhile, a second walkout is planned for tuesday . commuters planned for tuesday. commuters are facing more travel today as members of the rmt rail union continue their 48 hour strike. trains are starting later than usual and finishing with some parts of the country having no service at all. bus drivers in london are also continuing their 48 hour strike, adding to travel disruption. former conservative adviser claire pearsall told us there's currently no end in sight as we've seen all too regularly. whatever there are negotiations, especially with

the rail unions , it never comes the rail unions, it never comes out in a way. whatever is offered by government is sneered at, says and isn't going to hit mark. so you do wonder what is the number that mick lynch has in mind? what would he accept and what the country can afford ? but it is quite clear that something to happen because the country is pretty much now ground to a halt. more than a quarter of people expect to start the new year in debt, according to research by tesco bank believe it will take around 21 months to pay back what they owe . those surveyed say they've owe. those surveyed say they've borrowed money from family and friends and used overdrafts to cover energy bills . rent. gb cover energy bills. rent. gb news future sparked . she told us news future sparked. she told us her family had to work really hard to keep their finances in order. with the year that we've had personally, we've had work issues , had health issues. had personally, we've had work issues , had health issues . at issues, had health issues. at one point the doctors wanted to sign me off work completely and i was like, i can't, i can't do that moving forward. i want to

make sure that my family is financially crisis proof as much as it can be and that we've got really good buffer police , say a really good buffer police, say a man and a woman arrested after two young boys were found dead in east london, were known to the children. emergency services is were called to cornwallis roadin is were called to cornwallis road in dagenham yesterday where they the boys aged two and five. both were already . the man they the boys aged two and five. both were already. the man and woman were arrested separately in nearby locations and remain in nearby locations and remain in custody . the met office has in custody. the met office has issued yellow weather warnings , issued yellow weather warnings, issued yellow weather warnings, is expecting ice for much scotland. the north and southwest east and wales of today. it comes as blizzards are set to sweep across north of the country this weekend. temperatures could temporarily rise on sunday, however, frost is expected to create difficult road conditions. 50 gang leader leo varadkar is irish to shock again . he's replacing a foil again. he's replacing a foil leader micheal martin as , part

leader micheal martin as, part of the rotating tea shock agreement with ireland's coalition government. mr. varadkar previously held the office . from 2017 to 2020. the office. from 2017 to 2020. the committee investigating the january six capitol riots reportedly preparing to vote on three criminal charges against donald trump. if passed, they'll urge the us justice to indict the former president with offences including insurrection. discussions also set to take place over what to do. donald trump's tax returns , which were trump's tax returns, which were finally obtained last month . and finally obtained last month. and harry and meghan will be invited to the king's coronation in may next year. according to the daily telegraph newspaper. that's despite the pair making damaging claims levelled at the royal family in their netflix documentary series. the newspaper says the guest list is yet to be decided, but all family members are welcome . family members are welcome. you're watching gb news. we'll bnng you're watching gb news. we'll bring you more as it happens. now let's get straight to .

alastair wright. thank very much indeed. as many have wryly observed these days, it's probably easier and quicker to ask who . isn't on and quicker to ask who. isn't on strike some? it's a real rarity . others have something of a track record of industrial action . now, the initial drive action. now, the initial drive was common. pay rises to offset penods was common. pay rises to offset periods of stagnation and the worsening cost of living crisis. but as time moved along, it became clear that there were other profound concerns to right across the piece . working across the piece. working conditions and job security in both the rail industry and the national health service . safety national health service. safety is a grave concern. well, today's are awash with news of strikes. rail buses, highway workers baggage handlers driving

examiners. the list literally goes on and on and the times leads interest only with a single line here saying sunak needs to get a grip. well, as far as i can gather from some who were involved in these industrial bouts of strike action , they'd like him to stop action, they'd like him to stop getting involved and let people that they're negotiating with actually come up with a deal that might just bring peace back across the spectrum. but what the times is saying there . mr. the times is saying there. mr. needs to get a grip after hospitals were told to discharge thousands of before next week's ambulance strike. the mail and the telegraph front pages also refer to further upcoming industrial action. so today we're looking across spectrum of strikes and asking if there are any glimmers of hope or exit strategies . we also want to look strategies. we also want to look at the attitude, attitude of the

government and employers as well as . the seemingly intriguing in as. the seemingly intriguing in pubuc as. the seemingly intriguing in public opinion . support for public opinion. support for health workers was initially very strong. polling suggests that it's slightly less so now , that it's slightly less so now, and we genuinely love to hear from you directly . polls are one from you directly. polls are one thing, but tweets and emails direct to us come from the soul and we will share very best with everybody else who's kind enough to be listening to us or watching . and so do get in touch watching. and so do get in touch gb views gbnews.uk at gb news or tweet me direct or go on to facebook . it was all over rea's facebook. it was all over rea's news bulletin. just moment. so let's start with the national health service, and i'm pleased to back to the program, dr. dan poulter, member of parliament, former health minister , former health minister, currently and nature hospital, dr. you're in a unique position

because you're a tory mp, you're a former minister and you are an nhs doctor. rather than support wanting the industrial action to say, come on guys and gals, this not what we joined for. no, i think that's certainly right. i mean, i'm in principle, wouldn't wouldn't go on strike because. i'd worried about the consequences that it would have on my patients. and i think certainly in what i'm speaking to you from now suffolk, the to you from now in suffolk, the ballot threshold wasn't met. and nurses in this part of the country are not going to be striking . and i've probably striking. and i've probably taken a similar view to the one that i take. however and i think if we look at the basis of the dispute , i think nurses do have dispute, i think nurses do have a point. and the point is usually the government set the pay usually the government set the pay recommendations based upon the independent pay review body and that pay review body reports back in round of every year. so the current pay recommendations would be made in february of this year, but they were unable to consider in making those

recommendation and the unprecedented situation find with the war in ukraine the impact, that said on inflation , impact, that said on inflation, the cost of living. and we've now got very different now got a very different situation. so in view of that, you you know, i think both sides have chosen intransigent in here. but i like to see a solution. you know, adult grown up at a table and a bet to pay off made to nurses so that we can we can get on with the job we're all here for you to look after patients but if you were writing the article under that times newspaper headlines needs to get a grip . what do you to get a grip. what do you specifically that he specifically think that he should i mean, barclay's should do? i mean, barclay's saying his door's open. he's attempted to have some talks, although the royal college of nursing say he just sits there, toddles his fingers and says, there's nothing do. what there's nothing i can do. what do personally recommend the do you personally recommend the prime should if prime minister should do? so if i if i was giving advice, i was if i was giving advice, i would i would look at. that's what the scottish government's done which is recognised done here which is recognised that we are in an unprecedented and situation they

and changing situation as they review recommends actions review body recommends actions are made and. i would look at having a genuine dialogue. i think it's difficult, you having a genuine dialogue. i think it's difficult , you know, think it's difficult, you know, i think the health secretary is saying i'm happy to talk, but this is the offer. i have to talk. long as you accept the talk. as long as you accept the offer. so that's not really necessarily an or or an necessarily an open or or an offer of genuine talks and the a so the exam realistic, you know, close to 20% demand that the nursing is making as well. so but i think in scotland they've settled around, you know, 7 to 8% somewhere in that sort of margin, which is much closer to the cost of living and there's also been an attempt to protect low paid workers, in particular. and so we see that there is a route to industrial action which we should be taking , taken we should be taking, taken elsewhere in the uk . and i would elsewhere in the uk. and i would hope that perhaps , you know, in hope that perhaps, you know, in england we can look at that and say, well actually this is about patients, let's get round the table have a genuine grown up conversation and sort this out and recognise nurses do deserve and recognise nurses do deserve a bit of better offer than

a bit of a better offer than they currently being being awarded . but but that generosity awarded. but but that generosity in scotland has meant two things specifically that that taxpayers in the rest of the united kingdom will be chipping in yet more towards scottish public spending . and now those who are spending. and now those who are working hard and earning well in scotland, glen , that their tax scotland, glen, that their tax rate is actually going up. do you think taxes should be higher to settle these pay claims? well that's one way of doing it. my view would be there are two things we can look at here. firstly i think there are very easy efficiencies . the nhs easy efficiencies. the nhs particularly in the way that we procure common goods and services and there is simple savings that could be made very quickly if hospitals work together and use bulk buying power in economies of scale to purchase goods. so we could look at internal efficiencies to this for the second internal efficiency is the fact that the temporary staffing in the nhs has gone up from about just

under 3 billion. i think in 2015 to over 6 billion today. and that's because i am increasingly nhs staff and in this case it will be nurses, i think that they will be able to earn more money working either in the private sector, the private health care providers or working local agencies , nursing banks local agencies, nursing banks and. that of course ends up costing the nhs more money. so if we can improve the recruitment and retention of our workforce, which we know there are lots of nursing vacancies already will actually already and that will actually in savings. so a bit of in itself savings. so a bit of extra money. the permanent workforce reduces what is increasing the eye—watering temporary staffing bill o f £6 temporary staffing bill of £6 billion a year for the nhs. so that's and i dispute health and as chris hopkins used to nhs providers and he's now the strategy boss at the nhs and that's absolutely the crucial vital area . oliver dowden a very vital area. oliver dowden a very interesting interview to the telegraph today which said news hands have picked out the, the

headune hands have picked out the, the headline from ambulance will put the public at risk statement of the public at risk statement of the blindingly obvious or an important wake up call from the former chairman of party. no, i think i think that's a that's a reasonable point. i think in particular the of all of the industrial action in the nhs and let's be frank this is unprecedented to see this scale of industrial action around nhs and then the ambulance action will be the one that will have the most significant impact on patient care , the ability to patient care, the ability to respond , emergency and life respond, emergency and life threatening situation . and i threatening situation. and i think we got to be we've got to be frank about that and recognise that the government will put in place mitigation measures, for example. i'm sure the army will be used to take overin the army will be used to take over in some cases . again, in over in some cases. again, in the part of the in the law. i'm talking you from, we won't see emergency services, the ambulance services going strike in of the country . they in much of the country. they will be and that is going to be

