r , you >> does anyone ever say, you know what, you've done a good job because everyone else has sat on there and done nothing? no. no signs of that. no . no. no signs of that. no. >> well, ms keegan has since apologised for her use of language. well it wasn't really talking about anything in particular. >> it was off the cuff remark. after the news interview had finished, or apparently after it had finished. and i'd like to apologise for my choice language that was unnecessary, but it was an off the cuff remark. basically you know, based on the interview, the interview had been pressing me quite hard, you know, solved this know, why i hadn't solved this issue , which had been going on issue, which had been going on since 1994 ? since 1994? >> well, the prime minister has attempted to bat away accusations regarding his role in the crisis while he was chancellor rishi sunak saying it's wrong to suggest that he is to blame for failing to fully fund a programme to rebuild england's schools when he was chancellor. of course , i know chancellor. of course, i know the timing is frustrating , but i the timing is frustrating, but i want to give people a sense of

the scale of what we're grappling with here. >> there are around 22,000 schools in england, and the important thing to know is we expect 95% of those schools expect that 95% of those schools won't be impacted by this. around 50 schools have already been mitigated. another 100 are in the process of being so and our expectation is, is in a matter of weeks, the bulk of the remaining schools that will have this issue will be identified as well. northern ireland's police chief, simon byrne has resigned. >> a recent court ruling deemed mr burns disciplinary actions against two junior officers were unlawful. it follows a major data breach last month, which revealed the details of 10,000 psni staff . revealed the details of 10,000 psni staff. uk revealed the details of 10,000 psni staff . uk government psni staff. uk government sources have confirmed that french police have stopped more than 15,000 migrants from reaching the uk in small boats so far this year. gb news can reveal tougher french policing around some key migrant launch points has significantly disrupted people smuggling

activities. the overall number of channel migrants is more than 20% down on the same period last year. 20% down on the same period last year . the health secretary has year. the health secretary has appointed lady justice thirlwall to head up the inquiry into crimes committed by child serial killer lucy letby. stephen barclay says the inquiry will have legal powers to compel witnesses to provide evidence. that's expected to include former and current staff of the countess of chester hospital nhs foundation trust, where countess of chester hospital nhs foundation trust , where letby foundation trust, where letby worked , and angela rayner is the worked, and angela rayner is the new shadow deputy prime minister and levelling up secretary as sir keir starmer reshuffles his top team . she replaces lisa top team. she replaces lisa nandy, who becomes shadow cabinet minister for international development. among the other changes , pat mcfadden the other changes, pat mcfadden taking on the influential role of national campaign co—ordinator as well as shadow chancellor of the duchy of lancaster . this chancellor of the duchy of lancaster. this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb

news. now let's get straight back to . nigel back to. nigel >> good evening . in the wake of >> good evening. in the wake of world war ii, there was an awful lot of building to do, not just because of bomb damage, but because, of course, of a very rapidly growing post post—war boomer generation . and also the boomer generation. and also the fact wanted better fact that people wanted better houses and better public buildings. but in the case of pubuc buildings. but in the case of public buildings, many were very, very badly built. jerry built. that was the term that was cynically used by many people at the time. and we know much, of course, now about the use of asbestos. for example, in pubuc use of asbestos. for example, in public buildings. but now we learn about a type of concrete , learn about a type of concrete, a sort of concrete with bubbles in it, a bit like an aero chocolate bar that was used in a lot of public buildings. and over the weekend came to over the weekend it came to light there are about 104 light that there are about 104 schools that did not go back today. gosh, i do pity the poor parents, particularly after six, six weeks of rain and we learn

it's dangerous and they could fall in and much remedial work has got to be done. and the labor party have been very much . on the attack saying isn't it monster s that literally on the eve of the children going back, they're told those particular schools are closed and how many more schools could there be in that category? the response from the conservatives back towards labouris the conservatives back towards labour is well, at least in england we're having a look at schools and public buildings built with this rak concrete, whereas in wales labour run wales has none of this work and research has been done . so when research has been done. so when you get a row like this , who's you get a row like this, who's to blame? tell me your thoughts on that. farage at gb news.com. now into the middle of all of this is the education secretary, gillian keegan, who did a big media round this morning, including an interview with itv . now, it is always a very good object lesson. think back,

perhaps to gordon brown, who walked away from an interview with a microphone still in his pocket . but even when you're off pocket. but even when you're off air, perhaps you're not really off air. this is what happened after the interview that gillian keegan gave to itv. this morning. >> we will get a plan and every single one of them will be done i >> -- >> okay. thank you very much. >> okay. thank you very much. >> thank you. thank you. jot down just a few marcus setchell. does anyone ever say, you know what? you've done a good job because everyone else has sat on there and done nothing. no no signs of that. no >> now . now it signs of that. no >> now. now it may signs of that. no >> now . now it may well have >> now. now it may well have been naughty of itv to play out that clip because she didn't think she was being recorded. but hey, you're still miked up . but hey, you're still miked up. the cameras rolling and from a journalistic point of view, i guess you're fair game. but what it revealed was just the most astonishing level of self—regard that gillian keegan has for herself. indeed so many inside

the westminster bubble do talk about don't get it, talk about detached. it was all about her. i'm doing a fantastic job and why aren't you praising me yet? another overpromoted politician. now i wonder how many of you watching this programme had even heard of rac concrete before this weekend ? i'm going to bet this weekend? i'm going to bet you hardly any of you had . so you hardly any of you had. so let's try and find out. to begin with what it actually is . and with what it actually is. and warren thomas, who was a concrete expert at henderson thomas associates , warren assume thomas associates, warren assume with me and the audience assume a knowledge level hovering at around about zero. so please tell us what this building material is and what the risks are . are. >> yes , nigel, it was a >> yes, nigel, it was a lightweight, concrete, really. concrete is stretching the point there that was used extensively after the war through to about the mid 80s being lightweight

