secretary war. the former home secretary priti patel has been speaking exclusively to gb news tax burden is now at a 70 year high thatis burden is now at a 70 year high that is unsustainable and the people that pay the taxes are hard pressed. >> brits around the country and winter bills support what the government is under pressure to provide more financial assistance to help with energy bills this winter, bills that are for some may be higher than last year . last year. >> immigration concern runs a new poll shows worries over immigration has reached the highest level for six years. 1 in 4 people say it's the most important issue facing the country today. we're asking do you agree? sick more stump a teenager has now been arrested after the iconic sycamore gap tree was felled overnight . tree was felled overnight. >> it the tree was made famous when it appeared in kevin costner's 1991 film. robin hood, prince of thieves .

prince of thieves. >> and that picture there makes me feel so, so sad . it's almost me feel so, so sad. it's almost like a crime scene around the robin hood tree with did you see the single rose that has been laid there in tribute? it's really made me feel quite sad, that felling of that trees do let us know what you think about that and what should be done now. should tree be now. now, should that tree be repurposed into a bench or something like that? do let us know a few benches. i think know or a few benches. i think it's isn't it's quite big, isn't it? vaiews@gbnews.com do get in touch with us today. but first let's get a news roundup you let's get a news roundup for you i >> ellie, thanks very much. good morning from the gb newsroom. i'm tamsin roberts . it's 932. a i'm tamsin roberts. it's 932. a 17 year old boy is to appear in court after being charged with the murder of a 15 year old girl in south london in early arade dam was stabbed to death in

croydon on wednesday while she was on her way to school. tributes have been in tributes have been pouring in for victim's family , for the victim's family, including idris elba , who including actor idris elba, who says tougher deterrents and punishment need to be put in place for people who carry weapons . as the chancellor says, weapons. as the chancellor says, the economy recovered from the pandemic faster than expected after it grew by nought point 3% in the first quarter of this yean in the first quarter of this year. office for national statistics initially expected it to rise by nought point 1. jeremy hunt says the government will stick to its plan of halving inflation this year. some single use plastic items will be banned in england from sunday. this includes products like plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups. councils across the country will be required to enforce the ban locally through their trading standards teams. they'll also be restrictions for single use plastic plates, bowls and trays . there are calls for the prime minister to help people with their energy bills this winter.

in an open letter 140 organisations, including citizens advice and age uk, are urging the government to support vulnerable households. bills are expected to be around 13% higher than last winter. the government says its measures in place, including the energy price guarantee . well you can get more guarantee. well you can get more on all of those stories. just visit our website at gb news.com. now back to ellie and . tom now back to ellie and. tom >> very good morning to you. this is britain's news room, and we're awash with news about the economy this morning. the economy this morning. the economy grew faster than expected between january and march , three times faster, in march, three times faster, in fact. march, three times faster, in fact . and yet, on the other side fact. and yet, on the other side of the ledger, the tax burden is at a 70 year high. let's have a listen to what dame priti patel told exclusively to gb news tax burden is now at a 70 year high.

>> that is unsustainable bill. and the people that pay the taxes are hard pressed. brits around the country as conservatives, we believe in lower taxes , as as lower taxes, as as conservatives. we believe being on the side of hard working households and families as conservative as we believe in hope and aspiration. >> so what does that look like now? >> that should mean lower taxes. the burden of tax has to start to come down. however look at the cycle that we're in right now. we've got one more fiscal cycle before general cycle potentially before general election. just election. how and it's notjust about being or ambitious. about being bold or ambitious. it's about being conservative and ensuring that the public keep of the money that they keep more of the money that they earn rather than seeing the size of state continue to grow, of the state continue to grow, which chopper has done. which which chopper it has done. i'm written about i'm sure you've written about this you've spoken about this and you've spoken about this and you've spoken about this before. that's the space that to be in. reduce that we need to be in. reduce use size of the state and use the size of the state and ensure keep more of ensure that people keep more of their income. this is just a fundamental conservative principle. what do you make of it, tom? >> well, it's clear that priti patel feels strongly about this

and cynical people might be thinking this is someone who used to hold a great office of state, very senior, respected conservative mp. might she be thinking what does the parliament, conservative party, what does the membership of the conservative party in the country want to hear? is this the beginning of a nascent leadership campaign? >> perhaps. but that's what interests me, i think. suella braverman and speaking this week about refugee and asylum cases and now the timing of this interview with priti patel just makes you think, doesn't it, with tory conference at the with the tory conference at the weekend where the general election, a year's election, perhaps in a year's time you looking the next time are you looking at the next leader of the conservative party or perhaps just bidding for a position in cabinet? but does she a point here with she not have a point here with the faster than the economy growing faster than expected? three faster expected? three times faster than expected , there is more than expected, there is more money thought . and with money than we thought. and with one year to go before a general election, conservative lviv voters conservative. voters would be conservative. voters want to hear that they can taxes. can have lower taxes. >> certainly true, >> that's certainly true, although think there is always

although i think there is always the temptation to say three times faster than we thought. isn't this isn't that wonderful? this is a difference between 0.1% growth and 0.3% growth. so yes, it's good news, but this is still overall not the fastest growth in the world. what it is, is faster than some of our european colleagues and this does make this does bring the sort of question of brexit out into the fore. i suppose there had been the narrative that britain was doing so much worse than countries france countries like france or germany, that germany, and now it's clear that britain is actually growing faster although on faster than germany. although on the of the ledger for the other side of the ledger for the other side of the ledger for the still growing a lot the uk is still growing a lot less quickly than the united states of america or canada. so just because of that just because we're part of that european mainstream growth european mainstream of growth or faster european faster than some european countries comparing to countries is comparing us to a country like america . yeah, it country like america. yeah, it does like we're still does seem like we're still growing and growing very slowly and politically . politically. >> it is so interesting that this now puts her at odds with the prime minister and the chancellor of the exchequer, jeremy saying that tax jeremy hunt, saying that tax cuts only come by increasing cuts can only come by increasing growth and getting public spending under control, essentially , he's saying that

essentially, he's saying that inflation needs to come down before we can have tax cuts. some say that these higher taxes can reversed . it's not can never be reversed. it's not what priti patel is saying. no >> and i think it's really interesting looking at sort of the projections for spending in the projections for spending in the future we're ageing the future. we're an ageing society. there are more people who are going to make up that society. there are more people who aproportion) make up that society. there are more people who aproportion of|ake up that society. there are more people who aproportion of society that society. there are more people who aproportion of society than older proportion of society than at any other point before when we've had, example, a state we've had, for example, a state pension . that means more pension. that means that more money needs to be on money needs to be spent on things that. know an things like that. we know an ageing population also means that more demands for that there are more demands for nhs spending, there's more demand much more spending demand for so much more spending in different in so many different parts of the economy proportionally the economy and proportionally fewer people in work making that money. so just demographically, there's a big, big challenge there. >> and the whole priti patel interview full, we will be interview in full, we will be sharing the show sharing with you during the show this on britain's this morning on britain's newsroom. so do stay for newsroom. so do stay tuned for that. does talk about that. and she does talk about shrinking size of the shrinking the size of the welfare state as well. so you do want to stay tuned for that. but joining discuss all of joining us now to discuss all of this is the former labour mp simon danczuk. really good to

see this morning. simon see you this morning. simon thank we just thank you so much. so we just saw that clip from priti patel there saying that are at a saw that clip from priti patel theyeariying that are at a saw that clip from priti patel theyear high.:hat are at a saw that clip from priti patel theyear high. it|t are at a saw that clip from priti patel theyear high. it is are at a 70 year high. it is unsustainable, in her words . unsustainable, in her words. what do you make of it? >> i think she's absolutely right . and priti patel often right. and priti patel often speaks lot of sense and speaks a lot of sense and i think she's doing in this instance quite incredible that taxes increased much taxes have increased so much under conservative government under a conservative government but complete mismanagement over a number of years in relation to a number of years in relation to a whole range of different issues. that's what got us where we are and the public will not be happy about it. and that's probably why the conservatives will the next general will lose the next general election . election. >> and yet. simon when liz truss tried to do something about this perhaps fast, perhaps too perhaps too fast, perhaps too far, when she tried to reverse the trend of ever increasing taxes, there seemed to be a big backlash, perhaps because , as no backlash, perhaps because, as no one could admit, that if you want to reduce taxes , you also want to reduce taxes, you also have to reduce spending . have to reduce spending. >> yeah, absolutely. and so the theory was absolutely right. she just didn't sell it very well at

all. but i think liz truss has been proven right in some respects in terms of what her approach was . she just didn't approach was. she just didn't sell it to the markets. but what we've had in terms in terms of government over a number of years is failure. you mentioned people or more people retiring . people or more people retiring. some people in the public sector are retiring at the age of 60. i mean, this is incredible. people should be working this day and age much longer than that . so age much longer than that. so taxpayers have to pay for that. so people have been retiring too young. pandemic. you young. the pandemic. and you mentioned america. we subsidised individuals through furlough whilst america subsidised business, and that made a big difference in terms of growth throughout the pandemic . so throughout the pandemic. so we've made a number of mistakes. productivity is very low, particularly in the public sector. so the taxpayer is paying sector. so the taxpayer is paying for that. we've not regulated large corporations , regulated large corporations, whether it's british gas, the energy companies making huge profits at the expense of british taxpayers . there's so british taxpayers. there's so there's a whole lack of

regulation that's gone on for a number of years. a conservative government you would have expected to have got a grip of this and they haven't. the ifs has been speaking this morning. >> institute for fiscal studies. it's front page of the it's on the front page of the times saying that britain is making a decision massive and permanent to a higher tax permanent shift to a higher tax economy that's the think economy. that's from the think tank that's to going intensify the pressure on rishi to the pressure on rishi sunak to buck this trend. absolutely. >> doesn't seem to be >> but there doesn't seem to be any either rishi any initiative from either rishi sunak or jeremy hunt in terms of addressing this. jeremy hunt is talking tough, saying that the only priority is to get inflation down, which i understand, but we can't continually charge large individuals. but also businesses, the levels of corporate tax that we're charging that will kill growth. as you pointed out, we have had greater growth, but it's not significant, especially compared to america. so the tax burden, not just on individual families, which is now 3500 pounds a year, i think it has to be lower for

business as well. >> but you've seen how politics works up close. you used to sit on those green benches and i wonder , is it is it too cynical wonder, is it is it too cynical to expect that perhaps in a in a march budget the chancellor might magically find some money down the back of the sofa might say that growth is higher than was expected. we've found some money potentially for a pre—election tax cut and that's what it will look like. >> so he's got a problem there. i think if he does do that, he has a they can't win in some respects. i think priti patel and suella braverman, as you were pointing out, who are on the right of the conservative party, are trying to apply pressure, perhaps position for after the general election if it's not a conservative win. so that they can go for the leadership. so there's immense pressure on sunak to win the election to keep the conservatives in power . but it conservatives in power. but it will the public will be cynical about any tax cuts that are imminent now because we're leading up to a general election. so in many respects they can't really win well.

>> but there maybe it's what would be conservative voters actually want to hear. interesting stay with us, interesting simon, stay with us, because to react because we do want you to react to as well, because the to this as well, because the economic sector the treasury, economic sector to the treasury, andrew to andrew griffith spoke to breakfast morning breakfast this morning about calls winter bill calls for more winter bill support in the face of a potential higher bills. there are payments for the most vulnerable to help with the cost of living across this winter. >> that comes on top of an average average benefit per household of about £3,300 over last year and the year before. now that's a very significant amount of money. people didn't always see that because that was spent directly on shielding people from their bills in the first place. but that's come at a very significant cost as we look to make sure the public finances are in as good shape as possible. and ultimately to get back to an economy as a conservative that i want to see where people keep more of what they earn, we have to make these choices. but to be clear, there

is support this winter for the most vulnerable. payments will be out into people's be going out into people's accounts in the coming months and over the course of the winter . so andrew griffith, winter. so andrew griffith, they're saying that there is support, but unlike last year where the support was for everyone, now it's just targeted on the very poorest and i suppose that means there will be this missing middle people who are sort of squeezed in the middle who might want that support, who might not feel very well off. but this year not they're not getting that support. >> no. well, if if we >> no. well, if we see if we tackle these issues at the root cause , we'd be in a better cause, we'd be in a better place. the reality is that the energy companies are not very well regulated. they are, i believe, ripping people off, whether it's in terms of payment metres profits that they make in a far too high. we need a better energy market. that's the reality of it . and successive reality of it. and successive governments have failed in terms of energy, nor as you well know, nor nuclear power being created for many, many years . labour are for many, many years. labour are no better . they're proposing to

no better. they're proposing to shut down extracting gas and oil from the north sea. i mean, it's madness . yeah. madness. yeah. >> so politicians remarkable that the last nuclear power station to be built in this country was approved by margaret thatcher in 1988. yes. it's we've had more than 30 years of just sclerotic indecision on this . this. >> absolutely. and that gets us to a position where governments are having to shove taxpayers money into taxpayers accounts to try and satisfy the high price of energy. i mean, it's a madness . it's of energy. i mean, it's a madness. it's a mad of energy. i mean, it's a madness . it's a mad situation madness. it's a mad situation that we find ourselves in. and government need to take a lead. the public want some decisive politics persons who will provide some very strong leadership. and they haven't been getting that for successive years. i'm not sure they'll get it under keir starmer if he wins the general election, but that's what the public want and that's what the public want and that's what keir starmer saying. what keir starmer is saying. >> this sort of >> this, this, this sort of catchphrase about sticking plaster politics that we're that

we're sort of we're doing all of this sort of we're doing all of this sort of we fixed the stuff we haven't fixed the stuff at the start. haven't fixed the start. we haven't fixed energy now we energy generation. so now we have of sticking plaster have to sort of sticking plaster the extra into people's the extra cash into people's pockets. that just what pockets. isn't that just what you're saying as well? >> well, it is description of it is and he is beginning to is right. and he is beginning to formulate in terms of formulate a plan in terms of where wants take the where he wants to take the country. every time he does country. but every time he does that, seems to have holes in that, it seems to have holes in it. so his strategy isn't perfect stretch the perfect by any stretch of the imagined option. be imagined option. it'll be interesting it plays interesting to see how it plays out over the next 12 months as we get closer to that general election. >> how do you think this >> how hard do you think this winter is going to be for people? >> oh yeah, no doubt about it. it will tough. and that's the it will be tough. and that's the dilemma the conservatives dilemma that the conservatives got inaction got because of inaction previously, as we pointed out, they're now having to put money into taxpayers pockets to subsidise the energy industry. how we've got in this situation is just an absolute nightmare . is just an absolute nightmare. but it's going to be tough for people. absolutely and as you've pointed out , they've pulled some pointed out, they've pulled some of money back for those of the money back for those particularly middle earners who won't have enough to spend or

enough pay for their energy enough to pay for their energy costs. well, 140 organisations now calling for the government to stick to its promise to introduce a social tariff. >> but then we've got sources in the papers today saying the government have the government have cooled on the idea because the expense and idea because of the expense and also very difficult to also it's very difficult to accurately target those are accurately target those who are most in need . most in need. >> yes, the treasury has >> yes, and the treasury has always found that out very difficult. this the whole difficult. but this is the whole dilemma, we're dilemma, isn't it? we're spending, taxing too spending, we're taxing far too much , and then we're trying to much, and then we're trying to subsidise people well, far too much. and something has to give. we're too much , which we're spending too much, which means we're taxing too much. so we to spend and we have to spend less. and that's patel is that's where priti patel is coming and that's where coming from and that's where i agree with her completely. it's so the two halves so interesting, the two halves of conversation. of this conversation. >> start talking about >> we start off talking about why why the tax burden so why why is the tax burden so high? high. the second high? 70 year high. the second half we see the half of this we see in the papers, we see across the political spectrum. why don't we spending more money on subsidising two subsidising energy and these two halves conversation? can halves of the conversation? can they so neatly, so they fit together so neatly, so much demand spending? much demand for spending? of course, taxes have risen.

