us good afternoon. >> it's 12 noon and you're here with the live desk on gb news

coming up for you this tuesday lunchtime. >> the rhetoric versus the reality. home secretary in washington calling for a major overhaul of the un's refugee convention. but we're on the island of lampedusa, where in the more than the last week alone, more than 11,000 people arrived 11,000 more people have arrived trying europe. trying to enter europe. >> davey looks to win >> sir ed davey looks to win over tory voters over disenfranchised tory voters as lib dem as he closes the lib dem conference with a speech targeting government targeting the government over health economy. health and the economy. we're live bournemouth. health and the economy. we're live eye30urnemouth. health and the economy. we're live eye30urnemcfigures. health and the economy. we're liveeyesournemcfigures. is >> eye watering figures. is ofwat will ofwat says utilities will have to million back bill to pay £114 million back to bill payers after failing to meet their on pollution their key targets on pollution leakage supply . leakage and supply. >> also coming up, breaking news with a gb news exclusive live, andy burnham, greater manchester's mayor says he'll take government take the government to court if they scrap northern leg of they scrap the northern leg of hs2. speaking our hs2. he's been speaking to our political chris political editor, chris hope. this will have all this afternoon's will have all of that to come after your headunes of that to come after your headlines aaron armstrong . headlines with aaron armstrong. it is a minute past 12. >> good afternoon to you, aaron armstrong here in the gb newsroom. woman newsroom. being gay or a woman isn't enough in itself to qualify asylum. view qualify for asylum. the view of the will the home secretary who will question international the home secretary who will questiorrules international the home secretary who will questiorrules are international the home secretary who will questiorrules are fit ernational the home secretary who will questiorrules are fit forational refugee rules are fit for purpose she gives a speech purpose when she gives a speech in washington later, she'll ask if convention if the un's 1951 convention is relevant to the modern age,

arguing the tests for how refugees defined have refugees are defined have changed. part changed. and the address is part of plan tackle the of her plan to tackle the refugee crisis. but the shadow cabinet minister, anneliese dodds, conservatives dodds, says the conservatives are to for the influx of are to blame for the influx of small boats. >> convention >> international convention lines the lines are not the reason why the conservative government is failing. take failing. in particular to take action against international action against the international people they are people smuggling gangs. they are not why the not the reason why the conservative such conservative government has such chaos the reason why they're not the reason why british are paying £8 british taxpayers are paying £8 million a day on accommodation. i'm a i'm afraid that the responsibility for all of this lies squarely with the conservative government . conservative government. >> meanwhile , red cross >> meanwhile, red cross officials on the italian island officials on the italian island of lampedusa are rushing to free up space in their processing centre, an expectation of another surge in migrant arrivals . gb news can reveal the arrivals. gb news can reveal the camp now has just over 150 residents. a week ago it was deaung residents. a week ago it was dealing with more than 11,000. it led to clashes with italian police as migrants tried to leave the camp for the main town . russell brands asked his followers for financial support

and says the government is bypassing the judicial process to censor him. his address on the rumble platform last night came after the met police opened an investigation into multiple allegations of sexual offences made by a number of women. brand encouraged his fans to sign up to a £48 subscription after youtube's suspended his earnings for violating their policies last week. he's accused the legacy media, government and big tech of supporting in his words, a state agenda describing a global war to silence independent voices . global war to silence independent voices. he denies wrongdoing on police will be given the legal protection to carry out their duties. the policing minister chris philp says it's in the public interest for officers to be able to act without fear of prosecution. a significant number of london's counter—terrorism police stepped back after a colleague was charged with murdering chris kabain charged with murdering chris kaba in south london last year. the army's bid stood down from supporting the met after enough firearms officers returned to

duty yesterday . duty yesterday. >> we will make sure through this review that the police are able to do their job protecting the looking after each the public, looking after each and every one of us without it being at risk of unreasonable legal jeopardy. now, of course, there needs to be processed to make sure that police make sure that the police conduct themselves in a way that is proper, but can't lead is proper, but that can't lead to unreasonable investigate actions and it can't lead to investigations that hang over officers for years and years. it's not in the public interest that that happens because we need police to be out there need the police to be out there proactively protecting the public. >> water companies will have to return £114 million to customers after falling short of set standards . the regular later standards. the regular later ofwat has found most companies have failed to meet key targets on reducing pollution and leakage and supply interruptions. they say customer satisfaction has continued to fall. thames water will have to pay fall. thames water will have to pay the most. £101 million, followed by southern water , followed by southern water, which must give back £43

million. workers in the uk are taking more sick days than at any time in the last decade . new any time in the last decade. new research from the chartered institute for professional development shows staff took on average . 7.8 days off in the average. 7.8 days off in the past year, up from 5.8 before the pandemic. sick it's blaming stress covid and the cost of living crisis with the biggest cause for long term absence and poor mental health vehicle scams have soared by 74, costing victims almost £1,000 on average. each potential buyers are being duped by fake posts on social media or online marketplace is advertising vehicles that don't exist. they'll often be encouraged to pay a they'll often be encouraged to pay a deposit or even the full amount up front. despite not seeing the car in person. people aged between 25 and 34 are the most likely to be stung . the most likely to be stung. the president of south korea has accepted an invitation from king charles. he'll pay a state visit

to the uk later this year. the king and queen camilla will host yoon suk yeol and his wife kim kyung hee at buckingham palace in november. it will be the second incoming state visit of the king's reign following the south african president cyril ramaphosa, stay last year. south african president cyril ramaphosa, stay last year . that ramaphosa, stay last year. that is it from me for the moment. but you can get more on your smart speaker. just say gb news on your digital radio and on your television. of course, now it's back to markham . and it is it's back to markham. and it is definitely ellie. >> thank you very much, aaron. coming up, more on that breaking news, a gb news exclusive, indeed. our political editor chris hope has been speaking to andy burnham, the mayor of greater manchester. he has just told him he is considering taking legal action against the government if it fails to carry on with that northern link on the hs2 line. of course, you will know that chris philp, the home office minister, spoke to

reporters this morning saying that there would be no decision made on whether to axe or delay the northern leg. but the government was reviewing how the cost it could be controlled. yes >> so new line there from andy burnham that he could take the government court if they government to court if they backed down on hs2. perhaps no surprise following his comments a little bit earlier on this week when he said the people of manchester treated manchester were being treated like second citizens. like second class citizens. he said no way the london said there was no way the london leg of hs2 would be scrapped . so leg of hs2 would be scrapped. so he was speaking to our political edhon he was speaking to our political editor, chris hope, and we'll be speaking to chris hope about that in about seven that interview in about seven minutes time. so you stay tuned for that. minutes time. so you stay tuned for yeah, problems within the >> yeah, problems within the tory itself, of course. tory party itself, of course. george former george osborne, former chancellor saying chancellor lord heseltine saying scrapping the manchester review was an act of gross vandal ism in their view. more on that as it comes through. but let's also reflect that suella braverman is set make a major speech in set to make a major speech in washington dc, taking aim at the united nations refugee convention . convention. >> yes, the home secretary is

expected to call for the key legal document to be rewritten for modern times and to declare that no migrant crossing the channel to britain has a good cause for a legal entry. >> however, the refugee council and the labour party argue that the uk should instead be concentrating on addressing the record asylum system backlog. the number of migrants arriving via small boats edging ever closer to 24,000 coming into britain this year as well. >> let's get the thoughts of david dunn, professor in international studies at the university of birmingham. very good to see you this afternoon. so we're expecting full suella braverman in the speech in washington this afternoon to say that 70 years have passed since this convention was agreed. she's going to say we live in such different times, it perhaps needs to be rewritten . what do needs to be rewritten. what do you make of that .7 you make of that? >> well, i think her comments reflect the changing nature of the world. in 1951, there were estimated to be 2 million refugees in europe who needed to

be resettled. the estimates now are that there may be 780 million people who could claim asylum on on that basis. if you look at africa, the population of africa has doubled in the last 20 years to 1.4 million. and just below that and is estimated to double again in between now and 2060. so there are millions of people living in areas of the world where there areas of the world where there are no economic prospects, where there is a liberal regime . so there is a liberal regime. so being gay, being a woman is a problem and qualifies you under the present system to claim asylum elsewhere. the ease of travel across the mediterranean and across the channel means that they now have a means of presenting themselves as obviously those numbers mean that we can't offer asylum in the same way. and that's true in america, which is why she's in

the united states. they have a massive problem with their southern border. it's a huge political issue in the upcoming presidential election as it is in europe and elsewhere . so in europe and elsewhere. so migration linked to population growth is the challenge that she's talking about today. >> yeah, and i think she sort of identified at least 780 million people effectively on the move across the globe. but just to take it back to the united nations, we understand she's likely to say that the convention, 1951, an incredible achievement of its age. but in need of reform. seven decades on. but i suppose you could say the same about the united nafions the same about the united nations itself . the trouble is, nations itself. the trouble is, that's all we've got at the moment . moment. >> well, indeed . and reforming >> well, indeed. and reforming the united nations is the security council, the general assembly , any aspect of it, and assembly, any aspect of it, and reforming , reforming assembly, any aspect of it, and reforming, reforming this agenda when of course, the majority of states in the united nations will probably be supportive of it is a difficult ask , but it's

it is a difficult ask, but it's and it begs the question as to whether the certain states will seek to bring out a new interpretation of that rather than get agreement at the united nafions than get agreement at the united nations itself . but it's a very nations itself. but it's a very different to world the one in which that convention was drafted and so the challenge of population growth is the main driver of that . driver of that. >> so, david, this is tough read trick, isn't it? but is it actually anything more than that? because this this convention, it took decades to put together. various countries neededin put together. various countries needed in order to sign up for this convention on this isn't really something that the uk can just go out alone and do . just go out alone and do. >> and i think that also is at play >> and i think that also is at play here. we're clearly entering the phase of a general election campaign and making statements like this play to the conservative party's base support suggests that the problem isn't with government policy, it is with the

convention. it is with the inadequacies of the global system rather than the failure of the government to process the asylum seekers or to stop the boats crossing the channel. >> and what reception do you think she'll get in washington, d.c? it's a think she'll get in washington, dc? it's a democrat town. it's d.c? it's a democrat town. it's a democrat presidency at the moment . is she likely to get moment. is she likely to get a fair hearing ? fair hearing? >> yes. but the american enterprise institute is a reaganite republican , indeed reaganite republican, indeed bastion in in washington. so where she is speaking, they will have lined up a sympathetic audience for her. and in terms of the wider american debate, migration on asylum across the southern border is a huge issue . and therefore, in a sense, she'll be speaking to people who are receptive to her message . are receptive to her message. >> david as ever , thanks for >> david as ever, thanks for joining us with your assessment. and of course, we'll be carrying that speech from washington a little later. thanks very much, indeed. let's bring you some

breaking unconfirmed breaking news. unconfirmed reports but there coming in reports, but there are coming in of woman in being found of a young woman in being found dead on a beach calais after dead on a beach in calais after believing they believed that she fell off a small boat trying to get channel she's get across the channel she's been identified as a 24 year old eritrea rayan. we understand, but not being named and thought to have drowned in the early hours of this morning, reports suggesting, although, as we say , unofficial at the moment, that she was hoping to claim asylum in britain . her body found on in britain. her body found on bleriot beach at about 5:40 am. meanwhile the red cross on the italian island of lampedusa rushing to empty a processing centre ahead of what they believe will be another surge of migrants. they're expected to arrive by the end of the week. >> well, gb news has learned the camp known locally as the hotspot, has just over 150 hotspot, now has just over 150 residents and comes a week after more than 11,000 migrants reached lampedusa from north africa . africa. >> let's get more live there now with our home and security editor mark white. and mark,

first of all, these reports just reaching us about what's been happening on the channel. of happening on the channel. and of course, reminder of the human course, a reminder of the human cost of all this . cost of all this. >> yeah. and we know that only too well here in lampedusa . too well here in lampedusa. we're a week away from the 10th anniversary of a terrible tragedy out in the mediterranean , a boat that was heading for lampedusa that capsized , and 363 lampedusa that capsized, and 363 people drowned on that occasion. >> and there have been many other drownings in the mediterranee in since. and of course , a number in the channel course, a number in the channel >> now, what we understand about this eritrean woman, 24 years old, as you mentioned , as you've old, as you mentioned, as you've been trying to get on one of four boats that made it across to dover this morning. >> this is the first time that these channel migrants have managed to illegally cross into to the uk for some nine days because there have been pretty bad weather conditions out in the english channel that has

prevented those crossings . prevented those crossings. similarly, here in lampedusa, we're in a period of about four now coming into five days. as of windy weather out in the mediterranean, south of the island , which is making that island, which is making that crossing impassable . all so that crossing impassable. all so that nine day period of no channel crossings means, of course , that crossings means, of course, that the people smugglers are effectively queuing them up to get on the boats. and across the second conditions improve while conditions did improve. but they were still pretty rough and just borderline for being able to cross. and it's understood that this 24 year old eritrea woman was trying to get on one of the boats when she slipped off the boats when she slipped off the boat , left her boats when she slipped off the boat, left her behind. but she didn't make it back to shore alive and her body was found just before 6 am. this morning. so see another tragedy to add to a list. a growing list of tragedies in the english channel. >> as you say, mark, it's a

reminder of the human cost of this tragedy . and a source is this tragedy. and a source is saying now that it followed a night of intense activity of migrant crossings in the channel and where you are now in lampedusa, you're outside a processing centre yesterday for us. mark, can we understand and that there is now emergency action from the red cross trying to empty those processing centres is ahead of another migrant surge. again, talking about the weather and once that weather clears , there are fears weather clears, there are fears there's going to be another surge of migrant crossings . surge of migrant crossings. >> yeah, we were able to speak to senior red cross official while at that migrant camp run by the red cross in lampedusa which really struggled to cope with thousands loads of migrants at 1.7 thousand were in that camp at one time. it's only designed to hold 400 migrants and what they've been doing is taking advantage of the weather,

the winds blowing across the mediterranean, which have stopped the migrant boat crossings , is to empty out that crossings, is to empty out that camp to get them on ferries to the italian mainland. and they've managed to get it to down 155 people in the camp at the moment. they'll try and reduce it further ahead of what is an expected surge when the weather dies down from probably wednesday onwards . i spoke wednesday onwards. i spoke earlier to serena cornelia , who earlier to serena cornelia, who is the senior supervisor for red cross camps across italy. and this is what she told me. >> if you have a lot of people is more difficult to give the support . support. >> but we try to give food, give kit, give psychological support and health support to all the people inside the centre. we have specialised team of psychologists, doctors and

operators and volunteers that work with minors . so we have work with minors. so we have tried to take care of all the people inside the centre . people inside the centre. >> and how are you preparing for the possibility of more boats when the weather improves? yes absolutely. >> yes. we are preparing kids with clothes, hygiene kits , food with clothes, hygiene kits, food kits in a way to be prepared at the arrival . the arrival. >> well, mark, that's the reaction there on the island. what about italy and the wider sense , i gather the pope has sense, i gather the pope has been saying that the mediterranean and what's happening to people is something that needs to be taken on on a national level. yeah there is an unedifying row between the italian government and the european union and other european union and other european countries . european countries. >> we had ursula von der leyen , >> we had ursula von der leyen, the european commission president, who came here just over a week ago to see for herself the conditions on the

island. she promised more help, but it comes at a time where a number of european countries, france and germany, included , france and germany, included, are saying they just won't take any more migrants from italy because they're accusing the italian government of not being reciprocal. of not taking its share of migrants coming in to the european union. so we're at a bit of an impasse at the moment. and all of the while , moment. and all of the while, the number of migrants coming to italy continues to grow. that red cross official told me that on lampedusa alone, since the 1st of june, mark, 62,000 migrants have arrived here, are going into italy as a whole since the beginning of the year. 130,000 migrants have arrived in lampedusa and other areas of italy , and officials are italy, and officials are expected saying that that will easily top 200,000 by the end of the year . it easily top 200,000 by the end of the year. it gives a real

indication that when you compare it to the crisis that the uk is facing in the channel, not insignificant, but just look at that compared to 200,000 in a year to italy, one country. >> okay, mark wyatt, really good to have your insight there on the island of lampedusa. just off italy for us. thank you very much. >> coming up, our gb news exclusive in the breaking news, a runaway political train heading down the track at full speed. rishi sunak facing a backlash over plans to scrap hs2. we're live in manchester with andy burnham saying he's willing to take the government to court. all that coming up shortly . shortly. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello, i'm alex burkill . >> hello, i'm alex burkill. here's your latest gb news weather bulletin brought to you by the met office. on a day when we have sunshine and showers, the risk of thunder and some breezy storm breezy winds ahead of storm agnes arriving tomorrow. the bigger picture shows a front

that pushing way east that is pushing its way east north across the uk north eastwards across the uk today. it's on this front today. and it's on this front that going to see some that we're going to see some heavy , particularly across heavy rain, particularly across parts as we go parts of scotland, as we go through of the through the rest of the afternoon. thunder mixed in afternoon. some thunder mixed in with best of with this. the best chance of staying perhaps with staying dry, perhaps with some decent eastern decent sunshine across eastern parts elsewhere, parts of england. elsewhere, bright, spells , but also bright, sunny spells, but also a scattering showers . and these scattering of showers. and these could turn thundery at times as well. likely to well. temperatures likely to reach highs of around 20 to 23 celsius in the south—east so above average for the time of yeah above average for the time of year. offset by those year. but offset by those blustery the showers blustery winds. the showers continue for many as we go through the of the day and through the end of the day and through the end of the day and through much night. they through much of the night. they are going to linger across some northern parts as well. could still ones , still have some heavy ones, perhaps even the odd rumble of thunder though most thunder elsewhere, though most places dry. places turning largely dry. perhaps of mist perhaps some pockets of mist and fog towards the and fog towards the south and southeast. temps generally staying in double figures, perhaps starting to pick up in the south—west as we head through the early hours because of the wet windy weather of the wet and windy weather that then going push its that is then going to push its way and that's all due to way in. and that's all due to storm agnes. so turning very wet

and parts of and windy across parts of northern ireland and also down the side uk as we the western side of the uk as we head day, have head through the day, could have some winds , could some really strong winds, could cause for quite cause some disruption for quite a few places. temperatures in the south—east likely again the south—east are likely again to into the low 20s, to get into the low 20s, but feeling much more unpleasant elsewhere the wind and elsewhere under the wind and rain . rain. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, proud sponsors of weather on

patrick christys on gb news and gb news radio .

