welcome to gloria means first stop. it's mp neil coyle on a year without alcohol . the point year without alcohol. the point i'm made the decision to stop. i didn't really feel i had a decision about stopping frankly, because it was out of control . because it was out of control. shadow cabinet minister preet coal. gill i could not believe that this person used their place of work. email to actually make that threat . he's been in make that threat. he's been in parliament for over three decades.labour parliament for over three decades. labour mp clive betts and a member of police superintendent coming to me knew

me and said there's over 60 people died. i've seen that . all people died. i've seen that. all that after your news . good that after your news. good evening at 6:00. i'm arron armstrong in the gb newsroom, the former health secretary matt hancock, wanted to quote , hancock, wanted to quote, frighten the pants off everyone to ensure public compliance with constantly changing covid rules. the latest leaked whatsapp messages in the sunday telegraph show mr. hancock and his team discussing how to utilise fear and guilt to make people obey lockdown , including using a new lockdown, including using a new strain of the virus to scare the public. shadow work and pensions secretary jonathan ashworth says mr. hancock's political career is over. i think the key thing is, is that he is a councillor himself in front of an inquiry. it comes back to this point, isn't it.7 why we need this inquiry to take place quickly? a lot of people lost their lives. there's a lot of people who

think that the way in which lockdowns operated has had long term implications on all kinds of fronts. everybody wants an inquiry because everybody wants to be able to put see the evidence, to be able to debate it properly and calmly . and it's it properly and calmly. and it's why we need to get on with it. political association with mr. hancock, the uk's top civil servant, described boris johnson as a nationally distrusted figure he feared would be ignored by the public if the then prime minister introduced new lockdown rules . simon case new lockdown rules. simon case was appointed cabinet secretary by boris johnson in september 2020. a spokesperson for mr. johnson's declined to comment . johnson's declined to comment. some rail passengers season tickets have gone up by hundreds of pounds today in the largest increase in train fares for more than a decade. ticket prices across england and wales are rising by an average 5.9, despite strikes and cancellations . the rail cancellations. the rail minister, hugh merriman says the increase is below inflation. labour has described it as

savage . next week's remaining savage. next week's remaining ambulance strikes in england have been called off. the unite union, which represents 3000 workers, has entered pay talks with the government. unite has joined units and gmb unions which say there has been a huge shift in the government's position. the strikes were to take place tomorrow and wednesday . two men arrested wednesday. two men arrested following the shooting of a police officer in northern ireland have been released. detective chief inspector john caldwell was shot several times in oba last month and remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. six other men arrested and questioned as part of the investigation have previously been released . the previously been released. the duke and duchess of sussex have received an official invitation to king charles coronation. a spokesperson for meghan and harry told the times a decision on their attendance, though, would not be disclosed at the present time. the announcement follows prince harry's recent interview with a trauma expert where he said he always felt

different to the rest of his family just like his mother, princess diana. the coronation will take place on the 6th of may. tv online and dab radio . may. tv online and dab radio. this is gb news. and more news coming up at the top of the next hour. houn from . neil coyle . on the 1st of from. neil coyle. on the 1st of march. you reach an incredible milestone. you will live . not milestone. you will live. not had an alcoholic drink for a year. had an alcoholic drink for a year . how had an alcoholic drink for a year. how does had an alcoholic drink for a year . how does that feel had an alcoholic drink for a year. how does that feel ? it's year. how does that feel? it's good. no, no alcoholic drink, but no hangover. it's right here. and for the first year since my early teens. i think without a drink, which is , you without a drink, which is, you know, looking back , is an know, looking back, is an indication of a broader problem

. but now it feels good. i feel more energetic. i've saved money. i've saved time . i've money. i've saved time. i've lost weight. you know , if you're lost weight. you know, if you're physically better. so it's been a positive step in what's been a difficult year at your worst. how much were you drinking ? a how much were you drinking? a week. so the point i made the decision to stop, i didn't really feel i had a decision about stopping, really feel i had a decision about stopping , frankly, because about stopping, frankly, because it was out of control . it was it was out of control. it was over 200 units a week. so and i wasn't drinking every night. so it you an idea. and was it gives you an idea. and i was never at day drinker. and if you live for and me, it was almost entirely be a beer, wine. so you know, due to acid it's a lot of units, it's a lot of beer every evening . most evenings a week, evening. most evenings a week, they say that people with a dnnk they say that people with a drink problem only stop when they hit rock bottom . what was they hit rock bottom. what was your rock bottom? well getting myself in trouble and accept

that i am responsible for the position i got myself into . and position i got myself into. and just to remind people about it. so there were complaints about my behaviour and language towards others in the parliamentary state and i'm very sorry for the inappropriate language in paga . the that language in paga. the that shouldn't have happened . i was shouldn't have happened. i was suspended by the labour party and you know, i made the decision to stop before there was a suspension or formal complaints who might actually when i heard there was concern and i sought to apologise and i made the decision to stop drinking. at that point, i knew i wasn't in control and i knew the only way for me was to stop altogether . and initially the only way for me was to stop altogether. and initially , you altogether. and initially, you know, my thinking was i need to stop for a period. i didn't think even then, i wasn't thinking , i think even then, i wasn't thinking, i need to do this. i felt at that point , if thinking, i need to do this. i felt at that point, if i thinking, i need to do this. i felt at that point , if i could felt at that point, if i could get to christmas, that would have been a pretty solid achievement . the longer i've achievement. the longer i've done this, the easier it is to

