what should we do about this? when does general protest become intimidation? should there be exclusion zones set up to protect these mps? or are these protests basically par for the course and we know now, don't we, that there are a massive number of vacancies in this

country. should it be harder then for companies to recruit foreign workers to fill them or not? and royal mail have just been fined almost £6 million for, you guessed it, missing delivery targets . do we still delivery targets. do we still need royal mail and if so, why on earth is it doing so badly? is it time to relax , analyse it? is it time to relax, analyse it? perhaps . yeah. we're going to perhaps. yeah. we're going to get stuck into all of that and more. but before we do, let's cross live for tonight's latest headunes. headlines. >> hello there. very good evening to you. it's a minute past six. aaron armstrong here in the gb newsroom. the prime minister's promise to cut taxes carefully and sustainably. rishi sunak, college in sunak, who visited a college in north earlier, says north london earlier, says the government can move into the next of fixing the economy next phase of fixing the economy now that inflation has been halved. speaking ahead of wednesday's autumn statement, he identified five long term goals ,

identified five long term goals, which include reducing debt building sustainable energy, supporting business and delivering world class education. so now that inflation is halved and our growth is stronger , meaning revenues are stronger, meaning revenues are higher , we can begin the next higher, we can begin the next phase and turn our attention to cutting tax. >> we will do this in a serious, responsible way based on fiscal rules to deliver sound money and alongside the independent forecasts of the office of budget responsibility and we can't do everything all at once. it will take discipline on and we need to prioritise things. but over time we can and we will all cut taxes . all cut taxes. >> the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, says people have been waiting far too for long tax cuts. >> the cost of living crisis has really hit working families. they've had more of their money

taken in taxes. they've had more of their money taken in taxes . the highest tax taken in taxes. the highest tax burden in 70 years, 25 tax rises just in this parliament. inflation eating into wages as well , and inflation eating into wages as well, and higher mortgages and rents. so i want taxes on working people to be lower. but i would say to the prime minister and the chancellor, you've had 13 years. we've got the highest tax burden in 70 years. this is too little and too late . too late. >> boris johnson has been heavily criticised by his former chief scientific adviser. sir patrick vallance described the former prime minister as weak and indecisive in a daily diary entry and has told the covid inquiry he's not convinced there was an effective operation response to limit the spread of the virus . as he described the the virus. as he described the scale of test and trace facilities as inadequate and said the urgency of action across whitehall wasn't as consistent or as reliable as it should have been. sir patrick was also asked whether boris johnson was bamboozled by the science . science. >> well, i think i'm right in

saying that the prime minister at the time gave up science when he was 15, and i think he'd be the first to admit it wasn't his forte and that he did struggle with some of the concepts and we did need to repeat them often in certainly when i left a meeting, i would be i would usually be persuaded that we had got him to understand what it was we were trying to say. but as one of the extracts showed that you put up there that six hours later he might not have remembered what was what was in that presentation . presentation. >> four men have been convicted of murdering a woman who was shot with a machine gun in liverpool. ashley dale died after being found with a gunshot wound in her garden in august last year. the 28 year old was killed when james witham forced his way into her home and opened fire. zeiss, niall barry fire. sean zeiss, niall barry and joseph pearce were also found guilty murder. the found guilty of her murder. the israeli city of tel aviv has come under a huge hamas rocket

attack. more than 100 separate alerts sounded across the city, stretching as far south as ashdod. a number of the rockets fired from gaza evaded israel's iron dome missile defence system , although no injuries have been reported . meanwhile, israeli reported. meanwhile, israeli airstrikes are continuing in gaza. earlier the hamas run health ministry said one such attack on a hospital resulted in attack on a hospital resulted in at least 12 palestinian being killed . an irishman whose nine killed. an irishman whose nine year old daughter is believed to have been kidnapped by hamas has called for proof of life. speaking at a press conference at israel's embassy in london, thomas hand says his irish israeli daughter emily was taken into gaza . i was i was you know, into gaza. i was i was you know, when i first thought she was dead, i could start the process of grieving for now. >> kiss the mother of my older two kids and i could start grieving for emily. and then . grieving for emily. and then. tom in that moment, i was just thrown back into the nightmare .

thrown back into the nightmare. and believe me, it's a nightmare . a large cannabis factory has been discovered in winchester city centre. >> police raided the facility in the early hours of this morning and found a huge number of plants at various stages of growth. a 54 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of producing the controlled class b drug. he remains in custody . the drug. he remains in custody. the plants will be destroyed . the plants will be destroyed. the foreign secretary has been formally introduced to the house of lords . the former prime of lords. the former prime minister now takes the title of baron cameron of chipping norton. lord cameron wore a traditional scarlet robes for the ceremony where he swore the oath of allegiance to the king we're live across the uk on tv, digital radio and if you want us on your smart speaker, say play gb news. that's it. now over to . michelle >> thanks for that, aaron. michelle dewberry with you till

7:00 tonight alongside me, quentin letts, a journalist and parliamentary sketchwriter and peter edwards, a former editor of labourlist. welcome to both of labourlist. welcome to both of you. you must have your work cut out at the moment. >> well, no more so than normal, really. >> i mean, what do you when people say our politics at the moment like an episode of the moment is like an episode of the thick of it on steroids? is that fair or unfair? >> well, it's actually we there's awful lot of there's an awful lot of pessimism our politics. pessimism about our politics. i think terrifically think it's terrifically entertaining also vigorous. entertaining and also vigorous. and it's a good of and it's a good sign of democracy. we want our politics to be entertaining . well, to be entertaining. well, it's you there's certainly you know, there's certainly plenty of debate going on. that's what politics is about, parliamentary politics is more alive today than it has been for alive today than it has been for a long time. and i think it's looking that's pretty good for us. >> us. >> i don't disagree with that sentiment. i'll ask you at home, is that a good thing that our politics are entertaining and more been politics are entertaining and mo a been politics are entertaining and mo a long been politics are entertaining and moa long time? been politics are entertaining and moa long time? it's been politics are entertaining and moa long time? it's certainlyan for a long time? it's certainly good for debate, isn't it? keeps us a busy, is for sure. us a lot busy, that is for sure. but what's on mind tonight? but what's on your mind tonight? gb gbnews.com is how you gb views. gbnews.com is how you get of me. you can tweet

get hold of me. or you can tweet me at michelle michelle dewberry. say ashley dewberry. or should i say ashley at gb dot start tweeting me at gb news dot start tweeting me randomly. tweet the channel i don't it coming way. don't want it all coming my way. i've got to be honest. in fact, it leads nice segway that it leads me nice segway that because does lead me nicely because it does lead me nicely on next topic, which is on to my next topic, which is when comes to interactions when it comes to interactions with mps, where is the with our mps, where is the threshold when it comes to perhaps potential intimidation? the reason i'm asking this question is because pro—palestine protesters now, they have started targeting the offices of various mps and if you listened to people doing the rounds at the weekend, they also said apparently that some of these protesters have start targeting mps homes as well. a lot of this is all to do with how people voted on the calls for the ceasefire in gaza or perhaps even abstained from voting. i mean, i can show you the constituent in the office right now where we've had apparently the word murderer daubed on there . we've had blood

