i. hello, you're watching and listening to andrew pierce here on gb news. i'm with you until 2:00 and this is what's coming . 2:00 and this is what's coming. two new freeports have been announced rishi sunak's visit to scotland . but at the latest on scotland. but at the latest on his trip and all those frosty relations with nicholas sturgeon really sorry. i it. public perception harry has plummeted according to polls. of course it has . what would you expect after has. what would you expect after that? tell all memoir. plus, new figures reveal more than half of modern slavery claimants arriving by boats last year were albania . so why haven't we sent albania. so why haven't we sent them ? and the church of england them? and the church of england is set up a £100 million fund to address past wrongs of slavery. but with the church of england sleepwalking into irrelevance , sleepwalking into irrelevance, is this really the right time ? is this really the right time? joining me for the next hour will be the former labour

adviser and writer scarlett maguire. and you at home tend get a big part of this show. so email me at gbp news at gbnews.uk. that's what's coming up this hour. but first, the latest news . good afternoon. latest news. good afternoon. it's 12:02 from rhiannon jones in the gb newsroom. the uk scottish governments have announced will have two new green freeports . minister say green freeports. minister say the sites and a brand inverness part of a £52 million fund to drive growth in the country. it will also create 5000 jobs and bnngin will also create 5000 jobs and bring in almost will also create 5000 jobs and bring in almost £11 billion worth of invest. the development means goods imported into freeport ports from abroad will be exempt from taxes. prime minster rishi and scotland's first minister nicholas sturgeon held private talks last , which held private talks last, which ms. sturgeon's called constructive land and a good

example of that as today's announcement we're announcing together with the scottish government the creation of two new freeports green freeports here in scotland . they're going here in scotland. they're going to bring jobs and investment to the region and actually going out and about today talking to people are so excited about what this is means for their local area and that's why we've seen in england that once we've announced freeports you see companies more money companies investing more money created. i want to bring those opportunities here to scotland. something like that that we're able to that today. labour able to do that today. labour leader sir keir leader meanwhile, sir keir starmer says the time for action on the ireland protocol on the northern ireland protocol is now . a warning following is now. a warning the following contains flashing . delivering contains flashing. delivering key speech at queen's university in belfast. sir keir also his party will remain good faith guarantor the good friday agreement. he's also urged the prime minister to recognise past mistakes and resolve issues over the post—brexit trading arrangements . so i say to the arrangements. so i say to the prime minister , if there is a

prime minister, if there is a deal to do in coming weeks , do deal to do in coming weeks, do it , whatever political cover you it, whatever political cover you need, whatever mechanisms in westminster require it delivers for our national interest and the people of northern ireland. we will support you the time for action on the protocol is now . action on the protocol is now. the economy unexpectedly grew by 0.1% between october and november. last despite the soaring cost of living. the office for national statistics recorded a slowdown in growth though after a 0.5% increase. the previous . it says the the previous. it says the economy was by people selling the pubs to watch the world cup. chancellor jeremy the pubs to watch the world cup. chancellorjeremy hunt says the chancellor jeremy hunt says the government has clear plan to halve inflation this year and get the economy growing again . a get the economy growing again. a man has been charged with the murder of 26 year old elle edwards , who was shot outside edwards, who was shot outside a pub in wirral on christmas eve.

we can cross live now to our north—west. reporter sophie reaper sophie. what more can you tell us what we learned on wednesday that a 22 year old man from the wirral had been arrested on suspicion of the murder of ellie edwards, who was killed at the lighthouse pub in wallasey on christmas eve . then, wallasey on christmas eve. then, in the early hours of this morning we heard that police had named that man as connor chapman and that he had indeed been charged with his murder, as well as several other counts, including two counts of attempted murder, the possession of , a attempted murder, the possession of, a submachine gun, and ammunition with the intent to endanger life and handling stolen goods in the form of a mercedes a class vehicle. chapman appeared this morning at this court behind me in wirral, where was remanded in custody and.he where was remanded in custody and. he will now appear at liverpool crown court on monday morning . so thank you, sophie morning. so thank you, sophie reapen

morning. so thank you, sophie reaper. our north west reporter outside wirral magistrates court for us there . a third man has for us there. a third man has been charged with the murder of a 23 year old footballer in, a nightclub on boxing day . west nightclub on boxing day. west midlands police has 18 year old regan anderson will appear at birmingham magistrates court today. cody fisher was stabbed on the dance floor of , the crane on the dance floor of, the crane nightclub in digbeth just before midnight on the 26th of december. two men have already appeared in court with his murder . and a appeared in court with his murder. and a pensioner has been jailed for life with a minimum term of five years for the rape murder of a teenager. nearly years ago. it's the older double jeopardy case in england and wales. dennis mcgrory was sentenced huntingdon crown court for the assault and murder of 15 year old jackie montgomery , her year old jackie montgomery, her home in islington in north london back in 1975. the girl, who was 28 at the time, had been

cleared of the murder, but a swap from jackie's body was retested decades later and showed billion to one match with his dna . a 21 year old man has his dna. a 21 year old man has been fine for throwing an egg towards charles during a walkabout in luton last month. harry may admitted to throwing the egg at westminster magistrates court earlier, but said he didn't intend for it to hit the monarch . mr. may said he hit the monarch. mr. may said he thought the king's visit a poor area in bad taste . footage area was in bad taste. footage has been of one of the two brits missing in eastern carrying out emergency just days before he disappeared. ukrainian police say british aid workers andrew backshall and christopher parr , backshall and christopher parr, as seen in the footage, left city of kramatorsk for soledar on friday morning. they were reported missing the next day. yesterday, russian claimed they'd found a body belonging to one of the two men, gb news is unable to verify those . and

unable to verify those. and tributes continue to pour in for lisa marie presley elvis presley's daughter, who died at the age of 54. a warning the following contains flashing images . it's understood the sing images. it's understood the sing us songwriter suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in los angeles yesterday. actor john travolta said his heart goes out to ms. family. death comes . just to ms. family. death comes. just days after she attended the golden globe awards where actor austin butler took home the best actor award for his portrayal of her father . this is gb news will her father. this is gb news will bnng her father. this is gb news will bring you more as it happens. now, though, it's back to you . now, though, it's back to you. well, rishi sunak's in scotland where on day two of his he's announced two new green freeports for scotland, which will create apparently tens of

thousands of jobs. he's held talks with the first minister, nicholas sturgeon that's supposed to be constructive even cordial. i doubt that nicholas sturgeon compare the tories. let's talk now to gb news political reporter olivia utley, who's in inverness . we know who's in inverness. we know relations nicholas sturgeon and bofis relations nicholas sturgeon and boris johnson were absolutely appalling . they may be a little appalling. they may be a little better with rishi sunak, but i suspect not much . you yes. well, suspect not much. you yes. well, rishi sunak it must be said, is more popular in than either of his predecessor is. boris johnson is deep unpopular and so was truss and certainly he's come to this relationship with nicholas sturgeon with a fresh way looking at things. remember that liz truss in her very short premiership the summer said that nicholas sturgeon was a attention seeker and that the best policy was to ignore her. rishi sunak is going down a very different route, come up to scotland very quickly, has engagedin scotland very quickly, has engaged in these talks with her

both sides, seem at pains to talk how cordial and constructive these conversations have been. but as you say , the have been. but as you say, the two are diametrically opposed on all the main issues facing the country . so it's difficult to country. so it's difficult to imagine that this conversation was particularly friendly . on was particularly friendly. on the strikes we've nicholas sturgeon already saying that she told rishi sunak that she disagrees wholeheartedly with his plans to curtail strike his rights. she very, very forthright about that on the nhs. she's already briefed the media that the sunak has no plans to invest more in the nhs , but she's still hoping for something . then rishi sunak something. then rishi sunak managed to get his own sort of dig back at nicholas sturgeon, saying that london and edinburgh should have a relentless focus on the issues that actually matter to people. that was asked about independence. so clearly trying to sort of undermine nicholas sturgeon there. then the other big issue that was brought up was the recognition act and which the uk government

is deep worried about because of the ramifications could have in england and the uk. you could have a male body person in scotland gaining a gender recognition act, gaining a gender recognition certificate, coming england, and for example , ending up in a women's prison . that's very difficult for the for the way the equalities act works and can be made not because suggested that the government might actually block that legislation. nicholas sturgeon and stephen flynn , snp sturgeon and stephen flynn, snp man in westminster said that that would be an issue for democracy to have made it pretty fundamental and is very hard to see a way through on that issue in particular. but on all these very important issues facing the whole uk , that's olivia whole of the uk, that's olivia utley, who's our reporter in inverness in scotland me inverness in scotland with me maguire, adviser to maguire, long time adviser to the labour party. scarlett i'm fascinated by this whole gender recognition bill. it's been called the biggest rebellion in nicola sturgeon's reign as first minister of scotland. it will enable 16 year olds after three

months of deciding they want to change their gender, to do so without, referring to a doctor. now it's quite i checked now it's quite clear i checked the scotland act 1998. it gives westminster governments powers to intervene in certain cases. they did it in northern ireland over abortion because . the over abortion because. the northern ireland assembly was dragging its feet on legalising abortion . they should do it abortion. they should do it here. actually, i think what everyone thinks of the legislation , i can't bear it. legislation, i can't bear it. well, you know , absolutely. that well, you know, absolutely. that you can't bear it. but but but but think it's going to do to the scottish people to say, well, if we really don't like something that you're doing, we can change it. and i think the problem with interfering is that we that we give the snp the national less more to say see we can't even run ourselves investment in in scotland. and i that's why actually that's why rishi is trying not to talk about. rishi is trying not to talk about . i get that. but they did about. i get that. but they did it in northern ireland because no other country in europe had such a draconian view of

abortion, no other country was banning abortion . no other banning abortion. no other country is going as far as scotland in europe with what nicholas sturgeon and she's doing it. scarlett to a fight with westminster you know she is. no but the northern ireland case is completely different because northern ireland wants to be part of the uk. sure. no question about i mean, i know we have gotit question about i mean, i know we have got it is part of the uk and well but scotland is much more devolved. right. so it was you can't have on the one hand the dup . we want to be part of the dup. we want to be part of the dup. we want to be part of the uk and on the other hand we'll have our own thing on abortion which is completely not part of . i abortion which is completely not part of. i mean, in, in, in, in uk abortion is legal. this what i mean i think one does have to think very hard about the politics of it. and i think one can get really the whole problem with the trans issue is that it immediately polarises is you're on one side or the other and actually the vast majority of people who are involved in the trans thing and the vast majority are not. and not out

there saying , you know, i have a there saying, you know, i have a right to go to a women's prison that isn't the issue. i mean the issue i mean i don't really think nicholas sturgeon is pushed by polarising people. i don't think it's just about. but i if i could just ask you as a mum, do you think a 16 year old is really old to decide after three months consideration that they want to change their gender? do you really think so? no i mean, you do. i don't i do not believe that you you decide forever and that that's the problem is i think it's perfect . all right. that teenagers in schools sort of, you know, play around . right? i think it's around. right? i think it's different . and when it's when it different. and when it's when it when it's legal certificates. all right. that's kind a go. i can hear a lot more from her. she and i will, of course, disagree probably on just about everything. but let's take a look at this week's gb news people's poll. it is fascinating the are out and we're talking

