hello, you're watching , hello, you're watching, listening to andrew pierce here on tv news with you until 2:00. here's what's up. in the first houn here's what's up. in the first hour, we've dodged a recession, but only just chance that jeremy hadnt but only just chance that jeremy hadn't been out and about today he says we're not out of the woods and rishi sunak will woods yet. and rishi sunak will privately be thinking it's put liz truss back in a box. but is it as good as it sounds? i'm talking economist turkey talking to top economist turkey in syria's deadly earthquake that devastation and that left devastation and desperation an equal measure.

the death toll now rising above 21,000. we'll be getting the latest . that and the search for latest. that and the search for missing mum nicola bailey. now the police say a new red van lead as the family launch a appeal for information . our appeal for information. our reporter is there. we'll speak to and isis bride shamima she's back sadly and seems to be launching a celebrity style campaign to be allowed to come back to britain. we'll debate whether she should be allowed with conservative commentator emma web and amnesty international joining me for the next hour will be the commentator and broadcaster bushra shrike. and remember that you at home are important part of the show so email me at gb views gbnews.uk. that's views at gbnews.uk. that's what's coming up in this hour. but first, the latest news . good but first, the latest news. good afternoon. it'sjust but first, the latest news. good afternoon. it's just 12:00. your top stories from the gb newsroom. rescue workers say the 72 hour golden period for

finding survivors is close following monday's earthquakes in turkey and northern syria. the number of dead has now risen to over 21,000. a very heavy metal bouncing up and down the country's the amongst the devastation and glimmers of hope. four days on a ten day old baby has been rescued along with his mother. the pair spent than 90 hours under the rubble before being freed . the world health being freed. the world health organisation . the death toll is organisation. the death toll is expected to rise. still with so many left without shelter from freezing conditions, journalist amitai zango describes the situation as desperate . people situation as desperate. people are sleeping outside the tents . are sleeping outside the tents. there are some couple of tent cities already . there is no cities already. there is no electricity right now in haiti . electricity right now in haiti. there is no water in. people suffer suffering with hunger .

suffer suffering with hunger. seriously, they are asking us bread and . water syrian bread and. water syrian president bashar has visited a hospital in aleppo in his first report visit to the affected region. at least 3000 people are known to have died in the country following the disaster. 48 trucks have arrived in northern syria from turkey as charities warn they're running out of supplies . back here , out of supplies. back here, chancellor has warned the uk isn't out of the woods yet itself . the latest figures show itself. the latest figures show the economy narrowly avoided falling into recession in the final quarter of last year. the data the office for national statistics reveals the economy saw zero growth between october and december, the final month , and december, the final month, 2022. so gdp . down by 0.5. but 2022. so gdp. down by 0.5. but overall the annual gdp rate grew 4.1. labour has called for urgent measures to be brought

forward to help families with the cost of living crisis. the welcomed the figures, but warns there's still more to be done . there's still more to be done. the fact that we have voided recession in fact with the fastest growing major country last year shows there is underlying resilience in the uk economy. but we are not out of the woods. inflation is still much too high. that is causing pain for families up and down the country, which is we need to stick to our plan to inflation if we do that and play to our strengths, science and technology , we really can be one technology, we really can be one of the most prosperous countries in europe. meanwhile the chancellor is also said today that there's no major new initiative to help those struggling with energy bills. from april, when the energy price guarantee rises , bills for price guarantee rises, bills for a typical household are set to increase from two and a half thousand pounds to 3000. the government's under pressure to offer additional for people to cope with soaring costs. it comes as the government says all

energy companies will now follow rules preventing them from forcefully installing pre—payment metres into homes. ambulance service workers in england are striking today in a long running dispute over pay , long running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. around 50,000 staff are taking part in the walkout with unison members publishing another 10,000 over the coming weeks. publishing another 10,000 over the coming weeks . the government the coming weeks. the government says constructive talks are being held for union's accused it of sitting it out and not negotiating . university negotiating. university employees are also . strike for employees are also. strike for the second day this week as they continue their 48 hour walkout. with more 70,000 staff at 150 universities taking action . universities taking action. friends of nicola bullying have gathered for a second roadside appeal to mark two weeks since her disappearance . lancashire her disappearance. lancashire police says search for missing the missing mother of two has moved towards the coast . the

moved towards the coast. the force says it's now searching further downstream where the river wyre becomes tidal . river wyre becomes tidal. ukraine's prime minister says russia has launched more than 50 missiles at the country today . missiles at the country today. the capital's mayor, the tiny klitschko, says ten of those have been shot down over kyiv. the attacks caused damage to . the attacks caused damage to. power grids at six locations, but there are no confirmed casualties. schools have been forced to evacuate and continue with classes as an underground station. it comes as ukraine's president volodymyr zelenskyy is touring europe as he aims to ramp military aid for the torn country . and ukraine's president country. and ukraine's president will be addressing a uk led summit today as well to discuss russia's participate in next year's olympics in paris. it follows warnings his country could boycott the games over . could boycott the games over. the issue. the international olympic committee . it will olympic committee. it will explore a pathway for athletes

from russia and belarus to compete as neutrals . the move compete as neutrals. the move has been criticised following the invasion of ukraine. maslansky is expected to urge summit of 30 nations to consider how to respond . this is to bring how to respond. this is to bring you more as it happens now it's back to andrew pierce . back to andrew pierce. andrew pierce here with you on gb news where the uk economy is flat economy flatlined in the last quarter of 2022, helping to avoid a recession by the tiniest of margins. the chancellor has been out and about welcoming the fact this is what he had to say. well, the fact that we have avoided recession, in fact, the fastest growing major country last year shows there is underlying resilience in the uk economy . but we are not out of

economy. but we are not out of the woods. inflation is still much too high. that is pain for families and down the country which is why we need to stick to our plan to halve inflation. if we do that and play to our strengths in science and technology we really can be one of the most prosperous countries in, europe. well, that's the challenge to jeremy hunt, joining me in the studio the next hour. i'm delighted, says butcher shake is commentator and former contestant on, bbc apprentice and the macro economist phillip pilkington. apprentice and the macro econ in|ist phillip pilkington. apprentice and the macro econ in itt phillip pilkington. apprentice and the macro econ in it untillip pilkington. apprentice and the macro econ in it until we pilkington. apprentice and the macro econ in it until we manage n. apprentice and the macro econ in it until we manage to he's in it until we manage to avoid recession by the smallest of margins . yeah, that's right. of margins. yeah, that's right. and it's not even clear yet. i mean, these numbers are monthly numbers. they come out and they're often revised. so they may be revised in march, but even if they're not. it's a flat economy. the economy hasn't grown any larger than it was pre—pandemic. grown any larger than it was pre—pandemic . so it really looks pre—pandemic. so it really looks like we're in a in a pretty stagnant environment. front page of my newspaper today, the daily mail, it when would they get get it on tax because we see astrazeneca has announced they're to invest

astrazeneca has announced they're going to inves astrazeneca has announced they're goinin:o inves astrazeneca has announced they're goinin the ves astrazeneca has announced they're goinin the uk as they million not in the uk as they intended in ireland intended to, but in ireland because ireland's got lower taxes.i because ireland's got lower taxes. i mean lowering the tax rate could certainly help at rate could certainly help but at the of the government's the moment of the government's kind of in austerity mode. interest are going up, interest rates are going up, they're trying to rein in spending. and so on to try and control inflation. quite control inflation. so it's quite difficult. i when they did lower taxes with less trust, you got a very negative market reaction . very negative market reaction. maybe different of maybe there's a different way of doing of doing a better way of communicating it. i agree with you. it probably help in you. it probably would help in investment, but it's a tough situation. bush i the chancellor, when he running for the tory leadership, jeremy hunt, said he cut corporation tax from 19% to buy five or 6. he's to confirm in the budget in march the corporation tax is going to rise by 6% to 25, that's going to drive even more. companies like astrazeneca to invest elsewhere. rather than the uk, surely? yeah, correct . i the uk, surely? yeah, correct. i mean, honestly, you know, to me about what they actually said they were going to dave is what they're going to do now looks they're going to do now it looks totally me.

totally different for me. i mean, ultimately me, the mean, ultimately for me, the main is, is that are main concern is, is that are they just trying to make people be hopeful about something? you know, honest about know, we've to be honest about this we still this entire situation. we still have of living have the cost of living crisis is very, present here . if is very, very present here. if companies and companies are going to go and invest elsewhere, that invest elsewhere, what's that going actually for the going to actually do for the economy? spectrum is economy? a wider spectrum is thatis economy? a wider spectrum is that is that going to drive the inflation down? it's just going to people going to to mean that people are going to struggle actually the struggle because actually at the core it, talking about core of it, we're talking about public. people really public. how are people really living struggling pay your living struggling to pay your bills, having food? bills, not having enough food? we standard of living we know that standard of living for away. for people is slipping away. we know this is the worst time for people ever. for so me, it's all about how was the economy going to benefit the regular to suit and benefit the regular person. and what i've corporation tax for labour say, oh, that's a tax which just benefit not rich corporations but small companies, small shops if they own over £50,000 a year, have about every $50 if they pay corporation tax. no, that's right. i mean, i, i totally agree with the other i mean, lowering corporation tax will help inward investment . it will

help inward investment. it will help inward investment. it will help businesses get back on track. i don't see immediate inflationary issues with lowering the tax rate. the issue is that the government under let's got a very negative signal from the bond markets about further and if you lower corporation tax rates without cutting spending or without raising other tax rates you may get a similar negative signal. again, i'll say there may be a way of doing it and massaging it in such a way to get it done. but i think that's why the government will be nervous just on own in recession we've on your own in recession we've avoided the recession, just as you point figures often get revised may be revised and we may actually be in but it's just in recession, but it's just a technical isn't because, technical phrase, isn't because, as says, the economy will as bush says, the economy will lift. in the thick lift. we're still in the thick of of living of the worst of living crisis for 40 years. no, really. for 40 odd years. no, really. i mean, it really is, you know, looking over this technical or technical issue, i mean , they're technical issue, i mean, they're looking at two quarters of negative growth to call a recession. i think really we'll see a recession. and if layoffs start, i think that's real. the real signal and where i'd actually watch that happening is

the construction sector . the construction sector. mortgage demand has been falling since the summer. so if house pnces since the summer. so if house prices , there's a lot of prices, there's a lot of concerns in markets right now that might see that further that we might see that further deteriorate this year. and if that happened and construction sector starts laying off workers , i think that's when we could actually have a recession. do you see any any green you see any any, any green shoots, use a phrase by a shoots, to use a phrase by a famous chance of green shoots of recovery do see any positive recovery do you see any positive signs before there are positive signs? but they're very signs? but there they're very they small. right now. they are so small. right now. and question i actually and the question that i actually was was that even was thinking about was that even let's say that they are going to, have another reading. to, again, have another reading. and we are going to and technically we are going to be in a in a recession right now. know are now. we know these are just technicalities. yeah the uk economy in comparison to other we're far behind . and for we're far behind. and for example , if we are 10% behind example, if we are 10% behind we're still going to play catch up. so whatever we're going to do in the next year or so we are always going to be behind economies that perhaps had a better plan . the lockdowns and better plan. the lockdowns and

dunng better plan. the lockdowns and during covid finances than the budgets coming up in march. what is the one thing you would do to try and kickstart this sluggish economy? i don't think lowering corporation taxes is a bad plan . i think that could be actually a way for it . i . i think that could be actually a way for it. i think they should be very on energy costs. i think there's a lot of sense that prices have come down. my bill is still pretty high . bill is still pretty high. there's talk about getting rid of the energy price guarantee or at least phasing it out. i think that's to prove very difficult. it's also very expensive. but as i've said, i'm in the government really is boxed in on this. the markets are sort of calling the shots here at the moment. market so running the country kind of looks that one. thank you, liz truss that back and truss for that back and unrepentant this of course unrepentant this week of course wasn't didn't say yeah wasn't she i didn't say yeah 4000 good article. did you read it. no. did no. no it. no no. did you. no. no i read it and the word i would use to describe her is some deluded now. philip, thank you for joining a tax credit. pilkington

