hello. good afternoon. it's 3:00 this is gb news is on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua. i'm in for patrick christys now. coming up this hour, christys now. coming up this hour , ambulance workers in the hour, ambulance workers in the royal college of is to hold their first ever joint strike month in what is expected to be the biggest nhs walk out in this current dispute. now the announcement came on the day that thousands of nurses across england took to the picket lines

in a row over pay. this nurse broke down in tears at a picket line as she called for the government to do more. the job that i love, but i need to pay my and we need to keep people in the profession . so a yougov poll the profession. so a yougov poll out this afternoon suggests that one in three nhs nurses and midwives would not go into the profession again if they were given the choice. we'll cross light to picket lines across the country and ask are you still supporting striking nhs workers ? supporting striking nhs workers 7 we'll supporting striking nhs workers .7 we'll bring you a gb news exclusive . at least 10,000 exclusive. at least 10,000 teenage, some as young as 13 are being exploited by criminal gangs to transport drugs for them. most of these so—called county lines gangs are using britain's network to carry huge quantities , illegal drugs and quantities, illegal drugs and cash to communities right across the country. our homeland security . mark white will have security. mark white will have the latest and there'll be no bottoms in the office as the chair of britain's top food watchdog , that cake could watchdog, that cake could harmful and could be harmful as

passive smoking and should be banned from the workplace . we'll banned from the workplace. we'll debate that before 4:00 as ever. email me, gb views. gbnews.uk or tweet me at gb news. but first, let's get your latest news headunes let's get your latest news headlines headlines. nana. thank you. good afternoon. it's minutes past three. i'm bethany elsey the gb newsroom. as nurses , england staged a two day strike. the labour leader urging the prime minister to take and admit the nhs is in crisis. members of the royal college of nursing 55 nhs trusts are walking out in a long running dispute . overpay in patient dispute. overpay in patient safety . the action is expected safety. the action is expected to lead to thousands of operations and appointments being cancelled . a nurse being cancelled. a nurse associate on the picket line told gb news he thinks the government should do more . not government should do more. not an easy decision, but it's about time the government paid its for equally . let's forget about the

equally. let's forget about the money for a second. you know, we need more training places for nurses. and it's about time that we make the country aware how hard it is to work in what we're facing on a daily basis. meanwhile 10,000 ambulance workers sought stage further strike action in the coming in their ongoing dispute over and staffing paramedic emergency care assistance and call handlers will walk out on the six and 20th of both february and march. the union says it's been left with no choice following action from the government. rishi sunak insists the government working to improve access to emergency care. but sir keir starmer says patients are left waiting for hours. mr. speaker it's 12:03. if somebody , if somebody phones if somebody, if somebody phones 999 now because they have chest , some fear it might be a heart attack when with the prime minister , an ambulance to arrive minister, an ambulance to arrive

here . and mr. speaker , here. and mr. speaker, absolutely right that people can on the emergency services when they need them and that's why we're rapidly implementing measures to improve the delivery of ambulance times and indeed urgent and care. but i'd say the honourable gentleman if he cares about ensuring that get access to lifesaving emergency care when they need it. why won't he . our minimum safety legislation the education secretary has held talks with the national education union in a bid to strike action next month . strike action next month. teachers are planning to walk out for seven days across february and march. the union says no real progress on pay was made and that there are no nearer a solution . in other nearer a solution. in other news, the rate which prices are rising has slowed for the second month in a row. but the cost of some food has hit a 45 year high. the office for statistics says the rate of inflation fell

to 10.5% in december. that's down from point 7% the month before. it says falling fuel costs were largely behind the slowdown . the average petrol slowdown. the average petrol price down by 8.3 pence a litre since last month. the has pledged to halve inflation by the end of the year. but chancellor jeremy the end of the year. but chancellorjeremy hunt says chancellor jeremy hunt says there's still a long way to go and country anywhere in the world with inflation over 10% is seeing it at frankly dangerous for the stability an economy. but for up and down the country are seeing food price inflation of nearly 17% and that's causing a massive hike the cost of the weekly shop . and what that weekly shop. and what that really shows is that for and for other countries the most important thing is stick to a plan to down inflation . at least plan to down inflation. at least 14 people, including one child, have been killed in a helicopter crash near ukraine's capital,

kyiv ukrainian officials published higher death toll earlier, but emergency services since revised the number. ukraine interior minister and his first deputy were among who died in the crash, which happened near a nursery in town of bovary. the cause is not yet known and all police forces britain are being asked to check their offices and staff against national police database. after serving officer david carrick sacked from the force yesterday , the 48 year old was fired from the metropolitan police after admitting to 14 nine criminal charges , including 24 counts of charges, including 24 counts of rape. against 12 women over an 18 year period , the home office 18 year period, the home office has asked for serving to be checked to identify if anyone supped checked to identify if anyone slipped through the net before vetting standards strengthened . vetting standards strengthened. this is so big in as it happens now it's back to patrick christys with nana .

christys with nana. get off noon. it's just fast approaching. 7 minutes after 3:00. this is gb news. where? live on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana a where i'm in for patrick christys. so england and wales are facing what could be the largest and such such strike in current in the current dispute over pay and conditions. and that is because the ambulance union today announced ambulance union today announced a string of strike dates for next month and one will be coordinated to walk out with the nurses announced which led to angry exchanges between the labour leader and the prime minister in the commons was the cast are calling on rishi sunak to admit the nhs was in crisis. the prime minister hit back by claiming the labour leader was in the pockets of the union paymasters rather than prioritising patients. the fiery exchange comes as nursing staff from more than 55 nhs trusts in

england started 48 hours of industrial action , a dispute industrial action, a dispute over pay and working conditions. speaking at a picket earlier, one nurse was brought to tears when . asked why she was on when. asked why she was on strike. i can't imagine doing anything else. i can't imagine doing anything else . and you doing anything else. and you know, for patient safety , for know, for patient safety, for staff, safety , for the benefit staff, safety, for the benefit of all society, we need strong social support , strong social social support, strong social care. and that means making sure that everyone is paid a liveable wage , a fair wage for what we do wage, a fair wage for what we do . our scope of practise goes , up . our scope of practise goes, up and up, we're expected to take on more responsibility, more skills . on more responsibility, more skills. highly on more responsibility, more skills . highly educated , trained skills. highly educated, trained . i mean, i wish i explain to you like the level of intervention we can do, life

saving , especially at a hospital saving, especially at a hospital like this . well joining me now like this. well joining me now is our west midlands reporter , is our west midlands reporter, jack carson. he's in stafford now, south—east of england. reporter rae addison is in brighton . reporter rae addison is in brighton. i'm going to start with you, jack. what's the atmosphere been like there today ? it's been quite jubilant. it's been a lot of cars beeping their horns, a lot of chanting and singing the picket line here as the nurses show, how united they are and joined by one of the nurses of the picket line, mary marilyn barratt, who is really stoking the atmosphere here. and marilyn , of the things you've marilyn, of the things you've joined the picket line here for is about better. tell me why fair pay. we're working really hard. we are here on the front line, doing hard work. we say for want, safe. what i would want be paid fairly for our job that we're doing and, doing safeguard . now, you're you've safeguard. now, you're you've been telling me you're a student

nurse in your final year. been telling me you're a student nurse in your final year . yes. nurse in your final year. yes. is there an incentive for , is there an incentive for, someone like you as a student nurse, to coming to the nhs after you have graduated ? no, after you have graduated? no, nothing. nothing there nothing. nothing, nothing there for us to say. i want to stay and staying in the nhs. for us to say. i want to stay and staying in the nhs . so we and staying in the nhs. so we need, we need the to put his act together is even to put this act together is even to put this act together and come and do something for us . we can't be something for us. we can't be working so hard . we give an working so hard. we give an excellent care. so we'll just need to be paid fairly . now, one need to be paid fairly. now, one of the things we see a lot of nurses doing is going into agency because money agency work, because the money isn't the nhs. what isn't there in the nhs. what is the problem you've with the problem that you've with agency staff on wards when it's not people that usually work there. right now a student there. well right now a student on the ward when, when because we're not being paid because the nurses not being paid fairly , nurses not being paid fairly, they can't come out to work. agents is come in it didn't do that. agents is come in it didn't do that . but they don't know the that. but they don't know the patient. they don't the ward. so the ward is unsafe. so we do not have a safe ward. we need to have a safe ward. we need to have safe ward. and to meet to

get paid properly. i would not get paid properly. i would not get in that because nurses are not happy. they're not satisfied . gas, electric, everything going up. they've got family to look after . they've got the look after. they've got the staff to look after because the nurse, the first care is what number one is the self care for yourself. so you can care for others. how can we care for others. how can we care for others if we can't care for ourself? are we asking for fair pay ourself? are we asking for fair pay 27,000 a year? it's not right. not 20, 10,000. something like that alone . going to gas like that alone. going to gas and electric. what do we have to look after we have to pay gas. we have to pay water. we have to pay we have to pay water. we have to pay all these other bills. plus we have to drive our car to work . don't even get incentive to drive our car. and diesel gone up just day to day. what do we get? not even 2020 ppi towards our our driving? nothing we need fair pay . we're given excellent fair pay. we're given excellent care . we need to be fair, fairly care. we need to be fair, fairly okay. marilyn, thank you so much for joining from the picket line. that's the view that's of you here in stafford. you can

probably hear a few honks behind me as the public and, the strikers here showing support for this industrial action . for this industrial action. jack, thanks very much. let's go over to ray now. addison, he's there in brighton. ray where are you? what can you tell us ? good you? what can you tell us? good afternoon, nana . yes, i'm afternoon, nana. yes, i'm outside the royal sussex hosphal outside the royal sussex hospital. this two strikes taking place in here today and tomorrow about five miles down the road at brighton as well. there's a strike taking place there. at its peak, we had around 300 people here. and like jack was saying, the mood is fairly jubilee in the sense of the amount of energy and noise that's coming out of people. we had people using microphones and speaker systems as . well, speaker systems as. well, obviously really trying to get that message across to the pubuc that message across to the public and getting from the pubuc public and getting from the public because you can hear emma sharp is children's hospice hospice nurse and she joins me now. thank you very much for joining me and tell about understaffing . how bad is

understaffing. how bad is understaffing. how bad is understaffing in the nhs at the moment? how much stress it causing to nurses? so the understaffing at the moment in hospitals is heavily impacted by the stress that we're under. the bar is being set low that your bafic bar is being set low that your basic nursing that you want to desperately give we just can't manage you just fighting fires and sometimes not thought is so low which is just to keep alive isn't happening . i personally isn't happening. i personally left nhs a few months ago because it was causing me so much stress. i was physically unwell 72 hours at a time without physically eating as a way of coping and i'm not the first. i'm definitely not the. and they're leaving in abundance of the stress we are under we need more funding in order to sustain our nhs. what would you say ? people who say, well, hold say? people who say, well, hold on, is a vocation. it's on, nursing is a vocation. it's not about a better pay , not not about a better pay, not about receiving a larger pay packet. it's about caring for patients . would you how would patients. would you how would you respond to that? nobody goes into nursing for money. nobody goes into nursing for pay. but what needs happen is they need

some sustainability . we all care some sustainability. we all care and i still within the nursing role just without the nhs . we role just without the nhs. we need more funding in order for people to be able to sustain, to retain staff, to bring staff back that have left due stress. you've got a sign here it says support the strikes like your life depends on them . what's the life depends on them. what's the message you're trying to get across to the public here that lives being lost they lives being lost where they potentially could not be because we're under so much stress and so understaffed because so heavily understaffed because there's not enough funding being pumped services . so pumped into our services. so your lives really are on the line daily because of this service that we aren't able to provide . negotiations have been provide. negotiations have been underway now a very long time obviously. steve barclay, the health secretary, is a part of that process. what message would you give to those involved ? the you give to those involved? the negotiations, both from the rcn and the government? look at what's happening. take responsible and listen to us. we're not doing this for fun. we're not doing this for fun. we're making history striking

today. we don't want to out here. we want our patients safe. we want to be able to love our jobs. and it's not at the moment and thank very much for and i thank very much for joining really, really joining us. really, really appreciate. message appreciate. that's the message you've say you've heard. emma has to say she's working as a children's hospice nurse. she's experienced stress . to a significant level. stress. to a significant level. and she says that is just the tip of the iceberg. this strike today well attended the nurses are committed and the rcn that they're not backing down. well, alison, thank you very much that as an east of england report on jack carson at gb news, west midlands reporter thank you very much. well, downing has urged nurse nurses leaders to return to the negotiating table following the latest round of strikes announced by the health service unions . the prime service unions. the prime minister's official spokesman said this afternoon. we continue to be concerned with the level of disruption bring to patient care. we are now no the trusts are working hard to minimise. care. we are now no the trusts are working hard to minimise . as are working hard to minimise. as the health secretary barclay

said, we want to continue discussions. we think that is the right way forward rather than picket lines . well, joining than picket lines. well, joining me now is amy gallagher. she's nhs nurse her trust didn't vote on in favour of strike action would you be going on if your trust had voted to do so ? no. trust had voted to do so? no. thank you for having me. that. i don't think i would be. i was quite torn on this issue , but in quite torn on this issue, but in the end, i voted against strike action and i wouldn't be striking from memory for the reason that think it's. i worry that it's slightly unethical for health care professionals to go on strike because of the effect it has on patients. patients who have pre—booked appointments, who are having their appointments cancelled , who've appointments cancelled, who've been waiting for a hip operations, knee operations. so and they've been waiting for a very long time sometimes since the pandemic. so that was my main for not being in favour. the strike. also for me to, go on strike. it would have to be an extraordinary even kind of

emergency situation me to feel that a strike is warranted and i don't think the current with pay kind of qualifies as that . kind of qualifies as that. although i do understand however the issues of pay, i just think it's gotten to the point for me that i would feel that need to go on strike but i definitely think there are issues to be you know , issues about pay and money know, issues about pay and money goes on within the nhs. i think this to a much broader point about about funding money, about frontline . that's where the bulk frontline. that's where the bulk of money from the government and the nhs should go on. and actually what we see is a lot of the nhs money goes on and bureaucrats and equality and diversity to offices. i don't. we've got 10,000 a quality and diversity offices . the in the in diversity offices. the in the in the nhs even the nhs is probably the nhs even the nhs is probably the most diverse institution in the most diverse institution in the world and so much money goes

on on roles like that think it's about on on roles like that think it's abou t £500 million goes on about £500 million goes on equality and diversity that could go towards that. the salaries of 12,000 nurses. so i think this is a much broader point about the bloated ness of the nhs where money goes because it's not going on the front. my services and it's not just nurses either, it's health care workers is carers is who even get less play the nurses and work really really hard. i think it's a it's a much bigger issue . we often see a lot of mismatch but in the nhs services being to prop up services that aren't or aren't functioning right. prop up services that aren't or aren't functioning right . money aren't functioning right. money going on, agency workers . and going on, agency workers. and you know, all of this needs to looked at more properly rather than just focussed on nurses pay . yeah, yeah. i hear you there actually, because i think that's that's that's the bigger, bigger thing that just giving more money, if it's a lot of it being

spent badly, doesn't really bode well for anyone. amy, thank you very for joining me. well for anyone. amy, thank you very forjoining me. that's well for anyone. amy, thank you very for joining me. that's amy gallagher, an nhs nurse. next, a gb news exclusive. we reveal at least 10,000 teenagers, some as young as 13 are being exploited . criminal gangs to transport drugs for . . criminal gangs to transport drugs for. most of the so—called county gangs are using britain's rail network to carry huge of illegal drugs and cash to communities right across the country . our homeland security country. our homeland security edhon country. our homeland security editor, mark white has been given exclusive access . a major given exclusive access. a major british transport led operation going after the country line gangs. it's the height of the morning commute in central london and here on the underground at euston . the police are out euston. the police are out force. they're on the hunt for the county lines criminal gangs, using the network to drugs, cash

and weapons . using the network to drugs, cash and weapons. upstairs in the main station concourse . other main station concourse. other officers have stopped and arrested this young man on suspicion of drug dealing . he suspicion of drug dealing. he was found with 1400 pounds in cash and a cheap burner disposable cell phone, often used in drug deals. this country wide operation is being led . wide operation is being led. british transport police and a dedicated county lines unit. i have 70 staff that dedicated type of work across the whole of network. we various tactics we carry out locations. you may not see them out there, but they are out there every day looking for criminals are involved county lines activity or for my own border train heading to the midlands. this is rare access following these plain clothes officers who are part of the county lines taskforce as they look out for anything suspicious . if you've got valuables there, the last thing you want is to