realise that drinking has been a problem for a long time. in my life, and also that the only way to keep myself safer and healthier is to stop altogether permanently. to remind permanently. so just to remind people, you were suspended from the labour party for an incident involving a british journalist who has a chinese mum over some racist remarks that you made in the bar . is racist remarks that you made in the bar. is that racist remarks that you made in the bar . is that accurate ? the bar. is that accurate? british, chinese. and i accept i use inappropriate language. it's, you know, and i remain very sorry and, you know, it's . very sorry and, you know, it's. it's a horrible situation to be in. i left you know, somebody left a conversation with me feeling upset and offended by what i said. and there's just no excuse to be in that position. i shouldn't have that to shouldn't have allowed that to happen. shouldn't have allowed that to happen . and i should have been happen. and i should have been clear i was very sorry at clear that i was very sorry at the time. i tried to apologise in the evening and it wasn't believed that it was sincere. and you know, i, i have

and that's you know, i, i have to on the chin and to take that on the chin and i hope that my actions and repeat apology months apology over the last 12 months is, is seen as this. and we can move forward as a result of it. and since you banned from the bars on the parliamentary estate. so yeah, i've got a letter from the site and i'm saying six, six of the watering holes in westminster that isn't all of them. and because i'd made the decision that i wanted to stop and i needed as much support as possible in achieving that, and i was worried from the start. i didn't believe i would be able to do this. the dependency was strong, you know, thinking massive, a ridiculous quantity that was very harmful to my house. and so i asked for all of the so there is this one called the smoking room, which is about my favourite woman on piece. i don't want to say that you found yourself , but piece. i don't want to say that you found yourself, but you know, that wasn't on the list because under the parliamentary classifications that counts as a

cafe from okay i think that we used to people drinking that but but you know i asked for it to be all venues and for you know a strong enough period to give me the best chance of not you know , breaking my abstinence . and , breaking my abstinence. and you know, i'm i'm a the ban passed in august i'm allowed in everyone i've been back in they have 0% bottles and i'm keen that they get a 0% on the pump. do you think there is one in the can. i mean that. yeah it's a campaign to some the way. jeez there should be as many bars on this site or actually let i say i think it's a legitimate question. i'm not in the first ever labour mp for them. and so you did campaign for no bars in parliament? i'm not in that mindset. i think actually the social side, the network is good, useful and the vast majority of people don't have that predisposition to drink too much , inability to stop drinking much, inability to stop drinking is doesn't affect everyone . and

is doesn't affect everyone. and it's just those who allow myself have that predisposed to who end up in an unhealthy situation. so i wouldn't i wouldn't say that they need to be stopped. and then, of course, you then that will have a resonance as well. and if you want to stay late for votes, they need to food votes, then they need to be food outlets places. so outlets in other places. so i you know, i think i, i, i'm, i'm hoping that we back in the labour party soon. i don't think that we're making any friends of other colleagues. if i started calling for the files to be shut out of parliament, why should the labour party have your back and. oh look, i, i want to see from the labour party and my track record actually is representing an incredibly diverse constituency . and i diverse constituency. and i think doing it well, the, you know, the response from constituency organisations when the news broke and allegations are made, you know , i had the are made, you know, i had the somali group had the afghan group i had and about jeremy corbyn could say all these things. i'm sure he could . the things. i'm sure he could. the difference us is he's difference between us is he's never so and i, you

never apologised so and i, you know i, i remain, i'm horrified that i left someone upset, know i, i remain, i'm horrified that i left someone upset , not that i left someone upset, not least because, you know, i have chinese family. i lived in china for two years. i should have known better . and it's painful. known better. and it's painful. it's, it's deeply humiliating that i didn't know that i was using a term that my chinese family might use , but i family might use, but i shouldn't and i can't. and i know that now. and it's you know, that's a very steep learning curve . but, you know, learning curve. but, you know, the track record i have in my constituency is bringing forward delegates within our clp , but delegates within our clp, but also councillors, as a the also as councillors, as a the first ever hijab wearing muslim woman councillor in suffolk is someone i signed up to the labour party. i've tried throughout my work in the constituency to bring forward more diverse candidates and i have it in my agenda now to make sure we get more british, chinese represented in the labour party. we have it like it's the elephant. we have chinese students and we have a lot of hong kong expats moving to this country because of

what's happening in their country . so if neil cole is country. so if neil cole is readmitted to the labour party , readmitted to the labour party, he can guarantee you will not bnng he can guarantee you will not bring the labour party into disrepute again under present right . let's go back to alcohol right. let's go back to alcohol . let's well, i'm hoping to not good points . so let's have a good points. so let's have a look at how you have done it. did you go to do you go to alcoholics anonymous meetings? so the first thing for me was professional support. stop, because i couldn't have done it without medical help . and that without medical help. and that included you know, seeing a doctor, but also medication to, i think it's called librium for a fixed period where it you know, it's a flow above everything really and that and then there were other things that come with the name of it to stop cravings and deal with the side effects of stopping. so medication was, was actually a really important of this really important part of this and couldn't done and i couldn't have done it without support. that without that support. so that was the initial period