course, the taxes have risen. simon jenrick , thank you so much simon jenrick, thank you so much for talking us through. yes, thanks. big, big issue. >> very good to see you. and do let us know what you make of both stories. would both of those stories. would you like see a social tariff when like to see a social tariff when it comes to energy bills? are you worried this winter you worried about this winter and you react to tax at and how do you react to tax at the moment being the highest level world war is level since world war ii is pretty? patel it time pretty? patel right. is it time for taxes to start coming for our taxes to start coming down? unsustainable ? down? are they unsustainable? all do let us know? gb views gbnews.com. >> but in other news this morning, the institute of economic affairs warns that a disposable vape ban being considered at the moment by the government could be harmful. yes, they say that 35% of adult vapers use disposables and banning them might push some of those adults back to smoking . those adults back to smoking. the iea goes on instead to suggest that enforcing existing laws against underage vaping could be used instead of a broad based ban. >> well , there are plenty of >> well, there are plenty of concerns that these vapes are aimed at children , too. well aimed at children, too. well joining us now is christopher

snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the iea, and john dunne from the uk vaping industry. >> thank you both for being with us today. john let's start with you . it's clear, isn't it, that you. it's clear, isn't it, that some of these brightly coloured highlighter style vaping pens are aimed at children ? are aimed at children? >> john well, what's clear is that some of the products that are illegally on the market, yes , they are, you know, aim towards that demographic. but this is just highlights some of theissues this is just highlights some of the issues with the current legislation . and one of the legislation. and one of the things that we've been asking the government to do is to ask mhra, who regulates the vaping products in this country , to products in this country, to look at things like packaging and product design, which they're not doing at the moment. and this is allowing a lot of these products that are coming in cartoon characters, for in using cartoon characters, for instance ripping well instance, or ripping off well known ip to survive in this marketplace. and the second issueis marketplace. and the second issue is that there's very little monetary disincentive for them, for companies not to do

this . you know, where are the this. you know, where are the big fines that the uk via has been calling for the fact is they don't exist and christopher snowdon let's bring you in at this point because you are from the institute of economic affairs and you are concerned, aren't you, that if you push this ban disposable vapes, this ban on disposable vapes, then that were smoking then adults that were smoking moved over to vapes will then find their way back to smoking, which we know is more harmful . which we know is more harmful. >> oh yeah, that is absolutely one of the concerns also of course, the teenagers who are currently using these products may well decide to start smoking. plus you've got the issue that john's already mentioned about the mentioned there about the illegal black market illegal vapes, the black market vapes, is point that's vapes, which is a point that's often underlooked. it's not often been underlooked. it's not just that you've got retailers say, selling vapes to people under age illegally . it's that under age illegally. it's that the vapes themselves are very often illegal. unregged related. and, you know it were not enforcing these laws as it is apparently were not enforcing the littering law, which is another issue people have with

disposable vapes. you know, all the laws we need to deal with this issue are already available . if we ban disposable . well if we ban disposable vapes to even vapes are we going to even enforce that law? you at enforce that law? if you look at australia, where they've had repeated bans on on e—cigarettes and in fact e—cigarettes and nicotine have never been legal , nicotine have never been legal, they've actually got more youth vapers australia we do vapers in australia than we do here. we need take here. so we need to take enforcement a lot more seriously rather than just banning things because say, you know, because as you say, you know, there strong chance there is a very strong chance that least some of the that at least some of the people, some of the many adults who've taken on disposable vapes in last couple of years will in the last couple of years will revert to smoking. john to what extent is it the fault of your industry that there are clearly children walking into corner shops up and down the country? >> there will be children going into corner shops this morning, walk up buying vapes that are legally on the market. but not legally on the market. but not legally able to be sold to children. and they'll be buying them without any questions asked i >> well, i think chris brings up a very good point and it's

something that we've been pushing for. again, as an industry, we want to see the regulations that are currently in place enforced but enforced with massive penalties . so we with massive penalties. so we want to see stores that are selling vape products to be regulated , and part of that has regulated, and part of that has to include like alcohol, robust age verification processes in place . and secondly, stores that place. and secondly, stores that do break the law need to be punished . they need to have punished. they need to have massive fines that make it financially . you know, the financially. you know, the financially. you know, the financial disincentive for them to do it right now , stores are to do it right now, stores are not being fined. so there is no disincentive for a retailer to sell to children. i don't buy the excuse that some retailers use. they go, we didn't know it was illegal. i'm sorry, but everybody knows it's not it's not legal to sell these products to minors. but there's a to minors. but unless there's a £10,000 fine that we're asking the government implement, the government to implement, unless place , unless that's in place, nothing's change. now nothing's going to change. now i find it funny that the government has announced that they're going to do that for cigarettes, for cigarettes, but not for e—cigarettes. want to know why. >> okay, chris, i mean, digging

into these stats here, your figures from the iea, it is absolutely fascinating. fascinating, isn't it? the cigarette use amongst teenagers has almost totally fallen off 4, down to just 1% of teenagers smoking since 2012. 7.6% are now smoking. vapes but don't you have concerns , though? we don't have concerns, though? we don't know enough about vape still, they still could be harmful , they still could be harmful, still so yeah, of course, no one denies that there might be some some risk in some way. >> i mean, i've been vaping for 13 years and seems to be doing okay. anybody wants to study me, they're very welcome to it depends what you call the long term. we do know term. i guess what we do know there's been established by health agencies all over the world is that it's very unlikely that vapes carry anything like, you what they say. it's at you know what they say. it's at least 95% safer and it could well be 99. who knows what it is ? it's a lot safer. the point is, though, kids be is, though, kids shouldn't be using primarily using them. they're primarily designed for adult smokers . designed for adult smokers. adult smokers are their main

user base and indeed, adult ex—smokers like myself. so let's try and keep it that way. but there is no precedent that i can think of a product being banned completely just because children are getting hold of it. you know, children find it more difficult, i think, to get hold of vodka and cigarettes than they do vapes. and that's something that the government needs on. nobody needs to work on. but nobody talks banning vodka talks about banning vodka because are getting because kids are getting hold of it. seems it. this seems to me unprecedented , huge unprecedented, a huge overreaction. a failure of overreaction. and a failure of law enforcement . law enforcement. >> john, just to end with you, i know you'll be talking to the government all the time in this sort of scoping exercise size thatis sort of scoping exercise size that is being undertaken now. how likely do you think it is that the government genuinely wants to ban these disposable vapes, or is this just sort of placating a pretty loud lobby group and they'll come up with something more akin to enforcer rather than an outright ban ? rather than an outright ban? >> well, we're lucky in this country that we have a government and a health department that understand the

value of vaping. it is the most successful way that adults quit smoking in this country. it's more successful than all of the other methods combined. so they don't want to mess with that because they do have a smoking gun. smoking cessation goal of 2030. the uk , ash came out 2030. in the uk, ash came out with a report this month that said in the lower income areas, that's probably going to be closer to 2050. so we have to encourage more adult smokers to look at safer alternatives to get them off of smoking. but absolute , we have to make sure absolute, we have to make sure that young people are not easily getting these products and that's where we need to cut it off at source at these rogue retailers who are breaking the law . that's where the problem law. that's where the problem lies. well john dunn from the uk vaping association , ore industry vaping association, ore industry association, i should say, and chris institute chris snowdon from the institute of affairs , thank you of economic affairs, thank you both a very interesting both for a very interesting discussion there. both for a very interesting dis(yeah,1 there. both for a very interesting dis(yeah, andere. both for a very interesting dis(yeah, and you know >> yeah, and you let us know what you about that. what you make about that. >> we ban disposal vapes >> should we ban disposal vapes or just need to enforce or do we just need to enforce them better, especially when it comes let

comes to underage vapers? let us know. gb news.com know. gb views. gbnews.com here's good morning. >> i'm alex deakin. this is your latest weather update from the met office for gb news is a fine friday for the vast majority. brighton a bit breezy sunny spells showers here and spells a few showers here and there starting off with a little bit of rain across east anglia in the south—east. wet in the south—east. quite a wet last night, it? but that last night, wasn't it? but that rain most cleared away. we've rain is most cleared away. we've still got plenty of showers packing in across highlands. packing in across the highlands. the western isles and the northern isles, staying blustery here. showers here. a few scattered showers for ireland, maybe the for northern ireland, maybe the odd north—west england odd one for north—west england and most and wales. but most places, certainly and east certainly in the south and east will dry. but sunshine will stay dry. but more sunshine compared to yesterday and feeling enough the feeling pleasant enough in the sunshine south—east 21, sunshine in the south—east 21, that's fahrenheit. elsewhere, that's 70 fahrenheit. elsewhere, we're talking 16 to 18 celsius. feeling cooler, though, with the gusty winds and the showers in northern scotland. they'll keep going. the evening. going. well into the evening. for though, a fine for most, though, it's a fine evening. lengthy clear spells as well . we'll allow it to turn a well. we'll allow it to turn a little chilly , a bit colder little chilly, a bit colder certainly than last night. little chilly, a bit colder certainly than last night . and certainly than last night. and we're going to start the weekend certainly than last night. and wesingleng to start the weekend certainly than last night. and wesingleng to stin: the weekend certainly than last night. and wesingleng to stin manyieekend in single figures in many locations. and well down into

single figures in the countryside. so, yes, a bit chilly first thing saturday chilly first thing on saturday morning, will

>> good morning. it's 10:00 >> good morning. it's10:00 on friday, the 29th of september. this is britain's newsroom on gb news with tom hannood and me, ellie costello coming up for you this morning . this morning. >> a rising tax burden . the >> a rising tax burden. the amount of tax we pay is on

course to rise by more under this parliament than during any other since the second world war, although currently we're looking at an interview that arlene foster was doing with maria cahill. arlene foster was doing with maria cahill . we'll be looking maria cahill. we'll be looking at that well . at that as well. >> gb news has that exclusive interview with maria cahill a little bit later on in the programme . little bit later on in the programme. so you do not want to miss that . miss that. >> and immigration concerns as well. this morning, a new poll shows that worries over immigration in have reached the highest level for six years. 1 in 4 people now say it's the most important issue facing the country today. do you agree ? country today. do you agree? >> second more stamp . a teenager >> second more stamp. a teenager has been arrested after the iconic sycamore gap tree was felled overnight . the tree was felled overnight. the tree was made famous when it appeared in kevin costner's 1991 film. robin hood, prince of thieves .

hood, prince of thieves. >> do you know, ellie? i think you're winning me round. the more i see the pitch, the single rose there . rose there. >> so upsetting. >> so upsetting. >> yeah. it's really genuinely sad. your thoughts on the tree? what should be done? what punishment should be laid out for the individual who felled this tree ? vaiews@gbnews.com is this tree? vaiews@gbnews.com is the address to write into . but the address to write into. but first, here's your morning news with tamsen . with tamsen. >> tom. thanks very much. good morning from the newsroom. at 10:01, we can just start with some breaking news now . a coach some breaking news now. a coach has been left on its side after a crash on the m50 three in merseyside . that's between merseyside. that's between huyton and bebington. there are unconfirmed reports from eyewitnesses that it was carrying schoolchildren. the incident happened just after 8:00. and all emergency services, including the air ambulance service, are at the scene and parts of the motonnay in both directions are shut . so

in both directions are shut. so we will bring you more on that story as we get it. this morning . other news now. a 17 year old boy is to appear in court after being charged with the murder of a 15 year old girl in south london. ltn arade dam was stabbed to death in croydon on wednesday while she was on her way to school. tributes have been pouring in for the victim's family, actor family, including from actor idris elba. he says tougher deterrence and punishments need to be put in place for people who carry weapons . the who carry weapons. the chancellor says the economy recovered from the pandemic faster than expected after it grew by nought point 3% in the first quarter of this year. the office for national statistics initially expected it to rise by 0.1. economic secretary to the treasury andrew griffith says the government will stick to its plan of halving inflation this year. yean >> our economic plans are on track. the uk avoided recession

. the priority for us right now is to bear down on inflation that plan is also working. we're on track. we've got to stay focussed on that because that's an invidious tax rise that hits across the whole economy, which is why we're willing to make tough decisions to deliver that reduction in inflation, which is the path to lower interest rates and people having a better standard of living . standard of living. >> more people are cashing in their pension early and labour says it's due to the cost of living crisis, as new figures show more than 900,000 people took their pensions early in the last financial year. a 45% rise on the year before . labour's on the year before. labour's shadow work and pensions secretary liz kendall says the living standards of future retirees has been put at risk by the government's economic mismanagement . the government's economic mismanagement. some single use plastic items will be banned in england from sunday. this includes products like plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups. councils across the

country will be required to enforce the ban locally through their trading standards teams . their trading standards teams. more than 140 organisations are calling on the prime minister to help people with their energy bills this winter . help people with their energy bills this winter. in an open letter, the companies and mps are urging the government to support vulnerable households. bills are expected to be around 13% higher than last winter . the 13% higher than last winter. the government says it has measures in place, including the energy price guarantee . dame priti price guarantee. dame priti patel is calling for a tax cut for hard pressed brits around the country. in an exclusive interview with gb news political editor chris hope, the former home secretary says the government should cut public spending to ease the tax burden . her comments add pressure on the prime minister and chancellor ahead of the conservative party conference in manchester tomorrow. >> the tax burden is now at a 70 year high that is up sustainable

and the people that pay the taxes are hard pressed . brits taxes are hard pressed. brits around the country . as around the country. as conservatives, we believe in lower taxes, as conservatives , lower taxes, as conservatives, we believe being on the side of hard working households and families . as conservatives, we families. as conservatives, we believe in hope and aspiration . believe in hope and aspiration. >> so what does that look like now? >> that should mean lower taxes. the of has to start the burden of tax has to start to come down, reduce the size of the state and ensure that people keep more of their income . keep more of their income. >> rail passengers will see chaos over the next two days as train drivers begin industrial action aslef members begin a ban on overtime today ahead of a strike at 16 train companies tomorrow . the union says tomorrow. the union says tomorrow's walkout will force operators to cancel all services. aslef's general secretary mick whelan argues members haven't had a pay rise for four years. the government and rail delivery group says there's a fair and reasonable offer on the table as the government is reportedly considering bringing in a ban on

disposable vapes. the institute of economic affairs is warning that it could cost lives. the organisation says more than a third of adult vapers use disposables and prohibiting them could result in some returning to smoking cigarettes while doing little to stop underage vaping. 7.6% of 11 to 17 year olds are currently e—cigarette users. the iea says the government should instead enforce existing laws against underage . vaping this is gb news underage. vaping this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news now it's back to ellie and . tom thanks , tamsin. . tom thanks, tamsin. >> it's 10:07. . tom thanks, tamsin. >> it's10:07. you're . tom thanks, tamsin. >> it's 10:07. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with tom hannood and me, ellie costello and let's delve into the inbox now, shall we, and see what you've been saying at home about the sycamore tree. it's such a sad story. it's really

upset me this morning. it's this beautiful 300 year old tree that's graced hadrian's wall . a that's graced hadrian's wall. a vandal essentially has felled it overnight . so we've asked you overnight. so we've asked you how you feel about that and also what the punishment should be for the person who did it. well, kenny's been in touch saying the sycamore gap tree should be turned sculpture mark turned into a sculpture to mark where stood . that's where it once stood. that's a lovely idea. >> and susan says, ellie, like you, i'm in tears about the iconic tree. i only walked to it a few months ago with my grandchildren who live a few miles from there . it's miles from there. it's heartbreaking, terry says . heartbreaking, terry says. >> i live close to hadrian's wall, and i loved visiting this tree. it was one of the most beautiful symbols of the north of england. and do you know what, tom? i think that's something upset so something that's really upset so many stolen so much many people. it's stolen so much joy people live in the joy from people who live in the north england who, you know, north of england who, you know, that's memories going north of england who, you know, thato memories going north of england who, you know, thato see memories going north of england who, you know, thato see the memories going north of england who, you know, thato see the beautiful'ies going north of england who, you know, thato see the beautiful tree|oing north of england who, you know, thato see the beautiful tree . ing up to see the beautiful tree. it's really has united us all. but you asked, didn't you, what should happen to the vandal who

cut this down and perhaps you shouldn't have asked because people very , very people are being very, very vocal this. very for right vocal about this. very for right in inbox. in the inbox. >> slightly having >> i slightly regret having asked but . but asked for punishments, but. but dave written to in say dave has written to in say whoever is responsible should be hung up by the i'm not even going there and flogged . going to go there and flogged. bev has written in to say flogging and make him plant another lynn has written in to say why as regards to tree felling, the appropriate sentence would be to make a scaffold out of the wood from the tree and hang him high, which is a pretty a law and order response there. and there's been another should be stripped naked and made to walk the entire length of hadrian's wall being flogged along the way. that's from alan lots of flogging in the inbox this morning . and sally has said, morning. and sally has said, i think significant number of hours of community service would be appropriate, perhaps that's what will happen. a more civilised response than some of the others. >> yes. but a 16 year old boy has been arrested on this as

what would you like to see done with the sycamore tree? i'd like to see several benches made up around the sycamore tree and i'd also like to see the stump read . grown? yes. what about you? yeah. >> no, i think regrowing the stump is very, very key. and and the wood, i mean, the tree is intact, but something. some sort of sculpture out of the wood that stays there where it was, i think would be appropriate . think would be appropriate. >> yeah, but you know what it does give me though, does give me hope, though, because it united us all. because it has united us all. you think this is just one you would think this is just one tree. and why do you care that one tree has been cut but one tree has been cut down? but it said earlier, just it is, as we said earlier, just a beautiful symbol of the north of england. it is its heritage, its its culture. its heritage, its culture. it's our history. we're all upset our history. and we're all upset about it seems to unite us about it. it seems to unite us all. and does give me hope. all. and that does give me hope. >> well, what a nice, >> well, what a what a nice, nice to conclude that nice way to conclude that particular story. >> of course, much this >> but of course, much more this morning. week, the morning. earlier this week, the home patel, home secretary, priti patel, was in as dame . now, home secretary, priti patel, was in as dame. now, in in invested as a dame. now, in an exclusive interview with our own political editor, christopher priti christopher hope, dame priti patel addresses the issue of a

