the latest set of designs for trafalgar square's fourth plinth have been revealed today.ere's a variety of sculptures in the running, including a black cat and a sweet potato. barry caffrey's been taking a look. the fourth plinth is one of the most important art commissions worldwide, putting new work by renowned artists into the heart of london. and this year marks 25 years since the first work was displayed. when we put a new piece on the fourth plinth, we're inviting visitors and audiences and passers by coming through the square to look and to think about the role that contemporary art can play in their lives and in the conversation that we have as a city and as a society. seven artists have been shortlisted for the next fourth plinth commissions in 2026 and 2028, and these maquettes will be on display here at the national gallery until 17th march. it's hoped the shortlisted pieces will bring out the art critic in everyone. it's 25 years, can you believe it, that we've been putting bold contemporary art on the fourth plinth in trafalgar square and it's now world renow

. on a plinth in trafalgar square.> how important is art , art and >> how important is art, art and the expression of art to you? >> not that important. >> not that important. >> exactly . that's your problem. >> exactly. that's your problem. you are both philistines . you are both philistines. >> oh my dear , it's only what's >> oh my dear, it's only what's more important, jenny is our late . queen. late. queen. >> and also. i'm sorry. i think it's racist. i'm just not jenny. i'm just not convinced. that's art . i'm sorry, i'm just not convinced. that's art. i'm sorry, jenny, i just i art. i'm sorry, jenny, ijust i just don't think that fine art. >> what is art? what's not on the fence right now? >> all right, all right, all right. >> we're gonna. we're gonna have to wrap it there. i've to wrap it up there. i've enjoyed thoroughly enjoyed this. i have thoroughly enjoyed this. i have thoroughly enjoyed this. i have thoroughly enjoyed this tonight. so thank you all right, you very, very much. all right, look, option wou

you're now at trafalgar square. why are you there? and what's happening ? what's been happening? at's happenedin >> well, patrick, what's happened in the last hour or so is the main group from parliament square has dispersed and they're now, you see behind me these now the diehards on me these are now the diehards on trafalgar square chanting all the usual, usual hits. the greatest hits we've heard, uh, israel is a terrorist state. we've heard actually , one of the we've heard actually, one of the ones we just heard was rishi sunakis ones we just heard was rishi sunak is a wasteman. uh the usual routine . uh, i am usual routine. uh, i am surprised how quickly things have changed in the last hour. as you say, when you were there earlier, that i think was at its peak. it it was quite peak. it was it was quite hostile environment. there hostile environment, to hostile environment, so to speak, and colleague martin speak, and our colleague martin daubney was, was egged whilst he was standing there. now it's a little quieter , but i must little bit quieter, but i must say, patrick, als

trafalgar square is known around the world, named after... hit an imaginary target almost 400 miles awayrida. the rocket was supposed to water next to a nuclear submarine. we understand that triiden 2 was not nuclear equipped warhead, it left the submarine as expected, but the first stage boosters did not fire. as a result, a rocket weighing 58 tons crashed into... the minister of defense on board the submarine was clearly an unnecessary figure. his knowledge of maritime affairs is scant, except for the arrest of a russian businessman’s yacht in london during the sanctions fever in 1922. shepts, then serving as minister of transport, posed next to the captured boat and gave interviews. obviously, he was now counting on something similar, but instead pr on a formidable weapon, the minister and his entourage had to engage in other information maneuvers, trying at least. they work as expected, they worked on its modernization for 7 whole years, which of course sounds ridiculous, they spent a lot of money, but everything works and that’s good. before the launch, the americans tested the crew

and i remember standing in trafalgar square with cnd, campaign for nuclear disarmament, november1961.ith a microphone, he was very old, and he said, "if you're "all alive next year, you'll all be very lucky." well, that was 61 years ago. so we weren't nuked. but there is an insanity in us. how can we do what we do? and we all are there. we can march and we can say and we can protest. we point one finger, there'll be pointing three back at ourselves. we are the human beast. and it is a tragedy, but it's the human tragedy. it's quite extraordinary. and i think there's some... i didn't realise how much this film meant to me until, you know, your question. and because it is part of my life, really. i mean, i was never involved in, you know... but i was around, i was a boy. i was growing up. it's good to see you. good to see you. we interviewed johnny flynn. he said — you know, meeting you, for him, was clearly, really important. clearly, sort of meeting one of his heroes as a young actor. did you have people like that when you were young that you met, that you looked up to in the way that