was because the initial period is much the hardest. of is very much the hardest. and of course it's where most people who try to stop fail because they have of that they don't have all of that support you need in support and you need it in place. was initially the place. and i was initially the initial in initial assessment in westminster didn't qualify westminster was i didn't qualify for help, stop drinking. what, what, assessment by who. so what, what assessment by who. so it is, know, you go it said is, you know, you go through a workplace assessment, there's a there's a support service for the house of commons for employees. and so employee assistance program is to support. but i and you know, it's i can laugh about it now but they said because it's the obvious all childhood trauma they wouldn't treat me for the alcohol addiction until i dealt with that well. it was with that as well. it was incredibly awkward and took and it was only because then everything became public. i think that things changed. so that initial private assessment was done and support was refused. and then coming forward and everything being more public, it was like, okay, this is we're going to have to do this. and then, yes, i've had lots of i have to say, i mean,

one of the reasons i was really , you know , terrified is a fair , you know, terrified is a fair word, i think, in this sense. i was i didn't you know, i was petrified of giving up. i felt i was giving up part of myself. i felt i was giving up a lifestyle and something that was integral to me . and i thought i would to me. and i thought i would lose a lot through that. and actually family , friends and actually family, friends and others who've come forward. one of my best mates. so i didn't want to house the thing. he stuck with me and the network support is colossal. but yes, i go to alcoholics anonymous . i go to alcoholics anonymous. i don't think i meant to say that. itend don't think i meant to say that. i tend to is one of the rules on front of breaking a rule. they all get thrown out of that. but you know, the fellowship is incredible. the tips, the practical support in how to avoid scenarios and not end up with situations where drink support or given to you, that you you don't really want around you. and i've had this, you know

, people say, i'll just have one glass each time i did celebrate something. it'sjust glass each time i did celebrate something. it's just just one glass. so i hope we have it. but for me, one drink is, you know, just a start and it's, you know, ihave just a start and it's, you know, i have to be absolutely clear on that. but things like, you take it if you go out to dinner, make it if you go out to dinner, make it to the wine glass, take it away before someone accidentally pulls one, you know, just simple little tips like that come little tips like that that come out sharing time and space out of sharing time and space with other people in a similar situation or who in many cases you've they've you've been through it. they've done they've achieved in done it, they've achieved in stopping and you know, this one in westminster , but more people in westminster, but more people should come to and this this one i go to in bermondsey. so and i'm very grateful for the, you know, their time . i read know, their time. i read a little bit about the process so we can talk about in the abstract say not breaching any confidences but it's well known the 12 step program and i read that you have to apologise as i'm paraphrasing it's people who

you may have hurt during your time drinking to make amends without revealing anything . you without revealing anything. you are uncomfortable with . i'm on are uncomfortable with. i'm on the steps. so. so i didn't think i'd make a year, so i'm in the process of considering having a sponson process of considering having a sponsor. i'm going to promise, honest, that, you know, when i started this, i didn't think it be permanent the longer it's gone on, the better i feel, the more confident i am about and more confident i am about and more resolute. you know, i've had heart condition of my had the heart condition of my daughter of. you know, daughter to think of. you know, i really have to stop permanently. so i'm, you know, i will be going through and will be going through it and yeah, i'll be honest. it's yeah, i'll i'll be honest. it's that's a long list . that's it that's a long list. that's it goes back a long time . final goes back a long time. final question . when i looked at the question. when i looked at the programme , the 12 step program, programme, the 12 step program, there's a lot about god in there . have you had to find the higher calls ? no, i've always higher calls? no, i've always been christian. so i don't i'm not uncomfortable about the

references to god. that is part of it. but it's very clear that god is, as you say , god. so that god is, as you say, god. so that may be different for different people, and it may just be a some higher sense that doesn't necessarily have even a religious connotation . and so religious connotation. and so it's what which whatever people feel comfortable with. and i think actually , you know, think actually, you know, knowing how hard it is to stop getting yourself through that door to one of those sessions is the most important. and you know, anyone thinking it's about god just it's not it's about you andifs god just it's not it's about you and it's about support to stop drinking. if you know you need to and anyone can go who is committed to stopping, there are people who come who haven't yet stopped. there are people who come , who are family members of come, who are family members of others . well, there's al—anon others. well, there's al—anon for carers, but you know , people for carers, but you know, people are all, you know, in a different space. there are people who , you know, have people who, you know, have stopped and of had a drink. more recently and are are seeking to

stop again. so it's it it's there is a support network of people who share an addiction, who want to support each other, to stop . thank you. it's an to stop. thank you. it's an incredible achievement . to stop. thank you. it's an incredible achievement. i'm pleased to have made. yeah, i hoped to sustain it. if i can say the word. thank you for sharing all the details of that process and that journey . well process and that journey. well done. thanks coming up, labour's preet coal gill and but when i was a councillor , you know, my was a councillor, you know, my kids were very young and i was told to go home on many occasions and look after my kids and not worry myself about certain things. and that was very misogynistic. coming up, senior labour mp clive betts. isn't it about who pays to save the planet ? yes, it is. and the planet? yes, it is. and i think we have to be very careful that we don't end up putting an undue burden on people who are on low incomes and really struggling in the current

climate

preet cargill, labour mp, labour's shadow cabinet member. your dad was a bus driver. labour's shadow cabinet member. your dad was a bus driver . your your dad was a bus driver. your mum worked as a seam stress working class to your coal . working class to your coal. absolutely. i mean, my parents came to the united kingdom from punjab in india. my mum was eight. my dad was 15 and they came because my grandfather, my great grandfather , fought for great grandfather, fought for world war i and world war ii. and so, you know, their experience of coming to britain in the 1950s was really, really quite interesting because many people lived and shared a home and my mum talks about, you know, sharing a room lots of different families had different rooms, but you know, tasting food from people from the canbbean food from people from the caribbean for example, for people from different countries. and communities and that's how communities really one another. and really support one another. and see, my dad , you know, he