daubed on there. we've had blood on their hands stuck on these windows and offices and all the rest of it. here. you can see the protesters doing what protesters do, pro protesting , i protesters do, pro protesting, i have to say. yeah, this is apparently outside of keir starmer's office. i've got to say, i need to be clear here. there's been a lot of reports about protesters targeting the homes of mps , and i can't find homes of mps, and i can't find any evidence of that. i'm not suggesting it didn't happen, but i've scoured high and low to see people outside of homes of mps. i can't find that. that's joe stevens office. she's the shadow secretary for wales. she abstained from on that vote. and you can see the word murderer on the screen and a lot of pictures as well, saying you've got blood on your hands. quentin, what do you make to all of this? >> the only time i can remember an mps home being targeted was immediately after the brexit vote johnson's house vote and boris johnson's house was by people were was circled by people who were very very much of very cross. i am very much of the right to protest side of

things. however, if people start attacking or or being aggressive towards mps families, that strikes me as quite wrong . but strikes me as quite wrong. but generally politics is not for shrivels and if you can't put up with some protesters outside your door , particularly at a your door, particularly at a time when things are getting pretty hairy, then i think you probably shouldn't be in politics. so on the whole, i am on the right of the side of the protesters and their right to protest. however, it should never get so menacing. it should not become intimidating and they should in should not cross the law. in terms of do you think that was intimidating that intimidating in that office that i there, joe i just showed you there, joe stevens when you've got all this red got on red paint, you've got blood on your sign. your hands sign. >> you've got murderer written on is that intimidating? >> you've got murderer written on thinkthat intimidating? >> you've got murderer written on thinkthatcallingiating? >> you've got murderer written on thinkthatcallingjoeig? >> i think it's calling joe stevens murderer is plainly stevens a murderer is plainly he. would be crossing the he. that would be crossing the line for me. but protesting outside, sir starmer's outside, sir keir starmer's office look fine to me. >> peter. >> peter. >> yeah, i think it's about pubuc >> yeah, i think it's about public and private and about

intimidation. so i think you shouldn't turn up at mps house. i that definitely crosses i think that definitely crosses a there's reason a line because there's no reason for go there. 99% of for you to go there. 99% of them, other than those who've already have already been attacked have offices are publicly offices that are publicly available . i've been involved in available. i've been involved in peaceful as a trade peaceful protests as a trade union in the past, and union member in the past, and you that in a civil way you can do that in a civil way in a public place. and quintin used the word intimidation, which is right. think that's which is right. i think that's where line is. so clearly, which is right. i think that's whestevens,1e is. so clearly, which is right. i think that's whestevens, hiss. so clearly, which is right. i think that's whestevens, his office learly, which is right. i think that's whestevens, his office graffiti joe stevens, his office graffiti . that's criminal . well, that's a criminal offence definition that is offence by definition that is wrong. but i think if you're making unsafe and making someone feel unsafe and you to touch them to you don't have to touch them to do you make them feel do that, if you make them feel unsafe, that in many instances a criminal offence anyway, that's a slope though, because a slippery slope though, because if, is, if if, if your definition is, if you make someone feel unsafe like that is quite a kind of subjective thing, isn't it? >> i could say to you, you know, you're sitting quite close to me, you're making me feel unsafe . say, well, i'm not . you could say, well, i'm not doing i'm just . you could say, well, i'm not doi|there. i'm just . you could say, well, i'm not doi|there. so i'm just . you could say, well, i'm not doi|there. so that i'm just . you could say, well, i'm not doi|there. so that is i'm just . you could say, well, i'm not doi|there. so that is quite just sat there. so that is quite a blurred line, isn't it? but but that's where the law is. >> that's my line . there are >> that's not my line. there are things like common assault and

pubuc things like common assault and public order offences. you don't have to lay your hand upon someone cross line someone to cross the line legally, think some of legally, and i think some of what seen. so again, if what we've seen. so again, if you're standing there with a placard in a public place, i think okay. your might think that's okay. your mp might not if you're screaming not like it if you're screaming goodness what that goodness knows what at them that probably crosses a line if you're paint on their you're chucking paint on their doon you're chucking paint on their door. yeah door. it definitely does. yeah >> wary though i'm >> and i also wary though i'm also wary of giving the police any excuse to move people on that. that me , that's the that. that to me, that's the police starting to make decisions for themselves. and you have been you know, there have been stories about silent vigils outside abortion clinics . now, outside abortion clinics. now, i'm not saying which side of the argument i'm on here, but when silent protesters are being moved on, it strikes me the moved on, it strikes me as the police going too far. >> but that's to do what you're on about there. that is to do with exclusion zones. >> yeah, don't like exclusion >> yeah, i don't like exclusion zones. wrong. zones. i think that's wrong. >> you got to >> but haven't you got to balance that against the medical need? because definition, need? because by definition, if you're clinic, you're an abortion clinic, you're going through a distressing period of distressing period of distressing time. >> indeed. but just think >> yes, indeed. but i just think it's right to it's i think the right to protest very important. yeah, protest is very important. yeah, but hang on, sir, i'm going off

topic slightly, but it's relevant to your point. >> so if your wife had found out that was pregnant that she was pregnant and very, very, very tragically the child was and was you found out with scans and whatever test or whatever that child know. had child was, i don't know. had a very life limiting disease or whatever situation is. so whatever that situation is. so you a family had to make that you as a family had to make that incredibly decision to incredibly traumatic decision to have a medical abortion for reasons of the child's wellbeing . would you then want some random as you make your way to that clinic , standing there that clinic, standing there judging you and adding pressure to your horrendous time because it goes against their religious beliefs? >> well, judgement happens . >> well, judgement happens. judgement. judgement is part of the way the world works. yeah, but you'd want to be. but if it's a silent but if it's a silent vigil, i don't think it should be stopped. and also i think it's wrong. i mean, i don't think the gb news has done this, but any idea that this is new, that intimidation or new, that the intimidation or the outside people's the protests outside people's offices, and attacks offices, mps offices and attacks on new. that's on mps offices in new. that's not because peter bone, on mps offices in new. that's not got)ecause peter bone, on mps offices in new. that's not got his use peter bone, on mps offices in new. that's not got his own deter bone, on mps offices in new. that's not got his own problemse, on mps offices in new. that's not got his own problems at who's got his own problems at the moment, mp for

wellingborough, has wellingborough, his office has been numerous been attacked numerous times since has had since brexit, so and has had windows broken. you know, windows broken. so i you know, this is a tricky issue to be too sure on either side. >> see, i would throw this open if anyone out there can find me any. i don't want to sound awful or anything, but any proof actually that mps homes have been targeted because i have scoured . that's what dedicated scoured. that's what i dedicated downing street is most nights. yeah. downing street it's yeah. but downing street it's not which mps have had not really which mps have had their homes targeted because people rachel reeves, for example, clearly saying example, was very clearly saying it the weekend. i it happened at the weekend. i just any evidence of just can't find any evidence of it. in this and age, it. and in this day and age, when everyone's got a everyone's it. and in this day and age, wpaparazzi)ne's got a everyone's it. and in this day and age, wpaparazzi inz's got a everyone's it. and in this day and age, wpaparazzi in theirt a everyone's it. and in this day and age, wpaparazzi in their own veryone's it. and in this day and age, wpaparazzi in their own phone,"s a paparazzi in their own phone, it's there is no it's odd that there is no evidence that. maybe i've evidence of that. maybe i've missed it. maybe i didn't dig too hard. you tell me now, what about, example, what the about, for example, what the green doing? i don't green party are doing? i don't know if you i'll get up know if you saw. i'll get it up on the actually, because on the screen, actually, because they like a tweet campaign they did like a tweet campaign where they were publishing and it's anyway. so it's public knowledge anyway. so they're declaring anything they're not declaring anything that's but they're that's a secret. but they're putting i would putting up what i would call attack ads saying every mp that failed to vote for an end to the

