echoing that message. so i'm asking you tonight what, if anything, should the uk response be to the situation with iran and israel? also, the child prosperity plan has been released. i'm asking you, how do we stop child poverty in the uk? some people are suggesting that the two child cap on child benefit should be removed. do you agree with that? what should it lifted to then? i don't it be lifted to then? i don't know three, four, five, six you know, infinity . you tell me. know, infinity. you tell me. also liz truss, memoirs are also liz truss, her memoirs are about to be released. your thoughts on her, please. i can tell you now my panel completely differently. disagree do you

think she's had a good impact on politics or not? that's all to come . yes, indeed. i want to get come. yes, indeed. i want to get stuck into all of that and more. but before i do, let's cross live to polly middlehurst for tonight's latest news headlines. as . as. >> michelle, thank you and good evening to you. well, the top story tonight is that the prime minister says he will be urgently talking to his israeli counterpart to show restraint on the part of israel following iran's drone and missile attack. rishi sunak told the house of commons that he's going to be speaking to benjamin netanyahu later on to reiterate the later on today. to reiterate the uk's solidarity with the country, and also to discuss how to prevent an escalation of violence in the middle east. the prime minister saying iran is committed to chaos. >> mr speaker, with this attack , >> mr speaker, with this attack, iran has once again shown its true colours . they are intent on

true colours. they are intent on sowing chaos in their own backyard on further destabilising the middle east. our aim is to support stability and security because it is right for the region and because although the middle east is thousands of miles away, it has a direct effect on our security and prosperity at home. so we are working urgently with our allies to de—escalate the situation and prevent further bloodshed . bloodshed. >> well, the prime minister's words were echoed by the labour leader, sir keir starmer , the leader, sir keir starmer, the speaker there can be no doubt that the attack perpetrated by iranian forces this weekend has left the world a more dangerous place . place. >> it targeted innocent civilians with a clear intent to destabilise the region . it must destabilise the region. it must be wholly condemned by all. but, mr speaker, let us also be clear a full scale conflict in the middle east is in no one's

interest . interest. >> well, in other news, today, 534 migrants were intercepted while crossing the english channel yesterday. that makes it the highest number of crossings on a single day so far this year . it also means the number of small boat arrivals this year now stands at a provisional total of 6265, and it comes as the government's flagship rwanda policy returns to parliament, with mps due to debate. the latest amendments by peers this evening . a judge today ordered evening. a judge today ordered prince harry to pay 90% of home office legal costs after losing a case over his personal security . the duke of sussex had security. the duke of sussex had argued the court should reduce the amount he was required to pay by the amount he was required to pay by more than half. he launched legal action against the home office for cutting his police protection , after he police protection, after he stopped being a full time working member of the royal family in the united states.

donald trump has lost his second bid to remove the judge in his so—called hush money criminal trial. he claimed the presiding judge had a conflict of interest because his daughter works for a political consulting firm with the democratic party . the former the democratic party. the former us president has been charged in connection with a case involving a payment to an adult film star arriving at court a little while ago, he described the start of the trial as an assault on america . this is political america. this is political persecution. >> this is a persecution like never before. nobody's ever seen anything like it. and again, it's a case that should have never been brought. it's an assault on america and staying in the united states. >> the fbi has confirmed it has opened a criminal investigation into the baltimore bridge collapse. six people were killed when a cargo ship lost power , when a cargo ship lost power, veered out of control and hit the structure last month,

causing it to collapse into the water below like a pack of cards. a spokesperson says. fbi agents have now been on board the vessel, and earlier the washington post suggested the investigation will be looking at whether or not the crew knew the ship had serious problems with its systems before it left port. here, two men have been jailed after cocaine was found hidden inside blocks of cheese. 270 i7kg. in fact, of the class a drug with a street value of around £17 million was seized dunng around £17 million was seized during a raid on a warehouse in lancashire last may. saleem chaudhry was sentenced to 27.5 years in prison after he admitted conspiracy to supply cocaine as well as money laundering, and rahil marhaba was also jailed for 16 years. a suspected tornado has ripped through a staffordshire village. roof tiles were dislodged,

windows smashed by flying debris and vehicles damaged as gale force winds hit knutton near stoke on trent. it happened in the early hours of this morning, affecting several properties there. saint giles road locally has been cordoned off by staffordshire fire and rescue as it works to make homes safe. unpredict weather we're having this april for the very latest stories do sign up to gb news alerts. scan the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. commonly . commonly. >> thanks for that, polly and michelle dewberry and i'm keeping you company until 7:00 tonight alongside my panel, i've got the director of popular conservatives, mark littlewood , conservatives, mark littlewood, and the broadcaster and journalist ella whelan. good evening to both of you. you're very welcome tonight. i've just actually realised that each and every us are in black, every one of us are in black, sombre times. yeah, if you're just tuned in, this is not, some

kind of screen funeral or something. unless of course, we're mourning the death of common sense, which actually we could do pretty much every single day, note to self, i'm going to dress tomorrow in a bright floral number. that's what to do, she says what i'm going to do, she says i'll change my mind as soon as i see the weather tomorrow. i'm absolutely you absolutely sure. anyway, you know, on this know, the drill on this programme. not just about know, the drill on this prcthree.ne. not just about know, the drill on this prcthree. it's not just about know, the drill on this prcthree. it's veryot just about know, the drill on this prcthree. it's very much about us three. it's very much about you guys at home as well. what's on your mind tonight? you can get touch with me the get in touch with me all the usual ways. and our new snazzy way. case you haven't way. in case you haven't already, to our already, you can go to our website, which is gbnews.com, and you go to and and then you go to slash and then your share. then it'll say your share. that's of at top left that's kind of at the top left of the screen, you can hit that button and you can join the conversation. of you on conversation. lots of you are on there already. been there already. i've just been reading it, many of you reading some of it, many of you commenting on a story. i'm going to to a bit later on in the to come to a bit later on in the programme, which about, child programme, which is about, child benefit not it benefit and whether or not it should capped at two should stay capped at two children not that children or whether or not that cap removed. and if cap should be removed. and if you removed, what's the you think removed, what's the limit then, there is one at limit then, if there is one at all? your thoughts on that? i