and quite cheap to manufacture . and quite cheap to manufacture. it was used as sensitively in in single storey schools and other buildings. the issue is that it was flagged up that there were some issues with it because it's very lightweight. it's it has, as you said, looks like a chocolate bar that we all well and no . and because of that , if and no. and because of that, if it's not maintained properly , it it's not maintained properly, it can have major issues with its stability . now, the first stability. now, the first indication of this were produced indication of this were produced in a report by the building research establishment as early as 1996. good lord. so that's when it was first on the radar. subsequent to that , we then have subsequent to that, we then have heard about the school that fell down in kent in 2018. after that had happened , a number of good had happened, a number of good organisations , including the organisations, including the institute of structural engineers, who are the experts that decided to produce a guidance note which we've been following in the sector very

closely . from what i can gather closely. from what i can gather with respect to the schools and what's happened , i.e. with respect to the schools and what's happened , le. a letter, what's happened, le. a letter, a questionnaire went out last yean a questionnaire went out last year, some time to the schools to say, hey guys, have you got concrete? not very helpful , as concrete? not very helpful, as i would have said. and then only in december of 2022 was an advice note produced by the department of education to say , department of education to say, this is what you need to follow . i don't know why they didn't use the institute of structural engineers guidance, and that note was very unclear , is note was very unclear, is a polite way of putting it . the polite way of putting it. the concrete, the concerns with the concrete, the concerns with the concrete are that you can have major issues with the embedded reinforcement that can corrode . reinforcement that can corrode. and unlike conventional, reinforced in concrete, in conventional, we reinforced in concrete, in conventional , we spot cracking conventional, we spot cracking and spalling and such like . so and spalling and such like. so it gives us a bit of an indication of it may fall down. we don't get that with the concrete and therefore that's

why we need to do a phased approach , work out where it is approach, work out where it is in the school . and the only way in the school. and the only way you can definitively and i say definitively because i'm concerned about some of the surveys that have been done, you need to actually break off a little bit of the concrete and inspect the internal part of it to actually confirm 100. it is right once it is racked, one of the things that's been swept overis the things that's been swept over is you then have to ascertain its condition and based upon the condition, you can then pass that information over to a qualified structural engineer who can do risk engineer who can do a risk assessment . and in some assessment. and in some instances, it could be as easy just to monitor the structure. others you may need some temporary propping or further investigation to work out where there are certain issues . and in there are certain issues. and in there are certain issues. and in the worst case scenario , you the worst case scenario, you would need to remove and rebuild the roof. but it's not a yes no. black white answer. and i don't get the idea that many politicians understand that. >> no? well i'd say warrant it

wasn't a yes no. black or white answer, but it was a very, very full and comprehensive answer. it sounds to me like this stuff is past its sell by date and ultimately over the next few years, it's all going to have to be replaced. >> well, what happens is we had an issue back in the 70s and 80s with another type of problematic concrete called high alumina cement. and that it if it was wetted and dried because of bad roofs, maintenance of the roofs, it could dramatically reduce its strength and fail its a similar you know, activity with rak concrete . if it's kept dry and concrete. if it's kept dry and managed properly, it could survive for some time . but the survive for some time. but the problem is with a lot of the structures that we're talking about, nigel, all you need to do is look at some of the bridge structures that designed structures that were designed for life span. they're for a 50 year life span. they're now 55 years old, 56 years old, and we have the same issue. as long as we can maintain them and inspect them and test them, we

don't have a problem. but we do that with highway structures. but unfortunately, with structures such as schools, hospitals, courts , buildings in hospitals, courts, buildings in general, there is no formal testing inspection. >> well , i testing inspection. >> well, i think now testing inspection. >> well , i think now actually, >> well, i think now actually, warren, there might be. thank you for joining warren, there might be. thank you forjoining us and giving us that proper expert in formation. thank you very much indeed. christie cunniffe joins me, headteacher of the licenced vitulus school in ascot . and six vitulus school in ascot. and six weeks the kids have been off. it's rained almost every day . it's rained almost every day. they're supposed to go back to school . i pity the poor parents school. i pity the poor parents in these 104 schools. it sounds to me from what warren saying this this could be affecting a very large number of schools. yeah absolutely. >> it's quite shocking. you know , the fact that it's announced literally before the children come back to school and they've had enough disruption as it is. so i feel for those head so i really feel for those head teachers once have had teachers who once again have had to quickly about how

to think very quickly about how they're going to accommodate these education. >> yeah, it's rotten for >> yeah, it's been rotten for the 18 year olds that have just left. of course, they didn't get to sit gcses properly. they found grades lot tougher found their grades a lot tougher than previous couple than the previous couple of years. now got another years. and now we've got another years. and now we've got another year to suffer year group beginning to suffer and do we where do we apportion blame on this ? blame on this? >> well, i think, you know, just looking at, you know, post—war britain and building, you look at the amount of governments there's been, there's probably not amount of labour not equal amount of labour governments bit governments in probably a bit more but they're more conservatives, but they're all they were all to blame because they were all to blame because they were all party to this. >> they all that, whereas >> they all knew that, whereas the assessments the the risk assessments or the document said material document that said this material only lifespan of 40 years. only has a lifespan of 40 years. and we're do about and what we're going to do about it what's the programme to it and what's the programme to rebuild and why of a sudden rebuild and why all of a sudden does couple of days does it come up a couple of days before start of term and before the start of term and these children can't come to school as our engineer, as warren in 1996, concerns warren said in 1996, concerns were first raised these were first raised about these structures years structures is aimed at 50 years and them are older than and a lot of them are older than that. >> but somebody that works, >> but as somebody that works, christine, and the education sector, gillian keegan, our education secretary, didn't