a real challenge. so i think that makes the point all the more about why we need to have a grown up discussion here between unions government. let get to unions government. let us get to a better place that actually recognises pay review, body recognises the pay review, body recommendations are out of date. don't reflect the reality that we've seen since you know rampant inflation and you know support our workers but at the same time get on with the job that we're always do is looking after patients and a huge covid backlog. let's not forget as well to deal with ever calm and thoughtful and helpful dan, thank you so much for coming back and talking to us here on gb news. it's always pleasure gb news. it's always a pleasure to on board. that's dr. to have you on board. that's dr. dan porter, mp , the dr. but at dan porter, mp, the dr. but at the beginning of the a bit at the beginning of the a bit at the end, very, very important dan zahn people, conservatives, central, suffolk , north ipswich central, suffolk, north ipswich . and as i said, as a former health minister himself. well, joining me now, i'm pleased to say, is a new friend, professor seifert, who's professor of industrial relations at wolves ,

industrial relations at wolves, hampton university . written a hampton university. written a whole lot of questions i want to put to you. but i can take one thing right out of the middle of what dan just said and what i thought was a genuinely fascinating interview where he pointed that pay review pointed out that the pay review boards were supposed to be one of those clever tools that stopped these issues to strikes. it was supposed take the heat out of the situation . what's out of the situation. what's gone wrong with the pay review boards ? well as you say, they boards? well as you say, they were actually all set up. so because nurses teachers and more recently police and officers after industrial action, so they were supposed to make it easier but the real issue with all pay said she mechanisms is when this no relation then that quite straightforward as soon as inflation surges then they are inflation surges then they are in difficulty because they get out of date quickly and the evidence presented also is no longer relevant . in the case of longer relevant. in the case of the pay review body for nurses as well as all the health workers , the government has

workers, the government has three to the charity more or less decides who sits on it , less decides who sits on it, tells them how much they can afford and can always ignore it and fact this government has previously ignored it. and i think one thing we will want to know is if the pay review body in february recommends% for next year , will the government then year, will the government then endorse as seems unlikely ? endorse that as seems unlikely? so they were never really designed to with a crisis such such before becoming an academic you were a management consultant and talk top men and women at the top tables right across the one of the common complaints whether it's in the dispute or within the nhs is an incapacity of management to manage, whether it's network rail the train operating companies, the excel which has got a new chief executive . does the government executive. does the government need to get tank off all of their lawns and let management just get on with managing these disputes ? not at all? i mean,

disputes? not at all? i mean, managers always that their right to manage is too high watered down or some way impaired. but that's not the case . fact there that's not the case. fact there is an argument that the opposite that the railway industry and certainly health and education, civil service, the managers are increasingly unaccountable to body they're not accountable to ministers particularly and they're not downward to the workforce. as a result, they do make a lot of mistakes, a lot of the features, of course, last five or six years is that their own has gone up enormously. i you'd to interview some senior health executives and ask them how much they're paid equally , how much they're paid equally, the rail industry. some of them paying the rail industry. some of them paying themselves very large sums . they're not somehow saying sums. they're not somehow saying that they can't do with a pay cut this year. they're asking their members to do . so i really their members to do. so i really don't think that's the case. the case is the government pulls the strings in the public sector and some extent in the railways. the government deeply embedded and involved . and at the moment,

involved. and at the moment, it's constantly what the government wants to do. so sometimes say, let's look at the time to negotiate. and they say, we're negotiating. then they say we're negotiating. then they say we have enough . and they said we we have enough. and they said we don't have enough money. they say it's inflationary. then they say it's inflationary. then they say somehow, example , say somehow, for example, bankers bonuses are allowed to rip through the ceiling . that's rip through the ceiling. that's not inflationary. so the government is inconsistent in approach and its methods in its theorising about . the nature of theorising about. the nature of theorising about. the nature of the economy . and as the economy. and as a consequence, i think the managers well as the unions are left a bit in limbo as to what to do next. but the government has got to be it is involved and it has to be absolutely clear the nature of its involvement. you can't just sit on its hands and say that's no more money because there is more money, as you've just heard, you can't say it's inflationary because it's not waste . and they can't say not a waste. and they can't say it's nothing do with them it's nothing to do with them because deeply embedded because they are deeply embedded all . and they've all these disputes. and they've got leadership . i was got to show leadership. i was brought to the land. the

brought up to the land. the government said that govern the country and at the moment i can't see that happening . let's can't see that happening. let's say the pleasure to meet you say for the pleasure to meet you and to talk to you. i hope and a joy to talk to you. i hope you'll bless us with your time again here on gb news. thank you very indeed. that's very much indeed. that's professor professor of professor seifert, professor of industrial at wolverhampton union. well, as i said, right at the top of the programme next to me and listening to lots of that because i was watching is, is body language , is mcquillan who body language, is mcquillan who is general secretary of the is the general secretary of the train drivers union that that really interesting last point from from seaford i thought about management because in fact when the times says sunak needs to a grip , i suspect that what to a grip, i suspect that what you would say is don't get a grip, get your tank off our lawns and let us negotiate, eyeball to eyeball with network rail and the train operating companies . i rail and the train operating companies. i think rail and the train operating companies . i think you've companies. i think you've nailed. yes, and roger's nailed as well. of these are as well. some of these are ideological. i think people ideological. i think some people are an opportunity in the

are seeing an opportunity in the post world to put their post pandemic world to put their view of what industry do and how they should it. i myself in they should do it. i myself in a rather awkward position that i work or most of my members work in private companies. they work for firstgroup they work for bdo. for oliver where bdo. they work for oliver where they declaring they they are declaring profits, they are dividends to are paying dividends to shareholders. yet the people who work had a pay work for them haven't had a pay rise for three years. yeah, surely you about paying your workers before declaring workers first before declaring a dividend a profit? yeah it's dividend or a profit? yeah it's been remarkable as well been a remarkable as you well because we first met at davos an industrial for industrial correspondent for years that at the years and years that at the between rail unions and there's own and then there's obviously rmt which used to be all the rmt and the tsa . it strikes me and the tsa. it strikes me reading the papers and listening to interviews with other colleagues that that's just a little fraction at the moment . little fraction at the moment. rmt saying to you guys please accept this deal. we don't want it. you guys would over 80,000 a yearif it. you guys would over 80,000 a

year if you accepted it . let's year if you accepted it. let's hold together on this in rejecting it. well, quite simply, i mean , if you actually simply, i mean, if you actually look what happened the other weekend the rmt acted in good faith . they suspended all their faith. they suspended all their action. so weeks intensive action. so weeks of intensive talks, they came to a deal as . action. so weeks of intensive talks, they came to a deal as. i understand it up to the level of secretary of state either endorsed the deal and then somebody interfered and the rmt were no opportunity were left with no opportunity but to put strikes back on. but what happened then was rather odd in industrial relations somebody saw it to clauses that were going to be deliberately create that rift about dialogue. now we are not sport by running operation trains . there's no operation trains. there's no place in the industry at this moment in time. they're not ready for it. that was done deliberately to derail deal so somebody in government than the secretary of state for transport decided they wanted these decided that they wanted these strikes to go ahead they want then to to up in all the then to run to up in all the other trade unions at the same time this is a government of the worst is getting a worst kind. jerry is getting a grip actually blocking grip and he's actually blocking progress. mr. sunak progress. don't ask mr. sunak himself. know is mr.

himself. i don't know is mr. shappsin himself. i don't know is mr. shapps in business, but somebody is . yeah, because it used to be is. yeah, because it used to be shops of all harper. of course. let me put this to you as a general observation . it seems to general observation. it seems to me that a rail industry that is modernised and fit for purpose, fit for the 22nd century and employs skilled and well—paid aid workers, is the only way forward . otherwise, your forward. otherwise, your industry and industry that all of your colleagues rely upon employment at whatever level is simply going to be a dinosaur thatis simply going to be a dinosaur that is burden on the taxpayer , that is burden on the taxpayer, whose love and affection at the moment you've lost . well, i moment you've lost. well, i understand that. i mean, before pandemic, we will make transport policy. we talk about people who paid a third of their income because they couldn't anywhere near where they worked, having to come to work. to do that to come to work. i want to get back to talking about issues. i won't about green issues. i won't talk electrification. but electrification. i want to, but i can't how we deliver i can't see how we deliver kyoto, or even kyoto, paris or even the 1 without putting the 1 degrees without putting the small 60 million small island of 60 million people right with infrastructure and integrate transport. it's

all not and this isn't all but we're not and this isn't just about this year rail workers haven't had a pay rise for three years. so how many years be expected to years will be be expected to forgo before someone forgo a pay rise before someone with mix acceptable. yeah but if people want to play politics people want to play the politics be pay be until about the rates of pay for train, i'm happy to defend that as we have a people's out today i'll be discussing today which i'll be discussing with of my favourite with one of my favourite pollsters little later pollsters a little bit later on. absolute stand number here for me and i think you because i want to ask you how important that public opinion is. threw that public opinion is. i threw that public opinion is. i threw that out in front of you about that out in front of you about that i'd love you any but our poll suggests that 29% 2% opposed the strikes and that 20 odd% blame you and about the same number blame the government. well, let's look at that 13 because maybe we're not getting our message across . and getting our message across. and we came through the pandemic and japan period of time. we didn't seek a pay rise then the cost of living crisis , it was 5.2. they living crisis, it was 5.2. they went to 8.2% and now it's

running 13 to 14. depend on what figures you use. and then when we first on strike, we were we first went on strike, we were running at to 64% approval running at 49 to 64% approval ratings, something i've experienced rail industry ratings, something i've ex all enced rail industry ratings, something i've ex all myad rail industry ratings, something i've ex all my ad industrialiustry in all my as an industrial representative . and that was representative. and that was because of all the other sectors and everybody feeling from the nurses, the fire brigades, the barristers police, scotland, the teachers the lecturers and the numerous strikes are out there. so this isn't just some effects round industry, but what we didn't that in time didn't know that point in time was employers had done was that our employers had done nothing than corrupt nothing more than corrupt deal with they with government, that they couldn't offer more than 2. now they've us nothing by they've offered us nothing by they've offered us nothing by the when say the way. so when people say solve this with the industry. we were against the industry. most of you an of them can't make you an offer. you have to talk to the government when we went and could face government could face the government said no to your employers. so no go talk to your employers. so after months and months and months catch 22, months of being caught catch 22, we our members. what do we asked our members. what do you want us to do? and then we got mandates from to 99.9. got mandates from 94 to 99.9. well, over six seven well, that was over six or seven months ago just refreshed months ago we've just refreshed all and 13 all those mandates and 13 companies our mandates up companies and our mandates go up by 1% on average. so the

