moment. but first, it in just a moment. but first, let's get the news with polly middlehurst . middlehurst. >> nigel, thank you and good evening to you. well, the top story tonight is that the prime minister says no one should have their bank account closed for exercising their right to free speech. the matter was raised in prime minister's questions today in the house of commons by david davis . he described the closure davis. he described the closure of gb news presenter nigel farage's bank account by the exclusive bank cuts as vindictive. if responsible and under democratic rishi sunak was asked if the government would need uk banks to inform the treasury about all the accounts they've closed for non—commercial reasons over the last decade . rishi sunak told last decade. rishi sunak told mps the rules are being reviewed. more on that in nigel's programme next. now also in the news, tata the owner of jaguar land rover, is set to create at least 4000 jobs in the uk through a new electric car

battery plant. the £4 billion gigafactory as it's going to be known, is expected to be built in somerset. the prime minister, rishi sunak, says it will also lead to thousands more jobs in the supply chain, although it's understood factory will be understood the factory will be backed by six significant government amounting government subsidies amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds. he added that it wasn't just taxpayer money that enticed tata to invest in the uk. i was chancellor. >> i set up something called the automotive transformation fund, which was always there to provide targeted investment in strategic industries where we thought it would make sense. but what is crucial about an investment like this is it's not just going to be about that. it's going to be, as i said, about the quality of the workforce we have the workforce that we have here, the quality infrastructure, quality of our infrastructure, the road and rail connections, the road and rail connections, the regulation, the the approach to regulation, the competitiveness tax competitiveness of our tax regime, have changed to regime, which we have changed to make it more attractive for businesses to invest . businesses to invest. >> inflation has fallen today, but the chancellor says the government isn't complacent about the current cost of living

and says he understands people are worried about rising costs . are worried about rising costs. jeremy hunt was responding to the latest inflation figures, which have fallen faster than expected in the year to june. inflation now stands at 7.9. last month it was 8.7. the office for national statistics says the fall may ease pressure on the bank of england, which had been expected to raise interest rates next month . and interest rates next month. and lastly , in the united states, lastly, in the united states, the former president donald trump, has lost his bid for a new trial. after the verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming a celebrated writer. e jean carroll won the lawsuit and was awarded more than £38 million in damages. trump had argued, awarding her with more than £i.5 awarding her with more than £1.5 million in compensation for damages for sexual assault was excessive because the jury had found he had not raped her and the defamation was therefore based on pure speculation . when

based on pure speculation. when you're up to date on tv online dab+ radio and the tune in app, this is gb news, britain's news . channel >> good evening . well, there was >> good evening. well, there was a very big reaction overnight to the news that coutts had closed my accounts, but more importantly, the reasons for doing so, which i got as a result a data subject access result of a data subject access request. daily telegraph splashed this on their front page today in quite a big way. banks act farage as he doesn't augn banks act farage as he doesn't align with our values. banks act farage as he doesn't align with our values . the banks act farage as he doesn't align with our values. the daily mail front page was in many ways even stronger top bank lied over farage ban and this was the briefing. this was the briefing that they'd given that my accounts are being closed because my amount of money in the account had fallen below a certain level. absolutely not true. if you look at the minutes

of the meeting of the 17th of november last year, when they decided be exited, they decided i would be exited, they said same i was said at the same time i was commercially viable . well, commercially viable. well, unsurprisingly, this reached its way to prime minister's questions with jacob rees—mogg saying this right. questions with jacob rees—mogg saying this right . we've lost saying this right. we've lost the sound on that, which is a great shame. and here's what david davis had to say. and rishi sunaks reply . rishi sunaks reply. >> the prime minister back to the question raised quite rightly by my honourable friend, the member for north east somerset, the opposition politician who is referring to, of course, was nigel farage, whose bank account was closed not because he was a pep, not because of commercial reasons , because of commercial reasons, but because his views did not augn but because his views did not align with the values of coutt's bank, a thinly veiled political discrimination of vindictive , discrimination of vindictive, irresponsible and undemocratic action. but in addition, natwest also disclosed confidential details about farage account. the bbc, and lied about the

commercial viability of his account actions , which ought to account actions, which ought to jeopardise his banking licence and should certainly worry natwest . i9 and should certainly worry natwest . 19 million other natwest. 19 million other customers . so he's told us what customers. so he's told us what he's going to do for the future. but there are many other people in this circumstance. so can he require every bank with a british banking licence to inform the treasury of all the accounts they've shut down for non commercial reasons in the last decade.7 yeah, well , mr last decade.7 yeah, well, mr speaken last decade.7 yeah, well, mr speaker, i know that the gentleman has spoken to the chancellor about this particular issue and i know he'll continue to have those conversations in the short term, having consulted on the payment service regulations , we do intend to regulations, we do intend to crack down on this practise by toughening the rules around account closures. toughening the rules around acc but closures. toughening the rules around acc but in osures. toughening the rules around acc but in osurmeantime , the >> but in the meantime, the financial ombudsman service is available for people to make complaints but i look complaints to. but i look forward to continuing the dialogue with indeed dialogue with him, as indeed does that does the chancellor. well, that was rishi sunak's advice. >> go to financial ombudsman >> go to the financial ombudsman and a point going to and that's a point i'm going to bnng and that's a point i'm going to bring up with danny kruger a bit

later but he later in the show. but he clearly within a couple of hours, decided he wanted go hours, decided he wanted to go further. this is the tweet further. and this is the tweet that the minister put out. that the prime minister put out. he said this is wrong. no one should be barred from using bafic should be barred from using basic services for their political . and political views. and interestingly, interestingly , interestingly, interestingly, you'll see with this that that elon musk added to the tweet saying here, here, musk, of course, a great defender of free speech. now, grant shapps and i have never agreed on, well, anything really over the years he's been a remainer and completely the opposite view to me on most things. we've never been uncivil with each other, but we've never agreed but on the side until this morning the same side until this morning on gb news. >> it cannot be right that when people choose to go into public service their service and regardless of their views say , i don't to views and say, i don't have to agree with nigel farage's views or labour politicians views or whoever, that is not the point. >> the point is people should be able to get banked and there is no excuse for the banks not allowing those bank accounts to remain open and by the way,