exactly herself in glory exactly cover herself in glory this morning, did she? >> well , you know, that was the >> well, you know, that was the first i saw it because i've first time i saw it because i've obviously been busy working in school and i actually school today, and i actually might had sharp intake school today, and i actually mibreath had sharp intake school today, and i actually mibreath hadi sharp intake school today, and i actually mibreath hadi whenarp intake school today, and i actually mibreath hadi when ip intake school today, and i actually mibreath hadi when i saw ake school today, and i actually mibreath hadi when i saw that of breath when i when i saw that or heard it here in the studio for the first time. you know, it's not about blame. mean, it's not about blame. i mean, what happened very what happened there was very unfortunate. you know, it unfortunate. and, you know, it should happened. but should not have happened. but they apportion they can't apportion blame to any person. it's about any one person. and it's about time stopped having education time we stopped having education at the risk of political parties scoring points at each other, because heard dialogue because i've heard the dialogue between starmer and rishi between keir starmer and rishi sunak, and to be quite honest with you, think this is not a with you, i think this is not a time for an election time for scoring for an election when children are not in when these children are not in school. they need to get together, their act together, get their act together. not going together. well, that's not going together. well, that's not going to is it never to happen, is it? it never happens. it's never going to happen. the we have happen. and all the time we have these political point these political parties point scoring never scoring education will never improve country . improve in this country. >> see, you may be right or you may be unless we get an may be right unless we get an election and we get a party with a completely new philosophy for education, of education, a radical reform of education. and that is possible. but if gillian keegan for

purpose , i think that was highly purpose, i think that was highly embarrassing what happened today. >> i'm not going to say whether it's fit for purpose or not. i think really to be quite honest with you, we should stop this backbiting, we should stop throwing under the bus throwing people under the bus and pull out. and actually pull out. >> threw us. threw >> she threw us. she threw herself under bus. herself under the bus. >> well, may have done >> well, she may well have done you right under the you know, she's right under the bus, hasn't she? but is this a time to actually be blaming people and why we people and why can't we just spend and the time and spend the money and the time and the effort now these the effort now getting these kids into school in kids back into school in buildings for buildings that are fit for purpose? we do have the purpose? because we do have the materials. we do the land, materials. we do have the land, we have the manpower. so we do have the manpower. so what's happening? we do have the manpower. so what's it0)pening? we do have the manpower. so what's ito rebuild? huge number >> but to rebuild a huge number of were built of schools that were built and i said in the introduction, you know, of post—war know, the sort of post—war population boom was happening, but the middle late 50s, we had to lot more schools to to build a lot more schools to cope in cope with this uptick in population going to cost population in it's going to cost a fortune, isn't it? >> well, somewhere we've >> yeah, well, somewhere we've got from got to find the money from somewhere. should be somewhere. children should be the priority. they're our future. can't invest in them. future. we can't invest in them. what like for the what does it look like for the future? think our future? well i think our children pretty

children have had a pretty rotten it over the last rotten time of it over the last couple of years. >> christine, thank you very much indeed forjoining me. well, who's blame? who to well, who's to blame? who is to say tomorrow, commons say now, tomorrow, the commons will new energy will debate the new energy bill. there something like 300 there are something like 300 amendments have put amendments that have been put down was a big down on. and there was a big protest today protest outside parliament today led by the bbc's chris packham . led by the bbc's chris packham. now he is an active environmental campaigner, some would say fanatic . in environmental campaigner, some would say fanatic. in a moment we talk to him about why he thinks there should be no more oil and gas and why we should cover up the palace of westminster in solar panels. no, seriously , all of that in just a seriously, all of that in just a couple

listening to gb news radio. with parliament back as well. >> not just the schools, at least those that are opening tomorrow will be a big energy day. yes, energy policy will be debated. many amendments put down and of course, campaigners on both sides are urging mps to act in one way or another. well gb news is joe casper went down to parliament square to interview chris packham. now he started off by asking him about his protest at rishi sunak , his protest at rishi sunak, giving new licences out for oil and gas drilling in the north sea and the very concept of energy self—sufficiency, well , energy self—sufficiency, well, i've been helping to assemble a group of scientists to come here today. >> the scientists are the people with their fingers really firmly on the pulse of climate breakdown. people on the pulse of climate breaithe m. people

on the pulse of climate breaithe facts. people on the pulse of climate breaithe facts. and people on the pulse of climate breaithe facts. and whateople on the pulse of climate breaithe facts. and what iople on the pulse of climate breaithe facts. and what i want with the facts. and what i want to happen is for mps, our elected representatives and ministers, come of that ministers, to come out of that building listen to these building and listen to these people, the message is people, because the message is very need to leave very clear we need to leave fossil fuels in the ground if we are going to get through this penod are going to get through this period climate breakdown. period of climate breakdown. that's thing that we that's the first thing that we can do. and at the moment we've got a government which isn't listening. already listening. it's already said that going open another that it's going to open another coal new coal mine and also grant 100 new licences for oil and gas exploration in the north sea. that's not a healthy way forward for you, for me, for wildlife and for the planet. >> arguably, though, chris, that the government listening to the government is listening to its voters who are being stung by bills, cost living by energy bills, cost of living crisis maybe energy crisis and maybe energy self—sufficient agency is the way to go for this for this country. >> so a recent poll shows us that second to the cost of living crisis, the thing that's worrying the british public most of all is climate breakdown. so it's high on the political agenda and therefore it needs to be dealt with properly. and when agenda and therefore it needs to be cgovernment)perly. and when agenda and therefore it needs to be cgovernment says'. and when agenda and therefore it needs to be cgovernment says thatj when agenda and therefore it needs to be cgovernment says that it's1en this government says that it's going to offer us energy security by exploitation

