and pointed is a fatuous and ridiculous target . when we could ridiculous target. when we could actually start sticking drills good afternoon. just after midday, alastair stewart& friends will be here in just a moment. but first, let's bring you up to date with the latest news and our top story today. survivors have been found at the scene. an explosion on jersey . scene. an explosion on jersey. the the recovery the authorities say the recovery operation take weeks at. least three people were killed when a blast ripped through a block of flats in st helier in the early hours of yesterday . 12 people hours of yesterday. 12 people are still thought to be missing . the of jersey police, . the chief of jersey police, robinson smith says sadly, more

fatalities are expected . yes, an fatalities are expected. yes, an investigation or investigations are stuff that's inevitable as as you would expect we deal with the very very unusual in the usual way . we will want to usual way. we will want to understand how this has happened and we are working on participating with the services including health and safety to understand how this has occurred . we understand how this has occurred. we nurse is union has offered to press pause on strike action if the government agrees to hold talks on pay . the royal college talks on pay. the royal college of nursing has accused the health secretary of failing to negotiate properly and thousands members are now planning to walk on the 15th and the 20th of december. but writing in the sun, steve barclay warned action will cause significant risk to patients and added the door remains open for further talks without specifying where the pay could be. part of that

discussion . meanwhile postal discussion. meanwhile postal workers are staging fresh strikes . the communication strikes. the communication workers union says the action could risk christmas postal meltdown while strikes are planned over the next of weeks to which the union warned will create a huge of posts. royal mail says the money allocated to the deal on offer could be eaten away by the costs of strike action. may meanwhile, thousands of soldiers are preparing stand in for public sector workers, including border force and emergency services staff, when they walk the job this winter. speaking to gb news lorne lord, ken said, bringing in the army to cover striking ambulance members when he was health secretary didn't down well with voters . this secretary didn't down well with voters. this time was secretary didn't down well with voters . this time was when secretary didn't down well with voters. this time was when i had a month ambulance strike and we gave the a much better ambulance service . the strike was service. the strike was effective by bringing in the army, but that was hugely unpopular with the public public . yo

unpopular with the public public. yo interview on gloria meets where you'll find out the person behind the politician every sunday at 6 pm. on the news and the cold snap which has been causing travel disruption across the uk, is expected continue throughout this week . snow and throughout this week. snow and ice sweeps across parts of the uk. the met office says overnight frost expected to last until friday. some rural communities could possibly be cut off with possible power cuts and problems with mobile phone coverage . a 13 year old girl is coverage. a 13 year old girl is now cancer free after she was treated with cutting edge genetic engineering . alissa, who genetic engineering. alissa, who was suffering from leukaemia , was suffering from leukaemia, would have been facing end of life care if she hadn't opted for the pioneering treatment. doctors at great ormond street hospital in london used an experimental type therapy using t cells and gene editing in order wipe out her cancer cells . scientists hope the research lead to providing better futures . sick children . ukraine's

. sick children. ukraine's president says over one and a half million people in the southwestern odesa region in his country are without power following russian airstrikes . following russian airstrikes. officials in kyiv say electricity in the city will be restored over coming days, but has warned complete restoration may take two or three months. meanwhile, moscow says its attacks are militarily legitimate and it doesn't target civilians. presidents wolinsky though has described the situation in the region as very difficult . was it a risky scheme difficult. was it a risky scheme in total.7 russian terrorist used 15 drones against the odesa region just during one night on saturday. this is the true attitude . russia towards odesa, attitude. russia towards odesa, the attitude towards odesa. residents deliberate bullying , residents deliberate bullying, deliberate attempt to bring disaster to the city. thus both marshall and the government, harry kane says he takes full for england's loss in the world cup quarter finals. the captain

says he's gutted a little take some time to get over it. the teams now left the hotel in doha in qatar and was seen heading to the airport after losing to france last night. gareth southgate says he needs time to decide whether he has enough energy to contain you as england manager. supporters qatar have been reflecting on the results. just one eve away, honestly, the game continue to win even way. the whole thing is nip and tuck between, but you've got to take your chances. and i don't think we did that well enough. so clinical and i would go and aim a week early. unfortunately, you feeling dejected, feeling like, yeah. dejected, despondent, but you despondent, deflated but you know, that's england. we've been here before. we what to expect. a little bit disappointed , but a little bit disappointed, but still after game is at all positives take from it so we're still positive about the future. i don't. 18 months of the year i was as well of i would say was as well sort of i would say you're gb news this morning is as it happens. now, let's take you to alastair stewart and friends .

friends. polly, thanks very much indeed. so as temperatures plummet , so as temperatures plummet, people are finding it harder to pay people are finding it harder to pay their bills and in weather, it's getting worse . following it's getting worse. following the met office's weather alert. the uk health security agency has recommended that vulnerable people heat their homes to at least eight degrees celsius. but according to the joseph rowntree foundation, more than 3 million low income uk households simply can't afford to heat their homes. but it's not just individuals and households that are being affected . businesses are being affected. businesses have been hit too. the confederation british industry is urging the government to decide which industries get energy support. you may remember last time around they were kept

waiting for a long time to know how much they would get. whilst we were told fairly quickly, well, the head of uk hospitality kate nicholls has also said that a quarter of a million jobs in the industry are at risk without more help on energy bills. she says. and i quote these businesses are incredibly fragile . while energy costs have fragile. while energy costs have pushed businesses to the very bnnk pushed businesses to the very brink overnight. this week also saw the controversial approval of a new mine in the uk. but while some have welcomed the news, others have not. green party mp caroline lucas has said what we are seeing is . nothing what we are seeing is. nothing less, i think, than a climb it crime against humanity. now to be crystal clear, we do like balance here . michael gove's balance here. michael gove's decision to green light the re—opening of an old coal mine in cumbria . whitehaven is not in cumbria. whitehaven is not the return of old father coal to

the return of old father coal to the uk energy mix. it is, however a potentially important move in the uk's growth because it will create 500 jobs producing coking coal for the steel , both here at home producing coking coal for the steel, both here at home and abroad. it has wide spread local support, but some say it was a dangerous signal that the uk is perhaps willing to use the dirtiest of fossil fuels, albeit for a specific industrial reason. industry certainly wants it and local folk want those jobs. it and local folk want those jobs . however, it did come just jobs. however, it did come just a few days after rishi sunak signalled support for more onshore wind farms. signalled support for more onshore wind farms . so today onshore wind farms. so today we're examining what afoot on both industry will and growth strategy and energy with experts from all sides of the argument . from all sides of the argument. we'd also love to hear from do send your thoughts in gbviews@gbnews.uk uk or tweet me

directly . tweet at gb news and directly. tweet at gb news and i will share some of the best as we move towards to o'clock. so there's facebook available as well . now before we get into well. now before we get into that discussion. a week is , a that discussion. a week is, a long time in the world of politics course. and this week we saw more conservative mp announcing that they will not be standing in the next general election, including back from the jungle one. matt hancock so to bring us up to date on all of the latest political news, i'm delighted be joined once again by olivia utley here in the studio with me, gb news political reporter not quite lemmings over the cliff but numbers are getting quite hairy and scary in terms of to the electorate . yes, i was quite electorate. yes, i was quite interesting about the mp who have said that they're not going to stand at the next election. is that most of them are very young. 50% of them are under 40. and of them is dehenna davison , and of them is dehenna davison, who is a 29 year old minister. so the fact that she's standing

down is pretty much unprecedented. you'd feel like that someone new in that career who who would want to make impact? but what employees are worried , of course, is that worried, of course, is that they're going lose their seat they're going to lose their seat at next election. they at the next election. and they would rather jump before they're would ratherjump before they're pushed. also heard of a pushed. i've also heard of a wave of spad. special advisers resigned now, because what they're worried about is losing they're worried about is losing the election and then a load of spots trying to into the spots trying to get into the same of private jobs at the same sort of private jobs at the same sort of private jobs at the same they're just same time. so they're just thinking as well thinking we may as well jump. absolutely something absolutely up to something that's of mine, of that's an old chum of mine, of that world said to me the other day that someone who's stepped down slightly more down an mp is a slightly more attractive than attractive commodity than someone voted out by someone who's been voted out by the electorate. yes, exactly. that's stephanie and that's stephanie cherry. and i think of think that's probably true of the spots as well. but as you say, it's a bit of sign to the say, it's a bit of a sign to the electorate and it's not good for the the conservative the morale. the conservative party we talked party in general that we talked yesterday mick lynch yesterday about mick lynch saying that he be willing saying that he would be willing to enter into talks if senior ministers were prepared to meet with him on behalf of his rmt .

with him on behalf of his rmt. we hear the same this morning from the royal college of nursing. they could modify their strike action, which everybody is terrified at. the prospect . is terrified at. the prospect. to be perfectly clear, if rishi sunak himself was prepared to talk . so it's good to talk , but talk. so it's good to talk, but not if you're number ten. yes well, the rhetoric from pat cullen, the head of the royal college of nursing, this morning, was sounding quite sort of conciliatory, saying that they theory, be they would, in theory, be prepared the strike prepared to drop the strike action barclay talks action if barclay talks seriously. but actually, the crux what she's saying is it crux of what she's saying is it isn't very much different to what and we what we've heard. and as we know, the two sides are pretty deeply their positions . deeply in in their positions. one couple of interesting things that sort of bring this story is wes streeting has done interview with the sunday telegraph today talking about how well it's quite a quite a big interview, really, the fact that he's speaking at the sunday telegraph at all in itself is quite interesting. you wouldn't have seen under jeremy corbyn's seen that under jeremy corbyn's government, government , government, shadow government, but streeting that but wes streeting that the shadow is saying that

shadow secretary is saying that the nhs must reform or die which is bold language and the telegraph has headed is wes streeting has vows to take more on the unions. so that makes rishi sunak's position some could say kind of easier because if, if, if the unions are worried that even labour wouldn't take their side, they've got a less negotiating power . is interesting. so power. is interesting. so streeting is a big hitter he's considered on the right of the labour party. and of course you've got someone like angela rayner on the left of the labour party that strikers party saying that the strikers are good work, but the are doing good work, but the fact the isn't even fact that the labour isn't even 100% behind the unions is it's quite an interesting development really . watch this space with really. watch this space with interest as always do. olivia, great to see thank you very great to see you. thank you very indeed. exactly that. gb indeed. live exactly that. gb news correspondent on news political correspondent on the agenda. delighted the energy agenda. delighted to say that my first guest is muffett, who is the founder and former chair of the uk energy security group and also a firm