gb news radio. >> welcome back here with the live desk. it's 12:26. now in a gb news exclusive, the mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham , has said he could take legal action against the government if the northern leg of hs2 is scrapped out, saying that labour will build it if they win the general election next year. >> he's been speaking to our political editor christopher hope. up in manchester. let's go live to manchester now and speak to chris. chris, strange bedfellows there. we had lord heseltine, george osborne saying axing this manchester leg would be a gross act of vandalism. andy burnham going even further now . and that's right. andy now. and that's right. andy burnham the greater, greater manchester mayor. >> he's really concerned. >> he's really concerned. >> i'm up at hope here in oxford street in manchester. it's busy lunchtime hour, there's lunchtime rush hour, but there's a concern here about this northern leg hs2. if it's not northern leg of hs2. if it's not built birmingham built from birmingham to manchester, really manchester, it will really threaten of the

threaten the whole idea of the northern network, the northern powerhouse rail between hull, liverpool and manchester. these these elements are so important. andy burnham i've interviewed him for gb news today. he's been saying he's really saying that he's really concerned about the impact on inward investment , concerned about the impact on inward investment, on people, on companies coming to invest companies coming here to invest heavily north—west. and heavily in the north—west. and heavily in the north—west. and he to that he did say to us that all opfions he did say to us that all options are on the table. he said that they will be hearing from us that that is a clear threat of legal action in greater manchester, suing whitehall. if this hs2 project to manchester doesn't go ahead. >> where are we? as many rail passengers often ask in that we've got chris philp this morning on the morning round saying no decision made on whether to axe or delay reviewing costs, how they can be controlled and yet the suggestions are the decisions being made. it's not going to be announced until after the tory party . conference. party. conference. >> well, it's been a complete up mark in terms of government

communications and when i say government communications, i don't like press releases. don't mean like press releases. i talking to people i mean talking to people who are massively affected by government choices made on a on a table in whitehall , because we've had whitehall, because we've had this briefing over the recent weeks, had chancellor saying weeks, had the chancellor saying he couldn't commit to hs2, the pm couldn't commit to hs2 north of birmingham, and now we're told that this whole decision may or may not taken until may or may not be taken until the statement , which the autumn statement, which is due november . the autumn statement, which is due november. so why due in in november. so why they've allowed this to out they've allowed this to go out of here, of control? i'm standing here, as in manchester, and as i say, in manchester, and a few days time the entire cabinet will be trying to say how will be here trying to say how they levelling up, they believe in levelling up, believe in the north, believe in helping people who need their help. this whole help. well, this this whole speculation has been disaster speculation has been a disaster going into that period. >> the timing could not >> i mean, the timing could not be awkward, really , could be more awkward, really, could it, christopher? hope we've literally until sunday for literally got until sunday for rishi sunak to pull something out bag . what you out of the bag. what do you think he'll doing now in the think he'll be doing now in the next few days? do think next few days? do you think he'll be looking perhaps at an alternative ? alternative? >> well, he'll be asked

repeatedly about what his plans are. the rumour is some form of rephasing and what that means is they build bits of it at different times. they're trying to play off the rather huge cost, more on inflation, on building costs. but inflation should be down to 3. this time next year. the hope is you can try and flex the building, do the building at different points to try and make sure happens, to try and make sure it happens, but believe you me, it is vital vital to greater manchester that hs2 built. that's been me hs2 is built. that's been me made me andy made very clear to me by andy burnham. for that burnham. the interview for that interview after the interview will run after the after 1:00 on gb news. but i think viewers should watch that and concerned to hear and hear his concerned to hear his worry. and that's why he is threatening action against threatening legal action against the it can't ahead. >> and huge row, of course, >> and a huge row, of course, then within the tory top tier, if you like, another big beast, william hague, saying this has been terribly badly managed and a national disgrace. this is there a question about the oversight, the lack of cost control by a conservative government .

government. >> but there's worries about the cost of i mean, just take the cost of i mean, just take the cost of i mean, just take the cost of the bosses are paying on hs2 far in excess of any money paid to civil servants that's been out there for a long time. it's been on a red rating bits of the route by the nao, the national office, which national audit office, which looks projects and says looks at these projects and says if buildable. but it was if they're buildable. but it was dnven if they're buildable. but it was driven by, by driven forward really by, by political will, by george osborne, you say william hague there. david cameron, michael heseltine. these are all tory big beasts from the past who weren't holding the pan over a chequebook looking the chequebook, looking at the soaring of the cost of soaring costs of the cost of living crisis, the war in ukraine other factors. so ukraine and other factors. so i think they are now committed to going to birmingham. the question they north going to birmingham. the qutherei they north going to birmingham. the quthere ? they north going to birmingham. the quthere ? for they north going to birmingham. the quthere ? for people north going to birmingham. the quthere ? for people around h going to birmingham. the quthere ? for people around me, of there? for people around me, it must do. >> and what will this mean when we're to a general we're looking ahead to a general election time next election, perhaps this time next yean election, perhaps this time next year, especially for red wall voters the north—west, voters and in the north—west, they want to see levelling up in action. for many, that meant hs2. if government's going hs2. if the government's going to row back on that, what does that mean for a conservative government at the next general

election ? election? >> well, quite. i think it does. george. george, a question . i george. george, a question. i think, ellie, the actual commitment of this government to levelling did ask andy levelling up. i did ask andy burnham in the interview, you'll see on gb news whether see later on on gb news whether labour would support building the manchester leg. and he said yes , he'd been assured by on yes, he'd been assured by on a visit here by louise hague, who's the shadow transport secretary on monday that labour would ahead . so make no would go ahead. so make no question that the next election labour will be saying that they will will connect you will say we will connect you to the midlands , to the the to the midlands, to the people the north people living in the north and greater manchester and the north—west. what would the tories do? >> thanks very much >> christopher thanks very much for bringing us that exclusive there manchester. as you say, there in manchester. as you say, your interview andy coming your interview with andy coming up at with all the insights up at 1:00 with all the insights and what could be legal action being taken against the government. thank you very much. >> won't to miss >> yes. you won't want to miss that. now, coming up, the regulator, says utilities regulator, ofwat, says utilities will pay whopping £114 will have to pay a whopping £114 million back to bill payers . million back to bill payers. we'll break down those numbers with liam halligan after your headunes with liam halligan after your headlines with aaron armstrong .

headlines with aaron armstrong. it is 1232. >> i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom. well, as you've just been hearing, the greater manchester mayor andy burnham says could take legal action says he could take legal action against the tory government if the northern of hs2 scrapped the northern leg of hs2 scrapped the northern leg of hs2 scrapped the prime minister reported the prime minister is reported to alarmed by runaway to be alarmed by the runaway cost high speed rail link cost of the high speed rail link he's a cabinet split over he's facing a cabinet split over the issue . the times claims the the issue. the times claims the cost of hs2 could exceed £100 billion as a result of high salaries and poor budgeting by the company overseeing the project . for 15 years or more. project. for 15 years or more. >> kind of many people in the greater manchester system have been working hard at the government's request to bring through these plans. >> we've devoted hours and hours and hours of time all of our development plans are linked to it. if they pull the plug, they are kind of ripping the heart out of the economic development plan for greater manchester and parts of the north. so all opfions parts of the north. so all

options would absolutely be on the table . the table. >> he believes simply being gay or a woman isn't enough by itself to claim asylum. suella braverman is campaigning for a change to international refugee agreements . change to international refugee agreements. in a change to international refugee agreements . in a speech in agreements. in a speech in washington, she claims rules put in place 70 years ago are no longer relevant. it, meanwhile , longer relevant. it, meanwhile, red cross officials on the island of lampedusa, the italian island, they're rushing to free up space in their processing centre, an expectation of another surge in migrant arrivals. gb news can reveal the camp now has just over 150 residents, compared with more than 11,000 a week ago . it led than 11,000 a week ago. it led to clashes with italian police as the migrants tried to leave the camp for the main town , a the camp for the main town, a customers will receive £114 million off their water bills next year because providers are falling short of set standards. offer what the regulator has found most companies are failing to meet their targets on reducing pollution leakage and supply interruption , as thames

supply interruption, as thames water will have to pay back the most £101 million, followed by £43 million from southern water . thames water is the country's biggest provider , with 15 biggest provider, with 15 million customers in the south of england . more on all of our of england. more on all of our stories on our website, gbnews.com .

>> patrick christys weekday from three on . gb news.

three on. gb news. >> and welcome back to the live desk with the regulator ofwat ordering water companies to refund their customers 140 £18 million after they failed to meet key targets on reducing pollution leakage. yes. and supply problems too. >> well, underperform ing providers are restricted by ofwat in the amount they can charge customers they're expected to refund them by lowering bills is thames water, which provides water for 15 million people, will have to give back more than £101 million. we had to break the figures down our economics and business editor liam halligan with on the money . with on the money. >> quite a lot of money, actually. and let's just be specific here. this is not a fine as such from ofwat. this is just them saying give it back to the customers. that's right. >> it's going to be really hard for these 12 out of 17 water companies in england and wales. >> this not scotland and

>> this is not scotland and northern raise prices northern ireland to raise prices because ofwat have marked their card off what of course, being the water regulator here. and there's for many years there's been for many years there's been for many years there's been for many years there's been concerns about leakages , about sewage, about underperformance. >> but this is probably the harshest report we've seen from ofwat. and they're trying to say to customers, look, we are on your side , but it's actually your side, but it's actually going to be quite difficult to understand. >> and the extent to which these water companies giving money water companies are giving money back. let's just have a look at a graphic here. i've got some of some details. so ofwat some of the details. so ofwat says 12 the 17 water says that 12 of the 17 water companies england and wales companies in england and wales quotes of standards. quotes fell short of standards. customers are to receive of £114 million off their water bills next year. in those 12 company areas . and out of those 12 areas. and out of those 12 thames water will pay back more than 100 million of that 114 million. so they really are the kind of elephant in the room and they've got the most customers, i suppose. >> yeah , indeed. >> yeah, indeed. >> yeah, indeed. >> as i say here, they supply 1 in 4 people britain with in 4 people in britain with water. obviously across west

london. and that thames valley. let's have a look at the 12 underperformers and i'll hilariously try and pronounce some of the welsh. so massive apologies our welsh speaking apologies to our welsh speaking audiences . apologies to our welsh speaking audiences. gb news apologies to our welsh speaking audiences . gb news affinity audiences. gb news affinity water anglian water dwr kumri . water anglian water dwr kumri. hafren. dufrenoy. how did i do? northumbrian water ses water. they're in sort of south london, south—east water south—west water across the south—west, south—west water within bristol southern water thames water. they're the big enchilada and then yorkshire water. so the companies mark anelli that have performed sufficiently, we should just give them a mention. yeah, yeah, yeah. and people will recognise them from their bills . that's five out of the 17 bills. that's five out of the 17 portsmouth water severn trent waters south staffs water united utilities and wessex water. >> and should we reflect those are the smaller companies. they are the smaller companies. they are something to be said for that. >> yeah. small is beautiful in some ways. but on the other hand, small, you it's hand, if you're small, you it's harder to do the repairs because

you're them on smaller you're doing them on a smaller scale. spread scale. you can't spread your overhead but this a overhead. but look, this is a really serious issue. and these water companies, they've been paying water companies, they've been paying chief executives a paying their chief executives a huge money. huge amount of money. shareholders have been doing dividends but they dividends quite well. but they don't seem to be providing a decent standard of even clean water across many parts of the country , particularly in country, particularly in england, wales, again , 12 out of england, wales, again, 12 out of 17 water companies having their card public marked by the regulator . this card public marked by the regulator. this is not working. >> will it be enough, though, to turn the tide? pardon the pun, on this ? i mean, to give refunds on this? i mean, to give refunds back to customers, will it be enough to actually change the sector? do the companies care? >> well, ellie, i wonder about this whole concept of rather than explicit fines , giving than explicit fines, giving refunds back to the customers from what base? >> i mean, the water companies could argue and no doubt they will. oh, our cost base has gone up this much. but we're you know, with clever accounting, you can try and justify that you've given money back to

customers. but unless each individual customer goes through water company accounts which are published, sort of 18 or published, sort of 18 months or two you see there two years later, you see there might be enforcement problem might be an enforcement problem here. sounds good, but where here. it sounds good, but where does rubber hit the road? to does the rubber hit the road? to what extent are customers really going to get lower bills than they done? they otherwise would have done? >> well, >> could they argue, well, that means money to means we've got less money to invest do all the repairs. invest and do all the repairs. et cetera. et cetera. >> is the thing. >> this is the thing. >> this is the thing. >> circle . >> unvirtuous circle. >> unvirtuous circle. >> here's a prediction. >> here's here's a prediction. i think the election think in the election manifesto of the labour party and the lib dems too , there will be probably dems too, there will be probably the biggest shift that we've seen in in our lifetimes back towards, you know , state towards, you know, state ownership because nationalisation of so many of these public utilities aren't actually delivering for people. there's a lot of you know, i speak as a sort of broadly free market supporting person, but a lot of the companies, they're really milking it for dividends. and executives and and senior executives and a bafic and senior executives and a basic standard of provision doesn't really seem to be there. >> but for people at home, they

don't care about paying a water bill all they really want is reliable clean water. a refund won't go far enough. >> they do, but for a lot of people, a water bill is just an extra bill and water bills have been going up a lot in recent years , not least because so much years, not least because so much of the distribution network is, you know, littered victorian and it needs repairing. so water water companies are trying to justify higher bills in order to repair the network. that was a lot of the point of privatisation that the private sector would do a lot of the repair work, so they'd make profit in the future. but it strikes me that it's very hard for regulator for to get for the regulator for to get these companies to focus on the long term and on good customer service, which is why they're taking know pretty high profile steps by, you know, whacking , if steps by, you know, whacking, if you like. indeed, 12 out of 17 big figures, but not quite as big figures, but not quite as big as hs2, which is going to be speaking to you next. >> yeah , into the sidings now , >> yeah, into the sidings now, here's a pub quiz question for

