labour leader sir keir >> labour leader sir keir starmer pledges the uk's nuclear deterrent is the, quote, bedrock of his plans to keep the country safe . safe. >> yes, keir starmer is determined to make the labour party the party of defence. but does he really have the cash to put his money where his mouth is.7 find put his money where his mouth is? find out more with me very sooi'i. 500“. >> soon. >> we've got the latest reaction to the death of former sports star, hollywood star oj simpson. he was, of course, infamous, acquitted of two murders. he's dead at the age of 76 and whatsapp aids change. >> social media giant meta is under fire for lowering the minimum age for whatsapp from 16 to 13. let us know what you think. is it irresponsible ? think. is it irresponsible? >> harry kane's children are involved in a car crash. three of his youngsters were taken to hospital after being involved in the incident in germany. they're said to be doing fine.

>> and also a jam packed show coming up. barry geraghty , coming up. barry geraghty, former grand national winner. he's going to be joining us live to give the lowdown on this saturday's tomorrow's big race. and also harry and meghan pip. they've got new netflix shows coming . did you hear about coming up. did you hear about that. yeah. >> got a >> they've got a big multi—million deal. multi—million pound deal. they've making they've got to keep making something. it's going to be about . about polo. >> harry's is on polo vacancies on and gardening and friendship. >> yeah friendship. that's an interesting one. >> a snooze fest compared >> bit of a snooze fest compared to dishing the dirt the to dishing the dirt on the royals, you think? royals, don't you think? >> will the royals get a mention? what do you think about everything we're talking about? maybe we're maybe there's something we're not you want not talking about that you want to us know to talk about. do let us know gbnews.com/your say. first, let's bring you right up to date for latest headlines . for the latest headlines. >> very good morning to you from

the newsroom. it's just after a half past nine. a look at the headunes half past nine. a look at the headlines this hour. >> starmer is expected >> sir keir starmer is expected to say that britain's nuclear deterrent the bedrock of deterrent is the bedrock of labour's plan to keep the country safe. the labour leader is visiting barrow in furness today, where nuclear submarines are being built. he's expected to reaffirm party's to reaffirm his party's commitment to defence spending, with a pledge to boost investment strengthen investment and strengthen britain's security and economic growth. if labour wins the next election. the government, though, has dismissed the plan as a distraction. but sir keir starmer says it's an essential step in the face of rising global threats and growing russian aggression . britain is russian aggression. britain is turning an economic corner that's according to the chancellor, after the nation's output grew by nought point 1% in february, the office for national statistics also revised january's figure, pushing it up to nought point 3. those latest figures suggest britain is coming out of recession, with significant improvements across manufacturing, particularly in the car sector . lord

manufacturing, particularly in the car sector. lord cameron has warned today that iran shouldn't draw the middle east into a wider conflict . the foreign wider conflict. the foreign secretary spoke to his iranian counterpart following threats made by tehran against israel. there are concerns that an israeli airstrike that killed two iranian generals last week could provoke a retaliation. meanwhile the us has told its officials and their families in israel not to travel outside three areas tel aviv, jerusalem and beersheba . and social media and beersheba. and social media giant meta has been criticised for lowering the minimum age for whatsapp from 16 to 13. campaigners say the move is tone deaf and highly irresponsible. however meta says it does bring the app's age limit in line with most countries and insists protections are in place. well, it comes as the tech firm, which also owns facebook and instagram, unveiled a range of new safety features, including automatic protections against inappropriate images, which will be switched on by default for

those under 18. those are the headunes those under 18. those are the headlines from the newsroom for now. more in the next half hour. until then, you can sign up to gb news alerts. just scan the code your screen go code there on your screen or go to gbnews.com. alerts to gbnews.com. slash alerts. >> good morning. welcome to britain's newsroom on gb news with ben leo and pip tomson. good morning to you. >> i'm just getting used to this gbnews.com/your . gbnews.com/your say situation. it's my first day back since implementing the system so i can see all your comments, which is good. however, i cannot reply to them or message you so i'm them or message you so if i'm silent, that's why. but yeah, keep flowing all keep the comments flowing in all those of you who itching for those of you who are itching for a ben leo this a response from ben leo this morning, sure you're not. a response from ben leo this morsure sure you're not. a response from ben leo this morsure you'rerre you're not. a response from ben leo this morsure you're not.)u're not. a response from ben leo this morsure you're not. right.ot. i'm sure you're not. right. let's on first let's get on with our first story, we? enough being story, shall we? is enough being done veterans done to support our veterans today , rishi sunak is launching today, rishi sunak is launching an employment plan which promises veterans secure promises to help veterans secure highly paid jobs after they leave forces .

leave the armed forces. >> £2.1 million is being put into operation prosper. but is that just a drop in the ocean to support those who put their lives on the line for our country ? country? >> gb news reporter charlie peters joins us live in the studio. good morning charlie. some would say £2.1 million is a drop in the ocean. it's not going to touch the sides. is that enough? well, for our veterans that is the perspective of steve mccabe, labour's veterans, shadow veterans minister, who said that it's a step in the right direction. >> he said that more >> but he said that more broadly, government been broadly, the government has been failing veterans community failing the veterans community after the last 14 years, saying that halved. in his that they've halved. in his view, support for veterans employment. now, when the government's trying to do here is bring in more of a connection between the armed forces community and actually a lot of areas of employment and many industries where they're not typically associated, such as energy , manufacturing and indeed energy, manufacturing and indeed the professional services , 89% the professional services, 89% of veterans are employment ,

of veterans are employment, which is an all time high as it stands. and that actually compares with a nationwide average of 75. so veterans actually, in comparison to the wider public, are in a much better position. however, this does come at a time where the government is trying to engage with wider veterans issues. homelessness and mental health have been key pledges of their mission since, since this parliament came into effect. and they are trying to capitalise, i think, on a much broader success that we've we have seen in wider uk industry professional services are now worth £185 billion. it's seen britain become the fourth largest exporter in the world on the back of that rise. trying to bnng back of that rise. trying to bring veterans in that space could help bring that 89% even higher. >> you mentioned there homelessness that is a growing problem. last year, homelessness amongst veterans, we understand in england rose by 14. >> yeah, a major issue. and the veterans minister, johnny mercer, we visited a facility that he launched in december as part of that long term plan to

bnng part of that long term plan to bring veterans homelessness. this government actually pledged at the end of last year to end it. one of the main questions gb news was asking then repeatedly was, you've made this pledge , was, you've made this pledge, you're nowhere near achieving that target. they say the government's position is that they've got all the resources in place to end veterans homelessness, and the plan is there. it'sjust homelessness, and the plan is there. it's just going to take time. speaking to many of the charities work in charities that work in homelessness for veterans. and it's stress, it's important to stress, actually, wraparound actually, this is a wraparound service. there's no just you work in homelessness nothing work in homelessness and nothing else. working much else. they're working very much in around in employment issues around addiction. is a holistic addiction. it is a holistic approach to dealing with the issue. they say very much that the approach needs to be broader . you need to take in all of these considerations. you can't just a home. just offer a home. >> i speak to many homeless people down seaside where people down by the seaside where i live in west sussex, and they say suffered ptsd say that they suffered from ptsd from various tours abroad afghanistan, and they say afghanistan, iraq and they say they just weren't getting the help, the mental health help from either the army or the

government or the nhs to treat that ptsd. how big an issue is ptsd and associated mental health problems with vets? >> i think there's a national consciousness about this issue now, in particular from many of the charity campaigns that were launched during the wars in afghanistan and indeed in iraq. but always stresses, as but the army always stresses, as do many troops, that soldiers actually, on average , have actually, on average, have a stronger mental health record than the wider public. it's when people leave that those issues arise, in particular with employment and homelessness, because the army might have provided your entire life, or the navy or the marines or the air force, your or your housing, your employment, but your employment, of course. but also medical and dentistry, your whole community, your whole life is within those barbed wires. and suddenly leave that and suddenly if you leave that space, then you're at the mercy of the civilian. >> what the army do to help >> what does the army do to help prepare for the real prepare leavers for the real world, street? prepare leavers for the real worwell, street? prepare leavers for the real worwell, i street? prepare leavers for the real worwell, i think;treet? prepare leavers for the real worwell, i think those >> well, i think those transition processes are constantly improved . but constantly being improved. but £2.1 million, that's going to on improving the link between the

military and industry. well, labour's say that it's a step in the right direction. it's clearly, clearly part of a much broader and ongoing package. >> interesting as well that this is at same time as is coming at the same time as the former armed forces minister, james heappey been minister, james heappey has been speaking about requiring veterans to serve again in veterans again to serve again in a national crisis. he's talking about having a large strategic reserve and members of the armed forces who've left, often within the last up to 20 years, regularly get letters from the ministry defence asking them ministry of defence asking them if they're still available. >> should the balloon go up and you're required to serve again. that strategic reserve has kind of always been in place, but it is certainly being renewed amid these and these ongoing threats. and of course, british course, the size of the british army is below the capacity army now is below the capacity of wembley stadium. it has been for a long time and it is shrinking. we're going to hear later labour's potential later about labour's potential commitment to the armed forces to that around. but from to turn that around. but from the government's perspective today, it's all about veterans and improving that wraparound

support. >> okay. thank you very much, charlie . well, we talking charlie. well, we are talking about labour leader about that because labour leader sir starmer says the uk's sir keir starmer says the uk's nuclear deterrent bedrock nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of his plan to keep britain safe. >> yes. and that's in stark contrast, of course, to jeremy corbyn, who was the champion of nuclear disarmament. >> earlier, the shadow defence minister, luke pollard, spoke to our breakfast team . ellie and our breakfast team. ellie and stephen, this is what he had to say. >> the world is a more contested and difficult place than it has been for a very long time, and that's why we need sure that's why we need to make sure that's why we need to make sure that the armed forces have the resources they need to keep the uk and our allies safe. that's why a commitment to the continued at sea deterrent, those nuclear submarines always at sea, able to defend the uk and our allies is so important . and our allies is so important. but it's also why we are setting out that defence spending should be directed at uk companies first, before we look at buying from international companies , from international companies, we're now scuse me, let me have a cough and then i'll carry on speaking, right. we're now

joined by our political correspondent olivia utley. a very good morning to you, olivia. so, olivia, give us more detail then about what the labour leader is expected to say. he does want to increase that defence budget to 2.5% of gdp . gdp. >> yeah. so this is his, big pitch this morning. he wants to increase defence spending to 2.5. at the moment it is at 2.3. consecutive conservative defence secretaries have asked the chancellor to raise it to 3. most recently ben wallace, who earned a lot of plaudits in the wider conservative party for pushing for that. but again and again, chancellor has said again, the chancellor has said no. so this feels a little bit as though keir starmer is sort of trying to steal the conservatives on this. of trying to steal the conse is|tives on this. of trying to steal the conse is aves on this. of trying to steal the conse is a bit on this. of trying to steal the conse is a bit of on this. of trying to steal the conse is a bit of caveat,�*|is. there is a bit of a caveat, though. he has that he will though. he has said that he will raise to 2.5% if labour's raise it to 2.5% if labour's borrowing allow for it, so borrowing plans allow for it, so he's given himself a bit of wiggle room to dilute that policy a bit later down the line. if it turns out that

labour doesn't really have the money for it. this impassioned commitment to nuclear defence is very interesting to keir. starmer has promised a triple lock for nuclear defence. he says that he will. the labour party will build four new submarines in barrow and furness, that he will continue updating the submarines that we've got, renewing and rejuvenating them when required, when required, and he is promising to invest in submarine hours. so everything there is a total turnaround from what what jeremy corbyn was saying just five years ago. the former leader, labour of course, wanted to scrap trident altogether. now it will be really interesting to see how this all plays out with the country at large and the labour party itself too. it's thought that being the sort of party of defence will play very, very well in some of those sort of tory heartland areas . of tory heartland areas. already, labour is leading in the polls when it comes to

defence. 24% of the country trust the conservatives on defence, 34% trust labour, trust labour more so , it is quite labour more so, it is quite likely that labour will sweep up some naturally conservative votes because of this. but of course there are plenty of labour party members who are much more of the jeremy corbyn mindset and would like to see nuclear deterrence scrapped altogether . what will they make altogether. what will they make of this? will they out, of this? will they turn out, pounding the roads, use it? sending leaflets around, campaigning for the labour party? when the labour leader totally disagrees with them on a policy this important ? it'll be policy this important? it'll be fascinating to see how this plays out. >> olivia . how have the >> olivia. how have the conservatives reacted this morning? and do you think as the year goes on and we move closer to the pending election, that the tories may come back with their defence commitments to their own defence commitments to maybe trump? labour's maybe even trump? labour's announcement ? announcement? >> well, surely the conservatives will have to , give conservatives will have to, give something, offer something for

defence. that's 3. target has been refused time and again by the chancellor. but at every opportunity he says that it is a, it is a sort of intention of the government. one day down the line, conservatives would line, the conservatives would like defence spending like to see defence spending raised to 3% of gdp. well given the state of the polls at the moment, i would think that the conservatives would now say that thatis conservatives would now say that that is now is the moment to promise that that 3% that they need to show that they are strong in areas which the conservatives traditionally own, areas like defence and taxation . areas like defence and taxation. there probably won't be another budget before the next election , budget before the next election, but i think we can expect to see some pretty strong manifesto commitments on defence from the conservatives. >> the defence secretary , vie >> the defence secretary, vie olivia grant shapps. he, as you might expect , is saying that it might expect, is saying that it is an attempted distraction from the angela rayner scandal. he's calling it a scandal. but amongst the public, i'm not really sure. this so—called scandal is cutting through .

scandal is cutting through. >> i think that's a really interesting question because, as you say , it is possible that it you say, it is possible that it isn't really cutting through. i mean, it's said in westminster that, you know, if you can't explain scandal in less than a explain a scandal in less than a sentence, then it just won't get through and through to the public. and i think the problem with the angela is that it is angela rayner case is that it is quite whether quite complicated. whether it's true labour is coming up true that labour is coming up with this huge defence plan today simply in order to distract from that, from what's going on with angela rayner? well i think i'm a little bit sceptical about that, but there are some valid criticisms coming from conservatives who i've spoken who've said that spoken to who've said that essentially the labour plan for defence spending isn't defence spending just isn't costed today. john costed up until today. john healey, the shadow defence secretary, refused to put a to number the defence spending plans for labour because he said that they needed to do a thorough review of defence spending the before spending at the moment before they made any sort of monetary commitment. that promise commitment. well, that promise that that review seems to have gone out of the window now. there seems to be pressure coming from somewhere for labour

to their money where their to put their money where their mouth if that mouth is on defence. but if that policy , could we policy isn't costed, could we see be diluted over the next see it be diluted over the next months as head towards months as we head towards a general election? >> correspondent general election? >> utley correspondent general election? >> utley , orrespondent general election? >> utley , thankondent general election? >> utley , thank you nt general election? >> utley , thank you for now. olivia utley, thank you for now. >> yeah. how long until the flip flop? it's interesting because defence spending never used to be a big vote winner, did it? but of course in testing but of course in these testing times internationally, ukraine, russia, , gaza, etc, etc. russia, israel, gaza, etc, etc. seems to be, you know , up the seems to be, you know, up the list of priorities for governments and looming governments and looming governments with labour's case. anyway, up as a anyway, up next, as we have a falling birth rate in britain and of course around the world, people just aren't having enough babies , are they? right to babies, are they? is it right to criticise their 40s criticise anyone in their 40s having a child? let us know what

gb news. it's 950. you're with ben and pip on britain's newsroom on gb news now. big question. and a loaded one. is it selfish to have children over the age of 40?

