crusade. calvin's common sense crusade. with calvin's common sense crusade. with me, the reverend calvin robinson on your tv online and on your wireless . today, we will on your wireless. today, we will discuss why the church of england is considering defrocking archbishops, bishops and priests found guilty of abuse or serious misconduct. we will meet james somerville mitchell to talk about the catholic union's decision to launch a new campaign to lift the 50% cap on faith based admissions in two new free schools and add a director of don't divide us will share their recent report on schools being taken over by organisations teaching anti—racism theories . teaching anti—racism theories. and in the duel my panellists will discuss whether enough is enough or is it time to defund the bbc? enough or is it time to defund the bbc.7 emma enough or is it time to defund the bbc? emma and a few seconds what will you take based on, i think the bbc are public haemorrhaging public trust at the moment and i am not convinced that they're able to claw it back from the brink. anas sarwar . anas sarwar. >> i want to know when. what's of interest to the public strays beyond the public interest and

becomes salacious, prurient or narcissistic. >> but before all that, it's the news with radisson . news with radisson. >> good afternoon. here's the latest news from the newsroom and in breaking news, defence secretary ben wallace is not going to stand as an mp in the next election. according to the times. now it follows speculation that mr wallace would leave in the autumn after four years in his role . four years in his role. according to reports, ben wallace remains supportive of rishi sunak and the government and his departure is not related to the tory party's current challenges. however, we'll bring you more on that story as we get it and in more breaking news, a fire has broken out at the albion hotel in brighton. footage of the blaze has been shared online with witnesses saying the flames are spreading quickly across the roof. and the top floor of the building, with winds spurring those flames.

emergency services are on the scene and they've been moving people a safe distance away from the incident. again, this is a developing story and we will bnng developing story and we will bring you more on this as we get it . well, parts of the uk have it. well, parts of the uk have been experiencing strong winds and thunderstorms with yellow met office warnings in place across the south of england. and wales and scotland and northern ireland to the goodwood festival of speed had to cancel today's event for the first time in its 30 year history and london's kaleidos scope festival at alexandra palace has been called off to weather . journalist off to weather. journalist nathan rao told us high winds can be dangerous at this time of year. yeah >> across the south of england . >> across the south of england. that's london, the south—east, the east of england , leicester, the east of england, leicester, leicestershire , essex, all that leicestershire, essex, all that sort of area. for that's gusts of up to 55mph, which doesn't seem that high. but remember that the trees are in full leaf at the moment. so strong gusts can cause more damage than they would for example, in would do, say, for example, in november leaves are down. >> well, in other news councils

in england wales have joined in england and wales have joined doctors in calling for a ban on disposable the local disposable vapes. the local government association wants a uk wide ban to be imposed next year over damage caused to the environment and the danger to young people . it says the 1.3 young people. it says the 1.3 million vapes discarded every week are a litter, blight and a fire hazard. earlier this month, the british medical association voted to review the potential dangers of vaping, describing it as a growing epidemic. dangers of vaping, describing it as a growing epidemic . well, as a growing epidemic. well, meanwhile , junior doctors are meanwhile, junior doctors are striking for a third day in england, the bma has warned the government their members will not back down over demands for a 35% pay rise. that's despite the prime minister adopting recommendations of the independent pay review bodies making a final pay offer of 6. the five day strike the longest in nhs history, runs until tuesday morning . international tuesday morning. international news and one of the last two ships export grain from ukraine under an agreement with russia , under an agreement with russia, has now arrived in istanbul . the

has now arrived in istanbul. the black sea grain deal, which expires on monday, has enabled ukraine to export grain and food safely over the past year. despite the war, ukraine is a major supplier of key crops like sunflower, oil and barley . sunflower, oil and barley. moscow is threatening to pull out of the agreement and is calling for western sanctions to ease israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu says he feels really well after being hospitalised due to dehydration in a video recorded at the hospital, mr netanyahu said he had been bathing in the sea of galilee during a heat wave. netanyahu, netanyahu's office, said he later complained of feeling light, dizziness, protest hours have assembled outside the hospital and have been continuing to demonstrate against the prime minister's judicial overhaul . this is gb judicial overhaul. this is gb news. we'll bring you more as it happens. now let's get back to father calvin .

father calvin. >> long before we were colleagues here at gb news, darren grimes and i headed up the defund the bbc campaign. gone are the days when they produced timeless , informative produced timeless, informative content like kenneth clark's civilisation and john betjeman's a passion for churches these daysit a passion for churches these days it seems they want to spend the entire time lecturing us plebs on how to live our lives as they sneer down their noses at us from their metropolitan elite bubble . even the so—called elite bubble. even the so—called entertainment shows and drama shows are full of social justice. warrior nonsense as there's nothing more distracting than trying to watch a television programme and noticing a pause in the script where the writers choose to lecture us on blm. the climate agenda, covid vaccines or trans issues, the blatant bias is infuriating . and then there's infuriating. and then there's the bloat . it's a

infuriating. and then there's the bloat. it's a huge infuriating. and then there's the bloat . it's a huge waste of the bloat. it's a huge waste of licence fee payers money splashing out millions of pounds on woke celebrities and the bloated salaries of bbc fatcats. it's a shame because the bbc used to mean something . it used used to mean something. it used to be a soft power of the british empire. it was respected for journalistic standards all around the world. but now it's nothing more than a monopoly strangling independent radio and podcasters . the licence fee is podcasters. the licence fee is out , dated as podcasters. the licence fee is out, dated as a business model. if the bbc believes its content lives up to the standards of 2023, they should open it up to the free market. allow people to opt in to subscribe to the bbc if they wish to watch bbc content, they should stop forcing people to pay for the bbc even if they never want to watch it as it stands to watch gb news you have to pay a licence fee to the bbc. why? that's not a licence. that's a tax. how many scandals does the bbc have to face before politicians ask the question about defund ing the bbc? and finally, cutting that tv tax .

