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tv   Andrew Pierce  GB News  February 17, 2023 12:00pm-2:01pm GMT

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today. is he sunak in belfast today. is he about do a deal? finally on the ireland protocol? is he going to set out brexit? we'll be discussing that means throughout the programme. also police in nicola burley those health disclosures where they really she disappeared three weeks ago dunng she disappeared three weeks ago during that walk in st michael's bar in lancashire . he's been bar in lancashire. he's been heavily criticised. the police making public her struggles with alcohol and the menopause nicola sturgeon's departure wide open field for potential successors . field for potential successors. well we mr. john swinney , his well we mr. john swinney, his deputy, he's ruled himself out of the race. who will take over what cheaper train fares entice you to the office on monday and friday? i'm in the office. why aren't you? where is the work from? home culture. here to stay. we'll be debating that on the programme. joining me for the programme. joining me for the hour be the the next hour will be the conservative peer lord hayward. and at home course an and you at home of course an important part of this show email at gbviews@gbnews.uk . email at gbviews@gbnews.uk. that's what's coming up this houn that's what's coming up this hour. but first we're going to get the latest news news . good
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get the latest news news. good afternoon. it's 12:00. i'm alan armstrong in the gb newsroom, a former security guard at the british embassy in berlin . british embassy in berlin. spying for russia has been sentenced more than 13 years in jail. david ballantine smith's to handling canning classified documents to the russians but refused to name his alleged handler. he was caught in an undercover sting operation by fake russian agents smith said he was suffering from depression and drinking heavily the time. but mr. justice wall dismissed attempts to minimise his activities, saying was not a witness of truth . you did it by witness of truth. you did it by stealth using the opportunity provided to you by your employment to visit various offices in the embassy at night when others had gone and take photographs of classified documents on your telephone or camera , a number of these
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camera, a number of these documents were marked as secret . others were of a lower classification , but were still classification, but were still obvious surely not the dissemination be on the embassy . sinn fein say they believe very significant progress has been made on the northern ireland protocol and. an agreement is absolutely possible. rishi sunak prime minister and northern ireland secretary chris are currently in belfast . they're holding talks belfast. they're holding talks with stormont leaders to discuss the contentious post—brexit trading arrangements. the prime minister then meet eu leaders in germany tomorrow amid speculation a deal between the eu and uk could be unveiled early next week. sinn fein's mary lou mcdonald says it's game on ongoing access to the european market. no hardening of the border on the island ireland and a protection of the good friday agreement in all of its parts. that was our the core elements, an aspect at that need
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to be pretty heated but it seems to be pretty heated but it seems to us that it's very much game on and we're very heartened by that. we're very, very conscious that. we're very, very conscious that a deal can be done, should be concluded speedily . we hope be concluded speedily. we hope that that will be the case. the snp's a conference on independence , the resignation of independence, the resignation of first minister nicola sturgeon. comes as the party's executive committee says a ballot to select a new party leader will close on 27th of march. deputy minister john swinney has already announced he will not be entering the race . scottish entering the race. scottish governments offered health care staff an average 6.5% pay rise. workers would also receive a one off payment of between 400 and £900. matt matt mclaughlin, unison scotland's head of health says it's a credible pay offer that needs serious consideration in the royal college of nursing has announced a new 48 hour strike in england . members from
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strike in england. members from 128 nhs trusts will walk on the 1st of march in an escalation . 1st of march in an escalation. the rcn says will reduce services to an absolute minimum. nurses in emergency and cancer care all previous exempted will join picket for the first time. but the union says life and limb care will continue. meanwhile in the west midlands are facing more delays as ambulance workers are on the picket lines today . are on the picket lines today. members of the gmb and unite unions are staging a walkout in their long running dispute over and staffing. the unions say they're waiting for a decent pay offer . the government says it offer. the government says it continues talks with the unions . edf energy made a £1.1 billion worth of profit last year. that's up from a loss of worth of profit last year. that's up from a loss 0 worth of profit last year. that's up from a loss of £21 million the year before at uk consumer energy supplier. however lost more than £200 million. edf has blamed those losses on the energy price . losses on the energy price. yesterday, there an announcement by british gas that its profits
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had decreased by almost 40% in the year . the had decreased by almost 40% in the year. the home had decreased by almost 40% in the year . the home secretary had decreased by almost 40% in the year. the home secretary has asked an explanation over nicola private life being disclosed to the public. suella braverman has questioned why lancashire police disclosed details of . nicholas disclosed details of. nicholas private life at a press conference . the force says as conference. the force says as billy suffered some significant issues with alcohol in the past and was struggling the perimenopause. lancashire police have referred themselves to police watchdog over contact they had with the 45 year old just weeks prior to her disappearance and storm also the first storm to be named this season has left thousands of homes in scotland without power. the met office winds as high as 80 miles an hour have been recorded across parts of scotland . energy company azn scotland. energy company azn says up to 30,000 properties have been left without power and has warned it may take more than 48 hours to fully restore
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supplies. weather warnings in place until 3 pm. for most of scotland , another in place until scotland, another in place until 2 pm. for northeast england . 2 pm. for northeast england. and this is gb news. we'll bring you more as it happens. said for me for the moment. well, finally, the prime minister to be close to agreeing a brexit to solve the ongoing political crisis . northern political crisis. northern ireland, which is affecting of coastal part of the european union rishi sunak and his northern ireland secretary chris heaton—harris , are in in heaton—harris, are in talks in belfast over a deal on the northern ireland protocol that locked with the dup locked in talks with the dup about the support of the dup. there's to much of a there's going to be much of a deal there's going to be much of a deal. the cabinet is poised to be briefed on monday and then the prime minister be talking to the prime minister be talking to the union and speaking the european union and speaking to parliament tuesday. let's talk first of all, to gb news
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political reporter ed who is in in northern on in county down. olivia, this is a long time coming. we know it's the 25th anniversary of good friday agreement in. is that what this great rushes about really ? yes great rushes about really? yes the unofficial deadline. is that good anniversary . and what we're good anniversary. and what we're seeing here is , a big rush. it's seeing here is, a big rush. it's been said that the deal has been on rishi sunak's desk for a number of weeks now, but it's only now that he's actually come to northern ireland to try and thrash this out. we've heard from the sinn fein who have just on a press conference in the last couple of hours saying that they feel that the game is very much. but the dup as you say, rishi sunak locked in talks with the dup. it's got on much longer than we expected. and it's not thought that the dup is going to be too happy with the rumours of the deal that we've heard so far. what unionist essentially object to the continued presence
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of the continued role of the european courts of justice in the province and the number of checks on coming from northern ireland to britain, the number of customs. so unless there is some movement that it's unlikely that the dup is going to agree to this and the noises coming from the dup certainly aren't particularly particularly positive. a couple of days ago we had dodds saying that northern is effectively colonised by the. the other problem for rishi sunak is that the erg that very influential group within the conservative party on the backbenches don't seem to like the sound of the deal either and feel like been blocked out of the decision making so they could make some for rishi sunak even if he managed to get it past the eu. it's thought that a deal would agreed in parliament because labour have said that would back it. the last thing he wants it. but the last thing he wants is a rebellion from his own backbenchers on this issue, particularly if rebellion particularly if that rebellion included . all
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included boris johnson. all right, that's olivia utley, who's in northern ireland for us in with. me is steven in the studio with. me is steven pound, who for nine, ten pound, who is for nine, ten years opposition spokesman years an opposition spokesman on northern ireland. this is a pyrrhic victory for kit for the prime if gets the deal prime minister. if gets the deal without the dup and has can only get the deal through parliament with the support of the labour party. sizeable tory party. mean a sizeable tory rebellion? absolutely said look, it's just anniversary , it's not just the anniversary, the agreement, it's the good friday agreement, it's also 100th anniversary of also the 100th anniversary of the the irish the establishment. the irish free was then free state, as it was then called, don't called, which don't forget, envisaged only six of the envisaged that only six of the nine counties of ulster would remain in what was then called northern it for a limited period of time . it's what carson called of time. it's what carson called execution deferred. and that was the characteristic the the characteristic of, the asquith going asquith legislation going right back gladstone a back to the gladstone is a temporary thing. the temporary thing. so here's the situation now we have a in a situation now if we have a in a de facto customs union where you can have these sort of green and red channels they're talking about, they'll to the about, they'll have to say the dup have views about the dup have their views about the green channel, but if you do have that, what you're doing in effect saying that united effect is saying that united kingdom britain,
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kingdom is no great britain, england, scotland and wales is in customs union. the rest in one customs union. the rest is of you. and don't is part of you. and don't forget, are very, forget, customs unions are very, very the precursor to a wider amalgamate here. not just obviously, you know, this override look at override and that, but look at what is doing in armenia what russia is doing in armenia where bringing where they're bringing armenia into they you into a customs year. they you know and, they are know this and, they are terrified. but ultimately when they talk about nigel dodds they talk about when nigel dodds actually red flags up, actually puts his red flags up, he's also thinking about the fact that if they do have an agreement, then they're going to have into stormont under have to go into stormont under michelle with a sinn michelle o'neill with a sinn fein first minister and just remind the problem remind people the problem is northern adjoins northern ireland adjoins ireland, which is still part of the union. so goods going backwards and forwards need to covered by the eu. but the problem at the moment, goods going from britain to northern ireland, still a the eu ireland, there is still a the eu say they've cut a lot of the checks. there is still 20% of goods going into northern ireland subjected goods going into northern irecustoms subjected goods going into northern irecustoms checks subjected goods going into northern irecustoms checks . subjected goods going into northern irecustoms checks . oh ijected goods going into northern irecustoms checks . oh yes,3d to customs checks. oh yes, east—west trade is massive . east—west trade is massive. yeah. people talk about, yeah. people often talk about, you know, the norway, sweden thing you have a land
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thing where you have a land between a non eu country and an eu country. the population is minuscule amount of minuscule to that. the amount of east—west is minuscule. east—west trade is minuscule. one the things break in one of the things that break in the brexit at the is the back brexit at the moment is all additional all this additional documentation that exporters to documentation that exporters to do single level . you'll do in every single level. you'll find this if you then introduce here, in effect, as you here, which is in effect, as you know , border in the irish sea. know, border in the irish sea. yeah that will create more yeah then that will create more and problems exporters and more problems for exporters and more problems for exporters and of course the other way forward and let's not forget the really important issue for a lot of tories and of course the dup, the court of justice will still be final arbiter of any disputes over trade arrangements in northern. that is going to be unacceptable to most people who voted for brexit because they don't it see why don't think that it see why european can't resolve a british judge issue. do you know i think you you know for one so young you've been around the courts a few times i don't think the european court of justice issue is the deal breaker. i think that they can finish that i'm pretty i'm interested pretty sure but i'm interested in the what robert haywood in the in what robert haywood says. think that can be says. yeah, i think that can be finished finessed finished what cannot be finessed is that got
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is the idea that you've got a 306 mile border from donegal down to dundalk. nobody even knows border is, it knows whether if a border is, it runs rivers, marines, fields, runs to rivers, marines, fields, you know, if you're going to you know, and if you're going to enforce as hard border. enforce that as a hard border. in words, lock northern in other words, lock northern ireland uk . then ireland into gb as the uk. then you're going to have. well, i'm sorry the all the border problems we used to have in the old days. let's bring lord david into lord heywood, robert into it. lord heywood, robert hay you robert hay what i can call you robert can also a very old mates. robert on hand, this robert on the one hand, this will be hugely significant rishi sunak it's sunak to get the deal. it's something may couldn't do. boris johnson didn't do. liz truss didn't have if gets the didn't have time if he gets the deal didn't have time if he gets the deal, he can't take his deal, but if he can't take his own party with him and if he can't take with him, can't take the dup with him, what of deal it. i think what sort of deal is it. i think you to deal two different you got to deal two different groups. is dup. yes who groups. one is the dup. yes who have excuse me, very strong views quite naturally, because they the residents of they are the residents of northern ireland. tina was right in her comments about the rg, but it is not as influential it was and there was a very significant appointment in relation to secretary of state
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for northern ireland in that the current secretary of state. chris heaton—harris, is actually of right and therefore will persuasive. yeah. so it is not the lg is not the power that it was previously if rishi sunak's stands up and says i've an agreement as stephen says , we agreement as stephen says, we deal with the european court in this way, finessing it to use his word . then the vast majority his word. then the vast majority of the tory party will say yes. there will be a group, but it is not as powerful as it was a few months ago. so let's go the tory party, let's think about the brexit, which was very influential, the last general election. those people are still there. i'm talking to barnaby bruce the it was in the bruce in the it was in the brexit party the next hour brexit party in the next hour a are not going to accept this in any shape form. i think there is key difference here and that is that there is a sense that boris negotiated a deal which he never