killing in gaza. and then they've listed each and every single of them. the single one of them. now, the reason up my money, reason this picks up my money, well, it's not about the money for me. there's a very serious thing. david amis was killed, right? the mp. now let's all remind ourselves he was killed right? the mp. now let's all remthat>urselves he was killed right? the mp. now let's all remthat long ves he was killed right? the mp. now let's all remthat long agohe was killed right? the mp. now let's all remthat long ago and as killed right? the mp. now let's all remthat long ago and he killed right? the mp. now let's all remthat long ago and he wasd not that long ago and he was killed at 2021. he was killed by a man when he was in court, a man that when he was in court, he said man, the murderer he said the man, the murderer said, mp because said, i killed this mp because of that he voted on of the way that he voted on airstrikes in syria. now, when you've got that kind of attack and you've got that kind of motive, why a political party would seek to kind of to do this is beyond me. what do you think the motive is there? >> well, the motive is to illustrate their argument and say that these people are on the record. but all you need to do is just look at hansard online and you can see this a complete waste of money by the green party. they're trying to desperately seeking for desperately sort of seeking for publicity, suppose. publicity, i suppose. >> yeah, i know, know >> yeah, i know, i know that. i know voting records are know that voting records are public, it seems public, but to me it seems i know that and that's right. but

what i'm is to go out of what i'm saying is to go out of your way create this ad to your way to create this ad to say that they all voted, they failed to vote for an end to the killing that is quite killing in gaza, that is quite inflammatory language because most in that most people in the land that have got an inch of empathy and compassion want the killing in gaza would not want gaza to stop who would not want the killing of innocent, innocent stop innocent people to stop immediately saying, though, that you don't think perhaps the most effective way to achieve that is an immediate ceasefire right now is a very different thing. and that's why i just find this kind of green party little bit of green party ad a little bit peculiar . peculiar. >> i think you're quite nuanced in your language, and you're right to be so. i mean, i wouldn't have done it like that. i don't think the green party are intent on violence quite the opposite. but know there's opposite. but we know there's a tiny of people who are tiny minority of people who are not rational not sane, and not rational or not sane, and two have been murdered and two mps have been murdered and so timms suffered and so stephen timms suffered and survive , had a terrible attack. survive, had a terrible attack. many years ago. i think the green party could have found a different way to make the same point, perhaps. yeah, it's very

subjective language just subjective language and just i mean, the of the advert mean, the wording of the advert is dodgy, but the is pretty dodgy, but the principle pointing out how principle of pointing out how mps have voted seems to me perfectly fair. >> one yeah, and i'm sure the green obviously the green party are not here to respond to that and i'm sure that they would feel very justified what they feel very justified in what they were doing. they are very passionate about calling for a ceasefire moving ceasefire now, now moving on from the things from that. one of the things that i find interesting is the double politics, double standards in politics, because that long because it wasn't that long ago that sunak had home that rishi sunak had his home violated, i say, in a violated, i would say, in a completely unacceptable you completely unacceptable way. you had protesters had greenpeace protesters trampling had greenpeace protesters tramjtorg had greenpeace protesters tramjto unfold that i think it lawn to unfold that i think it was black fabric or whatever it was. i thought that was an absolute disgrace. i don't know who don't know who you think who i don't know who you think you the same people you are, but the same people that are now talking about, you know, or, you protecting know, or, you know, protecting mps the rest mps and lines and all the rest of those people were of it, lots of those people were probably in support of david cameron . sorry. rishi sunak's cameron. sorry. rishi sunak's back garden getting protested by those lot wanting no oil and gas shell . shell. >> i have to break it to you. double standards is not unknown

in politics and you're absolutely i mean , you're absolutely right. i mean, you're absolutely right. i mean, you're absolutely in what absolutely right in what you say. you know, that's say. but you know, that's that's the of the game. the nature of the game. blatantly autocracy is absolutely rampant in politics. i story about when i thought that story about when mr sunaks house was invaded showed pathetic security by the police , you know, sort of police, you know, sort of bungung police, you know, sort of bungling north yorkshire police. but yeah, yeah, you're right. you're right. of course . you're right. of course. >> yeah. i mean, i do find it odd how some of these things do happen because apparently you've got all this security everywhere and it's be and then apparently it's can be breached very simple ways. so breached in very simple ways. so it would appear. breached in very simple ways. so it would appear . what about it would appear. what about double standards ? double standards? >> yeah. i mean, jumping on rishi sunaks roof, i think that was just awful, wasn't it? to me, it's certainly a police. >> it was greenpeace, but okay. >> it was greenpeace, but okay. >> no, i'll take your word for it. but whoever did it, i remember they offered a justification well, justification of, well, we thought was because we thought it was okay because we knew sunak and his family knew rishi sunak and his family on dont knew rishi sunak and his family on don't think so. on holiday. i don't think so. i think it's a crime to jump on someone's roof like that because you're intimidate you're trying to intimidate them. not to the them. and it's not up to the protesters to set the rules

about when it's okay to jump on someone's but someone's roof. but yeah, there's point about there's this other point about how did manage to do it how did they manage to do it when the prime minister is should most guarded should be the most guarded person the whole country. person in the whole country. >> is million dollar >> there is the million dollar question, it? everybody, question, isn't it? everybody, i'll another million i'll tell you another million dollar as well. the dollar question as well. the autumn coming in a autumn statement coming up in a couple which taxes couple of days, which taxes should be where should should be cut? where should sunak and hunt's priorities be? you me. and i'll see

>> you're listening to gb news radio . radio. >> hi there michelle dewberry . >> hi there michelle dewberry. till 7:00 tonight, quentin letts , journalist and parliamentary sketchwriter alongside me, as is peter edwards, a former editor of labourlist. lots of you guys getting in touch tonight. we're just talking about mps being intimidated , keefe said. intimidated, keefe said. intimidation and threats of violence to achieve a political aim is the definition of terrorism . you're saying anyone terrorism. you're saying anyone that targets mps , even if it's that targets mps, even if it's just daubing their constituency offices with graffiti should be prosecuted as a terror ist.