finally, cutting that tv tax. the latest scandal involving a certain newsreader seems to have been covered up by the bbc execs for seven weeks, which comes as no surprise given the bbc's history of covering up scandals from jimmy savile to martin bashir . but what is interesting bashir. but what is interesting in the reaction to the beeb's latest transgression is that the metropolitan liberal elite are trying to paint the hugh elle edwards scenario off as homophobic, as if to imply the reason people are unhappy with his actions depends entirely upon the sex of the young persons he was chasing after. what a patronising view of the british public. surely we were disappointed in hugh because he has a wife and kids and he's let down his family and he's dropped the standards expected of any man, not to mention a figure in the public eye. societal standards are important. his sexuality is neither here nor there. and frankly , it's being there. and frankly, it's being used as an excuse , just as it used as an excuse, just as it was with phillip schofield. no one really cares if you're gay

or straight in 2023. what people care about is if you're in the 60s and you're grooming teenagers whilst cheating on your wife and neglecting your children. that said , the pylon children. that said, the pylon has been horrible to witness and i not want to add to it. i do not want to add to it. i blame a lot of this blame on the bbc for being a corrupt organisation, encourages bbc for being a corrupt orgarbehaviour encourages bbc for being a corrupt orgarbehaviour when ncourages bbc for being a corrupt orgarbehaviour when itourages bbc for being a corrupt orgarbehaviour when it comes; bbc for being a corrupt orgarbehaviour when it comes to such behaviour when it comes to mr edwards himself, i would say it's mr edwards himself, i would say wsfime mr edwards himself, i would say it's time to give his family some privacy to heal and give him an opportunity to repent . him an opportunity to repent. many commentators have been pretending his actions were okay because no laws were broken. we do not hold morality to the low expectation of law of man, expectation of the law of man, but the law god. adultery but to the law of god. adultery is immoral and his actions were wrong. that has to be said. but now give him to now we give him a chance to repent of his sins and seek forgiveness. are his forgiveness. we are not his judge . will his judge judge. he will face his judge one as we all will. but one day, as we all will. but there is time to put there is still time to put things right. in the meantime, spare for the let down spare a prayer for the let down wife children the hopes wife and children in the hopes that family can find a way that the family can find a way to one. and let's call to mend as one. and let's call for the take an

for the bbc to take an introspective moment to address why they keep bouncing from one scandal to the next with next to no accountability. what is going on over there . on over there. the bbc is no ordinary media outlet and its presenter is no ordinary journalist . but the ordinary journalist. but the network's wall to wall coverage has raised questions of its own after the confirmation that huw edwards a prominent bbc anchor, was the unnamed person at the heart of allegations of sexual misconduct, ended days of breathless speculation that consumed british public broadcast hour. it left a lingering sense of unease and doubtin lingering sense of unease and doubt in bbc's credibly as a whole. it's time the bbc remembered they have a duty to be fair to the audiences and licence fee payers. can the station get back to what it once stood for? all of which brings me to tonight's jewel . so is it

me to tonight's jewel. so is it time to defund the bbc? joining me now are my journalists, emma webb, uk director of the common sense society, and shiraz ali, former green party deputy leader shahrar . former green party deputy leader shahrar. first former green party deputy leader shahrar . first off, let former green party deputy leader shahrar. first off, let me ask you, what is your take on this bbc situation ? bbc situation? >> well, i think firstly, we are going to scrutinise the bbc as a publicly , publicly funded publicly, publicly funded organisation , and i think that's organisation, and i think that's only right. i do think there is a place for that kind of a broadcaster. but if the bbc carries on either wasting money squandering money or acting unethically , or employees acting unethically, or employees acting questionably, then i think their days are increasingly numbered and certainly the model as it currently stands is, is past its sell by date . i think there are sell by date. i think there are two issues really here with respect to that particular story. there's the professional ethics of the man at the centre of the storm, and then there's

the media ethics. i mean, the absurdity actually, of wall to wall blanket priority coverage on the news bulletins on a daily basis, which were irresponsible in their own right because it was fuelling speculation about the identity of the individual. but also in terms of media ethics to put that ahead of war or floods or climate emergency. i would say that that was itself irresponsible , well and well irresponsible, well and well beyond the justification which you could put on it. important though it might have been in terms of infractions as or misbehaviour. it was well beyond where you where it should have been placed within the news agenda for the for bbc, days on end. >> yeah. and there was almost an element of satire to this, wasn't there? >> seeing the bbc report on the bbc and there's one shot where they zoomed out on their bbc centre whilst someone in the bbc centre whilst someone in the bbc centre is talking about the it's just all so meta. >> yeah. and i think there are a lot of people who were annoyed.

they were annoyed with the bbc for their own presenter for throwing their own presenter under but were under the bus, but they were also annoyed the bbc for under the bus, but they were alscdoing yed the bbc for under the bus, but they were alscdoing enough the bbc for under the bus, but they were alscdoing enough about bc for under the bus, but they were alscdoing enough about theirr under the bus, but they were alscdoing enough about their own not doing enough about their own presenter. it was a lose lose presenter. so it was a lose lose situation for bbc. look you situation for the bbc. look you know, think we actually know, i think we actually crossed paths first crossed paths for the first time. calvin were time. calvin when you were working for the bbc. so working for defund the bbc. so as a small c conservative, i love our great british institution i, want our institution and i, i want our institution and i, i want our institution to flourish. but the fact is that the bbc is not the institution that it once was. not any sense . and if you not in any sense. and if you watch any footage, which on the rare occasion, rare occasion , i rare occasion, rare occasion, i do tune into the bbc, do actually tune into the bbc, usually room or usually in a hotel room or something there's other something where there's no other option. see just how option. and you see just how fundamentally biased and it's in it's in its bones the bbc has become. it presents this very, very narrow vision of british society that excludes the vast majority of people . and i think majority of people. and i think that the british public, through all the scandals that you just mentioned, through its own programming choices , through its programming choices, through its behaviour, through its ethics, all of these different reasons ,