often to refuse to open them in the first place. so the financial conduct authority , the financial conduct authority, the fca, have a big role in this guidance for them was already changed in 2017. it's clear it's not working and that is what i think this latest fuss will help resolve. and i know that. andrew griffiths minister, you may want to get on the programme. will be explaining to parliament the further measures that will be taken. so so strong stuff there really from grant shapps. >> but suella braverman went even further with a tweet. she said . the coote scandal exposes said. the coote scandal exposes the sinister nature of much of the sinister nature of much of the diversity , equality and the diversity, equality and inclusion industry. apparently anyone who wants to control our borders and stop the boats can be branded zen phobic and have their bank accounts closed in their bank accounts closed in the name of include city, natwest and other corporates who have naively adopted this politically biased dogma. need a major rethink. this is also an issue for the public sector too, which is why i'm reviewing our policies at the home office .

policies at the home office. well, i know i know where fairly and squarely suella braverman was aiming her language. you see, coots is a relatively small bank. it's a bank for the rich. it's a bank for the famous. and perhaps in my case, now a bank for the infamous as well. but the real boss of all of this is natwest. natwest, part of the rbs group. but they really are the parent company and the boss of natwest is dame alison rose. now the telegraph wrote a piece today and we've seen some of this stuff before about her, but they wrote a piece today . dame they wrote a piece today. dame alison rose, the bank boss who steered coutts diversity drive the chief executive of natwest, has overseen a pivot towards saving the planet and lgbt rights since taking the helm. well we sent our producer joe kasper to natwest hq today to try and get some reaction down there and he asked the simple

question should anyone's bank account be closed down over political views like mine .7 have political views like mine? have a listen. >> no way . no. a listen. >> no way. no. no way. no >> no way. no. no way. no >> sorry. it would be a mistake to close close accounts on the bafis to close close accounts on the basis of people's political views. >> it's a funny one, really, isn't it.7 no no , i'm not sure. isn't it.7 no no, i'm not sure. >> i don't know enough . >> i don't know enough. >> i don't know enough. >> no, no , no. >> no, no, no. >> trust is so far. >> absolutely not. no it's like people should be offered, like, you know, basic services regardless of their like, political opinions or, you know , it's just a discrimination. >> it's a basic , basic things to >> it's a basic, basic things to leave. well hopefully it doesn't have just one account. yes >> why? because nigel farage is an i think it's terrible if that's true . that's true. >> i don't know. >> i don't know. >> i don't know. >> i don't know . >> i don't know. i've >> i don't know. >> i don't know . i've got to get >> i don't know. i've got to get to work. >> i think we all entitled to our own views, but it depends on what those views are . and how what those views are. and how radical are you going? well nigel farage had bank nigel farage had his bank account by natwest account shut down by natwest because thought a because they thought he was a racist. so i agree with

that. >> you do agree with that? >> you do agree with that? >> yes . >> yes. >> yes. >> why? why? >> why? why? >> because i just can't bear that man . that man. >> why ? what? is there anything >> why? what? is there anything in particular that you you disagree with his racist views? >> i'm trying to be balanced, but unfortunately , when it comes but unfortunately, when it comes to him, i can't be. well lots of strong views on the streets there. >> but of course, a vast majority for common sense. now, it is no wonder that suella said what she said, because under alison rose, we've got this extraordinary situation in natwest where staff are allowed to identify as men and women on different days as as a part of a series of lgbt friendly measures. and if you identify as non—binary , you've got a double non—binary, you've got a double sided lanyard . so you can be sided lanyard. so you can be a man one day and a woman the next day. maybe that's what banks should be in the business for. i don't know. from most journalists and most outlets, we've seen common sense . one who we've seen common sense. one who hasn't come round former bbc hasn't come round is former bbc lifer jon sopel. now who's

escaped to global and his original tweet said, you must feel a bit of a charlie if you're nigel farage and you claim that it's all an anti establishment stitch up that your accounts are being closed when it's just you're not rich enough for the coots. i'm thinking of starting a go fund me page for to nigel get him his bank account back. well, you know, said, hi, john. who is know, i said, hi, john. who is the charlie now? it looks like you for swallowing the coots pr spin. to your spin. i look forward to your apology and i've got to tell you, there has been absolutely none.the you, there has been absolutely none. the bbc have not themselves either covered themselves either covered themselves in glory. but generally i want to say this of all the times in my career when i put my head over the parapet, i've never received such cross party political support as i have over this. but we have to take this further. this is not just about me. i'm asking you have you been cancelled ? one have you been cancelled? one little example that came in today , a mr. x from norfolk said today, a mr. x from norfolk said , my bank natwest, recently sent

me a letter threatening to close my accounts with them because, as they say, i have been paying in large cash deposits. i bank with natwest for 40 and with natwest for 40 years and they know my normal banking they know that my normal banking activity, including occasionally depositing them, is as depositing cash with them, is as i'm phoning my personal account manager who has been to my house to assess my wealth and saw that i'm vintage motorcycle i'm a vintage motorcycle collector sells collector who sometimes sells a motorbike for cash to ask what constitutes large cash constitutes a large cash deposit. he wouldn't tell me . he deposit. he wouldn't tell me. he also said that people who deal in cash are criminals , tax in cash are criminals, tax evaders and money launderers . i evaders and money launderers. i recently received an email from natwest clarifying that the maximum i can deposit in cash is £3,000. this has been happening to thousands of innocent people as a result of bad regulation and over compliance and i please want all of you to give me examples of what you've done . examples of what you've done. let's stand up and let's stand together against the way the banks are behaving. please email me for farage at gb news dot

