very good afternoon to you is 12:00. i'm alan armstrong in gb newsroom, the home secretary's in rwanda, discussing the £140 million deal to send illegal migrants to the country. suella braverman orman says the plan, which has been criticised, will act as a powerful deterrent for those making dangerjourneys across the channel. she long term accommodation sites , which term accommodation sites, which will host both refugees , will host both refugees, rwandans as well as a training and education centre where she addressed some of the graduates . we are delighted , excited

. we are delighted, excited about our partnership with rwanda to be creating a vibrant community here, to be a positive secure, beautiful haven and home for many thousands of people. and i'm really about the contribution that these talented graduates will be making to the prosperity of rwanda and the security many many people . for security many many people. for rail passengers who are facing another of disruption because of strike action. thousands of rmt members at 14 train operators are on picket lines across the country at the second 24 hour strike in the space three days. staffers will start later and finish earlier than usual and make lynch, the general secretary of the rmt, says transport ministers need to follow the lead of other government departments . we need government departments. we need a change, we need the government

to make a change in attitude. there's a bit of that this week seen in the health service and in the teachers unions. seen in the health service and in the teachers unions . the in the teachers unions. the difference in those deals is there are no conditions that it's new money for our members having swallow or expected to swallow vast changes to their working conditions, and they're not prepared to do that order to get a very modest poor pay rise . the us president backing the decision by the international criminal court to issue an arrest warrant for putin. joe biden says the russian president has committed war crimes in ukraine and the kremlin has described the decision as outrageous and meaningless because doesn't recognise the jurisdiction of the icc. the arrest comes ahead of chinese president xi jinping visit to moscow on monday. historian patrick banham told gb news china's influence on russia is on rise. china is de facto russia's biggest trading partner

. both ways its biggest importer of russian goods and is the biggest exporter to russia. so it china alone carries great influence, probably more than anyone else. with putin and the thinking is this war, which is much surprise to china as it was to the rest of the. pakistan's former prime minister imran khan is due to appear in court on charges of corruption . police charges of corruption. police stormed his residence in lahore earlier this morning and arrested several of his supporters . khan's appearance in supporters. khan's appearance in court follows days of standoffs , his property with police attempting to arrest him on tuesday . the rac says diesel tuesday. the rac says diesel drivers are not saving money with the fuel duty freeze . with the fuel duty freeze. retailers making more profit . it retailers making more profit. it says major fuel retailers are not reducing their prices despite the fuel rates they pay. falling a 15 month low. the company also fined retailers are taking average profit margin of

nearly $0.19 for every litre they sell. that is compared with $0.09 last year. they sell. that is compared with $0.09 last year . a new survey $0.09 last year. a new survey suggests demand for foreign holidays has recovered pre—pandemic levels. the poll by the travel association indicates nearly two thirds of britain are planning a foreign holiday this year , with travel up 16% in the year, with travel up 16% in the last 12 months. the trade group says many travel agents have seen sales this year, with holidays remaining a spending priority despite the cost of living crisis . travel living crisis. travel correspondent simon calder told us it's great news for the industry . yes. demand back to industry. yes. demand back to pre—pandemic levels that actually 62% of us have had houdayin actually 62% of us have had holiday in the past year abroad. and that number is to increase. so very good news for the travel and arguably very good news for the traveller who is desperate to make up for lost sunshine . to make up for lost sunshine. but unfortunately, of course , as but unfortunately, of course, as you say, the cloud on the

honzon you say, the cloud on the horizon , the passport strike. horizon, the passport strike. thatisit horizon, the passport strike. that is it for the moment. now it's that is it for the moment. now wsfime. that is it for the moment. now it's time . alison stewart and it's time. alison stewart and friends . friends. all right. thank you very much indeed. all right. thank you very much indeed . a very good afternoon to indeed. a very good afternoon to all of you. and today we focus on the budget and especially on pensions, on child care and on corporation . jeremy, how is corporation. jeremy, how is budgets of big deals economically and politically and when you see that they reduce prime minister's questions to a warm up act. well, you get my drift. budgets address what the government plans to spend its money on our money that is and how they intend to pay for it. they also the political weather for the following few months and in this case that it takes us perilously close to the general election makes it even more

interesting. but it's also prompting a few days of open debate when backbenchers on all sides can hail their heroes or put the boot in while . the scene put the boot in while. the scene was set by the chancellor's growth speech just a few weeks ago. a return to growth , he ago. a return to growth, he said. reduced borrowing and kerbing inflation. well, there was some good news on. all three. but not totally home and yet. growth was confirmed to be sluggish but growth there would be. he was sure that we would a deep and lengthy recession. inflation is certainly sharply down which should see interest fall or rise less rapidly. but that of course is up to the independent bank of england. we also know that getting people back to work and stopping something calling it a day early is a key government objective. thus, billion of your money for

better childcare help so that with children both of whom want to work might find that a little eafien to work might find that a little easier. plus a reform of private pensions. so folk and put more in with tax have and take more out with less tax being taken from . that was aimed at senior from. that was aimed at senior doctors we were told. it was savaged by the labour party as a multi billion pound giveaway to the tories rich buddies and in our people's polls this morning, 58% of the public have said that they feel worse off since the last general election and asked about those pension reforms . 23% about those pension reforms. 23% said that they supported them , said that they supported them, against 26% who said they didn't. the rest were still mulling it over and as yet remain unsure . on car care, one remain unsure. on car care, one of labour's standout themes labour said that what jeremy

hunt had offered simply wasn't enough and will take too long to kick in. they promised the rise in corporation. sorry, they promised they would do away with it were they to form the next government . now the rise in government. now the rise in corporation tax, which was a rishi sunak policy, went ahead in face of near—universal opposition from business and wealth, create as they continue of help with energy bills . it of help with energy bills. it was that but the reform of the energy market that many have called for was not tax remains at its highest in decades . in at its highest in decades. in the open debate afterwards , tory the open debate afterwards, tory backbenchers said if the conservative party doesn't cut taxes, then what is it for.7 well, jeremy hunt hinted that the autumn , the next big the autumn, the next big financial event might just cheer them up a little bit, but he didn't go into any further details of that. just perhaps a hint on the labour backbenches. however, there were for a wealth

tax and an escalating property . tax and an escalating property. no takers yet . the labour no takers yet. the labour frontbench for either of those ideas. but they were there and they were voiced with much passion by several . labour. passion by several. labour. labour's frontbench, of course, have lent caution and not to frighten the voters . i have some frighten the voters. i have some great guests to mull over all of that and more. but we also, all of us want to hear what you made of us want to hear what you made of that budget, what you made of labour's take on it. and you can email me at gbviews@gbnews.uk uk or you can go onto any of our social media outlets and let me know. do get touch . and i'm know. do get touch. and i'm delighted say that my first guest is tom hockaday. delighted say that my first guest is tom hockaday . tom is guest is tom hockaday. tom is the head of tax at the centre for policy studies , one of the for policy studies, one of the leading think tanks . good to see leading think tanks. good to see you. and a very good morning to, you. and a very good morning to, you. and a very good morning to, you. and good afternoon to you, sir. i didn't mention it in introduction, but i guess the

elephant in the room is the non indexation of allowances and what people like you, the technicians and commentators call fiscal drag. so in fact, we will not only be paying the highest rates of tax in several decades. highest rates of tax in several decades . we will actually be decades. we will actually be playing distinct more, which is why the office of budget responsibility and the engine of studies both said it's to be a very tricky few years. did it have to be like that . i'm not have to be like that. i'm not sure that it did have to be like that. sure that it did have to be like that . right. sure that it did have to be like that. right. we're going to try and reconnect that link to tom and reconnect that link to tom and i have a another time. i am delighted . welcome back to the delighted. welcome back to the programme and that's tom mcphail who is a pensions expert and director of public affairs at the financial services. lang cat. good to see you again . i cat. good to see you again. i hope you're well and a very good

afternoon to you. can you take on that labour charge that this is this is essentially just a tax cut on pensions for the rich 7 tax cut on pensions for the rich .7 well, tax cut on pensions for the rich ? well, i tax cut on pensions for the rich .7 well, i think there is some truth that accusation. i think it's a really interesting situation. we've arrived in because the government had solve the problem of . the doctors and the problem of. the doctors and other high paid employees and particularly public sector workers to leave the workforce because they were being penalised for going to work. so that was a problem that needed. the lifetime allowance is widely regarded as a problem . i think regarded as a problem. i think it was a ceiling on how much you could build up in your pot and given the annual allowances , you given the annual allowances, you didn't really need to have both restrictions , the annual restrictions, the annual allowance lifetime allowance and the lifetime allowance. of it allowance. so we got rid of it and on the way they did it by capping off the amount of tax free you have your free money you can have on your pension. made a lot of pension. also made a lot of sense. there a that was sense. there was a lot that was right government right about what the government did. also did. but labour labour's also right out that it looks right to point out that it looks a burden the rich. it kind of a burden to the rich. it kind of

is this matters to is because this only matters to you going to have £1,000,000 you if going to have £1,000,000 or more in your pension pot and for that's not how for most people, that's not how it's going to be so you know most people look at this and say, do say, well, what does it do for me.7 nothing. i think me.7 this does nothing. i think the we've arrived the other problem we've arrived at with this is, is it at now with this is, is it perhaps inadvertently, perhaps deliberately government has created what is in effect , created what is in effect, inheritance tax loophole for the wealthy . it's very easy now to wealthy. it's very easy now to pour a lot of money into your pension for to grow tax, for pension for it to grow tax, for you get a tax relief on it. you to get a tax relief on it. and when you die it will pass on to children of to your children largely of tax of that's not what pensions of that that's not what pensions are supposed to before so i've sympathy have labour have got to own this but i think neither their policy response so well we'll just bring back the lifetime allowance nor the government's position is government's current position is really going to hold in the long term. there's more work term. i think there's more work for sides do for both political sides to do on this problem . charles moore on this problem. charles moore writes a comment piece in the telegraph this morning, saying that it's very much aspirational thing, rather like , owning your

thing, rather like, owning your own home. and if it's that tax efficient , then it may well be efficient, then it may well be that it's something that the middle class is really sick and wish to have in their armoury as well . two wish to have in their armoury as well. two opinion wish to have in their armoury as well . two opinion polls, one wish to have in their armoury as well. two opinion polls, one for ie and one for us both say that the haven't gone completely scatty about and sir john curtis suggests that labour may regret their pledge to reverse it because may just be something that people quite like the look of and fancy a bit of themselves . i think there's quite possibly in that and i think it's interesting labour's eye has not been on the pensions bullies the last few years. they've had other other things , perhaps more other other things, perhaps more important, arguably more important, arguably more important about. important things to worry about. so been thinking so we haven't been thinking about policy . and i about pensions, policy. and i think a consequence , what we think as a consequence, what we had week from was had this week from them was a knee jerk to what looked like a bomb wealthy. i think you bomb to the wealthy. i think you can a parallel with 2014 can draw a parallel with 2014 2015 when george osborne announced a pension do away with

