hello and, welcome. i'm alastair stewart and for the next 2 hours i'll be keeping you company on tv and radio with . the stories tv and radio with. the stories that really matter across the country. and as always, we have plenty coming up. today is something bold happening in the nhs? is it something bold happening in the nhs.7 is it bold enough for you.7 would nhs? is it bold enough for you? would you like the to be doctor seeing a recession and is harry's royal reputation in or

is there a way back ? but first, is there a way back? but first, let's bring you right up to date with all of the day's news here is wraps . thanks on the streets is wraps. thanks on the streets mid—day i'm radisson in the gb newsroom. the prime minister has described the execution of a british iranian national in iran as barbaric. rishi sunak said the killing of ali razak was a callous and coward . the act. mr. callous and coward. the act. mr. akbari was sentenced to death on charges of spying for britain. the foreign james cleverly has summoned the iranian charge d'affairs to make clear the government's disgust . a union government's disgust. a union representing ambulance has written to the prime minister. they feel betrayed , attempts to they feel betrayed, attempts to paint them as uncaring . gmb, paint them as uncaring. gmb, which represents more than 10,000 ambulance staff, told rishi sunak he was demonising them over action. it comes after

mr. sunak told the commons that action was terrifying the public. tory mp lee anderson had told esther and phil earlier the letter may not reflect the views of the workers, but listening to their fellaini knows between opinions, drivers, anomalies, unions and i've time times a chef with ambulance drivers and they know sometimes they tell me a little a difference tory to what the unions are telling them. it's about we started to listen to the average drivers and the paramedics rather than the we never got one the union so we never got one single agenda that's to get single agenda and that's to get rid those nursing strikes rid of those nursing strikes have been paused scotland after talks between first minister nicholas sturgeon and the royal college of nursing negotiations will now continue week with the aim of reaching a deal by the end of february . the scottish end of february. the scottish government is also pledging match any nhs pay increase in england if it's higher. rcn general secretary pat cullen credits pressure from nurses as key to negotiations moving forward . rishi sunak has spoken

forward. rishi sunak has spoken his ambition to send a squadron of british tanks to help ukraine take back territory lost to russian forces. with president zelenskyy this morning, he pledged to supply challenge to battle tanks alongside , battle tanks alongside, additional artillery systems . additional artillery systems. the decision makes the uk the first western power to supply main tanks to the country. first western power to supply main tanks to the country . plans main tanks to the country. plans to house 400 asylum seekers in a small village near northampton have now been dropped by the home office . residents had home office. residents had objected to using the 17th century highgate house hotel in freetown, which has a population of just 520. james hill, freetown, which has a population of just 520. james hill , the of just 520. james hill, the chairman of create and parish council . he chairman of create and parish council. he told us why residents were against the scheme. we are a village of 520 people and the prospect of 400 people and the prospect of 400 people coming to live here . people coming to live here. occupation or activity to keep them occupied without proper access to local services . we

access to local services. we felt that was unsustainable for us as a community and also for the local area . ministers are the local area. ministers are set to review guidance given to landlords who out social housing following death of a two year old boy. awaab ishak died in december 20, 20 after developing a spirit tree condition caused by mould . rochdale borough wide by mould. rochdale borough wide housing, which owned the flat had previously advised his parents to paint over it. michael gove says every landlord in the country needs to ensure that tenants are housed in decent homes homes . hormone decent homes homes. hormone replacement therapy could help prevent alzheimer's disease in women, according to new research . the therapy helps control the symptoms of menopause and provides better memory and cognitive function . women who cognitive function. women who carry the outsiders . gene. carry the outsiders. gene. professor jude carry the outsiders. gene. professorjude is a dementia expert . she told us it's really expert. she told us it's really too to know how significant this could be. all the research indicates that there's some kind

of link there. there's not anything yet to . see that taking anything yet to. see that taking each party is really going to prevent if it was going to prevent if it was going to prevent dementia , that would be prevent dementia, that would be really important . but the thing really important. but the thing is, there's a chance that it might be associated with a reduction and when you consider that taking hrt does present some risks and it has some side effects , it wouldn't be worth effects, it wouldn't be worth taking. it just. the government says single use plastic plates, trays and cutlery will be banned in england from october in. a bid to kerb the impact of plastic the environment. at the moment england uses around 2.7 billion pieces of single use cutlery per year and only 10% is recycled. repeated of the new legislation could lead to retailers and food vendors facing criminal charges. dr. christian dunn, a senior lecturer in natural sciences at bangor , told us why the ban is bangor, told us why the ban is necessary. plastic doesn't break, break, break down doesn't decompose right away . and what decompose right away. and what happens to it is it breaks up

into smaller and smaller pieces of plastics, which then become microplastics or even nanopore plastics. and now what we're seeing is those plastics are so small and they're being found everywhere . they're in the rain, everywhere. they're in the rain, they're in the air, we're breathing in. they're even in our blood . you're watching gb our blood. you're watching gb news. we'll bring you more as it happens. and let's get straight back to. alastair so something afoot in the nhs, but is it what you want? and something is afoot in the economy and is what you fear. or perhaps is it not what you need to be to worried about. before we drill deep into all of those my selection of guests, i'm to say that are joined live in the studio by catherine force who is our correspondent because as they say a week is a long time

in politics and. a lot of it features one boris johnson, who famously said on the steps of downing street when he was elected prime minister we will resolve the care crisis once and for all. and to hold rishi sunak fines an awful lot of money to go to the cash sector and say, i tell you what, we're going to buy a whole stack of places from you to help reduce waiting lists, which is one of his famous pledges , and try get famous pledges, and try and get the nhs hospitals up and running. we'll be about that a great deal . so is boris in play great deal. so is boris in play as nadine doris wrote last weekend and dan hodges said, i think you remember rightly, actually, boris is the only person that sir keir starmer and laboun person that sir keir starmer and labour. well, there's been a lot of very excited chats about bofis of very excited chats about boris johnson this week that his portrait as former prime minister was unveiled the carlton club the other . there's carlton club the other. there's a group of unpaid that led by lord cruddas who was a big brexit backer, a big tory party donor wanting bring back boris ,

donor wanting bring back boris, the conservative democratic, organic zation keen to give more power back to the members. of speculation that if the may elections go badly, a possible return that boris johnson might create problem over the protocol , but really the conservative party got rid of boris johnson last year. the mp is decided that he had become a liability. yes, he'd won the 80 seat majority . it's astonishing the majority. it's astonishing the turnaround . but would they turnaround. but would they really , having got rid of boris really, having got rid of boris johnson , having got rid of liz johnson, having got rid of liz truss, then get rid of another prime minister before a general election ? how would that look? election? how would that look? i know there's many people convinced that boris johnson the answer, but at the time that mps rebelled and he had to go about two thirds of a public thought at that point that he should resign. but at that, carlton talk, apart from the portrait being unveiled, he also said if

we are conservatives, we've to start cutting taxes again . and start cutting taxes again. and rishi, in the new year speech famously said, well , not going famously said, well, not going to tell jeremy corbyn what to do and you may well have to wait until spring is important. and you may well have to wait until spring is important . piece until spring is important. piece in the times today as well that says that the liz truss and the kwasi kwarteng group, as it were, have not given up on having that ideal g. they're at the heart of what the tory has to offer as a party at the next general election . so it is all general election. so it is all in play intellectually and in terms of personalities perhaps, yes , i mean, the conservative yes, i mean, the conservative party is not a united party. rishi sunak is saying if we're unhed rishi sunak is saying if we're united we can do anything . united we can do anything. famously, we know that voters don't vote and don't vote for divided parties, but it's rishi sunakis divided parties, but it's rishi sunak is governing a coalition isn't he? or factions . there's isn't he? or factions. there's the johnson ites , there's the the johnson ites, there's the trust sites, people like environment secretary under truss ranil jayawardena , the truss ranil jayawardena, the levelling up secretary, simon

clarke the getting together a group of conservative mp there determined that her agenda of supply reforms and encouraging growth shouldn't be jettisoned and working together to see how they can bring. that's our other big discussion a bit later on, which is how we perhaps narrowly avoided really being deep in the do of recession so far as do do of recession so far as they out friday some big they came out on friday some big money boris . money following boris. christopher holborn, who's given a lot of money brexit party a lot of money to brexit party and backs people he thinks are winners within the conservative party but some row and discuss as well about whether or not bofisis as well about whether or not boris is safe in uxbridge rishi sunak says that's where he's staying . his friends say he may staying. his friends say he may need a safer. staying. his friends say he may need a safer . well it's staying. his friends say he may need a safer. well it's only he's got a majority of 7000 hasn't he. so on current he'd be very likely to lose that seat. there's been speculation that he might be given a safer seat in exchange for supporting sunak.

now rishi, i was asked about this up in scotland. he said very clearly . boris this up in scotland. he said very clearly. boris johnson has said he's standing in uxbridge, which of course he has said that. but we that things do change and change very quickly sometimes. so i would say watch this space. but the million pound donation that we heard about yesterday , it's been made about yesterday, it's been made clear that that's gone to boris johnson's office for what purpose? we're not quite sure or some speculate , as you say, some speculate, as you say, about former leadership, about it leadership, ambition. but that it's not his money to spend, although course he's doing very well because he's earned over million pounds with speeches and some estimates that he might make 5 million a year. because, let's face it, he does have a way with words that no successor can match, still has a huge footprint on the world stage as well , huge footprint on the world stage as well, and is planning to pop off again to . see to pop off again to. see zelenskyy's chum in kyiv yes, he is apparently front page of the independent lord dannatt former

head of the british army basically saying please go there. it's quoting publicity. it's not going to be helpful. don't undermine the prime minister. but of course, boris johnson does feel part of his legacy that britain came out very strongly in support of ukraine early on they were a mass of support and he has a very close relationship with president zelenskyy. now rishi sunak's made it clear that he wants to continue that , but wants to continue that, but obviously it's hard for boris johnson. that's something that he can say that, you know, they did the right thing and he feels very proud of that. it's not easy for him to step away. so whether we see it popping whether we will see it popping up, this space, but up, watch this space, but certainly, i'm sure sunak would rather that he quit. one. it was in ray's news bulletin about the ambulance drivers being cross, about being accused of being boat rockers and what have you. but made crystal but they made it crystal clear that not accept one of that they do not accept one of rishi sunak's bold radical rishi sunak's bold and radical moves, to demand and moves, which is to demand and minimum of during strikes

minimum levels of during strikes for safety reasons neither the ambulance support that nor do the junior doctors. interestingly who are balloting right now on the possibility of joining strike action to wheel sunak blink . joining strike action to wheel sunak blink. i joining strike action to wheel sunak blink . i doubt it's i sunak blink. i doubt it's i suspect the government probably will ultimate at least move a little bit on the barclays privately said to have accepted they probably will have to do something on pay in the current yearin something on pay in the current year in scotland. yeah that's those strikes of currently be called off because they're negotiating i the minimum safety levels as the government to call it minimum service anti strike legislation the government are keen to say it's not going to stop strikes and is likely to go through the commons because of course it was a manifesto pledge , although it's been broadened since, might come since, then it might come unstuck in the lords. the unions are going take legal action are going to take legal action but course have similar but of course do have similar legislation in much of europe and france in germany, in italy

