i >> -- >> the city kw >> the city council asks for urgent financial aid as its debts head towards £1 billion. >> but will the government bail out a labour authority .7 see and out a labour authority? see and we're on the beach as we head for a september heat record outstripping a bitter athens and los angeles . los angeles. >> but is it all too hot to handle for . handle for. some plus, we'll be putting you in the picture on how this psychological characterisation is a revelation and also parody , basically an enigma. >> that's what the artist thinks of this portrait of theresa may. >> anyway, we may have some other views. >> first, here's all your headunes >> first, here's all your headlines with tatiana . pip. headlines with tatiana. pip. >> thank you very much and good afternoon. this is the latest

from the newsroom. birmingham city council has effectively declared bankruptcy in a statement, the council said it's issued a section 114 notice which prevents all but essential spending . it says it's part of spending. it says it's part of plans to meet its financial liabilities relating to equal pay liabilities relating to equal pay claims. the council also says it's facing a financial gap within its budget currently standing in the region of £87 million. finances related to protecting vulnerable people and statutory services remain in place. however all other new spending will cease with immediate effect . the school's immediate effect. the school's minister says the government has been very proactive in dealing with the concrete crisis in schools and has been issuing guidance to schools since 2018. in speaking to gb news nick gibbs, comments come after the education secretary apologised for using strong language while expressing her frustration at the situation. both rishi sunak and gillian keegan are under growing pressure as schools across the uk have fully or partially closed. nick gibb told

us gillian keegan's comments were off the cuff . were off the cuff. >> if she was frustrated by the fact that the department for education civil servants have been working very hard in terms of dealing with race issues, we've been very proactive in deaung we've been very proactive in dealing with the rac since 2018. we've issued very detailed guidance to responsible bodies, and these are the bodies that are legally responsible for school buildings, which are the local authorities . the academy local authorities. the academy trusts dioceses , but we provide trusts dioceses, but we provide them with the best advice based on the technical advice that we get about how to either identify and monitor racks . and monitor racks. >> shadow paymaster general jonathan ashworth says the government's handling of the matter is an abdication of responsibility . responsibility. >> he i think today look, when you've got sort of roofs at risk of collapse in various various schools across the country , schools across the country, pupils really worried. you've got the education secretary expecting to be thanked and congratulated and parents across the country, teachers who work

in schools and pupils , because in schools and pupils, because some of these pupils are old enough to understand what is going on. want you to fix this and don't want any more of your saying, oh, nothing to do with me, guv. that is frankly an abdication your responsibilities. >> rishi sunak has chaired his first cabinet meeting today since before the summer recess . since before the summer recess. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has also chaired his cabinet meeting yesterday , saw cabinet meeting yesterday, saw some big changes within office, with several figures given new roles . angela rayner is the new roles. angela rayner is the new shadow deputy prime minister and levelling up secretary and pat mcfadden is national campaign coordinator as well as shadow chancellor of the duchy of lancaster . ministers are lancaster. ministers are expected to overturn the ban on onshore wind farms following pressure from the conservative mps. the government will make the announcement in the form of a written ministerial statement later today. downing street says its position hasn't changed after rishi sunak pledged to keep the onshore wind farm ban in place last october. the

changes will come into force with immediate effect , despite with immediate effect, despite retailer b&m has agreed to buy up to 51 wilko stores from administrators for £13 million. it comes nearly a month after wilko collapsed , putting wilko collapsed, putting thousands of jobs at risk across its 400 stores . retail sales, its 400 stores. retail sales, retail sales rose in august as customers spend big on self—care products to total retail sales in the uk were up 4.1% on last august, above the three month average of 3.6. that's according to the british retail consortium . health, beauty, food and drink were the strongest performing categories as kim jong un is expected to travel to russia in an armoured train to meet president vladimir putin, the nonh president vladimir putin, the north korean leader could make the trip as early as this month, near to the border between the two countries. it comes as the us claims the kremlin is attempts to acquire military equipment for its war in

ukraine. offenders are using virtual reality to groom and sexually abuse children , as well sexually abuse children, as well as share illegal images of abuse, according to new research from the nspcc. it warned offenders are being desensitised to their own behaviour because of the anonymity such spaces provide through their use of digital avatars. the nspcc has called on tech firms to do more to ensure virtual reality platforms are safe by introducing better child safety features and reporting systems . features and reporting systems. and finally, the hottest temperatures of the year could be seen this week, possibly even hotter than ibiza. the met office is predicting maximum temperatures of 32 degrees tomorrow and thursday, potentially matching the year's record during the heatwave in june. it says the uk health security agency issued a yellow alert across the whole of england. apart from the north—east from yesterday afternoon until sunday night . afternoon until sunday night. 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 it's back to markham . pip back to markham. pip >> thanks, tatiana. >> thanks, tatiana. >> you are watching the live desk and the education minister nick gibb has confirmed that rishi sunak had refused to rebuild 200 crumbling schools despite the prime minister saying it was complete and utterly wrong to blame him over the problems. >> well, in reaction, labour frontbencher jonathan ashworth saying that revelation the most startling in the crumbling school saga so far, speaking earlier on gb news the shadow paymaster general, calling the situation a shambles. i think today, look, when you've got sort of roofs at risk of collapse in various various schools across the country, pupils really worried . pupils really worried. >> you've got the education secretary expecting to be thanked and congratulated and parents across the country , parents across the country, teachers who work in schools and pupils, because some of these pupils, because some of these

pupils are old enough to understand what is going on. want you to fix this and don't want any more of your saying, oh, nothing to do with me, guv. thatis oh, nothing to do with me, guv. that is frankly an abdication of your responsibilities . your responsibilities. >> let's cross live to gb news national reporter ellie costello, who is outside one of the schools affected in essex, one of the 150 plus schools, ellie and i understand the school you're at, they have just released a statement . released a statement. >> yes. good afternoon to you both. buckhurst hill community primary school behind me, one of the 104 fully or partially closed schools in england . they closed schools in england. they have just released a statement letting us know what the situation is inside that building. they understand that rack concrete, that aerated weak concrete is present in their roof. it's affecting eight of the 14 classrooms. it's also affecting the staff room and the dining room. so you might be able to see behind me, actually the car park behind me is quite

full. that's because the teachers behind me are working around the clock try and find around the clock to try and find alternative teaching arrangements, arrangements. and in this statement, they have said that the plan is that some classes will be taught in the classrooms that are deemed safe in that main building behind me . but the other half of those classes will actually be moved to school within the to a separate school within the trust. those pupils will be trust. and those pupils will be attending a separate school in a different building . the start of different building. the start of term has actually been delayed. it meant to this last it was meant to be this last monday, but they found out last thursday that building thursday that that building behind us is deemed unsafe . behind us is deemed unsafe. therefore, they had two days to scrap gamble to find something alternative, and it looks as though term is due to start next monday . but of course that is a monday. but of course that is a delayed start of term to those children and those families . and children and those families. and it gives you a sense, doesn't it, the scramble not only of the teachers behind me, but of those children and of those parents to find care for those find alternative care for those pupils now at home for pupils who are now at home for another week. >> and ellie, do we know how far

this school and what this other school is and what the arrangements will this other school is and what the because, arrangements will this other school is and what the because, arrcourseents will this other school is and what the because, arrcourse ,1ts will this other school is and what the because, arrcourse , allnill be? because, of course, all these now have got these headteachers now have got to and find funding for all to try and find funding for all these measures . these extra measures. >> all we know from the statement, mark, is that the school is within the trust. so we can imagine that it is within the borough, within in the local academy and gillian keegan, the education secretary , he she education secretary, he she tweeted this morning saying that there would be a caseworker allocated to every single school where concrete was found and they would work to support that headteacher . so we can they would work to support that headteacher. so we can imagine those sorts of conversations are taking place in that building behind us. perhaps indicative of quite how many cars are there . quite how many cars are there. all of these cars were here before 9:00 this morning. in that case, worker will be working with that headteacher . working with that headteacher. and also gillian keegan confirmed today that that would be funded. the transport be fully funded. the transport to schools if these to those other schools if these schools and buildings do need it , this case it seems to , which in this case it seems to be the and it's so be the case and it's so difficult, ellie, isn't it? >> because you just mentioned

there the scramble at the moment, but it's already a scramble to get your kids ready for that first day of term. and yet the first they knew of this was was just several days before i >> -- >> it's an almost impossible situation version, isn't it, pip? and it's just one of the many, many questions. why were headteachers and schools finding out about this on thursday afternoon ? that's just two days afternoon? that's just two days before the start of term . it before the start of term. it comes at the end of a long six week for break these schools. i'm sure that headteachers feel very, very frustrated about the timing of all of this. as you say, a last minute scramble for the teaching staff to try and find alternative teaching arrangements. it's a very, very difficult set of circumstances and just one in a very long list of questions, which will be when exactly did the government find out about this in the first place? when it in fact did? gillian keegan the education secretary, about the secretary, know about the seriousness how

seriousness of this? how many schools are affected? we still don't have that full list yet. labour are calling for it. rishi sunak saying that that could take several weeks to get that full list out and the million dollar question at the moment seems to be where is the money coming from? the chancellor and gillian saying that gillian keegan are saying that they will will pay whatever they will they will pay whatever it get buildings it costs to get these buildings back and get those children back into school safely. but the treasury, as far as yesterday was saying that there is no new money available and it will be coming from pre—existing budgets. that seems to be the biggest question the moment, budgets. that seems to be the bi howt question the moment, budgets. that seems to be the bi how is uestion the moment, budgets. that seems to be the bi how is thision the moment, budgets. that seems to be the bi how is this all the moment, budgets. that seems to be the bi how is this all going moment, budgets. that seems to be the bi how is this all going to oment, budgets. that seems to be the bi how is this all going to beent, is how is this all going to be paid for? >> yeah, the existing capital budget indeed. >> just to update the mums >> and just to update the mums and dads there as well as those classrooms , i think problem classrooms, i think the problem also touches on the dining room and the kitchen. so there was talk that maybe those children in receipt of free school meals may have to have packed lunches. there as well . there as well. >> yes, and it's all of these

details , mark and pip, you details, mark and pip, you wouldn't even think about when you think about concrete and schools being shut. but it is things like how are pupils who are relying on things such as free school dinners going to eat 7 free school dinners going to eat ? so yes, this statement does touch upon the fact that for the coming period, they're going to have to rely on packed lunches . have to rely on packed lunches. doesn't much detail doesn't go into as much detail as to who be making those as to who will be making those packed lunches whether packed lunches, whether that will the the teachers will be the school, the teachers or whether that will fall on the responsibility of those parents. but rely but those children who do rely on school the on free school meals for the meantime cannot go into the meantime can cannot go into the dining behind it's dining room behind me as it's deemed they will be deemed unsafe. they will be relying lunches . relying on packed lunches. >> now, ellie costello in essex, thank you for that update. here to discuss more is mark francois, conservative mp for the essex constituency of rayleigh and wickford. mark is also a member of the public accounts committee. your concern 7 accounts committee. your concern ? stewart's constituency sounds like it's quite badly affected by all this in terms of the number of schools. mark. yes i've been dealing with this issue for two years because at king edmund, the school in my

constituency, we had this problem going back that time. >> and then hockley primary, unfortunately, close unfortunately, had to close because some weeks ago . because of this some weeks ago. and now i may have a few more that are affected. so if you like, i've learnt about this the hard way. >> if i could just answer ellie's question, which is the one that everyone is asking, why is all this seemingly happened at the last moment, just before the schools came back? >> the reason is this the government have known for a while that there was an issue with rakhine schools . so and the with rakhine schools. so and the national audit office cover this in their very detailed report . in their very detailed report. but so they sent out a survey, a sort of domesday book survey to all the schools and the trusts last year, asking if they had any wrac present on the basis of that. any wrac present on the basis of that . they then sent out that. they then sent out surveyors to assess the severity of it , and surveyors to assess the severity of it, and they basically put schools into three categories low risk, medium risk or high risk. what happened a little over a week ago was that a

ceiling beam fell in in a school that had previously been assessed, assessed as a low risk. so at that point, the whole system went into overdrive and they started playing very safe because ultimately this is about children's safety and double checking everything. and thatis double checking everything. and that is what led to it. so it's just the fact that that beam fell in about a week before the school, although there was a similar situation with another school where that happened back in 2018. now that's that's true. but that's why , to be fair to but that's why, to be fair to the government, they tried to do this survey of every school in england. unfortunately only about 10% of the schools haven't yet replied . but i'm sure yet replied. but i'm sure they'll now come under immense pressure to do that. but but no, but i just wanted to try and explain in layman's english why all of this appeared to happen. quotes last moment . but quotes at the last moment. but we've got nick gibb, you know, in in setting out his stall. we are the government that pointed out the warning in 2018, le.

there were worried enough in 2018 to put out a warning . 2018 to put out a warning. jonathan slater, who is the permanent secretary between 2016 and 2020 at the department of education, saying we had data that showed for hundred schools needed to have replacement work with a critical al risk to life and nick gibb acknowledging that rishi sunak basically paid for 50 of those to be addressed . i 50 of those to be addressed. i mean, we are not being told the full story, are we? well, look, we took evidence as a committee on this in july from the permanent undersecretary, susan acland—hood for the schools rebuilding programme . um has rebuilding programme. um has about 400 schools that are in the process of being rebuilt. there were about another hundred slots that, if you like, have yet to be allocated and the department strategy was to use those remaining hundred for the ones that are worst affected by rack. so far that makes sense . rack. so far that makes sense. so i think the question that's going going to be important is,

are those extra hundred slots going to be enough or is it now going to be enough or is it now going to be enough or is it now going to require far more than those which i fear it might? right. and is the treasury going to stump up? because i don't think the dfe are going to be able to afford it from their own. well, i was going to ask that, you know, we keep being told that, no, the capital budget is there and it will have to which we to be within that which we assume means there's assume then means there's going to sacrifices cuts to have to be sacrifices or cuts elsewhere to make for that. elsewhere to make up for that. well, right. to update you, the pubuc well, right. to update you, the public accounts committee, which remember, cross—party remember, is a cross—party committee hillier committee chaired by meg hillier , widely respected across the commons . we have we have a commons. we have a we have a session which was already planned this forthcoming planned for this forthcoming thursday half 9:00 to thursday morning, half 9:00 to look into racking hospitals, because that's a parallel issue , if you like, that was already programmed . we now subject to a programmed. we now subject to a few technicalities , very likely few technicalities, very likely to have a session about rack in schools next monday afternoon, probably about 3:00, 330 ish, just tying down the details and

we'll have susan acland—hood, i think back in from the dfe to then see where we've got to relative lviv to where we were in july. now the committee haven't yet published their report on this because what happens is the nao do a very forensic national audit office. thank you. yes. which is parliament's auditor, the parliament's auditor, not the government's important distinction. hold distinction. we then hold heafings distinction. we then hold hearings based on the report and we publish a report . now, we publish a report. now, i can't pre—empt the committee's report, but it's probably fair to say it's going to be pretty punchy. >> what do you think about the suggestion that this is a seismic problem for the government a year before the general election, something like this could really, really have an impact on your chances ? not an impact on your chances? not that the polls say it was. it's a great chance for you at the next election, but you know, this is what people could vote on. >> well, the biggest problem is for the children and the parents. >> you know, from my experience of having dealt with this in my

constituency , even if we just constituency, even if we just leave the politics out of it for a moment, if you're a parent and you're preparing your child for the for school term and the for the new school term and all rest and then all the rest of it, and then you're that a few days you're told that a few days notice, you may have to take weeks your weeks off work because your school are desperately trying to find alternative accommodation. in meantime , you know, in the meantime, you know, little johnny's going to have to stay at home and, you know, you're to have to back you're going to have to go back to remotely like you to doing it remotely like you did under covid. you know, that is extremely worrying . is extremely worrying. >> saying it's a vote loser. >> fi- $- e— @ but at one level, the >> well, but at one level, the problems with this have gone back for decades under governments of both colours . governments of both colours. >> so you could you have been in power since 2010. >> i understand. i understand that. and the government did have a schools rebuilding programme, i've just tried programme, which i've just tried to but i think what to explain, but i think what will have to happen is that's going to have to be speeded up and it may need it may need more resource. thing just resource. the other thing just quickly, in the commons quickly, i said in the commons yesterday, were six essex yesterday, there were six essex mps who participated because i