stuff being stolen in a chat with this passenger and it's clear he's a legitimate traveller . but in the three traveller. but in the three years this taskforce has been operational, these officers and their colleagues have made than 1500 drugs, seizures , recovered. 1500 drugs, seizures, recovered. one had a quarter million pounds in illicit cash and taken more than 500 weapons off the rail network. on the day we were filming here at birmingham's news station, officers , a young news station, officers, a young man carrying . suitcase with ten man carrying. suitcase with ten and a half kilos of cannabis inside . further up the line in inside. further up the line in wolverhampton . and another man wolverhampton. and another man and a woman were stopped carrying a suitcase . this time carrying a suitcase. this time with six kilos of cannabis inside it. more than percent of those arrested by the county lines task force over recent years were . teenagers. british years were. teenagers. british transport for police now works closely with social work and

children's charities to identify who might be victims themselves. if there is a young person or a vulnerable adult and there's a crime that's taking place, but we recognise actually they're a victim of exploit . and then victim of exploit. and then you've got an investigation process and a safeguarding process and a safeguarding process can run parallel here at coventry station , another team coventry station, another team of officers are working with police dog wash and his keen sense of smell . a key weapon in sense of smell. a key weapon in identifying those was the closer inspection . it doesn't take him inspection. it doesn't take him long to pinpoint a likely suspect . as these plainclothes suspect. as these plainclothes officers the man it soon cleared the police dog was buying on the for a suit or 25,000 time cash and some gentleman has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned so could take custody and process. so says cash. i've got move as follows. so every case as well at least 600 county

lines criminal. it is a major issue for law enforcement across the country as our time with british transport police starkly illustrates . tens of thousands illustrates. tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs and illicit cash seized in justice a single day. mark white gb news on the rail network. what our homeland security editor, mark white is with me in the studio now. mark huge numbers of people there, 10,000. this is this is this something that suddenly . this something that suddenly. well, we know that the criminal gangs have been exploiting young children for quite a while. i see. on children . but some don see. on children. but some don as young as 13 has been the youngest . the british transport youngest. the british transport police dedicated county lines officers have stopped during operations because easy really to convince to run drugs you know for them a chance to make

money they normally wouldn't be able to get probably a modest amount but might a lot to them andifs amount but might a lot to them and it's relatively low risk in sense that the chances of being stopped unless there's an operation this are probably not that great. so these youngsters are on the trains . are heading are on the trains. are heading to outlying and cities. that's the way the county lines model works . these crime gangs the way the county lines model works. these crime gangs , bigger works. these crime gangs, bigger cities send the drugs out to smaller centres of population so they give them a train ticket. they head out with the drugs , a they head out with the drugs, a rucksack or whatever they hand them over to the individual dealers. they take their money and come back and hand it to the criminal gangs. so it is. is there a specific type person that they're looking for? obviously, a youngster a teenagen obviously, a youngster a teenager. you know, within sort of age range. but do they of target the youngsters or who what of. because i'm worried i

mean i've got a daughter is 14. i'm thinking gosh you know well i'm thinking gosh you know well i mean the criminal gangs are quite smart in a way they've been using youngsters for a long time. and still continue to do that. but not just young . that. but not just young. they'll also use vulnerable and increasingly , they're actually increasingly, they're actually going adults who are maybe not vulnerable, but want to make money quickly at a time where they may be struggling in the midst of , you know, some tough midst of, you know, some tough economic times . and the police economic times. and the police have said, you know , are seeing, have said, you know, are seeing, you know, women who look quite smartly dressed as though they are heading off to you , perhaps are heading off to you, perhaps are heading off to you, perhaps a business meeting. they're carrying drugs as part of this operation as well . so it is operation as well. so it is a real concern. it it's a vast use of the rail network. these crime gangs. of the rail network. these crime gangs . it's one of the ways, gangs. it's one of the ways, especially younger people get a boat because they may not have access to a car. and there are

obviously risks about being on the road stuck to the car as well . so it's the easiest the road stuck to the car as well. so it's the easiest in the road stuck to the car as well . so it's the easiest in the well. so it's the easiest in the world to do to get on a train and to head to these areas just in the one day that we were filming, effectively hundreds of thousands pounds worth of drugs were . one suitcase, ten and were. one suitcase, ten and a half kilos of cannabis. were. one suitcase, ten and a half kilos of cannabis . that's half kilos of cannabis. that's a street value of more than hundred thousand pounds. another suitcase that was being wheeled by a man , a woman in by a man, a woman in wolverhampton. they were stopped, searched . that was stopped, searched. that was seized that had six kilos. again that's a street value of £60,000. then of other people carrying money. £5,000. one young man in coventry was carrying what the police say, probably because he was on his way to buy stash of drugs and a tape back to back and deal, you know, and this is obviously all across the country. what are the doing about this ? yes, it is

doing about this? yes, it is mean. the police have been making some inroads on county lines . a few years ago we were lines. a few years ago we were talking about 2000 county lines criminal gangs in operation. it's now down to about 600, but it's still a very lucrative trade county. lines is netting criminals about half a billion pounds a year. so you can see why is big business for them and it's a never ending battle for police. but this dedicated unit run by british transport police, 70 officers available today to mount these operations . and mount these operations. and they're there every day . you they're there every day. you will see you won't see them. but there are plainclothes officers. you will know the police just on some of the trains. and you don't know when they're going to be on a train anywhere in the country. well, listen. thank you, mark. we'll follow that story closely. that's mark white reporting for right here reporting for you right here with me. i'm a this is gb news. coming up, a possible to coming up, a possible boost to the economy slowing for the

the uk economy slowing for the second month in a row. new figures show that the rate at which prices increasing fell to 10.5% in the year to december , 10.5% in the year to december, from 10.7 in november. economist vicky pryce next on what that means for the pound in your pocket. back in a moment.

you need . to scream as nurses you need. to scream as nurses and a strike england admit the nhs is in crisis. members but pay th

expected sins of operations and appointments being cancelled.. the 55 nhs trusts . all workers with 55 nhs trusts. all workers with the . the. stones and coal on the set of both february and march. union says following government, i'll take communion action in the night also says it will announce further ambulance strike dates. left with no choice met with union leaders and a bit of not over nearly 10 has. slowed for the

second month in a row , but. the second month in a row, but. the cost of some food 5% in december that's daniel price down by 8.3 pence per litre in days. a solution fall . officers and staff against fall. officers and staff against the national database. it's after serving officer david carrick was , sacked from the carrick was, sacked from the force cri m force crim the 48 year old was fired from. them after 18 years. including. 24. counts of rape 12 women. thanks

bethany. it's coming up to 34 minutes onto three o'clock. this. li you're the 12 months to . confusing don't wo the 12 months to. confusing don't wo because charles no. jeremy hunt has old maid december. and you never listen. he is . . let

you never listen. he is.. let me tel what we're doing. toe. harv inflation taken. very getting more expensive a year ago. it would it be now. and that's plan. thank . to the markets have plan. thank. to the markets have accomplished with mortgages you and through that. without cringing then economic if you can break. i've chief economic advisor studies . chief economic advisor studies. keep the chancellor can't do

. . that .. that inflation drops is inspector few of them you . better come down from of them you. better come down from there is very little to do with there is very little to do with the government got to bear in mind that our inflation remains considerably. . and that's the main. . and that's the main . increases . and that's the main. increases particularly at the middle ourselves and that is of course for them due to a thing to bear in mind for the uk is why is it

remains as high as it is even though it is forecast and will be going down in the future lows. a lot of factors of course food prices were mentioned by jeremy hunt is quite right it's not is really what's not just coffee is really what's been on in terms of a lot been going on in terms of a lot of producers and also is a supermarket cuts and also research loans and cafes finally pushing prices through after a hugein pushing prices through after a huge in the cost of the head to deal with for many months now so you did actually to the uk seems to be different the others the others have got a high inflation but it's not as high as ours. what is what you think is the specific reason? if you could pick out the reason why that would be okay. one of the main ones, i'm afraid, is that we haven't really subsidised energy pnces haven't really subsidised energy prices some others have prices as much some others have done. in of those done. and yes, in some of those countries what you will see that maybe inflation a little maybe inflation goes up a little bit. these subsidies are bit. some of these subsidies are taken off. but overall, businesses consumers have businesses and consumers have seriously been helped through this period, we haven't done this period, and we haven't done that to any significant extent,

a little bit. electricity a little bit. the electricity price cap , a little bit. the electricity price cap, but a little bit. the electricity price cap , but that's about a little bit. the electricity price cap, but that's about it. you otherwise we have let you know, otherwise we have let pnces you know, otherwise we have let prices just go up very significant . prices just go up very significant. us in europe expecting of course, that food pnces expecting of course, that food prices will be coming down internationally . food prices internationally. food prices have been coming down for the last seven months and we're not seeing that in the shops here. well vicky, very much. well vicky, thank you very much. that's price. she's the that's vicki price. she's the chief economic adviser for the centre economic business centre for economic and business research. with me on research. you know, with me on this is a gb views and bp's are set to clash over plans to scrap eu derived laws due to expire in december, if not replaced. and labour wants to push the deadune labour wants to push the deadline to 2026. so should we transition more slowly or scrap the legislation at the soonest possible opportunity that is coming up next. but first, we'll go for

get . afternoon. it's coming up get. afternoon. it's coming up to 41 minutes after three o'clock if you just joined me. welcome on board. this is the news. we are the people's channel. don't forget you can download the news app and download the gb news app and actually watched all the shows here on the channel i'm not queer and moving on to queer and we're moving on to this story . the government this story. the government blocked controversial blocked the controversial scottish reform bill and scottish gender reform bill and now faces threats of legal action by nicola sturgeon's devolved administration. ministers justifying the move, saying that the draft law would conflict with uk wide equality law, and it's the first time piece of scottish legislation has been blocked by westminster and sparked fierce debate yesterday . labour's mp rosie yesterday. labour's mp rosie duffield supported the blocking of the scottish bill but was shouted down in the house of commons by members of our party, which i thought was quite disgraceful. earlier she told gb news that she feels unsupported excluded by labour on this issue. people in labor party's head office who write lines for the labour. multi shadow cabinet

who go on television and answer that question about whether i'm being supported . none of them being supported. none of them asked me , they know they don't asked me, they know they don't asked me, they know they don't ask me if i'm being supported somebody in an writes a somebody in an office writes a line labor mp saying, i'm line for labor mp saying, i'm being supported . not sure being supported. i'm not sure what i haven't heard what that means. i haven't heard from . the people in the from care. the people in the shadow don't approach me shadow cabinet don't approach me and ask me if i'm okay or what they can do, and they don't discuss issue me. it's discuss this issue with me. it's an issue i know inside out. they have advisor. lots of them are based in london. i don't think it the temperature of it takes the temperature of women like me. women who vote for and women supporting me. for me and women supporting me. i don't know if you watched any of that, but i did. i thought it was quite disgraceful. really and actually a load and it was actually a load of men her down, which men shouting her down, which i thought thought was. well thought i thought was. well well, you know, it led well, i mean, you know, it led to some fiery exchanges to some very fiery exchanges dunng to some very fiery exchanges during minister's during prime minister's questions this afternoon me questions this afternoon with me now is katherine foster. she's gb is political reporter gb news is political reporter kathryn waters, the government said far this . so the said so far about this. so the government is holding onto the

line that they are using section 35 of the scotland act to block scotland's gender recognition act with regret that it is not the action that they wanted to take back today in prime minister's questions that the alistair jack the scottish secretary had made that decision and that the reason is that they are concerned that it will undermine and affect uk wide qualities that law they are doing this on a legal basis. they're saying, you know that they want to be supportive of trans people, but they have to be mindful of equalities legislation and the potential impact that if different laws in scotland apply could have on the rest of the uk now the government is saying , please government is saying, please come and talk to us. one of the main sticking point seems to be the possibility that the minimum age would be well. scotland have said they will lower it to 16 .

said they will lower it to 16. and you would only have to live in your desired gender for six months . if in your desired gender for six months. if you're under 16 years, you would hit it just after you turned 16, potentially or three months. if you're older , which is a very short time and no official medical intervention , no official diagnosis of gender dysphoria. considered so stephen flynn , the new leader of stephen flynn, the new leader of the scottish national party in westminster, really quite angry , as you would expect in prime minister's questions, saying that the government was seeking to stoke a culture war and that the scots scottish democracy was basically collateral damage in this and that democracy was going down a slippery , slippery going down a slippery, slippery slope and no no matter what you think of the rights and this is clearly a very sensitive issue. this does have the potential to

be a really big constitutional issue and to really play into the snps hands in terms of allowing nicola sturgeon to say , look what those people in westminster are doing when they have got no business telling us how to rule so it does have a very wide implications, and it sounds like it is going to go to the courts now. catherine thank you very much . katherine foster you very much. katherine foster and udinese political reporter. we're serving nicola sturgeon from herself with that one. i mean, that's well, in my view, ridiculous, but i will ridiculous, simmons. but i will that carry we'll find that will carry on. we'll find out that progress out how that that progress is moving on there. if you thought that brexit hot potato that brexit was a hot potato well, there's still those discussed, which act discussed, which is seen act is facing mounting pressure from the labor over the the labor party over the government's or government's plans, review or revoke thousands of divided eu laws now retained eu law bill which returned to the commons today. which returned to the commons today . it's designed to make it today. it's designed to make it easier for parliament to amend , easier for parliament to amend, repeal or even replace certain eu legislation retained after brexit now they set to expire in

december, but labor wants to push the end of the year deadune push the end of the year deadline to 2026. now nature organisations have also hit back, saying that any changes could lead to the loss of important environmental protections . they also warned protections. they also warned that any amendments would not guarantee increased regulation of these laws but could in fact weaken them. so should we scrap eu law , joined now by fellow at eu law, joined now by fellow at the center for brexit policy, catherine mcbride and head of pubuc catherine mcbride and head of public affairs at the wildlife trust . elliott chapman . jones trust. elliott chapman. jones catherine , i'm going to start catherine, i'm going to start with you. do you believe that we should scrap all eu law ? well should scrap all eu law? well i think that the bill is to make it easier to change it. and then there is an assumption that somehow uk regulators are unable to make good regulation and eu regulators can make good regulation when in fact, most eu regulation when in fact, most eu regulation is some kind of compromise that never really suits any country particularly

well , it was suits any country particularly well, it was either , um , heavily well, it was either, um, heavily influenced by lobbyist um come with corporate interests. or it goes to the lowest common denominator. and a lot of it really doesn't suit the uk and we've seen this in terms of, say , the sewerage bills that they're talking about the overflows of sewerage pipes after heavy rain. that's been happening recently under eu law , so the whole idea that eu lost somehow stops . this is somehow stops. this is a nonsense because it keeps happening now , if our own happening now, if our own regulators can't make better regulation, either bigger fines or dividing up sewerage pipes from, um water overflow pipes. um stormwater drains . i don't um stormwater drains. i don't know. but you know, at the moment we know eu regulation is not working , and the idea that not working, and the idea that have regulators who couldn't

make better rules . i've just make better rules. i've just find ridiculous. elliott. we'll just gonna bring that to elliot because katherine's making a very good point. what makes you think that just because the with the regulation our hands the regulation is in our hands now what's it's our now to control what's it's our country specifically that it's going deal, elliott going to be a bad deal, elliott let's be clear about what this bill does. this bill introduced by jacob re smoke under the list trust government will mean that by the end of this year, thousands of our regulations will be stripped away unless ministers intervened to save them. now, these aren't some trivial regulations or rules . trivial regulations or rules. these are the rules that protect our water. stop polluters polluting our waterways . they polluting our waterways. they protect our beaches , clean our protect our beaches, clean our air quality , and they protect air quality, and they protect some of the most important areas for wildlife. sites of international importance from damaging development. and it's not parliament. who's going to have a say over the future of these rules. this bill does is it takes that power away from parliament and put huge amounts

of power in ministers to decide on what happens with these rules thatis on what happens with these rules that is fundamentally anti democratic . it is parliament and democratic. it is parliament and our elected mps with the public and stakeholders who should be having a say over this, not government ministers. it creates a hugely complex and bureaucratic approach that's going to be incredibly costly and time consuming for the civil service . what jacob rees mogg service. what jacob rees mogg has essentially done is set a ticking time bomb at the heart of the uk statute book that is going to be damaging and costly. prime minister should withdraw this bill if you want to stop that by the end of this year. so elliot, let me get this straight. so you're not opposed to the fact that we would be able to control our own laws. you're opposed fact that it you're opposed the fact that it be ministers who are in be the ministers who are in charge of so you so you charge of it. so you so you don't mind fact that it don't mind the fact that it won't eu law, you're happy won't be eu law, you're happy for it transfer to us in for it to transfer to us in control it. but you want control of it. but you want parliament to be in charge? not ministers. is that that? is that correct? we're happy correct? absolutely we're happy to a conversation the