hashtag do you agree with that at home? get in touch. well quinton, that's a bit over the top. >> i mean, terrorism is quite a serious thing, i think. anyway >> so i think that's a no from quinton. i don't think quinton was on the fence. harvey says, why are you all forgetting the tory mp that got killed so recently? we're not forgetting david amis. we've spoken david amis. we've just spoken about him, is one of the about him, which is one of the reasons i'm raising concern reasons that i'm raising concern about well. jim says, about this as well. jim says, i do there should be an do not think there should be an absolute to protest absolute right to protest intimidation not protesting . intimidation is not protesting. one of my viewers as well, philip says , isn't it philip says, isn't it interesting how the people shouting loudest peace shouting loudest for peace are the who to be the most the ones who seem to be the most intimidating? says, intimidating? and lee says, michelle, message an michelle, if i message an opinion week, are you going opinion this week, are you going to or listen to me? i to ignore me or listen to me? i watch you've watch you every day. you've never read one of my emails never read out one of my emails yet. well, there you go. lee. i do read all my emails. i try my very best just can't get very best to i just can't get them in. of course, whilst them all in. of course, whilst i'm live on air. but let's talk taxes. >> very good point, by the way, about protesters being about peace protesters being noisy. a very good point.

noisy. it's a very good point. they should be whispering there. they are. slogans. >> not saying that >> well, he's not saying that they're being noisy. what he's saying being saying is that they are being intimidating because on the one hand, desperately calling intimidating because on the one harpeace desperately calling intimidating because on the one harpeace whilst perately calling intimidating because on the one harpeace whilst perateljother ng for peace whilst on the other hand, you're very comfortable. so appear intimidate hand, you're very comfortable. so quiteipear intimidate hand, you're very comfortable. so quite frankly, intimidate hand, you're very comfortable. so quite frankly, that1idate anyone. quite frankly, that doesn't your viewpoint anyone. quite frankly, that does exactly your viewpoint anyone. quite frankly, that does exactly howw viewpoint anyone. quite frankly, that does exactly how youewpoint anyone. quite frankly, that does exactly how you need1t anyone. quite frankly, that does exactly how you need to with exactly how you need to achieve right now , the way achieve peace right now, the way that dictate be in that you dictate it to be in church the sign of the church services, the sign of the peace always noisiest peace is always the noisiest part of service. well, there part of the service. well, there you go. rishi sunak. part of the service. well, there you go. rishi sunak . let's talk. you go. rishi sunak. let's talk. i was going to tell you a very funny then about you off funny story then about you off and but i decided not to. and peace. but i decided not to. i'll stick on track, shall i? rishi sunak qi has promised that he indeed taxes. let's he will indeed cut taxes. let's have listen to he have a little listen to what he has been today . okay. has been saying today. okay. >> that inflation is >> so now that inflation is halved our growth is halved and our growth is stronger, meaning revenues are higher, we can begin the next phase and turn our attention to cutting tax . we will do this in cutting tax. we will do this in a serious, responsible way based on fiscal rules to deliver sound money and alongside the independent forecasts of the

office of budget responsibility . office of budget responsibility. >> yes, don't you tell me i don't bring you the good news. everybody but quentin looks so gloomy about it. cheer up, rishi. healing. what's wrong? >> he should be doing. yabba dabba do. >> we're gonna cut some taxes instead all this serious instead of all this serious sober stuff. i mean, he just. he looks miserable. he's looks so miserable. i know he's not doing very well in the opinion polls, but if you're giving look bit giving good news, look a bit cheerful, don't know. cheerful, mate. i don't know. he's just a bit glum. he's just. he's just a bit glum. he's just. he's just a bit glum. he's worse mrs. may. do you he's worse than mrs. may. do you need bit? need a bit of need a bit? we need a bit of boris. we need a bit of sort of, you know, let some balloons off. well now everyone's so down in the moment. yesterday? >> no, not. not yesterday. last week, was halved, week, when inflation was halved, it by the it got overshadowed by the rwanda . yeah. so celebrate rwanda. yeah. so to celebrate that good i had my party that good news, i had my party blowers and i had my balloons and and some people blowers and i had my balloons andin and some people blowers and i had my balloons andin touch and some people blowers and i had my balloons andin touch with1d some people blowers and i had my balloons andin touch with me ome people blowers and i had my balloons andin touch with me saying ople blowers and i had my balloons andin touch with me saying what got in touch with me saying what is with you? michel? this is wrong with you? michel? this is wrong with you? michel? this is a very serious time in political history. so they didn't the didn't appreciate the celebration. now. celebration. my turn now. >> it's the glum front. there's a sort of glum front on at the moment. they want all to be

miserable. >> what do think? are you. >> what do you think? are you. are you happy? lovely. smile. look that's look at that face. that's a happy. please positive face when it comes to responding, because i know what's coming. >> often say peter's >> the viewers often say peter's a lefty, tax a grumpy lefty, wants to tax everything and bad everything he's listening to all his smiling ear to ear. smiling from ear to ear. >> tax do you think >> so what tax do you think should be cut first? >> well, probably none of the above. >> there's this thing quintiliano called flying quintiliano called kite flying where advisor briefs out where an advisor briefs out a policy the papers, and then policy into the papers, and then you get a bit of quick feedback to see everyone in the media to see if everyone in the media goes not. we've had goes bananas or not. we've had a lot that over the last week. lot of that over the last week. we've inheritance tax last we've had inheritance tax last friday was it's off friday that was on. now it's off again. we've had business rates or business taxation. had or business taxation. we've had income tax floated and looking at this afternoon's media, it seems to be national insurance. i mean, this is kind of kite flying to the nth degree. it's totally bizarre . i think the totally bizarre. i think the most regressive tax is vat and it's ancient history now , but it's ancient history now, but the coalition 10 or 11 years ago raised vat from 17.5 to 20. and

i think for the lib dems, that was a broken promise. but obviously poorer people pay a greater proportion of their income on vat. but i did look into the cost of this as well because i'm a boring, statistical statistics driven lefty. so to take vat back from 20% to 17.5, which it was in the gordon brown era, i think that'd be a cool £17 billion. so it's not cheap . not cheap. >> let's put some figures on that. some of this stuff then shall we? ladies and gents, at home, i can bring up on the screen our current receipts, our current tax receipts, to current tax receipts, just to remind exactly where remind ourselves exactly where we are receiving what from. so the biggest chunk of tax , if the biggest chunk of tax, if you're listening, not watching it comes from income tax. this is the last tax year when the total receipts were £1,017 billion. 249 billion. of that came from income tax, 178 national insurance, 160 from vat , 83 from corp tax . i could go , 83 from corp tax. i could go on tobacco and alcohol, £22

billion. council tax 42 so that is the pie as it looks currently. where would you be cutting ? quinton oh, any old tax cut? >>i cut? >> i mean, please just give us hit me, baby. hit me with a tax cut. i mean, i don't mind where it comes from. i think vat is a pretty good idea. i think politically we clarity is helpful because a politician needs to be able to say, look, i've done that and everyone needs to be able to understand it. inheritance tax. it seems to me a really wicked tax because it gets people when they're at their lowest, when they're mourning dead and, mourning their dead and, you know danger know, the danger with inheritance tax, some people say, it's only for posh say, oh, it's only for posh people. comes in at people. it's not it comes in at £325,000, which is roughly the cost of a bungalow in blackpool. and you know, if your old dad falls off his perch and leaves, leaves the bungalow, then anything above £385,000, the government is going to take 50% of that. 40 is 40, 45 anyway. >> no, it's 40. it's 40% over 325. i think the figure is