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was , never interested in the was, never interested in the detail and, the implications and the final words. johnson didn't do details and possibly counterintuitive, controversial point . i counterintuitive, controversial point. i don't think i think nobody would that detail . but nobody would that detail. but the net result was what we have with the protocol island in northern ireland. the paperwork is something that he should have actually recognised that the eu was going to impose this works its way through parts of it. it doesn't all the problems, but it is a substantial step forward and the reform party stroke, brexit can shout but at the same there is a large group of tory voters who have disenchanted with the tories their failure to get brexit to work . yeah, the get brexit to work. yeah, the middle class. sorry hertfordshire. warwickshire. cheshire they will look at it . cheshire they will look at it. and if rishi can get a deal the eu, they will to take the view that the adults are in charge at number 10 again and they will a
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different perspective. so they want to. but all the polling evidence and i don't mean opinion polls mean actual casting of voting is shows that the reforms strike brexit are a very , very small number at the very, very small number at the moment . to which you agree with. moment. to which you agree with. i mean, what do think, stephen? brexit it does this then no longer become a toxic issue for the tory party if you can get it through parliament, start to do the eu, europe is the choice of almost nuristani about this i mean if there's anything that can actually rip the tory party apart it seems to be this brexit is of course david cameron his job. well i know i don't think we've finished yet. i mean there's almost mania about there's almost a mania about them. i don't know what it is about death wish about that. but the problem with this is the problem with this one is i cannot, in all honesty, see how you can satisfy every single person. i just don't you do person. i just don't if you do want that. but you've to want that. but if you've got to satisfy you've to get want that. but if you've got to sati deal you've to get want that. but if you've got to sati deal upiu've to get want that. but if you've got to sati deal up more to get want that. but if you've got to sati deal up more than» get want that. but if you've got to sati deal up more than this. well the deal up more than this. well the deal up more than this. well the gop are not going to go back into. government with the elections been put off elections have been put off
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again january. who again till next january. who knows to happen? knows what's going to happen? but rishi sunak for but look, give rishi sunak for one he's actually one thing. he's actually gone there. talking people on there. he's talking to people on there. he's talking to people on the hope he's talking the ground. i hope he's talking to like murphy, to people like paul murphy, mueller alone, kate hoey, vernon coaken coaker, people who really know the because you the situation because unless you actually mean, actually immersed this, i mean, you know, of all people, you know exactly the undercurrents in things in that, you know, even things like channel will like the green channel will become can i become controversial. can i ask you well, robert on this, we you as well, robert on this, we always talk about the union, we always talk about the union, we always think scotland. always think about scotland. nicola about later nicola when we talk about later independence, she's gone or she's real she's going, isn't the real threat the union the island threat to the union the island of ireland? because if not, if the dup can't sign up to this, they don't go back into the northern assembly . isn't northern ireland assembly. isn't the ireland the prospect of ireland and northern real . it's northern uniting a real. it's been real prospect for some been a real prospect for some years. doesn't make it more likely. no, i don't think . it likely. no, i don't think. it does.i likely. no, i don't think. it does. i don't think it changes the position there is a dynamic make in that direction in terms of demography, the catholic percentage of the population and the like. so it won't change that. what it does do is prove
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that. what it does do is prove that there is a willingness to deal the eu , ireland and deal the eu, ireland and northern ireland, but there will be an ongoing problem. there will be ongoing pressures because for the first time ever . and stephen referred to this the nationalist party actually were the leading party, sinn fein, in that shelter. sinn fein and, therefore, that's where the dynamics of the politics have changed because the dup will not want to be of service and under any circumstances to sinn fein. and i realise disagreeing with robert heywood is a precursor to being taken out and shot up. you know, you shouldn't do it, but i have to say i do disagree. on this particular occasion i genuinely think that the internal contradictions of having this border , an island, having this border, an island, will ultimately be a real pressure point and don't i think the sinn fein years ago who said there a border on the island of ireland, it's called the beach and is a very, very certain sheila. so do you share my fear that this could imperil the it
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could lead to the united ss? i don't think it is necessarily . i don't think it is necessarily. i think we can live with it. you do. just finally, i'll on this politically does this give the tory party a lift in the polls if he gets a deal to even if it is the expense of a tory rebellion a majority it'll be viewed marginally on the first step by large group of remain stroke . cautious brexiteers in stroke. cautious brexiteers in the middle class is . they will the middle class is. they will welcome it as a good indication. jeremy hunt, people of rishi okay jeremy territory stephen pouncing is coming in. you'll see it again of course now coming. we're talking about the police involvement in the search for the missing mother of two nick my word they nick robbery. my word are they being criticised and so they should be after releasing statements involving information should be after releasing statement drinkingig information should be after releasing statement drinking andformation should be after releasing statement drinking and her|ation should be after releasing statement drinking and her other about her drinking and her other issues to from issues going to hear from a victim support group that victim support group but that we're a short we're going to take a short break gb news live we'll break here on gb news live we'll be keeping you in the picture out what's happening across the country out why it country and finding out why it matters to we'll the facts matters to. we'll have the facts fast with . our team reporters fast with. our team of reporters and specialist , wherever it's
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and specialist, wherever it's happening , be there in 12 noon happening, be there in 12 noon on tv, radio and, online gb news. the people's channel, britain's news channel .
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channel now the former victims commissioner dame very bad has called released information regarding missing and missing persons mum nicola believes personal state sex list follows from yesterday's decision by the lancashire police force to reveal that the mother of two suffered with alcohol issues related to the early menopause . related to the early menopause. the home secretary suella braverman demanding an braverman is now demanding an explanation police explanation from the police involved the remember the involved the case. remember the mother of two was last seen walking her dog in st michael's on three weeks ago. here's on wyre three weeks ago. here's how the stories unfolded so far , police are appealing for witnesses as they continue their
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search for a woman who has gone missing in lancashire while she was out walking her dog, lady called nicola bully . the 45 year called nicola bully. the 45 year old mother of two was last seen. that's around 9 am. on the morning of the 27th of january. her family very concerned, as are we. my whole focus on two girls just staying as strong as i can for them knowing that her, two little girls are both missing and knowing that mummy is missing is what's driving us forward . we've mounted a really forward. we've mounted a really intensive operation . try and intensive operation. try and find nicola and we appeal for anyone to come forward . our main anyone to come forward. our main working hypothesis is that nicola is sadly fallen into the river, is now being five nights. police do that. they are keeping an open . we are just trying to an open. we are just trying to hold on to the hope. we just can't make sense that this is actually happening. and when we're here are the parents of the missing lancashire mother nicola. police say they fear that someone has taken their daughter. investigation is
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daughter. the investigation is focusing on a ten minute window between ten and 9:20 that's unaccounted for. what he could have put the phone on the bench. somebody could have found it and put it on the bench. just the nearest bench. we don't know this now, but he knows this is a complete mystery. whole is complete mystery. whole thing is off new pictures off to new cctv pictures released from day she released from the day she disappeared . detectives revealed disappeared. detectives revealed miss polly was vulnerable, classed high undisclosed. if classed as high undisclosed. if with alcohol linked to struggles with alcohol linked to struggles with the menopause bustle. it was so scary for them that it's been released this. wife should never have come out. could have just told us on the quiet . it's just told us on the quiet. it's not the place. it's just the same space where we went. this might these decisions needs to answer of questions. it just seems absolutely impossible. everything single scenario comes to a brick wall. all we're doing is saying they're going round around. around going through every scenario and then go back to the first scenario again and do the whole thing. it's just all day long. all we're doing .
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all day long. all we're doing. it's such a sad situation. is it? well, let's hear from dr. jessica taylor. she's a psychologist and author and founder of victim , which founder of victim, which provides support for victims of abuse, violence and trauma. and dr. taylor . good afternoon to dr. taylor. good afternoon to you. why on earth did the police feel it necessary, do you think, to reveal so much information about nicola . i don't know the about nicola. i don't know the answer to that. i think that there's a lot of pressure on them. i think, under a lot of scrutiny and think that the pressure has got to them. that's my that's my opinion as. pressure has got to them. that's my that's my opinion as . an my that's my opinion as. an onlooker a professional, onlooker and as a professional, i don't know what the relevance of the information is . i don't of the information is. i don't know why we're told the that nicola apparently has issues with alcohol that she was struggling with perimenopause . i struggling with perimenopause. i don't know the relevance of that because . the line of inquiry because. the line of inquiry from beginning was that they thought she tripped, fallen into a river, already established and told the public the straw
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narrative that she was fit healthy. she was well she was well looked after. she was success fall. and it was a tragic where she'd fallen into a i still do not know why we would then introduce three weeks later you know and by the way she was very and also she was drinking quite a bit and she was struggling with the menopause, i don't know very this is very difficult, of course, for her partner, for her children, who already going through a living nightmare. absolutely i was i saw, you know , this morning saw, you know, this morning there's been another statement from family and friends of, you know, reeling . the fact that know, reeling. the fact that this information has given to the public and i find it fascinating, actually, that the police force have complained times about speculation and about the public at 17 to solve this case. and yet they're sort of leaking out these bits information. they're just causing more and more speculation in the public because now they're asking ,
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because now they're asking, well, what's the relevance of this information? and you suggesting drunk , are suggesting she was drunk, are you she was unstable? you suggesting she was unstable? i you suggesting that she was suicidal? you know , i really do suicidal? you know, i really do think that the way this has been communicated to the public is what causing these responses what is causing these responses from the public , an from the public, an investigation that goes on with an endless running from armchair detectives on social media. is that part of the problem ? i i that part of the problem? i i i've really struggled with the way people have talked about this, actually, because i think that if you go and support a case like this, so what we've got to think about is what the key facts of this case that have been coming to the public and why are speculating? so for why are they speculating? so for me, a psychology yes, it's me, as a psychology yes, it's that the public have been told the normal average fit healthy young woman dropped her kids off at school and then she went and bought a dog. she's disappeared into thin. and then on top of that, we've had wall to wall media coverage she and has
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anybody seen a does anybody know what possibly have what could possibly have happened any happened to her has got any information anybody got any information has anybody got any ideas. and the thing is because the public are really writing to her they thinking that could be me, you know , walk my dog. i got me, you know, walk my dog. i got my kids off to school. how could she disappear into thin out? this impossible. so this is impossible. and so it's capture them because want capture them because they want an they're looking for an answer. they're looking for closure. obviously going closure. and so obviously going to speculate . oh, so dr. taylor, to speculate. oh, so dr. taylor, why did we have to be told that they visited her home two weeks earlier before she again what possible relevance was that? i think suggesting she was an unstable mother not fit to look after her children suggesting she was drunk and they've now themselves to their own police watchdog over that and over that visit to the family home. i do think it's the right thing to do to refer themselves. a do you think most investigation has been very poor? i think been a lot of poor decision making. i mean, one for example, you know , this information, as you say, has come there were welfare
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has come that there were welfare checks very , you checks done on her very, you know, very close to her going missing. and so you would think that would instantly be a line of inquiry know. but they're saying all the that they saying all the force that they knew immediately she was high because they immediately because they knew immediately she they she was vulnerable that they already this information and already had this information and now they've out and now we know that they've out and on sort of and well on some sort of safe and well check her you would expect that to be a line of inquiry the fact that it wasn't is problem. i don't really know why they've put it out but i know how i feel about the impact of it, which is, yes, it framed her as problematic frames her is unstable and it pathologize her it raises questions and it's because i think for people looking it differential from everybody else so that initial line of i was talking about when people are relating to her thinking wow that could be me you know i was just walking my dog and i dropped my kids off at school, but now course they've they've that there are other factors that she is actually
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problematic in some way. i personally don't agree that but they're suggesting she's hormonal she's unstable that there is other issues that the pubuc there is other issues that the public unaware that she's drinking and so the public will stop relating to her. i think while you maybe there's something i don't know, maybe she brought this on herself. maybe this is her own behaviour and that's why this problem's going from. i think going to come from. i think you're thank much. you're right. thank you so much. that's dr. taylor, who's that's dr. jessica taylor, who's the of victim focus. the founder of victim focus. robert haywood, lord haywood, still in the studio. this still with in the studio. this is extraordinary development, is an extraordinary development, isn't as dr. taylor isn't it? because as dr. taylor was making the point, we've just been for family, been agonising for family, a missing mum, two lovely young kids , lovely partner who's been kids, lovely partner who's been on tv a lot, pleading for help. and now all this muck has been thrown in the mix. i think what we've seen is several stages of the case excuse me and the police called the press the other day to essentially think they had clearly in their mind , they had clearly in their mind, stop the social media
