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

visit as britain is on the verge of sealing a £21 billion post brexit trade deal with south korea, king charles rolls out the royal red carpet at buckingham palace. now that's how to do business and finally in this hour , as the fur flies in this hour, as the fur flies in this hour, as the fur flies in the jungle and the rumble in the jungle down under, let's talk about that poster, that breaking point poster that fred french, fred called shameful and racist . but french, fred called shameful and racist. but did french, fred called shameful and racist . but did nigel french, fred called shameful and racist. but did nigel have a point? all of that in the next hour. point? all of that in the next hour . oh no. point? all of that in the next hour. oh no. your thoughts on that poster. it's divided politics since 2016 when nigel put it out when he was ukip leader, it was condemned routinely. it's come back again, you could say, to haunt him, but did nigel have a point? when you look at the world and where we're with illegal we're at now with illegal immigration, poster immigration, was that poster actually a bellwether, a look into future? us know into the future? let us know that gbviews@gbnews.com. that's

all coming up right after your news headlines with sophia wenzler . thank you, martin. wenzler. thank you, martin. >> good afternoon. it's 3:01. i'm sophia wenzler in the newsroom. a deal between israel and hamas that could see a pause in fighting and the release of hostages appears 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 release . at >> 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 goalis stop until it's done. the second goal is the return of the hostages. we're making progress. i don't think it's worth saying too much, not even at this moment. i hope there will be moment. but i hope there will be good soon. good news soon. >> officers searching for four young teenagers who have been

missing in the north of wales since sunday morning have found the they travelling in the car they were travelling in gravenhurst harvey owen, wilf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and porthmadog area of gwynedd for a camping trip . 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 . the covid inquiry is informed. the covid inquiry is heanng informed. the covid inquiry is hearing evidence from sir chris whitty , who was the government's whitty, who was the government's most senior medical adviser dunng most senior medical adviser during the pandemic. the inquiry has heard the pandemic plan in place before covid 19 was woefully deficient . but sir woefully deficient. but sir chris said that it had been drawn up by people who had been through the swine flu where the mortality rate was quite low . he mortality rate was quite low. he also said that initial expectations for how lockdowns may last were optimistic. >> 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 you have to

fine. my view is, you have to think about this over the course of the epidemic as whole and of the epidemic as a whole and that was clearly going on to go on a lot longer. why on for a lot longer. hence why we put much emphasis, for we put so much emphasis, for example, my view we put so much emphasis, for exaralways my view we put so much emphasis, for exaralways that my view we put so much emphasis, for exaralways that that my view we put so much emphasis, for exaralways that that you view we put so much emphasis, for exaralways that that you were was always that 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 got medical countermeasures . countermeasures. >> the prime minister has defended the decision to hand tough sentences to climate protesters who caused major disruption . it comes after the disruption. it comes after the united nations raised concerns over the sentences handed to protesters who scaled the dartford crossing last year , dartford crossing last year, saying they were significantly more severe than those imposed in the past . more severe than those imposed in the past. but rishi sunak defended the tough penalties, saying the protesters were selfish and intent on causing misery to the hard working majority . lancashire police has majority. lancashire police has been criticised for its handling of the disappearance of nicola bully . a review found failings bully. a review found failings in the way personal information about ms burley's health struggles was disclosed to the

press, which contributed to wild speculation . it said that speculation. it said that non—reportable background information should have been provided to help the media shape responsible reporting without disclosing sensitive information. chief constable andy marsh admitted the police released the information and it was needless as one of the decisions is, which is arguably the most significant impact on pubuc the most significant impact on public confidence was the release of personal information about nicholas health. >> we found that due process was followed in this decision and that it was lawful . but we were 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 coexist with ukraine and it will push back against nato for as long as it needs to . 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. if you've ever dreamed of driving a car worthy of james bond or one of his villains, now is your chance. drivers are being urged to register their interest in a legendary james bond. numberplate from the film goldfinger. the current record for a plate sold in britain is just over £500,000. but that could be about to change. fans have a chance to get their hands on the classic eu number plate. oh one number plate with bids starting at £300,000 as and the king and queen have welcomed the south korean president at horseguards parade . the royal horseguards parade. the royal couple are hosting yoon suk yeol and his wife at buckingham palace. 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 car, on your digital radio, and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. now it's back to . martin >> thank you, sophia . thanks for >> thank you, sophia. thanks for joining me on the show today. and to our top story this hour, the covid inquiry taking evidence from people who were meant to keep us safe . but meant to keep us safe. but instead, it seems like those people from the start have been a chickens a mixture of headless chickens fighting like rats in a sack. what's coming across is a picture of confusion and chaos at the heart of the government's response the pandemic. today response to the pandemic. today the chief medical officer for england, sir chris whitty, has been giving evidence while noteworthy claim by him was that all covid options were very bad and some them were worse and and some of them were worse and that the uk locked too down late dunng that the uk locked too down late during the first wave. his appearance comes a day after

former chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance accused bofis sir patrick vallance accused boris johnson of being bamboo dazzled by science and the then chancellor, rishi sunak of being okay with just letting people die of covid. well, let's get the latest now with gb news presenter pip tomson. pip. another day of confusion, another day of confusion, another day of bedlam. is it just me or does it feel like they've all just been making it up as they go along ? up as they go along? >> good afternoon, ma'am . i >> good afternoon, ma'am. i mean, to be fair to sir chris whitty, england's chief medical officer or geek in chief, as he's also been referred to as he's also been referred to as he's been actually quite clear about his approach. and he says that they never told he never told the government what to do. there was always a distinction between the technical advice given by the scientists and the political decisions made by the government, but he's told the inquiry that it is his view that

there was not a useful plan to deal with the pandemic. there was not a useful plan to deal with the pandemic . any plan deal with the pandemic. any plan was it was optimistic at best, he said. to think that we could just take a plan off the shelf and the existing pandemic flu plan wasn't going to be of any help. now, what's also been enlightening is his approach to lockdown, because we heard from, didn't we? sir patrick vallance yesterday, who suggested that sir chris whitty was more in favour of delaying lockdown. but but he actually rejects those claims. he's told the inquiry that he was more cautious. listen to this. >> i did have a stronger concern , cern, i would say, than some that the biggest impacts of everything we did had and i was confident we were going to have to do them, to be clear. but when we started, the disadvantage is 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 of the biggest impacts of those would be in of deprivation would be in areas of deprivation and difficulties and and those in difficulties and those alone 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 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 sir chris whitty talking to the inquiry a little earlier, and we all remember him so well, don't we, from those covid briefings in downing street in 2020? >> a little bit of a double act with sir patrick vallance and the former prime minister boris johnson, standing in the middle , johnson, standing in the middle, giving us all the advice, telling us what to do. but interestingly , sir chris whitty interestingly, sir chris whitty never criticised wokeist or certainly hasn't so far

criticised the prime minister. he says the way he made decisions was unique to him. now sir chris whitty will probably spend the rest of the afternoon giving evidence and then tomorrow it is the turn of his deputy, sirjonathan tomorrow it is the turn of his deputy, sir jonathan van—tam. bofis deputy, sir jonathan van—tam. boris johnson rishi sunak there due to give evidence tomorrow? no, not tomorrow. martin. i'm getting a bit ahead of myself next month . next month. >> well, look forward to that, pip johnson thank you for that succinct and excellent update from the covid inquiry. >> the question i wonder that should be asked is rather than arguing about if we went in on lockdown too soon or too late, how about asking if we should have done all? looking have done it at all? looking back with the benefit of hindsight, when we look at societies , there are societies like sweden, there are more moderate in their approach protect vulnerable, the protect the vulnerable, keep the economy going . a lot of people economy going. a lot of people were saying that and they were shouted down as covid sceptics, as theorists. as conspiracy theorists. and i wonder if are sort of wonder if those are the sort of questions like to see questions you'd like to see asked at the covid inquiry. let's move on now because

chancellor jeremy let's move on now because chancellorjeremy hunt is chancellor jeremy hunt is expected to tighten welfare rules in his autumn statement tomorrow . the aim rules in his autumn statement tomorrow. the aim is to rules in his autumn statement tomorrow . the aim is to tackle tomorrow. the aim is to tackle what prime minister rishi sunak is calling a national scandal. he's hoping that cutting benefits by £4,680 a year from 2025 will see around 2 million people. re enter the workforce. but labour say this is the part of the conservatives trying to wipe their hands with the last 13 years of tory government. well, joining us now is our political editor chris hope. so chris, a lot of people looking for tax cuts, but something that certainly gets gb news viewers very intrigued is the idea of clamping down on benefits on sick notes. britain, what's the latest out ? latest out? >> that's right. everyone knows that the treasury likes to see around a quarter of a million people arriving here as a net number of migrants. people arriving here as a net number of migrants . and we'll number of migrants. and we'll see more figures out from that much more than that on on thursday. and that's because britain has a problem with not finding enough work, because we

know, we? if you go to know, don't we? if you go to a pub a restaurant, there's pub or a restaurant, there's often nowadays often the problem nowadays with finding to work well, finding people to work well, this to get more this idea is trying to get more people the system people off the benefit system and the is, is and into work. the idea is, is the home epidemic the work from home epidemic we've seen since the covid pandemic can be used to help the government those back to government get those back to work who can work but let them do it from home. that's the thinking anyway. the idea is if you don't you will lose you don't do it, you will lose those benefits already have. you don't do it, you will lose thyou benefits already have. you don't do it, you will lose thyou are afits already have. you don't do it, you will lose thyou are ons already have. you don't do it, you will lose thyou are on benefitseady have. you don't do it, you will lose thyou are on benefits such have. you don't do it, you will lose thyou are on benefits such asfe. if you are on benefits such as bus could be could bus passes, it could be could cost as much as nearly £5,000 a yearin cost as much as nearly £5,000 a year in lost perks for those who are stuck at home and on on benefits and maybe can work, according to the government . according to the government. that's the idea. and that's come from that. we think it's going to be in tomorrow's autumn statement from the chancellor just behind me. all tory just behind me. not all tory mps are mcpartland on are happy. stephen mcpartland on the left the tory party. he's the left of the tory party. he's already concerned the left of the tory party. he's alreadthis. concerned the left of the tory party. he's alreadthis. he concerned the left of the tory party. he's alreadthis. he can'tncerned the left of the tory party. he's alreadthis. he can'tnce tooi the left of the tory party. he's alreadthis. he can'tnce too much about this. he can't be too much of of a of a stick. you want of a of a of a stick. you want to encourage people not not punish because they can't punish them because they can't work. people, course, work. many people, of course, don't want be benefits, don't want to be on benefits, don't want to be on benefits, don't at home, but don't want to be at home, but have legitimate have to be because of legitimate issues whether it's

issues they have, whether it's mental health or physical issues. behind me in number 10 here downing all day , here in downing street all day, we've series of cabinet we've had a series of cabinet ministers arriving. michael gove's out. michelle gove's been in and out. michelle donelan, she's the science secretary. michael gove of course levelling up and david cameron earlier in and out all day. but behind we've no day. but behind us we've got no jeremy is doing prep ahead jeremy hunt is doing prep ahead of a day him tomorrow. of a big day for him tomorrow. his first big or second big autumn but first autumn statement. but the first one where can actually put one where he can actually put his imprint on policies. his own imprint on the policies. so what's next. so we'll see what's coming next. we be some we think there'll be some measures taxes for measures to cut taxes for businesses and maybe try and do some individual tax cuts, maybe on national insurance . on national insurance. >> yes, chris, terms of the >> yes, chris, in terms of the benefits position, are we expecting any resistance from the labour party? mean , they the labour party? i mean, they are, called the party are, after all, called the party of the benefits classes or do you think they'll vote this through? the tories own it through? let the tories own it and change later. and change it later. >> i'll bet my hat on fact labour would not vote this through and the tory government of course this as a of course will see this as a further way of differentiating themselves from the labour party and showing how they are willing

they this tories would they are on this. tories would say they're on the side of the strivers want to strivers or those who want to get work and labour get back to work and labour are instead happy, happy to see people benefits and take people sit on benefits and take money paid for from other people's what they people's taxes. that's what they that's the dividing and that's the dividing line and a lot the policies we're seeing lot of the policies we're seeing tomorrow into year all tomorrow into next year are all about trying to create a dividing line between the tory about trying to create a dividi and ne between the tory about trying to create a dividi and labour. reen the tory about trying to create a dividi and labour. sor the tory about trying to create a dividi and labour. so trust tory about trying to create a dividi and labour. so trust the party and labour. so trust the tories, don't mess it up. it's the message. don't risk it all with labour. of course labour will that say will refute that and say the tories tired government. tories are a tired government. give time for our chance. tories are a tired government. giv�*buttime for our chance. tories are a tired government. giv�*but chris,)r our chance. tories are a tired government. giv�*but chris, their chance. tories are a tired government. giv�*but chris, the factsince. tories are a tired government. giv�*but chris, the facts are. >> but chris, the facts are stark. a record 2.6 million brits on long term sickness benefits and that's rocketed since lockdowns. young people today are twice as likely to be claiming disability benefits as opposed to 20 years ago. and a great many people get in touch with us here at gb news saying they're sick of this. they think it pays better to not work now than it pays to be in work. so certainly with the conservative voters , chris, they should land voters, chris, they should land well . well exactly right.

well. well exactly right. >> that that's why they're putting themselves on the side, as they would see on the strivers, on those who want to get to work, to get get to work, who want to get out. will there will be out. that will be there will be pushback labour, from pushback from labour, from charities concerned about putting pressure on putting needless pressure on those can't work. but yeah, those who can't work. but yeah, the benefits bill is spiralling and it can't go on forever. it must be tackled and it is an attempt by a tory government to do so. and the tories would say we're trying down we're trying to bear down on this bill. would labour do? >> would any of this make any difference, think? chris difference, do you think? chris there's opinion poll out there's a new opinion poll out today. it makes grim for today. it makes grim reading for rishi sunak and his team there. a record low opinion poll since march, so sacking suella braverman reshuffling the cabinet, the rwanda disaster, bringing in david cameron from the dead . it's had the opposite the dead. it's had the opposite effect to they'd wish . effect to they'd wish. >> yeah, it's not working. i mean, the tory party is still 20 points behind or so and they and they haven't been able to lift themselves out of those doldrums

