good morning you'll want to listen to gb news. this is friday morning with esther and phil and we've got a great show lined up for you today. we'll be looking at the internal stuff in the labour party's current leader. the sector has leader. the starmer sector has no in the party or possibly that jeremy corbyn want to sturgeon's departure. mean for scottish independence and scottish politics as a whole. we'll be speaking to former snp politician, now the leader of the alba party in the house of

commons, neil hanvey, and later in the show will be speaking to the former lawyer of one of jamie bolger , his killers, john jamie bolger, his killers, john venables, about whether the age of criminal responsible pity should reduced from the age should be reduced from the age of ten. and as ever, we want to hear from you this morning. so to get involved in the conversation, email us on gb views to gbnews.uk or us at gb news. but before we start here with the latest headlines with our . two with the latest headlines with our. two minute past tan. good morning , alan armstrong in the morning, alan armstrong in the gb newsroom. the prime minister is holding talks with stormont leaders amid speculation a deal over the brexit protocol could be close. rishi sunak and the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, are meeting politicians in belfast to discuss the contentious post—brexit trading arrangements. that's of a meeting with eu leaders in germany tomorrow. separately, foreign secretary james cleverly is in brussels this morning for

a meeting with the european commission. it's thought a deal between the eu and the uk could between the eu and the uk could be unveiled early next week. the chairman of the northern ireland conservatives, matthew robinson , says all parties need to get a deal over the line and need to get a deal over the line. here it's not good enough that . it's not good enough that. northern ireland finds itself in a position where we keep keep trying to deal without functioning devolved government. we had it when sinn fein collapsed that not so long ago. we have it now with the duty. we're running on, although you of it's not good for him and wouldn't vestment in northern ireland it's not good for trade it's not good for the northern irish economy. we need to get to a point where we get deal over the line. the snp has postponed a conference on independence following the resignation of first minister nicola sturgeon . first minister nicola sturgeon. it comes as the party's executive says about two select

the new party will close on the 27th of march. deputy first minister john swinney already announced he will be entering the race with scottish government. meanwhile, is offered health care staff an average 6.5% pay rise. workers would also receive a one off payment of somewhere between 400 and £900. and matt mclaughlin the unison scotland's head of health, has called it a credible pay health, has called it a credible pay offer that needs serious consideration . and the scottish consideration. and the scottish health secretary humza yousaf says the deal would make nurses , midwives and paramedics by far best paid anywhere in the uk . best paid anywhere in the uk. members will be balloted . on the members will be balloted. on the royal college of nursing announced a new 48 hour strike in england. members from 128 trusts will walk out on the 1st of march in an escalator in the says will reduce services to an absolute minimum . nurses in absolute minimum. nurses in emergency intensive and cancer

care all previously exempted will now join the picket lines for the first time. but unison says the life and limb care will continue . meanwhile in the west continue. meanwhile in the west midlands are facing more delays as ambulance workers are on the picket lines today. members of the gmb and unite unions are staging a walkout in their long running dispute over pay and staffing. the union say they're for a decent pay offer . the for a decent pay offer. the government says it continues talks with the unions . edf talks with the unions. edf energy made . a £1.1 billion energy made. a £1.1 billion profit last year. that's from a loss of profit last year. that's from a loss 0 f £21 million the year loss of £21 million the year before. its uk consumer energy suppuer before. its uk consumer energy supplier lost more tha n £200 supplier lost more than £200 million. edf has blamed the losses on, the energy price cap. it after yesterday's announcement by british that its profits decreased by almost 40% in the last year. uk retailers

recorded an unexpired dead rise in sales last month . despite the in sales last month. despite the cost of living crisis . the cost of living crisis. the office for national statistic says retail sales rose by nought 5% in january following a fall of 1.2% in december. the rise in sales was mainly thanks to cheaper fuel and january discounts . food store sales, discounts. food store sales, though , fell because of rising though, fell because of rising pnces. though, fell because of rising prices . liz truss though, fell because of rising prices. liz truss has though, fell because of rising prices . liz truss has called though, fell because of rising prices. liz truss has called on g7 leaders to agree a package of sanctions against china . if the sanctions against china. if the ongoing tension over taiwan escalates. speaking japan, the former prime minister urged west to take a tougher approach towards beijing. now the has called for the creation of a pacific defence alliance in cooperation with nato to support taiwan. it is our first public speech since resigning prime minister , the home secretary has minister, the home secretary has asked for an explanation over nicola private life disclosure .

nicola private life disclosure. suella braverman has questioned why lancashire police disclosed details of . nicholas private details of. nicholas private life at a press conference . the life at a press conference. the force says billy suffered some significant issues with alcohol in the past and has struggled with the perimenopause. what lancashire police have referred themselves the police watchdog over contact they've had with the 45 year old prior to her disappearance and storm otto, the first named storm of the season, is set. bring high wind and rain to parts of scotland and rain to parts of scotland and northeast england later. the met office says storm will bring gusts of 60 to 80 miles per houn gusts of 60 to 80 miles per hour. forecasters issued a weather warning until 3 pm. for almost all of scotland and. another until 2 pm. for northeast england. it's also warned of possible damage to buildings in places and travel disruption . this is gb news. disruption. this is gb news. we'll bring you more as it happens, of course. but now it

is back to esther and phil. thank you, aaron. and we're joined throughout the show today by former brexit mep and political commentator belinda lucy should be here with us. well, let's the show today with the news that rishi sunak is in belfast amid speculation that a deal on the northern ireland protocol could be agreed within days. prime minister meeting days. prime minister is meeting party right now before party leaders right now before heading to germany to speak with the eu . let's now over to the eu. let's now cross over to gb news, who's northern ireland? reporter dougie beattie who's in belfast he wants the belfast was due. he wants the latest . well, it's bizarre latest. well, it's bizarre really. three parties so far and all three parties said they haven't seen the deal . the haven't seen the deal. the latest was , my namesake, dougie latest was, my namesake, dougie beattie here is the leader of the ulster unionist party came who says that it could be a yet

before anything goes three and he has taken it more as a sign board. what's going on here? of course, the big two. that be going on. sinn fein is there now with the pm, mary lou mcdonald, the leader of sinn fein, and michelle o'neill , the first michelle o'neill, the first minister, and winning both entered here about 20 minutes ago. they're meeting will be over very shortly and then we are expecting in the dup now of course dup have to buy into deal course dup have to buy into deal. unionists do not the protocol they have never liked . protocol they have never liked. it says that it takes them away from the uk. it takes this part of the uk away , even making laws of the uk away, even making laws and under the laws of the uk. 70% of the goods that are sold and northern ireland are through the uk and vice versa . nearly the uk and vice versa. nearly 20% anywhere from 12 to 20% of the food that is in the uk comes from northern ireland. so there's quite a big relationship there's quite a big relationship there between the uk and northern ireland and that is

being broken by the protocol today. being broken by the protocol today . these talks and tend to today. these talks and tend to try and straighten that out and get the government and northern ireland back up and running once more because it has been down since year and that has came about because of political credibility ever since brexit happened.the credibility ever since brexit happened. the protocol talks given the players unionists have been assured that there would be many, many deals for them. many things put through the house of commons, the house of lords, articles 16 triggered. none of that happened. so nine. even if this deal was goal line and gold plated unionists will sign up to it until they see and force in its totality . and at the moment, its totality. and at the moment, nobody seems to know the details , the deal. dougie, thanks ever so much for that update. and dougie will be with us throughout the day on gb news us an update on what's happening in belfast. it's always difficult with the leader though, to say who was he going to give the information to so it doesn't leak. so there's element that there secrecy until can tell

there is secrecy until can tell everybody tell anybody before they up their opposition they build up their opposition and they leak it to other people. so it's a difficult transition. if you any transition. if you tell any politicians you can rely on, it's get it's going to it's going to get it's going to be in the papers. you've got the negotiations that's the dilemma. anyway, decision this anyway, the decision made this week leader keir week by labour leader keir starmer ban jeremy starmer to ban jeremy corbyn from as a for the party from standing as a for the party at the next general election has caused somewhat stir . caused somewhat of a stir. corbyn, who now sits in dependent mp, condemned the move saying it was a flagrant attack on democracy, adding the candidate be chosen by local party members, not party leaders . so he's got to move further. we're joined by all foreign trade unionist paul embery . trade unionist paul embery. paul trade unionist paul embery. paul, thank you very much for joining us. so has keir starmer got this right? is he right about jeremy from being a labour party candidate the next election ? no, i have to say i election? no, i have to say i think he's got this one wrong and preface that by the way, by saying that i doubt nobody in my criticisms of corbyn and the

schism that it created in the party between the party itself and ordinary working class voters . the electoral voters. the electoral consequences of . but this move consequences of. but this move seems to me just to be entirely arbitrary and undemocratic . it arbitrary and undemocratic. it and i have to say for the leader of the political party to effectively defend his right the previous leader must be unprecedented mean can you imagine, for example rishi sunak deciding all that liz truss or bofis deciding all that liz truss or boris johnson wasn't going to be as a candidate for the conservative at the next election? this seems to be keir starmer making this pronouncement on a whim . i don't pronouncement on a whim. i don't think it's gone through yet . the think it's gone through yet. the labour party national executive committee. so as i say , i think committee. so as i say, i think it's all potentially undemocratic smacks of factionalism and isn't really going to be helpful to the party when it should be focusing on winning the general. but it's not it's not really better. really, really. is it because obviously jeremy corbyn was leader party when they

leader of the party when they basically were found by the equality and human rights commission, that they've broken the to the law with regard to antisemitism . erm so if keir antisemitism. erm so if keir starmer is trying to make sure that the labour party that behind them is this not only stepping in, in doing that. behind them is this not only stepping in, in doing that . well stepping in, in doing that. well look, i mean if they were evidence that corbyn himself were an anti—semite or had encouraged anti—semitic ism and of course it goes without saying , no place in any mainstream political party, no place in society for people of those views. i think probably in terms of corbyn, it's certainly true that during his leadership, of corbyn, it's certainly true that during his leadership , the that during his leadership, the party, the party wasn't quick in tackling, tackling the number of anti—semites who did exist. i think that's a fair criticism then, and corbyn has to face the music on that. unquestionably but what i would say to people is argue with him. if you disagreed with corbyn if you disagreed with corbyn if you disagreed with corbyn if you disagreed with the way that you run the party, if you disagree with these public statements

about anti—semitism anything about anti—semitism or anything else, have to else, argue with him, have to debate. ultimately, i think debate. but ultimately, i think the constituency labour party members in isn't the north where he happens to be very popular. i'm not a corbyn, but there's no question he's popular. they've got to have bit of a say on that as well. it's a matter of local democracy as much as all the people. and you said, you people. and like you said, you don't somebody you don't agree with somebody you should against what should be arguing against what they said. so this is a very clip, of course . starmer clip, of course. starmer absolutely not arguing against but defending jeremy corbyn to the hilt. it was circulated on twitter by the former minister simon clarke. let's take a look at here . i'm 100% behind jeremy at here. i'm 100% behind jeremy corbyn. you are not. i am working with jeremy corbyn to try to win the next general election and don't trust the last poll. yes because what jeremy corbyn brought to this party, he made us anti—austerity party, he made us anti—austerity party that stood against cuts . party that stood against cuts. you were loyal to jeremy corbyn and you in his defence just now

