it's >> good afternoon. britain. it's 12:00 on friday, the 5th of april. >> tory sex trap. senior conservative mp william wragg has admitted his involvement in a honey trap sixteen scandal targeting several mps and a political journalist. gb news has exclusive access to messages sent by the honey trap account. >> civil servants walkout civil servants could refuse to work over fears they could be complicit in war crimes in gaza. if israel is found to have broken international law. their union is considering taking legal action against the government . government. >> brexit victory britain has been named the second most powerful country in the world by the global soft power index. has brexit britain actually exceeded expectations? >> well, this is a story that is

rocking westminster. westminster currently in recess, of course, but there's very little else being spoken about amongst people in positions of power today. that is, of course, the honey trap honey pot scandal, whereby over a dozen senior figures in westminster have been receiving flirtatious , receiving flirtatious, unsolicited messages . been who unsolicited messages. been who they said they were. >> yes. and we're going to have a bit of a well, a huge exclusive actually coming up after the news bulletins, we will reveal we will reveal all. but of course, there are many questions about william wragg, many questions. firstly who's been targeting mps. secondly why would male mps be so stupid , so would male mps be so stupid, so careless, so foolish to even indulge, conversations coming from unknown numbers, coming from unknown numbers, coming from randomers essentially and

what should happen to such tory mps? what should happen to william wragg if he was sending sending over colleagues numbers to just a random bloke he met on a dating app? the mind boggles. >> it must be said that mps numbers do find them ways into many people's phone books. perhaps the real issue here is that members of parliament were seeing messages and not treating them with the suspicion that they should have. >> i know they have training on this stuff. they're told be this stuff. they're told to be suspicious. they're told to be careful. they're people careful. they're told people will targeting will be targeting them, including hostile states. i mean, really, how foolish can you be? but yes, we're going to have a big gb news exclusive after absolutely. >> stay with us. we'll asking >> stay with us. we'll be asking you would fall you the question. would you fall for messages we show for these messages after we show them? that's, of course, them? but that's, of course, after your headlines with ray. >> good afternoon. almost 12:03. our top stories this hour , a

our top stories this hour, a sixteen scandal rocking westminster has been described as cause for concern by the chancellor. that's after conservative mp william wragg admitted his involvement, telling the times that he'd sent intimate pictures of himself to someone on a gay dating app and was then manipulated into handing over the personal phone numbers of colleagues . jeremy numbers of colleagues. jeremy hunt says mps and members of the pubuc hunt says mps and members of the public need to be careful about their cyber security . their cyber security. >> well, i think the events of the last few days have been a great cause for concern. the mp involved has given a courageous and fulsome apology, but the lesson here for all mps is that they need to be very careful about cyber security . and indeed about cyber security. and indeed it's the lesson for members of the public as well, because this is something that we are all having to face in our daily lives. >> millions of people will receive a boost in take home pay

from tomorrow following a cut to employee national insurance from the start of the new tax year , the start of the new tax year, class one contributions will be reduced from 10 to 8. meanwhile, a further 2 million self—employed people will see their class four national insurance reduced from 8 to 6. the government says around 29 million workers will benefit from these changes . shadow from these changes. shadow chancellor rachel reeves says taxes are actually going up now. >> they say tomorrow that taxes are going down. all of the numbers show that taxes are on the rise. taxes today are at a 70 year high, and they're due to increase in every single year of the forecast period. in fact, by the forecast period. in fact, by the end of the forecast, the average british family will be paying average british family will be paying £870 more in tax because of the frozen national insurance and income tax threshold, and because of increases in council tax . two that is the tax. two that is the conservatives double whammy on tax. >> well, consultants will be

paying >> well, consultants will be paying more national insurance. they've accepted a pay offer from the government , they've accepted a pay offer from the government, ending a year long dispute. the british medical association says 83% of members in england voted in favour of the offer, which is an improvement on what on one rejected earlier on this year. consultants have taken strike action over the past 12 months, adding to the nhs waiting list, which has also been affected by the junior doctors dispute, which remains unresolved . new which remains unresolved. new powers to prevent disruptive protests come into force today, with offenders facing up to six months in prison or an unlimited fine . serious disruption fine. serious disruption prevention orders can now be used to stop repeat offenders from joining protest groups in a particular area at particular times, home secretary james cleverly says these powers will target those who are, quote , target those who are, quote, dedicated to wreaking havoc. however, civil liberties organisation liberty is describing it as a shameless attempt to prevent people from being able to make their voices

heard. parts of the country have no train service today due to a fresh strike by drivers. aslef union members have walked out and mounted picket lines in their long running dispute over pay- their long running dispute over pay. five train operators are involved, including avanti, crosscountry and west midlands railway. they say they're not running any services. a ban on overtime at 16 companies is also continuing into tomorrow. israel has announced that it's opening new routes for humanitarian aid deliveries into gaza, after warnings from us president biden on the erez crossing is being opened for the first time since the hamas terror attacks in october. officials also say they're planning to increase the amount of aid from jordan moving through the kerem shalom crossing . in through the kerem shalom crossing. in a through the kerem shalom crossing . in a call with israeli crossing. in a call with israeli pm benjamin netanyahu , president pm benjamin netanyahu, president biden said that future us support for the country depends on steps taken to protect civilians and aid workers while

staying with israel and fast food chain mcdonald's is taking back ownership of its restaurants in the country . the restaurants in the country. the firm is buying back its 30 year old franchise of over 225 outlets from alan bates limited, which employs more than 5000 people. the american company has been subject to boycotts and protests since colonial began donating free meals to israel's military shortly after the hamas attacks. but donald's will own the restaurants and retain the employees as part of the deal, they say the king has reportedly told aides to ramp up plans for a two week state visit down unden a two week state visit down under, king charles is said to be over the moon and raring to go after his cancer treatment started positively, the 75 year old is said to be feeling optimistic after he was able to meet with the public on easter sunday. he's reportedly told aides that he is supercharging plans to also visit new zealand

and samoa . well, for the latest and samoa. well, for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code it's on your screen right now or go to gbnews.com/alerts now back to tom and emily and that scoop. >> good afternoon britain. it's 12:08 now for a gb news exclusive, following senior figures in westminster finding their mobile phone numbers shared and unsolicited, flirtatious messages sent to their personal phones. gb news has today been given exclusive access to the westminster honeypot messages. first, this is how the honey trap worked. a message would be sent pretending to have known the recipient in this instance, an account identifying itself as charlie said it was sad not to bump into you over conference season . it's

you over conference season. it's been too long. this was followed up been too long. this was followed ”p by been too long. this was followed up by the flirtatious message do ineed up by the flirtatious message do i need to do something better to grab your attention now? gb news understands messages were sent over a period spanning five months. here we see persistent messages . hey, how are you? messages. hey, how are you? sorry. accident hey, hey, we're not going to pick this up. then now, we understand that well over a dozen figures in westminster have been targeted in this way. but just to repeat, this is how they were targeted . hmm'hmm. >> so from an unknown number, someone out of the blue drops a line to an mp or a political journalist saying, oh, saw you around. nice to bump into you. how are you? whatever. no response continues. continues, continues. continues. now i don't know about you, tom, but when i get a message out of the blue from an unknown number, i am automatically suspicious. i automatically feel, you know

what? i'm probably not going to respond to that . at best, i'd respond to that. at best, i'd probably say, who's this? and if there's no adequate response, then you just ignore and block. but what we're seeing here is that potentially our politicians who supposed to be sensible, who are supposed to be sensible, who are supposed to be sensible, who are supposed to be sensible, who are given training on what to avoid and not to look foolish, have actually responded and indulged messages like this and indulged messages like this and potentially shared indecent images. >> that's right. the times is saying that two members of parliament have shared indecent images in this way, and it's easy to see, looking at the content of these messages, how they could have done that, thinking that this is someone that they might have met, might have the way in which have known. the way in which these written these messages are written certainly is designed. >> come on. as an as an mp, >> come on. as an mp, as an mp, probably you should leave sending indecent photos. in the past . if you're a public figure, past. if you're a public figure, why on earth why on earth would you share a picture of yourself in a compromising position with someone? i mean, seriously,

you're talking, i mean seriously. and then william bragg apparently so scared that someone could, you know, share photos of him that he would then pass colleagues numbers. yes. >> although the reason william wragg has not had the whip withdrawn from him is he he's also being considered to some extent as a victim in this at this stage . but let's discuss this stage. but let's discuss this. >> the police investigation is looking at who was trying to target him, rather than him doing anything illegal. >> but let's get more with our gb news political editor , gb news political editor, christopher christopher, christopher hope, christopher, this is a pretty shocking story thatis this is a pretty shocking story that is rippling through westminster . westminster. >> that's right. hi, tom. hi, emily. yeah, it certainly is, it's been taken very, very seriously by the speaker of the house of commons, sir lindsay hoyle. he wrote to mps , last hoyle. he wrote to mps, last night. i've got a letter here in my hand. it says here that the parliamentary security department is working closely with partners in government to, i understand, to be security

experts, to analyse and understand the nature of these messages and any related security risk. and he would stress that it's unwise to speculate about their origin at this stage . clearly there is this stage. clearly there is a concern it could be a foreign state actor targeting mps who may be are prone to responding to messages. we know william wragg , has had mental health wragg, has had mental health issues in the past. he's been open about those issues, talked about them, had had lots of sympathy from other mps early today , jeremy hunt, the today, jeremy hunt, the chancellor, had this to say about mr wragg . about mr wragg. >> well, i think the events of the last few days , have been a the last few days, have been a great cause for concern . varne, great cause for concern. varne, the mp involved has given a courageous and fulsome apology . courageous and fulsome apology. but the lesson here for all mps is that they need to be very careful about cyber security and indeed, it's the lesson for members of the public as well, because this is something that

we are all to face in our we are all having to face in our daily lives. >> that's jeremy hunt there talking about, william wragg. now, william wragg, i understand, is in greater manchester in his constituency. he's he'll be spoken to this afternoon by those experts in parliament and government to understand how many other numbers he gave out a dozen or so. i also understand from senior sources, sources that more are coming forward as we speak. so this issue is growing, not subsiding. chris it seems to me that jeremy hunt was very generous. >> there , saying that he gave >> there, saying that he gave a courageous and fulsome apology. i mean, this is an mp who has been handing out his colleagues numbers, potentially bringing parliament into disrepute. i'm sure a lot of people would consider that perhaps this would be a matter to take away the whip from him. why do you suppose there's so much generosity from the likes of hunt ?

hunt? >> i think it's because emily, he's he's well known . he's liked he's he's well known. he's liked in parliament. he's a senior tory mp, vice chairman of the 1922 committee. he did issue a statement last night to the times in which he said, he, they had some compromising things on me. they wouldn't leave me alone . i've hurt people by being weak. i was scared, i mortified . weak. i was scared, i mortified. i'm so sorry. my weakness has caused other people hurt. he's made very clear that it was a weak moment . made very clear that it was a weak moment. i mean, i think everyone is subject to this pressure and how we deal with it is up to us. and some people find it harder to resist, pressure. obviously, you know, i mean, he found himself giving out details he never should have done to random strangers. that's clearly totally wrong. i think jeremy hunt was allowing himself to see the human behind this issue. and william wragg has, has time off from parliament has had time off from parliament to deal with mental health issues . that's well known by issues. that's well known by mps. and i think that's jeremy hunt trying to say we understand he's under pressure he

he's he's under pressure and he is said, sorry , but is he has said, sorry, but you're right. when you said there the advice is always don't respond unsolicited text respond to unsolicited text messages . it could be anybody messages. it could be anybody trying to get in touch, as i understand it, sources tell me very senior sources in the commons say it looks unlikely this was a foreign actor. but as i say, the commons authorities are using all the assets in the state, to examine whether it was a, a country trying to exploit a weak tory mps or mps at all. well, very interesting indeed. >> thank you christopher. hope our political editor. >> well, let's get some more on this with the thoughts of political correspondent at the spectator. james heale , james, spectator. james heale, james, just how many people do we think this might have affected ? this might have affected? >> well, you mentioned there, tom, at the beginning of the programme, about a dozen or so i've heard a similar number. and i've heard a similar number. and i think quite striking, i think what's quite striking, it just, of course, mps, it wasn't just, of course, mps, conservative there's also conservative mps. there's also other people involved in

different parliament, different levels, in parliament, staff members as well. so this was an attempt to kind of really, of put out there really, sort of put out there sort of machine gun approach, different, of , different, different types of, people out there. and it wasn't just parliamentarians who might have had access to more sensitive also people have had access to more sensit down also people have had access to more sensit down the also people have had access to more sensit down the food.so people have had access to more sensit down the food chain ople have had access to more sensit down the food chain in.e lower down the food chain in westminster as well, james, do we that it was only we understand that it was only male mps that were targeted ? and male mps that were targeted? and what does that say about them? >> well, my understanding is i've only heard of men being targeted by this , perhaps this targeted by this, perhaps this shows perhaps, the way in which men were seen as more likely targets for these kind of, attempted honey trapping involvements, traditionally, attempted honey trapping inwmenlents, traditionally, attempted honey trapping inwmen and, traditionally, attempted honey trapping inwmen and male tionally, attempted honey trapping inwmen and male politicians in it's men and male politicians in westminster. you go back through the past years or so the past 1500 years or so throughout cold war, who throughout the cold war, who were kind of were targeted in these kind of things, but also i think perhaps, level of predominance perhaps, a level of predominance of westminster well. of westminster is men as well. so think perhaps, you know, so i think perhaps, you know, choosing the effective targets, looking sort honey looking at sort of honey trapping history hearing trapping history and hearing the names involved in names that have been involved in this stuff , also point this kind of stuff, also point to more male involvement in this than to more male involvement in this tha now, of course, there's