70 year high tax burden and the need to reduce the size of the british state. >> and with the conservative party conference looming this weekend , speculation as always weekend, speculation as always begins emerge about potential begins to emerge about potential leadership candidates in the future . future. >> dame priti patel, you're now a dame. was okay for you. >> i mean, it's a very, very humbling experience . and humbling experience. and certainly from you know, from my point of view, i was at windsor castle just yesterday for my investiture. i was with my parents. and i actually think it's more about them, the sacrifices that they've made to effectively support me and, you know, becoming a public figure and doing what i've done over the years is so it was incredibly humbling . an and plus incredibly humbling. an and plus on a big day, such as a day of being invested and you're with others that have just given so much, know, our country. much, you know, to our country. we public servants and it is really a great leveller to be with people that have also contributed to our country in many ways. >> to your >> and that's to mark your pubuc >> and that's to mark your public service is been a long

standing tory mp and a cabinet minister when you were home secretary. you look now the secretary. you look now at the record migration and the record on migration and the government has failed to control migration . does that upset you? migration. does that upset you? >> think there are a number >> so i think there are a number of things here. first of all, brexit, you know, always brexit, you know, i've always been a big champion for leaving the brexit people know was the eu. brexit people know i was also in, you know, also involved in, you know, before even being a, you know, a tory mp. the referendum party and work least have a and the work to at least have a referendum on our relationship with we look at with europe, we have to look at context, context matters. so yes, left the eu famously, so yes, we left the eu famously, so oven ready deal withdrawal act. but then look at the state of the world and what has happened since. we can't just send hollow about net migration figures and basically say it's a disgrace. the about brexit and the point about brexit and migration is control all. and we said that we would control migration and that brings me to my point about the legal system that we have so safe and legal routes bringing people over here and also people that come here to people come to the to work, people come to the united kingdom through legal

routes, , for example, routes, visas, for example, technology visas , investor technology visas, investor visas. they come here for good reasons. and also students who come to study in 1000 people came here in the year to june last, right. >> is that uncontrolled or is that acceptable? >> well, it's controlled because they're we they're here legally, so we can't start saying because the numbers it's totally numbers are high. it's totally uncontrolled. now you can have a conversation about capping it. that's course, that's different. and of course, the has levers. the government has levers. absolutely to bring absolutely has levers to bring in caps. you can cap student numbers. you can cap people that come in through various visa routes. and clearly it's right . routes. and clearly it's right. i think it's absolutely right. i started the work on this before i left government last year. remember, i left government out of choice. we started the work in the home office as to how to look at the and controls look at the caps and controls around different cohorts of people to country legally. >> rwanda, the rondo plan i >> -- >> so -- >>so| >> so i am very pro rwanda. obviously i set up your idea. well, up and negotiated well, i set up and negotiated the economic and development partnership up going through the courts . i'm absolutely certain courts. i'm absolutely certain that it's legal. i worked on the

legalities of it. rwanda will be a tremendous deterrent and that's what we need . we only that's what we need. we only slogans. don't slogans. we don't need platitudes . we a deterrent. platitudes. we need a deterrent. and rwanda is a powerful deterrent. and in fact, i've had many conversations still with my former counterparts in rwanda and their teams. former counterparts in rwanda and their teams . they are doing and their teams. they are doing tremendous work as a country in terms of resettling refugees . terms of resettling refugees. and the point about rwanda and i remember going to the united nafionsin remember going to the united nations in geneva, speaking to unhcr this last year, is unhcr about this last year, is that it raises the bar for when it comes to how we and the world can change this whole issue of illegal migration and small boats and all the rest of it by having third countries that we work with to resettle people all rather than fuelling this trade in illegal migration and people trafficking , moving from trafficking, moving away from home tax , you mentioned home affairs, tax, you mentioned tax there. >> time to start cutting >> is it time to start cutting taxes? show some idea of where taxation should go in the tory party. not be party. so you will not be surprised my own on surprised by my own views on this. surprised by my own views on thisthe burden is now at a 70 >> the tax burden is now at a 70 year high. that is unsustainable

and the people that pay the taxes are hard pressed. brits around country . we as around the country. we as conservatives, we believe in lower taxes as conservatives, we believe being on the side of hard working households and families . as conservatives, we families. as conservatives, we believe in hope and aspiration . believe in hope and aspiration. >> so what does that look like now? >> so what does that look like nov that mean >> so what does that look like novthat mean lower taxes. >> that should mean lower taxes. the has to start the burden of tax has to start to down. however let's look to come down. however let's look at the cycle that we're in right now. got more fiscal now. we've got one more fiscal cycle potentially a cycle potentially before a general how and it's general election. how and it's not just about being bold general election. how and it's notjust about being bold or not just about being bold or ambitious. about being ambitious. it's about being conservative and ensuring that the keep more of the the public keep more of the money they earn rather than money that they earn rather than seeing the size of state seeing the size of the state continue to which which continue to grow, which which chopper done. i'm sure chopper it has done. i'm sure you've about this and you've written about this and you've written about this and you've spoken about this before. that's space that need to that's the space that we need to be the size of the be in. reduce the size of the state and ensure that people keep more of their income. this is just a fundamental conservative principle that we must stand by. >> the chancellor says that cutting inflation is the same as a tax is acceptable or a tax cut. is that acceptable or do want. well, it's further do you want. well, it's further than that. >> actually think you have to

>> i actually think you have to separate now, number separate the two. now, number one, why there are one, we know why there are a range of inflationary pressures , same time, i do , but at the same time, i do recall a rather, you know, successful conservative prime minister margaret thatcher, who was able to tackle inflation while while growing the economy , speaking about economic growth. just finally , there was growth. just finally, there was speculation a year ago or a bit more than a year ago, you might be leader of the tory party. >> do you regret not standing? >> do you regret not standing? >> i absolutely don't. i made my choice very clearly . i was i choice very clearly. i was i felt personally very disaffected and with everything and disappointed with everything that happened last year . and i that happened last year. and i don't the public will don't think the public will forget basically the gamesmanship , the shenanigans gamesmanship, the shenanigans that took place. you know, since we've seen two democratically elected of the elected leaders of the conservative party being kicked out of office, hounded out of office, basically, i don't support that. i don't think that's right. i think at the end of the day, our party members should decide and ultimately the pubuc should decide and ultimately the public should decide. but, you know, is now have know, the reality is now we have to be facing. we're to be fonnard facing. we're looking to a general

looking ahead to a general election over the 12 election over the next 12 months. my party to be months. i want my party to be successful. i want my party to be you know, convicted with conviction, about conviction, speak about conservative and conservative policies and principles. but i also want my party, particularly in westminster, to respect our grass do you want to be leader? >> well, look, i want conservative success was first of and right now, we need to of all and right now, we need to we're in very challenging position. >> i don't think we should say this is all straightfonnard. we have level with public. have to level with the public. we be honest about what we have to be honest about what we're deliver for them, we're going to deliver for them, because, frankly, where because, quite frankly, where we are a very different world are is a very different world from 2019. and that manifesto from 2019. and that manifesto from have to from 2019, i think we have to demonstrate honesty, commitment , commitment to our country, but also our own supporters as also to our own supporters as well, who also feel very disillusioned. that's certainly my will my focus and obviously i will play my focus and obviously i will play part to support play my part to support a conservative government when it comes to campaigning for a conservative government. >> well, dame priti patel, thank you for joining >> well, dame priti patel, thank you forjoining us >> well, dame priti patel, thank you for joining us today on news. you. news. thank you. >> we're joined now by >> well, we're joined now by christopher from christopher hope from westminster. good morning to you. good to you. christopher, very good to see exclusive

see you. your exclusive interview with priti patel. first one since she became a dame. what did you make of the fact she wants to see tax cuts before the next election? very interesting that that puts her directly at odds with rishi sunak and the chancellor jeremy hunt. >> well, that's right, because , >> well, that's right, because, of course, the view from the from the chancellor is that inflation cutting inflation is the best tax cut. whenever we ask the prime minister, if i'd asked him, he'd say the same thing, didn't he? for gb news a few weeks ago. cutting inflation means we a bit better means we all get a bit better off. course, that means off. of course, that means pnces off. of course, that means prices go up as much as prices don't go up as much as they were before. but the political is cutting political thing is cutting taxes, and that's where you differentiate between labour and taxes, and that's where you diffnconservatives een labour and taxes, and that's where you diffn conservatives that _abour and taxes, and that's where you diffnconservatives that report and taxes, and that's where you diffntoday rvatives that report and taxes, and that's where you diffntoday from es that report and taxes, and that's where you diffntoday from the 1at report and taxes, and that's where you diffntoday from the ifs, report and taxes, and that's where you diffntoday from the ifs, the rt and out today from the ifs, the institute fiscal studies institute for fiscal studies showing the on on course of showing that the on on course of an increase to 37% of national income spent on tax by next yean income spent on tax by next year, up from 33% last year. thatis year, up from 33% last year. that is an enormous jump in just one parliament. there's a war on ukraine covid has happened. we know the reasons, but we're going to an election cycle now

where they've got to start doing something on tax. voters will be correctly asking how am i better off under the tories? and it's not because the tories not clear because the tories have not really gripped tax cut cutting properly. really. cutting taxes properly. really. arguably since since they became into power 30 years ago. i thought i was struck by the end. question i put to priti patel about whether whether she wants to she completely to be leader. she completely dodged said , i dodged the question and said, i want series of conservative want a series of conservative successes. she talked also an interview about the grass roots and does feel, i think if and she does feel, i think if i'm reading it right, that she is the of the grass is the champion of the grass roots, feels that to popular roots, she feels that to popular to mps amongst the grass roots have out prime have been forced out from prime minister boris johnson minister that's boris johnson and truss she sees that and liz truss and she sees that as kind almost that is a as the kind of almost that is a disconnect between the base and the party's mps now. >> absolutely. stuff >> absolutely. fascinating stuff there. course, priti there. and of course, priti patel deeply involved with the organisation as the organisation known as the conservative democratic organisation that wants more internal party democracy, was seen as being very pro boris, very pro . liz truss anguish very pro. liz truss anguish really from many members at the

fact that mps removed those prime ministers without consulting members. i wonder over the next 4 or 5 days in manchester, as the party faithful all descend , is this faithful all descend, is this going to be a bit of a bit of a catwalk for potential leadership candidates ? do these people candidates? do these people think that the next election is lost and that this is their time to sort of show some leg ? to sort of show some leg? >> yes. do you say perp walk or catwalk, tom? i couldn't quite make out . no. catwalk, tom? i couldn't quite make out. no. yes. no. most definitely. most definitely. a catwalk . yes. yes, quite right. catwalk. yes. yes, quite right. and i think there's going to be lots of on the margins of the conference. you'll have lots of people like priti patel and others will fluttering their others will be fluttering their leadership know leadership feathers. they know very well that the polls very well that if the polls don't improve tory and don't improve the tory party and they improve , don't they might improve, don't forget, might improve. forget, they might improve. if they improve, we are they don't improve, we are facing leadership in facing a leadership election in the probably nearly the tory party, probably nearly at time next year, probably at this time next year, probably late next year. want to late next year. and they want to make who's going to be the make sure who's going to be the champion of the is that

champion of the right. is that going to be suella braverman who made extraordinary made that extraordinary speech in as home in washington this week as home secretary patel? and in washington this week as home sec timing patel? and in washington this week as home sec timing of patel? and in washington this week as home sec timing of the patel? and in washington this week as home sec timing of the speech?1d the timing of the speech? i think going into a big conference, the tory party, possibly last one before the possibly the last one before the election, who is possibly the last one before the elec'is n, who is possibly the last one before the elec'is going who is possibly the last one before the elec'is going to who is possibly the last one before the elec'is going to be who is possibly the last one before the elec'is going to be leading. possibly the last one before the elec'is going to be leading the who is going to be leading the party after rishi sunak? mr sunak of course, who with sunak of course, who i was with last night at the a dinner here in is feeling in westminster is feeling chipper. he feels that he's winning this this the winning back votes this this the watering down some commitments on net zero last week is working in the polls already more plans on dealing with helping motorists this that's motorists this weekend that's a big news have big issue for gb news we have a campaign for motorists at the moment. that's why it matters so much. i think so. i think we are seeing beginning of a sunak seeing the beginning of a sunak fightback after basically a lack of past 1111 of politics for the past 1111 months. there might be months. but there might be relief viewers, the way. >> well, chris, i have to say, you're looking remarkably fresh after evening in after that boozy evening in westminster the prime westminster with the prime minister several cabinet minister and several cabinet ministers night. minister and several cabinet miri;ters night. minister and several cabinet miri suppose night. minister and several cabinet miri suppose just night. minister and several cabinet miri suppose just justnight. minister and several cabinet miri suppose just just finally , >> i suppose justjust finally, we should we should we cast a little for the little bit of light for the audience on what the audience on what exactly the westminster correspondents dinner as yes.

dinner was as yes. >> well, it was actually something i established in 2014 when i was chairman of the press gallery. essentially, it's mimics the white house correspondents dinner, the idea is to have an opportunity for our leaders and maybe the prime minister to speak to in a in a jokey way, not serious. and he made speech about 200 made a speech about 200 journalists. my colleagues in the press gallery, along with some members the of the of some members of the of the of the heaton—harris the cabinet, chris heaton—harris greg hands was there. theresa coffey and , and yes, he made coffey and, and yes, he made some good, some a few digs there at matthew hancock it was off camera so we can't we couldn't bnng camera so we can't we couldn't bring images for bring bring images for you for today on news but it was a today on gb news but it was a chance to everyone to let their hair after what is quite hair down after what is quite a fraught time in westminster sometimes and see maybe best sometimes and see maybe the best side well side of our politicians. well westminster looks beautiful westminster looks very beautiful this and you look very this morning and you look very bnght this morning and you look very bright as well. bright and breezy as well. >> hope, thank you >> christopher hope, thank you so for speaking to us this so much for speaking to us this morning. do stay with morning. now do you stay with us. come, gb news has us. still to come, gb news has an exclusive interview with maria cahill, one the many maria cahill, one of the many politicians northern ireland politicians in northern ireland demanding justice the demanding justice for the country's and also

country's troubles. and she also hits how uk authorities hits out at how uk authorities have treated victims like herself . that's after this .

britain's news channel. well come back to britain's newsroom now. >> we're about to see a conversation between two people who come from opposite ends of northern ireland's political spectrum, but are united in

their calls for justice for the victims of the troubles. >> this week , a series of >> this week, a series of revelations are being made in a new book by maria cahill , the new book by maria cahill, the former sdlp councillor claims to have been sexually abused by her aunts have been sexually abused by her aunt's partner, who was alleged to have been part of the ira. >> the book documents the cover up, intimidation and the continued issues surrounding legacy and reconciliation in northern ireland today, at a time when the northern ireland legacy bill has just become an act of parliament, the legislation offers or aims to offer conditional amnesty to accused killers. >> gb news presenter and former dup leader arlene foster began by asking maria to recount her experience at the age of 16. and just to note, there are some scenes that viewers and listeners may find disturbing . listeners may find disturbing. >> i think i had 2 or 3 tins and i was drinking half of them to try and keep up and putting them

down, and i became groggy and fell asleep and woke then to fell asleep and woke up then to i was being abused by this individual and i was extremely frightened it. i think it frightened by it. i think it took catch on. took a few seconds to catch on. really. what was happening. and i explain in the book i tried to explain in the book that kind of dilemma that you have in your head that you have to your brain almost races in a split second few moments because you have to decide very quickly what you're going to do. and automatically i decided then that i was going to pretend to be sleeping so that that was my method, you like, of just method, if you like, of just getting each incident method, if you like, of just gettthat each incident method, if you like, of just gettthat it each incident method, if you like, of just gettthat it became h incident method, if you like, of just gettthat it became a incident method, if you like, of just gettthat it became a pattern. method, if you like, of just gettthat it became a pattern of and that it became a pattern of behaviour. then as that went on, the ira didn't actually come to me until 1999. so it was october , november and they knew that there were children in and out of that at that time, but of that house at that time, but they decided in their own kind of morality that they of warped morality that they couldn't really approach me before i turned 18. so they waited and turned in waited and i turned 18 in may and they then in october , and they came then in october, november. i just finished november. so i just finished doing a—levels is when doing my a—levels is when a woman appeared. >> so didn't a