strength of feeling is still there. we'll that to our there. we'll add that to our poll, it will. poll, then. it will. and a pleasure to you again after pleasure to see you again after all years. thank you very all these years. thank you very much. steve mcqueen and the general secretary of aslef association academic association of academic boilermakers, focusing their social and in being very honest, a very open about the loss of love that you used to have for the rail industry and wanting the rail industry and wanting the government to stop, stop plucking progress . you're plucking progress. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends here on gb news tv and radio and onune on gb news tv and radio and online with lots more coming up online with lots more coming up on programme, including on today's programme, including searches foodbanks surged by searches for foodbanks surged by over 250% this year. i'll be speaking our reporter who's been meeting with food bank volunteers . but first, let's volunteers. but first, let's bnng volunteers. but first, let's bring you up to date with the all important weather . looking all important weather. looking ahead to this afternoon on uk will be cold with a mixture sunny spells and patchy rain or snow. here are the details . snow. here are the details. eastern scotland will remain largely dry, but wintry showers will push into northern and

western regions . they'll fall as western regions. they'll fall as snow over higher ground and a brisk breeze will develop across the northern ireland's northern ireland will escape most of the showers, but some drizzle is possible under the cloudy skies a few sunny spells in the northwest . it'll also be a northwest. it'll also be a generally day across parts of northern as patchy rain and sleet pushes south again, falling as snow over the pennines. this band of cloud rain , sleet and hill snow will rain, sleet and hill snow will extend northern and central wales . further showers will also wales. further showers will also into pembrokeshire and the south—west, leading to a largely grey afternoon . there'll be an grey afternoon. there'll be an increasing chance of sunny spells in the midlands, particularly south eastern parts. temperatures be up slightly, but it'll still be cold day for many at around five celsius, the brightest will be across south—east england, where it will also stay dry throughout the afternoon , however, there the afternoon, however, there will be a slight breeze along norfolk and suffolk coastlines. southern england will have a dry afternoon coastal . areas here

afternoon coastal. areas here will see some of the highest temperatures of the day pushing towards eight or nine celsius, looking into the evening and showers will remain . showers will remain. temperatures will quickly drop away for those with clear skies. that's how the is shaping up for the of the day

it's 1232. i'm marie it's1232. i'm marie anderson in the gb newsroom, nhs bosses are urging hospital to free up beds ahead of planned industrial action by ambulance crews in england. they say it's vital that the government and unions talk urgently to resolve the pay dispute before the first day of action on the 21st of december. it comes after data showed that one in six patients are now waiting more than an hour to be transferred from ambulances to a&e . the nurses union is warning

a&e. the nurses union is warning that the health secretary's macho style is hindering efforts to resolve their pay dispute . to resolve their pay dispute. asked in general, secretary pat cullen says steve barclay undervalues the work of nurses because it's a 90% female profession. she's urging the pm to step before the dispute engulfs . the nhs more than engulfs. the nhs more than a quarter people expect to start the new year debt, according to research by tesco bank. most believe it will take around 21 months to pay back what they owe . those surveyed say they've borrowed from family and friends and used overdrafts to cover bills and rent. the and used overdrafts to cover bills and rent . the met office bills and rent. the met office has yellow weather warnings and is expecting ice for much of scotland . the north—west, the scotland. the north—west, the south—west and wales. it comes as blizzards are set to sweep across the north of the country. temperatures could temporarily rise on sunday, however , frost rise on sunday, however, frost is expected to create difficult road conditions and that you can

duchess of sussex will be ianed duchess of sussex will be invited to the king's coronation invited to the king's coronation in may next year. according to the daily telegraph newspaper. that's despite harry and meghan making damaging claims levelled at the royal family and then netflix documentary. the newspaper says the guest list is yet to be , but all family yet to be, but all family members are welcome . we're on tv members are welcome. we're on tv and on disney plus radio is gb news. let's go straight back to alastair stewart . alastair stewart. thanks very much indeed . thanks very much indeed. christmas is just over a week away with many wondering how they're going to afford to eat over the period as the nation continues to grapple the rising cost of living. more people than ever are relying on food banks to get through the winter , to get through the winter, including full time staff and even nurses . now some say that

even nurses. now some say that food banks are an indictment of the fifth richest country in world. others, and they include me say that actually . they me say that actually. they suggest that it is an evidence of goodwill out there between people who perhaps are a little better off than others trying to help those are literally down on their uppers. our north west of england. reporter is in in stockport at local food bank. sophie you've been meeting with patrons , the ones i've just sang patrons, the ones i've just sang the praises of and volunteers doing such a sterling job there today. doing such a sterling job there today . tell us what you found today. tell us what you found out . absolute alistair. well, out. absolute alistair. well, this food bank here , stockport, this food bank here, stockport, like so many around the rest of the uk , relies on the donations the uk, relies on the donations of people who are generous in the local community. not today. they've a huge influx of that. you can see here around me. now,

given it's christmas just over a week away these donations are absolutely imperative . they'll absolutely imperative. they'll go they'll be bagged up here and they'll be taken to families and households who are really really need them at this time of year. a little bit earlier, i spoke to a couple of people who rely on foodbank. you will off the christmases quite a difficult time for a lot people and a lot of us someone recently a friends of us someone recently a friends of mine and is helping like i say about a may as well. it was hard to be able to allow, which is nice . we essentially try and is nice. we essentially try and help others as much as i can. paul know like i'm struggling, you know , up to christmas. you know, up to christmas. i mean, i'm worried over electric gas. you cause you have terrified your well the build

your pay you know . well it's your pay you know. well it's been a bit of an for me recently while i've been using the foodbank a year now i was made . foodbank a year now i was made. so it's kind of been a bit of a, a real big help for me really. benefits are not very helpful . benefits are not very helpful. benefits are not very helpful. be honest. i've got my at home with me who's 20 and she's had a baby and, so she's on maternity leave. so we've got help in the sense of maternity for over than that. we've not really much help otherwise the food bank's been a massive help . well, joining me massive help. well, joining me now is one of the volunteers here, gatley foodbank, jamaica. lovely to be joined by you today. tell me a little bit about what goes on here at the food bank . so about what goes on here at the food bank. so every week we change like this. so the protein, the cardboard trade. so we, for example, we've prepared rice week. next week we're going

to put pasta . and if this week to put pasta. and if this week we have put tin fruit. next week , we're going to put rice pudding . so every week we make pudding. so every week we make sure that we are changing. and then the families, they have opportunity to have different in their table . and tell me, do you their table. and tell me, do you think in last year or so, there's an increase in the number of people coming to this food bank ? i would say after the food bank? i would say after the war in ukraine and then the crisis , gas price and everything crisis, gas price and everything getting more expensive are definitely seeing that people more often. and also number of people coming increasing. do you think at christmas it's important we are able to support in our local communities? absolutely, because christmas is our time that we are all around the table. and i people always should have memories that table are very, very full of food and they have everything . so we are

they have everything. so we are making sure as well that on christmas we are giving them more we than we usually give . so more we than we usually give. so we put toys for the kids sometimes we buy chocolates, mince . so we are making sure as mince. so we are making sure as , well, that people are having more because . christmas is our more because. christmas is our time to celebrate. thank you so much for your time today. you can see here some of the bags that have been pre—prepared will now go out to families who most need them this christmas. sophie reaper reporting . brilliant, reaper reporting. brilliant, sophie. thank you very much indeed. and through you, huge thanks to the volunteers and the patrons and also the users who gave their time up to discuss with you what however you want to describe . it is a tricky to describe. it is a tricky situation made slightly easier by really and very generous people . you're watching and people. you're watching and listening to with plenty more still to come this afternoon, including safety of women with once again this week following

the sentencing of zara allen us killer jordan mcsweeney . we'll killer jordan mcsweeney. we'll be discussing and what needs to be discussing and what needs to be done once again to mitigate such crime and to try and understand where some of the root causes really are .

welcome back. it is a little plus 1:00 and you're watching and listening to alastair and friends here on gb news tv and radio and online . and you've radio and online. and you've been getting in touch on big topic of the day, the strike action. yasmin says , that on action. yasmin says, that on thursday going to work took me 3 hours euston to watford train delayed over an hour not only that but they kept us on the train without opening the doors i was in standing in minus five

degrees this is simply not acceptable enough is enough . acceptable enough is enough. angie says i worked a nurse for 46 years. never had pay or staffing , but it would never staffing, but it would never have considered . i would never have considered. i would never have considered. i would never have considered. i would never have considered striking, lisa says. have considered striking, lisa says . as a district nurse, says. as a district nurse, i like to point out that the nhs not just about hospital laws, it's all very well government telling hospitals to free up space, out and help communities services. but they are already overwhelmed. we were forgotten service during the pandemic and things have continued to decline. so there's just taste of it. keep those brilliant thoughts coming. we want to hear your side of argument right across the spectrum and we will share the best as the programme continues towards 2:00. we are gb news at get you send your views to vaiews@gbnews.uk uk or do it via twitter or facebook .

