i“ppy happy new year's eve. i'm andrew doyle in mark dolan tonight. we've got a great lined up as we ring in the new year. we'll take a look at whether the bbc is guilty of promoting a partisan agenda. after a review found that they were filling shows with leftwing ideology. plus, after new year's honours after the new year's honours list was released with a few questions, making the cut. questions, names making the cut. is for my all star is time for reform? my all star panel will be debating that and more throughout the show and bnng more throughout the show and bring you a first look at tomorrow's front pages. we get them. but before that the them. but before all that is the news radisson . thanks

news with radisson. thanks andrew. here's the latest from the gb newsroom. two men have been charged with murder of a semi—professional footballer who was killed on boxing day in birmingham. 23 year old cody fisher was fatally stabbed at the cray nightclub in digbeth. 21 year old cammy carpenter and 22 year old remi gordon force have been charged with affray . have been charged with affray. they will appear before magistrates on monday. a third man has been bailed while west midlands police continue their enquiry as . midlands police continue their enquiry as. pope francis has paid tribute to former pope benedict who passed away this morning aged 95. the pontiff his predecessor as noble and kind. earlier, king charles sent his condolences. recalling pope benedict's constant efforts promote peace and goodwill, becoming head of the catholic church in 2005, pope benedict stepped down in 2013. the first p0pe stepped down in 2013. the first pope to do so in 600 years. former archbishop of canterbury, the most reverend dr. rowan williams spoke to us about benedict's visit to the uk the

first time that a pope had officially visited united kingdom. certainly the first time that pope and archbishop had stood together at that shnne. had stood together at that shrine . and for me, it was shrine. and for me, it was a moment of extra depth to be alongside this very, very great, very substantial, and be able to pray together . and if you'd like pray together. and if you'd like to discover our unity at the deepest level for four lionesses who won the women's euros earlier this year were among those recognised in the new year honours . the first to be issued honours. the first to be issued by king charles. captain leah williamson has been made an obe whilst lucy beth mead and ellen white have been given mbes gb news. presenter anne diamond has received an obe for services to pubuc received an obe for services to public health and charity and queen guitarist and animal welfare campaigner brian has received a knighthood . the received a knighthood. the government has confirmed that anyone travelling directly from china , england from the 5th of china, england from the 5th of january must show a negative

covid test before departing. there are no direct flights from china to scotland, wales or northern ireland, but the government says , it will work government says, it will work with devolved administrations , with devolved administrations, ensure measures are implemented there too. it's amid concerns of surging cases in china following an easing of restrictions there. france, spain and us have also introduced rules . and over in introduced rules. and over in yorkshire, scarborough council have been forced to cancel tonight's year's eve celebrations. thanks to an unexpected visitor . an arctic unexpected visitor. an arctic walrus is thought to be the first time one has been spotted in county. the animal has drawn crowds to the harbour on new year's eve. wildlife experts say likely taking a break before continuing his journey north. we're on tv online and on the 80 plus radio. this is gb news back now to andrew .

now to andrew. welcome to a special edition of the mark dolan tonight show with me, andrew doyle. we've a cracking show this new year's evening coming in the big question after a review by the campaign for common sense revealed the bbc was guilty of allowing left wing ideology to seep into its programming. is the broadcaster promoting a partisan agenda? that's up at 920. and in my opinion , i'll be 920. and in my opinion, i'll be arguing that all the depressing aspects of 2022 we have good cause to enter the new year in a spirit of optimism . at 1020, spirit of optimism. at 1020, i'll be sitting down with the deputy of ukip, rebecca jane . as deputy of ukip, rebecca jane. as we reflect on some of the biggest moments in politics for 2022 and take a look ahead to 2023 and the news agenda throughout , show my 2023 and the news agenda throughout, show my all star panel. throughout, show my all star panel . i've got former editor of panel. i've got former editor of labour list peter edwards, the political commentator alex grant and journalist and broadcaster mike parry will debate the big

stories of the day, including whether christianity still has a place in modern day britain . place in modern day britain. plus, we'll take a look at tomorrow's front pages. total firecracker of a show. you won't want to miss it. let's go . there want to miss it. let's go. there no sadder sight than a young pessimist except an optimist. i think it was mark twain who said that? it certainly sounds like the sort of thing he would have said. but is it the case that optimism is a folly, something we out of? with all we to grow out of? with all terrible this it's terrible news this year, it's very easy be negative about very easy to be negative about the state of the world war in ukraine. cost of living crisis. a government that changed its a government that changed as its leader often than matt leader more often than matt hancock his principles. hancock changes his principles. but all and given that but for all that, and given that it's new eve, thought it it's new year's eve, thought it might good idea to take the might be a good idea to take the optimistic approach focus on optimistic approach to focus on the outcomes of 2022. the positive outcomes of 2022. and a few. and there have been a few. first, let's start with the state of free in this country . state of free in this country. for a long while, our police force was routinely investigating citizens for non

crime . all it would take is for crime. all it would take is for someone to call the police and say they had read an offensive remark twitter and the person who tweeted it would suddenly be guilty a non crime hate guilty of a non crime hate incident which would recorded incident which would be recorded on files often without on their files often without their and this was their knowledge. and this was serious because these records non would show up in non crimes would show up in disclosure barring service checks and prevent people from getting jobs . but 2022 was the getting jobs. but 2022 was the year which saw the end of non crime hate incidents. this was in no small part due to the efforts of harry miller from fair cop who fought all the way to the court of appeal. at first the police ignored the ruling, but it looks like they won't be able to ignore the chris able to ignore the law. chris philp policing has now philp the policing has now explicitly that he will be instructing all chief constables to stop recording non crime. definitely a step in the right direction and the government is still persisting with its draconian online safety bill which all sorts of perilous ramifications for free speech at least year. they agreed to drop the legal but harmful clause . so

the legal but harmful clause. so this would have meant that social media platforms would have had a legal responsibility to remove content that wasn't against the law, but was considered harmful. whatever that. considered harmful. whatever that . the amendments to the considered harmful. whatever that. the amendments to the bill come about because of the work of a number campaigners, not least toby young's brilliant free speech union, a group that certainly deserves our support at a time when politicians seem to think that words can be a form of vile . this has also been form of vile. this has also been a brilliant year for those of us who have tried draw attention to the dangers of gender, ideology, a threatens the rights a movement threatens the rights of women and gay people while posturing as progressive . and posturing as progressive. and although the snp has pushed through its gender self id laws , which will people can , which will mean people can simply declare themselves the opposite without a medical opposite sex without a medical diagnosis, is diagnosis, a law that is doubtless open exploitation. doubtless open to exploitation. this isn't the end of the story as a result of nicola sturgeon's intransigence , her total refusal intransigence, her total refusal to engage intelligence dealing with concerns and the with people's concerns and the snp's insistence putting male bodied criminals in female prisons poses no threat

whatsoever to vulnerable women . whatsoever to vulnerable women. lots of people are now waking up to a problem of which they been previously unaware . and thanks previously unaware. and thanks to the courage of feminists and pubuc to the courage of feminists and public figures like j.k. rowling , more and more are starting to understand that these activists who claim to be on the right side of history are, in fact illiberal , regressive and often illiberal, regressive and often the most vicious of all. the snp , for instance, thinks it's a good thing that single sex rape crisis centres for women in scotland are scarce because they think it's a form of bigotry to exclude men who identify as women. well, this year, j.k. rowling set up the virus place a female only centre for victims sexual abuse. another great step forward. and with the closure of the tavistock, an nhs paediatric clinic that was fast tracking confused children onto puberty, blockers and surgery . and with blockers and surgery. and with the charity mermaids finally investigated by the charity commission , awareness is growing commission, awareness is growing of just how reactionary gender identity ideology really is

relying as it does on outmoded stereotypes of men and women , stereotypes of men and women, and pushing the idea that being same attracted is something to be ashamed of. with each of these little victories, we're essentially seeing the damage that has been done by culture over the past decade. grudge only being remedied. things will probably get a lot worse before they get better. no doubt future historians look back on our time in bewilderment wondering why it was that so many in positions of authority suddenly started calling for censorship of opinions, they with. struggling calling for censorship of op answerthey with. struggling calling for censorship of op answer question struggling calling for censorship of op answer question whatjgling calling for censorship of op answer question what is.ing calling for censorship of op answer question what is ag to answer question what is a woman and smearing decent people as transphobes and even fascists . the holding views that the vast majority the population share. but maybe 2022 will be seen as the year when society began to sober up from its temporary bout depression mania. and this year we've also been reminded what true activism looks like. we've got used to posh kids glueing themselves motorways or works of art or students at oxford and cambridge

screaming about their victimhood in their plummy upper middle class accents . that maybe we've class accents. that maybe we've forgotten that can be an essential for actual progress in iran. women have been taking to the streets, burning their huabs the streets, burning their hijabs , dancing in spite of the hijabs, dancing in spite of the laws against such activity. when 22 year old masa amin was killed in custody by the so—called police, the women iran decided they'd had enough . and although they'd had enough. and although attempts to overthrow the regime in iran have usually been quashed in the early stages, this one looks like it might succeed . so those are just a few succeed. so those are just a few positive moments from an otherwise difficult year. and for i, one, hope that 2023 ends up giving us even more to be cheerful . so reacting to by cheerful. so reacting to by opinion monologue tonight to my brilliant panel of former editor of the list , peter edwards, of the list, peter edwards, political commentator , grant and political commentator, grant and journalist and broadcaster mike

parry . i'm journalist and broadcaster mike parry. i'm going to come to you first, peter . any thoughts about first, peter. any thoughts about this year has been a good one for you. are you happy? are you going into the next year with a sense of optimism? well, i think like it, everyone is a mixture of good and bad. you know, you look national events as look at national events as a moment of great sadness. for example passing of example with the passing of queen, actually. that was time queen, actually. that was a time when the came together. when the nation came together. there in the there were positives in the celebration great life celebration of great life dedicated service. and celebration of great life debrought service. and celebration of great life debrought communitieslice. and celebration of great life debrought communities together. it brought communities together. listen it's listen to your monologue. it's very so very interesting because i'm so used perhaps challenging used to perhaps challenging quite the presenter quite vigorously the presenter of this show and disagreeing occasionally . i think we should occasionally. i think we should try to be optimistic. i do a view on that, even though in a very difficult i'm worried about the economy. i'm depressed . the the economy. i'm depressed. the government with inflation at ten or 11, and i feel the government isn't listening. but we've also , in moments of crisis over the last couple of years, whether it's covid or economic times of communities coming together , communities coming together, helping out each other, whether on a personal level, a community like food banks and churches and

all types , religious groups. and all types, religious groups. and there's a greater respect, i think almost a never before for element of public service like the nhs. so i think britain faces desperate times, but there are reasons perhaps i might not use the optimistic. are reasons perhaps i might not use the optimistic . there are use the optimistic. there are reasons to be hopeful because of the courage and decency we've seen in british life over the last year. some people mean i'd say all these people undermine or underestimate humanity and the capacity for human beings to work we constantly work together. we constantly focus negative, in focus on the negative, not in the but social media. the media, but on social media. it gets bit wearing, doesn't it? yes, for sure. and i think just today the news of the today with the news of the death, benedict, quite death, pope benedict, it's quite a think, for the a shock, i think, for the catholic community, which am catholic community, which i am part but also there part of as well. but also there was sense unity, i think was a sense of unity, i think with. you know, we're with. but, you know, we're looking new year this looking ahead new year and this , of course, reasons to be optimistic. also agree very optimistic. i also agree very much peter's analysis. the much with peter's analysis. the state economy and state of the economy and political the moment. political class at the moment. you still have to keep you know, we still have to keep an in a on trying an eye in a way on know trying to advance the agenda for common sense and i guess, you know ,

