we re were too meant professionals were too afraid to openly discuss their medical concerns. also in the news today, the former chairman of the post office mediation scheme has described the wrongful prosecution of subpostmasters by the post office as the greatest scandal he'd ever seen, and he's called for a re—evaluation of the entire justice system . sir entire justice system. sir anthony hooper told the horizon it inquiry today we've had many miscarriages of justice, but nowhere as many as these. sir anthony says a new approach is needed to ensure there is no repeat of the same . new home repeat of the same. new home office figures revealed today that £4.3 office figures revealed today that £43 billion worth of britain's overseas aid budget was spent on housing, refugees and asylum seekers last year. £8 million was spent every day last year on tens of thousands of asylum seekers staying in hotels who are waiting for alternative housing. james cleverly says 150 migrant hotels will now close by may and will be returned to their communities. the government says they've also reduced the number of asylum

seekers from 2000 to 800, staying at raf scampton in lincolnshire after concerns from local residents there. the national audit office says, though, that around £1.2 billion is expected to be spent on housing migrants on large sites . housing migrants on large sites. five members of a bulgarian organised crime group have been convicted of falsely claiming over £50 million in universal credit in the uk's biggest ever benefit fraud case over four and a half year period. the gang made thousands of false claims for universal credit , using for universal credit, using either real people or hijacked identities . the investigation identities. the investigation identified three benefit factories based in london, where repeated false claims for benefits were supported by forged documents, including fake tenancy agreements, counterfeit payslips and forged letters from landlords, employers and gps . landlords, employers and gps. the defendants will appear for sentencing in may. the

metropolitan police has launched an investigation following several outbreaks of disorder dunng several outbreaks of disorder during eid celebrations in west london. police, we understand, came under attack from groups of youths in southall in the borough of ealing , who threw borough of ealing, who threw bottles and missiles at them. some police officers were forced to put on riot gear to deal with the worst of the clashes. gb news has obtained video of that disorder which shows officers being pelted with sticks, bottles and other objects. many of those officers appear to be caught out by the sudden escalation of the disorder, and had no time to put on their protective equipment. that's the news. for the latest stories, do sign up to gb news alerts. scan the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. com slash alerts . to gb news. com slash alerts. >> good evening. i was sent some pictures this morning on facebook and elsewhere showing me disturbances that are taking place. quite serious disturbances that have taken

place in southall in west london. last night i looked at it and thought, can this actually be true? and i say that because it wasn't being reported by british media organisations . by british media organisations. was this something perhaps that happened a few years ago? had i missed it? but no, absolutely not. last night was eid, where people celebrate the end of the fast of ramadan and of course southall has always had a very, very high percentage of people who originate from south asia . who originate from south asia. well, i'm afraid it was all true. have a look at these very disturbing scenes from the streets of london last night . streets of london last night. well, as you can see, very, very large numbers of people gathered and suddenly things start to fly. bricks, bottles, pieces of

wood. the police not dressed at this stage in riot gear, though. later on in the evening, they were dressed in riot gear. clearly quite a dangerous situation . only as i understand situation. only as i understand it, one arrest made , but it it, one arrest made, but it does. these pictures do show something about what is going on in our country. the complete breakdown of law and order on london streets and what's more, a cultures, non—british cultures who just take over our streets on a regular basis . the mystery on a regular basis. the mystery is that why is no other broadcast organisation talking about this story? i think you know the answer. we went to eaung know the answer. we went to ealing police and we asked them for a statement, a very lengthy statement, but perhaps the key part of it is, and this comes from sean wilson, the chief superintendent, as officers attempted to speak to these people about their safety, they were surrounded by a crowd again, many of whom were not

from southall before items, including bottles, were thrown toward them. well, if they weren't from southall, whether they'd come from richmond or quite where they come from, i simply don't know. i find that statement by the police actually rather difficult to believe. but maybe, maybe the reason it's not making national news is because this sort of thing is now expected. this sort of thing has now become commonplace. such is the breakdown of law and order. maybe it's that i'm not trying to hide the truth from the public. now, a big day in strasbourg today in the european parliament, a big vote on the eu migration pact. now this problem afflicted the european union back in 2015, as large numbers of young people started to cross the mediterranean . i was there the mediterranean. i was there in the parliament and i warned them if the eu asylum policy means that anybody that sets foot on eu soil is allowed to stay , you will be headed for stay, you will be headed for a disaster. well, of course no one

listened to me today. the parliament has passed a series of measures that basically say, still, anyone that comes, whether it's across the sea or through the eastern land border, will be allowed to stay. last yean will be allowed to stay. last year, 1 million people, 1 million people came into the european union from outside and basically what it's saying is that through solidarity , vie that through solidarity, vie member states will share the burden for those that come across the water or come through the land borders. and if you don't take your quota, you'll be fined ,20,000 for every migrant you refuse to take. now it passed in the european parliament, albeit not by very big margins. folks i promise you, this idea of eu unity and solidarity is going to collapse. that's my view . solidarity is going to collapse. that's my view. i'm solidarity is going to collapse. that's my view . i'm joined down that's my view. i'm joined down the line by paolo bhatia, member of the european parliament for

