the attack as the downplayed the attack as the news agency claims the country's nuclear facilities are completely secure, as a senior commander tells them, no damage was done. >> well, that says tehran warned of a severe and immediate response to any israeli attack as the country activates its air defence systems. >> meanwhile , western >> meanwhile, western governments tell its citizens to leave israel over fears of a reprisal attack as tehran grounds commercial flights and in the airport this morning. >> emmy martinez antics in goal see aston villa go through on a penalty shoot out to the europa conference league semi—final. liverpool and west ham go out of the europa league, which is not good for the coefficient and the fa cup is changing and people are not happy about this. >> it's going to be a sunny start to the weekend for many of us as higher pressure finally arrives. but before we get there, today is another day of bright spells and showers. i'll have the full details in the forecast coming up shortly. >> morning to you. i'm stephen

dixon and i'm ellie costello, and this is breakfast on gb news . so we start with breaking news in the last hour or so, and israel has reportedly launched an attack on iran overnight in a retaliatory strike, with reports of explosions near a military base in isfahan and that's according to us officials. >> yes. iranian state media have been quick to downplay the situation, claiming their air defence systems were able to destroy three drones in the centre of the country. >> now yet to get any official statement from israel on the attack. >> well, meanwhile, the australian government has urged its citizens to leave israel over fears of a revenge attack by iran. >> let's talk to our security editor , mark white, who joins us editor, mark white, who joins us now. morning, mark. what do we know at this stage? morning >> well, we are still waiting on

any official word from israel as to what this attack was, whether, of course, it was israel . we suspect it was, as israel. we suspect it was, as it's being widely reported by us media that the israeli government informed the us government informed the us government that they were about to launch these attacks, they seem to, from what we are hearing, be limited in nature. air defence systems activated in a number of iranian provinces, including in estefan, that one of iran's largest cities in central iran. it appears to be focused near an air base. we understand that the eighth, wing or fighter wing of the iranian air force is based at an airbase. there's a number of air bases in that area. it's also home to some of iran's nuclear facilities, although there's no indication that any of those nuclear facilities were

targeted. there are reports that some of iran's drone manufacturing capability is based near estefan, so we await to see really just what has been targeted and what the damage has been. as you said in your introduction there, the iranian state broadcaster has been downplaying these attacks, saying that they were easily deau saying that they were easily dealt with by iran's , air dealt with by iran's, air defence systems that managed to take out , three drones. but as take out, three drones. but as i say, we're getting reports of some other explosions and activation of air defence systems in some other provinces as well. >> mark, i mean, it is early. it's important to stress that. but from what we know so far, this isn't a strike on civilians. so for israel , given civilians. so for israel, given the range of options, this does seem to be on the lower end of the scale in terms of a response to what we saw on saturday night

i >> -- >> no. and you wouldn't expect that israel would be striking civilian areas as such, if any strike that israel was to carry out would be aimed potentially at military regime targets, the possibility of iran's nuclear systems, and certainly it makes sense if it is targeting the drone manufacturing capabilities as well, because of course , as well, because of course, there were 170 drones, at least, that were fired from iran towards israel on saturday night. and really since then, since 331 drones and cruise and ballistic missiles were taken down, not just by israeli forces , but also coalition partners. if you like , in the sense that if you like, in the sense that the us came to their aid. also the us came to their aid. also the uk, france and jordanian , the uk, france and jordanian, air force planes, as well as saudi arabia . so a number of

saudi arabia. so a number of countries that intervened to help israel defend itself from those attacks. we had been waiting since those attacks took place on saturday night for the likely response from israel . we likely response from israel. we had heard, of course, from the uk government, the us government and others calling on israel, not to retaliate, to take the win effectively , no one ever win effectively, no one ever really thought that israel would not respond . and, to some not respond. and, to some extent, to this very significant attack on its soil will now it seems we have a response now , seems we have a response now, the big question here is, was this an initial, targeting of sites in iran to be followed up by further attacks? was it always designed to be limited in nature , so as not to escalate nature, so as not to escalate the situation further, and any other response from israel may

not be direct attacks on iran only in the hours ahead might tell that when we get some indication from the israeli government, they have said nothing. thus far. that might be an indication that what they are planning is not over yet. i think from iran's point of view, not only is their state broadcaster playing down this, but we're also hearing that the aviation authority in iran has opened some of the airspace around some of the airports in the country . again. so the mood the country. again. so the mood music, i think coming from iran is a bit different from what they were seeing, really just hours ago when they were saying any attack from israel would be met with an immediate and massive response from iran. well, there has been no immediate response from iran, that's for sure. we're not seeing any alerts over israel this morning, and it's 8:00 in the morning in israel, and

nothing yet. so, as i say, so much is unknown here, and we just have to wait and see when we finally get that confirmation from the israeli government as to what exactly they were intending here. >> okay, mark, for now, thanks very much indeed . let's talk to very much indeed. let's talk to former british army spokesperson major mike shearer, who joins us now. mike, can i get your assessment on what we're seeing, particularly from iran in all of this ? i mean, as mark was this? i mean, as mark was saying, they're they're playing it down. they appear to have reopened some airspace. i mean, is this a from an iranian perspective, are they trying to de—escalate this a little bit rather than come back with that massive response? they've been threatening ? threatening? >> i think that's exactly right. i think israel has actually been very restrained in their response, you mentioned earlier that they didn't target, people. they didn't target the capital, esfahan, as some, four hours

drive south of the capital. so they've gone for a military installation . so i think israel, installation. so i think israel, despite what they will be saying , have listened to, the president of the us, they have tempered their response, whether or not they will do more, we will have to wait and see. but they didn't involve people, and i think that's important. you know, israel see every loss of innocent life as a tragedy . i innocent life as a tragedy. i think that iran and their proxies, like hamas, they see it as a strategy. so i think israel has been very restrained about their response. and i think therefore , iran can calm down on therefore, iran can calm down on therefore, iran can calm down on the back of that . the back of that. >> i mean, that's the question, isn't it? because what really matters in all of this now is how the iranians will see all of this and what their response will be next.

>> well, that's right. they did say they would go hard as soon as there was a response. well, that hasn't happened, but it is early hours . let's just be clear early hours. let's just be clear about that, they could be gathering their thoughts, but, i think the mood music as we see it is probably the de—escalation is now occurring . is now occurring. >> well, that gives everyone a little bit of breathing space, doesn't it? and i mean, particularly countries like the united states, but also the uk, of course, because, you know, we have committed haven't we, to doing what we can to protect israel should another strike come . come. >> well i think that's right. and i think it is time now for, the friends of israel, to come together and do whatever they can to shore up that response , can to shore up that response, that that safety blanket, if you like , i think the mealy mouthed

like, i think the mealy mouthed words of we're not going to be with you if you if you respond doesn't help anyone. i think people need to know where people stand on this. and let's be clear here, israel have been reactive on every occasion , reactive on every occasion, since the 7th of october, they haven't been proactive. and on that basis alone, i think, the friends of israel really need to stand up now and do what they can, even if it even if it is only signalling, by word of mouth that we are with you and they should be. >> what do we know about iran's nuclear program? and how concerned do you think we should be about that? if we're going to be about that? if we're going to be seeing for tat strikes taking place here? >> well, i mean, this is very worrying . and it's, esfahan is worrying. and it's, esfahan is the centre of iran's nuclear program. i would say that the

world should be very worried if israel. i beg your pardon? if iran develop that nuclear, strength that can then threaten, nafion strength that can then threaten, nation states around the planet, so the fact that the fact that israel has made a strike on that sends out a signal, i think, and i think that, you know, the planet should be behind them, i don't think that the i think the saudis will be happy enough with that response. i think the other sunninafions that response. i think the other sunni nations like egypt , that response. i think the other sunni nations like egypt, oman, the uae and others, i think they will be reasonably, settled by, israel's response this morning . israel's response this morning. >> okay. mike, shira, good to talk to you. thank you very much indeed, let's try and get a us perspective on this, because obviously, the united states, a key player, a key ally of israel, a us political analyst, doctor roger gewolb joins us.

rogen doctor roger gewolb joins us. roger, good to see you this morning . i mean, would you agree morning. i mean, would you agree with what major shira was saying there that it would seem, at least that israel has listened to what the white house has said, has listened to president biden and has well, responded. but in a in a very tempered response . yes, yes. response. yes, yes. >> well, i don't think they particularly listened to joe biden or necessarily anyone else. i think they've made their own decision, as mark said, we don't know what, if anything, is coming next, but this was a very measured response, and it's more messaging ispahan, as the major said, is the home to the iranian nuclear program , in december, i, nuclear program, in december, i, along with a lot of other people, announced on american television that iran was a week away from having a nuclear capability. so they must have

that by now, and i think israel was sending a message in the second part of the message, stephen, was that, of course, isfahan is the home of the factory that made the drones that were flown at israel on saturday. so it was it was a very measured response, i think that the foreign minister of iran's statement that any attack will be met by something much more massive needs to be paid attention to , analysts in attention to, analysts in america, such as the former director of national intelligence, feels that they will, retaliate disproportionately , and that the disproportionately, and that the messaging phase is over and there could very well be an escalation at this point. >> roger, i understand from a senior us official is that the us had advanced warning of this strike, but they did say they didn't endorse the response . the

didn't endorse the response. the us would be really, really careful now not to implicate themselves in any of this at all. >> well, i think they'll probably be implicated anyway . probably be implicated anyway. my probably be implicated anyway. my guess, my hunch. is that the iranians will probably find some way to implicate them so that either directly or, more likely, through their proxies , the us through their proxies, the us military bases in iraq and syria become fair game, become , become fair game, become, targets. now, at this point , i targets. now, at this point, i mean, it's do you think the international community is still holding its breath ? holding its breath? >> roger. after i mean, there's been so much concern about how quickly this could escalate the fact, as you say , measured fact, as you say, measured response, the fact that that iran and tehran seems to be playing this down. do you think we could be all right, or should

we could be all right, or should we still be hugely concerned ? we still be hugely concerned? >> well, i think we could be all right, but i think we should remain concerned. it's been described by some, us sources as, something of a humiliation for iran that , israeli fighter for iran that, israeli fighter jets apparently were able to enter iranian airspace a couple of hours ago, something the iranians were unable to do with israel, the fact that they've sent this message next door to where their nuclear production , where their nuclear production, exists and where the drones were made , a lot of messages sent made, a lot of messages sent there. and so iran will probably feel that they they must retaliate the position of the, the mullahs and the ayatollahs in iran, is described as somewhat weakened, and they need to show strength , so they will to show strength, so they will probably do something, let's hope it's not on a massive basis. let's hope it's , for tat,

basis. let's hope it's, for tat, but, some of the experts do feel that that phase is over and that their response will be greater. and i would imagine then that the israelis are waiting to see what that is before deciding what, if anything, to do next. >> okay. roger, thanks very much indeed. >> well, middle east security analyst seth frantzman joins us now. good to see you this morning, seth. and what's your assessment of what we've seen in the past few hours ? the past few hours? >> well, it does appear that, you know, there has been some sort of incidents in iran, but i think it's clear that the iranian regime is downplaying it. and it does seem that although, you know, media is indicating that israel carried out sort retaliation or indicating that israel carried out have;ort retaliation or indicating that israel carried out have you, retaliation or indicating that israel carried out have you, i retaliation or indicating that israel carried out have you, i thinkation or indicating that israel carried out have you, i think that or what have you, i think that we'll probably hopefully see some sort of de—escalation, because in the end of the day , because in the end of the day, iran attacked israel with 350 missiles and drones, which is unprecedented attacks. so i think israel had to show that

it's willing to do something. but i think that it's not in anyone's interest to see escalate into a wider regional conflict. >> do you think why do you think, seth, that that iran is playing it down following the its previous rhetoric ? its previous rhetoric? >> well, the iranian regime has spent you know, the last decades or so pretending that it is on the winning side . it basically the winning side. it basically is always messaging the israel, the united states are losing and that the united states is leaving the region, that israel is under siege and israel is about to fall apart. so if you spend many years as an authoritarian regime, messaging that your enemy is weak and that you are on the offensive everywhere in the region, and then all a sudden it turns then all of a sudden it turns out that in fact, i think what many people know, which the many people know, which is the iranian regime, a bit of a iranian regime, is a bit of a paper tiger. it's not as strong as itself. think as it portrays itself. i think that harmful that would be incredibly harmful to to admit that it to the regime to admit that it can't defend its own airspace. so has to pretend that it can so it has to pretend that it can defend its airspace, because especially that be especially that would be embarrassing, considering especially that would be embthat;sing, considering especially that would be embthat israel:onsidering fact that israel had

intercepted, with the intercepted, along with the americans, 99% of drones and americans, 99% of the drones and missiles iran attacked missiles that iran attacked israel with and iran shows. i mean, iran is claiming this morning that it was attacked by a small miniature drones. if a few small miniature drones. if it claims that it can't even stop that, then how can it stop something more serious? >> read into the >> what can we read into the fact that israel has not said anything yet? could it possibly be an indication that this isn't over yet ? over yet? >> well, certainly. yeah, it's an indication on the one hand that, you know, israel, of course, reserves the right to continue its any sort of response. i mean, this is it's obvious that this is an open conflict in the sense that iran openly attacked israel. however, i indications in us i do think the indications in us media this morning, the reports that abc and other places that basically had indicated that there had been an attack, it would seem to show that there is some acknowledgement bit some acknowledgement a bit on the side , in, in terms the israeli side, in, in terms of how this will be viewed by,

other anti—israeli powers in the region, what do you think? i mean , because the i mean, the mean, because the i mean, the issue with this is not just iran, it's, it's the, the, the proxies of iran that are operating in the region, including hezbollah . i mean, is including hezbollah. i mean, is there a case that perhaps iran is going to, you know, respond using proxies ? is israel likely using proxies? is israel likely to attack proxies? i mean , to attack proxies? i mean, what's your assessment moving forward on that front ? forward on that front? >> well, first of all, the proxies have already been attacking israel for years and also since october 7th with the hamas attack, hezbollah carried out 3100 attacks on israel already. so we are already seeing an active war warzone there. i think even minutes after the reports this morning of the attacks in isfahan, hezbollah already carried out an attack in northern israel. so i do think, yes, we'll see escalation with the proxies. we'll see more attacks by the houthis or iraqi based militias,

we'll see more escalation, northern israel. and that's that's the way that that's the front that iran prefers. anyway, iran would like that to be the front line, because iran likes to use others to fight its wars, so that iran doesn't have to do anything, okay. >> seth frantzman, good to see you this morning. thanks very much indeed. >> okay. well, this is, of course, a developing situation. we will keep you up to speed on all of the developments as they continue throughout the morning on breakfast. but for now, aidan mcgivern has the weather. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello and welcome to the latest update from the met office for gb news. rain clearing the south east today followed by further showers for many of us, accompanied by cool blustery winds . although skies blustery winds. although skies do later time for do brighten later in time for a sunny start to the weekend. here's the picture by mid—morning , a lot of cloud on

mid—morning, a lot of cloud on the map. showers affecting many places, particularly central and eastern areas. skies, though, do brighten across much of central and western scotland, and then later on, western parts of the rest of the uk. we keep the showers going through the midlands, the south east as well, accompanied by a cool and gusty wind that's going to make it little disappointing, it feel a little disappointing, i with highs of 12 to 15 i think with highs of 12 to 15 celsius. nevertheless, the showers across central areas do fade away into the evening. the skies tend to clear as well and the wind eases as a result. with lengthy clear skies, a lighter wind temperatures will fall through the night. such a frost even as we begin saturday. so gardeners beware there will be some frostiness first thing, but there'll be plenty of bright skies as well. lots of sunshine lifting those temperatures fairly quickly through the morning. so if you're out and about first thing, it will soon warm up and there'll be plenty of sunshine until around the afternoon, when the clouds will tend to build, particularly for

central and northern parts of the country and for the far north of scotland. we're going to see some light outbreaks of rain move in here, making it feel cool elsewhere, with lighter winds feeling pleasant enough, that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> 622. don't go anywhere because coming up in just a few minutes paul coyte

news. 625. good morning. paul's here. >> good morning . >> good morning. >> good morning. >> morning. what have you got? we've got a bit of european football. >> we do. you want the good news or the bad news, good. >> should we do the good stuff? aston villa are through to the semi—final europa semi—final of the europa conference league. oh, brilliant. went penalties. brilliant. it went to penalties. it's manchester city it's not like manchester city went penalties. the other went out to penalties. the other day. villa went through to

day. aston villa went through to penalties, lille, penalties, so they played lille, which france by way. which is on france by the way. i just thought i'd throw that in because am in french, because i am fluent in french, aston villa were two one up after first went to after the first leg went to lille lille. they had lille and lille. they had obviously behind obviously the crowd behind them. they went two up. aston they went two nil up. aston villa score, in the 87th minute to make it two one. it then goes to make it two one. it then goes to extra time. it then goes to penalties. now what do you remember emmy martinez emiliano martinez who is the argentinian goalkeeper. and there's a phrase which i can't use which is? how sorry. he's a yes. yes. oh yes. which means there's a lot of missing a lot of antics. so when he's in goal for penalties, it can work to their advantage because he tries to put off the other side , you know, and other side, you know, and there's. and he'll push it right to the right to the edge. so he got a yellow card early on in the game. and then during the penalties he's doing all this all this to the crowd. you all this stuff to the crowd. you know the shushing so know the shushing stuff. and so the comes over and books the referee comes over and books him that. which a second

him for that. which is a second yellow is obviously means yellow which is obviously means a card . so he'll be sent a red card. so he'll be sent off. so the aston villa players obviously that's the last person you lose during a you want to lose during a penalty shootout as your goalkeeper. this is goalkeeper. but this is something so many football something that so many football fans didn't realise when it comes penalty shootout , fans didn't realise when it comes penalty shootout, red comes to penalty shootout, red cards don't count. oh, so he was surprised to be probably thought he was going to get sent off as well, but he managed to go back in goal. aston villa went on penalties. everybody's happy, well, obviously apart from everybody in lille and aston villa are through. so good news, as far as aston villa is concerned, what's the bad news? the bad news is liverpool could not overturn atalanta. atalanta with three nil up after the anfield game . and anyway they go anfield game. and anyway they go back to italy. liverpool score early with a penalty mo salah but again, still can't seem to finish all their chances. it was there. it was a possibility but they won one nil so not good enough. so jurgen klopp , for his enough. so jurgen klopp, for his final season at liverpool, will not be picking up a european

trophy. i just think that he kind of sees the writing on the wall. yeah, i don't think it's a matter of tired. i think matter of being tired. i think he thinks the team maybe this is the me to get out. so the time for me to get out. so i think this is what's going on. so they're out west ham played, ellie's team by ellie's favourite team by leverkusen , although i know you leverkusen, although i know you wanted to win, but the wanted west ham to win, but the thing is, leverkusen not thing is, leverkusen have not lost 11 months. they're the lost in 11 months. they're the bundesliga champions and west ham went one nil up and they just had to try and overturn a two nil deficit. couldn't do it. leverkusen scored at the end one one. so it means leverkusen go through and west are now out through and west ham are now out okay there go. okay so there we go. >> should look at the fa cup. >> should we look at the fa cup. no more replays. >> yeah. this really the >> oh yeah. this is really the fans. oh it's upset fans. it's upset the lower league teams i think are upset think most people are upset apart from probably the fa and the premier league because the premier they they're the premier league they they're the ones that have the cash. they're the ones seem to have the the ones that seem to have the say. they've put this press release going, oh, you know, release out going, oh, you know, this wonderful news for the this is wonderful news for the fa got a six year fa cup. we've got a six year deal