macroeconomics now more strikes, of course ambience . workers are of course ambience. workers are staging strikes across england the union strike today involves armaments workers across five ships in england and in yorkshire that london the west north—east and the north—west. joining me now from london, waterloo, hampton station hq , waterloo, hampton station hq, our reporter rae addison rae . our reporter rae addison rae. what's the latest from there ? what's the latest from there? yes, hello there, andrew. yes around 5000 ambulance workers work out of stations in london. now, we don't know how many are on strike today, although we do fear it could be a considerable number. of course, the nhs advising people to only call 999 for an ambulance in a life threatening situation . speaking threatening situation. speaking to workers here, they're telling me that it's not just a dispute about pay. patient safety is key as well. now, of course , in as well. now, of course, in terms of patient safety , are terms of patient safety, are telling me stories of how they've been waiting to offload one patient at a hospital and queues are so long, the other

calls are in, they don't have time to . they're not unable to time to. they're not unable to respond to them because they haven't off the first haven't dropped off the first patient. patients then patient. and those patients then in cases are sadly dying. in some cases are sadly dying. and that's very demoralising. it's leading some people to leave the service. of course, in terms of pay as well. some the ambulance workers i've spoken to today are saying that they're being forced use foodbanks as being forced to use foodbanks as well, is again leading to well, which is again leading to people leaving service. now, sarah gorton is unison as head of head of safety and she joins me now. sarah, thanks very much for joining me. it's not me now. sarah, thanks very much for joining me . it's not just forjoining me. it's not just about pay. it's about patient safety. this dispute is about pay safety. this dispute is about pay and. it's about staffing. so around this time last year, we asked the health minister, the secretary of state at the time and the prime minister to work with health unions, to put together an urgent retention package just to stop people leaving jobs in the nhs because we know we've got over a hundred thousand vacancies. that means every single of people working in jobs in the ambulance service

, but working in jobs across , , but working in jobs across, the health service is short of staff and that situation isn't going to change unless the nhs can yes, attract more people in, but primarily stop people leaving for better paid and less stressful work elsewhere. now back in september, are your members had a pay rise imposed them of 4% which is just over £1,000, around them of 4% which is just over £1,000, aroun d £1,400. the £1,000, around £1,400. the average worker, many of our viewers think that's that's quite nice that quite like a 4% pay quite nice that quite like a 4% pay rise. why is that not enough? well, the 1400 pound flat rate increase that was imposed after the pay review body process last year not only didn't go very long way to meet the cost of living, most health were experiencing. it was significantly below what was happening across the rest of the economy. so below and private sector pay rises and most importantly, other organisations

you're seeing in retail, hospitality . people have been hospitality. people have been offering two or three pay rises in some throughout the year in order to help their workers through the cost of living crisis and to hang on to them. but most significantly, it's not been enough to. stop people leaving those jobs in. the nhs. so pay is a is a it's. it's a lever that you use in order to give health organisations the chance to hang on to get people and it simply isn't isn't enough to be able to do that . what's to be able to do that. what's the morale like of your members at the moment? so the morale like of your members at the moment ? so after seeing at the moment? so after seeing historic figures in december for the longest waits on record, the longest call response times , the longest call response times, the longest call response times, the longest that people have to wait in pain for an ambulance . people in pain for an ambulance. people are. that's why people are on picket lines because they feel that they have to stand up not only themselves and their families but they have to stand up for the services and the

patients that use them. know they're going home every day, knowing that unnecessary harm is happening because of the state of staffing in the nhs . what do of staffing in the nhs. what do you want to hear from the government? haven't talked for a few weeks now . when are talks few weeks now. when are talks going to continue ? so we've had going to continue? so we've had no proper formal talks at at all about pay and that's what's so , about pay and that's what's so, you know, so difficult members of the public to understand. i why if they are number one priority the getting the health service back on track if the pubuc service back on track if the public are saying that and the prime minister is making it one of his priorities for the year, why are they not not doing more to resolve this as far as we can see, the strategy from the government just to sit back and wait for this to play out so . wait for this to play out so. this could be months. what we want to hear from the government is they care enough about the health service , that they care health service, that they care enough about public to talk to us, to find a way through this, to offer us meaningful talks. and we will gladly postpone the

strikes explore ways to resolve the dispute. gorton unison, head of health. thank you very much for joining us. really appreciate forjoining us. really appreciate it. well, obviously, for londoners today, it will be a concerning time for people around the rest of the country as well. areas five ambulance services taking industrial action today. their workers and of course the nhs urging people to only call 999 if it's a life threatening situation . all threatening situation. all right. that's our reporter at the waterloo ambulance depot . i the waterloo ambulance depot. i hate to say this . well, i don't hate to say this. well, i don't hate to say this. well, i don't hate you. i'm going to say it. i think the public have got to a point where it's almost strike fatigue. this has going on for so long. the other day nhs was it was the biggest strike in nhs history and noticed in most of the news bulletins it was the major news bulletins it was about fifth item. about the fourth or fifth item. yeah, yeah. i mean, i think people get exhausted. yeah. this is a long time. is happening for a long time. it's continuous. you know, it's so continuous. you know, the impact had initially the impact that it had initially is the same effect on is not having the same effect on people. because regular people. why because regular people. why because regular people work. it's people do need get to work. it's so disruptive as well. i

understand why the strikes initially happened. i get that and i get that. people are struggling their struggling with the way their lives look. got inflation lives look. we've got inflation all these things combined. i all of these things combined. i get i do question get that. but also i do question if you are to essentially if you are going to essentially get pay if you are going to essentially get pay rise at point and get a pay rise at some point and then economy tends to then the economy tends to balance out, are you balance itself out, are you going to also give back that money and say, well, i don't need this extra anymore, need this extra money anymore, so to look at it so you've got to look at it from, both sides. not from, both sides. it's not always just wanting more. always just about wanting more. and course, the pushing and of course, the pushing these double right rises. double digit, right pay rises. and inflation is almost and we know inflation is almost certainly going be down to certainly going to be down to four by the end the four or 5% by the end of the yeah four or 5% by the end of the year. so when would take ten or 11% rise when the 11% of 12% pay rise when the nurses to i know you nurses are up to 19. i know you is bizarre and i'm not want to here and say don't strike, you know, don't ask for more money. i'm not individual. what i do know is we need to come up know is that we need to come up with a solution a cohesive solution going to work solution that is going to work because cannot strikes because we cannot strikes like this happening honestly this happening again. honestly am of it as well. am getting bored of it as well. you true. well and you know, it's true. well and i say power to government. so say power to the government. so by bringing forward this legislation to ensure a minimum

level cover in places like level of cover in places like italy and, the ambience and the nhs , of course we've got nhs, of course we've got ambulances, we've got nurses , ambulances, we've got nurses, these are like crucial, critical services that we need for people . and if we keep having strikes like this , yeah, what's going like this, yeah, what's it going to to labour of course to be able to labour of course because they're opposing this strike bush strike legislation. bush she's with 1:00 coming with me here until 1:00 coming up about the short break. we're going to getting the latest from turkey search and rescue turkey as the search and rescue operation continues. death operation continues. the death toll now has reached 21,000, but now we're going to go. we've got have a short break on gb news. we'll be keeping you in the picture, finding out what's happening across the country and finding out why it matters to you . we'll have the facts fast you. we'll have the facts fast with team of reporters and with our team of reporters and specialist correspondents. wherever it's happening, we'll be there 12 on tv, radio be there in 12 noon on tv, radio and online. gb news people's channel. britain's news.

channel tomorrow at pm. tune in to a gb news investigates documentary as we tell the full story of the grooming gangs. nitrile gloves are being stolen . we will expose are being stolen. we will expose the cover ups that have kept this national scandal under wraps for decades . not one wraps for decades. not one person is being held accountable or our estimation uncovers the true scale of this outrage. i want to see senior officials held legally to account on gb news grooming gangs. britain's shane. well, it's now estimated that more than 21,000 people have died after those three earthquakes in turkey. in syria earlier week. aid workers in northern syria are desperate for more aid . meanwhile, six lorries more aid. meanwhile, six lorries carrying une have crossed the border into northern. thousands of people are still trapped in rubble across the two countries

and there is still being rescued after 90 hours of being stuck . after 90 hours of being stuck. let's speak now to sam hewitt from the international disaster relief charity shelterbox . this relief charity shelterbox. this is turning into one of the worst disasters modern times . indeed disasters modern times. indeed i've been working as an aid worker for ten years and this is the biggest if not one of the biggest. i've been involved in. and this is also on top of an ongoing a very long conflict. this has been ongoing in syria. and some that's part of the problem as well, getting to syria, because the country the government there isn't recognised by so many western countries. is that hampering the aid going into syria. that is one issue. the other issue is the fact that the earthquakes have damaged so much of the infrastructure . so, for example, infrastructure. so, for example, infrastructure. so, for example, in southern turkey, one of the airports there, the runway has actually been split into . i've actually been split into. i've seen pictures of railways which have been bent into a 90 degree

angle . your, you know, your angle. your, you know, your charity providing essential household items, such as tarpaulins, stoves, clothes, solar lights. have you managed to get much in already at the moment? we have a team in turkey who are coordinating with the local authorities who we're trying to understand, which, of course , of aid options we have course, of aid options we have is most appropriate for the people who've been displaced. we're also in coordination with syrian organisations in northern to do the same and out how we can best help people who've been displaced by this , by these displaced by this, by these earthquakes when disasters like this happen sound the british pubuc this happen sound the british public normally rally to the cause. and i know in most newspapers this week there have been full page advertisements aid charities appealing for support. have you seen a of aid money coming in. we starting to see aid money coming in and shelterbox has launched an appeal like many others to

enable us to scale up our response to . that some aid is response to. that some aid is getting onto the ground. but this is going this is a very big disaster. this is going to be going on for so many weeks or months and these people are going to need all the help they can get. what else can the pubuc can get. what else can the public do ? i think the best public do? i think the best thing to do is look for reputable. reputable charities such as shelterbox. we have people and contacts on the ground and on the ground, we've got the expertise to understand how how to best use the resources we've got. but before we, the public, always rally round these things. the british are pretty good at that. do you think we as a country, are we doing enough ? the government, of doing enough? the government, of course, has cut the international aid budget. something i support actually . something i support actually. but crisis like this? but when is a crisis like this? the money is normally provided. yeah.i the money is normally provided. yeah. i mean , you know what? yeah. i mean, you know what? there are two sizes at the moment. we know what we're heanng moment. we know what we're hearing syria. we're hearing about syria. we're talking we're talking about muslim. we're talking about muslim. we're talking said , talking about, like you said,

government country, syria, government in a country, syria, which know, people are which you know, people are always questioning, feel always questioning, i feel like we can more as a community. we can do more as a community. i feel like we're doing enough. and i've been speaking to a few people as well. and there is this like apprehension of the wider to give and simply because they to give to they don't want to give to people just because of news, just because of like different political issues that are happening at the moment. and i sincerely just want people to, if they've any of those if they've got any of those apprehensions, aside. apprehensions, put them aside. this humanity is about this is about humanity is about people. is how different people. this is how different people. this is how different people have died at the moment. it's 21,000. we know it's going to be in excess of that at some point. i certain have been shocked it has left shocked by this and it has left me the last hours. i'll be me the last 40 hours. i'll be honest with you. think is honest with you. i think it is worst thing happen to turkey worst thing to happen to turkey in that's in syria sound. that's interesting. she's saying interesting. let's she's saying how shocked she is seeing these images i guess also because images and i guess also because it's well of it's turkey as well lots of people turkey they go there people know turkey they go there on turkey. on holiday. they love turkey. they've to know they've got they've got to know in sense , it brings crisis in a sense, it brings the crisis closer yes, it really closer to home. yes, it really does. and just going back to

