Transcripts For GBN The 20240704

This hour, the british beer and Pub Association is warning the governments alcohol duty changes will cost the industry an extra £225 million in tax. This the Prime Minister, however, has defended the overhaul, saying it will benefit thousands of businesses. The new thousands of businesses. The new system sees a shift from taxing alcoholic drinks based on their type, focusing instead on their strength, duty on certain drinks such as wine and vodka, will rise while tax on draught pints will be cut by around £0. 11. Roads and local transport minister Richard Holden says brexit made the changes possible. Were not going to see the price of a pint going up in your local pub due to our new draft beer duty relief, something that we couldnt have done when we were in the European Union that differential between what differential now between what you differential now between what you pay differential now between what you pay in the supermarket on terms of tax and what you pay in a is now gone up from 5 to a pub is now gone up from 5 to 9. 2. So it is a big differential andifs 9. 2. So it is a big differential and its a big increase in terms of that that difference in tax level. Well , gb level. Well, gb news spoke to pub landlord david lonsdale. He says its the worst time to be hitting pubs with extra costs. I think its fair enough that alcohol is taxed according to strength. Strength. I dont have a problem with that, but actually overall the taxes are going up by 10. 6. So although the minister will point out that on draft beer, the taxes has remained more or less unchanged on on a glass of wine is going up by 20. So overall taxes are going up by well above the rate of inflation. 10. 6. Well , as the rate of inflation. 10. 6. Well, as weve been hearing, the home office has delayed moving Asylum Seekers to the bibby stockholm barge in dorset over Fire Safety Concerns. Over Fire Safety Concerns. Thats despite previously saying that 50 migrants would move to their new accommodation in portland today. Further inspections are now taking place to ensure it fully complies with regulations. Once up to ensure it fully complies with regulations. Once up and running, the facility will host around 500 men. Former immigration security advisor henry bolton told us proper evacuation plans are vital. What is quite incredible about this is quite incredible about this is the demonstration that the home office has not done its planning and preparation correctly or thoroughly. You know , the problem here is you know, the problem here is one of the fire inspections and the signing off the accommodation as suitably fireproof. And you know, to be fair in a sense , the probability fair in a sense, the probability of a fire on there, the fire control on board the bibby stockholm is adequate. What the problem is , is evacuation should problem is, is evacuation should there be a fire. 7 two teenage girls aged 16 and 17 have been killed after a road crash in County Monaghan in ireland. An 18 year old woman ireland. An 18 year old woman and the cars driver, a 60 year old man, are in hospital in critical condition. An 18 year old man is receiving treatment for non life threatening injuries is understood. Some of those involved were on their way to a Debutante Ball , which was to a Debutante Ball, which was being held at a secondary school last night. Being held at a secondary school last night. House prices have fallen at their fastest annual rate for 14 years. Nationwide saying that the average price dropped by 3. 8 over the last 12 months. The average uk home now costs. Around £260,000. Well costs. Around £260,000. Well meanwhile, the government says it will provide free legal advice to the tens of thousands of people at risk of losing their homes each year. The support will focus on helping those who face eviction or the repossession of their properties by the end of march , more than by the end of march, more than 100,000 households were in temporary accommodation. Thats the highest number in 25 years. Food Price Inflation has slowed to its lowest level this year. Thats down to 13. 4 in july. Falling prices for staple items such as oils , fish and breakfast such as oils, fish and Breakfast Cereals contributed to the decline. Overall, shop prices also saw a slow down from 8. 4 in june to 7. 6 last month. In june to 7. 6 last month. Banking giant hsbc has announced strong first half pre tax profits of £169 strong first half pre tax profits of £16. 9 billion. Thats an increase of 10. 1 billion compared to the same period last yeah compared to the same period last year. The companys revenue also rose by 9. 6 billion, with Interest Rate increases, a key driver. Interest rate increases, a key driver. Meanwhile oil giant bp has reported a 69 fall in profits over the latest quarter to £2 billion. The decline reflects market stabilisation following last years boost from surging oil and gas prices comes after industry rival shell also reported weaker than expected profits and a Drone Delivery Service has been launched in orkney , helping locals to orkney, helping locals to receive their mail. A collaboration between royal mail and skyports. The scheme will and skyports. The scheme will transport letters and parcels between the islands. Its between the islands. Its expected to significantly improve delivery times while the service will initially operate for just three months, it could be continued on a permanent bafis. Be continued on a permanent basis. This is gb news be continued on a permanent basis. This is gb news across the uk on tv , in your car, on the uk on tv, in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now its back to mark and. Now its back to mark and. Pip ray. Thanks very much and welcome back to the live desk. Welcome back to the live desk. Well, as a lunchtime tipple, many of our favourite drinks too cost more. More from today. Cost more. More from today. Indeed. Britains pubs and brewers claiming that the new alcohol duty in today will cost their industry. An extra £225 their industry. An extra £225 million. But the Prime Minister says its something to cheer with. Alcohol now taxed on strength rather than a category. So lets tell you what is changing. Well draught beer and prosecco will cost less, but wine and whisky will cost more with duty increasing by 10. 1. Thatis with duty increasing by 10. 1. That is an extra £53 with vat on a bottle of wine and more than a pound on gin. Vodka and whisky. The government says its trying to incentivise us to drink less but also support struggling pubs i however, the wine and Spirits Trade Association says it means many struggling businesses having to push up their prices further. The Scotch Whisky Association Going further , Association Going further, saying it will add to inflation. East Midlands Reporter will hollis has much more on the story. When youre in the story. When youre in the business of helping brits get leathered, theres no better place to set up a brewery than an old leather factory. When you drink too much beer, you get a pot belly. So we call you get a pot belly. So we call it pot belly brewery. It pot belly brewery. Pot belly has been brewing beer here in kettering for nearly 20 years with ian as head brewer selling barrels and bottles. Hes seeing a shift in sales. Sales. Years ago, we delivered big barrels, 144 pints, but theres too much now. Nobody will touch one of these. A lot of pubs that ideal one of these. A lot of pubs that i deal with want the little ones with 36 pints because its cheaper and. And it lasts twice as long from grain to glass. As long from grain to glass. A single brew takes a week. A single brew takes a week. This one just in time to be taxed under the new system. From taxed under the new system. From today, duty will be measured on booze of all kinds, using alcohol by volume. A simplified tax on strength. Meanwhile a new draught relief dubbed the brexit pubs guarantee lowers the price of a pint by up to £0. 11, compared to supermarkets. According to the treasury. But the new system puts potbelly in a pickle. The beer here in the pint glass is exactly the same as the one in the bottle. Its just that the duty is calculated differently. Now, under the new differently. Now, under the new rules , the bottle costs about an rules, the bottle costs about an extra £0. 30 in duty and the government is making them more expensive because ultimately they want drinkers to choose to dnnk they want drinkers to choose to drink weaker beers in the pub rather than stronger ones at home. Greg says the system will squeeze businesses like his. The price is on a barrel of beer should remain fairly constant. The one anomaly is when you then dispense beers in less than 20l, so. So anything less than 20l, so. So anything thatis less than 20l, so. So anything that is in a small ten litre box or in a bottle of beer , the or in a bottle of beer, the price is then doubled in the duty side of it. Emma is chief exec at the british beer and Pub Association. She says the industry will have to pay an extra £225 million in tax because of the reform comes at a time of high production costs. Beer duty unfortunately , is beer duty unfortunately, is still one of the highest in the whole of europe here in the uk, and we hope that some of these changes will incent devise people to be brewing lower strength to help consumers strength beers to help consumers moderate their consumption. But moderate their consumption. But unfortunately we probably wont see a much difference in prices at this moment in time in terms of lowering them at the pub. The cost beers cans at home cost of beers and cans at home are going to be increased some 10. 1 because of the changes that are being introduced today. Back at the brewery, sam, the teams youngest, is on clean up. My favourite job of the day digging out the hops out the coppen digging out the hops out the copper. Its a its a bit warm in there and dirty , but. Its in there and dirty, but. Its one of them. Jobs have got to be done, im afraid. Washing away the old duty is gone. Washing away the old duty is gone. Its replacement needs to gone. Its replacement needs to pump up the industry rather than drain it dry. Will hollis gb news in kettering. Joining us news in kettering. Joining us now is our west Midlands Reporter jack carson, who is in birmingham with the beer while our scotland reporter tony maguire has gone for a drop of malt whisky at the glengoyne distillery in dumgoyne. Distillery in dumgoyne. Well, lets talk to you first. Jack the government is sounding almost merry about this, arent they saying its a tax cut for 38,000 british pubs . But thats surely not the full story . Story . No, it certainly isnt. I mean, alcohol duty in the uk has been frozen since 2020. This rate rise was meant to come in back in february, but of course because of the cost of living pressures at the time, the chancellor, jeremy hunt, pushed this until today and this back until today and leading up to this date, there was of course, questions was still, of course, questions with prices still, course at with prices still, of course at quite level, whether this quite a high level, whether this rise ahead, but it rise was still. Go ahead, but it has. Today the chancellor, has. And today the chancellor, jeremy these jeremy hunt, saying that these changes to way that we tax changes to the way that we tax the course, judging the alcohol, of course, judging it volume and content, it by its volume and content, saying that this boost the uk into the 21st century reflecting the increasing popularity of those lower alcoholic drinks and supporting , of course, those supporting, of course, those industries. And for pubs while their price of course of a beer is very much going to be staying the same, a maximum of about £0. 