want to get into iran, in just a second before i do. ijust want to pick the story there in to pick up on the story there in the headlines. donald trump. just a quick reflection on from you, he says, by way, you, mark. he says, by the way, he's been politically persecuted. he's been politically persecu got a little bit of >> i've got a little bit of sympathy with that. look donald trump's a pretty hard man to warm to, i think. but but how many have we got against warm to, i think. but but how mannow? have we got against warm to, i think. but but how mannow? it ve we got against warm to, i think. but but how mannow? it overe got against warm to, i think. but but how man now? it over 90 )t against warm to, i think. but but how man now? it over 90 oragainst him now? is it over 90 or something. and worry is this something. and my worry is this are now experiencing what are we now experiencing what they call modern lawfare? that's to the law is longer to say that the law is no longer above and and above politics and neutral and trying to the truth. it's trying to get to the truth. it's used one political side to used by one political side to persecute political persecute another political side. know whether side. so i don't know whether donald done anything donald trump's done anything wrong, suspicious wrong, but i'm highly suspicious that his political opponents are using process to using the judicial process to try and knock him out. >> do want him to be the >> do you want him to be the next president? >> if the choice is him or biden, the devil or the deep blue the devil. blue sea, i'd pick the devil. >> whelan your thoughts. >> ella whelan your thoughts. >> ella whelan your thoughts. >> don't even a gun to >> i don't think even a gun to my head could make me pick between of them. but between the two of them. but i agree with mark that, you know, when these first when these cases were first announced, the sort of press release top lawyers release one of the top lawyers made a big deal out of the

capitol riots and the supposed threats to democracy, all of that which has got nothing to do with many of these cases and that sort of i think that was a glaring admission of saying this is political. it is about trying to trump down through the to bring trump down through the courts. terrible, courts. and it's a terrible, terrible , thing for democracy, terrible, thing for democracy, because, number one, will because, number one, it will only boost campaign , i only boost his campaign, i think. number two, it's, think. and number two, it's, as mark says, lawfare and mark says, kind of lawfare and a really undemocratic way of approaching politics, which is that somewhere else will that judges somewhere else will decide president decide who's the next president rather than american citizens. >> indeed. does it put you off trump? are you a supporter of trump? are you a supporter of trump? does it just make you more compelled to back him? could you care less? quite frankly , who the next us frankly, who the next us president is or not? you should do because we do seem to follow them like lap dogs. when it comes to our foreign policy sometimes, doesn't it? which leads nicely the story leads me nicely onto the story that to cover top of the that i want to cover top of the show today. many many of the front pages in this country. of course, leading with this i speak when course, leading with this i spcomes when course, leading with this i spcomes to when course, leading with this i spcomes to iran when course, leading with this i

spcomes to iran and when course, leading with this i spcomes to iran and israel. hen course, leading with this i spcomes to iran and israel. let it comes to iran and israel. let me cross live now to our home and security editor mark white. good evening to you, just good evening to you, mark. just in case have had other in case people have had other things to with their weekend things to do with their weekend as to following the as opposed to following the goings on in the middle east. can you just bring people up to speed what's actually speed with what's actually happened? please >> from iran to airstrikes that took place on the 1st of april against a compound found next to the iranian embassy in the syrian capital, damascus, which killed a number of top iranian generals. iran viewed that as a direct attack on its sovereign territory and vowed revenge. and we got that on saturday night in the form of hundreds of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones that were launched from iran towards israel. the vast majority, thankfully, were shot down before they even got towards israeli airspace , but this was

israeli airspace, but this was unprecedented the first time that iran has ever launched a direct attack on israel from its sovereign soil, of course, iran has been behind many attacks on israel over the years, but normally through its proxies in the region and that, you know, from the likes of southern lebanon or from gaza or from the yemen , has caused untold damage yemen, has caused untold damage to israel over the years. but this, as i say, is a departure. the first time that a direct attack was launched from iran on israel. >> and so tell me then, how was the uk? well, what was the response and how involved was the uk in that response? mark >> well, the uk was involved to a limited degree, we had combat jets in the form of typhoon, jets in the form of typhoon, jets that are part of operation shaden jets that are part of operation shader. now, you might remember that during the height of

islamic state daesh, the uk government calls them that terror group based out of syria and iraq . we set up operation and iraq. we set up operation shader along with the us and other allies. in other words, we were patrolling the airspace over iraq and syria. and still to this day , targeting to this day, targeting extremist, sites in that in those two countries, and as part of operation shader, the government , signalled and gave government, signalled and gave the permission to those patrols in that area that if these drones or missiles came into their area of responsibility, then they had the permission to shoot down these drones and missiles headed for israel. and they did that. we're told about a dozen drones were taken out by these typhoon aircraft . and now these typhoon aircraft. and now as a consequence of that as well, the uk has enhanced the number of combat jets sending more combat jets that would be

based out of cyprus along with supporting tanker aircraft. so a ratcheting up of the uk response here because there is the potential of course , for more potential of course, for more strikes to be launched if this situation escalates in the coming hours and days. >> i mean rishi sunak as well. he's been speaking in parliament about this today , mark, he says about this today, mark, he says our aim, the uk's aim is to support stability and security, because that is right for the region. and he goes on to say all of this has a direct effect on our security and our prosperity at home. i mean, absolutely it will if this escalates and we end up with some kind of regional war in the middle east. if anyone's tuning in and thinking, michelle, why are you talking about israel and iran? that affect life iran? how does that affect life in uk? it very much will in the uk? it very much will one's hurt. mark >> well, certainly hope from >> well, certainly the hope from western is that israel western allies is that israel will listen and that any response will be limited and something that iran can deal with and not lose face and feel

that it has to launch a very significant, missile and drone strike again at israel, significant, missile and drone strike again at israel , because strike again at israel, because then we are in very, very dangerous territory , a downward dangerous territory, a downward spiral to a regional conflict. and you're absolutely right, michelle, that a regional war would really have severe implications for people right here in the uk because it would, without doubt, push the oil price up the oil price already rose quite significantly in expectation of what was to happen at the weekend following that attack, though it hasn't risen. it's slightly reduced actually to, i think, $91 per barrel of crude oil. but if things were to deteriorate , the things were to deteriorate, the oil price would absolutely escalate and that would have a knock on effect on everything here. in terms of fuel prices that we have, the prices in the shops and alike as well. a lot

