>> good afternoon. welcome to the show. i'm martin daubney. it's 3:00 loads coming up on today's show, of course, it's an autumn statement special. we started the day with the highest taxes since world war ii, and we've ended the day with the highest taxes since world war ii. who were the winners.7 who were the losers.7 well, for starters, the national insurance rate 2, which will rate was cut by 2, which will benefit 27 million of you. but what does that mean for the pound and the pence in your pocket.7 next up, pensioners . pocket.7 next up, pensioners. great news for pensioners, pensioners were winners today. an extra £900 a year to the full state basic pension and mercifully that triple lock was safeguarded . and next up , a

safeguarded. and next up, a boost to benefits . what did boost to benefits. what did jeremy hunt get.7 his boost to benefits. what did jeremy hunt get? his notes mixed up with rachel reeves because despite talking tough on a clampdown on benefits yesterday, an actual fact there's been a boost to people on universal credit and the lowest wages . was credit and the lowest wages. was that the sensible thing to do ? that the sensible thing to do? we've got of that coming up we've got all of that coming up in next next hour, in this next next next hour, we're going grill politicians we're going to grill politicians , experts and speak , economists, experts and speak to ordinary people about what they made of today's autumn statement . so what do you think statement. so what do you think about today's autumn statement? we're going to cut through the grease, cut through the spin and give it to you. direct we've got the best experts. we're going to speak labour speak to tories, the labour party to find out what their party, to find out what their take is. lodes and lodes coming up. around . but all of up. stick around. but all of thatis up. stick around. but all of that is coming right your that is coming right after your news headlines with aaron armstrong . i'm good afternoon to

armstrong. i'm good afternoon to you. >> it is a minute past three. i'm aaron armstrong in the gb newsroom. national insurance and business are coming down business taxes are coming down while benefits the state while benefits and the state pension be increased. just pension will be increased. just some of measures announced some of the measures announced earlier the chancellor earlier by the chancellor autumn statement sharm el sheikh . well, statement sharm el sheikh. well, jeremy hunt struck an optimistic tone, saying britain's economy had defied the doom and gloom of some predictions. the biggest change comes in january when national insurance will be cut from 10, saving those on from 12 to 10, saving those on average earnings around £450 per year with the self—employed enjoying similar benefits , the enjoying similar benefits, the triple lock will be kept taking the state pension up by 8.5% to more than £220 a week. benefits will also get a boost by 6.7% next year and there will be help for low income households struggling to afford rent. i'm going to go further and cut the main rate of employee national insurance by two percentage points from i2% to 10. >> yeah . yeah. >> yeah. yeah. >> yeah. yeah. >> that change will help 27

million people. it means someone on the average salary of £35,000 will save over . £450 for the will save over. £450 for the average nurse . it's a saving of average nurse. it's a saving of £520 for the typical police officer, a saving of £630 every single year . single year. >> however, the shadow chancellor rachel reeves, says growth has hit a dead end, going into this statement, the government had already put in place tax increases worth the equivalent of a 10% increase in national insurance . national insurance. >> so today's to be cut will not remotely compensate for the tax increases already put in place by this conservative government . by this conservative government. the fact is that taxes will be higher at the next election than they were at the last. this is they were at the last. this is the legacy of the conservatives. well >> well. earlier, the labour leader asked if the prime minister had forgotten about the nhs as he took aim at the

government's five pledges. sir keir said while the keir starmer said while the prime talks about prime minister talks about tax cuts more than double the population of wales are on an nhs list in england. nhs waiting list in england. rishi sunak says he'd put record spending into the nhs . four men spending into the nhs. four men have been given life sentences with minimum terms of between 41 and 47 years for the murder of a woman in liverpool. 28 year old ashley dale was killed when james witham forced his way into her home and opened fire with a machine gun. he and co—defendant joseph pearce, nalbari and sean zeiss were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder. ms dale's partner , family ms dale's partner, family liaison officer . dc hayley. liaison officer. dc hayley. cantillon wspo , on behalf of the cantillon wspo, on behalf of the family, saying they'll never be able to forgive . able to forgive. >> although nothing can make this nightmare end, we can now rest assured, knowing these evil monsters will pay for what they have done to ashley and our family. and they too, have ruined their own lives and their

families lives. ashley had her whole life ahead of her and was in her prime, a career driven young woman whose life had been cut short . but for such cut short. but for such a senseless act that there really are no words . are no words. >> hamas and israel have agreed to begin a four day ceasefire at 8 am. tomorrow. the foreign secretary says the truce between the two sides is a crucial step towards releasing hostages and providing humanitarian relief in gaza. the pause in fighting will allow for the release of 50 hostages held by the militant group in exchange for 150 palestinians held in israeli prisons . the palestinians held in israeli prisons. the home palestinians held in israeli prisons . the home town of four prisons. the home town of four teenage boys who died in north wales has cancelled tonight's switching on of the christmas lights out of respect for the families. jevon hirst harvey owen wilf fitchett and hugo morris had set off on a camping trip in the snowdonia area . trip in the snowdonia area. their bodies were recovered yesterday a car was found yesterday after a car was found overturned and partially submerged in water. north wales

police says it appears to have been a tragic accident. members of the community in shrewsbury have spoken of their sadness as the community of shrewsbury is very shaken and shocked by what has happened . has happened. >> i don't live here but i work here and the atmosphere is palpable. we within the first hour of opening the abbey and we opened a little early this morning, we have seen 40 or 50 students and other members of the public come in. i knew harvey through secondary school and skating with him . and skating with him. >> i think we were very close in secondary school, skating out on the weekends , doing fun things. the weekends, doing fun things. same with jeff wilf recently started coming to the gym . i started coming to the gym. i kind of almost tried to take him under my wing and try and show him everything and he was just such a lovely lad. >> live across the uk on tv, >> we live across the uk on tv, on digital radio and on your

smart speaker. if you want to just say play gb news. now it's over to . martin over to. martin >> thank you, aaron. well, there's only one place to start today. and of course, that's the autumn statement. let's get straight to our economics and business a man who's business editor, a man who's always money for the always on the money for the lowdown today's big lowdown on today's big announcements. it's announcements. of course, it's liam with money . liam halligan with on the money. >> it was an autumn statement for growth, said the chancellor. it was ho , ho, ho. jeremy hunt, it was ho, ho, ho. jeremy hunt, a pre—christmas giveaway as the tories roll the dice and try and narrow labour's commanding lead in the opinion polls, first up, a big upgrade in benefits for people of working age. they will go people of working age. they will 9° up people of working age. they will go up 6.7% from next october. from next april. that's in line with the october inflation number that's worth £470 a year for 5 million of the uk's lowest

income households. there was a giveaway for pensioners as well. the triple lock confirmed the bafic the triple lock confirmed the basic state pension will go up by 8.5% from april 2024 and inflation busting rise that's worth £900 a year for recipients of the basic state pension. the minimum wage also went up. governments like announcing higher minimum wages because businesses pay, it's going up by over a pound from 1042 to 1144 per hour. and it will also apply for 21 and 22 year olds rather than just from for 23 year olds. as of now, the chancellor's been working with business secretary kemi badenoch on a strategic manufacturing fund . the manufacturing fund. the government's earmarked £4.5 billion. that's serious money for investments. by 2030, there's going to be a focus on automotives, aerospace space, clean energy, life sciences . is clean energy, life sciences. is the government providing matching funding for when private sectors invest? there was an extension of the

investment zone and freeports programme, which chancellor jeremy hunt outlined in march. the tax reliefs within these low these low tax zones will be extended from 5 to 10 years and there'll be new investment zones in the west midlands , the east in the west midlands, the east midlands and greater manchester. as part of the levelling up policy for small businesses , policy for small businesses, business rates are much hated tax that you pay, even if you make no revenue. that's going to be frozen for small businesses for another year. and in particular, there will be a moratorium on business rates for the retail and hospitality sectors for another year . a sectors for another year. a lockdown era emergency measure that's going to be extended . and that's going to be extended. and here were the two big tax cuts for employees on national insurance . the basic rate of insurance. the basic rate of national insurance will fall from 12 to 10% from january. not april next year, but from january . me, april next year, but from january. me, that's worth april next year, but from january . me, that's worth £450 a january. me, that's worth £450 a year for somebody who's lucky enough to earn £35,000 a year.

and then the big tax cuts for business permanent full expensing, that means firms can partially offset investments against their corporation tax bill. chancellor jeremy hunt bill. chancellorjeremy hunt called that the largest business tax cut in modern british history . so this was, as the history. so this was, as the chancellor and the prime minister says, a huge boost in their eyes to british competitiveness in an autumn statement for growth. but guess what? gb news viewers and listeners, despite all these talk of tax cuts and the tax cuts were significant as a result of these measures, the overall uk tax burden, the share of gdp that we pay in tax just went up . went up. >> there we go . thank you for >> there we go. thank you for that. liam halligan always on the money. beautiful, succinct , the money. beautiful, succinct, boiled down, cutting through the grease , cutting through the grease, cutting through the spin. that's what we're going to do for the next three hours here on so how has all that on gb news. so how has all that gone down with tory mps? well, let's speak political let's speak to our political edhon let's speak to our political editor, chris, let's speak to our political edi started chris, let's speak to our political edi started the chris, let's speak to our political edi started the day chris, let's speak to our political edi started the day with chris, let's speak to our political edi started the day with the ris,

we started the day with the highest tax threshold since world war ii we've still got world war ii and we've still got it. was the autumn statement just an unseasonal blast of hot . air >> well, it's got the backing of liz truss. now. liz truss is someone we know very well from the gb news. of course she pretended that that growth commission there liam commission event there with liam halligan during the tory party conference. she says that she welcomes the idea of the full expensing, allowing manufacturers mainly to offset tax bills against their investment in new kit. and she said this kind of thing which will make britain, britain grow again. i mean, there is a lot of happy ness, i think, on the tory backbenches at the moment. there was a deep, guttural roar when jeremy hunt cut the national insurance rate from from from 12% to 10% from the 6th of january, a kind of new year pay rise for 27 million people. that is good politics going into an election year. no question. the thinking behind it of making productivity work, making making

people getting people back to work because the whole theme running through this document, it feel though it had an it did feel as though it had an intellectual maybe intellectual rigour which maybe previous autumn statements and notably one made by kwasi kwarteng less so. and he has got some space. the obe, the office of budget responsibility, has given space to do these things. but says there, but as liam halligan says there, we set to see the we are still set to see the share of tax as a share of gdp or our gross domestic product hit a record level within five years, 37.7. that's a big worry . years, 37.7. that's a big worry. and also the bigger worry is the cost of paying for this is coming from many of us who are paying coming from many of us who are paying income tax , who work for paying income tax, who work for million more people, are paying income at 20, 3 million more income tax at 20, 3 million more over that period. that's a lot of people who shouldn't be paying of people who shouldn't be paying higher rate income paying the higher rate of income tax or basic rate of tax or even a basic rate of income tax being drawn into it. and that's politics. and and that's the politics. and whether gets any whether the government gets any credit as the polls credit for all this as the polls by weekend. we'll wait and by the weekend. we'll wait and see. no question, see. there's no question, though, around though, that the people around number that they set number 10 do feel that they set out control inflation,

out to control inflation, control spending and cut taxes , control spending and cut taxes, and they think that's a tick, tick, tick. and tory mps right now are pretty happy here. okay chris hope, thanks for that update that reaction from the tory benches . tory benches. >> let's find out how the announcements went down with the great public. really the great british public. really the only who matter in of only people who matter in all of this let's go. no, this to find out. let's go. no, we're going to. jeff, let's we're not going to. jeff, let's talk let's talk about what happened earlier on with our studio guests here. thank you for the thing for joining us. look, the thing about this, right, is that everyone gets excited on the tory they're tory backbenchers. they're all going, ho. but in actual going, ho, ho, ho. but in actual fact, it mean for fact, what does it mean for people at home? because when you look at the savings, it's like 350 to £450 a year. the tories were talking tough. they were puffing up their chest before this. they were offering tax cuts, which they probably need in election cycle. did today in an election cycle. did today deliver or was it just a bit underwhelming? well i think it is underwhelming. >> and to sort of sum up what it might mean to the typical gb news viewer, not very much. martin, is the truth of martin, is the is the truth of it, obviously , the national

it, obviously, the national insurance cut. welcome and headune insurance cut. welcome and headline grabbing. but as chris hope and liam halligan ann have both pointed out, if you look at the package in the round, not just the national insurance announcement towards the end and then the tax bill is going up. and this is largely because they've frozen the income tax thresholds. they're not going up with inflation. and so given every year a pound is worth less, as chris hope has just pointed out, more and more people are going to be dragged into basic rate of into paying the basic rate of income tax. and more and more people paying people being dragged into paying the rate income tax . to the £0.40 rate of income tax. to give an idea of that, in give you an idea of that, in essence, each pound , jeremy essence, for each pound, jeremy hunt given away on national hunt has given away on national insurance cuts with his left hand, he's taking £4 with his right hand because he has not put up the income tax thresholds. i think it's very hard to see that as a tax giveaway. >> and don't you think there are some surprising things, good news for pensioners? yes, that's true. pensioners will be happy with £900 8.5% with the £900 boost and 8.5% increase. pointed out.

increase. as liam pointed out. but ahead of the announcement, the autumn statement, they were talking very on a talking very tough on a clampdown benefits . iain clampdown on benefits. iain duncan today was saying duncan smith today was saying we have get 2.6 million people duncan smith today was saying we halong get 2.6 million people duncan smith today was saying we halong term 2.6 million people duncan smith today was saying we halong term disability| people of long term disability allowance to get them back into work and yet today it almost felt like a rachel reeves reeves style announcement. universal credit to get a inflation credit to get a 6.7% inflation busting boost, national minimum wage and those on the lowest eye thresholds getting a boost . it thresholds getting a boost. it felt like quite a socialist announcement to me. >> it's quite strange , isn't it? >> it's quite strange, isn't it? i mean, chris was saying that the chris hope was saying that the chris hope was saying that the boxes they wanted to tick were cut taxes, get spending down and get inflation further down. well, as i've just pointed out, in the round taxes are not going down, okay? they're not as high as they would be if it wasn't for the national insurance reduction. but in aggregate, not going aggregate, they're not going down. martin, you've down. and then, martin, you've just out on pensions just pointed out on pensions and benefits going up by, if you like, the more generous measure of inflation. if inflation is coming to what, four, 5? coming down to what, four, 5? why are we hiking benefits up by

six, 7 or 8? that's a generous handout. not getting spending under control. so an oddity there. now in fairness to the government, what they're trying to do is to not just use squeezing down on benefits for those out of work to get them into the workforce. they have put a plan and a programme put out a plan and a programme to try and get the long term sick to work. if i remember sick back to work. if i remember rightly, there will be sort of rightly, there will be a sort of intensive effort for job seekers after 18 months. then there'll be a workplace be forced into a workplace scheme and if they don't turn up to that, they'll lose their benefits. so there's a little bit stick to here get bit of stick to here try and get people back into work. but again, eye—watering, again, spending eye—watering, i was going through trying to work out where is the government saving money? and ultimately when comes to it, over the when it comes to it, over the long run, the taxes you're charging will reflect broadly the spending you're committed to . and if you want to get taxes down pretty much you've got to get down because the get spending down because the debt deficit really debt and the deficit really can't take more strain. can't take much more strain. okay >> mark littlewood from the

institute public affairs, institute of public affairs, thank for joining institute of public affairs, tha and for joining institute of public affairs, thaand are forjoining institute of public affairs, tha and are going)ining institute of public affairs, tha and are going toing institute of public affairs, tha and are going to see us. and now we are going to see how today's announcements affect the great british public, our southwest of england. reporter jeff exeter's jeff moody is at exeter's christmas market. jeff so the announcements being made , are announcements being made, are they are they rejoicing down there getting an early christmas box from the chancellor or is it more of a scrooge or a bah humbug reaction . humbug reaction. >> i think it's definitely a bah humbug reaction to be honest. people are a little cynical here. people aren't convinced that things are going to get better any time soon, but maybe my next guest will prove me wrong. this is sue from voss devon, vegan organ skincare. hello to you, sue. nice to see you. it's a bit cold today, isn't it? >> yeah. we're keeping wrapped up. >> yes. how's business going in general ? general? >> in general? >> in general? >> well, i've got shopping >> well, i've got a shopping talkie and footfall talkie as well. and footfall there is down. but here things are starting to pick up, so it's really nice to see that people are they're buying. >> some people have started >> and some people have started christmas >> and some people have started

christm everybody . and i think >> not everybody. and i think we're waiting for the next pay day really for it to really kick in. >> people are saying to me today that they're going down that they're going to cut down this don't feel this christmas. they don't feel they've disposable they've got enough disposable income. they

is now all but over. >> are they right or are they wrong? >> i wouldn't say it's all but oven >> i wouldn't say it's all but over. it's on its way. you know, it's we're starting to emerge from it, shall we say. but i think we've got a long way to go. >> okay. well, you heard it there. we've got a long way to 90, there. we've got a long way to go, least we're starting go, but at least we're starting to in time for to emerge just in time for christmas . back to to emerge just in time for christmas. back to you. to emerge just in time for chrthank . back to you. to emerge just in time for chr thank you. :k to you. to emerge just in time for chr thank you. jeff you. to emerge just in time for chr thank you. jeff murray from >> thank you. jeff murray from excel. feel like an expert

excel. i now feel like an expert in to how make scented candles beautiful. the things you learn. okay, of course, we'll have lots more statement more on the autumn statement throughout the entire show. and there's plenty of coverage on our website, gbnews.com. you've helped make it fastest helped to make it the fastest growing national news website in the . thank you very the country. thank you very much. and every one of you. much. each and every one of you. okay. we're going to get reaction from both the tories and the labour to today's and the labour party to today's big announcement and that's coming show . big announcement and that's coming show. i'm coming up in the show. i'm martin on gb news and we martin daubney on gb news and we are britain's news channel .