11 decrease on a pint of draught beer and cider rishi sunak saying thats going to support pubs. Of course the support pubs. Of course the British Beer Association saying that actually, you know, its an increase in total because of the situation with bottles and cans and the duty on on their increasing that its going to be around two over £200 million around a two over £200 million cost to the industry every year. And so it hasnt necessarily been received widely, particularly by the industry. Ive been speaking to people here outside this pub on the streets of birmingham this morning to find out their opinion on the duty changes. So what ive heard is, is that youll pay less in pubs but more in the supermarket kit. And so i think thats a good thing for pubs, but its not so good want to good if people want to just dnnk good if people want to just drink dont like drink at home and dont like going and being social. Going out and being social. I think that its really difficult because theres a lot of pressure on the nhs. So if some of that money for the alcohol duty goes into health care, then thats obviously a good thing. Oh i think ridiculous. Oh i think its ridiculous. I think everythings going up and sometimes you just want to enjoy yourself and not everybody likes beer. I much rather have wine and if its going to be more expensive, then its more unaffordable. But then at the unaffordable. But then at the same time , it does have health same time, it does have Health Benefits not to drink as much, but i still think everythings going up and its just as a young person, its becoming so unaffordable to do normal , unaffordable to do normal, normal things and its just Something Else thats been taken away from us. Its fiddling around the edges, to be honest with you. My i mean, gin seems to be the big one. Everybody wants gin these days. Everywhere i go now, im a non drinker. I dont drink any alcohol at all, but im out on business all the time with people drinking people that dnnk people drinking people that drink beer are still going to dnnk drink beer are still going to drink and people drink beer, and people that dnnk drink beer, and people that drink going to drink gin are still going to dnnk drink gin are still going to drink its fiddling around drink gin. Its fiddling around the just another the edges. Its just another nonsense. More paperwork for the nonsense. More paperwork for the tax and does it really tax office and does it really take care of the Health Issues . Im not sure because i think our alcohol is more damaging than cocaine. Personally, from what i see music business, which cocaine. Personally, from what i swork music business, which cocaine. Personally, from what i swork in, music business, which cocaine. Personally, from what i swork in, you sic business, which cocaine. Personally, from what i swork in, you know, ;iness, which cocaine. Personally, from what i swork in, you know, the ;s, which i work in, you know, the government have got to raise tax somehow. Theyve just about drained every penny out of the motorists. Thats possible. I dont theres probably dont think theres probably a higher i would higher tax will be next, i would have but yeah, its have thought. But yeah, its just around the edges. Just fiddling around the edges. But makes an interesting but it makes for an interesting of course , mixed opinion there of course, mixed opinion there from a lot of people and for sparkling wine, which is of course one of the Biggest Industries in terms winery industries in terms of winery here uk , theres some here in the uk, theres some positive news that the tax on that £0. 19 less today than it that is £0. 19 less today than it was yesterday. Was yesterday. So some positive news for some parts of the industry, but of lots of those of course, lots of those industry concerned Industry Leaders concerned that these. These duty rises. Jack, thank you for indeed. Jack, thank you for that. Head the that. Lets head north of the border now join tony border now and join tony at glengoyne , which i glengoyne distillery, which i seem to remember was the queen mothers favourite tipple. Perhaps only she can afford it now because of course, the higher the alcohol or the strength , the higher the duty strength, the higher the duty and the Scotch Whisky association saying 745 of a bottle of scotch now is paid in tax and duty. Tax and duty. Yes, thats right, mark. Yes, thats right, mark. Certainly for whisky , i cant certainly for whisky, i cant really speak much to knowing a whole lot about other spirits, but up here north of the border, theres only one drink. And that is really in the focus of this story. And that is our scotch. Now, you know, our scotch. Now, you know, unlike vodka and perhaps other spirits, Scotch Whisky can have an abv volume up to all the way up to 56, 60, perhaps even few higher. And if you would experiment drams, but certainly for small distilleries like glengoyne this 10. 1 increase to the tax is a real hammer blow. Glengoyne this 10. 1 increase to the tax is a real hammer blow. I heard a quite an interesting kind of talk through of the process this morning. Small distilleries you know, they still have to bottle several thousand units a then they have to pay the duty up front and then they have to go to retailers to sell. So right after covid and right after the huge rise in Energy Prices, theyre already feeling hammered. And indeed, the Scotch Whisky association this morning described this move as a real hammer blow to the industry. Still struggling after three years to get back on its feet. Now, rishi sunak , hes described now, rishi sunak, hes described this overhaul as the most radical simplification of alcohol duties for 140 years. And he praised the brexit and Great Britain leaving the eu as being why hes taken advantage now to reduce the price of a pint and back british pubs. But unfortunately , north of the unfortunately, north of the border, and especially with scotch and the spotlight for this story , a lot of people are this story, a lot of people are wondering why this is yet another reason to absolutely fall head over heels with the idea of brexit. But needless to say, interestingly enough, jeremy hunt, he has said that the british pubs are the beating heart of our communities as they face increase , arcing and rising face increase, arcing and rising costs. But many of our scottish distilleries , especially our distilleries, especially our small ones like glengoyne behind me, are going to be left wondering why theyve been left on the rocks. On the rocks. Very good. Very good. Yeah. And just to sort of pick up on what you were saying about how theyve struggled, of course, previous years, course, in in previous years, does theyre going does this mean theyre going to have more scotch have to export more Scotch Whisky stay afloat . Whisky now to stay afloat . Well, interestingly enough , a well, interestingly enough, a one percentage point more than what they do just now would be exporting 100 of our whisky. 99 of whisky produced in scotland is actually exported by the some 42,000 people working in the industry across the uk. Now that that raises another interesting question of about 1. Yes, some goes to pubs for a wee tipple on a friday night, but whisky is this hobby for so many , whether its collecting, whether its sharing and conversing over it. And certainly those people who want to invest in single bottles will feel this as well as the pubs and the clubs down the line. Yeah a pretty, pretty good investment for some as theyve proved on on the International Markets of course. For the moment. Thank you to you tony, to and jack as well. Well be back to you a little later. Well lets get more on this from pub landlord nick newman, who is chairman of cardiff licensees for them. Good afternoon to nick. Thanks for joining good afternoon to nick. Thanks forjoining us on gb thanks for joining us on gb news. What what do you make of it all then . Because on the one hand, the government is saying its a tax cut, but we know that its a tax cut, but we know that its the biggest single alcohol duty increase in almost 50 years. It doesnt really feel like a tax cut. It just feels like theyre not raising it by as much as they normally do. And i think theres been as theres been pointed out, you know, on beer alone, we pay about 11 times more tax than the European Countries for a lot of businesses, be it pubs, nightclubs, bars, you name it. Itsjust nightclubs, bars, you name it. Its just yet another increase on top of all the other things weve had to deal with over the past 3 or 4 years. Yeah, youve had a cut obviously in the draft beer price, but i think im right in saying more and more people have been drinking bottled beers, particularly the of higher particularly the sort of higher strength lagers and strength continental lagers and so i guess thats going so on. And i guess thats going up. Up in duty. It is going up. And again, as i said, itll particularly hit the sort of nightclub industry which probably got hit worst hit out of through the pandemic. And again , im not an economist or again, im not an economist or any kind of mathematician, but i certainly what i do certainly understand is the price of beer is not coming down in terms of what we pay the brewers for it and therefore were not able to pass this on to customers in any way. So i think its a bit of semantics going on, if you ask me and nick that the Hospitality Industry has taken multiple blows, hasnt it , ever since covid. Do you see this as yet another blow to the trade . Another blow to the trade . Yeah. I mean, if the yeah. I mean, if the chancellor describes pubs as the beating heart, well, i got colleagues in licences for him who thinks that were were the whipping boys of the economy really. We were the main driver really. We were the main driver of recovery through through through what weve had to come through what weve had to come through. And yet the government through. And yet the government will keep coming up with other ways of raising duty price rises that get passed on and really not recognising the support the Industry Needs in terms of raw materials, transport and labour costs and all the other things that we have to deal with. Look, that we have to deal with. Look, were by definition , we work in were by definition, we work in hospitality, so were optimistic , but it gets difficult. , but it gets difficult. Okay. Well, as youre with us, i have to ask you, whats a pint of brains going to cost me there this lunchtime . Im im afraid youre a bit behind the times there. All its no longer a brains pub. Were kuroiso pubs, small, independent company in cardiff and proud to be so. But i work for brains and its a sad demise of their product. But youll see less of it nowadays. All right. I could. I could have been more difficult and ask you about. Well, double dragon. Well, double dragon. But there we are. Well leave it dave navarra, thank you very dave navarra, thank you very much indeed. Again, not to be young. Again, not to be young. Do stay with us here on do you stay with us here on gb news. More still to gb news. Lots more still to come. Talking about the come. Well be talking about the scottish ferrier. Do scottish mp Margaret Ferrier. Do you her . Will learn you remember her . She will learn her afternoon after her fate this afternoon after being breaching being suspended for breaching covid regulations. So more about covid regulations. So more about that, about her very that, more about her very shortly here on the live desk that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news news. Hi there. Its time for the hi there. Its time for the gb news forecast. With me aidan gb news forecast. With me Aidan Mcgivern from the met office largely cloudy for many of us today. Largely cloudy for many of us today. A few light showers, but today. A few light showers, but actually drier compared with yesterday and certainly drier and less windy compared with tomorrow. Weve got low pressure approaching for tomorrow. But in the meantime , one low pulls the meantime, one low pulls away, leaving a large amounts of cloud, leaving some light rain across southern scotland. Northern england. This turns more showery into the afternoon and weve got a scattering of showers elsewhere, especially through southern counties of england into parts of Central Scotland as well. But actually plenty of fine weather out there, a lot of cloud , but in there, a lot of cloud, but in any brighter spells, temperatures managing to get into the low 20s in the south, for example. And then well, the weather turns more unsettled once again into the evening. A band of rain, heavy at times moves into southwestern and then across much of england, wales, Northern Ireland, as well as by the end of the night, southern scotland, the winds pick up as well. But of course with the cloud, the rain and the wind, its not going to be a cold night. Temperatures staying in the low to mid teens in many spots. Then as we go into wednesday, its a wet windy wednesday, its a wet and windy start for many start to the day for many places, strongest winds will places, the strongest winds will affect English Channel coasts, a risk of 60 mile per hour gusts. So watch out for that if youre camping, for example , and some so watch out for that if youre campishowersxample , and some so watch out for that if youre campishowers and le , and some so watch out for that if youre campi showers and thunderstorms lively showers and thunderstorms starting to develop as well. They could also cause impacts in places that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Welcome back to the live desk. Now the former snp mp Margaret Ferrier due to find out whether shell lose her seat after being suspended for breaching those covid regulations. As youll remember, regulations. As youll remember, she travelled on a train while having coronavirus back in 2020. A recall petition in rutherglen and Hamilton West was called after ms ferrier was found to have damaged the reputation of the commons. A by election will be held if more than 10 of voters have signed the petition. Lets get more now with our Political Correspondent catherine forster, joining us in the studio. And it does look as if that is going to be reached. Well, 8113 of her constituents would need to say they want her