announced a pension do away with a lot of the existing restrictions at the time will help people draw money from pension funds. the same thing happened then labour immediately pension funds. the same thing happeout then labour immediately pension funds. the same thing happeout ofen labour immediately pension funds. the same thing happeout of the abour immediately pension funds. the same thing happeout of the traps immediately pension funds. the same thing happeout of the traps and 1ediately pension funds. the same thing happeout of the traps and said,tely came out of the traps and said, well, don't like this, we'll well, we don't like this, we'll reverse this if we get elected next in they then next year. in 2015, they then saw which way the wind was blowing realised that actually the reforms were very popular and quietly backed down on it. so i think i think they need to do a bit more thinking about this and work out perhaps a more coherent policy response to what the government has done . you the government has done. you know, better than most that far more people have the state pension rather than a pension. and because of fiscal drag and the non indexation allowances, the non indexation allowances, the amount you can earn before you the amount you can earn before you pay the amount you can earn before you pay any tax. state who are going to get a bit of boost come the autumn from triple lock are going to get a bit of a shocking wake up call on their tax bills, aren't they .7 europe's read aren't they? europe's read warnings about the fiscal drag and i think it is a effective and i think it is a effective and efficient mechanism by which

chancellors can quietly take back very substantial amounts money from taxpayers in the government's defence. i would also point out that the personal pounds, the threshold of which you start paying tax, has risen very considerably over last ten or 15 years. it's than doubled from where it was . when we go from where it was. when we go back to two to the conservatives coming to power in 2010. so they have they have given a lot people who have low incomes to in many cases now being taken out of the tax system altogether . but you're absolutely right with state pension now of over £10,000, most are going to find themselves paying a bit more tax as the year progresses. tom, as i said , to see you again. thank i said, to see you again. thank you very much . tom mcphail, you very much. tom mcphail, their pensions expert and i'm delighted that we were able to take the private pension box and also there at the end the state pension box too and do look him up and go onto his website. it's excellent . i'm also delighted to

excellent. i'm also delighted to be told by that tom crockett is back now just before the line broke . i've suggested to you broke. i've suggested to you that the elephant in the room is exactly what i've talking to the other top about. that and that's the non indexation allowances and fiscal drag. so although we're all paying the highest average tax level for decades , average tax level for decades, that means that we have prospect if we get pay rise, if we get an increase in our pension of paying increase in our pension of paying even more come the autumn and come the winter. paying even more come the autumn and come the winter . yeah, and come the winter. yeah, absolutely and i don't know if you've heard any of my previous , i was merrily chatting away to myself there for a while, but look, it's a very sneaky way of raising taxes because generally don't notice it the way they would notice . an increase in the would notice. an increase in the tax rate . and this measure tax rate. and this measure freezing the allowances for tax and national insurance is raising vastly more money than it was meant to and rishi sunak as chancellor first announced

it, now i think we can understand why he announced it . understand why he announced it. a it's a good way to raise money and that was a big sort of fiscal problem in the wake of the pandemic. but given how much more money it's raising than because inflation has been high, you might think maybe might have tried to moderate that little bit or maybe recycled some of the revenue back into making the tax system a little bit fairer in other places. so i think that is a little disappointing . but is a little disappointing. but it also raises an interesting issue about the framing of these budgets. we all focus in our responses things the responses on the things the chancellor announces on the day and i felt pretty positive about just about everything jeremy hunt . but the things hunt said. but the bad things were , the corporation tax were, the corporation tax increase, which announced increase, which was announced two years ago and that freezing the thresholds which was announced a little while back as well so i suppose this is good politics to announce it this way but it does it does all feed into that perception that feeling which you highlighted in your introduction that britons

for the most part are not feeling better off feel worse off than they did at the last election. and that's a huge political problem. well, as an economic problem , sense economic problem, i also sense that that it's a lot of tory backbenchers and richard drax the dorset mp voiced that in the in the budget debate too. i was listening to it and jotted it down, he said. if the conservative party doesn't cut taxes, then what the conservative party for and there were several other tory backbenchers who came in said that, hinting about the prospects of something that might just happen in the autumn statement when you're that far behind in the opinion polls, is really going to rally the troops who face losing their seats . no, who face losing their seats. no, it's not. it's not. while i have sympathy with that view , you sympathy with that view, you know, you do want the conservatives be the low tax party. goodness knows, we one in politics. i think it's a slightly too narrow view of what the conservative party is there for and perhaps in september last year, we saw what could

happenif. last year, we saw what could happen if . you blindly pursue happen if. you blindly pursue tax cuts and without considering the surrounding economic conditions , everything. so conditions, everything. so obviously that liz truss because contains mini—budget has really set tone for an awful lot of what has followed. but i also think that the government is pursuing a very particular strategy. will it work? i'm not sure , but they've set themselves sure, but they've set themselves some very targets. some targets which are achievable and they're to sort of focus in quite, quite a dull or technocratic way on achieving them. and then they can say to the public look, unlike some of our predecessors , we set out to meet your priorities and we've met them and trust us to keep leading the country. yeah. and interestingly , the prime minister and pmqs and the terms of the exchequer in the budget speech made the same point that the gainsaying , same point that the gainsaying, the doomsayers are wrong . this the doomsayers are wrong. this is a that is working. the doomsayers are wrong. this is a that is working . and is a plan that is working. and one thing that struck me very sharply said it in the sharply and i said it in the introduction is that no introduction is that there's no denying that the rate of

inflation is falling and falling quite sharply . prices aren't quite sharply. prices aren't yet, but the rate at which they're going up is definitely falling. if that is the case then the other bit of really news for many, many people that be around the corner will either be around the corner will either be around the corner will either be a reduction in interest rates or certainly a sharp slowing in the rate at which bank of england puts them up. is the great hope. do you think in this strategy ? yeah, absolutely . and strategy? yeah, absolutely. and i think i think that the government's and the forecasts are probably right on that front. as you said , inflation is front. as you said, inflation is largely controlled by bank of england. an unfortunate there's a quite a long lag between the government, the between the bank of england making monetary policy decisions and those translating into lower inflation. so i think we're in lag period at the moment, but suggests to me that inflation is going to come down quite significantly over the course of this year. and of course, that will ease the pinch on a lot of people. it doesn't undo the inflation that's already

happened. course , we have happened. of course, we have sort got poorer a one off sort of got poorer in a one off way of the pandemic, way because of the pandemic, because issues in energy because of issues in the energy market on. but there is market and so on. but there is perhaps a chance to turn the corner in run up to an corner in the run up to an election next at least election next year, at least paint picture that things are paint a picture that things are things are starting look things are starting to look little well those people little rosier. well those people listening to our conversation on radio will have will have missed what television viewers saw. and that a beaming smile from the that is a beaming smile from the chancellor, the exchequer, clutching little red box outside number 11 downing street. so maybe you're right. and maybe he he knows more than we do . but he knows more than we do. but tom, thank you very much indeed sharing your thoughts and analysis with us here on gb news tom hockaday, who's head of tax at centre for policy at the centre for policy studies, his thoughts. studies, with his thoughts. finally i'm delighted to be joined by sarah camper. sarah is mum and a personal and if you were kind enough to be watching last weekend you'll think oh yes i buy that we invited her back on to the programme , invited to on to the programme, invited to the program last weekend to

preview the child care plans that everybody was talking about and we knew were likely to come up in the budget. and as can see, i'm delighted to say that she agreed to come back via the magic link to tell us her thoughts as the rolling stones famously sang you can't always get what you want. but if you try, you get you need what's your own judgement of what the of the exchequer was able to give on child care . well thank give on child care. well thank you for having me back alister. yes, he definitely did deliver to an extent . obviously the time to an extent. obviously the time lag is a big question . it's lag is a big question. it's a very big question mark about amongst lots of families . the amongst lots of families. the fact that it won't in place till . 2024 to 2025, and that is a big considering. you've got the pressures on society and on the

families right now and the cost of living crisis is happening right now. so the fact that we've got that time lag , it's we've got that time lag, it's not ideal. if i can be completely honest. yeah at number a number of people, not least in the education world, have also questioned whether not the sector is up to meeting this new demand . and they say that new demand. and they say that what the government pays is not really enough. so perhaps we are agreed there that it's a work in progress . this is something we progress. this is something we talked about. the three of us, when you were with us last week and it was voiced much more eloquently than than than by me by a number of tory women members of parliament who asked where is the help for the mums who want to stay at home and be mums rather than go off to work having dumped their little darlings with albeit a totally professional , brilliant professional, brilliant childcare operation ? do you have childcare operation? do you have any sympathy with that? it's

pretty profound and it's pretty fundamental stuff , if pretty profound and it's pretty fundamental stuff, if i'm completely honest , feel that completely honest, feel that when i say mothers, i should also say parents because sometimes they split their lives . yes, we didn't really have to make that choice and shouldn't have to have the pressure making that choice . and i do know that that choice. and i do know that that choice. and i do know that that nowadays parents are looking at and salaries in equal measures they are looking to return to work. but in terms of mothers who want to stay at home, it wasn't really covered in the budget and again, i feel that they're being unready , that they're being unready, organised, which is which is a real shame if i'm being completely in an ideal world then what would be the amendment you would put to the to the finance debate that's going around the budget. you want the payment to be made quicker and you'd want more support for

providers ? is that about it ? providers? is that about it? yes, stephanie. i think the time lag should definitely be brought forward to have a two years is crazy you know, they have got the infrastructure in place they've managed to do things for covid the out to help covid with the eat out to help out scheme. so i definitely think that, you know, that they can make make changes if they can do make make changes if they want to they just need to make the changes now and will certainly help the economy and society if they want insisting that they end and objective institute for fiscal studies agrees with you that as it at the moment it will take quite time to help anybody get back into the workforce , which of into the workforce, which of course was the overriding i sarah great to see you again. thank you very much indeed. sarah compass, who as i said in my introduction is a mum and a personal trainer with her reflections on what jeremy did do and he still needs to do on the key issue of childcare which will be a big one at the general

election . make no mistake, election. make no mistake, you're watching listening to alastair stewart and friends with lots still to come on today's programme train passengers yet again facing disruption this weekend . israeli disruption this weekend. israeli workers continue to take industrial action. plus passport office is . the most recent office is. the most recent sector to announce that it will be striking soon to all of that to come. but first let's bring you right up to date with the weather . hello there. good weather. hello there. good afternoon , you. welcome to afternoon, you. welcome to latest weather updates from the met office. i'm jonathan vautrey .today met office. i'm jonathan vautrey . today has been a day of chasing rainbows for many of us in between the heavy showers that we've seen around thanks to low pressure that is in across the whole of the uk , we do have the whole of the uk, we do have frontal systems that's been pushing through northern ireland into that's just into of scotland. that's just bringing spells of bringing some longer spells of rain and it also be rain here and it will also be breezy across the very far north of scotland. we move throughout this night. this evening and over night. elsewhere, showers elsewhere, the heavy showers that seen will tend to that we have seen will tend to ease as we move ease and dine out as we move