>> now, of course, there's a long history westminster, as long history in westminster, as you honey traps by you allude to, of honey traps by foreign actors. this foreign state actors. in this instance , perhaps it's not instance, perhaps it's not a foreign state actor. perhaps it is, but it could be someone trying to extort people for money, for influence , or even money, for influence, or even for sexual gratification. absolutely >> and as you say, tom, there's a whole history of that. i've just finished reading a closet queen, which is a great book about sort of, homosexuals in politics previously. there's politics previously. and there's a when a case, for instance, when robert boothby the 1960s was robert boothby in the 1960s was blackmailed twins , blackmailed by the kray twins, that was one case where the criminal element of domestic criminal element of domestic criminal involved there. criminal element involved there. obviously. you obviously. maybe some of you have year john have seen last year the john stonehouse which stonehouse documentary in which he blackmailed eastern he was blackmailed by eastern bloc labour mp bloc agents. he was a labour mp in 1970s. so foreign state in the 1970s. so foreign state actors, domestic actors actors, but also domestic actors as well are involved in this. there's where, you there's also cases where, you know, kind of, domestic there's also cases where, you knowand kind of, domestic there's also cases where, you knowand thingsind of, domestic there's also cases where, you knowand things like »f, domestic there's also cases where, you knowand things like that,nestic there's also cases where, you knowand things like that, and c rows and things like that, and people partners get people don't partners get involved for own sexual involved for kind of own sexual gratification. we don't know more. details will more. i'm sure more details will emerge coming or emerge over the coming weeks or so, it's reminder yet so, but it's a reminder yet again importance of

again of the importance of cybersecurity and coming at a time when the uk government, i know, is preparing things like the defending democracy taskforce kind taskforce for the kind of national ensure national elections to ensure they targeted by they can't be targeted by foreign actors. a foreign state actors. it's a reminder it be simple reminder that it can be simple as own phone as passing on an own phone number to someone else. that can also downfall of also lead to the downfall of people's careers and of people's careers and lots of shame as well. shame and ignominy as well. >> mean, this could do >> i mean, this could do potential to people's potential damage to people's personal relationships. if some of who have been of these mps who have been involved in these conversations with these numbers potentially sending pictures and the like, and if they happen to be married or have children and things, this could be this could have huge ramifications, couldn't it? for some of these mps potentially. >> absolutely . i think it leads >> absolutely. i think it leads on to an interesting debate about changing norms involving our mps and blackmail. i think in case, we'll wragg has in this case, we'll wragg has made miscalculation . i think made a miscalculation. i think you've there jeremy you've seen there from jeremy hunfs you've seen there from jeremy hunt's about how hunt's comments about how courageous his statement was. i think what could think actually what wragg could have done was just, you know, be honest about fact that he honest about the fact that he had pictures were had these these pictures were out there and the messages etc,

because don't think because people don't think i don't much as don't think they care as much as they i think that's they used to. and i think that's about around about changing norms around social but he was social media. but also, he was the this. and i think the victim of this. and i think that the mistake, not that was the mistake, not actually think people would actually think that people would immediately him immediately sympathise with him on know, on this because, you know, i think this is going to be think this stuff is going to be more a feature of more and more of a feature of political next political life over the next ten, years and we want ten, 20 years or so. and we want to and learn the lessons of to try and learn the lessons of this. and, know, people this. and, you know, if people are to to are getting blackmailed to go to the away and the police straight away and point obviously point this out because obviously it's clearly it's illegal it's clearly not on it's illegal and needs to be stamped and it needs to be stamped out of life. of public life. >> yes, it that sometimes >> yes, it seems that sometimes people try and control it themselves, and doing so, themselves, and in doing so, actually out into actually spread it out into further james actually spread it out into furtifinally james actually spread it out into furtifinally suppose james just finally i suppose if william hand william wragg didn't hand out these numbers, people william wragg didn't hand out these have numbers, people william wragg didn't hand out these have got mbers, people william wragg didn't hand out these have got members ople william wragg didn't hand out these have got members of.e could have got members of parliament's numbers parliament's phone numbers through any sort of means. >> yeah , absolutely. and there's >> yeah, absolutely. and there's still quite a lot of information about mps and their residences in terms of electoral law, actually online and offline as well. and there are many things. i think it just shows that, again, westminster needs make again, westminster needs to make sure very careful in sure it's being very careful in its information and to its use of information and to ensure kind minimise

ensure that we kind of minimise these as much as possible. >> well, james hill, political correspondent spectator, correspondent at the spectator, thank very your time. >> he could have gone to, you know, parliamentary party, know, the parliamentary party, gone colleague, gone to the gone to a colleague, gone to the whip. what whip. and actually, that's what the are. it's so the whips are. so it's so foolish, so foolish , but foolish, so, so foolish, but yes, let us know what you make of it all. vaiews@gbnews.com. you've seen the types of messages now that were to messages now that were sent to mps to lure them in. what do you make that? do you think make of that? do you think they're just to they're just foolish to have responded perhaps responded to that? or perhaps could victims themselves? could be victims themselves? >> yes. well, much more coming up. millions of workers will see a cut in their national insurance rates from tomorrow. but will it affect you? more but how will it affect you? more on after the break. this is on that after the break. this is good afternoon britain on .

gb news. >> it's 1223. you're watching

and listening to. good afternoon, britain. now millions of us will see a cut in our national insurance rate from tomorrow, which could help a little bit in easing some financial strain on household budgets . hopefully, hopefully. budgets. hopefully, hopefully. >> but here's the rub. it's being criticised, with many saying that any cuts will be up offset due to inflation. people already being dragged into higher tax brackets than they should be. this was put to the chancellor, jeremy hunt, a little bit earlier . little bit earlier. >> i've always been very open about the fact that after covid and the cost of living crisis, the energy crisis , we had to put the energy crisis, we had to put taxes up. but the fundamental divide in british politics is between a conservative party having taken difficult decisions on the economy, is now starting to bring taxes down to pay off national insurance from saturday. another £0.02 off in the autumn statement last year that came through in january. we want to bring the tax burden down. the labour party wants to keep it as it is , and that is

keep it as it is, and that is the big choice that people will have in the general election. this year. >> well, there you go. jeremy hunt insisting that there is a big divide between the conservatives and labour conservatives and the labour party when it comes to tax. but we want to know how impacts we want to know how this impacts you in britain. liam you out there in britain. liam halligan news economics and halligan gb news economics and business editor, joins us from a wetherspoons guildford. business editor, joins us from a wetherspoons guildford . good wetherspoons in guildford. good stuff. and jeff moody, gb news south west reporter is in barnstaple in devon. liam, you're wetherspoons in you're in the wetherspoons in guildford. people guildford. what are people saying ? saying there? >> i'm indeed i'm in wetherspoons on a friday lunchtime. my natural environment since i've come down here to this commuter town south of london, because i was recently with the chancellor , recently with the chancellor, jeremy hunt, asking him about these national insurance changes . we've had two big tax changes .we've had two big tax changes from the tories in recent months. in january, the tories lowered their headline rate of national insurance for employees from 12 to 10. and on saturday it goes down again from 10 to 8.

those two changes for the average worker worth something like 800 to £900 a year in safe taxation, that's quite a lot of money. but as you rightly say, and as i quizzed the chancellor earlier, these tax cuts are more than offset by what we call fiscal drag by tax thresholds being frozen. the personal allowance at about 12,500 pounds, where you start paying, the headline rate of income tax and the upper rate of income tax. lots of middle income people now, middle income teachers, police officers, nhs workers getting dragged into those top tax brackets and that higher tax that they're paying more than offsets the lower headune more than offsets the lower headline rate of national insurance. so the tories are talking a good game on tax . but talking a good game on tax. but the reality is that the tax burden, the share of our income that we pay on tax continues to rise towards that 70 year high expected next year. thank you

very much indeed. >> liam. shall we speak to jeff moody who's in devon, geoff, what are the people thinking down in barnstaple ? down in barnstaple? >> well, a lot of people here in barnstaple didn't know anything about it. i think when we work in news, we think that everybody hangs off our every word. but a lot of people didn't know this was so i able to was happening. so i was able to spread cheer amongst the spread good cheer amongst the people of barnstaple today, the news universally news was pretty universally accepted as being great news. people are very pleased that the idea having little bit more idea of having a little bit more in every month, and in their pocket every month, and for some people, on average for some people, on an average or more than average or slightly more than average salary, could be something salary, this could be something like extra £100 month. and like an extra £100 a month. and let's we could all do let's face it, we could all do with that at the moment . with that at the moment. >> it fits everybody. yeah, i wish i don't know where it's benefiting the rich as well. yeah you know there's still up there. we're still down here. >> not for me. i, i'm in a job where i don't actually earn enough to pay national insurance, and i'm on minimum wage, so from my point of view, no, it makes no difference to me

at all. >> i'll go buy my mum like she thinks that it's actually alright because if she's getting more money, then like more more money, then it's like more money kids and she can money for us kids and she can get food, and get more food, shopping and everything, got everything, and then she's got more money can reward more money so she can reward herself well. herself as well. >> tomorrow, which means >> come in tomorrow, which means that the end of april we that by the end of april we should a few quid richer. should all be a few quid richer. i'm looking forward to that . i'm looking forward to that. >> very good indeed. it's interesting to hear what people have to say there, some not even knowing it was coming in. some people on such low wages that they won't feel the impact . they won't feel the impact. >> yes. and of course people feeling like they're being taxed more more because to throw more and more because to throw back second, we back to liam for a second, we have been taxed more and more. and you said, that this doesn't quite make up for that fiscal drag effect, to what degree are we talking how much worse off are we compared to if there was no fiscal drag at all? and how much better off are we compared to, if these tax cuts hadn't happened at all? >> well, it's worth saying that ,

>> well, it's worth saying that, these frozen tax thresholds , these frozen tax thresholds, tom, they were introduced in 2022, 2023. they last until 2027, 2028. so those tax holds are frozen between now and then. and every year as wages go up, as inflation goes up, though hopefully not by as much as it has in the past, more and more people get dragged in those top tax brackets. we're looking at 3 or 4 million extra workers, over a 10th of the workforce paying tax at a higher rate than they otherwise would have done, had those thresholds not been frozen. we're talking about very modestly paid teachers, police officers and nhs workers now paying officers and nhs workers now paying tax not at 20, but at a higher rate of tax . so this more higher rate of tax. so this more than offsets those lower headune than offsets those lower headline rates of tax. and geoff moody's right. of course, a lot of people haven't clocked the

fact that this is happening. we only had the first nh, the first, national insurance cut introduced in january . so that's introduced in january. so that's only figured so far in pay packets for february. we've got march pay packets coming out soon, of course, for some people. and then they'll feel the next headline rate of tax reduction from tomorrow . so this reduction from tomorrow. so this will take time. the tories are hoping that they can get another tax cut in this autumn if they have another fiscal event, and they're hoping that there'll be lower rates of interest to do just one thing while i'm here with you, tom and emily, i would say that even though i do expect interest rates to be cut , there interest rates to be cut, there are now signs in financial markets that those rate cuts may take a little bit longer to come through than is otherwise expected. and we've hearing expected. and we've been hearing news federal reserve news from the us federal reserve that inflation remains very sticky, remains quite high. and also the oil price now just hit $90 a barrel. these are all reasons why there are more price

pressures in the pipeline, which may mean the bank of may mean that the bank of england pauses yet again before it lowers interest rates for the first time. i am still expecting the first rate cut to happen in june, but there are some signs in financial markets this morning that date may once morning that that date may once again, unfortunately for those on mortgages, fortunately , if on mortgages, fortunately, if you live on your savings, that that first interest rate cut may be delayed now beyond june . be delayed now beyond june. >> oh, it's giving me flashbacks to when that we were all waiting for freedom day during covid, for freedom day during covid, for all those restrictions to 90, for all those restrictions to go, and they kept pushing it back and pushing it back. maybe we'll get freedom a we'll get mortgage freedom day a little bit later. liam halligan and moody, and indeed, jeff moody, thank you very much for bringing us all of that. >> yes, thank very much >> yes, thank you very much indeed, up. yeah. indeed, well, coming up. yeah. waiting waiting interest waiting and waiting for interest rate cuts. although some people will say they quite like having they quite like having a bit of, of interest on their savings for once. up, union once. but, coming up, a union representing civil servants says it is seriously considering

taking . legal action against the taking. legal action against the government in relation to the uk's arms sales to israel. civil servants could potentially go on strike. we'll have that strike. we'll have more on that after your headlines with ray. >> thanks, guys. 1232 our top stories this hour, government security experts have been called in to analyse and understand the nature of the whatsapp messages at the heart of the honey trap sext scandal. so far, around a dozen mps , so far, around a dozen mps, staff and journalists have been targeted, but sources told gb news that more are coming forward today. the tory mp involved, william wragg, is expected to be contacted to provide a list of numbers which he handed people sending provide a list of numbers which he iwhatsapps. people sending provide a list of numbers which he iwhatsapps. peopiwraginng the whatsapps. earlier, wragg told that he'd sent told the times that he'd sent intimate pictures of himself to someone on a gay dating app and was then manipulated into providing those contacts . providing those contacts. millions of people will receive a boost in take home pay from

tomorrow, following a cut to employee . national insurance employee. national insurance from the start of the new tax year , class one contributions year, class one contributions will be reduced from 10 to 8. meanwhile, a further 2 million self—employed people will see their national their class four national insurance from 8 to 6. insurance reduced from 8 to 6. consultants have accepted a pay offer from the government, ending a year long dispute. the british medical association says 83% of members in england voted in favour of the offer, which is an improvement on one rejected earlier on this year. consultants have taken strike action over the past 12 months, adding to the nhs waiting list which has also been affected by the junior doctors dispute, which remains unresolved . parts which remains unresolved. parts of the country have no train services today due to a fresh strike by drivers. aslef union members have walked out and mounted picket lines in their long running dispute over pay. five train operators are

involved, including avanti, crosscountry and west midlands railway. they say they're not running any services . well. for running any services. well. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code it's on your screen now or go to gb news. com slash alerts. >> for exclusive, limited edition and rare gold coins that are always newsworthy, rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . news financial report. >> well, we've just seen liam. let's show you the money. the pound will buy you. $1.2630 and ,1.1657. price of gold £1,816.09 and the ftse 100 at 7896 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial

i >> -- >> is 1238. you're >> is1238. you're watching. listening to good afternoon, britain . you've been getting in britain. you've been getting in touch about this sixteen honey trap scandal that is rocking westminster, paula says , are westminster, paula says, are these grown men and women seriously falling for this? i and even my 15 year old goes straight to block when we don't know the number. yes, a lot of us do. >> sensible , jo says in an >> sensible, jo says in an election year, it's obvious that there would be an increase in there would be an increase in the number of scams and traps aimed at members of parliament. the culprits could be hostile states, but my guess is it's more likely to be left wing activists . that's what jo says. activists. that's what jo says. >> it's a good point. although we know. do we know labour we know. do we know that labour mps targeted? mps have been targeted? >> labour have >> we know labour figures have been targeted. >> right. don't know who >> right. so we don't know who exactly, but we may find that out in due course. peter says william instrumental, william wragg was instrumental, as many others, getting william wragg was instrumental, as of many others, getting william wragg was instrumental, as of borisny others, getting william wragg was instrumental, as of borisjohnsons, getting william wragg was instrumental, as of borisjohnson . getting william wragg was instrumental, as of boris johnson . so getting william wragg was instrumental, as of boris johnson . so ietting william wragg was instrumental, as of boris johnson . so i have rid of boris johnson. so i have no sympathy, he says. no apologies are irrelevant, so

just resign immediately and perhaps face a police investigation. police investigation. well, the police are investigating malicious communications, but that's against person who was, against the person who was, well, arguably extorting or whatever it is. the crime is. >> yes, joanne says just because most of us wouldn't do it. these scammers are clever . look how scammers are clever. look how many get scammed by people who think they love them and part with money. there's even a tv series documentary about it . series documentary about it. and, joanne, that is a very fair point. it's not just who get point. it's not just mps who get targeted stuff. ordinary targeted in this stuff. ordinary members as well members of the public as well face stuff more and more. face this stuff more and more. >> absolutely. should you >> absolutely. but should you then out your colleagues then dish out your colleagues phone numbers some guy phone numbers to some random guy off a dating app? i don't think so. i think that's where it goes. you know, he said he has a moment of weakness. weak, vulnerable , whatever, but yes, moment of weakness. weak, vulrlittlee , whatever, but yes, moment of weakness. weak, vulrlittle element ver, but yes, moment of weakness. weak, vulrlittle element of ', but yes, moment of weakness. weak, vulrlittle element of sympathy you little element of sympathy there from joanne, sue says, as a member of the public, i would never dream of responding to messages like this by sending indecent photos. how did these men think was a good idea? men think this was a good idea? especially they were members especially as they were members of government? know of government? yes, we know

those targeted were those mps who were targeted were male say male mps, which may say something to be, something about men not to be, not make this a. well, not not to be make this a. well, not to men . lots of men would to insult men. lots of men would not do such a thing. >> men tend to be more rash and perhaps less considered than women on many occasions . women on many occasions. >> oh, maybe sometimes. sometimes. >> but . but we do know that, >> but. but we do know that, many multiple over a dozen is what we're hearing. people in westminster have been targeted by this, and there were two accounts doing it, one purporting to be a man named charlie and the other purporting to be a woman named abby. now, it could be same person it could be the same person behind these accounts, behind both of these accounts, but don't know. behind both of these accounts, but so don't know. behind both of these accounts, but so one don't know. behind both of these accounts, butso one wasl't know. behind both of these accounts, but so one was targeting gail, >> so one was targeting gail, gail, gay mps, one was gail, gay mps, and one was targeting straight male mps. yes. interesting. okay, well moving we'll bring you moving on, we'll we'll bring you more as we know it. but elsewhere civil servants within the department of business and trade involved with arms exports to israel, have raised concerns over their own degree of legal liability. if israel is found to be violating international humanitarian law. >> yes. a union representing the