, as you say. martin they've they have got inflation down, arguably, supported they have got inflation down, argaably, supported they have got inflation down, arga fall supported they have got inflation down, arga fall in supported they have got inflation down, arga fall in international ported by a fall in international energy prices . but despite that, energy prices. but despite that, it is a win for the tory government. that's what mr sunak said to do back in january. but otherwise, there's been a succession of difficult for news the party. you've got these repeated by—election defeats going through the summer and then you've got this appointment of david cameron as foreign secretary. you know, if he's the answer , what's the question? how answer, what's the question? how will win more votes will he help you win more votes in in by elections or elections? that's the question i'm always asking. and there's no answer there. so they want to there. so i think they want to try show the tory try and show the tory thatcherite core that we know that mr sunak and jeremy hunt, the chancellor behind me and in his say they follow the his office, say they follow the idea being they've controlled inflation as thatcher did back inflation as thatcher did back in the early 80s and now it's time for trying to trying to give targeted tax cuts but not risk inflation. that's the that's thinking it. risk inflation. that's the thatthey thinking it. risk inflation. that's the thatthey needking it. risk inflation. that's the thatthey need tog it. risk inflation. that's the thatthey need to get it. risk inflation. that's the thatthey need to get this it. but they need to get this working soon. there's point working soon. there's no point in long term plans in having these long term plans when going to win the when you're going to win the election

when you're going to win the ele�*okay. chris hope live from >> okay. chris hope live from downing very downing street. thank you very much. maggie much. i wonder what maggie thatcher would of this thatcher would think of this thought. say get thought. i reckon she'd say get on bike. just on your bike. that's just me. now king and now moving on. the king and queen of officially welcomed the president his president of south korea and his wife to buckingham palace. members the royal family, members of the royal family, including the prince and princess of wales, will host a state bank with at the palace this evening in their honour. it's first incoming state it's the first incoming state visit charles and camilla have held since the king's coronation. well, our gb news royal correspondent, cameron walker, is at bucha house for us now. cameron, always a pleasure. this is fantastic, isn't it? a £21 billion post—brexit trade deal on the table and this is the very finest soft diplomacy the very finest soft diplomacy the royal family can muster . the royal family can muster. >> yes , exactly, martin. it is >> yes, exactly, martin. it is very much the power of soft diplomacy in action here. what more could the south korean president want, quite frankly, in the morning, president want, quite frankly, in the morning , the king, the in the morning, the king, the queen and the prince and princess of wales at horseguards

parade giving that pomp and pageantry, which britain is very much known for, particularly when it comes to military welcomes . so the king gave the welcomes. so the king gave the president of south korea a ceremonial welcome, including a royal salute from the scots guards. he invited the president also to inspect the guard of honoun also to inspect the guard of honour. rishi sunak prime minister was on the dais alongside them, as was as was the foreign secretary, david cameron. and as the home secretary james cleverly as well , following the ceremonial welcome, they travelled in carriages up the mall to buckingham palace where they've had a private lunch and have been invited to view a couple of items in the royal collection to do with south korea. but i've been told by buckingham palace in the last few minutes that there's been of a gift there's been a bit of a gift exchange, i can give you exchange, so i can give you details now king details of that. now the king and queen jointly gave the president first a president and first lady a silver frames photograph of themselves, which they've signed and a bespoke royal scot crystal whisky decanter and a tumbler

set. the king also gave the president a one off special bottle of laphroaig whisky from a cask which he he actually signed king charles when he was prince of wales back in 2008. as well as a copy of stemming the tides by winston churchill , tides by winston churchill, which i'm told was bound in the royal bindery of windsor castle, a dedicated special edition for the president and the queen also gave the first lady a pashmina, embroidered with the national flower of south korea. now, all of this sounds very friendly, doesn't it? and that is a very good reason, because we need to remember it's not the king that ianes remember it's not the king that invites a foreign head of state to come to the united kingdom for a state visit. it is very much the government and the prime minister of the day, and they really use the king and the royal family as an asset when it comes friendly relations. and comes to friendly relations. and that diplomacy, that power of soft diplomacy, because as you mentioned, martin, there are going to be tough talks going on over tough trade talks going on over the next few days , headed up

the next few days, headed up perhaps kemi badenoch, the perhaps by kemi badenoch, the business secretary she is going to be negotiating with her counterparts , trying to come to counterparts, trying to come to come get some sort of trade deal on the table as well as that it was announced this morning that both the british government and the government are the south korean government are going to be really ramping up their sanctions against north korea. of course, quite a bit, quite a quite a big issue in the region or a big security threat for them in in the region, for south korea. but tonight , it is south korea. but tonight, it is perhaps the spectacle of the soft diplomacy, a magnificent state banquet at buckingham palace tiaras and white ties on show cameron walker . show cameron walker. >> excellent stuff. i don't know about you. i think charles is playing a blinder. would you not give leg for crystal give your left leg for a crystal whisky decanter filled with royal whisky and a raleigh bound churchill book? these are the kind of trade deals on the table. £21 billion make britain great. great again post brexit. and he's pulling out all the bells and whistles to get those

kind of deals over the line. it's magnificent, in my opinion. okay. we'll have lots more on that story throughout show. that story throughout the show. and there's coverage and there's plenty of coverage on our website. gbnews.com. you've helped to make that the fastest growing national news website country. website in the country. so thanks you . now i want thanks to all of you. now i want to hear from you. email me, gbviews@gbnews.com still to come, councils are struggling to manage their finances and a few could be just days away from effectively going bankrupt . what effectively going bankrupt. what are they doing with our money? i'm martin daubney on gb news and we are britain's news channel

sunday mornings from 930 on. gb news. >> welcome back. it's 325. you're watching or listening to me? martin daubney on gb news now in every corner of the country, councils are struggling to manage their finances and. and a few could just be days away from effectively going bankrupt. nottingham city council. that's my home city, has announced that it's considering submitting an s1 one for notice which would restrict spending to essential services like education and even social care. well, this follows the disastrous bankruptcy of birmingham city council earlier this year with forecasts of budget deficits of . a whopping budget deficits of. a whopping £160 million pounds. our reporter jack carson is there for us. jack, what's going on? why are so many councils facing bankruptcy .

bankruptcy. >> well, a lot of the situation is around these councils. of course, this is the is the management is poor financial decisions leading them into these into these deficits. of course, birmingham city councils main problem goes back to equal pay main problem goes back to equal pay liabilities. more than £760 million worth of equal pay liability now owed. that's due to a supreme court case back in 2012, which found that they weren't paying things like historic bonuses and all kinds of different things to the more female oriented, orientated jobs than they were to say more male orientated jobs, like being collectors around the city. so that's why birmingham city council found themselves in such a disastrous position with such a disastrous position with such a huge equal pay liability to then have to pay off. of course, they've also been trying to implement a new financial system through the company of call that's costing more than we think £100 million. it should have cost less than a fifth of that, a fifth of that price. so it's managing those finances.

that seems to be a struggle with, of course, these councils across the country, particularly here in birmingham . a few weeks here in birmingham. a few weeks ago, we found out that over the next two years they've got to clear £200 million worth of debt to have a controllable budget. that means everything essentially apart from those statutory services, could be up for cuts and could be up for sale as well. but of course, it's not just here in birmingham that we've seen councils having problems. council, problems. thurrock council, of course, and course, croydon, slough and northamptonshire have all also declared section 104 notices over the past few years , saying over the past few years, saying they are struggling, of course, to manage their finances and balance books . now balance the books. now nottingham is nottingham city council is expected to also issue a bankruptcy, a bankruptcy notice this week and our east midlands reporter will will hollis has that story . the festival is that story. the festival is begin at nottingham's christmas market. >> it was good. >> it was good. >> raymond's lived in the city since 1948. >> it's good if you've got

children or you want to have a walk around and buy some different , but basically it's different, but basically it's pretty expensive live. but then again, everything is nowadays. but even in the bright lights of the season in a shadow hangs over the city. >> a council on the brink of bankruptcy, nottingham city council has a £23 million hole in its budget, but raymond blames poor money management. >> i think there's something wrong with the people that's working they've got all working there. they've got all these experts and these financial experts and they're they don't seem to be that good at it, do they ? i mean that good at it, do they? i mean , i have to i have to buy tom harwood yet and i'm on pension . harwood yet and i'm on pension. >> the labour run council accuses the conservative government of causing high inflation that sent costs spiralling wider , owning the gap spiralling wider, owning the gap in its budget . in its budget. >> that combined with rising demand for social care and temporary accommodation, has increased pressure on the city's purse. adding to the emergence

kc when a council can no longer balance its budget, it submits an s1 one for notice. >> that means that from then they can only spend money on statutory services. >> things that they have to provide for an area for bin collections , roadworks, social collections, roadworks, social care and libraries on everything else. spend ing scrapped from culture to comfort . culture to comfort. >> it's the path birmingham city council chose in september. now many others across the country are considering the same, looking to the government's aid, the department for levelling up said we have made an extra £51 billion available to local authorities , with almost 60 authorities, with almost 60 billion available for the sector up 9.4% on cash terms on 2022, 2023. however our councils are ultimately responsible for the

management of their own finances and should take all necessary to action manage the financial issues they . face councils issues they. face councils clinging on. but for how long? when others have already run out of time ? will hollis gb news in of time? will hollis gb news in nottingham . nottingham. >> yes, she heard from will hollis there. that's the situation in nottingham. essentially they've got a £23 million deficit that they've got to plug just for this financial yeah to plug just for this financial year. essentially it is. it is the law that councils have to have a balanced budget by the end of their year. so end of their financial year. so if find £23 million if they can't find £23 million for this financial year, they have no other choice but to declare that section 104 notice that the situation here in that was the situation here in birmingham. why they declared their bankruptcy. essentially they do they were trying to do a memorandum understanding with memorandum of understanding with the unions over this equal pay liability . they thought liability. they thought they'll be that that debt be able to settle that that debt for £120 million. but essentially a critical job

evaluation scheme , which was evaluation scheme, which was looking to make sure that the men women employed by the council were being paid equally, hadnt council were being paid equally, hadn't and they hadn't been met, and they weren't carrying out weren't actually carrying out that evaluation scheme. so the unions that fell apart unions then that deal fell apart with leaving the with the unions leaving the council with this £760 million debt and essentially the residents of this city are left in this kind of limbo because what they've got now essentially is they're not knowing really whether their parks are going to be same standard, be kept up to the same standard, whether, course, big assets whether, of course, big assets within city are going to be within the city are going to be sold all to sold off because that's all to come emergency financial come in an emergency financial plan revealed at plan expected to be revealed at the of this month. now, the end of this month. now, given the campaign given jones is from the campaign to birmingham, they're given jones is from the campaign to toyirmingham, they're given jones is from the campaign to to work gham, they're given jones is from the campaign to to work with], they're given jones is from the campaign to to work with], thcouncil trying to work with the council and the and parties on the and the and the parties on the council try and save the council to try and save the assets the from assets around the country from a quick the city, from a quick fire from the city, from a quick fire from the city, from a quick fire from the city, from a quick fire sale. here's what he told me a little bit earlier on my perspective, the people of birmingham cause the birmingham didn't cause the problems city problems at birmingham city council they council and therefore they shouldn't facing the shouldn't be the ones facing the consequences community places that people use matter a lot . that people use matter a lot. >> they range from allotments to

open spaces, parks, leisure centres, libraries, swimming pools, all kinds of things they use every day. we don't want the people of birmingham to lose them to decisions that they them due to decisions that they didn't since launched didn't make. since we launched the campaign a few weeks the campaign only a few weeks ago, over 1000 ago, we've had over 1000 residents up nominating residents sign up nominating hundreds of places, and last week unprecedented week we got unprecedented cross—party the cross—party support for the campaign. we campaign. that means that we now have opportunity work campaign. that means that we now havethe opportunity work campaign. that means that we now have the council,nity work campaign. that means that we now have the council, with work campaign. that means that we now have the council, with the ork with the council, with the commissioners, to develop community solutions protect community solutions that protect our maybe our community places and maybe actually to . yeah, actually improve them to. yeah, yeah , yeah. yeah, yeah. >> so as of course, you heard there from some of the things that could well be up for sale, it's going to be the people of this city that may well truly suffer because of this bankruptcy council bankruptcy at the council and possibly in possibly also well, as in nottingham possibly expect nottingham as we possibly expect that this week i >> jackie, thank you jack. update on calamity councils across britain jack carson there live from birmingham. now there's lots more still to come between now and 4:00. what's needed to save our beleaguered high streets? visited high streets? we've visited chelmsford to see what retailers are wanting from tomorrow's

autumn statement. but first, here's latest news here's your latest news headunes here's your latest news headlines with sophia wenzler. thank you, martin. >> it's 333. 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 appears 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 . meanwhile, hostages released. meanwhile, scotland's first minister is leading a debate on a ceasefire in gaza. humza yousaf says the scottish parliament has an opportunity to send a united message of peace to world leaders. and though suffering in the middle east, officer is searching for four young teenagers who have been missing in north wales since sunday morning, have found the car they were travelling in. javon hurst, harvey irwin, wilf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have

beenin hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and porthmadog areas of gwyneth for a camping trip. porthmadog areas of gwyneth for a camping trip . lancashire a camping trip. lancashire police has been criticised for its handling of the disappeared case of nicola burley. a review found failings in the way personal information about ms billy's health struggles was disclosed to the press, which contributed to wild speculation . contributed to wild speculation. in it said that non—reportable background information should have been provided to the media to help shape responsible reporting without disclosing sensitive information . the duke sensitive information. the duke of sussex's lawyers plan to ask ministers for permission to use confidential documents from the leveson inquiry in the case against the publisher of the daily mail associated newspapers is accused of engaging in vestors to use listening devices which were placed in cars and recording private telephone conversations . the publisher conversations. the publisher says the case is lurid and preposterous . and you can get preposterous. and you can get more on all those stories by visiting our website at

gbnews.com . gbnews.com. >> for stunning gold and silver coins, you'll always value. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report. and here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. >> the pound will buy you 1.25, five, $2 and ,1.1456. the price of gold is . £1,598.24 per ounce, of gold is. £1,598.24 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7481 points. roslyn gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . and thank you, sophia. report. and thank you, sophia. >> now, today marks the launch of gb news save our high street senes of gb news save our high street series gb news economics and business editor liam halligan has been to chelmsford in essex , has been to chelmsford in essex, assessing the mood of the market

stall owners ahead of tomorrow's autumn statement . chelmsford and autumn statement. chelmsford and essex proud middle england and a good spot to assess the state of the british economy just 30 miles from london, though chelmer seaford is perhaps more prosperous than much of the uk, but that doesn't mean consumers and businesses here aren't struggling . 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 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 do a lot of shopping in the town, but not

only the market finding very only the market finding it very difficult. you know, they're hiding it, difficult to heat their and the food their homes and buy the food that they need. and, you know, the rates are the interest rates are are crazy. mortgage repayments the interest rates are are crazextremely:gage repayments the interest rates are are crazextremely:gage so ayments the interest rates are are crazextremely:gage so peoples are extremely high. so people have less money on have got less money to spend on the and in markets themselves. >> 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. >> and whether they want to lose markets like this, which have been here for hundreds of years, unless they do something to reduce rents for the shops, reduce the rents for the shops, reduce the rents for the shops, reduce the rents and the business rates, then unfortunately it's going to go because there are less people shopping high streets . shopping in the high streets. and the rents and rates and i think the rents and rates need to reflect realistic quickly what people can afford to pay . to pay. >> on the other side of chelmsford market, gini cole runs previously enjoyed her vintage gift stall , having vintage gift stall, having served chelmsford's finest for almost 30 years. gini highlights

the human value of in—person retailing. 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 some of shops and they don't of the big shops and they don't know buying. they know what they're buying. they need directing . need directing. >> calling for tomorrow's >> in calling for tomorrow's autumn ease the autumn statement to ease the pressure retailers , gini pressure on retailers, gini speaks for many in chelmsford market. >> everywhere you go , there's so >> everywhere you 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 in the town , 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 more for the shops ought to do more for the shops in . in the towns. >> but despite the threat of onune >> but despite the threat of online and economic downturn, this stallholder says the magic of in—person shopping will somehow survive . it's the great 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 . chelmsford. >> well, liam halligan is back from chelmsford and he's now with me in studio . lovely, with me in studio. lovely, beautifully crafted package and look in politics as in business, as in life, if you want to know what people really think, forget about talking to newspapers or focus groups. out there focus groups. you get out there and talk people. what and you talk to people. what are they you ? they telling you? >> well, i know chelmsford quite well. i live 30 odd miles from chelmsford in north essex and chelmsford in north essex and chelmsford for me , it's chelmsford for me, it's a bellwether, you know. okay. it's in london and the south—east, but there's plenty of working class people in chelmsford. plenty, plenty what plenty, plenty of what the sociologists over sociologists call east end over spill. you know, a lot of blue collar people. honest to goodness, of goodness, a lot of entrepreneurial ism well . and entrepreneurial ism as well. and talking to those market traders , talking to those market traders, they really feel that something's broken down on our high street rents are too high.

