up to worrying news this woke up to worrying news this morning after israeli missiles apparently struck iran . we'll apparently struck iran. we'll have the full story on all the latest. what was the show? always an absolute pleasure to have your company. now, later in the show, i'll be discussing a story that's made my eyebrows race today. the european union apparently is attempting to woo sir keir starmer by offering a return of freedom of movement. now, initially this is the 18 to 30 year olds, but it says they don't even need to have a purpose. so potentially millions of europeans could come to britain in return for a few thousand young brits to be able to go and study or work on the continent. now, bear in mind that bulgaria and romania have entered the schengen zone on the sist entered the schengen zone on the 31st of march. what could possibly go wrong is this freedom of movement, basically

brexit via the back door without a referendum , precisely the kind a referendum, precisely the kind of thing that many people said may well happen if the labour party gets into power. cosying up to brussels and opening those borders when we already have sky high immigration. are you concerned that this is brexit by the back door being scotched? get in touch all the usual ways. i want to hear your comments. there's new way can get in there's a new way you can get in touch send your views touch as well. send your views and comments by and post your comments by visiting forward visiting gbnews.com. forward slash your say. get involved, i want to hear from you. but before all of that, it's time for your latest news headlines. and francis. and it's sam francis. >> martin, thanks very much and good afternoon to you. it's just after 3:00 leading the news this houn after 3:00 leading the news this hour. the uk and western allies are calling for de—escalation in the middle east after reports that israel launched air strikes against iran overnight. state

media there says three drones were shot down with explosions heard at an airbase near the city of isfahan. no damage or injuries have been reported in that latest exchange, though the strikes are thought to have been in response to last weekend's attack when iran fired its own barrage of drones and missiles at israel . well, labour leader at israel. well, labour leader sir keir starmer has added to those calls for restraint. he says it's the best way forward . says it's the best way forward. >> i'm deeply concerned about the prospect of escalation, escalation of the conflict in the middle east is in nobody's interest . and so it's very, very interest. and so it's very, very important, therefore, that every body urges restraint on all sides . more body urges restraint on all sides. more than that, we body urges restraint on all sides . more than that, we really sides. more than that, we really need that ceasefire in gaza now, straight away, so that hostages can come out desperately needed aid , needs to get in, aid, needs to get in, desperately, desperately needed, and we need, if you like, a foot in the door for the political

process to peace. >> in other news, the prime minister is promising that his rwanda safety bill will be passed on monday. rishi sunak couldn't confirm whether asylum flights would get off the ground by his spring deadline, but he did say his intention was to get the legislation through parliament any further parliament without any further delay. he says mps will be forced to in the commons forced to sit in the commons until job is done . the until the job is done. the british medical association is urging rishi sunak to avoid using hostile language on what he described as sick note culture. during a major speech this morning, the prime minister said 850,000 more people are out of work since the pandemic, and insists he's on a moral mission to fix the problem. the proposals, though, have been described as a full on assault on disabled people. rishi sunak says he recognises he'll be accused of lacking compassion , accused of lacking compassion, but insists the uk can't afford a spiralling increase in the welfare bill. >> we now spend £69 billion on benefits for people of working

age with a disability or health condition that's more than our entire schools budget, more than our transport budget, more than our transport budget, more than our policing budget, and spending on personal independence payments alone , independence payments alone, it's forecast to increase by more than 50% over the next four years, as . years, as. >> we've heard today that two police forces are being investigated over the stabbing of a mother in bradford, habiba masum is charged with murdering carl schumacher, who was attacked while pushing her baby in a pram two weeks ago. the independent office for police conduct says the victim contacted west yorkshire police on the 28th of march after receiving death threats . it's receiving death threats. it's understood that information was shared with colleagues in the greater manchester force, and an investigation will now look at the steps officers may have taken to safeguard the victim . taken to safeguard the victim. scotland's former first minister nicola sturgeon has today

admitted going through an incredibly difficult time. she says, after her husband was charged in a police investigation looking into snp finances, peter murrell was the party's chief executive for more than two decades before standing down last year. he was charged more than 12 months after his first arrest by detectives . first arrest by detectives. looking at how more than £600,000 in donations were spent. the 59 year olds also resigned his snp membership . and resigned his snp membership. and we've heard this afternoon that five just stop oil protesters have been convicted of aggravated trespass after they disrupted a performance of les miserables in london's west end last year. the performance was stopped when activists stormed the stage and locked themselves to the set. the angry audience of around 1000 people were asked to leave the auditorium, and the performance had to end. those five activists were all found guilty today of aggravated trespass following a trial at westminster magistrates court.

and finally, before we hand back to martin in westminster, parents are being warned today that children between the age of five and seven are spending too much time, often unsupervised , much time, often unsupervised, on social media. ofcom claims 38% of infant school children now use platforms including tiktok, tiktok, whatsapp and instagram , despite those sites instagram, despite those sites requiring users to be at least 13 years old to have an account. the regulator also suggests a quarter of children in that same age bracket now own a smartphone, and the research comes as the government's online safety bill, which aims to make the internet safer for children , the internet safer for children, is set to come into force in september . that's the latest september. that's the latest from the newsroom for now. more in half an hour. until then, do sign up to gb news alerts. just scan the code on your screen or go our gb news. go to our website gb news. common alerts.

>> thank you sam. now we've got absolutely shedloads to get through this afternoon, so let's get and after another get cracking. and after another dreadful week, rishi sunak has come out fighting and declared war on what he's called the uk's sick note culture. the country's welfare state bill cost the average taxpayer now £2,000 every single year for every british taxpayer. i'm joined in our studio in westminster by our political correspondent, katherine forster, to discuss the state of the nation, astonishing numbers catherine simply mind bending £69 billion every year. now goes on benefits. i paid my tax bill last month. where did your tax go? i clicked on it. long term sickness and benefits is now second only to the nhs on what we spend our tax pound on this is simply unsustainable. >> that's exactly what the prime minister said. 69 billion a year on long term sick and disability

benefits projected to rise to £90 billion by the end of the next parliament. if nothing has done as he said, it is totally , done as he said, it is totally, totally unsustainable. so this speech that he's made today, this is basically a problem that's been building for a long time. the government for a long time. the government for a long time also , i think put it in the time also, i think put it in the too hard basket. but they finally decided to grasp this nettle and the message from rishi sunak really is tough love. you're going to take your medicine, it's going to be good for you. you may not like it. let's have a look at what he had to say earlier. >> role of welfare state >> the role of the welfare state should merely to should never be merely to provide financial support as important as that will always be, but to help people overcome whatever barriers they might face to living an independent, fulfilling life. everyone with the potential should be supported and not just to earn, but to contribute and belong. and we must never tolerate barriers that hold people back from making their contribution

and from sharing in that sense of self—worth that comes from feeling part of being something bigger than ourselves. feeling part of being something bigger than ourselves . and that bigger than ourselves. and that is why this is a moral mission. and why the value of work is so central to my vision for welfare reform . reform. >> well, there's rishi sunak saying, get on your bike, catherine. there's a bitter irony in this sick pay was introduced by maggie thatcher in 1982 to get the dole numbers down to mass unemployment . in so down to mass unemployment. in so doing, has she created a monster, a record 2.8 million people. now, on long terms , people. now, on long terms, sick, 850,000 sick notes increase this since the pandemic is the pandemic, partly to . is the pandemic, partly to. blame? did it get more and more people used to getting paid for doing nothing? >> well, certainly, rishi sunak said speech. the said in the speech. in the penod said in the speech. in the period pandemic, period since the pandemic, something has gone wrong. of course, people course, millions of people had their by furlough. their wages paid by furlough. now that was an entirely artificial situation in an

exceptional circumstance, but quite a lot of people left the workplace and simply haven't come back. and then there's all the associate problems. as a result of lockdown, it was a very artificial situation. some people got out of the way of working , but also some people working, but also some people have found adjusting to normal life again very difficult. we've seen this huge uptick in mental health issues, anxiety , health issues, anxiety, depression and over half of people now being put on sick leave and have mental health issues. often they go along with with another condition too. so rishi sunak has said, you know, that there's a risk of over medicalised, over medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life . so the message worries of life. so the message is, they they want to basically crack down on gp's just doling out fit notes, as they call them, because they give 11 million last year, 94% of those

said that the person was unfit to do any work. the government wants health professionals to work with people from the benefit system and support people , and try to get them back people, and try to get them back into work, whether that means working from home or making adjustments, but meaning that they can contribute in a meaningful way rather than having them languishing on on benefits, and they're going to get much tougher with people if they view that they're able to work and turn down work, they may then lose benefit. so they are certainly cracking down, now you can see why they're doing it, because the costs are astronomic , but of course, it's astronomic, but of course, it's not going down well with everybody. i mean, the mental health charity mind that does i would say very good work. they have said this is deeply damaging. their concern is that there are , of course, people there are, of course, people with genuine mental health cnses. with genuine mental health crises . there's been a huge crises. there's been a huge surge in suicide rates. but there is a difference , isn't

there is a difference, isn't there, between something like that which is critical and people really need support and people really need support and people just feeling a bit anxious. >> does any of this matter ? is >> does any of this matter? is this rearranging the deckchairs on the titanic? i mean, look , by on the titanic? i mean, look, by every metric, going by every opinion poll worth, you know, waving a stick at the conservatives are on their way out of power. does any of this matter ? m atter? >> matter? >> well, you're probably right in that most of this would come in that most of this would come in potentially down the line. and if, as we currently expect, labour get in some or any of this may go in the bin. i mean the smoking ban similar, but i don't think that will happen because labour are fully supportive of that. ditto rishi sunak's plan to replace a levels. that was a ten year project, but it doesn't seem like the conservatives are going to get five years, let alone ten years in power. so you do wonder, but i think it's worth saying that labour too, do acknowledge that the benefits bill has got out of control and

something has to be done, so it will be interesting to hear what they propose. given that they are the ones potentially that might have to deal with this. catherine a neat segue into our next guest now, because i can speak with former labour spokesman james. >> t- t to the show. always a >> welcome to the show. always a pleasure. so there we have it. we've got £69 billion a year on benefits , an unsustainable benefits, an unsustainable number by anybody's metric. one thing that might concern you is the proposed way of dealing with stripping powers away from gps, who are the first point of contact and you think might be the best, the best place to actually appraise people's state of health, and instead putting this into the private sector, into the workforce. is this partially a privatisation , partially a privatisation, privatisation of the nhs ? privatisation of the nhs? >> yeah, i think so. >> yeah, i think so. >> i think that's clear. and i think that, that will not bother rishi sunak in the slightest, i can't , i mean, believe i mean, can't, i mean, believe i mean, i can't, i mean, believe i mean, i can't believe because i've seen

what government has done what this government has done consistently. i mean, when i say government, mean the past 14 government, i mean the past 14 years of tory government because government, i mean the past 14 yea allf tory government because government, i mean the past 14 yea all the ry government because government, i mean the past 14 yea all the same ernment because government, i mean the past 14 yea all the same peoplet because government, i mean the past 14 yea all the same people .because government, i mean the past 14 yea all the same people . let'srse it's all the same people. let's be honest. all the same be honest. it's all the same guys the behind the guys behind the behind the scenes strings. and guys behind the behind the scenewe're strings. and guys behind the behind the scenewe're seeing strings. and guys behind the behind the scenewe're seeing here gs. and guys behind the behind the scenewe're seeing here gs more what we're seeing here is more attacks, more punching down on people who have very, very little in life , very little little in life, very little going for them, who are facing genuine hardships from a man who is a multimillionaire and he's sitting there telling people that you know, the everyday hardships of life are just something you need to get used to. >> the everyday challenges , the >> the everyday challenges, the normal day to day, as he's called it. what on earth does this man know about the normal day to day struggles of single parents who are trying to feed their kids, of people who are forced, who are forced by this system to work multiple jobs to try and pay their bills, and to try and pay their bills, and to try and pay their bills, and to try and make their life bearable to live. and that's what we're talking about here. we're not

talking about here. we're not talking about here. we're not talking about whether you can actually feed actually survive and feed yourself enough food in yourself and have enough food in yourself and have enough food in your belly stay alive. we're your belly to stay alive. we're talking a reason to stay talking about a reason to stay alive as well. so. but james. >> but but but, james, if we if we, we take if we take the we, if we take if we take the personality out and just personality out of this and just make the numbers, a make this about the numbers, a future would future labour government would have to deal this problem have to deal with this problem as simply as well. the numbers are simply unsustainable. £69 billion a year benefits . it was 42 year on benefits. it was 42 billion the year before, a staggering increase. second only now to nhs spending . and we now to nhs spending. and we simply can't spend money on the things the labour party would like to spend on no doubt, education, defence. we can't spend that money if we have such a cripplingly high benefits bill, so something needs to be done. yeah and i think the answer to that is labour's new deal for work. >> you know, it's this idea that you make work a place that people can be. it's not about where people want to be. this is the thing the tories forget time and time again. they think they want to make work appealing to people choice .

people as if it's a choice. okay, if you are suffering from severe health issues, severe mental health issues, it's not about whether you want to and work or whether to get up and work or whether you to go to work. so many you want to go to work. so many people want to go work. people do want to go to work. they have routine. they want to have the routine. they want to have the routine. they income they want to have the income that work. but that comes with work. but workplaces just don't work for them. workplaces, we've them. so many workplaces, we've seen rights stripped seen workers rights stripped away over the last 14 years. the trade act did that in a, trade union act did that in a, in a in a kind of fell swoop. we had so many workers rights taken away ability to away and that ability to represent themselves in their workplaces. so under labour's plans, far as i can see from plans, as far as i can see from them, and i hope they stick to them, and i hope they stick to them, that's the that's going to be the crucial difference here, is scared and not get is to not get scared and not get panicked the to panicked by the response to rishi today rishi sunak's words today and say, we have say, actually, we have a different we to different vision. we want to make place that works for make work a place that works for workers so that people can come in challenging circumstances and have flexible time to work part time contracts that work for them. protections and rights, mental health, first aid, as in workplaces, things like that that will make a real difference to people's lives. >> okay , well don't forget it