civil servants said it's seriously considering taking legal action in relation to the uk's arms sales to israel. but does this ride roughshod through civil service, impartial reality? let's get more on this now with our political correspondent , katherine forster correspondent, katherine forster in westminster. for us, catherine. civil servants are supposed to support government policy, aren't they ? policy, aren't they? >> well, yes, they are, but these ones in particular, that work within the department of business and trade are working on an arms exports to israel or other work connected with the trade department and israel , other work connected with the trade department and israel, and they are concerned because increasingly it's being questioned whether israel is still acting within international law over gaza. there was that judgement by, the international court of justice

back in, a few weeks ago that said that israel could potentially be now committing genocide. we also know that legal advice has been received by the government . we understand by the government. we understand david cameron has had that for a week or two, though the government haven't published it. but basically these civil servants are saying that they are very worried that they could be working on something effectively , which is illegal, effectively, which is illegal, because if it is decided that, that israel is breaking international law , then they international law, then they would be complicit. now this has been rumbling on actually since january. and the department responded back a few weeks ago in march. and said to them the question of criminal liability for civil servants is very unlikely to arise , now, i'm not unlikely to arise, now, i'm not an employment lawyer. i would have thought that any liability would be covered by the department of business and trade, but they clearly aren't

satisfied with that. and so they've asked for an urgent meeting, and they are suggesting that they should cease work immediately. in the meantime . immediately. in the meantime. >> this is very interesting, isn't it? do you get the impression that it is the union and heads of the union who and the heads of the union who are mobilising support for this potential walkout, for this potential walkout, for this potential legal action, or do you get the impression that there are tens or hundreds of civil servants who are rising up ? >> 7- >> we 7_ >> we don't 7 >> we don't know what the numbers are. i would imagine that the numbers honestly are fairly small because for a start, we don't export much in the way of weaponry to israel. indeed andrew mitchell, the foreign office minister, said that of all the military hardware imported into israel, the uk supplies only 0.002. so not very much, but still

obviously important. so i doubt there's many people involved. one thing i would say is, though, that i've gone to many of the national marches for palestine at the pro—palestine, marches taking place in central london over the last six months since those atrocities committed by hamas on october the 7th. and you see all sorts of different banners and all sorts of different people. but one thing that has struck me is the number of union banners that i've seen lots , lots of different unions lots, lots of different unions from the national education union, the, the rmt, multiple unions there to support the stop the war marches so that perhaps might be significant, really, really interesting stuff and pretty damning really, because civil servants sign up to deliver the policy of the government of the day. >> we elect the politicians to make the policy. the neutral civil servants should be

delivering, and they're not going to be healthy. >> they're not going to be held accountable. are personally accountable. are they personally the will be the civil servants? it will be the civil servants? it will be the government who is held the government that who is held accountable they do something accountable if they do something that against that is wrong or against international catherine, international law, catherine, we're going to have to leave it there. but great to speak to you.thank there. but great to speak to you. thank you for bringing us that important context this that important context to this story. correspondent story. political correspondent katherine story. political correspondent kattalking legal expert be talking to a legal expert a little later about this. little bit later about this. where civil service where does the civil service stand? they position stand? can they take a position like this ? is some people saying like this? is some people saying that sacked? that they should be sacked? >> yes , and frankly, if this >> yes, and frankly, if this were any other issue, surely they would be sacked if there was someone employed to do a job employed to deliver the policy of the government of the day, who then decided actually , i'm who then decided actually, i'm not a civil servant, i'm a politician, i'm going to make the policy. well, no, that's not your job, the policy. well, no, that's not yourjob, civil servant. your job, civil servant. >> that's your job. we've >> that's not your job. we've heard a lot of this, haven't we? within home office, within within the home office, people to people refusing or attempting to refuse various refuse to carry out various legislation that they deem beyond the pale? with the

particular with regards to the rwanda scheme and illegal migration. but there you go. >> and it's interesting, because britain's always prided itself on a neutral civil service. it means that we can have actually the period the shortest changeover period in government of any advanced country. if you think about it, you have a general election the next day, you get a new prime minister. if the party changes in america, it's how many months is it? three months? two months in many other countries, there's a huge transition time period because they need employ so because they need to employ so many different people rather than just the people at the top. in uk, the civil service in the uk, the civil service remains election to remains the same. election to election and so we can change government quickly. but the question , if they're not question is, if they're not partisan, are they ? partisan, are they? >> yes. let us know what you think. gb views at gb news. com do you think it's on for civil servants to essentially threaten to strike or halt work on anything to do with arming israel? let us know gb views at gb news. com perhaps you think this is a matter of conscience,

but coming up, the met office has warned danger life as has warned of danger to life as the braces itself for storm. the uk braces itself for storm. kathleen, time to batten up the hatches. >> business . hatches. >> business. me hatches. >> business . me well, we'll be >> business. me well, we'll be joined by a met office spokesperson after this.

good afternoon. britain. it's 10 to 1 now. later in the show, an investigation by gb news can reveal that the home office has been offering staff trigger support. if they read about slavery, as it could remind them of past traumas and give them flashbacks . flashbacks. >> are we even surprised at this point? i mean, trigger warnings for civil servants? these aren't students. these aren't primary school children. these aren't secondary school children. these are civil servants, full adults

who have a job to do. and they're being offered trigger warnings because something might mention something to do with slavery one time, just because you , i mean, were you mentioned, i mean, were these people personally enslaved? >> are there that many people in britain working for the civil service were were , were, service who who were were, were, were earlier in their were enslaved earlier in their lives? what what this is lives? i mean, what what this is the impact of the black lives matter movement. >> i imagine, where every workplace had to come up with the, what do they call it? you basically would have workshops about if you could be impacted by generational trauma, by a trigger somewhere . but i mean, trigger somewhere. but i mean, we see this everywhere, don't we? we see this in universities with books. we see this in libraries with books. we see this on tv shows. >> heaven forfend you read the words wilberforce and words william wilberforce and suddenly it all comes back, well , that's a scoop that we're going to get to the details. >> it will be interesting to find out what exactly these trigger warnings are for, but moving brace yourselves for moving on, brace yourselves for

storm kathleen. >> yes, the met office has issued a danger to life and multiple weather warnings forecasting heavy rain. and get this winds of up to 70 miles an hour from today and tomorrow . hour from today and tomorrow. >> that sounds rather fast, joining us now is annie shuttleworth, met office presenter and meteorologist at. ihave presenter and meteorologist at. i have to ask you, annie, when is the rain finally going to stop? it's been miserable for what seems like weeks, if not months. >> yeah, i definitely agree with that. and although we do have a storm on the way for the weekend , it's actually the wind that's going to be the biggest impact from for many areas of from the storm for many areas of the uk. it's actually not going to that wet weekend. so the uk. it's actually not going toyouthat wet weekend. so the uk. it's actually not going toyouthat wet the weekend. so the uk. it's actually not going toyouthat wet the wind, nd. so the uk. it's actually not going toyouthat wet the wind, then 0 if you can bear the wind, then it's to be a dry weekend it's going to be a dry weekend for the bulk of the uk. yes, it's going be some heavy rain it's going to be some heavy rain , northern ireland, , particularly northern ireland, northern in particular. northern scotland in particular. and also the winds are only really going to be strong across the coast. it's kind of the west coast. it's kind of irish channel coast that are going see strongest winds irish channel coast that are gthey're see strongest winds irish channel coast that are gthey're see sbe ngest winds . they're likely to be disruption to through the

disruption to travel through the weekend, where we do have those warnings force, just because warnings in force, just because the of 70mph just put the gusts of 70mph can just put restrictions bridges , delays, restrictions on bridges, delays, ferries, sort thing. ferries, that sort of thing. but in east, across , you know, in the east, across, you know, lincolnshire, norfolk, you could see degrees on saturday, see 22 degrees on saturday, which would actually be the highest temperature we've had since october. so i think that might news for some might be welcome news for some viewers . viewers. >> so the basic picture, if you're in the east, all you're in the east, you're all right and you're in the right. and if you're in the west, going to be quite a west, it's going to be a quite a bit windy, maybe little rainy. bit windy, maybe a little rainy. and expect and where should we expect transport to disrupted . transport to be disrupted. >> so the disruption is likely in where we've got those weather warnings for saturday. so western areas of wales, southwestern scotland, northwest england, northern ireland in particular. so this storm, storm kathleen has been named by met eireann which is the irish met service. so it's western ireland where they're going to the where they're going to see the strongest gusts. they've got amber for amber warnings there. but for the we've just got yellow the uk we've just got yellow weather warnings. the impacts weather warnings. so the impacts aren't big. but aren't going to be as big. but we certainly will see some impacts those strong winds

impacts and those strong winds will also whip up the sea a bit. we've got spring tides this weekend there's weekend as well, so there's going waves across going to be large waves across western coasts . so the coast of western coasts. so the coast of ireland, the coast of scotland as well, so if you're at the coast, if you are going on any ferry journeys well, ferry journeys as well, i definitely check you definitely check before you travel you stay safe. >> yes. and take your, travel pills if you need them, your travel suite. so if you get sickness on sea, thank you very much. annie shuttleworth, met office presenter and meteorologist i mean, my umbrella was going inside on umbrella was going inside out on my i had to just give my way here. i had to just give up it. up with it. >> no. >> oh, no. »- >> oh, no. >> you don't look like >> well, you don't look like you've too drenched so. you've been too drenched so. >> luckily, there's >> well, luckily, there's a lovely does my hair. lovely lady who does my hair. sorts it out when i come in looking like wet rat . looking like a wet rat. >> i don't believe you could ever like a wet rat. i ever look like a wet rat. but i wonder with all these waves, might it a good weekend for might it be a good weekend for surfing down cornwall? surfing down in cornwall? you know surfing down in cornwall? you knoi' surfing down in cornwall? you knoi did wonder that too. i did >> i did wonder that too. i did wonder, i you've got to be wonder, i guess you've got to be a bit safe. know, you don't a bit safe. you know, you don't want foot waves. do you know want 20 foot waves. do you know there's balance? want 20 foot waves. do you know the there'salance? want 20 foot waves. do you know the there's a ance? want 20 foot waves. do you know the there's a delicate balance >> there's a delicate balance with these but with all these things. but i think perhaps lesson here is think perhaps the lesson here is

stay east. but coming up we're going the latest on going to bring you the latest on that scandal in that sixteen scandal in parliament. going parliament. what's going on? find . next. find out. next. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello there. good morning. welcome to your latest gb news weather update. much of the rain will clear to showers through the rest of the day. we'll start to feel a little bit warmer, but storm will arrive storm kathleen will arrive through night, so it's going through the night, so it's going to but very windy through the night, so it's going to storm ut very windy through the night, so it's going to storm kathleen ndy through the night, so it's going to storm kathleen ist weekend storm kathleen is waiting wings. area waiting in the wings. this area of pressure slowly starting of low pressure slowly starting to will start to to fill and that will start to ease of the rain we've seen ease much of the rain we've seen through this morning. so across many areas of england many southern areas of england and see mix of and wales, we'll see a mix of sunshine and showers across northern ireland western northern ireland and western scotland. still see scotland. they will still see some bursts of rain some quite heavy bursts of rain through of day. through the rest of the day. it's quite across the it's still quite cold across the far scotland, far north of scotland, but further we've far north of scotland, but furt quite we've far north of scotland, but furt quite a we've far north of scotland, but furt quite a brisk we've far north of scotland, but furt quite a brisk southerly�*ve far north of scotland, but furt quite a brisk southerly wind got quite a brisk southerly wind , it is a warm direction. we could see highs of 18 19

could see highs of 18 or 19 degrees in the southeast. that's where the best of the sunshine will be this evening. the next band rain will arrive into band of rain will arrive into parts of the southwest, and that will up northwards through parts of the southwest, and that willnight,up northwards through parts of the southwest, and that willnight,up n itthwards through parts of the southwest, and that willnight,up n it willrds through parts of the southwest, and that willnight,up n it will bringrough the night, and it will bring with these very strong winds. with it these very strong winds. this is storm kathleen to the west the some very strong west of the uk. some very strong gusts. the winds will be particularly strong through the daytime on saturday, but it will mean we are at a very start mean we are at a very mild start on saturday so lows of on saturday morning. so lows of only 12 or 13 degrees in some places. the rain will push northwards, mainly affecting northwards, mainly affecting north western areas through the day. actually across the east it should stay largely but should stay largely dry, but there wind warnings in force there are wind warnings in force for ireland for northern ireland and many west scotland, wales west coasts of scotland, wales and england could see gusts of 60, possibly 70mph here, so there could be some travel disruption. but in any of the sheltered sunshine in the east, we could see highs 22 degrees we could see highs of 22 degrees by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors

gb news. >> way . >> way. >> way. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 1:00 on friday, the 5th of april. >> tory sex trap. senior conservative member of parliament william wragg has admitted his involvement in a honey trap sixteen scandal targeting over a dozen senior westminster figures. gb news has exclusive access to messages sent by this honey trap account. >> brexit victory britain has been named the second most powerful country in the world by the global soft power index. has brexit britain actually exceeded expectations? is the great still in britain? we'll be hosting a fiery debate and britain off the rails train drivers at 16 companies stage a fresh wave of strikes today in an ongoing dispute over pay. >> we'll bring you the latest from manchester piccadilly. are .

from manchester piccadilly. are. >> is britain great? is britain still great britain is great. >> the question is for me, is it the second most powerful country? the conservative party yesterday put out a communication saying britain, the most , the second most the most, the second most powerful country. of course, the indexis powerful country. of course, the index is about soft power. so china doesn't have a lot of soft power really. it's got hard power really. it's got hard power but not soft power, britain perhaps it's the opposite. we don't have a lot of hard power anymore, but the brand of britain, is it well received around the world? because that's what this survey is saying. >> yeah, it's quite interesting because they that actually, because they say that actually, since european since leaving the european union, we've become union, because we've become closer to the united states as a result, that's boosted us up. the chart of course, number one is the united states. >> they're the hegemonic power

of the world. they have been since we handed over the baton after the second world war. i mean, i'd have preferred perhaps to remain the, the, the greatest superpower in the world. but, you know, sometimes we have to we have to let these things move on. >> but do you think the country is still great, or do think is still great, or do you think we this influence over the we have this influence over the rest of the world? is global britain working? that's what rest of the world? is global briteof working? that's what rest of the world? is global briteof brexiteersthat's what rest of the world? is global briteof brexiteers promised|t rest of the world? is global briteof brexiteers promised that lots of brexiteers promised that we be a global country. we would be a global country. without the shackles of the european union holding us back . european union holding us back. let us know what you think. we're going to be having this debate, whether we are still great yeah. great as a country. yeah. >> of course, your >> but, but of course, your views gb views at gb news. com. that's the address to email in. we'll to of that after we'll get to all of that after your with ray. your headlines with ray. >> good afternoon. 1:02. our top stories . government security stories. government security experts have been called in to analyse the whatsapp messages at the heart of the westminster sexthe scandal. so far, around a

dozen mps, staff and journalists are known to have been targeted and sources have told gb news that more are coming forward. that's after tory mp william wragg told the times that he'd said intimate pictures of himself to someone on a gay dating app, and was then manipulated into providing the contacts. he's expected to be contacted today and will be asked for the list of numbers which he shared with the met police has also confirmed that it's working with other forces over blackmail concerns. chancellor jeremy over blackmail concerns. chancellorjeremy hunt says chancellor jeremy hunt says everyone needs to take cyber security seriously. >> well, i think the events of the last few days have been a great cause for concern, the mp involved has given a courageous and fulsome apology, but the lesson for here all mps is that they need to be very careful about cyber security. and indeed, it's the lesson for

