so tories were >> big morning. so tories were split. split on the smoking ban. rishi sunak's flagship bill passes the first hurdle. but there was division over it within his party. >> and is it time to ban smacking? paediatricians want to outlaw smacking children in england and northern ireland to keep it in with northern, keep it in line with northern, to keep it in line with scotland and don't we need this to and wales? don't we need this to discipline our kids, or is it outdated and cruel? what do you think? >> victory for all >> and a victory for all schools. that's how britain's strictest headteacher, katharine birbalsingh, describes the high court ruling that her prayer ban is lawful free speech and parent nigel farage condemns the cancel culture in brussels, of all places, after police tried to shut down the national conservatism conference where he was speaking. >> free speech prevails in brussels . the natcon conference brussels. the natcon conference is on to day two now. nigel farage is arrival is imminent

and inflation is down. >> it fell to 3.2% in the year to march, down from 3.4. here's the prime minister, rishi sunak. >> today's figures show that our economic plan is working and inflation continues to fall, having been 11% when i became prime minister, it's now fallen to just over 3, the lowest level in two and a half years. >> that smacking debate is going to get you wound up, i'm sure, because in scotland at and, wales it's already banned. >> but what i as one who was smacked by my mum a lot, how do you enforce it? >> well , the problem is what you >> well, the problem is what you will find is that children will then snitch on their parents. children who might be just. just from the goodness of their heart for the wanting those kids to behave better might smack lightly smack their children. the children will then turn

around to the parents and say, you can't do that. i'll call the police. it's awful division. it's anti—family. >> i have got another smack for that. oh well, exactly. >> unfortunately now they've >> but unfortunately now they've all mobile phones. yeah. so all got mobile phones. yeah. so then just ring the then they would just ring the police. move. police. it's not the right move. >> there was no >> of course. there was no childline when we were kids. >> well, listen, gbnews.com/yoursay, and i know you have your say on that you will have your say on that and all of our topics this morning. though, very morning. first though, the very latest tatiana latest news with tatiana sanchez. >> beth, thank you and good morning. the top stories. the rate of inflation has fallen to its lowest level in two and a half years, which the prime minister says shows the government's plan is working. figures from the office for national statistics shows it eased to 3.2% in march, compared to 3.4% the month before. economists say a dip in food pncesis economists say a dip in food prices is the main reason for the slowdown. furniture and household goods prices also contributed to the fall. the

governor of the bank of england has signalled the uk is still on course for an interest rate cut, despite the news. rishi sunak says today's inflation figures are part of a brighter economic picture . picture. >> we've also seen mortgage rates fall, energy bills fall and data this week showed that wages have been rising faster than inflation for nine months in a row now, because of all of that, we've been able to cut people's taxes and £900 tax cut for the average worker and increase the state pension by £900 this month. that all shows that our plan is working. and my simple message would be if we stick to that plan, people can have confidence that there's a brighter future ahead. >> smacking children should be made illegal in england and northern ireland, according to children's doctors. the royal college of paediatrics and child health says the current law in england and northern ireland has created grey areas which mean there's sometimes a defence to physical punishment. their report warns children suffer lasting mental and physical effects from being hit in the

home, striking a child is already illegal in scotland and wales and in many other countries around the world. paedophiles convicted of serious sexual offences could lose parental rights over their children . a proposed law change children. a proposed law change would stop offenders being able to decide where their children go to school, as well as important health and travel choices. only the most serious sexual offence, rape of a child under 13, would be covered under the new rule. however, labour mp harriet harman says the rule could be extended to cover less serious sexual offences against children in the future . lord children in the future. lord cameron says more can and should be done to sanction iran following its attack on israel. dufing following its attack on israel. during his trip there, the foreign secretary arrived in israel this morning for talks with benjamin netanyahu as the israeli prime minister considers his response to iran's missile and drone attack. david cameron is expected to echo rishi sunak calls for calm heads, but also told reporters that tehran needs

told reporters that tehran needs to be given a clear and unequivocal message by world leaders. it comes after the prime minister told his israeli counterpart significant escalation is in no one's interest in a caution over the crisis in the middle east. for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gbnews.com slash alerts. now it's back to andrew and . bev. >> good morning. welcome to britain's newsroom on gb news with me, bev turner and andrew pierce. >> well, it was a big, big moment. we've now got the first stage anyway of the parliamentary process to give us the toughest anti—smoking laws in the, in the world. but 165 tory mps, it's almost half either voted against or abstained. even though this is the rishi sunak flagship bill, it was a free vote. >> it was. so the prime minister

did get his plans through with the support of labour mps across the support of labour mps across the house, 383 voted for the ban and 67 were against it, so the bill would make it illegal to sell cigarettes to anyone born in 2009 or later. >> and of course, many tories say anti freedom. we shouldn't be banning things and if you start banning fags, what about alcohol? where do we go next? >> quite well. joining us now is a conservative mp for rayleigh and wickford, mark francois. good mark. to see good morning mark. good to see you. did you vote against you. why did you vote against this idea . this idea. >> i voted against it on principle because i don't believe in the nanny state, and i don't believe that it was right for the government to legislate on this question. i believe whether or not people want to smoke , and we're all want to smoke, and we're all well aware that there are health consequences of doing it should be a matter for individual decision by individual people. we like to tell the rest of the world we live in a in a free country . well, the direction of

country. well, the direction of travel of this measure was going in the, in the other direction. >> but maybe it's just that cigarettes , nicotine is a very cigarettes, nicotine is a very outdated product. if it was to appear on the market today, we would never legalise such a drug. and maybe this is just moving with the times. i've got two children born after 2009, and i must say there's a little bit of me is quite relieved that they'll never be able to go into a shop and buy a cigarette. >> well, that should be their decision . i mean, if i go out decision. i mean, if i go out door knocking twice a month in my patch. andrew and i have discussed this before, so i don't just, you know, i go and ask my constituents what they're thinking. and because of the local elections, it's been a bit more that. often the nhs more than that. often the nhs crops up on the doorstep , but crops up on the doorstep, but i've never had a constituent ever raise this with me and say they wanted me to for vote a smoking ban. it's never happened.so smoking ban. it's never happened. so there's no clamour from my constituents. certainly not that i'm aware of as of to

this moment, to for vote this ban. i've had a handful of emails about it, either way, and if you look at the result last night, it was extraordinary. there are 180, tory mps who voted for the ban, but 165 who didn't. there were 59 who voted against it, of whom i was one. but even more importantly , 106 but even more importantly, 106 tory mps abstained . i mean, the tory mps abstained. i mean, the prime minister was quite right to make it a free vote. it's, you know, it's traditionally what you might call conscience issues are unwhipped. that was the correct decision. but to have over 100 tory mps abstain on what's meant to be a flagship measure is extra ordinary. and when you're having to rely on labour votes to get through what is meant to be flagship legislation, that is an extremely uncomfortable position to be in. so for me , the story to be in. so for me, the story

of last night is not so much the 59 who voted against, but including some members of the cabinet. it's the 106 who abstained on what? >> what would you say though , >> what would you say though, mark? and i appreciate where you're coming from on this to those parents who are watching this program or listening on the radio grandparents who think radio or grandparents who think they government do they want the government to do anything can to make it anything they can to make it more difficult for teenagers to get into smoking. and they would argue that that's exactly what the vote last night did. also, limiting teen access to vapes as well. yes but those teenagers will grow up. >> so, you know, i think the legislation will be unworkable. i mean, picture a scene some years from now when someone goes into a newsagent somewhere in britain and, and the person behind the counter says, are you 35 or 36? i can't quite tell by looking at you, you know, you want to buy 20 cigarettes. do you happen to have your birth certificate on?

>> we'll have your biometric id by then, mark. >> i mean, ijust i just by then, mark. >> i mean, i just i just think >> i mean, ijust i just think this will be practically unworkable if the bill had said that, it would tighten up on the sale of vapes to children under age , i would gladly have voted age, i would gladly have voted for it. >> yeah, i don't think it's right that, you know, kids of 12 or 13, you know, should be able to go into a shop and, you know, buy vapes under the counter, as it were. i would i would gladly have voted for that. but that's a very different proposition from saying that some years from now, who's 35, you know, now, someone who's 35, you know, won't be allowed to buy some, some cigarettes, but someone who's 36 will i just if you actually look at the legislation, there's an old there's an old saying in parliament, hard cases make for bad law and i just can't see how in the real world outside of the westminster bubble, this legislation is actually going to work. >> but do you think, do you

suspect, mark, that we've got a prime minister who, if the polls are correct, he's heading leading your party to a very heavy defeat late this year. do you suspect this may be something to do with his own personal legacy? what what will his premiership be remembered for? he can at least then say, well, i introduced what some are describing as the most draconian, toughest anti—smoking law in the country. he's got a leader in the times saying today, rishi sunak is on the right side of history. you guys are on the wrong side. >> well , in are on the wrong side. >> well, in that case, are on the wrong side. >> well , in that case, let let >> well, in that case, let let history be the judge . history be the judge. >> so i just drag, isn't it to be the most draconian prime minister in history? >> well, i think the measure is unconservative. yeah. you know , unconservative. yeah. you know, we're meant to be the party of individual liberty. my margaret thatcher believed in a free society under a rule of law. but i think this is a this is a law which will be in reality practically unenforceable .

practically unenforceable. >> but, mark, if you just just as a pressing question, i've got to ask you, given how many people from the conservatives went against the prime minister or abstained on his flagship policy, you've wrong policy, you've got the wrong prime minister >> we've got local elections in two and a half weeks, and let's see what the results of those elections are , you know, that's elections are, you know, that's not an opinion poll by a polling company. those are real votes in real ballot boxes . and let's see real ballot boxes. and let's see what happens in those elections . what happens in those elections. and maybe we'll have a discussion after that on you know, what the results the results are, what we do know is there was a vote in the house of commons last night. the division lists are published. you know, we live in a country where people can see the following morning individual morning how their individual member of parliament voted on whatever parliament. and that's a thing , whatever parliament. and that's a thing, right? whatever parliament. and that's a thing , right? there are a good thing, right? there are some countries on earth where you even do that. so you you can't even do that. so you know, we all have to stand by the decisions that we make. and

the decisions that we make. and the can can see how we the public can can see how we voted last night. 165 conservative mps chose to not support the prime minister's flagship legislation . so, you flagship legislation. so, you know, if i were in number 10, i would be a bit concerned about that. and i'd say, well, maybe we need to listen a little bit better to what people on the backbenches are trying to tell us. >> us. >> all right. mark, i just before i let you go, i noticed the cabinet ministers who voted against braverman. sorry, she's not a cabinet minister now, but badenoch cabinet minister widely seen as a future tory leadership contender, suella braverman voted against, widely seen as a future leadership contender. robert another one penny robert jenrick another one penny morden leadership contender. she's in the cabinet. she abstained. priti patel she'll could run for the leadership . could run for the leadership. she abstained. and we mustn't forget truss voted against. forget liz truss voted against. are people limbering up are these people limbering up for what happens on may for after what happens on may the 2nd? >> look, was in the no lobby >> look, i was in the no lobby last night. >> andrew and i a number of >> andrew and i saw a number of

these people come through. they were night on were voting last night on whether not introduce this whether or to not introduce this to my mind. illiberal measure that that's what happened last night. let's not read too much more into it. let's wait and see what happens in the local elections. but last night the prime minister got through. he won the vote, a flagship measure, but he had to rely on a large number of labour votes in order to do it. and that is not a comfortable position for any conservative prime minister whoever they happen to be. >> mark, there's a guru talking of the nanny state. there's a group of paediatricians who are calling for a nationwide rollout of a smacking ban so that parents can't physically discipline their children , no discipline their children, no matter how loving or mild that might be. do you support it? >> i'm instinctively wary of it for similar reasons to the ones that we have been discussing, but i would like to see the detail of that. i've learned, you know, having been an mp for

all 23 years now, when people ask you to vote on a piece of legislation, it's often a good idea to actually look at the legislation first, because you know so, so well. i'm so sorry. yes forgive me. i am a bit, you know, a bit of a square on that one. when people say we have this on brexit all the time, will you vote for this? will you vote for that? well, if you just allow me the you know, the opportunity to read that opportunity to read it, that would be quite handy. so so at this stage it's just a proposal from paediatricians. from a group of paediatricians. i've instinct on i've given you my instinct on it, but actually if we're it, but i'd actually if we're going to vote on it. and again i think that should free think that should be a free vote. if it comes to it, then i'd actually be able to i'd actually want to be able to look at what precisely is proposed. look at what precisely is proposedyou were you smacked as >> were you were you smacked as a child? mark >> we were explained lot about her. >> i, i don't think i was actually , but my mother was actually, but my mother was italian, so she had other ways of expressing her displeasure. >> she. she used to talk to me in english, but she switched

into italian. you know, i knew that meant cease and desist, but that meant cease and desist, but that that was her disciplinary measure. >> cease and desist, mark. francois, thank you so much. cease and desist. that's brilliant. that's what parents are doing all over the country every day, and sometimes with various levels of success. right. we are going to be discussing that after the break. doctors are calling for smacking of to be banned in of children to be banned in england ireland. england and northern ireland. it's illegal scotland it's already illegal in scotland and wales, so let us know your thoughts . this is .