, blue light services do have to provide a level of cover . and provide a level of cover. and rishi sunak saying last week , rishi sunak saying last week, it's terrifying that if you needed, an ambulance on a straight day, you couldn't be sure of getting it. but of course at the moment, sure of getting it. but of course at the moment , the course at the moment, the terrible wait times that heard on thursday of an hour and a half average for a category heart attack or stroke or no guarantee that you're going to get an ambulance when you need it on any day of the week, which is really dreadful state of affairs that the nhs is now in. well, we shall have a lot more about all of that with my guests very, very shortly. but for the time being . catherine, great to time being. catherine, great to see you. thank you very much indeed for giving us all of that. brilliant background of what's top of what's happening at the top of the party and the the conservative party and the ever fascinating johnson. see you later on, catherine. thank you later on, catherine. thank you very much indeed. catherine foster gb news political career that now, as both of us were saying and as i dropped in every now then within our now and then within our conversation, the crisis in the

nhs of times and staff shortages which indeed catherine mentioned there in her summing up was such in the prime minister's mind that he made action to reduce waiting lists. one of his five pledges in that new year speech. what's more he's summoned the great and the good of the health service to ten downing street for round table talks as they say although the actual cabinet table's more like a wing than a circle but they declaring that and i quote as usual simply won't do but bold and radical action is required and it is required now. well thus some glimmers perhaps of hope. legislation as catherine and i were just discussing, is promised to ensure minimum levels of service for safety. in addition more deals with the private sector, to get operations done there courtesy

the taxpayer reducing your wait time if you're waiting for an and reducing the bed blocking and reducing the bed blocking and the waiting time for hospitals more generally. but perhaps the most radical initiative was the decision to bulk purchase spare in the private care sector to find room yet again for so—called bed blockers folk who have been as mel made as well as possible by the nhs and certainly well enough by the nhs to leave hospital because they no longer need any more medical attention. but what they do need is post operative care and. government's assessment is that some of that is available in the private sector and so using money and mine they will purchase rather a lot of it . now with medical lot of it. now with medical thinkers and care leaders , we're thinkers and care leaders, we're going to assess whether these moves are good , whether they are moves are good, whether they are practical , moves are good, whether they are practical, and moves are good, whether they are practical , and whether they are

practical, and whether they are potentially efficacious and will assist all. the latest data from the nhs suggests that there has been modest decline in some lists, but a worsening in ambulance waiting times , as ambulance waiting times, as catherine indeed was just saying and within accident and. plus the financial times reports that britons turning to private health care as the nhs crisis worsens . now you may like to worsens. now you may like to read matthew perry's piece in the times today, which describes that all terribly embarrassing to have to go private. but there you go, you've got the money, then you get the operation. maybe that's what he finds embarrassing because it does look bit like you look a little bit like you jumping, you know, maybe it jumping, but, you know, maybe it is actually and parcel of is actually part and parcel of the deal at best. and it the whole deal at best. and it is a work in progress, but thank goodness me for that. now we would love to hear your views . would love to hear your views. personal experience is all of it. just get in touch on gb views at gb news dot uk or you

can at gb news obe go on facebook. any of our media outlets we genuine do like to know what your personal experience are and if you've got some absolutely bold and radical idea that neither steve barclay , the prime minister, have come up with yet that let us we will, i promise, faithfully to pass it on and delighted to say that my first guest who has been regular on the programme from the days of the pandemic ec, now finds herself there ready to talk to us, which is terrific and is of course once again on the front lines. she is the executive chair of the national care association, nadra ahmed, and there she is, my first question is, before they hit newspapers and the news bulletins , did and the news bulletins, did someone have the courtesy to pick up the phone to you and say, well this work drafted ? say, well this work drafted? well, i think conversations have been going on quite, quite a bit about should work and what could

work. and we've been talking consistently about investment in social care . we knew we had social care. we knew we had capacity , but it is the capacity, but it is the investment that we needed to enable us to pay our staff properly so that we could retain the staff that we have currently working us, but also so we could recruit . we have had the visa recruit. we have had the visa application scheme opened up and so there are people coming in from abroad. so we've got international going on. so we knew that would all help. we've been on the front lines saying we can support the nhs but nothing has been terribly forthcoming . they've been forthcoming. they've been announcements of 500 million on announcements of 500 million on a discharge charge fund , which a discharge charge fund, which sadly hasn't seen , hasn't seen sadly hasn't seen, hasn't seen the kind of frontline activity increase in any way. we are very concerned and as a sector and, as individuals, about who are remaining in hospital longer than they really need to , well, than they really need to, well,

quite extraordinary. the scale of it because in the times newspaper and elsewhere , amanda newspaper and elsewhere, amanda pritchard, the chief executive of the nhs, says that that recently they found that there were 130,000 folk occupying hospital beds who simply shouldn't be there. 130,000 is an enormous mass number. i'm slightly jaw dropped at the fact that nobody bothered to sit down with you and try and work out the details of it and take your point about pay. because if they can getit point about pay. because if they can get it right. it's a huge boost to your sector and the people whom speak so people for whom you speak so absolutely. i mean, i think it would make it would make such a difference if the investment was there because a carer at home for those people who want to go back home has suffered enormously under this because of the workforce crisis , because the workforce crisis, because there you need more people going in and doing the visits locally or all around the country in care homes. we've struggled the

staffing as you know . so that staffing as you know. so that investment is the key to it but also alongside that and i'm really to know that somebody did pick up the phone to me days before the announcements were due . and i did say to them one due. and i did say to them one of the things you're going to have to look to is the wraparound service, because it's not about just discharging people of hospital into a care setting or into their own homes . or if we don't have the wraparound services they need additional mental health support or they need a gp to come in a district nurse to come in to support them or indeed physios they have to be available because we see failings of discharges and you know , just in discharges and you know, just in one week i was told from a care company , home care company , they company, home care company, they had eight failed discharges out of hospital, which is devastating for the individuals that that was sent out of hospital and then actually had

to go back into hospital because the services available to support them in that their services. so we've got to get the whole thing right this is not just about part of it. this about the whole thing and it's interesting because that is clear on the table already where even people like mr. barclay say one of the problems about bed is that they're as fit as the hospital can make them. but the care package , which you've just care package, which you've just so eloquently described is not available, the fact that there may be a room and or bed in the private that they're happy to buy from you doesn't mean to say that they will be care package, which is the existing problem . which is the existing problem. absolutely. the care package is essential and will include community services. and the other thing that is slowing and worrying me at the moment is about this block booking beds . worrying me at the moment is about this block booking beds. i think we've got to be really careful here because you can block 20 beds in a in a care

setting . it may be a corporate setting. it may be a corporate setting, probably not in the smaller providers, they be able to be viable if they 20 beds to go. but if you if you book those beds , what you're then doing is beds, what you're then doing is you're paying for them whether somebody is in it or not. so i think that is a bit of a worry for me because. we need to have this local picture where a hospital actually buy by that space with , all the services space with, all the services and, none of it is going to waste because this money is very precious. it's not a huge of money. let's be absolutely clear about that. and it's only till the 31st of march. what happens after that, because you could take in additional staff to do some support work there, which will be a very short term employment proposal. again a great way of doing it. sustainability is the key to us getting this right. we really need to be very, very clear the

people who no longer need to be in hospital and are occupying an acute bed should be able to be transferred into an intimate arrangement until they are to go back into their own homes and the package can be brought in or they are made permanent residents into a care service, whichever is best for them . we whichever is best for them. we mustn't we mustn't forget that there is an individual at the end of that process who will be impact . and i lost my father at impact. and i lost my father at christmas and it was a poor discharge that led to it within . he was discharged on a friday. no . he was discharged on a friday. n0 gp . he was discharged on a friday. no gp had been put into place to him by saturday. i saw him three weeks ago today. he was fine . he weeks ago today. he was fine. he was chatting but there was not quite right because he water coming out of his mouth and you know there was something not quite right by sunday he was much in a terrible state. monday morning blue lighted back into

and the infection was still there that he'd gone in with . so there that he'd gone in with. so i think it's got to . right. i think it's got to. right. let's get the gp in place. let's make sure we've got the district nurses all of that needs to happen. my father lost his life, but he was a age i'm worried about people who could be saved, who that revolving door and a&e is not somewhere that we want to be. we want to make informed , be. we want to make informed, considered discharges that are in best interest of the individual . in best interest of the individual. nadra ahmed, always a pleasure to talk to you. thanks very much indeed for finding time to do that. once for us here on what is absolutely fascinating story gave such a clear picture of what the real is. it is bold and radical but it needs perhaps to be thought absolutely through knowledge that the executive chair of the national health care association . i'm delighted care association. i'm delighted now to be touching base with another regular form , a another regular form, a conservative member of

parliament and indeed health secretary steven dahl. there he is. steven, great to see. very good afternoon to you . i hope good afternoon to you. i hope you could hear everything marjorie was saying there utterly intriguing. she welcomes it is potentially really bold and radical. they do have the space, but it hasn't been completely thought through so that they surround the people that they surround the people that they surround the people that they can give accommodation to with the care package that is not available elsewhere , i give not available elsewhere, i give a ten out of ten for that. what do you give a ten out of ten? 11 out of ten? if they could. alastair, i hear you may spoke and i know not true and i think she she set out the position with admirable clarity can i make one very tiny point but i think illustrates a big issue that throughout that interview with nadra this note on the bottom of your screen said nhs reform for what you were actually talking about with nadra is the proposition that you can't deal with nhs reform

unless you deal with issues of social care , addressing social social care, addressing social care is fundamental to making the nhs, sustainable . it's the the nhs, sustainable. it's the failure of successive governments to address the priorities of social care, which is biggest single factor. priorities of social care, which is biggest single factor . the is biggest single factor. the sustainability . the nhs today. sustainability. the nhs today. is there a real problem here as telegraph leader suggests today that the party that you formerly served and represented has lost its nerve to ? be bold and its nerve to? be bold and radical is the prime minister demanded of the nhs and that it's actually wes streeting for labour who's talking about more radical gen , open minded reform radical gen, open minded reform of both how health and health care operate need to go back to beveridge, need to see what's happened over the last decades and almost dare to consider starting again . well, i'm not starting again. well, i'm not favour of starting again. i