members of the public as well, because this is something that we are all having to face in our daily lives . daily lives. >> millions of people will receive boost in take home pay receive a boost in take home pay from tomorrow following a cut to employee national insurance from the start of the new tax year, class one contributions will be reduced from 10 to 8. meanwhile, a further 2 million self—employed people will see their class four national insurance reduced from 8 to 6. the government says around 29 million workers will benefit from these changes . the shadow from these changes. the shadow chancellor, however, rachel reeves, says taxes are actually going up. >> well, they say tomorrow that taxes are going down. all of the numbers show that taxes are on the rise. taxes today are at a 70 year high, and they're due to increase in every single year of the forecast period. in fact, by the forecast period. in fact, by the end of the forecast, the average british family would be paying average british family would be paying £870 more in tax because of the frozen national insurance

and income tax threshold and because of increases in council tax. two that is the conservatives double whammy on tax. >> aslef has accused the government of being economically incompetent as train drivers continue their strikes over pay union members have walked out and mounted picket lines across the country, some areas of no train services today, with five train services today, with five train operators including avanti, crosscountry and west midlands railway not running any services. a ban on overtime at 16 companies is also continuing into tomorrow. mick whelan says workers want a resolution soon. >> we actually want somebody to come to the table and resolve this issue. the people behind me haven't had a pay rise for five years, half decade in cost of years, half a decade in cost of living we're same as living crisis. we're the same as any other worker. regardless of what earn, you feel you what you earn, you feel that you have demand a pay have a right to demand a pay rise you've got an rise when you've got an economically incompetent government. consultants have accepted >> consultants have accepted a pay >> consultants have accepted a pay offer from the government,

ending a year long dispute . the ending a year long dispute. the british medical association says 83% of members in england voted in favour of the offer, which is an improvement on one rejected earlier on this year. consultants have taken strike action over the past 12 months, adding to the nhs waiting list which has also been affected by the junior doctors dispute, which remains unresolved . new which remains unresolved. new powers to prevent disruptive protests come into force today, with offenders facing up to six months in prison or an unlimited fine . serious disruption fine. serious disruption prevention orders can now be used to stop repeat offenders from joining protest groups in particular areas and at particular areas and at particular times, home secretary james cleverly says the powers target those who are, quote , target those who are, quote, dedicated to wreaking havoc. however, civil liberties organisation liberty has described it as a shameless attempt to prevent people from being able to make their voices heard. the israeli military has dismissed two officers over the

drone strikes which killed seven aid workers, including three brits. in a phone call with israel's prime minister, us president joe biden said future support for the country depends on the steps taken to protect civilians and aid workers. israel has since announced it's opening new routes for humanitarian aid deliveries into gaza , with the erez crossing gaza, with the erez crossing being opened for the first time since last october. officials also say they're planning to increase the amount of aid from jordan moving through the kerem shalom crossing . the king has shalom crossing. the king has reportedly told aides to ramp up plans for a two week state visit to australia. king charles is said to be over the moon and raring to go after his cancer treatment started positively. the 75 year old is said to be feeling optimistic after he was able to meet with the public on easter sunday. he's reportedly told aides that he is supercharging plans to also visit new zealand and samoa for.

for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts. you can scan the qr code it's on your screen right now or go to gbnews.com/alerts. now straight back to tom and . emily. back to tom and. emily. >> good afternoon britain. it's 1:08 now, following senior figures in westminster finding their mobile phone numbers shared and unsolicited flirtatious messages sent to their personal phones. gb news has today been given exclusive access to the westminster honeypot messages . let's have honeypot messages. let's have a look at how the honey trap worked. a message would be sent pretending to have known the recipient . in this instance, an recipient. in this instance, an account identifying itself as charlie was sad not to bump into you over conference season . it you over conference season. it said it's been too long. this was followed up by the flirtatious message do i need to

do something better to grab your attention? well gb news understands messages were sent over a period spanning five months. here we see persistent messages. oh, hey, how are you? sorry accident. hey, hey, we're not going to pick this up. then we understand that well over a dozen figures in westminster have been targeted in this way. >> hmm'hmm curious , well, let's >> hmm'hmm curious, well, let's discuss this further with gb news political editor, christopher hope, christopher , christopher hope, christopher, thank you very much. we've just seen examples of some of these messages that were sent to politicians and other key figures in westminster. what's the latest in terms of political reaction ? the conservative party reaction? the conservative party is standing william mp is standing by william wragg mp for now . for now. >> yeah, we have jeremy hunt there, the chancellor making clear that the party is supporting william wragg, who has had mental health issues in the past, he will he will not be losing the tory whip, the labour

party is less, maybe less sympathetic. there's a level. listen to what rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, had to say . say. >> incredibly concerning the revelations that we've heard overnight, the police are now looking into this. that is right. and the police investigation should be able to take its course. >> but what do you want to see happen to or actually resign? well that's a question for the conservatives. >> the investigation is conservatives. >> tunderway.investigation is conservatives. >> tunderway. and.tigation is conservatives. >> tunderway. and.tigatright. now underway. and it is right that that investigation that we allow that investigation to course. to take its course. >> to talk about what >> i want to talk about what specifically, but how concerned are in general about the are you in general about the vulnerability to vulnerability of mps to blackmail? >> very concerned >> well, i'm very concerned about what seems to have happenedin about what seems to have happened in this incident, especially about mps telephone numbers being passed on to unknown sources. that is really concerning. and that is right, that there is a proper investigation into this, in positions of responsibility . we positions of responsibility. we always have to think about our actions, but there are also malevolent players out there who are trying to influence politics

in these benign ways . in these benign ways. >> rachel reeves are speaking to reporters up in blackpool. i can say that this hour we're learning that the met police, a second police force is now investigating this honeytrap scandal. we know that leicestershire police is already investigating, but met police have put out a statement, already saying that we are in contact this morning with the colleagues in the parliamentary security and police and with leicestershire police following reporting of this unsolicited messages to members of parliament, we will assess any reports made to us accordingly. so now there are two police forces investigating this evolving scandal. i can tell you also that last night the speaker of the house of commons, lindsay hoyle, wrote to mps and staff to say that they have now got a government security expert examining these messages. they are trying to understand the nature of them. it's true. they don't want to speculate about the origin. some would say there's a risk. there could be

some foreign nefarious actors involved, some countries trying to, isolate and go after mps who could give out numbers in the case of william wragg, common source has told me this morning that there's it looks unlikely it was a foreign actor, but they're not sure. so they're checking it all out now. and as we speak more names are coming forward. evolving forward. it's an evolving situation westminster , situation here in westminster, the evolving situation and a concerning situation, not least for members of parliament, for national security and for, i suppose , security on, on online suppose, security on, on online as well , this is something that, as well, this is something that, of course, is not particularly new in the world of politics over decades in, in previous centuries, we've seen blackmail attempts at members of parliament, some from people looking to make money, some part of organised crime, some from foreign actors, and there are other , examples as well. we other, examples as well. we don't have any leads in terms of which one of these it is in this

instance. >> no, no, we don't, but you read out there, our gb news exclusive. the nature of those messages were very kind of teasing, weren't they? they were trying just to indicate to the person who sent those messages. will you send me something back? what do you want to see from me? and it's clearly they just they would have gone out to of would have gone out to lots of different mps members of different mps and members of staff might respond. staff to see who might respond. and we know, some two mps did and as we know, some two mps did respond with pictures of themselves. that's what the times are reporting , and again, times are reporting, and again, going back to what william wragg told the times, he said, that they had compromising things on me. they wouldn't leave me alone. i have hurt people by being weak. i was scared, and i think that's where the government comes from this morning. they recognise there's a man here being a vulnerable man here being targeted by people to targeted by people trying to draw things out from him, and he's on his own. maybe looking at his phone, getting worried, you know, a man . maybe. you know, he's a gay man. maybe. i mean, he just was. he

responded in a way which you deeply regrets. i think that's what the government is seeing. and arm around him what the government is seeing. and morning. arm around him this morning. >> yes. guess some people will >> yes. i guess some people will see this putting his see this as him putting his colleagues vulnerable colleagues in a vulnerable position , too. but thank you position, too. but thank you very much indeed. christopher hope gb news political editor there. i mean, those messages, they're simple , mystic and they're so simple, mystic and can't help. we've had so many people writing in saying, when i receive an unknown number, well, a message from an unknown number, i just, you know, block, i mean, the someone might i mean, the most someone might say this? and then you say is, who's this? and then you get weird and you get a weird response and you just, it. just, yeah, that's it. >> delete. archive, ignore, but let's get the thoughts now of former labour mp bill rammell, bill, this is a concerning and evolving story engulfing westminster when you were an mp. indeed. when you were a minister, did you ever receive , minister, did you ever receive, texts or or attempted contacts from unknown or suspicious people ? people? >> no, but i'm of that generation. i barely knew how to use my telephone, or text, but,

you know, overall, i've actually got a strong degree of sympathy for william wragg and indeed, any mp who's not married or not in a long term relationship , in a long term relationship, because you question when you're starting , a relationship, is the starting, a relationship, is the person interested in me or are they interested in me because i'm an mp? you know, i was elected in the blair landslide in 1997. a lot of young mps coming into the house of commons. and i remember to talking both men and women who felt pressure . so i think felt that pressure. so i think it is a difficult situation, so i've got sympathy for william wragg. he's he was clearly being blackmailed , you know, i think blackmailed, you know, i think he's been foolish. he's made an error of judgement in his own words. he's been weak , but, you words. he's been weak, but, you know, i think that's what's happened. >> yeah, but what does it say about our mps? if you know, about our mps? if you know, about a dozen have responded to these types of messages with some mps sending indecent photos and all this and william wragg

himself, what was his answer to feeling under pressure and feeling under pressure and feeling blackmailed? clearly it wasn't to go to the police wasn't good to go to the police first. it was to and find a first. it was to try and find a way get out of it by passing way to get out of it by passing on phone numbers of his colleagues , doesn't it? doesn't colleagues, doesn't it? doesn't it doesn't look good, does it, bill? >> well, no, it doesn't. but i mean, you know, i think if there is a lesson, it's don't send incriminating photographs of yourself to anybody else. now, again, i'm of that generation . i again, i'm of that generation. i can't get my head around why people do that . but i choose my people do that. but i choose my words carefully, clearly, amongst the younger generation, it's quite a commonplace practice . however, if you are an practice. however, if you are an mp, you cannot. you must not do it because it's going to come back to bite you. >> surely they get training for that. surely the parliamentary party says, whatever you do, don't send naked pictures to unknown people on a dating app. i mean surely, surely. and if they don't then they should .

they don't then they should. >> well, i don't know is the answer, i would imagine that there is advice and guidance to mps about fishing, about, unsolicited, telephone and email contacts and contacts. but i think it is probably time. contacts and contacts. but i think it is probably time . and, think it is probably time. and, you know, we've had this instance, we've had recent instances of, mps being targeted for cyber hacking by foreign governments. i think it's probably timely to review the advice and guidance to give mps the best advice and support that they can have in these circumstances. it's quite you know, it's almost this guidance, though, isn't it, bill? >> because mps aren't employees of a sort of parliamentary structure. they're all independent, elected and if something is offered to them, they can they can say no. and perhaps some mps might arrogantly just turn it all down. >> sure, you know, it's something that's generally not understood. you are accountable

to nobody as a member of parliament apart from your constituents. and you know that accountability takes place once every 4 or 5 years. but, you know, if the advice and guidance is there, i would imagine most mps, would avail themselves of that. but but i'm almost i'm almost reluctant to give this bit of advice, but i actually think the advice to mps is to just be careful in your engagements with members of the pubuc engagements with members of the public that you don't know, and yet part of me doesn't want to give that advice because you want mps , our elected want mps, our elected representatives, to be open, to be engaging , to be communicating be engaging, to be communicating with people. but we live in a world with technology, with social media and all the rest of it . it. >> this is it.- >> this is a it. >> this is a bit different though, bill, isn't it? this is a bit different. i mean, an unknown gets in touch unknown number gets in touch with flirty messages with you with flirty messages and it escalates and then you end up sending an indecent pic. it's not exactly like, oh, it's not the same as ignoring a constituent in the local

waitrose, it? and being waitrose, is it? and being suspicious of her. this is a pretty seedy stuff , isn't it? pretty seedy stuff, isn't it? >> no, no. yeah, it is , it is >> no, no. yeah, it is, it is different. and you know , the different. and you know, the vast majority of mps would reject those solicitations, but, you know, if you are young, if you know, if you are young, if you are single, if you're looking for relationships, then you might respond . and that's you might respond. and that's clearly what's happened. it shouldn't happen , and you need shouldn't happen, and you need to take care, and i certainly think you need to think once, think you need to think once, think twice , think a hundred think twice, think a hundred times before you send any pictures of yourself and bluntly, you shouldn't do it, i think there's a big lesson for everyone, which is don't. if you're looking for love of perhaps anonymous phone numbers, people the best way to get in real life, maybe that's maybe that's not true love. >> you're making me laugh and it's inappropriate for me to laugh at this point, but. yes. thank you. bill, bill rammell , thank you. bill, bill rammell, their former labour politician

thank you. bill, bill rammell, theiifantastic abour politician thank you. bill, bill rammell, theiifantastic stuff, politician thank you. bill, bill rammell, theiifantastic stuff, yes,tician thank you. bill, bill rammell, theiifantastic stuff, yes, i:ian thank you. bill, bill rammell, theiifantastic stuff, yes, i can mp. fantastic stuff, yes, i can see the element of sympathy that one might have towards william wragg . well, the thing is, as a wragg. well, the thing is, as a single, relatively young man moved on all of these numbers, there would be a complete, there would ambiguity about this. >> he's a victim here. but then, of course, the questions that the labour party are asking around this, because these numbers have been passed on, although to say the although i have to say the number of people who have the numbers of politicians, i think if you're politician, you if you're a politician, you should that if you're a politician, you shoulynews that if you're a politician, you shoulynews organisationthat if you're a politician, you shoulynews organisation has your every news organisation has your number. probably a great deal of numbers of your your parliamentary, your constituency association can probably all have your number. your number will have got around and lots of people will have it. >> i think it's a moot point. you don't expect your colleague to it out though. to send it out though. >> of course of course. >> no, of course not. of course. >> where the, you know, >> that's where the, you know, and get be suspicious and then they get be suspicious if you get a, if you get a random text, you should absolutely us what you absolutely let us know what you think. gb news. com. think. gb views at gb news. com. but up, has brexit

but coming up, has brexit britain exceed britain actually exceed expectations? great still britain actually exceed ex britainyns? great still britain actually exceed ex britain ?5? great still britain actually exceed ex britain ? we're great still britain actually exceed ex britain ? we're hosting still britain actually exceed ex britain ? we're hosting atill in britain? we're hosting a fiery debate in the next few minutes.