sense and i guess, you know, better and a fairer economic society. but there reasons, of course, to be hopeful. so, yeah mike, do you share this optimism? well, i'm going to be very selfish about, this right. i'm going to say , how do i feel i'm going to say, how do i feel about it, right? yeah so, for instance, a property and instance, i'm a property and properties going way right now does not make me feel good. i also have some money in the bank and building society accounts . and building society accounts. yeah, but it's not getting me any interest. i thought because inflation had up, i was going to get some interest on this. it's not happening. yeah, it's a mismanagement of the economy . mismanagement of the economy. and of course, i love % and and of course, i love% and inflation is not helping me pay bar bills and the restaurant bills that i like to you know , bills that i like to you know, share with my friends and that kind of stuff. so from that point of view, yeah, that's completely and utterly personal pubuc completely and utterly personal public view. but i do think that at the end of the day, most of us look life and think how vital

rather than the wider, you know, picture how we society. i mean, do you focus about the economy? very much. i know at least confidence in the conservative government's claim will government's claim they will be able bring inflation able to bring those inflation limits from double digits . limits down from double digits. you know, jeremy hunt's plan will . well, it'll be will work. well, it'll be nothing to do with jeremy hunt. it to do with price it will be to do with the price of energy the world, of energy around the world, won't we've learned, won't it? what we've learned, remember this has only been remember this war has only been going since february this going on since february this yeah going on since february this year. only months year. so it's only ten months now already the world has now and already the world has adopted well to finding adopted very well to finding alternative sources of yeah. of fuel.i alternative sources of yeah. of fuel. i mean we see alternative sources of yeah. of fuel . i mean we see massive fuel. i mean we see massive tankers coming from the middle east now the navy used to come bringing us you know liquid gas and that kind of stuff. we see tankers coming across the atlantic bringing us shale from america . that's going to bring america. that's going to bring fuel prices and we're going to be able to ourselves off russian gas forever , which long term for gas forever, which long term for is i'm saying because i think

peter might have a different view on what do you what do you think? well, as i said to star, i'm very depressed by the conservative handling of the economy. but i think it's not a part of political point. it's the is cyclical and the economy is cyclical and economists have said inflation's going to flatten out and that won't necessarily happen because of anything jeremy hunt has done . liz. truss, the former . liz. liz truss, the former prime minister drove the off prime minister drove the car off the road . jeremy prime minister drove the car off the road .jeremy hunt is the road. jeremy hunt is grabbing the steering wheel and fiercely trying to drag it back onto the left hand side. i think that's that's a that's a plan that's just a modicum of common sense. but you would rishi would also accept the rishi sunak reins at sunak took the reins at a particularly bad time given the global know global economy. you know everything grown in everything that he's grown in absolute and i think a lot of the economic effects the kind economic effects we're experiencing now can still be traced back . the decisions traced back. the decisions made dunng traced back. the decisions made during period and during the lockdown period and dunng during the lockdown period and during i totally agree. during covid. i totally agree. they're an the complete they're just an the complete like a response by management of our by the consortia. our economy by the consortia. and what's interesting and i think what's interesting as now we as well is that even now we still to careful this still have to be careful this because we've just seen because as we've just seen with china and kind surging china and that kind of surging covid cases scare that this is

something that could still potentially back a potentially come back again, a form of know struggling economy once with i think it will. once again with i think it will. well, let's hope not. but i mean, if you make some very good points into them. but i think because of the vaccination programme, we are no , i think programme, we are no, i think covid treated like a mild covid is now treated like a mild complaint rather than the disease that we thought it was. but on the economy sorry just going down liz truss fully for days as prime minister but she did have two very good ideas put down taxes and transit to be like growth in the economy. so i would expect rishi sunak to pick some of that up because it could economic policy, if you told about the way it should , peter, about the way it should, peter, just come back on mike's point? i mean, know what was really so bad truss, his ideas? bad about liz truss, his ideas? was not the case that the was it not the case that the intervention of the imf for instance was of the instance was part of the problem. markets react problem. the markets react badly, are they necessarily badly, but are they necessarily blame? a bit a myth blame? there's a bit of a myth here an appetite time. there here and an appetite time. there is political party is is no political party that is against it's not against growth, right? it's not like liz truss had invented

growth and it hadn't occurred to anyone miliband or anyone else. so ed miliband or corbyn somebody else corbyn or david, somebody else is it all over the idea is pushing it all over the idea that you borrow public money for tax cuts and tax and deliver tax cuts for some of the richer people. it is daft the many things that floored liz truss , things that floored liz truss, one of which was ideology. but the other one was competence or the other one was competence or the lack of well, you know, for i feel sorry for her on a human level just because of politics now it is a bit sad in and within a couple of weeks anyway after a report into bbc revealed that the broadcaster is allowing a left wing politically correct bias to infuse the storylines of drama series, we're going to be debating whether the bbc promoting a partisan agenda , and promoting a partisan agenda, and that's coming up in just a couple of minutes .

welcome back to mark dolan tonight with me, andrew doyle.

it's time now for the big question . this is the big question. this is the big question. this is the big question in which we tackle major news story of the day , a major news story of the day, a report by the campaign for. common sense has revealed that the bbc is allowing a left wing political wrecked bias to infuse the storylines drama series after reviewing more , a year's after reviewing more, a year's output of bbc drama, the organisation suggested that the beeb was indulging in its own form of social engineering by over representing minorities and lecturing viewers on topics . lecturing viewers on topics. climate change in a statement, a spokesperson for the for common sense said the bbc needs to understand that not everyone signs up to a worldview where the bad guys at the police , the bad guys at the police, brexit and conservatives this latest review comes after a separate report accused the broadcaster of rewriting history using documentaries to promote a agenda. but what you think is the bbc promoting a partisan agenda? well, joining me now to debate this is director of the

new culture forum, peter whittall and former bbc journalist martin bell. thank you both ever so much for joining me today. peter, i just want to come to you first about this. what do you feel about this. what do you feel about this this report this this this report and this suggestion bbc is suggestion that the bbc is partisan when. it comes to these ideological issues . well, ideological issues issues. well, i'm almost tempted to say, is the pope castle? i mean, the fact is andrew that the in the bbc it's view which it sees being just the kind of view that civilised person would have. it's not a party partisan view, it's a political partisan view that now goes to all of its output . it that now goes to all of its output. it has that now goes to all of its output . it has done that now goes to all of its output. it has done for a very long time , say in a very extreme long time, say in a very extreme for about the past 20 years. i think when it comes to news , think when it comes to news, people are far more aware of it now where it's far insidious is in the areas in which, for example , you you just example, you you just

highlighted drama in comedy , in highlighted drama in comedy, in documentary making . and i think documentary making. and i think these two reports are very timely. but at the same time, they're not actually saying anything . new the fact is this anything. new the fact is this has been the case the new culture forum has looked at this over the past ten years on numerous occasions . what is numerous occasions. what is important about this , i would important about this, i would say, is that people say, well, in fact, and what should bbc then we have to pay for it to watch it. that is the crucial difference, i think, between that and say like itv or , that and say like itv or, channel five or channel 4, any of these others effectively , you of these others effectively, you know, we have to pay for this propaganda. and i think that is getting to the point now where things are becoming unwatchable . okay, martin , can i bring you . okay, martin, can i bring you in on this is peter whittall being too strong when he describes this as propaganda ? describes this as propaganda? the bbc that i hear being spoken of here and, spoken of by this

campaign for common sense. i've never heard of before. i recognise that the bbc , which i recognise that the bbc, which i worked and for which i actually lost my life all over the world, it has a reach, which is why be admired. it is a reminder of all over the world and i think as the national broadcaster, we are extremely to have it . fair extremely to have it. fair enough. peter, would you like to respond to that? i mean, specifically , can i just ask. it specifically, can i just ask. it is difficult, isn't it for the bbc because they get accused of from the left and from the right, you know, depending on the individual the viewers, individual perspective. the perspective. isn't that just the same no, no , it's same in this? no, no, it's absolutely not. andrew i think that , you know, first of all, that, you know, first of all, you can see it in viewing figures. you know this is saying isn't there go won't go broke. i think the we're to an extent seeing that with the bbc as well . you know, we looked programmes in the new culture form from, you know, the early 2000. there was a drama series called for

example, which was so biased in the way that it presented the threat to british society , threat to british society, kitty, threat to british society, kitty, that threat to british society, kitty, that it threat to british society, kitty, that it was almost laughed , bore. and i think that laughed, bore. and i think that what i would say to monty is that, yes, that might well have been the case. the bbc, in terms of reporting . no one is doubting of reporting. no one is doubting that he has a reputation worldwide. but there comes a point where you think, well , you point where you think, well, you know, the world view which is left wing , which is put forward left wing, which is put forward by the bbc , is this thing reform by the bbc, is this thing reform ? could it be changed. and frankly , i've been sort of like, frankly, i've been sort of like, you know, hammering about this for long enough now to see actually, you know, what it be changed mathematically . can't be changed mathematically. can't be reformed. it can't be . peter, reformed. it can't be. peter, let me just me just break in a moment and produce some direction. generally speaking have exactly the same attitude when it comes to brexit, when it comes to immigration, when it comes to immigration, when it comes to immigration, when it comes to multiculturalism, when it comes to climate change. just to say one thing, andrew, if i

may, the. in a way, the you can tell the bias is by what is not on screen. so for example , idea on screen. so for example, idea that there might be a trauma which was in some ways critical of mass migration , you know, of mass migration, you know, thatis of mass migration, you know, that is in conceivable on the bbc . let's that is in conceivable on the bbc. let's see that is in conceivable on the bbc . let's see what matthew has bbc. let's see what matthew has to say about that, because i think you make a very point that this is an institution that has been venerated for a long, long time. it's done some incredible work. do accept that a lot work. do you accept that a lot of this kind that peter of this this kind of that peter is describing there , a lot of is describing there, a lot of these have sort of escalated over 8 to 10 years. and over the past 8 to 10 years. and really, this is a very modern problem. be bbc problem. and that may be bbc should be looking at trying to establish a greater diversity of opinion rather than just focusing focusing other forms focusing on focusing other forms of diversity . but i don't of diversity. but i don't recognise this caricature of the bbc . society recognise this caricature of the bbc. society has changed. i joining was in 1962. society has changed immeasurably. has changed immeasurably. has changed with those times of. and it's a proper news . it's not an it's a proper news. it's not an opinion channel. i was under no

political and i did a lot of politics for 34 years. for one thing, to be able to be under pressure i was under which i did resent was not to be allowed to show the real world effects of war because said that will upset the viewers that's only pressure iever the viewers that's only pressure i ever felt i was under so i don't recognise this as an issue. do you do you accept, though, that the kind of things describing now specifically related to news and journalism. but actually this issue is more to do with with drama and the cultural side of the bbc whereas they be better at handling they might be better at handling or being impartial when it comes to the political side, maybe when to the cultural when it comes to the cultural side, concerns that is side, the concerns that peter is raising, failures. i raising, there are failures. i mean, davie has said mean, even tim davie has said that are failures in that that there are failures in that respect. always be respect. there will always be failures in any organisation even yours because people are human and human fails and time to turn. but i think if the bbc realises that its is getting collectively unhappy , it always collectively unhappy, it always adjusts and it will do so again.