about come up we'll talk about they'll come up we'll talk about they'll come up we'll talk about very shortly . they about them very shortly. they take it's a pretty take a look. it's a pretty important insight into the state as a nation after prince harry's spare, which i also can't bear. scarlett maguire, another relations about the royals. it's no surprise start there only . no surprise start there only. but this is what surprises me. i mean 34% of people are proud of the royal family while . 30, 31% the royal family while. 30, 31% would disagree with that statement. further 34% weren't sure either way. however the thing that does encourage me, prince popularity has slumped to all time low. i'm joined now by our very own royal reporter, cameron walker. cameron, what do you think of this area's popularity? no surprise . it's an popularity? no surprise. it's an all time low. it is indeed. and in fact, gb news poll very much echoes the yougov which came out yesterday, which showed that prince harry's popularity among the british is at an all time low. was also interesting. i think it how the age difference so apparent the 1824 year olds for the first time harry score

was zero on the yougov poll. hugh and the 18 to 24 year old category is traditionally pro harry and meghan. so i think that just shows the state of affairs for harry. i was equally as surprised about how about gb news people's poll that said only 4% agree with the statements. i am proud of the royal family. i think perhaps this is a result of the coverage around harry's memoir. there were a lot of allegations in that. were a lot of allegations in that . and buckingham palace and that. and buckingham palace and kensington palace have very much remained silent. but i think the problem for the royal is it's very much if you do, if you don't at moments, we're only guessing prince harry's version of the truth. yeah, but equally , i mean, looking at the polling, it shows prince harry's popularity rating is plummeting and he figures it down to now, it's some 68% disagree with what he's saying or something . it was he's saying or something. it was yeah, it was something it was pretty staggering considering

where just ten years ago he was most royal after the queen and he plummets is just above prince andrew. i wonder if this also part of the fall in the respect for the royal family a majority of people in the gb news poll say lady susan hussey it was thrown under the bus, in my view by.the thrown under the bus, in my view by. the palace 2 hours after the revelations that she'd rather too inquisitive about where a guest at buckingham palace had come from. was a woman of come from. she was a woman of she wanted to know if she was from the caribbean. they did poll in the gb news saying she should given her job back. should be given herjob back. yes, 42% gb news people in yes, 42% of gb news people in the in the poll said she should return work. she should be given her this is a lady in herjob back. this is a lady in waiting, a lady in waiting, a former lady in waiting, a former lady in waiting serves queen for 60 waiting who serves queen for 60 years. she was by her side all that time. she is also william's godmother . there was a meeting godmother. there was a meeting between , lady susan hussey and between, lady susan hussey and jose forlani, the campaigner you were referring there at buckingham palace in december. buckingham palace in december. buckingham palace in december. buckingham palace describes it as a warm and understanding meeting lady. susan hussey, to

offer her sincere apologies for the distress caused . but since the distress caused. but since then there have been i'm not going to go into too much detail, but there have been allegations made against sister space, which is you guys, you fulanis about finances in particular. but i think it shows that perhaps the british people felt that buckingham jumps to conclusions, to you quickly. and this was perhaps a question of if queen the second was still alive would . it have happened in alive would. it have happened in quite the same way . scott look, quite the same way. scott look, i what's your view on that great for all generated by book mean know i'm an ardent monarchist are you sympathetic to him . i are you sympathetic to him. i think that harry harry is a tragic figure i think that happened to him as a child was awful it wasn't dealt with he came from a dysfunctional family . know not only did his mother die , they had a nightmare. die, they had a nightmare. divorce both of them came out on television talking about, you know, the end of the worst world

of tabloid, frankly, since henry the eighth. and catherine of aragon. yes. well, well, yes yes. i mean, not the others. i mean , it was. and then and but mean, it was. and then and but the other thing is, is harry has no sense himself. i mean , so he no sense himself. i mean, so he writes this book that actually everybody goes, oh god. so, i mean , i think the whole thing is mean, i think the whole thing is just awful. if i was advising him. i would have told him to shut up and take it. and i think the problem is, is some breeds self—pity and i don't think self—pity and i don't think self—pity is it's not just a great look. it's terrible way to go on the minute you become a victim you can't get out of it. and so he's just going to be the oh, it's not fair. it's not fair. it's not fair. instead of how do i he never takes responsibility for anything, his recklessness and to reveal he'd kill 25 taliban fighters. that was all the media's fault for the way they reported it. he put it the book. we didn't it in the book. we didn't anything in the book. anything about in the book. yeah, yeah. no, no. i mean i

think i think it's i just i just think i think it's i just i just think the whole thing awful. think the whole thing is awful. but to say that the i mean, but i do to say that the i mean, there were two things. one is still a topic of discussion in the media the whole time . and the media the whole time. and secondly , there is there is this secondly, there is there is this problem that i think might happen later. is because the media are completely anti harry is in the end do you think it's not fair i mean you know this this is somebody . yeah come this is somebody. yeah come cameron there's no way in my view that the royals are going change that long tradition of never complain, never explain . never complain, never explain. just william has said nothing kate middleton said nothing. the king has said nothing. camilla, who was singled for a lot of criticism in those interviews, harry, who's going to be anointed at the coronation in a few months time , she said few months time, she said nothing either. and by the she got a lot more flak when was got a lot more flak when she was when diana was alive than the meghan markle ever got. there's not that's not going to change is i don't so.

is it? no, i don't think so. i think people see the think british people see the royal strategy very royal family strategy very dignified, always with the prince and princess of wales in liverpool yesterday at that hospital, very warm . it was hospital, very warm. it was exactly a very warm reception. one lady even shouted out scousers love you, wills. keep going . you know, it was a really going. you know, it was a really warm reception with that. and i think what what perhaps is annoying to some of the british pubuc annoying to some of the british public at least is how perhaps out of touch harry has been with some of the stories he's he's he's retold in this book say for example he talks about only being given a basement flat inside kensington palace saying , doesn't your heart bleed? exactly and then, you know, that's the problem. it's very out of touch, self—centred way of looking. and they were and were ikea lights. how terrible ikea lights, at least you know, they're israelites. they were tsar relates or maybe they were ikea. i can't remember not to actually marks the shops and to kmart . actually marks the shops and to kmart. cameron, thank you for that. now, coming up after the break, gas well over half the

migrants who crossed the channel in those little boats who claim to victims of modern slavery, to be victims of modern slavery, they came from guess where? albania. so haven't we sent albania. so why haven't we sent lot back? we'll be discussing and more. but before that, we're going take short break here going to take a short break here on gb news live. we'll be keeping you in the picture, finding out what's happening across country and finding across the country and finding out matters to you. we'll out why it matters to you. we'll the fast with our team of the facts fast with our team of reporters specialist reporters and specialist correspondents . wherever it's correspondents. wherever it's happening, we'll there in 12 happening, we'll be there in 12 noon tv, radio and online. gb noon on tv, radio and online. gb news the people's channel. britain's news.

well, more than half of modern slavery claimants that arrive by small boats crossing the english

channel are albanian. that's according to government figures. more than half a significant rise since 2020, when albanians made up only 11% of those referred to as possible victims of modern slavery. our prime minister, of course, is vowing to crack down on illegal crossings. here's what he said in his address to the which, by the way, was really boring. it's simply not right that people here illegally . it's unfair on here illegally. it's unfair on those who follow the rules , on those who follow the rules, on those who follow the rules, on those who follow the rules, on those who really deserve our help and above all. it's unfair british taxpayers. it must stop . under my government, it will stop. we're taking decisive action , already deploying action, already deploying hundreds of new agents to tackle immigration criminals , putting immigration criminals, putting an end to the appalling situation where taxpayers are paying situation where taxpayers are paying to keep illegal migrants in hotel . and we'll new laws

in hotel. and we'll new laws that make it unambiguously clear that make it unambiguously clear that if you come to our country illegally , you will not have the illegally, you will not have the right to stay and will be removed . that was the prime removed. that was the prime minister in an address which apparently he didn't record live on day which is why it felt so out date. i thought it was bonng out date. i thought it was boring and lacklustre. but what about this idea, scarlett, that if you come to this country illegally, in my view, if you're crossing the channel from france, that's illegal. he's going to send them back. where's he going them to if they've he going send them to if they've destroyed their their their immigration .7 well, presumably immigration? well, presumably he's going to send them to ronda. but the real problem is this. there no other way of getting here. if you are a refugee, right .7 if you are if refugee, right? if you are if you give a lot of these are economic migrants. actually, a lot of i mean, it is finally processed mean the biggest problem why are we paying millions of pounds to people up in hotels. right. because we have a terrible , terrible have a terrible, terrible system. we should be able to

process people within weeks. instead takes years literally , instead takes years literally, years. if we did it within and then we sent back economic migrants, then there would absolutely no question everybody know, don't come over. you'll be you'll be sent back. all right. well i'm joined now that scarlett mcguire , labour party scarlett mcguire, labour party adviser, i'm joined now by wolf, who's a long time supporter of programme. he's from the centre for migration and economic prosperity and stephen niven and each other. many is stephen more than half. now it's official . than half. now it's official. all of these people crossing the channel from albania. why doesn't the simply send them back. there's no war in albania. there's no conflict . and if there's no conflict. and if they're victims, if they've been people smuggled. well we can send them straight back . well, send them straight back. well, unfortunately , we can't, andrew, unfortunately, we can't, andrew, because as we know from a number of those people who have arrived from albania , many of them are from albania, many of them are claiming that they are victims of modern. and once they become a victim of the modern slavery

and make that application . they and make that application. they go into the national referral process. and that process a really seriously long process to achieve can take absolutely years for the government, their officials and sometimes even involved in crown prosecution of finding out whether those people are genuinely victims of modern slavery. so unless the government starts to change the processes and the legacy relations surrounding that particular act, they will be able to for much longer. stephen you explain to people watching this , listening to this now, this, listening to this now, what do we talking about when we're talking about modern slavery? well, modern slavery is quite a broad spectrum for when you're looking at the legislation and the way that those in prosecution those in the crown prosecution are looking , for example, are looking, for example, somebody who is a young boy, part of the county lines in a in a major case was deemed to have been initially someone who was a

victim of modern slavery, i.e. that they were forced to sell the drugs because of their age and the power of the gangs. so you're looking at the albanians, those are claiming modern slavery are saying that they were forced to come over here by paying were forced to come over here by paying ,5,000 were forced to come over here by payin g ,5,000 to the gangs and paying ,5,000 to the gangs and forced to work for the gangs in criminal activities or into law, work in black economy and therefore they are victims. now we would argue that if you ,5,000 to a people smuggling gang, you know that you're gang, then, you know that you're going to be a victim of smuggling and therefore a victim of modern slavery. so why should we take that responsibility? and many would see as a valid many would see that as a valid argument .7 and this modern argument? and this modern slavery legislation was a consequence of theresa may's time as home secretary, which more , and more now we're seeing, more, and more now we're seeing, was a complete disaster, not least when she acts 20,000 police officers . oh, absolutely. police officers. oh, absolutely. i think the problem with theresa

may is that she always wanted to be seen a nice woman who could balance the arguments between sides and therefore not make any controversial decisions . and controversial decisions. and therefore she was unable to make decisions like priti patel , decisions like priti patel, which is create the rwanda scheme with the possibility of transferring those who'd failed asylum process or even here illegally to be transferred out of the country. she would never that and that's why she's arguing vehemently against the modern act being amended because it's the only piece of legislation that she has left that would be deemed to be positive . her prime ministerial positive. her prime ministerial reign . she has nothing else reign. she has nothing else other than that . so the prime other than that. so the prime minister in his first party political broadcasts which curiously he didn't record on the day recorded last year, which is why it seems out of date, he said anybody, who comes here illegally will be returned again. what does he mean by coming here illegally and how likely any of words, how is likely any of his words, how is it that any of these words will