>> so you didn't make a complaint to the ira? the ira came and decided that came to you and decided that they were going to investigate an inverted what had an inverted commas. what had happened , and tell our listeners happened, and tell our listeners and viewers what what form that investigation took . investigation took. >> they didn't actually tell me initially did come, initially when they did come, you asked me or told you know, they asked me or told me, to come a meeting me, rather, to come to a meeting that and when asked that night. and when i asked what she wouldn't what it was about, she wouldn't tell me. >> this investigation went >> so this investigation went on. sometimes you were interrogated every day , went on interrogated every day, went on for months . and then i think the for months. and then i think the pinnacle of it all is when you're brought into a room with your abuser, into a small room , your abuser, into a small room, and he faces you . and he faces you. >> the millennium had just happened and we're in the march. and they decided that they were going to give me these options. if you like. and thankfully i wrote down at the time. you wrote them down at the time. you know. a few things know. so there were a few things that i could withdraw the allegations or they could go and put allegations . and this is put the allegations. and this is all terminology to them. all their terminology to them. and one of things which they and one of the things which they decided as an option, which they then in decided they took . so

then in decided they took. so they chose it, if you like. so they chose it, if you like. so they said, oh, we had a number of options that we've been considering, but actually this is we're going do is what we're going to do was what they called a confrontation. and in again, the ira's warped kind of world, they decided that sometimes they could read people's body language to see who was telling the truth. that sounds the truth. now, that sounds completely ridiculous. now but in seriousness, at the time in all seriousness, at the time that was, you know, what they were. people were. so bring two people together then try and read together and then try and read how react to other. how they react to each other. almost court. and the almost like a court. and the first he did was he took first thing he did was he took his shoe, his trainer off, and he joked with other he joked with the other individual be individual and said, don't be mate you're not going mate and hope you're not going to joke about my smelly feet or some off the cuff comment. you know, with a and know, briege sat with a pen and a piece paper and basically a piece of paper and basically then this confrontation happened between him, where he was between me and him, where he was basically allowed tear strips basically allowed to tear strips off he was he was off me. so he was he was shouting, you know, you're calling your names, you're a liar. what have you. this liar. and what have you. this didn't so didn't happen. whatever. so i found hugely damaging. found that hugely damaging. and i it hugely damaging. i still find it hugely damaging. i still find it hugely damaging. i mean, you have soughtjustice i mean, you have sought justice

through and this book through a system and this book is a real credit to you because you've told the whole story in a very moving way . very moving way. >> but if they won't come fonnard and say that that investigation took place and what happened to you took place, what happened to you took place, what does it mean for the wider situation in northern ireland? indeed, the fact that sinn fein is on course to be in government in the republic of ireland, the point when i then did go public, gerry adams wrote a blog where he admitted that the ira had moved and shot and expelled sex offenders. >> his words and that was something which i had been saying for quite a long time and really there had been a lid kept on that. so that exposed that working within the republican movement. but he used a particular phrase where he in that blog where said there that blog where he said there was corporate way of was no, quote, corporate way of verifying he called verifying my claims as he called them, because the ira had gone away, because the ira had left the stage. and i think that that poses a huge problem now for the british government, who have just through legacy

just brought through a legacy bill to northern bill in relation to northern ireland, where relying ireland, where they are relying on cooperation former on the cooperation of former paramilitaries to provide evidence or information to people who are nursing their hurt quietly at home, who have been bereaved or seriously injured as a result of the conflict there. if the ira have gone, i don't believe they have. but gerry adams is arguing that they have. if they have gone and we follow the republican movement's logic here and there's no corporate way, then of verifying anything anybody has involved in, then no has been involved in, then no one, no republican will come fonnard in any legacy case to provide any meaningful information or resolution for anybody. and the british government have gone in on a huge exercise here, which really has protected its own and army veterans. i think. i mean, that was obviously the reason that the legislation was brought in, because they felt it was unfair. and i think what they have done quite stupidly, in my view, is put their own army veterans now on with the members on a par with the ira members who were fighting them. so they

have put them on an equal playing field, officialdom has really victims shabbily really treated victims shabbily in ireland for decades. in northern ireland for decades. you , but then when you then you know, but then when you then try seek some of justice try to seek some sort of justice resolution accountability for resolution or accountability for it, door is closed to you. it, every door is closed to you. and i think that that is a really, really unfortunate state of events as well . of events as well. >> well, thanks to both arlene and to moira for that difficult felt interview and really important conversation. >> yeah, really important and insightful as well. thank you very much for that. let's get your news bulletin now, shall we, with . tamsin we, with. tamsin >> ellie, thank you. here are the headlines at 1032. a school bus has been left on its side after a crash on the m53 in wirral . the bus was carrying wirral. the bus was carrying pupils to calday grange grammar school and west kirby grammar school and west kirby grammar school . merseyside police says school. merseyside police says it received a report that a bus had struck a reservation. the

incident happened just after 8:00 this morning between huyton and bebington. all emergency services, including the air ambulance service, are at the scene and parts of the motonnay in both directions are shut . and in both directions are shut. and some news just in. a teenage boy arrested in connection with the cutting down of one of the uk's most photographed trees has been released on bail. the tree at sycamore gap to next hadrian's wall and close to northumberland was made famous in the 1991 film. robin hood. the national trust says it was shocked and saddened to see the iconic tree cut down a 17 year old boy is to appearin cut down a 17 year old boy is to appear in court after being charged with the murder of a 15 year old girl in south london. euan year old girl in south london. elian arade dam was stabbed to death in croydon on wednesday while she was on her way to school. tributes have been pounng school. tributes have been pouring in for the victim's family, from actor family, including from actor idris elba . family, including from actor idris elba. he family, including from actor idris elba . he says tougher idris elba. he says tougher deterrents and punishments need

to be put in place for people who carry weapons . the who carry weapons. the chancellor says the economy recovered from the pandemic faster than expected after it grew by nought point 3% in the first quarter of this year. the office for national statistics initially expected it to rise by 0.1. economic secretary to the treasury andrew griffith says the government will stick to its plan of halving inflation this year. plan of halving inflation this year . well you can get more on year. well you can get more on all of those stories, just visit our website gb news.com all of those stories, just visit our website gbnews.com . direct our website gbnews.com. direct bullion sponsors. >> the finance report on gb news for gold and silver investors tonight . tonight. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you 1.2, two, three, seven and ,1.1537. the price of gold

is £1,529.61 per ounce. and the ftse 100 is at 7666 points. direct bullion sponsors. >> the finance report on gb news investments that matter now. >> do stay with us. we're going to reflect on the sad news about the felling of one of the most photographed trees in the uk. the sycamore gap tree at hadrian's wall. >> this is britain's newsroom on

& co weeknights from . six

& co weeknights from. six >> good morning. it's 1039 & co weeknights from. six >> good morning. it's1039 and you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with ellie costello and me, tom hannood. >> now a teenage boy arrested in connection with the cutting down of one of the uk's most photographed trees has been released on bail. >> the tree at sycamore gap next to hadrian's wall and close to northumberland , was made famous northumberland, was made famous in the 1991 film robin hood . in the 1991 film robin hood. >> well, nicky hodson and the deputy editor of conservativehome henry hill join us now to discuss this . us now to discuss this. >> nicky. first of all, what would possess someone to walk up to any tree, but particularly this such an iconic tree and just cut it down? >> that's what nobody can understand. and also, it's not as simple as just spontaneously deciding to cut it down. obviously, it's been cut down with a saw. it's you know, it's obviously planned. sounds obviously a planned. it sounds like been a planned like it's been a planned a planned incident. i think this

story has really got to of story has really got to lots of people this week. and i think what's upsetting about is what's so upsetting about it is the vandalism of the kind of vandalism of something natural, something that's natural, something that's natural, something there for something that's been there for hundreds before you, something that's been there for hun know, before you, something that's been there for hun know, has before you, something that's been there for hun know, has no before you, something that's been there for hun know, has no connection, something that's been there for hun know, has no connection to you know, has no connection to the capitalist world. whatever you think you know, you think about, you know, buildings people buildings that people put graffiti the rest it, graffiti and all the rest of it, something with that. you something to do with that. you know, much know, it's been there for much longer than have. it gives longer than you have. it gives loads people loads loads of people loads of pleasure. it's really good for the environment. obviously, it's a i just think a tree and i just think it's really bizarre. actually really bizarre. and i actually really bizarre. and i actually really to know what the really want to know what the motivation think motivation is because i think it's really it's actually really significant. the got a significant. has the tree got a value that it can sold value that means it can be sold on somewhere black on somewhere on the black market? mean, i don't know. it market? i mean, i don't know. it doesn't any to me at all. >> but they haven't even taken the tree away. i mean, we can literally see in the pictures they've just left it on the remains of hadrian's it remains of hadrian's wall. it just callous, doesn't it? >> yeah, it's absolutely bizarre. i think sometimes it comes just if something comes down to just if something is famous or precious, there is a mindset wants to a certain mindset that wants to be the person that destroys it because person forever because this person will forever because this person will forever be who chopped down be the person who chopped down the right? the tree at sycamore gap. right? and it's i think it's the same

motivation for people who motivation for some people who used very endangered used to shoot very endangered animals. was just used to shoot very endangered anim there's was just used to shoot very endangered anim there's a was just used to shoot very endangered anim there's a really was just used to shoot very endangered anim there's a really weird ust that. there's a really weird mindset that of us mindset there that most of us can't understand, but it does produce stuff like this. produce tragic stuff like this. are the are you surprised by the reaction to this? henry no, this is britain. of course i'm not. it's a tree . i'm sorry. i mean, it's a tree. i'm sorry. i mean, and this is a tree that's actually worth defending. i mean, goes absolutely mean, britain goes absolutely nuts over, like the most nondescript field. if you try and houses or railway and build any houses or railway lines on it. so no, something actually precious actually important and precious like people is like this, upsetting people is perfectly i think the perfectly standard. i think the important is that important thing is that there shouldn't be a council of despair, i mean, despair, right? i mean, obviously is gone, but obviously this tree is gone, but it perfectly possible move it is perfectly possible to move mature trees . we've doing mature trees. we've been doing it of years. so it for hundreds of years. so i think that what we should do is find a mature sycamore somewhere else plant it there. right? find a mature sycamore somewhere elwon't plant it there. right? find a mature sycamore somewhere elwon't plexactlylere. right? find a mature sycamore somewhere elwon't plexactly the right? find a mature sycamore somewhere elwon't plexactly the same.? it won't be exactly the same tree, you'll still get the tree, but you'll still get the effect, that wonderful effect between two hills. and that between the two hills. and that means won't deprived means that it won't be deprived of generations. of future generations. >> interesting. i perhaps >> it is interesting. i perhaps this a crass comparison to it this is a crass comparison to it might a crass comparison to might be a crass comparison to make, but i don't. i might be a crass comparison to make, buti don't. i don't make, but i don't. i don't i don't i mean it in that

don't i don't mean it in that sense. got a friend who sense. i've got a friend who grew up in new jersey and his response was to say, response to 9/11 was to say, build them back exactly as they were before. nothing changed. just exactly as just build them back. exactly as they you they were before and show you that this awful act of mindless terrorism not change terrorism would not change anything how live our anything about how we live our lives. suppose perhaps lives. and i suppose perhaps there's there with there's an analogy there with what suggesting, an what henry is suggesting, an almost never happened almost pretend it never happened . put put an almost identical tree right there and let's tree right back there and let's get on with it. >> i mean, i do think there's something definitely we something i definitely think we need to do something with the space.i need to do something with the space. i don't think should space. i don't think it should be barren, maybe it's useful be barren, but maybe it's useful to put something different out there to put something different out the|incident. it is that's the the incident. it is that's the whole point of the memorial at the isn't it? it's the twin towers, isn't it? it's like you can never forget what happened, you still make it happened, but you still make it into because into a beautiful space because it's calming. if it's actually very calming. if you go to that site. and i think it's important that we collectively something with collectively do something with that. actually. just that. it's actually. i'm just thinking henry thinking about what henry just said about, you know, said actually, about, you know, people for doing people getting kudos for doing something it just something like this. itjust kind the kind kind of strikes me as the kind of that would be don't of act that would be i don't know, on kind of undercover

know, on some kind of undercover social where somebody's know, on some kind of undercover soci.secretly where somebody's know, on some kind of undercover sociisecretly filmed somebody's know, on some kind of undercover sociisecretly filmed s(and|ody's like secretly filmed it and placed as a kind of like placed it as a kind of like bragging rights thing. and it does bother me that some of the kind social challenges kind of social media challenges we missy, is we see, you know, like missy, is it guy that around, it the guy that goes around, does this terrible does all this terrible antisocial things in people's homes, stealing running homes, stealing dogs, running into people's houses? and is this of i this an extension of that? i mean, it makes wonder. mean, it makes me wonder. >> that reminds me of i read this this morning. really this this morning. it's really struck it says, a society struck me and it says, a society grows great when men plant grows great when old men plant trees shade they shall trees in whose shade they shall never sit under. and people are asking, touching on what you were talking there were just talking about. there is society, our is why has our society, our culture, so vile, where is why has our society, our cul'want so vile, where is why has our society, our cul'want to so vile, where is why has our society, our cul'want to destroy vile, where is why has our society, our cul'want to destroy things'here is why has our society, our cul'want to destroy things rather we want to destroy things rather than great for the than make them great for the next generation? >> i don't know. i'd be >> i mean, i don't know. i'd be really wary reading too really wary about reading too much the act one much out from the act of one vandal towards society as a whole, because we don't whole, right? because we don't think mizzi. we don't know think about mizzi. we don't know his motivations. i yeah, i mean, ultimately there have always his motivations. i yeah, i mean, ultim a ely there have always his motivations. i yeah, i mean, ultim a certaine have always his motivations. i yeah, i mean, ultim a certaine have alwepeople been a certain number of people in are selfish, in any society who are selfish, shortsighted and predatory want to prey on that due to social media, we now hear a lot more about those people than we used

to. you know this in the days before the internet would have been probably a local story, right? let's say it wouldn't have been national front page news. and think sometimes , news. and i think sometimes, therefore, we think in many respects people are respects that these people are much they've much more present, but they've always the always been with us. the question is, what do we do about it? and the reason i think that we should just put another tree in as tom says, just in there and as tom says, just move if we do move on is because if we do create kind of monument, create some kind of monument, well, want to remember well, why do we want to remember this? i don't think it's particularly significant. and it becomes a monument the crime. becomes a monument to the crime. right? permanent becomes a monument to the crime. right? this permanent becomes a monument to the crime. right? this person, rmanent becomes a monument to the crime. right? this person, whoever memorial. this person, whoever they can be like, they go there, they can be like, yeah, did that. whereas what i yeah, i did that. whereas what i would like is in ten years time when that tree is bedded when that new tree is bedded down, someone's like, oh, down, when someone's like, oh, i down, when someone's like, oh, i do remember when they cut down the sycamore gap, the tree at sycamore gap, they're who did they're like, what? who did what? and what? now? no one knows. and then person then that way this person doesn't infamy. i think doesn't get the infamy. i think they want it. >> a really >> that's that's a really interesting point. and perhaps it pushes back on some the it pushes back on some of the are too sentimental are we being too sentimental about this specific tree? because our perhaps about this specific tree? becau of our perhaps about this specific tree? becau of nationhood our perhaps sense of nationhood isn't actually right. actually perhaps exactly right. i think about again, i mean, you think about again, a peculiar kilt in

peculiar example, the kilt in scotland, people in scotland haven't wearing kilt haven't been wearing the kilt for although for thousands of years, although it like they have. it sort of feels like they have. this a sort of this is actually a sort of invention the last 200 years invention of the last 200 years and perhaps have these invention of the last 200 years and fofhaps have these invention of the last 200 years and fof myths have these invention of the last 200 years and fof myths that have these invention of the last 200 years and fof myths that we 'e these invention of the last 200 years and fof myths that we construct sorts of myths that we construct in society to build this sense of nationhood . of community and nationhood. >> well, that's quite complicated, isn't it, i complicated, isn't it, tom? i don't where to start with don't know where to start with that, i mean, of the that, really. i mean, one of the things that yeah, things is that actually, yeah, customs and traditions are important, but they were always invented point, right? important, but they were always inv(you:i point, right? important, but they were always inwyou know, point, right? important, but they were always inwyou know, christmas right? so, you know, christmas is christmas up and i'm christmas is coming up and i'm thinking about how many of those traditions in traditions were invented in the victorian era. we think, you know think they go back way know, we think they go back way further don't. this further and they don't. this is different presumably and different because presumably and i actually know the i don't actually know the history of this tree, this tree was before else was there before anybody else was there before anybody else was of not before was in terms of not before hadrian's of hadrian's wall, but in terms of before, you know, recent visitors came to see it. it wasn't purposefully planted there it? we don't know there or was it? we don't know that might be something else that's it. and that's important about it. and again, think comparing, you again, i think comparing, you know , a tradition that we've know, a tradition that we've implemented that involves something that we've created is a different tree a bit different to a tree that was probably before us, as was probably there before us, as in nature probably planted in i nature probably planted that probably didn't,