over nights. that will allow some intervals to develop some clear intervals to develop just temperatures to just allowing temperatures to drop down a bit more through towns and cities, still generally around five generally holding up around five or six celsius, but rural frost is possible across parts northern ireland and scotland, and that could provide some and that could just provide some icy patches. first thing on sunday particularly sunday morning, particularly where, got a few where, we've still got a few showers , those showers lingering, but those continuing out really continuing to ease out really sunday is looking like a fine day for of us. certainly day for many of us. certainly throughout a good throughout the morning, a good number intervals , a bit number of sunny intervals, a bit of just lingering across of cloud just lingering across the england the far east coast of england for northern is going to turn cloudier into the afternoon as this begins rise and this rain begins to rise and turn damp here. where you turn damp here. but where you hold on to those sunshine throughout the afternoon it will feel represent and spring feel as represent and spring like highs of 1112 celsius. southeastern of england will hold onto the dry weather during sunday evening, but hold onto the dry weather during sunday evening , but elsewhere sunday evening, but elsewhere the rain is then going to spreading its way and as we spreading its way in. and as we move into the start of the new working week, that heralds the to more unsettled to change more unsettled weather. so during monday outbreaks of rain a rather cloudy day for many us and

fairly drab across the board. some of the driest and perhaps brightest weather actually for nonh brightest weather actually for north eastern areas of scotland where rain just doesn't where the rain just doesn't arrive later on. the arrive until later on. the weather are going continue as weather are going to continue as weather are going to continue as we move throughout new we then move throughout the new working also working week but you'll also nofice ice working week but you'll also notice ice balls are notice that the ice balls are beginning together once beginning to together once again. so things tend breezier as head wednesday . so as we head towards wednesday. so whilst be whilst temperatures will be holding up in digits for holding up in double digits for many of us that will just take an things. enjoy an edge off things. enjoy the rest your day .

it is just after half past i'm out armstrong in the gb newsroom. some breaking news just in to us. the former us president donald trump says he expects to be arrested on tuesday . this has been indicated tuesday. this has been indicated the manhattan district attorney's office. it is over

his allegations that he paid hush money. the adult film star stormy daniels in 2016 before his election . a spokesperson for his election. a spokesperson for the office has not commented on that. the office has not commented on that . we'll bring you more as we that. we'll bring you more as we have it. some other news. the snp's chief executive , morrell, snp's chief executive, morrell, who's also nicola sturgeon's husband, has resigned with immediate effect. it follows reports he was facing the threat of a vote of no confidence following a row the party's membership numbers . in membership numbers. in a statement he said while there was no intent to mislead , he was no intent to mislead, he accepts that has the outcome . accepts that has the outcome. the home secretary's in rwanda , the home secretary's in rwanda, the £140 million deal to send illegal migrants to the country as a braverman says, the plan, which is facing criticism, will as a powerful deterrent to those making dangerous journeys across the channel she visited some long term accommodation sites which house both refugees and rwandans well, as a training and

education. rail travel will be severely disrupted again, this weekend because of another 24 hour strike. thousands of rmt members at, 14 train operators are on picket lines for the second time in the space of three days. a less than% of train services across the country are expected to run , country are expected to run, starting later and finishing than they normally . a new survey than they normally. a new survey suggests demand for foreign holidays recovered to pre—pandemic levels. the poll by the travel association apter indicates nearly two thirds of britain are planning a foreign houday britain are planning a foreign holiday this year travel up 16% in the last 12 months. trade group says many agents have seen record sales this year. holidays remaining spending priority despite cost of living crisis tv onune despite cost of living crisis tv online and dab plus radio. this gb news is back to alastair stewart& friends .

stewart& friends. and thank you very much indeed. once again, as you heard in our news bulletin, that train are facing even more across this weekend and there was disruption yesterday and there are very few trains available at on many of the big providers as rail workers continue with planned industrial action in pursuit of to work conditions and a better pay more strikes are also taking place in other sectors . the pcc union, other sectors. the pcc union, one of the biggest public sector unions, says that the passport office workers are poised go on strike for five weeks and that will inevitably extend the already long waiting time for a new passport. so up to may say demand is back and everybody wants to go away. well, before you anything else but find the

money, pay for it all. you might want to check the expiry date on your passport because that's going a trickier. however going to get a trickier. however every cloud, etc, etc, etc. the teachers unions say they pause new strikes ahead of talks with ministers alongside some junior doctors. however there are several reports today suggesting that the deal that nurses and other nhs workers were offered last week isn't all that it's cracked up to be. well to discuss all of that time , discuss all of that time, delighted to be joined live in the studio by political correspondent catherine foster. before we get to those strikes, can i. it's unfair because this is what breaking news is . but we is what breaking news is. but we just heard ignorance bulletin about the resignation of the chief executive of the scottish national party , who also happens national party, who also happens to be married to the former leader, nicola sturgeon. this is about party membership numbers andifs about party membership numbers and it's cropped up in what's

already a pretty fiery contest to succeed ms. sturgeon yes. the scottish national party at the moment seems to be almost eating itself , doesn't it? there's itself, doesn't it? there's chaos. kate one of the leadership candidates has described this as a period extraordinary turmoil. and it certainly . now, this specific certainly. now, this specific theme revolves around a an untruth or a lie you like over membership numbers . it was membership numbers. it was reported a few weeks ago , reported a few weeks ago, scottish national party membership numbers were down 30,000. that was denied . that 30,000. that was denied. that turns out not to be the case. now, the media chief, murray for left on. yes and then today it was looking like peter morrell was looking like peter morrell was going to be facing a vote of no confidence , as he, of course, no confidence, as he, of course, has been chief executive for 20 years, is married to nicola sturgeon and he has chosen to resign . so this is all happening resign. so this is all happening in the midst of a very

acrimonious leadership contest we saw with the conservative leadership contest last, when all these grievances , all these grievances, disagreements are aired in public. it's not a good look. and the three leadership candidates having the debates, it's becoming very fractious. there's very divisions and it's not clear at all whether . dust not clear at all whether. dust will settle with all this . it it will settle with all this. it it really is one of those extraordinary days late last night. and first thing this morning is all about vladimir putin having an arrest warrant issued again to him, but with his saying, oh, we don't even recognise call and we certainly don't extradite people, we don't extradite own people. that's why the head of state and now we get some people saying that the former president expects to be arrested himself later. i think said tuesday . well, i mean, we

said tuesday. well, i mean, we been hearing for a long time we the possibility of donald trump being arrested for very irregularities, shall we say . so irregularities, shall we say. so let's wait . see if this happens. let's wait. see if this happens. it's been a possibility even while he was president . it's been a possibility even while he was president. i mean, he was impeached, wasn't he? it didn't have any ultimate . so didn't have any ultimate. so let's see what happens but certainly this is this is very new york versus trump about cooking the books and inflating the value of assets . well, he's the value of assets. well, he's his financial affairs have been questionable, to put it mildly, haven't they, for a long time. so let's see what happens. but it wouldn't be surprising if this did . after years of this did. after years of speculation about sort of dodgy deaungs speculation about sort of dodgy dealings in, his financial affairs bear fruit . so let's see affairs bear fruit. so let's see what happens having changed tact as far as nurses and paramedics is concerned are concerned. do you that there is a willingness

among senior government, including perhaps the transport and the education, to do a similar to what mr. barclay did in the health sector and how has the worm turned if we're we're reporting now that, you know, one or two of these big power groups are now saying, no, no, we're not going to call any more strikes. our strikes. we've had our turn around certainly around table. well, certainly the government do want to get this out because these strikes have been rumbling now for it feels like forever. it it but certainly train strikes certainly the train strikes happening again today began last summer and it just adds to this sense that a lot of things in britain are broken. so the prime minister is very keen to get these settled and to move on. and obviously the news that inflation is going to drop 2.9% by the end of the year will help the government in negotiations so the government have moved and i think the hope is now that the deal that's been offered to

health workers not junior doctors, but something could pave the way to an agreement with the teachers . so the with the teachers. so the teaching unions have suspended strikes for forseeable future. so have the junior doctors. the three day strike from the junior doctors at the beginning of the week was more disruptive. apparently than all the other health strikes far because junior doctors make up 45% of the medical professionals in the national service. so a huge impact. so there is a willingness to resolve . but willingness to resolve. but still all those consultants having move over to take up slack. well, yes and so . 175,000 slack. well, yes and so. 175,000 operations procedures cancelled and the government have tackled the notion of doctors taking early retirement because of not worth well as carry on with the big pension break in the budget but the junior doctors are asking for 35% now clearly the

government are giving something and they have budged their original line that they wouldn't talk about pay for the financial year that we're currently in and they're now giving this one off payment. but there's no way they're going to be giving because we've already established on our end it israel and hezbollah. and one of and hezbollah. and it's one of those anything those days where anything can happen. watch happen. so we should watch this space. here on gb space. but with us here on gb news radio online, news tv and radio and online, because promise faithfully if because i promise faithfully if anything happen. catherine anything does happen. catherine be the very first to be amongst the very first to hear about ireland i will hear about it and ireland i will be the very first be amongst the very first to tell all about it . you're tell you all about it. you're watching to watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends with plenty still this plenty more. still to come this afternoon planned . afternoon that we've planned. nevertheless what may happen that we don't know yet , that we don't know yet, including our rural spotlight . including our rural spotlight. this week we're asking whether farmers and agriculture as an industry were even mentioned in the chancellor's budget . first, the chancellor's budget. first, let's bring you up to date with the all important weather . hello the all important weather. hello there. good afternoon to you. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office. i'm

jonathan vautrey . today has been jonathan vautrey. today has been a day of rainbows for many of us in the heavy showers that we've seen around to low pressure that is in charge across the whole of the uk . we do have frontal the uk. we do have frontal systems that's pushing through northern ireland into , areas of northern ireland into, areas of scotland that's just bringing some spells of rain here. some longer spells of rain here. and will also breezy and it will also be breezy across the far north of across the very far north of scotland we throughout scotland as we move throughout this evening and over night. elsewhere, showers elsewhere, the heavy showers that tend to ease that have seen will tend to ease out and die out as we move over nights that will allow some clear intervals to just clear intervals to develop. just allowing drop down allowing temperatures drop down allowing temperatures drop down a bit more through towns and cities still generally holding up five or six celsius, up around five or six celsius, but a rural frost is possible across parts of northern ireland and could just and scotland and that could just provide some patches. first provide some icy patches. first thing sunday morning, thing on sunday morning, particularly where still particularly where we've still got showers lingering , got a few showers lingering, those continuing to out . those continuing to ease out. really like really sunday is looking like a fine for many us. certainly fine for many of us. certainly throughout morning, a good number intervals , a bit number of sunny intervals, a bit of just lingering across of cloud just lingering across the far east coast of england. and ireland is going to turn and for ireland is going to turn

cloudier the afternoon as this rain to and turn damp rain begins to and turn damp here. but when you hold on to those sunshine throughout the afternoon it will feel as represent and spring highs of 1112 celsius. southeastern areas of england will hold onto the dry weather during sunday evening . but elsewhere where the evening. but elsewhere where the rain is then going to start its way in and as then move into the start of the working week, start of the new working week, that the change to some that heralds the change to some more weather. so during monday outbreaks of rain, a rather cloudy day for many of us and fairly drab across board some of the driest and perhaps brightest weather actually for north eastern areas of scotland where the rain just doesn't arrive until later on. the weather fronts going to continue as fronts are going to continue as then the new then move throughout the new working week. you'll also working week. but you'll also nofice ice working week. but you'll also notice ice also notice that the ice of also beginning together beginning to squeeze together once things will turn once, so things will turn breezier as. we towards breezier as. we head towards wednesday, whilst wednesday, so whilst temperatures will be holding up in of us that in double. for many of us that will just take off will just take an edge off things the of your day things into the rest of your day

hello and welcome . you are hello and welcome. you are watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends here gb news tv and radio and thank you very much indeed for doing. time now for our rural spotlight and sticking with the budget reaction i wanted to hear from on the agricultural front line and ask whether they felt that farming and the agriculture industry was properly nodded towards in jeremy hunt's budget. we've talked many times on this program about how important it is to restocking those shelves in super and keeping prices down, reducing the carbon of all the stuff that we import from abroad in terms of the food crisis, farmers really have gone the extra mile . they've also the extra mile. they've also gone to the government with a detailed plan of what they want support to do to help us all out