. but louise ellman says that he is a danger not just to the labour party but to the entire british jewish community. i don't accept that. i don't . so don't accept that. i don't. so paul damaging is that clip there to keir . well i think it's to keir. well i think it's always damaging if as a politician you are seen to be saying one thing at one moment in time then say in a completely different thing, just a couple years down the road, people don't like double standards generally . they don't like generally. they don't like hypocrisy, they don't like opportunism. now i it's obviously. sir keir starmer to explain why his current statements are wildly contradicting to what he said at the time. i think there's a legitimate issue and by the way, i think keir starmer has done some good things and as leader of the labour party, i think he has tried to reconnect with his base and he deserves credit for that. do think he needs to that. but i do think he needs to be account for some of be held to account for some of things he during his things he said during his leadership campaign i think leadership campaign when i think he to certain

he was appealing to a certain section party, some of section of the party, some of the commitments that on the commitments that he gave on nationalising energy, for example and he's doing now example and what he's doing now , which is abandoning some of that stuff, i think integrity and consistency are important in politics, and i don't think starmer entirely imbued with those characteristic at the moment. and listen , paul, i moment. and listen, paul, i completely agree. had ten policies which all to be like corbyn policies win the leader for of to be the leader of the labour party and then he's drifted from them one by one. does this smack you of a mandelson tony blair move because not really talking to labour here is he. he's trying win over tory but tory voters should be very aware that he change his mind and a drop of opinion . well, we have to opinion. well, we have to remember, of course, that starmer is a north london lawyer and. of course, tony blair himself was a north london liberal lawyer . and himself was a north london liberal lawyer. and i strongly suspect that actually keir starmer's policy privately

augned starmer's policy privately aligned , very closely to those aligned, very closely to those of tony blair's. and i think there's evidence to suggest he's brought in some of those kind of old blairite figures into the inner circle from time to time to him. my advice would be, look , the working class vote in this haemorrhaged underplays leadership in terms the labour party, it wasn't just jeremy corbyn who lost the working class, although he contributed to it undoubtedly that has gone back a long way in time under previous labour leaders, including blair. so if starmer thinks that the way to reconnect with the red wall for example, is pedal in kind of liberal, is by pedal in kind of liberal, centrist, progressive , middle centrist, progressive, middle class ideology , i don't think class ideology, i don't think that's going to go down well in places like grimsby and wakefield whatever. i wakefield and whatever. so i would ask him, think would i would ask him, think again that poll just just again on that poll just just finally, i mean, how strong are the supporters within the the corbyn supporters within the labour party still ? have they labour party still? have they all sort of disappeared anyway, or are they still very strongly labour party associate ? and, and labour party associate? and, and if they, if there is still quite

a strong presence , how damaging a strong presence, how damaging could this be in the sense could those people, because it always struck that corbyn was like a cult really for many people . cult really for many people. could those people be in danger actually abandoning the labour party if they see that jeremy corbyn's been kicked out of it . corbyn's been kicked out of it. i think their time he's done tell it, to be honest. i think a couple of years they definitely had control of the labour party , they had control of the national executive committee of the labour party . they were very the labour party. they were very strong grassroots level constituency labour parties . but constituency labour parties. but certainly since keir starmer was elected . i think their influence elected. i think their influence is dissipating quite substantially. they no longer control the national executive , control the national executive, which is a key thing. that's a key battleground in the labour party. if you are the leader you always want the labour party on board to do your bidding because the nsc effectively governs the party system has got that . so no party system has got that. so no doubt he's comfortable with making the statement about corbyn standing because he knows

the likely to him on the nsc likely to back him on it. there are still elements it. so there are still elements of the corbynite left practise and fairly influential in some parts the party. but by and parts of the party. but by and large they've been neutered. frankly you frankly paula. anyway, thank you very much for joining frankly paula. anyway, thank you very much forjoining us frankly paula. anyway, thank you very much for joining us this morning. appreciate morning. we really appreciate it. we also want to it. thank you. we also want to hear our viewers as well, hear from our viewers as well, what you of keir trying to what do you of keir trying to distance himself from his very close ally , jeremy corbyn? what close ally, jeremy corbyn? what do you think? is it a good move or about one, you know, to how to get in touch with us, how to email? and as we said earlier, would you like be joined in the studio throughout by studio throughout the show by former mep belinda former brexit mep belinda deluise? so belinda was, was do you starmer was right to you think starmer was right to want to ban corbyn from being a labour candidate with paul? actually, i think it's really important i really important that even if i really disagree someone that , they disagree with someone that, they represent another in this country and. as you mentioned quite rightly , the conservative quite rightly, the conservative party was to suddenly , you know, party was to suddenly, you know, take boris away , the people or , take boris away, the people or, you know, started to punish people in government in a way

that the electorate down like we need choices and voices so jeremy corbyn i should stay but i am enjoying starmer drama for once , you know after all the once, you know after all the turmoil in the tory party, we now have the proof that actually had labour been in power for years, i'm sure they would have been just much drama and infighting. i mean i sort of i tend to agree with that because l, tend to agree with that because i, you know, i think political parties are broad churches and should churches. should be broad churches. they should be broad churches. they should different should be tolerant of different strands, opinion within them. but from a from a purely political perspective, if keir starmer trying to persuade starmer is trying to persuade the the labour party the public that the labour party now different to the one that was went into the last general election is that no better way of doing it than actually saying actually he's now no longer even going to be a labour candidate anyway. yeah. optics, the anyway. yeah. the optics, the good if i understand good of it. if i understand that. feels like that. but it just feels like labour and conservative are both sort of moving towards a centrist blob and getting rid of their sort of little factions just becoming so same like

purply pink party , both of them. purply pink party, both of them. so that's not leaving a lot of choice that's two thought here. i've got one the people is always hey we want authenticity . we want to be able to trust you . we want to know that you you. we want to know that you mean what you say. so in an age, social media, when you can what he was saying not years a light years away back and university days. liz truss got away with that she could say oh i was a lib dem at university. no, no, i mean this is only a few years ago and it that he was distancing himself, he was in cabinet, he was going out on the airwaves supporting him, enthuse yes, stickley supporting him. so do people say, well, you know i get that. but all politics joins us snake like just trying to get to the top and he's proved he's more snake like than anybody else do we need somebody snake in this difficult world negotiating with them so would you say the public will they. well authenticity. truthfulness with actually what we're looking for is a cunning leader.

with actually what we're looking for is a cunning leader . what for is a cunning leader. what we're lacking is politicians with a courage of conviction. the to be disliked, to stand up for what believe in. and what we've seen with both and rishi actually is this flip flop business where they say one thing while they can paint campaigning and then u—turn when they get into power has done this with brexit, came with respect the referendum then suddenly campaigning for suddenly was campaigning for saying he was to campaign saying he was going to campaign for in a rerun the whole for remain in a rerun the whole vote. so we have seen this before it makes him untrustworthy he stand untrustworthy and he can't stand on of while he's flip on a platform of while he's flip flopping. right. i think this flopping. right. so i think this could be building of a problem for. keir starmer if you go for. keir starmer if you can go one after another after another , things that has flip , things that he has flip flopped on when he's promised earnestly that he's going to do something. so next time promises something. so next time promises something. owners really will he do all. what it could do it at all. what it could let's conservative mp in of let's a conservative mp in of course corbyn decides to course so if corbyn decides to stand independent he would stand as independent he would split. think could really and split. i think could really and could split the vote in a labour safe seat and could could let safe seat and could it could let a tory mp through if he splits

splits the vote. so who knows . splits the vote. so who knows. see. but i don't think it's bad news for the concert is that they're having this division at they're having this division at the and now with the moment. and rishi now with trying brexit deal trying to get his brexit deal through, the protocol as a former brexit mep, what do you think? i think it is so this never needed to happen . all when never needed to happen. all when i was in the eu parliament we very, very aware that last carlsson and his own adviser had a 47 page document providing , a a 47 page document providing, a smart solution, a smart border . smart solution, a smart border. the eu dismissed it because they had political will and no goodwill to solve the northern ireland problem. this was all this is all completely pointless . i should never have been a border and. so it's frustrating and rishi will and i think rishi will completely buckle. i think his response meeting response to govan lammy meeting up response to govan lammy meeting up private meeting which up in that private meeting which was oh wouldn't answer the question about whether he approved or not the way approved of it or not the way the eu compromise is on its own terms. so worried about what's you're worried ? our viewers are you're worried? our viewers are probably worried. absolutely

coming up, we'll be speaking to the leader of the alba in the house of commons, neil hanvey, about the shock departure of snp nicola stay with .

us welcome back. it's 1025. us welcome back. it's1025. let's welcome back. it's 1025. let's head over to belfast again, where sinn fein are given a statement . i can't hear it . statement. i can't hear it. there's no sound. no sound. there's no sound. no sound. there's no sound. no sound. there's no . i don't think we there's no. i don't think we could. i couldn't hear that . it could. i couldn't hear that. it looked like it was the end of the statement. both walked away from the mics. they looked very earnest. anyway we need a body language expert to see all they were saying. anyway sturgeon shot resignation this week has shaken the snp to its core, with

the party leader in westminster stephen stating that the stephen flynn, stating that the for independence should be paused so. sturgeon paused so. when sturgeon departure from hollywood on challenged electorally an unbeaten leaving uncertainty for who should replace her so . now who should replace her so. now two things one who would you think should replace her but what did you think of her shock resignation and did it remind you , jacinda ardern doing ? yes, you, jacinda ardern doing? yes, you, jacinda ardern doing? yes, you know, things get tough times tough, so they walk well, woke extremism exhausting because you're constantly to play up to a lot of fantasy and feelings over facts. so it is exhausting constantly being the face of that. i was shocked. i was very happy that nicola resigned. i thought her statement was quite self—indulgent, narcissistic . self—indulgent, narcissistic. but it is great that she is gone in of who might replace up. i think need a new face fresh face new ideas a young person about a

totally different party altogether is what i think it will now open up thank you for that we're . also now joined that we're. also now joined talking of new different parties but splinter of the snp party but splinter of the snp party but who may be could be the face now of scotland instead let's join the alba party in the house commons the leader of that party neil hamby hello. commons the leader of that party neil hamby hello . so what did neil hamby hello. so what did you think of nicola sturgeon shock resignation? does let you in as a party. yeah it was it certainly was surprise. i think everybody was caught off guard at the timing , although any at the timing, although any acknowledgement of recent events being a contributing just didn't feel particularly authentic , it feel particularly authentic, it has been an extraordinarily difficult loss . weeks of our difficult loss. weeks of our tenure and i do think that that didn't have any bearing on the decision as is fanciful really. however what it says is a great