of the, difficult tis the sort of, the, the, the financial crisis that we had here, the cost of living crisis was driven by the hike in oil prices after the invasion of ukraine by russia. so some real concerns . russia. so some real concerns. you've got aviation as well, which of course is being badly impacted, commercial airlines that are having to reroute away from the most dangerous areas , from the most dangerous areas, that adds thousands of extra pounds to the cost of fuelling those aircraft. that, again, has an impact on ticket prices. >> interesting stuff. mark white, thank you for bringing everyone up to speed on that one. i've got to say, sometimes, you know, the goings on in the middle east, it can seem quite complicated and overwhelming. and i think that point there, that key point at the end that we're talking about here, this will very, very real will have very, very real impacts uk, on impacts on the uk, on everyone's, standard of life. we've touched on we've just been touched on

there, it's your price, there, whether it's your price, your pumps, whether your pay at the pumps, whether it's you're ultimately it's the price you're ultimately going for and all going to pay for food and all the rest it, what do you the rest of it, what do you think the should be doing, if think the uk should be doing, if anything, this situation? anything, in this situation? >> think moment the uk >> i think at the moment the uk is doing the right thing and you're right, michelle. you're quite right, michelle. i mean, a major conflict anywhere on has effects, on the globe has ripple effects, right across the globe. there might be 200 or so independent nations, we're nations, but we're all interlinked seems. far the interlinked it seems. so far the uk's involvement, whilst minimal, help uk's involvement, whilst minimthese help uk's involvement, whilst minimthese ballistic help uk's involvement, whilst minimthese ballistic missiles knock these ballistic missiles and out of the sky. and and drones out of the sky. and the fact that i think there was a success rate in a 99% plus success rate in stopping getting through in stopping them getting through in part, small part down to part, in small part down to british forces, probably helps this, you know, prevents this from escalating. let's hope so. because if we can both diplomatically and through the deployment of our military resources, prevent an escalation , well, good on us. and it's not just a good thing for mankind. it's good in our own interests as well, for the reasons that you've pointed out. you've just pointed out. >> indeed, ella, i agree with that. >> but i think there's a limit to understanding this simply as a of ensuring a sort of, way of ensuring

domestic sort of measures and protections. david cameron was all over the airwaves this morning talking about the fact that we should care about this because it puts shipping at risk. you're talking about the houthis, which is true, and it's an important point. but i actually think sunak was stronger in his speech where, you know, he said, we must ensure israel's security. that is non—negotiable , which is is non—negotiable, which is reminding , i is non—negotiable, which is reminding, i suppose the nation of really what's at stake here, which is it's not just a it's not just a bit like the ukraine, russia war. it's not just a matter of sort of keeping our fuel supplies running and sort of keeping the country ticking oven of keeping the country ticking over. there are big existential questions at play here about that, solidarity with national sovereignty about, for example, let's not forget that, you know, october 7 of the protection of jewish people against a death cult, an anti—semitic death cult, an anti—semitic death cult, all of this is relevant to us because it should be relevant

to us. we should care about, for example, what happens with the rise of islamist sentiments in the middle east? and, and actually, it's interesting yesterday, you know, after the events of the weekend , some top events of the weekend, some top israeli officials, the defence minister came out and said, well, why don't we have an international coalition if it you know, i think actually , who you know, i think actually, who knows? but i think it was surprising to a lot of people that there was such a coalition against these drone strikes. you had jordanian forces shooting down missiles. french, british, us . and, you know, israel has us. and, you know, israel has come out and said, well, why don't we formalise this in some kind of international coalition? now there's pros and cons to that. obviously, that might in itself entail some form of escalation, i think that escalation, but i think that there there is a sort of there is there is a sort of yeah, to back to the sort yeah, to come back to the sort of existential point there is a question about any future in which , islamist tendencies are which, islamist tendencies are allowed. hezbollah , iran, allowed. hamas, hezbollah, iran, the houthis are allowed to

continue to grow, in the middle east, or whether there should be some kind of international effort to ideologically oppose that and that that matters to us, not just because they're islamist attacks and threats here, but because we should care what happens on the world stage. >> well, yeah. and i want to come back to this in a second, there's also lots more i want to talk to you as well. how talk to you about as well. how do we prevent child poverty in this country, there's been suggestions this country, there's been suggelimits this country, there's been suggelimit on when the cap when child limit on when the cap when it comes to your child benefit, should that be removed or not? what that look like? what would that look like? what else be happening, lots else should be happening, lots of. i want to talk to you as well. liz truss her her book is imminently about to be released. i'll a simple question. i'll ask you a simple question. do think liz liz truss was do you think liz liz truss was a force for good when she was the prime minister for those 40 odd days or not? let's carry on the conversation in two. i'll see you then.

hello, everybody. i'm michelle dewberry till seven alongside me. my panel. i've got the director of popular conservatives, mark littlewood. and the broadcaster and journalist ella whelan. we were just talking about the situation with iran and israel and how involved the uk should be, if anything at all, you want to just come back in on this, mark, what was it you saying before the break? >> so, yeah, i mean, obviously everybody is urging restraint. very easy thing to say. and i'd echo that. everybody wants restraint so far it looks restraint and so far it looks like particularly the intervention president biden intervention of president biden has led to netanyahu israel has led to netanyahu in israel exercising some restraint. but i just ask ourselves this . my just ask ourselves this. my understanding of the numbers was that iran launched 300 drones and 100 ballistic missiles or thereabouts. yeah. if here in britain a foreign country launched 300 drones and 100 ballistic missiles at us, a near