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speculators who in damaging the excuse they were damaging the inquiry . and they unfortunately inquiry. and they unfortunately , they didn't stop at that having . i watched that press having. i watched that press conference . i thought, yes, i conference. i thought, yes, i have sympathy with you. there's all these people who are turning up on the riverbank speculating , some of which is appearing in some of media, not much of the media, but it was in some of the media. they actually media. and they actually damaging quarries. damaging the policing quarries. have they stopped at that point? i think most people would have understood what was this release of further information, which you've just been discussing , of further information, which you've just been discussing, and that has turned on its head, certainly . now, coming up, been certainly. now, coming up, been two days since nicola sturgeon resignation, i've got to say, as a hack , i was shocked. i didn't a hack, i was shocked. i didn't see that coming . but who will be see that coming. but who will be up to the job of taking over her and how big a loss she to the s&p and is that end of the campaign for independence in scotland? bringing you scotland? we'll be bringing you the political analysis the latest political analysis your round the queen concert
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your round up the queen concert has removed the controversial diamond from the recycled crown. she's going away at the coronation cut price coronation. and latest in harry and and the latest in harry and meghan row. but first, of course we're get the latest we're going to get the latest news update . it is 1231. news update update. it is 1231. i'm armstrong in the gb newsroom the british embassy spy david who was caught passing information to the russians has been jailed for more than 13 years. smith a former security guard at the embassy in berlin began collecting classified in 2018. the court he was motivated by a hatred for the uk and support for vladimir putin. he was caught an undercover sting operation by fake russian agents but didn't name his handler. smith said was suffering from depression and, was drinking heavily at the time . sinn fein heavily at the time. sinn fein say they believe very significant progress been made on the northern ireland protocol
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and an agreement is absolutely possible rishi sunak and the northern ireland secretary chris heaton—harris , are holding talks heaton—harris, are holding talks in belfast with stormont leaders to discuss the contentious post—brexit trading and the prime minister with and meet eu leaders in germany amid speculation a deal could be unveiled early next week. sinn fein , mary lou mcdonald says fein, mary lou mcdonald says progress has been made . ongoing progress has been made. ongoing access to the european single market, no hardening of the border on the island of ireland and a protection of the good friday agreement in all of its parts. those are the elements and aspects that need to be protected . it seems to us that protected. it seems to us that it's very much game on and. we're very heartened by that. we're very heartened by that. we're very heartened by that. we're very conscious that a deal can be done, should now be concluded speedily. we hope that that will be the case. the snp's postponed a conference independence following the resignation vision of first
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minister nicola sturgeon , the minister nicola sturgeon, the party's executive committee , a party's executive committee, a ballot to select new leader will close on the 27th of march. john swinney, the deputy first minister, has already ruled himself out. everyone the scottish government's offered health care staff on average point 5% pay rise with receiving a one off payment of between 400 and £900 as well. a unison. scotland's head of health matt mclaughlin says it's a credible pay mclaughlin says it's a credible pay offer and it needs serious consideration . tv online and dab consideration. tv online and dab radio. this is.
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gb news. well, let's talk rose. i refer to her. it's a queen concept . to her. it's a queen concept. didn't mean that at all. i didn't mean freddie mercury, the band. i did see them in the
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eighties, nineties, actually. i mean, the queen consort, not camilla. she's recycled bling, a crown for the coronation. it's all with as sustainability all to do with as sustainability and the cost of living crisis. and this week's gb news people's poll was revealed. public perception of her is not to bad. 33% have a favourable . 30% in 33% have a favourable. 30% in favourable until . now about favourable until. now about royal reporter cameron walker comments talk about the crown first because she's going to use the crown which was used in the 1911 coronation queen. mary who was consort of george the first but significantly the kohinoor diamond which was in the queen mother's crown in 1937, which be honest, we pinched from india 1849 is not going to be included . no, it's not. queen mary's actually originally featured the kohinoor . it actually originally featured the kohinoor. it was taken out. be first, as you says, in queen elizabeth, the queen mother's crown. it all dates back to the east india trading company acquiring the kohinoor men. it's been part of the crown jewels ever since the time queen
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victoria. but i the fact that the queen consort and her team have decided to make that any of the jewellery worn not include eve the kohinoor or its eve that the kohinoor or its replica. i think suggests to me that she's trying avoid as much controversy as possible because the indian prime minister had already gone said already gone public and said please use it will remind please don't use it will remind people of imperialism the empire we we haven't we gave we haven't we haven't we gave india away independence in 1947. yes and there are lots of people who argue make argument that the kohinoor should be returned to india. fact remaining is india. the fact remaining is we're not going to see it on pubuc we're not going to see it on public display as part of the coronation. it is coronation. however it still is part of the jewels. it still is in the tower. london this thousand year old building, which is just the symbol of british monarchy . now she's in british monarchy. now she's in as part of the attempt to cut not a cut coronation, but they don't want to be seen as extravagant. she's not having her own made, which is a first. so it's the recycled version. yeah, the first time since the 18th century this crown has been reused . but still very much reused. but it's still very much going have touches
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going to have the touches of camilla as was, say, four of the eight arches are going to be removed to try and give the queen consort sense of style. some of the cullinan diamonds actually, and the nods late actually, and the nods to late queen seconds queen elizabeth. 2 seconds numbers three, four and five of world by queen elizabeth. the second does brooches most recently , however, they are recently, however, they are going to inserted into queen going to be inserted into queen mary's crown in the place of bitcoin or diamonds. it's a nod to two dots, but yes. i mean, we know how much king charles love and environmentalism say, perhaps was something to do perhaps that was something to do with our own with that as well. and our own people's puts approval for people's poll puts approval for her on 33. that's people who previously of her and people who poop previously of her and people who poop quite a bit about 50. so her figures are creeping up, but they're not great, are they? they're not great. but you only have to about where it was have to think about where it was in eighties nineties . in the eighties and nineties. camilla's popularity has improved significantly . think camilla's popularity has improved significantly. think in recent i used to call her the most hated woman in britain. yes, which is often a bit harsh, but we had awful myra hindley in prison. well, that's as far from
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the truth now as i was. i argue . yes, the work she's done with osteoporosis, mother and osteoporosis, my mother and grandmother died from that disease. she's patron of the presence even of the royal last year society, domestic year praise society, domestic supporting women and survivors of domestic violence, literacy . of domestic violence, literacy. in fact, there she is. if remember as well, she is recovering from current virus and the literary literacy reception had to be postponed last week. told by buckingham palace this morning in the last hour that that is being to next week celebrate the second week to celebrate the second anniversary of her very successful reading remote on instagram encouraging more people to reach children and adults is boasts over 155,000 followers now on instagram . so followers now on instagram. so down with the kids is it worth for queen camilla it is all that stuff. but she also is rock for king charles and talk of the kids, the duke and duchess of sussex, who, you know, i can't stand. they've been lampooned in us comedy cartoon south park . it us comedy cartoon south park. it couldn't happen to a nicer couple. yeah, well, there is a strong theme of brands going on
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couple. yeah, well, there is a strthistheme of brands going on couple. yeah, well, there is a strthis episodef brands going on couple. yeah, well, there is a strthis episode . brands going on couple. yeah, well, there is a strthis episode . there; going on couple. yeah, well, there is a strthis episode . there is.)ing on couple. yeah, well, there is a strthis episode . there is. ing on in this episode. there is. i mean, there's scenes , them mean, there's scenes, them carrying placards, the fictional prince and princess of canada video, specifically to harry and meghan. however the likeness is uncanny. i'm afraid if you're going to grade 14, gosh, not. yeah. big fairy on their house they may use this small town and in colorado fairy lights fireworks anything that's basically says they are not private anything. so here is. oh yes that . looks like harry yes that. looks like harry doesn't it, for that very red beard. yes, it does. and this this clip particular the interviewer asks prince why he has written his book, which they call was sorry, the prince of canada why he has written his book, where referral to you to annoy baby make win when annoy the baby make him win when he's and making the he's particularly and making the arguments perhaps the arguments that perhaps the prince is now a journalist for writing so much about the private life of the royal family. even though he claims to hate driving in long journeys, he's got a lot of it wrong because we've done fact checks
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on his books and a lot of it just simply isn't true. yes, i had an exclusive for gb news well, where i expose facts. that's prince harry was indeed in switzerland skiing . he found in switzerland skiing. he found out the queen out that the queen queen mother's not school being mother's not at school being taken, taking a phone from taken, taking a phone call from a courtier he claims his book a courtier as he claims his book because being robert because that's being robert hayward because i'm robert hayward and because i'm robert you're a tory peer you're part being a tory peer you're part being a tory peer you're you're an expert on polling and i think it is remarkable that camilla parker as she used to be known that i remember the sun writing stories that she had to loads that she had to dodge loads bread being held in supermarkets no that ever happened no evidence that ever happened but that is now referred but the that she is now referred to officially is her majesty she's going to be the queen she is queen consort already and 33% and our gb news poll approve of that. would you have thought that. would you have thought that was possibly even ten years ago? think there's ago? no, i think there's a there's a real shift . all those there's a real shift. all those people who laid flowers at the death of princess diana were in part a statement with princess diana, an anti camilla. that
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shift the public at large have warmed towards her. there's been a lot of work done behind the scenes on her behalf and. she's responded and she and other people are responding to her very well and there no doubt that there has been this dramatic change of perception and of her which i don't think i or anybody would have expected a few years ago. and cameron, you know, from your sources met i've met her a few times she's very charming, quite amusing, actually, than the actually, much more so than the king but he he really function as king without her by his side. she's a really part of the monarchy. she absolutely is king charles role. because because i sat earlier i think it's clear that king charles well, then prince charles was not particularly happy until he married camilla in fact, even prince harry and, his book says that he and prince william allowed his father to marry camilla because . he saw how camilla because. he saw how happy camilla made . and you just
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happy camilla made. and you just have to see her on a interacting with the public. she's incredibly personable. the pubuc incredibly personable. the public have clearly warmed to her over the few years and i'm sure many would want to continue. all right. that's our royal report of camera work. yes. it was very nice of prince to his to get to harry his father to get right, it? now, being right, wasn't it? now, being scotland's minister, scotland's first minister, it's been privilege life. been the privilege of my life. that the words of nicola that was the words of nicola sturgeon announcing her shock, resignation as first minister on wednesday the new wednesday and with the new leader of snp due be leader of the snp due be announced on march it's announced on march 27th. it's hotting in. holyrood hotting up in. holyrood candidates have until february fourth nominated. the fourth to be nominated. the deputy first minister, john swinney and, the mp joanna cherry, are already out the race. to our scotland race. let's talk to our scotland reporter maguire, in reporter, tony maguire, who's in edinburgh. tony good morning . edinburgh. tony good morning. yes, am or good afternoon. i've got to say, i've been caught up in the maelstrom of politics this week and yes, certainly last night, you know, the west coast of scotland was battered by storm water. and today in edinburgh, blue skies not seems to have been battered by storm. jacqui. jacqui baillie has
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completely and utterly taken still in the shower would say in the first session this morning, a real focus on health. and i'm certainly pulling no punches against yousaf scotland's health secretary she told the food today that having been the worst health secretary and records, has condition has deteriorated and is now looking to aspire to the worst. first minister on record . certainly no punches . record. certainly no punches. all right. we're going to go live to northern ireland, where the dup's speaking at a press after their meeting with the prime minister. we think we're going to go there if we are, we're going to northern ireland. so prime minister has been in talks the dup all morning talks with the dup all morning and the have to and here's what the dup have to say , particularly the prime say, particularly the prime minister and the european commission president to get these issues resolved and to get to a place where the political institutions can be restored and the decisions that will be taken
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by the prime minister and by the european commission either consign northern ireland to more division or they will clear a path towards healing on to restoration of the political institutions . over the last 48 institutions. over the last 48 hours, we've been engaging with officials . met the prime officials. met the prime minister last evening . this minister last evening. this morning we have not yet seen the final text , an agreement. final text, an agreement. clearly there will be further discussions between . the uk discussions between. the uk government and the european. but i think it is safe to that progress has been made across a i think it is safe to that range of areas but there are still some areas where further work is required . if and when work is required. if and when a final agreement is reached , we final agreement is reached, we will want to carefully consider the detail of that agreement . the detail of that agreement. decide if the agreement , the detail of that agreement. decide if the agreement, in fact, meet our seven tests and we have been very clear with the
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prime that those seven tests remain the basis upon which we will judge any agreement. remain the basis upon which we will judge any agreement . and of will judge any agreement. and of course, an between the uk government and the eu will be at headune government and the eu will be at headline level and. the detail of course will in the legislative changes that will flow from any such agreement both in london and, in brussels. i have indicated to the prime minister that it is important funding , certainly important funding, certainly important that. funding, certainly important that . he funding, certainly important that. he agrees funding, certainly important that . he agrees the funding, certainly important that. he agrees the right deal. i want to hear that brussels will stretch itself to . will stretch itself to. recognise the concerns we have as unionists and that this will correct the wrongs . the last correct the wrongs. the last negotiations . i correct the wrongs. the last negotiations. i do correct the wrongs. the last negotiations . i do not believe negotiations. i do not believe that should be led by a calendar . what is fundamentally most important here is it right? that must be the ultimate goal. that is our goal . that's what we're is our goal. that's what we're committed to . getting this right committed to. getting this right and getting done. and we will