former adviser to her majesty's government. indeed, on security, continue me if you want. but was i right in saying at the top of the programme the cumbria decision has absolutely nothing to do with energy security or energy supply . to do with energy security or energy supply. this is purely a industrial for the steel industry who want coking coal . industry who want coking coal. alastair exactly correct . it's alastair exactly correct. it's nothing to do with energy is actually a very practical solution to the demand for coking coal steel. we're going to need to make things . on the to need to make things. on the wind farm decision and not a decision, but the suggestion from number ten, the government, opposition to more wind farms was was perhaps waning a little so long as people had local for them and that local objections kind of slipped potentially that does have more to do with bill up all supplies and energy

security of domestic supplies do you welcome that . not really. i you welcome that. not really. i think was a mistake for the prime minister to say that got 27 that renewables were essential for energy security then. i mean , the facts is that then. i mean, the facts is that you can build as much wind turbine generation . you will turbine generation. you will always be and it will be intermittent. there isn't the technology available to store the power that's generated when . it's not being used in the grid . and at the end of the day, grid. and at the end of the day, we're going to need more investment in flexible gas generation to keep the lights on when there's a blow—out . to but when there's a blow—out. to but how could we do that within the united kingdom? i mean, we. the biggest deal that's been all over the newspapers is that we had to go to the united states of america and buy huge of gas from much of which was course extracted via fracking.

fracking, which we ourselves are not prepared to imply by that this long term contracts for gas is actually not government contract with each other to for gas exports and import. contract with each other to for gas exports and import . and i gas exports and import. and i sure fail to see how this detail of that is going to work out . of that is going to work out. the problem any kind of long term gas contract is that at the moment let's just go reflect a little bit the actual spot price of gas in september compared to now. now is a signal these low you no nearly 50% last few days it's climbed up again with speculate and the problem with long term contract is that i can't imagine an american of lng wanting to lock into any kind of long term deal at a price which is flexible, likely significantly higher than what we have now. so i don't really see any advantage in long term gas contracts . there's been talk gas contracts. there's been talk in government as well in recent

times about looking again at the nonh times about looking again at the north sea in in terms of producing our own natural resources from , the north sea. resources from, the north sea. is that game well up now ? i is that game well up now? i think there are a number of things if you're looking at the short term and longer term, i think in terms of keeping the lights on over the winter, we to hear more from great i just to reflect on this point about exactly what measures taking and what their cost and consider measures to ensure that major industries are going to curtail their demand for oil and at a time of peak demand . i'd also time of peak demand. i'd also like to know more about the national information strike agl promotional campaign that was announced. finally to inform the pubuc announced. finally to inform the public about what basic steps they can do to help control their own demand . look in the their own demand. look in the longer term on this, that i think, yes, we need more gas production and i personally would be very in favour of a more north sea incentive as well

as selective frac in where there is consent , as selective frac in where there is consent, where there is an obugafion is consent, where there is an obligation on develop is to sell that gas. most that gas into the uk supply market more particularly i think there should anyway need in the next five years or so if this situation of curtailment on is not going to continue need to have some greater gas storage and we need to have some significant as i said earlier , significant as i said earlier, flexible gas generation demand gas generation capacity . great gas generation capacity. great to talk to you. and great wisdom there and background for us as well to understand what may or may not be going and what you would like see government considering clive moffitt there, the former as i said at the top to the government indeed on energy security and throwing before you there other key point

and that is that controlling demand is very important and not an exhausted strategy. well, on theme joining me now i'm pleased to say ian thomson, who's the operations of energy support advice uk . ian, you've been advice uk. ian, you've been seeing an enormous increase in demand support recently because are finding it tremendous , are finding it tremendous, certainly difficult to kerb their which we were just talking about and those prices are still astronomical and they're just finding it tough making ends meet . what is your advice and meet. what is your advice and guidance to people in those circumstances . you've to keep in circumstances. you've to keep in touch with your suppliers keep the pressure up making sure that you know you can curve in your demand as much as possible. eating the person rather than your entire home. we've seen very, very much an in demand for top up payments , particularly top up payments, particularly for those customers who are on prepayment metres . there is lots prepayment metres. there is lots of good to support being offered

to the public with reference 66 paying to the public with reference 66 paying payments every month. the six months of the wintertime . six months of the wintertime. although what we are seeing is on fortunately these payments in a large majority of cases aren't getting through. some customers waiting . to 6 hours on the waiting. to 6 hours on the telephone to try and get in touch with their suppliers . and touch with their suppliers. and furthermore , they're waiting for furthermore, they're waiting for these payments that were promised at october , november, promised at october, november, december. some many customers are still waiting for that october payments, which is obviously putting an awful lot pressure on these people be able to afford to have energy to supply their homes with power and in particular heat. and i guess most of them would simply want better supply and there's more supply in the marketplace than the price might just gradually , slowly slipped down.

gradually, slowly slipped down. as an observer of these matters , are you confident that the ballot between environmental considerations oceans and local democracy and energy need is in balance? at the moment ? democracy and energy need is in balance? at the moment? think that's very difficult to predict to the moment, obviously, because the situation is the market itself very, very volatile . and the local volatile. and the local considerations government in particular are finding it very, very difficult to keep up. so that to be seen, unfortunately, i don't think prices are going to change certainly not a downward trend for the significant future and certainly not of this winter . it significant future and certainly not of this winter. it only will if we get lot, lot more from somewhere. ian thompson, great to talk to you and thank you for the work that you do helping those who are in desperate need now. ian is the operations director of energy support and advice uk. google image. great website. lots of really good ideas that delighted to be

joined by an old friend of the programme. lord karen bellamy, the vice president of the confederation british industry , confederation british industry, the cbi have said that they are really concerned right now not only about those build problems that ian was talking about that we all face, but the bills that business is facing as well. we know that small businesses had to wait a heck of a long last time round when a support and help was unveiled. i if the cbi are banging the drum now it's big big businesses. well like the hospitality industry . how the hospitality industry. how grave are those concerns, karen so we're a very serious situation at the moment . got situation at the moment. got stagflation , which is not just stagflation, which is not just growth, but we're probably in a recession combined . inflation at recession combined. inflation at over 10. we know it historically how to try to deal with inflation . we know historically

inflation. we know historically how try to deal with a recession , but to try to deal with both of them at the time is a huge, huge challenge . and combined huge challenge. and combined with that, we have a winter now it's one problem after another this dry break almost every day leading up to christmas . the leading up to christmas. the problem with strikes is not only are they disruptive to everybody to consume as to working people, they disrupt businesses, the hospitality industry . december hospitality industry. december is disproportionately the most important month in whole year by far the build up to christmas. and if you disrupt that i mean the various calculations of one and a half the various calculations of one and a half £2 billion of business lost by hospitality , business lost by hospitality, you've suffered enough already. and we're you've given us and we're saying you've given us some energy maybe some help with energy maybe reducing the cost 40. that's coming to an in march. what about us? some more help. what about us? some more help. what about some more help with vat for restaurants pubs there for restaurants and pubs there are pubs and restaurants that are pubs and restaurants that are at the moment they are closing at the moment they need so that the need that help desk so that the situation the government need that help desk so that the situ moment the government need that help desk so that the situ moment dealingvernment need that help desk so that the situ moment dealing with nent need that help desk so that the situ moment dealing with this is

the moment dealing with this is happening now is not enough. and i think they need to do more . i think they need to do more. otherwise we will see businesses closing and what we're in now. i'm sorry to say this is with a recession with inflation, with stock fashion, with strikes. it's vicious cycle. it's literally a downward spiral . and literally a downward spiral. and we've got to stop that downward spiral . now, the good news is an spiral. now, the good news is an america inflation seems to be coming down even in the eurozone are hints that inflation might be coming down. if that's the case, that's good news because inflation is the big enemy at the moment and know inflation can come down next year , then can come down next year, then we've got to we can have growth and this what the autumn and this is what the autumn statement deal with you statement did not deal with you went from one extreme the went from one extreme of the rational exuberance of liz truss and kwasi kwarteng to mini budget in september to the other extreme , we've put up taxes to extreme, we've put up taxes to the highest level in seven years, which is the worst thing, stifles growth, stifles a recovery and on top of that you've cuts now the you've got cuts now where's the growth plan and we're saying to the government you need growth

in growth means investing it in growth means investing in it means investing encouraging companies to invest in devising inward investment from growth means in investing skills and lifelong learning group means the apprenticeship levy being reformed . it desperately needs reformed. it desperately needs to be reformed . there's none of to be reformed. there's none of this and we need to see that emphasis on growth right now. and the government saying, wait, wait, wait till the budget in march—april. then we'll do all this. well, i hope it's too not late by then, because we need the help. we need this action right now. let me ask you whether or not reopening of the coal mine up in some of those boxes in the list that you've just articulated in the sense that it creates 500 jobs, it creates coking coal that the uk troubled uk steel industry desperately wants it also creates an export commodity which is going to good for growth in the midst of a recession did you approve? did you give it a thumbs up or you have environmental concerns? i

spend one and a half out of the two weeks at cop26 in glasgow a year ago , and i can say that the year ago, and i can say that the transition to net zero is absolutely crucial and. we as a country are completely committed to that 60% to the footsie 100 companies have committed to net zero. come on, that's on their front. 9% of businesses of all sizes have at least one climate related target . but what related target. but what i always say is this is not on off switch. you can't suddenly switch. you can't suddenly switch off from fossil fuels to renewables and alternative energy . it's got to be energy. it's got to be a transition to this coal mine is providing for steel plants. it's coking coal . it's not cooled. coking coal. it's not cooled. it's going to be used to heat our homes. it's got a very specific purpose in the same way that we have more gas produced in north sea that may be required during the transition and. at the same time, and this is the mistake make they say, no, no, we're going through stagflation with all these stagflation with these all these problems at moment. let's stop all investing in grains and