come true? well, it is a little bit unfortunate. he used the word illegal in his speech, because i always to be because i always tried to be exact, if i can, in the language , anybody that comes into the united without proper united kingdom without a proper or or permission to arrive is illegal, which includes everybody who steps on the boats crossing the channel. but stop to becoming illegal once . they to becoming illegal once. they claim asylum and therefore are guaranteed a method of not being regarded as illegal under the un refugee convention as we've enacted into law . however, they enacted into law. however, they do become illegal once . their do become illegal once. their claim has been cancelled . your claim has been cancelled. your your panellist, the suggested that we should be able to rid of those who fail asylum applications will. in the initial decisions, about 60% of them do on around to 17,000 people a year for the last ten years. on average have failed the asylum application but we never remove them . and part of never remove them. and part of thatis never remove them. and part of that is because of the legal process is and those who stop the planes trying when they

those planes are trying to remove people and that so that's because lawyers under the human rights act appeal if they if theyif rights act appeal if they if they if their application is rejected and that can then drag for on months if not years . for on months if not years. absolutely. and when one looks at the initial decisions under the asylum process and what's called the grant of protection, what can clearly see a correlation between .7 the correlation between? the european court of human rights and uk's general discretion , and uk's general discretion, which is based on that , and which is based on that, and nearly 70% of all of those who given grants of protection are not based on the un refugees , not based on the un refugees, but actually based on our own discretion or the european court of human rights. so if we withdrew ourselves from that we could amend our own discretionary rules, which would with those who are trying to scam the modern slavery act and those who are coming over, it's economic migrants. those who are coming over, it's economic migrants . all right. economic migrants. all right. that stephen wolf, thanks for joining me. he's the director of the centre for migration and economic prosperity now coming

after the headlines, the archbishop of canterbury justin welby defended . a £100 welby has defended. a £100 million fund to address slavery past wrongs at a time when, in my view, the church of england is st into irrelevance. is really the right time. but first, the latest news update . first, the latest news update. good afternoon. it's 1233. first, the latest news update. good afternoon. it's1233. i'm good afternoon. it's 1233. i'm rhiannon jones in the gb newsroom and start with some breaking news just in manchester city. footballer benjamin mendy. benjamin mendy sorry has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. jurors couldn't reach verdicts on one count of rape and one count of attempt at rape. it follows a six month trial at chester court and is , trial at chester court and is, as i say, a breaking news story . we'll bring you more on it as i say, a breaking news story .we'll bring you more on it as we get it . the uk

.we'll bring you more on it as we get it. the uk and .we'll bring you more on it as we get it . the uk and scottish we get it. the uk and scottish governments have announced scotland will gain two new green freeports at the sites in edinburgh and inverness as part of a £52 million fund to drive growth in the country. ministers say they'll also create 75,000 jobs and bring in almost billion pounds worth of investment . the pounds worth of investment. the announcement follows a private talk last night between prime star rishi sunak and scotland's first minister referred to by nicholas sturgeon as construct have learned . and a good example have learned. and a good example of that is today's we're announcing together with the government the creation of two new freeports green freeports here in scotland . they're going here in scotland. they're going to bring jobs and investment to the region and actually going out and about today, talking to people they are so excited what this is means for their local area . and that's why we've seen area. and that's why we've seen in england that once we've announced freeports you companies investing more money jobs created. i want to bring those same opportunities here to scotland . so i'm delighted that

scotland. so i'm delighted that we're able do that today. we're able to do that today. meanwhile, leader sir meanwhile, labour leader sir keir starmer says the time action on the northern ireland protocol is now a warning . the protocol is now a warning. the following contains flashing images . delivering his key images. delivering his key speech queen's university in belfast earlier, sir keir also promised his party remain a good faith guarantor of the good friday agreement . faith guarantor of the good friday agreement. he's urged faith guarantor of the good friday agreement . he's urged the friday agreement. he's urged the prime minister to recognise past mistakes and resolve issues over . the post—brexit trading arrangements as on the economy, on grew by oh point % between on grew by oh point% between october november. that's despite the soaring cost of living. the office for national recorded a slowdown in growth, though, after a 0.5% increase the previous month . it says the previous month. it says the economy was helped . people economy was helped. people filling the pubs to watch the world cup chants . jeremy hunt world cup chants. jeremy hunt says the government has a clear plan to halve inflation this year and get economy growing again . tv online on dab+ radio

again. tv online on dab+ radio this is gb news. don't go anywhere . and we'll be back in anywhere. and we'll be back in just a moment.

now, on the most recent census, the number of people identifying as christian in, this country fell below 50% for the first time. 46, a 13% drop in the last decade. time. 46, a 13% drop in the last decade . churches are emptying decade. churches are emptying churches closing, and it's in the same . the archbishop of the same. the archbishop of canterbury, justin welby, bless him, has set up a £100 million fund to address past wrongdoings in the church to do with slavery. is this really the right time? is there a better use with £100 million? whether or not the church does have some murky association with the slave trade. well, let's talk now to

dr. i keep a son who's a social policy analyst. dr. o'keefe, what's your view on this . my what's your view on this. my view is that it's just another of how wrapped up the church of england in this age of racial. justice we are a country where and congregations are struggling and congregations are struggling and senior clerics have admitted tha t £100 and senior clerics have admitted that £100 million for this slave related fund to atone for the church's links with the transatlantic slave trade. it is a vast sum of money. and you describe the church england as sleepwalking towards irrelevance. and george use the term a. you mentioned the census data when i was 11 years of age in the in the census. of 2001 over seven in ten people in england wales identified as. but as you say in the most recent census this was the first census where than half of people , 46%

where than half of people, 46% identified as christian . and i identified as christian. and i think that's largely because the church of england is increased singly becoming involved in social justice activity. it's not sticking to the bread and butter of christian concepts surrounding family, marriage and community i understand that the church of england church has an association with the slave trade. much of current life does, including the monarchy. many of our companies and apparently these association is to do with the south sea company, which was formed in 1711. the church of england , 1711. the church of england, much of its current assets from that trade which shipped 34,000 africa slaves between africa across atlantic. so i understand that's something that the church wants to look at. but why does it take £100 million to address thatissue it take £100 million to address that issue .7 addressing the that issue? addressing the sunday discussion to be had in terms of talking about slave trade and britain's involvement

then and also britain's involvement in ending the slave trade , i think that when looking trade, i think that when looking at the church of england , of at the church of england, of course, they can be involved in those discussions and they can for its past links with the slave trade without committing itself to a £100 million fund for groups which have been identified as being affected by slavery. i think there's an irony to this as well, andrew, that one of my favourite authors to me all day , he authored a to me all day, he authored a piece . he basically talked about piece. he basically talked about how it was west african migrants in south london which were renovated in the churches funding refurbish garments? and i think that that's the church should be focusing more in terms of its funding, in terms reinvigorating those churches, as opposed to relying on christian migrants to stop the bill. justin welby , the bill. justin welby, the archbishop banging on about more and more using foodbanks. archbishop banging on about more and more using foodbanks . well, and more using foodbanks. well, wouldn't that and more using foodbanks. well, wouldn't tha t £100 million that wouldn't that £100 million that he's lavishing on this be better

deployed in communities, as you describe it? absolutely. i think that the church of england son a role to play in terms of highlighting very real forms of deprivation and how that feeds into concerns surrounding family breakdown. absolutely so i think that there'll be many people looking at the size of the fund, £100 million, and thinking that the church, in terms of distributing those funds, that could be done in the more relevant contemporary way, whether . reinvigorating churches whether. reinvigorating churches repairs to church buildings and also addressing very , very real also addressing very, very real forms of deprivation . our forms of deprivation. our communities, which places on social solidarity . stay there if social solidarity. stay there if . you would. i'm going to bring in scarlett maguire. scott maguire. i'm a good roman catholic or not particularly good roman catholic boy . i'm a good roman catholic boy. i'm a relic. i go church and i can relic. i go to church and i can and not good at all. no good and i'm not good at all. no good at all. it's quite true. i want

i the church, to be vibrant and relevant. and i think this is an own goal by the church of england . £100 million. but england. £100 million. but where's it being spent? i'm going to spend on a fund to donate this about this is not spent on a fund. it is actually going out to places like west africa. well to the caribbean, though because actually the church of england has a lot of it does pastoral work. right. and they just they just give people and do think. i mean, when you started giving the statistics about the number of slave graves and you just think these are so—called christian people who actually sort that this person wasn't wasn't a real person. and i do i did. 300 years ago. it was 300 years ago. but i just think you have to you have you have to understand that a lot of the riches of the church of england actually came from the south sea company and they. okay. all right. let's go to perspective from the church

of england, because i'm joined now by sir james of england, because i'm joined now by sirjames nugent, of england, because i'm joined now by sir james nugent, who of england, because i'm joined now by sirjames nugent, who is a former in chief of the royal navy, and he's a church warden . navy, and he's a church warden. good afternoon to you, sir james. what do you think about this fund? i think it's the wrong amount of money at the wrong amount of money at the wrong time. at a time when i've described the church of england as sleepwalking into, irrelevance . andrew, good irrelevance. andrew, good afternoon . i think it's a it's afternoon. i think it's a it's a matter of balance. any organisation that's dispensing , organisation that's dispensing, whether it's the government, the church of england or parents at home with their family, you have to make decisions about the balance of the money you've got and where it goes. and wouldn't necessarily use the same language as . necessarily use the same language as. but the church of england is in crisis the number of people who call themselves christians is going down to ten. the church uses going down and the church in response to this is on panic, in fact. and they're merging parishes all the country into so—called mega of 20 or 25 churches and reducing

number of clergy. well, the evidence is that if you increase the number of clergy, not surprisingly that increases congregations and increases giving . and so the church giving. and so the church commissioners to my and to the mind that save the organisation of representing i've just got that balance completely wrong. i was looking at the figures sir james 423 churches have closed in england and wales in just over last 15 years. they never coming back into the community. this is a this the tragedy of it. the church of england's response to declining numbers is to pour petrol on the flames as you rightly say, every parsonage every vicarage director gets sold .it every vicarage director gets sold . it will never, never be sold. it will never, never be another victor gao in that parish. look the church that chose the one. but even margy in churches is actually just ostrich thing to do in. the diocese of in cornwall, in

leicestershire, in lincolnshire and sheffield, in many dioceses around the country have been most. and if you do that, it's common sense that the ratio of clergy to people in the villages and suburbs and clans goes down and suburbs and clans goes down and so that breaks the link between church and community which is a tragedy to break that link. and what about but what about the idea that you are doing this poultry of money and doing this poultry of money and do you think they're doing something that would be order one or 2 million? is it gesture politics? are they posturing . politics? are they posturing. well, i prefer to stick to the term balance. ijust well, i prefer to stick to the term balance. i just challenge and save the parish as. our name suggests we just challenge the balance that's being demonstrated as to where the church of england's priorities really lie. in our book priority should be at the front the queue for resources are competing

