. sunday a busy show tonight . mark dolan a busy show tonight. mark dolan looking after the o'clock slot all of this week with a rumoured deal with the on the northern ireland protocol in the offing is a brexit breakthrough on the cards get reaction from jacob rees—mogg in the studio plus his reaction to walk out as it's been termed with civil servants bus drivers lecturers, rail workers , teachers all on strike workers, teachers all on strike today and the strikes are topic of my big opinion which is coming shortly plus where are the authorities wrong to put all

in masks as a shocking new study suggests they most likely had no effect . more on that shortly effect. more on that shortly with the spectators . alex with the spectators. alex marshall plus fearless fleet street legend kelvin mackenzie live in the studio with his reaction to the industrial action. and why didn't keir starmer mention the strikes . starmer mention the strikes. prime minister's questions today 7 prime minister's questions today .7 why is he going so quiet? labour ? why is he going so quiet? labour can't be afraid of the unions . surely so. jacob unions. surely so. jacob rees—mogg on the way and on walkout wednesday. britain isn't working quite literally . that's working quite literally. that's my big opinion, which is straight after the headlines with poorly middle . just mark with poorly middle. just mark thank you and good evening to you.the thank you and good evening to you. the top story on gb news today, hundreds of thousands of workers have been taking part in so—called walkout wednesday . so—called walkout wednesday. it's the uk's biggest day of industrial action. in more than a decade. after half a million

people across seven trade unions went on strike over pay jobs and conditions. teachers took part in the action along with border force officers and bus and train drivers, causing wide travel disruption . education minister disruption. education minister nick gibb the strikes as discipline pointing. it is disappointing that the new one of those four unions has taken action today jeopardise children's education. they have already two years of interruption during the covid pandemic so this is the last children need and it's the last thing parents need. so they say, look, let's talk, let's continue those talks about these important issues. in buckinghamshire. neighbours in milton keynes are holding a vigil tonight for a four year old girl who was killed by the family pet dog thames valley. police say alice stones was attacked in her own back garden yesterday. they describe it as a tragic and isolated incident and that the animal was put down by

officers at the scene. no arrests were made and is away from home. the fbi search for classified documents at president joe biden's beach house in delaware , we can tell house in delaware, we can tell you, has now ended . his lawyer you, has now ended. his lawyer says agents didn't find any files with classified markings. the operation was part of an ongoing investigation . biden's ongoing investigation. biden's handung ongoing investigation. biden's handling of classified documents. the found some at his other home in delaware last month. his former private office was also searched in november. and finally , boris johnson is and finally, boris johnson is urging western leaders to further boost their support for ukraine. speaking in washington earlier today, he told senior politicians that president volodymyr zelenskyy should be given all the equipment he needs. he's asked them to supply fighter jets, which downing street has so far ruled out. god america, for having the guts and the wisdom to help . and i the wisdom to help. and i implore you now to follow the

logic of what you are all doing and give the tools to finish the job, give them the deep fire, artillery systems, give them the tanks, give them the planes, because they have a plan. they know what they need to do. and my god, they should. they have the skill and the bravery to do it . just more piece of news to it. just more piece of news to bnng it. just more piece of news to bring you. the divisive social media personality . andrew tate, media personality. andrew tate, will, we understand, remain in custody in romania for at least another month? the kickboxer turned influencer is being held on suspicion of rape and human trafficking alongside his brother tristan . today, romanian brother tristan. today, romanian judges rejected an appeal against their detention . and against their detention. and andrew is best known for controversial comments about women and was banned from major social media platforms as a result . that set you up to date result. that set you up to date on tv online on dab plus radio you with gb news. now it's mark dolan sitting in florence fox .

dolan sitting in florence fox. thanks polly. it's mark dolan , thanks polly. it's mark dolan, the 8:00 slot. all of this week is a breakthrough. only northern ireland protocol in the offing. if so, does this unleash the full potential of brexit? jacob rees—mogg is with me shortly, live in the studio with reaction also were the authorities wrong to put us all in masks as a shocking new study suggests they did nothing. and why didn't sickest armour mention the strikes at prime questions today? surely labour aren't afraid of the unions, are they ? afraid of the unions, are they? we'll get to that shortly. but first, let's start with my big opinion . it's walk out wednesday opinion. it's walk out wednesday and it feels like the entire workforce has downed tools. i'm counting my that cameraman steve up for tonight's show. britain

isn't working literally and right now. not working is being leveraged as a political . with leveraged as a political. with the teaching unions , the nursing the teaching unions, the nursing unions, the ambulance workers , unions, the ambulance workers, lecturers, posties firefighters as civil servants, bus drivers, you name it, all holding the government and the country to ransom for inflation busting pay rises that the country simply cannot afford . now, i completely cannot afford. now, i completely understand that nurses, teachers and rest are struggling and they do an incredible job for the country. they deserve a pay . and country. they deserve a pay. and the unions, of course are simply doing their job trying to get their people the best possible deal their people the best possible deal. who could blame them. but anything above 5% that's being offered to most unions money the private sector would bite your hand off for is economically illiterate . it's immoral and illiterate. it's immoral and deeply irresponsible. the main reason why millions of brits are struggling is because of