all the investing in grains and renewables. no, no we've got renewables. no, no, no we've got to down on them. we've to double down on them. we've got to be more self—reliant. we've seen what's happened with europe and their reliance on russia. be able to russia. we need to be able to more. have investment in more. we have investment in wind. have wind. the more we have investment in solar, the more we have investment in hydrogen heating. you imagine if heating. our can you imagine if all are heated through all our homes are heated through the we upgraded the pipes that we have upgraded with clean hydrogen, zero emissions in almost 29 million homes? that is possible birmingham university, where i'm chancellor we've invented the world's first retrofitted hydrogen train. so the technology advancing rolls—royce have these small modular reactors. these bonds can power 1 million people. electricity they take five years to set up. we have started building one of them. i think government. let's start building them now. so we must continue all okay. karen, as always , you so much for as always, you so much for giving us so much of time breaking into your weekend. daughters there's a terrific agenda there from karen bullimore if you agree with bullimore out. if you agree with them or disagree them, then them or disagree with them, then do what you like do let know what you would like to double down on making

to do to double down on making sure that we are energy sustainable. but we also nod towards our environmental concerns. as karen said , a lot concerns. as karen said, a lot more needs to be done on that front. we're not just waving hurrah for coal or of that at all. you're watching and listening to alastair stewart& friends with lots more coming up on today's programme. as the energy crisis that we've been discussing so far this afternoon bites even deeper , how can we be bites even deeper, how can we be even more savvy when it comes to saving but also try to keep warm this winter? we were discussing that right next. but first, a quick . that right next. but first, a reports. i think there's also been a degree of exaggeration so that's virus material things on media saying the child was kidnapped . i know that that's kidnapped. i know that that's not the case. the child wasn't kidnapped. the court temporarily

sees guardianship with him now thatis sees guardianship with him now that is extreme but actually goes way hundreds of years back where have a history of the state be in all the country or other countries is on occasion intervene in the private family life when it considers that children's welfare seriously at risk . but i totally take your risk. but i totally take your point . it risk. but i totally take your point. it raises some risk. but i totally take your point . it raises some really, point. it raises some really, really difficult questions about

. the limits of parental autonomy, and i'm sure we would say the naturally parental autonomy ought to be pretty much absolute . and particularly what absolute. and particularly what happens as is going to happen more and more often when a child faced with an operation needing a blood transfusion , you know, a blood transfusion, you know, in any country actually a blood transfusion, you know, always used to have the real christmas trees, but she used that 12 years in a row and i have to say that it's not about the christmas you can talk about the christmas you can talk about the philosophic all of the

theological elements of it is about getting break in with gb news. the headlines this hour, jersey officials say the recovery effort following , the recovery effort following, yesterday's explosion in st

heuer yesterday's explosion in st helier will take weeks, not days . at least three people were killed when a blast ripped through a block of flats in the early hours of the morning. 12 people are still thought to be missing the chief of jersey police. robin smith says sadly, more fatalities are. also today, the nurses union has offered to press pause on strike action if the government agrees to hold talks on pay . the royal college talks on pay. the royal college of nursing has accused health secretary of failing to negotiate properly and thousands of members are now planning to walk out on the 15th and 20th of december. writing in the sun, steve barclay warned the action will cause significant harm patients and added the door does remain open for further talks . remain open for further talks. meanwhile, postal workers are staging fresh strikes today. the communique on workers union says the action could risk a christmas postal meltdown. more strikes planned over the next couple of weeks which the union has warned will create huge backlog of post and the cold snap has been causing travel

disruption across the uk is expected continue throughout this week with . the met office this week with. the met office saying overnight frost is set to continue until at least next friday. a yellow warning for snow and ice is in place for scotland. well, as other parts of wales , northern ireland and of wales, northern ireland and southwestern england. and harry kane says takes responsibility for england's loss . the world for england's loss. the world cup quarter finals last night. the captain says he's gutted and it'll take time to get over it. the team's now left its hotel in dohain the team's now left its hotel in doha in qatar and is on its way to the airport after, losing to france two one in last night's nail biting game . england nail biting game. england manager gareth southgate , he now manager gareth southgate, he now needs time to decide whether or not he has enough energy to continue , in his. post not he has enough energy to continue , in his . post that's it continue, in his. post that's it from us. the latest headlines again for you at the top of the hour on tv, online and derby, plus radio for now , you up to plus radio for now, you up to date. let's get back alastair

stewart& friends . stewart& friends. polly, thank you very much indeed. this is alastair stewart& friends here on, gb news tv and radio and online and time is huffpost one. you have indeed been in touch with us on energy apostolou on energy and, on other matters that we have been discussing. on that i told you we would be discussing later on as the day unfolds. also begins the conversation and saying it's currently minus four outside. i have had to turn my heating off. i a four year old pensioner . my heating off. i a four year old pensioner. my gas and electricity bill for the first ten days of this month is my allowance for december and half of january's as well. i just cannot afford . energy despite cannot afford. energy despite all of the help being . rex says

all of the help being. rex says making steel is energy and can't be made using green energy . that be made using green energy. that here it would be better to import from countries with dubai . it would be better to do here import imported from countries with mining practises so there we are front line observations and then abroad policy view as well. do keep those years coming in, particularly tips on how you are managing if you are problems if you're not. we'll do what we can to help keep those years coming in at gb news. at gbnews.uk via twitter now. christmas bin evenings is just two weeks away, and after a difficult few years where better to cheer yourself up than at a christmas mass ? and the ones in christmas mass? and the ones in manchester have been thanked . manchester have been thanked. the best i've been ranked the best to visit in the uk. beeching competition from birmingham. nottingham and even edinburgh. our north—west of

england. reporter sophie reaper paid him a visit to see what all the fuss about . with a healthy the fuss about. with a healthy squirt festive cheer. maybe with some sprinkles on top after a few difficult years. a good christmas . what we all need and christmas. what we all need and more festive than a christmas market. it is very very interesting to just you can do so many different things. you know, you can you do your christmas shopping or you just have like a nice time hanging out with your friends. and i think it's just a good place to go and it's something different than going to a restaurant or a bar like everybody does all year , it? are, of course , isn't it? there are, of course christmas markets to be enjoyed all over the uk, but year the onesin all over the uk, but year the ones in manchester been voted as the best so special because been going for years and years and each year i think we bring something to the table. it's all the time with new and food

stalls , craft stalls and areas stalls, craft stalls and areas as well. for people to come and enjoy. since they began in 1998, the manchester christmas have always been a highlight on the calendar. but what is it about this festive extravaganza sees people coming back year on year as we approach with great enthusiasm and? manchester people and people in the north—west just love market and they love christmas markets and 20 christmas stalls over nine sites in the city centre . and sites in the city centre. and there's something here everybody. for many people last few years have proved difficult but this christmas markets in manchester are to bring back some of that spirit. we've had car of all time over the last few years and there's a lot of darkness in the world and we really want to share and connect and, be with our friends, be our family and just try and get through all the problems we've got and this is the perfect

place to cheer up . but what are place to cheer up. but what are the stallholders themselves expecting given the current cost of living crisis ? we just have of living crisis? we just have to go for it and see what happens don't we like. hopefully people want to come out and enjoy the christmas markets and have nice evening or day out here. so that's all we can for hope because that's what christmas is all about. hope from a very merry manchester. sophie reaper gb news you on a magnificent and manchester yuletide side. winchester's got a nice one as well, but this a bit smaller, to be honest, than the manchester on that. but look around you can also get what you want and support local businesses and local producers as well as you'll learn from an item that's coming out that really matters at this time of yeah really matters at this time of year. you're watching listening to stewart& friends to alastair stewart& friends with still to come with plenty more. still to come this afternoon, including the horticulture , serious horticulture sector, serious supply issues. if food security

is not made a priority by the government, i'll be talking one of those affected who also has the inside track on what the and if you want done about it on behalf of all farmers. but first, before we get another quick . come back with an because that way would be putting themselves on same level as meghan and harry it has for a retort to be poignant has be short to the point and conciliatory and. i think they've done that very . do think they've done that very. do you think that's that there must surely be a shelf life in what meghan and harry are doing? yes

you know, they've stepped away and this is presumably the video they kept for a couple of years before going to netflix on netflix, coming to them . you netflix, coming to them. you can't keep reheating this or can you? well, i think they're finished in a way. people aren't stupid . they know what's going stupid. they know what's going on and it's pretty. so i stupid. they know what's going on and it's pretty . so i after on and it's pretty. so i after this, they will really well, they should . leading a private

actually start sticking drills into the ground . ross and dale into the ground. ross and dale into the ground. ross and dale in lancashire in this country and get our own gas, which would half sorry, half the price of the gas that we're going to need. and by the way, don't the green zealots realise that if you ship a tanker of gas 3000 miles across the atlantic , you

miles across the atlantic, you are actually damaging the environment. so why not just get our own gas? because it's here well, look, we've proved it's a debating point. what's your view? market debating point. what's your break and i'll come back. it's exactly 1241. you are watching . and 1241. you are watching. and listening to alastair stewart& friends here on gb news tv and radio and of course, online wine. thanks for joining radio and of course, online wine. thanks forjoining us . if wine. thanks forjoining us. if you just have thanks for being with us since we started at noon, we are here right up until 2:00 now. the image of empty egg shells in uk supermarkets and with farmers under huge pressure due to soaring energy costs and work shortages. the national

farmers union president minette batters warns that other farming sectors could soon be under from immediate supply issues. sectors could soon be under from immediate supply issues . derek immediate supply issues. derek wilkinson joins me live now to . wilkinson joins me live now to. discuss it. derek is vice chair of the national farmers union horticulture and potatoes board . it is quite unusual to hear the farming industry , which is the farming industry, which is what i know, a little love and love very much talking about chain issues is that supplies to you for what you need to run your businesses or is it supply of what you produce to me and the supermarkets it's only in the supermarkets it's only in the supply of products to us so where we've got massive inflation in things like fertiliser costs and the big one for me being a horticultural vegetable grower is of seasonal

labour and ninette, i knew it. both said you want the government to take but in terms of that and fertiliser and rest of that and fertiliser and rest of it, i mean what can the government do well in certainly in our the one thing the government can do is to free up the seasonal worker permit scheme. currently we have permits for 38,000 people we as an industry believe we need 60 to 70000 people total so we need that scheme expanding immediately . we're starting now immediately. we're starting now beginning of december. we still don't know the full allocation for next year, which is making business planning very difficult and simply as a result of that growers are cutting back . we saw growers are cutting back. we saw shortages labour this year the nfu claims that this was approximately nfu claims that this was approximately £60 million worth of food destroyed in may and june due to labour shortages . june due to labour shortages. for me personally lost a quarter million pounds worth asparagus