to have a conversation with the government how we can government about how we can strengthen environmental strengthen some environmental protections this bill protections. but what this bill does specifically does is it specifically explained the ability to strengthen self up protections . strengthen self up protections. close 15 in the bill, says government ministers when they change the rules when they revoke cannot increase the revoke laws cannot increase the amount of protections that we have. only is this bill have. so not only is this bill antidemocratic it sets us on a path to deregulation means of protections. the environment and for many other areas, including workers' rights , air quality and workers' rights, air quality and efficiency of some products are going to get worse, catherine. incredible thing. well let's let's let's take that to cancel because catherine made the point that just because we're in control of it doesn't mean that we're going to make it worse. yes i'm really intrigued to hear that the people who have been made ministers in the government who are elected officials, you you think that's undemocratic , you think that's undemocratic, but they did get them by democratic means to a greater degree. and in the regulations that they are at the moment proposing changes to such as

many of the financial laws they do have a system of having calls for evidence and public consultations . so it is not as consultations. so it is not as if people who will be directly affected by these laws. don't get a chance to say something about it. and you will find that i'm sure if there's a public consultation about changing any environment laws than every environment laws than every environment groups in the uk and the farmers and various, um interested parties for the protection of birds or whatever they will all be adding to that consultation , and if you want to consultation, and if you want to see examples of this , you can see examples of this, you can look at the rules. they have changed over in the process of changing and that's a lot of the financial service rules. so i don't see this as undemocratic . don't see this as undemocratic. i do think that maybe parliament should get involved . i think the should get involved. i think the idea that we don't have enough time in january is ridiculous when they have until september . when they have until september. um i think that we have a lot of

time, but we do have to parliament and our elected representatives have to get used to working again. have had a long, many 40 years of letting the eu do the heavy lifting , and the eu do the heavy lifting, and now they have to get involved again and look at whether these work and i think it's pretty. we can find lots of examples where they don't really work for the uk hmm. well, elliot last word to you. where is it interesting example bringing their financial services because they are excluded from the bill because the government is bringing forward separate legislation to deal that, and improve deal with that, and to improve some of those regulations. that's what should for our that's what it should do for our uk statute book forward new legislation on how to strengthen it. not have things fall away because you have the farcical situation at moment where situation at the moment where mps today are voting in the house of commons and the last stages of a bill for an amount of eu regulation. they don't know how much exists yet the government it makes itself that it doesn't know how much

retained eu law mps voting on a bill regulations that could fall away that they aren't even aware of and we could end up in a situation on the 31st of december where we're losing some of most vital environmental of our most vital environmental protections the government haven't even identified yet . haven't even identified yet. that's going to cause a huge amount chaos, and it's going amount of chaos, and it's going to be a costly procedure to be such a costly procedure costing taxpayers huge amount of money for the civil service to go through everything next 12 months. eliot, months. well, listen, eliot, that's what we pay them for, so they better do a good job. elliott chapman thank elliott chapman jones, thank you very head public very much. he's head of public affairs. trusts, affairs. the wildlife trusts, and also, catherine is and also, catherine mcbride is the the center the fellow centre for the center of policy. so of brexit policy. thank you so much joining me this much for joining me this afternoon. now the chairwoman of britain's top food watchdog says that bringing cake into the office colleagues could be considered as detrimental to health as passive smoking . come health as passive smoking. come on. professor susan jeb from the food standards agency did not directly compare the two issues but said that both are harmful . but said that both are harmful. she also stated that it wasn't enough to rely on people

personal willpower needed to avoid overeating in a society is constantly tempting paper with food. so joining me now to give his take on this is presenter of fat families. steve miller. steve is sugar really as bad as cigarettes. well i don't know about that. but what? i do know what i do know. is that banning it, in my opinion would be wrong , but i think we need to control it because the uk is getting fatter . and also we seem to i fatter. and also we seem to i don't know. we love to put our face and our mouth into victoria's sponge, don't we? we just love sugar. we love cake will have treats and looking at the stats. there's been a surge in type two diabetes over the year over the last seven years. especially in the younger generation under forties has been a 23% increase in type two diabetes so we can understand where the professor is coming from, but i think to ban it completely is a little bit over

the top. i think what managers can do and leaders can do, though, is be a little bit more conscious about what treats they are putting out for their staff. so rather than just putting out the cakes, maybe put out the fruits and so forth as well so that people do have a choice and i think it's i think i think i don't want to becoming over or woke e here but i can understand the professors motivation to say what she said . we are a nation. what she said. we are a nation. frankly, that's out of control. we just can't stop eating steak is something we just love. yeah but steve, i mean, seriously , i but steve, i mean, seriously, i mean, it's not for me to police. the super people who can't work out that they shouldn't have that cake. because only the cake anyway. so why should the people like to suffer because like me have to suffer because people will eat too much. if i saw her cake and eat the cake, i do my exercise. i eat most of the right stuff washing. i suffer because somebody over there can't resist a sweet there can't can't resist a sweet treat. hmm i can't disagree with

you. i think i think you're right . i you. i think i think you're right. i think you. i think i think you're right . i think you've got a very right. i think you've got a very valid point. the point the problem . the problem here is , is problem. the problem here is, is that we do have a nation that's out of control. and we have a nafion out of control. and we have a nation now that is so turned on by eating sugar that i can understand . you know , in her understand. you know, in her defence why she's coming forward with this as a proposal . i think with this as a proposal. i think it's completely over the top. may i say no , i don't think kate may i say no, i don't think kate should be should be banned . but should be should be banned. but i understand. i think i can understand. i think i think the more constructive wake up call is to say to employers . up call is to say to employers. listen if you want to treat your staff , treat them with a variety staff, treat them with a variety of stuff , rather than just of stuff, rather than just throwing cake and sweets in their face. throwing cake and sweets in theirface. i throwing cake and sweets in their face. i say throwing cake and sweets in theirface. i say that throwing cake and sweets in their face. i say that actually sitting here today is someone thatis sitting here today is someone that is very guilty feeding people takes because when i go and visit my mom in the care home, i take a load of cake for the carers are, you know? do as i say, not as i do on this wall, i say, not as i do on this wall, i think, but yes, we i think we do. have to think of the serious

point as well, though , in what point as well, though, in what has become quite a laughable debate , which is , you know , type debate, which is, you know, type two. diabetes is very serious. more people are being diagnosed with that it can lead to all sorts of complications . sorts of complications. healthwise some, maybe , you know healthwise some, maybe, you know , if you if you're in the office and you're looking at the cake, and you're looking at the cake, and you're looking at the cake, and you don't want to eat it well, either imagine yourself with a muzzle on or look at your your old photo. your former photo when you were too fat and let it motivate get you away from putting your jaws into victoria's sponge. you might look at it and think, depress yourself thing on might as well. just eat the cake. you've actually made me feel like really hungry that really hungry and that that image of a cake earlier mm steve miller. much. miller. thank you very much. lovely to you. he's a lovely to talk to you. he's a presenter fat families that presenter of fat families that made you feel hungry. do you feel like eating cake? i do. i need and a cup of tea. you need cake and a cup of tea. you just me. it'sjust need cake and a cup of tea. you just me. it's just coming just join me. it's just coming up to 58 minutes after three o'clock. you're with me. i'm gonna in patrick gonna quit. i'm for in patrick christie's gpb news coming

christie's on gpb news coming up, cross live to the up, we'll cross live to the picket lines nurses walk out picket lines as nurses walk out in a dispute pay. ambulance in a dispute over pay. ambulance workers out next workers will also work out next month the gmb union announces month as the gmb union announces more we'll you more strikes and we'll bring you a news exclusive, which a gb news exclusive, which revealed of revealed that thousands of teenagers exploited by teenagers are being exploited by criminal transport criminal gangs to transport drugs be back a moment.

good afternoon . it's just gone. good afternoon. it's just gone. 4:00 here with me. i'm nana akua. this is a gb news. we are the people's channel. i'm in full patrick christys now coming off this hour, ambulance marcos and nurses are to join forces next month in what is expected to be the biggest walkout in to be the biggest nhs walkout in this current dispute. now the announcement came on the day that thousands of nurses across

england took to the picket lines in a row over pay. now, this is not breakdown in tears at a picket line as she called for the government to do more. the job that i love, but i need to pay my job that i love, but i need to pay my bills and we need to keep people in the profession. well, the government says that its pay offer to nurses is fair, but a major poll shows that one in three nurses and midwives wouldn't go into that profession again if given the choice. of course, life. the picket lines across the country and ask, are you still supporting the striking workers ? also this striking nhs workers? also this houn striking nhs workers? also this hour, we'll bring you a tv news exclusive and reveal how at least thousands of teenagers, some as young as 13, are being exploited by criminal gangs to deal drugs . and most of the deal drugs. and most of the so—called county lines of gangs are using britain's rail network to carry huge quantities of illegal drugs and cash across the united kingdom. plus, argue still working from home. well your next job might not offer the option as the opportunity

for remote working as fast disappearing from ads. we'll debate that before 5:00. email your thoughts as ever, gbviews@gbnews.uk . or tweet me gbviews@gbnews.uk. or tweet me at give news first. let's get your latest news headlines . now. your latest news headlines. now. no, thank you. and good afternoon to you. well, as i was saying, as nurses in england stage a two day strike, the labour leader is urging the prime minister to take responsibility and admit the nhs is in crisis . responsibility and admit the nhs is in crisis. members of the royal college of nursing from 55 nhs trusts are walking out in a long running dispute over pay and patient safety . thousands of and patient safety. thousands of operations and appointments are expected to be cancelled. speaking at a hospital in harrow , health secretary steve barclay said patients are the losers dunng said patients are the losers during strikes, but he insists he is working constructively with unions. a nurse on the picket line told gb news he thinks the government could do more . not an easy decision, but

more. not an easy decision, but it's about time the government paid us fairly equally . let's paid us fairly equally. let's forget about the money for a second. you know, we need more training places for nurses and it's about time that we make the country aware how hard it is to work and what we're facing on a daily basis . meanwhile, 10,000 daily basis. meanwhile, 10,000 ambulance workers are to strike in the coming weeks in their ongoing dispute over pay and staffing levels. paramedics emergency care assistants and cool handlers will all walk out on the sixth and the 20th of by february and march . the union february and march. the union says it's been left with no choice, following no action from the government. rishi sunak insists the government is working to improve access to emergency care. but sir keir starmer says patients are left waiting for hours. mr. speaker, it's 12:03. if somebody phones, if somebody phones 999. now because they have chest pain, some fear it might be a heart

attack. when with the prime minister expect an ambulance to arrive , he had no . mr. speaker, arrive, he had no. mr. speaker, it's absolutely right that people can rely on the emergency services when they need them . services when they need them. and that's why we're rapidly implementing measures to improve the delivery of ambulance times andindeed the delivery of ambulance times and indeed urgent and emergency care. but i'd say to the honourable gentleman, if he cares about ensuring that patients get access to lifesaving emergency care when they need it, why won't he support our minimum safety legislation . and staying with legislation. and staying with strike action, the education secretary has had to hold talks with the national education union in a bid to stop that industrial action next month . industrial action next month. teachers are planning to walk out for seven days across february and march. the union says no real progress on pay has been made and they're no nearer to a solution . the rate at which

to a solution. the rate at which pnces to a solution. the rate at which prices are rising has slowed for the second month in a row . prices are rising has slowed for the second month in a row. but the second month in a row. but the cost of some foodstuffs has hit a 45 year high. the office for national statistics says the rate of inflation fell to 10.5% in december . rate of inflation fell to 10.5% in december. that's rate of inflation fell to 10.5% in december . that's down from in december. that's down from 10.7 the month before. it says falling fuel costs were largely behind the slowdown with the average petrol price down by 8.3 pence a litre. since last month. the government has pledged to halve inflation by the end of the year, but the chancellor jeremy hunt says there is still a long way to go. any country , a long way to go. any country, anywhere in the world with inflation over 10% is seeing it at, frankly, dangerous levels for the stability of an economy. but for families up and down the country , they are seeing food country, they are seeing food price inflation of nearly 17. and that's causing a massive hike in the cost of the weekly shop. hike in the cost of the weekly shop . and what that really shows shop. and what that really shows is that for us and for other countries, the most important thing is to stick to a plan to

bnng thing is to stick to a plan to bring down inflation . bring down inflation. international news . and at least international news. and at least 14 people have died, including one child in a helicopter crash near ukraine's capital, kyiv ukrainian officials published a higher death number earlier , but higher death number earlier, but local emergency services have since revised it. ukraine's interior minister and his first deputy were among those who lost their lives in the crash, which happened near a nursery in the town of bravery. the cause of the crash isn't yet known . all the crash isn't yet known. all police forces in britain are now being asked to check their offices and staff against the national police databases after serving officer david carrick was sacked from the metropolitan police and the police force yesterday. the 48 year old was fired after admitting to 49 criminal charges

coming up to 8 minutes after 4:00. this is coming up to 8 minutes after live on tv online and on digital as well. you can stream us live on youtube. i'm nana akua . on youtube. i'm nana akua. ambulance workers and nurses are to join forces next month in a mass walkout. now at least england and wales facing what could be the largest nhs strike in the current dispute over pay and conditions. and this afternoon , the ambulance workers afternoon, the ambulance workers union announced a string of strike dates with one to coordinate the coordinated coordinated with the nurses. it

comes as nursing staff from more than 55 nhs trusts in england started 48 hours of industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions. speaking at the picket line earlier, one nurse was brought to tears when asked why she was on strike. i can't imagine doing anything else. i can't imagine doing anything else . and you know, for anything else. and you know, for patient safety , for staff safety patient safety, for staff safety , for the benefit of all of society, we need strong social support , strong social care. and support, strong social care. and that means making sure that everyone is paid a liveable wage , a fair wage for what we do. our scope of practise goes up and up. we're expected to take on more responsibility, more skills . on more responsibility, more skills. highly on more responsibility, more skills . highly educated , on more responsibility, more skills. highly educated , highly skills. highly educated, highly trained . i mean, i wish skills. highly educated, highly trained. i mean, i wish i skills. highly educated, highly trained . i mean, i wish i could trained. i mean, i wish i could explain to you like , the level explain to you like, the level of intervention we can do, life

saving . well, in the past half saving. well, in the past half houn saving. well, in the past half hour, the health secretary, steve barclay, has been answering questions on the nurses strikes. he said the talks with unions have been constructive, but said wider economic pressures have to be considered. the trade unions need to get round the table , need to get round the table, engage with the pay review body process, look at what is affordable . in terms of the affordable. in terms of the wider economy , the pressures on wider economy, the pressures on inflation, what matters most, not just to nhs staff but all staff, is that we get inflation down because inflation cuts across the cost of living for nhs staff, social care staff, but people across the economy. so we need to get that inflation down, engage with the pay review body process, work constructively together. that was the spirit that we had discussions last week . i'm discussions last week. i'm pleased that trade union leaders themselves recognised those discussions , were constructive discussions, were constructive and collegiate . we want to work and collegiate. we want to work with them, but the right approach is to use the pay review body process. this coming yearin review body process. this coming year in terms of looking what is affordable both for the nhs, but

to the wider economy. well, joining me now is our west midlands reporter, jack castle. he's in stafford. jack, what is the atmosphere like? has it been there today ? well, today it's there today? well, today it's been very, very jubilant . a lot been very, very jubilant. a lot of singing, a lot of chanting and a lot of horns being beat from cars, driving by here on this busy main road outside st george's hospital here in stafford . this is mainly stafford. this is mainly a mental health hospital that provides that kind of support to people. and a lot of the nurses here also work in the commune. it's a little bit different to the conditions , to a lot of the the conditions, to a lot of the nurses that work , of course, and nurses that work, of course, and things like acute care in hospitals, but they are still striking overpay over those working conditions. one of the things, of course , is staffing things, of course, is staffing levels on wards and a lot of the nurses feel like they can't give the patients the care that they deserve, they want give deserve, that they want to give them staffing levels them, because staffing levels are so low. the issue around staffing levels, of course, one

of the things that comes from thatis of the things that comes from that is retention and how you and the nhs can retain those and how the nhs can retain those newly, qualified nurses to newly, newly qualified nurses to keep within the nhs rather keep them within the nhs rather than have to rely on things like agency workers, which a lot of recently graduates of nurses going because the money going to do because the money is so much but here on the so much better. but here on the picket today, offering picket line today, offering speaking nurses about speaking to some nurses about why striking. is why they're striking. this is what they to say. it's about what they had to say. it's about much more pay . it's about much more than pay. it's about the that because pace the fact that because the pace so awful , we can't get the so awful, we can't get the nurses. so it makes the wards unsafe. it makes the care unsafe, it makes patients unsafe . it wasn't an easy decision . . it wasn't an easy decision. yeah, we're all in this for a reason. we want to be caring for our patients as we're all the whether it's cost of living, crisis on nurses wages, just haven't been going on. it's not just for nurses. i'm actually a nurse associate. it's doing it for us as well as our health care's work and the city hall, etc. and yeah , not an easy etc. and yeah, not an easy decision, but it's about time