opportunity for the independents to get a new strategy together because we've been lacking a clear strategy for some time now and many of us have been incredibly by the lack of progress made. indeed. and i in the last few weeks it's fair to say that the independence movement gone backwards . so movement gone backwards. so i hope that we are able to bring forward a constitutional convention of all of the supporting parliamentary and civic scotland and others who have something to contribute to , defining that strategy as we move forward. so it's you a surprise, but with every every change comes great opportunity . change comes great opportunity. well nailed this . there's talk well nailed this. there's talk amongst some people in the snp that nicola sturgeon's departure is going to mean a pause now in the campaign for her for independence and a another referendum. do you do you see it that way do you think this is going to delay the calls for

another referendum ? well, i another referendum? well, i think had eight years of delay, to be honest. i know the media like to talk about nicola sturgeon going on about independence all the time . but independence all the time. but there's one thing to talk about an issue before an election and quite another thing to actually have a strategy for implementation . and that's been implementation. and that's been something that's frustrates a great many of us over the past number of years. so now is the opportunity, as i say, get that strategy , the table for strategy, the table for discussion , you know, after the discussion, you know, after the uk supreme court decision , other uk supreme court decision, other party wasted no time in meeting to discuss all of the relevant issues related to the to the decision of the uk supreme court and to begin our planning for response. and we've been engaging that response since then. engaging that response since then . we are continuing to do then. we are continuing to do that. then. we are continuing to do that . had two special meetings, that. had two special meetings, a national and we continuing to build the for case i don't think

there's any appetite yet to pause campaign for independence and dependencies our gateway to and dependencies our gateway to a stronger economy a better and fairer community and it's not something that can be shelved any duration of time. will you be pushing for an election now will you be wanting a snap election ? i say that because ian election? i say that because ian blackford was always saying, you know, in westminster there should be an election if leader changes. so surely the snp should follow what they've been calling for in westminster. yeah but we've been calling interest to that. we've been calling for a snap election in scotland for quite some time now because one of the ways that we could hold that facto referendum would be for the scottish msps to change the standing orders of the parliament. i amend the scotland

diet , vote by parliament. i amend the scotland diet, vote by simple parliament. i amend the scotland diet , vote by simple majority to diet, vote by simple majority to force an election and that would have given an opportunity for the scottish people to be able to register their feelings around independence in that plebiscite, general election , we plebiscite, general election, we now are in a situation which i think probably only the argument where the first minister has stepped down and understand that angus brendon won by snp colleagues in westminster has suggested just that for me this this year and that would be certainly a tremendous opportunity for the independence movement to respond to the uk supreme court in a meaningful way. now whether that would be mailbox or , whether that be a mailbox or, whether that be a general election, as a matter of opinion , neil, just very opinion, neil, just very quickly, obviously the alba party in effect on the born out of the snp all sort of were formerly people in the it's now the alba party with nicola

sturgeon's departure is possibility that you may oh reunite again and back into one party again is a realistic possibility possibility . well possibility possibility. well let's i'm a lot of repair work would need to be done with a very many people for about two to happen but reality is that purpose of say our party was not to be in competition with the snp it was to complement the snp .today snp it was to complement the snp . today the snp have rejected our our help although recently they have been supportive my interventions in parliament so you know there is hope that we will be able to have a constructive relationship. but i don't think by any stretch it spells end for alba as a political force . neil humphrey, political force. neil humphrey, thank you so much indeed for taking time to join us this morning. we do appreciate it. thank you, belinda maybe an interesting answer there. could they merge ? couldn't find a new

they merge? couldn't find a new name could it sort of be snp eight or something if they need all the votes all those politicians if independence is so important to them and they seem to have chucked everything else under under the bus though they haven't really done anything with drugs, haven't done education. done anything with education. what think a new party. what do you think a new party. oh, it on. scotland oh, yes, bring it on. scotland need something and fresh. need something new and fresh. nicola since 2014 she's been nicola had since 2014 she's been in power and everything's gone downhill so it is downhill since then. so it is time. grass is growing new time. the grass is growing new party support it and party i'd support it and be interested well coming up. interested in well coming up. we'll into the we'll be looking into the decision by welsh government decision by the welsh government to stop all road building projects in the country madness madness . but projects in the country madness madness. but first it's time for the latest headlines . our . it's the latest headlines. our. it's 1033 about armstrong in the gb news forum and the prime minister is in belfast this morning hoping to convince stormont leaders to support his brexit deal. rishi sunak and the

northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris meeting politicians to discuss the contentious post—brexit trading arrangements . mr. sunak contentious post—brexit trading arrangements. mr. sunak is expected to discuss the protocol with european leaders in germany this weekend, with a possible deal hope be agreed within days. but leader of the ulster unionist party doug beattie says nothing's been finalised yet . nothing's been finalised yet. there is a nervousness, i would say, between the eu and the uk . say, between the eu and the uk. there will be a running commentary on this and that could end up with things. i can understand that , but neither can understand that, but neither can they just dump something in front of us on the table and say, there you are, a deal, take it or leave it. you know, we have to be involved in this. i will take what he said to me. he says a way to go yet. says there's a way to go yet. that's said his words. that that's what said his words. that doesn't things won't move doesn't mean things won't move quickly. but say that quickly. but he did say that there is a way to yet. so there is a way to go yet. so that tells me that deal not that tells me that the deal not been finalised. we simply has postponed conference on postponed a conference on independence following the resignation first minister resignation of first minister

nicola sturgeon , the party's nicola sturgeon, the party's executive say a ballot to select the new leader will close on the 27th of march. the deputy minister john swinney has already announced he will not be putting his name forward . the putting his name forward. the scottish government has offered health care staff an average 6.5% pay rise. workers will also receive a one off payment of between 400 an d £900, depending between 400 and £900, depending their seniority. and matt mclaughlin , the unison mclaughlin, the unison scotland's head of health, has called it a credible offer and says it needs serious consideration . one of the things consideration. one of the things we want to do is find the female . liz truss has called on leaders to agree a package of sanctions against china if ongoing tension over taiwan escalates. speaking in japan , escalates. speaking in japan, the former prime minister called for coordinated response and has urged west to take a tougher approach towards . beijing. approach towards. beijing. atrocities call for the creation of a pacific defence alliance . of a pacific defence alliance. cooperation with nato to support

taiwan tv, online and dab radio. this is .

gb news. welcome back. 1038 so let's go live to the old bailey where david smith is being sentenced. you then downloaded them from your phone or camera onto your personal computer or other electronic storage devices . you electronic storage devices. you took care to store some documents in a way which made it less likely that they would be found by someone who casually examined them. for example . you examined them. for example. you put some of the photos of documents containing personal

details of embassies staff into a file the name of suggested that it contained nothing but houday that it contained nothing but holiday photographs . you copied holiday photographs. you copied a significa amount of material over years the material has been out blind in the prosecution opening and put into a useful table by. your represent which was presented to me in the course of mitigation . i do not course of mitigation. i do not need to rehearse again. the detail of that material i need only record that it was voluminous and obviously gathered on a number of days and not all at one time in 2020. you also a number of videos of those areas of the embassy into which the public have right of access

. these videos carefully and methodic be filmed. they contained a considerable of information which would be and you would be useful a hostile foreign power. i am that you took those videos with that in mind . on this video footage was mind. on this video footage was always designed to be provided. the russians you film the nameplates on the doors of offices personal about the offices personal about the offices occupants which was on display in the rooms and any potentially useful document left on the surface in the room or you found put away in a desk . you found put away in a desk. you would often include footage of the view from the window of this only have been so that anyone who viewed the footie would have pinpointed where in

the embassy building any particular room could be located . this activity is reflected in . the you started to pass on this information to the russians in may 2020. in that you wrote anonymously to general serov , a anonymously to general serov, a military attache at the russian embassy. you enclosed with your letter a booklet you had obtained from the british embassy , which set out the names embassy, which set out the names of people working there along with some contact details them and a description of the roles they performed within . the they performed within. the embassy . in they performed within. the embassy. in that they performed within. the embassy . in that letter they performed within. the embassy. in that letter , you embassy. in that letter, you promised that more information would be forthcoming . the would be forthcoming. the specific example of you passing on information was a letter you wrote to general major shook off another military attache at the

russian embassy in november 2020. in that letter you provide an update on people newly arrived to work in your organisation . you also pass to organisation. you also pass to him photographs of staff which you had deliberately annotated with personal details of the people depicted in them . you put people depicted in them. you put those people at risk by so doing . it is not possible for me to determine how many more times you made contact with someone in the russian embassy and passed on material to . there is no on material to. there is no direct evidence of what other contacts took place . but for the contacts took place. but for the reasons i given in my previous judgement , i reasons i given in my previous judgement, i am sure that at some stage in 2020 you were established regular contact with someone at the russian embassy

and that this contact was conduh and that this contact was conduit through which illegally obtained by you was passed . on obtained by you was passed. on the sole account on the indictment and turning the onward provision of material to the russians is count one. that is the count that relates to your correspondence with general major shoot . there is no count major shoot. there is no count on the indictment relating to your other contact contact . your other contact contact. however, when i pass sentence on count one, i can into account that this was not a one off action , but an offence committed action, but an offence committed against the background that you had previously contact. general zero. and provided him with . and zero. and provided him with. and thatis zero. and provided him with. and that is about the time of contacting one. you establish to contacting one. you establish to contact at the russian embassy

and pass more information to russia by those mean . were paid russia by those mean. were paid by russia or your treachery . by russia or your treachery. there is unsafe leave no document taken which records the amounts you were paid . i accept amounts you were paid. i accept there is no evidence that the payments amounted life changing sums of money. but was enough to enable you to save up sums of money. but was enough to enable you to save u p ,800 by enable you to save up ,800 by the time of your arrest and to exist without making significant withdrawals on your bank , which withdrawals on your bank, which had previously be necessary for you to your living expenses . i you to your living expenses. i these payments as significant factor in increasing your culpability for your action . culpability for your action. your duplicity went on until the time of your arrest by august

2021. unbeknown to you , the 2021. unbeknown to you, the british authorities suspect you of being involved in the provision of information to russia . this resulted in what be russia. this resulted in what be termed a sting operation being carried out . british who was not carried out. british who was not known to you and you were told was called dmitri met one of the embassy staff in your presence in circumstance is suggesting that they were russian seeking to pass classified documents . to pass classified documents. the british authorities . you the british authorities. you took the opportunity presented took the opportunity presented to you by the situation to collect more information which would have assisted russia at the damaged british interest when you were asked by dmitri to photocopy a document in russian which you took to be classified