you. which company made the scarlet tunics of the guardsmen on duty during the coronations of both queen elizabeth ii in 1953, and king charles in may? well the princess of wales may be finding out because she's been visiting textile manufacturers in leeds to learn more about the industry's history and how vital it still is to the british economy . is to the british economy. >> well, she's always been interested in its manufacturing because of family links. her because of her family links. her parental ancestors were the owners of the woollen manufacturer, william william lupton and company, based in leeds. well, to tell us more about this as gb news royal correspondent cameron walker. good afternoon to you, cameron. this is a trip of personal significance then, isn't it, for the princess of wales ? good the princess of wales? good afternoon, ellie. >> yes, it completely is her great, great grandfather's company was merged or sold to h . w hainsworth in 1958. but this company, this factory, textile mill behind me dates back over 200 years to 1783. it's british

business at its best here today. we've got it's family owned. it's hundreds of years of tradition and historical making of fabrics and of course, a sprinkling of royalty tea as well. it's the world leader or seen as the world leader of manufacturing and supplying ceremonial military fabrics. it's a royal warrant holder under queen elizabeth ii it's expected to continue that royal warrant under king charles iii. but it supplies the fabrics for the ministry of defence in london, the royal marines, the royal canadian mounted police in canada, and australian defence as well. so that just shows you the kind of trust that this particular textile mill gets from companies and armed forces around the world. but of course the princess has a personal link to it. as i said , her her to it. as i said, her her ancestors company was merged into this particular mill and she intends today to show her interest and support for the uk's textile industry. of

course, it's a business booming in this area of the north of england in leeds , and you may england in leeds, and you may well see behind me the tens, 20, 30 odd people who have turned out today to try and catch a glimpse of the princess of wales from outside the gates. many of them have been telling me here today they have family today that they have family links worked in the links to those who worked in the textiles industry. and at this mill over over the decades, as i said, over 200 years of history, the princess of wales is expected to get a tour . that's expected to get a tour. that's what she's doing at the moment. she's getting a tour of the mill from seeing how the process of the fabric is made from yarn to the fabric is made from yarn to the fabric is made from yarn to the fabric , traditional the fabric, traditional machinery and techniques is being described as the backbone of the industry. and she's going to be talking to apprentices who are at the moment, are learning at the moment, those old skills and also those age old skills and also their mentors who are teaching them well, passing down those traditional techniques, those british techniques through the generations. she's also expected to have a private lunch here

inside the old offices of h. w hainsworth here in leeds. she's also going to be seeing a state of the art laboratory which is inside this factory here, looking at the future and new generations and new fabrics being created, particularly when it comes to sustainability and sustainable fashion. a keen interest of the princess of wales. now, i did ask an aide of hers this morning if she was wearing fabric made at this particular factory here in leeds. h w hainsworth . i'm told leeds. h w hainsworth. i'm told she is not. she is wearing burberry today, but alas, maybe she'll pick some up later on today. >> yeah, but interesting that she's got this family connection. as we were saying . connection. as we were saying. so she'd be quite interested in seeing all the sort of history books and so on. so i think they've got the royal warrant obviously separate to that. but her father's family, the relatives bought a woollen manufacturer that was taken over by them. is that the sort of link back ? link back? >> yeah, that's exactly right .

>> yeah, that's exactly right. so the princess is great great grandfather , sold william lupton grandfather, sold william lupton and co to h w hainsworth worth in 1958. so their company merged here you know a number of decades ago. now there are some archives in this particular factory . we did ask if there are factory. we did ask if there are going to be photographs of the princess's ancestors , others princess's ancestors, others working inside this building for the princess to see that family link. but it's, of course, the princess was not part of the aristocracy when she married prince william. she is now, of course, the future queen. but what this does have, this factory does have is the royal warrant given under queen elizabeth ii and it is expected that that warrant is going to continue under king charles. the third. i mentioned the ceremonial military fabric, which this company creates . it's which this company creates. it's it also creates a number of fabncs it also creates a number of fabrics for clothing garments as well as fabric used in the manufacture of pianos and other musical instruments. so it does have this link between the

royalty in terms of the royal family but of course, a personal family link to the middleton family link to the middleton family as well . family link to the middleton family as well. but her family link to the middleton family as well . but her great family as well. but her great great grandfather , his surname great grandfather, his surname was lupton, not not middleton. >> cameron , thank you for taking >> cameron, thank you for taking us through that and proving that there's no trouble at mill today. thank you very much indeed. >> thank you. cameron now, russell brand has claimed he's a victim of a conspiracy. conspiracy to silence him. it comes as the metropolitan police opened an investigation into what they say are numerous non—recent allegations of sexual offences, including new claims made against him . made against him. >> well, brand continues to strongly deny all allegations of any wrongdoing . let's speak to any wrongdoing. let's speak to our london reporter now , lisa our london reporter now, lisa hartle, who's outside new scotland yard. and lisa suggestions that as well as the met officers there was this specialist unit getting involved which had been looking at the jimmy all jimmy savile allegations. all those years ago . those years ago. >> yeah. so the met say that

they are investigating several a number of historic historical sexual offence claims that's not just in london but in other parts of the uk as well. and of course this follows that investigation by the channel 4 dispatch, which is the sunday times and the times in which four women also made claims against russell. russell brand posted on a video on social media last night in which he criticised mps who were calling on other social media platforms to demonetise him. he said it was a bypassing of judicial process and suggested there was a conspiracy to silence him. and of course we've already seen this happen with youtube with he's got 6 million subscribers and at the moment he can't make any revenue through that, through advertising . ng now, through advertising. ng now, detective superinten andy furphy from the met's central specialist crime command said we continue to encourage anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a sexual offence. no matter how long ago it was to contact us. we understand it can

feel like a difficult step to take and i want to reassure that we have a team of specialist officers available to advise and support russell brand denies all of the allegations as really the met is looking at allegations of sexual offences that may have been carried out in london. >> but also they're spreading further across the country as well. it's not just in london in yeah , yeah. yeah, yeah. >> like i said, that's so it's london and elsewhere and they say that all historical allegations . say that all historical allegations. ions so say that all historical allegations . ions so they're not allegations. ions so they're not giving a lot more detail than that at the moment . that at the moment. >> brand he really has come out fighting, hasn't he, appearing on that video platform rumble he's criticised the mps committee city for asking social media firms if they intended to demonetise him. he's essentially saying they put the cart before the horse and due process has not taken place. he doesn't want to back down on this, does he ?

to back down on this, does he? >> yeah, exactly . he's he's >> yeah, exactly. he's he's obviously stepped away from the mainstream media for a number of years now. and this is his like i said, he's got millions of followers on various different social platforms and some social media platforms and some of them haven't demonetised him, which is what some mps in a committee asking some of committee were asking some of these social media if these social media companies if they plan hand to do that. they plan in hand to do that. and that's russell and that's what russell was criticising last night when he posted that video on social media. yeah >> so outside scotland yard , >> so outside scotland yard, thank you very much indeed for updating us on that. more, of course, as we get it from the met. let's just reiterate the news. we got our gb news exclusive. christopher hope, our political editor, has been in manchester speaking to greater manchester speaking to greater manchester mayor andy burnham, who says the city is considering taking legal action against the government over the issue of hs2 . of course, we had chris philp, the home office minister, this morning saying that there was a review on how cost could be controlled, but no decision , he

controlled, but no decision, he said, made on whether the extension from birmingham to manchester was going to be axed or delayed. however, there are now indications , signs that now indications, signs that william hague, george osborne , william hague, george osborne, lord heseltine and other senior tories have criticised what could be the axing of that northern leg. yeah we will be able to see that interview in full with andy burnham and chris hope 1:00 here on gb news. >> and very important i think, to note the timing of all of this. the tory party conference starting in manchester on sunday, very, very awkward timing for the prime minister. we'll be very interesting to see what he comes up with in the next few days, whether that's an alternative or as christopher hope was a little bit hope was saying a little bit earlier perhaps seeing if earlier on, perhaps seeing if they things a little they can spend things a little bit differently, not bit differently, perhaps not coming into coming all the way down into london. euston instead the london. euston but instead the western suburbs of london. but western suburbs of london. but we did hear andy burnham saying earlier the week, didn't we did hear andy burnham saying earlthat the week, didn't we did hear andy burnham saying earlthat manchester,k, didn't we did hear andy burnham saying earlthat manchester, manchester we, that manchester, manchester citizens are being treated like second class citizens and this would never have happened the

would never have happened to the london leg hs2. but that new london leg of hs2. but that new line that given to gb news, line that he's given to gb news, that breaking news in the past hour or so that andy burnham, the manchester mayor the greater manchester mayor will take legal action against the the northern the government if the northern leg of hs2 is scrapped. we'll have that for you very, very shortly here on the live desk on gb news. we'll see you shortly . gb news. we'll see you shortly. the temperature's rising . the temperature's rising. >> boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello, i'm alex burkill. here's your latest gb news weather bulletin brought to you by the met office. on a day when we have sunshine and showers, the thunder some the risk of thunder and some breezy winds ahead of storm agnes arriving tomorrow. the bigger a front bigger picture shows a front thatis bigger picture shows a front that is pushing its way east north eastwards across the uk today. and it's this front today. and it's on this front that see some that we're going to see some heavy rain, particularly across parts as we go parts of scotland, as we go through rest the through the rest of the afternoon. some thunder mixed in with this. the best chance of

staying dry, perhaps with some decent across eastern staying dry, perhaps with some decer of across eastern staying dry, perhaps with some decerof england across eastern staying dry, perhaps with some decerof england .:ross eastern staying dry, perhaps with some decerof england . elsewhere, n parts of england. elsewhere, bright, spells, but also bright, sunny spells, but also a scattering showers. and these scattering of showers. and these could turn thundery at times as well . temperatures likely to well. temperatures likely to reach around 20 to 23 reach highs of around 20 to 23 celsius the south—east so celsius in the south—east so above the time of above average for the time of yeah above average for the time of year. offset by those year. but offset by those blustery as the showers blustery winds as the showers continue for many as we go through the end of the day and through the end of the day and through much of night. they through much of the night. they are to linger across some are going to linger across some northern could northern parts as well. could still heavy ones, still have some heavy ones, perhaps the rumble perhaps even the odd rumble of thunder most thunder elsewhere, though most places turning dry. places turning largely dry. perhaps some pockets of mist and fog the south fog towards the south and southeast. temperatures generally staying in double figures, perhaps starting to pick up in the south—west as we head through the early hours because of the wet and windy weather is then going to weather that is then going to push way in. and that's all push its way in. and that's all due to agnes. so turning due to storm agnes. so turning very and windy across parts due to storm agnes. so turning ve northernd windy across parts due to storm agnes. so turning ve northern ireland across parts due to storm agnes. so turning ve northern ireland andyss parts due to storm agnes. so turning ve northern ireland and alsorrts of northern ireland and also down side of the uk down the western side of the uk as head through day, as we head through the day, could strong could have some really strong winds, some winds, could cause some disruption for quite a few places. temperatures in the south—east again to get

south—east likely again to get into the low 20s, but feeling much more unpleasant elsewhere. under wind rain . under the wind and rain. >> the temperatures rising . boxt >> the temperatures rising. boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> good afternoon. it's 1 gb news. >> good afternoon. it's1 p.m. >> good afternoon. it's 1 pm. and you're here with the live desk on gb news. coming up for you lunchtime. you this tuesday lunchtime. >> exclusive. andy >> a gb news exclusive. andy burnham, manchester's >> a gb news exclusive. andy burnhethreatens manchester's >> a gb news exclusive. andy burnhethreatens m'government mayor threatens the government with scrap

with legal action if they scrap the northern leg of hs2. our political has the story political editor has the story and joins us from manchester. >> secretary is in >> the home secretary is in washington major washington calling for a major overhaul of international refugee the refugee law. she described the current absurd current rules as absurd and not fit modern comes fit for modern times. it comes as reports emerged that a 24 year eritrean woman died year old eritrean woman has died on beach trying on a calais beach after trying to channel and to cross the channel and the other sir davey, other headlines, sir ed davey, looking over looking to win over disenfranchised as disenfranchised tories as he closes dem conference closes the lib dem conference with targeting with a speech targeting the government the government over health and the economy. live in bournemouth >> we're live in bournemouth and can one of the uk's favourite drinks help save and can one of the uk's favcgreat drinks help save and can one of the uk's favcgreat british 1elp save and can one of the uk's favcgreat british boozer?;ave the great british boozer? >> we'll be shining a light on cask its billion pound cask ale and its billion pound popularity. first, get cask ale and its billion pound pop latest. first, get cask ale and its billion pound poplatest newsfirst, get cask ale and its billion pound poplatest news headlines get cask ale and its billion pound poplatest news headlines with the latest news headlines with aaron armstrong . aaron armstrong. >> to you. it's >> good afternoon to you. it's a minute past one. aaron minute past one. i'm aaron armstrong newsroom. armstrong in the gb newsroom. greater andy greater manchester mayor andy burnham take legal burnham says he could take legal action against the tory government northern government if the northern leg of scrapped. prime of hs2 is scrapped. the prime minister be minister is reported to be alarmed cost of alarmed by the runaway cost of the speed rail link. he's the high speed rail link. he's facing cabinet issues because of it. claimed the it. the times has claimed the cost could exceed £100 cost of hs2 could exceed £100 billion a result high billion as a result of high salaries and budgeting by salaries and poor budgeting by the overseeing the company overseeing the project or more. project for 15 years or more. >> kind many in the >> kind of many people in the greater have been

greater london system have been working government's working hard at the government's request through these plans. we've devoted hours hours >> we've devoted hours and hours and hours of time. >> all our development plans >> all of our development plans are linked to it. >> if they pull the plug, they are linked to it. >> kindzy pull the plug, they are linked to it. >> kind ofpull the plug, they are linked to it. >> kind of ripping plug, they are linked to it. >> kind of ripping the g, they are linked to it. >> kind of ripping the hearty are kind of ripping the heart out the development out of the economic development plan manchester and plan for greater manchester and parts of the north. >> so all options would absolutely the and absolutely be on the table. and well, being or woman isn't well, being gay or a woman isn't enough to qualify asylum. >> that's the view of the home secretary who will question whether refugee whether international refugee rules fit for purpose when rules are fit for purpose when she gives a speech later in washington , she'll ask if the washington, she'll ask if the un's 1951 convention washington, she'll ask if the un's1951 convention is washington, she'll ask if the un's 1951 convention is relevant un's1951 convention is relevant to the modern age, arguing the tests for how refugees are defined have changed. the address is part of our plan to tackle the ongoing crisis, but the shadow cabinet minister unleashed . dodds says the unleashed. dodds says the conservatives are to blame for the influx of small boats as international conventions are not the reason on why the conservative government is failing. >> in particular to take action against the international people smuggling gangs. they are not the reason why the conservative

government has such chaos in the asylum system. they're not the reason why british taxpayers are paying reason why british taxpayers are paying £8 million a day on accommodation. i'm a i'm afraid the responsibility for all of this lies squarely with the conservative government . conservative government. >> meanwhile, red cross officials on the italian island officials on the italian island of lampedusa are rushing to free up space in their processing centre in expectation of another surge in migrant arrivals. gb news can reveal the camp now has just over 150 residents. a week ago it was dealing with more than 11,000. it led to clashes with italian police as migrants tried to leave the camp for the main town . scotland yard will main town. scotland yard will face difficult decisions over how to protect people in london because of a shortage of counter—terrorism police. sir mark rowley says there are significantly less officers available after dozens stood down from firearms duty. it was a result of a colleague being charged with the murder of chris

kaba and he says many remain extremely anxious about their legal protection. well downing street insists londoners are safe, but the met commissioner admits they can only provide a credible level of cover . credible level of cover. >> over the weekend, it had a sort of a very significant effect on our capability . effect on our capability. >> we're we're now in a position where our the numbers are strengthening . strengthening. >> we can provide credible firearms cover for london. >> but i must be honest, it still significantly less than normal , still significantly less than normal, which will create some difficult choices . difficult choices. >> water companies will have to return £114 million to customers after falling short of standards . the regulator, ofwat says most companies are failing to meet their key targets of reducing pollution leakage and supply interruptions . thames water will interruptions. thames water will have to return the most. that's more than £101 million. a southern water will have to pay back £43 million. workers in the

