r walker, our royal correspondent, giving us the latest on the state visit of the south korean president and his wife to be a major trade missing. >> and we've now got. good afternoon britain next with tom and . emily and. emily >> we can't hear anything out . >> we can't hear anything out. >> we can't hear anything out. >> james needs to kick off about in britain with me, emily carver and tom harwood. >> what have we got coming up on the show today? well get back to work, prime minister rishi sunak will reportedly end the national scandal of 2 million people languishing on out of work benefits . too little, too late benefits. too little, too late or too much too soon. sir chris whitty has said. we should have locked down sooner. is he right? we'll bring you the latest from the covid inquiry. >> police under fire. lancashire police were wrong to reveal intimate details of nicola bullies mental health and drinking habits after she disappeared . a landmark review disappeared. a landmark review into the police's handling of the case has concluded and the koreans are in town .

koreans are in town. >> king charles and queen camilla will formally welcome the and first lady of the president and first lady of south to today, south korea to the uk today, ahead key trade talks with ahead of key trade talks with the biggest economy in the the 13th biggest economy in the world. and . world. and. it's a busy show coming up today, not least the live events that are going on right now, not just the south korean state visit, but also , of course, the visit, but also, of course, the covid inquiry which is rumbling on now. on how. >> on now. >> but let's look at the king and queen. they're arriving for the state visit of president yoon suk yul, the president of south korea, as we were mentioning, the third, the 13th largest economy in the world, an economy we're looking to do more trade with and an economy we're looking to do more security cooperation with. of course, they've got a belligerent neighbour to their north, a nuclear armed neighbour to their north in north korea . but also, north in north korea. but also, of course, there is the pomp and

pageantry of this visit. a huge part of the cultural ties , the part of the cultural ties, the growing cultural ties between the uk and south korea. >> there will be a series of very high profile events for the president and the first lady of south korea . this is what they south korea. this is what they want. a bit of pomp and pageantry when they arrive in britain. it really does make our make our position in the world a little bit more vibrant , right? absolutely. >> this is what the royals really are there for. it adds that sort of sense of magic to an occasion. i think this is a lot more impressive for a foreign leader than walking up a dreary downing street and meeting whoever happens to be prime minister this week. the sort longer standing stead of sort of longer standing stead of the royal family is something that perhaps adds a bit of weight to our role in world affairs. >> yes, and it does remind me personally of why it's so important that we do have a monarch like i know that's not the most popular opinion among some younger people these days, especially lots of republicans

about. but i think this is what one of the things, one of the many things we do very well in this country. but of course, trade talks, they are here as well for those kemi badenoch been doing quite a lot of work, has she not? >> she has been. of course, the united kingdom looking to united kingdom is looking to that region of world, south united kingdom is looking to that asia,1 of world, south united kingdom is looking to that asia, the world, south united kingdom is looking to that asia, the pacific rld, south united kingdom is looking to that asia, the pacific region, th east asia, the pacific region, as an area to really grow our trade. these are some of the fastest growing economies in the world. the united kingdom signed up to the comprehensive and progressive trans pacific partnership last year or this yeanl partnership last year or this year, i should say, and that is a partnership that doesn't involve south korea yet , but involve south korea yet, but south korea are looking to join that partnership, too. it's a huge area for growth , for huge area for growth, for innovation, for trade and a big opportunity for britain. now that we've left the european union in. but i do have to say that we have been talking about the royal family as if they're not particularly popular. i think that's only between 18 and 24 year olds. every other category of voter, every other age group does think that by a

huge margin , the royal family huge margin, the royal family adds. so much to the united kingdom. yes you're absolutely right, tom. >> i wasn't trying to do down our royal family >> they do still moments suggest you were they do still very much have majority shall we have majority support shall we bnng have majority support shall we bring royal bring in our royal correspondent, walker, correspondent, cameron walker, who for who is there for us. >> what are we looking at? >> so what are we looking at? cameron, can you describe the scene in. yes this is horseguards parade . horseguards parade. >> the king and queen arrived in the last few minutes. they were received by sir kenneth olisa, who is his majesty's lord, lieutenant of greater london, on the silver stick in waiting, lieutenants colonel matthew woodward and the field officer in brigade waiting, colonel guy stone. they are all present it all sounds very official, doesn't it? but the whole point, of course, is this is the pomp and pageantry in action and the power of soft diplomacy, which in just a few minutes time, the presidents of south korea and the first lady will be treated to. now, about half an hour ago , to. now, about half an hour ago, the prince and princess of

wales, because , of course, this wales, because, of course, this is the family affair , left is the whole family affair, left buckingham palace en route to the presidents and first lady's hotel to pick them and escort hotel to pick them up and escort them to horseguards parade. now when they arrive at around , we when they arrive at around, we believe, 12:10, there will be a royal salute of 41 gun salutes fired from green park as well as his majesty's fortress, which is the tower of london as well . the the tower of london as well. the king will then present the president and will then greet the president and will introduce him to the prime minister as well as the new foreign secretary lord cameron of chipping norton. david cameron, of course, the right honourable james cleverly as as home secretary as well. and a number of other politicians and dignitaries , as there will then dignitaries, as there will then be a royal salute undertaken by the scots guards and the king and the president will inspect a guard of honour at horseguards parade. this is very much the start of a ceremonial welcome of the state visit of the president

of south korea to then members of south korea to then members of the royal family as well as the guests will travel up the mall from horseguards parade in carriages to the waiting crowds. and i have to say they have been growing slowly . these crowds, i growing slowly. these crowds, i believe they are mostly tourists rather who's come rather than anyone who's come out specifically for to view the state visits. but of course, it's still a spectacle for them. there's then going to be a private lunch inside buckingham palace, and i'm told the king is going to invite the president to view some of the items in the royal collection to do with south korea . then the president south korea. then the president is going to be travelling to the palace of westminster to speak with politicians before a with some politicians before a big, magnificent state banquet tonight in the ballroom of buckingham palace. i am told it's going to be white tie and a tiara kind of evening . so lots tiara kind of evening. so lots of hospital duty for the president to look forward to . president to look forward to. but of course, this is a very important state visit. this is the governments that organises these state visits . and we've

these state visits. and we've had two big announcements from the government as you were alluding to, tom and emily. the first is the potential for a big trade deal with south korea. kemi badenoch , the business kemi badenoch, the business secretary, is expected to take part in meetings and negotiations this week as the south korean president is in london and there's also going to be a joint signing between the prime minister and the president of sanctions against north korea to do with joint sea patrols, trying to prevent that state from developing illegal weapons. but, of course, before all of that, we have this pomp and pageantry, which you are seeing on your screens this is on your screens now. this is live horseguards live pictures of horseguards parade. you may just be able to make out the king and queen stood on the dais there for the time is 1207. so in a few minutes time, we will be expecting the president and the first lady to travel to horseguards for the start of the ceremonial welcome. it is interesting. >> the king and queen have been

standing there in the cold for quite some time. i don't know, is the president of south korea in the first lady of south korea a little bit late? we're seeing some some cars and vans arrive now, some blackouts there they are. like they're are. this looks like they're finally there's finally coming. there's some punctuality at last. i'm not sure that actually makes sense as a sentence. does it? oh, no. and we've got a security guard just in the way there. but we can make out through the through the doors . the doors. >> these look like officials, these are officials. >> the fancy car is the one of president yoon suk yeol. but we seem to have the way blocked a little bit there. let's see if we can wait for these cars to move on, if they might. >> yes, they were certainly in the in the car with the flag waving atop . waving atop. >> and here we go. we're going to be able to see them walking up to the dais. there we've got the king and the queen waiting ever patiently on this . ever patiently on this. >> is that prince william? there we can see. yes, that's prince

william . and we also have the william. and we also have the duchess of the princess of wales, the princess of wales. >> yes . and the first lady of >> yes. and the first lady of south korea greeting the king and the queen there as the president did before her. and here we have it, the meeting of these dignitaries , as cameron these dignitaries, as cameron walker. how significant is it that we have this meeting between two heads of state here, the head of state of the united kingdom and the head of state of the republic of korea . the republic of korea. >> oh, it's incredibly significant, tom. and apologies if you can hear loud bangs in the background. i'm probably about 50m away from the king street royal horse artillery in green park firing the 41 guns salute. well probably watch from behind you. >> okay. i think that's the last one. >> oh oh. soft diplomacy when it comes to these state visits. and

it's a real asset for the british government to have the royal family they would argue, to basically welcome the foreign head of state, because that's really helps to kind of perhaps, let's say for want, of a better phrase, butter up the foreign dignitary when it comes to the tough talks, which are going to be when it comes be happening later when it comes to negotiating and thrashing out that trade deal as well as joint interests when it comes to perhaps sanctioning hostile states as well . and we we've states as well. and we we've mentioned previously that the president is expected to meet politicians in the palace of westminster as well later on. but of course, britain is known around the world for this pomp and pageantry and this ceremonial tradition, which we are seeing play out on our screens now. the fact that we still have horse drawn carriages with guns, i think speaks volumes. it is for show of course, they're never going to be used in combat anymore, but it's something which foreign dignitaries are perhaps would be

well used to or would be expecting when they come to great britain on queen elizabeth ii king charles's mother was on the throne for 70 years and hosted as well as attended a number of state visits both here and abroad. and i think it's her legacy , which has now been legacy, which has now been transferred over to king charles, which the south korean president , who's charles, which the south korean president, who's only charles, which the south korean president , who's only been charles, which the south korean president, who's only been in office for 18 months or so , is office for 18 months or so, is perhaps going to be in awe of. so when they come to the state banquet later on and seeing all this military procession that's going on this morning, perhaps he on more friendly he will be on more friendly terms discuss the more terms to discuss the more important and perhaps more serious topics, such as trade and cooperation and security. >> well, thank you very much indeed. cameron walker, our royal correspondent there on horse guards parade, just a little superficial mention, but the princess of wales there does look rather fantastic in a beautiful red coat dress with a

matching hat . very lovely indeed matching hat. very lovely indeed . we'll bring you the latest. we'll keep an eye on what's going on with this state visit and bring you updates throughout the but we're to the show. but we're going to move on. >> e because f— em— >> absolutely. because it's not just of state and pomp just matters of state and pomp and pageantry , but also matters and pageantry, but also matters of , i and pageantry, but also matters of, i suppose, economics because chancellor jeremy of, i suppose, economics because chancellorjeremy hunt is chancellor jeremy hunt is expected to tighten welfare rules in his autumn statement tomorrow . tomorrow. >> yes. the aim is to tackle what the prime minister has called a national scandal. he's hoping cutting benefits by £4,680 a year from 2025 will see around 2 million people re—enter the workforce . labour says, the workforce. labour says, though this is part of the conservative is trying to wipe their hands of the last 13 years of tory government. that's what they tend to say. but shall we speak to christopher hope for his astute analysis here? christopher, thank you very much for joining us. we've heard this forjoining us. we've heard this quite a lot. the government are desperate to get the 2 million or so people who are on out of

work benefits of one or the other back into the work. is this a new initiative that we're heanng this a new initiative that we're hearing about. here >> it is a new initiative. >> it is a new initiative. >> they are removing the benefits you have if you are claiming sickness benefits at home or things like getting bus passes and that kind of thing. that's the idea behind it. but the whole thought behind it is to go and get more people off benefits and back into work, because this week we'll be seeing hundreds of thousands of people arriving last year in the year just gone, net migration yearjust gone, net migration figures going up. and the big concern for lots of people is we haven't got enough place to build who build new homes for those who are are allowing so are here. why are we allowing so many more people to arrive? let's get who on let's get people who are on benefits work. that's benefits back into work. that's the it. there is the policy behind it. there is concern it. if like concern about it. if people like steve mcpartland , a tory mp, is steve mcpartland, a tory mp, is concerned , he says, great to try concerned, he says, great to try and get people back off benefits, let's be careful benefits, but let's be careful of is an of using the stick. so it is an issue i think, for some mps in the tory party as much as

elsewhere , but being too hard on elsewhere, but being too hard on people who are on benefits are at home and maybe, maybe cannot work very reason . work for very good reason. >> it is interesting that >> no, it is interesting that this is perhaps a political issue as well as an economic one. clearly, there's a labour shortage in the united kingdom . shortage in the united kingdom. anyone who's been to any pub, any time recently can see the sort of adverts on the on the doors to get people back to work. >> that's not an issue though. >> that's not an issue though. >> so, so, so exactly. so clearly part of this is about filling that labour shortage, getting perhaps 2 million people back but also part of back to work. but also part of this potentially a political this is potentially a political point of division, a wedge issue, if you will, between the conservatives party and the labour party . labour party. >> tom, you're exactly right. and everything the government behind me is doing, i'm standing here in front of number 11 downing street ahead of tomorrow's autumn statement. everything they're doing behind me about driving that wedge everything they're doing behind me forcingiriving that wedge everything they're doing behind me forcingiriving ttot wedge everything they're doing behind me forcingiriving tto takeige issue, forcing labour to take choices the tories think issue, forcing labour to take choi�*be the tories think issue, forcing labour to take choi�*be worth he tories think issue, forcing labour to take choi�*be worth something|ink issue, forcing labour to take choi�*be worth something at(

issue, forcing labour to take choi�*be worth something at the will be worth something at the next general election. one of them will be these kind of tougher those those tougher line on those those seeking benefits. they'll know that people on benefits generally might be seen as more left, left leaning , more likely left, left leaning, more likely to support labour. they've got a chance here to they're on chance here to show they're on the of the strivers. the the side of the strivers. the workers. autumn workers. tomorrow's autumn statement from from the chancellor, hunt will chancellor, jeremy hunt will will and promote will try and promote entrepreneur . will try and promote entrepreneur. he's trying to pursue grow the economy. pursue growth grow the economy. that's the big focus and the tory party is no question trying to put itself on the side of them get others them and trying to get others who work , ease back who can't work, ease them back into using more of into work. but using more of a stick than necessarily a carrot much indeed. >> christopher hope there. our political editor in westminster. you know, i think these proposals look very reasonable. yeah hundreds of thousands of people with mobility and mental health problems will be told to look that they can do look for work that they can do from surely that's from home. surely that's a benefit society and arguably benefit to society and arguably to the individuals themselves. >> yes. you don't want people languish on just because you've got issue doesn't got a mobility issue doesn't mean doesn't work, mean your mind doesn't work, doesn't mean that can't do. doesn't mean that you can't do.

i what are we bigotry i mean, what are we bigotry to suggest? literally sitting i mean, what are we bigotry to suggint? literally sitting i mean, what are we bigotry to suggin chairs. literally sitting i mean, what are we bigotry to suggin chairs. we're lly sitting i mean, what are we bigotry to suggin chairs. we're not;itting i mean, what are we bigotry to suggin chairs. we're not moving here in chairs. we're not moving much all. people with much at all. people with mobility could this mobility issues could do this job. i think it's absolutely outrageous that some people might say better than us, but it's outrageous to suggest just because someone has mobility issues, go issues, they can't, you know, go to work. issues, they can't, you know, go to \the. issues, they can't, you know, go to \the problem is, whenever the >> the problem is, whenever the issue of benefits comes back on the are reminded the scene, people are reminded of , i the scene, people are reminded of, i don't the scene, people are reminded of , i don't know, the early new of, i don't know, the early new labour and all the labour years and all the benefits. britain stuff across all papers and that and all of the papers and that and they think that it's, you know, kicking they're kicking people when they're down. it is not down. but actually it is not sustainable for 2 million odd people to just simply not be in work and receipt of benefits. work and in receipt of benefits. i have thought some of i would have thought some of them a job. them at least could find a job. and with the work from home culture makes it a little bit eafien culture makes it a little bit easier, doesn't it? >> yeah. and the argument would be as be that it would help them as well. course the well. although of course the other side of the aisle will always say you're going to you're going to miss people. people fall down people are going to fall down the some people who the cracks. some people who genuinely be genuinely can't work may well be sanctioned at the labour party would say, but back to the pomp and pageantry today. and pageantry of today. we've got on podium

got more standing on that podium there from the king. we've got horses and carriages now , i horses and carriages now, i wonder i wonder which carriage thatis wonder i wonder which carriage that is actually , because we do that is actually, because we do know that there are a number of carriages that the royal family do use, some of which they like using and other other ones which tend to be the older ones lacking in suspension. yes, it would be. >> they do not like more >> they really do not like more royal detail royal correspondent detail what exactly at. exactly we're looking at. >> but it is the pomp and pageantry at horseguards pageantry at the horseguards parade. members of the parade. we have members of the royal there royal family standing there watching. it looks like perhaps there are photos being taken to celebrate the occasion. really what you want if you're the president of south korea, you want to come to britain and get sort of this photo shot. >> you can imagine this in the papers in south korea tomorrow with the golden carriages, with the king and the queen with the prince and the princess of wales, with the men , with the wales, with the men, with the funny feathered hats on all the rest of it. that's really what you come for, isn't it?