demands on resources but parishes should be at the front the queue and the church commissioners mandate . 1998 when commissioners mandate. 1998 when they were formed by act of parliament is to promote aid and further the work and of the church of england . well, that church of england. well, that sounds to me like supporting parishes in england . well, i parishes in england. well, i completely . sirjames, thanks. completely. sir james, thanks. let's get back to the final word to you, dr. raki. hassan, i was looking at how many staff work for the church of england, but if you know what, the number of senior staff who work for the church of england, the figure is 94. white british. perhaps the archbishop of canterbury should be looking at that figure to . be looking at that figure to. absolutely. and i think the one thing that came from the census data is that if you look at some parts of the country where christianity is very much sustained, it's being sustained by immigrants , ethnic minority by immigrants, ethnic minority brits that could find their origins , cities such as lagos up

origins, cities such as lagos up to get tungsten, timisoara , so to get tungsten, timisoara, so many parts of west africa and eastern and central . so perhaps eastern and central. so perhaps the of canterbury can concentrate on diversifying church of england staff to better reflect those who are well and truly sustaining the faith in our country. well and truly sustaining the faith in our country . all right. faith in our country. all right. that was admiral sir james bono nugent, who's part of the organisation save , the parish, organisation save, the parish, and of course, dr. raki aslan. thank you both for joining and of course, dr. raki aslan. thank you both forjoining me . thank you both for joining me. of course, i'm still joined in the studio by scarlet maguire, who's a former to the labour party . so i who's a former to the labour party. so i think it's a fascinating story and i think £100 million could be spent in a better way. now, a jury at manchester crown court has found the footballer, the premier footballer, benjamin mendy, not on six counts of rape and, one of sexual assault . we're going of sexual assault. we're going to cross now immediately to sophie reaper, who's been following the case sophie . yes following the case sophie. yes well, the jury has now returned

after days of deliberation in the benjamin mendy trial . the benjamin mendy trial. chester crown court. the manchester city footballer has been not guilty. that's not guilty of six counts of rape and, one count of sexual assault . the jurors were unable to reach a verdict. on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape. mr. benjamin mendy was charged with . in terms of louis charged with. in terms of louis saha maturity, he's . mendy is saha maturity, he's. mendy is coded pendant and alleged fixer . he was found not guilty of three counts of rape whilst the jurors were also unable to reach a verdict for mr. mccreary in three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault that were made against the 41 year old. now earlier this week, judge stephen ever had called the jury into court and gave them a majority direction . what them a majority direction. what that means is that rather than giving a unanimous verdicts , the

giving a unanimous verdicts, the jury giving a unanimous verdicts, the jury were instead able to come to a majority, which is now what seems to have happened . seems to have happened. prosecutor matthew did say the prosecutor would seek a retrial on the charges that the jury were unable to reach a verdict on. so there is still potentially more to come. but just to clarify . potentially more to come. but just to clarify. benjamin mendy has been found guilty on six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. and mccreary has been found guilty on three counts of rape over that sophie reaper on that extraordinary case. now gearchange here, more than 250 pubs rented into year's pub of the year competition. other great interest news, because unlike pubs , but only because unlike pubs, but only one could be the winner. of course. it's been announced that tamworth tap in staffordshire has won the award and we sent our westminster to jack carson to go and a pint at britain's best boozer. i'm very envious on this quiet streets, in this quiet town sits pub of the year

under the watchful eye of tamworth . the tamworth tap has tamworth. the tamworth tap has named by the campaign for real ales , the best in the country . ales, the best in the country. owner george greenaway can't quite believe it . absolutely . quite believe it. absolutely. i've been bursting, but so immensely proud of the achievement of myself and the whole team and ultimately the whole team and ultimately the whole town , really. tell me a whole town, really. tell me a bit about the work had to go in to create such place like this. the it's. yeah, it's been a lot of toil really has it's just spurred on all those positive reactions you get from creating something from from from that starting point bit by bit as as you go through the course of the last five years disperse you answer that to the next week and the next week and it just snowballs. pubs in the competition are selected by camera volunteers and are judged their atmosphere decor while

service community and the quality of the beer. the tap went from an empty to a brew pub in less than five years and today boasts eight hand pools, including at least one tamworth ale brewed on for cameron. national chairman cantona. it wasn't just the beer here that made this place stand out from the rest , although it is made this place stand out from the rest, although it is very good. it's only been in existence five years and it's demonstrated in those five years that you don't have to be a established pub site to be the best pub . it's grown very much best pub. it's grown very much part of tamworth's community they refer to the tap as the tamworth tappers which is what they actually know the customers who in the tamworth tap and they are very much part of the family they embrace their community and have.

they embrace their community and have . a quality experience . more have. a quality experience. more than 30 pubs a month are estimated to have closed in 2022 with increases in bills and a drop in consumer demand, meaning they had no choice but to close their doors. this pub knows how important the community is to their survival . ultimately, it their survival. ultimately, it is about the local communities getting behind the pumps and supporting them and celebrating the and using them and you know, and they'll be rewarded with the atmosphere and accolades such as this. today, the tap will officially be presented with their award with people across their award with people across the country coming to grab a pint at the pub that has raised the bar. chuck carson gb news. why don't i get like that? now emails coming in says those illegal immigrants who got rid of their passports or it can't be given a chance to tell us where they come from and then given the opportunity to go there. leslie says, i to understand why the government can't identify by can't identify migrants by tracing photos on european tracing their photos on european passport databases . clinton says passport databases. clinton says our government states they want

to in small boat immigration but then does nothing about it. last few last with you, scarlet maguire. there's poll at the jp news poll we've talked about prince harry popularity you'll be intrigued by this is a former labour adviser the tories land crushing on 21. the labour party 48. now try to wipe that so satisfied of your say scarlet but rishi sunak is not cutting he's not cutting it . but but rishi sunak is not cutting he's not cutting it. but i mean, beware of polls, right? i mean it's not a time for the labour party to go. it's okay. i mean that. but if for the conservatives mean it is a disaster because . rishi was disaster because. rishi was brought in to try and fix it and he's not fixing it and everybody knows he's not fixing it. and the question is what do they do next? and the really worrying thing is for i think for the rather than for labour is that

bofisis rather than for labour is that boris is planning to come back what we saw in this week didn't precisely unveiling of that portrait of him at the carlton club. he made a typically bravura booster i'm sorry speech full of optimism lively i need a lot of money. he's getting he's getting in an awful of i don't read his speeches which i'm sure he keeps but there was an lot of money going in and i genuinely do not think he's what the tories need but it's just a disaster and even i mean most conservative mps would say the last thing we need is yet another prime minister and it's they're sort of they're stuck you between a rock and a hard place they can't change prime again with a general election , again with a general election, surely, can they? scarlett, look, i thank you for. coming on, you'll come and join me again, i hope a good day. we can have a useful disagreement. you're watching andrew pierce here plenty more here on gb news. plenty more still come, we're going to be still to come, we're going to be talking those strike. talking about those nhs strike. we're talking about a former hospital. talking hospital. we're talking to former hospital's chairman. looking at poll, which former hospital's chairman.

lookin only poll, which former hospital's chairman. lookin only po|of which former hospital's chairman. lookin only po|of people are shows only a third of people are proud the royal family. all proud of the royal family. all of that coming up. stay with us. hello, i'm alex deakin and this is latest weather update . is your latest weather update. cold the way as go cold weather on the way as we go through pretty through weekend. feels pretty cold there today with the cold out there today with the gusty winds , but they'll be gusty winds, but they'll be easing places, seeing easing in many places, seeing a bit today, but low bit of sunshine today, but low pressure is still nearby . pressure is still nearby. weather systems waiting to head out. way one low is clearing away . this weather front is just away. this weather front is just dangung away. this weather front is just dangling down, of course, south of scotland, northwest england, bringing quite a few showers in here. showers across northern scotland , too. but elsewhere, scotland, too. but elsewhere, many places not seeing any showers today. dry and bright and with a bit of to boot, the winds steadily easing through the day as well. but making it feel cold. certainly temperatures around average or a touch above 7 to 8 degrees generally, ten or 11 across the south. colder air, as i said, is on the way through the weekend, but not tonight , because tonight but not tonight, because tonight we're going to see for the rain in weather systems out in in those weather systems out in the atlantic. rain initially the atlantic. can rain initially for northern ireland, then

across wales this evening that rain wales , rain persistent across wales, southwest england the morning southwest england by the morning time could cause some issues here as that rain continues to build up, that rain will be bringing milder so early in the night we could get down to minus two northern scotland. but my two in northern scotland. but my morning well morning we're generally well above and certainly ten or 11 degrees across the south. mild but wet start then to saturday for the majority. but that rain is going pull away out to the is going to pull away out to the east. so places becoming east. so many places becoming dner east. so many places becoming drier through the afternoon, but with lots showers packing with lots of showers packing into northern ireland, the west and with snow . the and scotland with snow. the hills here will drop hills likely here will drop through the afternoon . in the through the afternoon. in the morning we could be at 11 or 12 by the afternoon many of us in single figures and feeling colder because of the gusty winds will continue to winds which will continue to blow across northern blow showers across northern areas saturday, heading areas during saturday, heading increasingly to snow , even to increasingly to snow, even to lower levels by the end the night across northern scotland. it is turning colder and through sunday in particular, this area of low pressure could bring some places, snowfall certainly places, some snowfall certainly

turning frosty with the risk of ice into next week week .

hello it's just 1:00. and your watching and listening, of course to andrew pierce here on gb news. here's what's coming up this hour. of nhs new this hour. the of the nhs new data shows a record number people waiting more than 12 hours for any treatment. more than hours for any treatment. more tha n £7 million, million people than £7 million, million people on waiting lists. than £7 million, million people on waiting lists . the routine on waiting lists. the routine treatment in england be discussing all of that also this hour. discussing all of that also this hour . tory woes discussing all of that also this hour. tory woes my word hour. tory polling woes my word the latest gb news poll has the conservatives at an historic low of 21. they're trailing labour by 27. is there any hope for

rishi, sunak and the tories in the next general election .7 also the next general election? also in that gb news poll fascinating the public are in favour of the late queen's lady . waiting, late queen's lady. waiting, waiting. susan hussey being allowed to return to her work and also so people now have respect for the royal family. i'm going to be talking jennie bond about all of this . also bond about all of this. also joining me in the studio for the next hour is the trade unionist , a firefighter and broadcaster , paul embery. and don't forget, of course you're home, a big part of show . don't forget. part of the show. don't forget. email at, gbviews@gbnews.uk . email me at, gbviews@gbnews.uk. that's what's coming up first. first, the headlines . good first, the headlines. good afternoon. it's 1:01 first, the headlines. good afternoon. it's1:01 nine rhiannon jones in the gb newsroom. manchester city benjamin mendy been found not guilty of six counts of rape and count of sexual assault . we can count of sexual assault. we can cross live now to our west.