why is britain still great? is britain still great? and he says everyone is on strike. our infrastructure is broken. we are £2.5 trillion in debt. we have a government who don't govern. where's the exit? i want to leave. all right, andy. >> well, wanda says rule britannia. yes, the uk is the best. the fairest country in the world. better without the eu, we are the envy of the world. that's what wanda thinks. oh wonder, you are in a fantastic mood this afternoon. >> i like, i like you, sandra says if britain is great now, well, god help us. yes, there's

quite a lot of emails coming in about how we're in decline . about how we're in decline. >> well, tim agrees, he says we're deluded if we think we're great. we're not even british anymore, says tim. not quite sure . sure. >> well, we're losing a lot of patriotism, that's for sure, jan says. we're a laughing says. no, we're a laughing stock. soft? and too eager stock. soft? yes. and too eager to try to appease everyone but our own people . our own people. >> and paul has tried to ruin all of the fun, which i quite love. and his pedantic way he says that the great in great britain is about how great britain is not about how great we refers to size . it's we are, but refers to size. it's historic and distinguishes great britain from brittany, which is a smaller landmass. >> that's the sort of point that tom would make on a bad day, wouldn't it? it would. and i'd sit here going, all right, all right, all right. sit here going, all right, all rigiwell, right. sit here going, all right, all rigiwell, atjht. sit here going, all right, all rigiwell, at least paul was pithy >> well, at least paul was pithy about it. >> he was pithy. >> he was pithy. >> was pithy. is britain >> he was pithy. so is britain still great? let's see what our feisty duo think. joining us now is leader of ukip , neil is leader of ukip, neil hamilton, who thinks britain is still great, and the writer and broadcaster anna may mangan, who thinks it isn't too great at the

moment. anyway, neil, go on, what's your pitch? why is britain still great? >> well, britain is great, but it could be a lot greater. of course, you know, we are one of the most significant countries economies in the world, and the doom mongers of project fear have been completely confounded by the progress that we've made since brexit. of course, we could have made a lot more progress if we had a government that actually believed in it, and if we pared back the unnecessary regulation and legislation that was imposed upon us whilst we were members of it, but which this government has done next to nothing to reverse the tax and regulatory burden on business in this country is a major ball and chain around its legs and a neck . and of course, britain would be a far better place to live if we got rid of the corpus of pc legislation on diversity and inclusivity and all that nonsense that businesses have

to, have air departments pushing through at vast expense and getting in the way of business. >> despite all that . >> despite all that. >> despite all that. >> but despite all that, neil, you are saying that britain's great. >> yeah, well, we're still a sixth or seventh largest economy in the world. we have a very high standard of living compared with other countries. and if you look at the progress in europe in the last eight years, you know, we are doing a lot better than germany or france, for example. >> we're doing better than europe. and anna neil, let's put that to, anna, we're still great. we're doing better than, europe . europe. >> oh, yeah. >> oh, yeah. >> all this talk about, the global stage. the national stage, really? you have to look at life for the people living in at life for the people living in a country to assess just how good or bad it is. >> let's keep all the eu, keep it all out of it, let me start with today. i decided i needed a doctor's appointment first thing this morning. no chance. not

even 3 or 4 weeks. just even in 3 or 4 weeks. just nothing, you have to scramble for one every day, and then you're. you never get one. so i decided to drive the chemist. decided to drive to the chemist. but car bounced up and down but my car bounced up and down in all the potholes that are in my . i came back and chatted my road. i came back and chatted to neighbour, who's now to my neighbour, who's now caring for her elderly father because there was no social care provision for him, even though he's worked all his life and paid all his taxes. now he's left just chucked on the scrapheap . now that he's in his scrapheap. now that he's in his 80s look after himself 80s and can't look after himself , it's just absolutely everything is broken. ofsted is in a state of collapse. our political class has never been worse. i'm a woman, a 66 year old woman. i've been whizzed out of my pension because the government couldn't be bothered to write me a letter. i know that's historical, but fixing it, just like for the post office victims, that's not happening. and i'm not even allowed to say that i'm a woman. anna, quintessential. >> had a >> you've had a quintessentially. you've had a quintessentially broken britain day, haven't you? day, really, haven't you? everything's but everything's gone wrong. but hang on, hang hang on.

hang on, hang on, hang on. >> but, anna, are you >> but, anna, anna, are you saying we should listen to. saying that we should listen to. are you saying we should are you saying that we should ignore finance and ignore brand finance and their 2024 soft power index, 2024 global soft power index, which, of course, put britain as number two? >> they're not affected by the train strike today. they're getting ferry to and fro in chauffeur driven cars, paid , chauffeur driven cars, paid, paid for by somebody else. the realities of it is that we're paying realities of it is that we're paying ridiculous taxes for no services . we don't value our services. we don't value our doctors. they're overworked and underpaid . we don't value our underpaid. we don't value our teachers. they're overworked and underpaid . and the government, underpaid. and the government, we've got a leader who is as weak as putty. and he, by the way, he wasn't elected. so everything's got to change. i patriotic i want this country to be wonderful. and i'm glad i'm british, but it needs a lot of change. >> well, let's throw that back to neil. >> i entirely agree. the political class in britain is what's holding the british people back. anna's absolutely right. all the things she was complaining about are all things

that are run by the british state. the national health service is the only health service in world that's service in the world that's modelled what the soviet modelled on what the soviet union have. it's no union used to have. it's no wonder failing. i've wonder it's failing. i've had similar in last similar problems in the last week. yesterday trying similar problems in the last week. hospital sterday trying similar problems in the last week. hospital appointments to book hospital appointments and the etc. etc. and get to see the gp, etc. etc. we know that the nhs, although it's funded around the median level of health services around the world, has much, much worse outcomes on cancer and all sorts of things, and trying to get a gp appointment, as you absolutely say, is almost impossible these days. neil, can we please have some optimism? >> yeah . >> yeah. >> yeah. >> come on, we want some optimism from you. neil. >> neil i'm disappointed, but that's nothing. >> that's that's not that's not to what i said. to to undermine what i said. to start with, britain is still start with, the britain is still one greatest countries in one of the greatest countries in the the greatest. the world. i think the greatest. and you know, we have contributed so much to what is goodin contributed so much to what is good in the world and are still doing so. we could do a lot better. yes, i entirely agree . better. yes, i entirely agree. and if we had a government that was capable of doing it, nobody

would be better pleased than i. but you know, what's the difference between the conservatives and labour? there's you can hardly put a cigarette paper between them really the major issues . really on all the major issues. what we do need to do is get rid of the current political class and put people like and me and put people like anna and me in things. then i in charge of things. then i think be a lot better. think we'd be a lot better. >> yeah, that would a broad >> yeah, that would be a broad church. the boss, neil. you church. be the boss, neil. you could church. be the boss, neil. you couwell, i what a what a >> well, i mean, what a what a proposal anna, are you proposal there. anna, are you willing accept, therefore, willing to accept, therefore, that proposition that neil's proposition that perhaps perhaps whilst perhaps perhaps britain, whilst it right now, it has some problems right now, is like a coiled spring best placed in the world to sort of, spnng placed in the world to sort of, spring forth and reveal its inert greatness. >> i think the people of britain are fantastic. i think they're tolerant. i think they're patient . but it's seriously patient. but it's seriously running out now. i'm a londoner. i want to cross london to visit my son on a saturday afternoon . my son on a saturday afternoon. i can't go because there's a load of maniacs spouting anti—semitic hate. when i try and go down park lane. i've got the right to move around my own

city. sadiq khan has taxed me so much that i can't drive to see my son, and i can't get on the trains because they're currently planning a strike. what is going? you know what is going wrong. needs say wrong. somebody needs to say think about the people instead of the money, instead of the businesses . they need to treat businesses. they need to treat us though have rights and us as though we have rights and we to vote in such a way. i we need to vote in such a way. i mean, i'm actually a floating voter. and says, what's the voter. and neil says, what's the difference labour difference between labour and the ? probably 14 years of the tories? probably 14 years of mismanagement and corruption at the . that's the the moment. that's the difference. who knows what's difference. but who knows what's coming down the line? >> not happy with second >> you're not happy with second london either. >> and unlike the >> yeah, exactly. and unlike the labour government's under tony blair, which of course were pure as the driven snow. no, i think what could send your child what you could send your child to what we have a decent school. >> what we just heard about blair was in charge and i'm not a voter, but could a labour voter, but i could see the difference the the difference in the improvements that he made. whereas in my area, the whereas now in my area, the schools are i mean, i don't know what i do for my educated now, i don't what i do. if those don't know what i do. if those choices were now. so

choices were now, now. so everything has and there's everything has slid and there's no about it, neil and no doubt about it, neil and anna, i'm afraid we have run to the end of this segment as the end of this segment just as you getting going. you were getting going. >> thank you so >> but my goodness, thank you so much for both coming and much for both coming on and putting forward views. putting forward your views. really appreciate it. >> with a lot what >> i agree with a lot of what both of them said there. >> meant to be an >> this was meant to be an uplifting segment. feel uplifting segment. i know i feel more than ever. more miserable than ever. >> well, know what? we'll >> well, you know what? we'll come from break and come back from the break and we'll on we'll deliver our verdict on great and makes it great britain and what makes it great. your emails great. so get your emails in, because want read some of because i want to read some of them, got a gb news them, but we've got a gb news exclusive coming up because a minister, a minister issuing minister, a minister is issuing a action a warning over palestine action on joining up, joining forces with oil , their youth with just stop oil, their youth movement for a so called resistance campaign, enough to ground london to a halt again . ground london to a halt again. bristol. birmingham. manchester. stay tuned . stay tuned. >> coming up to 134 i'm ray anderson in the gb newsroom . our anderson in the gb newsroom. our top stories. government security experts have been called in to analyse whatsapp messages at the

heart of the westminster sext scandal. so far, around a dozen mps , staff and journalists are mps, staff and journalists are known to have been targeted and sources have told gb news that more are coming forward . it's more are coming forward. it's after tory mp william wragg told the times that he'd sent intimate pictures of himself to someone on a gay dating app, and was then manipulated into providing the contacts. he's expected to be contacted today and will be asked for the list of numbers which he shared . the of numbers which he shared. the met police has also confirmed that it's working with other forces over blackmail concerns . forces over blackmail concerns. millions of people will receive a boost in take home pay from tomorrow, following a cut to employee national insurance from the start of the new tax year , the start of the new tax year, class one contributions will be reduced from 10 to 8. meanwhile, a further 2 million self—employed people will see their class four national insurance reduced from 8 to 6. consultants have accepted a pay

offer from the government, ending a year long dispute . the ending a year long dispute. the british medical association says 83% of its members in england voted in favour of the offer, which is an improvement on one rejected earlier on this year. consultants have been striking over the past 12 months, adding to the nhs waiting list, which has also been affected by the junior doctors dispute, which remains unresolved . all parts of remains unresolved. all parts of the country have no train services today due to a fresh strike by drivers. aslef union members have walked out and mounted picket lines in their long running dispute over pay. five train operators, including avanti, crosscountry and west midlands railway, say they're not running any services . for not running any services. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code it's on your screen now, or go to gb news. uncommon alerts .

alerts. >> for a valuable legacy, your family can own, gold coins will always shine bright . rosalind always shine bright. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report. >> okay, let's take a look at the financial markets. the pound will buy $1.2643 and ,1.1659. price of gold, £1,813.68. that's per ounce. and the ftse 100 at 7900 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial

i >> -- >> it's 139 lam >> it's 139 now. could a new activist group bring fresh disruption to our streets this spnng? disruption to our streets this spring? policing minister chris philp has issued a warning after gb news revealed that a just stop oil youth movement has

joined forces with the controversial activist group palestine action for a so—called resistance campaign. >> yes, there's nothing more pro—climate than launching rockets with hamas . i'm sure rockets with hamas. i'm sure they wouldn't endorse that. but sometimes those two things are similar together. they're calling for an end to oil and gas licences and embargo on arms deals with israel. right youth demand is planning marches and an unspecified action next week. well, our reporter charlie peters has the story. >> new environmental group youth demand is advertising upcoming marches and activities in collaboration with palestine action. the group started as just stop oil students and is asking volunteers if they are willing to risk arrest . asking volunteers if they are willing to risk arrest. i met with chiara sarti , an organiser with chiara sarti, an organiser with chiara sarti, an organiser with the group. >> we're a new campaign that is demanding that the tories and

the labour party commit to stopping all toil in the stop, selling weapons with israel and buying weapons from israel. >> but you're also saying that they're driving another genocide by virtue of links with oil and gas. >> they're allowing this fossil fuel projects to go through. when that carbon gets put in the air, it will result in the deaths of millions of people . deaths of millions of people. >> why do you think that they're pro—palestine? i didn't bother to. causes are linked. pro—palestine? i didn't bother to. if uses are linked. pro—palestine? i didn't bother to. if you. are linked. pro—palestine? i didn't bother to. if you looklinked. pro—palestine? i didn't bother to. if you look closely, it is >> if you look closely, it is the same broken political system thatis the same broken political system that is driving genocide on both fronts . the tories and labour fronts. the tories and labour are are driving these policies that are going to kill millions of people. they basically place no value whatsoever on human life. and we can clearly see this in gaza. i think this is this in gaza. i think this is this clearly goes to show just how little value they place on human life, how cheap palestinian blood is to into those people. >> we've also seen some soledar

soledar protests and clashes shutting down factories. and what do you make of that sort of behaviour , particularly shutting behaviour, particularly shutting down factories associated with elbit system? >> yeah , we absolutely need to >> yeah, we absolutely need to do everything we non—violently can to sever the links , between can to sever the links, between the, the uk and the israeli war machine. absolutely >> and actually, especially our factories blocking suez. yeah. breaking windows. factories blocking suez. yeah. breaking windows . you support breaking windows. you support all of that action. >> i think we need to emotionally connect with what is happening here. 12,000 kids have been brutally murdered. i think. if that's not, if that's not going to get you on the streets , going to get you on the streets, you basically have no values whatsoever. and that's 1000 generations are going to spit on your grave . your grave. >> right. well, charlie peters can join us now, charlie sounds a little bit menacing to me. these two groups conjoining .

these two groups conjoining. >> well, lord walney, the government's independent advisor on political violence and disruption , has called this new disruption, has called this new link an unholy alliance , saying link an unholy alliance, saying that militant gaza protesters are now linking with environmentalists. but the strongest concern we've heard has come from the policing minister, chris philp, who has told us that criminality has no place on our streets and that includes so—called protesters causing criminal damage and serious disruption to threaten and intimidate the law abiding majority. we will not stand for just stop oil, majority. we will not stand for just stop oil , palestine action just stop oil, palestine action or any other group considering combining forces and crossing the line. we have given police powers to tackle criminal acts, whatever their guides and will go further to ensure officers have the tools they need to prevent serious disruption and disorder. it goes on to say that the police continue to closely

monitor and prepare for any protests that could see criminality , and we are criminality, and we are confident officers will do all they can to stop any groups who break the law now. chris philp has made that statement as new powers come in today for the police, which includes a serious disruption prevention order with a maximum jail penalty of six months for those found guilty. it's been added on to the public order act from last year . it's been added on to the public order act from last year. now this new alignment, these two groups are just stop oil youth movement and palestine action are set to collaborate in action in central london on wednesday . in central london on wednesday. and when i spoke to the new organisation and discussed these new links, they weren't able to tell me what sort of action might take place. but they did say the anticipated hundreds to be there and engaging in that protest. now while you've just heard that just stop oil and youth demand are engaged in non—violent protests, and that's the perspective that they hold. you also heard that spokesperson

defending slightly more direct and violent incidents of protesting vandalism, such as smashing windows and smashing up factories, and that has been one of the tactics of the group that they are collaborating with. thatis they are collaborating with. that is palestine action. and so there is this concern now that next week's protests could see an escalation in their activity from just marching in the streets or preventing cars from passing over roads or blocking bndges passing over roads or blocking bridges into something more violent and more direct. >> it is really quite concerning. but charlie , have concerning. but charlie, have these two groups simply said the quiet part out loud? that really , these aren't different groups at all. there's a certain kind of professional protester who goes out to make trouble and break the law. and it doesn't matter what guys they pretend they're under, whether it's just stop oil, palestine action or whatever is fashionable this

week to the next. these are the same people and they'll do the same people and they'll do the same thing. well in our investigation into this new group, we have found several overlapping members of both organised actions of the organisations involved in these protests . protests. >> generally, i should say. in particular, we found that the co—founder of palestine action was a leading member of extinction rebellion, a different group , of course, different group, of course, among environmentalist protesters . so there does appear protesters. so there does appear to be an overlap of personnel among the causes. we have heard from critics saying that these are often causes of the left more generally and so you do find similar personalities in both groups. other criticism has pointed to the fact that there isn't necessarily a direct link between both missions. the activists from youth demand are describing a genocide in the access of new oil and gas licences from from the

conservative party, but they're also accusing the labour party of being complicit in a genocide in gaza. so extremely strong language in their protests. but we'll have to wait and see next week if that protest will escalate and if we'll see more environmentalists and pro—palestinian alignment . pro—palestinian alignment. >> yes, we will indeed. and i read that, chiara sarti, the young woman you spoke to, has spent time in prison before for something relating to a just stop in london. but stop oil march in london. but thank very much indeed, thank you very much indeed, charlie youth charlie peters there. youth demand told us in a demand has told us in a statement. chris philp is right that criminality has no place on our it also should our streets, but it also should have no place in corridors have no place in the corridors of sadly, that is not the of power. sadly, that is not the case moment. case at the moment. >> continue people all >> it continue people of all political seeing political persuasions are seeing that us. wow that politics is failing us. wow and that our leaders are more interested enriching interested in enriching themselves rather than protecting ordinary people. young not content to young people are not content to have criminals running the country. palestine action are yet get back to us. we should add. >> well, coming up, we're live at manchester piccadilly because train at 16 rail

train drivers at 16 rail companies have today begun a fresh wave of strikes. good luck with commute

i >> -- >> good afternoon. britain. it's just gone . 10 to 2 now. train just gone. 10 to 2 now. train drivers at 16. rail companies have today begun a fresh wave of strikes in their seemingly never ending disputes over pay. >> yes. members of the aslef union are striking from today until april the 8th, and commuters have been advised not to travel, not to travel. in the meantime . meantime. >> well, let's go live to manchester piccadilly now and speak to gb news, north—west of england. reporter sophie reaper sophie, how much disruption is there ? there? >> well, i can tell you for free that if you were in manchester

today and you're planning on travelling down to birmingham or london, say you may well be in for a rude awakening because those five train companies who were on strike today . so avanti were on strike today. so avanti west coast, east midlands railway, west midlands trains, london northwestern railway and cross country , all five of those cross country, all five of those companies are on complete strike today, so there are absolutely no services whatsoever . so if no services whatsoever. so if people are planning on travelling from here in manchester piccadilly down to say, birmingham new street or london euston, that essentially will not be possible. now we're entering the 20th month of these rail strikes. many people starting to show the frustrations as train drivers ask for better pay and better working conditions. we've been asking people here at manchester piccadilly today what they make of these strikes as we enter that 20th month, and this is what they had to tell me. what are your thoughts on them? do you think just need to get you think we just need to get a deal now, sorted out or got to get sorted? get something sorted? >> going on for over