>> okay, well don't forget it was labour isn't working back in the 70s. round and round we go. we've full cycle . james we've come full cycle. james matthewson thanks for joining us. pleasure. and also matthewson thanks for joining us. you pleasure. and also matthewson thanks for joining us. you to pleasure. and also matthewson thanks for joining us. you to you sure. and also matthewson thanks for joining us. you to you katherine also thank you to you katherine forster expert forster for your expert analysis. . now i'll have analysis. as ever. now i'll have lots more on that story throughout the show, and there's plenty coverage on our plenty of coverage on our website and you've website gbnews.com, and you've helped the fastest helped to make it the fastest growing national news website in the thank you very the country. so thank you very much . now, us officials have much. now, us officials have said missiles said that israeli missiles struck iran this morning. the attacks reportedly hit an area home to a large airbase. a major missile production complex and several nuclear facilities . several nuclear facilities. although the location of the strikes have not been fully confirmed , local sources are confirmed, local sources are suggesting that three explosions were heard near the isfahan airbase. and let's get the latest with our home and security editor mark white. mark, a perilous situation overnight. have things calmed down since the early hours ? down since the early hours? >> yeah, i mean, they've been calm really throughout the day .

calm really throughout the day. there was a great deal of concern in the early hours with reports of explosions inside iran and a real feeling that this was a significant strike being undertaken by israel. here and there was a potential for a real escalation . but since then, real escalation. but since then, as the iranians have assessed the damage, they are underplaying it. they are saying the explosions that people heard were the sound of their anti—missile defence systems and anti—drone defence systems taking down, those attacking objects. they say that there was no damage, of any significance to report, and we are hearing from iranian sources that they have no plans to retaliate anytime soon. now, that doesn't mean that, in the coming hours and days, that iranian proxies around the region in south lebanon, in, syria and iraq, in

yemen might not be involved in some kind of effort against israel and its allies. but in terms of a state owned state response, it doesn't seem that iran is going to respond. and we should also add, we have had no confirmation from israel at all. they are not commenting on what happened overnight, the us, it's understood , were informed by understood, were informed by israel just before the attack, the italian foreign minister at the italian foreign minister at the g7 foreign ministers summit in italy , said that they were in italy, said that they were briefed by american officials this morning and given that information that the us was told shortly before this attack that it was limited in nature and the hope has to be of course, that it remains one limited attack. and that's it. that's israel's response. what will be much more worrying and concerning if this

is just the first phase of a response by israel? >> okay. thank you. mark white full update there of the situation in the middle east. thank you . now there's still thank you. now there's still plenty of time to grab your chance to win a greek cruise, travel goodies and a ten grand tax free bank balance boost. and here's all the details you need to hop on board. >> 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 variety cruises , a bespoke seven variety cruises, a bespoke seven night small boat cruise for two worth £10,000 with flights, meals, excursions and drinks 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 cost £2 plus one standard

network rate message , or post network rate message, or post your name and number to gb04, po box 8690. derby dh1 nine two. uk only entrants must be 18 or oven only entrants must be 18 or over. lines closed at 5 pm. on the 26th of april. full terms and privacy notice @gbnews. com forward slash win please check the closing time if listening or watching demand. good luck . watching on demand. good luck. >> fill your boots now. sir keir starmer has unveiled plans to build up to half a million new homes, or gb news. economics and business editor liam halligan is going to give me his expert analysis on that next. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel

welcome back. your time's 325. i'm martin daubney. and this is gb news. now. sir keir starmer has unveiled plans to build on britain's so—called grey belt.

now that's a new turn to you. then join the club. and i'll tell you what. brownfield sites and poor quality areas of the green belt or green spaces, that's what it is. it's a new name for existing land. and the labour leader set out what he called the five golden rules for grey belt housebuilding and pledged to deliver up to half a million new and affordable homes . well, joining me now is liz having a secure roof over your headis having a secure roof over your head is one of the dreams of so many people across the country. >> because it's a base camp, if you like. for life , for you like. for life, for security, for everything they want to achieve. and that's why we've been setting out our plans for house building. 1.5 million houses over the course of a five year labour government. we're here in derby today . this is a here in derby today. this is a brownfield site, was derelict for a while now being developed. we want to see more of that because that dream of home ownership has, has all but

vanished under this government. and we intend to rekindle it and make sure people have that basic security , that base camp from security, that base camp from which they can go on and build their lives as well. >> join me now to discuss. this is liam halligan gb news, business and economics editor with on the money reporter . they with on the money reporter. they always delight to have you in the studio. is it brown? is it grey? is it green ? what does it grey? is it green? what does it mean? i actually think this is a goodidea mean? i actually think this is a good idea from keir starmer, not least because he's lifted it out of my book , home truths, you of my book, home truths, you know, i don't want to concrete over the countryside. i like the countryside, but i also know that a whole generation of young people in this country, over half of them are locked out of the housing market. they can't afford their own house the way you and i could afford a house when we were in our 20s, even on a modest salary, martin, i could buy a decent flat in central london as a trainee journalist

with no parental help. >> i did the same in the mid—nineties. >> the idea of doing that now is insane. i mean, it just couldn't happen. it's not just london happen. it's not just a london thing, other cities thing, it's in many other cities around the country and just around the country and not just the as well. so the big cities as well. so i think labour are right to try and get us building the government's pledged 300,000 homes year, and it's only homes a year, and it's only really producing little more than 200,000. so there's definitely a political marketplace for this, particularly among young people. so look, the green belt , particularly among young people. so look, the green belt, martin, the green belt was created in the green belt was created in the late 1940s. and the idea it's getting smaller and the lib dems keep saying it's getting smaller is absolute nonsense, because since the late 1970s, the green belt has more than doubled in acreage. >> wow, right. it's gone up by 140. and i've done the sums in my book, so it's more than doubled in size. and the reason it's more than doubled in size is because councils keep adding to it, because that's what a lot

of their constituents want, because they don't want building near them. and that's one reason, a major reason why we've end up with this massive housing affordability crisis. now, i'm not so—called nimbys, not saying the so—called nimbys, not saying the so—called nimbys, not in my backyard. people are against development , are against development, are completely irrational because they're not. because when you get new houses being built, there's very little in the way of , hospitals, doctors of schools, hospitals, doctors surgeries, roads. so what i propose in my book is a mechanism for financing schools, roads and other public infrastructure as the homes are built. but enough of that for now, because what starmer is saying is that he wants the uk to not concrete over the green belt, but to recognise that the green belt , belt, but to recognise that the green belt, which belt, but to recognise that the green belt , which covers 13% of green belt, which covers 13% of the land mass of england compared to residential property, which covers 2, including gardens. property, which covers 2, including gardens . yeah, just including gardens. yeah, just let that sink in. starmer rightly , in my view, if i can rightly, in my view, if i can express an opinion on this, while also conveying scepticism

that many nimbys have and many conservatives and lib dems have, starmer is saying that we're only going to solve the housebuilding problem if we free up some of the green belt, and thatis up some of the green belt, and that is certainly part of a coherent answer to the housing crisis. so what labour wants to do is they want to show, not say show, because this is the truth, that big parts of the green belt are not, you know, lush chocolate box, chocolate box. let's sit down and have a packed lunch with a tartan blanket. right. their national parks and their outstanding natural beauty areas. of this is part of areas. none of this is part of the what's on the table here. and some the green belt is and some of the green belt is really but a lot of the really nice, but a lot of the green is urban scrub. yeah, green belt is urban scrub. yeah, a of the green belt is a lot of the green belt is inaccessible farmland that's fallow a lot of the time . a lot fallow a lot of the time. a lot of the green belt has no aesthetic value whatsoever . a aesthetic value whatsoever. a lot of the green belt is literally disused industrial areas and so on. so i think we should solve actively and in a

systematic way, be reclaim modifying some of the green belt that possibly you could build on it at some stage. and that's what labour wants to do. and i'd say that is a direct lift from my book home truths, which came out 3 or 4 years ago. and what labour wants to do as part of that. and again, if i may say so , i think this is a good idea. it to put a kind of it wants to put a kind of bargain on the table that if developers want access to this so—called grey belt land green belt, which isn't really green, they have to provide the infrastructure as well. no no, they're gone that far. they're not gone that far. that's my book wanted. that's what my book wanted. they haven't they're that's what my book wanted. they haven'tthat they're that's what my book wanted. they haven'tthat those they're that's what my book wanted. they haven'tthat those developers�* saying that those developers have guarantee certain have to guarantee a certain number homes. now number of affordable homes. now that's i start have that's where i start to have problems, affordable , problems, because affordable, the definition 80% of market the definition is 80% of market value, isn't value, which often isn't affordable . and also, again, as affordable. and also, again, as i show my book and as the i show in my book and as the competition and markets authority is now investigating competition and markets auth result; now investigating competition and markets auth result of ow investigating competition and markets auth result of my nvestigating competition and markets auth result of my bookigating competition and markets auth result of my book ,iating competition and markets auth result of my book , ifing competition and markets auth result of my book , if i|g competition and markets auth result of my book , if i may as a result of my book, if i may say the problem is that say so. the problem is that developers are so powerful, they're so big, they're so

overmighty they dominate the market to such an extent , a market to such an extent, a small number of them that when it comes to their affordable housing obligations , when it housing obligations, when it comes to their what are called section obligations, they've section 106 obligations, they've got playground or got to provide a playground or a road or a school or road or a or a school or something . they can often something. they can often tell the authority, nah , we're the local authority, nah, we're not doing it. we're too powerful and there's nothing you can do that happens all the time. and labour haven't shown any sense that they got the political nous or determination to tackle that particular problem. >> okay , a font of knowledge as >> okay, a font of knowledge as even >> okay, a font of knowledge as ever. liam halligan superb. thanks for joining ever. liam halligan superb. thanks forjoining us in ever. liam halligan superb. thanks for joining us in the studio. interesting as well to see sir keir starmer around about angela rayner. about there with angela rayner. she's view. she's back in public view. there's to come there's lots more still to come between now 4:00. in a few between now and 4:00. in a few minutes bring a gb news minutes i'll bring you a gb news exclusive chilled me to the exclusive that chilled me to the bones. been a ten fold bones. there has been a ten fold rise in care sector investigations by the labour exploitation watchdog . the first exploitation watchdog. the first issue or latest news headlines. and it's sam francis.

>> very good afternoon from the newsroom. 333 and the latest headunes newsroom. 333 and the latest headlines this hour, the uk government and western allies are calling for restraint in the middle east following this morning's apparent israeli attack against iran. the strikes are understood to have been fired from israel in revenge for an iranian drone assault last weekend . we're also hearing that weekend. we're also hearing that tehran has no plan to retaliate at this stage, and no damage or injuries have been reported in that latest exchange here in the uk, the prime minister is promising his rwanda safety bill will be passed on monday. rishi sunak couldn't confirm whether asylum flights would get off the ground by his spring deadline, but he did say his intention was to get the bill through parliament without further delay. mps will be delay. he says mps will be forced to sit in the commons until the job is done . the until the job is done. the british medical association has accused rishi sunak of hostile rhetoric, as he promises to end what he calls the sick note

culture. during a major speech on welfare reform today, he claimed that people with less severe mental health conditions should be expected to engage in the world of work. however, labour has accused the government of failing to deliver a healthy nation and a healthy economy , and scotland's former economy, and scotland's former first minister nicola sturgeon has admitted today that the situation surrounding her husband's arrest and embezzlement charges has been incredibly difficult. peter murrell was charged in connection with misusing more than £600,000 of snp funding donated to independence campaigning. he's also resigned his snp membership. that's the latest from the newsroom. sophia wenzler will have your next update at 4:00. until then, do sign up to gb news alerts. you can scan the code there your can scan the code there on your screen or go our website, screen or go to our website, gbnews.com alerts . gbnews.com slash alerts. >> for stunning gold and silver

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i >> -- >> gb -_ >> gb news 5mm >> gb news is the home of free speech. we were created to champion it, and we deliver it day in, day out . day in, day out. >> free speech allows us all to explore debate openly. explore and debate openly. >> the issues most important to us, our families. >> of the british >> and of course, the british people having challenging conversations each conversations to enlighten each other, is why we hear all other, which is why we hear all sides of the argument. >> are the people's channel. >> we are the people's channel. >> we are the people's channel. >> we are the people's channel. >> we will always stand by the freedom to express yourself on tv, radio and online. >> this is gb news, britain's news channel . news channel. >> welcome back. it's 339. i'm martin daubney and this is gb news. now, later in the show, we'll look ahead to a huge weekend of football at both the top and the bottom of the premier league. and that's where

forest are residing. but now to a news exclusive . and there's a gb news exclusive. and there's been a staggering tenfold rise in care sector investigations by the labour exploitation watchdog and the gangmasters and labour abuse authority said that there were 44 investigations into the care sector in 2023 and in 2021 there were just four. well, i'm joined now by gb news reporter charlie peters. charlie, a staggering increase in abuse. what's going on? >> they are significant numbers, martin. and we took a look at this sector because of the health and care visa, so many more people have moved to britain in the last few years to work in this industry. when the health and care visa was announced by the department of health, they anticipate just 6000 people would take on that route into britain. that would be amounting to just 0.3% of the nhs and social care total workforce. well, in fact, since

january 2021, when the brexit transition period ended , some transition period ended, some 570,000 people have arrived to work in britain on that visa route. 99% of them are non eu nationals. and so in many ways it's not particularly surprising that there has been a rise in the labour exploit , an analysis the labour exploit, an analysis into this sector. but the rise is so significant. the surge from zero investigations in 2020 to 44 last year, and that comes at a time when unseen uk, which is a charity that has a modern slavery and exploitation helpline, said that last year it experienced a 30% rise in the number of potential victims who work in this space, who work in the care sector. the year before, they said there was a 606% rise. many people have arrived to work in the sector with significant recruitment fees that are put on them. they're often placed in unsafe

accommodation . and in one case accommodation. and in one case that was revealed earlier this year by the former chief inspector of borders and immigration , david neal, there immigration, david neal, there was a case where 275 visas were issued by a care home that doesn't even exist, so it's an extraordinary situation. and when i asked the watchdog, the gangmasters and labour abuse authority to give me some detail on those investigations, how many of them have led to action being taken? they said that information would be too costly to reveal . to reveal. >> and charlie, of course, this was fuelled in large part by the fact until very recently, the companies bringing people in from overseas because there is an entire micro industry now could offer 20% below the uk wage, below the minimum wage. this in many senses was legalised slave labour. small wonder it was abused . wonder it was abused. >> yes, indeed. and a significant number of those

arriving on that visa route were dependents of workers, not just workers themselves, which helped to fuel that record net migration figure last year. the government has taken action, they say, to crack down on that visa routes by rejecting the number of dependents able to arrive through it. also, for students, it's worth noting that the fact remains that the best part of a million people have now arrived on that route . since now arrived on that route. since the end of january 2021, people i've spoken to on the back of the figures that we've been able to reveal have expressed their concern as well, neil o'brien, the mp, said to me that it the tory mp, said to me that it was a boon for criminals and exploiters. carl williams, the director of research at the centre for policy studies. he said that now for every 7500 visas issued, there's an investigation into somebody being exploited in the workplace . well, in reaction to all of these figures, i did get a statement from a government spokesperson and they told me

that they had concern about the sector , and they had said that sector, and they had said that they were going to make sure that it was regulated sufficiently, and that everyone deserves to be treated fairly at work and rewarded for their contribution to the economy. they said they have concerns about unethical employment practices, particularly for migrant workers employed within care occupations. they went on to say that to address these concerns about abuse within the health and care workers sector, providers in england are now only able to sponsor migrant workers if they are undertaking activities regulated by the care quality commission, so they said that they've taken action to reduce this exploitation. but a rise to 44 over ten fold rise is expressing significant concern today. >> a shocking numbers and an excellent report. as ever. charlie peters, thank you for joining us on the show this afternoon . now, if you lived in afternoon. now, if you lived in afternoon. now, if you lived in a beautiful part of the country,

how would you react if you found out they were getting put out they were getting cables put all over your head? well, we'll find out soon. martin find out soon. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel

>> i'm patrick christys . >> i'm patrick christys. >> i'm patrick christys. >> every weeknight from nine, i bnng >> every weeknight from nine, i bring you two hours of unmissable, explosive debate and headune unmissable, explosive debate and headline grabbing interviews. >> impact that had? >> what impact has that had? >> what impact has that had? >> we got death threats and the bomb threat and so on. >> our job is to do what's in >> ourjob is to do what's in the interests of our country. >> you made my argument for me one at a time. >> tackle the >> my guests and i tackle the issues really matter with issues that really matter with a sharp take on every story i'm heanng sharp take on every story i'm hearing and down the country. hearing up and down the country. >> that was beginning, an end. >> patrick christys tonight from 9 pm. only on news. 9 pm. only on gb news. >> britain's news channel . >> britain's news channel. >> britain's news channel. >> welcome back. it's 348. i'm martin daubney and this is gb news now. coming up at 4:00.

rishi sunak is today promised the clampdown on. he's branded sick note britain. but is it too little , too late? not just for little, too late? not just for the tories but for our massive benefits bill. a whopping £69 billion a year. can you, adam, and leave it ? billion a year. can you, adam, and leave it? but first, billion a year. can you, adam, and leave it ? but first, let's and leave it? but first, let's take you to lancashire, where a community is in uproar over plans to build a cable corridor while lower than the m55 right through the county, developers say it's necessary as part of their work to meet the government's green energy targets. but residents say it will greenbelt land, will destroy greenbelt land, close down businesses and force people out of their homes. now, as you know, here @gbnews, we like to give a voice to the people. so when some of the residents reached out, well, we sent our north—west of england reporter sophie reaper to go and find what's going on. find out what's been going on. >> barbara has been riding horses here for the past 35 years. she's deaf, and these lessons are tailored especially

to meet her needs. but soon she may need to find a new hobby . may need to find a new hobby. under proposals to connect a wind farm off the morecambe coast to a sub power station in preston, construct one to link the two assets would meet the border of the riding school. if it goes ahead, the owner says the 3000 lessons they offer each year for disabled riders like barbara would have to be cancelled, and they would be forced to close their doors for good. >> horses are very sensitive creatures, so they they're not as logical as us, and they don't understand words like there's going to be a loud noise in a minute. to have this sudden minute. so to have this sudden explosion vehicles and explosion of vehicles and everything else going on, the horses safe to be used . horses are not safe to be used. >> two weeks ago, the school received a letter informing them that mobilisation activities would begin. this month. that's despite consent for development, not yet being approved. >> how is it allowed to happen? how are big companies allowed to do this? i think no good.

>> all around me here there are homes , businesses and just down homes, businesses and just down the road the small village of freckleton. there locals are extremely concerned about how these plans could affect life as they know it. one local resident, andrew leigh, has lived here for 56 years. he runs the local post office but says his true life's work is conservation. >> i did a bird survey over the last 20 years on this ground and it includes 100 species of birds i >> -- >> plus lam >> plus we've got a massive brown hare population. what they're going to do, they're going to wipe everything out. >> concerns developers >> despite concerns developers say they'll make important say they'll make an important contribution uk's contribution to the uk's offshore wind target. in fact, they promise the wind farms would harness enough electricity to power the equivalent of 2 million homes. >> we're not saying no to the wind farm. what we're saying no to is the cable corridor. the cable corridor is going to cut filed in two. it's not a case of

can we do it? it's a case. we are doing it. and it's just wrong. >> in a statement to gb news, the developers said all feedback we have received has been considered to date and helped inform our design process. we understand there are local concerns and these will be addressed in due course . and yet addressed in due course. and yet for the local residents, they feel they're being listened to but not heard. the noise and the land and the sight and the ugliness of it. >> if i'm honest, really do concern me. >> this is going to change the whole landscape around and whole landscape around here and become an become much more of an industrialised area. so absolutely. we will absolutely. yeah, we will probably away. seems probably move away. it seems to be done cheapest be being done in the cheapest possible way suit the possible way to suit the companies. possible way to suit the con now es. possible way to suit the con now , s. possible way to suit the con now , with a parliamentary >> now, with a parliamentary petition in place and support continuing to grow, the people of fylde will do what they can to save what they believe needs saving. sophie reaper gb news. >> and that's the impact of net zero, because we wouldn't need these new cable corridors if we

if we weren't becoming so reliant on wind farms. because you plonk a wind farm somewhere, you plonk a wind farm somewhere, you have to have cables running to the local areas to get that energy the communities that energy to the communities that wouldn't be we just wouldn't be needed if we just stuck energy grid that wouldn't be needed if we just stu have energy grid that wouldn't be needed if we just stu have . energy grid that wouldn't be needed if we just stu have . so energy grid that wouldn't be needed if we just stu have . so that'sgy grid that wouldn't be needed if we just stu have . so that's the rid that wouldn't be needed if we just stu have . so that's the impact of we have. so that's the impact of these projects. now, you've been sending your emails in by your hundreds. rattle through hundreds. let's rattle through a few of them now on sick notes, culture, joy has said this. it's simply unbelievable. the tories are now complaining about the amount of people on long term sick and that there's been a huge increase. surely they knew this month or even years ago how extortionate the number of people on benefits was. so why have they left it until a few weeks or months before the election to disclose this? it's appalling, judith adds this just how long does it take anyone in government to pick up on anything before it reaches a crisis? judith, great point. we've been talking about this here on gb news for absolutely donkey's years on housing. this is the labour party's plan to

reappropriate parts of the greenbelt into a grey belt. and bnan greenbelt into a grey belt. and brian is saying we would not need all these extra houses if we stopped all this immigration. ian, population increase is the problem that is becoming obvious. why is this issue never addressed again? brian, we addressed again? brian, we address it every single day on this channel. chris, as this it's all very well building thousands of new homes. but the uk's infrastructure does not ever get upgraded. ian simply says this we don't have a housing problem. we have a population explosion problem. and on the issue of the european union suggesting a freedom of movement deal to try and woo sir keir starmer closer to brussels, victoria adds this everyone else seems to have freedom of movement to come to britain. boats in the channel, foreign students and their families, endless care worker visas. to be honest, i'd rather europeans come here for travel and study, seeing as though they have a similar cultural background to

us. absolutely loads of emails coming in there already. don't forget you can send your views in by going to gbnews.com/yoursay them across and i'll read them all out before the end of the show if they're clean. now, the benefits bill is getting bigger and bigger and bigger, and rishi sunakis bigger and bigger, and rishi sunak is today promised a clampdown. but will it work? i'm not so sure. did we just get too used to working and getting free money during lockdowns? i'm martin daubney on gb news britain's news channel, but now it's your weather and it's alex deakin. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the latest gb news weather forecast from the met office. showers today will ease overnight with skies clearing. it's going to turn chilly with a touch of frost in places as higher pressure moves in from the west, but that will bring a fine start

to the weekend for many of us. finally, a period of settled weather, but for the time being, still some showers out there. they're going to ease as they spread south through the evening, and then after midnight, most places will be dry with increasingly lengthy clear spells and lighter winds that will lead to temperatures falling away 3 to 5 celsius for many. but close to zero in some sheltered spots. so a touch of frost first thing tomorrow. however, plenty of sunshine from the word go. 1 or 2 mr fog patches soon clearing from northern ireland and then the best of the sunshine really across northern ireland, western scotland into parts of wales and the southwest. elsewhere it does turn a little cloudier into the afternoon, and we've still got a bit of a breeze down the north sea coast that will make it feel cool. 9 or celsius, but in cool. 9 or 10 celsius, but in the and lighter winds the sunshine and lighter winds elsewhere 13 or 14 celsius very pleasant. there will be some outbreaks of light rain in the far north on saturday, spreading

into central parts sunday. into central parts by sunday. a cloudier many , and those cloudier day for many, and those dribbles of rain will push into the midlands by the end of the day, making it feel a little disappointing . monday sees disappointing. monday sees further light rain across central parts , some sunshine elsewhere. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> a very good friday afternoon to you. it's 4 pm. and welcome to you. it's 4 pm. and welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news. broadcasting live the news. broadcasting live from the heart westminster across heart of westminster all across the show , with the uk. on today's show, with a staggering 2.8 million brits on long term sickness benefits at a huge cost of £69 billion last yean huge cost of £69 billion last year, rishi sunak has today promised a clampdown. but is it too little, too late ? and today

too little, too late? and today we all woke up to the worrying news this morning after israeli missiles apparently struck iran . missiles apparently struck iran. but just what could this mean for the world will have the full story and the eu commission announces proposals to open discussions with the uk to allow free movement of people again, initially for young people aged 18 to 30. but is this just their way to get us back in the club via the back door ? will debating via the back door? will debating all of that and that's all coming up between now and 6:00? one of the show. always a pleasure to have your company £69 billion on benefits last year , the second biggest outlay year, the second biggest outlay of every pound in tax that you pay of every pound in tax that you pay after the nhs . it's simply pay after the nhs. it's simply unsustainable. it's going through the roof. why on earth is taken the government so long to wake up to this ? we've been

to wake up to this? we've been talking about it for years here on gb news. it's simply unsustainable. now. at last, rishi sunak has spoken up. do you think there will be a clampdown or is it empty rhetoric to try and get votes ahead of the next general election? and are you concerned, as i am, that the european union offering a return of freedom of movement to young people is a way of getting closer ties with brussels? precisely the kind of death by a thousand treaties. many people worried might happen under a labour government . get under a labour government. get in touch all the usual ways. and there's a new way this time it's gbnews.com/yoursay log on. you'll see my ugly mush. leave a comment. i'll read out the best before the end of the show. but first, let's rock into your latest news headlines and it's sophia wenzler. >> thanks, martin. good afternoon . it's 4:02. i'm sophia afternoon. it's 4:02. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom . your

wenzler in the gb newsroom. your top story this hour. the uk and western allies are calling for de—escalation in the middle east after reports that israel launched air strikes against iran. state media says three drones were shot down with explosions heard at an airbase near the city of isfahan. no damage or injuries have been reported in the latest exchange. the strike is thought to be in response to last weekend's attack, when iran fired a barrage of drones and missiles at israel. labour leader keir starmer has added to calls for restraint as the best way forward . forward. >> i'm deeply concerned about the prospect of escalation, escalation of the conflict in the middle east is in nobody's interest and so it's very, very important, therefore, that everybody urges restraint on all sides . more everybody urges restraint on all sides. more than that, we everybody urges restraint on all sides . more than that, we really sides. more than that, we really need that ceasefire in gaza now, straight away. so that hostages can come out desperately needed

aid , needs to get in, aid, needs to get in, desperately, desperately needed, and we need, if you like, a foot in the door for the political process to peace . process to peace. >> now, the prime minister is promising his rwanda safety bill will be passed on monday. rishi sunak couldn't confirm whether asylum flights would get off the ground by his spring deadline , ground by his spring deadline, but he did say his intention was to legislation through to get the legislation through parliament without further delay. will be delay. he says mps will be forced to sit in the commons until the job is done . until the job is done. scotland's former first minister has spoken for the first time since her husband was charged by police. nicola sturgeon was questioned by journalists as she left her home in glasgow . left her home in glasgow. >> it's incredibly difficult, but you know that's not the main issue here so i can't say any more. >> i'm not going to say any more , i'd also really appreciate peter murrell, who was the snp's chief executive for more than two decades before standing down last year, has been charged in connection with the embezzlement

of funds. detectives are investigating how more than £600,000 in donations for independence campaigning was spent. the 59 year old, who is no longer in custody, has also resigned his snp membership in the british medical association is urging rishi sunak to avoid using hostile language on what he described as sick note culture during a major speech, the prime minister said 850,000 more people are out of work since the pandemic , and insists since the pandemic, and insists he's on a moral mission to fix the problem. the proposals, though, have been described as a full on assault on disabled people. rishi sunak recognised that he'll be accused of lacking compassion, but insists the uk can't afford a spiralling increase in the welfare bill. >> we now spend £69 billion on benefits for people of working age with a disability or health condition that's more than our entire schools budget , more than entire schools budget, more than our transport budget, more than our transport budget, more than

our policing budget and spending on personal independence payments alone. it's forecast to increase by more than 50% over the next four years. >> two police forces are being investigated over the stabbing of a mother in bradford . habiba of a mother in bradford. habiba moazzam is charged with murdering cassima akhtar , who murdering cassima akhtar, who was attacked while pushing her babyin was attacked while pushing her baby in a pram two weeks ago. the independent office for police conduct says the victim contacted west yorkshire police on the 28th of march after receiving death threats. it's understood information was shared with colleagues in greater manchester police . an greater manchester police. an investigation will look at what steps to safeguard steps officers took to safeguard miss . in other news, five miss akhtar. in other news, five just stop oil protesters have been convicted of aggravated trespass after they disrupted a performance of les miserables in london's west end last year. the performance was stopped when activists stormed the stage and locked themselves to the set. the angry audience of around 1000 people was asked to leave

