attack on israel within revenge attack on israel within the next 48 hours. iran and its 3000 missiles potentially kicking off some escalating war, does seem rather more important than the tax affairs of the deputy leader of the labour party. but it does beg the question how safe are we.7 >> we? >> well, how safe are we? and would we be safer under a labour government? keir starmer is very much out and about saying how he is so committed to our nuclear deterrent. he wants to up defence spending to 2.5% of gdp. >> but you are resources allow you are in safe hands under the labour party , of course, labour party, of course, distancing himself massively, continuing to do so from his predecessor jeremy corbyn. >> but do you trust labour if resources allow to keep our nafion resources allow to keep our nation safe ?

nation safe? >> that's the question. we want to read your responses gbnews.com forward slash your say would we be safer under a labour government? or indeed, are things fine as they are, or do none of them have a clue? we're going to be talking about the defence situation of the country, but also the more particulars of scandal, political scandal and now police investigation too. it's going to be a busy show with a fast paced news agenda. stick with us throughout. it good afternoon britain, but now it's your headunes . headlines with sam. >> good afternoon from the newsroom. 12:02. i'm sam francis and a look at the headlines. this hour, the labour party says it's confident that angela rayner has complied with the rules after greater manchester police launched an investigation over her tax affairs. it relates to information she gave about her living situation a decade ago.the her living situation a decade ago. the new investigation comes after conservative mp james daly reported the labour mp to

greater manchester police asked if it was politically motivated, defence secretary grant shapps said the investigation will reveal the facts. i think the double standards have been extraordinary. >> angela rayner herself has spent her political career calling people out for exactly the thing that she seems to be doing now. it's not acceptable to ignore it and it's not acceptable for keir starmer to say he won't even read reports into it. this is something which is a serious matter. it's important that it's looked into properly, and i welcome the idea that the police are doing that in other news, new documents have revealed that the former managing director of the post office suggested that subpostmasters he said, chose to blame technology when they were short for cash . short for cash. >> in an email from 2009, alan cooke said there was absolutely no logical reason that software was to blame. while speaking at the horizon inquiry this morning, he said those comments

were unacceptable and he will regret them for the rest of his life. he's also admitted he didn't know the organisation was itself prosecuting subpostmasters in about two thirds of those cases, more than 900 subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted due to a faulty it system between 1999 and 2015. sir keir starmer says that britain's nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of labour's plan to keep the country safe. the labour leader is visiting barrow in furness today, where nuclear submarines are being built . in furness today, where nuclear submarines are being built. he's expected to reaffirm his party's commitment spending, commitment to defence spending, with a pledge to boost investment and strengthen britain's and economic britain's security and economic growth. if labour wins the next election . the government, election. the government, though, has dismissed the visit as distraction. but shadow as a distraction. but shadow defence minister luke pollard says bolstering nation's says bolstering the nation's defences is an economic opportunity. when economic conditions allow, we hope to get to 2.5% of gdp on defence,

making sure that we can support those men and women in our armed forces have the equipment and the capabilities that they need to deter aggression. >> but if necessary , defeat an >> but if necessary, defeat an opponent in war. and that is what keir is setting out today. >> britain is turning an economic corner. that's according to the chancellor, after the nations output grew by 0.1% in february, the office for national statistics has also revised january's figure, pushing it up to 0.3. those latest numbers suggest that britain is coming out of recession, with significant improvements across manufacturing, particularly in the car sector . the defence the car sector. the defence secretary says a new british military laser could be on ukraine's front line by 2027 to help take down russian drones. and a warning if you're watching on television, the following story does contain some flashing images. grant shapps claims the weapon will have huge ramifications for the conflict . ramifications for the conflict. the so—called dragon fire is capable of cutting through its

targets with an intense beam of light. it comes after the age of conscription in ukraine was lowered last week by two years, down to 25. in an effort to help replenish troops . lord cameron replenish troops. lord cameron has warned iran against drawing the middle east into a wider conflict. the foreign secretary spoke to his iranian counterpart following threats made by tehran against israel. there were also concerns that an israeli airstrike that killed two iranian generals last week could provoke retaliation. meanwhile, the us has told its officials and families in israel not to travel outside three areas, including tel aviv, jerusalem and beersheba . access to funding and beersheba. access to funding here in the uk for farmers that are hit by bad weather is to be widened amid fears the effects of climate change are creating a crisis for british agriculture . crisis for british agriculture. the grants of between £500 and £25,000 were initially only available to those within 150m of a main river that had flooded

. the national farmers union has welcomed broader access to the funds, but says the impact of poor weather on british farms goes far beyond the recent storm. henk and a group of mps is calling for a strategy from the government to help combat misinformation aimed at young people on the social platform tiktok . ofcom data suggests that tiktok. ofcom data suggests that 1 in 10 children aged between 12 and 15 used the platform as their main source of news, despite concerns over the chinese government's influence on the app. the recommendation is part of a wider report emphasising the need for more trusted voices, like scientists and doctors, to help combat conspiracy theories. tiktok says it does welcome the idea. that's the latest from the newsroom for now. more in the next half hour. until then, you can sign up to gb news alerts. just scan that code there on your or if code there on your screen. or if you're radio, go to you're listening on radio, go to gb .com/ alerts .

gb news .com/ alerts. >> welcome back. it's 1207 now. greater manchester police has reopened its formal investigation into claims that labour deputy leader angela rayner may have broken electoral law. the claim is that rayner may have registered a home she did not live in, as her place of residence. >> well, the new probe comes after reassessment of the information provided to us. that's according to the police. >> yes, the labour party says angela rayner welcomes the chance to set out the facts with the police. but that's a very different attitude to the way in which angela rayner herself responded to boris johnson. remember under remember that being placed under police investigation? >> yes. in january 2022, angela rayner called for the then prime minister boris johnson to resign simply due to the fact that he was under investigation, not the outcome of any investigation. >> she is boris johnson's downing street. oh, it's gone now . i was downing street. oh, it's gone now. i was just going to read out the tweet, but essentially, yes, smacks a little bit a

yes, smacks of a little bit of a touch hypocrisy, perhaps. touch of hypocrisy, perhaps. should westminster should we head to westminster and speak with gb news political edhon and speak with gb news political editor, to editor, christopher hope to bnng editor, christopher hope to bring us the detail on this? christopher, this be a bit christopher, this will be a bit of to the system for the of a shock to the system for the labour leadership keir labour leadership here. keir starmer , he wants to talk about starmer, he wants to talk about the deterrent. wants the nuclear deterrent. he wants to spending . to talk about defence spending. but this with angela but this issue with angela raynen but this issue with angela rayner, formal police rayner, now a formal police investigation . investigation. >> yes. that morning tom. morning, emily. that's totally right. the idea had been to have sir keir starmer at barrow in furness today, committing the labour party to of when labour party to 2.5% of gdp when the economic circumstances allow. with the interview with a daily mail of all places, making clear that labour backs a nuclear deterrent. instead, gb news and other outlets are focusing on angela rayner, his deputy, and this police investigation, announced within the past hour by greater manchester police into whether it centres really on whether she was correctly registered at this house. the second home she had in, in, in this council house

that she had in manchester, or the house around a corner where her husband lived. of course, she's been very clear that she , she's been very clear that she, she's been very clear that she, she's followed all the all the correct laws and the taxes paid when she sold it. no capital gains tax was due. we understand, but it's very, very embarrassing. labour had been hoping this idea would go away. this whole pressure from starting with the book from lord ashcroft, the former tory donor, serialised by the mail on sunday, pressure by james daly, a local tory mp concerned about it , a conservative supporting it, a conservative supporting right wing newspapers investigating it. labour's been trying to push it away almost attack the messenger, not go after what was said. we've heard, haven't we, from labour today saying they got full support in angela rayner , keir support in angela rayner, keir starmer wouldn't say he had 100 support in her yesterday. just full support . support in her yesterday. just full support. but support in her yesterday. just full support . but they're trying full support. but they're trying to hope they would just go away. but it hasn't gone away. and i think it's now escalating into a real problem for labour party. they'll they will now not be real problem for labour party. they to they will now not be real problem for labour party. they to comment 1ow not be real problem for labour party. they to comment on' not be real problem for labour party. they to comment on iliol be real problem for labour party. they to comment on it because able to comment on it because it's a police investigation. but

able to comment on it because itthink olice investigation. but able to comment on it because itthink thise investigation. but able to comment on it because itthink this will, stigation. but able to comment on it because itthink this will, thisition. but able to comment on it because itthink this will, this will. but i think this will, this will overshadow the final weeks in the run in to very difficult the run in to a very difficult week . few weeks would have been week. few weeks would have been for the tory party and now it's back labour. yes is back on labour. yes it is interesting, course, because back on labour. yes it is interestirseen course, because back on labour. yes it is interestirseen aourse, because back on labour. yes it is interestirseen a great because back on labour. yes it is interestirseen a great numbers back on labour. yes it is interestirseen a great number of we have seen a great number of police investigations now that, that of course there were police investigations into boris johnson, into rishi sunak, into keir starmer and now into angela rayner. raynen >> it's hard pressed to find a senior politician in the land who hasn't had a police investigation into them, but of course, investigations can go either way. back when keir starmer was under investigation due to the beers that he had dunng due to the beers that he had during lockdown, he said that they were essential for work. of course , but those during that course, but those during that investigation, sir keir starmer said that if the police find against him and his essential beers, he would resign , angela beers, he would resign, angela rayneris beers, he would resign, angela rayner is not saying anything like that today . like that today. >> yeah, i forgot all about the essential beers, tom. that's right, yes, that was , of course,

right, yes, that was, of course, dunng right, yes, that was, of course, during lockdown when you weren't allowed to gather for a social occasion , gosh, what a different occasion, gosh, what a different world was. yeah, world that was. yeah. yeah, totally. mean , in a sense, i totally. i mean, in a sense, i think, you know, there was a moment which if angela rayner moment at which if angela rayner could said, you know, could have said, look, you know, i moved out, i was living, i was a blended family. i had i just a blended family. i had ijust got married. there's a moment to explain it away. and that is fast disappearing. i mean, with these , when rishi these situations, when rishi sunak was spotted wearing not wearing a seatbelt in the back of a car, he apologised and paid a fine. but the longer these things go on, if there's a problem then then you've got to make facts are make sure that your facts are right. where angela make sure that your facts are right. is where angela make sure that your facts are right. is now where angela make sure that your facts are right. is now . where angela make sure that your facts are right. is now . she ere angela make sure that your facts are right. is now . she haskngela make sure that your facts are right. is now . she has said.a make sure that your facts are right. is now . she has said she rayner is now. she has said she is innocent, course. she says is innocent, of course. she says she the chance to set she welcomes the chance to set the record the with the record out the facts with the record out the facts with the police , and we remain the police, and we remain completely that's the completely confident. that's the party angela has complied party that angela has complied with the rules at all times and is now appropriate to let the police, its do its police, do its role, do its work, of course, that's right. but if it if it gets the point where wrongdoing is to have found there will be question

marks about why she couldn't come clean at the beginning and indeed, allowed indeed, why she allowed other senior the labour senior colleagues in the labour labour team, particularly sir keir starmer supporter for so long. sir keir starmer, of course, has said he will not look at the legal advice which has which is upon which angela rayner's defence is resting . rayner's defence is resting. some would say that is interesting given his a kc . one interesting given his a kc. one of the most senior barristers in the country were he barrister, not not labour leader. and he's not not labour leader. and he's not wanting to see the evidence put forward, rachel reeves told gb news tuesday. the shadow gb news on tuesday. the shadow chancellor she also, backed andrew rayner and doesn't need to the advice or the to see the advice or the financial advice from whether capital were due. capital gains tax were due. so we reaching we are going we are reaching we are going towards this will towards a point when this will be settled. the police will decide either way whether there's a problem here. the police, of course, are looking at the issue of whether she had or had not the electoral or had not misled the electoral register . the fine for that or had not misled the electoral register. the fine for that is £1,000, which very £1,000, which could be very embarrassing for her. separate to that, there's the issue of whether any capital gains tax

was due on the sale a second was due on the sale of a second home, she says there wasn't home, and she says there wasn't any due. >> interesting. you very >> interesting. thank you very much indeed. christopher hope, our from our political editor, live from westminster , bringing us up to westminster, bringing us up to speed on everything. angela rayner it is. it remains rayner yes it is. it remains curious, doesn't it, that keir starmer hasn't asked to have a look at the tax advice himself ? look at the tax advice himself? >> it's such a different way to the way in which he responded to the way in which he responded to the police investigation. he found himself where he found himself under where he just , you know what, if just said, you know what, if they find against me, i'll resign . yeah. resign. yeah. >> that's true. that was that was very different. >> bold and >> that was a bold and courageous political move. and actually, extent, that actually, to some extent, that was point at which people was the point at which people started to say, guy a started to say, this guy is a serious person on this. this is a this is a bold and courageous and, and far from timid move that started to change perceptions about keir starmer, i think, yeah, i think you might be right on that one. >> yes. lots of people did heap praise upon the labour leader for that, for saying, you know what, if i'm proven to have done something criminal, i will simply, resign . whereas a

simply, simply resign. whereas a labour spokesperson this time around, the around, angela welcomes the chance to set out the facts with the we remain completely the police. we remain completely confident that andrew has complied the all complied with the rules at all times. you go . that is times. so there you go. that is the labour response as it stands. >> but of course it's not what labour wants be talking about labour wants to be talking about today. be talking today. they want to be talking about policy about their own, policy to increase defence spending to 2.5% of gdp when the finances allow. that's the crucial , allow. that's the crucial, asterisk there, i suppose, on the policy. but also, of course, committing to that nuclear deterrent . but also in defence deterrent. but also in defence news, the government has its own announcement , news, the government has its own announcement, a news, the government has its own announcement , a new veteran announcement, a new veteran support scheme with £2.1 million in funding. this scheme is going to support veterans in securing high paid jobs where they can hone the skills that they developed in the military . developed in the military. >> but is this really enough? rishi sunak wants the united kingdom to be the best country in the world to be a veteran, is it or how far off are we? gb

news has been asking people in mansfield if they think the government does enough to support government does enough to supiort think do know , you >> i don't think we do know, you know, you see a lot of homeless armed forces veterans , and i armed forces veterans, and i don't think the government do enough to support those people. no they seem to be putting the ones that over on boats up ones that come over on boats up more . more. >> the amount of veterans that are they actually are are homeless, they actually are squatting in the tunnels at the flats. >> i live back to the point where our housing is getting frustrated because it's the causing but they've frustrated because it's the cau nowhere but they've frustrated because it's the cau nowhere else but they've frustrated because it's the cau nowhere else to ut they've frustrated because it's the cau nowhere else to go. 1ey've got nowhere else to go. >> i think there's a lot of >> no, i think there's a lot of veterans and things that have got a lot of ptsd which has affected their family life when they've left, and no, i don't think they get enough support at all. >> i'd like to think so. yes. my father was a veteran on the from the d—day landings, and he always said that the that the government did. so i'd like to think that he was right. >> now we talk a lot about veterans on this channel. indeed, some of us, some of our

presenters have raised a lot of money for the cause, but it continues to be the case that far too veterans are far too many veterans are homeless and struggle to find employment once they come back from the service, and are we doing enough? let us know what you think. what could we be doing better? this £2.1 million towards potential getting towards potential jobs, getting people high paid jobs. people into high paid jobs. sounds fantastic . how far will sounds fantastic. how far will that go? what should the priority be? also, families , two priority be? also, families, two families of veterans. >> but this is the great thing about new gbnews.com forward about the new gbnews.com forward slash get slash your say segment. we get to live conversation with to do live conversation with you. one of the questions of course we asked at the beginning was over angela rayner's tax affairs and it must be said that, warren has written in to say, angela rayner tweeted boris johnson's downing street is under police investigation. how can he stay on as prime minister? that fact of investigation? she also demanded that mps release their that other mps release their tax information . the charge here is information. the charge here is one of hypocrisy rather than ,

one of hypocrisy rather than, necessarily guilt. >> yes, because i've also seen in the messages and that some people don't really think this is a big deal. they think it's just the press whipping up this as an issue. but you can't have as an issue. but you can't have a deputy leader who talks about how other people, other politicians should reveal or reveal all their tax advice , reveal all their tax advice, that boris johnson should resign over a police investigation and then not expect similar treatment when it comes your way . it is that question of hypocrisy, really isn't, isn't it? yes >> no it does. it does seem like that. >> pending the police investigation , of course. investigation, of course. >> yeah, catherine says it doesn't change my opinion on starmer whatsoever. this was starmer's beergate affair. he did exactly the same as boris. but has the police in his pocket? says catherine. that's a charge and a half. >> well, there you go. david says, miss rayner's tax affairs . says, miss rayner's tax affairs. the question now is honesty and integrity. and hypocrisy. she aspires to be the next deputy prime minister >> and ross is cutting through

all of the noise, saying , all of the noise, saying, actually, what matters here is policy. when starmer gets in, he's going to do yet more u—turns become new corbyn. u—turns and become a new corbyn. and i suppose if resources allow, if resources allow, you could, you could put you could, you could promise anything under the sun. you could and just say if resources allow free ponies for all resources, allow jeremy corbyn free wi—fi for all. >> yes. what else did he promise? >> 58 billion for the waspi women? 58 billion. he wanted to nationalise rail, mail, water. he wanted to. there was something else. he wanted to nationalise bt . nationalise bt. >> bt. well, there you go. bt is free, keep your views coming in. gbnews.com/your say let us know what you make of the investigation into angela rayner as tax affairs and the sale of her council house. and also let us know who do you trust when it comes defence? but on the comes to defence? but on the way, we'll be discussing an unexpected row between royal mail and the uk border force. and is over those and this is all over those counterfeit stamps. royal mail are border is to

are saying border force is to blame. what do you make of it all? this is good afternoon, britain. we're on gb news. britain's news channel

>> good afternoon. britain. it's 12:22 now. it's just been over six months now since the government's controversial barge. the bibby stockholm, first opened its doors to asylum seekers . seekers. >> well, as you know, since then, tensions amongst locals have been running rather high. one of the main sources of frustration amongst portlanders now is a luxury free bus service that ferries asylum seekers around, while locals are left out in the cold, luxury bus a luxury bus. what's all this? >> well, southwest of england reporter jeff moody returned to portland to find a community just as angry and just as divided as ever.