do it via twitter or facebook. can now the discussion around women's safety came to the fore again this week when joe lumley suggested that women needed to get tough against wolf whistling and kasie all sexism in an with the prospect magazine . joe said the prospect magazine. joe said the prospect magazine. joe said the new is to be a victim. it's pathetic . we have gone mad. well pathetic. we have gone mad. well her comments drew immediate criticism in the wake of the sentencing of zara lina's killer who attacked the 35 year old when she was walking home in the times. charlie going on a drink and wrote what the actress mindset wouldn't have said. but the actress's mindset wouldn't have saved zara, elina, sabina , have saved zara, elina, sabina, nessa or sara evra . so is joanna nessa or sara evra. so is joanna lumley . right? and what needs to lumley. right? and what needs to be in order finally to secure

women's safety? joining me live in the studio, i'm delighted say is patsy stevenson , who is is patsy stevenson, who is a women's rights activist, writer and public speaker. there's a big difference , is there not, big difference, is there not, between casual sexism and what you both fear . between casual sexism and what you both fear. is that between casual sexism and what you both fear . is that obvious? you both fear. is that obvious? and unstoppable progression towards things that are much, much which you yourself witnessed your face all over the newspapers at that remembrance service ? is that an exaggeration service? is that an exaggeration to that progression or is that reality is reality? unfortunately i wish it wasn't reality , but that is what reality, but that is what happens. reality, but that is what happens . and a lot of people happens. and a lot of people seem to ignore the sexism when it seems smaller or seems like like lumley said, you could just smack the hand away or give them the telling off. unfortunately, that sexism , as casual as it may that sexism, as casual as it may seem , does progress on to abuse seem, does progress on to abuse . basically an objectification women which leads to rape and

murder of women. but can you understand or do you simply dismiss out of hand comments people like jo lumley and people of her generation who say, you know. we've had several tweets on it saying , you know what, on it saying, you know what, i was a worker . on it saying, you know what, i was a worker. my early teens, my early that's how guys were. and you know, we had to get on with life. we did. and just dismiss that around and occasionally use very fruity to tell them exactly what they could do with their hands. yeah, well, i mean, guys are still like that. so it's not just back in day. this is how guys were. it's still is like that for us . the difference that for us. the difference is that for us. the difference is that understand lumley that i understand lumley comments and i sympathise with her because she was from certain generation where i believe that it was very brainwashing to women that they had to be internalised misogyny , otherwise internalised misogyny, otherwise they face every hurdle they would face every hurdle they would face every hurdle they across. now we have this openness and a lot of people are talking about the experiences they have especially with the internet and social media. so now we can try and fix the which

are perfect point at which to bnngin are perfect point at which to bring in my second guess you can see there is also life in the studio with me and with patsy and that's casson who's the founder of creative change, which is a drama initiative which is a drama initiative which works with children and young people to try and bring that very change that patsy's talking about really good schools and really heads and really good teachers take that agenda as read. you've got to educate young women how to look after and be sensible particular in the era of social media. but you've also got to tell lads about and about rights and about privacy. definitely i think the problem with the schools is that they have so much on don't they. they have so much to tackle and deal with. so we to do it. we have to take upon ourselves as a community to try to educate them from a very young age to toughen

them up when the team discussing this and we all agree we really wanted to do it with both of you. one of them was talking experiences at co—ed co—educational school , and quite co—educational school, and quite a few of the boys turned up having been at single sex schools, maybe prep schools or whatever it might be. it doesn't matter. and suddenly that's the first experience they've actually adult actually got. of mere adult women. that can be a tricky period. yeah. i mean, i think understand that. but the same time, if you go to an all boys school, for example, there should be it should be down to the teachers and parents alike . the teachers and parents alike. teach these boys what misogyny is, what is sexual harassment, what is not okay to say and do so that when they meet these women for the first time possibly then they know how to behave like a normal, respectful human being. let me ask me a brutal question. let us basically brutal question i know will offend some people who will hear me . i say it

will offend some people who will hear me. i say it. will offend some people who will hear me . i say it . are some hear me. i say it. are some parents a problem proud of their strapping young lad? you know, boys will be boys always just being a lad . you need to read being a lad. you need to read the riot act to parents as well. and that's not easy even for a head teacher? no, definitely . head teacher? no, definitely. and i think also it's cultural as well. so we've got to be able to tackle culture . we have to be to tackle culture. we have to be able to open early talk about these things. so that we can actually understand each other a lot more . patsy, do you think lot more. patsy, do you think that where it also really in the judiciary and in the police, which is of your big complaints at the time of that tragic death , has there been any progress since ferguson? i mean with the police, for example, there is misogyny within the police. we had a report that came out to explore the actual race , explore the actual race, misogyny in the police, same because i hope there's one about racism as well soon. but i think

i mean i'm going through legal proceedings at the with that because of what happened at that vigil. i know of tonnes stories where women been abused by police, whether it their partner who is in the police and then the report something and it won't be taken seriously because they're their friends and things just taken seriously just don't get taken seriously or when it's or reported even when it's domestic violence or abuse, who from someone who isn't partnered with , a police officer. if you with, a police officer. if you go to the police about this stuff, sometimes do say, well, it's just not enough . they say, it's just not enough. they say, oh, they did what? it's not. and the problem is with this is zorelli owner, that guy have beenin zorelli owner, that guy have been in prison at the time and he even two of his exes came forward and said he has harassed us. he's given death threats. why was he not in prison ? you why was he not in prison? you know, shouldn't have been know, that shouldn't have been allowed happen. setting allowed to happen. the setting of harrison's was of sarah harrison's killer was sarah everard. sorry, i've said that twice. now by mistake, and it was very, very stark and very, very strong . the talk is very, very strong. the talk is of possibly thought shops , of possibly thought shops, sentences, even for wolf

whistling. i mean , struck me whistling. i mean, struck me when i read it as being that almost demeaning, i think. i mean, with wolf whistling, i think what's happened is they need to understand and police need to understand and police need to understand what counts as misogyny, what counts of sexual harassment , and then as misogyny, what counts of sexual harassment, and then in turn , need to understand that turn, need to understand that this should a consequence for them and i don't know about you know if you wolf so how is it how are you going to prove that someone move so that you there's a bit of discrepancy around that sort of thing but making misogyny a crime that i think is probably a good idea. and is that the enlightenment that part of the enlightenment and education to warn not and the education to warn not only that it's wrong but there are sanctions available and then extremists they can be quite brutal sanctions. yeah i think i look i mean i with everything that you've said here today, i think we need to just this on a grassroots level and start off with the children prevention is definitely the key and to let like i said earlier, let people understand the differences

between cultures . but the between cultures. but the difference is between our sexes . well you know but we have to have that protection as . women have that protection as. women there is far too much out there. you know . do either of you ever you know. do either of you ever come across? must be one of the most tricky things. it does exist. and that is young women shrugging their shoulders and, saying, i sort of less rich experience. i can deal with it. inever experience. i can deal with it. i never i've never experienced a younger saying . i think as younger woman saying. i think as i think as you get older, maybe i'm speaking just as a 30 year old. i don't know if i'm personally experienced, but i think i've spoken a lot of older women who have said through their experience, they kind of develop a harder and sort develop a harder shell and sort of deal with it because of to just deal with it because there out for them there was a way out for them there was a way out for them there wasn't a place they could go. there wasn't, a safe place they could talk about it. i think we're all agreed that that profoundly to change an profoundly we want to change an attitude, amongst attitude, particularly amongst young into young men, as they turn into young men, as they turn into young adults and the police force to keep focus upon this. but it's dreadful question to ask. but i do need to ask both

of you , is there anything else of you, is there anything else that the government needs to do in terms of primary legislation or the primary legislation where you want it to be? patsy is definitely not where i want it to be. i mean i remember talking about this in 2021 of march 2021, whereas i think we need more legislation. we need something to happen for the safety goes and it's safety of women goes and it's nearly years on nothing's nearly two years on nothing's happened like happened we've got things like the online bill but unfortunately things that actually include things where they're going to go into they're allowed to look on whatsapp chats of journalists and things like that and it's not okay . and like that and it's not okay. and you've also got things like the, can i just have the last word from an editor on that? well, legislation needs change. definitely needs change. brilliant. really to meet both of you. meet you again and meet you for the first time. and thank you for what you do. thank you. thanks for coming in to to gb news share these profound upon it. not an easy subject i know but thanks also for what

you do. thank you very much you do. thank you both very much indeed. a candlelit vigil is indeed. now a candlelit vigil is being held later on today in memory of the four boys who died falling into that frozen lake in solihull last week. the boys, aged six, eight, ten and 11, died after falling through the ice . west midlands reporter. ice. west midlands reporter. jack carlson is in solihull this . jack, how devastating is that still for this and what's planned for later ? well, at planned for later? well, at least this is i think i think this community has had to go through something like this ever before. it was utterly devastating. of course, the instant alone on monday when we the news of the deaths of three of a six year of eight year old finley butler , 11 year old finley butler, 11 year old thomas stewart, and of course, ten year old jack johnson. and then on thursday we received the news that six year old sam butler, the brother of finley,

had passed away. this had passed away. for this community felt like they had to go through the whole grieving process again. many people bringing flowers , back bringing back more flowers, back more i just step more balloons. i just step aside. just that the aside. you just see that the balloons and people paying their respects there's a lot of people here. but is it's quiet. it's quiet as well. but conversation as well as remembrance are turning towards the future and how to stop tragedies like this happening again. when the west midlands ambulance service were here . i spoke james williams, here. i spoke to james williams, who's the of emergency planning about the open water . about the of open water. unfortunately the temptation in these scenarios to be on ice or in open water and whether that's in open water and whether that's in the coal for a while or in the summer when it's really hot. the dangers are immense and those media messages are going out all time supported by the fire service. and our view is , fire service. and our view is, please just be very careful and these stages don't enter onto any always because . you can see any always because. you can see what tragedies can come from . what tragedies can come from. well, as well as coming together

tonight , justgiving page has tonight, justgiving page has been set up for what are now being called the pub small . being called the pub small. prince's being called the pub small. prince' s £63,000 has already prince's £63,000 has already been raised for that . but been raised for that. but tonight, side by side and handing hand. members of this community will come together once again for that candlelit vigil to remember those four boys.jack vigil to remember those four boys. jack very much. no doubt we'll be hearing you again later here on gb news tv and radio. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends with more to. but first, a quick.