see, my dad, you know, he started off foundry , he started off in the foundry, he unionised the place unionised actually the place that he worked and address these issues and of course very much a working class background. but they felt really proud to be here in britain because of the opportunities it gave us. and one thing my father really valued education, because he valued was education, because he wasn't able to complete his and ehhen wasn't able to complete his and either, know, mum to either, you know, my mum went to school here, she very much school here, but she very much didn't continue that going to college. went worked as college. she went and worked as everybody and that was everybody else did and that was really important. so you know, growing up in a environment of one of seven and i was the eldest of seven, i know, and i really had to help my mum a lot. you can imagine i was cooking from age of 12 and lost out from the age of 12 and lost out on lot of my childhood in many on a lot of my childhood in many ways aspects, but i really thank my mum because i'm the first generation you being generation of, you know, being a very person in terms very resilient person in terms of actually dealing with a lot of actually dealing with a lot of issues. and i think that's really helped, especially my journey in politics. one of seven where were you in the in the king, the eldest. so the run? king, the eldest. so you eldest, which is you were the eldest, which is why on some of

why you had to take on some of the care caring for all your siblings yeah siblings early on. yeah absolutely. think it was absolutely. and i think it was really important . it was really really important. it was really difficult my you can difficult for my mum. you can just imagine nowadays, you know, i've to that feels quite i've got to and that feels quite challenging . having seven challenging. having seven while doesn't even worth thinking about. there's only, there's only two hands you are the first female all british sikh mp . how female all british sikh mp. how does that feel? you're a trailblazer . i does that feel? you're a trailblazer. i mean, that's incredible . be amazing to have incredible. be amazing to have got there. i mean let's not forget it's taken over 100 years since women were given the right to vote. the very famous sikh woman suffragette at the time was sophia dilip singh. her father, of course, came to this country when he was very young. her she is the goddaughter of queen sikh queen victoria. so actually sikh history , british history is history, british history is very, very much interlinked. and so , you know, thinking back, so, you know, thinking back, she's an inspiration certainly for me growing up and reading about her history and her journey coming into politics. but it's a huge honour, you know

, to be in this position with it comes lots of expectations because whilst i'm the member of parliament for birmingham edgbaston, the sikh community want and raise a lot of want me to do and raise a lot of their own issues. and sometimes i to, you really be i have to, you know, really be clear that i will still have a huge sikh population in my constituency . see. so it's the constituency. see. so it's the second largest faith in the constituency. so very, very constituency. so a very, very sizeable . i'm also conscious sizeable. i'm also conscious that i serve a very diverse community in a vast and it's the place i grew up actually. i went to school, my family lived there and know inside out. so and i know it inside out. so it's so that is another it's again. so that is another another honour is to be a representative of the very seat that you grew up. so, you know, people really enjoy having those conversations and remembering what like in the past. what it was like in the past. and certainly, know, this is and certainly, you know, this is a constituency where my father's bus was where he drove bus carriage was where he drove the number 11 bus, which is very famous the west midlands. so famous in the west midlands. so yeah, an absolute honour, yeah, it's an absolute honour, but with comes a huge amount but with it comes a huge amount of pressure well you of pressure as well because you know, being only sikh mp, know, being the only sikh mp, you there is huge amounts you know, there is huge amounts of of course, of expectation, of course,

criticisms of things that people think you're not doing well. think you're not doing as well. so really pleased in the so i'll be really pleased in the next election we'll have next general election we'll have many standing for many more people standing for seats and i think that really matters. a voice and matters. having a voice and parliament the very parliament representing the very people it serves. it's got to, you know, it's become much more diverse last years. diverse in the last ten years. we've way to go, we've still some way to go, though. you been to though. have you been subject to have experienced any racism have you experienced any racism in politics? yes. i mean, i think, you know, racism and misogyny almost feels like it's part of the job as a member of parliament, i have to say, you know, lots of people will as a woman, i feel, you know, i've seen the comparisons of males doing my role , especially asian doing my role, especially asian or white males. doing my role, especially asian or white males . and actually or white males. and actually they don't have the same sort of criticisms levied at them or the remarks made at them. and so whilst people are attacking you, it can become very derogatory. it becomes about your gender, it becomes about your race and your ethnicity . and so comments like ethnicity. and so comments like that, got to really learn that, you've got to really learn how your battles . i how to pick your battles. i remember when i was a councillor, you know, my kids were young i was told

were very young and i was told to go home on many occasions and look after my kids and not worry myself about things. and myself about certain things. and that very misogynistic and that was very misogynistic and again, an mp when again, becoming an mp when you're out in certain parts of my you can be very my constituency, you can be very hostile you you've got hostile and you know, you've got to know how to deal with these sorts of issues. and for me, it's the risks associated it's about the risks associated with and of with some of this. and of course, abuse is just course, online abuse is just horrific that's horrific. and that's where i would say some of that racism has definitely manifest itself and, you know, your team constantly say how many times you have to keep reporting some of these incidents. for example. and you how many times do you block people? it really can become really difficult. and i think , you know, being the first think, you know, being the first female mp, i have say being female mp, i have to say being in sometimes that can in parliament sometimes that can be isolating in terms of be quite isolating in terms of that support. who do you go and talk lost my father in talk to? i lost my father in 2014. he my amount of 2014. he was my huge amount of support the reason got into support is the reason i got into politics and he was admired because he was a leader nationally as well as internationally so sometimes internationally and so sometimes i think that really quite i think that is really quite tough is facing so