fa cup. we've got a six year deal. we're not going to have replays replays which is replays now. replays which is almost great thing about the almost the great thing about the fa because when you get a fa cup because when you get a lower league team, they might get draw. and then get to get a draw. and then they get to go away to maybe old trafford or go away to maybe old trafford or go anfield should liverpool go to anfield should liverpool draw then that's draw with them. and then that's where their money. but where they make their money. but they've banned any replays, they've now banned any replays, so going to be woi'i. >> won. >> why would they do that? >> why would they do that? >> it's because of the calendar congestion . the premier league congestion. the premier league are that there's too are just upset that there's too many played. many games being played. it gets in also they're in the way and also they're going move the fa cup now going to move the fa cup now instead of being well, you get what's opposite curtain what's the opposite of a curtain raiser. would it be a closer. what would be the of the what would be the end of it. the end. it's usually last end. well it's usually the last game season. they're now game of the season. they're now going move cup final going to move the fa cup final to penultimate game. so now to the penultimate game. so now the premier league because the premier you know premier league thinking you know we're goose. we're we're the golden goose. we're what everybody see. the what everybody wants to see. the end the premier league is end of the premier league is more important than the cup. more important than the fa cup. and it devalues cup. and it just devalues the fa cup. and it just devalues the fa cup. and are very and a lot of people are very unhappy about it, including me. >> well i'm not surprised actually. >> i like it. >> i like it. >> you know, they you know, a lot of us think, oh is it just

because we're hark. yeah. because going back because they're going back to the golden how it used the golden days and how it used to be. there's some of that, but also the fa cup is oldest also the fa cup is the oldest cup in the world, cup competition in the world, and to be respected and it needs to be respected properly. and unfortunately, i don't yeah don't think it is. yeah >> as emma raducanu she's doing, don't think it is. yeah >> asdoing a raducanu she's doing, don't think it is. yeah >> asdoing reallyrcanu she's doing, don't think it is. yeah >> asdoing really well. she's doing, she's doing really well. >> she's on isn't she? >> she's on the up isn't she? >> she's on the up isn't she? >> she's on the up isn't she? >> she really is. fourth game on the trot now, so she's doing so well. so the billie jean cup she won there she is. i know won two. there she is. i know what she's doing waving there. and playing and she's playing on clay playing at stuttgart open. playing at the stuttgart open. the czech linda noskova, who is the new golden child of tennis. and she's supposed to be fantastic . she is the future. fantastic. she is the future. but there we are. there's emma raducanu beat her six love 7.5. where do you reckon emma raducanu is in the world? where would you reckon her ranking is? >> oh, she's like 300 and something, isn't she? >> 301, are you? oh, you're very good. there you go. he's very good, isn't he? he is very good. >> he knows his stuff. >> he knows his stuff. >> where is she?

>> where is she? >> through now she plays iga swiatek. and where's iga swiatek in the world? >> 72. number one. oh that's who she's. so this is now going to be it though. >> you know what? >> you know what? >> it's my fault. i should have let you have the i had the win and be done with it. >> but iga swiatek she's playing emma raducanu. and that's 4:00 this afternoon. emma can this afternoon. and if emma can get there then get something from there then something could be happening with so we wish you well with emma. so we wish you well against. with emma. so we wish you well agaoh,. with emma. so we wish you well agaoh, let's a bit of >> oh, let's have a bit of fashion. we didn't have time for it all. >> we didn't have time for it. yeah. so was no way that yeah. so there was no way that i was going to miss out on the fashion. sports, fashion. no, no. as sports, pastimes and fashion correspondent. olympic opening ceremony . outfits, outfits ceremony. outfits, outfits and garb. let's start with brazil, shall we? let's have a look at the brazilians. >> oh, i reckon this is good. >> oh, i reckon this is good. >> look at that. >> look at that. >> oh, it's all denim. >> oh, it's all denim. >> no, no, no, it's a little flashing there for those that are concerned about the flashing images. there we are. well what do you think? it's a bit scruffy. it looks like shakin stevens around out there.

>> looks scruffy. >> yeah, it looks a bit scruffy. >> yeah, it looks a bit scruffy. >> what's denim? it's. it's >> what's the denim? it's. it's denim jackets with embroidered images brazilian animals. oh, images of brazilian animals. oh, no. 110. >> no. >> those awful things >> it's like those awful things you the 80s. you used to see in the 80s. >> yeah. i mean, i don't know whether they're to double whether they're going to double denim. the crime. whether they're going to double dersurely the crime. whether they're going to double dersurely even the crime. whether they're going to double dersurely even the text|e. whether they're going to double dersurely even the text choice >> surely even the text choice of brazil isn't very nice. of brazil just isn't very nice. >> no, not liking that at all. >> no, not liking that at all. >> we're not loving it. >> no, we're not loving it. >> no, we're not loving it. >> we don't like it. but the thing is, i even know, to thing is, i don't even know, to be with you. what are be honest with you. what are brazilian what the brazilian animals? what is the indigenous animal brazil? indigenous animal of brazil? i don't know what that is, don't even know what that is, parrot. >> going to say a parrots. >> i was going to say a parrots. toucans, something like that. oh, yeah? >> yeah, yeah, because rio. >> yeah, yeah, because of rio. yeah, yeah. >> they're yeah, yeah. >> so maybe they're just all covered i don't know, covered in birds. i don't know, but i was expecting but anyway, i was expecting kind of and carnival. of feathers and carnival. >> bit of >> yeah, it's a bit of a letdown, isn't it? >> it it is a bit let down. >> it is. it is a bit let down. let's go for australia, shall we? see what the we? see australia, see what the australians look, australians are doing. look, those not messing australians are doing. look, those they're not messing australians are doing. look, those they'relookingassing australians are doing. look, those they're looking veryg around. they're looking very serious. hand the pocket. serious. oh, hand in the pocket. very breasted blazer very nice single breasted blazer over t shirt. gold and over a cotton t shirt. gold and green ribbing, is we green ribbing, which is what we ought australia ought to be doing if australia win, gold green win, by the way. gold and green ribbing, beige knee ribbing, beige chino, knee length women a length shorts. women with a

double version the double breasted version of the jacket choice of shorts, jacket with a choice of shorts, or just which just the or just which is just above the knee. pleated gradient or just which is just above the kn green,leated gradient or just which is just above the kn green, leate and gradient or just which is just above the kn green, leate and white. iient of green, gold and white. >> i like that, like that >> see, i like that, i like that it's isn't it? it's very, isn't it? >> aussie. >> it's very aussie. >> it's very aussie. >> it's very aussie. >> it is. pretty plain, >> it is. it's pretty plain, though, you think? it is. though, don't you think? it is. >> well, it is quite plain, but it's a classy element to it. it's got a classy element to it. i'd rather. rather have i'd rather. i'd rather have classy the americans classy than like the americans with sweaters and all. with their sweaters and all. >> , yeah. and all that sort >> yeah, yeah. and all that sort of business. yeah, the of business. so yeah, the australian who could have worn back you could wear back in the 30s, you could wear it very classic. it today. very classic. one more. we canada? more. should we go for canada? all right. lululemon who? i bet you love a bit of lululemon don't you? >> well it's extortionate. >> well it's extortionate. >> you know a pair >> do you know how much a pair of is? well like £7,080. >> what are they wearing? >> what are they wearing? >> a pair leggings. >> a pair of leggings. >> a pair of leggings. >> what are they wearing. >> what are they wearing. >> well that's typical. that's typical i mean it's awful. >> that's awful. that is a bit of a mess so far. >> is it tie dye i don't even know what. well, lululemon rmt sizing obviously the adaptability fit adaptability thermal comfort fit function and national pride of canada. look there's even the dog. they're even wearing lululemon. everybody's coming

through there. >> i don't know how that shows national pride in canada. it's just red. >> it's just red. >> it's just red. >> yeah that's right i think it's red tie dye i mean that's a bit neater now. so that's a full red i think they look set quite frankly. >> oh i think it looks a bit scruffy. >> yeah i think not. >> yeah i think not. >> opening ceremony material. if it's national pride. what do you just a maple leaf the just have a maple leaf on the front and have red. it's front and just have red. it's lululemon they've front and just have red. it's lululemocharged they've front and just have red. it's lululemocharged a hey've front and just have red. it's lululemocharged a fortune and probably charged a fortune and let down badly. let them down very badly. yeah, yeah. not impressed. let them down very badly. yeah, yeathat>t impressed. let them down very badly. yeah, yeathat looksressed. let them down very badly. yeah, yeathat looks likeed.really >> that looks like a really comfy outfit. you'd on plane. >> exactly. not opening ceremony if we've got hours yet. >> well, we've got the we've got the kit that they're going to be, competing in. so i can show you that a little bit later . but you that a little bit later. but we don't have the opening ceremony. >> do you know who's doing it? >> do you know who's doing it? >> who's to hold the flag? >> who's going to hold the flag? >> who's going to hold the flag? >> no. design oh, >> no. which design though? oh, i don't know. >> i imagine that adidas, i imagine because they have the, they the oh, we should have they have the oh, we should have a designer a british designer like, burberry or . burberry or. >> was mccartney. >> well, it was mccartney. >> well, it was mccartney. >> was stella mccartney, >> it was stella mccartney, wasn't 2012. but you wasn't it? for 2012. but if you remember, had blue remember, she had the blue version of the union jack. and

we happens if you mess we know what happens if you mess around flag. you around with an english flag. you can't be doing that again. so we'll think we'll have to see. so i think there's things they're there's two things they're worried how the worried about. firstly, how the pubuc worried about. firstly, how the public and secondly, public will react. and secondly, probably is my probably most importantly is my commentary over how it will look fashion wise if they've done it and they've they've played about with the with the union jack already. >> can you imagine there'll be a quick redesign going on, won't they. >> already people are saying about the about the british one about the about the british one about what they'll be wearing to compete in it all plain . it's compete in it all plain. it's a little plain. it's very blue, not red. see, i like there was the old classic, the white vest with the red and blue stripe across it. but, i'll have it for you a little bit later. by the way, london marathon is this weekend, brazier , who is weekend, hugh brazier, who is the race director? he's the man that runs the whole thing. will be with us in an hour. oh, great. >> okay. great stuff. paul. great. >> thankgreat stuff. paul. great. >> thank you. stuff. paul. great. >> thank you. now:. paul. great. >> thank you. now do aul. great. >> thank you. now do stay with us. us. >> us. >> still $— e— >> still to come, we'll be looking what making looking at what is making the front pages. this morning with ella buckley. ella whelan and mike buckley.

that's

next. >> a 637. morning to you. let's have a look at the newspapers. if i get my teeth in this morning, the telegraph says the prime minister has vowed to end sicknote culture. >> the guardian says that thames water could be renationalised and the £15 billion it owes could be added to the public debt. >> oh, great. the times leads with the prime minister vowing to crack down on sicknote culture and mps losing the right to sign us off work. >> the express says that the prime minister tells sicknote britain to get a grip and get job. >> the mail leads with the charge brought against nicola sturgeon's husband peter murrell i >> -- >> well, joining us now to go through what's making the news this morning is former former labour adviser and labour adviser mike buckley and journalist ella journalist and author ella whelan. good to see you both this morning and ella, let's

start with you, shall we? and your response to what we've seen in iran this morning, that strike by israel. >> yes , the papers obviously >> yes, the papers obviously weren't, aren't time to cover weren't, aren't in time to cover it, but we've seen those intercepted , strikes. and it's intercepted, strikes. and it's actually quite interesting how much iran is downplaying this, there's and you've got, bbc and various other news outlets reporting that there doesn't seem to be much damage, that actually there's a sort of almost everything is fine attitude being put out there. the airports have reopened and, and we obviously await iran's response, who knows what it could be? the telegraph has reporting on its front pages. this is obviously before the action that israel took happened, that iran had threatened to reopen the sort of nuclear discussion , build a nuclear discussion, build a nuclear discussion, build a nuclear bomb if it is attacked by israeli forces. lots of heavy talk there. but again, we don't know what the actual response is going to be, i mean, you know, this is a this is a sort of

shadow war that's broken out into the open in terms of direct strikes between the two nations, but it is still, i mean, the all of the we know that all of the drone strikes that iran sent were intercepted by israel and also america and france and, and by us, the uk and jordan. so there's this sort of i don't mean to sound callous, but people aren't dying in their masses. so it's a different kind of tenor to it. there's a different sort of, escalation feel to it, which i think should we should keep in mind this isn't sort of direct, outright war in which people are dying. there's still an element of kind of shadow boxing to this, which doesn't mean it's not serious, but it means that it's not. we're not necessarily in a situation now iran is situation now where iran is going to have a nuclear response. viewers and listeners shouldn't about that. shouldn't be worried about that. >> mean, interesting >> no. i mean, the interesting thing , mike, with all of this >> no. i mean, the interesting thing, mike, with all of this is if we were going to get the, the, the massive and immediate

response from around that they were threatening only just the other day , you would have other day, you would have expected the rhetoric from iran coming out now to be very different to what it seems to be. you would an iran. >> i mean, obviously there's many, many criticisms we could all make of iran, and many people do make those criticisms and understandably, but it does seem that this seem to be that in this situation they aware that situation they are aware that they responsibility to they have a responsibility to act a way that is almost act in a way that is almost responsible, you know, not turning into turning this into a conflagration that would cause huge loss of life or huge damage to infrastructure in israel or in iran, or would potentially open up a region wide conflict, in contrast of course, you know, israel in a sense did start this with in iran by attacking their diplomatic building in syria . diplomatic building in syria. and just reading this morning, obviously, israel have now responded and by sort of re attacking iran, and they've also attacked sites again in syria and so, you know, israel and iraq. so, you know, israel does to be rather, you does seem to be rather, you know, going going much further in terms of just almost

arbitrarily attacking sites in any country in the region that it feels like it wants. >> that's that's not accurate. if, i mean, that's completely forgetting the 7th of october, which we're forgetting about that nobody's saying that that and nobody's saying that they impunity attacking they are with impunity attacking sites the sites in any country in the region where feel like it. region where they feel like it. impunity. completely impunity. you're completely forgetting that the reason why there is a you don't have to be a, you know, israel's biggest fan to understand that they didn't start this with the attack in damascus, completely understand . understand. >> that's why, however, they are still sites lots of still attacking sites in lots of countries region. still attacking sites in lots of couthat's region. still attacking sites in lots of couthat's that's region. still attacking sites in lots of couthat's that's what]. still attacking sites in lots of couthat's that's what you just >> that's that's what you just said. i mean, is a war that said. i mean, this is a war that has been, you know, iran has been attacking through been attacking israel through its decades i its proxies for decades now. i mean, why israel has mean, the reason why israel has this dome and, you know, this iron dome and, you know, huge infrastructure is huge security infrastructure is because the attacks on it. because of the attacks on it. and we know that this conflict is complicated, but i think you do a disservice to understanding what's going on in the middle east by suggesting that israel started this. it's much more complicated damascus complicated than that. damascus certainly wasn't the first attack. know, between

attack. first, you know, between the two countries, i you're i mean, for context, i used to live and work in the middle east, so i do understand the context pretty well. >> and i do understand why israel feels. well, you don't know way does. but know in the way it does. but i also understand that the countries the region, you countries in the region, you know, their needs and know, have their own needs and rights well. so rights for security as well. so it a complicated situation. it is a complicated situation. but point i making was but the point i was making was that has responded in, that iran has not responded in, you know, in a huge way to the attack on its building in syria or to the attack that has now come from israel. you know, it is downplaying it, whereas israel is sitting there and attacking countries arbitrarily, not arbitrarily . but, you know, not arbitrarily. but, you know, it is it is going further in making those attacks. >> okay, look, we need to leave you that note just for a you two on that note just for a moment, because we want to talk to the work and pensions secretary, mel stride, who joins us now. and first and foremost, mr stride, can i get your reaction to what we've seen happenin reaction to what we've seen happen in the last hour or so ? happen in the last hour or so? how concerned should we be? or do think that the responses

do you think that the responses here have been a little bit measured ? measured? >> well, this is clearly an emerging story, so we don't know the full facts at this stage . the full facts at this stage. and israel has yet to confirm action or otherwise. look, i'd make a few points here. i think one is that we firmly believe that israel has a right to self—defence. but at the same time, of course, what we have been impressing upon the israeli government is the importance of de—escalation at this point. so whilst we don't know the details at the moment, my hope is that whatever has happened is of a nature where de—escalation can now be the way forward. and of course we can continue then to focus on the diplomatic work that we and others are doing to ensure that we get humanitarian aid into gaza, and we've already applied, some or been in discussions with the israelis . discussions with the israelis. reilly's to have the, has ,

reilly's to have the, has, border, opened up to let aid in and ashdod as a port to let aid in and so on, and also to get the hostages out. that's where we are also focusing. >> did the uk government have advance warning of this strike by israel in the early hours of this morning? and does the uk government the response government endorse the response by israel? because you must be very concerned about escalation in the region . in the region. >> well, as i've just said, i mean, clearly the message that we and our allies and the americans as well have for israel is, yes, you have a right to self—defence , of course, and to self—defence, of course, and we are here to support you in that endeavour , but at the same that endeavour, but at the same time, we do feel it's very important that the focus now is on de—escalation. i can't comment on the specifics of whether we had warnings or not orindeed whether we had warnings or not or indeed even at this stage. of course, this is an unconfirmed , course, this is an unconfirmed, situation, so we don't actually know precisely. and i certainly don't know, what has happened. but de—escalation really has to

be the way forward. and that is this government's message. >> okay, look, can we ask you about this sick note britain thing? it's across a lot of the papers this morning . the prime papers this morning. the prime minister going to war on sick note. britain and part of the part of the move to do this. he says , is to, is to stop gps says, is to, is to stop gps giving out sick notes or fit notes or whatever they're called these days. how is that going to work ? work? >> well, the situation at the moment is that we have a growing number of people going on to long term sickness benefits. there are 2.8 million people on those benefits at moment. we those benefits at the moment. we know that a reasonable proportion of those people, for example, want to work. and what i'm all about making sure i'm all about is making sure that in that journey that sometimes people are taking from work through a fit note, then into longer tum sickness benefits, that at each stage of that journey we do whatever we can to support people into work. now with fit notes, what that means is that when somebody