italy's lega party. now how did lega vote on the eu migration pact? >> hello natalie raanan , thanks >> hello natalie raanan, thanks a lot for inviting me. well, we are very sceptic . we are not are very sceptic. we are not happy about this. these measures . i think this, this package is not sufficient and especially it won't be able to stop, that, a lot of people leaves africa, towards europe. i don't think it's, i see a lot of propaganda, but, my party, my political group , several several common group, several several common sense amendments in order to try to improve this, these files. but i don't think it will be sufficient. so lega in general is against this package because, it's not sufficient in our, in our , in our view, there are our, in our view, there are several files . some files are several files. some files are not, are not so bad. and they

will work in order to, to have a common database and other instruments in order to, well, to contrast illegal immigration. and so we were able to support just a few files. but in general, we are we are not happy. general, we are we are not happy- i general, we are we are not happy. i think that, honestly, italian government made a, a quite good, contribution, quite good proposal . but you know good proposal. but you know that, sometimes, compromises are not the best way to achieve good results. >> well, of course, nothing in this. i mean, in some ways, you're on the front line of this. you've got lampedusa and other parts of italy which take the boats directly. but as you say, i can't see anything in this migration pact that stops the flow of boats continuing to come to lampedusa . come to lampedusa. >> yes, but, well, just, just to wait and see what, what happens when the weather will improve in next weeks because, italy, like,

like greece or like spain are the most exposed , countries at the most exposed, countries at the most exposed, countries at the geographical level . and so the geographical level. and so i get the impression that, years pass by, but , the same, the same pass by, but, the same, the same talks, but , the talks are the talks, but, the talks are the same, but, no concrete solutions , because if we, the matter is that brussels is trying to privilege ideology , is trying to privilege ideology, is trying to make some maciej to show that, some good solutions are, are fine, but, in my opinion, i don't think that we will see something new for, contrasting illegal immigration because, you know, from one side that we are very open to people that would like to work to, to integrate, but in general, i think that, well, figures are telling us that, no space enough in europe for, for everybody. i'm sorry. i

think, paolo, your position is very clear indeed . very clear indeed. >> thank you forjoining me >> thank you for joining me tonight. after that significant vote today. now i'm joined down the line by anna. anna menon, director of uk in a changing europe and a regular on this show. anand, let's think about the sort of politics of this solidarity. that was the word that was being championed. and actually, if you look at the votes , they won't pass by votes, they won't pass by particularly big margins and already already donald tusk, the man that used to be in charge of the european council but is now, of course , the prime minister of of course, the prime minister of poland, has said we will not agree to this pact, unsurprisingly, viktor orban from hungary has had the same. i'd be very surprised if slovakia, maybe the czech republic, didn't join in short order. i'm just very struck that this word solidarity today of all days is pretty meaningless as well. >> it's a word they like to throw around inside the european

union. but i mean, the fact is, there's a reason it's taken ten years for the european union to get to this point because there's massive disagreement. and heard why some and we've just heard why some states are more exposed than others. the states that aren't exposed are thinking, well, hang on a sec. should we on a sec. why should we volunteer part of this? volunteer to be part of this? why know, we don't need to why you know, we don't need to take these people. they're arriving italy. it's italy's arriving in italy. it's italy's problem. so what they've tried to mean, there's two to do in i mean, there's two things going on aren't things going on here, aren't there? there are elections coming sort of what, coming up and the sort of what, what to call themselves what like to call themselves the mainstream are what like to call themselves the main toeam are what like to call themselves the maintoeam the are what like to call themselves the maintoeam the impression are what like to call themselves the maintoeam the impression of re keen to give the impression of doing something very doing something in a very similar way, that rishi sunak is keen get a plane take to keen to get a plane to take to off rwanda before our election, to give impression of to give the impression of action. second thing is action. but the second thing is they've a very, very fragile they've got a very, very fragile compromise here and even though it pass, the member it might well pass, the member states at its final stage when it's actually called upon to work, think what you'll see is work, i think what you'll see is a member states, as we've a lot of member states, as we've heard, simply refusing to take people. the interesting people. and then the interesting question they'll pay question is whether they'll pay the fines or not. >> yeah. fragile, i think, is exactly the right word for

today's agreement. and you've said already you've mentioned already the fact that from june 6th the the 6th to june the 9th, the european elections are coming up , you know, they'll be the first european elections. i've not stood for 30 but we're stood in for 30 years, but we're going see some potential going to see some potential really quite big changes, aren't we, makeup of the we, in the makeup of the european parliament? >> potentially, yes. a >> potentially, yes. i mean, a combination of factors. it's partly migration. it's partly, sclerotic economic performance that it looks like in many cases , mainstream parties are going to take something of a beating in these elections . now, this in these elections. now, this could be significant. you never know. i mean, you know , you know know. i mean, you know, you know as much about european elections as much about european elections as fact is, as anyone. but the fact is, political scientists call them second elections, which second order elections, which means countries people means in some countries people feel freer to and punish feel freer to go out and punish the incumbents because they don't these don't really think these elections there's not elections matter. so there's not necessarily very read necessarily a very clear read over from european to over from european elections to national but i think national elections. but i think in national capitals, the in many national capitals, the sort parties are sort of mainstream parties are going be looking the going to be looking at the results with degree of concern results with a degree of concern because who generally because opponents who generally don't do very well, i think are