out. Thats 10. I would out. Thats10. I would think that was highly likely. Well find out later. But of course , bear out later. But of course, bear in mind, this is a woman who sent off a covid test during lockdown came down to london, spoke in the houses of parliament, got the positive result , and then decided rather result, and then decided rather than isolating in london, which she should have done to get back on a train, go back up to glasgow , knowing that she had glasgow, knowing that she had covid. She was arrested by police, she was found guilty. Shes done 270 hours of Community Service and apparently theyve said it was a blatant and deliberate, dishonest. So technically still an mp, although she was suspended by the snp. So as an independent, effectively shes sitting she was she was booted out of the snp pretty quickly. So shes been sitting as an independent out subsequently. So im assuming that this does trigger a by election as i think is likely both labour and the snp spy an opportunity labour particularly i think keir starmer has already been up there and they think that maybe they can show things to come if labour can take this seat. So what would be the timescale of this . When could we see this by election . Well if we find out that its going happen today that its going to happen today , be any announced , there wont be any announced movement until Parliament Comes back from recess. So its a good way off. But potentially this autumn. So itll be a bitterly autumn. So itll be a bitterly fought battle between the snp and labour if and when it happens. Now, as we said in our menu of openers, newts just in, this is Boris Johnsons planned Swimming Pool at his new oxfordshire mansion. Oxfordshire mansion. But perhaps the greater crested newt or great crested newt, i should say, might come out on top. Explain. Yes. As Boris Johnson made yes. As Boris Johnson made a very prescient comment back in 2020 when he blamed, quote , newt 2020 when he blamed, quote, newt counting for red tape and planning delays and basically how hard it is to build houses. And now now hes got this new pad in oxfordshire where hes got a new baby. They would like got a new baby. They would like to have a 11 by four metre Swimming Pool. Plans have been put in, but its currently all on hold because apparently it is a hotspot for greater crested newts, which are protected under uk law. There is currently a pond and so if its found that there are classroom, thats what they look like. In case youre they look like. In case youre wondering, thats the newt, not bofis wondering, thats the newt, not Boris Johnson. Yeah. As its likely that there are newts on his his plot , they would then his his plot, they would then have to be be captured and moved and counted as well counted. So and counted as well counted. So there would have to be a compensation ponds made for them so that they can be re homed. So theyd have to have their own Swimming Pool. In other words, Boris Johnson is going to have to build a Swimming Pool for the great crested newts to get his own one. Basically yes. Other little point rishi one other little point rishi sunak was not so sunak the current was not so Little Current prime little while current Prime Minister Swimming Pool minister has his Swimming Pool already and johnson already, he and Boris Johnson would like his to be 11 by four metres. But rishi sunak his is 12 by five and without any newts clearly having built it. Apparently there wasnt a newt problem in North Yorkshire. Yeah, i can see Boris Johnson capturing these newts himself with his with his kids. This young children. What were the fishing net. Yeah. Anyway, well update you on that this was the on that because this was the view of the local conservationist. I think that clearly, you know, this is actually a listed and mammal or mammal. Clearly, theyve got to take care. And what happens in terms of the counting of them, we are laughing, but there are plenty of animals, birds, etcetera, that do have protection in this country. Country. And so you cannot just go building whatever you like if it happens to be in one of their habitats. Basically the newts were there before. Boris johnson yes, quite right. So Boris Johnson is to going have to wait for a while. To be continued. To be continued. Thank you very much indeed. Thank you very much indeed. Also coming up, a gb news exclusive. Exclusive. Asylum seekers. And weve got more record numbers on the boats coming in. Theyre going to be housed in luxury flats in chelmsford, no less. Mark white has the latest on that for us. Before that, ray, with the latest headlines. 12 32. Im ray latest headlines. 12 32. Im ray addison in the gb newsroom. And our top story this hour, the british beer and Pub Association is warning the governments alcohol duty changes will cost the industry an extra £225 million in tax. The Prime Minister, however , has defended minister, however, has defended the overhaul, saying it will benefit thousands of businesses. The new system sees a shift from taxing alcoholic drinks based on their type, focusing instead on their type, focusing instead on their strength , duty on certain their strength, duty on certain drinks, such as wine and vodka will rise while tax on draught pints will be cut by around £0. 11. The home office has delayed moving Asylum Seekers to the bibby stockholm barge in dorset over Fire Safety Concerns. Thats despite previously saying that 50 migrants would move to their new accommodation in portland today. Further inspections are now taking place to ensure it fully complies with regulations. Once complies with regulations. Once up and running, the facility will host around 500 men a british man who killed his seriously ill wife has visited her grave for the First Time Since being released from prison in cyprus. David hunter was sentenced to two years for manslaughter after claiming his wife asked him to end her life at their home in paphos in 2021. The couples daughter says she believes her father visited the grave to say his goodbyes properly. You uk house prices properly. You uk house prices have fallen at their fastest annual rate for 14 years, according to the nationwide building society. In july , the building society. In july, the average price had fallen by 3. 8. Over the last 12 months, the average home is now worth. Average home is now worth. Around £260,000. Food Price Inflation in the uk slowed to 13. 4 in july. Thats its lowest level so far this year, falling pnces level so far this year, falling prices for staples such as oils, fish and Breakfast Cereals contributed to that decline in overall shop prices. Also saw a slowdown from 8. 4 in june to 7. 6 last month. You can get 7. 6 last month. You can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews. Com and welcome back to the live desk with final preparations taking place to try to house migrants on that bibby stockholm barge down at portland in dorset. But there are reports the vessel has still not received a safety certification from the local fire service. The home office had been expecting to send an initial group of 50 Asylum Seekers there today , but Asylum Seekers there today, but the times and Guardian Newspapers have reported serious safety concerns that have been raised about the barge, with one source suggesting the vessel could become a floating grenfell. Well, lets get more on this with our South West England reporter jeff moody, who joins us live from portland. Not only us live from portland. Not only those concerns, jeff , but also those concerns, jeff, but also reports that Asylum Seekers havent actually been told theyre going to be accommodated on a barge. Well, thats right. On a barge. Well, thats right. And weve also been hearing that some of them have refused to come on the barge saying that theyd be much happier staying where they are. But what we do know 25 of them have know is around 25 of them have been earmarked arriving been earmarked for arriving here. Theyre currently staying in various hotels in bournemouth, and they were due here this morning. But then late here this morning. But then late last night , the home office last night, the home office announced that they wouldnt be coming today because of these fears of fire safety on the barge. Were hearing all sorts of things that there are not enough fire escapes, theres not enough fire escapes, theres not enough smoke detectors. Theres a lot of concern that the corridors on the barge are very, very small, given the sheer number of people that will be on the barge, because dont forget that the barge that these are single rooms and theyre going to be putting 2 to 3 people per room. So that almost triples the amount of people on board that the barge was originally designed for. And that means that it designed for. And that means thatitis designed for. And that means that it is currently not passing any fire safety tests. Well, any fire safety tests. Well, people have been working all day long. Weve been watching welders and builders come in and out of the barge to try and sort the situation out. The home office wont say exactly how long this will take, but we do think there may be some Asylum Seekers arriving by the end of this week. Well theres been plenty of campaigners here and portlanders and the countrys press to all eager to discuss the situation. An alex, lets the situation. An alex, lets talk to you. First of all, youre the voice of no to the barge there was a Welcome Party planned first thing this morning from the other Campaign Group stand up to racism with welcome packs for the migrants. Why werent you there . Well, unfortunately , jeff, well, unfortunately, jeff, the people of dorset, the people of weymouth and the people of portland were not invited to that particular Welcome Party, lets call it. Lets call it. Did you expect to be invited , given that the tone of your campaign has been these people arent welcome here. We had hoped, jeff, because really at the end of the day, we are about the inhumanity of this for the Asylum Seekers and for the people of portland, because at some point its changing away from a campaign to stop the barge from coming when it does, when these people do come here and they are integrated into society, they are walking through the streets. Through the streets. They are part of the community here. Its a very different thing for you guys, isnt it . Isnt it . Yes, thats true. Jeff, our campaign is going to move into different avenues now. Were going to be looking at the legal avenue, as it were. Were also looking at holding our elected representatives accountable. This will either be less than or 18 months and no more. This is inhumane. Jeff and it isnt just 3 or 2. Its going to be six in some of the rooms on the barge. Its very un british and very undemocratic. What has happened undemocratic. What has happened to these people , our people, as to these people, our people, as they havent been consulted and therefore never could give their consent. Consent. Okay. Michelle theres a consensus down here amongst portlanders that this is the wrong place for the barge. It shouldnt be here. But thats where the consensus ends, doesnt it . Theres a very bitter feel to this , isnt there . Yes. Its caused a lot of divide within the community of weymouth and portland, actually i and the theyre not even here yet. The thing and the theyre not even here yet. The thing is, and the theyre not even here yet. The thing is, the stand and the theyre not even here yet. The thing is, the stand up to racism group, which stand against road to the barge. Against road to the barge. Theyre campaigners have three portland town councillors that represent stand up to racism and theyve been going to the meetings and going against no to the barge when these town councillors really they should be supporting the people and what the people want in this area. And basically they havent. I mean the Dorset County Council says that theyve actually opposed the barge, but theyve not showed that to the community and theyve literally took the money and run. In a word, who do you blame for this . I blame Portland Port and Dorset County Council. Okay. Both thank you very much indeed. Well, well be catching up with lots and lots of people that have turned up here to talk to us this afternoon. And as i say, were quite sure when the were not quite sure when the first of Asylum Seekers first of the Asylum Seekers arrives, do think it will arrives, but we do think it will be later this week. Back to you. Jeff, thanks very much for updating in portland in updating us down in portland in dorset. Stay dorset. Well, lets stay with the issue campaigners in the issue for campaigners in Chelmsford Essex whove chelmsford in essex whove condemned for condemned the government for approving acquisition approving the acquisition of an entire apartment complex entire luxury apartment complex there for Asylum Seekers , in there for Asylum Seekers, in a gb news exclusive, our Homeland Security editor mark white uncovers the harsh reality of british families being stuck in substandard accommodation