presents themselves the presents themselves to the doctor a fit note at the doctor seeking a fit note at the moment, they get, on average, about seven minutes of the gps time, because gps are very , very time, because gps are very, very pressurised and have an awful lot to do. and on 94% of occasions a box is ticked on the fit . note that not capable fit. note that says not capable of whatsoever . so what of any work whatsoever. so what we want to do is to move from that situation to a referral by the to gp another piece of an organisation that we're putting together based around something called work well, where we will bnng called work well, where we will bring together both the health care support for that individual needs, but also have work coaches involved. so that if they're currently in work, we're working to keep them in work. and if they're close to the labour market, we're there to find them a job because we believe that work is absolutely essential, not least when it comes to mental health conditions and people improving their situation. >> mental health charities, though, are aghast at these plans. the chief executive of

the charity mind says they're deeply disappointed, continuing a trend in recent rhetoric that conjures up the image that mental health culture has gone too far. they say it's harmful, inaccurate and contrary to the reality for people up and down the country, demonised people for failures of the system. what do you say to that? >> well, i completely and utterly disagree with that. look it's a very good thing that as a society , we have moved to the society, we have moved to the point where we can talk very openly about mental health as an issue. and there are many, many people , as a consequence of people, as a consequence of that, who are now coming forward and receiving treatment , who in and receiving treatment, who in the past would have suffered in silence. that's a huge step silence. and that's a huge step forward. at the same time, i think we have to recognise that that work, example , which is that work, for example, which is what my department is focused on, is an integral part for many people when it comes to mental health. an integral part of recovery. and i think that message has begun to get lost,

and we need to bring that back to the fore and to give you an example, there's much evidence that this is the case. work gives you that structure to your life. it brings you into contact with colleagues at work , those with colleagues at work, those conversations at the water cooler, all those kind of interactions in that sense of purpose, it's really good for you and we mustn't lose sight of that. and what the prime minister morning minister later on this morning is be speaking about is is going to be speaking about is how can go further than how we can go still further than we are at the moment to make sure that work is central to addressing these particular issues. >> but there'll be plenty of people watching and listening now , minister, who who, frankly, now, minister, who who, frankly, are going to say, well, if i require a significant amount of time off because i'm not well, i want to be able to go and see my gp and get signed off. they're not going to want to go and see the gp be referred. wait for that and then go and see a work coach. you can't imagine this going down well with people at all in the run up to an

election. >> this needs this, this, this needs to be a very efficient process. so work well will bring together the medical practitioner with the work support as well in a one stop shop. so the aim here will be something that will be very efficient and very quick , but efficient and very quick, but will nonetheless put work at the heart of the kind of support that we're able to give people . that we're able to give people. it's not helpful to people if they're in work at the moment. we know 400,000 people leave work for reasons ill health work for reasons of ill health each year. it's not helpful if they leave work, lose that contact with employment and then progress along this health journey end up as part of that. 2.8 million people who are in long tum sickness and disability benefits and a long way from the labour market, we believe we should be intervening upstream early to get that kind of support in there, and the kind of support includes things like talking therapies within the nhs, the chancellor announce 400,000 more of those that will be huge benefit to those with

be of huge benefit to those with mental health conditions. we've launched something called universal support, which means we employment we place people into employment and we stay with them for a penod and we stay with them for a period of 12 months to support them through, to make that them through, to make sure that they those jobs. but they hold down those jobs. but as i say, this is really sharpening up the focus on the importance of work rather than being on benefits . being on benefits. >> mr straight, i wanted to ask you about thames water because guardian the guardian this morning revealing government plans being considered at the moment for thames water to be renationalise seized, and for the £15.6 billion it owes to be added to the public debt . i added to the public debt. i mean, that's not going to go down well in an election year ehhenis down well in an election year either, is it? >> well, my understanding is this is a story in the guardian, and i think it is speculation. this isn't something that the government has said. i think it would be rather surprising if the government wasn't, gaming all sorts of possible scenarios here as to what it might do underin here as to what it might do under in certain eventualities. but at the moment, thames water

clearly is looking at refinancing and in discussions with various people on that front. but i think the sort of guarantee that i can absolutely make today is that whatever happens going forward, people will be able to get their water out of their taps in the usual way. but the story that you've just referred to is not something that the government is saying. i think it's speculation in the press. >> okay. just just so you >> okay. well, just just so you know, the guardian newspaper said is said that this blueprint is codenamed project timber. they say at an advanced stage. say it's at an advanced stage. and just just to just let you and so just just to just let you know that's what they're saying this morning. >> okay. >> okay. >> minister. good to see you this morning. thank you very much indeed. ella whelan and mike still with us on mike buckley still with us on sick note. britain. we should we should call it fit. no. britain beyond why the cold? beyond me. why the cold? footnotes? what did you make of the plan, ella? well, just in terms of the sort of we it's impossible to get anything done on the nhs, even getting a gp

appointment is enough of a challenge for most people. so the idea that if you are sick and you need time off, as you said, to through said, trying to go through this process, which would take i think you know, weeks think at best, you know, weeks is ridiculous. but also the is ridiculous. but it's also the case mean, mel stride is case that i mean, mel stride is and the government are putting out this line that people really want to be at work, and it's just that they can't there's some there's something going wrong that they can't get to work. so we're just trying work. and so we're just trying to help along. that's to help them along. that's a complete misunderstanding. to help them along. that's a comple'a misunderstanding. to help them along. that's a comple'a misunpeople ding. to help them along. that's a comple'a misunpeople out|. there's a lot of people out there you know, there who either, you know, really the physical really do have the physical or mental problems and it's mental problems, and it's impossible treatment impossible to get treatment on the moment. so they the nhs at the moment. so they need you need sick notes or, you know, i think there's this idea that mel stride and other people think that everybody has a treats jobs like a career that they love, andifs like a career that they love, and it's great. and got and it's great. and you've got loads of friends and it's sunny and lovely and in actual fact, a lot numbers of people out lot vast numbers of people out there work to earn money there go to work to earn money for their families. and it's just a they hate it and it's a or you it's something you or you know, it's something you bear make money the bear to make money for the important things your important things in your life. and you're with the

and if you're faced with the prospect of at the moment, we have a lot of really rubbish jobs paid very badly. between that you know, a different that and, you know, a different opfion that and, you know, a different option . i don't blame people for option. i don't blame people for taking the other option. and i think there's this misunderstanding that work life is panacea thing, is this wonderful panacea thing, and that's not the reality. >> mike. >> mike. >> i mean, the government's lying to us all. you know, it's sitting there saying, no, you know, no culture is out of control. and in fact, we did issue 11 million footnotes last yeah issue 11 million footnotes last year. same as year. but that's the same as before pandemic. it's not before the pandemic. so it's not that the numbers of notes being issued know, the issued are, you know, off the scale. what has grown a lot is people sick, is scale. what has grown a lot is prdifferent sick, is scale. what has grown a lot is prdifferent thing sick, is scale. what has grown a lot is prdifferent thing entirely. is scale. what has grown a lot is prdifferent thing entirely. and is a different thing entirely. and that part due to the that is in large part due to the fact the nhs just doesn't fact that the nhs just doesn't work, know, we know, work, you know, which we know, whether or whether it's whether it's a&e or whether it's trying to get gp trying to get a gp, gp appointment , whether trying appointment, whether it's trying to long term to get treatment for long term conditions. also been conditions. that has also been a rise mental health conditions rise in mental health conditions across country , partly as a across the country, partly as a result of the pandemic, which we seem unable to deal with. seem to be unable to deal with. we've 1.9 million people in we've got 1.9 million people in this country waiting to get a mental appointment the

mental health appointment on the nhs there just isn't the nhs because there just isn't the provision there. unless we're provision there. so unless we're solving fundamental solving these fundamental problems, this is this situation isn't change. the isn't going to change. the government seem to want to come in and well, maybe it will. in and say, well, maybe it will. these people well, let's in and say, well, maybe it will. thespretend e well, let's in and say, well, maybe it will. thespretend e they're ll, let's in and say, well, maybe it will. thespretend e they're not. t's just pretend that they're not. well. it's like well. well, no. it's like they're pretend they're trying to pretend that rwanda safe country it isn't. >> no, no, hold on a minute, though. i mean, in some respects, would have thought respects, i would have thought you'd supporting you'd be you'd be supporting this then, because this initiative then, because if they're well, know, this initiative then, because if thyou're well, know, this initiative then, because if thyou're struggling, know, this initiative then, because if thyou're struggling with know, this initiative then, because if thyou're struggling with mental if you're struggling with mental health, you assessed health, you get assessed by a medical professional, get to health, you get assessed by a me(a:al professional, get to health, you get assessed by a me(a work)fessional, get to health, you get assessed by a me(a work coach nal, get to health, you get assessed by a me(a work coach to,, get to health, you get assessed by a me(a work coach to,, know,) see a work coach to, you know, build resilience, what build your resilience, see what you at, going back you can be good at, going back to what you're going be to what you're going to be capable doing, isn't wouldn't to what you're going to be capa be doing, isn't wouldn't to what you're going to be capabe a doing, isn't wouldn't to what you're going to be capabe a positive?sn't wouldn't that be a positive? >> that support real, then >> if that support is real, then yes, support it. but yes, i would support it. but they spoken about they haven't spoken about recruiting these recruiting any of these professionals do professionals to actually do this in support people. this work in support people. i mean, that was real then mean, if that was real then that would at the would be great. but at the minute, saying, got minute, as i'm saying, we've got 1.9 people to 1.9 million people waiting to get treatment the nhs get some treatment on the nhs for health for their mental health conditions, and that provision just so i'm not just isn't there. so i'm not sure getting sure where they're getting all this support this extra mental health support and have, and staff from. if they have, then great. but they didn't talk about this morning. about that this morning. >> well we shall wait see.

>> well we shall wait and see. i'd know what you think i'd love to know what you think about that views comment your about that gb views comment your say. be great to hear what say. it'd be great to hear what you that and you think about that and everything else that we're talking this morning . talking about this morning. it's, at least are we are we breathing little bit of a sigh breathing a little bit of a sigh of relief in a, in a sense that what we thought could have been catastrophic not be in catastrophic today may not be in terms of iran, in terms of iran. >> i look, i think so i think also it's important to note that, you know , the response that, you know, the response from the iran attack, international response , uk, international response, uk, jordan, you know, people within the region, countries within the region necessarily region aren't necessarily cheering iran on. >> good. all >> no. well that's good. all right. out time, here's right. we're out of time, here's the weather. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hello and welcome to the latest update from the met office for gb news rain clearing the south—east today, followed by further showers for many of us, accompanied by cool, blustery winds. although skies do brighten later in time for a

sunny start to the weekend. here's the picture by mid—morning, a lot of cloud on the map. showers affecting many places, particularly central and eastern areas. skies though, do brighten across much of central and western scotland, and then later on western parts of the rest of the uk . we keep the rest of the uk. we keep the showers going through the midlands, the south east as well , accompanied by a cool and gusty going to make gusty wind that's going to make it feel a little disappointing, i think with highs of 12 to 15 celsius. nevertheless the showers across central areas do fade away into the evening. the skies tend to clear as well and the wind eases as a result, with lengthy, clear skies, a lighter wind. temperatures will fall through the night. such a frost even as we begin saturday, so gardeners beware there will be some frostiness first thing, but there'll be plenty of bright skies as well. lots of sunshine lifting those temperatures fairly quickly through the morning. so if you're out and about, first thing, it will soon

warm up and there'll be plenty of sunshine until around the afternoon, when the clouds will tend to build, particularly for central and northern parts of the country and for the far north of scotland. we're going to see some light outbreaks of rain moving here, making it feel cool elsewhere with lighter winds feeling pleasant enough that warm feeling inside. >> from boxt boilers sponsor of weather on

gb news. >> good morning to you. it's 7:00. friday the 19th of april. today, the world holding its breath as us sources claim, israel has launched an attack on iran in a retaliatory strike with reports of explosions near a military base in isfahan. the work and pensions secretary spoke to us earlier here on gb news. >> he believed that israel has a right to self defence, but at

the same time, of course, what we have been impressing upon the israeli government is the importance of de—escalation at this point. >> iranian state media downplay the attack as the news agency claims the country's nuclear facilities are completely secure. as a senior commander tells them, no damage was done. >> well, that says tehran had previously warned of a severe and immediate response to any israeli attack as the country activates its air defence systems . systems. >> meanwhile, western governments tell its citizens to leave israel over fears of a reprisal attack by iran . reprisal attack by iran. >> here, the prime minister pledges to end the sick note culture in britain. we've heard this morning from the work and pensions secretary who says it's the right way forward to get people back to work and in the sport. >> emmy martinez's antics in goal will see aston villa, or has done see them go through on a penalty shoot out to the europa conference league

semi—final liverpool and west semi—final as liverpool and west ham out of the europa league. ham go out of the europa league. emma playing great emma raducanu is playing great injury how about injury free tennis. how about that? london marathons that? and the london marathons this sunday? the who this sunday? the man who organises will be with us organises it will be with us a little later. little bit later. >> going to be a sunny >> it's going to be a sunny start the for many of start to the weekend for many of us as higher pressure finally arrives. we get arrives. but before we get there, today is another day of bright and showers. i'll bright spells and showers. i'll have the full details in the forecast coming up shortly . forecast coming up shortly. >> morning to you. i'm stephen dixon and i'm ellie costello, and this is breakfast on . and this is breakfast on. gb news. well, the breaking news this morning is that israel has reportedly launched an attack on iran overnight in a retaliatory strike. reports of explosions near a military base in isfahan. now, that's according to us officials. >> well, iranian state media have been quick to downplay the situation, claiming that their air defence systems were able to destroy three drones in the

centre of the country . centre of the country. >> well, israeli officials are yet to make a clear statement on the attack, but iranian state media claim it was flown or the drones at least were flown by infiltrators from inside the country so that frankly adds a bit of confusion to the situation. and it may be something that they're saying to mean that they don't have to then justify, they don't have to have a response. so this is where it does get a little bit complicated. >> well, meanwhile, the australian government has urged its citizens to leave israel over fears of a potential revenge attack. >> let's get the latest now from our security editor, mark white. morning to you, mark. so where are we at the moment? what do we understand has happened? >> well, a limited strike. it appears, has taken place. we have these reports coming from iranian state media. it's not

exactly, open in terms of , the exactly, open in terms of, the media free and open reporting there. so we're reliant to a large degree on what the iranian state media is saying. they're talking about these drones, three drones that were shot down. it's possible that israel has launched drones at iran, but i think unlikely. it's an awful long way for drones to fly to iran . they're slow moving iran. they're slow moving targets and easy to shoot down. i think israel much more likely to have launched missiles , to have launched missiles, intriguing this report, though. again from, iranian media reporting that the drones may have been launched, from groups within iran. we know, of course, there are opposition groups and opposition groups that, are fighting to some extent, a war against the iranian regime. so it's possible that they have

been given drones and managed to acquire drone drones somehow and have launched them from in country that will only really emerge in the fullness of time , emerge in the fullness of time, depending again on, on, you know, what we're hearing from , know, what we're hearing from, the state media to a large degree as well , but the strikes degree as well, but the strikes that we know about took place around the central iranian city of isfahan, and we're told that , of isfahan, and we're told that, an air base is in that area. but no reports of damage at this air base. there's also a radar, military radar installation there . there's also one of the there. there's also one of the key sites for iran's nuclear facilities. research facility, and also a nuclear enrichment facility. but again, no indication that that's been struck. in fact, the international atomic energy authority has confirmed that no damage or strikes appear to have

targeted the nuclear facility in isfahan, so we await to get a formal word from israel. they have said nothing so far, indeed, the us has said nothing officially. just sources are telling us, broadcasts and media outlets that israel did inform them that they were about to launch a, an attack on iran, they gave nothing more about what israel said. the nature of that attack would be, how limited or otherwise it would be. whether this is the first phase. we simply don't know. but iran is playing it down. the state media confirming that the aviation sector in iran is opening back up again. now, that's different from what we were hearing just hours ago from iranian officials who were warning that if israel launched a direct attack on iran, then they would respond immediately with a massive attack on israel.

that's not happened. obviously this was some hours ago that this was some hours ago that this attack took place within iran and no response as yet . iran and no response as yet. hopefully that's a good sign. but as i say, it all depends really, on what israel's next move might be. and of course, just because we've not had an immediate response , this doesn't immediate response, this doesn't mean we're not going to get some kind of response from iran in the coming hours, perhaps through its proxies, perhaps in other areas, not necessarily a direct attack on israel. >> okay. mark white, thank you very much indeed. >> well, let's talk to diplomatic correspondent for israel khan tv, amichai stein , israel khan tv, amichai stein, who joins us now. great to see you this morning. amichai are we getting any official comment from the israeli government at this stage ? this stage? >> no. there's complete quiet from the israeli government . from the israeli government. although we saw in the last week israeli officials saying that

there will be a response, that it's not questions of if but when you do see, by the way, israeli minister itamar ben—gvir, who is a member of israel's security cabinet, tweeting that what we saw tonight is really not a response . now, i must say, it's like an official israeli confirmation that there was a strike. but itamar ben—gvir is not one of these officials that if indeed it was an israeli airstrike, he, had the decision made. so there is criticism among, some ministers inside the government that that an israeli response should have been much more aggressive and much more, comprehensive against iran on their attack on israel a few days ago. but up until now, if you ask what the prime minister is saying, what the israeli defence minister is saying from

their side, there is complete quiet this morning. there is no, statement saying israel did attack iran at some point tonight . tonight. >> amichai, what should we read anything into that? into the silence from israel so far? is this an indication that this is not over yet, that this could just be phase one of this operation? >> i don't know if there will be other phases. we do know that israeli officials are speaking , israeli officials are speaking, with foreign media. the new york times, washington post, and there they are saying that this strike message that we can strike was a message that we can strike was a message that we can strike iran inside the territory. and it's not the first time that israel has struck iran. according to foreign reports. but it's the first time that iran is expecting some kind of an israeli response. so israel can show in this strike that even though iran knew something is coming, israel could have pinpoint this airbase and struck

inside a military airbase. when you where you can expect fighter jets and, defence system against these kinds of attack styles. so israel in this attack shows iran, we can attack you inside iran, we can attack you inside iran even though you are expecting it . expecting it. >> and yet we're getting these comments from iran itself saying, well, perhaps this was carried out by infiltrators, an internal attack. i mean , it's internal attack. i mean, it's very difficult to know quite why they're saying that . is, is they're saying that. is, is would that give them a reason to not respond to this in the way that they previously threatened ? that they previously threatened? >> yes, of course, iran is saying that there was nothing tonight except three, quadruple drones that were , struck by drones that were, struck by iranian air defence system that, that that's what happened. you know, there we are seeing, for example, this morning, the announcement that the airspace over airports have been reopened

and things like that. so iran is trying to show that from their side. nothing really happened tonight . and if nothing tonight. and if nothing happened, they don't need to respond , that's the story right respond, that's the story right now. but already during the night between saturday and sunday, we saw iranian officials saying that their strike is the end of the story, meaning they want to close the story. and i think also israel went on on a very thick line , trying on the very thick line, trying on the one hand to respond inside iran to show that israel is responding to these attacks inside the territory of iran. but on the other hand , try to but on the other hand, try to show the world that the response is not a response that will trigger an escalation in the region. that was the request of the americans . that was the the americans. that was the request of the uk foreign minister, who was in israel this week. so i think israel went out