and spring onions in this year over that that i can understand in terms your picking work but but that's not to do anything at all to help you on your other input problems like you mentioned fertiliser and obviously cost of energy. what do you want the to do there ? do you want the to do there? well, you know fertiliser is obviously a global market, but as his energy but i mean what the government be doing it could be extending the support with energy costs beyond and beyond early next year. energy costs beyond and beyond early next year . so things like early next year. so things like that. early next year. so things like that . i early next year. so things like that. i mean christmas dinner is looking like a kind of list of problems for the farming industry. you can imagine walking into a dining room and seeing kitchen tables and in homes all over the country . we homes all over the country. we know about the problems with turkey and other poultry because of avian avian flu . we of avian avian flu. we understand that from

horticulturalists like yourselves that it may be even stuff potatoes and brussels sprouts , all the other bits and sprouts, all the other bits and bobs, those tables run the risk of being little bit empty, don't they ? they're absolutely there. they? they're absolutely there. they because growers are cutting back on production juice in the main to the uncertainty , they've main to the uncertainty, they've got massive inflation. we've got 25% inflation, which was that which we need to pass on through supply chain. of course we're in the cost of living that's difficult to achieve and growers cutting back for next year and will grow less risky crops like the crops wheat and oilseed, rape, etc. where the prices inflated massively over the last 18 months. so we'll go for more certainty and that is dreadful long term for us consumers, but also for you as a suppliers and producers . because if it's going producers. because if it's going

to come in from abroad, nobody likes that we like to try and support you guys and it does tend to be slightly more expensive and me this if you would we had our diesel the brilliant chef in a couple of weeks ago talking about all tentatives to the tradition of christmas lunch dinner and instead of turkey look at other poultry to look at beef to look at baulked to look at fish, etc, etc, etc. as an industry, are you up for those switches in demand ? well, as industry we demand? well, as industry we will always adapt to the markets and produce what the customer wants . yes, but i would believe wants. yes, but i would believe most people still want the traditional christmas . what are traditional christmas. what are you having for christmas? lunch or dinner ? hopefully i we have or dinner? hopefully i we have in turkey . well i hope that you in turkey. well i hope that you have a terrific time that you all have a very good christmas and seriously, because we do

have our rural spotlight and we keep across what's going on in your industry because it matters to everybody watching and listening . but also it's just listening. but also it's just group of brilliant men and women doing very important work on behalf of the entire country. so from all of us here, genuinely, to all of you the best of luck and hope it comes good and that you get those supplies you need so that you keep those so that you can keep those wonderful coming to us. wonderful supplies coming to us. thank very much indeed for thank you very much indeed for joining us. indeed and best to all, derek at the nephew now that was derek wilkinson, who is the vice chair of the nephew's horticulture and potatoes board . so those are some problems on the food front and on the menu front and on the lunch and dinner from. but the festive season also brings issues as well. it's supposed be full of joy, well. it's supposed be full of joy , but there's also a down to joy, but there's also a down to the holiday season home rubber is happened more in lead up to

christmas and according to lv general . insurance 67% of theft general. insurance 67% of theft claims reported last december were home thefts . they also were home thefts. they also reported that claims already up by 4% this year compared to last . so how can we our homes from burglary during this of year i'm pleased to be joined in the studio by some who for his own good reasons nova he shouldn't know and michael fraser who himself is an expert on how to get stuff that doesn't actually belong him because he used to do that for a living but. he has become an expert working closely with police. i'm delighted with the police. i'm delighted to say an expert on to how avoid becoming yourselves victim of crime . and here he is to tell us crime. and here he is to tell us all. some of it's blindingly obvious. my youngest son screamed and shouted at me the

other day because . i put both my other day because. i put both my house keys and my car keys on a hookin house keys and my car keys on a hook in full view of the kitchen window . he hook in full view of the kitchen window. he said, you don't want to be doing that, i suppose. rather by that i must confess one of the other obvious things i. presumably people , who are i. presumably people, who are out there and have leftie fingers professionally, they know that the houses are going to be full of gifts and extra booze and if they're lucky, food and stuff like that , that why and stuff like that, that why december is so vulnerable . december is so vulnerable. december is so vulnerable. december is so vulnerable. december is always vulnerable because we've got the dark nights . people because we've got the dark nights. people tend to put on christmas lights , which are in christmas lights, which are in the front window, attracting the opportunist and happens is you put your prices around the tree . the normal general public don't tend to think about security until something happens. that burglar don't like stories or a relative so it's good to have like two locks on

the front door don't put case on show take the calendar out the gate like gives dates of when actually out over the christmas season and the cage on the inside of the letterbox to stop letterbox fishing very popular with the opportunists coat hanger going through and easily an extended poll that will go through the front door lift a bag keys off the side , bring bag keys off the side, bring them back down the pole through them back down the pole through the letterbox and they're off with you prize. enjoy your car one of the other half breaking episodes that we read about this of year is someone who's got all of year is someone who's got all of their christmas presents in the car on the back seat there for all to see . and that's like for all to see. and that's like another great big it's like you're saying there's lights. i'm saying this house is celebrating christmas , so we're celebrating christmas, so we're going to be full of everything. it's practise. we go shopping, we load car up, we leave the cars at ease. and in the

opportune list. again, it's just exactly as i've come in tonight to i'm looking at all the cars 99% of us parallel park cause a dead straight 1% will turn the wheels into the gutter to stop that being moved, you'll find 1. why not say a car stolen? the 99% of us who parallel park the car will go christmas presents in their dead giveaway easy to get in you're not you're talking 3035 40 seconds to empty your car of all the presents . the two car of all the presents. the two big headlines, it seems to me, listening very carefully to what you said is don't advertise that you said is don't advertise that you are actively engaging in christmas and do the obviously little things that just make it more for someone to come and do you over. well i always say look at your own property imagine you

lose the keys to your house. how would you get in because believe you me the opportunist will find that way very, very so it's all about security. be conscious of what's going on don't be a mass rush so you can sure these things are safe and you have a good christmas . the other thing good christmas. the other thing that me as interesting on that introduction to our conversation with the facts and figures from allenby the other companies are available but if you do get done over the first thing the insurance company wants to know, you've got a crime number. you work with the police on this campaign having gone on the straight and narrow . i've read straight and narrow. i've read recently that many members of the public deeply concerned that the public deeply concerned that the police just don't take burglary or petty theft . the burglary or petty theft. the police do take it very seriously . the problem you've got, it's just everything they haven't got resources and. a crime number is

help you with your insurance but a lot of crime that's committed. yes it's terrible. it's really bad . and the opportunities are bad. and the opportunities are out there committing it but we ourselves responsible for doing something about our own security. why are we relying on the police who haven't got the resources which did but they haven't . so it's time for us to haven't. so it's time for us to protect what is ours. how many tanks, you see, just walked the street. people put big boxy out saying we've had a new tv set or we've had this shouldn't it? it's all common sense . yes. it's all common sense. yes. burglars shouldn't be out there burgling and, wrecking people's property. but it is time for us to do something positive about our own security . do some police our own security. do some police forces still have what i always thought was an absolutely brilliant public service, which was security experts within the

force who, you know, particularly if you've moved to a new home and if you're lucky, it might be quite a big place or what have you. and somebody who really does know their stuff one of the people you work with will come and say, look, that looks dodgy. you want to deal this, i would recommend that. now would recommend this, that. now they that they do they still have that yes. do prevention yes. to do crime prevention officers are still out there that will come in advise you what it's common sense. what to do. it's common sense. well, they will advise you what you can do to protect your property . i you can do to protect your property. i say you can do to protect your property . i say yeah you can do to protect your property. i say yeah , you can do to protect your property . i say yeah , obscure property. i say yeah, obscure the front window . don't put the the front window. don't put the christmas light on, show two locks on the front door . you locks on the front door. you have that little mesh thing over the letterbox, the letterbox. what's view on tv particularly the cheap and cheerful ones that are advertised constantly on television which you can link up to your mobile phone so you can see who's rat a tat tat at the front door. fantastic. any system you put up, is it

deterrent? it stops you being a target. so yes and the cheap ones are just as good. so yeah, if you can afford it, put an up on your phone. come from the front, your property and the back and you'll find you won't be a target and move to on the 99% who don't bother. and i've got the police accept that as evidence. if you even if it's on your mobile phone like if you've got a clear shot of the opportunist burglar, it's going to be very that can't go on through the image. it's got to be very clear and terms of not what you've got are you stick it in the attic, man or are you put it in the stairs under the cupboard, man. if got stuff that you know is normally there around the base of the tree but is going to mean the world to somebody on the 25th of december, it's better to put things at the top of the house burglars don't like upstairs and listen that i want to spend a long time because i feel trapped

. so the further the top the better tape i exactly way plastic bags suitcase is out of the way so the council your suitcase with your property and the packaging one was one that hadnt the packaging one was one that hadn't crossed my mind i know the grill thing and i know the lights and so on but the packaging is a very good right. i've just bought a new telly or i've just bought a new telly or i've just bought an x, y or z. yeah thank you so much for your honesty. and i them that really brilliant i brilliant user friendly tips i hope for you to hang on to and cherish what matters most to you particularly up to particularly in the run up to christmas my friend michael christmas my new friend michael fraser , home expert and fraser, home security expert and reformed burglar with a purpose as you're watching and listening to alastair stewart and indeed new friends with lots more. still to come on the program this afternoon as we inch towards the end of our 2 hours, we'll have more on top story discussion today, which is the uk's energy crisis will also take a look at the controversial

approval of a coal mine in cumbria . but first, let's take a.