reporter sophie reaper sophie. what more can you tell us this .7 what more can you tell us this? well, the jury has now returned after 14 days of deliberation in the benjamin mendy trial at chester court. the man city football has been found not guilty of . six counts of rape guilty of. six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault . whilst the jury were unable reach a verdict on one count of rape and, an of one count of attempted rape. benjamin mendy's , an alleged fixer , louis saha , an alleged fixer, louis saha materi , was also found not materi, was also found not guilty of three counts of rape, whilst the failed to reach verdicts on three counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault. now the, prosecutor matthew conway said that the prosecution would seek a retrial on the charges that the jury were unable to reach verdicts on.andin were unable to reach verdicts on. and in the last few moments we've heard that that has now been set for june 26th, we've heard that that has now been set forjune 26th, and they're expected that trial will

last around 2 to 3 weeks. sophie, thank you very much. sophie, thank you very much. sophie reaper northwest for us there . so you can see scottish there. so you can see scottish have announced scotland will have announced scotland will have two new green the sites in edinburgh and inverness are part of a £52 million fund to drive growth in the country. ministers say they'll also 75,000 jobs and bnngin say they'll also 75,000 jobs and bring in almost say they'll also 75,000 jobs and bring in almost £11 billion of investment. the announcement follows private talks last night between minister rishi sunak and scotland's minister, referred to by sturgeon as construct . if by sturgeon as construct. if labour leader suggests . palmer labour leader suggests. palmer says the time for action on the northern ireland protocol is now a warning. the following contains flashing images. delivering his key speech at queen's university in belfast, sir keir also promised his party will remain a good faith guarantor . the good friday

guarantor. the good friday agreement . he's urged the prime agreement. he's urged the prime minister to past mistakes , minister to past mistakes, resolve issues over the post—brexit trading . but i say post—brexit trading. but i say to the prime minister , if there to the prime minister, if there is deal to do in coming weeks , is deal to do in coming weeks, do it . whatever political you do it. whatever political you need, whatever mechanisms in westminster , you require it for westminster, you require it for our national interest and the people of northern ireland, we will support . the for action on will support. the for action on the protocol is now . the economy the protocol is now. the economy unexpected grew by 0.1% between october and november. that's despite the soaring cost living. the office for national statistics recorded a slow down in growth, though, after a 0.5% increase. the previous month. it says the economy helped by people fitting the pubs . watch people fitting the pubs. watch the world cup chancellor jeremy

hunt says the government has a clear plan to halve inflate in this year and get the economy growing again . 22 year old growing again. 22 year old connor chapman has appeared at where all court charged with murder of elle edwards the 26 year old was shot outside a pub in wirral on christmas eve. mr. chapman has been remanded in and will appear at liverpool court on monday. he is also being charged with two counts of attempted murder and possession of . a and a pensioner has been of. a and a pensioner has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years for the rape and murder of a teenager nearly 50 years ago. it's the oldest double jeopardy case in england and wales. dennis mcgrory was sentenced at crown court for. the sexual assault and murder of 15 year old jackie comrie in her home in islington , london, back home in islington, london, back in 1975. mcgraw who was 28 at

the time, had been cleared of the time, had been cleared of the murder. but a swap from jackie's body was retested decades later and showed 1000000000 to 1 match with his dna . and tributes continue to dna. and tributes continue to pourin dna. and tributes continue to pour in for lisa marie presley. elvis presley's daughter, who's died at the age of 54. a warning following contains flashing images . it's understood the sing images. it's understood the sing songwriter suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in los angeles yesterday. actor john travolta has said his heart goes out to ms. family. a death just days after she attended the golden globe awards where actor austin butler took home the best actor award for his of her father , elvis presley . this is father, elvis presley. this is gb news. we'll bring you more as it happens, though. it's back to andrew .

andrew. what what is andrew pierce here? gb news, we're going talk about that ongoing crisis in the nhs reports today the good morning the gmb union is considering six further strike for vince workers. it comes figures this week show the proportion patients in a&e in england within the target 4 hours fell to 65. that's another record low more than 54,000 people waited more than 54,000 people waited more than 54,000 people waited more than 12 hours for a&e treatment in england, another grim record and 7.2 million people are on waiting lists for routine hospital treatment in england, which is a slight fall on the previous month . and of on the previous month. and of all of this, at the backdrop of strikes in the studio with many delighted to say it's paul embery, who's a trade genius and broadcaster i'm going to talk now to a former nhs trust chairman roy lilley. roy is about as bad as it can be, isn't it? and these strikes are simply going to make it much worse . going to make it much worse. andrew afternoon. well, yes,

it's certainly horrendous . the it's certainly horrendous. the strikes themselves . no, look , strikes themselves. no, look, we've got really strike light going on with the strikes. i mean, yes , they're disruptive, mean, yes, they're disruptive, but the fact is that the cover, the emergency during the strikes you know nobody's dropped the ball . you know nobody's dropped the ball. there's you know nobody's dropped the ball . there's been no you know nobody's dropped the ball. there's been no real damage as a result of it. people are being pushed off the waiting list, of course, and that's another issue. but as far as the strikes are concerned, it's a peculiar where that sort of strike in a vacuum, the whole purpose a strike is to do damage , do damage to the employer. if it's manufactured manufacturing , it's a shop shop. people selling what the unions dare not do is to walk out of the nhs and leave it which is which is most dramatic thing they can do by having these sort of one day strikes, two day strike here and there. we're is, is still sort

of adequate against the background of a pretty inadequate service at the moment . the trust themselves , where . the trust themselves, where the nurses are involved , are the nurses are involved, are throwing everything i've got into . so those work as well. so into. so those work as well. so the impact of the strikes that you would normally from strikes isn't really happening and i can't see how we progressed from here because the government is saying well we're not going to give you any more money. they're very unpopular anyway. mean you've just covered that the you've just covered that in the news so they can't get any news and so they can't get any more by doing more unpopular by not doing a deal with nurses and the whole background is such a mess anyway . so i'm not in any sense saying that, you know, they the strike should go on and they're not making any difference. but the, the grip that they've got the impact that they're making isn't sufficient item thing to make the government do something a lot of people watching will be

thinking but should be allowed to go on strike. roy champions workers be allowed to go on strike. police officers can't . strike. police officers can't. soldiers can't. we know the government now brought finally brought forward legislate and to ensure a minimum of service that an essential service that will be in the nhs in and other areas can that work in the nhs and should it. well well we're getting now we're getting a minimum level of service on the picket lines now and of course the unions dare not, you know , the unions dare not, you know, walk away and cause you know, some kind of horrendous disaster. so i mean a minimum level of service you'd have to define that is and that's a huge negotiation the is whether they should do it or not i've always felt that public servants shouldn't go on strike but and here's the part you have to have a good alternative mechanism to deal with. they're paying conditions the pay review

started in 1960. they've been amplified since then. they now cover about a quarter of 6 million people who work in the pubuc million people who work in the public sector across whitehall and local authorities. the fact is they're too slow and they too they too take long to report. i mean the pay review body that's going to be at meeting in april to look the next two years, pay won't report until september. well, that's ridiculous. i mean, there's reason for that. so i mean, if you put a rocket up them and got them to perform better and you had a proper arrangement where the unions had confidence in the independent to the pay review bodies like they have in other. then i think you could to the unions in exchange for that very good system , a for that very good system, a timely system and a system that really delivers for both sides . really delivers for both sides. then you probably could say suddenly as far as the public is concerned , all the polling i've concerned, all the polling i've seen would favourable. let let's

bnng seen would favourable. let let's bring paul embery into this conversation. paul, you're long standing trade unionist. you're a member of the fire brigades union, you're a firefighter two firefighters have gone on strike. of course in the past. do you think the government is right to bring in legislation to ensure minimum level of ensure a minimum level of service in places like the nhs in the rail industry. i think in some ways first of all because where tried it in europe as it's actually been a roaring success. they did it in france last year with oil refineries in the oil refinery when it to work they're also places where they've attempted to introduce it where it hasn't particularly . but the it hasn't particularly. but the much more important point, i think , andrew, is it's think, andrew, is it's inflammatory . we're in the inflammatory. we're in the middle of a cost of living crisis. we've got millions of workers , this country, not just workers, this country, not just in the public sector, but the private i recognise as private sector. i recognise as well, are being asked once well, who are being asked once again to take a real terms pay cut. now, this is after ten, 12 years of economic sluggishness . years of economic sluggishness. this is after a decade or more

when pay rises have been pretty low . and i just think it's low. and i just think it's fanciful in the extreme to expect workers en masse to say , expect workers en masse to say, okay, we're willing to take another real terms pay cut dunng another real terms pay cut during a cost of living crisis. and you know what? we're not going to anything about it. and i introducing i actually introducing legislation in that effectively compel workers to cross picket lines . now, as you know, in the lines. now, as you know, in the trade union movement, it's a cardinal sin to try to cross a picket line. you know, whether or not you agree with strikes. everybody, think, understands everybody, i think, understands that. say workers that. so to say to workers themselves may have voted the strike and supported actually we're going to we're going to force you to cross the picket line where. your colleagues and workmates are standing. i just think people en masse are going to be willing to do that. so that's why it's inflammatory. i think it's going to create. i agree the timing is wrong because this was in the conservative legislation conservative party legislation in the general election in 2019. they have done it two or they should have done it two or three they'd done three years ago. if they'd done it or three years would

it two or three years ago, would that no, because that be okay? no, because i think you can i don't think you can by legislation to, can compel by legislation to, accept pay, is accept low pay, which is effectively this tactic is. effectively what this tactic is. it's the conservative it's about the conservative government have not government saying we have not been defeat wave been able to defeat this wave strike action. do you know strike action. so do you know what going to do? we're to what we're going to do? we're to change the rules halfway through. it's the equivalent of a having hit a few a boxer having been hit a few heavy suddenly , i don't heavy punches suddenly, i don't quite like this. and in the middle of the fight, sister, the referee can, you can you change the make opponent the rules and make this opponent fight with one hand tied behind. but now the truth it's but now the truth is it's not going it because going to resolve it because those have sparked those issues have sparked the industrial unrest in the first place and just going to place and not just going to disappear. are still place and not just going to disapjto r. are still place and not just going to disapjto be are still place and not just going to disapjto be angry are still place and not just going to disapjto be angry peoplel place and not just going to disapjto be angry people are going to be angry people are still be unwilling to still going to be unwilling to accept terms pay accept another real terms pay cut. not going to be cut. and they're not going to be forced the pain of being forced on the pain of being sacked. way, it's sacked. by the way, it's a across picket lines which have been established. their friends, colleagues that's been rolled back were back really when you were chairing nhs trust, wouldn't chairing an nhs trust, wouldn't your a easier your life have been a lot easier if a lot of your if you've known a lot of your staff couldn't go strike and also you would probably be relieved you weren't going relieved if you weren't going to have inflation have to find huge inflation

busting well the fact busting pay rises. well the fact is, when i run across i had the only no strike deal in the nhs and. how did you do that? local paying, and. how did you do that? local paying, local pay and conditions. it was on a principle called pendulum arbitrator . and so what we've arbitrator. and so what we've got now is , mediation, got now is, mediation, arbitration, where if you say i want ten and i say i'm only offering, then the pay review bodies effectively say can have seven pendulum arbitration says it's either ten or five. well thatis it's either ten or five. well that is limit the aspirations of both sides and so i had really very good relations and mean i agree absolutely with what paul is saying i mean this is in inflammatory at this time . if inflammatory at this time. if you look at the history of industrial in this country, all the draconian anti—trade laws came in after big. the draconian anti—trade laws came in after big . like, for came in after big. like, for example, if you look at the thatcher strike, the miners strikes, the big changes in industrial relations came in after that. and it's right to

say that really. it's only a kind of a pushback if you can't get good industrial relations, then make law so people can't complain . that is not good complain. that is not good enough. complain. that is not good enough . and that is clearly what enough. and that is clearly what is happening now. what we what what the unions need is some kind of a way in to pay restoration action. now, if you look at the nurses example, over ten years they've lost 20. you look at junior doctors, it's something like 35% of services. the same even the train drivers . who are some of the best paid workers that there are who are members? trade unions have seen the value of their wages erode, so what do you do about that? well, the government answer is to say, well, we're tight we're tackling the root cause, which is inflation but of course, it doesn't pay bills now. it doesn't pay the bills now. so it is pretty clear to me that if we are going to move on in industrial relations and change bafis industrial relations and change basis dealing with this we basis of dealing with this we have deal with the pay issues