on this fake line, did respond in iran , but it's not something in iran, but it's not something or it's not a respond we haven't seen before. >> i mean, we're talking about iranian rhetoric and they're obviously trying to play it down this morning, suggesting that perhaps they don't want to make any response at all. but is there possibility that we there a possibility that we could see a reaction in terms of their proxies in the region, that they could ramp up offences by hezbollah, by, by the houthis, all of those operating in the region ? in the region? >> i must say, first of all, in recent weeks or months, even, we don't need a specific reason for the proxies to increase their attacks on israel. you don't need reason iran doesn't need a reason or iran doesn't need a reason or iran doesn't need show that it been need to show that it has been hurt. so they will increase the response. so i think in this front, we might see something from the iranian proxies much more increased. but again their response is usually is not

connected . to things happening connected. to things happening in iran, especially if iran is saying that nothing happened. they sometimes increase their attacks , sometimes they don't. attacks, sometimes they don't. but it's less related, but i think it's less related, or at least it won't be publicly related to what we saw tonight in iran. >> okay. amichai stein, really appreciate your time this morning. thanks very much indeed i >> -- >> well, joining us now is former senior military intelligence officer philip ingram. good to see you this morning , philip. what's your morning, philip. what's your assessment of what we saw in the early hours of this morning? >> well, it's really simple. we don't >> well, it's really simple. we dont enough >> well, it's really simple. we don't enough information to don't have enough information to know you know exactly what happened. you know exactly what happened. you know around know something happened around closed know, closed its airspace, you know, unconfirmed, unnamed unconfirmed, you know, unnamed us spoke to us press us officials spoke to us press outlets saying that there had been an attack. and then we get lots of stuff circulating on social media, some of the videos have seen circulating on social media, there are other circulations saying they were shown yesterday or the day before , suggesting attacks in

before, suggesting attacks in southern lebanon. so we're in an era of, misinformation and disinformation as people try to speculate what could and could not have happened. something happened. and we don't know what it is . it is. >> it's interesting, though, isn't it, that amidst all of this, because it even with speculation that can used as speculation that can be used as an excuse by some states to provoke action, it is interesting that israel is saying nothing. iran is playing it down significantly as well. i mean, they're saying some things happened, but they are playing it down. yeah, of course , you it down. yeah, of course, you know, and you'll find that, you know, and you'll find that, you know, in iran , it's they're know, in iran, it's they're still taking time to gather the information together into their central communications organisation before they put statements out to know exactly what's happened , even if, what's happened, even if, something happens in the uk with the interconnectivity that we've got, it takes time for that information to filter, for people to understand exactly what's happened. the implications of that, to look at

it, to then get proper statements out of governments and rest of it. so and all the rest of it. so that's not something that surprises me at all, israel is going quiet , surprises me at all, israel is going quiet, if it if it going to keep quiet, if it if it is carried out, you know, a significant attack. but, you know, israel has been saying for days that it was going to respond. the extreme right wing element of the israeli government was almost forcing netanyahu respond , and, you netanyahu to respond, and, you know, if they if israel, told the united states last night that they were going to attack, that they were going to attack, thatis that they were going to attack, that is something that i'd expect because it allows expect because it it allows airspace to go on airspace deconfliction to go on so that the us and allied aircraft, including uk aircraft that are flying over syria , are that are flying over syria, are not necessarily surprised by, objects, whether they be fixed wing aircraft or drones flying from israel or pick up unusual activity on radar, that's happening inside iran itself so that pre—warning is not something that, is set out to embarrass the united states, united kingdom and the

international community. it's just standard airspace. deconfliction, and in terms of this strike, i mean, it is early as you say, there's a lot of confusion. there's not a lot of clarity about what exactly happenedin clarity about what exactly happened in the early hours this morning. but from what we know so far, this does look a so far, this does look like a very careful, measured armed response by israel . response by israel. >> well, you know, from what we're speculating so far, i don't think there's much that we know in, in what's going on in, you know , if i was sitting in a you know, if i was sitting in a military and this military headquarters and this was going on around me, and i'm sitting intelligence cell sitting in the intelligence cell trying work out what's trying to work out what's happening, i'd call my happening, and i'd call it my soak time. i've got one soak time. and i've got one thing that i go and when that thing that i go and do when that happens, go and put the happens, they go and put the kettle make a cup of tea and kettle on, make a cup of tea and wait information kettle on, make a cup of tea and wait in information kettle on, make a cup of tea and wait in because, rmation kettle on, make a cup of tea and wait in because, rmatoo come in because, it's too easy to overspend late and therefore and therefore work out what's going on there . something has going on there. something has happened, that almost happened, and that is almost certainly , you know, some form certainly, you know, some form of israeli activity that is israel putting one foot up the next rung of the ladder of

escalation . again, it would be escalation. again, it would be too easy to speculate that they then lift themselves up and put both feet on it. and if that happens, then there's always the potential, given iran's statements iran to do statements for iran to do exactly the same. and that's a very, very dangerous position. there's been a lot of diplomatic pressure put on israel not to enable that to happen, and there'll be an awful lot of diplomatic pressure going on behind with iran behind closed doors with iran not respond . and if israel not to respond. and if israel does something, so we're hearing lots of stuff on the surface underneath that . there's an underneath that. there's an awful lot of activity going on from a global perspective to try and stop this becoming something that escalates regional war. >> okay. philip ingram, good to see you as always and for talking some sense. thank you very much indeed. >> well, of course this is a developing situation. we will try and seek some clarity for you throughout the program this morning. and of course, we'll bnng morning. and of course, we'll bring that to you on breakfast. but for now, aidan mcgivern has the weather.

>> looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers as sponsors of weather on gb news. >> hello and welcome to the latest update from the met office for gb news. rain clearing the south—east today, followed by further showers for many of us accompanied by cool, blustery skies blustery winds. although skies do brighten later in time for a sunny to the weekend. sunny start to the weekend. here's the picture. by mid—morning, a lot of cloud on the map. showers affecting many places, particularly central and eastern areas. skies, though, do brighten much of central brighten across much of central and western scotland, and then later western parts of the later on western parts of the rest of the uk. we keep the showers going through the midlands, the south east as well, accompanied by a cool and gusty wind. that's going to make it a little disappointing , it feel a little disappointing, i think with highs of 12 to 15 celsius. nevertheless, the showers across central areas do fade away into the evening. the skies tend to clear as well and the wind eases as a result. with lengthy clear skies, a lighter

wind and temperatures will fall through the night. such a frost, even as we begin saturday, so gardeners beware there will be some frostiness first thing, but there'll be plenty of bright skies as well. lots of sunshine lifting those temperatures fairly quickly through the morning. so if you're out and about first thing, it will soon warm up and there'll be plenty of sunshine until around the afternoon , when the clouds will afternoon, when the clouds will tend to build, particularly for central and northern parts of the country and for the far north of scotland. we're going to see some light outbreaks of rain move in here, making it feel cool elsewhere lighter feel cool elsewhere with lighter winds, feeling pleasant enough, a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> now here's some good news for you this morning. there is still time to grab your chance to win a greek cruise. travel goodies and £10,000 tax free cash bank balance boost. >> yes , that's a bit of

>> yes, that's a bit of a mouthful, isn't it? >> here's all the details that you need. >> don't miss your chance to win our biggest prize so far. there's an incredible £10,000 in tax free cash to spend however you like . plus, courtesy of you like. plus, courtesy of variety cruises, a bespoke seven night small boat cruise for two worth £10,000 with flights, meals, excursions and drinks included , your next holiday included, your next holiday could be on us. choose any one of their 2025 greek adventures and find your home at sea. we'll also send you packing with these luxury travel gifts for another chance to win a prize worth over £20,000. text win to 63232. text costs £2 plus one standard network rate message or post your name and number two gb04, p.o. your name and number two gb04, po. box 8690, derby, dh1 nine, double two, uk. only entrants must be 18 or over. lines closed at 5 pm. on the 26th of april. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com/win please check the

closing time if listening or watching on demand. good luck . watching on demand. good luck. >> yes, good luck indeed. now, still to come, the government vows to crack down on sick note. britain we'll tell

next. >> now the prime minister is set to unveil a package of welfare reform measures to tackle britain's sick note. culture which is ironic because they're not even called sick notes anymore. >> fit notes , aren't they? >> fit notes, aren't they? notes. >> why are they called fit notes to say that you're not fit. i drives me mad. >> anyway , the government's >> anyway, the government's claims it has resulted in a significant rise in people being unnecessarily written off work and parked on welfare. >> let's talk to our political correspondent, katherine forster. so what are they planning? catherine >> yes. good morning, stephen and ellie. well, they want to

reduce the cost fundamentally to all of us. the taxpayer , in all of us. the taxpayer, in sickness and disability benefits , because it is quite eye—watering at the moment. some £69 billion a year. that's more than the budget for schools or for police. and it's currently projected to hit nine, 80 billion by the end of the next parliament. so that is the reason why. and also we've now got some 2.8 million people on long term sickness benefit hits. so very, very expensive. the government is very keen to bring that number down. so what they are planning , we've heard from are planning, we've heard from the work and pensions secretary, mel stride this morning . the mel stride this morning. the prime minister will be making a speech after 9:00. is, potentially taking the ability, away from gps to give these fit notes as they call them out. they issued some 11 million last

yeah they issued some 11 million last year. if you know you are struggling, you have, sickness , struggling, you have, sickness, illness problems. go to the doctor, they sign you off work . doctor, they sign you off work. the government point out that the gp has, on average, only 7 or 8 minutes to assess you . the or 8 minutes to assess you. the government are looking into. bazball actually doing something rather different. so getting a health assessment and work assessment together and what mel stride calls a one stop shop . stride calls a one stop shop. and then rather than signing you off work and sort of leaving you to languish on benefits , working to languish on benefits, working out how they may either keep you in work or support you back into work. they're very keen to stress the benefits of work to people's mental health, of course, a lot of concerns from charities who feel that the government's messaging that perhaps, mental health anxiety, depression, that perhaps it has been over , categorised or , you

been over, categorised or, you know, given undue weight, perhaps . so, let's see, i do perhaps. so, let's see, i do think there will be considerable difficulties with this. it's just a consultation at the moment. but given the pressures within the nhs , bringing within the nhs, bringing together work specialists, healthcare professionals, i think will be a challenge. but you can see the thinking, behind it. another point is , of course, it. another point is, of course, the huge waiting lists in the nhs for treatment. there's millions of people waiting to begin treatment. that, of course, is going to have a knock on effect on the ability of people to work. so getting the waiting list down, would benefit the government's welfare bill. but as we've seen, they're not having a huge amount of luck with that at the moment. >> okay, katherine forster good to see you this morning. thank you very much indeed . you very much indeed. >> all right. don't go anywhere. paulis >> all right. don't go anywhere. paul is going to be with

paul is going to be back with all the sport and some interesting on the interesting stuff on the marathon, happening

right. should we go through the sport? we should. >> yeah . >> yeah. >> yeah. >> paul coyte is here. >> paul coyte is here. >> good morning. good morning. a couple of things to go through. firstly, football. we better cover briefly, villa. cover that briefly, aston villa. good them. they're through good for them. they're through to semi—finals europa to the semi—finals of the europa conference league. it went to penalties. martinez their argentinian, argentinian, argentina , argentina. argentina. argentina, argentina. argentina. the argentina character emi martinez emily hand who anyway. look he's he's, struggling. you know, i'm struggling . yeah. know, i'm struggling. yeah. >> anyway, i mean, he nearly got he sort of got sort of red card. >> well he did, he got two yellow cards, but two yellows don't actually make a red when it to penalty shootout , it comes to a penalty shootout, which seemed to have which nobody seemed to have known of way known about because of the way he little he was reacting to the little crowd. you call the crowd. what would you call the

little ? the lillian's, little crowd? the lillian's, lillian's, lillian's? anyway lillian's, lillian's? but anyway , the villans beat the villans. so aston villa came through and won on penalties. so they are through. so well done to them. not so good liverpool, not so good for liverpool, although they atalanta one although they beat atalanta one nil not good enough nil away. not good enough because lost three nil at because they lost three nil at home last week. liverpool are home last week. so liverpool are out europa league and out of the europa league and west they got a draw west ham. they got a draw against leverkusen , who against bayer leverkusen, who everybody seems to lose to, and they're the bundesliga champions. it's a good result for them, but not good enough because they lose three one on aggregate. so there are the europa as well. now europa league as well. now >> interesting weekend ahead because london marathon. >> interesting weekend ahead becalife london marathon. >> interesting weekend ahead becalif you london marathon. >> interesting weekend ahead becalif you were1don marathon. >> interesting weekend ahead becalif you were runningrathon. >> interesting weekend ahead becalif you were running the on. now. if you were running the london marathon year paul, london marathon this year paul, yes, possibly be the yes, you could possibly be the oldest it, oldest person ever to run it, which irony, because which would be irony, because you youngest person. you were the youngest person. >> the youngest person >> i was the youngest person ever although i did ever to run it. although i did lie age. poor hugh lie about my age. poor hugh is probably annoyed probably really annoyed about this i always seem to this because i always seem to bnng this because i always seem to bring it up and mention it again. the race director, hugh brazier, is speaking to now brazier, is speaking to us now about the weekend. there is hugh. morning, hugh.

>> good morning paul. yes, i know you pulled the wool over our eyes, many years ago, but. yeah hopefully that wouldn't happen now. >> it was my fake moustache and beard . i think that made me look beard. i think that made me look 18 instead of actually 17. but the race, actually, i want to talk about this first, because for those that don't know, your dad, chris brazier, legendary runner himself, along with john disley, this back in disley, started this back in 1981. so i'm thinking, how are were you around this time? and do you remember the first ones? you are too young. >> i know i was, i was 15 at the time, so you can work out how old i now. i was 15 at the old i am now. i was 15 at the time and he wrote me into it was school holidays , it was march, school holidays, it was march, march the 29th. and he wrote me in to sell the train tickets. so i sold 6300 train tickets, to to, all the runners these days, you're you're running number gets you free travel on the, on on the rail network. but in those days, you had to pay £0.50. >> yes, i still still got my ticket. and tell me, though, when did you take over then? was it written that you were

it always written that you were going to be the one that would inherit whole race? inherit the whole race? >> no, absolutely far from >> no, no, absolutely far from it. i was, i was a retailer. it. i, i was, i was a retailer. i had, a built up a chain of specialist running stores. i had 43. i sold those that that chain, and the job advert came up and i applied for it, but, andifs up and i applied for it, but, and it's just been an amazing journey. i've been the race director since. since 2012. and, you know, the journey that the marathon has gone on in itself, in, in, in getting bigger and, more impactful has just been quite incredible . and the team quite incredible. and the team that put it on are so passionate about it , that put it on are so passionate about it, inspiring people to get active. and it is a day that london comes together. it's a day that the world comes together . and day that the world comes together. and in a world day that the world comes together . and in a world where together. and in a world where where there's so much division, it really is such a force for good. >> it really is. it's just the most wonderful event, >> it really is. it's just the most wonderful event , whether most wonderful event, whether you're running in it and whether you're running in it and whether you're actually there spectating. where we with spectating. where are we with with hugh? with numbers these days, hugh? is than ever been ? >> 7- >> yeah, 7_ >> yeah, we're ? >> yeah, we're expecting 7 >> yeah, we're expecting record numbers over 50,000 finishers.

so i was told when i started the job, you couldn't have more than 36,000 people on the course. actually, through through crowd management and some interesting software, we now do a very different start process to what we used to do. and it is the most popular marathon on the planet, over 578,000 people appued planet, over 578,000 people applied last year to get into the event, and that was in a seven day window. so the ballot, the entry system opens tomorrow. so if you start getting inspired and honestly, even if you think you couldn't do a marathon, i promise you you can do the london marathon. >> well, stephen is nodding here and he wants to do the london marathon next year. and i think it's a wonderful thing that that stephen, going to do stephen, you're going to do your first marathon year stephen, you're going to do your fithink marathon year stephen, you're going to do your fithink fantastic. athon year stephen, you're going to do your fithink fantastic. what year stephen, you're going to do your fithink fantastic. what aboutaar i think fantastic. what about will you your super shoes will you get your super shoes i mentioned. there more mentioned. are there more finishers ever i guess. are finishers than ever i guess. are these making these super shoes making a difference hugh, difference now, hugh, with speeds also times now? speeds and also with times now? >> yeah . but they also make

>> yeah. but they also make a big difference recovery as big difference on recovery as well. it's one of the things well. so it's one of the things that's spoken so much. so that's spoken about so much. so you i remember the last you know i remember the last time i did the marathon, which was 2003, my father had died six weeks i thought it weeks before, and i thought it would a good to do. would be a good thing to do. hadn't any training. hadn't done any training. i couldn't down the stairs couldn't walk down the stairs for so the for the next four days. so the super there's much super shoes, there's so much more . yes, they can make more bouncy. yes, they can make it go faster, the recovery it go faster, but the recovery is much better . is so much better. >> tell me about texas depher now the world record now she's the world record holder . i now she's the world record holder. i know got now she's the world record holder . i know got three holder. i know you've got three of four greatest female of the four greatest female marathon runners of all time are going to taking part on going to be taking part on sunday. there chances that we sunday. is there chances that we may see world record may see a new world record because smashed it, didn't because she smashed it, didn't she, in berlin i she, last year in berlin by i think it about two minutes. think it was about two minutes. >> look she absolutely >> yeah. look she absolutely did smash got women smash it. we've got nine women that hours, that have run under two hours, 17 and 30s, and the current women's only world records. this is women running on their own. is two 1701, which was set by mary keitany on the london course. so we absolutely you know , the weather gods are know, the weather gods are

looking good. it's a marathon. it's so difficult to predict. but if there was a prediction, i believe that the women's only world record will go on sunday. tickets to obviously is the favourite, but honestly, any one of those women is quite capable of those women is quite capable of doing it. it's going to be a fantastic race, very exciting. >> there going to be >> and is there going to be a tribute kelvin kiptum, now tribute to kelvin kiptum, now the world men's holder the world record men's holder that was killed in a car crash, wasn't he? sadly, back in february and also won the race last year. is there something that you've got planned for him? >> absolutely. kelvin >> absolutely. i mean, kelvin was only 24 when he was tragically killed in february. in this in this car crash. and, he had you know, he had a very short career. he had won valencia in december 2022, the valencia in december 2022, the valencia marathon , the fastest valencia marathon, the fastest ever debutant. he came to london. he broke eliud kipchoge course record and ran the fastest ever half marathon in a marathon in the history of the event. and then he went and broke the world record in

chicago. so we're going to ask the runners to 30s of applause to remember the man, to celebrate the life that he had , celebrate the life that he had, and we know that london will embrace that thought and celebrate his his tragically short life , but a life that had impact. >> lovely. and he should have been the olympics, shouldn't he, this year. but we wish the family well and wish everybody well the weekend. i guess well at the weekend. i guess it's the time for you it's the better time for you now. work's done though, now. all the work's done though, isn't all to isn't it? now we're all ready to go isn't it? now we're all ready to 9° ' isn't it? now we're all ready to go , yeah. we've got, you go, yeah. we've still got, you know, registering all know, we've registering all the runners moment, so we've runners at the moment, so we've had we've registered had record. we've registered record numbers the last two days, so i'm sure that's going to carry on, but yeah, we've got 10,000 kids in the tcs mini london marathon tomorrow, so, 10,000 kids is, is an interesting challenge for the team, and, they're either going to be running one mile or 2.6 k and there's some of the best runners in the country . every runners in the country. every runners in the country. every runner is getting actually paid. every child is getting paid £10 by tcs, the to , sponsor, to do

by tcs, the to, sponsor, to do the event. and it goes towards the event. and it goes towards the either computer equipment or sports equipment at their schools. so it's an incredible, event and it's sold out. not surprisingly, in 24 hours. >> wow, you have a great weekend. it's always a pleasure. thanks so much for your time. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> paul, look out for mr stephen who is going to be looking, mr stephen, who's going to be doing the london marathon next year ? the london marathon next year? no. are you going? >> do you know, i always feel off because hugh is always so obviously about obviously enthusiastic about it. and know lot people are and i know a lot of people are so passionate about the marathon. think of marathon. i can't think of anything worse. >> oh anything worse. >> on can you? >> on can you? >> okay, fine. >> okay, fine. >> it's the stuff . it's the >> it's the stuff. it's the stuff of nightmares for me. >> it's the stuff. it's the stu�*it's nightmares for me. >> it's the stuff. it's the stu�* it's tough �*nares for me. >> it's the stuff. it's the stu�*it's tough , ares for me. >> it's the stuff. it's the stu�*it's tough , but. for me. >> it's the stuff. it's the stu�*it's tough , but it's me. something. >> it's the achievement afterwards i just see people crossing the line. i remember my dad saying to me when i crossed the line, he said, son, you're a man now. you've done a man's job. i burst into tears. job. and i burst into tears. yeah. really ? yeah. did he really? >> yeah. >> yeah. >> yeah, yeah, makes me feel

like that. just thinking about it. oh that's really sweet. >> nice, nice. >> nice, nice, nice. >> and he looked at the >> and then he looked at the time said, what the what? time and said, what the what? what do call that? what do you call that? >> hours. you've run boys >> five hours. you've run a boys time . time. >> brilliant stuff paul. thank you. >> now do you stay with us. we're going to be going through the papers next with mike buckley and ella whelan.

