hello and welcome. i'm alison stewart. and for the next 2 hours i'll be keeping you company on tv and radio with the stories that matter across the country. we have plenty coming up today, starting with the latest royal revelations ahead . latest royal revelations ahead. tonight's big television interview . has harry invited interview. has harry invited a security risk to the upcoming invictus games with his taliban

comments? we'll also talking about rishi sunak five pledges. has prime minister got really what it takes and has he struck a chord with you on what matters most to? the great british nafion most to? the great british nation do get in touch. let me know what you think of his pledges. what would be your pledges. what would be your pledges if you were in command ? pledges if you were in command? what are your top concerns right now? but first, let's bring you right up to date with some of what that may include. here's the with tatiana sanchez . the news with tatiana sanchez. alistair, thank you. this is latest from the gb newsroom. the prime minister has admitted the nhs is undeniably enormous pressure. rishi sunak told the bbc he has renewed sense of confidence and, optimism to get to grips with the ongoing crisis within health service following emergency talks yesterday, he is calling on health to take bold and radical action, saying

business as usual mindset won't fix the challenges. health minister maria caulfield told gb news the nhs is facing more pressure this winter seeing a twin demick both covid and flu, we're seeing over 50% increase in the number of patients in with flu at the moment. that has knock on effect if beds aren't available for a&e, which leads to the long waits you describe and has a knock on effect on ambulances being stuck at a&e trying to unload their patients . the of the royal college of nursing says the current crisis in a&e is much worse than before . the union has warned upcoming strikes will be the biggest ever the industry if the prime minister doesn't negotiate on pay- minister doesn't negotiate on pay. the rcn general secretary cullen, has told rishi sunak's to meet her halfway to ensure the industrial action this month doesn't go ahead. the union also says it's willing to consider a 10% pay rise rather 19. shadow

health secretary wes streeting told they expect the government told they expect the government to sit and negotiate . the fight to sit and negotiate. the fight i did have to say to the nurses , however much i totally sympathise with their pay claim , we would i would call on all honesty to say if i was in government i'd be able to give the 19. but we did say we would sit down and negotiate. i think that's what the government should do . the director of should do. the director of orthodox conservative voice, joseph robertson, says the needs to listen to the people , the to listen to the people, the ground who know the challenges and where the money should be spent. and where the money should be spent . i think a lot of the spent. i think a lot of the problem with what's on is that it is very the speaking from a top down perspective, they're not looking experienced not looking at experienced workers. think we need more workers. i think we need more decentralisation. i think we need power back to those need more power back to those who are running practises, who are around the are running centres around the country and actually listening to their ideas of where the money should go rather than the government just pouring in money without any real structure into

that development . the labour that development. the labour party has been urged to team up with the snp to block the government's for minimum service levels during strikes. the snp westminster has requested a meeting with sir keir starmer to discuss a policy proposals. the bill be introduced in parliament in the coming to ensure vital pubuc in the coming to ensure vital public services is maintained. a bafic public services is maintained. a basic function during strikes . basic function during strikes. russia has bombed eastern minutes after ending itself declared a ceasefire in the country . the governor of kharkiv country. the governor of kharkiv , a man, died as a result of russian shelling. president ordered a 36 hour ceasefire honour of russia's orthodox christmas , which ended at christmas, which ended at midnight last. christmas, which ended at midnight last . ukraine had midnight last. ukraine had rejected that truce and shelling continued along front line. moscow says it's , vowing to moscow says it's, vowing to carry on fighting until wins the war. prince harry has been accused of making the games a target for extreme by revealing

in his memoir that he killed 25 taliban fighters in afghanistan . the former head of the royal navy says the games, which are due to be held in dusseldorf in germany , will now have serious germany, will now have serious security issues because of that connection to harry. he called the duke very stupid . what . and the duke very stupid. what. and one of princess diana's most famous dresses is set to go on sale . sotheby's in new york sale. sotheby's in new york later on this month. the strapless dress is worth between 66 an d £99,000. diana, first 66 and £99,000. diana, first wore the dress for an official portrait with the then prince of wales in 1991 . this is gb news. wales in 1991. this is gb news. we'll bring you more news as it happens. now it's back to stewart and friends .

stewart and friends. tatiana thank you very much indeed. well, good afternoon , indeed. well, good afternoon, you all. and following yesterday's fascinating news of the prime minister's plans to kerb strikes and the great discussion we had on that and the right to work, we thought we might just delve a little into his other pledges that he put there , that important new year there, that important new year speech, and ask if he reflected your priority and your concerns . we're also going to look at .we're also going to look at reaction to the prince harry book and big interview on itv later on this evening . later on this evening. meanwhile, there were also really important talks yesterday as featured in tatiana's news bulletin there on the nature crisis. we'll have a view from a top medic , someone who works at top medic, someone who works at the frontline of the nhs to see what he made , what came out of what he made, what came out of those talks . but first let's those talks. but first let's talk about pledges, speech that the prime minister made just a

wee ago. to remind you, he promised no tricks and no as set out his five pledges for the year ahead , but refused to give year ahead, but refused to give any timescale for each apart from on inflation . in his first from on inflation. in his first major speech of 2023, rishi sunak vowed to deliver a peace of mind and the public even as his government grapples with an nhs under severe pressure that one of the key pledges that he did make take action on. and we saw a lot about that yesterday and of the continuing disruption all of the strike action . now all of the strike action. now the prime minister pledged halve inflation this year , grow the inflation this year, grow the economy , make sure that national economy, make sure that national debt falling. cut nhs waiting lists. there's a lot about that in today's newspapers following yesterday's downing health wmmw yesterday's downing health summit. the for radical reform the nhs and care systems but also doing more deals with the

private health sector and bulk purchasing of private care. home places to address bed blocking. we have an nhs gp with us here live in the studio and a couple of tory thinkers delighted to say to put all of that in some context . just passed new laws to context. just passed new laws to stop small boats. the prime minister also a pledge. but was this the stuff that he knows has to sort out if he is stand a chance in the election when it comes the cornerstone to the manifesto. bold he said we will either achieve them or we won't. and with judges on, it was frank . and in my view, even a fatalistic stuff . coming up, fatalistic stuff. coming up, i'll be finding out what the former deputy minister, damian green, who's sitting right to me here live in the studio, thinks of all of that and the ambition. but we both want to know what your as well and what are your are as well and what are your are as well and what are your priorities for the prime minister this

minister and for this conservative government. you can get in touch with us by emailing us at gb views at gbnews.uk, or you can get in touch with any of our social media outlets . so all our social media outlets. so all that to come and i really hope that to come and i really hope that you take part in it in a lively. but first, let's start with harry and the extrude reclaims that the duke of sussex in spare and a look ahead to the tom bradbury interviews that is airing . now overnight in the airing. now overnight in the newspapers, we learned that harry felton guilt following his mother's death , 1997. the duke mother's death, 1997. the duke of sussex has also described the guilt he felt whilst walking outside kensington following his mother's . in a clip from harry, mother's. in a clip from harry, the interview , which will be the interview, which will be broadcast on itv tonight , harry broadcast on itv tonight, harry speaks about his memories of meeting mourners following princess diana's death , 1997.

princess diana's death, 1997. one of the key revelations that's been awash in the media in recent days has been his rather tasteless claim that he killed more than 20 taliban fighters whilst on tour in afghanistan than former comrades. senior and indeed security people have said that he's totally lost the plot. some have asked if it might all be his own version of post—traumatic stress disorder . post—traumatic stress disorder. well, someone with a good chance of knowing the answers to those questions and more is my first guest. and it's duncan larcombe. duncan's author of prince harry the in side story a new view as fupped the in side story a new view as flipped crashing on his death . flipped crashing on his death. look i think there's a strong argument to that. there are some concerns . the welfare of prince concerns. the welfare of prince harry right now. but i think when you look at some the

rawness of accusations, these are not things that he's had time to process over a number of years. some these revelations in the book are talking about how he's feeling almost the day of writing it. just a few weeks ago, when we saw the queen's funeral. so this the rawness of this memoir think is something in particular that's causing a few raised eyebrows at the moment. i mean, there is a rawness to it when he's talking about feeling embarrassed and pained that that he smiled when he was talking to mourners outside kensington palace , outside kensington palace, pushing and shoving with his brother after the duke of edinburgh's or what have you. i mean , don't know about baring mean, don't know about baring his soul . mean, don't know about baring his soul. this mean, don't know about baring his soul . this is a guy having a his soul. this is a guy having a breakdown out in front of us all and in print print. breakdown out in front of us all and in print print . well, harry and in print print. well, harry has taken this opportunity to air as it appears at the moment. the book hasn't even hit the british shelves yet until tuesday , but it certainly feels tuesday, but it certainly feels at the moment that there's virtually no stone by harry and harry grieving . every issue is

harry grieving. every issue is wearing the outfit and even we hear overnight those revelations about the day that he stripped played naked billiards in a in a las vegas hotel suite. those famous pictures, of course , famous pictures, of course, still ingrained in a lot of people's eyes of prince harry strip naked . so he's going strip naked. so he's going everywhere in any way with this book. everywhere in any way with this book . but i'm everywhere in any way with this book. but i'm not sure as start to kind of look at these revelations as a whole rather than individuals would be front page stories one after the other. think it's beginning to get the sense that is harry actually okay i mean is harry really ready . write this kind of really ready. write this kind of book and sever those links to the people who we now know because of the trailers. for tom bradby , his show on itv tonight bradby, his show on itv tonight , people that his father and his brother that he wants back . it's brother that he wants back. it's a it's a very strange mix of emotions that are spewing out over what we're seeing so far and stuff. what i also observed

yesterday in conversation with several guests that that , for several guests that that, for example, in answer to the question, if invited, will you attend the coronation . well, attend the coronation. well, there's a lot of campaign between now and then. and he has gone about just any bridges that might just possibly exist between him. his brother his father and his mother in law . do father and his mother in law. do you think that he's crossed a number of lines, certainly with his father brother and camilla ? his father brother and camilla? i think i think this book crosses virtually every line. you can think of. i mean, the detail with which harry plunges the knife into his brother william over what was an incredibly private argument between two brothers in closed palace to fiercely be protective of their own privacy. two brothers. this is a betrayal , brothers. this is a betrayal, harry. i simply can't see a way back for harry forever for this . who, in their right minds in the royal right now would want to sat next to harry and meghan in the coroner's and say

anything about anything you wouldn't even want to ? say the wouldn't even want to? say the windsor just in case it going to windsorjust in case it going to be reported back through harry's and meghan's mouths . i, who was and meghan's mouths. i, who was comrade in afghanistan come face that what a fascinating question, which i gave when i knew you were coming on the program. i thought you might know because the inside story background to it this was background to it and this was a former marine and he said to who on is talking to and on earth is talking to and listening to these days it's clearly not former comrades in arms. it's clearly not people whose advice is wise or trustworthy . well, taking the trustworthy. well, taking the book as a whole, that's a key point, because could look at a recurring theme of this memoirs. it's very honest . that tells us it's very honest. that tells us a lot. well it tells us at the age of 17, harry was in with absolutely the wrong crowd . he absolutely the wrong crowd. he lost his virginity by popping to the back of a pub and beer garden . well, appropriate timing