uk are taking more sick days now than at any time in the last decade. new research from the chartered institute for professional development shows staff took on average 7.8 sick days in the past year, up from 5.8 before the pandemic . it's 5.8 before the pandemic. it's blaming stress , covid and the blaming stress, covid and the cost of living crisis, with the biggest cause of long term absence poor mental health. the scams have soared by 74, costing victims almost £1,000 on average, potential buyers are being duped by fake posts on social media sites advertising vehicles that don't exist. they'll often be encouraged to pay a they'll often be encouraged to pay a deposit or even the full amount up front, despite not seeing the car in person . in seeing the car in person. in people aged between 25 and 34 are the most likely to be stung . this is gb news rhiannon your tv on digital radio and on your smart speaker too. now it's back to mark and . ellie and we start

to mark and. ellie and we start this hour with more on that gb news exclusive live. >> the mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham, has threatened legal action against the government if the northern leg of hs2 is scrapped , saying leg of hs2 is scrapped, saying that labour will build it if they win the general election next year. >> but here's what andy burnham had to say to our political edhon had to say to our political editor, christopher hope a little in manchester. little earlier in manchester. >> change might be coming if labour win the election expected next year. would labour build this leg ? this northern leg? >> i've reassurances that >> i've had reassurances that they will and i'm really encouraged. well, from rachel reeves, let's name them. >> shadow transport secretary louise haigh in the in the region yesterday say we have a commitment around northern powerhouse rail which i keep coming back to, is the critical thing as far as i'm concerned. we want both. >> a let me be really clear about this. why should we be forced to choose between having an west a north

an east west line or a north south line? an east west line or a north soulondon's never been forced to >> london's never been forced to choose. the elizabeth choose. it gets the elizabeth line, . but it's line, it gets hs2. but it's always where people are always here where people are forced choose. forced to choose. >> think need both if >> we think we need both if we're set the north of we're to set the north of england up for the rest of this century, and the commitment century, we and the commitment is there and need to see it is there and we need to see it from the government. >> they're coming to manchester in a few days time. what have they say to us? they got to say to us? >> you they promise to >> you know, they promise to level when they stood for election. >> here are they really coming north to well, that was north to say, well, that was a pack of lies? just finally, pack of lies? and just finally, it what what are it is too. what what are your opfions it is too. what what are your options if it is axed the northern leg in the autumn statement or before that legal action. well challenging . all i action. well challenging. all i can say is for 15 years or more kind of many people in the greater manchester system have been working hard at the government's request to bring through these plans. >> we've devoted hours and hours and hours of time . and hours of time. >> all of development plans >> all of our development plans are to it. if they pull are linked to it. if they pull the plug , they are kind of the plug, they are kind of ripping the heart out of the economic development plan for

greater manchester and parts of the north. >> so all options would absolutely on the table . absolutely be on the table. >> and i go back to it. i've written to the prime minister. could be legal action then not to us, not even to let to consult us, not even to let us kind of put the case. that's why i wonder get why i wonder you might get a legal case because no consultation, would consultation, all options would definitely would be on the definitely be on would be on the table. know, we we're getting >> you know, we we're getting stronger terms the voice stronger in terms of the voice of the north. >> seek fights with >> we don't seek fights with whitehall, but we know how to answer them back now. and we're not going to we're not just going to get we're just not just going to get we're just not lie down and accept not going to lie down and accept the has always the way whitehall has always treated england. we treated the north of england. we are fighting back. >> getting organised. >> we're getting organised. we're not going to things we're not going to take things lying they'll hearing >> so they'll be hearing from us. well that's andy burnham speaking to chris a little earlier. >> chris fighting talk. what would the options be? what sort of legal challenge could they mount there in . manchester mount there in. manchester >> it's all about consultation, mark. so departments have a duty to consult on any big government decisions they make if there's been a lack of consultation ,

been a lack of consultation, then for anyone affected by this decision , then there's every decision, then there's every chance they can go to the high court, try and seek some form of judicial review to force the government to rethink its plans. we're seeing this idea of jr. this legal term used all over the place , not not least on the the place, not not least on the government's rwanda plan to try and back illegally arrived and send back illegally arrived people by boats to rwanda for processing. i can see there's a way forward, i think, here if mr burnham, he may take it. but certainly he's been quite clear there that labour said it will build this this important northern route between birmingham and manchester if it wins the election next year. he heard that from louise hague, who is the party's shadow transport monday . transport secretary on monday. >> strange bedfellows . we've got >> strange bedfellows. we've got andy burnham with george osborne and lord heseltine. no less, both of them having, say , saying both of them having, say, saying scrapping this manchester leg would be an act of gross . well, would be an act of gross. well, vandalism, i think, was the phrase they used of, of course . phrase they used of, of course. >> but both those politicians ,

>> but both those politicians, tories, of course, george osborne and michael heseltine. heseltine, of course , rebuilt heseltine, of course, rebuilt liverpool after the riots in the early 80s, created the liverpool garden festival, did lots of work in the north. george osborne, of course, still chairs the northern powerhouse partnership. his idea is the northern powerhouse. these are two. these are two tories who do think outside the box. i'll think outside the box. i'll think the white, the think of the white, the whitehall bubble certainly whitehall bubble and certainly george osborne originally found the for money hs2, so he's vital for too . so these for the project too. so these are off because they're are noises off because they're not in power right now. it's irritating 10 that irritating for number 10 that they're all, they're speaking at all, i imagine, the problem imagine, because the problem they've government in they've got in government is in flation, soaring trying flation, is soaring and trying to living to tackle the cost of living crisis ahead and and crisis and get ahead and try and build big projects . build these big projects. >> we've heard from the >> i mean, we've heard from the tory this week, haven't tory grandees this week, haven't we? fighting talk from we? now fighting talk from andy burnham exclusive burnham in that exclusive interview with and hear interview with you and we hear from burnham , don't we, in from andy burnham, don't we, in that that that we just that in that clip that we just shared the awkward timing shared about the awkward timing of this, the tory party of all of this, the tory party conference coming up sunday conference coming up on sunday in manchester, would you believe he goes on to say to you, they

promised us levelling up. are they really going to north they really going to come north to all that this to tell us all that this was a pack of lies? no, don't pack of lies? no, no, no, don't stop . stop there. >> yeah, it's a really difficult time . the timing is dreadful for time. the timing is dreadful for the government of course, it's all its own making, ellie. that's the with that's that's the thing with this because this timing, because the government's speculation government's allowed speculation to about the future of to run riot about the future of this northern last week, this northern leg last week, jeremy hunt wouldn't say if it would built. government would be built. the government failed it on monday. failed to sit on it on monday. that's yesterday. the pm wouldn't what means . wouldn't say what hs2 means. where is it going to go to these are all issues they could have deau are all issues they could have dealt this very quickly dealt with this very quickly by saying, till the autumn saying, wait till the autumn statement. we've got a conference first in manchester instead, speculation is instead, and the speculation is hovering over this whole region. i'm middle of greater i'm in the middle of greater manchester right now and the cabinet arrives here on on on the weekend for what might be a very frosty reception . very frosty reception. >> now, another tory, big beast, william hague, saying that the project's terribly badly project's been terribly badly managed. lord adonis, who is the labour transport secretary who instigated project, saying, instigated the project, saying, look he's concerned, look, as far as he's concerned, costs are not out of control.

but the bill is rising ever higher . i but the bill is rising ever higher. i mean, is there a question about the lack of oversight cost management at oversight on cost management at to be fair to people like the national audit office, which monitors government spending for parliament, they have been drawing attention to the red rating for project a while. >> that means it's unlikely to return a decent return on investment for a while and also the soaring amounts of money given running it given to the people running it far more, far more in excess of what servants i think what civil servants get. i think it's more of a kind of political idea this as much as anything else, hs2 , it stands for so else, hs2, it stands for so much, symbolises is almost much, it symbolises is almost the literal umbilical cord between the north and the south. in the interview there with me, he did say that andy burnham said it's not a north south divide anymore, but a north south chasm. and that's the problem. it looks very bad. it's important to the north. and that's many people around that's why many people around me here of manchester here in the middle of manchester think should be built . think it should be built. >> gb news exclusive there, manchester, thanks for updating us. more reaction, of course, as

we it . we get it. >> well, to discuss the economic side of all of this, let's welcome back gb news economics and liam and political editor liam halligan . touched upon there halligan. touched upon there liam with with chris hope the comments of william hague who's talked about the out of control spending on hs2. and that's what we understand the prime minister and the chancellor are now looking at. can this actually be controlled? >> well, when you go back to the original hs2 , when original rationale for hs2, when economists did sort of cost benefit analysis of them , if you benefit analysis of them, if you took hs2 from london to birmingham and then on to manchester, that's to a and then on to leeds to be then you just about get a positive rate of return as long as you hit the original cost estimates. now we're not going to hit the original cost estimates by any means. i'll show you the numbers in a minute. but also, as andy burnham says, and he said the same to me in an interview same thing to me in an interview three years i made it three years ago when i made it dispatches on this. dispatches documentary on this. and, speculation

and, you know, the speculation in that birmingham to in then was that birmingham to manchester wouldn't work if you take away birmingham to manchester, let alone birmingham to which already been to leeds, which has already been removed 2021. then this removed back in 2021. then this entire project has a negative rate of return . look, there's rate of return. look, there's not private sector money here. this is state money, which is a big reason the private sector won't back this because they don't believe in but they'll don't believe in it. but they'll obviously a lot of state obviously take a lot of state money implement the money in order to implement the contracts . so let's just contracts. so let's just have a look at how numbers have look at how these numbers have ballooned . so ballooned over the years. so back in 2010, it was 30 billion was the estimate. that's when alistair darling , the labour alistair darling, the labour chancellor at the time, instigated the project, though he told me later i never thought they'd be stupid enough to actually do it. a huge opponent of hs2, lord adonis, was was the transport. >> that's right. but yeah , but >> that's right. but yeah, but alistair darling is a very rational man. >> he is hugely against hs2 and has been for many, many years on cost it went up to 33 cost grounds. it went up to 33 billion by 2015. it was 56 billion. then it was 80 billion.

now we've got 107 billion. that estimate by a very credible former network rail engineer , former network rail engineer, michael bing. so you can see what's happened to these costs and there's a sense, i think anyway, that the reason this project is happening isn't because of speed. who cares about 20 minutes to london, to birmingham when you can work on wi—fi a seat? it really wi—fi at a seat? it isn't really about either . wi—fi at a seat? it isn't really about either. there's about capacity either. there's already, you know, perfectly decent trains from to decent trains from london to birmingham. there two lines birmingham. there are two lines you via euston or via you can go via euston or via marylebone to stone. the chiltern snow hill, chiltern line snow hill, birmingham. the real reason this is happening is because ministerial inertia. no one wants to stay stop . right? but wants to stay stop. right? but also because the engineering conglomerates are a massive lobby group. they're getting loads state money then loads of state money and then property specular motors have bought up and down the line bought land up and down the line . that get more valuable . that set to get more valuable as rolled out. right. >> we've also got a train manufacturer , alstom at derby, manufacturer, alstom at derby, of course, that's waiting to see if there's a green light on this . building the . in terms of building the trains. trains, there's trains. there's trains, there's steelworkers , i mean there's

steelworkers, i mean there's loads of stuff, but you know , in loads of stuff, but you know, in the end is this about creating jobs , you know, people digging jobs, you know, people digging holes so they can fill them up ' 7 m. again? >> or is it about something that is actually cost effective ? and is actually cost effective? and a lot of people would say this just is not cost effective. it's a white elephant. vanity project and international surveys show if you you know, we're too small countries to have high speed rail, the distances are too small. if have high small. and if you have high speed rail, it just brings more people to capital. right. people to the capital. right. >> bowl this this >> let me bowl this at you. this is is paul johnson from is this is paul johnson from institute for fiscal studies. very highly regarded, saying, look, this makes me want to weep. it should never have been built at all. but he's added now that the project is underway, there's a of there's probably quite a lot of benefit continuing to benefit in continuing to manchester and euston. this this bottom into i.e. the big bottom leg into i.e. the big money's already been spent . so money's already been spent. so bite the and finish it off. >> it's very hard to get the numbers i've calculate added about 25 has spent about 25 billion has been spent so vast majority on so far. the vast majority on london birmingham , though of london to birmingham, though of course work at euston has

stopped. apparently this thing is going to go to a west london suburb , so it actually takes suburb, so it actually takes longer then get on the tube longer to then get on the tube to the of town to get to the middle of town than it does about 2 or 3 million old oak, common old oak, common. no, no, no, no. well, the old man used to have a builder's yard right there. it's definitely halligan . you should have. >> you should kept hold of >> you should have kept hold of it nicely . it quite nicely. >> another my family >> another mistake. my family also used to own some land that became airport, by became knock airport, by the way. there go. but. way. well, there you go. but. but anyway, another failure lies people this part of the people from this part of the world. we've spent world. but look, we've spent about 2 to 3 billion so far on birmingham to manchester for the costs of hs2 were always massively underestimated, deliberately so . it was rammed deliberately so. it was rammed through parliament. but now we're into what economists call the sunk cost fallacy. do you follow more good money? does do you follow bad money down the hall, good money, or do you try and adapt the project? look, it's very, very difficult. but if we end up with just london to birmingham, that to going be birmingham, that is to going be absolute national farce. it will

be the hugest white elephant in the well, rishi sunak now the world. well, rishi sunak now be scrambling ahead of the tory party starting on party conference starting on sunday an alternative. sunday to offer an alternative. >> i mean, actually talk >> i mean, if you actually talk to the north, we're to people in the north, we're talking to makeup artist. talking to our makeup artist. yesterday who from hull, and yesterday who is from hull, and she saying what actually she was saying what we actually want m62 corridor want is the m62 corridor cupboard. we want a west to east. the trans pennine with with huge respect people in the industry tree people like me watching this very closely have been saying this literally for 15 years right? >> since before hs2 was conceived . the real bang for the conceived. the real bang for the buck when it comes to public investment in railways in the north is to link together our great northern cities into one north is to link together our gretgrowth ern cities into one north is to link together our gretgrowth centre es into one north is to link together our gretgrowth centre that ilo one north is to link together our gretgrowth centre that coulde big growth centre that could rival london. and then on top of that, we've also got to spend money, improve ing commuter services into and between our northern cities and towns . you northern cities and towns. you know, i've made documentaries literally on trains in the north, filming with rail inspectors chasing us because you're not meant to be filming on trains and it's taking people

hours to get into manchester and hours to get into manchester and hours to get into manchester and hours to get into liverpool. do you know , ellie, if you if you you know, ellie, if you if you look at london in the south—east, 80% of trains are electrified. that's not including the tube if you look at the north of england, it's like 15 or so if you've got like 15 or 20. so if you've got a diesel train it's slow, it a diesel train and it's slow, it can't pull many carriages because it can't accelerate. it's infrequent. get massive it's infrequent. you get massive overcrowding, electrify the north of our rail network, work, you know, build better commuter service. as you know, finally solve this castlefield corridor . ridiculous pinch point in middle of manchester, which impacts trains right across the north—west and all the way up to scotland. >> and if he makes this decision as as basically to buy off the opposition, if you like, and it may come at conference. look, we're to going have a new trans pennine route, whatever. how long for that to long does it take for that to get and be put into get built and to be put into action? are they going to have the problem whatever the same problem that whatever they is the now will they say is the cost now will balloon in the next 10 to 15 years? >> there's the trans pennine

thing take a long thing will obviously take a long time, least an time, but at least there's an existing can then be existing route that can then be upgraded. it's definitely upgraded. so it's definitely quicker, definitely more bang for the buck. the economic for the buck. all the economic surveys show that a cost benefit analysis of what we sometimes call east to west across the call hs3 east to west across the north is much , much quicker north is much, much quicker than hs2 . north is much, much quicker than hsz . but north is much, much quicker than hs2 . but aside from that, there hs2. but aside from that, there are these quick fixes that they can do on the rail network, particularly in the north, that people laid people like me have laid out many, many times. the castlefield corridor of castlefield corridor is one of them. ledburn junction at milton keynes, harms west keynes, which harms the west coast really upsets coast main line really upsets trains going to the north. that was the famous great train robbery junction. that is a bottleneck too. there are many bottlenecks across the network which can be solved with single digit billions projects and electrification not glamorous, not vanity project, not ribbon cutting, but much, much more effective and far more important when it comes to levelling up. >> liam and your train set. thank you very much indeed . thank you very much indeed. coming up from manchester to bournemouth, that's quite a ride