security by further exploitation of oil and gas, it's of north sea oil and gas, it's lying. not true for lying. that's not true for instance, if it were to grant a drilling licence for rosebank that rosebank oil field is owned by norwegian government, by the norwegian government, they that oil, the they would own that oil, not the uk . we make some tax uk. we would make some tax revenue from it. and ultimately, if we invest in new oil and if we invest in new new oil and gas, not that that's already being pumped at the moment, it could take 20 to 30 years before that comes online and in 20 to 30 years time, we're not to going be oil and gas. going be using oil and gas. what this government see is this government needs to see is that it needs to make a rapid transition invest into transition of invest into renewable energies. and that means retraining, investing those that are those communities that are currently in the oil and currently engaged in the oil and gas industries make sure that gas industries to make sure that they have a secure future economic valley. and we all have a secure future environmentally i >> -- >> well, there's the argument put and it's put articulately andifs put and it's put articulately and it's put with passion. i think it's nonsense. but that is what packham and the others believe. they genuinely think that we will not be using oil and gas in 20 or 30 years time. i think we will be using oil and

gas, maybe less of it, but we will be using it in 20 or 30 years time and we'll be using a hell of a lot of it for at least the next 20 years. i'd say. chris if you're really worried about emissions, about fossil fuel emissions, you're wrong city. you're in the wrong city. you should be in beijing. that's where the protests should be because of the chinese because of course, the chinese built . 80 because of course, the chinese built. 80 gigantic coal fired power stations in 2022 alone. now, joe caspar went on to ask him about onshore wind farms because it would seem that rishi sunak's government have had a complete change of heart. it looks like mps tomorrow will approve the building once again of onshore wind farms. >> i am investment in renewables. the thing about onshore wind is we have to be very careful where we put it. it requires public consultation and obviously as a wildlife lover we need to make sure we put it in a place where it doesn't damage our wildlife. >> but i'm sorry. i'm sorry, chris, but a wildlife lover, wind farms kill lots of thousands of birds every every

single wind farms were single year when wind farms were initially put up and we're talking time now, talking a long time ago now, some of were sited in the some of them were sited in the wrong they damaged wrong place and they damaged migratory birds. >> no question about >> there's no question about that. i've seen it. i can't deny that. i've seen it. i can't deny that. but that's because was that. but that's because it was early were in the early days. they were in the wrong place. we have the technology. the technology. we know where the birds we need to work birds are and we need to work together to make sure that we and birds have a sustainable and the birds have a sustainable future. we've got future. and that means we've got to in those renewable energies. >> well, whether packham >> well, whether chris packham is about the siting of is right about the siting of those wind farms , i just don't those wind farms, i just don't know. all would say is our know. all i would say is our plans are to pretty much fill up the sea with vast numbers the north sea with vast numbers of turbines. and of course of wind turbines. and of course we this massive migration we get this massive migration which will start next month. ducks, geese , swans coming ducks, geese, swans coming across from finland, russia, many other parts of scandinavia. i can't comment whether packham is right about the siting of these wind farms. what i absolutely can can say is that the more reliant we are on wind energy, the more vulnerable we are to total power blackouts.

unless of course, we have the available gas to back it up so that we can literally keep the lights on. and this show has discussed this time and time again . but we're up against again. but we're up against people who genuinely think that renewable energy is actually to going satisfy the needs of this country when frankly, it simply cannot do so. and finally , cannot do so. and finally, things that we can perhaps do at home, including this very entertaining suggestion by chris packham as to what we should do with the palace of westminster. >> well, i would i would say to them, speak to any landscape photographer here and ask them what they think about pylons in all those power cables which all of those power cables which stretch cross all stretch and criss cross all across our country, merge across our country, they merge into landscape . i live near into the landscape. i live near a system of pylons for a long time. i soon they vanished from my to day life . we soon my day to day life. we soon begin to accept changes in our landscape and this is a time where we have to change. we have to change minds and our to change our minds and our practises. if we don't, to change our minds and our pra don't. if we don't, to change our minds and our pra don't have if we don't, to change our minds and our pra don't have a if we don't, to change our minds and our

pra don't have a futuree don't, to change our minds and our pra don't have a future for)n't, to change our minds and our pra don't have a future for us:, to change our minds and our pra don't have a future for us or we don't have a future for us or that landscape. there's no doubt about that. and when it comes to solar, the roof of solar, what about the roof of that what about the that building? what about the roof of building? what roof of that building? what about the house of about the roof of the house of commons? could cover that commons? we could cover that with that would with solar panels and that would want cover the house of want to cover the house of commons houses parliament commons houses of parliament would be lovely stunt, would be a lovely stunt, wouldn't but i mean, wouldn't it, really? but i mean, speaking sensibly, speaking more sensibly, there were buildings here in were a lot of buildings here in london flat roofs that london with flat roofs that could have solar on and that would add to the energy efficiency of this city. so putting in right putting solar in the right place, putting the right place, putting wind in the right place, putting wind in the right place be the right thing place would be the right thing to do. but we've got no choice. place would be the right thing to ddosut we've got no choice. place would be the right thing to ddo it. we've got no choice. place would be the right thing to ddo it. welle got no choice. place would be the right thing to ddo it. well there no choice. place would be the right thing to ddo it. well there you hoice. place would be the right thing to ddo it. well there you are.3. but do it. well there you are. >> solar panels all over the palace of westminster. who knows? happen. and knows? it may well happen. and as for his we love pylons campaign, let assure campaign, well, let me assure you the big new you that all the big new proposals for north sea wind development will meet a very large of pylons large number of pylons going across to east anglia, which is meeting, course, great meeting, of course, with great local . who would want local opposition. who would want to live near those high powered cables on the pylons? absolutely nobody . i would, i think nobody. i would, i think sensibly suggest and i have to