garden. well, appropriate timing as we pop out a pub and a garden at the back of it for one of the juicy revelations . duncan juicy revelations. duncan larkin's line has down so. my thanks duncan author of prince harry the inside story if you haven't read it well reading as background to all of the stuff thatis background to all of the stuff that is going right now . now, that is going right now. now, we'll return to that story, little later on. but let's get back to what i said at the very top of the program that is rishi sunak and his this week that were made just a few weeks ago andindeed were made just a few weeks ago and indeed his vows to deliver his plans to tackle the nhs crisis. now hardly surprisingly, he made such a play of the country's economic getting growth going, halving inflation and getting debt falling , the and getting debt falling, the critics said. however much of thatis critics said. however much of that is pencilled in by. most forecasters , but many may also forecasters, but many may also say that there was little or no meat on those economic bones , as meat on those economic bones, as he still aspires to cut taxes . he still aspires to cut taxes. and that didn't win pledge

status rather words about the spnng status rather words about the spring budget and the fight against inflation means high . against inflation means high. interest rates, however, are probably likely to stay for some little time. that's not his decision, of course. that is the bank of england's. decision, of course. that is the bank of england's . but was there bank of england's. but was there much there to warm the cockles of your hearts, particularly if you're a tory supporter and one who may just now be wavering a little as reform uk and richard tice make the noise that they are making dangerously perhaps they are hearing more of that detailing from him rather than from rishi sunak and the conservative party. also, polling data is recently increasingly suggesting that more folk now trust labour on the economy. and of course labour are well ahead in virtually every voting intention poll that has been published in recent times. as i said right at the very top, i'm delighted to be joined by a good friend of mine. 94 years standing next to me here, live in the studio, damian green, member of

parliament, former prime parliament, former deputy prime minister in minister and senior minister in a whole number of areas . did it a whole number of areas. did it warm the cockles of heart and restore any lost enthusiasm. you may just have lost? i restore any lost enthusiasm. you may just have lost ? i never lose may just have lost? i never lose enthusiasm, but no i think it did address issues because at root that root of a lot of the pubuc root that root of a lot of the public service pressures we're seeing is the problem of inflation . and we know one thing inflation. and we know one thing that if you let inflation take hold in an economy that not only will the economy go down the pan, but all your public well as well. so absolute the fight against inflation has to be the heart of it. and to pick up something just said about, heart of it. and to pick up something just said about , this something just said about, this involves keeping interest rates high . the sooner you get high. the sooner you get inflation down, the sooner you can bring into then that could ease off. and the seem to ease off. and the banks seem to be speculating that on be speculating of that on mortgage and so on. but mortgage rates and so on. but the other observation that was made by, my friend liam halligan and other people, is that and many other people, is that if read office budget if you read the office budget responsibility or even responsibility forecasts or even the latest from the bank the latest edicts from the bank of england, much of what he was

saying about and even about restoration of a little growth in the context of a recession is pencilled in already. this was a set piece lay out stall speech didn't need to do better to the corner or stall . and labour are corner or stall. and labour are just running away with it at the moment. well to address that directly it's pencilled in because of the government's policies jeremy policies because of what jeremy hunt said in autumn hunt said in his autumn statement , inflation doesn't statement, inflation doesn't come down naturally. if you just said, okay , going to meet all said, okay, going to meet all the pay demands , we're just the pay demands, we're just going to sit back in the day. and i would have found what you've just said a bit more exciting what the prime exciting than what the prime minister that minister himself said. and that is stick to this and we is if we stick to this and we keep inflation going down, it does hard pressed does mean that hard pressed pubuc does mean that hard pressed public the nhs public services like the nhs will be able to get the money that they actually and although i'm not going to tread on his feet and the prime minister actually joke, but actually made that joke, but jeremy be able to jeremy hunt will be able to reduce the burden of taxation on ordinary working take

ordinary working people. take a page out of tice's book and tear it and throw back at him. it up and throw it back at him. well i think that we've discovered what happens . it's discovered what happens. it's really easy if you're a small fringe party to say will cut taxes and we'll do this because . everyone knows you're never going to have the chance to do it. look, i'm what it. look, i'm afraid what happened to liz truss and kwasi kwarteng? when you the conservative is about conservative party is about cutting taxes, indeed is cutting taxes, which indeed is one of the things the conservative party is about, and we're going it now and we're going to do it now and we're going to do it now and we're do it regardless of we're going do it regardless of the circumstances. then the external circumstances. then the markets take fright and in deep so it is much more deep trouble. so it is much more sensible to say what do is bring inflation down, bring debt down, and then that gives you the headroom to cut taxes. but we're into tricky territory here because you and i and every to follow just who's done the numbers and remembers the esdp and brexit and all the rest them. we know that they are not to win enough seats to form a government, but we also know from of those examples , those from of those examples, those fringe parties making the right noises to the electorate can

hurt people . you or labour, as hurt people. you or labour, as the case of the sdp getting government. well that's what's on right now and sunak didn't address it. well, you wouldn't address it. well, you wouldn't address it. well, you wouldn't address it directly. what you should do , what he did do as address it directly. what you shouchinisterat he did do as address it directly. what you shouchinister is he did do as address it directly. what you shouchinister is to did do as address it directly. what you shouchinister is to set do as address it directly. what you shoulc minister is to set out,rs prime minister is to set out, you know, this is what we're going to do and judge us on that as said in your original, that's quite brave to. say judge me on whether i'm going. i that as well these things that's good that's why i mean do you think these the cornerstones these amongst the cornerstones of our manifesto because i mean the people what's going on the people and what's going on in the channel. education potentially a silver bullet and i'll be talking a bulletin i'll be talking steve talk about be talking to steve talk about that later on. that a little bit later on. those things that they've those are things that they've had a pharrell time to on that but the more detail about education and training apprentices what we're talking about a manifesto here upon which he personally and your party will be judged within a yeah party will be judged within a year. 18 months? yes think but i think these i think the two need to be separated because very

much the point of the speech was to say this is what we're going to say this is what we're going to do and you can judge us on it before the election or by the election. clearly completely differently. you will have a on which there will be no doubt detailed pledges about health and education and, everything else, foreign policy, all the things that weren't in a speech at defence. hugely important issues. so this is a set of tests he has bravely set his own government saying this is what we will and i think those saying oh well it's all going to happen anyway need to look out the window you know nothing happens unless the government pass it on to liam halligan yeah yeah i'll talk you that. you know talk to you about that. you know you, make choices and those you, you make choices and those economic choices result in lower inflation. then people's lives are made. so that's what i want to see. a conservative people's lives and the quality and nature of did it surprise you of life. did it surprise you that he said, i'm going to talk about which is about farm family, which is difficult any politician to difficult for any politician to do these days and it is

difficult for all the obvious reasons that we've seen over the decades. reasons that we've seen over the decades . but i thought that was decades. but i thought that was a very personal part of that speech and those who criticise him say, well, he's he's he's technocratic. we all know he's hugely bright and easily competent. but you know, where's the humanity? well, that was some humanity. and i can some of the humanity. and i can see that he is not somebody who naturally wants to put his personal and his family front and centre some politicians do. some politicians wish he doesn't and i think deflects credit on him. but but there was humanity that. him. but but there was humanity that . terrific stuff. damon, as that. terrific stuff. damon, as always, thank so much. best of all, at home and look forward to seeing again anytime you'll always welcome as you well know as i said at the very very top. another that playing very another thing that playing very much because much on my mind because i genuinely think was some genuinely think there was some radical developments there when the talked about need the minister talked about need to bold and quote some to be bold and quote some business as usual, not fix the nhs so that downing street summit i'm delighted to discuss

now with my next guest and that is dr. peter neville who has sat there quietly and patiently listening to david and i analysed what the prime minister, had to say partly about the nhs, what about the economy and stuff like that? peter as a consultant physician working in the nhs in and then wales over the last 30 years, given that you have seen who's there around the big roundtable , what's being breathed , all of , what's being breathed, all of the newspapers this morning , the newspapers this morning, what we've covered as well . did what we've covered as well. did you think that this was a bold initiative that actually to one of the prime minister's key pledges and that we will deal and address waiting lists ? well, and address waiting lists? well, i think it's a really good . i i think it's a really good. i think it's absolutely vital that talks take place on how to actually improve the difficulties that we've currently finding ourselves and clearly, it's very difficult to offer any constructive any concrete comments on what's happened because this is all about initial engagement and

deaung about initial engagement and dealing with a really very and challenging problem and there are pressures on the nhs. i'm work in wales now, i've worked in england before. we have slightly different systemic organisations, but the problems that we face are the same . there that we face are the same. there are massive demand on a&e, there are massive demand on a&e, there are massive demand on a&e, there are massive pressure on ambulance services and the hospitals are simply larger numbers of hospitals are simply not able to safely cope. so a loud or a muted hurrah from you for the idea that they will seek to bulk purchase this spare capacity in the private care sector to get folk out who've had their operation are now fit enough to go home. if there's someone to care for them. that is a really start, but it is a sticking in the longer term. and actually what we need to see desperately is a suitable reform in social. i'm glad you looked at damian at that point because his brilliant article in observer today making exactly

that point and there's nothing picture you your quoted picture of you and your quoted in does require that in it does require that reform but goes to the millburn but it goes back to the millburn with terrible waiting with those terrible waiting lists. and you told the researchers that you've worked through nhs, through its worst possible . yeah. and that was possible. yeah. and that was about 20, 25 years ago. worse even now. no no, no. this is the worse. this is the worse if i'd known it. but with without any shadow of doubt, we've always had winter pressures, we've always had epidemics of flu hitting us at winter. i remember the very first year i qualified in 1990, there was a significant epidemic which filled the wards . but continues to happen. . but that continues to happen. thatis . but that continues to happen. that is predictable will that is predictable and will always what we're seeing always happen. what we're seeing now exceptional . we are now is exceptional. we are seeing and completely rammed. we are seeing queues of ambulances outside the hospital and in my view, the large problem that is the fact that we cannot discharge patients who are ready for home in appropriate or early time and. we effectively time and. we are effectively working arm tied behind working with one arm tied behind our acute sector because our in the acute sector because of that both now are of that, both sides now are going with the millburn mantra ,

going with the millburn mantra, barclays people are briefing as well that they're looking closely again . will they? it can closely again. will they? it can be quite constant. it is costly. it does have a positive effect. and that is by buying yet more capacity to private generally declare waiting lists and get people operated on upon it you know perfectly well because worked at the frontline for so long that money is frequently at the nhs and lot of people like you say that's not the answer, it's structural, it's staffing and this, that and the other. but to be crystal clear, this a good way of spending scarce resources in the short term, yes. because there isn't an alternative solution in the long term unless there is structural reform to follow, we'll be in the same position next year. the mail have got a big splash as well. i've plumped the observer already because my friend damian but the mail's done a brilliant piece talks about money piece where it talks about money being two of my being wasted. one or two of my guests yesterday the nhs on guests said yesterday the nhs on things like lived experience in