think there was such think because there was such growth in essex post war, many of our schools were built, as it were, in the period in question. and i was going to i think it's about 50 schools in in the county at the moment. it's about half of the schools affected are are essex. let me touch on are in essex. let me touch on something else because you have been you say, been digging deep, as you say, in the past years this. i'm in the past years on this. i'm beafing in the past years on this. i'm bearing in mind timeline in bearing in mind that timeline in a surveyors and a lot of surveyors and architects once we architects are saying once we start stripping this away, we've got problem, that's got another problem, and that's the in these the asbestos use in these schools. that's going to schools. now that's going to provide an additional problem and finance and will need additional finance as well. it might. i mean, if you go back to king edmund two years they found out there years ago, they found out there was a crack in the main school block. so they roped the main school off they school block off and they brought in some temporary classrooms . they then brought in classrooms. they then brought in a specialist contractor to take the asbestos out of done legally. yes. before they demolished it. problem was when they knocked it down, they discovered a lot of asbestos that nobody knew was there

because the block had been built. i think in the £60. so with asbestos all over the rubble and you get different colours of asbestos , they had to colours of asbestos, they had to close the entire school because it can be airborne. so now they've got in further contractors , they've completely contractors, they've completely cleared the site and now they start rebuilding the new block. actually at the end of this month. but i mean, there's a practical example. one school. yes so one of the lessons from thatis yes so one of the lessons from that is you have to be very careful if you do need to do any demolition work to understand and what's in the walls and in the ceilings before you do it. mark farnsworth , thank you very mark farnsworth, thank you very much for taking us through that. in such detail. thank you. say, in such detail. thank you. say, i explanation and the i hope the explanation and the committees, say , might be committees, as you say, might be robust response . tune robust in their response. tune in thursday and particularly in on thursday and particularly next monday. you might be back after committee meetings. after the committee meetings. thank very thank you very much. you're very kind. thank you very much. you're very kinistay with us here on gb news. >> stay with us here on gb news. we're going to be talking about birmingham city council, which has declared itself effectively bankrupt . that's following

bankrupt. that's following financial pressures over multi—million pound equal pay claims. we're back shortly . claims. we're back shortly. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello again. many of us are going to have some more hot sunshine through today, although there is the chance of another shower, particularly for northern ireland and southwest england, with some and low england, with some fog and low cloud. at the moment cloud. tonight at the moment there a front line there is a weak front line towards north of the uk that towards the north of the uk that is to bring some cloud and is going to bring some cloud and some across the far some drizzly rain across the far north of mainland scotland and perhaps orkney well. perhaps orkney as well. elsewhere bulk of the elsewhere across the bulk of the uk, plenty of sunshine, plenty of blue skies, although we do need a few showers need to cater for a few showers across parts ireland, across parts of ireland, northern perhaps northern ireland and perhaps south england later on. and south west england later on. and here the southwest, those here in the southwest, those blustery winds are going to start ease well. start to ease as well. temperatures likely to reach highs around 30 or 31 highs of around 30 or 31 celsius. so it is a heat wave for of us, particularly for some of us, particularly across as we across parts of the south as we go through the end of the day,

some cloud, some sea fog is some low cloud, some sea fog is going to push in from the north sea, parts sea, affecting eastern parts of scotland and down the eastern side well. further side of england as well. further west and south, clearer skies. but a few pockets but i'm expecting a few pockets of and fog to develop here. of mist and fog to develop here. temperatures dropping a huge temperatures not dropping a huge amount, perhaps the london amount, perhaps in the london area . temperatures stay area. temperatures could stay above tonight. so it above 20 celsius tonight. so it could be a tropical night for some us. a bit of a slow some of us. a bit of a slow start on wednesday down the eastern of the but that eastern side of the uk. but that low cloud, that sea fog should burn towards coast burn back towards the coast fairly , although down fairly quickly, although down eastern scotland , some eastern parts of scotland, some of cloud is going to linger of that cloud is going to linger well into the afternoon. otherwise cloud than otherwise a bit more cloud than we've some recent we've seen through some recent days. plenty days. but still plenty of sunshine hot again. sunshine and feeling hot again. temperatures for temperatures even higher for some of us with highs around 32 celsius. later . celsius. i'll see you later. that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers >> proud sponsors of weather on

a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news . a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news. channel >> welcome back to the live desk. some breaking news coming through from the cabinet meeting where the minister told through from the cabinet meeting whecabinet minister told through from the cabinet meeting whecabinet was'iinister told through from the cabinet meeting whecabinet was righter told through from the cabinet meeting whecabinet was right to :old the cabinet it was right to prioritise safety, to close those schools affected by the concrete crisis . as the prime concrete crisis. as the prime minister's official spokesman telling reporters, was telling reporters, there was a short update, the prime minister saying was to saying it was right to prioritise and take a prioritise safety and take a proactive approach . proactive approach. >> he added that parents should be reassured and that the vast majority of schools are not

impacted by rock and that mitigations are being put in place , making sure that face to place, making sure that face to face education is either uninterrupted or the impacts have been kept to the bare minimum. >> more reaction as we get it . >> more reaction as we get it. but let's pose the question now is birmingham bust? the city council has declared itself effectively bankrupt by going for what's called a section 114. nofice for what's called a section 114. notice it follows financial pressures over an equal pay claim. the local authority, which is the largest in europe, has issued the notice prevents all but essential spending. >> well, here to explain it all is our economics and business editor liam halligan with on the money . this is some crisis, money. this is some crisis, isn't it, for birmingham city council. i mean just put put viewers and listeners in the picture about the amount of debt that it has racked up over these equal pay claims. >> liam so birmingham, obviously britain's second city, the

biggest local authority by the amount of money it controls in europe , huge area across the europe, huge area across the west midlands, going way beyond metro . politan birmingham and metro. politan birmingham and what's happened here, as you said, is they've issued a section 114 notice. i'd be cautious about the phrase effectively bankrupt. it does mean it's a major financial red flag , though that will affect flag, though that will affect some services. let's have a look at what birmingham city council have actually said . like all have actually said. like all local authorities across the country said the leader and deputy leader of this labour run council, it's clear birmingham city council faces unprecedented financial challenges from huge increases in adult social care demand and dramatic reductions in business rates. income to the impact of rampant inflation. inflation, of course, pushes up the cost of wages that they pay. they employ lots of people. they went on to say this notice that 114 notice means all new spending with the exception of protecting vulnerable people and statutory services, must stop

immediately . the council's immediately. the council's senior officers and members are committed to dealing with the financial situation and where more information is available , more information is available, it will be shared. so what does that human speak ? pip that mean in human speak? pip it's protecting statutory services. let's be clear, it's a statutory services are and i've got a list of them here. education on waste and recycling, social care amenity management and local authorities acting as social landlords. so all those things are safe . don't all those things are safe. don't panic if you rely on those services. and i think it's really important that we make that clear. non statutory services are things like leisure , you know, building work , , you know, building work, potholes and so on. so it's the it's the addition of things that councils may say are non—essential, non, absolutely pressing, could, could feel it then. i mean they'll definitely feel it. >> could their bills be increased to tackle this? >> well, there will certainly be a push for councils to want to raise more revenue council

raise more revenue from council tax and so on. of course those council tax bands haven't been touched because no touched for decades because no one do it . and i think one dares do it. and i think there will also be pressure. this is a big moment for michael gove. local government secretary . mr levelling up because he is going to have to decide like america had to decide washington had to decide when orange county in california went bust. do you bail out birmingham city council? does a tory government to cut to the quick bail out a labour run council and especially when you look at the figures, because the liability on the equal pay claims is now up to 760 million and that's accruing at a rate of 5 to 14 million each month. >> so if nothing is done, the bill gets ever higher. >> so a lot of people in the newsroom are asking me, liam, what's this equal pay claim thing? and there's what's this equal pay claim thin much and there's what's this equal pay claim thinmuch being and there's what's this equal pay claim thin much being writteniere's what's this equal pay claim thinmuch being written about it not much being written about it at the so let me just at the moment. so let me just unpackit at the moment. so let me just unpack it a little bit back in 2012, the supreme court in this country judged that local council workers that were

predominantly in occupations that were women with respect, so say dinner ladies, for instance, working in school canteens or so on, they would be being treated unfairly because some of the tasks that were predominantly men refuse collectors, construction workers. and so on. they got bonuses . but the female they got bonuses. but the female centric occupations didn't get bonuses. and the supreme court said that was out of order and the council had to make good . the council had to make good. and the council has already paid you know, it was landed with the thick of a £1.4 billion thick end of a £1.4 billion bill. as a result of that settlement. and councils right across the country were birmingham . also, as mark and birmingham. also, as mark and i were discussing an hour before, had an issue with its it system . a new it system came in called oracle . it was the disaster. oracle. it was the disaster. often these public sector procurement it systems go belly up and end up costing much, much more because frankly they're mismanaged and it's public money and lots of people, you know, if it was a business person

implementing it in their own company, they'd make sure how much they were going to pay wearing public sector. those wearing the public sector. those things by things often fall by the wayside. so hundreds of wayside. so it is hundreds of millions pounds now that the millions of pounds now that the birmingham city council are saying they can't actually come up with. so to be clear, the government must help. it's not statutory services , it's non statutory services, it's non statutory, but it's still really serious. and the seriousness of this is shown by the fact that the government's own debt market, the national debt market, the national debt market, the national debt market, the gilts market has spiked up the cost of all government debt spiked up government debt has spiked up because investors are saying, crikey, brits up crikey, what are the brits up to? biggest count city to? their biggest count city council the biggest in europe, is in danger of going bust. so worrying times . worrying times. >> liam, thank you for that. more from you in the next hour with wilko, of course, also, another story, busy day , but another big story, busy day, but let's an update on the news let's get an update on the news headunes headlines now. tatyana is waiting . us waiting for. us >> mark, thank you very much.

it's 1233. this is the latest from the newsroom . birmingham from the newsroom. birmingham city council has effectively declared bankruptcy . in declared bankruptcy. in a statement, the council said it's issued a section 104 notice which prevents all but essential spending. it says it's part of plans to meet its financial liabilities relating to equal pay liabilities relating to equal pay claims. the council also says it's facing a financial gap within its budget currently standing in the region of £87 million. finances related to protecting vulnerable people and statutory services remain in place . however, all other new place. however, all other new spending will cease with immediate effect . the schools immediate effect. the schools minister says the government has been very proactive in dealing with the concrete crisis in schools . speaking to gb news schools. speaking to gb news nick gibbs comments come after the education secretary apologised for using strong language whilst expressing her frustration at the situation. both rishi sunak and gillian keegan are under growing pressure as schools across the uk have fully or partially closed . rishi sunak has chaired

closed. rishi sunak has chaired his first cabinet meeting today since before the summer recess . since before the summer recess. the labour leader, sir keir starmer, has also chaired his cabinet meeting yesterday , saw cabinet meeting yesterday, saw some big changes within office with several figures given new roles . angela rayner is the new roles. angela rayner is the new shadow deputy prime minister and levelling up secretary and pat mcfadden is national campaign coordinator. as well as shadow chancellor of the duchy of lancaster . discount retailer b&m lancaster. discount retailer b&m has agreed to buy up to 51 wilko stores from administrators for £13 million. it comes nearly a month after wilko collapsed , month after wilko collapsed, putting thousands of jobs at risk across its 400 stores. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com .

days from three on . gb news. days from three on. gb news. >> welcome back to the live desk. policing in northern ireland appears to be mired in a continuing crisis . this continuing crisis. this following the resignation of the chief constable simon byrne. the chair of the police federation for northern ireland, saying morale in the force has never been lower. >> it came to a head last week after a high court judge ruled that ni officers were that two psni ni officers were unlawfully disciplined for an arrest made at a troubles commemoration event in 2021. >> well, we're joined now by our northern ireland correspondent dougie beattie n belfast and

dougie. i guess the worry is for these groups, including the federation, is that the change at the top of personnel may not actually change the troubles and the difficulties that they're facing . facing. >> well, that's exactly it, mark. they see this . that's mark. they see this. that's a tonic. the problem still is there with the management, but there with the management, but the chief con, is it any wonder that he went when . acc todd that he went when. acc todd faced that committee and it was wholly embarrassing what he had to say ? the committee asked him to say? the committee asked him what would be the costs of this data leak that had gone on and he said potentially 240 . he said potentially 240. >> well, apologies, but we do have a problem there with the signal from belfast with dougie. we'll try and get a better line. but clearly, as do use

indicating despite the change at the top, the problems continue . the top, the problems continue. you will get more response from him. once we can get better communications . communications. >> so how would you feel to be wrongly accused of theft and of fraud? well, that is what happened to christopher head, who was 18 when he started working for a post office in west boldon in the north—east of england, and due to the post office's it system , time office's it system, time horizon, he was wrongly accused of those offences . of those offences. >> well, indeed, 700 others falsely charged with theft or falsely charged with theft or false accounting between 2020 14. christopher saying the implications ruined his life , implications ruined his life, affected his reputation and also lost him £100,000 in income. >> the post office it inquiry is holding a disclosure hearing today after what its chairman described as grossly unsafe , described as grossly unsafe, satisfactory disclosures by the post office. the inquiry is looking at the failings of the post office's it system that led to the problems . to the problems. >> let's get more with

christopher now, who can join us from newcastle . christopher, from newcastle. christopher, thank you very much indeed for your time here on gb news. so you've all effectively been cleared legally, but i guess the problem continue in that you've not had an apology or, you know , financial recompense in many cases. cgses. >> cases. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> i mean, the apologies come out as a as an a general broad brush, let's say. >> but there's not always had like individual apologies. and obviously the recompense for the vast majority of people hasn't even started , you know, and the even started, you know, and the ones that have, it's not the full compensation. you know, it doesn't doesn't put them back in the position that they would have been. and if they didn't count horizon. count the horizon. >> yeah. guess, know, >> yeah. and i guess, you know, damages to what it's damages as well as to what it's done your individual done to your individual reputation the stress and reputation and the stress and all the other problems associated with it . associated with it. >> yeah. i mean , as i've said >> yeah. i mean, as i've said before, we're we're asking to be tread in line with the legal precedents that have already been set, you know, court awards that are over the years for

other reputational other kinds of reputational damage. and until is done, damage. and until that is done, you your reputation you know, your your reputation is restored. and obviously you receive full compensation in receive the full compensation in order to restore you back to the position you have been in position you would have been in then. can move on then. nobody can move on with their you they're their life. you know, they're still stuck . and what we do. still stuck. and what we do. >> what are you doing with your life . life now. >> obviously trying to rebuild . >> obviously trying to rebuild. ispent >> obviously trying to rebuild. i spent a lot of time, obviously helping other people in regards with their claims against the post office and with the inquiry and obviously do another consultation work. but still, because the damage is still there from the past , it's very, there from the past, it's very, very to even move forward very hard to even move forward and part of the issue that and is part of the issue that all of you kept telling the post office what was wrong, that the system wasn't working and that it needed to be addressed. >> and you were you were just constantly ignored . constantly ignored. >> that's what it is. yeah. i mean, so many people raised the alarm over and over again and also said, well, you know , also said, well, you know, either you're the only one or it's, you know, it completely reversed. so it must be

something either you're doing wrong or . yeah, you know, so wrong or. yeah, you know, so some of the things so nobody would listen . would listen. >> mean, one thing that must, >> i mean, one thing that must, isuppose >> i mean, one thing that must, i suppose , cheer you slightly is i suppose, cheer you slightly is that the boss of the post office, he is returning his, his bonuses. office, he is returning his, his bonuses . bonus payment, isn't he bonuses. bonus payment, isn't he . which and nick read his name was and apologised for procedural and government governance mistakes that were made . well i mean, first of all, made. well i mean, first of all, we've got to look, you know why was that? >> why does the bonus need to be donein >> why does the bonus need to be done in to order cooperate with statutory inquiry ? i mean, the statutory inquiry? i mean, the fact that allowed to be fact that it was allowed to be put in place in the first place is a start. and then when you look the amount bonus, look at the amount of the bonus, which is £455,000, that is more , as we admitted at the select committee than anybody has received in compensation. so his bonus alone for one year is more than what anybody's received. and also being convicted and that to try and restore them . yeah. >> well, christopher, thank you

very much indeed for sharing your story with us. and of course, all those 700 plus others who are waiting for the sort of culmination of all this. but we can update people with a response now from a post office spokesperson who told gb news this. our sole aim is to get full and fair compensation to people as fast as we are able offers totalling over £121 million have now been made , with million have now been made, with a majority agreed and paid substantial interim payments continue in cases not yet resolved . it's been a week resolved. it's been a week already since the expansion of london's ultra low emission zone and some businesses claim they are already feeling the pinch . are already feeling the pinch. well, london reporter lisa has been speaking to the owner of a hotel that's just 100m within the ulez boundary and say that the ulez boundary and say that the policy is having a huge impact on business and staff. >> west lodge park hotel sits in