that tree. we probably didn't, but like to know if but i would like to know if that's true. do you see what i'm saying? i would. saying? but i would. i would very much like to know. to know if sycamore was if that sycamore tree was deliberately if that sycamore tree was deliberatndo you think should >> what do you think should happen to the tree now? because it huge. is so , so tall. it is huge. it is so, so tall. there is so much wood there. good wood. in really, good wood. it was in really, really strong and solid condition . what do you think condition. what do you think should happen with that ? should happen with that? >> i don't know. i mean, i think that be the that would really be for the local community decide. local community to decide. i mean, me, anything that's mean, for me, anything that's from has to go to from nature has to go back to nature. well includes us. nature. well which includes us. but personal belief. how but my personal belief. but how we that in appropriate we do that in an appropriate way, sure . way, i'm not sure. >> henry. i mean, you could probably if there's kind of probably if there's any kind of carpentry woodworking shop, carpentry or woodworking shop, make mementos out of it and sell them to raise funds for the replacement quite well replacement quite easily. well you're henry . you're very good, henry. >> we should have you on a board or something. very, very good . or something. very, very good. >> almost too practical because. okay okay. >> you've been very measured >> so you've been very measured about this whole thing. >> so one of things we were >> so one of the things we were talking bit earlier, we talking a little bit earlier, we had write in and had some people write in and i suggested what of suggested what sort of

punishment should there be for this year this vandalism that this 16 year old goodness me, old boy and my goodness me, i have never seen such a violent inbox come people him inbox come in. people wanted him hung, drawn and quartered and paraded naked down the wall and whipped. >> and it was very game of thrones. yes, it was. yeah >> what sort of punishment should we be looking for at this vandal? >> take him out in branches and make him stand on the stump until. >> until one grows back? >> until one grows back? >> yeah , i was going to say contrapasso. >> that's that thing in dante where the punishment fits the crime. it means the same thing. what? i studied at university. so something makes akin so something that makes you akin to maybe could be a to a tree. maybe he could be a scarecrow the scarecrow for the tree. >> you know what diamonds >> do you know what an diamonds suggested to us a little bit earlier that person earlier on was that this person , 16 year old, should be then be made to now dig out all of the roots from tree, because roots from this tree, because it'll be just as deep below as it'll be just as deep below as it was it was height of the it was as it was height of the tree. and that would a task tree. and that would be a task in itself, a public spectacle . in itself, a public spectacle. let what you think. let us know what you think. vaiews@gbnews.com. look, we've got talk about this huge got to talk about this this huge story which is a concern story today, which is a concern about reached

about immigration, has reached its highest point for six years. years this is according to a new poll out this morning . 23% of poll out this morning. 23% of people have said immigration is now one of the most important issues facing the country today. that's now up to 26. that's the highest point since july 2017. john henry, let's start with you, shall we? why do you think this is such an important issue for people ? for people? >> it's an it's an interesting one, actually, because an awful lot of the people are most lot of the people who are most concerned immigration are concerned about immigration are the who are often the the people who are often the least exposed to some of its effects. so it says here, for example, in the story that pensioners are particularly concerned pensioners are particularly conw people pensioners are particularly conwpeople who practically have the people who practically have the people who practically have the most reason to be concerned are working age people, particularly working particularly younger working age people a sort of people and those in a sort of the term lower skilled jobs right? because they're the people who are competing and city right. because city dwellers. right. because that's lot of that's where an awful lot of immigrants end up. so there is for the conservatives, it's very, difficult on very, very difficult because on the lot of their the one hand, a lot of their voters older voters . more voters are older voters. more traditional voters are concerned about the headline numbers and

they them to come but they want them to come down. but if actually those if you actually ask those voters, well, need voters, okay, well, we need these come in and these workers to come in and cover pensions because you cover your pensions because you didn't children. didn't have enough children. so they're even more concerned about their pensions, whereas ironically, lot the ironically, an awful lot of the people stuck wage people who are stuck in wage competition lot of these competition with a lot of these workers stuck inner workers who are stuck in inner cities, paying in a rent crisis caused by the fact that we're importing people a year importing 600,000 people a year and building 200,000 houses when we're million we're already 4 million short, they're concerned. they're less concerned. so politically speaking, it's a it's a really fascinating disjuncture between the people affected by this story and the people most concerned about it. >> nicky, what you make of that? >> well, i think it's interesting they're interesting that they're saying it's the highest for six years, because think we because i personally think we have fear of have confected this fear of immigration recent times. immigration in in recent times. we, responsible immigration in in recent times. wejour responsible immigration in in recent times. wejour anxiety responsible immigration in in recent times. wejour anxiety aboutesponsible for our anxiety about immigration, not just the numbers . you know, rishi sunak numbers. you know, rishi sunak and the tories have absolutely numbers. you know, rishi sunak and thethis es have absolutely numbers. you know, rishi sunak and thethis narrative bsolutely numbers. you know, rishi sunak and thethis narrative aboutely numbers. you know, rishi sunak and thethis narrative about stop pushed this narrative about stop the boats and people coming in are taking from you . and the are taking from you. and the reality is the conservatives have taken from you over the 13 years that they have been in power. ruined your power. they've ruined your schools . they've inflation is

schools. they've inflation is crazy . food prices are bonkers . crazy. food prices are bonkers. you know, houses, there aren't any it is the tory government that made you poor. it is not immigrants. >> henry from conservative home. what do you make of that? >> well, the there are an awful lot of charges that can be laid at the feet the conservatives at the feet of the conservatives for past 13 years. don't for the past 13 years. i don't work the and i can work for the party, and i can happily that. but i think happily admit that. but i think one of the things that can be laid the feet of the laid at the feet of the conservative party they conservative party is that they have this short have presided over this short term approach, term treasury brain approach, which on trying wring term treasury brain approach, wtiny on trying wring term treasury brain approach, wtiny amountnn trying wring term treasury brain approach, wtiny amountnn igrowth wring term treasury brain approach, wtiny amountnn igrowth wriof a tiny amount of growth out of endlessly importing people rather than building stronger rather than building a stronger economy, has wages economy, which has higher wages and stronger jobs and training for domestic people. you know, they one of the weirdest things i always find about when conservatives talk about the immigration conservatives talk about the immigr.about fruit pickers. no talking about fruit pickers. no one about fruit pickers. one cares about fruit pickers. fruit pickers come they do a fruit pickers come in, they do a good and then leave good job, and then they leave again. got issues again. but you've got issues like architects. architects have been declared shortage. been declared a shortage. occupation, you occupation, meaning that you can now architect from now import an architect from anywhere at 80% of anywhere in the world at 80% of the going architects the going rate. architects journal articles journal is running articles

about cannot afford about how people cannot afford to be architects because the wages already so low that wages are already so low that you can't live in places like london. on those salaries. that's a real problem and that's something that the government should have taken action on before. nick, i just want to before. now nick, i just want to share with you . share with you. >> a email from a viewer will, we're talking obviously about the burden we that the tax burden and we know that the tax burden and we know that the economy still number the tax burden and we know that the concern' still number the tax burden and we know that the concern for still number the tax burden and we know that the concern for the number the tax burden and we know that the concern for the populationer one concern for the population as a whole. but he is kind of tying the two together and he's saying no wonder the tax burden is when cost of the is so high when the cost of the hotel migrant bill is now up to £8 million a day. that's where is, you know, conflating the two issues. >> the issue is the hotel migrant bill is astronomical and it's ridiculous. the reason it's ridiculous is because the home office has not processed people efficiently from the past decade. right. we didn't have to have this problem. and also something i repeatedly say something that i repeatedly say on program is what on earth on this program is what on earth is about us one, not being is it about us one, not being able to process people quickly and have such problem and why we have such a problem with temporary and why we have such a problem with visas temporary and why we have such a problem with visas while temporary and why we have such a problem with visas while they're)orary and why we have such a problem with visas while they're here' work visas while they're here being have people who being processed? have people who

are living in this country paying are living in this country paying the system, paying into the system, have them have taxes ? them work, have them pay taxes? you have any problems you don't have any problems anymore. isn't this the funny thing? >> i suppose people do conflate these illegal these two issues of illegal migration and legal migration . migration and legal migration. illegal migration, clearly on the rise and a big concern perhaps that's what's driven this concern in this survey, because of course, last year it was almost 12 months ago that we heard about the record high inward legal migration, 600,000 net. but of course , including net. but of course, including the hong kongers and ukrainians that we took in illegally. but perhaps that's why it didn't hit such high salience then. it's only really now that we're talking so much about boats and illegal arrivals that the concern has risen. well, yeah , concern has risen. well, yeah, but this is back to my first point. >> the reason everybody is so paranoid about it is because they've been fed a diet of fear about people on small boats , about people on small boats, about people on small boats, about they're suffering so about why they're suffering so much, and the strain on resources is, you know, i suella braverman suella braverman speech this week was absolutely insane in my opinion.

>> it legitimate to be concerned about people who are coming in with no process without knowing not not legal arrivals, illegal arrivals, who also cost the taxpayer. >> but the problem isn't the immigrants, it's the process. why are we not directing our anger at the right people , the anger at the right people, the people doing people that are not doing anything ? of course anything about it? of course we've got to control immigration anything about it? of course wecourse. to control immigration anything about it? of course wecourse we control immigration anything about it? of course wecourse we have.wl immigration anything about it? of course wecourse we have. but migration anything about it? of course wecourse we have. but you'ation anything about it? of course wecourse we have. but you know, of course we have. but you know, i'm immigrants being i'm sick of immigrants being kind of, you know, targeted as far as i'm concerned. the rhetoric that we now have is damaging . it's neofascist. we damaging. it's neofascist. we are at the point of i'm sure we're going to see more attacks on people of different ethnicities because of the hate that's been levied at them. and i live in fear because, you know, my daughter is half asian , my husband asian. my you , my husband is asian. my you know, in—laws. are you know, all my in—laws. are you know, all my in—laws. are you know, we have to go around now feeling anxious how people feeling anxious about how people are treat what are going to treat us and what they're think our they're going to think about our family. suella family. henry is suella braverman's fascist? >> i mean, no, obviously it isn't. i mean, it was a really bad speech because, as you say , bad speech because, as you say, it conflated completely separate issues. it conflated completely separate issues . there are important issues. there are important issues. there are important

issues about legal migration . issues about legal migration. there important issues about there are important issues about illegal migration, and there are important issues about the international refugee international refugee international system. they international law system. they are issue. i are not the same issue. and i think was unhelpful think it was deeply unhelpful and not even just but politically maladroit for the conservatives that . so conservatives to do that. so bad speech , but important issues. speech, but important issues. >> okay, henry hill. nick hodgson very, very good to have you with us this morning or you both with us this morning or with program. with us throughout the program. now, next, revised figures now, up next, revised figures show economy grew faster show the uk economy grew faster than expected between january and march this year. is this and march of this year. is this good news for the prime minister? more come on that minister? more to come on that in the next hour . in the next hour. >> hi there . it's aidan mcgivern >> hi there. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. plus two showers for some of us today, mostly towards the northwest. sunny elsewhere and sunny spells elsewhere and actually is largely fine in actually it is largely fine in the south as a ridge of high pressure builds in. but but we've still got low pressure to the north of scotland. tightly packed isobars here. so strong winds through the day. and quite a of showers, especially

a number of showers, especially for northern isles, for the northern isles, caithness, of caithness, sutherland, parts of aberdeenshire shire. fewer showers south, 1 or showers further south, 1 or 2 for northern ireland, northern england , but across the southern england, but across the southern half of uk mostly it's dry half of the uk mostly it's dry with sunny spells and feeling warm with lighter winds. in the south, 18 to 21 celsius, not feeling quite so warm with 14 or 15 in the north of scotland and into the evening the showers continue for a time in the far north, but eventually they'll ease away. likewise, the winds will begin to peter away and so clear skies, lighter winds, well, that will lead to a cooler night compared with recent nights with temperatures fairly widely in the single figures and in some sheltered parts of northern england, northern ireland and scotland . low single ireland and scotland. low single figures, touch of grass frost possible as we begin the weekend , but actually saturday gets off to a beautiful start . plenty of to a beautiful start. plenty of sunshine across the country early on and we keep that sunshine in the far south and southeast through the day. likewise for the north of scotland. elsewhere, cloud builds and for northern ireland,

south—west , north west south—west scotland, north west england wales . england and north wales. outbreaks move in the outbreaks of rain move in the rain heavy northern ireland

>> it's 11:00 >> it's11:00 on friday, >> it's 11:00 on friday, the 29th of september, a very good morning to you. this is britain's newsroom here on gb news with ellie costello and me. tom hannood coming up today right , tom hannood coming up today right, rising tax burden . right, rising tax burden. >> the amount of tax we pay is

on course to rise more under this parliament than any other dunng this parliament than any other during any other since the second world war. the former home secretary, priti patel has been speaking to gb news tax burden is now at a 70 year high thatis burden is now at a 70 year high that is unsustainable able and the people that pay the taxes are hard pressed . are hard pressed. >> brits around the country . >> brits around the country. >> brits around the country. >> winter bills support the government under pressure to provide more financial help with energy bills this winter . well, energy bills this winter. well, that's the other side of the taxing highly ledger, isn't it? bills that may for some be higher last year higher than last year disappearing doctors. >> a report has revealed that fewer than half of trainee gp's go on to work for the nhs full time . time. and the teenage boy who was arrested in connection with cutting down one of the uk's most photographed fruit trees, which is the tree at sycamore

gap near hadrian's wall, has now been released on bail. we'd love to know what you think about that story. i'm very upset about it. i know lots of you are at home. do let us know your memories of that tree if you live up there near hadrian's wall, do let us know what you think of story. views think of this story. gb views gbnews.com. but first, let's get a bulletin with . tamsin a news bulletin with. tamsin >> ellie thank you and good morning from the newsroom it's 11:01. one person has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a school bus overturned on the m53 in wirral . 50 others are being assessed at the scene. the bus was carrying pupils to calday grange grammar school and west kirby grammar school and west kirby grammar school. merseyside police says it received a report that a bus had struck a reservation. the ambulance service says there was a collision between the coach and a car. i witnesses say they saw

children climbing out of the back window. the incident happened at around 8.30 this morning between hutton and bebington and parts of the motonnay in both directions are closed . a teenage boy arrested closed. a teenage boy arrested in connection with the cutting down of one of the uk's most photographed trees has been released on bail . the tree at released on bail. the tree at sycamore gap next to hadrian's wall close to northumberland , wall close to northumberland, was made famous in the 1991 film robin hood . the national trust robin hood. the national trust says it was shocked and saddened to see the iconic tree cut down a 17 year old boy charged with the murder of 15 year old elian. arade dam has been remanded in custody after appearing at a magistrates court in london. an alien was stabbed to death in croydon on wednesday while she was on her way to school . was on her way to school. tributes have been pouring in for the victim's family, including from actor idris elba , who says tougher deterrence and punishments need to be put

in place for people who carry weapons . as . the chancellor says weapons. as. the chancellor says , the economy recovered from the pandemic faster than expected after it grew by 0.3% in the first quarter of this year. the office for national statistics initially expected it to rise by nought point 1. economic secretary to the treasury andrew griffith says the government will stick to its plan of halving inflation. this year. >> our economic plans are on track. the uk avoided recession, the priority for us right now is to bear down on inflation. that plan is also working. we're on track. we've got to stay focussed on that because that's an invidious tax rise that hits across the whole economy , which across the whole economy, which is why we're willing to make tough decisions to deliver that reduction in inflation, which is the path to lower interest rates and people having a better standard of living . standard of living. >> more people are cashing in their pension early and labour

says it's due to the cost of living crisis . new figures show living crisis. new figures show more than 900,000 people took their pensions early in the last financial year , a 45% rise on financial year, a 45% rise on the year before . labour's shadow the year before. labour's shadow work and pensions secretary, liz kendall, says the living standards of future retirees has been put at risk by the government's economic mismanagement . more than 140 mismanagement. more than 140 organisations are calling on the prime minister to help people with their energy bills this winter . in with their energy bills this winter. in an open with their energy bills this winter . in an open letter, the winter. in an open letter, the companies and mps are urging the government to support vulnerable households . bills are expected households. bills are expected to be around 13% higher than last winter . the government says last winter. the government says it has measures in place, including the energy price guarantee until april next year . dame priti patel is calling for a tax cut for hard pressed brits around the country . for a tax cut for hard pressed brits around the country. in an exclusive interview with gb news political editor chris hope, the former home secretary says the