. plinth in trafalgar square. >> a petition has been launched by the royalist movement, the royalistsover the overground lines being renamed . overground lines being renamed. and um. but khan, who posted on formerly twitter, says he is proud to support the fourth plinth art exhibition in trafalgar square, stating since 1998, this initiative has showcased world class artwork, adding to london's dynamic cultural scene, and that he's excited to see what new exhibits will be next to grace this iconic space. >> well, joining us now is the political commentator emma webb, and emma sadiq khan is , as and emma sadiq khan is, as being, one could argue, conservative here. he's not changing the way that we've done things since 1998, quite a long time ago. he's keeping this tradition of a rotating series of artwork, surely as a traditionalist, emma, you'd be in favour. >> um, don't be disingenuous. >> um, don't be disingenuous. >> he's been a very busy boy this week, hasn't he? >> sadiq khan. >> sadiq khan. >> um, no . >> um, no. »- >> um, no. >> i mean, all of the, um. >> uh , nominations for th

in london this evening and it will be this weekend, there is going to be a parade tomorrow in trafalgar squareting up across the world in sydney, at the opera house, and in tokyo and london's very own london eye as well, so a really good atmosphere. and it is only getting busier, to be honest, people are here in london, london's chinese down lots of eating out is about and with friends and family, said to be a lively, energetic start to the year of the dragon. i a lively, energetic start to the year of the dragon.— a lively, energetic start to the year of the dragon. i know asian leaders are _ year of the dragon. i know asian leaders are hoping _ year of the dragon. i know asian leaders are hoping there - year of the dragon. i know asian leaders are hoping there will. year of the dragon. i know asian leaders are hoping there will be | year of the dragon. i know asian | leaders are hoping there will be a big baby boon after declining birth rates and i think the year at the dragon is key to that. from what you have been hearing from people in chinatown, what is it about the dragon that is so spe

then they will go through the streets of central london, and then they will have a vigil on trafalgar squaren you tell us more about why people have decided to gather here today? what is the significance for you to come here today? igrate is the significance for you to come here today?— is the significance for you to come here toda ? ~ ., ., here today? we want to remind the whole world — here today? we want to remind the whole world that _ here today? we want to remind the whole world that ukraine _ here today? we want to remind the whole world that ukraine is - here today? we want to remind the whole world that ukraine is still- whole world that ukraine is still fighting — whole world that ukraine is still fighting the russian terrorists, they are — fighting the russian terrorists, they are killing ukrainians every single _ they are killing ukrainians every single day and we want to cry out for international communities to help. _ for international communities to help. to — for international communities to help, to send more military aid, more _ help, to send more military aid, more ammuni

it will show casts of the faces of hundreds of transgender prostitutes in trafalgar square with a costllion dollars. they were expecting a statute of the late queen elizabeth second. he said that's in the works and supports a fitting memorial to the late queen and not blocked the process. quick reaction. >> not all heroes wear capes. they wear dresses and sell their bodies. that we're doing this and considering this seriously is such a joke. it really tells you how far the left has come. you will prioritize this over the queen is just so incredibly silly and it's offensive. no one is asking for this art. no one thinks this is actually important to say as a message, whatever the message is. i guess they're heroes because they are a marginalized community. >> sandra: he denies it is taking priority. there are londoners up if arms about what is happening there. thank you for joining us. and thanks for watching "the faulkner focus." i'm sandra smith and back at 1:00 p.m. eastern on america reports. "outnumbered" is after the break. at ameriprise financial our advice is personalized based o

the huge commission in trafalgar square is now in its 25th year. and a ship in a bottle. let's take a look at the tubes now and there's a good service on all lines this morning. now onto the weather with kawser. hello, and a very good morning to you. it's a cloudy start to the day and there's some outbreaks of patchy rain in places but that will clear and it becomes drier and brighter as the day progresses. it's a weak weather front that's bringing that rain and drizzle for a time, cloudy and damp weather clearing to allow much more in the way of drier and brighter weather, some spells of sunshine although it will be hazy at times and temperatures reaching around 12 to 14 celsius with the breeze. into the evening, dry, clear skies, some patches of cloud around as well. and temperatures overnight will dip to around 4—7 celsius and for tuesday it should be largely dry. there will be quite a lot of cloud around, though, but we have this waving weather front that will arrive later for wednesday bringing some wet and windy weather for a time, quite unse

. >> olas�*nekicks off into the still there as it kicks off into the night, this time at trafalgar squaren town, rebelling against being turned into an asylum seeker dumping ground. it's extraordinary evening on it's an extraordinary evening on the panel. it's senior political correspondent daily correspondent at the daily express, cowie, express, christine cowie, activist landlord adam activist and landlord adam brooks, and left leaning commentator rebecca reid. oh, and what's going on . here? get and what's going on. here? get ready britain , here we go

justin welby is involved in another church of england scandal and what do you want on trafalgar squaresnth? queen elizabeth ii or this sweet potato ? so find out more on potato? so find out more on patrick christys tonight, 9 to 11 pm. be there i >> welcome back. we've been discussing drunken ims that is, synonyms for people being drunk and trigger warnings, and we've got the following male morgs rae says hello to jacob. there is another time for trigger warnings. we call them spoiler alerts and jones says the woke bngade alerts and jones says the woke brigade are having a laugh. they want trigger warnings on shakespeare because of violence. we the we see violence on the television tiktok and the television and on tiktok and the internet a daily basis . there internet on a daily basis. there are things to about are more things to worry about than this idiocy. i thought you might a lot of the might send in a lot of the drunken but actually, if drunken ims, but actually, if they've come, they been they've come, they haven't been handed send them handed to me. but do send them in. still in

justin welby is involved in another church of england scandal and what do you want on trafalgar squaresnth? queen elizabeth ii or this sweet potato ? so find out more on potato? so find out more on patrick christys tonight, 9 to 11 pm. be there i >> welcome back. we've been discussing drunken ims that is, synonyms for people being drunk and trigger warnings, and we've got the following male morgs rae says hello to jacob. there is another time for trigger warnings. we call them spoiler alerts and jones says the woke bngade alerts and jones says the woke brigade are having a laugh. they want trigger warnings on shakespeare because of violence. we the we see violence on the television tiktok and the television and on tiktok and the internet a daily basis . there internet on a daily basis. there are things to about are more things to worry about than this idiocy. i thought you might a lot of the might send in a lot of the drunken but actually, if drunken ims, but actually, if they've come, they been they've come, they haven't been handed send them handed to me. but do send them in. still in