going to see their results look pretty these european pretty good after these european elections, in elections, whether it's in germany or a number of germany or france or a number of other countries. >> it is a bit of an open >> yeah, it is a bit of an open shot on goal, i get that, but it also gives people the chance to vote for what they believe in is another at it, vote for what they believe in is anoti er at it, vote for what they believe in is anoti think, at it, vote for what they believe in is anoti think, you at it, vote for what they believe in is anoti think, you know, at it, vote for what they believe in is anoti think, you know, looking and i think, you know, looking at the farming protests across europe, there is now quite a growing mainstream eurosceptic , growing mainstream eurosceptic, maybe not yet saying leave the european union, but euroscepticism is growing, isn't it ? it? >> yeah. at the moment it would seem that it is. i mean, you're absolutely right to distinguish between euroscepticism saying this working and yeah, this isn't working and yeah, let's leave the european union. but i think there is a sort of movement in the european union now. and viktor orban is the clearest example of someone who says, to stay in the says, i'm going to stay in the european union. we're not going to change it from within. i'm going to make life going to make like life difficult. i'm going to not accept i don't think accept things that i don't think are good for my country. and you could imagine situation down could imagine a situation down the have those sorts

the line if you have those sorts of governments place of governments in place in several member where it several member states where it becomes difficult for becomes very, very difficult for the union to actually the european union to actually accomplish anything at all. i mean, none is a foregone mean, none of this is a foregone conclusion. i mean, politics is unpredictable. the unpredictable. it might be the economy picks up. and i do think economic to economic performance is key to this lack of economic this or a lack of economic performance, but at the moment, it looks those it certainly looks like those kinds eurosceptic governments kinds of eurosceptic governments might a little of might be gaining a little bit of ground inside the eu. >> yeah, it's going to be a very interesting set elections. interesting set of elections. and as ever. thank you and a man on as ever. thank you for coming on and joining me on the comment the program. his comment there about orban very about viktor orban was very interesting. somebody said interesting. somebody once said interesting. somebody once said in parliament, interesting. somebody once said in farage parliament, interesting. somebody once said in farage the 'liament, interesting. somebody once said in farage the european nigel farage is the european union's nightmare because union's worst nightmare because he leave . then a year he wants to leave. then a year or two later, somebody else said that maybe viktor orban is the european union's worst nightmare because he actually wants to stay. but one government on its own can't do a lot. if there were several across the eu, the whole thing would simply cease to work. and i still believe, as i've always believed, that the days of this artificial political structure are numbered

. now, you may have noticed it's been raining for month after month after month. 11 named storms have hit the british isles since last september. the knock on effects for farming are pretty serious . we're joined in pretty serious. we're joined in a moment by a farmer whose fields have literally been on water under water for the last eight months.

some of your thoughts on those riots that took place in ealing last night, and why it wasn't being covered by any other channel, one viewer says, because they simply don't care. mainstream media are out of touch. jane says , because it touch. jane says, because it isn't news. when this type of behaviour happens so regularly. janei behaviour happens so regularly. jane i did allude to that towards the end and you know you may well be right. we've seen

incidents like this in leicester and many other parts of the country. now now it has been raining, has been the wettest raining, it has been the wettest winter on in some parts winter on record in some parts of country. general vie, the of the country. general vie, the southeast and the east coast of england are the driest parts of the country, but there have been deluges of rain. certainly in my village in kent, the february rainfall was nearly three times the average for february , and the average for february, and this has had a big effect on farmers up and down the country . farmers up and down the country. some farmers saying this would be the first time on their farms since 1945 that they will not be able to produce a crop. what are we talking about in terms of scale? well wheat, barley, crops like that, something like a 20 to 25% reduction in yields, what it means for potatoes and other things, i simply don't know. but the farm that has been the worst flooded, i believe, since last october, has been up in lincolnshire and henry ward is the young farmer that runs it. and henry joins me down the line

right now. henry, this has been a nightmare for you since october, i believe. >> yeah , it has. so, yeah. >> yeah, it has. so, yeah. thanks for having me, nigel. but yeah, it just feels like i'm been living in a nightmare. as you say. we flooded. we've been flooded for basically six months now. lost all my crops, and we're still flooded now . we're still flooded now. >> and the farm house itself is completely cut off. yeah. >> it is. so today was the first time that i've managed to get to the farmhouse and yard in my truck, up until that point, it was only accessible by boat, so it's been mothballed. i've not, you know, we had to evacuate pregnant sheep. pregnant youths out of their, in an emergency when it flooded . it's been an when it flooded. it's been an absolute nightmare, as i say , absolute nightmare, as i say, we're we're still flooded there now. we're not going to be able to, get a spring crop planted, so on that block of land, we are not going to have a harvest, which as a farmer is obviously. yeah. not what, what you what

you need. and it'll be a first for us there that we won't get a harvest off that land. >> are you below sea level there, henry? >> yeah, we're very close to sea level, nigel. we are. and. but it goes, know, lincolnshire , it goes, you know, lincolnshire, a third of lincolnshire is below sea , and 25% of that , 25% sea level, and 25% of that, 25% of britain's fresh fruit and vegetables is produced on that area. so if we're just going to sacrifice it to the sea and to flooding , we're going to be flooding, we're going to be hungry as a nation. >> yeah, that's a very strong point. and historically, henry, you know, have these kind of floods, these great floods happenedin floods, these great floods happened in lincolnshire over the last couple of hundred years. is it or is this a real one off? >> no, no, to be fair, it has happened before. so, my father, it's a family farm. it's been in the family for 70 years. my father saw it flood like this once. father saw it flood like this once . i took over in 2019, it once. i took over in 2019, it flooded like this . then four flooded like this. then four years on, it's happened again.