bush's point there about the humanity of it in northern syria, 75% of the people who need humanity , foreign need humanity, foreign assistance are women. and children , 75% women. and children, 75% women. and children. how difficult is that diplomatic , though, that diplomatic, though, that governments have to walk, which syria, which we know has been the scene of one of the most appalling civil wars , as in appalling civil wars, as in humanitarian organisation focus is trying to get as much aid the right kind of aid to the right people as best we can . mentioned people as best we can. mentioned the death toll. it's 21,000. i read a report the other day i that if you've got any evidence for saying it could go as high as 50,000. i don't know whether you'll reach that . but one of you'll reach that. but one of the things we're really concerned about is that although the earthquakes have happened now , so many people are exposed now, so many people are exposed to the elements , really cold to the elements, really cold there. it's snowing , subzero

there. it's snowing, subzero temperatures and without shelter, without electricity , shelter, without electricity, without water, more people will die . all right, sam. well, it's die. all right, sam. well, it's grim, but thank you for the work your charity's doing that sam hewitt, who's from the disaster relief charity, making the point , getting very cold out there, too, to make it even worse. now, coming up, after your news update, we'll have the latest on. disappearance of on. the disappearance of nicole actually has actually as a new lead has emerged . it's now 1230 and i'm emerged. it's now 1230 and i'm in the . gb newsroom. good in the. gb newsroom. good afternoon . just gone 1230. i'm afternoon. just gone 1230. i'm rhiannon jones in the gb newsroom the president of turkey, erdogan has admitted the earthquake response from official lines isn't as fast as he wanted it to be, but that authority will pay for the rents of people who don't want to stay in tents . it says rescue , say

in tents. it says rescue, say the golden period . finding the golden period. finding survivors is now closing following monday's earthquakes in southern turkey and northern syria. the death toll has now risen to more 21,900 amongst the devastated nation, though, glimmers of for hope days on a ten day old baby has been rescued, along with his mother. the pair spent more than 90 hours under the rubble before being freed in the uk. hours under the rubble before being freed in the uk . appeal by being freed in the uk. appeal by the disasters emergency has now raised more than the disasters emergency has now raised more tha n £30 million in raised more than £30 million in its first 24 hours, following donations from . figures, donations from. figures, including the king, queen consort . syrian president bashar consort. syrian president bashar al—assad has visited a hospital in aleppo in his first reported visit to the affected region . at visit to the affected region. at least 3000 people are known to have died in the country following the disaster . 14 have died in the country following the disaster. 14 aid trucks have arrived in northern syria from turkey as charities

warn they're running out of suppues. warn they're running out of supplies . and back here, the supplies. and back here, the chancellor has warned the uk isn't out of the woods yet after the latest figures show the economy narrowly avoided falling into recession in the final quarter of last year. the data the office for national statistics reveals economy saw zero growth between october and december . the zero growth between october and december. the final months of 2022 saw gdp down by 0.5. but overall, the annual gdp rate grew by 4.1. the chancellor's welcome the figures but warns there's still more to be done. well, the fact that have avoided recession, in fact , we're the recession, in fact, we're the fastest growing major country last year shows there is underlying resilience in uk economy , but we are not out of economy, but we are not out of the woods. inflation still much too high that is causing pain for families and down the country, which is why we need to stick to our plan. halve inflation if we do that and play to our strengths in science and technology . we really can be one

technology. we really can be one of the most prosperous countries. europe today online on the 80 plus radio. this is gb news. don't go anywhere. and we'll be back in just about.

what, two weeks on in the police are still searching for missing mother of two nick reported the police are reportedly searching for they call a tatty red for what they call a tatty red believed to be, which was parked outside a barn close to where she went missing two weeks ago. joining live from lancashire now is our reporter sophie. sophie what is the latest . well, it's what is the latest. well, it's been two weeks now since mother of two nicola bulli, went missing while she was walking her dog willow at a beauty spot here in st michael's wye. and now this morning, nicola's friends have gathered on

garstang road, which is where i am stood in order to try and jog the memory of people driving past, who may have also been driving past on the morning that nicola went missing . now, police nicola went missing. now, police say that the only exit from the area where nicola was last seen to not have cctv is here on the walkway that you may just able to see over my left shoulder. so in order to negate theory that nicola may have exited that way. police have been appealing to some 700 drivers who they believe drove past that morning. now there's also a dispersal order currently here in st michael's on wyre , which gives michael's on wyre, which gives police the power to against anyone acting socially. people like members of the public who've been travelling all the way to st michael's on wyre to try and solve this mystery of where nicola may have gone . now where nicola may have gone. now as we come into the weekend, the police's search continues. we know they're going to be called

shard bridge in the next 30 minutes or so. continuing their search. that's about seven miles away from st michael's . on why away from st michael's. on why they're continuing their search of the river in the desperate hope that they can give some answers to nicola's friends and family. all right . that's answers to nicola's friends and family. all right. that's sophie reaper with the latest push . reaper with the latest push. stay with me. you'll remember this is horrific. two young daughters desperate to know whether mummy's gone. heartbreaking heartbreaking. i can't even begin to imagine what the family's going through, what their children going through. you a parent i'm you know, just as a parent i'm just to myself , hey, just thinking to myself, hey, how can this happen ? all the how can this happen? all the unanswered questions have not found her. so many going on. i honestly , this is an absolute honestly, this is an absolute nightmare come true and for the family as well, because of the horrors on social media, these social media bullies posting all sorts of speculation about the family , adding almost to the family, adding almost to the misery. i mean, i wish wouldn't read it, but but people do. yeah.i read it, but but people do. yeah. i mean, unfortunately, that's that's part and parcel of it all. you're going to get that are totally supportive of it.

they're going to try and help. they're going to try and help. they want help and they're they want to help and they're going other side to going to get the other side to do just make an absolute do that. just make an absolute mockery this situation. but mockery of this situation. but it's heartbreaking and just to think there were all these think that there were all these questions, i mean, of us are questions, i mean, all of us are believe even believe the uk and even globally, the has gone globally, if the story has gone this everybody is just this far, everybody is just wishing the best wishing and hoping for the best because inexplicable because it's just inexplicable that just disappear. that a mum can just disappear. broad daylight. oh, how. how can you explain that? i certainly believe she has been taken . believe she has been taken. she's been kidnapped. she's been abducted . all the signs point to abducted. all the signs point to that. well, let's hope the police find her and we wish that family all the very best now. big story. you know who she is? the former isis bride, shamima baig. the baig. and she's been in the headunes baig. and she's been in the headlines after bbc headlines again after a bbc documentary about life was aired this week. she was when she this week. she was 50 when she left uk to join islamic left the uk to join the islamic state. she's refugee at a camp state. she's a refugee at a camp in northern syria. she's been stripped a british stripped of a british citizenship on national security grounds. challenging that grounds. she's challenging that decision. should she be decision. but should she be allowed to return to the uk to argue her case? joining me now discuss this is the political

commentator webb, i'm commentator emma webb, and i'm joined by refugee and asylum right director international steve simmons. and let's steve valdes simmons. and let's start with you. i know lots of people have said going to cancel their bbc licence fee in protest at the 90 minute documentary , at the 90 minute documentary, which also followed i think it was a ten part podcast about this woman . the reason why this woman. the reason why people are angry at what the bbc donein people are angry at what the bbc done in choosing to frame this podcast, series and documentary way they have. and also similarly towards times magazine for basically a figure into a coveris for basically a figure into a cover is that there are victims of islamic state yazidi people who were the victims of the state that shamima begum chose to go and be a part of. she chose to go and be part of that state building enterprise and being presented here a victim. we're being asked to sympathise with her and it seems to be as if it's part of some kind of pr campaign to make the public softer to the prospect of her coming back here, despite the fact that although we don't have

all the information, we know that the and home secretary that the and the home secretary , particularly sajid javid, believes that sufficient evidence to suggest that she pose a security risk to us here. so think the public feel as if so i think the public feel as if they are being asked to sympathise with somebody who isn't victim and to put isn't the victim and to put themselves in situation that themselves in a situation that would frankly be dangerous . would frankly be dangerous. steve felt, as soon as you . how steve felt, as soon as you. how do you argue against that? if the if the if the government security adviser say she is potentially a security risk, how can we possibly let her back in the country because she's british? we all know that she was born here, a british citizen, grew up here . learn to citizen, grew up here. learn to syria from here . indeed, by it syria from here. indeed, by it seems , an agent of ally of this seems, an agent of ally of this country . the fact is that country. the fact is that whether she is dangerous or not, she may be. i do know whether she may be. i do know whether she has committed offences that should be prosecuted or not. that may well be the case. all of those things are matters that

this country is responsible for, in the sense that she is british and therefore she we should deal with that. we should not be in the business of exile, giving our nationals to parts of the world. we should take responsibility and deal with any issues that there may be concerning that as we would do with any other british citizen , with any other british citizen, she committed the crimes in syria . doesn't she stay there syria. doesn't she stay there and face syrian . british? the and face syrian. british? the issue is that she has been stripped of her british citizenship. there are real questions about the capacity of to deliver justice for a whole host of reasons which i'm sure are manifest . but it's certainly are manifest. but it's certainly true that if british nationals commit offences in other countries we have provisions for extraditing under powers to those places . if justice can be those places. if justice can be and should be there. but what has happened here is our country

has happened here is our country has exile owed one of its citizens by stripping her of citizenship also by the way as the supreme court held only a couple of years ago effectively her from being able to argue effectively her case about her nationality in front of the british court . that nationality in front of the british court. that is the nationality in front of the british court . that is the issue british court. that is the issue in question here. emma, how do you respond to that? the british government has a primary response ability to the safety of the british people . this is a of the british people. this is a woman who, you know even if she's 15, she's still woman who, you know even if she's15, she's still moral age and she chose actively to go and join a terrorist organisation. i don't believe for a second which which she suggested in the documentary that she wasn't aware of the crimes of islamic state. she chose to close her ears to them. i'm sorry, but the view, think myself the view, i think myself and the majority of , the british public majority of, the british public would actions , would be that actions, consequences. and the fact is that when people , foreign that when people, foreign fighters do return to the uk, it's extremely difficult to

prosecute them. it's particularly difficult to prosecute female fighters or women have gone to join islamic state , particularly in state, particularly in hindsight, because it's very difficult to collect evidence from a war zone. so the chances of her actually seeing justice, if she comes back to this country are to none. so i country are slim to none. so i think that fundamentally we're talking about responsibility here. we to be pragmatic if we can ever stop a terrorist or a foreign fighter from returning to this country, which can do legally, if someone has just citizenship, as was the case with citizenship you with dual citizenship that you had citizenship. citizenship as well. and he was stripped of his citizenship. if we have the ability to prevent somebody who is potentially dangerous from coming this country and coming back to this country and we have no idea what the nature of the security risk is, the primary responsibility of the british government is to the safety of its people. and steve, that as soon as she goes comes back here and she's put in to await trial. how do you know she's not going radicalise she's not going to radicalise people because know people in prison? because know people in prison? because know people radicalised in

people have been radicalised in prison . well, to be clear , i am prison. well, to be clear, i am not saying what that i do know what would happen in that in that regard, although . aren't that regard, although. aren't you worried? i would . well, you worried? i would. well, please let answer your question. i think all of the questions about issues of safety in relation to this british person, all on their face, real and to be addressed. what find so eerie if we're going to use those terms is the idea that this country thinks that can divest itself of its responsibility for itself of its responsibility for its own citizens burdens as if we would be i don't know we be accepting of other countries exiling people to all territory because they were supposed to be a threat to their own state. it makes no sense whatsoever. this is a british person and we should take responsibilities in