>> it's what you want to see. and there you can see the press behind trying to behind what they're trying to get shot shot of the get the best shot shot of the group there. well, bring group there. well, we'll bring you more updates when we can, but we've got lots more to get through on this show because , through on this show because, well, it's not one of your bugbears. >> this is one of my bugbears. >> this is one of my bugbears. >> this is not it's not just about pomp and pageantry, because these plans for a huge entertain east london entertain venue in east london with the highest resolution led screen in the world have been rejected by sadiq khan. >> yes. now this is a more important story than you might presume. >> just by looking at it, because according to tom, it represents everything that is wrong with this country . so the wrong with this country. so the 300 foot tall, illuminated sphere stadium near the olympic park in stratford would have immersive visual and sound systems to host concerts, sporting events and so on. and it would hold up to 21,000 people. but but the london mayor's office said the venue, which would have brought to billion dollars in foreign direct investment into the uk would be bulky and quote , too

bright. >> it would have a negative impact on local residents . impact on local residents. >> so they say, i mean, tom, i think you might have a point. >> i should explain what we're seeing on screen now. for those watching on television, is watching on television, this is an that has an identical sphere that has been las now, been built in las vegas. now, these two spheres were proposed at the same time in 2018. the uk one has been languishing in the planning system and just rejected yesterday, whereas the vegas one has been built and bringing in its money. >> it's an atrocity . >> it's an atrocity. >> it's an atrocity. >> see, i think it's adorable, but more than that, it's $2 billion in investment in jobs, in growth , in high skilled jobs. in growth, in high skilled jobs. but but now that sadiq khan has rejected this investment , rejected this investment, another mayor elsewhere in the country has stepped up, saying he'd like to see this investment in his patch. so joining us now is the mayor of the tees valley , is the mayor of the tees valley, ben houchen . ben, thank you so ben houchen. ben, thank you so much for joining ben houchen. ben, thank you so much forjoining us this much for joining us this afternoon . i should just say, afternoon. i should just say, first of all, when did you start

to think that the tees valley might be a place for this enormous new stadium as opposed to london? >> well, we're always open for investment from anywhere across the world, and we're doing some fantastic things in manufacturing and office space and development. and when we saw yesterday that sadiq khan, quite incredibly was going to reject bringing this investment to london, we thought, well, why not try and keep it in the uk? we're going to open ourselves up. we would welcome them with open wouldn't we open arms and why wouldn't we have this in a place like teesside that would attract not just people from across the country, people across country, but from people across the will be the world on what will be a world entertainment world leading entertainment venue? ben do you think the people teesside would welcome people of teesside would welcome this monstrosity a in this monstrosity of a sphere in their vicinity ? well, it's not their vicinity? well, it's not necessarily representative, but did do quite a lot yesterday on this. put a lot of my social medias and a lot of people across teesside would absolutely welcome thing. it's welcome this type of thing. it's about jobs, it's about investment, creating investment, it's about creating opportunity, it's also about opportunity, but it's also about a right? and a bigger message. right? and

it's the reasons that it's one of the reasons that just frustrates largely just frustrates me largely about london, the london, but other parts of the uk in when i speak to uk in that when i speak to international investors, it seems like we're not open for business. of the business. and it's one of the reasons has done reasons that teesside has done so the last 3 4 years so well in the last 3 or 4 years is we welcome this is because we welcome this investment. we want to build things. want to create things. we want to create opportunities for our local communities. the city can't communities. and the city can't use excuse like use such a pathetic excuse like light pollution in centre of light pollution in the centre of london for not building a world leading entertainment venue is just of being just an example of him being anti—gay growth, anti—business and i say, that should lead and like i say, that should lead to opportunities in places like teesside where we do welcome this it's teesside where we do welcome thisit's interesting because this >> it's interesting because this has been a contentious project, but most contentious but perhaps the most contentious thing about this isn't the decision that the mayor has finally come to more than half a decade after its first been proposed . it's the fact that in proposed. it's the fact that in the time that he's been deliberating this decision , the deliberating this decision, the americans have gone and built the thing even across the time that there's been a pandemic and all the rest of it, it's open. it had a concert from the u2 in it recently , beyonce is

it recently, beyonce is considering a residency now in the vegas sphere . what does it the vegas sphere. what does it say about our planning system? not that we've come to one decision or another, but it's taken so long to come to a decision. well this is ultimately the problem. >> and again, like i say, it's one of the reasons that we're doing so well in that we cut through nonsense. through a lot of that nonsense. and provide planning at and when we provide planning at extremely quick speeds and actually speak to actually when we speak to international investors, for example, you've just been talking presidential example, you've just been talki from presidential example, you've just been talki from korea.dential example, you've just been talki from korea. theial visit from south korea. the south building the south koreans are building the largest in the largest investment ever in the uk, in teesside . and when uk, in teesside. and when i first sat with the chief executive of the company to attract that half £1 billion investment, they didn't believe that could them planning that we could give them planning within three because within three months because their the uk is it their experience of the uk is it takes 12, months, two years, takes 12, 18 months, two years, assuming there aren't assuming that there aren't problems and this is a problem, right? there is a perception across the world that the uk is not a business friendly place. the overly the regulations are overly cumbersome and these are people that go build these that can go and build these things anywhere in world, things anywhere in the world, right? mobile right? this is globally mobile caphal right? this is globally mobile capital. have do

capital. they don't have to do it to do here it here. they want to do it here because like but because they like britain. but when they come up against so many to many obstacles, if it's going to take three, years take them two, three, four years or in instance, five years or in this instance, five years just get a decision not to do just to get a decision not to do it, to france, it, they'll go to france, they'll to germany, they'll they'll go to germany, they'll go america, go go to america, they'll go elsewhere not elsewhere here. and that is not good that's about good for us, right? that's about investment. about jobs. investment. it's about jobs. it's creating it's about creating opportunities capital opportunities for our capital city the way, i city as well. by the way, i mean, love it to come to mean, i would love it to come to teesside, is absolutely teesside, but it is absolutely madness venue madness that this type of venue is not being our is not being built in our capital city. >> yeah, i think you're absolutely right on that one. and was and of course, brexit was supposed some of these supposed to remove some of these barriers things going barriers and get things going and when and change our outlook when it comes regulations . comes to regulations. >> that khan has >> but it seems that khan has this , london is open and this slogan, london is open and then he's standing then and then he's standing there with $2 billion of investment before him. >> and he says, no, we don't want that investment in tees valley. >> if you see the slogan behind ben says anything is ben there, it says anything is possible . so that beat possible. so that beat sadiq khan's slogan. >> ben, one of the criticisms might that london is a global might be that london is a global city of 10 million people, a venue for 21,500 people perhaps,

might make more sense in a global metropolis like that. >> rather than the tees valley. what would you say to that criticism ? criticism? >> we're not naysayers here, tom. we we've got opportunities and we think this can be done. i mean, just to give you an example, the population of las vegas smaller than that of vegas is smaller than that of the it's about the tees valley. it's about 650,000 live in las vegas 650,000 people live in las vegas . it's about the . but it's not about the indigenous population, albeit they will see opportunities they will see the opportunities and the jobs created from it. it's about the international investment. it's about attracting elsewhere attracting people from elsewhere in the uk, it's about the international visitors that would the would come to the uk specifically for thing , specifically for this thing, which only benefit uk plc . which would only benefit uk plc. so don't buy that teesside's bigger than las vegas. you heard it here first. it's actually true. free to look up. true. feel free to look it up. but that type of but again, it's that type of thing. it's it thing. and again, it's why it should london it should be in london because it will attract visitors. will attract more visitors. that's money spent in that's more money being spent in the elsewhere. it puts that's more money being spent in theon elsewhere. it puts that's more money being spent in theon that elsewhere. it puts that's more money being spent in theon that world where. it puts that's more money being spent in theon that world stage it puts that's more money being spent in theon that world stage as puts that's more money being spent in theon that world stage as being us on that world stage as being a where we can get these a place where we can get these types things it's just types of things done. it's just frustrating. i would frustrating. but what i would say this happens or frustrating. but what i would say and this happens or frustrating. but what i would say and it's this happens or frustrating. but what i would say and it's a this happens or frustrating. but what i would say and it's a long happens or frustrating. but what i would say and it's a long shot,ans or frustrating. but what i would say and it's a long shot, right? not and it's a long shot, right? but believe that you've

not and it's a long shot, right? but to believe that you've not and it's a long shot, right? but to be believe that you've not and it's a long shot, right? but to be in believe that you've not and it's a long shot, right? but to be in it elieve that you've not and it's a long shot, right? but to be in it to eve that you've not and it's a long shot, right? but to be in it to winthat you've not and it's a long shot, right? but to be in it to win it. t you've not and it's a long shot, right? butto be in it to win it. butu've got to be in it to win it. but even if it doesn't happen, what we're seeing london is a real we're seeing in london is a real problem great problem because it's a great thing for teesside because i'm speaking are speaking to investors who are now london. don't now fed up of london. they don't think anything think they can get anything done. they can't build houses, they investment, they can't bring investment, they can't bring investment, they like they can't build venues like this. frank, they're this. and to be frank, they're benefits come the benefits that come to the rest of uk a result. of the uk as a result. >> i think you're absolutely i think absolutely think you're absolutely right on that one. >> sorry in. thatone. >>sorry >> sorry to cut in. we're just squeezed but squeezed for time here. but thank you very much indeed. i think you're spot on when it comes to how long things take to build going in this build and get going in this country. houchen, mayor of country. ben houchen, mayor of the tees valley. you know the tees valley. do you know what though, is what i worry about, though, is that might become, you know, that it might become, you know, the dome. remember that it might become, you know, the it dome. remember that it might become, you know, the it home. remember that it might become, you know, the it [for thatzmember that it might become, you know, the it [for that to ember that it might become, you know, the it [for that to be oer how long it took for that to be repurposed ? repurposed? >> and looks it looks dated. >> and it looks it looks dated. >> and it looks it looks dated. >> after couple of >> emily, after a couple of years, is the millennium years, here is the millennium dome. millions years, here is the millennium dopublic millions years, here is the millennium dopublic money, millions years, here is the millennium dopublic money, of millions years, here is the millennium dopublic money, of taxpayersions of public money, of taxpayers money to build, whereas this sphere is private investment from united states. from the united states. >> yeah, that's a key difference. >> so it's no money. difference. >> it'sit's no money. difference. >> it's moneynoney. difference. >> it's money gained, right? well we have the latest pictures from horseguards rishi from horseguards parade as rishi sunak prime minister lord cameron and james cleverly

welcome. >> president yoon suk yeol to the capital. >> there we go . there he is. >> there we go. there he is. >> there we go. there he is. >> there we go. there he is. >> there they are walking across acas horse guards parade. plenty of pomp and pageantry there. and what a trio as well. a former prime minister the current prime minister and a man that some people tip as perhaps the next conservative party leader . were conservative party leader. were they? he's one of the contenders. james cleverly , the contenders. james cleverly, the new home secretary there, but much more on this state visit. >> it's interesting that lord cameron is in the middle there . cameron is in the middle there. >> he's taking the prime ministerial position, isn't it? it does. way his his body it does. the way his his body language, david cameron there, lord cameron. now he very much seemed to be leading the conversation there because that what you will i think he does miss being prime minister of this great country. well, we'll bnng this great country. well, we'll bring you more . let's just throw bring you more. let's just throw to a break. be back in to a break. we'll be back in just

isabel monday to thursdays from. six till 930 . six till 930. >> good afternoon, britain now sir chris whitty, who was the government's most senior medical adviser during the covid 19 pandemic, is today giving evidence to the covid inquiry. >> yes, his appearance comes a day after former chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance made some pretty explosive claims during his evidence, including that then chancellor rishi sunak thought it was okay to in quotes , just it was okay to in quotes, just let people die and that boris johnson was bamboozled by the graphs and data presented to

him. >> but what's going on today? let's get the very latest now with gb news presenter pip tomson, who's outside the inquiry for us. and pip, what's chris whitty been saying . chris whitty been saying. >> hi there, tom. well, he's been speaking now for some 2.5 hours this morning . and what's hours this morning. and what's been interesting is him talking about the claims that sir patrick vallance was made yesterday, had made yesterday that suggested that sir chris whitty was a bit of a delay over lockdown and sir chris whitty very much rejected claims that he was against shutting down the country. he told the inquiry that he was just more cautious aukus about locking down the country in the early days of the pandemic because of its potential impact . now he was potential impact. now he was being quizzed by inquiry counsel hugo keith, kc , who asked him hugo keith, kc, who asked him were you more cautious than your counterpart , i.e. sir patrick counterpart, i.e. sir patrick

vallance ? and chris whitty vallance? and chris whitty replied , i did have a stronger replied, i did have a stronger concern , i would say, than some, concern, i would say, than some, that the biggest impacts of everything we did and i was confident we were going to have to do them. to be clear about that, i was very aware that we essentially had two different things. we were trying to balance, which was going in to early or going into late, in which case you get all the problems of the pandemic running away. sir chris whitty also said that with the benefit of hindsight, that first lockdown in march 2020 was a bit too late. he said. i was probably further towards let's think through the disadvantages here before we act and also in making sure that in giving my advice, ministers were aware of both sides of the equation. he also acknowledge that by mid—march it was clear that without action we were going to be in very deep trouble. now, there was also much talk about the work of sage, the scientific body that advised the government . he very

advised the government. he very much defended the membership of sage. much defended the membership of sage . he said the group of sage. he said the group of experts were wide ranging. you risked having it too small or too large. it's hard to get that balance right. but he did admit that scientists should have cottoned on to lockdown being a possibility in the early days of the pandemic and said they hadnt the pandemic and said they hadn't considered the idea in february 2020. now while all this has been going on, downing street have responded to sir chris whitty giving evidence today , he does remain england's today, he does remain england's chief medical officer and rishi sunak apparently continues to work extremely closely with him . work extremely closely with him. >> absolutely fascinating , pip, >> absolutely fascinating, pip, that there's a bit of a divergence between chris whitty and patrick vallance there. that is that is an interesting divergence that perhaps we hadnt divergence that perhaps we hadn't picked up on before . hadn't picked up on before. we'll be back with you later on in the programme because it's not going to please anyone though, it, because those who though, is it, because those who were sceptical of lockdown aren't going very

aren't going to be very impressed that economy impressed that the economy and there cost benefit there was no cost benefit analysis and those who analysis really and those who thought should locked thought we should have locked down are to down immediate, we are going to be depressed. >> can discuss >> well no doubt we can discuss this your headlines this more after your headlines with sophia . with sophia. >> thank you, tom. >> thank you, tom. >> it's 1233. >> thank you, tom. >> it's1233. i'm sophia wenzler in the newsroom . officers in the newsroom. officers searching for four young teenagers who have been missing in the north of wales since sunday morning have found the car they were travelling in. javon hurst, harvey owen , wilf javon hurst, harvey owen, wilf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and portmeirion area of gwynedd from the camping trip . gwynedd from the camping trip. nonh gwynedd from the camping trip. north wales police says its officers are currently at the location and the families of those involved have been kept updated . it's being reported a updated. it's being reported a deal between hamas and israel could see 50 israeli hostages released and fighting paused for days. the leader of the hamas terror group, who is based in qatar, released a statement this

morning raising hopes of a pause in the fighting. negotiations are said to be centring around how long the truce may last and details of a prisoner exchange that could see some israeli hostages released . but israel hostages released. but israel has not commented on the reports. however, us president joe biden says a deal is close . joe biden says a deal is close. the bbc is resting the hit motoring show top gear for the foreseeable future following a crash that left host andrew flintoff seriously injured . the flintoff seriously injured. the 45 year old was taken to hospital last december after he was injured in an accident in surrey. the bbc says a health and safety review will be carried out, but it would be inappropriate to continue with the series . the king inappropriate to continue with the series. the king and queen have welcomed the south korean president at horseguards parade . president at horseguards parade. these are live pictures from outside buckingham palace, where the royal couple are hosting yoon suk yeol and his wife for the first incoming state visit since the king's coronation. and the second in his reign. since the king's coronation. and the second in his reign . a state

the second in his reign. a state banquet will take place this evening, which is set to host 170 guests . and you can get more 170 guests. and you can get more on all those stories by visiting our website at gbnews.com . our website at gbnews.com. >> oh, gosh. it's a busy news day today. there's a foreign press residential royal states visit. there's also of course, that covid inquiry and i'd a lot of stuff leading up to the autumn statement tomorrow too. >> i'll be interested to know what you at home make of this whole covid inquiry because i think it's raising more questions than perhaps answers that we want. and seems to be this narrative emerging that we didn't lock down soon enough, which you would agree with, wouldn't you? i don't know. >> i think it's just got interesting the difference in opinion between the chief medical officer and chief medical officer and the chief scientific i scientific officer, which i don't think until today was don't think up until today was public. think these two men

public. i think these two men were seen to be agreeing, whereas actually today, if what pip has been saying is right, we have just revealed that have actually just revealed that there wasn't one version of the science . there were lots of science. there were lots of different competing versions of the science. >> with all respect, though, >> with all due respect, though, with respect to these with all due respect to these very people very intelligent people that were running the show , i do were running the show, i do think that there should have been far more emphasis on on well, investigating potential outcomes that weren't what they what they were thinking. but on the other on the other hand, on the other on the other hand, on the other on the other hand, on the other half of the ledger, you've got to act quickly. >> otherwise you might not act at course, we'll be at all. but of course, we'll be discussing far more discussing this far more after the break. we'll joined the break. we'll be joined in the break. we'll be joined in the former the studio by the former australian minister, australian foreign minister, alexander downer, and the former liberal democrat minister norman baker will be discussing everything from farage in the jungle to covid inquiry to jungle to the covid inquiry to the falklands. see you shortly

sunday mornings from 930 on news i >> -- >> good afternoon, britain. welcome back. i am emily carver and this is tom harwood and we're with you. until 3:00 now joining us in the studio is former australian foreign minister alexander downer and former liberal democrat minister norman baker. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. we've got a lot to get through. we've got a lot to get through. we've covered so much on this show afternoon , a show already this afternoon, a busy news afternoon , but one of busy news afternoon, but one of the big themes running through this whole week is, of course, looking autumn statement looking to the autumn statement

tomorrow show and this newfound scope we hear for tax cuts, but also perhaps a benefit crackdown. >> and norman, you were part of a government that did crack down a government that did crack down a bit on benefits . yes. i'm a bit on benefits. yes. i'm interested in your view on this further move because apparently there are 2 million people out of work who the government believe could be working a bit more . more. >> well, first of all, chris hopein >> well, first of all, chris hope in his piece to you was right to that right to say that what's happening to find right to say that what's h.dividing to find right to say that what's h.dividing line to find right to say that what's h.dividing line between to find right to say that what's h.dividing line between toryfind right to say that what's h.dividing line between tory and a dividing line between tory and laboun a dividing line between tory and labour. the big labour. so that's the big politics of it. secondly, it is quite there are some quite clear there are some people on benefits people who are on benefits could be there's doubt be in work, there's no doubt about it's the about that. but it's also the case and saw this as an mp case and i saw this as an mp that who were sometimes that people who were sometimes on benefits had benefits on benefits had those benefits taken after probably taken away after a probably very cursory actually cursory examination actually needed those benefits. so we ought to make sure when benefits are taken away, they're taken away from who can't work away from people who can't work and not those who are genuinely unable the other unable to do so. but the other thing you can talk about thing is that you can talk about inheritance cut, which inheritance tax being cut, which of benefit the top of course would benefit the top 4% the population. it would 4% of the population. it would send very bad signal, i think,