so that's 50% of my tenure on that farm. i've been under water andifs that farm. i've been under water and it's just getting to the stage now on that farm, which andifs stage now on that farm, which and it's so frustrating because it's my best soil. it's the most productive soil i've got. but i cannot now risk, planting it with a crop. it's just too risky. i'm going to lose too much money if i. if i do that. yeah. >> and, henry, how many other farmers in lincolnshire are affected? mean, maybe you're affected? i mean, maybe you're the many others the worst, but how many others are facing this challenge? >> a lot a lot of farmers, >> it's a lot a lot of farmers, to be honest, up and down the country . i know i'm to be honest, up and down the country. i know i'm a to be honest, up and down the country . i know i'm a bit of to be honest, up and down the country. i know i'm a bit of an extreme case, but it's so wet out there. even if you're not flooded, we can't get on the land. we've got land elsewhere that's not flooded. we should be. well, crops should be be. well, spring crops should be established. should green established. it should be green looking. get looking. well, we can't get crops in the ground. no one else can. with this flooding that i've got. there's seven other farmers that have got water. there's 2000 acres. what you're looking at now on the screen,

there was 2000 acres under water at the peak, and eight of us landowners affected, and the real kick in the teeth is i found out yesterday that none of us eight are eligible for the government defra's flood recovery fund , which gives us up recovery fund, which gives us up to 25,000 per landowner, which, excuse the pun, is a drop in the ocean. i've lost hundreds of thousands of pounds and i'm not eligible for this £25,000. >> but the recovery fund is there for things that happen that aren't insurable. so surely you must qualify looking at these pictures, i couldn't agree with you more. >> nigel, but apparently i'm not. according to defra and the rpa , i am not eligible because rpa, i am not eligible because the river that has burst its banks on my farm is not listed as being eligible. computer says no , that is it. and i've been in no, that is it. and i've been in touch with ministers today on the phone with the rpa, and

there are some warm words and we might get somewhere because i think basically because i'm embarrassing them into it. i am the most famous, flooded farmer in the country, and they're telling me i'm not eligible. in the country, and they're telling me i'm not eligible . i telling me i'm not eligible. i mean, it's an absolute scandal. >> well, if you're not eligible , >> well, if you're not eligible, who is? >> well, precisely my point . >> well, precisely my point. i've asked them. i've asked them this, if i'm not eligible, then i think i want to meet the man or woman. that is because they must be at the bottom of the atlantic somewhere. >> oh goodness me, henry ward, thank you for coming on and sharing your story. i'm sorry for this terrible time that you're going through. it will it will end there will be an end to this and you'll get back to being a successful. you'll you'll get back to being a very successful farmer. successful young farmer. and you're smiling, which you're still smiling, which frankly, situation frankly, in your situation is all thank you for all you can do. thank you for coming on and sharing your story . well, it's very hard not to feel a bit sorry for young henry, 33 years old, henry, isn't it? 33 years old, running farm. a running that farm. what a nightmare . what this is going to

nightmare. what this is going to mean food shortages ? what mean for food shortages? what it's going to mean for food pnces? it's going to mean for food prices? nobody yet has quite worked out. but the fact that he doesn't qualify for the recovery fundis doesn't qualify for the recovery fund is a thing that i found most extraordinary . now, defra most extraordinary. now, defra have given us a statement, a defra spokesperson said we have activated the initial phase of the farming recovery fund to ensure grants begin to reach farmers as quickly as possible, and are now looking at how we can expand the scheme to further areas and improve the support for those worst affected, which i think means don't hold your breath . a ruling overnight from breath. a ruling overnight from a supreme court in arizona bringing in a total ban on abortion . i think this has abortion. i think this has really big political implications. i think it's good news for biden and bad news for trump. we'll

abortion was not a particularly huge issue in american politics until the supreme court, who, under donald trump, saw more conservative judges appointed, got rid of what was known as roe v wade. what it meant was it was now down to the individual states to decide whether to allow abortion to happen or not. overnight. it became a big political issue that the supreme court in arizona has voted by four votes to two to say there will now be a total ban on abortion, with just a few exceptional circumstances bringing it down from the previous 16 week period suddenly becomes a massive political issue in what is a key swing state. remember, biden won this literally by a hair's breadth in 2020, trump having won it in 2016. and whilst those republicans who are pro—life and

strong christians believe in their position very strongly and very passionately, it is a minority view. overall, about 60% of arizonans are pro—choice . 60% of arizonans are pro—choice. and this is a problem because the way american politics works, if you get enough signatures in a state, you can have what they call a ballot measure, effectively a state referendum. and i predict right now there will be a state referendum, a ballot measure on november the 5th, the same day as the general election , which says this ruling election, which says this ruling must be overturned. and what that will do is increase the turnout of people who want to come and vote pro—choice , who come and vote pro—choice, who will also vote democrat. at the same time, i think this has very big political implications. i think it's a major problem for trump and his campaign. well, i'm very pleased to be joined down the line by liz, your international child rights advocate. and as special counsel at harpo inc for the last five