say it's quite funny, isn't it, really, that nearly everybody in parliament is agreed about the need for us to go rapidly towards net zero, regardless of the fact that we only produce less than 1% of the world's co2 , and that india and china and indonesia and others are frankly completely and utterly ignoring it. and it isn't just the overreliance on wind and virtually without subsidy , these virtually without subsidy, these projects would never have got off the ground. and once again , off the ground. and once again, wind energy is pretty marginal because of the increased cost of the turbines and everything else. the only way it'll survive is with big taxpayer funded subsidy . of that, i'm as near subsidy. of that, i'm as near certain as i can be, but it's funny , you've got a pro net zero funny, you've got a pro net zero parliament, but you've got campaigners outside saying go further, go quicker and actually pubuc further, go quicker and actually public opinion is saying, look, yeah, sure, we all want to live, we all want to live in a decent

environment, but the realisation of how relatively small the uk is, how little difference frankly we make on the world and the sheer cost to everybody of policies that frankly are mad and i would i would include ulez in this. i mean, ulez is part of khan's determination to push for net zero. and all of this simply makes the poor poorer. meanwhile there are those living off council taxpayers and taxpayers money working for local councils are increasingly well paid and some very, very good work. and we're going to show you in a moment the research that's come out from a taxpayers alliance showing hundreds of thousands of people being well paid, working for local councils, not just working from home, not just working from home, not just working from home, not just working from the beach, but literally working from abroad. should be council tax payers deserve better than this . and in deserve better than this. and in a moment i'll tell you what.

i'll tell you what sadiq khan has had to say about me over the course

radio. >> well, so many stories over the years and they seem to get worse about people who work on taxpayers or council tax payers money. well, this one this one really is a bit of a bombshell. i'm joined by conor holohan of a taxpayers alliance media campaign manager and this stuff

, which is conor , is , which is conor, is extraordinary . we know work from extraordinary. we know work from home. we know well in fact, in scotland, humza humza yousaf is now proposing just a four day week for public sector workers . week for public sector workers. and know that three day weeks and we know that three day weeks have common. i mean, to have become common. i mean, to be fair, in parts of the private sector too, although that's going change, believe you me going to change, believe you me . but what you've uncovered here is astonishing. it's not just working from home. it's not just taking a mobile phone call on bournemouth beach. it's working from abroad and in some cases for large periods of time . give for large periods of time. give us a couple of examples of what you've found. >> so across the board , we found >> so across the board, we found 1300 examples of where council staff have been given the sign off to go and work from abroad. >> and we've seen this in places as close to places like france and spain, but further afield like and south africa and like brazil and south africa and the usa. >> they're working for the

>> and they're working for the local council. >> absolutely. so, local council. >> know, absolutely. so, local council. >> know, there ibsolutely. so, local council. >> know, there are lutely. so, local council. >> know, there are some so, you know, there are some examples like barnet, which is the where there the most egregious, where there are under instances of are just under 300 instances of people being signed off to go and work abroad. i think and work from abroad. i think local people are thinking, well, if know, filling local people are thinking, well, if potholes know, filling local people are thinking, well, if potholes under now, filling local people are thinking, well, if potholes under your filling local people are thinking, well, if potholes under your car ng local people are thinking, well, if potholes under your car and the potholes under your car and you're not in the local area feeling issues matter, feeling the issues that matter, there you going to there, how are you going to properly the job? properly do the job? >> now, it could be argued maybe they're going for they're just going for a fortnight's and in fortnight's holiday and in theory, they're theory, working whilst they're on you know, on holiday, which, you know, if there's emergency that there's a big emergency that you're involved you can be you're involved in, you can be possible. so are they going to work abroad long periods work abroad for long periods of time? key. time? that's the key. >> in croydon's >> absolutely. and in croydon's case, had one staff member case, they had one staff member who was signed off to work for 800 days abroad. think in some 800 days abroad. i think in some instances, like you say, that's that's about years. that's about four years. absolutely. absolutely so essentially sign off essentially a permanent sign off to go and work on other shores . to go and work on other shores. and i think, like you say, if there's bereavement someone there's a bereavement or someone needs abroad for needs to go abroad for treatment, got be treatment, there's got to be some of flexibility. there some sort of flexibility. there but i think it's different when it's such period of it's for such a long period of time. what we've seen time. and what we've seen is since a fold increase

since 2020, a ten fold increase in instances of people being in the instances of people being signed off to and work for signed off to go and work for 2020, a ten fold increase. >> so once again, something that was in train during the was put in train during the pandemic that hasn't been that has not been fully reversed. >> absolutely. and you mentioned again, the four day week and work from home. we see services aren't getting any better. and in terms of work from home or working we see yesterday working abroad, we see yesterday in on sunday that hmrc, in the mail on sunday that hmrc, the amount they're not the amount of calls they're not picking doubled over the picking up has doubled over the last so can see last five years. so we can see that services aren't being maintained offices which that services aren't being maintaitaxpayers:es which that services aren't being maintaitaxpayers are nthh that services aren't being maintaitaxpayers are paying for council taxpayers are paying for are empty and the staff are elsewhere selling themselves. if i was a council back there in croydon, very upset that croydon, i'd be very upset that somebody abroad somebody had worked abroad for four years. >> the state of the >> given the state of the councils is basically bust, they haven't submitted accounts this year and who who holds these people to account? i mean, we can argue with elections as they come round and in the case of these two particular areas that you've mentioned, you know, there will be assembly elections