have to deal with the pay issues which isn't cheap . and of course which isn't cheap. and of course it's a time when there's not a lot of money around, but pope paul lot of money around, but pope paul, interesting really really there said he had the only no strike deal in the whole country so it can be done well i mean i believe in collective bargaining and i think people should should reserve the right strike as a last resort to have some sort of leverage over their employer when negotiations have failed. but what i think we need to do and andrew, is address the root causes of why we are where we at the moment with millions of people certainly hundreds of thousands of people who otherwise would not have complaints strike complaints can strike action thinking. i've actually been dnven thinking. i've actually been driven to this what is it that's driving them to it? it's simply that we've got i think a profoundly unjust economy there are still some people doing very well. by executive pay well. by the way, executive pay is rising bonuses. well. by the way, executive pay is rising bonuses . a surgeon is rising bonuses. a surgeon we've seen some of our corporations registering record profits to the people at the other end. so look at that and

think the second i have a bit of a bigger debt burden in this country is one and a half trillion pounds every pound extra we pay these workers coming out of everybody's pocket. well i mean, i'm a i'm a believer that as a sovereign currency issue in nation, we can't go bankrupt. we can't just run of and actually, run of money. and actually, isn't funny how we always isn't it funny how we always find plenty of money available when the government needs it at the drop of a hat? we, you know, we it for the furlough schemes dunng we it for the furlough schemes during covid we bowed but during covid we bowed out. but we a pandemic. we we have had a pandemic. we bailed banks to the tune bailed out the banks to the tune billions of pounds in 2008. whenever we launch military escapade, find billions escapade, we can find billions of the drop a hat of pounds at the drop of a hat for why is it when it for that. why is it when it comes to people wage, we comes to paying people wage, we can't have to can't do that. we have to disagree. that's embery, disagree. that's paul embery, a trade and that was trade unionist. and that was roy. lilley, former chairman roy. roy lilley, former chairman of an nhs. now the labour leader keir . he's been in keir starmer. he's been in northern ireland. he's urged the prime to get with prime minister to get on with sorting that northern sorting out that northern ireland protocol . he told rishi ireland protocol. he told rishi sunak to break the deadlock with the european union over protocol

and he offered help to get the deal through parliament. he can't get enough support from . can't get enough support from. his own tory mps have a quick listen to what he had say. so i say to the prime minister , if say to the prime minister, if there is deal to do in coming weeks , do it . whatever political weeks, do it. whatever political cover you need , whatever cover you need, whatever mechanisms in westminster you require , if it delivers for our require, if it delivers for our national interest and the people of northern ireland, we will support you . the time for action support you. the time for action on the is now we're going to cross over stormont and speak with gb news report northern on reporter how are you there .7 i reporter how are you there? i i'm not divided on the part of that that is messy actually is quite clear when he says do the deal do and i and he will give them cover even from the air that would suppose that there may a deal coming that most of

us don't know about. but the air aren't going to like it. and unionism probably isn't going to like it. he spent yesterday here on today in that speech, he said that the past was painful and everybody not to look but to look forwards . he everybody not to look but to look forwards. he said that everybody not to look but to look forwards . he said that the look forwards. he said that the labour party were the moral guardians . the good friday guardians. the good friday agreement . that all may be so , agreement. that all may be so, but this is a very, very fine line. and the labour party amongst should know the hardship that it was to actually get the good friday agreement across line because it was all based consent . and the sdlp, the consent. and the sdlp, the social democratic and labour party this party of the labour are wanting to put legislation that will away with that cross—party cooperation in order get a speaker like that behind us here, which would immediately make this behind us a national government, because it would exclude unionism. so we had a very fine line to walk. he did

try to do that. but other questions came out of them were around legacy issues and of course that very controversial bill that is making its way through the house of lords that would basically stop soldiers being brought back court while the ira still those letters of comfort that was given to them by tony blair and he said that he would immediately rip that legislation if he was the prime minister that would cause also amongst ex—servicemen . and would amongst ex—servicemen. and would he then rip up those letters comfort. so as much as he's here and promised much , he hasn't and promised much, he hasn't delivered all he said. but he says he has listened. all right. that's dougie beattie, our reporter , northern ireland. reporter, northern ireland. paul reporter, northern ireland. paul. and i want to ask you the real problem to the keir starmer about northern ireland protocol brexit is what the labour met. sadiq khan has said he wants to renegotiate the single market, that london goes back into the single market. in other words, people like would say the cat people like me would say the cat is of bag. what labour

is out of the bag. what labour really want to do reverse really want to do is reverse brexit. famously brexit. you were famously a trade unionist you've into trade unionist. you've got into trouble own side trouble with your own side because because you because knew because you supported yeah that's supported brexit. yeah that's very true. and i would counsel the labour party against the wider labour party against attempt to reverse brexit in the labour movement traditionally it wasn't an unusual thing to be a eurosceptic back in the 19 tens. tony benn and michael foot and barbara castle and peter shaw. and people like that during the 1975 common market referendum , 1975 common market referendum, actually a huge number of labour voted no in that referendum a majority of trade unions supported the no campaign in that referendum . but there's that referendum. but there's almost now a kind of infatuation the left with the european union. and we saw the damage that that did actually in the 2019 general election where when the labour party conference in 2018 essentially nailed its colours the mast and said we are going to go for a referendum. and i was in the conference hall at the time by the way, and realised that this was a suicide . and i knew come the next

election those red wall election in those red wall constituencies were to constituencies we were going to be absolutely hammered because people who voted labour all people who had voted labour all of lives voted for of their lives and voted for brexit, their vote to be and recognised and suddenly saw their party trying to undermine and effectively saying you've got this wrong and we're going to make you do it again. so there are huge pitfalls for the labour party, but by being seen to embrace brexit sadiq khan is looking at it purely think from a parochial london point view because that kind of language plays well with a properly suspicious put out there in working class britain provincial britain, small town in the northern heartlands , old northern heartlands, old traditional labour heartlands in the and stuff. it's not the midlands and stuff. it's not going to go down very well. well, completely that's well, i completely agree. that's paul trade unionist. paul embery, a trade unionist. i'm pierce here on tv i'm andrew pierce here on tv news. come up, can be news. come up, we can be discussing the tory party's historic with former historic polling with the former president in britain. before that we're going to quick break here gb news. we'll be here on gb news. we'll be keeping you in the picture out what's happening across the country and finding out why it

matters to you. we'll have the facts with . our team of facts fast with. our team of reporters and specialist, wherever happening , we'll wherever it's happening, we'll be there in 12 noon on tv, radio and, online gb news. the people's channel, britain's news channel.

channel hi, it's andrew pierce on gb news. well, that gb news poll is pretty bad for prince harry. it's absolutely horrific . the it's absolutely horrific. the rishi sunak of support for the . rishi sunak of support for the. conservative, only 21% trailing labour. conservative, only 21% trailing labour . by conservative, only 21% trailing labour. by ten 37. some news for the prime minister in the health care round. the majority of people in that poll say. it's acceptable for prime minister have private health insurance. my have private health insurance. my point is, didn't he just my point is, why didn't he just say .7 he was asked the

say so? he was asked the question a week ago. let's talk now charles cunningham, who's now to charles cunningham, who's the former of press number the former head of press number ten. in the glory days relative, you say theresa may this poll you say to theresa may this poll it good, is it? no way. you even you can put a positive spin on this no , there's no way you can this no, there's no way you can spin it. i mean, i do think midterm polls are traditionally quite soft. but, you know, this comes down to party management and how nervous and jittery you make tory overpays. and we've seen that the tory party is a series of delegate coalitions. very to govern. so you very hard to govern. so you know, all of this it a lot more difficult to see that which is why you see him often capitulating certain issues capitulating on certain issues i think really for him it'll looking towards the local elections the next big flash point because very bad very bad sets of results that that it's not beyond the realms of possibility that you do see this sort of you know speculation that boris johnson might make a move or his supporters make a move or his supporters make a move in terms because at the first poll over the government's

plans to legislate to bring in a minimum level of service areas like the railways and the nhs shows huge support for the government. 56% of the public backed that. but his party political broadcasts week the prime minister never mentioned it even though the legislation , it even though the legislation, it even though the legislation, it only been brought forward the day before , he seems to be day before, he seems to be frightened of his own shadow . frightened of his own shadow. yeah, i mean, certainly i think he looks a lot more assured , a he looks a lot more assured, a lot more reasonable. ironically, dunng lot more reasonable. ironically, during when he was parachuted to being chancellor, showed items, everything he seem quite stiff and nervous from camera. and i think that is being picked up. having said that, he's against another politician in keir starmer who, despite being a barrister , isn't a great barrister, isn't a great performer. isn't you on his feet , doesn't really electrify the electorate. so know he's helped somewhat by that and by the fact that we've got so party in the times who are pretty much still

in the political giles and in the week we saw the boris johnson bandwagon gathering momentum a portrait has been unveiled of him at the carlton club that's. what happens with all former tory prime ministers lots of his supporters saying the only way the tories can save the only way the tories can save the next general election is ditch rishi soon after local elections in may. if they're terrible, they probably will be and bring back boris. they couldn't, could they they .7 i couldn't, could they they? i think they could. i mean look how quickly they got rid liz truss. i mean you have got the situation you speak to tory mp and they say the problem leigh there is a narrow pathway to victory at the next election but probably as implausible as it seems is through boris johnson. of course you've got this sort of situation where if he was prime, boris johnson you've got 60 mp, 60 plus m.p.s in the parliamentary party who for him to resign how he said a positive local election results would

definitely focus the minds of people beginning very jumpy and jittery about their seats so yeah it's not not implausible but clearly in all of political manoeuvring you can't be seen to be doing it and got to have his outright to support staying he's very much going to stamp the fray about the politics. let's bnng fray about the politics. let's bring paul embery into the conversation . paul, your labour conversation. paul, your labour party member. you must be heartened . his party's so far heartened. his party's so far ahead. heartened. his party's so far ahead . but heartened. his party's so far ahead. but giles cunningham's got point keir . ahead. but giles cunningham's got point keir. he's got a point about keir. he's flat , he's got a point about keir. he's flat, he's wooden. in fact, he's more wooden . the forest of dean. more wooden. the forest of dean. frankly, i if they had a charismatic leader like blair, they'd be 40 points ahead in the polls. and in fact blair often was 35, 40 points in their head in the polls. i think it's always a mixture of substance image. that's the that's the truth of it. but i don't think image is absolutely. i mean, you'll remember you won't remember personally, but in the post—war election, when attlee defeated , you might remember and

defeated, you might remember and actually thank you for that. thank you for that . but of thank you for that. but of course, ali was regarded as very wooden and very boring. and churchill, several other factions, they weren't that a big word. but that's the point that make. and it's not just that i make. and it's not just about, you know, there are there are factors. are other factors. well, but i don't believe it's a foregone conclusion next election. conclusion the next election. actually i had actually i would be if i had a direct line to keir starmer, i would be counselling him to say, be very careful about thinking that this the bag. that you've this in the bag. what tell him to what would you tell him to do differently? i don't know necessarily. anything differently think problem differently. i think the problem at is more the wider at the moment is more the wider labour party . the fact that it's labour party. the fact that it's still i'm willing to change many respects starmer respects rather than starmer himself. i think he understands the direction he does need to go , is i think it's good , which is why i think it's good that said, we're not that he said, look, we're not going reverse brexit, we're that he said, look, we're not goirgoing everse brexit, we're that he said, look, we're not goirgoing brings brexit, we're that he said, look, we're not goirgoing bring back it, we're that he said, look, we're not goirgoing bring back free e're not going bring back free movement and so on but i think the labour party at large has got to back in such with got to get back in such with working britain, red working class britain, the red wall constituencies, those of patriotic class, old patriotic working class, old industrial areas of country that once upon a time the backbone of the labour party vote