send a very bad signal, i think, not the red not least of all to the red wall. if we end up with the people are in people who are richest in society cut and society having a tax cut and those are on benefits which those who are on benefits which aren't generous, having those who are on benefits which aren'tclamp generous, having those who are on benefits which aren't clamp downerous, having those who are on benefits which aren't clamp down on.;, having those clamp down on. >> alexander, this a debate >> alexander, is this a debate that rumbles australia as that rumbles on in australia as well? i can imagine so. >> it used to be we used to have debates about benefits , but i debates about benefits, but i think they've been refined sophia recently that now people who need benefits get them and people who are rorting the system, you know, are ripping off the system. don't get them. so you do have to have a test. you do have to have in place, for example, a vigorous work test to make sure that people genuinely are looking for work, who are getting benefits because, you know, some people will try to rip off the system, be really sick about it. some do. yeah. >> and just to we've had a few emails coming in from people who are on benefits for various reasons saying you try living off x amount that they receive

on universal credit or other disabled payments and so on and so forth, questioning how generous actually the welfare system. >> that's a different question though , how generous it is. yes though, how generous it is. yes not whether people are eligible for the benefits. right. people, people are who suffer from disabilities or have major health problems and so on. you can understand paying them benefits and other benefits efficient. that's an open debate. but it's people who are able to work who decide they don't feel like working, who are ripping off the taxpayer . i ripping off the taxpayer. i mean, that shouldn't be allowed and the government is culpable if they're allowing that to happen. >> yeah, but norman, on that point, we've also received messages from people who say it's actually very difficult as a disabled person to get work . a disabled person to get work. so even if they try to struggle to find a position, well, if they try to find work and can't find it, then they're not not their fault, is it? >> i think the issue is that the quality of the tests and what happened before was that the

test was carried out by people who frankly weren't qualified to undertake the test. and you were ending up people were ending up with people who were genuinely unable to work genuinely ill and unable to work being having their being being having their benefits a draw and had to deal with mp. at with those cases as an mp. at the same time, are people with those cases as an mp. at the rgenuinely are people with those cases as an mp. at the rgenuinely could are people with those cases as an mp. at the rgenuinely could workieople with those cases as an mp. at the rgenuinely could work whoe who genuinely could work who were the were playing the system. so the issue making sure the test is issue is making sure the test is accurate and is caring about people who understand the situation people who understand the situatiornow isn't >> and now this isn't a particularly big issue in the grand scheme of things, but i think it is an issue that is indicative of a lot of problems about the united kingdom, a lot of problems where we're a low investment country or a country that to a lot of things. that says no to a lot of things. we about half an we were speaking about half an hour the mayor hour ago with the mayor of the tees ben houchen, who tees valley, ben houchen, who wants this new sparkling stadium to be built in his patch in the north—east because the mayor of london, sadiq khan, has just said no to this $2 billion investment. norman does the mayor of london have a right to reject that sort of investment, that sort of job, that sort of

growth that would make decisions about the budget a lot easier? >> well, don't you have to? right. | >> well, don't you have to? right. i think he has a right to make his opinion known and i understand that the final decisions gove decisions with michael gove as the secretary state the relevant secretary of state in government. but, know in the government. but, you know , to be fair to , i do think this, to be fair to the london, i don't the mayor of london, i don't think a £2 billion think he's against a £2 billion investment. i think what he's against the garish against is the kind of garish las which was put las vegas proposal which was put forward in which you showed on your show a moment ago. and there i think, there have been, i think, from memory, 1000 objection memory, over 1000 objection to this. norman on that point, sorry, i must interrupt, but steve khan has been a fan of rather in the rather garish artwork in the past, has he not? >> we had in trafalgar square that monstrosity of an ice cream cone. yes. i don't know. some kind of bug or something there. so open to things so you know, he's open to things that eyesore in normal that are an eyesore in normal times. little look times. can we have a little look at sphere, perhaps just to at the sphere, perhaps just to show there there's the one in las vegas. >> that's in las vegas. >> that's in las vegas. >> that's in las vegas. >> that's las vegas . and it >> that's in las vegas. and it would look something that. would look something like that. but i don't but in stratford now, i don't know you know stratford. know if you know stratford. yes. >> this is the >> is this is the this is the concept in stratford. so

concept float in stratford. so this this is what it would this is this is what it would look like where it's be built in stratford between railway stratford between two railway tracks. there are tracks. of course there are there skyscrapers around it there are skyscrapers around it as well. it's where the olympic stadium was. it's where the peculiar skyscraper called the orbit. know, that viewing orbit. you know, that viewing platform that's taller than, crucially, would you crucially, alexander would you say yes to the sphere in in your patch, in your backyard ? patch, in your backyard? >> i think i would say no to it. and main objection. i'm quite apart from it being absolute hideous, huge . and it is hideous, huge. and it is hideous. it's not a work of art. so the second thing i'd say about it is it lights up at night . yeah. and so for all night. yeah. and so for all those people who have bought flats around that area, yes. i mean, i would have thought that the flats around that would go up in value. >> no, it's an adorable thing to see out your window. >> no, you're joking. >> no, you're joking. >> you know you're joking. >> you know you're joking. >> everybody would object to that. that really that's horrendous. it's not been thought through properly. i mean, i haven't got a teesside. i'm not sure even that in

teesside, people might the mayor i mean it is attracting people to las vegas and we should emphasise it's not just the screen on the outside, on the inside, it's this immersive screen. >> and u2 did the first concert there. it was a sold out and incredible looking for a u2 can do concerts at wembley or or the millennium dome here because i understand millennium dome. yeah, that one of the big behind the scenes lobbying efforts against this fear has been from the oh to another big concert venuein the oh to another big concert venue in london. is there potentially rent seeking going on here, trying to close down competition, keep prices high for consumers? >> well, there may well be, but that doesn't disqualify the point of view expressed and the point of view expressed and the point of view expressed and the point of view expressed is to point of view expressed is to point expressed point to be expressed well. >> i'm norman. >> so i'm with norman. >> so i'm with norman. >> there have been >> i think there would have been we've got to be against an anti—growth coalition has grown from one paragraph, from one eyesore to a sight for sore eyes. >> it is gb news presenter and

former politician nigel farage, who has of course been in the jungle, and he bared all, did he not? or a little bit too much. >> i don't know if we're allowed to see this. >> that's night in the jungle. no, but no, no, no , we're not. no, but no, no, no, we're not. >> i've just been told in my er we're not showing we're absolutely not showing the bare nigel farage on bare behind of nigel farage on the afternoon. >> i knew we weren't showing that just wanted to use that clip. i just wanted to use it as the introduction to what was a rather interesting debate in the jungle, which was, of course about brexit. >> the thing is, is the intolerance that came because brexit was about immigration. and i remember your poster , and i remember your poster, which i thought i thought it was shameful what you did. nigel sadly, sadly, it was absolutely true. >> what was the poster ? sorry, >> what was the poster? sorry, can i just cut in? can you? >> it was a poster just showing mass young men moving illegally through a cross borders. >> it was about demonising >> but it was about demonising migrants saying that was wrong. >> no, it wasn't even your view. it was. it wasn't. it was. but it wasn't.

>> it's not really just my view. >> it's not really just my view. >> can see lots of the >> you can see lots of the campmates they're getting up and leaving, i feel like is leaving, which i feel like is just christmas just about every christmas dinner people have dinner that many people have been at. >> but but alexander, this is interesting because it's a debate about brexit happening in australia . australia. >> one of those countries that we're supposed to become closer to upon leaving the european union . what's your view of how union. what's your view of how brexit has panned out and the points that nigel was making there ? there? >> well, there are all sorts of things to say about it, but first of all, the uk has become closer to countries like australia and uk used to have a single market with the european union. it has a free trade agreement, has still free trade with the european union, but a free trade agreement now with australia , where we have australia, where we have developed the australian uk us security agreement known as aukus . so there are all sorts of aukus. so there are all sorts of things that are happening. i mean i think the, the, the benefits on disbenefits of

brexit will take years to unfold and but i've always said that i'm not sure that brexit in and of itself is going to make as much difference as the ideologues on both sides of the debate claim . now, ultimately , debate claim. now, ultimately, this country's future is going to be determined by the quality of domestic policy and if you know, you have policies that encourage investment, make the country competitive , then country competitive, then whether you're in the european union or not, won't be the issue. you will do well. i mean, australia is not in the european union and it has done better than the uk over the last few years. it's slowed down a bit now. i'd have to admit it hasn't had a change of government quite about now. >> it's about more accountability be as you say. so the responsibility is solely on our national government which we elect, but on the point that fred the famous chef or maitre d was saying there about the way it was campaigned, some images

that were promoted of lots of men from africa and middle east coming across europe was that prophetic or was it whistleblowing? well i mean, i think it's a fair argument that you take control of your borders i >>i >> i mean, you may argue that the government hasn't done very well in controlling the borders. i think that's a fair argument. but but the british government and the british people take full responsibility. now for immigration policy, whether they want more or whether they want less . whereas before, with less. whereas before, with freedom of movement throughout the european union , the whole of the european union, the whole of the european union, the whole of the european union took control . the european union took control. >> well, this poster here, which says must says at the bottom, we must break free of the and take break free of the eu and take back of presumably of back control of presumably of our borders behind us, his arm. i mean, the reality is there's been a disaster because immigration has got far worse since left the european. since we left the european. >> no, but you still had control of borders. not of the borders. it's not a question of the numbers. it's a

question of the numbers. it's a question of the numbers. it's a question of whether you have control. haven't control. well, we haven't got control. well, we haven't got control . way have control. the way you have exercised control. i mean, it's another question. >> we haven't got control. i mean, i mean, i'm not going to defend the european union. we had an agreement, the belfast agreement, which allowed in agreement, which allowed us in principle principle, the principle and in principle, the dubun principle and in principle, the dublin , the dublin dublin agreed dublin, the dublin dublin agreed to allow the wrong part of ireland to return people the ireland to return people to the other european. >> the dublin agreement, you know , has completely collapsed. know, has completely collapsed. there about . there were only about. >> was there, but it was it. >> it never worked. >> it never worked. >> and just on your story, your point, by the way, i should say that congratulations you that congratulations to you and your the free your colleagues because the free trade deal with australia is hugely beneficial to australia and for british and very bad for british farmers. >> hang on. what do you what do you mean that? you mean by that? >> consumers. what about the people know, the battlers, people you know, the battlers, the people on lower incomes who have to cheaper food? you have access to cheaper food? you want them to pay more for their food . i want you want to push up food. i want you want to push up their prices . i don't want. and their prices. i don't want. and yet you've had a huge inflation problem and you want to drive up

inflation further. i don't inflation still further. i don't want to push rent want to push subsidise rent seeking . seeking. >> i don't want to push our farmers and fishermen of farmers and fishermen out of business. you're saying. >> they're not going to be put out bad. out well, are bad. >> do produce such >> i mean, do they produce such bad products? nobody will know. they produce. they produce by they from australia. >> they produce them very high animal welfare standards which are elsewhere in animal welfare standards which are world. elsewhere in the world. >> it's an interesting argument you're though, you're making, norman, though, because argument is because the argument that is being put across there is that too many tariffs came down and that's bad for uk farmers because now they're exposed to all this competition. yes, but if these tariffs are coming down, surely that means the food is getting cheaper and that's good the consumer. well, you good for the consumer. well, you know the population know that the british population at judging by opinion at large judging by opinion polls and by what politicians say against, for say, are hugely against, for example , american products example, american products coming food market, which coming in the food market, which are to huge hormone are subject to huge hormone injections and everything else. >> and the objective that they want high animal welfare standards therefore , do standards and therefore, do brits eating american brits object to eating american food america? food when they visit america? they gm food. if you they object to gm food. if you look the opinion oh,

look at the opinion polls, oh, it's sounding a bit conspiratorial . conspiratorial. >> you're talking about opinion polls, you have a look at polls, but you have a look at what people do when they go to the well i mean, the shops. well i mean, let's let's say you're on a low income . let's just imagine that i am pathetical situation . pathetical situation. >> if you were on a low income, we could talk all day about this. >> hello, welcome to your latest gb news weather update from the met office. with me, annie shuttleworth . it will turn shuttleworth. it will turn sunnier for many through today as the cloud slowly clears and it will stay dry as well. that's because we've got high pressure dominating out to the southwest. but ridge will extend across but the ridge will extend across much uk throughout today. much of the uk throughout today. there weather front up to there is a weather front up to the north—west, though that's already thicken already starting to thicken cloud across north western parts of scotland. elsewhere though, the lift through the cloud will lift through today stay today and it will stay relatively dry . any showers will relatively dry. any showers will tend to fade away across eastern areas leave many of us with areas to leave many of us with a fine or autumnal day. highs of around 11 or 12 degrees just above average for the time of yeah above average for the time of year. a slightly cooler feel

after that chillier start across the north and west though then through tonight, it'll stay dry. still across the bulk of the uk, across wales and england, we could see some mist and fog patches, particularly across the far south. it'll be a chillier night here as well. a different story further north across northern ireland. much of scotland, that rain really starting to arrive. it will be breezy as well and that will hold temperatures so hold temperatures up. so a milder night to come despite the wind and rain and then throughout wednesday, we'll see that rain continue to persist across the bulk of scotland. the breeze will continue to stay strong, particularly across coastal day coastal areas. a cloudier day further south, but still some sunshine to be had and it will stay dry for many of us down here as well. temperatures

>> good afternoon, britain . >> good afternoon, britain. welcome back to the show. now we've got a lot coming up this houn we've got a lot coming up this hour. we do get back to work. >> prime minister rishi sunak will reportedly end the national scandal of 2 million people languishing on out of work benefits . benefits. >> too little, too late or too much too soon, sir chris whitty has said we should have locked down sooner. but is he right ? down sooner. but is he right? and what are the growing divisions between the top scientists? we'll bring you the very from the covid very latest from the covid inquiry >> and police under fire. lancashire police were wrong to reveal intimate details of nicola mental health and

nicola bullies mental health and drinking habits after she disappeared. a landmark review into the police's handling of the case has concluded . the case has concluded. >> koreans in town. king charles and queen camilla will formally welcome the president and first lady of south korea to the uk ahead of trade talks with the 13th biggest economy in the world . world. and well, we've been saying it all afternoon. there's so much news going on, not least the covid inquiry where sir chris whitty , inquiry where sir chris whitty, who is still the chief medical officer for the government, has been before those inquiry lawyers today. and the very latest line is that chris whitty was saying the government couldn't be confident that the pubuc couldn't be confident that the public would follow the rules as if they were implemented . if they were implemented. >> this is quite interesting because a lot of people say that the public had already changed and adapted their behaviour for

when we heard of this virus. if you cast your mind back to pre the first lockdown before we'd had that shock announcement from the government that were the government that we were in fact going to stay in fact going to have to stay in our for two weeks. was it? yeah. >> well, three weeks to flatten the curve initially, three weeks. >> and then it went on and on and on. as we as we know, we don't need to go over that. but pubuc had don't need to go over that. but public had already public behaviour had already changed. course some changed. but of course some people and sweden carried on in that vein. >> do you know dominic cummings actually in his actually referenced this in his evidence inquiry. said evidence to the inquiry. he said that the people that to some extent the people were ahead of the politicians because cause there was that weird period where actually people like patrick vallance, sir patrick vallance, the chief scientific officer, were going on saying , oh, we on the television saying, oh, we shouldn't closing everything shouldn't be closing everything now the now we need to wait for the right do meanwhile, right point to do it. meanwhile, lots european countries lots of other european countries were closing and some people in the united kingdom were taking their children of school, their children out of school, were going to work were stopping, going to work in person. think so much ahead of person. i think so much ahead of the politicians. >> think so much of it came >> i think so much of it came down to peer pressure and

politics and public perception. and want to know whether there and i want to know whether there was adequate cost benefit analysis of all the restrictions that were imposed . and it that were imposed. and it appears as though there wasn't . appears as though there wasn't. instead, we've got a lot of name calls and passing the buck , in calls and passing the buck, in my humble opinion. anyway, let's get to the headlines with sophia . good afternoon. >> it's 1:02. . good afternoon. >> it's1:02. i'm sophia wenzler in the newsroom. officers are searching for four young teenagers who've been missing in the north of wales since sunday morning have found the car they were travelling in. jevon hurst, harvey owen , wolf henderson and harvey owen, wolf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have beenin hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and porthmadog area of gwynedd for a camping trip north wales police says its officers are currently at the location and the families of those involved have been informed and it's being reported a deal between hamas and israel could see 50 israeli hostages

released and fighting paused for days. released and fighting paused for days . the leaders of the leader days. the leaders of the leader of hamas terror group who is based in qatar , released based in qatar, released a statement this morning raising hopes of a pause in the fighting . negotiations are said to be centring on how long the truce may last. and details a may last. and details of a prisoner exchange that could see the release of israeli hostages as israel not commented on as israel has not commented on the reports, however, us president joe biden says a deal is close . the government's most is close. the government's most senior medical adviser during the pandemic is giving evidence at the covid inquiry. sir chris whitty described the mantra of following the science as being a milestone around his neck that blurred the lines between science and politics. he also told the inquiry that with the benefit of hindsight, the first lockdown in march 2020 was a bit too late . he was cautious about too late. he was cautious about locking down the country in the early days of the pandemic, he said, due to its potential impact on disadvantaged people and those living alone . and those living alone. >> one of the problems i had in thinking this through was i

thinking this through was i think some people were thinking that this was just a matter of getting through a few weeks and then we're out and then it's all fine. my view is you have to think about this over the course of epidemic a whole . and of the epidemic as a whole. and that going to go on that was clearly going to go on for a lot longer. hence why we put so much emphasis, for example, is example, on research. my view is always that you were only going to get to a situation you would not have to consider npis for the sake of argument . once you'd the sake of argument. once you'd got medical countermeasures , got medical countermeasures, government borrowing was higher than expected in october , than expected in october, reportedly due to cost of living payments and benefits. >> the office for national statistics says public sector net borrowing stood at £149 net borrowing stood at £14.9 billion last month. that's 4.4 billion last month. that's 4.4 billion more than a year before . billion more than a year before. the chancellor says that while the government has reduced inflation, more work is needed to achieve the bank of england's goal of 2. lang lancashire police has been criticised for its handling of the