the online giants have all the advantages . you know, time and advantages. you know, time and again , market traders told told again, market traders told told me since covid, they haven't hasn't been as much footfall old people want to come into town to do shopping but it's hard for them to park and they can't use those parking apps. they haven't even got smartphones. they just want to put £0.50 in a slot. so they all these they can park all these difficulties . is having said difficulties. is having said that, we heard there from that, as we heard there from janey who runs previously janey cole, who runs previously enjoyed fabulous character. and by the way, i've done a lot more interviews and we're going to be running a lot more of those chelmsford interviews over the next few days, either side of chelmsford interviews over the nex'autumn(s, either side of chelmsford interviews over the nex'autumn statement,ie of chelmsford interviews over the nex'autumn statement, as)f chelmsford interviews over the nex'autumn statement, as jean the autumn statement, as jean cole said, the high street is special, in—person is special, in—person shopping is special, in—person shopping is special all and she doesn't feel the british public are going to let it die completely, though clearly it's under threat. >> people like genie are hanging on. they've had a hard time pandemic lockdowns, brutal , pandemic lockdowns, brutal, brutal times for them, yet they've stuck in there because

they've stuck in there because they have that on your bike spirit, but they feeling completely abandoned and increasing by politicians on what do they want, what do they expect? what are they demanding what do they want, what do they ex happenhat are they demanding what do they want, what do they ex happenhatthingsey demanding what do they want, what do they ex happenhatthings like emanding what do they want, what do they ex happenhatthings like the nding to happen at things like the autumn tomorrow? a lot autumn statement tomorrow? a lot of talking, of of people were talking, a lot of shopkeepers talking to me shopkeepers were talking to me about business rates, their taxes must pay on taxes that retailers must pay on the rateable value of their property, whether they own the property or not. >> course, online >> of course, the online retailers don't pay that because they don't have retail, physical retail outlets for the most part. so they want they want to see reform of business rates. they want to pay less business rates. they want cuts in personal taxation so people have more money to spend. talked more money to spend. they talked a lot market traders and shopkeepers that we spoke to in chelmsford . and again, i stress chelmsford. and again, i stress this is a relatively affluent area. people are struggling with their bills . people are their heating bills. people are struggling with their food bills. people are struggling with their mortgages, giving interest rate rises. there's just less money for them to spend on essentials, but nice things as well . and it seems to things as well. and it seems to have been lost . we've lost this

have been lost. we've lost this kind of ritual of, you know, on a friday or saturday, sunday, you go to the shops, you meet your friends, you know, you look around, you might buy yourself a thing or people are now thing or two. people are now staying in more. if high staying in more. and if high streets like chelmsford can't survive in the relatively prosperous south east of england, then what hope is there for high streets ? and with all for high streets? and with all respect, less well off parts of the country? this is something we to highlight gb news. we want to highlight on gb news. it's something always said it's something we always said we wanted when wanted to do from when we launched talking on launched talking to people on the streets. just hope the high streets. i just hope that the autumn that tomorrow in the autumn statement there for statement there is help for retailers on high streets, not just in cities , but in towns, just in cities, but in towns, because it's in towns where the next election, i think, will won be and lost by the conservative party. >> superb , great stuff and save >> superb, great stuff and save our high streets. what a superb initiative and great journalism. that's what we should be doing on this channel. talk real on this channel. talk to real people, out what they people, find out what they think, and let's try and help change the country for the better. now still come, last better. now still to come, last night's in the jungle. night's rumble in the jungle. when nigel farage was accused of

dehumanising the dehumanising migrants during the brexit campaign, but was it that fair? i martin daubney on gb news. and this is britain's news channel.

back and relax at 11 am. on sundays on gb news with me, michael portillo gb news britain's new . channel britain's new. channel >> welcome back. it's 347. you're watching all listening to

martin daubney on gb news. now all eyes were on nigel farage last night when he had to field the inevitable question on brexit at fred sirieix, the celebrity chef confronted nigel about his campaign to leave the european union. let's have a listen . listen. >> the thing is, is the intolerance that came because brexit was about not immigration and i remember your poster , and i remember your poster, which i thought, well, i thought it was shameful what you did. nigel sadly, sadly , it was nigel sadly, sadly, it was absolutely true. >> what was the poster? >> what was the poster? >> sorry. can i just cut in? can you? >> it was a poster just showing mass young men moving illegally through across borders. >> but it was about demonising migrants saying that that was wrong migrants saying that that was wro no, wasn't even your view. >> no, it wasn't even your view. it but wasn't. >> no, it wasn't even your view. it it's but wasn't. >> no, it wasn't even your view. it it's nott wasn't. >> no, it wasn't even your view. it it's not reallysn't. >> no, it wasn't even your view. it it's not really just my view. >> it's not really just my view. >> it's not really just my view. >> we expect that that >> well, we expect that that rumble in the jungle and join me now another rumble is former now for another rumble is former mep and deputy of the mep and deputy leader of the reform party , ben habib, reform uk party, ben habib, and political commentator matthew stadlen . ben, let's start with stadlen. ben, let's start with you. french fred said it was a shameful poster and that echoed

the sentiments of george osborne , who called it disgusting and vile . what's your opinion ? vile. what's your opinion? >> well, i thought it was a very low brow debate that on immigration that took place for the few minutes that nigel, you know, had that chat with fred, the chef . and you know, when you the chef. and you know, when you think about it, if you were to reflect on it for more than a few moments, they debated it, you know, freedom of movement essentially was in itself a sort of race, but freedom of movement because it was opened up principally to the white population of europe. what we've now got is a united kingdom that is world facing, not just european union facing . european union facing. >> and as we've seen in many respects, to our great disappointment moment, huge immigration from the rest of the world. >> so brexit was definitely not about racism. it certainly wasn't about racism or xenophobia , as far as i'm

xenophobia, as far as i'm concerned. i'm half pakistani. that wasn't the issue. brexit for me and i think for the vast majority of the people in this country, was a vote to take back control of the united kingdom from the european union and to join the ranks of 168 other countries in the world that are not members of the eu . the 195 not members of the eu. the 195 countries in the world, 168 are not members of the eu . the not members of the eu. the default position is not to be a member of the eu . so i thought member of the eu. so i thought it was a very low calibre debate and nigel would have been underwhelmed by the quality of the of the arguments being made. but you know, there we are. you know, i think nigel would have knocked him for six in any other formal . formal. >> okay let's cross to matthew stadler now. matthew specifically about that breaking point post which nigel said transfer formed politics. it was , however, compared to nazi propaganda and called the politics of the gutter by caroline lucas. what's your

position on it? >> i think , first of all, we >> i think, first of all, we need to be absolutely clear because it's incredibly antagonising . antagonising. >> martin to brexiteers when you suggest that they're all racist . suggest that they're all racist. i suspect millions and millions of people who voted brexit are not racist at all. >> and there were some perfectly respectable reasons, i think, for voting to leave the european union. >> i'm someone who voted remain, but i had plenty of respect, including for some family members and close friends who chose to vote for brexit. that poster , however, i think, did poster, however, i think, did undoubtedly signal to racists it was divisive , it was xenophobic . was divisive, it was xenophobic. everyone or almost everyone in that in that poster was a person of colour and whatever. nigel whose intentions were at the time and i can't get inside his mind. and i think it did appeal to racism . to racism. >> um, well, the fact of the matter is though benhabib throw this to you. that was a photograph of actual migrants crossing the croatia slovenia

border in 2015. it's a factually representative photograph of the situation when nigel was trying to highlight and that was uncontrolled immigration into countries can tear them apart. that's the point he was trying to make. and maybe with the benefit of hindsight, he had a point . point. >> well , i first of all, point. >> well, i first of all, thank you , matt, for recognising that you, matt, for recognising that the vast majority of people who voted brexit are probably not racist, but the to put yourself in the context of that poster, it was just after angela merkel had thrown open the doors to a million migrants coming into germany . do million migrants coming into germany. do you remember? and there was a real concern, a legitimate concern , a concern to legitimate concern, a concern to this day in many respects about unbridled immigration from cultures and from backgrounds, which are very different to our own culture and background. and in many respects, maybe antipathetic or contemptuous of our values and our culture and so on. and so whilst the imagery may be quite evocative and may

have been offensive to some people at the time, it was probably accurate. and what we've seen , sadly, is even we've seen, sadly, is even though we've taken control of our borders, we haven't stopped illegal migration as we should have done and we haven't got control of migration. in fact, it's completely out of control. so brexit, as it happens, turns out not to have been about migration because the controls that we got back, we haven't used to control it . and i think used to control it. and i think nigel's biggest concern at the moment is what the devil is going on in westminster with the powers that it's got, not taking advantage of the ability to actually, you know , reduce actually, you know, reduce migration. champion and jobs for british people , champion housing british people, champion housing for british people , allow our for british people, allow our pubuc for british people, allow our public services to serve british people rather than the entire country being burdened by this, you know, incoming demand from millions of immigrants and literally millions. matthew . literally millions. matthew. i think you can have a sensible

grown up, responsible conversation about immigration without indulging in dog whistles, without trying to reach for the lowest common denominator. >> i think it was very telling dunng >> i think it was very telling during that brexit campaign that some of those who were campaigning for brexit very clearly distanced themselves. if my memory serves from that poster, let's have a conversation about immigration. let's try to get on on on top of illegal immigration. ian, let's have clear legal paths for people who are desperate and in desperate need to get to this country. let's have an immigration system that actually functions after 13 years of conservative government. let's make sure that we can process these claims quickly and speedily and in a humane manner. let's also remember that we have had a desperate need for immigration, ian, and let's do everything we to can make sure that those people who have immigrated to this country, who have sought asylum in this country , do not feel as though country, do not feel as though xenophobic forces are against

them. >> matthew arade dam we have to leave it there. and benabib, thanks for joining for us another rumble this not another rumble this time. not though jungle. you though, in the jungle. thank you very much. i'm martin daubney on gb this is britain's news gb news this is britain's news channel. back in a tick. >> good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather update. with me, annie from the met office. i'll be staying dry for many through the rest of the day the evening and we day and into the evening and we could starting to could see some fog starting to develop well. that's develop as well. and that's because got high pressure because we've got high pressure still . meeting the still dominate. meeting the ridge that pressure is ridge of that high pressure is extending the uk, extending across much of the uk, but a weather front up but there is a weather front up to north—west that will to the north—west that will bnng to the north—west that will bring thicker cloud parts of bring thicker cloud to parts of scotland northern ireland scotland and northern ireland throughout this evening. some outbreaks well, outbreaks of rain as well, mainly over high ground and on the coasts at first, but it will become a bit more persistent through the night. further south there a cloud coverage, there is a good cloud coverage, but thin . so allow but it is fairly thin. so allow temperatures fall into the temperatures to fall into the low single figures. we could also see some patches of mist and fog, particularly across southern by tomorrow southern counties by tomorrow morning and then tomorrow morning and then tomorrow morning we get off to a fairly bright areas

bright start for many areas of england wales and it'll stay england and wales and it'll stay that way through of the that way through a lot of the day. you could see some of this rain from this weather front starting to the pennines starting to affect the pennines and persist across much starting to affect the pennines an scotland)ersist across much starting to affect the pennines an scotland )ersist acroaffecting of scotland as well as affecting northern to northern ireland from time to time. temps peratures throughout tomorrow will be around average for the time of year. similar feel to not feeling too feel to today. not feeling too bad in sunshine be bad in any sunshine and it'll be a milder day though across parts of scotland . thursday is a 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 become widespread feel will become more widespread as the cold air pushes into southern areas by

fri day friday >> good afternoon. it's 4 pm. welcome to the show . i'm >> good afternoon. it's 4 pm. welcome to the show. i'm martin daubney. this is gb news. got an action packed hour coming up top of the show, the covid inquiry rumbles on. it's bedlam . it's rumbles on. it's bedlam. it's confusion. they're like headless chickens. they were meant to be in control all today. sir chris whitty gave evidence and he said this little missive, all the opfions this little missive, all the options were very bad. some were just a bit worse. doesn't that fill you full of confidence? next up with a record 2.6 million brits on long term sickness leave, is it time to clamp down on sick note? britain and squeeze benefits that might be in the autumn statement

tomorrow? what do you think? let us know on gb news. next up , us know on gb news. next up, wasteful councils. why are so many of our councils going bankrupt? solar farms, dodgy property deals and energy companies? why can't they just focus on potholes and emptying our wheelie bins? we'll have a full report from birmingham live on that. and finally , lee, is on that. and finally, lee, is are they getting that money back by ripping us off via parking fines as they soar to a record £1 billion per year, a 10% boom since 2018? are you sick to the back teeth of getting fined for parking down your local high street? all of that's coming up in the next hour. or . so i want in the next hour. or. so i want to hear from you, especially about your local council. do you think you're getting value for money, record council taxes ? money, record council taxes? yeah. can't seem to get the yeah. they can't seem to get the basics . loads are basics right. loads of them are going bankrupt. basics right. loads of them are going bankrupt . and what about going bankrupt. and what about clamping benefits ? do

clamping down on benefits? do you feel oftentimes this country pays better to not work than it pays better to not work than it pays to actually work? get in touch. vaiews@gbnews.com in the usual way. that's coming up in the next hour. but first, here's your new news headlines with tatiana sanchez . tatiana sanchez. >> martin, thank you very much and good afternoon. this is the latest. us officials say a tentative deal between israel and hamas that could see a pause in fighting and the release of hostages has been agreed . and hostages has been agreed. and earlier, israel's prime minister benjamin netanyahu said progress was being made on a deal brokered by the us that could see 50 israeli hostages released i >> -- >> 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. it doesn't 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. i it's worth saying i don't think it's worth saying too even at this too much, not even at this moment. but i hope there will be

good news soon. >> officers searching for four young teenagers who've been missing in north wales since sunday morning have found the car they were travelling in. javon hurst, harvey owen , wolf javon hurst, harvey owen, wolf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and porthmadog areas of gwyneth for a camping trip. nonh gwyneth for a camping trip. north wales police says its officers are currently at the location the families of location and the families of those involved have been informed and the covid inquiry is hearing evidence from sir chris whitty, who was the government's most senior medical adviser during the pandemic. the inquiry heard the pandemic plan inquiry heard the pandemic plan in place before covid 19 was woefully deficient . point sir woefully deficient. point sir chris said it had been drawn up by people who'd been through the swine flu, where the mortality rate was quite low. he also said that policy decisions regarding quarantining people were difficult . difficult. >> but if i were to rerun this penod >> but if i were to rerun this period again , and i think it's period again, and i think it's important to be reflective . the

important to be reflective. the thing which we didn't, i think consider enough was should we be asking people coming back from china to self—quarantine irrespective of symptoms for probably 10 or 14 days, we were beginning to do so on the basis of symptoms . of symptoms. >> the prime minister has defended the decision to hand tough sentences to climate protesters who caused major disruption . it comes after the disruption. it comes after the united nations raised concerns over the sentences handed to protesters who scaled the dartford crossing last year, saying they were significant , saying they were significant, more severe than those imposed in the past. rishi sunak defended the tough penalties, saying the protesters were selfish and intent on causing misery to the hard working majority . he lancashire police majority. he lancashire police has been criticised for its handung 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 the press, which contributed to the press, which contributed to wide speculation when it said that non—reportable background information should have been provided to the media to help shape responsible reporting without disclosing sensitive information. 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 the release of personal information about nicholas 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 . unnecessary. >> the duke of sussex's lawyers plan to ask ministers for permission to use confidential documents from the leveson inquiry in the case against the publisher of the daily mail associated newspapers is accused of engaging in investigators to use listening devices which were placed in cars and recording private telephone conversations. the publisher says the case is

lurid and preposterous as the king and queen have welcomed the south korean president at horseguards parade, the royal couple are hosting yoon suk yeol and his wife at buckingham palace. it's the first incoming state visit the king 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. now if you've ever dreamed of driving a car worthy of james bond or one of his villains, now is your chance. drivers are being urged to register their interest in a legendary james bond number plate from the failed film goldfinger. bond number plate from the failed film goldfinger . the failed film goldfinger. the current record for a plate sold in britain is just over £500,000. but that could be about to change. fans have a chance to get their hands on the classic a1 number plate with bid starting . at £300,000. you're starting. at £300,000. you're with gb news across the uk on tv , in your car, on digital radio,

and now on your smart speaker. by and now on your smart speaker. by saying play gb news now back to . martin to. martin >> thank you , tatyana. now back >> thank you, tatyana. now back to today's top story, the evidence being heard at the covid 19 inquiry is continuing to paint a picture of chaos and confusion at the heart of the government's response to the pandemic . today, it was the turn pandemic. today, it was the turn of england's chief medical officer, sir chief whitty . in officer, sir chief whitty. in the last hour, he has said there was no doubt covid was a dangerous virus. by january 2020 and that scientists felt closing the borders would have had a very minimal effect. well his appearance comes a day after former chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance accused bofis sir patrick vallance accused boris johnson of being bamboozled by science and the then chancellor, rishi sunak, of just being okay with just letting people die of covid. well, let's get the latest now with gb news presenter pip

tomson. pip. another very dramatic day. what's all the latest ? good afternoon. latest? good afternoon. >> martin. well, the latest is , >> martin. well, the latest is, is that england's chief medical officer, sir chris whitty, or geekin officer, sir chris whitty, or geek in chief, as he's been described , he's still going. he described, he's still going. he started at 10:00 this morning. it's likely to finish in the next 20 minutes or so. and then he is going to be back tomorrow . he is going to be back tomorrow. so because there is so much to go through with him in the last few minutes, he's been talking about these mass gatherings . do about these mass gatherings. do you remember when we had all those people gathering at cheltenham for the races? also so the football and cases in liverpool then went up? well, sir chris whitty said , is that sir chris whitty said, is that maybe looking back that whole scenario would have been treated very differently because it gave an impression of normality. it signalled to the public that the government didn't think that there was anything wrong when actually the system, the situation was very far from

normal . he situation was very far from normal. he said the situation was very far from normal . he said the government normal. he said the government was not as electrified by the threat of covid as it should have been, and then he was put under pressure by hugo kc, counsel for the inquiry, to explain why he didn't do more to warn number 10 of the covid threat. but he said, well, it's difficult to know where you can go once you've talked to all the people you have talked to. now, of course, we know that sir patrick vallance, the government's former chief scientific adviser, he was giving evidence yesterday and he suggested that his counterpart , suggested that his counterpart, sir chris whitty, was more of a delayer over lockdown. but sir chris whitty really rejected those claims and talked about the fact that he was simply a lot more cautious and was looking at the concerns and the ramifications that would come from a lockdown . so, for from a lockdown. so, for example, the situation regarding mental health and the impact on the economy, just listen to what he had to say earlier.