years, has acted as oprah winfrey's child advocate on the oprah winfrey show, the am i right in saying that abortion now becomes a major, major political issue in arizona? >> i think you're right, nigel. i think it's absolutely going to be now it's front and centre , be now it's front and centre, although i think it was the only issue that the democrats have throughout the united states. and so they this was going to be an issue in every state. now it's going to be front and centre. so i mean, i think it needsit centre. so i mean, i think it needs it needs to play out, we needs it needs to play out, we need to see if there's going to be a ballot measure. you know, we have you know, let's be honest, we have never, ever had a real thorough discussion, dialogue, debate about abortion, millions and billions of dollars have been poured in by planned parenthood into political campaigns, the pro—life movement has been censored, censored, left and right. so it's going to

play left and right. so it's going to play out here. and, you know, i think it's an opportunity for you know, trump is very i think very articulate on this issue. i think he his heart is really in the right place, you know, this is the democratic party is the rabid radical pro—death party. and but that's okay, liz. >> that's okay. liz. and you speak clearly as somebody who's a passionate, you know , a passionate, you know, pro—lifer. but you have to accept that once this issue becomes party politicised, rather than an issue of conscience, which it should be, you know, i genuinely think this should be an issue of conscience, you know, many of these things ought not to be political footballs, but it is isn't the difficulty here that they will get that ballot measure? the democrats will succeed that. and this succeed in doing that. and this makes a key swing state makes winning a key swing state much difficult . my question much more difficult. my question to you is why did the supreme

court make this decision in arizona at this time? >> well, i think that's a very interesting question. i don't think we know the whole entire answer on that , you know, it was answer on that, you know, it was brought by an anti—abortion activist , and the brought by an anti—abortion activist, and the timing probably is not the best. but let's roll up our sleeves, nigel. come on, you have been in battles where all the odds were against you. let's have this battle. let's bring let's all the pro—life organisations that have been, you know, nipping at each other's heels forever . each other's heels forever. let's get in there and fight. let's get in there and fight. let's have a thorough discussion about this issue. i'll put donald trump against joe biden anytime. bring him. he can argue this issue. joe biden can't even, you know, walk up the stairs to air force one. let's have this discussion and let's bnng have this discussion and let's bring out let's bring out every single one of our voters who have been sitting on the sideline in many, in many cases.

let's have this issue. we know that hispanics are pro—life. we know that more and more blacks are coming to this issue when they've seen the massive genocide of african americans as they place planned parenthood in they place planned parenthood in the midst of every inner city. so, well, i mean, let's not be afraid of this fight. >> yes, the word the word genocide is not always helpful in these contexts. but even donald trump today is rowing back a little bit, isn't he? i mean, trump today is saying that arizona's ruling went too far and needs to be straightened out. and the problem, out. and here's the problem, liz. people like you who are pro—life are very, very passionate on this subject. you're in a minority. it may be if you have a big debate, you can become the majority, but it does put you. i argue electorally ahead on november the 5th in a tough position . the 5th in a tough position. >> it does, but i'm not afraid of a fight. i was weaned on

chicago political machine politics. you know, we have barack obama, hillary clinton, david axelrod came from, and i think, you know, for some reason, this is fortuitous, it may be it may be behind the scenes machinations by the democrats. i don't know, but let's look at this , with, you let's look at this, with, you know, it was interesting. mother teresa was asked by hillary clinton and hillary clinton said, mother teresa, why don't we have a woman president? and what did mother teresa say? she said, probably because she was aborted. and, you know, wow . aborted. and, you know, wow. >> that was he was she was fearless and, you know, donald trump has not backed down on any fight. >> and i'm calling on arizona citizens to not back down that the most important thing for pro—life is that donald trump be elected . he is he is absolutely elected. he is he is absolutely

protecting the unborn. the appointments to the supreme court were essential, and we're going to continue to move forward. you know, nigel, the younger generation is more and more pro—life. that's the good news, liz. >> one thing for certain. one one thing for absolute certain is you are going to get your chance between now and november the 5th to have this argument to have this debate, because it's suddenly become a big election issue. and from joe biden's perspective, he'd rather discuss this than the border, wouldn't he? >> yes, yes he would. you know, the border which brings in is, frankly, a life issue, too, because we see massive human trafficking , matt, you know, trafficking, matt, you know, massive deaths by fentanyl , massive deaths by fentanyl, massive deaths by fentanyl, massive abuse of children. i mean, this is absolutely, you know, a life issue. so, i say bnng know, a life issue. so, i say bring it on, and i really my message to the pro—life groups is to, be strategic, to work

together , and to really, you together, and to really, you know, let's be political. let's get our political hats on and fight this fight now. >> well, you can fight this fight, but i just i just sense, liz, you may find donald trump is not actually quite with you. and even kari lake today , who's and even kari lake today, who's standing for senate in arizona, is backtracking on this. listen thank you for giving us your strong pro—life position. thank you very much indeed. you nato. well, folks, there you have it. in america , that pro—life view in america, that pro—life view thatis in america, that pro—life view that is held by republicans , that is held by republicans, many republicans is very strong, very passionate , really quite very passionate, really quite absolute. but i repeat, the points i made to liz, there they are at the moment, minority opinions . as i'll tell you what, opinions. as i'll tell you what, donald trump absolutely knows it, right? what the farage moment. i remember a week before bulgaria had total open borders to the united kingdom . i went to