while migrants are moved into what they say a plush new apartments as its billed as one of chelmsfords most sought after residential complexes. A multi Million Pound conversion of an old office block into luxury apartment. Block into luxury apartment. Its the marketing photograph. Its the marketing photograph. Graphs show just how comfortable these flats are, but for now, at least, none of the 98 units here are for local use turned over. Instead to the home office to house Asylum Seekers. Dozens of house Asylum Seekers. Dozens of migrants have already moved in the refurbishment work on the remaining apartments is almost complete , but the mode was all complete, but the mode was all up there, all around , down the up there, all around, down the floors, along all the pipework and across the ceiling and just running down the walls. It was absolutely disgusting i Tasha Burgess moved into this damp and mould infested property in chelmsford five years ago, only last year was the family finally moved out. While those problems were fixed, but not before she and her children developed chronic respiratory ailments. Its very frustrating that that people can come illegally and get the accommodation when youve got people that are homeless. Not by fault that need accommodation as well. And a lot accommodation as well. And a lot of families that are not in suitable accommodation size is either squashed in flats and stuff, waiting on lists for months and months or years even the local council says it has only limited grounds for a legal challenge against the home office and does not intend to take court action. Local Campaign Groups say the housing of Asylum Seekers in luxury apartments is grossly unfair when more than 400 chelmsford families are in temporary accommodation , many of temporary accommodation, many of those properties in substandard condition. Condition. They are illegally here and yet theyre living in absolute luxury. And i think thats whats frustrating and annoying. So many people is that theyre getting everything and People Living in some of these places that we see last year during the damp and mould, you wouldnt have put a dog in it because it was disgust ing with the bibby stockholm accommodation barge receiving its first Asylum Seekers and more arriving at the former wethersfield airbase in essex. The government says its committed to moving away from expense of hotels, but this luxury apartment complex surely cannot be with the home secretary meant by a move to more basic accommodation for Asylum Seekers. Mark white gb Asylum Seekers. Mark white gb news in chelmsford , i mean, when news in chelmsford, i mean, when you see how marks here at home and security editor sorry, jumping straight in, but when you see how as we describe plush, they are , its maybe plush, they are, its maybe understandable that these channel crossings, average number of migrants per boat for last month has hit a record high. Yeah , and thats where they yeah, and thats where they could be heading to. Weve got to see. I mean, weve got to see. Obviously those mark obviously those are the mark editing pictures. Theyre probably to that probably not decorated to that exact standard, decent space. Mark they the apartments are very lovely , lovely kitchens, very lovely, lovely kitchens, bathrooms. So as a space, its very nice indeed. And juxtapose that with what Tasha Burgess and others say are substandard accommodation that theyve had to live with. But this whole issue around the apartments in chelmsford or the bibby stockholm or putting migrants in raf bases or hotels is all just a symptom of the fact that rishi sunak and his government have been unable to stop the boats, which is what he said he was going to do. Not only is he not stopping them, but weve already got close to 15,000 who have crossed so far this year. Were not yet in the flat calm conditions. Seasons of the conditions. Seasons of the summer months. And as you summer months. And as you alluded to, there , the numbers alluded to, there, the numbers on the boats are increasing. Weve got some images. Is that show one of these boats out in the English Channel and on that you can see the middle of the boat there. So its almost like a ridge that goes right down the centre line of the boat that is a new reinforced element because before it was just plywood bottoms on these boats which have failed. They were ripping too often and tragic consequences , you know, resulted consequences, you know, resulted in a couple of major incidents. In a couple of major incidents. So this would explain why these latest figures we got 3299in july alone in 63 boats. So an average of around 52 people per boat. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And they just sit on the sides of the boats like this. But now theyre also putting them in the middle. Theyre on that sort of ridged section. So not only 52 people, 52 people is the average for july, not only 52 people, 52 people is the average forjuly, but we had reports this was from some of the boats stopped by the french authorities and turned around because he couldnt make it to the Halfway Point to be picked up the Halfway Point to be picked p by the Halfway Point to be picked up by uk authorities. The Halfway Point to be picked up by uk authorities. 80s the Halfway Point to be picked up by uk authorities. 80s there up by uk authorities. 80s there were 74 people on a couple of the boats that had tried to cioss. Cross. And as youve reported previously , much of this is previously, much of this is tailor made for the people smugglers by these sort of backstreet manufacturers in turkey and elsewhere and then shipped across europe to be launched from the french beaches i so its become a very sophisticated business now. The people smugglers have well established lines, production lines going right back to china or turkey, where these boats are manufactured, or at least the component parts. Then theyre shipped by road up into europe to germany. Usually and then distributed from germany to north west france, where theyre kind of assembled and inflated just in the dunes and head down to the beach. But this is what shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper was saying. It is the it secretary Yvette Cooper was saying. It is the it is secretary Yvette Cooper was saying. It is the it is the saying. It is the it is the people smugglers that need to be tackled, not not the migrants as such. Tackled, not not the migrants as such. Yeah. Such. Yeah. I mean, i think thats absolutely right. Until you actually stop the boats coming across in the first place, then of course , yes, were going to of course, yes, were going to be doing story after story about just how angry people are getting about the fact that their local area is going to be housing 600 more migrants in an apartment block or on an old base or in a hotel down in wales, for instance. Wales, for instance. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, Yvette Cooper is absolutely got a point there. The government say that they have invested more money in the National Crime agency , that it National Crime agency, that it is liaising better than it ever did with its , you know, law did with its, you know, Law Enforcement counterparts on the other side of the channel, the other side of the channel, the other side of the channel, the other side of the argument then, is what the government has referred to as this pull factor , why the migrants want to come here and make this dangerous journey across the channel. And one wonders how that now actually in with luxury actually ties in with luxury apartments being made available and shown quite openly. Well , lets not sort of beat well, lets not sort of beat around the bush here. There is no doubt that our report today, the images from that will be sent back on social media email , however it might be to people that are thinking of making the journey , you know, by these journey, you know, by these people traffickers who were trying to attract them over , trying to attract them over, giving them an indication of the kind of living they could have if they come here. Theres if they come over here. Theres no its a pull factor. No doubt its a pull factor. Mark, thank you very much for updatingall that. Thank you. And all that. Thank you. And all that. Thank you. Is august 1st. And as it is august the 1st. And as well as being the start of a new month, it is also yorkshire day , which im very happy about because am from york. Because i am from york. We will celebrate so we will celebrate promoting the county and its people and its rich heritage. People and its rich heritage. Our reporter anna riley joins us now live from rotherham in South Yorkshire , where the South Yorkshire, where the official civic celebrations is well about to get underway. Well about to get underway. We. Hope we. Hope we. Hope how do mark and pip. Yes, happy yorkshire day. Yes, im happy yorkshire day. Yes, im here at Rotherham Minster where theres a service thats been held here all all about yorkshire day. And every year , yorkshire day. And every year, as as you just mentioned, each different place in yorkshire, a different place in yorkshire, a different town or city has the honour of hosting the official celebration. And this year its celebration. And this year its rotherham. So many mayors from all across gods own gods own country have gathered here. There was a procession through the town and then theyve come to the minster. Weve had several readings and now theyve gone on for lunch at wentworth hall, and thats a stately home in rotherham, because after all, its heritage that were celebrating in yorkshire, but its also our food. Youve got its also our food. Youve got to love a yorkshire pudding, havent you . Now earlier i caught up with the town crier for the Yorkshire Society , david for the Yorkshire Society, david hinde and this is what he had to say. Say. Well, its a celebration of everything that is yorkshire. Weve got such tremendous cities and great towns, great countryside, great coast. Weve got it all and weve got culture here and weve got big names from theatre, film , big from theatre, film, big personalities. And yeah, its personalities. And yeah, its a time once a year this is the day that we celebrate yorkshire and indeed give a declaration today of who is a yorkshireman and what it means to be a yorkshireman and a dare. We observe that youve got perhaps a traditional yorkshire weather to go with it for august the 1st as well. The 1st as well. Yes , some summer were having yes, some summer were having here isnt it. It is definitely drizzling , it is definitely drizzling, but hopefully well get a little bit of sun this afternoon. We can only hope. But yes, we are very proud people in yorkshire, very proud people in yorkshire, very proud people in yorkshire, very proud of our heritage as david was just reflecting on there , this event first began there, this event first began back in 1975, but its been held from 1985 as this official civic ceremony. And next year it will be in york. Be in york. Lovely. My birthplace. Yeah look forward to that. It is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Every year i go to the country. Every year i go to the Yorkshire Dales and its im hoping actually nobody tells too many people about it. So its a bit silly of me to say a bit late now. Beautifully kept secret. Have a great day. Happen have a great day. Happen coming up, the alcohol tax Glass Half Full or half empty . Coming up in a moment. The temperatures rising. Boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hi there. Its time for the gb news forecast with me Aidan Mcgivern from the met office. Largely cloudy for many of us today. A few light showers, but actually drier compared with yesterday and certainly drier and less windy compared with tomorrow. Weve got low pressure approaching for tomorrow, but in the meantime, one low pulls away, leaving a large amount of cloud, leaving some light rain across southern scotland, northern england. This turns northern england. This turns more showery into the afternoon and weve got a scattering of showers elsewhere, especially through southern counties of england into parts of Central Scotland as well. But actually plenty of fine weather out there. A lot of cloud, but in any brighter spells , any brighter spells, temperatures managing to get into the low 20s in the south, for example. Then well, the weather turns more unsettled once again into the evening. A band of rain heavy at times moves into southwestern and then across much of england, wales, Northern Ireland, as well as by the end of the night, southern scotland, the winds pick up as well. But of course, with the cloud, the rain and the wind, its not going to be a cold night. Temperatures staying in the low to mid teens in many spots. Then as we go into wednesday, its wet and windy wednesday, its a wet and windy start the day many places start to the day for many places , strongest winds will , the strongest winds will affect English Channel coasts, a risk of 60 mile