com. and our strength will be our togetherness. and if i can lead people who haven't got a voice of their own, i'll be very, very honoured and privileged to do so. now i'm joined by sir rocco forte, chairman of rocco forte hotels. rocco your reaction to this story ? story? >> i think it's most disgraceful , one of the most disgraceful things that's ever happened in this country. i mean , it's sort this country. i mean, it's sort of it's like a totally totalitarian state. you don't have the right views. you're cashiered. and in this day and age, when it's almost impossible to operate without a bank account and to be excluded from having one is effectively you become a non a non citizen and it's completely, completely unacceptable . and the good thing unacceptable. and the good thing about it is it's given the matter a lot of publicity because as you said, a lot of small people are finding themselves in that situation and weren't able to complain . and weren't able to complain. and now, now they can and hopefully the government is looking at it. but i hope the prime minister

does take some action because usually it just kicks things into touch and forgets about them for a few months and a few years . years. >> you're right, there could be an element of self interest here though, couldn't there? because if labour are going to be in though, couldn't there? because if laiyear are going to be in though, couldn't there? because if laiyear they oing to be in though, couldn't there? because if laiyear they might» be in though, couldn't there? because if laiyear they might think, oh next year they might think, oh gosh, maybe we'll gosh, you know, maybe we'll start penalised some gosh, you know, maybe we'll stithese penalised some gosh, you know, maybe we'll stitheserules.analised some gosh, you know, maybe we'll stithese rules. i'mised some gosh, you know, maybe we'll stithese rules. i'm aed some gosh, you know, maybe we'll stithese rules. i'm a little some gosh, you know, maybe we'll stithese rules. i'm a little bit1e of these rules. i'm a little bit more optimistic. i think something happen . but something might happen. but rocco, point about rocco, your point about businesses, businesses, businesses, small businesses, men particularly men and women, particularly those dealing in cash, you know , whether you're running a fish stall or you're a window cleaner or whatever is , the banks do or whatever it is, the banks do not want to cash anymore, not want to take cash anymore, do they? >> no, but i mean, this is sort of a government drive to create a society, then a cashless society, which then enables to monitor us much enables them to monitor us much more carefully than they are up to now . and there's got to be to now. and there's got to be there are some transactions of cash and you can't possibly avoid that. and obviously , with avoid that. and obviously, with small businesses , they they they small businesses, they they they do take cash and have to take cash. do take cash and have to take cash . so if you're not able to cash. so if you're not able to open a bank account, what else

do you do? what else can you do? >> well, as a channel gb news have launched a don't kill cash campaign. we've got 220,000 people have signed our people that have signed our petition because, like my petition because, like you, my fear is if everything is digitised, they can control how we spend our money and what we spend it on and what we spend it on. no, i mean, i'm genuinely worried about this. to a thought about business, rocco, you know, you have said quite famously recently anti recently that we become an anti competitive . is any competitive country. is it any wonder people leaving wonder that people are leaving but banks are at the heart but the banks are at the heart of aren't they? because of this? aren't they? because one the other problems hear one of the other problems i hear from small businesses that want to up is it can take them to set up is it can take them months to get bank accounts months s to get bank accounts set mean, we're becoming set up. i mean, we're becoming uncompetitive even through banking, aren't we? yes >> well, that's that's what i hean >> well, that's that's what i hear. and i hear quite a lot from italian who want to open businesses up in england and they find it almost impossible to up a bank account. they find it almost impossible to up a bank account . and it to set up a bank account. and it was to be encourage was supposed to be encourage young people come and invest young people to come and invest in country open in this country and open businesses country . but businesses in this country. but they open a bank account .

they can't open a bank account. they start business. >> and how is it the final thought on all of this, rocco? how is it after 13 years of conservative government that we've become such a bad place to do business? >> yeah, but i mean, the conservatives adopted and encouraged actually the woke agenda, which is what these are the views that that that we are supposed to subscribe to and which have become the mainstream. it's a minority view in the country. it's not the view of the majority of people . view of the majority of people. and there's, you know , brexit and there's, you know, brexit was an opportunity. it's not been taken advantage. this government could be saying what they're going to do about brexit, how they're to going make it work for the for the country. they're not they're afraid of upsetting the european union , who's busy upsetting us union, who's busy upsetting us at every opportunity as a man that supported the conservatives quite generously over a long penod quite generously over a long period of time, you sound very disappointed . disappointed. >> yes, i am. »- >> yes, i am. >> i've never been so depressed about this country since the 70s . and then mrs. thatcher came

along and changed everything when everybody said it's impossible, treasury's run impossible, the treasury's run this country more recently , this country and more recently, the obr. nothing can happen with the obr. nothing can happen with the obr's agreement . and there the obr's agreement. and there are a bunch of lefties taken out of ed miliband's think tank when it was set up by george osborne . and they continue with the same policy which has delivered subpar growth. and there's no there doesn't seem to be any way out. and liz truss actually had the right ideas. she'd be first to admit she didn't go about it quite the right way. yes. but the ideas, the right ideas and the ideas, the right ideas and the ones that should be implemented. yeah. >> she was playing all the right notes, just not necessarily in the right order the eric the right order as the eric morecambe sir rocco absolute morecambe gag sir rocco absolute pleasure you on the pleasure to have you on the show. straight talking show. well straight talking there rocco forte in a there from rocco forte in a minute going to talk to minute i'm going to talk to danny kruger, on the danny kruger, who's on the treasury committee i'm to treasury committee. i'm going to ask is ombudsman any ask him, is the ombudsman any cop and is the government really, really going to act .