>> time to see what's in the papers this morning . with former papers this morning. with former labour adviser mike buckley and the journalist ella toone allen. good morning to you both, let's kick off with, what may or may not be going on between israel and iran. first and foremost. ella. yes. >> so, there's been a little bit more news come out. us officials have told cbs news that this did happen , and it's been confirmed happen, and it's been confirmed that there was a strike. the

state broadcaster in iran is very much downplaying reports suggesting saying that there's essentially not been any damage , essentially not been any damage, that there's nothing really much happened and that it could have been could have come internally. >> yes. >> yes. >> so from infiltrators. yeah >> so from infiltrators. yeah >> downplaying the well, it is as yet obviously unconfirmed . we as yet obviously unconfirmed. we haven't had a statement from israel. there's been no, official kind of lid put on this, but iran potentially suggesting that this wasn't what anybody thinks it is, that hasn't stopped a broader response from other countries. so australia coming out and telling, its citizens in israel essentially to leave, and putting out quite a frightened sounding message about the potential for conflict and danger and, and telling australians to get out of there. the us has restricted for , the us has restricted for, travel people working in its embassy, its embassy staff in israel for similar reasons, saying that they need to be overly cautious despite, any

sort of lack of clarity on what exactly has happened. that's relatively significant , you relatively significant, you know, it's certainly a shift, in terms of approach to how people should be feeling in israel. and there are sort of wider commentary about what any of this sort of this potential for an open war, whether or not iran retaliates in an extreme way or not. but the fact that this has changed to direct conflict between the two nations, what that means for people living in iran, but also in israel, lots of different people all over the world live there. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> mike, what do you make of it? >> mike, what do you make of it? >> i mean, it's of great concern. i mean, the whole the whole situation, mean, whole situation, i mean, particularly obviously between israel, particularly in gaza. i mean, happening mean, that's all still happening . and israeli forces are still there. people still there. there are people still dying. aid is still dying. and enough aid is still not in. we need to not getting in. so we need to not getting in. so we need to not that that's that's not forget that that's that's the but of course, the major thing. but of course, this across the region this widening across the region is of great concern. and this is something that joe biden, for example, and, example, and rishi sunak and, and starmer you know, and keir starmer and, you know,

other have all other world leaders have all been trying put pressure on been trying to put pressure on israel and other nations the israel and other nations in the region we don't get region to say that we don't get to this point. so are now at to this point. so we are now at this direct conflict this point of direct conflict between this point of direct conflict be something that people this point of direct conflict besomething that people have is something that people have been to prevent been trying to prevent and worried and at worried about for years. and at the moment , worried about for years. and at the moment, it's all happening at a scale. iran, at quite a small scale. iran, particularly seems this morning to be downplaying the impact of the strike from israel and saying, you know, well, there hasn't damage, it hasn't been much damage, but it hasn't been much damage, but it has said we will respond has also said we will respond immediately. they haven't responded as we know responded yet. as far as we know . said that . iran has also said that continuing israel continuing attacks from israel may make it review its nuclear centre. at the moment, it's saying it doesn't have nuclear weapons, but seek to weapons, but it may seek to develop nuclear weapons and apparently the capability to apparently has the capability to do further do so if it feels further threatened by israel. and of course, something that course, that is something that the us who want to live course, that is something that th

the ongoing situation in ukraine and a man has been arrested , for and a man has been arrested, for allegedly, spying and planning a plot to kill president zelenskyy. >> yes. so apparently there's an airport in poland just over the border from ukraine, which is used relatively regularly by zelenskyy to travel when he goes overseas rather than flying directly from ukraine. and it's also used by western leaders when they're going to ukraine, they fly there and then they fly in there and then travel by by train car. so travel on by by train or car. so this made himself aware, this person made himself aware, apparently to russian authorities, to the russian secret and said would secret service and said i would be willing to help you kill zelenskyy. then the russians zelenskyy. and then the russians then him, well, if then said to him, well, what if you could security you could find out security arrangements at airport and arrangements at this airport and find so find out where they're lax? so thankfully, found out and authorities have found out and they've him. but they've now arrested him. but this you know, it's this just, you know, it's another that goes to show another thing that goes to show just how far the russians will go to win this war. that, of course, puts further pressure on us, puts further pressure on europe and indeed on the us as well , to do everything we well, to do everything we

possibly ukraine win possibly can to help ukraine win this war. and of course, the wider context of the minute is that, sadly, the is that, very sadly, the west is not help, not doing enough to help, ukraine ukraine is ukraine win this war. ukraine is constantly to west, constantly saying to the west, we weapons, we need we we need more weapons, we need we need air support, and there is going to be a vote in the us congress this weekend because they're they've been for months now delaying on voting on a support deal for ukraine. so hopefully that will go through this weekend, which be this weekend, which could be transformative of la. transform ative of la. >> transformative of la. >> do you think the west is doing enough to support ukraine, well, it depends what you mean by support. obviously, in terms of money, there's the terrible row on in america about row going on in america about whether not, will whether or not, they will continue sending it and the prospect of a trump presidency . prospect of a trump presidency. he is, i think, probably making a lot of people in ukraine very nervous because it's unsure about how republicans will actually but actually respond to that. but it's strange to talk about conflicts way and, don't conflicts in this way and, don't get me the wrong way, but i think it's been an unfortunate for ukraine's cause, in a way. what's happening in the middle east taken

east because it's taken attention and, attention away from them. and, you sounds strange, you know, that sounds strange, but is that. no, no, but what i mean is that. no, no, the world focused on, what the world was focused on, what was we were daily reporting news and what was happening in ukraine. and it has taken a back seat. and that's despite the fact that nothing changed, fact that nothing has changed, that hasn't that russian aggression hasn't lessened , that there hasn't, you lessened, that there hasn't, you know, there hasn't been any sort of to that conflict, of resolution to that conflict, as and so in a way, you as we know. and so in a way, you know , highlighting failed plots know, highlighting failed plots like reminds people like this makes reminds people of how live this issue is, of how important it is to still remember that this what's happening ukraine affects the happening in ukraine affects the whole and is whole of the world. and is something we need to keep talking about. >> let's move a >> all right, let's move a little bit closer to home. should we, for some people, watching and listening. anyway, this in the guardian this this is in the guardian this morning looking thames water, morning looking at thames water, could be renationalised. the guardian claims the government is looking at that. >> yes . >> yes. >> yes. >> and you had mel stride on earlier in this program sort of dampening that a little bit, saying no, no, no, there's no official reports. yeah. also making assurance, thought making the assurance, i thought

i of snickered that i sort of snickered that absolute guarantee that water will out of your will still come out of your taps. you think that's a low bag? >> good lord. >> good lord. >> i mean, you about >> i mean, might cost you about £20 glass. £20 a glass. >> yeah, exactly . >> yeah, exactly. >> yeah, exactly. >> and be full of sewage. but anyway, there's the important point is that if you look, the guardian highlights that back when, thames was was taken out of public ownership in 1989, it had zero debt. so and now there's a debt, bill of 15.6 billion. and you know, we know that it's a completely failing organisation, whether it's sort of leakages, the issue of sewage, the, you know, constant question of things not working properly, right down to sort of structural issues, something needs to be done about this, taking it into public ownership or an arm's length public ownership isn't going to be the magic solution, because you need to have a strong, functioning, organised to state do that. and we know that we currently do not have that, whether it's in relation to rwanda or any other plans, so this is a it's a

depressing story. i mean, the sort of background why this sort of background to why this has is in part, the has happened is in part, the guardian shareholder guardian highlights shareholder siphoning out billions in dividends it dividends and stripping it basically . and then, you know, basically. and then, you know, the issue that a lot of the thames water infrastructure is very, very old. unrwa repaired doesn't work, is under a lot of stress in terms of, you know, population growth and all the rest of it, but there seems to be no real big plan to deal with what is a basic necessity of life, of having clean, accessible, cheap water. because let's not forget that the bills keep going up. >> that's the problem is with this. who's going to want to buy it if the infrastructure costs everything are going to be so high, is nationalisation going to be the only way forward despite the fact it's going to cost us a whole heap of money? >> well, the reports out this morning were talking about the government nationalised then government nationalised and then reprivatized they've government nationalised and then reprivwith d they've government nationalised and then reprivwith a they've government nationalised and then reprivwith a numberzy've government nationalised and then reprivwith a number 0er government nationalised and then reprivwith a number of other done, with a number of other failed privatisations. if failed privatisations. but if that we need that happens, we need, we need as country, the next

as a country, the next government needs to think about changing the model, the model we have means that have in the minute means that company, any privatised company, including this one, their their number like any private number one job. like any private company , is to maximise company, is to maximise shareholder profit. of course, in pubuc shareholder profit. of course, in public utility that is in the public utility that is not good. and that is what has led to the fact that there's been little investment in been so little investment in reservoirs maintaining reservoirs or maintaining infrastructure , you know, for infrastructure, you know, for the last 30 years. billions the last 30 years. so billions has siphoned out in has been siphoned out in profits. got 15.6 profits. they've got 15.6 billion which maybe billion in debt, which maybe which obviously be which would obviously be nationalised the company which would obviously be nation go ed the company which would obviously be nation go on the company which would obviously be nation go on to the company which would obviously be nation go on to the re company which would obviously be nation go on to the government would go on to the government balance meanwhile, balance sheet. meanwhile, prices are haven't are going up and they haven't been investing in making sure that the water is drinkable available , that sewage doesn't available, that sewage doesn't leak into rivers, etc, etc. we've now got the almost inevitable problems that we've got. water system is got. so if the water system is going to stay privatised, we need change in the model so need a change in the model so that its primary is to that its primary purpose is to ensure investment happens ensure that investment happens and get cheap and so that people get cheap water clean water coming out water and clean water coming out of so that goes of their taps. and so that goes where it needs to go, rather than into rivers than than into rivers rather than billion siphoned into billion siphoned off into shareholder you're shareholder profits. but you're right. then right. i mean, the question then is, going to buy it?

is, well, who's going to buy it? >> yeah, yeah, big question, >> yeah, yeah, a big question, mike, look at brexit mike, should we look at brexit travel, for uk students. travel, hope for uk students. that's on the front page of the eye this morning. yes. >> so this of course like >> so this of course looks like it's of nowhere. it's come out of nowhere. it hasn't really out hasn't really come out of nowhere obviously brexit nowhere because obviously brexit happened four ago. freedom happened four years ago. freedom of you know of movement ended. so you know before travel to before that we could travel to any the eu to live any country in the eu to live and work or study or anything like that. and of course europeans could come here to that it, the since then, that end. it, the since then, the government, our government has recognised that we have a need for inward migration because we have labour shortages and partly because we have an ageing population. so the number of coming into the of immigrants coming into the country, has up. country, of course, has gone up. meanwhile, the government has been running around the to been running around the eu to some the more , more, some of the larger, more, more, you western europe, you know, western europe, nafions you know, western europe, nations france, germany, nations like france, germany, spain . trying to get spain and others. trying to get a bespoke movement deal between our country and their country so that we can meet our inward migration needs from there as well. countries have well. all those countries have said the uk. they don't

said no to the uk. they don't want to do that because what the eu is deal covers eu wants is a deal that covers the whole of the eu and includes all of countries, rather all of those countries, rather than the richer than just some of the richer onesin than just some of the richer ones in west. so this is in ones in the west. so this is in fact our fact a response to our government saying we government going and saying we would some movement government going and saying we wouldwith some movement government going and saying we wouldwith some some movement government going and saying we wouldwith some ofme movement government going and saying we wouldwith some of these yvement government going and saying we wouldwith some of these other nt deals with some of these other nations. deals with some of these other nat everyone's mad at the >> everyone's going mad at the migration best part of >> everyone's going mad at the mmillion best part of >> everyone's going mad at the mmillion people best part of >> everyone's going mad at the mmillion people theyast part of >> everyone's going mad at the mmillion people they are. art of a million people they are. >> because we >> but that's partly because we have that is have a government that is essentially thing essentially doing one thing while the country, while saying to the country, they're do something they're going to do something else. government knows else. so the government knows full have ageing full well we have an ageing population, which means the proportion of older people who are growing. the are not working is growing. the proportion working proportion of working age country this is country is shrinking. this is just the birth rates just because the birth rates over last, know, or over the last, you know, 60 or 70 years. so there's no way out over the last, you know, 60 or 70 itears. so there's no way out over the last, you know, 60 or 70 it .3rs. so there's no way out over the last, you know, 60 or 70 it . now.) there's no way out over the last, you know, 60 or 70 it . now. this re's no way out over the last, you know, 60 or 70 it . now. this iss no way out over the last, you know, 60 or 70 it . now. this is the way out over the last, you know, 60 or 70 it . now. this is the reality. |t of it. now. this is the reality. this is the uk. we need therefore, to import working age people. the society people. otherwise the society will not function, whether it's business or public sector services or anything else. so the government knows that they're running around the planet get people planet trying to get people to come the work. at the come to the uk to work. at the same time, they're saying to the general public, gosh, immigration thing. immigration is a terrible thing. we numbers down. we must bring the numbers down. so completely disingenuous so it's completely disingenuous justi just think it's interesting

>> i just think it's interesting that european has that the european union has always painted as this always painted itself as this lovely internationalist. we lovely pro internationalist. we lovely pro internationalist. we love going all love everyone going anywhere all the let's all mix the time. let's all mix together, and a lot of the time they stand in the way of any kind of actual internationalist approach. a approach. and there can be a post—brexit, internationalist approach, not freedom approach, just not freedom of movement, a particular movement, which was a particular policy with a particular set of strings attached. >> , ella, mike, thank you >> okay, ella, mike, thank you both much indeed. both very much indeed. >> see you both a >> we shall see you both a little bit later on. we've got all the headlines coming up, of course, very shortly as well. everything that's going this everything that's going on this morning, to morning, we're also going to have aidan have the weather with aidan mcgivern. >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello and welcome to the latest update from the met office for gb news rain clearing the south—east today, followed by further showers for many of us by cool, blustery us accompanied by cool, blustery winds. do winds. although skies do brighten later in time for a sunny start to the weekend. here's the picture. by

mid—morning, lot of cloud on mid—morning, a lot of cloud on the map. showers affecting many places, particularly central and eastern areas. skies, though, do brighten across much of central and western scotland, and then later on western parts of the rest of the uk. we keep the showers going through the midlands, the south east as well, accompanied cool and well, accompanied by a cool and gusty . that's going to make gusty wind. that's going to make it little disappointing, it feel a little disappointing, i with highs of 12 to 15 i think with highs of 12 to 15 celsius. nevertheless the showers across central areas do fade away into the evening . the fade away into the evening. the skies tend to clear as well and the wind eases as a result, with lengthy clear skies, a lighter wind. temperatures will fall through the night. such a frost even as we begin saturday, so gardeners beware there will be some frostiness first thing, but it will be plenty of bright skies as well. lots of sunshine lifting those temperatures fairly quickly through the morning. so if you're out and about first thing, it will soon warm up and there'll be plenty of sunshine until around the afternoon, when the clouds will

tend to build, particularly for central and northern parts of the country and for the far north of scotland . we're going north of scotland. we're going to see some light outbreaks of rain moving here, making it feel cool elsewhere, with lighter winds pleasant enough . winds feeling pleasant enough. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on

on iran in a retaliatory strike, reports of explosions near a military base in isfahan . the military base in isfahan. the work and pensions secretary, mel stride, spoke to us earlier. >> i firmly believe that israel has a right to self—defence, but at the same time, of course,

what we have been impressing upon the israeli government is the importance of de—escalation. at this point. >> meanwhile, iranian state media downplayed the attack as the news agency claims the country's nuclear facilities are completely secure. as a senior commander tells them, no damage was done. >> well, a senior iranian official claims there is no plan for immediate retaliation, despite having warned of a severe and immediate response if israel were to attack . israel were to attack. >> western governments tell its citizens to leave israel over fears of a reprisal attack . fears of a reprisal attack. >> also today, the prime minister pledges to end the sick note culture in britain . note culture in britain. >> yes, 2.8 million people are claiming long term sickness and disability benefits. it's costing the government the taxpayer an absolute fortune . taxpayer an absolute fortune. now there is a crackdown coming. the government says it's going

to save money. charities and some health professionals thinking it's going too far. i'll bring you the details shortly. >> well, in the sport, this morning, emmy martinez's antics and goal see aston villa go through on a penalty shoot out to the europa conference league semi—final as liverpool and west ham go out of the europa league . ham go out of the europa league. emma raducanu is playing great injury free tennis and we'll be heading to paris with less than 100 days to the olympic games. >> it's going to be a sunny start to the weekend for many of us as higher pressure finally arrives. but before we get there, today is another day of bright spells and showers. i'll have the full details in the forecast coming up shortly . forecast coming up shortly. >> good morning to you. >> good morning to you. >> stephen dixon and i'm >> i'm stephen dixon and i'm ellie costello, is ellie costello, and this is breakfast on . gb news. breakfast on. gb news. >> all right. lots to crack on with this morning, >> all right. lots to crack on with this morning , because with this morning, because israel has reportedly launched an attack on iran overnight in a