disappearance of nicola bully. a review found failings in the way personal information about ms bullies health struggles was disclosed to the press, which contributed to wild speculation. it said that non—reportable background information should have been provided to the media to help shape responsible reporting without disclosing sensitive information. speaking at a press conference to discuss the report, chief constable andy marsh admitted the way the police released the information was needless . was needless. >> one of the decisions which is arguably the most significant impact on public confidence , was impact on public confidence, was the release of personal information about nicola's health. we found that due process was followed in this decision and that it was lawful . decision and that it was lawful. but we were in no doubt that releasing this information in the manner the constabulary did was both avoidable and unnecessary . russia says it unnecessary. russia says it cannot coexist with ukraine and it will push back against nato for as long as it needs to . for as long as it needs to. >> it comes as ukrainian counter

offensive failed to make significant gains this year against russian forces with troops currently trying to gain a foothold on the eastern bank of the dnipro river, russia now controls nearly 18% of ukraine's internal nationally recognised territory, including crimea, which was annexed in 2014. the bbc is resting the hit motor show top gear for the foreseeable future following a crash that left host andrew flintoff seriously injured. the 45 year old was taken to hospital last december after he was injured in an accident in surrey. the bbc says a health and safety review will be carried out, but it would be wouldn't be appropriate to continue the series . the king continue the series. the king and queen have welcomed the south korean president at horseguards parade . these horseguards parade. these pictures came to us a short time ago outside buckingham palace , ago outside buckingham palace, where the royal couple are hosting young—sook yul and his wife. it's the first incoming state visit since the king's coronation and the second of his reign. a state banquet will take

place this evening, which is set to host 170 guests. this is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on your digital radio, and on your smart speaker. by saying play gb news. now it's back to tom and . emily back to tom and. emily >> welcome back . now, as we were >> welcome back. now, as we were discussing before , professor discussing before, professor chris whitty is continuing to give evidence at the covid 19 inquiry. the latest line is that the government couldn't be confident the public would follow the rules. it's something we heard before this idea perhaps of fatigue with regard to the rules that dominic cummings was referring to several weeks before. yes. >> so his greatly anticipated appearance comes a day after former chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance accused england's chief medical officer of being a delaying tsar over lockdown. and then chancellor rishi sunak of being okay with just letting people die of

covid. well let's get the very latest now with gb news presenter pip tomson and what's chris whitty been saying now for. >> hi there, tom. he's been speaking for some three hours at this inquiry . england's chief this inquiry. england's chief medical officer, but also at also described once as england's geekin also described once as england's geek in chief. now what he's had to say has been interesting because there was suggestions yesterday when sir patrick vallance gave evidence that there was a little bit of a tension between the two of them over the timing of lockdown and when those restrictions should come in. and the suggestion was, was that sir chris whitty was a bit of a delayer. now he's rejected claims that he was against lockdown. he said he was more cautious about locking down the country in the early days of the country in the early days of the pandemic because of its potential impact just have a listen to this . listen to this. >> i did have a stronger concern, i would say, than some that the biggest impacts of

everything we did and i was confident we were going to have to do them. to be clear. but when we started the disadvantages of all the actions, not just full lockdown, but other actions before that , but other actions before that, for example, what was initially called cocooning and then shielding as an example , shielding as an example, stopping schooling is another. the biggest impacts of those would be in areas of deprivation and those in difficulties and those living and so on. so those living alone and so on. so i was very aware that we essentially had two different things. we were trying to balance the risk of going too early, in which case you get all the damages from this with actually fairly minimal impact on the epidemic and the risk of going too late, in which case you get all the problems of the pandemic running away. now, as we i'm sure come on to my view is with the benefit of hindsight, we went a bit too late on the first wave and it was the face, wasn't it, that we came to know only too well dunng came to know only too well during those covid briefings? >> sir chris whitty on one side,

sir patrick vallance on the other, and boris johnson , the other, and boris johnson, the former prime minister in the middle. so chris whitty became somewhat a national figure somewhat of a national figure and why he's had to and this is why what he's had to say been so fascinating as say has been so fascinating as well. something else he told the inquiry that with the inquiry earlier is that with the benefit of hindsight, that first lockdown in march 2020 was, in his words, a bit too late . he his words, a bit too late. he said. i was probably further towards let's think through the disadvantages here before we act. and he also wanted to make sure that in giving any advice, ministers were aware of both sides of the equation. now, in the last few minutes as well. he's also been talking about former prime minister boris johnson saying that mrjohnson johnson saying that mr johnson made decisions in a way that were unique to him and the inquiry counsel hugo keith qc said there was clear evidence that the former prime minister had a difficulty in reaching clear, consistent positions with ample evidence relating to oscillation or backing and

veering. so when asked if he witnessed this, sir chris whitty said the way mr johnson took decisions was unique to him. now mr keith kc pushed, pushed sir chris whitty , a little bit more chris whitty, a little bit more on this and he added. sir chris whitty that's mr johnson on this and he added. sir chris whitty that's mrjohnson has whitty that's mr johnson has quite a distinct style, but lots of other people have got quite distinct styles . and then he distinct styles. and then he said that his role was not to make commentaries on individual politicians while sir chris whitty will be speaking to the inquiry, we think for the rest of the afternoon tomorrow, it is the turn of his deputy, sir jonathan van—tam and then next month will be the turn of boris johnson, former prime minister and the current prime minister rishi sunak. what we haven't heard yet is anything about the eat out to help out scheme . what eat out to help out scheme. what sir chris whitty thought about that. we'll be hearing more, i expect , this afternoon. expect, this afternoon. >> well, pip, we look forward to it. an absolutely fascinating thing how the code inquiry

lawyer there is trying to get him to after boris johnson him to go after boris johnson keeping questions about keeping asking questions about bofis keeping asking questions about boris rather than boris johnson rather than perhaps or indeed perhaps structures or indeed wider clinical advice or indeed disagreement between scientists. but pippa will be back with you a little bit later in the program. thank you. >> so you think he's doing that on purpose then, tom? >> i think they've potentially what inquiry is doing what the covid inquiry is doing is need a point is thinking we need a point person we villain here person. we need a villain here in this show, and we're going to pin it all on boris johnson. and it's interesting, when dominic cummings a couple of weeks ago tried them to look at tried to get them to look at what was saying in february what sage was saying in february and early march, which was very different to what sage the scientific advisory group was saying, perhaps even a month later. the fact that the scientists were changing their minds so much in those early days of the pandemic , i don't days of the pandemic, i don't think been looked at in think has been looked at in a great level of detail . but i great level of detail. but i think by this inquiry, i think it's becoming quite clear that the people at the top in charge perhaps didn't know what to do.

>> they didn't know whether to lock down. they didn't know whether it was a novel coronavirus. they didn't know what to do. and perhaps boris johnson, if he's guilty of anything, was guilty of not leading from the front and making those key decisions and sticking by them. but we'll continue to bring you updates there johnson, gb news there from pip johnson, gb news presenter. now the eco group everyone loves to hate, or perhaps most of us love hate perhaps most of us love to hate just oil is taking the just stop oil is taking to the streets today part of streets again today as part of its take to the streets protest. >> well, that would make sense, wouldn't group vowed wouldn't it? the group has vowed it protect protest every it would protect protest every day until it wins. so let's go live live now to the protest and speak to gb news reporter ray addison rae, we saw swift police action with you yesterday. have we seen similar this afternoon ? we seen similar this afternoon? >> yeah, definitely today. police even quicker today than they were potentially yesterday. very bit of a damp squib really for just stop oil today here on rainy whitehall . only nine

rainy whitehall. only nine activists actually took part in today's demonstration , today's demonstration, considerably down from the 15 that were arrested on yesterday's protest . and they yesterday's protest. and they will no doubt be disappointed with that. they've obviously put in a call to the whole of the united kingdom, asking people to come far and to take come from far and wide to take part in this seven days of action. if yesterday was disappointing, then today must be classified from their perspective as an absolute disaster . one person notable disaster. one person notable attendee who did not take part in the actual protest on the roads but was there to lend his support, i was told, is jonathan porritt. he's the former co—chair of the green party, former director of friends of the earth, and of course has given advice for over 30 years to king charles on environmental issues . he's reportedly helping issues. he's reportedly helping with some of the financing for just stop oil. and he was to here speak to some of the members. but as i said, he didn't actually go onto the roads here. now, when the just stop oil activists actually got themselves onto whitehall. the

police ready and waiting police were ready and waiting for them. now, personally , i'd for them. now, personally, i'd expected to maybe go a expected them to maybe go a different surprise, try different route or surprise, try and surprise the police a little bit . absolutely not. they just bit. absolutely not. they just did exactly the same as they did yesterday . headed straight for yesterday. headed straight for whitehall, headed and headed straight for whitehall and they walked down here. they were issued with that section seven nofice issued with that section seven notice and arrested within 30s or so of starting that protest. there was a little bit of a comedy moment because when they actually came onto the road, half of the protesters pointed the other way and the other half were pointing down towards parliament. it looked like they hadnt parliament. it looked like they hadn't even discussed which way they were actually going to do they were actually going to do the protest. so they might want to about that future. to think about that in future. like i said, all arrested within a minute so , members of the a minute or so, members of the pubuc a minute or so, members of the public were applauding. there arrest. woman came over to arrest. one woman came over to a member of the public, came over, shouted in somebody's face, get a job. and of course , as as they a job. and of course, as as they were being arrested, several

would just went flopping into the road. they were lifted and shifted onto the side of the pavement here. and i managed to catch up with one of the women being this what she being arrested. this is what she had . being arrested. this is what she hacmarch. . >> march. >> march. >> i marched because our government licensing 100 new government is licensing 100 new oil and gas fields. government is licensing 100 new oil and gas fields . they are oil and gas fields. they are maxing out the uk's oil reserves . this is criminal. it's going to result in absolute catastrophe . the death of catastrophe. the death of millions of people . it really is millions of people. it really is that bad . somebody needs to tell that bad. somebody needs to tell the public the truth that this is what is happening. they're not taking enough action on climate. they're completely ignonng climate. they're completely ignoring the wishes of the british people . 60% of the british people. 60% of the pubuc british people. 60% of the public want tougher action on climate and they're completely being ignored. and we have no opfion being ignored. and we have no option politics broken . option. politics is broken. >> so there as you can see, a range of views here from the just stop oil supporters. they're disappointed that we're not all talking more about the actual issues, why they're protesting . obviously, they want protesting. obviously, they want to stop all new oil and gas licenses. however because a lot

of the focus is on the protest. you can see the last police van there moving away , taking those there moving away, taking those protesters off to be protest processed and possibly charged . processed and possibly charged. and so, yeah, much less of a circus today. and much fewer supporters as well. >> amazing how a little bit of rain will perhaps turn a protest into a damp squib. but a fascinating out of the whole country. out of 70 million people, just nine, just nine appearing on whitehall. right >> thank you very much, ray addison there, our gb news reporter . do you know what reporter. do you know what i think it is? i think it's well, firstly, two things. just stop oil has probably lost quite a lot of its initial popularity. and second of all, it's quite a packed schedule when it comes to protests at moment because protests at the moment because on you have on saturday you have pro—palestine protests which dominate whitehall. so if you rock up with your just stop oil you're going much you're not going to get much attention there. then on attention there. and then on sunday, also anti sunday, we have also anti anti—semitism marches planned, particularly for this weekend.

so i wonder if that's why just stop oil chose to do this weekday thing. they are going become a bit of a flop. >> they are going up the >> they are going up to the weekend but i do think weekend as well. but i do think that you're a sort a that if you're a sort of a progressive type who likes to do the thing, the trendy protest thing, perhaps on. perhaps things have moved on. perhaps. see some perhaps. i mean, we did see some of stop oil of those just stop oil protesters little palestine protesters with little palestine pins . perhaps pins on their lapels. perhaps that's just the cause celeb at the moment. and even the curious and spurious claims that millions of people will die because we're digging out a bit more oil , i'm because we're digging out a bit more oil, i'm not sure, but it may be the rain. >> may be the rain. who knows ? >> but 7 >> but plenty more ? >> but plenty more happening today as well . perhaps something today as well. perhaps something slightly more important . the slightly more important. the king and queen have officially welcomed the president of south korea and the first lady of that country to buckingham palace. yes, members of the royal family, including the prince and princess of wales, will host a state banquet that's at the palace this evening in their honoun >> it's the first incoming state visit. charles and camilla have held since the king's coronation

>> well, our gb news royal correspondent , >> well, our gb news royal correspondent, cameron walker, can us more . he's at can tell us much more. he's at buckingham and, cameron, buckingham palace and, cameron, ihope buckingham palace and, cameron, i hope that the rain hasn't dampened the spirits of this visit . it . visit. it. >> oh, i don't think so, tom. it's an incredibly busy day for the royal family of course, it's their power of soft diplomacy in action here. it's the state visit of the south korean president , president yoon suk president, president yoon suk yeol, and the first lady. of course, we have to remember, it's the government and the foreign that decides to foreign office that decides to organise these state visits and perhaps with good reason, because we've two because we've had two announcements the announcements from the government . this morning's government. this morning's coincide and coincide with the pomp and pageantry associated pageantry that's associated with the family and the british the royal family and the british military here in london. the first of all is the announcement that the uk and south korean governments will be taking part in trade talks . business in trade talks. business secretary kemi badenoch and her counterpart are expected to be at mansion house on wednesday day at the uk. korea business

forum, as well as that they have announced the uk government and south korean government that they're going to be jointly jointly announcing new sanctions on north korea to try and stop their illegal weapons program there. but of course, it started off with an official welcome from the head of state here in the united kingdom, his majesty king charles iii at horseguards parade . and the only way we know parade. and the only way we know how really military pomp and pageantry is. so the ceremonial welcome with a royal salute undertaken by the scots guards, the king and president of and the king and president of and the president of south korea. and in inspected the troops at horse guards parade, the prince and princess of wales had taken the president and first lady from the hotel to horse guards parade . and i have to say the parade. and i have to say the princess of wales has become a bit of an internet sensation . bit of an internet sensation. this morning. she was wearing a striking red cape and coats by catherine walker and a matching hat by jane taylor. well, after that ceremonial welcome, they travelled back up the mall in

carriages and members of the royal family and dignitaries from south korea to buckingham palace, where there was a guard, an honour guard of honour presented to them in the quadrangle by the first battalion welsh guards . at the battalion welsh guards. at the moment, the royal family and the president and first are president and first lady are having private lunch inside having a private lunch inside the expected to the palace. they're expected to also view some items in the royal collection related to south korea . later on today. the south korea. later on today. the president will be heading to the palace of westminster to talk to some politicians. and then, of course, tonight , a magnificent course, tonight, a magnificent state banquet , course, tonight, a magnificent state banquet, a course, tonight, a magnificent state banquet , a white course, tonight, a magnificent state banquet, a white tie affair with tiaras and all the rest of it. and to just end on a bit of a lighter note, during the state visit of south korea to the states in april, to the united states in april, president biden asked to president biden asked him to sing american pie sing a bit of american pie because president of south because the president of south korea very keen on karaoke . so korea very keen on karaoke. so will we be seeing rendition of something british tonight? we'll wait see. i'm not sure wait and see. i'm not sure buckingham palace quite that buckingham palace is quite that modern, might bit of fun. >> goodness me. during the pandemic, we heard about pandemic, we heard a lot about karaoke machines in 10. karaoke machines in number 10. i

wonder buckingham palace has wonder if buckingham palace has a in one of those a couple in one of those magnificent rooms. >> not? why not? thank you >> why not? why not? thank you very much indeed. cameron walker , there , our royal correspondent there from rather buckingham from a rather damp buckingham palace. dampened spirits palace. but no dampened spirits there. and autumn statement coming tomorrow . yes, of course. coming tomorrow. yes, of course. we're going to talk to liam halligan halligan, our economics and editor , about and business editor, about whether be cuts . whether there could be tax cuts. >> absolutely. big u—turns perhaps from this government. more to in just a moment

>> the camilla tominey show sunday mornings from 930 on. gb news is .