think an earlier conversation you and i had this debate alistair. we need to remember that the latest changes in nhs bureaucracy actually are only just over six months old. they came in on the 1st of july and on the 1st of july last year. and as it happens. i think they're an important step. the right direction, which is to set up a single structure to bring together social care and the nhs together social care and the nhs to address some of the issues i was just mentioning. but on the other hand, i also agree with a great deal of what wes streeting is being seen recently and it would be good to see a secretary of state in office thinking about how you take forward the repositioning of health and social care as a single sector and. make the obvious point that you can't do that without addressing the pay issues that are currently currently a dispute between the unions and

the government . it's odd to me the government. it's odd to me it's not all this inconceivable to me that you can be trying to think about the future of health and social without addressing the fact that we currently have impressive levels of vacancies in both the nhs and in social care. and surely that us something about the terms and conditions of the position in which these big committed professional are expected to deliver the quality services we all want to see. yeah that fascinating. the flip side of that coin it's not only nurses as we've often talked about on this programme and indeed amanda, the chief executive of the nhs, splashed front times their lead is we need to train more doctors, we need to recruit people here in the uk , need to people here in the uk, need to stop bringing in people from abroad . that applies to nurses abroad. that applies to nurses who are part old party needs to reconsider the bursaries, etc. etc. and it is hugely about

staffing levels, condition and yes, i accept pay . yeah, i yes, i accept pay. yeah, i complete we agree. it's about all of those things. one thing that i think is a trap in that that i think is a trap in that that presents one of the issues as you just did then, alistair, is to imagine that somehow we can have a british only solution to these clinical professions . to these clinical professions. the fact is there is a worldwide shortage of doctors and nurses and the nhs has always trained people who've gone work overseas and there's always welcomed people trained overseas to come and work in the nhs. people trained overseas to come and work in the nhs . and i think and work in the nhs. and i think it's important that we to maintain that open door because otherwise what we end up with is a position where the nhs is somehow cut off from developments elsewhere in, the world, and that's no basis which to develop. what is at its roots a scientific service. stephen, great to talk to you as always . great to talk to you as always. thank you very much indeed.

stephen dahl, the former conservative member of parliament indeed health parliament and indeed health secretary. well, we promised you an honest and open and radical exploration of what the prime minister is talking about, what mr. talking about and mr. bartlett's talking about and you've certainly had it so far from the care sector and from a former tory health secretary. we would hear you think, would love to hear you think, particularly if you're a patient , you're a care resident, , if you're a care resident, disappointed, whatever it might be, let know what your experiences are and if you've got any brilliant ideas , drop got any brilliant ideas, drop them in as well and we will share with the rest of the people who've got enough to be watching listening to our conversations here on gb news. you listening. i'm you are indeed listening. i'm watching and watching alison stewart and friends more up friends with lots more coming up on today's a protest is on today's program. a protest is being held in hull today. concerns unsuitable sites are being used by the government to house gb news yorkshire and humber. reporter anna riley has that story. but first we're going to take a quick.

break 1233 andre addison in the gb newsroom, the prime minister has described the execution of a british iranian national in iran as barbaric . rishi sunak said as barbaric. rishi sunak said the killing of ali reza akbari was callous and cowardly act. akbari was sentenced to death on charges of spying for britain. the foreign secretary, james cleverly summoned the iranian charge d'affaires to make clear the governments discuss a union representing workers has written to the prime minister saying they feel betrayed by attempts to paint them as uncouth . gmb, to paint them as uncouth. gmb, which represents more than 10,000 ambulance staff told rishi sunak he was demonising them over strike action. it comes after mr. sunak told the commons that industrial action was terrifying the public . rishi

was terrifying the public. rishi sunak has spoken his ambition to send a squadron of british tanks to help ukraine take back territory lost to russian forces. speaking president zelenskyy this morning pledged to supply challenge to battle tanks alongside artillery systems . the decision makes the systems. the decision makes the uk the first western power to supply main battle tanks to the country . plans to house 400 country. plans to house 400 asylum seekers in a small village near northampton have now been dropped by the home office. resident had objected to using the 17th century highgate hotel in britain, which has a population of just 520. james hill is the chairman of the pansh hill is the chairman of the parish there. he told us why were against the scheme . we are were against the scheme. we are village of 520 people and the prospect for people coming to live here without occupation or activities to keep them occupied

without proper access to local services . we felt that was services. we felt that was unsustainable for us as a community and also for the local area . we're on tv, online and on area. we're on tv, online and on daily plus radio. this is gb news. now to alastair stewart& friends . friends. right. thank you very much indeed. right. thank you very much indeed . as i said just before, indeed. as i said just before, ray's bulletin that a protest is being in harlow today over concerns that unsafe sites so say the protesters are being used the government to house. but the home office have been forced to abandon plans to house 400 asylum seekers in the northamptonshire hotel following a campaign by local highlighted by gb news. highgate house in

crediton was going be used as contingency accommodation . what contingency accommodation. what a terribly inelegant way of describing it, but that's how they do it to describe it. but they do it to describe it. but the defamatory member of parliament and indeed government minister chris heaton—harris has informed west council that home office has now changed its criteria and the local hotel is no longer considered appropriate . gb news yorkshire and humber reporter riley is in. riley is indeedin reporter riley is in. riley is indeed in hull for us now and has the story. so many facets to this people power. and of course something very much to the forefront of people's minds . forefront of people's minds. have we got . anna and can you

have we got. anna and can you hear me . okay. we have a little hear me. okay. we have a little problem . we will come back down problem. we will come back down to that later on. we also have a report, i think from james hill. we will get back to that when we have sorted out whatever the problem there between us and anna riley, our yorkshire and humber reporter. now i'll see you at the very beginning of the programme if you would get in touch on our big topic of the day. the nhs reforms and also the economy. so i didn't chooses to begin the conversation she's talking about the nhs . sometimes talking about the nhs. sometimes when have gone so far wrong, the only way to start again . but to only way to start again. but to achieve that we may have to use more private care to get there gradually. well kind of what's happening and. i just underline what stephen dorrell who's been there done it guy and actually run the health service very well

said maybe not a complete tearing up the of tearing up of the sheet of papen tearing up of the sheet of paper, but reforms are certainly vital and it's crucial to deal with the health service and the care system at the same time. but thank you very much indeed for that contribution . roger for that contribution. roger says it is the management of the national health service and many other public bodies that need so many bureaucrats in control, whose priority is to expand that bureaucracy . we're doing bureaucracy. we're doing perfectly well until professional management was introduced . dave joins the introduced. dave joins the conversation and says the only way forward is to form national all—party cabinet to sort it out once for all. that's very interesting given that stephen dahl interesting given that stephen dahl, a former tory, said what sense wes streeting for labour was making on the idea of nhs reform and recovery so great minds, perhaps . there's a minds, perhaps. there's a thought there and we're grateful today for raising it as well.

john that's a start. but the nhs needs root and branch reform , it needs root and branch reform, it is not fit for the 21st century. stop it as a religion and ignore those that do . keep your views. those that do. keep your views. do coming in please and subscribe of course to our youtube channel. we are at gb news. there you can see the full uninterrupted interview with stephen dahl i'm with nadia as well from the very front line of the kazakh saying it's a great idea . we need to think out idea. we need to think out a little more broadly there. so that's that's youtube and are gb news. so those thoughts coming in and in a wee while we'll be talking about the economic data that came out on friday, how close the united kingdom is a recession or how close the uk to recovery . love you to get in recovery. love you to get in touch on that subject. i've got some great guests coming up on that to hear what their views are. one is one of the top commentators and the others are

people who are trying to run businesses there out on the front now talking of those front line. now talking of those economic numbers, one of the great boosts to , the little bit great boosts to, the little bit of growth that there was was the hospitality sector and more than 250 pubs were entered into this year's pub of the year competition. i don't know if contribution gdp was one of the criteria here. perhaps it should have, but of course any one could be the winner. and it has been announced that the tamworth top in staffordshire has won that award . so we said to our that award. so we said to our west midlands reporter jack collison along to enjoy a pint at britain's best boozer on this street in this quiet town sits pub of the year under the watchful eye of tamworth castle, the tamworth has been named by the tamworth has been named by the campaign for real ales, the best in. the country owner george greenaway can't quite believe it's incredible. absolutely ecstatic. i've just been bursting. but so proud,

immensely proud of the achievement of obviously myself and the whole team and ultimately the whole time really. tell me a bit about the work that's had to go in to create such a place like this . create such a place like this. the it's yeah, it it's been a lot of toil really . the it's yeah, it it's been a lot of toil really. but it's you just spurred on all those positive reactions get from creating something from from from that starting point bit by bit as you go through the course of the last five years just spurs you on to the, to the next week and the next and it just snowballed . pubs in the snowballed. pubs in the competition are selected camera volunteers and are judged on their atmosphere decor while service community focus and the quality of the beer , the tap quality of the beer, the tap went from an empty premises a brew pub in less than five years and today boasts eight hand pools, including at least one tamworth ale brewed site for cameron national chairman nick toner. it wasn't just the beer

here that made this place stand out from the rest although it is very good it's only been in existence five years and it's demonstrated it in those five years that you don't have to be an established pub site to be the best pub. it's grown it's very much part tamworth's community. they refer to the tappers, the tamworth tappers , tappers, the tamworth tappers, which is what they actually know the customers who go in the tamworth tap and they are very much part of the family now. they embrace , their community they embrace, their community and have delivered a high quality experience , more than 32 quality experience, more than 32 pubs a month. the estimated to have closed in 2022, with in bills and a drop in consumer demand, meaning they had no choice but to close their doors. this pub knows how important the community is to their survival. ultimately it is about the to

the local communities getting behind their pubs and supporting them and celebrating them and using them . and you know, and using them. and you know, and they'll be rewarded with that atmosphere . accolades such as atmosphere. accolades such as this today the tamworth tap will officially be presented with their award with . people across their award with. people across their award with. people across the country coming to grab pint at the pub that is raised the bar. chuck carson gb news what on jack thank you very mate. and jack and have that one pint i'm hasten to add but congratulations to all involved and lovely to hear how important it is to the whole community coming to support it and i love those wooden that were there up on the of the display now we got that update the pub of the year which i found absolutely fascinating and i hope you did as well. unfortunately, we did have a little technical hiccup with a riley, which have now with on a riley, which have now been able to write devi gb news is and humber reporter anna is there in as she was all along . there in as she was all along. we just got to link up which was

a real drag and there she is our yorkshire humber report with that extraordinary raw and intervention by local mp who happens to be secretary for northern ireland as well about where seekers and migrants can housed and at what cost. give us background because this is one of those egg stories with so many different angles . it and many different angles. it and i know you amanda i know you all overit know you amanda i know you all over it completely. alister there's many different facets to it isn't there's obviously the home office that have got a bail of 6.8 million people per day to house asylum seekers in. so it's a government plan use areas as disused army bases is a disused student accommodation and to house asylum seekers while their claims are processed . you've claims are processed. you've also got people like davis, the mp that i was speaking to, saying, we need to sort of stop