>> i did have a stronger concern than 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 and the disadvantages of all the 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 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 too early , in which case you get all 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 going too late, in which case you get all the problems of the pandemic running away . now, as 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 sir chris whitty also conceded that the first lockdown in march 2020 did come a little bit too late. >> and he also didn't really personally criticise the then prime minister, boris johnson . prime minister, boris johnson. he said the way he made decisions was unique to him . so decisions was unique to him. so sir chris whitty continues giving evidence tomorrow. he'll be followed by his deputy, his former deputy, sir jonathan van—tam. boris johnson, meanwhile, and rishi sunak. van—tam. boris johnson, meanwhile, and rishi sunak . they meanwhile, and rishi sunak. they are due to give evidence next month. martin okay. >> pip tomson, superb update . >> pip tomson, superb update. thank you for the latest from the covid in quarry. it's going to rumble on. do you wonder out there if they're asking the right questions this it seems to be blame game. should we be the blame game. should we have harder have locked down sooner, harder later? is the biggest later? but is the biggest question in the later? but is the biggest quest should in the later? but is the biggest quest should have in the later? but is the biggest quest should have done e later? but is the biggest quest should have done it at room should we have done it at all or should we have selectively protected the neediest, , the elderly neediest, the frail, the elderly and the economy carry on? and let the economy carry on? like in sweden ? those questions like in sweden? those questions don't seem to be asked. it just seems to be a blame of how

seems to be a blame game of how they got it wrong. they should have sooner or harder, but have gone sooner or harder, but will they actually ever be truly accountable did to will they actually ever be truly acc

sends a message out that it pays better to not work than it does to work . to work. >> that's right. it's a political choice that the government is making to put themselves on the side of the strivers, those who want to get on. i've in a meeting there on. i've been in a meeting there with minister's with the prime minister's official i him official spokesman. i asked him whether the whether he felt that the government thought that some people on benefits will work shine now, they wouldn't accept that but did that term work. shy but they did say feel that say that they feel that some people support getting people need more support getting back work. problem people need more support getting back now work. problem people need more support getting back now isyrk. problem people need more support getting back now is that problem people need more support getting back now is that moreyblem people need more support getting back now is that more people right now is that more people now are being put on benefits under the system than they were before. and what the before. and that's what the government to tackle. government is trying to tackle. the if the idea here is if you're if you're to idea you're able to the idea of working from home is a new idea you're able to the idea of workwe'veym home is a new idea you're able to the idea of workwe've had ome is a new idea you're able to the idea of workwe've had sinces a new idea you're able to the idea of workwe've had since the new idea you're able to the idea of workwe've had since the covidiea that we've had since the covid pandemic. so what the government is if you can at is hoping that if you can be at home, maybe home, and home, maybe work from home, and then back then just gradually get back into into being used to go back to work. there are some to work. so there are some sanctions those who refuse. to work. so there are some san

being finalised by the by the chancellor, jeremy but chancellor, jeremy hunt. but there's no question here is chancellor, jeremy hunt. but tipolitical question here is chancellor, jeremy hunt. but tipolitical move on here is chancellor, jeremy hunt. but tipolitical move ,n here is chancellor, jeremy hunt. but tipolitical move , an ere is chancellor, jeremy hunt. but tipolitical move , an attempt s a political move, an attempt to bnng a political move, an attempt to bring benefits bring down the benefits bill. we've in net we've got big increase in net migration expected in official figures thursday . here's figures out on thursday. here's the government trying to say, look, more people look, we want to get more people back help plug those back into work, help plug those work if you if you work gaps. and if you if you can't the house, why can't get out the house, why can't get out the house, why can't from home now, can't you work from home now, chris, people in chris, do you think people in the labour party will object to this will vote it this or will they vote it through there'll be a through because there'll be a clear on this, won't clear wedge issue on this, won't they? >> because presumably the labour party go against this and party will go against this and the and the tories can say, the and then the tories can say, well you're the party of the benefits classes, you're the party this country party who's miring this country in right , yes. in debt. that's right, yes. >> you remember back in when george osborne was the chancellor back in, well, a decade ago now, he talked about people who didn't open the curtains in the morning, that those who did want to to work those who did want to go to work opened curtains and opened the curtains and when left went to left their homes and went off to work neighbours in work and others, neighbours in their and was their street didn't. and he was trying the government was trying to people to get to challenge those people to get back to work. it's perennial back to work. it's a perennial problem. benefits problem. i think this benefits bill want to find bill and they want to find ways

to definitely to tackle it and it definitely is issue. the government is a wedge issue. the government is a wedge issue. the government is trying to say what would labour labour labour do? well, labour will certainly vote against this measure the measure when it comes to the house of commons. i'd be surprised voted in surprised if they voted in favour it's another favour of it. so it's another line the the leaflets line on on the on the leaflets to be prepared for the general election expected towards the end at this point. end of next year at this point. so yes no this is an so yes, no question this is an attempt drive a wedge attempt to drive a wedge with labour on who's on who's on the side of the workers against those aren't working. side of the workers against tho okay, aren't working. side of the workers against tho okay, chris 't working. side of the workers against tho okay, chris fauxrking. side of the workers against tho okay, chris faux pas,. side of the workers against tho okay, chris faux pas, live >> okay, chris faux pas, live from downing street. you from downing street. thank you for that update. now moving on, the king queen officially the king and queen of officially welcome south welcome the president of south korea his to buckingham korea and his wife to buckingham palace begin a three day palace as they begin a three day visit . members of the royal visit. members of the royal family, including the prince and princess of wales, will host a state banquet the palace this state banquet at the palace this evening in their honour. it's the incoming visit the first incoming state visit charles and camilla have held since the king's coronation. well, gb news presenter, well, our gb news presenter, royal correspondent cameron walker, has been at buckingham palace for us all day. cameron, this seems like precisely the kind of soft diplomacy that king

charles and queen camilla should be doing. we've got a whopping £21 billion trade deal on the table with south korea and rolling out the red carpet to bucho house. that's great news, isn't it ? isn't it? >> yeah. and i think rishi sunak and his government are very much using the king and queen. and in fact, all of the royal family today as an asset when it comes today as an asset when it comes to that power of soft diplomacy. they've really been rolling out the carpet all day , starting the red carpet all day, starting with the prince and princess of wales personally collecting the president of south korea and the first lady from their hotel escorting to horseguards escorting them to horseguards parade for the ceremonial welcome involving a royal salute from the scots guards . the king from the scots guards. the king inviting president of south inviting the president of south korea to inspect the guards of honour as well. a 41 gun salute in green park and then a carriage procession up the mall to buckingham palace , where we to buckingham palace, where we understand the royal family treated the president of south korea and the first lady to a private lunch , as well as private lunch, as well as viewing a few items in the royal

collection related to south korea. but there was a gift exchange. we've been told. so the king and queen gave the president and first lady a silver framed photograph of themselves, they signed, themselves, which they signed, as well as a bespoke royal scots crystal whisky decanter and tumbler set the king also gave the president a stemming a copy of stemming the tides by winston churchill bound at the royal bindery at windsor castle , as bindery at windsor castle, as well as a special bottle of laphroaig whisky, which king charles personally signed when he visited the distillery in 2008. the queen also gave the first lady a embroidered pashmina with the national flower of south korea . but all flower of south korea. but all of this buttering up, flower of south korea. but all of this buttering up , for want of this buttering up, for want of this buttering up, for want of a better phrase, has a there is a reason for it, and that is because the whole reason for a state visit, which is organised by the government is the power of soft diplomacy and strength . of soft diplomacy and strength. opening relations between two nations. opening relations between two nafions.so opening relations between two nations. so we know the government has announced this morning that there are going to

be intense trade talks between south korea and the british government over the next three days as this state visit plans out in central london with the hope that a brand new trade deal hope that a brand new trade deal, as you're saying, martin, could be on the table as well as that. there has been talk they've announced the british government and the south korean government that they're going to ramp sanctions against north ramp up sanctions against north korea to try and stem their plans for a weapons and illegal weapons program. but tonight at all tops off really with a magnificent state banquet with a white tie affair, tiaras and the like taking place in the ballroom of buckingham palace. so still lots to look forward to for the president and first lady. >> superb stuff. cameron walker, isn't that, though, brilliant ? isn't that, though, brilliant? what do you give a man who's got everything if you're the president of south korea, you presumably got a few quid, but a signed of whisky from a signed bottle of whisky from a king. now priceless. king. now that's priceless. thank walker. thank you, cameron walker. superb stuff. we'll have lots more at 5:00. and more on that story at 5:00. and there's plenty coverage on more on that story at 5:00. and

the|website, y coverage on more on that story at 5:00. and the|website, gbnews.com on more on that story at 5:00. and the|website, gbnews.com because our website, gbnews.com because you've helped to make it the fastest growing national news website in the country. thank you very much for making that happen. and i want to hear from you the usual ways. email you all the usual ways. email me, gbviews@gbnews.uk . pm about me, gbviews@gbnews.uk. pm about any stories on today's any of the stories on today's show. now still to come , a show. now still to come, a number of uk councils are going bust and i'm asking what are they spending all of our dosh on? are they wasting it on pointless pet projects? i'm martin daubney on gb news and we are britain's news channel

isabel monday to thursdays from. six till 930 . six till 930. >> welcome back. it's 423. i'm really excited. i've got a new chair. i know you're watching and listening to martin daubney on gb news. now in every corner of country , councils are of the country, councils are struggling to manage their finances few could be just finances and a few could be just days away from effectively going bankrupt. not ingham city council. that's my home city, has announced it is considering submitting a section 114 notice which would restrict spending to essential services like education and even social care. well our east midlands reporter will hollis has been taking a closer look at what's happening in nottingham . in nottingham. >> the festivities begin at nottingham's christmas market. >> it was good rain . germans >> it was good rain. germans lived in the city since nine 1948. >> it's good if you've got children or you want to have a walk around and buy something different.

>> but basically it's pretty expensive . but then again, expensive. but then again, everything is nowadays. >> but even in the bright lights of the season, a shadow hangs over the city. >> a council on the brink of bankruptcy . bankruptcy. >> nottingham city council has a £23 million hole in its budget . £23 million hole in its budget. raymond blames poor money management . management. >> i think there's something wrong with the people that working there. >> they've got these >> they've got all these financial and they don't financial experts and they don't seem to be that good at it, do they ? i mean, i have to. i have they? i mean, i have to. i have to bite tom harwood budget and i'm a pension . i'm a pension. >> the labour run council accuses the conservative government of causing high inflation that sent costs spiralling widening the gap in its budget . its budget. >> that, combined with rising demand for social care and temporary free accommodation, has increased pressure on the city's purse , adding to the city's purse, adding to the emergency when a council can no

longer balance its budget , it longer balance its budget, it submits an s1 one for notice . submits an s1 one for notice. that means that from then they can only spend money on statutory services, things that they have to provide for an area bin collections road works, social care and libraries on everything else spending, scrap apart from culture to come effort. it's the path birmingham city council chose in september. now many others across the country are considering the same looking to the government's aid , looking to the government's aid, the department for levelling up said we have made an extra £51 billion available to local authorities, with almost 60 billion available for the sector , up billion available for the sector , up 9.4% on cash terms . on , up 9.4% on cash terms. on 2022, 2023. however other councils are ultimately responsible for the management of their own finances and should take all necessary action to

manage the financial issues they . face councils clinging on. but for how long? when others have already run out of time, will hollis gb news in nottingham . hollis gb news in nottingham. >> astonishing. well, to explain where it's all gone wrong for many of england's councils, joining us is the head of the campaigns at the taxpayers alliance, elliot keck. elliott what most people think that council should focus on things, you know, like fixing potholes or emptying wheelie bins. and yet we're seeing this litany of ridiculous arguments over things like gender pay gap, starting your own energy companies and investing half £1 billion in solar farms. what's going wrong with our councils ? with our councils? >> well, yeah, absolutely . >> well, yeah, absolutely. martin and thanks for having me on. it's really interesting that you cited nottingham city council. of course , that's the council. of course, that's the council that lost tens of millions of pounds in an

absolutely spectacularly failed investment into an energy firm known as robin hood energy that ended up going bankrupt. so okay, there are councils that are struggling, that are facing financial difficulties , but when financial difficulties, but when we're talking about councils on the brink of bankruptcy, actually what we usually find is catastrophic financial mismanagement, as is the case with nottingham city council . with nottingham city council. >> when did it get to the stage where councils effectively were speculating with taxpayers money into schemes like energy companies into schemes like solar farms, because if they were any ordinary business, they'd all be fired when they . they'd all be fired when they. >> well, it's difficult to say exactly when and how it started. there has been a relaxation in rules over the years on what councils can do with money. there's also political pressure to not increase council tax, but i think also there has been a decline in local media, which means frankly, councils have not been properly monitored, not being properly investigated and

that means that, you know, council bureaucrats who frankly, if things go wrong, can just take the redundancy package and leave. i've been willing to make some fairly spectacular investments despite the fact that more often than they that more often than not they have absolutely no private sector experience . sector experience. >> the thing that really sticks in people's craw is this notion of fat cats salaries . when you of fat cats salaries. when you look at some of the pay that some of these fellows are on, there over 3000 councillors there are over 3000 councillors on more than 100 grand a year. is that part of the problem? they're simply paying themselves too much. these bureaucrats , too much. these bureaucrats, this . yeah this. yeah >> so we're talking about council officials. i think it's important to make clear and in the case of nottingham city council they have eight people on over £100,000. that's according to our town hall rich list. that every single list. that we do every single year. list. that we do every single year . and i think it really, year. and i think it really, really irritates local taxpayers that you see more and more of their council officials taking home these often. absolutely gargantuan salaries and pay

packets, despite the fact that the council finances seem to be mismanaged year after year, while at the same time council tax rates are going up. so i think it is a big problem. >> is there a political >> elliott is there a political landscape or backdrop or element to this? i mean, thurrock that's conservative woking is lib dem nottingham of course is labour, but what's the general pattern? who are the worst offenders at council mismanagement . council mismanagement. >> i think in terms of political parties, i think both political parties, i think both political parties like to claim that they run council effectively. i think when you actually look at it, it's difficult to say that anybody is worse than the other. as you say, thurrock is conservative, woking was conservative, woking was conservative when the financial mismanagement was actually enacted and croydon and slough were both labour. so i think listen , ultimately if you have listen, ultimately if you have local politicians that really care about their community care about focusing on providing services at low cost, then you'll have a well—run council,