sunday mornings from 930 on . gb

news. >> welcome back . it's 3:25. >> welcome back. it's 3:25. you're watching or listening to martin daubney here on gb news. now in a few minutes we'll cross live to shrewsbury after yesterday's terrible news that four teenage lads died in that car crash. we, of course , car crash. we, of course, people's channel. so as well as getting big name political reaction to the autumn statement , we want to find out how it will you, the general will affect you, the general public, most important public, the most important people. now to people. let's cross now to stockport and speak to gb news, north—west of england. reporter so sophie reaper so, sophie, the autumn statement seemed to be much ado about nothing in terms of moving towards christmas. the people stockport say they people of stockport say they feel heartened by this or is this a bit scrooge like ? this a bit scrooge like? >> well, martin, today might be the day of the autumn statement, but for weeks, months, even years, people, local people have spoken about how the cost of living crisis is really

impacting them. now, of course, the chancellor in his statement today, he talked about how he wants to support families . he wants to support families. he sets out the increase in universal credit and benefits. he spoke of the decrease in national insurance. but how is this impacting people here in stockport? really, that's what we've been doing today. we've been gauging how people in the local community feel it's really going to be affecting them. families, , all those kinds families, mums, all those kinds of people . one mum earlier spoke of people. one mum earlier spoke to us, gave us her opinion on the on the autumn statement . the on the autumn statement. we're talking about an increase in april next year based on september's inflation rates. so that's six months from now when people need that help through christmas and through some of the most difficult times. so no, for me, they need to actually make that change today in line with the inflation as it is now . with the inflation as it is now. and clearly people are not satisfied with what the chancellor has set out today. these decisions made in

westminster do have a huge impact nationally and people here on the ground just feel perhaps that they aren't being heard because the cost of living crisis, although as jeff was saying earlier, we may be on our way out, it is still having a real term impact as we go into christmas. so reba, thank you for joining us there live from stockport. >> i'm still joined in the studio by mark littlewood from the institute of economic affairs. mark this is the point, isn't it? there are these big grandiose announcements made in westminster that are all kind of on the back benches, and then you to stockport and they're you cut to stockport and they're feeling decidedly underwhelmed by slim pickings i >>i -- >> i think that's right. martin and i've got some bad news as well. were just hearing from well. we were just hearing from sophie of living sophie about the cost of living crisis. and i don't see any sense of it coming to an end when we call it the crisis, we sort of think there's been some short term blip or emergency to get over with. but unfortunately, this could be the new and something that new normal and something that jeremy hunt rather glossed over in the opening parts of his

autumn statement was the growth projections from the office for budget responsibility. now health warning here. take them with several buckets of salt . with several buckets of salt. the obr does not have a good forecast record and certainly if you're trying to forecast what the economy is going to be like in five years time, i mean, it's almost a guessing game. nevertheless that nevertheless it shows that growth sluggish. growth is going to be sluggish. we're grow at more we're not going to grow at more than 2% in any year over the next five years. so although jeremy hunt and rachel reeves andindeed jeremy hunt and rachel reeves and indeed politicians of all stripes are talking about growth, we need to get growth back into the economy. seem back into the economy. they seem to willing at the end but to be willing at the end but aren't willing to will the means to get there. you really want to get there? you've got to deregulate a lot more. you've got to get the tax burden down and get spending and you've got to get spending down. can't growth down. and if we can't get growth back economy. jeremy back into the economy. jeremy hunt, did make some hunt, today did make some announcements dial announcements on trying to dial up productivity. but the next half decade looks bleak . so the half decade looks bleak. so the cost of living crisis, i'm afraid, becomes a cost of living . new normal .

. new normal. >> okay, well, that's excellent. stick with us. you'll hear throughout the rest of this houn throughout the rest of this hour. lots more to come. still between now and 4:00. we'll cross live to shrewsbury, of course, where tributes are being paid to the four teenage lads who died in car in who died in a car crash in snowdonia . but first is your snowdonia. but first is your latest news headlines with aaron armstrong . armstrong. >> it's half three. good afternoon to you, aaron armstrong here in the gb newsroom. national insurance and business taxes are coming down while and the state while benefits and the state pension will be increased to some of measures announced pension will be increased to sortheyf measures announced pension will be increased to sorthe chancellor ures announced pension will be increased to sorthe chancellor folsom iounced statement. >> surabad . >> surabad. >> surabad. >> jeremy hunt struck an optimistic tone, saying britain's economy had defied the doom and gloom of some predictions. doom and gloom of some predictions . the doom and gloom of some predictions. the biggest change comes january when national comes in january when national insurance will be from to insurance will be cut from 12 to 10, self—employed 10, .with the self—employed enjoying similar benefits. the triple lock will be kept taking the pension up by 8.5% to the state pension up by 8.5% to

more than £220 per week. benefits will also get a boost by 6.7% next year . benefits will also get a boost by 6.7% next year. earlier, the labour leader asked if the prime minister had forgotten the nhs as he took aim at the government's five pledges. sir keir starmer says the prime minister talks tax cuts minister talks about tax cuts while than double the while more than double the population of wales are on the nhs waiting in england. nhs waiting list in england. rishi sunak says he'd put record spending into the nhs . four men spending into the nhs. four men have been given life sentences with minimum terms of between 41 and 47 years for the murder of a woman in liverpool. 28 year old ashley dale was killed when james witham forced his way into her home and opened fire with a machine gun. he and co—defendants joseph pearce, nigel barry , shaun zeiss were nigel barry, shaun zeiss were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder. ms dale's partner . conspiracy to murder. ms dale's partner. hamas and israel have agreed to begin a four day pause in fighting, starting at 8 am. tomorrow. the foreign secretary, david cameron, says the truce is

a crucial step towards releasing hostages and providing humanitarian relief in gaza. the pause in fighting will allow for the release of 50 hostages held by the terror group in exchange for 150 palestinians held in israeli prisons . a community in israeli prisons. a community in shropshire's mourning the loss of four teenage boys who died in nonh of four teenage boys who died in north wales. jevon hirst harvey owen, will fitchett and hugo morris had set off on a camping trip in the snowdonia area. their bodies were recovered yesterday when a car was found overturned and partially submerged in water. north wales police says it appears to have been a tragic accident . and you been a tragic accident. and you can get more on all of our stories on our website. gbnews.com . for stunning gold gbnews.com. for stunning gold and silver coins you'll always value. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . a quick look at the report. a quick look at the markets today. >> the pound buys you 1.2, four,

five, $8 and ,1.1475. gold will cost £1,599.88 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7463 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . at report. at >> thank you, aaron. let's get more reaction to today's big story. the chancellor's autumn statement, of course. and let's return now to westminster and join our political editor, christopher hope . martin hello christopher hope. martin hello here from westminster. >> i'm joined now by bim afolami, who is the economic secretary of the treasury . secretary of the treasury. allami, can i ask you first first off, why is the tax burden hitting the highest rates in second world war? the fundamental reason for that is that earlier on in this parliament, there was a once in a lifetime pandemic and the government spent over £450

billion in order to support people. >> that's the fundamental reason. but what we're able to do here in this autumn statement is we've begun. we've begun to turn the corner , because what turn the corner, because what we've done here has huge tax cut for british business to invest more and more full expensing, which is a technical term. but really what it means is the more businesses invest, the more they will get back in tax or save tax, rather, for themselves. that will make a huge difference to businesses. and it's revolutionary across the world. we're doing that. we're cutting taxes people and taxes for working people and cutting national insurance that means an average person of means an average person of someone on average wages is someone on average wages is going to be better off as a result of these changes. even after the various after you count on the various threshold rises earlier on in the parliament. turning the parliament. so we're turning the parliament. so we're turning the corner. we're doing the right we're backing right thing. we're backing britain, right thing. we're backing britethat's where statement and that's where this statement i think, is a very exciting moment , i think, is a very exciting moment, isn't it? >> all a bit of smoke and mirrors, though. bim afolami you've this in you've got this 2% cut in national insurance that's obviously welcomed, but you have kept these levels of you pay

income tax at same level. income tax at the same level. you've got millions more paying income by 2028. that's not income tax by 2028. that's not very the reason why we picked >> so the reason why we picked national insurance, not income tax, it's a fair question is because we're backing work in order to really support growth. yes, you've got to get businesses investing more, but you've also got to get give workers that support to make sure that they more sure that they work more and more it's worth more hours because it's worth doing so. the obr has scored doing so. and the obr has scored that. this leaves us with thousands. that. this leaves us with thousands . it's the equivalent thousands. it's the equivalent of thousands more people in the workforce because of the increased number of hours that people are going this people are going to work. this is to make a real difference. >> more tax cuts next year. >> more tax cuts than next year. pre—election on. >> well, not going to >> well, i'm not going to pre—empt anything. the chancellor not do in chancellor may or may not do in the budget next year. but look, i can say what i'll be saying to the chancellor with the chancellor and working with him which is him in the treasury, which is we've begun to turn the corner this is for growth. this statement is for growth. next year. what to do next year. what we've got to do is along that path, is continue along that path, continue growth and continue our strong growth and hope to return more of your hard earned money to you. >> the obr says that inflation

will higher for longer will stay higher for longer because of what you've done in this in this budget. why is that right ? right? >> the obr has been very clear as package. as a result of this package. overall inflation next year will be lower and slightly lower than it otherwise would be. so the obr has been very clear about that. this package, despite the tax cuts we're giving to people and business, despite the increased giving and business, despite the in> we are getting >> well, we are getting more homes mean, are homes built. i mean, there are a couple of the smaller measures which fanfare, which don't get all the fanfare, but supporting new homes which don't get all the fanfare, but built supporting new homes which don't get all the fanfare, but built inpporting new homes which don't get all the fanfare, but built in london, new homes which don't get all the fanfare, but built in london, leeds omes which don't get all the fanfare, but built in london, leeds ands being built in london, leeds and cambridge we're sorting being built in london, leeds and cansomee we're sorting being built in london, leeds and can some of we're sorting being built in london, leeds and can some of the re sorting being built in london, leeds and can some of the nutrientorting out some of the nutrient neutrality rules that have held back over 100,000 homes across the country. we're supporting local planning authorities with deaung local planning authorities with dealing backlogs. so

dealing with their backlogs. so we doing some of these we are doing some of these things, they're smaller things, though they're smaller measures you have measures. so you wouldn't have heard in chancellor's heard them in the chancellor's speech and reforming of planning. doing what planning. we're doing what we can system to can within the overall system to get built so much faster get things built so much faster and easily because we and built more easily because we all know that ultimately younger people out there, first time buyers, need roof over buyers, they need a roof over their head. they need to get on their head. they need to get on the ladder and this the housing ladder and this government them. >> f- f— >> pensioners benefit, don't worry, increase in the worry, their big increase in the triple lock pension, the state pension. to pension. were you tempted to water down? pension. were you tempted to water because? pension. were you tempted to water because it's very >> no, because it's very important for people on fixed incomes like pensioners that we support them through cost of living difficulties . i think living difficulties. i think that's absolutely critical. but it's also worth pointing out that most vulnerable , the that the most vulnerable, the people on the lowest paid are getting more so national living wage is going up through the whole of this. parliament is going up by 30% in real terms. that's after inflation. that's 30. people aren't benefits. they're going up . their benefits they're going up. their benefits are going up by double at the current rate of inflation. so we are protecting the most

vulnerable. but on benefits. this isn't just a free extra handout. we're making sure that we're tightening the eligibility for people who can work because it's important that that ultimately work is always better than welfare. and that's something that's a principle that this government and indeed the prime minister strongly supports mischief for some supports the mischief for some colleagues is how can colleagues at gb news is how can you do all this now when you couldn't taxes in september, couldn't cut taxes in september, or the language couldn't cut taxes in september, or saying,:he language couldn't cut taxes in september, or saying, we language couldn't cut taxes in september, or saying, we can't age couldn't cut taxes in september, or saying, we can't afford to was saying, we can't afford to do it, what's changed in two months? two things. first, the office of national statistics has hugely revised up what has happened to the british economy over the last year or two. now frankly, a lot of people have been down on the british economy. they've been talking us down and saying we're going to be forever, be in recession forever, the largest for years. largest recession for 100 years. i've sorts of i've heard all sorts of headunes i've heard all sorts of headlines the recent headlines over the recent months. the office of national statistics obr have now statistics and the obr have now shown economy more shown that our economy is more resilient and stronger than was previously thought. and that has meant that we've had the space and ability to turn the and the ability to turn the corner earlier than otherwise

corner earlier than we otherwise might have been able to. >> just barthelemy >> just finally. barthelemy isn't the isn't this basically the beginning the election beginning of the election campaign it's pre—election campaign? it's a pre—election giveaway . you're going to cut giveaway. you're going to cut big pay, giveaway. you're going to cut big pay, big giveaway. you're going to cut big pay, big pay giveaway. you're going to cut big pay, big pay rises essentially for people by by cutting january cutting taxes early in january in a year when you want to go back to the polls and win a fifth term in government, look, call me naive, but actually, this is a long term statement. >> this is about foundation for long term growth, not everything that's going to be in this statement. if you go through it, is going make a difference in is going to make a difference in the month in the is going to make a difference in the year.ronth in the is going to make a difference in the year. but1 in the is going to make a difference in the year. but we're in the is going to make a difference in the year. but we're backinge next year. but we're backing british business for the long term. know, of the term. you know, some of the documents that ten years documents show that ten years from or ten years from now, from now or ten years from now, business investment will be £20 billion more than it is today. right that isn't about an election. that's about backing britain and backing british business. and that's what we're doing with this statement. >> thanks for joining doing with this statement. >> thanks forjoining us >> well, thanks for joining us today college thank you today on college green thank you . along with the economic secretary, the treasury, with his what i think is

his take on what i think is basically a pre—election tax cutting autumn statement . back cutting autumn statement. back to you. martin in the studio. thank you, chris. >> hoban thank you to bim afolami live from westminster. well we'll have lots more on the autumn statement shortly , but autumn statement shortly, but now paid to now tributes are being paid to four teenage boys who died in a car in snowdonia . the car crash in snowdonia. the bodies of jevon hirst harvey owen, will fitchett and hugo morris were recovered yesterday . morris were recovered yesterday. say the boys were all a—level students at shrewsbury college when cross live now to shrewsbury and speak to our reporter will hollis . will reporter will hollis. will devastating accident it seems and one that's really important acted upon the entire nation . acted upon the entire nation. what are people saying there ? what are people saying there? >> yes. well, it's 80 miles away that those boys tragic lost their lives while just doing what boys do, trying to enjoy some time in the company of their friends, going camping . their friends, going camping. but it's here in shrewsbury where those boys are from, where

the impact will be felt. >> the hardest. >> the hardest. >> this is a small town which has been to told me so many times by people that i've been speaking to and this has affected everybody here. >> so we're standing outside of shrewsbury abbey right now where all day people of all ages have been coming to lay floral tributes and to light candles, particularly young people from the town that go to the college where the boys attended, all four of them at shrewsbury college . i've been inside the college. i've been inside the abbey today and i've had a chance to speak to some of those boys which are to some of the people that are friends with the boys, people that quite boys, people that are quite rightly very upset by the loss of their friends. two of the people that i had a chance to speak to were close friends of jevon and harvey and wilf. their names were james and alfie . they names were james and alfie. they were telling me how they were considering starting a band with harvey and he was going to play all the types of music that he likes playing on bass guitar,

rock music , and that they're rock music, and that they're going to start this band now in tribute of these young boys. they've been saying how the boys loved music and how they loved to go on adventures . and you can to go on adventures. and you can hear a little bit of what they were telling me. now >> they were it was such lovely lads. >> they were it was such lovely lads . funny. wouldn't say lads. funny. wouldn't say anything bad anyone, just all anything bad to anyone, just all around really good people . and around really good people. and it's not fair. bad memories with them. no. bad memories with them. no. bad memories with them. really lovely lads. them. just really lovely lads. amazing people . we were going to amazing people. we were going to start a band with one of them , start a band with one of them, but if we do make this band , but if we do make this band, it's going to go to memory of them. yeah, harvey was going to be our bassist. yeah he playing the bass in secondary school. we used to go to the practice rooms and just play together. it was just good memories. and now , just good memories. and now, yeah, it's just never going to be the same, really . it's never be the same, really. it's never going to be the same without them .

them. >> well, shrewsbury college has said that their staff are devastated by what's happened. they've also said that they're going to be supporting students . going to be supporting students. meanwhile, we've heard from one of the mothers of those four boys who have described this ordeal as a nightmare. and martin, i don't think there's any better word to describe the experience that those mums and dads must be going through right now . now. >> yeah. thank you, will hollis, for update a story that's for an update on a story that's really the hearts, really touched the hearts, i think of parent think of every parent in britain. let's return now britain. okay, let's return now to and join our to westminster and join our political editor, christopher hope more on autumn hope for more on the autumn statement . statement. >> martin yeah, i'm joined now by nick thomas, who's a shadow cabinet minister, and nick thomas—symonds , the government thomas—symonds, the government tells us that they are finally controlling inflation, controlling inflation, controlling spending and cutting taxes. what's to not like? >> well, i think people today will look at a chancellor exchequer who turned up to to parliament talk about an autumn statement for growth and simultaneously had to downgrade the growth forecast 2.6.