to the united kingdom. i went to bulgaria and i met a priest who ran an orphanage , and he really ran an orphanage, and he really was the most remarkable man, doing the most incredible job with these young children . i with these young children. i said to him, from next week, anybody can just come and live and work in the united kingdom. do you think many people will come? oh, yes, he said. they're bound to. most of this country is very, very poor. you are comparatively, very, very rich . comparatively, very, very rich. i said, what type of people will come? oh, that's easy, the priest said, you will get the best of bulgarians . you will get best of bulgarians. you will get our doctors, you will get our lawyers. you will get our accountants, he said. but also you'll get the worst of bulgarians, because for the criminal gangs, london and the rest of the uk are much richer pickings. well a story that's broken overnight and it's quite extraordinary in many ways is that a handful of bulgaria fans have managed to claim £50

million fraudulently in claims for universal credit. yep, they've been using either real people's names or hijacked identities and claiming universal credit all over the country. they've ripped off the british taxpayer to the tune of £50 million. now this gang has been caught, they'll be sentenced at the end of may. you have to ask yourself, how many other gangs like this are out there ripping people off? and it bnngs there ripping people off? and it brings me back a little bit to christopher hope's interview yesterday with rachel reeves, and point that and he made the point that rachel reeves seems more bothered about tax evasion and legal tax avoidance even than she does about cracking down on things like universal credit fraud . a really, truly, truly fraud. a really, truly, truly awful story. i just get the horrible feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg now. labour have come out today with a big plan for reviving the high

street. the conservatives, in reaction are promising some new laws against the bad guys, will debate all of

well, the big part is today i've been talking about shopping, the high street, shoplifting, and much else from the conservatives there's now going to be a standalone offence for enhancing protection for retail workers. a specific law about assaulting retail workers. quite why we need that. i have absolutely no idea. i will ask jacob rees—mogg at the end of the show what the reason for that is. they're also suggesting electronic tags for repeat offenders after their third conviction for shoplifting. i just thought after the first offence might be after the first offence might be a better idea, but never mind now labour have come up with a package and i have to say some of the ideas aren't bad. they say tackle anti—social behaviour and shoplifting. put 13,000 more

neighbourhood police and pcsos on the streets and scrap the £200 rule. and that is kind of the police don't bother with shoplifting unless you nick more than 200 quid's worth that i thought was sensible. roll out banking hubs again from labour. sensible if the banks were co—operate. if the banks will play co—operate. if the banks will play replace business rates with a new system of business property taxation. good in theory, although one has to noficein theory, although one has to notice in wales the business taxes, whether in charge, are actually going up, stamp out late payment to small and independent retailers. again, very sensible, but you need the fca , i think, to get involved fca, i think, to get involved and revamp empty shops, giving communities a right to buy. on the face of it, not bad stuff . the face of it, not bad stuff. i'm joined by alex schlagman, founding partner of savethehighstreet.org, it all looks to me pretty sensible .

looks to me pretty sensible. >> well, firstly, i think it's good to shine a light on an absolutely critical issue. you know, we need to invest more in high streets. they're the heartbeat of communities. they power the local economy and changing streets for the changing high streets for the better, think is central better, i think is a central agenda for all parties. >> it should be. i mean, they point out 3700 small shops , point out 3700 small shops, newspaper shops, grocers, butchers have closed since 2010, and of course the banks have withdrawn almost wholesale. the banking hub idea is a bloomin goodidea. banking hub idea is a bloomin good idea . why are there so few good idea. why are there so few of them? >> yeah. so let's firstly address the businesses leaving the high streets and coming onto the high streets and coming onto the high streets and coming onto the high streets. so actually, one of ironically, the great opportunities for high streets is generation of is a new generation of entrepreneurs through entrepreneurs coming through with access to the space and support they need to be successful. there's actually 50,000 independent 50,000 new independent businesses each year, roughly starting on high streets. so what we need 30,000, 50,000. so

one of the reasons we're seeing an increased vacancy rate on high streets is not because there isn't a vibrancy and an entrepreneurship in the uk economy. the challenge is there's a lot friction to there's a lot of friction to starting a business, for starters, and a lot of the major chains are disappearing, such as the banks. yeah, and these start ups, what are they doing? >> are they tech businesses? what are they? >> well, this is another interesting one. so here at savethehighstreet.org we ran a competition. of competition. at the beginning of the had businesses the year, we had 600 businesses appued the year, we had 600 businesses applied to basically launch their onto high their business onto high streets. proportion of streets. a good proportion of those online those are actually online retailers. we're seeing retailers. and we're seeing a big shift right now. some of the biggest digital online retail businesses in the world are investing heavily in high streets. and why we're starting to see it filter down. why so. so first things first. you know, you get to a certain point even if you're an amazon, you know, where you make the decision to buy things like whole foods so that can be much nearer your that you can be much nearer your end other thing is end consumer. the other thing is people to shop online. yes, people want to shop online. yes, but they also want shop