regardless of the politics of the council. whereas if you have a council that simply is happy to make wild speculative investments in order to fulfil the ambitions of some of those council officials that maybe didn't make it in the private sector, then you'll have a local authority that likely authority that is likely to run into serious trouble. >> and elliott, what do you think should be done with these crumbling councils? saw, for crumbling councils? we saw, for example, birmingham , they example, in birmingham, they were into were effectively put into special . michael gove special measures. michael gove coming to in take over at the helm. is that what we should do? as ordinary as they were an ordinary business, an external auditor come they're not fit for come in, they're not fit for purpose, but who can run them? i mean at the moment we don't have anybody in central government that to able run that seems to be able to run central alone central government, let alone taking councils willy nilly i >> -- >> yeah, at the moment we're looking at a sticking plaster approach where the department of levelling up housing and communities steps in when a county goes wrong, often it's neighbouring councils that also assist. as is the case with essex and thurrock. i think in the long term we need to look at

a sustainable ways fund a more sustainable ways to fund local government possibly local government and possibly even stricter rules on what exactly can and can't spend exactly they can and can't spend money a longer money on. but that's a longer term project. money on. but that's a longer terrmoving t. we're money on. but that's a longer terrmovingt. we're moving on >> moving on, we're moving on slightly in a moment. elliott to another story that's kind of grabbed our attention and that's this huge increase in councils charging motorists in parking fines over £1 billion per year. now a 10% rise since 2018. and imagine my surprise. elliott one of the worst offenders outside london is nottingham , where they london is nottingham, where they charge £14.7 million a year. number 12 in the country. it's almost like the countries that are going broke are ripping off motorists to fill their biscuit tin . am i being cynical or is tin. am i being cynical or is there something in that i think it's certainly representative of a culture where councils do not take taxpayers money seriously and you see this with other schemes. >> take low traffic neighbourhoods which were brought in supposedly to help

the environment, actually brought in supposedly to help the (quicklyfent, actually brought in supposedly to help the (quickly turned actually brought in supposedly to help the (quickly turned into tually very quickly turned into a massive for those local massive cash cow for those local councils. so i don't think you're being cynical. i think it is indicative of a damaging culture and ultimately, what do you think can be done about all of this? >> i mean, we just hear all the time about councils and time about councils failing and yet it seems be round and yet it seems to be round and round go politically, if round we go politically, if they're voted out, it doesn't seem to change anything . is seem to change anything. is there with not being seem to change anything. is thereto with not being seem to change anything. is thereto attract with not being seem to change anything. is thereto attract the th not being seem to change anything. is thereto attract the bestyt being seem to change anything. is thereto attract the best talent? able to attract the best talent? we often times , don't we, we here often times, don't we, about sector? not about the public sector? not being get the best being able to get the best private sector talent. but then of course they to pay private sector talent. but then of cour�*sector' to pay private sector talent. but then of cour�* sector wages.o pay private sector talent. but then of cour�* sector wages. therefore, private sector wages. therefore, we have cat salaries round we have fat cat salaries round and round we go. how do we get out of this conundrum ? well out of this conundrum? well i think public sector officials are very well remunerated. >> they earn more, on average in private sector officials and have far better benefits. so i don't think it's about that. i think, you know, talking on a on a bottom up case, think a bottom up case, i think actually we need more a actually we need more of a culture uk where people culture in the uk where people are their are willing to scrutinise their council, to take it to council, willing to take it to their own responsibility to look

at how their council spending money. it's really positive that gb news are active monitors, councils actively talks about this and i think we do need more of a bottom up culture where people are willing to challenge their they spend their council on how they spend their council on how they spend their a lot of their money because a lot of this is published on this spending is published on their websites can seen their websites and can be seen by see. by all to see. >> eliot's head of campaigns >> eliot's kc head of campaigns at taxpayers alliance. thank >> eliot's kc head of campaigns at fortaxpayers alliance. thank >> eliot's kc head of campaigns at forjoiningrs alliance. thank >> eliot's kc head of campaigns at forjoining usllliance. thank >> eliot's kc head of campaigns at forjoining us onance. thank >> eliot's kc head of campaigns at forjoining us on that.thank >> eliot's kc head of campaigns at forjoining us on that. and k you for joining us on that. and please out there get in touch. what do you think? how dissatisfied are you your dissatisfied are you with your local ? i'm a nottingham local council? i'm a nottingham lad when i see what's going lad and when i see what's going on in nottingham, i just i just on in nottingham, ijust i just cannot believe my eyes. and then when out today that when i found out today that they're £14.7 million when i found out today that th

and 5:00. and as i just said , and 5:00. and as i just said, our parking fines away for these bankrupt councils to rake in the cash fleece motorists dry because new figures show how they're talking taking bee pollen around £1 billion from fixed penalty notices every single legal year. but first, there's your news headlines with tatiana sanchez . tatiana sanchez. >> martin, thank you very much and good afternoon. some breaking news to bring you first. police searching for a group of teenagers who've been missing the of wales missing in the north of wales have confirmed four bodies have been recovered from a car which appears to have left the road near tremadog . javon hurst, near tremadog. javon hurst, harvey owen , wilf henderson and harvey owen, wilf henderson and hugo morris are thought to have beenin hugo morris are thought to have been in the harlech and porthmadog areas of gwyneth for a camping trip. porthmadog areas of gwyneth for a camping trip . there is due to a camping trip. there is due to be a police press conference and a statement made shortly .

a statement made shortly. elsewhere, us officials say a tentative deal between israel and hamas that could see a pause in fighting and the release of hostages has been agreed. the deal would include the terror group releasing 50 hostages, mostly women and children, in exchange for 150 palestinian prisoners. and a pause of 4 or 5 days, president joe biden says they've been working on a deal to get hostages out and a very close earlier , israel's prime close earlier, israel's prime minister said progress was being made on the us brokered deal. >> 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. >> doesn't stop until it's >> it doesn't stop until it's done. >> the second goal is the return of the hostages. making of the hostages. as we're making progress. i don't think it's worth much, even worth saying too much, not even at this moment. but i hope there will good news soon. will be good news soon. lancashire police has been

criticised for its handling of the disappearance of nicola billy . billy. >> a review found failings in the way personal information about ms billy's health struggles was disclosed to the press, which contributed to wide, wild speculation . it said wide, 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 . and the duke of information. and the duke of sussex's lawyers plan to ask ministers for permission to use confidential documents from the leveson inquiry in the case against the publisher of the daily mail associated newspapers is accused of engaging investigators to use a listening devices which were placed in cars and recording private telephone conversations. the publisher says the case is lurid and preposterous . publisher says the case is lurid and preposterous. for more on all of those stories, you can visit our website, gbnews.com .

visit our website, gbnews.com. >> thank you very much, tatiana. now councils across the uk have raked . in £1 billion from raked. in £1 billion from parking fines. local authorities have enjoyed a 10% rise since the beginning of 2017, and reports suggest they are making £962 million a year, according to reports . councils £962 million a year, according to reports. councils imposing fee rises have been accused of deterring tourists and squeezing small local businesses by putting off local shoppers. well joining me now is motoring journalist and broadcast writer danny kelly. danny it seems like every time we speak , it's the every time we speak, it's the same theme. the poor old beleaguered motorist is a cash cow. being milked dry. it's either clean air zones , petrol either clean air zones, petrol prices, and now parking fines. so seriously, councils are just declaring war on motorists. do you believe ? you believe? >> yeah, it's nearly a billion pounds a year , martin, and a lot

pounds a year, martin, and a lot of that besides the fines is actually how much they take off you when you do want to park. >> it's curious, isn't it, your home town? >> i know how fond you are of nottingham. >> you're an east midlands lad andifs >> you're an east midlands lad and it's curious that you have a failing council. yet they want £14 million of parking fines and as as parking fees. and you as well as parking fees. and you have two and two together have to put two and two together and there and wonder whether there is indeed between indeed a coincidence between failing councils. but then you look other local authorities look at other local authorities and broadcasting and i know you're broadcasting from capital and nine of the from the capital and nine of the ten highest income generating local authorities are indeed in london, westminster. martin £71 million in fees , parking charges million in fees, parking charges just below that kensington, £41 million. and it's curious, i'm in the west midlands and there's a concern lviv run council called walsall council dorbz, and they only made once they'd paid their staff and once they'd covered the costs to keep the car parks in good order. and they don't, they only made

£5,000. and the reason that this conservative run council have only really made five grand in a tough working class town such as walsall martin is because they understand that the high street is dying . they understand that is dying. they understand that if they want to stop people going to merry hill shopping centre on a big retail park with probably 1500 free parking spaces , they need to do spaces, they need to do something about the parking rates. martin so there's an incredible juxtaposition between failing failed high streets like walsall and kensington and westminster, where they're getting 70 odd million pounds a yeah getting 70 odd million pounds a year. but your earlier point, dobbsis year. but your earlier point, dobbs is right. once again, it's the motorists. >> it's a cash cow for local councils . councils. >> and let me just give you one damning indictment, if i may , damning indictment, if i may, martin, on what it's like to park in london. if you drive a non ulez compliant car, it costs you more to park on the street than an ulez car compliant cah than an ulez car compliant car. it's a damning indictment. >> god, don't get me going. i

was angry enough about parking fines without you mentioning ulez dan but another thing that's complete cynical about this is that they're also specifically targeted in tourist hotspots. so they're not just ripping off people in their home towns. they're ripping off brits who want to go somewhere like the forest bridge ston or the new forest or bridge ston or the new forest or bridge ston or the tendring district or seaside towns like clacton on sea, where they've almost doubled their fines. they know where people are going. they know they won't be familiar with parking be familiar with local parking restrictions . they know they restrictions. they know they can't be bothered to faff around with apps the rest of with apps and all the rest of it. and so they're cynically fleecing motorists from out of town as well . town as well. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> what's even more cynical than that, martin, i've just come back from cornwall for a family holiday. we went to truro and on most of the high streets in cornwall, certainly in the city of truro , they allow you to park of truro, they allow you to park for 40 minutes on the high for 30, 40 minutes on the high street, 30 minutes, no return within two hours. martin what the hell can you do if you are

going to a town centre to do some shopping and you park up, you have 30 minutes. it's designed to catch you out. it's the sort of racket that the gambino new york mob family in the 1990s would have been proud of . of. >> danny kaye superb. 30 minutes is not a lot of time to do damage, but i bet could do damage, but i bet you could do a bit of damage in 30 minutes in a pub. i think you've got pub. danny, i think you've got a kebab down here. listen, kebab down here. anyway, listen, it's always a pleasure to speak to danny fans tastic to you. danny kelly fans tastic stuff. he may stuff. still to come, he may have revealed bit more than have revealed a bit more than we were you know what were wanting. you know what i mean? nigel farage mean? but is nigel farage performance celebrity performance on i'm a celebrity endeanng performance on i'm a celebrity endearing viewers? i'm endearing him to viewers? i'm martin daubney on gb news. and this is britain's news

the camilla tominey show sunday mornings from 930 on. >> news . welcome back. >> news. welcome back. >> news. welcome back. >> it's a 4:45 and you're watching or listening to martin daubney here on gb news. now today marks the launch of gb news save our high street series gb news economics and business editor liam halligan has been to chelmsford in essex , assessing chelmsford in essex, assessing the mood of market stall owners ahead of tomorrow's autumn statement . statement. >> chelmsford and essex proud middle england and a good spot to assess the state of the british economy. just 30 miles from london, though , chelmsford 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 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 hand. are using the high street less hand . liz has been are using the high street less hand. liz has been in this market nearly 60 years, selling fabncs market nearly 60 years, selling fabrics , sewing accessories and fabrics, sewing accessories and other haberdashery . christopher other 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 town, but not shopping in the town, but not only finding it very only the market finding it very difficult. you know, they're finding to heat finding it difficult to heat their homes and buy the food that and, you know, their homes and buy the food thatinterest and, you know, their homes and buy the food thatinterest rates nd, 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 high. people got extremely high. so people got less spend on the less money to spend on the high street. and itself , street. and in markets itself, hanley's trade to hanley's has lost trade to onune hanley's has lost trade to online suppliers for years , and online suppliers for years, and since lockdown, there are fewer workers in local offices, which 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 the shops, reduce the rents for the shops, reduce the rents for the shops, reduce the rents and the business then business rates, then unfortunately it's going to go because there are less people shopping in the high streets . shopping in the high streets. and i think the rents and rates need reflect real istically need to reflect real istically what people can afford to pay . what people can afford to pay. >> other side of >> on the other side of chelmsford market, gini cole runs previously enjoyed her vintage gift stall , having vintage gift stall, having served chelmsford's 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 some lost really. they go into some of shops and they don't of the big shops and they don't know they're buying. they know what they're buying. they need directing, calling for tomorrow's to tomorrow's autumn statement to ease pressure on retailers.

ease the pressure on retailers. >> gini speaks for many in chelmsford market. >> everyone . there you go. >> everyone. there you go. there's so many empty shops and it's become too expensive it's all become too expensive for a lot of the retailers. if we get if you retailers in we get if you get retailers in the town , then we get them into the town, then we get them into here, we get the we get the bounce off the customers . bounce off from the customers. so do more for the so they ought to do more for the shops in the towns . shops in the towns. >> but despite the threat of onune >> but despite the threat of online and economic downturn, this stallholder says the magic of in—person shopping will somehow survive this. 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. >> you like that ? >> you like that? >> you like that? >> liam halligan gb news. chelmsford . chelmsford. >> that's great. from liam halligan the on your bike spirit alive and kicking in chelmsford. so as we've heard , there's so as we've heard, there's different challenges facing the

high street at the moment. but how are things looking up for black friday day? because according to new research by consumer champion, which . only consumer champion, which. only 2% of products on sale in this penod 2% of products on sale in this period are actually at their best price . well, joining me now best price. well, joining me now is retail expert lucy davis . is retail expert lucy davis. lucy, what's going on here? i'm old enough to remember when the harrods sale came on new year's day. we all tuned into zombies and they ran through the door and they ran through the door and they ran through the door and they anything that had and they buy anything that had a sale it. but sale sticker on it. but presumably online presumably here the online retailers putting a fast retailers are putting a fast one. what are they up to ? one. what are they up to? >> good afternoon . >> good afternoon. >> good afternoon. >> well, it's a bit of a tale of two halves. so people still are going to shop in the street going to shop in the high street . but we're shopping in a very different before. different way than before. i work for a master's , so we're work for a master's, so we're a customer engagement company and our technology supports getting people getting people to shop both online and in store . and both online and in store. and we've done a whole load of research, particularly around

black friday and really we've organised a customer loyalty index, which is a global study of 10,000 consumers as of 2000 consumers in the uk . and we've consumers in the uk. and we've found particularly this year black friday coming up on friday, people are still excited about black friday and planning to shop, but to spend far, far less money. so in fact, we're looking to spend exactly half the amount that we researched last year. so around . £140 per last year. so around. £140 per headin last year. so around. £140 per head in the uk, which still seems a lot . head in the uk, which still seems a lot. but head in the uk, which still seems a lot . but yeah, it's seems a lot. but yeah, it's really us becoming far more savvy and cautious with our money and worrying about our gas bill rather than what we're going to spend this year. >> so what's basically going on here then? lucy this is like an onune here then? lucy this is like an online version of that endless sofa sale , isn't it, where sofa sale, isn't it, where actually the prices that you're paying actually the prices that you're paying now are on sale, but they were cheaper earlier in the year . and so therefore, the sale price you're being offered today

isn't the best price you can find. but people lose that sense of reality check because the black friday fever drives them to that bargain . so to avoid to that bargain. so to avoid getting ripped off, what are your tips . your tips. >> i think it's a bit of a value exchange . it's really a matter exchange. it's really a matter of to do your research to check what prices are before black friday. go into your local store , have a good looking out and big consumer white goods because there's been saving up for black friday. i know there's consumer spending and september and october and possibly that was people holding off for christmas. so definitely do your research and we always recommend people to sign up for anything that they can. if a store gets in touch with you or you go in there and they want your email address so they can send you a receipt, it's definitely worth doing create doing that because you create a relationship store and relationship with that store and you a better shopper. you become a better shopper. they know you they get