per hour gusts. So watch out for that if youre camping, example, and some camping, for example, and some lively showers and thunderstorms starting develop as well. Starting to develop as well. They could also cause impacts in places. Places. The temperatures rising , a the temperatures rising, a boxt solar proud sponsors tannoy this is the final call for all Long Distance lovers. Im flying round the world to marry a man that ive never met. How do i know that youre even the person you say you are . Please fasten your seatbelts. Maybe were not actually supposed to be in this relationship. As we expect turbulence ahead. Can you not see my insides breaking . How far would you go for love . Brand new 90 day fiance uk, available to stream only on discovery . Watch at no extra cost. Say, get discovery into your voice remote to activate. Gb news. Good afternoon. It is 1 pm. You are watching the live desk on gb news. Coming up this tuesday lunchtime , the alcohol tuesday lunchtime, the alcohol tax, cocktail duty and wine and spirits up but for down some been its left a bitter taste for pub industry which says it could cost them £225 million. Rishi sunak says, though, its something to cheer for. A gb news exclusive. How a luxury flats are being offered to Asylum Seekers in chelmsford. Its angered some local families who have urgent housing needs. Families who have urgent housing needs. And still no timeframe needs. And still no timeframe for the opening of the migrant barge in dorset. According to a government minister. It all comes after Fire Safety Concerns prevent Asylum Seekers from getting aboard. Were live with the latest. In portland. Latest. In portland. Plus , the first of its kind. Plus, the first of its kind. How a drone Postal Service in orkney could change mail distribution in remote areas. Distribution in remote areas. These are the latest pictures. These are the latest pictures. Talk about a special delivery. We also coming up, the latest News Headlines. Why Boris Johnsons plans Swimming Pool at his oxfordshire mansion could be sunk by the great crested newt. First, the great crested newt. First, the headunes great crested newt. First, the headlines with. Ray thanks , headlines with. Ray thanks, both. Good afternoon. 1 01. Heres the latest on the british beer and Pub Association is warning that the governments alcohol duty changes will cost the industry an extra £225 million in tax. The Prime Minister , however, has defended minister, however, has defended the overhaul, saying it will benefit thousands of businesses. The new system sees a shift from taxing alcoholic drinks based on their type, focusing instead on their strength, duty on certain drinks such as wine and vodka , will rise while tax and vodka, will rise while tax on draught pints will be cut by around £0. 11. Gb news spoke to pub landlord david lonsdale. He pub landlord david lonsdale. He says its the worst time to be hitting pubs with extra costs. Hitting pubs with extra costs. I think its fair enough that alcohol is taxed according to strength. I dont have a problem with that, but actually overall the taxes are going up by 10. 6. So although the minister will point out that on draft beer, the taxes has remained more or less unchanged on on a glass of wine is going up by 20. So overall taxes are going up by well above the rate of inflation, 10. 6. The home office has delayed moving Asylum Seekers to the bibby stockholm barge in dorset over Fire Safety Concerns. Thats despite previously saying that 50 migrants would move to their new accommodation in portland today. Further inspections are now taking place to ensure it fully complies with regulations. Once up to ensure it fully complies with regulations. Once up and running the facility will host around 500 men. Former immigration security advisor henry bolton told us proper evacuation plans are vital. Whats quite incredible about this is the demonstration that the home office has not done its planning and preparation correct or thoroughly. You know, the problem here is one of the fire inspectors and the signing off the accommodation as suitably fireproof. And you know, to be fair in a sense , the probability fair in a sense, the probability of a fire on there, the fire control on board the bibby stockholm is adequate. What the problem is, is evacuation. Problem is, is evacuation. Should there be a fire . Well, meanwhile , more than well, meanwhile, more than 3000 people crossed the English Channelin 3000 people crossed the English Channel in 63 small boats last month with an average of 52 migrants per boat. Month with an average of 52 migrants per boat. Thats the migrants per boat. Thats the highest number on record so far this year. More than 14,000 migrants have made that dangerous crossing. A british dangerous crossing. A british man who killed his seriously ill wife has visited her grave for the First Time Since being released from prison in cyprus. David hunter was sentenced to two years for manslaughter after claiming his wife asked him to end her life at their home in paphos in 2021. The couples daughter says she believes her father wanted to say his goodbyes properly. He two goodbyes properly. He two teenage girls aged 16 and 17, have been killed after a road crash in County Monaghan in ireland. An 18 year old woman and the cars driver, a 60 year old man, are in hospital in critical condition. An 18 year old man is receiving treatment for non life threatening injuries. Its understood some injuries. Its understood some of those involved were on their way a Debutante Ball , which way to a Debutante Ball, which was being held at a secondary school last night. House Prices School last night. House prices have fallen at their fastest annual rate for 14 years. Nationwide says the average price dropped by 3. 8 over the last 12 months. The average uk home now costs around. £260,000 home now costs around. £260,000 a de banking giant, hsbc has announced strong first half pre tax profits. Of announced strong first half pre tax profits. Of £169 pre tax profits. Of £16. 9 billion. Thats an increase of 10. 1 billion compared to the same period last year. The companys revenue also rising by 9. 6 billion, with Interest Rate increases. A key driver. Increases. A key driver. Meanwhile, oil and gas giant bp has reported a 69 fall in profits over the latest quarter to £2 billion. The decline reflects market stabilisation following last years boost from surging oil and gas prices. It comes after industry rival shell also reported weaker than expected profits. And as weve expected profits. And as weve been hearing, a Drone Delivery Service has been launched in orkney helping locals to receive their mail. A collaboration between royal mail and skyports. The scheme will transport letters and parcels between the islands. Its expected to significant improve delivery times and while the service will initially operate for just three months, it could be continued on a permanent basis. More on that a permanent basis. More on that right here on gb news. This is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now its back to mark and. Mark and. Pip ray. Thanks very much and welcome back to the live desk where the cost of your daily tipple could well cost you a lot more from today. Yes, britains pubs and brewers claiming that the increase in alcohol duty could cost the industry £225 million. The Prime Minister says the changes will be beneficial to thousands of businesses across the country, including struggling pubs. Struggling pubs. Drinks will now be taxed on strength rather than their category pints and prosecco will cost less. But if youre a wine cost less. But if youre a wine and whisky drunker, then it will cost you more with duty increasing by 10. 1, thats an extra £53 with vat on a bottle of wine and more than a pound on gin , vodka and whisky. Of wine and more than a pound on gin , vodka and whisky. Well, our gin, vodka and whisky. Well, our east Midlands Reporter will hollis has more on this story. When youre in the business of helping brits get leathered, theres no better place to set up a brewery than an old leather factory. When you drink too much beer, you get a pot belly. So we call it pot belly brewery. Pot belly has been brewing beer here in kettering for nearly 20 years, with ian as head brewer selling barrels and bottles. Hes seeing a shift in sales. Sales. Years ago, we delivered big barrels, 144 pints, but theres too much now. Nobody will touch one of these. A lot of pubs that ideal one of these. A lot of pubs that i deal with want the little ones with 36 pints because its cheaper and. And it lasts twice as long from grain to glass. As long from grain to glass. A single brew takes a week. A single brew takes a week. This one just in time to be taxed under the new system from today, duty will be measured on booze of all kinds , using booze of all kinds, using alcohol by volume is a simplified tax on strength. Simplified tax on strength. Meanwhile, a new draft relief dubbed the brexit pubs guarantee lowers the price of a pint by up to £0. 11. Compared to supermarkets according to the treasury. But the new system puts pot belly in a pickle. The beer here in the pint glass is exactly the same as the one in the bottle. Its just that the duty is calculated differently now under the new rules, the bottle costs about an extra £0. 30 in duty and the government is making them more expensive because ultimately they want drinkers to choose to drink weaker beers in the pub rather than stronger ones at home. Greg says the system will squeeze businesses like his. The price is on a barrel of beer should remain fairly constant. The one anomaly is constant. The one anomaly is when you then dispense beers in less than 20l, so. So anything less than 20l, so. So anything thatis less than 20l, so. So anything that is in a small ten litre box or in a bottle of beer, the price is then doubled in the duty side of it. Duty side of it. Emma is chief exec at the british beer and Pub Association. She says the industry will have to pay an extra £225 million in tax because of the reforms. At a time of high production costs, beer duty , unfortunately, is beer duty, unfortunately, is still one of the highest in the whole of europe. Here in the uk, and we hope that some of these changes will incentivise people to be brewing lower strength beers to help consumers moderate their consumption. Ian but consumption. Ian but unfortunately we probably wont see difference in prices see a much difference in prices at this moment in time in terms of lowering them at pub, the of lowering them at the pub, the cost beers and cans at home cost of beers and cans at home are going to be increased. Some 10. 1 because of the changes that are being introduced today. Back at the brewery, sam, the teams youngest, is on clean up i my favourite job of the day. Digging out the hops out the copper. Digging out the hops out the copper. Its digging out the hops out the copper. Its a its a bit warm in there and dirty, but. But its one of them. Jobs have got to be done, im afraid. To be done, im afraid. Washing away the old duty is gone. Its replacement needs to pump up the industry rather than drain it dry. Will hollis gb news in kettering. News in kettering. Tough assignment. Tough assignment. Tough assignment. Hes. Hes been very jealous watching that. Joining us now to get more on this is our west Midlands Reporterjack get more on this is our west Midlands Reporter jack carson, who is in birmingham. While our scotland reporter tony maguire is at the glengoyne distillery in dumgoyne. Jack, lets go to you first. Its theres two things here, arent there . The things here, arent there . The Health Campaigners say its going to save lives, but pubs, licensees, the whole Hospitality Industry saying its just its on its knees already. And this is not going to help. Yeah is not going to help. Yeah certainly a lot of mixed reaction , of course, from this reaction, of course, from this change in duty today. Of course, from the side of the treasury and for pubs particularly, of course, very much promoting their brexit pub guarantee. Today the government say that over 38,000 pubs are going to benefit from this lower alcohol tax on the drinks that they pour on draught. They say in comparison to two bottles and when you buy a pint on draught, it could be up to £0. 11 less, of course, than maybe what youd buy in a bottle. But that is very much also very much a big part of the industry. People part of the industry. People buying bottled beer from the supermarket. Its the british supermarket. Its the British Beer Association saying beer and Pub Association saying that brewers are going to pay a 10. 1 tax on bottles and 10. 