tough as a woman is facing so much kind of hate and criticism when you are trying to do something good. and so a lot of the things when you look at what are the issues that actually, you know , why you getting racist you know, why you getting racist comments or misogynistic comments. there actual comments. there are actual campaigns that actually support your you're dressing your community. you're dressing inequalities. actually inequalities. there are actually things , things things that are positive, things that achieve that you're trying to achieve and makes it much and do, and that makes it much more harder. i think when you when you face some of those criticisms, you said that you had reported some of these things to the police. so i would say, you know , racism, if you say, you know, racism, if you think of it as a hate crime, so many people are not reporting it because they feel that the police are too busy to actually take action and anything is going to get done other than reporting it. and it becomes a statistic it feels like there isn't much there in terms of support. and so it's raising it with parliament in of , you with parliament in terms of, you know, social media know, having your social media being monitored. it's trying to do things and be able to do other things and be able to address it in other ways. and of

course, we should be reporting it to the police. i guess it more to the police. i guess the the reporting nature of the on the reporting nature of hate crimes, is hate crimes, you know, is something that a concern something that is a concern still, say. i still, i would say. but i suppose just feel suppose for me, i just feel like, you know, do i want to really contact the police and sort of have to make a statement and this or actually and go through this or actually are mechanisms can are there other mechanisms i can do assure my safety i'm do that can assure my safety i'm monitoring that probably going to and so the to be more effective and so the parliamentary that do parliamentary teams that do monitor your social media monitor you, your social media i've spoken to them and i regularly speak to them. so that is something that we of is something that we do. of course, report it to twitter course, you report it to twitter and places, but of course, and other places, but of course, many online platforms many of these online platforms have thresholds in have very high thresholds in terms of what they constitute as being, know, clear, being, you know, clear, misogynistic code, whether it's violated rules. and sometimes violated rules. and so sometimes i to say the response from i have to say the response from onune i have to say the response from online platforms very online platforms is very, very ad hoc. and there doesn't seem to be a clear position in terms of what they will take down and not coming up, more from praet call gill after the break. i had a recently had a very direct threat which was really worrying

to me and i reported that to the police .

when we talk about threats. have any of them been violent threats to you? yeah so i think the hardest part of the role has been having direct threats made. and i've had to report that to the police. i've had a recently had a very direct threat which was really worrying to me . and i was really worrying to me. and i reported that to the police. and the police have picked that up. but course, that does is but of course, what that does is when are sort of saying when people are sort of saying to you, back, watch to you, watch your back, watch what's to happen to you, what's going to happen to you, and is that what happened? that's in an email. in an that's right. in an email. in an email, you know, email, very direct, you know, you because i'm with my you do worry because i'm with my daughters in constituency, daughters in the constituency, all i live there. all of the time. i live there. so very difficult family so it's very difficult family life think you life there. and i think you know, that really puts into context the kind of job that you

do it's tough enough as it is, do. it's tough enough as it is, but then when you're faced with that little that and there's very little support, would say, support, actually, i would say, because you raise that with because once you raise that with the they've the police, of course, they've got away and do an got to go away and do an investigation . but there's investigation. but there's no real of impact real understanding of the impact it you. your everyday it has on you. your everyday work, the psychological impact, the kind of always looking at the, you know , behind your the, you know, behind your shoulder. and that's why , you shoulder. and that's why, you know, surgery, i have know, in my surgery, i have security have security security. i have security because , you know, i know that because, you know, i know that there individuals that do there are individuals that do come surgery that could come to surgery that could possibly pose a threat. i also know, you know, with some of the hate crime issues have hate crime issues that have existed, but also this latest direct , it has really direct threat, it has really worried and concerned me actually that as a woman , when actually that as a woman, when you put yourself forward and you want to address injustices and you care about issues that affect your constituents, that you're then faced with people that think it's okay to sort of say this was stuff to you. did the person the email do? was that from a legitimate with a name so that they were happy for their name that genuine email

address send you an email saying watch yourself basically . i watch yourself basically. i could not believe that this person used their place of work email to actually make that threat . and normally most people threat. and normally most people would probably use an alias when they would try different ways of sort of creating a hate campaign. i mean, i've huge amounts of hate campaigns created me through created against me through whatsapp where people whatsapp group where people are just emailing me or, you just either emailing me or, you know, . so, you know, know, subgroups. so, you know, there was during the 2019 election, there was quite a lot of whatsapp groups that were sort of directing hate towards labour and or, you know, more so and that that became really quite nasty where people were just emailing and of course then emailing the labour party saying that, you know , they wanted them that, you know, they wanted them to take a course of action to get rid of people like myself , get rid of people like myself, liam byrne and others. you know, there was a lot of targeted attacks against labour and ps i think you talk about having security at your constituencies , that? so