>> when the bus comes in portland, not everyone can get on it. >> if they travel on the bus with the local community, there could be some sort of integration , because a lot of integration, because a lot of people are confused of why they're here and maybe a little chat on the bus, because that's where people do talk, because i meet people bus every meet people on the bus every day. ended up chatting. day. and you ended up chatting. wouldn't a great wouldn't this be a very great way integrate ? but no, way to integrate? but no, they're separated and how come they're separated and how come the local community move forward if they're always kept in isolation from for us some, there are echoes of segregation and is leading to resentment and resentment at the special buses. >> resentment at the health care. the bibby residents receive resentment at the wet weather gear for hiking that dorset council provides. six months on from the arrival of the first residents on the bibby stockholm, the feeling of the local community is just as strong, just as divided and just

as passionate as it always has been. as passionate as it always has been . and while a community that been. and while a community that didn't ask for this argues and accuses the sheer cost of the bibby stockholm sticks in their throat, £34.8 million. >> if you break that down into figures, that works out at capacity at about 4500 pounds per month per head. and i mean, if you do a little bit of investigation, you can rent a really plush house in sandbanks for that money or an apartment in chelsea. each or, you know, you may as well just send them on, a caribbean cruise for a month, all inclusive, because that's, what, 4500 pounds a month will get you for your money. they were sold the idea the barge was cheaper on the taxpayer's pocket than asylum hotels. >> but in an investigation by the national audit office into the national audit office into the home office's asylum policy , the home office's asylum policy, it was revealed not only is this more expensive than hotels at the time of commissioning, the

barge , the home office had not barge, the home office had not even estimated costs. they were flying blind. >> i'm shocked really. i mean, the home office blatantly lied, they told us that the bibby stockholm was to offer value for the taxpayer for housing asylum seekers . and we now know from seekers. and we now know from the national audit office document that was released at the end of march that it's not just a little bit more expensive, it's exorbitantly just a little bit more exper expensive. (orbitantly just a little bit more experexpensive. i rbitantly just a little bit more experexpensive. i mean, ly just a little bit more experexpensive. i mean, it it's more expensive. i mean, it it's obscene the cost, the money that is being thrown at this barge. >> in a statement, is being thrown at this barge. >> in a statement , the home >> in a statement, the home office told gb news we have always clear that the use always been clear that the use of hotels is unacceptable of asylum hotels is unacceptable and why we acted swiftly and that's why we acted swiftly to reduce the impact on local communities by moving asylum seekers onto barges and former military sites. while the national audit office's figures include set up costs, it is currently better value for money for the taxpayer to continue with these sites than to use hotels, but the taxpayer in portland don't feel they're

getting value and they don't feel valued either. and it's starting to be a problem. jeff moody, gb news. >> well, we all get to see the, the. >> do not make me laugh, tom. >> do not make me laugh, tom. >> i'm sorry. i'm sorry. i do understand the point, but i do think that it is a stretch to call it a luxury bus . call it a luxury bus. >> but the point is, it's not very good for, social cohesion , very good for, social cohesion, is it? and for people in the areas grievances. if you're providing one service for asylum seekers who have just arrived in the area, although they've been there for quite a while now and there for quite a while now and the local residents and i think that woman there, she spoke a lot common sense, didn't she, lot of common sense, didn't she, about just huge cost, about it's not just a huge cost, it's an exorbitant cost, she said. it's obscene. amount said. it's obscene. the amount of the home office is of money the home office is spending on this project. and they promised they did promise it would be cheaper this bibby stockholm than hotels . stockholm barge than hotels. >> and it does make you think, is about how things is this all about how things look as opposed to how things

cost? they started cost? the reason they started using hotels in the first place is could get them is because they could get them very, cheaply . but very, very cheaply. yeah, but but it very bad. but obviously it looks very bad. and i think there's something people feel like hotels people feel like their hotels have away from them. have been taken away from them. well, it looks bad. >> people feel like their >> they people feel like their hotels being from hotels are being taken away from them. reality, jobs them. but also in reality, jobs are lost . yes. the people are being lost. yes. the people who are working in those hotels, a sort of local business a lot of sort of local business money being lost some money is being lost from some areas people can't come areas because people can't come to those who stay those to those who stay in those hotels. to those who stay in those hot compounding costs. it's to those who stay in those hot compounding costs . it's not >> compounding costs. it's not just the headline cost of the hotels that that perhaps is a is a better comparison. interesting. yeah. and there's not much security and the like. >> so it's a it's all a mess really. get your views in on that. gbnews.com/your say your say. >> but now let's return to our top story , of course, angela top story, of course, angela rayner and that police investigation it all threatens to overshadow sir keir starmer pledging to maintain britain's nuclear deterrent and boosting defence spending to 2.5% if he wins the next general election and if resources allow. now he's

seeking to distance himself further from jeremy corbyn. but is he managing to ? let's speak is he managing to? let's speak to the former minister of state for the armed forces, bill rammell , former labour mp as rammell, former labour mp as well? of course, bill, this was meant to be a big defence day for starmer, but all the news bulletins are now leading with his deputy. >> well, i think it is still a big, day for labour's commitments to our armed forces and our defences. >> and it demonstrates very clearly how much the labour party has changed under keir's leadership. he's making it clear that any government he leads, defence and security will be the number one priority. and at a time when we face real threats from russia, from china , from from russia, from china, from iran, from north korea, all of whom have got nuclear capability. i think that's really the nuclear commitment is really the nuclear commitment is really important. but as well as that, the commitment to spend up to 2.5% of gdp on our defences,

again, it's a very dangerous world. we look at, ukraine, we look at the degree to which china is retreated into isolationism, certainly compared to when i was a defence and a foreign minister, that the threats from rogue states spending, committing to defence is really important. and keir is making that absolutely clear today, what's changed, though, for keir starmer? has he always felt this way that he's tough on defence, that he sees the value of our nuclear deterrence , that of our nuclear deterrence, that he wants up spending and, and he wants to up spending and, and all that? because of course he did, work beside jeremy corbyn. he was happy to see jeremy corbyn, who's also who's always been, in favour of disarmament, who's been favour of who's always been in favour of clawing back defence spending. so something changed or was so has something changed or was keir starmer just not talking about his actual view in the past ? past? >> no, i mean, keir has always been committed to the defence of our country. go back to that huge debate where on, action against syria , where corbyn had

against syria, where corbyn had to allow a free vote, even for members of the shadow cabinet and keir supported action and he supported, our armed forces. you know, you can make accusations about , you know, serving in about, you know, serving in corbyn's shadow cabinet. well, rishi sunak served in boris johnson's cabinet. you know, you do, if you're committed to delivering for your party, you do serve and you take collective responsibility. but i think it's always been very, very clear that keir was very different from jeremy corbyn. and in his commitment to defence, he's making that clear today. >> isn't that a bit of revisionism i have on my screen in front of me an article written by someone called keir starmer in 2015. this was the week in november 2015, the week of the syria isis airstrikes vote. now this, i think most

people will remember, was a contentious vote in parliament brought forward by david cameron. in fact, hilary benn, the labour mp, made an impassioned speech in favour of these airstrikes and a few oddballs on the labour benches led by jeremy corbyn, voted against those airstrikes against isis. one of those people supporting jeremy corbyn in that vote was keir starmer. he even wrote a guardian article about it, saying airstrikes in syria are lawful, but i'll be voting against them . against them. >> well, i mean, look, you know keir and you can make a judgement about whether that was the most effective way to respond to isis. but it's been absolutely clear throughout his political career that keir has been committed to the defence of our country. and it really matters when he's leader of the opposition, when he's the potential next prime minister that he puts it on the line. his commitment to our nuclear

capability and our commitment to proper defence. and he's making that abundantly clear. >> and, bill, how do you think he's dealt with this? angela rayner issue, he's been quite defensive when he's been asked about it by the media. he said his officials have seen her tax advice, but he doesn't need to see it, and now we're seeing a police investigation . police investigation. >> we're seeing a police investigation because that's what the police have to do. look, i think it's very clear that angela rayner took detailed tax advice, detailed legal advice over a housing circumstances. she has complied with that advice at all times . with that advice at all times. and i think the police investigation, whenever it concludes and sadly, these investigations take an awful lot of time, i believe she will be found to have done nothing wrong. but i'll tell you this as well. keir has really demonstrated in all the time he's been a labour party leader

that he's absolutely ruthless. and if he felt for a minute that angela had not complied with all the rules and advice, i have no doubt that he would have taken action. and he hasn't done that because the advice that angela took is right and proper. his office have seen the details of that, and on the basis of that , that, and on the basis of that, he's convinced there's nothing to answer. >> just a bit odd that he hasn't bothered to look it himself, bothered to look at it himself, seeing as so forensic. seeing as he's so forensic. >> thanks, bill. bill >> but thanks, bill. bill rammell speak rammell always great to speak to you, minister of state you, former minister of state for the armed forces and labour mp. well iran could be preparing a revenge attack on israel. >> and could we all be drawn in, in as little as two days time? we'll talk about that after your headunes . headlines with sam. >> good afternoon from the newsroom . 1235 exactly. a recap newsroom. 1235 exactly. a recap of the headlines this hour.

defence secretary grant shapps has accused angela rayner of double standards and welcomed the launch of a police investigation into the sale of her council house that new investigation comes after conservative mp james daly reported the deputy labour leader to the greater manchester force over information she gave about her living situation a decade ago. angela rayner, though, denies any wrongdoing and the labour party says it is confident she has complied with the rules. new documents have revealed that the former managing director of the post office suggested that subpostmasters, he says, chose to blame technology when they were short for cash. in an email from 2009, alan cooke said there was absolutely no logical reason that the software was to blame . that the software was to blame. speaking at the horizon inquiry this morning, he said those comments were unacceptable and they are ones that he will regret for the rest of his life . regret for the rest of his life. lord cameron has warned iran against drawing the middle east

into a wider conflict. the foreign secretary spoke to his iranian counterpart following threats made by tehran against israel . there are concerns that israel. there are concerns that an israeli airstrike that killed two iranian generals last week could provoke retaliation in. meanwhile, the us has told its officials and their families in israel not to travel outside of three distinct areas and scotland is proposing an alternative funding method to host the commonwealth games in 2026. that plan is described as cost effective and would reportedly not require any significant public investment, with money instead coming from ticket sales and broadcasting rights. it comes after scotland's commonwealth games body commissioned a feasibility study after the australian state of victoria pulled out of hosting the event . the final hosting the event. the final decision is due next month . for decision is due next month. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen or go to gb

news. com slash alerts

i >> -- >> good afternoon. britain. it's just coming up to 20 to 1. now. france has told all of its citizens to not travel to iran , citizens to not travel to iran, lebanon, israel or palestine . lebanon, israel or palestine. >> yes. this comes as iran is reportedly preparing to launch a retaliatory attack on israel within the next 48 hours. that's after two iranian generals were killed in an airstrike in syria, an attack that tehran has blamed on the israeli defence forces. >> iran's supreme leader sent out a chilling warning that israel will be punished , with israel will be punished, with one of his advisors saying that no israeli embassies were safe. and of course, the americans have said they will stand by

israel. many commentators have taken that to see that america might get involved. were iran to strike. we're on the precipice, potentially, of something very, very grim indeed. >> yes. well, shall we speak to professor yossi mekelberg, associate fellow at the middle east and north africa program for chatham house? this goes far beyond rhetoric . beyond rhetoric. >> good afternoon. yeah, it's the rhetoric we are familiar with for many, many years, whether it's directly between israel and iran or with the hezbollah . hezbollah. >> but at this point, considering what happened nearly two weeks ago in damascus and the escalation of words between the escalation of words between the two, and always the expectation that something is going to happen sometimes it becomes a self—fulfilling prophecy . prophecy. >> and given that we know the

history here, given that we know that iran has been using its proxies to , to, to send attacks, proxies to, to, to send attacks, it's been funding various groups. this is something a little bit more different , a little bit more different, a little bit more different, a little bit more significant. what risk is there that there will be genuine spill—over here? >> yes . and that's exactly the >> yes. and that's exactly the risk. iran is usually feels very comfortable to use proxies. and it has at least six proxies in the region between the hezbollah, hamas, islamic jihad and the rest. and by doing that, it achieves its political aims without being a directly implicated on this case. when the threat is coming directly from the supreme leader khamenei, and it says that it's going to launch some sort of retaliation in the risk is, of course, what's going to be the counter retaliation either by israel or or its allies. and

president biden was very clear , president biden was very clear, some other leaders in europe that they will support israel. and i think iran, to an extent, i think that israel it catches israel in a weak point because of the situation in in gaza and the way the israel conducts the war in gaza . but i think the war in gaza. but i think the message is very clear that this is a very done case. >> and when president joe biden says he will stand by israel against the threat of iran, what does that mean ? what do you does that mean? what do you foresee that meaning? could that mean all out war between the united states and iran and potentially britain being brought in? >> i think an all out war is for now it's a remote possibility. but but a possible one for now. it's very depends on what iran is going to do, on the assumption that the attack in damascus and the killing of

brigadier general zaidi was carried by israel there. also, the assumption that iran almost in that you see it even by by those who support israel, that iran has some right to retaliate. but the question is the timing and the scope of it and also the where it's going to happen. it's going to be direct attack on israel. some say it will be in the golan heights because iran said this is an occupied land. is it going to be on a diplomatic mission? so is it going to be on an attack on one of the allies of israel or diplomatic mission of one of the allies? and i think the retaliation by the united states or one of the european countries or one of the european countries or together depends to a large extent on what iran is going to do.the extent on what iran is going to do. the risk, of course, in this kind of sequence of events that it it might lead to what you alluded to an all out war, but we are not there yet, and hopefully we won't get there . hopefully we won't get there. >> well, let's, keep our fingers crossed about that , thank you