>> it's going on for over 18 months trains missing months now, trains missing today, trains missing tomorrow. and you've the usual and then you've got the usual bits pieces of trains, bits and pieces of trains, delayed trains cancellations. it's harder to get to work when using public transport. how do you think this should be over by now, affected quite now, i've been affected quite a lot them , so yeah, i think lot by them, so yeah, i think it's gone on too long. it's gone on for too long. >> you don't think drivers >> so you don't think drivers should be going for better pay? >> i pay-7 >> i think. well they could be, but i think there could be a better way of dealing it better way of dealing with it rather the continuous rather than the continuous strikes. them getting >> i support them getting a better at end better pay. i mean, at the end of day, the transport of the day, the transport infrastructure this in this infrastructure in this in this country decline, country is in decline, particularly the for a particularly in the north, for a long, long time now. so, you know, the guys are being asked to work longer shifts, work a lot harder for us. so i completely support them. >> i think there's a really overwhelming sense of passenger frustration. they just want it sorted out one way or another. now, aslef's general secretary mick whelan has commented on this, saying those votes show yet again a clear rejection by

train drivers of the ridiculous offer put to us in april last year by the rail delivery group. now, that ridiculous offer that he refers to, there is an 8% pay rise, which the department of transport says would see the average train driver salary increase from £60,000 to £65,000. but of course, it's not just about pay, it's also about working conditions. but the issue remains that if they can't get round a table and hash this out, they'll ultimately it is the rail passengers who are losing out . losing out. >> it certainly is. and my goodness, £60,000 already for what doesn't seem to be the most skilled job in the world. >> well, that's fighting talk. that's fighting talk. >> come at me. train drivers. but sophie, sophie, thank you very much for bringing us that story. live from manchester piccadilly. yes. >> don't tell the tube drivers what do you make of their job? >> they open doors, they just press buttons open doors. press buttons and open doors. that's press buttons and open doors. thawell, up, home >> well, coming up, the home office offering staff trigger office is offering staff trigger support. happen read

support. if they happen to read something that they might find, well, triggering. with . us. well, triggering. stay with. us. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather solar, the sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> hello. good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather update. well, storm kathleen is on the way for this weekend, but it will be turning much warmer than it has been lately. the will also pick lately. the winds will also pick up here is storm kathleen developing out to the west of the ahead of that, we have the uk. ahead of that, we have got a weather front across northern that's brought northern areas that's brought some that's some snow earlier today. that's much rain now as the much turning to rain now as the temperatures start to pick up through evening, through the rest of the evening, temperatures rise as well temperatures will rise as well from the southwest through the night. so it's going to be a very mild night, but there will be very heavy for be some very heavy rain for parts ireland, much parts of northern ireland, much of well. for time, of scotland as well. for a time, much rain clear much of the rain should clear through by tomorrow morning,

though, to leave a fairly dry start bulk england start for the bulk of england and said, it and wales. and, as i said, it will be a very mild start to the day. those temperatures are closer day. those temperatures are clo this time of year throughout for this time of year throughout the eastern of the day across eastern areas of england , south eastern of england, south eastern areas of scotland, should largely scotland, it should stay largely dry the day, but storm dry through the day, but storm kathleen is developing. will kathleen is developing. it will push to the west of the uk. push up to the west of the uk. there are wind warnings in force. likely to be some force. it's likely to be some delays to across western delays to travel across western areas , wales and areas of england, wales and scotland, well as northern scotland, as well as northern ireland. as ireland. some large waves as well, but in the east, where it stays fairly dry, there'll be highs of 22 sunday is highs of 22 degrees. sunday is going another fairly mild going to be another fairly mild day, but it will be more in the way of showers, particularly across western areas wales, northwestern across western areas wales, northweste seeing some of those particular, seeing some of those heavier showers. and it's going to stay windy in the far north next week. it does look like it's going to turn little bit it's going to turn a little bit dner it's going to turn a little bit drier southern drier across southern areas, however, temperatures will fall a closer average. a little more closer to average. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 2:00 on friday the 5th of april. >> gb news investigation. now in an exclusive gb news investigation , we find that the investigation, we find that the home office has been offering trigger support to staff. what on earth could that for ? be on earth could that for? be we'll fill you in very soon. >> and civil servants walk out. civil servants could refuse to work over fears they could be complicit in war crimes. if israel is found to have broken international law while their union is considering taking legal action against the government despite their supposed political neutrality and tory sex traps, senior conservative mp william wragg has admitted his involvement in a honeytrap sixteen scandal, targeting over a dozen senior westminster figures . westminster figures. >> gb news has exclusive access to messages sent by the honeytrap account.

>> now, this is a interesting story. we were talking about it in the last hour. the idea that different groups just stop oil, palestine action are all sort of merging together to make a super protest, as if they aren't annoying enough already. >> yes, it does seem. if we look at greta thunberg for example, who is professional protester? who is a professional protester? she she often combines the issue in gaza with the issue of climate change, which is curious. but i guess if you're going to be an activist and you're going to dedicate your life to activism, you're going to and find as many to try and find as many different causes to get behind, aren't i am a little aren't you? but i am a little bit so apparently bit worried. so apparently this weekend there aren't any scheduled in london, scheduled protests in london, and we know how many people turn up to things. tens of up to these things. tens of thousands. thought maybe thousands. i thought that maybe considering the killing of three british aid workers, that perhaps there be some kind

perhaps there would be some kind of protest this of emergency protest this weekend, don't believe weekend, but we don't believe there is one, but these new protest laws have come into effect today, so it'll be interesting to see if there's any change in the policing you mentioned. >> greta thunberg. i just wanted to mention my favourite protest of hers. it was brilliant , so of hers. it was brilliant, so she loves the climate. of course, also doesn't like course, she also doesn't like israel very much, but one of her other, hobbies is the rights of indigenous people, particularly indigenous people, particularly in norway. and she campaigns for them. so so fervently that she campaigned to tear down a wind farm because it was built on indigenous land . yes, that's indigenous land. yes, that's climate campaigner greta thunberg. not even campaigning against a wind farm to stop it being built. no no, no, no. she campaigned to tear down an existing wind farm because it was built on indigenous land. >> well, my advice would be, you know, stick to one thing, stick to one thing before they all start contradicting each other. then avoid that then you'll avoid that embarrassment, but let us know what of it all. are you

what you make of it all. are you worried about these different groups more groups joining up to cause more of a storm? but first, your headlines. >> good afternoon. 2:03. our top stories. government security experts have been called in to analyse the whatsapp messages at the heart of the westminster sext scandal. so far , around sext scandal. so far, around a dozen mps, staff and journalists are known to have been targeted and sources have told gb news that more are coming forward. it's after tory mp william wragg told the times he'd said intimate pictures of himself to someone on a gay dating app, and was then manipulated into providing phone numbers. he's expected to be contacted today and will be asked for a list of the numbers shared. the met police has also confirmed it's working with other forces over blackmail concerns. chancellor jeremy hunt says everyone needs to take cyber security seriously. >> well, i think the events of

the last few days have been a great cause for concern. the mp involved has given a courageous and fulsome apology, but the lesson here for all mps is that they need to be very careful about cyber security. and indeed it's the lesson for members of the public as well, because this is something that we are all having face our daily having to face in our daily lives . lives. >> millions of people will receive a boost in take home pay from tomorrow following a cut to employee national insurance from the start of the new tax year, class one contributions will be reduced from 10 to 8. meanwhile, a further 2 million self—employed people will see their class four national insurance reduced from 8 to 6. the government says around 29 million workers will benefit from the changes. shadow chancellor rachel reeves, however, says taxes are actually going up. >> well, they say tomorrow that taxes are going down. all of the

numbers show that taxes are on the rise. taxes today are at a 70 year high, and they're due to increase in every single year of the forecast period. in fact, by the forecast period. in fact, by the end of the forecast, the average british family will be paying average british family will be paying £870 more in tax because of the frozen national insurance and income tax threshold and because of increases in council tax. two that is the conservatives double whammy on tax. >> aslef has accused the government of being economically incompetent as train drivers continue their strikes over pay. union members have walked out and mounted picket lines across the country. some areas have no train services today, with five train services today, with five train operators including avanti, crosscountry and west midlands railway not running any services . a ban on overtime at services. a ban on overtime at 16 companies is also continuing into tomorrow. mick whelan says workers want a resolution. >> we actually want somebody to come to the table and resolve

this issue. the people behind me haven't had a pay rise for five years. half a decade in cost of living crisis . we're the same as living crisis. we're the same as any other worker. regardless of what you earn, you feel that you have right demand a pay have a right to demand a pay rise you've got an rise when you've got an economically government. consultants accepted >> consultants have accepted a pay >> consultants have accepted a pay offer from the government, ending a year long dispute . the ending a year long dispute. the british medical association says 83% of its members in england voted in favour of the offer, which is an improvement on one rejected earlier on this year. consultants have taken strike action over the past 12 months, adding to the nhs waiting list which has also been affected by the junior doctors dispute, which remains unresolved. new powers to prevent so—called disruptive protests come into force today, with offenders facing up to six months in prison or an unlimited fine for serious disruption. prevention orders can now be used to stop repeat offenders from joining protest groups, in particular areas at particular times. home

secretary james cleverly says these powers target those who are, quote , dedicated to are, quote, dedicated to wreaking havoc. however, civil liberties organisation liberty has described it as a shameless attempt to prevent people from being able to make their voices heard . the israeli military has heard. the israeli military has dismissed two officers over the drone strikes, which killed seven aid workers on monday, including three brits john chapman, james henderson and james kirby were among the world central kitchen workers who died. us president joe biden has warned. israel future support for the country depends on the steps taken to protect civilians and aid workers. israel has since announced it's opening new routes for humanitarian aid deliveries into gaza, with the erez crossing opening for the first time since the hamas attacks in october. the king has reportedly told aides to ramp up plans for a two week state visit

to australia. king charles is said to be over the moon and raring to go after his cancer treatment started positively. the 75 year old is said to be feeling optimistic after he was able to meet members of the pubuc able to meet members of the public on easter sunday. he reportedly told aides he's now supercharging plans to also visit new zealand and samoa . for visit new zealand and samoa. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. com slash alerts now straight back to tom and . emily. straight back to tom and. emily. >> the home office has been offering trigger support for staff reading about slavery as it could remind them of past traumas and give them flashbacks , an investigation by gb news can reveal. yes >> joining us now from washington, dc is the newest member of the gb news team, gb

news america video editor stephen edgington . stephen, stephen edgington. stephen, thank you so much for joining stephen edgington. stephen, thank you so much forjoining us and for waking up in the morning early over there in the united states. can you explain exactly what's here in this what's going on here in this exclusive ? exclusive story? >> so basically, home office staff are forced to have mandatory diversity and inclusion training . inclusion training. >> and i was passed some of this training on inclusion and belonging. and part of those documents i noticed something quite interesting. there was a section called trigger support and home office staff are told that they may be triggered, meaning that they experience a past trauma by things such as references to slavery and racism, whether that's through audio or text or visual form. and to sort of resolve this, they have various employee helplines that they're also unked helplines that they're also linked to , which are open 24 linked to, which are open 24 over seven, 365 days a year and

even more bizarrely, as you say, they even mentioned that they might get flashbacks from these triggers, these past traumas. now, i don't know how many home office staff have been enslaved. i imagine it's a pretty low number if they're talking about modern slavery. obviously obviously that is a huge issue, but i think what they're referring to, or one suspects that what they're referring to is , is past slavery. and as you is, is past slavery. and as you know , tom and emily, many, many know, tom and emily, many, many brits were enslaved during the era of the barbary pirates. maybe we all have some past traumas there. we might have some flashbacks ourselves , so some flashbacks ourselves, so it's just it is just part of that sort of general, it's just it is just part of that sort of general , critical that sort of general, critical race theory ideology. i think creeping into the home office. >> i mean, stephen, do you have anidea >> i mean, stephen, do you have an idea of how much this is all costing us the taxpayer? because you would expect this type of stuff from a second rate university campus , perhaps, but, university campus, perhaps, but, not from the home office. >> it's difficult to put a number on it. i think that where

you can kind of calculate the hours lost to taxpayers because these home office staff should be working on their day jobs, obviously, they should be focused on controlling our borders. they should be focused on keeping us safe. and instead they're thinking about past traumas. they're thinking about triggers, and perhaps they're even calling employee helplines. so i think that, again, this is part of that general waste in whitehall or this distraction from their main jobs and there is this odd attitude where and i think you see this in many pubuc think you see this in many public bodies, they see their purpose not as being serving the taxpayer or delivering for the public, but actually their purpose is staff welfare. and it's making sure that their mental health is perfect, that they have all sorts of activities that they can do in their job. activities that they can do in theirjob. to make it more interesting, i mean, the other

part of this story that i found out was that the home office intranet page, that's the internal internet site for home office staff, was also advertising events over advertising various events over the last two months, which were all held during work hours. i can read some of the events if you like, civil service, lgbt+ network, manchester history walk, coming out at work, mental health impact, walk, coming out at work, mental health impact , lgbt liverpool health impact, lgbt liverpool coffee morning and the end of history month quiz. all of these events were held, as i say, dunng events were held, as i say, during office hours , and one during office hours, and one wonders why the home office, if one wonders why the home office is so dysfunctional and the results rishi sunak isn't seeing results rishi sunak isn't seeing results in terms of cutting illegal migration, cutting legal migration, then you you need to look no further than some of these issues, because i think they are basically being distracted or they're distracting themselves by focusing on things which are completely irrelevant to their day jobs. >> and at the very least, you'd expect them to do this, you know, after work, if they want