>> this has been all over the news in recent days because of bbc broadcaster rachel burden's comments. now she already has three children at 41 and felt selfish for having another child. >> yeah, and with falling birth rates in britain and of course around the world, shouldn't we be encouraging more people to have babies in their 40s? well, joining lucy baker, joining us now, lucy baker, she's the founder of the geriatric mum blog. good morning to you, lucy. what's your take then? is it selfish to have kids in your 40s? >> well, i think you're probably going to know what i'm going to say on this one. >> being the founder of geriatric mum blogs. so, no, not selfish. i have three children now. i had my first at 34, my second at 37. so technically geriatric some might say, and my third baby at 43. it was the right time for me. i really wanted to add to our family, or me and my husband wanted to add to our family. and it was it was

not a selfish move. it was a family move, i don't think it's selfish. you know, i why would it be selfish? >> what's why did the bbc broadcaster say that? >> well, i think to be fair , i >> well, i think to be fair, i think to be fair to her, it wasn't she was saying selfish about not being an older mum per se. it more about the fact se. it was more about the fact that a of that she was already a mother of three the age that she three and at the age that she was extend her family was wanted to extend her family further having a fourth child. >> yeah. no, i understand where she's coming from, but i think the word selfish and i think the word i think the way that women are branded, wrong, you are branded, right or wrong, you know, can't do anything know, you can't do anything right a woman days. and right as a woman these days. and i really hard i think that's a really hard thing to take on. and thing to sort of take on. and through geriatric mum through this geriatric mum journey i've been on, journey that i've been on, because started the blog because i've started the blog and of older and i've met loads of older women, older mums, i should say, over the years. there is never one reason why women have babies later on in life. there's so many different sort of reasons behind the scenes, so sort of just making a sweeping statement

that women are being selfish. having babies think is having babies later, i think is wrong, but i don't know. i mean, everyone has a personal choice, but actually saying that some people don't have the choice to have children in their 30s or even their 20s. you know, there's lots of, like i said before, lots of reasons before, there's lots of reasons why babies later on why women have babies later on in life. but, i mean, i added to the family , you know, we had two the family, you know, we had two kids had another baby kids already. i had another baby a later i'm 48 a few years later at 43. i'm 48 now. baby is now in school, now. the baby is now in school, so he's a little boy. he's five, and lots of people when i, when they found out, they found out i was pregnant, everyone gave me lots of negativity, you know? oh my god, you're going to be 47 when the baby starts school. you're going tired. you're you're going to be tired. you're going of that going to feel old. all of that stuff . and do you know what? i'm stuff. and do you know what? i'm in really best place i've in the really best place i've ever been in my life. i'm sort of confident. i'm calm. i'm together now, and i think it was a brilliant thing. and i don't in any way, shape or form feel like was a selfish move .

like it was a selfish move. >> did you did you feel. >> did you did you feel. >> if i can just did >> lucy, if i can just ask, did you feel a little bit more nervous a child in nervous about having a child in your 40s because of the increased health risk? i mean, we do see, i mean, i think it was the hollywood actress hilary swank. she had twins last year in her in her mid 40s. that is quite unusual. is it is it risky ? >> well, 7- >> well, i ? >> well, i mean, 7 >> well, i mean, that was one of the reasons why i started the blog, actually, it's a good question because there is more risk attached to having baby risk attached to having a baby later it's well later on in life, and it's well documented . but but actually, documented. but but actually, even at 37, a really even at 37, i had a really tncky even at 37, i had a really tricky pregnancy, and even at 34, i had a really tricky birth . 34, i had a really tricky birth. so i've had different situations throughout my life and they haven't always been attached to age. going back to your age. and but going back to your your you know, your main question, you know, your main question, you know, you i did when you go online or i did when i was pregnant 42 risk, risk, was pregnant at 42 risk, risk, risk . it was, you know, risk of risk. it was, you know, risk of pre—eclampsia and all sorts of things. and it, it did, it did

hold me back a little bit in my, in the way that i was kind of accepting the pregnancy, if that makes sense. but what i started to was actually, i'm in to realise was actually, i'm in a place. i'm under a good place. i'm under consultant . because over 40 consultant care. because over 40 they give you consultant care in they give you consultant care in the uk. i felt really well supported, i was looking after myself way more than i did in my 30s. >> okay . >> okay. >> okay. >> lucy had a really lovely pregnancy when i was 42, so it was good for me. >> sorry interrupt. >> sorry, sorry to interrupt. lucy. but really . lucy. we have to go. but really. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on gb news. >> morning. here's your latest gb news weather update brought to you by the met office. a bit of a north south split as we go through today and into the weekend. dry fine weather weekend. some dry fine weather towards south, towards the south, wetter further north. this morning there are heavy outbreaks of rain pushing across parts of northern ireland into northern england and across the of england and across the bulk of scotland,

england and across the bulk of scotltclinging some parts clinging on to some sunshine the afternoon. do sunshine into the afternoon. do watch out for some strong, gusty winds in the northwest across the bulk of england and wales. lots of and at times sunny lots of fine and at times sunny weather afternoon and weather into this afternoon and temperatures of temperatures rising to highs of around 2021, possibly even 22 celsius towards the southeast. everywhere temperatures will be well above average for the time of year. sticking with the north south split as we go through the end the day into tomorrow end of the day and into tomorrow . further rain across northern parts, across parts, particularly across the borders , likely to see some borders area, likely to see some heavy bursts for a time and showers in from the showers feeding in from the northwest, staying drier towards the south will be some the south and there will be some clear but quite a of clear skies, but quite a bit of cloud have mild air cloud and we have mild air across so temperatures across us, so temperatures not dropping most dropping a huge amount for most places through saturday itself. then a bit of cloud bringing some drizzly rain across northern and western parts of england and wales, perhaps towards though towards the southeast, though lots times sunny lots of fine and at times sunny weather again, the more unsettled picture will be once more scotland more across parts of scotland and some and northern ireland. here, some hefty, pushing its hefty, showery rain pushing its way temperatures for way through and temperatures for many be down a touch

many will be down a touch compared today go into compared to today as we go into sunday and we're going see sunday and we're going to see further could further showers, which could be heavy at times across northern areas, towards south, areas, drier towards the south, but temperatures dropping compared to recent. >> inside from >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> right. good morning. it is 10 am. on friday, the 12th of april. great to have your company this morning. this is britain's newsroom with ben leo and pip tomson. >> very good morning to you. thank you for joining >> very good morning to you. thank you forjoining us. this thank you for joining us. this morning. we offer enough thank you for joining us. this mo ourg. we offer enough thank you for joining us. this mo our veterans we offer enough thank you for joining us. this mo our veterans ? we offer enough thank you for joining us. this mo our veterans ? rishi zfer enough thank you for joining us. this mo our veterans ? rishi sunak)ugh thank you for joining us. this mo our veterans ? rishi sunak ls]h for our veterans? rishi sunak is launching an employment plan today help get them into high today to help get them into high paid jobs after they leave the forces. but is it enough? >> the government say that operation prosper will make britain the best place in the to world be a veteran, but labour say that they have failed the

veterans community. >> keeping britain safe. labour leader sir keir starmer pledges the uk's nuclear deterrent is the uk's nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of his plans to keep the bedrock of his plans to keep the country protected . the country protected. >> labour is trying to pitch itself as the party of defence. but does keir starmer really have the cash to put his money where his mouth is ? where his mouth is? >> and reaction to the death of former nfl and hollywood star oj simpson . he former nfl and hollywood star oj simpson. he was former nfl and hollywood star oj simpson . he was acquitted, simpson. he was acquitted, remember, infamously, of two murders but later found liable for their deaths in a civil lawsuit ? lawsuit? >> former post office boss alan cooke is giving evidence now at the post office inquiry. these are live pictures. we'll bring you the latest. >> and whatsapp age change social media giant meta is under fire for lowering the minimum age for whatsapp from 16 to 13. is it irresponsible ?

is it irresponsible? >> prince william and prince george were spotted at villa park last night. it's their first appearance since the princess of wales told us about her cancer diagnosis. villa won two one. come on me babies. >> you're brummie, brought out yourinner >> you're brummie, brought out your inner brummie. there result. >> babies cry. we love a villa win. >> it was meant. it was meant to be. me reading that section of the menu out. and i said to the producer, not doing it producer, i'm not doing it because an arsenal and because a i'm an arsenal fan and b the other week when villa played they put played man city, they put a second allowing city second team out, allowing city to so refuse to demolish them. so i refuse to do it. >> @ congratulate kate >> just just congratulate kate villa one win. villa on their two one win. well done. >> e“- ee- ? well done you >> villa result well done you brummies princes william brummies maybe princes william and that. brummies maybe princes william anc good that. brummies maybe princes william ancgood luck that. brummies maybe princes william ancgood luck last that. brummies maybe princes william ancgood luck last night, let us >> good luck last night, let us know all thoughts know about all your thoughts about what is going on today. what else have we got coming up?

oh, got former grand oh, we've got former grand national barry geraghty oh, we've got former grand nationaabout barry geraghty oh, we've got former grand nationa about the arry geraghty oh, we've got former grand nationa about the festival,aghty oh, we've got former grand nationa about the festival, they talking about the festival, the greatest show on turf, as they call it tomorrow, the big race. who's going to win? have you got your on. nope your bets on. nope >> don't do it. no. >> don't do it. no. >> oh, you're not a fan of the racing, aren't you? i have this conversation. >> yeah. >> yeah. >> don't get stuck into it very shortly. >> do let us what >> do let us know what you think. gbnews.com let's think. gbnews.com mi. say, let's get now sam get your headlines now with sam francis. >> pip and ben, thank you very much. and good morning to you from the newsroom. at 10:02, leading the news this morning, sir keir starmer is expected to say that britain's nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of labour's plan to keep the country safe. the labour leader is visiting barrow in furness today, where nuclear submarines are built. expected are being built. he's expected to reaffirm his party's commitment to defence spending , commitment to defence spending, with a pledge to boost investment and strengthen britain's security and economic growth. if labour wins the next election . the government, election. the government, though, has dismissed the visit as distraction . but shadow

as a distraction. but shadow defence minister luke pollard says bolstering nation's says bolstering the nation's defences is an economic opportunity. >> when , economic conditions >> when, economic conditions allow, we to hope get to 2.5% of gdp on defence, making sure that we can support those men and women in our armed forces have the equipment and the capabilities that they need to deter aggression. but if necessary , defeat an opponent in necessary, defeat an opponent in war. and that is what keir is setting out today. >> britain is turning an economic corner. that's according to the chancellor, after the nation's output grew by 0.1% in february, the office for national statistics also revised january's figure, pushing it up to 0.3. the latest figures suggest britain is coming out of recession, with significant improvements across manufacturing, particularly in the car sector . in other news, the car sector. in other news, lord cameron has warned iran against drawing the middle east into a wider conflict. the foreign secretary spoke to his iranian counterpart following threats made by tehran against

israel. there are concerns that an israeli airstrike that killed two iranian generals last week could provoke a retaliation. meanwhile, the us has told its officials and their families in israel not to travel outside three areas tel aviv, jerusalem and beersheba . the defence and beersheba. the defence secretary says that a new british military laser could be on ukraine's front line by 2027 to help take down russian drones. grant shapps claims the weapon will have huge ramifications for the conflict. the so—called dragon fire is capable of cutting through its targets with an intense beam of light. it comes after the age of conscription in the uk, in ukraine was lowered last week by two years to 25, in an effort to help replenish troops , rishi help replenish troops, rishi sunakis help replenish troops, rishi sunak is launching an employment plan which aims to help veterans secure high paid jobs after they leave the armed forces. more than £2 million is being put into what's being called the op

prosper scheme, which will help people transfer their skills developed in the military businesses across areas including cyber , digital and in including cyber, digital and in manufacturing are being encouraged to play their part well. as we've been hearing . the well. as we've been hearing. the former managing director of the post office has apologised today to wrongly convicted subpostmasters for his involvement in the horizon it scandal. if you're watching on television, you can see here live pictures from that post office inquiry where alan cooke is currently speaking . he said is currently speaking. he said that he wants to most strongly put on record his personal apology to all of those affected, including their families. it comes after cooke had previously said he didn't know about any problems with the honzon know about any problems with the horizon software until shortly before he left his role at the post office. well between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 subpostmasters were prosecuted due to that flawed it system . due to that flawed it system. access to funding for farmers hit by bad weather is to be

widened amid fears that the effects of climate change are creating a crisis for british agriculture . the grants of up to agriculture. the grants of up to £25,000 were initially only available to those within 150m of a main river that had been flooded, the national farmers union, though, has welcomed the broadening of access to the funds , but says that the impact funds, but says that the impact of poor weather on british farms goes far beyond the recent storm. henk a man due in court, is due in court rather later with the murder of mother, who was killed while pushing her babyin was killed while pushing her baby in a pram . 27 year old baby in a pram. 27 year old carla schumacher was killed in bradford on saturday afternoon. the child she was with was not harmed. habiba masum, who's 25 and from burnley, appeared before magistrates yesterday and is now due at crown court today . is now due at crown court today. a group of mps is calling on the government to develop a strategy to help combat misinformation

aimed at young people on the social platform tiktok . ofcom social platform tiktok. ofcom data suggests that 1 in 10 children aged between 12 and 15 used the platform as their main source of news, despite concerns over the chinese government's influence on the app. the recommendation is part of a wider report emphasising the need for more trusted voices like scientists and doctors, to help combat conspiracy theories on the platform. tiktok says it does welcome the idea . social does welcome the idea. social media giant meta is under fire today for lowering the minimum age on whatsapp from 16 to 13. campaigners say the move is tone deaf and irresponsible. however, meta says the changes do bring the app's age limit in line with most countries and that protections are in place. it comes as the tech firm, which also owns facebook and instagram, unveiled of instagram, unveiled a range of new safety features, including automatic blurring features on intimate images. that filter will be on by default for those aged and under 18. well, for the

latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code there on your screen, or go gbnews.com alerts . for or go to gbnews.com alerts. for now, back to pip now, though, it's back to pip and . and ben. >> well, thanks very much. welcome. ladies first. >> thank you very much, benjamin. welcome to britain's newsroom on gb news with ben leo and pip tomson >> yeah, we've got some emails flying in, not least on having kids in your 40s. gordon. good morning. gordon. you say providing the mother is healthy and the age is irrelevant, providing the mother is healthy. sorry, the age is irrelevant to becoming a mother again . and tim becoming a mother again. and tim says, why can't women decide for themselves kids ? themselves when they have kids? it's else's business. it's nobody else's business. >> don't think age >> marty says. i don't think age should be a consideration when planning children, as we all live . now it's down to live longer. now it's down to can you to for your can you afford to care for your child and not rely on benefits? this is all relates to rachel burden, the broadcaster's

comments, where she'd already got three children and she had a fourth when she was in her 40s, and also now we're all at different stages in our lives. at 40, you know, many women may not have even at the age of 40, may not have met the person that they want to have a child with. their life circumstances might be might not be different. they might not have seized by that desire have been seized by that desire to have a baby. >> arguably, you could be a >> and arguably, you could be a better mother. got more better mother. you've got more life you've life experience. you've travelled the world. perhaps you've . shelley says you've worked. shelley says something that. something akin to that. she says, my first at 39, my says, i had my first at 39, my second i think i've made second at 41. i think i've made a mother to my children a better mother to my children because of all life because of all my life experience. are thriving experience. my kids are thriving and badly and i'm not doing so badly myself. actually mum had myself. and actually my mum had me nearly 41 and me when she was nearly 41 and i turned out all didn't i? turned out all right, didn't i? don't answer that. turned out all right, didn't i? dorwe'll.wer that. turned out all right, didn't i? dorwe'll ask that. turned out all right, didn't i? dorwe'll ask you, mom. >> we'll ask you, mom. >> we'll ask you, mom. >> don't answer. get in >> ben. don't answer. get in touch with us. and malcolm, your comment up. comment has cracked me up. i don't selfish to have don't think it's selfish to have children age of but children over the age of 40, but it better to get them to it is better to get them to leave home before the big four zero. i think many people would

concur with that. thank you for all your thoughts. keep them coming gbnews.com forward coming in gbnews.com forward slash your say okay, it's 10:10. >> rishi sunak has today pledged £2.1 million to help veterans into high paid jobs after they leave the armed forces under a scheme called operation prosper, while the veterans employment rate is 89, thousands are still thought to slip through the cracks after leaving the forces, so joining us now is lieutenant colonel stuart crawford, a defence analyst and former british army officer. good morning to you. is this a drop in the ocean? £2.1 million. some are saying that it's not enough. it doesn't touch the sides to help our much needy vets. >> well, i mean, i think that's the standard response to every government initiative these days that that it's not enough. but i would say it's a step in the right direction. and it's a start probably doesn't go far enough. but, at least we have a foot on the ladder, if you like. i mean , i think the basis is i mean, i think the basis is that in our society, we have a

duty of care and responsibility to look after those who have been willing to put themselves in harm's way on our behalf. and so when they exit the services, we should have a mechanism in place to make sure that their transition to civilian life is as easy as we can make it. the good news is that most people don't fall flat on their faces, but it can take some people quite a long time, to make that transition and to find a steady job or steady employment back in civilian life . civilian life. >> but we do hear, stuart, about about homelessness amongst military veterans, increasing in england. also an issue with with young people that are forced to leave the service, be it through for medical reasons, disciplinary reasons. i mean, i've stories about how i've heard stories about how they have to find housing at really short notice sometime on the same day . it's all right the same day. it's all right putting money into it. but but

with those sorts of issues, shouldn't there be a proper road map for veterans ? yes. map for veterans? yes. >> oh, i mean, i would agree. absolutely. i think that, politicians are very fond of saying they've put x amount of money into such and such, but they never say whether they think the money's been spent wisely , what i would like to see wisely, what i would like to see and what i've been talking about for longer than i care to remember, is that i think, guaranteed employment and housing should be a condition of service when you sign up, say, after ten years, you should be guaranteed a job and guaranteed housing. and it's not rocket science to set that up. it just needs the leadership to implement it. >> stuart, what do you make of sir keir starmer's, i'd call it an announcement, but he's kind of said that he may row back on it if finances aren't in check. what do you make of his announcement about defence spending? it to spending? he's going to up it to 2.5% if win the election . 2.5% if they win the election. >> well, i think that that's a classic sort of prime minister

in waiting, announcement. classic sort of prime minister in waiting, announcement . and he in waiting, announcement. and he basically is seizing the high ground on defence, probably recognising that the conservative government has been weak on defence and has let left the state of the british armed forces in fairly parlous condition in many cases, everybody would like it up to 2.5% or more. the polish government has increased its defence spending to 4% of gdp, and there's a lot of stuff that has to be done , to sort out the has to be done, to sort out the lack of investment over the past two decades. and so 2.5% is, again, it's a good start, but it doesn't it's not going to fill the gap. >> i think the former armed forces minister james heappey wants it to be 3% by 2030. >> yes. i mean 3% would would be would would be much better. but

i mean, there's stacks of stuff to be done and of course, the defence budget is competing against all the other , critical against all the other, critical budgets which the government has to administer. >> how vulnerable are we, stuart, in terms of our enemies across the world, russia, china ? across the world, russia, china? are we really that ill equipped to defend ourselves ? to defend ourselves? >> well, i mean, the truth of the matter is that the british armed forces are neither big enough nor fully fully equipped with the correct equipment to take on a peer or near peer enemy . and certainly we couldn't enemy. and certainly we couldn't take on russia on our own . take on russia on our own. however, we do have nato, which basically, guarantees that any attack on the uk, certainly in europe, will, bring in the us and canada and other nato countries to our assistance. so i don't think we're alone. but we should be able to put, for example, in the army, we should be able to put an armoured division the and

division in the field, and that's maybe 15 to 20,000 personnel with equipment at the moment . we're hard pressed to moment. we're hard pressed to put a brigade in the field and that's about 3500 people plus equipment. so we're not in good condition in terms of our armed forces. >> are you confident or how confident are you that sir keir starmer will make what you believe are the right decisions if he becomes prime minister >> well, i'm very hopeful that he will. and i think that, he has signalled his intent to be, armed forces friendly, defence friendly, if you like. but when he becomes prime minister as undoubtedly he appears to that he will, then there'll be so many other competing demands on both his time and the budget that he has to administer that will just have to wait and see. but i'm optimistic rather than confident . confident. >> okay. lieutenant colonel stuart crawford, defence analyst and former british army officer.

thank you so much, sir keir starmer. of course , as well starmer. of course, as well vowing to keep nuclear weapons and and bolster and even boost and bolster trident. so interesting to see whether indeed stick to whether he will indeed stick to that. and he makes that. if and when he makes office. to take you now to >> we want to take you now to the post office inquiry, where former office boss alan former post office boss alan cooke, who oversaw the prosecution of 160 subpostmasters he is currently giving evidence . hopefully we giving evidence. hopefully we can go to those live pictures . can go to those live pictures. this is the inquiry into the horizon. it scandal he has begun. we understand , by begun. we understand, by offering a personal apology. most strongly to affected subpostmasters, saying it's very important for him to say that up front. let's hear a little bit now . how. >> now. >> you would have seen this at the time, wouldn't you ? the time, wouldn't you? >> yes. so the screen has just gone blank, actually , yes. gone blank, actually, yes. >> it's oh, okay. >> it's oh, okay. >> just yeah. right >> just yeah. right >> and £48,000. that's a significant loss to the business

isn't it. >> yeah. yes >> yeah. yes >> and the idea of these investigation reports is that you get them on a monthly basis. is that right? yeah. yeah and enables the executive team to trace through from the point of losses found right through to the outcome of the case. correct? >> yes. sorry >> yes. sorry >> is it not the case that whilst this case was going through and you received an updates on it, at some point you would have been told that a decision had been made to prosecute . prosecute. >> well, i think not really. i don't think that's the case. these cases were reported on and if they went and as i said, the terminology and it's even used in that particular paper went to court. it well, they went to court, didn't they. >> even if the post office made the decision, the case went to court. >> well, those two things don't quite go together. so it went to

court. i had not assumed that we had made we might have wanted it to go to court, but i didn't realise that we had the power back then to take it to court. regardless of what anybody else might think . might think. >> if that was former post office boss alan cooke , who was office boss alan cooke, who was managing director of the group from 2006 to 2010, he's giving evidence live at the post office inquiry in london on the horizon it scandal. we're going to bring you more updates on that as the day goes on. he started his evidence by offering an apology for everything that happened and he said his sympathies are with all the subpostmasters, their families , who were affected by families, who were affected by the scandal. families, who were affected by the yeah,ial. not the only >> yeah, he's not the only person acquiring appearing today. adam crozier, the former ceo of royal mail group limited, former director of royal mail holdings. he will also appear at the inquiry a little later. we will, as ben says, bring you the latest here on gb news. >> all right. still to come,

prince harry and meghan markle. they've netflix they've had two new netflix shows you shows commissioned. can you guess what they're about? one, is about sports and the other is about something meghan likes to get up to in her spare time. can you guess? this is britain's newsroom stay with .

us. >> hello. welcome back. it is 1023. you're with britain's newsroom on gb news. with ben leo and pip tomson. >> welcome. we're joined now by political commentator emma webb and author and broadcaster amy nicole the studio. nicole turner. in the studio. we're going to get stuck into some newspapers and some of the day's newspapers and top shall we start with top stories. shall we start with amy, harry and meghan's new lifestyle and polo shows announced by netflix. what can you tell us? >> well, we have all been waiting with bated breath, haven't we, to see what will they do next? yeah, right. since their netflix endeavour and

their last netflix endeavour and they're on that big five year deal they're on that big five year deal, which is worth about a bazillion pounds. so i think netflix is really keen to get some content out of the some good content out of the pair. so what have they gone with? gone with with? well they've gone with meghan's do a show meghan's going to do a show about gardening about cooking, gardening and lifestyle . she's going to lifestyle. she's going to produce sounds produce it. it sounds a bit rubbish to start with, but then i read that it is being produced by the guys that made chef's table and that pepsi stole my jet. quite good. those jet. that was quite good. those quite good documentaries so jet. that was quite good. those quite bed documentaries so jet. that was quite good. those quite be okay,umentaries so jet. that was quite good. those quite be okay, but ntaries so jet. that was quite good. those quite be okay, but itaries so jet. that was quite good. those quite be okay, but i didn'tso jet. that was quite good. those quite be okay, but i didn't know could be okay, but i didn't know meghan could cook. maybe she's getting chefs on board and then we didn't know brooklyn beckham could cook look and they can't. >> and then he made that excellent cheese sandwich didn't he. >> look how he's profiles increased increased even more i mean well mean it might be if it's well produced know everybody produced you know everybody will want . if it's filmed at a want a gawp. if it's filmed at a home, they'll want to gawp at the kitchen gawp at the garden. >> and she's into lifestyle >> and she's back into lifestyle because had that . because she originally had that. the and the tig lifestyle website. and then was telling me then i think emma was telling me she's got a new blog. what's the blog? riviera, orchard? riviera orchard, the meghan's the orchard, the meghan's in the kitchen harry is getting

kitchen and harry is getting back out on the polo field and is going to be making a documentary about the secret world behind polo. >> so i read that's going to be something in the theme of have you drive to survive you seen drive to survive on netflix, formula documentary. >> behind scenes , all >> it's behind the scenes, all the sort action and bravado. the sort of action and bravado. >> maybe something the >> so maybe something is the action behind polo. >> well, yeah, i mean exactly. >> well, yeah, i mean exactly. >> you should the programme. >> you'll find out. >> you'll find out. >> what you forget is netflix is a okay, >> what you forget is netflix is a not okay, >> what you forget is netflix is a not everybody okay, >> what you forget is netflix is a not everybody othe maybe not everybody in the uk will like polo , but it is will will like polo, but it is played in dozens of countries all yeah and is all over the world. yeah and is very popular. so. and it'll be an audience for it somewhere. i mean, what if, know, great mean, what if, you know, great telly falls off telly if harry falls off a horse, remember i would watch telly if harry falls off a horrpoloemember i would watch telly if harry falls off a horrpolo series. )er i would watch the polo series. >> was the queen's gambit >> what was the queen's gambit that chess interesting? so, >> what was the queen's gambit that know, chess interesting? so, >> what was the queen's gambit that know, any ss interesting? so, >> what was the queen's gambit that know, any subjectesting? so, >> what was the queen's gambit that know, any subject cang? so, you know, any subject can be made interesting . made interesting. >> and let's see, let's see what you do it or polo. you remember some about wine? >> well, emma, that that's the point, isn't could make point, isn't it? they could make documentaries about documentaries or films about slugs kitchen , and it slugs in their kitchen, and it would be a hit because people give them people just would be a hit because people give “to m people just would be a hit because people give “to see people just would be a hit because people give “to see what people just would be a hit because people give “to see what they'rejust would be a hit because people give “to see what they're up to, want to see what they're up to, don't they? >> i mean, people >> yeah. i mean, some people

will it because they're will watch it because they're maybe they're genuinely interested some people like interested or some people like me will go up because they want to see what sort of is the latest ridiculous thing that they've got themselves up to while to of while they're trying to sort of bleed stone , do bleed talent from a stone, do you think the royal family will get a mention? i think, well, i mean, possibly on the polo side of things, i find it very difficult to imagine, given that that's their whole usp, that they're not going to find a way to shoehorn that connection in there somewhere, meghan there somewhere, or meghan might otherwise . otherwise. >> i've actually got an idea to watch them. >> remember what the >> do you remember what the queen archie queen bought baby archie for christmas was christmas that year? it was a waffle maker, right? meghan was like, yeah, i shouldn't really say , but i'm going to tell you say, but i'm going to tell you the bought archie a waffle the queen bought archie a waffle maker, could maker, so maybe we could actually waffle or actually see the waffle maker or meghan may drop a bombshell. >> she might that she was >> she might reveal that she was oppressed when the royal family and she wasn't allowed to cook and she wasn't allowed to cook an omelette or something at kensington we move kensington palace. shall we move on story? so on to our second story? so police been given police scotland have been given a scottish a script defending scottish first minister humza yousaf