gb news. very good morning. is it ever okay to smack your children? >> well, i'm not a parent, of course, but i was smacked as a child, and i don't think it did me too much damage. although some people may say it explains a lot. it certainly does with beverley, who was smacked quite

a apparently my mum had a lot, apparently my mum had a your mum would be watching. yes, i guess. i know why you i sort of guess. i know why you had to her so often. had to smack her so often. >> mum, she would agree. but my mum philosophy. she, she mum had a philosophy. she, she worked children whole worked with children her whole life. other life. she didn't smack other people's to be clear, people's children. to be clear, but philosophy was lots of but her philosophy was lots of discipline. smacking when necessary, many necessary, but twice as many cuddles. so for every smack we might it's like might have got, it's not like she's the she's throwing us around the room little smack on room for every little smack on the we might got for the legs we might have got for being cheeky, or for running across the road when weren't across the road when we weren't supposed kind of supposed to, or that kind of thing, touching hot pan. thing, or touching a hot pan. you twice many cuddles. >> okay, well, doctors, we're talking because talking about this because doctors for it. doctors are calling for it. paediatricians calling for paediatricians are calling for it banned in england and it to be banned in england and northern ireland, it's already illegal scotland. wales, illegal in scotland. wales, where governments illegal in scotland. wales, wheparents governments illegal in scotland. wales, wheparents trusted'ernments say parents are trusted to trust. cannot smack trust. parents can cannot smack their children. >> so to debate >> that's right. so to debate this, we're joined by broadcasters anna mae mangan and emma morning ladies. emma wolfe. good morning ladies. anna, with anna, let me start with you. i think you have four children. do you also some grandchildren. you and also some grandchildren. how them ? how do you discipline them? >> i speak to them. i mean, i think it's uncivilised that

we're even discussing this as maybe shouldn't it shouldn't happen. why would you brutalise a small child to get them to do what you want to do? try that with your boss or your partner, or your neighbour who parked in the wrong place and you give them a whack . and all this chat them a whack. and all this chat about a tap. if it's about a little tap. if it's a little tap, why bother? speak to them. really doesn't need to them. it really doesn't need to use violence. and the parents use violence. and if the parents who allow themselves to smack their children, i'm sure they'd go crazy if they weren't visiting and another mother hit their children . so is it about their children. so is it about ownership? you. you can smack the person you love most in all the person you love most in all the world, but nobody else can. so a teacher , obviously you so a teacher, obviously you wouldn't want them to smack your children or anybody else the children or anybody else in the family. wrong. it's family. it's wrong. it's teaching violence teaching them that violence sorts out problems and it doesn't. >> anime. you're using the word violence a snack on the legs. i wouldn't call that violence . wouldn't call that violence. >> okay. does it depend who's delivering it and how big the proportion is? so say someone three times bigger than you walked the studio. now and walked into the studio. now and gave cuff back of

gave you a cuff on the back of the they'd be much the head. they'd be much stronger than you. and who's to define while the fact define what's? while the fact that your hands and that you use your hands and force to persuade child to do force to persuade a child to do or not to do something is it just makes no sense to me. i don't even see how we can be debating this. i'm so obviously wrong. >> i think, emma, for me, that argument isn't ignores the very special relationship that a parent has with a child. emma go on, just respond to that. >> absolutely . i think using >> absolutely. i think using words like brutalise and violence is really, really unhelpful here. i think there is a place for loving mild physical discipline. in rare occasions in an emergency situation, when necessary . i do not think that necessary. i do not think that we are talking about slapping or physically harming a child. i'm talking about a tap on the leg, or on the bottom or on the back of the thigh. when you do something dangerous, like running into the road. things

that i did as a child once in a very, very occasional while that is. and . oh. is. and. oh. >> i think emma, emma's line is just breaking up a little bit. anna we'll bring bring you back in on that. go on. just just respond to what emma said. >> you talk about a special relationship. oh, sorry. go on. a special relationship, i think a lot of parents who smack their children, and it is a smack if you lay your hands on a child, it's a smack it to try and force them to do something, because that's what about . would that's what it's about. would these it in public? these parents do it in public? the of not so that the majority of them not so that tells me that there's a problem with it already. do you really want siblings who are disciplined by smacking to deal with each other in that way as well? when is it okay for a sibling to smack each other around the face? it's not. so let's just be civilised. >> i don't think it's not okay for siblings to do it, but it is natural. it is what children do,

you it's physical and it you know, it's physical and it is exactly what children do. >> don't do it, >> where adults don't do it, then adults don't do it. but teaching them. >> are very different >> but there are very different rules to adults in the rules apply to adults in the world apply to children. world and apply to children. >> there shouldn't 60% of >> and there shouldn't be 60% of people. a study done by the people. in a study done by the nspcc agree with me that it shouldn't happen . and now the shouldn't happen. and now the college of paediatricians are coming mean, what more , coming out. i mean, what more, what more do you need to outlaw this and to make it wrong, to make formally wrong? because make it formally wrong? because okay, i trust anna mae mangan emma woolf. >> thank you so much . i really >> thank you so much. i really appreciate your time. >> i trust a sensible parent. i don't need paediatricians to tell to do. tell parents what to do. >> don't go anywhere. gb news. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> good morning. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. many of us will have a fine bright day today with some sunshine still going to be pretty gusty across

the east with a fair few showers and it is going to turn damp in northern ireland. dry start, northern ireland. a dry start, but cloud and rain is but the cloud and rain is steadily pushing the steadily pushing in from the north. we'll showers across north. we'll have showers across northeast scotland through the day will graze these day and some will graze these eastern day and some will graze these easterthere's pretty chilly where there's a pretty chilly and wind blowing along and brisk wind blowing along those sea coasts. 1 or 2 those north sea coasts. 1 or 2 scattered showers elsewhere, and a bit more cloud coming into west wales later. but as i said for many dry bright it isn't for many dry and bright it isn't warm though. it's chilly out there this morning and temperatures maybe there this morning and te|the ratures maybe there this morning and te|the teens; maybe there this morning and te|the teens in maybe there this morning and te|the teens in london, maybe there this morning and te|the teens in london, butaybe there this morning and te|the teens in london, but 6be there this morning and te|the teens in london, but 6 or in the teens in london, but 6 or 7 degrees for most of the day in northern ireland. it's going to feel pretty chilly. some of that rain from northern ireland will get wales get into parts of south wales and this and southwest england this evening. a little evening. so turning a little damp still a few showers damp here. still a few showers through the across east through the night across east anglia parts of kent and the anglia and parts of kent and the far north of scotland. but for most a dry night, a clear most it's a dry night, a clear night, pretty chilly one again. temperatures well down into single figures, pockets of frost likely midlands likely for wales, the midlands and certainly and northern england. certainly in areas will see quite in rural areas we will see quite a of sunshine on thursday a bit of sunshine on thursday morning across the southern half

of the uk, but clouding over through the night and for the morning across scotland and northern ireland, further northern ireland, and further outbreaks pushing in outbreaks of rain pushing in here. quite a quite a wet day actually for western scotland . actually for western scotland. increasingly blustery here as well. south the well. but further south the winds will be light. yes, it'll cloud over a little bit, but with some sunshine we should again to 13 degrees. again get up to 13 degrees. >> warm feeling inside from >> that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> very good morning. it's 10:00 >> very good morning. it's10:00 on wednesday, the 17th of april. this is britain's newsroom on gb news with me, bev turner and andrew pierce. >> well, they're split on the smoking ban. rishi sunak's flagship passes its first flagship bill passes its first commons hurdle. but is this the nanny state going too far? >> is it time to ban smacking paediatricians want to outlaw

smacking children in england and northern ireland to bring the countries with scotland northern ireland to bring the courwales, with scotland northern ireland to bring the courwales, victoryrcotland northern ireland to bring the courwales, victory forland northern ireland to bring the courwales, victory for all! and wales, and victory for all our that's and wales, and victory for all ourthat's how britain's so >> that's how britain's so called strictest. headteacher katharine birbalsingh, described the ruling that her the high court ruling that her prayer lawful and his prayer ban is lawful and his free speech in desperate peril. >> nigel farage has hit out at cancel culture in brussels after police attempted to shut down the national conservatism conference, where day two is now underway . underway. >> nigel farage has arrived at day two of the natcon conference, where free speech will prevail after the supreme court struck down a ruling to end this event. >> and inflation is down, it fell slightly from 3.4% to 3.2% in the year to march. this is the prime minister's verdict. >> today's figures show that our economic plan is working and inflation continues to fall, having been 11% when i became prime minister, it's now fallen to just over 3, the lowest level in two and a half years.

>> we've also got award winning novelist brilliant writer lionel shriver is going to be in the studio with to us talk about all these big issues, which very much centre on her belief system at the moment. gbnews.com/yoursay is the message board to let us know what your what you think. but first, the very latest news with tatiana sanchez. >> beth thank you. the top stories this morning. the rate of inflation has fallen to its lowest level in two and a half years, which the prime minister says shows the government's plan is working. figures from the office national statistics office for national statistics shows that eased to 3.2% in march, compared to 3.4% the month before. economists say a dip in food prices is the main reason for the slowdown. rishi

sunak says today's inflation figures are part of a brighter economic picture. >> we've also seen mortgage rates fall, energy bills fall and data this week showed that wages have been rising faster than inflation for nine months in a row. now, because of all of that, we've been able to cut people's taxes and £900 tax cut for the average worker and increase the state pension by £900 this month. that all shows that our plan is working. and my simple message would be if we stick to that plan, people can have confidence that there's a brighter ahead . brighter future ahead. >> smacking children should be made illegal in england and northern ireland, according to children's doctors . the royal children's doctors. the royal college of paediatrics and child health says the current law has created grey areas, which means there's sometimes a defence to physical punishment. their report warns children suffer lasting mental and physical effects from being hit in the home. striking a child is already illegal in scotland and wales and in many other countries around the world. the

highest court in belgium has ruled the national conservatism conference can continue without further disruption from authorities . it comes after authorities. it comes after police arrived while nigel farage was addressing the events yesterday, giving everyone 15 minutes to leave the venue, belgium's prime minister described the actions as unacceptable and unconstitu tional here. downing street said the attempt by police in brussels to shut down the conference was extremely disturbing . the chief secretary disturbing. the chief secretary to the treasury, laura trott, told gb news that democracy must be defended absolutely need to defend that. >> you have to be able to be on a platform, generally with people that you disagree with. thatis people that you disagree with. that is the fundamental tenet of democracy. shouldn't say to democracy. we shouldn't say to people, make that people, you can't make that argument. defeat that argument. we should defeat that argument through reason and demonstration. and that is absolutely vital, and one that we must and cannot move away we must not and cannot move away from the of commons will hold. >> what could be its final debate on the government's flagship rwanda policy. later,

the lords inflicted a series of defeats again last night and sent it back to the commons to be revised. despite mps overturning previous changes, it comes as reports in the times suggest the prime minister could use raf planes to take migrants to rwanda after the home office failed to find an airline that would charter the flights. experts are warning relentless pressure on the health service is taking an enormous toll, with more than three quarters of nhs staff facing mental health challenges in the last year. new figures from the yougov also reveal more than half of health care staff have struggled with stress and low mood, and 40% experienced exhaustion in the organisation. nhs charities together is now calling on the pubuc together is now calling on the public to make sure health care workers are looked after. shadow education minister catherine mckinnell told gb news that ensuring a resilient nhs will be a top priority for a labour government. we know that there are almost half a million

children waiting to see someone about their mental health. >> it'sjust about their mental health. >> it's just appalling . it's >> it's just appalling. it's a scandal and it's brewing up problems for the long tum as well. so labour would prioritise this and we would pay for it by removing the tax exemptions that private schools currently enjoy. we appreciate everybody's , you we appreciate everybody's, you know, facing challenges in terms of the economy and the mismanagement by the government. but ultimately our priority would be putting that money, which we would raise 1.3 to 1.5 billion. that's been independently verified by the foreign secretary, says more can and should be done to sanction iran following its attack on israel. >> lord cameron is in israel for talks with benjamin netanyahu, who is the israeli prime minister, considers his response to iran's missile and drone attack on his country . lord attack on his country. lord cameron is expected to echo the prime minister. rishi sunaks calls for calm heads. mr sunak told his israeli counterpart that significant escalation is in no one's interest, and would only deepen insecurity in the

middle east. in the us, the first seven jurors for donald trump's hush money trial have been chosen. during selection, the jurors were quizzed about social media posts, political views and whether they can judge the former president fairly. the judge overseeing the new york trial says opening statements could come on monday. however, trump's spoken out against the judge, repeatedly calling him conflicted . conflicted. >> it's a rigged trial. our courts, everything is screwed up in new york and the whole world is watching. this judge is so conflicted. you understand that. you'll take a look at that. there's never been a judge so conflicted as this. it's ridiculous . ridiculous. >> and lloyds bank says more than £1 million could have been lost to fraudsters selling fake tickets to see taylor swift, the bank's warning music fans after more than 600 customers came forward to report being scammed . forward to report being scammed. it estimates 3000 people could have fallen victim. the average

amount lost by each victim is £332, though in some cases it was over 1000. for the latest stories , you can sign up to gb stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gbnews.com slash alerts. now it's over to andrew and bev . it's over to andrew and bev. >> 1007 you're with britain's newsroom on gb news with andrew pierce and bev turner. a lot of you getting in touch, right? >> you've all been getting in touch. you're very incensed about this slapping ban. i'm not surprised, this debate as to whether should be banning whether we should be banning smacking children from smacking for children from parents. said was parents. chris has said it was fine getting a slap. fine for me getting a slap. it reinforced fact i'd reinforced the fact that i'd done something it made me done something wrong. it made me think doing something done something wrong. it made me think and doing something done something wrong. it made me think and taught] something done something wrong. it made me think and taught memething done something wrong. it made me think and taught me respect for again and taught me respect for adults, which doesn't exist in today's society. a lot of you are strongly about are feeling so strongly about this. is a gb news this. barry, who is a gb news member. morning, barry member. good morning, barry brutalising violence. what ridiculous to use for

ridiculous words to use for normal disciplining of children. of course, no decent parent would really hurt their child, but slap is but it deserved slap is necessary many children. necessary for many children. it's better than growing up spoilt entitled brat brats as far too many do. gary the reason the youth of today are the way they are is because of this no smacking nonsense. these non smacking nonsense. these non smacking groups should go out into the inner cities see into the inner cities and see the is it okay the real world. when is it okay for pupils to assault teachers on a regular basis? that's not reported. yeah. and when and how many many teachers are many and so many teachers are leaving profession because leaving the profession because they classroom? >> loutish boys. >> yeah. by loutish boys. >> yeah. by loutish boys. >> never had girls. we've >> we've never had girls. we've never had physical never had less physical discipline of children from parents. and we've never had more physically violent children. right. children. that's right. >> this where's the joined up >> so this where's the joined up join the dots. >> and also, if you think about what happened last night with the smoking vote in the commons, if rishi sunak and this conservative government bow down to this pressure from these paediatricians, it again paediatricians, it yet again plays into the idea that the conservatives are big states. we

will interfere in your family life. we will tell you what you can and can't do because it's gone through in wales, in scotland, where they've got devolved governments, snp in scotland, labour in wales. >> i hope they >> that's right. and i hope they ihope >> that's right. and i hope they i hope they tell the paediatricians to clear off. >> fact somebody >> yeah. and in fact somebody messaged wales these messaged from wales could these doctors time doctors just spend more time seeing this seeing people watching this programme this programme and listening to this programme and listening to this programme so they can programme actually, so they can get rather than get an appointment rather than delivering winded political delivering long winded political statements? the other thing is of call all of course, if you call all discipline of children a light smack, if you call that physical violence, actually neglect violence, you actually neglect to to genuine to give attention to genuine child where kids being child abuse where kids are being beaten up at home because it all just comes into one banner and it's same . not the same it's not the same. not the same at all. right? your at all. right? keep your messages coming. gbnews.com/yoursay say now, is free threat? free speech under threat? >> please . tried, as you know, >> please. tried, as you know, to shut down the first day of the national conservative conference in brussels yesterday while speaking , while nigel farage was speaking, the move was labelled unacceptable by belgian unacceptable by the belgian prime minister and a uk government source told gb news it's unclear exactly what's

happened here, but the scenes will worry anyone who believes in speech. free society in free speech. free society should competent enough should be competent enough to allow it's not allow free debate. it's not unclear what happened. the local mayor, winger, it, mayor, a left winger, banned it, tried it because he said tried to ban it because he said it they were issues there it was they were issues there that were likely to cause a disturbance of the peace. no, the mayor calls the breach of the mayor calls the breach of the peace by trying to ban a genuine political conference. >> been keen to >> well, labour's been keen to point the calibre of point to the calibre of attendees at the conference. a shadow for schools, shadow minister for schools, catherine mckinnell, gb catherine mckinnell, told gb news that there news earlier we know that there are half million are almost half a million children to see someone children waiting to see someone about their mental health. >> it'sjust about their mental health. >> it's just appalling. about their mental health. >> it'sjust appalling. it's >> it's just appalling. it's a scandal and it's brewing up problems for the long tum as well. so labour would prioritise this we would pay for it by this and we would pay for it by removing the tax exemptions that private schools currently enjoy. we appreciate everybody's , you we appreciate everybody's, you know, facing challenges in terms of the economy and the mismanagement by the government. but ultimately our priority would be putting that money, which we would raise 1.3 to 1.5 billion. that's been independently verified.