, who provides that? so parliament provide that and you know this really important resource to have it's something i did discuss with team . it's i did discuss with my team. it's something worry not just something that i worry not just about safety, of course, about my safety, of course, about my safety, of course, about i don't about those, you know, i don't want to restrict my surgeries. i don't want to go to an appointment based system. want appointment based system. i want to to open and be in to be able to be open and be in my and make sure that my community and make sure that people they can have people feel that they can have that myself. so that access to myself. and so that's the reason i decided that actually it would be better to have someone that, you know from security background being present, a visible presence and of course you know that gives a very clear message is one of the constituency that there is preachers have security and i think that's been really important. it's given me a lot more i would say, a sense of safety since having since having that. and i am really, really mindful that, you know, that's important for my staff as well. final question, you are shadow secretary of state for international development. you shadow a job that the government have scrapped. how do you

persuade people who are hurting, who are going through a cost of living crisis, who can't afford to pay their bills, can't afford to pay their bills, can't afford to feed their families, actually , it is still important for britain as a country to do its page britain as a country to do its page by by britain as a country to do its page by by which i mean give taxpayers money overseas . i taxpayers money overseas. i don't think anyone expected , don't think anyone expected, bofis don't think anyone expected, boris johnson to have taken over a world leading department that gave us the reputation on the world stage in the middle of a pandemic. nobody expected britain to be navel gazing and retreating from the world stage. we're proud of our country. we're very proud of our country. and one of the things that makes us so patriotic and proud is actually about the actually we care about the suffering people around the suffering of people around the world. thing i will say world. and one thing i will say is seen in the british is that i've seen in the british pubuc is that i've seen in the british public that of public is that sense of solidarity. do they care about the of others? and the suffering of others? and i think that so important. the think that is so important. the absence us not being there absence of us not being there is really i to really felt when i speak to people i will people across the world, i will say that appointment of say that the appointment of andrew is actually a andrew mitchell is actually a win labour we have win for labour because we have constantly been holding the government account. you know, government to account. you know, it really sad when i talk to

it is really sad when i talk to people across the world when they say one's even talking they say no one's even talking about britain anymore . your about britain anymore. your influence just not there in influence is just not there in the way that it once was when everyone looked to you for the solutions, global issues, solutions, the global issues, when you were the ones that would countries would galvanise countries together, food together, whether it's the food crisis whether it's poverty, crisis, whether it's poverty, whether it's climate, know, whether it's climate, you know, actually we need leadership. but you've made your case very passionately and out passionately and we found out about the challenges that women have to suffer, endure as part of doing their job. precogs thank you very much . coming up, thank you very much. coming up, clive betts after the break. so i sort of knew i was gay for ages and when i came out, lots of friends said to me, well, why we just said, now we all sort of knew you were. and oh, did you .

clive betts, you have been a sheffield mp for more than 30 years. that is a long stint. doesit years. that is a long stint. does it feel like a long stint? it doesn't . you know, when i go it doesn't. you know, when i go into schools and tell children i've been there for 30 years, they sort of look at me a bit, gone out with all their faces because that's just the length of time. that, of course, is longer than many of my constituents live. so a long times in a lot of change, but still really enthusiastic about doing the job. before you were elected to parliament, you were leader of sheffield city council . while were leader when 97 . while you were leader when 97 liverpool supporters died. as a result of that 1989 disaster at sheffield hillsborough football ground . you were there. i was. ground. you were there. i was. that day. can you recall your most vivid memory ? oh, i think most vivid memory? oh, i think several of that occasion, obviously . the first was when obviously. the first was when one of the cameramen who i knew

did an interviews with came to me as we were just milling around, thinking about what was happening . we didn't know they happening. we didn't know they were mobile phones in those. so matter of messaging about coming out was limited . and he just out was limited. and he just said, i saw the police open the gates. i saw them open the gates. i saw them open the gates. i saw them open the gates. i people go through . gates. i saw people go through. i thought , that's the first time i thought, that's the first time i thought, that's the first time i thought, that's the first time i thought, what's, you know, something dramatic something really dramatic happened. and we saw people being pulled out of the crowd and lying on the grass. and you saw what comes up. football matches. people find that this stress that crushed a and it was only later you began to realise always people died and a member of police superintendent coming to me knew me and said there's over 60 people died . i've just over 60 people died. i've just seen that. i can't believe literally cannot believe what i've just seen and then the enormity of it hit you and i remember just going inside , rememberjust going inside, people just breaking down, crying. i mean, that's all you could do. and helplessness ,

could do. and helplessness, despair, the tragedy that happened before our eyes and we hadnt happened before our eyes and we hadn't really recognised it while it was going on. police forces have very recently apologised for what they described as profound failings, which continue to blight relatives of victims of the hillsborough disaster has the case now been closed, as it were 7 case now been closed, as it were ? well, i suppose for the families who love lost loved ones , it can never totally be ones, it can never totally be closed. i think that's just, you know, the reality of situation. but in terms of the legalities , but in terms of the legalities, yes. you know , south yorkshire yes. you know, south yorkshire police were held responsible . it police were held responsible. it wasn't just the failings on the day , was the cover up day, was the cover up afterwards, which was an absolute disgrace. and that that is clearly come to light and beeni is clearly come to light and been i accepted now following the various reports as the south yorkshire police is a different organisation in that it is now

regarded as a well—performing police service . and i think it's police service. and i think it's important we get to move on from their point of view that every one officer who is looking after my constituents in sheffield shouldn't have the weight of history on their shoulders and be feeling that we're in an inferior organisation because they're not now they're in an organisation which is accepted. what it did wrong moved on and is now , in my view, delivering is now, in my view, delivering a good service , albeit with the good service, albeit with the constraints of resources constraints of limited resources .thank constraints of limited resources . thank you . they'll appreciate . thank you. they'll appreciate that. . thank you. they'll appreciate that . sure. now you . thank you. they'll appreciate that. sure. now you are chair of the local government. select committee, one of the these important committees , important committees, parliament, with a cross—party group of employees which looks into how particular things are working or not and local government as you're committees a specialist i want to talk to you about council tax because most households are going to see an increase of 5% at a time when