all of these different reasons, i think the british public have lost trust in the bbc. and it seems like total nonsense that people should be paying what is essentially a tax, wanting to watch other channels probably, possibly they don't even watch the bbc because their figures seem to be dwindling more and more. why should the british pubuc more. why should the british public have to pay for the bbc? i think fundamentally , in order i think fundamentally, in order for it to survive or even for it to get its act together, you know, it's going to need to reform to some other kind of model. and the one that we're currently using because it's just outdated . just outdated. >> and do remember that actually. >> and it's sad. >> and it's sad. >> i was giving a talk on defund the bbc to the new culture forum. >> yes, you were. >> somehow some reason you were there you're part of the there because you're part of the tufton elite and you were tufton street elite and you were like, conspiracy. tufton street elite and you were likewho conspiracy. tufton street elite and you were likewho that?onspiracy. >> who is that? >> who is that? >> why should you say that? but yes, is. she—ra. what other yes, it is. she—ra. what other method we put in place? method can we put in place? could this with an could we replace this with an opt subscription service? opt in subscription service? similar to netflix and say, look, you want to put out look, if you want to put out such if you want such woke content, if you want to lecture day, every to lecture us all day, every day, you want tell us how

day, if you want to tell us how to our lives, then put your to live our lives, then put your money where your mouth is and let choose subscribe let people choose to subscribe to you. >> i think there is a cultural malaise within the bbc insofar as people are as they employ people who are like project their like them and they project their own i think there is a own values. i think there is a risk and a danger in any organisation that they become very would very comfortable. yeah i would like diversity like to see a greater diversity of presenting and we of individuals presenting and we need get this mental need to get out of this mental straitjacket. almost this assumption, assumption assumption, an poor assumption that we need pay more to get that we need to pay more to get the best to retain the best. the best or to retain the best. yeah, you know, this is such a poor assumption when you could put it on its head and put it, turn it on its head and say you actually want to get the best you need to pay less because you'll people who because you'll get people who are skilled , are are competent, skilled, are happy way to other happy to give way to other people have much hegemony people. we have so much hegemony in bbc that the we talk in the bbc that the we talk about news presenters as stars. i mean, this is just ludicrous. they shouldn't be part of the news. they shouldn't be seen as celebrities and nor should they themselves want to see themselves want to see themselves that way. if they care about their role, it's absurd. it's preposterous. it's

obscene to be paying 400 k plus for these roles. that's not right . it's not fair. it then right. it's not fair. it then does introduce this ingredient that we want to know how their spending or mis spending their salaries. i think that's justifiable concern and that's when it becomes the public interest . so let's pay less , not interest. so let's pay less, not more. let's have more rotation of good skilled, competent people and less of this celebrity within the bbc, much less of that. well let's turn this inwards. >> do you think we have hegemony or do you think we're quite diverse here at gb news? >> i see you as diverse. i see the skill and the professionalism within your organisation. i think it's organisation. an i think it's there for anybody to and there for anybody to see and i think because you're dealing with the bare bones with with the bare bones of a market, a much a greater market principle, that's principle, i think that's a harder climate . and so i think harder climate. and so i think there needs to be fairness us within broadcasting. it's a fast moving environment and at the moment the bbc is hard pushed to

justify itself. good good. >> i wanted to ask you that because obviously we have different political and different political opinions and people guys all people often say, you guys all think same, but of course we think the same, but of course we don't. and that's the of don't. and that's the point of this thoughts and this diversity of thoughts and opinion. however, emma, where the apart is the the bbc falls apart is the criminal of licence criminal ization of the licence fee. know that they go fee. and we know that they go predominantly women. the predominantly after women. the vast their vast majority of their convictions women. do you convictions are women. do you think as think this is discriminatory as a well no, not a woman? well no, not intentionally on their part , of coui'se. >> course. >> but, you know, maybe maybe, you know, when it comes to these people investigating you and the constant harassment that you get coming through the door, if coming from through the door, if you have a tv licence, you don't have a tv licence, which experienced myself when which i experienced myself when i to have a flat on my own i used to have a flat on my own and i used to get these these harassing letters all the time. and of course, i don't watch the bbc. i didn't have a you know, terrestrial television or anything need anything like that, didn't need to licence fee and to pay the licence fee and i think that, you know , possibly, think that, you know, possibly, maybe women are more likely to feel harassed by that. maybe they're more likely to open the door let these people come door and let these people come into think the into their homes. i think the criminalisation the licence

criminalisation of the licence fee insane. fee is absolutely insane. i think most people would think so . and just frankly don't think . and i just frankly don't think that people should be forced to pay that people should be forced to pay something when they're pay for something when they're not using the services that are provided and very briefly, provided. and just very briefly, go what you saying. go back to what you were saying. you the bbc used to the you know, the bbc used to the idea of it was that it was supposed to be a service, and i think it's forgotten that. >> and don't if you guys >> and i don't know if you guys can remember, but they to can remember, but they used to paint, put broadcast pictures of vans houses and vans sitting outside houses and all it a psyop . they all these it was a psyop. they never knew if you were never actually knew if you were watching bbc or not. it's all it's all a lie. plenty more to come this evening on my common it's all a lie. plenty more to come crusade.iing on my common it's all a lie. plenty more to come crusade. next,| my common it's all a lie. plenty more to come crusade. next, we'll:ommon it's all a lie. plenty more to come crusade. next, we'll beimon sense crusade. next, we'll be joined father felix smith to joined by father felix smith to discuss the church of discuss why the church of england considering england is considering defrocking bishops england is considering defrpriests bishops england is considering defrpriests guiltyyishops england is considering defrpriests guilty of|ops and priests found guilty of abuse misconduct. abuse or serious misconduct. plus, catholic union has plus, the catholic union has launched campaign to lift launched a new campaign to lift the 50% cap on faith based admissions . two new free schools admissions. two new free schools and it will only apply to oversubscribed faith free schools in england. james somerville michael will be here to tell

radio.