>> ron clip i'm afraid that was that was her talking earlier. yeah. catherine mckinnell actually, she did go on to talk about free speech. we'll play you that maybe in a minute. well, the shadow health secretary wes streeting, was even mocking the scenes in even seen mocking the scenes in brussels. gave scathing brussels. he gave this scathing attack on home secretary suella braverman, former right honourable member for fareham, who couldn't be here today with us, mr deputy speaker, because she's currently in brussels surrounded by the police who are trying to shut down the event she's attending with some far right fanatics with whom she has much in common. that was such a cheap points win from wes streeting. was pathetic also streeting. it was pathetic also to say she's a lot in common to say she's got a lot in common with far right fanatics, who's the fanatic, nigel farage? >> no , and today, a an eu prime >> no, and today, a an eu prime minister is speaking viktor orban. i'd absolutely like him. >> i thought i thought it was really disappointing from wes streeting. really disappointing. >> be a key figure >> he's going to be a key figure in the labour government. in the next labour government. well, in the next labour government. wrour reporter charlie peters.

is our reporter charlie peters. charlie, what's happening ? charlie, what's happening? >> well, free speech has prevailed. the event is on. natcon is going ahead today after a belgian high court, the most senior court for public administration , overruled an administration, overruled an order from that district. mayor in brussels yesterday, which sought to shut down this event with dozens of police officers gathering and not letting anyone enter the venue. today, there are still some police here, although those gathered today are to protect the event and the politicians who have arrived. just in the last hour, we've seen the prime minister of hungary, who you just mentioned, andrew, viktor orban, he's arriving to give a keynote address in the next few moments . address in the next few moments. and we've also seen the israeli ambassador to belgium arrive shortly afterwards. so it's going ahead as planned . but the going ahead as planned. but the organisers inside say that what they faced yesterday was a tin pot dictatorship, that they were attempted to be shut down by political opponents who do not want them to gather in brussels,

who they say they fear their politics and that they would rather shut them down through censorious means than engage with them . i also also pointed with them. i also also pointed out the fact that we've only heard a couple of statements in support of the conference. we heard from the prime minister's spokesperson saying that it's raised concerns. and we also heard from the prime minister of belgium, as you said, who said that it was completely unacceptable. but that's where it many people attending it ends. many people attending here expressed concern here have expressed concern about lack of wider about the lack of wider conversation with the french presidential candidate, eric zamore, telling me in the last few moments that he's still waiting for emmanuel macron to speak out against this blatant censorship in brussels. but the eventis censorship in brussels. but the event is going ahead. today. we're going to try and find some meps later and see what they think about this censorship in the centre of europe. >> all right, that's charlie peters, outside that conference, joining us now is the editor in chief of the brussels report, peter cleppe . peter, can you

peter cleppe. peter, can you explain to our viewers and listeners exactly the this, this conference, what is this conference? and who are the people who attending it, so people who are attending it, so it's a broad church, really. it's, meant to gather those supporting conservative, ideas which range from centre right to, what you could call perhaps right wing populist, sentiment. >> so was it a surprise to you as the editor in chief of brussels report, that this populist right leaning political, conference of thought really is what it is, isn't it? they're swapping ideas. they're talking about policy . was it talking about policy. was it a surprise to you that it was closed down on day one? >> well, actually , yes and no. >> well, actually, yes and no. yes. because these things have been happening, especially in francophone belgium , once in a francophone belgium, once in a while, mayors, you know, abusing the security argument to, to ban conference they do not like. but then in the run up to the

conference, it became clear that there was going to be trouble. and actually, you know, this is the third venue, that the conference, you know, ultimately had to, had to secure, initially there were venues in the district of brussels city and the district of etterbeek were both mayors, one from socialist background , one from background, one from a supposedly liberal background, a pressured the, you know, the private owners of the venue not to not to hold the conference and they folded but thankfully the owner of this particular venue, a tunisian man, he stood for free speech and it's going ahead today. >> peter , my understanding is >> peter, my understanding is that a larger court than that in brussels, which allowed it to shut down over road that original decision yesterday, does that mean that there can be no more possibility of the police arriving there for day two?

>> exactly, exactly. this is it. so the top administrative court of belgium has decided that the arguments of the mayor were too weak, and, actually, if you look into, you know, belgian law , into, you know, belgian law, then, you know, abuse of police power is punishable , up to by up power is punishable, up to by up to one year of prison sentence . to one year of prison sentence. so i'm not sure if the prosecutor will take action against the mayor. i would wish so. but in theory, they they they are able to do so. yeah. >> peter, do you suspect the presence, the talismanic figure, if you like, of nigel farage being there, the man so associated with brexit, getting britain out of the european union because without nigel farage there would never have been referendum. do you think been a referendum. do you think that trigger for that was the trigger point for the this hapless mayor in the for this hapless mayor in belgium , i do think it, it sort belgium, i do think it, it sort of played a role. i mean, nigel is a sort of a hate figure for some on the on the european left. but, you know, talking about the mayor, actually, it's interesting, you know , he's

interesting, you know, he's actually he was kicked out of the of the belgian francophone socialist party because he has close links with, a turkish fascist movement, the grey wolves. so in a way, you could say he's far right himself , say he's far right himself, okay. thank you so much. editor in chief of brussels report , in chief of brussels report, peter cleppe there this morning. >> what an own goal in the home of the european union. it's what it was all about. >> and you know what? >> and you know what? >> they can't stand it because it was nigel. >> thank goodness for people like nigel farage. i know he's divisive get i think divisive, i get it. i think a lot of more people are waking up to he actually stands for to what he actually stands for as opposed to how he's been characterised, thank characterised, but thank goodness for like that, goodness for people like that, because not just because they're not just fighting of fighting for the free speech of their they their political persuasion. they are the free speech are fighting for the free speech of everybody, regardless of their persuasion. and their political persuasion. and it seems like the left can't see that in the press this morning. >> wish piled on to >> i wish they'd piled on to that police and tried >> i wish they'd piled on to th.arrest police and tried >> i wish they'd piled on to th.arrest him police and tried >> i wish they'd piled on to th.arrest him at olice and tried >> i wish they'd piled on to th.arrest him at gunpoint.tried >> i wish they'd piled on to th.arrest him at gunpoint. iied to arrest him at gunpoint. i mean, i'm not saying nigel would have enjoyed that, but we probably would have enjoyed that. might. these that. i mean, it might. these

images gone all around images have gone all around the world, and not a good look world, and it's not a good look for belgium. right. >> come this morning, a >> still to come this morning, a report has said that the report by mps has said that the bbc's plans to move spending outside of london is being taken forward and forward without a clear plan and their audiences are being their older audiences are being neglected. they're all neglected. why? well they're all turning news. probably turning into gb news. probably this newsroom. this is britain's newsroom. don't anywhere.

>> 1021 you're with britain's newsroom on gb news. andrew bev turner the panels here. former labour mp stephen pan and the broadcaster mike parry. welcome to you both. >> right, gentlemen, let's talk about this bbc spending plan which has been criticised by mps. are they mps. what what are they criticising them for. >> do you know this is almost becoming irrelevance now . i becoming an irrelevance now. i mean, what the bbc are mean, you know what the bbc are getting i mean it's getting up to. i mean it's deckchairs on the titanic time. i mean, this was a few years ago. blears very ago. hazel blears was a very good home minister. and

good home office minister. and she the bbc, why don't she said to the bbc, why don't you come to salford? we're laying onto laying everything onto you. they'll laying everything onto you. thewhere her constituency? >> where was her constituency? >> where was her constituency? >> was her >> so where was her constituency? enough, it constituency? oddly enough, it was. yes that's. yeah, was. salford. yes that's. yeah, but know, all the cowhill but you know, all the cowhill and manage, you and tripe you can manage, you know, you want. know, whatever you want. and a lot of people said , well, we're lot of people said, well, we're not up to manchester. and not going up to manchester. and it awkward. i mean, it became very awkward. i mean, when i did for applause when i did pause for applause here, university here, celebrity university challenge, had to drive us challenge, they had to drive us up to manchester up from london to manchester and back bbc are back again. so what the bbc are now is, oh, want to now saying is, oh, we want to spread around the country. we spread it around the country. we want levelling i think want levelling up. and i think it's just fairly silly. it's just just fairly silly. look, broadcasting by definition is you is broadcasting. you can actually it around the actually spread it around the country. getting to the country. but getting back to the bafic country. but getting back to the basic point, bbc gets basic point, what the bbc gets up you know, a few years up to now, you know, a few years time we'll be saying the bbc. >> i think that move to >> what i think that move to manchester pretty successful manchester was pretty successful though area. though definitely for that area. mike that area and mike i'm from that area and mediacity transformed quays. >> i totally agree, you know, it was a big boom there and they opened up the tram network to get you out to, superb city and, nice hotels. >> grew up around there and i've

done shows in manchester and stayed there, you know, and, and done it. but you see, the bbc to me are directionless . they don't me are directionless. they don't really have a cogent policy on what and this latest row what to do. and this latest row is all about their drive to pursue younger audiences. now, as stephen has already pointed out, you shouldn't be pursuing audiences anymore because the audiences anymore because the audience will go where they want to go. you know what i mean? and young people. ken. bruce. yeah, exactly. >> i mean, they're destroying radio two by getting rid of all those older household name presenters. they are young people there, viewing people there, and the viewing figures tanking. are figures are tanking. they are listening, figures are tanking. >> are. what they're >> they are. and what they're doing budgets is doing with their budgets is they're now putting out the same output range of stations output on a range of stations instead individual for output on a range of stations inste station. iividual for output on a range of stations inste station. localal for output on a range of stations inste station. local radio. for output on a range of stations inste station. local radio. we've each station. local radio. we've had this conversation before, damaging newspapers by damaging local newspapers by trying to seize the output of information . that area. and information. that area. and that's what this latest one is about. bbc local radio cuts harm older audiences because older people still rely on switching on their radio. you know, at

6:00 in the evening, weather forecasts and all that kind of stuff. but they're not getting any local information. no, sorry, not the shipping forecast, the shipping forecast, shipping, indeed . shipping, indeed. >> and we can all recite it. >> and we can all recite it. >> i hope that's right. and the broader question here is, is the bbc fit for purpose in the modern world? and i've been saying, no, it's not. it's got to be looked at and certainly should be underpinned by a pubuc should be underpinned by a public subsidy. >> absolutely. public subsidy. >> of solutely. public subsidy. >> of the tely. public subsidy. >> of the telylicence, it's just >> of the tv licence, it's just gone up to £159, up from 159 to about 172. >> is it really. >> is it really. >> that's i don't think we're allowed to actually mention a rival platforms, but there's a radio station for the older listener. >> the more discerning gentlemen and lady, you know, perhaps a saga radio. it's called boom radio, boom radio for the boomers, for the baby boomers, it is same way. yeah but the point about this is these are people who used to listen to jemmy young and ken bruce and people on the bbc. the bbc is now zoomed off over into the woke highlands, and we've now actually. so instead of sitting

and moaning, they've created it. you know, i now have, you know, david who brought david hamilton, who i brought up. is it's up. but the problem is it's neither points of reference. >> sadly, it's sort of neither use nor ornament, as my mother would say, because they aren't going to pull in a younger audience they consume going to pull in a younger audienin they consume going to pull in a younger audienin a they consume going to pull in a younger audienin a completely consume going to pull in a younger audienin a completely different media in a completely different way. media in a completely different wayl agree your >> i totally agree your generation just uses smartphone and and a lot the older and all, and a lot of the older people, say well, people, i hate to say it well, i don't hate to say i'm delighted to say it lot of that older to say it a lot of that older demographic are finding news. demographic are finding gb news. >> they absolutely love it. >> they absolutely love it. >> definitely are. and >> they definitely are. and when they to music, they want to go to music, there's sorts of greatest there's all sorts of greatest hits, stations over the hits, stations all over the place. that's do. if i'm place. that's what i do. if i'm in my car. it's so easy. now on a digital hit that greatest hits and all that. but again, when you about stephen said you said about stephen said about, you know, moving people around the country broadcasting is over around the country broadcasting is life. over around the country broadcasting is life. it over around the country broadcasting is life. it doesn't over around the country broadcasting is life. it doesn't matterr your life. it doesn't matter where the output is coming from, does as long as it does it? no. as long as it sounds good. and this this to me just seems to be another woke idea. of london to idea. move it out of london to anywhere they moved to anywhere else. so they moved to the birmingham, anywhere else. so they moved to the they birmingham, anywhere else. so they moved to the they decide rmingham, anywhere else. so they moved to the they decide to ingham, anywhere else. so they moved to the they decide to go ham, anywhere else. so they moved to the they decide to go to n, then they decide to go to digbeth. people like