crossed about that, thank you very much for joining crossed about that, thank you very much forjoining us and talking that through . professor talking that through. professor yossi mekelberg really appreciate you much appreciate you very much indeed. thoughts on that? yeah. >> it's interesting, colonel richard kemp, often have richard kemp, who we often have on written a bit on this show, he's written a bit of piece. he says of a blistering piece. he says that president biden has appeased iran, in some appeased iran, that in some ways, our strategic ineptitude has brought us this position has brought us to this position where iran feels so emboldened and that actually , if the united and that actually, if the united states does defend israel so far as to be brought into military conflict with iran itself, britain should do the same. now, i'm not sure many people sitting at home watching this would be very pleased to see that happen. but it's dangerous world. we live very dangerous world. live in very dangerous world. >> lots of different potential paths this moment now. but, paths from this moment now. but, it would be a fool. it would be a foolish thing to say that that war was not a possibility at this stage. really, really concerning stuff. >> coming an >> well, coming up, an unexpected between royal unexpected row between the royal mail force . mail and the uk border force. this is all over. counterfeit stamps, the china has been

accused of flooding britain with these counterfeit stamps. why

>> well, it's 1248. >> well, it's 1248. >> you're watching and listening to good afternoon, britain. thank you for sending us your views. we were asking because rishi sunak . views. we were asking because rishi sunak. he says views. we were asking because rishi sunak . he says wants rishi sunak. he says he wants britain to best country britain to be the best country in for world veterans. so we in the for world veterans. so we asked whether what asked you whether it is what could done better, what could could be done better, what could change for our veterans, valerie says my brother in law and nephew are american veterans. they look after their they really look after their veterans in the states. they have at special rates , have mortgages at special rates, health care, special areas at airports, have respect. airports, and they have respect. they have had this. they always have had this. our veterans nothing . veterans get nothing. >> yeah. well, it's to be fair to the government, they did create the new role of veterans minister , and that's johnny minister, and that's johnny mercer. yeah. he's got a seat around the cabinet table now. so i think whilst it's fair to say that there there are clearly a

lot further down this road in the united states, there have been strides made towards that sort appreciation for sort of appreciation for veterans in the last few years over here. >> yeah. so really venerate their veterans, don't they? in their veterans, don't they? in the united states. and sometimes veterans forgotten, in this veterans are forgotten, in this country, perhaps in culture more than. yes, this this is the issue not always government that does this. >> it's not the government that necessarily mandates how an airport out. it's airport should be laid out. it's sort culture, business, these sort of culture, business, these individual decisions that i suppose everyone can make in their day to day lives about these days. >> some people are ashamed of the forces , which is the armed forces, which is a shame, tim says we don't shame, but tim says we don't spend nearly enough on our veterans ptsd has had a terrible effect on our ex—military suicides and homelessness. very true. the money should be spent looking after those less fortunate, and tim says that actually, perhaps this money shouldn't be promoting the healthier ones into better paid jobs. it should be focusing on those fortunate . interesting. >> well, hopefully we can it

>> well, hopefully we can do it all once. judging by the all at once. but judging by the number veterans hear number of veterans we hear living streets, living on on the streets, clearly not enough is being done, but shall we move on? because in the we're bringing you the latest on these counterfeit stamps that are flooding into britain. royal mail has now accused the border force of not checking fraudulent stamps at the border, just letting them in. and they're widely believed to come from china. >> well, a senior executive at the postal service is calling on ministers to put pressure on border officials to stop them coming in. this is all very curious. just to what extent, is china involved in this? is it just the case that some people are trying to make a quick buck off the back of, swindled brits in this area? let's talk about the motives, perhaps behind this influx. joining us now is doctor alan mendoza, executive director of the henry jackson society, thank you, doctor mendoza . i thank you, doctor mendoza. i suppose looking at this issue , i suppose looking at this issue, i find it very hard to sort of get

my head around what the chinese involvement could be beyond simply trying to make money. >> well, that's where it gets interesting. >> so, yeah, of course, these are independent individual chinese firms doing it. >> it's not the chinese government suddenly , printing government suddenly, printing loads of fake stamps and flooding the market that way . flooding the market that way. but it becomes a little more sinister, tom, when you consider that nothing in china, certainly nothing economy nothing in the chinese economy goes on without the chinese communist party knowing about it. this is a repressive regime that goes to extraordinary lengths to control its citizens thoughts, views , ideas, and the thoughts, views, ideas, and the idea that the government would somehow not know this is going on is really stretching credibility . so the question, credibility. so the question, therefore, is why is the chinese government allowing , companies government allowing, companies in china to engage in criminal activities overseas ? and that activities overseas? and that bnngs activities overseas? and that brings you to a more interesting answer. i think . answer. i think. >> well, what is the answer to that question? why would they

allow this to happen? what benefit could there for the benefit could there be for the chinese party ? chinese communist party? >> the china obviously enjoys creating dissension, creating ruptures in societies, internationally that don't necessarily agree with china. so we've seen, for example, that, tiktok's role malign role in, you know, kind of disrupting social attitudes in various countries , with an algorithm countries, with an algorithm that clearly has some relevance to what beijing wants as opposed to what beijing wants as opposed to what beijing wants as opposed to what we in the west might want. the fentanyl want. you've seen the fentanyl crisis in america, which is, of course, a crisis that started in china , essentially. so, you china, essentially. so, you know, ask, why know, you might ask, well, why would allow , drugs to be would china allow, drugs to be suppued would china allow, drugs to be supplied borders to supplied across borders to, to america? you've got the america? and then you've got the stamps issue, which isn't just affecting way. affecting us, by the way. it's also been heavily commented on in in the us. so in america as well in the us. so the question is, what's tying all these things together? well, in it's just an in many ways it's just an assault, you like, on our assault, if you like, on our systems, of systems systems, various of our systems in case, stamps, you know, in this case, stamps, you know, are part the financial system

are part of the financial system . part the . they're also part of the confidence ordinary people confidence that ordinary people have in established institutions in this country. if, for example, you start thinking, my stamp isn't get through my, my, my check or my, payment or whatever it is i'm sending won't get through. you start to lose confidence in the ability, the british state to provide basic services , and that does help services, and that does help china indirectly by keeping us tied up with pointless things like that, as opposed the like that, as opposed to the really issues like what are really big issues like what are they internationally? really big issues like what are the no, internationally? really big issues like what are the no, aternationally? really big issues like what are the no, a really,)nally? really big issues like what are the no, a really, really’ >> no, it's a really, really very interesting point, isn't it? point. and yes, absolutely. the sort of motivation behind this and perhaps the two stage process that you have to think about rather than some direct sort of printing to, just simply to, flood with stamps, to, to flood with stamps, operation . but no. doctor. alan operation. but no. doctor. alan mendoza, you much for mendoza, thank you very much for talking that really, talking us through that really, really there, now, really curious case there, now, we us to trust our we don't want us to trust our institutions . well, no, perhaps institutions. well, no, perhaps not, we should in not, but we should say in response, spokesperson from response, a spokesperson from the royal mail has said royal mail the illegal mail takes the illegal production of counterfeit stamps seriously. since the introduction barcoded stamps,

introduction of barcoded stamps, we've been able to significantly reduce through added reduce stamp fraud through added security features. well, there you go. >> that's what royal mail has to say. coming up, we're going say. now, coming up, we're going to news that to have more on the news that police have their police have reopened their investigation labour investigation into the labour deputy, angela rayner. what does this mean for the labour party ? this mean for the labour party? this is good afternoon britain. we're on gb news, britain's news channel. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , sponsors of weather on . solar, sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> hello again. here's your latest gb news weather update in association with the met office. looking ahead to the weekend and it's going to turn fresher with showers for many of us. but for the time being, it's still warm and largely settled across southern high southern areas due to high pressure here a different story further north, frontal systems pushing through , bringing the pushing through, bringing the focus for some outbreaks of rain

and could heavy at and the rain could be heavy at times across parts of scotland overnight, and do watch out for some gusty winds towards some strong, gusty winds towards the drier the north—west. two a drier further some further south, though some murkiness, some low cloud, some coastal could develop around coastal fog could develop around engush coastal fog could develop around english channel coast. it's not going to a chilly night, going to be a chilly night, temperatures generally holding up high single or up in high single figures or double digits in some towns and cities as we go through tomorrow. any mr murk tomorrow. then any mr murk towards the far south should clear quite quickly , and in clear away quite quickly, and in the south—east it's actually going largely fine going to stay largely fine through a big chunk of the day across and western across northern and western parts and wales , the parts of england and wales, the cloud will some outbreaks cloud will bring some outbreaks of unsettled across of rain more unsettled across parts of northern ireland and in particular some heavy particular scotland. some heavy downpours possible and some strong winds. times. strong gusty winds. at times. temperatures above average temperatures still above average for the time of year, though not quite high we've seen quite as high as we've seen today. as we look towards sunday, be sunday, it's going to be a fresher day for all of us. plenty of showers towards the northwest. some of them could be heavy, some thunder and heavy, could be some thunder and hail drier picture hail mixed into a drier picture towards into towards the southeast, but into the part of next week, the

the early part of next week, the showers are going to become more widespread and it is going to feel markedly than it feel markedly fresher than it has late. that's it for has done of late. that's it for me. see again soon. me. i'll see you again soon. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt sponsors of weather boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain it's 1:00 on friday, the 12th of april. >> the police have officially launched an investigation into labour's deputy leader, angela raynen labour's deputy leader, angela rayner. she's been accused of failing to pay capital gains tax and most disobeying electoral law. >> and this is a bit of an unwelcome distraction for sir keir starmer, who today wants to talk about his commitment to maintaining britain's nuclear deterrent and increasing defence spending. but only when resources allow does it get out, and the rspca has it gone woke? >> well, britain's largest

animal welfare charity is under fire from farmers as it releases a new campaign comparing cattle farming to stamping on snails. we'll host a fiery debate on that shortly. >> i mean, tom, if you're going around purposefully stamping on snails, i suggest you probably need to see a therapist . need to see a therapist. >> yeah, no, i personally it's not something i've ever wanted to do . i've accidentally boiled to do. i've accidentally boiled a jellyfish before. to do. i've accidentally boiled a jellyfi shouldn't admit to such >> you shouldn't admit to such a thing . you'll have the rspca on thing. you'll have the rspca on your case. >> well, to fair, >> well, to be fair, the jellyfish did sting me, okay? >> deserved the >> he deserved it. and the jellyfish deserved to. >> i didn't mean to. i put it in a bucket collected a bucket where we collected because loads of because there were loads of them. in buckets and them. we put them in buckets and we outside the we left them just outside in the sun. for lunch. sun. but we went in for lunch. we come to we wanted to come back to have a look at jellyfish, but sadly look at the jellyfish, but sadly they floating at the top they were floating at the top of they were floating at the top of the bucket. think point is the bucket. i think the point is they in the sun. it

they were out in the sun. it was a very story. they were out in the sun. it was a v1t0m. story. they were out in the sun. it was a v1t0m. i story. they were out in the sun. it was a v1t0m. i think'. they were out in the sun. it was a v1t0m. i think the point is >> tom. i think the point is with this one, i feel farmers feel like they have a bit of a hard sometimes in press hard time sometimes in the press and are these and there are all these charities tell either charities that tell them either they're evil for farming in the first place. people are evil for consuming meat and other farmed products, and now they're comparing the likes of, herding cattle to, to deliberate animal cruelty. >> yeah. and actually , to be >> yeah. and actually, to be honest, i've met many, many farmers there are not many people who have more care for the animals in their care than farmers in the united kingdom. they have animal welfare so high on their agenda, i find it very hard to understand how you can sort of believe that farmers are on the same sort of sadistic, cruel level of people who go around stamping on animals. yes, but the two you can't really compare. >> but the rspca has been accused of doing that in a new

advert campaign. we'll get into it, we'll get stuck into it and have a bit of a feisty debate. after your headlines . after your headlines. >> tom and emily, thank you very much. good afternoon from the newsroom just after 1:00, the headunes newsroom just after 1:00, the headlines this lunchtime , the headlines this lunchtime, the labour party says it's confident that angela rayner has complied with the rules after greater manchester police launched an investigation into her tax affairs. it's over the sale of her council house in stockport a decade ago, questions have been asked about whether she paid the right amount of tax and if it was her main home. defence secretary grant shapps has accused angela rayner of double standards and welcomed the launch of the investigation. >> i think the double standards have been extraordinary. angela rayner herself has spent her political career calling people out for exactly the thing that she seems to be doing now. it's not acceptable to ignore it and it's not acceptable for keir

starmer to say he won't even read reports into it. this is something which is a serious matter . it's something which is a serious matter. it's important that it's looked into properly, and i welcome the idea that the police are doing that. >> the former managing director of the post office has admitted today that he should have known there was a deliberate plan to use charges of theft as what's been described as a sledgehammer to crush subpostmasters into submission. speaking at the horizon inquiry, alan cook also admitted he didn't know the organisation was itself prosecuting subpostmasters in about two thirds of cases. it comes as new documents reveal that mr cook had suggested in an email from 2009 that subpostmasters had chose to blame technology when they were short of cash . in other news, short of cash. in other news, sir keir starmer has committed to boosting the uk's defence budget to 2.5% if he becomes prime minister, matching the current government's target. the labour leader is visiting a shipyard in barrow in furness,

where nuclear submarines are being built . and he says being built. and he says britain's nuclear deterrent is the of labour's plan to the bedrock of labour's plan to keep the country safe. the government, though, has dismissed the visit as a distraction. but shadow defence minister pollard says minister luke pollard says bolstering the nation's defences is economic opportunity when is an economic opportunity when economic conditions allow, we hope to get to 2.5% of gdp on defence, making sure that we can support those men and women in our armed forces have the equipment and the capabilities that they need to deter aggression , but if necessary, aggression, but if necessary, defeat an opponent in war. >> and that is what keir is setting out today . setting out today. >> the defence secretary says that a new british military laser could be on ukraine's front line by 2027 to help take down russian drones . a warning down russian drones. a warning if you're watching on television, the following story does contain some flashing images. grant shapps claims the weapon will have huge ramifications for the conflict. the so—called dragon fire is

capable of cutting through its targets with an intense beam of light. it comes after the age of conscription in ukraine was lowered last week two by years to now 25, in an effort to help replenish troops there. back here in the uk , a 23 year old here in the uk, a 23 year old man has denied murdering a good samaritan who died as he tried to help a stranger, 46 year old chris marriott was on a post—christmas walk with his wife and two young children when he stopped to help a woman who was unconscious in the street. he was then killed when a car ploughed into a small crowd following a disturbance in the burngreave area of sheffield. hassan guy anker denied the murder and manslaughter of mr marriott , but murder and manslaughter of mr marriott, but has pleaded guilty to causing his death by dangerous driving. in other news, access to funding for farmers hit by bad weather is to be widened amid fears that the effect of climate change is creating a crisis for british agriculture. grants of up to £25,000 were initially only available to those within 150m

of a main river that had flooded. the national farmers union has welcomed the broader access to funds, but says the impact of poor weather on british farms goes far beyond recent storms . gatwick airport recent storms. gatwick airport has been ranked britain's worst airport for flight delays. data from the civil aviation authority shows departures there were nearly 27 minutes behind schedule on average in 2023. luton had the second poorest record, with an average delay of almost 23 minutes, and in third place was manchester airport. at almost 22 minutes. and finally, before we head back to tom and emily, scotland is proposing an alternative funding method to host the commonwealth games in 2026. the plan is described as cost effective and would reportedly not require any significant public investment, with money instead coming from ticket sales and broadcasting rights. it comes after scotland's commonwealth games body commissioned a feasibility

study after the australian state of victoria pulled out of hosting the event. a final decision on the plans is due next month . for the latest next month. for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts. just scan the code there on your screen or, if you're listening on radio, go to our website gbnews.com. alerts . our website gbnews.com. alerts. >> well good afternoon britain . >> well good afternoon britain. now greater manchester police has reopened its formal investigation into claims that labour deputy leader angela rayner may have broken electoral law. the claim is that rayner may have registered a home she did not live in, as her place of residence. >> the new probe comes after a reassessment of the information provided to us. that's according to the police . now the labour to the police. now the labour party says. angela rayner welcomes the chance to set out the facts with the police, but it's a very different attitude to the way in which rayner herself responded to boris

johnson being placed under police investigation. remember that , yes, it police investigation. remember that, yes, it was in january 2022. >> angela rayner called for the then prime minister, boris johnson, to resign simply due to the fact that he was under investigation. >> yes, here she is writing. bofis >> yes, here she is writing. boris johnson's downing street is under police investigation . is under police investigation. how on earth can he think he can stay on as prime minister but it wasn't just on twitter. take a listen to what she said in the house commons, how incensed house of commons, how incensed she potential but not she was over potential but not confirmed potential criminality . confirmed potential criminality. >> so it seems, mr speaker% actual criminality has been found in downing street. what a truly damning reflection on our nation's very highest office. >> but she's regretting talking about potential this investigation that not yet confirmed the other. it's all a bit biting back on the foot, isn't it? a little bit.