break it is a seconds past 1:00. hello and welcome if you've just joined us here on, gb news, tv and radio and online alastair stewart& friends with you right up until 2:00. hello. welcome back. up until 2:00. hello. welcome back . thank up until 2:00. hello. welcome back. thank you so much. if you be with us since noon , i am be with us since noon, i am alastair stewart . we are into alastair stewart. we are into our second and final hour of the programme , keeping you company programme, keeping you company here on tv , radio and online here on tv, radio and online with lots more still to come, including should the government have allowed a new coal mine to be approved . cumbria. i'll be be approved. cumbria. i'll be speaking to a range of guests about and what its implications

may or may not be and getting more , i hope, of your thoughts more, i hope, of your thoughts on that matter on energy policy generally. so do keep them coming in gb news at two gb news news dot uk or via twitter or facebook however you like to get in touch to let us know what's on your mind and we'll read the best ones out here on the programme. but first, let's bnng programme. but first, let's bring you right up to with all of the news here once again is probably east . so thank you and probably east. so thank you and good afternoon to you. our top story ongoing today. the jersey authorities say the recovery operation following yesterday's explosion will take weeks, not days. explosion will take weeks, not days . at least three people were days. at least three people were killed when a blast ripped through a block of flats in st heuer. through a block of flats in st helier . no through a block of flats in st helier. no survivors were found and 12 are thought to be missing . the chief of jersey police,

robin , says sadly more robin, says sadly more fatalities are expected . we are fatalities are expected. we are not going to be here for days. we are likely to be here for weeks . and it's important that weeks. and it's important that i make that clear. weeks. and it's important that i make that clear . this morning make that clear. this morning i spoke to family liaison coordinator who described me the feelings of those families . and feelings of those families. and i am really, really keen to ensure that everybody understands the emotions that they currently going through . so they currently going through. so this is not going happen quickly. it's going to happen carefully , and it's going to carefully, and it's going to happen sensitively . meanwhile happen sensitively. meanwhile the nurses union has offered to press a pause on strike if the government agrees to hold on pay- government agrees to hold on pay. the royal college of nursing has accused the health secretary of failing to negotiate properly with thousands of members and our planning to walk out on the 15th and 20th of december. but writing in the sun, steve walkley warned the action will

cause significant risk to patients and added the door remains open for talks. but he didn't say where the pay could be. part of that discussion . be. part of that discussion. meanwhile, postal workers are staging fresh strikes . the staging fresh strikes. the communication workers says the action could risk christmas postal meltdown . more strikes postal meltdown. more strikes are planned over the next couple of weeks as well, which means the union warned there'll be a huge of post. royal mail the money allocated to the pay could now be eaten by the cost of strike action . now thousands of strike action. now thousands of soldiers are preparing to stand in for public sector workers, including border force and emergency services staff when they walk off the job this winter. to gb news lord ken said, bringing the army in to cover striking ambulance members when he was health secretary didn't go down well with voters . this time was when i had a seven month ambulance strike and we gave the country a much

better ambulance service where the strike was effective by bringing in the army. but that hugely unpopular with the public. and you can see the full interview with ken clarke on gloria meets every sunday at 6 pm. that's tonight at six. now the cold snap, which has been causing travel disruption and is expected to continue throughout week. snow and ice has swept across parts of the uk and the met office saying tonight . met office saying tonight. overnight frost is expected to last until friday and a yellow warning for snow and ice still in place for parts of scotland and southwestern england . and southwestern england. ukraine is president, says over one and a half million people in the southwestern odesa of his country are still without power following russian airstrikes . following russian airstrikes. officials in kyiv say electricity will be restored over coming days, but has warned they complete restoration may take or three months. meanwhile moscow says its attacks are

militarily legitimate and that it doesn't . civilians. residents it doesn't. civilians. residents meanwhile, has described the situation as very difficult . situation as very difficult. there's a scheme in total russian terrorists used 15 drones against the odesa region just during one night on saturday. this is the true attitude of russia , odesa, the attitude of russia, odesa, the attitude of russia, odesa, the attitude towards odesa. residents deliver bullying. deliberate attempt . to bring deliberate attempt. to bring disaster to the city. the store marshal now harry kane says he takes full, responsible for england's loss in the world cup quarter finals last night. the captain says he's gutted and it'll take some time to get over it. meanwhile, gareth southgate says he needs time to decide whether not he has enough energy to continue as england. supporters in qatar been reflecting on last night's results . just wouldn't even results. just wouldn't even consider game could take it away and even where the whole it was nip and tuck between. but you've got to take your chances and i

don't think we did that well, france are clinical and would go in week early. unfortunately in a week early. unfortunately you feeling yeah dejected. you feeling okay? yeah dejected. despondent deflated, but , you despondent deflated, but, you know, that's england. we've been here before. we know what to expect a little bit disappointed, but it's still after they gave us a little positive take it. we're positive take from it. so we're still positive the future still positive about the future . 18 months of the year . and in 18 months of the year was well, sort of i would say was as well, sort of i would say it was gb news news as it happens. let's get back now to. alastair stewart& friends . alastair stewart& friends. polly, thanks very much indeed . polly, thanks very much indeed. minutes past one. michael gove faced controversy this after he gave a green light to the reopening of an old coal mine in cumbria. the levelling up secretary argued that it's an move in the uk's growth strategy , but many see it as a confusing

of events following rishi sunak's support. for more onshore wind farms. sunak's support. for more onshore wind farms . so is a new onshore wind farms. so is a new uk coal mine a means creating jobs and, energy security or what? caroline lucas mp called a climate crime against humanity ? climate crime against humanity? joining me live now is a good friend of mine on this programme , lord peter lilley. there is a former conservative member of parliament in margaret era and of course with john as well and now a member of the environment climate change committee . peter, climate change committee. peter, in your view , conflicting issues in your view, conflicting issues of the need for growth in the northwest, the creation of 500 jobs supplying coking coal to the steel industry at home and abroad . they out wide way what abroad. they out wide way what you might perceive as being environmental concerns and considering actions, giving the wrong signals to the world, as caroline lucas has suggested . no

caroline lucas has suggested. no there's any conflict too . we've there's any conflict too. we've always taken the view in this country, that the way to reach net zero is to phase out demand for fossil fuels not to kerb the supply of them. if companies go ahead or while we're still using that need fossil fuels as the demand is gradually being reduced. if choose to produce more fossil fuels that are needed, they'll lose money . but needed, they'll lose money. but if we kerb the supply of fossil fuels , britain does that fuels, britain does that unilaterally , then other people unilaterally, then other people will step in the breach and produce it. we won't emissions by one molecule. and if the world follows our example, which is a bit arrogant to suppose they will, but if they do and they will, but if they do and they reduce supply of fossil fuels ahead of the reduction in demand , there'll be shortages. demand, there'll be shortages. huge price increases, immense profit for the companies remaining producing fossil fuels and will have done ourselves in future what putin has just done

to us by cutting off supply . so to us by cutting off supply. so it's quite sensible. asked people to produce fossil fuels as long as we're consuming them and, reducing our consumption towards . net zero by 2050. i'm towards. net zero by 2050. i'm murray. i was saying earlier on in the programme peter that the absolute priority for the government at the moment is growth , investment, rebuilding growth, investment, rebuilding infrastructure, getting the economy again almost at any cost because if we do that, then more people will be in work. they'll be earning better money, they'll find real market ways to pay those ghastly energy bills . are those ghastly energy bills. are you seeing enough from this government on the growth agenda 7 government on the growth agenda ? i'd certainly like to see more. one of the reasons we've seen a in productivity growth , seen a in productivity growth, the financial crisis in 2008 is a decline investment in fossil fuels in the north sea . that was fuels in the north sea. that was one of the biggest products,

most productive industries was we've been phasing it out . i'm we've been phasing it out. i'm glad to say the government's allowing investment in the north sea, but it should be allowing people to drill for shale gas onshore because that come on stream much quicker as well as slowing onshore wind, which can also come more quickly than offshore wind . those are two offshore wind. those are two things that were contribute to growth and contribute to energy security at the same time . also security at the same time. also suggested that rather than traditional renewable those like the sunak going slightly warmer on the onshore wind farms as karen said that we should take deep breath and invest in our brilliant educational and scientific heritage and go for more radical things like hydrogen , which we've made hydrogen, which we've made progress on in the past and not just size will be, but also this new range of mini nuclear stations that rolls—royce have ready to go. if they get money . ready to go. if they get money. yeah, certainly many nuclear power stations seem be an

attractive option . i'm surprised attractive option. i'm surprised we've taken so long. get around to it. given that rolls—royce have been producing micro—led nuclear reactors for submarines for a long time. so they have a lot of expertise. it's a question of scaling up and i hope we'll press ahead with that as as possible. but even so that would take a considerably longer than it would to bring on shale gas and onshore wind . and, of gas and onshore wind. and, of course, we will need some backup as long as we're relying heavily on wind for when the wind doesn't blow, which people nofice doesn't blow, which people notice it doesn't get done. so we'll need gas to provide that on off supply of electricity, which we get nuclear power stations good for a steady baseload but you don't want to wrap up and run them down again. it's not good for running a nuclear reactor, but peter, you were in office during the turbulent of trade union and labour relations reform under

margaret thatcher in that government you served with with distinction, do get the sense that sooner sunak has it in his spy that sooner sunak has it in his spy pin to come to grips labour relations and the right to strike given what we face in our hospitals and on our railways . hospitals and on our railways. yes certain that government is going to outlaw the right to strike but there have been limits put in certain sectors requiring a minimum service level and i think he may well move ahead, extending that obugafion move ahead, extending that obligation to the health service and perhaps other areas of vital services, and then in the nation that wouldn't personally want to go much further than that. once you have a direct conflict between the law and the right to right work and the right to strike, that puts the law in jeopardy. we were quite cautious dunng jeopardy. we were quite cautious during the eighties . did it during the eighties. did it gradually , i made sure that the

gradually, i made sure that the it wasn't so much the law directly impinging on strikers but on trade union funds and that proved quite effective wise of caution. there my friend peter lily based on years and years of experience , some of years of experience, some of which i witnessed as he knows as an industrial correspondent at the time as well. peter, great to see you. thanks for breaking into weekend talk us into your weekend to talk to us and rest of it goes and have the rest of it goes well for all. i'd love to well for you all. i'd love to see you as always. thank you very much indeed, lord peter lily, that with his thoughts on labour the for labour relations, the need for caution and wisdom and fascinating stuff on growth and investment and scientific advice state what said and karen state what he said and karen barlow, said together and barlow, maria said together and i think you may have a little strategy there that could help the uk economy and indeed help us all go forward. so let's pick up on that and run with the ball again because i'm pleased to say that to discuss more on this story is , a former coal miner story is, a former coal miner from itself , david craddock, and