35 acres of countryside in north london. it's been a family run business for 250 years. it's also just 100m inside the ulez boundafies also just 100m inside the ulez boundaries , which the owner says boundaries, which the owner says is having a huge impact. >> we've got customers already phoning us and cancelling bookings for both bedrooms and for rest rooms and even for conference and banqueting as well. the bedroom customers , if well. the bedroom customers, if they have a non ulez compliant car, will need to pay an extra £12.50 on check in and an extra £12.50 on check in and an extra £12.50 on check out the next morning so you can do the maths. it doesn't make any sense for them to stay here. they choose a hotel outside of london and then when it comes to future bookings, we don't know what the overall impact will be. but i suspect strongly that it will be in the hundreds of thousands of pounds. i think it's worth saying that everybody is in favour of clean air. so what should have happened was that this would have been brought in

with what's called grandfathering . in other words, grandfathering. in other words, keep your car. but when you change it , then it should be change it, then it should be a better air, cleaner car and that would be perfectly reasonable . would be perfectly reasonable. what's happened instead is there's been this cut off date of the 29th of august, and suddenly everybody is scrambling around like mad. both car drivers and van drivers trying to find second hand cars that are compliant. >> but many of the staff members don't live in london and don't have cars that comply with the ultra low emission zone. so they either have to change their cars or day. that adds or pay £12.50 a day. that adds up to at least £250 a month. and as they don't live in london, they're not eligible for compensation through tfl scrappage scheme. >> some people have actually thought about changing their job because if they're on minimum wage , then it's just a too high wage, then it's just a too high an expense for the average person and some of those other people don't live in london ehheh people don't live in london either. so it's just literally a

cost to come to work. >> there is also concern that the ulez signs don't make it clear that people may have to pay clear that people may have to pay £12.50 and end up with a £180 fine. >> i mean , there's very little >> i mean, there's very little signage at all just outside of the hotel. there's one small sign. and so i definitely think people will even come into the hotel that won't even be aware that they've gone into ulez that they've gone into the ulez zone think it's zone at all. so i think it's incumbent on us as a hotel to really warn people that they need whether they're need to check whether they're compliant some compliant or not because some people be that people will not be aware that they've into zone. they've gone into the zone. >> the mayor london expanded >> the mayor of london expanded ulez air ulez in august to tackle air pollution with many pollution. but with so many costs rising , many businesses costs rising, many businesses like this one are why like this one are asking why wasn't more notice or help given to those who need it? lisa hartle gb news, london. >> well, when we, uh, when he spoke to gb news last week, sadiq khan, mayor of london strongly defended the expansion of ulez , saying he did it to of ulez, saying he did it to protect children's health. >> i'm always sorry for anybody who's, you know, suffering

adverse consequences because of our policies, but at the same time , i've got to be honest with time, i've got to be honest with people and say i've been meeting bereaved mums who's lost their children because of air pollution . i've been a pollution. i've been meeting a paediatrician who works paediatrician today who works with mums who are pregnant and suffering consequences suffering the consequences because pollution and because of air pollution and babies who are born suffering the consequences. met today the consequences. i've met today a who runs an asthma a doctor who runs an asthma clinic , but also i visited great clinic, but also i visited great ormond street, the in—patient ward at the children's evelina hosphal ward at the children's evelina hospital. i met scientists, health practitioners and others, and that's why i'm angry that the government is letting down london and the south east. >> now schools are back and you may be considering a bit of a last minute getaway to the mediterranean. other things have calmed down a bit . you may want calmed down a bit. you may want to it on hold because we in to put it on hold because we in the uk could be seeing the hottest temperature of the year so this week. yes in so far this week. yes in september, temperatures are set to soar to 32 degrees tomorrow and thursday. >> that potentially matches the year's record of 32.2 celsius in

june. that would mean that we're hotter than ibiza , athens, even hotter than ibiza, athens, even los angeles . los angeles. >> but already the uk health security agency issuing yellow alerts for heat across the whole of england, apart from the north—east, in place until next monday. so well , enjoy monday. so well, enjoy yourselves, but not too much. maybe is the message. let's go live to devon and john, our southwest reporter . live to devon and john, our southwest reporter. i'm live to devon and john, our southwest reporter . i'm jeff southwest reporter. i'm jeff moody. are you on alert there, jeff ? jeff? >> yes, it's very hot , but it's >> yes, it's very hot, but it's pretty enjoyable to be honest. i think . we're doing well today. think. we're doing well today. >> we've just got to. jeff we've just got to break up in the signal yet again. but we can just update you actually on that heat alert because as there is now an amber alert in place, it's been upgraded today for much of england because of those high temperatures. >> so in eight of england's nine regions, there is now an amber

warning and it's the northeast of england only now that has a yellow one. now, this is issued by the uk health security agency . and what it means is that people of all ages could be affected . and if they're affected. and if they're affected, then that could put the nhs at risk. hot conditions also likely to be felt in wales and parts of scotland and northern ireland could see unseasonably high temperatures. so if you love it, then you really don't need to go abroad at the moment and it's tropical apparently, or it could be. >> that's when it gets above 20 celsius overnight because of the heat during the day , it's heat during the day, it's estimated that those temperatures could stay pretty warm overnight . i know it's warm overnight. i know it's uncomfortable for many , but it uncomfortable for many, but it does mean that, yes , britain does mean that, yes, britain will be tropical in september and that's official . the pirates and that's official. the pirates are arriving. blimey. even they think it's like the caribbean. yeah at some speed it is absolutely glorious. >> but of course you do have to without sounding like your

mother here, you do have to take care in slap sun cream care in it. slap that sun cream on. your dogs do not on. watch your dogs do not walk your in heat of the day your dogs in the heat of the day because it is very, very difficult for them, especially with those hot pavements and it's such a surprise, isn't it? because as for much of the summer, it's just felt very cool, very wet , and we summer, it's just felt very cool, very wet, and we didn't really feel like we've had much of a summer. but the weather is certainly making up for now . certainly making up for it now. parts of southern western england could be seeing temperatures overnight above 20 celsius. according to the met office. that's 68 f. but these these high temperatures are really being felt across the uk and we will be bringing you more about it in the next hour or so. >> i'm afraid jeff's melted so we can't get back to apologies for, oh, he's gone to get ice cream. yeah, all the equipment's melted, the two. melted, either one or the two. anyway apologies that. we anyway apologies for that. we will update you from will try and update you from that beach devon the next that beach in devon in the next houn that beach in devon in the next hour, we will cracks, hour, as we will in the cracks, continuing in the continuing to show in the government's facade over for the

crumbling schools. all the latest coming with us latest coming up. stay with us here on gb news. >> the temperature's rising . >> the temperature's rising. boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello again. many of us are going to have some more hot sunshine through today, although there is the chance of a shower, particularly for northern ireland and southwest england with fog and low cloud. with some fog and low cloud. tonight at the moment there is a weak front line towards the north of the uk that is going to bfing north of the uk that is going to bring and some bring some cloud and some drizzly far drizzly rain across the far north mainland scotland and north of mainland scotland and perhaps orkney as well . perhaps orkney as well. elsewhere the of the elsewhere across the bulk of the uk , plenty sunshine, uk, plenty of sunshine, plenty of blue skies, although we do need cater for few showers need to cater for a few showers across ireland , across parts of ireland, northern ireland perhaps northern ireland and perhaps southwest and southwest england later on. and here southwest , those here in the southwest, those blustery winds are going to start to ease as well. temperatures likely to reach highs around 31 highs of around 30 or 31 celsius. so it is a heat wave for some of us, particularly across parts of the south as we go end of the day, go through the end of the day, some low cloud, sea fog is

some low cloud, some sea fog is going push in the north going to push in from the north sea, affecting parts sea, affecting eastern parts of scotland. the eastern scotland. and down the eastern side of england as well. further west skies. west and south, clearer skies. but expecting a few pockets but i'm expecting a few pockets of mist and fog to develop here. temperatures not dropping a huge amount, perhaps the london amount, perhaps in the london area. temperatures stay area. temperatures could stay above celsius tonight. it above 20 celsius tonight. so it could tropical night for could be a tropical night for some us. a bit of a slow some of us. a bit of a slow start on wednesday down the eastern side of the uk. but that low cloud that sea fog should burn back towards the coast fairly although down fairly quickly, although down eastern parts scotland, some eastern parts of scotland, some of that going linger of that cloud is going to linger well into the afternoon. otherwise than otherwise a bit more cloud than we've some recent we've seen through some recent days. of days. but still plenty of sunshine feeling hot again. sunshine and feeling hot again. temperatures even higher for some of with highs around some of us with highs around 32 celsius. i'll see you later. >> the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news i. on. gb news i. >> john gb news because i was sick and tired of not hearing my views being represented, not just mine, but so many people

that i knew and spoke to. >> i just couldn't get my voice out there. i couldn't say anything. >> couldn't do anything. >> i couldn't do anything. whatever the narrative was, i kind had to follow kind of had to follow it. >> there to provide a >> gb news is there to provide a voice those have been voice for those who have been ignored by establishment media. >> we think different things. we've different style . we've got a different style. >> a gb news is here to be optimistic and positive about the . the future. >> it's real kind of dynamic and flowing with the audience very much at the of it. like a much at the heart of it. like a big family. >> here at gb news, we talk >> we here at gb news, we talk about that matter to you. >> hearing the from right >> hearing the voices from right across our towns and cities , across our towns and cities, especially our towns, all sides of the argument represented with a heavy dose of opinion. >> we're on a mission here to make a difference. >> and the gb news family really is here for you. >> and whatever time of day you can watch listen , britons can watch or listen, britons watching, watching . watching, britons watching. >> we're proud to be gb news, the people's channel. >> britain's news channel. join me camilla tominey on sunday mornings from 930. taking the

politics, lessons to task and breaking out of sw1 to see how their decisions are affecting you across the uk. first thing the westminster bubble. every sunday morning only on gb news. the people's channel. britain's watching . watching. >> i'm andrew doyle. >> i'm andrew doyle. >> join me at 7:00 every sunday night for free speech nation, the show where i tackle the week's biggest stories in politics and current affairs with the help of my two comedian, panellists and a variety special guests . variety of special guests. >> free nation sunday >> free speech nation sunday nights from 7:00 on gb news. the people's channel. britain's news channel. >> what you get for breakfast is something that if we do our jobs right, you will wake up to news that you didn't know the night before. >> it's a conversation. it's not just me and eamonn. >> we want to get to know you and we want you to get to know us it's breakfast us from 6:00. it's breakfast with eamonn and isabel monday to thursdays gb news, britain's thursdays on gb news, britain's

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channel well. good afternoon. >> it is 1:00, and you're with the live desk here on gb news. coming up this tuesday lunchtime , more cracks appear in the government's facade. >> schools minister nick gibb confirming that when he was chancellor, rishi had chancellor, rishi sunak had refused to rebuild 200 crumbling schools . that's despite sunak schools. that's despite sunak saying it was completely and utterly wrong to blame him for

the crisis . the crisis. >> is birmingham bus at the city council asks for urgent financial aid as its debts head towards £1 billion, but will the government bail out a labour authority ? authority? >> amber heat health alert issued for most of england warning of significant impacts on the nhs? yes we're heading for a nice september. for plus we're putting you in the picture on how this psychological characterisation is a revelation and also paradoxically, an enigma that is what the artist thinks of this theresa may portrait . theresa may portrait. >> we may have some other views first, but here's all your headunes first, but here's all your headlines with tatiana . pip.

headlines with tatiana. pip. >> thank you. it's 1:01. headlines with tatiana. pip. >> thank you. it's1:01. this is the latest from the gp newsroom birmingham city council has effectively declared bankruptcy in a statement, the council said it's issued a section 114 notice which prevents all but essential spending . it says it's part of spending. it says it's part of plans to meet its financial liabilities relating to equal pay liabilities relating to equal pay claims. the council also says it's facing a financial gap within its budget currently standing in the region of £87 million. finance is related to protecting vulnerable people and statutory service remain in place. however all other new spending will cease with immediate effect . the schools immediate effect. the schools minister says the government has been very proactive in dealing with the concrete crisis in schools and has been issuing guidance to schools since 2018. speaking to gb news, nick gibbs comments come after the education secretary apologised for using strong language while expressing her frustration at the situation in both rishi sunak and gillian keegan are under growing pressure as schools across the uk have fully

or partially closed , nick gibb or partially closed, nick gibb told gb news gillian keegan's comments were off the cuff . comments were off the cuff. >> she was frustrated by the fact that the department for education civil servants have been working very hard in terms of dealing with race issue. we've been very proactive in deaung we've been very proactive in dealing with rac since 2018. we've issued very detailed guidance to responsible bodies and these are the bodies that are legally responsible for school buildings , which are the school buildings, which are the local authorities , the academy local authorities, the academy trusts diocese , but we provide trusts diocese, but we provide them with the best advice based on the technical advice that we get about to how identify and monitor shadow paymaster general jonathan ashworth says the government's handling of the matter is an abdication of responsibility . responsibility. >> he i think today look, when you've got sort of roofs at risk of collapse in various various schools across the country , schools across the country, pupils really worried. you've got the education secretary expecting to be thanked and

congratulated and parents across the country, teachers who work in schools and pupils , because in schools and pupils, because some of these pupils are old enough to understand what is going on. want you to fix this and don't want any more of your saying, oh, nothing to do with me, guv. that is frankly an abdication of your responsibilities. >> ministers are expected to overturn the ban on onshore wind farms following pressure from conservative mps . the government conservative mps. the government will make the announcement in the form of a written ministerial statement later today. downing street says its position hasn't changed after rishi sunak pledged to keep the onshore wind farm ban in place last october. the changes will come into force with immediate effect discount retailer b&m has agreed to buy up to 51 wilko stores from administrators for £13 million. it comes nearly a month after wilko collapsed , month after wilko collapsed, putting thousands of jobs at risk across its 400 stores. retail sales rose in august as

customers spend big on self—care products . total retail sales in products. total retail sales in the uk were up 4.1% on last august , above the three month august, above the three month average of 3.6, according to the british retail consortium. health, beauty, food and drink were the strongest performing categories . social media giant categories. social media giant tiktok is attempting to allay fears over its links to china as it opens its first data centre in europe . the centre in dublin in europe. the centre in dublin is the first of three in europe to be built and will house data from tiktok users from across europe, including the uk. tiktok's owned by chinese firm bytedance. but has long said it doesn't share information with china. critics, however , fear it china. critics, however, fear it could be compelled to hand over data to beijing . kim jong un is data to beijing. kim jong un is expected to travel to russia in an armoured train to meet president vladimir putin. the nonh president vladimir putin. the north korean leader could make the trip as early as this month near to the border between the two countries. it comes as the us claims the kremlin is

attempting acquire military attempting to acquire military equipment for its war in ukraine. in an offenders are using virtual reality to groom and sexually abuse children as well as share illegal images of abuse, according to new research from the nspcc. it warned offenders of being desensitised to their own behaviour because of the anonymity such spaces provide through their use of digital avatars . the nspcc has digital avatars. the nspcc has called on tech firms to do more to ensure virtual reality platforms are safe by introducing better child safety features and reporting systems . features and reporting systems. now, the hottest temperatures of the year could be seen this week, possibly even hotter than ibiza. the met office is predicting maximum temperatures of 32 degrees tomorrow and thursday , potentially matching thursday, potentially matching the year's record during the heatwave in june. it says the uk health security agency issued a yellow alert across the whole of england, apart from the north—east from yesterday afternoon until sunday night .