>> this year, 0.7% next year. look at the obr figures. we see the cost of living squeeze continuing. it's still going to be tighter , more of a squeeze in be tighter, more of a squeeze in 2024, 25 than pre—pandemic. and the tax burden will be at its highest post—war level in 20 2829. >> so what we're seeing today, today is the consequence of 13 years of conservative mismanagement . what i think mismanagement. what i think we've seen today is a conservative party, frankly , conservative party, frankly, that cannot produce the change that cannot produce the change that britain needs . that britain needs. >> the cut in national insurance bnngs >> the cut in national insurance brings national assurance back to where it was when gordon brown minister. and it brown was prime minister. and it was up, i think, by george was put up, i think, by george osborne initially. will osborne initially. what will labour vote labour do? will labour vote against in national against that cut in national insurance? we've consistently against that cut in national insurathat we've consistently against that cut in national insurathat case. e've consistently made that case. >> it's the prime minister who's been inconsistent on this. >> i can remember when he was making for increasing making the case for increasing national insurance, but if you look at the total increase in tax over the course of this parliament, we can see the average family is £4,000 a year

worse off. we're talking about the equivalent of £0.10 on the national insurance rate. so the £0.02 the chancellor has handed back today and expecting a round of applause. >> expecting gratitude is a bit rich, i think. >> what will they ever do? well labour when it goes labour support it when it goes to commons, we will support to the commons, we will support the reverse the the we won't reverse the reduction that's been produced the we won't reverse the reinational|at's been produced the we won't reverse the reinational insurance produced the we won't reverse the reinational insurance becausei in national insurance because that's consistently that's what we've consistently argued for. >> but what we did not see today was a genuine long term plan to put growth back into the economy. instead, we saw these continuing downgrades to growth and that's why we're in, frankly, this doom spiral of low growth, high tax that's come to define this conservative government >> what would labour do differently? the idea of full expensing is being welcomed by businesses . businesses. >> regard to >> well, with regard to businesses, of course we welcome anything that increases business investment . investment. >> but over the past couple of years when i was the shadow international trade secretary, i was travelling the world trying to speak about to speak to people about bringing foreign direct

investment into britain. what i had were people looking puzzled as to what on earth had happened to the stability of our institutions in britain. five prime ministers, seven chancellors, nine business secretaries is what we need to see is medium term stability here in the united kingdom. solid economic foundations, not like the kamikaze mini—budget that we saw last year to give businesses certainty to invest and that's what labour would provide , it seems to others provide, it seems to others maybe that the tories are getting their act together. >> not a worry for >> is that not a worry for labour party? even though you are in the are 20 points ahead in the polls, we want to see a general election as soon as possible, but any doubt but we've never been any doubt either we want to fight for either that we want to fight for every single vote. >> who knows when the general election will come ? but my election will come? but my message to the conservatives is if want to hold a spring if they want to hold a spring election bring it and the election to bring it on and the measures that planning, do measures that i'm planning, do they enough? they go far enough? >> allow homes >> would labour allow more homes to the point to be built? because the point is jeremy is made by chancellor jeremy hunt you oppose those hunt that you oppose those reforms to nugent neutrality. that's really a total

mischaracterisation of the position in the lords. >> we offered a pragmatic way forward that protected our rivers and waterways, but also allowed homes to be built. this is a conservative party. there's literally sewage to literally allowed raw sewage to be in our rivers they be pumped in our rivers and they ought better in terms of be pumped in our rivers and they ougcleanliness3etter in terms of be pumped in our rivers and they ougcleanliness of ter in terms of be pumped in our rivers and they ougcleanliness of our n terms of the cleanliness of our waterways. is also a prime waterways. this is also a prime minister who hasn't stood up to his make sure we his backbenchers to make sure we can the houses that we need . can get the houses that we need. we need radical reform in our planning system. we need to separate off critical national infrastructure . and then we need infrastructure. and then we need to at speeding up our to look at speeding up our planning system, reducing bureaucracy, at bureaucracy, and also look at when think of the green belt. when we think of the green belt. often i think of parts of it that are what i would say are the grey belt. you know, you can go to tottenham where you go to tottenham hale where you can a disused petrol can find a disused petrol station that's ended up in the green need to really green belt. so we need to really power homes that power forward, build homes that people crying for, power forward, build homes that peo also crying for, power forward, build homes that peo also know crying for, power forward, build homes that peo also know what crying for, power forward, build homes that peo also know what weying for, power forward, build homes that peo also know what we need)r, power forward, build homes that peo also know what we need to but also know what we need to see bringing people's see is bringing people's mortgages well . mortgages down as well. >> thomas—symonds, >> well, nick thomas—symonds, shadow thank shadow cabinet minister, thank you today on gb you for joining us today on gb news you. news from the green. thank you. nick there. nick thomas—symonds there. martin saying there labour

martin saying there that labour will in will support this cut in national when comes national insurance when it comes in january. okay chris, thank in in january. okay chris, thank you for that latest update live from outside parliament. >> now, wouldn't it be great to speak someone who's worked speak to someone who's worked with chancellor with the chancellor on the autumn statement? well, that's precisely to happen precisely what's about to happen next. daubney on gb next. i'm martin daubney on gb news we are britain's news

news britain's new . channel news britain's new. channel >> welcome back. it's 351.

you're watching or listening to me martin daubney on gb news and at 4:00 i'll have the full story from today's autumn statement. our economics and business editor liam halligan will tell you how it will affect you . you how it will affect you. well, wouldn't it be great to be able someone who's able to speak to someone who's worked closely the worked closely with the chancellor? what? chancellor? or guess what? that's exactly what i'm about to do, because i'm joined now by chris hayward, who's the policy chairman at city of london, chairman at the city of london, corporate . chris, thanks for corporate. chris, thanks for joining us on gb news. so you've had a you've had the ear of the chancellor so to speak. what kind of things were you recommending ahead of recommending to him ahead of today's autumn sale and marks out of ten? how do you think he's done so? >> look, martin, i can't actually claim i've the ear actually claim i've had the ear of chancellor but i've of the chancellor but i've certainly inputting into certainly been inputting into the chancellor's thought processes and into the treasury's thought process is i think today has been a good day for the chancellor because i think what this government has doneis think what this government has done is announced an autumn statement that's all about growth and we've long pushed in the city of london for getting

growth into the british growth back into the british economy it's an economy that's economy. it's an economy that's been stagnant for 16 years been stagnant for 15, 16 years and we have to get growth. and frankly, no matter who wins the next general election, it's going to be economic growth that will heart that. will be at the heart of that. obviously we focussed much obviously we focussed very much in our representations the in our representations to the chancellor around pensions, the dc pensions , although he's dc pensions, although he's included db pensions today as well, because believe that well, because we believe that what we need is a growth fund that actually will invest in high growth british businesses and unlisted companies to ensure that they stay in the uk . they, that they stay in the uk. they, they pay their tax receipts in they pay their tax receipts in the uk , they list in the uk and the uk, they list in the uk and we don't lose them across the pond. and i think the chancellor today although there's today has said although there's no he's no pensions bill, that he's prepared back that and prepared to back that and support do that through regulation. >> a lot of people were hoping we'd see something shaved off the highest tax burden since world war ii. but we've ended the day where we started on that front. the thresholds front. in fact, the thresholds have remained the same. so there's argument that there's a clear argument that

more into more people will be dragged into paying more people will be dragged into paying taxes. is today paying higher taxes. is today the limit of jeremy's generosity, or do you think there could be more to come? >> well, look, i mean, there's 2% of gni. let's be absolutely clear. that is a cut. and it's a welcome cut. and we should accept that chancellor's accept that the chancellor's had to balance this in a very delicate way with keeping inflation down. so any tax cuts you made cannot be at the expense of reigniting inflation. and i think that's the delicate balance he's faced today. he's done as much as he can within the headroom he's got today. personally i hope he'll be able to do more in march and the budget next year, but obviously it requires the continuing improvement the british improvement of the british economy. the is economy. but the economy is getting better. we have seen inflation we see the inflation halved. we see the projection that it will come down to 2. that was always the target to get to 2. if target to get it back to 2. if the government can do that, that because because, of course, we've never forget inflation in itself is a taxation because it stops people spending. it gives them spend in the them less to spend in the economy. i think it's a good

economy. so i think it's a good day in terms of what the chancellor has said. i think it's a statement for growth, which we were which was what we were encouraging him the city of encouraging him in the city of london and he's responded london to do, and he's responded to that request. >> i especially happy for >> and i especially happy for british pensioners, an 8.5% inflation rise, the inflation busting rise, the triple lock safeguarded. now there's one vote in the conservatives have to keep happy. well, look, the government always said it would it would honour the triple lock. >> it has honoured the triple lock. think that's incredibly lock. i think that's incredibly important. somebody who's not getting any younger myself, it's important. got to keep the important. we've got to keep the pensions up because pensioners , pensions up because pensioners, as everyone this current as everyone in this current economic crisis, which incidentally has been driven not just in the united kingdom and it's important we make this point. the geopolitical events around world, the energy around the world, the energy crisis in the past year, all of these things are affecting other european countries as well. so i think the triple lock on maintaining the triple lock, which commitment they gave which was a commitment they gave an it, is absolutely an honouring it, is absolutely right and it's right for british pensioners . pensioners. >> okay, chris hayward, thank you we're going to you very much. we're going to have leave it there, chris.

have to leave it there, chris. the at the city the policy chairman at the city of core operation now, of london, core operation now, lots about there. lots to talk about there. quickly, mark, still quickly, mark, you're still here. you think of here. what do you think of today, the tories saying they've turned corner? labour are turned the corner? labour are saying it's a doom cycle . i'm saying it's a doom cycle. i'm afraid don't have time to afraid we don't have time to even into it. but please even go into it. but please stick around. what a day. there's those to in. okay. there's those to pack in. okay. 27 million people benefit a 27 million people benefit from a 2% insurance . 2% cut in national insurance. and chancellor jeremy hunt also has news pensioners. has good news for pensioners. that's question . will it that's the big question. will it help to win the next help tories to win the next election? i'm martin daubney stick around

we have new. welcome to gb news with me martin daubney. it's 4:00 on action packed hour coming up, of course, today was jeremy hunt's autumn statement. we started the day with the highest tax burden since world war two. and guess what? we've ended the day with the highest tax world war ii. tax burden since world war ii. but there were winners and losers. were they ? let's losers. who were they? let's start off national start off with national insurance. was cut by 2, insurance. it was cut by 2, meaning more money in the pockets for 27 million of you. but how much will it make a difference? who were the winners and losers? we'll find out. great day for britain's penny earners. an inflation busting 8.5 boost to the pension , taking 8.5 boost to the pension, taking it to £900 a year extra good news also on the triple lock that was safeguarded. so the pensioners have done well today . pensioners have done well today. and finally, did jeremy hunt get

his notes mixed up with rachel reeves? because before today they were talking about clamping down on benefits , getting tough. down on benefits, getting tough. instead, we've seen a 6.7% inflation busting rise in universal credit and guarantees on the minimum wage. is that a sensible thing for the conservatives to do? we'll have all of that coming up in the next hour . so i wonder what you next hour. so i wonder what you think about today's autumn statement by jeremy hunt. we've spoken to people in stockport, in exeter already, and they're feeling a bit underwhelmed , it feeling a bit underwhelmed, it has to be said. great talk ahead of today's announcement, but left with a bit of a damp squib. get in touch all the usual ways. vaiews@gbnews.com loads coming up in this next hour. but first, here's your news headlines with polly middlehurst . polly middlehurst. >> martin thank you and good afternoon to you. well, the chancellor has announced the

autumn statement, setting out the uk's financial direction for the uk's financial direction for the next year. >> national insurance , as you've >> national insurance, as you've heard, and business taxes are coming down while benefits and the state pension will be increased at autumn. >> statement jeremy howard's . >> statement jeremy howard's. jeremy hunt striking an optimistic tone in the house of commons, saying britain's economy had defied the predictions of doom and gloom . predictions of doom and gloom. >> well, the biggest change comes in january, when national insurance will be cut from 12 to 10, with the self—employed floyd enjoying similar benefits as the triple lock on pensions will be kept taking the state pension up by 8.5% to more than £220 a week. benefit s will also get a boost by 6.7% next year and there's going to be help for low income households struggling to afford rent. but the major announcement that was on the focus national insurance i'm

going to go further and cut the main rate of employee national insurance by two percentage points from . 12% to 10. points from. 12% to 10. >> yeah, yeah . >> yeah, yeah. >> yeah, yeah. >> that change will help 27 million people. it means someone on the average salary of £35,000 will save over . £450 for the will save over. £450 for the average nurse. it's a saving of £520 for the typical police officer, a saving of £630 every single year. however the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves , said chancellor, rachel reeves, said growth had hit a dead end going into this statement, the government had already put in place tax increases worth the equivalent of a 10% increase in national insurance. >> so today's to be cut will not remotely compensate for their tax increases. already put in place by this conservative government. the fact is that

taxes will be higher at the next election than they were at the last this is the legacy of the conservatives . conservatives. >> well, earlier the labour leader asked if the prime minister had forgotten the nhs as he took aim at the government's five pledges. sir keir starmer said the prime minister's talks of tax cuts, while more than double the population of wales. he said , population of wales. he said, were on the nhs waiting list in england . rishi sunak said he's england. rishi sunak said he's put record spending into the nhs . he's now away from politics. today. four men have been given life sentences with minimum terms to serve of between 41 and 47 years for the murder of a woman in liverpool 28 year old ashley dale was killed when james witham forced his way into her home and opened fire with a machine gun . her home and opened fire with a machine gun. he and co—defendants joseph pearce, nigel barry and sean zeiss were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder. ms dales , conspiracy to murder. ms dales, partner, family liaison officer

for dc hayley cantillon, spoke on behalf of the family. >> although nothing can make this nightmare end, we can now rest assured, knowing these evil monsters will pay for what they have done to ashley and our family and they too, have ruined their own lives and their family's lives . ashley had her family's lives. ashley had her whole life ahead of her and was in her prime, a career driven young woman whose life had been cut short for such a senseless act. there really are no words . act. there really are no words. >> an update from the middle east now. and hamas and israel have agreed to begin a four day pause in the fighting starting at 8:00 tomorrow morning. it'll see the release of 50 israeli hostages held by the terror group. in exchange for 150 palestinians held in israeli prisons. here, the foreign secretary says the truce is a crucial step towards providing humanitarian relief in gaza . now

humanitarian relief in gaza. now the hometown of four teenage boys who died in north wales has cancelled tonight's switching on of the christmas lights. out of respect for the families . jevon respect for the families. jevon hirst harvey owen , will fitchett hirst harvey owen, will fitchett and hugo morris had set off on a camping trip in the snowdonia area. their bodies were recovered yesterday after a car was found overturned and partially submerged in water. nonh partially submerged in water. north wales police says it appears to have been a tragic accident. members of the community in shrewsbury spoke of their sadness . their sadness. >> the community of shrewsbury is very shaken and shocked by what has happened . i don't live what has happened. i don't live here but i work here and the atmosphere is palpable. we within the first hour of opening the abbey and we opened a little early this morning, we have seen 40 or 50 students and other

members of the public come in. i knew harvey through secondary school and skating with him . school and skating with him. >> i think we were very close in secondary school, skating out on the weekends , doing fun things. the weekends, doing fun things. same with dev wilf recently started coming to the gym . i started coming to the gym. i kind of almost tried to take him under my wing and try and show him everything and he was just such a lovely lad. >> some of the mourners in north wales were gb news across the uk on tv , in your car, on digital on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play gb news. this is britain's news channel . and britain's news channel. and thank you, polly. >> now there's only one place to start today and of course that's the chancellor's autumn statement. and jeremy jeremy hunt unveiled tax cuts with his spending plans and forecasts for the economy. let's get straight now our economics and now to our economics and business halligan business editor liam halligan for on today's big for the lowdown on today's big announcements and find what

announcements and find out what that you . that means to you. >> it was an autumn statement for growth, said the chancellor . for growth, said the chancellor. it was ho, ho ho, jeremy hunt, a pre—christmas giveaway . as the pre—christmas giveaway. as the tories roll the dice and try and narrow labour's commanding lead in the opinion polls. first up, a big upgrade in benefits for people of working age. they'll go people of working age. they'll 9° up people of working age. they'll go up 6.7% from next october . go up 6.7% from next october. from next april, that's in line with the october inflation number. that's worth £470 a year for 5 million of the uk's lowest income households , as there was income households, as there was a giveaway for pensioners as well. the triple lock confirm the basic state pension will go up the basic state pension will go ”p by the basic state pension will go up by 8.5% from april 2024. an inflation busting rise that's worth £900 a year for recipients of the basic state pension. the minimum wage also went up. governments like announcing higher minimum wages because businesses pay, it's going up by

over a pound from 1042 to 1144 per hour . and it will also apply per hour. and it will also apply for 21 and 22 year olds, rather than just from for 23 year olds. as of now, the chancellor's been working with business secretary kemi badenoch on a strategic manufacturing fund. the government's earmarked £4.5 billion. that's serious money for investments. by 2030, there's going to be a focus on automotives, aerospace , clean automotives, aerospace, clean energy, life sciences . is the energy, life sciences. is the government providing matching funding for when private sectors invest? there was an extension of the investment zone and freeports programme which chancellor jeremy freeports programme which chancellorjeremy hunt freeports programme which chancellor jeremy hunt outlined in march. the tax reliefs within these low these low tax zones will be extended from 5 to 10 years and there'll be new investment zones in the west midlands, the east midlands and greater manchester as part of the levelling up policy for small businesses, business rates are much hated tax that you pay

even if you make no revenue that's going to be frozen for small businesses for another yeah small businesses for another year. and in particular there will be a moratorium on business rates for the retail and hospitality sectors for another year. hospitality sectors for another year . a lockdown era emergency year. a lockdown era emergency measure that's going to be extended . and here were the two extended. and here were the two big tax cuts for employees on national insurance , the basic national insurance, the basic rate of national insurance will fall from 12 to 10% from january. not april next year, but from january . that's worth but from january. that's worth £450 a year for somebody who's lucky enough to earn £35,000 a yeah lucky enough to earn £35,000 a year. and then the big tax cuts for business and permanent full expensing, that means firms can partially offset investors points against their corporation tax bill. chancellor jeremy hunt tax bill. chancellorjeremy hunt called that the largest business tax cut in modern british history. so this was , as the history. so this was, as the chancellor and the prime minister says , a huge boost in minister says, a huge boost in their eyes to british competitiveness in an autumn

statement for growth . but guess statement for growth. but guess what? gb news viewers and listeners, despite all these talk of tax cuts and the tax cuts were significant as a result of these measures, the overall uk tax burden, the share of gdp that we pay in tax just went up . went up. >> well, thank you, liam . well, >> well, thank you, liam. well, how's all that gone down with tory mps? well, let's speak now to our political editor, christopher hope, who i believe has snagged bob seely, the conservative the isle of conservative mp for the isle of wight. over you, jobber well, wight. over to you, jobber well, that's right . that's right. >> i'm on the college green here with bob seely, the tory mp for isle of wight. with bob seely, the tory mp for isle of wight . yeah racking up isle of wight. yeah racking up tax to a record post—war high. okay >> i disagree with your take on that chopper. with respect , i that chopper. with respect, i get the fact that we are keeping some of those thresholds in the same place, but i look at it differently and i want to highlight the good stuff that's happening, if i may, in this budget. business investment, really important in a constituency like the isle of wight because we have a cutting

edge maritime and aerospace sector and need investment in sector and we need investment in that. sector and we need investment in that . so that's first point. that. so that's the first point. national insurance coming down, protecting pensions , triple protecting the pensions, triple lock, very important, increasing the national minimum wage as well. and we've got a welfare reform package. >> overall burden >> so, yes, overall tax burden is going to be peaking, but within that, we are trying to find savings to give back find savings to give money back to people . to people. >> so the national insurance is critical. >> the business investment driving productivity. >> we can improve that >> if we can improve that productivity, we can grow the economy that. we've got economy like that. we've got pensions , triple lock and we've pensions, triple lock and we've got welfare locked and we've got that welfare reform package as well. that welfare reform package as welso really important. >> so it's really important. >> so it's really important. >> that's why the tax burden >> so that's why the tax burden is going up with the record post—war high. but aren't you writing these reforms, these changes the backs of hard changes on the backs of hard working can working voters? because you can have more paying have your millions more paying income tax, 3 million more paying income tax, 3 million more paying income tax by 2028, 2 million more paying a higher rate, 400,000 more paying the additional rate. that's your base. increasing taxes by not by not moving up these thresholds. >> we're at an