hello and welcome if you've just joined us. hello. and thank you if you've been with us since midday . i'm if you've been with us since midday. i'm alastair if you've been with us since midday . i'm alastair stewart . midday. i'm alastair stewart. and we are into the second and final hour of our program , final hour of our program, keeping you company here on tv

and radio with plenty more to come, including on our top discussion , the continuing discussion, the continuing strikes . do you have sympathy strikes. do you have sympathy for those who on strike? how is the action affected you? we'll be hearing your thoughts later on in program. but first, let's bnng on in program. but first, let's bring you right up to date with all of day's news. here once again is ray anderson . thanks again is ray anderson. thanks and good afternoon . it's 1:01. and good afternoon. it's1:01. let's get the latest . nhs bosses let's get the latest. nhs bosses are urging to free up beds ahead of . planned are urging to free up beds ahead of. planned industrial are urging to free up beds ahead of . planned industrial action by of. planned industrial action by ambulance crews in england . they ambulance crews in england. they say it's vital the government unions talk urgently to resolve the pay dispute before the first day of action and the 21st of december. it comes after nhs data showed that one in six patients are now waiting more than an hour to be transferred from ambulance staff to a&e teams. former minister dr. liam

fox , who also worked as a gp, fox, who also worked as a gp, told gb news they need to overhaul how long patients remain critical care. and one of our problems is that we have so people occupying acute in acute hospitals which are very expensive very intensive for staff and they really don't need to be . we need, in my view, to to be. we need, in my view, to go back our concept of convalescent hospitals. and i think that we need to ensure that people are getting the appropriate care because if got people occupying those acute who don't need to be there, it matter how much money you pour into the system, you're not going to get the output that's appropriate that . well the appropriate for that. well the nurses union is warning that health secretary's macho negotiating style is hindering efforts to resolve their pay dispute . rcn general secretary dispute. rcn general secretary says steve barclay undervalues the work of nurses because it's a 90% female profession. she's urging the prime minister to step in before . the dispute step in before. the dispute engulfs the nhs . the union has

engulfs the nhs. the union has been asking for a 19% pay rise, but says they would consider any new offer . meanwhile, a second new offer. meanwhile, a second walkout is planned for tuesday . walkout is planned for tuesday. commuters are facing more travel delays today as members of the rmt rail union continue their 48 hour strike. trains starting later than usual and finishing earlier with some parts of the country having no service . all. country having no service. all. bus drivers in london are also continuing their 48 hour strike adding to the disruption. former conservative adviser claire pearsall told gb news. there's no end in sight. as we've seen all regularly. whenever are negotiations, especially with the rail unions. it never comes out a good way. whatever is offered by government is sneered at, says and isn't going to hit the mark. so you do wonder what is the number that has in mind? what would accept and what the country can afford ? but it's country can afford? but it's quite clear that needs to happen

because the country is pretty much now ground to a halt. more than a quarter of people expect to start the new year in debt , to start the new year in debt, according to research by tesco . according to research by tesco. most believe it will take 21 months to pay back what they owe . those surveyed say they've money from family and friends and used overdrafts to energy bills and rent costs . police say bills and rent costs. police say a man and a woman arrested after two young boys were found dead . two young boys were found dead. east london were known to the children. emergency were called to cornwallis in dagenham yesterday where they discovered the boys aged two and five, both already deceased. the man and woman were arrested separately in nearby locations and remain in nearby locations and remain in custody . the met office in custody. the met office issued yellow weather warnings , issued yellow weather warnings, issued yellow weather warnings, is expecting ice for much of scotland. the north—west of the south—west and wales today. it comes as blizzards are set to

sweep across the north of the country this weekend. temperatures could temper rise on sunday. however, frost is expected to create difficult road conditions. finnegan gael leader leo varadkar is now irish to shock again he's replacing feet of foil leader micheal martin as , part of the rotating martin as, part of the rotating tea shock within ireland's coalition government. mr. varadkar previously held the office from 2017 to 2020. committee investigating the january six capitol riot says reportedly preparing to vote on three criminal charges against donald trump . if passed, they'll donald trump. if passed, they'll urge the us justice department to indict the former president with offences including insurrection . discussions are insurrection. discussions are also set to take place over what to do with donald trump's tax returns which were eventually obtained last month . harry and obtained last month. harry and meghan will be invited the

king's coronation in may next. according to the daily telegraph . that's despite the pair making damaging claims levelled at the royal family in the netflix documentary series . the documentary series. the newspaper says the guest list is yet to be decided , but all yet to be decided, but all family members are welcome . this family members are welcome. this is gb news will bring you more as it happens. now let's get straight back to alister . straight back to alister. thank you. thanks very much indeed. time now to return to top stories strikes. and i want top stories strikes. and i want to find out how the industrial action is affecting you at home. so please do send in your thoughts. however, strike action isn't just affecting individuals , small businesses who we love to talk about on this program , to talk about on this program, especially in the hospitality and entertainment industries, have really quite a blow in what

should have been one of their busiest months are at the sharp end of much of this and it's not just rail but post as well of course so we'll be talking to that feel that they have been given short shrift in of this delighted to be joined now by fuller, who's the founder a2 love's, which produces products and had many customers complain about delivery delays due to royal mail strike talks. so i was also wondering when , i knew was also wondering when, i knew we were going to be talking whether train deliveries of , whether train deliveries of, stuff that you need materials and shifting product around the country whether that's impacted as well . but country whether that's impacted as well. but it's mainly the postal service to get goodies out exactly that. how i understand how they yes. it's very much the postal service for us. it's actually it's all very well getting a customer with the hard work which is a small business to actually gain customer a customer getting to make a purchase if we can't fulfil

purchase. if we can't fulfil that purchase, getting the product hands, it's product into their hands, it's obviously disappointing obviously a hugely disappointing experience small experience us as a small business, but also for our customers and it has customers and it really has impact us quite negatively over the last few months . we have a the last few months. we have a poll coming out which shows there's sharply divided there's quite sharply divided opinion as to whether the majority of public blame the majority of the public blame the unions blame the government unions or blame the government are your customers are any of your customers blaming you or do they understand that you have to try and, do your very best. you can't do anything about deliveries or supplies coming in, but are they beginning to blame you and get grumpy and get disconsolate . we're certainly disconsolate. we're certainly getting some grumpy customers. i think everyone knows the postal strikes are impacting our ability and all businesses ability and all businesses ability to deliver . however, we ability to deliver. however, we are baby products . it's quite ability to deliver. however, we are baby products. it's quite an emotional purchase and we be missing not only christmas deliveries but babies being born baby showers, etc. so we are certainly seeing an increase . certainly seeing an increase. and i think for us the challenges the black friday sales that they're the threat

things that seem to be stuck in the system actually we've been able to in the last couple weeks more effectively communicate to people, service , people, upgrade your service, been doing free upgrades to been doing some free upgrades to full so we can full tracking so that we can have right compensated have the right compensated issues show that we posted issues and show that we posted it moving through it so that it's moving through the . it's from the system. but it's things from actually a good few weeks ago that are still not up and that's where you get the customer starts go, what you starts is go, what have you posted it? where it i'm getting things from other small businesses they to businesses and they start to have of have those sorts of conversations. in most conversations. but in the most part everyone's loyal and part everyone's very loyal and very understanding , but very understanding, but it certainly taking a lot certainly is taking up a lot more time customer service more time for customer service in your view, would you risk finding money as one or two of my guests have already said, not least the nurses. doctor dan poulter, who's a tory mp as well, seem to be going down that road because the prime minister and the chancellor say that's only going to push inflation up and put costs up, which you already have to wrestle with as already have to wrestle with as a business person . yeah, i mean a business person. yeah, i mean it a tough one. i'm really just

trying to manage the margins. my business with the customer service i need to deliver the i need to find way now and going forward depending what happens obviously with the royal mail, the union and the strike , i need the union and the strike, i need to find a way to balance the value and the actual something that works and something that actually delivers to customers with the cost of. so it's incredibly hard i may have to put our postal costs in order for us offer a more effective for us to offer a more effective and a more efficient career service but it's service going forward. but it's something watching by something i'm watching day by day making choices . day and making those choices. two sides of that coin fascinatingly , the communication fascinatingly, the communication workers union, have been told very clearly by by their employers that by pushing for higher prices going on strike, they risk, putting their own business out of business. do you have fears for the durability and health of own business? i work fortunate enough to have a lot of loyal repeat customers, and we're doing something very

unique so i don't have fears because this particular strike, it's just thing another pressure that's added to small businesses like mine alongside obviously cost living crisis. what we are seeing people spend a little bit less and we're certainly expecting going into the new year to see a lot more caution in spending, particularly things that deemed more of a luxury that are deemed more of a luxury . nervous , i'm optimistic . so i'm nervous, i'm optimistic is probably the best way to put it. but i unfortunately say of small business friends who are really struggling and wrestling with that decision, whether to cut their losses and close down, which a shame . jen have which is such a shame. jen have you actively explored methods of getting your product out to customers ? yes, we absolutely . customers? yes, we absolutely. as soon as we knew the strikes were coming, we looked at all the other couriers. most of them are a lot expensive . but are a lot more expensive. but what actually seen what we've actually seen is we're a very clear we're putting a very clear communication what the likely communication of what the likely timelines are on, the different career options, and letting customers between customers choose between the cost and, the, you know, how quickly they need that delivery or how efficiently they need

that delivery. but it is certainly it's a really it's a really tricky one, but we've we've had sort of pivot and we've had to sort of pivot and make we those and make sure we those options and let customers risk level and let customers the risk level and the cost that they're happy to take. jennifer love, great to meet you . said the very meet you. i said at the very top, we always love to talk to small people, people who set up their own business, backbone of their own business, backbone of the . we wish you well the country. we wish you well and hope you thrive. and all of the people in your team. thank you for breaking into weekend to talk to us. jen fuller, talk to us. that's jen fuller, the of eater loves the founder of eater loves sensory baby products and giving us a good excuse to add some lovely pictures up of little babies as well, which i hope very much indeed you enjoyed joined now. i'm delighted to be joined now. i'm delighted to be joined now. i'm delighted to be joined now by another business owner that's sami allard king, who is the mark cutting director of amazing grace live music venuein of amazing grace live music venue in london, which two big bookings just this week due to the rail strikes. i mean, to use the rail strikes. i mean, to use the very parlance presumably ,

the very parlance presumably, bums on seats, if you don't them, if they can't get to you , them, if they can't get to you, it can't happen . yeah, you're it can't happen. yeah, you're exactly right , alistair. it's exactly right, alistair. it's been a crazy week for us i mean, we're situated right by bridge station, which is the fourth busiest station in europe and it's been like a ghost town this week. it's crazy. it's almost like covid levels . footfall past like covid levels. footfall past venue. and we've lost two big corporate hires week which is massively impacted. what was set to be a record week for the business. so yeah really unfortunate out throughout the times it was the covid lockdown or whether it's been as a result of these strikes we've always tried to talk to hospitality and entertainment industries because we know very well how important they are in terms of wealth creation. but employment but how fearful are you that your won't survive live and that the people