radio. >> well, i asked you, have you been cancelled? i'm inviting you if you have to join the fight back to form our little army for what is right and decent and already some very interesting responses in. mavis responses coming in. mavis faraimo says, i am a 77 year old pensioner and bank with natwest since i was 18, i received what looks like a standard letter to customers is that if they think i'm involved in a fraud or keep withdrawing a substantial amount of money or even deposit a large amount of money, they will close my accounts . there we are. my accounts. there we are. mavis, clearly , they've got mavis, clearly, they've got their eyes on you. mike says via email. i own shops around the country giving me a regular monthly income . i have always monthly income. i have always paid my credit card off each month i own my house outright, so no mortgage yet. for some reason the bank has deemed me a risk and have reduced my credit

card. i've got an answer for that in a moment, mike. i really have. that in a moment, mike. i really have . jane via email says, we have. jane via email says, we are a small international business that has been investigated by our bank on the hunt for money laundering after nine months we were grandly informed that we were okay. however our earlier this year my husband received an sms just saying that they were closing down an account . there was no down an account. there was no indication of which account they were closing down as we had several with them . and neil, several with them. and neil, finally our email says over the past six months we were having problems with our charity account. the bank threatened several times again to close our account , so we decided to remove account, so we decided to remove the and look for somewhere the money and look for somewhere else folks two months else to put it. folks two months ago i didn't even know what a subject access request was. i didn't know that it was possible to get out of the banks personal information that pertained to me . now i do. and it's because i

got that back that i was able to validate my story, to show that i was telling the truth and that the other side weren't any of you in this position . please put you in this position. please put your complaints into the banks. put in data, subject access, request s and find out what personal information they have on you and why they've acted in this way. please don't just nod. do it right now. i'm joined by danny kruger, member of parliament for devizes and member of the treasury committee, crucially, danny, welcome to the programme. david davis's intervention earlier on, i mean, kind of questioning whether natwest deserved a banking licence. it was strong stuff . and the prime minister stuff. and the prime minister responded by saying that those that have a complaint such as our viewers who've just just emailed in, should go to the financial ombudsman. but here's a problem . friend of mine had a problem. friend of mine had his coutts account closed after 15 years. he'd been a city trader , he'd been a high earner, trader, he'd been a high earner, perhaps not earning quite as

much now as he was in the old days. so he'd been a long term customer accounts gets a summary letter such as i had closing him down and so he writes to the ombudsman 15 months ago, he is still emailing. he was promised within six months an answer. but 15 months on, he's still emailing the ombudsman . should emailing the ombudsman. should i take rishi sunak's advice? >> well , we need to do take rishi sunak's advice? >> well, we need to do more than that. clearly and first let me say what a public service you've performed, nigel. by bringing this to the public attention. i didn't understand anything about about this before . now we do. about this before. now we do. i've also it helps explain what's been going on for me as well. i'm the co—chair of a new group of conservative mps. we call ourselves the new conservatives. all about conservatives. it's all about the post voter coalition. the post 2019 voter coalition. we're trying to open a bank account. we're being sent from bank to bank. are you struggling to do i hope. i hope we'll to do so? i hope. i hope we'll get there trying with natwest at the moment. get there trying with natwest at the mcwhether you might be >> so whether you might be wasting your time. >> so we'll there clearly is >> so we'll see there clearly is

a mean, the good news a problem. i mean, the good news is and you know, this all started year ago. you started a year ago. do you remember paypal business? remember the paypal business? paypal accounts paypal closed down the accounts of speech union us them of free speech union us for them anti—lockdown free speech organisations. raised in organisations. i raised that in parliament. it is now a year ago the government has responded and what we heard today is that what what we heard today is that probably in light of what's been going on with and others, of going on with you and others, of course a whole course there's a whole host of others you they are others as you know, they are going initiate changes to the going to initiate changes to the way the ombudsman and way the ombudsman works. and you're the you're right about the bureaucracy. quickly, bureaucracy. but just quickly, let finish what they're let me just finish what they're going to do. they're going to say not just about going to do. they're going to say you'vet just about going to do. they're going to say you've been about going to do. they're going to say you've been treated whether you've been treated fairly, does fairly, because what does that mean? could decide you've mean? they could decide you've been they're been treated fairly. they're going fairness going to insist that fairness means speech. cannot means free speech. so you cannot be debunked on the grounds of your rights. your lawful rights. >> thrilled to hear that. but i want to you, danny kruger, want to ask you, danny kruger, you as somebody on the you know, as somebody on the treasury how you treasury committee, how have you allowed you allowed the allowed how have you allowed the ombudsman to be this well, ombudsman to be this lax? well, and responsibility for and that is a responsibility for you that committee. and that is a responsibility for youwell,|at committee. and that is a responsibility for youwell, fair,)mmittee. and that is a responsibility for youwell, fair, fairlittee. and that is a responsibility for youwell, fair, fair challenge. >> well, fair, fair challenge. of ultimately, of course, ultimately, they're regulated and regulated by the government and we're we were on the we're parliament. we were on the we're parliament. we were on the we financial conduct we had the financial conduct

authority i was authority in today and i was pushing this. i was pushing them on this. i was slightly their slightly mollified by their answers said very answers to what they said very clearly. is there is no grounds on which individual can be on which an individual can be debunked of their debunked because of their political opinions. they said that with absolute clarity. did they? waiting for they? and what we're waiting for now is this further regulation that will insist on the ombudsman that anyone who's handung ombudsman that anyone who's handling payments will not be able to remove somebody's account on the basis of their lawful expression of free speech? so andrew griffith, who is the treasury minister responsible, very responsible, who seems very sincere, very mean , he's sincere, he's very i mean, he's absolutely he's been sincere, he's very i mean, he's absolut to he's been sincere, he's very i mean, he's absolutto a he's been sincere, he's very i mean, he's absolutto a number he's been sincere, he's very i mean, he's absolutto a number ofe's been sincere, he's very i mean, he's absolutto a number of is been sincere, he's very i mean, he's absolutto a number of i don't] talking to a number of i don't know he's spoken. i think he know if he's spoken. i think he has spoken you personally. has spoken to you personally. he's spoken to others, including people connected him people i've connected him with, people i've connected him with, people victim of people who've been the victim of this. as you were saying this. as you as you were saying earlier, it's a sort of weird combination bureaucracy. combination of bureaucracy. i mean, problems your mean, all the problems that your listeners are describing listeners are just describing there, algorithms, there, it's sort of algorithms, it's no, just it's computer says no, it's just a of rather than a sort of systems rather than humanity, it's also this humanity, but it's also this kind culture of thinking that kind of culture of thinking that there are certain opinions that are, it's are, you know, that it's possible disregard. well, unacceptable. >> delighted to hear the >> i'm delighted to hear the government say what said. and