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keep working at this until we've got to the place where we can say that an outcome meets our seven tests and enables us to move towards the restoration of the political institutions here in northern ireland, which remains our objective to see northern as place within the united kingdom and its internal market restored and protected. our place in. the union respected and that we have a bafis respected and that we have a basis upon which political stability can be restored on the bafis stability can be restored on the basis cross—community consensus once again in northern ireland. do you think you work for the prime minister ? well we have we prime minister? well we have we have had some clarity around some of the issues that been discussed with the european union, and that is welcome. i think, as i've there's no doubt that progress has been made on some of those areas. and we await the final text of an agreement and we will study that
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text very carefully. we want to be in a position where we an agreement that meets our seven tests and the unionists well, as nationalists can support negotiation . for. negotiation. for. the same . do negotiation. for. the same. do you think can i think that progress has been made across a range of issues and we welcome but i think there are still some areas where final agreement with the eu is still outstanding. we hope that an agreement can be reached and we hope that the overall text we have not yet we haven't seen the final text of this and we want see the final text of , any agreement so that text of, any agreement so that we can make our judgement calls, we can make our judgement calls, we can make our judgement calls, we can assess any agreement again seven tests and come a decision as to whether that agreement meets those tests and
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provides the basis for devolution in northern ireland based upon the restoration of northern ireland's place within the united kingdom, under an internal market for quite some time. was that a negotiation process? but we are not party to the negotiation that is between the negotiation that is between the uk government and the european union. what i've sought to do consistently throughout this process is to ensure that our government is aware of our concerns that what we mean when we've set out in our seven tests what those tasks mean , how they what those tasks mean, how they can be reflected in any outcome as a result of the negotiations between the european union and uk government. so we're not at the table, but we are seeking to reflect the very genuine and real concerns of unionists those concerns need to be addressed and need to be included within the context of any . well, that's the context of any. well, that's jeffrey donaldson , sir jeffrey jeffrey donaldson, sir jeffrey jones, who's the leader of the
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dupe. that was a more positive outcome , a reaction i would have outcome, a reaction i would have said he do appear in talks last night with the prime minister and chris heaton—harris, the northern ireland secretary, and also talks this morning. i thought might announcing thought he might be announcing that sign up to this that we don't sign up to this deal that we don't sign up to this deal. no of returning to the northern ireland assembly. but he's about he's talked three times about progress made . but he did progress being made. but he did say significantly we shouldn't be calendar. i think be judged by a calendar. i think that a reference, rush to that is a reference, the rush to get done by the 25th get this done by the 25th anniversary of the northern ireland. we've got to talk now to sir john curtis, who ireland. we've got to talk now to sirjohn curtis, who is a great polling. a great polling , great polling. a great polling, sir john, if i can talk to you first of all, about the northern ireland agreement, joe to john coats, of course, is professor of politics at university. strathclyde, important strathclyde, how important is this for sunak to get this for rishi sunak to get a deal across the line if deal across the line even if it's at expense of a tory it's at the expense of a tory rebellion which some his hardline brexiteers ? well, given hardline brexiteers? well, given that the uk wide public begun to express some doubt how effectively brexit is operating.
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i the advantage on this side of the irish sea of a deal being doneis the irish sea of a deal being done is that it would give pubuc done is that it would give public perhaps some impression that indeed mr. johnson's supposedly opinion ready brexit has now finally been baked and taken out of the offer and therefore some progress has been made on developing relationships with european union that are perhaps rather more for the better than the ones we've had so far beyond . that, however, so far beyond. that, however, i don't think one should exaggerate so far, as far the pubucis exaggerate so far, as far the public is concerned, that they have a very strong view about northern ireland. if you look at the polling , people's attitudes the polling, people's attitudes towards where the border should be, if , well, frankly, you be, if, well, frankly, you discover that the people who are in favour of that being a border between great britain and northern ireland are the people who are in favour of a border between the republic in the north. other words, some people believe in customs checks. other people don't appear here on the island of ireland. but on this
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side of the water, at least they don't necessarily discriminate between the irish sea and on the border between the two parts of ireland in the way that, of course, the politicians in northern ireland and the public in northern ireland do. let's go back to professor nicola sturgeon . her or lose her? she sturgeon. her or lose her? she was a towering political figure. she's a in many ways, although her popularity was fought, was had slumped over the gender it bill. she was a big figure , big bill. she was a big figure, big a loss. is she going to be for the great cause of nationalism scotland ? well, the big problem scotland? well, the big problem that the snp are facing is whether or not there anybody amongst the contenders who will be able to develop the level of pubuc be able to develop the level of public recognition the communications skills and in truth the popularity. i mean, you said that's a bit too strong. she's got at the moment she's got for one person who's dissatisfied with her she's still got one who's still
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satisfied. but there is just that had for much of her leadership very high ratings indeed. leadership very high ratings indeed . so the question is, can indeed. so the question is, can they somebody who can fill the very big shoes that nicola sturgeon has left and the truth is, we don't know. i mean, just certainly not nobody amongst potential contenders . kate potential contenders. kate forbes, angus robertson, perhaps humza yousaf , none of them at humza yousaf, none of them at the moment of damage chart, those kinds of skills . i think those kinds of skills. i think the truth is a, while on the one hand, undoubtedly the scottish government needs an effective first minister because after all, government anywhere at the moment is a difficult job against the fiscal constraints in the sight of public services . the snp also need an effective campaigner as. nicola sturgeon herself acknowledged wednesday morning if the snp in the end are really going to have a chance of delivering independence, they need to get the level of support for. the idea above the 50% mark and that is not where acceptable, is it? around 48, 49. and if that going to be achieved, they need somebody who's going to be able
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to persuade more people in scotland that at least in the environment, independence is in scotland's interests nicola sturgeon think she's hit the buffers on that. but if somebody else is going to do more effective, they're going to have to be extremely . all right to be extremely. all right that's the john curtis professor of politics at the university, strathclyde. thanks so much for joining robert, on joining me, robert, briefly on this. you were the this. i know you were the admirer of nicola sturgeon, but ultimately failed. whole ultimately failed. her whole mission scottish mission in life was get scottish independence. it's further away now ever. is . and now than ever. it is. and there's no question her last few weeks, last few months been weeks, last few months have been problematic for doing problematic for her she doing without gender is ridiculous . without gender is ridiculous. nobody wanted it it was there's a series of things that is not the sole issue there's reference to just now to and to education people in england that actually there are strikes going on in scotland for the snp government. the response responsible authority . now the challenge now authority. now the challenge now is to find , as john just said, is to find, as john just said, somebody her stature. alex and
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nicola sturgeon have been two of the great politicians of my whole life . the chances of whole life. the chances of finding a third successive person of that stature and ability is pretty low and that will result in ongoing problems, i think for snp. all right. that's robert hayward . now the that's robert hayward. now the gove you tamsin is our biggest rail operator they're introducing discounts on train fares 50% on mondays and fridays to try to get people back to work. of course they are the office statistics tells work. of course they are the offthis statistics tells work. of course they are the offthis week statistics tells work. of course they are the offthis week between cs tells work. of course they are the offthis week between september us this week between september and january ,16% of us are and january, 16% of us are working from home. and about 27% of us doing a hybrid do partly from home, partly from , from, from home, partly from, from, from, from the office. so should we will be back at work. well, joining me now, i'm delighted to say to talk about this is patrick reed, co—founder of the adam is principal currency consultancy. i'm working today on a friday in the office says robert hayward you'll hear shouldn't will be back in the office absolutely and not it's
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just the benefits of working getting out during the curtains . i was going to say you look like a man he leaps up and gets your arms . it like a man he leaps up and gets your arms. it has a like a man he leaps up and gets your arms . it has a hearty your arms. it has a hearty breakfast, shakes people's hands, meet people for lunch. yeah. and get to the heart of the story . and. and i'm the the story. and. and i'm the same. i mean, there's so many advantages that far outweigh. so what are the advantages? okay so you've got the watercooler moments , right? the light bulbs, moments, right? the light bulbs, they're right. you around the watercooler talking to a. absolutely, absolutely . you absolutely, absolutely. you don't get that in your pyjamas at home. no. you've got fresh you've got contribute to the economy buying lunch from your local coffee shop and things like this you've just got that the armour you put on. you know, if you're in the office you put that suit on, you may , it feels that suit on, you may, it feels good. you get out, you have that purpose and also mentally it's really good as well. you get out there, you feel like you
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contribute to everything . and it contribute to everything. and it is noticeable because i used to chew every day to go to work i can see on mondays and fridays it's much quieter i to see favourite stage show recently mamma mia 30th time now the story brand and afterwards went to a restaurant nearby two thirds of the restaurant was closed . they said it's friday closed. they said it's friday and there aren't enough people around . that's terrible. it's around. that's terrible. it's terrible. it's very as well. it's absolutely i you know, before this this thing didn't happen and now , unfortunately, happen and now, unfortunately, there are some people not saying everyone some people use it as an excuse to say, look, i'm so i can't do it through through whatever reason, just get and start, you know , do it and just start, you know, do it and just find . shouldn't the government find. shouldn't the government be leading by example? because quite often a third of the civil servants are working from home, sometimes half of them absolute . i mean, get on that. but my to
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work you know meet meet client go out have lunches you know let those light bulb moments and ping those light bulb moments and ping and, you know, and take it far. that's patrick reed, i would love to know more about his light bulb moment. you're watching andrew pierce. plenty more still to but now more still to come. but now we're going to take a very quick
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break i know it's just come on. and you're and listening to andrew pierce here on gmb with you until 2:00, here's what's coming up. prime minister rishi sunak connaughton secretary chris connaughton and secretary chris heaton—harris northern heaton—harris are in northern ireland. heard from ireland. we've heard from the duty , we've in talks with duty, we've been in talks with both them. they say progress both of them. they say progress has those brexit has been made over those brexit trading agreements which effectively northern effectively have northern ireland the union. the home
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ireland in the union. the home secretary suella braverman, she's demanding an explanation and from lancashire police for their appalling conduct over nicola private life. all nicola police private life. all those details disclose at that press conference . i'm following press conference. i'm following the fallout of the chinese spy balloons. the defence secretary ben smoke. ben wallace says he's going conduct a security going to conduct a security review. should we feel threatened by china? if so threatened by china? and if so why are we still giving them foreign aid money? i'd like to know. to a tory mp know. i'll talking to a tory mp about me the next about joining me for the next hour the studio is the hour in the studio is the journalist and broadcaster. you well, station it's dawn well, on this station it's dawn neesom and at home. of neesom and you at home. of course an important part course you're an important part this at gb views this show. email me at gb views at gbnews.uk. that's coming up in the next hour. but first, the latest headlines headlines . good latest headlines headlines. good afternoon. this minute past one. i'm ariana armstrong in. the gb newsroom, the dup say progress has been made on the northern protocol. following discussions in belfast with the prime minister but further work will be required . rishi sunak and the
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be required. rishi sunak and the ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris held talks with stormont leaders earlier in an attempt to resolve contentious post—brexit trading arrangements. the prime minister will now meet eu leaders in germany tomorrow amid speculation a deal could be unveiled next week. sinn fein . unveiled next week. sinn fein. sinn fein say an agreement is absolutely . but jeffrey absolutely. but jeffrey donaldson , the dup was a little donaldson, the dup was a little more . a former security guard at more. a former security guard at the british embassy in caught spying for russia been sentenced to more than 13 years in jail. david ballantine smith has to handung david ballantine smith has to handling classified documents and selling them to the russians but refused to name his alleged spymaster . but refused to name his alleged spymaster. he was caught in an undercover m15 operation by fake russian agents. smith said he was merely trying to the embassy and was suffering from depression at the time . but mr. depression at the time. but mr. justice will dismiss attempts to minimise his activities saying
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smith was not a witness of truth . you did it by stealth , using . you did it by stealth, using the opportune minutes provided to you by your employment to various offices in the embassy at night, when others had gone home and take photographs of classified documents on your telephone camera . a number of telephone camera. a number of these documents were clearly marked to others were of a lower classification , but were still classification, but were still obviously not the dissemination would be on the embassy . the snp would be on the embassy. the snp has postponed conference on independence following the of first minister nicola sturgeon. the party's executive committee , a ballot to select a new leader will close on march 27th. the deputy first minister, john swinney , has already ruled swinney, has already ruled himself of the race . meanwhile, himself of the race. meanwhile, the scottish government has health care staff, an 6.5% pay rise workers would also receive