news is. >> welcome back. good afternoon , >> welcome back. good afternoon, britain. now jeremy hunt will deliver his much anticipated autumn statement tomorrow, with the chancellor expected to make huge announcements on welfare reforms, pensions and even tax cuts, possibly . cuts, possibly. >> the prime minister has stipulated that now inflation is halved and growth is on the up. his focus will turn to cutting taxes, though he did say responsibly or sustainably or carefully, i can't remember exactly what his words were, but it was along that vein. so don't get too excited. but with the view to boost economic growth and reward hard work . yes, he and reward hard work. yes, he says in a measured way, we'll 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 . budget responsibility. >> and we can't do everything all at once. >> it will take discipline and

we need to prioritise. >> but over time we can and we will cut taxes as pretty unequivocal. >> there from the prime minister. well, let's make sense of it now. joining us is our economics and business editor liam halligan with on the money . liam halligan with on the money. now . liam, liam halligan with on the money. now. liam, it's only a day until we hear this statement, but i can't remember whether an autumn statement that has had perhaps this much anticipation before it could it really represent a turning point for this government . government. >> number 10, a number 11 will be hoping so. >> and they need some kind of turning point. don't they, when you're 20 points behind in the opinion when you've opinion polls, when you've sacked your home secretary and a lot of your backbenchers are lot of your own backbenchers are talking about putting in unbelievably more letters of no confidence in the leader , confidence in the leader, possibility of yet another prime

ministerial change. i kid you not so downing street will be hoping it's a turning point and it's a turning point also in the sense that they've done what we call in journalism a reverse ferret. it was only a week ago that prime minister and the that the prime minister and the chancellor saying, chancellor were saying, oh, there's could possibly there's no way we could possibly responsibly cuts that responsibly do tax cuts that would be irresponsible, that would be irresponsible, that would provoke inflation. the pubuc would provoke inflation. the public finances can't take it. now it seems that the only responsible way forward is to do tax cuts. and i do think there'll be tax cuts tomorrow. i think there'll be tax cuts, not just on business. i think there'll be the extension of what we call full expense , what we call full expense, saying when businesses can offset their investments against their corporation tax bill, investments in new factory equipment , investments in new factory equipment, new technology and so on, that's for good big business. it's not so good for small businesses because you've got to fund those investments up front. and a small front. and a lot of small businesses, balance sheets businesses, their balance sheets are pretty hammered post are still pretty hammered post lockdown given the cost of lockdown and given the cost of living crisis. so i think there'll be some kind of reform

on as well , that on business rates as well, that they are the payments that businesses make on the values of their premises. a lot of in—person retailers, if you like, high street retailers, suffer from business rates because the tech giants , the because the tech giants, the onune because the tech giants, the online retailers don't pay those business rates, obviously, because they exist virtually . because they exist virtually. and so i think there'll be something there for the high street. i was recently in chelmsford. we've been running my film today, even a relatively prosperous part of britain in north in essex. there just north—east of london, about 30 miles. and lots of traders as lots of retailers, lots of consumers really are struggling . consumers really are struggling. and i think because consumers are still struggling, because there is still a sense that this cost of living crisis is with us because there's no feel good factor . i do because there's no feel good factor. i do there'll because there's no feel good factor . i do there'll be factor. i do think there'll be personal tax cuts, too, whether there'll be a nounced now to be introduced in april, the new fiscal year , or whether there be fiscal year, or whether there be a media or relatively immediate. i don't know, maybe the

chancellor may unfreeze some of those tax thresholds that have been dragging more and more people into higher rates of tax. maybe he'll even read my newspaper column on sunday and raise the starting rate of tax from about 12,500 pounds to £20,000 in order to try and get the really hundreds of thousands of economically inactive people. we have people who haven't gone back to since making back to work since covid making work pay, so you don't start paying work pay, so you don't start paying tax until you earn about £20,000 a year. so so massive amounts of anticipation . tom, amounts of anticipation. tom, i completely agree with you. not only because there's so many possible proposals up in the air, but also because this is politically so important for the tories. if they're going to have any hope of even making a fist of the next general election, of having any kind of fair contest, they are running out of time to close that opinion poll, lead that labour has that commanding 20 point lead. so all eyes politically and economically on

the ultimate statement tomorrow we don't it'll be sometime in the middle of the day. lunchtime is what the treasury is telling us, probably after prime minister's questions. of minister's questions. and of course, covering it. course, we'll be covering it. belt right here on gb belt and braces right here on gb news. >> liam, do you think that this is what the public wants tax cuts? because from my from my perspective, i did think that actually rishi sunak was downplaying the prospect of big tax cuts, big changing tax tax cuts, big life changing tax cuts. he seemed to be talking that down slightly. but perhaps that's an expectation management more than anything else. but liam , is this what the country liam, is this what the country wants the government to focus on cutting taxes? because sometimes we see polling that shows people are actually more concerned with funding public services . funding for public services. liz, what do you know about that ? >> well, 7 >> well, labour certainly ? >> well, labour certainly think that the public wants tax cuts. that's why labour are trying to present themselves as the party of taxes and the tories as of lower taxes and the tories as the party of high taxes. of lower taxes and the tories as the party of high taxes . of the party of high taxes. of course there'll be there'll be some people who worry more about the funding of public services ,

the funding of public services, people at the lower end of the income spectrum less income spectrum who pay less tax, vulnerable households for obvious reasons and fair play to them because this is a democracy and we all have our opinions. i think in general, though, there's a sense that taxation is too high and it is at a 70 year high as a share of gdp and in the end , you know, britain is the end, you know, britain is a broadly small c conservative country. that's why in my lifetime the tories have been in power so much, many more years than the labour party. so i do think i don't think there'll be big tax cuts. emily i think there'll be a little kind of taste test of more tax cuts to come , but he has to do something come, but he has to do something to signal to his party and to millions of swing voters that will determine the next election. that he gets it. and he thinks taxes are too high and he thinks taxes are too high and he thinks taxes are too high and he thinks ordinary people should be keep more of their be able to keep more of their own money. >> now, liam, you're right about how the country thinks. there's >> now, liam, you're right about how the adage ry thinks. there's >> now, liam, you're right about how the adage ry thinilasthere's the old adage of the last 11 elections. you're labour elections. if you're the labour party gone lose, party, it's gone lose, lose, lose, lose . blair, blair, blair,

lose, lose. blair, blair, blair, lose, , lose, lose. so lose, lose, lose, lose. so there's something about whatever happens, though. conservatism, whatever happens, they'll try and package if it's and package it up as if it's a big win for everyone, a big fat give away. >> but we'll come back that >> but we'll come back to that after headlines with severe . after the headlines with severe. >> thanks, emily. it's 133. after the headlines with severe. >> thanks, emily. it's133. i'm sophia wenzler in the newsroom . sophia wenzler in the newsroom. officers searching for four young teenagers who have been missing in the north of wales since sunday morning have found the car they were travelling in japan. the car they were travelling in japan . hurst, harvey, irwin, japan. hurst, harvey, irwin, wilf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and porthmadog area of gwynedd for a camping trip. nonh gwynedd for a camping trip. north wales police says its officers are currently at the location and the families of those involved have been informed . israel's prime informed. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu says progress is being made on a deal that could see 50 israeli hostages released and fighting paused for days. the leader of

the hamas terror group, who is based in qatar, released a statement this morning raising hopes of a pause in the fighting near associations are said to be centring on how long the truce may last and details of a prisoner exchange that could see the release of israeli hostages as the government's most senior medical adviser during the pandemic is giving evidence that the covid inquiry sir chris whitty, described the mantra of following the silence science as being a millstone around his neck that blurred the lines between science and politics. he also told the inquiry that the benefit of hindsight that the first lockdown in march 2020 was a bit too late, he was cautious about locking down the country in the early days of the pandemic, he said , due to its pandemic, he said, due to its potential impact on disadvantaged people and those living , the king and queen living alone, the king and queen have welcomed the south korean president at horseguards parade . president at horseguards parade. these pictures came to us a short time ago from buckingham palace , where the royal couple palace, where the royal couple are hosting yoon suk yeol and his wife . it's the first

his wife. it's the first incoming state visit since the king's coronation and the second of his reign . a state banquet of his reign. a state banquet will take place this evening, which is set to host 170 guests and you can get more on all those stories by visiting our website at gbnews.com . website at gb news.com. >> website at gbnews.com. >> for a valuable legacy , your >> for a valuable legacy, your family can own gold coins will always shine bright . rosalind always shine bright. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . news financial report. >> and here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2550 and ,1.1455. the price of gold is £1,587.57 per ounce. and the ftse 100 is at 7448 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial

report . report. >> well, coming up after the break, we're going to be joined by the political editor of the daily express , sam lister, and daily express, sam lister, and the former labour mp simon danczuk. don't go anywhere

monday to thursdays from. six till 930 . till 930. >> good afternoon, britain. thank you for joining >> good afternoon, britain. thank you forjoining us. emily thank you for joining us. emily carver and tom harwood . but carver and tom harwood. but joining us now in the studio is political editor at the daily

express. sam lister, and the former labour mp, simon danczuk. thank you very much for joining us. it's fantastic to have you. so we've been talking a lot about the covid inquiry and i'm sure you haven't been watching absolutely detail the absolutely every detail from the past days , but a few past couple of days, but a few things have come to light here. what do you think about the whole inquiry itself? do you believe it's helping us find the answers to the questions we want to know? answers to the questions we want to ino,r? answers to the questions we want to imo, i think it's totally unnecessary. >> it's far too long, >> i think it's far too long, far too detailed, and should far too detailed, and it should be and much shorter be much quicker and much shorter for than what is . for exercise than what it is. and what, when during and who said what, when during the pandemic. i think we just giving it far too much attention and far too much detail. giving it far too much attention and far too much detail . well, and far too much detail. well, that's my reaction to it, to be honest. >> interesting >> it's interesting because it seems that there are very odd parts being focussed on. i parts of it being focussed on. i mean, yesterday with patrick vallance, they only got about half way through the pandemic and up and went and then they closed up and went and then they closed up and went and went away. i wonder, and it all went away. i wonder, it seems on some things they're really dwelling on potentially on cummings swearing and on dominic cummings swearing and then on the substantive

then perhaps on the substantive issues, we're not getting that much issues, we're not getting that mu no, i feel a bit like there's >> no, i feel a bit like there's an awful lot of posh lawyers getting thrill out of getting a cheap thrill out of saying very rude words on tv. and actually not an awful lot is being learned . i mean, most of being learned. i mean, most of the stuff that's come out of this inquiry so far are things that you could have read a year ago in the national newspapers. so actually learning so what are we actually learning from the only people from this? the only people really this are really benefiting from this are the lawyers who make an awful lot of out this. lot of money out of this. i think it should think simon's right. it should be very short, tailored. we be very short, very tailored. we should lessons, not should be learning lessons, not just who what just going over who said what to who ago, two years who a year ago, two years ago. >> we're presented with >> also, we're presented with these diary entries from, well, now years ago and whatsapp messages. and we're supposed to take them as serious evidence of one thing and another. can you really heat of the moment diary entries ? if i looked back at entries? if i looked back at some of my diary entries, i know it's different . and of course, it's different. and of course, these are serious people these are very serious people who expertise in their who have expertise in their area. but even so , diary area. but even so, diary entries. you're looking at me

very confused, i think diary entries and whatsapps are much better evidence than having people sit and try and remember what they were thinking two years ago. >> know through the period of >> i know through the period of covid i probably changed my covid that i probably changed my mind on some things as the pandemic went i think it pandemic went on. and i think it is quite clear that some of the scientists who've before is quite clear that some of the sciepanelwho've before is quite clear that some of the sciepanelwho'of before is quite clear that some of the sciepanelwho'of saying,3fore is quite clear that some of the sciepanelwho'of saying, oh, the panel sort of saying, oh, i always thought that should always thought that we should lock whereas lock down much sooner, whereas actually the actually you look at the evidence was the evidence and it was the scientists saying don't lock. >> i'm talking more >> i think i'm talking more about that about diary entries that say, oh, know, rishi sunak was oh, you know, rishi sunak was happy to die. happy for people to die. >> but you're taking happy for people to die. >> as but you're taking happy for people to die. >> as though|t you're taking happy for people to die. >> as though you u're taking happy for people to die. >> as though you calledzing happy for people to die. >> as though you called itig this as though you called it evidence. but it's hearsay. that example what example is hearsay. it's what cummings said to one of the medical about somebody medical experts about somebody else. so it's not even we don't know if it's fact or not, do we? i think it's typically british for us to focus far too much and have too legalistic a view of these issues. and we should move on from it and do it quickly. well, in the spirit of moving on from it, why don't we move to something completely different ? something completely different? >> because there's been a bit of

consternation wales. consternation in wales. the welsh government, who usually are in concert with the trade unions, have been saying that perhaps we should have a much shorter summer holiday for schools, spread the holiday more over the years, not have this long period of time where people potentially forget what they learned the before . but the learned the year before. but the unions are saying this is a terrible idea, potentially because they to protect because they want to protect their there's a bit of because they want to protect tibattle there's a bit of because they want to protect tibattle here. there's a bit of a battle here. >> simon yeah, absolutely. and i'm favour of as i'm in favour of the idea as a parent. think it's a great parent. i think it's a great idea.the parent. i think it's a great idea. the weeks holiday, idea. the six weeks holiday, i don't my children would don't think my children would necessarily agree, but the six weeks is far long. weeks holiday is far too long. and it's a good idea to and i think it's a good idea to shorten it. and is quite shorten it. and that is quite a stretch. proposing to stretch. what it's proposing to do one into the do is put one week into the october term so that a two week houday october term so that a two week holiday so they're not getting kids to be at school more, they're just spreading it out a little bit. and i think that should be welcomed. think should be welcomed. i think we should be welcomed. i think we should uk. should do it across the uk. >> a lot teachers >> i mean, a lot of teachers say, don't they, that they need that long extended break not only and recuperate, that long extended break not onlyalso and recuperate, that long extended break not onlyalso to and recuperate, that long extended break not onlyalso to go nd recuperate, that long extended break not onlyalso to go through»erate, that long extended break not onlyalso to go through allte, that long extended break not

onlyalso to go through all their but also to go through all their lesson planning for the next yeah lesson planning for the next year. and to you know, get a nice long holiday , get their nice long holiday, get their ducksin nice long holiday, get their ducks in a row. and it's an extremely stressful job. they always remind us that it is not just the hours that they're paid for that they work, course , for that they work, of course, this the teacher. this depends on the teacher. some more are more hard some will be more are more hard working others . but where working than others. but where do stand on debate? do you stand on this debate? well it's well i actually think it's probably not bad idea. probably not a bad idea. >> and actually, think for >> and actually, i think for people want to go on holiday people who want to go on holiday with children during with young children during the summer, it's, you know, it is beneficial. for other beneficial. but also for other people you're not clogging up people, you're not clogging up six weeks of summer with family holidays prices . so holidays and family prices. so i think there are benefits for lots of people there. i lots of people there. but i think is a symbol of what's think this is a symbol of what's to come you have a keir to come if you have a keir starmer government, obviously what wales at the what happens in wales at the moment seen moment is, is seen as a forerunner what will happen forerunner for what will happen in westminster if labour take power. this could be way well power. so this could be way well because have mark because you have mark drakeford's leadership in wales, so the conservatives often point to what mark drakeford's doing as an example of what keir starmer do. when you know, starmer will do. when you know, when power .

when he takes power. >> it's a mixed bag, isn't it, because he's been very controversial on, for example, very slow speed limits in just about every single urban area in wales. but but on this idea, i can see it being pretty popular elsewhere, particularly from an inequality point of view. you get perhaps people of wealth and means being sent off to nice summer camps over that long summer, getting the sort of stimulation and the education through other means, whereas there are real safeguarding concerns for some families over that long period away from having regular contact with educational staff. yeah i think children benefit from being in school . school. >> i think that's the reality of it. and the more they, the better for them. i think it's healthy and so it should be welcomed. i think a good welcomed. i think it's a good move, actually. it'll be interesting. i think it's come about in about because they were in coalition welsh coalition with the welsh nationalists it's of nationalists and so it's part of that has been that deal that this has been come to the fore. >> i remember as a child, i was desperate to back school desperate to go back to school by the, you know, the fifth

week, fourth week. week, the fourth week. >> i remember one >> yeah. no, i remember one particular summer holiday where >> yeah. no, i remember one pwas ular summer holiday where >> yeah. no, i remember one pwas just summer holiday where >> yeah. no, i remember one pwas just summerbored. y where >> yeah. no, i remember one pwas just summerbored. butlere i was just deathly bored. but i think i generally had enough activities. but you get to that certain age where you just get a bit too old for doing activities and then you just sort of sat there twiddling your thumbs. unless can kick ball unless you can kick a ball about, learning lessons. >> but that point, >> but there is that point, isn't that, you know, you >> but there is that point, isn't very at, you know, you >> but there is that point, isn't very lucky,| know, you >> but there is that point, isn't very lucky, obviouslyu >> but there is that point, isn't very lucky, obviously to were very lucky, obviously to have activities and have those activities to do and not kids do have that not all kids do have that and that a very long summer. and that is a very long summer. and i actually they talk about i think actually they talk about how are from less how some kids who are from less well—off families and don't have all those privileges can actually decline in their actually really decline in their educational attainment over that six week period because they're not having all these. yeah, if you you stimulating over you if you keep stimulating over that long period, if you keep having sort of conversations , having sort of conversations, you'll come back sort of topped up. >> yeah. whereas other people might decline. might might decline. that's a really point really important point i'm finding perhaps for the finding myself perhaps for the first my agreeing first time in my life agreeing with mark drakeford. >> there you >> well, there you go. >> well, there you go. >> a first for >> there's a first for everything . everything. >> sorry about, you >> well, i'm sorry about, you know, before too much agreement

on the panel breaks out, should we move on to another story? emily >> yes, i think we should. now, this is a bit of an interesting one, a controversial one. sam, i'll go to you first. >> yes, thank you. >> yes, thank you. >> footballer quits >> transgender footballer quits after rival teams refused to play after rival teams refused to play against her. so a transgender football footballer , transgender football footballer, male to female, playing and female members of the opposition teams simply refused to play with this transgender player. and now i believe she's decided that she has been discriminated against. and this may go further . yeah. >> so this is a story that's actually around that's taking place in my home town . it's place in my home town. it's rossington main ladies in doncaster . they're actually very doncaster. they're actually very supportive of the player. francesca needham . they've all francesca needham. they've all rallied round and they clearly feel she should be included in the team. but it's the opponents who've raised the complaint that they say that one player suffered a broken knee after a blocking shot from the particular player. trans player

involved . and so obviously this involved. and so obviously this goes to the heart is clearly there are sensitive issues around individual players in these kind of situations . but it these kind of situations. but it is a wider issue, isn't it? this is a wider issue, isn't it? this is about about what the sporting bodies do . how do they set the bodies do. how do they set the rules? what's fair to who? and so on. and so women's groups are saying actually women have the right to choose to play against other women. and that is fundamental . and i think that's fundamental. and i think that's very sensible, but it is very difficult in these situations. >> of course, the current policy isn't a blanket sort of if you say you're a woman, you can compete. there are rules about levels of testosterone the levels of testosterone in the system and an individual case by case assessment . no, tom, there case assessment. no, tom, there are these are the rules of the football association. >> born a male, you >> if you were born a male, you shouldn't be able to play in females football on a competitive level. i'm competitive level. surely i'm with this woman is with you because this woman is actually biological mum. actually a biological mum. >> that's the reality of it. so i'm on the side of the football opponents who are campaigning

not for her to play and i think that's absolutely right . it's that's absolutely right. it's a biological taken different proposals with this. >> i think it was diving that said if you'd gone through male puberty , you couldn't compete. said if you'd gone through male pub�*ofy , you couldn't compete. said if you'd gone through male pub�*of course couldn't compete. said if you'd gone through male pub�*of course ,ouldn't compete. said if you'd gone through male pub�*of course , there t compete. said if you'd gone through male pub�*of course , there are mpete. said if you'd gone through male pub�*of course , there are somee. but of course, there are some trans women who didn't go through male puberty, didn't have of male skeletal have the sort of male skeletal structure and went through a female puberty. would you say that be banned? that they should be banned? >> so , too. mean, i'm >> i think so, too. i mean, i'm no— >> i think so, too. i mean, i'm no expert on all the decisions. different sports associate persons have taken, but it seems to me that unfortunately, if you were born male, then you shouldn't compete in female sports, even even if you've not been through a even if you've not been through a male puberty, i mean, anyone would there i mean, anyone would know there are anyone that a for >> anyone would know that a for example, eight year old boy playing football against an eight year old girl. there's no difference at all. >> hang on. i think, you >> well, hang on. i think, you know, children stop playing against stop against boys. girls, stop playing boys. playing against boys. they're young , don't they? young, don't they? >> i think the >> yeah. i think it shows the importance of making a decision on one basis. on a one by one basis. >> i that's important. >> i think that's important.