that you might have to be looking for something else to do next year ? it's a great point, next year? it's a great point, alistair. you know, one of the things is, yes, of course it impacts us as a business, but we have a responsibility , our staff have a responsibility, our staff as well. you know, there's over 30 people in our teams that have been impacted this week lost hours, you know, that the djs kitchen staff , waiters, bar kitchen staff, waiters, bar staff, you name , it's literally staff, you name, it's literally everybody . and these guys are on everybody. and these guys are on zero hour contracts. they're not on salary. so if they don't work, they don't get paid. and equally as well, you know, this time of year it's christmas taxes and you know, they get great tips if they don't great tips and if they don't have this, know, living have this, you know, of living going them right now, going up for them right now, right before christmas. i'm you know, the timing these know, the timing of these strikes been worse strikes couldn't have been worse for staff and yeah, you know for our staff and yeah, you know hopefully we can we offer them more hours in the new year if people can get out and get back into bars after their christmas season. our disappointed blaming you or are they blaming the rail

unions or somebody else, the government here? are they blaming ? well, it's quite blaming? well, it's quite really, i think the blame is certainly caught on to the strike from from the corporate that we've lost. you know, we've had to put new clauses into all of our contracts now for rail strikes , which is something that strikes, which is something that we we've never had . you know, we we've never had. you know, we're getting asked all of these different save them the different to save them the opportunity. you know, if something like this happens again in january , then, you again in january, then, you know, we're back to two losing more business more corporate hires. and you know, we don't just thrive off corporate highs. you know, the footfall this weekend will be massively impacted. we're we're in such a high footfall area and yeah , high footfall area and yeah, it's a big, big part of our business. so you i think business. so you know, i think the to us is to be the cost to us is going to be huge this week. what suppliers and events that are and ancillary events that are going on around your events people who i are know selling commemorative gear or selling dnnks commemorative gear or selling drinks or whatever the impact

you've crystal clear on on amazing grace. but if a big gig has to go down for all of the reasons that you've clearly who else suffers . the whole industry else suffers. the whole industry does.i else suffers. the whole industry does. i think it's know if you look at look around london this week honestly it's just been insane. the levels footfall that you know office occupancy was i believe at 24% of its normal levels this week. so the whole industry taking hits left, right and centre that be that and that has adverse effects across you know the beer industry the spirits wine you know food all of these different suppliers are also impacted directly because that point of sale and so we can't sell it, they can't make it and you know it's kind of a domino effect right across. so i think the effects of are unseen right now . and, you know, in the right now. and, you know, in the new year we'll start to see the start to see these businesses drop off because they won't be able to hang on. unfortunately,

i've everybody else about that stand headline on the times telling the prime minister get group get a grip on the situation . you're a business situation. you're a business person and you've just told us that you employ a whole range of other folk and other businesses upon you . does this prime upon you. does this prime minister or his government take your industry seriously enough ? your industry seriously enough? i think it's too early , say, for i think it's too early, say, for this regime . you know, we have this regime. you know, we have taken hits for the last 24 months left, right and centre , months left, right and centre, you know, hospitality and retail seem to be those two sectors that we can think of that just seem to once at once anything like happens where the hardest hit and we seem to be the last to get any kind of support or or financial support from government and know i would really love to see something in place that is there us to dip if we need to jump to interesting

just drop me reflecting on that when he was chancellor of the exchequer he certainly took the restaurant and pub part of the entertainment industry very seriously and they benefited quite a lot from of the bits and bobs that he did during the lockdown , see whether or not he lockdown, see whether or not he likes live music and live events as well. i mean , good of you to as well. i mean, good of you to break into your weekend to talk to us and share those concerns . to us and share those concerns. we of us wish you we genuinely, all of us wish you well hope there is a turn well and hope there is a turn the better. and that amazing grace and its partners and friends, colleagues will thrive once the new year. for once again in the new year. for the meantime, thanks again, lovely talk to you . that semi lovely to talk to you. that semi allowed is the marketing allowed king is the marketing director of amazing grace i'm sat at the very top . how pleased sat at the very top. how pleased i was about having secured my next because joining me is sara guest who is a nurse at the dudley group nhs foundation trust and sarah has been a nurse for 36 years and has never taken in strikes before until now . you

in strikes before until now. you must enormous burden on their shoulders as sit there reading everything you do in the papers and hearing everything you hear on television and radio . it's on television and radio. it's very difficult circumstance for you to do this after 36 years where it was very difficult to actually vote in favour of strike within within . not enough strike within within. not enough staff actually voted to the threshold for thatcher to go on strike. so having actually been on strike and but i was very much support all the staff that have been that have been striking yeah and i remember that distinction when we first met and chatted a couple of months ago and i'm sorry i didn't make that crystal clear just to remind people of it. didn't make that crystal clear just to remind people of it . we just to remind people of it. we were talking to dan poulter , the were talking to dan poulter, the programme earlier, his tory mp and a hospital doctor , and he and a hospital doctor, and he was saying , he and a hospital doctor, and he was saying, he said that

and a hospital doctor, and he was saying , he said that the was saying, he said that the government should find the money like the scots did to come up with a decent settlement. and he also said that the pay review board was in effect not fit for purpose. do sense that is there a way through there . well a way through there. well i agree with a lot of what he said, to be honest. i mean the pay said, to be honest. i mean the pay review board that despite was an independent pay review board isn't independent at all. all the people on it are appointed the government and actually paid for by the government . then the government government. then the government actually told what they what they can offer us. so you know, and actually i think most nurses are realistic they they don't expect 19% pay rise but something close to inflation similar to what the scottish government are offering nurses in scotland most nurses i think would accept that . i was also would accept that. i was also talking to a management management consultant and now

professor of industrial relations on the programme earlier and he said the nhs management new chief executive , management new chief executive, the whole team should look into their souls as well because . in their souls as well because. in his view they need to manage better and sort this out and i guess , you know, everybody needs guess, you know, everybody needs to get together then and to try and find a way forward , manage, and find a way forward, manage, manage things better. i mean it's not just nurses and i believe as well as the ambulance recently physiotherapy pieces have also voted to strike in a lot of areas there's a lot of you know they always tell us professionals as well as nurses and about fixing recruitment and retention crisis that somebody needs to get a bit off because if it isn't addressed then patient safety is going to suffer even even further than what it already is. well, oliver dowden former chairman , the dowden former chairman, the conservative party, says in the telegraph today, particularly

highlighting the ambulance workers action , people will die. workers action, people will die. they will be catastrophes when that happens will those your friends and colleagues who are industrial action collapse is that going to be the straw that breaks camel's back ? but the breaks camel's back? but the issue at the moment is there are already people dying . there's already people dying. there's people, you know, ambulances to offload at hospitals so they can't go out and answer the calls and people dying now , you calls and people dying now, you know this so this strike isn't, you know, the strikes aren't just about money . it's about just about money. it's about addressing recruitment and retention in the nhs. part of that is, is money . and because that is, is money. and because you know, if you want the workforce there to do that, to do the job, then you need to be paying do the job, then you need to be paying them an appropriate salary to attract to what's happening and keep them working in the nhs nhs.

happening and keep them working in the nhs nhs . so in the 30 odd in the nhs nhs. so in the 30 odd years that you've been doing this job, is this the is this the most worried you've ever been ? it's i mean, not you know, been? it's i mean, not you know, you know, i feel , you know, you know, i feel, you know, juuan you know, i feel, you know, julian sees that coming into when the perfection nowadays on the boards over, you know , the boards over, you know, overstretched, you know, this the number of patients . to two the number of patients. to two qualified members of staff, you know, is not safe and, you know , and over this last year alone, as i mentioned in my in when i was on before, 20% more nurses left the nhs last year than has previously left the if people keep leaving that rate, then things are only going to get worse . you know, on the on the worse. you know, on the on the frontline, you know , the nhs

frontline, you know, the nhs collapse . quite extraordinary collapse. quite extraordinary point even chris hopson hopkins who used to be nhs providers and is now nhs strategy makes exactly that same point great hear both sides of the argument agreeing on that one. so our thanks for risking coming on again a real pleasure. it was first time and it was just now for your candour and passion. there lovely to talk to you and. i wish you well. i hope this comes in our time because i know you genuinely like all of the nurses just want to get on and do the job that you dreamt of doing and worked so hard to do that sir i guess that nurse at the dudley group nhs foundation trust you've been getting in touch again on our big of the day strikes by public sector workers like sarah that but also across the spectrum, not least in transport says it's not the government or the strikers who suffer when these strike mass

strikes occur is us. the lower paid and the pensioners i work for over 50 years in construction and i relied on these services i do believe that this is a way of trying to oust the tories to get labour in power , mark says. why people go power, mark says. why people go on strike , the government on strike, the government haven't got a clue is . so many haven't got a clue is. so many mps claiming for their heating. it seems just so wrong . do keep it seems just so wrong. do keep your views coming and i'd love to share them. and whether it's about the nurses, the nhs, whether it's about higher taxes in scotland or whether it's about rail industry and how it's impacted on plans running up to christmas, we'll share the best before we go air at 2:00. that's gb news gbnews.uk or via facebook and, of course, via twitter . we have plenty more twitter. we have plenty more still to come this afternoon. all alastair stewart& friends, including what is the public's

mood surrounding these strikes? our latest people's poll found an overwhelming majority supporting the strikes will discuss that with a next. you head to this afternoon on the uk will be cold a mixture of sunny spells and patchy rain or snow. here are the details . eastern here are the details. eastern scotland will remain largely dry, but wintry showers will pushin dry, but wintry showers will push in to northern and western regions. they'll fall as snow , a regions. they'll fall as snow, a higher ground and a brisk breeze will develop across the northern ireland's northern ireland will escape most of the showers, but some drizzle is possible under the cloudy skies a few sunny spells in the north—west. there'll also be a generally day across parts of northern as patchy rain and sleet pushes south again, falling as snow over the pennines. this band of cloud rain , sleet and hill snow cloud rain, sleet and hill snow will extend into northern and central wales . meanwhile, central wales. meanwhile, further showers will drift into pembrokeshire and the south—west, leading to a largely

grey afternoon. there'll be an increasing chance of sunny spells . the midlands, spells. the midlands, particularly south eastern parts. temperatures will be up slightly . it'll still be a cold slightly. it'll still be a cold day for many at around five celsius. the brightest skies be across southeast england where will also stay dry throughout afternoon. however, there will be a slight breeze, particularly along norfolk and suffolk coastlines . southern england coastlines. southern england will also have a drier coastal areas here will some of the highest temperatures of the day towards eight or nine celsius. looking into evening and showers will remain . temperatures will will remain. temperatures will quickly drop away for those with clear skies, that's the weather is shaping up for the rest of the day. i'm michael. is shaping up for the rest of the day. i'm michael . join me on the day. i'm michael. join me on gb news on a sunday morning for topical discussion debate arts culture and sometimes even ethical dilemmas. i don't always with you michael michael portillo sundays on gb news the people's channel. britain's news .