look, see at jungle palace. i joined in 60. it was all white there were no minorities, not all over. and that bound to happen. it doesn't bother me all, but obviously the bbc adjusted and will adjust and we are lucky to have it so . peter, are lucky to have it so. peter, can i ask you about that? because is there a case here to be made , as martin says, there be made, as martin says, there was some point, definitely a need , some sort of push for need, some sort of push for diversity within the bbc. but maybe now we're seeing what is what has been termed by douglas murray, as murray, for instance as an overcorrection. do you think that maybe as martin suggests it will reconnect itself again and this is just part of the process? why will it we process? why why will it we correct itself? i don't i don't see it as a follies at all. i in terms of the minorities , of terms of the minorities, of course, hugely disproportionate, overrepresented now, that's not just from the bbc . ask anyone just from the bbc. ask anyone about ads on itv for example i mean that's a whole different area where people no actually recognise what they are you know the country they're meant to be

living in. but i think that the crucial point is, is that martin is talking all the time about news and you know i think the news and you know i think the news is biased and bbc i think perhaps when he joined it, it but i think that for important because he's far more underhand it's a kind of bias and the kind of subjects which are chosen in the way they're represented in in comedy and in the non news areas. so as i said , you know areas. so as i said, you know it's become a bit of a cliche that you know panel comedy panel shows on bbc radio almost all left wing you must know this it's your cell phone. i mean, you know, it is. one of the biggest complaints of comedians that one hears about. but as i said earlier , i think this is said earlier, i think this is a crucial thing when it comes to the kind of drama that bbc was rightly , and i grew up on it. rightly, and i grew up on it. martin mean, you know, i really did . the bbc was rightly known

did. the bbc was rightly known as being the absolute benchmark . it no longer is because the ideological agenda now actually gets in the way of good drama. what can i effect is they have to keep making the points. this is a good person this is about. yes, i understand. i understand. we are running short on time. so i just want to come to martin. but i just finally and just to say i accept completely. say and i accept completely. martin that you don't recognise the bbc that the depiction of the bbc that peter offering. but leaving peter is offering. but leaving that on principle, you that aside on principle, do you accept that the bbc accept the view that the bbc should striving represent should be striving to represent all opinions and ideas all types of opinions and ideas throughout country and there throughout the country and there is a failing given , given where is a failing given, given where it is based, given the type of people that are employed there that you say they're human beings. so necessity, they beings. so by necessity, they end representing one side end up representing one side more wittily the other . no, i more wittily the other. no, i don't recognise this caricature at all. i mean, gb news clearly has dangerous this bbc because your rival he would like to have his ratings, love to have his reach. maybe you will is it

really the biggest question of the day ? does the bbc is the day? does the bbc is allegedly biased? i absolutely believe it isn't. okay. i mean, i don't consider the 930 the biggest story that they just come. the story we're responding to it in the papers to that was it was in the papers that cultural effect to the that the cultural effect to the bbc is now one that undermines britain whereas in the past maybe it's celebrated britain but by a kind of chipping away and a chipping away as these two reports show , often in very reports show, often in very small ways , it's demoralising small ways, it's demoralising the culture. this is the national, the licence fee should be scrapped and maybe that will induce him to have a bit more comms. i'm going to have to stop you there. page six. we are out of time, but thank you to my the director of the new culture forum, whittall and former bbc journalist coming after journalist bell. coming up after break, my all star panel and i will be debating whether the honour and in need honour system flawed and in need of after senior civil of reform after a senior civil servant failed in his servant who failed in his department made the list . so department made the list. so what your thoughts? send what are your thoughts? send

them news. at gb them to me at gb news. at gb news uk and we'll be back shortly .

welcome back to mark dolan tonight with me andrew doyle and joining me throughout my show is my lovely all panel. i've got the former editor of labour list peter edwards political alice grant and journalist broadcaster mike parry , the 2023 new year's mike parry, the 2023 new year's honours list has been released. and while the likes of queen guitarist brian may and lionesses captain leah williamson deservedly make the cut , there were some cut, there were some questionable additions to the list among . the honourees is. list among. the honourees is. the home office is a most senior civil servant who oversaw the department's calamitous failure to tackle the surge in small boats crossing the channel. matthew rycroft , home office's matthew rycroft, home office's permanent secretary, took up the role in march 2020, with a number of migrants crossing hitting record highs since . but

hitting record highs since. but despite his failures, roycroft has managed knighthood. has managed bag a knighthood. and it be no surprise that and maybe it be no surprise that a failed civil servant managed to considering to grab a title considering honours have warned of honours officials have warned of a growing use of so—called fix up who charge thousands of pounds to write polished applications on behalf of nominees. one firm, for example, aptly titled intelligence claims to have a success rate over 65% in achieving new year and birthday honours, compared with an estimated success rate of 10. so with the honour system appearing to be broken , it time appearing to be broken, it time we reformed it all saw panel is back with me now and. i'd like to hear their views on this. peter, i'll come to you first. any thoughts? i'm not sure the honours system is broken per even if you score for the papers as tens of thousands of honours given out, most of them don't get the public profile that people excellence people have achieved excellence in that sporting in other fields, that sporting success as earlier, success or as said earlier, often lifetime community often a lifetime community service toiling away for perhaps unfashionable causes and getting modest recognition which is much deserved in terms of recraft and

the home office itself, that is, is no doubt to make everything party political because it because boring, but a home office policy is set by the home secretary, the policy is set by politicians. if the policy wrong thatis politicians. if the policy wrong that is ultimately a political matter , a civil service matter. matter, a civil service matter. the if there's one thing that really worries me about the honour system and i think most of it is good news, people that have told away quietly is really the house of lords. and i read stat this week i think is no times about around 10% of tory peers have made a donation the party we're not talking about party so we're not talking about the person helping out at the food and getting an obe food bank and getting an obe after on and so on. after years and so on and so on. and we're talking about the of big money in party politics. are you of the view that are essentially buying peerages ? no, essentially buying peerages? no, i'm not of the view of that because. i think that that would because. i think that that would be a little bit simplistic . but be a little bit simplistic. but the there is a bit of a crossover . the old venn the there is a bit of a

crossover. the old venn diagram between donations and places in the house of lords buying them. peter isn't it. i think surely that's influence. if you suddenly a donor, the tory party nationally is on the red benches mean. i mean on the other hand are you saying that people who have donated to the party in the past are, they're be excluded from ever being considering irrespective what are the irrespective of what are the wonderful things they may have? exactly. course, some exactly. and of course, some people getting people donate after getting a peerage. creates lot peerage. that creates a lot of questions, which polite way questions, which is a polite way of it, because there has of putting it, because there has been a wink in the been a nod and a wink in the appointments you appointments process. if you make donation after a lord, make a donation after a lord, it's pretty hard. there was nobody this list because nobody on this list because whoever some whoever gets nominated, some people and people aren't happy about and you find flaws in you can always find flaws in because we're human but because we're human beings. but is that we need to is it something that we need to reform? think, you know, reform? well think, you know, the media always create the media will always create also focus. i think, also a certain focus. i think, you just some extent, you know, just to some extent, it to some, you know , it is fair to some, you know, the members of the political elite who are obviously to elite who are obviously going to be and it be on the honours list and it can feel unfair. but we also have to remember that over 60% of who are of those people who are receiving brits, receiving monies are just brits,

ordinary brits are helping their community. and think that's community. and i think that's something in that. something very valuable in that. so to be said for so something to be said for tradition. mike well, i it's a very flawed system . peter's very flawed system. peter's pointed rye pointed out the rye croft situation , absolute disgrace, situation, an absolute disgrace, isn't ? this man has not been isn't it? this man has not been very good at job, so he very good at his job, so he should have been sacked. so of being sacked, he's elevated to, you know , the highest elite you know, the highest elite levels of office . but what levels of office. but what i thought about peter's view that , you know, that's not his responsibility actually that was a but well, he could have turned down and somebody had said to him, are you really happy about what been doing over last what you've been doing over last two years? i mean, remember what took the job? i think there took up the job? i think there was something year, 2000, was something in one year, 2000, 100 crossings across the channel it's now 40,000. let tell you a story about how politics, oceans use the honour system . one of use the honour system. one of the first things tony blair did when he got in and i think campbell may have had some influence on this was give jeff hurst a knighthood. he's the man who's ever scored a hat trick in

a world cup final. it was in this country in 1966. what do they do? they gave geoff hurst a knighthood and he's been sir geoff hurst ever since . but geoff hurst ever since. but there's 11 men in a football team . you know that when team. you know that when a football match, the world cup final and it was purely as a of look at us populist. yeah but the kind of complaint i was talking about like you never gets nominated someone is going to have an issue with it. exactly. alex do you have a particular thought about the roy croft situation which is being raised that? raised now? do you think that? because as argues, you because as mike argues, you know, just wasn't at his know, he just wasn't good at his job, should have been job, he should have been disqualified being. or disqualified from being. or do you that actually you think that actually maybe it's not about that there it's not all about that there were factors consider were other factors to consider when comes to this? yeah, of when it comes to this? yeah, of course. i think mike, you made a very interesting point there about tony blair, about bringing up tony blair, because we see lot of because i think we see a lot of kind tony. certainly. yeah. kind of tony. certainly. yeah. yes, long term, yes, of course in the long term, like of the reforms he made like many of the reforms he made to our political system as to our political system such as in house lords as well. in the house of lords as well. yes. now we can see in hindsight that it has hugely damaged trust

in political in our political system. devolution, same with the supreme been supreme court. but i've been massive constitutional changes under and now we are under tony blair and now we are seeing these fruits of them. and i of them it started i think many of them it started as so reform but alice was as so reform then. but alice was i wouldn't say reform. i'd say that have actually look at that we have to actually look at at our tradition and we have to go back to tradition. many of tony reforms from tony blair's reforms come from a place progressivism and place of progressivism and modern justice campaigns. but also trying pretend that we also trying to pretend that we have some people who we are who don't exist. but people wanted tony blair discounted on the tony to blair discounted on the on the basis of war crime. exactly. exactly. exactly. but exactly. that's a very subjective thing, because people views. people have different views. peter, wanted on peter, you wanted come in on that? yeah, do. i do want to that? yeah, i do. i do want to cut across all these apologies, but in terms of tony blair, surely he did in terms of surely what he did in terms of kicking most of the kicking out most of the hereditary thing hereditary peers was a thing because that's an aid to democracy. and i think i think several hundreds of hereditary peers, people making our laws because of birthright because of their birthright would with the judiciary is would be with the judiciary is that what is the house of lords now? of course, people as you mentioned , who are just big