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a one off payment of between 400 and £900, depending on seniority . matt mcglothlin from scotland. he's their head of health called it a credible pay offer that needs serious consideration . the needs serious consideration. the royal college of nursing has announced a new 48 hour strike in england . members from 128 nhs in england. members from 128 nhs trusts will walk on the 1st of march. it's an escalation. the rcn says will reduce services to absolute minimum. nurses in emergency intensive and cancer care all previously exempted were join the picket lines for the first time. however the union says life and limb care will continue . meanwhile, will continue. meanwhile, patients the west midlands are facing further delays as ambulance workers are on the picket lines today. members of the gmb and unite union are staging a walkout in. their long running dispute over pay and staffing. the unions say they're waiting for a decent pay offer. the government says it continues
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its talks with the unions . its talks with the unions. energy made its talks with the unions. energy mad e £1.1 billion in energy made £1.1 billion in profit last year . that is up profit last year. that is up from a loss of profit last year. that is up from a loss 0 f £21 million. the from a loss of £21 million. the before its uk consumer energy suppuen before its uk consumer energy supplier, though lost more than £200 billion. edf has those losses on the energy cap. and it comes a day after the announcement by british that its profits had decreased by almost 40% in the last year year. the home secretary's asked for an explanation over the of nicola bailey's private life. suella braverman has questioned why lancashire police those details of nicholas private life. at a press conference the force says ms. bailey suffered some significant issues with alcohol in the past and was struggling with the perimenopause. lancashire police have referred themselves to the watchdog. the shadow justice secretary, steve reid , says that's the right
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reid, says that's the right thing to do . the police should thing to do. the police should not be sharing extremely private personal information about an individual without the consent of that individual . if they are of that individual. if they are available to give it and if they're not, then without consent of their close family members. if they do that , they members. if they do that, they run the risk that other victims won't feel confident coming forward in future. so i think it's right this case is now being reviewed. we will see where this particular case comes , what the principles of the confidentiality of victims always be respected by the police and storm otto, the first storm to be named this season has left thousands of homes. scotland without power. the met office says winds up to 80 miles an hour have been recorded across parts of scotland. energy company rcn says at least 30,000 properties remain without power and they say it may take more than 48 hours to fully restore suppues. than 48 hours to fully restore supplies . weather warning is in
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supplies. weather warning is in place until 3:00, 3 pm. that is for most of scotland and another in place until, 2:00 so for the next hour. in north east england , this is gb news. we'll bring you more as it happens. now it's back to andrew pierce . back to andrew pierce. i thought i was andrew pierce here on gb news, the prime minister, northern ireland secretary. they've had talks with the dup today to discuss rid of the northern ireland protocol. dup a press protocol. the dup done a press conference in they talked conference in which they talked about in fact. sir about progress, in fact. sir jeffrey the word jeffrey donaldson the word progress twice, progress not once, not twice, but times. prime but three times. the prime minister to meet eu minister is going to meet eu leaders weekend leaders over weekend and the foreign secretary, james is also holding with european holding talks with european commission. so get the latest with the political reporter olivia utley who's in northern for these talks. lydia i expected to do you play jeffrey donaldson say we're not we're
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not having this. it's not acceptable . he used what acceptable. he used what progress three times, even though we still don't know the detail of what they've been about. detail of what they've been about . yes jeffrey johnson's about. yes jeffrey johnson's tone was much softer than many expected . and as you say, he was expected. and as you say, he was very to make clear that progress has been made. that said it wasn't all sunshine for the prime minister. he said that there were still some areas which needed clarification and most worryingly for rishi sunak , he said when asked if a deal might be agreed this week, he said that isn't concerned about timescales . said that isn't concerned about timescales. he just said that isn't concerned about timescales . he just wants to get timescales. he just wants to get this right . timescales. he just wants to get this right. so if the prime minister was hoping that he could reach that unofficial deadune could reach that unofficial deadline of the good friday agreement anniversary. then jeffrey , words could be a bit of jeffrey, words could be a bit of a fly in the ointment. there but definitely softer tone , tone definitely softer tone, tone than the prime minister might have expected. he's now we've just seen him leave actually just seen him leave actually just leaving northern ireland now to go to munich, where he's
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hoping to speak to ursula von der leyen . but all the parties der leyen. but all the parties made clear that they haven't yet seen the actual copy of the text. so all of these conversations been quite hypothetical. when we do see the copy of that text, we might see jeffrey donaldson's holding up a bit again and we could see some real opposition from the dup who we know is deeply concerned about the role of the continuing role of the ecj in the province. if you're a reporter in northern ireland. benefit from you like to say joins me. bennett, bbc former brexit party mep who is steeped in the detail here. people watching may be thinking, oh god, we're going on about northern ireland again. and it's much important than that. much more important than that. explain more than that explain it's much more than that so.the explain it's much more than that so. the northern ireland protocol is not just bad for northern ireland, it's bad for the entire united kingdom. and the entire united kingdom. and the reason i say that is it acts as a kind grappling hook into our caucus . and because northern our caucus. and because northern ireland has to stay alignment
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with eu laws as they are made and changed because it's joining and changed because it's joining an eu country because it's because in the eu single market goods by virtue of being next door to the republic of ireland which we should come back by the way. but because it adheres to eu laws as and when they made and as and how they change. there's a real risk that the great britain which isn't subject to those as they are made in changed floats away from . northern ireland. that has two potential consequences. first is that the british government either align itself with eu laws to try mask that differentiation between northern ireland and great britain so as to protect the united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland or northern ireland is literally yanked out of the united kingdom against will, and that's what
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the northern ireland protocol was designed to do. and as you might know, andrew , together might know, andrew, together with some other unionists, i brought court case against the government over the protocol. and last week the court ruled that northern ireland, british citizens in northern ireland are not on an equal footing with those in great britain. so when you fly across the irish sea, you fly across the irish sea, you have diminished rights as a british citizen, as in london, have greater rights than do in belfast and for me therefore there can be no solution to the protocol . through the protocol . protocol. through the protocol. and maros sefcovic, who's been negotiating on behalf of the eu, does not have a mandate to make structural changes to the protocol. he's only allowed to discuss the by which it is implemented . so for me that implemented. so for me that means the inherent attack on the uk, his ability diverge from the our ability to act as a
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sovereign state, our own laws for our own benefit. the national interest. that attack the united kingdom cannot be allayed, cannot be seen by what any thing. maros sefcovic agrees and what at its current situation we've got 20% of goods going from great britain to northern ireland are being subjected to customs checks because effectively. northern ireland is still in the european union, vassal state. you could union, a vassal state. you could almost argue it is a vessel state and the has got to decide whether or not to allow the european court of justice to be the final arbiter in any dispute over in northern. over trading rights in northern. that effectively any that effectively means any company trading from britain with northern ireland will be subjected to the jurisdiction of the european of justice. the european court of justice. that surely can't be acceptable . is entirely unacceptable . . it is entirely unacceptable. what we is foreign what we have is foreign legislature making foreign laws , imposing them on northern ireland, and having a foreign court determined laws that is , court determined laws that is, taxation without represent . and taxation without represent. and it's why the usa broke away from the united kingdom in the in the
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18th century. so it's a fundamental abuse of british citizens in northern ireland and we and we can't cut vat on fuel in this country because it's eu wide tax, because we couldn't remove northern ireland from the vat. so we could cut it in great britain , then we'd have this britain, then we'd have this visually offensive situation with the northern irish, british citizens not being able to have cheaper fuel. orpington nisman on this ban, were you surprised to the dup's leader, sirjeffrey to the dup's leader, sir jeffrey donaldson the word progress three times because i thought he was to out and say if was going to come out and say if the european is involved the european court is involved in it . and they in this, forget it. and if they if is still going to be if there is still going to be customs checks , even 2% of goods customs checks, even 2% of goods coming from britain, forget it . coming from britain, forget it. and that will ultimately and i think that will ultimately be sir jeffrey's position and i think that will ultimately be sirjeffrey's position has be sir jeffrey's position has been very, very the northern ireland has to be restored to its rightful position in act of union. in other words to the to the complete internal market of the complete internal market of the united kingdom, not of the
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eu and not subject to these foreign laws adjudicated a foreign laws adjudicated a foreign court. what jeffrey hasn't seen as olivia rightly pointed out, is the text of what is being discussed. and i think that jeffrey , he's a superb man that jeffrey, he's a superb man and. jeffrey would have wanted to encourage the prime minister to encourage the prime minister to take positive . but i suspect to take positive. but i suspect when presented with the text , when presented with the text, he's going to have a different response . let's bring dawn response. let's bring dawn neesom and dawn neesom without getting the detail of the northern ireland protocol. brexit reason why brexit .was a powerful reason why the conservative party , the last the conservative party, the last general election, boris johnson said, done. do said, let's get brexit done. do you think brexit has become a millstone, the country's neck now totally ? i think most people now totally? i think most people know it's the b word. it literally is the b word. it's worse than the f word. and see what and that's what it really is i just i just want it. i'm sorry. like a lot of people watching. listen, that i just want it sorted. well, i think she sunak is gambling that most people you think people would be like you think he's deal it might have he's done deal it might have upset lot up it might
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upset a lot of the up it might upset a lot of the up it might upset a lot of the up it might upset a lot of own party but upset a lot of his own party but he's a deal can go but he's got a deal done can go but you know i mean i'm i am sick i admit but i do not know what the answer is. northern ireland. well, it's very simple. oh dawn, it's he's it's so serious. he's so enormous. the also the enormous. yeah. the also the answer produced the answer was produced by the european in the november european union in the november 2017. paper produced 2017. there's a paper produced by proposes a smart by the eu which proposes a smart border on the island of ireland removing . the requirement for removing. the requirement for checks for goods moving from northern ireland into the repubuc northern ireland into the republic and vice versa, i.e. from all single market depend done then what i think i want to say, because now varadkar took photographs leo varadkar, who wast photographs leo varadkar, who was t prime minister of the repubuc was t prime minister of the republic of ireland 2018, took a photograph of a bombed out 1972 customs border post to an eu summit and said that's you're going to get and he weaponized the protocol. theresa may who is effectively a remainer welcomed the weaponising of the border issue so she could then try and force the tie a united kingdom
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into the eu market and buy accepting the argument that a customs border would be a hard border she gave up the kingdom and boris johnson's sadly even with his 80 seat majority didn't the courage and gumption to push back on that narrative do you say to that you just thank you for explaining it so clearly. it's just it just seems there's so many people that are just not to let this happen that you can't see. i love the fact that they the word progress three times. yeah and it was listening to that statement was quite like someone who's not fully up to speed and what it all means that sounds actually quite but i just get the feeling just going to go on and on and on let. me ask you a final question on this pen. there's something called article 16. if we trick it that the government has a majority of about 75 in commons, we about 75 in the commons, we could effectively we're not there no. protocol is there. no. nine protocol is oven there. no. nine protocol is over. we're doing any over. we're not doing any trade checks from goods coming from
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northern up from to northern ireland and the european court justice can go whistle. they justice can go and whistle. they could why don't they? could do that. why don't they? well very good well that's a very good question. article 16 states that if the protocol is having an adverse impact on northern ireland today , there is ireland today, there is a diversion of trade which there is then the government has the right to suspend some or all of the protocol until offence is put right . and in september put right. and in september 2021, lord frost got up in the lords and he said that government advice from lawyers that article 16 can be invoked . that article 16 can be invoked. now if you're a government minister and you acknowledge northern ireland, part of the united kingdom is being damaged and you have a solution you don't just have a right to that solution. you have an obligation then to invoke that solution because otherwise are in gross dereliction duty. all right. and it's completely wrong that they haven't invoked article 16. just finally , we will not give you finally, we will not give you all the guidance. now, to all the guidance. now, i want to bnngin all the guidance. now, i want to bring in want to bring in bring in i want to bring in somebody in the conversation, amanda ferguson is a journalist and joining us
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and commentator who's joining us from were from amanda. do you were you surprised those pretty surprised to hear those pretty positive coming out from positive words coming out from jeffrey donaldson, the dup , jeffrey donaldson, the dup, talking about progress ? no, i talking about progress? no, i don't . so i think that the whole don't. so i think that the whole way through this process, all of the parties that are concerned with it have acknowledged the protocol needs to be finessed andifs protocol needs to be finessed and it's having an impact on devolution. northern ireland. so on a positive outcome is preferable. i think it's clear though that the local parties don't have a of the detail don't have a lot of the detail yet, though the prime yet, even though the prime minister, secretary minister, the secretary of state spend with the dup spend lot of time with the dup in comparison to the other parties , and there's of parties, and there's sort of scant detail emerging from these talks today and think that it will be the text that the parties want to pour over because there's a fine balancing act between protecting the gains of people who are of the for the people who are benefiting it benefiting from it and want it to remain . and then addressing to remain. and then addressing unionist concerns about what they is economic and they feel is the economic and constitutional impact the constitutional impact of the protocol , the northern assembly protocol, the northern assembly has effectively defunct has been effectively defunct since, what, 2020? is there any prospect in your view, amanda, of coming back time soon?