. are they shouting a desk? i wonder . they're certainly crying wonder. they're certainly crying out for government support. so what do farmers need and want from those in power ? i'm from those in power? i'm delighted to welcome back bruce jobson, agriculture journalist , jobson, agriculture journalist, himself a farmer and a regular on the programme. i didn't spot anything specific in the budget. did i miss? no. alistair, thank you for inviting me on. we went sleepwalking all week, i think with the budget . but i just want with the budget. but i just want to show you . you'll see it was to show you. you'll see it was for the benefit of the viewers. this publication , farmers this publication, farmers guardian, which showed mr. sunak saying effectively i would lead pro farming government. that was in august. now, 12 months ago, i was on gb news and injury with and rachel sweeney and i said when andrew rishi sunak was of

the exchequer that he did nothing in the last budget farming and they've done nothing . you know, the whole set up of uk farming been a disaster. we agreed to leave the eu in 2016 with a democratic vote and since then the government has done nothing . it has done is cut. cut nothing. it has done is cut. cut cut. what we're seeing now is that this year farmers are going to be losing between 55% or up to be losing between 55% or up to 55% of their basic system . to 55% of their basic system. and then next year, it's going to be between 55 and 75. and then it finishes at the worst time in country's history, probably since u—boat crisis. we're going to have farmers in a position where they perhaps are unable to plant crops because of the sheer costs involved. i just to draw your listeners and your attention to potatoes a very stable part of our but it costs roughly £3,000 to make the plant

potatoes and the farmers say planting 300 acres that's £900,000 with that continual price increase, the cost increases , i should say, by increases, i should say, by about 36. then we fund about 11 or 12 increases in interest rates. all this is a putting on the farmers now. we to grow 150,000 hectares just even at the turn of the century . we're the turn of the century. we're now down to 100,000. next year. that's going to be even less. so we're not going to see a reduction in food inflation and hard pressed families. never mind the farmers. the hard pressed families in this country are going to suffer through continued inflation, through the super markets and the consumers are going to have to carry that that cost through them. absolutely let me put a blunt question . you and a very simple question. you and a very simple one. our ministers right up to secretary of state for environment and including the farms minister disagreeing with

that ten point plan or just ignonng that ten point plan or just ignoring it . that ten point plan or just ignoring it. i think that ten point plan or just ignoring it . i think they've ignoring it. i think they've continued ignore it. i can't see what what doing. they've known about this the eu straight away when they invasion happened. they scrapped policy that. yeah. they scrapped policy that. yeah. they said right we're going to pass on money, we're going to keep maintaining growing etc. this government did absolutely nothing. mr. sunak was in charge of. he was the chancellor . we've of. he was the chancellor. we've had a whole lot of disastrous people who've been minister of agriculture . i shouldn't say agriculture. i shouldn't say that it's defra . that's another that it's defra. that's another problem. we have. we no longer have anyone charge of food production agriculture. we've cut back gradually from 80% self—sufficiency to 58. and in roughly 2010, when i wrote an article and we're probably down 55% or below. compare to the us alistair using usda, united states department of agriculture figures the us has increased

output . by nearly 300. this has output. by nearly 300. this has been an absolute disastrous ideology of policy which has been for 30, 40 years producing , passed on, passed on by headings and adding more . , passed on, passed on by headings and adding more. i use the word farmageddon and not to let it be wrong. talk about farmageddon . and you know, as farmageddon. and you know, as i say, my heart in farming, but my heart is also with the consumer who are being squeezed with interest mortgages. british that's still very much higher agenda here as well on our rural spotlight. and great to see you again. fingers crossed they listen and when they do, you come back . we'll chat about it come back. we'll chat about it again. not serious jobs in there. who's a farmer himself, but also an agriculture journalist and always worth following. now, as we been discussing the chancellor's budget announced many changes, but one thing stayed the same , but one thing stayed the same, and that was the energy

subsidies to help with energy bills . so what subsidies to help with energy bills. so what is available to and me and bruce farmers and everybody else and what is remaining there on the table to help with the cost of living crisis ? i'm delighted to be crisis? i'm delighted to be joined now to go through that with angela knight who is the former ceo of energy uk . did it former ceo of energy uk. did it surprise you that at a time of tight economic , said the tight economic, said the government sunak and hutton found a not insignificant amount of money to keep this thing going . no of money to keep this thing going. no didn't of money to keep this thing going . no didn't surprise at going. no didn't surprise at all. it had been hugely well trailed and i think that the sort of political push behind keeping the energy price guarantees , they call it guarantees, they call it a £2,000 edf for the average household, have a wish which way was to calculate it was so happy trails had such a lot of push

behind it that i expected it to behind it that i expected it to be to the announcement be as it is perhaps the most important thing about is not so much that that cap that guarantee because if you look at is happening in the house in the wholesale market the likelihood for all us in 2023 is however that calculations put in place are going to be paying less for energy than that cap and that is because overall the wholesale price , gas and electricity has price, gas and electricity has indeed come down and it's more likely we'd be paying about 2100, 2200 as the cap rather than this thousand 500. what i'm really saying is this is interim measure for a very short period of time because . the whole of time because. the whole situation as , far as energy situation as, far as energy price is concerned , is radically price is concerned, is radically changing than it was six months or a bit longer ago. so can i

just interject a similar thought to which i was going to ask you anyway ? and that is that when anyway? and that is that when you and i have talked about this before and other people who have specialised in the energy field, there seems to be a consensus that somebody needs to fundamentally review the market and how it functions and what sets the price and how renewables factor and what have you. not a lot that that surely angela is an open goal. yes, but i think actually work on that is taking place is pretty going i have to say and not energy it's electricity that needs to pick you up . but we electricity that needs to pick you up. but we tend to use electricity that needs to pick you up . but we tend to use the you up. but we tend to use the word energy , put a whole load of word energy, put a whole load of stuff in under. so word energy, put a whole load of stuff in under . so the question stuff in under. so the question is the electricity wholesale market, which is some form of an average of the council , be some average of the council, be some form of an average of the cost of producing electricity via coal when we use that gas with to use a lot when in which we're increasing only using our own

nuclear and solar and, so on. but in fact, what happens is every half of the wholesale is set off. what was the highest price produced of electricity. a lot . the moment price produced of electricity. a lot. the moment is gas. price produced of electricity. a lot. the moment is gas . and lot. the moment is gas. and that's why we've got our chunk of pay . when generators in the of pay. when generators in the nuclear generators where the government . oh, come on, you've government. oh, come on, you've got to pay more of your profits in tax because you've had artificial elevation and your price . okay. for the short term price. okay. for the short term , but for the medium and long term, we to sort out that calculation . so bring down the calculation. so bring down the cost of the so all of us but i do know that that as they call it is pretty complex it's like everything's been like fruit machine the older one bit instead of getting the three pears you intended, you get one banana. you have two oranges, a cherry or whatever . so there has cherry or whatever. so there has to be careful with doing it, but i think is absolute essential to do it because where we are today is a very different situation to

when that algorithm was as did breath put, the physicist put the engineers put the mathematicians put the brains on it. come out, accept that some people are not to like it, but it's a better proposition. the uk generally , angela eloquently uk generally, angela eloquently put as always , i'm glad that put as always, i'm glad that work in progress. thank you much indeed. angela, that former ceo of energy uk and you all watching and listening to alastair stewart friends with lots more still to come on the program afternoon we'll have more the but what do more on the budget but what do the political parties think of it? we'll have all that and it? we'll have all of that and more. plus some of your thoughts. keep coming thoughts. so keep them coming in. a quick .

break as i was attempting to , we are as i was attempting to, we are into the last hour of the

programme, keeping you company here on tv and radio with lots still to come , including more on still to come, including more on the chancellor's budget this week. discuss, but what week. lots to discuss, but what do the parties really think of it? earth move for it? and did the earth move for any of them? plus, the charity guide dogs launches a new campaign . we'll have the very campaign. we'll have the very latest. but first, let's bring you right up to date with, all of the day's news. and it's a cracker. here's aaron armstrong . good afternoon to you. it is just past 1:00. i'm out. i'm the gb newsroom at home in rwanda discussing the £140 million deal to send illegal migrants the country. suella braverman says the plan, which is facing criticism will act as powerful deterrent for those making dangerous journeys across the channel she visited long term accommodation which will house both refugee and rwandans as well , a both refugee and rwandans as well, a training and education centre where addressed some of

the graduates . we are absolutely the graduates. we are absolutely delighted and excited about our partnership with rwanda to be creating a vibrant community here, to be a positive , secure, here, to be a positive, secure, beautiful haven and home for many of people. and i'm really about the contribution that these talented graduates will be making to the prosperity of rwanda and the security many, many people . donald trump says , many people. donald trump says, expects to be arrested on tuesday day and has called on his supporters to pretty test and take our nation back. the manhattan's district office is likely to bring charges against the former us over an alleged hush money payment made to the aduu hush money payment made to the adult star stormy daniels. it was in the run up to the 2016 election, and daniels, whose name is stephanie clifford , name is stephanie clifford, claims she had an affair with trump a decade earlier. he

denies the affair happened . the denies the affair happened. the twice impeached former president has criticised the attorney's for being corrupt and political . the snp's executive has resigned . immediate effect. it resigned. immediate effect. it follows that peter morale has also nicola sturgeon's husband was facing the threat of a vote of no confidence following a row over the party's membership numbers . in a over the party's membership numbers. in a statement he said while was no intent to mislead , while was no intent to mislead, he accepts that has been the outcome rail passengers facing another day of strike and disruption. thousands rmt members at 40 train operators are on picket lines across the country. the second 24 hour strike in the space of three days. a passenger all being told to expect disruption with services later and finishing earlier. the new york general secretary the rmt mick lynch says. secretary the rmt mick lynch says . transport ministers need says. transport ministers need to follow the lead of other government departments . we need