channel it's 1:30. channel it's1:30. omri addison in the and in some breaking news. a woman who was critically injured in an incident at the o2 academy on thursday has now died, met police has named her as 33 year old rebecca khumalo of newham specialist officers are providing support to her family . two other women, aged 21 and 23, remain in the critical condition . nhs bosses are urging condition. nhs bosses are urging hospital earls to free up beds ahead of planned action by ambulance crews . ahead of planned action by ambulance crews. england ahead of planned action by ambulance crews . england they ambulance crews. england they say it's vital the government and unions talk urgently to resolve the dispute before the day of action on the 21st of december. it comes after nhs data showed one in six patients are now waiting more than an

hour to be transferred from ambulances to a&e . the nurses ambulances to a&e. the nurses union warning that the health secretary's man show negotiating stance is hindering efforts to resolve their pay . i'll sit in resolve their pay. i'll sit in general pat cullen, says steve barclay undervalues the work of nurses because it's a 90% female profession . she's urging the pm profession. she's urging the pm to step before the dispute engulfs . the nhs . more than a engulfs. the nhs. more than a quarter of people expect to start the new year in debt , start the new year in debt, according to research by tesco bank , believe it will take bank, believe it will take around 21 months to pay back what they owe . those surveyed what they owe. those surveyed say they've borrowed from family and friends and used overdrafts to cover energy bills and rent . to cover energy bills and rent. the met office has issued yellow weather warnings and is expecting ice to much of scotland, the north and south—west and wales . it comes south—west and wales. it comes as blizzards are set to sweep across the north of the country. temperatures could temporarily rise tomorrow. however, frost is

to create difficult conditions . to create difficult conditions. and the duke and duchess of sussex be invited to the king's coronation in may next year, according to the daily telegraph. that's despite and meghan making damaging claims levelled at the royal family and, their netflix documentary series . the newspaper says the series. the newspaper says the guests is yet to be decided, but all family members are welcome on tv, online and on disney plus radio. you're watching gb news, the people's channel. let's get back to alastair stewart and friends . friends. right. thanks very much. we wanted to find what you think about the strikes. we've asked about the strikes. we've asked about it extensively . and our about it extensively. and our latest gb news people's poll . latest gb news people's poll. we asked people whether they would

support the continuing industrial action. and 44% of you said yes, you would , while you said yes, you would, while 29% oppose the strikes and 14% say they neither support nor oppose when . asked who you blame oppose when. asked who you blame for the strikes , fully 37% for the strikes, fully 37% blamed the government . while blamed the government. while just 28% of the public are blaming the trade unions. just 28% of the public are blaming the trade unions . well, blaming the trade unions. well, joining me now is the man behind , the people's poll. i'm delighted to welcome back professor matt goodwin . there he professor matt goodwin. there he is from the unions. you've got great to see you. i was genuinely surprised dazed at the number, both supporting the strike and also that the government gets as much of a kick as the unions do in who's to blame . yeah. i mean , look to blame. yeah. i mean, look across all of the polls recently , it's a pretty consistent story . we've got higher levels of support for the strike action than than we might expect. but

that's not. infographic there showed there's differences by political support conservatives much less likely to support the strikes only a small minority about 20% do labour voters the boss majority as might imagine, support the strikes about 75 to 80. so we've got these really big differences that we have to keep in mind. but as you say, when it comes to who voters for the strikes and also by the way also who they blame for inflation and the cost of living , it is the government that is getting more of a kicking than global forces trade unions workers whatever else. so this is a real problem for rishi sunak and on the political canvas that point that you highlight there i did as well when i read it to myself that a very large chunk i think i've got 77% here of those who support the strikes also support the labour party. we've had

several tweet saying that this industrial action is designed, whether it's within the nhs or on the rail to network problems for the government and to help bnngin for the government and to help bring in a labour government. is there any evidence for that in polling, intention or analysis of people's attitudes ? well, the of people's attitudes? well, the one thing that we can say is that all of this chaos, all of this disruption is providing a very awkward backdrop for the government and i suspect helps to explain why in our poll this we also have the labour party still more than 20 points ahead of the conservative in the polls. one thing to keep your eye on as well so that in mind is that the reform party is now still at between seven and 9% in the polls. that's another problem for rishi sunak , the way problem for rishi sunak, the way in the labour party's lead is really there actually, despite labour party not really doing all that much at all as the old saying goes, opposition don't win elections tend to lose them

and. it is this accumulation, this sense of crisis. the small boats , the channel, the strikes boats, the channel, the strikes the nhs in freefall . nobody can the nhs in freefall. nobody can get their post at the moment. nobody can get an ambulance. all of this stuff is sort of feeding this perception that actually the government is not a particularly competent job and know the one thing we know from history when governments aren't seen as being. that too is a major predictor of how they perform at the next election. on the nhs and i mentioned this earlier on in other interviews fascinating piece by juliet stevenson in the telegraph that basically says labour has had the nerve to say something fundamental needs to be done about nhs. it's lost direction and her sub headline is to say why can't everybody agree with that. why can't everybody agree with that . well imagine whoever is that. well imagine whoever is the first person out of the block with the nhs reform debate is going win that debate. the blunt reality is the everybody

loves the nhs, but everybody knows the nhs is not working . knows the nhs is not working. and going into that next election , think public service election, think public service reform something actually we haven't really debated as a country since the era . tony country since the era. tony blair and new labour. they were the last government really get their arms around that debate to do with reform or wrongly that that was the discussion had at the time. but now labour outflanking the conservative and not only on this. alastair actually , i think if you look if actually, i think if you look if you look at where keir starmer's positioning himself on brexit even to some extent on migration voters. well i think be suspicious some of that position but what it shows is a willingness within the labour leadership to actually go toe to toe with the concern of it's on these issues that are now dominate the agenda. this is going to push back against that.

otherwise there is no path to victory at next election. yeah your poll also discovers intrigue tingly little love for rishi sunak strike reforms . rishi sunak strike reforms. well, this is a bit of a challenge for sunak . well, this is a bit of a challenge for sunak. he's going to make it or bring legislation that will make it harder for the for workers to strike. we don't fly of support for that at all. this is really a sort of 20, 30% position. this isn't something thatis position. this isn't something that is cutting through in a major way. i'll tell you something , though, alison. he something, though, alison. he was cutting through right now . was cutting through right now. it's this kind sense that people want the government get a grip of these of all of these big issues that are at the top of the agenda. always struck you know, i've been looking at the conservative party campaigning, the two we're going to get to this and of the lines this election and of the lines that is the that you're seeing now is the labour nightmare before christmas of christmas essentially sort of blaming labour for the strikes and my personal view and the action. my personal view as pollster messaging as a pollster is that messaging is wrong . what the is completely wrong. what the conservatives need to do , get

conservatives need to do, get back to this key point about delivery. right. voters stuff to work . and so i think excluding work. and so i think excluding that needs to really position himself as the guy that's doing you know the tough stuff he's in the weeds is in the detail. you know his actions give him six months to see where we are in the spring. see if the small boat coming see if boat numbers coming down, see if the nhs waiting lists are coming down. inflation's coming down. see if inflation's coming down, rates are coming down, interest rates are coming down. that allows him in the down. and that allows him in the summer to then come out and say, look, we've turned a corner, things better, don't things are getting better, don't let ruin it. stick let anybody else ruin it. stick with know, i'm not with me. you know, i'm not flashy, i'm the guy that flashy, but i'm the guy that gets i imagine is gets things done, i imagine is what team sunak are hoping for. that's kind of narrative. whether he can pull off is another thing altogether. great to see you. thank you for breaking weekend. talk to us and for the work you do on for all the work you do on polls. thank you very much indeed. professor matthew goodwin university with goodwin there at university with his the gb news his reflections upon the gb news people's . you're watching people's. you're watching alastair stewart& friends here on tv, news, tv and radio .

on tv, news, tv and radio. plenty more still to come this afternoon , christmas afternoon, including christmas is for giving, of course. is a time for giving, of course. and i'll be talking to carolyn harris mp about the everyone deserves a christmas campaign . deserves a christmas campaign. we are gb news the people's channel. i'm right across the unhed channel. i'm right across the united kingdom. you can find us on channel five. one, two virgin media channel 604 freesat channel 216 freeview channel 236. and you view channel 236. you can also us with you on dab plus with the gb news app and that the website gbnews.uk we're absolutely everywhere. come us on gb news the people's channel britain's .