the government paid its fairly but equally . let's forget about but equally. let's forget about the money for a second. you know, we need more training places for nurses . and it's places for nurses. and it's about time that we make the country aware how hard it is to work in what we're facing on a daily basis. the health secretary, steve barclay , saying secretary, steve barclay, saying that these pay rises are on are just not affordable to the government and would stoke inflation and mean that billions would be spent in places where it could be used . used are used it could be used. used are used elsewhere in terms of the rcn, they of course are asking for about 5% above inflation but are willing to negotiate around that figure and in terms of the disruption that this has caused to people wanting care today , we to people wanting care today, we know from the december strikes around 30,000 appointments had to reached . scheduled will to be reached. scheduled will see similar number over the see a similar number over the next couple the next next couple of over the next today. over the next day as today. and over the next day as they strike another 24 they for strike another 24 hours. for the nhs they've , hours. and for the nhs they've, they've to patients they've been saying to patients today need caring today if you need caring one, one, one in first instance, one, one in the first instance, but if you fill your case is

but 99 if you fill your case is more threatening . well more life threatening. well thank you very much for that. that's jack carson. he's at gb news. west midlands reporter. well, this show is all about you . and of course, your opinions always keen to find out what you think about the topics that we're discussing. now we're discussing. joining me now are , sue cox, who's in are gb voices, sue cox, who's in felixstowe , also alan mcneely, felixstowe, also alan mcneely, who's in grimsby. felixstowe, also alan mcneely, who's in grimsby . all right, who's in grimsby. all right, let's start with you , sue. what let's start with you, sue. what do you make of all the strikes and everything ? do you feel and everything? do you feel sympathy towards the nurses ? i sympathy towards the nurses? i don't agree with any strike, particularly in the current economic climate. i think inflation is self—perpetuating . inflation is self—perpetuating. the public sector only consumes tax revenue rather than contributing and has to be run accordingly . if the nhs was accordingly. if the nhs was a private enterprise, it would have in solvent long ago and it wouldn't matter how dedicated the staff were at the coalface . the staff were at the coalface. the organiser if the organisation is mismanaged as much as the nhs is, it would be doomed to failure. however, i do

have one caveat on that and that is the rcn strap strapline to justify the strike is we strike for the future of the nhs . if for the future of the nhs. if i genuinely thought the strike was about the mismanagement and actually putting money where it should be. so if they were striking against the money that you spent on round those and diversity managers , i would be diversity managers, i would be wholeheartedly behind them. yeah, i'm with you on that as well because the more i listen to what a lot of them are saying is, it's not just about the money, although they're not going to do anything without more let's go to alan more money. let's go to alan mcneely. do think mcneely. alan what do you think of are you behind the of this and are you behind the nurses on this one? good afternoon. now thanks for having me on. well, i think those are 217 nhs trusts this time and this strike is 55 of them have gone on strike. last time i think it was 44. anyone who works for the emergency service

services, in my mind should be thanking themselves. why am i doing this? i can understand why the nurses want more money, but i don't support them in their strike because of the political will in society that they play. thatis will in society that they play. that is actually critical. a life saving . how would they? how life saving. how would they? how can they complain then? what are the way of protest? what do you suggest they use if not striking ? well, i mean, they need to get right to the negotiating table. i'll get to someone that worries about an acceptable vote for them , but also for the country them, but also for the country as the other guest said , it's as the other guest said, it's not it's taxpayers money that's going into this unless they get their inflation busting pay rise . cos 5% has going to be a huge . you go on the concrete you. you and me and everyone else who pays taxes is going to have to foot that bill and it won't be a one off because obviously that will run on year on year. so

there has to be some kind of a reality check with them. i just think their demands are excessive. they want the excessive. and if they want the table with more reasonable demand, perhaps the government might accommodating . i might be more accommodating. i believe that the health secretary has said that if they go back to the negotiating table, they're prepared to look at the impact that inflation may have had because it wouldn't have had because it wouldn't have been considered in the first but that doesn't first five. but that doesn't seem be happening. so whether seem to be happening. so whether that's the union's fault or the government's fault, i can actually say it's interesting what you said, too , with regard what you said, too, with regard to it. you'd support them if it was actually to get it. is the rainbow crossings and all the diversity and inclusion. you think what they're think it's partly what they're striking feel that striking for? did you feel that perhaps should put more perhaps they should put more more focus on that then that more focus on that and then that would win your support? it would maybe win your support? it absolutely . i would absolutely would. i would be wholeheartedly behind them if i if that was what they were striking for, because that is the problem. know, the problem. i you know, i appreciate that nurses do an absolutely wonderful job and they do deserve to be paid well.

but it doesn't matter how much money that is thrown at them , money that is thrown at them, they will never have the right conditions to work in all the time. the nhs is mismanaged in the way that it is currently. yeah well listen, i would agree with that . sue cox, thank you with that. sue cox, thank you very much. and also alan mcneil. always a pleasure. thank you so much. those are our great british voices. gb news british voices. well, gb news now move can now as we move on, can exclusively that at least exclusively reveal that at least 10,000 teenagers, some as young as 13, are being exploited by criminal gangs to transport drugs for them. now, most of these so—called county lines gangs are using britain's rail network huge quantities network to carry huge quantities of illegal drugs and cash to communities right across the country . our homeland security country. our homeland security edhon country. our homeland security editor, mark white, has been given exclusive access to four major british transport police led operation gang after the county gangs. it's the height of the morning commute in central london and

here on the underground at euston station, the police are out in force . they're on the out in force. they're on the hunt for the county lines. criminal gangs using the transport network to ferry drugs, cash and weapons. upstairs in the main station concourse, other officers have stopped and arrested this young man on suspicion of drug dealing. he was found with 1400 poundsin dealing. he was found with 1400 pounds in cash and a cheap burner disposable phone, often used in drug deals. this country wide operation is being led by british transport police and a dedicated county lines unit. i have 70 staff that dedicated this type of work across the whole of the network. we various tactics . we carry out locations. tactics. we carry out locations. you may not see them out there, but they are out there every day looking for criminals are involved in county lines, activity or just like a man has activity orjust like a man has just my own border train heading to midlands . just my own border train heading to midlands. this just my own border train heading to midlands . this is just my own border train heading to midlands. this is rare to the midlands. this is rare access. to the midlands. this is rare access . following these plain

access. following these plain clothes officers who are part of the county lines task force as they look out for anything suspicious . they look out for anything suspicious. if they look out for anything suspicious . if you've got suspicious. if you've got valuables in there, the last thing you want is the stuff being stolen. a quick chat with this passenger and it's clear he's a legitimate traveller . this passenger and it's clear he's a legitimate traveller. but in the three years this taskforce has been operational, these officers and their colleagues have made more than 1500 drug seizures . recovered 1500 drug seizures. recovered one and a quarter million pounds in illicit cash . and taken more in illicit cash. and taken more than 500 weapons off the rail network. on the day we were filming here at birmingham's news street station, officers arrested a young man carrying this suitcase with ten and a half kilos of cannabis inside . half kilos of cannabis inside. further up the line and wolverhampton, another man and a woman were stopped carrying a suitcase, this time with six kilos of cannabis inside it. more than 40% of those arrested

by the county lines taskforce over recent years were teenagers . british transport police now works closely with social work and children's charities to identify those who might be victims themselves . if there is victims themselves. if there is a young person or vulnerable aduu a young person or vulnerable adult and there's a crime that's taking place, but we recognise actually they're a victim of exploitation, then you've got an investigation process and a safeguarding process that can run parallel here at coventry station. another team of officers are working with police dog gosh and his keen sense of smell a key weapon in identifying those worth a closer inspection . it doesn't take him inspection. it doesn't take him long to pinpoint a likely suspect act as these plainclothes officers search for the man. it's soon clear the police dog was spying on the money for a supermarket or £24,000 cash. some gentlemen's

been arrested on suspicion of being concerned. supply service agents, custody and process suits, cash . got to move his suits, cash. got to move his phones so they'll be safe as well . with at least 600 county well. with at least 600 county lines, criminal gangs. it is a major ongoing issue for law enforcement right across the country . as our time with country. as our time with british transport police starkly illustrates . tens of thousands illustrates. tens of thousands of pounds worth of drugs and illicit cash seized in just a single day. mark white gb news on the rail network. well, our homeland security editor, mark white is with me in the studio. mark, that's a thousands of young people dying. that is big numbers . yeah. and they're being numbers. yeah. and they're being attracted into running these drugs for the criminal gangs because there's money on offer . because there's money on offer. and, you know, if you're a teenager and a bit skint, then it's probably from that point of

view, relatively low risk. the chances of actually being stopped by the police are rhys knobbly low. i mean, british transport police are there. they have this dedicated team , but have this dedicated team, but there's a vast real network and many people out there as we found out just one day. we saw , found out just one day. we saw, you know, one man who was stopped to birmingham you street with ten and a half kilos of cannabis in a suitcase worth at least 100,000. wow. others seizures and of course, lots of money that was being carried . money that was being carried. either money had been handed to them because they'd sold the drugs or money they were using to go off and buy drugs. the police suspect a very dangerous business. this must be a what if. if the police were to say if this were to be legalised, if there were to legalise some of these drugs, what are the what are they transport? is it cannabis? is it cocaine? is it. what is what is the big, big thing? the main thing that

they're discovering. yeah, i mean, always hear this from mean, we always hear this from time to time. the need perhaps to reform drug laws and to reform our drug laws and maybe decriminalise or maybe to decriminalise or legalise certain drugs, cannabis obviously, being the drug that's mentioned most because according to many people, it's a relatively harmful drug. well, i know quite true in terms of some of the brian some of the strands of the brian some of the strands of cannabis that's out there . of cannabis that's out there. there are studies pointing to longer term psychological harm in some instances and also many in some instances and also many in law enforcement will tell you if you legalise cannabis, it's sold in shops or whatever . the sold in shops or whatever. the criminals will still be there. try to make a profit. they'll either undercut the prices or they'll look for even stronger and potentially more harmful. harmful cannabis strains. so they'll still be this trade will

still be there . and cannabis still be there. and cannabis itself, although people think it's a relatively harmless drug, it's a relatively harmless drug, it is a big driver of a lot of the violence that we see across the violence that we see across the country. the stabbings and the country. the stabbings and the shootings are often criminal gangs are involved in turf wars , fighting over what is a lucrative trade in county lines alone. the business model, which is criminal gangs in big cities, sending the drugs out to smaller communities by train or by car botnets. the criminal gangs at least half a billion pounds a yeah least half a billion pounds a year. so you can see they're not going to give up their business easily. a la daft if it's legalised , they'll adopt. well, legalised, they'll adopt. well, listen, mark, thank you very much for that. that's mark. what a homeland security editor. well, i mean, this is obviously is an excellent thing that we are actually tracking this. stay with us, because it's an exclusive at gb views . you're exclusive at gb views. you're with me. i'm nana akua . this is with me. i'm nana akua. this is dvd coming up. inflation's

dvd is coming up. inflation's down 10.5. you think figures down to 10.5. you think figures from the owners show that the rate price increase on rate of price increase on everyday goods slowed at the end of the year ? we'll discuss of the year? we'll discuss what that means for the pound in your pocket next. but we'll be back in a moment .

good afternoon. if you just join me, welcome on board. it's just coming up to 28 minutes after 4:00. this is gb news. we are the people's channel on nana akua. now figures released by the office of national tourist never say that . so the rate of never say that. so the rate of inflation in the uk has slowed for the second month in a row cos prices remain high for households by price rises in the uk did slow to at 10.5% in the 12 months to december 2022, down from 10.7% in november. and of

course that was largely due to falling fuel costs. i mean, you could get falling fuel costs. i mean, you could get £1.50 a falling fuel costs. i mean, you could ge t £1.50 a litre now, could get £1.50 a litre now, which was unheard of. now, if you're confused, don't worry , you're confused, don't worry, because the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has released a very cringeworthy video . have a look cringeworthy video. have a look at this. hi i got a flat white, please , while my coffee is being please, while my coffee is being made , let me tell you what we're made, let me tell you what we're doing to halve inflation . i'm doing to halve inflation. i'm afraid coffee is getting more expensive. a year ago, it would have been around £2.50, but now it's gone up to nearly have been around £2.50, but now it's gone up to nearly £3 a cup. and we've taken very difficult decisions to balance the nation's books so that markets have confidence and don't punish the uk with higher interest rates. i mean, families with mortgages have to pay more and that's what's happening and that's what's happening and that's our plan . thank you . that's our plan. thank you. well, it's an interesting choice that you chose to buy these coffees . most people can't coffees. most people can't afford them anymore because you're still confused. don't worry, because victoria scala, the head investment at the head of investment at interactive investor, joins me

now . victoria, thank you very now. victoria, thank you very much me. so what much forjoining me. so what do these figures mean ? these figures actually mean? well, is essentially a well, inflation is essentially a measure of how quickly goods and services are rising in price. so something that would have cost £1 last year is costing about £1.10 this year. and essentially, it gives us a sense of the affordability of every thing out there. and the real issue at the moment is that wages are rising less than inflation. so that adds to those affordability pressures and it's essentially what's been driving the cost of living crisis . and the cost of living crisis. and the cost of living crisis. and the problem is, is that these price rises have been across the board. it's not just affecting certain pockets of goods. it's affecting everything , including affecting everything, including essential items like food, fuel and energy bills, which is why those at the lower end of the income spectrum are feeling the pinch extra hard. is there any sign that inflation is? it seems they said that there was the

chancellor. they promised that inflation would halved . does inflation would be halved. does it like that's going to it look like that's going to happen we to see happen? are we going to see inflation coming down? yeah, well, i mean , these figures are well, i mean, these figures are encouraging. it's the encouraging. you know, it's the second month second consecutive month of decline in october. we were at the level since 1981. we the highest level since 1981. we are still stuck in double digits. but the trajectory certainly looks encouraging and the forecasts already were that inflation was set to ease this yeah inflation was set to ease this year. you know, we've got a backdrop of a slowing global economy . that means that economy. that means that consumers will be out there demanding less goods and services and businesses will be less robust . and that tends to less robust. and that tends to reduce price pressures in the economy anyway. also, we know that europe has been diversifying away from russia in terms of its oil and gas suppues. terms of its oil and gas supplies. that's terms of its oil and gas supplies . that's also been supplies. that's also been helping to ease some of those price pressures. fossil of course, we've had the bank of england, which has been raising interest rates since december of 2021, trying to take the heat out of the economy . and those out of the economy. and those interest hikes appear to be taking hold. and that's another

reason why we're seeing inflation come down. it's interesting because i didn't think of england had think the bank of england had much control, especially when the pressures were the inflationary pressures were coming from global mechanism. coming from a global mechanism. in your views and because ultimately nothing is about to make some sort of announcement, he's going to escalate things in ukraine. likely to ukraine. well is that likely to have effect on inflation, have a huge effect on inflation, if that is the case? i think i mean, i think that the war in ukraine can continues to be a major threat, particularly when we're talking about inflation, because as we know, we import a lot of our oil and gas and food suppues lot of our oil and gas and food supplies from russia and ukraine. but we have been trying to diversify away. but yes, certainly if we were to see a real escalation of tensions, we could see those inflation pressures rise again. well, victoria , thank you very much victoria, thank you very much for joining me. that's victoria forjoining me. that's victoria scholar. she's the head of investment and interact investor. you. you're with investor. thank you. you're with me. i'm not aware. this is a gb news. up next, we'll have more on the nurses strike as health care workers continue their 48 hour walkout. the governments

have been accused of stoking a culture war with scottish democracy as collateral damage after the decision to block the assembly's gender recognition bill, rishi sunak was grilled by scottish mp steven finn on his approach to the legislation earlier today. approach to the legislation earlier today . we'll have the earlier today. we'll have the latest on that. first let's latest on that. but first let's get latest news headlines . get your latest news headlines. now. no, thank you . the now. no, thank you. the headunes now. no, thank you. the headlines this hour as nurses in england stage a two day strike, the labour leader is urging the prime minister to take responsibility and admit the nhs is in crisis . as members of the is in crisis. as members of the royal college of nursing from 55 nhs trusts are walking out in a long running dispute over pay and patient safety . the action and patient safety. the action is expected to lead to thousands of operations and appointments being cancelled and 10,000 ambulance workers with the gmb union are to stage further strike action in the coming weeks in their ongoing dispute over pay and staffing,

paramedics , emergency care paramedics, emergency care assistants and call handlers will all walk out on the six and the 20th by february or march. the union says following government inaction, they've been left with no choice. unite also says it'll announce further ambulance strike dates soon. the education secretary has met with union leaders in a bid to avert strikes by the national education union over seven days in february and. meanwhile, union leaders say no real progress or has been made on pay and they're no nearer to a solution . the rate at which solution. the rate at which pnces solution. the rate at which prices are rising has slowed for the second month in a row. the of some foodstuffs has hit a 45 year high. the office for national statistics says the rate of inflation fell to 110 and a half% in december. that's down from 10.7% the month before. it says falling fuel costs were largely behind the slowdown with the average petrol price down by 8.3 pence per litre since last month. all police forces in britain are

being asked to check their offices and their staff against the national police database that comes after serving police officer david carrick was sacked from the force yesterday . the 48 from the force yesterday. the 48 year old was fired from the metropolitan police after admitting to 14 nine criminal charges, including 24 counts of rape against 12 women over an 18 year period. the home has asked for serving officers to be checked to identify anyone who may have slipped through the net before vetting standards were strengthened . those are the strengthened. those are the headunes strengthened. those are the headlines you're up to date on tv, online and dab+ radio. this is gb news. the people's channel. and we're back in just a moment .