inflation, which raises the cost of basic goods like energy and food and which reduces the value of the pound in your pockets and the size of your wage packets. it's a perfect storm. but to subsidise the public sector against rising prices is effectively to conduct an arms race with inflation, which doesn't end well . wages go up, doesn't end well. wages go up, pnces doesn't end well. wages go up, prices go up with them, and you bake inflation into the system for years to come . and be clear, for years to come. and be clear, inflation economy is a dying economy . inflation is a tax on economy. inflation is a tax on everyone. sunak and hunt for their sins. all right. everyone. sunak and hunt for their sins. all right . that their sins. all right. that inflation is public enemy number one. tackle that and it unlocks so many of our economic problems . lower inflation, cheaper goods, cheaper borrowing , both goods, cheaper borrowing, both the government's and yours and mine , cheaper mortgages and a mine, cheaper mortgages and a boost the value of the pound in your pockets. lose, lose becomes win win. so inflation is the

main argument against pay rises. we've seen it throughout history with wilson offering 20, 25 and 30% pay rises to compete with inflation and keep the unions happy. inflation and keep the unions happy - by inflation and keep the unions happy. by doing this, you're effectively creating economic quicksand and it's a race to the bottom . there's also the small bottom. there's also the small matter of bottom. there's also the small matter 0 f £2 trillion worth of matter of £2 trillion worth of national debt . any pay rises national debt. any pay rises will come borrowed billions. it's deeply unethical that future should pick up the tab for this. and it's danger for us to further expose britain to the vagaries of rolex squaring finances around the world. upon his largesse , we are now sadly his largesse, we are now sadly reliant . let his largesse, we are now sadly reliant. let me be his largesse, we are now sadly reliant . let me be clear that reliant. let me be clear that millions in the public sector and in the private sector deserve a pay rise. i believe that britain is underpaid the nurses, lecturers, teachers , you nurses, lecturers, teachers, you name it. they have suffered real terms, pay cuts. they a case, as do the unions , as many are

do the unions, as many are suffering in work, poverty that can even be a case made for the strikes . people are desperate . strikes. people are desperate. and of course, so many of these industries could have had a financial bailout if wasn't for what was in my the catastrophically expensive and failed experiment of lockdown . failed experiment of lockdown. which don't forget saw the government pay healthy people to stay at home covering 80% of their wages. we borrowed half a trillion pounds and we shut the economy down on and off for two and a half years and closed once viable businesses. and i don't remember of the unions at the time pushing back on the idea of lockdowns all work from home orders which damaged the economy too far from it. the unions were at the forefront of the hysterical culture of safety ism which descended upon the public sector . it was the unions that sector. it was the unions that clamoured for restrictions arguing the safety of their members paramount and of course it was the teaching unions

turbocharged pressure on the government to close schools a policy that very few are now willing to defend. the government were clearly trying to save lives with lockdowns and other covid measures and they were trying to prevent the nhs from becoming overwhelmed . the from becoming overwhelmed. the measures were backed by the vast majority of respected scientists and health professionals . as and health professionals. as i argued , the time the cure looked argued, the time the cure looked be worse than the disease itself, and i believe that history has judged that lockdown sceptic view very kindly. i always argue the worst aspects of the covid measures was the economic damage. why because no country ever the health of its people by making itself poorer. so here we are today with many brits struggling with a cost of living crisis and many relying on food banks. well, i've been very clear since the spring of 2020, this experiment to stop a seasonal respiratory virus

non—fatal to most would have dire consequences . well, here we dire consequences. well, here we are above and beyond the economic madness of what the unions are currently asking for. there is a moral case against this industrial action, too. no industrial action by nurses, ambulance or firefighters should risk human life. but it does. and it will. how is that acceptable ? and no industrial acceptable? and no industrial action on the part of teachers should impact children. but of course it will have kids not suffering off from school closures during pandemic. my kids are in the state sector and they've been stuck at home all day like thousands. the only thing they've probably learned today is how to murder and, gangsters on grand theft auto . gangsters on grand theft auto. how can close schools a restricted ambulance service, nurses absent from wards and firefighters off duty possibly be acceptable ? the economic and