for the london assembly next year but year, not directly, but indirectly relevant to these areas . but indirectly relevant to these areas. but who indirectly relevant to these areas . but who actually who areas. but who actually who disciplines councils? well, it's very difficult. >> so we saw with the four day week in south cambridgeshire, there's a trial going on there and outcomes have dropped and the local government minister lee said to them, you've lee rowley said to them, you've got to stop this trial. got to stop doing this trial. it's good value for council it's not good value for council taxpayers just on taxpayers and they just push on regardless because the government force to government can't force them to change patterns. change their working patterns. so yeah, it's so unfortunately, yeah, it's got to ballot box that's to be the ballot box and that's the best we can do. >> yeah. i have say, i think >> yeah. i have to say, i think council tax payers have right council tax payers have a right to pretty bloomin angry about to be pretty bloomin angry about this. barnet have answered this. now barnet have answered to taxpayers alliance and to the taxpayers alliance and i'll you listen to what they i'll let you listen to what they have say. spokesman said. have to say. spokesman said. most of our staff who have permission to access systems from so while from abroad are doing so while they're on holiday, ensuring that in case of emergency they are contactable and can deliver services for residents where the remainder have been given permission to work abroad . this permission to work abroad. this is generally in response to

specific situations. usually due to exceptional and or family circumstances. we currently have 20 permissions for remote working. a spokesman has said, well , that's their answer and well, that's their answer and i do get it in the case of, you know , an emergency or somebody know, an emergency or somebody being on call. but i think what you've uncovered here is clearly something that is very, very much bigger than that final thought before you go . it would thought before you go. it would appear that this government is engagedin appear that this government is engaged in quite a battle with the blob . i thought it was very the blob. i thought it was very interesting that the former permanent secretary at the department for education, who only retired in 2020, went on the today programme this morning to say it's rishi sunak. he's the man that didn't rebuild these school buildings. what's these school buildings. what's the code of conduct there? absolutely. >> i mean, it's shocking. and, you know, of course , people you know, of course, people should have their freedom of speech, we see civil speech, but we see civil servants often taking taking shots at ministers. mean, look shots at ministers. i mean, look what dominic what happened to dominic raab in terms turfed out

terms of how he was turfed out following the sort of quote unquote, bullying scandal. so, you think politicians, you know, i think politicians, they get back they want to get people back to their desks. want to get their desks. they want to get their desks. they want to get the out of people. and the best out of people. and often turn often the civil servants turn around and don't like it. around and they don't like it. >> they don't. great stuff, >> no, they don't. great stuff, conon >> no, they don't. great stuff, conor. really good story. i'm sure of our people busy sure many of our people busy paying sure many of our people busy paying council would paying their council tax would not happy with not be particularly happy with it, that's where. that's it, but that's where. that's where is. thank you. great where it is. thank you. great work. you . now, sadiq work. thank you. now, sadiq khan, suppose at some point he khan, i suppose at some point he was going to hit wasn't was going to hit back, wasn't he? of course, i've been he? and of course, i've been immensely critical of the ulez expansion. it will make no difference to air quality. all we're doing, frankly, is just. just taxing the poor , taxing just taxing the poor, taxing some who were self—employed and acting as sole traders , acting as sole traders, pensioners who can't afford new cars, youngsters who can't afford ulez compliant cars, all for very little benefit at all. but i'd also said that i couldn't see why he was organised using what i see as divisive events like a black day that took place last weekend in trafalgar square. better, i

would have suggested , to treat would have suggested, to treat everybody equally well . the everybody equally well. the mayor has hit back and has said, look , listen, if nigel farage look, listen, if nigel farage thinks it's a bad idea by definition it's got to be a good thing. i'm a horribly divisive, apparently . well, no, it's khan apparently. well, no, it's khan that's horribly divisive and it's all well and good to talk about celebrating diversity. but hey, the weekend before there was a massive festival that took place at notting hill . and mayor place at notting hill. and mayor khan, i'll try and tease you back to the fight, if i can. what about we hire trafalgar square next year for a 2 or 3 day extravaganza for the white people of london, or would you say they're just not proper londoners? i do wonder on saturday, lovely weather . for saturday, lovely weather. for 872 crossed the english channel and whilst it is true that given the £800 million that has been given and pledged by the british

government to france, they are intercepting more boats on their beaches. they're taking off from a wider and wider stretch of french coast boats that launched this morning from berck. have a look at a map that's now a long way west. there's no sign of any of this ending and having had a look at the long—range forecast from wednesday of this week until monday of next week, it is going to be as flat as a pancake. and you can expect well in excess of four figures to come over that period of time. no sign of it ending whatsoever . now, let's talk in a minute. low emissions. let's talk glasgow , because they've brought glasgow, because they've brought in a form of z that is far more extreme than ulez. in fact, it basically prohibits old cars from even entering the city. isn't it funny ? people talk isn't it funny? people talk about inclusion but now want to exclude those that can't afford expensive cars. but it's had no benefit for emissions at all. in fact, things are worse .

fact, things are worse. glasgow's emission

there were some that said that on gb news we'd overdone the ulez extension story. why talk so much about the edges of greater london? yeah, sure. huge population living in the south east. and the point i kept making was no, actually emission zones, congestion charges have come in. you know, bristol has done it. bath has done it. birmingham has done it. and of course glasgow has done it too. the difference is , if you think the difference is, if you think that the ulez extension is penal because we're charging pensioners £12.50 to go and see their gp, well that's as nothing to what they've done in glasgow . so if your car doesn't qualify in glasgow and you go into the city, it's £60 immediately and if you repeat offend it can be

up to £480. so basically if you're poor or old, you're now excluded by car from the city of glasgow. i find this absolutely extraordinary from politicians who endlessly talk about inclusion . but what about the inclusion. but what about the environmental impact ? now, environmental impact? now, whilst the lez scheme has not been fully in for that long, and i'll grant you that, but actually some emissions nitrous oxide , for example, has actually oxide, for example, has actually risen by 10, which kind of indicates that maybe this has far more to do with lorries and buses and actually what's happening atmospherically than it does to do with motor cars. it looks like a right old mess to me. well, joining me is neil harvey, mp for the alba for party kirkcaldy and cowdenbeath . neil, do you take my point? you know, in common with the ulez extension in london and what's happening in glasgow, you're kind of saying to people