from itself, david craddock, and there he is. david, good of you to break into your weekend to talk to us. i think the thing that surprised me slightly , that surprised me slightly, having covered the coal mining industry in the seventies and eighties is that one of the reasons you support the reopening of this pit is actually that these are good jobs that young people will benefit from and only to be employed, but benefit from the experience of being a coal miner . yes, sir. i believe that being recipient of this scheme under the national coal board, whether took a young man fresh out of school, no qualification whatsoever, sent to college, which i finished hoping with qualification shoes in mine, ventilation and control. so was a great experience for. and i would go back and do it all

again . does it surprise you the again. does it surprise you the degree to which people have modelled the reasons for this reopening i.e. the production of specifically coking coal for uk and steel industries abroad and saying, oh no, no, it's wrong. signal in terms of climate and energy policy , you're in what energy policy, you're in what you said the operative word was signal the green a more positive about virtue signalling to the fact that we haven't got a coal industry and will accept coal from any to produce in regard the survivors being the surface the survivors being the surface the cleanest and the greenest with of producing coal . and with of producing coal. and although as the well mainly it's people like your self who are in favour of it and most of the local leadership appears to be in favour of it. but there is talk of a legal challenge to michael gove's decision. how bad

in your view would that be for your community in your part of the world? well, i've watched the world? well, i've watched the process grow from the initial uplift gas from my west cumbria and the delaying that the green brought in. it's been eight years since the first application. it was passed with no valid planning objections. a lot of emotion, but no valid planning by cumbria county council . the government called council. the government called it in, and we've been waiting for two years for them , listened for two years for them, listened intently to the inspector when he these recommendations and i could see no valid planning objections then and i say no now and how long. you know the answer is because it is your industry that you lived and worked in for so long how long will it be before ? we can see will it be before? we can see this coking coal coming out of the ground and going along.

there's amazing conveyors ready to either be sent to steel plants in the uk or sent to ports for export . it's going to ports for export. it's going to be , while it's not going to be be, while it's not going to be an instant escape , they have to an instant escape, they have to go to the coal . when i left in go to the coal. when i left in 84, we were on our way to the same coal. in fact, i've got a photograph of me sitting in one of the seams that west cumbria mining are going to exploit . it mining are going to exploit. it will take some time get down over the old and i drive and so it could be a couple of years i don't know but i'm not into mining as it's doing at the moment . the mining methods have moment. the mining methods have changed since . 84 when i was changed since. 84 when i was last there , so i don't know the last there, so i don't know the equipment that's involved nowadays . david great to you nowadays. david great to you lovely to talk to form a miner but also somebody from that community that is in the main welcoming this decision and we wish you well. thank you . your

wish you well. thank you. your reflections and your words of wisdom that we have it today. david carrick speaking to us from cumbria , whitehaven, where from cumbria, whitehaven, where that pit is going to be reopened and he speaks with the authority and he speaks with the authority and wisdom of a former coal miner. great to have him on board . joined next by tom lyons board. joined next by tom lyons , who is the interim chief executive of the campaign to protect rural england . is protect rural england. is england in jeopardy because of the reopening of one bit? england in jeopardy because of the reopening of one bit ? well, the reopening of one bit? well, i think thanks to rural england is definitely in jeopardy . the is definitely in jeopardy. the climate emergency . so it's the climate emergency. so it's the biggest threat , the countryside biggest threat, the countryside that we face. so, yeah , it is. that we face. so, yeah, it is. and you know, you're looking at a mine that would help 220 million tonnes of co2 pumped the atmosphere it's just not a decision that's going to work for the climate. it doesn't work and economic actually, and it doesn't work politically . so doesn't work politically. so it's not a good decision . a very it's not a good decision. a very retrograde step . i in my

retrograde step. i in my introduction to all of these conversations and we've spoken to a range of people that hit me most sharply was the coincidence of the michael gove on the way and sunak putting signals out that government opposition to new wind farms was perhaps calming down a little bit so long as there was local support for them . i mean, in a sense for them. i mean, in a sense that's throwing the gauntlet down to you guys who want to protect rural england and i can understand why acres and acres and acres, these great wind mills things can impact directly. we have a few near us on the beauty the rural countryside . so are you countryside. so are you concerned that this may be less opposition at the heart of government than they used to be 7 government than they used to be ? well, look, i think as a countryside charity , we're if countryside charity, we're if we're campaigning about the climate emergency , we need to climate emergency, we need to acknowledge that we need

renewables, we need energy tomorrow. we need to make a transition that's fair to rural communities . and that means communities. and that means sometimes having when you renewable energy, you know, would a lot of , you know, sites would a lot of, you know, sites for solar , there will be some for solar, there will be some come through and wind down doubt that won't be appropriate and we would oppose those. but in principle, we need to we need to do them well and they come do them well. if you've got the right sites for them. so i think it does present a challenge to right sites for them. so i think it d countryside.a challenge to right sites for them. so i think it d countryside. we allenge to right sites for them. so i think it d countryside. we needge to right sites for them. so i think it d countryside. we need to to right sites for them. so i think it d countryside. we need to play the countryside. we need to play our you know, in fighting our role, you know, in fighting climate but we need climate emergency, but we need to make sure our communities give consent to renewable projects and really support them and get behind the transition to net zero. because if we don't, the countryside is going to be the countryside is going to be the water, it's going to be facing drought . well, there facing drought. well, there already is. so, you know these are the kind of conditions that farmers working in at the moment and communities are facing every winter. so, you know, it's a it's a very issue , but i it's a very complex issue, but i think have move towards think we have to move towards

renewables . then let me put you renewables. then let me put you two things on that . one is that two things on that. one is that the current bill of moria , vice the current bill of moria, vice president of the cbi, said , but president of the cbi, said, but you have to be realistic about renewables, whether it's wind farms or , all the rest of it, farms or, all the rest of it, that they aren't really a permanent long term replacement for liquid petroleum gas or or natural gas . well, he went on to natural gas. well, he went on to say, and peter agreed with him, 100% is we need to get cleverer because we've got hydrogen technology out there our universities and our science labs are full of brilliant young men and women who've got great ideas, presumably would encourage that as well, because we've got to get energy security , but we've also got to this green and pleasant. i think you and i are at one of that. yeah well, yeah, obviously we need to see innovation and we need to see innovation and we need to see technology advance in order

to address these these issues facing us. but that has to be done through renewables know there's no point investing in an an industry like coal mining. now the future is green is . a now the future is green is. a green economy based on that can provide to you know we can we can we should be looking at home insulate and at the moment as a massive rollout home insulation and energy efficiency that would reduce a lot the need for energy in the first place and we haven't done that the government haven't done that the government haven't done that that's why the jobs could jobs. we jobs could be green jobs. we need jobs in renewable need green jobs in renewable energy and turbine energy in solar and wind turbine production like that production and areas like that and green transport. we need to make a shift if we're going to do that. there are technologies , all answers to this stuff. fundamentally the biggest success story of the last, you know, in getting carbon emissions down has been the increase in renewable energy that's been working the fastest. we to see lots of offshore wind we do what you know we all are aware of the landscape impacts some of these renewables and we

want to see that. and there's an awful energy that can come from offshore wind and it's that the companies seeing that and investing we've got to investing that. but we've got to look nothing be look everything nothing can be off at the moment when off the table at the moment when we're crisis that we're facing such a crisis that we've been discussing on this programme. and my friend michael portillo on portillo was discussing it on his programme here as well, and thatis his programme here as well, and that is the supply chain crisis . uk farming and many of us who are proudly uk farming's customers, maybe poses a longer term challenge to the preservation of our beautiful rural countryside . if the rural countryside. if the farmers go to the wall, then we really do have a very serious long term, incurable problem . long term, incurable problem. yeah, i mean , obviously cbre is yeah, i mean, obviously cbre is a countryside charity. we support farming and we with farmers on on those kind of issues and the supply chain issues and the supply chain issues are often to do with the supermarkets. to be honest, having far too much control and having, you know, driving prices . that puts certainly small farmers out of business. so we

need to see a lot more of a responsible supply chain in food. i but again , biggest food. i but again, biggest threat to food security in this is actually flooding and climate change. that's parts of east anglia at the moment where we most a lot of our food is facing you know, sea level rises and we're going to lose that productive land. so we've got to look at this holistic thing. yeah and invest in drainage. there's jobs there as well. we at one on many issues there. tom great meeting you and good luck with the new job. i hope you enjoy it and keep in touch with us. you're always welcome on this programme. that's tom, who's the of the campaign to who's the ceo of the campaign to protect rural england, not just hugging trees, but talking a great deal of sense there about farming industry and jobs. more your thoughts. you may disagree with what i just said. do let me know if you do, but we love to hear from you on. all of the subjects that we discuss. doug joins the conversation and

saying even if we cover the country in windmills and produce more solar, nuclear, etc. we may be insufficient . it may all be be insufficient. it may all be insufficient. it self but still tie us to the international gas pnces tie us to the international gas prices we currently produce over percent of our energy from renewables, but i do not see the price reductions that that deserves i completely agree with. i it drives me bonkers that when alternatives are produce used and supplied to us via the national grid, they are treated for tax reasons as if they were a great multinational like shell of bp or someone like that. like shell of bp or someone like that . it bonkers like shell of bp or someone like that. it bonkers and it like shell of bp or someone like that . it bonkers and it needs that. it bonkers and it needs reviewing. malcolm joins the conversation and says use wave title and other hydro from rivers reservoirs and pumps storage as they do in scotland . storage as they do in scotland. so there are some thoughts there. thanks for all of them.

food for thought , as always, food for thought, as always, please forget to subscribe to our youtube channel. we are at gb news where you can catch all of the interviews that we've done today and on previous programmes. and indeed you can catch these previous programmes as well, some of which i rather hope might enjoy and hope you might enjoy and interesting. so that's youtube and we are at gb news. it's what is it? it's about 20 to 25 bucks, one, we've a little to go on the programme as we towards 2:00 here on alastair stewart friends including reports that up to 15,000 operations are set to be cancelled next week because of the first national strike by nurses . our reporter strike by nurses. our reporter is live with the very latest from northern ireland but more after short . break looking from northern ireland but more after short. break looking ahead to today's weather , the uk is to today's weather, the uk is looking cold with cloud and slow clearing fog and some wintry showers continuing at the coast. let's take a look at the details