after a deluge of hate after he faced a deluge of hate crime reports. of course, off the back the snp's new the back of the snp's new controversial legislation. so they're so phone they're getting so many phone calls, about comments that calls, amy, about comments that humza yousaf has made previously, about previously, particularly about white , that they've had white people, that they've had a script written for them to just dish all the complainants. >> well, i think in the first day this bill went day after this bill went through, there was 3000 complaints, it? now we've complaints, wasn't it? now we've already got a massively overstretched so overstretched police force, so that to a that was always going to be a bit issue, i think a lot bit of an issue, i think a lot of are confused of people are very confused about this bill, they can't really see what it's adding. i think it's the whole stirring up hate bit of it. so it says any comment that stirs up hate. and then people are taking this and they're thinking, well, that's quite subjective isn't it? and the from press was the reception from the press was absolutely terrible , despite the absolutely terrible, despite the bill having cross—party support absolutely terrible, despite the bi|actually cross—party support absolutely terrible, despite the bi|actually crozthrough support to actually get through hollywood, but i think i personally feel like it wasn't necessary, like the way to stop these types of comments, surely, is through education and awareness rather than trying to

police people's speech. >> and if police scotland staff have been given a script, emma, it suggests that they don't really understand what the bill is about in the first place. >> this is, this story is extraordinary and i think it's a perfect encapsulation of the core of the problem with this piece of legislation , because piece of legislation, because obviously, the way that hate crime is reported is that it's from the perception of the person who is offended by whatever has been said or feels insulted by it. and so a lot of people feeling insulted by humza yousafs famous white, white, white, speech said that that was racist. elon musk even said that that was racist , racist. elon musk even said that that was racist, on x and people have therefore been reporting this in such numbers that he has then felt it necessary to provide or they have pressed , provide or they have pressed, seen it, felt it necessary to provide a script defending use of comments. and part of the defence is that it was to do with his own experience of racism , and it wasn't meant to

racism, and it wasn't meant to be disparaging. now anybody else who is having a hate crime reported that they have allegedly committed obviously doesn't have the privilege of being able to provide a script defending them, saying, oh no, no, no, your perception is incorrect. actually, you may have felt insulted. you may have felt this may have been your experience anti—white racism , experience of anti—white racism, but actually, this is what he intended. so for everybody else intended. so for everybody else in scotland, intention doesn't count. but for the first minister it does. yeah. >> can you imagine if anyone bofis >> can you imagine if anyone boris johnson stood on the lectern said too lectern and said there's too many people in public many black people in public positions too many asians positions or too many asians in pubuc positions or too many asians in public country public positions in this country ? he would be cancelled immediately. i be, and for immediately. i would be, and for some , boris johnson made some reason, boris johnson made some reason, boris johnson made some comments some reason, boris johnson made sonpast comments some reason, boris johnson made sonpast and comments some reason, boris johnson made sonpast and he comments some reason, boris johnson made sonpast and he wasn't|ments some reason, boris johnson made sonpast and he wasn't cancelled i >> -- >> and also it's completely different. >> burkas. yeah, yeah . >> burkas. yeah, yeah. >> burkas. yeah, yeah. >> many. yeah. you know. no it was never cancelled. >> absolutely not. the >> no. absolutely not. the things he got away with was but but i think you can but i don't think you can compare saying, that compare saying, you know that about and about an ethnic minority and that people, that about white people, you know, comparable they're

know, comparable because they're not underrepresented know, comparable because they're notin, underrepresented know, comparable because they're notin, in underrepresented know, comparable because they're notin, in society. nderrepresented in, in, in society. >> but scotland is what i mean. it's over 90, 94% white. so, so it's just simply not the case. they've got they've got an ethnic minority . first minister, ethnic minority. first minister, for crying out loud. it's not that they're underrepresented in any way at all. it would be shocking if there right shocking if there weren't right white people almost every white people in almost every single room in scotland. >> thing is that >> i think the thing is that everybody that that everybody knows that that comment stirring up comment was not stirring up hatred any violence, hatred to incite any violence, and that's very clear. and the thing is it's thing about this bill is it's blatantly racist about this bill. actually it bill. if people actually gave it a chance, threshold is a chance, the threshold is extremely, high. but extremely, extremely high. but because and because it's been hijacked and now people are essentially trolling the bill by ringing up and saying they're not they're not trolling the bill. >> they're not trolling. >> they're not trolling. >> they're not genuinely >> i think they're not genuinely concerned that humza yousaf is going violence . going to start violence. >> someone feels that what he said by i mean said was racist. then by i mean even the police scotland had their own i think had their own web page reported. they, i think they ended up having to take it down because they had been disparaging towards young white

men, you know , the, the, the men, i, you know, the, the, the point is that that he has the ability to defend himself, whereas other people in scotland don't. so it doesn't matter. you know, what the intention was behind it. it's about in by their own, standards , it's about their own, standards, it's about perception. and so he's allowed to defend himself. but all sorts of people will be having hate crimes reported them. crimes reported against them. and they don't have the ability to defend themselves, i think, what about the time what about what about the time being this by call being spent on this by call centre people just being spent on this by call centrito people just being spent on this by call centrito ring people just being spent on this by call centrito ring up people just being spent on this by call centrito ring up and people just being spent on this by call centrito ring up and report,e just being spent on this by call centrito ring up and report, you;t want to ring up and report, you know, a burglary? >> no, i, i agree, but it >> yeah. no, i, i agree, but it makes me it makes me slightly frustrated that this well—intentioned bill that could potentially do good because of this very, very high threshold has been hijacked and is now being used to make a example of the first minister, perhaps unnecessarily . okay, people are unnecessarily. okay, people are wasting time, basically. thank you both for now, we're not wasting your time. this morning, we're bringing you the latest headunes we're bringing you the latest headlines with sam francis .

headlines with sam francis. >> very good morning to you from the newsroom. 1031 the headlines this half hour, sir keir starmer says that britain's nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of labour's plan to keep the country safe. the labour leader is visiting barrow in furness today, where nuclear submarines are being built. he's expected to reaffirm his party's commitment to defence spending, with a pledge to boost investment and strengthen britain's security and economic growth. if labour wins the next election. the government, though, has dismissed those plans as a distraction. but sir keir starmer says it's an essential step in the face of rising global threats and growing russian aggression . growing russian aggression. britain is turning an economic corner. that's according to the chancellor, after the nation's output grew by 0.1% in february, the office for national statistics is also revising january's figure , pushing it up january's figure, pushing it up to 0.3. those latest figures

suggest that britain is coming out of recession, with significant improvements across manufacturing, particularly in the car sector . lord manufacturing, particularly in the car sector. lord cameron has warned iran against drawing the middle east into a wider conflict. the foreign secretary spoke to his iranian counterpart following threats made by tehran against israel. there are also concerns that an israeli airstrike that killed two iranian generals last week could provoke retaliation. meanwhile, the us has told its officials and their families in israel not to travel outside of three areas, and social media giant meta has been criticised for lowering the minimum age on whatsapp from 16 to 13. campaigners say the move is tone deaf and irresponsible. however, meta says it will bring the age, the app's age limit, in line with most countries and insists protections are in place . it protections are in place. it comes as the tech firm, which also owns facebook and

instagram, unveiled a range of new safety features, including automatic protections against inappropriate images, which will be switched on by default for those under 18. those are the latest headlines from the newsroom. do sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen, or go to our website, gb news. common alerts . website, gb news. common alerts. >> for stunning gold and silver coins, you'll always value rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report , the gb news financial report, and here's a look at the market's this morning. >> the pound will buy you $1.2510 and >> the pound will buy you $1.251o and ,1.1722. the >> the pound will buy you $1.2510 and ,1.1722. the price of gold is currently £1,918.45 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 8024 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial

report . report. >> still to come here on britain's newsroom, the new bridget jones movie. it is about to start being filmed. it is due out sometime next year. but how doesit out sometime next year. but how does it aged? because there was plenty of jokes, lots of fat shaming that went on in the previous bridget jones movies . previous bridget jones movies. >> are people getting upset by it now? >> i just don't think you could get you could away with it get you could get away with it now. it's going to now. i think it's going to be a very different, very different script. for first time, script. and for the first time, it's directed a fella. it's been directed by a fella. we're be talking about we're going to be talking about that stay us, ben. that next. do stay with us, ben. can't wait

well. many words were used to describe bridget jones . she was describe bridget jones. she was only nine and a half stone and a

size 12. but there was regular talk of fat shaming. she only seemed to think she could get a fella if she was a lot slimmer. and she recorded her weight in her diary every day. those of us who've watched the films remember it very well. don't we, ben? >> i'm just saying off air. i've never seen it. and it's not my kind of thing. i saw, about a boy and love actually , but i've boy and love actually, but i've never seen. i know what bridget jones is about, but i've never seen it. it's not my bag, but let's remind ourselves me let's remind ourselves and me of the 2000 classic rom the early 2000 classic rom com. >> decided to take control of >> i decided to take control of my life and start a diary to tell the truth about bridget jones. the whole truth. resolution number one. obviously, we'll lose £20. number two, always put last night's pants in the laundry basket. equally important, we'll find nice, sensible boyfriend to go out with. >> obviously we'll lose £20. give me a break. that is not going to fly. well, it said

there in 2024. >> it said she was smoking 42 cigarettes a day. so i'm not surprised at that . she wasn't surprised at that. she wasn't losing weight. well surely you should be if you're shuffling that . that many. >> what. what is the new british? jones british. british? british? jones british. well it is british but it's also called bridget. bridget jones film, going to be like is the concept outdated? we're told that gen z. well, they're apparently already planning to boycott it. >> oh goodness me . okay, is it >> oh goodness me. okay, is it body shaming or should the wokey snowflakes off, from snowflakes get off, from criticising our new rom coms? joining us now to debate this is author and broadcaster rebecca reid and journalist and author judy to you judy cook. good morning to you both . rebecca, we'll start with both. rebecca, we'll start with you. are they going to turn you. are they just going to turn this woke fest and this into some woke fest and kill the fun of original kill all the fun of the original bridget jones ? bridget jones? >> so the original bridget jones was column written in the was a column written in the independent, a left wing newspaper wing writer newspaper by a left wing writer called about called helen fielding about a left wing woman who voted labour called jones so the idea called bridget jones so the idea that you'd be woke ifying it by by making her somehow socially conscious is laughable. she was

all always socially conscious. she was always. she has a gay best friend , which in the 90s best friend, which in the 90s was fairly surprising, of course. obsessed course. yes, she was obsessed with her weight. find me a woman who publicly who isn't privately or publicly a bit obsessed with her weight. so is no there no so there is no there is no suggestion. this is rebecca. >> let just interrupt you. >> let me just interrupt you. the of the left the people of the left persuasion ten, persuasion from, say, ten, 15, 20 ago, they'd be called 20 years ago, they'd be called far right. today, the left have gone so far. left that everything's skewed. >> that's of completely not >> that's sort of completely not true. and also, i'm wondering where you're getting the idea that gen z planned to boycott this is film about this film. this is a film about a 54 year old woman. i don't think many 17 year are think many 17 year olds are going and see it, because going to go and see it, because it's a middle woman going to go and see it, because it's kids a middle woman going to go and see it, because it's kids whoiddle woman going to go and see it, because it's kids whoiddlythe woman going to go and see it, because it's kids whoiddlythe age/oman going to go and see it, because it's kids whoiddlythe age of1an going to go and see it, because it's kids whoiddlythe age of 17, with kids who are the age of 17, so i'm interested to know where you're getting the idea that gen z are going to boycott this film . that, it's not . other than that, it's not really them. . other than that, it's not reaijournalist them. . other than that, it's not reaijournalist and them. . other than that, it's not reaijournalist and authorjulie >> journalist and author julie cook, you well . cook, good to see you as well. what does this this script need to contain ? i'm hearing which to contain? i'm hearing which i'm liking the sounds of that she's going to have a 30 year old toyboy .

old toyboy. >> well, yeah, i read that too. and i think that sounds quite nice , listen, i'm of the nice, listen, i'm of the generation that that read the books and saw the films the first time around. i'm 47 this yean first time around. i'm 47 this year, you know, this was my thing. i think she really represented at what represented at the time what life really for our life was really like for our generation women. know, generation of women. you know, i was working in an office in london. really london. i really, really resonated me. everything resonated with me. everything that and yes, that she went through and yes, |, that she went through and yes, i, understand why people i, i can understand why people are worried, why it might not work now, because i do think that lot the stuff that we that a lot of the stuff that we got with then simply got away with back then simply wouldn't in today. wouldn't be in a film today. i don't think would. as you don't think they would. as you mentioned, don't think mentioned, i don't think they could of could get away with the sort of what now what we would call now fat shaming , you what we would call now fat shaming, you know, bridget jones would as completely would now be seen as completely skinny, she, the skinny, wouldn't she, by the way, now. i think it way, we live now. but i think it was a product of its era, a product of its time . i'm product of its time. i'm slightly concerned how it will evolve to work now , as our other evolve to work now, as our other guests said, it's probably not actually aimed at gen z anyway . actually aimed at gen z anyway. you know, they're going to be the sort of, the children of the people are watch people who are going to watch

this, can't see how it's this, but i can't see how it's going really to work going to really evolve to work today. really. >> m today. really. >> what do you what do you think, rebecca? can it work? i mean, it's going to have a mean, it's still going to have a legion isn't legion of fans, isn't it? >> of course but >> well, of course it is. but also the whole was that also the whole joke was that this woman who owned this was a woman who owned a flat in west london, a high flat in west london, had a high level publishing and level job in publishing and weighed stone, and she weighed nine stone, and she still was fat, still felt she was fat, unsuccessful loser. unsuccessful and a loser. that was whole then, and was the whole point then, and it's point now. it's it's the whole point now. it's about the way that you see yourself and that's yourself as a woman. and that's why still it. i'm why it's still i read it. i'm 32. read it when i was in my 32. i read it when i was in my teens. i read it in my 30s. the reason it always applies is that as a woman, you always feel you're getting wrong , even on you're getting it wrong, even on the things. >> you think? >> didn't you think? >> didn't you think? >> think was an >> don't you think that was an unhealthy that unhealthy message to convey that when just over nine stone when you're just over nine stone and a size 12, that you're fat and a size 12, that you're fat and that you need to lose weight, but that's not the message. >> the message is that you can be very thin and still feel like your body isn't good enough. and there's a massive gap between how other people see her and how she but also, she sees herself. but also, literature have she sees herself. but also, lity set ure have she sees herself. but also, lity set good have she sees herself. but also, lity set good examples have she sees herself. but also, lity set good examples hav