who live outside cities , us who who live outside cities, us who perhaps don't have much access to public transport, they're living in semi—rural areas, you know , if you're poor, please know, if you're poor, please don't come here. if you've got a big job and lots of money in a nice new car, we welcome you. how fair is this? >> oh, you've hit the nail on the head. really and that is one of deep frustrations of the of the deep frustrations of the situation glasgow . you know, situation in glasgow. you know, if you were going to introduce a new scheme, a project or whatever, whilst you have that clear objective in mind, it's really important consider all really important to consider all of and of the adjacencies and consequential impacts that such a scheme might have and to have some plan in place to make sure that those impacts are managed in an equitable way. what we have in glasgow is quite the opposite of that. we've got an ideologically driven scheme that has been forced on the city. it has been forced on the city. it has driven very important charities such as those who provide food to vulnerable , ill provide food to vulnerable, ill and homeless people overnight out of the city because their vehicles cannot be adapted to

enter the city. these are charities that haven't got a huge bank balance to run off and buy a new fleet of electric vehicles. so it's not just those examples , but you're right, it examples, but you're right, it is ordinary working people who are now excluded from the centre of their own city. and it's not just to do with work. it's also if you go out socialising in the evening with buses and train services terminating earlier than at the time, people will come out of clubs, people are having to walk extended periods out of the city to go to park cars or you'll find young women walking alone at night or more deserted streets . it doesn't deserted streets. it doesn't make any sense. and even the council themselves have had to spend over £100,000, replacing vehicles in their own fleet, hiring vehicles to cover their own fleet because they weren't ready for this scheme. the fundamental problem with glasgow is it's absolutist in its nature . it takes no prisoners and it

has no flexibility and it would appear environmentally by some measures things are no better , measures things are no better, if not slightly worse. i mean, i think the probably is a bedding in period. so there will hopefully be some improvement in due course. and it's important to reflect that this is quite early days, but that doesn't vitiate the impact that this has had on some of the most vulnerable people in our society, the homeless people in the centre of glasgow and hard working people who can barely afford to run a car , never mind afford to run a car, never mind replace it with a fancy new electric vehicle. >> so interesting , very electric vehicle. >> so interesting, very similar arguments i think, to the ones that we're seeing in the rural outskirts of london, although in this extreme. this case, even more extreme. >> because it's 24 >> exactly, because it's 24 hours day as well. there is no hours a day as well. there is no time on this scheme. it is time off on this scheme. it is in constant , constantly time off on this scheme. it is in constant, constantly in place. and it's £60. >> it's brutal. neale hanvey, mp, thank you for joining me. well, joining me down the line is austin sheridan, former snp

glasgow city council leader. and austin, you know , i understand austin, you know, i understand that you were very much in favour of going in this direction on with the low emission zone , but do you take emission zone, but do you take this point out that it does actually socially exclude sued those who in many cases are at the lower income scale in society ? society? >> well, what i would say, nigel, was absolutely we need to make sure that the city centre belongs to everyone, not just those who can afford new new cars. and in terms of the scheme, supporter scheme, although i'm a supporter of and it has to be married of it and it has to be married up with some real investment and interest structure, in particular transport. i mean, glasgow has the largest suburban rail network outside london. i've got our glasgow subway, which is due to get new rolling stock this year. and then there's then there's projections over the next 30 years to be investing in a new glasgow metro system connect 1.5 million system to connect 1.5 million people. really i think it's people. so really i think it's focusing on that to make sure that people can access the city

centre . and an affordable way . centre. and an affordable way. what i do understand is that from a council perspective, what i've seen, i'm no longer a councillor from what i've seen how councillors are doing with the city centre now is they are wanting to generate and reduce cars, get into the city centre penod. period. >> yeah, but i mean the point is , you know, there are people living outside glasgow, you know, living in areas without good public transport links, perhaps slightly infirm, slightly elderly who need their car to get close to. perhaps it's an important medical appointment or perhaps it's a funeral to go to or whatever it is. i mean, to think that those people with non—compliant cars are going to be charged £60. i mean, where's the equity in that? >> so anyone who has a blue badge holder, nigel, they're exempt from the scheme. so anyone who does rely on their vehicle for mobility, etcetera,

will be able to access the city centre so that there are flexibilities and also are looking at some, you know, any scheme. nigel i think it would be, it would be wrong to say that these things shouldn't be reviewed. i know that there are some instances, you know, maybe some instances, you know, maybe some sectors where they do have to maybe look at some other exemptions in order to make sure that can be delivered . that services can be delivered. absolutely. course, we should absolutely. of course, we should be flexible when we come across, but should say common sense. but we should say common sense. nigel right. if there's a common sense and, you know, exclusion from the scheme and then the council should of course be open to that and they should and they should grant that common sense. and you know, and as , as nigel, and you know, and as, as nigel, as you know , you are creating, as you know, you are creating, but there's a lot of common sense doesn't prevail in politics. >> you are creating a huge amount of bureaucracy. i put it to you that if we were really worried about emissions rather than worrying about the age of motor cars, we look at the

annual mot test and if a car passes the emissions test, it doesn't matter how old it is . doesn't matter how old it is. >> yeah. nigel, as i say that that that would be something that that would be something that would be open to looking at. but i think fundamentally it's investment and our and our transport infrastructure. i mean, to introduce these schemes is all good and well, but it has to be married up with proper investment. and the problem is with these things that with some of these things that they place. but we they get put in place. but we can't use that as a as a way to let politicians off hook in let politicians off the hook in terms of providing proper investment. and our transport infrastructure. and for me personally, nigel, that's what we should focus more on and so that it becomes logical and to take public transport and assets are anyway and, and there wouldn't be a great desire to take your car and, and, and, and to the centre of the city and so if we invest in transport infrastructure here, i think that will go a long way to helping people. >> well, it may well, but i promise you you'll never be able