this problem at the source rather than putting up asylum seekers, more needs to be done on the channel to stop the small boat crossings coming over. and then you've got people that live in villages such as in cottingham where the story i've been covering are sort of caught in the middle of this as such. so they background to this protest that be happening in hull a little later is that the of hope are in talks the home office to sell former student accommodation the lawns to house up to walk over in excess of a thousand asylum seekers . now in thousand asylum seekers. now in a village of 20,000 to people in cottingham we're saying they just didn't feel like it was the right area to house asylum seekers they said they feel that there were rights facility in place. locals were telling me. they already find it hard to get a gp appointment. so if there's an influx of more people to the

village, they're going to find that harder. and they also have safety concerns . well, they safety concerns. well, they said, are these people necessarily vetted? they a little concerned about as well. so all these concerns came to a head. they had a public meeting in which it decided that they would write to the university expressing all their concerns which . they did. and then they which. they did. and then they also went ahead had a protest through the village centre last weekend , over 500 people turned weekend, over 500 people turned out to oppose the sale of the lawns to the home office and through what they call people power , they said that the power, they said that the university down and the home office confirmed that they would not be buying the land to house asylum seekers . now, this asylum seekers. now, this protest today , though, is of the protest today, though, is of the larger issue and it's not just in hull course. we've heard from the chairman of creighton parish , james hill. he to gb news about the unsustainability of

the plans , a hotel in his area the plans, a hotel in his area being used and this is what he had to say. we are a village of 520 people and the prospect 400 people coming to live here without occupation or activities to keep them occupied without proper access to local services . we've we felt that was uncertain for us as a community and for the local area . so those and for the local area. so those plans in creighton were dropped with the public coming together , working with the council and same as happened in cottingham . same as happened in cottingham. but of course we do still have people crossing the channel and do need to have accommodation accommodation . and rightly that accommodation. and rightly that and guess thank you both very much indeed. as i said, it is an important story , multifaceted important story, multifaceted and as you rightly said an element of people power there, which is something very much

like here on gb news, the people's the people's channel. so thank you very much indeed sorry. there was a hiccup earlier on brilliantly recovered. and thank you very much indeed for your and a rally there . gb news is yorkshire and there. gb news is yorkshire and humber reporter with that intriguing story. if you've got something like that going on in your of the woods, let us know and we will share that and we will into it as well. will look into it as well. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends plenty more this more still to come. this afternoon, including least afternoon, including at least quarter of a million are recorded as homeless england and the situation set to get worst . the situation set to get worst. so say many of the leading homeless charities . and we will homeless charities. and we will be discussing next with one that i've been associated with for quite some time . but first, quite some time. but first, we're going to take a quick.

break welcome back. and watching alison stewart and friends. and i am delighted to say that the next guest is certainly a good friend of mine. i've been involved in crisis, the homeless charity for , almost longer than charity for, almost longer than i can remember. i actually began with at christmas , so with crisis at christmas, so that the very first thing i that was the very first thing i ever involved in. how was ever got involved in. how was this demand as those this year? demand as those figures spotted in the figures that we spotted in the newspapers just a couple of days ago suggesting it is on the rise to rise and it is deeply worrying what what that event tell you. yes. so homelessness is definitely on rise. we did have some some some good years through the pandemic, actually . through the pandemic, actually. we saw numbers go down. but the going up again, this is the very end of the cost of living crisis, as you can imagine. and crisis, as you can imagine. and crisis operates, services, all as you know. so 10,000 people will come to us . as you know. so 10,000 people will come to us. but as you know. so 10,000 people will come to us . but over the will come to us. but over the winter period, and particularly christmas centres, christmas open, various centres, including hotels and some of them are still running, running them are still running, running them the end of january them till the end of january this year and one of the reasons for that is there's many

for that is there's so many people help and. as soon people needing help and. as soon as we opened doors and as we opened our doors and hotels, the waiting list was double the number of people that we and it is really we could see. and it is really unlike anything i've seen in recent terms of the recent years in terms of the numbers to us i mentioned numbers coming to us i mentioned to you when you sat down that the quarter of a million number was shelter data had was in some shelter data had been produced. mean sense been produced. and i mean sense you competition, but it's you are in competition, but it's thank it's one of those thank god it's one of those sectors everybody works sectors where everybody works together defeat the together to try and defeat the same another that same problem. another thing that shelter did highlight, there was a women sharp a rise in the number women sharp the number of women becoming homeless at the. yes so there is a rise the number of women there's a rise in the number of young the rise in the number of older it's everything. older people. it's everything. what is what we're seeing is particularly people just cannot afford to pay their rent. so the of people who just come to us and actually i never thought homelessness happen to me but my rent has gone up or i simply can't afford the 12 or 15% increase. what do i do and we're not talking about people as i

say ever thought they were anywhere near ever happening to them and is happening to two women to various different groups. it's always been at the heart of the crisis as well, that you don't just seek to, keep people in safety or put a roof over their heads, but also to skill them up , to support to skill them up, to support them, to give them the possibility of an alternative life that may then been have to pay life that may then been have to pay that, which is suddenly become a problem. is that still the mantra. yeah, so the opposite of homelessness is a person reaching . their potential person reaching. their potential is not simply having a roof over their head. so what do is make sure that people have have. yes a home not just temporary accommodation but the skills they need rebuild their lives, getjobs they need rebuild their lives, get jobs rebuild relationships because as we know, one needs to because as we know, one needs to be defined by something awful happen to them. the answer is to get off the streets or out of hostels of night shelters and get the life. well, i'm get on with the life. well, i'm glad it all and do give glad you do it all and do give my very best wishes to all at crisis and all of the good people you work with with that in sir, you very

in mind, sir, thank you very much coming down there of much to be coming down there of crisis and my next guest you will understand him completely makes perfect sense given that bit of our little conversation is someone who understands exactly the of homelessness after spending six months homeless but managed to turn it all for himself in a way not unlike matt just described after , spending six months as homeless. joining me now , homeless. joining me now, businessman and podcast de nathan kida, who's been on the program before. nathan, great to see you again. thank you very much, indeed. and what was the magic that helped magic formula that helped you turn from someone who turn it round from someone who suddenly got hit in face by homelessness and found a new way of making your life work and making it a success? what was the key? rolling your sleeves up and doing the hard work. it's really is that simple you know to , keep your circle small. do to, keep your circle small. do the hard work and get out of it. there is definitely out there for you. just got to go for you. you've just got to go and find it . and i was just and find it. and i was just saying that a number of the

homeless will do it. but is there also help and support from local authorities from from as it were, rather than the voluntary sector ? well, i think voluntary sector? well, i think the simplest thing is recycle the simplest thing is recycle the homes that are currently empty. there's 8000, 80,000 homes in london empty as stands. why can't we recycle all those homes and property? the reason why is there's no incentives , why is there's no incentives, private landlords to do that . private landlords to do that. how fast nating. well, let's add that to our radical and bold agenda for today. nathan great to see you again. thank you very much indeed. and once listening to that, matt, thank you so great to a live gigging great to have a live gigging example exactly . you were example of exactly. you were saying. yes good cheers . see you saying. yes good cheers. see you later, guys. take care . bye bye. later, guys. take care. bye bye. thank you very much indeed . so thank you very much indeed. so there we are , the view from the there we are, the view from the top at crisis. but also the view from a man who's been there and done it, which i'm delighted say is a great success. so the offer of all of that , i thank you very

of all of that, i thank you very much indeed for watching. alice stewart and friends here on gb news tv and radio. let's bring you to date with weekend you up to date with the weekend weather. hello, i'm craig snell. and here's your latest forecast from met well, after from the met office. well, after we the wind and rain . a we lose the wind and rain. a change in the forecast . we change is in the forecast. we will start to turn quite cold especially from sunday onwards . especially from sunday onwards. here's the situation at the moment. we still low pressure dominating british isles and dominating the british isles and the tightly packed isopods indicating very windy indicating some very windy weather this afternoon across parts of northern ireland, scotland and northern. quite blustery elsewhere actually. and once we lose rain across eastern england this afternoon for much of england and wales, northern ireland, really it's afternoon of sunny spells and, scattered showers, very different story . showers, very different story. scotland, a band of persistent , scotland, a band of persistent, really lingering for most of the afternoon. and that rain will turn to hill snow across the mountains. scotland quite cold here . further south, we may just here. further south, we may just cling onto double figures throughout the afternoon in the far southeast this evening. continuation of clare spells and

showers for much england and wales further north this band of rain and heavy snow will slowly think its way southwards into northern ireland and northern england as the night goes on behind it, some clear skies developing and under the clear skies it will turn quite cold risk of some frost and also some icy stretches . further south, a icy stretches. further south, a colder night than of late , but colder night than of late, but still probably hanging on to temperatures into 3 to 4 degrees into sunday. a cold day for most of us. we will see this band of rain and maybe also some hail. snow continued to trek its way south, but weakening as it does south, but weakening as it does so , it it does turn quite good so, it it does turn quite good deal sunnier still the risk of some wintry showers and keen wind across northeastern scotland so feeling quite cold here . further south, a coded here. further south, a coded island of light but maybe nearer to average for the far south of . and then as go into the week ahead , going to be a quite ahead, going to be a quite a cold week for of us an increase in risk of frost by night and

also some snow .