good afternoon . if you just good afternoon. if you just joined me, welcome on board.

it's just coming up to 37 minutes after 4:00. this is gb news where? live on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua. and on digital radio. i'm nana akua . and don't forget, you can akua. and don't forget, you can stream us live on youtube. now lots of you've been getting in touch with your thoughts on the nurses strike. i mean, we've got a day strike problem, a two day strike problem, catherine says. both my daughters nurses. neither daughters are nurses. neither have or ever go on strike. have or would ever go on strike. i think that most nurses do not need to get a degree unless patients with intensive care . of patients with intensive care. of course, nurses should be washing, feeding, changing beds and doing bathroom visits . you and doing bathroom visits. you do not need a degree for those duties. on my last few visits i have made, i have made to hospital. i was greeted by a desk with four nurses using computers. no nursing seemed to be required data soon to ultimately why ? why do you need ultimately why? why do you need a degree? i mean, it wasn't like that before. my mum used to be a midwife and she doesn't have a degree. eddie says that the nurses and the nhs have nurses and staff in the nhs have got it all wrong , saying the got it all wrong, saying the government should pay more. the fact the money i paid goes fact the money that i paid goes to wrong people. middle

to the wrong people. the middle management who are making management who are not making any this . i wonder any noise about this. i wonder why i would agree with that. i don't know why the nhs got don't know why the nhs has got plenty they just plenty of money. they just mismanaging i think that mismanaging it and i think that is it. and also is at the heart of it. and also a lot of the a lot of training is well it would be good if nurses got their bursaries back as well. well, the college as well. well, the royal college of union is demanding of nursing union is demanding a 5% above inflation. and 5% pay rise above inflation. and nurses 55 trusts nurses from more than 55 trusts are in are participating today in a walkout that signs of walkout that shows no signs of stopping union leaders, stopping with union leaders, warning the government to warning that the government to expect action next month expect further action next month if no progress is made on demands. so joining me now is nhs practise nurse naomi berry. naomi, thank you very much for joining me. i understand that your pay band is unable to strike, but what do you stand with your nursing colleagues ? i with your nursing colleagues? i do. there's a lot of pressure within secondary care for the nurses and there's a lot of low staffing as well. they are understaffed to patients at risk as well and they definitely need to be warned for how much work they're doing at the moment.

naomi, naomi, what kind going to say there is? do you think that this is the best sort of way to do this? because i mean, they do have public support right now. but i suspect that will start to wane if this carries on for too long. this i don't think there's any other way really. the government will listen . and government will listen. and there's things i've been through in the past to try and get wage increases that have never happened, so fortunate that they moved to a corner where they're having to strike now to get the voices heard . mm. but voices heard. mm. yeah. but a lot of people looking at this and inflation is spiralling right now but it's actually coming. so initially they are at a 19. it sounds like they're coming with expectations, coming down with expectations, but they one of the very few but they are one of the very few professions that got pay rises. a lot of people haven't received that rise. so how do that sort of pay rise. so how do they think the country will they think that the country will afford seems a bit afford this? it seems a bit unrealistic . it's difficult, unrealistic. it's difficult, isn't it? i suppose you can say that about anybody. but like you said , previously on the money said, previously on the money goes to middle management. poor

management, not the shop floor, so to speak . so why isn't some so to speak. so why isn't some of that money being brought down to those that are on the ground working hand? well, i don't agree with you there. what i mean, what i would like to see, actually, is the government said they're going to reorganise it. but would like to see is but what i would like to see is actually the government actually then the government taking actually taking a stand and actually literally out the literally just wiping out the those middle management positions, getting rid of diversity and inclusion and actually immediately actually doing that immediately . think i think people . and i think i think people would lot sympathy would have a lot more sympathy if focussed more on if the nurses focussed more on that because only that really, because it's only one that sort of one of the nurses that sort of pointed out. but most of the pointed it out. but most of the nurses are just saying, we want more money and some levels more money and at some levels they paid quite well. why is they are paid quite well. why is it band? you're not you're it your band? you're not you're not what does that not on strike. what does that mean? lot of people went on mean? a lot of people went on this tour. yeah so in this tour. yeah so i'm in primary care primary based, primary care and primary based, which we are on a which means we are on a different agenda than in the hospital. so we are seen as private , not privatised, but private, not privatised, but we're umbrella as to we're under the umbrella as to where employed by the gp not via the nhs . oh i see. so wages is

the nhs. oh i see. so wages is very different. and there's different skills between us as well . mm. so different skills between us as well. mm. so what would you like to see most then. okay. so obviously the pay rise, the nurses are fighting for that. but then what would you really like to see? what do you think would help to improve the process? say that again. sorry more staff and how would you see that arising ? um, like you said, that arising? um, like you said, the bursaries giving them the bursary back to be able to afford to go to university to become a qualified nurse. we have the nurses, so see the seeping through now that's showing an amazing bridge gap between a health care assistant and a registered nurse so they can get funding that way as well. but you've still then got to go and do your degree, whereas if you give the bursary back , that can go straight, back, that can go straight, straight on and do degree. well, i'm you , i think, naomi, i'm with you, i think, naomi, that's where they sort of went wrong, they forced nurses wrong, where they forced nurses to themselves. and

to pay for it themselves. and that's realistic. naomi that's just not realistic. naomi very. much. naomi's, very. you very much. naomi's, i think. so much. well think. thank you so much. well early this afternoon , the snp early this afternoon, the snp westminster leaders stephen flynn as reacted to the government's decision to block the scottish gender reform bill, calling it a dangerous moment for devolution, which is in fact responded, saying that the move was not in fact about devolution, but instead about legal protections for the safety of women and children nationwide. scottish labour leader and anas sarwar criticised the uk government using section 35 to block the scottish legislation. but labour mp rosie duffield vocalised support for the block yesterday. she was shouted down in the house of commons which i thought was quite disgraceful by members of her own party. and this is what she told gb news earlier . what she told gb news earlier. she said she feels unsupported, excluded by labour this issue excluded by labour on this issue . there are people in labour parties head office who write lines for the labour party shadow cabinet . go on television shadow cabinet. go on television and answer that question about whether i'm being supported. none of them ask me. they note

they don't ask me if i'm being supported in somebody in an office. it's line for labour office. it's a line for labour mp saying i'm being supported. office. it's a line for labour mp not ng i'm being supported. office. it's a line for labour mp not surem being supported. office. it's a line for labour mp not sure whatng supported. office. it's a line for labour mp not sure what thathported. office. it's a line for labour mp not sure what that means.i. i'm not sure what that means. i haven't from keir. the haven't heard from keir. the people shadow cabinet people in the shadow cabinet don't me and ask me if don't approach me and ask me if i'm okay or what they can do and they don't discuss this issue with an issue i know with me. it's an issue i know inside they advised inside out. they have advised us. lots them are based in us. lots of them are based in london . i don't it takes london. i don't think it takes the temperature of women like me. women for me and me. women who vote for me and women me . i don't women supporting me. i don't think it the temperature it doesn't take into account most women, actually. i think the legislation is somewhat ridiculous, but the extension of it in that manner seems a bit ridiculous. but with me now is our political reporter, catherine force who was following some fiery following some of the fiery debates on the issue at prime minister's questions earlier. catherine, what was in the catherine, what was said in the house commons earlier ? so the house of commons earlier? so the scottish national party leader in westminster, stephen flynn , in westminster, stephen flynn, really went on the attack against the government. he said that the government was seeking

to stoke a culture war and that it was a dangerous moment for devolution. he said that the government was seeking to overturn a promise between the scottish politicians and the scottish politicians and the scottish people. now obviously this was always going to be controversial. the gender recognition bill was passed, of course, in the scottish parliament before christmas with quite a large majority , although quite a large majority, although polls suggest that it's not particularly popular with the scottish public . many concerns, scottish public. many concerns, not just about the minimum age for gender, self i.d. not just about the minimum age for gender, self id. and changing gender, officially being lowered to 16. but also the fact there'd be no necessity for a certificate of gender dysphoria or consulting medical professionals. and also the potential for the impact on women's only spaces on biological or men, potentially in women's prisons. so this was

always going to be difficult. but the government really have upped the ante by block , saying upped the ante by block, saying this legislation using section 35 of the scotland act, which has never been used before . now has never been used before. now the government having taken this very strong action, are taking a very strong action, are taking a very conciliatory approach . very conciliatory approach. they're saying, please, just go back, look at the bill again , back, look at the bill again, look at raising minimum age to 18. there must be a way round this. let's talk about it. but the scottish national party are very cross indeed, and some would suggest are using this as ammunition in their battle to stoke the fires for independence because they are able to say nicholas sturgeon can now legitimately say, look at these out touch politicians in west minster who don't understand scotland that trying to control as we've made the decision now they say we can't. we need independence for scotland . so

independence for scotland. so what started out as an issue for certainly very important for the trans community that's a quite small community important for many women who really worry about their rights being eroded. is now exploding into this huge constitutional row about what the scottish parliament can and can't do. and the british government are saying it impacts on british equalities. it potentially has an adverse impact right across the uk and thatis impact right across the uk and that is why they say they've had to take this action honestly. nicholas sturgeon conflating two, is this an initial stop? nothing. i mean, is the legal from her leaving from the devolved government that what they're planning against the action that our government have made . yes it certainly sounds made. yes it certainly sounds that way because alister jack, the scottish secretary, very clearly said, please, let's talk about this. i'm sure that we can find a way through through negotiation . but nicholas negotiation. but nicholas sturgeon has said that this is

heading towards the court. she's really not interested in chatting to the government about this and it looks like another court battle and which way that will go and. well, that remains to be seen. well, thank you very much , catherine. that's much, catherine. that's catherine force. she's our gb news political reporter . well, news political reporter. well, also joining me is the former snp glasgow city councillor austin sheridan . austin, thank austin sheridan. austin, thank you very much for joining me this afternoon. is the government , if the government government, if the government are concerned about, government, if the government are concerned about , scottish are concerned about, scottish legislation impacting the whole of surely they have the of the uk, surely they have the right to make hollywood think again about the change to the gender reform bill? well, i certainly believe that some of the concerns that have been raised by people during the process, but it's going to the scottish parliament are legitimate concerns. however what we have to work out is the reality of what the bill does and the bill would amend through the scottish parliament does not impact on the equality. legislation of two isn't intent

and any way whatsoever and the way that the way that single sex species of access and how those decisions are made and now would not be changed until this legislation . and it's very legislation. and it's very interesting that the equity has chosen to go for a section 45 or to then says that it wants to open up dialogue with the scottish government. if you're going to open up dialogue with the scottish government and the government, this issue and the respectful don't respectful manner. you don't start off by saying we're going to undermine the scottish to undermine and the scottish parliament's parliament to democracy, that the people of scotland you scotland are highlighted. you but do you not feel that there's a conflation of two issues here? you're trying to sort of conflate it with the powers of a devolved government when actually what you're proposing is quite a dangerous proposition, isn't it? surely for those involved so that those who are 16, who can , you know, who are 16, who can, you know, determine their gender more quickly and transition more quickly and transition more quickly without the need for

medical diagnosis. i mean, what is wrong with them getting a medical diagnosis? surely that is to counteract a situation where someone may feel end up going through transitioning, which is what happens a lot of the time. surely it's better to give people the type not it does help that it's not law that is not is not because it doesn't happen. not is not because it doesn't happen . i'll tell you what happen. i'll tell you what they're doing. they don't need a medical diagnosis to her. the audience for myself and other gay man . and being gay was gay man. and being gay was considered a mental health issue . and, you know, back in the and, you know, back in time. and obviously, that's not the case now. the whole point of the legislation was to take care of the need for a medical diagnosis to make sure you know for actually being kind to people because why not? because people need them. because i think know the people that we are asking you. because being able to change gender often can address that. i mean, you can join the

section in scotland, you can vote in every single election response to the elections at 16 years old. of course , can trust years old. of course, can trust that individual in that that people not of gender work, but the fact that it doesn't have an impact on women. okay so that makes no difference. anybody else. the problem with this bit of legislation, as a woman myself, i don't want it to others who are transgender and i'm the transgender i'm not the transgender community are very good community are a very good community. the majority transgender people are amazing. i've a few people are i've met quite a few people are transgender. it's transgender. it's not that it's the facility that enables for people to take advantage of it , people to take advantage of it, which would be to the detriment of women. that's what we're concerned about. i think it makes perfect sense . as a woman, makes perfect sense. as a woman, i can see that i don't see why you could you can't sit. no, i mean , i can see what you're mean, i can see what you're saying, but it's just not something happens right something that happens right now. and if somebody wants to display themselves as a gentleman. but that is not the gentleman. but that is not the gentleman that that by that is a crime as someone seeked to

obtain a gender recognition certificate on false premises, that would be a false claim . that would be a false claim. trans people should not be the trace of traitors to men, so why not feel it? why not? it's not be because it's a women, a come of life because of criminals. so why should women pay the price then? because that's where a lot of the block there's more of us. why should pay the price of a why should we pay the price of a few transgender people whilst. well, is legislation well, there is legislation protects them already whilst your opening the floodgates to anybody any predator who wants to say i now feel like i'm a woman and they can get birth certificate changed that quickly so that's not nonsense so that then that's not nonsense and that's what we're about. and it's quite insulting and it's offensive and it's not what the floodgates is to further it's not it does what it's done as it's a loving emotion in a more understanding and, you know, way for people to register the sex on the bus. that's if people want to access women's only spaces such as toilets or changing rooms. you don't have

to display a certificate to do so . that is something that can so. that is something that can already be done. and i've tried to have men were going to dress up because women and ought to access small spaces. well, what do you do to regulate that? they don't need to legislation to do that. you're making it easier to make it easier to now you're making it easier, especially in women's restrooms as well. women's refuges as well. somebody can say that they're women easy. no need to make women very easy. no need to make it accessible. by the way , if it accessible. by the way, if they think that what is nasty to trans women and then they ask to go into a women's refuge adequately, that thirds in the ten colours that i it's up to them to make a decision you don't need a gender they connection certificate to seek help from a women's only refuge . if you're transgender that should really . so it's a very should really. so it's a very brief you then also. so very briefly then what is the problem then with you the government to simply saying that let's we assess are there any ways you can change part of this bill? they just want to talk about

perhaps it's why perhaps making it's not why why , why, why? why does it feel like the snp just want to get straight into a conflict about devolution after westminster government was say what you about but they and have a discussion about consent . the discussion about consent. the return of first of all started off by saying we are going to block the legislation. they haven't attempted to open up dialogue with the scottish government. top government. the sum to the top end say, by the way, we know end and say, by the way, we know that you push scotland that if you push scotland elected yet they know the elected yet msp as they know the scottish parliament, the democracy is taking its course. but going to ignore that but we are going to ignore that . going walk out the .you're going to walk out the that that's not how you open up constructive dialogue and it's apology you know as scottish people and it's up to our parliamentarians to view this with defend our devolution say our first ministers. and you wouldn't expect the first minister to do anything unless often we're running out of time. but i do appreciate coming and talking to me about that. much appreciated. that is austin sheridan. he's a former snp glasgow city councillor . well, glasgow city councillor. well, job hiring data has revealed