>> no, look, we're at an inflection point in our chopper with respect and although i'm not disagree some with respect and although i'm nothe disagree some with respect and although i'm nothe that's'ee some with respect and although i'm nothe that's not some with respect and although i'm nothe that's not the some of the facts, that's not the point of where we are at the moment. >> we are now in a position to start getting overall tax start getting the overall tax burden down, not this second, but increasingly in the months and ahead. and we are now and years ahead. and we are now in a position to start making a difference start to bring difference and start to bring down taxes, which is down specific taxes, which is what we are doing. >> so national insurance bringing it down. >> if you're on the isle of >> so if you're on the isle of wight, if you're a nurse or a policeman, you're going to be between and £600 better off between 400 and £600 better off a important a year. that's really important if needing to if you're a business needing to invest, attractive invest, it's more attractive than ever . if invest, it's more attractive than ever. if you're a pensioner, your triple locks protected. a young protected. and if you're a young person hospitality, person working in hospitality, your , if you're a 21 year your pay, if you're a 21 year old, you're on a full time minimum wage. >> your pay going up £2,800 >> your pay is going up £2,800 a yeah >> your pay is going up £2,800 a year. are able to give year. so we are able to give something you're right. something back. you're right. but we are to give but we are able to give something back increasingly something back and increasingly we that tax we will be bringing that tax burden down. you contrast that with labour no clue . with the labour party. no clue. they attack us for the high tax rates at the moment after covid, after ukraine for what is

after ukraine for sure. what is there alternative? they love high taxes . they're just going high taxes. they're just going to ways up taxes to find ways to put up taxes even more and increase borrowing even more and increase borrowing even are bringing even more. we are bringing it down and a real down and there is a real difference now you're going difference now that you're going to see the conservatives to see between the conservatives who cuts and who are delivering tax cuts and the labour party who will just keep racking public spending. >> the beginning of more spending. >> cuts the beginning of more spending. >> cuts ande beginning of more spending. >> cuts and areeginning of more spending. >> cuts and are youring of more spending. >> cuts and are your colleagues tax cuts and are your colleagues on the right on the backbenches on the right of happy ? of the party happy? >> you're talking to a >> well, you're talking to a colleague the colleague on the on the on the conservative bit the conservative bit of the conservative i'm very conservative party i'm very happy happy for happy about today. i'm happy for lots because it's lots of reasons because it's protecting pensioners is especially isle of wight . especially on the isle of wight. you got business you know, we've got business investment, got the investment, we've got the national insurance coming down, we've welfare reform we've got the welfare reform package, because we've got to important because we've got to find people who are find a way to get people who are economically inactive and sitting their backside . sitting on their backside. sometimes to find a sometimes we've got to find a way them because it's way to help them because it's not moral and it's not ethical andifs not moral and it's not ethical and it's not economical to have so leading so many people leading unproductive lives. actually, unproductive lives. so actually, this really good package of this is a really good package of reforms , a really good package reforms, a really good package of ideas. is this the first are more tax cuts? absolutely i hope so. but i don't know if we're

going more in the budget, going to see more in the budget, more an autumn statement. more in an autumn statement. i don't know the election is don't know when the election is going but this getting going to be, but this is getting us in a better place for it. >> bob seely, tory mp for isle of wight, thank you. bob seely there saying she wants more taxes. next two taxes. maybe in the next two budgets spring and the budgets in the spring and the autumn. let's wait and see. >> okay. thank you, chris. out from from from that update from parliament. still joined in parliament. i'm still joined in the studio now by mark littlewood from the institute of economic affairs. mark, the tories are saying we've turned a corner. labour are saying we're in a spiral of doom. but i think the overwhelming reaction today is it's all a bit underwhelming. would you agree ? would you agree? >> i think that's right, martin. i mean , the national insurance i mean, the national insurance cut was rather bigger than was trailed. i think most people thought it was going to be a 1% cut. it's a 2% cut. but as chopper was just saying in that interview bob seely , this interview with bob seely, this issue of the thresholds , the issue of the thresholds, the fact that they're frozen means more and more people are being dragged into paying income tax and higher higher bands of and higher and higher bands of income . here's an income tax. here's an interesting political point to

conjure with sir jake berry, the former chairman of the conservative party, on the eve of tory conference. s good. i think it was about 30 or 35 of his conservative mp colleagues to sign a tax pledge that they wouldn't vote for measures that increased taxation. now i think we're going to have to go through these numbers with a tooth comb, liam halligan says taxes will be higher as a result of this, but you've got to work out you're apples out that you're comparing apples with apples. perhaps the chancellor argue the chancellor will argue that the thresholds already fixed thresholds were already fixed for next year and the national insurance reduction means that taxes are not as high as they would be. but for those conservative booths who really want to see taxes considerably lower, this is on the cusp lower, well, this is on the cusp of it now , slightly more of it now, slightly more optimistic note, perhaps even if not seeing taxes go down or not go down by much, perhaps we are at peak taxation at last and perhaps next spring we'll hear some reductions. but if by next autumn or later, the labour party are in power, i'm still a bit confused about what they'll

do differently. they will face big deficits, huge spending bills and taxes at a historically high rate, and that's a fair point because that famous note that liam byrne left in 2010 i'm sorry, there's no money left. >> national debt then mark was a mere 960 billion. now it's the thick end of 3 trillion, 2.6 trillion. so therefore begs the question, despite saying we're in a doom spiral, what the hell could the labour party actually do if they come into power and the biscuit tins completely empty? >> yes, i think they'll receive a note saying there really is absolutely no money it absolutely no money left. it will liam byrne note will be like the liam byrne note in look, the one thing in spades. look, the one thing that both i think parties, all parties to think about parties have got to think about quite are quite carefully is there are some to help some things you can do to help the economy might a the economy which might have a political but are free, political cost, but are free, and that's deregulation . in and that's deregulation. in changing our ridiculous planning restrictions, making it easier to build and removing some of the absurd red tape that affects businesses, particularly in financial services. our most productive sector. now, a lot of that isn't always popular, but it at least cheap, indeed

it is at least cheap, indeed free to bring in. so i wonder whether actually the route out of this is not just a focus on the tax and spending side , but the tax and spending side, but to have a serious discussion about what we deregulate about what we can deregulate because can do that because you can do that basically the stroke of a pen basically at the stroke of a pen and set businesses and entrepreneurs free. >> were you quite surprised that i about all this tough talk, i was about all this tough talk, iain smith, about just iain duncan smith, about just heard there from bob seely? people are sitting on their backsides. smith backsides. iain duncan smith promised a clampdown on benefits 2.6 million brits on long term sickness through the sickness that's gone through the roof. since the roof. it's doubled since the pandemic. of it pandemic. this feeling of it pays to not work. rather than it pays to not work. rather than it pays to not work. rather than it pays to work. and yet today we saw a to benefits , a boost saw a boost to benefits, a boost of 6.7% to universal credit. and the minimum wage. is that the sort of thing that's going to light the fire of concern of voters? to me, it felt like he got his notes mixed up with rachel reeves. >> yes, you could say that. and certainly benefits and on the certainly on benefits and on the pension, the pension, he's picked the more generous figure than generous inflation figure than he had to. perhaps he could have said, today is, said, well, inflation today is,

what let's put up what is it, 4.8. let's put it up by that. but no for benefit claimants and for pensioners, they're doing a lot better than that. jeremy hunt's been relatively generous. there at the other end of it, though, they bringing some sort of they are bringing some sort of back if you're back to work measures. if you're a jobseeker you'll be strongly encouraged. eventually encouraged. indeed eventually forced into a workplace placement and if you refuse to 90, placement and if you refuse to go, you'll leave. you will lose your benefits . so some your benefits. so some generosity benefits , but a generosity on benefits, but a bit of a stick to get people back into work who can. overall, you said this was underwhelming. martin roughly agree with martin i roughly agree with that. the best that. probably this is the best news for pensioners and drinkers. so . if you're drinkers. so. if you're a pensioner who likes going down the pub, you're probably toasting jeremy hunt this evening. but in my view is the demographic we've probably come off autumn off the best from this autumn statement. >> well, pensioners like >> well, pensioners would like a tipple to >> well, pensioners would like a tippchancellor, to >> well, pensioners would like a tippchancellor, but to >> well, pensioners would like a tippchancellor, but what to >> well, pensioners would like a tippchancellor, but what about:o the chancellor, but what about conservative voters in general that about managing that just about managing the hard and taxpaying, hard working and taxpaying, struggling middle class is staring down the barrel of stiff interest rates . tax hasn't been

interest rates. tax hasn't been cut. is there enough here to satiate them, to encourage them to vote? tory next time? or is it just small crumbs of comfort? >> i think at the moment there are these are more small crumbs of comfort. the test will be whether we're really on a trajectory that allows a much more generous package by the time of the full budget in the spring. and that's, i guess, when you would expect to see it. so has jeremy hunt signalled? we're beginning to come off the peak of the tax burden . nothing peak of the tax burden. nothing too much big to here celebrate, but is he going to double and triple down on that next spring if he wants to? he's going to have to do more to get spending under control, because as you already pointed out, martin, the debt through the roof. so if debt is through the roof. so if you to taxes, you're you want to cut taxes, you're going to be a bit more going to have to be a bit more brutal about getting spending down. perhaps he's down. and i think perhaps he's given that potential given himself that potential landing slot for the spring budget, the main budget event. and i guess that that's when voters have all stripes are going to be judging whether that

makes them better off before they polling they head to the polling station. you think, station. but don't you think, though, do though, mark, it really is do or die time at next at the die time at that next at the proper budget itself ? proper budget itself? >> voters don't >> if conservative voters don't see this u—turn from what they believe is corbyn, abenomics, i mean, they voted boris and they've got jeremy corbyn's economic policy, certainly on taxation . that's i hear all taxation. that's what i hear all the time . it's do or die on a the time. it's do or die on a tax cut at the budget. otherwise they're staring down barrel they're staring down the barrel potentially of electoral wipe—out think wipe—out i think that is possible . possible. >> i was looking at some >> and i was looking at some other commentators and their thinking autumn statement thinking on the autumn statement and rather good line from and rather a good line from janet the daily janet daley of the daily telegraph. she said telegraph. i thought she said that criticism of liz truss is that a criticism of liz truss is short lived. administration was perhaps liz truss and kwasi kwarteng tried to do too much too quickly . but looking at too quickly. but looking at today as jeremy hunt done too little too late, that remains to be seen , i think. be seen, i think. >> great. thank you for your words today. mark littlewood, director the director general of the institute economic affairs . institute of economic affairs. and thanks sticking around and thanks for sticking around much, appreciated. okay. much, much appreciated. okay. there's of coverage of there's plenty of coverage of the autumn statements our

the autumn statements on our website gbnews.com. website at gbnews.com. and thanks to you. it's the fastest growing national news website in the country. thanks to each and every one of you. we're the people's channel. so stay tuned to find out exactly how today's announcement will affect you . announcement will affect you. i'm martin daubney on gb news britain's news channel .

thursday from six till 930 .

thursday from six till 930. >> welcome back. it's 426. you're watching or listening to me? martin daubney on gbn news. now, we are, of course, the people's channel. so as well as getting big name political reaction to the autumn statement , out how it , we want to find out how it will you. the great will affect you. the great british public, the most important people in the land , of important people in the land, of course. so let's cross now to birmingham and speak gb news birmingham and speak to gb news west midlands. reporterjack carson . so, jack, what are carson. so, jack, what are people in birmingham been telling you about the autumn statement? are they excited or just underwhelmed ? well it's just underwhelmed? well it's been a mixed reaction. >> i think overall, martin. i think those headline figures are, of course, of national insurance being dropped by by two percentage points come two percentage points to come down to 10% on the face of it is good news. people excited to possibly have on average possibly have that on average around their around £450 back in their pocket. course , still pocket. but of course, still kind of when that kind of cautious of when that actual all, you know, new change takes place. what the takes place. actually, what the what the reality is and what the realistic amount of money, of course, in their pocket is because not everyone, course,

because not everyone, of course, is that is going to reach that average sum in pocket. sum of money in their pocket. some yes. we'll get more, some will. yes. we'll get more, but will get less as but some will also get less as well. there's a bit of a bit well. so there's a bit of a bit of still time. i think, to tell what true reaction around what the true reaction around that particularly that is. i think particularly here birmingham, some that is. i think particularly hetheseiirmingham, some that is. i think particularly hethese somegham, some that is. i think particularly hethese some ofam, some that is. i think particularly hethese some of these some that is. i think particularly hethese some of these cities, some of these some of these cities, of these some of these cities, of some the poorest of course, some of the poorest parts the of the country as parts of the of the country as well. in the well. so that raising in the national wage is national living wage is certainly well, certainly gone down well, particularly with those of particularly with those kind of people well. i've also people as well. but i've also been speaking to the business, particularly property developers today here in city. of today here in the city. of course, there were rumours that there kind there might be some kind of announcement duty announcement around stamp duty in statement . that in this autumn statement. that of course hasn't happened. it's caused little of a divide caused a little bit of a divide within property developers within the property developers here in the city. some saying that, okay, we can work on this, we can still and push this we can still try and push this for of course, jeremy to for of course, jeremy hunt to announce the announce this in possibly the spnng announce this in possibly the spring budget. others kind spring budget. but others kind of to get of thinking that to get housebuilding again housebuilding going again changes needed to happen sooner rather than later. of course, we did get the big kind of changes on planning reforms that, of course , the chancellor is course, the chancellor is certainly hoping will have an

impact on being able to get these particularly these these particularly with these big that big property developers that want example, here big property developers that wabirmingham example, here big property developers that wabirmingham , example, here big property developers that wabirmingham , big ample, here big property developers that wabirmingham , big apartments, in birmingham, big apartments, you know, complexes for you know, big complexes for people in, which are people to live in, which are obviously caused both affordable and also, you know, for the young people in this city and for those first time buyers, particularly where people, of course, this city, course, here in this city, be the europe, are the youngest in europe, are struggling housing struggling to get on the housing ladder the first time. but ladder for the first time. but getting the reaction to that autumn spoke to autumn statement, i spoke to mike diskin, who's the group financial director for elevate property here's what he financial director for elevate prop me. here's what he financial director for elevate prop me. know here's what he financial director for elevate prop me. know youe's what he financial director for elevate prop me. know you know, at he financial director for elevate prop me. know you know, for1e told me. know you know, for everyone, which given where we are economic cycle, are in the economic cycle, i think probably as good as think that's probably as good as we could have expected. think that's probably as good as we it uld have expected. think that's probably as good as we it isd have expected. think that's probably as good as we it is pleasing pected. think that's probably as good as we it is pleasing thated. think that's probably as good as we it is pleasing that they >> it is pleasing that they think continue to think inflation will continue to fall, slower than fall, albeit a bit slower than we so you have to we would hope. so you have to take forecast, you know, at take the forecast, you know, at their word haven't always been as accurate would have as accurate as we would have hoped. doesn't seem to be any hoped. it doesn't seem to be any time pressure and with the local authorities to respond to planning get planning applications and get them efficiently them dealt with efficiently and effectively, whereas now if they're lose their effectively, whereas now if they'iyou lose their effectively, whereas now if they'iyou know lose their effectively, whereas now if they'iyou know that; their effectively, whereas now if they'iyou know that that's a bit fees, you know that that's a bit of a game changer that's taking it back to private private

it back to the private private industry. as if you industry. inasmuch as if you don't you don't perform, then you don't get simple that. anyone get paid. simple as that. anyone who in it or who invests heavily in it or machinery to get machinery will be able to get full relief in the first full tax relief in the first year of acquisition rather than having to it over the having to spread it over the life product. so that's life of the product. so that's a good thing for business. life of the product. so that's a goocome g for business. life of the product. so that's a goocome on, r business. life of the product. so that's a goocome on, it'sisiness. life of the product. so that's a goocome on, it's yeah... >> come on, it's yeah. >>— >> come on, it's yeah. >> so obviously it's a bit of a mixed reaction there. of course, i think the planning reforms, if put into place properly and there's other leaders within the planning and property development industry who've been saying if those people within the local authorities in charge of these departments, running these their these departments and their workers can be upskilled to be able course enact these able to, of course enact these changes properly, that will be good news for property developers the developers in cities around the country, we'll be country, as of course, we'll be those investment, those those low investment, those those low investment, those those investment zones those regional investment zones as well . as well. >> okay, jack carson thanks for that update live from birmingham. i'm still joined in the studio by mark littlewood. mark, want to talk to you about the national minimum living wage. good news if you're on that wage, but not so good news if you're a small business who has it. has to pay it. >> that's right. i mean, of