digbeth. people won't like digbeth, i know. digbeth, believe me, i know. >> been sorry if you're >> i've been sorry if you're watching i'm sure watching from digbeth, i'm sure it's lovely. >> yeah, yeah, yeah , i worked >> yeah, yeah, yeah, i worked for a couple of years, i think. >> i think i agree with mike, actually, but the mailbox in birmingham, achingly trendy and cool. >> oh, absolutely. absolutely. you on the broad you know, and it's on the broad street isn't you know, street now, isn't it? you know, with the great hotels and with all the great hotels and all the golfers there and all the golfers stay there and all the golfers stay there and all kind of stuff, the best all that kind of stuff, the best i think bbc can hope for is i think the bbc can hope for is to concentrate on still producing some of output producing some sort of output that whole family watch that the whole family watch strictly come down. >> bake, bake. strictly come down. >> 4. bake, bake. strictly come down. >> 4. yeah,ake, bake. strictly come down. >> 4. yeah, yeah.ake. strictly come down. >> 4. yeah, yeah. some of channel 4. yeah, yeah. some of that factual entertainment stuff that factual entertainment stuff that is the only that the bbc make is the only output a family can output that a whole family can watch, and the great dramas that they make as well. >> they still make great drama. it's blue light, you know, it's not blue light, you know, the ireland one. is the northern ireland one. is that those, as the bbc that one of those, as the bbc themselves, we have to read themselves, we do have to read out statement. out their statement. >> we have a very clear >> they say we have a very clear plan on we will move plan on how we will move investment programming and decision the uk. decision making across the uk. that from director. it that was from a bbc director. it wasn't most imaginative wasn't the most imaginative decision making, i think. >> mean, >> decision making, i mean, if that's recipe for chaos, i

that's not a recipe for chaos, i don't know what is. you've don't know what is. so you've got regional decision making, right? >> talk about smoking or >> we talk about smoking or smacking. there's banning everything smoking smacking. there's banning everstephen smoking smacking. there's banning everstephen go smoking smacking. there's banning everstephen go on smoking smacking. there's banning everstephen go on smoking.ing smacking. there's banning everstephen go on smoking. this ban stephen go on smoking. this vote pretty much vote last night pretty much proved that that rishi proved to me that that rishi sunak does not have the majority of mps behind him. he of his mps behind him. he represents completely different values. >> well, it's just a difficult one because nobody really can defend smoking. all honesty , defend smoking. in all honesty, you defend that. you cannot defend that. >> one can defend it at all. >> no one can defend it at all. >> no one can defend it at all. >> okay, well good. >> okay, well good. >> let's let's start on that basis. >> it's bad. the question is what we do it now? what do we do about it now? interestingly, smoking is tailing virtually every tailing off in virtually every demographic group except one. and people to and that's young people 16 to 21. smoking more. 21. and they are smoking more. >> that hard. >> i find that hard. >> i find that hard. >> i find that hard. >> i didn't know either. >> i didn't know that either. >> i didn't know that either. >> by the figures i didn't know vaping habit. vaping and their smoking habit. >> i mean, remember >> no, no, i mean, remember oscar wilde said war. he oscar wilde said about war. he said as long as it's perceived to be wicked, will always to be wicked, it will always have adherents. it's only have its adherents. it's only when seen to vulgar that when it's seen to be vulgar that people it's same thing people were. it's same thing appues people were. it's same thing applies smoking. smoking applies to smoking. smoking is still i'm sorry, it's still bogart. it's cool. it's bogart. it's still cool. it's leonardo dicaprio. all that leonardo dicaprio. it's all that that yeah. i'm that image. yeah. i'm reluctantly and i know reluctantly saying. and i know

in argument, was listening in the argument, i was listening to in the house to the debate in the house yesterday, people were saying to the debate in the house yestlibertarian ole were saying to the debate in the house yestlibertarian argument,iying the libertarian argument, you know, people should smoke, they should to kill should have the right to kill themselves. in that case, themselves. well, in that case, they have to wear they don't have to wear seatbelts. shouldn't seatbelts. they shouldn't have to wear crash helmets. and, you know, legalise heroin know, the legalise heroin argument came. i think it's clumsy, clunky. clumsy, it's lumpy, it's clunky. but we should but in all honesty, we should actually moving away. actually be moving away. >> totally agree now, was an >> i totally agree now, i was an outpatient harefield hospital outpatient at harefield hospital for years. that's where for 20 years. that's where they transplant lungs, transplant hearts and lungs, often at the same time. and i've seen an infected lung taken out of in in of a human being in there in middle their 40s. it is middle age, in their 40s. it is just a bag of tar. that's all it is. that's all your lung is. now now, i would like to see it banned almost immediately because i'd banned smoking. i would smoking. would you would ban smoking. would you mind i would ban smoking. i'll mind? i would ban smoking. i'll tell you why. because people say, the say, oh, you know, the libertarian be libertarian view is it'll be alcohol next. no, no, no alcohol next. no, no, no, no alcohol next. no, no, no, no alcohol part of a social alcohol is part of a social group. we go into pubs to drink been group. we go into pubs to drink beer, we have parties and we serve alcohol, but nobody goes to party. no, nobody to a smoking party. no, nobody gets to enjoy a fag. gets together to enjoy a fag. it's something you become addicted to because you start at

addicted to because you start at a young age. and the point i'm making is that if it's not available to get addicted to, you get addicted to it and you won't get addicted to it and it won't kill you. >> so i think that's worse than smoking is obesity for nhs smoking is obesity for the nhs in terms the cost, the nhs. in terms of the cost, the nhs. so we're going ban smoking. so we're going to ban smoking. you better get used to the idea that not going to be that you're not going to be allowed have your allowed to have your burger processed food. >> years ago when >> there is a few years ago when they had smoking at they still had smoking at football there football grounds, there was a big survey actually done by, i think forest. the freedom think called forest. the freedom organisation smoking. yeah. organisation for smoking. yeah. and they actually picked the and they actually picked up the dog packets the dog and the fag packets at the football found football ground, and they found that the cigarettes that 70% of the cigarettes smoked football grounds were smoked in football grounds were illegal. the that people illegal. the ones that people have from holland, have brought in from holland, particularly really. and so this is i mean, there's is the issue. i mean, there's going concomitant rise going to be a concomitant rise in tobacco. we know in smuggled tobacco. we know about that. of course, the government better government had better be prepared that. otherwise prepared for that. otherwise they're egg on they're going to have egg on their and the other point their face and the other point is that you have a few is that if you have a few drinks, you don't immediately damage drinks, you don't immediately darbute drinks, you don't immediately dar but the first 3 or 4 >> but the first 3 or 4 cigarettes you have damage your body. have a cake, it body. if you have a cake, it doesn't immediately damage your body. you have too much

body. but if you have too much cake, banning things, but cake, i hate banning things, but actually, the actually, surely the government's on the government's got to be on the side a policy to try side of a policy designed to try to teenagers getting into smoking. >> exactly. surely it's got to be exactly right. >> i mean, if it leads to lung cancen >> i mean, if it leads to lung cancer. and mate of mine, cancer. and a mate of mine, actually in fleet street died at the lung he the age of 40 of lung cancer. he smoked 60 cigarettes a day. and, you know, you hear these people say, no, my granddad's been say, oh, no, my granddad's been smoking woodbines. and he's 92 and well, and he's still alive. well, believe that's the exception believe me, that's the exception to of course it is. to the rule. of course it is. yeah, right. >> thank you. gentlemen, we will be about an hour's time. be back in about an hour's time. for now, you're very for now, though, you're very latest headlines with the latest news headlines with the brilliant tatiana sanchez. >> beth. thank you. the top stories this hour, the rate of inflation has fallen to its lowest level in two and a half years, which the prime minister says shows the government's plan is working. figures from the office for national statistics shows it eased to 3.2% in march, compared to 3.4% the month before. economists say a dip in food prices is the main reason for the slowdown . furniture and

for the slowdown. furniture and household goods prices also contributed to the fall. the governor of the bank of england has signalled the uk is still on course for an interest rate cut, despite the news smacking children should be made illegal in england and northern ireland. that's according to children's doctors. the royal college of paediatrics and child health says the current law in england and northern ireland has created grey areas, which means they're sometimes a defence to physical punishment. their report warns children suffer lasting mental and physical effects from being hit in the home. striking a child is already illegal in scotland and wales and in many other countries around the world. next, some breaking news. a police officer has been stabbed in the shoulder in north london. the metropolitan police say the officer has been responding to reports of a man with a knife in enfield yesterday afternoon. a 30 year old man has now been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. lord cameron says israel is

preparing to retaliate in response to saturday's missile and drone strike by iran as he visits the country for talks with its leaders. lord cameron is expected to echo the prime minister's calls for calm heads, but also told reporters that tehran needs to be given a clear and unequivocal message by world leaders. it comes after rishi sunak told his israeli counterpart significant escalation is in no one's interest in a caution over the crisis in the middle east. for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or you can go to gb news. common alerts . 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. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets . the pound will

today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2466 and ,1.1719. the price of gold is £1,919.29 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7860 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> still to come this morning we're going to be reflecting on katharine birbalsingh victory yesterday in court. she's britain's head most strictest head teacher, to according her channel 4 series all about her. the mother of the muslim pupil who took the case. have you read the statement from her? she says that my daughter's impassioned stance compelled me to support her, and i stand firm in that decision. well, luckily they got thrown out. >> stood firmly with >> she stood firmly with £150,000 our money, because £150,000 of our money, because that's legal they that's how much legal aid they got, is frankly outrageous. >> bingo. this is britain's newsroom on

gb news. now we breathed a huge sigh of relief yesterday. >> we didn't always agree, but we were absolutely rooting for katharine birbalsingh. >> so this is britain's strictest head teacher, as she was named by that channel 4 series. it was a fly on the wall at her school, and she won a legal challenge yesterday, brought by a pupil who claimed that the prayer restrictions at the michaela school in the michaela community school in north discriminatory. >> an extensive ruling. >> well, an extensive ruling. >> well, an extensive ruling. >> high court said the >> the high court said the prayer ban lawful and prayer ban was lawful and justified proportionate justified as a proportionate means the means of achieving the legitimate aims of school. legitimate aims of the school. >> in to the ruling, >> in response to the ruling, birbalsingh gave a very long statement. but she said a school should be free to do what is right for the pupils it serves. the court's decision is therefore victory for all schools. >> she goes on to say multiculturalism works at michaela because we have a clear identity which anyone can sign up to if they're willing to compromise. that's the key. and that pupil knew the rules when she joined that school. >> music our ears. well,

>> music to our ears. well, joining us now is the executive head teacher saint thomas the head teacher of saint thomas the apostle serge apostle school in london, serge safi. . safi. good morning, serge. >> good morning. >> good morning. >> good morning. what >> good morning. what was >> good morning. what was your reaction to this? we were very nervous. it might go the other way. and what the implications that might be for head teachers all around the country. >> too, need to >> i was too, and i need to start with saying well done start off with saying well done to the teacher. and the to the head teacher. and the governing for actually governing body for actually standing for once, you know, standing up for once, you know, because took courage. i because this took courage. i mean , i'm glad to say that your mean, i'm glad to say that your program brings up every now and again the story that that teacher who's gone missing for three years in hiding because of trying to educate , you know, no trying to educate, you know, no one else likes to talk about it, but maybe with last week's cash report, we're finally having a little bit of a dose of common sense. and then, of course, you get that crazy woman on this morning i morning about smacking. so i sort of i despair at times. but 45 years as a teacher, i brought up my own family. but i'm sorry, i try not to get off the point here. this is absolutely right,

i think, andrew, you've already mentioned it. for goodness sake. we have school choice in this country. you can apply for whatever school you like. you don't join a school and then try to change the rules. she doesn't like it. take the child out . i like it. take the child out. i can't tell you how many times i've talked to parents about. not this sort of thing, but other things. if you don't like what's going on here, take them somewhere else. and the fact that , i somewhere else. and the fact that, i mean, you've upset me again. andrew. £150,000. okay >> you think you could have done with that money as a head teacher? >> is that i don't know who repays the school because i know i've been involved in little bits and pieces. the school would have had to pay for their own legal fees. i don't know if the dfe will refund that. that's money straight out of the school budget. should gone to budget. that should have gone to the mind the the children. never mind the time i've the word time. and i've used the word courage because i also know courage here because i also know that this head teacher and i'm assuming the governing body would have come under huge pressure to buckle. and i'm

really glad they didn't. and for once, sense has prevailed i >> -- >> well, you're right, and in fact, it's very interesting how this story is being handled by different elements of the british media, because the daily mail have a front page victory for the bravest teacher in for the bravest head teacher in britain. some of the other papers, particularly i noticed the guardian and also online, the guardian and also online, the bbc, they said this was they haven't. i'm paraphrasing, but they sold it as a failure of the pupil. so we were celebrating, i think the victory of katharine birbalsingh . how hard would it birbalsingh. how hard would it have been in your experience as a head teacher to take this position? she said the back end of last year was incredibly stressful for her. >> well, i'll tell you , hats off >> well, i'll tell you, hats off to her. and she would have had the full backing of her governing body. i think people need understand governors. need to understand governors. they don't they do they don't get paid. they do this for free. they would this job for free. they would have been under huge pressure just buckle. it would have just to buckle. it would have been a easier to find been a lot easier just to find a room and let the kids do what they like, good for her. i'd

like to that i would have like to think that i would have taken similar stance. i'd like taken a similar stance. i'd like to thati taken a similar stance. i'd like to that i have got to think that i would have got my backing from my governing body, quite frankly , all body, but quite frankly, all over more often over the country, more often than not, i imagine governors and head teachers will buckle and, just give up the right to do what they know is correct for their school and their kids. >> and this is this is an important victory, isn't it? in the sense, serge, this is the head teacher being allowed to run the school the way she wants to do it. that's the court is effectively saying it's her, it's her and it's her call and it's her and it's her call and it's the right call. >> yeah, well, after 45 years in teaching, 20 years head of teaching, 20 years as head of several schools at different points, know, points, you know, you know, the best job. you've got best part of the job. you've got a school you keep the a school gate you can keep the madness from the kids madness away from the kids because need protecting. because they need protecting. and feel that fought for 45 and i feel that i fought for 45 years to try and make sure you bnng years to try and make sure you bring children properly. i'm bring up children properly. i'm fed with adults abdicating fed up with adults abdicating their in bringing their responsibility in bringing up children. see it up children. we see it everywhere, it everywhere. everywhere, see it everywhere. but you've got your school gates and now even that doesn't seem

to be strong enough. so well done. it's >> i can't imagine how you'll. you'll know better than us. how awkward that relationship is going to be now, because not only is this child apparently staying at the school, they've got who wants to join got a sibling who wants to join in september. what kind of division? atmosphere, conflict could this still create in the building? even though this has been settled legally? >> yeah, well, that's the problem . you build a school problem. you build a school community on trust, you bring up kids together with the parents. so talk about betrayal of trust. you know this mother, i understand she's given a statement. i'm sorry. i didn't quite hear it, you know, but, get your kid out. you don't like it? take your kid elsewhere , and it? take your kid elsewhere, and the quicker, the better. and, i'm sure she's been told that. and, but i, i'm still blown away by the fact that someone's decided that this person needs legal aid. we've got rules and regulations in our country. you don't have to send a kid to school. you can even educate