they're really in pain. it doesn't seem fair to make. is there no alternative to putting up county tax if you are a council leader in these difficult times? no, because government grant is being cut over the years and it's been, you know, local had bigger cuts to its budgets than any other part of the public sector since 2010. and the most of those cuts, the largest of those cuts has fallen on the poorest councils in the midlands in the north. the argument is, well, they have the most granite beforehand, so they had both grant to cut . but where do you grant to cut. but where do you go when you see the pressures on social care in particular and until we find an alternative way of funding social then of funding social care, then it's to fall back on it's going to fall back on council government council tax. if government doesn't up a proportion of doesn't grant up a proportion of government being cut , government grants being cut, council tax has been increased to replace some of it . to try and replace some of it. without we'd have even without it, we'd have even bigger to the already bigger cuts to the already massive that councils have massive cuts that councils have had make in the last 12 had to make in the last 12 years. and you , the and years. and you, the north and the midlands. one thing that will strike many people as odd

it me as odd when i moved from london to nottingham where i was a member of parliament, my house was obviously worth significantly less in ashfield than it is now. i've had to move back to london for work. my council tax was, i think it was close to double what i'm paying in london . you represent a in london. you represent a northern city. it's not inequity. it's like how can that be? because wages are higher in council, tax is higher in those parts of on the earrings we know about. parts of on the earrings we know about . so that's the that's about. so that's the that's a chance. about. so that's the that's a chance . it is a big challenge. chance. it is a big challenge. local government finance, that's what the future government is going to have to address . but going to have to address. but it's a really contentious issue because for every person whose tax you reduce and says thank you moves on, the person whose tax you put up doesn't forgive you for the next ten years. and local government finance has a history of bringing down prime ministers. of course , margaret ministers. of course, margaret thatcher tried to reform it with the poll tax and eventually led

to her downfall. so it's a very complicated and tricky issues, but at some point we're going to have to recognise indeed michael , 90 have to recognise indeed michael , go recognise the committee. the day that council tax the other day that council tax is regressive . it actually takes is regressive. it actually takes a disproportionate amount of money from poorer households and that isn't fair and. so that simply isn't fair and. so we're going to have to reform it. we're going to have to look for another source funding for another source of funding for another source of funding for care, as they've done for social care, as they've done in germany or japan or other countries where. they recognise this that simply this is something that simply can't on back of can't be put on the back of a tax like council tax. another contentious for many local contentious area for many local government leaders is these low traffic neighbourhoods, climate as you know what you've got to pay as you know what you've got to pay to drive through your neighbourhood . the car is neighbourhood. the car is essential for many people parents. those with disabilities. you might white van man you can you can you can think of the groups that would be particularly hardest those that cannot do without their car. is there a better way? i

don't know. isn't it about who pays to save the planet ? yes, it pays to save the planet? yes, it is. and i think we have to be very careful that we don't end up putting an undue burden on people who are on low incomes and really struggling in the current climate . you know, current climate. you know, people's fuel bills that that that the heating bills, their mortgages are all going up significantly to route are the cost them is really difficult but in the end there is a issue about climate . it isn't just about climate. it isn't just climate change. of course . it's climate change. of course. it's not just dioxide , which is not just dioxide, which is a pollutant, and it kills particularly it kills children because it seeks to the ground. so we have to address both those issues properly. but i just think we've got to do more to help people through this one. we could bring in scrappage teams so that people who got older, polluting cars could upgrade to a more modern car. that's something that's been around and suggested for a long time, but it needs government funding and the government walked away from that. secondly, people that. and secondly, people need alternatives going to

alternatives if they're going to travel the public travel around the public transport system. and, you know, london hasn't got a bad public transport system. you go to the nonh transport system. you go to the north midlands observes, north and midlands observes, they're been cut shreds they're just been cut to shreds . currently, if you live in a rural area, you probably haven't got got a bus a day or got a bus, so got a bus a day or something. even in urban areas now, routes have disappeared or people 2 for a bus people wait 2 hours for a bus where used to half an where they used to wait half an houn where they used to wait half an hour. that's just not acceptable. and people won't do that of their car that and get out of their car willingly. so we need that alternative public transport help in older polluting help people in older polluting cars and vehicles to get new ones. cars and vehicles to get new ones . and then at how you ones. and then look at how you impose restrictions as part of a package. it's a real me. this we've done a lot of politics. but just to get back to you personally, you live in a in your constituency. you live with your constituency. you live with your partner, james. you are an out gay man. when you came out, how old were you? how much how long ago was it? was a very different 30. 50. so i sort of knew i was gay for ages. and when i came out lots of friends

said to me, well, why we just said, now we all sort of knew you were. and oh, did you, you know, and you live a little cuckoo of your own because cuckoo in of your own because when i was brought up in sheffield, people weren't that there was hardly any gay scene . there was hardly any gay scene. we hardly talked about, you know, people talked about it. they were often quite disparaging remarks so that that was a different time . so was a different time. so people's people's understanding , people's comments , people's , people's comments, people's views , the issue of sexual views, the issue of sexual sexual equality, sexuality , they sexual equality, sexuality, they have changed over the years . so have changed over the years. so when i came out, it have changed over the years. so when i came out , it is have changed over the years. so when i came out, it is really quite surprising because friends said that, you know , and i said that, you know, and i remember two very interesting speakers say that, but one, when james and i decided to have our civil partnership never relating probably to it just came along and we said, oh, that was lovely that photo in the paper, oh, you