that the number of advertised fully remote jobs has fallen for the eighth month in a row. the trend is thought to reflect the determination employers to determination of employers to get in the workplace get staff back in the workplace for days of the for at least some days of the week. the prospect working week. the prospect of working from however , continues to from home, however, continues to be popular amongst applicants. with 21% applications made with 21% of applications made last month being for remote roles. with me now is amanda lenon, employment lawyer and director, and oliver hodgson , a director, and oliver hodgson, a gen z commentator and entrepreneur . right. well, let's entrepreneur. right. well, let's see. i'm going to start with you on tonight's to two because you've touched my so i keep inviting you. you've not. come on. hopefully do it. on. hopefully you'll do it. you'll on my show at you'll be on my show at one point. what you what do you point. what do you what do you make of this? and do you think that is a the people need that this is a the people need to back in the office? to get back in the office? absolutely. z. i'm absolutely. and i am gen z. i'm 19 years old and i have a team of six people. and we really rely on that office for the sense of collaboration people and really benefiting and people really benefiting from interacting with one another. know, we've another. you know, we've got a very eclectic office. we've got people all sorts and people of all sorts of ages. and we're part a wider. office

we're part of a wider. office complex lots businesses complex with lots of businesses as i interact with all as well. so i interact with all sorts of people and i think i wouldn't be in the position i am without come into an without having come into an office. i can't see the argument for from home. it's for working from home. it's actually cheaper for actually a lot cheaper for companies is companies to do that cost is a lot. to have the team the lot. to have the team in the office. and but i am gen—z and i'm very for office indeed. i'm very for the office indeed. yeah.i i'm very for the office indeed. yeah. i think a lot of young people want because they want the networking side of people want because they want theamanda.atworking side of people want because they want theamanda. what;ing side of people want because they want theamanda. what was side of people want because they want theamanda. what was this?f it. amanda. what was this? what's on this ? so what's your take on this? so i think tide is turning covid think the tide is turning covid proved that there are a number of roles that you could do very successfully from home. and i think since since we've come back to work, there is a resistance to go back into the office . but i can also see why office. but i can also see why employers are now posting more jobs without the remote working as an option. because employee is an important part of being an employer and the company is their culture. and so what i'm seeing now with the employers, i work with is that they're not they're not asking people to come to the office five days a

week if they work full time. but it's more of a mix hybrid working policy. so they are trying to look for flexible stay and give that flexibility to the employer. but equally, they want people in office to people back in the office to that team working face to face. and i think that's particularly important for people who are at the beginning of their careers. so when i started my career, all we was work in an office. so you get the opportunity to learn how to interact face to face with people, have meetings , how to people, have meetings, how to conduct etc. that is conduct yourself, etc. that is more difficult and it's more difficult establish difficult to establish relationships in my opinion, when you're doing everything virtually. so i think that's particularly important for people out in their people starting out in their careers that have this careers that they have this opportunity face to face opportunity for face to face interaction . people demand interaction. can people demand it, though ? because mean, the it, though? because i mean, the gen z , the gen people because gen z, the gen z people because i remember reading this thing, gen z have demands of we to have three the home. and three days work in the home. and this that. amanda this this and that. amanda is this something demand something that people can demand and or. something that people can demand and or . well, there's and insist on or. well, there's been talk legislation to enable

requests for working from home, from day one. i think you can still make a flexible working request to your employer if you want to work from home. but you have to be prepared to show the business that the business won't suffer. the work will get suffer. how the work will get done, that what the business done, and that what the business case affects effectively is for you from home. so you working from home. and so it's not impossible . i want to it's not impossible. i want to give oliver the last word you got about 30 seconds, oliver. so briefly then your thoughts on the whole concept that people should be coming back to the office. but what would you say to people coming back to to people about coming back to the . absolutely. get back the office. absolutely. get back into office. i think into the office. i think it's time we left the empty buildings and them back up with people and really for that kind of really striving for that kind of sense can sense of collaboration. i can see argument , sense of collaboration. i can see argument, as i for see the argument, as i said, for hybnd see the argument, as i said, for hybrid work and i think it helps. we recently put a job out and we didn't want geographics to the of top talent. to get in the way of top talent. so has it's benefits in that so it has it's benefits in that way we're happy to talk to way and we're happy to talk to people want a high people if they want a high impact, different scenario impact, very different scenario . very oliver. . thank you very much, oliver. well i'm not

well you're with me. i'm not quite. is gb views. stay quite. this is gb views. stay tuned. we've got loads more to come in the next hour and reaction to announcement reaction to the announcement that and that the ambulance workers and nurses forces to nurses will join forces to strike .

good afternoon. it has just gone 5:00. this is a gp news. we are the people's channel. i'm a i'm in for patrick christys . now in for patrick christys. now coming up this hour, nursing staff for more than 55 nhs trusts in england started , 48 trusts in england started, 48 hours of industrial action in a dispute over pay and working conditions. today and next month, they'll be walking out alongside ambulance workers in major industrial action across the health service. earlier

today, the gmb union announced six further strike dates for ambulance workers across january , february and march . the , february and march. the government says it's offer to nurses is fair, but a major poll shows one in three nurses and midwives wouldn't wouldn't go into their profession again. if given the choice, we'll cross live to the picket lines across the country and ask, are you still supporting the striking nhs workers? also this hour, we'll bring you a gb news exclusive , revealing how exclusive, revealing how thousands of teenagers , some as thousands of teenagers, some as young as 13, are being exploited by criminal gangs to transport drugs . most by criminal gangs to transport drugs. most of by criminal gangs to transport drugs . most of the so—called drugs. most of the so—called county lines gangs are using britain's rail network to carry huge quantities of illegal drugs and cash to communities across the kingdom . plus, the the united kingdom. plus, the government faces criticism over plans to scrap thousands of eu denved plans to scrap thousands of eu derived laws before the end of the year. it comes from the labour mps within its own party as the green campaigners who say many of the laws protect the environment. i'll be joined by nigel francis for his take on that email with your thoughts. gb views at gbnews.uk. or tweet

me at gb news. but first, let's get your latest news headlines . get your latest news headlines. now. no, thanks very much indeed. good evening to you. well, as nurses in england stage a two day strike, the labour leader is urging the prime minister to admit the nhs is in crisis. members of the royal college of nursing from 55 nhs trusts are all walking out in a long running dispute over pay and patient safety . thousands of and patient safety. thousands of operations appointments are expected to be cancelled . expected to be cancelled. speaking at a hospital in harrow , the health secretary, steve barclay said patients are the real losers during strikes. but he insisted he is working constructively with unions. this isn't affordable to be an extra £36 billion a year and £3.6 billion a year and obviously that would take money away from patient services, essential services that we need to invest in given the backlogs we have from the pandemic. so

we're focusing in particular that the investment that we're focusing in particular that the investment tha t £6.6 that the investment that £6.6 billion of extra investment over the next two years into the front line, into patient services to deal with those could be backlogs . well a nurse could be backlogs. well a nurse on strike on the picket line told gb news he thinks the government should do more. not an easy decision, but it's about time the government paid us fairly equally. let's forget about the money for a second. you know, we need more training places for nurses . and it's places for nurses. and it's about time that we make the country aware how hard is to work in what we're facing on a bafis. work in what we're facing on a basis . and 10,000 ambulance basis. and 10,000 ambulance workers are to go out on strike in the coming weeks as part of their ongoing dispute over pay and staffing levels . paramedics, and staffing levels. paramedics, emergency carers assistance and call handlers will all walk out on the sixth february and the 20th of march. the union says it's been left with no choice following no action from the government. rishi sunak insists the government working to

improve access to emergency care but sickest arm said today patients are left waiting for hours . mr. speaker, it's 12:03. hours. mr. speaker, it's 12:03. if somebody phones if somebody phones 999. now because they have chest pain, some fear it might be a heart attack. when with the prime minister expect an ambulance to arrive here and out . mr. speaker, it's out. mr. speaker, it's absolutely right that people can rely on the emergency services when they need them and that's why we're rapidly implementing measures to improve the delivery of ambulance times and indeed urgent and emergency care. but i'd say to the honourable gentleman, if he cares about ensuring that patients get access to lifesaving emergency care when they need it, why won't he support our minimum safety? legislate the education secretary has held talks with the national education union in

a bid to stop strike action from them next month . teachers are them next month. teachers are planning to walk out for seven days across february and march. the union says no real progress on pay has been made and they're no nearer to a solution . the no nearer to a solution. the rate at which prices are rising has slowed for the second month in a row, but the cost of some foodstuffs has hit a 45 year high. the office for national statistics says the rate of inflation fell to ten and a half % in december, that's down from 10.7% the month before. it says falling fuel prices were largely behind the slowdown , with the behind the slowdown, with the average petrol cost down by point $0.03 a litre since last march . the government has march. the government has pledged to halve inflation by the end of the year. but the chancellor, jeremy hunt says there's still a long way to go. any country , anywhere in the any country, anywhere in the world with inflation over 10% is seeing it at, frankly, dangerous levels for the stability of an economy. but for family , these

economy. but for family, these up and down the country, they are seeing food price inflation of nearly 17. and that's causing a massive hike in the cost of the weekly shop . and what that the weekly shop. and what that really shows is that for us and for other countries, the most thing is to stick a plan to bnng thing is to stick a plan to bring down inflation and now international news and at least 14 people, including one child, have been killed in a helicopter crash near ukraine's capital, kyiv ukrainian officials stated more people had died earlier, but local emergency services have revised the final number. ukraine's interior minister and his first deputy were among those who died in the crash, which happened near a nursery in the town of bravery. the cause of the crash isn't yet known . of the crash isn't yet known. all police forces in britain are being asked to reach check their offices and staff against the national police database . after national police database. after serving officer david carrack was sacked from the force yesterday. the 48 year old was

fired from the metropolitan police after admitting to 49 criminal charges, including 24 counts of rape against 12 women over an 18 year period. the home office has asked for serving officers to be double checked to identify anyone who may have supped identify anyone who may have slipped through the net before vetting standards were strengthened . that's the news strengthened. that's the news you're up to date. more now from nana akua . nana akua. thank you, polly . it's nana akua. thank you, polly. it's coming up to 8 minutes after 5:00. this is gb news where live on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua. and on digital radio. i'm nana akua . now ambulance workers and akua. now ambulance workers and nurses are to join forces next in a mass walkout . and it leaves in a mass walkout. and it leaves england and wales facing what could be the largest nhs strike. and in the current dispute over

pay and in the current dispute over pay and conditions. and that is because the ambulance workers union today announced a string of strike dates with one to be cornet coordinated the nurses and the announcement led to angry exchanges between labour leader and prime minister in commons, with sir keir starmer calling on rishi sunak to admit that the nhs was in crisis. the prime minister hit by claiming that labour was in that the labour leader was in the pockets of the union paymasters rather than prioritising patients . the fiery prioritising patients. the fiery exchange comes as nursing staff from more than 55 nhs trusts in england started , 48 hours of england started, 48 hours of industrial action and dispute over pay and working conditions . now whilst we've been on air, the health secretary steve barclay has been answering questions on the nurses strike. he the talks with unions have been constructive , said the been constructive, said the wider pressures have to wider economic pressures have to be considered. the unions need to get round the table engage with the pay review body process. look at what is in terms of the wider economy the pressures of on inflation , what pressures of on inflation, what matters most not just a nhs staff, but all stuff is we get

inflation down because inflation cuts across the cost living for nhs staff, social care staff, but people across the economy. so we need to get that inflation down, engage with the pay review body process, work constructively together. that was spirit that we had discussions last week. i'm pleased that trade union leaders themselves recognise those discussions were constructive and collegiate and we want to work with them. but the right approach is to use the pay review body process this coming year in. terms of looking what is affordable, both the nhs but to the wider economy . well to the wider economy. well joining me is our west midlands reporter jackie wilson, who's in stafford . what's the atmosphere stafford. what's the atmosphere been like today ? well, now the been like today? well, now the picket line has been packed up for today , but rest assured, it for today, but rest assured, it will be back tomorrow for the second day of these 48 hour no strikes. the atmosphere today has been quite jubilant . a lot has been quite jubilant. a lot of singing, a lot of chanting from nurses to show how united they are with these strikes for

and the cars that have been driving past a lot, beeping horns showing the public for these as well. know , these strikes as well. we know, of course, from a poll that around in five britons around three in five britons believe it's government's believe it's the government's fault nurses striking over fault for nurses striking over things pay and working things like pay and working conditions as they are. the two things that have been mentioned to on the to me by the people on the picket line consists that today the pay , of course, the issue of pay, of course, with cost of rising with the cost of living rising inflation, they believe they deserve a pay rise on of all the work they do and the other thing has been safer staffing levels in wards so they believe the wards aren't staffed enough. we know are thousands of know that there are thousands of vacancies nhs and one of vacancies in the nhs and one of the reasons they think that nurses, think that the nurses, they think that the staffing levels aren't up to aren't up to the numbers that they want them to be is because of retention in. and that's where again comes into where pay once again comes into in if pay better than in the if the pay better than the will be able to retain a the nhs will be able to retain a lot of the nurses graduating because so many of them i've been told today by some of the nurses on the picket line, go into because the

into agency work because the money much better. but money is so much better. but on that point speaking to nurses that point to speaking to nurses on the picket line, been on the picket line, i've been chatting to them day and chatting to them all day and here's a couple of had here's what a couple of them had to it's about much more to say. it's about much more than pay. about that than pay. it's about fact that because pace so awful , we because the pace so awful, we can't get the nurses. so it makes the wards unsafe. it makes the care unsafe. it makes patients unsafe . it wasn't an patients unsafe. it wasn't an easy decision and we're all in this for a reason. we want to be caring for our patients , but caring for our patients, but we're all aware there is cost of living crisis on nurses wages just haven't been going on. it's not just for nurses. i'm actually a nurse associate. it's doing it for us as well as our health care's and the city hall, etc. and yeah, not an easy decision, but it's about time the government paid us fairly but equally . let's forget about but equally. let's forget about the money for a second. you know, we need more training places for nurses . and it's places for nurses. and it's about time that we make the country aware how hard it is to work in what we're facing on a

daily basis basis in terms of what the rcn have wanted , in what the rcn have wanted, in terms of a pay rise, we know they've they've they want around 5% above inflation , but have 5% above inflation, but have admitted that they're willing to negotiate around that figure. steve barclay the health secretary, of course, saying this it's always, this afternoon that it's always, always the trade always been open to the trade unions, that kind of pay unions, but that kind of pay rise acceptable rise isn't acceptable because it's mean billions of it's going to mean billions of pounds going to spent in pounds are going to be spent in places he says could be places that he says could be spent. places that he says could be spent . but in places that he says could be spent. but in terms of places that he says could be spent . but in terms of funding spent. but in terms of funding the of the impact that it's had on we know on patients today, we know there's to thousands of there's going to be thousands of cancelled and rescheduled appointments the we appointments from the strikes we had december. appointments from the strikes we had december . around 30,000 had in december. around 30,000 appointments to be appointments had to be rescheduled of that. this is the 48 walkout and said there's 48 hour walkout and said there's going thousands more. but going to be thousands more. but patients had been calling going to be thousands more. but patieone, had been calling going to be thousands more. but patieone, one had been calling going to be thousands more. but patieone, one toad been calling going to be thousands more. but patieone, one to get een calling going to be thousands more. but patieone, one to get the calling going to be thousands more. but patieone, one to get the care ng one, one, one to get the care that they need because of these strikes . thank you that they need because of these strikes. thank you very that they need because of these strikes . thank you very much, strikes. thank you very much, jack . jack carson, he's the gb jack. jack carson, he's the gb news west midlands report. thank you so much, jack . well moving you so much, jack. well moving on, gb news can exclude civilly

reveal at least 10,000 teenagers, something almost 13 are being exploited by criminal gangs to transport drugs for them. most of these so—called county lines gangs are using britain's rail network to carry huge quantities of illegal drugs and cash to communities right across the country. homeland security editor mark white has been given exclusive access to follow a major british police led operation . we'll be led operation. we'll be discussing that will, bring you that very shortly . but joining that very shortly. but joining me . i'll that very shortly. but joining me. i'll bring that very shortly. but joining me . i'll bring you this now. me. i'll bring you this now. joining me now to discuss this is professor dame anne marie rafferty, cbe. she's the former president of the royal college of nursing discussing the national strike. what do you think? do you think the government should give in to the pay government should give in to the pay demands and conditions that they asking for ? absolutely they are asking for? absolutely i mean, this is long overdue that government just need to get down and basically create a deal and do a deal. and i think, you