be acceptable? the economic and moral case for the strikes is non—existent . perhaps we should non—existent. perhaps we should just bring in the army to run the whole country. sadly they're not big enough these days. britain isn't working , and it britain isn't working, and it doesn't look like that will change any time . change any time. soon let's get reaction to walk out wednesday as it's being called by the political editor of the express online. david maddox. hi, david. marco, you . great to have you on marco, you. great to have you on the program. very well. is this a nightmare for rishi sunak or an opportunity ? i think it's an opportunity? i think it's clearly an opportunity for him. i mean, we managed he hasn't got many opportunities at the moment is under siege from his own party's down in the polls but there's nothing like having a

clear enemy to fight and you know the unions the unions are doing him a favour really i think and you were asking the question , but the keir starmer question, but the keir starmer not mention the strikes in prime minister's questions today was a clear to that. firstly that he's embarrassed by it he's embarrassed by it he's embarrassed by it he's embarrassed by what the left is doing . and secondly, of course , doing. and secondly, of course, he's mbappe of unions turned . he he's mbappe of unions turned. he can't possibly criticise . so you can't possibly criticise. so you know that that's the answer. and of course. sunak's using this every prime minister's questions are to great effect . does the are to great effect. does the collective nature of this industrial action , the fact that industrial action, the fact that multiple industry ees were involved, does it feel orchestrated at all to you? david i think so, especially today and some of the things over christmas as well were clearly orchestrated well, even

if you go back to october when me rmt decided to have a special strike around the weekend of the conservative party conference , conservative party conference, you remember back , but i want to you remember back, but i want to pull you up on something you said and that excellent monologue of yours, you said, all workers know it wasn't all workers. this is almost entirely pubuc workers. this is almost entirely public sector workers who are , public sector workers who are, you know, maybe not the best paid , but actually get a paid, but actually get a reasonable pretty good salary above average guaranteed pay , above average guaranteed pay, proper pension arrangements which most of us in the private would just dream of . to be would just dream of. to be honest, sir, you know, this is . honest, sir, you know, this is. but of course many of them are on the left in the public sector and this has a feeling of a political to it more than a pay one. great to have . back on the one. great to have. back on the show. david maddocks will catch again soon. david maddox is , the again soon. david maddox is, the political editor of the express

online. now coming up as it's reported that brexit and eu negotiators are on the cusp of reaching agreement over the northern ireland protocol. we're joined by business secretary jacob rees—mogg mogg. plus, were the authorities wrong to put us all in masks as a shocking new study? suggests they did nothing kill surprise and why didn't keir starmer mention the strikes prime minister's questions. surely labour aren't afraid of the unions will be kelvin mackenzie about later but next up jacob rees—mogg. are we on the cusp of a brexit breakthrough breakthrough .

i didn't see. the keir starmer mentioned the striking at prime minister's questions today. we'll get to that shortly. this

is mark dolan with you at 8:00. all of this week. now it's the 1st of february and a new month starts with potentially some good news . the times newspaper good news. the times newspaper report that britain and the eu have struck a deal that could resolve the issue of northern ireland protocol, which places border down the irish sea . the border down the irish sea. the times understands that brussels accepted a proposal that avoid the need for routine checks products destined for the province . alongside this, the eu province. alongside this, the eu has a reportedly conceded for the first time that the european court of justice could rule on issues relating to the province only if a case was referred to by the northern irish. previously, brussels had insisted the european commission should be able take cases straight to the court . an straight to the court. an insider has said the eu moved a lot from its original position. this deal won't anyone. but the hopeisit this deal won't anyone. but the hope is it will satisfy enough . hope is it will satisfy enough. eu sources have down these claims and simply said it's not

true . well, there you go. does true. well, there you go. does this possible deal satisfy , one this possible deal satisfy, one of the most high profile brexiteers in country, the conservative mp , north—east conservative mp, north—east somerset and gb news, his very own jacob rees—mogg , head of own jacob rees—mogg, head of jacob. hello. good evening . is jacob. hello. good evening. is this potentially good news? is this potentially good news? is this is this a game changer or gold? oh the devil will be in the detail, as always. so you've got a headline saying they're close to an agreement, but what have they agreed? it's the have they agreed? and it's the european court , a symptom rather european court, a symptom rather the actuality , the problem. what the actuality, the problem. what it's about is does eu law apply northern ireland and if it does, is that acceptable to the unionist community, particularly as represented by the dup ? and as represented by the dup? and that's the dup's concern. they think that northern ireland democracy outside the european union should not have laws imposed upon it that are then ultimately , even if by a second ultimately, even if by a second degree ruled upon a court outside the united kingdom. and from what you read out, it

doesn't as if they've got there. if the dup doesn't support it, then powersharing won't come back. powersharing doesn't back. if powersharing doesn't back, then this deal doesn't really help indeed dup have really help. indeed the dup have their seven tests for the resolution . this issue . a source resolution. this issue. a source speaking to the times suggest that it could be fulfilled that the will accept this deal. do you think there's a chance they will? well, as i said it depends on the detail of what is in it. but the for the dup is eu law doesn't apply in northern ireland without . any democratic ireland without. any democratic oversight the people of northern ireland and that the united kingdom remains intact and that goods can go freely from gb to northern ireland that are not in any question of going a single market. yeah i personally think it'd be better to proceed the bill that is before the house of lords, which would provide a solution to this, would provide the green for all goods going into ireland from gb are not likely to be on to the republic.