government departments. we need the change we need the government to make a change in attitude. there's a bit of that this week we've seen in the service and maybe in the teachers unions the difference in those deals that there are no conditions that it's new money for our members having to swallow or expected to swallow vast to their working conditions and they're not prepared to do that in order to get a very modest poor pay rise . pakistan's modest poor pay rise. pakistan's former prime minister imran khan is due to appear in court later on charges of corruption . police on charges of corruption. police stormed his residence in lahore this morning and arrested of his supporters. khan's appearance in court follows days standoffs outside his property with police attempting to arrest him. on tuesday , the icc diesel drivers tuesday, the icc diesel drivers are not saving money with the fuel freeze, despite retailers making more profit. says major fuel retailers are not reducing the prices are not passing on

those savings despite fuel rates pay those savings despite fuel rates pay falling to a 15 month low. the company found retailers are taking an average profit margin of $0.19 for every litre they sell, compared $0.09 last year. a new survey suggests demand for foreign holidays has recovered to levels. the poll , the travel to levels. the poll, the travel association, indicates nearly two thirds of britons are planning a foreign holiday this year , with 37% having already year, with 37% having already booked. year, with 37% having already booked . the trade group says booked. the trade group says many travel agents have seen record sales this year with holidays remaining remaining priority despite the cost of living crisis . travel living crisis. travel correspondent simon calder told us it's great news for the industry . yes, demand is to industry. yes, demand is to pre—pandemic levels that actually 62% of this have had a houdayin actually 62% of this have had a holiday in the past year abroad and that number is set to . so and that number is set to. so very good news for the travel industry and arguably very good

news for the traveller who is desperate to make for lost sunshine, but unfortunate in italy, of course, as you say, the climate on horizon is the passports . strike and we'll have passports. strike and we'll have more throughout the afternoon here on gb news. but now it is back to alastair stewart& friends . friends. aaron , thanks very much friends. aaron, thanks very much indeed. now we've been discussing today in some detail the chancellor's budget. jeremy hunt set out his plan for seeking growth, reducing borrowing and told us all how he was going to do it. he also announced his grand plans to help working parents, child care, how he was going to make sure that people stay in work longer and said that would help remain in place for he also kept

help in for energy bills and taking on it were that dimension of cost of living however many said this was a budget to help the rich and did not get to the core principle of a conservative government , which is to cut government, which is to cut taxes. that was commentators said that but also a number of conservative both on the floor of the house and also in the subsequent meeting of tory mps. labour were quick on attack and said straight away that they would scrap the new pension reform package laid out by jeremy , which they said was just jeremy, which they said was just a multi—billion pound bung to his rich buddies if they were to win the next general election . win the next general election. and he also said that the child plan was the best in decades. but why should we waiting for it? you heard that one of my guests herself who for it and argued for it a little on. so

how we have quickly come to the battle for the next general election on many of these . election on many of these. joining me first this hour is commentator and friend of mine benedict spence, who i'm going to chew over that very public reaction in the independent , but reaction in the independent, but also our own people's poll . that also our own people's poll. that suggests that despite of that and all of those billions pounds on child care and pensions and the rest of it labour remain very clearly ahead in the voters come the election. but remains quite clearly ahead of starmer . quite clearly ahead of starmer. very little progress for starmer at all. yeah, i think that this it was a curious budget . it it was a curious budget. it almost felt like the early rounds between a heavyweight boxing match. both sides of slightly sort of just trying to work other not wanting work each other out not wanting to you know too you know to go you know too bold you know there a major out of the there wasn't a major out of the hat know, there is hat as you know, there is sometimes labour's sometimes actually labour's response thought relatively response, i thought relatively muted given what it could have

been.i muted given what it could have been. i thought that it was an accurate appraisal, saying that it's a sticking whilst it's a sticking plaster whilst you're waiting in the waiting room need major room and actually you need major surgery. true, but surgery. that's true, but i don't it takes a genius don't think it takes a genius have out. think the have that out. and i think the problem the tories don't want problem is the tories don't want to at this point to be too bold at this point because recently because being bold very recently has qatar has had some pretty qatar strategic effects for them . they strategic effects for them. they don't want be seen as don't want to be seen as potentially reckless they potentially reckless. they don't want fight that . they want to start a fight that. they feel can't win. as feel that they can't win. as you know, sort risked know, they've sort of risked with a the unions, it's with a few of the unions, it's not gone too badly for them. but you sort invite you don't want to sort invite more of that on. i at this more of that on. i think at this moment in time, you're right. you rishi polling you know, rishi sunak is polling relatively kind relatively well and you've kind of that an asset. of got to use that an asset. this there's been this idea that only could have you know, only could have the you know, the and the popularity the gravitas and the popularity to win. well, that's to take on and win. well, that's clearly true. actually clearly not true. and actually what issue is the what is the issue here is the rest party. and i think rest of the party. and i think this is much getting the rest this is as much getting the rest of party in disciplined of the party in line disciplined and to them, look , we and saying to them, look, we don't hair. you've don't have long hair. you've kind to persuade the rest of kind of to persuade the rest of the public that sensible. the public that we're sensible. so tax, so if you want to be low tax, you be shouting about, you want to be shouting about, you want to be shouting about, you culture issues. well,

you know, culture issues. well, you know, culture issues. well, you can do that. just you can do that. fine but just be aware not going down be aware it's not going down particularly what particularly well. it's not what people were people want. just when you were giving that answer, we're running some as of keir running some picture as of keir starmer responding to the budget speech and rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor exchequer, sitting next to him there. i've said this several before on the programme, but i don't think i don't. you and i have discussed it before some of starmer's lieutenant are outshining him clearly . bridget phillipson on clearly. bridget phillipson on childcare on education on early years. reeves i would argue on the economy and on wes streeting certainly in many ways i don't think that's a bad thing because i think when keir starmer came in, it was with the idea of him not a huge character who going to rock the boat. it was about detoxifying bringing detoxifying the party, bringing other to the fore. it other characters to the fore. it reduces the likelihood dissent in the early on. that has in the ranks early on. that has been labour have had for been a that labour have had for a time and it gives a very long time and it gives the impression labour the impression that labour is more starmer that more than just keir starmer that there other minds on there are other minds on backbenches that you're just backbenches that you're not just voting clearly voting for one guy as clearly

people with tory party, it people feel with tory party, it just for maybe just voting for sunak maybe hunt to degree, actually that's to a degree, but actually that's the what labour are trying the deal. what labour are trying to that it is to push is the idea that it is a government than a prime minister that you're going for you know, there still the tendency there is still the tendency every then the every now and then to let the mask sort of the mask slip the sort of the student politic aspect of it. angela rayner people like that can be useful , angela rayner people like that can be useful, but equally can be very useful, but equally can be very useful, but equally can off with a of can go off with a bit of a tangent. but i think it is, you know, up to now the sort of the slow, steady, let's do to slow, steady, let's not do to rush has enabled labour rush approach has enabled labour to water to sort of tread water whilst the have up then the tories have gone up and then down and then tried to get themselves back up. and is themselves back up. and this is themselves back up. and this is the labour the thing right now. labour isn't especially bold isn't anything especially bold and they don't and they feel that they don't need as long as they just need to as long as they just appear , which appear sensible, which is loyalty are crucial . loyalty and unity are crucial. those takes me to my those are which takes me to my next is the problems next question is the problems that that the prime minister have, even if the polls suggest that he's more popular sir that he's more popular than sir keir , and that is the keir starmer, and that is the threat of a rebellion over windsor framework. the replacement of the northern ireland protocol and real

elegant disquiet with some elements of the child care voiced by a number mps, particularly tory women saying hang on a minute , the support hang on a minute, the support for the family. where's support for the family. where's support for women who just want to stay at and look after their little ones or husbands who want to stay at home, look after their little ones? right. and if tories don't cut taxes, what are they for said drax? they for said richard drax? right what those tory mp right i think what those tory mp have to recognise is they had hail mary election a few years ago and boris johnson in which they have pursued those they could have pursued those policies and they it policies and they fumbled it really they longer the really badly, they no longer the liberty think of being able to liberty i think of being able to go as far to the right as go quite as far to the right as they would like because they need appeal much more to the need to appeal much more to the centre to them centre ground to say to them look, we're not, know, you look, we're not, you know, you can do stick with can trust, please do stick with us don't rule us because right, i don't rule out that rishi out the possibility that rishi sunak can claw things back and win, it will be a very slim win, but it will be a very slim majority if he does . and that's majority if he does. and that's the . when you have a 60 the thing. when you have a 60 seat majority and five years ahead of you. yeah goodness, you can that kind of thing when

can do that kind of thing when you've matter of 18 you've got a matter of 18 months, at best. and months, maybe at best. and you've got labour that kind you've got labour with that kind of you can't afford of a poll lead you can't afford actually you know, throwing actually be, you know, throwing out policies which if we're being honest not being completely honest are not necessarily swing necessarily popular in the swing seats you to win they're seats that you to win they're very grassroot very good with the grassroot it's with the sort of tory heartlands those people heartlands but those people going you at going to vote for you anyway at this going to this point they're not going to vote claim any vote for reform or claim or any of let's get that out of of those. let's get that out of the out of the for now. that's that's the big is the red that's the big it is the red wall. you know, people wall. it you know, the people who occupy the who are very much occupy the centre just don't centre who just don't particularly but particularly likely labour but look as being slightly particularly likely labour but look credibleas being slightly particularly likely labour but look credible than.ng slightly particularly likely labour but look credible than. thelightly particularly likely labour but look credible than. the tories, more credible than. the tories, those you've got those are the people you've got to look, not, you to say, look, we're not, you know, conservative, we're know, rabid conservative, we're not rabid ites, not sort of rabid thatcher ites, we're we to a we're sensible. we appeal to a broad and this is why you should stick us if . broad and this is why you should stick us if. hunt teasing, talking those rabble. tory members may like to just pause a while and wait for the autumn statement. that may be something there and the public finances in a slightly better state. let put that to you. plus up point i made earlier on. and that is that there's no that the rate of

inflation is falling and falling quite sharply if that drags interest down or stops going up quite so quickly. yeah as is threatened in europe and as is to the united states of america , slam dunk, then i think they afford to be a little more bold , little more creative, because we really will be sort of, i think, into into election cycle. we'll be approaching that. i think this is still a little bit too to say is the too early to say this is the battlelines being drawn. but if we to that and things we get to that point and things improved, might feel improved, then they might feel ambitious enough up with ambitious enough to come up with something perhaps isn't something that perhaps isn't directly agenda or that directly on the agenda or that is a risk to try to get is a bit of a risk to try to get themselves over the line because at that point they'll be thinking, the thinking, well, this is the moment, or and moment, this is do or die and labour this point has labour up to this point has consistently been very measured, very but it's not very very balanced but it's not very incisive. it's not very sort of particularly inspiring. it is very of a crucial point. very much of a crucial point. and that's why i said in my overall before you were kind enough us you had enough to join us that you had not usual suspects, but a couple of fresh faces saying, let's have progressive property tax