neighbour and that country was committed to our evisceration , committed to our evisceration, how easy do you think it would be for us to exercise some restraint? so i want to echo those pleas for restraint. but i think we should understand exactly the, the real threat that israel faces here. this is a very, very serious attack. and if this was launched on britain, we would have a pretty major sense of humour failure. >> it's also the case. you >> and it's also the case. you have to remember why there is the presence the iron dome. the presence of the iron dome. i mean, this is this has not just started the weekend, mean, this is this has not just staractually the weekend, mean, this is this has not just staractually been/eekend, mean, this is this has not just staractually been sortznd, mean, this is this has not just staractually been sort ofi, it's actually been sort of interesting to see people talk about, iran's strike as , as about, iran's strike as, as a retaliation, as if israel's . retaliation, as if israel's. strike and damascus was the first thing that ever happened, completely forgetting october the 7th, completely forgetting the 7th, completely forgetting the that through its, the fact that through its, through hezbollah and other organisations that iran has been attacking israel for decades, proxies . yeah, through through proxies. yeah, through through proxies. yeah, through through proxies. it's, just some kind of

historical perspective here. and that's not to say that there's this is there's a black and white answer to this or that. what's happening, for example, in gaza at the moment with the sort of destitution of palestinians irrelevant. palestinians is irrelevant. of course, but there course, it's not. but there are there's feeling agree with there's a feeling i agree with you, that sort of you, mark, that sort of constantly asking israel to turn the cheek that , you the other cheek and, that, you know, think it's i think know, i think it's i think what's wallis simons what's what jake wallis simons talks israeli phobia, talks about as israeli phobia, this of special particular this sort of special particular treatment of israel is absolutely different from any other to higher other nation held to a higher standard held a higher standard held to a higher standard, also expected to . standard, but also expected to. to, take more. and like you say, i mean, well, if we if we were attacked in this way, we wouldn't survive. and perhaps that's an important point, that uk defence, we almost certainly would retaliate and swiftly, yeah. >> i mean people will say, >> i mean other people will say, but on a second, because but hold on a second, because where draw the line in where do you draw the line in what some people call for what some people would call for tat? then they would tat? because then they would say, hang on a second, say, well, hang on a second, iran would well, we

iran would say, well, we launched attack because launched that attack because what say was that what they would say was that attack their consulate attack close to their consulate and so forth. so you and so on. and so forth. so you go round and around who gets the last word. >> the problem. >> that's the problem. >> that's the problem. >> mean, it's like >> i mean, it's like any argument who the last word? argument who gets the last word? >> starmer speaking. i'll >> keir starmer speaking. i'll play >> keir starmer speaking. i'll play clip in second. play his clip in a second. >> the iranian officials who were, one of the were, you know, one of the iranian officials who killed iranian officials who was killed in was, you in the damascus strike was, you know, to october 7th. know, linked to october the 7th. this again, mean, people know, linked to october the 7th. this forgetting mean, people know, linked to october the 7th. this forgetting whatan, people know, linked to october the 7th. this forgetting what the 3eople know, linked to october the 7th. this forgetting what the pogrom keep forgetting what the pogrom on october. what are on the 7th of october. what are you supposed to a nation? you supposed to do as a nation? if you are, if you know masses of your young people and your defenceless are slaughtered and butchered you know, butchered and raped, you know, what meant to do? what are you meant to do? nothing. mm.hmm >> you go. you can >> well, there you go. you can have final on that one have the final say on that one at home. do you want us to do more or doing too much in more or are we doing too much in your your thoughts on your mind? your thoughts on that? into the that? i'll bring you into the conversation, shortly. but for now, do also want to talk now, i do also want to talk about another story, because, i was about to say this name, was just about to say this name, and i can imagine some of the response from at home response from people at home when cherie blair, but when i say cherie blair, but anyway, the children's, prosperity is prosperity plan, this is a report, it's all about how

report, and it's all about how do you remove british children from so—called relative poverty by 2030.7 from so—called relative poverty by 2030? reason i'm by 2030? the reason i'm mentioning cherie blair is because she's one of the people that's coming out and saying that's coming out and saying that actually, when it comes to the two child benefits cap, that should abolished, lots of should be abolished, lots of other in as other suggestions in there as well, many people are getting in touch michelle, what are touch saying, michelle, what are you talking about? child benefit isn't, limited or capped to two different, children . i think different, children. i think we're kind of getting wires cross because child benefits, apparently there's no limits to how many children you can claim for. but this is things for. but this is about things like, child credits. like, child tax credits. universal credit how many, universal credit and how many, children kind of benefits children those kind of benefits can applied and that is can be applied for. and that is the two. where are you on this mark, to be honest with you, i probably ideally like to live in a world where we got rid of child benefit altogether. i'm not quite sure why the government should be our parents. i mean, people might, you know, notice they're getting it, also paying it

it, but they're also paying it all in taxes. it doesn't all back in taxes. it doesn't come the fairy godmother. come from the fairy godmother. and think it's reasonable and i think it's reasonable to draw limit there if draw some sort of limit there if you're going to have child benefit at all. i'm not sure that it should be extended to six, eight, ten, 12 children. it's a choice to have children. it's a choice to have children. it's not an obligation . often it's not an obligation. often children are expensive. it's worth saying that what you get in child will only pay in child benefit will only pay a tiny fraction of it costs tiny fraction of what it costs to bring a kid. it only to bring up a kid. it only mitigates the costs, and i'm rather impressed. and often i say by the response from say this by the response from the labour party here. they're sort being asked , why haven't sort of being asked, why haven't they somebody they embraced this? and somebody from the labour party points out there they keep there keep being they keep saying make saying they're going to make tough decisions, and so they're not going spend more on this not going to spend more on this and to spend and they're not going to spend more stick the more on that. to stick to the two child benefit cap is a tough decision , and what can't decision, and what you can't have political party that have is a political party that says, well, we're going to make tough decisions general, but tough decisions in general, but we're to make any we're not going to make any tough decisions in particular. and , you know, and so i think that, you know, we spend more than enough on