retaliatory strike. reports of explosions near a military base in isfahan. at least that's according to us officials. >> well, iranian state media have been quick to downplay the situation, claiming that their air defence systems were able to destroy three drones in the centre of the country. >> well, we're yet to hear from israeli officials about the attack. no one has said they carried it out well. >> meanwhile , the australian >> meanwhile, the australian government has urged its citizens to leave israel over fears of a revenge attack. >> earlier we spoke to the work and pensions secretary, mel stride, who admitted that the key issue here is de—escalation is clearly an emerging story, so we don't know the full facts at this stage. >> and israel has yet to confirm action or otherwise. look, i'd make a few points here. i think one is that we firmly believe that israel has a right to self—defence. but at the same time, of course, what we have

been impressing upon the israeli government is the importance of de—escalation at this point. so whilst we don't know the details at the moment, my hope is that whatever has happened is of a nature where de—escalation can now be the way forward. and of course we can continue then to focus on the diplomatic work that we and others are doing to ensure that we get humanitarian aid into gaza . aid into gaza. >> well, our security editor, mark white, joins us now. mark, this is a developing story. bnng this is a developing story. bring us up to date. >> well, of course, the g7 foreign ministers are meeting in italy today so we can expect some comments from those foreign ministers , from the likes of ministers, from the likes of lord cameron, who's a crosshair for the uk , antony blinken, the for the uk, antony blinken, the us secretary of state. we were told, will make comments at some point this morning . you're right point this morning. you're right to say no official confirmation as yet from israel, although us

media are reporting that they had heard from official sources in the white house that israel had told the us government prior to launching these apparently limited strikes , that they were limited strikes, that they were about to do that, and i say apparently limited . we just apparently limited. we just don't have much information on what has been targeted and how much potential damage has been caused. iran has been saying this morning that its air defence systems dealt with whatever this threat was, and it took down three drones that they say were launched from infiltrators within iran itself . infiltrators within iran itself. and certainly i think it would be unusual in the extreme if israel launched drones from a thousand miles away in israel towards iran . slow moving towards iran. slow moving drones, which could be easily taken out by any air defence system. much more likely that this was a missile strike

launched by israel , either from launched by israel, either from israel or indeed perhaps from aircraft. further towards iran. we have been told as well from a syrian official, media sources as saying that air defence systems and radar sites in syria were attacked overnight by israeli fighter aircraft. so another angle to this. but what's unknown at this stage really is, as i say, the damage, of course, of what sites around isfahan, which is in central iran, were targeted. there are reports of other explosions, perhaps in a city in northwest eastern iran, but that is not confirmed as yet. and the other thing we don't really know at this stage is whether this was intended to be limited to this action and this action only within iran . and anything

within iran. and anything further that israel does, perhaps, is being carried out against proxies or other targets that are outside iran and may be conducted in a more slower time approach by israel , conducted in a more slower time approach by israel, or conducted in a more slower time approach by israel , or whether approach by israel, or whether perhaps this is the first phase of what israel may be planning that will only really become clear in the hours and days ahead. as i say, the government in israel has not even confirmed that they've carried out any strikes as yet . strikes as yet. >> okay, mark, thanks very much indeed. well, let's talk to the former armed forces minister, mark francois, who joins us now. are you still holding your breath on this, or do you think israel has listened to the likes of david cameron and showed significant restraint here? >> well , it details are still emerging. >> your correspondent has just

said so at until we get more detail, it's difficult to know exactly what we're dealing with here. so, parliament doesn't usually sit on a friday except a number of days when we focus on private members bills . and the private members bills. and the house is sitting today. private members bills. and the house is sitting today . so as house is sitting today. so as i'm a member of the house of commons defence committee , i, commons defence committee, i, for one, think it's important that because under parliamentary rules, the government can make a statement in the house at any time when the house is sitting is that we interrupt business this morning important though it is. my friend anna firth has got a private member's bill to try and combat pet theft. i'm actually going into support her this morning, but i think the government should interrupt business this morning and make a statement in the house of commons to tell parliament everything we do know about what

has happened and that will allow mps to question the government. minister on what has happened . minister on what has happened. >> and of course, i assume the government priority is going to be de—escalation . be de—escalation. >> yes. >> yes. >> i think it's, i think that's something we would all like to see. but although i would just make the point that when for instance, president biden calls on the israelis to de—escalate, you know, if someone was trying to rain down missiles and drones on washington or new york or chicago, if they were on the receiving end of it, you know , receiving end of it, you know, how keen would they be to de—escalate? so i think we have to, look at the reality of the situation . it's now very situation. it's now very apparent from intelligence reports that iran was behind the hamas attack. they put them up to it in order to try and prevent the saudis signing something called the abraham

accords, which was a sort of peace deal with israel, if you like, to improve relations in the region . so we now know that the region. so we now know that iran were the culprits in that we know that iran have been using their proxies, the houthis, to fire, missiles at shipping, including british shipping. we know that iran finance hamas. we know that iran finance hamas. we know that iran finance and train them and the hezbollah. so that's the context that we are dealing with. and i think we need to be clear eyed about it. and i think we also want to ask the government why, oh, why have we still not prescribed the iranian revolutionary guard corps as a terrorist organisation ? so there terrorist organisation? so there are a number of questions to be asked today in parliament. so i think it's very, very important that the government offers a statement and shares whatever information they do have with the house of commons and via the

commons with the nation. >> what's your assessment of why we've not had any confirmation from israel on this yet, we've not had any confirmation from israel on this yet , there from israel on this yet, there may be some intelligence reasons for that, i don't want to speculate further . what we don't speculate further. what we don't know is whether this is , a know is whether this is, a single strike or whether it's the precursor to further strikes. i'm sure, as you mentioned, you've got the, the foreign ministers meeting today. i'm sure israel will come under immense pressure to make some kind of announcement and to explain to the world what its intentions are , particularly intentions are, particularly whether or not there is likely to be further action. so we're all slightly in the dark at the moment. no pun intended, because it was an overnight strike, all the more reason. again, i think that ministers must come to the house of commons this morning and tell us what they do know . and tell us what they do know. >> and if that does happen, i'm sure it will raised in the

sure it will be raised in the house with this escalating situation the east, situation in the middle east, will you be raising the topic of defence spending again, sitting at 2.3% gdp? should we be at 2.3% of gdp? should we be spending more? >> well, well, i and my colleagues on the committee have consistently for years argued that we should be spending at least 3% of our gdp on defence, that if you like , has been the that if you like, has been the committee's policy for want of a better word, going back to previous chairmen like doctor juuan previous chairmen like doctor julian lewis, he his slogan was three to keep us free. so we have been and remember we're a we're an all party committee. we have mps from four parties. so it's not a partisan point in in any way. but look, we have , any way. but look, we have, russia has invaded ukraine, china is making increasingly sulphurous threats towards tyre one, as i just said, we've got now this situation in the middle east. yes, of course we should increase our defence spending . increase our defence spending. and one of the things we should

spend the extra money on is a is a air defence system for the united kingdom. we don't have anything comparable to the israeli iron dome system. we have the technology to build it, but we don't have the money. and this is something the committee has taken evidence on in recent months. we were told that the mod went to number 10, asked for the money for such a system and were turned down, which we regret . so of course we should regret. so of course we should increase our defence spending. the first duty of government above all others is to the defence of the realm. and i say that not just as a former armed forces minister or a former ta officer in the cold war many years ago, but i say that as the son of a d—day veteran , good to son of a d—day veteran, good to see you this morning. >> thank you very much for your time, the idea of an iron dome system for the uk. do we really need one? i don't know, i've never thought of that in the past. it's slightly worrying if people are thinking. we do

require that sort of protection, let's talk to former uk ambassador to the united nations and security adviser to and national security adviser to the prime minister, sir mark lyall grant. sir mark, we appreciate your time this morning. it's very it's very difficult to see quite or work out quite what has gone on here. it almost seems like a bit of a shadow war going on in a sense, almost a shot across the bows. if israel indeed was behind this. but from what you've seen, what's your assessment ? what's your assessment? >> well, from what i've seen, and as you rightly say, a lot is still unclear, i think it was an israeli strike, the fact that they haven't announced it publicly is standard operating procedure for israel. they still haven't announced that they were behind the attack. that destroyed the iranian consulate in damascus on the 1st of april. so that is not a surprise . but i so that is not a surprise. but i think we can take a little bit

of encouragement today from the fact that this was a very limited , israeli strike, given limited, israeli strike, given that the extent of the military capability that they have, they could have launched a much wider strike against iran , so it is strike against iran, so it is more limited. and the fact that iran has responded by downplaying it very much, saying that they shot down, missiles or drones that were incoming , drones that were incoming, there's been no damage on the ground. does suggest that it might be possible to draw on a line under this particular phase of the for tat between israel and iran. what do you make of that, of that shift in rhetoric? >> because it has been very, very quick, hasn't it? it was only a day ago when iran was warning that any response to israel would be immediate and at maximum level. but then we're heanng maximum level. but then we're hearing in last hour or so that there are no plans for immediate retaliation . retaliation. >> well, iran does not want a full scale war with israel, let

alone, of course, the united states. so i'm not surprised that they are downplaying this despite the fiery rhetoric beforehand , the rhetoric beforehand, the rhetoric initially was designed to deter israel from any attack, but as they've seen, that this attack has come, that it hasn't caused a great deal of damage. they will want to draw the line under this particular phase , because this particular phase, because they do not want to get into a direct war with the with israel. they are much happier working through proxies like hezbollah in lebanon, like the houthis in yemen, for example. so i would not expect iran to respond to this, provided that israel is not preparing a bigger and further attack. >> i mean, this is going to be the issue for, for israel, for netanyahu in all of this. i mean, someone you know , who is, mean, someone you know, who is, you know, pretty far to the right. it has to be said he's pretty much a hawk when it comes to these sort of things. and yet, one of his ministers,

ben—gvir , has tweeted this ben—gvir, has tweeted this morning just saying feeble. well we can the conclusion you draw from this is that he's not very impressed with with what is being carried out there is going to be internal pressure in israel to do more , isn't there? israel to do more, isn't there? >> well, i think there certainly will be, but i think we should also give a little bit of credit to the american and british governments at this point, because they been saying to because they have been saying to israel very clearly, yes, you have a right to respond. we're not saying you shouldn't, but it in anything you do, please make sure it isn't escalates . and it sure it isn't escalates. and it does appear that netanyahu so far at least, has listened to that advice. but you're right, he will come under pressure from hardliners in his own war cabinet and more widely, to do a lot more , more than what appears lot more, more than what appears to be just a sort of sighting shot , to be just a sort of sighting shot, against isfahan, it to be just a sort of sighting shot , against isfahan, it looks shot, against isfahan, it looks as though, so far from what we understand, that israel has

heeded the advice of joe biden and been measured in their response. we understand that they had told the us about this strike, reportedly the us were furious that they weren't told about the damascus strike. but the us will want to be careful, won't it, because it doesn't want to be seen to be implicated in all of this ? in all of this? >> yes. i mean, president biden was very clear, right from the start that if there was an israeli response, it wouldn't be with american support, yes . they with american support, yes. they will offer israel support if israel is attacked , but they israel is attacked, but they will not participate in or give any support to, israeli offensive military action, and that's what we've seen because the last thing joe biden wants is for america to be dragged into a wider middle east conflict . the person who's most conflict. the person who's most sort of comfortable, in a way, with the present situation is benjamin netanyahu himself .

benjamin netanyahu himself. because let's not forget that ever since the attack last weekend by iran against israel, the focus has come off, gaza. what's happening in gaza that the americans have been bound in very publicly to the support of the defence of israel and israel's defensive capabilities have been shown to be very impressive because the iranian attack against israel was a lot more significant than this latest israel attack against iran. and yet it still caused very little damage in israel . very little damage in israel. >> okay, can i just ask you to explain something to us as our former ambassador to the united nafions former ambassador to the united nations , you understand these nations, you understand these these relationships better than most of us. every every now and then, when we discuss what's going on with iran and iran funding these proxy groups and all the rest of it, we then hear that, well, iran's closest friend is russia. do we do we think that the relationship between russia and iran is

strong enough that perhaps some of this is i mean, would you think some of this is being orchestrated from moscow, or is that conspiracy ? that conspiracy? >> no, i think that is conspiracy , iranian russian conspiracy, iranian russian relations have traditionally not been all that close, but they have become a lot closer since the russian invasion of ukraine because iran has provided a lot of attack drones to russia, which are being used against, ukraine. so in the last two years, relations between russia and iran have become a lot closer . but no, i do not and iran have become a lot closer. but no, i do not think that moscow wants to get involved . it has enough on its involved. it has enough on its hands, in the war in ukraine, they certainly don't want to get directly involved in any middle east conflict at this stage. >> okay. so, marc, really appreciate your time this morning. thanks very much indeed.thank morning. thanks very much indeed. thank you. >> this is a developing situation. we'll keep you across all of the details on breakfast

this morning. but for now aidan mcgivern has the weather. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on gb news news. >> hello and welcome to the latest update from the met office for gb news. rain clearing the south east today followed by further showers for many of us, accompanied by cool blustery winds . although skies blustery winds. although skies do brighten later time for do brighten later in time for a sunny start to the weekend. here's the picture by mid—morning , a lot of cloud on mid—morning, a lot of cloud on the map. showers affecting many places, particularly central and eastern areas. skies, though, do brighten across much of central and western scotland, and then later on, western parts of the rest of the uk. we keep the showers going through the midlands, the south east as well, accompanied by a cool and gusty wind that's going to make it little disappointing, it feel a little disappointing, i with highs of 12 to 15 i think with highs of 12 to 15 celsius. nevertheless, the showers across central areas do

fade away into the evening. the skies tend to clear as well and the wind eases as a result, with lengthy clear skies, a lighter wind temperatures will fall through the night. such a frost even as we begin saturday. so gardeners beware there will be some frostiness first thing, but there'll be plenty of bright skies as well. lots of sunshine lifting those temperatures fairly quickly through the morning. so if you're out and about first thing, it will soon warm up and there'll be plenty of sunshine until around the afternoon, when the clouds will tend to build, particularly for central and northern parts of the country and for the far north of scotland. we're going to see some light outbreaks of rain moving here, making it feel cool elsewhere with lighter winds feeling pleasant enough, a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. sponsors of weather on. gb news. >> now there is some good news. there's still plenty of time to

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26th of april. full terms and privacy notice at gbnews.com/win please check the closing time if listening or watching on demand . listening or watching on demand. good luck . good luck. >> i'll be glad when that one's oven >> i'll be glad when that one's over. it's the music because the music sets her off. she sits there dancing, shaking it feels like you're already abroad in greece. >> yeah , it'd be nice. that >> yeah, it'd be nice. that would be nice, wouldn't it? >> love a summer holiday? >> love a summer holiday? >> feel like we need a holiday anyway? >> maybe one day, maybe one day, anyway, still to come, the government is vowing to crack down on sick note. britain will tell you more in a couple of minutes

now the prime minister is going to unveil a package of welfare reform measures. he wants to tackle what he's calling britain's sick note culture. yes >> the government claim it has

resulted in a significant rise in people being unnecessarily written off work and parked on welfare . well, earlier we spoke welfare. well, earlier we spoke to work and pensions secretary mel stride . mel stride. >> at the moment is that we have a growing number of people going on to long term sickness benefits. there are 2.8 million people on those benefits at the moment. we know that a reasonable proportion of those people, for example, want to work. and what i'm all about is making sure that that journey making sure that in that journey that sometimes people are taking from through a fit note, from work through a fit note, then into longer terms sickness benefits that at each stage of that journey we do whatever we can to support people into work . can to support people into work. >> let's talk to our political correspondent, katherine forster who's in westminster for us this morning. so your doctor won't be able to write you a sick note or able to write you a sick note or a fit note that they're called for some completely unknown reason, but instead you'll be sent off to see a work coach . sent off to see a work coach. >> yes. well, that's the plan . >> yes. well, that's the plan. and we'll be hearing more from

the prime minister in the next hour or so. but basically, the government are incredibly worried about the big rise in the number of people off on long term sick stands at the moment. at 2.8 million. that's up some 700,000 since before the pandemic. and it's horrifically expensive for the government and ultimately for taxpayers . and ultimately for taxpayers. and some £69 billion a year once you include the cost of benefits and also the housing costs associated with that. and that's projected to rise to 90 billion by the end of the next parliament. so they need to do something . and now rishi sunak something. and now rishi sunak is going to say today that the focus needs to be the default, becomes what work you can do, not what work you can't because the 11 million fit notes issued last year, 94% of those

basically said that the person wasn't able to do any work at all. now the government wants people to be working if they possibly can. says it's for good their mental health as well. so their mental health as well. so the plan, it seems , is the plan, it seems, is potentially to strip the gp of the power to sign people off sick. they're proposing instead something that, mel stride, the work and pensions secretary, is calling work. well, basically bringing together medical professional with people from the benefits team and working out together to, how they can keep them in work if possible , keep them in work if possible, give them the support they need now , that's all very well. now, that's all very well. i think that will be huge . hugely think that will be huge. hugely challenging, though. obviously the need for this is clear, but given the pressures within the nhs, given the shortage of doctors, given the waiting lists

, it's, i think it will be quite difficult for them to get this up and running. and of course, they're already coming in for a lot of criticism, because rishi sunakis lot of criticism, because rishi sunak is expected to say that, you know, there's a risk of over medicalising the every day challenges and worries of life because, a lot of the claims now are related to mental health anxiety and depression. charities very, very worried about people being effectively vilified and not supported. so this is a very difficult nettle for the government to grasp, one that they feel they must grasp, i think it's going to be very challenging for them. >> yeah, challenging and controversial, as you say , controversial, as you say, especially with those mental health charities. katherine forster live for us in westminster. thank you very much indeed. and we'll hear more from the prime minister, won't we, in the prime minister, won't we, in the next hour so on those the next hour or so on those plans. do let us know what you think of them as well. gbnews.com/yoursay coming up in just paul coyte

just a few minutes, paul coyte is to have all the sport is going to have all the sport for you this morning. >> he's looking to the >> and he's looking ahead to the olympics just 100 days.