course, like course, the politicians like jacking because it's not a jacking it up because it's not a bill treasury . it's bill to the treasury. it's a bill to the treasury. it's a bill the employer. and this bill to the employer. and this is quite a rise. 10% rate. and you can understand the well—intentioned view. let's try and get the bigger pay rises to those people at the bottom. but martin, the problem, martin, here's the problem, right, we've a lot of right, with we've heard a lot of discussion this autumn discussion around this autumn statement and statement around growth and productivity. will only productivity. people will only pay productivity. people will only pay the national minimum wage if workers enough to workers are productive enough to merit it. and if you keep putting that national living wage faster , more than wage up faster, more than average wage inflation and it's gone up a lot more than average salaries, at some point you'll get an unemployment effect. people will say, i'm sorry, i can't pay you an extra 10% to work for my business. your job's oveh work for my business. your job's over. now, i'm not predicting that this is the tipping point with what chancellor's done with what the chancellor's done today, but if you keep down that path, ratcheting up more and more compared to average wages, you will at some point get that unemployment effect. so it might look pay rise. and for look like a pay rise. and for a good number of people it will be a rise . but if

good number of people it will be a rise. but if you're good number of people it will be a rise . but if you're not a pay rise. but if you're not careful, could spell for some careful, it could spell for some people redundancy slip up. people a redundancy slip up. >> superb . >> mark littleworth superb. okay. there's more still to okay. there's lots more still to come now and 5:00 in come between now and 5:00 in a few minutes, i'll cross warm few minutes, i'll cross a warm bank hull out what bank in hull to find out what people think of the help being given to those struggling pay given to those struggling to pay their bills this winter. their energy bills this winter. but there's your latest but first, there's your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst . middlehurst. >> martin, thank you. the top stories this hour in his autumn statement , jeremy hunt has set statement, jeremy hunt has set out the uk's financial direction for the next year. and the biggest change comes in january, when national insurance will be cut from 12 to 10. the triple lock on pensions will be kept taking the state pension up by 8.5% to more than £220 a week. and taxes on alcohol will be frozen until august next year. that means there's no increase in duty on beer, cider wines or spirits. well, earlier the

labour leader asked if the prime minister had forgotten the nhs as he took aim at the government's five pledges. sir keir starmer saying the prime minister talks about tax cuts while more than double the reputation of the population of wales is on the nhs waiting list in england , rishi sunak set him in england, rishi sunak set him straight, saying he's put record spending into the nhs and a community in shropshire is mourning the loss of four teenage boys who died in north wales. jevon hirst hurst, harvey, owen wilf fitchett and hugo morris had set off on a camping trip in the snowdonia area. their bodies were recovered yesterday after a car was found overturned and partially submerged in water. nonh partially submerged in water. north wales police says it appears to have been a tragic accident and hamas and israel have agreed to begin a four day pause in fighting starting at 8 am. tomorrow. the foreign a.m. tomorrow. the foreign secretary saying the truce is a crucial step towards releasing hostages and providing

humanitarian relief in gaza . the humanitarian relief in gaza. the pause in fighting will also allow for the release of 50 hostages held by the terror group in exchange for 150 palestinians held in israeli prisons. those are the top stories. more on all of them by heading to our website, gbnews.com . gbnews.com. >> thank you, polly . okay. i'm >> thank you, polly. okay. i'm still joined now in the studio by mark littlewood from the institute of economic affairs. mark, we're talking about pensions . pensioners have had a pensions. pensioners have had a good day. have had a very good day. they have had a very good day. they have had a very good they've had good good day. they've had a good day. £900 a year day. 8.5% increase, £900 a year trip block guarantee. was that the right thing to do ? the right thing to do? >> i'm very sceptical about the triple lock. i think we're still in the mindset, martin, that the pensioner cohort are poor and there are definitely some poor pensioners, but there's been a huge step change over the past 20 or 30 years on the sort of average wealth and income of the over 65 seconds. in fact, it's

something like 1 in 4 or 1 over 65 seconds. in fact, it's something like 1 in 4 or1 in over 65 seconds. in fact, it's something like 1 in 4 or 1 in 5 something like 1 in 4 or1 in 5 pensioners are millionaires , so pensioners are millionaires, so you've got to scratch your head and wonder whether actually those people need their pension triple lock . triple lock. >> you mean their assets? >> you mean their assets? >> asset millionaires because of their asset millionaires. not £1 million current million in their current account, millionaires. million in their current acc but, millionaires. million in their current acc but then millionaires. million in their current acc but then we've millionaires. million in their current acc but then we've got ionaires. million in their current acc but then we've got ionairyin >> but then we've got brass in their brass in their pocket, i've got brass in their pocket, i've got brass in their but there's all their pocket, but there's all sorts of schemes you on, sorts of schemes you can use on, you know, of equity in you know, release of equity in your you need to. your house if you need to. >> of course, there a whole >> of course, there was a whole controversy about pace controversy about how to pace a social have social care which would have been on that. so i'm not been based on that. so i'm not trying that all trying to suggest that all pensioners are laughing all the way or perhaps way to the bank or perhaps laughing way to the pub way to the bank or perhaps laugevening, way to the pub way to the bank or perhaps laugevening, given|y to the pub way to the bank or perhaps laugevening, given the the pub way to the bank or perhaps laugevening, given the freezer this evening, given the freeze on alcohol duty. but we've got to the to stop thinking of the pensioner cohort in its entirety as being poor. that's just that's just not accurate. and you say it's been a good day for pensioners. today seems to be a good day for pensioners in most budgets statements budgets and autumn statements and such a good day for and not such a good day for younger workers who are trying to get the property ladder. to get on the property ladder. so that there needs so i think that there needs to be bit tilt to helping be a bit of a tilt to helping the workforce, not just those

who've exited the workforce, because they now have pensionable age and of course budgets . budgets. >> statements, >> the autumn statements, they're about buying they're basically about buying votes. that's what it's votes. i mean, that's what it's about. and the pensioner votes, particularly for the conservative party, is a vote. they just cannot afford to ignore. >> you're right. martin there's always of politics in always a lot of politics in this. i wish these statements were based on raw, logical were just based on raw, logical economics, but i've learned the hard that's not really true. hard way that's not really true. the fact of the is this the fact of the matter is this if peter to pay paul, if you rob peter to pay paul, you can probably count on paul's vote. and that's often what judges. think that's what judges. i think that's what informs an awful lot of these sort of political decisions is what you to see done? what would you like to see done? >> when we're speaking >> because when we're speaking earlier that earlier, there's a feeling that today was the kind of the prawn cocktail . if the main event, the cocktail. if the main event, the main course, the juicy steak of the budget, what would you like to see to help the conservatives surely avoid electoral oblivion ? surely avoid electoral oblivion? >> well, i'm not sure i i'm in the business of helping the conservatives avoid electoral oblivion, but i'd like to see the economy do rather better. and there's been a lot chat

and there's been a lot of chat that the chancellor didn't do anything inheritance tax anything on inheritance tax today. anything on inheritance tax today . didn't anything on today. he didn't do anything on stamp he also , i stamp duty today. but he also, i think, needs to turn his attention back to corporate tax. yes, if you're really intent on making britain a great place for business and new companies setting up and we've heard today, actually we've had the first year for many years in which more companies are folding than starting. if you're than starting. so if you're serious that message, serious about that message, which a corporation tax which i think a corporation tax rate 25% as now, is rate of 25% as it is now, is way, way too high. i think you could reduce that way back to say 19% or perhaps even lower without it costing any money, because that will attract more businesses in. you'll get more economic activity . those economic activity. those businesses pay vat, their workers pay income tax. so it might not be the sort of thing that your viewers in birmingham or elsewhere that we've heard from would immediately see as a gain to them. but if the aim is to really boost the economy, business profits are taxed way too high. i want to hear more about that from jeremy hunt. and

i want him to change that at his next opportunity. the spring budget. >> and wasn't that meant to be one of the post—brexit benefits of being able to be nimble and quick like the republic of ireland base tax rate to ireland on our base tax rate to make us more competitive? and that's the eu was so against that's why the eu was so against the playing field. the level playing field. >> yeah, well, i mean, the real bit, which has been a disappointment, i think for those of us who thought that brexit could be liberating is we have many regulations and have so many regulations and rules, so much red tape, much of which we've inherited from the european union, that we've just cut and pasted into british law. i would like to see a real assault on that red tape as well. not a tax change necessarily, but let's try and get businessmen and women and workers spending their time producing rather than complying. and if you have tons of red tape, we spend all our lives going around complying with things. no wonder productivity is low and if productivity is low, growth is going to be low and you do get into this doom loop high taxes, heavy and

loop of high taxes, heavy and unnecessary spending in a lot of areas , and people feeling that areas, and people feeling that they're not getting richer year on year. and that's unfortunately the situation we find in today . find ourselves in today. >> great mark littlewood, >> great stuff. mark littlewood, super director—general at the institute economic affairs, institute of economic affairs, thank much joining thank you very much for joining us gb news. now moving us today on gb news. now moving on, consumers have struggled through the cost of living crisis for almost years now crisis for almost two years now as prices have soared, particularly on energy and food. so how are the government tackling this issue so close to many of you? well, let's cross now to hull and join our yorkshire and humber reporter anna riley here at hq for community trust in hull. >> it's a food bank, a warm bank and a place for the community to come together for the reaction from the budget here has been mainly focussed on universal credit pensions and we are in hull and east yorkshire, so that potential devolution deal. linda, you are a pensioner, just give me your reaction to the

pensions announcement that it's going to increase by 8.5% to £221.20 a week from april as the triple locks maintained? well, that that's really, really good. >> but are they going to take it off us in other ways? and they say that the food banks are coming, the food is coming down in price, but nobody's seen that. and the haulage people with the petrol, are they going to pass that saving onto us? but i don't think so . to pass that saving onto us? but i don't think so. i think they'll just keep it at the same price. so really the cost of living is still the same as what it was before you had anything like that. >> thank you, linda and terry, you are the co—founder here. you see a lot of families individually coming in on the poverty line using universal credit it's going to go up by 6.7% in april. so how how will that help? >> i think the increase in any increase in benefits, it will be

beneficial . beneficial. >> but what i don't understand is if the old age pension goes up is if the old age pension goes ”p by is if the old age pension goes up by 8.25, why hasn't universal credit gone up by 8.25? and what have the government done to ease the burden on food banks all over the country? because in this day and age, we shouldn't have to rely on food banks? to me , the pensions are a gimmick me, the pensions are a gimmick for voters because they know the majority of people will vote for them, will be pensioners. so it's a ploy to get them to vote. >> and the people on universal credit, i don't think it will make much difference, although it's beneficial to them to get 6% increase. >> but as linda said, they'll take it off somewhere else because the all this has got to because the all this has got to be paid for somewhere and it's shielded the poor or the poorer will pay for it. >> and in terms of devolution, if it is signed off, we do get our own mayor for here east yorkshire and hull. what would that mean ? that mean? >> well, i don't know because i don't know the ins and outs of that. >> the how it would work.

>> the how it would work. >> but what has got to happen is that the before any mayoral agreement is done by the councils, they've got to talk to the people on the streets and the people on the streets and the residents and both areas and get agreement that that's actually what they want, not what the politicians want, but what the politicians want, but what the politicians want, but what the residents and the people who live in hull and east riding actually want. >> thank you so much, terry. thank you, linda. so that is the view here from hq for community trust in hull. on the reaction to the chancellor's budget announcement . announcement. >> yeah. thank you, anna. that bnngs >> yeah. thank you, anna. that brings it all home, doesn't it? you know, the politicians in westminster, they get very excited about £450 a year extra on national insurance or £900 a year on your pension . but the year on your pension. but the fact of the matter is, as we're facing down the barrel of another winter, which thank heavens, hasn't been that cold yet, all terrified yet, but we're all terrified about turning our central heating and what that's heating on and what that's going to got of this to cost. we've got more of this story in the next hour. but here's here's for you story in the next hour. but here's you 's for you story in the next hour. but here's you really for you story in the next hour. but here's you really think you story in the next hour. but here's you really think 26% of to make you really think 26% of uk adults, that's equivalent to

11 people say they have 11 million people say they have struggled to afford to pay their energy bills over the last three months. and it's not even getting cold yet. 26, a quarter of brits, 11 million people are struggling to pay their energy bills. and yet the politicians today expect us to get excited about £450 a year in national insurance or an extra £900 on your basic state pension. it sometimes makes you wonder if they're actually in touch with ordinary people, with really . ordinary people, with really. what do you think about that? let us know what you think . now let us know what you think. now moving on the more than 5 million small businesses in the uk, what difference will today's announcement make to them? we'll find out soon. 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 446. you're watching or listening to me. martin daubney on gb news. now at 5:00, i'll have the full story from today's autumn statement. our economics and business editor liam halligan will tell you how it will affect you . now here's an incredible you. now here's an incredible stat. there are almost 5.5 million small businesses in the uk, so i wanted to find out what today's announcement mean for them. well, i'm joined now by tina mckenzie. policy chair at the federation of small businesses and also mitchell barnes , who's the ceo and barnes, who's the ceo and founder of rye 3d, a 3d printing

firm in warwickshire . can i firm in warwickshire. can i start with you, please, tina? so jeremy hunt called it the biggest business tax cut in modern history, but many people wanted a bit more. we still have a 25% corporate tax . what would a 25% corporate tax. what would you make of today's autumn statement in terms of the small business world? >> well , we've been talking to >> well, we've been talking to the treasury and jeremy hunt for a long time, about three really painful areas for our members. the first one is business rates before they open their doors, before they open their doors, before they open their doors, before they take a penny of revenue. they're really struggling with paying those business . so for us, we business rates. so for us, we were really pleased listened were really pleased to listened and he's extended for another full year, 75% reduction that there is for hospitality, retail and leisure. so that is really good news for those shops up and down the towns and the high streets of the uk. mostly it will affect england, but there

will affect england, but there will be a barnett consequential for the devolved nations and our teams are working with those devolved governments at the moment on that . and second thing moment on that. and second thing that was good news on it was his stance on late payments. thousands of companies, small businesses every year go under because big businesses don't pay them on time . so we talked to them on time. so we talked to jeremy hunt about this for a long time and now he's actually put some action behind his sympathy for us on that . and he sympathy for us on that. and he said to actually with lehpamer , said to actually with lehpamer, anyone that's applying the government and the subcontractor supplying them will not be considered for future public sector contracts unless they can prove that they're paying businesses on time. and he's given three targets. so that's we're pleased about that. and given three targets. so that's we'refinally, d about that. and given three targets. so that's we'refinally, withyut that. and given three targets. so that's we'refinally, with the hat. and given three targets. so that's we'refinally, with the with and given three targets. so that's we'refinally, with the with the then finally, with the with the next eradicating next to completely for self—employed people is something we've been arguing for years. it's a small amount . it's arguing for years. it's a small amount. it's really painful for those people that are on under 10,000 self—employed person and getting the reduction on anything above the 12,300 mark.

that was 1% reduction. we were pleased about that as well. so the measures that we've been talking about, he's acted upon . talking about, he's acted upon. so we're not going to get everything we all want in terms of reductions in taxes. know of reductions in taxes. we know we're facing really tough times out there with interest out there with the interest rates, the cost of supplies . we rates, the cost of supplies. we aren't going to get everything, but we pleased that he took but we were pleased that he took action the things we asked action on the things we asked him for. okay >> happy. jeremy >> tina seems happy. jeremy hunts, happy . what hunts, obviously happy. what about mitchell? mitchell hunts, obviously happy. what about are iiitchell? mitchell hunts, obviously happy. what about are yomell? mitchell hunts, obviously happy. what about are you happy itchell hunts, obviously happy. what about are you happy withll barnes? are you happy with today's announcements or is it left you feeling a little bit underwhelmed? >> honestly, been quite >> honestly, it's been quite positive, to be honest . yeah, positive, to be honest. yeah, genuinely quite positive. there's a lot of points that i took out of it. it was quite good. one of the really interesting ones was £50 million pilot in pilot program for increase in apprentices pilot program for increase in app|reallys pilot program for increase in app|really exciting. i think was really exciting. i think there's just big key area on there's just a big key area on that in terms of speaking to businesses seeing what businesses and seeing what businesses and seeing what businesses rather than just businesses want rather than just spending that specifically spending that money specifically in areas, because in the wrong areas, because that's thing we're that's a big thing that we're seeing moment, is there's seeing at the moment, is there's a of skills in a massive lack of skills in certain areas of manufacturing, and the education

and mainly because the education system is not given enough effort understand funding effort and understand funding into the right key skills that we i that pilot we need. so i think that pilot program fantastic and the program is fantastic and the rapid applications planning that helps us a lot and especially looking at expanding, moving to new larger premises new and larger premises etcetera, massively etcetera, that helps massively because enables to move because it enables us to move faster . sometimes because it enables us to move faster. sometimes planning faster. sometimes the planning stage hold us up. stage can hold us up. so i thought that was a massive benefit can actually pay benefit that we can actually pay to increase the speed of planning insurance planning and that's insurance reduction. that's fantastic. that and that helps massively. and then i suppose one of the biggest ones is expensing, having suppose one of the biggest ones is frozenaxpensing, having suppose one of the biggest ones is frozen and nsing, having suppose one of the biggest ones is frozen and continued ng suppose one of the biggest ones is frozen and continued is that frozen and continued is phenomenal and that helps our investment . as you can see on investment. as you can see on a little bit of the video there, we the best part of £1 we spent the best part of £1 million investing in the business. assets million investing in the busi increase assets million investing in the busi increase capable assets million investing in the busi increase capable i.t assets million investing in the busi increase capable i.t and ssets into increase capable i.t and invest the manufacturing our invest in the manufacturing our own materials, own printers, materials, technologies. that full technologies. having that full expensing and the easier access to going forwards is to r&d going forwards is a massive, massive, massive boost. and the £45 billion that they put out for industry is fantastic. it's really exciting and really positive. i think just the biggest thing for me there is that how is that going to in terms of you're