to set good examples or send a good this she's an good message. this is a she's an interesting, fully interesting, flawed, fully formed not formed character, and not everything is everything you put on screen is an endorsement. if you make a film about hitler, you're not saying hitler, you're saying we love hitler, you're making of in making a portrayal of a or in that case, historical that case, a historical character it perfectly character. it is perfectly fine to somebody screen to portray somebody on screen without having to be without them having to be morally nobody morally perfect. and nobody particularly the left, is asking for that. okay, rebecca, julie , for that. okay, rebecca, julie, thank you so much. appreciate you being with us. we're just going to bring you some breaking news launched news now, police have launched an investigation into labour's deputy leader , angela rayner. deputy leader, angela rayner. she, of course, has come under the spotlight in recent weeks over the sale of an ex—council house that she previously owned in stockport, and she's been accused of avoiding capital gains tax on it, something she has denied. but greater manchester police have just released a statement they've said we are investigating whether any offences have been committed . this follows committed. this follows a reassessment of the information provided to us by mr daley. mr daley james daly is, of course, the conservative mp for bury

nonh the conservative mp for bury north and there has been no comment so far from angela rayner. raynen >> well, still to come, one of the biggest races in the world takes place tomorrow, the grand national, and there was quite a few protesters there last year trying to block the race. what's going to happen tomorrow? we'll be talking about that with the former grand national winner. stay with us. britain's newsroom

gb news. >> 1048 you're with ben and gb news. >>1048 you're with ben and pip on britain's newsroom on gb news. now, it's my favourite time of the year. when it comes to sport, it's the grand national, the greatest show on turf, and it gets turf, as they say. and it gets underway tomorrow. >> watching from >> people will be watching from all over the world, millions of them. and in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year, police say they have stepped up security to protect the race from protesters i >> joining us now, i'm delighted to say, is former grand national

winning jockey barry geraghty. good morning barry. very pleased to be speaking with you, i think i first saw you spinning around fontwell back in the day when i was younger lad. what what can was a younger lad. what what can we expect tomorrow, barry, in terms of a the race, the sporting spectacle? and also is there a growing concern about protesters, animal rights, people getting involved again? >> morning, ben. morning, pep. yeah. well, i suppose there's lots to look forward to. the race itself is an amazing race. and, you know, as you said, there's millions viewers there's millions of viewers worldwide who tune to watch worldwide who tune in to watch it. really well it. it's a really well celebrated obviously was celebrated there. obviously was issues with protesters issues last year with protesters and the feel is that i'm not and but the feel is that i'm not sure if there is a threat as strong a threat of a protest this year. there has been good changes the grand changes made to the grand national. changes national. it was good changes made ago they made ten years ago when they changed fence changed the core of the fence from wooden to a plastic from a wooden one to a plastic one, safer for horses, one, which was safer for horses, more forgiving like, more forgiving if you like, but this they've the this year they've reduced the numbers with those changes or made that increased speed of made that increased the speed of the the early part . so the race. in the early part. so they've reduced the numbers from

40 by doing that, 40 to 34. and by doing that, they're to create they're hoping just to create more the runners more space for the runners and riders . so, they're constantly riders. so, they're constantly making changes entry make making changes in entry to make the race as safe as possible. and these are horses we all love and and celebrate. and so and enjoy and celebrate. and so it's important that race is it's important that the race is as possible . but it's as safe as possible. but it's important to keep that important also to keep that it is a race. and it is is such a unique race. and it is a different challenge. it's four and a half mile or four mile, should i say it's it takes a lot of getting and there are different as different fences. they're not as challenging before, challenging as they were before, but and but they're different. and horses maybe find little horses maybe find them a little bit strange. it brings bit strange. it would. it brings maybe some quirky characters maybe some old quirky characters back it's a unique test. >> barry . >> barry. >> barry. >> it's 21 years, isn't it, since you won the grand national, i don't know whether it seems like 21 years, but i'm sure you remember that four plus mile course very well. can you just talk us through the emotions, the fear , what you emotions, the fear, what you remember from it, you know, what's it like jumping the chair? the infamous beeches, brook . brook. >> oh, well. well, that was a magical day. and you know, your

dream of winning the grand national and your dream of hard fought victories and, you know, surviving the test that is. surviving the test that it is. but on monty's past, 21 years ago, went there. ago, he went around there. he never twig . he jumped never touched a twig. he jumped brilliantly. he travelled really well and at his ease. so well won and at his ease. so i never expected. i dreamt of winning the grand national, but i expected to as i never expected to win it as easy did. and the moment easy as he did. and the moment for me in the race was when we jumped the third fence. jumped the third last fence. well, there's no amplification, there's there's there's no crowds, there's no sound. complete silence. i'm sound. complete silence. and i'm travelling worn sound. complete silence. and i'm traveinng worn sound. complete silence. and i'm travein front worn sound. complete silence. and i'm travein front of worn sound. complete silence. and i'm travein front of me worn sound. complete silence. and i'm travein front of me . worn sound. complete silence. and i'm travein front of me . i'm orn sound. complete silence. and i'm travein front of me . i'm the i'm hats in front of me. i'm the i'm on the verge of winning the biggest and biggest race in the world. and i could a pin drop. all i had could hear a pin drop. all i had to do then was just sit and wait and the and wait and be patient. and the horse rest. so it was an horse did the rest. so it was an amazing and it's amazing feeling. and but it's a massive thrill going around there jumping there amongst the field, jumping those . it's what those iconic fences. it's what you up dreaming doing, you grow up dreaming of doing, and brook , as you and beecher's brook, as you mentioned. chair, mentioned. and the chair, the canal are these are canal turn. these are these are iconic fences. and it is it's a thrill to even just to compete and complete. >> what would you say to those people, barry, though, who are

disgusted every year by by the horses that do die who say that, you know, yes. >> it's famous , it's also >> it's famous, it's also infamous and it is cruel to them i >> -- >> yeah, well, it's a race, you know, you will have fatalities that's natural with animals. you know, where the horses are on the field. but what i though, is it okay to say, well, you will have fatalities, almost like it's acceptance, we it's an acceptance, because we wouldn't about human. wouldn't say that about human. well, do when you talk well, you do when you talk about the roads. five people a day die on the in britain. do we on the roads in britain. do we ban i don't think we ban driving? i don't think we could do that. so racing is a sport. an industry . these sport. it's an industry. these horses to race. these sport. it's an industry. these horses are to race. these sport. it's an industry. these horses are cared:o race. these sport. it's an industry. these horses are cared for. ce. these sport. it's an industry. these horses are cared for. they're;e horses are cared for. they're minders . everyone involved loves minders. everyone involved loves and adores these horses. and it's really unfortunate when there is fatalities. we don't want celebrate the race want that. we celebrate the race as the brilliant challenge it is. are. you know, it is. and we are. you know, it affects everyone very negatively. is negatively. when there is fatalities, it. fatalities, we don't want it. but it is part of life with horses and animals. that's what happens. horses and animals. that's what happens . so horses and animals. that's what happens. so you have horses and animals. that's what happens . so you have accept happens. so you have to accept to degree. but we do our to a small degree. but we do our best. and the changes that have been have been made for the

been made have been made for the right it's, you right reasons. so it's, you know, aintree brilliant job know, aintree do a brilliant job and trainers , owners, and everyone trainers, owners, jockeys do their best for the horses jockeys do their best for the hor yeah. barry jockeys do their best for the horyeah. barry as you >> yeah. and barry as you alluded to earlier in the chat, the of the fences have been the size of the fences have been reduced. they've changed the material. this year the material. i think this year the number horses running has number of horses running has been reduced. so there are efforts being made to make it safer. but i do year on safer. but i do wonder year on yean safer. but i do wonder year on year, that of year, whether that kind of dilutes integrity dilutes the integrity and the spectacle race. mean, spectacle of the race. i mean, are you favour of those are you in favour of those changes now? >> the changes right. we >> the changes are right. we want race as safe want to make this race as safe as we want to keep as possible. we want to keep this you know, is part this race. you know, it is part of of country . of the heritage of this country. but a it's an but it's also it's a it's an iconic known and watched iconic race known and watched worldwide. so it's important to keep it. it is keep it and keep it. it is unique . it probably it doesn't unique. it probably it doesn't it doesn't present the same challenge as it did when i first ran it 2000. and there was no ran it in 2000. and there was no doubt that. is doubt about that. but it is unique. it different. it unique. it is different. it sparks an old horse back to life, old horses who've lost interest maybe, you know, gone a little they come little bit lethargic. they come to just the and to aintree and just the buzz and the energy and different the energy and the different fences, rekindle an fences, so it can rekindle an

old you like. so it's, old flame. if you like. so it's, it's a magical race and one it's a magical race and it's one that and it's very , very that we love and it's very, very important to racing. right. >> barry, let's get >> come on then barry, let's get down people down to business. who do people need for? yeah well, need to look out for? yeah well, meeting of the waters is the horse i really like, he was a good winner in at good winner in ireland at christmas, ground. christmas, he loves the ground. he was third at the cheltenham festival ultimate. festival and the ultimate. i think improve for that think he would improve for that run, he's a, he's run, so i think he's a, he's a ten stone eight as well, which is important, a lightweight on soft ground jumps really well, but there's and lots of but there's lots and lots of horse with chances. i think manor mission a good chance, manor mission has a good chance, and outsiders maybe, and a couple of outsiders maybe, late pass, ridden late night pass, ridden by female andrews , female jockey jean andrews, who's got a good record, both horse rider this horse and rider around this course. won the foxhunters course. they won the foxhunters here of ago, and here a couple of years ago, and foxy jack's another one outsider. he's a quirky character . i think he outsider. he's a quirky character. i think he liked these fences. >> great stuff. thanks, barry. your is much your expertise is much appreciated. and you've had a sterling career. congratulations. you congratulations. i remember you winning couple of quid on winning me a couple of quid on finian's the festival winning me a couple of quid on fifewi's the festival winning me a couple of quid on fifew years the festival winning me a couple of quid on fifew years back, the festival winning me a couple of quid on fifew years back, so,�*|e festival winning me a couple of quid on fifew years back, so, goodtival winning me a couple of quid on fifew years back, so, good oi'iil a few years back, so, good on you.thank a few years back, so, good on you. thank you forjoining us. you. thank you for joining us. and a great day tomorrow. and have a great day tomorrow.

>> thanks, pip. >> cheers, ben. thanks, pip. >> cheers, ben. thanks, pip. >> stay with us here on britain's newsroom. we'll be bringing more on that bringing you more on that breaking that breaking news that greater manchester are formally manchester police are formally investigating the labour, labour's , angela labour's deputy leader, angela raynen labour's deputy leader, angela rayner, over the sale of her council house. you're watching britain's newsroom on gb news. the weather. it's not bad at the moment, is it? just about not quite bikini weather? almost. here's alex burkill . here's alex burkill. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather solar, the sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> hello again. welcome to your latest gb news weather update brought to you by the met office. it's going to be a bit of a wet picture across northern parts today, but drier and brighter and warmer further south because have high south because we have high pressure dominating here. further though, have pressure dominating here. furt pressure though, have pressure dominating here. furt pressure pushing have pressure dominating here. furt pressure pushing its have pressure dominating here. furt pressure pushing its waye pressure dominating here. furt pressure pushing its way in low pressure pushing its way in and frontal systems bringing the focus for some outbreaks of rain that are sweeping in across parts northern ireland. parts of northern ireland.

northern england and into scotland, far scotland, though the far northeast clinging northeast of scotland clinging on to some sunshine into the afternoon, watch out some afternoon, do watch out for some strong, winds, strong, gusty winds, particularly in the northwest across parts of across central southern parts of england a lot of england and wales. a lot of bright weather to be had, bright fine weather to be had, although the sunshine may be quite pretty strong although the sunshine may be quite so pretty strong although the sunshine may be quite so we're atty strong although the sunshine may be quite so we're likelyrong although the sunshine may be quite so we're likely tog although the sunshine may be quite so we're likely to see now and so we're likely to see temperatures of temperatures rising to highs of around 21, possibly 22 celsius. sticking north south around 21, possibly 22 celsius. stick as north south around 21, possibly 22 celsius. stick as we north south around 21, possibly 22 celsius. stick as we go north south around 21, possibly 22 celsius. stick as we go through south around 21, possibly 22 celsius. stick as we go through the ilh split as we go through the night, so further outbreaks of rain across northern parts could be quite heavy at times. drier towards the could be some towards the south could be some murkiness developing around south coastal around the south coastal parts around the engush south coastal parts around the english channel, but also some clear skies developing at times. despite the clear skies, temperatures not dropping a huge amount, places holding up amount, most places holding up in double figures or high single digits we through digits as we go through saturday, relatively mild saturday, then a relatively mild start any mr start for many of us. any mr murk towards the south coast should clear away through the morning . there be morning. there will be some outbreaks across outbreaks of rain across northern western northern and western parts of england and wales, staying england and wales, but staying dry southeast until dry towards the southeast until the evening. further north, though, an picture though, an unsettled picture across scotland and across parts of scotland and northern ireland. some further outbreaks of heavy rain, which

could at times. two could be gusty at times. two temperatures not quite as high as by by that warm feeling as today by by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> way . >> way. >> way. >> a very good morning to you. it's 11 am. on friday, the 12th of april. this is britain's newsroom on gb news with me, ben leo and pip tomson >> breaking news. greater manchester police reopens a probe into claims that labour leader , deputy leader angela leader, deputy leader angela rayner may have broken electoral law over information she gave about her living situation a decade ago. we'll bring you the latest. >> and do we do enough for our veterans? rishi sunak launching an employment plan today to help get them into high paid jobs after they leave the forces? >> £2 million for sunak's

operation prosper. but labour say that the government is not doing enough to support the veterans community. >> keeping britain safe labour leader sir keir starmer pledges the uk's nuclear deterrent is the uk's nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of his plans to protect the country and reaction to the death of former nfl and hollywood star oj simpson in america. >> he was acquitted , remember, >> he was acquitted, remember, of two murders but later found liable for their deaths in a civil lawsuit . civil lawsuit. >> whatsapp age change social media giant meta is under fire for lowering the minimum age for whatsapp from 16 to 13. how responsible or irresponsible do you think that is? >> let us know what you think about all those stories. gbnews.com forward slash your

say lots of comments so far. not least about that whatsapp story is meta. mark zuckerberg , the is meta. mark zuckerberg, the parent company of whatsapp facebook. are they right to reduce the age from 16 to 13 for kids to use the app? i don't think so personally. >> i mean, it's very different from normal messaging, isn't it? the that end to end the fact that it's end to end encrypted. we hear so much about bullying school children. >> well, there's reports that kids, young kids are getting added against their will into big where sharing big groups where they're sharing sexual content, racist messages. and as a parent, i you know, worry about my kids one day growing up and being subject to that kind of thing. so let us know. views sorry. no, we've know. gb views sorry. no, we've changed vaiews@gbnews.com. changed it. vaiews@gbnews.com. >> still got, remember ? >> we've still got, remember? >> we've still got, remember? >> gb news we'll get there. com slash you're safe. >> we better get to the news. here's sam. >> pip and ben, thank you very much. good morning from the gb newsroom . it's just much. good morning from the gb newsroom . it'sjust after 11:00 newsroom. it's just after 11:00 and we start with breaking