respect of our citizen. and if that involves need to prosecute or consider secure or she measures in respect of her, i do not know whether that is needed. not. but if it is, then is something that we as a country should do. all right. that's emma webb, and that was steve out is simmons from amnesty international, uk, british. i don't think she should come back here. there's a very good reason. would you want her living your street or living living in your street or living next door to you. honestly like it's not about her coming and living next to me. well, this is about policy that exists. number one, discriminative one, which is a discriminative policy exists you have policy that exists if you have dual citizenship, you can stripped of it. what about those people that don't? that's a question more than the other thing i think about is what is process? what is the process in the uk when something like this happens? moment happens? because at the moment we're of a sheet we're just thinking of a sheet that really just that doesn't really exist, just doing so when it doing what we want. so when it comes shamima begum, for me , comes to shamima begum, for me, she british, it's, she's she is a british, it's, she's she's british, she's come back

and she needs to have a trial. we need to understand if she victim or is she a criminal. we need to understand if she victim or is she a criminal . and victim or is she a criminal. and either way, we have a process that follows that. right now, i just believe that she's being treated unfairly do you treated very unfairly and do you believe she could it's possible to a culture. absolutely to degrade a culture. absolutely look, we have so many criminals. we have system where, you we have system here where, you know , we don't to be these know, we don't want to be these individuals that say, i'm sorry. you know, this is the way you are. we're just going leave are. we're just going to leave you alone. want to get people you alone. we want to get people reappear litigated. is reappear, litigated. that is something that we should encourage country now. encourage in this country now. she's something that happens she's not something that happens every day. you know, every single day. you know, she's you this is, she's not the you know, this is, you know . we would understand you know. we would understand that this a woman that quite because this a woman who allegedly sewed people their suicide . that's like suicide vests. that's like that's obviously an accusation which she in that if you've watched her has said that's not something she's so something that she's done. so and get believe as she also and i get i believe as she also said was relaxed said she was relaxed about seeing people's heads in a skip. she's programmed that way. she's been programmed that way. we like bring her to the get her psychoanalysed see a and let's

really question what's going on. all right. as we say on this, this one will run and run. now interesting economic story. it's used car sales in britain slumped by nearly 9% last year, according to the society motor manufacturers, 6.9 million vehicles changed hands in 2022. down from seven and a half million the previous the previous 12 months. well, joining now is a friend of the show. he's a broadcaster. he's the car dealer, danny kelly , the car dealer, danny kelly, danny, hard times , you what? danny, hard times, you what? andrew, i'm not experiencing hard times at the moment. i'm finding used prices are going through the roof. so it's quite a counterintuitive story that car sales seems to have slowed down, which it has. and i'll go into detail why in a bit. but i was standing amongst the diffuse at northampton auction last week ,inhaung at northampton auction last week , inhaling all of the diesel and the petrol fumes, trying to buy cars. and i couldn't buy any cars. and i couldn't buy any cars because there's a real supply. so i think it's linked

with a short supply. so the fewer cars available to purchase. andrew obviously may not, the fewer cars are available to purchase from to purchase from dealers like myself . the mini budget purchase from dealers like myself. the mini budget was disastrous . people now only turn disastrous. people now only turn to calls . it's an essential to use calls. it's an essential purchase rather than say i luxury purchase. do you think perhaps people are saving up danny to an electric car for which they need huge bank loan because what, like £30,000, if you're ? well, you know you're lucky? well, you know what? the news that makes a lot of petrol and diesel use car dealers like me feel rather smug about because i wouldn't touch an electric used car with a bargepole. it's not the big expensive. so the jaguar with a 50, 60, 70 grand jaguar's, the teslas , 60, 70 grand teslas . teslas, 60, 70 grand teslas. they have plummeted by up to 15% year on year . they have plummeted by up to 15% year on year. elon musk, when he announced that the uk arm of tesla was the prices of new only six weeks ago. i say five, six, seven grand. well, obviously that had a disastrous effect on the used car prices with

electric cars. now they the electric cars. now they the electric cars. now they the electric car market rather buoyant. if you're dealing with little rut around town cars, you know 30, 45, 50 miles a day sort of material . but people, of material. but people, generally speaking , people have generally speaking, people have lost confidence in the ability to go from one side of the country to the other side of the country to the other side of the country because of this range anxiety, which has dismissed by anxiety, which has dismissed by a lot of electric car purists. but it's actually a fact on the sunday mail expose the gritty reality of this over when there was a queue of six or 7 hours of tesla's all trying to get one or two charging points to the service station in cumbria. that's the gritty reality of owning an electric car at the moment, particularly if you have to drive cumbria to london, to cornwall . all right, that's the cornwall. all right, that's the broadcast and car dealer, danny kelley, are you a car owner? i am, yeah. i've known the car over oh, wow. have over 30 years. oh, wow. have have you got a hybrid electric? you. are you a gas guzzling? oh, i'm i'm a gas. i'm a gas i'm a i'm a gas. i'm a gas petrol diesel. because, you

know, i've got the know, i've i've i've got the same apprehension i need to same apprehension if i need to drive cross—country. i really, really worry about really would worry about not having electric, having enough electric, you know. would to stop in the know. so i would to stop in the middle and just a nuisance middle and it's just a nuisance for and that's i don't for me. and that's why i don't go that at oh so particularly difficult women driving the road or driving on their own. or anybody driving on their own. if in the middle if you break down in the middle of countryside of the countryside because you've energy. you've got the energy. of course. course. in israel, course. of course. in israel, we're talking because we're talking about cars because the an the taxi charity's an organisation helps veterans organisation that helps veterans return to places like normandy for it's for commemorations. it's celebrating its 75th anniversary. taxi anniversary. black, black taxi drivers joining veterans in drivers are joining veterans in central mark central london to mark this milestone. our reporter lisa carter went to one of the veterans who've been helped by this very, very deserving charity. this was in 1944, just d—day . my parents insisted i go d—day. my parents insisted i go to studio covid studio to have a photograph taken. i think was in case i didn't come back . for case i didn't come back. for veterans like mervyn , the taxi veterans like mervyn, the taxi charity provides a link to the past. a chance to return places like normandy for d—day. past. a chance to return places like normandy for d—day . and pay like normandy for d—day. and pay

their to fallen comrades. it's a loss i've seen several times now , over a few years that , as i've , over a few years that, as i've always said , it's going there is always said, it's going there is being able to come back again with so many comrades still there. it it home. what could have been more than that at the time? actually and we couldn't do it without the success. i don't think i could manage on the ferry or buy a not anymore. anyway, i'm not sure you know. mervyn was just 19 years old when he was first deployed dunng when he was first deployed during the second world war. serving with the royal army ordnance corps , he went into ordnance corps, he went into normandy on d—day. ordnance corps, he went into normandy on d—day . a treacherous normandy on d—day. a treacherous trip having lost comrades the day before when their boat hit by a torpedo . he heard the big by a torpedo. he heard the big shows going from our huge warships . so the lands from the warships. so the lands from the germans back at the war have recovered me, thank goodness. they thought wasn't both. but.

but but it was it was very . and but but it was it was very. and that ridge did get frightened . that ridge did get frightened. that's the first time i took a book of psalms reading them. the taxi charity for military veterans is celebrating 75th year run by london. blackjacks key drivers. it's been supporting of veterans since 1948. look after any veterans that need our help. we take them around the uk and now the last ten or 15 years we've been taking them back to the netherlands and to normandy to pay netherlands and to normandy to pay respects to their fallen comrades who are still there. it gives them a chance to get see their friends again. only veterans . what veterans think veterans. what veterans think and how veterans feel. we as taxi drivers and you and me , taxi drivers and you and me, unless you've walked in their shoes , you have no idea how they shoes, you have no idea how they feel and how they think. so for them to get back together again with comrades, it means a lot to them . and as the years go by and them. and as the years go by and they get fewer and fewer , it's they get fewer and fewer, it's more and more special them. mervyn now poems to reflect on

his time during the war. how go against normandy , where i was against normandy, where i was once before . but then i was in once before. but then i was in uniform in june of 44. the charity will be celebrating its anniversary with several events raising money to ensure , like raising money to ensure, like mervyn, can continue to pay their respects to those who returned home. i am not a hero, just the medals are where they may remain that over the years have just proved that i was the lisa castle gb news london . what lisa castle gb news london. what a wonderful man he is. let's live to the royal air force in london, where lisa hartley is. lisa hello. yes club. so this is a private member's club for raf officers and their families. but today they're welcoming 30 well it's well to veterans as well as other veterans to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the charity. so just to tell us more about

the charity is brian, who we saw in that package, their hi. good afternoon, lisa. tell us a bit more about the charity and all the that goes into fundraising. yes certainly. so this is our 75th year as a charity and we have to uniquely rely on donations, grants , generous donations, grants, generous people to fund . we try to do people to fund. we try to do with our veterans throughout uk. and what we've been trying do the last ten or 15 years is where we take them back to back to normandy , back to the where to normandy, back to the where they can pay their respects to fallen comrades, and we all should take them. the uk. last weekend was a function in london night of sing singalong for them and also we make trips to worthing and other places just so they can be together . and you so they can be together. and you got all the taxi drivers here today. you all brought the veterans with you in today as well, didn't you? yes, we did. so we've all come from all over the south—east i've come in from essex and central london and all the drivers. we brought in 30 veterans plus carers and guests. yeah, been a very big

yeah, it's been a very big effort, but we've all got here on time , if not for on time, if not for interrupting. but you know, a lovely story how the charity first got started. yes. so just after the second world war in 1948, the charity was by three taxi drivers and hence the name the taxi charity and decided back then that they were to get veterans, maybe twice, three times a year together. veterans, maybe twice, three times a year together . and one times a year together. and one of their favourite places of to was worthing in sussex. of their favourite places of to was worthing in sussex . and was worthing in sussex. and funny enough for actually going back there this year from 75th time. so it's something we're really proud of, you know as a charity, 75 years is a big thing. i know what charities, apart from us have gone on for that long. and obviously so in the package that mervyn and when we were talking to him the other day he said that this means so much to him. yeah. i mean, mervyn's a man. and just mervyn's a lovely man. and just like the other veterans like all the other veterans means much. i mean , my guys means so much. i mean, my guys there they brought to in there that they brought to in hundred and 90, 294 years between the three of them, and they were just so happy to see

each other. it's a regular thing they do anymore. they can't do anymore. so they have rely on us to where they want to to get them where they want to go. so years, that's such a go. so 75 years, that's such a long for the charity to be going. what's how are you celebrating today? well, today we're a special function we're having a special function to celebrate 75 years. and also we're doing 75 for 75, which is this is kicking off our campaign year. this is kicking off our campaign year . we're going to try and year. we're going to try and raise £75,000 for future events around the uk and europe . we can around the uk and europe. we can take veterans to events . two take veterans to events. two days out back, like i said, back to the netherlands and back to normandy . and you're going to be normandy. and you're going to be walking over bridge or something. myself and my dear friend simon , we're doing a friend simon, we're doing a i think it's a 14 bridge charity walk in september, which is about 25 kilometres. and i'm hoping i get as many taxi drivers on board and family and friends and veterans and who wants to join us and sponsor just to raise money? brilliant. thank you so much. i welcome you

so.thank thank you so much. i welcome you so. thank you. so as the day goes on, the veterans are going to enjoying some lunch and to be enjoying some lunch and then to chat with each other. so as as we go on through the day, we'll be bringing some we'll be bringing you some stories. veterans. stories. some of the veterans. that's lisa hartel raaf that's lisa hartel from the raaf cup. final word from you, patricia. what wonderful charity and old boy he and what a wonderful old boy he was. i know. eight nights was. i know. i take eight nights years old. well even i know his secret. he says i'm not a hero, is he's absolutely. is he? he's yeah, absolutely. and it's so important, isn't it, that younger people know what older men and women went through? oh, it's crucial. and, you know, all just teach us so much, so much . yeah, we we've much, so much. yeah, we we've had them on the show before. it's because it's changed because they take that day another, charity takes them to the cenotaph on remembrance remembrance day in november. oh, gosh. you know what? i just i feel like the young people don't understand their understand how of their treasures for us they give for us. you know what i mean? and national treasures. that's bush . i national treasures. that's bush .i hope national treasures. that's bush . i hope she's going to come and join me again. watching join me again. you're watching or to andrew pierce or listening to andrew pierce here on gb news. more to

here on gb news. plenty more to come. the next of come. still in the next hour of the program. about the program. talking about another grim poll for the tories. so anywhere. but tories. so go anywhere. but before that, we're to have a very short .