have a progressive property tax and let's have a wealth tax , not and let's have a wealth tax, not immediately embraced by sir keir or any other member of the frontbench, although there are one or two, which say yeah one or two, three which say yeah we'll some of that. yeah we'll have some of that. yeah i think it's again this is the difficulty that that the difficulty is that that is the cohort people is most cohort of people that is most likely that isn't likely to vote and that isn't one necessarily want to one that you necessarily want to alienate. but i think broadly speaking we're getting to a point where you see certain point now where you see certain services beginning not function as they should nhs the as they should the nhs the policing the criminal justice policing of the criminal justice system as begins to system and as it begins to impact middle classes more impact the middle classes more and think you'll a lot and more, i think you'll a lot more from people who more sympathy from people who are prepared to say, okay, i'm prepared to a little bit prepared to let a little bit more in return for these more go in return for these things back needs to hit things coming back needs to hit those middle classes first before we go to them with the in fact could see you again thank you david spencer and you very much david spencer and delighted be joined by a delighted now to be joined by a conservative member of parliament. he's the mp for nonh parliament. he's the mp for north east bedfordshire richard phillips, who's also former economic secretary to the treasury . good see you, sir. and

treasury. good see you, sir. and a very good afternoon to do. you understand how this budget was supposed to help with growth and help the business sector, particularly make the oecd look daft in saying ? we are going to daft in saying? we are going to be the only economy globally that's contracting in the next 12 months. yes, i'm you mentioned the forecast because many ways this was a budget of forecasts more than anything else comparing the obe projections last november with now gave the chancellor substantial headroom . he's done substantial headroom. he's done that in very targeted ways. i think as your discussion was just saying, there's not one big blunderbuss action here by the chancellor other than quite interesting changes , childcare, interesting changes, childcare, but a lot of things that are supposed be supply side reforms get people back to work and that's the grain of trying to prove the oecd wrong . a couple

prove the oecd wrong. a couple of your colleagues and i've mentioned him several times now, richard drax , said if your party richard drax, said if your party does not to cut taxes, then what's in it ? does not to cut taxes, then what's in it? and does not to cut taxes, then what's in it ? and george does not to cut taxes, then what's in it? and george , does not to cut taxes, then what's in it ? and george , the what's in it? and george, the former environment secretary, said, where is the help for the family? where is the help for? those parents who want to stay home and look after their children and rather than get out there and, be a two job family. yeah richard is a good friend of mine. i think his views on the economy generally , he writes, economy generally, he writes, i think the problem with george eustice is a challenge on child is that there's a large number of working people for whom tax changes won't have anything like the effect than the proposals chancellor is putting forward will have. and i think to that extent the chancellor's rising is probably targeted to solve the problem that he's identified is getting more people into work

and that's a good thing because as we will to the next election, the conservatives to be able to demonstrate that we are not only on the side of working people , on the side of working people, but the work pays and poverty is in showing the wage rates goes up and household finances up and these changes on charge can help. richard music to my ears, i've tried to explain that to so many people many times. it's lovely to hear from someone like you say that the best way to get people to go back to work or to stay in work is to let them keep as much of what earn as possible . what are you convinced by the evidence that the autumn statement may be a little more rosy than the budget? just a few a few days back ? well, i'm a few days back? well, i'm hopeful i mean if you've just seen such a big in overall forecasts in such short period of time, you don't want put too much out there of the next. we are a forecasting savvy way we jump are a forecasting savvy way we jump around forecasts perhaps a little bit too much. but i do think the chancellor should look

at simplifying taxes and you know, it's heartening that labour's response has been pretty hollow other than their usual class warfare because most of british public understand that the who earn a lot of money if you want to get doctor back to work you've got to do something so they don't feel they're overly penalised with double taxation double and sometimes taxation when they when they do that and we want to get from that i hope when they've got the that when they've got the chance that comes statement . if comes the autumn statement. if there available, there is space available, he'll do something about those tax look at but also at the don't forget middle families now that about 40% tax rate is supposed to be for very high tax very high income earners but it's kicking in at a low rate. and every year in real terms gets lower enough. richard fuller on corporation tax should jeremy have told his neighbour the prime minister ? sorry boss on prime minister? sorry boss on that one. you're wrong . we that one. you're wrong. we shouldn't raise the tax level

facing . british well, he'd be facing. british well, he'd be a brave to do that because obviously the prime minister brought it in and i've done a lot of homework. and so i think the child would've had to have a look that homework and a lot of a lot of detail. i mean, there's a lot of detail. i mean, there's a fundamental here, a fundamental point here, which is matter of judgement, is a matter of judgement, i think for myself and some of my conservative colleagues, we think the 25% rate, the think that the 25% rate, the increase 25% takes away an advantage . is that the headline advantage. is that the headline rate is what a lot of companies look at when they look to make their global investments the big multi multi . and it's only after multi multi. and it's only after you get over that hurdle that can then say well look here's break in year to year three for and i do . i do worry that after and i do. i do worry that after 20 or 30 years under conservative and labour governments have demonstrated the world that the uk consistently reduces corporation tax . we've now done such a sharp tax. we've now done such a sharp reversal or more will follow astrazeneca and go and set up their tent somewhere else .

their tent somewhere else. richard philip, great to see you and thank you so for joining us. richard fuller there, member of parliament, conservative member of parliament and, former treasury minister himself . we treasury minister himself. we believe passionately and balanced on programme. so i'm particularly delighted to be joined by my next guest and back to the programme. stephen timms . he is labour member of for parliament ham and chair of the work and pensions committee in the house commons. i was watching the debate with great interest and. it slightly me that the first thing you said was, i'm sorry, i'm i'm slightly late and i missed some of the exchanges . what was your overall exchanges. what was your overall reaction as a senior backbench member of and chair of that select committee to labour's . to select committee to labour's. to this full budget ? well, this full budget? well, i welcomed what rachel reeves said in response . i mean you made the

in response. i mean you made the point earlier that rachel was doing a really excellent job as shadow chancellor. i agree that and i very much hope that won't be too long. she's chancellor of the exchequer . it was a clear the exchequer. it was a clear analysis of . the problems that analysis of. the problems that the countries , the economic the countries, the economic problems we're facing the lack of investment, the lack of growth and commitment to a kind of long term plan under a labour government to address the problems and i thought she made a very good response. i think she's right as well to pick on this tax giveaway . the richest this tax giveaway. the richest 1% of a pension savings, which was the one kind of really surprising element in the budget i'm kind of baffled really why that's being done. all right. now i understand there's a problem with doctors that's been evident for a while. the government seem to say, well, to solve it quickly, all we could was give out £1.2 billion in in tax relief. but, i mean of

course, they should have fixed this problem, looked at the problem some time ago. not suddenly try it now to come up but but you know, £1.2 billion at a time when as richard fuller was saying, more and more people being dragged higher tax . being dragged into higher tax. it's wrong, you know, and i think really it reflects the fact that the chance of the exchequer spending far too much time talking to people who are in that 1% group and kind of get us out, with what ordinary us out, touch with what ordinary people with people are having to put up with at the moment. people are having to put up with at the moment . you went in hard at the moment. you went in hard on the effort to include of the long term sick and indeed disabled as targets to try and tend them back into work and make it easier for them to get back work. and it seemed to me that you you won an from me from the treasury benches, from the government in the sense that help needs to be available . help needs to be available. those people who do want to work and we all know perfectly well that there are many out there

long term , sick and disabled, long term, sick and disabled, who really very, very keen to get back into work. it is what they to do . they are very keen. they to do. they are very keen. i welcome a number of the ideas in the disability white paper that was published on budget day. i mean, the problem there which i drew attention to in my which i drew attention to in my which is that we just don't have the details we don't really know what it is the government is proposing said they're proposing they've said they're going the work going to scrap the work capability assessment. i don't think going to mourn think anyone is going to mourn the loss of that but what we don't is what going don't know is what they're going to its place. there's to put in its place. there's clearly looking at the what they have said, there's clearly something is going to go in place of the work capability assessment. going assessment. they're going to legislate apparently legislate for it. apparently year 2024. we've no idea year in 2024. but we've no idea what it is. so i think we do need we do need those detail . i need we do need those detail. i mean, other things which are welcome with the childcare support . i very much welcome the support. i very much welcome the changes there as you mentioned by chair, the work and pensions committee, cross—party committee with a conservative majority. we

for changes to the way childcare support is paid for but people who claim universal credit. i was very that the chancellor accepted both of our key recommends actions on that in his budget statement this week and i pay tribute to my colleague on the committee she borne conservative member who he referred to in his speech. i think been working very hard behind the scenes to lobby for the changes that we were proposing. so, you know, they were helpful changes there for disabled people. i think there is a good deal more to be done before we've got a package which can do the job. that's but there's certainly some important there's certainly some important there and there's any harm in labour conservative working together if it is in the in right objective in the right hands stephen and thank you again breaking into your weekend to come and talk to us here on gb news. it genuinely is always a to you to a pleasure talk to you to stephen labour, member of parliament and as i said and as

he said , the chair the work he said, the chair of the work and pensions committee. so i look forward to having him back on the programme. always welcome any time we've. plenty more. still to come this afternoon on alastair and friends alastair stewart and friends after it's all about after the break, it's all about the man visiting you the man is visiting luanda. you heard news bulletin heard that in our news bulletin earlier her earlier to reaffirm her commitment to the uk's controversial deportation policy . home and security editor there and we'll be able give us the very latest . but first, let's very latest. but first, let's bnng very latest. but first, let's bring you up to date with the weather here. hello there. good afternoon to you to your latest weather updates from met office. i'm jonathan vautrey . today has i'm jonathan vautrey. today has been a day of chasing rainbows for many of us in between heavy showers that we've seen around to low pressure that is in across the whole of the uk . we across the whole of the uk. we do have frontal systems that's pushing through northern ireland into of scotland that's just bringing some longer spells of rain and it will also rain here. and it will also breezy across very far north breezy across the very far north of as move of scotland as we move throughout evening over throughout this evening and over night. the heavy night. elsewhere, the heavy showers we have will tend

showers we have seen will tend to ease out and die out as we move over nights. that will allow clear intervals to allow some clear intervals to develop. allowing develop. just allowing temperatures to drop down bit temperatures to drop down a bit more to towns and cities still generally around six generally holding up around six celsius, a rural frost is celsius, but a rural frost is possible across parts of northern ireland and scotland and could just provide some and that could just provide some icy patches. first thing on sunday morning, particularly where a few where we've still got a few showers lingering, those continuing out some continuing to ease out some really sunday is looking like a fine of us, fine day for many of us, certainly throughout the morning a good number of sunny intervals, of cloud intervals, a bit of cloud just lingering the east lingering across the 40 east coast england for coast of england then for northern to northern ireland, it's going to turn the afternoon as this turn into the afternoon as this rain begins, rise turn damp rain begins, rise and turn damp here. but when you hold those sunshine throughout the afternoon it will feel as represent and spring highs of 1112 celsius. so southeastern areas of england will hold onto the dry weather during sunday evening. but elsewhere the rain is then going to start its way in. and as we then move into the start working week that the start new working week that the change to some more unsettled weather so monday

weather so during monday outbreaks of rain or rather day for many of us and fairly drab across the board some of the driest and perhaps brightest where we're actually for northeastern areas of scotland where the just doesn't arrive until later on, the weather fronts going continue as fronts are going to continue as we round to the new working we move round to the new working week. but you'll notice week. but you'll also notice that have beginning that the ice have beginning to squeeze once , so things squeeze together once, so things will breezier as head will tend breezier as head towards wednesday. so temperatures will be holding up in double digits many of us. in double digits for many of us. that just an edge off that will just take an edge off things. the of your things. enjoy the rest of your day .