afternoon until sunday night. you're with gb news across the uk on tv , in your car, on uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. now it's back to malcolm . pip now it's back to malcolm. pip >> tatianna, thank you very much indeed for updating us on that. well, things hotting up for the government. it seems . the government. it seems. the education minister, nick gibb, confirming that rishi sunak had refused to rebuild 200 crumbling schools despite the prime minister saying it was completely and utterly wrong to blame him for the crisis when he was chancellor >> labour frontbencher jonathan ashworth has said the revelation was the most startling thing of the crumbling school saga . the crumbling school saga. speaking earlier on gb news, the shadow paymaster general called the situation a shambles . the situation a shambles. >> i think today look, when you've got sort of roofs at risk of collapse in various various schools across the country, pupils really worried . you've pupils really worried. you've got the education secretary expecting to be thanked and

congratulated and parents across the country , teachers who work the country, teachers who work in schools and pupils, because some of these pupils are old enough to understand what is going on. want you to fix this and don't want any more of your saying, oh, nothing to do with me, guv. that is frankly an abdication of your responsibilities . responsibilities. >> well, mark francois, who is a conservative mp and an essex constituency, the county that's worst affected, and also a member of the public accounts committee , told us. the question committee, told us. the question now is whether the department of education has the budget to carry out all the works . i've carry out all the works. i've been dealing with this issue for two years. we took evidence as a committee on this july from committee on this in july from the permanent under—secretary, susan acland—hood . the schools susan acland—hood. the schools rebuilding programme . has about rebuilding programme. has about 400 schools that are in the process of being rebuilt and there were about another hundred slots that if you like, have yet to be allocated . and the to be allocated. and the department strategy was to use those remaining 100 for the ones

that are worst affected by rack. so, so far that makes sense. i think the question that's going going to be important is, are those extra 100 slots going to be enough or is it now going to require far more than those which i fear it might? right. and is the treasury going to stump up so many questions about this? >> let's cross live to gb news national reporter ellie costello, who's outside one of the schools in essex that has been worst affected. we say worst affected, ellie. it is completely shut, isn't it, till next week . next week. >> yes, it is. good afternoon to you both. buckhurst hill community primary school behind me is fully closed . in fact, me is fully closed. in fact, term start has been delayed by a week . it was term start has been delayed by a week. it was meant to open this monday . pupils were meant to be monday. pupils were meant to be welcomed back . usually this welcomed back. usually this would be a bustling area, would probably hear children on probably hear children out on their lunchtime break. that's

not the case because term time has been delayed by a has actually been delayed by a week. they're not coming back until and even when until next monday. and even when they come back, it's going to they do come back, it's going to look very , very different. look very, very different. that's rack that air that's because rack that air rated weaker concrete has been found in the roof of that main building that you can see behind me. and the school have released a statement in the past few hours detailing exactly what they understand to be the situation in that building so far. it is that eight of the 14 classrooms have rack in them. also, the staff room, the dining room, parts of the kitchen in, and some of the children's toilets. so in this statement and they've also sent a letter out to parents as well, they detailed that classes will resume in the classrooms that are deemed safe in that building. but for the other classes, they will actually go to a separate building, another school within the trust. and those children will be taught in a separate school until the building behind us can be deemed as safe. so this does just

highlight, doesn't it, the scramble not only for the headteacher and the teachers that are in that building now behind us, coming up with alternative teaching arrangements, but also for the parent of those children who are meant to be back in school, they'll be looking for that extra care and probably additional teaching this week , additional teaching this week, perhaps even back to teaching from home, just as they were used to in the lockdowns. yeah and the question, of course, for the headteacher in terms of having to get the school transport to get to another campus is packed lunches, then we're told for kids who have school free school lunches because the kitchen will be closed. >> and as we heard from mark francois, serious questions now about the department of education and how much money it's got to help out all these schools . schools. >> mark, there are just so many questions , aren't there, questions, aren't there, surrounding this. you can imagine what a headache it has been for the headteachers finding out on thursday afternoon that schools wouldn't be able to open on monday if

rack was found in these buildings. it's particular really bad here in essex , where really bad here in essex, where 56 of the 156, i think it's 65 sorry, 65 schools of the 156 that have been identified so far are in essex alone. that's a third of the schools on the list are in the one county of essex . are in the one county of essex. they'll be headteachers here that are really, really scrambling and struggling to find those alternative arrangements . as gillian keegan, arrangements. as gillian keegan, the education secretary , she has the education secretary, she has tweeted, saying that there is going to be a caseworker for an individual caseworker given to every single school that has found rack within its building. and they will be offering that support to headteachers so we can imagine those sorts of conversations are taking place in that building behind us, and they have had to come up with other arrangements, such as sending pupils to a sending some pupils to a different school within the trust. but it does come down to, doesn't such as doesn't it, the details such as what happens to the students that rely on free school meals

within statement , we know within this statement, we know that those those students are going to be fed by a packed lunch. we're not sure whether that to the parents that goes down to the parents that goes down to the parents that has be that additional cost has to be handed or whether handed on to them or whether that to down the that does come to down the teachers. but it does highlight, doesn't mark pip, that doesn't it, mark and pip, that for schools for vulnerable students, schools aren't place of learning. aren't just a place of learning. this a safe space where they this is a safe space where they know they'll looked after , know they'll be looked after, they will be fed and they will be cared for. and the reality is that up and down the country now, students now, those vulnerable students don't that safe space which don't have that safe space which is a school so very, very challenging time for those children and for those parents. and as you say, for mark francois, as he highlighted there, the biggest question will be how long will it be before these students can come back into school? and who is going to stump up the cash? because as far as it stands at the moment, the treasury there is no the treasury says there is no extra cash available. and this is coming pre—existing is coming from pre—existing budgets . budgets. >> ellie, as ever, thank you for updating us. as we see some of those staff members going in and

out with the furrowed brows, at the very least, thank you very much for updating us. back to you later. course , you a little later. of course, labour leader sir keir starmer has said he has the strongest possible players on the pitch following a reshuffle that's aimed at preparing labour for government. >> well, let's blow the whistle now on the team parading for the cameras this morning. >> five special advisers under blair. so definitely blair wright's houses . starmer wright's houses. starmer compared to team sunak as parliament gets under way this yean parliament gets under way this year, let's get more of our political editor, christopher hope and add. chris, i suspect there'll be a few professional fouls on the pitch when it all starts, so at least there'll be hacking each other tomorrow at prime minister's questions >> yeah, definitely . you've got >> yeah, definitely. you've got you can have two more symbolic images of two different parties today. you've got keir starmer meeting his new shadow cabinet team telling them there that his new team has been chosen for the hunger in the run up to the next

general election . he said this general election. he said this to them. you are you are around this table because of your commitment, your talent, your hungen commitment, your talent, your hunger, as i said, and because you that up you wanted a team that wakes up every morning to rise to the challenges that our country faces, to improve it faces, determined to improve it for against for the better, set that against rishi sunak's group sitting there discussing crumbling school buildings. you couldn't have a better , i think, image have a better, i think, image there of the two different parties and their fortunes in the polls at the moment . the polls at the moment. >> and sorry, mark, you carry on. >> i was just going to say and in terms of what's happened so far on the schools, i mean, the question you're posing yesterday on monday, should labour have just gone on an all out attack rather than sort of putting their house in order first? their own house in order first? >> well, labour are going to try and the idea had been to do an opposition day debate in the house of commons to force mps to vote whether to release vote on whether to release the details infested details of the 156 rac infested schools as but i think that's almost going to be overtaken by

events . i'm expecting the dfee , events. i'm expecting the dfee, the department of education to pubush the department of education to publish the list tomorrow. by friday 15, the remaining 1500 schools built between 1940 and 1990 will reported back whether they've got this r rated concrete. so we are moving towards , well, the beginning of towards, well, the beginning of the end game. but there are statements in parliament today showing that the nhs won't have removed all rack until somewhere after in the next decade, after 2030. so this is not going to end any time soon. this issue of aerated concrete. but i think the government is slowly but surely getting a grip on it. of course, the frustration of the education secretary, gillian keegan i think i think part of it knows it's been it was that she knows it's been an that's been around an issue that's been around since labour power in since labour were in power in the mid 90s and early 2000, but it's on watch. it's exploded it's on her watch. it's exploded into political issue and also, into a political issue and also, chris, it was interesting to read about the concern gives their cabinet. >> i know they seem to be mired in problems at the moment but interestingly kemi badenoch she

now tops a poll by conservative home the most admired member of cabinet that was a position that was held by ben wallace. of course . coui'se. >> course. >> that's right . course. >> that's right. she's on 52, 59.and >> that's right. she's on 52, 59. and that's despite she's had some mixed press recently. she she's had to admit they couldn't get rid of several thousand eu regulations by christmas. that's one of the pledges that richard tice rishi sunak said would happen back in january. yeah, but she's riding high at 59. it's a survey of around 700 tory party members. so it's a very limited group of people and it's only people who really care about the machinations of the tory party. but even so, we are looking into a period of time when back in when people are back here in westminster. when people are back here in westminsteer sunak's questioning mr sunak's leadership, why he's not setting out for his as out a vision for his his time as prime minister in that same poll, down minus 3.8% of poll, he's down to minus 3.8% of 20 points since the summer. so there's a feeling by some tories ispeak there's a feeling by some tories i speak to that the summer to reset his administration has been a wasted opportunity. they didn't reshuffle after the by

elections in july. they didn't reshuffle fully last week , just reshuffle fully last week, just three people moved moved jobs when wallace the when wallace left the government. moment, government. the big moment, we're told now by team sunak is to after the party to wait till after the party conferences before the king's speech on 7th of november. so mid october , a major reshuffle mid october, a major reshuffle is planned when they're to going bfing is planned when they're to going bring lots of people bring in lots of people from 2019. these characters who 2019. these new characters who are elected and a third of the party elected in 2019, they'll be to try and give be brought in to try and give the of hope, optimism the idea of hope, optimism around sunak. the idea of hope, optimism around sunak . but of course, around sunak. but of course, keir starmer will be a month into his new team. he's got a head start. >> and talking of hope and optimism , well, hope and optimism, well, hope and portraits , because you were at portraits, because you were at this unveiling of the theresa may portrait yesterday, described by the artist as a psychological character ization, a revelation and also, paradoxically, an enigma. is that what you made of it? >> yeah, i was. i was one of two journalists in the room for a privileged person. and of course, gb news gets into the

best places in westminster. mark but yeah, i was there watching the unveiling of this portrait. i you're seeing it i don't know if you're seeing it on screen now, but face is on screen now, but that face is a face usually when a face she usually gives me when i difficult to i do a difficult question to her, but said she's her, but she, she said she's happy with it and i think that does symbolise theresa may. i think she's got she's got a book out next week and she's she was, you know , some would say that you know, some would say that she was she's someone who has done her best by constituent . done her best by constituent. she's still a backbench mp and even even in the worst times of those brexit dramas that we all for covered as journalists. she went back at the weekend and then served food for the local, local old people , and she's been local old people, and she's been someone totally rooted in parliament ain't and hasn't got much time for any kind of flummery or messy around. but she did make some good jokes last described how last night. she described how her hair she couldn't change her hairstyle year it hairstyle for a year because it took to the took so long to paint the painting stuck with the painting. so she stuck with the same hair. no, but she's she's good fun in private , we don't good fun in private, we don't often it, i'm afraid to say often see it, i'm afraid to say that will is the that that painting will is the pubuc

that that painting will is the public of theresa public face of theresa may >> and to featured in >> okay. and to be featured in our no less, our portcullis house, no less, christopher , thank you for christopher, thank you for taking through that. christopher, thank you for tak that'sthrough that. christopher, thank you for tak that's right.ih that. christopher, thank you for tak some right.ih that. christopher, thank you for tak some veryt.ih that. christopher, thank you for tak some very funny that. christopher, thank you for tak some very funny comments >> some very funny comments about about the portrait. one person she looks haunted by person said she looks haunted by the by the ghost of brexit past. yeah. >> or maybe haunted by what's happening to the schools budget and the education budget . it is and the education budget. it is and the education budget. it is a bit severe , i have to say, however. >> yeah, she does look a little, a little glum and echoes of the infamous graham sutherland portrait of winston churchill. >> maybe that was eventually burned by that former prime minister. however hey, if she likes it, it doesn't matter what the rest of us think . the rest of us think. >> stay with us here on gb news, a rather scary international double act. vladimir putin and kim jong un. more on that shortly . shortly. >> looks like things are heating up . boxed boilers, proud up. boxed boilers, proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> hello again . many of us are

>> hello again. many of us are going to have some more hot sunshine through today, although there is the chance of a not shower, particularly for northern ireland and west england with some fog and low cloud tonight . at the moment cloud tonight. at the moment there front line there is a weak front line towards of the uk that towards the north of the uk that is going to bring some cloud and some drizzly rain across the far north scotland and north of mainland scotland and perhaps as well. perhaps orkney as well. elsewhere the bulk of the elsewhere across the bulk of the uk, plenty of sunshine, plenty of we do of blue skies, although we do need cater a few showers need to cater for a few showers across parts ireland, across parts of ireland, northern perhaps northern ireland and perhaps south—west england later and south—west england later on. and here the south—west, those here in the south—west, those blustery winds are going to start ease as well . start to ease as well. temperatures likely reach temperatures likely to reach highs around 30 or 31 highs of around 30 or 31 celsius. so it is a heat wave for us, particularly for some of us, particularly across of south as we across parts of the south as we go through the end of the day, some low clouds, some sea fog is going to in from the north going to push in from the north sea, affecting eastern parts of scotland eastern scotland and down the eastern side well. further side of england as well. further west and south, clearer skies. side of england as well. further wes'i'md south, clearer skies. side of england as well. further wes'i'm expecting.earer skies. side of england as well. further wes'i'm expecting aarer skies. side of england as well. further wes'i'm expecting a few skies. side of england as well. further wes'i'm expecting a few pockets but i'm expecting a few pockets of and fog to develop here. of mist and fog to develop here. temperatures not dropping a huge amount, perhaps the london

amount, perhaps in the london area. temperatures stay area. temperatures could stay above celsius tonight. so it above 20 celsius tonight. so it could tropical for could be a tropical night for some of us. a bit of a slow start on wednesday down the eastern side of the uk. but that low cloud, that sea fog should burn coast burn back towards the coast fairly , although down fairly quickly, although down eastern scotland , some eastern parts of scotland, some of that cloud is going to linger well into the afternoon. otherwise cloud than otherwise a bit more cloud than we've some recent we've seen through some recent days. but still plenty of sunshine again. sunshine and feeling hot again. temperatures even higher for some highs around 32 some of us with highs around 32 celsius. see later . celsius. i'll see you later. >> looks like things are heating up . boxed boilers proud sponsors up. boxed boilers proud sponsors of weather on .

a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news . a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news. channel >> well, welcome back to the live desk. now, as russia's international isolate appears to grow ever deeper following the invasion of ukraine, vladimir putin reportedly preparing to entertain one remaining friend, at least north korea's kim jong ui'i. >> un. >> the pair could meet in russia as early as this month and are expected to discuss the possibility of north korea selling moscow its weapons to support the ongoing conflict in ukraine. that is despite pyongyang previously saying it would not do so. >> let's discuss it further with defence editor at the evening standard, robert fox, joining us in the studio. robert, you're very welcome. we gather there's going to be an armoured train on leaving from platform one fairly

soon, heading for this meeting . soon, heading for this meeting. and it's extraordinary in three quarters. no, no, exactly . he quarters. no, no, exactly. he likes trains. >> he likes armoured trains. >> he likes armoured trains. >> i don't think the same thing can be said for the tsar of all the russia's vladimir putin in its speculated it will be vladivostok where they have met again i don't know be quite a train journey won't it. yeah but the thing to speculate about putin is how far for how long can he go from moscow while because of his health, because of the because of the health of his of russian internal politics. so there's that. and it's what they want from each other, which is going to be quite , quite intriguing. quite, quite intriguing. >> it's quite , quite a desperate >> it's quite, quite a desperate throw of the dice for putin, this one. >> and it's an unusual trip, isn't it, for kim jong un, who rarely leaves north korea, almost never. rarely leaves north korea, almost never . absolutely almost never. absolutely >> we know that the economists of both countries, particularly

nonh of both countries, particularly north korea , is in a dire state north korea, is in a dire state near starvation, reports , and near starvation, reports, and they want help. what will he want from putin? >> does he want rubles? well, the rubles crashing through the floor, as we know , or will he floor, as we know, or will he want assistance with his own weapons program? and i think this is the real danger of this, that they're both interested in these hypersonic many times speed of missiles like the kinsale, which was supposed to be the knockout blow which the russians have used . russians have used. >> and it's not been quite as effective as far as i can make out as they said. in fact, the both the ukrainians and the americans said they'd been able to knock knock them down. >> that's a real danger. >> that's a real danger. >> the other real danger, i would suspect, is the reliability of north korean munitions. it's not their main selling point, if i could put it like that. and if there's an overshot it and you're hitting and they're bombing, you know, the delta , the danube delta, and the delta, the danube delta, and you're hitting romania and you

could hit poland and you could hit the military, then it gets a really big problem. >> indeed . >> indeed. >> indeed. >> and how how will china react to this? because china's been very careful to not be too outspoken about it, ukraine, but but how will they feel about nonh but how will they feel about north korea? >> there are two views of this that china says , oh, thank god that china says, oh, thank god somebody else is taking on the enormous problem which it is for them , refugees and so on. and them, refugees and so on. and very, very unstable of north korea, which borders them over to russia . but beijing has been to russia. but beijing has been increasingly worried about the instability of russia and the behaviour of russia over ukraine because it doesn't like an ongoing point of instability. in other words , an open ended war, other words, an open ended war, which it's beginning to look like when you get even respected. conservative i mean that intellectually conservative commentators like general richard barrons, who really does know his stuff , suspecting that know his stuff, suspecting that the war is going on. well into