, you took an extra copy for yourself, which you can . count yourself, which you can. count five when the employee of the embassy gave man calling himself dmitri a sim card , ostensibly dmitri a sim card, ostensibly for him to make with the british when he had more information to give you kept the packaging from that involved rather than throw it away as you were asked to do . this is count c. it away as you were asked to do . this is count c . finally over . this is count c. finally over two days using mobile telephone . you filmed the embassy cctv footage of dmitri's visit in doing you focussed on dmitri face so that it could clearly seen this contact is by count seven and eight only indictment . you were effectively led into believing that to meet three was

a traitor to russia who was offering information to the united kingdom . i am sure that united kingdom. i am sure that you collected together the sim card packaging and the images from the cctv with a view to passing them on to russian authorities had dmitri been a genuine visitor to the british embassy and therefore a russian genuinely trying to pass secret to the british. it is impossible to the british. it is impossible to know what would have been the consequences for him of having his to russia exposed in this way. you . it is self—evident way. you. it is self—evident that this case demands immediate prison sentence in those circum stances. no pre—sentence report would help me. a none has obtained or asked . for. there is

obtained or asked. for. there is no specific offence guideline to me in fixing the appropriate length of sentence . i therefore length of sentence. i therefore use sentence in counsel's general guideline pursuant to that guideline. i must sentence by weighing up both your culpability and the harm done your behaviour in making those judgements. i must have to any guidance by the court of appeal criminal division , i have been criminal division, i have been helpfully referred to a selection of relevant authority course . each case turns on five course. each case turns on five that i course. each case turns on five thati a course. each case turns on five that i a number of guiding principles from those authorities which i intend to employ . in authorities which i intend to employ. in your case in particular, it is clear that there is a strong and recognised pubuc there is a strong and recognised

public interest in protecting secret information . sentences secret information. sentences must reflect the public lack of towards those who do not respect the sense since ought to contain an element of deterrent to others who might be tempted to act in this way in the future . act in this way in the future. and when assessing harm i should consider actually calls harm intended and any harm which was foreseeable consequence of your action . i must course always action. i must course always have in mind the statute . have in mind the statute. punishment is the most important in a case. does this i a special culpability be as high ? you were culpability be as high? you were a security at the embassy . it is a security at the embassy. it is not a senior position , but it is

not a senior position, but it is one which imposed on you a high . it was your job to ensure that the embassy was and its staff . the embassy was and its staff. you had access to restricted areas of the building at times when nobody else was likely be there. you did what you did . it there. you did what you did. it was the most obvious breach of the trust placed in you . in the trust placed in you. in addition, i am sure that you committed these crimes intending to assist russia, a state which at that time, as now was regarded as unfriendly to the united kingdom . your motive united kingdom. your motive assisting them was to damage british interests . although you british interests. although you did not start to pass material to the russians until 2020. i am sure that you gathered all of this material with a view

harming british interests in some way . your unlawful some way. your unlawful behaviour was persistent and to an extent sophisticated . you an extent sophisticated. you copied documents , many types and copied documents, many types and stored them . you took videos of stored them. you took videos of the embassy in a way would have been of maximum assistance . the been of maximum assistance. the russian . you did as much as you russian. you did as much as you could. ensure that dmitri's identity would be revealed as i have already noted, your level of culpability is increased still further by the fact you were receiving money, your criminal conduct . it is hard to criminal conduct. it is hard to say harm was actually by your action . could only accurately be action. could only accurately be measured if one knew for certain how much information you had at alstom, which is an

ascertainable . how much was ascertainable. how much was novel the russians and how much known to them already and how far they were able and willing to use it . as i remarked to use it. as i remarked yesterday , the russian yesterday, the russian authorities are hardly to assist this call in answering those question . however, to assist me question. however, to assist me , question. however, to assist me i , question. however, to assist me , i have been provided with a number of state from british officials which address the level of harm cause in taking out of the embassy. personal details relating to it . you put details relating to it. you put of those staff at increased risk of those staff at increased risk of harm . they had to be told of harm. they had to be told that their security had been compromised in this way and the level of danger caused by your right then had to be managed . it right then had to be managed. it is called some of the people involved and their.

understandable anxiety and distress . the embassy understandable anxiety and distress. the embassy has had to undertake an overhaul of its processes and procedures to ensure that it does not remain compromised in purely financial terms. this has cost the taxpayers of this country £820,000 so far . the extraction £820,000 so far. the extraction of documents relating to trade and international relations . and and international relations. and in this case, as in every case, despite the potential reduce the effectiveness of future british negotiation or reduce level of trust put in this country by its allies . i trust put in this country by its allies. i assess trust put in this country by its allies . i assess the level of allies. i assess the level of harm your case to be high , but harm your case to be high, but not at the high . it harm your case to be high, but not at the high. it is high because of the volume of material you took from the embassy . the personal it

embassy. the personal it contained and the period of time over which you did it. in addition, the you obtained deliberately passed on an unfriendly . foreign. there have unfriendly. foreign. there have been tangible and ascertainable harms caused by your activity , harms caused by your activity, and there exists foreseeable possibility that the damage done would extend beyond that , which would extend beyond that, which is obvious today. i say that it is obvious today. i say that it is not of the high because you did , for example , obtain or did, for example, obtain or reveal top level military or details of british which would have lifted this case into very highest category . i have decided highest category. i have decided that it would be appropriate to pass on you in current terms for each offence relating the obtaining of the documents and

images from embassy . these all images from embassy. these all form part the same codes of conduct . i form part the same codes of conduct. i include in form part the same codes of conduct . i include in that the conduct. i include in that the sentences relating to counts 5 to 8. the count relating the man known as dimitri . although these known as dimitri. although these counts arose from a sting operation . they were as far as operation. they were as far as were concerned. i of your activities is gathering information which might be of use to russia and detrimental the united kingdom . the sentence the united kingdom. the sentence on each of those count will reflect your overall culpable bility for this aspect of your behaviour on all of the counts. save count one. i adopt a starting point for sentence after trial of nine years. now one which concerns the supply documents to the russian

authorities , represents further authorities, represents further and separate if related course of conduct which all properly to attract a consecutive sentence . attract a consecutive sentence. the sentencing authorities make that consecutive sentence in cases such as this are merited where a single course of conduct is particularly protracted , or is particularly protracted, or where the behaviour of a defender is rightly be regarded as more than single or under. the proper starting point for sentence on this count. after had it stood alone , would, in my had it stood alone, would, in my judgement have been one of ten years. however i judgement have been one of ten years. howeveri must judgement have been one of ten years. however i must reflect in my sentence that this count relates directly to some the documentation already covered by count two to only . to that end, count two to only. to that end, i my starting point trial on

count 1 to 7 years. the factors which in other circumstance i would have found offending your financial benefit from doing what you did . the abuse of past what you did. the abuse of past and the fact that people were put at risk by your actions of all already being taken into account in fixing the starting points for sentence. and i do not count them again . your not count them again. your mitigating shine lies solely in previous good character. mitigating shine lies solely in previous good character . the previous good character. the credit for that must be limited as offending here will so extend and so serious. i i reject any suggestion that you are remorseful for your your regrets are no more than when any expression of was tested during

newton hearing you concentrated on the effects that your offending had on yourself. the wife and your parent . when asked wife and your parent. when asked the potentially catastrophic consequences for others , you consequences for others, you repeatedly suggested that these were non—existing or negligible as only provided to the russian information which they already available to them at you being remorseful. you would not have lied on oath to me in that heanng lied on oath to me in that hearing as you did did. lied on oath to me in that hearing as you did did . neither hearing as you did did. neither do i intend to reduce your sentence significantly for any mental health. difficult as you may have . there is no medical may have. there is no medical evidence before me on which to judge how serious they were at the time of your offending or are now . i have already recorded are now. i have already recorded my view that i see no logical link between depression and a

decision . betray your country . i decision. betray your country. i cannot reduce your sentence and significant based simply on your self—reporting symptoms and anecdotal observer actions of others without evidence guide . others without evidence guide. me as to the effect this has had . in i was further asked in mitigation to temper your sentence by reference to the fact that you were under suspicion of passing the russians from late 2020 or early 2021 and committed of this offending, while that suspicion . i declined to do so. i have rightly not been told of the way in which any invest allegation into your conduct was viewed. dave in so far as directly relevant to the issues in this very whatever the reasons for

the authorities to act as they do and you impose it was you who made the decision continued band and you you must all blame that . overall your limited mitigation allows me to reduce your sentence by one year. the total figure so far therefore is one of 15 years you will get credit for your guilty plea. i have afforded i would have afforded 25% credit had . you not afforded 25% credit had. you not pleaded guilty on false basis, which an necessitated a newton heanng which an necessitated a newton hearing . i arrive at the figure hearing. i arrive at the figure of 25, then because you pleaded guilty when first to right . of 25, then because you pleaded guilty when first to right. but did so having served a defence date suggesting that you were not guilty . your arraignment was not guilty. your arraignment was delayed number of times to give

you an opportunity to consider your position in those circumstances , a full reduction circumstances, a full reduction of one third would not be appropriate . however, the appropriate. however, the sentencing council guideline on credit for guilty plea suggests that a reduction of 50% in the level of credit is appropriate where defendant contests and loses a newton hearing . loses a newton hearing. therefore will afford you approximately 12 and a half % approximately 12 and a half% credit for your guilty plea . credit for your guilty plea. this reduces your overall sentence to one of 13 years and two months that will be made up of a sentence of six years and two months on count one and a consecutive term of seven years on all other counts . finally, in on all other counts. finally, in at your sentence , i apply the at your sentence, i apply the

sentencing council guideline on totality and consider whether this total sentence is just and proportionate to reflect your overall . in my judgement, it is overall. in my judgement, it is it reflect your culpability and the harm and is a reflection of your serious conduct . bearing in your serious conduct. bearing in mind the need , deterrence and mind the need, deterrence and punishment in cases such as this this . in punishment in cases such as this this. in reaching that conclusion, i have had regard to sentences passed in other cases this type in the past significantly longer sentences in this have been reserved for offending offending . and of a offending offending. and of a much greater magnitude than before , significantly shorter before, significantly shorter have been reserved for people whose activity , in my judgement, whose activity, in my judgement, more limited your own , such as

more limited your own, such as in the authorities referred to me of games . in the authorities referred to me of games. in mr. smith's stand up . on count, one of this stand up. on count, one of this indict meant i sentence you to a term of six years. three months imprisonment on counts to await my sentence due to concurrent terms of seven years. but those will be served consecutively . will be served consecutively. your sentence on count making a total of 13 years. two months. the time you have served in custody preferable to these offences will count your sentence . that will include both sentence. that will include both the time spent on remand in this country and the ten days i certify spent in custody in germany awaiting extradition . if germany awaiting extradition. if you serve your sentence in the united , you will be released