break hello. you're listening to andrew pierce here on tv news with you until 2 pm. here's what's coming up in the next houn what's coming up in the next hour. we'll be digesting the latest poll. it's grim latest people's poll. it's grim news again for rishi sunak tory party. the conservatives were also crushed in a by—election yesterday in. west lancashire also following ukrainian president zelenskyy's tour . president zelenskyy's tour. european capitals london was first a diplomatic coup. the rishi sunak . should we be rishi sunak. should we be sending jets to the ukraine? i'm going to be speaking to former british army general about this. and john cleese, one of the

great comedy writers of all time, has revealed the return of fawlty not be on the fawlty towers will not be on the bbc because it's woke. of bbc because it's too woke. of course , he revealed this in an course, he revealed this in an interview dan wootton show, interview on dan wootton show, saying been saying he would not have been given the freedom, that he wanted an agenda. god has the church lost church of england finally lost the plot . i'll be talking about the plot. i'll be talking about whether we should refer to the lord's prayer discussing this with the journalist karen barlow and with me the next day is the political commentator consultant piers pottinger. don't forget, of course, you at home an important part of the show. email at gbviews@gbnews.uk . email at gbviews@gbnews.uk. that's what's coming up this thursday next hour. but first, the latest . good afternoon. it's the latest. good afternoon. it's minute past one. i'm rianne jones in the gb newsroom. turkish president recep tayyip erdogan has admitted that. his country's response to monday's devastating earthquakes isn't as fast as he wants it to be.

rescue workers say the golden penod rescue workers say the golden period for finding survivors in the south of the country, in northern syria is now closing . northern syria is now closing. the death toll has risen to than 21,900 people. amongst the devastation, though, glimmers of hope for days on a ten day old baby has been rescued along with his mother . baby has been rescued along with his mother. the pair spent more than 90 hours under the rubble before being freed in the uk, an appeal by, the disasters emergency committee has raised more than emergency committee has raised more tha n £30 million in its more than £30 million in its first 24 hours following donations from high profile figures, including king, the king and queen consort syrian president bashar al—assad has visited a hospital in aleppo , visited a hospital in aleppo, his first reported visit to affected region. at least thousand people are known to have died in the country following the disaster. 14 aid trucks have arrived in northern syria from turkey as charities warn they're running out of

suppues. warn they're running out of supplies . the chancellor has supplies. the chancellor has warned the uk isn't out of the woods yet. it's after the latest figures show the economy narrowly avoided falling into recession in the final quarter of last year. the data from the office for national statistics reveals the economy saw zero growth between october and december . the growth between october and december. the final months of 2022 saw gdp down by 0.5. but overall, the gdp rate grew 5.4. 1. labour's for urgent measures to be brought forward to help families with the cost of living crisis. the chancellor's welcomed the figures but warns that's more to be done. well the fact that we have avoided recession fact with the fastest growing major country last year shows there is underlying resilience in the uk economy . resilience in the uk economy. but we are not out of the woods is still much too high. that is causing pain for up and down the country which is why we need to stick to our plan to halve

inflation. if we do that and play inflation. if we do that and play to our strengths in science and technology we really can be one of the most prosperous countries in europe. the chancellor . countries in europe. the chancellor. there's no major new initiative , meanwhile, to help initiative, meanwhile, to help those struggling with energy bills from april. that's when the price guarantee rises . bills the price guarantee rises. bills for a typical household are set to increase from two and a half thousand pounds to 3000. the government's been under pressure to offer additional help for people to cope with soaring costs. it comes as the government says energy suppliers have agreed to end the force installation of pre—payment metres and the of vulnerable customers . ambulance workers in customers. ambulance workers in england are striking today in a long running dispute . pay jobs long running dispute. pay jobs and conditions around 15,000 staff are taking part in the walkout with unison members balloting another 10,000 over the coming weeks. the government says constructive talks are being held , but the union's being held, but the union's accused it of it out and not

negotiate letting university employees , meanwhile, are also employees, meanwhile, are also on for strike the second day this week as they continue their 48 hour walkout with more than thousand staff at hundred and 50 universities taking action , universities taking action, friends of nicola birley have gathered for a second roadside appeal to mark two weeks since her disappearance lancashire police says its search for the missing of two has moved towards coast. the force says it's searching further downstream the river wyre becomes tight . river wyre becomes tight. ukraine's prime minister says russia launched more than 50 missiles at the country today . missiles at the country today. the capital's mayor, vitali klitschko says ten have been shot down over kyiv . the attack shot down over kyiv. the attack has caused damage to power grids at six locations but there are no confirmed casualties. schools been forced to evacuate and continue with classes on the ground , it comes as ukraine's ground, it comes as ukraine's

president vladimir has been touring as he aims to ramp military aid for the war country . all that as ukraine's president will address a uk summit to discuss russia's participation at next olympics in paris . it follows participation at next olympics in paris. it follows warnings his country boycott the games over issue. the international olympic committee says it'll explore a pathway . athletes from explore a pathway. athletes from russia and belarus to compete as neutrals . the move has been neutrals. the move has been criticised the invasion of ukraine. volodymyr zelenskyy is expected to wear just summit of 30 nations to consider how to respond . this is gb news will respond. this is gb news will bnng respond. this is gb news will bring you more as it happens now though it's to not enter. welcome back to the show. it's that time of the week again. we

can bring you. the latest results of the gb news poll. it's horrific. rishi sunak and the conservatives the are on a mere 21% labour on 50% giving them a 29 point lead. this follows the west lancashire by—election yesterday where labour won on a swing of 11, albeit on a turnout of only 30. and it also seems in that poll, can you believe this ? keir can you believe this? keir starmer, who tried to force a second referendum on us after brexit? labour's now just as trusted to deliver on brexit as the tories. let's go to let's live to westminster now where our political reporter, olivia can join us. olivia pretty bleak for the tories . it's very can join us. olivia pretty bleak for the tories. it's very bleak indeed for the conservatives. but the conservatives ratings have been bubbling around that mark for quite a long time now, quite a few months. so what we can argue is that he's stabilised the conservatives poll ratings. the problem is he's stabilised them at a very low base indeed . be seeing low base indeed. be seeing ratings this low for this long is pretty much on precedented

what the conservatives know that they have to do now is find a reason to get people out voting conservative at the general election. it's not enough to sort of rest on their laurels because those poll ratings are just too low to have that. so what they've got to do is, find some sort of route through on the economy and what jeremy hunt has doing the rounds has been doing the media rounds this arguing this morning has been arguing that thanks government action. we've to a we've managed to avoid a technical recession. well yes his in the conservative party would that's all very well but zero growth isn't exactly a reason to jump up and down and go voting conservative. this is a problem for rishi sunak because we still have that issue of to raise taxes, which is tearing apart the conservative party. on the one side, you've got the concern to growth coalition, this caucus led by liz truss as she's styling it, which says that lowering taxes is the only way to get people us out of it, the only way to promote real growth, not the sort anaemic growth that sort of anaemic growth that we've been seeing over last we've been seeing over the last few on the other side,

few months. on the other side, we've sunak the we've got rishi sunak and the other fiscally prudent other two more fiscally prudent in the party who feel that the only to cut inflation, which only way to cut inflation, which is they believe that the only way get good grounding for way to get a good grounding for growth continue raising growth is to continue raising taxes. that battle taxes. and while that battle rages within the conservative party and the liz truss, those and her and those around her gain momentum . it's going to be gain momentum. it's going to be very hard to get those poll ratings any higher than we're seeing moment. if you how seeing at the moment. if you how nervous now are backbench tory mp about whether they chose the right leader rishi sunak because in that gb news poll boris johnson a country mile is the most popular. the three prime ministers we've had in the last 12 months just saying that shows how ridiculous the tory party has become prime ministers in 12 months . absolutely. and it's months. absolutely. and it's that tory mp is all getting more . i mean, we've seen huge swathes in saying that they're going to stand down at the next. and what's quite interesting about of the people who are standing is it the standing down is it the older people heading retirement or people heading for retirement or people heading for retirement or people haven't been in

people who haven't been in parliament? you look, there are plenty people on the plenty of young people on the very first rungs the very first rungs of the ministry, a dehenna ministry, all at a dehenna davison example, is saying davison for example, is saying that going to stand down that she's going to stand down someone like nadine dorries, who's only in sort of middle age, another ministerial age, could another ministerial comeback . she's age, could another ministerial comeback. she's standing age, could another ministerial comeback . she's standing down at comeback. she's standing down at the election . so the next election. so backbenchers are certainly feeling very nervous indeed . and feeling very nervous indeed. and there are lots of them who are worried that they're their constituents, of tory constituents, the sort of tory voting that the shires as were the tory voting shires, all tax cuts at heart and just won't feel the need to go out and vote conservative at the next election. they might not vote laboun election. they might not vote labour, but they might not vote at all. and if we something like we saw in west by—election we saw in that west by—election yesterday repeated across the country. of course there country. i mean of course there are all the usual caveats about by that would by elections, but that would result in 424 seats for labour and 138 for the conservatives. thatis and 138 for the conservatives. that is a very bleak picture indeed. so certainly backbenchers are feeling twitchy and there are who are beginning to coalesce around those former leaders. liz truss and boris

johnson, who they believe have charisma that might just might get people out voting conservative. that's our political correspondent olivia utley at westminster. joining me in the studio , delighted to say in the studio, delighted to say that until 2:00, piers pottinger pubuc that until 2:00, piers pottinger public affairs expert, you've advised everything british aerospace, warmer , aerospace, diageo, warmer, various british prime ministers various british prime ministers various members of the royal family what would you say the tories to do, piers, to turn round? because it does look like the titanic is heading for the rocks. it really does. yes. i mean, facing, quite frankly . and mean, facing, quite frankly. and what they need to do is ahead of the game at the moment. all they're doing is reacting to the endless series of what are actually mostly very trivial problem , like seat belts , problem, like seat belts, parking fines, party fines , parking fines, party fines, whatever they are, they're not actually being seen to govern . actually being seen to govern. and none of the departments seem to be landing any successor anywhere. and i the last reshuffle was just tinkering

around and actually increasing the cost and. i think one of the problems is that nothing is actually getting that's going to change the populace in their view, quite rightly, that perhaps the conservatives have beenin perhaps the conservatives have been in power too long. it's time for a change is rod stewart quite rightly said. yeah and they look tired. they don't seem to any ideas and the core voters are very i think and the real dangeris are very i think and the real danger is of course with the lib dems, a lot of people who bring themselves to vote for labour, understandably, will lib dem, they could end up with 5060 seats at the next election if they then joined with labour, who their own. and you see labour voted to endorse proportional representation in the future. if that comes the conservatives are finished forever , do you think? i mean forever, do you think? i mean rishi sunak he was chosen by a tory mp liz truss, of course won