2025. now, this is not what the chinese want at all, because they've got to bump up trade . they've got to bump up trade. >> they've got to you know, they've got to play the frenemy game with the global with the global economy because the signs are that things are not good with the chinese economy . it's with the chinese economy. it's very complex. it is a game of, pardon the pun, of chinese boxes. but the point is , russia boxes. but the point is, russia is desperate for ammunition, particularly artillery, ammunition and probably artillery barrels. and that is telling you what is really going on in this battle with ukraine. there trying to throw mass weight at numbers, lots of people hugely sacrificed, nearly 300,000 killed and injured. now of russian , 4000 tracked, heavy of russian, 4000 tracked, heavy armoured tracked vehicles, big carriers and tanks lost. that's a pretty bad record. and actually it's on an edge again, the next 3 or 4 months, ukraine

has to get through to the winter. russia has got to show that it can hold the line. and it's got two problems. this news of a sort of breakthrough in zaporizhia. and it's incredibly vulnerable, vulnerable in crimea i >> -- >> yeah. and that's going to be the key, i guess, in terms of access to the black sea. the grain exports, the oil coming in and so on and so forth. so what's the white house going to do it going to sit do on this? is it going to sit there and and see there and watch and wait and see what's to happen, or is what's going to happen, or is it going imposing new sanctions? >> i think you wouldn't want me to say this, but in a funny way, it's more important what europe, the allies nato and the european allies in nato and including very much the uk is doing because they show that they're more capable of a long view. >> i don't know whether you've been following the commentary left, right, liberals and the republicans. it's let's close down on this. we don't want this in the election year. people around biden are saying that the people who spotted this first out have been talking to the brits, the germans and the nordics and the french about

this is kyiv and that's why zelenskyy and zaluzhny, who is very important, the chief of staff, are preparing really to hunker down through the winter . hunker down through the winter. >> and we now have the former defence chief becoming the ambassador to london. but we have here a new defence secretary, grant shapps , who, secretary, grant shapps, who, you know, let's be kind about it. some say may be kind . all it. some say may be kind. all right. has not got the international experience to play at this sort of level, but he is quite an effective communicator i >> -- >> but could i say just from from the strategic point of view , it is a very odd one for sunak to have pulled out. it shows that i suspect i fear that the prime minister's eye may be slightly off the ball with ukraine. ukraine is vital . yes, ukraine. ukraine is vital. yes, we can talk about europe and nonh we can talk about europe and north europe . the thing that north europe. the thing that they're not getting across, but anybody you talk to behind the scenes from ben wallace through not but the chiefs not the political but the chiefs who adroit this, who are very adroit on this, saying , yes, ukraine is out

saying, yes, ukraine is out there, it is the outer barrier. it is really part of uk security . and that's the bit that they've got to cross. i think it's going to be very interesting to see the way that it could play in the it's certainly going to play in the american election campaign next yeah american election campaign next year. i think it's going to play in a unexpected way in the in a very unexpected way in the uk before before you leave us, who should have been defence secretary view? secretary then in your view? >> i would have favoured somebody because we have been served well by people with experience . experience. >> and actually if you review ben wallace's tenure, it was pretty, pretty good. and he was much liked despite amazon and so on by, by the, by the ukraine's much trusted. now somebody like penny morton , captain royal navy penny morton, captain royal navy you. no i think not. i would put penny before but it needed somebody who has empathy with the service carrying carrying the service carrying carrying the sword for the armed services. >> yes robert as ever, thank you. great to have you in the studio. appreciated. lovely you. great to have you in the stlvisit appreciated. lovely you. great to have you in the stlvisit . appreciated. lovely you. great to have you in the stlvisit . well,|ppreciated. lovely you. great to have you in the stlvisit . well, yeah, ated. lovely you. great to have you in the stlvisit . well, yeah, you're ovely to visit. well, yeah, you're welcome. hotting up all

welcome. it's hotting up all that in a moment. first, the headunes that in a moment. first, the headlines with tatiana . headlines with tatiana. >> mark, thank you . this is the >> mark, thank you. this is the latest from the newsroom . latest from the newsroom. birmingham city council has effectively declared bankruptcy . in a statement, the council said it's issued a section 104 nofice said it's issued a section 104 notice which prevents all but essential spending . it says it's essential spending. it says it's part of plans to meet its financial liabilities relating to equal pay claims. the council also says it's facing a financial gap within its budget currently standing in the region of £87 million. finances related to protecting vulnerable people and statutory services remain in place. however, all other new spending will cease with immediate effect . the school's immediate effect. the school's minister says the government has been very proactive in dealing with the concrete crisis in schools. speaking to gb news nick gibbs comments come after the education secretary apologised for using strong

language whilst expressing her frustration at the situation. both rishi sunak and gillian keegan are under growing pressure as schools across the uk have fully or partially closed . and rishi sunak has closed. and rishi sunak has chaired his first cabinet meeting since today. since before the summer recess . as the before the summer recess. as the labour leader, sir keir starmer has also chaired his cabinet meeting yesterday, saw some big changes within office, with several figures given new roles. angela rayner is the new shadow deputy prime minister and levelling up secretary and pat mcfadden is national campaign coordinator as well as shadow chancellor of the duchy of lancaster . discount retailer b&m lancaster. discount retailer b&m has agreed to buy up to 51 wilko stores from administrators for £13 million. it comes nearly a month after wilko collapsed, putting thousands of jobs at risk across its 400 stores. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com .

gbnews.com. >> direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for gold and silver investment . gold and silver investment. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets . the pound will today's markets. the pound will buy you 1.25, five, $4 and ,1.1696. the price of gold £1,538.30 per ounce. and the ftse 100 is . at 7467 points. ftse 100 is. at 7467 points. >> direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical

7:00 this evening. gb news is the people's . channel the people's. channel >> welcome back. let's take you up to brum to pose the question is birmingham bust? birmingham city council effectively declaring bankruptcy after hit with a £760 million bill. three quarters of a billion just to settle outstanding equal pay claims. >> the council has confirmed an immediate end to all new spending, except that which protects vulnerable people and statutory services. in a statement . and council leaders statement. and council leaders say like local authorities across the country , it is clear across the country, it is clear that birmingham city council faces unprecedented financial challenges from huge increases in adult social care demand and dramatic reductions in business rates. income to the impact of

rampant inflation on let's speak to our midlands reporter , will to our midlands reporter, will hollis, who joins us now from birmingham. >> and will we mention the equal pay >> and will we mention the equal pay issue ? also the computer pay issue? also the computer system, the oracle it system, they've got to pay for and it seems they've effectively thrown in the towel by issuing this section 114. notice come and help us. yes >> it's essentially the council equivalent of waving a white flag and saying we can't handle this situation section 114 nofice this situation section 114 notice essentially stops the council from spending new money on anything that is new so that could be, for example, events at christmas time or anything that's not deemed to be a statutory service, a statutory service is of course, to do with health and social care or education. now there's been quite a loud and noisy reaction on today, particularly from the

conservative group here at birmingham city council, who are in opposition with birmingham . in opposition with birmingham. am being a labour run council. now the conservative leader of that opposition group, robert alden , said that the council was alden, said that the council was in cloud cuckoo land and saying that this is embarrassing for this great city. now birmingham is actually the largest local authority, not just here in britain, but also in europe. there's been a lot of attention on this city recently as the second city singing its praises, particularly around things like the commonwealth games. but now the commonwealth games. but now the attention here is really towards managing funds. you said it there equal pay terms, a £760 million hole in its finances relating to paying men and women at the council equally as well as the oracle. it problem where they've massively overspent on new it services that have been really difficult for them to

implement and use. we have heard from downing street today who have said that what is happening today in birmingham is really concerning . but now for the concerning. but now for the people of birmingham , a lot less people of birmingham, a lot less money is going to be spent on the things that they might enjoy in the in the city. but those essential services will still continue. this isn't the first time this has happened to a council. it's happened before to northamptonshire county council. that council was dissolved and split into two west northants as well as north northants in london as well . we've heard of london as well. we've heard of a greater london thurrock council as well as croydon, the section 104 notice is that first step into saying we need financial help. please come and help us, the government. but it can lead to other things which of course can end in an insolvency or bankruptcy or, as i just said, to do with northamptonshire county council. a complete disillusion of a council . will disillusion of a council. will thank you very much indeed for updating us there in birmingham.

>> and we'll see what the government does in reaction, whether to the rescue of whether it rise to the rescue of a labour authority. of course, as thanks very much. as you say. thanks very much. let's some let's just bring you some breaking keegan breaking news. gillian keegan has been at it again this is her latest missive school chiefs who've not responded to the survey should get off their backsides , kids and inform the backsides, kids and inform the government where they are affected by crumbling concrete. so a slightly different term to the one that she used previously. the education secretary indicating that of course they've been asked since march 2020 to respond on this issue of the rak concrete. now, hopefully all this publicity will make them get off their backside, she said. we've written to them quite a few times. we've also set up a call centre to phone them up to ask them do it, and they still them to do it, and they still haven't. we've to haven't. so we've written to them given them them yesterday and given them till the week . close quotes. >> well, she's open, she's straight talking. some people like that. >> yeah . we'll see what the >> yeah. we'll see what the response is from those schools

in terms of being told to get at least you used the word that backside this time which is rather more decorous. maybe >> let's talk to you about >> now let's talk to you about wilko, because discount retailer b&m european value retail has agreed to buy around 50 wilko stores from administrators . for stores from administrators. for £13 million. it is a move which could potentially save thousands of high street jobs . of high street jobs. >> well, there's some happy news, too, just overall for britain's high street. latest retail sales figures from the british retail consortium sales rising by 4.1% last month. consumer confidence may be on the up as yes , inflation falls. the up as yes, inflation falls. but let's run our slide rule overit but let's run our slide rule over it with liam with on the money and you had mentioned b&m european value as maybe riding to the rescue at some stage and it seems they have now confirmed we have to be careful because this is a negotiation. >> there are 400 wilko stores,

there are 12,500 employees futures at stake. and when a company goes bankrupt applies for administration in other people can come in and try and buy assets either in part or in whole. we originally hoped that there'd be a whole deal for wilko, that all the stores would be saved. that's clearly now not going to be the case. this, this, this goes all the this, this empire goes all the way to 1931 and the way back to 1931 and the wilkinson family is being broken up and b&m , a well—known value up and b&m, a well—known value chain, have come in for 13 million quid's worth, around 50 stores. let's have a look at some of the details. it's quite complicated and we know that wilko has 400 stores across the uk, many of them in the midlands and the north. not so many in the south 12,500 workers, as i said, established by the wilkinson family, as in the razor people back in 1931, it was put into administration. it was put into administration. it was quite shocking on the 10th of august. we now know that some jobs have been saved and that discounter b&m is going to buy

around 50 stores or the hmv. owner, doug putman, he's still knocking around, if you like, right , knocking around, if you like, right, edging towards a 200 store deal, maybe , maybe not, store deal, maybe, maybe not, right? others in the in the frame to buy up parts of the wilko empire. pepco so they're the parent company of poundland , which we all know the range another online retailer they want the online assets and they want the online assets and they want the online assets and they want the wilko brand. but we also know the administrator last week did announce the first redundancies that are definitely happening, the kind of central nervous system of wilko, their distribution system, their legal back office, their accounting team any new buyer won't team which any new buyer won't need. >> yeah, the big rescue ship on the way was supposedly doug putman suggestion he could be taken up to 300 stores. but i gather that the sort of glitch, if you like , is that the if you like, is that the suppliers will want their money pretty quickly . and he didn't pretty quickly. and he didn't want to be caught on the hook for that. >> that's right. i mean, look, administration and company, wind ups, administration and company, wind upsifs administration and company, wind ups, it's an absolutely brutal

business. it's capitalism at its most. if you like, darwinian , most. if you like, darwinian, somebody coming in. i'm not saying that this is what doug putman did or didn't do. he hasn't confirmed these reports, but it is often the case a big, deep pocketed investor comes in and says to the administrator, whose job it is to get as much money back for the company's assets as they can. i don't want these stores. i want those stores. i don't want these debts. i don't those debts. debts. i don't want those debts. if other suppliers are owed debts. i don't want those debts. if othe|by|ppliers are owed debts. i don't want those debts. if othe|by wilkos are owed debts. i don't want those debts. if othe|by wilko , are owed debts. i don't want those debts. if othe|by wilko , that's/ed debts. i don't want those debts. if othe|by wilko , that's up to money by wilko, that's up to them. if wilko goes skint, those suppliers their shirts. suppliers lose their shirts. that's not me, guv. do you want me to buy some of these stores or not? it sounds awful, but the alternative is nothing is alternative is that nothing is salvaged. jobs are saved, and salvaged. no jobs are saved, and everything is lost. >> so if. if this deal takes 50 stores, why would the staff immediately just move over to be be an m? >> yeah, they would . that would >> yeah, they would. that would be the assumption . i mean, why be the assumption. i mean, why would bam by seamless for them? why would bam by stores that they didn't want to run as

stores these things they've bought the stores that generate revenue good margins revenue generate good margins that's why they're the 50 that they've picked . but the more they've picked. but the more deals we hear about, the less attractive the stuff that remains on the table is. attractive the stuff that remains on the table is . i mean, remains on the table is. i mean, there will be look, if all wilko's 400 stores were working well , the company wouldn't have well, the company wouldn't have gone administration. so gone into administration. so there be dead wood and there will be dead wood and incoming investors. they'll want to cherry pick. they'll want the pfized to cherry pick. they'll want the prized assets . and in prized assets. and in a negotiation with the administrator where they can basically call the shots because the alternative is everything closes down. and, know, it's closes down. and, you know, it's the that particular the position that particular retail shop have on that retail shop may have on that high street. >> what the business rates are according town or according to whatever town or city. course, that makes city. of course, that makes a big difference. but it's interesting in terms the interesting in terms of the background , we've got these background, we've got these latest retail sales figures, consumer confidence , it seems, consumer confidence, it seems, is back on the rise, at least for august. i would describe consumer confidence, mark. >> at the moment as skittish and volatile because we are on a

knife edge. no one knows if there's going to be one, two, three more interest rate rises. no one, it seems, not even the office for national statistics knows how much the economy is growing. crikey >> well, the gulf that they have between those two figures. crazy. what a day. >> i chose to be off monday when all gdp numbers were all the gdp numbers were completely torn up and rewritten . oh, britain isn't the sick man of we're actually the of europe. we're actually the second fastest growing economy in hurrah! in the g7 since covid hurrah! who ? so it's not just who knew? so it's not just journalists like us. poor luvvies that we are trying to cover real events and make sense of them for gb news viewers and listeners, how about being an investor in that environment? how deciding you going how about deciding are you going to or twist? you going to stick or twist? are you going to stick or twist? are you going to shareholders money? it's to risk shareholders money? it's very and just to touch very difficult and just to touch on something else that's coming out prices yet out today, petrol prices yet again been going up. >> that something that could >> is that something that could really hit that confidence factor that you're spending more on? >> we've we've discussed, haven't lot over recent haven't we, a lot over recent weeks. that and the weeks. my fears that and the newspapers are now picking up on it that electricity bills gas

bills are actually going to be quite a lot higher this winter, even pfice quite a lot higher this winter, even price caps come even though the price caps come down maybe even petrol and down and maybe even petrol and diesel prices, too. you know, the price of oil is up sharply over recent weeks and months, $12 a barrel because gop political tensions are coming to the fore. we've been reporting on, you know, putin hanging out with kim jong un. we've been reporting on who really blew up the nord stream pipeline between russia germany . oh, says der russia and germany. oh, says der spiegel. it may have been the ukrainians. crikey barely covered in the uk. so the markets notice all these things and there's so much concern. and that pushes up oil and gas prices. and that's passed on, i'm afraid, to ordinary households. >> and when we talk about this , >> and when we talk about this, this improvement in retail sales , are we likely to see that again next month because of this burst of lovely weather that we're getting? burst of lovely weather that we'ie getting? burst of lovely weather that we'i thinkng? burst of lovely weather that we'i think i}? burst of lovely weather that we'i think i think >> i think i think lovely weather definitely helps. it helps good helps with diy. people feel good about they think , about themselves. they think, oh, a last minute oh, i'll just book a last minute holiday. managed holiday. i haven't quite managed to year. i'm going to get away this year. i'm going to get away this year. i'm going to maybe borrow some money and

get is get away, but it really is dependent. on news we dependent. i think, on news we may get an interest rate rise on the 21st of september. we may get a big interest rate rise. the next inflation number, we are literally making it up as we go along. >> okay. so let's put you on the spot. 21st of september is that bank of england monetary policy committee? we had justin urquhart stewart studio urquhart stewart in the studio yesterday. he used this phrase fine mutter fine man. yeah, the mutter from the gutter and, you know, he's a veteran of these things saying that bank will sit on that maybe the bank will sit on its round as its hands this time round as you've been them to do, you've been urging them to do, to see how things feed through the system before going one step more. >> i mean, justin urquhart stewart is a tremendously well connected, thoughtful commentator. he doesn't make things up if there is a mood in the city that the bank of england is thinking about it, then that is that is genuine. i believe his reporting, if you like. but it may be that the bank of england is just putting about that idea that it is thinking about it. so when it does decide raise is people does decide to raise is people like me have been calling on