government say what it said. and if can push through the if we can push through the legislative changes this legislative changes on this and do be delighted. do it quickly, i'd be delighted. but are other problems but there are other problems that within banking. and that exist within banking. and rocco touched on rocco forte and i touched on this. is an attempt at i this. there is an attempt at i mean, face it, rishi sunak mean, let's face it, rishi sunak is pro us having central bank digital currencies. pro digital currencies. he's pro a completely cashless society where every transaction that we you know, do can be monitored . you know, do can be monitored. we can be limited in what we spend. we can be limited in what we spend . i'm terrified at the spend. i'm terrified at the prospect , but we are spend. i'm terrified at the prospect, but we are moving towards a cashless society . towards a cashless society. hence the news campaign . hence the gb news campaign. don't kill cash . but but this is don't kill cash. but but this is all because of insane anti—money laundering regulations , all of laundering regulations, all of which came through the european union into british law are being overinterpreted. forbes estimate that for every £1 recovered in laundered money, there's a compliance cost of £100. so the whole thing is a sledgehammer to miss the nut. can we? and i know it's difficult because i get it

organised international crime, people trafficking drugs. i know there are huge amounts of money being laundered out there , but being laundered out there, but can we please revisit this legislation? >> well, i want to so i've been campaigning against decs, the digital currency as well. i mean, i think there might be a value for it in what's called wholesale banking transfers between between banks. but when it comes and me, the idea it comes to you and me, the idea that we should be able to have to give up pound in your to give up the pound in your pocket literally use this to give up the pound in your pockdigital literally use this to give up the pound in your pockdigital poundy use this to give up the pound in your pockdigital pound that�* this to give up the pound in your pockdigital pound that they're new digital pound that they're proposing, to proposing, i mean, they need to make case for it. they're make the case for it. they're trying. consulting trying. they're consulting at the moment. i don't think we should say no, absolutely, because there some because there might be some value. i want to say value. but i do want to say we've we must be we've got to we must be employing moment. well, employing at the moment. well, we let them do we must not let them do away with cash. again, andrew with cash. and again, andrew griffiths and others are insistent that keep cash. so insistent that we keep cash. so we to absolutely away we have to absolutely do away with them trying we have to absolutely do away wi'abolish them trying we have to absolutely do away wi'abolish cash, them trying we have to absolutely do away wi'abolish cash, because trying to abolish cash, because crucially, as you say, ultimately the technology will crucially, as you say, ult there ly the technology will crucially, as you say, ult there that; technology will crucially, as you say, ult there that; tecican)gy will crucially, as you say, ult there that; tecican trackill crucially, as you say, ult there that; tecican track our be there that they can track our payments what peer trudeau payments and what peer trudeau did justin trudeau did in did in justin trudeau did in canada truckers, as canada to those truckers, as you've happen you've seen it happen to you, they do to brexiteers they will do it to brexiteers and they'll do it to ordinary

people. >> maybe people buying one too many because their many plane ticket because their carbon used up. >> they used their meat ration and worries right now. and that worries me right now. >> final thought on this, and >> a final thought on this, and this i think this is this is i think this is fundamental and important. we used the right to a bank used to have the right to a bank account this country. it account in this country. it disappeared. and with the privatisation post privatisation of the post office, countries office, neighbouring countries such germany, you such as france and germany, you have an automatic right. you can have an automatic right. you can have and your own have a bank account and your own business want business account if you want to start in business. can we do start up in business. can we do something about that? >> should. it >> sounds like we should. it sounds absolutely sounds like absolutely we should. we should. and we need to revive the local post office network well, has been to revive the local post office n

the treasury committee in a few weeks. back on weeks. the report back on whether obviously whether we've seen obviously it'll the but it'll be after the recess, but to because i want to to report back because i want to see action on this. i want to see action on this. i want to see it fast and thank you for joining me on the programme. now, that i've now, i said earlier that i've never head over the never put my head over the parapet received so much parapet and received so much cross—party there cross—party support. yes, there are people can't stand are some people that can't stand me it's quite right me and think it's quite right that should be eradicated that i should just be eradicated from society. but few from society. but they are few in number. non—partisan in number. this is non—partisan . this crosses and right. . this crosses left and right. in a moment, i'm going to talk to somebody very much on the left way to the left of me, way to the left of people. but to the left of many people. but i'll very, very fascinated to i'll be very, very fascinated to get his view up next, it's george

radio. >> i really believe i've lifted the lid on something very, very important here. people should not be closed out of society for holding legal personal views . holding legal personal views. i'm pleased that rishi sunak has acknowledged that and back that.

but this isn't about the conservative party. it isn't about those on the right of the spectrum. it isn't even about whether you're a brexiteer or remain, shouldn't remain, at least it shouldn't be. i'm joined now by george galloway, labour member galloway, former labour member of leader of the of parliament and leader of the workers of and workers party of britain and host of mother of all talk host of the mother of all talk shows podcast . oh, george, shows podcast. oh, george, what's your reaction to this cute story ? cute story? >> well, not for the first time, you're really making the whether the fact that from me to andrew neil and now we're joined buttressed by rishi sunak a small buttress but a buttress nonetheless it's quite clear you're on the verge of yet another victory . so i take my another victory. so i take my hat off to you . it is a signal hat off to you. it is a signal service that you have done. look nigel, the idea of the banks , of nigel, the idea of the banks, of all people being the moral arbiter of value when they are the very same people and institutions that brought us to