channel welcome back. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart and friends here on gb news tv and online . time now for

news tv and online. time now for saturday savings. as postal rail strikes hit the nation , scammers strikes hit the nation, scammers have come of the woodwork to make the most of the disruption . delivery scams, in particular have been on the rise. so to tell us more is journalist and good friend of the programme . good friend of the programme. will guyot. there he is . with will guyot. there he is. with his sim cards. got to you a of people have been saying to me well it seems a bit thin on the ground these days and what have you. it seems almost obscene, but fraudsters really do embrace christmas as being an open goal and a golden opportunity. how can protect ? we'll well, can we best protect? we'll well, you're absolutely right, alastair. and what happens is this time of year there actually playing on you, being busy , playing on you, being busy, they're playing on you, focusing on tonnes of different things. they're playing on the expectation you might expectation that you might be waiting or items to waiting parcels or items to through the post. the one lens i try to apply to the system technical things we can talk

about, but it's just about thinking would this organisation really sending me this? have i perch something from this organisation be very, very savvy . you go into these situations and i know easy for somebody like me to say that this, done this for many years, but look for a number of different things . if, for example, you're being sent an email there's it sent an email and there's it says, this link to go and says, click this link to go and pay says, click this link to go and pay the bill or something like that if you click on the link, make it's the actual name, make sure it's the actual name, the company. if it's claiming the company. so if it's claiming be mail, the address be royal mail, the web address would mail .com . for would start royal mail .com. for example, if it's amazon, it would stop amazon .com. what would stop amazon .com. and what normally in these scam normally happens in these scam situations is you'll get a long web , which is nothing to do with web, which is nothing to do with the company that you've purchased also another good purchased from also another good example there is when they send you an email check for common mistakes in email. once again, easy for somebody me to say that as an english graduate. but in one of the great examples i had a couple of years ago now, alistair was about to go on air with a radio station and i got

an email into my email box which looked like it came from my bank. i was about to on it and share my details until i realised it started with hello. now i don't think my bank in a million would use million years would ever use phrase so just a bit phrase like that. so just a bit of a i know the temptation to rush through these things and i understand everybody because we're all people. but when we're all busy people. but when receive just for receive a message, just stop for a and pause. it's not a second and pause. it's not just and online retailers just shock. and online retailers and scammers who are trying to get via let's for get money via let's say, for example pretending they're career money to career that you owe money to because situations that are because of a situations that are really large. this really quite large. this christmas, there's a text message is going lots of message is going around lots of people is a member the people which is a member of the family sending a text from a friend's because they've lost their phone and they urgently need some money in order to do something. lots of people have been falling foul of that particular scam. my, my advice would be to call the number to try speak to your your member of your family except to just hand over money without having any contact somebody. because contact with somebody. because these exist to these kind of scams exist to get, you know, even if they get

ten, 20 people of thousand , ten, 20 people of thousand, several that's a worthy return for them and the money almost always disappear is it almost always disappear is it almost always disappears in untraceable fashion. that's the fashion. and that's the challenge with some of these scams that we are right scams that we see are no right of reply and not not like on a credit card where some of the credit card where some of the credit card where some of the credit card are utterly brilliant in in protecting you. if have been scammed or if you have been there's somebody nicked your number, had your number somewhere. you you're quite right. but what's also happening, alison? i think in the next couple of we're going to find ourselves in a position where even the credit card companies because this kind of scamming is not so prevalent. they're going did you they're going to say, did you take reasonable steps take all steps, reasonable steps to safe saying, to keep yourself, safe saying, oh it arrived my email box. oh it arrived in my email box. so i clicked it's no so i clicked on it. it's no longer going to be a defence in those scenarios . so if you're those scenarios. so if you're really concerned about and you're sure yourself, maybe you're not sure yourself, maybe if somebody who's more if there's somebody who's more technically life, technically savvy in your life, a member family member a member of your family member or neighbour , maybe or friend or neighbour, maybe have a chat with them about

something the something like this. but the harsh reality is we're going to see more and more this activity and actually going to and it's actually going to become to harder find and become harder to harder find and understand how to find and identify . that's that's that's identify. that's that's that's one of the inevitabilities that crime is disappearing from the streets , as it were. you know, streets, as it were. you know, it's more it's easier now for somebody to nobody go and rob a bankin somebody to nobody go and rob a bank in 2022 that they will do something by a cyber means or by a scam means because they can just disappear so quickly. while you were giving that last you were just giving that last very answer, we had very useful answer, we had pictures up on the screen for those who are listening to our conversation on radio of a big old fashioned telephone and a lovely, smart laptop , which in lovely, smart laptop, which in your knowledge , whatever the your knowledge, whatever the data tells you and colleagues is now the most likely source a scam it needs be cold calling seem to on i suppose a fake email is a form of cold calling

. yeah, it's cold calling is getting rarer and rarer these days. it does still happen. it exists. my parents other day took a call from an organisation claiming they were on of their broadband company and their broadband company and their broadband was about to grind to a unless gave them a halt unless gave them something like a halt unless gave them something lik e £50. thankfully something like £50. thankfully i that call and had great fun and pleasure. spinning the pleasure. we've spinning the scammer freely. i kept on scammer line freely. i kept on the for at least 45 the line for at least 45 minutes, was quite proud minutes, which i was quite proud of they get money of and they didn't get any money off parents, thankfully, but off my parents, thankfully, but yet we're seeing more and more examples, i guess, of it's more of scamming. yeah, of the tech scamming. so yeah, scams , text and also through scams, text and also through email . we're definitely seeing email. we're definitely seeing a lot more of these this christmas sound advice ever and a joy to talk to you again. thanks for finding time for us. that's a little guy who's, a brilliant tech journalist on all of those matters, but also some really deep and profound, sensible advice on those dodgy emails , advice on those dodgy emails, messages that do sadly come up on your phone and occasionally on your phone and occasionally on your phone and occasionally on your laptop as well. so heed

good advice it's offered to you now . as we said a little now. as we said a little earlier, christmas of course, is a time for giving, not least to those who really need it most over the last few weeks we've been talking to and initiatives helping those in need this festive season delighted to be joined now by a good friend to this programme about her work with a charity called everyone deserves a christmas and it is caroline harris mp he's also the deputy leader of the labour party in wales so don't you do just do that tell about this charity that umbrella organisation that has no limit to its ambition in terms of those helps. yeah but we started off when we found out that were getting fired in the summer that was seven years ago and me and my team mates our images and deliver them out and that christmas we thought well people are using banks in the are using food banks in the summer . they're not going have summer. they're not going have much for christmas. did 100

much for christmas. so did 100 hampers from may 11 on the first year and we delivered them out to in need and i've to families in need and i've just taken delivery today of the start what would be in the hamper for about 2000 families so it's grown beyond all expectation and fortunately because the need is there what we find in this year is we're having to pay a lot more for food year. but does it matter ? food year. but does it matter? we will get the money. we make sure that people get to christmas. brilliant superb work. i guessing that you chose this one, particularly as you've just said, because like it as well, but you must get absolutely inundate it at christmas time saying come on, you're an mp, deputy leader of the party, come on board and help us. how you decide which one you will help outwith. well, i started when alastair said this is where my passion is. this is something that started with my team . this started with my team. this literally takes up like some my easter and my christmas, but there are so many good charities out there that we need to help,

we need to support. and i think christmas is such a special time that. christmas is such a special time that . i just christmas is such a special time that. i just hate to think of kate not having a box of crackers and chocolates at christmas. so that's what this is all about. sharing a bit of love. we a piece with sophie briefly earlier on a reporter about food banks and i in the introduction something i feel terribly strongly about and that is that some people say the number and range of food banks that we have in the country now something that neither you nor i up with. it's a relatively new ish thing, although there are other great charities helping out that it's an indictment of great country of ours and indeed your great country. and i said, no, quite the opposite you know, when you look at the patrons, the supporters, the volunteers. yeah it's actually a hurrah for wales and the united kingdom more generally of the number of who will chip in and help out those who are less fortunate themselves. yet i know. i mean

my granny say nobody knows. just round the corner for them and that's very true because people who this year will be receiving first of all go in to food last year with donated now things turn around so quickly especially in this economic climate so if you can give to a food bank or if you can help somebody this christmas , make somebody this christmas, make sure that they get a bit of festive, then, you know , please festive, then, you know, please do it because it makes you feel department thing else. but it's wonderful . see so many department thing else. but it's wonderful. see so many smiling faces . i wonderful. see so many smiling faces. i don't wonderful. see so many smiling faces . i don't want to be faces. i don't want to be cliched , but i guess that that cliched, but i guess that that fundraising christmas carols are a big deal in wales as well. yeah, they are i mean i've been to plenty of them but i do love them i cry every i go to one but i absolutely love them i absolutely bring it. well i hope you've many more to enjoy on christmas, however it unfolds for you and your family is a great success. it is genuinely always a pleasure to talk to you.thank always a pleasure to talk to you. thank you for all that you're doing and sharing the detail of it with us there.

caroline there. labour member of parliament. deputy leader of welsh labour party . wendy male. welsh labour party. wendy male. now you have in touch with us overnight and throughout the day . we've got time for just one .we've got time for just one more. but thank you very much to all of you who sent this . and all of you who sent this. and graham says , how about pay rises graham says, how about pay rises 7 graham says, how about pay rises ? rail workers? once united kingdom railways are not subsidised by the taxpayer , they subsidised by the taxpayer, they are all that thought . i'm afraid are all that thought. i'm afraid we are done for today. but we'll be back at noon . same place be back at noon. same place tomorrow. i hope very much indeed that you can join us then from all of us on. alastair stewart& friends. very good afternoon to you. bye bye . in afternoon to you. bye bye. in a head to this afternoon on the uk will be cold with a mixture of sunny spells and patchy rain or snow . here are the details. snow. here are the details. eastern scotland will remain largely dry . wintry showers will

largely dry. wintry showers will push into northern and western regions. they'll fall as snow over higher ground and a brisk breeze will develop across the northern ireland's northern ireland will escape most of the showers, but some drizzle is possible under the cloudy skies . a few sunny spells in the northwest. it'll also be a generally cloudy day across parts of northern england as patchy rain and sleet pushes south. again, falling snow over the pennines . this band of cloud the pennines. this band of cloud rain and sleet and hill snow will extend into northern and central wales. meanwhile, further showers will also drift into pembrokeshire and the south—west, leading to a largely grey afternoon. will be an increasing of sunny spells in the midlands, particularly south eastern . temperatures will be up eastern. temperatures will be up slightly , but it'll still be slightly, but it'll still be a cold day . many. at around five cold day. many. at around five celsius the brightest skies will be across southeast where it will also stay dry throughout the afternoon . however, there the afternoon. however, there will be a slight breeze , will be a slight breeze, particularly along norfolk and suffolk coastlines. southern england will also have a dry

afternoon. coastal areas here will see some of the highest temperatures of the day pushing towards eight or nine celsius. looking into the evening and showers will remain whilst temperatures will quickly drop away for those with clear skies. that's how the weather is shaping up for the rest of the day day

good afternoon. welcome. this is real britain with me? emily carver on tv, radio and online . carver on tv, radio and online. now today we'll be discussing the very latest on the winter strikes . some workers are strikes. some workers are refusing to walk out and the cost of the industrial action rising by the could mick rising by the day. could mick lynch about to back down? i hope so. i'll be revealing my special plea to the rmt boss. just a moment. plus, we know that union leaders want inflation pay rises for their members