them them to sit on their them for them to sit on their hands don't think hands since march. don't think they're thoughtless. they they're thoughtless. oh, they are had are thinking people. they've had are thinking people. they've had a decision to make. a difficult decision to make. >> pr bit. >> pr bit. >> i still think that it >> i still i still think that it is more likely than not that we're going to get an interest rate rise later this month. the last one, it's something that i would very much argue against. again, it depends on the inflation number. if the inflation number. if the inflation number. if the inflation number stays north of 6, you know, three times the bank of england's target , the bank of england's target, the bank of england's target, the bank of england's target, the bank of england, say, oh, sorry, old boy, we can't possibly not raise interest rates. and then people say, yeah, but people like me say, yeah, but these rate rises, these interest rate rises, you're the economy you're driving the economy into a people really a recession. people are really suffering people suffering now. people are remortgaging personal loans. most business loans are on fixed or on flexible rates . right. or on flexible rates. right. >> and last thought . and then >> and last thought. and then september into november, we've got jeremy hunt saying that the autumn statement, i think is it november 22nd? what room does he have to play with? i mean , have to play with? i mean, obviously the ons situation a bit rosier than we thought. and

a lot of pressure on him from the backbenchers to cut taxes has he got that? >> that's what i immediately thought when i heard about these ons revisions, because the person i was with very experienced journalist, she said, oh, i bet jeremy hunt will be pleased. and i said to her, this may be the kind of bad this may kind of good may be the kind of good news that makes his life more difficult because so many people will oh, jezza, now will be claiming, oh, jezza, now you now you've got headroom, you can now you've got headroom, now got headroom, now you now you've got headroom, now you can taxes, now you can can lower taxes, now you can spend the trade spend all that money, the trade unions hand out. unions will have their hand out. everybody their hand everybody will have their hand out. council out. birmingham city council will have 750 million. there's sometimes you're sometimes when you're a chancellor, good is chancellor, when good news is bad news, because it makes your life much tougher. right life so much tougher. right >> okay. >> okay. >> thank you, as always is. lots more to come in the next hour. we'll also , of course, be we'll also, of course, be talking about this weather, this late burst of summer we're getting. but there is a serious side to it because he heat health alerts have been upgraded for much of england because temperatures , they are set to

temperatures, they are set to hit 32 c. so oh, one more tomorrow, 33. >> then i was saying, well, higher, higher, higher, more detail now with your forecast , a detail now with your forecast, a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello again. >> hello again. >> many of us are going to have some more hot sunshine through today , although there is the today, although there is the chance of a not shower, particularly for northern ireland england ireland and southwest england with some fog and low cloud. tonight but at moment there tonight but at the moment there is front line towards the is a weak front line towards the north of the uk that is going to bfing north of the uk that is going to bring cloud some bring some cloud and some drizzle far drizzle rain across the far north of mainland scotland and perhaps orkney as well . perhaps orkney as well. elsewhere across bulk of the elsewhere across the bulk of the uk of sunshine, plenty uk, plenty of sunshine, plenty of blue skies , although we do of blue skies, although we do need cater few showers need to cater for a few showers across parts of ireland, northern and perhaps northern ireland and perhaps southwest england later on. and here southwest, those here in the southwest, those blustery winds are going to start as well. start to ease as well. temperatures likely to reach highs of around 30 or 31 celsius. so is a heat wave

celsius. so it is a heat wave for of us, particularly for some of us, particularly across parts the as we across parts of the south as we go through the day, go through the end of the day, some clouds , some sea fog is some low clouds, some sea fog is going to in from the north going to push in from the north sea, affecting eastern parts of scotland. and eastern scotland. and down the eastern side well. further side of england as well. further west and south, clearer skies. but expecting a few pockets but i'm expecting a few pockets of and to develop here. of mist and fog to develop here. temperatures not dropping a huge amount, perhaps in the london area. temperatures stay area. temperatures could stay above 20 tonight. so it above 20 celsius tonight. so it could a tropical night for could be a tropical night for some us. a bit a slow some of us. a bit of a slow start on wednesday down the eastern of the uk. but that eastern side of the uk. but that low sea fog should low cloud, that sea fog should burn coast burn back towards the coast fairly although down fairly quickly, although down eastern parts of scotland, some of that going linger of that cloud is going to linger well into the afternoon. otherwise cloud than otherwise a bit more cloud than we've seen through some recent days. plenty of days. but still plenty of sunshine feeling hot again. sunshine and feeling hot again. temperatures even higher for some of us with highs 32 some of us with highs around 32 celsius. i'll see later . celsius. i'll see you later. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on .

gb news. >> good afternoon . it is 2:00 >> good afternoon. it is 2:00 and you're with the live desk here on gb news. coming up this tuesday lunchtime , more choice tuesday lunchtime, more choice words from the education secretary, gillian keegan as she tells school chiefs who have yet to respond to the concrete survey, get off their backsides. >> we're live at a school that's already closed its doors . already closed its doors. >> is birmingham bust the city

council asks for urgent financial aid as its debts head towards £1 billion. but will the government bail out a labour authority ? we and the new odd authority? we and the new odd couple, the ukraine war forces vladimir putin to seek new friends , inviting north korea's friends, inviting north korea's dear leader to russia to discuss weapons . weapons. >> us how worried should we . >> us how worried should we. be >> us how worried should we. be >> also, we'll be putting you in the picture on how this psychological characterisation is a revelation and also , is a revelation and also, paradoxically, an enigma . that paradoxically, an enigma. that is what the artists think of this theresa may portrait . some this theresa may portrait. some of you may have some other views . first, here's your headlines with tatiana de . pip. with tatiana de. pip. >> thank you. this is the latest

from the newsroom . birmingham from the newsroom. birmingham city council has effectively declared bankruptcy. in a statement , the council said it's statement, the council said it's issued a section 114 notice which prevents prevents all but essential new spending. it says it's part of plans to meet its financial liabilities relating to equal pay claims. the council also says it's facing a financial gap within its budget currently standing in the region of £87 million. finances related to protecting vulnerable people and statutory services remain in place. however, all other new spending will cease with immediate effect . spending will cease with immediate effect. ministers are expected to overturn the ban on onshore wind farms, following pressure from conservative mps. the government will make the announcement in the form of a written state ministerial statement today. downing street says it's position hasn't changed after rishi sunak pledged to keep the onshore wind farm ban in place last october. the changes will come into force with immediate effect . the with immediate effect. the schools minister says the government has been very

proactive in dealing with the concrete crisis in schools and has been issuing guidance to schools since 2018. speaking to gb news nick gibbs, comments come after the education secretary apologised for using strong language while expressing her frustration at the situation . both rishi sunak and gillian keegan are under growing pressure as schools across the uk have fully or partially closed. nick gibb says gillian keegan's comments were off the cuff . cuff. >> she was frustrated by the fact that the department for education and civil servants have been working very hard in terms of dealing with rakeysh. we've been very proactive in deaung we've been very proactive in dealing with rak since 2018. we've issued very detailed guidance to respond able bodies, and these are the bodies that are legally responsible for school buildings, which are the local authorities , the academy local authorities, the academy trusts diocese says. but we provide them with the best advice based on the technical advice based on the technical advice that we get about how to identify and monitor racks.

>> shadow paymaster general jonathan ashworth said the government's handling of the matter is an abdication of responsibility . responsibility. >> i think today look, when you've got sort of roofs at risk of collapse in various various schools across the country, pupils really worried. you've got the education secretary expecting to be thanked and congratulated and parents across the country, teachers who work in schools and pupils , because in schools and pupils, because some of these pupils are old enough to understand what is going on. want you to fix this and don't want any more of your saying, oh, nothing to do with me. gov. that is frankly an abdication of your responsibilities as discount retailer b and m has agreed to buy up to 51 wilko stores from administrators for £13 million. >> it comes nearly a month after wilko collapsed, putting thousands of jobs at risk across its 400 stores. it's understood that the majority of the new stores are expected to rebrand as b&m. talks regarding wilko's remaining stores, brand and other assets are still ongoing .

other assets are still ongoing. retail sales rose in august as customers spend big on self—care products . total retail sales in products. total retail sales in the uk were up 4.1% on last august, above the three month average of 3.6, according to the british retail consortium. health and beauty. food and dfink health and beauty. food and drink were the strongest performing categories . social performing categories. social media giant tiktok is attempting to allay fears over its links to china as it opens its first data centre in europe. located in dublin, it's the first of three in europe to be built summerhouse data from tiktok users from across europe , users from across europe, including the uk. tiktok is owned by chinese firm bytedance, but has long said it doesn't share information with china. critics, however , fear it could critics, however, fear it could be compelled to hand over data to beijing . kim jong un is to beijing. kim jong un is expected to travel to russia in an armoured train to meet president vladimir putin. the nonh president vladimir putin. the north korean leader could make the trip as early as this month near to the border between the

two countries. it comes as the us claims the kremlin is attempting to acquire military equipment for its war in ukraine, offend us are using virtual reality to groom and sexually abuse children as well as share illegal images of abuse. that's according to new research from the nspcc. it warned offenders of being desensitised to their own behaviour because of the anonymity. such spaces provide through their use of digital avatars . as the nspcc has called avatars. as the nspcc has called on tech firms to do more to ensure virtual reality platforms are safe by introducing better child safety features and reporting systems . and finally, reporting systems. and finally, the hottest temperatures of the year could be seen this week , year could be seen this week, possibly even hotter than ibiza . the met office is predicting maximum temperatures of 32 degrees tomorrow and thursday , degrees tomorrow and thursday, potentially matching the year's record during the heatwave in june. it says the uk health security agency issued a yellow alert across the whole of

england apart from the north east from yesterday afternoon until sunday night. this east from yesterday afternoon until sunday night . this is gb until sunday night. this is gb news across the uk on tv , in news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back to malcolm . pip malcolm. pip >> tatiana, thanks very much indeed and welcome back to the live desk with the education secretary, gillian keegan , with secretary, gillian keegan, with some more utterances urging schools to those haven't filled out the surveys and whether their buildings have dangerous concrete to get off their backsides . backsides. >> yes, she said the word backside today, not the other word for it. meanwhile all the schools minister, nick gibb says the prime minister had refused to rebuild 200 crumbling schools . that is despite rishi sunak saying it was completely and utterly wrong to blame him. well mark francois, who's a conservative mp for an essex constituency, one of the area's

worst hit by the schools crisis, and also a member of the public accounts committee, told us here on gb news that the question now is whether the department of education has the budget to carry out all these works. >> the issue for two years we took evidence as a committee on this in july from the permanent under—secretary, susan acland—hood . the schools acland—hood. the schools rebuilding programme has about 400 schools that are in the process of being rebuilt, but there were about another 100 slots that if you like, have yet to be allocated . and the to be allocated. and the department strategy was to use those remaining 100 for the ones that are worst affected by rack. so, so far that makes sense. i think the question that's going going to be important is , is are going to be important is, is are those extra 100 slots going to be enough or is it now going to require far more than those which i fear it might? right. and is the treasury going to stump up ?

stump up? >> okay. well, let's speak to gb news national reporter ellie costello, who is out of school outside of school, affected by the crisis in essex. good afternoon , ellie. gillian keegan afternoon, ellie. gillian keegan the education secretary. she does accept now that the end of august was the worst time for schools to take this action. schools like the one you're outside, that only found out last week ? yes last week? yes >> good afternoon to you both. yes, the school behind me only found out on thursday that there was rack in its roof , found out on thursday that there was rack in its roof, meaning that the school couldn't open as planned on monday. that the school couldn't open as planned on monday . and the start planned on monday. and the start of term has actually had to be delayed by a week. and pupils here will not be returning until next monday . and even when they next monday. and even when they do school will be very, very different for many of those pupils . different for many of those pupils. that's different for many of those pupils . that's because different for many of those pupils. that's because behind me in this main buildings, eight of the 14 classrooms have rack in

the 14 classrooms have rack in the roof, meaning they are unsafe for pupils . it means when unsafe for pupils. it means when this school opens on monday, only a few of those classrooms can actually be used . the other can actually be used. the other classes will have to be moved to a school in the trust. they'll have to be moved to another building which is safe, which doesn't contain rack, meaning that this school behind us have had to scramble for the last couple of years, the last couple of try and find of days, to try and find alternative teaching arrangements for their pupils. you will notice behind me that the car park is actually full. it's been a hub of activity, actually, because all of the teachers have come in to work today. they were all here before 9 am. they were working around the clock to try and come up with alternative arrangements for pupils . and it's for these pupils. and it's details such as their lunches, some pupils who rely on free school meals, they will now have to rely on packed lunches because rack concrete was found above the dining room. it's that

sort of detail that you don't think about, but those children who rely on free school meals, who rely on free school meals, who come to school not just as a place of learning, but as a safe place of learning, but as a safe place to be fed and to be cared for. while for pupils like that, for. while for pupils like that, for vulnerable pupils, they do not have that safe space to go to for at least the next week. >> yeah, we've got gillian keegan, the education secretary , saying we're not to going tear down every building that has rack in it. you have to manage it. the problem is, of course it's the headteacher . does that it's the headteacher. does that have manage it? and have to manage it? and at buckhurst hill, you were telling us headteacher now is us that the headteacher now is going arrange this to going to arrange all this to transport kids to and going to arrange all this to trans another kids to and going to arrange all this to trans another schoolis to and going to arrange all this to trans another school campus . from another school campus. >> yes, you can imagine the absolute headache that it's been for the headteachers. they are going to have to organise transport from this building to that separate building within the trust. now gillian keegan has tweeted, saying that every school that has found rack within its building and there are so many in essex, 65 of that

156 schools that have been listed. so far are in the county of essex alone. so you can imagine the headache that's been for the headteachers, but gillian keegan said that that sort of thing, the for transport those pupils would be covered by the department of education . you the department of education. you heard mark francois on your programme a little bit earlier on, hoping that the budget would stretch enough, but gillian stretch far enough, but gillian keegan and the chancellor both echoing the same sentiment that all money, any money that was needed would go towards making these buildings safe and getting pupils school . she has pupils back in school. she has said that the department of education have contracted with propping companies who couldn't quite go in to up quite literally go in to prop up the roof of some of these schools that have been affected by they've by wrack. and they've also contracted with portacabin companies who can provide temporary accommodation in schools. she says that by doing this, the department of education have made this much more efficient. they have centralised the system. they haven't left it to local councils . she has with it councils. she has dealt with it herself within department councils. she has dealt with it

hers she nithin department councils. she has dealt with it hers she says| department councils. she has dealt with it hers she says it's department councils. she has dealt with it hers she says it's beenartment councils. she has dealt with it hersshe says it's been is�*nent councils. she has dealt with it hersshe says it's been is being and she says it's been is being done way to make it much done this way to make it much quicker to get pupils back quicker and to get pupils back into school. so i do think mark and pip, we are going to see across the county, across the country, portacabins and demountable blocks put up outside of these schools where rack has been found in that effort to try and get pupils back into school as quickly as possible . possible. >> all thank you . >> all thank you. >> all thank you. >> thank you. now to the politics continues elsewhere. >> sir keir starmer saying he has the strongest possible players on the pitch after his reshuffle aimed at preparing labour for government. yes the team paraded for the cameras earlier , five of who were earlier, five of who were special advisers under tony blair. >> so how does team starmer compare to team sunak? because parliament gets underway this year , we can digest all of this year, we can digest all of this with our political editor, christopher hope. it looks there , christopher, that sir keir starmer has really got his ducks in a row now and he is ready for

that general election. bring it on. he's thinking . well that's on. he's thinking. well that's right, pippa. >> i mean, look at the it's all about image in politics. and one side you've got the prime minister rishi sunak discussing crumbling school buildings and the other room you've got sir keir starmer talking to his team. they're his new team, this new shadow cabinet saying they've been chosen for their hunger for in the lead up to the general election . i'll read the general election. i'll read the quote he said to i thought quote he said to them. i thought it was quite fascinating. he said, said you're around said, you said you're around this table because of your said, you said you're around this tabithat's use of your said, you said you're around this tabithat's really, your said, you said you're around this tabithat's really, really hunger. that's really, really important. your important. your talent, your commitment, he commitment, and because he wanted a team, he said that wakes morning wakes up every morning determined to rise to the challenge is that our country faces now . compare with faces now. compare that with gillian and her somewhat gillian keegan and her somewhat off colour remarks last night about why she left doing all the work and no else's. it's a work and no one else's. it's a team he's creating now, isn't it? and it's there transparently there in the way that we haven't yet seen that to be gripped by the prime minister. we were expecting july , expecting reshuffles in july, never happened. maybe last week