to move everybody around by pubuc to move everybody around by public transport. i thank public transport. but i thank you indeed, austin, you very much indeed, austin, for joining me on the programme forjoining me on the programme this evening thank now this evening. thank you. now we're back into the season of farage allergies. as we go around the country and do our live shows with you, the live audio and they're great fun. they're very revealing and we really do get some huge passion on local issues. interesting wherever we go, there are local issues, but they're national issues, but they're national issues as well because it doesn't matter where we live in this country very often. it's the similar things that we're talking about and debating now. our next meeting , our next event our next meeting, our next event is going to be in the county of essex in witham. yes that constituency in northern essex, where, of course, the member of parliament is the former home secretary priti patel. and what i can tell you is that priti patel will be appear sing live on that programme. now, all of

that's great stuff there is. but one problem tickets for this are going to go very, very quickly. i guarantee you we will be absolutely full with a waiting list by breakfast time tomorrow. if you want to come along and join us. my self. priti patel, a studio audience, live tv, come and ask your questions if you want to come to witham this month, go to gbnews.com for the dates, the details , the times. dates, the details, the times. we'll all be there if you want to come, you jolly well better get online. and i would say like kind of now now might be really, really useful . okay, i'm joined really useful. okay, i'm joined in the studio by jacob rees—mogg. jacob, i'm very disturbed about this energy bill being put forward tomorrow and some of the amendments that would almost criminalise us for not not getting our own private houses up to a certain standard . and it's an absolutely monstrous bill in my brief penod monstrous bill in my brief period as energy secretary, i was trying to at least defang

it, if not get rid of it altogether . altogether. >> it's going to put huge costs on the british taxpayer, £20 billion for carbon capture and storage and that's before you get on to the extra charges through energy efficiency, home making and rules and regulations may make it hard for you to sell your house. so smart metres continuing with those which ultimately will see people have higher prices. >> i hate them. >> i hate them. >> it's all about high cost. when we're in a cost of living crisis. i've put forward an amendment to propose that low cost energy should be the priority and you'll be speaking tomorrow. >> i'll speak tomorrow. >> i'll speak tomorrow. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> what a blooming good thing too, jacob, with you in just a moment. the weather. it's wonderful. it is. the wonderful. of course it is. the kids have gone back to school. i bet you this forecast is superb. >> the temperature rising . >> the temperature is rising. boxt proud sponsors of boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello. good evening . as we >> hello. good evening. as we head into tuesday, there will be a little bit of fog around

tonight , though. whilst in the tonight, though. whilst in the south—west, we can expect some strong blustery winds. but the hot and sunny weather returns as we go through tomorrow because of of high pressure of this area of high pressure dominating picture across dominating the picture across the to largely the uk, leading to largely settled weather and dragging hot air from south. air in from the south. meanwhile, at meanwhile, looking at the details through monday night, there front across the far there is a front across the far north scotland bringing some north of scotland bringing some cloud and rain to shetland. elsewhere, largely dry picture elsewhere, a largely dry picture clear but some mist and clear skies, but some mist and fog patches developing particularly north particularly towards the north and east, windier in the and the east, windier in the south—west. but many places seeing temperatures not dropping a l seeing temperatures not dropping a , generally staying a huge amount, generally staying in high teens in the mid to high teens celsius. so quite a warm night to come. bright star on tuesday morning. any mist and fog should quickly clear away and then we do have that front. i mentioned earlier, gradually pushing its way so way further southwards so turning a bit cloudier, a bit damp perhaps for in the damp perhaps for orkney in the far of mainland scotland, far north of mainland scotland, elsewhere lots of elsewhere across the uk, lots of fine sunny plenty of fine sunny weather, plenty of blue temperatures blue skies and temperatures could touch than could be a touch higher than today highs around today for some. so highs around 31 celsius. staying quite windy towards the south—west though ,

towards the south—west though, wednesday going to get to off wednesday is going to get to off a bit of a murky start for some eastern north eastern parts with some syfret around. some higher and syfret around. most will back most of that will burn back towards though the towards the coast, though the cloud could linger across the far of scotland. otherwise, far east of scotland. otherwise, though, touch though, yes, it'll be a touch cloudier than days, but cloudier than recent days, but plenty to be had and plenty of sunshine to be had and with that temperatures rising likely around wednesday likely to peak around wednesday or though the of or thursday, though, the risk of some showers , the temperatures some showers, the temperatures rising on boxt solar >> proud sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> hello. good evening . it's me, >> hello. good evening. it's me, jacob rees—mogg on state of the nation. tonight, the government's overly zealous net zero driven energy bill is to be debated for its third and final reading tomorrow evening, but it ought to be scrapped at a time of a cost of living crisis. the priority should be reducing the cost of energy. i tabled an

amendment stating exactly this, but the government so far has ignored it , but the government so far has ignored it, so i will not be supporting the bill tomorrow as the private sector tells its staff to get back to the office. the public sector is lagging. working from the beach . over the working from the beach. over the past three years, town hall bosses have granted nearly 1500 requests for overseas work . so requests for overseas work. so while you're going back to the office taking your work seriously, paying taxes , some of seriously, paying taxes, some of which or council taxes are funding extended holidays, masquerades as remote work on state of the nation. tonight, i'll be hosting our very own competition for incompetent councils in britain. we'll be taking on nominations throughout the programme . we'll also the programme. we'll also be playing of spot, the playing a game of spot, the conservative on the left, you can see a picture of the leader of the opposition who of the opposition on the man who has promised not to has just promised not to increase taxes if were to get increase taxes if he were to get into on the right, into power. but on the right, you see chancellor who you can see the chancellor who has just dampened hopes of tax cuts in the upcoming autumn budget. but the is budget. but the question is which them is the real which of them is the real conservative? and it's always

good to round off with