the auditorium and the performance was ended. the five activists were all found guilty of aggravated trespass following a trial at westminster magistrates court and squatters are slowly starting to emerge from gordon ramsay's central london pub after his lawyers yesterday secured a possession order. however, the group argues the legal system is designed for the legal system is designed for the rich and say the york and albany, near regent's park, has been left empty for years in an area with some of the worst levels of rough sleeping in the country. it's unclear how many people inside . and for people are still inside. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. com slash alerts. now it's back to . martin. it's back to. martin. >> thank you sophie now got absolutely loads to go fangs into this hour so let's get chomping now. after another dreadful week, rishi sunak has

come out fighting and declared war on what he's called the uk's sick note culture. the country's welfare state will now cost the average taxpayer a staggering £2,000 each. every single year. well, i'm joined in our studio in westminster by our political correspondent, catherine forsa. catherine welcome to the studio. always a delight to have your company . the numbers are company. the numbers are absolutely mind bending . a absolutely mind bending. a record 2.8 million on long terms. sick. now that's a huge increase of 850,000 since the pandemic. and the numbers £69 billion a year. sickness benefits now second, only to the nhs. >> yes, they're spending more on this than they are on education than they are on the police . and than they are on the police. and that's 69 billion. that's up from 42 billion before the pandemic. so you can see what a massive jump that's projected to

go massive jump that's projected to 9° up massive jump that's projected to go up to 91 billion by the end of the next parliament. if this is not addressed. so you can see why the government is determined to sort of grasp this, this is very difficult. it's very controversial . it's going to controversial. it's going to upset a lot of people. it's very difficult to get the balance right between, you know, carrot and stick, basically. but the government have obviously decided that it's got to a critical point . so rishi sunak critical point. so rishi sunak making this big speech a little bit earlier, saying that he feels that he has got a moral duty to enable people who can work to get back to work. let's have a little look at what he had to say. >> the role of the welfare state should never be merely to provide financial support. as important as that will always be, but to help people overcome whatever barriers they might face to living an independent, fulfilling life. everyone with the potential should be supported and not just to earn,

but to contribute and belong. and we must never tolerate barriers that hold people back from making their contribution and from sharing in that sense of self—worth that comes from feeling part of being something bigger than ourselves. feeling part of being something bigger than ourselves . and that bigger than ourselves. and that is why this is a moral mission. and why the value of work is so central to my vision for welfare reform . reform. >> well, catherine, we've had hundreds of your essays about this. i want to read out a couple to you to give you a flavour. alan says this. i'm all for the changes. mr sunak is proposing to address the sick note i don't note culture. what? i don't understand is why i didn't recognise this and address it when he was the chancellor. why is he waited until now? why not let labour drown trying to fix this problem? >> well, that's a good question because the reality is that these announcements will please some. they're going to annoy a lot of people . charities such as lot of people. charities such as mind have said that these comments that rishi sunak has

made, for example, he said there's a risk of over medicalising the everyday challenges and worries of life. mind have said that those sorts of comments are deeply damaging and risk sort of vilifying people that have genuine mental health problems. but of course, these issues have been going for on some time. the conservatives are not expected to be in power after the next election. they could very easily just let this drift on, because the likelihood is that it's going to soon become labour's problem and to labour have acknowledged that the welfare budget is out of control. but i think worth saying there has been a real explosion, hasn't there, particularly in mental health conditions. over half of the people signing on for sickness benefit now have some mental health issues, either anxiety or depression or something else. often those coexist with another condition . but of course there condition. but of course there is a difference, isn't there, between people that have acute,

psychological problems who very much need proper health and support and bear in mind, mental health services in this country are massively stretched very often, especially with young people. there simply isn't the care there until people get to a critical point. and sadly , critical point. and sadly, sometimes it's too late and the suicide rate has gone up too. so this needs to be taken seriously . but another point is that, of course, we've got millions of people sitting on waiting lists to start routine treatment right now. if you are waiting for a major surgery or you've got major surgery or you've got major health issues, that is going to keep a lot of people out of the work place too. so it's very difficult. >> what about this notion ? and >> what about this notion? and there is quite a bit of cynicism, it has to be said amongst gb news viewers about this. of people on sickness this. 53% of people on sickness or on depression, bad nerves or anxiety , a lot of people saying, anxiety, a lot of people saying, is it the new bad back? you

can't prove that you're necessarily mentally ill or be disprove moved. and so rishi sunakis disprove moved. and so rishi sunak is ostensibly with this new piece of policy, saying he's going to remove this from gps and instead take it into the private sector. have people assessed in the workplace? is that the right thing to do? how can somebody in the private sector who presumably will be trying on, on trying to cut back on, on people's ability to claim sickness, be better placed to make a diagnosis than a gp? >> yeah, i think this is very problematic. i mean, the government's argument is that gps are very stretched, that on average they only have about seven minutes with somebody. so it's all too easy to write a sick note or fit note as they call them. they wrote 11 million last year and they assessed that 94% of those people were not able to do any work. so it's quick and easy for, for gps, but what the government is proposing is to basically have, i think , is to basically have, i think, mel stride, the work and pensions secretary, this morning talked about sort of one stop talked about a sort of one stop shop where you would a

shop where you would have a health professionals and people from the benefits department working together to help people stay in work if possible, or to help them back to work. well that might sound great, but that's easier, said than done, isn't it? because we've got, difficult to get an appointment with a gp. shortage of doctors, nhs under strain. how are you going to get this up and running? and as you say, there's going to be conflict of interest between a doctor who will primarily be concerned with patients health, and somebody from the benefits department who will be wanting very much, if at all possible, to get that person back to work. so i think it sounds great. i think actually, how you would do that in practice, that seems very challenging to me. well, £91 billion by the time the next parliament comes in per year. >> surely it's something that the labour party couldn't afford to either . can we talk to ignore either. can we talk about gutter? about politics in the gutter? the absolute state of politics at the moment? you've worked in

politics for a long time. i've been involved in politics. i don't think it's ever been this bad. the 1990s, we saw the bad. in the 1990s, we saw the tail end, the fag end of the john major era , mired by sleaze, john major era, mired by sleaze, sort of make this lot feel like a tea party. look at the mark menzies situation. a 3 am. call for a ransom letter. we're seeing the labour party today. it's been claimed they destroyed evidence in the angela rayner case. two police investigations on the go. and then what's going on the go. and then what's going on with the snp . and there'll be on with the snp. and there'll be the seventh seat now. owen paterson imran ahmed khan, neil parish, david warburton , chris parish, david warburton, chris pincher, peter bone, scott benton the roll call of shame is politics completely in the gutter. catherine it's very depressing, isn't it? >> and of course, it's only 18 months since rishi sunak came in and he stood there and he said, i'm going to lead a government which is going to have integrity vie accountability and professionalism at every level. and so many of the people that

you have just named, he has had to sack or remove the whip from in the 18 months since he's been in the 18 months since he's been in charge , whether it's dominic in charge, whether it's dominic raab for bullying nadine zahawi , raab for bullying nadine zahawi, £5 million in unpaid tax and just in the last fortnight, as you say, william wragg, quite an influential tory with this honey trap scandal where he'd sent something compromising and then he handed over the personal numbers of a dozen or so other mps and colleagues. numbers of a dozen or so other mps and colleagues . and then the mps and colleagues. and then the quite i mean, to be honest, yes. today when i read the piece about mark menzies in the times, it was barely believable. ringing a 78 year old woman at 315 in the morning, a lifelong conservative activist. >> yes , saying i need £5,000 in >> yes, saying i need £5,000 in bad people have got me and i, you know, this is life or death. >> she wouldn't pay up. not surprisingly . 315 >> she wouldn't pay up. not surprisingly. 315 in >> she wouldn't pay up. not surprisingly . 315 in the >> she wouldn't pay up. not surprisingly. 315 in the morning then goes to the campaign manager. she has to cash in an

isa of hers to pay them. it's gone up to 6500. in the meantime . and then that money is paid back out of campaign funds. it's all all wrong. and then we now know, too, that the conservative party was given some of this information three months ago. but the story only broke when the times broke it. so it does feel rishi sunak. i mean himself for all his flaws. and some people will say he's got many and he's not that great at politics. i don't think you could dispute that. he is hard working and you know , he doesn't working and you know, he doesn't even drink. but the party he presides over, you can change the prime minister, but the party hasn't changed, and it does feel like they have been in power so long that quite a few of them seem to have forgotten that rules apply to them as that the rules apply to them as well. >> yeah, it's worth pointing out as and poll yesterday, as well. and a poll yesterday, catherine, 34% said they'd vote for sir keir starmer as prime minister. 19% for rishi sunak,

48. none of the above. maybe catherine, someone should change their name to mr none of the above and they will get elected. it's a truly astonishing situation . now then, moving on, situation. now then, moving on, sir keir starmer spoke to the media today and he wouldn't be drawn into answering whether the party has provided funding for tax or legal advice for his deputy. angela rayner's tax affairs. and how damaging could this story be for labour? let's come back to you on this one, catherine. so again, this is the story i was mentioning earlier on. no information being forthcoming. isn't this astonishing? from somebody like sir keir starmer, who's meant to be a forensic you know, legal minded leader doesn't seemingly want to know. the scandal just keeps rolling on and on and on. just won't go away. >> this is a story that's now been around for not far been rumbling around for not far off months now. and the off two months now. and the reason it's still going on is because angela rayner , they've because angela rayner, they've said she's answered many

questions, but she hasn't answered many questions to the media. i was at a lunch with her a few weeks ago and other journalists, we repeatedly pressed her on why it was that she wasn't liable for capital gains tax on the sale of this ex—council house. she actually got quite upset. you think of her as being very fiery, very feisty. she was nearly in tears. she was saying, look , i was a she was saying, look, i was a carer. it was a long time ago. i've had a complicated family situation and i've got a registered blind child, etc. etc. but the bottom line was, she didn't pay counsel, she didn't pay capital gains tax. sorry. and there can be several reasons for that. first of all, she said it was her main residence. now, it appears that it wasn't. it appears that she was living somewhere else down the road with her then husband. however, that is allowed, you can designate whichever main residence as you want, as a couple, but you can't have both. or she spent so much in doing up

that house that that meant there was no liability. now that's been suggested in the last day or so that in fact, there was a big kitchen renovation. her brother that neighbours say lived there was very handy, apparently. it may be that apparently. so it may be that thatis apparently. so it may be that that is the reason. but why not just say that? because until we get to the bottom of this, people will keep asking questions . and of course, it questions. and of course, it completely suits the conservatives who are up against it with the poll . they think it with the poll. they think there's ammunition here, and they're keep keep going. >> yeah. katherine forster both of parties facing of the major parties facing issues this side of the border and of course, the snp up north. thank you for joining and of course, the snp up north. thank you forjoining us, thank you for joining us, catherine, for her excellent as even catherine, for her excellent as ever. now don't miss out on your chance win a £10,000 greek chance to win a £10,000 greek cruise, a luxury travel bundle and a whopping ten grand tax free cold hard cash. it's our biggest prize of the year so far, and here's how you could hop on board with thanks to variety cruises , a family variety cruises, a family company sailing since 1942, you

have the chance to win a £10,000 seven night small boat cruise for two with flights, meals, excursions and drinks included . excursions and drinks included. >> you'll be able to choose from any one of their 2025 greek adventures and explore greece like never before. plus, you'll also win £10,000 in tax free cash to make your summer sizzle, and we'll pack you off with these luxury travel gifts for another chance to win a prize worth over £20,000. text win to 63232. texts cost £2 plus one standard network rate message or post your name and number to gb04, p0 post your name and number to gb04, po box 8690. derby dh1 nine 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 i watching on demand. good luck! >> we can almost taste the ouzo now. don't go anywhere because up next we'll be discussing the

reported israeli strikes on iran this morning and just how consequential for the west could these be? and the pounds and the pence in your pocket? i'm martin daubney on gb news britain's news

welcome back. you time is 425. i'm martin daubney , time is 425. i'm martin daubney, and this is gb news. us officials have said that israeli missiles struck around this morning. and the attacks reportedly hit an area home to a large airbase , a major missile large airbase, a major missile production complex and several nuclear facilities. although the location of the strikes have not been fully confirmed, local sources are suggesting that three explosions were heard near the isfahan airbase. well, let's get now the latest with our homeland security editor, mark white. so, mark, we woke up this morning to the news of these airstrikes. but since then

things seem to have quietened down. what's the latest ? down. what's the latest? >> yeah, look, things for the moment, at least in the region, are calm . in tehran, for are calm. in tehran, for instance, we've had thousands of people on the streets of the iranian capital shouting the usual death to israel chants as they head through the city centre , both protesting at the centre, both protesting at the action last night, but also celebrating the birthday of their supreme leader and the iranian government and officials have been playing down what happened last night, saying that they responded with their anti—missile and drone defence systems and were able to shoot down these incoming missiles, drones, whatever was launched at them with minimum to no damage. so we wait to really hear confirmation if we ever get it

from israel. it may be that we never get that confirmation from israel that they have launched this strike in the early hours of the morning. the only way we know, really, that this was israel that was behind the events overnight , israel that was behind the events overnight, is israel that was behind the events overnight , is the fact events overnight, is the fact that the us had been briefing the g7 group of foreign ministers meeting in italy there, telling them that they were told by israel shortly before these strikes were launched that they were launching what seemed to be a minimum, level of, strikes in iran. so iran, as i say, downplaying it, suggesting that they will not be responding in kind, there will be no retaliation at this point. doesn't mean that at some point in the coming hours and days, we won't see the usual attacks from its proxies in southern lebanon and yemen, in iraq or syria .