welcome back to gb news. it is just 1:30. i'm karen armstrong . just 1:30. i'm karen armstrong. let's bring you up to date with the headlines. the home secretary is in rwanda discussing , the £140 million discussing, the £140 million deal to end illegal to the country so that a braverman says the plan which been criticised

will act as a powerful deterrent for those making dangerous journeys across the channel she visited long term accommodation sites which will house both refugee and rwandans as well as a training and education centre where she addressed some of the graduates . we are absolutely graduates. we are absolutely delighted and excited about our partnership with rwanda to be creating a vibrant unity here to be a positive , secure, beautiful be a positive, secure, beautiful haven and home for many thousands of people. and i'm really about the contribution that these talented graduates will be making to the prosperity of rwanda and the security of many, many people . donald trump many, many people. donald trump says he expects to be arrested on tuesday and has called his supporters to protest and. take our nation back. the district attorney's office is likely to bnng attorney's office is likely to bring charges against the former

president over an alleged hush money payment made to the adult star, stormy daniels. was in the run up to the 2016 election, daniels says she has had an affair with trump a decade earlier which he denies. the twice impeached former president though has criticised attorney's office for being corrupt and political political . the snp's political political. the snp's chief exec has resigned with immediate effect . it follows immediate effect. it follows reports that peter morale , who's reports that peter morale, who's also nicola sturgeon's , was also nicola sturgeon's, was facing the threat of a vote of no confidence following a row over the party's membership numbers . in a over the party's membership numbers. in a statement he said while there was no intent to , he while there was no intent to, he accepts that has the outcome . tv accepts that has the outcome. tv onune accepts that has the outcome. tv online and dab radio. this is gb news. now it's back to alastair stewart& friends friends . stewart& friends friends. aaron, thank you very much

indeed. aaron, thank you very much indeed . and indeed, as you just indeed. and indeed, as you just heard in our news bulletin, the home secretary suella braverman is visiting rwanda this weekend to reaffirm her commitment to the uk , its controversial the uk, its controversial deportation policy. it's the home first visit to the african nafion home first visit to the african nation with her predecessor, priti patel, where her predecessor patel signed the agreement april last year. in a bid to deter illegal small boat crossing . well, our homeland crossing. well, our homeland security mark white is in rwanda and has an update on the latest developments there and what progress the home secretary is making . the home secretary is making. the home secretary is arrival here in kigali, is very pubuc arrival here in kigali, is very public reaffirmation of the uk and the rwandan government's determination to push ahead with the deal to send asylum seekers here. the plan is of course still stuck in the british courts and there's no doubt the

government in rwanda has been stung in recent months by the level of criticism it's received from human rights groups and charities suella braverman onto a here insist that's a wilful misrepresentation of what the country has offer. it has already accepted asylum seekers and other immigrants from countries in africa and the middle east who the government here in kigali say are making good lives for themselves . good lives for themselves. indeed, growing levels of immigration are a key part of rwanda's economic plan, which includes a burgeoning tech sector . the government here is sector. the government here is prepared, they say, to take many thousands of asylum seekers if required. but of any move in that direction will mean many millions more of uk taxpayers money being channelled into the economy , more accommodation , economy, more accommodation, we're told, is in the pipeline .

we're told, is in the pipeline. asylum seekers. well the uk government asserts have access to all the legal and other support service . they'll need . support service. they'll need. but even the rwanda plans. ardent supporters acknowledge there are compromises . this there are compromises. this isn't yet a fully developed economy. but as far as the uk government is concerned and it is a vital component to their migration plan , without a third migration plan, without a third country willing to take asylum seekers that plan is almost certain to fail. seekers that plan is almost certain to fail . mark white with certain to fail. mark white with the home in the rwandan carpeted hill kigali . and we will have hill kigali. and we will have more from mark as the visit progresses on gb news tv and radio throughout the day and across the weekend. now today marks 20 years since parliament voted in favour of sending british troops to war in iraq . british troops to war in iraq. tony blair's government drafted a motion and i quote, to use all

means necessary to ensure the disarmament of iraq's of mass destruct action. despite a quarter of labour mps voting against the war, it passed instead with support the conservative opposition . the conservative opposition. the invasion began just days after and lasted well in to the next decade, with consequences that are still very raw for the international community and indeed many members of the labour party. and you may argue more significant only for veterans who served in that conflict. well our reporter will hollis has more and reflects upon those extracted and rare events. saddam hussein and his sons must leave iraq within 48 hours. their refusal to do so will result in military conflict commenced at a time of our

choosing . 2003 will be known for choosing. 2003 will be known for little else in modern memory other than the start the iraq war . a coalition led by the war. a coalition led by the united states bolstered through british support today marks 20 years since parliament voted in favour of the invasion , with favour of the invasion, with tony blair as prime minister. the decision was made against a backdrop of public protest . one backdrop of public protest. one big question guiding the turmoil was the invasion legal major general chapman is a former senior british military commander to central command. the war had been underpinned . by the war had been underpinned. by unscr 1441, which was had run unscr1441, which was had run its day , and that saddam hussein its day, and that saddam hussein had to get rid of his weapons of mass destruction . of course, mass destruction. of course, that was the impetus to war. and the problem became that there were no weapons of mass destruction . so i don't think destruction. so i don't think people really believe that a lot of didn't believe of people didn't believe it because. million because. that led to the million person in london. so there a lot

of fracture and certainly from top of defence, the chief of the defence staff, the future little boys did to get clarification from the general that any intervention the british armed forces was indeed legal. intervention the british armed forces was indeed legal . and he forces was indeed legal. and he got that assurance . the weapons got that assurance. the weapons were found and despite quickly saddam hussein, the war evolved. british troops spent many years fighting an insurgency. it's one of the reasons why some veterans suffer with post stress . around suffer with post stress. around 9% of iraq veterans have . 9% of iraq veterans have. anniversaries can act as a trigger even many years later, according to the mental health charity. combat dr. felix davis is director operations. we are still finding that we are having veterans of iraq come forward to us for help this time and they're experiencing a range of mental health problems . often mental health problems. often people think about

post—traumatic stress disorder or ptsd, but we find veterans come forward with mental health needs around anxiety , needs around anxiety, depression. the war ended in 2011. yet the consequence of the decision to go into iraq burned through the last decade and continue to this day . will continue to this day. will hollis gb news news extraordinary events. i remember them so clearly you're watching and to alastair stewart & friends and to alastair stewart& friends with more to come on the program this afternoon in our reflections particularly up on jeremy irons budget and what it means for business. i'd be to welcome back my good friend cameron, but maria, who is vice president of the confederation of british for his thoughts , of british for his thoughts, watching and listening to alison stewart and friends . stay with stewart and friends. stay with us here on tv and on radio and onune.

hello and welcome back. because as i said just before that break, we continue our discussion on reflections on jeremy hunt's budget. just a few days , particularly the childcare days, particularly the childcare element, the pensions element and. now, i'm delighted to say the corporation tax element and lord carrington , the maria who lord carrington, the maria who founded cobra bear and is also vice president of the confederation of british industry and very is in all his glory . karen, industry and very is in all his glory. karen, i said a little earlier that jeremy hunt should have taken a deep breath and said to his sorry boss, but on increasing corporation , if we're increasing corporation, if we're going for growth , you're just going for growth, you're just wrong . this is the worse thing wrong. this is the worse thing that could have happened increasing corporation tax. now from 19% to 25, almost third in

one swoop. this is first increase in corporation tax. we've in decades. and when george osborne reduced corporation tax down to 20, then 19% was going to go down to 70. he had an ambition to take it down to 15. in fact, the chancellor, current chancellor jeremy hunt wanted corporation tax to be as low as 15. instead, what do we do to do exactly the opposite? and the record has shown when the corporation tax was reduced . our tax take was reduced. our tax take actually went up . so to try and actually went up. so to try and get this £18 billion extra per yean get this £18 billion extra per year, which is what it up being by increasing corporation tax 25 is so it is literally the goose that lays the golden because what you're doing is you're hampering the growth. you're our recovery from the worst since the second world war and really important is your hampering inward investment from abroad. having the high rate of corporation tax sends out a bad signal. we've seen that with astrazeneca deciding to invest

in ireland next door, 12 and a half , half in ireland next door, 12 and a half, half our rate now . and the half, half our rate now. and the chancellor prime minister say, oh, we've got the lowest corporation tax headline rate compared with the rest of the g7. well, what about the oecd? we're now the oecd average. we to be competitive because as an we have not done well . if you we have not done well. if you look at that since the financial crisis our average uk income i just look at the financial times today it's actually stagnate for 15 years. if you look at our growth in the uk in real wages. it's been if you look at the whole list of countries with lithuania at the top of the list, latvia and estonia to poland, we're right down u.k. way, way, way down. down the list. i'm sorry. we shouldn't be there. we need to grow this economy. we need to be bolder . economy. we need to be bolder. we had a shock last september with the irrational exuberance of liz truss and kwasi kwarteng with their best of intentions. they went about it wrong way. they went about it wrong way. they . i said this in my they opened. i said this in my speech on the budget in the house of lords on thursday. i said, what's the best if liz

truss , kwasi kwarteng had take truss, kwasi kwarteng had take the trouble and? care to have the trouble and? care to have the obr prepare report to back up their plans ? the debt to gdp, up their plans? the debt to gdp, which is going to be almost 100% five years from now. would not that much higher than jeremy hunfs that much higher than jeremy hunt's plan. but they didn't do that. hunt's plan. but they didn't do that . so we are now stuck in a that. so we are now stuck in a situation and we've got taxes going up when we should be putting taxes down and we've got an economy really struggling businesses struggling, citizens struggling. but at least get me wrong, there are some good things budget well. things in the budget as well. the of super the replacement of super deduction, was worried deduction, which i was worried would taken away with would be taken away with increasing corporation tax. a double whammy that has not happenedin double whammy that has not happened in that have as rishi sunak promised me, 1 to 1. they've put in a 100% tax relief for investment in plant and machinery and technology. and i'm grateful for that . i was i'm grateful for that. i was going to say that that was the briefing that the treasury people put out, that almost the moment jeremy sat down, it was to say that actually a lot of