1 more tax on bottles and cans of beer from today, meaning that around 30 of a 500ml a litre bottle is going to be taxed. They say when you look at that and the added cost of the industry across the year, its going to be an added cost to the industry of £225 million. But of course, jeremy hunt today, the chancellor that this chancellor saying that with this rise in alcohol duty and the rise in the alcohol duty and the difference in how, of course the duty calculate , it is duty is calculate, it is promoting industry and promoting that industry and supporting that new and up and coming industry lower coming industry of lower alcoholic alternative bars for example. Lots of low alcoholic gins are now all the rage as well as, of course, sparkling wines, which may well have a similar, of course, percentage volume to still wines. But as a growing british industry , with growing british industry, with this new duty changes , the price this new duty changes, the price of sparkling wine is set to come down by around £0. 19 off the duty, but in reaction to the duty, but in reaction to the duty ive been speaking to people here in birmingham today to find out their thoughts. So what ive heard is, is that youll pay less in pubs but more in the supermarket. And so more in the supermarket. And so i think thats a good thing for pubs, but its not so good if people want to just drink at home and dont like going out and being social. I think that its really difficult because theres a lot of pressure on the nhs. Of that money nhs. So if some of that money for the alcohol duty goes into health care , then thats health care, then thats obviously thing. Obviously a good thing. Oh, i think its ridiculous. Oh, i think its ridiculous. I think everythings going up and sometimes you just want to enjoy yourself and not everybody likes beer. I much rather have wine. And if its going to be more expensive, then its more unaffordable. Bill but then at the same time, it does have Health Benefits not to drink as much, but i still think everythings going up and its just as a young person, its becoming so unaffordable to do normal, normal things. And its just Something Else thats been taken away from us. Its fiddling around the edges to be honest with you. I mean, gin seems to be the big one. Everybody wants gin these days. Everywhere i go now, im a non drinker. I dont drink any alcohol all, but im out on alcohol at all, but im out on business the time with business all the time with people are people that people drinking are people that dnnk people drinking are people that drink still going to drink beer are still going to dnnk drink beer are still going to drink and people drink drink beer and people that drink gin are still going to drink gin. Its fiddling the gin. Its fiddling around the edges. Its just another nonsense paperwork the nonsense. More paperwork for the tax office. And does it really take care of the Health Issues . Im not sure because i think our alcohol is more damaging than cocaine. Personally, from what i see in the music business, which i work in, you know, the government have got to raise tax somehow. Theyve just about drained every penny out the drained every penny out of the motorists. Thats possible. I dont probably dont think theres probably a tire next, i would tire tax will be next, i would have but yeah, its have thought. But yeah, its just fiddling around edges. Just fiddling around the edges. But for an interesting but it makes for an interesting news story. News story. The picture in the so thats the picture in the midlands. What about the picture north of the border . Up with our lets pick up with our scotland reporter tony mcguire at the glengoyne distillery , at the glengoyne distillery, very picturesque distillery there. Of course , near bonnie of course, near the bonnie banks lomond. Not such banks of loch lomond. Not such a pretty picture when they do the maths pretty picture when they do the ma tony pretty picture when they do the matony yeah, thats correct. Tony yeah, thats correct. Tony yeah, thats correct. Mark and certainly a lot of the Scotch Whisky industry is scrabbling around trying to make sense of this move from the Prime Minister today. It wasnt so long ago that the government, when it came into power in 2019, it promised to ensure that our tax Systems Support scotch, whisky and gin producers and protect those 42,000 jobs. Thats a direct quote from the Government Back in 2019. But today , whisky producers up and today, whisky producers up and down the country have discovered that an extra 10. 1 tax hike to each whisky drop bottle dram is really going to put a massive dent not just in their pockets, pockets, but in their production value. Glen goyne distillery behind me, theyve just released batch ten of their cask strength whisky and rfps around £85. If we were to believe it, that from today each bottle of whisky, 75 of that goes to the treasury , of that goes to the treasury, then thats £63. With only £22 going to the manufacturer itself. Now small whisky distillers like glengoyne, you know, they have to pay the duty up front. So now they have to not only produce the whisky over several years , but then they several years, but then they have to pay the duty and then they have to approach retailers to sell it. So right on the back foot of covid, its unimaginable that were really still talking about that, but its very much still felt in the Hospitality Industry here in scotland and i imagine all around the uk. But certainly along with the energy pnces certainly along with the Energy Prices and of course those recent us tariffs as well. You know , the Scotch Whisky industry know, the Scotch Whisky industry up here is certainly trying to kind of tread water just now to see what is going to come next. And i guess as you were saying earlier, it means theyre going to have to rely yet again on actually exports, getting the product out of britain abroad to make the money. Yeah , thats correct. And as yeah, thats correct. And as i mentioned , 99 of the whisky i mentioned, 99 of the whisky produced here in scotland is actually exported. Theres a actually exported. Theres a Huge Community around the world which not only likes to drink and consume , you know, and consume, you know, liquidating your assets to a whole new level there, but certainly , you know, they like certainly, you know, they like to collect it as well. Its very much a pastime and a hobby for many people around the world because its such an important part of our our economy. You know , and its all the know, and its all the craftsmanship and work that goes into each and every drop. But certainly it accounts for about 5 of the scottish gdp up here. And those 42 000 jobs, one must ask, what is really going to happenin ask, what is really going to happen in should the whisky industry be put on the back foot . And how will small distilleries like here or add in other the island distilleries around the country, how are they going to cope . But certainly this this seems like a another hurdle for the Scotch Whisky industry. And yeah, theyre industry. And yeah, theyre going to have to look to exports around the world. But of course, more hard those exist in there as well. As well. Tony in dumgoyne , thank you tony in dumgoyne, thank you for that. Jack in birmingham , for that. Jack in birmingham, too. And our apologies for any unfortunate language that you may have heard in the background there with passers by in birmingham. Birmingham. Joining us now is scotch and whisky expert sam brooks. Sam, thanks very much for talking to us here on gb news. Do you feel betrayed by the uk government here because they did make a commitment, didnt they, for years ago to ensure the tax system was supporting scottish whisky . Whisky . Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the yeah, absolutely. I mean, the increase is over 10, which is actually the highest duty rise in almost 50 years. So they really have sort of backtracked if you ask me to put that into context, obviously , a 46 context, obviously, a 46 standard abv. 700ml bottle of standard abv. 700ml bottle of whisky will now have £10. 18 duty appued whisky will now have £10. 18 duty applied , which is over three and applied, which is over three and applied, which is over three and a half pence per 25 single measure. I think as people have measure. I think as people have said before, producers are already being hit with skyrocketing production costs with rent, energy , dry goods, with rent, energy, dry goods, transport distribution, distribution costs. It seems distribution costs. It seems endless. And then with your endless. And then with your hospitality , with your pubs, hospitality, with your pubs, your bars, restaurants , social your bars, restaurants, social clubs struggling to break even and stay open , its a massive and stay open, its a massive kick in the teeth. Kick in the teeth. What about the point, though . Thats being made that this system item of taxing on strength rather than category is beneficial for health . And as youve indicated , you and as youve indicated, you know, the proof on some of these whiskies is pretty high and can do a lot of damage. Do a lot of damage. Yeah, but thats no indication of how much people are drinking. You know, you know, somebody might have one dram of whisky a week and somebody might drink ten pints of low alcohol lager, a day. I mean, you know , its really down mean, you know, its really down to the individual and its discriminating against preference of taste. You know, preference of taste. You know, like many of your viewers have said, and the young lady that was on before, you know, she doesnt like drinking beer. She likes to have a glass of wine. And consumers are experiencing prolonged cost of living crisis. Theyre experiencing persistent high inflation, especially for food and drink and some of the hard working men and some of the hard working men and women of this great country tragically wont be able to enjoy the standard, you know, dnnk enjoy the standard, you know, drink after work in a pub or unwinding with a glass of wine or a dram at home with family and friends and that is really tragic. Tragic. And the other aspect of this is, of course, is the pandemic. The number of businesses that were forced to shut down the impact it had on hospitality up and down the country. And its still happening. And thats this is not going to help, is it . At all. I mean, many no, not at all. I mean, many feel the government are attacking a sector thats already on its knees and inevitably some some wont be able to stay afloat. But with able to stay afloat. But with with obviously small to medium businesses risk. So, you businesses most at risk. So, you know, if it really is, its going to have a big knock on effect. People will lose their jobs because people wont be able to afford to pay them. So able to afford to pay them. So its really, really going to be a massive kick in the teeth for the whole industry. The whole industry. Now youve got a very interesting looking cabinet behind you there, which looks very secure, i think, for obvious reasons, bearing in mind the cost. Now, some of these bottles just give us an idea of what sort of top the tree and what sort of top of the tree and how much more expensive that will be. Now well, i mean, its huge. You know , youre talking about know, youre talking about a pure litre of alcohol going from £28, 74 duty to £31, 64. So you know, it depends on how high strength the whisky is. But, you know, weve got a macallan on sale through our independent bottlers , which is vintage bottlers, which is vintage bottlers, which is vintage bottlers. For £5,570 per bottle. Bottlers. For £5,570 per bottle. Well so thats going to go up considerably. Considerably. Yeah, well just let that sink in that maybe sort of once a year rather than once a week. Youre going to have a tipple of that. Yeah, christmas, yeah. Every ten years. Anyway, on that note, thank you very much indeed for us there. Of for updating us there. And of course, well to get course, well continue to get some to these figures. Some reaction to these figures. Thank very much. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Up here on gb news. Coming up here on gb news. Wow, indeed. Former snp mp wow, indeed. Former snp mp Margaret Ferrier faces losing her seat today after being suspended for breaking covid rules. Do you remember her . Well be reminding you all about her in just a few moments. Looks her in just a few moments. Looks like things are heating up. Like things are heating up. Boxed boilers proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Of weather on. Gb news. Hi there. Its time for the hi there. Its time for the gb news forecast. With me Aidan Mcgivern from the met office. Large cloudy for many of us today, a few light showers, but actually drier compared with yesterday and certainly drier and less windy compared with tomorrow. Weve got low pressure approaching for tomorrow. But in the meantime , one low pulls the meantime, one low pulls away, leaving a large amounts of cloud, leaving some light rain across southern scotland. Northern england. This turns more showery into the afternoon and weve got a scattering of showers elsewhere, especially through southern counties of england into parts of Central Scotland as well. But actually plenty of fine weather out there. A lot of cloud , but in there. A lot of cloud, but in any brighter spells, temperatures managing to get into the low 20s in the south, for example. And then well, the weather turns more unsettled once again into the evening. A band of rain, heavy at times moves into southwestern and then across much of england, wales, Northern Ireland, as well as by the end of the night, southern scotland. The winds pick up as well. But of course with the cloud, the rain and the wind, its not going to be a cold night. Temperatures staying in the low to mid teens in many spots. As go into spots. Then as we go into wednesday, its a wet and windy start to the day for many places, strongest will places, the strongest winds will affect english coasts, affect English Channel coasts, a risk of 60 mile per hour gusts. So watch out for that if youre camping, for example , and some camping, for example, and some lively and thunderstorms lively showers and thunderstorms starting to develop as well. They could also cause impacts in places. Places. Looks like things are heating up. Boxed boilers, proud up. Boxed boilers, proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Well, welcome back to the live desk. Lets just update you on the lionesses out in adelaide. These are the fans at box park in croydon who are looking well, theyre eating. Seems well, looking at the screen. However, they have got screen. However, they have got plenty to enjoy because england are 3 1 up against china, although china had got that goal back a penalty indeed in the past few minutes after lucy bronze has had a handball decision against her by var apparently pretty controversial. Anyway, wang shuang put it in the net for china and england. A little rattled, apparently by that. Lets not lets also remember that england only need a single point to progress s as group winners. Winners. So hopefully croydon will get excited at some stage. Well just come on croydon. Theyre not usually like that anyway , back to the baxter box park. When Something Else happens, perhaps now the former snp mp Margaret Ferrier is due to find out whether she will lose her seat after being suspended for breaching covid regulations. You might remember that she travelled on a train while she had coronavirus in 2020. Well, a recall petition for rutherglen and Hamilton West has been called after she was found to have damaged the reputation of the commons and a by election of the commons and a by election of course, will be held if more than 10 of the voters there sign the petition. Joining us to discuss joining us now to discuss this is political this further is political commentator and former snp member stuart crawford. And just member stuart crawford. And just remember , just remind us, stuart remember, just remind us, stuart , what Margaret Ferrier do. Did , what Margaret Ferrier do. Did i mean, there were people at the time saying she was actually thrown to the lions by us, the media over this. Good afternoon. Yes. Margaret good afternoon. Yes. Margaret ferrier, mp for rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, which just lies to the south of glasgow, was is doing her job as glasgow, was is doing herjob as an mp in westminster in september 2020 when she took a covid test, which turned out to be positive and rather than self isolating in london, presumably in a hotel, she decided to take the train back to glasgow, thereby endangering all the other passengers and anyone else that she met in transit with, with becoming infected by covid 19 and quite rightly , when this was rightly, when this was discovered, the snp took a dim view of it and suspended her from the party and suspended the party whip and then subsequently the house of commons took an even dimmer view and she was suspend for the house of commons after a vote of mps for 30 days, which automatically triggers a recall petition. Recall petition. And so later on this afternoon, we will find out whether the recall petition has has succeeded or not. Yeah, and of course, the snp wanting to put some clear blue water but clear tartan water perhaps you should say between them and her. Does that leave labour with a bigger chance now because clearly weve had sir keir starmer up there preparing the ground to a degree. The ground to a degree. Yes , indeed. I mean, i think yes, indeed. I mean, i think the snp has been hugely embarrassed by this on top of all their other troubles, which we discussed before on here we have discussed before on here and the labour party sees a real opportunity to start its fight back in scotland. Labour as you will be aware, was once the dominant party in scotland almost regarded the scottish constituencies as its right. But constituencies as its right. But that was overturned by by alex salmond and Nicola Sturgeon with the snp surge in the last ten years or so. So i think that labour sees this as the possible beginnings of their fight back in scotland. An and hence the interest of keir starmer being up here already. Up here already. Yeah, stuart, thank you for that. And of course well continue to monitor those figures as they come through in this afternoon for that recall. Thank very much indeed. Thank you very much indeed. Typically theres been a now, typically theres been a goal literally a millisecond after we were telling you. So are they excited now . Are we getting well, lets getting on well, lets have a look. Yeah, come in. Boxpark croydon. No, still boxpark croydon. No, still not excited anyway , these live not excited anyway, these live pictures are supposed to be elated. Its now 4 1 to england, and its lauren james again. I think thats two goals and two assists. So becoming very much the star, but as pip was saying, academic now really they only needed a point to get top of that group d and through. Now it looks as if thats on the cards. So do you think theyre actually watching something on the screen there . I think there are a few heads turned, but i think also theyre trying to get those pints down before they go more before they go even more expensive alcohol duty expensive with the alcohol duty today. Anyway, more from adelaide as we get it. Perhaps a few more goals in store. Who knows . Do stay with us here on gb news. We will be talking about growing uncertainty over when migrants will be moved onto to the bibby stockholm barge in dorset. Thats all because what weve been hearing about possible fire safety fears leading to further delays. Well talk to you again very shortly. Talk to you again very shortly. First, your headlines. First, your News Headlines. Heres. Ray heres. Ray thanks, pip. 1 33. Heres the latest on the british beer and Pub Association is warning the governments alcohol duty changes will cost the industry an extra £225 million in tax. Prime minister , however, has Prime Minister, however, has defended the overhaul , saying it defended the overhaul, saying it will benefit thousands of businesses. The new system sees a shift from taxing alcoholic dnnks a shift from taxing alcoholic drinks based on their type, focusing instead on their strength duty on certain drinks such as wine and vodka, will rise while tax on draught pints will be cut by around £0. 11. The home office has delayed moving Asylum Seekers to the bibby stockholm barge in dorset over Fire Safety Concerns. Thats Fire Safety Concerns. Thats despite previously saying that 50 migrants would move to their new accommodation in portland today. Further inspections are now taking place to ensure that it fully complies with regulation sessions. Once up and running the facility will host around 500 men a meanwhile more than 3000 people crossed the channelin than 3000 people crossed the channel in 63 small boats last month , with an average of 52 month, with an average of 52 migrants per boat. Thats the highest number on record. So far this year. More than 14,000 migrants have made the dangerous crossing and house prices have fallen at their fastest annual rate for 14 years. Nationwide saying that the average price dropped by 3. 8 over the last 12 months. The average uk home now costing around £260,000. You can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website, gbnews. Com. Gbnews. Com. Direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for gold and silver investment. Gold and silver investment. Time for a quick snapshot of todays markets. The pound will buy you 1. 27, six, 8 and ,1. 1647. The price of gold. £1,529. 69 per ounce. And the ftse 100 is at 7678 points. Direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical welcome back to the live desk. Now final preparations are happening to try to house migrants on the bibby stockholm barge at portland in dorset. Thats amid reports that the vessel has still not yet received safety certification from the local fire service. From the local fire service. Well, the home office had been expecting to send an initial group of 50 Asylum Seekers today , but the times and seekers today, but the times and Guardian Newspapers reporting serious safety concerns raised about the barge, with one source suggesting that the vessel could become floating grenfell. Become a floating grenfell. Lets get more now with our southwest england reporterjeff southwest england reporter jeff moody, who joins us live from portland. And we remember portland. And jeff, we remember that of course, down at that process, of course, down at falmouth refitted falmouth when it was refitted and checked through. But clearly the concerns about the design line for fire routes and fire escapes , well , thats right. Escapes, well, thats right. I mean, its been here at least two weeks, maybe three, and nothing has been raised so far. But this this this alarm was raised only this only this time yesterday. So its been time yesterday. So its been very recent. Weve heard that very recent. Weve heard that wiltshire and Dorset Fire Service came on board at some point yesterday and they raised certain concerns. Were now told certain concerns. Were now told that the first of the Asylum Seekers will come later this week. So whatever the problems are on board and were hearing that the corridors were too narrow for the sheer number of people, the fire escapes werent adequate , the smoke alarms adequate, the smoke alarms werent adequate. Whatever those problems, what we can surmise from that is that theyre not serious enough to halt the entire operation. It is going ahead either tomorrow or in the next few days. And the people of next few days. And the people of portland are out in force as they have been over the last weeks and months. Two of the campaigners are with me now on a very windy hill top, looking down over the barge. Lorraine, down over the barge. Lorraine, youve been out in all weathers. What a summer weve had. Weve what a summer weve had. Weve been out. You and i have been out on the campaign trail for quite some time now. And youre here today and youll be here again tomorrow. Yes. Brings again tomorrow. Yes. What brings you out every time. So i feel very passionate about this. I love this island. About this. I love this island. And ive lived on the island for 24 years. And i just feel very passionate about that. Its all gone about it the wrong way , the way that the barge has been brought here, and that theres been no consultation with any of the islanders and its all been done very underhand. So ive just taken it underhand. So ive just taken it upon myself with my mom to just not want to get it out there. That people have got a voice. You know, on portland and weymouth and dorset, because were not being heard and listened to by anybody else. So for you, its the injustice of this that its been hoist upon you, as it were, without anybody asking if it was okay, asking what you felt about it, and yeah, definitely it was just put here lots of people arent in a position to actually speak out or want to speak out. Speak out or want to speak out. So thats where i feel really strongly about because there isnt the provisions for everything. And ive said this everything. And ive said this before on the island to accommodate and a lot of people are feeling very bitter about what theyre getting and what were able to access ourself on this island. This island. Jill, people are feeling very bitter and they are theyre feeling bitter and theyre feeling bitter and theyre feeling angry, adding to that mix, a group of Asylum Seekers that will be here possibly tomorrow. By the end of the tomorrow. By the end of the week, they could be queuing up in the post office with you. They could be in the shops with you in the cinemas, with you walking the streets with you. How do you think people in portland will be with the people themselves , with the asylum themselves, with the Asylum Seekers themselves . Welcoming . Seekers themselves . Welcoming . Do you know what i think . Do you know what i think . Portland people have always been welcoming and i think been very welcoming and i think they will try really hard to welcome these people here and it will be a case of see how they treat us and if they behave themselves here, then im sure theyll be very welcome. But like my daughter said , but like my daughter said, its the fear