the nhs is that too much of that sort of in your experience, given that you've had over 30 years experience of there? i and i don't perceive this as an issue at all, i wouldn't know what a lived expertise . i know what a lived expertise. i know what a lived expertise. i know what a lived expertise. i know wha t £120,000 what a lived expertise. i know wha t £120,000 of your salary what £120,000 of your salary looked like. yes but i as i say, i don't i don't know where these people are and what they're doing. they're there at all. every every organisation , of every every organisation, of course, has to have an equality and diversity strategy is and diversity strategy that is the law and actually ensuring a satisfied working environment . satisfied working environment. it keeps people we know it keeps people in the in the job and. it also reduces the risk of industrial tribunals and expensive court cases. final quick one, if i may a mate of mine, chris hopson, did you stay in work at granada television enough but is now head of strategy at the nhs ? he says strategy at the nhs? he says it's all about staffing right across the piece and he's got a

document and there is a plan as you write. he absolutely is right. we have a wholesale staffing and workforce crisis really. we have 10% of pretty much all jobs unfilled, 30% of new consultant appointments across the uk as royal college of physicians are not being appointed so. we cannot appoint these jobs . and so how can we these jobs. and so how can we expand our services if we simply can't find the people to do it? you're excited about an improved relationship between . the nhs relationship between. the nhs and the private sector based on care and on waiting lists. well, i'm excited about anything . gets i'm excited about anything. gets people off waiting lists and them the treatment they want . them the treatment they want. and i think i mean to revert, if i may, to one of my pal subjects of social it is absolutely the case that you can't fix the nhs unless you fix social care. right and that we need more capacity. and it's not just buying care home beds, it's actually having domiciliary care because people who go into people's homes, because most people's homes, because most people can leave hospital and go home as long as they've got a

care provision in a care package home, that's really important . home, that's really important. people are really important. david and peter , you both very david and peter, you both very much indeed for all of that absolutely enlightening will inform and thoughtful if you agree it, disagree with it, want to add to it, do get in touch us i'd be like to say that was dr. peter nevill, nhs doctor. thank you so for coming in you so much for coming in welcoming time and of course welcoming tea time and of course david deputy david greene, former deputy prime plenty more prime minister, with plenty more to this afternoon to come on that this afternoon on britain's first on i including britain's first ever rocket launch is set to lift off from a facility at cornwall airport also be talking to freddie grey deputy editor respect data for what that important magazine thinks of what the tories are absolutely we up to our reporter will have the latest from cornwall rockets and gazing up at the stars. but before we get there a quick .

break good afternoon. is 131 break good afternoon. is131 i'm tatiana sanchez . the gb tatiana sanchez. the gb newsroom. the prime minister has admitted the nature is undeniably under enormous pressure. rishi sunak's , the pressure. rishi sunak's, the bbc, he has a renewed of confidence and optimism to get to grips with the ongoing in the nhs following emergency talks , nhs following emergency talks, he's calling on health leaders to take bold and radical action , saying a business as usual mindset won't fix the challenge . health minister maria coleshill had told gb news the nhs is facing even more pressure this seeing a twin demick of both covid and flu we're seeing over 50% increase in the number of patients with flu at the moment. that has a knock on effect if beds aren't available . a&e which leads to the long .a&e which leads to the long waits you describe and has a knock on effect on ambulances being stuck a&e trying to unload their patients . the president of

their patients. the president of their patients. the president of the royal college of nursing says the current crisis in a&e is much worse before the union has upcoming strikes will be the biggest ever in the industry . biggest ever in the industry. the prime minister doesn't negotiate on pay. the rcn general secretary pat collins, has told rishi sunak to meet her to ensure the industry's action this month doesn't go ahead. the union also says willing to consider a 10% pay rise rather than 19. shadow health secretary wes streeting told us they expect the government to sit down and negotiate . if i did down and negotiate. if i did have to say to the nurses. however i totally sympathise with their pay claim . we would with their pay claim. we would i would cannot. in all honesty to say if i was in government today, i'd able to give the 19. but we say we would sit down and negotiate, think that's what the government do . the labour government should do. the labour party has been urged to team up with the scottish national party to block the government's plans for minimum service levels

dunng for minimum service levels during strikes. the snp's westminster has requested a meeting with sir keir starmer to discuss policy proposals. the bill will be introduced in parliament in the coming weeks to ensure vital public maintain a basic function during strikes . and a basic function during strikes. and most dresses are set to go on sale . sotheby's in new york sale. sotheby's in new york later this month. the strapless evening dress is worth between 66 an d £99,000. diana wore the 66 and £99,000. diana wore the dress for an official portrait with the then prince of wales 1991 tv, online and at the abbey plus radio. this is now. it's back to alastair stewart& friends . friends. tatler. and thank you very much indeed. i've just had five, four, three, two, one in my ear,

which is entirely appropriate because the first ever space launch from the united kingdom is due to take place tomorrow. the virgin orbit company is launching start me up mission from spaceport cornwall in newquay space port cornwall was currently recently. i beg your pardon. granted licence to launch satellites into space space by the civil aviation authority. the first such licence ever issued in the united kingdom . however it could united kingdom. however it could lead to so much than that and indeed a industry space innovation for the united kingdom to tell us more about all of that is gb news is very own southwest of england. jeff moody there he not in a space suit but in his normal smart attire. you've got a big press conference coming up. what are you expecting to hear ? yes, you expecting to hear? yes, i have. we're all the big players to be speaking . 2:00 in this to be speaking. 2:00 in this marquee just behind me , the marquee just behind me, the world's press, the country's

press in particular have taken a little bit of time off from harry to gather here, ready , harry to gather here, ready, hear what they have to say. that's a o'clock. and we will bnng that's a o'clock. and we will bring it to live. now. it's a collaboration between virgin and between the uk space agency and spaceport cornwall down. we're expecting the launch to take place, weather permitting at midnight tomorrow . so we've got midnight tomorrow. so we've got a long couple of days ahead of us. alistair indeed . so and some us. alistair indeed. so and some of the numbers in the newspapers this morning about it all are huge. this morning about it all are huge . dare i even say huge. dare i even say astronomical? how significant is this launch not just for the uk but for cornwall specifically and a new emerging industry ? and a new emerging industry? what as you say, a new emerging industry mean this area was was a mining area for many years. that was the main wealth behind . cornwall. they've relied on tourism in recent years. but they really need something else that out for something else down

here and this is what it is it's to be this launch now it's not the sort of traditional launch that you might expect. we're not going to see a big cape canaveral style rocket taken off. it's british. so the rocket is going to be transported gently up to space in a boeing 747. it's a specialist adapted boeing 747, adapted by richard branson. i'm standing for those on the radio. i'm standing a model of the rocket. i'll just briefly talk through it. so the cosmic girl , the space plane cosmic girl, the space plane will take off at midnight tomorrow when it gets to right height, it will dispense this particular rocket . newton three particular rocket. newton three the fins will be helping to steer . now that will go the fins will be helping to steer. now that will go for on 3 minutes just 3 minutes during that time we've got the liquid oxygen and the rpe one that are mixed together inside stage one of the rocket. that's the rocket propellant tank. but if you come

a little further along, you've the oxygen tank here . and then the oxygen tank here. and then up here is the second stage of the engine is where the liquid oxygen , a 1600 kilograms of oxygen, a 1600 kilograms of liquid oxygen in here. that's all of that is mixed together. finally, at the very end is the payload fairing now that protects the during the launch and the actual satellites themselves are on. there's a little bit at the end now. the purpose of satellites to start with it's going to be monitoring earth on behalf of the minister of defence that will be monitoring the earth and the oceans from the satellites. but who knows where the future will take. absolutely fascinating stuff and beautifully illustrated. jeff, thank you very much indeed. thanks for joining us live from cornwall and from the station there. we'll back to you if there are further developments as well geoff moody there southwest of england very latest on england with the very latest on earth and what may happen above us. i think he said midnight is

the watch point. we'll have all of that , of course, on gb news of that, of course, on gb news tv and radio. and you are indeed watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends on gb news tv and radio online after the break. in 1997, the then prime minister tony blair to focus on education. education but what are rishi sunak's intentions for our school system 7 intentions for our school system ? and what do the teaching think of it all? how do define the silver bullet bullet that he alluded ? we'd also love to know alluded? we'd also love to know what you think. so do get in touch because . we'll be talking touch because. we'll be talking about that right next. but first, a quick.

break welcome back. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends here on gb news tv and radio and online and thank you very much indeed for so . i mentioned earlier the

so. i mentioned earlier the prime minister's assertion education was the closest thing that there is to a silver bullet. really my attention . bullet. really my attention. when i heard it, i first of all thought of my daughter, qualified teacher and former headmistress as well, who has always believed that to be the case. but more than ricci's education and pledges are needed, she argued . if he is to needed, she argued. if he is to hit his education targets , i hit his education targets, i also thought at the same time of my old friend steve chalke, who's the chief exec of the oasis academy , which represents oasis academy, which represents 50 to academy schools right across england. and he operates around the world as well . and as around the world as well. and as you can see that he is and he joins me live now. and i'm delighted knighted. steve what was the prime minister impressive as far as were concerned when he said a silver bullet? this is really the closest thing we've got to the soul of all. i think it's very

important silver bullet . earlier important silver bullet. earlier in the week of course he that what this was really about was extending maths and that to the age of 80. i that if education is a silver bullet what we least is a silver bullet what we least is a silver bullet what we least is a real vision for what is and what we want our society to be like . and then i think that we like. and then i think that we need to a whole strategy around it. the problem with maths solution is it's just one idea in isolation and i think they'll all this would welcome a real proper joined all this would welcome a real properjoined up all this would welcome a real proper joined up conversation answer in the question what is education and how do we then put a long strategy in place that won't get interfered with? i don't mind. need to remind you that we've had five secretaries of for state in the last year chopping and changing and moving just frustrates teachers , as i'm

just frustrates teachers, as i'm sure your daughter tells you very regularly refers to it with sinking heart. but she also makes the point which a number people do. and i think you were kind enough to say in one of my previous interviews, but the current education secretary, particularly having been in apprenticeship go rather than an oxbridge type and what have you really does capable of really does seem capable of radical thought has an open mind . have you had the chance to talk to her yet. no, i've not had the chance to yet. but i agree with you absolute , leigh, agree with you absolute, leigh, and that's what we need. we need radical that we need a revolution. we need a wide, inclusive education system that , you know, as the saying always goes , if the child doesn't learn goes, if the child doesn't learn the way you teach, start teaching the that they learn. what we have at the moment is straitjacket of a system you're you'll be aware alastair that i think it was michael gove put