mentioned, who are just big donors to parties and who are receiving peerages because of that. well, it's a lot more than that. well, it's a lot more than that. there are never going to be democratic. house of be a democratic. the house of lords. as i'm trying to lords. as long as i'm trying to work coming work out where you're coming from, do you think it from, then who do you think it should be abolished? no, i don't. i don't. but what i'm trying to i guess, point out is the inherently it is the fact that inherently it is an undemocratic chamber. yes. so i there's much point i don't there's much point trying democratise it might trying to democratise it might be experts be thought to do with experts thoughts on the house of lords do what you think. well do you what do you think. well i wouldn't the of wouldn't abolish the house of lords and that's a really really stupid thing to do because if you that you're going to you you do that you're going to have have senate, you're have to have a senate, you're going have to have second going to have to have a second chamber which hold up chamber which would hold up legislation the to legislation if the law to go back what they set for back what they were set for which to analyse the stuff which is to analyse the stuff through the house of commons and see it will make it or not, whatever i wouldn't budge on only on the oldest thing, sir bnan only on the oldest thing, sir brian may should have happened ten years ago that just because you're a queen fan, do you see what i mean? it's so subjective. a lot of us know, yes, i'm a

queen fan and i'm more of a freddie mercury fan. but if you've ever heard sir brian may play you've ever heard sir brian may play his guitar and all that kind of stuff, it gives you so much. but also i've interviewed him several times and he knows about budgies and knows more about budgies and knows more about astrophysics than he does about astrophysics than he does about playing a guitar. he's an amazing bloke and i'm glad he got it. i'm sorry. i've got to give a mention to chris kamara, my old pal in football, cammy. okay. let me get this right okay. he let me get this right an mba for services football and kelly went to difficult period as a broadcaster you have to stop broadcasting because the other complaint but he still went on it so people like that should get them it uplifts us all to say anybody can get one if they try hard enough and do it off the people i dislike all the right troughs in this who know they're going to get one at the end of the day whether they do their job properly or not. i suppose that's the point, isn't it, peter, that people are resentful for these things being out suppose but

out without merit? i suppose but i think that's a truism. the question is, does someone like the former head of the home office deserve it every view would agree with the idea that it should be on merit. only i think the point about civil servants know i don't talk about it all night, but and civil servants to deliver what politicians ask of them. if something is a bad then the person who should be accountable for that is a politician and there's no having a big argument now about priti patel of the former home secretary and. yeah. i mean, it sounds like he implemented that bad idea very well. yeah. so there maybe that's the way we should look and we've done many more times . and we've done many more times. michelle moans sorry. the house is pretty i'm here. but is pretty much i'm here. but after five unsuccessful attempts forming a power sharing agreement, northern irish agreement, the northern irish government in stormont is set to enter functioning enter 2023 without a functioning executive . elections that were executive. elections that were held may . i'm executive. elections that were held may. i'm going to held back in may. i'm going to be talking journalist mcphail be talking to journalist mcphail t get the latest and discuss tto get the latest and discuss whether new elections will be neededin whether new elections will be needed in the new year. looking

ahead tomorrow's weather, the ahead to tomorrow's weather, the uk will be wet and wintry in the north, brighter and, milder. in the south though there will be some showers. here are the details starting off across scotland . here it'll be a cloudy scotland. here it'll be a cloudy and wet start to the new year with outbreaks , rain, sleet and with outbreaks, rain, sleet and snow and some icy patches to also cloudy and wet for. much of northern ireland here to there may be some sleet or snow , may be some sleet or snow, though mostly confined to the hills heavy showers to watch out for across north—west as these push through the brisk winds, we could have some very strong gusts . it's going to be gusts. it's going to be a similar picture as we look across liverpool and into wales the overnight clear skies will give sunny spells through the morning but also some squally showers. meanwhile weather for the east midlands. first thing on this day is looking and often sunny for most albeit quite blustery with down a touch on some recent . that's the story as some recent. that's the story as well across east anglia whilst

it will be a dry and bright start will push in during the day with temperatures rising in to double figures, plenty of showery for more southern counties thing on sunday the strong winds will gradually ease through day, though some of the showers will be heavy. the showery rain and snow will continue for northern parts, dner continue for northern parts, drier and brighter. further south, though, some showers the southeast. and that's how the weather shaping up during tomorrow morning morning this year on gb news. we've got brand new members of the family join us across the entire united kingdom. we cover the issues that matter to you . gb news will that matter to you. gb news will always stay honest, balanced and, fair. we won't say, hey, whatever is on your mind and we don't talk down to you. the establishment has their chance. now we're here to you. britain's watching come join us on tv news . the people's channel, britain's news .

channel welcome back to mark dolan tonight. with me, andrew doyle as we head into 2023, one issue seems to be lingering for the people of northern ireland that of a functioning government, despite elections having taken place back in of this year, no agreement for any power sharing between the dup and sinn fein has been achieved with the most recent failure occurring nearly four weeks ago when an attempt to elect a speaker was blocked by dup as a result of the ongoing , the northern ireland ongoing, the northern ireland secretary chris heaton—harris has agreed to implement 27% pay cut from next month in a bid to force both sides of the isle to get the devolved government on track. but should stormont still be sitting in limbo by mid january , the northern ireland january, the northern ireland secretary will be obliged to call fresh elections take call the fresh elections take place than mid april to place no later than mid april to end the stalemate. well offer more insight. to give us the

latest , i'm more insight. to give us the latest, i'm delighted be latest, i'm delighted to be joined founding of the joined by the founding of the slogan block mcphail slogan o'toole block mcphailt coming to us live from gloucester. mick, thanks so much for me today. can i can forjoining me today. can i can i ask you to make about this, this deadlock we have at stormont given the cost of living crisis , given that we do living crisis, given that we do need a government up running, is this going to be the thing that finally forces it, finally break it, breaks this deadlock and allows us to forward. well, i think i think look , try and give think i think look, try and give a little bit of explanation and background to your what you really have to understand that what was at stake in the assembly elections last may was the operation of the northern ireland protocol, on particular the dilatory in it's hard . on the dilatory in it's hard. on internal or supposed to be an internal or supposed to be an internal market from the suppliers britain. now most of that hit hard yet but that was the key issue amongst all

parties and. i think because the dup's associated that deal with brexit in general they were penalised and then find lee lost only three seats but it was enough. only three seats but it was enough . allow the sinn fein to enough. allow the sinn fein to become of right the first minister of northern ireland for the first time now all of this really hinds on whether the uk government can do some kind of a deal with the protocol or such that allows the eu to go back into into government and elect first sinn fein, first minister. they say they're up for it. they say they will do it, but really doesn't depend on anything that happens. northern ireland, it really depends eu that really depends on uk, eu that are currently ongoing . so you are currently ongoing. so you don't think that the dup are being intransigent about this? you think that they've been kind of forced into a position where they they simply can't the executive under the circumstances of the protocol . circumstances of the protocol. well look i'm and the truth is

they are intransigent but they don't really have choice that the electorate are very clear about. the unionist section of the electorate are very clear about and they know that it's a duty or the duty of sort of a mark steyn on this issue, really their will not because they've been both because they will be further punished for being weak in the face this challenge. so they have to do it they have to be in transition. and it doesn't matter how much money you of the mlas or how many times you force them to go through another election, if they if they back down on this, they're finished and of course, it's not just about looking weak, is it is the principle here. i mean, unionists appear to be utterly unhed unionists appear to be utterly united their opposition united in their opposition to the is the protocol, because it is really not about the fact really it's not about the fact that northern that businesses in northern ireland are subject to eu regulations. it or the regulations. it or about the economic implications . it's economic implications. it's really the constitutional really about the constitutional implications it really about implications. it really about the a hard border the symbolism of a hard border in the irish sea would in the in the irish sea would you share that view ? you would you share that view? no, share that view. and no, i do share that view. and that what looks like from a

that is what looks like from a unionist of view. of course, we have two sets of electorates in fact, actually the recent census shows us, there's actually three forms of the electorate, no forming northern ireland, the unionist electorate are really caught up about the protocol and as you say, the constitutionally issue around trade . you've got issue around trade. you've got the nationalists for consolidating around sinn fenn and the moderate form of nationalism. the sdlp suffered really badly . nationalism. the sdlp suffered really badly. may nationalism. the sdlp suffered really badly . may they lost more really badly. may they lost more seats than any other single party, emerging the middle party, but emerging the middle is this new, if you like, constitutionally playing alliance tranche and they actually have nine seats which it was a massive step forward for them. there no sympathy amongst nationalism unionism dilemma and this kind of sectarian standoff is something we're familiar with. we've seen government collapse for three years under a sinn fein boycott over irish language act. so we're in familiar territory , but we're in familiar territory, but

nevertheless nobody in northern ireland can really the levers to make this happen . it really does make this happen. it really does fall to down the foreign and commonwealth office and number 10 to try and get some kind of a deal that sufficient block that the uk can sell to that wider unionist . i the uk can sell to that wider unionist. i mean the uk can sell to that wider unionist . i mean you mentioned unionist. i mean you mentioned the alliance there. i know now me long from the alliance has made the case that we need reform at stormont. i mean is there a case to be made for reform given that as have seen whenever fein or the dup decide not to participate, then the whole thing comes crumbling. we have sinn between have this with sinn fein between 2017 and 2020 and now again with the dup so 2017 and 2020 and now again with the dup s0 is the system at fault here. is there something we could do about think it's not? yes it's the short answer to that and proper reform provision was made for that . the provision was made for that. the good friday agreement back in 1990. it and it's never really other than an association chart between the dup and sinn fein and of course in two thousand

and of course in two thousand and seven when the armies agreement was implemented that only strengthens grip on on the centre what's really happened since then though and it's not just the rise of the alliance party is actually you can see it from the recent census figures. there is longer a protestant majority northern ireland, but nor is there really an encroaching an encroachment by by catholics. are those people who call themselves catholics these days on a majority not thatis these days on a majority not that is almost completely out of blunt pines. what's happening is there's almost 20% of the population who vote for parties of the centre but also say i am neither catholic nor protestant. and so once the electorate is very dynamic, we are caught in this historic sectarian ice hole rise. the politics exemplified by this this control freak are you posted the they usually sinn fein who will tolerate no one turtle nor turtle opposition where there is no internal and i'm so sorry i am going to have

to stop you there because we are out of time. but thank you for joining me. coming up in the next hour, my panel will be back. talk about the front pages as they drop hot off the presses. see you then

it's 10 pm. i'm andrew doyle. fill in for mark dolan this new year's eve and we've got a jam packed hour lined up for you. my all star panel and i will be taking look at tomorrow's front pages. they land hot off the presses. plus going to be debating whether christianity presses. plus going to be debtrole whether christianity presses. plus going to be debtrole wmodernhristianity presses. plus going to be debtrole wmodern dayianity presses. plus going to be debtrole wmodern day britain has role in modern day britain and new year's resolutions are a waste time. i'll also be waste of time. i'll also be looking back at some of the biggest moments politics from biggest moments in politics from the ukip deputy the last with ukip and deputy leader jane. and i'll leader rebecca jane. and i'll look at the future of british aristocracy in the aftermath of the death of her majesty the queen. but before all of that, here's the with ray here's the news with ray anderson . here's the