yes although at the moment brussels don't seem to be willing to go that far. it looks like going into some of the detail, uk government have negotiated a system here. if it happens of green and red lines. so goods testing for northern ireland will be allowed good goods coming in, small matter will be allowed. routine checks. goods going for onward export to the republic would face customs formalities in northern irish ports. now that gets rid of the hated border down the irish sea doesn't it but routine checks on non—routine checks between that are going from great britain to northern ireland that won't go on to the republic is still an issue because if goods go from somerset to wiltshire, they don't get subject checks, do they? and is northern ireland fully of the united kingdom or isn't it? that the fundamental issue which the unionists will have to be satisfied by? how urgent is a resolution of this issue? i think very pressing

because the union, a constitutional union. but also an economic union. and it's crucial that the economy of northern ireland is not harmed by the northern ireland. and of course by possibly digging their heels on this brussels risk , heels on this brussels risk, restarting the troubles because there are great tensions in northern ireland within the unionist community about what's happening. well, that's very important that you this point because the protocol except that the good friday belfast agreement is superior to it and therefore anything that risks that means that the protocol be overridden and that is within the text of the protocol which was itself to be temporary. and that's why is a strong legal argument in favour in international law of passing the bill that is before parliament. notwithstanding the detail of this and you're right, the devil is in it, do you detect that the mood music is changing on both sides now ? you that sides now? do you feel that there is momentum behind a resolution ? well, it's resolution? well, it's encouraging that people are

having these discussions once, but as far as i'm aware , mr. but as far as i'm aware, mr. tusk, which is mandate from the european union to negotiate not being changed until that is changed, how can you come to a conclusion? so there may be positive signs , maybe a little positive signs, maybe a little glimmer of , positive signs, maybe a little glimmer of, optimism, but i wouldn't be running up the flags yet. staying on brexit. but in a gloomy economic outlook from the imf announced yesterday, lots of different factors . our exposure different factors. our exposure to gas prices. of course we've got inflation and lots of other issues but brexit came up. do you think that you know the challenges have economically are in any way related to it slightly less noticed in the imf figures that they actually upgraded the growth that they had expected for 2022. and they have got therefore costs for the uk economy wrong every single year since 2016 and all the ways

been too gloomy. so i wouldn't back imf forecasts. they're not really very valuable . does the really very valuable. does the uk economy face headwinds? yes, of course it does. interest rates are rising. there is a difficult global background, but 2021 and 2022 the uk economy grew faster in almost all other major economies . we were major economies. we were actually really rather strong growth fast in the us than germany and france much faster than japan . so i wouldn't be too than japan. so i wouldn't be too gloomy and i wouldn't take the imf forecasts as gospel . imf forecasts as gospel. therefore, are you more optimistic the year ahead economically for the country? there are some good signs that in inflation may be peaking and therefore the rate of rise of rates is likely to have peaked . rates is likely to have peaked. may, even by the end of the year begin to reverse the government's tax revenues are shooting up partly because of fiscal drag caused by the inflation. so there may be some flexibility within the treasury for the long hoped for tax cuts

as things could be beginning to perk up. and other countries economies are picking up a bit too. do you think , the too. do you think, the chancellor the prime chancellor and the prime minister move on tax cuts minister will move on tax cuts this year isn't difficult for them to because they set those all out so clearly as being in favour of higher taxation in the autumn statement. now i happen to think that we need to reduce both taxes on public expenditure. the state has got too big, but you do need to do both sides of it. so you were prime minister. you would be reducing taxes at this point? well, i certainly wouldn't be in favour. been in favour favour. i never been in favour of increase corporation tax. of the increase corporation tax. i've thought that was i've always thought that was a mistake. the that are in mistake. will the that are in place which of course are approaching highest level since the war, are they going to dent economic growth? could they provoke recession? well, taxation can always dents economic growth because broadly speaking , spend their own money speaking, spend their own money better than the government spendsit better than the government spends it for them. you have have some level of taxation to pay have some level of taxation to pay for the public services the