the first election. she's gone is has in your view got what it takes. he's been there 100 days now. he was supposed to be very slick, very media friendly but yeah he did that big speech the beginning of the year. it talked about five pledges. i could hardly them know i think it's hardly them i know i think it's very disappointing there's no doubt intelligent man doubt he's an intelligent man there's he's got a lot there's no doubt he's got a lot of ability and works hard. of ability and he works hard. he's dedicated, but he doesn't seem to land any punches as and again, he's always reacting to stuff he's never actually leading from the front. and i think it was very noticeable in pmqs this week when he and starmer were talking about ukraine at the dispatch box for the first time. in my view, starmer looked a man of substance and he actually spoke with much more authority than rishi, who just comes across quite a nice chap . rather quite a nice chap. rather lightweight. yeah in that poll as well. i'm interested in your take on this because you advise

andrew where he's going to end up soon, but in the poll people think prince charles, the king, still is calling him the king, isn't it? yes. has had a pretty good start. do you think he has? i think he's doing a marvellous job in very difficult having your own son rip into your own family just as you take isn't much fun for anyone. but he's withstood that with great dignity and integrity, as you'd expect a monarch to do . he expect a monarch to do. he learnt a lot from his mother in that respect, but i think the problem he's got coming up with the coronation is , it's the the coronation is, it's the first of all, the coronation is a state occasion which is very important to differentiate from a family affair. yeah, and yet again, the spotlight will be on one person of his own making . so one person of his own making. so prince whether he goes or not i mean this is the question that is hounding the charles right way up to the coronation itself

which is sad you advise prince andrew. well we see much him at the coronation. i dated i did advise him a long time ago. yes. and i don't think he will play a part because again, it's a state occasion and he has no real dufies occasion and he has no real duties for the state anymore . duties for the state anymore. and just finally , the brexit. and just finally, the brexit. and just finally, the brexit. and in this post punishing the tories a no longer trusted to deliver brexit. labour just distrusted brexit was this great opportunity ? have they blown it opportunity? have they blown it already on brexit? the thing is, when they say who's trusted to deliver brexit, well, we've done brexit, but we don't seem to have delivered much else. i mean, the truth of the matter that i mean, where are all benefits that that were trumpeted by boris as well . trumpeted by boris as well. forget i mean boris was led

brexit and all these wonderful promises he made we haven't seen a glimmer of any of them . do you a glimmer of any of them. do you think there's even a remote chance he could be leading the tories into the next general election? boris johnson i don't. i he might want to, but i think because of the way he ended up having be removed from office , i having be removed from office, i cannot really see him coming back and i don't think the, the mps who left will be that keen on it either. all right. that's piers. passenger, he's staying with me until 2:00 now. the prince and princess of wales, they surprised local residents falmouth, when they made their first joint engagement as the new duke and duchess of cornwall their royal highnesses learned about the region's maritime heritage. they met cornwall's next generation of talented sports stars . royal reporter sports stars. royal reporter cameron walker was there to see it . all moved the county with it. all moved the county with ancient links to royalty. now a new generation watches over 52,000 hectares of english land

. prince william is now responsible for the duchy of cornwall, providing an income for his family worth millions of pounds each year. prince william will want to make a positive difference to communities he and princess catherine , the national princess catherine, the national maritime museum cornwall yesterday to learn more about its coastal heritage including royal heritage from a 14 foot dinghy called , kiwi presented to dinghy called, kiwi presented to the late queen and prince philip as a presents from new zealand's navy the duke and duchess met volunteer like phil working on refurbishment. i think it was the sea scouts who built it new zealand and they then gave to prince philip which he a few times while he was down there the has passed his duchy knowledge onto son who in turn spends with students developing seaworthy skills from generations gone by and then this princess catherine reunited with her former schoolteacher who now volunteers at the museum

a window to her past past. who now volunteers at the museum a window to her past past . but a window to her past past. but it's the future that featured heavily on this visit . and heavily on this visit. and catherine met daisy a gifted pentathlete to received funding from youth and talented cornwall with supports . he's hoping to with supports. he's hoping to one day compete in the olympics for great britain without the funding, i wouldn't be able to travel. so since we're in cornwall, there's nothing down here. so travelling up to it's camp every month because i get trained by the elite coaches . trained by the elite coaches. poppy, trained by the elite coaches. poppy, a talented dinghy sailor , also received funding and met the royal couple that really nice to talk to and friend me an opening and think they're both into the outdoors a lot as well and i think it's good for your mental health and definitely encourage lots people to do it with titles comes new response . with titles comes new response. not everyone pleased to see them an anti monarchy protester was

led away by police . the prince led away by police. the prince is expected to return to cornwall many times as heir to the making sure the duchy does provide meaningful value to the locals. he now serves . cameron locals. he now serves. cameron walker gb news, falmouth piers passenger the duchess cornwall, the princess of wales she's one of the great stars of the royal family, isn't she? oh, fantastic . no doubt about it. she's she looks immaculate . she's got a looks immaculate. she's got a lovely, genuine smile. it comes across as , you know, really , she across as, you know, really, she comes across as a fabulous role model for a young mother of three children. yeah. and she is, i think , absolutely is, i think, absolutely marvellous and interesting . marvellous and interesting. cameron making the point they're going to go to cornwall lot of course there are no peace in sussex saying, boy, we don't want harry and meghan to be the duke duchess of sussex. it's duke and duchess of sussex. it's only been probably once and they're again. what they're unlikely. go again. what would stir up would be? would it just stir up a if they were stripped of

a nest if they were stripped of the i think it would. the titles? i think it would. i mean, think your son mean, i think stripping your son of titles a little tricky and but i mean, if they eventually he sends those to , they might he sends those to, they might just realise that using it is quite embarrassing for them but of course in america where they earn all their money and titles are very important because as goes on, i don't think harry can complain . the world, all his complain. the world, all his friends his whole life and how it's been in his dollar chateau in in california from too longer because even the americans i think are getting bored with it. they certainly and i think, you know and it just a pity that he uses every opportunity to pull pubuchy uses every opportunity to pull publicity stunts when technically he's he wants privacy. yes, he wants his privacy. yes, he wants his privacy doesn't do. that's right. i forgot that prince.

hey, that's piers, pottage now. coming up, we're going to be talking about sending jets to ukraine. should it's ukraine. should we it's a question a john cleese question and a john cleese exclusive revealed to gb exclusive he's revealed to gb news he's not going to let the bbc screen series of fawlty bbc screen new series of fawlty towers . not sure there towers. i'm not sure there should really at all. should be one really at all. first, all we say, brilliant. but before that time for a short break. good afternoon. i'm alex deakin and is your latest weather updates? not much rain around weekend's not a huge around this weekend's not a huge amount of sunshine either. we'll be cloudy, but for most be fairly cloudy, but for most of it will be a bit warmer of us it will be a bit warmer than it been for much of this week. here's the reason for the dry of high dry weather, a big area of high pressure. but notice the was pressure. but notice the ice was closely packed together. the north. it is very windy out there at the and this there at the moment and this weather still bringing some weather is still bringing some outbreaks to the outbreaks of rain to the highlands, that will highlands, scotland, that will last evening. last for much of the evening. still gusty as well over still very gusty as well over northern england, northern ireland scotland. winds ireland and scotland. the winds will slowly ease through the night further , the winds are night further, the winds are light. we could see a bit of mist of fall, but generally this cloud keeping the temperatures up well freezing. we'll up well above freezing. we'll start weekend at sixes and

start the weekend at sixes and sevens for most. so as i said, much milder than many a morning been this week . it will be been this week. it will be a fairly grey day tomorrow. lots of cloud. we may continue to see some light rain and drizzle here and there. the hills of wales, some western coasts, the highlands of scotland. but for most will be dry. and we should see something a bit brighter as well as day goes on the well as the day goes on the cloud. breaking a little bit to reveal blue sky here and reveal the blue sky here and there. will be quite mild there. and it will be quite mild for february ten, 11, 12, maybe 13 degrees celsius . not for february ten, 11, 12, maybe 13 degrees celsius. not a for february ten, 11, 12, maybe 13 degrees celsius . not a great 13 degrees celsius. not a great deal of change during saturday night. so if you're heading out dry and predominantly keeping things reasonably mild , breaks things reasonably mild, breaks in the clouds could again allow to dip, maybe close freezing and the thick cloud in northwest of scotland, where there will still be a brisk breeze blowing , may be a brisk breeze blowing, may produce the odd spot of red as we go into sunday. but most again, the winds light on sunday. so lighter than today. and a lot of cloud around

certainly over central and eastern parts of the west, of course, parts of scotland. but a chance on sunday of seeing some longer spells of sunshine and again it will be on the mild side with temperatures mostly 9 to 11 degrees celsius . that's to 11 degrees celsius. that's all for me for now. goodbye aaron gb news live. we'll be keeping in the picture, finding out what's happening across the country and finding out why it matters to you. we'll have the facts fast with our team of reporters and specialist correspondents . wherever correspondents. wherever it's happening, there in 12 happening, we'll be there in 12 noon tv, radio and online. gb noon on tv, radio and online. gb news the peoples channel. britain's news.

channel he's actually a man, isn't he? the ukrainian president, he's been touring europe this week. he's to get europe to come up with fighter jets and more

weapons, some concern in westminster, that ukraine westminster, those that ukraine use. missiles to use. british made missiles to hit russian in crimea . hit russian targets in crimea. mayor, there's the rat there. moldova summoned the russian ambassador after missile crossed their airspace. it's all getting very hairy. joining me on the show is general sir richard burns , a former commander, joint burns, a former commander, joint forces general, sir richard , forces general, sir richard, we've given them tanks were the first country to do that . it's first country to do that. it's never quite enough for zelenskyy is it? he wants planes to protect the tanks. should we give them to him . so president give them to him. so president zelenskyy needs a full set of modern combat weapons in order to defeat the russian occupation of his country. to defeat the russian occupation of his country . and tanks are an of his country. and tanks are an important part of this. but he needs an air force to keep russian air force off the back of his own army and his people . of his own army and his people. and he needs an air force in order to target russian forces in. ukraine and the concern , as in. ukraine and the concern, as you've outlined, is if you give ukraine fast jets , which are

ukraine fast jets, which are very fast and have long—range the temptation would be there to go into russia with terrible consequences for an escalation in the war. let's be clear for ukraine to win this to war, its country back, it is going to need an air force and the current ukrainian force is backing way behind the russians . so it has some very good equipment mig 29, for example , equipment mig 29, for example, russian made, but it doesn't have enough of them. and it's got, i think, pilots or pilots without airframes to fly and essentially what ukraine is asking for is about two squadrons. so let's say 24 modern fighter jets, which would give them the edge they need to take over the airspace from from russian as the air force. so there's quite a modest the problem is transferring to a modern nato aircraft , even if modern nato aircraft, even if you are a skilled pilot, is at least six months and more like a

year's work and no one started yet. what have british long—range missiles ? so richard, long—range missiles? so richard, should we even be considering providing to ukraine so we've already given ukraine a long—range missile. so things that have a range of about 50 miles or so and. what they've been given now, we'd have a range depending on what their launch from off 150 miles and think the key point is that gives the ability to hit russian military targets in occupied parts of ukraine including crimea and the donbas. i'm that the terms of giving these missiles will include not firing them into russia because . one of them into russia because. one of them into russia because. one of the cardinal points of this war from day one is that it is not to become a war between russia and in terms of fighting, even . and in terms of fighting, even. that's how russia already defines it in his speeches this week, the president talked about

how ukraine will win, but what is victory , sir richard? because is victory, sir richard? because if they don't get the crimea back which was annexed in 2014 long before this current war can that really be a victory for the ukrainian people they're going to want all territory restored so raise a really interesting question because because no one has defined victory yet and in some ways that's a good thing because no one knows how this is going turn out. and you really don't want to define something that in the end you can you never achieve most outcome never achieve the most outcome given the balance forces now between russia as it improves and really ends and ukraine as long it is supported by the west, will in the end be some sort of stalemate, where it is possible, more less territory has to be liberated . but the two has to be liberated. but the two sides will be locked in a dispute. so in the victory, i think be defined by when both sides reach a point of exhaustion that, have to make the best of it right . that's sir the best of it right. that's sir richard barrons. he's a former