united, you will be released after you have served half of that sentence , you will then be that sentence, you will then be on licence until the expiry , the on licence until the expiry, the total term . if you breach the total term. if you breach the terms your licence, you can be returned to serve the remainder your sentence in custody . if your sentence in custody. if serve your sentence in germany . serve your sentence in germany. there are rules on early will 6my there are rules on early will apply to you . it is not for me apply to you. it is not for me to decide where your sentence will be served . the will apply will be served. the will apply in this case in the usual amount . i make no orders for or destruction of your computer and other equipment used in this offending as it is in germany. if you do not volunteer , if you do not volunteer, relinquish your rights then it will be for the german court to consider any further . taken . consider any further. taken. down well , that was the down well, that was the sentencing of david smith, the security guard in the embassy in

berlin and found guilty of passing secrets over russia sentenced there. but the bailey today to 13 years and two months in prison . we'd like to hear in prison. we'd like to hear your views on that, too. whether your views on that, too. whether you think that's a suitable whether that's a suitable for somebody convicted of that . lots somebody convicted of that. lots of views have been coming in to say before the sentencing. obviously we're talking about stallman . should he get rid of stallman. should he get rid of corbyn? alan said he would . a corbyn? alan said he would. a man of no standing or vision. theidea man of no standing or vision. the idea that labour could form a decent, trustworthy government is for the birds. the country's sleepwalking into yet more disaster . both sleepwalking into yet more disaster. both main parties are wedded to this. net zero will cripple the uk . joe, though, cripple the uk. joe, though, hasn't all the friendly opinion of keir . he hasn't all the friendly opinion of keir. he says it's so important to remember how in fear the jewish community of which i am a part was. this almost entirely the responsibility of the terrorist friend jeremy corbyn. that's what joel says. starmer has done

the right thing . and carol the right thing. and carol starmer preventing corbyn for labour makes me dislike them all even more . no way would i vote even more. no way would i vote for such hypocrisy. and he or she says, choosing davos over was sinister. keep she says, choosing davos over was sinister . keep those views was sinister. keep those views coming in. now, where does the world stand on china? on one hand, former chancellor philip hammond has written this week in china daily to say we need be boosting trade ties, whereas former prime minister liz truss said we should be ditching the red carpet and standing up to the threat china. when the threat from china. when i was by conservative was joined by conservative leader iain duncan . ian, thank leader iain duncan. ian, thank you so much for taking the time to join us. i mean, we are we should we could we be entered into a new sort of cold war with this time with with china? is that the kind of relationship that the kind of relationship that you would like to see? well really, no. what i want to see is that uk government recognise as is that china is a system thread. and i was reminding the

prime minister that when he stood for election to become prime minister, he said that china was a systemic threat to us and to our views and sadly now what's happened when the foreign got hold of that has been termed as a systemic and we've come up with a very peculiar policy, robust pragmatism . well you know pragmatism. well you know apprised your listeners or anybody who knows a robust pragmatism means when you sit around the kitchen table and go having an argument, you accuse the other of being too robustly pragmatic . the other of being too robustly pragmatic. i'm not quite sure whether that is the sting or that looks ludicrous. but the point is that that is our position and needs to change, needs to be realistic. china recognise , that china poses that recognise, that china poses that threat you know, it steals ip stuff from various products is constantly trying to essentially muscle other businesses out it breaks all the wto rules, it undercuts everybody it uses

slave labour it's been persecuting christians it's now guilty of genocide in xinjiang where men are taken away to forced camps where they make things that we buy over here. and no one ever seems to ask about that. and it also sterilises forcibly women who are wiggers and also their children go to re—education . children go to re—education. that's happening in tibet as well, etc. so this is a country that we need to be very, very careful of and we need to change our relationship with it. and you can see from , you know, you can see from, you know, what's been going on in america , elsewhere, never stop , elsewhere, they never stop relentlessly , gain an relentlessly trying, gain an advantage on the west . to advantage on the west. to tolerate to pursue sort of a more anti china agenda. i mean phil in his article this week in china daily, philip hammond wrote if we only trade with people with whom we have no political differences, we can close of our polls close half of our polls tomorrow. mean, lots of tomorrow. i mean, lots of countries that have countries that we have relationships the relationships with around the world have some rather dubious things that they do,

particularly to own people. but we still with them and have a positive with them because it's in our national interest to do so . i mean, if we went down your so. i mean, if we went down your line, presumably there would be a there would be an economic and financial hit to the british people . well, i don't quite buy people. well, i don't quite buy that. and by the way, his stuff was in the china the chinese communist party. it's mouthpiece china . so well done. philip china. so well done. philip hammond that one into plurality of media. the truth is the old argument is set up what you think you can knock down and then try to knock it down. the answer is it's not saying that we trade only trade with people and that we wholly agree with . and that we wholly agree with. this is on a whole different. you know, you can disagree with countries politically and not like the way they run their countries and have disagree with us about perhaps of their abuses . but this is on a sort of

industrial scale of abuse more similar now to germany than it is to anything that we have seen since. i mean , the fact that you since. i mean, the fact that you are committing a genocide , the are committing a genocide, the crime of all crimes on a on a on a people the figures you're people into a camps to forcibly build things make thing the trouble we now buy and use stuff thatis trouble we now buy and use stuff that is made by slave labour in china that is intolerable . we china that is intolerable. we need to shift the balance . start need to shift the balance. start looking to other places to invest places like india etc. build up a relationship elsewhere , not just lazily go to elsewhere, not just lazily go to china to build cheaper products. the answer is we need to have diversity in we get our products from not be so dependent as we are today on china . ian, can are today on china. ian, can i ask you finally we were talking about earlier about keir starmer , the leader of the labour party. now getting rid of a former labour leader, not wanting corbyn to stand . how do

wanting corbyn to stand. how do you see that for somebody who was a former leader of a conservative party? do you think he's acting ? well, you know , he he's acting? well, you know, he obviously wants to distance himself now from what happened on the jeremy corbyn, there was a very nasty things we know anti—semitism was allowed to run in the labour party . this was in the labour party. this was a very damaging . but and this is very damaging. but and this is the big but at which stage is keir starmer going to explain why he was the chief for jeremy corbyn for about four or five years. in fact you know coming up with a plan for a second referendum on europe on the brexit vote . all these things brexit vote. all these things that jeremy corbyn had agreed and it was kenan , he spent his and it was kenan, he spent his time defending him . i just think time defending him. i just think a little bit of honesty that if you want to distance yourself from a man that you now was , you from a man that you now was, you know, an extremist, then need to explain why you were managing to be a strong bedfellow of this for so long when many other

people stepped and said they could not serve on the jeremy corbyn side, you know . ironic corbyn side, you know. ironic really, isn't it? it's like saying , i don't like that bloke saying, i don't like that bloke that used to be with ten years ago. that bloke was me. well, anyway, i've changed now. so that's so we can all kiss goodbye to that. no, i think explanation of how managed explanation of how you managed to defend this extremist for four or five years. i think necessary before people will believe that you yourself have changed in duncan—smith. thank you very much indeed for joining us this morning. now we're joined in the studio and throughout the day by former brexit mep and political commentator belinda lucy . so the commentator belinda lucy. so the china issue , do you think it's china issue, do you think it's interesting or , important that interesting or, important that liz first speech is to be about china and we shouldn't be rolling out the red carpet. we should be thinking about sanctions as to them. so the move on very much from the david cameron and george osborne days. i think it's right we're not

asleep at the wheel when it comes to china. so it's good that we are talking openly about threat, especially the accusation lines that have been made against china of stealing science, technology . you know, science, technology. you know, the internet is the central nervous system to our global economy . and it is right. we economy. and it is right. we keep an eye on that. but i do think there is a sense amongst people with slightly fed up with constant international news stories about other countries , stories about other countries, not enough focussed on what politicians are going to do in country is all about the threat from china, the threat from russia that it comes a point where feels like a little bit of a distraction you know, because there's not a lot that the british people can about it british people can do about it sanctions i don't think will have a huge impact. i think the chinese are going to do exactly what don't think what they want. i don't think sanctions affect so, sanctions will affect them. so, yes, great. liz truss is yes, it's great. liz truss is talking about it. but but really i think it's been going on for years and we need all our secret undercover, you know, british intelligence to be on it rather than becoming a big topic for

than it becoming a big topic for us. i think the osborne cameron pragmatism, which was we can deal and have but have it deal and have trade, but have it sort of a part of your psyche, which is what hammond saying is yes, trade. that's what we do, but we don't let them get all sort of infrastructure . people sort of infrastructure. people will but they already do. will say, but they already do. the police are using sort of chinese drones and the spying and getting information on and the getting information on us tick tock as well . a big big us tick tock as well. a big big issue for a teenage year and children and the data that it takes people all around the world and that could well be a bigger absorption of how we work what we do. absolutely about is tick tock than anything else. and people have all chosen to use that. and in fact, in china, they limit the hours that children are even allowed on this app. or is, of course, across the west, there's of across the west, there's all of messaging that we messaging coming across that we cons as a society that you cons us as a society that you get from tick tock. i've got 14 ages. i get from tick tock. i've got 14 ages.ii get from tick tock. i've got 14 ages. i i know, i know you want to stop that hours a day. don't have the tick tock now a

staggering 34,000 crimes have been committed by children . the been committed by children. the age of criminal responsibility , age of criminal responsibility, ten years old in the past decade . new data released by 25 police forces shows on the tens we also accuse of serious crimes such as rape and drug . we're joined now rape and drug. we're joined now by a man who has more experienced than most in this after he represented one of the killers of james. welcome to the show lawyer laurence lee . lot of show lawyer laurence lee. lot of us, thank you very much for joining us. we you. where do you stand on this? should we be reducing the age of criminal responsibility take into account that so many crimes are being perpetrated by them ? well, i've perpetrated by them? well, i've been over the years of wanting to radically lower the age of criminal, responsible and see. but i think what else is a sensible look this to start with . it should not be raised in my opinion definitely not be raised because don't the age of criminal responsibility in england and wales is ten and thatis england and wales is ten and that is the lowest in europe. i

did it programme for a rival tv channel from norway when i a little girl was murdered , a little girl was murdered, a little girl was murdered, a little five year old murdered by two six year olds. and of course there was no chance of them being being prosecuted and everything was swept under the carpet . the age of criminal carpet. the age of criminal responsibility in scandinavia is 15 now. it's horses courses as far as countries are concerned . far as countries are concerned. but what is worrying the statistics that you've just recited about the age . some recited about the age. some criminals you've just mentioned theft and rapes by children much younger than ten is staggering and i think flies in the face of anybody who tries to argue that the age should be raised. so i must admit i'm at least keen to keep the age as it is. well