and hello, welcome if you've just joined us. hello and thank you very much indeed if you've been with us since noon. i'm alastair stewart . we are into alastair stewart. we are into the hour of our programme, keeping you company here on tv and radio with plenty more still to come including are we heading into a recession ? are we already into a recession? are we already into a recession? are we already in one? and has prince harry, the royal family, more popular ? the royal family, more popular? shock, horror, a couple of fascinating balls out and about. we'll be talking to an image consultant about where harry has left himself and his family. but first, let's bring you right to date with all of the day's news. his radisson radisson . good

his radisson radisson. good afternoon. 1:01. here's latest. the prime minister has described the execution of a british iranian national in iran as rishi sunak said the killing of ali reza akbari , a callous and ali reza akbari, a callous and cowardly act. mr. akbari was sentenced to death on charges of spying for britain. foreign secretary cleverly has summoned the iranian charge d'affairs to make clear the government's disgust. amnesty international says the execution shows how pitifully little iran has for life . a union representing life. a union representing ambulance workers has written the prime minister saying they feel by attempts to paint them as uncaring. gmb, which represents more than 10,000 ambulance staff, told rishi sunak he was demonising them over strike action. it comes after mr. told the commons that industrial action was terrifying. the public . tory mp terrifying. the public. tory mp lee anderson told esther and phil earlier the may not reflect the views of the workers

distinction . their felony knows distinction. their felony knows between animals, drivers anomalies, unions and i've spent times on a ship with ambulance drivers and they you know sometimes they tell me a little a different story to what the are telling them. it's about time we start to listen to the average drivers and the rather than the unions. we never got one single agenda and that's to get of all nursing have been get rid of all nursing have been paused in scotland after talks between first minister nicholas sturgeon the royal college of nursing . negotiations will now nursing. negotiations will now continue next week with the aim of reaching deal by the end of february . the scottish february. the scottish government is also pledging to match any nhs pay increase in england if higher. rcn general pat cullen credits pressure from nurses as being key to negotiations . rishi sunak nurses as being key to negotiations. rishi sunak has of his ambition to send squadron of british tanks to help take back territory lost to russian forces. speaking with president zelenskyy this morning, he pledged to supply challenger to

battle tanks alongside additional artillery systems. the decision makes the uk the first western power to supply main battle tanks to the country .labour main battle tanks to the country . labour says the government has its fullest for sending military aid to ukraine. plans to house 400 asylum seekers in a smooth near northampton have now been dropped by the home office . dropped by the home office. residents had objected to using the 17th century highgate house hotel and created , which has a hotel and created, which has a population of just hundred and 20. james hill is the chairman of the local parish council. he told us residents were against the scheme . we. a village of 520 the scheme. we. a village of 520 people and the prospect of 400 people and the prospect of 400 people coming to live here without occupation or activities to them occupied without proper access to local services which we that was unsustainable for us

as a community and also for the local area ministers are set to review guidance to landlords who rent out social housing following the death of a two year old boy out of ishaq died in december 20 after developing a respiratory condition caused by mould. rochdale borough wide housing, which owned the flat , housing, which owned the flat, had previously advised his parents paint over it. michael gove says every landlord in the country needs to ensure that their tenants are housed in decent homes , humane replacement decent homes, humane replacement therapy could help prevent alzheimer's disease in women. that's according to new research . the therapy could help control symptoms of menopause and provide better memory and cognitive function for women who carry the alzheimer's gene. professor jun andrew is carry the alzheimer's gene. professorjun andrew is a professor jun andrew is a dementia expert. she us. it's really too early . know how really too early. know how significant this could be . all significant this could be. all the research indicates that there's some kind of link there . there's not anything yet to

see taking hrt is really going to prevent dementia if it was going to prevent dementia, that would be really important. but the thing is, there's a chance that it might be associated with a reduction and when you consider that taking hrt , she consider that taking hrt, she does present some risks . it has does present some risks. it has some side effects. it wouldn't be worth taking it just so to prevent dementia . the government prevent dementia. the government says single use plastic plates trays and cutlery will be banned in england from october in a bid to kerb. the impact of plastic on the environment. at the moment england uses around 2.7 billion pieces of single use cutlery per year. only 10% is recycled. repeated breaches of this new legislation could lead to retailers and food vendors criminal charges. dr. christian dunnis criminal charges. dr. christian dunn is a senior lecturer in natural sciences of bengal university. he told us why ban is needed. plastic doesn't break, break, break down. decompose right away . and what decompose right away. and what happens to it is it breaks into

smaller and smaller of plastics, which then become microplastics or even nanopore plastics. and now what we're seeing is those plastics are so small and they're being found everywhere . they're being found everywhere. they're in the rain, they're in the air. we're breathing in there. even in blood . okay, there. even in blood. okay, you're watching gb news. more news as it happens. now, let's get straight to alister . get straight to alister. right. thanks much, indeed. as promised, our second big conversation today is about the economy. according to the figures that were published yesterday, november's growth numbers. a uk is now question but what is the business reaction to all of that? what is the out there ? a modest rise in the out there? a modest rise in economic activity certainly is going on, but there is still little more gloom to be had

further down the road . i am further down the road. i am delighted to say that joining me live in the studio are the business and finance of the express newspapers group. jeff the ceo of roblox and a former dragon, piers lenny and the owner of the grill shack and tiki bar wilford burrows . did tiki bar wilford burrows. did you realise as it was unfold before your very eyes, that your sector was at the cutting edge of keeping this great country of just away from a recession ? not just away from a recession? not at all. not at all. joe, did you feel like it was. no, unfortunately not. for small business like us, we didn't really feel any growth as such. but it's good news for the industry is good that we're talking about the hospitality sector again , we suffered a lot sector again, we suffered a lot dunng sector again, we suffered a lot during covid, even with the of living as well, rising cost of living as well, rising cost of living is even more difficult . living is even more difficult. so it's good that we see growth even though it's been associated

with one event to the to the world cup . right. so the other world cup. right. so the other thing we've had we've got this from from a lot of our viewers and listeners , you tweeted about and listeners, you tweeted about it yourself morning. and that is we've to be careful you in print as in broadcasting as well about talking the bad stuff up because out there as just said amongst consumer buyers, what have you, it's really important has the fear of recession been overdone? no, i actually think it has. if anything , i no, i actually think it has. if anything, i think it's been underplayed . the problem we have underplayed. the problem we have is , yes , we saw growth just a is, yes, we saw growth just a fraction, a smidgen of growth . fraction, a smidgen of growth. but the problem is in the run up to christmas, november and december, people borrowed lots and lots money. if you look at the bank of england figures, the last ones they put out, you know, we saw credit card spending treble . so spending for example, treble. so at some point this bill to be paid for and with the global economy slowing as well. i fear

that we've just basically delayed recession. okay. well, let me bring piers into that, because what your tweet and i think it was this morning, it may have been last night, but i certainly to out and certainly wanted to go out and talk him tomorrow. it about talk to him tomorrow. it about the inflation being the spectre of inflation being a real problem for folks out there. and the thing that struck me that the prime me about is that the prime minister make minister chose to make restoration growth and defeat inflation . twin priorities in inflation. twin priorities in that important new year speech that important new year speech that he made the bank of england his chosen weapon to defeat inflation is higher interest rates , which for anyone trying rates, which for anyone trying to run a business or expand business or invest in a new is a nightmare . yes, they're saying nightmare. yes, they're saying it going to be over 6% now. i think they're looking at 4.39% is the forecast with three and a half now. so if you're already struggling adding another point on, top of that makes a huge difference. and i totally agree. i think that the that kind of, you know, the hiatus of the queen's you got christmas bounce a world cup people are out that are pulling in the summer i

think to extent borrowing think to some extent borrowing that needs paid. so that bill needs to be paid. so i think the it's not about cautious optimism. it's not about you've about overplaying it. you've just be cautious . yeah, just got to be cautious. yeah, thatis just got to be cautious. yeah, that is it still an environment if were in in the day and or on as you are the board of british would you say to bright young people that i read their ideas in the newspapers day in day out, not least in your column and elsewhere. a lot people have got brilliant ideas, whether it's setting up a new bar, new restaurant or something in the high sector . restaurant or something in the high sector. uk 2023 going high tech sector. uk 2023 going into 2084 is still a place to risk your money to risk a new venture because what real growth is all about it's not going out for a few beers and a meal on a credit card it's actually growth. it's about creating wealth. yeah, we have to nurture that into the rest of this baseball world. so yeah. so i would say the ambition is evenly distributed. okay and maybe more saying women, ethnic minorities

because there's glass ceilings , because there's glass ceilings, but access to capital and opportunities see isn't that's what we need to fix . so a lot of what we need to fix. so a lot of what we need to fix. so a lot of what we're talking about now is going be recession next going to be recession next quarter going quarter. you're going to election up. got to election coming up. we've got to start beyond that. and start looking beyond that. and we this last time i was we said this last time i was sitting here with you is got to have a for the country. have a plan for the country. this be a or ten year this will be a five or ten year plan, not just sort of, you know something around deck deckchairs or what's or just worrying about what's going the quarter going to happen the next quarter over 18 months. that's over the next 18 months. that's what country great what this country needs. great place start business. and place to start a business. and i think i wasn't a fan of brexit. we were. you are. and i think that what we do have is an opportunity make uk. it's opportunity to make the uk. it's a i believe this the a lot, but i believe this the best place start or grow best place to start or grow a business and that's the key to this economy or. economy is about to go through fundamental permanent change due to technology. air technology. we've seen this air and going to accelerate and that's going to accelerate and that's going to accelerate and our ducks a row. and we get our ducks in a row. the going to the the ship's going to leave the harbour uk going to be harbour and the uk going to be on it. so that's the new which is three of us would blow her off from from the top of the hill on score. it's also

hill on that score. it's also reported in the financial press. i you did bit on it as i think you did a bit on it as well, but it's certainly in today's and that is today's papers as and that is that footsie of the that the footsie index of the top 100 companies in the uk. those prices are heading into record high territory so i really want to say this with enormous pride and confidence. there is something good that's happening out there. it may be partly people sitting next to you it may be people that you've invested in past, and it may invested in the past, and it may be people you and i need to be people that you and i need to shout about little bit shout heralds about little bit more. mean, footsie index more. i mean, the footsie index doesn't go into record high doesn't just go into record high territory because money men and women are playing silly games. on arbitrage . i know they died, on arbitrage. i know they died, but what need to remember is that the footsie is and it as an indicator is actually rather bad . the first two 100 is actually mostly comprised multinational companies who make most of their money from outside the uk. so if you're looking for something a bit companies the two. yes you absolutely have stock in america what and the other thing you need to remember about need to remember as well about stock is that they're

stock markets is that they're forward. so they titans of forward. sure. so they titans of buy you know on an i 12 to 18 2436 month ahead time . so they 2436 month ahead time. so they are already say already believe because they think stocks are low now now's time to buy valuation wise ahead of any potential recovery because by the time the economies shares will be higher and too late to buy, you won't be making money. i had a fascinating conversation at the beginning of the program with catherine, who's one of our brilliant political correspondents . and it was about correspondents. and it was about the degree to which the liz truss and kwasi kwarteng brigade are still out there arguing and they want that taxation smallest agenda woven back into the tory mantra . i wanted to ask mantra. i wanted to ask something of all of you coming at it from your different points of view, which i feel quite strongly. are we now getting to a point where it may just that we've exhausted what government

do directly for the economy and for us and it is more , as you for us and it is more, as you were just saying, people like the gentleman on your left who get out there, roll their sleeves out and do the work. sleeves out and do the of work. have we reached ceiling on government ? it be government intervention? it be the conservatives or whether it be waiting in the wings? be labour waiting in the wings? what's yes, what's your view? yes, absolutely. and because if you look britain's debt, it's look at britain's debt, it's over 2.4 trillion. there's no money. to put it bluntly, you there's the old, famous anecdote about when the government in the previous chancellor left a note saying , sorry, there's no more saying, sorry, there's no more money and. i but it merely to make the point because both of you have spoken about it as well. and that that that isn't money for nothing . no. if the money for nothing. no. if the her majesty's government, our collective behalf, owes . her majesty's government, our collective behalf, owes . £2.6 collective behalf, owes. £2.6 trillion, interest has to be paid . and that interest we were paid. and that interest we were talking about interest rates and inflation is even than we spend on some areas like defence for example . indeed, absolutely. so example. indeed, absolutely. so what you'll find is that