to be spent in terms of you're saying x, y, z is going to i think it's 2 billion go into automotive. fantastic are you just going to use that to bail out automotive oems that just going to use that to bail out going automotive oems that just going to use that to bail out going to tomotive oems that just going to use that to bail out going to gorotive oems that just going to use that to bail out going to go under? ems that are going to go under? or are you going use that you actually going to use that money to underpin the supply chain? supply chain chain? because it's supply chain that then actually create majority jobs ? so if you majority of the jobs? so if you are going to give to the are going to give it to the oems, then going to ring oems, are you then going to ring fence so the fence the actual program? so the x let's say 20% the x amount, let's say 20% of the supply to be fulfilled for supply has to be fulfilled for the uk suppliers the product from uk suppliers because that will actually because then that will actually massively jobs and massively boost jobs and massively boost jobs and massively boost jobs and massively boost manufacturing for the tier one, tier two and tier three. and the biggest thing year thing is that that's next year that that spending has been promised . so are you going to promised. so are you going to fix an industrial strategy? because biggest thing me because the biggest thing for me is fantastic. is that that is fantastic. it's really exciting . it help. really exciting. it can help. however how do we guarantee that that's actually going to happen if a labour government gets in and that the table? so and takes that off the table? so it's it's really it's exciting. it's really positive stuff they're positive stuff that they're putting some putting is fantastic. just some more future security i guess . more future security i guess. >> okay. mitchell, you've certainly enthusiastic, enthusiastic there. you've had

your weetabix, tina , can i ask your weetabix, tina, can i ask your weetabix, tina, can i ask you about the rise in national minimum wage ? because of course, minimum wage? because of course, that's good news if you're receiving that wage. but the extra pound and two pennies to £11, 44 per hour for small businesses, that means they're going to have to foot the bill of that. spoke to mark littlewood a moment ago from the institute of economic affairs saying that could actually have a create a redundancy timebomb, because if productivity isn't met by those staff, they may have to be laid off. so it's not necessarily entirely a good thing , is it ? thing, is it? >> well, more most small businesses are paying above the average minimum wage, believe it or not. and they also pay their bills faster and they also pay their taxes in this country. and their taxes in this country. and the other type of businesses we want to encourage. so most of them paying than the them are paying more than the minimum of course , if minimum wage. but of course, if you are paying some of your staff shop, for staff in a local shop, for example, the minimum and example, the minimum wage and your is going up. now, your bill is going up. now, i think most shopkeepers,

think what most shopkeepers, etc, that are paying minimum etc, that are paying the minimum wage is that in their wage may find is that in their local rates are local areas, those pay rates are all anyway because we know all up anyway because we know with inflation what i would recommend that the government do now the now is stop targeting the minimum wage themselves and start going back to the low pay commission where you've got a mixture on there mixture of voices on there that give a relatively, say, give a, a relatively, i'd say, proportionate view on what that what that wage should look like. okay >> tina mckenzie and bill mitchell barnes, thank you very much for joining today gb much for joining us today on gb news. upbeat appraisal news. very upbeat appraisal there of the autumn statement. that's very much appreciated . that's very much appreciated. well, there was a huge sigh of relief from renters across the country today as the government announced an increase in local housing allowance that will support the worst off families in the uk when it comes into effect next april. well, let's cross now to glasgow and speak to scotland reporter tony to our scotland reporter tony maguire. the latest on. >> on. >> good evening. or afternoon? it's hard to tell in this darkness, isn't it? i'm joined here by john o'malley, who is

the ceo , pacitti jones, one of the ceo, pacitti jones, one of the ceo, pacitti jones, one of the bigger solicitors , and the bigger solicitors, and letting agents here in glasgow. and in fact, right across scotland . and we've been scotland. and we've been discussing all day today not only how much of the autumn statement is dependent on devolution , but also what that devolution, but also what that means for people all around the country . so, john, thank you country. so, john, thank you again for joining country. so, john, thank you again forjoining me. country. so, john, thank you again forjoining me . we just again forjoining me. we just can't escape the rain today . can't escape the rain today. tell me a little bit. we were just talking there about first time buyers. they seem to have been overlooked today. and you know, is there still we saw quite a sizeable drop by 2% cut from the national insurers . yes. from the national insurers. yes. is that going to be enough to help first time buyers get on the ladder? >> i don't think, unfortunately, that's going to help them at all. to be realistic, a all. to be realistic, it's a small ocean . the small drop in the ocean. the average price is average house price is significantly north of 100,000in scotland. in glasgow , it's not scotland. in glasgow, it's not as high as elsewhere, but you're still talking about 150,000 plus saving someday three, £400 a year isn't really going to make

a big difference to that. sadly >> now, unfortunately, obviously , some of the rental questions in the points today and indeed some of the house building points where they won't be effective up here. however, what we did get from today is that 545 million will come to scotland off of the barnett consequentials . so based on what consequentials. so based on what we saw from the chancellor today, who had announced quite a lot of different housing projects all around england, should we expect the scottish government to up and take note of that ? of that? >> i don't think the scottish government will pay particular attention to what the uk government does and i do think they need to be looking at spending the money directly into more building more development, more building more development, more redevelopment. think more redevelopment. i do think they should be looking at co—investing with developers and i do think they should be looking to bring forward legislation towards maribor legislation towards maribor legislation urgently to and legislation urgently to try and allow people to build homes and redevelop up unused real estate quicker. >> and just very lastly , your

>> and just very lastly, your your top three sort of takeaways , i guess, from today's budget . , i guess, from today's budget. very quickly, the insurance , the very quickly, the insurance, the national insurance cut is helpful for people in nice but not going to make a big difference if there's nothing in there for the first time buyers orindeed there for the first time buyers or indeed for any home movers, which and sadly lacking which is sad and sadly lacking and a real hard difference to make to the planning process. fantastic john, thank you so much for spending the today with me. into lot me. we'll dig into this a lot more as day goes on. more as the day goes on. >> you, tony. we'll have >> thank you, tony. we'll have all the latest on the autumn statement i'm martin statement at 5:00. i'm martin daubney britain's daubney on gb news, britain's news

it's 5:00. welcome to the show. with me , martin to the show. with me, martin daubney. what tons. coming up on today's show, of course, it's all about the autumn statement. we started the day with the highest tax burden since world war ii, and we ended the day with the highest tax burden since world war ii. what did jeremy hunts autumn statement mean for you? well, national insurance, there was good news. a cut for 27 million people, 2% cut. could see you get 3 or £400 extra per year. but was it enough? will you feel the difference next? it was a good day for pensioners. there was an inflation busting 8.5% rise for oaps and the triple lock was safeguarded. a good day, especially if you like a drink because they also froze alcohol duty. and next boost to

benefits. did you feel that they were promising a clampdown on benefits? but today an inflation busting 6.7% boost to universal credit. it's almost like rachel reeves gave her autumn statement. is that the right thing for britain to do? or the tories ? indeed. and finally, of tories? indeed. and finally, of course we could not have any show without a bit of farage. the rumble in the jungle continues. this time nigel's been body shamed for his shower scene where he got his down under out, down under. and also there were more concerned about there were more concerned about the brexit banner behind his plane than how he fared in the plane than how he fared in the plane crash. that's all coming up in the next hour. plane crash. that's all coming up in the next hour . so the up in the next hour. so the autumn statement, the politicians are very excited about it . labour say it's a doom about it. labour say it's a doom spiral . the tories say we've spiral. the tories say we've turned the corner, but what about you? will it make a difference to you? you're facing the of huge heating bills

the barrel of huge heating bills as we go into the winter or is this tinkering at the edges? do you feel turned a corner you feel we've turned a corner or you frankly or do you feel, frankly let down? know. down? let us know. vaiews@gbnews.com please stay tuned. but first, we've got your news headlines with polly middlehurst out . middlehurst out. >> martin thank you and good evening to you. well, our top story today is that in his autumn statement, the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has set out the uk's financial direction for the following year. the biggest change comes in january 2024, when national insurance will be cut from 12 to 10. and as you've been hearing, the triple lock on pensions is going to be kept. that will take the state pension up by 8.5% to more than £220 a week. and taxes on alcohol go to be frozen until august 1st next year. that means there's no increase in duty on beeh there's no increase in duty on beer, cider wines or spirits.

and the chancellor says the changes will affect everyone. >> i'm going to go further and cut the main rate of employee national insurance by two percentage points from . 12% to percentage points from. 12% to 10. that change will help 27 million people. it means someone on the average salary of £35,000 will save over . £450 for the will save over. £450 for the average nurse , it's a saving of average nurse, it's a saving of £520 for the typical police officer, a saving of £630 every single year . single year. >> well, the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, said growth has hit a dead end . hit a dead end. >> going into this statement, the government had already put in place tax increases worth the equivalent of a £0.10 increase in national insurance . so in national insurance. so today's £0.02 cut will not remotely compensate for the tax increases we've already put in

place by this conservative government . the fact is , is that government. the fact is, is that taxes will be higher at the next election than they were at the last. this is the legacy of the conservatives . conservatives. >> rachel reeves well , the >> rachel reeves well, the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey, said taxpayers will be worse off. >> the conservatives have been pushing up business taxes by record amounts up until today . record amounts up until today. so i would have thought this is just another deception by the conservatives. they've said that they're cutting taxes for basic rate taxpayers next year. actually those taxpayers are going to see a rise of £400 a year because of the huge rises in income tax under the conservatives . conservatives. >> well, a news away from the autumn statement today. four men have been given life sentence with minimum terms to serve of between 41 to 47 years for the murder of a woman on merseyside . murder of a woman on merseyside. 28 year old ashley dale was killed when james witham, 40, forced his way into her home and

opened fire with a machine gun. he and co—defendant joseph pearce. niall barry and sean zeiss were all found guilty of murder and conspiracy to murder. miss dale's partner, family liaison officer, dc hayley cantillon spoke on behalf of the family outside court. >> although nothing can make this nightmare end , we can now this nightmare end, we can now rest assured , knowing these evil rest assured, knowing these evil monsters will pay for what they have done to ashley and our family . and they too, have family. and they too, have ruined their own lives and their family's lives . ashley had her family's lives. ashley had her whole life ahead of her and was in her prime, a career driven young woman whose life had been cut short for such a senseless act. there really are no words . act. there really are no words. >> and the hometown of four teenage boys who died in north wales has cancelled tonight's switching on of their christmas lights. out of respect for the families involved, jevon hurst,

harvey owen , will fletcher and harvey owen, will fletcher and hugo morris had set off on a camping trip to the snowdonia region when their bodies were found yesterday after a car was found yesterday after a car was found overturned and partially submerged in water. north wales police saying it appears to have been a tragic accident . members been a tragic accident. members of the community in shrewsbury spoke of their sadness . spoke of their sadness. >> the community of shrewsbury is very shaken and shocked by what has happened and i don't live here but i work here and the atmosphere here is palpable . the atmosphere here is palpable. we within the first hour of opening the abbey and we opened a little early this morning, we have seen 40 or 50 students and other members of the public come in. >> i knew harvey through secondary school and skating with him . i think we were very with him. i think we were very close in secondary school, skating out on the weekends , skating out on the weekends, doing fun things. same with jeff

wilf recently started coming to the gym . i kind of almost tried the gym. i kind of almost tried to take him under my wing and try and show him everything and he was just such a lovely lad. and one of the friends of harvey owen's speaking there now in international news, hamas and israel have agreed to begin a four day pause in fighting starting at 8:00 tomorrow morning. >> it's going to see the release of 50 hostages held by the terror group in exchange for 150 palestinians held in israeli prisons here. the foreign secretary says the truce is a crucial step towards providing humanitarian relief in gaza . and humanitarian relief in gaza. and the prime minister and his wife have welcomed south korea's president and the first lady to number 10. in downing street today , yoon suk yeol and rishi today, yoon suk yeol and rishi sunak have signed a new long term agreement covering defence and technology cooperation. the deal covers improved military cooperation between the uk and south korea , focussed on

south korea, focussed on countering smuggling in the east china sea . you with gb news china sea. you with gb news across the uk on tv , in your across the uk on tv, in your car, on digital radio and on your smart speaker by saying play your smart speaker by saying play gb news. this is britain's news channel . and thank you news channel. and thank you polly . polly. >> well, we start with chancellor jeremy hunt's autumn statement. of course , he's cut statement. of course, he's cut national insurance for 27 million workers and promised £20 billion in business investment. here to break down what it means for you is our economics and business editor liam halligan with on the money . it was an with on the money. it was an autumn statement for growth, said the chancellor . said the chancellor. >> it was ho, ho, ho, jeremy hunt, a pre—christmas giveaway . hunt, a pre—christmas giveaway. as the tories roll the dice and try and narrow labour's commanding lead in the opinion polls . first up, a big upgrade

polls. first up, a big upgrade in benefits for people of working age. they will go up 6.7% from next october. from next april. that's in line with the october inflation number that's worth £470 a year for 5 million of the uk's lowest income households. there was a giveaway for pensioners as well. the triple lock confirmed the bafic the triple lock confirmed the basic state pension will go up by 8.5% from april 2024 and inflation busting rise that's worth £900 a year for recipients of the basic state pension. the minimum wage also went up. governments like announcing higher minimum wages because businesses pay, it's going up by over a pound from 1042 to 1144 per hour. and it will also apply for 21 and 22 year olds, rather than just from for 23 year olds. as of now, the chancellor's been working with business secretary kemi badenoch on a strategic manufacturing fund. the government's earmarked £4.5 billion. that's serious money

for investments. by 2030, there's going to be a focus on automotives, aerospace space, clean energy, life sciences . is clean energy, life sciences. is the government providing matching funding for when private sectors invest? there was an extension of the investment zone and freeports program, which chancellor jeremy hunt outlined in march. the tax reliefs within these low these low tax zones will be extended from 5 to 10 years and there'll be new investment zones in the west midlands , the east midlands west midlands, the east midlands and greater manchester as part of the levelling up policy for small businesses, business rates are much hated. tax that you pay even if you make no revenue that's going to be frozen for small businesses. for another yeah small businesses. for another year. and in particular, there will be a moratorium on business rates for the retail and hospitality sectors for another yeah hospitality sectors for another year. a lockdown era emergency measure that's going to be extended. and here were the two big tax cuts for employees on national insurance s the basic

rate of national insurance will fall from 12 to 10% from january. not april next year, but from january . that's worth but from january. that's worth £450 a year for somebody who's lucky enough to earn £35,000 a yeah lucky enough to earn £35,000 a year. and then the big tax cuts for business, permanent full expensing, that means firms can partially offset investments against their corporation tax bill. chancellor jeremy hunt bill. chancellorjeremy hunt called that the largest business tax cut in modern british history . so this was, as the history. so this was, as the chancellor and the prime minister says, a huge boost in their eyes to british competitiveness in an autumn statement for growth . statement for growth. >> well, thank you, liam . well, >> well, thank you, liam. well, how is all that gone down with tory mps? well, let's speak now to our political editor, christopher hope. chris the tories have been parroting a phrase which i suspect we're going to hear rather a lot of. we've turned the corner, feels a bit like the new brexit means brexit, whereas labour are saying we're in a doom spiral .

saying we're in a doom spiral. well, you've been speaking to lots of politicians today of both stripes. what's the feeling on the ground about today's autumn ? that's right. autumn statement? that's right. >> anyone would think there's an election on, wouldn't they? martin hearing that you're totally right. i mean, you've got tory government here got a tory government here cutting to 2% national cutting to 2% of national insurance from 6th of january. that leaves open the opportunity of going for a may election. i think , or possibly the autumn or think, or possibly the autumn or even the following january. those are the three options. but it leaves may open when many it leaves may open now when many tory mps i speak to here felt that the government would go long into autumn, maybe long into next autumn, maybe even 2025. so in even to january 2025. so in terms of the shape of the next 14 months, seeing it's 14 months, we're seeing how it's how out now. but how it's playing out now. but the labour is saying they will support that's support that that cut. that's their policy try and cut. their policy to try and cut. they they cut , they they said they will cut, they support cut off support the dup cut off nationally insurance. but i think widely there are think more widely there are issues here with the way that so many of us are now being sucked into paying income tax and the higher rates we weren't before. doctors nurses and like.

doctors nurses and the like. so there's smoke and there's a degree of smoke and mirrors. one hand, they mirrors. on the one hand, they are saying, look, look, look, feel, feel the this this feel, feel the feel. this this tax getting in tax cut you're getting in january, by about january, equally, by about 2028, there's going to be millions more us the higher more of us paying the higher rates income bringing in rates of income tax, bringing in tens of billions of pounds to exchequer. so in a sense, they want us feel better the want us to feel better about the government, but they know we're actually off the longer actually worse off on the longer term. overall , all the are term. but overall, all the are the key. key the key is the key. the key the key is independent forecaster here is saying that it will not increase inflation greatly next year . so inflation greatly next year. so they think they can get away with this. they've got some degree of tax cuts. they went further thought than further than we thought than before. overall, we are before. but overall, we are worse, worse off. but that's the nature. according to bim afolami , minister we spoke , the treasury minister we spoke to for covid to of paying for the covid pandemic . pandemic. >> and chris, i wonder if all of this will enough. pensioners this will be enough. pensioners will be happy and they may be more likely to vote conservative, do you feel conservative, but do you feel that the conservatives are going to have try harder than this to have to try harder than this towards general towards a general election today? may have been the prawn cocktail, but they want more red

meat at a budget before a general election to get them excited because this feels like a bit of a lean pickings. yep >> well, the autumn statement normally in historically was meant to set the departmental spending budgets for the following calendar year. it's turned into quite a big fiscal event. in a way. it wasn't meant to be. this really should be. and probably is the order before what will be a big tax cutting budget next spring. but i think the concern may be in government that till spring to that if you wait till spring to cut taxes, they're not really felt you may want to felt by the time you may want to go have an election in may. go to have an election in may. so think that suddenly so i think that suddenly we have voice noises off kwasi kwarteng, so i think that suddenly we have voicformer s off kwasi kwarteng, so i think that suddenly we have voicformer chancellor, kwarteng, so i think that suddenly we have voicformer chancellor, of arteng, the former chancellor, of course, under liz truss. he's reported to be saying they need to go further. liz truss though for her part, the former prime minister saying she welcomes the investment in growth, getting a bit and growing. she particularly particularly likes the support for businesses and this full expensing. so netting off your tax bill against spending on your machinery if

you're a manufacturer and the like. lots for like. so there's lots for everyone . i mean, think everyone. i mean, i think pensions are the biggest gainer because the nature of the triple lock means they are going lock means that they are going their pension will their state pension will increase more than increase by much more than double inflation, whereas benefits will be going up by a smaller rate set by inflation in september. but even so, i think most tories are happy with it. but there are big holes at the heart of it. i mean, that's the concern i think about the way we are be paying more tax are going to be paying more tax because what's as because of what's known as fiscal drag. because of what's known as fiscokay,g. because of what's known as fiscokay, chris from >> okay, chris hope live from westminster and westminster all day long and certainly you've earned your nerves evening. you nerves this evening. thank you very joining on very much for joining us on the show. now, on, the show. now, moving on, the chancellor a £45 chancellor has announced a £45 billion investment into manufacturing , as well billion investment into manufacturing, as well as clean energy . but will manufacturing, as well as clean energy. but will this be enough to bring down your bills? well, i'm joined now by matt copeland, who's the head of policy and pubuc who's the head of policy and public affairs at national energy , which is a fuel energy action, which is a fuel poverty charity. thanks for joining us on the show , matt. joining us on the show, matt. the big question is, as we approach winter, more mercifully

hasn't been that cold yet, but surely that will come and everybody's terrified of turning their heating on. what's today's budget? enough to satiate the fears of ordinary britons facing fuel poverty ? and can you give fuel poverty? and can you give us an indication of how big this phenomenon is ? phenomenon is? >> well, unfortunately , today >> well, unfortunately, today the chancellor didn't really announce anything that's going to help this winter. >> of course, it's really welcome to see benefits increasing within flation in september and really good that the triple lock was maintained . the triple lock was maintained. >> but those increases will come in from next april at the winter has passed. >> so there's no real support for households to keep warm this winter . that is a really big winter. that is a really big problem. we know that prices this winter or costs this winter , what people are actually paying , what people are actually paying on their bills are higher than last winter because we don't have that crucial support that government gave a year ago. >> we know that people are in debt on their energy bills after last winter. i'm going have last winter. i'm going to have to that back now .