. not calling at old oak common. we'll be live to the lib dem conference. davey closing his conference. ed davey closing his party's conference speech conference. ed davey closing his pathe; conference speech conference. ed davey closing his pathe nextference speech conference. ed davey closing his pathe next hour.e speech conference. ed davey closing his pathe next hour. that's speech conference. ed davey closing his pathe next hour. that's coming] in the next hour. that's coming up . up. >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers are proud sponsors of weather on gb news hello i'm alex burkill. >> here's your latest gb news weather bulletin brought to you by the met office. on a day when we have sunshine and showers, the risk of thunder and some breezy winds ahead of storm agnes the agnes arriving tomorrow. the bigger shows a front bigger picture shows a front that pushing its way that is pushing its way east northeastward uk northeastward across the uk today. and it's on this front that we're to see some that we're going to see some heavy particularly across heavy rain, particularly across parts as go parts of scotland as we go through rest the through the rest of the afternoon some thunder in afternoon. some thunder mixed in with this. the chance of with this. the best chance of staying perhaps with some staying dry, perhaps with some decent sunshine across eastern parts of england. elsewhere, decent sunshine across eastern parts osunnynnd. elsewhere, decent sunshine across eastern parts osunny spells;ewhere, decent sunshine across eastern parts osunny spells , where, decent sunshine across eastern parts osunny spells , but re, decent sunshine across eastern parts osunny spells , but also bright, sunny spells, but also a scattering of showers . and these scattering of showers. and these could turn thundery at times as well. temperatures likely to reach highs around 20 to 23 celsius the southeast , so celsius in the southeast, so above the time of above average for the time of yeah above average for the time of year. offset by those

year. but offset by those blustery winds as the showers continue for many as we go through the end of the day and through the end of the day and through of the night, they through much of the night, they are going to linger across some northern could northern parts as well. could still have some heavy ones, perhaps the odd of perhaps even the odd rumble of thunder elsewhere, though, most places dry , places turning largely dry, perhaps pockets of mist and perhaps some pockets of mist and fog south and fog towards the south and southeast . temperatures southeast. temperatures generally in double generally staying in double figures, perhaps starting to pick up in the south—west as we head through the early hours because of the wet and windy weather that is then going to push in and that's all push its way in and that's all due to storm so turning due to storm agnes. so turning very windy across parts very wet and windy across parts of northern ireland and also down of the uk down the western side of the uk as we head through the day. could have some strong could have some really strong winds, could cause some disruption few disruption for quite a few places. temperatures the places. temperatures in the south—east are likely again to get the low but get into the low 20s, but feeling much unpleasant feeling much more unpleasant elsewhere under the and elsewhere under the wind and rain looks like things are heating up . heating up. >> boxt boilers, proud sponsors of weather on .

sunday from 9:00 only on gb news choose the people's channel. britain's news . choose the people's channel. britain's news. channel >> and welcome back to the live desk. now the liberal democrats are wrapping up their party conference editor david due to give his keynote speech in this next hour. well, he's set to pledge to fix our economy with care as well as, say, that voting conservative is bad for your health. >> as he closes the four day event, deputy political editor tom harwood has been in bournemouth to follow all joins

us there outside the exhibition centre and are you getting the indication, tom, that this is a party preparing for power as that phrase from all those years ago of taking those ago in terms of taking those blue wall seats? >> or are they going to have to tie in some way with labour ? tie up in some way with labour? >> it's a very interesting proposition because the liberal democrats have really shifted how they've been presenting their message in the last 3 or 4 years. if you remember back to 2019, back when they were led by jo swinson , leaflets were sent jo swinson, leaflets were sent to every household in the land with the words our next prime minister blazoned across them, and a big picture of jo swinson's face it didn't really turn out that well . the lib dem turn out that well. the lib dem vote hovered around 12% in the polls. that more national strategy that the lib dems deployed focusing in on the big picture issue of brexit didn't really deliver the high of seats that they saw back in the 2005 election, with 60 mps. they are,

of course, floating around a dozen or so at the moment. their strategy now seems to be much more targeted ad off the back of these sensational by—election wins that we've seen the party deliver in the last few months. and indeed last two years. a much more targeted approach from the liberal democrats speaking to people involved with the party over the last couple of days. they will say that on an optimistic day they might be aiming for around 30 or 35 seats. that would be a good showing for the liberal democrats at the next election. so we're looking at this so we're not looking at this party really forming the next government. we're government. and if we're to believe the polls, although there's slight tightening there's been a slight tightening in last week, the labour in the last week, the labour party far enough ahead party are still far enough ahead that if there are election tomorrow, the labour party would carry a majority government. so it may not be the case that the lib dems are really in a position to do much bargaining for coalition deals or the like

. however, ed davey has been very clear. he was clear to me when we sat down yesterday for an interview for gb news where the leader of the lib dems told me he wouldn't go into a coalition with the conservative party , but he left that door party, but he left that door open to deals with labour . open to deals with labour. >> well, they could very much be the potential deal makers, couldn't they? at the next general election . i mean, you general election. i mean, you touched upon there the targeted approach from sarah davey. they are trying to get away, aren't they, from the tensions over brexit that currently exists in the liberal democrat party , but the liberal democrat party, but also trying to target those disenfranchised sized tory voters with what they see as the key issues, which is health and the economy . the economy. >> this is precisely the strategy that ed davey is pursuing . he calls it his blue pursuing. he calls it his blue wall electoral strategy , wall electoral strategy, focusing in on those tory held seats in the home counties and in the south—west of england.

now, an interesting thing about those tory seats, of course, is that the vast majority of them are brexit voting seats. so one word that we're unlikely to hear much mention of at all in his big speech to this conference is of course, brexit. it's interesting on the fringes of this conference, you can hear passionate views about it. much of the membership, of course, pushing for rejoin some mps letting slip that they want to rejoin as well. but ed davey being much more disciplined with his message, not wanting to bnng his message, not wanting to bring that up, not wanting to scare away potential tory to lib dems switching voters , which is dems switching voters, which is his entire electoral strategy over the next 12 months or so. it's a world away from 2019 when this party was focussed in on brexit as a single issue. now, looking at the sort of lines to take from those leadership figures in the lib dems, you'll be hard pressed to hear them mention it at all. >> yeah, interesting. when we got former leader sir vince cable, of course saying the

party should not lose sight of europe. so it's still there. the ghost of brexit in the background . certainly is and background. certainly is and that's the interesting dilemma . that's the interesting dilemma. >> i suppose the leadership not wanting to talk about brexit, but at these fringe events or former leaders or members , they former leaders or members, they very much do want to talk about brexit. indeed the foreign affairs spokesman for the party, layla moran, an oxfordshire mp , layla moran, an oxfordshire mp, let slip over the weekend at a fringe event that she wants to rejoin the eu. that created a bit of controversy and discomfort for the leader of the lib dems , ed davey, who will lib dems, ed davey, who will only use this line. he wants the uk to be at the heart of europe. when you press him on that, what does being at the heart of europe does that mean europe mean? does that mean rejoining does that mean rejoining the eu? does that mean associate does mean associate member? does that mean single membership ? does single market membership? does that adopting euro as that mean adopting the euro as our currency? he won't answer any those questions. staying any of those questions. staying much round, staying much more in the round, staying much more in the round, staying

much more in the round, staying much more in the vague area because he knows that he can't push away those former brexit voting tory voters that he needs to win those blue seats . to win those blue seats. >> well, as you say, tom, we'll be hearing from sir ed davey in about an hour's time. and i'm sure we're going to have fantastic analysis from you after that. so that's tom harwood deputy harwood for us. our deputy political for us in political editor for us in bournemouth . bournemouth. >> let's get an update now on all the headlines. aaron's waiting for . all the headlines. aaron's waiting for. us >> it is 132 aaron armstrong here in the gb newsroom in greater manchester. mayor andy burnham says he could take legal action against the tory government if the northern leg of hs2 scrapped the prime minister is reported to be alarmed by the runaway cost of the high speed rail link. he's facing a cabinet split over the issue. the times claims the cost of hs2 could exceed £100 billion as a result of high salaries and poor budgeting by the company

overseeing the project with the northern leg to manchester in doubt for 15 years or more for kind of many people in the greater london system have been working hard at the government's request to bring through these plans. >> we've devoted hours and hours and hours of time all of our development plans are linked to it. if they pull the plug , they it. if they pull the plug, they are kind of ripping the heart out of the economic development plan for greater manchester and parts of the north. so all opfions parts of the north. so all options would absolutely be on the table for the home secretary believes simply being gay or a woman isn't enough by itself to claim asylum. >> suella braverman is campaigning for a change to international refugee agreements. she's in washington to give a speech where she'll claim rules put in place. 70 years ago are no longer relevant today. years ago are no longer relevant today . red cross officials on today. red cross officials on the italian island of lampedusa have been rushing to free up space in their processing centre , an expectation of another

surge in migrant arrivals. gb news can reveal the camp now has just over 150 residents. a week ago it was dealing with more than 11,000 and that led to clashes with italian police as some migrants tried to leave the camp and go into the main town . camp and go into the main town. and customers will receive £114 million off their water bills next year because providers have been found to fall short of set standards. the regulator, ofwat , says most companies haven't met key targets to reduce pollution and leakage and supply interruption says they've also found customer satisfaction is down to a thames water will be hardest hit. 100 million, £101 million. they'll have to pay back. southern water will have to pay back £43 million at thames water's the country's biggest provider, serving 15 million people in the south of england . we'll have more on all england. we'll have more on all of those stories on our website , gbnews.com. i'll be back at the top of the next hour with a full bulletin .

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7:00 this evening. >> gb news the people's . channel >> gb news the people's. channel >> gb news the people's. channel >> good afternoon. >> good afternoon. >> you're with the live desk. the time is 1339. now a young woman has reportedly been found dead on a beach in calais this morning after attempting to cross the channel in a small boat. >> yes, it suggests that she's a 24 year old eritrean woman not be named as such , but seemingly be named as such, but seemingly attempted to get onto one of the boats, fell over the side and then drowned her body found on then drowned her body found on the beach. so the investigation is continuing there. meanwhile in the italian island of lampedusa . so the red cross now lampedusa. so the red cross now trying to empty one of its processing centres ahead of what they believe will be another huge surge of migrants on the italian island expected by the end of the week .

end of the week. >> well, gb news has learned that camp known as that the camp, known locally as the hotspot , now has just over the hotspot, now has just over 150 residents and comes a week after more than 11,000 migrants reached lampedusa from north africa. >> let's get the very latest now with our home and security editor mark white, who is there . and mark, it seems that the red cross is what, on a sort of emergency footing on this basis ? >> 7- >> yes, 7— >> yes, they 7_ >> yes, they are ? >> yes, they are fully 7 >> yes, they are fully aware that when the weather conditions improve , move later in the week, improve, move later in the week, that the likelihood is that there will be another surge in migrant crossings. there will be another surge in migrant crossings . that has been migrant crossings. that has been the pattern for months now. the red cross official here in lampedusa told me that actually 62,000 migrant had crossed to this small italian island and further south in any other italian island, in fact, much nearer to the african coast than it is to the italian course.

62,000 since the 1st of june have crossed. and the italian government says actually throughout out italy on of course, landing on lampedusa. but other areas into italy there have been 130,000 who have arrived since the beginning of the year. and they expect that by the end of the year that number will top 200,000, will sirena cornelia, who is the supervisor for the red cross of these migrant camps across italy, told me a bit earlier just what they were doing in terms of preparation work. >> if you have a lot of people, is more difficult to give the support . but we try to give support. but we try to give food, give kit, give psychological support and health support to all the people inside the centre . we have specialised the centre. we have specialised team of psychologists , doctors

team of psychologists, doctors and operators and volunteers that work with minors . so we that work with minors. so we have tried to take care of all the people inside the centre and how are you preparing for the possibility of more boats when the weather improves? yes, absolutely . yes. we are absolutely. yes. we are preparing kids with clothes hygiene kits , food kits in the hygiene kits, food kits in the way to be prepared at the arrival hearing there. >> mark, from the authorities in lampedusa and the red cross trying to empty those processing centres on lampedusa ahead of that migrant surge which is expected once the weather improves. and we're also hearing in the last few minutes that overin in the last few minutes that over in france s the police in dunkirk have dismantled a large migrant camp there. this is a europe wide crisis, isn't it . europe wide crisis, isn't it. >> yes, no, absolutely. and there's quite a bit of activity that's been taking place in north western france overnight

and into this morning. this camp is home to several hundred migrants just near dunkirk. the french police have a policy of going in, dismantling effectively demolishing these camps to make life as difficult as possible for those who are trying to cross illegally to the uk . and about 100 of these crs uk. and about 100 of these crs riot police went into this camp early this morning and demolished it and scattered those that were in the camp. obviously off in all directions . the human rights group utopia 56 has been commenting , saying 56 has been commenting, saying that it's going to work in the conditions and make life that much more difficult and intolerable for men, women and children who were in this camp. the french police make no authority, make no apologies for this. they say that these people should not be there camping with

a view to breaking the law to cross to the uk. so they will, when they see these big camps, move in and disrupt them. and it came this operation just as officers further down the coast, 25 miles down the coast on the beach near calais, discovered the body of a migrant woman, an eritrean woman who was 24 years old. she we understand , was one old. she we understand, was one of a dozens of migrants who were boarding one of four boats that made it to the uk this morning when she slipped and fell back into the water as she didn't make it to shore alive and her body was found just before 6 am. this morning. body was found just before 6 am. this morning . this was the am. this morning. this was the first time that we had actually small boat crossings to the uk for nine days because of the weather conditions like lampedusa were a bit colder , lampedusa were a bit colder, probably in calais. but here in lampedusa, the winds have just

stopped the migrant activity for the past five days or so. >> and as ellie was asserting there, mark, you know , this is a there, mark, you know, this is a europe wide problem. and we've got the home secretary in washington in, of all places, now to this speech this now to make this speech this afternoon address whole afternoon to address the whole issue of the un convention on the echr and so on. but it's the physical numbers involved that seem to be overwhelming . all the seem to be overwhelming. all the systems . systems. >> yes, that's right. i mean , >> yes, that's right. i mean, she believes that that convention refugee convention is just not fit for modern purpose with the mass migration that we now have in 2023 with a she will claim close to 800 million people. that would be eligible to be considered as refugees. and if they were all on the move at the same time into the likes of europe and other western countries, it would be just completely unmanageable as it is