government should cut public spending to ease the tax burden. her comments add pressure on the prime minister and chancellor ahead of the conservative party conference in manchester tomorrow . tomorrow. >> the tax burden is now at a 70 year high that is unsustainable and the people that pay the taxes are hard pressed. brits around the country . as around the country. as conservatives, we believe in lower taxes. as conservatives , lower taxes. as conservatives, we believe being on the side of hard working households and families . as conservatives, we families. as conservatives, we believe in hope and aspiration . believe in hope and aspiration. >> so what does that look like now? >> that should mean lower taxes. the burden of tax has to start to come down, reduce the size of the ensure that people the state and ensure that people keep of their income. keep more of their income. >> rail passengers will see chaos over the next two days as train drivers begin industrial action. aslef members begin a ban on overtime today ahead of a strike at 16 train companies tomorrow. the union says tomorrow's walkout will force operators to cancel all

services. aslef's general secretary mick whelan argues members haven't had a pay rise for four years. the government and rail delivery group says there's a fair and .reasonable offer on the table . this is gb offer on the table. this is gb news across the uk on tv , in news across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker. by saying play gb news. now it's back to ellie and . tom thanks , tamsin. ellie and. tom thanks, tamsin. >> it's 1106. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with tom hannood and me, ellie costello. >> now let's see what you've been saying at home. we've been discussing so very much this morning, but particularly what has got everyone going in the inbox is this particular tree on hadrian's wall. jane has written in to, say, the 16 year old who cut down the tree is a kid. kids often do things for a laugh without any thought of the consequences or the effects upon others. they know right from

wrong and of course, should be reprimanded . but prison? no way. reprimanded. but prison? no way. why turn a daft kid into a criminal ? criminal? >> stewart says, i think ten year sentence of compulsory volunteering for related charities would benefit this clearly misguided young boy with some of the guidance and education obviously missing from his life . his life. >> and david says, although i totally agree with the general sentiment and the feelings regarding the felling of the tree, i'd like to know that i would like you to know that the stump is left in situ. the tree will likely regenerate. and stump is left in situ. the tree will li any regenerate. and stump is left in situ. the tree will li an interesting). and stump is left in situ. the tree will li an interesting point. that's an interesting point. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> very similar here from henry hill. we're talking about what we should do with the remains of this because is a huge, this tree, because it is a huge, huge tree, tony wood huge tree, tony says wood from the tree be used the fallen tree should be used to fitting tribute to create a fitting tribute to this of north—east any this icon of the north—east any remaining wood should in remaining wood should be made in souvenirs national trust souvenirs for the national trust to sell. very good idea. it's exactly what henry hill was suggesting as well. do you keep those views coming in on that story the stories that story or any of the stories that we've been talking today? we've been talking about today? vaiews@gbnews.com >> earlier this week, the >> now, earlier this week, the former secretary, priti

former home secretary, priti patel was invested as a dame . patel was invested as a dame. >> in an exclusive interview with gb news political editor christopher hope, dame priti patel addresses the issue of the 70 year high tax burden and a need to reduce the size of the state tax burden is now at a 70 year high that is unsupported , year high that is unsupported, attainable and the people that pay attainable and the people that pay the taxes are hard pressed . pay the taxes are hard pressed. >> brits around the country . as >> brits around the country. as conservatives, we believe in lower taxes. as conservatives , lower taxes. as conservatives, we believe being on the side of hard working households and families . as conservatives, we families. as conservatives, we believe in hope and aspiration. so what does that look like now that lower taxes. that should mean lower taxes. the tax start the burden of tax has to start to come down. however, look at the cycle that we're in right now. we've got one more fiscal cycle potentially before a general election. how? and it's not just about being bold general election. how? and it's notjust about being bold or not just about being bold or ambitious. being ambitious. it's about being conservative and ensuring that the public keep more of the money that they earn rather than seeing the size of state seeing the size of the state continue which which continue to grow, which which chopper done. sure chopper it has done. i'm sure you've written about this and

you've written about this and you've spoken this before you've spoken about this before . space we need . that's the space that we need to in. reduce the size of the to be in. reduce the size of the state and ensure that people keep more of their income. this is just a fundamental conservative principle . conservative principle. >> do you feel free to sort of, oh , hello, hello . oh, hello, hello. >> we are very, very busy here because we've got liam halligan with us and jasmine birtles to react priti patel react to the priti patel interview. first and foremost. then we'll look at the economy a little wider. tom was little bit wider. and tom was just organising us all, weren't you, tom? >> trying to. >> trying to. >> so let's with liam >> so let's start with you, liam and saying and priti patel, they're saying that are that taxes currently are unsustainable . well, is she right? >> well, taxes are a 70 year high. are so high that high. taxes are so high that even the lib dems are saying they don't want to raise taxes. obviously, in their conference last weekend , they abandoned last weekend, they abandoned their quarter century old. we will put one p on income tax and give that money to education. slash health slash pothole filling depending on which particular the audience they're talking to at the time. and so the tax burden is really high.

is it any wonder we spent £400 billion during the covid pandemic and the economy has not really got out of second gear since that pandemic ? to be since that pandemic? to be honest with you, ellie, the economy hasn't really been firing on all cylinders as anywhere in the western world since the global financial crisis in the late 2000. and this is why we have a really high tax burden. we've got demography coming through. more older people compared to more younger people needed to support them. we haven't got the expansion , though. i must say. expansion, though. i must say. today we have had some pretty good on the growth numbers good news on the growth numbers from the ons earlier this morning . morning. >> take us through those because they're a lot better than expected, aren't they? >> slightly better than >> they are slightly better than expected, even though they're quite low. so between april and june , we the second june, what we call the second quarter, the second three month penod quarter, the second three month period the year, gdp rose by period of the year, gdp rose by 0.2% compared to the previous quarter. but the first quarter was revised up from 0.1% to 0.3. and growth in 2022 as a whole

was revised up from 4.1% to 4.3. that's a really high number for the uk. but we were sort of bouncing back because 21 was a semi lockdown year. and what's really interesting to me is these revisions plus the revisions we had a month or so ago, the uk is now no longer a laggard in terms of how we've recovered from the pandemic. we grew we have grown more since the pandemic. grew we have grown more since the pandemic . we've grown by the pandemic. we've grown by 1.8. that's more than germany , 1.8. that's more than germany, which is like 0.2% and more than france as well, less than the us. but the us is generally a more dynamic economy, so you can no longer say that brexit britain is , you know, being britain is, you know, being dragged down by the fact that we left the european union. given that the two biggest economies in the european union are growing than we are, it's remarkable. >> there were always supposedly sort of the big four in the european union when were european union when we were a member germany, the uk member france, germany, the uk and . three of those and italy. three of those four, i think i'm right in saying that the growing faster outside the uk is growing faster outside of european union than

of the european union than it was on inside. jasmine, was on the inside. jasmine, let's you in here now. let's bring you in here now. i we can't say to that's do with brexit, but i suppose it does show that perhaps people jumping on these numbers before they were revised were trying to find a narrative that might not be particularly true. >> and to honest , i particularly true. >> and to honest, i think >> and to be honest, i think that we could grow even faster if we were working together , if we were working together, because one of the problems that we post brexit is that we have with post brexit is that we have with post brexit is that we significant number of we have a significant number of people government the people in government in the civil service and in all sorts of areas of britain that really want to work against brexit. so you have those who are pro brexit, you have those who are against it and so if you're working against each other , working against each other, you're not going to have very much fonnard movement , right? so much fonnard movement, right? so frankly, fact we've frankly, the fact that we've done done is pretty done what we've done is pretty amazing. know , that amazing. you know, in that situation . and i do keep situation. and i do keep reminding myself that germany is in recession. i mean, as liam said, the growth figures are better than expected. they are still low . but, you know, at still low. but, you know, at least there's some growth. at

least there's some growth. at least it's slightly better . least it's slightly better. whereas in germany they really are struggling. >> i suppose in the context of the g7 and those four big countries of the g7, european countries, the uk, france , italy countries, the uk, france, italy and germany, the uk is doing the best out of those four out of the pandemic. but it is it's a low growth club. we're the best of the worst. and compared to the united states, which is just experiencing extreme ordinary growth, we're in a different league. >> well, we are. and worse than that really is asia, because, you know, i've got a few asian friends who are saying , you friends who are saying, you know, britain and europe, they're becoming the third world countries. that's the way they're looking at it, because they're looking at it, because the growth you look at india, you look at vietnam, for example, taiwan in there's extraordinary growth there. and as liam pointed out, there's a lot of youth there. also, middle east and africa, you've got a lot of babies being born, which we don't have so much in europe. so we're we're an older i was going to say nation, you know,

continent . but going to say nation, you know, continent. but and we have we have more to pay for. and this is not going to get easier as it goes fonnard. >> and liam, do you think we're going to see a bit more of a stable picture now when it comes to our economy? because recent months really, haven't we? >> i mean, i'm getting grey hair. >> give me a good career, move a bit grey hair. there's been talk, hasn't there, about recession and whether we're going into one whether going to go into one or whether we've or it we've avoided one, or is it going stabilise? going to stabilise? >> just pick up on what >> now just to pick up on what tom is growing tom said, the us is growing strongly. the us has grown by 6.1% since the end of the pandemic and we've grown by 1.9. france 1.8. germany is jazz was saying 0.2. germany is now the sick man of europe because its whole business model has been built on cheap russian gas. whole business model has been built on cheap russian gas . are built on cheap russian gas. are we going to see a more stable situation now? i think my sort of central assumption is that we will inflation is coming down. the uk seems to have dodged a recession with interest rates hopefully not going up any more . central assumption then growth

will come to the fore. we probably will get a pre—election tax cut. we're seeing manufactured confidence holding up. we're seeing maybe the housing market stabilising . it housing market stabilising. it will start to turn. that will bnng will start to turn. that will bring back consumer sentiment. so that's my central assumption . but you never meet a one handed economist, right? and that's on the one hand and on the other hand, ellie, something i've lot the other hand, ellie, something i'vtfor lot the other hand, ellie, something i'vtfor gb lot the other hand, ellie, something i'vtfor gb news lot the other hand, ellie, something i'vtfor gb news quite lot the other hand, ellie, something i'vtfor gb news quite a lot the other hand, ellie, something i'vtfor gb news quite a few lot the other hand, ellie, something i'vtfor gb news quite a few weeks on for gb news quite a few weeks and months. there is a big whiz bang the oil price bang and that is the oil price and geopolitics we're all expecting inflation to keep dropping this winter. we're all expecting cheaper energy than last winter. we're all expecting interest rates to come down. that's the central assumption of politics. but actually look at what's happened to the oil price. the global economy is still quite sluggish despite america. because is america. why? because china is growing more slowly than it has done for 30 years. it's still growing about 4, but a lot of growing by about 4, but a lot of property interest in china, they're quite shaky . a they're looking quite shaky. a lot people in financial lot of people in financial markets the world worry markets around the world worry that is going like

that china is going to be like a new lehman brothers. >> youth unemployment in china is absolutely . is extraordinarily, absolutely. >> signs of >> and there's signs of political unrest, which is why. but government's very but the government's very heavily indebted. can't heavily indebted. so it can't just throw money problem just throw money at the problem like in the aftermath of like it did in the aftermath of 2008. but let's have a look. the global economy is still pretty sluggish. the demand for oil is not going gang busters as it would be when we're growing fast . demand for oil . so it's not the demand for oil that's pushing the oil price up. it's from $70 to $95 in it's gone up from $70 to $95 in two and a half months. that's a 35% rise. that's why we're seeing really high petrol and diesel . and oil going diesel prices. and oil is going up even though the global economy is sluggish because of opec, of the opec opec, because of the opec exporters cartel, they are deliberately restrict supply. they working conjunction they are working in conjunction with non opec member russia, the saudi russia, riyadh, moscow axis. we should be talking about it a lot, but hardly anyone wants to address it. but it's really , really important. opec really, really important. opec is squeezing global oil markets. the oil price is rising steadily. that's going to complicate our ability to escape

inflation, to get rid out of this ghastly cost of living crisis . so, yes, ellie, my crisis. so, yes, ellie, my central assumption is that it will be a bit more stable oil. but watch out for opec . but watch out for opec. >> goodness me, that does sort of highlight the fundamental instability around all of this. and i wonder if that instability is one of the reasons why 300,000 more people, jasmine, this year cashed in their pensions compared to last year. why why are we seeing so many people cash in their pensions? >> well, firstly, because they can because, as you know, we have pension freedoms. we've had them few now. so it them for a few years now. so it does mean that people over 55 potentially can cash in some or all of their pensions . and this all of their pensions. and this is, you know, a good move, i think originally by the government because it meant that it made pensions a bit more flexible a bit easier to deal with and a more attractive move. but when you have a time when, as we have had people are really struggling to pay just their day to day bills , it is too much of

to day bills, it is too much of a temptation to go into that pension pot. and the problem is that, you know, at 55, 55 is very young. i mean, even 60, 65, you've got another 20, 30, 40, 50, 35, the new 45, it really is . yes. we've got so many sort of centenarians now . that's a good centenarians now. that's a good long time to pay for your for your pension. so i'm really, really keen for people not to do this if they possibly can. what i've been saying on my website, money magpie .com is to make money on the side there are so many side earners and a lot a lot more people who are retired or above pensionable age are bringing these side earners in just to keep themselves going on a daily basis. that honestly is much better than going into your pension pot and harming your future. it's a fascinating point. >> and liam, i suppose this is actually that actually something that the government is concerned about as well. people perhaps relying more pension when more on their pension when actually they could be a valuable part of the workforce getting some these side

getting some of these side hustles chancellor's been hustles in the chancellor's been talking about this recently. >> can say if 65 is the >> can i just say if 65 is the new 45, i'm now in my mid 30s. >> yes. >> yes. >> what were you saying about grey hair? i don't see it. >> couldn't help yourself. >> couldn't help yourself. >> look, a lot of the reason why there are more people cashing in their simply their pensions is simply demography , because baby demography, because the baby boomers unwinding . you boomers are now unwinding. you know, just it's just aside know, it's just it's just aside from all the valid points that jazz been made there, it's just you know, our natural demography is unwinding and demography is destiny. it's hard wired in in the birth rates , you know, in the birth rates, you know, in the birth rates, you know, in the years immediately following the years immediately following the second world war and into the second world war and into the early and mid 50s. but if there are more people cashing in their pensions, we don't have those people in their late 50s, early 60s, mid 60s, late 60s in the workforce. it's the way we did . and this really hitting did. and this is really hitting a of industries in the a lot of industries in the service sector , you know, service sector, you know, professional , taxis and professional driving, taxis and so on. construction a business my family knows well a lot of

the sort of really talented, older guys who are steady workers , they teach the younger workers, they teach the younger guys sort of informal apprenticeships. they're now retiring earlier and it cuts into a conversation. >> talking earlier >> we were talking about earlier because construction a because now construction is a shortage. list, shortage. occupation list, occupation can in occupation. sure, you can get in foreign workers for 80% of the pay foreign workers for 80% of the pay of british workers. now surely partly because people are retiring early, that. >> yes, but the problem with that means we're not that is that means we're not training our own plumbers and chippies and sparks and bricklayers that . bricklayers and that and that. then hardwires in a shortage of those vital skills into the future, which means we're less likely to build the houses that we need. >> okay. our business and economics liam halligan >> okay. our business and ecorfinancial liam halligan >> okay. our business and ecorfinancial expertn halligan >> okay. our business and ecorfinancial expert jasmine an and financial expert jasmine birtles, very good to see you both this morning. thank you very, very much. >> well, still to come, fewer than of trainee gps go on than half of trainee gps go on to for the nhs. full time. to work for the nhs. full time. so we'll be asking a trainee doctor if she'll be leaving to

news. the people's channel. britain's news channel . britain's news channel. >> very good morning. it is 1124 and you're with britain's newsroom here on gb news with ellie costello and me, tom hannood. >> and sometimes he struggles to read the time. >> it's always around. >> it's always around. >> this time that it's the. >> this time that it's the. >> anyway, you did it very >> yeah. anyway, you did it very good. yes, it is. good. it's 1125 now. yes, it is. well done. >> new report has revealed >> now a new report has revealed that than half trainee that fewer than half of trainee gps to work for the nhs gps go on to work for the nhs full time. >> the foundation >> yes. the health foundation think estimates that think tank also estimates that there's a shortage of 4200 gps across england and says this

number could double within a decade. >> well, bashir mukherjee is a junior doctor and she joins us now. very good to see you this this morning, bashir. so what's your reaction to this, that fewer than half of trainee gps actually go on to work for the nhs full time? why is that ? nhs full time? why is that? >> i'm not surprised. i'm not surprised at all. it's something i've considered myself . i think i've considered myself. i think it's just a case of weighing young, you know, costs versus benefits. the current system , it benefits. the current system, it doesn't allow us. for me personally, my reasons would be it doesn't allow me to fully enjoy my work. you know, the cost cuts all around and the workload and how much we're expected to do in like 15, ten minute appointments. it it doesn't make you feel very good as to be able have as a doctor to be able to have to rush things and, you know, try and do as much as possible in time. i think it's in that short time. i think it's quite high stress quite a stress, high stress environment it doesn't