maybe in some countries actually they have a two tier system. it could you tell us what age you would reduce it to ? well i don't would reduce it to? well i don't i think eight would be the idea some people have in mind. i don't have exact i don't go campaigning saying, look, i was looking at the world north caroline you're an american was six that was you know other places were 11 you'd go for eight yeah but the question is it's not a matter of picking a finger out of the air, but these are figures which have to change with society . and society has with society. and society has changed. there is no question. sorry my cameras just all over that. sorry my cameras just all over that . there is no doubt sorry my cameras just all over that. there is no doubt in my mind that the has to be looked at constantly . i mean, the age at constantly. i mean, the age of criminal responsibility. england hasn't changed now for many years. like 1993. and it 1963 rather. the children were

in persons act made it ten years before then the young persons actually 33 it was it was eight years, but society has changed so much in those statistics are frightening they are absolutely staggering what is the reason for it ? one would ask and i'd for it? one would ask and i'd say access to social media, the lack of parental control or the inhibit of schoolteachers to show any kind of discipline without being hauled before the courts . i without being hauled before the courts. i mean, without being hauled before the courts . i mean, society has courts. i mean, society has changed so much that really i don't think there's a simple answer to this problem , do you? answer to this problem, do you? is there sort of a suggestion that criminal criminal families are deliberately using members under the age of ten to carry out some of their because they know that they'll be under the age of criminal, responsible . do age of criminal, responsible. do we think that kind of thing happening? i've been quoted on saying in the last week and that is clear. and i find from my

involvement in the criminal every day of the week that that is happening. every day of the week that that is happening . and of course they is happening. and of course they can't be prosecuted in the countries that i mentioned in europe example where the age a criminal is 15. i the way around it is that they deal these children in civil courts rather than criminal courts . i mean than criminal courts. i mean going back to the norway case, those six year olds who murdered a little girl called syria red guards were back in school within three weeks. everything was swept under the carpet. now the thing is, is the i can't see those boys . i'd love to be able those boys. i'd love to be able to go back and see how they're getting on now . can't imagine getting on now. can't imagine them going to university and qualifying as lawyers or doctors . so i don't what they do with of that age. i don't know what we would do if there was a murder by a six year old. shouldn't you be prosecuting the parents in the in instance ? parents in the in instance? well, there are occasions where

parents are prosecuted in the example i can think of offhand is fronting under the education act, parents are brought before the courts and i've represented many where children just will not go to school . but whether not go to school. but whether you can prosecute to parents of children who are totally out of control is very difficult to see i think the be a lot the uproar because they are feral some of these children i've always said most kids are good but a small proportion are absolutely beyond help and really it would be very to blame the parents although i think the parents have got a wonderful allowance. you you john venables, he ten years old when he killed jamie bolger. john venables, he ten years old when he killed jamie bolger . was when he killed jamie bolger. was he did he what he was doing, was he did he what he was doing, was he somebody who was an age of criminal responsibility in your

profession ? judgement, having profession? judgement, having been closely with him at the time. well course of the trial them. sorry about this rates i'm going to have to buy a new ipad but the court in preston heard evidence and it was clear that they knew the difference between right and wrong and that interview it was clear that they did both knew the difference between right and wrong . but of between right and wrong. but of course, this is 30 years ago and the end cards that we were dealt in 93 is totally different from the way are now . but even then the way are now. but even then it was clear that the delay in kippax quest was satisfied as far as the defence was concerned, the court court was satisfied that they did know the difference in right and wrong because otherwise trial wouldn't have gone ahead . but kids are have gone ahead. but kids are much more streetwise now because the social media and access to

plug the social media and access to plug alfie and this kind of thing, it's a staggering development and they reflected in those statistics you just recited, both of you . lawrence recited, both of you. lawrence lee, thank you so much for your insights and for giving up your time for us this morning. we really appreciate. my pleasure. nice to see you. i think he was straight out of court and straight out of court and straight us. you very straight with us. thank you very much for that. but much indeed for that. but lawrence brought, up key lawrence brought, up some key points you know, you do points there you know, you do change the law you do rules, change the law and you do rules, regulations changes. and is regulations as changes. and is it now to reduce the age of criminal responsibility, as he said, the so street savvy know that watching stuff social media or family members are using their children to commit crimes knowing that they won't be held responsible. i agree with a lot of what lawrence said. i think times are changing. i think social media has caused a huge amount of problems that we never experienced before for pre—pubescent , for example, pre—pubescent, for example, there's a huge increase in sexual assaults of prepubescent

boys against girls . actually boys against girls. actually a lot, including the younger sisters. i've spoken to the police about this . so and there police about this. so and there was a girl who was four who was sexually assaulted by a group of eight year old boys in a soft play eight year old boys in a soft play centre a few years ago. and you know, whether those boys , you know, whether those boys, are they responsible for their actions ? is it because society actions? is it because society has allowed young boys to have you know free access to hardcore from the age of, you know, as soon as they can hold a phone, like who is responsible for children committing horrible acts of sexual assault, rape and murder? and i think as soon as you put third party it's you put onto third party it's the parent is the internet it's going very confusing but going to get very confusing but you know child you absolutely know a child knows from wrong at the age of ten. so do think it should be ten. so i do think it should be increased age i think is a good compromise yeah. and i think the word feral which lauren she said children punishable children have punishable criminally they criminally responsible if they commit mean use commit the crime mean you use the age as mitigation when it came to deciding what punishment they should get. yeah you shouldn't be say you don't have any responsibility for the

coming a terrible coming out sends out a terrible message children to say message to children to say actually committed actually you've committed a terrible you've got terrible offence and you've got no need be no responsibility need to be taught responsibility not taught more responsibility not to less responsibility . to have less responsibility. they need to be accountable for their actions young you their actions as young as you know, as as they get older. know, as soon as they get older. caroline was. yes from caroline was six was. yes from nonh caroline was six was. yes from north carolina. that's one of the biggest in to the biggest lessons in life to be responsible for your it's empowering absolutely. anyway, we want to hear from you whether you've something say you've got something to say about according to the about coming up according to the latest figures, one in six latest open figures, one in six people are now working home. is this to stay or is it for this trend to stay or is it for just those more privileged? well, we'll be talking charlie mullens. he's always got a lot to say. we'll be speaking to him to say. we'll be speaking to him to discuss this matter after the break. so don't go anywhere .

welcome back. it's 1127 now. one in six workers have permanently

chosen to work from home, according to analysis by the owner, as most employees dodging the office are on a high income and teenagers and those in their twenties are expected to come into the office well. charlie mullins joins us now to discuss so working from home all you fan are certainly not i think it's going to ruin the economy i think since the covid situation i think many people think that they are entitled to work from home. and you've got something like i think 48% of the private sector working from home. and we know not quite when they're in the office, they that it is nearly 50% of the country working from home. and there's no way that can be good for the economy . obviously, it works for economy. obviously, it works for some people. you two ways about that. but overall all eight eight i'll call it working less from home if i'm being bit more i mean they actually want their out they want it delivered to and i want to see it. i mean, doesit and i want to see it. i mean, does it does it is does it

really i mean, if you're a good manager and you're judging your staff based on their output rather their input, does it matter they've done that work at home in the office in a coffee shop. does it does it really matter if you've got a good manager look but you know yourself, it doesn't work like that when the cat's away, the mice will play life. and you mice will play one life. and you i one that just i know one company that just called the people back into the office because every time they ring a particular they're out walking dog i probably don't even a dog and i won't clean it so i mean you know it's unfortunate i think it's a the you know allows to you know take liberties. i with and to be fair lots people complained about that they thought they were calling maybe the dvla to talk about the licence. they thought they would call the passport office. and and behold that office. and lo and behold that they're shopping and they're out shopping and they and that noise behind. and what's that noise behind. well of course they can't do the job. they can't get on databases. they can't be sorting out. is out. what's going on is shopping, pushing your trolley

around supermarket . i mean, around a supermarket. i mean, we need and realise it's need to wake up and realise it's is not the right way, it's not working and long term, you know, we all the youngsters coming through are not going to learn. you've got to social you've got to have social contact. so businesses are contact. so many businesses are suffering. this is going suffering. so this is going bust and lot of people that want to and a lot of people that want to work from home. well, that's not my problem. but the end of my problem. but at the end of the we're going to lose the day, we're going to lose a lot of jobs. for a lot of jobs are to go abroad. and i are going to go abroad. and i just we need we need to just think we need we need to wake fact that, you wake up to the fact that, you know, it's unfair. you've know, it's unfair. also, you've got who can't work got many workers who can't work from home. so we to put a stop on it and a real shift back into the can you i mean, can the office can you i mean, can you put genie back in the you put this genie back in the bottle? times have bottle? i mean, times have changed over the when i remember when i used work for if when i used to work for if somebody they were going somebody that they were going to be i'm not be working from tomorrow i'm not joking everyone would be working from tomorrow i'm not joki|on everyone would be working from tomorrow i'm not joki|on the everyone would be working from tomorrow i'm not joki|on the floorveryone would be working from tomorrow i'm not joki|on the floor laughing/ould fall on the floor laughing because knew that it meant because they knew that it meant that they were going to do nothing. whereas now nothing. but whereas now it's sort seen the norm. what sort of seen as the norm. what was interesting, though, what you i think you said, the challenge, i think is good point is about is a very good point is about losing jobs to abroad, because,

of you're working in losing jobs to abroad, because, of office, you're working in losing jobs to abroad, because, of office, you )u're working in losing jobs to abroad, because, of office, you haveworking in losing jobs to abroad, because, of office, you have to rking in losing jobs to abroad, because, of office, you have to recruit| an office, you have to recruit somebody who's fairly local, if people are doing the jobs at home, could be india, they home, they could be india, they could be south africa , could could be in south africa, could be i couldn't say they be anywhere. i couldn't say they don't and so maybe don't have to be. and so maybe people to aware what people ought to be aware what they here. yeah, well, they wish for here. yeah, well, i'll say term. i don't believe it's to be good. i it's going to be good. so i think it's i think we're going to at also for many years to to be at also for many years to come. youngsters are to come. no youngsters are going to be from lot of company be coming from a lot of company that one week ringing me up from romania doesn't have what romania doesn't have a clue what i talking about. and this i was talking about. and this is like local light rail track. like a local light rail track. they've to romania and they've sent it to romania and it's to happen all round. it's going to happen all round. i just need to wake up i mean we just need to wake up and i think it will be quite right. i we all sleep right. i think we all sleep walking here into may age walking here into a may age problem so whether those jobs that you're talking about, if you can do it online in england, you can do it online in england, you do it online anywhere in you can do it online anywhere in the world. and if they're going to pay much less, they're going to pay much less, they're going to but then you to go elsewhere. but then you also about people also talked about those people who into work. so who have to go into work. so there's going be basic there's going to be a basic upset, isn't it? some people have pay to get work, go