anderson anderson. here's the latest from the gb news. two men have been charged of the murder of a semi—professional footballer who was killed on boxing day in birmingham. 23 year old cody fisher fatally stabbed at the cray nightclub in digbeth. 21 year old cammy carpenter and 22 year old remi gordon have also been charged with affray . they will appear with affray. they will appear before magistrates on. a third man has been bailed while west midlands police continue enquiries . midlands police continue enquiries. pope francis paid tribute to former pope benedict. two passed away this morning aged 95. the pontiff described his predecessor as noble and kind . earlier, king charles sent kind. earlier, king charles sent his . kind. earlier, king charles sent his. recalling kind. earlier, king charles sent his . recalling pope kind. earlier, king charles sent his. recalling pope benedict's constant efforts to peace and goodwill coming ahead of the catholic church in 2005, pope benedict stepped down in 2013. the first pope to do so in 600 years. former archbishop canterbury, the most reverend

dr. williams spoke to us earlier about pope benedict's visit to the uk. the first time was a p0pe the uk. the first time was a pope had officially visited the united kingdom. certainly the first time that pope archbishop had stood together at that shnne. had stood together at that shrine . and for me, it was shrine. and for me, it was a moment of extra ordinary depth to be alongside very great, very substantial man, and be able to pray together . and if you'd like pray together. and if you'd like to, to discover our unity at the deepest level . four lionesses deepest level. four lionesses who won the women's earlier this year are among those recognised in the new year honours list. the first to be issued by king charles. captain leah williamson been made an obe whilst , lucy been made an obe whilst, lucy bronze beth mead and ellen white have been given mbes gb news. presenter anne diamond received an obe for services , public an obe for services, public health and charity and queen guitarist and animal welfare campaigner brian may has received a knighthood . the received a knighthood. the government has confirmed that anyone travelling directly from

china to england, from 5th of january must now show a negative covid test before departure . covid test before departure. there are no direct flights from china to scotland, wales and northern, but the government says it will work with devolved administrations to ensure measures are implemented . it's measures are implemented. it's amid concerns of surging cases in china following easing of restrictions. there france, canada and the us also have introduced similar. in yorkshire scarborough council have been forced to tonight's new year's eve celebrations thanks to an unexpected visitor . an arctic unexpected visitor. an arctic walrus. it's thought to be the first time one has been spotted in. the county. the animal has drawn crowds to the harbour on new year's eve. wildlife experts saying it's likely taking a short before continuing his journey . north we're on tv , journey. north we're on tv, onune journey. north we're on tv, online and on dab, plus radio is gb news back now to andrew .

gb news back now to andrew. we've got just past 10 pm. as we count down to 2023. so up this hour, i'm going to be joined by my all star panel, former editor of labour list, peter edwards, political alex grant and journalist and broadcaster mike parry . and broadcaster mike parry. and we're going to be debating whether christianity has a place in modern day britain and new year's resolutions are a waste of time. we're going to be of time. plus, we're going to be taking a first look at tomorrow's as we get tomorrow's front pages as we get them 1020. deputy of them at 1020. deputy leader of ukip, jane, will be ukip, rebecca jane, will be joining me discuss the joining me to discuss the biggest moments in politics of 2022. and we'll take at 2022. and we'll take look at what can from next what we can expect from next yeah what we can expect from next year. at 1045, i'll be year. and at 1045, i'll be chatting reckitt essen chatting with dr. reckitt essen about whether a society are about whether a society we are moving away from a culture of duty and stoicism towards a new one of victimhood and identitarian ism. all this and more coming up this hour.

identitarian ism. all this and more coming up this hour . and more coming up this hour. and the first of the new paper from pages have just dropped. and i've got them with me now . so i've got them with me now. so here going to start with the express and the headline of express is good times are coming and this is a rishi sunak's message of hope he's promised there are better times ahead as he's revealed a new year's masterplan to kickstart britain's recovery. i feel better already . the daily stars better already. the daily stars led with their campaign to give dry january the elbow to say british pubs. they're calling this wet january that's why they're going with and then the sunday telegraph has led with news that nuclear power plants be forced shut down over be forced to shut down over a windfall tax. and they've also included their front page, a large image of pope benedict who passed today . so we leave passed away today. so we leave christmas behind us and prepare for the new ahead. i wanted to reflect on the fascinating from last month which revealed for the ever, christians the first time ever, christians account fewer than half of account for fewer than half of the population of england and

wales . the data by the wales. the data released by the office national revealed office for national revealed that while every major increased from 2011 to 2021, christianity had fallen to 46.2, down from 59.3% ten years ago. and despite the decrease in those who identify as christian, britain still finds many of its laws and pubuc still finds many of its laws and public policy influenced by the religion. with our head of state considered to be ordained by god himself to rule over us, and with the death of the former benedict xvi earlier today seems like an apt moment to ask the question how important is christianity in modern day britain? alice how important is it? very important to me personally? i'm a catholic and i think that my values, which are entirely based on on my religion have formed me and so many ways and have helped me so much personally to heal from things and also have given me a sense of identity. i think you'd have to be a horrible cynic to not that really really appealing and

valuable but of course it's subjective, isn't it? what you're describing is experience. and the reason why religion is important to you. but do you think a society's whole think it's a society's a whole in a pluralistic society? it should i don't should be important. i don't think think there think objective. i think there is obviously truth and that's something that and our society we've sense of hence why we've lost a sense of hence why we've lost a sense of hence why we so issues and we see so many issues and especially among young people . especially among young people. but i, you know, i'd like to say that in my generation i see lots us returning to more traditional and especially, you know which can be found in the christian faith . peter, are you faith. peter, are you a religious person yourself? yeah, i'm of the church of i'm member of the church of england clearly what england and i think clearly what came the census i was came out of the census i was mixed. but what i would also say is christianity was still the largest group in by miles. it's dipped 50, but also christianity is growing globally. there's a huge of evangelical churches in africa and partly in america as well . of course, there are well. of course, there are particular challenges for the church in britain about relevance, but i'd actually the role all faiths and of course role of all faiths and of course

christianity has been the dominant one in britain. but i defend the role of all faiths in pubuc defend the role of all faiths in public because we are quite an open society i made a quick open society and i made a quick interest and can i come in and just ask you what do you think about islam? because i, i don't i quite just with i thought really quite just with all western society , which is all western society, which is based christian values , i based on christian values, i believe, , christian believe, of course, christian christianity and islam can. joe. of course. i think if i don't if you're hinting perhaps more conservative, interpreted nations, but you know, if you look at leaders of both the catholic church and the church of england, they've been at the forefront of leading out to other, which i think is absolutely the right thing to do. so course, islam, judaism and sikhism and hinduism, which tend to be the other big religions, absolutely have a place that is interesting although the then prince charles as perhaps moved away from it is ten 20 years ago. it's talk ten or 20 years ago. it's talk about defender of the about being a defender of the faiths , which i think not faiths plural, which i think not no one would really disagree with because i think an

with the idea because i think an appointment could make his faith not just plays a hugely positive role, it's kind of knitted role, but it's kind of knitted into fabric society. and into the fabric of society. and i quick note. it's not i made a quick note. it's not just and and just churches and mosques and other places but other places worship, but schools, hospitals going back several centuries and food banks, faith has been responsible for not just worship this kind of flowering of community involvement over several centuries . do you think several centuries. do you think do you agree with peter on that or do you think that maybe it's just outdated now we're moving into more secular world? well, i'm a christian i'm i'm a christian and i'm a practising christian . i don't practising christian. i don't very often get church . but very often get to church. but what i do practise are the values of christianity . so i'm values of christianity. so i'm a great fan. you watch colombo , great fan. you watch colombo, you know, you watch all these all these detective series, i can't work out how somebody can kill somebody else just purely because they've got a grudge against them. you know what i mean? to me, that's anathema you don't take somebody else's life . know, that's part of the . you know, that's part of the christian. might sound christian. so that might sound bit try. but what i'm saying is i to live my life along the

i try to live my life along the christian principles i learnt as i do. we need religious principles in order to have those principles, you know. yeah, atheists know it's wrong to kill oh no no no , no. one to kill oh no no no, no. one second mike. first name. yeah sorry us fellows i'm saying is what i'm saying is i think is the most decent form of society and if people practise christian thoughts and beliefs without having to go to a church, i think it makes all you know , think it makes all you know, able to exist in a more stable society. mosques are filled up all the time and people say , oh, all the time and people say, oh, church of england churches are you know, people are not alone in all that. i don't agree. it's a philosophy , christianity. and a philosophy, christianity. and i follow that philosophy. but we're not necessarily allies of christians society anymore. we are pluralistic. that's are pluralistic. but that's well, i actually with well, firstly, i actually with religious pluralism, i don't think think it think it can work. i think it creates confusion and chaos ultimately and can't function and in some areas of even and think in some areas of even london we can see that there is there will always be tensions between especially

there will always be tensions betweitt especially there will always be tensions betweit comes especially there will always be tensions betweit comes to especially there will always be tensions betweit comes to religions ly there will always be tensions betweit comes to religions which when it comes to religions which hold views on women which we fundamentally disagree in this society and have done for hundreds and hundreds of years, etc. it's a massive debate, but it's interesting that you pointed out the kind of like the issue about morality, because i think the biggest thing that we're losing. so in our society is a sense right. we're losing. so in our society is a sense right . wrong is is a sense of right. wrong is a sense of what is what is just and what is true. and that so much confusion, especially within see it within young people see it destroy what is destroy my generation what is essentially i you say essentially ways i mean you say that support the idea that you don't support the idea of in religion. nobody of plurality in religion. nobody that solution because that that the solution because not has a moral not every religion has a moral conduct but you can't just wipe out the religious you don't like. that's not what i'm advocating for all. i think advocating for at all. i think we to i think the us we need to up now i think the us britain need stand up more britain we need to stand up more for this growing all moral for in this growing all moral understanding around the world exactly on morals and country come from christianity . that's come from christianity. that's so important right peter is has there been a fear among politicians, those in authority, to assert the values of christianity for of christianity for fear of offending faiths? no, no ,

offending other faiths? no, no, i don't think so. i mean, i think well, i that's absolutely based around civic for me . but based around civic for me. but let's not talk in counterpoint. he hasn't made christians. he hasn't made the point yet. so let's but let's wait till he makes the point. oh, you think about andrew. yes, but you also. yes, you must. but you must listen to other people as well to make your point. it's getting ridiculous, peter, and cancelling pages cancelling it christian pages first and then yours piece . god, first and then yours piece. god, you're . forgot to you're so passionate. forgot to have a conversation with peter . have a conversation with peter. you i haven't been you go first. i haven't been muted. i'm yes, i'm. muted. i'm here. yes, i'm. there's two things i think parliament has played a really positive role in encouraging interfaith relations. just like religious leaders have. i think christmas there's a story in on tv and in print media about quote unquote christmas being cancelled. christmas not being cancelled, and hanukkah has not been cancelled and mubarak has not been cancelled. and the reason this is rolled out, it tends to be because i've one school out of 7000 or one local government, one council out of

several hundred is missing terms in national government guidance . you can't have a nativity , you . you can't have a nativity, you can't play christmas music. you can't play christmas music. you can celebrate it. you can celebrate hanukkah. like most people, even atheist people and ihave people, even atheist people and i have atheist friends are accepting and understanding of the place . religion, even if the place. religion, even if they disagree with it themselves, to prevent others having an aneurysm. you can now come in to respond. no. okay. so i understand were coming from with the kind mutual with the kind of mutual understanding of different religions, but ultimately does is giving you is religion except giving you a kind a moral structure to kind of a moral structure to your and the issue is, is your life. and the issue is, is that different religions have different morality and. different ideas of morality and. there be one truth. for there has to be one truth. for example, according some example, according to some religions should wear a certain outfit which hides all of me. i should have a voice. i should be completely and obedient to two men in my life, to the point where where i do not have legal rights at all. so the issue is there will always be religions with different and sometimes morally you mean because you're hinting what you mean islam. well, i think well of i mean,