>> should we speak to gb news political editor, christopher ho, chris, do you think perhaps angela rayner regrets being so outspoken when it comes to other people's police investigations ? people's police investigations? >> yes. well, she made those remarks, of course, in a house of commons, where you can say things and there's no legal legal following. follow up on that with angela rain. and what we're seeing here is where was she living? over ten years ago, we know from this book by lord ashcroft, the former former tory donon he ashcroft, the former former tory donor. he made clear that he found that she could have been living in a different address to the one she said she was living in on the electoral register. and when and where therefore, when she sold was sold that property, was any capital tax due? this is capital gains tax due? this is nothing to do with gains nothing to do with capital gains tax. simply the police investigating whether she had misled the electoral register by living in a place she wasn't actually living in. and this comes after the police have been pressured local tory mp james pressured by local tory mp james daly. he's also a deputy chairman of the tory party at

the heart of this, it goes to transparency. ever since these first these claims first emerged by michael ashcroft, lord ashcroft, the former tory donor, she's made very, very clear angela rayner. she's done nothing wrong. she's commissioned some advice from tax experts, legal experts, her words being taken by sir keir starmer and nothing wrong here. he is not asked to see the evidence that she's paid for and produced, but they've taken a word for it , and we asked rachel word for it, and we asked rachel reeves, the shadow chancellor, the question on tuesday. the same question on tuesday. they support angela rayner, they all support angela rayner, but we'll find out pretty soon whether that's right. the police will investigate . what's will investigate. what's interesting now labour has interesting is now labour has lost the timing of lost control of the timing of this. now that the police are involved, this can go on for several months. it might lead right into the white heat of right up into the white heat of what could be the autumn general election campaign . labour, election campaign. labour, though today, are very clear that welcomes the chance that angela welcomes the chance to set out the facts with the police. we remain completely confident that angela has complied at all

complied with the rules at all times, and it is now appropriate to let the police do its work. so i think the reporting on this story will die down now while the police get on with their work . but it could go either work. but it could go either way, and i think we're going to see it could become a big issue going into the election campaign. she's campaign. of course, if she's cleared , she will be emboldened cleared, she will be emboldened by might well by that, and that might well happen. by that, and that might well happen . but we'll wait and see. happen. but we'll wait and see. >> have wait and see. >> we'll have to wait and see. there well, christopher hope, thank setting the thank you for setting out the facts the case. of course, facts of the case. of course, angela says she angela rayner always says she denies wrongdoing there, but denies any wrongdoing there, but that's now in the hands of the police . police. >> shall we speak with political commentator peter spencer to get his on this peter, how his view on this all, peter, how bad is this for the labour party, for keir starmer ? party, for keir starmer? >> well, it is inevitable that the tories will keep pressing on this sore because they've really got it in for angela rayner and understandably so, because she is the archetypal , tory bashing is the archetypal, tory bashing labour attack dog. and what they

want to see most of all is to bnng want to see most of all is to bring her down. and hypocrisy would suit suit them very nicely. they had a crack at her on hypocrisy. funnily enough, when she accepted an invitation to go to the glyndebourne opera, glyndebourne opera tour, and she pointed out that mozart's marriage of figaro does actually star a smart servant who outwitted a dim witted master. and so for that reason , i mean, and so for that reason, i mean, there is absolutely no love lost between the two when it comes to the charges themselves. i mean, you know, if you look at her private life at that point, i think you would read it in, in, in sort of, sort of love ads. it would say it's complicated and indeed so is the tax thing. i mean, anybody who's split up with a fellow parent but have

children in common will testify to how complicated that will be. and for that reason, i suspect that it's going to be quite hard for the old bill to actually pin this on her. but i would just i mean, they might do, but they might not. but i'll make might not. but i'll just make one point, is that one other point, which is that the in this was set rolling the ball in this was set rolling by lord ashcroft , tory bigwig, by lord ashcroft, tory bigwig, former donor. and the point is made rather impishly by private eye that while there's a few grand at stake here over tax, she may or may not have paid thanks to his non—dom status , thanks to his non—dom status, he's managed to save himself over 100 million smackers. thank you very much. >> of course, all within the law. given that that is a legal exemption there. but, but i suppose, lord ashcroft is, is quite properly a neutral player in this. i mean, it was a it was another book that he had out about a conservative prime minister and what he may or may not done pig that not have done with a pig that really dominate, really did dominate, perhaps

even media attention than even more media attention than than this incident with the deputy leader . deputy labour leader. >> excuse me, i'm so forgive me, i just, i >> excuse me, i'm so forgive me, ijust, i i'm >> excuse me, i'm so forgive me, i just, i i'm just >> excuse me, i'm so forgive me, ijust, i i'm just lost >> excuse me, i'm so forgive me, i just, i i'm just lost for words for the minute. >> i apologise for him. i apologise for her job. >> well, i think it's a bit. lord ashcroft wrote along with isabel oakeshott wrote the book call me dave, which included lots of lurid accusations about a tory prime minister. he's written books about labour figures , he does he does enjoy figures, he does he does enjoy causing this sort of mischief. >> he's everyone the same treatment . treatment. >> oh, yes. oh, indeed. so that's absolutely true. but i come back to the point about the old bill looking into this case. they decided there was not a case to answer, whereupon a tory mp made a great fuss about it, whereupon they have reopened it. so i have to say that neither that tory mp, nor indeed the daily mail, which is which , is daily mail, which is which, is bringing up this story, can neither of them can exactly be accused of political

impartiality , no. well, thank impartiality, no. well, thank you very much indeed, peter spencen you very much indeed, peter spencer, their political commentator. always great to speak to you on everything political , well, everything political, well, everything political, well, everything political and indeed animal. >> but yes, we're talking a lot about animals today. >> snails , not just pigs and >> snails, not just pigs and initiation ceremonies. >> oxford university. but, let's let's talk about something that has been rather overshadowed by all of this. angela rayner news. what labour would like us to be talking about is, of course, keir starmer's commitment to our independent . independent nuclear deterrent. he's saying it's the bedrock of his plan to keep britain safe . his plan to keep britain safe. >> and yes, at the same time, he's pledged to boost the defence budget to 2.5% of gdp. so his budget commitment matches that of the chancellor, jeremy hunt, and could indicate a significant shift from the jeremy corbyn years if resources allow. >> if resources allow. >> if resources allow. >> if resources allow. >> i love the get out clause. it's wonderful you can apply it to anything, but let's speak now with gb news reporter charlie peters for more this charlie ,

peters for more on this charlie, i find it very hard to sort of see where sir keir starmer's mind is on this. he's of course, talking about the labour history. and it's true that that clement attlee , the labour prime clement attlee, the labour prime minister in the 1940s and early 50s, did bring about the nuclear deterrent . but of course, keir deterrent. but of course, keir starmer did serve in jeremy corbyn's shadow cabinet for half a decade and he was a guy that wanted to get rid of it. well sir keir starmer is pointing out that the position he's affirming today, that call for a 2.5% raise as soon as resources allow it is the position that labour held when it left government . held when it left government. >> so it's a reaffirmation of a position. it's already held. and it also comes when defence is leading. in many times, the political debate at the moment, we heard earlier this year, the security minister, tom tugendhat, and another minister, anne—marie trevelyan, saying that they wanted the government

to improve investment in defence at a much greater pace. so this has been an area of great focus, especially with wars growing , especially with wars growing, going and escalating not only in the middle east, but of course closer to home in europe. after russia's invasion of ukraine in. but at this visit to barrow today, where the nuclear submarines are built and where their replacement, the dreadnought class is expected to be built in the 2030s, we have heard from sir keir starmer, who is anticipating to say that labour's commitment to the deterrent is unshakeable now. in response, grant shapps , the response, grant shapps, the defence secretary, has said that labour cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons. >> starmer twice tried to get a labour leader elected who wanted to scrap our nuclear deterrent. he has 11 members of his own shadow frontbench, including the shadow frontbench, including the shadow foreign secretary and the shadow foreign secretary and the shadow deputy prime minister, angela rayner. all of whom have voted against our nuclear deterrent when they've been given the opportunity. he now

says trust me on our trident, on our nuclear deterrent. but he didn't even mention it in his own leadership election. the simple truth is you can't trust labour . labour on this. >> well, as grant shapps criticises labour, he's also touting a new weapon. it's called dragonfire , a new laser called dragonfire, a new laser laser beam. sorry that the defence secretary is saying will be able to be attached to royal navy destroyers in 2027 ahead of the 2032 originally anticipated timetable . now, the mod said timetable. now, the mod said that this weapon can be fired at just £10 a shot, roughly the same price as a as a pint of beerin same price as a as a pint of beer in london in five years time, you might imagine, and it can hit a pound coin from a kilometre away . now, this comes kilometre away. now, this comes as the royal navy has been shooting down drones off the coast of yemen in the red sea, fired by the houthi militia, and drone warfare has , of course, drone warfare has, of course, increased in its prominence in

modern military engagements due to the ongoing conflict in ukraine. drones have really revolutionised that conflict . revolutionised that conflict. now, grant shapps has said in this press release that he's hoping to speed up that five year increase in the deployment of these weapons even faster to get them to ukraine as soon as possible. this is a weapon that he thinks could turn the tide in that conflict. >> this seems like something out of science fiction. charlie. these lasers that we're looking at on our screens now, bright red. it's like something out of star wars. is that what it actually looks like? i mean, my goodness, this is. are we living in the future? >> well, there's they're being seen space age seen as sort of space age weapons. as the military improves , the defence and improves, the defence and science technology laboratory is extremely proud of this effort to bring it forward by five years, to be attached to those destroyers in the red sea. there were some conflicting reports earlier at the start of the conflict in israel and gaza,

that lasers were being used to shoot down the rockets fired from the gaza strip. they're not ready to use that technology yet . but this sign that these new weapons could be used to shoot down drones, of course, that's a huge cost for the royal navy at the moment, using very expensive munitions to shoot down much cheaper drones. this could be a sign of britain leading the way in this new form of military technology. >> it's always nice to hear that we could be leading the way, but also really important given that asymmetric warfare, very, very cheap drones destroying very, very expensive tech and you needing to spend, i don't know, hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of munitions to knock down a drone , if you can do that for a drone, if you can do that for a drone, if you can do that for a tenner, if you can fire a laser for a tenner, that is a huge, huge saving. >> charlie peters, you so >> charlie peters, thank you so much that. and much for bringing us that. and those marvellous pictures too. >> were brilliant pictures, >> they were brilliant pictures, actually. we were just hearing earlier the earlier in the show about the threat , the very real threat of iran, the very real threat, only israel, threat, not just only to israel, but to the region and potentially united states, us being brought into some kind of

escalated conflict. we need a good defence. >> we need a good lamp light amplified by stimulated emission or radiation. yes, sir. laser. >> yes. that is what it stands for, isn't it ? >> yes. that is what it stands for, isn't it? yeah. thank you. do you want to say it again? >> light amplified by stimulated emission or radiation. there we go . go. >> there you go. there's your facts of the day from. i have to say, i did have to google that. >> i knew i knew it stood for something. i knew it, i knew it's it's because laser, it's not. it's because laser, it's not. it's because laser, it's word that use it's just a word that we use sort but actually sort of all. but it's actually an acronym , tom, gotta love you. an acronym, tom, gotta love you. anyway, coming up, the rspca is under fire for what many are calling a wildly woke rebrand. lots of farmers , that is. the lots of farmers, that is. the charity is comparing cattle farming to stamping on snails. are the two similar at all? we'll be hosting a debate very shortly. stay with

us. it's 125. you're watching us. it's125. you're watching and listening to good afternoon, britain with me, emily and tom harwood. now, farmers are up in arms. they're fuming. after the royal society for the protection of cruelty to animals or the rspca launched their rebrand. now, this is to mark their 200th yeah >> now this video, which you can see, which you can see here if you're watching television, this snippet compares cattle farming to stamping on snails. if you can see, there we go . and can see, there we go. and there's a oh, someone's just picked up a snail is this where is it? >> i know he's looking after the snail. >> this guy after the snail and putting it in a in a plant pot. how sweet. >> so they're teaching everyone to nice the little snails. to be nice to the little snails. but did have also someone but they did have also someone stamping the snail. this stamping on the snail. so this is compare and is a sort of compare and contrast. so if you're a nice, caring person, you will

obviously pick up the snail, put it in its little pot, and if you're a nasty, evil person, you'll stamp which you'll stamp on it. which i quite agree with. but i think the issue is that farmers don't like it when they're legitimate business and legitimate practice, and something they've been doing for generations normally is compared with, something that perhaps others would think is a bit trivial. >> well, injuring a snail quite well, shall we get the views of two very different sides to this argument today? we're asking is cattle farming animal cruelty? delighted to be joined by farmer and broadcaster gareth wyn jones, who says the video left a lot of farmers really quite angry and senior campaign manager at, people for the ethical treatment of animals. kate werner, who believes the rspca actually isn't going far enough. well, my goodness , let's enough. well, my goodness, let's start with you, kate. why aren't they going far enough ? they going far enough? >> well, i mean, the message in this video is a positive one,

all animals do deserve respect. >> they're living, feeling beings. they're not inanimate objects to be commodified. >> and , you know, true respect >> and, you know, true respect is not about abusing any animal for a burger or a pair of shoes. >> and if you agree with the sentiment in the video, the next logical step is to live in a way that causes the least harm possible to animals and go vegan and of course, there's this misguided belief that some species are important than others, which is speciesist thinking , others, which is speciesist thinking, but it doesn't others, which is speciesist thinking , but it doesn't really thinking, but it doesn't really matter if they are big or small, if they're feathered or thinned, if they're feathered or thinned, if they're feathered or thinned, if they have four legs or two legs or no legs at all, you know, all animals feel pain and they're all deserving of our respect and consideration. >> gareth, why are a lot of farmers angry with this video ? farmers angry with this video? >> oh, it's a pathetic advertisement propaganda stunt again. >> and, you know, peta make me

laugh . 45,000 animals they laugh. 45,000 animals they killed last year. >> yeah , the domestic animals. >> yeah, the domestic animals. at least my cows go into the food chain. they kept the they kept happy , they sustainable, kept happy, they sustainable, and they go to feed people . and they go to feed people. yeah. better. and the rspca are a joke. really. they are trying to tear farmers again and get people to stop eating meat, drinking milk , which we've been drinking milk, which we've been doing for centuries. >> and let me tell you, as a farmer , petr will never feed farmer, petr will never feed anybody. we will. we are the people that feed you every day. and at this time of year, it's been very, very difficult. it's been very, very difficult. it's been wet and it's been very hard to get on the ground and a lot of crops. i'm going, so we're going to need these animals feeding us in the future, because these are an intricate part of the whole ecosystem. and the food system. so get into your steaks, get into your chickens , get into your eggs, chickens, get into your eggs, get into your bacon. don't listen to petr . listen to petr. >> well my goodness, kate,

you've got to come back on that . you've got to come back on that. >> yeah i mean, the same tired old arguments . peta is working old arguments. peta is working with farmers to move towards plant based farming. so we are far from being against farmers , far from being against farmers, but the fact is that these days, animals on the vast majority of farms are kept and reared intensively. so, you know , intensively. so, you know, chickens are kept by the thousands and thousands in windowless sheds on intensive farms. you know, they are featherless . they're miserable, featherless. they're miserable, cows, no matter what type of farm they're on, they're separated from their babies are separated from their babies are separated from their babies are separated from them. they cry out for days for each other because humans drink their milk. you know how many how many farms are peta? >> are peta working with, then? how many farms are working with you? >> well, we're working with farmers and we're seeing more and more farmers move away from animal farming and towards plant based farming. >> but you know, any gareth, you know, any farmers who are