falls here with all your sport. good morning, good morning. morning. or should i say. bonjour. >> bonjour . bonjour. >> bonjour. lille. were beaten by aston villa , yesterday. last by aston villa, yesterday. last night in the conference league, the europa conference league. you know, it was. it was two one up to aston villa heading over to france. and then lille won two one. and then basically it went on went to penalties. emmy martinez, who's a bit of a handful argentinian goalkeeper who was i know his antics and it tries to put everybody off. he got a second yellow card during the penalty shootout, which

everybody would think that's being a sending off, but apparently you i didn't even know this. and most sports people didn't know that . two people didn't know that. two yellow when it gets a yellow cards. when it gets to a penalty shootout, don't get penalty shootout, you don't get sent we'll be banned sent off. so we'll be banned from the semi—final. but aston villa liverpool are from the semi—final. but aston vill of liverpool are from the semi—final. but aston vill of the liverpool are from the semi—final. but aston vill of the europa,.iverpool are from the semi—final. but aston vill of the europa,.iverp beat re out of the europa, they beat atalanta in italy yesterday but it wasn't enough. they won one nil. they needed to win by at least three and west ham drew one one with bayer leverkusen, who ellie won the, the league. >> the bundesliga. yes, yes, they've been doing very well . they've been doing very well. >> they have been doing very well. yes, yes, yes. so yeah. >> so they're three and tell you who else has been doing very well, emma raducanu emma raducanu. on the up. well, emma raducanu emma rachu1u. on the up. well, emma raducanu emma rachu know on the up. well, emma raducanu emma rachu know what the up. well, emma raducanu emma rachu know what we up. well, emma raducanu emma rachu know what we i've always >> you know what we i've always tried avoid having a at tried to avoid having a go at emma raducanu it's, it's emma raducanu because it's, it's very to knock radacanu very easy to knock radacanu after she won the open after she won the us open because she hasn't much because she hasn't had much luck. she's injuries. it's luck. she's had injuries. it's been just hasn't worked been just it just hasn't worked out her, but playing in the out for her, but playing in the stuttgart there she is stuttgart open, there she is playing clay. very good. she playing on clay. very good. she beat linda noskova, she beat her

very soundly , actually. six very soundly, actually. six love. seven. five. she plays the world number one iga swiatek in stuttgart later this afternoon at 4:00. so that will be a true test. it will. how? well, she's really doing well fingers crossed. let's hope so. yeah and i thought it might be nice. and it's the 100 days. >> oh no no no. >> rewind rewind. >> rewind rewind. >> leave it because i had a perfect question. ready for you. oh did you. i was going to say combien de jour varne le jour olympique de paris suella bridge d'avignon pont d'avignon. d'avignon sur le pont d'avignon. yes, yes. which is 100 100 days. >> well, it's actually we're 97 now. oh. which is . oh, now we're now. oh. which is. oh, now we're struggling. i don't know, let's have a chat. my, my favourite french journalist works for l'equipe and he's a legend when it comes to sports journalism . it comes to sports journalism. and his name is eric beldiman. and his name is eric beldiman. and he's in paris, right now. hi, eric. >> hi, paula. good to speak to you. >> were you impressed by the french? we were speaking there. it's getting better every day,

isn't it? before the olympics . isn't it? before the olympics. >> yeah, yeah. i am impressed that, you know, it's 1970 days that, you know, it's 1970 days that you had the proper answer and that you know everything about the avignon bridge. so you are. >> i knew you'd be the guy that we would have on. listen before we would have on. listen before we get on to some other stuff, but but with the paris olympics, how does everybody in paris feel about this? because i remember how it was back in 2012, just before the olympics began , and before the olympics began, and there was kind of an opposition and people were going, oh, i don't it's a good idea. don't think it's a good idea. and then everybody bought into it and everybody loved it. what's over in paris at what's the view over in paris at the moment, know, in paris the moment, you know, in paris for, let's say, ten years? the city is, is a chaos in terms of the, of the, the, the transformation of the city itself. so, the olympics game have had it cows to cows in terms of transportation about, all the duties, all, all, all over the cities. but behind that, there is a big hope, that

everything will be ready on time and at the moment it looks like it is in terms of, the stadium facilities, let's say look at the eiffel tower close to the eiffel tower. there is new stadium, 13,000 emerging for, some, some sports around them. and this is on time and on that side, we are quite optimistic. >> are you going to welcome. we know what a friendly people the parisians are. are you going to welcome us with open arms as we head over there? eric you know, most of the parisians, they will escape from, from paris. >> is that right? >> is that right? >> are they going to much of us, we know we know that, in a city, usually olympic games, makes, the, the life very complicated for the people . we have been for the people. we have been saved, by the french government , saved, by the french government, do tv, do tv job more than , do tv, do tv job more than, going, to, to where you have

your allegedly , supposed to go your allegedly, supposed to go to work. so for most of the people who are allowed to work from their home, they will do it. and on my side, i will fly 5000km away from paris , on the 5000km away from paris, on the early stage of the olympics, you'll obviously be right in the middle of it, though. >> i mean, eric will be in the middle of it. you've covered world cups, haven't you? and rugby world cup, but i and rugby world cup, but i know and racing for racing and everything. but for you, centre there at le you, in the centre there at le keep and being a sports journalist as you are, this must be ultimate for you though, be the ultimate for you though, eric. right? be the ultimate for you though, ericiteight? be the ultimate for you though, ericit is. tl? be the ultimate for you though, ericit is. it’ be the ultimate for you though, ericit is. it is the ultimate for >> it is. it is the ultimate for i work on formula one. so that's why i'm travelling the why i'm travelling all over the world, and not following the olympics, but i do olympics, on stage. but i do follow up, what we what we are preparing about this event. we have just published a special edition , 100 have just published a special edition ,100 pages of nick gibb edition, 100 pages of nick gibb for the 100 days before the olympics. this is a huge event. and the newspaper, we have more than six, 30 journalists just,

having credential to work on on this olympics, this is the event of the century for us as a as a french media and french and french, sports, backing , fans. french, sports, backing, fans. that's that's obvious. but, behind that, we can't compare olympics to a world cup. i think the world cup in 1998, when we did organise it, there was something in the air, i would say like something magic. so far, it's a bit of, being a bit cautious about . oh, it will cautious about. oh, it will work, look, it's going to be great for, for paris, though, isn't it? just generally speaking, eric. i mean, i know it's a it's a city that struggles to get tourists to come along. so finally , come along. so finally, something to go for, you know , something to go for, you know, you will have some good food, you will have some good food, you will have some, some good weather because we do believe it will be very hot summer, we do believe that in terms of

security, everything is done, to make it, to make it safe. paris is a brilliant city, we do live in it, so we don't realise it. when i come to london, i think this is the very best city in the world. i feel like to be a houday the world. i feel like to be a holiday man in in london. and i always, feel upset when i am in paris. but you will be our guest, and i'm sure you will enjoy, the funny side of paris and the dreamland that paris can be on a certain extent. so, please come and enjoy. and i will, i will watch it for from afar. but i'm sure i will be very jealous that you will be on stage at this time. >> eric, we wish you well. and you know i love paris. i love the olympics, and i have a feeling that this could be the second greatest olympics there's ever been . so best of luck and ever been. so best of luck and we forward to speaking to we look forward to speaking to you again soon. you take

you again soon. eric, you take care , cheers. care, cheers. >> repealed. i mean, he's great, isn't he? yeah >> very good. he's not really french, by the way. >> jim hackney. oh, no, it puts it off. >> yeah, yeah, yeah. talking about antoine de caunes . yes, about antoine de caunes. yes, yes. from eurotrash. yes. my father was convinced he wasn't actually french. yes, yes. just putting that voice on. >> yeah. that's nice. brilliant. i love paris in the springtime and. >> well, i was there not long ago. wasn't my for my half century. >> but you're. but you've noficed >> but you're. but you've noticed it, haven't you? you can see across paris how everything is around the olympics, isn't it? signs everything. you know that the olympics are going to go on there. it'll be fantastic. >> i think it will be fantastic. you were out of port. out of time? yes you've got one more thing to say, haven't you? >> plaisir to the two of >> i do, plaisir to the two of us, sir martin. >> paul buffon, croissant tout le monde. grand buffon . le monde. grand buffon. >> what does that mean? >> what does that mean? >> oh, he's just making up words about hair, basically. >> and croissants and croissants. yeah.

>> very good, very good. >> very good, very good. >> revoir. >> au revoir. >> au revoir. >> paul. >> thanks, paul. >> thanks, paul. >> merci beaucoup. yeah >> merci beaucoup. yeah >> we need to get into the. we need to get into the swing of all this ahead the olympics, all this ahead of the olympics, don't we? >> yes do. yes. don't we? >> it's do. yes. don't we? >> it's beautiful language. >> it's a beautiful language. >> it's a beautiful language. >> is very good when it spoke >> it is very good when it spoke properly. yeah, yeah. >> so none of us, not by us. >> no, no . >> no, no. >> no, no. >> now, do you stay with us? >> now, do you stay with us? >> be going >> we're going to be going through papers next. ella through the papers next. ella whelan buckley.

welcome back. the time . it's welcome back. the time. it's 847. and joining us to go through the papers this morning is former labour adviser mike buckley and journalist and author whelan . good to see author ella whelan. good to see you both this morning, should we just touch upon the israel iran situation and your thoughts so far from what we understand is happening? yes. >> so, i mean, we understand that at the moment, there's been no official statement from israel. there's well, both

israel. there's been, well, both the and the israel and the israel and the israel and the israel and the israel and the pentagon are refusing to make any statements at this point, us officials have told cbs news that there has been, an attack that there iran says that three, missiles were drones were intercepted. there's no perceivable damage in isfahan, where the isfahan province where the attacks allegedly happened. iran has downplaying this quite heavily and even suggesting that there is the potential that it wasn't israel, that it was some other, people taking action, infiltrate fighters is the word that's being thrown around. so we really don't know what we do know is that iran is saying it's unlikely there will be any retaliation. so the so anyone that's telling you world war iii or anything like that, don't listen to them. but that doesn't mean hasn't mean that this hasn't been significant. strikes significant. it's direct strikes between that have between two nations that have previously , through previously acted, through proxies. so we sort of are just waiting to hear what the official line comes out with, official line comes outwith, particularly from israel. >> yeah. all right.

>> yeah. all right. >> that's park that one >> well that's park that one there in much on it this there in so much on it this morning. and mike can we have a look at the i this morning ofcom. i don't know why it falls under the auspices of ofcom but they're concerned about the number of 5 to 7 year olds who've got smartphones . they are. >> so that's gone up to nearly a quarter of 5 to 7 year olds. now with smartphones, many of them accessing things like whatsapp and things and tiktok. she's crazy things like it is completely crazy. three and four year olds as well on smartphones and on tablets as well. i mean, you can imagine sticking 3 or 4 year olds in front of a tablet and putting them in front well, that's them in front of, well, that's one that's different to one thing that's different to them. a smartphone, being them. having a smartphone, being on social media. mean, what on social media. i mean, what are being on social are they doing being on social media age? media at that age? >> well, no need for it. >> well, i have no need for it. >> well, i have no need for it. >> it's completely understandable that ofcom and >> it's completely under�*others)le that ofcom and >> it's completely under�*others are :hat ofcom and >> it's completely under�*others are concerned and many others are concerned about this. is this this. and i think this is this is an ongoing debate. what is now an ongoing debate. what needs to be done to regulate smartphone access by by all children of up to children up to the age of up to the of and i was reading the age of 17. and i was reading about this earlier, and i think

about this earlier, and i think a third of children aged between 5 and 17 said said they'd seen something them something that made them concerned frightened concerned and or frightened or something know, something unpleasant. you know, on some other on a smartphone or some other kind device. and obviously kind of device. and obviously this be affecting this is going to be affecting their mental health, it's going to them and to affect them growing. and there have been studies out, there's by an american there's been one by an american researcher haidt researcher called jonathan haidt that influencing researcher called jonathan haidt thatgovernment. influencing researcher called jonathan haidt thatgovernment. you luencing researcher called jonathan haidt thatgovernment. you luencirjust the government. you know, just indicating just impact that indicating just the impact that this children's this has on children's development their mental development and on their mental health, which of course, health, which is, of course, something should concern. something that should concern. >> we're. lucy >> i mean, we're. lucy lucy beresford on yesterday was beresford on yesterday she was talking the way that talking about the way that studies in effect is studies show, in effect is rewiring brain of young rewiring the brain of young people as, as a, as a young mom. ella does it. thank you for the young baby, the look, i don't think i think most sensible people know that if you're sticking a kid at a very young age in front of things that aren't kid appropriate, like social media apps and things like that, there's the potential for to go wrong. but i for it to go wrong. but i actually think this phones actually think this anti phones thing has gotten into moral panic territory. jonathan heights book on, which basically says that its phones are killing

kids. it's that's a crude sort of summary of it, but basically it is that extreme and i think is doing quite serious damage to the concept of parental authority. and the government is suggesting banning phones for under 16 seconds. that is a that is an infringement into private family life and parental decisions that i completely reject. i think that we give a huge amount of power to these things. phones when in actual fact, what's going on is much more complicated. the right, for example, the rise in child mental health issues is something that's really worth unpicking because you have an increase in reporting in things like anxiety or things like alleged adhd diagnoses, which, you know , are the they're worth you know, are the they're worth unpicking. there's the potential there that it's what seems to be happening, which is lots of kids are getting sick because of access to phones isn't necessarily true . so i would necessarily true. so i would just pour a huge amount of sort of scepticism on this. i'm not

convinced that this is the sort of new terror against kids that we that we seem to be thinking is, okay, well, it's nice to have differing views. >> i don't know what i think about it really. it just. but there you go. i'm not a fan of social media. what should we go to next? >> well, i think, mike, let's have a look at the front page of the mirror, shall we? and more on the tory mp mark menzies, who's now been suspended from the tory party. >> has suspended >> he has been suspended and he's first tory mp to be he's not the first tory mp to be suspended from the tory party in recent although the last recent weeks, although the last one, william wragg, i think, suspended because suspended himself because the tory couldn't around tory party couldn't get around to this is a strange and to it. so this is a strange and really rather sad tale, i suppose recently. so it appears, as alleged, that man, as it's alleged, that this man, you know, middle aged conservative mp but an mp for quite long time , met a quite a long time, met a gentleman on a dating app, went to flat , went to another to his flat, went to another flat where he was then incarcerated and told he had to pay incarcerated and told he had to pay £5,000 to get out of the flat. phoned his 78 year old former campaign manager and said

it's a or death situation. former campaign manager and said itneed or death situation. former campaign manager and said itneed £5,000,ath situation. former campaign manager and said itneed £5,000, nowituation. former campaign manager and said itneed £5,000, now ,uation. former campaign manager and said itneed £5,000, now , youyn. former campaign manager and said itneed £5,000, now , you know, in i need £5,000, now, you know, in a bit of an understandable, well, perhaps understandable being a bit of a panic, this then happened. the campaign being a bit of a panic, this then hap|was d. the campaign being a bit of a panic, this then hap|was thene campaign being a bit of a panic, this then hap|was then paid1paign being a bit of a panic, this then hap|was then paid back1 being a bit of a panic, this then hap|was then paid back out manager was then paid back out of conservative party campaign funds donated in funds that had been donated in the constituency and the gentleman's constituency and filed purposes . the filed for campaign purposes. the can. so what is this is awful. this person has obviously done something very, very silly. he's obviously then been blackmailed . obviously then been blackmailed. and there's the and there's the misuse of funding. so there's that situation again. but i think what should probably concern more is the concern us more broadly is the fact the conservative party fact that the conservative party leadership known this leadership have known about this since nothing . since january and done nothing. i mean, there is clearly an element of criminality here, an element of criminality here, an element fraud. obviously, element of fraud. obviously, this blackmailed by this he's been blackmailed by people know, people that he was, you know, the bad people the mp referred to as bad people on telephone. the on the telephone. the conservative leadership conservative party leadership response is to do response to this is to do nothing all, not go to the nothing at all, not to go to the police, to remove whip police, not to remove the whip from just to leave from the mp, just to leave things be and hope it would all just of pan out and be just kind of pan out and be fine. now it's inevitably come to and the conservative to light and the conservative party still saying they're party is still saying they're

not to the police, not going to go to the police, which i find absolutely staggering, well, yeah. which i find absolutely stagwell, g, well, yeah. which i find absolutely stagwell, i, well, yeah. which i find absolutely stagwell, i don't yeah. which i find absolutely stagwell, i don't know. which i find absolutely stagwell, i don't know what to think. well, i think, know, the >> well, i think, you know, the i whether it's the william i mean, whether it's the william wragg which, you know, i wragg case, which, you know, i don't think would judge don't think anyone would judge mps a private life on mps for having a private life on dating apps whatever else and dating apps or whatever else and doing whatever they want in their but the their own time. but the cowardice in that, in the grander didn't bother me grander stuff didn't bother me at all. it was fact that he at all. it was the fact that he was he sacrificed his colleagues and his and details of his and his and the details of his political comrades, because he was worried about his was too worried about his personal, you know, understandably, but too worried about his personal life becoming public. seems to me total public. that seems to me a total act of cowardice. and in the same in a sort of different same way, in a sort of different situation, menzies thing, situation, the menzies thing, you know, why would you not go to the police? why would you not? would you not not? why would you not prioritise professional not? why would you not priorithere's professional not? why would you not priorithere's sortyfessional not? why would you not priorithere's sort ofssional not? why would you not priorithere's sort of an nal not? why would you not priorithere's sort of an element life? there's sort of an element here of politicians now seem to be unwilling to engage with the fact that political life means an act of it is supposed to be an act of it is supposed to be an act of public service. it is supposed to be that you put your life, your the rest of your life

on hold for this very important, perhaps the most important job in and, you know, in the country. and, you know, i think we can all be sympathetic to people ending in bad to people ending up in bad situations . and i don't know how situations. and i don't know how i act in that, but i would i would act in that, but i would hope that would hope that i would act differently a public differently if i had a public persona a public duty as a persona and a public duty as a politician in that way. >> yes, it's clearly not acted in a sensible way, has he? >> i mean, it's one thing to have a private life. it's another thing to be behaving like that in your 50s, i would suggest. but anyway , it's been suggest. but anyway, it's been good to see you both, l.a. mike, thank very much indeed. thank you very much indeed. thank you. >> mcgivern has the weather. >> looks like things are heating up . boxt boilers sponsors of up. boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. >> hello and welcome to the latest update from the met office for gb news. rain clearing the south—east today followed by further showers for many of us, accompanied by cool, blustery winds . although skies blustery winds. although skies do brighten time for do brighten later in time for a sunny start to the weekend.