have to pay to get into work, go to people who aren't unhappy to the people who aren't unhappy with won't work well , i with society, won't work well, i mean, you're also going to get a situation you know , people are situation you know, people are getting envious, as you say, that some some are not. and maybe they should do a higher right. if you go the workplace and the lower for being at home and the lower for being at home and i mean as soon get back their money some of them people people have looked at doing this. been out travelling. this. i've been out travelling. why am i paying you for travel if not coming to. in and they said, should we said, well, why should we pay for but but compulsion is for that? but but compulsion is see corner is going for that? but but compulsion is seget corner is going for that? but but compulsion is seget claims corner is going for that? but but compulsion is seget claims in:orner is going for that? but but compulsion is seget claims in forier is going for that? but but compulsion is seget claims in for the; going for that? but but compulsion is seget claims in for the heating to get claims in for the heating bills, for chairs, desk . you bills, for chairs, desk. you know, i've got a bad back. do you think will happen you think. oh i'm that mean, you know, oh i'm that i mean, you know, it's human nature and i'm it's just human nature and i'm not knocking everyone out. i'm a lot stick from people saying lot of stick from people saying i've been working on 20 years. that's fine. you on doing that's fine. you carry on doing it and if you can't get the it and if you can't get into the office, i don't think office, fine. but i don't think we want we to have, you we want to. we want to have, you know , more working from know, more people working from home. i don't feel what's going to work for the economy. and i

think sends out the wrong think it sends out the wrong message. and as i say, people feel an insult. i'm opening up another business they another business soon and they know going to be know where they're going to be working going working from home, how you going to advert in the paper to put an advert in the paper for that then? you must work well you must into well because you must come into the office. how are you going to recruit them? bother recruit them? don't bother applying if applying if you don't come. if you know, if it's on your cv, i'll work from home then. what do to even an do you want to even get an interview? well, me, i mean, interview? well, for me, i mean, i that the point you made i think that the point you made about do young people about how do young people learn anything in the anything if no one's in the office? think it is also an office? i think it is also an important point, but i surprised that started a new business that you started a new business because. i was i was thinking that be coming going that you might be coming going to stand for the mayor of london. do you think london. charlie, do you think that the but are you that was the case. but are you definitely to do that? definitely going to do that? it's and as it's all for sure. yeah. and as an or independent an independent or independent show, it's not very political. you not any you don't know, not for any part, you so that's going part, you know. so that's going around. move i'm around. but the move is i'm planning to a new business planning to open a new business really like that. can i ask you what has made you think because i'm popular i'm not i'm very very popular i'm not question very question that you're very successful why would want to what driven you to say i'm

what has driven you to say i'm going to stand for mayor of london. yeah well i think know when i sold the business was a big mistake obviously it was loads of money. my loads and loads of money. my family have been very involved in it and we feel you in it and we feel that, you know, term want to open know, long term we want to open another company the another service company for the family future and family and for the future and you know, i'm obviously not retired. i know i don't look old enough any. absolutely not. you're good. but the mayor is your horizons and goodness . get your horizons and goodness. get rid of that, sadiq. that's right. that's for sure. i mean, it's right. that's for sure. i mean, wsfime right. that's for sure. i mean, it's time to dump the mayor and of someone who understands london and i what i'll be working for a working motion to promote thank promote it. yeah charlie, thank you joining . we you so much forjoining. we really appreciate it. coming up. britain's rivers have sewage britain's rivers have a sewage problem activists problem and locals, activists have enough. be joined have had enough. we'll be joined by the campaigning heroes who by of the campaigning heroes who is the way to tackle is leading the way to tackle this is ireland this issue. but first is ireland with latest headlines . hi with the latest headlines. hi there. it's 1134. with the latest headlines. hi there. it's1134. i'm out.

armstrong in the gb newsroom, a former security at the british embassy in berlin who was caught spying for russia has been sentenced to more than 13 years in jail. david ballantyne smith has admitted to handling classified documents to the russians but refused to name his alleged handler was caught in an undercover sting operation by fake russian agents. smith said he was suffering from depression at the time, but mr. wall dismissed attempts to activities, saying he was not a witness of truth . you did it by witness of truth. you did it by stealth using the opportunity provided to you by your employer to visit various in the embassy at night when others had gone home and take photographs of, classified documents on your telephone or camera . a number of telephone or camera. a number of these documents were clearly marked as secret others were of a lower classification , but were a lower classification, but were still obviously not the dissemination be on the embassy

. sinn fein say they believe very significant progress has been made on the ireland protocol and agreement it is absolutely possible . rishi sunak absolutely possible. rishi sunak and the northern ireland secretary, chris heaton—harris, secretary, chris heaton— harris, are secretary, chris heaton—harris, are in belfast holding talks with leaders to discuss contentious post—brexit trading . the prime minister will meet eu leaders in germany tomorrow amid speculation a deal between the eu and the uk could be unveiled early next week . the unveiled early next week. the snp's a conference on independence . the resignation of independence. the resignation of first minister nicola sturgeon . first minister nicola sturgeon. it comes as the party's executive says a ballot to select the new party leader close on the 27th of march. the deputy first minister john swinney announced he will not enter the race. thank you for the scottish government meanwhile, has offered health care staff an average 6.5% pay rise. workers will also receive a one off payment of between 400

and £900 a unison scotland's head of health, matt mclaughlin , has called it a credible offer that needs serious considered action. probably by tv, online and dab plus radio. this is gb news news .

welcome at 1139. well, we've certainly had you hit in the key and getting in touch with us with , your views. lots of people with, your views. lots of people talk about working from home after charlie mullins was against it. so lots of support for his efforts as i'm getting very frustrated people saying you're productive at home, you're less productive at home, i'm productive i'm probably more productive when home, get when i work from home, can get more comfortable. i can stay more comfortable. so i can stay focussed and i'm not distracted

by conversations office by conversations or the office noise. liberty there's huge noise. liberty says there's huge misconception that home workers are a ball lying in bed in their gym watching and gym gyms, watching netflix and eating cookie dough. but sadly, the truth is not quite so glamorous. the only differences we travel offers. my we save travel offers. my question to you liberty and ruth, is that if you're supposed to be working from home, how come you're watching show? gb news we call it background, which we call. we go . which we call. we go. absolutely. the other topic that got everybody writing in on part was age of responsibility for criminal responsibility. was age of responsibility for criminal responsibility . and criminal responsibility. and we've got marianne here saying it's up to instil response ability in their children. i always said to you can have freedom , but that comes with freedom, but that comes with responsibility and hence the consequence of that very important message. mary jean and i think this is a very good point. she said it's, interesting to hear what your guest had to say about year old venables knowing. the difference between right and wrong as he wouldn't trial. so

wouldn't have gone to trial. so can me why others are can you tell me why others are saying that begum was saying that shamima begum was young and didn't know what she was at the of 15? was doing at the age of 15? i think that's a very good point. i think most people might agree with now, britain's with that. now, britain's rivers have sewage and local have a sewage problem and local activists had enough activists have had enough water utility companies have increasingly dumping increasingly turned to dumping waste the waste and inaction of the environment agency has prompted campaigners ashley smith to campaigners like ashley smith to take action. he us now to talk about this group called the windrush against sewage pollution . well i'll tell you pollution. well i'll tell you the reason on the show today is because was inspired i was reading about you following you and i was to what you've actually done the group you've set up so do you want to explain a little bit about how you go out and, how you're sort of checking the rivers in your area 7 checking the rivers in your area ? sure. i'm part of a strong team as . ? sure. i'm part of a strong team as. there are many, many people now popping up around the country . stop our rivers being country. stop our rivers being used as a toilet just so that more companies can maximise the

amount of bill payers money they can take away to shareholders. so we're group of people with various skills we've concentrated on investigating what's going on, what's really on, and we've got the benefit of having an excellent analyst, professor peter , who's managed professor peter, who's managed to analyse huge numbers of data to analyse huge numbers of data to expose external illegality in the water industry. and i think that was really the changing point for many. there that was really the changing point for many . there have been point for many. there have been knowing that something was badly wrong , but to be able to show wrong, but to be able to show that the companies breaking the law extend it simply to make money was a massive step actually. do you think the government is doing enough in this area? i mean, they say that they've been the first government in history to tackle a overflow . are measures a sewage overflow. are measures to put the commitments into statutory law. do you think that's good enough all should the government be moving much faster on these ? it's not faster on these? it's not anywhere near good . anywhere near good. unfortunately, they already had

the perfectly good legislation to prosecute and make pollution unprofitable because at the moment it's prosecuted so infrequently and the numbers though they're very big, they may be £20 million. we've worked out , for example, in that case out, for example, in that case of out, for example, in that case 0 f £20 out, for example, in that case of £20 million fine for thames water that that represented about 2.4% of the money they made by breaking the law over that. made by breaking the law over that . and that was basically that. and that was basically like processing it through paypal. so a deterrent government has got embroiled in the problems of the water industry become captured in in making and agreements way into the future. 2063. i mean i don't got a feeling i know where i'm going to be in 2063 and it won't be enjoying the river as it is for many of us. we want action. we want it now . i'd like the we want it now. i'd like the same people who brought in the this what have you think about smoking places that smoking in public places that was very very good. we to walk around in paris breathing in other people's smoke and that pretty stopped overnight in

pubuc pretty stopped overnight in public places. pretty stopped overnight in public places . do you see in public places. do you see in a way a government point of view when you say if the fine is too huge , what we're looking to do huge, what we're looking to do is these companies actually for the upgrades that are needed. so we don't want to give them too big a fine because that won't happen all do you think there must be a clever way saying you've committed a crime, we're going to collect that money you and enforce these upgrade the system ? absolutely. i think the system? absolutely. i think the day that you actually have to make a fine to a water company a big fine 32 years after probably about privatisation is a dramatic of how poor the regulator is. you should never be doing that. the companies should already that it's not to be a profitable activity . and if be a profitable activity. and if you're going to do anything you have to start now to make the chief executives who are getting paid a lot of money. for example, seven trains to

executive just was awarded . example, seven trains to executive just was awarded . £4 executive just was awarded. £4 million £4 million. that was the bills , about 10,000 houses in bills, about 10,000 houses in that severn trent region just to pay that severn trent region just to pay for the chief executive of a company that says, oh, well we can't afford to improve things very quickly but that's not the way us in the papers today it's vindication for the water rebels, those who didn't pay the bills to, southern water or held the money for the waste water of the money for the waste water of the bill. do you that is the way forward , people. action . i can forward, people. action. i can see why people are doing it. because they've become frustrated and they want something to happen. so they've tested the ground there . that is tested the ground there. that is to say, well, you're not paying for the you're not really delivering what we're paying. for the you're not really deliysome what we're paying. for the you're not really deliysome strongve're paying. for the you're not really deliysome strong principles g. for the you're not really deliysome strong principles in and some strong principles in law where if you're not if you're not delivering a service, shouldn't be charging for it. nofice shouldn't be charging for it. notice the water companies are not rushing to take any of these cases to court because. i