working with peta, not any in cloud cuckoo land that i know of. >> not really. no, no, it's a joke, man. you know, these these these people say one thing and they murdering 45,000 animals, domestic animals last year. it's an absolute joke . an absolute joke. >> what are you what are you about? >> the coup there. it's all about the money, gareth. >> what are you referring to there? the 45,000 domestic animals. what's what's good. >> just online good. >>just good. >> just online see how >> just go online and see how many animals pets killed in many animals pets are killed in america. many animals pets are killed in am kate in 2023. >> kate in 2023. >> kate in 2023. >> so gareth is peddling misinformation here, peter in the us runs a shelter of last resort . and what we do is we resort. and what we do is we take in animals who are reaching the end of their lives or for any reason they may be unadoptable and in many cases , unadoptable and in many cases, euthanasia is the kindest option for those animals , and actually for those animals, and actually thousand of them in the area

will turn these animals away because they won't euthanize them. so peta is offering, as i say, a last resort for many families whose animals are suffering . suffering. >> and i think many families would think that that's a that's a very, very noble service to offer. is that that offer. is that all that different from what gareth and many other farmers do ? many other farmers do? >> of course it's different because we're talking about commodifying animals to consume them . and, you know, we want them. and, you know, we want people to live in a way that causes a little harm as possible. and that means not eating animals, not wearing them, not using them for entertainment, you know, not torturing them in laboratories. there is no need to exploit animals in any of these ways. we're in 2024, you know, can i just can i just come in to that? >> because these people have never fed anybody . i can tell never fed anybody. i can tell you as a farmer, i know there'll be more lives lost for me to put my salad, my vegetables and my fruit on my table. i know that i'm a farmer. if i kill one cow

here, it's going to feed many families for many months. and that's the reality. everything thing that you put on your plate, your vegan myth is a joke. everything you're putting on your plate has a death toll and the death toll is even bigger for your salads, your cereals, and your fruits . that's cereals, and your fruits. that's a fact. live with it. >> well, i'm afraid we have run out of time, kate. we started with you, gareth. we ended with you. but please do both. come back. is debate that has back. this is a debate that has not, sadly, been settled today on this program. but we will have you both back on a future date . thank you very much for date. thank you very much for joining us. thank you very much indeed. >> gareth wyn jones and kate werner, from peter. now, >> gareth wyn jones and kate weaier, from peter. now, >> gareth wyn jones and kate wea statement rom peter. now, >> gareth wyn jones and kate wea statement from'eteh now, >> gareth wyn jones and kate wea statement from the. now, >> gareth wyn jones and kate wea statement from the rspca, in a statement from the rspca, they face they said dairy cows face a number welfare challenges, number of welfare challenges, from lameness to from painful lameness to uncomfortable bedding and having no pasture. we want to no access to pasture. we want to encourage people to understand more about where comes from more about where food comes from and animals are reared, and how the animals are reared, what i should say, too, is that i've been to a number of farms and the care that they take with

the that i've seen the animals that i've seen anywhere. i know there are bad practices in some countries , but practices in some countries, but i do think british farmers, by and large, do try do good by and large, do try and do good by their animals. >> i think your average >> i think. i think your average farmer country cares for farmer in this country cares for their animals more arguably than their animals more arguably than the owner does. the average pet owner does. yeah, yeah. >> israel >> well, israel braces itself for an imminent iran attack. the foreign secretary, lord cameron , foreign secretary, lord cameron, says he's deeply concerned. what does this mean for britain? could we be brought into a . could we be brought into a. war? >> very good afternoon. it's 134 and a recap of the headlines this half hour. and a recap of the headlines this half hour . defence this half hour. defence secretary grant shapps has accused angela rayner of double standards and welcomed the launch of a police investigation into the sale of her council house. the new investigation comes after conservative mp james daly reported the deputy labour leader to greater manchester police over information she gave about her living situation a decade ago.

angela rayner, though, denies any wrongdoing and the labour party says it is confident she has complied with the rules . party says it is confident she has complied with the rules. new documents have revealed that the former managing director of the post office suggested that subpostmaster voters chose to blame technology when they were short for cash. in an email from 2009, alan cooke said there was absolutely no logical reason that software was to blame. speaking at the horizon inquiry, this morning, he said those comments were unacceptable and he will regret making them for the rest of his life . lord the rest of his life. lord cameron has warned iran against drawing the middle east into a wider conflict. the foreign secretary spoke to his iranian counterpart following threats made tehran against israel. made by tehran against israel. there are also concerns that an israeli airstrike that killed two iranian generals last week could provoke retaliation. meanwhile, the us has told its officials and their families in israel not to travel outside three areas tel aviv, jerusalem and beersheba , and there are

and beersheba, and there are serious shortcomings in the bank of england's economic forecasting methods . that's forecasting methods. that's according to a report by former chair of the us federal reserve, ben bernanke. it found staff were using out—of—date software with functions that could be automated , often performed automated, often performed manually. it comes after several of the bank's forecasts were repeatedly inaccurate during dunng repeatedly inaccurate during during a period of economic turbulence . and for the latest turbulence. and for the latest stories, do sign up to gb news alerts . just scan the code on alerts. just scan the code on your screen or go to gbnews.com. alerts . alerts. >> for a valuable legacy your family can own , gold coins will family can own, gold coins will always shine bright. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> let's take a look at the markets this afternoon. the pound will buy you $1.2472 and ,1.1705. the price of gold is

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i >> -- >> good afternoon. britain. it's 20 to 2 now. foreign secretary lord cameron said he is deeply concerned about the threat that iran poses to israel amid reports that iran is preparing to launch a retaliatory attack on israel within the next 48 hours. this after two iranian generals were killed in an airstrike in syria, an attack that tehran has blamed on israel. but israel has not said it was them. >> yes, this comes after iran's supreme leader issued a chilling warning that israel will be punished, and one of his advisors said that no israeli

embassies are safe. >> well, we're now joined by the defence editor at the evening standard, robert fox, and robert , this is a dangerous world we live in. we all understand that this 48 hour warning, the americans seem concerned. the israelis are certainly concerned. should we be? >> yes, because of how specific the americans are about the warning. 48 hours. that was from yesterday. and they gave it to the washington media, the washington post, wall street journal put it out immediately as given in, the commander of central command, which takes responsibility , general mike responsibility, general mike kurilla, immediately set for off israel, and he briefed that he was there to coordinate, responses. should there be an attack on israel? can i say tom and emily, if there is a direct attack on israel by iran , attack on israel by iran, america is bound to come in. and if america is bound to come in

the uk and very likely france are likely to come in behind america on that. >> why france ? >> why france? >> why france? >> france is now the leading mainland european ally in the eu and nato , and there's so much and nato, and there's so much business that's got to be done with france, which you heard a bit from charlie peters before. there is a massive defence and security review, not just on the narrow, you know , tank spotting narrow, you know, tank spotting toys for boys, type defence, but the whole business of defence. it needs to be reviewed and updated quickly because things are overtaken by events are being overtaken by events and by new threats. therefore iran, ukraine, both problematic as well as gaza, the houthis and so on. and new types of warfare were facing a new kind of warfare. as charlie was saying, with these, laser weapons and these radiation weapons, these

radio weapons in which britain is going to play a big part and of course, adding on to that, everybody, including the american military establishment, is preparing for a trump presidency, a more isolated, more for regional america concentrate very heavily on the pacific, france and britain know that they've got to take up the slack. and it is france and britain, and it's not france and germany, and it's not britain and germany. interesting. >> very interesting and >> very interesting indeed. and we should say that french citizens have been warned by the government , not in france, not government, not in france, not to travel to the area. a number of countries they've highlighted that you should not go to if you're french citizen , when it you're a french citizen, when it comes to iran its comes to iran and its capabilities, talk capabilities, usually we talk about iran acting via proxies through proxies in the region to achieve its international aims. what are their actual capabilities when it comes to launching a potential military attack? >> that's right. on the money

this is where it would be even the best. the strongest israeli assessment is actually a full on attack, and it would come from the air on israeli territory, would be madness, because how would be madness, because how would iran follow it up? iran, as these two generals that were killed in the damascus consulate were doing works by fiddling guerrilla warfare, subversive actions, unexpected . the actions, unexpected. the militias, the proxies like the hezbollah , and of course, the hezbollah, and of course, the houthis, which do see themselves as a formed army and very capable. they are too, but they're a guerrilla force. they're a militia force, essentially. this is the way iran operates. it's both its strength and its weakness. it's saying revenge is a dish best served cold, but it can't wait forever because there is pride as the supreme leader , ayatollah as the supreme leader, ayatollah khamenei, has pointed out, they've got themselves into

quite a bind. i've done a piece, sorry, a bit of self—advertising for the standard this afternoon in which i get to the meat. actually, towards the end, iran into hinckley. it's now committed on at least five different fronts. i won't bore viewers by going through all five, but it is overextends and it's committed to russia. it's committed to the houthis. it's committed to the houthis. it's committed to the proxies in in syria and iraq, as well as hamas . and it's got big troubles on its borders in the caucasus , overstretched. >> now, just finally, robert, you spoke about the need to really update the way that we do military spending and acquisition in this country , the acquisition in this country, the sort of kit that we have, the way that we do warfare now around the world has changed immeasurably in the last 2 or 3 years, not least due to british advice for the ukrainians. this, this, this new form of asymmetric warfare , very cheap asymmetric warfare, very cheap kit, taking out very expensive

kits , i suppose we're in need of kits, i suppose we're in need of a thorough, thorough review . a thorough, thorough review. >> yes, there will be. and i think both parties are now committed . there's going to be a committed. there's going to be a big nuclear policy announcement. i big nuclear policy announcement. | , big nuclear policy announcement. i , from the prime minister i think, from the prime minister within a month. i'm led to within a month. so i'm led to believe , certainly, starmer within a month. so i'm led to beliyjohn certainly, starmer within a month. so i'm led to beliyjohn healeyy, starmer within a month. so i'm led to beliyjohn healey are starmer within a month. so i'm led to beliyjohn healey are committed to and john healey are committed to and john healey are committed to a very big defence review. you practically answered the thing with your question, tom. but one thing that really does have to change. yes, we can talk about the kit, the new methods of war, the kit, the new methods of war, the new stretching, the fact that we're committed in hot action, in ukraine, we're committed in the middle east because we've got to keep those sea lanes open. but the big thing that i'm really looking for, we've got to change in the way we think defence and we involve society in defence and defence involves society. it's a huge shift. we've got to forget, the things that didn't go so well and probably were on a mistaken premise to an extent

like iraq and afghanistan. we've got to be what is in the interest of british, british society and the british community. and that's going to be a big ask . but it's got to be be a big ask. but it's got to be quick. it's got to be sharp and it's got to be uncompromising. and i don't think the last few defence reviews i've looked at did that entirely. >> well, there you go. wise words as always from robert fox, defence editor at the evening standard. great to have you on the show. thank you. thanks for, well, you go. well, there you go. >> for a digest there. well, there you go. >> very for a digest there. well, there you go. >> very .for a digest there. well, there you go. >> very . yeah.iigest there. >> very. yeah. >> very. yeah. >> we a strategic review >> we need a strategic review into defence. it seems. into our defence. it seems. >> there we go. well, i'm sure you have thoughts. gbnews.com/win all say. but coming a new study suggests coming up, a new study suggests that does not that diversity does not necessarily boost profits. contrary reports . more contrary to many reports. more on very

soon. >> hello again. it's 150

soon. >> hello again. it's150 in the afternoon now. new research claims that hiring more ethnically diverse management teams does not actually boost profits. or at least there's no evidence to suggest that it does. >> well, this casts doubts, of course, on previous studies and much reporting . a study in econ much reporting. a study in econ journal watch, econ journal watch. sorry says that previous studies on this by this by the consultancy mckinsey claiming racial diversity is a business imperative that drives real business results are based on data that cannot be replicated . data that cannot be replicated. >> curious. well, we can now speak with gb news presenter albie amankona conor albee. thank you very much indeed for taking the time of your busy taking the time out of your busy schedule, interesting , schedule, this is interesting, isn't it? because there's been quite a lot of push from report and of course, diversity and inclusion teams, which has become quite an industry in this country to push the idea that if you want to be a successful business, you need to have a diverse leadership team, you need to have diverse business. need to have a diverse business.

but i always thought you wouldn't say to a business team in japan , oh, you're not in japan, oh, you're not ethnically diverse enough. you're going to fail. ethnically diverse enough. you're going to fail . you're not you're going to fail. you're not going to make good profits. i mean, what make of this? mean, what do you make of this? >> it's an interesting >> i think it's an interesting study because for a very long time, the business community has just taken at its word companies like mckinsey , companies like like mckinsey, companies like bain companies, bcg , when they bain companies, bcg, when they produce research and they say that diversity leads to higher profits. >> i think this is probably one of the first studies of this kind to actually show that perhaps diversity and inclusion just don't improve profits. now, i know dame vivienne referenced in this article in the telegraph, and what she would say is that diversity and inclusion isn't just about profit, it's also about making profits. i was at a dinner. >> you're breaking up, you're on. >> you're you see, if we can fix your audio, albie, and get you back because this is really important stuff that we do want to hear. >> emily, this is something to hear. >> we've ily, this is something to hear. >> we've seen1is is something

to hear. >> we've seen time something to hear. >> we've seen time and ething to hear. >> we've seen time and time; that we've seen time and time again, idea that sort again, the idea that just sort of necessarily have to of you don't necessarily have to follow particular business follow a particular business plan, fact of plan, but just the fact of diversity will will make your business better. mean , perhaps business better. i mean, perhaps that's not as true as we've all been led to believe. >> well, i think there's certainly an incentive to put out that suggest that it out studies that suggest that it is true, because diversity and inclusion, we see the number of jobs per head that are diversity and inclusion related in this country is the highest in the world. this is a money making industry. yes there may be positive aims to it. making people feel included in the work environment and having people of all backgrounds in jobs. but i feel like sometimes there are vested interests here to push a certain narrative. >> there are quite a lot of studies that do suggest that, businesses that are seen to be socially progressive, people are more likely to want to buy things from because people who might about sort of might care more about sort of social progress values, they based their purchasing decisions on that. whereas people who care less about those things , they

less about those things, they just don't really care where they stuff from. so. they buy their stuff from. so. so an imbalance there in so there's an imbalance there in terms of, market value and, and those sort of aims. >> i'm not sure it will ever outcompete price point, though i do think that regardless of what your moral values are and how progressive you are, if something's too expensive, you ain't going to buy it. >> yes, that's true, but i think perhaps the difference here is it's necessarily about it's not necessarily about whether the board is actually diverse . it's about whether the diverse. it's about whether the company is perceived to be diverse . that could be the diverse. that could be the fundamental difference here. >> i just worry that sometimes when these studies come out, businesses will just sort of plonk someone in a leadership role from a different background and hope that that fixes their problem . problem. >> frankly, if you if you have lots of, more men and women of all races, but they all went to the same schools and they all went to the same universities, is it actually that diverse ? is is it actually that diverse? is it surface level diversity but not diversity of thought? that

could also be a real, real issue. well, that's a shame. >> we missed be there. but, >> we missed i'll be there. but, hopefully speak, see we >> we missed i'll be there. but, hopygetly speak, see we >> we missed i'll be there. but, hopyget him speak, see we >> we missed i'll be there. but, hopyget him back eak, see we >> we missed i'll be there. but, hopyget him back because we >> we missed i'll be there. but, hopyget him back because coming can get him back because coming up, creeping slowly up, are we creeping very slowly out of recession? yes. the economy has grown by get this 0.1. woohoo >> what a joyful time to uncork the champagne. yeah no, i think that's the sort of thing that only rishi sunak could sort of claim victory for. well, we'll be discussing. that could be worse after this worse for all of us after this. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello again! here's your latest gb news, weather update in association with the met office. looking ahead to the weekend and it's going to turn fresher with showers for many of us. but for the time being, it's still warm and largely settled