and yemen, in iraq or syria. thatis and yemen, in iraq or syria. that is likely because that plays out , every day really, plays out, every day really, right across that region and has done for many years now. but in terms of this big threat of state to state war, with which began, of course, with that very significant launch of, drones and ballistic missiles and cruise missiles on saturday night, the response from israel thus far has been limited. now, that doesn't mean, martin, that that doesn't mean, martin, that that will be the full response. and that is the end of the matter. this may be the first phase. we don't really know. the hope will be amongst western leaders, martin, that that is it that israel has sent a message, and they will leave it at that for the time being. >> excellent summary as ever. thanks for joining >> excellent summary as ever. thanks forjoining us. mark white and joining me now to discuss this further is the former british army officer and defence analyst, lieutenant colonel stuart crawford stuart ,

colonel stuart crawford stuart, welcome to the show. always a pleasure to have you on. so for now we have a standoff. we have a peace. but how fragile do you think that peace could be? >> an interesting question. and i think that, mark's report , i think that, mark's report, which we've just heard is pretty on the money in terms of where we are at the moment, it's difficult from open sources to know exactly what's going on, because the us is saying that, andifs because the us is saying that, and it's really missile was launched and hit iran. >> the iranians were saying, no, nothing hit them. >> or if anything did hit them , >> or if anything did hit them, it was just a few drones. and the israelis are saying nothing , the israelis are saying nothing, in, my opinion at this stage. and i have any information and i don't have any information other than what it appears in open sources, is that the israelis are fired a shot across iranian, the iranian bows , iranian, the iranian bows, basically saying, look, we can get to you if we want. so back off, the other interpretation,

off, the other interpretation, of course, is that this is a trial run for something greater to come. and if that is to happen, it will happen over the weekend. but let's hope that , weekend. but let's hope that, you know, wise, wiser heads prevail and the whole thing is cooled down and we don't have any escalation or continuation of that sort of level of missile and drone exchange . and drone exchange. >> stuart, what's been interesting is that, a lot of reports have been saying this is precisely what the west didn't want. israel to do, but israel has a right to defend itself, doesn't it? after what happened on october 7, you know, they has every right nations around the world saying, oh, you must wind down, joe biden saying, take the win. but october the 7th changed everything . everything. >> yeah, indeed it did. and, i believe that israel has an absolute right to take whatever action it thinks necessary to stop the october 7th attack, ever happening again. if that's

not too great an aspiration . not too great an aspiration. but, i mean, there's no doubt that iran has, well, iran has said that it wants to remove israel from the map from the middle east, from the world, and therefore, iran is israel's enemy. and israel, of course, has greatest ally is the us and the us is desperately keen not to become involved in any sort of regional conventional conflict . but i've said for of regional conventional conflict. but i've said for many months and years now that at some point the us is going to have to deal with iran , have to deal with iran, hopefully through diplomatic means. but if push comes to shove by other means and of course, historically, stuart crawford , the americans have crawford, the americans have sent billions of dollars to iran. >> i wonder if they regret that now. thanks for joining >> i wonder if they regret that now. thanks forjoining us on now. thanks for joining us on the show, lieutenant colonel stuart crawford, always a delight have your expert delight to have your expert insight .

delight to have your expert insight. now, there's delight to have your expert insight . now, there's lots more insight. now, there's lots more still between now and still to come between now and 5:00. minutes, i'll 5:00. in a few minutes, i'll bnng gb 5:00. in a few minutes, i'll bring gb exclusive bring you a gb news exclusive that chilled me to the bones. there has been a ten fold rise in care sector investigations by the labour exploitation watchdog, but first, it's time for your latest news headlines. and it's sophia wenzler. >> thanks, martin. it's 430. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom . your headlines. the uk newsroom. your headlines. the uk and western allies are calling for de—escalation in the middle east after reports that israel launched air strikes against iran state media says three drones were shot down with explosions heard at an air base near the city of isfahan . no near the city of isfahan. no damage or injuries have been reported in the latest exchange. the strike is thought to be in response to last weekend's attack, when iran fired a barrage of drones and missiles

at israel . the prime minister is at israel. the prime minister is promising his rwanda safety bill will be passed on monday. rishi sunak couldn't confirm whether asylum flights would get off the ground by his spring deadline, but he did say his intention was to get the bill through parliament without further delay. he says mps will be forced to sit in the commons until the job is done . until the job is done. scotland's former first minister, nicola sturgeon, has admitted the situation surrounding her husband's arrest and embezzlement charges has been incredibly difficult . peter been incredibly difficult. peter murrell was charged in connection with misusing more than £600,000 of snp funding, donated to independence campaigning. he has also resigned his snp membership and five just off oil protesters have been convicted of aggravated trespass after they disrupted a performance of les miserables in london's west end last year. the performance was stopped when activists stormed

the stage and locked themselves to the set. the angry audience of around 1000 people was asked to leave the auditorium and the performance was ended. the five activists were all found guilty of aggravated trespass following a trial westminster a trial at westminster magistrates court. and for the latest stories , sign up to gb latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. common alerts. >> thank you sophia. now there's a new way to get in touch with us here @gbnews. and here's bev turner with all the details . turner with all the details. >> we are proud to be gb news the channel. and as you the people's channel. and as you know, we always love to hear your views . now there's know, we always love to hear your views. now there's a know, we always love to hear your views . now there's a new your views. now there's a new way of getting touch with us way of getting in touch with us @gbnews com forward. slash @gbnews dot com forward. slash your by commenting. can your say by commenting. you can be of a live conversation be part of a live conversation and join our news community. and join our gb news community. you can even talk to me, bev turner or any of the members of the gb news family. simply go to

gbnews.com/yoursay your say

i >> -- >> we're -_ >> we're gb news, and we come from a proud tradition of british journalism. >> that's why i'm so excited to be here. >> it's something so new. >> it's something so new. >> the first news channel be >> the first news channel to be launched britain over 30 years. >> launched to represent the views british people . views of the british people. >> to go where other broadcasters refuse to go. >> find out about the >> how do you find out about the story the first place? story in the first place? >> with aim be >> launched with one aim to be the fearless of the fearless champion of britain, it's absolutely britain, it's an absolutely fantastic here. fantastic atmosphere here. >> gb news of channel gb >> this is gb news of channel gb news britain's news channel . news britain's news channel. >> welcome back. your time is 438. i'm martin daubney and this is gb news. now, later in the show, we'll look ahead to an absolutely huge weekend of football at the top and the bottom of the premier league for teams like mine forest. anyway, there has been a ten fold rise

in investigations by the government's modern slavery watchdog the care watchdog into the social care sector. new data from the gangmasters and labour abuse authority was revealed in a gb news investigates freedom of information request, and the surge in probes comes after a record rise in health and care visas issued by the government, with researchers linking the investigations to rampant abuse of the immigration route. well, join me now to discuss this serious topic. is the co—chair of the national care association , anne nadra ahmed. nadra, welcome to the show and thank you for your time. a deeply concerning , set of statistics. concerning, set of statistics. nora, what's your take on this, it is deeply concerned , and it it is deeply concerned, and it actually is, quite distressing for anybody who works in social care to be hearing these statistics and the truth of the matter is, this is to do with the way the visa systems were set up, and the abuses occurred

because companies that actually didn't even exist, were putting in for these visas and being given them. we actually warn the government right at the outset that this had to be tightly controlled. we are desperate for a workforce. we can't get a domestic workforce for love nor money. and the only route open to us was this way of trying to bnng to us was this way of trying to bring people into the country to support the most vulnerable in our in our nation. and so for responsible providers, this was a godsend . but unfortunately, a godsend. but unfortunately, the way that it was set up enabled agencies to set up and bnngin enabled agencies to set up and bring in people and actually make a fortune out of it, when they didn't, when people didn't need to pay that sort of money. it's not cheap to bring people in. fine but to be charging people 10,000, 20,000, £30,000 to get that visa , it should have

to get that visa, it should have been stopped straight away. yeah >> i mean, everybody will agree with what you're saying there. and there was one instance this nadra , where 275 visas were nadra, where 275 visas were issued for a home that didn't even exist. and you will know better than i that an entire micro industry was set up solely to recruit people from overseas with no qualifications or experience often required. and a huge part of the problem was it not that for a long time those companies were able to advertise those jobs at 20% lower than the uk pay rate, creating a clear opportunity of bringing little more than legalised slave laboun >> well, actually the finance package that was set up, did cause us concern. but for a slightly different reason, because the actual hourly pay rate that was being offered to people to come and work in the uk was more than the domestic

rate. and we raised that issue, we raised it consistently , the we raised it consistently, the national living wage. it was it was more than that . and so if was more than that. and so if you've got a british worker coming to work in a care setting on the same day as somebody who starts who's an international recruit, they would be taking home money. some of home more money. i get some of the rationale behind it, but actually, why don't we agree with the home office as to what the rate should be and stop tinkering around the edges on the national living, or minimum wage? let's just make sure that we are then funded to pay that rate, so it's still the same . rate, so it's still the same. there is a different rate for people coming into the country from abroad, and a different rate for the domestic workforce. and the domestic workforce rate is lower. that's not going to help us build a domestic workforce . totally agree. well, workforce. totally agree. well, thanks for joining us. workforce. totally agree. well, thanks forjoining us. and there's nothing more important than taking care of our elderly and vulnerable. so thank you for your work. and that's nadra ahmed, the co—chair of the national care association, now

government spokesperson has said this. we are clear that everyone deserves to be treated fairly at work and rewarded for their contribution to the economy. we have concerns about unethical employment practices, particularly for migrant workers employed within care occupations, to address these concerns about abuse within the health and care worker sector, providers in england are now only able to sponsor migrant workers if they are undertaking activities regulated by the care quality commission . now, on quality commission. now, on another note, it's bowel cancer awareness month and yesterday an army of poos and loo rolls took to the city centre streets of manchester to spread an important message. it's absolutely wonderful. this is on absolutely wonderful. this is on a serious topic, a great campaign idea, and we'll discuss this next with one of the organisers . this next with one of the organisers. i'm martin this next with one of the organisers . i'm martin daubney organisers. i'm martin daubney on news, britain's news on gb news, britain's news channel

welcome back. it's 446. i'm martin daubney. this is gb news now. ahmed alid, who's been charged with murdering a 70 year old in hartlepool town centre. minutes after repeatedly stabbing his sleeping housemate. denies murder. the asylum seeker told the court that he felt unwell when he stabbed the pensioner in the street, and anna riley , news reporter, joins anna riley, news reporter, joins me now from teesside. crown court. anna, welcome to the show. what's the latest on the case? >> thanks, martin. yes, well, as as you have just said ahmed ali, the asylum seeker who's accused of fatally stabbing pensioner terence carney and his housemate javid noori eight days after hamas attacked israel in what the prosecution say was an attack motivated by the

israel—palestine conflict , said israel—palestine conflict, said that he felt unwell and that he might faint when he stabbed a pensioner. terence carney . he's pensioner. terence carney. he's admitted to doing these acts of the stabbing, but he said that he did not intend to kill mr carney or intend to seriously injure or kill mr noori. the prosecution at teesside crown court has said that both men were stabbed six times in the early hours of october the 15th, 2023 last year and that was in the home office accommodation in hartlepool that four men shared, including alid and mr noori . including alid and mr noori. giving evidence from the witness box, alid said he felt as if someone else was pushing him when he forced his way into mr norrie's room in the early hours of the 15th of october. after describing the struggle that he had with the former bodybuilder mr mr noori, who had converted

to christianity, he said that a number of problems, including an issue with his father dating back to 2003, were on his mind that he felt homesick and that he could not work in the uk , and he could not work in the uk, and that that he had previously argued with mr noori. the jury heard how mr noori clashed with a lead about the shared property being dirty when he moved in. then we also heard that after the stabbing, then we also heard that after the stabbing , after then we also heard that after the stabbing, after stabbing mr nuri ali claimed that he left the asylum seekers accommodation in walton terrace in hartlepool looking for a clinic as he had suffered a cut on his hand dunng suffered a cut on his hand during the fight with mr noori . during the fight with mr noori. he recalled seeing the pensioner, terence carney, coming towards him and the defendant said in evidence that he was saying free palestine sign and that when mr carney had heard alid saying free palestine as he walked down the street, that mr carney had said

something like go back to your country and that's what had spurred on the attack again , he spurred on the attack again, he mentioned that he felt dizzy and that his hand was bleeding, and that his hand was bleeding, and that he felt that he was going to faint . we also heard earlier to faint. we also heard earlier today that alid came to europe in two thousand and seven, as he said, there was a problem with the intelligence services monitoring his shop in algeria and that they were harassing him. we also heard that he worked as a pastry chef in algeria as part of a family business, and that he moved across europe for several years, spending time in spain, in france, in italy, germany and scandinavia, as well as the netherlands and australia. before he came to the uk in 2020 via ferry . arriving here in via ferry. arriving here in middlesbrough, the court heard that he was arrested by the police as he didn't have the papers and that he applied for asylum. asked if he was successful with his asylum claim by his defence, he said i didn't

have an answer and that again he was allowed to work for four hours a week. but that didn't lead to get him getting a job. we also heard that he's got no previous convictions that he was into fitness and was frequently seen running in hartlepool again. he denies murder, attempted murder and also assaulting two female police detectives after they interviewed him. this trial will continue next week. >> okay. thank you. anna riley live from teesside crown court on the case of ahmed ali. thank you for joining on the case of ahmed ali. thank you forjoining us on the show. you for joining us on the show. now it's bowel cancer awareness month yesterday an army of month and yesterday an army of poos and lou rawls took to the city centre streets of manchester to spread a vitally important message and messages including poo is not taboo were held up as a demonstration urge mancunians and the rest of britons to think and speak about bowel cancer. well i'm joined now by the head organiser of the manchester poo protest, sarah

daly. sarah, welcome to the show. you know what a very, very serious topic dealt with in a way, i have to say, very engaging, very amusing. certainly caught my attention. delighted to have you on the show. tell us about why you decided to do this and what people need to be looking out for . for. >> yes. so we decided to do this because after lung cancer, bowel cancer is actually the second biggest cancer killer in the uk . biggest cancer killer in the uk. >> yet the symptoms of bowel cancer are often dismissed or ignored. >> people tend to be embarrassed talking about their toilet habits, which is why at palomar , habits, which is why at palomar, we created this campaign to remove the stigma attached to people talking about their poo and encourage an open discussion which can ultimately save people's lives. we want to educate the public on knowing the key symptoms of bowel cancen the key symptoms of bowel cancer, which are changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, abdominal pain or

discomfort , unexplained weight discomfort, unexplained weight loss, and feeling weak or tired . loss, and feeling weak or tired. and the more people that we can educate on these signs and symptoms, hopefully the more people we can encourage to get tested earlier. >> well well done you. you've certainly sparked a national conversation about this. tell me, how did you come up with the idea of dressing like a poo emoji ? emoji? >> so we came up with the idea to dress as a poo emoji because our medical director at parma, doctor tang, unfortunately lost his father to bowel cancer and his father to bowel cancer and his brother was also diagnosed with bowel cancer. however with bowel cancer, if it is diagnosed in the early stages, then you have a higher survival rate and he created this bowel cancer awareness test called cola alert, which can detect the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer early and encourage those people to be that statistic of the 90% survival rate , so we

the 90% survival rate, so we kind of wanted to create a campaign that was as impactful as possible, yet inject a little bit of humour into this serious topic , so we wanted to get topic, so we wanted to get people talking about the toilet habhs people talking about the toilet habits and what better way than to dress up as poo and toilet rolls? so we headed to the streets of manchester, chanting things like poo is not to do, poo is not taboo. and we hope to keep evolving on this poo protest every year and make it bigger each time. >> well, it's a fantastic idea. you've really caught the public imagination. 120 people are diagnosed every day with bowel cancen diagnosed every day with bowel cancer, 46 people dying each day. well done. you've got us talking about a very difficult topic. and that's sarah daly , topic. and that's sarah daly, the head organiser of the parma manchester poo protest. great to have you on the show. now that's it all for this hour. but stay with me. as in the next hour, i'll be telling you how a jewish man threatened to be arrested for trying to cross a road, and the astonishing story. and also,

we're having the big debate should the european union allow a freedom of movement deal to be accepted by the uk? is this brexit via the back door? we'll have a debate with the leader of the rejoin party and henry bolton. of course, he used to be the leader of the ukip party. is this a treaty? that's taking us back into the eu? i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's new channel. stick with us. first is your weather and it's aidan mcgivern. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather solar, the sponsors of weather on gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the latest gb news weather forecast from the met office. showers today will ease overnight with skies clearing. it's going to turn chilly with a touch of frost in places as higher pressure moves in from the west, but that will bring a fine start to the weekend for many of us.