the idea that what we all really to do is learn latin. if we did latin that would help. just earlier last year we were told if schools stayed open for longer hours or opened on saturdays, that would do the job. so it's to my point that what we really need, as you're suggesting , what we really need, as you're suggesting, is a what we really need, as you're suggesting , is a revolution what we really need, as you're suggesting, is a revolution and the latest secretary of state education can help deliver that. but join the revolution , that but join the revolution, that will mean that every child is as an education that's fit for purpose and them for the workplace . when we were talking workplace. when we were talking earlier on about the one of the prime ministers pledges, cutting waiting lists , sorting out the waiting lists, sorting out the nhs . yes. and incidentally nhs. yes. and incidentally education, as you well know, is the silver or not, was not a pledge. it was just an assertion that he made in the middle of it . it cropped up in those conversations that staffing is utterly crucial at every level in the nhs. i think that we've

talked about a lot in the past and it remains a problem is attracting folk the profession and retain them as well . that and retain them as well. that seems to me be the case. the full metal jacket to the alleged silver bullet . yes, absolutely. silver bullet. yes, absolutely. so at the moment, around 40% of people who enter the teaching leave it within five years. i was i was speaking a conference that cambridge university back perhaps may time and talking with people there who'd come back been this college and now they were out in the workplace talking them about their experience education not being in the education system and so many of them told me the same story but they left they left university with this idealistic desire to work alongside young

people and bring something good them into their lives, to mentor , to nurture them. but already they were being called up in a rock. chrissy already they were being caught up in the red tape , which prevented them from being the kind of people they thought would be asked of them. and more than one of them confided in me that they were already thinking of leaving the teaching profession . we need to teaching profession. we need to attract people and we to retain people. and that goes the health system as well. so i think rishi sunak yesterday he spoke about the health system and he said what we need , we most need is what we need, we most need is new thinking and radical think said business as usual. one do business as usual only get us back to where we are one day. so we've got to the education system , release teachers to system, release teachers to bnng system, release teachers to bring their passion into job for every child . they are talking to every child. they are talking to a gp the other day and funnily enough, they're talking about

staffing levels. and he said there is a new category of gp where you can. yeah if you've done your years and then decide that it's time to enjoy retirement or or what have you, you can come back as an associate still practise as associate and still practise as associate and still practise as a gp because of course you've still got all qualifications still got all the qualifications . wonderful experience, . and that wonderful experience, it so important is the it is so important is the teaching profession fleet of foot enough to think about things like that , not just things like that, not just saying to youngsters, look, we're trying to make it better for you. stay with us. but to one who've done their years, done service but might just done this service but might just have hands and all have time on their hands and all that experience come and that experience to come back and help out in this absolutely brilliant public service . i brilliant public service. i think that's part of the thing that we've got to do are really do think is part of the thinking that we've to do. if we're going to have a revolution and we're not going just do what we did not going to just do what we did yesterday and last year and the year got think year before, we got to think about all of these things. i'm pleased say oasis, the pleased to say that oasis, the charity i and i still charity i founded and i still work weeping. they're asked by

government this at the beginning of year , we'd been asked by of last year, we'd been asked by government to work with some others raise , i think the others to raise, i think the whole paddock around how we prepare teachers for the workplace as well as to think about people coming back if you like as you say after they've had their families accept. i think only this will you know a story and tell alice that of someone i know very well following me the illustration that was given before they left universal . passionate about universal. passionate about working with young people they've grown in surrey they've gone to a good they were ideal committed to education for all and they went to work in a school they know on a really tough housing in south london within terms their mental had been destroyed and so what we have got to do is work alongside everyone who gives themself to

this great rather than them. people don't go into teaching or nursing, do they , for the money. nursing, do they, for the money. they don't go there to , get they don't go there to, get rich. they go there to serve . rich. they go there to serve. but what we've got to do is, reinvent the system to , allow reinvent the system to, allow them to do that rather than squash them . steve chalk always squash them. steve chalk always gold dust and it's lovely to hear him with my daughter who also says the certificate of education needs to be on that agenda. education needs to be on that agenda . reflection and reform as agenda. reflection and reform as well , so that the whole well, so that the whole methodology of these young people to become teachers , stay people to become teachers, stay teachers, get some fresh thinking. steve a terrific weekend. thanks for breaking into it to talk to us about your passions and my passion was, as you well know, always a pleasure. steve chalk there, the chief of the oasis academy trust and. if anyone from the secretary self—education department is watching, listening please get in touch with him. there's a good conversation to be had there. i was sure . so will a return prime

was sure. so will a return prime ministerial pledges a little later in the program. but before a little more on tonight's prince harry interview and book, which my next guest said had delivered. and i quote , delivered. and i quote, revelation and allegation with machine gun in tent city . it's machine gun in tent city. it's emerged overnight and indeed this morning that harry, he felt guilt at his mother's and only cried once at her burial could losing his mother at such a young age be the reason behind today's headlines, or is it even possibly post traumatic disorder, which some of his former military colleagues are widely suggesting today? it's is something of a mystery. are there energies, agendas here at play there energies, agendas here at play as well? i'm delighted to be joined by an old friend of mine. there is charles rea , mine. there is charles rea, former royal charisma and at the sun newspapers at charles. today's revelations about pushing and shoving and more

sibling rivalry . rivalry also sibling rivalry. rivalry also what some might describe as emotional constipation . and has emotional constipation. and has he just lost ? emotional constipation. and has he just lost? yes i mean, simply, harry has has lost the plot , no simply, harry has has lost the plot, no question about that. in this latest revelation about the shoving and pushing william , i shoving and pushing william, i mean, one of the hardest complaints is that they have not extended the hand of friendship that. no. extended anything at all to try to solve this problem. well, here have in this latest event where william was clearly trying to offer some sort of help , was saying to sort of help, was saying to harry you need help? i want the best for you, that's what mummy would want and. harry's response was, no, i don't think so. and exasperated and, william makes a grab for okay. it's not fantastic . this grab for okay. it's not fantastic. this is grab for okay. it's not fantastic . this is what grab for okay. it's not fantastic. this is what happens in families sometimes that is a bit of maybe physical shoving and pushing but clearly you know

harry got an axe to grind. he's got a lot of chips on his shoulder. william wants to try and get one two to try to get it sorted out. i don't see how they can possibly do it no side that coin, charles. and that is managing the post—traumatic disorder. but there are quite few people senior military and others who are saying . hang on a others who are saying. hang on a minute. give this guy a bright break all of the commentary is pretty anti at the moment the harry agenda is a complex and troubling one maybe he needs a little more support which maybe flushed away the chances of getting by doing the oprah interview by doing the tom bradbury interview by writing the book and all the rest of it . but does he deserve a little bit more empathy ? i'm i'm not bit more empathy? i'm i'm not sure that he does , alastair. i sure that he does, alastair. i mean, let's not forget that william wanted to this therapist with him and find out because he

was worried what the therapist was worried what the therapist was telling him. and i have have to say as well, given the revelation that we've seen in this book, i don't think the marijuana magic mushrooms and the who cane have helped his mental stability. david on a victory to bring peace in the in the times not that long ago saying that amongst the key questions that hasn't been sufficiently answered by either side as it were is whether or not the palace briefed against him . that's a core allegation him. that's a core allegation that he makes a virtually at every opportunity. the firm was against him and briefed against . is that true ? i don't . is that true? i don't i actually don't think it is true. i mean, i've covered i covered the royal family for a great many that, you know, alastair macintyre knew that when i first started covering the royal family all we got from inside the palace was comment. it was when started to bring in

professional and very good pr people that listen up a little, but none of them ever would ring you up and say , listen, i would you up and say, listen, i would have belter of a story . you, you have belter of a story. you, you know, whoever it was, that's not the way it we had our own contacts and we would put to them information that we had received they because we would trust them. they would tell whether that story was not true partially true or absolutely true that was towards . the but true that was towards. the but i can't think of any time that a member of the institution, if you like , phoned me, phoned me you like, phoned me, phoned me and said i've, got a cracker for you, never happened . you, never happened. extraordinary. charles it is genuinely always a pleasure to talk. thank you very much indeed for breaking your weekend to do so. and i urge all of you watching and listening to

reflect on those two final points that charles rea made there methodology there based on the methodology of a court correspondent of being a court correspondent and the behaviour of buckingham palace current context, palace, the current context, crucial points in all of the harry wales allegations . you're harry wales allegations. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends here on itv news, tv and radio with lots more up on the programme this afternoon . as we just heard this afternoon. as we just heard with charles rea that the newspapers and indeed the media are awash . new revelations and are awash. new revelations and allegations that have come out following harry's memoir spare and the interviews that he has given to tom bradby for itv and also interviews that he's given in the united states of america will be discussing more of that next. but let's give you a quick update on the weather . looking update on the weather. looking ahead to this afternoon . and the ahead to this afternoon. and the uk is looking to have a of sunny spells and blustery heavy showers. let's take a look at the details. showers will be most frequent for north western scotland where severe gales will

gradually showers may also fall as snow over hills and mountain , eastern scotland will stay dner. , eastern scotland will stay drier. northern ireland will also see this changeable weather with a largely dry morning transitioning to an afternoon of heavy showers , potentially with heavy showers, potentially with hail and thunder cloud will build northern england this afternoon as . the showers afternoon as. the showers arrive. it will also be blustery along coastal areas over higher ground . wales will see frequent ground. wales will see frequent showers today , not likely to be showers today, not likely to be heavy at times despite temperatures climbing into . temperatures climbing into. double digits here yesterday . it double digits here yesterday. it will feel colder today with highs of around eight celsius central areas of england may escape from the strongest winds, but it will still be a day as showers push straight past an increasing number of drier intervals should develop into evening after a start to sunday across south england, more organised bands showers will also arrive here to form longer spells of rain at points in the afternoon . these bands of afternoon. these bands of showers will bring gusty to coastal areas of southern and it

will feel chilly exposed to the wind. coastal gales will also develop later on the showery theme . continue till the end of theme. continue till the end of theme. continue till the end of the day . eastern areas will turn the day. eastern areas will turn dner the day. eastern areas will turn drier for the evening and that is how the weather is shaping up for the rest of the day .

good afternoon. it's 2:00. i'm tatiana sanchez in the gb newsroom, the minister has admitted the nature is undeniably under enormous pressure. despite this , rishi pressure. despite this, rishi sunak told the bbc has a renewed sense of confidence , optimism to sense of confidence, optimism to get to grips with the ongoing

crisis in health service. following talks yesterday , he's following talks yesterday, he's calling on health leaders to take bold and radical action , take bold and radical action, saying a business as usual mindset won't fix the challenges health minister maria caulfield gb news. the nhs is even more pressure this winter , seeing pressure this winter, seeing a twin damage to both covid and flu we're seeing over% increase in the number of patients in with flu. at the moment that has a knock on effect if beds available for a&e which leads to the long waits which you describe and has a knock on effect on ambulances being stuck at trying to unload their at a&e trying to unload their patients . the president of the patients. the president of the royal college of nursing says the current crisis in a&e is much worse than before the union has warned upcoming strikes will be the biggest ever in the industry if the prime minister negotiate on pay . the rcn negotiate on pay. the rcn general secretary pat cullen has told rishi sunak to meet her halfway to ensure the industrial action month doesn't go ahead .