across southern areas due to high here, a different high pressure. here, a different story further north, frontal systems through , systems pushing through, bringing the focus for some outbreaks of rain and the rain could at times across could be heavy at times across parts scotland overnight, could be heavy at times across pa|watch scotland overnight, could be heavy at times across pa|watch out.and overnight, could be heavy at times across pa|watch out for! overnight, could be heavy at times across pa|watch out for some1ight, could be heavy at times across pa|watch out for some strong, do watch out for some strong, gusty winds towards the north—west. a drier further north—west. two a drier further south, though some murkiness, some low some coastal fog some low cloud, some coastal fog could develop around english channel coast. going to channel coast. it's not going to be a chilly night, temperatures generally holding up in high single figures or double digits in cities as we in some towns and cities as we go through tomorrow. then any mr murk towards the far south should clear away quite quickly. and southeast and in the southeast it's actually going to stay largely fine chunk of the fine through a big chunk of the day across northern and western parts of and wales, the parts of england and wales, the cloud bring some outbreaks cloud will bring some outbreaks of more unsettled across cloud will bring some outbreaks of ofnore unsettled across cloud will bring some outbreaks of of northern ttled across cloud will bring some outbreaks of of northern ireland ross cloud will bring some outbreaks of of northern ireland and in parts of northern ireland and in particular scotland. some heavy downpours possible and some strong gusty winds. at times. temperatures above average temperatures still above average for the time of year, though not quite as high as we've seen today. quite as high as we've seen today . as we look towards today. as we look towards sunday, it's to a sunday, it's going to be a fresher day all us. fresher day for all of us. plenty showers the

plenty of showers towards the northwest. be northwest. some of them could be heavy , could be some thunder and heavy, could be some thunder and hail to a drier picture hail mixed in to a drier picture towards the southeast. but into the part next week, the the early part of next week, the showers are going become more showers are going to become more widespread going to widespread and it is going to feel markedly fresher than it has late. that's it for has done of late. that's it for me. see you again me. i'll see you again soon. >> warm feeling from >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 2:00 on friday. the 12th of april. >> now, the police have officially launched an investigation into labour's deputy leader, angela rayner. she's been accused of failing to pay she's been accused of failing to pay capital gains tax and disobeying electoral law. >> it's an unwelcome distraction for sir keir starmer, who's today wants to talk about his commitment to maintain our nuclear deterrent and increasing defence spending . but get this defence spending. but get this only when resources allow and

the uk economy has grown . the uk economy has grown. >> but wait for it only by 0.1. but is this good news and could this marginal gdp growth be a little step out of britain's recession? >> now are you a speciesist ? >> now are you a speciesist? that's some that's a word that we heard in our debate between our kate werner, who's from the people for the ethical treatment of animals, and our farmer gareth wyn jones. now, kate was saying it's a terribly species based thing to think that different species have different worth. >> yes. i must give a little shout out to my mum if you're watching, because she got rather annoyed by that conversation . annoyed by that conversation. she said, all species are not equal. she said, all species are not equal . does she consider herself equal. does she consider herself equal. does she consider herself equal to a slug? she asks. >> well, that's a that's a very

profound point from mrs. carver, i think that it's in it's an interesting one, isn't it? because on the face of it, you hear the thing. oh, we're all equal hear the thing. oh, we're all equal, aren't we? sorry. is a flea equal to me, some people might yes, but. but i might think. yes, but. but i think that in general, you can probably. you can probably have a sliding scale of value of animals. yes. >> because, for example, if you had a dog, a pet dog, and that dog happened to have fleas, would you just fleas would you just allow the fleas to enjoy living on your dog? or would exterminate it? said fleas. >> oh no, that would be very speciesist. >> that would be speciesist. so yes. are all species equal? i'm not sure, if i think there might , a woman would have been able to answer that one. >> i think there might be an overwhelming response to that question say . question at gbnews.com/your say. but if you do think all species are equal, i am. i'm really, really keen to hear your arguments. do get in touch. gbnews.com forward slash your say that's the new address. we'll be looking at your comments reading some in

we'll be looking at your c(little nts reading some in we'll be looking at your c(little bit, reading some in we'll be looking at your c(little bit, but reading some in we'll be looking at your c(little bit, but that'sg some in we'll be looking at your c(little bit, but that's after1e in a little bit, but that's after your headlines. your latest news headlines. >> tom and emily, thank you very much. good afternoon. from the newsroom, we seamlessly segue from fleas to the top stories this hour. sir keir starmer says he's confident angela rayner has not broken any rules after greater manchester police launched an investigation over her tax affairs. it's over the sale of her council house in stockport a decade ago. questions have been asked about whether she paid the right amount of tax and if it was her main home. angela rayner, though, denies any wrongdoing . though, denies any wrongdoing. the labour leader says the investigation will reveal the facts . facts. >> we welcome this investigation because it will allow a line to because it will allow a line to be drawn in relation to this matter . m atteh >> matter. >> i am fully confident that angela rayner has not broken the rules. she will cooperate with the investigation , as you would the investigation, as you would expect, and it's really a matter for the police . for the police. >> well, defence secretary grant

shapps has accused angela rayner of double standards and he's welcomed the launch of the investigation. >> i think the double standards have been extraordinary. angela rayner herself has spent her political career calling people out for exactly the thing that she seems to be doing now. it's not acceptable to ignore it and it's not acceptable for keir starmer to say he won't even read reports into it. this is something which is a serious matter. it's important that it's looked into properly, and i welcome the idea that the police are doing that. >> the former managing director of the post office has admitted today that he should have known there was a deliberate plan to use charges theft as what's use charges of theft as what's been described as a sledgehammer to subpostmasters into to crush subpostmasters into submission. speaking at the horizon inquiry earlier, alan cook also admitted he didn't know that the organisation was itself prosecuting subpostmasters in about two thirds of cases. it comes as new documents reveal that mr cook

had suggested in an email in 2009 that subpostmasters, he said, chose to blame technology when they were short for cash . when they were short for cash. sir keir starmer has committed to boosting the uk's defence budget to 2.5. if he becomes prime minister, matching the current government's target . the current government's target. the labour leader is visiting a shipyard in barrow in furness, where nuclear submarines are being built. he says britain's nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of labour's plan to keep the country safe , and that his party country safe, and that his party was making what he called a generational commitment to defence. the government, though, has described plan as has described the plan as a distraction. the defence secretary says that a new british military laser could be on ukraine's front line by 2027 to help take down russian drones, a warning if you're watching on television, this following story does contain some flashing images. grant shapps claims the weapon will have huge ramifications for the conflict. the so—called dragon fire is capable of cutting

through its targets with an intense beam of light, and it comes after the age of conscription in ukraine was lowered last week by two years, down to 25, in an effort to help replenish troops. there back here in the uk, a 23 year old man has denied murdering a good samaritan who died as he tried to help a stranger. 46 year old chris marriott was on a post—christmas walk with his wife and two young children when he stopped to help a woman who was unconscious in the street. he was then killed when a car ploughed small crowd ploughed into that small crowd following a disturbance in the burngreave area of sheffield . burngreave area of sheffield. hassan guy anker denied that murder and manslaughter of mr marriott, but pleaded guilty to causing his death by dangerous driving. there were serious shortcomings in the bank of england's economic forecasting methods. that's according to a report by former chair of the us federal reserve, ben bernanke. it found staff were using out—of—date software with functions that could have been

automated, often performed manually. it comes after several of the bank's forecasts were repeatedly inaccurate during a penod repeatedly inaccurate during a period of economic turbulence . period of economic turbulence. gatwick airport has been ranked britain's worst airport for flight delays, data from the civil aviation authority shows . civil aviation authority shows. departures were nearly 27 minutes behind schedule on average in 2023. luton airport had the second poorest record, with an average delay of almost 23 minutes, and in third place was manchester at almost 22 minutes. and finally, before we head back to tom and emily in scotland, a proposal has been made to launch an alternative funding method to host the commonwealth games in 2026. the plan is described as cost effective and would reportedly not require any significant pubuc not require any significant public investment, with money instead coming from ticket sales and broadcasting rights. it comes after scotland's commonwealth games body commissioned feasibility study commissioned a feasibility study after the australian state of

victoria pulled out of hosting the event. a final decision is due next month. that's the latest from the newsroom for now. do sign up to gb news alerts. just scan the code there on your screen or go to news. on your screen or go to gb news. com alerts. though, com slash alerts. now though, it's back tom and . emily. it's back to tom and. emily. >> good afternoon britain. it's 2:07 and now we're going to get to our top story today because there's been a bit of an update. and that's that. the mayor of london, sadiq khan, has had something say about one of something to say about one of his very best friends. >> yes, he says, i'm fully confident in angela. she's one of my best friends and i'm sure she'll be cleared. now this, of course, refers to the police investigation, the ongoing police investigation that's been launched today into angela rayner sale of her rayner and the sale of her council house. >> did politicians used to talk like this? best friends , best like this? best friends, best friends, best friends. all of it. primary school, isn't it?

>> keir starmer also it. primary school, isn't it? >> thatieirstarmer also it. primary school, isn't it? >> that he'starmer also it. primary school, isn't it? >> that he's firmly also it. primary school, isn't it? >> that he's firmly behind;o said that he's firmly behind angela rayner. and number 10 downing street is saying labour must come clean on the rayner row. so there's a to and fro. clearly conservatives are trying to make hay with this, but to get to the detail of this rayner row. get to the detail of this rayner row greater manchester has >> greater manchester police has reopened its formal investigation claims investigation into those claims that deputy that the labour party deputy leader, angela rayner, may have broken electoral law. now the claim is that rayner may have registered a home she did not live in as her place of residence , and this all comes residence, and this all comes after a reassessment of the information provided. >> that's according to the police. they were reassessing whether they had enough to go on to have a formal police investigation . they've obviously investigation. they've obviously decided that they now do. >> labour party says angela >> the labour party says angela rayner welcomes the chance to set facts with the set out the facts with the police. but that's a very different to the way different attitude to the way in which angela rayner herself responded johnson responded to boris johnson being placed police placed under police investigation. yes, remember , in investigation. yes, remember, in january 2022, angela rayner called for the then prime

minister boris johnson to resign simply due to the fact that he was under investigation. >> there's the tweet . boris >> there's the tweet. boris johnson's downing street is under police investigation. how on earth can he think he can stay on as prime minister and take a listen to this? >> just how incensed was angela rayner? just how incense she was over potential that boris over the potential that boris johnson had committed criminality not confirmed, but potential. >> so it seems, mr speaker, potential criminality has been found in downing street. what a truly damning reflection on our nation's very highest. office >> i'm sure a lot of politicians are regretting calling for people to resign, simply for the fact of being investigated, not being found to have done anything. yes it seems to happen anything. yes it seems to happen a lot. well, shall we head to westminster now and speak with gb news political editor chris hope chris, this is a

hope and chris, this is a headache for keir starmer on a day that he was trying to make it about defence. it all about defence. >> that's right. hello, both. yeah he's he's up in barrow in furness making clear that the a labour government will stand full square behind the nuclear deterrent and commits his government if he becomes prime minister, to hit 2.5% of spending of , minister, to hit 2.5% of spending of, of gdp on defence. that's in some contrast with jeremy corbyn, his predecessor, who was certainly not clear at all about whether he would fire nuclear weapons or even support the deterrent if he became leader. but all that has been overshadowed , as we're seeing on overshadowed, as we're seeing on the this police the news with this police investigation angela investigation into angela rayneh investigation into angela rayner. it's not really about the so much as the house sale so much as whether she lived there and was and said she was living there when she wasn't , ten years ago. when she wasn't, ten years ago. now we both sides of are lining up, lining up their their attacks and defences either side. we've got keir starmer this lunchtime saying this will allow a line to be drawn over the uncertainty about his deputy

and fully confident that she'll be cleared. number 10 saying there are questions to be answered . it goes back to the answered. it goes back to the electoral register. if you you have to sign a legal declaration to say you're living there when you vote. the question is, was angela rayner living round the corner new husband and corner with a new husband and not living a house that she not living in a house that she said living so said she was living at? so that's police are that's what the police are looking they are probably looking into. they are probably going speaking going to be speaking to neighbours rayner, neighbours of angela rayner, she for party on her for her part of the party on her behalf. rather says angela welcomes the chance to set the facts with the police. we remain confident, completely that angela has complied with the rules at all times and is now appropriate to let the police do its role. what's happened here politically is the party. labour party has now lost control of the timing of this, and now now there's a police investigation. this back at any this could report back at any point in the next six months, maybe on eve of a general maybe on the eve of a general election, could become quite maybe on the eve of a general e|difficult could become quite maybe on the eve of a general e|difficult momentecome quite maybe on the eve of a general e|difficult moment forme quite maybe on the eve of a general e|difficult moment for keir|uite a difficult moment for keir starmer. he's trying starmer. while he's trying to try battle win votes, the try to battle to win votes, the future his deputy, he won't

future of his deputy, he won't say. he's been asked three times by itv news this lunchtime whether she should resign if she is found to have broken the law. of course, she says she's innocent , no of course, she says she's innocent, no problems here, but this will certainly will bring the matter head, the whole matter to a head, which a good thing . which may be a good thing. >> no. and it's a it's definitely a headache in that sense that there's been a lack of control . but my goodness, i'm of control. but my goodness, i'm thinking about the last, five years of this parliament. it seems that just about everyone has been under police investigation. it's hard pressed to find a senior political figure who hasn't been . figure who hasn't been. >> well, you could say that we had rishi sunak being fined for not wearing a seatbelt in the back of a car. we had multiple fines for people in number 10 downing street, with with partygate and whether having a party when they weren't meant to, having a party that became a big debate and were big debate and these were all minor infractions, again, angela rayner has done nothing wrong. there's no proof of any there's been no proof of any criminality yet, but it's a

headache that labour could do without. and it goes back to, transport agency because she's been insisting she's done nothing wrong. she commissioned legal advice, tax advice, which , legal advice, tax advice, which, notably sir keir starmer has not asked to see that clears her. angela rayner says so we'll wait and see. but clearly it comes down to testing her as a future deputy leader , deputy leader of deputy leader, deputy leader of this country. and that's why it matters so much. >> well, thank you very much indeed, christopher. hope our political editor. live from westminster. of course, westminster. yes, of course, angela rayner, we should say, denies all wrongdoing . denies all wrongdoing. >> but as we know, these police investigations, they can go either way . now. is the labour either way. now. is the labour party parking its the party parking its tanks on the conservative party's lawn? sir keir starmer has vowed to raise defence spending to 2.5% when resources and maintain resources allow, and maintain britain's nuclear deterrent. if his party wins the next general election. >> yes, you could say this is a far cry from his predecessor , far cry from his predecessor, jeremy corbyn, who was staunchly opposed to nuclear weapons,

something sir keir starmer describes as now the bedrock of his party's defence policy. well, should we get the thoughts of former chief of the air staff sir michael graydon ? sir sir michael graydon? sir michael, thank you very much for joining us. is this music to your ears to see that keir starmer is talking about the nuclear deterrent being the bedrock of his defence policy? >> well, i think it'll be music to everybody's ears, certainly in the armed forces. to everybody's ears, certainly in the armed forces . and for in the armed forces. and for those who served in the armed forces, because the armed forces have been suffering, basically, salami sliced for about 20 odd years. and the current budget , years. and the current budget, given the circumstances that we face in the world today , is face in the world today, is insufficient to do the job, how much can we take? >> what sir keir starmer is saying now at face value? because it does seem like it is a remarkable about turn from the position of the labour party at the last general election , the last general election, jeremy corbyn famously saying that he wouldn't ever use the

nuclear deterrent so was opposed to trident. all of his life. wanted a for minister disarmament in the shadow cabinet that was all the sort of era of the corbyn leadership. but also keir starmer himself. before he was involved in the shadow cabinet as a backbench mp, he had a record of voting against, airstrikes in syria, to defeat isis, he's someone who has been on the sort of pacifist side of the labour party in the past at well, i remember michael foot , past at well, i remember michael foot, michael past at well, i remember michael foot , michael foot was foot, michael foot was anti—nuclear and pretty anti defence. but when labour got in power it was very different. so i think you know, these things happen. >> people say things for leaders later michael . later michael. >> yes. >> yes. >> but . i >> yes. >> but. i think you need to recognise that actually labour