. it is a very significant problem for european countries. we know that , as i say, the we know that, as i say, the italian government are saying in their country alone, they're expecting 200,000 migrants. greece has got a very significant migrant problem as well. they're crossing the mediterranean and to greek islands. and of course , they're islands. and of course, they're also crossing into spanish islands across the mediterranean and in the atlantic, out into the canary islands. and that isn't even considering those who come across the land routes through the western balkans and other routes into the european union. they are dealing with a very significant issue in the european union, and there is not universal agreement from country to country about how best to manage this problem . manage this problem. >> indeed, mark, on what effectively is that european frontline there in lampedusa . frontline there in lampedusa. thanks very much indeed for updating us. >> well, suella brockman is taking to the world stage today on the challenge of global

migration. she's set to make a major speech in washington, dc , major speech in washington, dc, as we've been saying, taking aim at the united nations refugee convention in well, the home secretary expected to declare that being gay or a woman is not enough reason to claim asylum. >> but the refugee council and indeed the labour party argue the uk should instead be concentrating on addressing the record asylum backlog. the number migrants , of course, number of migrants, of course, arriving via small boats, edging ever closer to 24,000 into britain. this year. >> well, we can now speak with pubuc >> well, we can now speak with public speaker and activist becky alimi. very good to see you this afternoon. so tell us a little bit about yourself, because from my understanding, you are a gay man from nigeria who is now living here, having sought asylum . sought asylum. >> yes, indeed. first of all, i want to first say good afternoon and thank you for having me on your show. and i also want to send my condolences to the young lady that died trying to cross the mediterranean . um, and i

the mediterranean. um, and i hope that she and her family will find solace in, um , in the will find solace in, um, in the in this tragedy that has happened. and, you know, it goes with the saying that if we if at any point in our lives anybody finds the water, the sea to be safer than the ground, then that says a lot about our humanity. i came to the uk in two thousand and seven. i didn't come here to claim asylum. i was running away from my country from the danger that i was experiencing , mainly that i was experiencing, mainly because of the fact that i decided to love differently and had to come to the uk. it was through the help of different organisations in the uk that encouraged me and gave me the necessary information that i found to be able to go forward and claim asylum. and that was in 2008. now i am a british citizen. i've contributing to the british economy . i've been the british economy. i've been involved in a lot of british

activities, both in the uk and on the continent of africa and personally , for me, i think this personally, for me, i think this is a beauty of what it means to be a refugee. but that decision was made so that you would feel safe that you had to leave nigeria because after you declared yourself effectively publicly as being gay, you felt that your safety was in question . yes, indeed. you're very , very . yes, indeed. you're very, very correct. when i came out on national television in nigeria, immediately , it wasn't that immediately, it wasn't that i felt my safety was actually was actually compromised. i was i was beaten up. i was locked up and my house was broken into . and my house was broken into. and i had no other choice than to run away from nigeria. and luckily for me, a month before then, i'd already come to the uk to give a talk at a conference in the uk . so i had a visa on my in the uk. so i had a visa on my passport. yeah and i had that opportunity to run . many people opportunity to run. many people do not have that and that has led to the death of many lgbt people across the world. >> so we're awaiting this speech

from suella braverman. what therefore do you make of what she's expected to say? and that is that offering asylum to a person who is gay or a woman is that offering asylum to a person discriminationa woman is that offering asylum to a person discrimination in/oman is that offering asylum to a person discrimination in their] fearing discrimination in their home country is not sustainable 7 home country is not sustainable ? well i think we need to be very , very aware of what is very, very aware of what is happening in the uk and how currently the government that we have has been playing to dog whistle politics instead of actually addressing the issue. >> we have over 100,000 backlog of people who are claiming asylum amongst these people are lawyers, they are doctors , they lawyers, they are doctors, they are nurses, they're care workers , people that will contribute to our challenged nhs at the moment are on the waiting list, are not allowed to work, are not allowed to contribute to the development of the united kingdom and for me feel that that should be what we should be talking about now. but to the issue of to speak to the issue of presumption that because somebody is presumed to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans,

thatis lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, that is not enough ground for them to claim asylum . wish that them to claim asylum. wish that thatis them to claim asylum. wish that that is the basis that we are talking about this issue because if my case has been based on presumption under current home secretary would have been deported back to nigeria and would have been killed and the point is this. we expect people to show, one, that their life is in danger, but we're using western civilisation by romita of what danger means , because in of what danger means, because in the uk you know, what danger means is that, you know , the means is that, you know, the police is after you or the court of law is after you. but in many countries, especially on the continent of africa, this goes beyond the state. we're talking about the society. we're talking about the society. we're talking about families, we're talking about families, we're talking about honour killing. we're talking talking about corrective rapes. and these are things that when it within the when we talk about it within the context of the uk , they kind of context of the uk, they kind of are obscured because we can't frame in a very concrete frame them in a very concrete way. and so for us to be able to present this to caseworkers that

are dealing with asylum since very , very, very obscure and in very, very, very obscure and in that place, you couldn't deny somebody a refugee status. and before i close, i think this has been done and dusted in the in the court of law in the uk in 2010, in the case of a and think an a where the high court in the uk had said specifically that somebody who is on the presumption of the basis of their sexual orientation have a right to claim asylum. i don't know why the home office is trying to rewrite the rules . trying to rewrite the rules. >> okay. alimi, really good >> okay. bisi alimi, really good to see you this afternoon. thank you much for sharing your you so much for sharing your story experience there. story and your experience there. ahead suella braverman, the ahead of suella braverman, the home speaking little home secretary speaking a little bit later on in washington. we are expecting her to say that simply being gay or being a woman not enough on its own woman is not enough on its own to qualify for asylum in this country. so that's the reaction there from bisi alimi . there from bisi alimi. >> now, let's reflect the russell brand has claimed he's the victim of a conspiracy to

silence him. it comes as the met police though, open an investigation into what they say are numerous non recent allegations of sexual offences , allegations of sexual offences, including new claims being made against him. >> well, continues to >> well, he continues to strongly allegations of strongly deny all allegations of wrongdoing. let's speak now to our london reporter lisa hartle from outside new scotland yard. good afternoon to you, lisa. tell us more about this investigation . investigation. >> so the met police say they're investigating a number of historical allegations, not just in london, but in other parts of the uk. and this, of course, comes after the investigation between channel four's dispatches and the times and the sunday times in which four women also made allegations against russell brand. now, last night we saw russell brand had posted a video on of his social a video on one of his social media platforms rumble in that he mps for asking he criticised mps for asking other social media platforms to demonetise him, calling it passing of judicial process, and suggested there was a conspiracy to silence him. so we've got a

little clip now from that social media video that we can just have a look at. >> obviously, it's been an extraordinary and distressing week , and i thank you very much week, and i thank you very much for your support and for questioning the information that you've been presented with by now. you're probably aware that the british government have asked big tech platforms , aims asked big tech platforms, aims to censor our online content and that some online platforms have complied with that request . complied with that request. well, you may not know. is that this happens in the context of the online safety bill, which is a piece of uk legislation that grants sweeping surveillance and censorship powers. and it's a law that has already been passed , but well, lisa hartle at new scotland yard. >> thank you very much for giving us that update . giving us that update. >> coming up, the speech from lib dem leader ed davey in bournemouth . we'll have the bournemouth. we'll have the latest live. stay with us. >> a brighter outlook with boxt

solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> hi there. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office. with the gb news forecast, most showers ease overnight with clear skies for many of us. a fine start to wednesday, but then storm agnes turns up with then storm agnes turns up with the potential for disruptive wind and rain. still some rain going across much of scotland and northern ireland, as well as northern england through the evening. but eventually the showers become confined to central and the far northwest of scotland , and most places will scotland, and most places will be clear. then overnight. some high cloud drifting in by the end of the night, turning things milder in the south, but rather fresh to the day in fresh start to the day in scotland, ireland and scotland, northern ireland and northern . light winds at northern england. light winds at first well, but storm agnes first as well, but storm agnes is moving in quickly by this stage, bringing damaging winds to much ireland before to much of ireland before spreading those very disruptive winds into irish sea coastal areas by the afternoon. so after the early sunshine, it turns increasingly windy through the

morning. those winds then peaking in the afternoon and evening . and the risk in evening. and the risk in northern and western parts of the uk of 50 to 60mph. wind gusts and around exposed irish sea of 75 mile per hour sea coasts of 75 mile per hour wind gusts. so they a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> good afternoon.

>> good afternoon. >> it's 2 pm. and you're here with the live desk on gb news coming up for you this tuesday lunchtime, we have a gb news exclusive of andy burnham, greater manchester's mayor threatens the government with legal action if they scrap the northern leg hs2 . northern leg of hs2. >> political editor has the >> our political editor has the full story . full story. >> speaking this hour, sir ed davey looks to win over decent franchised tory voters as he closes the lib dem conference. we'll have his speech live from bournemouth. >> the home secretary in washington calling for a major overhaul of the un's refugee law, describing the current rules as absurd and not fit for modern times. is it rhetoric or reality . reality. >> and can one of our favourite tipples save the great british pub cask ale and its billion pound popularity? well that's first. let's get the latest news

headunes first. let's get the latest news headlines with aaron armstrong . headlines with aaron armstrong. >> very good afternoon to you. it is 2:01. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom. well, as you've just heard, the greater manchester mayor, andy burnham says he could take legal action against the tory government if the northern leg of hs2 is scrapped. he says the railway line, if it is scrapped , will be line, if it is scrapped, will be massive implications for the north. and he's promised that labour would build the high speed rail link if it wins the next election. well, rishi sunak is under said to be facing a cabinet split over the issue. the times is claiming the cost of the project could exceed £100 billion as a result of high salaries and poor budgeting by the company , overseeing it for the company, overseeing it for 15 years or more. >> kind of many people in the greater manchester system have been working hard at the government's request to bring through these plans. we've devoted hours and hours and hours of time . all of our

hours of time. all of our development plans are linked to it. they pull the plug, they it. if they pull the plug, they are kind of ripping the heart out of the economic development plan for greater manchester and parts of the north. so all opfions parts of the north. so all options would absolutely be on the table being gay or being a woman isn't enough by itself to qualify for asylum. >> that's the view of the home secretary who will question whether international refugee rules fit for purpose when rules are fit for purpose when she gives a speech in washington later, ask if the un's later, she'll ask if the un's 1951 convention is relevant to the modern age, arguing the tests for how refugees are defined have changed. and the address is part of her plan to tackle the refugee crisis . but tackle the refugee crisis. but shadow cabinet minister anneliese dodds says the conservatives are to blame for the influx of small boats as international conventions are not the reason why the conservative government is failing. >> in particular to take action against the international people smuggling gangs. they are not the reason why the conservative

government has such chaos in the asylum system. they're not the reason why why british taxpayers are paying . £8 million a day on are paying. £8 million a day on accommodation . i'm a are paying. £8 million a day on accommodation. i'm a i'm afraid the response ability for all of this lies squarely with the conservative government >> meanwhile, red cross officials on the island of lampedusa are rushing to free up space in their processing centre in expectation of another surge in expectation of another surge in migrant arrivals. gb news can reveal the camp now has just over 150 residents, compared to a week ago when it was dealing with more than 11,000. it led to clashes with italian police as migrants tried to scale the perimeter fence and leave the camp to head into the main town , scotland yard will face difficult decisions over how to protect people in london because of a shortage of counter—terrorism. police sir mark rowley says there's significantly less cover available after dozens of officers stood down from firearms duty. it was in

response to a colleague being charged with the murder of chris kaba. charged with the murder of chris kaba . downing street insists kaba. downing street insists londoners are safe, but the met commissioner admits it's having a significant impact . a significant impact. >> over the weekend, it's had a very significant effect on our capability . we we're we're now capability. we we're we're now in a position where the numbers are strengthening and we can provide credible firearms cover for london. but i must be honest, it's still significantly less than normal, which will create some difficult choices . create some difficult choices. >> hospital trust failed to send out 24,000 letters from senior doctors to patients and their gp's after they became lost in a new computer system. newcastle hospitals has apologised for any anxiety or inconvenience caused. as a result, the health care regulator has sought urgent assurances over patient safety. most of the letters explained what should happen when patients

are discharged from hospital, as some crucial tests and results , some crucial tests and results, though, may have been missed by patients. the trust says the unsent letters accounted for less than 0.3% of all patient contact . s what are companies contact. s what are companies have to return? £114 million to customers bills after falling short of set standards? ofwat, the regulator , says most the regulator, says most companies are not meeting the key targets to reduce pollution leakage and supply interruptions . and customer satisfaction is also down at thames. water will be hit the hardest. it they'll have to pay back £101 million. southern water will be hit for £43 million as at workers in the uk are taking more sick days now than at any time in the last ten years. new research from the chartered institute for professional development shows staff took on average 7.8 sick days in the past year , up from days in the past year, up from 5.8 before the pandemic . it's 5.8 before the pandemic. it's blaming stress , covid and the blaming stress, covid and the cost of living crisis vehicle

scams have soared by 74, costing victims almost £1,000 on average . it's happening because buyers are being duped by fake posts on marketplace online marketplaces or social media advertising vehicles that don't exist. they'll now be encouraged to pay a full deposit or even the full amount, despite not seeing the car in person. and it's mostly affecting those aged between 25 and 34 . this is gb news on tv, and 34. this is gb news on tv, on digital radio and on your smart speaker too. but now it is back to mark and . ellie back to mark and. ellie >> you're with the live desk . >> you're with the live desk. thank you so much for your company. now our top story this houh company. now our top story this hour, a gb news exclusive. the mayor of greater manchester, andy burnham, has threatened legal action against the government if the northern leg of hs2 is scrapped, saying that

labour will build it if they win the general election next year. well, here's what mr burnham had to say to our political editor, christopher hope when they met in earlier today. christopher hope when they met in change earlier today. christopher hope when they met in change might lier today. christopher hope when they met in change might be' today. christopher hope when they met in change might be coming if >> change might be coming if labour win the election. >> next would >> expected next year. would labour build this northern leg? i've had reassurances that they will and i'm really encouraged . will and i'm really encouraged. well, from rachel reeves , let's well, from rachel reeves, let's name them. shadow transport secretary louise haigh in the in the region yesterday we have a commitment that around northern powerhouse rail, which i keep coming back to, is the critical thing. as far as i'm concerned. we want both. let me be really clear about this. why should we be forced to choose between having an east west line or a north south line ? london's never north south line? london's never been choose. gets been forced to choose. it gets the it gets hs2 the elizabeth line, it gets hs2 , but it's always here where people are forced choose. people are forced to choose. we think need both if we're to think we need both if we're to set the north of england up for the rest of this century. and the rest of this century. and the is there and we the commitment is there and we need to see it from the government. they're coming to

manchester in days time. manchester in a few days time. what have they got to say to us? >> you know, they promise to level they stood for level us up when they stood for election here. >> are they really coming to north say, well, that was a pack of and finally on it of lies and just finally on it is what? what are your is to what? what are your options? if it is to axe the northern leg in the autumn statement legal statement or before that legal action as well. challenging, of course. all i can say is for 15 years or more kind of many people in the greater manchester system have been working hard at the government's request to bnng the government's request to bring through these plans. we've devoted hours and hours and hours of time all of our development plans are linked to it. if they pull the plug, they are kind of ripping the heart out of the economic development plan for greater manchester and parts of the north. so all opfions parts of the north. so all options would absolutely be on the table. and i go back to it. i've written to the prime minister could be legal action then, but not to consult us, not even to let us kind put the even to let us kind of put the case. that's why i wonder, you might a legal case because might get a legal case because there's consultation. where

there's no consultation. where all be there's no consultation. where allwould be there's no consultation. where allwould on be there's no consultation. where allwould on the be there's no consultation. where allwould on the table. be there's no consultation. where allwould on the table. you on would be on the table. you know, we're getting know, we're we're getting stronger terms of the voice stronger in terms of the voice of the north. we don't seek fights with whitehall , but we fights with whitehall, but we know how to answer them back now. and we're not going to now. and we're not just going to get going to lie get we're just not going to lie down and accept way down and accept the way whitehall treated. whitehall is always treated. the north of england, we are fighting back, we're getting organised. we're not going to take so take things lying down. so they'll from us. they'll be hearing from us. >> andy burnham talking >> that's andy burnham talking to christopher hope, our political editor up in manchester, and course, manchester, and of course, following comments following those comments from both osborne and lord both george osborne and lord heseltine saying scrapping the manchester would an manchester route would be an act of gross vandalism. so is it going to be a one and a half? let's speak to our economics and business editor, editor for liam halligan with on the money . halligan with on the money. because it is about figures, big figures as well, and suggestions from rishi sunak that a lot of the figures behind the scenes are even more eye—watering than what's out in public at the moment. >> they are, i must say. i mean,

this is just an open goal for andy burnham. the self—styled king of the north. of course, former cabinet minister former labour cabinet minister became mayor of manchester and he's been banging on about hs2 literally for years . and literally for years. and warning, warning, warning as many people have. look it's not a great scheme, but if it only goes london to birmingham, it's a completely pointless scheme because we've already got two train lines from london to birmingham. have a birmingham. and let's have a look some of the back look at some of the costs back in when hs2 was first in 2010, when hs2 was first conceived, it was 30 billion and that was london to birmingham, then birmingham to manchester and leeds . and it and birmingham to leeds. and it went up to 56 billion by 2015. 80 billion by 2016. now it's up at 107 billion. that's for london to birmingham and birmingham to manchester for. that's an an estimate from michael bing, who's consulted with hs2 and network rail over many years, a very respected person. and these are absolutely huge sums . look, this person. and these are absolutely huge sums. look, this is going to be the most expensive railway

ever built , to be the most expensive railway ever built, right? this is also europe's largest construction project. so it's really big stuff. and the world is watching . and if we end up after all the arguments and all the rows and all the lack of cost control, not with the whole scheme, but just london to birmingham, that really is the worst of all possible outcomes . and what possible outcomes. and what timing the government ? yeah. timing for the government? yeah. did leak this ? they're did someone leak this? they're literally going to hold their conference in manchester. manchester near to a disused railway station and there's a train strike going on when we're trying to get up there and when we're coming back. >> you can't make it up, can you?i >> you can't make it up, can you? i mean, andy burnham says that interview to chris you? i mean, andy burnham says that he interview to chris you? i mean, andy burnham says that he says:erview to chris you? i mean, andy burnham says that he says theyw to chris you? i mean, andy burnham says that he says they surely1ris you? i mean, andy burnham says that he says they surely can't hope. he says they surely can't be coming north to tell us they are cancel. is are going to cancel. it is a pack of lies. and is that a possible city? when you look at that see that that graph and you see that that cost almost the estimate cost almost triple the estimate at beginning of all of this, at the beginning of all of this, over £100 billion. is it at this point hundred billion, billion? i mean, can the government really truly turn their back really and truly turn their back on this will they have to on this or will they have to offer alternate live?