commander joint forces command , commander joint forces command, piers pottinger, he is a remarkable to lansky. he is charisma stoic. he wows people wherever he goes . he is advising wherever he goes. he is advising him , well, i don't know. but i him, well, i don't know. but i think his wife also really rather impressive. i think both of them have done amazing job and actually , you know, he's and actually, you know, he's a he's a leader. he leads his key even though he's a very small chap , even smaller than rishi chap, even smaller than rishi and he he has authority , has and he he has authority, has presence. and of he was an entertainer , a comedian. and is entertainer, a comedian. and is used to dealing with difficult questions like tackling . yeah, i questions like tackling. yeah, i mean, this is this is the most thing for his country and history effectively and he is leading with such dignity and authority . and i'm just sad that authority. and i'm just sad that some countries in europe and of course in the us part some of the republicans even in the us are not supporting him he's didn't say that he should be

getting because all credit to bofis getting because all credit to boris he this is one thing he got absolute he right and he stood up and he was i mean boris looked like a leader when he was with zelenskyy and zelenskyy is a deeply impressive man who i think, you know, we should be giving everything he needs. i think you're right. giving everything he needs. i think you're right . and of think you're right. and of course, he did say this week that he's having to convince germany , support ukraine. that's germany, support ukraine. that's piers pottage. he's with me until 2:00. coming up after your news, we'll be talking about how the church of england has finally lost the plot. in my view it may start view because it may start referring to engender referring to god engender neutral you couldn't make neutral terms. you couldn't make it we're to get to the it. we're going to get to the headunes it. we're going to get to the headlines now. three other . headlines now. three other. thank you, andrew it's 131. headlines now. three other. thank you, andrew it's131. your top stories from the gb newsroom turkish president tayyip erdogan has admitted his country's

response to monday's earthquakes. isn't fast as he wants it to be. rescue workers say the golden period for finding survivors the south of the country , northern syria, is the country, northern syria, is closing . the death toll has now closing. the death toll has now risen more than 21,900. amongst the devastation , though, a the devastation, though, a glimmer of for hope days on a ten day old baby has been rescued along with his mother. back here, an appeal by the uk's disasters emergency committee has raised more than disasters emergency committee has raised more tha n £30 million has raised more than £30 million in its first 24 hours. meanwhile syrian president bashar al—assad has visited a hospital in aleppo and his first reported visit to the affected region. at least 3000 people are known to have died in the following the disaster . 14 died in the following the disaster. 14 aid died in the following the disaster . 14 aid trucks have disaster. 14 aid trucks have arrived northern syria from turkey as warn they're running out of supplies . the chancellor out of supplies. the chancellor has warned the uk isn't out of

the woods yet. it's after the latest figures show the economy narrowly avoided falling into recession in the final quarter of last year. the data from the office for national statistics reveals economy saw zero growth between october , december, the between october, december, the final month . 2022 saw gdp down final month. 2022 saw gdp down by oh point % but overall the by oh point% but overall the annual gdp rate grew by 4.1. the chancellor's welcomed the figures, but warns still more to be done . the fact that we have be done. the fact that we have avoided recession, in fact, with the fastest major country last year shows there is underlying resilience in the uk economy. but we are not out the woods. inflation is still much too high. that is causing pain for families up and down the which is why we need to stick to our plan to halve inflation. if we do that and play to our strengths in science technology we really can one of the most prosperous countries in europe. tv online and dab+ radio. this

is going as andrew will be back. surely anyone .

well, the church of england get this, is considering gender neutral terms for god. priests are questioning the use of the word he when referring to god. the general synod of the church has said that changes are not living, but they're exploring idea of adopting a new language in coming years. idea of adopting a new language in coming years . how utterly in the coming years. how utterly ridiculous. joining me now discuss this on the show is dr. gavin ashenden, who's a former chaplain to queen elizabeth, and also camilla the broadcasting journalist. hello you both. if i can go to you first to give the church side . gavin, if i can church side. gavin, if i can call you by your first name is this another sign that the church of england is walking way into irrelevance? yes, it is ,

into irrelevance? yes, it is, andrew. one of jesus. more famous sayings is you can't serve two masters. he chose and mammon. but in this case, it's god or the culture. so what the church of england has found itself doing, as so many organisations have, is trying to fit in with the culture in order to please people. but not the role of the church and ultimately it will lose, will credibly to. it's really rather tragic . carole malone i credibly to. it's really rather tragic. carole malone i imagine this would be at fixing your column in the daily express tomorrow. what do make of it tomorrow. what do you make of it 7 tomorrow. what do you make of it ? prince i can barely hear you say that question again. i'm saying i imagine this will be featuring in column in the daily express tomorrow. are you going to be giving the church of england a rocket ? i've to be giving the church of england a rocket? i've kind of responded already because i would say it kind of came on wednesday. so i was really upset about it. believe that the about it. i believe that the thinking of this is an aberration in thinking of changing the lord's. it's you know, we know that the church of england, we know that the congregation are dwindling by the if they think the second. and if they think this bring more in,

this is going to bring more in, they're really kidding themselves. insulting to themselves. this is insulting to traditionalists for a start. i don't it's going to don't think it's ever going to get through on a vote with the synod. i think they're going to throw it out. they throw it out. how are they doing? i it's a handful doing? i suspect it's a handful of who are to be of vicars who are trying to be inclusive in fact, they're inclusive when in fact, they're to please a minority and are upsetting the majority in doing . this will drive people away . . this will drive people away. so the plan is that what they're considering is changing the most famous prayer of all our father, who art in heaven. they're not going to call him father. they're going to call it something, that sort of thing to say parent who art in heaven, carol, whoever they are, them . carol, whoever they are, them. and that's the nonsense of this . you know, people i'm sure you know, i'm sure what you will agree with that you can call god whatever you want. god in itself is general, gender neutral term . people can think of god and see god however they want, but we shouldn't be dictated to . to we shouldn't be dictated to. to try and please a number of people changing ancient prayers

changing the wording in the bible. i mean, it's ridiculous . bible. i mean, it's ridiculous. and what do you say , gavin and what do you say, gavin ashton, to your fellow church men and women who are advocating this because, carole malone is right, isn't she? church attendance is not dwindling. it's collapse. and in the last census for the first time, the number of people i, as a christian, fell 50. for the first time. i think there are three things you can say to them. first of all, stop having double standards. father, he is god's preferred pronoun. if you're so keen on giving everyone that preferred pronoun, you least allow god is you might at least allow god is a. secondly think. i'd say that language matters if you call god day your policy ism. language changes the belief structure that you have. and thirdly, i think i'd get with christianity and not with a form of cultural therapy, which is what you're practising . the church is one of practising. the church is one of the few organisations that has the few organisations that has the antidote to offer some sanity to a very confused and it's b it's a terribly to throw the gift of and coherence away

as they're doing in order to be popular . do as they're doing in order to be popular. do you think the archbishop of canterbury should have made a stand here? he's the leader of the church. you know, the queen lead the church doing it. but he is our spiritual leader he's leader of leader and he's the leader of the anglican faith worldwide. shouldn't made a stand shouldn't he have made a stand here? yes, he should, but he's gone. here? yes, he should, but he's gone . he's worked. he's been gone. he's worked. he's been work for some time. i don't know how true . jordan, is he to work how true. jordan, is he to work the archbishop of canterbury? theidea the archbishop of canterbury? the idea that just welby would oppose this is beyond . the idea that just welby would oppose this is beyond. i'm amazed he wasn't the one who suggested it. but you really interest . me and gavin, you may interest. me and gavin, you may know this. i don't know how many how many church, but how many vicars actually or advocate for this, because i suspect it's not very many. because the people in the church must realise exactly what i've just been saying . the what i've just been saying. the congregations are dwindling and the congregations are mainly made of traditionalists and they

are going to be serious. this tinkering with god. you know, god , you know the idea that, you god, you know the idea that, you know, i'm my god, i'm a catholic. jesus on the cross. that was very definitely a man for me and to most people, god is a man. and to try and mess about with that, to appease a handful of other people just seems insanity. handful of other people just seems insanity . me. gavin what seems insanity. me. gavin what of the idea? we know that jesus died on the cross. he was a man . we got the holy trinity, got the father , the son, and got the the father, the son, and got the holy spirit. should we have a woman in there somewhere? well, like. like carol, i've become a catholic. i gave up on the anglicans . we haven't a she's anglicans. we haven't a she's married and the model of a man is enormous , profound and has is enormous, profound and has enriched human culture. but the critical thing here , there are critical thing here, there are two issues i think we have to remember. one is that we don't make god in own image. we make god in our own image. we can't conceive god. and so it's certainly true that when philosophers warn, it's not to impose projections onto the

impose our projections onto the universe, but the other is that god makes in his image. he's god makes us in his image. he's busy remaking us in the way he intended us be. and we need intended us to be. and we need to biology and the to accept biology and the morality he gave us in order to flourish. also isn't flourishing. and one of the reasons is because we've rejected the way that god intended us to be able to flourish . camilla, last word to flourish. camilla, last word to you finally , if you got a chance you finally, if you got a chance to talk to justin welby, what would you say is going to bring more people into the church is beyond ridicule. but, piers, before i go , information to before i go, information to heaven. what is your best day today? haven't. and thank today? no, i haven't. and thank you mentioning. think you you for mentioning. i think you ought the world old you ought to tell the world old you are you're ancient, not are because you're ancient, not as you, though , carol, as old as you, though, carol, that's for sure. certainly younger , than i look younger, than you and i look youngen younger, than you and i look younger, too. but thank you for making it. that is carole malone, broadcaster and columnist express, columnist in the daily express, and a former and gavin ashenden, a former chaplain queen. doesn't chaplain to, the queen. doesn't that it all? he's left the that say it all? he's left the church of england to join the roman catholic which is roman catholic faith, which is my kind say my faith and kind of say unbelievable, of unbelievable, piers part of the mistakes continues to

mistakes church continues to make. again , a question of make. well, again, a question of leadership . they don't have any leadership. they don't have any really , because justin welby really, because justin welby spent most of the lockdown, again telling the world how bad his own problems , his own his own problems, his own misery, rather leading his flock at a time when they most needed it. and i think the church of england's behave during lockdown was extremely poor, and they because they shut them down, they shut down, they shut the churches. there was real pastoral care from the leader that archbishop canterbury and, he he issues that are actually irrelevant to his church. he should be his faith. he be bringing more people into , the bringing more people into, the congregations. he should be leading the church. but he is completely failing to do so . and completely failing to do so. and this is an example of utter nonsense . and you people have nonsense. and you people have got to stand up to this nonsense rather than spend hours and hours and sometimes lots of money debating it, discussing it, looking into it when it's

wukari and it's mad. wukari. it needs to be stamped out . needs to be stamped out. couldn't agree more. now are you a fan of scotch whisky ? because a fan of scotch whisky? because global exports of the stuff grew to more than global exports of the stuff grew to more tha n £6 billion for the to more than £6 billion for the first time in 2022. that's according to figures released by the scotch whisky association. the value exports is up 37% the value of exports is up 37% to 6.2 billion, and the number of bottles also grew by 21% to the equivalent of 1.7 billion. we're going to talking about that after the break. we're going to talk about it now actually, because joining me on the show is , becky peskin, who's the show is, becky peskin, who's a spirits writer and she's the founder of our whisky plus, bnan founder of our whisky plus, brian monteith , who's a brian monteith, who's a columnist at the scotsman and a former. and i know piers positive wants to get in on the act because he's a very proud to first becky. how important is the scotch is scotch whisky is it one of our most important drinks? you say the uk 100% is