action month doesn't go ahead. the union also says it's willing to a 10% pay rise rather than 19% shadow health sector wes streeting told us they expect the government to sit down and. i'm afraid i did. the government to sit down and. i'm afraid i did . to say to the i'm afraid i did. to say to the nurses , however much nurses, however much i sympathise with their pay claim , we would i would call on all honesty to say if i was in government today, i'd be able to give the 19. but we did say we would sit down and negotiate. i think that's what the government should do . the director of should do. the director of orthodox conservatives joseph robertson . the government needs robertson. the government needs to listen to people on the ground who know the challenges and where the money should be spent. i think a lot of the problem with what's going on is that it problem with what's going on is thatitis problem with what's going on is that it is speaking from a top down perspective . they're not down perspective. they're not looking experienced workers. looking at experienced workers. i we need more i think we need more decentralisation , think we decentralisation, think we need more power back to those who are running practises who are running practises who are running centres around the country and actually listening their ideas of the money should

go rather than the government just pouring in money without any real structure to. that development . labour has been development. labour has been urged to team up with the scottish national party to block the government plans for minimum service levels strikes. the snp's westminster has requested a meeting sir keir starmer to discuss the policy proposals. the will be introduced in parliament in the coming weeks to ensure vital public services, maintain a basic function during strikes . now russia claims it's strikes. now russia claims it's killed more than 600 ukrainian soldiers in their temporary housing in eastern ukraine. its defence says missile strike was revenge for ukraine's attack on russian barracks in a moscow part of the donetsk region . the part of the donetsk region. the bombing follows russia ending its self—declared ceasefire in the country in honour of orthodox christmas. ukraine had rejected truce and shelling continued along the front line .

continued along the front line. and harry has been accused of making the invictus games, a target for extremists by revealing in his memoir that he killed 25 taliban fighters in afghanistan. the former of the royal navy says games which are due to be held in doors in germany will now have serious security because of the connection to harry. he called the duke stupid . this is gb news the duke stupid. this is gb news will bring you more news as it happens. now it's back to . alastair the prime minister's five new year pledges . three of his five year pledges. three of his five pledges were in relation to the economy, halving inflation , economy, halving inflation, economic growth. this year and tackling the uk's debt to get it, declining as a proportion of

. however, cutting taxes was noticeably absent from his list of pledges. it was alluded to. under close questioning from colleagues who were there at the press conference . despite this press conference. despite this former pollster johnson has said that the five pledges which also include cutting nhs times and introducing new laws to stop the were well targeted at voters that they concern need to win back. that they concern need to win back . but rather predictable lay back. but rather predictable lay it drew criticism from the right of the conservative party with former culture secretary nadine dorries saying rishi sunak had no mandate for relegating 2019 manifesto pledges to fix social care and level up the uk . former care and level up the uk. former labour democrat leader sir vince cable joins me live now. vince, always a pleasure to see you. thank you very much indeed. i think we had a big, big speech from to keir starmer , had the from to keir starmer, had the five pledge speech from from the

prime himself. yeah. you're very experienced. frontline what's your overall assessment of the state of play now? are these two people making early general election pitches ? perhaps a election pitches? perhaps a little too early . well both of little too early. well both of the speeches were pretty bland and they were designed, i think, to avoid too controversy and alienating key sectors of the of the that potential support . and the that potential support. and they're both ducking the case here. i mean, one of them, the big challenge at the moment, particularly with the nhs worker strike, is , well, how do we pay strike, is, well, how do we pay for this? and we're going to have to pay for it through higher taxes in britain. doesn't have a particularly high level of taxation compared with scandinavia , france and think scandinavia, france and think we're just going to have to bite that bullet. you know , the that bullet. you know, the government can of course borrow . it's got very high debt levels

. we are dependent on the willingness of .strangers to lend to us and we can't assume that was the problem we had at the beginning of. the coalition. so i'm afraid know high attack faces is the way. your i just wish let me interrupt just david to remind people kind enough to be either listening or watching us in conversation. vince, your party famously went to the polls once saying a penny for education. are you now saying, vince, that the liberal democrats should go to the general polls whenever it comes in the spring of next year or whatever, saying we need a penny or a couple of p, whatever it might be for nhs spending. or a couple of p, whatever it might be for nhs spending . yes might be for nhs spending. yes i can't speak for the party. i think any honest you can lead off of it. the big two, any is really got to treat the public as grown ups and say we've got seriously overstretched public services. we've got irresistible call for higher pay because of chronic in key areas . we're

chronic in key areas. we're going to have to pay for it and order to do this in a way that's true. sound finance . we're going true. sound finance. we're going to have to raise taxes and just be upfront with public about it and now that the leader of the opposition or prime minister willing to spell that out within that speech and i mean pass the word back to you used it not me, but somewhat bland. i certainly didn't find it desperately exciting . was there anything exciting. was there anything within it that you as a clever old tactic and a strategist, saw that might damage your party's and what people nowadays calling the blue wall in recent by elections democrats have done very well south of watford not so well up north where labour have had had quite a good time but in highlighting people coming across the channel in small boats and saying the spnng small boats and saying the spring budget may good on taxation. was there anything there that you as a liberal democrat thinker saw as ? hang on democrat thinker saw as? hang on a minute. this is the start of

a. well, i don't think the small boats issue one particularly exit is the kind of people you're talking about. but certainly the economic issues, too, i think an issue that would almost certainly worry my party and also the labour party is that the prime minister's approval is roughly to that of the leader of the opposition and despite the enormous splits in their parties right thing. so their parties right thing. so the prime minister still a reasonably good rating . his reasonably good rating. his emphasis on financial sound . emphasis on financial sound. this is i think a message that goes down well but i repeat what i said. i think the mood in blue wall seats or anywhere else would respect a mature, honest debate about the fact that we're going to have to raise to pay for a very low level of state services that we have, both locally and nationally . and we locally and nationally. and we should have a profit debate how we do it, you know, which are the taxes, which merit increase

and the kind of debate i would want to see happening. i hope my party provoke it as we did in the old days of paddy ashdown and his party in the pound for income tax . i remember it well , income tax. i remember it well, but i think a new version of thatis but i think a new version of that is required then i have to leave it there. thank you very much indeed. but something coming up that i know you will enjoy as well. and i hope other people well, we're people as well, because we're going live to newquay . going to cut live to newquay. newquay, where the uk space agency have begun their press conference that geoff moody was telling us about a little earlier , ahead of britain's earlier, ahead of britain's first ever rocket launch from a new facility at combe moore airport tomorrow , the press airport tomorrow, the press conference and geoff moody join us as well, an international of space innovators, the us reconnaissance office , uk, to reconnaissance office, uk, to focus on science and technology , satellite applications , , satellite applications, honzon , satellite applications, horizon technology to the us naval research laboratory , the naval research laboratory, the grandeur of space launch , sound

grandeur of space launch, sound revolution and the sultanate of oman are all right in our flight this week . so oman are all right in our flight this week. so to learn more about each mission and customer, you can have a look at the press kit that was sent out to. we're also delighted to help you connect with our customers , connect with our customers, learn more about their individual spacecraft . so if you individual spacecraft. so if you have any specific spacecraft questions, feel free to connect with one of us in the media team and we'll put you in touch with the right people a little bit more about the mission. so the launch service was acquired by the national reconnaissance office orbit. office from the virgin orbit. national systems, subsidiary of virgin orbit. it's also , you virgin orbit. it's also, you guys know, a very special launch for us because it's the first international launch for virgin orbit. it's also the first ever orbital launch from the united kingdom or indeed anywhere else in western . our panellists today in western. our panellists today can tell you all about the incredible collaboration and effort that made that possible , effort that made that possible, and also about what it means. cornwall and for the uk . a

cornwall and for the uk. a little bit about how the launch actually works. before we go into the q&a period , so launch into the q&a period, so launch one is a two stage. this is a preliminary briefing from the uk space agency are two spokespeople that talking about what is going to be happening at midnight that geoff moody explained a little earlier and that the prospects of if this all goes well and according to it's not only a commercial development for sir richard and his desire to put ordinary folk up in space at a price , but up in space at a price, but also, i think in my view, more the distinct possibility of the uk space agency , its commercial uk space agency, its commercial partners , creating a new partners, creating a new industry based upon cornwall airport down there at newquay. so we don't like to linger on preambles because bottom finish and that's all they are preambles. so we will keep an eye on that or i won't but somebody else in the control will and the minute we get on to

meet he stuff all good pictures we will we will cut back to it. i'm delighted now to continue my conversation ricci's conversation about ricci's pledges made my pledges having just made my pledge, is to get the pledge, and that is to get the thoughts of very good friend of mine, the deputy editor of the spectator freddie spectator magazine, freddie grey, snuck in here and grey, who has snuck in here and is quietly a sitting here. so were you fired up enthusiastic and think ricci's really got this ? he's speaking to my this? he's speaking to my priority . this? he's speaking to my priority. he's not. not this? he's speaking to my priority . he's not. not really, priority. he's not. not really, no . i don't think anybody at the no. i don't think anybody at the spectators , it was sort of mind spectators, it was sort of mind blowing in any way. i think possibly it got a little bit too much criticism. i thought labour saying, you know, these pledges are easy. it was a bit trite . i are easy. it was a bit trite. i think obviously the inflation reduction target was was modest . i think growing economy would be very weird if the economy didn't grow in any way in the next year. but i'm pledging to cut the debt is a serious commitment. yes. and it's one one of the trickier ones and extremely green. i don't know if you heard it, but daly on on the

program said he underlined the inflation ambition with several lines saying if you do want to reduce taxation despite . what reduce taxation despite. what vince cable just told me that they want to increase it for the health service. and if you do want to provide good . gilt edged want to provide good. gilt edged pubuc want to provide good. gilt edged public services you got to deal with inflation. so damian green rishi sunak ten out of ten for that. well inflation is the monster that has to come under control. i think the control. i mean, i think the fact that the government has known for a while that it's expect or most experts agree inflation should come down at the abnormal if it didn't. so i don't think it's a particularly adventurous pledge. i think the what a lot tories are worried what a lot of tories are worried aboutis what a lot of tories are worried about is that after the sort of disaster of trusts trust and disaster the of trusts trust and i think sort of this failed experiment a radical the government sunak ism is a massive overcorrect . and they're massive overcorrect. and they're very very nervous . let me ask very very nervous. let me ask you this quite bluntly, though, because we've known each other for some time and you and i know that you think about these things a great deal, but a lot of what trusts and i've said is