know, today i was on the picket. this is what everyone wants to draw. this dispute to a conclusion . and it's really in conclusion. and it's really in the government's gift to do that . we the government's gift to do that. we that , you know, some of the government's gift to do that. we that, you know, some of us haven't gone on strike. obviously, the 55 after the over 200, just chose to strike. why do you think that that's in in a sense of it is quite a small proportion chose to strike out the total number. i trust that there are . well i think there's there are. well i think there's actually more trust today decided to strike. and it feels if the momentum is actually growing . and along with that , growing. and along with that, you know, public support is holding up very, very well. so feels as if it's got quite a way to go in terms of the boost of energy that you feel when you're

actually on the picket line . actually on the picket line. this is a group of nurses who are very determined and who are really holding the line. and in fact, this strike, not just about the present, it's also about the present, it's also about protecting the public for the future. nurses are the most effective shield in protecting the public from risk and harm . the public from risk and harm. and i think patients and the pubuc and i think patients and the public actually recognise that. and that's why they're support has held up so staunchly over the last few weeks. well, i think i would like to see the nurses get a pay , but i'd like nurses get a pay, but i'd like conditions attached that. so for example, i like to see, you know, because you i want to see the waiting list brought down by the waiting list brought down by the most like to see a load of those middle managers sack packed. so all the diversity and inclusion that i would like to see you know that you'd get this but on condition that certain of wastage are gone because . that

wastage are gone because. that is the reason i think why the pubuc is the reason i think why the public are supporting the nurses so much so is because we want to the reorganisation of the nhs so that it will it works for us as a consumer. what do you think that they're asking for? an increase of 5% rise above inflation? that is unrealistic . inflation? that is unrealistic. well, i think that culliton has said, look , meet me halfway. the said, look, meet me halfway. the original ask was 19. meet me halfway and know it's going to take compromise on both sides and i think, you know, the fact is this is not just about peace. also staffing. and basically know you can't do anything . know you can't do anything. reform included two of the nhs unless you've got enough staff . unless you've got enough staff. we can't recoup and recover from covid adequately and that's also got to be remembered that many of these staff are still feeling mental health burden from covid and actually have been

traumatised by itself. having fought so hard during the panda to actually look after people under impossible circumstances and know this is the way that nurses treated. that's just not good enough . let's get done and good enough. let's get done and a deal and let's do it now . mm. a deal and let's do it now. mm. oh well, dame ana marie rafferty , thank you very much for joining you . really good to talk joining you. really good to talk to you. she's the former royal college nursing president . well, college nursing president. well, back now to that gb news exclusive . we can reveal that at exclusive. we can reveal that at least 10,000 teenagers, some young as 13, are being exploited by gangs to transport drugs . and by gangs to transport drugs. and this the so—called county lines gangs using britain's rail network to carry huge quantities of illegal drugs and cash to communities right across the country. homeland security editor mark white has been giving exclusive of access to follow a major british transport police led operation going the county lines gangs gangs.

it's the height of the morning in central london and here on the underground at euston station, the police are out in force. they're on the hunt for the county lines criminal gangs, using the network to ferry drugs, cash and weapons. upstairs in the main station, concourse , other officers have concourse, other officers have stopped and arrested this young man on suspicion of drug dealing . he was found with 1400 pounds in cash and a cheap burner disposable phone, often used in drug deals. this country wide operation is being led by british transport police and a dedicated county lines unit. i have 70 staff that are dedicated type of work across the whole of the network. we've various tactics . we've had area tactics. we've had area locations. you may not see them out there, but they are out

there day looking for criminals involved in county lines, activity or just just riding on board a train, heading to the midlands. this is where access following these officers who are part of the county lines task as they look out for anything suspicious approaching . if you suspicious approaching. if you got valuables in that the last thing you want is the stuff being stolen. a quick chat with this passenger and it's clear he's legitimate traveller . but he's legitimate traveller. but in the three years this taskforce has been operational, these officers and their colleagues have made more than 1500 drug seizures. recovered one and a quarter million pounds in illicit cash . and taken more in illicit cash. and taken more than 500 weapons off the rail network. on the day we were filming here at birmingham's new street station, officers arrested a young man carrying . arrested a young man carrying. this suitcase with ten and a half kilos of cannabis inside .

half kilos of cannabis inside. further up the line in wolverton hampton, another man and a woman were stopped carrying a suitcase this time with six kilos of cannabis inside . more than cannabis inside. more than percent of those arrested by the county lines task force over recent years were teenage years. british transport now works closely with social work and children's charities to identify who might be victims themselves selves. if there is a young person or a vulnerable adult and there's a crime that's taking place but we recognise actually there evict of exploitation , there evict of exploitation, then you've got an investigation process and a safeguarding process and a safeguarding process that can run here . process that can run here. coventry station. another team of officers are working with police dog gosch and his keen sense of smell. a key weapon in identifying those was the closer inspection . it doesn't take him inspection. it doesn't take him long to pinpoint a likely suspect act as these plainclothes officers searched

the man. it soon cleared the police dog was buying on the money got a suit bag or police dog was buying on the money got a suit bag 0 r £25,000 money got a suit bag or £25,000 cash and some gentleman has been arrested on suspicion of being concerned supply. so it take custody and. so suits cash i've got to move as far as so they'll be safe as well . with at least be safe as well. with at least 600 county lines, criminal gangs . it is a major ongoing for law enforcement right the country. as our time with british transport police starkly illustrates tens of thousands of pounds of drugs and illicit cash seized in just a single day. mark white gb news on the rail network. well, joining me now to discuss is junior smart obe , who discuss is junior smart obe, who is head of the sos. gangs project at the st john's trust , project at the st john's trust, which helps people create a better future for themselves. julian, thank you so for joining me. so how does these gangs

recruit children ? where do they recruit children? where do they , the men? do they have a specific type of person that they will look for ? oh, wow. so they will look for? oh, wow. so both of these groups find the children that , you know, children that, you know, unfortunately, the wider are right now . young people and the right now. young people and the situations that they're involved in increasingly make them more susceptible to these groups for recruitment . and these groups recruitment. and these groups recruitment. and these groups recruit young people online, practically single social media platform . i've seen has got some platform. i've seen has got some sort of recruitment aspect to it. you'll see adverts , big sums it. you'll see adverts, big sums of money. there's to be made . if of money. there's to be made. if you look at mainstream media, chapman is quite fashionable now. everyone's talking about benzos and shut in and drugs and all of that sort of stuff is entered mainstay media which means that for a person with reduced availability of choice,

let's just say because the need is out there , young people you is out there, young people you know national youth association are talking about over a million families and thrown into poverty this year alone . what does a this year alone. what does a young person do ? they've got young person do? they've got limited availability of choice. they don't want to ask their parents for something because they know that their parents, who are very their parents are already actually already working. so actually it's far easier to look at something like that and see the money that can be made as attractive as an. unfortunately, this is what we're seeing time and time again. young people getting into this with promises of a and then next thing you know, they're trapped. they're trapped by by the. and the key right there is exploit station. these are young people that going to ultimately take the risks , ultimately get risks, ultimately get criminalised and their lives are ultimately going to be impacted. the negative way . how can the negative way. how can parents spot their child is perhaps being sucked this because i'm sure that some of these kids will come from pretty

good homes but they may be just lured into there. so we've been working with young people involved in gangs and criminal exploitation now for close to 18 years. and the reality is, is as easy as it is to say why, actually, it's marginalised, it's the people that are in poverty, the people that are less financially affluent . less financially affluent. actually, we're seeing much more numbers of young people from japan households , affluent japan households, affluent backgrounds . let's lay the jive backgrounds. let's lay the jive has been partly to these groups because partly by these groups. so because they know that these affluent families will take care of what they call junk that's but i thought your feature was really interesting the british transport police fantastic at what they do and they know actually that the people that they arrest are the ones that have been exploited . now what have been exploited. now what that video doesn't show is what

happens. so young people because those young people and young people and adults that were caught with drugs that will create a drug that and it's not as simple as just actually you've broken the law . let's you've broken the law. let's criminalise you you're you're to face the impact of the law and the justice system . actually, the justice system. actually, these gangs these that have recruited these people , they recruited these people, they will say to them now actually , will say to them now actually, you owe us those dogs money that you've lost . and the story from you've lost. and the story from us always been about what happens to those people after. because the reality is drug debts are like how everybody else thinks. if they won't be enough, those young people will face violence. they'll face consequences and they'll have to they'll often go have to go back to work. and for those people to pay to work. and for those people to pay that debt off and that's the story nobody really talks about. it's a break that cycle. so we make a key important factor if we've got two parents and what they can do . i would simply say they can do. i would simply say to parents this and this is the

reality, you know, your children and you need to know where they are. you need to know who they are. you need to know who they are and you need to know are with. and you need to know what are up to. times. what they are up to. all times. and also, is hard, you and also, this is hard, you know, we're living cost know, we're living in a cost living crisis. parents are having to work longer and harder. so obviously thinking, well, necessarily pay well, i can't necessarily pay around the reality is we have to try and work together. and this is about agencies linking hands really focusing our resources agencies on the ground working reduced resources as well and it's really about sharing information and it's about connecting families with services that can help and support them. and very briefly , support them. and very briefly, for those that are caught as said, they end up with a drug debt. ultimately, all the police working to help young people to get out of this debt because ultimately they'll catch them. they are just meal, obviously, where it's coming from , it's where it's coming from, it's somewhere else. are they doing anything to support the young people that they catch? this is a real challenge , i think, for

a real challenge, i think, for law enforcement individuals. i've got the best intents of work to law enforcement intervene. we've some fantastic partners out there that seem to buy crack, but reality is we don't know how many company lines are in operation. they can only give us a rough estimate. three. don't know how many young people are involved. and the reality is, is at that point of arrest, that point of stop and search, that none of those persons background will be taken into account . that's just the into account. that's just the reality of the way . so the best reality of the way. so the best the best thing that we can actually do for young, the best way we can serve young people is actually by educating them and supporting them and training agencies in this field know what to look for and also how to really get the most out of their engagement, get the most out of the organisations that are sitting around the table. there's no quick wins and there's no easy way out. i'm fortunately, because by the time the person is transporting drugs

that we're already in a point where they be criminalised on the spot . we can't just expect the spot. we can't just expect somebody to the police and say, actually , i need your help, actually, i need your help, because if they then, you know, that's the way the criminal exploitation works by doing so, they criminalise themselves . they criminalise themselves. they're putting themselves at more and then putting more risk and then putting themselves. say , themselves. actually, i'd say, physical the gangs . so physical harm by the gangs. so it's actually about really kind of getting in before they get involved and showing you the steps. so keep them educate them. i'll just say that that's what looks like actually in my house because . it's same house because. it's the same background you how i'm background as you how i'm devising goals. thank you very much, julian. lovely to talk to you. obe. he's head you. that's not obe. he's head of service gangs project st charles is just thank you very much . you're with me. i'm nana much. you're with me. i'm nana akua. this is gb views. after the break, inflation slowed for the break, inflation slowed for the row. the second month in a row. petrol and energy costs are down, but food prices are still running a 40 high. we'll running at a 40 year high. we'll speak gb news economics and speak to gb news economics and business halligan business editor liam halligan next. be in a moment.

with gb news. now equities back in just a moment. but first, let's get you up to date the very latest news and nurses in england stage a two day strike. the labour leader has urged the prime minister to take responsibility and, admit the nhs is in crisis as members of the royal college nursing from 55 nhs trusts are walking out in a long running dispute over pay and patient safety . the action and patient safety. the action is expected to lead to thousands of operations and appointments being cancelled. meanwhile thousand ambulance workers with the union are to stage a further in the coming weeks in their ongoing dispute over pay and staffing levels. paramedic emergency care assistants and call handlers will all walk on

the sixth and the 20th of both february and march . the union february and march. the union says following government inaction, they've been left with no choice. unite also says it's going to announce further ambulance strike dates soon. and the education secretary has met with union leaders in a bid to avert strikes by the national education union over seven days. february and march. meanwhile union leaders say no real progress on pay had been made and. they were no nearer to a solution. and the rate at which pnces solution. and the rate at which prices are rising has slowed. for the second month in a row. but the cost of some food has hit a 45 year high. the office for national statistics says the rate inflation fell to ten and a half% in december. that's down from 10.7% the month before. it says fuel costs were largely behind the slowdown with the average price down by 8.3 pence per litre since last month's . per litre since last month's. and all police forces across britain are being asked to check

and double check their offices and double check their offices and staff against the national police database that saw after serving officer david carrick was sacked from the metropolitan police yesterday. the 48 year old admitted to 49 criminal charges , including 24 counts of charges, including 24 counts of rape against 12 women over an 18 year period. the home office has asked for serving to be rechecked to identify anyone who may have slipped through the net before vetting standards were strengthened. those are the headunes strengthened. those are the headlines you're up to date on gb news. don't go anywhere. we're back with a queer. next thank you . if you've just joined thank you. if you've just joined me, welcome on board. it's just coming up to 34 minutes after 5:00. this is gb news where? live on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua . now,

radio. i'm nana akua. now, inflation took a slight this morning and that's according to the latest figures from the office of national statistics . office of national statistics. but the rate still remains at a 40 year high, whilst energy and petrol costs have come. food pnces petrol costs have come. food prices are still on the rise with dairy eggs and all sweet stuff driving up the cost of your shop. so joining us now is our economics and business editor liam halligan . with all editor liam halligan. with all the . money well, salim, can you the. money well, salim, can you drill down of these figures? what does it all mean? so i actually thought inflation would come down more than it has. this cost of living squeeze is still upon us. are signs that upon us. there are signs that it's easing because the rate at which are increasing is which prices are increasing is slowing not by very slowing down. but not by very much nana that's the reality. let's have a look at some of the numbers. we can see here from the graphic gb news listeners can bear with me in december. cpi, inflation that's the consumer price index . inflation consumer price index. inflation was 10.5% up on december 2021.

that was slightly lower rate of price increase than the november inflation number, which was 10.7 inflation number, which was 10.7 in october, actually , it was in october, actually, it was 11.1 that was the 41 year high. so we're still very close to that 41 year high, as you say, breaking down the inflation in december nana you'll see here food and alcoholic beverages. they were up 6.9. so that is whopping. and that's why when you go to tesco or sainsbury's or other supermarkets are available for you, go for a few bits and pieces. suddenly you spend 50 quid. that's what's happening and there is the 17% up on the year fuel prices, the inflation has come down a bit, but they're still up 11.5. and then there's some other things that inflation is less, but still very chunky transport. that's bus fares, train fares and so on. 6.9% up on the year and so on. 6.9% up on the year and then recreation and culture up and then recreation and culture ”p by and then recreation and culture up by just under 5% inflation there. because to be honest, a lot of theme parks , leisure

lot of theme parks, leisure activities is they're trying to keep their cost of living increases as low as possible all absorbing the extra fuel bills because they're trying to get people through the door when household budgets are being squeezed. it's difficult, isn't it? mean , what can people do it? i mean, what can people do to help themselves out to sort of help themselves out of because obviously of this? because obviously you're in terms of you're getting less in terms of income, even though it's exactly the same because of inflation. so how can people try and mitigate against some of this, you've got shop around . you've got to shop around. you've to examine, look in you've got to examine, look in the basket what the food basket what you actually mean, this is actually need. i mean, this is this is the reality. and of course, a lot of people are going to their employers and just saying, i need money just saying, i need more money now, other numbers. i now, just some other numbers. i won't them up a graphic won't put them up in a graphic but was talking about the but i was talking about the mayor on news earlier this mayor on gb news earlier this week. across the economy week. pay across the uk economy up week. pay across the uk economy ”p by week. pay across the uk economy up by 6.4% during the last few months last year compared to the same period in 2021. that's the highest increase in the headline wages since 2001. and yet those wages since 2001. and yet those wage increases, one wage increases at all because inflation was so much more so

what we call real wages. after inflation, they fell 3.4. that's a steepest drop since 2009. and that's what inflation does. all households know that there's inflation there , even a lot of inflation there, even a lot of very comfortable households. now are seeing their budgets stretched . but, you know, it's stretched. but, you know, it's not just household that are hurt by inflation. it's firms as well. and we know i've talked about it a lot here on gb news that firms are suffering with high utility bills, higher heating, lighting costs and all the rest of it, as well as the cost of lot of their inputs going up. and the government recently said that the support available businesses would available for businesses would actually be reduced quite . yes, actually be reduced quite. yes, that's and only like very that's right. and only like very energy intensive businesses like steelmakers and so on will continue . get a lot of support. continue. get a lot of support. earlier today that i invited into the gb news newsroom, somebody i know very well , a guy somebody i know very well, a guy called stephen morley. now stephen morley is absolutely on the front line of manufacturing. he president of something called the confederation of british