>> welcome back to the common sense crusade with me, the reverend calvin robinson on your tv online and on your wireless. the church of england is considering defrocking archbishops, bishops and priests found guilty of abuse or serious misconduct . ipso. also, they say misconduct. ipso. also, they say the church has not had the power to act upon an abusive priest from holy orders known as defrocking . for 20 years it was defrocking. for 20 years it was repealed in 2003 as part of a new law governing the disciplining of priests. however measures proposed in papers submitted to the general synod, the church's legislative body voted to reinstate these powers. this could be the church's most serious penalty against its own clergy. father felix smith joins me now to tell us more. father felix , hello there. thank you felix, hello there. thank you for joining us. what are your forjoining us. what are your initial impressions on the motivation behind this .7 motivation behind this? >> so, yes, on monday , basically

>> so, yes, on monday, basically general synod votes a new measure which was about clergy conduct . and the headline, of conduct. and the headline, of course, is that clergy can be defrocked literally. you know, that means your clothes are removed. but before we start to get a bit worried about this, essentially roman catholics have this already. it's essentially roman catholics have this already . it's already this already. it's already a part of church discipline . it's part of church discipline. it's called laicised ation. so or deposition of holy orders. essentially your turned from a priest or bishop or deacon back into a layperson again. you become a non—religious aukus so you can't function as a bishop, a priest or a deacon again. now of course, this happens more often in the roman catholic church at actually the priest's own request . so you church at actually the priest's own request. so you might fall in love with someone and you'll ask your bishop you want to get married and you'll ask your bishop if you could be laicised, essentially. but it's also used, of course, as a punishment. so

pope francis has used it as part of the clergy sex abuse scandals. they're sort of saying it's beyond just you're not allowed to have a parish. you're not allowed to function as a priest at all. so you can't function in that role in any way at all. now now, i expect it's done with a letter from the bishop. you know, i regret to inform you that so on and so on. but actually, in the mediaeval era, it used to have a whole service. so your hands would be scraped with a knife where you were anointed with the holy oil and you were literally defrocked. your vestments were removed and your head was shaved . i don't think the church will be going back to doing that again , but still they will be again, but still they will be bringing in this measure, probably next year. so that for those who have been involved in serious misconduct, it's probably something that would involve a prison sentence as

well. and involve serious safeguarding issues . it's not safeguarding issues. it's not going to be for something, you know, upsetting the flower ladies or whatever. you say that father , this is what i'm father, this is what i'm concerned about because of course, anyone that is abusive should be disciplined. >> and of course, i believe in defrocking priests who are abusive and or heretical or blasphemous. actually i do think defrocking thing in defrocking is a good thing in those but we those situations. but we know that this won't where it will that this won't be where it will stop, we in the stop, don't we? we see in the roman catholic church , for roman catholic church, for example. father frank pavone, a very pro—life priest, has very vocal pro—life priest, has been defrocked for being very pro—life and very vocal about it. and this is , i believe, what it. and this is, i believe, what we'll see in the church of england, the traditionalists that have been bullied for years through disciplinary through the clergy disciplinary measure actually be measure will actually be defrocked be a way defrocked and it will be a way of ridding the church or purging the essentially, of the the church, essentially, of the trads the woke trads and letting the woke liberals it not? liberals take over. will it not? >> i think it's >> well, i think it's interesting when you look at the measure , there's a lot of things measure, there's a lot of things in it that are actually there to protect clergy as well. it might seem a way of kind of

seem like a way of kind of bashing already demoralised clergy , but actually a lot of clergy, but actually a lot of the other parts that aren't getting the headlines are more to do with protecting clergy at the moment , to do with protecting clergy at the moment, we are in a situation where if people make complaints that are malicious, you know , you fall out with the you know, you fall out with the organist and they decide to make a malicious complaint, then often a member of clergy is suspended straight away. and then, you know, that could go on for months and months and months . so it seems like it's kind of doing a bit of both in that it is making things stricter for those who are involved in serious, serious misconduct . but serious, serious misconduct. but there's also parts of it which are about protecting clergy as well. so i would hope that we wouldn't go down a road where it's kind of used in the wrong way and actually almost it's trying to get away from that so that it's not down to bishops always to decide what the best

course of action is. so if you happen to fall out with your bishop, hopefully he, you know, it won't be up to them to decide. finally, in the end . decide. finally, in the end. >> okay. thank you for that. that was father felix smith. i just want to briefly bring my panel into this because i'm a father. felix sounds like a nice chap, but he's playing it safe because he's obviously employed by the church of england. but do you be used to you think this will be used to push and bully sound push out and bully sound orthodox priests who don't go down trans agenda , don't go down the trans agenda, don't go down. matter down. the black lives matter agenda. the agenda. don't go down the climate agenda? >> you the bishop of >> do you trust the bishop of london? trust the bishop london? do you trust the bishop of york? i mean, just just just look what happened this week look at what happened this week with reported by gb look at what happened this week with very reported by gb look at what happened this week with very own reported by gb look at what happened this week with very own keith>rted by gb look at what happened this week with very own keith bays, by gb look at what happened this week with very own keith bays, york news, very own keith bays, york minster allowing pro—life minster not allowing pro—life campaigners come and pray in campaigners to come and pray in the church. i think we've seen the church. i think we've seen the become so politicised the church become so politicised that i agree with you and i think that defrocking is a very goodidea think that defrocking is a very good idea cases where, you good idea in cases where, you know, may been sexual know, there may have been sexual misconduct in in in cases misconduct or in in in cases that are very clear cut and serious like a criminal offence has i don't has taken place. but i don't believe for a second that the

church of that has church of england that has become politicised wouldn't become so politicised wouldn't gradually take road towards gradually take a road towards this being abused to ensure that people such as yourself kelvin's conservative christians , conservative christians, wouldn't face some kind of penalties, as you described with the catholic priest or as we used to call them, not conservative christians, but just christians. >> right . do just christians. >> right. do you are you suspicious of this at all? do you think this could be weaponized and politicised .7 weaponized and politicised? >> every organisation needs to have a robust, >> every organisation needs to have a robust , transparent have a robust, transparent disciplinary system. i think what's interesting about this with the serious, severe cases of sex abuse that have been mentioned, i think there was a reference also as part of this to the independent inquiry into child sex abuse . that inquiry child sex abuse. that inquiry that public inquiry looked at different domains and sectors, including parliament, green party. as it happens , was hauled party. as it happens, was hauled before that inquiry to talk about the challenor case. so in every area there is a great