anyway, it was only 4% of estates last year. i think it was that paid that amount of money. that's why people are saying that so few people are hit by it. i just think it's really wicked. >> think just a death tax to >> i think just a death tax to me is bitter and nasty, but i think the vat things are very interesting they will interesting idea. they will probably something. probably try to do something. the at moment, the briefing is at the moment, they're going to try and do something that helps companies, but to not to be but that seems to me not to be liberating people enough. but that seems to me not to be liberating let'seople enough. but that seems to me not to be liberating let's let'se enough. but that seems to me not to be liberating let's let's give ugh. you know, let's let's give something the folks. you know, let's let's give sonone ng the folks. you know, let's let's give sonone of the folks. you know, let's let's give sonone of the he folks. you know, let's let's give sonone of the things s. you know, let's let's give sonone of the things labour will >> one of the things labour will always say that tories are prioritising wrong people, prioritising the wrong people, so they'll you this so they'll say, you know, this inheritance tax, it's only benefiting this is benefiting the wealthy. this is wrong. be helping the wrong. we should be helping the poon wrong. we should be helping the poor. is that sentiment that poor. is that a sentiment that you with? you agree with? >> depends what your >> uh, it depends what your definition poor you know, definition of poor is. you know, i've done tons of voluntary work. homeless community and work. the homeless community and i support poorest i want to support the poorest people. really poorest people. but the really poorest people. but the really poorest people don't pay income tax, for example. but. but there's a lot of lot of there's an awful lot of people the ten years people over the last ten years who are in work on low pay and reliant on social security because hasn't kept pace because pay hasn't kept pace with on

with prices. i think on inheritance that be inheritance tax, that would be an open for labour for an open goal for labour for exactly the reasons you exactly the reasons that you laid only 4% of people pay laid out. only 4% of people pay it. but the other thing i know is having worked for a shadow cabinet minister in the ed miliband era , labour tried to miliband era, labour tried to destruction the kind of attack line of prime minister's very rich. he doesn't care about you. if cameron that didn't if david cameron that didn't work and the tories, they mean they don't care about anyone economically. that doesn't really either. i think really work either. so i think it's very difficult balancing it's a very difficult balancing act. it will a ronald act. i think it will be a ronald reagan election. are you better off or are you off than off or are you worse off than you 4 or 5 years ago? you were 4 or 5 years ago? inheritance seems to have inheritance tax seems to have been a giveaway for been ditched as a giveaway for this week because it'd just be too easy for to labour kick it into the open goal. >> yeah, you see, i think as a principle , one of the issues principle, one of the issues that many people have with the tories not acting tories is that you're not acting like government. like a tory government. >> supposed to able to >> you're supposed to be able to keep way of what you earn. keep way more of what you earn. your taxes are supposed be your taxes are supposed to be low principle of low and the principle of inheritance for me, it's inheritance tax for me, it's like you've bought an asset with post tax profit, so you've been

taxed on that money once. >> and also it pushes a lot of money into tax dodging . and it's money into tax dodging. and it's but i think they've got to bear in mind politicians as a whole. i don't just mean conservatives. i don't just mean conservatives. i mean labour and the lib dems to bear in mind the pooped middle , the pooped, overtaxed, middle, the pooped, overtaxed, knackered middle who people who work hard, who just feel they're not getting enough of their own bread back. and these people are very unfashionable. you know, people hardly politicians hardly ever stand up for them, but they are being taxed through the knackers at the moment and they want a bit more of their money. please can take a look? please can we just take a look? >> actually , i'll just show you >> actually, i'll just show you this graphic well, because this graphic as well, because people do talk a lot about taxing more. so let's taxing the rich more. so let's just a little look, shall just have a little look, shall we remind ourselves how much tax actually people do pay so when we total share of tax, we look at a total share of tax, get your spectacles on everyone on the right hand side of that screen. i shall read it out. if you're listening, not watching. so share tax , the top 1%

so as a share of tax, the top 1% pay so as a share of tax, the top 1% pay 2,089% of all tax . the top pay 2,089% of all tax. the top like the 90th to the 99th percentile pay 31. so you're basically summarise 60% of total tax is paid by the top 10. basic only if you look at how that breaks down into income tax, your top 1% there they are apparently paying 12.5% of all total income tax. now when you farage paying, that is it? >> yeah , just single handedly, >> yeah, just single handedly, single handedly on his own and that's pre jungle fee. >> can you imagine when he steps out of that jungle he'd be like boosting that threshold by a country malware name a hospital after him. yeah. or at least a wing of one. or they might repurpose existing hospital. repurpose an existing hospital. call the farage hospital, and call it the farage hospital, and pretend hospital and pretend it's a new hospital and hope one notices what hope that no one notices as what they currently so often. but they currently see so often. but that notion then of we're that whole notion then of we're going to batter top, we're that whole notion then of we're going to batter that top, we're that whole notion then of we're going to batter that top, ne're that whole notion then of we're going to batter that top, they are awful lot of money are paying an awful lot of money already . already. >> there are other >> yeah, but there are other

benefits to being britain and benefits to being in britain and you know, casting my mind back to being a business journalist, there was this great debate about either about are we taxing either businesses or the wealthiest people until the pip squeak and they're all going to leave, but they're all going to leave, but they tend not to because of other things like the rule of law relatively stable law or relatively stable democracy . good universities , democracy. good universities, nhs and so on and so on. so i don't think there's going to be this kind of flight of the brilliant and the wealthy. i couldn't really read all your graphic because it was so small. >> so i'll summarise the graphic. >> the top 1, they are getting 12 and one half percent of the income and they're paying , what income and they're paying, what is it, 29% of tax. there you go. i've given him the leaflets. oh, there you go . it's on the screen there you go. it's on the screen as well. i love any corners here. i love a graph. the paperwork, and you can see it there. >> it is magnificent in your hand as well. can we have a pie chart next week or just a pie in chart next week orjust a pie in these tough times? >> i bet you are good at maths at school, aren't you?

>> i bet you are good at maths at me? l, aren't you? >> me? >> me? >> i was barely ever at school. >> i was barely ever at school. >> not going to lie about that, but for me anyway, the point is i this whole notion of i just find this whole notion of you've squeeze the top. you've got to squeeze the top. you've to squeeze the top. you've got to squeeze the top. do think should do you think you should introduce higher rate of tax? introduce a higher rate of tax? because is an interesting because this is an interesting one. kwarteng? one. do you remember kwarteng? i tried bring down 40. tried to bring it down to 40. there's been another conversations about taking up conversations about taking it up even higher 45. even higher past 45. >> well, nuts. one of the >> well, it's nuts. one of the reasons we're doing better than other is other countries in europe is that our tax are even that our tax rates are low, even though rates have never though our tax rates have never been high. so high in this country for years. tax country for 70 years. our tax rates actually much rates are actually much lower than are, in france. than they are, say, in france. and that means that a lot of and so that means that a lot of people have come to live and work in london because they're escaping high tax rates in france. put tax rates up, france. if you put tax rates up, you it's complete self—destructive. and there's, for , this at the for instance, this tax at the moment on free shopping is moment on duty, free shopping is completely self—destructive because a of shops are now because a lot of shops are now going out of business in places like bicester village and luxury shops in london. these places employ people. these places bnngin employ people. these places bring in money from overseas.