people want . so there's people want. so there's a balance to be found. but do i think the highest tax rate for 70 years is the right balance? no, i don't we need to get back to low rates of taxation within the economy. what's your message to the public strike to the public sector on strike today lecturers ? teachers, bus today lecturers? teachers, bus drivers , rail workers, many drivers, rail workers, many thousands of people have downed tools . would you say to them, tools. would you say to them, particularly those who are going to food banks , make ends meet to food banks, make ends meet and to survive? i would encourage them to get back to work. that the effect they are having, particularly teachers going strike on people who going on strike on people who earn less than they do serious, some people earning than some people earning less than teachers to give up teachers have had to give up a day's look after day's pay to look after children. this a very thing children. this is a very thing to be to be doing new. parents will be beginning for 2023. inflation has now come through the system whereas when the parents were first being discussed last year, we hadn't reached the peak of inflation. so it should be in this so i think it should be in this year's discussion around look at last year's discussion the answer needs to be found. did you support sunak's approach to

the industrial policy? at the moment and how he's approaching these strikes ? yes, i think he's these strikes? yes, i think he's doing the right thing. don't think possibly give in think he can possibly give in to these for increases, which these for pay increases, which would themselves would in and of themselves inflationary because they would lead more government lead to more government borrowing, which would be a fiscal that the state fiscal stimulus that the state can't rees—mogg can't afford. jacob rees—mogg can't afford. jacob rees—mogg can't wait for the new show i'm looking forward to say right, he said. perhaps your interview on you i'd you interview him? i'd be honoured. to. grilled honoured. i'd love to. grilled by rees—mogg. to say. by rees—mogg. i've got to say. you're a hero to many of our viewers and look forward to viewers and we look forward to the of appearing the show is of course appearing on screens imminently. my on your screens imminently. my thanks rees—mogg. to thanks to jacob rees—mogg. to come reaction walk out come more reaction walk out wednesday and the mess industrial action which has seen bus drivers teachers bus drivers drivers teachers almost everybody down tools in the public sector that is why was keir starmer so reluctant mention the strikes at pmqs i'll be asking fleet street legend kelvin mackenzie who's live in the studio but next what are the authorities to put us all in masks . a shocking new study

masks. a shocking new study suggest they did nothing . suggest they did nothing. there's a surprise. more on that next .

next welcome back to the show with you at eight. all of this week. tonight and tomorrow a wide ranging review into interventions used control nine covid 19 during the pandemic have found that masks in the community i quote probably makes little or no difference to the outcome of illnesses like covid 19 compared to not wearing masks this this review added that harms around the mask wearing were rarely measured and poorly reported. now this paper entitled the cochrane review is authored by a variety of

epidemiologists and evidence based scientists including . based scientists including. euana based scientists including. eliana perrone from the regional centre for epidemic ecology in italy, and mark jones at the institute for evidence based health care bond university in australia. the report was shared onune australia. the report was shared online earlier today by carl hennigan , the professor of hennigan, the professor of evidence based medicine at oxford university. well, let's head to australia and the spectators marshall, who's had a look at the detail. hi alex alex. good morning . great to alex. good morning. great to have you on. the show, alex. the masks work. i can't believe it . masks work. i can't believe it. isn't it amazing that it's taken these guys a year to know what we already knew at the beginning of the pandemic, which was all the studies prior to covid, said that mask wearing for influenza diseases do not make any difference at all because of the way infection transmits. and so now after the whole tyrannical

mask that we had here in australia, i'm not how bad it was in the uk, but they were pretty harsh here they were throwing elderly gentleman to the ground and causing heart attacks just from the way they were treating people in australia. well, it turns out that was completely rubbish that was all completely rubbish and unnecessary . and unnecessary unnecessary. indeed.so and unnecessary unnecessary. indeed. so we actually had a former sage scientist on the program , dr. colin jackson, program, dr. colin jackson, a few months ago, and he said that he just didn't think that medics understood the scale of how this this virus is, say, for example, that the virus particle is between 1005 thousand times smaller than one of the holes in a mask, especially those flimsy surgical masks that many been wearing. but interestingly, the masks became pulitzer , didn't masks became pulitzer, didn't they ? yes. well, look, we had they? yes. well, look, we had a saying here in australia that it was basically like erecting chicken wire to keep the mosquitoes because that was the equivalent of the mask

definition . and we have seen the definition. and we have seen the mask wearing very much a way of separating people . so if you separating people. so if you didn't wear a mask, you were tie by various institution chains and authorities as being a dissenter, as somebody was worth exclude and looking into. and it became. even now, we still have people who wear masks and we don't wear it. our politician is saying, well, you're a bad person and you'll killing people. that narrative people. and that narrative hasn't regardless of how hasn't stopped regardless of how much is done and even much research is done and even studies like the one that you're quoting today are , not making quoting today are, not making any dent in political narrative here in australia . indeed here in australia. indeed i mean, do you think we are stuck with masks for the foreseeable future do you think that just part of life now? well the japanese prime minister was his people to stop wearing masks because japanese take their health very seriously and the fear embedded their culture far more than anybody else is. and so they now have an issue trying to walk back. but with australia