>> i think that's important. >> mean, i think >> well, i mean, i think actually, i would say actually, we need blanket because we do need blanket rules because a basis is very a case by case basis is very difficult for the people involved. it becomes very personal. and actually, if you step and say anyone who has step back and say anyone who has been through male puberty or whatever suppressants they have taken to bring down testosterone levels and what have you always has an advantage, according to the experts, women haven't been through male puberty. yeah, well, possibly. i mean , that is well, possibly. i mean, that is i think that is a side issue, if i'm tom, because i think i'm honest, tom, because i think that small that is a very, very small number of and i don't number of people. and i don't think the because think that is the case because this in this this is somebody who in this instance is 30. and i don't think was really available think that was really available back person's child back in that person's child hood. so i think it is a very, very small side issue. but i think on the whole, women do have the right to choose to play women only sports. and it's not fair for women to have to have. yeah, men can decide the rules for them . for them. >> and i don't think these players , presumably who have players, presumably who have boycotted these matches are bigots necessarily . maybe it's

bigots necessarily. maybe it's just because they see an unfair advantage and they don't they don't feel that's fair. >> and this person is now threatening to take legal action against the football association. so perhaps we'll resolve it in compensation. >> and i think, again, i think that that goes to the fact that there aren't these clear rules that across the that are agreed across the board. we're sort of board. and we're in this sort of odd time where we haven't set clear rules that perhaps would would solve situations like this before they got to this point . before they got to this point. >> i think that is part of it. sorry, i was just going to say because clearly people on the team very strongly, very team feel very strongly, very supportive francesca needham . supportive of francesca needham. they to be they clearly want to be supportive, but this is why you have to take the individual out of it. it is about a set of parameters. it is about the principle of who can compete against a woman in a women's march. >> do you think there should be difference between sport difference between elite sport and sort of just five a side kick about perhaps less organised sport ? organised sport? >> the physiology is the same , >> the physiology is the same, isn't it? and the fear if you

are being approached by somebody who is physiologically bigger , who is physiologically bigger, stronger, faster , you know that stronger, faster, you know that woman, it doesn't matter if you were competing at the top of the sporting field or on a sunday league , the potential for you league, the potential for you know, difference and damage, you know, difference and damage, you know , i think part of the know, i think part of the problem here is a player suffered a broken knee. i mean, that can happen in any sporting scenario. but obviously there are differences in strength and physicality between men and women. and that's that's why we have separate sex categories. >> so even just beyond that point , just sort of people don't point, just sort of people don't want reality to be denied to them. and if they can see that, you know, as a biologically male was born that way, playing with the women and i don't think it's i understand your point, but do we and i understand your point about basis , but i about case by case basis, but i think is right there saying think sam is right there saying that a broad that actually we need a broad brush approach and that there should be other options for transgender of course transgender players of course there and of course, there should. and of course, they with their

they can play with their biological sex or perhaps in an open category. i know the open category. i don't know the answers, should we move answers, but should we move on very, have very, very quickly? we only have a course, we've a minute, but of course, we've got royal visit. got a royal visit. >> we've got we've got state >> we've got we've got a state visit. simon are we visit. simon when are we expecting many benefits expecting many sort of benefits for out of the south for britain out of the south korean meeting the korean president meeting the king ? king today? >> think i think it's >> well, i think i think it's great the king is used in great that the king is used in this way. this is one of the reasons paying for reasons why we're paying for a royal family, we're honest royal family, if we're honest about the of about it. so make the most of it, i and it's a great it, i say. and it's a great privilege to meet members of the royal it must royal family, isn't it? it must be advantage economically be to our advantage economically and culturally and in many other ways as well. >> the final word to you, sam. >> the final word to you, sam. >> i the king is >> yeah, i think the king is showing is living up to showing that he is living up to the role he has provided that sparkle glitter that his mum sparkle and glitter that his mum did before and i think did before him. and i think that's really important. did before him. and i think tha he's ally important. did before him. and i think tha he's been nportant. did before him. and i think tha he's been verytant. did before him. and i think tha he's been very busy after his >> he's been very busy after his birthday, which was very much a day duty. day of duty. >> like how they in >> i quite like how they rode in these carriages, which these old carriages, which apparently are awfully uncomfortable. know if uncomfortable. i don't know if the ones that they rode in actually had suspension not, actually had suspension or not, but much to simon but thank you so much to simon demchuk sam lister . we'll be demchuk and sam lister. we'll be

seeing again the next seeing you again in the next hour going through more hour and going through more of the stories on what is the big stories on what is a very day this very busy news day this afternoon . international visits, afternoon. international visits, covid inquiries and indeed an autumn statement . tomorrow, autumn statement. tomorrow, we'll be having plenty more of all of it after this short break. >> good afternoon . welcome to >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather update. with me, annie from the met office . we'll be staying dry met office. we'll be staying dry for many through the rest of the day and into the evening we day and into the evening and we could see some fog starting to develop and that's develop as well. and that's because pressure because we've got high pressure still dominating ridge of still dominating the ridge of that. pressure is extending that. high pressure is extending across the uk. but there across much of the uk. but there is a weather front to the is a weather front up to the northwest that bring northwest that will bring thicker parts of thicker cloud to parts of scotland and northern ireland throughout evening . some throughout this evening. some outbreaks as well , outbreaks of rain as well, mainly ground and on mainly over high ground and on the coasts at first, but it will become a more persistent become a bit more persistent through night. become a bit more persistent through night . further through the night. further south, is a good cloud south, there is a good cloud coverage, but fairly thin. coverage, but it is fairly thin. so temperatures to fall so allow temperatures to fall into low single figures. we into the low single figures. we could also see some patches of mist and fog, particularly across counties by across southern counties by tomorrow morning. and then

tomorrow morning. and then tomorrow morning. and then tomorrow morning we get off to a fairly bright start for many areas england wales areas of england and wales and it'll that through it'll stay that way through a lot of the day. could see lot of the day. you could see some from this some of this rain from this weather starting to affect weather front starting to affect the and it will persist the pennines and it will persist across much scotland well across much of scotland as well as ireland as affecting northern ireland from . and from time to time. and temperatures throughout tomorrow will be around average for the time year . will be around average for the time year. similar will be around average for the time year . similar feel to time of year. similar feel to today, not feeling bad in today, not feeling too bad in any sunshine . and will be any sunshine. and it will be a milder though across parts milder day though across parts of thursday is of scotland. thursday is a fairly similar day for northern areas apart from the very far north where we get behind that cold front. so it's going to be feeling much colder with some blustery showers of hail potentially. and that colder feel will more widespread feel will become more widespread as the cold air pushes into southern areas by

fri day friday >> good afternoon , britain. now >> good afternoon, britain. now here's what's coming up . here's what's coming up. >> get back to work. prime minister rishi sunak will reportedly end the national scandal of 2 million people languishing on out of work benefits . benefits. >> sir chris whitty continues to give evidence as he says the government was concerned the pubuc government was concerned the public would not listen to their rules. he says we should have locked down sooner. but is he right? we bring you the right? we will bring you the latest covid inquiry latest from the covid inquiry and town. and koreans in town. >> king charles and queen camilla formally welcome camilla will formally welcome the lady of the president and first lady of south to the today. the president and first lady of south of to the today. the president and first lady of south of those the today. the president and first lady of south of those key today. the president and first lady of south of those key tradeiay. the president and first lady of south of those key trade talks ahead of those key trade talks with the 13th biggest economy in the world. and .

the world. and. now we've spoken about international trade with south korea. >> we've spoken about the covid inquiry, we've spoken about the enormous fiscal events due to take place in around 23 hours time in westminster , something time in westminster, something we haven't touched on yet in the programme is an enormous vote in the scottish parliament. >> but yes, and this relates to the israel gaza conflict at a ceasefire vote and it's interesting because labour, scottish labour may make rather a different decision to keir starmers labour splits in the labour party. >> keir starmer of course opposed a ceasefire even though a third of his own mps rebelled against him. ten frontbench members of his party had to resign or were forced to resign to vote against him there. that was a huge moment of splits in the labour party. more splits this afternoon as it seems that

the labour party, the scottish labour party, is going to take a very different line to the uk laboun very different line to the uk labour, they're going to be backed. >> the snp's call for in quotes, immediate humanitarian ceasefire , but labour will. the labour amendment that they're proposing will note it requires all sides to comply for it to work, i.e. that both israel and hamas have to stop the fire. so there you 90, to stop the fire. so there you go, stop the fire, stop the firing, stop the firing. >> we'll get to that and much , >> we'll get to that and much, much more after your headlines with sophia . with sophia. >> good afternoon. it's 2:02. i'm sofia wenzler in the newsroom . a deal between israel newsroom. a deal between israel and hamas that could see a pause in fighting and the release of hostages appears to be imminent . hostages appears to be imminent. the leader of the hamas terror group , who is based the leader of the hamas terror group, who is based in the leader of the hamas terror group , who is based in qatar, group, who is based in qatar, said in a statement this morning that they were close to agreeing

what they a truce in what they called a truce in israel's prime minister, benjamin netanyahu says progress is being made on the deal, which was brokered by the us that could see 50 israeli hostages released , around 240 hostages released, around 240 hostages were taken by hamas during its attack on israel last month that killed 1200 people. officers searching for four young teenagers who have been missing in north wales since sunday morning have found the car they were travelling in. gravenhurst harvey irwin, wolf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have beenin hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and porthmadog area of gwynedd for a camping trip north wales police says its officers are currently at the location and the families of those involved have been informed . the government s most informed. the government s most senior medical adviser during the pandemic , sir chris whitty, the pandemic, sir chris whitty, is giving evidence at the covid inquiry. the inquiry heard professor sir jonathan van—tam, deputy chief medical officer dunng deputy chief medical officer during the pandemic, had raised concerns in january 2020 that a virus outbreak was imminent. but

sir chris defended his response to the warning, sir chris defended his response to the warning , saying that at to the warning, saying that at the time it was a narrow basis on which to make decisions . on which to make decisions. >> one of the problems i had in thinking this through was i thinking this through was i think some people were thinking that this was just a matter of getting through a few weeks and then were out, and then it's all fine. my view is had to fine. my view is you had to think about this over the course of the epidemic as a whole and that was clearly going to on that was clearly going to go on for why we for a lot longer. hence why we put so much emphasis, for example, on research. my view was always that you were only going to get to a situation you would have to consider the would not have to consider the npis for the sake of argument. once you'd got medical countermeasures . countermeasures. >> government borrowing was higher than expected in october, reportedly due to cost of living payments and benefits . as the payments and benefits. as the office for national statistics says, public sector net borrowing stood at £149 says, public sector net borrowing stood at £14.9 billion last month. that's 4.4 billion more than the year before . so more than the year before. so the chancellor says that while the chancellor says that while the government has reduced

inflation, more work needs to be done to achieve the bank of england's goal of 2. lancashire police have been criticised for its handling of disappearance of nicola bulley. a review found failings in the way personal information about ms bully's health struggles was disclosed to the press, which contributed to the press, which contributed to wild speculation. it said that non—reportable background information should have been provided to the to media help shape responsible reporting without disclosing sensitive information . in speaking at information. in speaking at a press conference to discuss the report, chief constable andy marsh admitted that the way the police released the information was needless as one of the decisions, which is arguably the most significant impact on pubuc most significant impact on public confidence, was the release of personal information about nicola's health. >> we found that due process was followed in this decision and that it was lawful, but we were in no doubt that releasing this information in the manner the constabulary did was both avoidable and unnecessary . avoidable and unnecessary. >> russia says it cannot

co—exist with ukraine and it will push back against nato for as long as it needs to. it comes as long as it needs to. it comes as ukrainian counter offensive failed to make significant gains this year against russian forces , with troops currently trying to gain a foothold on the eastern bank of the dnipro river. russia now controls nearly 18% of ukraine's internationally recognised territory, including crimea, which was annexed in 2014. if you have ever dreamed of driving a car worthy of james bond or one of his villains, now's your chance. drivers are being urged to register their interest in a legendary james bond number plate from the film goldfinger , plate from the film goldfinger, which could sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds. the current record for a plate sold in britain is just over £500,000. but that could all be about to change. fans could get their hands on the classic a1 number plate with bids starting at £300,000 and the king and queen have welcomed the south korean

president at horseguards parade. these pictures came to us a short time ago from outside buckingham palace, where the royal couple are hosting yoon suk yul and his wife. it's the first incoming state visit since the king's coronation and the second of his reign. a state banquet will take place this evening , which is set to host evening, which is set to host 170 guests. this is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on your digital radio, and on your smart speaker. by saying play gb news now it's back to tom and . emily tom and. emily >> good afternoon, britain now chancellor jeremy >> good afternoon, britain now chancellorjeremy hunt is set to chancellor jeremy hunt is set to unveil wait for it to tax cuts, measures to boost growth and a tougher approach to benefit hits in tomorrow's autumn statement . in tomorrow's autumn statement. >> yes, but prime minister rishi sunak has continued to stress that any tax cuts will be done in a response able manner. >> we'll do this in a serious ,

>> we'll do this in a serious, responsible way based on fiscal rules to deliver sound money and alongside the indian pendant forecasts of the office of budget responsibility . budget responsibility. >> and we can't do everything all at once. it will take discipline and we need to prioritise. but over time, we can and we will cut taxes . can and we will cut taxes. >> wanting to sound like mr sensible while performing what some might describe as a screeching u—turn. let's get more on this now with liam halligan, our economics and business editor with on the money . now. liam is this business editor with on the money. now. liam is this a screeching u—turn or was this the plan all along that once inflation was halved, then we can let loose and ring the bells of tax cuts? >> i think rishi sunak is sounding a bit like liz truss this time last year. sounding a bit like liz truss this time last year . tom, we're this time last year. tom, we're going to go for growth. we need

to cut taxes. it is a u—turn because only about a week ago the chancellor and indeed the prime minister were ruling out tax cuts in this autumn statement, saying they would be irresponsible , saying the public irresponsible, saying the public finances could not stand them, saying that they wouldn't work. they'd only boost inflation. inflation of course, came down last week. we had figures showing that in the year to october it was 4.6, down from 6.7% during the year to september . and that's a sizeable september. and that's a sizeable reduction. inflation in the uk is still a lot higher than in the us and indeed in continental europe. but i think the chancellor and the prime minister because inflation has come down, but also because of their politically under enormous pressure with labour 20 points aheadin pressure with labour 20 points ahead in the opinion polls, with with their own backbenchers, many of them angry that suella braverman was ousted as home secretary for all those reasons. lower inflation plus political panic. the chancellor and the prime minister are now saying that tomorrow in the autumn

statement, we're expecting it there will be tax cuts, probably both for business and indeed personal tax cuts , too. personal tax cuts, too. >> it's interesting, liam , >> it's interesting, liam, because i was reading the report out of liz truss's growth commission not so long ago. >> did you read the bit about me? i'm in there. >> i, i did. and i saw i saw most interestingly, perhaps and sorry to, to, to swerve the conversation to someone else but shanker singham. perish the thought of the advisers to that board was saying that actually the biggest pro growth measures didn't come through. tax measures . they came through measures. they came through regulatory measures, for example, planning liberalisation and other changes we can do to our regulatory structure here. are we perhaps talking too much about tax and not enough about what sort of regulations might be changed in and around this autumn statement? yeah i read that growth commission report and i thought it was a pretty good piece of work. >> it written by shanker >> it was written by shanker singham, one our singham, as you say, one of our

leading trade economists. and indeed by douglas mcwilliams , indeed by douglas mcwilliams, who has been a leading uk economist for many, many years. he used to be chief economist at the cbi back in the day. and the trouble , tom, with doing things trouble, tom, with doing things like easing planning regulations and other supply side measures that get growth growing growth going, building on the green belt, for instance, they have lots of enemies. there's lots of vested interests who like the regulations the way they are because they protect a status quo, which is to their advantage . so it's easier to do tax cuts. it's a big headline driving move. you know, regulation . it's move. you know, regulation. it's a bit fiddly. it takes a long time to happen. and you annoy lots of people when you do it. so it's no wonder that sunak and hunt are reaching for the bright lights , if you like, of cutting lights, if you like, of cutting taxes . but look, there's taxes. but look, there's something else going on here as well. a lot of people still feel that the cost of living crisis is very much with them. we saw in those inflation numbers , tom.

in those inflation numbers, tom. food prices up 30% over the last two years. still well, 10.5. food price inflation, even though headline inflation itself has come down and of course, here at gb news, we're nothing if we're not the people's channel. so i've been out and about. i've been to chelmsford in essex , you know, more in essex, you know, more prosperous than most parts of the uk. but i found when i talk to traders at chelmsford, much loved market has been around since the 11th century. there's a lot of concern about retailers going to the wall. there's a lot of concern about the british high street hollowed out and the traders i spoke to say they're certainly looking for some help in tomorrow's autumn statement . in tomorrow's autumn statement. chelmsford and essex proud middle england , a good spot to middle england, a good spot to assess the state of the british economy just 30 miles from london, though, chelmsford is perhaps more prosperous than

much of the uk. but that doesn't mean consumers and businesses here aren't struggling. a market town since the 11th century, the city of chelmsford still has a much loved daily market. but even here, where local families often hold stalls for generations struggling shoppers are using the high street less hanley's has been in this market nearly 60 years, selling fabrics , sewing accessories and other haberdashery . christopher haberdashery. christopher hanley, son of the founders, says this cost of living crisis has hit sales. >> i think the average person certainly people that are working class and lower middle class that are doing a lot of shopping in the town, but not only the market finding very only the market finding it very difficult. know, they're difficult. you know, they're finding to heat finding it difficult to heat their the food their homes and buy the food that need. you know, their homes and buy the food thatinteresteed. you know, their homes and buy the food thatinterest rates you know, their homes and buy the food thatinterest rates are you know, their homes and buy the food thatinterest rates are crazy. iow, their homes and buy the food thatinterest rates are crazy. so, the interest rates are crazy. so mortgage repayments are extremely got extremely high. so people got less to spend on the high less money to spend on the high street and markets street and in markets themselves. street and in markets the hanley's has lost trade to >> hanley's has lost trade to onune >> hanley's has lost trade to online suppliers for years. and since lockdown , there are fewer since lockdown, there are fewer workers in local offices , which workers in local offices, which means fewer shoppers .