environment and it doesn't surprise that's people surprise me. that's why people are choosing the private route or abroad . or going abroad. >> are we at risk of over >> and are we at risk of over interpreting these figures that sort of these numbers not doing full time work, lots of them will be doing part time work, perhaps a huge proportion of hard time, part time work, i don't know, quite what this definition encompasses. >> they could be working for the nhs time and still be nhs 95% of the time and still be counted as part time. nhs 95% of the time and still be counted as part time . are we counted as as part time. are we are we at risk of overinterpreting this? yes quite possibly. >> and i think you know, in that way, you the radar is too highly on on these gp trainees and gps that why are they leaving and what you know, do they not owe it to the government or the country to stay and work? but yes, you're quite right. a lot of people are definitely working what we call less than full time andits what we call less than full time and it's definitely a very good opfion and it's definitely a very good option , especially for in the option, especially for in the current climate where, you know, there's a there's a high demand

for gps and their work and equally there's a lot of us expected of us. so in order to find that work life balance, i think a lot of my colleagues are definitely opting for the less than full time route . than full time route. >> and bashir, i mean, this figure will obviously include the gps and the trainee gps who go on to work in australia , go on to work in australia, india or canada or the like, where they will earn higher salaries . and you just said just salaries. and you just said just then that it's something that you have considered as well, leaving nhs. so what has leaving the nhs. so what has that conversation been like in your mind? why would you want to leave the nhs and why in the same breath are you proud to work for the nhs? what are the good things about the nhs? >> i've always been very proud to be part of the nhs, mainly because how inspiring my colleagues have been . i've had colleagues have been. i've had great role models and you know , great role models and you know, it still feels amazing when you have that good patient interaction on and you know that

it's not just a transaction personal interaction, it is something that, you know, you providing this service . something that, you know, you providing this service. i something that, you know, you providing this service . i mean, providing this service. i mean, i've worked in the nhs for years now. it is a fantastic organisation, but equally when you have to measure up with with what your own life goals are, for instance, in this country , for instance, in this country, we the taxation is really high compared to what we're being paid and how we're being compensated for, for the time and effort that takes into going becoming a doctor and also the high stress levels. i think , you high stress levels. i think, you know, finding a balance. high stress levels. i think, you know, finding a balance . and for know, finding a balance. and for me personally, it's a case of affording housing and all these things , as i have definitely things, as i have definitely considered going abroad for a short period of time, getting another earnings to have a good quality of life where i'm not having to completely be bogged down with bills and worries about cost of living. and i didn't expect that when i was at school and doing my best and

getting the highest grades in school and that i could say that for a lot of my colleagues as well, that absolutely we went into this profession wanting to help people . it's the help people. but it's the compensation in this country. it's just not it's not good enough at the at present . enough at the at present. >> it's fascinating. you talk about the high taxation that doctors face because this is a conversation we've been having all morning. i suppose on the one hand, we often think about the high tax burden that this country has and actually the 40% funding increase that the nhs has had that perhaps is a really inefficient allocation of resources. if we're taxing doctors to then put money into the nhs, probably losing some of it along the way, losing it in inefficiencies, it doesn't seem like it's a very well put together system and you're absolutely correct. >> i've been hearing all the conversations about across the board in terms of the system. i think there's something fundamentally wrong with the system when you're losing 10,000

doctors a year and that's not just, you know , doctors, that's just, you know, doctors, that's nurses as well. and absolutely, you know, the taxation system in other parts of the world are , i other parts of the world are, i suppose, better weighed up in terms of to match the earnings, to match the role that the entity is playing in terms of building the economy , building building the economy, building the society and in contributing to you know, services like the nhs . nhs. >> well, bhasha mukherjee , >> well, bhasha mukherjee, always very, very good to see you.thank always very, very good to see you. thank you so much for sharing your experience on britain's newsroom this morning . now, do stay with us. still lots more to come. a ban on certain single use plastics for food and drink begins this weekend . but can it really work weekend. but can it really work if many restaurants aren't even aware of it ? if many restaurants aren't even aware of it? you're with britain's newsroom on . gb news. britain's newsroom on. gb news. >> good morning. it's 1131.

britain's newsroom on. gb news. >> good morning. it's1131. here are the headlines for a children's hospital in liverpool has declared a major incident after a school bus overturned on the m50 three. one person has been taken to hospital with serious injuries. five others are being assessed at the scene. the bus was carrying pupils to calday grange grammar school and west kirby grammar school. merseyside police says it collided with a car and struck a central reservation . central reservation. eyewitnesses say they saw children climbing out of the back window. the incident happened at around 830 this morning between huyton and bebington and parts of the motonnay in both directions remain closed . a 17 year old boy remain closed. a 17 year old boy charged with the murder of 15 year old elian and has been remanded in custody after appearing at court in london. euan appearing at court in london. elian was stabbed to death in croydon on wednesday while she was on her way to school. tributes have been pouring in for the family , including from for the family, including from

actor idris elba. he says tougher detention and punishments need to be put in place for people who carry weapons . as a teenage boy weapons. as a teenage boy arrested in connection with the cutting down of one of the uk's most photographed trees has been released on bail . the tree at released on bail. the tree at sycamore gap next to hadrian's wall, close to northumberland, was made famous in the 1991 film. robin hood. the national trust says it was shocked and saddened to see the iconic tree cut down. the chancellor says the economy recovered from the pandemic faster than expected after it grew by nought point 3% in the first quarter of this yean in the first quarter of this year. the office for national statistics initially expected it to rise by 0.1. the government says it will stick to its plan of halving inflation this year. you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website gb news.com stories by visiting our website

gbnews.com . direct bullion sponsors. >> the finance report on gb news for gold and silver investment . for gold and silver investment. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets . the pound will today's markets. the pound will buy you 1.22, five $8 and ,1.1551. the price of gold is £1,528.25 per ounce. and the ftse 100 is at 7667 points. >> direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical investment might well stick with us here on gb on britain's newsroom on gb news. >> still to come , a ban on >> still to come, a ban on plastic packaging for takeaways has been branded as to expensive to enforce more as we get it .

a.m. till noon on gb news, britain's news channel . the uk britain's news channel. the uk is proved wrong, doubters wrong with its economic recovery. >> that's according to jeremy hunt. and we've got two people have an opinion on that. nikki hodgson, author and commentator and henry hill, deputy editor at conservativehome henry. let's start with you. what do you make of jeremy hunt's comments? >> so jeremy hunt has come out and there's some new and basically there's some new data instead data that suggests that instead of worse than france and

of being worse than france and germany and actually being smaller were the smaller than we were before the pandemic, actually, we're a couple points of couple of points, points of points germany and points ahead of germany and france. isn't amazing? france. and isn't that amazing? we're wrong we're proving the doubters wrong and of story really and this kind of story really frustrates because, you know, frustrates me because, you know, the narrative that we had over the narrative that we had over the year or so not been the last year or so has not been formed really by those charts. it's formed people's it's been formed by people's real are real experiences. households are struggling . wages flat struggling. wages have been flat for and there is a for 15 years and there is a housing and rents crisis. childcare is ruinously expensive. none of those have changed. absolutely nothing about any of conditions about any of the conditions actually facing british people about any of the conditions actuachanged. british people about any of the conditions actuachanged. british [an ple have changed. and yet an official body has come out redrawn. line on a graph and redrawn. a line on a graph and we're suddenly supposed to be cheering the government to the rafters of it deeply rafters and it sort of it deeply frustrates me, this kind of story. conservatives need to story. the conservatives need to do better than this, right? like they going to they can't they're not going to persuade there's a weird persuade people. there's a weird disjuncture for you can't persuade they're persuade people that they're feeling rich if they're not feeling rich if they're not feeling when feeling rich if they're not feelconservatives when feeling rich if they're not feelconservatives come when the conservatives come out and they you know, they say, actually, you know, britain's great. people britain's doing great. if people aren't doing great, that doesn't persuade them. it just makes you look you're completely look like you're completely out of before we bring nicky >> just before we bring nicky in, isn't that exactly what the

conservatives did in 1983? the country was feeling quite poor . country was feeling quite poor. there were strikes that we'd just got out of a recession. people weren't feeling very. but we won a war. and that sense of happiness really then led the conservatives to victory. yeah. >> this isn't winning a war, though, is it? i mean, let's face the falklands war was a real accomplishment. i'm not saying that you might people might extent might disagree about the extent to margaret thatcher to which margaret thatcher should from that, should have benefited from that, but real but that was a real accomplishment. that was a thing that and frankly, that she did. and also, frankly, a lot people the 80s, it a lot of people in the 80s, it was very divisive decade. they were feeling better off. >> that >> i think that's something that by the 80s certain. by the end of the 80s certain. but but the early of the but but the early part of the 80s, much. 80s, not so much. >> some people the conservatives were very ruthlessly targeted who to make who they were trying to make better the same way that better in the same way that people forget that actually average during the 30s average incomes during the 30s went just don't went up. right. we just don't really but really often remember that. but again, a real again, that was a real accomplishment, whereas is accomplishment, whereas this is just a line on a chart. just not just a line on a chart. if conservatives gone out if the conservatives gone out and war against fascist and won a war against a fascist dictatorship that invaded a british not british territory, i would not criticise jeremy hunt for suggesting that we should celebrate not celebrate it. but that's not what they've done.

>> let's bring you in at >> nikki, let's bring you in at this jeremy hunt this stage because jeremy hunt also the also says we were among the fastest the to fastest countries in the g7 to recover from the pandemic. and since we have grown faster since 2020, we have grown faster than germany. what than france and germany. what do you it? you make of it? >> where's the money? >> well, where's the money? i mean, money's pockets mean, the money's in the pockets of not the people that need it. that's the problem, isn't it? exactly henry we exactly what henry says. and we agree which is quite agree on this, which is quite interesting us, tells interesting for us, which tells you be if you how bad things must be if we're it. but we're agreeing about it. but i mean, , people are stealing mean, look, people are stealing baby children are not baby milk. children are not going because parents going to school because parents can't bus fare for going to school because parents can't to bus fare for going to school because parents can't to get bus fare for going to school because parents can't to get there. 5 fare for going to school because parents can't to get there. 5 fare are the them to get there. they are the real experience is of the real lived experience is of the economic situation in this country. so it's all well and good. hunt and sunak coming out and saying, oh, it's not as bad as we thought it was. you know, we're only as worse off as everybody else's in europe. it doesn't matter if you can't afford in life. afford the basics in your life. he's know what it he's just i don't know what it is about. sunak is because is about. sunak is it because he's rich? continuously he's so rich? he continuously misjudges deliver misjudges how to deliver information about how okay, britain is. it's like he lives in a different universe to us and he just kind of presides over us and tells us it's going to be okay and therefore we feel

better it. sorry, rishi, better about it. sorry, rishi, it's simple. people it's not that simple. and people won't that way . won't be hoodwinked that way. >> suppose this , this >> henry i suppose this, this data really shows that britain is not an outlier. we're perhaps slightly better than france and germany, but we're still in that bucket with france and germany and the sclerotic european countries and their low growth . countries and their low growth. the real outstanding outlier here is the united states of america , which is just growing america, which is just growing gangbusters hours ahead of any european country . what are they european country. what are they doing differently ? doing differently? >> what aren't they doing differently? i mean, america is a with an lot of a country with an awful lot of problems. we should obviously make that but does make that clear. but what does america one, america builds america do? one, america builds things. is building things. america is building houses, infrastructure, so people live. even people can afford to live. even states like california, which until recently took almost until recently took an almost british of british view of the inappropriateness of housing, have have just passed some have just have just passed some of the biggest pro housing reforms. they have a much more flexible market they flexible labour market and they exploit resources exploit their natural resources . america . right when if america discovers shale gas or they've just discovered a vast amount of new that are needed for

new minerals that are needed for next generation technology, they 9°! next generation technology, they go, let's some go, all right, let's dig some mines. in country, mines. whereas in this country, as i'm sure you know, what would happen they'd be under as i'm sure you know, what would happe hedgerow:hey'd be under as i'm sure you know, what would happehedgerow ory'd be under as i'm sure you know, what would happe hedgerow or other�* under as i'm sure you know, what would happe hedgerow or other andier as i'm sure you know, what would happe hedgerow or other and we some hedgerow or other and we would leave them where they are. >> they have to newt. >> they would have to be a newt. they have be a newt. they would have to be a newt. survey then a survey done. and then a bat survey, it wouldn't survey, and then it wouldn't have natural have to disrupt the natural environment boris environment hotel boris johnson's build johnson's had to build to build his swimming pool, all of that. >> a vast scale. so they >> but on a vast scale. so they embrace change. >> nikki isn't >> nikki hodgson isn't that isn't problem really? isn't that the problem really? and a european and perhaps this is a european mindset americans are mindset thing. the americans are fracking, for example, price fracking, for example, the price of energy in united states of energy in the united states did spike in the way it did not spike in the way it spiked in europe. >> they've a massive >> no, but they've got a massive opioid crisis. they've got people health people with no health care benefits . you know, they've got benefits. you know, they've got an problem . i mean, i an illiteracy problem. i mean, i don't we should be looking don't think we should be looking to as country that to america as the country that is fix it all for us. is going to fix it all for us. you know, all that's happening in west in general is the in the west in general is the gap the gap between the poorest and the richest is widening in this country. we've country. we talk about we've got no there's £540 billion no money. there's £540 billion sat in offshore accounts from so—called british taxpayers . so—called british taxpayers. there's loads of money. we're

just not going after it in the right ways. nikki just a moment ago, you touched on the economic situation and what it means for real people in pounds, in real people in the pounds, in their pockets there's their pockets and there's a story today about story out today about child poverty more than 1 million poverty and more than 1 million children uk really children in the uk really shocking on the floor or shocking sleep on the floor or share a bed. >> this is a new study. i mean, this just beggars belief. >> how is this britain in 2023? yeah it's a very report from barnardos, the children's charity has found that, charity that has found that, yeah, million children are yeah, a million children are either adults either bed sharing with adults or children or they're or other children or they're sleeping for the floor sleeping on for the floor 440,000 children, sleep on the floor. apparently. i just can't even imagine this. it's kind of conjuring up images of victorian england to me , this kind of england to me, this kind of level of poverty and i think what's upsetting about it is we know there are lots of children in poverty. actually. we know kids aren't being properly . kids aren't being fed properly. and, know, the whole and, you know, there's the whole debate free school meals debate about free school meals and rest it. but the and all the rest of it. but the idea they even a idea that they don't even have a bed sleep in and then they bed to sleep in and then they go to school and they haven't had a proper good night's rest. this is how we in this

is so basic. how are we in this situation ? situation now? >> suppose our >> henry i suppose our population grown millions population has grown by millions of yet we build only of people and yet we build only 200,000 homes a year. that's got to be part of this. >> yeah. i think the interesting thing victorian thing about victorian britain is, people often judge is, you know, people often judge the victorians how things the victorians about how things were rather were at the beginning rather than the reason than the end. but the reason that many victorian that we have so many victorian houses now because they houses now is because they did slum they slum clearances, right? they took substandard took lots of deeply substandard housing knocked took lots of deeply substandard housinthey knocked took lots of deeply substandard housinthey built knocked took lots of deeply substandard housinthey built houses:ked down, they built houses that we're living today. we're still living in today. and ultimately, i think the important thing is that when we talk crisis, talk about the housing crisis, often i'm guilty of this, right? i'm a policy wonk. talk about i'm a policy wonk. we talk about it of gdp. we talk i'm a policy wonk. we talk about it it of gdp. we talk i'm a policy wonk. we talk about it it terms 3. we talk i'm a policy wonk. we talk about it it terms ofiiie talk i'm a policy wonk. we talk about it it terms of units.( i'm a policy wonk. we talk about it it terms of units. this about it in terms of units. this is what it looks like real is what it looks like for real people. overcrowd people. it means overcrowd thing, stock, thing, it means crumbling stock, it leads to it means damp, which leads to rot, to all kinds of rot, which leads to all kinds of stuff. lots and lots of stuff. and it's lots and lots of human is buried human suffering is buried beneath the dry technical debate about housing crisis . about the housing crisis. >> and also in this report, you know, there's some really details. so, for example, there's they did there's a they did a they did some found some investigation. they found that old was that a three year old was sleeping baby's a 17 sleeping in a baby's cot. a 17 year old was sleeping in a seven year old was sleeping in a seven year and one of the year old's bed. and one of the people was interviewed that