pretty much we've stopped wearing masks. it's really the wearing masks. it's really the we call them the tail voters, the elderly women who are quite affluent, who also vote green for eco fascism. they like their and they never letting them go , and they never letting them go, as do the uni students. but there's definitely a political divide mask wearing that seems to have very little to do with health and a lot more do with political obedience . there you political obedience. there you go. well, look , to be fair to go. well, look, to be fair to governments , they were trying to governments, they were trying to save lives and stop hospitals being overwhelmed. so perhaps even a marginal contribution have been worth it if it prevented the spread slightly plus , many felt comfortable and plus, many felt comfortable and reassured at the height of the pandemic, when people wore masks. so many medics and scientists will argue that the masks did offer some protection and were worth it. well all about opinions, isn't it, alex novak djokovic, the tennis player , has won the australian player, has won the australian open a sweet victory. tell me why this was extraordinary novak djokovic, his win at. the

australian open was not in tiley about becoming the world's greatest tennis player. he treated appallingly. australia became a laughingstock on the world's stage. well, we evicted novak because of his bad character . our both liberal and character. our both liberal and labour politicians were worried that his presence australia could cause people to rebel against health orders. because how dare you have ? a how dare you have? a conversation about you know, the vaccines or mask as we talk about so we threw the world number one at our greatest australian open champion out and so when he came back here and won you might have noticed he collapsed into the crowd and openly because it was such a long road for him to fight our tyranny and thank goodness he was able to because he became somewhat of a figure for australians against the tyranny that we had a quick word on rather callous approach from the authorities to nuclear materials tell me more . i only found out

tell me more. i only found out this that we're actually being mocked in the world stage regarding this. when you sent me the link through basically we lost piece of radioactive material the size a coin in an enormous desert that looks like mars and is so radioactive. but i'm surprised wasn't glow at night. western australia because about a third of the world's uranium and all the and this was a caesium and the authorities were like this is a massive risk to public health. i want to the two people on the desert road in the middle of nowhere don't think so we found it. and the solution is to find people instead of the road, which is what caused to be lost in the first place, which tells you everything need to know everything you need to know about australia about how australia is so problems just fine that will that fix it . yeah i used to that will fix it. yeah i used to be most worried about spiders in the australian outback but now it's nuclear reactors that have got me awake at night. alex marshall , got me awake at night. alex marshall, brilliant to have you on the show. we'll see you in a week's time coming up, more reaction today'sindustria reaction to today's industria action walkout wednesday . say,

action walkout wednesday. say, why was sir keir starmer so reluctant to mention strikes at prime minister's questions ? prime minister's questions? surely he's not afraid of the unions . i'll surely he's not afraid of the unions. i'll be surely he's not afraid of the unions . i'll be discussing that unions. i'll be discussing that with fleet street legend kelvin mackenzie. kelvin's not happy about the strikes. find why after this .

it's mark dolan with you all this week at ets and if you're this, you're likely to be one of the millions affected walkout wednesday which is seen action by teachers civil , servants, bus by teachers civil, servants, bus drivers, lecturers and rail workers all therefore that the leader of the opposition seemed to have missed that topic. dufing to have missed that topic. during prime minister's questions instead he focussed on nadine zahawi. now clearly the government have a case to answer relation to nadhim zahawi and

his tax affairs, but you think that with hundreds of thousands of public sector workers all going on strike in one day that might have cropped up in the conversation. why is keir starmer so reluctant to talk about the strikes ? a man that about the strikes? a man that i suspect has the answer is former national newspaper entrepreneur and political commentator kelvin mackenzie. kelvin keir starmer strangely quiet the strikes today. well he's on a lose lose. he's funded by these by these people . they are causing pain to people. they are causing pain to and he doesn't want to be associated with the pain. he doesn't mind the money, by the way, from, you know, the rmt and aslef. but can i just make one point? they are not going to win. and the funny is, those union guys for the first time now know they're not going to win the railways. they can shut them down. actually, we all seem to get to work. we work from home. we do something. it's painful. we have to make adjustments to our lives. but we've been through covid had 2000 a day dying. i don't give a

about whether they rmt walk out forever in the day. me i'd i'd reverse the pain i'd lost. i'd lose these train companies down and i'd say when you want a job, come back and you're coming back under terms. the way that's happening now, they dripping the pain into us and think, actually, we're doing a turn because actually we're only going on strike for the odd day or so . but actually, do you know or so. but actually, do you know what we go out for a month or so. i wish they would. we are we. they can't win it . the we. they can't win it. the ambulance drivers can go on strike. and that doesn't seem to be a anymore. yeah. the teachers the teachers have a very good package. average earnings footy. in fact there was no oecd report this morning. right. they work the least hours ball luxembourg . across the developed world and the eu. right. and they get paid eight in the top quarter on