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of it coming back any time soon? well, stormont has had a soft start kind of system of government for very years now. this isn't the first time. that's not our first rodeo. whenever it comes to dysfunction and politics in northern ireland however i think that so soon after the last impasse is a frustration amongst the amongst the business community amongst really that we don't have a fully functioning form of government , not really government, not really a sustainable position to have civil servants in charge of . civil servants in charge of. stormont departments with limited and i like to error on the side of i know that i'm a journalist so i'm a realist as well but . i journalist so i'm a realist as well but. i think that we can't get a date on this, but it's clear that the eu has to feel it's winning. but also at the uk needs to feel like it's winning as well. i think that when it comes to negotiations you can't always have everything at the you you and there you that you want and there should of fine should be a sort of fine balance. find somewhere in the middle. right. that's middle. all right. that's amanda, and us amanda, folks. and joining us from ireland. your from northern ireland. your list, on the main list, your views on the main events don't forget to events today. don't forget to get of opinion
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get in touch you lots of opinion in ireland collins in northern ireland collins stephen the former labour stephen pound, the former labour mp, is disingenuous when he says the to serve under the dup will need to serve under sinn as the first and deputy minister. roles have always had joint authority and this, paul says.i joint authority and this, paul says. i feel that sunak is selling northern ireland down this morning. he is setting this morning. if he is setting the down 20 the whole country down this 20 paul says i'm a party paul david says i'm a tory party member resign. if the member and we resign. if the european justice has european court of justice has a role, you underestimate the sovereignty issue. you're watching. andrew watching. listening to andrew pierce news. up, pierce on gb news. coming up, we'll be the latest on we'll be getting the latest on the for missing nicola the search for missing nicola billy for that let's take a quick break here on gb news live we'll be keeping you in the picture finding what's happening across country and, finding across the country and, finding out why it matters to you. we'll have facts fast with our have the facts fast with our team reporters specialist 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.
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welcome back. this is andrew pierce gb news the home secretary suella braverman has intervened. she's demanded an explanation . lancashire police explanation. lancashire police as to why they revealed so much of missing their properties private life at a press . the private life at a press. the police have now referred themselves to the police watchdog over they had with the missing mother to prior to her disappearance which they also us about the independent office for police conduct said they're assessing the information to determine there to determine whether there needs to be investigation . we can be a full investigation. we can cross to lancashire now for an update with north—west of update with news north—west of england. sophie reaper england. reporter sophie reaper sophie . well as you say, it's sophie. well as you say, it's now been three weeks, 21 days since mother of two nicola bully went missing on friday the 27th of january. now the facts are very few and far between and even now three weeks later we still know much more than we did on friday the 27th. but i'll
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walk you through exactly . we do walk you through exactly. we do know at this point so police have told us that we know that nicola woke up that morning and loaded car. we know that because we've seen from her ring doorbell. we know that she took to her the local primary school . she then walked along the road here behind me, across the bndge here behind me, across the bridge and down this path here towards the of the river wyre . towards the of the river wyre. we know that at 9:01, she logged in to a team's call, although a camera did remain off. then 9:10, there was the last confirmed sighting of nicola bully on the upper field . 23 bully on the upper field. 23 minutes later, her phone located by someone who didn't know her and her dog willow on the bench. that's been such prevalent image in the media past few weeks. so although there's not that much to go on, there still been plenty of twists and turns . this plenty of twists and turns. this
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very complex in last week by an independent search team became involved and they were helping lancashire police with their search . the river wyre of search. the river wyre of course, based on their hypothesis, their main hypothesis, their main hypothesis that nicola bully had gone into the water. but after three days their found a pizza folding pulled out of the as he said he believes nicola is not in that stretch of river where they'd been searching . then they'd been searching. then a few days ago we had a press conference with lancashire where they told us that a media atlee, as she was reported missing, nicola bully was a great as a high risk missing person because of specific vulnerabilities. now initially they wouldn't tell us what those vulnerabilities were they told us it was private to they told us it was private to the family but by the evening they'd done complete 180 and revealed to the public that in fact those vulnerabilities that she had previously had issues with alcohol as a result of the menopause. now the decision to
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reveal that information to the pubuc reveal that information to the public has been widely criticised because say that it's private and it shouldn't have been shared soil problem in the home secretary has demanded that has been explained why they revealed information and earlier on today the information commissioner edwards said we that at this stage of an intensive life investor gation the fullest most all the energies on the inquiry bolts given the high profile nature of this case. we be asking lancashire police to out how they reached the decision not to disclose this information in due course. so it does sound like there's going to be investigation into lancashire police's decision to reveal that very private information concerning nicola bully . but of concerning nicola bully. but of course we're still we're at three week point now and yet we're still at the same stage that we were on friday, the 27th
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of january or at that sophie reaper our north—west england. reporter let's get the view of the former metropolitan police senior investigating officer simon harding . simon, why what simon harding. simon, why what was the operational reason for them to release this information about nicola having issues with and the menopause? because struggling with it . yeah and too struggling with it. yeah and too i struggling with it. i'm not i mean i know what the operational reason was. i mean that's in their decision making process that the ceo there , rebecca that the ceo there, rebecca smith and potentially others immediate department have made that decision . i think where that decision. i think where where it comes from is unfortunately been created by the initial messaging we saw i think it was a 3rd of february when we saw the first superintendent of rila, sarah roddy. i think her name was come out and say that you their main working hypothesis that she's in the river that was questioned quite a lot by people in terms
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of well you know where is your evidence that and she suggested as well then that they essentially ruled out the other two working hypothesis which would be that nicola left her own accord that area or she was taken or left a third party. and isuppose taken or left a third party. and i suppose people wanted to know, well, why, why do you favour that particular route that you've gone down? and i think what then came out was that there wasn't anything specific trying to justify that that particular decision as probably made them say something . she had made them say something. she had vulnerabilities which i don't think you would need to do if you told the public that all of your high policies all carried the same weight you would expect to see the river being searched. you'd expect to see the grounds being searched you cctv in being searched and you cctv in cars , everybody else to be cars, everybody else to be spoken to. so i think that the initial media messaging has caused this sort of rollout caused this this sort of rollout of problems of and to suggest i mean it suggested that alcohol is a problem people now have had
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that carrot dangling when was she was she under the influence of alcohol? when she left that morning. but there's no suggestion that. so it's very suggestion of that. so it's very confusing message . so i can confusing message. so i can remember when little holly and jessica went missing and some of those two little girls who were, in fact, murdered. and there was an an inference that the police were out of their depth and an outside police came to. in do you think lancashire police out of their depth on this one. and perhaps do outside perhaps they do need outside support . i think, i think support. i think, i think they're certainly probably in terms reassurance for the terms of reassurance for the pubuc terms of reassurance for the public and everybody else is the need peer i think need for peer review. i think that , you know, you need for peer review. i think that, you know, you wouldn't necessarily call in somebody early to peer review you, but think that's there's questions there's people need reassurance . i mean, i think there's an awful lot being done and, you know, i'm not i don't criticise the police in that way because you see they're doing the things that conventional things that the conventional things that the conventional things that i would is if i was that the i would do is if i was the ceo. but they're making mistakes in terms of the
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phraseology and messaging. and that's this that's probably where this is all coming but in the all coming from. but in the background all this background behind all this they're everything you they're doing everything you would expect and i think the only the only problem is the cordon was an issue. i think that's probably where, again, there's there have some mistakes. and i think that's where somebody now needs come where somebody now needs to come in and make sure in peer review. it and make sure that else being that everything else is being being as be expected. being done as as be expected. all right. that's former senior police investigation officer simon harding dawn neesom, formerly the daily star. don't you and i have covered major invested cases like this in our journalistic career. they do seem to have got this the whole pr approach , whole image . it pr approach, whole image. it seems to have been wrong from the beginning. i think it has. and i think and i don't like to say this, but i think one of the reasons they have issued incredibly personal information , nicola, which must be incredibly upsetting for family and two little girls and obviously two little girls i know that's what the kids are saying to them. well well, quiet. you know children quiet. you know what children like? cruel. but like? they're very cruel. but i think are they have given think they are they have given
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that to their that information to cover their own failings and by portraying nicola as some sort of men disposal alcoholic like victim shaming somebody, we have no idea what's happened to her. and it's because they were. so if theyifin it's because they were. so if they if in the relationship with they if in the relationship with the press so appalling at the beginning that it's been messed up from day one. i mean and it's , you know, because we've been there the beginning of the police investigation, the police often take the media into confidence. so everybody's on side so that there's no misreporting. they clearly haven't done this. and i think that's the point. that's very important here because, you know, you can have a working relationship and relationship with the press and you them that you can give them that information confidence. you can give them that information confidence . so information in confidence. so when police then issue a when the police then issue a statement saying, we are concentrating on the fact she might get the water, the might get into the water, the press the reason for press then. no, the reason for that statement and this endless speculation that's in the papers and i just you know what i think since the leveson 2012 where the relationship rightly so between the police and the newspapers
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was heavily questioned. i think the police now have gone so far the police now have gone so far the other way. at the end of. absolutely. whereas we saw the media can be of great assistance in a major police investigation absolute for witnesses and the police conflate ideas in the media but it's just not worked it's i think it's interesting you mention the soham case because it was the press during that case that actually got another police force involved because cambridgeshire because the cambridgeshire police it so well, police were handling it so well, a like. the lancashire a bit like. the lancashire police now, and was the press police now, and it was the press actually got another police police now, and it was the press actuainvolved nother police police now, and it was the press actuainvolved and er police police now, and it was the press actuainvolved and got)lice police now, and it was the press actuainvolved and got)li(the force involved and got to the conclusion that the horrific conclusion that we the horrific ending little that ending as paul little goes that we but i think this is we now know but i think this is down to to say it the down to i hate to say it the police actually covering their own it's bad, own backside. i know it's bad, it's own backside. i know it's bad, ifs and own backside. i know it's bad, it's and we wish we wish it's grim and we wish we wish them well in the in the search for nicola. you know you're listening. andrew pierce hill and gb news. plenty come and gb news. plenty more to come in hour of the in the final half hour of the program. to program. i'm going to be speaking member the foreign speaking a member of the foreign affairs select committee about chinese surveillance planes. we really scare really loathe and really scare them. giving
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really loathe and really scare them. so why are we givin really loathe and really scare them. so \internationalvin million in international aid? it drives nuts. first, we're drives me nuts. but first, we're going our latest news going to get our latest news update . hi there , it is at 1:32 update. hi there, it is at 1:32 am. aron armstrong, the gb a.m. aron armstrong, the gb newsroom, the dp leader, jeffrey donaldson says progress has been made across a range of areas but further work is required before a deal . the northern further work is required before a deal. the northern ireland protocol can be agreed . his protocol can be agreed. his comments follow talks with the prime minister and other stormont leaders in belfast . stormont leaders in belfast. amid speculation a deal between the eu and the uk to resolve post—brexit trading arrangement could be unveiled early next week . sinn believe an week. sinn fein believe an agreement absolutely agreement is absolutely possible. mr. donaldson says the immediate future of the province is at stake. the decisions that will be taken by the prime minister and, by the european commission will either consign northern ireland to more division or will clear a path towards healing and to the restoration of political institutions . clearly there will institutions. clearly there will be further discussion between