concern around people getting away with some of the most heinous crimes possible. so in that sense, i think it's very important that an organisation be less inward looking , reserve be less inward looking, reserve some of the most searing forms of almost like a form of excommunication. the way it's been explained to me that people are properly thank you. and the way father felix mentioned it, it used to be importantly public pubuc it used to be importantly public public shaming , public public shaming, public acknowledgement for the most serious types of misdemeanour or misbehaviour. so in that sense , misbehaviour. so in that sense, if you're going to reserve those for sex abuse, sex crimes, absolutely. but it has to go handin absolutely. but it has to go hand in glove with the criminal law . we're living in a law. we're living in a democracy, after all. what passes for a liberal democracy that needs to be hand in glove with this of course, any disciplinary process can be abused. i've been on the receiving end of one in politics. many others who have perhaps not said , supposedly not

perhaps not said, supposedly not said the right thing, actually have are getting vexatious complaints against them. so that's all part of a robust system. i hope that that that will be taken care of. >> thank you. and just just to clarify, it's not excommunication because you can still receive communion, it excommunication because you can stieverythingzommunion, it excommunication because you can stieverything else. union, it excommunication because you can stieverything else. we»n, it excommunication because you can stieverything else. we have it excommunication because you can stieverything else. we have some is everything else. we have some breaking news. defence secretary ben wallace will quit the government at the next cabinet reshuffle and we'll hear from ray addison on more of that . ray addison on more of that. >> thank you. calvin us in breaking news, defence secretary ben wallace will quit the government at the next cabinet reshuffle and not stand as an mp at the next general election. that's to according the sunday times. now it follows speculation that mr wallace would leave in the autumn after four years in the role he's currently the local mp for wyre and preston north, which will decide appear at the next election after boundary changes. it comes after the prime minister rishi sunak rejected comments from mr wallace suggesting that ukraine should

show, quote, gratitude , food for show, quote, gratitude, food for the military, support that it has been given. so just to confirm in breaking news, defence secretary ben wallace will quit the government at the next cabinet reshuffle will next cabinet reshuffle and will not as an mp at the next not stand as an mp at the next general election. that's according to reports by the sunday times. this is a developing story. bring you developing story. we bring you more as we get it back more on this as we get it back to calvin. thank you, ray. >> sorry for trying to do your job there. plenty more to come this evening on my common sense crusade. next, we'll be talking to james suburb, somerville. michael. excuse me, about the catholic decision catholic union's decision to launch a new campaign to lift the on faith based the 50% cap on faith based admissions schools. stick admissions schools. plus, stick around to hear from the director of don't divide us, alka sehgal. cuthbert who will share with us their new report. they released on being over by on schools being taken over by organisations teaching anti racism theories. magnetic . racism theories. magnetic. a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news.

>> hello . >> hello. >> hello. >> hello. >> hello there. i'm jonathan vautrey here for your latest gb news weather forecast provided by the met office . unseasonably by the met office. unseasonably windy saturday for many of us through today, all due to this low pressure system we saw gusts close to 50mph. even in some inland areas of southern england . and those winds will be staying with us throughout this evening and overnight. we've also seen a good number of thunderstorms throughout day thunderstorms throughout the day as will continue to as well. those will continue to rumble evening rumble on into the evening before eventually their before eventually easing their way showery way off a touch. but showery outbreaks rain continuing outbreaks of rain continuing across locations overnight across many locations overnight . the breeze that's in place will mean that our temperatures won't dropping too at won't be dropping too far at all. of holding up all. most of us holding up around 1213 c. no not particularly chilly start to sunday morning. the winds, though, will begin to ease their sunday morning. the winds, thou down ll begin to ease their sunday morning. the winds, thou down acrossn to ease their sunday morning. the winds, thou down across southwestern r way down across southwestern areas of wales england, but areas of wales into england, but it still going to quite it is still going to be quite breezy through for breezy through sunday for eastern up into eastern coastal areas up into central scotland. some more persistent for western persistent rain for western areas of scotland and again, some thunderstorms possible areas of scotland and again, soneastjnderstorms possible areas of scotland and again, soneast northeast1s possible areas of scotland and again, soneast northeast in possible areas of scotland and again, soneast northeast in between the east northeast in between some of showers elsewhere some of the showers elsewhere across england wales seeing

across england and wales seeing highs around 20, 22 c, but still rather cool in that breeze that is around the low pressure centre is going to push its way off towards scandinavia as we move of the new move into the start of the new working there be working week. so there will be still some outbursts of rain first thing on monday for parts of scotland, will of scotland, but they will gradually their way down of scotland, but they will gradmost their way down of scotland, but they will gradmost of their way down of scotland, but they will gradmost of ustheir way down of scotland, but they will gradmost of us will way down of scotland, but they will gradmost of us will then down of scotland, but they will gradmost of us will then enter and most of us will then enter another sunshine and another day of sunshine and showers. winds noticeably showers. the winds noticeably lighter areas of lighter across southern areas of the breeze still the uk, just the breeze still lingering touch more across lingering on a touch more across the northeast. further the far northeast. further showers throughout showers as we head throughout the week as well . a the rest of the week as well. a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

>> you're listening to gb news radio . radio. >> welcome back to the common sense crusade with me, the reverend calvin robinson on your tv online and on your wireless. the catholic union has launched a new campaign to lift the 50%

cap on faith based admissions to new free schools and it will only apply to oversubscribed faith free schools in england. introduced by the coalition government in 2010, the cap made it difficult for new catholic free schools to open as the policy was incompatible with church law. the union has opposed the cap since it was introduced, but in 2017, the conservative manifesto committed to lifting the cap. but this was never achieved until now . so never achieved until now. so joining me now in the studio , joining me now in the studio, the deputy director of the catholic union of great britain, james somerville . michael, to james somerville. michael, to tell me more now, james, first of all, what was the contradiction or the conflict with church law and the law of the land? >> so in this case, it was the fact that when catholic schools open, they are first and foremost for the catholic community and they're there as mission schools to pass on the faith and the values of the church and of course, we welcome people from other backgrounds and none so 40% of pupils at