from home if you want to. you're free to do that in this country. yeah. don't take a school to court. cost an awful lot of money. never mind all the add ons that we don't really know the details of. but i know went on, you know, in terms to apply pressure, we've had the right result here, but you're right. yeah. this problem that yeah. this problem for that school. yeah i imagine, you know one go away. >> we'll go away . sadly, you do >> we'll go away. sadly, you do have to go away now, but happy to come back any time and see us. that was executive headteacher saint thomas the headteacher of saint thomas the apostle in london. can apostle school in london. can i send my kids to school? >> sounds a great head >> he sounds a great head teacher, doesn't he? >> you know that >> but you know that exasperation his exasperation you can hear in his voice? all feel that. i voice? yeah, we all feel that. i just to defend anna may just want to defend anna may mangan. was the broadcaster mangan. she was the broadcaster who she who said earlier that she strongly disagreed about smacking would smacking children and she would no disagree that no doubt strongly disagree that sergey's assessment, well, that no doubt strongly disagree that sergey's of ;essment, well, that no doubt strongly disagree that sergey's of hernent, well, that no doubt strongly disagree that sergey's of her there.nell, that he made of her there. >> i think it was her use of the word violence which which i, word violence which was which i, i her that anyway. i challenged her on that anyway. >> going to take >> right, we are going to take a quick break. but after the break, a breaking news that a

police has been stabbed police officer has been stabbed in london, going to bring in london, we're going to bring you latest. this is you the very latest. this is britain's newsroom on

gb news. >> news from earlier this morning. a 30 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a police officer was stabbed in a residential street in north london. the met police say he is in a stable condition. >> okay, let's bring in our home. and security editor mark white for the latest. mark, what else do we know about this breaking news? >> from the metropolitan police. a second, actually, that a taser was not used in this incident. so these police officers managed to disarm a man with a knife who just stabbed one of their colleagues without the use of a taser. and of course, tasers are very controversial in terms of the fact that there are people

who are very anti taser. but the metropolitan police federation and other federations have said that all officers should be routinely armed with this weapon. now this incident unfolded in a street, mandeville roadin unfolded in a street, mandeville road in enfield in north london. this officer was responding to reports of a man armed with a knife in the street when they attempted to deal with this man and apprehend him , the officer and apprehend him, the officer was stabbed. he suffered serious injury to the shoulder. he was bleeding heavily. colleagues had to use a tourniquet to stop the bleeding as they awaited paramedics to arrive on the scene. other colleagues of this officer then dealt with that man with the knife had to disarm him, and in that process, this suspect was also injured , not suspect was also injured, not seriously though. he's since been discharged from hospital and is now in police custody at, on a suspicion of attempted murder of this police officer.

now, assistant commissioner matt jukes has been visiting this officer in hospital this morning , he said in response in a statement this officer has shown immense bravery apprehending a suspect armed with a knife, armed visiting him in hospital. he says after he was injured, i was struck by his courage and humility. he didn't want to talk about his actions, but to praise the professionalism of the police, medic and other colleagues who provided him with vital first aid and arrested the suspect . so a serious incident suspect. so a serious incident that unfolded luckily , this that unfolded luckily, this officer, now in a stable condition in hospital, one man in custody charged with or at least arrested on suspicion of attempted murder . attempted murder. >> okay. thank you mark. now moving on. inflation has fallen to 3.2. finally, some good news here to break it down. it's our economics and business editor liam halligan with on the money .

liam halligan with on the money. >> the plan is working. inflation is falling faster than expected to the lowest level in nearly two and a half years . nearly two and a half years. helping people's money go further. that's the message today from prime minister rishi sunak and chancellor jeremy hunt sunak and chancellorjeremy hunt . but the reality is that inflation remains stubborn , high inflation remains stubborn, high inflation remains stubborn, high in the uk. let's have a look at the situation before the office for national statistics published their new inflation data at 7:00 this morning. inflation was down at 3.4% dunng inflation was down at 3.4% during the year to february 2024, having come all the way down from 11% back in october 2022. and then we got the inflation number for today. consumer price index rose 3.2% dunng consumer price index rose 3.2% during the year to march . so during the year to march. so between march 2024 and march 2023, prices rose on average by 3.2. that's the lowest cpi

inflation number since september 2021. it's down, as i said, from over 11% in october 2022. but it's still higher than financial markets expected. let's have a look at some of the breakdown food price inflation is now easing back in march, food pnces easing back in march, food prices on average were almost 20% higher than they were in march the year before. food price inflation in january and february fell from 7 to 5, and we just learned that food inflation during the year to march was 4, which is good news for shoppers filling their baskets and their trolleys. how about petrol and diesel prices? well, the fall in petrol and diesel prices is now slowing down. motor fuels fell 6.5% dunng down. motor fuels fell 6.5% during the year to february but they were down. we learned today only 3.7% during the year to march, so the fall is slowing and petrol and diesel prices have actually risen slightly over the last month. utility

bills, gas and electricity also stubbornly high utility bills fell only 1.6% during the year to march, and they've actually risen over the last month as oil and gas prices have risen on world markets. we should say, though, that next month's inflation number, the april number, should see a fall in inflation because of a drop in the ofgem energy price cap. how about the big question? what does all this mean for interest rates? well, interest rates are currently at 5.25. the bank of england has kept them there since last august. that's the highest in 16 years. and the bank of england next meets on thursday, the 9th of may, to decide interest rates . they will decide interest rates. they will be considering the fact that inflation in the us is still high. it just rose to 3.5, higher than 3.2% here and higher than inflation in the eurozone, which is 2.4. the fact that us inflation is actually rising means the federal reserve, the us central bank, is less likely

to raise interest to lower interest rates any time soon, which makes life more complicated for the bank of england's rate setters . if they england's rate setters. if they want to cut rates and this is the problem the oil price, the price of energy that the world usesin price of energy that the world uses in mid—january , it was just uses in mid—january, it was just $73 a barrel. now it's $91 a barrel and that's 25% up over the last three months. that feeds into petrol, diesel prices, the prices of everything. and there's lots more geopolitical risk of course, too. and this is why inflation remains stubbornly high. this welcome news comes on top of our cuts to national insurance, say the tory high command. so people should start to feel the difference as well as they see it in their paycheques. but the reality is that interest rates , we thought that interest rates, we thought they were going to fall in may orjune after this inflation or june after this inflation number, which is still higher than expected. we're more likely to look at july or august for that first interest rate cut .

that first interest rate cut. >> fascinating. >> fascinating. >> thank you very much, liam . >> thank you very much, liam. you have been keeping us busy this morning with the inbox about the smacking ban. lots of you are incensed about this and saying, you know what andy said banning smacking or parental chastisement in the home won't stop the violent abuse of children. if a child is being violently abused, there are already laws to stop that . such already laws to stop that. such already laws to stop that. such a good point, andy. we'll never stop those people who genuinely a good point, andy. we'll never stop titheir.»eople who genuinely abuse their. >> makes point you >> neil makes the point you made, says not being able made, neil says not being able to smack our children is where all these unruly teenagers have come right. was come from. quite right. i was smacked shows don't go anywhere. >> this is britain's newsroom on gb news alex batty weather. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb news. >> good morning. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. many of us will have a fine bright day today with some sunshine still

going to be pretty gusty across the east with fair few showers the east with a fair few showers and it is going to turn damp in northern ireland. a dry start, but cloud and rain is but the cloud and rain is steadily pushing from the steadily pushing in from the north. have showers across north. we'll have showers across northeast through the northeast scotland through the day will these day and some will graze these eastern of england, eastern counties of england, where chilly where there's a pretty chilly and wind along and brisk wind blowing along those coasts. 1 or 2 those north sea coasts. 1 or 2 scattered showers elsewhere, and a bit more cloud coming into west wales later. but as i said for many and bright it isn't for many dry and bright it isn't warm though. it's chilly out there this morning and temperatures struggling. there this morning and te|the ratures struggling. there this morning and te|the teens; struggling. there this morning and te|the teens intruggling. there this morning and te|the teens in london,|. there this morning and te|the teens in london, but 6 or in the teens in london, but 6 or 7 degrees for most of the day in northern ireland. it's going to feel of that feel pretty chilly. some of that rain northern ireland will rain from northern ireland will get of wales get into parts of south wales and southwest england this evening. a little evening. so turning a little damp few showers damp here. still a few showers through night across east through the night across east anglia kent and the anglia and parts of kent and the far of scotland. but for far north of scotland. but for most dry night, a clear most it's a dry night, a clear night, pretty chilly one again. temperatures well into temperatures well down into single pockets frost single figures, pockets of frost likely the midlands likely for wales, the midlands and england. certainly and northern england. certainly in areas we see quite in rural areas we will see quite a bit of sunshine on thursday morning across southern half

morning across the southern half of uk , but clouding over of the uk, but clouding over through night and for the through the night and for the morning scotland morning across scotland and northern further northern ireland, and further outbreaks of rain pushing in here. quite a quite a wet day actually for western scotland. increasingly blustery here as well. but further south the winds will be light. yes, it will cloud over a little bit, but some sunshine should but with some sunshine we should again 13 that again get up to 13 degrees. that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsor of weather on

gb news. >> way . >> way. >> way. >> 11 am. on wednesday, the 17th of april. this is britain's newsroom on gb news with andrew pierce. i'm bev turner. >> very good morning. thank you for joining us. so smoke free forjoining us. so smoke free nafion forjoining us. so smoke free nation or just the nanny state rishi sunak flagship smoking ban bill passes its first vote, but the has split the party. the policy has split the party. >> good news here. victory for all schools . that's how

all schools. that's how britain's strictest headteacher, katharine birbalsingh , describes katharine birbalsingh, describes the high court ruling that her prayer ban at her north london school is in fact lawful . school is in fact lawful. >> and how much in peril is free speech? nigel farage has hit out at cancel culture in brussels after the police there attempted to shut down the national conservatism conference, where day two is now thankfully underway . underway. >> keynote speaker hungarian prime minister viktor orban has just left the venue after delivering his speech, but attendees are asking where are the eu critics against yesterday's censorship ? yesterday's censorship? >> indeed, and time to ban smacking? not sure. paediatricians want to outlaw smacking children in england and northern ireland to bring them into line with scotland and wales. you have been incredibly opinionated on this subject. we're going to get to your messages very shortly.

>> and we have arguably the best author of my generation. in my opinion, she's won multiple awards. she wrote. we need to talk about kevin, and she's got a new book out which taps into a lot of the issues about cancel culture that we talk about on this show. lionel shriver will be here in the studio with us. get in touch this morning. gbnews.com forward. slash yourself here's yourself first though. here's the news with the very latest news with tatiana sanchez. >> beth thank you very much. the top stories . first to some top stories. first to some breaking news. post office chief executive nick read has been exonerated of all misconduct allegations following an independent investigation . it independent investigation. it follows claims of misconduct against the ceo and in a statement, the post office board said mr reed has that full and unhed said mr reed has that full and united backing to continue to lead the business and said allegations will always be thoroughly and consisted fully investigated. whoever they are

aimed at. it comes as an inquiry is continuing into the post office scandal, which saw subpostmasters wrongly convicted over cash that had apparently gone missing when an it programme was actually to blame . programme was actually to blame. in other news, the prime minister hailed today's inflation figures, saying they demonstrate his economic plan is working. figures show the rate of inflation has fallen to its lowest level in two and a half years, to down 3.2% in march. that's compared to 3.4% the month before. economists say a dip in food prices is the main reason rishi sunak says it's part of a brighter economic picture . picture. >> we've also seen mortgage rates fall, energy bills fall and data this week showed that wages have been rising faster than inflation for nine months in a row now, because of all of that, we've been able to cut people's taxes and £900 tax cut for the average worker. and increase the state pension by £900 this month. that all shows

that our plan is working, and my simple message would be if we stick to that plan, people can have confidence that there's a brighter future ahead . brighter future ahead. >> smacking children should be made illegal in england and northern ireland, according to children's doctors. the royal college of paediatric and child health says the current law has created grey areas which mean there's sometimes a defence to physical punishment . their physical punishment. their report warns children suffer lasting mental and physical effects from being hit in the home, striking a child is already illegal in scotland and wales and in many other countries around the . world the countries around the. world the national conservative am conference is again underway after it was disrupted yesterday. well yesterday police arrived at the conference while nigel farage was addressing the event. gave everyone 15 event. they gave everyone 15 minutes the venue. minutes to leave the venue. belgium's prime minister described the actions as unacceptable and unconstitutional downing unacceptable and unconstitutthe il downing unacceptable and unconstitutthe attempt owning unacceptable and unconstitutthe attempt byning street said the attempt by police in brussels to shut down

the conference was completely extremely disturbing. chief secretary to the treasury laura trott told gb news that democracy must be defended . democracy must be defended. >> we absolutely need to defend that. you have to be able to be on a platform, generally with people that you disagree with. thatis people that you disagree with. that is the fundamental tenet of democracy. we shouldn't to democracy. we shouldn't say to people, that people, you can't make that argument. defeat argument. we should defeat that argument. we should defeat that argument and argument through reason and demonstration . and that is demonstration. and that is absolutely vital and one that we must not and cannot move away from . from. >> torrential rain and flooding is continuing to cause severe disruption across dubai. video shows cars swamped in water with waves buffeting traffic as roads were brought to a standstill. dubai international airport is also experiencing significant disruption, with another wave of unstable weather expected . the unstable weather expected. the house of commons will hold what could be its final debate on the government's flagship rwanda policy. later, the lords inflicted a series . of defeats

inflicted a series. of defeats again last night and sent it back to the commons to be revised. despite mps overturning previous changes. it comes as reports the suggest the reports in the times suggest the prime could use raf prime minister could use raf planes to take migrants to rwanda after the office rwanda after the home office failed to find an airline that would the flights . would charter the flights. experts are warning relentless pressure on the health service is taking an enormous toll, with more than three quarters of nhs staff facing mental health challenges in the last year. new figures from yougov also reveal more than half of health care staff have struggled with stress and low mood, and 40% experienced exhaustion . the experienced exhaustion. the organisation nhs charities together, is now calling on the pubuc together, is now calling on the public to make sure healthcare workers are looked after. shadow education minister catherine mckinnell told gb news ensuring a resilient nhs will be a top priority for a labour government i >> -- >> we know that there are almost half a million children waiting to see someone about their mental health. it's just appalling . it's a scandal and