and we start with that breaking news. recap of the news coming news. a recap of the news coming out of manchester this morning that have now launched that police have now launched a formal investigation into the deputy labour leader, angela raynen deputy labour leader, angela rayner, over the sale of her council house. the new investigation comes after conservative mp james daily reported the labour mp to greater manchester police . it's greater manchester police. it's understood he made them aware of claims by neighbours that contradicted miss rayner's statement that a property separate from her husband's home was in fact her main residence . was in fact her main residence. she's also been accused of avoiding capital gains tax on that property. angela rayner, though, does deny any wrongdoing . the former managing director of the post office has today admitted he was unaware that the organisation was itself prosecuting subpostmasters in about two thirds of cases. speaking at the horizon inquiry, he said there would have been a higher bar if an outside body brought the cases. more than 900 subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted due to a faulty it

system between 1999 and 2015. alan cooke has apologised for his involvement in the scandal, and he's previously said he didn't know about the software problems until shortly before he left his role. in other news, sir keir starmer says britain's nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of labour's plan to keep the country safe. the labour leader is visiting barrow in furness today, where nuclear submarines are being built. he's today, where nuclear submarines are being built . he's expected are being built. he's expected to reaffirm his party's commitment to defence spending, with a pledge to boost investment and to strengthen britain's security and economic growth. if labour wins the next election. the government, though, has dismissed today's visit as a distraction. but shadow defence minister luke pollard says bolstering the nation's defences is an economic opportunity. >> when economic conditions allow , we hope to get to 2.5% of allow, we hope to get to 2.5% of gdp on defence, making sure that we can support those men and women in our armed forces have the equipment and the

capabilities that they need to deter aggression. but if necessary, defeat an opponent in war and that is what keir is setting out today . setting out today. >> britain is turning an economic corner. that's according to the chancellor. after the nation's output grew by 0.1% in february, the for office national statistics also revised january's figure, pushing it up to 0.3. the latest figures suggest britain is coming out of recession, with significant improvements across manufacturing, particularly in the car sector . the defence the car sector. the defence secretary says a new british military laser could be on ukraine's front line by 2027 to help take down russian drones . help take down russian drones. grant shapps claims the weapon will have huge ramifications for the conflict. the so—called dragon fire is capable of cutting through its targets with an intense beam of light. it comes after the age of conscription in ukraine was lowered last week by two years to now 25, in an effort to help

replenish, replenish troops , replenish, replenish troops, lord cameron has warned. iran against drawing the middle east into a wider conflict. the foreign secretary spoke to his iranian counterpart following threats made by tehran against israel. it comes as concerns are raised that an israeli airstrike that killed two iranian generals last week could provoke a retaliation. meanwhile, the us has told its officials and their families in israel not to travel outside of three areas. access to funding for farmers hit by bad weather is to be widened amid fears that the effects of climate change are creating a crisis for british agriculture . crisis for british agriculture. grants of up to £25,000 were initially only available to those within 150m of a initially only available to those within150m of a main river that had flooded the national farmers union has welcomed the broad access to the funds , but says the impact of funds, but says the impact of poor weather on british farms goes far beyond the recent storm. henk a group of mps is

calling for a strategy to help combat misinformation aimed at young people on the social platform tiktok. ofcom data suggests that 1 in 10 children aged 12 to 15 use that platform as their main source of news, despite concerns over the chinese government's influence on the app. the recommendation is part of a wider report emphasising the need for more trusted voices like scientists and doctors, to help combat conspiracy theories . tiktok says conspiracy theories. tiktok says it does welcome the idea , and it does welcome the idea, and social media giant meta is under fire for lowering the minimum age on its whatsapp platform from 16 to 13, campaigners say the move is tone deaf and irresponsible. however meta say the change brings the app's age limit in line with most countries and that protections are in place well . it comes as are in place well. it comes as the tech firm, which also owns facebook and instagram, unveiled a range of new safety features, including automatic blurring including an automatic blurring feature on intimate images that

filter will be on by default on accounts for those aged under 18. that's the latest from the newsroom for now. more in the next half hour. until then, you can sign up to gb news alerts. just scan that code there on your screen or go to gbnews.com. slash alerts . slash alerts. >> 1107 you're with ben and pip >>1107 you're with ben and pip on britain's newsroom on gb news. so just by the way, i think sam, from the news headunes think sam, from the news headlines just there said that in i said it in the menu. i said it was gbnews.com slash my say gbnews.com forward slash my say it's actually your say so, don't listen to me. i'm being a bit of a fool this morning. gbnews.com/your say your say thank you for having your say today. >> in the last few minutes, we spoke to the grand national winner from 2003, barry geraghty. of course, that massive, racing festival is on at the moment. the big race

tomorrow . lots of your thoughts tomorrow. lots of your thoughts coming in, kev says. how many other sports are there where animals are killed in this way, but then we had somebody saying, sick of the protesters at the grand national. i love all sports, and there are risks to every single sport. that's from debbie . debbie. >> yeah. lynn says, have you noficed >> yeah. lynn says, have you noticed how when a horse loses his her mounts, they his or her mounts, they still run along the other run along with all the other horses over fences even horses and jump over fences even without surely this without the jockey? surely this is that they enjoy is an indication that they enjoy it. i mean, they are herd animals. a big advocate for animals. i'm a big advocate for racing. i love racing, but i mean, some people would say they are herd animals and it's just their instinct to run along. >> what happen >> andrew says what will happen to horses if horse racing is to the horses if horse racing is stopped? >> will they be sent to france to use as steaks in restaurants? horses prefer racing. yeah, but what would happen is they wouldn't get bred. >> exactly. they're bred for racing. they love racing. they love though. they're love jumping, though. they're more likely to break their leg in paddock. jumping in their paddock. jumping a fence favourite horse fence as my favourite horse even fence as my favourite horse ever, some you ever, kauto star. some of you might he that

might remember him. he died that way. a in way. he was having a laugh in his paddock, running around the field broke his leg , field and he he broke his leg, so. the way, before so. and also, by the way, before we the grand national we move on, the grand national is a great british institution. it historic. iconic . it is historic. it's iconic. it's watched around the world by tens millions. it's great for tens of millions. it's great for the economy up in liverpool and aintree. i just feel that, aintree. and i just feel that, you know, as we get the royal family and other great british traditions, there seems to be some agenda where we're traditions, there seems to be som eroding agenda where we're traditions, there seems to be som eroding awayida where we're traditions, there seems to be som eroding away everything/e're just eroding away everything that's great and memorable about this there's another this country. so there's another side this. side to this. >> be historic, it >> it might be historic, it might iconic , but it doesn't might be iconic, but it doesn't mean that it's not without its its risks or even cruelty, as some people well, as, as barry said, fences i think, have been lowered. it seems to be going in the right direction when it comes to safety, but you still have dead have had three three horses dead last , and if any horse is last year, and if any horse is at risk of dying, several horses, is that right? no. >> but as i just said , they >> but as i just said, they could die equally a higher chance in their own field or their paddock. these horses are thoroughbreds. >> they love or deaths. so it

makes you question how fair it is to the horses. it would just be great to have one year where no horse died. >> i think there was a couple of years back . there were in years back. there were deaths in the festival. so there's the actual festival. so there's racing at aintree racing going on at aintree today, national today, but the grand national itself, one itself, i think there was one yean itself, i think there was one year, look, i agree, we love year, but look, i agree, we love animals. you love animals. the people involved in racing love animals. no wants to see animals. no one wants to see horses that's why they horses die. and that's why they have in recent have made efforts in recent years the of years to reduce the size of the fences, change materials fences, change the materials in the fences make easier on the fences to make it easier on horses. course, this year horses. and of course, this year fewer as well. we'll fewer runners as well. so we'll see. crossed see. fingers crossed for tomorrow . tomorrow. >> okay, disagree >> okay, we can disagree agreeably . agreeably. >> of course we can. ask what it's about. >> can't we bet? right. breaking news. this has come in in the last hour because police last half hour because police are investigated . are formally investigated. labour deputy leader angela rayner her rayner over the sale of her council house, concerns that she may have committed an offence by giving false information about where she was living. >> okay, let's bring in our political correspondent, olivia utley . she's in westminster with utley. she's in westminster with the latest morning. olivia,

what's going on then, please, with regards to this new police investigation ? investigation? >> well, just couple of hours >> well, just a couple of hours ago, pip and i were saying that this scandal hadn't really cut through . i think it is going to through. i think it is going to cut through now. greater manchester police are investigating angela rayner over these claims that she lied about her living situation to avoid paying her living situation to avoid paying capital gains tax. originally, the police said that it was not going to look into claims, but james daly the conservative mp who reported angela rayner to the police in the first place, has gone back to the police and said that neighbours contradict angela rayner's that this rayner's account that this address in vicarage road in stockport, was her main living address . stockport, was her main living address. neighbours have apparently said that actually it was her brother who was living there at the time and according to electoral law, if to capital to electoral law, if you are not living at a property, if you haven't been living there for quite a long time, then you are eligible to pay time, then you are eligible to pay capital gains tax on the profits that you made from the sale of that property. so if angela rayner has is found to

have been lying about living there the time and as we there at the time and as we know, there is evidence that perhaps she wasn't living there at the time that her children's birth certificates were registered from her husband's address. and she was married to her husband at the time. if it does turn out that she lied about this and that her brother was actually living there rather than her, she could be found to have broken electoral law, even if she hasn't been even if she hasn't found to have broken electoral law, then this is a very difficult situation for the labour party. when boris johnson was being investigated by the police for the partygate claims, angela rayner said that it was a disgrace that he was staying on by the prime minister while he was being investigated by the police. i expect we'll hear lots of tory mps repeat that back at her over the coming hours and days , we, we just better mention days, we, we just better mention the greater manchester police statement saying that they are investigating whether any offences have been committed .

offences have been committed. following that reassessment of the information provided to us by daly . by mr daly. >> okay. elsewhere today, rishi sunak, he's pledged £2.1 million to help veterans into high paid jobs after they leave the armed forces. that's under a scheme called operation prosper, while the veterans employment rate is 89. >> thousands of veterans are still thought to have slipped through the cracks after leaving the forces. >> joining us now is james sunderland, tory mp for bracknell and former army colonel. morning you. is colonel. good morning to you. is this enough for our needy veterans? £2.1 million, some would say, doesn't really touch the sides james well, it's never enough, but, it's the latest in a series of government plans to help veterans. >> we could talk about up courage, which is about mental health. could talk about health. we could talk about fortitude , which is about fortitude, which is about getting, the getting, veterans off the streets. now prosper, which streets. and now prosper, which i think is the right thing to do. anything we can do as do. anything that we can do as a government to increase the employability veterans and to employability of veterans and to get into the right jobs is get them into the right jobs is a thing this armed

a good thing for me. this armed forces covenant covenant that was introduced in 2000, it was a promise that we acknowledge and understand that veterans should be treated with fairness and respect when it comes to, you know, society. >> communities, are they being treated with fairness and respect? i mean, we hear that that homelessness in england amongst veterans has has increased by some 14. >> i was privileged to chair the armed forces bill select committee, which effectively brought the armed forces covenant into law . so i was covenant into law. so i was immersed in that particular bit of work, and it's a great bit of work, we can thank johnny mercer and conservatives and many other conservatives over the last 14 years for increasing offer for our increasing the offer for our veterans. as a veteran myself and as chair of the and as the chair of the veterans, all party group, i've got a particular interest in this. tell you that this. and i can tell you that the, the lot that, our veterans are facing is improving all of the time , we've also succeeded the time, we've also succeeded before christmas in getting most of our veterans off the streets

in terms of homelessness, under fortitude. so the offer is continuing to improve. and i'm very supportive of that when you left the military, then, james, what sort of support were you offered? it's a fascinating question because i left the military at very short notice , military at very short notice, when i, became the candidate in bracknell for the conservative party, i was still serving as a regular army officer, and i appued regular army officer, and i applied for something called a premature voluntary but premature voluntary release. but i discharged from i was literally discharged from the army in six days. and i can thank the armed forces for that, because i asked to leave at very short notice. they let me so short notice. they let me go. so i nothing but admiration short notice. they let me go. so i them,thing but admiration short notice. they let me go. so i them, forg but admiration short notice. they let me go. so i them, for the it admiration short notice. they let me go. so i them, for the supportation short notice. they let me go. so i them, for the support they for them, for the support they gave both through my career gave me, both through my career and since. and also since. >> support was that? >> but what support was that? >> but what support was that? >> huge amount of >> there is a huge amount of support available, there's a resettlement which is resettlement package which is about two years in duration. every eligible veteran, every single eligible veteran, goes through that package, it's a combination of resettlement training, interviews, workshops .