to an lgbt war history to go on an lgbt war history walk, power them. just walk, all power to them. just not during the working hours of the day. stephen, how on earth is happening under is this all happening under a conservative government >> it's a good question, tom. i think that conservative ministers have to take responsibility for all of these stories that i've reported on over the last few years . they over the last few years. they are the ones who are able to immediately shut the stuff down if they wanted to. they have the power to do so. they had an 80 seat majority. i know it's been sort of whittled down, but stephen stephen isn't the problem that in 2010 the problem here that in 2010 the equality act was passed. >> was almost the last big >> it was almost the last big piece of legislation from the labour government of gordon brown. and doesn't the equality act actually demand lots of these things? so it would take a very brave conservative administration to actually repeal that legislation that sort of demands a lot of these things that we're talking about. >> well, tom, if you can point to the part of the equality act that says that public bodies

have have trigger support have to have trigger support warnings, i'd invite to warnings, then i'd invite you to do so . the civil servants are do so. the civil servants are taking the equality act and using it incorrectly . they're using it incorrectly. they're not. they're going beyond the compliance with the law . and compliance with the law. and they're inventing all of these woke initiatives. and they say that they are there in order to comply with the equality act and the public sector equality duty, which basically says that all pubuc which basically says that all public bodies have to foster a good relations between different protected characteristics. if that sounds nonsense , i that sounds like nonsense, i don't blame you at home. basically what it means is that they have to make an environment, easy for people to work with who are sort of got a different gender or race or whatever, or sexuality, and that could encompass anything. right? but there's nothing specifically in equality that says in the equality act that says they have to any of these they have to do any of these things. basically, have things. basically, they have to make sure people aren't make sure that people aren't being against being discriminated against for whatever characteristic, whatever their characteristic, whether they're white or black or straight . or gay or straight. >> so vegan, as was found in a

recent tribunal . recent tribunal. >> absolutely. it seems odd, though. i mean , there's a great, though. i mean, there's a great, there's a great example of this in the equality act, which is protected, which is gender critical beliefs, but it seems odd to me that if the civil service believes that the equality act is why they have to set up all these initiatives , set up all these initiatives, where are all the initiatives for men? where for straight white men? where are networks for the are all the networks for the straight white men? they completely about completely excluded them about them. they are protected by the equality act. >> you much indeed. >> thank you very much indeed. stephen edgerton who is stephen edgerton there, who is our recruit, news. and our newest recruit, gb news. and he will be based in washington for bringing us the lowdown for us, bringing us the lowdown from america, where this madness is it just takes on a is to, but it just takes on a life of its own, doesn't it, tom? yeah. all of these things, and i do wonder how many people have either as have been recruited either as consultants or workshop managers or people within the hr teams within, just to do this, it must be so much money that's spent on these types of initiatives. and also, what does being lgbt have to do with working in the home

office? i mean, seriously, are they that people are they saying that people are discriminated a daily basis discriminated on a daily basis in home because in the home office because of their i that their sexuality? i find that hard believe and would an hard to believe and would an lgbt them? do they lgbt walk help them? do they need that? i imagine going to your manager and saying, oh, i just need two hours off because i want to on this lgbt walk. i want to go on this lgbt walk. the manager couldn't say no because they'd because otherwise they'd be a bigot, wouldn't oh, bigot, wouldn't they? oh, of course, wanted go course, but if you wanted to go on, know, roman on, i don't know, a roman history walk. >> i'm just trying to think of the the most straight the most of the most straight male comparator. >> want to go a terf >> i don't want to go on a terf walk, tom. want on a walk, tom. i want to go on a terf walk. >> would you visit? terf walk. >> just would you visit? terf walk. >> just i would you visit? terf walk. >> just i don't d you visit? terf walk. >> just i don't know, visit? terf walk. >> just i don't know, but? terf walk. >> just i don't know, but i find somewhere meant could somewhere if it meant i could have off work. have a few hours off work. >> well, the equality act, >> well, under the equality act, perhaps you can. perhaps. perhaps. mean, like, maybe, perhaps. i mean, like, maybe, maybe just i'll go maybe i'll just go. i'll just go up paddington basin, right? up down paddington basin, right? i equality i mean, i know does the equality act just skip work? act allow me to just skip work? >> i on then by. anyway, >> can i go on then by. anyway, anyway, stephen is going to bnng anyway, stephen is going to bring us all sorts of exclusives just like this. and it is available in full for gb news members. you can see it at gb

news. com forward slash membership of membership where there's lots of very interesting exclusive stories for you. >> right? i've decided to stay here now, civil servants within the department for business and trade . this is another story trade. this is another story involving servants. now, involving civil servants. now, these civil servants involved with arms exports have raised serious concerns over their own degree of legal liability. if israel is found to be violating international human law. yes. >> a union representing the civil servants said it is seriously considering taking legal action in relation to the uk's arms sales to israel. >> well, joining us now is barrister writer stephen barrister and writer stephen barrett. of barrett. and stephen, a lot of people will say, aren't civil servants meant to be impartial ? servants meant to be impartial? marshall wouldn't any liability for any political decision lie with the elected ministers in government? rather than the so—called impartial civil service? >> yes . and it's crucial that >> yes. and it's crucial that that's the word. >> you've gone to the word is impartial. >> and we have started to forget

what impartiality means and to be perfectly honest, it's linked to your earlier story. we have the road to hell is always paved with good intentions , and we with good intentions, and we have forgotten what it is to be political and to say things which are political in to order support, people like me. and i'm bisexual . and so in order to bisexual. and so in order to make me feel included, apparently we've started to allow the civil servants to be political. once you start doing that, impartiality collapses . that, impartiality collapses. thatis that, impartiality collapses. that is the road to hell that is paved with those good intentions, the good intention of helping and being nice to people like me. i mean, i, i didn't get my bisexual martini on arrival, so i will be putting in a quality act complaint in. but, it is a good intention that we've allowed the civil servants to become political , but it is a to become political, but it is a wickedness because it is a breakdown in the system of our

constitution, which requires impartiality , requires them to impartiality, requires them to not be political at all, and requires them to be servants. and what they're doing is trying to become master, and that's what they do , stephen, with what they do, stephen, with being servants, it seems. >> and don't worry, by the way, we will go for an lgbt walk a little later on, so don't worry. we are thinking of you and anyone anyone else who anyone else. anyone else who feels we're you know, anyone else. anyone else who feels kind ve're you know, anyone else. anyone else who feels kind enough. you know, anyone else. anyone else who feels kind enough. but, know, anyone else. anyone else who feels kind enough. but, stephen, being kind enough. but, stephen, these civil servants, they are unionised. does that make difference? >> well, that's. i mean, one of the reasons that the unions, have caused problems in this country, but they're actually very successful mechanism in germany , but our unions became germany, but our unions became very political, and they've, they've stayed very political, and it well be that that's and it may well be that that's one of the reasons unions are largely successful in this largely less successful in this country. they're smaller here and they're across fewer industries, and they don't do things like in germany, where they actually sit on the board with companies and work collaboratively because they

fell into into what is marxism in the 70s, and they don't really appear to have ever got out of it. and what is happening is that this is an assault on the constitution. you know, once you lose the concept of impartiality, once civil servants are masters and they're using, by the way, the excuse of international law. so this is a trick we've seen for years. i mean, into public mean, i first came into public british public to point out british public life to point out that international law is not always binding on us. if international law was always binding on us, we would be its slaves , and that's what we would slaves, and that's what we would be. we wouldn't be a democracy. our votes wouldn't matter. our governments would have no power. the previous treaties that some other agreed the previous treaties that some other would agreed the previous treaties that some other would bind agreed the previous treaties that some other would bind us agreed the previous treaties that some other would bind us foreveri would would bind us forever until our new masters let us go. no, no no no. this country no, no no no no. this country threw away its tyrant in 1688. we've been tyrant free since 1688, and that we will not have a fresh tyrant in international law. it is. we control it. our sovereign is parliament. we are

bound by domestic law. i mean, i noficed bound by domestic law. i mean, i noticed some years ago that domestic law started to become less cool. it's under sort of psychological attack at universities because, stephen, i think i think you almost hit the nail on the head there because some international law is, is absolutely put on a pedestal. >> however, not all international law. it was only last week that germany legalised cannabis. now that was cheered from the rafters by many, many people. but it's actually in contravention of the single convention on narcotic drugs 1961, an international treaty to which we're a party and germany's a party. most countries in the world are a to . countries in the world are a to. party therefore, legalising cannabis breaks that international i didn't see international law. i didn't see civil servants, therefore saying we're not going to enact this policy . it seems to apply to policy. it seems to apply to some policy than others . some policy more than others. >> yes, and that's the switcheroo. once you start to allow them to do politics, they will politics, not your will do their politics, not your politics, and they will not complain about certain things. they are behaving inconsistently. i mean, i could show a number of other

inconsistencies. nobody seems in the upset that the the slightest bit upset that the eu hasn't joined the echr like it promised to in a legally binding treaty. it's in breach of international law. and these things happen all the time. and as you say, quite rightly, no one, no one complains. and it's only certain things that we only over certain things that we complain to complain. and that's in order to get policy and i'm get policy outcomes. and i'm afraid nonsense about afraid this nonsense about israel being somehow involved in a l israel being somehow involved in a , which is just as a genocide, which is just as lore tosh is, is not an excuse for civil servants to start behaving politically if they want , there will be good civil want, there will be good civil servants, and the good civil servants, and the good civil servants need to understand that servants, and the good civil seyou ts need to understand that servants, and the good civil seyou restore to understand that servants, and the good civil seyou restore impartiality,1d that servants, and the good civil seyou restore impartiality, yomat if you restore impartiality, you protect civil servants from all of this nonsense and protect theirjobs of this nonsense and protect their jobs too. >> i do wonder whether some of these civil servants would do better running parliament better running for parliament and accountability. and having some accountability. but thank you very much indeed, stephen barrett, really great to speak you on legal issues here. >> absolutely. i always love it when we talk to someone who bnngs when we talk to someone who brings up the glorious revolution of 1688, the foundation liberty , well, foundation of our liberty, well, coming up, brand new analysis

showing a shocking number of schools misrepresent laws protecting sex and gender. well, more on those details after this short .

break. >> right. well, it's 226 and a mother has alleged that she discovered at a parent teacher meeting that her daughter now defines herself as a boy. the mother says the school had started using male pronouns to refer to the 13 year old without even telling her. >> well, this comes as a survey of equality and transgender policies at more than 600 schools in devon and cornwall showed a large majority reportedly misrepresented equality laws. >> yes, some of the school policies reportedly claim children as young as five could

show signs of gender dysphoria . show signs of gender dysphoria. yeah. well, joining us now to discuss this is the founder of our duty group, keith jordan , our duty group, keith jordan, keith, the government seems to have been clear, but perhaps they haven't been clear enough, that schools do need to tell parents if their child is claiming to be a boy when they're biologically a girl. is that not right ? right, they're biologically a girl. is that not right? right, i think you've hit the nail on the head when you said the government has not been clear enough , the, not been clear enough, the, draft guidance , was published, draft guidance, was published, about two months ago, which was open for consultation and the consultation on that has closed. and that draft guidance, in my view, and in the view of many others, did not go far enough in, making it absolutely clear that schools should not be socially transitioning, which is, the word we use to describe ,

is, the word we use to describe, allowing children to go by, pronoun and names not associated with their sex schools should not be allowing children to be socially transitioning at school , but that was not made, abundantly clear in the draft guidance that went out , it was guidance that went out, it was it was certainly, made it was certainly made clear that schools should not be doing it. but the guidance really needed to say that schools must not do it . what what do you mean by it. what what do you mean by schools doing it? >> because there are some instances of children in the united kingdom, say someone who's 16, who is transitioning, who's16, who is transitioning, as a matter of legal fact is transitioning. there are some individuals under the age of 18 who are doing that, who attend schools . are you saying that schools. are you saying that schools. are you saying that schools should actively work against that , my personal view against that, my personal view is that schools should act

actively work against that. you're absolutely right that legally , we have got gender legally, we have got gender reassignment as a protected character pritt stick in the equality act, which, makes the terrain, very difficult for schools to navigate, you you are, the legislation implies that there is a legitimacy , if that there is a legitimacy, if given to a child identified buying out of their natural sex, and i would like to raise the question , should we be giving question, should we be giving that, idea that a child gets in their head? the legitimacy that we are giving it? because i've been working with families affected by this for 6 or 7 years now. and we've formed quite a clear picture of how

this manifests itself in teenagers . and it really boils teenagers. and it really boils down to, these children getting the idea in their head and then they ruminate on it for a long time. and personally, from the experiences i've had from the parents, i've spoken to, from clinical psychologists, i've spoken to, these children who say they are transgender doesn't actually mean that they're transgender. >> i mean, keith, one of the key things for me with all this is whether teachers should tell parents. now, i think it should absolutely be the case in nearly 100% of cases that if teachers suspect that a child is presenting themselves as a different gender without their parents even knowing that they should be on the phone to the parents immediately, it's a safeguarding issue. it's something that parents must know. but some people argue , know. but some people argue, well, hang on, what if the child

has come to you in, in confidence and told the teacher, you know what i'm feeling? gender dysphoria. would you mind calling me, she instead of instead of he ? i can't tell my instead of he? i can't tell my parents because they're transphobic or whatever , can it transphobic or whatever, can it be a bit tricky for teachers because they want to look after the child, don't they , well, the child, don't they, well, absolutely. yes. i mean, there's absolutely. yes. i mean, there's a duty of care, from schools, from educational professionals to always act in the best interests of the child, also, you rightly point out to safeguarding, and one key aspect of safeguarding is there should not be secrets, so as the default position should always be to tell the parents, hang on, hang on, hang on. >> keith, keith, if you say there should be never, never be secrets. what if a child tells a teacher that they trust, for example, that they're gay and their families might be incredibly religious, their

families be not accepting families might be not accepting of fact? do think in of that fact? do you think in that situation, the teacher must tell the parents? >> i don't, if a child, if a child is gay, there isn't a health risk associated with that, so no. >> and you're not demanding anyone call you by a different pronoun. are you? you're not arguing for someone to change the way that they you in the way that they treat you in school. exactly. >> yeah. coming out as gay is >> yeah. so coming out as gay is not a safeguarding issue. coming out as transgender is a safeguarding issue. >> but doesn't the safeguarding issue apply at home as well as at school? in fact, the majority of the child's time will be at home. and if a teacher has just outed child to parents outed a child to their parents and parents not and those parents are not accepting that could a very accepting that could be a very dangerous situation . dangerous situation. >> i hear what you're saying, but what you find is a lot of children will say, oh, don't tell my parents because they're transphobic, as just a means of avoiding the conversation that they really should be having

with their parents. we must assume that in the vast majority of cases, parents have the best interests of their children at heart, and teachers are not the parents. >> teachers are not the parents. i'm really sorry to butt in there, keith, but we've run out of time. but it's been really great to get your perspective. keith jordan, founder our keith jordan, the founder of our duty we'll come keith jordan, the founder of our duty to we'll come keith jordan, the founder of our duty to this we'll come keith jordan, the founder of our duty to this a we'll come keith jordan, the founder of our duty to this a little ne'll come keith jordan, the founder of our duty to this a little bit.l come keith jordan, the founder of our duty to this a little bit moreie back to this a little bit more to say on that. we'll get the news headlines . but to say on that. we'll get the news headlines. but coming up, it's understood mps, it's understood dozens of mps, we're come back to the we're going to come back to the honeytrap scandal so honeytrap scandal too. so do stay . stay tuned. >> good afternoon. 233 i'm ray addison in the gb newsroom. our top stories human remains have been found wrapped in plastic at a nature reserve in salford . a nature reserve in salford. greater manchester police says a murder investigation has been launched following the discovery by a member of the public at kersal dale. now we're expecting an update from the force in half an update from the force in half an hour and we'll bring you more

on this developing story now. government security experts have been called in to analyse what's messages at the heart of the westminster sext scandal . so westminster sext scandal. so far, around a dozen mps, staff and journalists are known to have been targeted and sources have been targeted and sources have told gb news more are coming forward after tory mp william wragg told the times he'd sent intimate pictures of himself to someone on a gay dating app, and was then manipulated into providing those contacts. he's expected to be contacted today and will be asked for the list of numbers which he shared . the met police which he shared. the met police has also confirmed it's now working with other forces over these blackmail concerns . these blackmail concerns. consultants have accepted a pay . consultants have accepted a pay. offer from the government, ending a year long dispute. the british medical association says 83% of members in england voted british medical association says 83favouriembers in england voted british medical association says 83favour of1bers in england voted british medical association says 83favour of thes in england voted british medical association says 83favour of the offer.1gland voted british medical association says 83favour of the offer. that's voted in favour of the offer. that's an improvement on one rejected earlier this year. consultants have been striking the past

have been striking over the past 12 months, adding to the nhs waiting list, which has also been affected by the junior doctors dispute, which remains unresolved. millions of people will receive a boost in take home pay from tomorrow following a cut to employee national insurance from the start of the new tax year. class one contributions will be reduced from 10 to 8. meanwhile a further 2 million self—employed people will see their class four national insurance reduced from 8 to 6. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. com slash alerts

i >> -- >> well, it's 238 now. we were

just having a discussion a little bit earlier about whether teachers should have to tell parents, if a child is turning up at school and presenting as a different gender or saying they have gender dysphoria. andrew says teachers are not healthcare professionals, so should not be in position they in a position where they determine , even if a child has determine, even if a child has gender dysphoria and or participate in social transition just because child says they just because a child says they are transgender . i just because a child says they are transgender. i think that's are transgender. i think that's a very good point, because you get into such murky as get into such murky waters as should a single should it be up to a single teacher collection of teacher or a collection of teachers to decide whether it's okay appropriate for a child okay or appropriate for a child to, essentially to affirm their gender dysphoria and say, you are a boy. okay, we'll treat you as a boy if they were actually a girl, how can it be up to anyone apart from the individual concerned? a child. concerned? but they're a child. they're let they're a child. we don't let children. some schools have been given children given litter trays to children in because they've in the classroom because they've said cats have. they said their cats have. they really? said their cats have. they reaiso�* that's if at least on >> so if that's if at least on one occasion, if that is true, but you're indulging it right, because so beyond ridiculous. >> but child comes into