catholic schools come from other faiths and none. but they are first foremost the first and foremost for the catholic community. with catholic community. and with this place , it would mean this cap in place, it would mean schools turning away pupils purely of their faith. purely because of their faith. and so our bishops couldn't sanction that. and it's meant the catholic community now can't take part in this government flagship policy. okay >> so would it would end up >> so it would it would end up with schools saying, no, you're catholic, so you can't come in because we've quota. because we've met our quota. >> exactly right. yes yeah, that's bizarre. >> it looks like this >> okay. so it looks like this is to get reversed or the is going to get reversed or the cap going to get lifted. is cap is going to get lifted. is it go through? it going to go through? >> we have about a year to >> well, we have about a year to the general election. it the next general election. it was promised 2017 was promised in the 2017 manifesto. to manifesto. we didn't manage to get lifted. there was no get it lifted. there was no mention of it in the 2019 manifesto. the government have said it under said they're keeping it under review. we've launched open review. we've launched an open letter secretary of letter to the secretary of state, keegan, we've state, gillian keegan, and we've already several hundred already got several hundred people letter. people backing that letter. we're hoping to lot more we're hoping to get a lot more so that she hears the strength of from catholic of feeling from the catholic community policy needs community that this policy needs to for the next to be scrapped for the next election this government election to show this government has of delivering has left a legacy of delivering for groups.

for faith groups. >> it's not a given that this >> so it's not a given that this is to get lifted. is going to get lifted. >> not at the moment, no. fortunately not. >> education >> competence of our education secretary. my secretary. i will withhold my comments one. but it's comments on that one. but it's interesting this was in the interesting that this was in the manifesto since 2017 and they have acted it. that's have not acted upon it. that's disgraceful conservative disgraceful for the conservative government, disgraceful for the conservative gove are ent, disgraceful for the conservative gove are the ones put it in they are the ones that put it in in the first place. but what would to people who say, would you say to people who say, but this is inclusive? you but this is not inclusive? you know we need these know what, we need these schools. we're taking on board people different and people from different faiths and different backgrounds. >> are >> well, i say they are inclusive. i mean, you look at our catholic the our catholic schools at the moment, of come from moment, half of pupils come from ethnic backgrounds as ethnic minority backgrounds as they of way to they go out of their way to recruit pupils from the most depnved recruit pupils from the most deprived they deprived backgrounds. so they are already doing great work in this a real point this area. there's a real point about principle here, which is that believe in plurality that if you believe in plurality and diversity our education and diversity in our education system, you can't have a flagship government where flagship government policy where entire faith group cannot take part. and one of the most fundamental principles and values in education is sending your child to a school that reflects the values and faith at

home. that's how we create a pluralist, tolerant, open society. if it doesn't start at the home in schools, you don't get diversity in society . so get diversity in society. so there's an important point of principle here. practically, it's holding back new catholic schools from opening. so both practically and from point of view principle, it needs to go well. >> yeah, i would agree . i think >> yeah, i would agree. i think we need more catholic schools because they are schools that still tend to at least stick to their values, which is something i can't say for church of england schools. but point england schools. but the point there if a if a there is the values. if a if a family is sending their child to a catholic school, they suspect family is sending their child to a catknow school, they suspect family is sending their child to a catknow what l, they suspect family is sending their child to a catknow what the iey suspect family is sending their child to a catknow what the value ;pect family is sending their child to a catknow what the value sett family is sending their child to a catknow what the value set is they know what the value set is going therefore there's going to be. therefore there's going to be. therefore there's going be more demand for going to be more demand for that. and what we're seeing i don't know if you can corroborate this, collaborate this, is that or corroborate rather words. what are they? is this, is that or corroborate rathemuslim. what are they? is this, is that or corroborate rathemuslim families'e they? is this, is that or corroborate rathemuslim families are iey? is this, is that or corroborate rathemuslim families are taking that muslim families are taking their of their children out of church of england schools the moment england schools at the moment because realising that england schools at the moment becteaching realising that england schools at the moment bec teaching woke alising that england schools at the moment bec teaching woke nonsense t england schools at the moment bec teaching woke nonsense about the teaching woke nonsense about transgender and woke transgender issues and woke nonsense ethics nonsense around sexual ethics that subscribe the that don't subscribe to the christian values set or catholic schools seeing the same problem

i >>i -- >> i think that m >> i think that we are seeing a an increasing appetite and interest in people sending their children to catholic schools is to make sure their children are brought up in an environment that reflects the values and faith of home. that's absolutely right. and i think all parents would want to do that. it's one of the most natural things in the world. the really frustrating thing with this cap is that it only applies when a school is oversubscribed, right? so with a lot other so actually, with a lot of other faith groups, schools , the cap faith groups, schools, the cap doesn't apply because they're not oversubscribed. it's precisely because catholic schools are so popular where they achieve above average result . yes, there's a great result. yes, there's a great care and quality in their teaching that parents from all backgrounds, all faiths and none want to send their children there . so catholic schools are there. so catholic schools are in effect , a victim of their own in effect, a victim of their own success and they should have that mission. >> i'm with you. i want to read a quote from one of my favourite catholic barron, catholic bishops, bishop barron, who said that some years ago when an auxiliary bishop

when i was an auxiliary bishop in in dialogue in california, i was in dialogue with board members a with the board members of a catholic school when catholic high school when i commented their purpose of catholic high school when i con schoold their purpose of catholic high school when i conschool was their purpose of catholic high school when i con school was ultimately pose of the school was ultimately evangelisation , many of them evangelisation, many of them baulked and said, if we evangelise, that will alienate most our students their most of our students and their parents. my response was, well, then you should just close the school. needs secular school. who needs more secular stem to say stem academies? needless to say , i was never invited back to address the board. is this not the fundamental problem with our faith the emma faith schools in the uk? emma webb not willing to webb they're not willing to evangelise. willing evangelise. they're not willing to to be catholic. they to be proud to be catholic. they want inclusive. whatever want to be inclusive. whatever that means. >> well, i mean, if you, if you send your child to a catholic school, think you should school, i think you should expect will a expect that it will be a catholic school in the same way that if you send your child to an faith school, you an islamic faith school, you would be an would expect that it would be an islamic school. i also islamic faith school. i also don't see a problem with admitting 100% catholic students. think absurd students. i think it's an absurd situation a catholic school situation that a catholic school should catholic situation that a catholic school should away catholic situation that a catholic school should away just catholic situation that a catholic school should away just because: students away just because they're it s it's a they're catholic. it s it's a very strange government policy , very strange government policy, particularly fact that particularly given the fact that catholic do at least