disappeared in their millions because the labour party became this kind of very class this kind of very middle class for party professional and managerial classes. for party professional and managerial classes . and until we managerial classes. and until we can get back in touch with those . it's core support. it's can get back in touch with those . it's core support . it's not . it's core support. it's not going to win again. i think it's doing slowly, but there's still a very long to go. all right. that's paul and brian thank you to charles cunningham, was to charles cunningham, who was head at number 10 under head of press at number 10 under theresa we'll theresa may. now coming, we'll be about that gb news be talking about that gb news people say susan people poll. 42% say lady susan hussey. remember her who was thrown under bus by thrown under the bus by buckingham palace in that railway the race should be returned job. but first returned to her job. but first we're going to headlines we're going to get to headlines looking the latest headlines . goo looking at the latest headlines. goo rihanna and in the gb newsroom, manchester city football , manchester city football, benjamin mendy has been found not guilty of six counts of rape and, one count of sexual assault . it follows a six month trial

at chester crown court. jurors couldn't reach a verdict on one count of rape and one of attempted rape. the sought a retrial on those counts, which has been scheduled forjune . a has been scheduled for june. a builder who described himself as a psychopath with a conscience has been sentenced to two life terms for the murder of two escorts. mark brown was found guilty of murdering aware and alexandra morgan in 2021. the 41 year old killed the two women at a remote farm. this leonards in east after meeting them through an escort website. serve a minimum of 49 years. an escort website. serve a minimum of 49 years . the uk and minimum of 49 years. the uk and scottish governments have announced scotland will gain two new green freeports . the sites new green freeports. the sites in edinburgh and, inverness are part of a £52 million fund to drive growth in the country. ministers say they'll also create 75,000 jobs and bring . in

create 75,000 jobs and bring. in £11 billion worth of investment. the announcement private talks held last between prime minister rishi sunak and scotland's first minister, referred to by nicholas sturgeon as constructive and good example of that as today's announcement were announcing together with the scottish government the creation two new freeport creation of two new freeport ports, green free ports here in scotland . they they're going to scotland. they they're going to bnng scotland. they they're going to bring investment to the bring jobs and investment to the region actually going out region and actually going out and about today to talking people are so excited what people they are so excited what this means for their local area and that's why we've seen in england that once we've announced freeports you companies more money companies investing more money jobs created. i want to bring those same opportunities here to scotland i'm delighted that scotland. so i'm delighted that we're do that we're able to do that today. labour leader sir keir starmer says the time action on the northern ireland protocol is now a warning . the following a warning. the following contains flashing images. delivering his key speech , delivering his key speech, queen's university in belfast earlier, sir keir also promised his party will remain a good

guarantor of the good friday agreement. he's urged prime minister to recognise mistakes and resolve over the post—brexit trading arrangements and the economy unexpectedly grew . by economy unexpectedly grew. by 0.1% between october and november. that's despite the soaring cost of living . the soaring cost of living. the office for national statistics recorded a slowdown in growth , recorded a slowdown in growth, though, after 8.5% increase. the previous month. it says the economy was helped by people filling the pubs to watch the world cup chants that jeremy hunt says the government has clear plan to halve inflation this year and get the economy again . tv online and gab plus again. tv online and gab plus radio. this is gb news don't go anywhere and will be back in a moment .

andrew pierce with you. well, we can't get away from prince, can we? the reverbs creations from his books continue to fall. the full television interviews he's done a poll now by yougov has shown that his popularity has fallen to its lowest ever level. only 4% of people have a positive of him, compared with 68% who are critical. it's falling every week . i'm joined falling every week. i'm joined now by also and our own and our own gb news poll , which is own gb news poll, which is really interesting. the british charity boss, you remember for anani who was asked by lady and susie has susan as to where she was really from. well in that gb news poll, 42% say she should be allowed to return to work. 24% say she should not. it's worth noting that lady hussey since met with that charity boss to personally apologise . also in personally apologise. also in the poll in our own poll,

negative view of prince harry and also fascinate king. only one third say they are proud of the royal family. let's bring in commentatorjennie bond the royal family. let's bring in commentator jennie bond jenny. let's start with prince harry. those figures are pretty grim. are you surprised . no, no , not are you surprised. no, no, not surprised. i mean, this is day of the onslaught . thought about of the onslaught. thought about harry. don't know how you're surviving. i'm just about surviving. i'm just about surviving . harry must have surviving. harry must have expected some criticism. the level criticism, perhaps, is more than he had hoped for, obviously. but personally , i do obviously. but personally, i do think people should read the whole book. listen the whole book, as i have 16 hours of it whilst looking at the book and have a little more compassion , have a little more compassion, kindness towards a man is clearly extremely mentally fragile , very vulnerable, and so fragile, very vulnerable, and so damaged by his mother's death that he can't even i think, see

or remember things straight. i mean, there's lot of contradictions in some of the things he said. jenny, he talks as well in, the interviews as a result of the book. how he would like a rapprochement with his brother and his . it's not going brother and his. it's not going to happen if this onslaught with which the word you use continues . no, i don't think it will. but i think he has that and said that this sort of these projects are done. now, he feels they can move forward. well, as long as there's a counter , which i take there's a counter, which i take to mean that he wants an apology for being having been born. second, i suppose . but i the second, i suppose. but i the shoe is rather on the other foot. think that william and now that camilla has come under attack as they will be wanting an apology from harry before any peace talks can happen . jenny in peace talks can happen. jenny in your view can prince harry and his wife, the duchess of sussex can they possibly go to the

coronation later this year. i think they will be invited and. i think that's the dignified way of going about things. i kind hope that they do come. but you know, it really it's going to be us, the . media, to well, to give us, the. media, to well, to give the public perception of his presence. i mean, everyone says it'll overshadow the coronation . well, they will if we all headunes . well, they will if we all headlines tomorrow. harry and meghan maybe they should come oven meghan maybe they should come over. and it'll be like the last few lines in the court circular also in attendance where the duke duchess of sussex . yeah, duke duchess of sussex. yeah, maybe they can sit behind president of the united states who is in that very odd position at that service recently. jenny, what about the ngozi fulani lady susan hussey was required to stand down her job within 2 stand down herjob within 2 hours of that bloke being made available by and fulani overwhelmingly in the gb news

poll and dozy the public say susan hussey should be given her job back. she's not going to be given her job back but is that given herjob back but is that a reflection, in your view, of how uncomfortable a lot of people are with way susan hussey was treated .7 know, i think it was treated? know, i think it was interesting that . harry said interesting that. harry said that both he and meghan adored susan hussey because i think susan hussey because i think susan hussey because i think susan hussey was one of those delegated to help meghan into royal. delegated to help meghan into royal . so clearly they regard royal. so clearly they regard her as racist any way and susan has met with ngozi fulani and they seem to have made their peace.i they seem to have made their peace. i don't think lady hussey wants job back. you know, she's in her eighties. she said that job was 62 years. she was on really out of a market by king charles for her very, very long service and was made a lady of the household. she didn't a defined role. it's not a paid it's a voluntary job. and camilla now has her own companions, as they're called, not ladies in waiting, one of whom actually is daughter. so i

don't think for a moment that susan would want to step back in, but i think she will welcome the fact that she's being accepted back into the intimate royal circle of which she's been an absolute part for more than 60 years. a very key member. if i can ask you, just finally, there's probably one of the figures that surprised you most in the gb news poll when asked whether people agree or disagree, they're proud of the royal family 34% they royal family 34% said they agree. proud, that's agree. they're proud, that's all. your view? all. is that in your view? because the fallout from harry and meghan and perhaps perhaps . and meghan and perhaps perhaps. i think 34% had no opinion whatsoever . is that right? and whatsoever. is that right? and there a clear clear division between old and young . generally between old and young. generally polls show that the older generation still proud of the royal family. clearly, yes. the reputation of the family has taken another knock soap opera goes on we know all of stuff about what headed william and

harry's appendages that we want to know or perhaps need to know . yeah. the reputation has taken a knock but i don't think it'll be long lasting . you only have be long lasting. you only have to look william and catherine to look at william and catherine out and the crowd spouting to him, you know, just get on with it. we you and all the rest it. we love you and all the rest of it. that's the way of it. that that's the way they'll regain popularity. i agree with you. that's jennie bond. great to talk you. bond. great to talk to you. let's quickly bring you in port and are you a monarchist or are you republican? i'm very you a republican? i'm a very mild, unenthused state republican. but republican. i have to say. but i've got no special feeling for the family i generally the royal family i generally find about them find stories about them intensely tedious, but will say on this actually that i think way that prince harry and, his wife, have behaved , have been wife, have behaved, have been has been pretty atrocious. i mean, to go on the global media and stress your own flesh and blood, i mean, it strikes me that this is really nothing more than an internal family feud. you the sorts of family you know, the sorts of family falling that all have with falling that we all have with our our loved ones, our our with our loved ones, our kith and kin time to time, kith and kin from time to time, we dream even we had

we wouldn't dream even if we had the to do so, to go on the ability to do so, to go on to television and try and to go television and try and pull a pull. harry, he was so upset. he had an altercation with his brother and his necklace he was upset with his brother and his necklehis he was upset with his brother and his necklehis necklace was upset with his brother and his necklehis necklace breaking,t with his brother and his necklehis necklace breaking, but about his necklace breaking, but he wasn't upset about killing 25 taliban fighters, which he said was just playing a game of was just like playing a game of chess. very odd that he was chess. it's very odd that he was scared of his brother holding a glass of water. but yes, why didn't just. he's a former. didn't he just. he's a former. he an it wasn't punch he fought an and it wasn't punch him argue well him or argue with him. well precisely. think, you precisely. and i think, you know, bigger point in many know, the bigger point in many respects is you can't demand, as they , privacy, because they they did, privacy, because they went to california because they wanted more of a private life . wanted more of a private life. they didn't like the press. japan and all of a sudden, you know, you write a book, do a netflix series , you air your netflix series, you air your family's dirty linen public. i mean, it strikes me as being completely hypocritical . i completely hypocritical. i think, you know, it's a point of principle should renounce their causes you can't trust the institution and the family . on institution and the family. on the one hand, it's like we still want all the trappings of it as well, including title just well, including the title just fine. they have do

fine. of course, they have to do this because. are they this because. how else are they going finance their going to finance their millionaire they're millionaire lifestyle? they're living glamour living in the glamour in california. rubbing california. they rubbing shoulders with shoulders on red carpets with like tom hanks. they need the millions. and the millions. netflix and the publisher is not going to get the millions if says nice things about royal family and about the royal family and i mean i have to say i think it's quite the way they present themselves as victims as marginalise oppress victims. marginalise and oppress victims. i actually i mean, they're actually very high couple wealthy high profile couple wealthy living in a californian you and the idea that these have been hard done by in their lives i think and they even complained about house got on the about the house they got on the windsor royal council estate and they need to appreciate think there's a cost of living crises with millions of people are struggling to make ends those are problems they do . are the real problems they do. now, forget that his view now, don't forget that his view is get you involved is you want to get you involved in you always like hear in this. you always like to hear your views on noise of the news of the day you can us at gb of the day from you can us at gb views gbnews.uk. let's speak to a viewers now, a couple of our viewers now, leigh bristol and leigh harris from bristol and miranda richardson from northamptonshire. leigh, let's talk you hello what do talk to you first. hello what do you about the role the