finally, a period of settled weather, but for the time being, still some showers out there . still some showers out there. they're going to ease as they spread south through the evening , and then after midnight, most places will be dry with increasing lengthy clear spells and lighter winds that will lead to temperatures falling away through 3 to 5 celsius for many, but close to zero in some sheltered spots. so a touch of frost first thing tomorrow. however, plenty of sunshine from the word go. 1 or 2 mr fog patches soon clearing from northern ireland and then the best of the sunshine really across northern ireland, western scotland into parts of wales and the southwest. elsewhere it does turn a little cloudier into the afternoon, and we've still got a bit of a breeze down the north sea coast that will it feel sea coast that will make it feel cool or 10 celsius, but in the cool 9 or 10 celsius, but in the sunshine and lighter winds elsewhere, 13 or 14 celsius very pleasant. there will be some outbreaks of light rain in the far north on saturday, spreading into parts by sunday. a into central parts by sunday. a cloudier day for many those

cloudier day for many and those dribbles of rain will push into the midlands by the end of the day. make it feel a little disappointing. monday sees further light rain across central parts, some sunshine elsewhere . elsewhere. >> looks like things are heating up boxt boilers as sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> a very good afternoon to you. it's friday, and it's 5 pm. welcome to the martin daubney show on gb news. broadcasting live from the heart of westminster. all across the uk. on today's show, with a staggering 2.8 million brits on long tum sickness benefits at a cost of an eye—watering £69 billion last year, rishi sunak has today promised a benefits clampdown but is it too little, too late? next up, the european.

the eu commission announces proposals to open discussions with the uk to allow free movement of people again, initially for young people aged 18 to 30. but could it get extended to include everyone? and is this just their way to get us back into the brussels club? we'll be debating that next and we'll be looking ahead to this weekend's football action, including that all important fa cup semi—final between manchester city and chelsea and a relegation battle for my club, forest. that's all coming up in your next hour. £69 billion and rising, in fact, rising to £91 billion within the next government's terms. unless we clamp down on long term sickness benefits, sick benefits now are second only to the nhs in every tax pound you pay

£2,000 each every year is what you pay. as a taxpayer towards other people's benefits. 53% of those benefits are people with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. can this ever be tackled if we don't , will it tackled if we don't, will it simply sink the government? plus a debate coming up, a lively one, i'll tell you that much. should we join the eu's freedom of movement plan being dangled like a carrot from brussels towards sir keir starmer ? will towards sir keir starmer? will it tempt labour into closer ties with the european union? get in touch. you want to know your views? send them to gbnews.com/yoursay and i'll read out the best before the end of the show. but first, let's rock into your latest news headlines andifs into your latest news headlines and it's sophia wenzler. >> martin. thank you. it's 5:02. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb

newsroom. your top story this houn newsroom. your top story this hour. the uk and western allies are calling for de—escalation in the middle east after reports that israel launched air strikes against iran . state media says against iran. state media says three drones were shot down with explosions heard at an airbase near the city of isfahan. no damage or injuries have been reported in the latest exchange . reported in the latest exchange. the strike is thought to be in response to last weekend's attack , when iran fired a attack, when iran fired a barrage of drones and missiles at israel . labour leader keir at israel. labour leader keir starmer has added to for starmer has added to calls for restraint as the best way forward. >> i'm deeply concerned about the prospect of escalation. escalation of the conflict in the middle east is in nobody's interest, and so it's very, very important, therefore, that everybody urges restraint on all sides. more than that, we really need that ceasefire in gaza now , need that ceasefire in gaza now, straight away so that hostages can come out desperately needed aid, needs to get in,

desperately, desperately needed. and we need, if you like , a foot and we need, if you like, a foot in the door for the political process to peace . process to peace. >> now, the prime minister is promising his rwanda safety bill will be passed on monday. rishi sunak couldn't confirm whether asylum flights would get off the ground by his spring deadline, but he did say his intention was to get the legislation through parliament without further delay. he says mps will be forced to sit in the commons until the done . until the job is done. scotland's former first minister has spoken for the first time since her husband was charged by police. nicola sturgeon was questioned journalists as she questioned by journalists as she left her home in glasgow. >> it's incredibly difficult, but you know that's not the main issue here. >> so i can't say any more. i'm not going to say any more, my peter murrell, who was snp's chief executive for more than two decades before standing down last year, has been charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds. >> detectives are investigating

how more than £600,000 in donations for independence campaigning were spent. the 59 year old, who is no longer in custody, has also resigned his snp membership . now the british snp membership. now the british medical association is urging rishi sunak to avoid using hostile language on what he described as sick note culture. dufing described as sick note culture. during a major speech, the prime minister said 850,000 more people are out of work since the pandemic, and insists he's on a moral mission to fix the problem. the proposals, though, have been described as a full on assault on disabled people. rishi sunak recognised he'll be accused of lacking compassion, but insists the uk can't afford a spiralling increase in the welfare bill. >> we now spend £69 billion on benefits for people of working age with a disability or health condition. that's more than our entire our schools budget, more than our transport budget, more than our transport budget, more than our transport budget, more than our policing budget and

spending on personal independence payments alone. it's forecast to increase by more than 50% over the next four years. >> in other news, two police forces are being investigated over the stabbing of a mother in bradford. habiba masum is charged with murdering kusuma akhtar, who was attacked while pushing her baby in a pram two weeks ago. the independent office for police conduct says the victim was contacted. west yorkshire police on the 28th of march after receiving death threats . it's understood threats. it's understood information was shared with colleagues in greater manchester police. an investigation will look at what steps officers took to safeguard miss akhtar . five to safeguard miss akhtar. five just stop oil protesters have been convicted of aggravated trespass after they disrupted a performance of les miserables in london's west end last year, the performance was stopped when activists stormed the stage and locked themselves to the set. the angry audience of around 1000 people was asked to leave

the auditorium, and the performance was ended. the five activists were all found guilty of aggravated trespass following a trial at westminster magistrates court and squatters are slowly starting to emerge from gordon ramsay's central london pub after his lawyers yesterday secured a possession order. however the group argues illegal systems designed for the rich and say the york and albany near regent's park has been left empty for years in an area with some of the worst levels of rough sleeping in the country. it's unclear how many are it's unclear how many people are still inside. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. corach rambler . that's now it's corach rambler. that's now it's back to martin. thank you . back to martin. thank you. >> thank you sofia. now we start with rishi sunak , who's come out with rishi sunak, who's come out swinging today and declared war on what he's called the uk's

sick note culture. the country's welfare state bill now costs the average taxpayer £2,000 each. every single year. well, here is the prime minister speaking earlier on today. >> the role of the welfare state should never be merely to provide financial support. as important as that will always be, but to help people overcome whatever barriers they might face to living an independent, fulfilling life. everyone with the potential should be supported and not just to earn, but to contribute and belong. and we must never tolerate barriers that hold people back from making their contribution and from sharing in that sense of self—worth that comes from feeling part of being something bigger than ourselves. feeling part of being something bigger than ourselves . and that bigger than ourselves. and that is why this is a moral mission. and why the value of work is so central to my vision for welfare reform . reform. >> now, let's speak now with gb news senior political commentator, nigel nelson. nigel, welcome to the show.

always a pleasure. £69 billion per year and rising , in fact, per year and rising, in fact, rising to £91 billion per year within the next government. no doubt those from the left might say this is the nasty party. the tory party but the sick benefit system, the bill is simply a financial death spiral. it has to be dealt with, doesn't it? >> yes it does, and there's no question about that. the question, but the real question is whether or not rishi sunak is going the right way about it, this is not to say there are not shirkers out there , but at the shirkers out there, but at the moment you've got 2.8 million people long term sick, 1 in 8 people long term sick, 1 in 8 people are on nhs waiting lists waiting, waiting for treatment. so what? rishi sunak should be doing is addressing the nhs problem first. once you've sorted that out, got waiting lists down so people can work, then you have to. then you can find out which ones won't work.

>> yeah, but that means pouring endless billions into what we already know is a leaking bucket, to fix the nhs waiting list before we can get people off the sick payments. that just means yet more money. >> well, i mean, it may mean a bit more money. i think more importantly, it means reform of the nhs . yes. which is certainly the nhs. yes. which is certainly what labour is talking about. one of the problems we've got with the nhs is that, it's a treatment service rather than a prevention service. what we should be trying to do, whether it's mental, mental ill health or physical ill health, is trying to prevent sickness before it actually happens , and before it actually happens, and that's the kind of reforms it needs. it needs? yes you may be right. there may be more, billions that will need to go into the nhs. france, for instance, spends 25, 21% more on its, of its gdp on health care than we do germany, 39. so we don't really spend enough. but

obviously, if you do spend it on the nhs , you won't have to spend the nhs, you won't have to spend it on welfare payments. >> but we already spend £181 billion on the nhs. this is about saving money now. it's not about saving money now. it's not about pouring endless billions into the nhs to get people off long term six surely this is about being more rigorous, clamping down, getting people back into work and not paying them to be to do nothing . them to be to do nothing. >> yeah, but if they're too sick to work, then you've got to. then there's no way of actually getting them getting job. >> so they're not too sick to work, though. what if, >> so they're not too sick to work, though. what if , for work, though. what if, for example, 53% of the people on this list say they're claiming depression, bad nerves, or anxiety? of people say anxiety? a lot of people say that's like the new bad back. what rishi sunak is proposing is a more rigorous testing method to whittle out, as it were, the genuine cases from those who are shirking and on on the fiddle. this is what i was talking about when it comes down to prevention, that this applies to mental illnesses as well as

physical, but i don't think you can actually dismiss people as using mental illness as just a bad back. there is something going on where people are more mentally ill than they used to be. suicide amongst young people has gone up 64% since 2010. now those people who kill themselves, they're not shirkers i >> -- >> no. and i've campaigned on on male suicide reduction for many, many years. i'm not belittling mental illness in any way. what i'm saying is there is a scale of people who genuinely of people who are genuinely unable to work, who should be supported. everybody agrees that's the right way. but have we not have not agreed? nigel created a system where there is so much bureaucracy so much so much bureaucracy now, so much wiggle room and so few gps to actually give proper diagnoses? it has created a system that's open to abuse . open to abuse. >> that is exactly my point, that what you're what you should do is, is sort out the problems in the nhs to deal with those people who genuinely can't work. once you've done that, you can

deal with the ones who can work. but, but, but won't work. what? it comes down to sick notes or fit notes, as they're now nowadays called that gps issue. again, let's look at that. our gps is issuing too many. is there something that can be done about that ? can you work with about that? can you work with gps to tighten up that system ? gps to tighten up that system? at the moment, all rishi sunak is suggesting is some sort of specialist work and health professional who would actually hand out these notes rather rather than gps . we don't know rather than gps. we don't know who those people are, but i would have thought a health professional is a gp. >> yes, sir. nigel lawson, always a pleasure to have you on the show. thank you forjoining the show. thank you for joining us. now the european union apparently wants to agree a deal with the uk that would make it easier for those aged 18 to 30, at least initially, to study and work in the wake of brexit. well, it's been said that this would be a limited arrangement and not a full restoration of free movement. so the european

commission says at any rate. but can we trust this? and is this just a way for the eu to subtly try to get us back into the european club? well, we can now debate this with the deputy leader of the rejoin eu party, jim newell, and the former leader of ukip, henry bolton. two very different takes on this. now, why don't we start with you, jim newell. so we voted to leave the european union . why on earth should we be union. why on earth should we be getting closer, free movement deals , well, i mean, i think the deals, well, i mean, i think the deals, well, i mean, i think the deal would, have a number of advantages, first of all, i think it would, help to relieve shortages in the areas of hospitality, seasonal agricultural work, the health sector, and so on, i think it would be a good thing because it would be a good thing because it would help benefit young people , would help benefit young people, it would help improve eu, uk relations because, as ursula von der leyen has said , she said, der leyen has said, she said, the more we have young people

being on both sides of the channel being on both sides of the channel, the more we can increase the possibility and probability . that would be increase the possibility and probability. that would be on good terms, because the next generation each other very generation knows each other very well, yes , i think it's true well, and yes, i think it's true that it might lead to more people coming to the uk than it sends to the eu, but you have to take account of what, the eu arrivals add to the economy while they're here, you have to take account of the contributions that the inward mobility will allow them to make to their own economies, and therefore more, to uk export markets. so i think it's something we should. can i, can i just add to that also ? so i just add to that also? so i think it's interesting that marc francois, has actually sounded very open to the deal, you know, he said he would have to look at the details, but , he, you know, the details, but, he, you know, he he said, well, this shows