means fewer shoppers. christopher says retailers need help in tomorrow's autumn statement unless they want to lose the high streets completely i >> -- >> and whether they want to lose markets like this, which have been here for hundreds of years, unless they do something to reduce for the shops, reduce the rents for the shops, reduce the rents for the shops, reduce rents and the reduce the rents and the business rates, then unfortunate it's going to go because there are people shopping in the are less people shopping in the high and the high streets. and i think the rents and rates need to reflect real istically what people can afford to pay. >> on the other side of chelmsford market, gini cole runs previously enjoyed her vintage gift stall, having served chelmsford finest for almost 30 years. gini highlights the human value of in—person retailing. >> can i come back time and time again? you know, to sort of i want a piece of glass or some jewellery and they know where to come. and you end up getting to know them really well and that's what's lost really . they go into what's lost really. they go into some of the big shops and they don't know what they're buying. they need direct in calling for tomorrow's autumn statement to

ease retail , ease the pressure on retail, tres gini speaks for many in chelmsford market everywhere you 90, chelmsford market everywhere you go, there's so many empty shops andifs go, there's so many empty shops and it's all become too expensive for a lot of the retailers. if we get if you get retailers. if we get if you get retailers in the town, then we get them into here, we get the we get the bounce off from the customers. so they ought to do more for the in the towns. more for the shops in the towns. >> despite the threat of >> but despite the threat of onune >> but despite the threat of online and economic downturn , online and economic downturn, this stallholder says the magic of in—person shopping will somehow survive. it's the great british high street under threat. genie are we at danger of losing something special here? >> it could, but i don't think it will, because i don't think the british people let it happen i >> -- >> you like that ? >> you like that? >> you like that? >> liam halligan gb news. chelmsford . yes chelmsford. yes >> liam. too many of our high streets are looking a bit bleak at the moment. lots of boarded up shops across the country, but

some are prospering. i think it's safe say liam we've it's safe to say liam we've heard rumours about changes is when it comes to pensions. >> yes indeed. just to say i'll be going back to chelmsford and reporting more from that essex city and indeed from elsewhere across the country as we shine a spotlight on our high streets. pensions indeed. i think tomorrow there's going to be two aspects to pension reform. one is that the chancellor is going to make it easier for workers who have company pension schemes to put them all together in one pot. i don't know about you, emily. i'm a bit longer in the tooth than you, but i've got various little pensions knocking around from various places that i've worked. i don't even know where are and i'm where they are and i'm a financial journalist, so i do think will be a kind of think there will be a kind of pot life reform , making the pot for life reform, making the regulations easier. so people can pensions in one can amass their pensions in one place. the second thing, and this has been knocking around for a while, the chancellor wants to make it easier for

pension funds to invest in british industry, so—called venture capital. we've had something called the mansion house reforms, which goes some way towards this, but pension funds are only really putting 3 to 5% of their massive resources into british companies that can then use that capital to grow , then use that capital to grow, make an investment return and help boost prosperity across the country. if you go to the states or canada, the pension funds are typically putting 15 to 20% of their resources into what we call venture capital funding for businesses, helping good start up businesses, proven concept businesses become bigger businesses become bigger businesses so they don't list on foreign stock exchanges, so they're not taken over by foreign companies , so they foreign companies, so they actually stay british. so these two aspects of pension reform also making it easier for pension holders, but also harnessing the assets of pension funds , which are many, many tens funds, which are many, many tens of billions of pounds here in the uk . putting that into the uk. putting that into

british industry and business more generally , they're not more generally, they're not going to drive massive headlines tomorrow, but they're important things . tomorrow, but they're important things. those tomorrow, but they're important things . those two reforms to things. those two reforms to look out for potentially really, really big in terms of a higher rate of return for some of these pension funds as well as greater investment. >> and we know the uk has been a low investment country for decades now . potentially it's decades now. potentially it's got this dual benefit, even though it might not grab the headlines. >> exactly right , tom. headlines. >> exactly right, tom. pension funds, they've been almost required to invest in what we call gilts. that's government debt, low rate of return, debt, very low rate of return, a rate of return , which for many rate of return, which for many years has actually been below the rate of inflation. so it's almost as if your pension fund is being to invest in is being compelled to invest in things , you know, you things that, you know, lose you money. by definition, of course, there's a bit more risk with venture capital than there is in buying government debt, but that's why we should have a relatively low percentage of pension fund assets in that venture capital. but 5, which is the new level that's come out under those mansion house

reforms, is still pretty low, still pretty unambitious when, as i say , you compare it to as i say, you compare it to pension funds in australia , to pension funds in australia, to particularly canada and the us, where those assets typically 15 to 20% of pension funds are in venture capital. so we'll see what the actual numbers are tomorrow. it's the kind of thing we probably won't get to talk about tomorrow we'll be about tomorrow because we'll be talking and all about tomorrow because we'll be talkpolitical and all about tomorrow because we'll be talk political theatre and all about tomorrow because we'll be talk political theatre ofand all about tomorrow because we'll be talk political theatre of it,i all the political theatre of it, won't we, and how opinion polls have so on. but have reacted. and so on. but it's the kind of thing that here on news we should be looking it's the kind of thing that here on fornews we should be looking it's the kind of thing that here on for and; we should be looking it's the kind of thing that here on for and talking)uld be looking it's the kind of thing that here on for and talking about; looking it's the kind of thing that here on for and talking about sort king out for and talking about sort of three, after the of day two, day three, after the autumn statement, i suspect. well, liam , is it's so well, liam, this is why it's so important have you here. important to have you here. >> and we know you'll be going through all the detail, through all of the detail, perhaps of the headline perhaps not just of the headline measures, but the small but important to forward important things to look forward to, over that tomorrow afternoon. >> they're the >> they're often the most actually when actually significant when it comes to changing people's lives . not to be overdramatic, but it's true , isn't it? it's the it's true, isn't it? it's the things that are hidden away that don't headlines that don't grab the headlines that actually people more don't grab the headlines that actua you people more don't grab the headlines that actua you pa1p.e more in than, you know, a1p change in tax or there . but thank you tax here or there. but thank you

very halligan our very much. liam halligan our economics and business editor bringing us latest on the bringing us the latest on the economy of that autumn statement. >> indeed . well, coming up, yet >> indeed. well, coming up, yet another headache the labour another headache for the labour leader, sir keir starmer as the scottish parliament a scottish parliament starts a vote on whether back an vote on whether to back an immediate ceasefire. we're looking at live pictures now from holyrood. we'll have more on this after the

isabel, monday to thursdays from six till 930 .

six till 930. >> good afternoon, britain. i'm emily carver. this is tom harwood. we're with you until 3:00. so sir keir starmer is deaung 3:00. so sir keir starmer is dealing with yet another party revolt? >> yes. after 56, mps rebelled against his calls for humanitarian pause in gaza last week , the leaders worries have week, the leaders worries have now turned to the scottish parliament. yes yesterday scottish labour confirmed they will be backing calls for a ceasefire in gaza and the debate has just got underway. >> we should get the result of the vote at around 5 pm. this evening. well a lengthy debate there. >> let's have get more information on this now with our gb news political correspondent , gb news political correspondent, olivia utley and olivia. sir keir starmer's had a torrid time of this. he lost ten frontbenchers when this was debated in westminster. now it's being debated in the scottish parliament and it seems like he's got an entire party mutiny on his hands . on his hands. >> well, absolutely. >> well, absolutely. >> i mean, last week it felt as

though the dust was finally beginning to settle on this labour party civil war. as you say, keir starmer lost ten frontbenchers, 56 labour mps defied frontbenchers, 56 labour mps defied the whip. >> that's nearly a third of the party. but in the days since that catastrophic vote for starmer, it felt although everything was sort of stabilising. >> jess phillips the most well known of the frontbenchers who ended up resigning, said that she would be supporting keir starmer from the backbenches. the others followed suit and john healey, a starmer loyalist, shadow defence secretary, even implied that those shadow ministers could end up finding themselves back on the front bench in the event of a labour victory . keir starmer didn't victory. keir starmer didn't lose any more shadow ministers since that vote and it felt like things were calming down. well that was until yesterday when the when the scottish labour leader anas sarwar revealed that his party, the labour party in scotland , would be voting in

scotland, would be voting in favour of a ceasefire in israel and gaza when the snp tables the vote. this afternoon. now sarwar and starmer met last week and i've heard that the meeting was a little bit tetchy , to put it a little bit tetchy, to put it mildly. up until now the two have enjoyed a very close relationship , but have enjoyed a very close relationship, but this has really put strain on it. you know, while labour is in opposition, the fact that that labourin opposition, the fact that that labour in england and labour in scotland disagree over what happensin scotland disagree over what happens in the middle east is sort of neither here nor there. labour snp, msps and mps can say what they like about a ceasefire in gaza. it's not actually going to affect what happens on the ground there. but if labour were to win a general election, which we are all now very much expected , then the fact that the expected, then the fact that the labour party in scotland and the labour party in scotland and the labour party in england can't agree on this very important foreign policy issue could be a bit problematic. i mean, starmer wouldn't exactly cut an impressive figure in the house

of commons if it was felt that his msps couldn't even that he couldn't even control his own msps. the fact as well that the relationship between starmer and sarwar is deteriorating is probably quite bodes pretty badly for labour as well. we saw from what happened with ruth davidson and boris johnson, who fell out dramatically with davidson resigning and the scottish conservatives ended up haemorrhaging seats. but it is a very bad look for a devolved government to disagree with the westminster government . so all westminster government. so all in all, this really is a headache for labour. keir starmer knows that he must pick up a lot of seats in scotland if he's to win the sort of majority that he is hoping to win. he's to win the sort of majority that he is hoping to win . this that he is hoping to win. this is not what he wants this week. >> difficult times for the labour leader. thank you very much indeed . olivia utley gb much indeed. olivia utley gb news, political correspondent. i would add that labour does have an amendment on this vote. yes, that it must that all sides must comply, which i think i think a

ceasefire would imply that. >> anyway. it's funny that they felt the need to put an amendment there, but perhaps it's just they're trying to say they don't really trust hamas as much the vote might much as perhaps the vote might imply . or sometimes those who imply. or sometimes those who seek a ceasefire imply that perhaps israel and hamas are as bad as one another. >> yes, it's a bit softer in a way. not necessary only calling for israel, the end of the day. yes, it's just semantics, really. and of course, this vote will is highly unlikely to actually affect what is happening in the region. but the king and queen have officially welcomed the president of south korea and his wife to buckingham palace. >> yes, members of the royal palace. >> yes,including of the royal palace. >> yes,including the the royal palace. >> yes,including the prince 'al palace. >> yes,including the prince and family, including the prince and princess of wales, will host a glamorous state banquet at the palace this evening in their honoun >> it is the first incoming state visit charles and camilla have held since the king's coronation >> well, let's get more now with our gb news royal correspondent, cameron at cameron walker, who's at buckingham for us. and, buckingham palace for us. and, cameron, seems like it's cameron, it seems like it's a fairly busy schedule the

fairly busy schedule for the visiting dignitaries as it certainly is , tom. certainly is, tom. >> it was pomp and pageantry this morning at horseguards parade where the king and queen treated the president of south korea , yoon suk yeol and the korea, yoon suk yeol and the first lady to a ceremony feel welcome with a with the scots guards performing a royal salute to the king and the president inspecting those troops . we had inspecting those troops. we had 41 gun salute in green park and at the tower of london as well. the princess of wales has been making a bit of a storm online as well with her red cape and coat by catherine walker and matching hats by jane taylor. but of course, it isn't the king that decides who comes for a state visit. it is very much the prime minister and the government of the day. and we've had two quite important announcements from the government announcements from the goveofment announcements from the gove of which announcements from the goveof which is that south first of which is that south korea and the united kingdom will be taking part in trade talks during this three day state visits that will be headed up state visits that will be headed ”p by state visits that will be headed up by kemi badenoch , the

up by kemi badenoch, the business secretary here in the united kingdom, as well as that, there's also going to be further collaboration when it comes to sanctions against north korea . sanctions against north korea. of potential big of course, a potential big threats to south korea. there so they are the two big announcements. this at the moment, the president and the first lady are having a private lunch with the king queen, prince and princess of wales inside buckingham palace. we understand they're also going to be different items in be visiting different items in the collection in side the the royal collection in side the picture gallery in the palace, which are to do with the repubuc which are to do with the republic of korea. and then the king has tasked his cousin, the duke of gloucester, prince richard, to take the president of south korea, to lay a wreath at the korean war memorial. it's 70 years since that conflict , 70 years since that conflict, but he will then be going to westminster abbey to lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier before he goes to the palace of westminster , to the palace of westminster, where he'll be welcomed by speakers from both houses and will deliver an address inside the of westminster in the the palace of westminster in the royal gallery to politicians

from both the house of commons and the house of lords. and then, as you said, tom and emily. they'll be going inside the buckingham the ballroom of buckingham palace magnifici state palace for a magnifici state banquet evening. white tie banquet this evening. white tie affair, all the tiaras on display as well. and if it's if the state visit to the united states is anything to go by in april , the south korean april, the south korean president is known to be a bit of a fan karaoke and of a fan of karaoke and serenaded white house with a serenaded the white house with a rendition of american pie at the request of joe biden. so what has his majesty the king requested the president to sing tonight? have to wait and tonight? we'll have to wait and see. of course, nothing's been confirmed, if he is confirmed, if at all, if he is going . going to sing. >> look forward to finding >> oh, i look forward to finding the leaks of what happens after such a royal banquet. i hope everyone of drinks and everyone sort of drinks and becomes merry then god knows becomes merry and then god knows what happens . shall they just what happens. shall they just have they sign the have a that's when they sign the trade when sign trade deal. it's when they sign the yeah. the trade. yeah. >> be interested to >> i'd be very interested to know how these of know how much these sorts of visits, how much they help in terms of the economics, in terms of the trade talks, in terms of the things that really, really

matter. thank you much matter. thank you very much indeed. cameron walker, our royal correspondent there outside palace. now outside buckingham palace. now coming to the coming up, we'll get to the bottom, the bare bottom of a brexit debate on i'm a celebrity. last night when nigel farage clashed heads with a campmate well before all of that. >> and that rather vivid image, here are your headlines with sophia . sophia. >> it's 232. i'm sophia wenzler in the newsroom . a deal between in the newsroom. a deal between israel and hamas that could see a pause in fighting and the release of hostages appear as to be imminent. israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu says progress is being made on a deal which was brokered by the us that could see 50 israeli hostages released . hostages released. >> we are currently focusing on a very strong and proactive defence in the north in order to achieve a crushing victory in the south. the first goal is the elimination of hamas. the south. the first goal is the elimination of hamas . it doesn't elimination of hamas. it doesn't

stop until it's done . the second stop until it's done. the second goalis stop until it's done. the second goal is the return of the hostages . we're making progress. hostages. we're making progress. i think it's worth saying i don't think it's worth saying too much, even at this too much, not even at this moment. i hope will be moment. but i hope there will be good news soon. >> officers are searching for four young teenagers who have been missing in the north of wales since sunday morning have found the car they were travelling in. jevon hurst, harvey owen , wolf henderson and harvey owen, wolf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have beenin hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and porthmadog area of gwynedd for a camping trip north wales police says its officers are currently at the location and the families of those involved have been informed . the covid inquiry has informed. the covid inquiry has heard that professor sir jonathan van—tam , deputy chief jonathan van—tam, deputy chief medical officer during the pandemic , had raised concerns in pandemic, had raised concerns in january 2020 that a virus outbreak was imminent . but outbreak was imminent. but giving evidence today, chief medical officer sir chris whitty said that at that time evidence was lacking. and, sir, jonathan's warning was a narrow bafis jonathan's warning was a narrow basis on which to make decisions

. the prime minister has defended the decision to hand tough sentences to climate protesters who caused major disruption. it comes as the un warns it could kerb freedoms in the uk. rishi sunak's comments relate to sentences handed to just stop oil demonstrators who scaled the dartford crossing in october last year. scaled the dartford crossing in october last year . and you can october last year. and you can get more on all those stories by visiting our website at gbnews.com . gbnews.com. >> gb news.com. >> with gbnews.com. >> with a maverick politician elected president of argentina , elected president of argentina, could the falklands now be under greater threat than before? well we're going to find out. >> we'll talk to our political editor at the daily express, sam lister, and former labour mp simon danczuk. wonder what simon danczuk. i wonder what they make of after

sunday mornings from 930 on. gb news . news. >> good afternoon, britain now joining us to discuss some big stories of the day is the political editor at the daily express, sam lister, and former labour mp simon danczuk. express, sam lister, and former labour mp simon danczuk . welcome labour mp simon danczuk. welcome to the sofas here where we have a bit more of a relaxed chat at the end of the show. scotland we're seeing a vote. the debates taking place now in holyrood . ed taking place now in holyrood. ed on a ceasefire in gaza . but on a ceasefire in gaza. but simon, the really interesting thing here is the scottish

labour party has taken a very different position on this issue to the uk labour party. >> yeah, and this is a test of what labour will be like in government and it should worry us that it's the reality. there's a real split and anas sarwar, leader of scottish sarwar, leader of the scottish labour party, very smart guy. he was elected in 2010 when i was elected, so i know him quite well. i would say is on the just on the right in labour politics. so he's not soft left like i would describe starmer and you can see that there's a real split developing there. it should be cause for concern for keir starmer, no doubt about it, especially if the labour party, sam is going to be winning perhaps 30 seats scotland. perhaps 30 seats in scotland. >> sort of jackie >> that's their sort of jackie baillie prediction. there's a deputy has deputy leader there has been quite about taking quite ambitious about taking seats from the snp that's going to be a significant voting block that might be more independent mind in westminster. yeah, mind id in westminster. yeah, and i might be being slightly cynical here, but think the cynical here, but i think the motion up in holyrood and the one we saw in west minster these are snp led motions.