has a better record of supporting the armed forces and the conservatives. do i watched a film the other night which was called the matter of life and death, and it reminded me of something always thought , something i've always thought, in which david niven, who was a pilot who had escaped death, was asked by some aethereal person what his politics were . and he what his politics were. and he said, well, i'm politics, my politics. i support the conservatives by instinct. but labour by experience. and i think there's quite a lot in that. and if you ask most serving people today, they will say the same thing, talk, say much the same thing, talk, very good talk by conservatives over the years. but when you actually look at it, you'll find that labour has done just as well for the armed forces, if not better than the conservatives. i don't think not better than the conzwant ives. i don't think not better than the conzwant to�*s. i don't think not better than the conzwant to wave i don't think not better than the conzwant to wave that1't think not better than the conzwant to wave that raghink not better than the conzwant to wave that rag too you want to wave that rag too much at the labour party. let's look problem and let's look at the problem and let's deal with it as a nation. and the fact that keir starmer is now for it and the now signing up for it and the

nuclear i think is nuclear deterrent, i think is good news to be welcomed by all. >> wasn't the labour party in charge we were sending ill charge when we were sending ill equipped to fight equipped servicemen out to fight for country in iraq and for this country in iraq and afghanistan on equipment that hadnt afghanistan on equipment that hadn't been rated properly , that hadn't been rated properly, that was without adequate supply . was without adequate supply. this is not an unblemished record , and we have to remember record, and we have to remember that the lead time on equipment in particular is about ten years. >> so you have an idea. you put it there, you put it to the politicians and somebody treasury immediately try and stop it. and then you move on and you'll actually get it in, in place. and a more complicated it is. the more high technology it is. the more high technology it is, the more difficult it is to get it in place on time and on cost, as i'm sure you're well aware. so the fact that, people were ill equipped in 2005 or whatever we're talking about, it could probably push that back to quite a long time before, when

the money wasn't available , to the money wasn't available, to put it in place in time to really get it up in front of people. so i don't think one wants to play politics on this. the important thing is for the nafion the important thing is for the nation to recognise that it's a very difficult world. you know, that you only have to look at europe, you look at the middle east, you look at the far east. there isn't a continent where there pretty there isn't something pretty awful we have not awful happening. and we have not been we have not been actually addressing these problems very well until ukraine. now we are . well until ukraine. now we are. and the fact that both the lead party conservatives currently and labour, are signing up to an increase in defence spending. i welcome and i think the whole of the armed forces do so michael 2.5% of gdp on defence. >> is that enough ? do you like >> is that enough? do you like the measure of gdp? we talk about the percentage of gdp. of course, that can go up and down. is that a good way of doing things? >> well, it's the traditional way of doing things. no, i don't like it. because it can go up

and down, i would like to see and down, i would like to see and i'm sure all my old colleagues would like to see in the current ones, too, a recognition of what is needed to give us the right defence and to stick to it and not play the game on gdp . game on gdp. >> well, thank you very much indeed. great to speak to you, sir. michael graydon, former chief of the air staff. interesting yeah, maybe better on defence. >> oh, quite possibly , although >> oh, quite possibly, although we still haven't seen. they've said when resources allow . so. said when resources allow. so. yes, 2.5% grand ambition. both parties match that now but they're not going to spend it until resources allow . what does until resources allow. what does that mean. >> well it might have to do with the are rather stagnant economy. today's gdp figures . well they today's gdp figures. well they show a staggering 0.1% growth. does this go far enough to fix britain's crumbling economy ? i britain's crumbling economy? i mean it is better than nothing. it's better than zero.

>> now, here's a good news story for you . well, depending on your for you. well, depending on your perspective, the united kingdom economy grew by nought point 1% in february. that's according to the office for national statistics this, it suggests, signs that britain creeping signs that britain is creeping slowly out of recession and could well turned could well have turned the corner january . corner in january. >> there's a question mark, though, isn't there, about whether we ever were in proper recession. >> so i think we actually were, because there have been some revised statistics from december for, in particular in december was the real low one that dragged down the final quarter of last year . dragged down the final quarter of last year. but it does seem well. we had growth in january. we've now had growth and that growth has been uprated. and now growth has been uprated. and now growth february . if we have growth in february. if we have growth in february. if we have growth in february. if we have growth in march as well, that will be confirmation where we

were out of recession. of course, march have course, march could have a massive crash and be a third quarter overall negative quarter of overall negative growth, it seems unlikely. growth, but it seems unlikely. >> the chancellor, jeremy >> well, the chancellor, jeremy hunt, a victory hunt, is he doing a victory lap? well, today that well, he's said today that the figures is figures show the economy is turning a corner. yes. he's very sensible . he doesn't like to go sensible. he doesn't like to go over the top with celebrations. >> no, but the shadow chancellor, rachel reeves, says that is a sign of that low growth is a sign of conservative economic failure. >> well, it's certainly not something to celebrate. joining us now is justin urquhart. stewart economist and co—founder of regionally , justin, what's of regionally, justin, what's your assessment of these growth figures? should we be popping the champagne if we can afford it? >> well, i wouldn't get a very big bottle of champagne for this one. in 0.1. big bottle of champagne for this one it's in 0.1. big bottle of champagne for this one it's pretty1. big bottle of champagne for this one it's pretty close to nought. >> it's pretty close to nought. >> it's pretty close to nought. >> but on the other hand, don't be about it. be too negative about it. >> least it's growth may not >> at least it's growth may not be wildly significant. >> at least it's growth may not be youly significant. >> at least it's growth may not be you think1ificant. >> at least it's growth may not be you think whatlt. >> at least it's growth may not be you think what the global >> you think what the global economy's right? >> you think what the global eco the y's right? >> you think what the global eco the way right? >> you think what the global eco the way back right? >> you think what the global eco the way back the ght? >> you think what the global eco the way back the banking >> the way back from the banking crisis what to go with crisis, what we had to go with covid those elements, covid and all those elements, let the issues we had with let alone the issues we had with regard to inflation coming

through . through. >> and yet, you know, we look at that figure now, you're seeing some occurring. some growth actually occurring. >> it going >> the question is, is it going to be enough to give people that vital element of confidence to actually do some more investing, to actually more people to actually employ more people or go out and spend more? and thatis or go out and spend more? and that is the bit we don't know yet. >> i suppose hinges >> i suppose it all hinges on next figures in terms of next month's figures in terms of whether we're formally out of recession . recession. >> well, you're absolutely right, because in terms of you were talking just now about these revised and these figures being revised and quite these just quite a lot often these are just rounding . i'm 0.1% is rounding elements. i'm 0.1% is frankly, nought, the element we've got to try and see here. >> and it's not always helped by the bank england's forecast >> and it's not always helped by the banwhich ngland's forecast >> and it's not always helped by the banwhich nglsomewhereast saying, which is somewhere between and between a ouija board and a divining twigs, as i'll say, looking in their crystal balls, which in fact i think was one of the nicknames they used to have, trying idea as trying to give us some idea as to economy is going to where the economy is going and i'm afraid at the moment they really don't have much of a clue which they can give us something to work on. >> we should looking at >> what we should be looking at is actually what's happening in the much more

the states, which is much more encouraging because the global economy actually america dependent on actually america growing and also china as well. that not so well known capitalist society, not, but that too, i find actually a bit more encouraging overall, but the issue we'd love to see is interest rates coming down. well actually, that may well be delayed for the time being because there are some other inflationary pressures lurking around corner . so we mustn't around the corner. so we mustn't be too enthusiastic over this . be too enthusiastic over this. >> well, disappointing to some, although not to savers. >> and i guess why is it that it looks like those interest rate cuts that we're all expecting that the markets are expecting? why is it that they now look delayed . this is this is a lot delayed. this is this is a lot to do with what's going on in the united states. >> are you absolutely right. and it's really saying, it's the issue really of saying, you is this economy going you know, is this economy going to have a gentle landing? and the answer is yes, but there are issues going with regard to supply chain difficulties. i mean, what happened. we had mean, look what happened. we had the issue with the red sea and

the issue with the red sea and the concern over what's happening in the middle east and of course, ukraine as well. those are all upsetting parts of the supply chain. justin we saw this before. >> supply chain gets torn getting in order. getting our house in order. suddenly the americans have a bit higher inflation than they were expecting. the middle east kicks now what kicks off and now what are we getting? delayed rate cuts. >> well actually that all the more therefore to take more reason. therefore to take some confidence. and the fact it's 0.1% if despite all the difficulty we've had, it is positive but you know quite likely revised. but take likely to be revised. but take the longer terms picture as to what's happening. we've been through a very bad patch. it's now showing signs of recovery, not as enthusiastic not quite as enthusiastic as chancellor not quite as enthusiastic as chancello but nonetheless , there moment, but nonetheless, there is something positive to hang on to. but the economy is still suffering from that lack of confidence. there's a lot the government could do, not in terms spending terms of spending money, but encouraging way of encouraging people by way of incentives to actually be starting new businesses, getting more money those growth more money into those growth businesses. lot businesses. and we've got a lot of particularly in the

of them, particularly in the tech area, but we're very bad at funding them. >> well, justin, do you think the labour party understand the role boosting role of incentives in boosting the very the economy? i mean, it's very easy reeves easy for rachel reeves the shadow is shadow chancellor to say this is all of conservative all a sign of conservative failure. but there have they given you any idea that things will be rosier, that they'll transform our economy into a high growth with perhaps even 2% gdp growth? >> they haven't come to ask me about it. but then again, that doesn't me. but doesn't really surprise me. but more point they'll be more to the point is they'll be just merely picking up what they think the holes are in the conservative policy, and it remains what the remains to be seen what the ideas are. now, what concerns me with both sides is there seems to little experience of to be very little experience of real company understanding. company finances, and what companies need to try and grow merely just giving out tax incentives for things. that's not going enough . you not going to be enough. you really want to be able to make sure that there is actually support there to, in terms of tax, sure there's tax, making sure that there's more investment that tax, making sure that there's morcan/estment that tax, making sure that there's morcan get�*nent that tax, making sure that there's morcan get actually that tax, making sure that there's morcan get actually money1at tax, making sure that there's morcan get actually money back you can get actually money back for that , and also encouraging for that, and also encouraging more investors to come through. we've no shortage of money.

we've got no shortage of money. all those pension fund money is being invested all around the world. well actually some of that could be focused much more in uk. bringing that in the uk. and bringing that back , not because necessarily back, not because necessarily it's greatest investment back, not because necessarily it's butreatest investment back, not because necessarily it's but actually1vestment back, not because necessarily it's but actually look �*nent back, not because necessarily it's but actually look �*ne those ever, but actually look at those countries or those regional areas britain they've countries or those regional areitech britain they've countries or those regional areitech companies they've countries or those regional areitech companies tryingy've countries or those regional areitech companies trying toe got tech companies trying to develop, not getting got tech companies trying to devfunding not getting got tech companies trying to devfunding coming not getting got tech companies trying to dev funding coming through,ing got tech companies trying to devfunding coming through, not the funding coming through, not government money, money. government money, private money. so extending . it so we're actually extending. it to things like not just enterprise investment schemes. why not regional enterprise investment schemes. so actually getting money if you want getting more money if you want to levelling those areas. >> yes. well suppose the money >> yes. well i suppose the money has something has to have something to go into. if we our into. and if we have our sclerotic system of counting into. and if we have our sclerotinsteadm of counting into. and if we have our sclerotinstead of of counting into. and if we have our sclerotinstead of building�*ng into. and if we have our sclerotinstead of building things newts instead of building things , then perhaps that that money just for other just will will look for other places to go. i do want to ask you, however , about one of the you, however, about one of the other things that's been slightly underreported today. not just today's growth of 0.1, but last month's growth in january being uprated to nought point three. i mean, this is quite exciting .

quite exciting. >> that's not a rounding error, surely. >> yeah, that's actually much more encouraging. this i say look at a longer picture after the revisions and it looks more positive. so, know, again positive. so, you know, again that a little bit more that gives you a little bit more confidence what's going that gives you a little bit more confide|what what's going that gives you a little bit more confide|what it what's going that gives you a little bit more confide|what it does|t's going that gives you a little bit more confide|what it does also oing that gives you a little bit more confide|what it does also show on. but what it does also show is rather very is how actually rather not very good forecasting good are our forecasting figures, and that's where the bank has to bank of england, frankly has to catch . and we've had ben catch up. and we've had ben bernanke today, the ex head of the fed in the states, completing of how the completing a review of how the bank of england does its forecasts. frankly, was forecasts. and frankly, he was very rightly, very critical, quite rightly, some of our software appears to be no be somewhat out of date, no doubt probably getting doubt they're probably getting around early parts around to the early, early parts of developments. of microsoft and developments. no time to actually wake this up a bit. need the bank of a bit. we need the bank of england actually on the front foot here with real indicators as to what we can rely on as opposed to a group of individuals sitting around giving a vague idea giving us a vague idea with their air to their fingers in the air as to what's going to happening. what's going to be happening. that's not enough. that's not good enough. >> front foot. >> england on the front foot. that thank you that would be nice. thank you very justin very much indeed. justin urquhart stewart always fantastic economist and co—founder of regionally. you

know, written in know, someone's written in saying you two are always doom and gloom. kids of today are not children. maybe. look, they're young, nice. keep my skin nice. >> keep your skin nice. stay out of the sun. >> wear sun cream. i know, i think there quite a lot to be think there is quite a lot to be positive about. think there is quite a lot to be posyes, about. think there is quite a lot to be posyes, aimay not be the growth >> yes, it may not be the growth we see, but , >> yes, it may not be the growth we see, but, going in >> yes, it may not be the growth we right see, but, going in >> yes, it may not be the growth we right direction.t , going in the right direction. >> maths. >> let's do some maths. >> let's do some maths. >> on >> go on then. >> go on then. >> nought point three in january. yeah. 0.1 in february. yeah. you need is 0.1 in yeah. all you need is 0.1 in march. and that's 0.5 for the quarter. what's four times 0.52. that's 2% growth. >> and two is something that looks has looked out of reach. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> but if we if we continue this trend that could be 2% growth for this year. it could even be slightly higher than 2% growth for you if you for this year. if you if you annualise and let's hope positive. >> hope capita positive. » hope positive. >> hope capita . it's, >> let's hope per capita. it's, up a bit too. that would be nice. >> that's always the catch isn't it? >> that'd be nice. people's quality of life getting better. well much more to discuss. quality of life getting better. weicoming more to discuss. quality of life getting better. weicoming up,e to discuss. quality of life getting better. weicoming up, we'lliiscuss.

quality of life getting better. weicoming up, we'll be jss. >> coming up, we'll be discussing cleaners at a discussing how cleaners at a shopping in kent shopping centre in kent are being at being forced now. or offered at least vests part least to wear stab vests as part of uniform . of their uniform. >> good grief. >> good grief. >> well, that's after your headunes >> well, that's after your headlines with sam. >> very good afternoon from the newsroom. just coming up to 2:33. a recap of the headlines this afternoon . sir keir starmer this afternoon. sir keir starmer says he's confident that angela rayner has not broken any rules after manchester police after greater manchester police launched an investigation over her tax affairs . it's over the her tax affairs. it's over the sale of her council house in stockport a decade ago, questions have been asked about whether she paid the right amount of tax and if it was her main home. angela rayner has denied any wrongdoing. the labour leader, though , says that labour leader, though, says that the investigation will reveal the facts. >> we welcome this investigation because it will allow a line to because it will allow a line to be drawn in relation to this matter. i am fully confident

that angela rayner has not broken the rules . she will broken the rules. she will cooperate with the investigation as would it's as you would expect, and it's really the police. really a matter for the police. >> the former managing director of post office has admitted of the post office has admitted he should have known that there was a deliberate plan to use charges theft as what's charges of theft as what's been described sledgehammer to described as a sledgehammer to crush subpostmasters into submission. speaker at the horizon inquiry alan cook, also admitted he didn't know the organisation was itself prosecuting subpostmasters in about two thirds of cases. it comes documents revealed comes as new documents revealed that mr cook had suggested an that mr cook had suggested in an email sub postmasters, he email that sub postmasters, he said, chose to blame technology when short cash . when they were short for cash. sir keir starmer has committed to boosting the uk's defence budget to 2.5% if he becomes prime minister, matching the current government's target. the labour leader is visiting a shipyard in barrow in furness where nuclear submarines are being built. he says. britain's nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of labour's plan to keep the

country safe, and said party country safe, and said his party was what called was making what he called a generational commitment to defence and gatwick has been ranked britain's worst airport for delays . data the for flight delays. data from the civil authority showed civil aviation authority showed departures 27 departures were nearly 27 minutes behind schedule on average in 2023. luton airport had the second poorest record, with an average delay of almost 23 minutes, in third place 23 minutes, and in third place was manchester at almost 22 minutes. that's the latest from the newsroom . more in the next the newsroom. more in the next half hour. until then, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen, or go to gbnews.com. alerts .