that leaving the eu didn't mean that leaving the eu didn't mean that you know, we would actually be ostracised as the remainers claimed. so he's actually open to the idea. >> okay, jim, i need to let henry bolton have a say. henry, jim paints a utopian picture, a picture almost as if brexit never happened. what's your take? well my take is, as you could predict, martin, rather different. >> look, we have got record levels of immigration to this country to say that there aren't enough people here to work in the hospitality sector is absolute rubbish . absolute rubbish. >> not only that, the hospitality sector was already having a problem , with, with having a problem, with, with brexit, with, with having people working for them before brexit. and that was because the salary differential between countries like poland and the rest of western europe, if you like, was closing. >> so there wasn't as much interest in countries like poland. and a number of people were already going back before brexit. so that doesn't you

know, count. you know, it doesn't count. you know, it doesn't count. you know, you talk about young people. well, actually young people. well, actually young people can still travel to the european union. >> they can still do it. >> they can still do it. >> anybody can, it's whether you want live there and work want to live there and work there that's a different thing. and if when we're talking about students, because this i students, because this this i understand a scheme that understand is a scheme that would only, apply to people of 30 years and below, if we're talking about students , then talking about students, then actually under the turing scheme, the uk scheme , we 20, scheme, the uk scheme, we 20, 22, 23, the turing scheme is, is has placed 41,175 british students in universities abroad. so, you know , we don't need that so, you know, we don't need that interaction any more than we've already got it. people can still travel backwards and forth. my concern here is that this is actually a european union attempt to undermine brexit by convincing younger people that you need the european union , you need the european union, because at age 30, they won't have that little facility . well, have that little facility. well, you know, they still will unless

they want to live in the european union , in which case european union, in which case they have to apply for a residence permit . like, you residence permit. like, you know, that's absolutely normal. and i tell you what, this idea that you didn't have to do that before is absolutely for the birds. i worked in the european union, in brussels for the european commission. i had to register my address . i had to register my address. i had to prove my address to the police. i had to prove my work to the local authority. only then would they live and work they allow me to live and work there. so. okay, henry, need to. >> i need to interject on that. jim, need to interject to let jim, i need to interject to let jim, i need to interject to let jim jim, i want to jim have a go. jim, i want to put else here as well put something else here as well that terms of that since brexit, the terms of the schengen agreement have changed. fact, on march 31st, changed. in fact, on march 31st, bulgaria and romania were opened into the schengen area by your your beloved ursula von der leyen. there. that's a potential audience of 25 million who can travel freely without passport checks, without airport checks into the 27 member states, they're already 1.56 million

bulgarians and romanians in the uk were substantial family ties. the thing the landscape has changed. there'll be even more people that would want to come to the uk now , yes, i, i to the uk now, yes, i, i entirely agree with you, but i, you know, i, i think that's a good thing personally. you know, i appreciate the cultural benefits of, having people come to the uk, i, you know, i appreciate the contribution that, people make to the uk economy. i don't think that we can be very successful in solving the, you know, various problems that we face these days without international cooperation and, and international integration. yeah >> you know, thank you. thank you. martin, look, we have already got a problem providing housing for the people already here, let alone bringing even more numbers in. the other thing is romania and bulgaria. i was responsible for dealing with

transnational organised crime across the southern balkans in eastern europe in 2003 to 2006, one of the reasons romania and bulgaria did not get free, free freedom of movement at that time. when they joined the european union a little bit later. when they when they later. but when they when they didn't, freedom didn't, they didn't get freedom of because of the rate didn't, they didn't get freedom of organised because of the rate didn't, they didn't get freedom of organised crime jse of the rate didn't, they didn't get freedom of organised crime thatf the rate didn't, they didn't get freedom of organised crime that thee rate didn't, they didn't get freedom of organised crime that the reste of organised crime that the rest of organised crime that the rest of the european union was concerned would come in particularly fraudulent type of crime . and we've just seen, crime. and we've just seen, a group of , of crime. and we've just seen, a group of, of criminals from that area, from romania who have been responsible for 50 million of benefit fraud, something that the prime minister is presently rightly, in a broad sense, trying to crack down on. i agree that maybe the methodology isn't quite right, but but the point is that you import not not just good workers , not just good workers, not just well—meaning people, but a whole range of people who you don't you can't vet and who are going to bring you problems , whether to bring you problems, whether it's pressure on your public services housing or services and your housing or whether it's criminality. that's the and we've got

the reality. and we've got enough people here to do all the jobs that we need to do. there's another approach that's needed. and the european and finally we left the european union in order to take control, control, control was we were given control by brexit. what's failed here is a government and a parliament and a whole bunch of activists. i'm sorry, like you, jim, who actually turn around and say, well, we don't want control. we effectively want control. we effectively want open borders. well, i'm sorry, i don't think that's idealistic. perhaps, but we cannot support that . and bear in cannot support that. and bear in mind that this is an open door, then to the future flood that's going to come from africa. 2050. the african population is going to have doubled . africa can't to have doubled. africa can't support that population if we haven't. if we have got this sort of laissez faire approach, by the time that happens, by the time they move north to europe, then got an almighty problem. >> okay, gentlemen, we simply have to leave it there. we're out of time. a feisty friday debate. you very much. debate. thank you very much. henry bolton and jim newell, the deputy leader of the rejoin eu

party. two very different takes. that's what we like to do on gb news. give everybody a good ding dong. now. there's still plenty of to grab your chance to of time to grab your chance to win a greek cruise, travel goodies a ten grand pounds goodies and a ten grand pounds tax free bank balance boost. and here's all the details that you need to hop on board. >> don't miss your chance to win our biggest prize. so far. our biggest prize. so fan there's an incredible £10,000 in tax free cash to spend. however 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 cost £2 plus one standard network rate message , or post

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>> heavy newspapers. >> heavy newspapers. >> getting you down. >> getting you down. >> my wife didn't divorce me that month . that month. >> struggling to separate the wheat from the chaff. >> i know that it's a bit of a circus at the best of times. >> well, don't worry, headliners has got you covered. >> we'll burden of >> we'll take the burden of reading day's news. and if reading the day's news. and if we get depressed, who cares? reading the day's news. and if we it's depressed, who cares? reading the day's news. and if we it's an jressed, who cares? reading the day's news. and if we it's an occupationalcares? reading the day's news. and if we it's an occupational hazard , >> it's an occupational hazard, frankly. that's headliners on gb

news from 11 pm. till midnight. and the following morning, five till on gb news, the till 6 am. on gb news, the comedy channel. now just kidding . welcome back. it's 526. i'm martin daubney and this is gb news. now, the metropolitan police has apologised after an officer used the terms openly jewish to an anti—semitism campaigner, and the officer was filmed telling a jewish man his presence was antagonising at a pro palestine march in london. >> you are quite openly jewish. >> you are quite openly jewish. >> this is a pro—palestinian march. >> i'm not accusing you of anything, but i'm worried about the reaction to your presence when the video shared by the campaign against anti—semitism from saturday's march, the metropolitan officer then appears to threaten to arrest the man if he failed to remove himself. you'd have people here now . how. >> now. >> you'll be escorted out of this area, go about your business, go where you like freely, or if you choose to

remain here because you are causing a breach of some of . if causing a breach of some of. if i remain here, you will arrest your presence is antagonising a large group of people that we can't deal with all of them. if they attack you or they they with your presence, antagonism . with your presence, antagonism. >> it'sjust with your presence, antagonism. >> it's just astonishing. with your presence, antagonism. >> it'sjust astonishing. now >> it's just astonishing. now the man says he was simply trying to cross the road after going to a synagogue. well, gary mond, the chairman of the national jewish assembly, joins me now. gary welcome to the show. many people watching that will feel will, will, will feel absolute incredulity at what they just saw. gary >> i can't hear anything, okay? >> i can't hear anything, okay? >> gary can't hear. we'll try and work this out. what i'm going to say is this i've been on a lot of these marches. in fact, there was one right outside the studio couple of outside the studio a couple of nights ago. there was a pro—israel demo opposite a much, much bigger pro—palestine demo ,

much bigger pro—palestine demo, and they were being very, very convivial on the pro—israel side. they were being barracks by abuse from over the road. and the police form a wall, but they don't do anything about the haranguing that the pro—israelis experience. i myself, haranguing that the pro—israelis experience. i myself , as you experience. i myself, as you know, if you watch the show regularly, i walked into the demonstration the other week where the image was being portrayed, projected onto big ben, and i was saying to the police then why aren't you arresting that guy with the projector? why aren't you arresting guy in arresting that guy in a balaclava? aren't you balaclava? why aren't you arrested? for his arrested? that guy for his disgusting placards? the police in people's opinions, and in many people's opinions, and certainly for what i witnessed first hand with my own eyes, they appeared to be taking sides. video of a jewish sides. this video of a jewish guy arrest guy threatened with arrest simply for being in the streets. it's a free country , is it not? it's a free country, is it not? the last time i checked . now, the last time i checked. now, you could argue to be charitable towards metropolitan police in that situation. they were trying to protect him. was it the right

thing to do to arrest him, to get him away from harm, but to arrest somebody, to remove them from a situation because the other people around him are the threat? seems me totally and threat? seems to me totally and utterly bonkers. it seems like proof of two tiered policing. we have so many people from the campaign for anti—semitism from from jewish groups in the studio who say they don't feel safe on the streets . they say they feel the streets. they say they feel the streets. they say they feel the police haven't got their backs. the police haven't got their backs . there's been a 700% boom backs. there's been a 700% boom in anti—semitism in this country, and we simply feel they simply feel that they are not safe on britain's streets. now, of course, we couldn't get through to gary eamonn there. hopefully we'll get more from him now there's him next time. now there's plenty to bring you in just plenty more to bring you in just a first, the a moment. but first, here's the latest it's latest news headlines and it's sophia . sophia wenzler. >> thanks, martin. it's 530. i'm sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom . your headlines. the uk

newsroom. your headlines. the uk and western allies are calling for de—escalation in the middle east after reports israel launched airstrikes against iran. state media says three drones were shot down with explosions heard at an airbase near the city of isfahan. no damage or injuries have been reported in the latest exchange. the strike is thought to be in response to the last weekend's attack, when iran fired a barrage of drones and missiles at israel . the prime minister is at israel. the prime minister is promising his rwanda safety bill will be passed on monday. rishi sunak couldn't confirm whether asylum flights would get off the ground by his spring deadline, but he did say his intention was to get the through to get the bill through parliament without further delay. mps will be delay. he says mps will be forced to sit in the commons until the job is done . until the job is done. scotland's former first minister, nicola sturgeon, has admitted the situation surrounding her husband's arrest and embezzlement charges has been incredibly difficult. peter murrell has been charged in connection with misusing more

than £600,000 of snp funding donated to independence campaigning. he has also resigned his snp membership and five just stop oil protesters have been convicted of aggravated trespass after they disrupted a performance of les miserables in london's west end last year . the performance was last year. the performance was stopped when activists stormed the stage and locked themselves to the set. the angry audience of around 1000 people was asked to leave the auditorium, and the performance was ended. the five activists were all found guilty of aggravated trespass following a trial at westminster magistrates court. and for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gbnews.com/alerts . gbnews.com/alerts. >> for a valuable legacy your family can own, gold coins will always shine bright. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial

report , and here's a quick report, and here's a quick snapshot of today's markets . snapshot of today's markets. >> the pound will buy you $1.2390 and >> the pound will buy you 151.2390 and ,1.1633. the >> the pound will buy you $1.2390 and ,1.1633. the price of gold is £1,931.34 per ounce, and the ftse 100 closed at 7895 points. rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> thank you sophia. now let's get back to the story i was talking about just a couple of moments ago. and the metropolitan has metropolitan police has apologised after an officer used the openly jewish to an the terms openly jewish to an anti—semitism campaigner. i'm joined now by gary mond, who's the chairman of the national jewish assembly. gary, let there be light. we got you. in the end, many people watching that video will be absolutely astonished that the police behaved in this manner. what's your take? >> firstly, i would say that the

jewish gentleman was gideon falter, the chairman of the campaign against anti—semitism, who's been a fantastic credit to our community in terms of all the done in fighting the work he's done in fighting anti—semitism and taking jew haters court . haters to court. >> my take is that jews, quite simply, need to be treated like everybody else. >> we should be free to walk around the streets of london just because, like anyone just because, just like anyone else . and the fact that jew is else. and the fact that jew is wearing a kippah on his head should completely irrelevant. should be completely irrelevant. we be treated like everyone we must be treated like everyone else, being else, and we are not being treated like everyone else. >> discriminated treated like everyone else. >> not discriminated treated like everyone else. >> not justiiscriminated treated like everyone else. >> not just by riminated treated like everyone else. >> not just by the nated treated like everyone else. >> not just by the police, against, not just by the police, but in other realms of public life as well. >> schools, hospitals so on. >> schools, hospitals and so on. >> schools, hospitals and so on. >> gary, i often walk through these protests myself because so many of them take place in parliament square here, where i work. i filmed the projector putting those images onto big ben. i was pleading with the police to remove that projector. i was pleading with the police to arrest people in balaclavas. i was pleading with them to stop people with their disgusting

placards. they didn't do anything it. gary do you anything about it. gary do you feel that the police are taking sides here? do you feel like they're soft soaping the pro—palestinian mob yet pro—palestinian mob and yet going heavy handed the going down heavy handed on the jewish attendees ? jewish attendees? >> yes, but i don't actually blame blame the junior police officers at the front end . officers at the front end. >> the buck stops at the top. >> the buck stops at the top. >> it stops with roly and he needs to do something about it. >> and if he can't do something about he should make for about it, he should make way for somebody can. somebody who can. >> what do you think that looks like? what kind of special treatment? well, you don't want special treatment, do you? it's a country . you should be a free country. you should be able cross the after able to cross the road after leaving without leaving a synagogue without being in fear. to be charitable to the officer in question, do you think he was merely trying to protect this individual, albeit in a clumsy manner? or was he? did he simply get this completely cack handed and wrong? >> i think the former. i think that he probably, i don't know for sure because none of us know for sure because none of us know for sure, but he was probably trying protect gideon. but

trying to protect gideon. but having said that, the basis is completely wrong. what is wrong is that jews must be free to walk anywhere, to go anywhere . walk anywhere, to go anywhere. as long as they don't break the law, they must be treated like everybody else jews, non—jews and on. there must be no no and so on. there must be no no special treatment and no singling out of jews in an adverse manner . okay. adverse manner. okay. >> well, gary eamonn, the chairman of the national jewish assembly , thank you for your assembly, thank you for your impassioned response and thank you patience and you for your patience and beanng you for your patience and bearing with us and getting through. it was worth through. i think it was worth the for time. the wait. thanks for your time. thank thank now thank you, thank you. now there's to get in there's a new way to get in touch with here @gbnews. and touch with us here @gbnews. and here's all here's bev turner with all the details . details. >> we are proud to be gb news the channel. and as you the people's channel. and as you know, we always love to hear your views. now there's a new way of getting in touch us way of getting in touch with us @gbnews forward slash your @gbnews .com forward slash your say commenting you can be say by commenting you can be part a conversation and part of a live conversation and join our news community. you join our gb news community. you can talk to me, bev turner can even talk to me, bev turner or any of the members of the gb news family . simply go to