people won't have to pay this tax, because if they do right thing and invest put in new machinery and improved productivity, they were going to be paying a penny extra in. but what you were saying earlier that i want to underline for the people who are kind enough to listen to and watch our conversation is for multinational companies like astrazeneca who chose to come to the uk but went to ireland . they the uk but went to ireland. they do literally sit down and say, look, if we set up shop in france it's going to cost us x. if we set up shop in holland, it's going to cost us y. and on that amongst other things that, amongst many other things , they come to a judgement . that , they come to a judgement. that is why you let me be absolutely crystal clear. i'll saying that this tory government has shot itself in the foot in terms of international competitiveness . international competitiveness. without a doubt this is a very, very bad move . and to try and very bad move. and to try and say we're to be fiscally prudent. well you've stabilised things since september when we had that shock when the markets did not accept . liz truss and

did not accept. liz truss and kwasi kwarteng plans and we got out that and to the credit rishi sunak and to jeremy hunt they have stabilised things . there's have stabilised things. there's not long to go before the election. now they need to grow the economy, they've got to show that can grow the economy. instead you've got personal that are frozen until 28 with inflation that is 10. that's a huge tax increase. it's up to 500, more than £500 per individus. true, that's right. that so the tax are not just corporation tax individuals are also having their increased and the government doing its best to help with energy support for individuals which has been extended. there's been increased energy support for businesses . energy support for businesses. then the childcare, what a good initiative. but where is it coming in? it's not starting until then is being phased in. then eventually it'll come in. in 2025. the same thing, the lifelong learning curve. we desperate really need to have lifelong because people in today

will have to reskill ten years , will have to reskill ten years, 90% of the workforce has to be retrained . businesses have to retrained. businesses have to invest. £130 billion more. but if you have this lifelong learning, which is a great thing, announced long time ago, by way, this budget more by the way, not this budget more than year ago it was announced. when does it starting 2024, why not start now? do you think that they've seen a sense of urgency 7 they've seen a sense of urgency ? yeah. the 11 billion also spent on the pension reforms . spent on the pension reforms. was that a little bit of unfocused exuberance ? you've unfocused exuberance? you've just given a compelling list of things that you would rather have got done and got done sooner. have got done and got done sooner . do you have got done and got done sooner. do you think have got done and got done sooner . do you think the sooner. do you think the pensions reforms was a misjudgement that that was targeted very specifically at people like senior doctors and consultants and surgeons? well that was a complete disincentive to carry on working because attacks were so punitive and. this limit, by the way, was was brought down from 1.8% to 1

million by george osborne over a decade ago. and now we need to make sure that those people who are crucial to our health service , which has been under so service, which has been under so much pressure , which is still much pressure, which is still under pressure, needs huge amount not only of, but there's amount not only of, but there's a lot of reform that's needed for our national health service . and you on top of that, . and if you on top of that, have crucial individuals who are retiring , they shouldn't any retiring, they shouldn't be any doing . incentivise doing something. incentivise them do that. that them to do that. well, that should and that's what should be done and that's what the the government the got why the government done this isn't spun in this and but it isn't spun in a way that this is helping the richest but it's helping some very key individuals who that help stay in the workforce . help to stay in the workforce. karen, great talk to you. karen, great to talk to you. always thank you much always thank you very much indeed breaking into your indeed for breaking into your weekend thoughts indeed for breaking into your wee reflection thoughts indeed for breaking into your wee reflection up thoughts indeed for breaking into your wee reflection up on thoughts indeed for breaking into your wee reflection up on thatoughts indeed for breaking into your wee reflection up on that budget and reflection up on that budget . and you could not have been clearer about corporation tax . clearer about corporation tax. thank you very much indeed, sir. now total change of tack. this has nothing whatsoever to do with delighted with the budget. i'm delighted to, me. to, but it matters to me. passionate leigh, and i know it will matter to many of you. we, as a family, love our dogs we

have to at home in fact, i think actually today we probably got three because i think my daughter is visiting and will have dog. one of them have bought her dog. one of them is daughter's is a rescue dog. my daughter's dog also a rescue dog. my dog is also a rescue dog. my wife is also a supporter of guide dogs, which is a superb charity . and it not only helps charity. and it not only helps them do great stuff, other but also they keep you up to date what your particular dog puppy doing which is absolutely superb. everybody knows the bafic superb. everybody knows the basic what a guide dogs do . we basic what a guide dogs do. we see them about the whole time which is terrific but they've launched a brand new short film that showcase is the quotes my skills service that can help young people particularly with visual impaired minds live the full lives that they choose. the charity hopes that the campaign will highlight the unique and

diverse needs of those with sight loss and guide dogs. is currently working with over a thousand young people offering in everything from kitchen and personal care skills . i guess personal care skills. i guess i'm going to be talking, josh in a moment . i i'm going to be talking, josh in a moment. i josh is that his is somebody has taken part in this promotional campaign and it means the world to him i can tell you i'll be talking to him in just a moment sitting with me here in the studio. i'm delighted to be joined by emma foulds is the chief strategy officer at dogs. hello hi, and welcome to you . it's one of welcome to you. it's one of those things where i guess if you walk out into the street and with a clipboard and ask people, you know, what do guide dogs do? everybody knows . and in in silly everybody knows. and in in silly language, it's to people who have visual impairment or the

whole hog get from a to b safely we know that guide them down arrows . show the where the kerb arrows. show the where the kerb stand is it's a this is a whole new ball game . absolutely. so new ball game. absolutely. so everybody knows about iconic dog service and you can see the lovely ringo on the safe of that next to josh . and it's an next to josh. and it's an amazing service . provides life amazing service. provides life changing partnerships of people, but we also do so much more . and but we also do so much more. and that's the what people know. so we have a huge range of children's services . so from the children's services. so from the day a child is born, if a child has vision impairment, we have a range of services which can help child. and similarly we have a range of other adult services . range of other adult services. so whether that's long keen training helping people get the most of technology, helping most out of technology, helping people a sighted guide, so people with a sighted guide, so having a human guide instead of a we have all a canine guides, we have all these services. really these other services. we really want those want to raise awareness of those . me josh in and . okay, let me josh in and pointed out to me which rude at me that i didn't notice that within the picture as well as

ringo your guide dog there just over to your left and excellent how does it work? because as i said to emma, i completely understand and the ringo helps you from a to b from your front door out into the street, safely across the road, etc, etc, etc. how does ringo help you run life more efficiently , effectively, more efficiently, effectively, andindeed more efficiently, effectively, and indeed more pleasure ? yeah. and indeed more pleasure? yeah. thank you very much for me on today. alister so ringo is completely transformed life in a number of ways. so as you mentioned, it's not about getting me from a to b, he actually gives me the comfort to get out and about but that safety aspects of things well so it just makes me more confident when i'm going off to the shops to work and gives my family as well. that's confessed that i am actually to be going somewhere independently and safely but alongside as well it's just massively improved my life in so

many different ways and takes away the anxiety when i'm walking around places and going into shops. i'm not trying to struggle to find a member of staff actually , staff and people staff actually, staff and people in society always come up to me and offer me support whenever i need it. and offer me support whenever i needit.so and offer me support whenever i need it. so it's really changed my life for the better . so it my life for the better. so it really at the heart of it is really is at the heart of it is confidence and news. did you consult? i'm just to put that question back to emma . as you question back to emma. as you know, he's with me in the studio . who did you consult with to crack this, to know that that was way to go forward for ? was way to go forward for? people like josh, that that the ability to get from a to b safely , he builds confidence . if safely, he builds confidence. if you know that that wonderful creature that helped you do that is with you there it means that you can do so other things that's not just a guess from a clever woman like you and the rest of the guy, but at the charity you must have talked to the experts to absolutely we work very closely with a range

of people vision impairment on everything we do . we make sure everything we do. we make sure that everything is really founded in that deep understanding of what the community of people living with vision impairment in the uk needs and. absolutely. we are about confidence , but we're about confidence, but we're really about helping people live actively, independently , really actively, independently, really well as well. for those are listening to what you and, josh just were saying on radio , which just were saying on radio, which we do as well . we're just we do as well. we're just showing a clip here from from that promotional film . and that promotional film. and there's your man himself and there's your man himself and there's ringo. i brilliant and lots of other young children so not age specific some of those some of those youngsters were literally underlined youngsters. absolutely. yes ralph, who you see in the advert there is ten years old and actually he is a service user of our children services . so he service user of our children services. so he himself has got help with exactly the things that you can see in that so long keen training can start from a

very young age to help people to be able to get out about, you know, just getting to and from school independently and through difficult and upsetting circumstances . you became a user circumstances. you became a user is an ugly word but but you a beneficiary. is it aware of guide dogs and a pretty a pretty young age as well so there was a good of learning that you to do as well . yeah. so i lost my as well. yeah. so i lost my eyesight in 15 years. also it was quite life changing really in 15. but the big and just what's really articulated in the advert those life skills or those daily living skills that they're taught in the video to they're taught in the video to the younger actor and. i received those services and that gave me confidence to go on to university and then again accessing guide dog services later on in life when i felt comfortable and access them, i always saw it . yeah, i knew that always saw it. yeah, i knew that ineeded always saw it. yeah, i knew that i needed a guide dog after i've

being not saved by electrical . being not saved by electrical. it really did notice me that i needed to really get in touch with guides oxygen really get some further support which we know is obviously provided me it's utterly brilliant and through you give our love to ringo i know that those of us outside he got stroke or but there are these he fell asleep dunng there are these he fell asleep during the on the economy unfortunately but i think he's just well coped with that i know that feeling going by cv final final point to you we are biased i made clear in my introduction and so you because you work for the charity and he is because ringo has changed and his life so much these creatures can detect illness they there was even a dog at crufts recently that was doing cpr showing that you can stop someone having a heart attack. is there anything that dogs can't do other than fly ? well, our dogs do 36. fly? well, our dogs do 36.

amazing that's how we train them in order to be guide. and some of our guide dogs , some of our of our guide dogs, some of our dogs who actually turn not to be suhed dogs who actually turn not to be suited for guiding . so we give suited for guiding. so we give the dogs that choice. we want the dogs that choice. we want the dog's well—being to be at the dog's well—being to be at the heart. some them do go on to be those other dogs. so they go and be medical. thank you for all do. thanks. and josh, if all you do. thanks. and josh, if you're thank you. all you do. thanks. and josh, if you' through thank you. all you do. thanks. and josh, if you' through you thank you. all you do. thanks. and josh, if you' through you againk you. all you do. thanks. and josh, if you' through you again to ou. all you do. thanks. and josh, if you'through you again to ringo. and through you again to ringo. thank very much indeed. so thank you very much indeed. so thank look it up. all thank you. look it up. it's all about helping those . perhaps not about helping those. perhaps not quite lucky as and me and quite as lucky as you and me and hurrah. always good hurrah. that's always a good thing to and thing to do. so to josh and ringo to and here live in the studio. you all very studio. thank you all very much. indeed. up. it's indeed. do look it up. it's a little film and you'll enjoy it as well . now, we're going to as well. now, we're going to take a quick .