unfortunately austerity 2.0 is inevitable . it's going to inevitable. it's going to happen. certainly will just have to be cuts. and this is the tncky to be cuts. and this is the tricky thing for the government because they've to start prioritising and actually telling the public, sorry , you telling the public, sorry, you know, there is no more cash to spend on some of the things that you value. we're going to have to bootstrap ourselves and from there. i that i noticed while he was reading his news out and he did that item single use did that that item on single use plastics and volks foods and packaging and you sat there as a restaurateur someone and i'm sure a lot of your mates are engagedin sure a lot of your mates are engaged in that. do you feel that there are still too many but ones placed upon young and women who want to try and get their own business? the ground, be a restaurant, be at a bar, be at a restaurant, be at a bar, whatever it might yes. yes. whatever it might be? yes. yes. well thank you. we've got guys like piece was sitting here like a piece was sitting here with me today was bobby. it's been been small businesses, been have been small businesses, entrepreneurs to get them on not a but now he's even more difficult with the climate that

we are in i think the question you're asking early on about what the government can do. the government has done a during government has done a lot during covid. as a gentleman was saying as well, there's not much the government can do, not wobbly. what the reason why we're sitting here at is because of the war in ukraine. that's where everything the cost of living started to go up. so what the government can do as a as a one of the leader of the g7 for me is to find a solution to. this war on trying to find some stability so we can see growth sustainable growth in that sector in hospitality every sector in the hospitality every sector in the hospitality every sector an event full sector not just an event full growth like we with the world cup, we don't have a world cup every month. it would have been great, but that's what the great, but that's not what the industries we're not industries needed. we're not there yet. so bearing out and i noficed there yet. so bearing out and i noticed you were listening carefully, indeed but carefully, as indeed was i. but but we've together with but we've that together with what saying, just a few what jeff was saying, just a few moments we may well moments ago, that we may well have a on direct have now hit a on what direct government intervention can do to support new to help and support new businesses , young entrepreneurs, businesses, young entrepreneurs, people that you speak for and

pick and choose and try and back if that is the case, does it not you that the conservative doesn't make more of the fact that that it is now reaching that that it is now reaching that statute of limitations and it will lay off people like open and say look the real way forward all of us is to ease red tape , to cut business rates and tape, to cut business rates and all of that stuff and just create a direct climate. it makes sense and makes money to create a new business and let your brilliant idea. yes, i'm a hugein your brilliant idea. yes, i'm a huge in that the uk economy there's a huge amount of talent and opportunity baked within it and opportunity baked within it and we need to release it. i think we can probably grow is in the exact numbers obviously we could possibly grow our economy gdp by ten, 15% just by releasing the opportunity and the talent within the economy. but do that. you need access to capital opportunities. it be more evenly distributed. and i do agree that i think post leaving the eu we can reduced the sort of legislative burden so for example government

procurements will only be looking at as well and you see my views with labour that a view recently thought so recently the thought that we so that is starting to see that came out is starting to see realising that they need to get out of the way. but let's face you trying to know, you they're trying to you know, agree fiscal it's like agree on tax fiscal it's like four dimensional chess and anybody to do it. we as an economy now have an opportunity to release the power within it and let people on with it. do you think is going to be the real debate come the general election with sir keir starmer standing up in front of the cbi? not that ago saying labour now embraces growth. labour embraces profit . labour wishes to be the profit. labour wishes to be the friend of business just as much . i would like to think so , but . i would like to think so, but the proof will be in the pudding. i think problem with our political class is quite frankly, they really don't have a to grow. growing economy a clue to grow. growing economy , you need to actually have a clear strategy . you know, clear strategy. you know, actually put place the actually these put in place the conditions growth. conditions for economic growth. so , piers alluded to so for example, piers alluded to the regulatory burden you need to through tax

to actually go through the tax system. i mean, for example, business rates, an absolute massive and matter massive killer. and no matter how chancellor with how many times a chancellor with it, still overly it, it's still overly complicated. so you need to go away and do things like that, you need to fix education to actually make sure you have the people who skilled enough to people who are skilled enough to actually fill the jobs of tomorrow. and i don't tomorrow. and lastly, i don't the do this the government can do this alone. think it's to alone. i think it's down to individuals the individuals changing the mentality britain adopt mentality britain needs to adopt a more entrepreneurial mindset . a more entrepreneurial mindset. you know, far too many people are scared of failure. if you start a business, this will tell about this. you know, wilfred will tell you about you are working constantly . there is no working constantly. there is no days off. you know your mind is focussed. i've got to do this. i've got people relying on me. i need to keep going but business rates in terms of your as it were your top ten of headaches you have to deal with day in, day out is the issue of ulster business, which you know you've got delays, you've got the you know, i mean all the overhead

but business because he's up there with some yeah the other thing that we got a lot of tweets and emails on have has really fingerprints all over when he was chancellor the exchequer and that's corporation tax and that move of this government to increase corporation which seemed to survive that whole debacle over the liz truss and quasi clapton penod the liz truss and quasi clapton period is that something that concerns you or are you in a position where you don't pay corporation, you pay personal income tax, business tax? yes, i pay income tax, business tax? yes, i pay income tax . but i mean, pay income tax. but i mean, going back to what you were saying earlier, alister business, which i think a number of businesses . well, we took the of businesses. well, we took the bonds back loan. i don't if we remember x number of small business took it i didn't take it back then because i didn't see the way going to repay that business, for example. and now a number of businesses are have to pay number of businesses are have to pay back and have to pay

business rates even though they're not doing well. then do you see this? everything is slowly slowing down in in that industry. so that's why you can see a number of now are closing even my we're still on his in action so we can see some people high increase in footfall but this is not is because some of the businesses of course so attracting those customers so it's not natural and whether business rates or whether it's corporation tax within five pledges that we talked about last week. i know we're talking about again this and we've made about again this and we've made a little bit more progress on on the health service delighted to say with thumbs up from from the private sector there . but it private sector there. but it struck me listening to the sunak that almost an that there was almost an internal contradiction to it, which is very, very tricky if you look at it from a business person's point of view, and that is that he wants get growth going again. he also wants defeat inflation that we've about, but he wants to reduce

debt and start getting and debt as a smaller proportion of gross domestic product. gross domestic product is what he and his business day in out produce and generate and contribute to and the people that you back and support and help is it possible to have three at the same time no to be perfectly blunt , no to be perfectly blunt, there's going to be a trade off somewhere along line because if you go all out for growth , you you go all out for growth, you know, say you give away a lot of tax giveaways to spur investment, then suddenly you're borrowing the roof . borrowing through the roof. there's just simply going to have to be a bit of an adjustment, you know, expectations and you've got to remember, we are at the mercy of global well. we are global economy as well. we are not isolation. so, you not operating isolation. so, you know, example know, if america, for example goes into recession, the demand and from american for products made by will massively go down so to some degree we are just simply riding along a ship we are just having to rearrange our jazz and our cargo loads to make

ourselves as comfortable possible labour say that compared those international and of course jeff's absolutely right on that labour say that comparatively speaking we're doing worse than that. many of those post—covid , they have those post—covid, they have bounced back more than we have . bounced back more than we have. what in in your views , all three what in in your views, all three of you. but let's start with you, piers. what have they done? whether it's france or germany or the united states, america, that haven't ? i think we that we haven't? i think we under the eight g—20, we're probably just russia, which is not great place to be if we've taken a hit on energy prices. very good. so where we are and i think the is partly historic , think the is partly historic, i'll mention the b word again, it's partly the impact of brexit. we need to sort of fix that and have that conversation. that's partly as part of the impact of leaving the eu. and again, think uk economy is again, i think the uk economy is pretty in way. so pretty fragile in a way. so we're seeing of that sort of we're seeing all of that sort of compact sort have effect

compact sort have this effect and i'll keep beating the drum. we've got start you we've got to start ahead. you know, example has got know, china example has got a demographic of the boomers about to off in terms an upside to go off in terms an upside down lots other down demographic. lots other countries. we've got to start looking at further in terms looking at further out in terms of the plan for this country and are the 5.5 million small businesses in the uk that's% of private sector employment, half of gdp , you know, large of gdp, you know, large enterprises are shrinking. they got this big media. you've got itv news now . you do the same itv news now. you do the same thing. we've lot less . and thing. we've lot less. and that's the future and that's what we should be focusing on. so would your headline piece of advice that to anyone who may be listening this or watching this conversation and just kind of mulling over creating their own business or working with friends and colleagues to do it, really take a detailed analytical view on what a competitor is doing better than us. is something that you and your colleagues could do that at the moment have

to turn to china for. or we have turn to france or germany for. is it potentially as simple as that? well, the world's changing and we forget that the cost of labour example in mexico, i think better trained it's about a third of the price. people don't realise. so the whole i mean correct point that we are dividing on the same all the we will rise with the tide always , will rise with the tide always, we still go down with it, we will in world, but the world is changing and we have to keep up with that. you can't have this narrow focus on where we are going to be next quarter. we're talking about today and the perhaps or even by the next election. you've got to look beyond you don't, we beyond that. if you don't, we will continue opposition will continue to see opposition i think become a and also i think will become a and also run. there another line that run. there was another line that came out when we celebrated the part of the year with james a little bit earlier on and that is do what you do, but do really, really well . and really, really well. and remember, nobody in the world more important than your customer and your clientele pass that on. indeed. indeed, you.