appalling. it's a scandal and it's brewing up problems for the long term as well. so labour would prioritise this and we would prioritise this and we would pay for it by removing the tax exemptions that private schools currently enjoy. we appreciate everybody's , you appreciate everybody's, you know, facing challenges in terms of the economy and the mismanagement government. mismanagement by the government. but priority but ultimately our priority would be putting that money, which we would raise 1.3 to 1.5 billion. that's been independently verified . independently verified. >> ed and the foreign secretary says more can and should be done to sanction iran following its attack on israel. lord cameron is in israel for talks with benjamin netanyahu, as the israeli prime minister considers his response to iran's missile and drone attack on his country . and drone attack on his country. he's expected to echo the prime minister's calls for calm heads. rishi sunak told his israeli counterparts significant escalation is in no one's interest and would only deepen insecurity in the middle east. for the latest stories you can sign up to gb news alerts by

scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news .com/ alerts. now it's back to andrew and . bev. and. bev. >> it's 1107 with britain's newsroom on gb news with bev turner and andrew pierce. thank you for joining turner and andrew pierce. thank you forjoining us. do you want you for joining us. do you want to have a look at what you've been saying at home? shall we have a little look? yeah. all your comments you've been incensed this idea that incensed by this idea that a group paediatricians have group of paediatricians have got together we should together to say that we should ban parents smacking together to say that we should ban children. parents smacking their children. >> let parents >> don't they just let parents get it? get on with it? >> i guess why? because >> well, i guess why? because you're right. i mean, clearly child abuse in the home is a problem. it really is. and do you know lockdown. so you know what? in lockdown. so nobody seems to care. >> the government changes the >> so the government changes the law. that's going to law. they think that's going to stop it. >> it won't stop it. all it will do is stop those well—meaning, being well intentioned parents who their kids who want to keep their kids within of firm within some sort of firm boundary from able boundary lines from being able to paediatricians think about >> paediatricians think about the slipper was wielded the fact the slipper was wielded with by my

parents. >> yeah, graham says. you, >> yeah, graham says. thank you, graham. i was smacked when i was naughty when was little, as naughty when i was little, as was son. done. neither was my son. it's done. neither of no, with my boy of us any harm. no, with my boy we tried the naughty step, but that had no effect. and in my view, he's actually a form of psychological that young view, he's actually a form of psychc have al that young view, he's actually a form of psychc have difficulty that young view, he's actually a form of psychc have difficulty with./oung brains have difficulty with. i agree, i think explains a lot agree, i think it explains a lot of today's problems to be truthful, think right, truthful, i think you're right, graham that. a quick smack graham on that. a quick smack deau graham on that. a quick smack dealt immediately dealt with any issue immediately and done with. and it was over and done with. there'd a few tears, a bit of and it was over and done with. tisting a few tears, a bit of and it was over and done with. tisting for a few tears, a bit of and it was over and done with. tisting for a few minutes. 3it of and it was over and done with. tisting for a few minutes. after a sting for a few minutes. after a sting for a few minutes. after a time to think about his actions there. bearhug i'm sorry, all forgotten. i was never was scared of my never hated or was scared of my parents. know my son loves parents. and i know my son loves me certainly isn't scared of me and certainly isn't scared of me and certainly isn't scared of me way. that is so right me in any way. that is so right in my opinion, and it's so old fashioned in terms it. fashioned in terms of it. >> is it is. and, susan says children had more respect years ago knew that there ago when they knew that there were consequences bad were consequences for bad behaviour. that's right. were consequences for bad beiand ur. that's right. were consequences for bad beiand ur. the that's right. were consequences for bad beiand ur. the idea s right. were consequences for bad beiand ur. the idea that ht. >> and i like the idea that a quick, sharp smacker, i think under unden quick, sharp smacker, i think under under. what's under seven and under. what's that phrase about? show me a man, show me child seven and man, show me a child seven and i will show you the man you've got to down those boundaries

to lay down those boundaries very young, you? you very young, haven't you? you can't smacking 13 can't really be smacking your 13 year but when year old, but i think when you're young, then i think it does. does work. and you are does. it does work. and you are all completely, outraged at home. helen, i found here, actually. >> does does support. >> who does does support. support the ban. it support the idea of the ban. it says if parents smack their kids. this is gemma. don't be surprised if they hit others at school. and misbehaviour. school. and this misbehaviour. their not allowed their teachers are not allowed to well, i was to smack them. well, i was smacked not smack smacked and i did not smack other kids school, helen said other kids at school, helen said i it first i found gb news when it first started. haven't watched the started. i haven't watched the bbc and i'm old, she bbc since and yes, i'm old, she says. aren't we all helen? we all feel quite old at the moment. think. rishi moment. i think. rishi sunak says used for an says oxy used to work for an investment bank and a hedge fund. does not understand fund. he does not understand politics. really politics. he does not really understand conservative values. we're this in we're talking about this in relation smoking ban. in relation to the smoking ban. in fact, we're going on that how. >> now. >> yeah, yeah. >> yeah, yeah. >> because was it is the >> because it was it is the flagship legislation this flagship legislation of this parliament, the last parliament before and rishi before the election. and rishi sunak it in his party sunak announced it in his party conference speech. i was listening and thought, listening to it and thought, where that come from? yeah, where did that come from? yeah, i think that at the i know i did think that at the time, however, i wasn't alone in

thinking because 165 tory thinking that because 165 tory mps, there's about 350 of them either abstained or voted against it was a free vote. >> so did the prime minister get his plans through? the prime minister did get his plans through with the support of labour mps. i mean, what does that tell you? across the house, 383 voted the ban and 67 383 voted for the ban and 67 were against it. >> so this will make it to illegal sell cigarettes to anyone in 2009 or later. so anyone born in 2009 or later. so you have to ask the question in ten years how are they ten years time, how are they going to know whether you were born i mean, it's going to be born to i mean, it's going to be almost in, in unenforceable, but isn't it the right direction of travel? i think on balance, i think i support i support the prime minister on this one. let's talk to deborah arnott, who's chief executive of action on smoking. you must be on smoking. well, you must be smiling broadly here, deborah, because now this goes because we now if this goes through parliamentary through all its parliamentary stages, the house of stages, including the house of lords, have the toughest lords, we will have the toughest anti—smoking laws in the world. >> we will, but we won't be the last. and we will be first. but

we won't be last. i mean, you know, the ban on smoking in pubuc know, the ban on smoking in public places at the time was seen as just as revolutionary and just as impossible. and no one would like to go back to the days when you could smoke in, cinemas on planes , on trains, cinemas on planes, on trains, everywhere, you know, pubs, clubs , discos. so, you know, the clubs, discos. so, you know, the same will be true of this . same will be true of this. >> what does this mean? >> what does this mean? >> not a free choice. it's an addiction. you know, the only choice is whether to have that first cigarette. the cmo is very clear about that. and he's absolutely right. >> deborah, do have any idea >> deborah, do you have any idea what will mean in terms of what this will mean in terms of tax for the government? tax revenue for the government? because will be a huge loss because it will be a huge loss in next few decades, in the next few decades, wouldn't it? >> i w wouldn't it? >> i it generates >> well, i think it generates about revenue. >> well , less revenue. >> well, less than eight. well, only about 8 billion excise tax and vat . well, if people aren't and vat. well, if people aren't buying cigarettes they'll be buying cigarettes they'll be buying something else . so that buying something else. so that doesn't really, rate, but it's gone down over time and it will continue to go down. and it was

always expected that you'd stop having excise tax revenues , the having excise tax revenues, the point is that it costs public finances far more in terms of social security payments to smokers who are unwell, lost tax revenue because they can't work. all of these other things far , all of these other things far, far more than more than double the amount of excise tax revenue and nhs, of course, spending a fortune on cigarette related illnesses . well, they are, but illnesses. well, they are, but actually that's a small part of the total , and, and, you know, the total, and, and, you know, the total, and, and, you know, the tobacco industry and the front organisations like the institute of economic affairs and forest try and say, just talk about nhs costs and, tax revenue. but as i say, the other things like social security costs, the cost of social care because smokers need social care on average, ten years earlier, the lost tax revenues from people who are unable to work or can't work full time, you know, all of these things are much

more important than the excise revenues. >> talk us about vaping, deborah, because we know if the vaping industry was here, they would say it is encouraging more particularly come off particularly adults, to come off of cigarettes to and go on to vaping, which is not as bad for them, but the worry i would have here is how many people here is how many young people are getting into vaping, because the industry has the vaping industry has cynically had made the vapes very attractive in the terms of the colours , the flavours, the the colours, the flavours, the names. this bill last night was also trying to get to grips with to vaping yes, look, ash started, surveys on youth vaping in 2013 because once vaping took up and took off amongst adults, there was always a risk that that children might take it up, and we were the first ones to say, look, you've got to do something about this. and the government wouldn't listen at the time because were the time because they were anti—regulation was only anti—regulation and it was only onceit anti—regulation and it was only once it really began to, take off in the last few years that they realised something needed to be done . yes, bill

to be done. so, yes, this bill finally does things we've finally does the things we've been calling for some time about, you know, getting rid of the, the, the cartoon characters , the sweet names, the, the, the products that look like toys that are brightly coloured, you know, vaping is for adults to quit smoking. it's completely inappropriate for it to be promoted, to children. and that's what the cmo says, and that's what the cmo says, and that's what the cmo says, and that's what we agree with. so we need the legislation both for the smoking ban but also for the, vaping regulations. >> okay. thank you very much for joining us. deborah arnott there, the chief executive of action on smoking and joining us how. >> now. >> yeah, i just say deborah is right about, you know, when they brought in the on smoking in brought in the ban on smoking in pubuc brought in the ban on smoking in public places, there huge public places, there was huge opposition and some labour cabinet ministers. a free cabinet ministers. it was a free vote against, including vote voted against, including tessa jowell, who was a former health john a health minister, john reid, a former health secretary. so these things not always as straightforward. >> how times have changed though? well, joining us now is >> how times have changed th0|conservativeining us now is >> how times have changed th0|conservative mp] us now is >> how times have changed th0|conservative mp for; now is the conservative mp for buckingham, smith. good buckingham, greg smith. good morning morning. good

morning greg. good morning. good morning. so you voted against this last night. was that. morning. so you voted against thisyeah night. was that. morning. so you voted against thisyeah light. was that. morning. so you voted against thisyeah i did. was that. morning. so you voted against thisyeah i did vote was that. morning. so you voted against thisyeah i did vote against at. morning. so you voted against thisyeah i did vote against it. >> yeah i did vote against it. i didn't into politics to ban didn't get into politics to ban things and to take away the choices and the individual responsibility of, in this case, future from doing what future adults from doing what they want to do. i preface my comments by saying i've never smoked. i think taking up smoking is probably one of the most nuts things anyone can possibly do, but it's for adults to make up their own mind on what they wish to do. you know what's coming next is a big worry of mine because equally the same lobby that's against smoking is against drinking. i do enjoy a couple of pints. they're against eating sugary foods or red meat. where do we draw the line on this culture of the state, telling adults what they can and can't eat , drink, they can and can't eat, drink, or in this case, smoke? and the other big concern i have is that we're not actually focusing on the things that are actually a challenge right now. when i talk to teachers and head teachers in my constituency, it's children taking up vaping, and they are

it's already illegal for children to buy these devices, these vapes. so if we can't enforce the age restrictions we've got now, just layering in more age restrictions, to me, just isn't the answer. we need much more targeted measures that can particularly get the illicit supply of vapes and indeed tobacco, out of circulation, because those knock off vapes that cost a couple of quid, that are full of unregulated nasties are full of unregulated nasties are doing far more damage. and that's where the attention needs to be. not on banning 26 and 27 year olds in a few years time from making the choices to whether i have a cigarette or not, i hear that greg and i and i understand that, but they're talking about stopping 15 year. >> it's starting at 50. they don't want. this is about stopping people of 15 now buying cigarettes later. so if this if this kicks in the law when they're 16, it's not a bad

policy, is it, to just make it illegal for a 16 year old to buy a packet of fags? >> well, it already is. andrew that's that's one of the points i'm making. >> of course, it's actually 18. >> of course, it's actually 18. >> yeah, but children are still getting their hands on cigarettes. they're still getting hands. cigarettes. they're still get i ng hands. cigarettes. they're still geti see hands. cigarettes. they're still geti see what ands. cigarettes. they're still geti see what you.. cigarettes. they're still geti see what you mean. >> i see what you mean. >> i see what you mean. >> yeah. and if we enforce >> yeah. and if we can't enforce the restrictions got the age restrictions we've got now and actually some really good points were made in the chamber yesterday around, well, this is going to fall on the shoulders of shopkeepers who are already intolerable already under intolerable pressure places there pressure in some places there are already serious violence and abuse that shopkeepers have to put up with when they challenge someone on whether they're 18 or not to buy cigarettes or cannabis or whatever it might be. now now, this legislation isn't actually answering the problems we've got today. it's just kicking it down the road a little bit. >> yeah, greg, there's a few people getting in touch with us this morning in our inbox saying that covid, the that during covid, the government they had a right

government felt they had a right to their reach into our to extend their reach into our lives and therefore this is a consequence of that, as has there been a significant paradigm shift. and is it going to get worse under labour? >> i mean, i think it's certainly get worse under laboun certainly get worse under labour, although some of the mood coming out labour, mood music coming out of labour, you them being tougher you could see them being tougher on but actually on cigarettes, but actually legalising it's a legalising cannabis. so it's a pretty warped and unusual scenario that a future labour government could potentially pose to the country. but i think that i think you're right that the pandemic did change a lot of attitudes and the way that everybody's freedom was shut down overnight in a day with virtually no scrutiny. i think it was necessary at the start of that. once in a century, once in a hundred year eventuality. but the reach kept creeping and the medical advice from the chief medical advice from the chief medical officer and so on was always go harder and deeper on the restrictions of liberty that i think, as now we're seeing

with the covid inquiries , we're with the covid inquiries, we're seeing with some of the unintended consequences of that lockdown, the effects on children's mental health, the effects on the backlogs in the nhs, on getting operations. yet it's never as straightforward or as easy as you expect when you take any action, no matter how well intentioned . well intentioned. >> and i think that's the thought police coming to arrest you. we'll let you go. conservative mp for buckingham greg smith. there that's the freedom bobbies are there. >> he made his point very well didn't he. but i still think what should said was that what i should have said was that to make it difficult for an to make it more difficult for an 18 year old, 18 old to buy 18 year old, 18 year old to buy fags, i know they're an adult, but you don't want 18 year olds buying fags. >> you don't, not under any >> no, you don't, not under any circumstances. >> no, you don't, not under any circu do,ances.they, it is they do, don't they, it is complicated, isn't would you complicated, isn't it? would you support a nationwide? nationwide roll of ban smacking this roll out of ban on smacking this time? yeah, it's time? not smoking? yeah, it's already scotland and already illegal in scotland and wales. time england wales. is it time for england and to follow and northern ireland to follow their is their lead? no. this is

britain's

gb news. >> 1123 was britain's newsroom on gb news with andrew bev turner. we've got the panel back. stephen pound and mike parry in the studio. somebody got a special birthday. >> yes, it's a posh spice. okay victoria years of victoria beckham, 50 years of age. put out age. today i've put out a tribute to her this morning because. thrilled. yeah well, i hope she will be because i don't like people and they have a go at victoria beckham. she was a member the world's most member of the world's most successful ever girl band. she's risen from that to become an iconic figure in the world of fashion. a shops on bond street. i think victoria beckham done it. >> sorry . it.- >> sorry. i it. >> sorry . i think it's just gone bankrupt. >> well, whatever they i mean, they don't make a lot of money these fashion houses, but they have influence around the world. and she's got to understand. and she is married. she managed to marry famous man the marry the most famous man in the world, was world, which david beckham was for years. for about five years. >> all those awful tattoos, though, she? though, did she? >> didn't.