to start paying that back now. so energy bills are going to get really coming up and really pretty bad coming up and without that extra support, millions of people are going to really, really struggle to keep up their payments turn up with their payments and turn to their to rationing under heating their homes being being cold at homes and being being cold at home. know from our own home. and we know from our own polling released today polling we've released today that a quarter of uk adults have really pay their really struggled to pay their energy bills the last three energy bills over the last three months, and that's before we even get into the really cold snaps. and i'm told that actually the forecast is that we're moving into that period of coldness coming up in a week or so. >> and matt, when you look at those numbers, that's 11 million brits, 11 million people worried about their heating bills. and i'm sure many watching this show tonight will echo that. and of course, all the time they're being forced harder by things like food inflation, forced from all angles. so what kind of difficult choices are you seeing? people having to make ? seeing? people having to make? >> well, we see people heating fuel rooms at home turning their

thermostats down even when it is quite cold inside . and but quite cold inside. and but people making very stark choices, potentially , you know, choices, potentially, you know, going round their friends house just for warmth or for hot water, you're taking advantage of public space, us that are warmer and potentially provide hot showers. people are going to really great lengths to stay warm, but also people taking risks with their finances is to pay risks with their finances is to pay their bills as well. borrowing from from payday lenders, borrowing from from loan sharks and other sources as well . and that's only going to well. and that's only going to get worse tomorrow. ofgem is set to announce that the energy price cap is going to increase again , maybe not to the levels again, maybe not to the levels we've seen previously, but quite an unwelcome increase . as it an unwelcome increase. as it gets colder. that's really going to hit . to hit. >> and matt, what kind of sensible things can people who are concerned do to conserve their money to stay warm in the

most effective and cost effective way? >> well , i effective way? >> well, i think that first and foremost, if you are struggling to pay your bill, it's a really goodidea to pay your bill, it's a really good idea to contact your suppuer good idea to contact your supplier for they do have duties to do to help you to make sure that if you are repaying your debts, that that debt repayment plan is affordable . but it's plan is affordable. but it's also important to look out for those government schemes that are offering grants to help low income households to upgrade their homes, to make them more energy efficient . so you have to energy efficient. so you have to use less energy to stay warm , use less energy to stay warm, ultimately making our homes more energy efficient is the most sustainable way to combat fuel poverty and there is quite a lot of funding out there to help us do that. >> and i don't know about you, matt, but what i do, i tend to live in i live in one room. i live in i live in one room. i live in i live in one room. i live in my kitchen and all of the winter and i get my kids to wear dressing gowns all the time the winter and i get my kids to wear d|the ng gowns all the time the winter and i get my kids to wear d|the house ms all the time the winter and i get my kids to wear d|the house to all the time the winter and i get my kids to wear d|the house to get the time the winter and i get my kids to wear d|the house to get them me the winter and i get my kids to wear d|the house to get them to around the house to get them to wear and also i got

wear slippers. and also i got an energy which me energy metre which tells me exactly, using exactly, exactly what i'm using at any one time. and actually i get competitively get the kids to competitively try use them. try and save money. i use them. >> yeah, absolutely a good idea. i've got a heated blanket that i use as well, which which works very nicely, i have to say heated blankets. >> now that's on my christmas list. matt copeland, head of policy and public affairs at national energy action. thank you very much for joining us today on gb news. great advice there. okay we say the autumn statement has exposed the scale of damage that the tories of the damage that the tories have done to our economy . well, have done to our economy. well, i'm about to speak to a conservative mp to get their side debate . i'm martin conservative mp to get their side oniebate . i'm martin conservative mp to get their side on gbate . i'm martin conservative mp to get their side on gb newsm martin conservative mp to get their side on gb news and.artin conservative mp to get their side on gb news and we n conservative mp to get their side on gb news and we are daubney on gb news and we are britain's news

& co weeknights. from . six & co weeknights. from. six >> welcome back. it's 524. whether you're watching or listening to me. martin daubney on gb news. now, later this houh on gb news. now, later this hour, i'll talk about a possible £16 billion trade deal. that's only possible because, yes, of brexit or now. more on our top story and chancellor jeremy hunfs story and chancellor jeremy hunt's autumn statement that he cut national insurance for 27 million workers today and fully honoured the triple lock. and there were promises of £20 billion worth more in business investments to. well, i can speak now with james daly, who's a conservative mp for bury north. thanks for joining a conservative mp for bury north. thanks forjoining us on north. thanks for joining us on the show. this evening. this afternoon, james. so we started the day with the highest tax burden since world war ii and

the office for budget responsibility has just announced we still have the highest tax burden since world war ii. so it seems. highest tax burden since world war ii. so it seems . jeremy war ii. so it seems. jeremy hunts autumn statement has achieved practically nothing . achieved practically nothing. >> martin i'm the mp for bury north, so if i could just tell you what this budget has partially done for my constituency. >> i was named checked in the chamber because i've been campaigning for what's something called investment in called an investment zone in greater manchester, and that's based upon developing a hub for advanced manufacturing and materials research, working in partnership with the university of manchester and others to create 32,000 jobs around my constituency , transforming the constituency, transforming the opportunities of young people in bury. >> you know, we've already seen a £9 billion investment in skills centre in bury. so you know. martin on the ground in terms of the real world, what we have, this government have, what this government and what out is real what this budget set out is real difference, real change. and, you know, this budget is giving the opportunity for young people in get well paid, in my area to get well paid, highly skilled jobs, stay to

highly skilled jobs, to stay to the it will be the local area. and it will be transformatory bury . transformatory for bury. >> james fans say we are >> the james fans say we are expecting a little more . expecting a little bit more. there of carrots being there are lots of carrots being dangled big tax cuts. call dangled about big tax cuts. call tax remains stubbornly high 25. the tax thresholds weren't altered so thousands and thousands of ordinary workers, nurses, doctors , teachers, nurses, doctors, teachers, police, men and women are being dragged into higher rate tax brackets . and in return, the brackets. and in return, the small beer, a few hundred quid off an eye. in actual fact, nothing's really changed, has it i >> -- >> well, -_ >> well, we saw, as you've already outlined , marty, we saw already outlined, marty, we saw the tax cut in terms of national insurance, which will benefit millions of people when i'm you know, the just about the years leading up to before becoming an mp . mp. >> i was self—employed myself and my wife still have a firm of solicitors my constituency , solicitors in my constituency, solicitors in my constituency, so i know exactly what business needs and some of the measures that in of that were taken in terms of supporting business, incentivising people like my wife, hard working people who

want to employ people in the local area. this is the budget that's setting the pathway to do that. and i think this this budget sorry, this this statement what the statement reaffirmed what the conservative about . we conservative party is about. we are tax party. we are are a low tax party. we are a party are a low tax party. we are a party that doesn't want to give handouts. we want to incentivise people to be able to achieve and to thrive and to achieve what they want in their lives. and i think that by concentrate on supporting all supporting businesses and all the chancellor has supporting businesses and all the out, chancellor has supporting businesses and all the out, that's chancellor has supporting businesses and all the out, that's whatancellor has supporting businesses and all the out, that's what we're)r has supporting businesses and all the out, that's what we're doing set out, that's what we're doing . we're set out, that's what we're doing .we're making we're making employers now command of employers now take command of their economies their local economies, supporting job supporting them in terms of job creation and creation and regeneration. and we welcoming that. we should be welcoming that. it's great budget . it's great budget. >> james, of course, the conservatives historically have always been the party of low taxation. but i just repeat to you again, we have the highest tax since ii. tax burden since world war ii. a lot people felt they voted lot of people felt they voted bons lot of people felt they voted boris but got corbyn and today people were looking for a bit more than a slim pickings of a ni cut. so you talk about a pathway to lower tax that sounds great. is today the warmer packs? do you think we can see

something more substantial coming actual budget in coming in the actual budget in the spring? >> i think there's a very good chance of that. i think we've reaffirmed the conservative values. what this prime minister and what this chancellor about this prime minister has always been about the taking, the taking the long view, making sure we have stability in the economy when the time is economy and when the time is right, putting in place those conservative are conservative values which are tax to see tax cuts, we're going to see more. , support help more. i think, support to help and incentivise self—employed people business. and people to help business. and that's what we should be doing. martin we should be thinking this is a great thing. we can all eyes say this, all slogan eyes and say this, that but this that or the other, but this is giving more money in the giving people more money in the pocket. it's making it easy for businesses recruit people. businesses to recruit people. he's money skills he's putting money into skills training in the north of england. it's levelling up. it's a great budget. >> and james erm labour, as you'd queuing up to put you'd expect, queuing up to put the in, we're a dumas the boot in, we're in a dumas spiral. told us earlier on spiral. they told us earlier on gb news presumably you think they up a rather a hash of they make up a rather a hash of they make up a rather a hash of the economy if they were to get into . well they've done it

into power. well they've done it every single time they've been in power and i don't see any, any reason why they won't do it here. >> i mean, it is rather depressing when you're an mp in the chamber just to see depressing when you're an mp in the chamberjust to see how quite bad in terms of an quite how bad in terms of an advocate and setting out the case. is no ideas. case. keir starmer is no ideas. mr flop just will mr flip flop just will say anything power and you anything to get power and you get know you get that, you know you correspond this prime correspond that with this prime minister chancellor minister and this chancellor setting a vision, delivering minister and this chancellor settinknow,a vision, delivering minister and this chancellor settin know, deliveringzlivering , you know, delivering opportunity . martin gone , you know, delivering oppo to nity . martin gone , you know, delivering oppo to what martin gone , you know, delivering oppo to what i'mtin gone , you know, delivering oppo to what i'm sure gone , you know, delivering oppo to what i'm sure whatgone , you know, delivering oppo to what i'm sure what mez back to what i'm sure what me and in. you know, we and you believe in. you know, we need to get back to low state regulation. need to back regulation. we need to get back to the taxation that we all to the low taxation that we all want. and because of the steps that prime has that the prime minister has taken over 12 months, taken over the last 12 months, it to do that. now and it allows us to do that. now and we that. we've we should welcome that. we've had we've war had a pandemic, we've had a war in ukraine, fiscal in ukraine, we've had fiscal events deal with. but this is events to deal with. but this is what party what this conservative party is about what this about and this is what this prime is about. prime minister is about. >> say, james, you've got >> let's say, james, you've got you've got a quick moment here to pitch conservative voters to pitch to conservative voters who thinking about either who are thinking about either abstaining for abstaining or voting for a different party. why should tory voters stick with the blues .

voters stick with the blues. >> because we are on your side . >> because we are on your side. we believe in levelling up for everyone . we put record amounts everyone. we put record amounts of money in trying to create opportunities and to give people the skills that mean that they've got hope, they've got aspiration. we want to build upon that. we've seen record amounts of money going into education. seen record education. we've seen record amounts money going into amounts of money going into hospitals. that's what we're about. about party of about. we are about the party of hope, the party who's going to transform people's lives. but we're to do that by we're not going to do that by taking a heavy hand and just giving out, you know, endless amounts we're amounts of cash. what we're going is sure that going to do is make sure that people their people can achieve their potential. measures that potential. and the measures that you've seen today are a you know, of that. know, are a big part of that. >> eddie, a rousing >> james eddie, a rousing performance there live performance there from live outside you performance there from live outsimuch you performance there from live outsimuch for you performance there from live outsimuch for joining you performance there from live outsimuch forjoining us you performance there from live outsimuch forjoining us on'ou performance there from live outsimuch forjoining us on gb very much forjoining us on gb news. james day of the conservative mp. of course, for barry north. thanks for your time. there's lots time. okay there's still lots more come now and more to come between now and 6:00, including a love news of a possible brexit boost as the uk tries to sign a £16 billion

bumper deal with south korea . bumper deal with south korea. but first, there's your latest news headlines with polly middlehurst . middlehurst. >> martin thank you. the headunes >> martin thank you. the headlines this hour in his autumn statement , jeremy hunt autumn statement, jeremy hunt has set out the uk's financial direction for the next year. and the biggest change comes in january, when national insurance will be cut from 12 to 10. the triple lock on pensions is going to be kept . that will take the to be kept. that will take the state pension up by 8.5% to more than £220 a week. and taxes on alcohol are going to be frozen until august the 1st next year, meaning there'll be no increase in duty on beer, cider wines or spirits . also in the news today , spirits. also in the news today, a community in shropshire is in mourning tonight as the loss of four teenage boys who died in nonh four teenage boys who died in north wales sinks in jevon hirst harvey owen will fitchett and

hugo morris had set off on a camping trip to snowdonia. their bodies were recovered yesterday after a car was found overturned and partially submerged in water. north wales police have said it appears to have been a tragic accident . and hamas and tragic accident. and hamas and israel have agreed to begin a four day pause in fighting starting at 8:00 tomorrow morning. the foreign secretary says the truce is a crucial step towards releasing hostages and providing humanitarian relief in gaza. the pause in fighting will allow for the release of 50 hostages held by the terror group in exchange for 150 palestinians held in israeli prisons . and here the prime prisons. and here the prime minister and his wife have welcomed south korea's president and first lady to number 10. yoon akua and rishi sunak signed a new long term partnership covering defence and technology . covering defence and technology. the deal covers improved military cooperation between the uk and south korea, focusing on countering smuggling in the east

china sea . those are the top china sea. those are the top stories you can find more on all of them by heading to our website, gbnews.com . website, gbnews.com. >> for a valuable legacy, your family can own gold coins will always shine bright. roslyn gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . financial report. >> a quick snapshot of today's markets for you and the pound buying you 1.24, seven, $7 and ,1.1473. the price of gold. £1,595.31 an ounce. and the ftse 100 has closed the day today . at 100 has closed the day today. at 7469 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . and thank you, polly. report. and thank you, polly. >> in a moment, i'll tell you

about a possible new £16 billion trade deal that's only possible because of brexit. but first, let's get more reaction to the government's spending plans. and here's the leader of the liberal democrats, davey . democrats, ed davey. >> this is a deception on the british public tax is going to go british public tax is going to 9° up british public tax is going to go up next year on taxpayers, not down. and the conservatives found no extra support for the nhs , which is in desperate need. nhs, which is in desperate need. and we need to invest in so we can get people back to work. >> do you feel like the nhs is being ignored by the conservative party? >> prime minister this week >> prime minister said this week that no longer one that the nhs is no longer one of his top priorities and with his top five priorities and with the needing more money so the nhs needing more money so people can get back to work, get early treatment, that's a very bad economic policy as well as bad economic policy as well as bad health policy. what do you make of government's make of the government's proposed benefits for proposed changes to benefits for those who are on long term sick? >> you that's the right >> do you think that's the right approach getting people >> do you think that's the right apprcto h getting people >> do you think that's the right apprcto work? getting people >> do you think that's the right apprcto work? there's] people >> do you think that's the right apprcto work? there's] jhugee back to work? there's a huge number who like number of people who would like to go back to work but are being forced they forced out of work because they can't health treatment forced out of work because they can'tneed. health treatment they need. >> the conservatives to