training, interviews, workshops. it's about honing cvs work experience and of course, termination leave that allows veterans to seek the employment they need. so i'm pretty comfortable as a veteran myself that the offer for our veterans is very good. >> james, why don't we treat veterans in this country as they do in the united states? they are decorated, they're applauded in have veteran id in public. they have veteran id cards. we don't even have that in this country, do we? >> well, the veterans id cards are coming out to be mailed out all the time. i've got mine, it's a great thing to have in one's pocket if you need to get it out, i benefit from the veterans railcard, which is a fantastic bit of work introduced by johnny mercer and the offer is improving all the time. and of course, we can look at the americans , our compatriots and americans, our compatriots and our colleagues out there to see where has been set. where the bar has been set. so there's do, view, there's work to do, in my view, to increase that offer. but we are we are well on that way . and are we are well on that way. and we value our veterans. we value military service. we value the service of all key workers. and i'm pretty comfortable that

while there is more to do, we've come a hell of a long way in the last years. last 14 years. >> okay, say a hell of >> okay, you say come a hell of a labour's a long way. but labour's steve mccabe, who's mccabe, for example, who's spoken lot on this issue, he spoken a lot on this issue, he says the conservatives says it's the conservatives that have employment support have halved employment support for veterans and have failed armed forces communities for the last 14 years. >> well, to be blunt, he's talking absolute nonsense. it was the conservative government that introduced the armed forces covenant into law. i chaired that bill committee. up prosper is the latest in a series of excellent initiatives to support our veterans. richard branson, very famously said, train your people so well that they can leave, but treat them so well. they don't want to. that's exactly where the armed forces need to be, both in terms of treating their service personnel as they can, but also as well as they can, but also ensuring that they are as well suhed ensuring that they are as well suited for employment outside after their service. that is absolutely what operation prosper is there to do. and as a conservative mp, i wouldn't be

sat here now extolling the virtues of veterans and military service and the offer for our veterans. if i didn't believe it. >> okay. james sunderland , tory >> okay. james sunderland, tory mp for bracknell and of course, former army colonel, thank you so for being us. so much for being with us. >> you. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> up next, the rspca, >> okay. up next, the rspca, they're under fire for releasing a bizarre rebrand video that compares cattle farming to stepping on a snail. we're going to be discussing that next and show you the clip with britain's newsroom on gb news. stay with

us. >> welcome back to britain's newsroom. now, we brought you that breaking news about police investigating claims that angela raynen investigating claims that angela rayner, deputy leader, rayner, labours deputy leader, may have broken electoral law over information she gave about her living situation a decade ago.the her living situation a decade ago. the labour party is saying it remains confident that she has complied with the rules , and

has complied with the rules, and that she welcomes the chance to set out the facts with the police. so that is the latest we are hearing on that. >> interesting. and of course, sir keir starmer yesterday said he had full confidence in angela raynen he had full confidence in angela rayner. so we'll see how that develops . we're joined now by develops. we're joined now by political commentator emma webb and broadcaster amy and author and broadcaster amy nicole turner in the studio. welcome ladies. so the welcome back ladies. so the rspca , they're under fire rspca, they're under fire for this a look this advert. take a look. at. what you want baby? >> i got it . >> i got it. >> i got it. >> what you need? no, i got it all. >> i'm asking is. >> i'm asking is. >> okay, so that's the new. the new rspca advert promoting animal welfare. of course they've got a statement on this. they've said dairy cows face a number of welfare challenges

from painful lameness to uncomfortable bedding and having no access to pasture . we want to no access to pasture. we want to encourage people to understand more about where food comes from and how the animals are reared. so amy, thoughts on that? i mean, do we need to be more aware of where our food comes from? and of course, the living conditions that animals are deaung conditions that animals are dealing with or suffering from? yeah because i think the farmers reaction is that they're comparing farming to stepping on a snail or killing a bee , but a snail or killing a bee, but it's not really that. >> it'sjust it's not really that. >> it's just saying in any scenario , animals can be victims scenario, animals can be victims of cruelty. and i think it's always good to have a reminder of the realities of farming, because when go into the because when you go into the supermarket you buy your supermarket and you buy your eggs, your milk, buy eggs, you buy your milk, you buy your sometimes your meat, you can sometimes have detachment. so i have a bit of detachment. so i think this is people all the time who say, they can buy it off the supermarket shelf, but they wouldn't want to see the animal being killed. >> now is it not a legitimate view to go? well, hang on a minute . if you're not prepared minute. if you're not prepared to kill it yourself, why eat it?

>> hypocrites. emma >> hypocrites. emma >> yeah, you're eating meat. >> yeah, if you're eating meat. but be prepared to but you wouldn't be prepared to kill and prepare the animal, then. you are a hypocrite then. sure. you are a hypocrite for sure, i think this is a great for amy and great story for amy and i because of us are animal because both of us are animal lovers, i yes, i do, i do lovers, and i yes, i do, i do think, obviously it's important that people are aware of where their food comes from and so on. but farmers at the moment are really under fire in all sorts of different ways, particularly with and with net zero policies. and i think juxtaposition in this think the juxtaposition in this advert of animals that are just simply farmed , and that simply being farmed, and that being juxtaposed with a starving dog or a hedgehog being hit by a car , so, you know, the advert car, so, you know, the advert itself , i car, so, you know, the advert itself, i think is just a bit sort of lame in a way, with the strange singing, but it's quite effective, though it does make you stop and think, because how many times do we accidentally i know, i know, i do at night accidentally step on a snail and i feel terrible. i was saying to amy off air, i actually do pick up snails and i do move them. if

i think that they're going to be in someone's way, i do i in someone's way, i do it. i mean, i've stepped snails mean, i've stepped on snails as well, think well, of course, but i think that seen this also that and we've seen this also with other animal rights, organisations and animal rights charities. we do also have to. yes, of course, animals should have some kind of protection in law. and i do think that animals should be protected because like i should be protected because like | , should be protected because like i , real animal lover, i say, i'm a real animal lover, but animals , including farm but also animals, including farm animals. they are animals. they're not human beings. they, you know, they are farmed for food. >> they still there is pain. >> they still there is pain. >> they still there is pain. >> they do, of course , and >> they do, of course, and animals should be treated properly and with respect. but i just think that sometimes, particularly with organisations like peta, they go way, way over the top. even trying to do things like policing people's language, saying you shouldn't call dog's owner, call yourself a dog's owner, because yeah, that just alludes to as if they're some to the dog as if they're some kind of slave, you know, just because, mean, i've had own because, i mean, i've had my own criticism rspca recent criticism of the rspca in recent years for different but years for different things, but actually, know, i agree with you.

>> we're all animal lovers. we eat we can improve eat meat, and if we can improve and raise awareness of animal welfare, i don't see welfare, why not? i don't see the this story. the problem with this story. amy >> i think >> no, exactly. and i think a lot people, they detach , lot of people, they do detach, particularly with dairy. you know, a cow is know, the fact that a cow is bred and then kept pregnant and kept milking whole life, and kept milking its whole life, and then it just dies. i don't see how that can ever the animal with respect. well that's that's exactly was going to say. exactly what i was going to say. how treating how can that ever be treating the respect, i the animal with respect, which i think really made me think this advert really made me a bit divided on my own habits because i. yeah, how can you ever say, oh, well, we're all going to be kind to animals and then justify, but i also, i do our own ends. >> i do want to add to that that farmers get a really, really bad rap and constantly under rap and are constantly under attack at the moment. like i said, particularly with net zero policies. and if anybody loves , policies. and if anybody loves, loves animals and knows more about than any city dweller or person who lives in an urban area about animals , it's area about animals, it's farmers. they love their animals, they care about their animals, they care about their animals and they know far more about what counts for animal

welfare and of course, we have had problems with battery farming, slaughter techniques, things of course, farming, slaughter techniques, things should of course, farming, slaughter techniques, things should be of course, farming, slaughter techniques, things should be protected;e, farming, slaughter techniques, things should be protected and animals should be protected and they shouldn't be, you know, arbitrarily harmed or hurt. and they do feel pain, but at the same time, it's not it's just simply not right to try and portray just normal farming and animal farming as if there is something sort of like inherently cruel, because i think. >> but i guess there is. >> but i guess there is. >> there are also farms . i >> but i guess there is. >> there are also farms. i mean, investigations have been done. i mean, you obviously can't say that about farmer, of that about every farmer, of course, do they course, but they could do they could an advert showing could do an advert showing farmers taking care of their animals they want, farmers taking care of their anirthen they want, farmers taking care of their anirthen they they want, farmers taking care of their anirthen they ultimately want, farmers taking care of their anirthen they ultimately do.t, but then they ultimately do. >> slaughter , >> they're bred to slaughter, which i guess ultimately is at odds what domesticated farm odds with what domesticated farm animals are bred for. well, exactly. but i think that's why that advert is good, because maybe not everyone is actually comfortable with that. and it can't be, in the end, a kind way to treat animals , to use them to treat animals, to use them for our own ends. i mean, that's

quite extreme. >> should we park that for the time being? whatsapp, parent time being? whatsapp, the parent company , meta, facebook, mark company, meta, facebook, mark zuckerberg, reduced company, meta, facebook, mark zuc minimum reduced company, meta, facebook, mark zuc minimum age reduced company, meta, facebook, mark zuc minimum age to reduced company, meta, facebook, mark zuc minimum age to accessed the minimum age to access whatsapp in the uk from 16 to 13. they say it's in line with the rest of the world. is this a good thing? >> i mean, it's i didn't even know it had an age limit, to be perfectly honest. >> mean, texts whatsapps >> i mean, i get texts whatsapps from my little nephew who's 12, i but, the i didn't realise, but, the online bill obviously online safety bill obviously vowed make uk online a safer vowed to make uk online a safer place, so this, this, this bnngs place, so this, this, this brings it in line with tiktok , brings it in line with tiktok, twitter, youtube, snapchat. so i can't really see all the hysteria because . so a 13 year hysteria because. so a 13 year old can go on all the other platforms, but just not whatsapp. >> i mean, some some adults shouldn't be accessing these apps, let alone young kids. >> encrypted messages >> it's the encrypted messages on whatsapp and one of the suggestions online safety suggestions of the online safety bill was to remove the private chat encryption for no no ages. so maybe that's a way making so maybe that's a way of making whatsapp safe for kids. and also they're introducing hopefully

they're introducing hopefully they're introducing hopefully they're in development of this nudhy they're in development of this nudity filter. so if something comes through to a child's phone and it can detect if it's an inappropriate image, which might have handy william, let have been handy for william, let me tell you something, emma. >> agree this. >> you might agree with this. any government says to any time the government says to you, going to take away you, we are going to take away some rights, of some of your rights, some of your privacy greater your privacy for the greater good, benefit, good, because it's to benefit, you is always a you know, only that is always a massive flag. massive red flag. >> unencrypt the app and >> don't unencrypt the app and violate . violate adults. >> everyone. >> no, not for everyone. >> no, not for everyone. >> so that children can >> so just so that children can use the app, don't let children use the app, don't let children use the app, don't let children use the app. i have quite a strong view on this, and i just simply think that smartphones and this in and never mind this being in line apps. i line with other apps. no, i don't any young person don't think any young person should be on any of these social media sites. there is increasing evidence that shows that this is extremely bad for young people's mental health, particularly when they're at a younger age and they're at a younger age and they're they're basically being inducted into socialisation through this infinite space where they're being effectively taught to socialise by strangers, by other adults out

there. it's like having a window into your daughter's bedroom, but it's such a breeding ground for online bullying and bullying. >> just person to person at school can be horrific, but with with whatsapp you can be added to a group. you can be bullied, feel completely isolated and then they kick you out of the group. >> everybody needs to be in this together because it's not. it's not to work if it's just not going to work if it's just one parent stops their child from doing it because you need all of the parents to do it so that it eliminates the overall pressure to be involved in these sorts so you need to sorts of things. so you need to ban you need to ban smartphones in schools and primary in secondary schools and primary schools. it's simply schools. and it's simply not an argument it's for argument that it's for communication because you can give the child a dumb phone. they not need be on these they do not need to be on these social apps. it's bad for they do not need to be on these social so apps. it's bad for they do not need to be on these social so givingps. it's bad for they do not need to be on these social so giving them; bad for they do not need to be on these social so giving them crackfor cocaine. >> all right. amy, emma, cocaine. >> veryl right. amy, emma, cocaine. >> very much. amy, emma, cocaine. >> very much. sam, emma, cocaine. >> very much. sam francis, thanks very much. sam francis has your news has all your latest news headlines. . headlines. sam.

>> good morning from the newsroom. just coming up to 11:32 and leading the news. this morning. the labour party now says it is confident that angela rayner has complied with the rules after greater manchester police have launched an investigation over her tax affairs. it relates to information she gave about her living situation over a decade ago.the living situation over a decade ago. the new probe comes after conservative mp james daly reported the labour mp to greater manchester police . asked greater manchester police. asked if it was politically motivated, the defence secretary , grant the defence secretary, grant shapps, says the investigation will reveal the facts . will reveal the facts. >> yes, i think the double standards have been extraordinary . angela rayner extraordinary. angela rayner herself has spent her political career calling people out for exactly the thing that she seems to be doing now. it's not acceptable to ignore it, and it's not acceptable for keir starmer to say he won't even read reports into it. this is something which is a serious matter. it's important that it's looked into properly and i

welcome the idea that the police are doing that . are doing that. >> the former managing director of the post office has admitted today that he didn't realise his organisation was making the decision to take people accused of fraud to court. speaking at the horizon inquiry, alan cook said there would have been a higher bar if an outside body had brought the cases . more than had brought the cases. more than 900 subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted due to a faulty it system between 1999 and 2015. a man's due in court later , after man's due in court later, after being charged with the murder of a mother who was killed while pushing her child in a pram, 27 year old kalsoom akhtar was attacked in bradford on saturday afternoon and later died in hospital. her baby, though, wasn't harmed . habiba masum, wasn't harmed. habiba masum, who's 25 and from burnley, appeared before magistrates yesterday and is due at crown court later . yesterday and is due at crown court later. and the yesterday and is due at crown court later . and the defence court later. and the defence secretary says a new british military laser could be on ukraine's front line by 2027 to

help take down russian drones. grant shapps claims the weapon will have huge ramifications for the conflict. the so—called dragon fire is capable of cutting through its targets with an intense beam of light. that's the latest from the newsroom for now . plenty more to come with now. plenty more to come with pip and ben. in the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts. just scan the code on your screen or go to gb news. carmelites . carmelites. >> for exclusive limited edition and rare gold coins that are always newsworthy , rosalind gold always newsworthy, rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report, and here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. >> the pound will buy you $12493 >> the pound will buy you $1.2493 and ,1.1722. the price of gold is currently £1,919.36 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is

at 8015 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report up at noon. >> good afternoon britain with tom and emily who join us now. >> hello, hello, hello and what a news day. >> it's turned into this developing story on angela rayner. developing story on angela rayner . huge questions rayner. huge questions now of potential hypocrisy . we heard potential hypocrisy. we heard from grant shapps just a moment ago , saying that angela rayner ago, saying that angela rayner is someone who's called on people to resign over many different things in the past. and perhaps most interesting, only the. when boris johnson was placed under police investigation . no, no question investigation. no, no question of whether he was guilty or otherwise, but just very otherwise, but just the very fact of investigation. angela rayner he should rayner said that he should resign over that. now, why is it one rule for him and one rule for her? >> for some crusty m&s sandwiches in downing street that wasn't even aware there? >> very tricky isn't it? >> very tricky one, isn't it? for keir starmer? he is for keir starmer? so far he is standing beside her standing very much beside her there, denying all wrongdoing. she's wrongdoing , of

she's denying all wrongdoing, of course, but they do have they have seen the team, have seen the tax advice. so why not be transparent about it. >> so that's right, is it? starmer and labour have seen the advice officials his advice given officials his official is the official team, which is the interesting thing because there's always been sort of there's always been this sort of safety gap, this air gap between starmer team. starmer and his team. >> he said i don't need to see this tax advice because my team has seen it. well, that's get has seen it. well, that's a get out free card for keir out of jail free card for keir starmer . of course, we're not starmer. of course, we're not going to prejudge police going to prejudge the police investigation at all. angela rayner has maintained her innocence this and it innocence throughout this and it could very well be that she's found be innocent by the found to be innocent by the police. she isn't, police. but if she isn't, that puts difficult position. >> starmer >> keir starmer wants us to be talking about his full throated defence our nuclear deterrent defence of our nuclear deterrent . of course, what he . of course, that's what he wants talking about wants us to be talking about today. bit of today. a little bit of a distraction, bit distraction, even a little bit of distraction. we're going of distraction. we're also going to support for to be talking about support for veterans. going to veterans. we're also going to be talking shopping talking about one shopping centre in kent, the centre in kent, where the cleaners being handed stab cleaners are being handed stab vests to go about their daily job. why on earth is a shopping

centre in kent having to give out stab vests? >> the garden of england, ladies and gentlemen, struggling to recruit, recruit cleaners. are they? >> well, i think they feel so unsafe they can't get. >> isn't that just crazy? >> isn't that just crazy? >> isn't that just crazy? >> is it? >> is it? >> is it? >> is a situation whereby these are the people that are left last in the building when there are the fewest people around, but it does show a kind of shocking state of the witch shopping centre safety. >> we'll reveal all. >> we'll reveal all. >> okay. >> we'll reveal all. >> it's|y. >> we'll reveal all. >> it's in kent on that bombshell. emily. tom. thank you very much. there on from from 1212 to 3. 23 minutes. right, stay with us on britain's newsroom on gb news, plenty more to come. we'll catch you after this .

break. welcome back. it's 1040. break. welcome back. it's1040. ben and pip with you on britain 1140. oh, goodness me.