>> well she didn't. >> well she didn't. >> they're still together despite the glitz. >> absolutely, and >> absolutely, absolutely. and she's mother four she's she's mother to four children don't to have children who don't seem to have too problems and who too many problems and who themselves have moved to some themselves have moved on to some glorious futures, marrying billionaire heiresses and that sort of thing. >> i hate the word influencer, but she's awful. >> oh yeah, they were only there for five minutes. >> i was going to say they say the shangri—las. >> no, no no no no, i'm going to check how many records they sold. >> yeah, they sold it. and they were there for 3 or 4 years and they had about seven number one hits. i think you've got to hits. so i think you've got to give her a credit, you know. yeah >> yeah. well that was a long time. >> w 100 million records >> they sold 100 million records worldwide, making best worldwide, making the best selling all time. selling girl group of all time. thank you. >> said biggest girl band >> i said the biggest girl band in history. >> successful pop act >> successful british pop act since the beatles. >> how about that, isn't it? there are. how about that? so there we are. how about that? so that's happy birthday, victoria beckham. >> but, you know, i really, really want zag. yeah, but really want zig zag. yeah, but there's cloud on the horizon there's a cloud on the horizon for there. for the mc, isn't there. >> tom bower, who is >> well, tom bower, who is probably greatest, narrator probably the greatest, narrator of isn't he? of biographies, isn't he?

certainly my lifetime. he's certainly in my lifetime. he's bringing so nobody certainly in my lifetime. he's bringirwhat's so nobody certainly in my lifetime. he's bringirwhat's going so nobody certainly in my lifetime. he's bringirwhat's going to nobody certainly in my lifetime. he's bringirwhat's going to be body certainly in my lifetime. he's bringirwhat's going to be bo�*the knows what's going to be in the book. yeah, a book the book. yeah, it's a book on the beckhams. you if tom beckhams. but, you know, if tom bower writing a book about bower was writing a book about me, i'd find out things about myself. even i didn't know. >> so i'd want you to put a contract out on him. >> did he. yeah. >> yeah. did he. yeah. >> yeah. did he. yeah. >> i mean, he he's he's done some extraordinary books and he gets if there's gets to the, the if there's anything embarrassing. >> in the book and >> yes, it'll be in the book and it will be in the book. right. >> ashcroft hasn't done >> lord ashcroft hasn't done badly i talk about this? >> we've been discussing it all day, and our inbox is full of this, this is a group of this, this is about a group of paediatricians. stephen saying that be to that we shouldn't be able to smack own because smack our own children because it violence and mental it leads to violence and mental health problems in later life. are they right? health problems in later life. are i hey right? health problems in later life. arei thinkght? health problems in later life. are i think you've health problems in later life. arei think you've got health problems in later life. are i think you've got to health problems in later life. arei think you've got to work >> i think you've got to work out. the hell do mean out. what the hell do you mean by smacking? mean, it's a slap by smacking? i mean, it's a slap on the legs. if the on the back of the legs. if the child is completely of child is completely out of control, understand taking control, i can understand taking the belt to a child. no. absolutely not. hitting an absolutely not. hitting with an implement? not. implement? absolutely not. >> honesty, even a >> but in all honesty, even a suppen slipper. yes. >> no, i'm sorry, but a parent hit them gently a slipper. hit them gently with a slipper. >> yeah, i was slippered. i'm

yeah, well, it's just yeah, well, sometimes it's just grabbing makes grabbing the slip that makes them grabbing the slip that makes the yes, it's hitting them gently >> yes, it's hitting them gently with there's no with a slipper. there's no flipping point in doing yeah flipping point in doing it. yeah >> you hit your children? >> did you hit your children? >> did you hit your children? >> i didn't, a matter of >> no, i didn't, as a matter of fact, hit a number of occasions. >> did your wife, like, give them odd little smack occasionally? >> i mean, she'll hate me for saying but, you know, saying this, but, you know, she's a magistrate, so i keep quiet about this. but when sometimes hysterical. >> and legal then. >> and it was legal then. >> and it was legal then. >> and it was legal then. >> and that's the thing, isn't it? >> we all get that birch was legal in the isle of man until quite recently, and mike perry told apparently had the told me apparently he had the cat tails in the isle of cat 0 nine tails in the isle of man last century. >> they certainly did. my parents me parents never smacked me as such. mum, in frustration such. my mum, in frustration would me on the would sometimes smack me on the shoulder. he said to me, but but i smacked around the i was never smacked around the head my ears didn't ring. head and my ears didn't ring. but on this is, on but my stance on this is, as on a lot other things, parental a lot of other things, parental responsibility overtakes the rule that the state want rule of law that the state want to upon families, and how to impose upon families, and how they themselves. they conduct themselves. >> yeah, yeah. >> yeah, yeah. >> parents. >> trust parents. >> trust parents. >> yeah, exactly. i mean, >> yeah, exactly. trust. i mean, no, no parent who's a decent parent will harm child. parent will ever harm its child. i stephen.

i agree with stephen. i mean, you have sons and you must have read sons and lovers, lawrence, where he lovers, dh. lawrence, where he used to. you know, take his belt off, you quite rightly say, off, as you quite rightly say, and bash his children all that, that people should that obviously people should go to that. if to jail for that. but if a parent thinks this child will only to a, know, only react to a, you know, a quick cough across the head or a slap on back of the legs, slap on the back of the legs, then, you know, would say, then, you know, i would say, leave it to the parent, can we talk about victory yesterday for bravest? >> we love her. britain. yep. stephen. yeah. >> we love her. britain. yep. ste i1en. yeah. >> we love her. britain. yep. ste i mean, ah. >> we love her. britain. yep. stei mean, i1. >> we love her. britain. yep. stei mean, i think this story >> i mean, i think this story has been pretty much, you know, widely circulated. we know widely circulated. we all know what about. katharine what it's all about. katharine birbalsingh interestingly, not that left wing press. >> really hasn't. >> it really hasn't. >> it really hasn't. >> sorry, i'll tell >> well, i'm sorry, i'll tell you really, really sticks you what really, really sticks in throat about is 150 in my throat about this is 150 christie i haven't christie finished. i haven't finished yet. 150,000 legal aid. our taxpayers agree. >> it's shocking , just to be >> it's shocking, just to be clear, to defend or to prosecute on behalf of the child. >> not for not katharine birbalsingh . i don't we don't birbalsingh. i don't we don't know how she managed to fund her legal case. >> yeah, well the only thing is that the chance that her younger sibling has applied to come to

this school in september and cause more trouble. cause even more trouble. >> you seen their figures >> have you seen their figures for actual admission to the russell group universities? they're extraordinarily stunning. yes, 82% of them getting stars. getting a's stars. >> the actual child involved poured huge, huge praise on the school, but at the same time trying to challenge the way it's run. and is it fair that this child is anonymous? because surely we should have some opportunity to cross examine the chart question child to chart or question the child to say, you bring this say, why did you bring this case? why you feel it case? why? why do you feel it was bad? was so bad? >> i'm almost certain she was put to it her parents. >> i'm almost certain she was putwell, it her parents. >> i'm almost certain she was putwell, apparentlyyarents. >> i'm almost certain she was putwell, apparently the its. >> i'm almost certain she was putwell, apparently the mother >> i'm almost certain she was put'now apparently the mother >> i'm almost certain she was put'now made ently the mother >> i'm almost certain she was put'now made another. mother has now made another. >> the mother? >> the mother? >> mother. another complaint. >> yeah. right. >> yeah. right. >> yeah. right. >> yeah. oh, no. yeah. we. despite that she wants despite the fact that she wants her daughter to go to her younger daughter to go to the same school. >> and also, by the way, the judge the decision the judge upheld the decision of the school for her school to suspend her for her rude behaviour. >> that's right. against other pupils. one thing which is pupils. the one thing which is very i've very encouraging is that i've always that judiciary always feared that the judiciary is leftwards and is drifting leftwards and political is drifting leftwards and polthis was a real victory. >> this was a real victory. >> this was a real victory. >> exactly. a real victory for the independent you the independent common, love you and you. the independent common, love you anc gentlemen, the independent common, love you ancgentlemen, i'm so sorry. >> gentlemen, i'm so sorry.

>> gentlemen, i'm so sorry. >> joining us >> thank you for joining us today. never enough time today. it's never enough time still come. best selling still to come. best selling author lionel shriver going author lionel shriver is going to in the to join us in the

gb news. >> don't forget its prime minister's questions at midday. and as always, chris hope and gloria de piero. want your questions for the prime minister? email them in, in fact, it's not email. >> email anymore. no, it isn't gbnews.com/yoursay >> that's right. >> that's right. >> now, though, your very latest news headlines with tatiana. >> good morning. the top stories this hour. first, some breaking news. actor hugh grant has settled his privacy lawsuit claim against the publisher of the sun. the actor claimed news group newspapers used private investigators to tap his phone and burgle his house to get private information. prince

harry is among several high profile figures separately suing the newspaper group for alleged unlawful information gathering, which the publisher of the sun denies . the which the publisher of the sun denies. the supreme court has ruled that the uk's trade union law does breach workers rights and encourages unfair and unreasonable conduct by employers. the case centred on fiona mercer, a care worker who was suspended for participating in a strike in 2019. this morning, five justices unanimously ruled the law breaches the uk's duties over the right to take part in lawful strikes , and had a complete strikes, and had a complete absence of protection for union members . absence of protection for union members. campaigners have hailed today's decision as a significant victory . the post significant victory. the post office chief executive , nick office chief executive, nick read, has been exonerated of all misconduct allegations following an independent investigation into the horizon. it scandal. in a statement, the post office board said mr read has their full and united backing to continue to lead the business

and said allegations will always be thoroughly and consistently investigated, whoever they're aimed at. it comes as an inquiry is continuing into the post office scandal, which saw subpostmasters wrongly convicted after they were accused of stealing money that had gone missing . and the rate of missing. and the rate of inflation has fallen to its lowest level in two and a half years, which the prime minister says shows the government's plan is working. figures from the ons show it eased to 3.2% in march, compared to 3.4% the month before. economists say a dip in food prices is the main reason for the slowdown. furniture and household goods prices also contributed to the fall . contributed to the fall. chancellor jeremy contributed to the fall. chancellorjeremy hunt has chancellor jeremy hunt has welcomed the news, saying people should start to feel the difference as well as see it in their paycheques. for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. common alerts .

common alerts. >> for exclusive, limited edition and rare gold coins that are always newsworthy, rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . news financial report. >> here's a quick snapshot of today's markets. the pound will buy you $1.2471 and ,1.1716. the price of gold is £1,917.20 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7861 points. >> rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report . report. >> 735 with britain's newsroom on gb news with andrew pearson, bev turner, don't forget we've got prime minister's questions coming up. rishi sunak going to prime minister's questions. i think we can see him on his way. there is. he going. he's there he is. is he going. he's got inflation figures falling. that's his interest. be

that's in his interest. he'll be attacking angela rayner. but attacking on angela rayner. but of course i imagine the labour leader just mentioning leader will just keep mentioning two truss. two words liz truss. >> that's right . two words liz truss. >> that's right. he's at back of his easter holidays of course, very happy himself, there very happy with himself, there we we will be doing pmqs we go. so we will be doing pmqs with gloria de piero and christopher this afternoon. christopher hope this afternoon. now excited in the now very excited to say in the studio have a very special studio we have a very special guest bestselling author and journalist lionel shriver, journalist at lionel shriver, the this new book, the author of this new book, mania. and we were looking at some of the reviews of this so far, lionel. and my particular favourite is from the i website, which said that it reads like an outburst on gb news badge of honoun >> it's a badge of honour for all of us. >> yes, i think so. but just tell our viewers who obviously haven't maybe read it yet and no doubt will buy it. having heard that, does this reviewer that, why does this reviewer consider this to be thematically in topics we talk in line with the topics we talk aboutin in line with the topics we talk about in this channel? >> well, clearly a big poke >> well, it's clearly a big poke at woke and that could have been an alternative title , the an alternative title, the concept is to , to, get behind

concept is to, to, get behind what i perceive as a series of social manias that we've suffered over the course of only ten years. i would say, the transgenderism craze, metoo , transgenderism craze, metoo, the, the covid lockdowns and all the, the covid lockdowns and all the sub manias over the mask and the sub manias over the mask and the vaccines, black lives matter. and i would argue also at this point, the climate hysteria . hysteria. >> okay. >> okay. >> and so the, the i, i decided go back to 2011 before any of this stuff happened and i'm going to make up my own mania to substitute for all those. so but in the process, i'm basically goading everyone who went along with every single one of them, and they're all the same people, because it's the sort of parody to some degree. >> it's the satire kind of runs through this, and this is my

houday through this, and this is my holiday reading for next week, so i've only got through the first few pages, but instantly, because i'm so familiar with your you were your work, i knew where you were going it. and this area, going with it. and this area, this period time, this period of time, particularly last particularly the last four years, so rich for years, has been so rich for satire because it felt like the world mad. when you world went mad. but when you take that to a publisher, because cancel culture is so strong now, how did they respond? you have to sort of respond? did you have to sort of get the radar get it under the under the radar a little? >> i i'm in an unusually >> i think i'm in an unusually fortunate position, harpercollins is historically, especially in the most recent past , much especially in the most recent past, much more especially in the most recent past , much more catholic, small past, much more catholic, small c in in relation to, a breadth of, of ideology in the books. and, and it's because they've stood behind me and continue to pubush stood behind me and continue to publish me that i haven't ever been cancelled . yeah. and if we been cancelled. yeah. and if we had a little more of that kind of bravery at the top and on an institutional level, we wouldn't have cancel culture. >> you've done some really powerful opinion pieces as well in national newspapers, which

have gathered criticism, and people are very keen now to put you in a box politically, have your politics changed significantly over the last four years? would you say, not vastly. i mean, certainly post lockdown i've become more cynical about so—called liberal democracy and also about the human race in general. we will clearly get get on board with anything and believe anything , anything and believe anything, but otherwise i don't think my politics have seriously changed. since i was 16 years old. i was relatively left wing , an relatively left wing, an american democrat, but the democratic party and the entire what we now call progressive movement has steadily moved, left. i've stayed in the same place, and now i'm left lo and behold, i'm a conservative. yeah, and, you know, that's not to my advantage in literature right now. >> so you're saying the culture changed, you stayed where you

were largely were. can we ask you talking about bravery? can we ask you about this story that's on the front page of the papers today about katherine birbalsingh, teacher papers today about katherine birb.was gh, teacher papers today about katherine birb.was bullied teacher papers today about katherine birb.was bullied effectivelyer papers today about katherine birb.was bullied effectively by a who was bullied effectively by a pupil in the school to change her policy around a prayer room. a muslim specific prayer room at lunch time. and she won this. we all expected her to lose. >> it's kind of depressing that we expected her to lose. >> so what is that a victory for? do you think? >> yeah, the hesitation tells you everything. because when we're talking about muslims, we're talking about muslims, we're a little anxious, you know? are we going to say something wrong? and i think this is a group that has made itself dangerous for outsiders to comment on, and we have given them special privileges as a consequence. and that's why we expected her to lose. oh, this is about muslim civil rights. and therefore, of course , the and therefore, of course, the muslims are going to prevail.