the brink of ruin and almost destroyed our economy had to be saved by the taxpayer . and i saved by the taxpayer. and i hope you remind people that 40% of natwest , the parent group of of natwest, the parent group of coop , is of natwest, the parent group of coop, is still in public ownership , so they have an extra ownership, so they have an extra obugafion ownership, so they have an extra obligation to that obligation . obligation to that obligation. an you just spoke about the obugafion an you just spoke about the obligation to provide the opportunity for everyone to have a bank account. but of all people to seek to impose a set of value values, bankers seriously ? seriously? >> yeah. i mean, look , you know, >> yeah. i mean, look, you know, natwest george have 19 million customer as there is talk now of there being able through ai and other tech tools to monitor the social media comments of those 19 million customers is it seems that the drive towards censorship i mean do you believe

this government will actually act and do something not on the censorship front. >> i think there's an ironclad consensus across the front benches, across the so—called mainstream political parties to keep as many people in as much of the dark about the truth as possible. and you can see why their own performance, their own views as their own doesn't illuminate . illuminate. >> right. we we're losing george. we're losing george. sadly the sound went. but i think george very much in agreement there that it's just monstrous to close people down because they happen to have a particular opinion , just simply particular opinion, just simply monstrous . is now the right to monstrous. is now the right to demonstrate . you know, it is demonstrate. you know, it is something that we do genuinely believe in, but it has to have

limbs . it's believe in, but it has to have limbs. it's and i have to believe in, but it has to have limbs . it's and i have to say, limbs. it's and i have to say, with just stop oil it's going way, way too far . it's upsetting way, way too far. it's upsetting many , many more people who many, many more people who perhaps won't be attracted to their cause. well, the what the farage moment today, it happened in london and this was a man who jonny bairstow rugby tackled, picked up and carried off the pitch at the second test match in lord's when this was one of the guys that was going on trying to cover the cricket pitch with this sort of orange dust that they seem to prefer. and that same man, because it's always the same people over and over and over was part of a go slow walk through in london today. and a member of the pubuc today. and a member of the public got so incensed that he actually assaulted the same person. have a look at this video .

video. so there's what we see. it's happening almost every day in london. the genuine go slow go, the traffic snarling up. it's all really too much. and you know, one person gets carried away . there's the guy there in away. there's the guy there in the red baseball cap and he's pushed the bloke to the ground and kicked him and other members of the public are saying, hey, come on, calm down. let's leave this situation open. he gets this situation open. and he gets back into his car. but you know , i understand the very, very deep frustration . and i deep frustration. and i understand that there are people who , you know, they're running who, you know, they're running their own businesses. they might be living on the breadline. they're struggling. they might want to get to a doctor's appointment. they might want to get funeral. and get to a family funeral. and they're these idiots they're sick of these idiots blocking but i think blocking their way. but i think it's important that we say this . two wrongs don't make a right

and however mad or frustrated , and however mad or frustrated, you are at this crazed fringe resorting to violence is not ever going to win you. the argument . but it does. you know argument. but it does. you know it does bring up it does bring out , you know, a very, it does bring up it does bring out, you know, a very, very big question . why are the same question. why are the same people allowed to repeat, offend again and again and again ? okay. again and again and again? okay. there's a new statement out from coots. we recognise the substantial interest in this case. we cannot comment on the detail given our customer confidentiality obligations. however it is not coots policy to close customer accounts solely on the basis of legally held political and personal views . his decisions to close an views. his decisions to close an account are not taken lightly and involve a number of factors, including commercial viability , including commercial viability, reputational considerations and legal and regulatory requirements. we recognise the critical importance of access to banking . when it became clear banking. when it became clear that our client was unable to secure banking facilities

elsewhere. what's coming here? and he has confirmed publicly he was offered alternative banking facilities his with natwest that offer stands really, we understand that the public concern that the process is for ending a customer relationship and how that is communicated are not sufficiently transparent. we welcome the anticipated hm treasury recommends action in this area alongside and asked to prioritise the review of regulatory rules relating to politically exposed persons. we look forward to working with government , the regulator and government, the regulator and the wider industry to ensure that universal access to banking is maintained well. that universal access to banking is maintained well . well, that is maintained well. well, that came a little bit out of the blue, but let's just deal with that. they talk about client confidentiality. that didn't stop them, did it? briefing the bbc and the financial times on the 4th of july, telling them how much money i did or did not have in my bank account, didn't bother them tuppence at the time. and i'm very pleased to hear that the offer that was made to me at 5 to 7 to

thursdays ago , before i came thursdays ago, before i came into this studio to blow the lid off this scandal. i'm very pleased that the offer for a personal account still stands, but when i asked on that phone call and way, up until call and by the way, up until now, never been confirmed now, that's never been confirmed in but what i asked in writing. but what i asked about a business account, i was told that no solution had been found at that time. and the fact they support changes in regulation. well, i'm jolly pleased to hear it. perhaps they should have thought about that before. now, this morning we got the inflation figures. they weren't very good, but they weren't very good, but they weren't quite as bad as they might been . this leaves the might have been. this leaves the bank england with a very bank of england with a very major decision on what to do with interest rates and one man who has been almost single handedly leading the charge by saying stop putting up rates. it's causing too much damage, is gb news is liam halligan. he joins me in just a moment.

at at 7:00 this morning, we had the inflation figures. now, remember, the may figures were a bit of a shock when they came in at 8.7. inflation is proving to be more sticky than the bank of england had expected . it'd and england had expected. it'd and underlying inflation been running at a worrying number. so gb news is economics and business editor. liam halligan said to me last night, he said, so nige, what do you think the figure going to be? and figure is going to be? and i said come in at eight, said it, it'll come in at eight, exactly eight. said, 7.8. it exactly eight. he said, 7.8. it came in at 7.9. so no one, let's call it quits. >> no one owes anyone anything. i'll have to buy each other a drink. >> that's all right. don't mind that. liam it's still not a great figure, is it? because if we look at america where inflation is down to what, sort of three and a bit% and other european most other european countries, some of them shot way above us, but they've come back