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to. >> welcome back 539. final furlong with me. martin daubney on gb news now scotland's net zero secretary say she is not embarrassed at having to ditch a key climate change target , key climate change target, despite green campaigners branding this move as the worst environmental decision in the history of devolution. and of course, this comes as the scottish government has ditched its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030 and increasing it instead to 2045. well, joining me now is professor john well, joining me now is professorjohn grant, senior lecturer in sustainable construction and climate change, john, it's been way too long, my friend. it's great to see you again on the show. so presumably, you're going to be

dismayed at this, but is this a simple case of zealotry meeting reality ? oh my goodness, that's reality? oh my goodness, that's a weird way of putting it. >> what it is, is, of course, politicians honestly believe that when they're talking about a problem, they're doing something about that problem. >> and it's a great start. >> and it's a great start. >> but what we've seen here is that a lack of actual policies with regard to reaching zero carbon, until they've realised that talking about this is just not going to do anything, and that they should have actually introduced some actual changes rather than just a transference of the electrical grid, which of course is a great thing. but, you know, you've now got to go to homes and change how to people's homes and change how people travel, change what they eat. >> it's the really difficult bit. >> and, you know, they've realised . sadly, i'm not realised. sadly, i'm not surprised. i'm not surprised. but you know, it's always disappointing in the same way that i'm not surprised what the

climate is doing at the moment, but it's really disappointing and upsetting. so to, you know, the emergency we're in. the level of emergency we're in. >> well, john, scotland of course, has a bounteous amount of offshore wind, a bounteous amount of hot air coming out of holyrood, but it also has a bounteous amount of north sea gas and oil. in fact, licensed ears have just been granted, whether we like it or not. john, i assume you don't. we still rely on gas and oil for about 80% of our total power output. if you include industry, isn't this simply a case of green energy? we will promise the world we will promise cheaper , world we will promise cheaper, sufficient, sustainable energy, but simply hasn't delivered , but simply hasn't delivered, particularly when it's cold and when it's not windy . well, well, when it's not windy. well, well, i mean, if in scotland it's really not windy and there are there are real opportunities here. it's so much cheaper than the alternatives for our electrical grid. >> but you're right, the transition is challenging and no

one said it wasn't. but while we continue to repeat the mantra that you just said we have no chance whatsoever, we need we need an actual plan as to what the world might look like without oil and gas, not just some sort of incremental baby steps. sort of movement towards something green that's just ridiculous. >> and so, you know, maybe we agree with each other on that one, but what i want is something akin to a kind of a war footing. >> what would be like us going to war, those kind of resources. because get this, the resources that we spend on the transition , that we spend on the transition, unlike spending on rubbish ppe that gets left in a warehouse somewhere, the investment that we put into green futures, sustainable futures, pay back and the people that have that situation have a better life. they have cheaper bills, they have , you know, greener energy have, you know, greener energy and a and a better place to live

i >> -- >> okay, john, john, i always love and admire your passion and enthusiasm. i think you'd be a fantastic bloke to go for a beer with as well. but i want to say this we've been promised for many, many years that green, sustainable , renewable energy sustainable, renewable energy will give us cheaper bills. hasn't happened . in fact, bills hasn't happened. in fact, bills are getting pricier and pricier and pricier . are getting pricier and pricier and pricier. when will that moment arise? >> well , as moment arise? >> well, as soon as we disenfranchised the companies that are making their profits from oil and gas from those energy companies, that's the problem here. we are being gouged by the people that that are desperate not to let men and women who i, you know, look up to allow the transition. it is cheaper to make electricity with wind and solar. now that's just a fact and it's a bit embarrassing because of all the dispatchability and everything there are some issues to deal with, but instead of investing in throwing trillions and

trillions globally into investing in in oil and gas, maybe we should be looking at how we would level out that energy in terms of, you know, non lithium based energy storage and reducing the amount of energy that we actually use in our homes and in our businesses , our homes and in our businesses, which we can do, which gives everyone a benefit rather than rich companies abroad getting all our money, which i'm not completely happy with. >> meanwhile though, john, russia, india, china to the middle east, they won't play along with this game . they'll along with this game. they'll keep using their energy out of the ground to further their economies. we'll be paying more, we'll be taxed more, and we won't be paying less at the socket, at the pump. and this is a utopian dream. people aren't buying into . buying into. >> well, yeah, i mean, there's a lot of misinformation that goes on in there. firstly, please be aware that that india and china

are getting absolutely battered by climate change at the moment. you know , the sort of you know, the sort of temperatures that they're experiencing and that their projected to experience is, is literally killing people over there. china invested more in solar. they are far from perfect. please don't misunderstand what i'm about. >> they're the world's biggest polluter. >> yeah, but they also invested more solar and more in solar last year than america has invested in solar over the last 50 years. so also pumped out more co2 in the last ten years than we have since the industrial revolution . yeah, industrial revolution. yeah, yeah. and you know, and if we didn't buy that hat, we might be able to, you know, change some of that. you know, they what they manufacture and that awful manufacturing process. if we established a carbon intensity of products and we warned the world this plan, i was talking about that we would only buy things that have a low carbon intensity. europe's up for that, the, the ira, the reduction act

in the us, they're up for that. and china would be enticed into doing that if they saw a profit in it. they're completely mercenary, the same as us. and what we need to do is explain to them there's no profit in killing the planet. and i think that's a kind of an easy argument. sorry. >> , therein lies the rub, >> well, therein lies the rub, professor john grainger. >> well, therein lies the rub, professorjohn grainger. they would charge us more for would love to charge us more for things that were carbon neutral, i'm look it's always i'm sure. look it's always a pleasure to have you on the show. professor john show. professorjohn grant, senior sustainable senior lecturer in sustainable construction change. construction and climate change. always a pleasure. now, if you support a small football club like me , then you don't matter. like me, then you don't matter. and that's not my view, of course. but it's clearly what the so—called big clubs think. after disgraceful decision to scrap fa cup replays . we'll scrap fa cup replays. we'll discuss that next. i'm martin daubney on gb news, britain's news channel

welcome back. 10 to 6. final final furlong with me. martin daubney on gb news. now, if you thought that football was biased, then you were right. because yesterday we found out that the so—called greatest competition in the world. the fa cup, of course, is getting rid of replays. now that's a massive slap in the face for those great clubs up and down the country. but guess what? the premier league couldn't care less as well. join me now to discuss. this is sports journalist ben jacobs. great to have you back on the show ben. so this is sticking in the craw of the smaller clubs. the fa cup was meant to be the time for smaller clubs, not only to have a pop at the bigger clubs, the magic the club, clubs, the magic of the club, but if they bagged but of course, if they bagged the replay, they got the gate receipts, a quid , receipts, they got a few quid, kept those clubs afloat and now the, premier league the, now the premier league have snatched why snatched that away. why >> yeah. this is about the football association and the premier league deciding that ultimately due to the congested

calendar, i think we shouldn't hide the fact that's the reality i >> -- >> vie it's better not to have fa cup replays, which is good as you allude to for premier league clubs, but news to those clubs, but bad news to those that come lower down the pyramid and replays are going to be scrapped from the first round proper. >> of course, big guns don't >> of course, the big guns don't actually until third actually enter until the third round, the feeling round, but i think the feeling is is needed from the is continuing is needed from the first round onwards and we've seen backlash from various efl seen a backlash from various efl clubs and those even lower down the pyramid who, as you say, feel that they deserve the opportunity to maybe grind out a result, get a draw and then go away from home in a replay to one of the big stadiums and get those gate receipts . those gate receipts. >> the flip side is the football association and the premier league argue that separate to this, and it feels like when they announcement, this, and it feels like when they announcement , they they made the announcement, they announced grass roots funding at the so separate to scrapping >> so separate to scrapping replays, there's an extra investment over six years from the premier league that will filter down the grassroots pyramids. >> the fa and the premier league

therefore argue that they're taking one thing away, but they're a bunch of they're injecting a bunch of money separately to effectively offset that. but one thing is clear the efl clubs, many of them feel that they weren't consulted and they're not happy about that the magic of about the fact that the magic of the fa cup and ability to the fa cup and the ability to earn replays has been earn through replays has been taken away from them. >> the fa cup was, like last >> the fa cup was, like the last remain piece magic remain piece of magic that wasn't solely dictated to wasn't just solely dictated to by money. premier league clubs have got about five squads anyway. they could just rest players and play their b team surely? >> i think that's a valid point. the big argument with the fa cup is that it's lost a bit of its magic, because some of the bigger teams don't take the early rounds seriously. >> you could argue if >> you could argue that if you're not going to have the possibility of having a replay, maybe fielding maybe they'll end up fielding stronger sides. >> the opposite happen >> the opposite could happen and they care about they still might not care about it. and smaller clubs may it. and the smaller clubs may not replays . not get their replays. >> but i think when you actually look at how many replays have happened historically in the last and you last few decades, and when you

actually look at how many of the big clubs have been affected , big clubs have been affected, it's not that often you either tend to get a shock or alternatively, replays happen, but not necessarily involving the chelsea's. >> the manchester united's the manchester city's of this world. so maybe it doesn't make the point a bit of difference. >> okay ben, can i quickly ask you to comment on jurgen klopp? this meant to be his this was meant to be his hollywood ending, a dream season , but it's been bit of a , but it's been a bit of a disaster . disaster. >> not a disaster in the sense he's got a league cup, he's got a trophy. they still might win the premier league, but certainly going of europe, certainly going out of europe, where favourites to where they were favourites to win league, a blow. >> the damage was done at anfield. they couldn't turn it around. early mo around. despite an early mo salah goal away at atalanta. i think it was so emotional think that it was so emotional when they won the league cup against of this . against chelsea because of this. it's hard to fight on four fronts, the fact he got fronts, so the fact he got a trophy early has helped with his farewell. >> but to really make it a success and go out in glory, he has to now win the premier

league. >> okay, ben, a quick question. two teams docked points at the bottom the money. bottom all about the money. tomorrow. clash tomorrow. there's a clash between your between on sunday. beg your pardon. between nottingham forest who's going forest and everton. who's going to win. be careful i'm a forest fan and senior producer steve fan and my senior producer steve he's everton. fan and my senior producer steve he'wellrton. fan and my senior producer steve he"well ifyn. fan and my senior producer steve he"well ifyn want get fan and my senior producer steve he"well ifynwant get hired >> well if i want to get hired again i have to say everton. >> if i want to keep you happy i have to say nottingham forest . have to say nottingham forest. so go for a draw. have to say nottingham forest. so covering go for a draw. have to say nottingham forest. so covering thato for a draw. have to say nottingham forest. so covering that game, draw. have to say nottingham forest. so covering that game, i'mn. i'm covering that game, i'm commentating known commentating on it. it's known as derby and you're hired. >> we have to go. super—suv thank you for joining >> we have to go. super—suv thank you forjoining me on the thank you for joining me on the on the show today. now is your weather. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> hi there and welcome to the latest gb news weather forecast from the met office. showers today will ease overnight with skies clearing. it's going to turn chilly with a touch of frost in places as higher pressure moves in from the west, but that will bring a fine start to the weekend for many of us.

finally, a period of settled weather, but for the time being, still some showers out there. they're going to ease as they spread south through the evening , and then after midnight, most places will be dry with increasingly lengthy clear spells and lighter winds that will lead to temperatures falling away 3 to 5 celsius for many. but close to zero in some sheltered spots. so a touch of frost first thing tomorrow. however, plenty of sunshine from the word go. 1 or 2 mr fog patches soon clearing from northern ireland and then the best of the sunshine really across northern ireland, western scotland into parts of wales and the southwest. elsewhere it does turn a little cloudier into the afternoon, and we've still got a bit of a breeze down the north sea coast will make it feel sea coast that will make it feel cool. 9 or celsius, but in cool. 9 or 10 celsius, but in the lighter winds the sunshine and lighter winds elsewhere 13 or 14 celsius. very pleasant . there will be some pleasant. there will be some outbreaks of light rain in the far north on saturday, spreading into central parts by sunday. a

cloudier many and those cloudier day for many and those dribbles of rain will push into the midlands by the end of the day, making it feel a little disappointing . monday sees disappointing. monday sees further light rain across central parts , some sunshine elsewhere. >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on

working because of so described ill health. i can tell you now it's had so much criticism. one charity has even called it a full on assault on disabled people. what says you and get this a jewish man was almost arrested recently. his crime , arrested recently. his crime, you'll never guess. been openly

jewish and being close to the pro—palestine protest. apparently that is antagonistic . apparently that is antagonistic. what on earth is going on? and let me ask you this do you care which country your food comes from? would you make a beeline for british produce in the shops, and would you be prepared to pay more for it to try and support british farmers or not? and in the height of stupidity, if you ask me, a report shows today children young as today that children as young as three. heard that right. three. you heard that right. three a smartphone and three earn a smartphone and apparently almost 40% of 5 to 7 year olds now use social media. i'm sorry, but i think that is just poor parenting. but one lord tells me that i'm completely wrong and the situation more situation is absolutely more complicated do complicated than that. what do you well, i've all that you think? well, i've all that to come. but before we get stuck in, let's cross live for tonight's latest news headlines. >> good evening. i'm sophia

wenzler in the gb newsroom