but actually this is a rare instance where, oh, this is a secular school and they have the right to say, no, we don't have prayer in a secular school. you obey by our rules. >> just interrupt. do you think muslim civil rights now, outweigh , say, christian civil outweigh, say, christian civil rights, jewish civil rights ? rights, jewish civil rights? >> clearly it's because of the fear factor . >> clearly it's because of the fear factor. right. nobody's afraid of christians. no they don't blow things up. >> and it's also it's really important to say that obviously not all muslims blow things up. >> oh yes. yes, a tiny minority, a very very tiny. >> but we don't even have a tiny minority who's blowing things up and, and you know , christians and, and you know, christians don't have a reputation for being bolshie. we had a great guest on yesterday, didn't we, from i think it was the islam society of oxford, islam institute of oxford. >> i think. >> i think. >> yeah. and he was saying he was very much in support of this victory for katharine birbalsingh. and he said, we need to draw a very clear

distinction between religion distinction between the religion of it says in the of islam and what it says in the quran and culture, which is transplanted here, particularly in women being second in terms of women being second class to cover class citizens, having to cover their but that is so their heads, etc. but that is so rare hear anybody say that , rare to hear anybody say that, particularly on mainstream particularly on a mainstream media like gb news. why media channel like gb news. why can't we say that, lionel? and what do you want to achieve through your writing to make that more possible, well, i'm by and a big advocate of and large a big advocate of freedom of speech, which used to be the most boring thing in the world to defend. right? and now suddenly it's edgy . and the way suddenly it's edgy. and the way i defend freedom of speech is to write whatever i want. and to put it out there, even if it gets me into trouble. and, you know, the concept of this book in that we have create a world where suddenly it's we believe that everyone is equally smart, right? yeah. so because i think the left is obsessed with equality to do the disparagement of all other all other qualities

, everything has to be fair. we're all the same. well, we're not all the same. so my poke it woke my poke at the left is in some ways a defence of freedom of speech. because in modern fiction right now you don't have right of centre opinions represented at all. no, no . represented at all. no, no. >> and so one of the worst things you could be in this book is brain vein, which i love. so brain vein basically thinking it's to okay be clever. right. and you have to assume that every you can't prize any every yes, you can't prize any sort of intellectual brilliance over anybody else. >> yes and in universities, >> yes. and we in universities, we have the collaboration of the curriculum. >> yeah. so the book is mania by lionel shriver. and i promise you, if you like gb news, you will very much like this. it's such a pleasure to see you. thank you so much for coming in right . right. >> it's great. it's a great coven >> it's great. it's a great cover, by the way, we were

talking about. >> yes, it's the melting brain. if you say. what's that? that is a cover ice cream and a great cover ice cream and a sort of dunce's hat. and this is, this is. >> that's very clive brain matter it's melting. matter and it's melting. >> can't you have to >> you can't see it. you have to buy have a closer look at buy it. have a closer look at it.thank buy it. have a closer look at it. thank you so much, lionel shriver. come, our shriver. now still to come, our dating ruining romance. dating apps ruining romance. >> you looking at me? >> why are you looking at me? >>

gb news. >> well, have dating apps ruined a generation's love lives haven't ruined mine. >> do you know a dating app is not really well. >> so discuss apps i've got on my phone. >> you don't even know how to use whatsapp. psychologist and social commentator. doctor pam spurr co—founder waks spurr and the co—founder of waks social ms sale. good social dating app ms sale. good morning ladies. we're very short on time. but let's come to on time. but pam, let's come to you. dating apps ruined the you. have dating apps ruined the romantic world? >> no, they haven't ruined the romantic world. if you look at imperial college research from last year, it showed that 33% of

relationships, recent relationships, recent relationships had started online. that did include dating apps , dating websites and just apps, dating websites and just flirting on, you know, social media platforms like x. but as a psychologist, i'm very aware that some people are susceptible to the dopamine hits they get when they're scrolling their their dating app, and they see someone has tapped them or swiped them or whatever, and that dopamine hit can be very addictive. if people don't have good quality self—regulation, as psychologists call it. so if you're not aware of that, you're now spending too much time, you're getting too many of these hits, and you're really getting drained in the rest of your life, then you are prone to that sort of addiction. but on the whole, i'd say with the 20 years i've been date coaching, seeing this revolution that many people are successful , finding love are successful, finding love onune are successful, finding love online and you just have to be aware of the people out there catfishing. >> well, msl, you've just launched wax social, a new

dating app? how is it different ? dating app? how is it different? and b doesn't it depend on people being addicted to the dopamine hits ? dopamine hits? >> yeah, i mean we launched it off the back of doing in real life in person events for 19 years. so to us we've launched it with very much the dating app part , the swipe, swipe, that part, the swipe, swipe, that kind of part is the tool to get people to actually meet in real life. so we call it sort of responsible dating. so actually it's having it as we live in a digital world. so it's having the digital tool that then enables people to we've got massive chat groups on there. we've got the education side of it, we've got big events listings. so that's why we call it a social dating app. because the key bit is the social part of it. so but you know, the whole ruining lives, you know, at the end of the day, kind of, i think instagram, tiktok, you know, all the social media x, all the social media out there, if you've got that addictive personality and that's in you to be and i've seen, you know , be and i've seen, you know, friends of mine are like,

they're just addicted to scrolling to scrolling through instagram to scrolling through instagram to scrolling it's scrolling through facebook. it's all addictive. you know, technology is addictive. so it's how you use it. >> pam, maybe if you are going to be on your phone, maybe looking for the love of your life is not a bad way to use that addiction. >> oh, it's a good way to look. and that's why i love the apps, because it's 24 over seven. so if you're a person during if you're a busy person during the you've got time at the day and you've got time at 9 pm. or later, you can go on what i advise my day coaching clients is to select a couple prime apps that suit your needs, like i write wingman like the one i write for wingman app. use your best friend to app. you use your best friend to do your profile, to sing your praises, and to help you through to, also to limit how much to, also to time limit how much time you spend at once. and that way you can try and hopefully avoid the addictive nature of it. >> okay, brilliant, pam. emma, thank much. i'm so sorry thank you so much. i'm so sorry we short on time. here is we were short on time. here is your don't pmqs your weather. don't forget pmqs in minute . in just a minute. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on . gb

news. >> hello. welcome to your latest weather update from the met office for gb news most places, having a fine bright day out there. it's on the chilly side. there are some showers, particularly in the east, and we have this weather system just trickling south that's bringing some rain parts of northern some rain to parts of northern ireland. staying fairly grey ireland. so staying fairly grey and here across eastern and damp here and across eastern parts of england especially it is still gusty with a cold wind blowing at a fair few showers, drifting in 1 or 2 scattered showers for wales and northern scotland . but many places will scotland. but many places will just be dry and bright, with some decent spells of sunshine. but breeze still coming but the breeze is still coming down the north. not as down from the north. not as strong recent but it's strong as recent days, but it's fresh there. temperatures fresh out there. temperatures a touch below average for most and feeling pretty cold in the east with those showers and under the thicker cloud and rain across northern will northern ireland that will spread wales, southwest spread to south wales, southwest england evening . so turning england this evening. so turning a damp time. more a little damp for a time. more showers to come for lincolnshire , and the southeast

, east anglia and the southeast overnight and northern scotland too, where skies stay clear and the are light. southern the winds are light. southern scotland, england, scotland, northern england, wales, the midlands. we wales, parts of the midlands. we will see a touch of frost in rural spots, towns and cities, mostly holding a degree or so above freezing, but certainly a cold start to thursday, but a fine sunny start for most of england and wales. rain across the will spread to the highlands will spread to most scotland by lunchtime, most of scotland by lunchtime, and some of that rain and we'll see some of that rain affecting the north and east of northern ireland, spreading into northern north northern england and north wales. of the wales. later on, but much of the south staying dry and bright. and the top temperatures we and here the top temperatures we could reach celsius. bye for how. >> now. >> looks like things are heating up boilers as sponsors of up boxt boilers as sponsors of weather on

gb news. >> well, we're going now to gloria de piero and chris hope. now for pmqs. live in our westminster studio . westminster studio. >> we've missed being here, but

it is that time for you to be sending your questions in. >> what would our viewers and listeners be asking the prime minister or indeed the leader of the opposition? >> that's right. gloria well, please send us your questions to tell us who you are and most importantly, or as importantly, where can put where you're from. we can put your , your questions to your panels, your questions to our gb gbnews.com our panel. gb news gbnews.com slash your say pmqs live is all about you. bev and andrew briefly, what will you be asking the pm today to ask the. >> i'm going to ask the prime minister if he's bought a copy of liz truss's signed book, and would he get her to sign it? >> and think i would ask, i >> and i think i would ask, i would ask him was he smacked as a child and does he ever smack his own kids? >> a great question. >> that's a great question. i think that's a real that's a real general general election question, bev, as well. >> it's kind of thing comes up in, in events then. well thanks, andrew. and thanks, bev. it's now fast approaching midday. >> is gb news britain's >> this is gb news britain's election channel pmqs live starts now

it it is -- it is 1157 on wednesday the 17th of april. this is pmqs live on gb news with christopher hawke and gloria de piero . and gloria de piero. >> just one moment. rishi sunak the prime minister and sir keir starmer , the leader of the starmer, the leader of the opposition, go head to head at their weekly minister's their weekly prime minister's questions, for questions, their first from for a month. have full a month. we'll have full coverage every moment and coverage of every moment and we'll be getting full reaction from maria caulfield, health from maria caulfield, the health minister, and shadow health minister. gwynne . minister. andrew gwynne. >> we've got a couple of minutes before we go live to the house of commons. so i'm going to start labour's andrew start with labour's andrew gwynne. what would you as a frontbench spokesperson for the labour party? what would you be asking the prime minister? well, i'm with andrew pierce. >> i think she's back. liz truss, we've got to poke rishi

sunak on this. has he got control of the tory party or is she watching from the distance, ready to take back the throne? >> maria caulfield obviously the pm can't ask questions of the leader of the opposition, but what points may want to make at the at this event? >> well, i think there'll be a number of issues for the labour party answer as well terms party to answer as well in terms of are going to vote once of are they going to vote once again against the rwanda bill, which is game in terms which is a game changer in terms of immigration of trying to get immigration under and they've got under control? and they've got one this afternoon one final chance this afternoon to the government to support the government in trying tackle immigration. trying to tackle immigration. i'd if they do, though. >> well, you're not going to you're not ready to support the government and tackle immigration. >> well, we want to tackle immigration. this immigration. we just think this is waste of money. is a scandalous waste of money. £2 million to send one person to a country. i mean, come a foreign country. i mean, come on, maria, let's spend public money. southerly. money. a bit more southerly. >> what i would >> well, i mean, what i would say you know, the people at say is, you know, the people at the last general election, it was one of their priorities. was one of their key priorities. >> take back control of not to waste public money. wasn't, waste public money. it wasn't, you we're spending you know, we're spending millions a day on

millions of pounds a day on housing people in hotels that can't go on indefinitely. >> rwanda will act as >> the rwanda scheme will act as a deterrent, but also it suppues a deterrent, but also it supplies the human act, supplies the human rights act, and tackles some of the and it tackles some of the european court's. >> you are going to spend more money on money than you are spending on hotels on hotels to accommodate them on raf that a fact. the raf bases. that is a fact. the costs have shot up from £10 million to over £75 million. you could send them round the world on a yacht for less money than. >> what's the plan? >> what's the plan? >> what's the plan? >> what's the plan for the plan is get more people working in the home office, get the backlog sorted, tackle the gangs and be properly tough on immigration by working with our international partners. well you might our viewers and listeners might want to come in and ask about that, but they're both health spokespeople . spokespeople. >> our guests today, health minister and shadow health minister wannabe health minister. so you might have health questions. >> do send in your >> please do send in your questions. news.com.au. questions. gb news news.com.au. your and here we go. live your say and here we go. live right now . pmqs prime minister,

right now. pmqs prime minister, mr speaker , we are joined today mr speaker, we are joined today in the gallery by postmasters caught up in the horizon it scandal. >> it is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our history. and that is why we have introduced a bill to quash convictions, delivered schemes to ensure swift compensation and established an independent inquiry. mr speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in addition to my duties in house. i shall have in this house. i shall have further such meetings later today. >> sir leon saxby, mr speaker, does my right hon. >> friend agree that towns like barnstaple, the main transport hub in north devon serving hundreds of square miles, should have bus have a fully functioning bus station dem run north station as lib dem run north devon has not reopened devon council has not reopened since pandemic, leaving since the pandemic, leaving residents cold with residents out in the cold with no facilities. oh as no public facilities. oh as people start to feel the difference with tax cuts and falling inflation, does he agree we should be making it easier for people to the bus , come for people to use the bus, come to and support barnstaple's to town and support barnstaple's local and will my right local economy and will my right hon. friend me in calling hon. friend join me in calling on lib dems get on with on the lib dems to get on with reopening the bus station ?