>> i think this is an attempt by the snp to pin labour down on this issue and cause splits within the party. it's for the snp's advantage. i mean i suspect that is a secondary issue too. i don't want to be too uncharitable to the snp because i know obviously humza yusuf is a very personal interest in this and i don't want to too be cynical about it, but think is certainly in but i think that is certainly in westminster. was big westminster. that was a big reason that was reason for doing that vote was to force labour to have these splits in public and have a big row and obviously then as simon says, you get contrast says, you get this contrast between what's between scotland and what's happening down in england with the rest of the party and it's not great for labour. no >> and simon, of course you don't know what's inside. keir starmer's head, but he must be finding this extremely trying seeing this happen in scotland . seeing this happen in scotland. of course he's lost his shadow frontbenchers to ten of them, ten, ten of them. huge. there's the most foreign resignations since the days of boris johnson leaving office. yeah, it's quite

extraordinary. >> and i think the media, the mainstream media haven't really focussed too much on it. i think he's had an easy ride on this issue to an extent. you know, the they focussed on many other. i wonder why that would be. well so he's getting away with it but it just shows how challenging and challenging it's going to be if he has small majority. if he has a small majority. you've got a small groups of labour mps in after the next general election, then they'll hold him to ransom on a whole range of different issues. >> yeah, absolutely right. but i think the wider point is, you know, nobody in the middle east is listening to what westminster is listening to what westminster is holyrood. is saying, let alone holyrood. and think , you know, these and i think, you know, these kind of motions , they are kind of motions, they are distracting from, you know, what ordinary people are bothered about their to day lives. about in their day to day lives. it's a symbolic thing, isn't it? it's a symbolic thing, isn't it? it achieves actually very little if if we look opinion if we if we look at opinion polls now, people are polls right now, people are really about the cost really concerned about the cost of potentially very of living and potentially very little else. >> the snp is not doing well in the opinion polls. >> the snp is not doing well in the opinion polls . quite >> the snp is not doing well in the opinion polls. quite a >> the snp is not doing well in the opinion polls . quite a few the opinion polls. quite a few opinion polls have shown them

slip out of the first place position that they've held since slip out of the first place posgosh,that they've held since slip out of the first place posgosh, since 1ey've held since slip out of the first place posgosh, since two e held since slip out of the first place posgosh, since two thousand|ce slip out of the first place posgosh, since two thousand and 20 gosh, since two thousand and seven when they first entered government in scotland. i wonder, this distraction wonder, will this distraction perhaps help the snp as much perhaps not help the snp as much as they think it might if they're not seen to be focusing on the bread and butter issues ? on the bread and butter issues? >> i think they're trying to shore support the shore up support within the muslim community. that's what a lot of these votes are about, aren't yeah, but it is aren't they? yeah, but it is naval is a bit naval gaze and it is a bit pompous to believe that netanyahu leader in israel is going to take any notice of what some mps think some backbench labour mps think or say. some backbench labour mps think or swhat's quite interesting is >> what's quite interesting is that an that labour have added an amendment notes it will amendment which notes it will require this is the call for a ceasefire. it will require all sides to comply. ceasefire. it will require all sides to comply . well obviously , sides to comply. well obviously, but obviously also will not happen. >> i mean this is the ridiculousness of this motion is, you know , in what world does is, you know, in what world does hamas agree to anything? you know, it's a terrorist organisation . it's not organisation. it's not a government that has legitimate recognition in the world. >> and how helpful is this when there is currently a high stakes

negotiation being led by the united states being participated in by qatar and hamas and israel about a humanitarian pause for want of a better word, whether it's 3 or 5 days or whatever it is, in return for hostages , does is, in return for hostages, does this perhaps undermine that effort to some extent? well i think what it shows is that and it's a really significant issue, it's a really significant issue, it shows that there's a small minority in the labour party, labour mps who are prepared to take the side of the palestinians and hamas as opposed to backing israel in this instance. >> that's a big point, isn't it? >> that's a big point, isn't it? >> they would argue that what they're calling for is an end to civilian deaths, but you would say that there are some labour mps who may have more of an allegiance with hamas and the palestinians than they would with. well, you'd go as far as to say that we've seen that with jeremy corbyn, haven't we? to say that we've seen that with jere he corbyn, haven't we? to say that we've seen that with jere he refuse], haven't we? to say that we've seen that with jere he refuse toraven't we? to say that we've seen that with jere he refuse to criticise /e? to say that we've seen that with jere he refuse to criticise hamas >> he refuse to criticise hamas in any way, although keir starmer would of course say that jeremy no longer jeremy corbyn's no longer a labour mp. >> i suppose there is an interesting line there in that

jeremy corbyn voted for that snp amendment. there were over 50 labour mps who voted with jeremy corbyn in that division and i wonder to what extent has the labour party changed? if yes, okay, the top team has changed, but there's still a huge chunk of labour mps there who vote with corbyn. >> that's absolutely right. >> that's absolutely right. >> you've to >> and what you've got to remember while corbyn remember is that while corbyn was the labour party was leader of the labour party in 2017, in 2019, more left wing candidates were put into parliamentary seats. so you've got a larger group of left wing labour mps than you've had in a very long time, and storm is going to have to deal with them at some stage. >> really interesting point. right? >> well, stay with us because we're going get the very we're going to get the very latest the covid inquiry latest on the covid inquiry from gb presenter tomson, latest on the covid inquiry from gb is presenter tomson, latest on the covid inquiry from gb is outside nter tomson, latest on the covid inquiry from gb is outside the tomson, latest on the covid inquiry from gb is outside the inquirynson, latest on the covid inquiry from gb is outside the inquiry forn, who is outside the inquiry for us. pip, what's the latest from the inquiry then . the inquiry then. >> afternoon, emily well , sir >> afternoon, emily well, sir chris whitty, professor, i should say, sir chris whitty, the government's chief medical

officer, england's chief medical officer, england's chief medical officer , he's now been giving officer, he's now been giving evidence for nearly four hours, quite different to yesterday in many ways. he's very much taking the scientists approach , as you the scientists approach, as you might expect, and he's been very much sticking to the line as well, that he never told the government what to do. he's been very clear on making that distinction between the technical advice given by the scientific advisers and the political decisions made by ministers in the last few minutes. he has told the inquiry, though, that it was in his view, the fact that they didn't have a useful plan. it was optimistic at best when it came to dealing with covid and there was not one that they could just take off the shelf all the options open to the government says sir chris whitty, were very bad , some whitty, were very bad, some a bit worse and some very, very bad. now we remember sir chris whitty so well , don't we, from whitty so well, don't we, from those government covid briefings

back in 2020, it was a bit of a double act with him and sir patrick vallance, who was giving evidence yesterday. they used to stand either side of the former prime minister boris johnson, advising us. and it seems there was a little bit of a tension over their approaches to lockdown with with sir chris whitty says sir patrick vallance wanting to take more of a delaying approach approach. well earlier sir chris whitty rejected claims he was against lockdown in but says he was more cautious about locking down the country in the early days of the pandemic because of its potential impact . just listen to potential impact. just listen to what he had to say earlier. >> i did have a stronger concern in, i would say, than some that the biggest impact of everything we did and i was confident we were going to have to do them, to be clear. but when we started the disadvantages of all the actions , not just full lockdown,

actions, not just full lockdown, but other actions before that, for example, what was initially called cocooning and then shielding as an example, stopping schooling is another. the biggest impacts of those would be in areas of deprivation and in difficulties and and those in difficulties and those living alone and so on. so i was very aware that we essentially had two different things. we were trying to balance the risk of going to early, in which case you get all the damages from this with actually fairly minimal impact on the epidemic and the risk of going too late, in which case you get all the problems of the pandemic running away. now, as we, i'm sure, come to on my view is with the benefit of hindsight , we went a bit too late on the first wave. and chris whitty there speaking to the inquiry a little earlier. >> well, tomorrow it is the turn of his deputy, sirjonathan of his deputy, sir jonathan van—tam. boris johnson, rishi sunak they're expected to give evidence next month . evidence next month. >> pep thompson, thank you very much for that latest roundup. it's fascinating here hearing

perhaps the distinction between what different scientists were saying perhaps they're not being one such thing as the science , one such thing as the science, quote unquote. pip tomson. there are gb news presenter outside the covid inquiry. let's turn to the covid inquiry. let's turn to the panel now because simon, it was interesting there hearing chris whitty perhaps saying that he was one of the more cautious voices in jumping into a lockdown without out all of this infrastructure being there for it. the treasury having to design furlough from scratch , design furlough from scratch, for example. >> yeah. and i'm not sure how possible it is to prepare for something like this. you don't see it coming . how much can see it coming. how much can government really prepare ? you government really prepare? you know, there's some criticism that government weren't ready to act but can't act or whatever, but you can't anticipate these sorts of incidents , major incidents. incidents, major incidents. i mean, it's like nothing we've ever experienced before . ever experienced before. >> so we were getting bad advice, were we not, from international organisations such as the world health organisation ? >> 7- >> yeah, ? >> yeah, absolutely. and well, my view has always been that we

could have a more could have had a more sophisticated lockdown, that sophisticated lockdown, one that allowed to go about their allowed people to go about their normal lives. but locking down more vulnerable people much tighter and much sooner. >> just advising them yeah, >> just advising them to. yeah, absolutely . i >> just advising them to. yeah, absolutely. i mean, >> just advising them to. yeah, absolutely . i mean, the age old absolutely. i mean, the age old question , i mean, it's only been question, i mean, it's only been a couple of years old, but the question of whether we should have locked down or it have locked down or not, it seems that the what we're seems to me that the what we're heanng seems to me that the what we're hearing this covid hearing from this in covid inquiry we lockdown inquiry is that if we lockdown was was too late. there's no question of whether it was the right thing to do at all. i mean, yeah, but i think the point that the scientists were disagreeing, i mean, i would certainly hope they were. >> they all thought >> i mean, if they all thought the got the same thing, then we've got real know, these real problems. you know, these are decisions that are huge, huge decisions that have so many different implications. have so many different implications . as chris whitty implications. as chris whitty himself you know , there himself said, you know, there are other health implications of locking down the country, let alone the economic ones. and actually even with the benefit of hindsight, and he talked about having the benefit of hindsight, make hindsight, you can make different even different decisions. but even with hindsight , with the benefit of hindsight, nobody's agreed on what

nobody's still agreed on what exactly was the right path to do. >> i think most people could agree that if you're going to lock down a tool, locking down, as did at the point we did, as we did at the point we did, meant that the lockdown had to be longer to get cases down. be longer to get the cases down. if locked down if we'd have locked down earlier, could earlier, the lockdown could have been shorter to cases been shorter to get the cases down the same that down to the same level. that seems know, about. seems fairly you know, about. >> don't think you know, >> no, i don't think you know, necessarily because, you know, some they've some have said and they've pointed show that pointed to data to show that actually already actually cases were already falling by the time that did falling by the time that we did lock down. whether it had lock down. so whether it had that an impact or that much of an impact or not, i think it really depends on incontra you look incontra what modelling you look at which is what has at with this, which is what has been shown this covid isn't been shown by this covid isn't the incontrovertible been shown by this covid isn't th doesn't that show that double spike show that it was the lockdown had the impact? lockdown that had the impact? >> this show the >> but does this not show the problem, simon, a lot of problem, simon, with a lot of the making processes the decision making processes and we've heard from and we've heard this from

patrick and patrick vallance yesterday and also whitty touched also chris whitty has touched upon in terms of whether the upon it in terms of whether the economy and other consequences of lockdown were even considered or were even part of the decision making process . because decision making process. because yes, if you look at cases and you only concentrate on cases and you only concentrate on transmission and deaths , transmission and deaths, unfortunately you will come to a certain conclusion that you wouldn't necessarily if you took absolutely everything into account. >> and you know, the impact on mental health of the lockdown is substantial and significant, isn't it? and you refer to the economy. and that impact was what impact does that have on individuals as well? so it's not just about infection, is it ? and just about infection, is it? and i'm not sure the inquiry is getting to the wider, broader issues that are relevant to the to the lockdown from a political perspective , it might be argued perspective, it might be argued because starmer always called for lockdown . if you for stronger lockdown. if you recall, this suggests he's been proved right to an extent as well. >> well, it's interesting. we're looking at live pictures, of course, chris still

course, of chris whitty still giving so almost five giving evidence. so almost five hours of now . but it is hours of evidence now. but it is interesting, this argument that if there was an earlier lockdown, it could have been a shorter lockdown and we might have time being have spent less time being locked a country if we locked down as a country if we got cases down quicker . got the cases down quicker. >> possibly. but i do think that the the factors ought to be the all the factors ought to be considered. and it feels to me a bit has a very bit like the inquiry has a very particular and that is particular agenda and that is about the deaths, not about the economic impact . but and i think economic impact. but and i think all things should be considered because actually , you know, this because actually, you know, this was so huge, shutting down our economy. we are still living with the consequences of that today. we are still today. certainly, we are still living the consequences of living with the consequences of children on great children who missed out on great chunks of schooling and all the other consequences of other social consequences of printing that money to printing all of that money to fund the shutting of the economy. >> i think it was interesting that said what pip said that he said this. what pip said that he said this. what pip said that said that he that chris whitty said that he was didn't the he was that he didn't tell the he never told the government what to do . it sounds to me a little to do. it sounds to me a little bit like passing the buck there because were because they kind of were telling the government what to do. not? i mean, the

do. were they not? i mean, the government to accept government didn't have to accept what take it into what they said or take it into account decision account in their decision making. of were making. but they kind of were were they not? >> they were exceptionally influential. they influential. yes weren't they offering to deny that? >> i think so. we don't have much left the programme >> i think so. we don't have muci left the programme >> i think so. we don't have muci wantt the programme >> i think so. we don't have muci wantt gete programme >> i think so. we don't have muci wantt get t0)rogramme >> i think so. we don't have muci wantt get to one amme and i do want to get to one interesting little piece of news. >> of course, there was an election in argentina, a maverick new president of that country. some suggestions in the british press now that a maverick in charge of argentina might put the falklands under threat. what do you make of that? simon >> i think it's quite right wing, isn't he? that's his politics. but on this issue is actually more moderate , right? actually more moderate, right? so the previous predecessor of alberto fernandez, i think it is very left wing. he was much more gung ho in terms of taking the falklands back. this guy is more moderate . moderate. >> are you sure, though? because, know, we've seen because, you know, we've seen him what you call it, him with his what you call it, chainsaw chainsaw. you chainsaw with his chainsaw. you know , he might up for a bit know, he might be up for a bit of well, might too busy of a well, he might be too busy smashing argentine state, smashing the argentine state, you you know, once once you know. you know, once once the back to where the economy gets back to where it be, if it does, you

it should be, if it does, you know, might cast his eyes on it should be, if it does, you kno falklands it cast his eyes on it should be, if it does, you kno falklands . cast his eyes on the falklands. >> i think it's one of those issues, isn't it? it's a bit like, you know, boris johnson having go at the french. this having a go at the french. this is incredibly popular is like an incredibly popular move argentina, it's not move in argentina, but it's not necessarily going to lead to anything. actually anything. and he actually himself says that would himself says that it would require the consent of the local people . and we know the people. and we know from the referendum they have there people. and we know from the refewndum they have there people. and we know from the refew years they have there people. and we know from the refew years backthey have there people. and we know from the refew years back that have there people. and we know from the refew years back that actuallyre a few years back that actually 98% said no. and i don't think that's going to change anything quite like it. >> how it is interesting. >> how it is interesting. >> he might seem more maverick on the outside, but on the inside more inside, perhaps he's more moderate on the falklands. well, it's much for it's thank you so much for talking big, big talking through those big, big issues us. up next issues with us. coming up next of it's martin daubney. of course, it's martin daubney. martin, what do you have on your program? >> chainsaws in politics. >> more chainsaws in politics. >> more chainsaws in politics. >> i think we need that. >> i think we need that. >> we're going to we're going to fully address this fully own and address this breaking point post the debate in the in the last night. >> was racist or was it >> was it racist or was it actually prophetic ? like actually oddly prophetic? like has that post defined a generation on that set? the £1 billion parking fine rip offs and the bbc claims the bubonic

plague was racist? >> yes, i did see that plague. >> yes, i did see that plague. >> i did see that extraordinary stuff. yeah thank you very much indeed.thank stuff. yeah thank you very much indeed. thank you to sam lister and to simon danczuk. you've been a fantastic panel for us. that's all us. good that's all from us. good afternoon , britain . afternoon, britain. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather update . with me, annie from the update. with me, annie from the met office . i'll be staying dry met office. i'll be staying dry for many through rest of the for many through the rest of the day into the evening we day and into the evening and we could starting to could see some fog starting to develop well. and that's develop as well. and that's because we've got pressure because we've got high pressure still dominating . the ridge still dominating. the ridge of that pressure extending that high pressure is extending across much of the uk. but there is a weather front up to the northwest that will bring thicker parts of thicker cloud to parts of scotland and northern ireland throughout this evening. some outbreaks rain as outbreaks of rain as well, mainly high ground and on mainly over high ground and on the coasts. at first, but it will become a bit more persistent through night. persistent through the night. further south there a good further south there is a good cloud coverage , but it is fairly cloud coverage, but it is fairly thin. it allow thin. so it will allow temperatures to fall into the low single we could low single figures. we could also see some patches of mist low single figures. we could alsofog, some patches of mist low single figures. we could alsofog, particularlyes of mist low single figures. we could alsofog, particularly acrossiist

and fog, particularly across southern tomorrow southern county as by tomorrow morning and then tomorrow morning and then tomorrow morning we get off to a fairly bright start for many areas of england and it'll stay england and wales and it'll stay that of the that way through a lot of the day. could see some of this day. you could see some of this rain this front rain from this weather front starting the pennines starting to affect the pennines and persist across much and it will persist across much of as well as affecting of scotland as well as affecting northern ireland from time to time . and temperatures time. and temperatures throughout tomorrow will be around average for the time of yeah around average for the time of year. to today, not year. similar feel to today, not feeling too bad in any sunshine and will be a milder day though across parts of scotland. thursday is a fairly similar day for areas apart from for northern areas apart from the very far north where we get behind that cold front . so it's behind that cold front. so it's going to be feeling much colder with some blustery showers of hail potentially. that hail potentially. and that colder feel will become more widespread as the cold

fri day 3:00. >> welcome to the show. i'm martin daubney. you've got an action packed hour coming up top of the hour , the covid inquiry of the hour, the covid inquiry bombshell . bombshell. >> sir chris whitty takes the stage . headless chickens stage. headless chickens fighting like rats in a sack. these people were meant to be in control, but instead he said this. all the options were very bad. some of them were just a bit worse. don't you feel filled with confidence? next get with confidence? next story. get back to work ahead of the autumn statement tomorrow . would you statement tomorrow. would you like see a clampdown sick like to see a clampdown on sick notes? britain as those long notes? britain as those on long term benefits have term sickness benefits have doubled? is it time for a clampdown? next, a right royal