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the government and the european union, but i think it is safe to say that progress has been across a range of areas , but across a range of areas, but there are still some areas where further work is . the british further work is. the british embassy spy david, who was caught passing information to the russians, has been jailed for more than 13 years. smith a former security guard in berlin , began collecting classified documents in 2018. the court heard he was motivated by a hatred the uk and support vladimir putin. he was caught an undercover sting operation by fake russian agents. smith he was suffering from depression and drinking heavily at the time . the snp's postponed conference on independence following the resignation of the first minister nicola sturgeon . it minister nicola sturgeon. it comes as the party executive committee says a ballot to select a new leader will close on the 27th of march. we know that the deputy first minister, john swinney , has announced he john swinney, has announced he will not enter the race . thank will not enter the race. thank you scottish government,
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you for scottish government, meanwhile, has offered health care staff an average 6.5% pay rise. workers would also receive a one off payment of between 400 and £900. unison scotland's head of health, matt mclaughlin , has of health, matt mclaughlin, has called it a credible pay offer that needs serious consideration . continued efforts . tv, online . continued efforts. tv, online and dab radio. this is.
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gb news. welcome back to andrew pierce on strikes. yes, more strikes this time it's the border force workers here, they're staging a fresh walkout part . their fresh walkout part. their dispute over pay, pensions and conditions . members of the conditions. members of the pubuc conditions. members of the public commercial union in public and commercial union in dover french ports are dover and french ports are walking out today and over the weekend as if aren't fed up weekend as if we aren't fed up with it. the union has claimed inexperienced staff are being brought in to cover for striking
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border psg border force workers. psg general secretary so what causes ministers their priority? security. it obviously isn't. we can now get the latest from with gb south of england. gb news, south of england. reporter rae addison . hi, reporter rae addison. hi, andrew. yes, it's here in where the government warned that we could see the biggest delays , a could see the biggest delays, a result of this industrial action taking place. i have to say right now. free flowing traffic both in and out of the port and companies reporting that all of services are running on time from calais and from dover as well. and that's despite around a thousand odd border force officers being on strike today. of course, we three more days of industrial as well so it could worse . kevin mills is the worse. kevin mills is the assistant secretary of the home office of the union. he joins me . kevin, is this strike achieving what you wanted it to 7 achieving what you wanted it to ? yeah, i think it is. i mean, i think it's raising the profile. i mean, what we hear today talking, if we weren't, we wouldn't be doing that. so, yeah, it's raising the profile
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and, know, no wants to and, you know, no one wants to have strike, but until the have to strike, but until the government to sit government is prepared to sit down and negotiate down the table and negotiate with us. not sure what other with us. i'm not sure what other opfions with us. i'm not sure what other options got. sadly your options we got. sadly your general secretary said civil general secretary has said civil servants are having to choose between heating or eating. is that amongst your that the case amongst your colleagues the border force? i'm aware members of border force aware of members of border force that have to make that serious decision , you know, all decision, you know, all executive officers rise. last year was , about £270, and that's year was, about £270, and that's over two years because no one got a pay was the year before. and that's about 1/10 of what some of our management guys have got. well, the loaf of bread isn't ten times more expensive for gas electricity for managers. gas electricity isn't expensive . isn't ten times more expensive. so, yeah, members are really so, yeah, our members are really concerned. know, concerned. we've got, you know, food collection points up in some of our offices. food collection points up in some of our offices . that's some of our offices. that's completely of. a lot of completely unheard of. a lot of our viewers may be saying . well, our viewers may be saying. well, hold on. you know, there hasn't been much in previous peaks strikes. did actually saw strikes. we did actually saw times improve going customs control and immigration . so you control and immigration. so you know what would you how would
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you react to that? i would say if there was times that were improved, i think control, that's because there was no control there was a total lack of control what we've seen today. friends mine today. i've got friends mine that have down from that have travel down from liverpool. posted down liverpool. i've been posted down here southwest here from the southwest that have posted here from have been posted down here from other been posted down other that have been posted down here the here to be replaced by the military those locations. military in those locations. well, i'm not in the army. and i wouldn't want to do their job. and they i don't think actually want ours and will not do want to do ours and will not do as effectively in any as effectively as us in any shape or form. so there are hundreds of staff. we know the department in are department of shipped in are putting in hotels. anecdotally are bonuses to them are paying bonuses to get them come and work they're come down here and work they're not of the action so not part of the target action so you they were not going be you know they were not going be on the first place. on strike in the first place. karen thank very much karen mills, thank you very much for giving us your forjoining us, giving us your perspective. general, perspective. andrew general, secretary marks , what has said secretary marks, what has said that the government is taking advantage of his members ? he's advantage of his members? he's saying to members of the public if they are caught up with delays , they vent delays, that they should vent their frustration at the government. he's also that government. and he's also that these strikes continue
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these targeted strikes continue until the union's demands are met. alright, that's how south—east of england. reporter dawn . why shouldn't the dawn. why shouldn't the government do everything it to stop the strike having an effect on people who are trying to catch a ferry. that's what it's like, you know, that quote there is like, take it out on the it's like but people aren't doing we're ordinary people. i mean these are clearly targeting ordinary working people, many of whom getting pay whom who aren't getting pay rise, who coping the rise, who are coping with the cost of and it's the end cost of living. and it's the end of half can trade. yeah, of half we can trade. yeah, it's, it's it's, you know, it's deliberately targeting the people struggling . don't people who are struggling. don't get wrong, i fully support get me wrong, i fully support the strike and the the right to strike and the government i do think should get its out and get round its finger out and get round table people. but table and talk to people. but i don't who to believe most don't know who to believe most time. once i look at you and time. and once i look at you and you government aren't you say government aren't talking on the talking to us on the other government, we're talking government, i now we're talking to you so i don't know, but just know ordinary families are suffering and always to know ordinary families are suftargeted d always to know ordinary families are suftargeted and. ilways to know ordinary families are suftargeted and. inays to know ordinary families are suftargeted and. i remember to know ordinary families are suftargeted and. i remember at) be targeted and. i remember at christmas the border force withdrew labour at the withdrew their labour at the airports. was over airports. i was over it over christmas it was run like
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christmas and it was run like clockwork. that was other clockwork. that was the other interesting i've got. i've interesting point i've got. i've got very careful that got to be very careful that striking themselves out of jobs as, say, the armed forces covered brilliantly on lot covered brilliantly on a lot less well, the way. less money as well, by the way. yeah can't go on strike yeah they can't go on strike oven yeah they can't go on strike over. it all much more over. and it was all much more efficient. certainly was. now we can latest results can bring you the latest results of gb news people's poll of the gb news people's poll where tackling websites to have an verification for under 18 an age verification for under 18 is a big issue 78% of people. in our gb news poll say there should be an verification for access to 17% who neither agree or disagree. how can you not have an opinion ? let's see if we have an opinion? let's see if we can call the who's executive of the age verification association in this poll must be music to your ears . yes, but it's not your ears. yes, but it's not particularly new music sense that we know, particularly for parents even more are in favour of age, fortification and in when you ask children themselves the majority of children under 16 want to be locked out of access to. i think the reason
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for this is you put a few facts together. you're 90% to 11 year olds, have a mobile phone. almost all of those are smartphone use. and the average age, the are seeing is 13. but a quarter of who are seeing it's a seeing it's 11 and we're finding those children and their parents are seeing very violent twice as much violence towards women as towards men . this is not the towards men. this is not the innocent you are handed down by the older at school in your day and. you know, this is nasty, violent misogynistic . and i can violent misogynistic. and i can remember covering a downing street summit when david cameron was prime minister. he had google and people like there and there was an agreement he whereby there would be you'd have to literally put a switch on to access to as opposed on to have access to as opposed to switching it up. and that was supposed that was about 14, eight years later, nothing's happened. eight years later, nothing's happened . well, indeed. and the happened. well, indeed. and the parliament passed a law fact in
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2017 to bring in age verification . but i think boris verification. but i think boris johnson took the view , i believe johnson took the view, i believe that he said he didn't become minister to stand between the working man and his. but of course it's not the working man we want to prevent accessing. it's children and there's been very effective preserving technology available at least for last four years now which will allow you to your age without giving away who you are . and there's a bill now going through parliament again. the online safety bill which can do this, but the way it's been structured is parents see any change before 2026. so luckily , change before 2026. so luckily, lord bethell, baroness flora benjamin, you may remember from your childhood days and others of pushing forward amendments to ensure that all is captured by, that bill and that within six months of the bill becoming law so hopefully by the end of this year age verification. verification be required across all forms of . and we just don't
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all forms of. and we just don't want 15 year olds, 16 year olds and even younger in accessing us. what you're referring is hardcore, misogynistic , violent hardcore, misogynistic, violent of any description . in a no. i of any description. in a no. i mean, the children's commissioner did some research recently , very, very disturbing recently, very, very disturbing . in fact, she she noticed that 49% of kids had seen violent in and many of them saw that as misogyny is and as i said earlier, is twice as much violence towards women and girls and when you look at some of the stories had some of the tragic stories had some of the tragic stories recently , they've often stories recently, they've often been with use of . we been associated with use of. we also find that if you start using much earlier , then you using much earlier, then you tend to look for more violence and hardcore later life. so it becomes something of a long term habit which just gets worse over time . or that. steven colby, time. or that. steven colby, who's from the verification association . i can't believe
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association. i can't believe i said i was writing about that in the daily mail. i think it was 2014. david cameron's we've now agreed effectively you'll have to put a switch to on access so you'd have to be proactive. that was eight years ago. paid kids as young as 15, 13, ten can access.i as young as 15, 13, ten can access. i think there's too much money involved don't know i may be cynical i think there's a lot of companies out there. we're making too much money and have a vested interest in making sure anybody can access. they want that. a problem got with that. that is a problem got with this. while you've got this. i mean while you've got a profound agree with it and profound they agree with it and some that is being access some of the that is being access is horrific regarding the treatment of women, absolutely appalling. but i just think that kids are so knowledgeable on these devices . i had a kids are so knowledgeable on these devices. i had a i actually had a 12 year old explain to me how to use the dark web. well, i don't know. well, i don't know. i haven't got a clue i mean, you know, i need a five year old to go on programme my tv. yeah kids know more than we know about to all