welfare. also, i'd say on the relative poverty point. let's stop measuring relative poverty. i don't really believe in relative poverty. so what do you want to measure? >> absolute poverty. yeah. >> absolute poverty. yeah. >> or some >> absolute poverty. yeah. >> of or some >> absolute poverty. yeah. >> of absolute or some >> absolute poverty. yeah. >> of absolute cash. r some >> absolute poverty. yeah. >> of absolute cash. but some line of absolute cash. but relative poverty . is mad. if you relative poverty. is mad. if you can imagine a world in which half of britain suddenly became billionaires and the other half were millionaires, we would were only millionaires, we would consider were were only millionaires, we would co poverty were were only millionaires, we would co poverty because were were only millionaires, we would co poverty because relative ere were only millionaires, we would co poverty because relative to in poverty because relative to the they're poor. the billionaires, they're poor. so that shouldn't be the measurement should be measurement at all. it should be some basic. you have some sort of basic. do you have the wherewithal to, the necessary wherewithal to, you know, put a roof over your head? three square a day, you know, put a roof over your hea necessities uare a day, you know, put a roof over your hea necessities of �*e a day, you know, put a roof over your hea necessities of life, a day, you know, put a roof over your hea necessities of life, what day, the necessities of life, what it's relative to is neither here nor hello. well, i don't agree >> hello. well, i don't agree that child rearing or the decision have children should decision to have children should be individualistic act the be an individualistic act in the way might expect. way i might expect. >> as a free marketeer to >> mark, as a free marketeer to describe. i think that it should be something that the whole of society is invested in, and that's why i would support much greater spending care. greater spending on child care. for the cap for example, i think the cap should lifted lifted on child should be lifted lifted on child benefit. to honest, the birth

benefit. to be honest, the birth rate the moment is so abysmal rate at the moment is so abysmal . as everyone keeps telling us, i think any incentive for more kids being born, from government is probably a welcome. and you know a good thing. what know a good thing. but what i really wanted to pick up on with this whole announcement from chene this whole announcement from cherie blair, who just, you know, the, viewers and know, i share the, viewers and listeners, perhaps appalling, you i you know, response to when i said that name. >> could them hearing >> i could hear them hearing chene >> i could hear them hearing cherie the radio this morning cherie on the radio this morning because most because because the most irritating way in irritating thing is the way in which poverty in which child poverty in particular talked about is particular gets talked about is as it this sort of holy as if it is this sort of holy policy that everybody should get around. >> e she says, she >> and actually, she says, she said the today programme this said on the today programme this morning, isn't just about morning, this isn't just about political it's about political parties. it's about ngos, companies. every do gooder in together. in the world can get together. and bono and sing about and with bono and sing about child poverty, and it's completely misunderstanding what you need to actually lift a child out of dire situations, and that is to lift their family out of dire situations. you only

do that if a family and parents have good jobs, stable working living conditions, and you can only do that if you have a commitment to boosting or even just growing a little bit. the british economy, well, which is what the labour party, just the labour party is classic . it's labour party is classic. it's coming blair and the labour coming from blair and the labour party no interest in doing party has no interest in doing anything with the economy. anything big with the economy. and now that and we all assume now that they're to be the next they're going to be the next government you might government in europe. you might be praise for be right to praise starmer for being holding being for holding strong on this, don't think he's this, but i don't think he's i don't think it's like a test of his mettle ideologically. i think he's just a miserable penny pincher or a boring pragmatist. >> i mean, the other thing, we always approach these always seem to approach these sort of issues down the wrong end the telescope. it's end of the telescope. it's always about welfare benefits. the biggest problem lot the biggest problem that a lot of young . families or even of young. families or even putative young families face is the cost of housing we've allowed because of government intervention and our ridiculous planning laws, housing to become absolutely out of the reach of normal especially here normal people, especially here

in across the in london. but right across the country, could actually country, if we could actually have a serious reform of our planning laws, house prices would fall to something normal. it possible for young it would be possible for young people on average salary people on an average salary rather on a high salary, to rather than on a high salary, to get on the housing ladder, and that family formation. but that helps family formation. but always likes of cherie blair always the likes of cherie blair seem this on what seem to approach this on what can the welfare state do? what can the welfare state do? what can the welfare state do? what can the distribution money can the distribution of money be, rather than those more imaginative reforms which would make a much bigger difference? >> but why do we have to have one or the other? i think that i'm 100% with you on the housing point. absolutely. should rip point. absolutely. we should rip up and change it up planning law and change it and big in and actually do something big in relation but if you're relation to that. but if you're going need to now, going to what we need to now, i'm going to have my liz truss moment here. if what we need. she was right. we need growth for the economy. and what we need to do is some quite drastic things. we need to cut all of the kind of zombie economy of businesses that aren't doing anything, waste and anything, and the waste and we need big projects need to have big projects that will retrain reskill

will and retrain people, reskill people. that needs people. all of that needs a healthy, functioning welfare state order to provide the state in order to provide the safety net people to safety net for people to reskill, quit their job or reskill, to quit their job or get out or get let go by get let out or get let go by their job get let out or get let go by theirjob and start a new one. you need to have a quite robust, i think, a doubled or tripled welfare system, which would actually provide for people at the moment. we've got sort of a bit of everything and nothing. >> double triple. >> you say double or triple. i mean welfare bill in mean the total welfare bill in britain now billion a britain is now £320 billion a yeah britain is now £320 billion a year. what's about? i'm year. what's that about? i'm doing the maths in my head, £14,000 per household per year, just welfare spending. this £14,000 per household per year, ju neitherzlfare spending. this £14,000 per household per year, ju neither healthy ending. this £14,000 per household per year, ju neither healthy nor ng. this £14,000 per household per year, ju neither healthy nor robust.; is neither healthy nor robust. it's unbelievably expensive. but if for 320 billion a year we still haven't obliterated poverty. apparently in britain the idea that dialling up this system another 10 20 system by another 10 or 20 billion is suddenly going to crack my mind, is wishful thinking. >> no, certainly not just throwing. i'm not suggesting we just money at it. i'm just throw money at it. i'm saying this is saying we have a if you. this is really wishful thinking here, but if you a but i think if you had a economic plan from a government