absolutely right . spot on, absolutely right. spot on, alister. i think i think well please just touch it on one another here talking about brexit what we noticed in the hospitality sector after covid we had a mass wave of people who just left the uk especially in the hospital energy sector where we're struggling as businesses to find a staff the skill for people we needed to support to keep the going after after covid but it was really a net miss so the customer service was going down lack of stuff not really . down lack of stuff not really. but somehow we still to do to stay above the water if you will if you if you want. but i don't know if it's what the long term solution is. if it part of the planning that this was saying from the government side of things maybe they could have left be lead time after we accede for people to remain in the uk before they start leaving . yeah thank you all very much indeed that delivered exactly what . i hoped

indeed that delivered exactly what. i hoped it indeed that delivered exactly what . i hoped it would do indeed that delivered exactly what. i hoped it would do some bright ideas for people out there and a little bit of background to what is really happening within the uk economy. read those numbers, have a think about always put them about them, but always put them in context. and don't forget the sentiment really does matter . sentiment really does matter. thank you all very much indeed . thank you all very much indeed. business and finance editor of express newspapers, geoff booth , ceo of bob blocks and dragon piers linley, and also the owner of the bull shark. and ticky, the great wilford, mara's all welcome any time and thank very much for breaking into your weekend to be here with us at gb news and radio . we've plenty news and radio. we've plenty more still to come this afternoon on alastair stewart& friends including with the release of his memoir this week on public opinion . can prince on public opinion. can prince harry rebuild his royal reputation . are be speaking to reputation. are be speaking to a reputation. are be speaking to a reputation expert next. but first let's bring you right up to date the weather. hello i'm craig snell. and here's your

latest forecast from the met office. well, after we the wind and rain today, a change is in the forecast we will start to turn quite cold, especially from sunday onwards. so the situation at the moment, we still got low pressure dominating the british isles and the tightly packed of us indicating some very windy weather this afternoon across parts of northern scotland and england . quite blustery england. quite blustery elsewhere actually . and once we elsewhere actually. and once we lose this rain across , eastern lose this rain across, eastern england this afternoon for much of england and wales, northern ireland really it's an afternoon of sunny and scattered showers . of sunny and scattered showers. very different story for scotland . a band of persistent scotland. a band of persistent rain really for most of the afternoon , that rain will turn afternoon, that rain will turn to hill snow . the mountains of to hill snow. the mountains of scotland cold here further south, we just cling onto double figures throughout the afternoon in the far into the evening, continuation of clear spells and showers for much of england and further north, this band of rain and hail snow will slowly think its way southwards into northern

ireland and northern england as the night goes on behind it, some clear skies developing and under the clear skies, it will turn quite cold risk of some frost . also some stretches frost. also some icy stretches further south. a colder night than of late, but probably hanging on to temperatures into 3 to 4 degrees into a cold day for most of us we will see this band of rain and maybe some hail, snow continue to track its way southwards. but weakening it does so behind it. it does turn quite a good deal. sunnier still, the risk of some wintry showers and quite keen wind . showers and quite keen wind. northeastern scotland so feeling quite here further south, a coded island of light, but maybe nearer to average for the far south of england . and then as we south of england. and then as we go into the week ahead, it's going to be quite a cold week for most of us, an increase in risk of frost by night and also some snow .

so 1:32 on radisson in the gb news room. the uk has sanctioned tehran's prosecutor general following the execution of a british national in iran . ali british national in iran. ali reza akbari was sentenced to death on charges spying for britain. forensic james cleverly says the sanctions underline our disgust at the killing which rishi sunak described as callous and cowardly . meanwhile, iran's and cowardly. meanwhile, iran's state media is reporting that the british ambassador has been summoned to iran's foreign ministry over what it describes as london's meddling in. national a union representing ambulance workers has written to the prime minister saying feel betrayed by attempts to paint as uncaring gmb which represents more than thousand ambulance staff , told the prime minister

staff, told the prime minister he was demonising them over strike action after mr. sunak told the commons that industrial action was terrifying and the pubuc action was terrifying and the public rishi sunak has of his ambition to send a squadron of british tanks to help ukraine take back territory lost to russian forces . speaking with russian forces. speaking with president zelenskyy this morning, he pledged to supply to battle tanks alongside additional artillery. battle tanks alongside additional artillery . the additional artillery. the decision makes the uk the first western power to supply main battle tanks to the country. labour says the government has its fullest backing for sending military aid to ukraine. plans to house 400 asylum seekers . a to house 400 asylum seekers. a small village near northampton have now been dropped by the home office . residents had home office. residents had objected to using the 17th century highgate house hotel britain, which has a population of just 520. james hill, britain, which has a population of just 520. james hill , the of just 520. james hill, the chairman of the local parish . he chairman of the local parish. he told us why residents were against the scheme . we,

against the scheme. we, a village of 520 people and the prospect of 400 people coming to live here without occupation or activity to keep them occupied without , proper access to local without, proper access to local services which we felt that was unnecessary , noble for us as unnecessary, noble for us as a community and also for the local area . we're on tv , online and on area. we're on tv, online and on the 80 plus radio. you're watching gb news, the people's channel. back now to alistair . channel. back now to alistair. rae.thank channel. back now to alistair. rae. thank you very much indeed. finally, you may have noticed spare is out and about. it is the fastest selling long fiction book by definitions may vary in certain quarters . in certain quarters. in a succession of tv interviews on both sides of the atlantic, the

author, prince harry, sought to defend and even hold out the hope of reconciliation . but many hope of reconciliation. but many felt that the game was up, not least on his own repute . in least on his own repute. in a major in the daily telegraph today. harry suggests. and there it is , flashing on the front it is, flashing on the front page. i'm just holding up the telegraph. there that there may be so much that he left out of the first book in respect to his and to his big brother, that there may be a second book waiting might not be the way to try and rebuild the reputation. or is it a lost cause? there's also something, if you're interested in all of this stuff and we know from our own research and data that you are that both the sun newspaper and the daily express have big opinion polls on what you think of what harry and what he has had to say and what you now think of the rest of the royal family and oddly enough if i just hold up quickly a sample

from the express there it is. picture of king charles square and it says don't worry imagine the nation is with you . so there the nation is with you. so there we have it. the book appears to have won him a few friends and. i'm delighted to be joined now by andy williams, who is a political and royal reputational expert on it . most seem to expert on it. most seem to regard him simply as having irresponsible in military terms to his family , breaching to his family, breaching confidence left, right and centre . and according to those centre. and according to those polls in the and the express he's blown it . yeah well i mean he's blown it. yeah well i mean look i think his reputation has undoubtedly suffered as a result of this. we know from the polls that we've seen the harry's reputation is at his popularity is at an time low. his and meghan's popularity at and i think the key thing here is that i don't think he's actually

bothered by what the uk public think of him. this isn't an exercise i don't think in to get the british people onside. i think it's exercise in trying to put his case forward in terms of how he perceives the media has played a very damaging role in his life and the perceived or the alleged way in which the he calls it the institution has behaved. so i don't think actually trying to recover his reputation in here in the uk. i think what harry is trying to do is put a case, put forward an argument, gain some level of retribution. i suppose . and also retribution. i suppose. and also i think the third thing is appeal an american audience. so if you look at the interviews , if you look at the interviews, harry has given, the one in the us, one in the uk with tom bradby on itv last week and also the interview that and meghan gave to oprah last year. all those interviews have been designed to appeal an american audience, not a uk audience,

because that, i think, is where future lies. interestingly the interview with bryony gordon in the telegraph he makes exactly that penultimate that it is the me. it is the media who are the m.e. it is the media who are the enemy . they m.e. it is the media who are the enemy. they did for his mum they tried to do for him and they tried to do for him and they tried to do for him and they tried to do for meghan . is there tried to do for meghan. is there any way in which a second volume of spare could rectify any of that? or would you , as that? or would you, as a professional consultant say , as professional consultant say, as once was famously to a leading labour politician, a little of silence would not go amiss . well silence would not go amiss. well i wouldn't be surprised if once of the promotion around this bookis of the promotion around this book is done. but i mean, let's be clear. the he's done or the job people have done in terms of promoting this book has been exceptional . it's been exceptional. it's been dominating the news for a week now. i think i've seen that the sales of his book it's one of the fastest selling non—fiction books of all time. so in that respect it served his purpose. i wouldn't surprised after wouldn't be surprised after

this. period of silence this. there is period of silence because that will come a sort of point at which people do get fed up of hearing about this. i guess what's interesting and somewhat forces the issue is that for five months time, five months time, we have the coronation coming up and a decision has to be made between harry and his father. the king , harry and his father. the king, as to whether or not he's going to attend that that very important symbol event. and then if he does attend, in what capacity ? how will he behave? capacity? how will he behave? will he be publicly around that ? and, you know, it's not that away. so while there might be a penod away. so while there might be a period of silence . there will be period of silence. there will be a proactive decision that has to be made one way or the other. as to whether or not he attends. and that i think, will say something about whether or not the family has reconciled at all, whether harry is prepared to put his grievances that he has so openly and quite

brutally, really laid out in book as the late queen's relationship with the duke of york demonstrated his family thatis york demonstrated his family that is capable of forgiveness in the right circumstances , the in the right circumstances, the right imagery and good to talk to you. thank you very very much indeed.i to you. thank you very very much indeed. i did do that. andy expert for to on reputation building both in the world of politics and indeed the royal family thoroughly enjoyed it very much that you will come and talk to us again now let's switch to another of our topics that you seem to like , which is that you seem to like, which is the idea of trying to save money and make each pound go a little bit further . an estimated 3.2 bit further. an estimated 3.2 million people across britain out of credit on that pre—payment metres last year that according to the citizens advice. and we will be discussing next. but first, let's take a quick.

break welcome back. i'm bold enough to , say another popular regular feature on this program is that those savings, as i said just before that break, an estimated 3.2 million people across britain ran out of credit on their pre—payment metres last yeah their pre—payment metres last year. and that's one person every 10 seconds, according to citizens advice, people could not afford to. top it up now . not afford to. top it up now. energy firms attempting to switch over to repay payment metres. what can you do if this is currently affecting you? i'm delighted to be joined by mark slade again, who is there he is, ceo and founder of save money carbon. i mean this there's some brutal economic takes in this but also there's a kind of freedom and liberty thing. people just doing it to unwilling consumers . citizens unwilling consumers. citizens advice from the case . what would advice from the case. what would you suggest people should do who are unhappy ? both sides of that are unhappy? both sides of that

coin . alistair guy to invite coin. alistair guy to invite back your show i think to talk about the reports of this really i think disturbing is that we people using the energy crisis as potentially a tool of moving more and more of the most vulnerable and struggling households. prepaid metres. and to be blunt i think simply this it just improves the profits and the collection although the cash collection although energy i think it's energy companies i think it's very very disturbing. as you very very disturbing. and as you said big numbers know, said some big numbers you know, 3.2 million people disconnected last year, as you said, one every 10 seconds. a lot people being taken to court so that they can force their way the home and change the metre is a more worrying for me is the big drive with tv advertising with people dressing up as einstein to get us to go to smart metres because the beauty of the smart metre an energy point metre from an energy point of view that even the cost in view is that even at the cost in the time we've taken court, the time we've taken to court, they can just flip a switch and you will prepaid many times without even without the individual even knowing some of the most stressful times. so you know, you kind of at people that you kind of look at people that were forced to go across 600,000

people, cities and vice said in 2022 versus 380,000 in 2021. so really big uplift. and that's you know, leaving 2 million people disconnected at least once a month for more than 24 hours unable to cook or wash or heat, turn a light on. so it's really, really. yeah. fascinating thing. and going to his website or citizens advice and see what your rights are because it's as mark just said you rights in this matter and they'd be knocked about the headune they'd be knocked about the headline element of it about folk running of credit is still all about price i know you follow things very carefully only just on the carbon to it, but generally speaking , do you but generally speaking, do you sense and i'll dare to say it that on wholesale, wholesale pnces that on wholesale, wholesale prices of , energy, we may just prices of, energy, we may just possibly have turned a corner and that there may be some slightly sunny uplands ahead us