you think about the role the great royal rumpus oh, i think harry's being a big baby , he is harry's being a big baby, he is not reading the room. it's right in the middle of it, just as paul embery was saying, i completely agree. he is right in the middle of a cost of living crisis and prince harry's and ultra privilege, multimillionaire about his life. i just think that he needs to have a little bit of self—awareness. i think that he's attacking this country. he's the monarchy . and it he's the monarchy. and it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the polling shows that his popularity sunk to a new all time lows . yeah, i just new all time lows. yeah, i just think that he's i think he should take a dignified silence and wind his neck. should take a dignified silence and wind his neck . what do you and wind his neck. what do you make of the poll shows the tory party languishing at 21% and the labour party on 47. what's wrong with rishi? i labour party on 47. what's wrong with rishi.7 i think i labour party on 47. what's wrong with rishi? i think i know. i think , i've given this a lot of think, i've given this a lot of thought and are lots of reasons, but i think there are some big

main reasons. stop and i say this as a conservative because up this as a conservative because ”p by this as a conservative because up by the way , rishi sunak's up by the way, rishi sunak's took office . that was the single took office. that was the single biggest mistake was getting rid of boris. and now got rishi who members didn't vote for and jeremy , who's one of the least jeremy, who's one of the least popular member. that mp is in the party. so i think the party itself is a little bit disenfranchised at the they haven't got that. the enthusiasm they had. so that one thing. but that being said, i honestly believe the main reason now is the of living crisis in a terrible in the country after spending 4 billion on covid and shut down the economy for 18 months which clearly isn't entirely the fault of the conservatives. but what's immensely frustrating is of us predicted that this would happen , tried to warn the party about . i certainly did. i , tried to warn the party about . i certainly did . i really just . i certainly did. i really just wish list trusts made a pig's ear of mini budget she had the right idea it was poorly executed and the timing was just terrible . and of course now what terrible. and of course now what we've got is we've got high tax

jeremy hunt with is essentially a labour budget he should he should be lowering taxes right now have a laser focus on. yeah based on the economy he doesn't need to pay down this debt straight. we can. all right. all right. we have to move on because need to get miranda in here. thank you for that, miranda. what do you think, miranda? good afternoon to, you. and good and happy new year. good afternoon, you know, afternoon, andrew. you know, it's not often i myself slightly structure something to stay, say or stop for a reaction . i want or stop for a reaction. i want start with prince harry. i was a 15 year old child who lost mother. i didn't do it publicly. i lost it in my own life . i i lost it in my own life. i wasn't made to grieve openly and publicly. my entire life , as he publicly. my entire life, as he has done. and when people don't understand why someone is grieving so much, then you what

you want to consider yourself lucky that you don't understand that boy those bullies. however, their relationship however it's ultimately comes down to something that we would never wish on our own children . andrew wish on our own children. andrew so had him to now deal with the situations he's with. this is coming out of as a form of ptsd from a child and losing and deaung from a child and losing and dealing with that. and if he was to ever and deal with it in this way and get it out that way then , you know what then that's his prerogative to do . when we talk prerogative to do. when we talk about not letting them air their dirty laundry in public, he had to ask something far , far worse to ask something far, far worse in public . any of us will ever in public. any of us will ever appreciate . how deep or how hard appreciate. how deep or how hard that is. and i'm coming from that is. and i'm coming from that child stuff in that situation. and he's not often. andrew sorry, i feel like that at the moment. i haven't read this book. got it to eat. i'm

off on holiday next week and i've got it to read when i'm away. i'm not a big royalist. i'm neither here nor there . i i'm neither here nor there. i sit on the fence with the whole family, but i come at it from someone who looks to work with children's charities , support children's charities, support grieving children , not the grieving children, not the parents. there's always plenty for parents, but not for the children. and i try and do that . we can't begin to comprehend where his head's up if he contradicts himself, he probably does. probably does a lot because all of a sudden be something that will take him back and will trigger him to that moment and i think it's a way for him to get out there. and that's what he's. all right, miranda, that's very powerful and very moving . thank you. and very moving. thank you. that's miranda richardson , gb that's miranda richardson, gb news you and lee harris . thank news you and lee harris. thank you forjoining me on the you both forjoining me on the show today. paula any stories out of europe? well, actually, what was how would you respond that you took? miranda said. well, i think we would obviously understand the strength of the feelings and understand where she's from , given her own

she's coming from, given her own personal experience . i do think personal experience. i do think that probably conflating that she was probably conflating two completely separate things. first of all, the death of diana 26 years a tragic event 26 years ago, a tragic event which clearly would have a huge impact on any child to mother. but i honestly don't think that that is the actions of that excuse is the actions of someone . now, what is he, 30 or someone. now, what is he, 30 or whatever, 26 years later, doing the stuff that he's doing? i mean , some point he has to mean, some point he has to accept responsibility for his own decisions in life. and i think we're well beyond that point. we remember. point. and we have to remember. his brother, lost his brother, william, lost a mother, of course, and has handled completely handled it completely differently now. paul, this is be very interesting for you. of course, research that course, research has that firefighters likely to firefighters are more likely to from heart attacks , from cancer heart attacks, strokes to the rest of strokes compared to the rest of population. university of central lancashire revealed that five times more likely to die from a heart. they have a mortality rate for all types of cancen mortality rate for all types of cancer. that's 1.6 times higher than other people . they're also than other people. they're also three times more likely to have a stroke. also, we've seen for the daily mirror reporting today that to 12 firefighters involved

in fighting at grenfell tower may have cancer. what you make of these figures you would five you are a firefighter . yeah i'm you are a firefighter. yeah i'm a firefighter. i was a senior in the brigades union, which the fire brigades union, which know to its immense credit, has carried research in carried this research in conjunction with the university of central lancashire. as you said, i mean it's a very jolting reminder, i think in many respects of the emergency services. do for us, you know, going into the front line, risking their own lives, their own health and safety and the protection and the service of the public and often pain and not so much often these days, fortunately, but certainly once upon a time, quite often paying ultimate price. and some of this we don't see and it's really good when we do get research this it channels channels like this it channels channels like this cover it because you know nobody whether you're a firefighter or in any industry should go into work thinking actually i'm protected and i'm risk much higher risk. actually i'm protected and i'm risk much higher risk . as we've risk much higher risk. as we've seen from the evidence of contracting cancer. i think that

there's a clear obligation now on, senior people within the fire service , within the home fire service, within the home office, to make sure that this research is taken account of. and of course, you're never going to eliminate risk in any industry, particularly in the emergency services. and i'm somebody who accepts that. but nonetheless, you can mitigate it . and i think that this serious piece of to prevent piece of research to prevent further deaths in the future and families suffering the way that some the past , families suffering the way that some the past, needs to some have in the past, needs to be needs to be taken account. and finally, as and just finally, as a firefighter, somebody who's firefighter, as somebody who's been involved in on the union side to, you think that side to, a, do you think that you're employers make it you're the employers make it a are aware enough of the risk that you guys are putting yourselves in? every time you go in smoke filled buildings and the asbestos, you're exposed . i the asbestos, you're exposed. i think they're aware of it. whether or not they do anything , it is often a different question . i mean, i've been question. i mean, i've been a firefighter for 25 years now and generally to get improvements in working conditions , health and working conditions, health and safety, they come about a result of the union doing things like

this undertaking research and campaigning and strong for changes , improve the working changes, improve the working conditions and, the environment of people in the industry . so of people in the industry. so i mean they cannot be of this groundbreaking that they've been presented with but trust me they will need huge amount of encouragement to do something about it. yeah, it reminds us also what a great do my own brother in law pete who's not with this study and well he was a firefighter that went to in swindon i grew up and was swindon where i grew up and was a very proud firefighter. and he often the health often said about the health risks. it's one big family. and when somebody or is injured and i've known people in the job who have been injured and sadly some people lost their lives. it people have lost their lives. it affects it's why affects everybody. and it's why unions own bothers to unions my own bothers to undertake this type of research to sure , you know, these to make sure, you know, these deaths reduced in the deaths are much reduced in the future. paul , you've future. alright paul, you've probably got lots to do . would probably got lots to do. would you come and join me again on this programme. very helpful. and unionist, and bray, he's a trade unionist, he's of the fire he's a member of the fire brigades and a serving brigades union and a serving firefighter. and to say that

research pretty disturbing about how exposed firefighters are to cancer. how exposed firefighters are to cancer . you've watching cancer. now you've been watching andrew here on news to andrew pierce here on news to show you back to 12 next show you back to 12 to next friday don't go anywhere a friday don't go anywhere next a briefing arlene foster . briefing with arlene foster. before weather . hello before that, the weather. hello i'm alex deakin and this is your latest weather update. cold weather on way as we go weather on the way as we go through feels cold through this feels pretty cold out today with the gusty out there today with the gusty winds, they'll easing in winds, but they'll easing in many places, seeing a bit of sunshine today, but low pressure is nearby. these weather is still nearby. these weather systems waiting to our way systems waiting to head our way one low is clearing away. but this weather front is just dangung this weather front is just dangling down course south of scotland, northwest england bringing quite a few showers in here. showers across northern scotland . but elsewhere, many scotland. but elsewhere, many places not seeing any showers today. dry and bright and with a bit of sunshine boot, the wind steadily easing through the day as well, but making it feel cold, certainly temperatures around average so a touch above 7 to 8 degrees, generally ten or 11 across the south. cold air, as i said, is on the way through

the weekend, but not tonight, because tonight we're going to see the rain in those see for the rain in those weather systems out in the atlantic initially for atlantic with rain initially for northern ireland, then across wales that wales this evening that persistent , persistent across wales, southwest england by the morning time could cause some issues here as that rain continues to build up, that rain will be bringing milder air so early in the night we could get down to minus two in northern scotland. but we're generally but my morning we're generally well certainly ten or well above and certainly ten or 11 degrees across the south. a mild but wet start then to saturday the majority. but that rain is going pull away out rain is going to pull away out to the east so many places becoming drier through the afternoon lots of afternoon but with lots of showers. packing into showers. then packing into northern ireland western scotland with snow . the hills scotland with snow. the hills likely here, temperatures will drop through the afternoon. so in the morning could be at 11 in the morning we could be at 11 or 12 afternoon of us in or 12 by the afternoon of us in single figures. and again feeling colder because of the gusty which continue to gusty which will continue to blow showers across northern areas saturday night, areas during saturday night, turning increasingly snow, turning increasingly to snow, even lower levels by the end of the night across northern

scotland, it is turning colder and through sunday night in particular, area of low particular, this area of low pressure some pressure could bring some places, some certainly telling frosty with the risk of ice into next week .

hello and welcome to the briefing i'm arlene foster. and here's what's coming up over the next hour where seen knock on sir keir starmer both touring the uk prime minister and scotland and the labour leader in northern ireland be live in both nations as the leaders vie to show their statesmen credentials. scourge in credentials. it's a scourge in pubs, bars and clubs around country. but now the government has ruled out making spiking a specific crime , angering many specific crime, angering many people