. it's still not a great figure. >> it's not a great number. the may figure nigel was 8.7. that was a shock because was the was a shock because it was the same the april figure. far same as the april figure. far from being transitory as you say, inflation in this country is sticky. the is proving very sticky. the figure out this figure that came out this morning way down morning was 7.9. that's way down from the 41 year high of 11.1% last october. but it's still almost four times the bank of england's 2% target. and as you say, we are an outlier. inflation across the eurozone, 5.5% on average. and in america , it's 3.0, largely because our american cousins have cheaper energy, not least because they're exploiting their own oil and gas a lot more than we are. gosh, you were have to say that on british television. >> you might get your bank account cancelled for that. you never know that has sailed. never know that ship has sailed. i'll to that in moment, i'll come to that in a moment, sir. liam, you have been urging i'll come to that in a moment, siryourn, you have been urging i'll come to that in a moment, siryour sunday ave been urging i'll come to that in a moment, siryour sunday telegraphrrging i'll come to that in a moment, siryour sunday telegraph columns in your sunday telegraph columns and what you've been saying here at gb news, you've been urging the bank of england, you've been saying, look, you guys were too slow to put rates up, but now,

given the stage of the cycle we're in, stop putting them up. and yet everyone thinks that at the policy the next monetary policy committee interest the next monetary policy comnwille interest the next monetary policy comnwill rise interest the next monetary policy comnwill rise again. interest the next monetary policy comnwill rise again. the interest rates will rise again. the speculation half a% maybe speculation was half a% maybe today it's a quarter of a% you're still urging . no, no more you're still urging. no, no more rate rises? >> absolutely. we've got 13 rate rises in the tank. >> absolutely. we've got 13 rate rises in the tank . monetary rises in the tank. monetary policy interest rate changes operate with quotes , long and operate with quotes, long and variable lags. that's what milton friedman wrote. and that's been proven over time. the bank of england was very late to get going with interest rate rises all the main central banks were. but we can pounded that error by raising very that delay error by raising very small increments just by a quarter point, a quarter point, a quarter point. when the federal reserve was for going big, hefty half point interest rate rises, really getting on top of the problem . and it top of the problem. and it strikes me that now the bank is in danger because it's trying to regain its shattered credibility , i.e. by going for massive , , i.e. by going for massive, massive rate rises. all the time. it's in danger of compounding the problem because it's completely clear. nigel the

uk economy has stalled. we've now got 0% growth. a lot of businesses are suffering, a lot of households are suffering. the rate rises, they're doing now, they won't come into effect for a year, 18 months by which time the economy will have been through an even deeper recession. the extraordinary thing is the last time interest rates were here in in the united kingdom, £1 bought $2 and that shows you how uncompetitive we've become. >> it shows you how our productivity ity has stalled . we productivity ity has stalled. we have lower productivity than france , which seems almost france, which seems almost impossible to me. i mean, there are some really fundamental deep rooted problems here, aren't there? >> there are. i think a lot of the problems stem from years of lack of skills training, particularly vacation training, the rush that all must have prizes, all must go to university. you know, i speak as the first and only person in my immediate family that's ever been to university. i'm not dissing university, no . 50% of dissing university, no. 50% of people. need brickies , we people. we need brickies, we need we need people need plasterers. we need people that do the hands on jobs that

need to done, that are very need to be done, that are very honourable should honourable jobs and should earn a wage. we've also been a decent wage. we've also been creating too much money, creating far too much money, a lot of quantitative easing. i think that's undermined our productivity led to all kinds of money keeping firms alive that shouldn't have been kept alive and work from home. and i don't look , there's a whole work from look, there's a whole work from home now. there is. home industry now. there is. there balance to be struck. there is a balance to be struck. i think the balance gone too i think the balance has gone too far other way where people far the other way where people expect work 1 or 2 days expect to only work 1 or 2 days in the office, you don't get the same creativity. we all know that. and of course the whole working from home bias, it means that those people with hands on jobs , particularly in the jobs, particularly in the service sector, they become second class citizens because they've got go to work every they've got to go to work every day. they've got pay their day. they've got to pay their their fares. look, i think their train fares. look, i think their train fares. look, i think the england has got an the bank of england has got an opportunity here. it won't take the opportunity because on the monetary committee, monetary policy committee, there's cognitive there's the lack of cognitive diversity. have talked diversity. you and i have talked about. an about. they've got an opportunity to make a stand and say, look , there are 13 interest say, look, there are 13 interest rate rises in the tank.

say, look, there are 13 interest rate rises in the tank . the gilt rate rises in the tank. the gilt yield has come down a lot today. they can say we're not going to do a half point rise. we're only going quarter point rise going to do a quarter point rise and this be the last and maybe this may be the last rise to try and steer the markets and to convey to them that got the confidence that we've got the confidence we're top this inflation we're on top of this inflation problem. down soon. we're on top of this inflation pro financial down soon. we're on top of this inflation pro financial news down soon. we're on top of this inflation pro financial news very»wn soon. we're on top of this inflation pro financial news very much on. >> financial news very much dominating news today dominating the news today in particular in particular the natwest group with you know, alison rose and the woke agenda and the fact that i don't align with their views and i don't fit in with their diversity and inclusion agenda . thoughts on that? >> i think the pr team know less about the media than my two pet dogs. i'm afraid they've managed to make you into something of a national treasure, which . which national treasure, which. which is completely. yeah as you said, the range of politicians and interests and people who have come to your to support you, even though some of them detest you, you've got senior tory party politicians, you've spent your whole adult life winding up

the tory party and they're coming to your defence and rightly so, on a matter of principle. this could be a turning point, nigel, because what it's doing is exposing that evenin what it's doing is exposing that even in really august that are meant to be hard nosed, grown up institutions like coutts, like natwest, which has 19 million customers, it seems the priority. and alison rose said when she came in a central pillar of my leadership is going to be the climate agenda. you're a bank , it's your legal a bank, it's your legal obugafion a bank, it's your legal obligation to try and make money for your shareholders , which for your shareholders, which you're asked the government 38.6% completely mad and suddenly the whole lid has been blown on this. even people have been denying that this woke agenda. been denying that this woke agenda . they've been saying it's agenda. they've been saying it's an invention of people like you. well, it isn't. and i'd well, clearly it isn't. and i'd really to see the labour really like to see the labour frontbench step they're frontbench step up here. they're you. you have got, i would say now 80 to 85% of the population an even though lots of them don't like you as you were shown in those vox pops agreeing with