average 15 year primary school teacher , 45,000 a year. okay. teacher, 45,000 a year. okay. it's not a king's ransom or queen's. i totally buy that . but queen's. i totally buy that. but it's not bad when you throw in their pension schemes. you can work. you can. you can be ill for six months. you get paid. there's a whole load of things they're not going to. you're not to sacked until start to get sacked until they start killing basically. killing children, basically. that a job for life, that is it is a job for life, isn't it? yeah you, no matter how in efficient, stupid, poor teacher you cannot get teacher you are, you cannot get slung out. it's an amazing world. so the for me is that they get defeated . the problem they get defeated. the problem about all this is that i don't know why . rishi does not get the know why. rishi does not get the credit for it. and i think it's because he's too decent a guy. i think what you need, i'm right now is somebody to be as vile towards aslef . they are rmt towards aslef. they are rmt actually . and i say this a half actually. and i say this a half with even the nurses just push it to them, right? so a bit of trash talk. i would love that.

good idea. in fact . and then if good idea. in fact. and then if that fails, then that can become a gb news presenter. yeah let's hope they don't stoop that low . hope they don't stoop that low. the would argue that a the unions would argue that a lot of what they're fighting is conditions . they would argue conditions. they would argue that these industries, including teaching, are having trouble with recruiting and people are leaving not just about that. and then one other quick thing, which is the of a real terms pay cut. so, yes, they're being offered 5, but they're probably minus 15, 20% because of inflation. oh, i totally agree . inflation. oh, i totally agree. that's for everybody. it's do think in some way that being a pubuc think in some way that being a public worker is unique . you go public worker is unique. you go to anybody, any ordinary person working in a factory working for amazon, working for this. no, we can't carry matching inflation. otherwise, all that will happen. we'll have inflation forever. and the people who suffer worse with inflation are their members . so take the pain . get yourself . so take the pain. get yourself in good position to have a decent package this year. they won't do it . they want a battle

won't do it. they want a battle to the death should give it to them. interesting stuff . now them. interesting stuff. now let's talk about the wider issue of the economy. bad news from the imf yesterday, but as jacob pointed out on the show, the imf's modelling has been about as reliable as a nadhim zahawi tax return of late. it's got to be taken with a pinch of salt, hasn't it? so. so what do we think about about britain's economic prospects? do you think it's become a national talking this country down? certainly even i would say among conservatives, there is a feeling that actually things have not done well. and one of the issues for here is that our benefit system is so incredible that actually it it's nip and tuck about whether you should go and do 40 hours work and have to travel and actually, if you can get a train, have a travel or actually say, i tell you, i'll wait for the money to turn up from universal credit in my in my bank . and that's a shocker. my bank. and that's a shocker.

so i have just starting a little business. i want to hire people . it is impossible to anybody under the age of i actually you know what i am current hiring people who are over 70 at least one anyway and they have they have come from although aren't businesses based in weybridge in surrey by hiring out out of africa and people working home etc. and stuff like that. this is good. i'm very pleased to be hiring these people. they are energetic they want to do it. but what what has happened to our two or two other people? there's no point in the covid has the way people view life . has the way people view life. they say, you know, i'm a long time debt, but if you're 50 odd, you perfectly fit, you're able, you've got a brain on you. why is it that won't go? why are they? why it they won't go to work anymore? what is it about them? and i'll tell you why. if you're a teacher. the employer has paid 23 and a half % of your has paid 23 and a half% of your pension . you have paid. if your

pension. you have paid. if your commercial life, you get about 3 to 5, pay for it. so what are they doing? they get into their fifties. they retire. fantastic. and by the way, inflation proof, pensions for until until they die . so the biggest queue is on die. so the biggest queue is on is on cruise liners. die. so the biggest queue is on is on cruise liners . you can is on cruise liners. you can always recognise all the teachers that they're they're rather poorly dressed but they can afford the best ways. do you worry about the work culture in this country now? because i actually think it relates the pandemic, the messaging from the government furlough, is government of furlough, which is the government will pay 80% of your pay you to stay at your wages, pay you to stay at home. but that's changed the mindset in this country and the people now. you got people of now. you got a different attitude to work , as different attitude to work, as you've and in the end this you've said. and in the end this is the road to penury isn't it? i mean, we're going to i absolutely guarantee you, right . supposing labour get in by the land slide that being land slide that is being predicted right now, to be honest , i predicted right now, to be honest, i think it'll be closer than that. but may not be different from that at the end. at the end all that five at the end of all that five years of labour. right and even