they're good things . and yet the they're good things. and yet the tax rates have been hitting them. yeah, and the cue is that you used to see at bicester anyone that's been there used to get huge. >> it's not as bicester. they used to have lots of designer outlets. mcarthurglen that outlets. mcarthurglen is that still don't know. you still going? i don't know. you still going? i don't know. you still have huge queues where people with people were queuing up with their get that vat their receipts to get that vat back. anyway, where are on back. anyway, where are you on the rate of tax? back. anyway, where are you on the well, ate of tax? back. anyway, where are you on the well, ie of tax? back. anyway, where are you on the well, i thinkax? back. anyway, where are you on the well, i think labour >> well, i think labour have ruled raising and the ruled out raising it and the tories certainly would have raised so it's not going to raised it. so it's not going to happen time soon. i think happen any time soon. i think when has slow when growth has been so slow after covid brexit, it would after covid and brexit, it would be a counterintuitive be a bit counterintuitive to have a tax rise now. so i just can't it happening. can't see it happening. >> guys make two at >> well, do you guys make two at home? alan says should raise home? alan says you should raise the and that is an the thresholds and that is an interesting point those interesting point because those thresholds for thresholds haven't moved for a very long time. so now you've got huge amount people that got a huge amount of people that have pulled up have been pulled up into a higher rate of than perhaps higher rate of tax than perhaps was previously intended. and higher rate of tax than perhaps was ppeopley intended. and higher rate of tax than perhaps was ppeople certainly d. and higher rate of tax than perhaps was ppeople certainly wouldn't those people certainly wouldn't regard being regard themselves as being wealthy. that regard themselves as being wealneed that regard themselves as being wealneed to that regard themselves as being wealneed to change. that they need to change. >> i mean that that >> quentin i mean that that would be good, but i just think politically want do politically they will want to do something that's more clear and

more dramatic than that. but i think that's a very good point. >> threshold, think >> two threshold, no, i think quentin absolutely on quentin is absolutely right on that one. >> that because raising the thresholds or not raising them is as fiscal drag. and is known as fiscal drag. and that's not phrase you can that's just not a phrase you can use on the doorstep. that's just not a phrase you can use economics)rstep. that's just not a phrase you can useeconomics lesson here that's just not a phrase you can use economics lesson here with >> economics lesson here with peter don't like it? peter edwards. don't we like it? we that. we like that. >> but fiscal drag just doesn't have oomph even though you have the oomph even though you would the benefit your pocket. >> so i think it has to be a tax cut because the tories are behind the polls and they behind in the polls and they kind of need a life raft politically. >> tell me, i don't know what you guys and it's none of my you guys are and it's none of my business. i'm not going to ask you, but do feel motivated you, but do you feel motivated to go out and strive for that promotion, example, promotion, for example, or do you think, what's you sit there and think, what's the i'll just lose most the point? i'll just lose most of tax, get in touch. of it to tax, get in touch. a demotivated. are you feeling positive? to quote quinton and a celebratory finally mr celebratory mood that finally mr motivator, mr motivator. mr lesser we'll get you on some lycra get him lycra shorts. we'll get him doing jumps. you doing some starjumps. you ratings might plummet. >> yeah , well, i'll go to >> yeah, well, i'll go to a break, shall i? >> when i come back, lots to talk to you about. foreign

workers. should it be easier or harder for companies to employ them? also royal mail. what them? and also royal mail. what on with them? them? and also royal mail. what on you with them? them? and also royal mail. what on you . with them?

>> you're listening to gb news radio . radio. >> hello there. i'm michelle dewberry keeping you company till 7:00 tonight. quentin letts, a journalist and parliamentary sketchwriter alongside me, as is peter edwards, a former editor of labourlist. lots of you guys have been getting in touch with yourideas have been getting in touch with your ideas when it comes to tax. lots of you are saying about that whole personal allowance. why isn't it that threshold that has been increased? some of you, andrew, says, why don't we increase to £20,000 so you increase it to £20,000 so you can get 20,003 free before you pay any can get 20,003 free before you pay any tax at all? would you support that? one of my viewers says, why do i have to pay vat on my pet bills? my vets, i don't have a pet, so i have no idea. i can assume that you've got a pet. >> i've got a pet. yes never

take it to the vet. >> you never take it. oh right. okay. >> but the reason i mean, these view is asking why. the reason why the answer to that is lockdown was terribly expensive. >> well, yeah. and one of the problems you see lots people problems you see lots of people want to be want it to be paid to be furloughed and stay at home and all the rest of it. and then as my old mum would say, there's no such free lunch. such thing as a free lunch. hence do indeed have to pay hence we do indeed have to pay all that back. now, all that money back. now, speaking money, foreign speaking of money, foreign workers think it should workers do you think it should be easier or harder for an organisation recruit people organisation to recruit people from to from overseas when it comes to skill shortages? example ? skill shortages? for example? well, they're talking now about tinkering threshold tinkering with the threshold before you can actually recruit somebody, they would have to be on a salary of more than £30,000. is this a good move? quentin i don't know. >> it sounds to me like they've just plucked a figure out of the air. it just seems a little bit unsporting as well. i've got a declaration of interest here, though, because my daughter in law is an immigrant and she came to live in this country from china. chinese. she's china. she's chinese. she's a chinese and she wasn't

chinese teacher. and she wasn't able in country. so able to work in this country. so she retrain. she didn't she had to retrain. she didn't have a job and she wasn't coming into job. she had to into any sort of job. she had to go and retrain. and therefore, i don't know where that would have left wouldn't left her. perhaps she wouldn't have been come and join have been able to come and join my son. they haven't got married. a bit married. so i feel a bit conflicted this. conflicted about this. >> seems a bizarre >> peter, it seems a bizarre time to do it. there's just under a million vacancies in the time to do it. there's just unceconomy.on vacancies in the time to do it. there's just unceconomy. 11 vacancies in the time to do it. there's just unceconomy. i checked es in the time to do it. there's just unceconomy. i checked today, 1e time to do it. there's just unceconomy. i checked today, so uk economy. i checked today, so if you've got a million vacancies, why would we make it harder to fill them? >> well, i think this is, of course, all about how do we get net migration down now? >> of spare exactly. >> i had a bit of spare exactly. i a bit spare time on my i had a bit spare time on my hands today, everyone. so i went through the shortage occupation list. not the list. right? so this is not the specific to care and specific one to health care and education. i'm not counting that. and i tallied up about 38 occupations in total. they've that. and i tallied up about 38 occ|subions in total. they've that. and i tallied up about 38 occ|sub strands otal. they've that. and i tallied up about 38 occ|sub strands otéit.they've that. and i tallied up about 38 occ|sub strands otéit. but,ve got sub strands to it. but, you know, keep it high level know, we'll keep it high level out of that 38, only three of them had a salary of over £30,000. now just in case you're not familiar, essentially you can give 80% of the going rate. so i got in touch with the home

office to clarify why, to try and get some clarity on when they say £30,000, what is that figure? is that an 80% of, say, a 60,000? is it what is that figure? they didn't really seem to have any clear answers for me. and i did kind of come away thinking that it felt a little bit like a finger in the air kind of figure. and we'll just figure it out. but if you're not going attract workers going to attract foreign workers to vacancies , and to fill those vacancies, and british don't seem to british people don't seem to want to do then what are want to do them, then what are you going to do? >> well, perhaps the employer should bit more money >> well, perhaps the employer shou people bit more money >> well, perhaps the employer shou people mightnore money >> well, perhaps the employer shou people might take money >> well, perhaps the employer shou people might take morjobs then people might take the jobs on. mean, that's that's that's on. i mean, that's that's that's the boris johnson theory. on. i mean, that's that's that's the know, ris johnson theory. on. i mean, that's that's that's the know, you ohnson theory. on. i mean, that's that's that's the know, you push n theory. on. i mean, that's that's that's the know, you push wagesy. on. i mean, that's that's that's the know, you push wages up by you know, you push wages up by making the jobs market a bit tighter. and it's worked in 1 or 2 cases perhaps. but, you know, you've if you can't you've just get if you can't find someone on the minimum wage, offer wage, then you have to offer a bit more than the minimum wage to do job, don't you? >> yeah. and i was quite staggered, actually. when i look at some of this list, i mean, there's all kinds things on here. >> everyone, tv presenters, tv presenters. >> you could replace me