on price . well i think i think on price. well i think i think thatis on price. well i think i think that is the case but i think it's a long term and it is supply and demand around the world and wholesale prices are starting to slowly, but they're not down to what we were experiencing . our energy prices experiencing. our energy prices years gone by. so this problem isn't going to go away. and i think we kind of need to smell a, you know, kind of wake up and, smell the coffee a little bit. you know, in general, all businesses are in business to make money you know, they want to sell their commodity. they want the cash want to collect the cash as quickly as possible, they quickly as possible, and they want a profit and energy want to make a profit and energy are different. know, are no different. you know, shareholders the people shareholders write the people down the help desk. down to speak on the help desk. they're there to make you use more energy make more more energy and to make more money. the wrong money. and i think the wrong people to guide and help us reduce we actually use i think it's now time to really sit up and look at different ways doing this in my view to solve this problem for the most vulnerable , they should be taking these people on prepaid metres away

from the energy companies actually threaten the energy companies. if you are to put them on a prepaid metre, we will take them off and they should be moved into a not for profit organisation. the potential could buy of the energy for could buy all of the energy for what 4 people in the uk what 4 million people in the uk from sources they should from green sources they should remove that element delay if remove that element and delay if you like that credit direct onto the metre of the people in need. and obviously i would say this it's likely cut carbon. we're growing rapidly with people downloading our free app to look at things they could do in the home buy products reduce home and buy products to reduce what but i go back what actually use, but i go back to statement. energy to that statement. an energy company want you to company does not want you to reduce actually in reduce what you actually use in energy. so like asking tescos sainsbury's to tell you to buy less things you walk around less things when you walk around the never to do the shop and never going to do that. think we start with that. and i think we start with these most vulnerable and these most vulnerable people and this the trigger for this could be the trigger for not only moving them away, moving the profit away, if you like supplying the energy, like and supplying the energy, but their homes first to but picking their homes first to do what so many common does is actually in the energy actually put in the energy efficient products and

technologies don't cost a technologies which don't cost a lot. so the money that's on metre goes further and further and further and it saves us money quite ways wise . thank you money quite ways wise. thank you very much indeed forjoining us again. that's marcus right there, ceo and founder of save money cut carbon . look up the money cut carbon. look up the website. lots of great ideas . as website. lots of great ideas. as you said , these businesses exist you said, these businesses exist to. make money. can't blame them for that. that's what do. your job is. try and save money, but also to remember your rights as well . i also to remember your rights as well. i hope also to remember your rights as well . i hope that you also to remember your rights as well. i hope that you found also to remember your rights as well . i hope that you found that well. i hope that you found that all very useful. as indeed did i. now change the subject . this i. now change the subject. this week, the death of legendary guitarist jeff beck was he was hailed by those who really know about things as certainly one of the all time great guitarists and some even argued that he was the greatest. bearing in mind that he shared some pedigree with eric clapton who many

others have said really was the greatest. what's interesting that he was mourned publicly not by member of the rolling stones, but by two of them. in a tweet, mick jagger said the death of . mick jagger said the death of. jeff beck, we have lost a man and one of the great lost guitar players in the world. we will all miss him so much. so let's reflect upon the career of this legend. i'm delighted to say that joining me now once again is a very dear friend of mine, uk manager nick stewart . there uk manager nick stewart. there he is to be brutally honest . he is to be brutally honest. jeff beck outside guide the profession , as it were, is not profession, as it were, is not an instant stand out name on the high street like eric clapton or others . nick well, good point others. nick well, good point out of it. to the great public, jeff beck only ever had one hits single. i hope. silver lining, which has been adopted. as i

learned this week , various was learned this week, various was adopted various football clubs, including west albion. and so it was a sort of early version of sweet caroline. and i think in some ways no , i know jeff beck some ways no, i know jeff beck was a remarkable man . and this was a remarkable man. and this little story really is about a group called the yardbirds and the yardbirds contain . and at the yardbirds contain. and at any stage from 63 to 65, eric clapton , jemmy page was then clapton, jemmy page was then asked to join. he said i've got too much going on with my session, so why don't you take on jeff beck? but page did join the yardbirds and the yardbirds became . they were a blues band . became. they were a blues band. they supported sonny bill williams on an english tour , and williams on an english tour, and they became the first sort of psychedelic band, psychedelic rock and from the yardbirds came led zeppelin, jemmy page , paul led zeppelin, jemmy page, paul samuel smith, who was the bass ,

samuel smith, who was the bass, went on to produce all those cat stevens albums. and then jeff went off to start the jeff beck group with rod stewart and ronnie wood and aynsley dunbar. and it was a turning point . it and it was a turning point. it was this unfold , the untimely was this unfold, the untimely departure of beck, who was a brilliant guitar player. yeah, i quickly tell you that. spoke to phil manzoni of roxy music's guitar player , who said guitar player, who said unequivocally he was the best he ever saw. absolute the best ever saw . but that melting point of saw. but that melting point of 5 to 68 produced the english psychic , delicate rock scene psychic, delicate rock scene headed by led zeppelin . clapton headed by led zeppelin. clapton came back with cream . jeff was came back with cream. jeff was on tour with rod stewart in america on the cruise. he was an extremely , very influence figure extremely, very influence figure in english progressive rock , and in english progressive rock, and then went on to work with various other people and was many, many great records. for

example, not many people know the guitar solo in tina turner's private is played by jeff beck. final point quickly. and i'm afraid time is slightly this my favourite quote in all of it was rod stewart was said unlike many guitarists who actually listen to what i was trying to sing well the combination of i never really understood why truth and beck hold the two albums of the jeff beck group with rod stewart. i commend anyone listening to this go listen brought you . i've been thinking brought you. i've been thinking which one was great vocal performances and said to in motion through the faces and then his own solo career . great then his own solo career. great to talk to you. incredible. important thank you for your thoughts , reflections and time, thoughts, reflections and time, as always . go to friend on as always. go to friend on popular mixture out there . thank popular mixture out there. thank you very much indeed. the great jeff beck who passed and

reflection is there a collaboration from next year uk artist manager who is one of those been there and it all. guysi those been there and it all. guys i said just before we did the savings item that it was one of our more popular items which regularly try and weave in. we know that because we talk to you and listen what you have to say and listen what you have to say and our next chunk is also one that you particularly like. it's what we call the causes small. it's not where we try and highlight groups or individual those who are doing good things , this week , other people. this week delighted to welcome into the studio and you sitting right next to live in the studio, next to me live in the studio, madeleine who is the madeleine castelli who is the founder resonate . at your mum founder of resonate. at your mum and dad with both copies. so tell me in a nutshell, what does seek to do? i know the answer to the question because i've read all the notes on it. but in your own words, of course. so resonate seeks to change lives with music has a profoundly positive and positive impact health and wellbeing it's basically to

wellbeing and it's basically to get everyone involved music get everyone involved in music and do just that with and singing to do just that with special focus on people living with severe disability and be like rod stewart or jeff or whatever, or it can be classical music . absolutely. and we know music. absolutely. and we know that there's that wonderful connection between music , connection between music, wellbeing people have been wellbeing and people have been doing that for quite some time . doing that for quite some time. but read in the notes that one but i read in the notes that one of your real standout hopes is parkinson's. absolutely . parkinson's. yes, absolutely. and a good friend of mine was diagnosed with parkinson's. and with parkinson's over 40 with parkinson's has over 40 different symptoms. people different symptoms. and people think it's just that shake. but it there's lots lots it isn't. there's lots and lots of different impacts with of different vocal impacts with parkinson's , you lose parkinson's, and you can lose the clarity of , your voice, the clarity of, your voice, you can the connection to the can lose the connection to the breath. this is prevalent in breath. and this is prevalent in lots disability, too. lots of other disability, too. so with friend, i to my so with my friend, i to use my singing background , help her singing background, help her regain clarity and regain some clarity and academics. yes, just about to finish my stay. and i, i want to jinx it. but yes, i'm all of my background to really shape this initiative to make music. well, it's been lovely meet you all to

brief. as i said to my lovely old friend year you're my new friend. i very much will come back and talk to us again, particularly about that connection with parkinson's. and thank much. love to thank you much. they'd love to see that . sorry i'm afraid see that. sorry that i'm afraid all we have time for in this in that conversation. but don't forget what i was just saying that particularly about parkinson's and wellbeing . the parkinson's and wellbeing. the prime minister said he wants bold and radical on the nhs. well that's a good idea. let's get madalyn in there to help on that industry. the founder that model industry. the founder of resonate but that , i'm of resonate but that, i'm afraid, is all that she and i have time for and indeed all i have time for and indeed all i have time for today on the programme. but i will be back again tomorrow and again tomorrow at 1:00 and i hope much indeed that you hope very much indeed that you will join me then. and i hope, madeleine, you'll come and madeleine, you'll come back and have conversation. maybe have another conversation. maybe at from at your convenience, but from all here for have a all of us here for now. have a terrific saturday a very terrific saturday and a very good afternoon to you. bye bye. hello, i'm snell . here's hello, i'm craig snell. here's the latest forecast from the met office the wind office after we lose the wind rain today, a change is the

forecast. we will start to turn quite cold, especially from sunday onwards. so here's the situation and at the moment, we've still got low pressure dominating the british isles and the isopods here the tightly packed isopods here indicating some very weather this . parts of this afternoon across. parts of northern ireland, scotland and northern ireland, scotland and northern england quite blustery elsewhere . and once we lose this elsewhere. and once we lose this rain , eastern england, this for rain, eastern england, this for much of england and wales , much of england and wales, northern ireland, really it's an afternoon of sunny spells and scattered showers . a very scattered showers. a very different story for scotland . a different story for scotland. a band of persistent rain really lingering for most of the afternoon . and that rain will afternoon. and that rain will turn to hill snow across the mountains of scotland quite cold here. further south, we may just cling on to double figures throughout the afternoon in the far southeast this evening far southeast into this evening , continuation of clear spells and for much of england and wales further north this band of rain and hail snow will slowly sink its way southwards into . sink its way southwards into. northern ireland and northern england as the night goes on behind it some clear skies

developing and under the clear skies it will turn quite cold risk of some frost and also some icy stretches . further south, a icy stretches. further south, a colder night than of late, but still probably hanging to on temperatures into 3 to 4 degrees into sunday. a cold for most of us. we will see this band of rain and maybe also heavy snow continue to track its southwards, but weakening as it does so behind it, it turn quite a good deal sunnier. so the risk of some wintry showers and quite keen wind across northeastern scotland. so feeling quite here further south. a cold day then of late, but maybe nearer to average , the far south of average, the far south of england . and then as we go into england. and then as we go into the week ahead, it's going to be a quite a cold week for most of us, an increase in risk of frost by night and also some snow.