catholic schools do at least from what i've read, seem to perform better than the standard . and this is going to put more pressure on catholic schools because they can't open new catholic schools . i think the catholic schools. i think the whole system seems to be absurd . i think you need to be very careful in terms of and probably i'm a bit more liberal than you on this kelvin, i think. i don't think schools should teach contested ideas as fact . and i contested ideas as fact. and i think that faith schools need to be very careful to be respectful in their evangelise catholicism, a contested ideology . well, in a contested ideology. well, in the sense that some people don't believe in it. i mean, if you say you don't send your child to a catholic school, no catholic school should. right. school should. quite right. >> an ideology of catholicism. >> but what i to say is >> but what i mean to say is that don't think there is any that i don't think there is any problem with catholic school problem with a catholic school being explicitly catholic in its values in beliefs. it's values and in its beliefs. it's just they are to, going just that if they are to, going for example, public for example, receive public money government, that money from the government, that there some kind of there needs to be some kind of boundanes there needs to be some kind of boundaries because boundaries in place because we're about we're not just talking about catholic obviously catholic schools here. obviously

we interest wanting catholic schools here. obviously we christiannterest wanting catholic schools here. obviously we christian gospel wanting catholic schools here. obviously we christian gospel to wanting catholic schools here. obviously we christian gospel to be |ting the christian gospel to be spread as far and wide as possible. but this would also apply to other schools as apply to other faith schools as well. need to be very well. so you need to be very careful these things so careful about these things so that being, you know, that you're being, you know, respectful who might respectful of those who might be in these who are not in these schools who are not coming a catholic home. and coming from a catholic home. and yes, right, don't yes, you're right, they don't their don't need their parents don't need to send them but think there is them there. but i think there is a is a balance to be a there is a balance to be struck, whilst also recognising that problem with a that there's no problem with a catholic being explicitly catholic. >> right, elm-- liberal. >> i mean, you know, this is this a potentially very long this is a potentially very long but a great topic for debate. just you know, in a nutshell in terms of green party policies , terms of green party policies, if that's of interest, we don't not support or defend the free school agenda as such. you know, we do think there's a problem there. and same with faith schools as such. you know, we wouldn't want to abolish them, but there wouldn't be the same degree of public funding for them . but i think what's very them. but i think what's very interesting in this diversity of

educational offering, if you like, james, is it? yes so you put forward the proposition which i think is foremost in most parents mind. i mean, i'm a parent where can i get the best education for my child? almost irrespective of the religious ethos? but that almost brings us back to what's at the heart of the greens policy here, which is that we want the best education for everybody. however, that's done now, you may say that you can't have one size fits all and one way. you might not be able to achieve that is when you look at and emma put the point very well actually, is that you do need standards and quality and there be a point we don't there may be a point we don't have choose catholicism. we there may be a point we don't have talk oose catholicism. we there may be a point we don't have talk about atholicism. we there may be a point we don't have talk about islam.ism. we there may be a point we don't have talk about islam. ifn. we there may be a point we don't have talk about islam. if youe could talk about islam. if you see certain values being promulgated , they might be promulgated, they might be homophobic . you do get flash homophobic. you do get flash points across society. you do get news stories coming out. if you have a religion of a faith school, which is teaching in a way which we regard as is backward, immoral or contrary to liberal values, we need to have

a way of intervening. so there is i'm going to i strongly disagree because who is we? >> and who are we to intervene if we know a faith school is a faith school, it should be adhenng faith school, it should be adhering to that faith, especially catholic schools. more of them, please. that was james michael, james somerville. michael, thank you today . let's you for your time today. let's see is coming up the see what is coming up in the rest of show . thank you to rest of the show. thank you to emma webb and she—ra forjoining emma webb and she—ra for joining ali for joining. emma webb and she—ra for joining ali forjoining. and we will see ali for joining. and we will see them again time. i'd like them again next time. i'd like to everyone for tuning to thank everyone for tuning in. please send your comments please do send me your comments , tweet at gb news. , emails and tweet at gb news. coming up in the final part of my common sense crusade this week, we'll be talking to the director of don't divide us, alka sehgal. cuthbert, who will share us a their new report share with us a their new report they released on schools being taken over by organisations teaching anti racism theories back you .

soon a welcome back to calvin's common sense crusade . a new common sense crusade. a new report warns schools are now being taken over by organisations teaching controversial anti—racism ideologies in some classrooms. students are taking part in tests to check their unconscious bias by taking online surveys to see if they understand the term white privilege and what they could do if a teacher misprint ounces. the name of a middle eastern student. this sounds to me like critical race theory. and joining us now, we have dr. alka sehgal. cuthbert the director of don't divide us, alka has been far too long. thank you for coming on. can you run us down? what is going on? how unconscious still in how is unconscious bias still in the classroom . the classroom. >> good evening, calvin. thank you for inviting me on. um, it is . it hasn't you for inviting me on. um, it is. it hasn't gone you for inviting me on. um, it is . it hasn't gone away from the is. it hasn't gone away from the classroom . um, it it is. it it classroom. um, it it is. it it morphed since 2020 through the percolation into schools ,

percolation into schools, through these unaccountable organisations. most of whom are companies . and i would, i would companies. and i would, i would i wouldn't say it's a takeover as much as an open invitation an as much as an open invitation an as they're being invited into schools by heads by edi. that's eqtu schools by heads by edi. that's equity diversity and inclusion teams . um, to address what seems teams. um, to address what seems to be a real loss of confidence on their part in the intrinsic value of education itself. because if they were educated properly and they were confident about what they were doing, they would not need to pay lots of money to bring in so—called world experts on racism and experts who have , as far as we experts who have, as far as we can see, very few of them have any substantial qualifications in education in the scholarly sense of the word or in child development in the history of schooling for example, epistemology philosophy of education, none of that . what education, none of that. what you do get is a lot of