>> oh yeah, you could replace me with from a foreign with someone from a foreign country. you'd be able country. you'd probably be able to understand the accent better. let's you've let's face it, you've got dancers skills dancers there on the skills shortage list. electronic engineers, web engineers, vets. yes. web designers, programmers , roofers, designers, programmers, roofers, brickies , plasterers. you name brickies, plasterers. you name it. right. and it left me when i looked at this list, i was thinking , looked at this list, i was thinking, well, are we looked at this list, i was thinking , well, are we not thinking, well, are we not educating our young people to go into jobs where the skill set is needed? what's going on? well, it's interesting , and i haven't it's interesting, and i haven't studied the list as much as you, but reading that out, lot of but reading that out, a lot of thatis but reading that out, a lot of that is an argument for vocational courses. >> i loved going to >> and while i loved going to university 20 years ago and getting an english literature degree, doesn't for degree, it doesn't train you for too much. it's interesting, too much. and it's interesting, those are a those are those are a lot of those are kind of trades where need a kind of trades where you need a bit on the job training. bit more of on the job training. >> well, we've not mentioned the big b—word, brexit, this big fat b—word, brexit, but this skills i'm skills shortage list, i'm telling really, telling you, it is really, really broad. if you're all bored, and have look it up bored, go and have a look it up yourself. is brexit to blame yourself. if is brexit to blame for some this? have we for some of this? have we created mass exodus of workers? >> if there's a problem on that, our government, to

our government, thanks to brexit, government now brexit, our government can now change rules itself and the change the rules itself and the terrific brexit is terrific thing about brexit is it's the of our it's in the hands of our politicians. maybe that's not such a great idea given our such a great idea given what our politicians but politicians are like, but actually a very important actually it's a very important principle and is principle in brexit and this is why continue to be a why i continue to be a tremendous brexit, is tremendous fan of brexit, is that have control of our own that we have control of our own destiny and it's up to to destiny and it's up to us to vote or out the gormless vote in or vote out the gormless gumbies westminster , but it's up gumbies westminster, but it's up to them to set the rules. that's what's terrific about it. >> but if people have gone so if people were working and then you see our blame, the pandemic response for a lot of this because a lot of people from because if a lot of people from europe were here, all of a sudden furlough to go sudden they get furlough to go and time with and spend time at home with their families. of them their families. a lot of them probably thought, well, actually their families. a lot of them pquitely thought, well, actually their families. a lot of them pquite like ought, well, actually their families. a lot of them pquite like it ght, well, actually their families. a lot of them pquite like it here well, actually their families. a lot of them pquite like it here with actually their families. a lot of them pquite like it here with myually i quite like it here with my family. i'm going to stay here. what's going what's the point of me going back uk? so actually back to the uk? so actually i think it's probably a combination of brexit meets pandemic as to pandemic respend response as to why disappeared from why people have disappeared from the that they once held. the roles that they once held. >> yeah, i mean, you know, i just that the important just think that the important thing is self determination. >> self—determined action. but

do the people to self do you trust the people to self determine move us forward in determine and move us forward in the direction? you the right direction? and do you also think that schools, colleges, whatever also think that schools, coll are s, whatever also think that schools, collare s, the whatever also think that schools, collare s, the workforce er are are creating the workforce of or not? get in of the future or not? get in touch. vaiews@gbnews.com royal mail. are they purpose ? mail. are they fit for purpose? do me. i'll see you .

in two. hi there. michelle dewberry with you till 7:00 tonight. alongside me, quentin letts, journalist and parliamentary sketchwriter, and parliamentary sketchwriter, and peter edwards, the former editor of labourlist. listen do you know how much a first class stamp is? we've just been pontificating that during the break. it's eye wateringly expense. the reason i'm asking you because royal mail there have been fined small fortune, have been fined a small fortune, right. for missing their delivery targets . they've also delivery targets. they've also been criticised for , i quote, been criticised for, i quote, destroying the postal system called . blimey, that's a strong

called. blimey, that's a strong accusation to levy. they were fined £5.6 million pounds. this is by ofcom . you know, in case is by ofcom. you know, in case you're wondering, by the is by ofcom. you know, in case you're wondering , by the way, you're wondering, by the way, £1.25 for a first class stamp. that's 75 second class. don't let him make out that he knows the answer to this. he only knows the answer because i just told him he's a brick. i asked him how much a first class stamp was, and he said, £1.15. but anyway, you're very good at remembering, because that must have of 30s if you've have been all of 30s if you've passed your test. what's going on with royal is it time on with royal mail? is it time to renationalise it? do we still need it or what? >> two are going on with >> two things are going on with royal mail. the first and most important is e mail important thing is e mail is going on royal mail and so going on with royal mail and so the business model a the old business model is a terrible term been broken terrible term has been broken and don't send letters and people don't send letters as much, thing much, however. the other thing that's at royal mail or that's going on at royal mail or has been going at royal mail has been going on at royal mail is useless. managers and is really useless. managers and some and some very truculent unions and there select committee there were select committee heanngs there were select committee hearings at westminster in recent where the boss recent months where the boss came simon came along, man called simon thompson. been thompson. he's since been he's since left company and was since left the company and was

going he going to leave it. he was spectacularly degrade and the unions weren't much better. so the daily mail paper i write for has conducted an experiment and it sent out lots of letters from various places in the country to see how they how they got on. and it does seem that 1 or 2 places, 1 or 2 sorting offices, seem to be less efficient than others . brighton, brighton others. brighton, brighton sorting office. what's going on there? and somebody should go. somebody should be sending a tv crew immediately to brighton sorting office because they seem to be unable to do their job. so to be unable to do theirjob. so it may not be completely be across the board. this some places are worse than others and it may be that there are certain cells of uselessness. >> yeah. and also as well, i don't know about you guys at home, but i've had experiences where if there's something that even it might be even feels like it might be whatever a letter. i've had whatever in a letter. i've had letters that have been slit open on you know, like on the side, you know, like something would feel, something that would feel, i don't know, perhaps like a bank