but they also want to shop locally. and you can, join locally. and if you can, join the dots between the two and not necessarily always sell them things physical shop, but things in the physical shop, but give to be there. give them a reason to be there. engage with your brand. interact with your product. >> literally a front. >> so literally a front. >> so literally a front. >> in some cases. but in >> yeah, in some cases. but in other cases, interestingly, also >> yeah, in some cases. but in otfulfilment interestingly, also >> yeah, in some cases. but in otfulfilment hub.estingly, also >> yeah, in some cases. but in otfulfilment hub. so ngly, also >> yeah, in some cases. but in otfulfilment hub. so they also a fulfilment hub. so they operate different ways for operate in different ways for different people. but we're also seeing a whole range of interesting new concepts. we've helped brand called candid helped a new brand called candid studios just launch into west london, they're like a pop london, and they're like a pop up photo studio. you know, we're seeing brands that are emerging that are kind of doing different things, but also we're helping brands launch and brands like florists launch and do new concepts, more do slightly new concepts, more modern ways. >> so what you're telling me is there's actually quite a good story here. >> oh, look, we're excited by the change here at savethehighstreet.org. as i said with the new generation coming through, the key thing is, is that we get them in the right places, doing the things places, doing the right things and so you've got big empty spaces like department stores where you've got to rethink it entirely. yeah, debenhams is not

getting by of getting replaced by house of fraser, and of fraser fraser, and house of fraser certainly getting replaced certainly isn't getting replaced by we can think of them by bhs, but we can think of them as use destinations full as mixed use destinations full of businesses that of interesting businesses that serve the needs of that local catchment area. >> one thing that struck me, alex, over the years, many, many times is as the big department stores close and as our traditional towns become less big, shop days out because we go to bluewater or out of town stores, i've always thought maybe what will happen is in the centre of cities and towns, people will start living there again and that will mean up will spring, you know, local convenience stores and all the rest of it is some of that happening? >> yeah, there is some of this happening repurposing some of town centres into other uses. now we've got to be a little bit careful because what we don't want do is hollow out the want to do is hollow out the middle high streets, but middle of high streets, but actually some high streets are a little big. so if we can little bit too big. so if we can build more residential around the make better build more residential around the of make better build more residential around the of the make better build more residential around the of the uppers, make better build more residential around the of the uppers, but|ke better build more residential around the of the uppers, but actuallyr use of the uppers, but actually get more into those town get more people into those town centres who will spend more

money, and in some cases shrinking some high streets will save them. interesting. >> now business rates. labour mentioned business rates i mentioned business rates here. i can't think of a general election since i've been alive. what we haven't talked about business rates or business taxes. the accusation mature is far back at labour. is that well in wales where you're in charge. yeah. business taxes are going up not down. what do you think might be a sensible solution for business taxes on the high street. well look, because they're often against people who pay they're often against people who pay business rates because pay no business rates because they're virtual online stores. >> it's a challenging one. and look, there's been this continuous, almost a generational debate about either reform or replacement of the current system . now, the current system. now, the interesting language used in the labour announcement was about replacements . so this is quite replacements. so this is quite significant. so rather than a tweak this is a big statement. and personally just very curious to see what that's actually going to look like. so . where is

going to look like. so. where is this going to get paid for. how's it going to get paid for and what's it going to look like personally at savethehighstreet.org we want to see change. you know, we need a levelling field levelling of the playing field here. everybody knows here. i think everybody knows and it too times and has heard it too many times that it and has heard it too many times thatitis and has heard it too many times that it is an unfair system. so currently any change is welcome for debate. but what i'd love to see something that's see is something that's significant. see is something that's signifi> i mean, maybe, maybe the manifesto will become more specific. final thought 13,000 more neighbourhood police and pcsos . great idea, but again expensive. >> yeah. again you know these are these are great things to get behind and high street is an interesting one. i mean we sit here, we're on gb news today. you know obviously this is a political station but the interesting thing about the high street is doesn't matter street is it doesn't matter where on the spectrum. where you sit on the spectrum. everybody seems to want to get behind is how do we behind it. the key is how do we actually practically make change

happen? create a plan happen? how do we create a plan for high street, ensure for every high street, ensure that on those high that the people on those high streets are empowered to lead and drive that change? how do we replace the empty units with a new generation of entrepreneurs that successful ? that can actually be successful? and how do we actually start to support our high streets? really, alex. >> very, very interesting indeed.thank >> very, very interesting indeed. thank you . did you hear indeed. thank you. did you hear that, jacob? somebody somebody on british television mentioned the word entrepreneur. >> how extraordinary and fascinating that 50,000 businesses are setting up in high streets. that internet high streets. and that internet companies want a high street presence. i think that's of presence. i think that's one of the most interesting things i've learned recently. >> positive, a very >> i'm very positive, a very good, encouraging. good, very encouraging. >> yeah, yeah. >> yeah, yeah. >> to me, jacob, >> now explain to me, jacob, because really at because you're really good at this of why do we this sort of thing. why do we need a specific piece of legislation it any legislation? why is it any different? i mean, if i assault you, i you won't. but i'm you, i hope you won't. but i'm not of it particularly not thinking of it particularly not thinking of it particularly not on air. that would go not live on air. that would go viral, wouldn't it, for the figures. what's the figures. but what's the difference i assault you in difference if i assault you in the street or assault you as the street or i assault you as a shop worker? why it need a