it's kind of mean, but it's what i'm saying is that if you as as us as a country, if don't fight for what is important, our society which come from one christian group, there are a lot of muslim disagree with you. they would say they're free, trust us, know, and perhaps trust us, you know, and perhaps i think we also to look at i think we also have to look at the facts. you look muslim the facts. you look at muslim countries how women in countries and how women treat in those christian those countries and christian countries how countries in europe and how women been treated here for women have been treated here for centuries. know, a centuries. so, you know, as a young woman i think i can speak very firmly this issue because we see iran, the women here we see in iran, the women here who taking and liking, who are taking and liking, because say it, you because i hate to say it, you know, very topical like know, it's a very topical like look, 200 years ago, 250 years ago, doctor livingstone presume we tried to impose christianity on other parts of the world. and then we discovered actually a lot of parts of the world don't really want it. so i'm all in to do as you want to do and don't try and influence other the people you want to do. one of the reasons that the middle east is so smashed up, people coming

in, the hundreds of thousands to the west is because we smashed up their countries along the lines that we know better than them don't. i'm a christian and i follow the christian faith. i'm not asking anybody else to the christian faith if they don't want to. and neither would i expect anybody to come to me and say christianity is not good. follow my faith . so you're good. follow my faith. so you're talking about secularism. you're saying that i am secularism protects religious freedom. yes, i am yes. i'm sorry. it's not fair. i guess i that's that seems like the solution. i i think that secularism has a society which is gradually forgetting the moral conduct and right and wrong . we can see this right and wrong. we can see this with gender. we can see this with gender. we can see this with with the with alarmism like climate alarmism, which is kind of taking over and becoming dogmatic. if don't hold firm to two faith, if we don't have strong moral values, this society , then we believe society, then we believe anything and we will become american. you cannot claim secularism. you absolutely can. but anyway, whatever result,

this tonight is a very fascinating subject. coming up after the break i've got ukip deputy leader rebecca jane is going to be giving her a round up of some of the biggest moments from politics 2022 moments from politics in 2022 and for the new year and our hopes for the new year year.

welcome back to mark dolan tonight with me andrew doyle this last year will most likely go down as one of the most chaotic years in from the ousting of democratically elected prime minister to a cutthroat tory leadership that saw a leader emerge before 44 days later, only to be replaced by the runner up. 2022 was anything but ordinary for westminster . anything but ordinary for westminster. but while anything but ordinary for westminster . but while the westminster. but while the conservatives saw themselves lose ground in the polls to left wing labour, the likes of ukip and reform uk saw their membership soar by those unable to find a political home in the mainstream arena. and as we into the year, what lies ahead the new year, what lies ahead for political landscape?

for our political landscape? well, i'm delighted say. i'm well, i'm delighted to say. i'm joined now the deputy leader of ukip, rebecca jane talk through some of these major stories yeah some of these major stories year. good evening rebecca can i ask both of you i'm very, very well thank you very much. and i wanted to ask you to begin with what are the highlights from your perspective of year in political terms ? well i think political terms? well i think that the main highlight for me was conservatives really showed themselves up for who they actually were and what an absolute farce made of the whole year thank goodness that they are . hopefully, fingers crossed are. hopefully, fingers crossed their way. i don't see that they've got chance of rectifying it and that is the high line for me. but you say the tories definite on the way. i mean the polls are absolutely on that. you know, they got trashed in the local earlier in the year and they've had all this turmoil regarding the leadership. but doesn't opening doesn't that leave the opening to as labour are to labour insofar as labour are pretty much definitely going to be in next keir starmer

be in next time? keir starmer definitely to the prime definitely got to be the prime minister. happy minister. you can't be happy about surely well, i'm about that. surely well, i'm very hopeful that that won't be case because come january i yeah , yeah, i do. i know that it is an absolutely massive long shot but i think that if anything this year shown us is that anything can happen . so i do anything can happen. so i do have planet mostly for january we've already started the motions of talking to centre rights , splintered parties to rights, splintered parties to try and get some potential traction . behind one amalgamated traction. behind one amalgamated party for people to have a very clear and definitive alternative so that would be my ideal dream scenario . i don't think it's a scenario. i don't think it's a complete and, utter victory for labour as yet . we've got a good labour as yet. we've got a good while to go , but you're talking while to go, but you're talking about the smaller party sort of collaborating on this and then reform roll out of collaboration with yourselves and well, it'd be lovely if they did rule, but they're just ignorance so they don't actually make any response whatsoever. and what we

constantly keep seeing and what i constantly get is that the people actually want us to talk . all we're saying to reform is let's talk. they completely and utterly ignore every opportunity to do that, which is absolutely ludicrous because they're not going to win anything by themselves. so you must be very, very frustrated because the smaller parties ultimately , smaller parties ultimately, while we have the first past the post system, there isn't really any of changing any any chance of changing any significant and of it's not significant way. and of it's not in the interests of the two major parties to bring in proportional representation in exactly i know you know turkeys don't vote for christmas, do they? which very ironic given they? which is very ironic given they? which is very ironic given the time that we've just had now. you're absolutely right. it does. favours. but like i does. it favours. but like i say, anything can happen. but, you only three months you know, i'm only three months into so i am going to into the post so i am going to be heavily optimistic . into the post so i am going to be heavily optimistic. i into the post so i am going to be heavily optimistic . i have to be heavily optimistic. i have to be. it's my job be but i genuinely feel the public are crying out for an alternative and that they don't want the conservatives and they don't want labour. not really . they do want labour. not really. they do want labour. not really. they do want something that is stronger

than that. and i genuinely believe that if we all come together, we can give that to the public but you know, call me naive if you want, but let's see what we're talking in. 20 well, in another year's time well i would to agree politics is would have to agree politics is and can change very and can and can change very rapidly . just and can and can change very rapidly. just looking and can and can change very rapidly . just looking back, rapidly. but just looking back, i mentioned you felt i mean, you mentioned you felt that this year the tories were exposed for what they were what specifically do you mean by that? when you are you that? i mean, when you are you talking way which talking about the way in which they continual revolving they have continual revolving door chancellors door of leaders and chancellors and that they couldn't and the fact that they couldn't fix particular policy fix it on a particular policy without a few weeks later? i without it a few weeks later? i mean, is it just the capricious nature of the party that you're talking about is it something talking about or is it something deeper? i think that deeper? i think is that something deeper rishi sunak for me has got an agenda and that doesn't fit with my agenda or rather the lack of what he operates for the 1. whereas we for the 99. but what we've consistently seen with the is that they have constantly given us inadequate and inauthentic

leaders . you know it started leaders. you know it started with boris johnson and people are always sort of going, oh bnng are always sort of going, oh bring back boris and we'll save the world. but what do you think about the mess? were they right to oust him in the way they did, though? you know, i mean, it did seem like it's a major caesar moment. do you think that that might bit of a bit might have been a bit of a bit better ? i don't think they could better? i don't think they could have handled this a bit better because it was also and it was all becoming so apparent of how terribly actually was. so i think they had no option. and, you know, for it was it? i know people don't particularly like to talk about the whole partygate scenario because obviously people think that it's quite insignificant to me it was quite insignificant to me it was quite a big deal because it showed inauthentic were showed how inauthentic were actually being. we've all trust this year in our government and that's the thing we have to try and get by next year. so they had to get rid of boris. they might have done it in the best and most perfect way, but there was never going to be a good to get rid of him. and then obvious

like happened after that. like what happened after that. and ridiculous and but that was ridiculous hollywood well, hollywood movie. well, well, sure a movie about sure i mean, a movie about liz truss fascinating truss would be fascinating i mean i'm just trying to mean i'd but i'm just trying to think you know when it comes to liz truss mean really she she got short end of the draw got the short end of the draw didn't do feel sorry didn't she. i mean do feel sorry for her in any way. i do a little bit. yes think that i know that i can definitely say that even i, you know ukip is nothing in comparison to the conservative party, but even i underestimate it in my position. so i believe that she completely, utterly the job and the public platform that she got. she didn't do a good job. i don't support her in any way but the public platform that she got on and i genuinely think that she was hung out to dry. so i do feel a little bit sorry for her. but you know, you have gone into the arena, not really i mean, she weren't prepared, but she was pronouncing various conservative ideas, which a lot of people are shocked by. the conservatives haven't felt very conservatives haven't felt very conservative for a while. and of course, plan for economic course, her plan for economic growth, this attempt growth, or at least this attempt to economic growth, that

to act for economic growth, that laudable, it ? she said laudable, wasn't it? she said whatever had to do to try and get people onside, i don't think she believed anything that she actually said . fact, i think actually said. fact, i think really the biggest yeah i, i genuinely don't believe i said it all the time. i sat on gb news for four weeks talking about, you know, we talked about leadership debates. i said, i don't believe that's don't believe a word that's coming that might she's coming out of that might she's saying she do to saying whatever she has to do to get in the position and then she thinks that she can muddle her way through as did and she way through as she did and she got what she was so i do got shown what she was so i do have for her. i do have compassion for her. i do think they will and truly think that they will and truly went growth. but i think what she did as part of her own making i mean i've got i'm not so about that i mean surely you know she she spoke to kwasi kwarteng they came with this plan a nomics you plan this was truss a nomics you know, i mean surely more know, i mean it's surely more likely sincerely likely that she sincerely believe would be the believe that this would be the way economy. way to kickstart the economy. but markets in a but it spooked the markets in a way that she didn't. isn't that more likely than it was just her trying of wheedle away trying to sort of wheedle away in? like i say, i think

in? i know like i say, i think that saying what she thought that was saying what she thought that was saying what she thought that we wanted to hear. and i think that she thought that that was inside. was getting people inside. i thought version of what thought that her version of what unfolded better unfolded slightly better than richy. don't think richy. but but i don't think that it was appropriate for the time the but i don't think time or the but i don't think that she really thought it through. i don't think either of did. that's the did. and that's why the situation unfolded it did and situation unfolded as it did and in terms of the major issues of this year politically, of course the in ukraine loomed large. the war in ukraine loomed large. and course, this is it has and of course, this is as it has had a major impact on our cost of living crisis. do you have any sympathy for rishi at all? i mean, he's become prime minister at the raging, at this time. the war is raging, cost of living, crisis escalate, going the roof. not going through the roof. it's not easy bring this back, easy for him to bring this back, is it? could anyone do it? no, not under the conservative, you know. not in the slightest . do know. not in the slightest. do i have sympathy him? i'm not have any sympathy him? i'm not really , you know, a little bit really, you know, a little bit like boris . everybody's like boris. everybody's pretending like it'd be great if he comes back. i'm sure it probably be better than. the two alternatives been left alternatives we've been left with, don't think he is with, but i don't think he is the lord and saviour that

everybody professes him to be. he during covid it was he was that during covid it was him boris this him and boris making this decision and furlough not decision and the furlough not being transparent, open with actually much. this was all actually much. this was all actually costing people is one of the reasons why we are here today so i struggle to have sympathy because if he hadn't have been in position he was when covid was unfolding maybe they have had a lot more faith in him but actually because hey, remember created this absolute storm. now i don't have any sympathy for him. and i think that there's nobody left in the conservative party. i did quite like kemi badenoch . i did have like kemi badenoch. i did have quite a lot of appreciation . i quite a lot of appreciation. i think that she would have probably been the best candidate, but because she genuinely seemed to be listening to whereas these like to people, whereas these like don't they say whatever they think to hear? well think that we want to hear? well that's very interesting. thanks very much, rebecca, for joining me tonight. really appreciate it. so coming up, we've got the papers shortly with our panels reactions. plus our new year's resolutions , a complete waste of resolutions, a complete waste of

time . my superstar panel. i will time. my superstar panel. i will be debating that and more very shortly. see you .