. cold in the southwest today and a little cloudier than recently , although some brighter recently, although some brighter spells further south showers will feed into those northern coast and may maybe wintry times as well. staying cold with persistent freezing fog in places and some wintry showers at the southeastern coast. a few brighter spells inland during the as well. cloudy most on sunday though the brightest at western coasts wintry showers continue particularly over the hills . continue particularly over the hills. feeling continue particularly over the hills . feeling cold with some hills. feeling cold with some temperatures in the low single figures . a cold and cloudy day figures. a cold and cloudy day for most across the midlands with . a few wintry showers there with. a few wintry showers there as well. those will mainly be in the west . a cold and mostly dry the west. a cold and mostly dry day from northern england with some patchy mist and freezing fog into the afternoon . brighter fog into the afternoon. brighter in the west and a few wintry skirting along the eastern . a skirting along the eastern. a band of wintry slowly move southwards through sunday with brighter spells behind light winds, but continuing to feel cold despite any sunshine in scotland. sunshine and scattered

showers across northern ireland , which may occasionally be wintry at and mainly confined to coast. overall, it's feeling cold today with some showers for most. they will stretch into the afternoon alongside , some patchy afternoon alongside, some patchy mist and some freezing fog developing later.

in just a take first. let me bnng in just a take first. let me bring up to date with the latest news headlines on gb news and. we begin with our top story concerning events in jersey where officials the recovery effort following yesterday's explosion in st helier will now take weeks, not days at. least three people were killed when a blast through a block of flats in the early of the morning and 12 people are still to be

missing. the chief of jersey police, robin smith, says, sadly, more are expected . sadly, more are expected. authorities in scotland say a libyan man accused of making the bomb in the loch disaster is now in us . abu aguila is believed to in us. abu aguila is believed to be the third conspirator of the terrorist attack on pan am flight 103 in 1988. a spokesman for the crown office says it'll do what it can to bring those who acted with masood to justice. the nurses union has to press pause on strike action. if the government agrees to talks on pay . royal college of nursing on pay. royal college of nursing has accused the health secretary of failing to negotiate and thousands of members now planning to walk out the 15th and 20th of december. writing in dishonesty, barclay warned the action will cause significant harm to patients . the door harm to patients. the door remained open for further talks and the cold snap, which has been causing travel disruption across the uk , is expected to across the uk, is expected to

continue throughout the week with the met office overnight. frost is set to continue until at least friday. a yellow weather warning for snow . ice is weather warning for snow. ice is in place for parts of scotland , in place for parts of scotland, southwestern england . you're up southwestern england. you're up to date on tv and tv plus radio with gb news. now let's return to alastair stewart and france france . france. polly, thank you very much indeed. and indeed , as you heard indeed. and indeed, as you heard indeed. and indeed, as you heard in police news bulletin just then , it is being reported that then, it is being reported that up to 15,000 operations tions could have to be cancelled or delayed by nhs trusts who have been instructed ensure that affected patients are informed by tuesday with cancellation opfions by tuesday with cancellation options being made available to them . it is they are under

them. it is they are under instruction to make those offers as soon as is humanly possible for very obvious reasons. however . 7 to 7.2 million people however. 7 to 7.2 million people in england are currently on a waiting list, with more than 400,000 who have already waited for more than a year. for more on this with a little bit of background, i'm delighted to be joined by gb news reporter dougie beattie . and there he is dougie beattie. and there he is . well, hello, alastair and welcome to newtownards. this is what you and i would have remembered as cottage hospital, a community hospital. northern ireland has more hospitals than most per head. it has about 16 hospitals. nine of the major are amongst point 8 million people. and has some of the longest winning in the uk. we'll get that in a moment. but unison the union tonight at midnight will start their strike and it will be places like this that are hit

the hardest because unison, of course , doesn't have that many course, doesn't have that many nurses in its ranks. it does have a few, but it's mainly the engine room of, have a few, but it's mainly the engine room of , the national engine room of, the national health porters , lab workers. health porters, lab workers. that's they are taking it on industrial action tomorrow. and that will, of course, have a knock on effect already heavily and within less know the rcn , and within less know the rcn, the royal college of nursing are taking a different approach. they're trying to say to the government, please come and talk to us. we can sort this, because of course they do realise that the public sector is paid for by the public sector is paid for by the private sector and if they get a wage hike, we'll end the private sector will want the wage too. and earlier in the week, spoke with rita devlin from the rtm . dougie beattie from the rtm. dougie beattie reporting on what must be a seriously grave concern for. everybody involved and rest

assured, gb news, tv and radio onune assured, gb news, tv and radio online will keep across that story. both in northern ireland and across the rest of the united kingdom , you're watching united kingdom, you're watching and listening to alastair stewart and friends with plenty more. still to come this afternoon and include i'll be speaking with magician on britain's got talent 2016 winner richard jones . but first, richard jones. but first, a quick .

break hello and welcome back. you're alastair stewart& friends here on gb news tv and radio and online. and thank you very much indeed for so doing as we towards the end of the programme at, 2:00, we're going to lighten things up just a little bit with a little bit of magic. see what i did that britain's got talent 2016 winner and magician richard

jones joins next to discuss his latest . he starred in jones joins next to discuss his latest. he starred in britain's got talent , of course, the got talent, of course, the ultimate and itv magic competition, hosted by stephen mulhern, which will be air next week for you to watch and reflect and remind yourself of just how incredibly good he was on britain's got talent . in on britain's got talent. in addition to that, he is upon a 20 date tour running from february to june year full of psychological illusions, mind reading , psychological illusions, mind reading, audience participation and, never before seen tricks. richard me reading all of this that. you are not a card up the sleeve or a rabbit in magician. it's much more psychological, almost intellectual stuff that you do . yeah, well, you so much you do. yeah, well, you so much for having me on. first of all, i really appreciate it. good to join you this afternoon. what i

try to do, i spent years in the army. so what i try to do is combine some of the specialist training and the skills that i've picked up in my time in the army stories that i've army and the stories that i've picked as to combine picked up as well. so to combine all of that, with my fascination with suggestion and with of magic suggestion and deception, something that deception, create something that i a little bit i like to think a little bit unique special and it's unique and very special and it's always very interactive show always a very interactive show and always my best to, and i always try my best to, personalise my show my personalise my show to my audience. whenever audience. so whenever i get people i'll try and people onto stage, i'll try and leave them with a lasting message and memory that they'll remember really positive remember as a really positive experience forever and also what i what i try to do whenever i'm on tv , which is obviously a big on tv, which is obviously a big thing next week sunday is going to be a big day for britain's got talent. the ultimate magicians. then yeah, and magicians. and then yeah, and that's going to be a big day. then after that, my is going to be on i'm putting together a brand new show for 2020 free and getting round and it's my job to. thank everyone in the uk for helping me. get to where i am now for voting for me in 2016

and my way of thanking is putting on a brand new show every year and it around the uk and meeting everyone fascinating. does it does it make your friends family slightly cautious about what they what they think about when company is sitting here on the other side of the camera thinking got to be careful now you can read my mind even a distance. yeah no doubt. no doubt. it terrifies . people at doubt. it terrifies. people at times when because i'm anyone who comes to my show will understand a little bit when they leave and understand little bit of how i work things . so bit of how i work things. so i do a number of techniques like obviously the obvious ones are body language reading and picking up subtle cues within that, not just what we but the way we say things and also being able to input ideas inside people's minds throughout . the people's minds throughout. the show without the unnecessary realising all of those kind of things that i find fascinating about psychology and misdirection and all of these different things. but like i say, i do teach a little about how that works in show. so i

like to think everyone leave my show and go back to work the next week , be able to read next week, be able to read a little bit of how they're what their colleagues of them, what they're thinking just for people who are listening to conversation on radio, not watching on telly because do both as you know and we're running some pictures there of your days in the army your your your days in the army , i presume. i mean, at 20 day tours , the uk requires a certain tours, the uk requires a certain degree of physical fitness and stamina as well as. magical talent . yeah so it's a big, big talent. yeah so it's a big, big undertaking. so think it's actually 30 days as far as i'm way . so it's going to be we've way. so it's going to be we've already had few dates this year. we was the year before do a few dates spread around and saw a chance to obviously put on a show . we're always kind of show. we're always kind of adapting and changing as we go because because my show is so audience interactive , it's very audience interactive, it's very difficult to you can make a plan, but just like anything in life once, once you get into the process of doing whatever it is

you've planned you see things happen that you don't really predict. you don't think they're happen that you don't really predicto you don't think they're happen that you don't really predicto happent think they're happen that you don't really predicto happen and nk they're happen that you don't really predicto happen and haveey're happen that you don't really predicto happen and have tore going to happen and have to change little bits as you go. so but the show we've it road tested it now it's ready to go but yeah it's going to be about 30 dates pretty much back to back so it's going to be a lot of travelling between venues up and down the country . but i and down the country. but i always try my best to make sure that after each show i'll always try to go to the foyer and kind of thank people say bye and we have some photos with who comes to the show because it means a lot to me that people get the family together to come out and spend the night seeing what i have.i spend the night seeing what i have. i feel like there's a lot of pressure and lot of pressure and a lot importance. i put making sure that i give them experience that i really appreciate . yeah, but i really appreciate. yeah, but it tiring. after back to back it is tiring. after back to back shows . but you know what? i love shows. but you know what? i love it. i've noticed how. tired i am the moment i get on stage i see the moment i get on stage i see the smiling faces of the lovely in the audience. i get such a

such an adrenaline rush on that. well, part of the great accolade of winning britain's talent of winning britain's got talent is, you took part in is, of course you took part in that. absolutely jubilee line up.and that. absolutely jubilee line up. and robin shoulders with the royal family and the then prince of wales. but now king charles. the third was incredibly complimentary about you mesmerising, i think was the was the word he used does that mean that you can now say richard jones by appointment to his majesty the illusionist and magician ? yeah. you know what? magician? yeah. you know what? so something that the not a lot of know is our is actually secretly a member of the magic circle . so he did do audition circle. so he did do audition many, many years ago way before i was a member of the magic show . and there's a big iconic of him on on his audition day doing a very famous piece of magic, the cups and bowls where you have three cups in a bowl and you kind of mix them around and i've got i've never met anyone