being by reform and it's being echoed by reform and it's being echoed by reform and it's being by richard tice. i being echoed by richard tice. i don't mean that as a criticism a move at all, which a perfectly reasonable right wing tory mantra and this was a mantra the more ordinary conserve it is out in the country liked , the in the country liked, the sensible, grown up defeat inflation, economics of the prime minister. well i mean, trust nomics had lot going for it. that's that's the point. but it. that's that's the point. but it was spectacularly badly delivered . and the sort of mess delivered. and the sort of mess and, you know, the messaging wasn't well—thought through. rishi is very good at the messaging. you know, i actually thought the pledges were neatly presented. you know, he's address what voters are concerned there's concerned about, but there's a lot there and there's lot of caution there and there's a managerial approach. a very managerial approach. so if some sort of if you could find some sort of combination of trust and sunak, that might be quite an effective thing the moment. i'm not thing at the moment. i'm not sure can. there's sure you can. well, there's a thought. another thing that i thought. another thing that i thought was intriguing and it was welcomed again , live on the was welcomed again, live on the programme by both damian green , programme by both damian green, who i know you know very well

indeed. who i know you know very well indeed . also a top frontline nhs indeed. also a top frontline nhs doctor and that was the idea of take deep breath and dip into pubuc take deep breath and dip into public finances and do some of alan milburn go to the private sector, particularly and care and say if you've got spare capacity for all sorts reasons we'll buy it and we'll put folk in hospital in your care homes and we'll pay for it because . and we'll pay for it because. that will really address bed blocking . that's radical blocking. that's radical thinking, even if is quite costly is radical thinking and it's also absolutely essential and it to something that the tories have been just far too nervous about for a long time. and the fear of being and that's the fear of being accused privatising nhs. accused of privatising the nhs. it's sort of thing that was it's the sort of thing that was thrown particularly to corbyn, was being thrown, thrown at party but it's obvious, party a lot. but it's obvious, obvious everybody , whether we obvious to everybody, whether we use the word crisis or not that drastic radical reform of the nhs has to done, has to be done urgently. and for that you will have to involve the private

sector. that doesn't mean privatising the nhs, it does mean doing something drastic sorting particularly sorting care out, particularly one the most radical thinkers one of the most radical thinkers at in the world of at the moment in the world of politics is young, which streeting at labour? yes. and he was camilla tominey was talking to camilla tominey on this morning on on earlier this morning and he's about doing it he's been out and about doing it quite bit. blimey. the nhs quite a bit. blimey. on the nhs he's being radical, the chances of labour accusing the tories of doing the private are doing deals with the private are dead the water because that's dead in the water because that's exactly what he and keir starmer want to do in just the same way that alan milburn did. and milburn told me on. labour's relationship with the private sector health is not a one night stand. well quite exactly . i stand. well quite exactly. i mean it's not to say, you know, starmer's to keep firing bullets . the corpse of corbynism, as somebody put it, i think was my editor actually, as long as he can . and so the tories don't can. and so the tories don't need to worry about that. so what they do need to worry about is fact that are not is the fact that they are not seen to be getting a grip on the nhs crisis and they need to come up with solutions. i'm up with radical solutions. i'm surprised you know the nhs

surprised that you know the nhs pledge about waiting pledge was just about waiting lists. i thought they could lists. i thought that they could he have expanded on he could have expanded more on that and we could have had talk about serious serious at a structural level nhs mean structural level of the nhs mean he used the language he he even used the language himself we to be bold himself about we have to be bold and radical and radical in in words . i and radical and radical in in words. i mean that again i think that the sunak is confusing that the team sunak is confusing simplicity of presentation with . for simplicity of presentation with. for boats as well . i mean just the boats as well. i mean just the proposed plans for stopping the boats. why not start talking about whether he seriously would consider withdrawing from all international commitments? no pledge bill of rights. no pledge on getting of the european convention on human rights , convention on human rights, actually, awful lot of actually, which an awful lot of his say. yeah. you talk the his core say. yeah. you talk the talk of boat people . yeah. but talk of boat people. yeah. but unless you give yourself the weaponry . you just like weaponry. you just like everybody before, including priti patel will be able to crack it. well, exactly. so when if keir starmer is stealing the centre ground from sunak, how can how can sunak's policy to be steal it back again? i mean, i

there has to be some differentiation between the party on things like immigration, things like the economy and even things like the nhs. so i think we're seeing thatis nhs. so i think we're seeing that is lacking is a bit of imagination on immigration and certainly fear of being branded as toxically right wing. i think he needs to abandon some of those fears, particularly on immigration. yeah vince cable was on the earlier and again, i don't know whether you were able to catch it because i know you were outside that, but rather like and you and both remember it well. penny income tax to it well. penny on income tax to pay it well. penny on income tax to pay education. he was saying we need to do something very, very similar to that for the nhs. yes. the most refreshing thing that came out of the briefings about that roundtable summit at downing street was that it didn't big on just more money, more money, more money. well, it did go big on certain measures , did go big on certain measures, certain corporations and, certain corporations and, certain evolutions and developments . well, it was very developments. well, it was very interesting to have vince, but the lib dems just shot

themselves in the foot a little bit, i think, because nobody thinks that the nhs is underfunded. sane person does. we on care than we spend on health care than other serious developed nation and so clearly the problem is not funding the problem. what we're doing with the money and the sclerosis is that it's set in major parts of the system . so in major parts of the system. so reform is what's needed , what reform is what's needed, what needs to be done, not just throwing money at it . so i needs to be done, not just throwing money at it. so i think a penny for the nhs , an extra a penny for the nhs, an extra penny for the nhs would not go down well with the electorate because i think the electorate understand that well. understand that quite well. yeah, talking to steve yeah, i was talking to steve chalke from the oasis chalke earlier from the oasis and i familiar with him, and i feel familiar with him, but what would call but what i would call a refreshing progressive thinker in the world of education. and he was saying even it wasn't a pledge, it was a throwaway line . but the idea that education is the closest we get to a bullet , the closest we get to a bullet, whether you're talking about levelling up or , all the rest of levelling up or, all the rest of it hasn't had legs, particularly you fundamentally review how we

train teachers and how we retain in these brilliant young men and women who go into that profession and keep them there, he said. that was an open door that the profession would welcome and not just moan out because it was a tory saying it. well, i think it was smart overseas. you note this week focus on education. actually if you look at the tory party's record on education, pandemics , record on education, pandemics, huge issue that's caused many, many you take that many problems. you take that out of if can . the tories of it if you can. the tories reckon education's pretty good . reckon education's pretty good. the have worked the academy reforms have worked to a large extent. i'd say it's the only major aspect of government that . the tories have government that. the tories have not completely stop up in the last decade , so it's worth them last decade, so it's worth them focusing on it and saying, look, have achieved quite a lot and we can achieve more and we can go further. i thought it was further. so i thought it was clever sunak to do that clever of, of sunak to do that increasing skills an increasing skills is an important of that, important aspect of that, something he's very keen on. girl as secretary skills and you know reflect on all things that they've done right which i think is smart politics quite whether

it deals with the fact that everything else is in crisis. first thinking is always welcome. very great to have you on board. you're always welcome as know, around the rest of as you know, around the rest of your day, weekend thank you very much indeed for breaking it much indeed for breaking into it to to us. freddie to come and talk to us. freddie grey editor of the grey there the editor of the spectator and a writer spectator magazine and a writer on matters political . i on all matters political. i always welcome on the program. thanks very much for joining us . let's try and put this in polling context as well, and i'm delighted to be joined by an old friend of this program and of mine, and that is the co—founder, director of delta, pauljoe co—founder, director of delta, paul joe twyman . and there he is paul joe twyman. and there he is . i just suggested to freddie that vince cable may have committed a little bit of suicide on behalf of the liberal democrats on this program, by saying what we need is a penny on income taxes , something on income taxes, something approaching it to fund the nhs, which is very no one serious is talking about just chucking more and more money at one of the most overfunded public services

in existence. what's your take? lib dems going to the polls wanting tax for the nhs ? well, wanting tax for the nhs? well, the question of taxation is always one that's difficult to , always one that's difficult to, difficult to sell to the electorate and generally speaking, people prefer taxation to be kept at the level it is or to be kept at the level it is or to be kept at the level it is or to be reduced. whatever the area of policy , they will look for of policy, they will look for reform before they look for increase increased taxation . increase increased taxation. having said that, there a sizeable portion of people who do believe that more money needs to be spent on the nhs particularly when it comes to deaung particularly when it comes to dealing with aspects such as such as nurses wages which of course so important in the news that at the moment. but how you sell that to the electorate as the size of really difficult really difficult question. yes talking and things that are in play talking and things that are in play . i find talking and things that are in play. i find it intriguing as well that care yet again and the nhs particularly because of the strikes that are going on and on, the waiting lists and problems with ambulances and all of that is clearly a battle

royal, not least between steve barclay and the prime minister himself, who made it one of his five pledges. but also wes streeting, who is making a mark for himself as quite a radical thinker within the labour far alley, admitting to goodness me the nhs is not absolutely perfect and we do need to have some radical thinking. will that strike a chord with floating voters ? i think it will to an voters? i think it will to an extent. the nhs is certainly an important issue when you ask what's the most important issue facing both them and their families and the country more generally ? but it's very much generally? but it's very much a second order issue. the most important by some distance is the costs living crisis. and yes, rishi soon pledged to cut waiting lists. but you and i both know are very few politicians out there who get his campaign on increasing waiting and so and so he has he has mentioned it. but even if waiting lists were cut if people's cost of living, housing

create and continues to increase and people fear that it will increase further no amount of sickness movement, even if it can be achieved on waiting lists or social anyhow on the other aspects of the nhs is necessarily going to save the rishi sunak administration are the cost of in crisis and inflation almost interchangeable inflation almost interchangeable in terms that analysis because damian green was in on the programme a little earlier and said absolutely ten out of ten for the prime minister. on saying kerbing inflation bringing under control this is at the heart of everything. whether you want to reduce taxation down the road or whether you want to guarantee well funded public services , you well funded public services, you got a crack in inflation . does got a crack in inflation. does that mean the same as kerbing? the living crisis ? in the of living crisis? in a sense, yes . the of living crisis? in a sense, yes. in public opinion terms , the whole thing of terms, the whole thing of inflation this term that this term that we band around is not that's particularly well understood by most people, though they understand if it goes up it's bad news generally

speaking. and if it goes down, it's good news. but instead people relate more to what they can actually see in their own lives. and so than talking about inflation in, general, people are more concerned . things such are more concerned. things such as the cost of the cost of their utilities , the cost of their utilities, the cost of their housing, which is of course, so closely to interest rates which are linked to inflate . and those are linked to inflate. and those are linked to inflate. and those are the things that are really important. so saying that you're going to halve inflation. yes. i mean, going to be mean, it's going to be important. and if inflation is halved, that will be a positive thing . but has to be passed thing. but it has to be passed on to the consumers in terms of all of these aspects. well, state will not perceive the cost of crisis to be fixed let alone let alone over . of crisis to be fixed let alone let alone over. and to be fair, to damian green, he also did make that point that the link to inflation and high interest rates and mortgages and so on was, was direct and immediate and would have an impact for many people who have mortgages