>> do you want this to be a three hour show? >> no, i'd like a coffee, though. i need to wake up. haha, should we get stuck into some emails? warren says on gbnews.com/your say say good morning warren. children under 16 shouldn't have a smartphone . 16 shouldn't have a smartphone. their parents want them to be safe. then buy them a basic phone call what we'd call a phone to call what we'd call a brick, of old nokia 32 brick, one of those old nokia 32 tens something. tens or something. >> god, you'd think >> honest to god, you'd think they surgically attached to they were surgically attached to kids you they kids arms. you know, they come to the dinner table an adult. it's like, what? what huge news are you expecting to see on your phone that you cannot have a conversation with us for an hour at dinner ? at dinner? >> lisa says, i absolutely disagree with the whatsapp age being reduced . child being reduced. child exploitation is on the rise and police protect any police are unable to protect any child from child using whatsapp from potential being encrypted. >> raj. good morning social media exposure at a very young age is like having your kids raised by total strangers. that's a really interesting way of putting it. >> and on horse racing, the grand national, of course,

tomorrow we heard from former winner barry geraghty, a little bit earlier. dave says why is everyone worried about the horses ? jockeys can die by being horses? jockeys can die by being trampled. all sports are risky. yeah, but when is a jockey died at the grand national. >> did jockey last year at >> did a jockey die last year at the grand national? >> no. >> em— >> he died the year before at the grand national. >> no jockeys have, of course, died and they've been died in racing, and they've been severely and disabled severely paralysed and disabled as horses yeah. as well. horses die. yeah. the argument course, the argument is of course, the horses don't a choice to horses don't have a choice to race. with that. but race. i disagree with that. but that's argument. that's the argument. >> that debate to >> okay. that debate is going to run through all the way through tomorrow and after the grand national well. let's hope national as well. let's hope they do come home safe now. it's been just over six months since the government's controversial barge , the bibby stockholm, barge, the bibby stockholm, first asylum first opened its doors to asylum seekers . seekers. >> since then, tensions amongst locals have been running high. one of the main sources of frustration portlanders one of the main sources of er dorset1 portlanders one of the main sources of er dorset is portlanders one of the main sources of er dorset is a portlanders one of the main sources of er dorset is a luxury’ortlanders one of the main sources of er dorset is a luxury freeanders one of the main sources of er dorset is a luxury free bus rs in dorset is a luxury free bus service that ferries asylum seekers around the town, all while locals are left out in the cold and forced to sort of pay their own bus fares for the

pubuc their own bus fares for the public buses. >> what's luxury about the bus , >> what's luxury about the bus, i guess they're coaches. they're maybe tinted windows. i think they're just a bit nicer than traditional buses. >> well , our traditional buses. >> well, our south west of england reporterjeff moody >> well, our south west of england reporter jeff moody has been investigating , and he been investigating, and he returned to portland and has this report . this report. >> when the bus comes in portland, not everyone can get on it. >> if they travel on the bus with the local community, there could be some sort of integration , because a lot of integration, because a lot of people are confused of why they're here and maybe a little chat on the bus, because that's where people do talk, because i meet the every meet people on the bus every day. you ended up chatting. day. and you ended up chatting. wouldn't great to wouldn't this be a great way to integrate ? but no, they're integrate? but no, they're separated . and how can the local separated. and how can the local community move forward if they're always kept in isolation from us? >> for some, there are echoes of segregation and is leading to resentment. resentment at the special buses, resentment at the health care, the bibi residents

receive, resentment at the wet weather gear for hiking that dorset council provides. six months on from the arrival of the first residents on the bibby stockholm, the feeling of the local community is just as strong, just as divided and just as passionate as it always has been. as passionate as it always has been . and while a community that been. and while a community that didn't ask for this argues and accuses the sheer cost of the bibby stockholm sticks in their throat. £34.8 million. >> if you break that down into figures, that works out at capacity at about 4500 pounds per month per head. and i mean, if you do a little bit of investigation , you can rent investigation, you can rent a really plush house in sandbanks for that money or an apartment in chelsea. each or or, you know, you may as well just send them on, a caribbean cruise for a month, all inclusive, because that's what, 4500 pounds a month will get you for your money.

they were sold the idea the barge was cheaper on the taxpayer's pocket than asylum hotels. >> but in an investigation by the national audit office into the national audit office into the home office's asylum policy , the home office's asylum policy, it was revealed not only is this more expensive than hotels at the time of commissioning, the barge , the home office had not barge, the home office had not even estimated costs. they were flying blind. >> i'm shocked really. i mean, the home office blatantly lied, they told us that the bibby stockholm was to offer value for the taxpayer for housing asylum seekers . and we now know from seekers. and we now know from the national audit office document that was released at the end of march that it's not just a little bit more expensive, exorbitantly expensive, it's exorbitantly more it's more expensive. i mean, it it's obscene the cost, the money that is being thrown at this barge. >> in a statement, is being thrown at this barge. >> in a statement , the home >> in a statement, the home office told gb news we have always clear that the use always been clear that the use of asylum hotels is unacceptable and why we acted swiftly and that's why we acted swiftly to reduce the impact on local communities by moving asylum seekers on to barges and former

military sites. while the national audit office's figures include set up costs, it is currently better value for money for the taxpayer to continue with these sites than to use hotels, but the taxpayers in portland don't feel they're getting value and they don't feel valued either. and it's starting to be a problem. jeff moody, gb news is . moody, gb news is. >> all right, still to come, the disgraced american football star and hollywood star oj simpson. well, he's died aged 76. and we'll be looking back at when he was the centre of the trial of the century . do you remember the century. do you remember that? with

us. >> welcome back to britain's newsroom with ben leo and pip tomson. great to have you with us. this morning. disgraced american football star oj

simpson . well, he's dead at the simpson. well, he's dead at the age of 76, following a battle with cancer. >> so back in 1995, simpson was acquitted for double murder of his ex—wife and her friend in a sensational case that divided america . america. >> two years later, a civil jury found oj simpson liable for wrongful death in the double murder . murder. >> let's bring in chairman of republicans overseas, greg swenson for more on this. greg, what does oj simpson's death mean for america? for his victims, the families? >> yeah, i think in many ways it people look back at this sensational trial, as you pointed out, and will argue that, you know , many of the that, you know, many of the people who had supported him back then have changed their mind and they realise that, you know, this probably wasn't a perfectly legitimate verdict. and you saw that with the civil case afterwards. so, you know, i don't think it's going to change, you know, the fact that he died yesterday won't change much. but i think that the

sentiment about the trial has changed over the last 30 years. >> and what do you remember about that time of we it's been dubbed the trial of the century , dubbed the trial of the century, but it really did polarise america . the. yeah, i think it america. the. yeah, i think it definitely did. >> and if anything, it more it exposed the polarisation that that had existed. and you know african americans at that time did not trust the judicial system. i think after the verdict, after the trial, i think most americans lost trust in the judicial system because , in the judicial system because, you know, you either thought the verdict was right or you didn't. that really along racial that really fell along racial lines. americans were lines. so african americans were much more likely to think that he innocent. and everybody he was innocent. and everybody else thought he was guilty. and so also has changed. i so that also has changed. i think african americans have viewed that the trial, in retrospect, as somewhat of a travesty. >> lawyers for nicole brown. and that's o.j. simpson's ex—wife.

her friend ronald goldman. they are coming out now. they are saying he was a murderer. he was found liable in a in a civil lawsuit. and it does look like there's going to be a big a big dispute over his estate because he owes them millions and they've seen hardly any of it. >> right? right. he was supposed to pay 35 million and made very little attempt at actually paying little attempt at actually paying that. so, you know, that that i think will be an issue. >> and did he have that kind of money? how big is his estate? >> he, he he probably does not have 35 million is my guess at the time , you know, he was the time, you know, he was i would call it a b actor . you would call it a b actor. you know, he was wealthy by most standards, but not in the in not in terms of the way athletes are paid today. so i don't i think he was a little early for putting, putting away a pile of money. and he never really became a movie star. he was, you know, sort of a second rate movie star. so i don't think he was rolling in money. but but i

do that, you know, the do think that, you know, the goldmans got fair goldmans never really got a fair trial. so i hope there is trial. and so i hope there is some something left over in his estate where they can they can recover some of that verdict. >> just as a reminder, he >> and just as a reminder, he was to scene with dna was linked to the scene with dna evidence, wasn't he? but yet they came this time during the trial where he was made to try on this pair of gloves. right. which were found at the scene, i think. but he said , look, the think. but he said, look, the gloves don't fit. and it turned out subsequently they out subsequently that they didn't fit because was taking didn't fit because he was taking arthritic which arthritic medication, which swelled hands. swelled his hands. >> yes. and the fact that the gloves shrink if gloves naturally shrink if they're left outside in the rain or whatever. you know, or whatever. so, you know, there's of arguments. there's all kinds of arguments. you that the there's all kinds of arguments. you dna that the there's all kinds of arguments. you dna evidence that the there's all kinds of arguments. you dna evidence was at the there's all kinds of arguments. you dna evidence was planted by dna, dna evidence was planted by the detective who had it out for 0.1. the detective who had it out for o.j. or something. i mean, there there was so much that went wrong in that trial. i don't think the prosecutors were necessarily lawyers necessarily the best lawyers that that were available. and so in ways, la wanted the in many ways, la wanted the verdict that they got they didn't want to see violence. and remember, this is in the context

of the rodney king riots, which had occurred only two years before the oj. simpson murder trial. >> greg, we can't let you go without asking you about the latest state of the us presidential race. sure, biden and trump, two older men. >> yes, 75% of americans didn't want to see this. so it's in many ways a car crash of a of an election. two very unpopular presidents. the reason i think trump will win is because biden is polling so poorly. you know , is polling so poorly. you know, trump is minus ten in terms of approval, disapproval . trump is minus ten in terms of approval, disapproval. biden's —21, no president, no incumbent president has ever won with those kind of numbers. so i think it's more of a of a, you know , people are judging. know, people are judging. >> i'll have to i'll have to cut you off there. it's going to be a great election, not only that side of the pond, but here as well. news well. and stay with gb news for that. britain's channel that. britain's election channel this us this year. that's all from us today. next tom and emily today. up next is tom and emily on afternoon britain. on good afternoon britain. >> great weekend. >> have a great weekend. >> have a great weekend. >> well keir starmer's his

>> well keir starmer's had his friday rudely interrupted the announcement of a police investigation into angela raynen investigation into angela rayner. we'll have all of the details on that investigation andindeed details on that investigation and indeed its political implications. >> yes, because of course keir starmer wants us all to be talking about his full throated defence the nuclear deterrent defence of the nuclear deterrent . and also one shopping centre in kent is handing out stab vests to cleaners. why on earth to cleaners need stab vests in modern britain ? modern britain? >> looks like things are heating up. boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news is . weather on gb news is. >> hello again. welcome to your latest gb. news, weather update brought to you by the met office. it's going to be a bit of a wet picture across northern parts today, but drier and brighter and warmer further south we high south because we have high pressure dominating here. further north though, we have low pushing its way in low pressure pushing its way in and systems bringing the and frontal systems bringing the focus of rain focus for some outbreaks of rain that are sweeping in across

parts of northern ireland, northern and into northern england and into scotland, though the far north—east clinging north—east of scotland clinging on some sunshine into on to some sunshine into the afternoon, some afternoon, do watch out for some strong, gusty winds, particularly in the northwest across central southern of across central southern parts of england of england and wales. a lot of bright fine weather to be had, although may be although the sunshine may be quite pretty strong quite hazy. it's pretty strong now, likely see now, and so we're likely to see temperatures of temperatures rising to highs of around possibly celsius. around 21, possibly 22 celsius. sticking with the north south split as we go through the night. so further outbreaks of rain across northern parts could be at times. drier be quite heavy at times. drier towards the south could be some murkiness around murkiness developing around south coastal parts around the engush south coastal parts around the english channel, but also some clear skies developing at times despite clear skies, despite the clear skies, temperatures a huge temperatures not dropping a huge amount, most places holding up in high single in double figures or high single digits as we go through saturday. then a relatively mild start for many of us. any mist and towards the south and merck towards the south coast clear through coast should clear away through the there some the morning. there will be some outbreaks across outbreaks of rain across northern and western parts of england wales, staying england and wales, but staying dry southeast until dry towards the southeast until the evening. further north, though, picture

though, an unsettled picture across parts of scotland and northern ireland, some further outbreaks rain, which outbreaks of heavy rain, which could gusty times, two could be gusty at times, two temperatures quite as high temperatures not quite as high as by that warm feeling as today by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> good afternoon. britain. it's 12:00 on friday, the 12th of april. >> the police have officially launched an investigation into labour's deputy leader, angela raynen labour's deputy leader, angela rayner. she's been accused of failing to pay capital gains tax and disobeying electoral law . and disobeying electoral law. >> this is an unwelcome distraction for sir keir starmer, who today wants to talk about his commitment to maintaining britain's independent nuclear deterrent and increasing defence spending , and increasing defence spending, but only when resources allow and admitted amid it all could world war three be on the cards,

reports say iran is preparing a revenge attack on israel within the next 48 hours. iran and its 3000 missiles potentially kicking off some escalating war, does seem rather more important than the tax affairs of the deputy leader of the labour party. but it does beg the question how safe are we? >> well, how safe are we? and would we be safer under a labour government? keir starmer is very much out and about saying how he is so committed to our nuclear deterrent. he wants to up defence spending to 2.5% of gdp. >> but you are resources allow you are in safe hands under the labour party , of course, labour party, of course, distancing himself massively, continuing to do so from his predecessor jeremy corbyn. >> but do you trust labour if resources allow to keep our nafion resources allow to keep our

nation safe ? nation safe? >> that's the