on this or will they have to offewell,alternate live? on this or will they have to offewell, we're |te live? on this or will they have to offewell, we're look,e? on this or will they have to offewell, we're look, the >> well, we're look, the estimates, the cost estimates of hs2 two were deliberately underestimated , in my view, underestimated, in my view, back in day order to ram this in the day in order to ram this thing parliament. a lot in the day in order to ram this thibig parliament. a lot in the day in order to ram this thibig engineering ament. a lot in the day in order to ram this thibig engineering interests, lot in the day in order to ram this thibig engineering interests, at of big engineering interests, a lot of property interests lot of big property interests were ramming this through when lots of were saying and you lots of us were saying and you know, rail know, people within the rail industry look , we industry were saying, look, we like trains, but this is not the right to do. britain's too right thing to do. britain's too small. the distances are too small. the distances are too small to bother to have high speed rail. our rail routes are too twisty because they have to be straight lines of high speed rail and there'll be lots of cuttings and tunnels and we already have two train lines from london to birmingham. does it take 20 it really matter to take 20 minutes to birmingham? >> so let's let's just remind people trying people of what they were trying to terms of linking from to do in terms of linking from euston originally all the way up. first of all, leeds up. i mean, first of all, leeds went and old is went and now old oak common is suddenly going to become london central . but i mean, paul central. but i mean, paul johnson, the head of the institute for fiscal studies, said, know, this said, look, you know, this should been at should never have been built at all. they've all. but now that they've building or built most of building or have built most of the up to birmingham, it the section up to birmingham, it

makes bite the makes sense maybe to bite the bullet carry on. bullet and carry on. >> so let's let's just look at the map. london a birmingham the map. london is a birmingham was one right from euston was phase one right from euston central london to birmingham. phase two was birmingham through crewe to manchester going west and then phase two b was birmingham through east midlands hub up to leeds in yorkshire . of hub up to leeds in yorkshire. of course, now to be the leeds branch was scrapped back in 2021. and we also know now , now 2021. and we also know now, now that there's a danger that the london gateway, huge amounts of work going on at euston. it's just up the road, isn't it? that's been stopped. and it may be that hs2 comes in to old oak common. now that name won't mean anything to non—londoners , but anything to non—londoners, but that's basically acton , right? that's basically acton, right? which is a suburb in zone 3 or 4. this is not central london. so if you get on hs2 in birmingham, you come off at old oak common, then you get on the tube to go to euston and that takes longer than the existing railway from birmingham to euston . so the cost, you know ,

euston. so the cost, you know, all this cost, no time saving . all this cost, no time saving. and what are the point of time saving when you can anyway work on the train when you've got decent wi fi on the train? >> i mean, on that point, on the planning, mean, questions are planning, i mean, questions are going be asked now about why going to be asked now about why these even put going to be asked now about why thes motion even put going to be asked now about why thes motion at even put going to be asked now about why thes motion at the even put going to be asked now about why thes motion at the very,�*| put going to be asked now about why thes motion at the very, very into motion at the very, very beginning. we're talking beginning. i mean, we're talking about common now in zone about old oak common now in zone three in birmingham, three of london, in birmingham, curzon minute curzon street is about 15 minute walk street . walk from new street. >> you're even coming into >> you're not even coming into birmingham. you birmingham. new street, are you know. the know. exactly. and i know the site is the site of an old post office rail terminal. i've filmed there in past, made filmed there in the past, made many documentaries about this, this speed super train. but this high speed super train. but it strikes me that just the fundamental case hasn't really been thought through. and again, i'm citing many, many people in the rail industry because international studies show that if you have high speed rail, it tends to draw business to the capital rather than out to the region. so, you know, sutton coldfield is going to become in south birmingham. south birmingham, of course, is going to a commuter suburb of to become a commuter suburb of london, provided that the people

in working work near old in london working work near old oak common in acton . so it seems oak common in acton. so it seems completely ill conceived. and, you know, the government's opponents are going to have a lot of fun with this because rishi say, look, rishi sunak wants to say, look, i only politician who's i am the only politician who's got stop this. but got the guts to stop this. but people are going to but people are going to say, but your been power your lot have been in power since a huge since 2010, and there's a huge problem it's not just in problem because it's not just in opposition, within tory opposition, it's within the tory party. we've william hague >> now we've got william hague basically saying terribly badly managed disgrace. managed a national disgrace. george osborne and lord heseltine scrap upping the manchester route will be an act of vandalism . patrick of gross vandalism. patrick mclaughlin former tory transport secretary scaling back is completely wrong. i mean, they're all over the shop on this, aren't they? they are. >> but this is what happens when, in my view, you instigate the infrastructure projects that have never really been thought thought through. think, look, we've spent about 25 or £30 billion. so far on this high speed super train. what could you have done for £30 billion to the rail network in the north? you could have upgraded the

trans—pennine route, linking liverpool with newcastle and middlesbrough as should have happened years east to west. yeah. taking in leeds, taking in sheffield, taking in manchester, great northern cities . there are great northern cities. there are very few cities in the world of their have the global their size that have the global name recognition that they have that have, you know, many , many that have, you know, many, many really top class universities, relatively cheap housing for young people. how quickly could they put that into action if rishi sunak at the party conference gets the message? >> you've got to do something about the trans—pennine route. >> it's already an existing route. question of route. it's a question of upgrading an existing route. the rolling on which and the rolling stock on which and the lines on which i mean, some of them, magnificent. you get them, it's magnificent. you get these viaducts with these incredible viaducts with trains in the north of england. absolutely you know, victorian engineering, wonderful victorian engineering. and yet there are many pinch points on that transpennine route that need to be solved. as i've said , mark, be solved. as i've said, mark, there are many other pinch points across the network,

particularly in the north, that could be fixed with single digit billions. an example i'll say again, because a lot of people will be talking about it next week, is this pinch point in the centre of manchester near dean street station place. i know. well, called castle well, it's called the castle field corridor. now this pinch point, the whole network goes down to one line in either direction. it impacts trains, right the way up the north—west, all the way up to scotland. the domino effect and the department for transport has promised money to, uh, to unblock the castlefield corridor. many, many, many, many times. and it's never materialised . and i hate never materialised. and i hate to say this, ofcom regulated person here, if i was andy burnham, um, i'd also be upset. >> i what do you think this will mean for the tories at the next general election ? because general election? because they've promised they still they've promised that they still stand by levelling but then stand by levelling up. but then you've rhetoric from you've got rhetoric from from andy there who says, andy burnham. there who says, well, in manchester, the well, people in manchester, the second class citizens, they've been choose between the been asked to choose between the trans—pennine route hs2 trans—pennine route or hs2 people in london don't get asked. >> we just had crossrail , right,

>> we just had crossrail, right, which had 20, £25 billion on which had had 20, £25 billion on crossrail, got the elizabeth line london. line going across london. >> the rhetoric is >> that's all the rhetoric is going to wall going to feed into to red wall voters voted for levelling voters who voted for levelling up. they want to see levelling up. they want to see levelling up in action. so if the northern leg hs2 is scrapped, is leg of hs2 is scrapped, how is that affect that's the that going to affect that's the kind of headline banner, the claim levelling up. claim this is levelling up. >> you know what? a lot of >> but you know what? a lot of people across the red people who live across the red wall, hs2 wall, they don't like hs2 because it zooms past their town. you know, it talks to people in burnley or barnes, leigh or blackburn or bradford, all the bees about what hs2 does for them. absolutely nothing. in my experience , i've conducted my experience, i've conducted opinion polls, made films a lot about train services in the north of england. it's a bit of a hobby horse of mine. the polls constantly show that people in the north don't want hs2 . you the north don't want hs2. you know, obviously andy burnham is going and make political going to try and make political capital what they capital out of it. what they want better links into for want is better links into for and between our northern cities, regional for rail commuters to ease the massive dependence in the north on cars. they want

frequency of services and that means electrifying train services in the north. many of which are still diesel slow diesel trains. you can't get many carriages on them . they many carriages on them. they can't accelerate very infrequent , very, very crowded. liam as eveh , very, very crowded. liam as ever, thank you for taking us through that. >> but we're going to take you now an express journey to bournemouth shortly because liberal leader sir ed liberal democrat leader sir ed davey shortly on stage. davey due shortly on stage. we'll latest for you we'll have that latest for you live there is the conference centre. more coming up to have posted up that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news. >> hello , very good morning to you. >> it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office. further rain or showers today, but it won't be raining all day everywhere. there will be some sunshine in between, stay between, although it will stay blustery before storm agnes arrives tomorrow to bring a widespread swathe of disrupt of winds. we start off tuesday with showers moving through southern and central england, clearing to

the east. another spell of wet weather moves into northern ireland and then scotland during the morning and early afternoon. that showers . some of that clears to showers. some of these showers could be heavy, especially and especially western scotland and northern ireland, but there'll be sunshine between and be some sunshine in between and in the south—east it will feel warm sunshine whilst the warm in the sunshine whilst the strong wind in the north and northwest gales northwest coastal gales a possibility keep feeling possibility will keep it feeling on cool side. then the on the cool side. then the spells of rain and showers become more confined to the north and northwest of the uk overnight. spells overnight. clear spells elsewhere and even in the northwest. those showers will generally ease by dawn . so for generally ease by dawn. so for most, it's a bright most, actually, it's a bright start to wednesday and it's a relatively calm start compared with what's to come later in the day. so plenty of early morning sunshine, a of a chill in sunshine, a bit of a chill in the air in the north with temperatures in the mid single figures, out of the figures, but nothing out of the ordinary. cloud builds ordinary. the cloud builds in the south and well, by the south and then well, by later the morning, the first later in the morning, the first sign storm agnes with the sign of storm agnes with the wind picking up in the west and spells rain pushing into spells of rain pushing into northern ireland, southwestern scotland and irish sea coastal

areas and that rain turning heavy by the end of the day. but the gales that the widespread gales that develop through western coasts could cause disruption . could cause disruption. >> 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. so all political parties seemingly gearing up for a general election campaign. now the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey, due to wrap up his four day party conference in bournemouth, fairly shortly with a key note speech. that's the stage there. our deputy political editor tom harwood has been following the conference in bournemouth. are they preparing for power, to tom, use that phrase, liberal democrats employed all those years ago ? employed all those years ago? it's not quite. >> return to your constituent ices and prepare for government. no this is a much more targeted , perhaps more realist approach from the liberal democrats wanting to win a good number of seats. behind the scenes, they'll mention anything between 30 and 40, although the polls don't quite suggest that number. as things stand. in fact, it's likely that the lib dems may lose a few of the seats that they've picked up in the most extraordinary by—election wins, where we've seen swings of 20 plus points. but it's likely

that there will be some chopping and changing at the next election. the dems do election. but the lib dems do want make in want to make gains in particularly conservative held seats. what at davey is saying today is that he wants to pick up seats in the south west of england, wants to pick up seats in the home counties. the areas that become known as the that have become known as the blue wall traditionally conservative voting seats and interestingly often brexit voting seats. this from the party that had a rather sweary slogan back in 2019 saying something to brexit, saying they wanted to reverse brexit without a referendum. this was the most militantly remainer party that now if you talk to the leadership, they really would rather talk about just about anything else. and i think one of the interesting things to see in ed davey's speech a little bit later today is less what it says is and more what it doesn't says is and more what it doesn't say particularly about the issue of the eu . of the eu. >> as you mentioned, there , tom >> as you mentioned, there, tom harwood, they have been around ,

harwood, they have been around, haven't they? even this liberal democrat conference, there's something to brexit. hashtag told you so . so those tensions told you so. so those tensions are still there . they're are still there. they're bubbung are still there. they're bubbling away, aren't they? but it is going to be this targeted approach that we're going to be expecting in this speech with sir ed davey . sir ed davey. >> certainly that's the case. and what we've seen actually is a very interesting distinction, i think, between what goes on on the sidelines of conference and what goes on in the more scripted lines given by the party figures, the scripted lines, of course, are that, yes , liberal democrats want to be close to europe, but they will not be drawn on whether that question of rejoin comes up or whether further integration or even single market membership or whatever that specific question is , the leadership will not be is, the leadership will not be drawn on it, but on the sidelines of the conference, mps and activists are very clearly saying that they would very much like to rejoin the european union . so that that is an union. so that that is an interesting sort of tension in that exists between the party

leadership and the party membership up perhaps it was demons castrated in one, particularly singsong way . last particularly singsong way. last night at the lib dem glee club, where into the early hours of this morning, activists , mps and this morning, activists, mps and the like sang parody songs to the like sang parody songs to the tune of well—known music , the tune of well—known music, one of which, of course , was a one of which, of course, was a reimagined song of three lions. the england football song. it's turned into a pro—eu anthem, one of the lines being i know that was then, but will be there again talking about rejoining the european union . much the european union. much hilarity and singsong as lib dems always do on their final night of conference sheet. >> perhaps . anyway, let's >> perhaps. anyway, let's reflect on what we might hear about the battle ground, the battlefield for the general election , the economy. election, the economy. obviously, we expecting, but health as well. maybe in the nhs

as a central concern . as a central concern. >> yes, i've spoken to people around ed davey who've said that really he sees health care as an economic issue and that will be a pillar of this speech sticking to those issues that perhaps few could disagree with , that there could disagree with, that there need to be improvements in health care, improvement in the economy . they'll also no doubt economy. they'll also no doubt be mentioned of the state of rivers in the united kingdom. the liberal democrats sticking to these fairly broad brush topics, rather than being incredibly distinct in their message. one criticism, i suppose, could be that this is a speech that might appear to be a little asinine to perhaps be a little asinine to perhaps be a little bland. we've seen the lib dems try to steer away from that characterisation, not least with ed davey being tipped into the sea while he was sat in a kayak by a canoe , i should say, by one by a canoe, i should say, by one of his parliamentary candidates that made for a cracking photo 0p that made for a cracking photo op on the weekend. similarly, he wore a pirates hat while playing

mini golf a little bit earlier. these are the sort of stunts that we've seen from the lib dem leader trying to grab some of that attention because one of the criticisms has been what the big criticisms has been what is the point of difference between the liberal democrats and sir keir starmers? labour party, both parties trying to position themselves on the soft left, both making sort of soft left, both making sort of soft left arguments , but not really left arguments, but not really being particularly distinctive in their policy offer . in their policy offer. >> tom, thank you for setting the scene. that speech do imminently back to bournemouth and bringing that live for you. but first, let's get an update on all the news headlines with . aaron >> good afternoon to you. half past two. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom. the mayor of greater manchester says he could take legal action over hs2 . andy take legal action over hs2. andy burnham says scrapping the planned extension of the high speed rail link will have

massive implications for the north. the government's refused to rule out curtailing the planned line to manchester amid spiralling costs and mr burnham has promised labour will build hs2 if it wins the next election i >> -- >> but 15 years or more kind of many people in the greater metro system have been working hard at the government's request to bnng the government's request to bring through these plans. we've devoted hours and hours and hours of time . all of our hours of time. all of our development plans are linked to it. if they pull the plug, they are kind of ripping the heart out of the economic development plan for greater manchester and parts of the north. so all opfions parts of the north. so all options would absolutely be on the table . and the home the table. and the home secretary believes simply being gay or a woman isn't enough by itself to claim asylum . itself to claim asylum. >> suella braverman is campaigned for a change to international refugee agreements international refugee agreements in washington , where she will in washington, where she will make a speech later. she claims rules put in place 70 years ago are no longer relevant .