as opposed to who looks at all of the data on what people most troubled about and most worried about. troubled about and most worried about . how would you score , the about. how would you score, the prime minister's selection those five pledges? well, i would that it's basically hitting all of the all of the important the most important issues for the public. generally speaking , the public. generally speaking, the cost of living, the economy generally the nhs and immigration. generally the nhs and immigration . so he hits those immigration. so he hits those with his with his five but and this is a really important point the of living is so important if you don't fix that really everything else is largely irrelevant there are going to very few i would suggest if any voters at the next election who hypothetically speaking , turn hypothetically speaking, turn around and say my heating bills doubled, my housing costs have tripled, but at least there were fewer small boats coming across the channel and so therefore i'm going to vote conservative. it simply doesn't work like that in reality. and so the cost of

living has to be the foundation for all of this, or else the conservatives are real trouble . conservatives are real trouble. joe, thank you very much indeed for your time. that sounded to me like a b—plus from from delta polling in due time and for the prime minister's delivery and selection of five points. always good, don't you joe? thanks so much enjoy the rest much dave. enjoy the rest of your weekend in there. the your weekend time in there. the co—founder director of delta co—founder and director of delta paul co—founder and director of delta paul, you're and paul, you're watching and listening stewart listening to alison stewart friends and have a little bit more still to come after this. but first, let's bring you right up to date with the weather . up to date with the weather. looking ahead to this evening's weather nine, the uk is looking to have a mix of clear spells and showers, breezy conditions. here are the details . a fair here are the details. a fair number of showers likely to sweep in across the south—west of england and brisk and gusty as a result , of england and brisk and gusty as a result, clear spells will be short lived . most of the be short lived. most of the showers across the south should die out. so many areas here will go into even into the drier with

clear periods developing a showery setup expected across much of wales , the heaviest and much of wales, the heaviest and most widespread of the showers are likely in the occasional shower make inroads into parts of west midlands thanks to the southwesterly , although for many southwesterly, although for many we'll be a dry start to the night with broken cloud cover it will be a similar situation across north eastern england where showers are possible over the pennines whilst further east the pennines whilst further east the coast it looks dry and fairly clear . scotland will see fairly clear. scotland will see a large from west to east with in the west and clear with spells edinburgh and other eastern parts across northern ireland. it will be a changeable picture . there'll be some clear picture. there'll be some clear weather at times, especially in the east, but with some showers moving in from the west overnight, we'll hold on to clear spells and blustery showers. although most of the showers. although most of the showers are likely in the west

and that is how the weather is shaping up into tomorrow morning .

good it's 232. i'm tatiana sanchez in the gb newsroom. the prime minister has admitted nhs is undeniably enormous pressure . despite this, rishi sunak told bbc he has a renewed sense of confidence and optimism to get to grips with the ongoing within the health service. following emergency talks yesterday , he is emergency talks yesterday, he is calling on health leaders to bold and radical action , saying bold and radical action, saying a business as usual mindset won't fix the challenges . health won't fix the challenges. health minister maria caulfield gb news the nhs is facing even more pressure this winter, seeing a twin demick of both covid and flu, seeing over 50% increase in

the number of patients in with flu at the moment. that a knock on effect if beds aren't available for a&e which leads to the long waits which you describe and has knock on effect on ambulances being stuck and trying to unload their patients . the president of the royal college of nursing says , the college of nursing says, the current crisis in a&e is much worse than before , the union has worse than before, the union has warned upcoming will be the biggest ever the industry if the prime minister doesn't negotiate on pay. the rcn general secretary pat cullen has told rishi sunak meet her halfway to ensure industrial action this month. doesn't go ahead. the union also it's willing to consider a 10% pay rise rather than 19. health secretary wes streeting told us they expect the government sit down and negotiate . but i did have to say negotiate. but i did have to say to the nurses, however much i totally sympathise with their pay totally sympathise with their pay claim. would i would concur on all honesty to say if i was

in government today, i'd be able to give the 19. but we did say we would sit down and negotiate. i think that's what the government should do . and king government should do. and king charles has been seen out in pubuc charles has been seen out in public smiling for the first time since. details from son, the duke of sussex, his memoir have emerged. the king's stop to interact with crowds . he arrived interact with crowds. he arrived for a church service in, norfolk, this morning. it comes as a string of personal revelations have been made pubuc revelations have been made public week with harry's public this week with harry's book spare accidental , released book spare accidental, released early in spain . tv, online and early in spain. tv, online and the abbey plus radio. this is gb news. now it's back to alice stewart and friends . stewart and friends. tatyana thank you very much indeed.i tatyana thank you very much indeed. i am a man. my word. we took you away . that uk space took you away. that uk space agency briefing . but i promised agency briefing. but i promised you faithfully that some of experts on the team would be watching very carefully . and

watching very carefully. and that we would bring you an update and will involve jeff in that just a moment but now that in just a moment but now let's take you back to newquay where uk space agency have where the uk space agency have indeed been speaking . that press indeed been speaking. that press conference ahead of britain's first rocket by virgin first ever rocket by virgin orbit , a new facility at orbit, a new facility at cornwall airport . this is cornwall airport. this is melissa thorpe, who is head of spaceport cornwall. i think we've seen over the last eight years is this building of excitement , years is this building of excitement, something very aspirational and different for cornwall , something that started cornwall, something that started off as a project that a lot of people believed it was ever going to happen . and we've just going to happen. and we've just really pushed so hard as a team to get to the point that we are today working our our friends and family at virgin at uk space agency . and i think they've seen agency. and i think they've seen a team here in cornwall that live and breathe this county deliver something quite

incredible. and so i hope that when they're sitting at home, they feel bit of inspiration or aspiration and feel proud of how we're representing cornwall going to stars . i think going to the stars. i think there's a lot of doom and gloom out at the moment and something this where you feeling this excitement? you see all the schoolchildren about . schoolchildren excited about. you and grandfather's you see nana's and grandfather's excited about it. they come across as all generations . and across as all generations. and so i really think that people sitting at home just something exciting, it's something different . it's something you different. it's something you don't see every day. somewhere like cornwall. and it's a bit of an underdog story as and an underdog story as well. and i think people love an underdog, especially uk. so i especially in the uk. so i really hope that that's what people feel. they're watching it at . home at. home thomas was going years done. can you explain the concept of a launch window what governs its start and finish and what can wrong at this stage we know it's

blowing out early outside but conditions can this girl actually take off and. sure. well, i mean a launch window is a culmination of . all of the a culmination of. all of the inputs that when a rocket can fly . so it has inputs that when a rocket can fly. so it has to do inputs that when a rocket can fly . so it has to do with when fly. so it has to do with when the payloads are ready, when the rocket and the rocket system is ready when the regulatory framework is in place and where and the and the coordination of framework is in place and where and the airspace and across the parties. and so that's really dictates the launch window or launch window opens tomorrow night with a number of opportunities over the next couple of weeks where we're always geared towards and focussed on the beginning of the window, which why we're here today , but we will be looking today, but we will be looking very carefully at the readiness of the system as we process forward. right now, everything green, the rocket was armed yesterday and we're be loading fuel later today so we're in

full motion right now gearing towards the launch tomorrow . towards the launch tomorrow. that said , if we see anything that said, if we see anything interesting that we want, stop and pause and look at relative to the system health. if winds or precipitation or lightning or something like that in the area, we will look very closely . we're we will look very closely. we're going to proceed cautiously on this flight. we're in different than we've flown before or our pilots are ready . but we want to pilots are ready. but we want to make sure we give them every opportunity for a successful mission to work out the weather . sure. i mean , you know , the . sure. i mean, you know, the aeroplane is a very robust aeroplane is a very robust aeroplane . 747 we do keep an eye aeroplane. 747 we do keep an eye on crosswinds because we have a rocket under wing and then although we certainly have ability to fly above the clouds and we do our launch above the clouds, you know we want to make sure that things triggered lightning or other items are not in the a possibility and so do

stay very close to the met office and we've gotten some very good support from the local met office here. i highly appreciate that. so thanks . appreciate that. so thanks. jordan. right. the angry astronaut . i watched cosmic girl astronaut. i watched cosmic girl landin astronaut. i watched cosmic girl land in october. i think you were hoping to launch in november. and clearly that hasn't happened . and i'm hasn't happened. and i'm curious, given delays, regardless of what may have caused them, has that impacted your future plans of launching from the kingdom? you know, we knew this was not to be a piece of cake when we took on this this opportunity. we worked very closely with . the uk space closely with. the uk space agency caa spaceport cornwall as well . you know, the well. you know, the international community for air space.i international community for air space. i think we've all learned

a lot in doing that. i think, you know, like any the first time you do it is difficult. the second time you already know , second time you already know, you know and can can and so the short answer is we're excited be here today. we're excited about future and coming back maybe as soon as later this year to launch and hopefully get a rhythm . we want to be a part of rhythm. we want to be a part of the fabric of space community here in the uk as well as globally . that's here in the uk as well as globally. that's our here in the uk as well as globally . that's our objective globally. that's our objective as a company and i think i think there's great opportunity and i'd like to answer that as all and i'm sure you know jordan as well when you look at programs like a lesson that which has had a number of delays of course until it's got to its first launch and similarly with the likes of apl who are another partner that we're working with for then

for scottish launches then they're waiting for their first flight as well because because it's difficult. right. so it's important make sure that you get to a safe successful launch rather than rush towards failure. and in terms of it impact on subsequent launches from the uk. oh, apps. absolutely not. our role here of course is to create a commercially sustainable launch capability , but also it's capability, but also it's ensuring that we step through the regulations that we've we've put in place through primary legislation . there are legislation. there are inevitably things that we are learning from that as well as we go along and take that at the right pace in order to make sure that it can be successful so it can build confidence across the sector. and then people want to come back and launch from the uk and they see it as a good place to do business as as it as to do business as long as it as well as of course being inspired by the event itself . and i met by the event itself. and i met there the deputy ceo at the uk space agency completing that

very informative and cautious briefing of what they hope will be happening around about midnight tonight. but windows and watching weather tomorrow and watching weather tomorrow and all the rest of it and before him you heard from melissa thorp, who is the boss down there at spaceport , and dan down there at spaceport, and dan hart, who is the boss of virgin orbit, whose aircraft rocket, of course, it all is . as i said to course, it all is. as i said to you, just a few ago at that news at cornwall airport, newquay is our software out of england. correspondent geoff moody, who was in on that press conference as well as you predicted a little earlier on the programme. i mean it's exciting stuff, cautious, grown up stuff, but there was a real buzz , wasn't there was a real buzz, wasn't that geoff marsden's was based? there was absolutely no. the press conference is still going on. so i'm going to talk in a bit of a quiet voice. alison because there's nothing worse

than a reporter at. the sidelines of a press conference yakking away loudly is there, but yeah, still going on. but yeah, it's still going on. and that of real and yes, that sense of real excitement. a project excitement. this is a project that been on that they've been working on for years years years . i years and years and years. i mean, whole space movement mean, the whole space movement in started 1952. so in britain started in 1952. so this really is culmination of that. this really is culmination of that . earlier this really is culmination of that. earlier on we heard from thorp who was talking about what it means for cornwall and she was talking about the future , was talking about the future, the space program in cornwall . the space program in cornwall. they've got a very, very strong relationship with cornwall council and she's saying that at the moment that they're focusing on satellites , this this method on satellites, this this method to get satellites into space, but they are to be looking later at space tourism. that's something that's very much on their agenda, very much on council's agenda . they're saying council's agenda. they're saying it's perfectly possible in a few time for people to be able to up into space and not space, but go up and to the point they can see the curvature of the earth. so when you come to cornwall, you can do speedboats, you can do fishing trips, you can do the

flights around the harbours and the bays. and you can also up a little bit higher and see the curvature the earth. so it's a massive , massive thing for massive, massive thing for cornwall in general . and it's cornwall in general. and it's very interesting that she that we've had so much doom and gloom in the news this is a good positive story. a good positive story . great britain. well, with story. great britain. well, with our technology which we love here on gb news tv and radio good positive stuff for great britain. geoff moody you for your contribution earlier on and for that brilliant summing up of what dan and melissa and the were talking about. i thank you very much indeed geoff moody that's given users southwest of england correspondent with that's going on at the spaceport and you're watching and listening to alan's the stuart and friends with plenty more still to come this afternoon including sun saving including sun savings . we'll have some top sun savings. we'll have some top tips for shopping on a shoestring but first, let's take a quick .