a small one happened. now we're told a big reshuffle from rishi sunak after the party conferences before the king's speech. but by then , of course, speech. but by then, of course, keir starmer has got a six week lead he's got his in lead and he's got his team in place for big party place for his big party conference, which he'll he'll be seeing as a chance to get ready for next election, which could be in next year, june for next election, which could be iryear next year, june for next election, which could be iryear oraxt year, june for next election, which could be iryear or october, june for next election, which could be iryear or october, november next year or october, november next year or october, november next year, i expect. so i think you are seeing two completely different and the different parties and the question is, how can mr sunak try and move away from crumbling buildings and feeling of buildings and this feeling of decay around his government and give that he deserves give some hope that he deserves to prime to win a fifth term as prime minister >> well, the other challenge that's looming is that another by—election this time in. nadine dorries seat that's been confirmed for october the 19th. >> that's right. this hour, the local council at central bedfordshire have confirmed that the by—election for nadine dorries seat, it will be on the 19th of october. after that , of 19th of october. after that, of course falls after the by—election in rutherglen and in

scotland, which labour wanted to take off the snp this mid bev turner by—election the lib dems have been campaigning campaigning there several times with david yesterday. he has been up there several times campaigning. they think they can nick it. there's a chance , just nick it. there's a chance, just a chance that the tories can squeak through if the labour tory, labour, lib vote is tory, labour, lib dem vote is split. think we are facing split. but i think we are facing a very, very big october with two very big pre—election party conferences from the tories and labour and then these big tests in the by elections . in the by elections. >> and course in terms of the >> and of course in terms of the preparation of those party conferences, prime conferences, ghosts of prime ministers past, including a certain portrait that you witnessed being unveiled yesterday by theresa may, which will now hang if that's right, phrase in portcullis house. interesting. looking at the artist's intent, he's saying that this was as a psychological characterisation , an and one of characterisation, an and one of revelation and also paradoxes , revelation and also paradoxes, an enigma. is that what you made

of it ? of it? >> yeah , that's pretty well >> yeah, that's pretty well described, mark. yeah, i like youn described, mark. yeah, i like your, your art criticism there. yeah.i your, your art criticism there. yeah. i mean, by some yeah. i mean, it's by some called cy di. i was one of the couple of journalists in the room the unveiling with room for the unveiling with theresa friends. theresa may's friends. i mean, i think it capture that think it does capture that expression. does capture generally how she felt about most i very most journalists. i was very privileged to be there for the gb viewers . but i think gb news viewers. but i think it's that that's that really gb news viewers. but i think it' theresaiat's that really gb news viewers. but i think it' theresa may. hat really gb news viewers. but i think it' theresa may. she really gb news viewers. but i think it' theresa may. she said lly gb news viewers. but i think it' theresa may. she said to us, is theresa may. she said to us, to us, she was very pleased with it. she couldn't change her hairdo for a because she hairdo for a year because she had go back for various had to go back for various sittings. wonder what gb news sittings. i wonder what gb news viewers it. i think he viewers think of it. i think he she liked it. it's a real portrait. i mean, she hasn't chucked on the bonfire like winston did about the winston churchill did about the famous painting that he didn't like think, yeah, like much. so i think, yeah, i think it will sit there in the offices where work often in offices where we work often in portcullis staring portcullis house, staring down for come . for generations to come. >> okay. and maybe 1 or 2 by—election results fairly imminently as well. christopher for the moment at westminster, thank taking us through thank you for taking us through that. but let's take you now up to birmingham, where

to brum, to birmingham, where the council has apparently the city council has apparently effectively declared its bust after being hit with a £760 million bill to settle its equal pay million bill to settle its equal pay claims. >> the eye—watering figures there, it is europe's largest local authority, birmingham. and in a recent statement, council leaders have said like local authorities across the country, it is clear that birmingham city council faces an unprecedented financial challenges from huge increases in adult social care demand and dramatic reductions in business rates. income to the impact of rampant inflation. will hollis gb news midlands reporter, joins us live from birmingham. and i guess the main question for people in birmingham is whether their services are going to be hit by this . this. >> yes, it's not the kind of headune >> yes, it's not the kind of headline that you want to see if you're a resident waking up in birmingham city today, often it's quite exciting to see your

local authority named in not just your local news, but in your national news, but not when it means that there's a £760 million black hole in the local authority's finances. now what has happened today is birmingham city council, which is a labour run authority , has submitted a run authority, has submitted a section 114 notice that essentially stops the council from spending any new money on service , things that aren't service, things that aren't deemed to be essential. so essential services , what you essential services, what you might describe as statutory services are things like adult health and social care, or education, non—essential services are, of course, the things that people might like to enjoy, like events around christmas time. now the reason that the council says that they've had to introduce this measure, which essentially calls on the government for help, is because of two things, particularly . one is an equal particularly. one is an equal pay particularly. one is an equal pay claims. it's essentially wanting to pay women and men

within the council all the same amount of money. that's £650 million. that makes up that part of the black hole. but there's also £100 million that relates to new it systems that the council was introducing that weren't working. they are said to have overpaid for those council for those it services that don't seem to be working as they should. now the government has commented on this today. they said that what's happening at birmingham city council is concerning, but there's also been a lot of really loud reaction from the local conservative group that is in opposition. i've got a quote here from the leader of the conservative opposition, robert alden, and he says that this is cloud cuckoo land to say that birmingham's problems are being replicated across the country and the situation was embarrassing for the great city. now the labour run authority, which is not just the biggest

council in britain , but also the council in britain, but also the biggest council in europe, said that what they've implemented is a necessary step as we seek to get our city back on a sound financial footing . and this financial footing. and this isn't the first time that this has happened in recent memory. other councils that have had to introduce section 114 notices include croydon , thurrock and include croydon, thurrock and northamptonshire county council, where northamptonshire county council introduced an s1 one four notice. it resulted in the council being dissolved and split into two unitary authorities rather than a two tier system of government. so right now, all of the kind of attention on birmingham that a city that is the second city isn't necessarily in, in want of most recently, you might remember the commonwealth games from only a year ago. that's the kind of thing that people here in birmingham want to be celebrating. but this of course, is a big worry. but just a reminder that those statutory

services will continue. but all of the things that residents of this huge city come to love, they will be a lot harder to come by now. >> will, thanks very much indeed for updating us. that as that bill mounts by between . five and bill mounts by between. five and £14 million every month as well, expensive times. thanks very much. now a bit of breaking news coming in on gillian keegan's latest utterance where we were telling that she's told telling you that she's told those schools to get off their backsides and inform the government on the situation with this rack concrete. the national education union has just issued its report to that. it's outrageous of the education secretary to lay any responsibility for their crisis at the door of schools. the fact is the department for education has dragged its heels over many years on this issue. the government's failed to show leadership on this issue for many years. the row intensifies. do stay with us here on gb news. >> you could say more trouble for the government this time in

the form of wind farms. for the government this time in the form of wind farms . we're the form of wind farms. we're live from downing street. talk to you shortly. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello again. many of us are going to have some more hot sunshine through today, although there is the chance of an odd shower, particularly for northern ireland southwest northern ireland and southwest england with fog and low england with some fog and low cloud tonight . at the moment cloud tonight. at the moment there is weak front line there is a weak front line towards of the uk that towards the north of the uk that is bfing towards the north of the uk that is bring some cloud and is going to bring some cloud and some drizzly rain across the far north scotland and north of mainland scotland and perhaps as well. perhaps orkney as well. elsewhere the bulk of the elsewhere across the bulk of the uk, plenty of sunshine, plenty of blue skies, although we do need for showers need to cater for a few showers across parts ireland , across parts of ireland, northern and perhaps northern ireland and perhaps south—west later on. and northern ireland and perhaps soutiin west later on. and northern ireland and perhaps soutiin the: later on. and northern ireland and perhaps soutiin the south—west,3r on. and northern ireland and perhaps soutiin the south—west, those and here in the south—west, those blustery winds going to blustery winds are going to start to ease as well. temperatures likely to reach highs around 30 or 31 highs of around 30 or 31 celsius. so it is a heat wave for some of us, particularly across parts of the south as we go through the end of the day,

some clouds, sea fog is some low clouds, some sea fog is going push in north going to push in from the north sea, eastern of sea, affecting eastern parts of scotland the eastern scotland and down the eastern side well. further side of england as well. further west and south, clearer skies. but expecting a few pockets but i'm expecting a few pockets of mist and fog to develop here. temperatures dropping a huge temperatures not dropping a huge amount, in the london amount, perhaps in the london area. temperatures stay area. temperatures could stay above tonight. so it above 20 celsius tonight. so it could be a tropical night for some of us. a bit of a slow start on wednesday the start on wednesday down the eastern but that eastern side of the uk. but that low sea fog should low cloud, that sea fog should burn back towards the coast fairly quickly , although fairly quickly, although down eastern scotland , some eastern parts of scotland, some of that is going to linger of that cloud is going to linger well into the afternoon. otherwise cloud than otherwise a bit more cloud than we've seen through some recent days. still plenty of days. but still plenty of sunshine hot again. sunshine and feeling hot again. temperatures higher for temperatures even higher for some of us with highs around 32 celsius. i'll see later . celsius. i'll see you later. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on

a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news . a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news. channel a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news . channel welcome britain's news. channel welcome back to the live desk on gb news, the government has now confirmed it will relax the rules for building wind farms. >> that comes after pressure from its backbench peers. >> the amendment to the energy bill tabled by the former cop26 president sir alok sharma rewriting rules back from 2015, which had meant a single objection to onshore wind could derail the development. let's get more with catherine forster,

our political correspondent, joining us from downing street . joining us from downing street. and catherine, already reaction, i think tory mp chris skidmore welcoming and he moved to relax the ban but wanting to see the details . details. >> yes, exactly . the devil will >> yes, exactly. the devil will be in the detail, won't it? this very vexed issue of wind farms has been really a huge conservative row now for months and months and months. rishi sunak hadn't been long in the job of prime minister when they were forced to give in to rebels at the time. included liz truss and boris johnson . then over and boris johnson. then over this pretty much no wind farms have been built since 2015. onshore wind farms that is because it's been just so incredibly difficult. now the government agreed to make it eafien government agreed to make it easier, but then months and months have gone by and nothing has happened . now we come to the has happened. now we come to the energy bill back in the house of commons today, votes expected

around 7:00. and we understand that the government is to going soften this ban. it will be possible to build onshore wind farms again. what we don't yet know are the specific details of how, because previously if there was just one single objection , was just one single objection, then that was enough to scupper a wind farm from being built. now, the rebels are saying that they want onshore wind to be treated exactly the same as other forms of renewable energy. they're saying that it will make it much easier , much cheaper, it much easier, much cheaper, that it will save people money on their energy bills. and, of course, that's a huge concern for all of us, isn't it, given how they rocketed following russia's invasion of ukraine. so we will see what emerges later. there's been a lot of back and forth. we were expecting some form of announcement yesterday day. it didn't happen, but this is a big test, isn't it, for claire coutinho? she's just come

in as energy minister at the end of last week and she faces a party riven with factions. some people want onshore wind going fast for quicker, more of it . fast for quicker, more of it. others, like the net zero scrutiny group chaired by craig mckinley , are really quite mckinley, are really quite averse to renewables. very sceptical of the costs and the benefit . s so let's see what benefit. s so let's see what happens. but there's lots of rumblings. some people will be happy, some people will be unhappy. that's the happy, some people will be unhappy . that's the conservative unhappy. that's the conservative party at the moment. >> and if wind developers, they say they pledge to reduce people's energy bills , offer people's energy bills, offer them discounts, that would be quite a sweetener for people living in these areas where they could be built . could be built. >> well, it would be. and that's one of the things that chris skidmore, who was the net zero tsar and alok sharma, who of course chaired cop26, are saying this is going to save people

money. ultimate it's one of the cheapest forms of renewable energy. they're saying it's become much more efficient. it's not going to result in, you know, turbines popping up literally all over the place. they much more efficient than they used to be. you need fewer of them to get the same effect. they see this as an absolute no brainer. but this is something that many people in the conservative party and still going on today are unhappy about. there's plenty of people going we don't want to see these in the countryside. they're an absolute eyesore. but the question is, how do we get to a to net zero and b, the energy security that we need, given that we've seen the consequences of not having enough energy supply in our own country and then having to pay through the nose over the last couple of years. so, i mean, the bill onshore wind is only one very small part of it. there's also a battle about solar power.

there's alicia kearns . she's a there's alicia kearns. she's a backbench mp. she's basically wanting very severe restrictions on putting solar farms on land. that's another one to watch. there's another one about about oil , oil, there's another one about about oil, oil, heated boilers in rural areas. so there's lots and lots here. and it will be interesting to see what happens when the dust settles and what this ultimately means for onshore wind and more importantly, are bill years going forward . going forward. >> political hot air in downing street. catherine, as ever, thanks for updating us on that. we'll see what emerges in that debate later, of course, when we come back, we'll be reporting on the new alliance forming between vladimir putin and north korea's kim jong un. >> first, your headlines with tatiana de . pip. tatiana de. pip. >> thank you. 233. this is the latest from the newsroom.

birmingham city council has effectively declared bankruptcy. in a statement, effectively declared bankruptcy. in a statement , the council said in a statement, the council said it's issued a section 114 notice which prevents all but essential spending. it says it's part of plans to meet its financial liabilities relating to equal pay liabilities relating to equal pay claims. the council also says it's facing a financial gap within its budget currently standing in the region of £87 million. finances related to protecting vulnerable people and statutory services remain in place. however, all other new spending will cease with immediate effect . it'll be immediate effect. it'll be easier to build onshore wind farms across england with an announcement expected from the government this afternoon . government this afternoon. downing street says its position hasn't changed, despite rishi sunak saying in october that he'll keep an onshore wind farm ban in place . it's the ban in place. it's the relaxation of the rules comes after mounting pressure from mps . the changes are expected to come into force with immediate effect . the schools minister effect. the schools minister says the government has been very proactive in dealing with

the concrete crisis in schools. speaker owing to gb news nick gibbs comments come after the education secretary apologised for using strong language whilst expressing her frustration at the situation. both rishi sunak and gillian keegan are under growing pressure as schools across the uk have fully or partially closed . day discount partially closed. day discount retailer bnm has agreed to buy up to 51 wilko stores from administrators for £13 million. it comes nearly a month after wilko collapsed, putting thousands of jobs at risk across its 400 stores. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews.com

gb news radio. i'm >> welcome back to the live desk. let's update you on the international front now with russia apparently ever more isolated after its invasion of ukraine, vladimir putin reportedly has what, a new friend to bring his country in from the cold. a certain kim jong un. >> the pair could meet in russia as early as this month and are expected to discuss the possibility of north korea selling moscow weapons to support its ongoing conflict in ukraine. this is despite north korea previously saying in pubuc korea previously saying in public that it would not do so . public that it would not do so. >> let's get reaction now from a

senior consulting fellow for russia and eurasia program at chatham house, keir giles, who can join us. keir, thank you for your time. we understand the armoured train will be shunting out fairly soon, perhaps towards vladivostok . what will kim jong vladivostok. what will kim jong un want in return for what we assume is artillery, munitions ? assume is artillery, munitions? >> well, first of all, it's let's remember that none of this is actually confirmed. >> it is coming from an american source that possibly might be trying to pre—empt this meeting by getting out first with the information about what it's about. >> neither nor north >> neither russia nor north korea this on. korea have said this is on. but certainly it's plausible certainly it's very plausible because each something because they each have something the only that, the other wants. not only that, russia reaching out for friends now that it's isolated itself from much of the world and is from so much of the world and is desperate for sources of munitions to into its war munitions to pour into its war against ukraine at the other end of the country, seven time zones away, but also north korea desperate and for desperate for food and for technology for its own program of throwing its weight around in its region. so, yes, they've

its own region. so, yes, they've got shared interests, if got shared interests, even if it's not quite alliance it's not quite that alliance that talking about in that you were talking about in your although your intro. yeah although the white indicated white house has indicated that it's information arms it's got information that arms negotiator nations are actively advancing , as they say , that advancing, as they say, that sounds very likely. we know russia has visited north korea looking to try to source the munitions , including the munitions, including the artillery ammunition. you were talking about. and it's become plain over the course of the war on ukraine. and it's and what went before it, that the united states does have very well placed intelligence sources within . so all of this is within russia. so all of this is very plausible. all hangs very plausible. it all hangs together. the question is how will out and how will actually pan out and how much what actually agreed much of what is actually agreed in that does happen in any meeting that does happen between these two will out between these two will find out about for close , then, about later for how close, then, do you think the two countries could become and how much will it will it worry the likes of the united states, for example, south korea ? well, it's not just south korea? well, it's not just the us and south korea. there are actually a lot more people that will be affected by this because they do supply each other's in that way. other's needs in that way.

russia does need scrape the russia does need to scrape the barrel munitions on barrel for munitions to carry on its against and its war against ukraine and ukraine. let's not forget, is the defending all of the frontline defending all of us europe and then back us here in europe and then back in korea, north korea, the in korea, in north korea, the tech that need for tech energy that they need for actually improving their weapons programs will be direct threat programs will be a direct threat to its neighbours there. and even if russia just takes the pressure off north korea by supplying it energy , with supplying it with energy, with food its economy , that food to boost its economy, that in itself is a problem for the neighbours because it makes it easier korea become easier for north korea to become a threat . so yes, this is a bigger threat. so yes, this is bad news basically for everybody. >> china going to play >> where's china going to play in all this? robert fox, who is with us earlier, suggesting they might not be too happy about, you know, they're trying to dampen down the situation in ukraine and adding more munitions , mines and direct munitions, mines and direct involvement. perhaps not involvement. is perhaps not going to be the best play for them. well china has the luxury of being able to sit back and watch how the war on ukraine plays out because they've got two of china's major adversaries beating each other up at the moment.