are no longer relevant. meanwhile, red cross officials on the italian island of lampedusa are trying to free up space in their processing centre in expectation of another surge in expectation of another surge in migrant arrivals. a gb news can reveal the camp now has just over 150 residents. a week ago it had more than 11,000 and it led to clashes with italian police . a hospital trust has police. a hospital trust has apologised after it's emerged it failed to send out 24,000 letters from senior doctors to patients and their gps after they became lost in a computer system. as a result, the health care regulator has sought urgent assurances over patient safety. and most of those letters would have explained the process for patients to be discharged from hospital. the trust says the uncertainty letters accounted for less than 0.3% of all patient contacts . i'll be back patient contacts. i'll be back with more at the top of the hour or you can get more on all of our stories on our website,

gbnews.com .

christys on gb news. i'm gb news radio . welcome back to the live desk. >> let's take you to birmingham where the stage is set for bournemouth rather for the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey at and we are being told that he is likely to make this keynote speech on the issue of

health and possibly a new legal right for cancer patients to start their treatment within two months of an urgent referral . months of an urgent referral. that's the main point of a keynote speech underlining the liberal democrats health pledges. >> we're told now this is very interesting because we heard from tom harwood , our deputy from tom harwood, our deputy political editor , that we are political editor, that we are going to see a targeted approach from sir ed davey and the liberal democrats to win over disenfranchised tory voters as he's closing the lib dem conference. he'll be doing this speech shortly in bournemouth . speech shortly in bournemouth. but the conservative government already have a target for already do have a target for cancer start cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral referral, but not all do so. he is hoping to make this a better under a lib dem government. he's saying with two months would be seen after an urgent referral . so you can an urgent referral. so you can see they're just trying to target that would be tory voters on issues that the lib dems think mattered to them, which is health and the economy . yeah. health and the economy. yeah. >> how much will that cost? well

the liberal democrat leader, we understand, pledge some £4 understand, will pledge some £4 billion to deliver this plan over five years. and what, of course, is expected perhaps to be the last annual conference before the general election, the liberal democrats have been targeting, of course, many seats in the by elections, but this will be the big push. so i think we're expecting him on that stage imminently. it's understood that he'll also address the issue of the of the economy , of course, at the economy, of course, at the conference. but he's saying that he expects a lot of people have been let down and forgotten by this conservative government. and, in fact, he will draw on his experience of losing two parents to cancer as a child . parents to cancer as a child. ed, to underline the importance of what he says should be a robust nhs , as the liberal robust nhs, as the liberal democrat leader expected to say, ihope democrat leader expected to say, i hope we can build a consensus across politics to make sure that cancer is a top priority in this next parliament. i can at least promise you this a liberal democrat mps this will be a top priority and there we are. the

video being shown featuring the health service and environmental issues as well. >> yes, this will be his first at party conference, the first keynote speech since becoming leader in in 2020. and many say he's going to seek this as the rallying cry before an election which many in the party believe could happen in the first half of next year , something it could of next year, something it could be more like this time next year will be very interesting to see if they look to be going this alone, wanting to win this next general election, going after those true blue seats , those those true blue seats, those tory blue wall seats, or whether they will be potential deal makers , as with the labour party makers, as with the labour party at the next general election. yeah >> tom harwood our deputy political editor indicating that perhaps no deal with the tories, but possibility of some kind of accord with labour, particularly on the issue. of course of the economy. but certainly an indication they will be

targeting traditional tory seats. sir ed davey taking the stage in bournemouth . thank you, friends. >> i'm afraid i have to start this afternoon with an apology . this afternoon with an apology. >> you might remember after our incredible victory in somerton and frome in july when the amazing sarah overturned a conservative majority of 19,000, i said, it's time to get these clowns out of number 10. we even wrote it on the side of a big

blue cannon. >> do you remember? well, a party member got in touch afterwards to say he is an actual clown . and he took great actual clown. and he took great offence at being compared to the conservative government . conservative government. and on reflection, i have to admit he's got a point. >> clowns didn't crash our economy and send interest rates soaring . soaring. >> clowns didn't let water companies make billions in profits while dumping filthy sewage into our rivers and onto our beaches . our beaches. >> clowns didn't plunge our nhs into crisis, pushing waiting lists to record highs . clowns lists to record highs. clowns didn't waste billions of pounds of our money on dodgy ppe

contracts . contracts. >> clowns didn't prop up a lying lawbreaking prime minister and then allow him to put his cronies in the house of lords. >> clowns didn't do it. >> clowns didn't do it. >> the conservatives did . >> the conservatives did. >> the conservatives did. >> so let me take this opportunity to apologise. >> unreserved to that party member and to the whole clowning . community >> i'm sorry i used the wrong c—word, so let me let me try again . again. >> it's time to get these conservatives out of . conservatives out of. number 10 and liberal democrats

>> we've made a great start at sarah green in buckinghamshire. helen morgan in shropshire, richard ford in devon, and now sarah in somerset . and next up, sarah in somerset. and next up, of course , the wonderful emma of course, the wonderful emma holland , lindsay in mid holland, lindsay in mid bedfordshire . friends. bedfordshire. friends. >> our by—election record in the last two and a half years is nothing less than historic . nothing less than historic. >> and so to have been our fantastic local election results this may we gained. fantastic local election results this may we gained . an this may we gained. an incredible 407 councillors right across england from sunderland to south hams from lewes to lancaster and gain control of 12 more councils .

lancaster and gain control of 12 more councils. in lancaster and gain control of 12 more councils . in scotland last more councils. in scotland last year we boosted our councillor base by a third. we're growing back there strongly to , as we back there strongly to, as we hold the nationalists to account for the total mess they made of , well, everything . and in wales , well, everything. and in wales we took control of powis council for the first time ever. liberal democrats right across our united kingdom . you should all united kingdom. you should all be so proud of what we've achieved together . our campaigns achieved together. our campaigns , our victories are changing . , our victories are changing. the future of british politics and turning the tide against the conservatives . we've shown the conservatives. we've shown the next election won't be all about

the red wall. it's about the blue wall to former tory heartlands, where we've shown we are the only ones who can win, the only ones who can bring the change. people crave . and even change. people crave. and even better , with richard's win in better, with richard's win in devon, sarah's in somerset and superb local government success, we can now proudly say the liberal democrats are back in the west country . the west country. a second front against the conservatives, where every liberal democrat vote is the powerful vote for change. but now comes the big one. the general election for the british

people. the next general election can't come quickly enough. election can't come quickly enough . people are desperate for enough. people are desperate for change. and while rishi sunak cungs change. and while rishi sunak clings on out of touch and out ofideas clings on out of touch and out of ideas , is our job, our of ideas, is ourjob, our responsibility is to show that british people that positive change is possible and that we are ready to fight for it whenever the election comes. this week, done just that. we've shown that we have the policies, the passion and the people not just to get the conservatives out , but to just to get the conservatives out, but to deliver just to get the conservatives out , but to deliver the just to get the conservatives out, but to deliver the real change. people want the fair deal that people deserve . deal that people deserve. our task is to get more brilliant liberal democrat mps elected so they can be strong local champions for their

communities and lead the change. our country needs . bringing real our country needs. bringing real hope for millions in this economic crisis . hope to people economic crisis. hope to people struggling to get by and struggling to get by and struggling to get on cleaning up our environment, rescuing our nhs and care system, transforming our politics for good. transforming our politics for good . and remember, at the start good. and remember, at the start of the year, sunak gave a big speech where he told the country where either delivering for you or we're . not well , in fairness or we're. not well, in fairness to rishi, he was telling the truth with . it is one of those truth with. it is one of those two things and friends i think we all know which one he his government is failing to deliver. and what's so horrific is that she is scale of their failure in so many ways . our failure in so many ways. our country today just isn't working

the way it should . it's not the way it should. it's not working as it should for the parents. it's forced to to travel hours just to find their kids. an nhs dentist or skipping meals so their children can eat . it's not working for the couple in my constituency who fear losing their home of 13 years as their mortgage payments have shot up by more than £400 a month . it's not working for the month. it's not working for the teaching assistant and her young family evicted from their home in ambleside and the landlord could turn it into a holiday. let it's not working for the pensioner. going without heat in the winter or the commuter left on the platform by yet another cancelled train line. it's not working for the swimmer who spent 13 days in hospital cellulitis after swimming in sewage infested water conference. i have never known our country so badly governed .

our country so badly governed. crimes unsolved , solved backlogs crimes unsolved, solved backlogs in our courts, delays to get a passport crumbling school buildings, high streets in decline , and potholes everywhere decline, and potholes everywhere . now there are many reasons why all these issues have got so bad of course, but there is one fundamental cause the conservative party, britain isn't working because the conservatives aren't working. they're more like a bad tv soap than a functioning government . than a functioning government. the factions in the feuds, the personal vendettas and the shock exits and unwelcome returns . exits and unwelcome returns. each episode worse than the last. well it's time to change

the channel the corruption of bofis the channel the corruption of boris johnson, the chaos of liz truss , carelessness of rishi truss, carelessness of rishi sunak. this whole conservative shambles . they all have to go sunak. this whole conservative shambles. they all have to go . shambles. they all have to go. and liberal democrats our task is to get them out and then get britain working again . and that britain working again. and that of course starts with the economy. we need to get our economy. we need to get our economy growing strongly again . economy growing strongly again. conservative ministers might think 0% growth and 7% inflation in our numbers to boast about, but the british people certainly don't. you know, inflation still higher than any time since black

wednesday , worse even than at wednesday, worse even than at the height of the financial crisis . food prices the height of the financial crisis. food prices up the height of the financial crisis . food prices up 30% the height of the financial crisis. food prices up 30% in just two years. energy bills almost doubled. mortgage rates through the roof . and rishi through the roof. and rishi sunak says this all shows his plan is working honestly , the plan is working honestly, the prime minister sounds so complacent , so out of touch, complacent, so out of touch, some times. i think he must be reading the graphs upside . down reading the graphs upside. down well, rishi, if this is what it looks like when your plan is working, i think we need a new plan and that's exactly what the liberal democrats have been putting forward . a real plan not putting forward. a real plan not just to stop things getting worse, not just to return to business as usual, but to build the economy of the future .

the economy of the future. to build an economy that is genuinely innovative, prosperous and fair. an economy plan that gives everyone the chance to get on in life . and see their hard on in life. and see their hard work and aspiration an properly rewarded a plan that backs entrepreneurs to grow their small businesses and create worthwhile, well—paid jobs in their communities. worthwhile, well—paid jobs in their communities . and yes, their communities. and yes, a plan to tackle the climate crisis reach net zero and embrace the clean technology of the future . the future. it's time to lead the world instead of trying to hide from it. conference after rishi sunak disgraceful speech last week, the contrast between our approach and his could not be clearer . we approach and his could not be

clearer. we already approach and his could not be clearer . we already knew he clearer. we already knew he doesn't care about tackling climate change. that's no surprise . but what about the surprise. but what about the damage his u—turns will do to our economy , to our car industry our economy, to our car industry , to people's jobs right across the uk ? doesn't sunak care about the uk? doesn't sunak care about any of it ? apparently not. any of it? apparently not. frankly, instead of delivering that speech, rishi should have torn it up and thrown it away. if he's got seven bins, he might as well use them . sunak as well use them. sunak small minded and backward looking approach is simply not worthy of our great united kingdom . from our great united kingdom. from the steam train to the internet, britain has always led the world with ingenuity and innovation. we are a nation often of pioneers and inventors , not just pioneers and inventors, not just in our history, but in our present and our future . the

present and our future. the liberal democrats understand that in government we have made britain the world leader in offshore wind . we invested offshore wind. we invested early. we had an industrial strategy. we showed we were serious . we attracted global serious. we attracted global firms to come to the uk and spend tens of billions of pounds to build factories and wind farms and create thousands of clean, secure the jobs . and clean, secure the jobs. and thanks to liberal democrat policies, the price of wind energy has more than halved. so now , now . now, renewables now, now. now, renewables are by far the cheapest form of electricity and the most popular we could be doing the same thing with so many other new technologies. tidal power, clean flight , high technologies. tidal power, clean flight, high speed rail, technologies. tidal power, clean flight , high speed rail, create flight, high speed rail, create cutting jobs and cutting price

is but rishi sunak says no . we is but rishi sunak says no. we say build britain's economic future here in the uk. rishi sunak says outsource it to china. that is a dismal failure of leadership and we can do so much better . much better. britain led the world and we can lead it again , but not with lead it again, but not with a conservative squabbling amongst themselves and clinging to the fossil fuels of the past and not with the prime minister refusing even to attend the united nafions even to attend the united nations general assembly last week , instead of standing in his week, instead of standing in his lectern in downing street single handedly trashing our economic future , rishi sunak should have future, rishi sunak should have beenin future, rishi sunak should have been in new york working with

global leaders to tackle this crisis together . britain can be crisis together. britain can be an incredible force for good when it stands tall on the world stage . but rishi sunak doesn't stage. but rishi sunak doesn't seem to care about that either. he's getting it wrong at home and he's getting badly wrong abroad too. our vision is for a britain that leads the world as we embrace the economy of the future . the conservatives would future. the conservatives would only shackle us to the past . and only shackle us to the past. and there's another crucial part of our economic vision, another area where we are so different from this government, something that would so obviously make an enormous difference to our economy and our standard of living . something we have always living. something we have always been proud to champion , even been proud to champion, even when no one else even dared whisper it . fixing our broken

whisper it. fixing our broken relationship with europe . relationship with europe. >> you know, speech at the liberal democrat conference in bournemouth, he was saying that the liberal democrat by—election successes in tory heartlands in recent years had been historic. he said , oh yeah, he says he's he said, oh yeah, he says he's shown that the next election will not just be about the red wall, it will be about the blue wall, it will be about the blue wall to former tory heartlands have shown us we are the only ones who can win and we're the only ones that can bring the change that people crave. and we're likely to hear more detail about health reforms, in particular, the legal right to have cancer treatment brought forward with some £4 billion. we expect being earmarked for that. more details coming up. stay with us here on gb news patrick christys next. we're back with you tomorrow. stay with us on gb

news. >> the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> hi there. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office. with the gb news forecast, showers ease overnight with clear skies for many of us. a fine start to wednesday , but then storm agnes wednesday, but then storm agnes turns up with the potential for disruptive wind and rain. still some rain going across much of scotland and northern ireland as well as northern england through the evening. but eventually the showers become confined to central and the far northwest of scotland . most places will be scotland. most places will be clear. then overnight . but some clear. then overnight. but some high cloud drifting in by the end of the night, turning things milder in the south, but rather fresh. to the day in fresh. start to the day in scotland. northern ireland and northern england. winds at northern england. light winds at first as well. but storm agnes is moving in quickly by this stage, bringing damaging winds to much of ireland before spreading very disruptive spreading those very disruptive winds into irish sea coastal

areas. by the afternoon . so areas. by the afternoon. so after the early sunshine, it turns increasingly windy through the morning. those winds then peaking in the afternoon and evening. the risk in northern and western parts of the uk of 50 to 60 mile per hour wind gusts and around exposed irish sea coasts of 75 mile per hour wind gusts. so dangerous coastal conditions disruption to transport heavy rain as transport and some heavy rain as well could cause impacts for central and southern scotland . central and southern scotland. much of that clears through dunng much of that clears through during thursday, but it stays windy in the north with the further risk of coastal gales. bright skies further south and lighter winds. some showers still going on friday. a fine start to the weekend, though, with high pressure building for a time. the temperatures rising , boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on . weather on. gb news a 3 pm. >> it's patrick christys this is

gb news and we are taking it up a gear this hour. suella braverman is set to stand up in washington on the world stage and potentially tell the world what it needs to hear about illegal immigration, about refugees and about asylum seekers. a few different bits and she's expected to and bobs that she's expected to say. expected, of course say. she is expected, of course , about the definition , to go on about the definition of refugee as we need to change that definition. why, you may ask? well because 780 million people apparently could be on their way to britain and europe. many of them, of course, will end up being channel migrants and what she is also saying is that channel migrants will not be in and honour in urged urgent need of asylum. this is the direct clash between our illegal migration bill and what the convention of refugees has to say. she'll also be talking again more about this number, 780 million people on their way and what she's trying to do is make the world community, the global wake now and global community wake up now and change of

change that definition of a refugee