who was at that audition. so i've got no proof as to how good he was. but he did pass the audition. but i assume if he was terribly probably still would have the audition. who knows? i don't we do know he don't know. but we do know he loves magic and i got him involved in my role variety performance to a certain degree. and he seemed to really enjoy it . and whenever i see him and any of the roles, i mean i mean, that's the other. it doesn't matter. it doesn't matter how goodi matter. it doesn't matter how good i am. there probably always be compliments, no doubt, i be compliments, no doubt, but i like he's genuine like to think. he's genuine whenever i see that the royal said they're always said that there they're always such you such great droughts and you have been to them for been lucky to perform them for many years, not just as a magician, but obviously as part the well. i've been the army as well. i've been trooping colour times trooping the colour times and although parade although the big parade supporting the royals in big the big british occasions that we celebrate. so i feel very lucky and i feel very attached to the royal family. i'm very proud to serve them so long today you serve them for so long today you say richard hartley agree say that richard hartley agree with that sentiment congratulations on all that

you've done up to now good luck with the steven show that's coming out a little bit later on.and coming out a little bit later on. and most importantly good luck with the tour. hope it's an absolute success. so there you have it . richard jones, google have it. richard jones, google it and. all of the details are up on his website and do pop and see him and see whether you agree with the king. it's always agree with the king. it's always a dangerous when there's a story around to disagree with the king. suggest that you don't. king. i suggest that you don't. richard, great to meet you. thank very much indeed for your time . now, apart from pantomime time. now, apart from pantomime and watching magicians and great live shows christmas, of course, is also a time for giving. live shows christmas, of course, is also a time for giving . and is also a time for giving. and all of the great charities out there and there are very many of them have their backs against them have their backs against the wall like the rest of us and the wall like the rest of us and the next charity that we're going to talk about is one that is very, very close to my heart, because i am indeed of the brook horse and donkey charity . and horse and donkey charity. and they have launched their christmas campaign this week.

the of broken hearts campaign, which focuses on the alliance between working horses, donkeys , mules and their own hours to improve animal welfare. one of the key things that drew me to brooke is although she loves animals as a charity , it isn't animals as a charity, it isn't simply one of those old love, little animal and give it a couple charities . it recognises couple charities. it recognises the relationship between human beings and working animals. the relationship between human beings and working animals . and beings and working animals. and it's up to us to those animals as content and fit as possible. so they can look after us even better. i mean, it really is treating those creatures with respect that is a bit as an asset . well, you're absolutely asset. well, you're absolutely right . alison, you're better off right. alison, you're better off for than i perhaps could ever be. but i think one of the things that you touch on the relationship between animals and people is the critical point . people is the critical point. and if we can get owners working horses, donkeys and mules , horses, donkeys and mules, wherever they are in the world, to understand needs of their animals, those animals are

ultimately going to have a much better seen the better life. and we've seen the importance this year more than even importance this year more than ever, particularly in things like in pakistan , where those like in pakistan, where those awful floods of displaced so many people. and when you've got nearly people relying on nearly million people relying on about 6 million working horses, donkeys , mules, for their donkeys, mules, for their sustenance, for livelihood sustenance, for their livelihood . and actually, it's our job to help not only look after them in the circumstances they find themselves in, but building bond so that they have a much brighter and in a sense it's very obvious things you well know and people are kind enough to watch and listen to our programmes. no sally and i have donkeys and horses which we love and cherish and say to our children. but it's things like dentistry, like a dentistry, it's things like a farrier to make sure that those working feet are healthy and well protected, easy and have a share in pakistan , somalia , share in pakistan, somalia, egypt' share in pakistan, somalia, egypt, trickier oh, you're absolutely right. i mean, one of the most distressing things we see on the ground in those

countries is the lameness in animals, primarily because they don't have proper shoes, you know they are in extreme discomfort and that affects their welfare but it affects their welfare but it affects their ability to help their owners drive income to fetch water, often from miles away in villages, to take goods to market. and one of our big initiatives has been training farrier in the developing world and we opened the first farrier school in west africa become an enormous success and we want to replicate that everywhere else because some of those things , because some of those things, the unseen things that people don't i was terribly don't think. i was terribly proud when saw in west africa as well you animal so well with you animal shelter so that when humanity takes production we're talking to a farmer a little early and you go to market and of course you've got a flask water and you keep yourself in the shade when you can. good to think about working animal as well who is making your living for you when you see these in boiling hot squares cover no water very limited

feed. so one of the things we've tried to do is build shelters in cooperation , in partnership with cooperation, in partnership with what we call the local government, see where we work and. it proved to be enormous successes. and in a town that i visited in senegal, the driving force behind it was a local mayor. he it's in the absolute value in there . sam was value in there. sam was promoting it with us and it was making a discernable difference to the animals, but also their owners who suddenly had fits are animals who are able to work longer, who a much better longer, who had a much better and would be an asset to them for a much longer period of time. it's those sort of partnerships which are really making the difference. we also on this a lot of about on this program a lot of about all our hope and belief. the youth and future generations and apprenticeships and things like that. another thing that i was knocked out by because it was so obvious , it was such a brilliant obvious, it was such a brilliant idea is working with the sons and daughters of rural communities , is an agrarian

communities, is an agrarian farmers and like that, so that when they inevitably they inherit the little farm or the little plot and they inherit hopefully animals as well. they too know how to give that creature a better life and that creature a better life and that creature will therefore help give them a better life. it's absolutely i mean, all of us, when we grow up, we pick habits, ideas, behaviours from our parents and our environment and one of the things that we've been doing with young people , been doing with young people, particularly in kenya and east africa, is challenging some of the that myths. the the myths that was myths. the only get a donkey to work only way to get a donkey to work was to beat it, quite frankly. and actually challenged that and showed that's not way and showed them that's not way and only grow up with only too. they grow up with that, they go home tell that, but they go home and tell their say, actually, their parents and say, actually, you need to it that way. you don't need to it that way. we've got a much kinder and much more to do it. more responsible way to do it. and really noticed the and we've really noticed the enthuse. in china because enthuse. yes, in china because know are often know these animals are often part their family and part of their family and although perhaps might not although they perhaps might not have the same bonds that you have the same bonds that you have horses and i've have with your horses and i've seen jim john also taking

seen your jim john also taking up the mantle of , seen your jim john also taking up the mantle of, you seen your jim john also taking up the mantle of , you know, just up the mantle of, you know, just a chinese man to hang on to the name but don't pull it out is the pony will got you'll be telling him that i know important word that ms. one of the other great myths which causes you and me the entire family grave concern is the myth which the chinese in more than anybody else that like rhino horn donkey skin can provide medication , some magical medication, some magical medication, some magical medication that will cure all evils or make you a bigger, better person , what have you. better person, what have you. that's been a crucial campaign for us, but we've made some real progress. well, we have. and it's one of those campaign that's pretty much been hidden. you we're really you know, we're all really familiar in ivory , familiar with trade in ivory, everything else but donkey skins has become a burgeoning trade agreement and enterprise in lots of cases . and there's been of cases. and there's been hundreds of thousands of donkeys that have been slaughtered for their essentially their skins to make essentially a project called eu, a vanity project called eu, which is used in the chinese by

tanzania government banned in the ivory coast of burundi . we the ivory coast of burundi. we convened a conference last with the african union in tanzania and ministers right across africa attended . and i really africa attended. and i really feel that the messages starting to get through now of the un have un have embraced this as well . the un have shown well. the un have shown interest. it's quite slow progress at un , but we want the progress at un, but we want the progress at un, but we want the progress to be led by countries which most affected. and in which are most affected. and in flashing because it flashing red lights because it is time we talked is christmas time and we talked about charities , but about giving to charities, but also people buying unusual or strange gifts to look out for to make that you are not supporting by an inadvertent, almost accidental purchase this ghastly trade . well, we talked to trade. well, we talked to amazon, for example , and amazon, for example, and colleagues in the us have been working some congressmen to get a ban but it's places like amazon which can really take a lead on this and make a difference if they don't stop product it can't people hundreds of thousands of animals could safe but more importantly their families who often sell these

animals because of dire financial circumstances they can live to regret it for a very long time. totally. absolutely wainwright it's always to great you. always good to work with you. always good to work with you and thanks for you as well. and thanks for coming here talk coming in here to talk about what one great charities what one of the great charities is doing this christmas and. everything that chris and i talked about is beautifully written about on our website. just google book and if you just google the book and if you know the word equity, it means horse , donkey payment, the whole horse, donkey payment, the whole lot at school. and it's a great charity that's that we have time for today. chris, thank you for helping me end on a real high that we'll back next weekend that we'll be back next weekend and sunday from midday until two. from of us here news two. from all of us here gb news and my guests enjoy the rest of your day. for now, looking your day. but for now, looking ahead afternoon and the ahead to this afternoon and the uk looking very cold with sunny spells and those wintry showers over the coasts and, high ground. let's hope in on the detail. so very cold in detail. so staying very cold in northern scotland with snow showers feeding into northern through the afternoon, perhaps by his piles. further east . dry by his piles. further east. dry for most of northern ireland ,

for most of northern ireland, but wintry showers at the coast . the brightest spells further west feeling cold despite the sunshine and staying dry for northern england with a few wintry showers further south. patchy mist and freezing fog forming later. feeling very cold in the north and feeling very cold here for wales as well sunny spells in the west cloudier in the east a risk of those wintry showers returning particularly over high ground light winds temperatures in low figures staying cloudy most of the midlands this afternoon mr. freezing fog lingering all day brighter spells further south very as well generally dry across east anglia the best . the across east anglia the best. the sunshine towards the coast. cloudy air further west with a risk of few wintry showers getting far east and remaining colder . the getting far east and remaining colder. the south—east of england today with , brighter england today with, brighter spells at times, scattered showers , the coast, sleet and showers, the coast, sleet and snow inland later mainly across high ground. so another cold evening with wintry showers at times of widespread frost developing right up warm for the

rest of the day .

good afternoon and welcome to you are watching common sense with me the reverend calvin robinson. on your tv online and on your digital radio . this show on your digital radio. this show is all about championing sense. and today we will be discussing the supreme court ruling on zones around abortion clinics . zones around abortion clinics. how easy it is for young people to discuss their faith and now that labour is turning on the unions is this the beginning of the end, the strike action? first is a check on those news headunes first is a check on those news headlines with .