here's the picture by mid—morning , a lot of cloud on mid—morning, a lot of cloud on the map. showers affecting many places , particularly central and places, particularly central and eastern areas. skies, though, do brighten across much of central and western scotland, and then later on western parts of the rest of the uk. we keep the showers going through the midlands, the south east as well, accompanied by a cool and gusty that's going to make gusty wind that's going to make it a little disappointing. it feel a little disappointing. i highs of 12 to 15 i think with highs of 12 to 15 celsius. nevertheless the showers across central areas do fade away into the evening. the skies tend to clear as well and the wind eases as a result, with lengthy clear skies a lighter wind. temperatures will fall through the night. wind. temperatures will fall through the night . such wind. temperatures will fall through the night. such a wind. temperatures will fall through the night . such a frost through the night. such a frost even as we begin saturday. so gardeners beware there will be some frostiness first thing, but there'll be plenty of bright skies as well. lots of sunshine lifting those temperatures fairly quickly through the morning. so if you're out and about first thing, it will soon warm up and there'll be plenty of sunshine until around the

afternoon, when the clouds will tend to build, particularly for central and northern parts of the country and for the far north of scotland. we're going to see some outbreaks of to see some light outbreaks of rain here, making it feel rain moving here, making it feel cool elsewhere with lighter winds pleasant enough . winds feeling pleasant enough. >> brighter outlook with boxt winds feeling pleasant enough. >> sponsors)utlook with boxt winds feeling pleasant enough. >> sponsors of look with boxt winds feeling pleasant enough. >> sponsors of weather| boxt winds feeling pleasant enough. >> sponsors of weather on )xt

gb news. away. >> good morning to you. it's 9:00 on friday, the 19th of april. today, the world holds its breath as us sources claim israel has launched an attack on iran in a retaliatory strike. reports of explosions near a military base in isfahan . military base in isfahan. earlier, we spoke to the work and pensions secretary, even at this stage, of course, this is an unconfirmed, situation , so we an unconfirmed, situation, so we don't actually know precisely. >> and i certainly don't know

what has happened. but de—escalation really has to be the way forward . the way forward. >> iranian state media downplayed the attack as the news agency claims the country's nuclear facilities are completely secure. as the senior commander tells them, no damage was done . was done. >> well, the senior iranian official claims there's no plan for an immediate retaliation, despite having warned of a severe and immediate response. if israel were to attack . if israel were to attack. >> western governments tell its citizens to leave israel over fears of a reprisal attack by iran . iran. >> in other news, rishi sunak pledges to end the sick note culture in britain . culture in britain. >> yes, 2.8 million people, all in the uk, claiming long term sickness and disability benefits. it's costing the government an absolute fortune and a crackdown is coming. i'll bnng and a crackdown is coming. i'll bring you the details shortly . bring you the details shortly. >> it's going to be a sunny

start to the weekend for many of us as high pressure finally arrives. but before we get there , today is another day of bright spells and showers. i'll have the full details in the forecast coming up shortly . coming up shortly. >> good morning, i'm stephen dixon and i'm ellie costello and this is breakfast on gb news. well, we've had breaking news all morning that israel has reportedly launched an attack on iran overnight in a retaliatory strike. reports of explosions near a military base in isfahan. but that's not coming from israel. it's coming from us officials. >> yes. the iranian state media have been quick to downplay the situation, claiming that their air defence systems were able to destroy three drones in the centre of country. centre of the country. >> well , despite the pressure, >> well, despite the pressure, israeli officials are yet to make any statement about the attack whatsoever. >> meanwhile , the australian

>> meanwhile, the australian government has urged its citizens to leave israel over fears of a revenge attack by iran. >> well , iran. >> well, earlier we spoke to the work and pensions secretary, mel stride . stride. >> it's clearly an emerging story , so we don't know the full story, so we don't know the full facts at this stage. and israel has yet to confirm action or otherwise . look, i'd make a few otherwise. look, i'd make a few points here. i think one is that we firmly believe that israel has a right to self—defence . but has a right to self—defence. but at the same time, of course, what we have been impressing upon the israeli government is the importance of de—escalation at this point. so whilst we don't know the details at the moment, my hope is that whatever has happened is of a nature where de—escalation can now be the way forward. and of course we can continue then to focus on the diplomatic work that we and others are doing to ensure that we get humanitarian aid into gaza. >> well, our security editor, mark white, joins us now. and, mark, bring us up to date on

what we understand happened this morning . morning. >> well, we were certainly very concerned when the reports came through in the early hours of the morning that there had been strikes on iranian iranian territory, but now , as the territory, but now, as the morning emerges, it appears that these strikes were limited in nature. you heard from mel stride there, and this will be the message from other western leaders in the hours ahead. this key phrase de—escalation. they're hoping that if this was the full extent of this limited strike by israel, we assume, although they have not yet publicly confirmed, that, then that may leave a way open for de—escalation and a hope that iran feels that it doesn't need to respond in the way that it had been threatening with an immediate and massive attack. we've not seen an attack take

place in the hours since those strikes, so that bodes well , it strikes, so that bodes well, it seems. that doesn't mean that at some point, iran will not retaliate in some way, perhaps not from its own soil again, but from proxies in the region, the likes of southern lebanon or iraq and syria, what is becoming a bit more clear is it seems that the strikes were conducted from combat jets. israeli combat jets firing long—range missiles. now that will have been outside of iranian airspace, probably in syria, because we got reports from the syrian state media that a number of air defence systems and early warning radars in syria had been taken out by israeli combat jets over night as well. so that would have facilitated those aircraft being able to fire from syrian

airspace just near the border with iran and those long—range missiles were told, were fired in tandem with some drones that were fired from inside iran, by who? we don't know exactly, but those drones were designed, it seems , to keep those air defence seems, to keep those air defence systems busy while the missiles did their job. the area that was attacked was isfahan in central iran , it is a key area in terms iran, it is a key area in terms of its one of iran's biggest cities. but there are a number of military installations opens air bases and alike around that area. there are nuclear facilities. although the international atomic energy agency says that no nuclear facility have been targeted, so as i say, we await for official word from israel, but , word from israel, but, everything we're seeing seems to suggest that this strike was limited in nature . limited in nature. >> okay, mark.

>> okay, mark. >> thank you. let's talk to former chairman of the defence select committee, tobias ellwood, who joins us now. it's good to see you again. what's your assessment of this on the bafis your assessment of this on the basis that it looks like, as mark was saying, it looks like it was israeli and it looks like it was israeli and it looks like it was israeli and it looks like it was a very measured response. and iran itself is really playing it down. so what's your assessment of that? >> yeah, i mean, so many questions here. we knew this was coming. israel has made it very clear that they were going to respond looking at a number of options. but mel stride is absolutely right. this is all unconfirmed. we're relying on open source media at the moment. on the operational side , we on the operational side, we don't know if this is a one off. if israel has concluded its attacks or if there's more to follow, but it does look like israel's war cabinet has heeded the advice from britain, from america and elsewhere, to not retaliate on scale, which would leave iran no choice but to respond again, possibly closing down the straits of hormuz , down the straits of hormuz, which would have a huge knock on

impact to the world's economy . impact to the world's economy. so still a lot of questions. the next 12 hours will be critical. from that perspective. i would add, strategically, the targets are from my are interesting from from my perspective , tabriz, which is in perspective, tabriz, which is in the northwest corner of iran, this is where they fire the shahab missile silos. this is where that base is so very significant there. and in isfahan, this is in south of tehran , this is very much iran's tehran, this is very much iran's nuclear activity. that's where all their research takes place. and there are reports that iran is beginning to enrich uranium again at scale, up to 60% with enough quantity for three sizeable bombs. and it could be that they believe that only going by having a nuclear deterrent , are they going to be deterrent, are they going to be able to fend off any conventional attacks ? so a lot conventional attacks? so a lot of big questions there. and that's perhaps worth pondering on, because whatever happens next, the rules of the game, this shadow war between iran and

israel has completely changed with this direct attack. and of course, it glosses over something. again, mel stride mentions the resolving the gaza—israel conflict of getting that critical humanitarian aid in getting the hostages out and of course, walking, working towards a work, an agreeable security and governance structure for that particular corner of the middle east. >> i mean, the nuclear element of all of this is very concerning. if we keep seeing these for tat strikes, because both sides demand the last word militarily , we don't they but we militarily, we don't they but we are open here potentially to coming down that ladder of escalation. if iran denies this attack and continues trying to deflect attention away from it, you're absolutely right there. >> the question for the west, though, which we've, i'm afraid, ignored for a couple of decades, is how we've allowed iran to develop such proxy influence, such leverage over the middle east, in lebanon, in yemen , in

east, in lebanon, in yemen, in syria, in iraq, and of course, in gaza as well. and that is the big nettle that we need to grasp. that's where israel is frustrated that iran has become so powerful that ultimately this was about to happen. this would have happened at some stage , have happened at some stage, because we've not checked, iran's ability to cause such, poison right across the middle east, building up ever since 1979, what is positive from the west's perspective on all of this is, as you said, that benjamin netanyahu appears to have listened to what the white house has said . have listened to what the white house has said. he have listened to what the white house has said . he appears to house has said. he appears to have listened to what david cameron has said. and this being a measured attack, a measured attack, a measured response , the attack, a measured response, the issue is going to have, though, and how concerned are you that obviously going obviously there's going to be a lot of people to the right of his war cabinet who think this is just simply weak, and it should have been a lot stronger.

>> yeah, you're right. we sometimes think that british politics is quite turbulent, it's very clear that what's going on in israel itself is very, very difficult indeed. they've got this war cabinet, this coalition that's working at the moment. but we know that there's tensions within that war cabinet itself. we also have to recognise or israel must recognise. and i think they're appreciating that not to alienate the international community. there was massive sympathy , global sympathy after sympathy, global sympathy after those barbaric hamas attacks on the 7th of october. but that progressively evaporated because there wasn't a clear plan as to what sending in the military into gaza was, was trying to actually achieve. and i think there's an effort now by israel to make sure that does not happen again. there's a lot of big question marks, of course, as to how to deal with iran. as i was touching on, i think you're going to see a very different approach if donald trump gets elected, therefore, it's going require some it's going to require some statecraft and i think there's a role for britain to play,

certainly in its soft power, its relationship with the united states, relationship with states, its relationship with the and indeed the gulf nations, and indeed israel, on trying to finesse our way through without allowing this escalate. okay this to really escalate. okay >> and in terms of what we can expect to happen next, should we be concerned about iran's proxies in the region and perhaps offences stepping up? >> yeah, you're absolutely right. the one powerful operator in the middle east that's yet to really show its colours is hezbollah. this is the most powerful non—state actor in the world, armed to the teeth. and they've not really participated in the israel—gaza conflict nor have got involved. there is some skirmishes, i should say, that from the lebanese border into israel, but nothing on the scale that they could move to should they wish. and my concern has always been that israel , iran always been that israel, iran thatis always been that israel, iran that is always hesitant about attacking israel directly. this is why this is unprecedented. will they'll now lean on hezbollah to do its part in destabilising what's going on,

but particularly antagonising and opening up a new flank for israel and the west to be concerned about , israel and the west to be concerned about, can i just take you back to what you said about trump ? and if trump gets back in trump? and if trump gets back in the white house this year , is the white house this year, is that a point of concern or not? i mean, it's very difficult to judge, isn't it? i mean, as to whether , iran, tehran would be whether, iran, tehran would be frightened of trump in the white house, would calm down because they don't know what his response is are likely to be he's less predictable or or could it inflame the tensions even further at a time when you say we are, we are trying to calm things down? >> i think all of that. and that's the worry, because we don't even know what he might do enhen don't even know what he might do either. when he was in office, he did do something which people have and that's to have forgotten, and that's to take out the head of the quds force, the, iranian revolutionary guards wing that is responsible for these proxy relationships. this general

soleimani was was killed, i think, in 2020, in iraq, when he was actually at the airport there. that was a drone strike there. that was a drone strike there. that was the opportunity , there. that was the opportunity, though, for donald trump to then lean into this. but he chose not to. and as i say, we've allowed iran to develop this strength. we do need to be more, i think, forthright , more purposeful in forthright, more purposeful in what our strategy is that i hope is something that's been discussed in the back channels between western capitals right now, because in this crisis , now, because in this crisis, there is an opportunity to try and correct some of the areas that, as i say, we've glossed oven that, as i say, we've glossed over, we've allowed to develop. and don't forget, and i think i said this the last time we discussed this. what sits behind iran, of course, is russia and russia is benefiting from this because of course , it's because of course, it's distracted away from ukraine and things in ukraine are not going well right now. >> okay . tobias ellwood, really >> okay. tobias ellwood, really good to talk to you. thank you. well joining us now is freelance journalist yotam confino.

>> good to see you this morning. yotam, very interesting that we haven't heard anything from israel on this yet . no israel on this yet. no confirmation that they were behind this strike. what can we read into that? >> i think, first of all, we should expect some sort of a statement coming from netanyahu or from the from or from the defence minister. they want to take responsibility for this. they don't want this to linger in the air, and they don't want this speculation to just be be out there. they want to say that they're behind it. so i assume we'll get something later in the day. we have heard already from one of the nationalist ministers in netanyahu's government, the security, national security minister, itamar ben—gvir, who indirectly confirmed this attack. he just tweeted lame . so attack. he just tweeted lame. so in other words, he's very unhappy with the military response, and he would know if israel attacked . so. so i think israel attacked. so. so i think we've gotten as close as we can to official confirmation. i've spoken to a couple of other ,

spoken to a couple of other, people, sources, ministers, and most people have said they cannot comment right now because they're all waiting for either netanyahu or the defence minister to say something . minister to say something. >> yeah, but how problematic is that going to be for netanyahu ? that going to be for netanyahu? the fact that ben—gvir is, is saying this has been a weak response. >> it is problematic for him because netanyahu is trying to do the right thing here. contrary to what many people think, netanyahu is not a war monger. in fact, he's very indecisive. he doesn't like conflicts. he drags things out. he doesn't want to make decisions about war. in fact, he called off an attack on iran twice this week, according to sources. so i think that he's in a very difficult situation right now because he knows that there are certain ministers in his cabinet, such as itamar ben—gvir, who will take advantage of this situation. didn't they know they're smelling blood? they know that, netanyahu's days are probably numbered, so will try to numbered, so they will try to capitalise on this and say, this

is a completely, it's a weak response. we should do much more. but at the end of the day, netanyahu did the right thing. he listened to allies , most he listened to his allies, most notably united states. he notably the united states. he tried to escalate the tried not to escalate the situation to a point where the whole region could blow up. and he's iran a way out. he's he's given iran a way out. he's signalling to iran, if you want to wrap this incident now , you to wrap this incident now, you can, because you can tell your pubuc can, because you can tell your public that this was a limited response. we can tell our public that we retaliated and let's just call it a day. so he is giving iran a way out, i think. >> and what do you make of the timing of all of this? yeah, i mean, we've got the passover next week, haven't we, was there a sense that benjamin a sense that that benjamin netanyahu this to be all netanyahu wanted this to be all done before that holiday ? done before that jewish holiday? >> yeah, i've heard that report many times in the past couple of days. and i have to say, i'm a bit surprised that that it's become something that that's been discussed so much . i think been discussed so much. i think israel is probably the country in the world with most high holidays. so if the military

were adjust its operations were to adjust its operations according to high holidays, it would be very difficult to manoeuvre. i honestly think that this was either way, this was a matter of time before israel would strike. they wanted to do it while they have momentum, while the allies are while the all the allies are behind israel. they didn't want to too long. i don't think to wait too long. i don't think it anything do with it had anything to do with passover. simply just think passover. i simply just think that found the right time that they found the right time and target and now and the right target and now they went ahead with it. >> okay, you're saying confino in israel. good to talk to you. thanks very much indeed. >> well, still to come, the government vows to crack down on sick

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watching on demand. good luck . watching on demand. good luck. >> yes, good luck indeed. now the prime minister has vowed to crack down on this culture of sick notes. so katherine forster is live in westminster now to tell us all about it. very good morning to you, catherine, and tell us more about these plans. >> yes. so there is a crackdown on sickness benefits coming. we've had the work and pensions secretary, mel stride give us a little taster this morning. the prime minister is going to be making a big speech on this shortly. he's expected to say that he wants the focus to be on what work you can do, not what you can't. he's also likely to say that he thinks that there's a risk of over medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life because there's been a huge surge in the number of people off on a long term. sick leave it now stands at 2.8

million. that's up some 700,000 since the pandemic. and a lot of those are related to mental health issues and depression and anxiety specifically . so the anxiety specifically. so the government is looking at removing moving doctors from the process. currently, doctors are issuing some 11 million fit notes as they call them a year. that number has doubled since 2010, and 94% of people signed off in this way are signed off as being unfit to do any work at all. the government thinks that's the wrong approach. they are looking at, basically mel stride says, some sort of one stop shop where you would go and you would be assessed by a health professional and somebody unked health professional and somebody linked to the benefits team who would work with you initially to try to you in work if it try to keep you in work if it was possible, if not to

was possible, and if not to support you and get you back to work . they stress the mental work. they stress the mental health benefits of that. but i think this is going to be much easier said than done. and they're already coming in for quite a lot criticism . quite a lot of criticism. >> yeah, that they are. thank you much. katherine forster you very much. katherine forster there westminster us. and there in westminster for us. and there in westminster for us. and the minister is going the prime minister is going to be in the next be speaking on that in the next five or so, isn't he? five minutes or so, isn't he? >> he if he's on time, that >> he is if he's on time, that is. on there. and that's where he'll be. that's it from us today. up next is britain's newsroom pip and ben. we newsroom with pip and ben. we will see you bright and early tomorrow morning. >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boiler is sponsors of weather on . gb news. weather on. gb news. >> hello and welcome to the latest update from the met office for gb news. rain clearing the south—east today followed by further showers for many of us accompanied by cool blustery although skies blustery winds. although skies do brighten later in time for a sunny start to the weekend. here's the picture. by mid—morning, a lot cloud on

mid—morning, a lot of cloud on the map. showers affecting many places, particularly central and eastern areas. skies, though, do brighten across much of central and western scotland, and then later parts of the later on western parts of the rest of the uk. we keep the showers going through the midlands, south east as midlands, the south east as well, accompanied cool and well, accompanied by a cool and gusty wind. that's going to make it a little disappointing , it feel a little disappointing, i think with highs of 12 to 15 celsius. nevertheless, the showers across central areas do fade away into the evening. the skies tend to clear as well and the wind eases as a result. with lengthy clear skies, a lighter wind temperatures will fall through the night. such a frost, even as we begin saturday, so gardeners beware there will be some frostiness first thing, but there'll be plenty of bright skies as well. lots of sunshine lifting those temperatures fairly quickly through the morning. so if you're out and about, first thing, it will soon warm up and there'll be plenty of sunshine until around the afternoon, when the clouds will tend to build, particularly for

central and northern parts of the country and for the far north of scotland. we're going to see some light outbreaks of rain moving here, making it feel cool elsewhere with lighter winds feeling pleasant enough, a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> very good morning to you. it is 930 on friday, the 19th of april. you are with britain's newsroom. ben leo and pip tomson. >> very good morning to you. israel strikes iran. the us has reported that israel has launched a retaliatory strike with explosions reported near a military base this morning in iran. the uk government is stressing the need for de—escalation and moderation in the prime minister pledges to end the sick note culture in

britain. >> that's what he says it is. he's set to strip gps of power to sign people off work . to sign people off work. >> and should we pay our teachers more money? new analysis shows vacancy rates have risen in nine out of ten local authorities in england since 2010. so how do you think we should make the profession more appealing? >> labour's housing solution sir keir starmer, labour leader, sets out his plan to build 1.5 million new homes to tackle the housing crisis. but would they be affordable? >> very good morning to you. thank you for joining >> very good morning to you. thank you forjoining us. thank you for joining us. morning, pip. we're going to be sticking, of course, with that development overnight in iran about israel's reported strike on country. retaliatory on the country. the retaliatory strike also, we're going to be live, aren't we, pip with rishi sunakin live, aren't we, pip with rishi sunak in what, just a few minutes about these welfare reform s.

reforms. >> yeah. any moment now we