credentialing and academics in leadership for learning or, you know , decoloniality several of know, decoloniality several of them are linked to lead leeds beckett university's centre for education and decoloniality , and education and decoloniality, and they are being invited into schools in a way to address what people who perhaps are new to it or who haven't thought it through very deeply think , think through very deeply think, think that they're doing the right thing by being anti—racist. but what they don't realise is that when they think of anti—racism , when they think of anti—racism, they're thinking of something thatis they're thinking of something that is a very different kettle of fish to the new critical race theory. and selected anti—racism , even if they don't call it that , rather than , even if they don't call it that, rather than this whole you're either racist or anti—racist . anti —racist. >> anti—racist. >> i'm fortunate enough to visit a lot of schools and quite often i find that these head teachers aren't trying to be woke. they're not trying to push an ideology. they just feel like they address this issue they have to address this issue in way, is why in some way, which is why i quite often push them in your

direction and say, look, don't divide us, can you can you divide us, but can you can you recommend you recommend something? can you tell teachers and tell these head teachers and parents can address the parents how they can address the issue race without issue of race without subscribing divisive subscribing to the divisive ideology theory ? .7 >> 7. >>i ? >> i think the first thing i would advise any headteacher or senior leadership team who's feeling under pressure is to take a deep breath and think calmly and rationally and think, you know, if you're to going bnngin you know, if you're to going bring in one of these organisations. evans bring in one of these organisations . evans what are organisations. evans what are you saying .7 what what problem is you saying? what what problem is implied in that intervention? and i would put it to them that the problem is that there is something so deeply and horribly racist about their school that they need to bring in these new experts and they have to ask themselves, is that true .7 and in themselves, is that true? and in themselves, is that true? and in the majority of cases it is not true. you know, most every head i've spoken to, if i ask them, what is the problem of racism in your school, they say, oh, no, no, we haven't got one. but, you know, we want to address the disparities. are not disparities. schools are not there address the there to address the disparities. schools are there

to teach the best knowledge that we have to all children in the best way possible. so simple as that. that is a really worthwhile, valuable , deeply worthwhile, valuable, deeply ethical thing to do because it's connected with the idea of truth andifs connected with the idea of truth and it's connected with the idea of tolerance in being able to listen to views you disagree with in being able to infer and see the implications of a train of thinking in a way that's subjective , in a way that isn't subjective, in a way that isn't attached deeply to your own personality. because if you think ideas are the person , then think ideas are the person, then you can never have a reasonable discussion . you'll be too scared discussion. you'll be too scared of offending or being offended, really. and then if they then if they decide there's no problem there, then i would think seriously , what is the problem seriously, what is the problem then .7 and if it's then? and if it's underachievement in their particular school, then why are those particular students underachieving and what do they need .7 it will lead them in a need? it will lead them in a different direction than to the third party organisation that we

look at in our report . look at in our report. >> yeah, i think we could do with fewer third party resources and groups in our schools and you're always very wise on this. thank you. that was dr. alka sehgal. cuthbert please do look up. don't divide us for more information on this. now each week on the show, we like to end with our closing prayer. and this hear the collect this week we'll hear the collect for the sixth after for the sixth sunday after trinity by me. from lvs trinity read by me. from lvs ascot school . ascot school. >> oh, god. who has prepared for them that love thee? such good things as pass man's understanding landing pour into our hearts such love towards thee that we loving thee above all things may obtain their promises which exceed all that we can desire through jesus christ, our lord. amen >> you have been watching calvin's common sense crusade with me, the reverend calvin robinson. i'll be back next saturday at 7 pm. god bless

that warm feeling inside . that warm feeling inside. >> ed from boxt boilers is proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> hello there. i'm jonathan vautrey here with your latest gb news weather forecast provided by the met office . unseasonably by the met office. unseasonably windy saturday for many of us through today, all due to this low pressure system we saw gusts close to 50mph. even in some inland areas of southern england . and those winds will be staying with us throughout this evening and overnight. we've also seen a good number of thunderstorms throughout day thunderstorms throughout the day as will continue to as well. those will continue to rumble into the evening rumble on into the evening before easing their before eventually easing their way showery way off a touch. but showery outbreaks continuing outbreaks of rain continuing across overnight across many locations overnight . the breeze that's in place will mean that our temperatures won't be dropping at won't be dropping too far at all. of holding up all. most of us holding up around 13 c. no, not around 1213 c. no, not particularly chilly start to sunday morning . the winds, sunday morning. the winds, though, will begin to ease their way southwestern way down across southwestern areas wales into england, but areas of wales into england, but it is still going be quite it is still going to be quite breezy sunday

breezy through sunday for eastern areas into eastern coastal areas up into central scotland. some more persistent for western persistent rain for western areas scotland and again, persistent rain for western areas thunderstormsd again, persistent rain for western areas thunderstorms possible in some thunderstorms possible in the northeast in between the east northeast in between some of showers elsewhere some of the showers elsewhere across england and seeing across england and wales seeing highs around 20, 22 c, but still rather cool in that breeze that is around the low pressure centre is going to push its way off towards scandinavia as we move of the new move into the start of the new working there be working week. so there will be still some outbursts of rain first thing on monday for parts of scotland, will of scotland, but they will gradually way down gradually ease their way down and will enter and most of us will then enter another of sunshine and another day of sunshine and showers. noticeably showers. the winds noticeably lighter southern areas of lighter across southern areas of the just breeze still the uk. just the breeze still lingering a touch more lingering on a touch more across the northeast. further the far northeast. further showers throughout

gb news. >> congratulations to nigel farage voting by you as the nation's best news presenter at the bristol tric awards . it's the bristol tric awards. it's saturday night and this is the saturday night and this is the saturday five. i'm darren grimes

, along with albie amankona