break welcome back. and you are watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends here on gb news and radio . i asked on gb news and radio. i asked you at the top of the programme to get in touch. rishi sunak's five pledges. so about prince harry and you have certainly been doing that particularly to touch on our discussions about prince harry and those candid revelations that are continuing to released garfield's. i'll have to say the whole files is becoming painful to watch and to hear about. he does need protecting himself because his actions and judgement throughout all of this are deeply flawed and damaging . nadine says. and damaging. nadine says. meghan is no fool. but she is playing a dangerous game in pursuit of fame . money. she's

pursuit of fame. money. she's hugely underestimated , vital hugely underestimated, vital role . the royal family held for role. the royal family held for nearly 40 years in protecting harry from himself . do keep your harry from himself. do keep your views coming in and also subscribe our youtube channel. we are at gb news. all of our previous interviews are indeed all previous programmes which i hope you will find both and will enjoy. i say thank you so much and that's youtube. gb news. now more on harry and they interview itn's tom bradby, which is coming tonight. plus, the ones in america that will be playing as well , in america that will be playing as well, promising in america that will be playing as well , promising or as well, promising or threatening more revelations . it threatening more revelations. it all comes ahead of the public action of harry's memoir, spare air, which hits the shops formally and legally here tuesday. inadvertently went on sale in a few days ago and a couple of the newspapers this

morning saying here are we've been over to spain and. we've got a copy of it. however, thanks to numerous , we already thanks to numerous, we already know an awful lot what we can expect from that. but the family are braced. we told. for more . are braced. we told. for more. with me now to give her thoughts is royal commentator caroline ashton. how troubled you think the family are and other courtiers with whom keep in touch professionally so closely . well, i would say , alastair, . well, i would say, alastair, they're very wary about this. and in fact , think based on many and in fact, think based on many of the comments heard, there is a sense sussex fatigue setting in. prince harry is obviously a very damaged person and i quite agree with some of the comments people have been sending to you who forget him as a father to a young boy walking the coffin of the mother who'd suddenly be taken from him. but of course, don't forget that prince william to lost his mother both of them

have had to cope with this and prince william as far as i can see, has fought much to do what is expected of him do his duty and appears to be doing it very in the face of an awful lot of provocation. the hurt the frustration the. if you were to distil the perfume from all the things coming out at the moment , it would certainly have a most bitter scent to it . and what bitter scent to it. and what more really can said the skeletons are out of the cupboard . they've been largely cupboard. they've been largely flushed . these to early release flushed. these to early release pieces of information. after all not many princes have written of losing their virginity in fields behind pubs, of falling on dog bowls. and of course, yes . bowls. and of course, yes. saying that he's experimented illegal substances . this saying that he's experimented illegal substances. this is a picture of a very, very troubled young man . and the question that young man. and the question that comes to me is what of the door is finally on this pandora's of

the past? what he and his wife going to spend the next 40 odd years of their lives doing. this can't go forever. and i have to i think king charles iii, who's obviously interested in meteorology knows that in time if you leave a storm it leave damage but it will blow itself out. maybe the tactic. i suspect it is . interesting just what you it is. interesting just what you are beginning that on so we put up pictures of harry and william together and a thing that struck me overnight reading bits and bobs and what have you of course william did reach to the public on the horrors of having lost his mother walking the coffin. all the rest of it talked quite openly about his mental well—being . did harry ever have well—being. did harry ever have a chance to reach out to the pubucin a chance to reach out to the public in similar fashion rather taking to his his ballpoint pen and typewriter as he just lost

the plot so that he lost that crucial opportunity ? well, i do crucial opportunity? well, i do think . he's crucial opportunity? well, i do think. he's lost the plot. and i think. he's lost the plot. and i think in doing so, he's damaged himself as much as damaging the royal family. i think some of the most shocking things that have come out of this, certainly for me, was his revelation that had killed 25 taliban as well. if i was harry again, that would round and say, bam, the taliban most servicemen would say, of course, that you never speak of this and to describe human lives even of terrorists of course as being merely chess pieces. i think that's a shock to lot of people. it's almost as though, as you read these revelations that have been fed to us over the last days, you get the impression of someone scraping the barrel memory to come up with sensational . yes. to boost with sensational. yes. to boost sales of the book. but i see the damage to the troubled young man who certainly is had therapeutic

treatment speaks of having his therapy on speed dial and yet for some reason was unable help his wife when she similarly troubled. and the trouble with a lot of this stuff is if you analyse it forensically and believe you me after tuesday the fine tooth comb of analysis . fine tooth comb of analysis. absolutely. caroline, we have to leave it there. always a pleasure. talk to you. thank you for fitting us into your busy schedule as well. thank you so much, caroline. that's the news. royal commentator and indeed broadcast . we time for just one broadcast. we time for just one final item on the program this sunday and it is our ever welcome. i hope you think so. most of you say it is sunday savings slot . now let's be savings slot. now let's be honest with each other . after honest with each other. after the festive period of us are really feeling the pinch more so than ever before with mounting bills , debts and food price . bills, debts and food price. it's hardly surprising that people have been turning to budget supermarkets for their weekly shop . joining me now is

weekly shop. joining me now is isabel lawrence. personal expert . you can do that of thing full measure because you see anybody can get through or. it can be an intelligent habit. you develop people like you have said, that's the way to go forward and stretch the pound and learn stretch the pound and we learn new or we just grown up new tricks or we just grown up a bit our selves our budgets bit with our selves our budgets , to be honest. know there's only so much we can do now. i think, you know, at the beginning of the cost of living crisis, you know, we were given two tips for saving us . costs two tips for saving us. costs continued rise . i think continued to rise. i think there's only so much people can they can only save so much. so think it is really sticking to the tips and tricks we already know trying to stick know but really trying to stick to you know, as to them. you know, as much as possible. things budgeting possible. things like budgeting in shop making a list in your food shop making a list and sticking to it. maybe trying some of the own brand items , the some of the own brand items, the budget ranges, things like that . i think that's really , you . i think that's really, you know, we're just keeping on those things and, you know, people might not see a difference immediately, but even

if they're saving five, difference immediately, but even if they're saving five , £10 on if they're saving five, £10 on their shop every week will their food shop every week will really difference . and i really see a difference. and i think your sense . let me think get your sense. let me back in to ask you this. your sense what will happen in sense as to what will happen in the medium term, the short to medium term, because we know for a fact that the supermarkets have made a really sterling effort to get our pounds and pennies us and has cost tesco and savings spree and people like that market share which has gone to little and aldi . are we going to see and aldi. are we going to see a bit of retaliation there or do we hope for even more savings and cost cutting around the corner? what's prediction ? i corner? what's prediction? i think we will see . you know, think we will see. you know, they the non budget supermarkets really trying their best they might bring in certain products that can't find elsewhere to draw people in. they might sort of price match to aldi and lidl which i know some supermarkets do already and they might bring in even better rewards on their loyalty . i know some loyalty. i know some supermarkets have great loyalty

cards that offer you lots of money off for using them , and i money off for using them, and i think they'll really step that up though, because they want you to shopping. they're going to really draw you in and it's actually worth continuing to keep an eye out for what they are. absolutely. you know, it is are. absolutely. you know, it is a way because you might say, no, i'll stick stylistic to lidl. but as they try and really follow you for your costume figure will be saying look we're going to price match we're going to offer you this we offer you great deals. so it's always worth just keeping eye out just in case. but i think, you know, they really will to try hard and they really will to try hard and they really will be all they can to keep us shopping. so keep your eyes open, your mind open and your eyes peeled for those bargains. isabel, great to talk you.thank bargains. isabel, great to talk you. thank you very much, indeed for thoughts and an for those thoughts and an instruction to people who want to make the pound go a little bit do shop around. bit further. do shop around. there savings to be there are savings still to be had and watch the marketplace, but alas is all we have time today. i very much enjoyed it . i

today. i very much enjoyed it. i will be back next sunday from 12 noon and i really hope that you enjoy the rest on saturday at 12 noon. and of course , sunday. noon. and of course, sunday. meantime, enjoy the meantime, i hope you enjoy the of this sunday from all of us here at gb views tv radio on the alastair stewart& friends a very good to you. bye bye . good afternoon to you. bye bye. looking this weather looking ahead to this weather and the uk is looking to have a mix of clear spells showers with breezy conditions , here are the breezy conditions, here are the details. a fair number of showers are likely to across the south—west of england and brisk and gusty winds as a result, clear spells be short lived. most of the showers across the southeast should out so many areas here go into even into the evening drier with clear periods a showery setup expected across much of wales , the heaviest and much of wales, the heaviest and most widespread . the showers are most widespread. the showers are likely in the west and the occasional shower might inroads into parts of the west midlands thanks to the southwesterly breeze , although for many will breeze, although for many will be a dry start to the night with

broken cloud cover , it will be broken cloud cover, it will be a similar situation across north eastern england where. showers are possible over the pennines whilst further east towards the coast it looks dry and fairly clear clear . scotland will see a clear clear. scotland will see a large contrast from west east with showers in the west , clear with showers in the west, clear with showers in the west, clear with spells towards edinburgh and other eastern parts across northern ireland. it will be a changeable picture . there'll be changeable picture. there'll be some clear weather at times, especially in east, but with some showers moving in from the west overnight . we'll hold on to west overnight. we'll hold on to clear spells and blustery showers, although most of the showers, although most of the showers are likely in the west and that is how the weather is shaping up into tomorrow morning .