in three. welcome back to mark dolan tonight with me, andrew doyle. more front pages have just dropped . and starting with the dropped. and starting with the sunday. so the headline here is , patients die before they get to bed. the paper nhs medics blasting tories for a quote dickens isn't a&e crisis the sunday times on the thursday report on an in—depth which reveals millions of voters undecided before the next general election , giving hope to general election, giving hope to embattled conservative tives and the sunday mirror have an exclusive coronation invite for race row royal aides. the papers revealing lady susan hussey will beianed

revealing lady susan hussey will be invited to king charles coronation after she was sacked month for insulting charity and gozo forlani . what do we think gozo forlani. what do we think about that? i mean , this has about that? i mean, this has been rumbling on, hasn't it? this this this royal story. was she unfairly? i'm susan hussey. yeah i mean, to be honest, i kind of i just there's always these like big kind of historical forces creates the media. i think that to a certain extent, yes . but you know, extent, yes. but you know, things pass over. and although this story keeps coming back, i mean, my feelings about well, i think it was more a general regional thing than anything else mean you know legacy is not think she's 86, isn't she? i think she's 86, isn't she? i think sorry. i think she's 80, 83. okay fine. i think she's about to the age of the other person involved in this. you know what this story is all about, by the way, the background to this is that william and king charles fell massively over this william big support of the lady susan hosie

and so his father had gone a bit too far in in making her get so pubuc too far in in making her get so public and look, everything she did right and did not show to us, the extent to the royal family are opening their minds to, you know, to diversity are they as a reaction saying, you know, no, no, i didn't tell him. what i'm saying is. but this is clearly a peace pact between william and his father saying, right, we did the right thing. we got out the way. no way was she ever going to be excluded from. the coronation, because she served the king's for so many years, may i say commoners so made a mistake and lady hussey her job. but lady hussey hussey herjob. but lady hussey apology caused the apology was accepted by ngozi fulani. we spent a lot of the talking about british values and things like christianity . so if we believe christianity. so if we believe in these things, we must believe in these things, we must believe in these things, we must believe in the idea of forgiveness. sure. absolutely apology is sure. absolutely the apology is accepted. points . now accepted. very good points. now we're going to move despite we're going to move on despite the roots new

the religious roots of new year's resolutions, people year's resolutions, most people make resolutions and make their resolutions and of themselves focusing purely on themselves by focusing purely on self—improvement, may self—improvement, which may explain why resolutions explain why such resolutions seem hard . follow through on seem so hard. follow through on the resolutions in the uk . the top resolutions in the uk. exercise more , lose weight , get exercise more, lose weight, get organised, learn a new or hobby , and live life to the fullest, which is quite a vague one. but despite best intentions, according to recent research , according to recent research, only 46% of those who commit to resolutions actually successful. so with such a high rate of resolution failure, our new year's resolutions are waste of time. so i'm going to bring in my panel here to discuss that. peter edwards, alice grant and mike parry. mike i'm going to start with you this. what are start with you on this. what are thinking now new year's thinking about now new year's resolutions? i've never been into because i know they fail so quickly. you know, to me something you think of drunkenly new year's eve, however , i have new year's eve, however, i have a new resolution for 23. i'm to learn how to play the guitar and

i'm going to write a hit song before the end of 2023. so this is isolation. first you have to learn the thing, then you have write the song. i'm a very good lyricist. i've always been very good with words. i've been a journalist for 45 years. when was eight years of age, i won the prize for writing the poem in school magazine to in the school magazine show to me. very good at me. so i've been very good at lyrics words what i'm lyrics and words since what i'm now to do is, learn how to now going to do is, learn how to play now going to do is, learn how to play guitar and. i swear to play the guitar and. i swear to everybody watching this show i'm also too . self i'm to also too. self obviously i'm to peter . i will provide and create peter. i will provide and create hit record before end of 2023. so before the end of 2023, going to a big hit is, going to top ten, i'll be saying, is that the limit? no much higher. the number one, it's going to be average. it's going to be the very best. going to be very best. you're going to be the new admired determination. thank going to do it. thank you. i'm going to do it. i'm at least i'm going to take at least two guitar lessons a week okay. i've already saw you it all. you've got i've picked up a got no, i've never picked up a guhah got no, i've never picked up a guitar. you never picked a book.

don, a guitar teacher don, i've stole a guitar teacher and i've bought a guitar. well i. it's going to happen. you'll forgive me for being, but, you know, good luck to you. i mean, ihope know, good luck to you. i mean, i hope it happens. yeah, unless you have any new year's resolutions is. yes. might not to just increase and i guess faith i really want to become better at being christian and just love my faith i just and young love my faith i mean if i quite mean pray more so if i quite wholesome and again i'll say i'd want to actually work on my physical fitness as . well okay physical fitness as. well okay so a bit of spirit i'm going to say what is a slight drink on new year's eve coming to the christianity? alice, i want to know what sort of christian are, because it's not fun. anything strange a catholic ? strange if you're a catholic? yeah. mostly drunk. yes what about you, peter? any resolutions for yourself? no basically. i mean, that is extremely . but i basically. i mean, that is extremely. but i must basically. i mean, that is extremely . but i must confess, extremely. but i must confess, your views. i've had a couple of lagers during the show, but i just. i've lived to tell that . just. i've lived to tell that. lived to tell the tale, whether it is new year's eve. this is something close to my cheeks. but one is where the saloon

but this one is where the saloon lounge flushes. i got this new year's eve. we will forgive you for that. i'm on reservations. i've but look at your top five. if there two go running more and get thinner. i mean, i can't get and you can't do anything else. i won't be here so i don't want to do that. but living life to the full is quite a one. yeah. what does that mean. only three them ridiculous living life to them ridiculous living life to the full. the last one, the first two equate to each other though yes. do they though my. yes. what do they say. weight and on keep say. lose weight and on keep fit. yeah, but same. mean you fit. yeah, but same. i mean you can fit larger the body can be fit larger the body positivity no no, no, positivity movement. no no, no, no. i'm mean again if you're going to stop holding people to death i'm off to get into death about i'm off to get into the gym, start rowing and all kind you're going to kind of stuff. you're going to lose you. yes. well lose weight on you. yes. well balls these, but no . balls on these, but no, no. people will say i'm going to join a gym the new year. do you know that 70% of all new gym subscriptions january peter out by force? i do. and but there is something to be said for making the attempt and making the effort to improve yourself. and

i mean, understand, you're saying absolutely saying you are absolutely committed and of course, you'll take all this back. don't take all this back. you don't get so this time next get the hit. so this time next yeah get the hit. so this time next year, will invited me year, you will have invited me on your show and i will sing it to well, let's to you personally. well, let's put the but put down the pipe. but what about mr. doyle? a bit about you, mr. doyle? a bit domestic whether i have domestic in this. whether i have any resolutions any new year's resolutions already yeah, already thought about it. yeah, i'm running out of time. i've got about 2 hours this got about 2 hours before this and less that before the and less than that before the end year. don't know, end of the year. i don't know, really. maybe i'll have a hit single to rival. i doubt it very much. be then. you much. so be together then. you can has only a very small can often has only a very small of people do what i'm going of people can do what i'm going to do but i don't know what that is though. no, no. i'm going produce a hit record. you know, i've always known i was a genius, but i didn't know what at. so, for instance, if i'd have got into a race car when i was 16, i'd now be formula one world champion, right? yeah, but i was too busy pursuing journalism . the thing i loved journalism. the thing i loved and have done ever since. yes. if it a picked up a golf club at the age of 14. i probably would won the masters. okay, maybe

it's rather than it's confidence then rather than just persistence know. maybe i'll it. maybe i'll take i'll take it. maybe i'll take a ball. rugani, how about that? and master grandmaster and i'll a master or grandmaster at the new garry kasparov at chess the new garry kasparov coming that's coming. not that, but that's very boring as a go goal really. no record man. a chess grandmaster. is that. yeah. yes. that what a boring ambition . that what a boring ambition. we're all living up to what you said to start a show which is try and be optimistic even in tough times. exactly. and i do think there's something to be said. i mean, even dry january and people's scoff about and i know people's scoff about it. actually the of just it. but actually the of just even just you even if for just month you detoxify you don't overindulge. oh that's something that's a positive commit to. i'm positive thing to commit to. i'm not sure about daily star not so sure about the daily star foreign coverage talking about how want it to be wet. how they want it to be wet. yeah. want to get rid yeah. and they want to get rid of that it's because they of that and. it's because they want support the yes want to support the pubs. yes but something to be but isn't it something to be said for giving up even. it's just a month. no. even just for a month. no. even if i mean it's it's a pointless mean it's a it's a pointless gesture. well guys because it's a is look how good i am. i gave up trying for month in up trying for a month in january. oh no it's not january. no oh no it's not virtue signalling, a virtue signalling, it's a genuine and be

genuine attempt to try and be a bit healthier. it's not no need. there's no to go from there's no need to go from famine to when you read these stories in the paper the stories in the paper about. the oldest the to oldest people in the world to live to yes, it tends to live to 110. yes, it tends to be. they're not. we spoke 20 cigarettes day. well, not cigarettes a day. well, not quite, to you know, quite, but it to be, you know, folk prosperous like italy, folk and prosperous like italy, you one small glass of red you have one small glass of red wine with. their supper. yes. and if you and moderation, i suspect if you headune and moderation, i suspect if you headline the daily star everything in moderation, it wouldn't sell many copies. wouldn't sell too many copies. that problem. as that is the problem. alex we as a society, are quite gluttons a society, we are quite gluttons i mean, we do overindulge, then we a fix. we are looking for a quick fix. that's lent full. that's what lent is full. really. going to be really. so i'm going to be feasting of january feasting most of january at least the is that least that's the idea is that you overindulge , that lent is you overindulge, that lent is a you overindulge, that lent is a you know, it's a great idea is the exact well done alice lead the exact well done alice lead the saying just how you want the way saying just how you want it to be physically fit, sir. but i think that's going to work. we're doing tequila. morning as well. you know, the jumping time jumping protein all the time come quickly. yeah , i want jumping protein all the time co be quickly. yeah , i want jumping protein all the time co be lent uickly. yeah , i want jumping protein all the time co be lent is:kly. yeah , i want jumping protein all the time co be lent is the yeah , i want jumping protein all the time co be lent is the timeaah , i want jumping protein all the time co be lent is the time oh , i want to be lent is the time of penance but i'll be i'll be enjoying january. well i think should enjoy but i also really do value this idea of giving i

actually agree i think it's very important that one as a important that we do one as a society be, i guess, have society to be, i guess, have more self—control, temperance it's shocking lent is it's quite shocking lent is brilliant. should up brilliant. you should up something at lent and every year i moderation in life . i give up moderation in life. well, yes, again , i'm not well, yes, again, i'm not convinced by you know, i'm to i'm going to really give some thought. and that's what peter and actually try and come up with some sort of resolution because i it's actually because i think it's actually important self—discipline important for self—discipline try yourself it try and throw yourself into it and do something. and actually do something. yeah. okay. going to okay. well, look, we're going to have on now, but coming have to move on now, but coming up the i'm joined by up after the i'm joined by dr. rikki neave he'll be rikki neave azhar and he'll be explaining we a society explaining whether we a society are away the are moving away from the stoicism might majesty stoicism that i might majesty the queen held so dear and instead replacing it with new instead replacing it with a new aristocracy victimhood. join aristocracy of victimhood. join me .