>> the conservatives need to concentrate on that their concentrate on that and their failure the is really failure on the nhs is really hurting economy. now hurting our economy. now >> disagree then with >> do you disagree then with their policy of removing benefits from those won't benefits from those who won't work from home? >> democrats want to >> the democrats want to see investment in our nhs so people can the early treatment can get the early treatment they need their gp, need so they can see their gp, so they can get that hospital treatment would those treatment that would help those people work much, people get back to work much, much would like to see that >> so would you like to see that before benefits ? before any changes to benefits? >> the democrats to see >> the democrats want to see that investment so that investment in our nhs so people don't have to wait so long for treatment . about 1 in 7 long for treatment. about 1 in 7 people say that they're having to take significant off to take significant time off work because they can't get the nhs treatment they need. >> are you pleased to see the reduction businesstaxes >> are you pleased to see the reduction business taxes that reduction in business taxes that the chancellor put forward today? >> well, the conservatives have been business taxes been pushing up business taxes by [ip been pushing up business taxes by up until today i >> -- >> they so i would have thought this is just another deception by the conservatives. they've said that they're cutting taxes for basic rate taxpayers next yeah for basic rate taxpayers next year. actually see those tax payers are going to see a rise of £400 a year because of the

huge rise in income tax under the conservatives . the conservatives. >> and that was that. david being typically enthusiastic about the conservatives policy . about the conservatives policy. okay. now lots of you have been getting in touch with your views on the autumn statement . jeff on the autumn statement. jeff says why? on why do they says this why? on why do they says this why? on why do they say pensioners always do well with the budget ? well, i guess with the budget? well, i guess jeff know a kind of 8.5% rise today is pretty good, isn't it? martin says this most pensioners are on the old state pension. they are not getting an increase of £900. fair point. well made. martin and karen says this. they didn't do anything for energy bills by the time pensioners get 8.5% and the triple lock, many could have frozen to death. so the government will save on their pensions. it's a fair point. it's a fair point. a lot of people have been saying that these increases in national insurance and pensions won't touch the surface when the thermometer goes down. and we've got to turn our thermostats up. it's point. well made. it's a fair point. well made. now on, kemi badenoch has now moving on, kemi badenoch has kicked off talks over a bumper

new post brexit trade deal with south korea . this comes as rishi south korea. this comes as rishi sunak korean counterpart agreed a £21 billion package of business investment into the uk. this investment will support more than 1500 highly skilled jobs and presents a massive opportunity for companies across the uk . well, joining me now in the uk. well, joining me now in the uk. well, joining me now in the studio is the director general of the institute of exports and international trade , exports and international trade, marco forgione. marco thanks for joining us in the studio. marco forgione. marco thanks for joining us in the studio . this joining us in the studio. this is precisely the sort of deal that post—brexit britain should be doing, doing, isn't it? lifting our eyes to the horizon, looking for opportunities beyond the eu and showing there's a huge bright future ahead? well, martin, it's important that as we are on the day of the autumn statement, we look at all of the activity that's taking place, andifs activity that's taking place, and it's clear from what was announced today with the extension of the free ports programme, the extension of the investment zones that the uk is

very clearly looking to its engagements and its partnerships internationally to try and drive investment into the uk and to deal with some of the systemic problems we faced around productivity, in particular. yeah, but nevertheless, let's be positive . if this is precisely positive. if this is precisely the sort of thing and we should be doing and don't you think it's been fantastic that we've been using the royal family for the soft power and to woo the south koreans to roll out the red ? and this only red carpet? and this could only be for global britain be good for global britain britain the uk has a huge britain plc, the uk has a huge number of positives. >> the brand of the united kingdom is well respected in nationally and you can see that indeed the royal family have a great cachet, but it's also the political, the legal environment within the uk that is distinctive and is really appealing to international investors. i was with colleagues from the australian authorities earlier today and they they are slightly surprised, but in a good way at the amount of inward

investment that australian businesses are making into the uk . if you look at the uk. if you look at the announcement with regards to tata and the gigafactory in bridgwater, there is a real positive environment for investment into the uk. what we need to do now, martin, is to ensure that we've got uk businesses and particularly the 99.9% of uk businesses that are micro , small and medium micro, small and medium enterprises that we're giving them the support and encouragement to reap the benefits of the global connectivity, to get more of them trading internationally and how can that best be achieved. >> a lot of people, marco, today were rather underwhelmed , shall were rather underwhelmed, shall were rather underwhelmed, shall we say, for example, about key headune we say, for example, about key headline corporation headline things like corporation tax 25% in the uk. so stubbornly high low tax conservative gives the likes of john redwood, for example, was saying we should be following the example of the repubuc following the example of the republic of ireland, which of course was at 15. they have over there of course that is there and of course that is therefore had attracted there and of course that is ther

the route of that kind of a taxation policy to have even more of these kind of deals? >> well, immediately before this event, at reception event, i was at a reception hosted by amazon celebrating their years uk and the their 25 years in the uk and the amount of investment, 36 billion, i think they've invested into the economy. invested into the uk economy. >> it's clear that it is attractive. >> the uk is an attractive environment for investment, but we need to do more now to free the latent potential of uk businesses and the announcements with regards to corporation tax, the ability for businesses to invest to be welcomed. >> you know, these are hugely positive move forward. what we would like to see though and the institute of export and international trade suggested into the chancellor prior to the autumn statement that we should be slightly more flexible in allowing businesses to invest in things like skilled years and in their capability to trade internationally as part of that permanent deduction. and there's an imperative for this. the research shows that businesses which trade internationally are

more sustainable, more resilient, employ more people are more innovative and are more profitable. all the likes of amazon potentially flighty about a change of political party being at the helm because we've we hear a lot, don't we, from the labour party about taxing the labour party about taxing the tech the big companies , the tech the big companies, wealth taxes, stealth tax is that an issue with continued investment or or big companies? >> do they sit on their hands and wait and watch in case the taxation framework changes and suddenly the uk becomes less favourable? >> i think when it comes to business decision as you need to have an environment that is for the long term and large businesses will take decision businesses will take a decision based rather than on based on action rather than on words inference . and words or inference. and certainly conversations certainly from the conversations i've across the parties, i've had across the parties, there's real understanding of there's a real understanding of there's a real understanding of the need to support and nurture uk and to take long uk businesses and to take long term decisions . the term decisions. the announcements of enshrining that for the long term, the investment zones, the free ports , the tax status, the investment

capabilities are all hugely positive and we want more of that. positive and we want more of that . a long term strategy for that. a long term strategy for business growth. >> but this trade deal with with south korea , it's a hugely south korea, it's a hugely exciting moment and we should feel justifiably excited about the opportunities that brexit has given us. and the future of britain looks rosy with deals like this coming into us and the trade agreements with cp and the south east asia community, all of that is massively positive. >> the relationship we have with australia and new zealand, the conversations are going on with regards to an india trade. all of that is creates an environment for huge potential. what we need to do is make sure that uk businesses have the skills, the knowledge, the expertise to take advantage of these great achievements of. >> marco forgione, thank you very much for joining >> marco forgione, thank you very much forjoining us. you know, that's the kind of story i love to have on this show, and let's be proud of britain in the post—brexit it environment. let's fight let's get out there and fight for this country. that's what we need. moving on. of course,

need. okay moving on. of course, nigel farage, you may have noticed, is in the jungle down undeh noticed, is in the jungle down under. he's a brexit pit ding dongs and overcome overcome some stomach churning bushtucker trials. after not being trials. but after not being picked for last night's trial , picked for last night's trial, is he at risk of losing some viewers? i'm martin daubney on gb news. and this is britain's news channel

choose.

>> welcome back. it's 546. the things we talk about during our breaks. you're watching or listening to martin daubney on gb news. well, our very own nigel farage is entering into his fourth day in the i'm a celebrity jungle. and so far it seems that he can't get enough of the bush tucker trials. while nigel has been confronted on brexit by living. fred sirieix so far, he's managed to keep his cool. so far, he's managed to keep his cool . unlike so far, he's managed to keep his cool. unlike one of his camp mates. well joining me now to tell me her thoughts on how nigel is doing in the jungle is showbiz reporter steph takyi steph , it's been a fabulous steph, it's been a fabulous show. i think the three three things i really like to talk about. the first one is nigel seems slightly disappointed that he the bushtucker he didn't lose the bushtucker trial and he was heard in a quiet microphone moment saying if you, if you get the trial, you get 25% of the airtime. do you get 25% of the airtime. do you think he's playing a little sly game here? he wants to lose ? sly game here? he wants to lose? >> yes, definitely . i've been >> yes, definitely. i've been really quite surprised by this, actually, because nigel has been

actually, because nigel has been a good team sport. he's done the bushtucker trial quite really good. he actually seemed to be enjoying all those horrible delicacies that he was eating. and he seems like a the other day, you and me, martin, we were talking about whether potentially nigel would want to get back into politics through being on i'm a celeb. and i do think he has a game plan because the he gets on there, think he has a game plan because the more he gets on there, think he has a game plan because the more people; gets on there, think he has a game plan because the more people wills on there, think he has a game plan because the more people will get there, think he has a game plan because the more people will get t01ere, think he has a game plan because the more people will get to see a different side of nigel that is blasted or is not being blasted or demonised. by him not demonised. so by him not actually doing bushtucker actually doing the bushtucker trials, airtime trials, it means less airtime for nigel, which he seems he wants . but the problem for nigel, which he seems he wants. but the problem is for nigel, which he seems he wants . but the problem is there wants. but the problem is there are other controversial characters right now which are stealing the limelight and that is one youtuber called nella rose , who seems to ruffling rose, who seems to be ruffling a lot of a lot feathers on camp lot of a lot of feathers on camp and also in social media. >> yeah, she's throwing tantrums of course. i think it's not doing her very well. it was very interesting, steph, about the airtime issue because itv news mentioned this on their bulletin last night, because there song wake up to the fact that maybe

they're being gamed and they're being complaints, but something else to talk that else wants to talk about that happened was nigel happened last night was nigel gave the revelations , the inside gave the revelations, the inside story about the injuries he suffered during that air crash in 2010. but the campmates fair to be sad . they were less to be sad. they were less concerned about his well—being and more concerned about the banner that was flying behind the plane . the plane. >> well, it goes to show, even before he did come into the camp, there had been tweets that had been unnerved by grace dent , had been unnerved by grace dent, where she was making fun of nigel and the plane crash. >> and for him to actually be talking about that, that was quite the first time i've actually heard nigel open about it tv you can it on national tv and you can imagine campmates imagine some of these campmates still up against still have their back up against nigel over brexit and think they're failing to connect with him on a human to human level. i think they still see him as this hard edged politician where actually he is just a human and i think he's showed his more softer side. i think he's very approachable the camp . but approachable in the camp. but i'm sorry. i do have a feeling

that eventually one of these days is to kick off days it is going to kick off between and tony bel—air , between him and tony bel—air, who is boxer who is due to who is a boxer who is due to come into the camp. and he's very he he was a remainer and he was very against brexit. so i can imagine itv bosses going can imagine itv bosses are going to to ruffle a bit more to want to ruffle a bit more feathers for nigel. >> yeah, i think if somebody of that calibre no offence goes for nigel starts swinging punches metaphorically about brexit. i think nigel is going to put him on the canvas. i think he's not even broken out of first gear yet. steph it comes to yet. steph when it comes to deaung yet. steph when it comes to dealing with people about any sort debate sort of brexit referendum debate , n0, sort of brexit referendum debate , no, at all, because i , no, not at all, because i think when you're, as we're seeing now, what's happened to nella rose, you have to play it quite wisely when you're on a reality tv show, because if you push far, too soon, you push it too far, too soon, you do this hated character do become this hated character at the moment. >> itv, itv bosses are complaining that the viewership has gone down for i'm a celebrity . they thought maybe celebrity. they thought maybe having a controversial character like nigel would do the trick. but clearly there's to it

but clearly there's more to it than that. so they are going to try more and try to do a bit more plots and twist to nigel twist and turns to make nigel seem like more of this hated character, i don't think character, which i don't think he think he wants he wants to be. i think he wants to express his opinion, to just express his opinion, which on news shows , which he does on his news shows, and have that freedom to do that which he does on his news shows, an> of course it's dewbs& co next. and you've just said, i don't want to about this. next. and you've just said, i don't ion.t to about this. next. and you've just said, i don't ion. what about this. next. and you've just said, i don't ion. what haveout this. next. and you've just said, i don't ion. what have out this. to so go on. what have you got to say nigel? say about nigel? >> was watching the video >> i was just watching the video then of him doing his, his workout with his logs and i was watching night and was watching it last night and i was shouting the screen, he's not shouting at the screen, he's not getting evenly side, evenly sized that sized logs, so i'm worried that it's going come out looking it's going to come out looking like kind lopsided like some kind of lopsided popeye with massive bicep on popeye with one massive bicep on one side. >> so somehow we need to get a message to the production team to if you're going to to tell him if you're going to do these exercises, you need to choose your logs better. that was the only that the was the only that was the insight wanted to throw in and insight i wanted to throw in and chip there. chip in there. >> was it was worth wait. >> it was it was worth the wait. that was definitely worth the wait. wouldn't recommend

wait. steph wouldn't recommend that. we need equally sized logs i >> -- >> well, hiatu- emu— m know what? they may >> well, you know what? they may be to careful with be trying to be careful with nigel on that one because part of his control was he saying that couldn't do any that he couldn't do any plane challenges, also he can't do challenges, but also he can't do too much weightlifting due to his neck. so maybe that's why they've given him those miniature sized logs. >> in fact , i'll ask both of you >> in fact, i'll ask both of you this, because lorraine kelly on itv this morning, she was having a nigel when she found a pop at nigel when she found out was 59. she went , out that he was 59. she went, god, is he 59? is he only 59? i thought he was a hell of a lot older than that. that's astonishing. you get face astonishing. you get the face you deserve. and steph and you deserve. and now steph and youtube's. if anybody had said that women on tv, they'd that about women on tv, they'd be absolutely annihilated . be absolutely annihilated. they'd probably cancelled. they'd probably be cancelled. don't this a of don't you think this is a bit of body shaming bit of body shaming and a bit of reverse sexism again, particularly it's particularly because it's against nigel? >> i agree. martin i think all hell would have broke loose if that was a man saying that about a woman. and to be honest, i expected more of lorraine, especially as she's the host of this show. she has to be unbiased. not about her

unbiased. it's not about her bringing own personal bringing her own personal opinion it and putting opinion into it and her putting out digs . i opinion into it and her putting out digs. i think she opinion into it and her putting out digs . i think she came out these digs. i think she came across quite unprepared. national again, is someone national again, this is someone who's been through a very horrific, traumatic accident. and no need to be adding and there's no need to be adding these kind of personal digs to them. and it's the same with nella rose. that fred nella rose. if that was fred making kind of comments making those kind of comments about nella rose, all had all hell would broken hell would have been broken loose he probably would be hell would have been broken loothat he probably would be hell would have been broken loo that show probably would be hell would have been broken loo that show proba now. iould be hell would have been broken loo that show proba now. yeah be off that show right now. yeah totally agree. >> thanks, steph takyi for joining us. jobs what do you reckon about the body shaming thing? >> of course it's double standards. a massive standards. it's a massive double standards. you know, i've had the misfortune nigel's the misfortune of seeing nigel's backside i want to see backside. i don't want to see it. don't want to see anyone's it. i don't want to see anyone's backside life. no, but backside in real life. no, but i also wonder, would itv have also do wonder, would itv have put a female backside on the screen that? i'm not sure screen like that? i'm not sure that actually would, but that they actually would, but there's double standards there's huge double standards when it comes the that when it comes to the way that men are not allowed to comment on women . on the appearance of women. >> women can absolutely do >> but women can absolutely do that rein to men. that with free rein to men. >> i think that's cool. >> i don't think that's cool. i think your standards should be equal think your standards should be equal. and i also think there's

massive double standards it massive double standards when it comes because as you massive double standards when it come say because as you massive double standards when it come say anythingyecause as you massive double standards when it come say anything about; as you massive double standards when it come say anything about someone can't say anything about someone on seemingly lots on the left, seemingly in lots of when it's of occasions. but when it's someone the right of someone that's to the right of the politically, well, the centre politically, well, then for then they are fair game. for whatever insult anyone seems to see fit to a degree. >> i've got about 30s now. we've talked about nigel's bum for so long. show? long. what's on your show? >> course. i'll be >> oh yeah, of course. i'll be getting all stuck into the autumn statement. i want ask autumn statement. i want to ask my well, what does it my viewers as well, what does it mean you feel better off today? >> do you feel better off today? what what did what was missing and what did you like about it? let's have some positivity as well. >> was in there that was >> what was in there that was good? you tell me. >> yeah. what else you got? you got 20s. >> em- em— e okay. no i want to >> oh, right. okay. no i want to get drilled literally get drilled down into literally the it with the autumn statement. >> i want to explore it all. i've liam halligan coming >> i want to explore it all. i'vel've liam halligan coming >> i want to explore it all. i'vel've gotm halligan coming >> i want to explore it all. i'vel've got christopher coming >> i want to explore it all. i'vel've got christopher hope g in. i've got christopher hope coming got great coming in. i've got a great panel as well. and my viewers, of integral to all. of course, integral to it all. >> that's coming >> great stuff. that's coming right this. be back right after this. i'll be back 3:00 but stick around right after this. i'll be back 3:0 dewbs& but stick around right after this. i'll be back 3:0 dewbs& co but stick around right after this. i'll be back 3:0 dewbs& co rightstick around right after this. i'll be back 3:0 dewbs& co right afteraround right after this. i'll be back 3:0 dewbs& co right after this. d for dewbs& co right after this. >> afternoon . welcome to >> good afternoon. welcome to your gb news weather your latest gb news weather update. with annie from the update. with me, annie from the met . tonight will a met office. tonight will be a milder night than last night for

most of but apart from in most of us, but apart from in the north where it will turn the far north where it will turn chillier cold front chillier as this cold front starts to sink southwards, introducing much colder air from the north. but we've got that milder air in charge through the rest of the day. quite rest of the day. so quite a lot of some rain and of cloud around some rain and drizzle starting to fall over the of wales as well, as the hills of wales as well, as well as northern areas of england and much of scotland to northern ireland. also seeing some and spots of rain and some spits and spots of rain and drizzle through but drizzle through the evening. but the the rain will be the bulk of the rain will be restricted to northwestern scotland. as i said, a milder night. temperatures not night. so temperatures not falling double digits falling much below double digits in and cities , but that in towns and cities, but that colder starting to show colder air is starting to show its face across the far north of scotland. that colder field will become widespread across become more widespread across scotland. throughout the scotland. slowly throughout the day. temperatures tending to day. so temperatures tending to fall day here. fall through the day here. a different story, though. further south to the south of this weather front we'll a weather front. we'll see a similar today. weather front. we'll see a similar today . plenty of similar day to today. plenty of cloud most areas , cloud around for most areas, some sunshine by the afternoon and in any and not feeling too bad in any of that sunshine. the weather front, though , then does start front, though, then does start to sink southwards as we head

into friday. so most of us seeing that colder air by friday morning, a likely to see a bit more of a frost there on more of a frost out there on friday the far friday morning. the far southwest holding on to a little bit more cloud, though, for bit more cloud, though, into for much of the day through the weekend. we'll see that colder feel board , though feel across the board, though they'll plenty they'll still be plenty of sunshine on around to enjoy

are you happy with? what was included? what was missing , and included? what was missing, and do you feel better off tonight also? let me ask you this. do you think this mini—budget did anything to make the conservative booths seem a little bit more like , you know, little bit more like, you know, conservatives that think that they are supposed to be or . not

they are supposed to be or. not yes, we've got all of that