they know you and they get offers to you over time and then you can go back and get those deals and discounts. at times like friday. whereas if like black friday. whereas if you hadn't communicated with the store in that way, might, store in that way, you might, you those special you might not get those special offers to personal you. offers that are to personal you. >> davis, thanks for >> okay, lucy davis, thanks for joining for the joining us and apologies for the poor sound quality there. maybe actually lucy's apple airpods were on the blink. and that bnngs were on the blink. and that brings me onto one of these little here in may 2022, little points here in may 2022, the apple ipods were advertised for £29 sorry, £99, but they went up to £139 a few months later. so the sale price on black friday of £119 was cheaper than they were. but it was a lot more expensive than they had been earlier in the year. so this elastic pricing is what can catch you out. my advice is just put the item you want into google . search for it anywhere google. search for it anywhere and everywhere and get around it. i'm always hunting around for a bargain. i love a bargain . for a bargain. i love a bargain. okay, move on. let's okay, now let's move on. let's talk. i'm a celebrity, of

course. and the performance of talk. i'm a celebrity, of cou verylnd the performance of talk. i'm a celebrity, of cou very own he performance of talk. i'm a celebrity, of cou very own nigel'formance of talk. i'm a celebrity, of cou very own nigel farage.:e of talk. i'm a celebrity, of cou very own nigel farage. hef our very own nigel farage. he won five stars in last night's stomach, churning bush tucker challenge. but the big question is, is he winning over the viewers? well, joining me now is gb news showbiz reporter , gb news showbiz reporter, stephanie techy. steph, always a pleasure. one of the big shocks yesterday say, aside from nigel chowing down on various bodily parts of animals, he also bared his own body parts. do you think these kind of things endear him with the british public or is it making him a bit of a i don't know, a bit of a laughing stock with public? what's your take? >>i take? >> i think so far, martin, nigel has been good player. so has been a good team player. so you've had people like the youtubeh you've had people like the youtuber, nigella rose and nella rose , who's been screaming at rose, who's been screaming at every single challenge that she's had to do . but nigel's she's had to do. but nigel's just got on with it yesterday when he was eating that pizza , when he was eating that pizza, which had camel udder on it, sheep on it. he had one pizza which had four kinds of animal

penises on it. he just got on with the job and he done it. he's not complaining. he knows that the public going to be that the public are going to be putting him up for these challenges. once sign on challenges. but once you sign on the you know you've the dotted line, you know you've got it. and also got to do it. and you've also got to do it. and you've also got to do it. and you've also got to get food for the campmates, he's campmates, which i think he's doing brilliantly but last doing brilliantly in. but last night see the big b—words night we did see the big b—words came up, which was brexit. and i do know that i do feel bosses have put nigel in there to be the brexit punchbag it did the brexit punchbag and it did go head to head and go head to head with him and fred sirieix , who of course is fred sirieix, who of course is against brexit. so he called nigel shameful for his brexit campaign . he said that, you campaign. he said that, you know, basically the way he made people from europe feel is that they wouldn't be welcome in this country. felt nigel country. and i felt nigel hounded pretty well. he hounded it pretty well. he didn't lose his cool and i think what's going to happen is this issue of brexit is going to keep on having happening and on having happening again and again. so far again. but i think nigel so far handung again. but i think nigel so far handling pretty well. handling himself pretty well. but that scene of him in the bath yesterday was a bit too much, i think, for viewers. >> that's one thing we

>> as yeah, that's one thing we didn't expect to see down under was nigel down under. but back to the brexit thing, actually , to the brexit thing, actually, steph, a lot of people out there will be be thinking. nigel will be will be thinking. nigel is in there. i think you're right to be the brexit punchbag, but to represent but also he's there to represent the of people who voted the millions of people who voted for called for brexit, who've been called all over the all sorts of names over the years, who voted years, and everybody who voted brexit. watching nigel defend his position, i think it will make them like him even more . make them like him even more. >> i think so . and that's why he >> i think so. and that's why he does have lots of supporters because, you know, there's no denying that brexit has been a bit of a mess. so far and nigel farage been one of those farage has been one of those people from to where it is people from start to where it is now that still a vision for now that still has a vision for it. he still believes in it. but as you can imagine, there's a lot of people who are anti—brexit who watch the show andifs anti—brexit who watch the show and it's up for him now to kind of dispel all myths, myths of dispel all the myths, myths such as people who brexit such as people who voted brexit are potentially so are potentially racist. so i think so far nigel has done a good thing of trying to show the more charismatic side of him . more charismatic side of him. >> okay. steph takyi thank you.

always a pleasure. superb stuff . always a pleasure. superb stuff. lots to come in the next hour. please stay with us. i'm martin daubney on gb news. this is britain's new we'll britain's new channel. we'll carry brexit theme carry on with that brexit theme with nigel farage and also parking fine rip offs that's coming up. and of course, the latest on the covid inquiry. stick around

>> what you get for breakfast is something that if we do our jobs right, you will wake up to news that you didn't know the night

before . before. >> it's a conversation. it's not just me and eamonn. >> we want to get to know you and want to get to know and we want you to get to know us from 6:00. >> it's breakfast eamonn >> it's breakfast with eamonn and monday to thursdays and isabel monday to thursdays on gb news, britain's news channel. >> welcome to gb news with me martin daubney. it's 5 pm. we've got loads to come in the next hour. top story. it's bedlam and confusion at the covid inquiry this time sir chris whitty took the stand. the headless chicken continues. there and he said this. all the opfions there and he said this. all the options were very bad, but some were a bit worse. doesn't that fill you full of confidence? next up is it time to clamp down on work ? shy britain with on work? shy britain with a record 2.6 million people on long term disability benefits, costing the country billions and billions of pounds? will the autumn statement tomorrow clamp down on work shy britain? is that the right thing to do? next

up, schools out as the welsh government is tinkering with school holidays over the summer, cutting them to down four weeks instead of six. is that something that you'd like to do to give more flexibility or would it simply make your summer houday would it simply make your summer holiday even more expensive as parents go for those same four weeks across the country , mess weeks across the country, mess with the holidays or leave them alone? and finally , farage down alone? and finally, farage down under ? he's been called under? he's been called shameless. they've argued about brexit. he's eaten endless vile body parts, been up to his neck in slime and snakes. and last night he even got his down undeh night he even got his down under, out, down under. how has brexit, how has the jungle been for brand farage? we'll speak to a brand expert. that's all coming up in this hour. apologies for my poor attempt at humour. it made the people laugh in the gallery at least. but

look, get in touch. all the usual ways. covid inquiry chaos. bofis usual ways. covid inquiry chaos. boris given evidence yet, boris hasn't given evidence yet, nor matt hancock, but they're all asking the same questions sooner. all asking the same questions sooner . harder. all asking the same questions sooner. harder. later. lockdowns. how about lockdowns. lockdowns how about the should they the big question? should they have locked down at all? and let us know, how do you think farage is doing down under all of that in the next hour. but first, here's news headlines here's your news headlines with tatiana sanchez . tatiana sanchez. >> martin, thank you. 5:02. your top stories from the gb newsroom. police searching for a group of missing teenagers say they've recovered four bodies from a crashed car in north wales. a major search was launched afterjohn hurst, harvey owen wilf henderson and hugo morris failed to return home from a camping trip in the snowdonia area on sunday. police say their car left the road near tremadog in what appears to have been a tragic accident . but the been a tragic accident. but the force says they're now working to establish the circumstances .

to establish the circumstances. the national living wage will increase by almost 10% from next april, all full time workers on the national living wage will get a pay rise of over £1,800 a yeah get a pay rise of over £1,800 a year. the treasury has announced the increase ahead of the chancellor jeremy hunt's autumn statement tomorrow . treasury statement tomorrow. treasury chief secretary laura trott says it will help end low pay in the country . country. >> it's fantastic news. we're announcing the biggest ever increase to the national living wage. it's worth £1,800 for a full time worker. it's going up by 9.8. that's £11.44 per hour. this is a pay rise for up to 3 million workers and is part of our commitment to make sure that we make work pay and that we eliminate low pay. us officials say a tentative deal between israel and hamas that could see a pause in fighting and the release of hostages has been agreed. >> the deal would include the terror group releasing 50 hostages, mostly women and

children, in exchange for 150 palestinian prisoners . and palestinian prisoners. and a pause of 4 or 5 days, us president joe biden says they've been working on a deal to get hostages out. and a very close the covid inquiry is hearing evidence from sir chris whitty, who was the government's most senior medical adviser during the pandemic. the inquiry has heard the pandemic plan in place before covid 19 was woefully deficient . sir chris whitty said deficient. sir chris whitty said it had been drawn up by people who'd been through the swine flu, where the mortality rate was quite low. he also said that policy decisions regarding quarantining were difficult. if i were to rerun this period again , and i think it's again, and i think it's important to be reflective . important to be reflective. >> the thing which we didn't, i think consider enough was should we be asking people coming back from china to self—quarantine irrespective of symptoms for

probably 10 or 14 days, we were beginning to do so on the basis of symptoms . of symptoms. >> the prime minister has defended the decision to hand tough sentences to climate protesters who caused major disruption. it comes after the un raised concerns over the sentences handed to protesters who scaled the dartford crossing last year , saying they were last year, saying they were significantly more severe than those imposed in the past at rishi sunak defended those tough penalties, saying the protesters were selfish and intent on causing misery to the hard working majority . lancashire working majority. 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 . college sensitive information. college of policing ceo chief constable

andy marsh admitted the way the police released the information was needless. >> one of the decisions, which is arguably the most significant impact on public confidence, was the release of personal information about nicholas 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 that constabulary did was both avoidable and unnecessary . unnecessary. >> the duke of sussex's lawyers plan to ask ministers for permission to use confidential documents from the leveson inquiry in the case against the publisher of the daily mail . publisher of the daily mail. associated newspapers is accused of engaging investigators to use listening devices which were placed in cars and recording private telephone conversations. the publisher says the case is lurid and preposterous as the king and queen have welcomed the south korean president. horse guards parade the royal couple are hosting yoon suk yeol and his wife at buckingham palace . his wife at buckingham palace. 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 digital radio, and on car, on digital radio, and on your smart speaker by saying play your smart speaker by saying play gb news. now back to . play gb news. now back to. martin and thank you, tatiana. >> now let's get back to today's top story and the evidence being heard at the covid 19 inquiry is continue to paint a picture of chaos and confusion at the heart of the government's response to the pandemic. today it was the turn of sir chris whitty , who turn of sir chris whitty, who became one of the most recognisable figures in the country during that pandemic. before proceedings closed for the england's medical the day, england's chief medical officer ministers didn't officer said ministers didn't understand the idea of exponential growth , the pace of exponential growth, the pace of new cases increasing over time. he also said that scientists

felt closing the borders would have only a very minimal effect on stopping the spread of the virus. his appearance comes a day after former chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance accused boris johnson of being bamboozled by science and the then chancellor, rishi sunak of being okay with just letting people die of covid. well, let's get the latest now with gb news presenter pip tomson, who's been outside the covid inquiry. all day. pip more startling revelations of a country going around like a headless chicken. what's the latest that england's chief medical officer, martin or geek in chief, as he's also been referred to, has had so much to say that he's actually going to run into tomorrow as well. >> he'll be followed by his deputy, sirjonathan >> he'll be followed by his deputy, sir jonathan van tam. now, what's been interesting in the last hour or so is what he had to say about the mass gatherings . do you had to say about the mass gatherings. do you remember those the mass gatherings that

took place at cheltenham racecourse or at rugby and racecourse or at the rugby and other sporting and public events? well, chris whitty conceded that they actually sent the wrong message and signalled that the government couldn't have been that worried about the virus or else it would have banned them. he said the problem was not the gatherings themselves, but the impression they of normality the they gave of normality at the time when what you're trying to signal is anything but normality. he said he would certainly have done things differently if he his time differently if he had his time over there. what was also interesting was when he said the government not as government was not as electrified by the threat of covid as he could have been. and he an interesting he gave an interesting comparison. it had comparison. he said if it had been warned of a terror attack that could kill 100,000 plus people, then it would have paid more attention. but it just didn't respond to natural threats or hazards in the same way. and that's a systemic failure rather than criticising individuals. that's what he told baroness hallett and the inquiry

he also talks about this issue regarding lockdown . now we heard regarding lockdown. now we heard from former chief scientific adviser sir patrick vallance yesterday who suggested that sir chris whitty was a bit of a delay over lockdown. but what sir chris whitty told the inquiry today was that he was more cautious. inquiry today was that he was more cautious . take inquiry today was that he was more cautious. take a inquiry today was that he was more cautious . take a listen to more cautious. take a 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 and the disadvantages of all the 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 example, stopping schooling is another. the biggest impacts of those would be areas those would be in areas of deprivation in deprivation and those in difficulty 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 too early , in which case

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 to on my view is with the benefit of hindsight , we went a benefit of hindsight, we went a bit too late on the first wave and sir chris whitty also conceded today that lockdown . in conceded today that lockdown. in march 2020 did come a little too late. >> he also stayed away from criticising boris johnson personally, but spoke more about his unique approach now , as his unique approach now, as i said, tomorrow sir chris whitty will finish his evidence . then will finish his evidence. then it's the turn of his deputy, his former deputy, sir jonathan van—tam, or vai , as we came to van—tam, or vai, as we came to know him. remember him? i'm sure you do. well he was also chris whitty, defended today not raising the alarm across government after jonathan van tam warned that a pandemic was

imminent. now sir chris whitty said vai was often instinctive in his thinking , but that was in his thinking, but that was a narrow basis on which to make big decisions means much more to come, including boris johnson and rishi sunak next month. >> okay, pip johnson, superb update. thank you very much as eveh update. thank you very much as ever. now moving on ahead of jeremy hunts. much anticipated autumn statement . tomorrow, the autumn statement. tomorrow, the government has announced a national living wage and the uk minimum wage will increase by almost 10% from next april. all full time workers on the national living wage will get a pay national living wage will get a pay rise of over £1,800 a year, while the minimum wage will increase to £11.44 per hour, up from £10.42 a pound and a couple of pennies increase. chief secretary to the treasury laura trott says it will help end low pay trott says it will help end low pay in the country. >> it's fantastic news. we're announcing the biggest ever increase to the national living wage. it's worth £1,800 for a full time worker. it's going up

by 9.8. that's £11.44 per hour. this is a pay rise for up to 3 million workers and is part of our commitment to make sure that we make work pay and that we eliminate low pay. okay. when across now to chris hope live from downing street. >> chris, this is the canny move, isn't it a canny move? because the headlines had already been written of. as for the tory party clamping down on benefits , it's the nasty, mean benefits, it's the nasty, mean party and suddenly they're increasing the national living wage £1,800 a year for the lowest paid workers. that'll spike the guns of the labour party, won't it ? party, won't it? >> that's right, martin. of course, you and i are old enough to remember when the tory party attacked criticised labour's attacked and criticised labour's bringing in the minimum wage back in the day they said they thought would just a fuel pay thought it would just a fuel pay rises for those on the lowest lowest salaries. in fact, yeah, the party, the government now

embraces it completely . and embraces it completely. and these numbers out today, it's a pay these numbers out today, it's a pay rise for 3 million people on the lowest wages . they are very the lowest wages. they are very pleased with it. the government, it's a it's an indication, i think, coming think, of what's coming tomorrow, that this tomorrow, the increase that this is, is a increase. that's is, is a 10% increase. that's more than twice inflation. it does show how the government is trying to reward work, reward, reward, strivers , reward those reward, strivers, reward those who are trying to get by pay. and that is netted or set off against, i suppose , the attempt against, i suppose, the attempt to get more people who are on benefits into work. the idea there is because of work from home, you can now , you can now home, you can now, you can now work home. you're work from home. so if you're stuck at home on benefits, why not some work while you're not do some work while you're there? incentivised do there? you're incentivised to do it you if refuse it because if you if you refuse to it, might lose a bus it because if you if you refuse to and might lose a bus it because if you if you refuse to and otheright lose a bus it because if you if you refuse to and other other)se a bus it because if you if you refuse to and other other incentives. pass and other other incentives. so that's the idea behind it is trying to get more people back to work. it's a it's a carrot and stick approach here from the government this government and this this increase it was increase in minimum wage. it was flagged chancellor jeremy flagged by the chancellor jeremy hunt the tory party hunt at the tory party conference conference. we knew it . we now know the it was coming. we now know the exact amount as you're seeing