have a smashing time, you have a lovely day. i just thought, oh, that wasn't that nice. it just was genuine view . and i remember was genuine view. and i remember it coming out and i go to a way football matches and yes, sometimes football fans are not always the most polite about comments. they sometimes with the chanting . and i went to my the chanting. and i went to my first away game where you tend to side people. after to go with a side people. after i out it was at leicester i came out it was at leicester actually went sheffield actually went see sheffield wednesday and fans came up wednesday play and fans came up to me and said great to see you back. you're still same football fan you were before and i thought that that's a change thought that was that's a change of approach. and even my remarkable went to brighton and there to route there wasn't so much to route comments away. fans at brighton was sheffield wednesday fans and someone at someone came up to me at halftime and said, oh, i've been doing some chanting was homophobic. suddenly realised homophobic. i suddenly realised you it wasn't you were there. it wasn't intended you. it was wrong intended for you. it was wrong and i come to apologise and i thought life has moved on, life has changed and you know, that's good for it. so hopefully in coming out and being open about

it, i've helped a bit, maybe other people who are still concerned about that and still worried about it and something which isn't that your lives. how long were you in turmoil? strong word. how long were you struggling with should i come out? should i not come out? was it was it many? i suppose once i got to parliament and people like chris smith were out the first to get ben a news. chris, funnily because i signed funnily enough, because i signed chris into the labour party when we both students together. we were both students together. so known chris years . so i've known chris for years. and you that he's done and so you think that he's done it? i it ? i think, it? should i done it? i think, you talking to chris, you know, talking to chris, i accept that islington and sheffield was like a different places in terms of where people's understanding and views were at. so yeah, but i mean , i were at. so yeah, but i mean, i saw people in angela eagle as well who i came into parliament with , so i saw the people coming with, so i saw the people coming out and you gradually began to think, well, maybe this is something i can and i tell something i can do. and i tell what's one of the best decisions iever what's one of the best decisions

i ever made. that's a very happy note to conclude with clive. that's thank you. thank you . that's thank you. thank you. thanks for watching. i'm back next . sunday, six. hello next. sunday, six. hello there. i'm great you host. welcome to the latest broadcast from the met office it is going to turn colder over the next few days. the risk of some snow , the risk of some snow, particularly across north of particularly across the north of the more widely some the uk. but more widely some frost and ice to contend with. looking bigger picture , looking at the bigger picture, this moves south, this frontal system moves south, as in the next 24 hours, introducing cold arctic air across the whole of the uk from monday into tuesday, though l.a. starting to return by the end of the week, through to the evening and overnight, a lot of cloud across the uk, some showery outbreaks of rain in places, but there are some clear spells. so for england for a time across northern ireland, scotland and we'll here we'll see temperatures here falling if not below falling close to if not below freezing snow showers across

northern scotland and eastern scotland. of ice to scotland. the risk of ice to start monday morning, 2 to 5 centimetres possible even to some lower so some cheeky some lower level. so some cheeky conditions here. first thing monday morning, elsewhere fairly cloudy, but this cloud and patchy rain will push southwards through introduce the through the day, introduce the colder from the north. this colder air from the north. this pushes ireland. pushes into northern ireland. northern england, the midlands later on in the day too. the later on in the day too. so the highest temperatures in the south, degrees, but south, nine or ten degrees, but turning from the north, turning colder from the north, seven or eight at the very best. first to just first thing, but falling to just three or four by the afternoon into the time on monday into the evening time on monday . further heavy snow showers across northern scotland drifting down northeast drifting down into northeast england, metservice england, too. metservice warnings continue to be in force here. icy conditions developing quite , early and then quite wide, early and then perhaps later on into the early hours of tuesday morning , perhaps later on into the early hours of tuesday morning, some rain some patchy snow across rain and some patchy snow across southern parts of england . southern parts of england. temperatures freezing temperatures well below freezing under the clear skies, minus five to minus eight, possibly even a little lower since tuesday . an icy start for many tuesday. an icy start for many snow across northern scotland .

snow across northern scotland. these filtering their way southwards around coastal areas into northern ireland and northern patchy rain and snow still possible across some southern counties. this will move away a cold feeling day for everyone remaining cold over the next few days, but perhaps just signs of something a little milder by .

fri day welcome friday welcome back to gb news. i'm aaron armstrong with your latest headunes. aaron armstrong with your latest headlines . and the former health headlines. and the former health secretary wanted to, quote, frighten the pants off. everyone to ensure public compliance with constantly changing rules. the latest leaked whatsapp messages in the sunday telegraph show matt hancock and his team discussing how to utilise fear and guilt to make people obey lockdown , including using a new lockdown, including using a new strain of the virus scare the public. strain of the virus scare the pubuc.the strain of the virus scare the public. the shadow work and pensions secretary jonathan has

told us mr. hancock's political career is over. i think the key thing is, is that he is a councillor himself in front of an inquiry . it councillor himself in front of an inquiry. it comes back to this point, isn't it? why we need this inquiry to take place quickly a lot of people lost their lives. there's a lot of people who think that the way in which lockdowns operated has had long term implications on all kinds of fronts, everybody wants an inquiry because everybody wants to be able to put see the evidence, to be able to debate it properly and calmly . and it's it properly and calmly. and it's why we need to get on with it. but in a separate leaked conversation with matt hancock, the uk's top civil servant described boris johnson as a nationally distrusted figure. he feared he would be ignored by the public if the then prime minister introduced lockdown rules. simon case was appointed cabinet secretary by boris in september 2020. a spokesperson for mr. johnson has declined to