metal formers. these companies up and down the country , they're up and down the country, they're not the steel makers. they don't actually the metals, but they use metals in manufacturing use the metals in manufacturing very energy intensive companies. they're not going to get any additional for their energy additional help for their energy bills. going to be removed bills. it's going to be removed pretty from april . and pretty much from april. and stephen morley is really , really stephen morley is really, really worried about businesses and related job losses . here he is. related job losses. here he is. i think we'll see companies filing a, quote, high levels . so filing a, quote, high levels. so i think it's really important that the review is at moment you see it absolutely no movements . see it absolutely no movements. they can't afford to do anything. they will keep the pressure on as much as we can. so i'll get more of our members into high intensity scheme . into the high intensity scheme. but very difficult . even but it's very difficult. even people who are qualified in, for instance, like uk steel who qualify for the scheme are still competitive . people look to competitive. people look to countries like germany . so it's countries like germany. so it's not it's not really helping anyone at the moment this it will help certain companies , but will help certain companies, but it's only a small percentage of

uk manufacturing . well, in what uk manufacturing. well, in what i want to ask is first of all the impact of the strikes on the economy and then if they get what they want, the impact of what they want, the impact of what they want, the impact of what they get, if they get inflation busting pay rise , of inflation busting pay rise, of course everybody wants a pay rise at least the same as the rate of inflation when inflation is 10.5. who, gina? who's getting a 10% now pay rise? i i don't know many people, i must say, and i think what i'd say about this inflation number for now . now, obviously the now. now, obviously the industrial action is ongoing. we cover almost day here cover it almost every day here on news. the government was on gb news. the government was hoping that this inflation will be today . why? because be lower today. why? because then it goes to the unions, particularly the public sector unions, which the government is often directly negotiating with and look, you don't need 10% and say look, you don't need 10% because inflation is clearly on the way down and it is on the way down, but it may stick around double digits for quite some time. when inflation is some time. so when inflation is sticky in this high for this long, it's hard for the governments negotiate with those

unions. the government, in response, saying yes, but if response, are saying yes, but if we have big wage rises across the private sector, then those labour costs will get feeding into firms costs into prices, and you'll get a wage price spiral . it's and you'll get a wage price spiral. it's a and you'll get a wage price spiral . it's a really, really spiral. it's a really, really difficult balancing out for the government and for the unions as they grapple with and negotiate this and also trying to take pubuc this and also trying to take public opinion with them. inflation makes everybody's life more difficult. well, listen, it's lovely to talk you. it's lovely to talk to you. thank you very much for that. that's halligan. he's our that's liam halligan. he's our business and economics editor. more that round between more now on that round between rishi and the sturgeon rishi sunak and the sturgeon over the uk government's decision to scotland's decision to block scotland's gender recognition bill. now the snp is one of westminster's snp is just one of westminster's interference adangerous interference as a dangerous moment for the devolution. but the prime minister his the prime minister says his focus on ensuring legal protections for the safety of women and children across the uk. let's get the latest from our political reporter catherine force he joins me now from westminster . what can you tell westminster. what can you tell us, catherine ? so it looks like

us, catherine? so it looks like is going to end up in the courts, although prime rishi sunak and first minister for scotland , nicholas sturgeon, scotland, nicholas sturgeon, have met a couple of most recently last week and all appear to be very friendly in control to the previous pm. liz who hadn't bothered to talk to nicholas sturgeon at all. the friendly list looks like it is rapidly diminishing because the government have pressed this nuclear button , if you like, of nuclear button, if you like, of decide to use section 35 to stop the scottish gender reform bill becoming law. now they are saying that they are doing that because . they have concerns . because. they have concerns. they've been given legal advice that it undermines uk wide equality laws. there's a lot of people concerned about the potential implications in england and wales and northern ireland of these changes of the safety of all women spaces . and

safety of all women spaces. and saying that women and children are potentially at times going to be put at risk, possibly as a result. so obviously , very result. so obviously, very difficult. and the new leader , difficult. and the new leader, the snp in westminster, stephen flynn, very angry and prime minister's questions today saying that the government was seeking to stoke a culture war and that it was a dangerous moment for. devolution saying that british government had gone against the express promise that the scottish parliament had made to the scottish people. and of course not only is this a very sensitive and delicate issue for the trans community and also for many women who feel that some there was a clash of interests between trans rights and potentially women's rights. but it's also now up into a huge constitutional row. and in many ways it giving nicholas sturgeon. i ammunition to pursue her. scotland would be better off independent narrative

because she can legitimately say , now look what's happened. these politicians in westminster are stopping doing what we've agreed to do in scotland and this is wrong. agreed to do in scotland and this is wrong . well, thank you this is wrong. well, thank you very much, catherine. that's catherine foster. she's our gb news political reporter. you're with me. i'm not quite. this is a gb news coming. the government faces criticism over plans to scrap thousands eu derived laws before the end of the year. we're joined by nigel farage his take on the. we'll be back in a moment .

it is 45 minutes after five. this is a news on tv online and on digital radio. i'm nana akua . now rishi sunak is mounting pressure from the labor party over the government's plan to

review or revoke thousands of eu denved review or revoke thousands of eu derived laws that retained . eu derived laws that retained. eu law bill which returned to the commons today. it's designed to make it easier for parliament to amend , repeal or even replace amend, repeal or even replace certain eu legislation retained after brexit. now they are set to expire in december, but labour wants to push and push this to the end of the year deadune this to the end of the year deadline to 2026. so to shed some more light on this is gb news nigel farage who joins me now? nigel thank very much for joining me. now some green campaigners are concerned that the changes of regulation could lead to the of key environmental protections and things like that. i mean, these valid look you know, in a few months time it'll be seven years, seven years, years since voted to leave and only now are we actually getting around to talking about getting rid of eu legislation . what do we know legislation. what do we know about eu law ? well, i was there about eu law? well, i was there for almost 21 years. i watched this stuff coming out of the european coming through the

european coming through the european parliament in the most extraordinary quantity . of extraordinary quantity. of course, there will be laws passed in brussels that we think are generally sense . but none of are generally sense. but none of them were made specifically for them were made specifically for the uk . and by getting rid of the uk. and by getting rid of them, by going through them, by being selective, we can take what we think is sensible and get rid of that. that is burdensome, expensive and achieves no real aim . so the achieves no real aim. so the goal of the government at last, all these years on is the right goal all these years on is the right goal. yes. the greens complain labourin goal. yes. the greens complain labour in particular will complain , you know. why not? complain, you know. why not? because they want win the next election and get us more closely augned election and get us more closely aligned to single market rules. that's why they don't want to see any change at. all. same as the governor of the bank of england, andrew bailey. he wants change at all. these people were remainers and basically today they are. rejoin us. the whole point of leaving the european union was number one in

democratic terms to be self—governing . but number two, self—governing. but number two, in economic terms , to become in economic terms, to become more competitive than our next door neighbours. so at last we've got the government doing something that is in the right direction now. david argues these, these, these decisions should get taken in parliament and not with the civil service. i get that. but such is the massive work it provides that parliament is capable of working day and night between now and the end of the year. we could do it. my bigger worry is what happens ? when this gets to the happens? when this gets to the house of lords. happens? when this gets to the house of lords . because happens? when this gets to the house of lords. because i don't really see why i people should be afraid of taking control of a lot of our own legislation . and lot of our own legislation. and there are people saying that we're we won't be protected by employment laws. i'm going to scrap the scrap. it's unlikely that we're to scrap things that are of benefit us and what is wrong us making and regulations look , we have been the forefront

look, we have been the forefront of social change in europe. i though i am in only three quarters of a century ago. many of these other countries were actually fascist dictatorships. you know, we've had since magna carta in 1215 an evolving series of individual rights. we don't need to take any lessons or any laws from brussels. we quite capable of doing this ourselves. but the rejoin us do not want us to deviate in any way at all, so that they can literally sign a straight back up to single market rules. that's the real political that is going on here . yeah, exactly. nigel farage, thank you so much for joining me. very good to talk to you. and i will be here at 7:00 on gb news. right whilst we've been on average, you see has been answering questions on the current dispute with nhs workers. also addressed workers. he's also addressed areas concern were areas of concern which were raised metropolitan raised by the metropolitan police officer who admitted to

serial rape over two decades. here's what he had say. i've just had a constructive meeting with . the commissioner of the with. the commissioner of the metropolitan police and made clear to him and he agrees that the abuse of power that we've seen this week is absolute despicable and needs to be addressed immediately. now, that's why all pleas across the country have been told to check all of their serving officers and staff against national police databases to identify and root out anybody who shouldn't be serving the government's done a huge amount already to protect the safety of women and girls . the safety of women and girls. but we will keep going and doing whatever it takes to ensure that women and girls feel safe and can go about their lives freely and without fear. promises rather extraordinary, isn't it? how is this not happened before or will the checks simply inadequate that the office is having to call on police forces to carry out vetting of police officers ? well, clearly this officers? well, clearly this particular individual should never have been a police officer

. and we have strengthened police forces themselves, have strengthened their vetting procedures over the last couple of years. but what we are doing now is ensuring that every single police force has updated its vetting practises that they are best in class, that they are going to be independently inspected very quickly and police officers are being asked to check their existing officer's and staff against police databases to identify and, root out anyone who shouldn't be a serving officer. given all of this, though , given all of this, though, you're on a massive recruitment drive, not to get the number of police officers up. should that be put hold , you ensure the be put on hold, you ensure the home secretary shows that these proper vetting processes are in place because it is possible with the number recruits that yet again people will slip through the net. i think the vetting processes have been significantly strength over the past couple of years . this past couple of years. this particular individual , it would particular individual, it would not have passed those vetting processes today. but what we want to do , make sure that there

want to do, make sure that there aren't serving police officers anywhere at any stage in their career or indeed staff in police forces shouldn't be there. the national police database contains variety of contains a variety of information about against information about people against which can be rechecked . which those can be rechecked. important that we do that immediately and police forces carry that out to and root out anyone who is not fit to serve. but it's also important that we continue to improve the safety of women and girls up and down the and the majority of the country and the majority of police officers are working very hard to do that. and that's why having police officers on the beat protect in their communities thing communities is the right thing to do. and why committed to increasing number of police increasing the number of police officers communities officers in communities across country? strikes nurses country? so what strikes nurses back and strike again? you back out and strike again? you wanted to end . everyone wants it wanted to end. everyone wants it to end. you're the prime minister. why do you just sit down and talk to the nurses, the buck stops so you can sort this out. very keen to out. well, we're very keen to have a constructive dialogue just with the nurses union, but with unions across the public sector. beginning of the sector. at the beginning of the yean sector. at the beginning of the year, government wrote

year, the government wrote individually all public sector unions , inviting them in to have unions, inviting them in to have talks with their relevant ministers. i'm pleased say ministers. i'm pleased to say that are ongoing and that those talks are ongoing and we're keen to find a constructive way forward and bnng constructive way forward and bring these an end. bring these strikes to an end. of i understand the of course, i understand the impact they're having on people's i understand people's lives and i understand why frustrated. but why people are frustrated. but we do also need to make sure that those conversations are based reasonable , based on what's reasonable, what's the what's responsible for the country as . we tackle inflation, country as. we tackle inflation, which good for everybody. if which is good for everybody. if we that down as quickly we can get that down as quickly as but what's as possible, but also what's affordable well, affordable? well, prime minister, talks ongoing. minister, the talks ongoing. ongoing, the strikes are ongoing, but the strikes are ongoing . you're prime ongoing. you're the prime minister. is a massive minister. this is a massive impact. will not get impact. why will not get involved and sit with the union leaders in your company ? nurses. leaders in your company? nurses. we all know nurses are to do a good job. why would you sit down with them and sort this out once for all over government and ministers are sitting down not just nurses union, but just with the nurses union, but with all the unions to have construct their dialogue and find through . and we're find a way through. and we're committed to making sure that we can reduce burden of can also reduce the burden of the of living on people. at

the cost of living on people. at the cost of living on people. at the of this year, the beginning of this year, i set five priorities, five set out five priorities, five promises i to the country promises i made to the country about what i want to and to about what i want to do, and to that's inflation, the that's halve inflation, grow the economy, debt, cut economy, reduce debt, cut waiting boats waiting lists and stop the boats halving is incredibly important. it's inflation , and it's driving it's inflation, and it's driving up the cost of living . and as up the cost of living. and as we tackle inflation, need to be tackle inflation, we need to be responsible with public pay settlements, to think settlements, we have to think about but also what about reasonable, but also what is affordable for the country. but dialogue is happening. conversations aren't happening. it's right that they're happening. and hopefully we can find through . that was, of find a way through. that was, of course, prime minister rishi sunak. course, prime minister rishi sunak . next, dewbs & co sunak. up next, it's dewbs& co with he's here the studio to with he's here in the studio to sell. what have you got coming up your show? hi, nana. well, we've had so much doom and gloom recently, haven't when it recently, haven't we, when it comes prospects of the comes to the prospects of the uk. but of the most recent uk. but some of the most recent figures of perhaps showing signs of and prosper at save it, of hope and prosper at save it, be so bold. is it time for a bit more positivity when it comes to this country's outlook? i think so, but who agrees with me? i suspect not. many will see. also, marriage , of course.

also, gay marriage, of course. church of england today said that the clergy do not have to perform those ceremonies. is that the right decision or not? head food standards agency has told us all to stop bringing cake into work for our colleagues. is that nanny state or just colleagues. is that nanny state orjust a bit of plan? a simple common sense and english devolution? is it time for a bit more of it . well, it's a bizarre more of it. well, it's a bizarre looking 40 or so. up next stage in the show's on the way. well lots of you've been getting in touch with. your thoughts on the strikes. david says only 55 out of 219 just on strike. that's 25. and why so few ? many are not 25. and why so few? many are not putting up with this nonsense and says i don't know anyone who's supporting the nurses. they are relatively well paid and should of the patients not themselves. the halo has never stepped further and doomsayers ask someone in power why managers have paid more than nurses. it happens badly run institutions like the home office as well. well that is it for me. thank you very much for joining me this afternoon . i'll

joining me this afternoon. i'll be back tomorrow at 3:00 with lots more. michelle dewberry is on the way . stay tuned for that. on the way. stay tuned for that. there's loads still to come here on gp news, but i'll leave you with the weather. hello. i'm alex deakin and this is your latest forecast from the latest weather forecast from the met the next hours met office the next 24 hours keep the cold and frosty conditions for most of us. many of us will stay dry, but where we have showers, they're we do have showers, they're going to be a mixture of rain, sleet and some snow along with some it could turn some hail. and it could turn things have met things icy. so we have met office yellow in place office yellow warnings in place because and of because western areas and of course, northern scotland where the showers really keep the snow showers really do keep on a further on coming. but a further covering for northern covering possible for northern ireland's northwest england parts it may well parts of wales and it may well turn the far turn icy overnight in the far south, many southern eastern and central parts will just stay dry, clear and, cold, minus two, minus three. that's in towns and cities. rural areas will be much lower than that. bit more wet weather to come into northern scotland through tomorrow. chiefly, that'll be rain. certainly on coast, but above any hills it'll be mostly snow continues to fall. a few

flurries possible in northwest england. north wales and parts of northern ireland through the day. again, a mixture of rain, sleet and some snow here, but many central and eastern , again, many central and eastern, again, just dry and sunny, but cold with highs of only three or four celsius for many and feeling colder and that strong across northern scotland. that will continue to bring snow showers over the hills here during thursday nights and then potentially things icy once more and it could turn quite foggy as well . going and it could turn quite foggy as well. going to be a bit of a hazard as. we go through the next few mornings stubborn, freezing fog patches . but most freezing fog patches. but most places on friday will again be dry for and it will be a sunny day and that will have many showers in the west. and the showers in the west. and the showers also easing in northern scotland she has the scotland. she has the possibility of one or two coming down and clipping east coast. but many say friday looks but for many say friday looks dry and frosty start by dry and sunny. frosty start by the afternoon, highs of five or six. a little below for six. a little below average for the year . the six. a little below average for the year. the winds will the time of year. the winds will be light and it is going to slowly turn milder through the

weekend. in place weekend. the cold air in place until friday night, until at least friday night, then air ageing in from then milder air ageing in from then milder air ageing in from the west, although eastern areas. i think stay cold areas. i think will stay cold throughout weekend .

hello there. it's 6:00 on michelle dewberry and this is dewbs & co of the show where dewbs& co of the show where we'll get into some of the things that have got you talking. let's face it, something that's got everyone talking recently is doom and gloom , because six months at gloom, because for six months at least , all gloom, because for six months at least, all we've had about now is fact that this is is the fact that this country is on bnnk is the fact that this country is on brink of an economic on the brink of an economic catastrophe. the most recent catastrophe. but the most recent figures i have to say. okay, i know they are not fantastic, but they have been a lot better than expected , said things haven't expected, said things haven't been as bad as perhaps they