card perhaps like coins card or perhaps like some coins or you've a slit or whatever you've had a slit envelope got them. envelope when i've got them. where you on royal mail? where are you on royal mail? >> well, i think i want to defend the royal workers. defend the royal mail workers. one many jobs i've had is one of the many jobs i've had is as a and i remember as a postman. and i remember riding bike into work for the riding my bike into work for the 5 am. start. and then, you know, i'd eventually peel my eyes be look at eyes open and be able to look at the after sleep the letters after sleep deprivation before it was deprivation even before it was privatised. was losing privatised. and it was losing hundreds of pounds hundreds of millions of pounds a yeah hundreds of millions of pounds a year. and it was very, very troubled. i think private ization has not worked. i'm afraid it's another area where david cameron has been unwinding skated, which perhaps explains elements of his comeback last week. but i did again look into the cost of trying to renationalise it because renationalising some industries is quite popular like trains, but it would be 4.5 billion to renationalise the royal mail. so again, there's loads of stuff labour would like to do, but rachel reeves is incredibly prudent and £45 billion is a lot to find down the back of the sofa. >> and do you think because they have to have these commitments

to certain service levels, don't they, which for universal service obligation. >> and which means your >> yeah. and which means your crofter's edge of crofter's cottage on the edge of scotland the sea has to get scotland in the sea has to get a letter. if you're in a rural community, then that can be a lifeline for you. >> whereas you're in a >> whereas if you're in a business that's trying to make money, quite a thorn money, it can be quite a thorn in side. in your side. >> the universal service >> well, the universal service obugafion >> well, the universal service obligation has survived and the past companies offer past oil companies don't offer that. thing is, lots of that. but the thing is, lots of other things have not survived. the one really remember from the one i really remember from my youth and birthday is my youth and my birthday is a second delivery, but i think we all talk anecdotally as well. it does a bit slower than it does feel a bit slower than it used 10 or 20 years ago, used to be 10 or 20 years ago, doesn't it? >> yeah . >> yeah. >> yeah. >> ryan on twitter says, i've been posting years. he been a posting for 34 years. he says management don't says the top management don't care stamped care about the stamped mail because make little because they make very little profit it. therefore, the profit out of it. therefore, the service that we be service that we should be providing nothing providing is now nothing compared to how it used to be. and we have changed, haven't we? like you mentioned, email and stuff. you can get these. i get them now like paperless cards, you know, like at christmas on your a paperless your birthday or a paperless card. yeah. >> they are awful. so terrible.

>> they are awful. so terrible. >> yeah. so—and—so wants to wish you happy christmas, think. you a happy christmas, i think. well, wanted me to well, if so—and—so wanted me to wish christmas, wish me a happy christmas, they'd quid on a card they'd spend a quid on a card and it the purse. they and stick it in the purse. they wouldn't just send a round robin email. yeah those just cheap email. yeah those are just cheap cop but then people cop outs. but then people will say, because i care say, oh, it's because i care about the environment. i'm trying use my co2 input. no, trying to use my co2 input. no, it's because you're it's not. it's because you're tight. we know we've tight. yeah, we know we've rumbled aren't quintin, rumbled you, aren't we? quintin, do cards? do you send christmas cards? i do. i do. religiously do. do you? i do. religiously or. that's the whole point are you know, we're in the church. >> we were about this. >> we were chatting about this. we a religiously we literally send a religiously printed as printed and perhaps you do as well. don't know. well. i don't know. >> i go to church >> i send i go to church religiously. >> but do you are you reducing the number that you send or are you maintaining them? >> like, what's going on >> are you like, what's going on with you? >> i might quite so >> i might not send quite so many greece's careerist >> i might not send quite so many to greece's careerist >> i might not send quite so many to bosses eece's careerist >> i might not send quite so many to bosses this's careerist >> i might not send quite so many to bosses this year'eerist cards to bosses this year because you know, various reasons, but also can't afford because you know, various re quite. but also can't afford because you know, various re quite. blmuch. can't afford because you know, various re quite. blmuch. butt afford because you know, various re quite. blmuch. but no, ford because you know, various re quite. blmuch. but no, i rd because you know, various re quite. blmuch. but no, i sent it quite so much. but no, i sent it quite so much. but no, i sent it to friends and family so i think a christmas card is a beautiful thing. so if i'm not on the list, if i don't make the grade year, should be grade this year, i should be

slightly off into a problem. >> but people don't >> worried. but people don't though, do they? don't think though, do they? i don't think actually that sending these christmas way christmas cards is done the way it be. it once used to be. >> and i think there's some truth i it is truth in that. i think it is generation. well, i'm probably i do if i represent the youth, but i'm fairly traditional do if i represent the youth, but i'm i'll fairly traditional do if i represent the youth, but i'm i'll be fairly traditional do if i represent the youth, but i'm i'll be sendingtraditional do if i represent the youth, but i'm i'll be sending christmas and i'll be sending christmas cards. get one from cards. i hope to get one from quentin and you and last week i said, i'm blessed to have a few godchildren. and sent them godchildren. and so i sent them some calendars through some advent calendars through the mail last week, but i the royal mail last week, but i did send second class did send them second class because might because i thought it might save me. >> well, my mum >> £0.50 well, my mum does that advent calendars and advent advent calendars and things says son works for things and says my son works for royal in glasgow she royal mail in glasgow and she thinks the problem lies with senior and not the senior management and not the post is. >> thinks that the post is >> she thinks that the post is are getting rep basically. are getting a bad rep basically. what electric vans what about all the electric vans that the royal mail have bought says will in morecambe. he says that that is one of the problems facing royal mail. royal mail. david says please can you tell quinton is an absolute legend? oh is david your, your dad, your son later. >> oh boy. yeah >> oh boy. yeah >> is it david is a relative or

not? lots of people talking about how many postal services there used to be and how they have been reduced. i think you mentioned that as well, didn't you? who's this, david? a separate david is also saying, please, can you clarify inheritance tax is not just paid on property. it is the broader estate. you're absolutely right on that one. coming from someone who works in fleet for royal mail, please, can i tell you it is the management failing management and are mismanaging royal mail. obviously royal mail are not. are here to comment. but i've got to say that that feedback is coming through thick and fast . lots of people as well and fast. lots of people as well complaining about that price £1.25 for a fast class stamp. thatis £1.25 for a fast class stamp. that is an absolute shocker. >> yeah, but don't bother doing first class. just get the letter in a day early and send it second class money saving with quinton less. >> who knew you'd be auntie prudence when you when you checked tonight? who knew checked in tonight? who knew you'd saving you'd be getting money saving tips look this is tips from quinton? look this is all we've got time for. it flies when you're having fun . peter

when you're having fun. peter and quentin. i'll definitely be checking that i get christmas cards from the pair of you this yeah cards from the pair of you this year. and if i don't, there will be lost in the post. >> will say that old chestnut, that excuse. >> anyway, guys, that's >> anyway, look, guys, that's all time for. i've all i've got time for. i've enjoyed tonight. enjoyed your company tonight. thank anywhere, thank you. don't go anywhere, richard tice. up

and a very, very good evening. >> yes, it's 7:00. it's farage. but of course, the big man. he's somewhere else. we know where he is. he's down under. we'll be talking about that later. but so much to get into this evening. religion and politics in schools. big, big topic to be getting ourselves into the stalling of offshore wind. is it blowing or is it not? and of course, we'll be looking at farage. what went on yesterday and what you can look forward to