which in the process of which had in the process of getting people retrained and reskilled the reskilled with jobs on the honzon reskilled with jobs on the horizon of big infrastructure projects or whatever you want to do, you'd be able to do this for 320 billion, right? but at the moment have you i can moment you have you know, i can tell that living on welfare tell you that living on welfare is, know, is no picnic. is, as you know, is no picnic. and it's not that we have people sort of living the life of riley on on universal credit or jobseekers to jobseekers allowances used to be called, but the called, but but they the government be in government should be invested in getting into work because getting people into work because it's you it's much better for you socially, and all socially, financially and all the rest of it. but you can't you can't cut when you can't cut welfare when you are take are expecting people to take great risks in a new a new push for a growing economy. so i think the two have to go hand in hand. >> yeah, the government successive governments, seem to have been damn good at getting people on to welfare and pretty poor at getting people off welfare. i mean, i think it's pretty preposterous, the total number have some number of people who have some welfare another. welfare claim or another. now, when welfare was when the welfare state was invented the beveridge invented, came in the beveridge report time, going back report at the time, going back to 1940s, the idea was the to the 1940s, the idea was the welfare was there to

welfare state was there to provide subsistence levels of support for a limited period of time. this is got preposterous out of control. now we're not targeting the welfare state on let's say, i don't know, the bottom 5 or 10, maybe 15% of the population. pick your number. it's now spread so widely, creates such bad, perverse incentive effects in the economy. and although it's a relatively small number, we have far too many people who are now on their third generation of being permanent welfare claimants . being permanent welfare claimants. no being permanent welfare claimants . no government of claimants. no government of either stripe really managed either stripe has really managed to people off welfare and to get people off welfare and into work. unemployment might be down, but then the number of people who are apparently too sick to work has zoomed through the . so somewhere this the roof. so somewhere this system in the way system isn't working in the way that we'd like it, and it is easily the most expensive budget item on the government's payroll. >> what do you make to it at home? on the website there, nigel says scrap. this kind of stuff, if you can't afford to bnng stuff, if you can't afford to bring up your own kids do not have them, says. it's simple.

have them, he says. it's simple. do expect me pay for them do not expect me to pay for them through my taxes. but lee says it is choice to have children. it is a choice to have children. but way back when the world was different people had jobs different and people had jobs which paid enough to look after a family, now some of these jobs barely cover a single person, he puts that at the door of the government. he says it's their fault. shrinking, he says, sinking our economy over the last decade, what do you make to all of that? also, i want to ask you, coming up after the break, i want to ask about liz truss, but also i want to ask about the nhs. we know the states, and by now we don't need to rehash that many feathers that have been ruffled, ruffled. when it ruffled, ruffled. now, when it comes this welcome banner comes to this welcome banner that displaying one that they are displaying in one truss, have a look at it truss, let's have a look at it after the see you after the break. see you

hi there. i'm michelle dewberry, and i'm keeping you company till 7:00 tonight. alongside the

director of the popular conservatives. the pop cons, so—called mark littlewood and the broadcaster and journalist ella whelan . welcome back, ella whelan. welcome back, everybody, if you haven't already joined the goings on on the website, don't forget, you can get in touch with us there. gbnews.com/yoursay some people are saying, michelle, i don't really understand this whole poverty thing . some people seem poverty thing. some people seem to turn up at food banks with the latest mobiles, their nails done, and done, their eyebrows and eyelashes yet eyelashes done, but yet seemingly to afford seemingly can't seem to afford food, say as well, food, many people say as well, you know, that point that we're just making about relative poverty versus absolute poverty? i that one is a good call i think that one is a good call out as well. should we be, how relevant is relative poverty? you get in touch and tell me your thoughts. i want to talk about nhs. we all know by now it's all pretty much in a dire state, isn't it? so what should the be, the one trust, the focus be, the nhs one trust, anyway, found itself in anyway, has found itself in trouble because, they've anyway, has found itself in troublthis because, they've anyway, has found itself in troublthis bannerause, they've anyway, has found itself in troublthis banner on a, they've anyway, has found itself in troublthis banner on oneey've anyway, has found itself in troublthis banner on one ofve anyway, has found itself in troublthis banner on one of the, flown this banner on one of the, welcome entrance halls . i can

welcome entrance halls. i can show it to you now. it's basically saying everyone's welcome here, which is not a problem, everyone should be welcome. then they go down welcome. but then they go down to brick into all these different flags. it references 21 different genders or sexualities. it's all very odd. if you ask me. you've got everything in there. you've got, a polysexual someone who's sexually or romantic, attracted to more than one gender. you've got pansexual people who are attracted to all genders. i could go on, but there's loads of these things and i found the whole thing bizarre. what on earth has someone's who's the one sexually attracted to got to do with health care? why would this be a focus, of the nhs? allah >> it shouldn't be a focus of the nhs. i actually think this is discriminatory against the hard of seeing, because i can tell you, even if i squinted going into the hospital, i wouldn't be able to understand all of those. i mean, the risk of doing this level of include vision is that you're always going to exclude someone, but

you're the idea that you you're right. the idea that you that polyamorous, which that being polyamorous, which basically means you want to have all the cake and eat it, or gender fluid or demi, asexual or aromantic, which doesn't mean you've got nos problems. it means it's someone who has little or no feeling little or no romantic feeling towards others that that should factor your care at a factor into your care at a hospital, which you are meant to be coming into that hospital for some kind of relatively urgent you'd treatment , you'd imagine medical treatment, whether birth whether it's you're giving birth or your reset or you're having your leg reset or you're having your leg reset or something that you really don't want to be caring about what your sexual orientation is. but this, this is the nhs at the moment. i mean, this is the way in which it seeks to gain some kind of credibility. you've got massive waiting lists, death and destruction in maternity scandals on a scale which is just unbelievable viable. and you've got total failures in cancer treatment . the list goes cancer treatment. the list goes on.and cancer treatment. the list goes on. and yet they roll out a flag like this and expect us to clap for them. it's it makes me very, very angry because it just shouldn't be within the remit of

a national health service to be involved in the gender wars like this. because actually, the most important point that comes down to it is you want to sort of ask these doctors and nurses it these doctors and nurses when it comes doing the blood test or comes to doing the blood test or requesting the cervical cancer screening, do you know what a man and a woman is? because you better, because if you don't, then you're going to be giving bad to people. bad care to people. >> odd, isn't mean, >> pretty odd, isn't it? i mean, i'd ask question, what is i'd ask this question, what is the problem? they think they were trying to solve with a banner saying everyone is welcome here. do we have in britain numbers of people britain large numbers of people who about to check in to a&e who are about to check in to a&e because they've got an injury but think, oh, maybe i shouldn't. is an shouldn't. perhaps this is an a&e only for gay people, or only for straight people, or only for polyamorous people. so there is no that needs solving no problem that needs solving here. this is all about making the nhs producers feel good at themselves. it's not so much the bannen themselves. it's not so much the banner, it's the smiles on the faces of them waving flags behind it. there is no problem that needs solving here. i think everybody every