you and saying his position is reasonable and you've managed to make a fool out of the bbc. and my old alma mater paper, the feet labour needs to step up and say we think this is wrong. we know it's nigel farage and it would do them a power of good in the polls as well. will they take that opportunity? >> let's hope it is a turning point. liam. thank you as ever. jacob who was busy asking questions at pmqs, going questions at pmqs, are we going to change? to get change? >> i we're going to >> well, i think we're going to have to. what liam has have to. i think what liam has been is absolutely right, been saying is absolutely right, that years you had to bow that for years you had to bow kowtow diversity and kowtow to diversity and inclusion. now out that inclusion. we now find out that diversity inclusion if you diversity inclusion means if you don't me, be don't agree with me, you'll be taken you taken out and cancelled. you were excluded excluded . were excluded or excluded. that's not about that's right. it's not about tolerance. not about tolerance. it's not about liberal liberal liberal values or liberal approach to society. about approach to society. it's about agree with me or else we had a chap on yesterday who had quoted the traditional christian view that pride is a sin, and he had his membership of the conservative party suspended. we now position of the now have the position of the data access requests have revealed that's actually

fascinating because that's a piece of eu legislation in which in normal circumstances you and i like, it's revealed i don't like, but it's revealed something else extraordinary and something else extraordinary and something didn't want jacob i something i didn't want jacob i bank with. coutts i want to be on their side. >> well well he's next he's next. i've no doubt about it. your name is on the list. jacob rees—mogg. no, they wouldn't dare. with a, with furore dare. now with a, with a furore that's i didn't even that's going on. i didn't even know what a data subject access request two months ago and request was two months ago and i'm urging people who've been emailing tonight saying emailing in tonight saying they've closed down. they've been closed down. they're very distressed. i'm urging now to this urging them now to use this process. pi'ocess. >> process. >> absolutely , because >> absolutely, because it's a very serious offence to delete any information that you hold once you've got a request out or if you think you're about to get a request, you have obligations to hold it according to your set policy. and you can't just change that randomly for one customer. if you've said something so something embarrassing. so companies to be very companies will have to be very careful this they will careful about this and they will have information . no, have to reveal information. no, no, go. i agree with you. no, let's go. i agree with you. anyone who's been anyone watching now who's been cancelled a subject data cancelled, put in a subject data access request and your main

topic tonight ? my main topic is topic tonight? my main topic is inflation. liam inflation inflation. so liam inflation earning his living today very good. >> yes. well, clearly clearly it's the it's a matchsticks day for liam halligan . for liam halligan. >> well, we'll see. they don't pay >> well, we'll see. they don't pay me in matchsticks. >> well i'll let's see what the newspapers come up with overnight on this banking story. >> but it's been a good day , i >> but it's been a good day, i think, for me. i think we have got a proper national debate going about the banks. but before all of that, let's have a look at the all important weather, the temperatures rising , boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello there. i'm jonathan vautrey here with your latest gb news weather forecast provided by the met office. we have seen a few showers around today. some of those on the heavier side. but increasingly into this evening, they will be easing out for many of us and actually many of us seeing some late evening sunshine with the showers persisting. for the longest, though, the far

though, across the far north—east of scotland, particularly shetland, particularly across shetland, where to remain where it is going to remain rather with a rather cloudy overnight with a brisk but elsewhere, rather cloudy overnight with a brisk clear but elsewhere, rather cloudy overnight with a brisk clear intervals. ;where, rather cloudy overnight with a brisk clear intervals. andre, rather cloudy overnight with a brisk clear intervals. and that some clear intervals. and that will temperatures fall will allow temperatures to fall off more compared to off a touch more compared to recent even down into recent nights, even down into single particularly single figures, particularly in some . but those some rural areas. but those clear mean that clear spells mean that we'll start off with a fairly decent amount of sunshine first thing on increasingly on thursday. but increasingly into afternoon, once again, into the afternoon, once again, we to see those we will start to see those showers bubbling of showers bubbling up. some of those turn on to the those could also turn on to the heavier side. once again, there will be fairly well scattered, so be some decent sunny will be fairly well scattered, sbright be some decent sunny will be fairly well scattered, sbright be sorin decent sunny will be fairly well scattered, sbright be sorin between.jnny , bright intervals in between. and , and in that sunshine, temperatures to highs temperatures climbing to highs around 18 to 24 c around where they should be for the time of year into friday. we somewhat do it all over again. there will be some sunshine, first thing, showers confined to showers perhaps confined to northern to begin with, showers perhaps confined to nortincreasinglyo begin with, showers perhaps confined to nortincreasingly intogin with, showers perhaps confined to nortincreasingly into the with, but increasingly into the afternoon, is the afternoon, there is the potential that they do start pushing way into pushing their way down into eastern counties of lincolnshire and as well. always and east anglia as well. always shetland the breeziest shetland seeing the breeziest conditions through friday, but into the weekend more of us are going start to see our winds going to start to see our winds increase as this area of low pressure starts to spread its

way west, turning way in from the west, turning much widely unsettled for much more widely unsettled for many with of rain many of us with plenty of rain to come into the weekend. otherwise enjoy your evening. bye bye. >> temperatures rising . boxt >> the temperatures rising. boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> hello. good evening. it's me, jacob rees—mogg on state of the nafion jacob rees—mogg on state of the nation tonight. finally, some better news for your bills. despite more gloomy prognostications from the economist class, inflation has slowed a little more than expected 7.9, down from 8.7% for the year to june 2023. the bank of england's patent medicine is having an effect , of england's patent medicine is having an effect, but could it be too strong? those awful buzzwords diversity and

inclusion seem to