shop worker? why does it need a specific law? >> and has the government >> and why has the government consistently law consistently said that this law is completely it's not is completely otas? it's not needed said it can do needed now. it said it can do it. and think this is really it. and i think this is really silly, what we need is the police to enforce the law that exists. yeah. and that applies to shoplifting assaults on to shoplifting and assaults on people that people working in shops. that is straightforwardly people working in shops. that is strawe're rwardly people working in shops. that is strawe're having a specific law . yet we're having a specific law. it's tokenism. it's a waste of parliamentary time , it's just parliamentary time, it's just the type of legislation that i dislike. tony blair was the master of tokenist legislation that reiterated law that already existed. it's not a good way of using house of commons times. >> i'm pleased that my instincts are you absolutely were right. now, jacob, what is coming up on your show tonight? >> going be talking >> we're going to be talking about credit and fraud about universal credit and fraud within at within it, which is running at about but also the about £7 billion, but also the very high number of people who are inactive. universal credit was to ensure that work was meant to ensure that work always yet always paid. yes. and yet increasing numbers of people are actually on benefits. what is actually on benefits. so what is going wrong? >> was universal credit pretty much an iain duncan smith invention? >> ian did an enormous amount of

good work to get it up and running, and without it the whole system would have fallen over during covid. but they seem to have taken away the elements of stick that force people to take jobs if they were offered them, and universal credit seems to be becoming a way of life for some people . you need both. some people. you need both. >> that's it from me. i apologise for the cough. i think i've got this hundred day cough which is around. let's have a look at the weather. maybe that'll cheer us all up. annie shuttleworth will tell us. >> looks like things are heating up . boxt boilers sponsors of up. boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. >> hello there. good evening. well, after a rather overcast day, there's going to be more in the way of dry and bright weather on the way tomorrow. but for tonight, there's still some further rain to come. that's as these weather fronts that have lingered across the northwest continue to into these continue to push into these northwestern areas . they'll also northwestern areas. they'll also sink south bring more sink further south to bring more southern some outbreaks

southern areas. some outbreaks of through the night, so it of rain through the night, so it will fairly cloudy , with will stay fairly cloudy, with drizzly rain continuing across northern but this main northern scotland. but this main rain band actually sinks further south of wales, the south into parts of wales, the midlands and then it sits across the south coast. by tomorrow morning. much weaker morning. it's much weaker feature, will a lot feature, but it will bring a lot of cloud to these areas elsewhere, should be elsewhere, though, it should be a clearer start to the a drier and clearer start to the day. but going to be a very day. but it's going to be a very mild start tomorrow. temperatures not dipping much below degrees most below ten degrees for most areas. quite areas. there will be quite a brisk southwesterly breeze overnight. should overnight. those winds should ease the and ease through the day and actually the and the actually across the east and the north going to be a dry and north it's going to be a dry and bright much better day bright day, a much better day than and going to than today, and it's going to feel warm in that feel quite warm in that sunshine. indeed. a different story , across the south story though, across the south and particular, where and west in particular, where the will linger for much the cloud will linger for much of could see some of the day, we could see some drizzly of rain, drizzly outbreaks of rain, particularly across the coast and over the ground. now and over the high ground. now for the rain returns for friday, the rain returns into northwest, so northern into the northwest, so northern ireland, much western ireland, much of western scotland, another scotland, will see another fairly day, the rain fairly wet day, but the rain will much more limited will be much more limited compared today. so i think compared to today. so i think many eastern areas, even of scotland, with

scotland, should get away with a fairly and across the fairly dry day. and across the south looks like should be south it looks like it should be staying dry as well. staying fairly dry as well. temperatures the milder temperatures still on the milder side things for the time of side of things for the time of year the weekend. it's year into the weekend. it's a similar story as well. >> brighter with boxt >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar for sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> hello. good evening. it's me,

jacob rees—mogg . on state of the jacob rees—mogg. on state of the nation. tonight, a bulgarian gang has been jailed for a record breaking £50 million benefit fraud operation. that's £50 million of your money. but this is a drop in the ocean compared to the over £6 billion of benefit fraud. every year. does our benefit system need another overhaul ? the prime another overhaul? the prime minister is reportedly facing a cabinet rebellion by a number of ministers who opposed the united kingdom, leaving the european convention of human rights. but after yesterday's bonkers green ruling, surely the uk has no other choice. amnesty international has been embarrassed after it eulogised a convicted palestinian prisoner who led a group that abducted, castrated, tortured and mutilated an israeli soldier back in the 1980s. is this a charity still worth supporting? plus, i mentioned the other week that rachel reeves sent me a billy do asking for my support , billy do asking for my support, but obviously i couldn't vote laboun but obviously i couldn't vote labour. now it gets better . she labour. now it gets better. she wants to get hmrc employees back to the office and i'm delighted

she's adopting my policy. state of the nation starts now. i'll also be joined by my most pugnacious panel. former editor of the sun, kelvin mackenzie, and the historian and broadcaster tessa dunlop. as always, as you know, i want to hear from you. it's a crucial part the programme. part of the programme. email me mailmogg@gbnews.com. part of the programme. email me maiyour|g@gbnews.com. part of the programme. email me maiyour favourite/s.com. part of the programme. email me maiyour favourite partn. part of the programme. email me maiyour favourite part of the it's your favourite part of the day. the news with polly middlehurst. >> jacob, thank you and good evening to you. well, the top story from the gb newsroom tonight. five members of a bulgarian organised crime group have been convicted today of falsely claiming over £50 million in universal credit in the uk's biggest ever case of benefit fraud . the gang worked benefit fraud. the gang worked for almost five years, making

thousands of false claims for