there. think a big there. so i think it's a big deal here for those on the lowest look lowest wages as we look into what huge day here in what is a huge day here in westminster tomorrow. >> chris, it's all, well, all fair and well on your bike. britain paying the lowest paid workers course, workers more. but of course, businesses to that businesses have to foot that bill. so they'll be hoping for something in the budget for them tomorrow. autumn statement , tomorrow. the autumn statement, because increased wage because with this increased wage bill, they'll be wanting to see some thrown way some some bread thrown their way to . yeah yeah. to. yeah yeah. >> not not straightforward. and of course the economy is complicated mainly. mainly the biggest sector is services . one biggest sector is services. one idea is full expensing for businesses. that's due to end currently in 2025. what that means is that rather than that you can offset your your tax bill against your investment. so if you say i'll invest £1 million, say into your business and you can take that off your tax bill, that might be increased , but for many years increased, but for many years hence, that would increase the money to help manufacturers, particularly won't help service companies, which is about 20% of the economy. so that's a problem. but there might be

other too. the other ideas, too. maybe the national insurance charge might come down. that's roughly 12% to 14% on for higher earners that might come down. we don't expect income tax to be touched. that could be either of election stuff. next next spring. i see these two big moments, these fiscal moments is a game of two halves. tomorrow we're getting some of the longer term ways to try and boost the economy. maybe it might be some movement on business rates. don't forget to try and help help smaller companies . and next march is the companies. and next march is the offer i think, viewers offer i think, for our viewers individually . i think there individually. i think there might be some tax cuts for individual sales from next march. looking the march. looking into the following into following tax year, looking into a that's a big election year. that's what's happening. i think with with the next with happening over the next next 8 months. next 6 to 8 months. >> okay. chris, hope live from westminster. thank you very >> okay. chris, hope live from westm make thank you very >> okay. chris, hope live from westm make sure 1k you very >> okay. chris, hope live from westm make sure 1k yget/ery much. make sure we get your beauty tonight. going beauty sleep tonight. it's going to a busy day for to be one heck of a busy day for you tomorrow. moving on, the you tomorrow. now moving on, the eco just oil. yep, eco group just stop oil. yep, that has been protesting that lot has been protesting today again, as part of take today again, as part of its take today again, as part of its take to the streets protest . the to the streets protest. the group vowed it will protest group has vowed it will protest every it wins ,

every single day until it wins, whatever that means, and will be out on the streets every day between now and november the 26th. well, let's go live now to the protests and speak to gb news reporter ray addison . ray, news reporter ray addison. ray, what are the great unwashed doing today ? yeah, good evening, martin. >> yes, well , just stop oil >> yes, well, just stop oil organise . organise. >> others may find that they're a little bit disappointed today. >> worried that the fight may have gone out of their supporters this protest supporters because this protest that was due to start today, just after midday from trafalgar square receive a very, very small attendance. you've got to remember that they put out an open call to the whole of the uk urging people to come down every single day to join in for this unprecedented week of mass demonstrations . well, it was demonstrations. well, it was unprecedented, but perhaps unprecedented, but perhaps unprecedented for all the wrong reasons. they got nine activists, just nine activists willing to take part in today's

protest test. >> and one might have assumed i was there yesterday when they had a much bigger number around 15 ended up getting arrested. but there was around 50 supporters there. one would have assumed that would use assumed that they would use a different route or use different tactics. >> but no, they went straight down whitehall towards parliament. >> again , the police were ready >> again, the police were ready and waiting for them and they started to make arrests. >> within about 30s . of course, >> within about 30s. of course, the police making those arrests under section seven of the pubuc under section seven of the public order act. now now in terms of the actual demonstration itself , the demonstration itself, the police, as i said, were were waiting. >> there was a bit of a comedy moment at the start where they hadnt moment at the start where they hadn't even discussed it appeared, which way they were going to go, because half of the protesters were pointing one protesters were pointing in one direction and the other half were the other. it were pointing the other. it didn't knew which way didn't seem who knew which way they actually going go. they were actually going to go. members the public were members of the public were applauding as they were. many of the activists were arrested. one woman came over to one of the

people being arrested and screamed, get a job. i actually caught up with one of the protesters as they were being arrested. this is what they had to say. >> hey, march, i marched because our government licensing 100 our government is licensing 100 new oil and gas fields. our government is licensing 100 new oil and gas fields . they are new oil and gas fields. they are maxing out the uk's oil reserves. this is criminal. >> it's going to result in absolute catastrophe . absolute catastrophe. >> the deaths of millions of people . it really is that bad. people. it really is that bad. somebody needs to tell the pubuc somebody needs to tell the public the truth that this is what is happening. they're not taking enough action on climate . taking enough action on climate. it they're completely ignoring the wishes of the british people. 60% of the public want tougher action on climate and they're completely being ignored. have no option . ignored. and we have no option. politics is broken . politics is broken. >> all right. isn't it funny how months and years of soft soaping and tea and sympathy and yet yesterday they nicked 15 of them sharpish and more or less overnight. it seems to put this to bed. it makes you wonder if they should have just done this all along . all along. >> well, i think definitely it's

fair to say that this swift police action, this robust policing, to coin a phrase , has policing, to coin a phrase, has actually had an effect on just stop oil protests , as we've also stop oil protests, as we've also seen a number of them stating in their initial court appearances that they don't intend to follow any bail conditions that might be put down upon them . and be put down upon them. and therefore, they've been remanded in custody, which obviously then reduces the amount of activists that they're that there are to potentially then go on these demonstrations . i mean, one one demonstrations. i mean, one one sort of good bit of news for them is that they had jonathon porritt there, the former co—chair of the green party , co—chair of the green party, former director of friends of the he's counselled king the earth. he's counselled king charles on environmental issues for years as well. he started for 30 years as well. he started getting involved in financing this organisation. now i must stress part in stress he didn't take part in the demonstration . he was just the demonstration. he was just there at the beginning at trafalgar square to sort of lend his support that be his support and that will be taken sign by taken as a good sign by organisers from just stop oil are me that they're

are telling me that they're hoping tomorrow budget day hoping that tomorrow budget day will obviously their big day will obviously be their big day of and of course they're of protest and of course they're building towards the weekend as well when obviously more people have time off work as well. so it could be that tomorrow and then the saturday and the sunday could be the days of action. could be the big days of action. but was a real damp squib. but today was a real damp squib. >> it radisson once again out there on the front line, getting stuck into another protest. good lad. okay. now you can get lots more on that story on our website . and thanks to you, website. and thanks to you, gbnews.com is the fastest growing national news website in the country. it's got breaking news and all the brilliant analysis that you've come to expect from gb news. thanks expect from gb news. and thanks to of for making that to all of you for making that happen. still to come, i'll happen. now, still to come, i'll be by former olympic be joined by former olympic swimmer the legend, sharron davies , getting her thoughts on davies, getting her thoughts on the transgender footballer playing for a women's team opposing clubs are now refusing to play that club. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel

six well, come back. >> it's 525. you're watching or listening to me. martin daubney on gb news. now a transgender footballer has quit the sport following discrimination from rival teams for boycotting matches . if she's playing at the matches. if she's playing at the teams described playing against her as terrifying. and now the footballer has been forced to hang up the boots and quit the

sport . well, the fa's current sport. well, the fa's current stance on transgender policy states this gender identity should not be a barrier to participation in football. well, join me now is olympic swimmer and medallist sharron davies, the absolute legend who's been campaigning on this issue tirelessly. sharron thank you so much for joining tirelessly. sharron thank you so much forjoining us on gb news. here we are once again with an issue, an issue of fairness. and in this instance , an issue where in this instance, an issue where players were repeat were reporting they were being injured, sometimes to the point of those injuries, basically terminating their career. of those injuries, basically terminating their career . what's terminating their career. what's your thoughts on this story evening ? evening? >> martin i'm just pleased that long last that our female athletes are beginning to find their voices. >> you know , just a few days >> you know, just a few days ago, we had a pool player that refused to play by a male in a final of a women's competition. >> and now we've got 14 teams up in the sheffield area that are saying it's dangerous for us to

play saying it's dangerous for us to play against what is a very large 31 year old male who's already broken a woman's knee . already broken a woman's knee. and we've got to remember, there's 16 year old girls in this team that are looking towards maybe sport being their career don't want career and they don't want a career and they don't want a career injury whilst career ending injury whilst they're going up the ranks . career ending injury whilst they're going up the ranks. this is what i've said all along know this is just about safety. we, you know, first and foremost, any sport where there's contact involved and something like football, a male kick 50% football, a male will kick 50% harder onto a less dense bone frame and the know of 50 trans identifying males that are playing in the women's game. but there are an awful lot more than that. and so they're taking places away from women and, you know, they're taking away their opportunities and they're making it a less safe place. and we know that parents are withdrawing their girls. you know, because they just worry about them . had mum of a of about them. i had a mum of a of about them. i had a mum of a of a rugby player onto me at the weekend absolutely weekend who was absolutely convinced her convinced that that her daughter, 16 old, daughter, who's 16 years old, was scrum with three males

was in a scrum with three males at 16 because referees are scared to ask, you know, they are scared witless of saying anything to anybody . anything to anybody. >> sharon of course, the teams and the players of publicly stated they're terrified of being called transphobic , as being called transphobic, as you'd imagine. and yet when they're putting reports out of their adult women players simply bouncing off this biological man , it's not only about the risk of injury. this is about a basic fairness , isn't it? it's about fairness, isn't it? it's about denying women a place in women's sport. and how great do you think it is at that at long last, people are actually taking a stand and saying, no, we're not going to compete like this. it's not fair. we're going to withdraw our services. does that give you hope? >> it really does. and, you know , some other really good news today. the icc , so the today. the icc, so the international cricket council have said they are going to protect the women's cricket game. and that's a big move game. and that's a very big move . they've had a nine month

consultation. goodness knows why it them nine to it takes them nine months to work males are stronger work out that males are stronger than will know, than females. i will never know, but decided they're but they've decided they're now for on the for safety reasons based on the science. so any sport that now is not doing that is being negligent . so the fa is being negligent. so the fa is being negligent. so the fa is being negligent right now. and if you've got a child that gets injured in football by a male, you will have a very big court case against the fa because they're protecting their they're not protecting their female athletes . and would you female athletes. and would you believe six combat believe it, we have six combat sports here in the uk. that's combat sports are things like karate and wrestling that still allow males to self—identify into fighting females. it really is bordering on criminal, to be honest with you . honest with you. >> and sharon, do you think finally we're going to turn a corner on this because of those lawsuits ? i mean, the woke lawsuits? i mean, the woke people within football ? and do people within football? and do you do you think these lawsuits will be finally what helps us turn a corner? >> i'm not sure . >> i'm not sure. >>— >> i'm not sure. >> real shame we were just about getting on a roll there because sharon has been campaigning on

this tirelessly for absolutely years. she spoken out. years. you know, she spoken out. she lot work , lost she lost a lot of work, lost contracts. but she spoke out and did the right thing. contracts. but she spoke out and did the right thing . and we're did the right thing. and we're trying get her back. trying to get her back. but before let's have a look before that, let's have a look at from truck before that, let's have a look at united from truck before that, let's have a look at united fc from truck before that, let's have a look at united fc , from truck before that, let's have a look at united fc , then truck before that, let's have a look at united fc , the first|ck before that, let's have a look at united fc , the first all truck united fc, the first all trans masculine football team. they say this francesca is allowed to play football and has completed all the boxes required by the fa . this was a freak by the fa. this was a freak accident that could have happened to any player, but yet again, people want to make it a situation out of it because francesca is transgender. i think we have sharon davies back on the line now. dewi sharon, are you there? you do? >> i'm back again. tremendous >> i'm back again. tremendous >> sharon, i just want i just wanted to ask you, sharon , do wanted to ask you, sharon, do you think finally what might make the fa and other sporting bodies listen isn't about common sense, isn't about the issue of fairness, but it's the threat of lawsuits. might they finally change tack on this issue ? change tack on this issue? >> i know. and isn't that

disappointing that that's what it's actually going to take? you know, that it's taking the injury of female athletes, possibly life changing injuries, maybe someone's life. you maybe even someone's life. you know, in certain sports you've had accidents in had some serious accidents in nonh had some serious accidents in north america . only last week, a north america. only last week, a young girl lost her teeth and part a hockey part of herjaw in a hockey game. so incredible that game. so it's incredible that that's what it's taking for sports governing bodies to for stand up their female athletes. and martin, in this country, there's that there's a thousand women that earn from sport and earn their living from sport and 11,000 we already have 11,000 men. so we already have a very small piece of the cake. and we're being told to shove over for, you know, for males that feel like they are females, but they're not females. right? no matter how they think no matter how much they think they are not. and they are, they are not. and sports should actually be based on biological reality the on the biological reality of the sex you are . and safety sex that you are. and safety should always be put first. >> sharon davis, thank you >> okay. sharon davis, thank you so joining us. i know so much forjoining us. i know you've campaigned tirelessly and fearlessly this for years fearlessly on this for years at great personal emotional great personal and emotional cost thanks cost to yourself. so thanks for joining gb news. joining us today on gb news. okay there's lots more to okay there's lots more still to come. between now 6:00, come. now between now and 6:00, another setback for

another possible setback for keir starmer is on the agenda because vote taking place because in a vote taking place this evening, scottish labour are expected to back the snp call for a ceasefire in gaza. but first, here's your latest news headlines with tatiana sanchez. >> martin thank you and good afternoon. this is the latest from the newsroom . police from the newsroom. police searching for a group of missing teenagers say they've recovered four bodies from a crashed car in north wales. a major search was launched afterjohn hurst, harvey owen woolf, henderson and hugo morris failed to return home from a camping trip in the snowdonia area on sunday. police say their car left the road near the tremadog area in what appears to have been a tragic accident. the force says it's now working to establish the circumstances . the national circumstances. the national living wage will increase by

almost 10% or more than 2 million. full time workers are set to benefit from a pay rise of more than £1,300 a year from next april . the treasury next april. the treasury announced the increase ahead of tomorrow's autumn statement . us tomorrow's autumn statement. us officials say a tentative deal between israel and hamas that could see a pause in fighting and the release of hostages has been agreed. the deal would include the terror group releasing 50 hostages, mostly women and children, in exchange for 150 palestinian prisoners . for 150 palestinian prisoners. and a pause of 4 or 5 days, us president joe biden says they've been working on a deal to get hostages out and a very close . hostages out and a very close. the covid inquiry has been heanng the covid inquiry has been hearing evidence from sir chris whitty, who was the government's most senior medical adviser dunng most senior medical adviser during the pandemic. the inquiry has heard the pandemic plan in place before covid 19 was woefully deficient . but sir woefully deficient. but sir chris said it had been drawn up by people who had been through the swine flu, where the mortality rate was quite low. he

also said policy decisions regarding quarantining were difficult . for more on all of difficult. for more on all of those stories, you can visit our website, gbnews.com . for website, gbnews.com. for a valuable legacy. >> your family can own . gold >> your family can own. gold coins will always shine bright. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . the gb news financial report. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets . the pound will today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2538 and ,1.1478. the price of gold . £1,595.41 per price of gold. £1,595.41 per ounce. and the ftse 100 closed at 7481 points. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report , a and thank you. >> thank you, tatiana. now some

breaking news. sir keir starmer is dealing with another party revolt this evening after 56 mps rebelled against his calls for a humanitarian pause last week. the leaders were is now turn to holyrood in a vote that took place this evening, holyrood in a vote that took place this evening , scottish place this evening, scottish labour backed the snp's calls for a ceasefire in gaza. well, following the debate in holyrood and joining us now is gb news scotland. reporter tony maguire. tony breaking news of another revolt. more of a palestine problem for keir starmer. revolt. more of a palestine problem for keir starmer . what's problem for keir starmer. what's the latest ? indeed the latest? indeed >> well, it was certainly quite an emotional charged debate up here in holyrood this afternoon. we heard some quite, you know, stirring testimony from right across the chamber, it has to be said. and in the end, the vote stood at around 90 votes in favour of the ceasefire are tabled by first minister humza yousaf and 28 against. now quite similar numbers indeed for the

labour amendment, which was then added by anas sarwar making no mistakes that scottish labour backed a ceasefire in gaza. now a lot of the testimonies mentioned there. we heard accounts of surgeons performing amputation burns on their own children only for them to unfortunately die . we heard of unfortunately die. we heard of humza yousafs own brother in law, a doctor who as well had to perform caesarean sections without any sort of anaesthetic andindeed without any sort of anaesthetic and indeed it was quite a sombre occasion and it was very cordial between parties. there was some politics, scuffling certainly , politics, scuffling certainly, and especially with the scottish conservatives and an amendment that they hoped to table. but unfortunately it was voted down. but certainly anas sarwar , as but certainly anas sarwar, as i think we can hear now, he was in making no bones about the fact that scottish labour were behind

this motion from humza yousaf . this motion from humza yousaf. >> the ceasefire to work. all sides must be willing to comply and secondly, we must recognise that hamas has made it clear that hamas has made it clear that it intends to repeat the october 7th massacre and intends to continue rocket fire and tragically israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu has made clear that he is not willing to even consider a ceasefire that is why the full force of international diplomacy must be used to create the conditions to make an immediate ceasefire a reality . ceasefire a reality. >> now we are calling this a revolt, but one must always ask, is it really? certainly, after this time last week and we saw that huge revolt on the front benches at westminster, would imagine that perhaps conversations were had when keir starmer and anas sarwar were met in aberdeenshire at the end of last week, but certainly this will not go again . this will go will not go again. this will go

again. sorry the line that keir starmer has been pushing and further sow the seeds of division within the labor party, the snp have been pushing over the last week to tony mcguire dramatic events , a north of the dramatic events, a north of the border and another headache for keir starmer on palestine . keir starmer on palestine. >> thank you for that update . >> thank you for that update. now to wales , because the welsh now to wales, because the welsh government is proposing cutting the school summer holidays to four weeks. what that would that be good for pupils or would it just be more pointless meddling? i'm martin daubney on gb news and this is britain's news channel.