everybody knows that every hospital to people everybody knows that every hosraces, to people everybody knows that every hosraces, types, to people everybody knows that every hosraces, types, sexualitye everybody knows that every hosraces, types, sexuality and all races, types, sexuality and all races, types, sexuality and all of the rest of it. so a complete distraction, a waste of time and it is going crazy. so over a year ago now, i had to have a scan on my back and of all the questions they asked me, one was did i think i might be pregnant? they asked me this in all sincerity. i mean, the form filling for this sort of grandstanding is absolutely extraordinary, and we keep heanng extraordinary, and we keep hearing that they're incredibly cash strapped. right. well closed down whichever pr and marketing team came up with this nonsense. >> well, a chief people officer at the university hospitals of nonh at the university hospitals of north midlands. >> i mean, i don't even want to negate the fact that you need a chief people officer. but anyway, whatever she about anyway, whatever she said about that following . we that banner, the following. we understand different understand that different individuals varying individuals may have varying views on symbols and flags used to represent different identities, but this banner symbolises our commitment to achieving inclusive achieving a more inclusive organisation where both colleagues and the people that we for are encouraged to be we care for are encouraged to be themselves. i think it's very

odd. i mean, if you're an std clinic then fair enough. have, you know, talk about who's sleeping with who, whatever that might be relevant to the care and all rest of it. where's and all the rest of it. where's the where's the flag for heterosexual people? >> yeah. >> yeah. >> why no one including them? >> why is no one including them? >> why is no one including them? >> actually, mark makes >> well, actually, mark makes a really that really good point, which is that this almost kind of this is almost kind of slanderous against the staff working in the because working in the nhs, because the suggestion they to suggestion is that they need to be these in order be shown these symbols in order to someone with care and to treat someone with care and respect. >> e nurses, doctors, >> nhs staff, nurses, doctors, cleaners been doing that cleaners have been doing that for years without this of for years without this sort of bureaucratic overreach. for years without this sort of bur i aucratic overreach. for years without this sort of buri mean,: overreach. for years without this sort of buri mean,: overreyconfess i am for years without this sort of bur gay,an,: overreyconfess i am for years without this sort of bur gay, but overreyconfess i am for years without this sort of bur gay, but ifyerreyconfess i am for years without this sort of bur gay, but if i rreyconfess i am for years without this sort of bur gay, but if i wasonfess i am for years without this sort of bur gay, but if i wasonferif i am not gay, but if i was and if i turned up at some of these places during pride month or whatever, there's my boss whatever, and there's my boss waving flag, waving this little flag, celebrating who in bed celebrating who i was in bed with last night. i think that was a little weird. maybe with last night. i think that was missing weird. maybe with last night. i think that was missing something. aybe with last night. i think that was missing something. i'm; i'm missing something. i'm sure you happy backwards you weren't happy backwards in for, coming forwards tell me for, coming forwards to tell me if think i am. i am michelle if you think i am. i am michelle dewberry with until 7:00 if you think i am. i am michelle dewbthe with until7:00 if you think i am. i am michelle dewbthe break. until 7:00 if you think i am. i am michelle dewbthe break. i until 7:00 if you think i am. i am michelle dewbthe break. i want l 7:00 if you think i am. i am michelle dewbthe break. i want to :00 if you think i am. i am michelle dewbthe break. i want to talk after the break. i want to talk to about liz truss, have you to you about liz truss, have you got it on pre—order? her book is about to be released. was she a force for good then? for this

country i'll you in country or not? i'll see you in two.

>> tonight on farage live at 7 pm. on gb news. an exclusive interview with liz truss . and i interview with liz truss. and i promise you, she doesn't hold back. >> i was the only conservative in the room for many years, and it's not working. i loved arguing, i loved arguing, i spent all my time arguing. i hate being told what to do, and i hate the government telling other people what to do. >> and yes, she voted remain but says spirit says she liked the spirit of brexit. >> like it, i like the it was disruptive. >> i yeah, exactly . and >> i yeah, exactly. and i enjoyed the sort of popular sentiment of it and the fact that people were actually engaging in politics and on a major british institution. >> she says. we should abolish it. should we stick with the supreme court? >> no, we should abolish it. should we? we should abolish it. >> join me at 7 pm. on gb news. for liz truss, unfiltered.

>> so then have you got it on pre—order or what? so of course, speaking about liz truss's book, which is set to drop imminently, i am michelle dewberry with little seven. mark littlewood and ella whelan remain alongside me , ten years to save the west, me, ten years to save the west, thatis me, ten years to save the west, that is the title of the book. you are friends with liz truss? was she a force for good? mark, in this country? generally yes. >> i mean, i think you asked a little earlier in the show, michelle was whether her 49 days in office was a force for good. i mean, i think she wasn't a force for anything really. you can't be a force for anything in 49 days, i've read a book. i read an early draft of it. i've read an early draft of it. i've read the penultimate draft of it. i'll see if there's any changes in the in the final. in the final document. but i think she's got a really interesting analysis here. and oftentimes i think actually we should spend a bit more time looking at what's gone wrong than gone right. and the we had a prime

the fact that we had a prime minister lasted weeks minister only lasted seven weeks requires of requires some sort of explanation. and she's provided her the story and it her side of the story and it goes a bit this, that even goes a bit like this, that even if you think she made some missteps or you don't much like her agenda, it is very her policy agenda, it is very difficult get anything difficult to get anything radical britain , even if radical done in britain, even if you are the elected prime minister, because there are bureaucratic structures which are extraordinarily powerful and tilted to the status quo, that really make any exercise in deregulating or cutting tax or getting government spending under control and exercising, pushing water uphill. and i've spoken to her about it. she sort of thought her choice was to give it a go, and she gave it a go and failed, or sort of sit around and do nothing for two years and inevitably lose the next general election, sort of, you try and tweak a few you know, try and tweak a few things on sidelines. so things on the sidelines. so i think her insight here, i think she's a bit optimistic that we've many as years we've got as many as ten years to save the west. actually, to save for the west. actually, it could be a bit fewer than that that we've got really that is that we've got to really change governmental change the governmental structures and it's