welcome back to . mark dolan welcome back to. mark dolan tonight with me. andrew doyle the queen's death this year was a momentous . authorjohanna a momentous. author johanna williams recently wrote a spiked

magazine article where she argued that the queen's passing marks a cultural shift away from and towards victimhood and victimhood personified in the elite worldview of harry and meghan which she argues despise our . but this meghan which she argues despise our. but this is a fair assessment . are we really moving assessment. are we really moving away from a culture duty and stoicism towards new one of victimhood and identitarian ? now victimhood and identitarian? now joining me is social commentator dr. rikki neave azaan . thanks so dr. rikki neave azaan. thanks so much for joining dr. rikki neave azaan. thanks so much forjoining me tonight. much for joining me tonight. i to ask you first of all, about this idea, of whether the death of the queen has really marked a new era, a kind of shift in ethos when it comes to these ideas of duty , or i think it ideas of duty, or i think it came to the passing of the late queen that would have been many brits who would have felt those values that she embodied duty responsibility , grace, responsibility, grace, restraint. the stoicism . they're restraint. the stoicism. they're increasingly dying out . they're increasingly dying out. they're not in particularly high supply in modern day british society. i

think that there is a degree of pessimism involved in that. i live in a in a community where i see those values every day . if see those values every day. if truth be told especially interestingly in traditional ethnic minority communities. so i think that it's very important that we do remain . i think that it's very important that we do remain. but at i think that it's very important that we do remain . but at the that we do remain. but at the same we have to be wary of the fact that we have this modern anti—rape racism, which i feel increasingly represented by a form of elite social activist , form of elite social activist, which is ultimately about peddung which is ultimately about peddling grievance narratives to boost one's own social status and financial position as to facilitating means change in modern day british society. i mean so much of the discourse of anti—racism which once of course meant opposition to racism. we could all get on board with that. but the phrase anti—racism is put detection of racist is now put detection of racist power that may invisible to power that may be invisible to some people . and what happens,

some people. and what happens, of end up with of course, is you end up with the situation, for instance, with where ngozi with lady hussey, where ngozi fulani detected racism. but racism may not have been there at all. is because being a victim in of itself now has particular cultural clout . well, particular cultural clout. well, i think that it definitely does that. i think that it definitely does that . cultural clout, dynamic that. cultural clout, dynamic there. as you say, andrew , and i there. as you say, andrew, and i think some people see it as a way of heightening their own pubuc way of heightening their own public profile. i felt that the whole lady susan hussey ngozi fulani was just it was just an example of manufactured outrage . i've been asked on countless occasions where i'm from and it's very easy for me to say that was born in hammersmith. i live in lewes, a number of bangladesh and indian origin. it only takes a few seconds . and only takes a few seconds. and i'm not sure that actually if you're quite open about your own identity, that can lead on to quite stimulating and interesting between people belong to different ethnic religious, ethnic and religious

groups . and i think in a way, groups. and i think in a way, when you have those conversations, of course, there may be misunderstanding misunderstandings along the way , but that actually helps build a more cohesive and resilient society the long why did society the long term. why did you this come from? i've you think this come from? i've had a number experiences where i've people basically say i've seen people basically say to people, you will always to young people, you will always be oppressed, you know , some be oppressed, you know, some campaigners said young campaigners have said to young women be the women, you will always be the victims the patriarchy. or victims of the patriarchy. or campaigners to young campaigners saying to young ethnic people, you will ethnic minority people, you will always victims of racism. always be the victims of racism. similarly with gay people , where similarly with gay people, where is this sort of thing come from? and is it not actually counterproductive to those young people mindset ? i people and their mindset? i think it's incredibly counterproductive, andrew. think that if people are truly , that if people are truly, genuinely interested in young ethnic minority people , example ethnic minority people, example progressing their own country, you don't want to tell them incorrect that our economic , incorrect that our economic, social and cultural systems are deliberately rigged against them . now, i'm not saying that there improvements to be made in terms

of improving of opportunity. mind i think when it comes to this conversation, we need to talk more about class. to be honest which is somewhat been lost on the modern left. well i do feel that for all of britain's flaws it is one of the most successful, multiracial democracies the world, and democracies in the world, and especially when it comes to the provision, anti—discrimination protections, especially the grounds of race and religion out , outperforms many other multiracial democracies, especially those in europe, such france, germany and the netherlands . is the problem netherlands. is the problem partly that victimhood appears to be rewarded if you can claim to be rewarded if you can claim to be rewarded if you can claim to be a victim? just to give an example, the way in which the lgbt acronym has now become lgbtq, a—plus and effective effectively you've got straight people a kink identifying people with a kink identifying into that community into an oppressed class. well why else would they be doing that? unless that certain rewards of that comes certain rewards of being the victim ? i think that being the victim? i think that was in one interesting dynamic that i've come across on a number of occasions is that quite often it's privileged

people doing that. so i think that they're quite insecure, interestingly, in their own position of economic privilege . position of economic privilege. and i think that they try associate themselves with groups that may be seen being oppressed in order to shake off that privilege . so i think those are privilege. so i think those are some i think it's almost a middle class insecurity that quite interestingly which is quite interestingly which is quite responsible for much of the grievance politics that we're seeing in modern day britain. and do you think i mean, we started this before we arrive by talking about johanna williams's for spiked williams's article for spiked about this sanctification of victimhood , this new culture, victimhood, this new culture, and she specifically on the phenomenon of meghan and they might fit very well to what you're describing here. these incredibly privileged people , incredibly privileged people, the most privileged people in the most privileged people in the world lecture , everyone else the world lecture, everyone else about privilege and claiming to be victims . and is it really. be victims. and is it really. have they become sort of the poster people of this kind of mentality. no absolutely. i think that when i talk modern,

anti—racist politics increasingly being about elite social activism , which involves social activism, which involves individuals looking heighten their own social status , quite their own social status, quite possibly their own financial security, i think that the sussexes embody that. if truth be told, i watched the docu series all six episodes, i would . and this thing is actually remarkable for that the commonwealth of nations voluntary association was described , as the british empire described, as the british empire to point out . yes, there was to point out. yes, there was also the royal family, in my view. i think in some cases the royal family was unfairly vilified in the docu series. and i think a really important point that i'd make is that when you look at the late queen, for example she was a champion of inter—religious dialogue reaching out to non protestant christian denominations as a supreme of the church of england and. you have king charles that said, referring to britain as a community of communities, referring to itself as a defender of all faiths. i

actually that the royal family through queen elizabeth ii king shows the third they've done more social cohesion in modern day britain than some of these modern anti—racists that have occurred under her stoicism. then died. i mean, you know, in that dock series, which i fortunately haven't watched, but i've read enough about, i know that harry and meghan are exposing basically everything and they're very and they're showing very photographs continually assuming that we have any interest, photographs continually assuming that we have any interest , their that we have any interest, their love affair, which i personally don't . but they're doing all of don't. but they're doing all of that. and yet you've got the queen who kept cancer diagnosis a secret until her death. i mean, that's it's just world mean, that's it's just a world apart, just in terms of that that stoic way of life. is that is something we can just consigned to the past that. well, i think that people will deal with difficulties in their life in various ways . but i do life in various ways. but i do feel that the one thing that i've found that i've found particularly unsavoury with harry and meghan , exposing those

harry and meghan, exposing those family feuds and tensions in the most public way. for me i'm quite traditional minded , but i quite traditional minded, but i think that there's many british people who may well that there are things that to them within their own family structures which are unsavoury to the going through difficult experience . through difficult experience. but they would rather keep that confined within the family and sort them out within the family units as opposed to , would you units as opposed to, would you say, airing out their dirty laundry public. well, very interesting developments. dr. gibson, thanks so much . happy gibson, thanks so much. happy new year and thanks for the audience at home watching tonight. happy new year from all of us here at gb news. please remember , stick around for remember, stick around for headliners. i'm going to be hosting next. and that's the paper show where paper preview show where comedians take through next comedians take you through next day's and headlines. day's newspapers and headlines. that's coming up in just one minute with wonderful panel minute with my wonderful panel louis and nick dixon. louis schaefer and nick dixon. and it just remains for me to say, have i got a great new year? have a fantastic 2023. and

will, of course, be seeing you next year on gb news. the people's . farewell looking ahead people's. farewell looking ahead to tomorrow's weather and the uk will be wet and wintry in the north. brighter milder in the south though there be some showers. here are the details . showers. here are the details. starting off across scotland and here it'll be a cloudy and wet the new year with outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow . some icy rain, sleet and snow. some icy patches to. also cloudy and wet for of northern ireland here too there may be some sleet or snow , though mostly confined to the hills . heavy showers watch out hills. heavy showers watch out for across north—west england as these push through on the brisk winds. we could have some very strong gusts . it's winds. we could have some very strong gusts. it's going to be a similar picture . we look across similar picture. we look across liverpool and into wales here the overnight skies will give sunny spells through the morning, but also some showers . morning, but also some showers. meanwhile, the weather for the east midlands first thing on this day is looking dry and often sunny for most albeit quite blustery with temperatures

down a touch on some recent . down a touch on some recent. that's the story as well across east anglia whilst it will be a dry and bright start shall will pushin dry and bright start shall will push in during the day with rising into double figures . rising into double figures. plenty of showery rain , more plenty of showery rain, more southern counties first thing on sunday, the strong winds will gradually ease through the day though some of the showers will be heavy . the showery rain, be heavy. the showery rain, sleet and snow will continue for northern parts. drier and brighter further south, though, some showers the southeast. and that's how the weather shaping up during tomorrow morning morning this year on gb news. we've got brand new members of the family join us across the entire united kingdom. we cover the issues that matter to you . the issues that matter to you. gb news will always honest, balanced and we want to hear whatever is on your mind and we don't talk to you. the establishment had chance. now we're here to , represent you. we're here to, represent you. britain's watching . come join us britain's watching. come join us on tv news . the people's

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channel good evening . i'm ray anderson good evening. i'm ray anderson in the gb newsroom. two men have been charged with the murder of a semi—professional footballer who was killed on boxing day in birmingham. 23 year old cody fisher was stabbed at the train nightclub digbeth. 21 year old cammy carpenter and. 22 year old remi gordon also been charged with affray . they will appear with affray. they will appear before magistrates on monday. the third man has been bailed while west midlands continue their investigation . pope has their investigation. pope has paid tribute to former pope benedict who passed away this morning , aged 95. the pontiff morning, aged 95. the pontiff described his predecessor as noble and kind. earlier, king sent his condolences. recalling

pope benedict's constant to promote