on gb news, the people's . channel welcome back. >> it's 542. you're watching or listening to me, martin daubney on gb news. now school summer holidays in wales could be cut by a week , which the welsh by a week, which the welsh government says would benefit students and teachers and help to ease the strain on parents as well. under the plans a week would be added to the october half term instead, and there will be no changes to the overall number of weeks of school holiday. however the national association of head teachers in wales has given a lukewarm response to the plans, saying there are more pressing issues facing schools such as recruiting and retaining teachers. well, let's give her thoughts on this story. is

parenting expert dr. marianne bakeh parenting expert dr. marianne baker. thanks for joining parenting expert dr. marianne baker. thanks forjoining us on baker. thanks for joining us on the show . so they've got the show. so they've got a point, haven't they? i mean , point, haven't they? i mean, teacher morale is on the floor. staff retention is appalling . staff retention is appalling. toddlers turn up unable to even use the toilet , not even potty use the toilet, not even potty train. schools are falling apart yet in wales , they think the yet in wales, they think the answer is to meddle around with term time lengths . term time lengths. >> yeah, i mean, i think we've got a wider problem when it comes to education and sort of being having all the things in place that we need for young people whilst i actually don't have an issue , i welcome a have an issue, i welcome a review of the school term dates. i'd like it to be more than simply tweaking at the edges because more school doesn't necessarily mean better school and better outcomes . we need to and better outcomes. we need to be addressing a lot more of the crucial aspects as you say, children arriving at school in reception unable to perform very bafic reception unable to perform very basic skills , lacking in basic skills, lacking in emotional literacy , staff emotional literacy, staff retention, having the team that you need within a school in order for it to operate fully .

order for it to operate fully. >> my misses are the teacher and but more to the point, i'm a parent and the first thing i see when i see this is okay, so you've got a short and a holiday to four weeks instead of six. that means even more parents trying to find a holiday. that means even bigger prices . and i means even bigger prices. and i think this is going to be a nightmare for parents. we've lost it again . that's the point lost it again. that's the point i want to make, though. when i see teachers meddling around with term times, what about the parents? because if you're fighting for a holiday space in a six week window already , it's a six week window already, it's about 50% higher than the rest of the year . about 50% higher than the rest of the year. holidays cost a fortune, surely , if you compress fortune, surely, if you compress this down to a four week window, there's going to be even bigger demand in that window. parents paying demand in that window. parents paying through the nose and you know what benefit is this now as far as splitting the week. so kids are more engaged. where's the evidence of that? i think kids benefit from that long six week window to decompress less

over the summer. i did it. we can cross back now to doctor mary ann baker. make him my point there, dr. baker , about point there, dr. baker, about school holidays and the demand for holiday places. the cost of holidays is a huge issue for parents. surely if you compress six weeks down to four, the pnces six weeks down to four, the prices will just go through the roof ? roof? >> yeah, i think it's facing multiple things. i mean, you definitely touched on it, martin, this idea that children need an expanse of time to properly decompress and four weeks is not necessarily long enough. >> however , what i would say is >> however, what i would say is that i >> however, what i would say is thati do >> however, what i would say is that i do welcome some extra time off in that long first term. that goes from september to december, where children would genuinely benefit considerably by having an extra week when we've got the darker, longer days that that can have a significant impact. >> but there's other ways that we can look at the term dates without reducing the summer. >> and don't you think it's a bit rich for the welsh government to lecture us about

what's best for children when they some of the most they were some of the most enthusiastic proponents, shall we say, of lockdowns as they they sent kids home, kept them for home thick end of two years. and often cases many, many times. and their education suffered their development suffered their development suffered and now all of a sudden it's all about children development. do you think a lot of well, of parents might think, well, i'm this . i'm not quite buying this. >> no, think it is. i mean, just looking at the outcomes for children based on just the term dates is not sufficient. it has to be a much wider review of education as a whole . you know, education as a whole. you know, looking at start and end times for teens that could benefit generally from starting later sports , emotional health support sports, emotional health support within schools . how do we within schools. how do we support children with additional learning needs and neurodiversity ? it's a much neurodiversity? it's a much wider issue than simply fixing it by making the summer holiday shorter. >> okay, parents and expert doctor mary ann baker mainlining

common sense there. thank you very much for joining common sense there. thank you very much forjoining us on gb news. much appreciated. now on to more pressing issues. some may say. let's turn our attention to nigel farage, his performance in the jungle. he won five stars in last night's bushtucker trial and dealt with criticism of his brexit campaign. but how much is this helping nigel image? will people love him or will they or will they loathe him ? well, joining they loathe him? well, joining me now is brand expert and founder of frank pr company , founder of frank pr company, graham goodkind. graham thank you so much forjoining us. now, i guess the basic bottom line is this. people who love nigel won't change their mind. people who hate nigel won't change their minds either. but somewhere in the middle there are the moderate people and perhaps a lot of young people who've never even of nigel who've never even heard of nigel farage or they have a very negative connotation of him with that in mind. graham do you think it was a canny move for nigel to go on this show or not? >> yes, i do , definitely. i >> yes, i do, definitely. i think it's a really good move

for him. i think so far so good. you would say only a couple of days in the jungle. but he's done all right so far. i think it's definitely shown his competence and his can do attitude food. and, you know, it's kind of a real natural leader . leader. >> he's sort of in for a penny, in for a pound. >> all those things that may be are setting him up for a tilt, as is rumoured to be having maybe the potential next tory leadership. and like you say , leadership. and like you say, it's kind of part of a redemption arc in many ways for him. it worked for matt hancock ish when he was on it this time last year. you know, perhaps he's looked at that and thought maybe, maybe this is quite a good route for me to to. take >> you think there's >> and do you think there's something i mean, something in this idea? i mean, matt hancock everything matt hancock had everything thrown under the sun , thrown at him under the sun, body parts animals, every body parts of animals, every challenge he was being made to suffer, in effect, for what he did to the nation, as some felt about covid lockdowns and no doubt nigel will get some of the same tough medicine over his

position on brexit. but so far, graham, he seems to swallow that medicine aplomb . medicine with aplomb. >> absolutely. and i think it's part of what's happening. you've heard of a kind of greenwashing where big bad environmental company companies, big bad companies have latched on to environmental causes to change the image of their companies. you've heard of sportswashing, where countries like qatar and saudi arabia have completely revived their image in a positive sense by attaching their their country to properties like golf and the world cup. you know , is this fun world cup. you know, is this fun washing where a brand like farage is just having a laugh and working his way up higher in our estimation through that, i think it is. >> and you know, oftentimes graham they say politics is show business for ugly people . now business for ugly people. now i'm not saying nigel is ugly, but is there something in this idea in terms of brand recognition , in terms of brand recognition, in terms of brand reach, particularly among stubborn demographics that nigel

probably hasn't reached in in volume before, such as younger people, the tiktok generation, all of these clips go massive on those channels . and will that those channels. and will that carry through, do you think, into electoral awareness if nigel were to return to . politics >> i think there's a very good chance and i think this was a calculation that he was making. i kind of can't imagine in years gone by whether you've seen politicians like thatcher or wilson or even tony blair, you know, exit politics and then enter this world. but these days, there's a sort of magic of stardust that politicians think they need in this syllabification. and i think , to syllabification. and i think, to be honest, you know, farage looks to someone like donald trump . he was his great friend . trump. he was his great friend. he was a supporter of his. i think they met quite a lot of times as well. it's well chronicled. trump made his name from being on the american

version apprentice. he version of the apprentice. he beamed his way into lots of people's homes, got his notoriety that way, and that certainly led being certainly led to him being catapulted into a political career obviously ended up career that obviously ended up in job there is in in the biggest job there is in that sphere. >> and graham, last night we saw nigel getting his down under, out, down under. he's not afraid to muck in. he was in the shower. do you think those kind of things could be potential pitfalls, like saw, for pitfalls, like we saw, for example previously with example, previously with politicians getting down and pretending to be cats. you know exactly who i mean, do these these media moments come back and haunt you , like with george and haunt you, like with george galloway or is this kind of mucking in and being cheeky? actually in modern in the modern time, in modern politics, more endeanng time, in modern politics, more endearing than harmful to. >> yeah, well george garrett you know, galloway is a is a loathsome character at the best of times. so i'm not sure anything he did would have necessarily made that any less the case. i think people need to have a laugh and a joke. we need

to be entertained. it's a pretty miserable world out there . and miserable world out there. and whether it's farage eating body parts or doing all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff, he is now joined the entertainment industry is temporarily left the world of politics and joined the entertainment industry. and as we've seen , is doing all right we've seen, is doing all right so as you say, is opening so far as you say, is opening himself up to a new generation of people who haven't maybe seen him before or have just heard of him before or have just heard of him to do his word brexit. him to do with his word brexit. they really understand they don't really understand what his role was. it happened a long time ago, relatively to them now anyway. look them now anyway. and they look at think you know what is at them, think you know what is all right bloke is a bit older, is a bit sort of is a bit dad like isn't he. lot of like isn't he. to a lot of younger people is a dad that's mucking getting hands mucking in and getting his hands dirty. literally mucking in and getting his hands dirty. liti rally mucking in and getting his hands dirty. liti wonder, graham, if >> and i wonder, graham, if that's part of appeal that that's part of the appeal that robert crampton the times columnist said, i've columnist today, who said, i've never farage, never liked nigel farage, actually likes him on the actually really likes him on the show because he's relatable and he's of taken care as a dad he's kind of taken care as a dad figure in camp and much like figure in the camp and much like himself it him more himself, it makes him more relatable, doesn't it ?

relatable, doesn't it? >> exactly. exactly yeah. it's a modern day as we said earlier, it's a modern day penance. it's someone poking a bit of fun at themselves. and if you can poke a bit of fun at yourself and don't take yourself too seriously in life, i think that's quite a good quality to reveal. his revealing at reveal. and his revealing it at the okay. graham goodkind, brand >> okay. graham goodkind, brand expert founder of frank pr, expert and founder of frank pr, thank very much for joining thank you very much for joining us the show. and somebody us on the show. and somebody else us on the else who's just joined us on the show, dewberry, show, michelle dewberry, of course, co next, still course, dewbs& co next, still traumatised by having seen nigel farage's backside last night. >> i'm not sure i will ever look at him in the same light ever again when he leaves that jungle and on these very chairs and sits on these very chairs alongside us. i think i'll blush seeing him. i'm just thanking the lord that he didn't turn around. that is a sight that nobody quite frankly, to nobody quite frankly, needs to see. do we? yeah. anyway, coming up on my show, i'll tell you why i'm you tonight. i'm speaking to you tonight. a man much respect, man that i very much respect, falklands veteran simon weston . falklands veteran simon weston. a legend. of course. i want to be him about what the be talking to him about what the new president is

new argentinian president is talking when he talking about, about when he reckons it's time for the falklands islands to go. he says back to argentina. i mean, really , would we ever do we really, would we ever do we think britain would go to war again for the fourth islands instinct ? i say no. but stranger instinct? i say no. but stranger things have happened in these peculiar times that we now live in, right? >> put it to a vote, though you'd almost guarantee that the mostly brits would vote to remain part of britain . remain part of britain. >> yeah. also, yes . i want to >> yeah. also, yes. i want to talk about all of that. i also want to ask, do we need more women in politics? keir starmer seems to think that we is seems to think that we do. is that a good thing? do you want women just hired just because they're a woman? by the way, they're a woman? and by the way, you even know what woman you don't even know what a woman is. whole different is. that opens a whole different can doesn't it? that can of worms, doesn't it? that one. i to ask as well one. and i want to ask as well about this university challenge thing, about whether the thing, about whether or not the blue octopus, the palestinian colours anti—semitic or not. colours was anti—semitic or not. right. and i'm also going to squeeze a bit of work chatting as well. martin it all goes on on dewbs & doesn't it? on dewbs& co doesn't it? >> that's coming next. >> it does. that's coming next.

dewbs& hencote. i'm back same dewbs& co hencote. i'm back same time tomorrow. thanks for tuning dewbs& co hencote. i'm back same tim it'symorrow. thanks for tuning dewbs& co hencote. i'm back same tim it'symorrowfantasticfor tuning dewbs& co hencote. i'm back same timit'symorrowfantastic show,iing in. it's been a fantastic show, but those coming in. but keep those views coming in. dewbs& is next and i think dewbs& co is next and i think that's a great show. and also the thing about the falklands, this guy that can juggle chainsaws he's chainsaws in argentina, he's a bit a firebrand. he's one to bit of a firebrand. he's one to watch, dewbs & co and watch, as is dewbs& co and that's right next. that's come in just right next. >> afternoon. welcome to >> good afternoon. welcome to your news weather your latest gb news weather update annie the update. with me, annie from the met office we'll be staying dry for through rest of the met office we'll be staying dry for and through rest of the met office we'll be staying dry for and intoyugh rest of the met office we'll be staying dry for and into lhei rest of the met office we'll be staying dry for and into the evening of the met office we'll be staying dry for and into the evening and he met office we'll be staying dry for and into the evening and we day and into the evening and we could see some fog starting to develop as well. that's develop as well. and that's because we've got high pressure still dominating of still dominating the ridge of that high pressure is extending across much of the uk, but there is a weather front to the is a weather front up to the northwest will bring northwest that will bring thicker of thicker cloud to parts of scotland and northern ireland throughout evening. some throughout this evening. some outbreaks rain well , outbreaks of rain as well, mainly over high ground and on the coasts at first, but it will become a more persistent become a bit more persistent through further south through the night. further south there a good cloud coverage, there is a good cloud coverage, but fairly thin. so allow but it is fairly thin. so allow temperatures fall into the temperatures to fall into the low single figures. we could also some patches of mist also see some patches of mist and fog, particularly across southern tomorrow

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

must be returned to argentina. do you think we would ever see a time where britain would go back to war for the falklands? i'll be talking to a man i massively respect. falklands veteran simon weston about that. also keir starmer, he has joined calls for more women to be involved in politics. is that what we need?

more