bigger cheque benefits check all you skin on your skin . what's you skin on your skin. what's that on your right legs. you skin on your skin. what's that on your right legs . dropped that on your right legs. dropped off as a right. well, is this right? that. okay asia will right? all that. okay asia will eat our lunch . we will have no eat our lunch. we will have no markets will be kind of kind of a north korea, an economic wasteland . right. it's going to wasteland. right. it's going to be nightmare. and our problem is that we can't seem to get the young to believe that wealth is a great thing . i'm not saying a great thing. i'm not saying that they're all the same , but that they're all the same, but there are enough issues in the factory now that you're scared to say, i'm not quite sure how many hours can be done there. we're not sure about that. whereas in asia , they've just whereas in asia, they've just just working there their butts off. very clever . and it is a off. very clever. and it is a massive problem for our country. your paper, the sun backed tony blair in 97. do you think there's chance that starmer will have their support in a couple of years time? well the good thing about is he is not doing

it of any political view. he's doing it. how how will it what will enrich me right. mind you, without blair, of course , he did without blair, of course, he did quite well on the money, but not so on the wife, if you know what i mean. anyway that's available through my lawyers that so ? so through my lawyers that so? so i don't know. but i notice that because i don't feel like there are any keir starmer fans out there even on his own side. no one loves keir starmer. they right. so this is the issue the tories up to their neck in whatever's going on the browns the minute he gets it'll be his issue he will be without a shadow of a doubt the most disliked prime minister in 50 years. he will considered bumbling. he'll have no ideas . bumbling. he'll have no ideas. the thing will be a disaster. kelvin always a thrill to have you in the in the programme and good luck with the new project and all those over 70 that you've had quite right to the silver pound is worth fighting for. now we put out a poll earlier in the do you earlier in the show do you support the striking workers and

the results are in 78% say no . the results are in 78% say no. and my mathematics tell me that 22% say yes . they go. so the 22% say yes. they go. so the people have spoken and common sense has prevailed . thanks for sense has prevailed. thanks for your company tonight . we're back your company tonight. we're back tomorrow at eight. my last of the week. but next up, the always dan watson. hi, dan . and always dan watson. hi, dan. and though if i got the chance by tuesday . it's lady victoria tuesday. it's lady victoria harvey on the issue of prince andrew , catherine bird will sing andrew, catherine bird will sing britain's toughest head teacher on. you know what? and who has been invested are getting the migrant crisis in france he's going to be revealed in his really shocking findings live unmissable tv dan, thank you so much for that. dan live at nine. it's my last one of the week tomorrow at eight. thanks to my team today and to my brilliant guests, including calvin and most importantly thanks to you for your company. it's been a

busy show. we'll do it all again tomorrow at eight. next up, here's the weather. hello again. it's aidan mcgivern here from the office cloudy for most the met office cloudy for most of us over the next 24 hours. that cloud bringing some outbreaks rain places . but outbreaks of rain in places. but it also bring milder air. it will also bring milder air. its the air coming in around an area of high pressure west southwest. the winds . and of southwest. the winds. and of course, at this time of year, those winds relatively mild, helped by the that warm front helped by the that a warm front is crossing the uk. going to bnng is crossing the uk. going to bring milder spell. is crossing the uk. going to bring milder spell . also a lot bring a milder spell. also a lot of cloud and some of rain. the rain mainly focussed across parts of scotland. outbreaks rain and off through the rain on and off through the night. northern likewise night. northern ireland likewise a spells rain into northern a few spells rain into northern england times. one or two england at times. one or two spots couldn't out for spots couldn't be ruled out for welsh but elsewhere, welsh mountains. but elsewhere, across largely dry, across wales, largely dry, albeit relatively cloudy and for the vast majority it is frost free, chillier conditions , the free, chillier conditions, the far north—east ahead of the that rain does push northeast as we start of thursday . wet weather start of thursday. wet weather arriving into shetland and orkney but it's persisting across the west highlands in the

northwest in particular will see some very weather over the next 36 hours. elsewhere across the generally cloudy a few spots of rain across western hills coasts, but otherwise mostly dry and mild this west, southwest the wind bringing temperatures of 10 to 13 celsius, widely up and down the country. but it does stay wet across scotland, especially later thursday. overnight the rain turns more showery in some clearer conditions into the far north. it'll be a few outbreaks of rain pushing into western parts of england, wales northern ireland, another cloudy night across the board and as a result, frost free. we start off friday in fact it's right ready quite mild first thing friday 9 to 10 celsius in places but it's also grey and lowest cloud will be over northern and western hills with further outbreaks of rain crossing scotland not as happy or as persistent on friday and into the weekend spell of rain for the north. but eventually that clears to sunny skies,

albeit with chillier conditions for .

sunday no spin, no bias, no censorship . i'm dan wootton. tonight, it's work shy wednesday as the country is shut down and more than half of schools are closed because of strikes. in my latest digest rail against the selfish and irresponsible unions treating children's precious education, a political football and i'll get the thoughts of my superstar panel. joining me tonight, dawn neesom adam brooks and ashley james. then there's one better place to give us a lesson on the devastating effect walkouts will have on students already scarred by lockdown versus the strictest headteacher . birchall will joins me live the studio for an exclusive

interview