suspect will lose because suspect they will lose because they those areas they in many of those areas where, people are not paying the bills that untreated sewage so that they don't have to upgrade. they're making money they're by and they are really, you know , and they are really, you know, should be subject to actually having to give back under the proceeds act my opinion proceeds of crime act my opinion so , thank you very much so ashley, thank you very much indeed for all that you're doing and for joining this indeed for all that you're doing and forjoining this morning. and for joining this morning. thank you. thank very much. it's been three weeks since the disappearance of nicola bolly and home secretary suella braverman is demanding that police explain the concern . the police explain the concern. the decision reveal intimate decision to reveal intimate details about her private life, lancashire police have referred themselves to the indian office for police conduct over what they've said about the mother of two prior to her disappearance our gb views north—west reporter joins us now from lancashire . joins us now from lancashire. sophie, what's the latest from from where you are ? well you say from where you are? well you say it's now been three weeks, 21 days since mother of two nicola

bully first disappeared tired and still the facts are very and far between but i'll walk you through exactly what we do know from that morning. so we know that nicola got up and loaded the car. we know that because we've seen images from a ring doorbell . we know that she then doorbell. we know that she then took her two children to the local primary school. she dropped them off and then left the car there and then walked her across the bridge behind . me her across the bridge behind. me we know that 9:01 she joined the teams call, although a camera did remain off. we know that 9:10, someone who knew saw her by the upper field. and then in those 23 minutes at 933, we know her phone was located and, her dog willow on the bench by the banks of the river. why so those 23 minutes of very crucial but realistically those are all the facts we have but that doesn't mean this investigation been filled with twists turns. now, last week sgi, an independent

search , were brought in to try search, were brought in to try and help lancashire police search the river for nicola bulli. but after three days found a piece of folding pulled out of search, saying that he believes she's not in the stretch of river they've been searching in earlier week a press conference with lancashire police. they told us that the nicola was great. she was graded as high risk as soon as she was listed as a missing person because of specific vulnerabilities . now they vulnerabilities. now they wouldn't elaborate at the time . wouldn't elaborate at the time. by the evening they don't want 80 and revealed to the public that it was because she'd previously suffered with issues with alcohol. now the decision to reveal that information has been quite controversial you mentioned the home secretary suella braverman has as criticised this decision and in the last hour or so the information commission john edwards has said we recognise that this stage of an intensive life investing session, the

force most focus all of their energies on the inquiry. but given high profile nature of the case we will be asking lancashire police to set out how they reached the decision to disclose this information in due course. so the controversies continue , as does national continue, as does national interest in this case. and although both of those are very high, the amount, although both of those are very high, the amount , evidence although both of those are very high, the amount, evidence and facts that we in this case is still very low. even three weeks on, we are yet to have an answer to the question what has happened to nicola bully sophie? thank so much for that update . thank so much for that update. we appreciate your time belinda. that was interesting , i thought, that was interesting, i thought, what sophie said there about the information getting involved in this , whether the police were this, whether the police were right to disclose the information, the personal information, the personal information about and whether or not is it has any meaning to the investigation . what do think investigation. what do you think about i just think bizarre about that? i just think bizarre behaviour of the police since day one has has i think really

touched the british public because this is a mum, these are children that are scared that something bad has happened to her whether she's missing or something even worse . and all something even worse. and all this personal intimate stuff about her menopausal symptoms and her alcohol vulnerabilities, alleged vulnerabilities, you know, to be honest, i thought out outrageous . every woman is out outrageous. every woman is going to be menopausal pretty much at any time. so what? so what? that matter. and i thought, what? that a distraction. why? if you think what are you saying ? and will what are you saying? and will impact people looking for searching for or we were discussing a little bit earlier on will that stop you know if nicola is around or what have you what will impact will that have on her that everybody reading about we just don't know because you don't know where she is. i think it is probably less likely she is keen to come back into the limelight after all these things that have been said

about her because it is they they humiliated her really and there was no need to do that. i know they social media that were conspiracy theories so they needed to set record needed to set the record straight. enough, but straight. not good enough, but this should this information should never have linda, thank have been released. linda, thank you guess who you much indeed. and guess who else is round with the table with those right now ? it's sarah with those right now? it's sarah robinson to take us through the biggest story in the entertainment world. go on. tell us about story one. quite a sad story. it's a huge fan. bruce willis , really sad. so we know willis, really sad. so we know bruce willis retired last year. he was with ice fascia, which is a form of speech difficulty . but a form of speech difficulty. but yesterday tell me more . ex wife yesterday tell me more. ex wife posted her instagram that diagnosis that bruce willis has been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia , which frontotemporal dementia, which is a very rare form of dementia , just kind of come out in middle age and it's just just so shocking and so sad because he's brought so much pleasure to millions and millions of us over

the years with of his films. i mean, he was seen, wasn't he, the all american hero? that's how you saw bruce willis . how you saw bruce willis. absolutely fantastic actor , absolutely fantastic actor, great star. one of those great big old school movie stars. and the thought of him battling dementia , it's just it's really dementia, it's just it's really heartbreaking. i was lucky . met heartbreaking. i was lucky. met him for four years ago when he came across with samuel l. jackson to for his premiere of glass that was one of his last big movies and that's my feature there of him. but he didn't really interact the crowd back the way that he would have done . i remember watching him on the carpet, though, if you can see, and there was a moment where he just just wasn't quite himself . just just wasn't quite himself. a few of us did say , you know, a few of us did say, you know, in the press line that night, oh, season curse is okay . but oh, season curse is okay. but none of us could have ever, ever that would have been on your mind out though. yeah. running his film for a little while, but

something else that's leaked out, i was just thinking that there's some actor who was there's some, some actor who was definitely game and been definitely his game and been interacting with people is leonardo dicaprio isn't easy to solve any problem interaction with people you know well leonardo dicaprio the lady c has a lot of love for the ladies just like you know like lot of men, i think. but listen i've got this reputation that as soon as a woman he's dates and turns 25 he ditches her is the word and then goes out with another younger model of his and he's like 40 now. he was pictured other day with a 19 year old model. he says there was nothing it just the press link together. but apparently he's now desperate to get rid this lothario image that he's got and he wants to be seen as having a mature romance. i'm come on leo there's loads women in hollywood over the course to this table . over the course to this table. for that. fortunate to have met mr. dicaprio few times i fight it out his and i have to just namedrop the old head i thought

you to say he was to help you. did he turn your head? did you think. oh, i've laid eyes , think. oh, i've laid eyes, dicaprio said. if i think if leo is in titanic. and yeah , to be is in titanic. and yeah, to be fair , go with him though. fair, go with him though. i mean, you like a toyboy. oh, yes. apparently could get a 25 year old toyboy, but he's quite shy. know esther. he's very shy . sort of always like keeps his head down and vapes. i chocolate flavoured fake magnet decent actor without a doubt but he wouldn't be my crush. no the one thing i am interested in is black adder return to i love blackadder too. i so do i. this is really exciting. so richard , is really exciting. so richard, one of the creators of blackadder he's bringing back a special for comic relief, which is going to be coming later this yeah is going to be coming later this year. it's going to be based around the character baldrick. so robinson's on board, so tony robinson's on board, but he teased that we could see he has teased that we could see rowan atkinson come back , rowan atkinson come back, reprising his role of for charity. obviously for comic

relief. it's not revealed yet, but i have a strong gut feeling that rowan is to do it, because a couple of years ago, in an interview, he said if the was the right appetite for it and the right appetite for it and the nature that they had when they filmed this in the they filmed this back in the eighties be recreated eighties could be recreated again. then he would do . again. yes. then he would do. yeah. so think he's going yeah. so i think he's going i think it is a time for him come back because we've seen the mr. bean's is going to be the favourite blackadder decides to get kill queen. when i say if i love the first world war scene, when they're about to go over the breach, oh, it brings to mind that goes for brock. i love him. they're geniuses. it was one of the most best endings, wasn't it? the ending of a of a sitcom of a comedy . and, you sitcom of a comedy. and, you know, we're not in love. the john cleese is bringing back fawlty towers. and i think sometimes when you've had those wonderful endings, do you want to it? you want bring to bring it? do you want bring something or leave it something back orjust leave it as to bring it back? well

as it was to bring it back? well i've got to say. well, look, that's that's a fantastic round up of what's going on there, what's happening in the world of showbiz and cannes, very much for that, sarah and also belinda, thank very much indeed for being our today. that's all we've got time for. for being our today. that's all we've got time for . so a massive we've got time for. so a massive thank you but you as well yet . thank you but you as well yet. don't forget to join us tomorrow. up next is andrew pierce but that's after the all weather about storm also so keep an eye out for that to . it's all an eye out for that to. it's all about family being in people's living rooms all the interact and getting to know who our viewers listeners are. when i was young, my dad used to nah, not stop arguing. i wanted an outlet that would enable me to give my opinion . people are give my opinion. people are going through a really hard time right now and i know that you don't feel like you're being listened to by the establishment. i to gb news establishment. ito gb news because it's the people's channel and i want the audience to have their say on the events

of day. we're dynamic. we do of the day. we're dynamic. we do something democracy something different. democracy shows wisdom of the shows that the wisdom of the nafion shows that the wisdom of the nation is in its people. i to nation is in its people. ito travel to find out what the story is from a personal perspective . the british people perspective. the british people aren't fools. we know we're not being told the full story . we've being told the full story. we've got work out how britain got to work out how britain moves forward this is . the moves forward from this is. the best country in the world, the establishment have their chance . now here to represent . now we're here to represent your. britain is watching watching britain's watching we're proud to be gb the people's channel. britain's news

channel hello you're listening and watching andrew pierce here on tv news with you until 2:00. here's what's coming up rishi

sunakin here's what's coming up rishi sunak in belfast today. is he about do a deal? finally on the ireland protocol? is he going to set out brexit? we'll be discussing that means throughout the programme. also police in nicola burley those health disclosures where they really she disappeared three weeks ago dunng she disappeared three weeks ago during that walk in st michael's bar in lancashire . he's been bar in lancashire. he's been heavily criticised. the police making public her struggles with alcohol and the menopause nicola sturgeon's departure wide open field for potential successors . field for potential successors. well we mr. john swinney , his well we mr. john swinney, his deputy, he's ruled himself out of the race. who will take over what cheaper train fares entice you to the office on monday and friday? i'm in the office. why aren't you? where is the work from? home culture. here to stay. we'll be debating that on the programme. joining me for the programme. joining me for the hour be the the next hour will be the conservative peer lord hayward. and at home course an and you at home of course an important part of this show email at gbviews@gbnews.uk . email at gbviews@gbnews.uk. that's what's coming up this houn that's what's coming up this hour. but first we're going to get the latest news news