structures of the uk, and it's not uniquely uk problem. not a uniquely uk problem. i think the same features happen in europe america in western europe and america as well. want this well. if you really want this sort agenda to flourish, and sort of agenda to flourish, and i i instinctively don't like i do, i instinctively don't like this whole trend of sort of premature memoirs being written by, politicians. >> there's a sort of career, i said last time we were on the show, mark, i got i got bit into a bit of trouble on twitter for being a bit mean, which i apologise for, but but, you know, wes streeting one boy, two bills and a fry up memoir, liz truss is ten years to save the west. it's all a bit me, me, me in a way which i think reveals something about narcissism in westminster, a problem. westminster, which is a problem. but mark, think you're the one but mark, i think you're the one thing about liz which thing about liz truss, which i've always all along, i've always said all along, which right about, is which you're right about, is that if her big that even if her big announcement was announcement on the economy was announcement on the economy was a wasn't ever going a busted flush wasn't ever going to , what she revealed, and to work, what she revealed, and no one to want to tackle , no one seems to want to tackle, is this inertia at the heart of any kind of ability to do something in british politics, because the response to truss's , because the response to truss's, even from fellow lefties on my

side , was, hahaha, you're going side, was, hahaha, you're going to upset the markets. how dare you? and i mean, what what kind of message is that about the any kind of power in british politics, any kind of democratic power, any kind of ability for a government to make any movements? i tell you, if a sort of government that i am fashioned in my mind would be making much more drastic moves. a government under jeremy corbyn, example, would corbyn, for example, would be upsetting the banks far more than liz truss. and yet there were lots of people on the supposed left who said how dare she upset the status quo? i think the biggest problem we have at the moment is a sort of athena approach in politics that there alternative. don't there is no alternative. don't rock the labour party , rock the boat. the labour party, keir starmer's basically his whole campaign is whole electioneering campaign is i will not rock the boat, i will do nothing. don't worry. i'm not going to touch anything, you know, conservatives aren't much better. they nobody has any ideas. and so if liz truss is worth anything, i haven't read the book. i wait to see what's in it. >> will you read it?

>> will you read it? >> yeah, i might, because i'm interested. what? interested. in what? what? you know, have say . know, politicians have to say. and, you know, i think that putting sort of slight putting my sort of slight dislike of truss is careerism aside, i think that any, anyone or anything that reveals the inability for things to happen inability for things to happen in politics is a worthwhile intervention . and i think even intervention. and i think even maybe talking about the west is kind of revolutionary these days. people are so nervous about. >> so you should be welcoming the memoir then. ella, she's had a she's had a turn of 49 days. here's her explanation. >> i think you take it or leave it. >> i think you could have fit it in an article, but then maybe thatis in an article, but then maybe that is just me being me. >> pamphlet. >> a pamphlet. >> a pamphlet. >> you said last time you're a harsh woman. i love a premature memoir. wrote an autobiography memoir. i wrote an autobiography when years old. when i was about 23 years old. it's called anything is possible. it's available in all good shops. hear good charity shops. so i hear i'm going write a sequel i'm going to write a sequel called me. i won't use the called bleep me. i won't use the swear was wrong. i'll swear word. i was wrong. i'll have write one of these have to write that one of these days.ian have to write that one of these days. ian says liz right days. ian says liz truss right policies, wrong implementation. ian truss ian rodney, says liz truss should pm and if she was

should be our pm and if she was right now, we'd all be a lot better off, richard she better off, richard says she wasn't allowed carry out her wasn't allowed to carry out her policies they didn't wasn't allowed to carry out her polici with they didn't wasn't allowed to carry out her polici with the they didn't wasn't allowed to carry out her polici with the establishment align with the establishment agenda. align with the establishment agenda . or liz truss will be agenda. or liz truss will be speaking to nigel farage after the break, so don't go anywhere. but for now, mark, thank you for your company. thank you. at home. i'll see you tomorrow night . night. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , sponsors of weather on . solar, sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> hello again. welcome to the latest weather forecast from the met office. it's going to stay blustery over the next 24 hours, but less windy than it has been. and the showers will slowly ease as well. low pressure is pulling away . it's moving as well. low pressure is pulling away. it's moving east. as well. low pressure is pulling away . it's moving east. we've away. it's moving east. we've got high pressure arriving later in the week, but for the time being the weather stays very changeable, with showers or longer spells of rain moving through during the evening. many of these showers actually of these showers will actually fade away after midnight, although some will continue down the north sea coast. there 1 or

2 for northern ireland, parts of wales and central england, but otherwise of drier and otherwise plenty of drier and clearer weather emerging later in the night. a chill in the air first thing tuesday, but too breezy for most for a frost, and there'll be plenty of bright weather first thing, especially for scotland. northern england parts of western uk, but further cloud and showers will affect the north sea coast and showers will tend to bubble up elsewhere , particularly for northern ireland. parts of central and southern wales and southern england, wales and northwest scotland. it's going to on the cold side, but to stay on the cold side, but temperatures a degree or so higher compared with monday's and less windy, so a bit more pleasant out there. another chilly start on wednesday, but again, plenty of sunshine first thing turning cloudy and damp for northern ireland. showers emerging elsewhere but plenty of bright at least drier weather bright or at least drier weather in between the showers. and then as we go through the latter half of the week, things do slowly turn drier, more settled and warmer looks like things are

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gb news. >> as iran attacks israel , i >> as iran attacks israel, i asked the question. how did the west get it so wrong? over iran? and what's the wise thing for israel to do next? we broadcast tonight the first exclusive tv interview with liz truss about her book, which is being published tomorrow. and i promise you, she doesn't hold back. and as we speak, a game of parliamentary ping pong is going on in the house of commons. they are fighting back against rejected amendments that have come from the house of lords. but i asked the question, does any of it, in the end really matter? but before all of that, let's get the news with polly middlehurst