>> and so they can wait and see who comes out on top and play along accordingly. so it's not necessarily not in china's interest for russia to be able to manage its campaigns a little bit longer. of course, it'll be watching carefully just how powerful exactly north korea becomes. it's taken the becomes. but it's taken the brakes off in terms of the sanctions and the regime that's been in place to try to been put in place to try to prevent north korea developing the nuclear weapons, missile the nuclear weapons, the missile technology trying to. technology that it's trying to. so way, it seems china is so in a way, it seems china is actually content to sit back from of these and may not from both of these and may not actually in actually put any obstacles in its way . its way. >> significant is it >> and how significant is it that kim jong un is leaving pyongyang for this meeting because he doesn't often go go over the border , does he? over the border, does he? >> it does happen, but it always happens by train. and the even trips as far afield as hanoi, he's done by train as opposed to flying. and of course, that's the key advantage of that short length of border that north korea does have russia. he korea does have with russia. he can actually that to nip can actually do that to nip across the border to vladivostok , in russian far

, that port in the russian far east. so, yes, he can do that without if he wants to. without flying if he wants to. meanwhile, putin course, is meanwhile, putin of course, is also of travelling by also very fond of travelling by train we hear, train these days, we hear, because is paranoid about because he too is paranoid about his own security good his own security and with good reason . reason. >> okay, kia joel's from chatham house. thanks ever so much for talking to us on gb news this afternoon. >> a bit of breaking news coming in the spanish for the in from the spanish for the football federation known as regarded the suspended president, luis rubiales , of president, luis rubiales, of course, suspended by fifa . and course, suspended by fifa. and we are getting reaction from the spanish federation and pedro roja has written a letter distancing the organisation from rubiales saying that he is ashamed by them . the damage ashamed by them. the damage caused to spanish football , to caused to spanish football, to spanish sport, to spanish society and the values of football and sport as a whole have been enormous . the letter have been enormous. the letter says his actions must be attributed solely and exclusively to him. he's the one solely responsible for this actions before society. it appears the pressure is still growing. no indication yet what

direct action they will take. but of course, as we say, fifa have suspended him for 90 days. >> such huge story that >> such a huge story that rubiales his mother. she went on hunger strike. i think she's beenin hunger strike. i think she's been in hospital with it. yeah >> had to be taken out of that church and taken into hospital for i think it was problems with her her health and indicated that she is well again . but that she is well again. but whether she'll go back on hunger strike, we don't know more on that as we get it. >> northern ireland policing continues to be mired in crisis after the resignation its after the resignation of its chief constable , simon byrne. chief constable, simon byrne. he'd under pressure after a he'd been under pressure after a high court judge ruled that two psni officers had been unlawfully disciplined for an arrest made at a troubles commemoration event in 2021 and a major data breach exposed thousands of officers to potentially violent reprisals from dissident republicans. >> well, morale reportedly so low that the head of the organisation representing catholic officers says he's advised some of them to take weapons to mass in the aftermath

of the data breach to ensure their own safety . let's get more their own safety. let's get more now with dougie beattie , our now with dougie beattie, our northern ireland reporter who's in belfast for this, the headquarters. in belfast for this, the headquarters . and dougie, it headquarters. and dougie, it seems that even though the man at the top has gone, the problems continue. the structural problems , structural problems, particularly with the police federation saying, you know, there's more needs to be done . there's more needs to be done. >> indeed it is. mark in fact, it was last thursday that the chief constable said, i'm going nowhere, i'm not moving. and come monday, come yesterday, of course , he resigned. and course, he resigned. and i thought to myself, well, he probably took the weekend to think it, read the room think about it, read the room and thought, well, i'll resign. but actually having watched that northern ireland select affairs committee today, which is done in public, there's no hiding it. it's not like a policing board . it's not like a policing board. i'm not surprised he went. in fact, felt a little bit sorry fact, i felt a little bit sorry for assistant chief constable todd when he was very much grilled about the data leak . and grilled about the data leak. and amazingly , potentially, it could

amazingly, potentially, it could cost £243 million. that is some bill for a mistake. cost £243 million. that is some bill for a mistake . and it's bill for a mistake. and it's also, as you say, upset a lot of officers and put their securing at risk. and many officers now are leaving the force . that is a are leaving the force. that is a major problem for management here at headquarters . but the here at headquarters. but the political dynamite that really came out of this was when liam kelly, the head of the policing federation, was questioned by the sdlp's claire hanna, as did he think there was any political interference had gone on and this is what he had to say. >> so can i can i clarify that you believe beyond the normal engagement between political representatives, you believe that there are parties and actors trying to use influence and potentially threat of withdrawal to steer operational decisions? >> i would be as a separate to achieving accountability. >> yeah, i would be amazed if it's not there which again, this invest i mean, the reason that

we took the judicial review against the chief constable on that thing was because that is what we suspected and that's what we suspected and that's what we suspected and that's what we were being told. >> that was the basis of and that was the only point that won we that judicial as we in that judicial review. as a result declarations in result of the declarations in the daybooks of the deputy the daybooks of both the deputy chief the chief chief constable and the chief constable. there in black constable. it's there in black and an irrefutable and white. that's an irrefutable fact position fact from their position of where are . and i suppose where they are. and i suppose the answer in in relation to the further has this further investigation has this happened before and if so, when ? again, what an ? again, that's what an investigation could shine a light and well, there you go. >> he's saying that there definitely was political interference here. he would be amused if there wasn't. and he also went on to say that it also potentially came from the department of justice . and this department of justice. and this is political moment is the political moment potentially from the irish government. so we're actually back a week now because there will be those in the policing board that will want to know the answers to these questions. they want who knew what, when want to know who knew what, when they knew what event it was

they knew it, what event it was for, high up the how high up for, and high up the how high up the ladder it has gone. so the federation is very much in the driving seat now and they are saying that they want to rebuild, but they're asking for a chief con to be appointed pretty quickly, which means that chris heaton—harris will have to pass legislation to let the secretary state be involved. secretary of state be involved. liam thank you very much indeed for that . for that. >> dougie rather thanks very much indeed for that. let's speak now to john burrows, retired senior psni officer who's just joining us. we're just reading what the committee's been asking and what it's been covering . and i'm just it's been covering. and i'm just looking at the chairman's comments here. simon hoare , i'm comments here. simon hoare, i'm not writing the plot line of line of duty, but it just strikes me as stretching credulity a little too far . credulity a little too far. >> absolutely not. >> absolutely not. >> i was a expert witness in the case of the alleged suspension of two officers who were blameless, who acted lawfully, but who did something that caused a political stir.

>> i reviewed the material a number of illegal company, and the police federation took the chief constable to court and it was held that he did act in a political manner. so it's absolutely undisputed that the chief constable and deputy chief constable either received political petition from sinn fein to throw an officer under the bus who had acted lawfully or at least believed that they were under that petition because sinn have denied it. but sinn fein have denied it. but it's clear in the documents that we had to recover the we had to recover from the police they were told if police that they were told if you do not throw an officer on the bus and suspend him. despite that, obviously being blameless, that, obviously being blameless, that would down the that they would bring down the executive, would withdraw executive, they would withdraw support policing and the support for policing and the police service at the very senior level. therefore, there's question marks over the independence policing from independence of policing from operational independence of operational independence of operational policing, from political petition. and it's caused a huge crisis here. >> and just looking at how this

is taken forward into the data breach as well , is taken forward into the data breach as well, indications is taken forward into the data breach as well , indications from breach as well, indications from the police federation that it's not just the man at the top. there's got to be wholesale restructuring and reform. >> look , we were pleased service >> look, we were pleased service in northern ireland has been a gallant and honourable force service for many years. but we're in crisis. this is a place where officers pay such a sacrificial price to pay serve their community. the only part of the united kingdom where you're targeted on and off duty simply for being a police officer and where many officers , you know, conceal from their neighbours what they do. they've had data and names had their data and names released that's blowing their cover. released that's blowing their cover . top of released that's blowing their cover. top of that, we find out that most of the hard, hardworking officers who did nothing wrong whatsoever were thrown under the bus by the chief constable for one reason only that the deputy chief constable for political expedience and the difficulty we now have in the police service in northern ireland, the crisis

continues. because here's a fact right ? are you picking me up? right? are you picking me up? >> yeah. >> yeah. >> i was just going to say, we are tight for time, but you expect obviously this will expect obviously that this will continue, the story not continue, that the story not over as yet . but john, thank you over as yet. but john, thank you for bringing us your reaction. and course, see what and of course, we'll see what emerges of that emerges as a result of that committee meeting today. thank you much . you very much. >> well , stonkingly >> now, it's well, stonkingly hot out there, which means that the heat health alert for most of the uk has been upgraded to amber. temperatures could hit 32 degrees tomorrow and thursday. >> well, actually, i think they even talking about 33 now. it looks as if the mercury is heading ever higher. that will be hotter than a tabitha or athens los angeles and then athens or los angeles and then not expected to drop below 20 degrees overnight, which means we are officially in tropical conditions . does that mean that conditions. does that mean that jeff has got his hawaiian shirt on down in devon? let's take a look . oh, no . on down in devon? let's take a look. oh, no . you're very look. oh, no. you're very sensibly dressed for the englishman by the beach. >> is your ice cream, jeff , or

>> is your ice cream, jeff, or is that melted already? i am. >> i have had an i've had two ice creams, actually, to be honest. and they were really nice. i mean, the beach is full of people having really lovely of people having a really lovely time. didn't wear a time. but no, i didn't wear a hawaiian i haven't hawaiian shirt and i haven't worn i've been worn my shorts either. i've been very today . worn my shorts either. i've been very today. i'll very professional today. i'll have know. well, we've been have you know. well, we've been waiting this for a long waiting for this for a long time, haven't we've been time, haven't we? we've been hoping for heat hoping and praying for a heat wave a indian and wave for a an indian summer. and here as you say, here it is. as you say, temperatures getting up to 32, 33 degrees. this whole thing 33 degrees. and this whole thing of tropical nights , which is of tropical nights, which is a meteorological term, although i prefer your stonkingly hot . that prefer your stonkingly hot. that was the best one. but yes, they're saying that temperatures are going to get around 20 degrees at night. so is going degrees at night. so it is going to feel very warm and sweltering. wonderful news for most people. but of course, there a weather warning and there is a weather warning and as say, that was upgraded at as you say, that was upgraded at about today. become about midday today. it's become an which sounds an amber warning, which sounds a bit alarmist because it's saying there's a risk of death. and of course, says, you course, everybody says, you know, every know, for goodness sake, every time comes out, there's time the sun comes out, there's a of death. but what that

a risk of death. but what that means is it's specifically aimed at old people's homes at people in old people's homes in homes, the elderly in care homes, the elderly that might be very vulnerable or susceptible to heat. they need to keep very cool today and to really keep out of the sunshine. obviously the warning still in place about leaving dogs in hot cars, too , but it's certainly cars, too, but it's certainly a welcome boost to the tourist industry. the beach has been packed here in instow in north devon, and all the bars and the restaurants have been full and really that's been needed because trade has been down in the tourist hotspots in devon alone by 20% this summer due to all of the wind and the rain that we've experienced. but the big question, of course , is how big question, of course, is how long this going to well long is this going to last? well it depends you talk to, it depends who you talk to, really. there's one forecast that could on all that says this could go on all september . i choose believe september. i choose to believe that forecast . but the met september. i choose to believe that fc says;t . but the met september. i choose to believe that fc says no but the met september. i choose to believe that fc says no , ut the met september. i choose to believe that fc says no , it'she met september. i choose to believe that fc says no , it's here et september. i choose to believe that fc says no , it's here until office says no, it's here until 9:00 on sunday. and then things go back to normal . go back to normal. >> jeff, thank you so much. many people will be looking forward to it. getting back to normal.

it is it is a bit hot out there. we're off to sit in our garden, but we are back with but we are back tomorrow with the live tomorrow at midday. stay cool. >> stay cool. >> stay cool. >> tomorrow . >> see you tomorrow. >> see you tomorrow. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news >> hello again . many of us are >> hello again. many of us are going to have some more hot sunshine through today, although there is the chance of a not shower, particularly for northern southwest northern ireland and southwest england with some low england with some fog and low cloud. tonight at moment cloud. tonight at the moment there weak front line there is a weak front line towards the north of the uk that is bfing towards the north of the uk that is bring some cloud and is going to bring some cloud and some drizzly rain the far some drizzly rain across the far north mainland scotland and north of mainland scotland and perhaps as well . perhaps orkney as well. elsewhere across the bulk of the uk, plenty of sunshine, plenty of skies , although we do of blue skies, although we do need to cater for a few showers across parts of ireland, northern ireland perhaps northern ireland and perhaps southwest and southwest england later on. and here southwest, those here in the southwest, those blustery winds are to blustery winds are going to start ease as well. start to ease as well. temperatures to reach temperatures likely to reach highs of around 30 or 31 celsius. so it is a heat wave for some of us, particularly

across the as we across parts of the south as we go through the end of the day, some low clouds, some sea fog is going from north going to push in from the north sea, eastern parts of sea, affecting eastern parts of scotland. eastern scotland. and down the eastern side england well. further side of england as well. further west and south, clearer skies. but expecting a few pockets but i'm expecting a few pockets of mist and fog to develop here. temperatures not dropping a huge amount, the london amount, perhaps in the london area. temperatures stay area. temperatures could stay above 20 celsius tonight. so it could tropical night for could be a tropical night for some us. a bit a slow some of us. a bit of a slow start wednesday down the start on wednesday down the eastern side of uk. but that eastern side of the uk. but that low fog should low cloud, that sea fog should burn towards the coast burn back towards the coast fairly quickly, although down eastern parts scotland, some eastern parts of scotland, some of cloud is going to linger of that cloud is going to linger well afternoon. well into the afternoon. otherwise cloud than otherwise a bit more cloud than we've some recent we've seen through some recent days. but still plenty of sunshine hot again. sunshine and feeling hot again. temperatures even higher for some of us with highs around 32 celsius. i'll see you later. >> that warm feeling inside . >> that warm feeling inside. aside from boxt boilers as proud sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> very good afternoon, everybody. it's patrick christys here on gb news. big hour coming your way. right. okay. will britain crumble this concrete school crisis? it cannot just be schools, can it? this concrete must have been used elsewhere. i'm talking social housing, hospitals, airports , motorway, hospitals, airports, motorway, bridges, you name it. hospitals, airports, motorway, bridges, you name it . where is bridges, you name it. where is this concrete? i have actually managed to find a concrete expert. believe it or not. so

we're talking about that. in other news, this in light of gillian keegan's comments yesterday, politicians yesterday, do our politicians deserve are they deserve thanks? are they selfless public servants or are they all on the take and frankly, ruining our lives by not doing what we tell them to do? be thanking our do? should we be thanking our mps i'll also talking about mps? i'll also be talking about this well. of the this as well. return of the blair riots. yes the vast majority the media shock majority of the media shock horror are hailing a keir starmer shadow cabinet as this great success. we're seeing tony blair mark two. i don't think that's a good thing. i'll be discussing and also this as well. i will be talking about a wind farm in your back garden. this is slipped the radar this is slipped under the radar a bit. so it's being a little bit. so it's being debated the house of commons debated in the house of commons today. we end up seeing today. could we end up seeing wind popping right wind farms popping up right across countryside? would across the countryside? would you at the back your you have one at the back of your house? ulez of rural house? is it the ulez of rural britain ? and finally hour britain? and finally this hour as well birmingham bust, as well, birmingham goes bust, essentially. yes, that's true. birmingham city council, the largest council , has filed for largest council, has filed for effective bankruptcy . what does effective bankruptcy. what does this mean? not just for the

people of birmingham,