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this stuff. so i think no matter what are put place, kids will what are put in place, kids will find a way around. it unfortunately doesn't mean the government do government shouldn't do something. doesn't mean the government shouldn't do anything, of anything, though. absolutely. of course would course they should. and it would be was foolproof. be great if it was foolproof. but there clamour the but why there a clamour from the labour party let's get labour party saying let's get this because we've this done? because we've had a bit of controversy in past. in 2017, six years later, it's not been enforced. and the cynic in me makes think that there are me makes me think that there are two, there's too much money involved , many companies involved, many companies involved, many companies involved want involved you don't actually want to happen. and that affects all political parties . very political parties. very interesting. now, there's been a lot talk about a mass lot of talk about a mass surveillance operation by china over western nations . the last over western nations. the last week saw those extraordinary week we saw those extraordinary balloons i don't know why it took biden so long to get took joe biden so long to get them shot down three i for them shot down three i think for were shot down in the united states in and states air space in canada and rishi sunak said if they only go over great britain he'd shoot them too . down defence secretary them too. down defence secretary ben wallace said he's taking it seriously and he's in fact going to conduct a security review. well, can speak now to bob
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well, i can speak now to bob seely, who's the conservative of parliament for the isle of wight, member of wight, and he's also member of the affairs select the foreign affairs select committee, to you committee, bob, afternoon to you , afternoon and afternoon , afternoon to you and afternoon to listeners at hibbs . to your listeners at bob hibbs. my to your listeners at bob hibbs. my worry about these balloons. okay so we don't want them flying over britain , over flying over britain, over america, but hasn't china already got about . 230 satellite already got about. 230 satellite in space who are doubtless spying on all of us. the simple answer to that is, yes, they've got a lot of satellites. and so therefore, if you want a scientific answer as to why they balloons as well, i don't i can guess. and one of the maybe satellites much higher. so you have to have a much higher quality of technology to get the same results as you would with a balloon because the balloon is what, 50 kilometre is nearer earth than a satellite . earth than a satellite. therefore, your technology go further . and therefore, your technology go further. and also therefore, your technology go further . and also the therefore, your technology go further. and also the balloon gives you the chance to discreetly your adversary's radar systems. the ability of
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the united states , united the united states, united kingdom, canada to actually track these devices. so there is some technical reason for using balloons over satellites, but also reasons too, as well to do with understanding enemies or your adversaries capabilities and are they a new phenomenon or have they on for a very long time? i don't know. i think they're reasonably okay for this level of technology . i'd say level of technology. i'd say they're new within the last decade. but, know , the decade. but, you know, the people were using balloons back in the 1919 century for warfare. so the idea using a balloon, something takes you above the surface. so can see down is absolutely not new. but this level of technology in, this sophistication is new. and again , think we should remember that china is an emerging power and this is less sophisticated is inherently less sophisticated than launching a rocket into the air. you can let the balloon go up and provided you can maintain
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good control over balloon. frankly, the costs are significantly and the technology is significantly as well. so there are good reasons why you should why the chinese would be using balloon and we up we saw a good headline rishi sunak this week saying would authorise the taking down any balloons that hover over britain all very well and good. but then we read that last year the british foreign aid budget 50 or was it last year the british foreign aid budget 50 or was i t £60 aid budget 50 or was it £60 million to china? there's no logic here. why on earth are we sending money to country that sending money to a country that soon overtake the united soon will overtake the united states, as the richest country on the planet, country which on the planet, a country which we is routine murdering we we know is routine murdering we muslims ? firstly, i'm dubious muslims? firstly, i'm dubious about whether china is going to have the world's largest economy. let's just wait and see because automatically assume that sure it's the case. that i'm not sure it's the case. so and secondly, for all do i mean it's great that we're going to shoot down these balloons. for all we know, they might be flying overhead over us for the last ten but we last five, ten years, but we haven't noticed. so let's hope they let's they
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they happen. and let's hope they haven't been getting away with this years when it comes to this for years when it comes to china you're right on china and aid, you're right on principle we not be principle. we should not be giving to . people at giving aid to. people at g20 nafions. giving aid to. people at g20 nations. it's absurd and we certainly shouldn't be giving aid places like india and aid to places like india and who, they have a poverty who, yes, they have a poverty problem . we our own problem. do we in our own country , anyone with a space country, anyone with a space program and nuclear weapons program? frankly, we they don't need their don't need our need their they don't need our aid money in defence, andrew would say. andrew mitchell say this going to groups to help this is going to groups to help human going to human rights, it's going to groups values, etc, groups that share values, etc, etc. i think it just etc. but i think it just regardless of the worth of these individual organisations , i individual organisations, i think, andrew, as you say yourself , optics of it think, andrew, as you say yourself, optics of it just look dreadful . and frankly, we need dreadful. and frankly, we need to be much clever aid. i would for example i'd include all british peacekeeping in your aid budget and frankly, i'd include the bbc world service, tv and radio in aid budget as well. and i would slightly and change the definition of aid so it's not just about economic development , it's about political freedom and basic stability and it's about basic stability
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as . all right. that's bob as well. all right. that's bob sealy. he's a conservative mp for the isle of wight and he's a member of the foreign affairs select committee. now, we talked earlier from earlier about working from home because. figures that because. new figures show that the national between the office of national between september 16% of september and january, 16% of the working the workforce still working study from home, 28% splitting their time between and the office. why don't we all get back into workplace? i'm back into the workplace? i'm going talk to marilyn going to talk to marilyn devenish, a remote working devenish, who's a remote working consultant. so why don't you get into your office go into your workplace? why are workplace? why are you why are you at home? and you skulking at home? and i think one of the big misconceptions i've been working in this field in terms of helping organisations implement remote and flexible working since thousand and three. and one of the things that we found straightaway a few months straightaway within a few months of place of those trials taking place and this over a period of nine this was over a period of nine years that we did that in total people would would over a lot of the home because they the time at home because they were of the label that they were so of the label that they were so of the label that they were at home all day doing crossword watching videos . so crossword watching videos. so actually they were overworking .
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actually they were overworking. and one of the things we had to talk about immediately is around the boundaries , no stopping the boundaries, no stopping point. i think a common point. so i think a common misconception that people are skulking just because you're not the but they could be, the office but they could be, couldn't they? they could be raiding the fridge. they could be of tea in the be having a cup of tea in the back garden. who knows what they're doing if you're in the office the office or the show or the factory, you can you know exactly someone's to. exactly what someone's up to. now ago, this well before i now ago, this was well before i got into this work. got into this line of work. there was someone in an office i used to work in. she was always glued to her computer every. the focussed, extremely concerned treated had like treated and she had like a barricade. so you could never approach her desk without her seeing you one day she got called away . her boss to called away. her boss said to me, marilyn, need document. me, marilyn, i need document. can you just go pull it out of the files? no problem , i walk the files? no problem, i walk past desk and it's full of past the desk and it's full of solitaire . and when i sat back solitaire. and when i sat back down, somebody leaned over and said is she solitaire ring again 7 said is she solitaire ring again ? and that is how she used to spend the of her time. so i came to realise prison t is very
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different to productivity fascinating. that's marilyn devaney. she's a remote working consultant . well thank you for consultant. well thank you for joining me. i find it very sad news the family of bruce willis announced he's got front temperature in his statement they said was a relief they said it was a relief finally a clear diagnosis. finally have a clear diagnosis. they've their deep they've expressed their deep gratitude for the great outpouring to bruce . outpouring of love to bruce. he's of course, he's one of the world's most favourite actors. uk they're uk charities say they're thankful sharing his thankful to for sharing his diagnosis will help raise diagnosis as it will help raise awareness condition in awareness of the condition in the course, barbara the same, of course, barbara windsor's i can windsor's family did. i can speak to the associate speak now to the associate director partnerships at director of and partnerships at the reynolds for . the society, paul reynolds for. he's only 67, 68. his acting career is over. he's got early onset dementia . you think it's onset dementia. you think it's important that we know this absolutely. thank you for having me . yes we are alzheimer's me. yes we are alzheimer's society are sending our thoughts to bruce willis . society are sending our thoughts to bruce willis. his family is really important that he has shared this news. incredibly brave of the family do so
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because it does help shine a light on the fact that there were 900,000 people living with dementia in the uk many, many more around the world. and we are alzheimer's society are here to help people affected by this condition. there talk of that drug coming on stream next year. how do you think that will be in the battle? dementia well , the battle? dementia well, research is really important . research is really important. research is and will bring us the answers. we are making progress and imap is the first drug for alzheimer's disease that slows progression . we are that slows progression. we are alzheimer's society are currently funding nine projects into dementia both research needs to do much with with this of dementia and is critical that the government's national dementia mission supports research into lesser known forms
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of dementia so that we can continue provide answers and continue provide answers and continue to provide hope for people like bruce . all right, people like bruce. all right, that's paul rennison. the outside society. it's so sad. my dad had alzheimer's and we lost him for years. really? he was a twilight didn't stop us twilight zone. didn't stop us loving him to bits and. bruce was a huge figure . you think of was a huge figure. you think of those die off. of course , it's those die off. of course, it's very significant that families confirmed what we'd all feared and absolutely. and i think it is so important as. and absolutely. and i think it is so important as . your guest is so important as. your guest has just said that we talk about this. i think it's not one of the six problems, is it, that we talk about i mean, sort of we talk about i mean, sort of we talk about i mean, sort of we talk a lot about cancer now and things like that. and i lost my dad that was dad to cancer and that was horrific. but to actually see someone you love just just slip away still there away and they're still there physically they don't know physically, but they don't know you. can't. and there's you. you can't. and there's little of when you little moments of when you suddenly back and it must be an horror to go through. so i think it's so important we are talking about this now. you know, you just salts with everybody know and you don't know who it's
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going to be action . bruce willis going to be action. bruce willis then sad day my is one of the great i mean letters she had dementia it's unfair giving and merciless to anyone and this is a very rare rare type of it isn't it but it can affect absolutely anybody any age as well andrew and that's worrying if am that drug is coming on stream next year could be a game changer because i think it could slow it down by about percent. well. well hopefully can afford to actually start giving it to the people that need it because it will be a changer and you can only hope you are able to do right. what could happen to you. you're somebody you love. i worry about things with dementia. i think of obviously you yourself don't know. so i worry about those i love having to do with those and obviously i worry losing my mum to that because it would just be i just don't know how you with that situation or or that's dawn neesom and know i love being to bruce willis and family. now bruce willis and his family. now you've watching and you've been watching and listening pierce here
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you've been watching and listtv ng pierce here you've been watching and listtv news pierce here you've been watching and listtv news this pierce here you've been watching and listtv news this show erce here you've been watching and listtv news this show is:e here you've been watching and listtv news this show is back'e on tv news this show is back every friday 12 until two. don't go because up go anywhere though, because up next, briefing with next, it's the briefing with the magnificent foster. and magnificent arlene foster. and she's a lot to say about she's got a lot to say about what's in northern what's happening in northern ireland .
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hello and welcome to the briefing. i'm arlene. and here's what's coming up over the next well, prime minister rishi sunak has been in belfast this morning holding talks sell his brexit plan to the parties in northern ireland. i've spoken to former brexit minister and deputy chair the irg jones . it's a brexit minister and deputy chair the irg jones. it's a busy the irg david jones. it's a busy weekend too for the prime minister as he joins suspense secretary. ben wallace at a security conference munich. i'll be joined by the former chief of the defence staff , sir simon the defence staff, sir simon mayo . three weeks on from nicola
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mayo. three weeks on from nicola polly's disappearance in

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