people that was interviewed that was didn't a was that literally didn't have a bed for her child. he's paying the bedroom tax . how? it just the bedroom tax. how? it just doesn't make any sense. and all we hear continuously from certain tories , certain certain kinds of tories, certain kinds of tories, is that, you know, benefits are costing too much. people are sponging. it's just reality of life just not the reality of life in britain right now. >> very interesting. the >> that's very interesting. the spare deduction is spare room subsidy deduction is for extra rooms for people with extra rooms compared to their of compared to their number of people in their household. >> don't know how that works. >> i don't know how that works. so how on earth, you know, it's to do with. yeah, i don't know what that's about, but. well you barnardos calling bed what that's about, but. well you barnard and calling bed what that's about, but. well you barnard and they'reig bed what that's about, but. well you barnard and they're sayingd what that's about, but. well you barnard and they're saying that poverty and they're saying that it's something that people take for granted but it is £200 on average to buy a basic new single bed with bedding £240 on average for a double. >> it is something that you wouldn't think about, but it is a massive expense. >> it is a big expense for some people. and i think this again loops back to why i'm so frustrated original frustrated by the original source of story, because the fact an awful lot of fact is there's an awful lot of people in this country who are more insulated from more or less insulated from its

economic you know, economic condition. you know, they their homes outright. they own their homes outright. they long time they own their homes outright. they they long time they own their homes outright. they they a long time they own their homes outright. they they a nice, ng time ago. they have a nice, comfortable house. many of them have contribution have a substantial contribution to their income or even their whole coming from whole income coming from pensions, which of course are protected government. protected by the government. and so that so i think it's important that people actually people realise that actually in many kingdom people realise that actually in m increasingly kingdom people realise that actually in m increasingly country. jdom is increasingly a poor country. we're poorer poorest we're poorer than the poorest state united states. state in the united states. i think mississippi. don't think it's mississippi. i don't want to slander it if that's the wrong but is are a wrong one. but this is we are a poor country. lots people are poor country. lots of people are getting not very much. getting by on not very much. and that and when that causes this. and when jeremy hunt is there going actually and actually things are fine and you've got who's you've got someone who's completely disconnected from the real oh, yeah, real economy going, oh, yeah, maybe that breeds maybe they are. that breeds complacency, afford. >> w" >> well, henry, you say that potentially country potentially we're a poor country and not and that politicians are not caring issues. caring about the proper issues. but i'll have you know that plastic packaging, a ban on plastic packaging, a ban on plastic packaging, a ban on plastic packaging takeaways plastic packaging for takeaways is might well be too expensive to enforce, but is still being proposed. is this what our government should be focusing on most ? most? >> well, i don't understand how this policy is still on the table . well, you know, when table. well, you know, when we've got all this debate about ulez, has gone back

ulez, rishi sunak has gone back on his environment, his economic sorry, his environmental pledges . why are we focusing on this ? . why are we focusing on this? because it's small because it's the small businesses have to sort it businesses that have to sort it out. perhaps it feels like we're going businesses out. perhaps it feels like we're goingthis. businesses out. perhaps it feels like we're goiis01is. businesses out. perhaps it feels like we're goiiso this businesses out. perhaps it feels like we're goiiso this is businesses out. perhaps it feels like we're goiiso this is from yusinesses out. perhaps it feels like we're goiiso this is from sundayes >> so this is from sunday takeaways and restaurants in england can be fined £200 if they hand out single use plastic cutlery, cups and cutlery, polystyrene cups and containers. but the issue is we wonder why we're poor restaurants aren't even aware of it. and it starts this weekend. >> yeah, it seems absolutely mad . the communication means an awful lot of businesses are going to be stung. but ultimately, this is an insane policy on several levels, right? ultimately, we were we've been led by the fact that led astray by the fact that landfill looks bad on television. right. it looks terrible got truck terrible when you've got a truck and rubbish. but and lots of rubbish. but ultimately with it ultimately with landfill, it doesn't much space. doesn't take up that much space. you bury and then when as you bury it. and then when we as we know, we're we are, you know, we're developing microbes which can eat break down plastics, eat and break down plastics, right? in development. if right? that's in development. if it landfill, we'd it was all in landfill, we'd simply dig it up, put those in, and would gone. and it would all be gone. >> and surely it's in >> and surely if it's in landfill, it's in turtle and landfill, it's not in turtle and it's going sea.

it's not going into the sea. >> then you know where >> and then and you know where it is and you can with it it is and you can deal with it later what happened is later instead, what happened is that landfill, that in order to avoid landfill, we to china to we shipped it off to china to get recycled and they dumped it into the oceans. so all of these policies result, policies are as a result, basically offshoring basically of offshoring our environmental commitments. so i'm big believer in zero i'm a big believer in net zero and actually environmental i'm a big believer in net zero and actuallenvironmentalil i'm a big believer in net zero and actuallenvironmental policy i'm a big believer in net zero arclean|allenvironmental policy i'm a big believer in net zero arclean energy ronmental policy i'm a big believer in net zero arclean energy ,nnmental policy i'm a big believer in net zero arclean energy , right?.al policy i'm a big believer in net zero arclean energy , right? it'siolicy is clean energy, right? it's about cleaning up the grid . it's about cleaning up the grid. it's about cleaning up the grid. it's about that about making sure that international is done international shipping is done cleanly. the stuff that international shipping is done clea make the stuff that international shipping is done clea make a the stuff that international shipping is done clea make a difference,: that international shipping is done clea make a difference, not|t will make a difference, not grinding policies this that grinding policies like this that just lives just make everyone's lives slightly plastic slightly worse. i want plastic straws straws are straws back. paper straws are rubbish . rubbish. >> on the big on the big straw debate. this is something that actually really genuinely annoys me. get a large drink, it's me. if i get a large drink, it's dissolved . by the time i've got dissolved. by the time i've got halfway through my drink . halfway through my drink. >> thing to do is get your own straw made of silicone or something like that. i've got carry around you. you carry around with you. do you carry around with you. do you carry you have a straw on you? >> do you have a straw on you? >> do you have a straw on you? >> i personally don't, but lots of do. i've been told of people do. i've been told anyway. i do you have a anyway. i mean, do you have a straw on you? >> i do. >> i do. >> i do. >> i just whispered to where do you the straw? it's you keep the straw? it's ridiculous. how are we

ridiculous. well, how are we supposed like this? this supposed to live like this? this is. this is regression. and it feels we've gone backwards is. this is regression. and it feeai we've gone backwards is. this is regression. and it feea society. 've gone backwards as a society. >> it's not. do you know what i do think about this? >> back in day, >> you know, back in the day, what people were really good at is know, you is reusing stuff. you know, you had didn't serve had something it didn't serve its purpose anymore. you made it into else. always into something else. i always remember randomly remember joanna lumley randomly talking turning a talking about turning into a skirt, dress with skirt, a skirt into a dress with a elastic on telly and a bit of elastic on telly and thinking this was the thinking this was like the easiest to do easiest thing they used to do when go and do when they would go out. and i do think got to get better at think we've got to get better at reusing what we've got. it's no, it's burden to carry a straw it's no burden to carry a straw in obviously it's no burden to carry a straw in a obviously it's no burden to carry a straw in a you'renviously it's no burden to carry a straw in a you'renviousljto you're a guy, you're going to have to figure a solution out whether it's a man bag or not, i don't know. but know, don't know. but i you know, i really on really do agree with henry on this. targeting, as per this. it's targeting, as per usual, the wrong people. it's a headune usual, the wrong people. it's a headline damages headline winner, but it damages small or cost small businesses or the cost gets passed the consumer. gets passed on to the consumer. and fundamentally and it doesn't fundamentally make a big change to help. >> and this is about litter. >> and this is about litter. >> not about co2. this >> it's not about co2. this isn't going to bring down our emissions . right. this is about emissions. right. this is about this is about whether or not the street looks tidy, i suppose, which we used to manage.

>> right? like i think not in the not too distant past, in the not in recent living memory, i think we managed to generally keep the streets clean. right. >> got rid of all the >> and so we got rid of all the bins because terrorists. bins because of terrorists. yeah. >> precisely. so it's >> yeah, precisely. so it's a deeply so many levels. it's deeply on so many levels. it's just a deeply depressing story. and you go, would you carry and you go, how would you carry a because a story around? because obviously using obviously if you're using the old cigarette old rule about the cigarette holders as men, we can they only can only be as long as the gloves. with outfit, can gloves. with your outfit, we can only wear short gloves. we can only wear short gloves. we can only have short straws. >> do, actually. >> well, i do, actually. >> well, i do, actually. >> i do actually have a solution. a solution solution. i do have a solution to this problem. think to this problem. i just think everyone issued with everyone should be issued with government. everyone should be issued with government boxes. everyone should be issued with gov oh, nent boxes. everyone should be issued with goth, mbeoxes. everyone should be issued with goth, my god.s. >> oh, my god. >> oh, my god. >> national service . >> national tuppennare service. >> national tuppennare service. >> that's the answer everyone throws away from where they can take it to the takeaway. >> eat the takeaway, wash it up. >> eat the takeaway, wash it up. >> when the they'll make it >> when the and they'll make it smaller your portion smaller so that your portion sizes smaller so that your portion sizeso combat the obesity crisis. smaller so that your portion sizeyes,ombat the obesity crisis. smaller so that your portion sizeyes, exactly. 1e obesity crisis. >> yes, exactly. >> yes, exactly. >> we're now, but i mean >> we're joking now, but i mean , that far removed from , is this that far removed from some of the crackpot policy that this government comes up with? i mean , nikki, as who's

mean, nikki, as someone who's sort of more on the left, do you not think that generally this hasn't really been very hasn't really been a very conservative government for the last 13 years? >> i don't really know about that. i mean, they haven't been a able government. would a very able government. i would say. really care what say. i don't really care what party they are at this stage. you they've got back you know, they've got to go back to basics , keeping to doing the basics, keeping people you know, keeping people safe, you know, keeping people safe, you know, keeping people in jobs, keeping people educated and children educated. and not happening . the and that's not happening. the fact is my issue fact they're inept is my issue with them. not the tories . with them. not that the tories. >> henry it is tory conference this weekend. what are your reflections on the last? >> and it is in fact 30 years since the back to basics speech, which obviously so which obviously did so brilliantly john brilliantly forjohn major. i mean ultimately rishi mean ultimately this is rishi sunak's chance to try and sunak's last chance to try and give his own mps, his own give voters his own mps, his own party activists, some idea of why he actually wants to be prime minister. and what a country if you gave the thing is, i cover the conservative party for a living. if i gave rishi sunak match a magic wand and this and the and said wave this and the britain your dreams will britain of your dreams will come into being, i have no idea what

that looks like. >> everyone be math >> everyone would be doing math most conservative, most conservative most conservative, most conserv. good the ones. >> the good ones, the bad ones. you kind of know what you at least kind of know what they really don't know that they want really don't know that with rishi. and that's with rishi. and partly that's because he came in after liz truss just trying the truss just trying to put the fire there fire out. but we're still there and all of his policies, he's just lurching from thing to thing, you know, oh, maybe this week i'm going ban smoking, week i'm going to ban smoking, maybe week going maybe this week i'm going to crack down on people cracking down on car users there's down on car users like there's no theme. they just seem no common theme. they just seem to to to be lurching from crisis to crisis group to focus crisis and focus group to focus group. not going to group. and that's not going to win, right? it's never to win, right? it's never going to win. a lot of win. and i think a lot of conservatives frustrated conservatives are frustrated that what labour conservatives are frustrated thaiin what labour conservatives are frustrated thaiin the what labour conservatives are frustrated thaiin the last what labour conservatives are frustrated thaiin the last years vhat labour conservatives are frustrated thaiin the last years of|t labour conservatives are frustrated thaiin the last years of newour did in the last years of new labour passing loads of stuff. if you're 20 points behind in the going the polls, you're not to going win election. win the next election. >> it. >> go for it. >> go for it. >> you can whatever you want. >> people complain about diversity offices in the the nhs. >> that's result of the >> that's that's a result of the equality act passed in 2010, just. >> but there's nothing there . so >> but there's nothing there. so this last chance to make this is his last chance to make an completely agree with that. >> i completely agree with that. i really wonder why he's i mean, i really wonder why he's in apart from the in politics apart from the obvious answer, which power, obvious answer, which is power, because he's got all this money and all this ability. and he's got all this ability. he's smart guy. don't

he's a very smart guy. i don't know why he doesn't just start giving musk a run his giving elon musk a run for his money he's going money and go and say he's going to space. is he to sort out space. why is he even doing job? even doing this job? >> oh, that would be a great vision. a british space. we vision. a british space. the we have uk space agency. never vision. a british space. the we hav neverk space agency. never vision. a british space. the we hav never reallye agency. never vision. a british space. the we hav never really do gency. never vision. a british space. the we hav never really do anything never vision. a british space. the we hav never really do anything with er we never really do anything with it. time to time to colonise the moon nikki moon and on that point, nikki and henry, so much for and henry, thank you so much for talking through issues. talking us through those issues. it's delight to it's been an absolute delight to have you here this morning. >> next, it's the live >> now, up next, it's the live live desk with longhurst, live desk with mark longhurst, and tell us all and he's here to tell us all about it. >> good morning you, >> good morning to you, mark. what's on today's what's coming up on today's program? >> thanks very much >> yeah, ellie, thanks very much indeed. coming up, we'll have the very latest from the very latest live from merseyside a major merseyside after a major incident is declared, at least merseyside after a major inci(person declared, at least merseyside after a major inci(person seriously at least merseyside after a major inci(person seriously injured. merseyside after a major inci(person seriously injured and one person seriously injured and 50 other children on board. this school bus overturned on the m 53. the latest we have is that alder hey, children's hospital says it is handling a major emergency ainsi. sophie reaper a correspondent there live for us. also coming up, correspondent there live for us. also coming up , the taxing times also coming up, the taxing times as priti patel warns tory leaders bills are unsafe sustainable. it's been revealed . of course, our tax burden are

the highest of any post—war government. is it set to become the major battleground for this weekend's party conference? and yet more pressures on our pocket warning that our fuel bills could be 13% more expensive than last year . another winter of last year. another winter of discontent, maybe . discontent, maybe. >> oh, gosh, what a dark note to end on, mark. >> we look fonnard to it. and let's hope that there's perhaps some solutions in there, too. well we've come to the end of our show and it's absolutely flown much flown by. thank you so much for being with us throughout it. up next, is mark next, of course, is mark longhurst live desk. and longhurst and the live desk. and britain's back next britain's newsroom is back next monday at 930 in morning . monday at 930 in the morning. >> hi there. it's aidan mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. plus two showers for some of us today, mostly towards north. sunny mostly towards the north. sunny spells elsewhere actually it spells elsewhere and actually it is largely fine in the south as a ridge of high pressure builds in. but we've still got low pressure to the north of scotland. tightly packed isobars here. winds through here. so strong winds through the day and quite a number of showers especially the showers, especially for the northern isles. caithness, sutherland of sutherland, parts of

aberdeenshire. showers aberdeenshire. fewer showers further south, 1 or 2 for northern ireland, northern england. but across the southern half of the uk mostly dry half of the uk mostly it's dry with sunny spells and feeling warm with lighter winds in the south, 18 to 21 celsius, not feeling quite so warm with 14 or 15 in the north of scotland into the evening, the showers continue for a time in the far north, but eventually they'll ease away . likewise, the winds ease away. likewise, the winds will begin to peter away and so clear skies, lighter winds , clear skies, lighter winds, well, that will lead to a cooler night compared with recent nights with temperatures fairly widely in the single figures and in some sheltered parts of northern england, northern ireland and scotland . low single ireland and scotland. low single figures. touch of grass frost possible as we begin the weekend , but actually saturday gets off to a beautiful start . plenty of to a beautiful start. plenty of sunshine across the country early on and we keep that sunshine in the far south and southeast through the day. likewise for the north of scotland. cloud scotland. elsewhere, cloud builds and for northern ireland, south—west scotland , north west south—west scotland, north west england wales . england and north wales.

outbreaks move in the outbreaks of rain move in the rain heavy northern rain heavy in northern ireland, where be windy well

>> very good afternoon. you're with the live desk here on gb news. and coming up this friday lunchtime , a major incident lunchtime, a major incident declared at least one person seriously injured after a school bus carrying 50 pupils overturned . on the m50 three in overturned. on the m50 three in the wirral. we'll have the

latest out live with alder. hey, children's hospital now saying its handling a major emergency tax ing times. priti patel warns tory leaders that bills are unsustainable as it's revealed our tax burden. the highest of any post—war government is it's set to become the battle ground for this weekend's party conference. and yet more pressures on our pocket with the warning that our fuel bills could be 31% more expensive than last year. despite the new energy price cap next week, will it be another winter of discontent . discontent. also coming up, a 17 year old boy's remanded in custody after being charged with the murder of 15 year old alan arade dam. stabbed to death, of course, as she went to school in croydon on wednesday. we'll be live at croydon's youth court. before we start with .