. >> olas�*nekicks off into the still there as it kicks off into the night, this time at trafalgar square, rebelling against being turned into an asylum seeker dumping ground. it's extraordinary evening on it's an extraordinary evening on the panel. it's senior political correspondent daily correspondent at the daily express, cowie, express, christine cowie, activist landlord adam activist and landlord adam brooks, and left leaning commentator rebecca reid. oh, and what's going on . here? get and what's going on. here? get ready britain , here we go ready britain, here we go. resignations, rebellions , resignations, rebellions, protests, political chaos . we protests, political chaos. we have tory and labour reaction to live and . next. live and. next. >> patrick, thanks very much indeed. and good evening to you. well, westminster was in uproar this evening after the government withdrew its amendment to the snp's motion for a ceasefire in gaza that that prompted mps from the snp to leave the chamber and for the tories, then to follow, leaving only labour to vote on its own amendment . onl

absolutely >> uh, in trafalgar square . uh, >> uh, in trafalgar square.ths. and the fourth plinth plinth is for what? >> well , every plinth plinth is for what? >> well, every couple of years they change what the design is going to be. so they can showcase new art. but the line—up of all the next plinths, it's like if you asked, say, the most right wing daily mail columnist, you could find, and you say, what? what kind of deranged woke thing do you think the mayor of london will do? and then he's done it. he's actually signed off on these things. so the next one we can enjoy is going to be a tribute to transgender sex workers. uh, there are plinths about celebrating there's celebrating migration. there's a plinth that's going to be with his, uh, tube liners essentially . yeah. it's the same theme, the same themes and the fireworks. the same . it's all the same old the same. it's all the same old themes. it's racism. it's migration . uh, transgenderism. i migration. uh, transgenderism. i mean , i'm surprised there's no mean, i'm surprised there's no climat

the issue over the statue and on the fourth plinth in trafalgar square , these sort of things square, the message to, if you like, the more traditional engush like, the more traditional english white community that he wants to suppress their culture. >> henry, i think that's a really interesting point you've just made there. i mean, people viewers are getting in touch. it's gb views at gb news. please do get in touch. you already are. this is a subject very close to all your hearts. robert has said, um, yet another mp removed from the tory party for telling the truth . echoing what telling the truth. echoing what you're there does appear you're saying, there does appear to be an out there , a silent to be an out there, a silent majority who essentially said they're not racist , but they are they're not racist, but they are concerned about how they perceive things to be going . one perceive things to be going. one example being the beaming of the from the river to the sea on big ben and nothing i know i know, the tower isn't called big ben . the tower isn't called big ben. that's the b

trafalgar square isn't cordoned off at the moment and i think that's because of brexit. eu . in different approach to the eu. in the eu, what we've seen is top down punitive taxes and diktat being issued from brussels across the 27 member states in the uk. we've done things differently. we have a new post—brexit farm support scheme, the environmental land management schemes. and rather than punishing farmers, we're taking them with us. they're being encouraged to do the right thing so you can receive payments for adopting more sustainable farming practices. doing the right and doing the right thing. and i think that's the right approach. there's obviously more we can do, we're on the do, but i think we're on the right track. >> hear a lot. it speak to >> we hear a lot. it speak to a lot of farmers on this show. jordan and a lot of them complain as well about the big supermarket and their supermarket markets and their margins squeezed. supermarket markets and their margins sadly, eezed. supermarket markets and their margins sadly, to zed. supermarket markets and their mar

the battle was long battle of trafalgar was a long time ago. gets a square. time ago.. it gets a square. >> and does1e liytake;. time ago. it gets a square. >> and does1e liytake the lioness >> and does one take the lioness or does one ride it? this, you know, of very know, raises all kinds of very difficult time in the afternoon. well, it's serious well, it's a it's a serious concern, what the concern, you know, what is the appropriate etiquette to do with this line? >> suffragettes, >> all the suffragettes, one is one you've just one line that and you've just mentioned really of mentioned it has really sort of got irritated this got me slightly irritated this got me slightly irritated this go on the collar. go on, on that, on the collar. come on, tom, shall we at come on, tom, shall we look at the way that khan has the way that sadiq khan has advertised suffrage jet line? >> now, if you notice there, that's a of millicent that's a statue of millicent fawcett, she a fawcett. she wasn't a suffragette. she was a suffragist. >> calm down, dear, this is a very, very impor