the most exported food and drink item from the uk and as you've just mentioned, it's now worth £6 billion in exports and that has a huge knock on effect to generating wealth for the economy but also supporting local communities environment to create jobs. it's a massive worldwide success story and the results today just a fantastic example of the way that scotch whisky really just enjoyed around the world. now, becky, i think you've been told we've got whisky here in the studio. i think you could tell what it is . here it is in front of me, piers . just going to do the piers. just going to do the honours here . pour it. i notice honours here. pour it. i notice there's no ice becky, is that right? should there ice. right? should there be no ice. with whisky ? well, you can with a whisky? well, you can have ice i think. i think whisky particularly , scotch, whisky. particularly, scotch, whisky. i'm putting myself as. i'm putting myself across as. well, could you it's one well, so you could you it's one of these drinks which has been shrouded in so many rules. and regulations about how you should

dnnk regulations about how you should drink it when really it's your drinks. you should drink it. however like there is no right or wrong to do it. so the one you've got today is just in the glass . i you've got today is just in the glass. i would you've got today is just in the glass . i would always suggest glass. i would always suggest tasting whisky neat. and then if you want to add a few drops of water, if you need to, to reduce some of the alcohol, then please go ahead. but if you fancy a glass about a piece of ice in that, go for it. i don't expect we're going to try it now, piers. tonight we, put some water on it, because i have to tell you, becky, i can't stand whisky. here we go. well take it one step at a time. i'd recommend you it first recommend you smell it first rather dive straight in. if rather than dive straight in. if i it, i think i'll be. i smell it, i think i'll be. that absolutely revolting, that is absolutely revolting, becky. i'm afraid it's taken me. back to when i was about 20 and i drank whisky , and i threw up i drank whisky, and i threw up very badly. and i've never how grim i. it's the water of life , grim i. it's the water of life, you know. that's. that's common. there seems to be a lot of people feel that way about coming whisky for the first time since they had a bad experience

as a young person. my first always be to notice it very gently, just the arranges and we give it a small sip at the time. and you cannot a mix up as well. nothing wrong with the take especially to single. absolutely delicious. now prime on tv. let's bring you into this conversation. you that the conversation. you know that the scottish nicholas scottish government by nicholas sturgeon popularity seems sturgeon who's popularity seems to be plummeting even faster than rishi sunak's . he's trying than rishi sunak's. he's trying to bring in a ban on advertise sing whisky. how damaging that be for a very, very important north of the border . well the an north of the border. well the an act of self—harm for the scottish economy, for the british economy . and is british economy. and is a suppression the commercial trade and freedom of speech . the key and freedom of speech. the key thing about advertise seeing is that it allows you to introduce new brands new, new drinks and of course if you don't like whisky, you may like scottish gin because scotland also

produces the majority of british german exports . but how can we german exports. but how can we have craft gins or malt whisky come about which never used to be as popular as they are now with an advertising introducing them to us? so. so to suppress this advertising is to suppress communications and allow us to make decisions about what we want to buy. now it's sturgeon is saying she wants to do this because she says i'm using her words. scotland has a troubled relationship with alcohol and she's got a point here, hasn't she, brian in that scotland is more people with drink problems , perceived drink problems north of the border than any other part of the uk . well, that's part of the uk. well, that's true. and it's been for a very long time and there may be, i suspect, a real cultural for that because what's happened in the last ten or 15 years is that the last ten or 15 years is that the scottish parliament on a number of occasions. there's no supermarket allowed, no , there's

supermarket allowed, no, there's no happy in scotland. we have a minimum pricing and you know what the brought all those things in and it's got worse. it's actually there's evidence actually to show that some young people have switched to drugs because cheaper than the price set by nicholas sturgeon's laws. so the difficulty is that we need to change cultural attitudes about getting drunk and worshipping alcohol rather than restricting the supply and people buying it because the majority of people , overwhelming majority of people, overwhelming majority of people, overwhelming majority of people actually dnnkin majority of people actually drink in moderation . just think drink in moderation. just think there's policy issues because one of your many hats you've worn pairs is to do with with deren worn pairs is to do with with deliver, deliver. yeah. i was chairman of the fund for liver research and actually, again, everyone thinks liver disease is all to do with alcohol when in fact fatty liver is perhaps the biggest . i mean, a digestive biggest. i mean, a digestive biscuit can cause more just as

much damage to your as a glass of whisky . but to go back to the of whisky. but to go back to the point in scotland, i mean, as a scot and a proud i am ashamed of nicholas sturgeon what she's done. nicholas sturgeon what she's done . our country is absolutely done. our country is absolutely appalling. all she does is direct poison towards westminster in an asinine way. and here's another piece of legislation she's going to introduce which is crazy , as introduce which is crazy, as it's been said, attacking scotland's most famous industry is nonsense. it also she's backtracking already yet again because they going to stop distilleries putting their name in front of it. now distilleries putting their name in front of it . now they're in front of it. now they're saying oh no they can they can they can still say it's a distillery . i mean, what distillery. i mean, what nonsense . and, you know, this nonsense. and, you know, this kind of i mean, everything in scotland from education, health to the economy is going backwards, is doing really badly under sturgeon . and all she does

under sturgeon. and all she does is get involved in the most nonsensical stuff like this. becky percy let's bring you finally final word on this. what is your whisky? oh, well , it's is your whisky? oh, well, it's whichever one you're buying me to be honest. and note on the advertising ban, i think it's really just would be shooting ourselves in the foot by banning all the other alcoholic thing in its current format . the reason its current format. the reason for this is the alcohol industry, particularly scotch whisky. it recognises the position it's in and it wants to really try and get responsible drinking message across. now if you're banning them from even speaking to the public you're cutting off your own foot here because you should think the government really be using these companies . get that safe and companies. get that safe and responsible message across it's we talk about scotch whisky being a really successful export story but if we're not supporting the industry at home, the domestic market then we're going to see a lot less choice. and particularly this come in

around the same time as the disastrous deposit return scheme which is threatening to close of businesses across scotland as it stands. i think it could couldn't be worse timing . all couldn't be worse timing. all right. that's becky pesky and monteith. thanks so much for joining us. i'm afraid the whisky hasn't got any better. i'm afraid just it's just been gin that been fine? beers or vodka? maybe now, john cleese the comedy that he is has revealed to gb news that he won't allow the bbc to screen the new series of fawlty towers castle rock entertainment announced this week that its security deal with cleese to bnng security deal with cleese to bring back that epic, iconic comedy . but bring back that epic, iconic comedy. but in a bring back that epic, iconic comedy . but in a revelation in comedy. but in a revelation in an interview with our very own dan wootton on gb news, the comedian and writer said we finding a new for , home the finding a new for, home the sequel. well, let's have a quick look at what he had to say to us. oh, you wouldn't get us. oh, because you wouldn't get freedom. you see, i terribly lucky i was working the bbc in late sixties seven shows,

beginning of the eighties . that beginning of the eighties. that was the best time because the bbc was run by with real personality who love the medium, and they were operating out of confidence, which was okay because there wasn't so much competition in they. but there and john birt came in and said if we don't match the listening of viewing figures that the commercial channels are getting, we'll get our licence revoked. so then they started going for the biggest audiences and they tended to go for the lowest common denominator while always always that they were doing the legend that is john piers brosnan, because john cleese is to have a show here on gb news i have to say. absolutely a great coup for gb news. i'm not sure he should redoing fawlty towers because part of its a joy a part of its magic is they were only 12 episodes. yeah and i think i know every line of every episode. i think most people

don't mention the war. i know what you can't know because the bbc have taken all the different steps they have as they would do . but i think it's very dangerous thing to try and to revisit after so long something that was really probably the ultimate situation comedy series. it was short. it brilliantly constructed as half an hour of pure farce, fabulously acted by an amazing cast. fabulously acted by an amazing cast . nigel transform it fabulously acted by an amazing cast. nigel transform it as i they're doing to the tropics and have a new kind of it's all a bit white lotus see right it's all a bit and also please is blessed 83 and half the joy of fawlty towers was the manic bafil fawlty towers was the manic basil running doing all kinds of physical comedy which would have thought he would struggle now and also trying to repeat a great success is always very very difficult. very few people can do it. and the great rapport

with panetta scales, who is his wife i'm sorry , this is a wife, wife i'm sorry, this is a wife, connie booth . yeah. who was his connie booth. yeah. who was his real wife . and of course, real wife. and of course, manuel, played by andrew sachs. but he's the only one now who's going to be in the. absolutely. jon jones. the only alive or capable of performing sadly, prunella alzheimer's as i think people but you know it's a big risk for him and the critics will be chomping at the bit rip him to shreds which he won't quite rightly and i mean i would love it to be a success because we need the fun comedy with you know brilliantly done but i just wonder, will it still have those values that the old comedy did? one thing you could be certain of, there'll be a huge audience for the first episode. oh, absolutely. well, including me and i'm sure. be glued and you, i'm sure. i'll be glued to yeah. and of course, to it. yeah. and of course, we're looking forward to john cleese joining here on gb cleese joining here on the gb news that be news teamsheet that will be announced coming

announced soon when he's coming on. back with you, on. i'll be back with you, of course, friday 12 till course, next friday from 12 till two. but don't go, though, because up next, it's the briefing with the fabulous arlene that, arlene foster. but before that, we're the very cold we're going to get the very cold weather . good afternoon. i'm weather. good afternoon. i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather updates. not much rain around this weekend's. not a huge amount of sunshine ehhen a huge amount of sunshine either. be fairly cloudy, either. we'll be fairly cloudy, but for most us, it'll be a but for most of us, it'll be a bit warmer than has been for bit warmer than it has been for much this. here's the reason much of this. here's the reason for the dry weather. a big area of high pressure, but notice the ice closely packed across ice of us closely packed across the very windy out the north. it is very windy out there the moment. and this there at the moment. and this weather front is still bringing some outbreaks of to some outbreaks of rain to the highlands scotland last for highlands of scotland last for much evening still very much of the evening still very gusty over northern gusty as well over northern england, northern ireland and scotland. will slowly scotland. the winds will slowly ease the night. further ease through the night. further south, the winds light. we could see a bit of mist of folk, but generally this cloud keeping temperatures up well above freezing start the weekend at some and sevens for so as i said much milder than many a morning has been this week it will be a

fairly grey day tomorrow lots of cloud. we may continue see some light rain and drizzle here and there the hills of wales , some there the hills of wales, some western coasts, the highlands , western coasts, the highlands, scotland. but for most it will be dry and we should see something a bit brighter as well as the day goes. the cloud breaking a little bit reveal of the blue sky here and it will be quite mild for february ten, 11, 12, maybe 13 degrees celsius . 12, maybe 13 degrees celsius. not a great deal of change dunng not a great deal of change during saturday night. so if you're heading out dry and cloudy, keeping things mild, any breaks in the clouds could again allow temperatures to dip, maybe close to freezing . and the thick close to freezing. and the thick cloud in the north—west of scotland, where there will still be a brisk breeze blowing, may produce the odd of drizzly red as we go into sunday. but for most again, the winds light on sunday. so lighter than today and just a lot of cloud certainly over central and eastern parts , the west and eastern parts, the west and across parts of scotland . but a across parts of scotland. but a chance on sunday of seeing some

longer spells of sunshine . and longer spells of sunshine. and again, it will be on the mild side with temperatures mostly 9 to 11 degrees celsius . that's to 11 degrees celsius. that's all for me for now . goodbye .

good afternoon and welcome to the briefing i'm arlene foster. and here's what's coming up over the next hour. well, some news for you all at home. despite endless warnings, the uk has narrowly avoided going into recession . this is despite recession. this is despite a sharp 0.5% fall in economic output during december, which has been blamed on strike action across the country. chancellor jeremy hunt the figures show underlying but said we are not out the woods. but are we out of the woods in regards to recession? we'll exploring this

in depth