>> but if a child comes into school and they say, i'm not a i'm not a boy, i'm a girl, can you call me he or she? do you think the teacher should just say, okay, and we don't even have to tell your parents? >> i think actually, what keith jordan talking to jordan, who we were talking to in beforehand, in the interview beforehand, said cat out of said almost let the cat out of the he said in the vast the bag. he said in the vast majority of cases, the parents should be informed. that is almost there are almost conceding that there are some not all cases, but some cases not all cases, but some cases not all cases, but some cases not all cases, but some cases where actually the safeguarding option would be to not out someone to deeply intolerant parents, but some children. >> yeah, but what about the other children in the classroom? because this is the other issue. because this is the other issue. because safeguarding because it's a safeguarding issue . so it's not just issue. so it's not just pronouns, is it? it's then where do do sports? do use do they do sports? do they use changing use changing rooms? do they use different toilets than they were. and then affects more were. and then that affects more children. doesn't it? and then you have parents of other children getting involved and saying, this boy saying, hang on here, this boy isn't or vice versa . and isn't a girl or vice versa. and you get into very murky waters. >> was a who was >> it was a girl who was transitioning to be a boy, but i

think one of the issues here is this is so fantastically rare . this is so fantastically rare. this is not something that occurs in every school. this is not something that occurs in every class. well, there have been schools where there have been schools where there have been huge numbers. >> a very high proportion of students are of students saying that they are of a gender. a different gender. >> yes. >> yes. >> that's why the social >> and that's why the social contagion element sometimes comes. >> and is a huge group >> and if there is a huge group of class doing of people in one class doing that, perhaps more that, then perhaps more scepticism should applied. scepticism should be applied. absolutely. if we're absolutely. but i think if we're trying make universalist trying to make universalist rules here, we're going to get we're going to make some mistakes. well, i think be individualised. >> i think teachers should certainly show compassion, listen to their students. but i do think parents do need to know, but moving on, it is understood that dozens of mps, parliamentary staff and journalists been journalists have all been affected by the honey trap sixteen scandal that is rocking westminster. this number is expected rise more people expected to rise as more people come yes come forward. yes >> meanwhile, the commons speaken >> meanwhile, the commons speaker, sir lindsay hoyle, has called security experts to called in security experts to get better understanding of get a better understanding of these messages , some of these whatsapp messages, some of which we have exclusively

revealed afternoon on gb revealed this afternoon on gb news. part of honey news. all part of this honey trap shall we discuss trap scandal shall we discuss this further now with gb news political editor christopher hogue? >> thank you very much indeed, chris. so what's going on then? the speaker has called in a security expert. >> that's right. it's quite quiet in parliament today. we're in the middle of a long easter holiday. mps aren't back till a week on monday when the rwanda bill is back in front of the commons and lords. that will be a week. but right now a dramatic week. but right now it's very becalmed, over in parliament. that's right. the speaker mps speaker has wrote to mps and staff last night, making clear they're talking to security experts from the government, partners in government to analyse and understand the nature and any security risks from these messages sent out in a fishing expedition. this is quite interesting. tracking the different political reaction to this involving william this issue involving william wragg. he of course, he said how sorry he is. he was very weak. he shouldn't have shared numbers with people. then sent with these people. who then sent come messages to other mps

come on messages to other mps and . some mps replied with and staff. some mps replied with images of themselves in a compromising position. so he is very, very sorry. he's expected today to give a full list of the numbers he gave out to commons authorities so they can be contacted and protect themselves. but the reaction particularly has been interesting . here's the first interesting. here's the first reaction from the tories. this is jeremy hunt, the chancellor . is jeremy hunt, the chancellor. >> well, i think the events of the last few days, have been a great cause for concern. the mp involved has given a courageous and fulsome apology. but the lesson here for all mps is that they need to be very careful about cyber security . and about cyber security. and indeed, it's the lesson for members of the public as well, because this is something that we to face in our we are all having to face in our daily . daily lives. >> though jeremy hunt saying it was a courageous and fulsome apology in a sense, the tories putting their arm around william wragg. and that's in some

contrast to his opponent, rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor. here's what she had to say. it's incredibly concerning the revelations that we've heard overnight. >> the police are now looking into this. that is right. and the police investigation should be able to take its course. >> but what do you want to see happen to actually resign? >> well, that's a question for the conservatives. police the conservatives. the police investigation underway. investigation is now underway. and right allow and it is right that we allow that investigation take its course. >> get you don't want to talk >> i get you don't want to talk about specifically, but how about that specifically, but how concerned general concerned are you in general about mps about the vulnerability of mps to blackmail? >> i'm very concerned >> well, i'm very concerned about what seems to have happenedin about what seems to have happened in this incident, especially about mps telephone numbers being passed to on unknown sources. that is really concerning. and that is right, that there is a proper investigation into this , in investigation into this, in positions of responsibility, we always have to think about our actions. but there are also malevolent players out there who are trying to influence politics

in these benign ways. >> you have rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor with, i would say, contrasting responses to the william wragg situation, which might be interesting, i think, to viewers and listeners , think, to viewers and listeners, should we be sympathetic towards william had issues william wragg? he's had issues with mental health in recent years or should we be firmer? maybe as rachel reeves saying, the whip, which the matter of the whip, which has taken away from has not been taken away from rachel reeves from william wragg, is up to the wragg, forgive me, is up to the tory party to judge. >> it's a really concerned issue given that there are so many people in westminster, clearly, that have been messaged more than a dozen . we understand, than a dozen. we understand, and, and the times reporting that two members of parliament have sent explicit pictures of themselves . themselves. >> that's right. we don't know if they're men or women because there were two kind of fake people called abbie and charlie messaging people, a man and a woman. so we don't know the gender of the mps who may have sent pictures of themselves, yeah. sent pictures of themselves, yeah . but it shows how people yeah. but it shows how people are prone to being weak. people

can be affected by this. it might be surprising to some of us, but it does affect people. i think william wragg's response is quite telling. said there is quite telling. he said there that had compromising that they had compromising things on me. they wouldn't leave me alone. i've hurt people by being weak. i was scared, i mortified that my weakness has caused people hurt. i think that indicates how some people can push into a corner by the pressure which these spear fishing people do, the pressure they put on to give me something that you've got , and some people that you've got, and some people can crack under that pressure. and that's certainly where william wragg found himself. right in greater right now he's in greater manchester. the police manchester. as i say, the police and the authorities from the government parliament will government and parliament will be in touch asking for a full list numbers, we list of numbers, as we understand it from common sources. rising. sources. that number is rising. more coming forward to more are coming forward to people affected by this. of course, two police forces, the met so far met police and so far leicestershire police investigating. so it's an unravelling situation as we speak, no really, really concerning stuff. national

security, if nothing else. but, chris hope, thank you very much for bringing us the very latest on this scandal. >> thank you. well, coming up, shocking burglary shocking figures, burglary victims to wait up to victims are having to wait up to 28 hours just for police to arrive at the scene of the crime. how did we get here? we'll be asking a former police officer

right. well, before we move on, i would like to issue a retraction of what i suggested about litter trays. being in some schools because they weren't, but in a school had to send a letter to parents insisting that they did not have litter trays for children. but there have been rumours at least, and an audio clip that suggested at one point that there may be litter trays or at least that children were identifying as cats. so there

you go. >> these these stories sort of run off with a sort of a mind of their own, don't they? sometimes, outside of the realm of reality. >> but please do let us know if your child identifies as a cat, because you never know. you never know. because you never know. you nev it's ;now. because you never know. you nevit's not i. because you never know. you nevit's not a real thing. >> it's not a real thing. >> it's not a real thing. >> identified as a dinosaur. >> identified as a dinosaur. >> at one point, did you know what sort of dinosaur the conversations for another t—rex t—rex . amazing. great dinosaur, t—rex. amazing. great dinosaur, diplodocus ? no. burglary victims diplodocus? no. burglary victims are having to wait up to 28 hours for police to arrive at the scene of the break in. that's according to findings from the liberal democrats. >> yes , waiting times for a >> yes, waiting times for a police officer have almost doubled in two years, with average burglary times average burglary response times increasing by shocking 25% in just one year. well let's speak to the former london police officer and director of the law and order foundation, norman brennan. >> norman, are you surprised by these figures ? these figures? >> not at all, we have a criminal justice system in absolute crisis, wasn't perfect in my day , but in my day, every

in my day, but in my day, every 999 call, we, got, we attended every burglary, victim that we were told about if there were suspects on premises , we'd send suspects on premises, we'd send as many officers as we could as quickly as possible . when the quickly as possible. when the suspects were off, it would be slightly downgraded , but we slightly downgraded, but we certainly get round within hours that day with the scenes of crime officer and police officers to reassure the individuals. >> some were elderly, some were single parents that needed some help, advice, some what to do about the broken windows and doors. >> we arranged all that. nowadays they're lucky to get anyone in as we sing for at least 24 hours. i mean , norman, least 24 hours. i mean, norman, if you're waiting up to 28 hours for the police arrive on the for the police to arrive on the scene of a burglary, it's highly unlikely police will unlikely that the police will find perpetrator . find the perpetrator. >> absolutely not. i mean, the thing is, what happens, folks, is this is when domestic violence, robbery , burglary , violence, robbery, burglary, fights, knife crime become a priority .

priority. >> nothing's a priority, this government crippled policing in, 13, 14 years ago, just when i retired, we lost 22,000 frontline officers, 27,000 backroom staff. and i'm ashamed to say , as someone that has to say, as someone that has dedicated their life to policing and law and order, is that the criminals then took over the streets and they still rule the streets. and i can tell you briefly, only speaking to a police contact this morning a few days ago in hampshire , a few days ago in hampshire, a woman on her own early hours of the morning, three children, three masked thugs broke into her house, stole keys to a number of electric bikes, damaged her car and had it on their toes in absolute fraught briefness of anger, frustration and worry. she called 999. nobody turned up this happens too often. it's unacceptable. and when you look at where we point the finger, unfortunately, this government, point the finger, unfortunately, this government , the previous this government, the previous government, and i'll tell you what, i've got no hope of either of these two parties, tackling

this type of crime. and don't forget residential burglary , 14 forget residential burglary, 14 years maximum penalty, imprisonment, commercial is ten years, we're told two weeks ago not to send people to prison to up to a year. that includes a lot of those people. and yesterday your program said, let's go soft on those who've had a bad life . well, i had a had a bad life. well, i had a bit of a bad start, as many other people did. do you know what i did? rolled my sleeves what i did? i rolled my sleeves up, made that extra effort, join the police and i'm applaud you for it. >> norman, i'm we've >> norman, i'm afraid we've run to the show, but >> norman, i'm afraid we've run to you the show, but >> norman, i'm afraid we've run to you so the show, but >> norman, i'm afraid we've run to you so much 10w, but >> norman, i'm afraid we've run to you so much for, but >> norman, i'm afraid we've run to you so much for what thank you so much for what you've had say. really you've had to say. really important norman brennan. important stuff, norman brennan. there is up next. there martin daubney is up next. martin, what's coming up? >> another yet >> well, there's another yet another pro—palestine march at parliament starts parliament square starts in about ten minutes. >> it's the last friday of ramadan. there's a pro—israel counter demo, 500 extra coppers on the streets will be live from the front lines. the honeypot sex scandal . our the front lines. the honeypot sex scandal. our mps are victim of their own stupidity . of their own stupidity. >> we'll have all that on my

show. three till six. >> but first, it's time for your latest weather forecast. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello. good afternoon. welcome to your latest gb news weather update. well storm kathleen is on the way for this weekend, but it will be turning much warmer than it has been lately. the winds will also pick up. here is storm kathleen developing out to the west of the uk. ahead of that have the uk. ahead of that we have got weather front across got a weather front across northern that's brought northern areas that's brought some today . that's some snow earlier today. that's much rain now the much turning to rain now as the temperatures up temperatures start to pick up through the rest of the evening. temperatures will rise as well. from through from the southwest through the night. to be a night. so it's going to be a very night, but there will very mild night, but there will be very rain for be some very heavy rain for parts northern ireland. much parts of northern ireland. much of a time, of scotland as well. for a time, much rain should clear much of the rain should clear through tomorrow morning, through by tomorrow morning, though, to leave a fairly dry start the of england start for the bulk of england and wales . and, as i said, it and wales. and, as i said, it will be very mild start to the will be a very mild start to the day. those temperatures are

closer daytime average closer to the daytime average for year. for this time of year. throughout across throughout the day, across eastern of england, eastern areas of england, southeastern of scotland, southeastern areas of scotland, it largely dry it should stay largely dry through but storm through the day, but storm kathleen is developing. it will push up to the west of the uk. there are wind warnings in force. to some force. it's likely to be some delays travel across western delays to travel across western areas wales and areas of england, wales and scotland well as northern scotland as well as northern ireland. some large waves as well. in the east, where it well. but in the east, where it stays fairly dry, there'll be highs of 22 degrees. sunday is going be another fairly mild going to be another fairly mild day, but will be more in the day, but it will be more in the way of particularly way of showers, particularly across wales, across western areas wales, northwestern england in particular, some of those particular, seeing some of those heavier showers. and it's going to stay windy far north to stay windy in the far north next week. it does look like it's to turn a little bit it's going to turn a little bit dner it's going to turn a little bit drier across southern areas, however, temperatures will fall a to average . a little more closer to average. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> a very good afternoon to you. and a happy friday. it's 3 pm. >> and welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news. >> broadcasting live from the heart of westminster, all across the uk. today, i have a gb news exclusive on the honeytrap scandal that shocked westminster. >> and i'll bring you some of the messages that were sent by one of those people responsible. >> next up, 29 million of us will benefit from tomorrow's record breaking cut in national insurance and i'll ask our economics and business editor, liam halligan, if it's good news, or if labour are right to call it a tory tax con. next up, there's fantastic news about the king. he's due to visit australia in october as planned, and apparently he's raring to go. and that's all coming up between now and 6:00.