>> good afternoon. britain. it's 2:38. now. we've been talking about farms and snails and

species . why? because there's species. why? because there's a new advert out from the rspca which is comparing farming cattle with stamping on snails . cattle with stamping on snails. >> yes. i guess the idea of the advert is to encourage us all to look after all animals, regardless of how small they may be, regardless of , what species be, regardless of, what species they may be or how much of a brain they have. >> personally, i think i think i place cows higher up on the sentience ladder than i do snails. you know, tom's doing this evening. >> he's going to write his little hierarchy of animals. >> i thought you were about to say he's going to get on the next paris and eat next eurostar to paris and eat some next eurostar to paris and eat sonwell, mean, you know, >> well, i mean, you know, snails delicacy , mark says snails are a delicacy, mark says cattle are not the cattle and snails are not the same. if you want to eat a butter garlic smothered butter and garlic smothered snail , you do butter and garlic smothered snail, you do not stamp on it. you nurture that's very you nurture it. that's very true. you can't stamp on a snail and then eat it, richard says,

where the rspca when where were the rspca when animals being slaughtered where were the rspca when anithe s being slaughtered where were the rspca when anithe government| slaughtered where were the rspca when anithe government to aughtered where were the rspca when anithe government to appeased where were the rspca when anithe government to appease the by the government to appease the french during the foot and mouth outbreak? 20 odd years ago? that was very sad. >> gosh, we're always banging on about the french, aren't we? >> yeah, well, mean, it was a >> yeah, well, i mean, it was a terrible for british farming. >> w— >> you know, i like this one from stephen. says human from stephen. he says human beings better beings think they are better than some other species because their them to their egos hardwire them to think beings are their egos hardwire them to thi evil beings are their egos hardwire them to thievil and beings are their egos hardwire them to thievil and wicked beings are their egos hardwire them to thi evil and wicked that)eings are their egos hardwire them to thi evil and wicked that theys are their egos hardwire them to thi evil and wicked that they area so evil and wicked that they are actually to other actually inferior to some other species. piano, actually inferior to some other spe like we're horrible and evil and we treat other animals. are we going to apply that to every animal? >> i mean, every animal has the same sort of quest, right? i mean, animals attack animals. they want to sort of be dominant in their own sphere . i mean, in their own sphere. i mean, should we reduce it from a slug? should we say a flea? should we

say a mosquito? i have i have absolutely no moral qualm with whapping my hand . whapping a mosquito on my hand. not a single thought rushes through my mind about whether this is a nasty or mean does. does some people genuinely feel bad if they do , yes, they bad if they do, yes, they actually do. >> including, a certain gb news presenter patrick christys he won't hurt a fly. no, he will not hurt a fly. >> what about a mosquito? >> what about a mosquito? >> no , he doesn't want to kill >> no, he doesn't want to kill any animals. genuinely. i have to do it. >> i am surprised i would have thought that mr macho patrick christys patrick christys himself from patrick christys himself from patrick christys 9 to 11 on christys tonight, 9 to 11 on monday friday. monday to friday. >> here to defend >> i'm not here to defend himself. >> surprised it's . i'm >> i'm surprised that it's. i'm just imagining now in your house. >> whereas i'm brutal as vicious when, when there's a little mouse that's running around . mouse that's running around. >> patrick standing on a chair going, emily! emily, help! well i'll not i won't say anything else because i don't want to upset anyone. >> but yes, clearly i take a more, direct approach to pests.

>> patrick is not here to defend himself, i think that what we've heard is not listening is slander, is libel. and i'm sure , slander, is libel. and i'm sure, emily will be hearing from patrick's lawyers. now, cleaners at a shopping centre in kent are being asked to change. just a slight one. cleaners at a shopping centre in kent are being offered stab vests as part of their uniforms. >> yes. this comes as staff at boots and greggs have also been given body cameras and panic buttons. >> while these measures have been taken due to a surge of attacks on workers in the retail industry, this is truly shocking i >> joining us lam >> joining us is former met police detective peter bleksley. i mean, to hear the headlines that even cleaners now at shopping centres are being offered stab vests to presumably avoid attack. well, not to avoid attack, but if they are attacked to save their lives. what have we come to exactly ? we come to exactly? >> that's the question, isn't it, that this whole story begs what has this once great nation come to? how much of a threat is

a cleaner going to be to anybody as they tidy up the mess that lazy others leave behind? it is truly astonishing. but of course it's just a progression . and it's just a progression. and this really the rot with regards to retail crime started around about 2014 when the police, crime, sentencing and courts bill got passed and in that bill was a bill that said any shoplifting under £250 could not go to the higher courts. in other words, could not go to the crown court. so what the police then decided to interpret that as was basically, well , any as was basically, well, any shoplifting beneath £250. we won't really worry about. and consequently there has been a drip, drip, drip of a lack of kind of authority on the streets , a lack of respect for shopkeepers and a consequent

huge, huge, enormous increase in shoplifting and assaults on retail staff. peter, that's appalling. >> do you blame the politicians for writing this legislation? although i suppose the bill didn't say don't prosecute this. it just said don't do it in this particular court. do it in in lower courts . is it the problem lower courts. is it the problem of the politicians who passed that or the police who interpreted it primarily? >> i blame the police. they of course well , this came course will say, well, this came in the midst of the decade of austerity , and we had huge cuts austerity, and we had huge cuts to police numbers , and we had to to police numbers, and we had to deploy our resources elsewhere . deploy our resources elsewhere. well, you know what? you reap what you sow if you leave, what some may recall, some may regard as minor crimes. some may recall, some may regard as minor crimes . and believe you as minor crimes. and believe you me, shoplifting is not a minor crime . if you're a one me, shoplifting is not a minor crime. if you're a one man, me, shoplifting is not a minor crime . if you're a one man, one crime. if you're a one man, one person band trying to run that local retail outlet, it is not a minor crime. when you turn your

backs on that , when you turn backs on that, when you turn your backs on the shopkeepers, whether they be corner shop or multinational corporation , this multinational corporation, this is what you get. increased lawlessness . and it goes way lawlessness. and it goes way beyond shoplifting. now because the police have surrendered the streets and consequently the criminals are in charge. and this and other violent crime is on the increase. >> yeah, as you say, because of this, whether you're a cleaner, a bus driver , a shopkeeper, any a bus driver, a shopkeeper, any job really, you can potentially be at risk if you're out with the public. >> undoubtedly, we're all a bit more at risk now because policing abandoned the streets. i've given you the their excuses earlier on, but now is a different landscape . yes, there different landscape. yes, there are still problems with retaining police officers and recruiting them, but now surely has to be the time when policing, in one way or another decides that it will regain the streets for the benefit of us

all. >> well, let's hope it does. peter bleksley former met police detective really appreciate your time on this, very concerning issue. >> can't go soft on the small crimes. yeah, otherwise , it's. crimes. yeah, otherwise, it's. you know, we talk about gateway drugs. i mean, it's a bit of a gateway drug when it comes to crime, isn't it? with crime, isn't it? start with small up the scale. small move up the scale. >> always same. it's >> it's always the same. it's a small proportion of people who do such a large proportion of the crime. yeah. it's, it's a conundrum . but don't go anywhere conundrum. but don't go anywhere because next we'll be discussing how well that new scottish hate crime law. well just how well is it getting on

well, it's 249. and how are the new scottish hate crime laws are getting on? >> well, that so well, that call handlers are dealing with

incidents that have been given a script. yes a script defending the first minister. humza yousaf. >> yes. this is an interesting one, because essentially they've been inundated, police scotland with so many complaints about humza yousaf and that infamous speech he gave, it was a really quite radical speech . quite radical speech. >> he went through a number of senior positions in scottish society and said the, very he went, he went, he went position white, position white. lots of people have reported that speech, but, so many so that there's now a script . but police there's now a script. but police scotland staff have, have issued this script. they've been talking, they've been giving this script to their employees in order to handle all of these requests, to handle all of these requests. >> now, i believe we will be joined by a comedian to discuss this. i believe it is. josh

howie. thank you very much indeed for joining howie. thank you very much indeed forjoining us. great to indeed for joining us. great to speak to you. i mean, this is farcical, isn't it, there's been so much criticism about these hate crime laws . and now humza hate crime laws. and now humza yousaf, the architect of the law itself, has been well inundated with complaints . the police with complaints. the police scotland have anyway. so much so that they've had to , write out a that they've had to, write out a little script for all of the individual police officers to read off. >> yeah. as if their job wasn't hard enough, as it is. but of course, you know, he he sort of wrote this off. humza yousaf said, oh, it's everybody's far right. >> every single person as opposed to, scottish people just having a good sense of humour and showing that if you live by the sword, you're going to die by the sword. >> i don't know if that was william wallace who that, william wallace who said that, but that law but the point is that this law has backfired . they has backfired. they have, i think, 7000 complaints in a week. more more, more crime supposedly committed than actual crimes that the police are having to spend all their

resources dealing with. i think then they whittled it down to 230 supposed complaints that are worth looking into. >> and they've kind of said that that's a victory. they're like, oh, there were 230 of oh, look, there were 230 of these incidents that these real incidents that happened. even then they're these real incidents that hap|reports. even then they're these real incidents that hap|reports. they're then they're these real incidents that hap|reports. they're notn they're these real incidents that hap|reports. they're not actualre just reports. they're not actual evidence of any hate at all. and i noted that this week, one of the things that they didn't accept a swastika , shaped as accept was a swastika, shaped as accept was a swastika, shaped as a star of david, which is incredible, holocaust inversion and disgusting. and they wouldn't take that one on board as hate speech. but of course, humza yousaf, saying that scotland is basically a 96% white country, that is you know, that's totally fine. >> it's very, very odd because, i mean, we can talk about the particulars of any case of hate, but like, frankly, is this what the police should be doing talking about? i there talking about? i mean, there is a case even if there is a case to say, even if there is hateful speech, should that really be illegal? can't we as society work through to sort of shun people who say hateful

things rather than getting a knock on the door from police scotland? >> point ? >> point? >> point? >> yeah, well, that's how it was donein >> yeah, well, that's how it was done in the past. and the point is that there are crimes and when someone commits a crime and incite to violence, for example, being one of them, those are already covered in the laws. so this is just showcasing its virtue signalling. it's a waste of everybody's time. and i think regular people in scotland know that they've had enough of the snp and this is their way of fighting back, of protesting and showing that really if you're going to create these laws, then they can be turned on anybody. and in this case, humza yousaf, the guy who actually came up with them. so it was a it was a way of showing that. but of course means it's course it also means it's a massive of, police time. massive waste of, police time. and they've got this script and now they've got this script that they have read. i just, that they have to read. i just, i sorry for the i just feel sorry for the scottish people having to scottish police people having to sort stuff out. sort of read this stuff out. >> this script ? >> josh, this the script? >> josh, this the script? >> no, it's script is quite >> no, it's the script is quite interesting yes police

interesting because. yes police scotland have issued a guide on a form of words to recite when members of the public complain about the first minister under these that mr these new laws, states that mr yousaf had been making reference to his own personal experience of racism , and that nothing of racism, and that nothing said in was threatening, in the speech was threatening, abusive . it adds abusive or insulting. it adds that when he was referring to white people, he had simply been pointing a matter fact , pointing out a matter of fact, very educational. yeah yeah. >> well, actually, i think that's offensive because he's what he's saying about his own experience of racism is that he was in a room where he where everybody else was white, that that's racist. right? like like that's racist. right? like like that. that's racist. right? like like that . that's ridiculous that's racist. right? like like that. that's ridiculous thing to say that that because he was he was the his only ethnicity in a room that somehow that that in itself is somehow racist. so of course people should be offended about it. i think they're obviously making a point. i don't think people like genuinely. i know some don't think people like genuin

the hypocrisy. and, look, everybody's a hypocrite. but when trying to pretend when you're trying to pretend that you're worthier thou that you're worthier than thou and examples and actually there are examples that could easily be used against you, then of course, the whole thing gets shown to be moot ridiculous waste moot and ridiculous and a waste of well, what a good way to sum >> well, what a good way to sum it all up. >> josh howie, you very >> josh howie, thank you very much us through much for talking us through a very state affairs very peculiar state of affairs north border. let's hope north of the border. let's hope they locking too they don't start locking up too many comedians. >> be annoyed >> you'd be well annoyed if you received the received that response from the police, received that response from the polwell, up next, it's >> well, coming up next, it's martin daubney, so don't go anywhere . anywhere. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello again. here's your latest gb news weather update in association with the met office . association with the met office. looking ahead to the weekend and it's going to turn fresher with showers of us. but for showers for many of us. but for the it's still warm the time being, it's still warm and largely settled across southern areas due to high pressure here, a different story

further north, frontal systems pushing through , bringing the pushing through, bringing the focus for some outbreaks of rain and be heavy at and the rain could be heavy at times across parts of scotland overnight, and watch out for overnight, and do watch out for some gusty winds towards some strong, gusty winds towards the a drier the north—west. two a drier further some further south, though some murkiness, some low cloud, some coastal develop around coastal fog could develop around engush coastal fog could develop around english channel coast. it's not going to be a chilly night, temperatures generally holding up in high figures up in high single figures or double digits in some towns and cities as we go through tomorrow. then any mr murk towards far south should towards the far south should clear quickly , and in clear away quite quickly, and in the southeast it's actually going to stay largely fine through a big chunk of the day across northern and western parts wales , the parts of england and wales, the cloud some outbreaks parts of england and wales, the cl( rain some outbreaks parts of england and wales, the cl( rain more some outbreaks parts of england and wales, the cl(rain more unsettled outbreaks parts of england and wales, the cl(rain more unsettled acrossaks of rain more unsettled across parts of northern ireland and in particular scotland. heavy particular scotland. some heavy downpours possible and some strong times. strong gusty winds. at times. temperatures still above average for the time of year, not for the time of year, though not quite seen quite as high as we've seen today. as we look towards sunday, to be a sunday, it's going to be a fresher day for all of us. plenty of showers towards the northwest . some of them could be northwest. some of them could be heavy, some thunder and

heavy, could be some thunder and hail a drier picture heavy, could be some thunder and hail the a drier picture heavy, could be some thunder and hail the southeast, picture heavy, could be some thunder and hail the southeast, but ure heavy, could be some thunder and hail the southeast, but into towards the southeast, but into the part of next week, the the early part of next week, the showers are going to become more widespread and it is going to feel markedly fresher than it has late. that's it for has done of late. that's it for me. i'll you soon. me. i'll see you again soon. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt sponsors of weather boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> a very good afternoon to you. ihope >> a very good afternoon to you. i hope you're having a glorious fri day. >> friday. >> it's 3 pm. and welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news. broadcasting live from the heart westminster. all across heart of westminster. all across the uk. on today's show, greater manchester police are formally investigating angela rayner over the sale of a council house. while the labour party denied any wrongdoing, the timing couldn't be any worse for sir keir starmer because today the labour leader has gone nuclear on defence, promising to spend

2.5% of gdp. and while sir keir is positioning labour as a blair style government in waiting , style government in waiting, will rayner rain on his parade and not to be outgunned on defence today, the prime minister, rishi sunak , met on minister, rishi sunak, met on forces veterans and pledged 11. £2 million to fast track vets into well—paid work. but is this too little, too late? and locals in portland are fuming because asylum seekers on the bibby stockholm sail past them on luxury coaches into town , while luxury coaches into town, while they have to make do with an almost non—existent bus service. and that's all coming up in your next hour. welcome to the show. always an absolute pleasure to have your company. angela rayner was meant to be the labour party's greatest asset, a working class lass who knew how to get in touch with the

commoner . to get in touch with the commoner. people like me, probably.