problem weve heard and seen lots of things that happen in other towns and where the Asylum Seekers are and all the problems that happen there. And we are so afraid that these problems are going to come to portland because its such a beautiful place. Its a lovely peaceful island and the portlanders are very, very welcoming. Its like a friendly village, if you like , but also village, if you like, but also theyre going into weymouth. They will be taking into weymouth by three buses all the time. And so its the middle of time. And so its the middle of the tourist season. And because of different cultures, i think it might cause a few problems down there where if the weather changes , then people are on the changes, then people are on the beach in their in their skimpy clothes. I think it might be a clothes. I think it might be a little bit of the problem. Obviously, the men are going to be quite interested in the tourists, but the tourists will feel intimidated and thats another worry because it is our tourist and were to , here tourist trade and were to, here like said before, to bring like weve said before, to bring the of portland and the voice of portland and weymouth and dorset out so that everyone can speak out and let them have their say. We will be here again tomorrow when the when they come on board and so if anyone wants to come along and let us hear their voices, theyll be very welcome. Yeah, okay. Thank you both very much. And of course, the slight danger of thatis of course, the slight danger of that is that we assume that these people are a certain type of people. We just do not know who they are. And thats part of the problem. But by the end of the problem. But by the end of the week, we probably will know. Back to you. Back to you. Well be well be following it closely. Very much, it closely. Thanks very much, jeff. Well, we stay with this jeff. Well, we stay with this issue because campaigners in chelmsford condemned the chelmsford have condemned the government for approving the acquisition an entire luxury acquisition of an entire luxury apartment for Asylum Seekers. Well, in this gb news exclusive report, our Homeland Security editor mark white uncovers the harsh reality of those british families being stuck in some substandard accommodation while the migrants are being moved into plush new apartments as its billed as one of chelmsfords most sought after residential complexes , a after residential complexes, a multi Million Pound conversion of an old office block into luxury apartments. Luxury apartments. The marketing photographs show just how comfortable these flats are, but for now, at least, none of the 98 units here are for local use turned over instead to the home office to house Asylum Seekers. Dozens of house Asylum Seekers. Dozens of migrants have already moved in the refurbishment work on the remaining apartments is almost complete at the mode was all up there, all around , down the there, all around, down the floors, along all the pipework and across the ceiling and just running down the walls. It was absolutely disgusting i Tasha Burgess moved into this damp and mould infested property in chelmsford five years ago. In chelmsford five years ago. Only last year was the family finally moved out while those problems were fixed, but not before she and her children developed chronic respiratory ailments. Its very frustrating that , its very frustrating that, um, that people can come illegally and get the accommodation when youve got people that are homeless. Not by fault that need accommodation as well. And a lot of families that well. And a lot of families that are not in suitable accommodation size either, and its squashed in flats and stuff, waiting on lists for months and months or years even the local council says it has only limited grounds for a legal challenge against the home office and does not intend to take court action. Local Campaign Groups say the housing of Asylum Seekers in luxury apartments is grossly unfair when more than 400 chelmsford families are in temporary accommodation , many of temporary accommodation, many of those properties in substandard condition. Condition. They are illegally here and yet theyre living in absolute luxury. And i think thats whats frustrating and annoying. So many people is that theyre getting everything people getting everything and People Living in some of these places that we see last year during the damp and mould, you wouldnt have put a dog in it because it was disgusting. The bibby stockholm with the bibby stockholm accommodation barge receiving its Asylum Seekers and its first Asylum Seekers and more arriving at the former wethersfield airbase in essex , wethersfield airbase in essex, the government says its committed to moving away from expensive hotels, but this luxury apartment complex should cannot be with the home secretary meant by a move to more basic accommodation for Asylum Seekers. Mark white gb news in chelmsford and now this sounds like a good way to get your post a Drone Delivery Service which has been launched in orkney and is helping locals receive their mail. Well, the eye port operation launched by royal mail and the drone firm sky ports to distribute letters and parcels between the isolated islands. The service will operate for three months, but could continue on a permanent basis if the trial goes well , sky ports will trial goes well, sky ports will conduct the inter island flights, with drones capable of carrying payloads of up to six kilograms. Well , joining us now, the well, joining us now, the chief executive officer of sky ports who make the drones, Duncan Walker duncan, thanks for your time. And i think its a bit of a combined effort as well, because its not just you, its royal mail. All orkney i, port orkney council, Harbour Authority and loganair , no less. Thats thats loganair, no less. Thats thats quite a delivery service. Good afternoon. Thanks for inviting us on. Yeah, it is a bit of a team effort and for these new kinds of things, it needs to be a team effort because we need to make sure that the locals are happy with it. Of course the royal mail are happy it. All of mail are happy with it. All of the recipients of the service are happy it because its are happy with it because its as about customer as much about customer acceptance is about the acceptance as it is about the new and the service new technology and the service we can bring. So, so far its been great. Weve been flying we can bring. So, so far its beerweekt. Weve been flying we can bring. So, so far its beerweek upveve been flying we can bring. So, so far its beerweek up in ve been flying we can bring. So, so far its beerweek up in scotland lying we can bring. So, so far its beerweek up in scotland ,ying this week up in scotland, started trials last week. Started our trials last week. All went pretty weather, all went well. Pretty weather, resilient , which all went well. Pretty weather, resilient, which is important for there, you can guess. For up there, as you can guess. But so far so good. But so far so good. Yeah. I mean, one of the good things about it is that i understand it will be faster, it will be more secure and as you mentioned, a ferry cant is mentioned, say, a ferry cant is stuck because of the weather. The drones can still get there and deliver mail. So thats right. And this Service Really works well where ground infrastructure is either poor or challenging. So thats islands where theres ferries or mountainous areas rivers, lakes, more rural areas, developing nations. Drones are developing nations. Drones are perfect for that because they dont rely on ground infrastructure, which is very, very difficult and expensive to implement. We can access implement. So we can access islands very quickly. We can hop between the islands and we between the two islands and we can do it in a way where actually our wind tolerance is a little bit better than the ferries. So hopefully that improves Service Levels for the islanders winter months islanders during winter months as summer. As well as summer. Seen some of the weve just seen some of the pictures were pictures. So obviously were explaining visually there that its not going to fly through your letterbox. You still need your letterbox. You still need post with a van to get it there. In the end, post is still there. So were doing the hop over the water post. He will pick it up other end and deliver it up the other end and deliver it through the letterbox. Um, some companies that companies are looking to do that real door door delivery. We real door to door delivery. We want to go little bit more want to go a little bit more step by step as you can see, these are flying machines. Flying tend be flying machines tend to be better they stay away from better when they stay away from people. Sure its people. Make sure its completely yeah, go completely safe. Yeah, go slowly, interisland slowly, do that interisland delivery over time, it delivery and then over time, it will evolve. And how fly it . Is it and how do you fly it . Is it pre programmed or does it need someone at know air traffic pre programmed or does it need someor base know air traffic pre programmed or does it need someor base . |ow air Traffic Control base . Its all pre programmed. So we have what we call safety operators up there. Our pilots who have the ability to take over control. But actually all we do is put the route in beforehand, check with air Traffic Press go and Traffic Control, press go and the system flies itself. Its got all sorts of inputs, talking about wind tolerance, other safety our pilots safety features that our pilots can see, and only if they really have to do take over the have to do they take over the control the drone. Otherwise have to do they take over the co does the drone. Otherwise have to do they take over the co does itselfa drone. Otherwise have to do they take over the co does itself. Drone. Otherwise it does itself. For those of us watching in the cities like here in london, thinking, oh, you know, this this would be amazing, why . This would be amazing, why . Where else in the country could it operate in the future apart from orkney . From orkney . Well, its really weve been flying west coast of scotland for the National Health service , has amazing. Weve , which has been amazing. Weve been in northumbria been flying in northumbria and northumbria. Been flying northumbria. Weve been flying down in cornwall. The common thing about all of those is thats more rural, more coastal. When you look at the safety case, which really important case, which is really important in aviation, focus areas in aviation, we focus on areas which less densely populated which are less densely populated. Thing, but. Thats a safety thing, but its service thing its also a service thing actually in london other actually in london and other cities in uk, the Service Cities in the uk, the service and the ability get packages and the ability to get packages very, quickly already very, very quickly is already extraordinary things extraordinary in all the things onune extraordinary in all the things online and sometimes having the same our starting point same day. So our starting point is rural communities, which are less well connected, have that real need and then maybe over time it becomes a bit more suburban , or maybe maybe in the suburban, or maybe maybe in the future becomes a bit more future it becomes a bit more urban. But our focus is very much rural and were just seeing obviously those pictures, you obviously in those pictures, you know, got know, youve got quite a substantial box underneath. So its not just the letters. You deliver parcels well. You can deliver parcels as well. Then thinking christmas, then just thinking of christmas, for yeah, absolutely. We can yeah, absolutely. We can deliver parcels, anything up to six kilograms that you can fit in that box. So thats pretty good. In that box. So thats pretty good. About 85 to 90 of all good. About 85 to 90 of all packages in the uk are below two kilograms. So if you think about that, we can service a huge range of what is available even on friday we were delivering fish and chips to the to the residents of one of the islands as a bit of a introduction getting to know you which went down quite well. Were still hot when they arrived . They were hot and apparently delicious. Fantastic. Well, great to fantastic. Well, great to talk to you, duncan. Thank you talk to you, duncan. Thank you for explaining it all. Honestly its brilliant idea, isnt it . In the post, yeah, it checks in the post, by thanks much. By the way. Thanks very much. Lets return to boxpark now lets return to boxpark in croydon, where theyre supposed to be watching the football, and theyre supposed to be looking excited. Well, theres to be well, theres reason to be excited theyre clapping. Someones. Someones. Theyre m yeah, theyre six one up. Would believe so . Would you believe so . A fantastic start for the lionesses to their group game with china they started 3 0 cut to 3 1 and then theyve well been running riot this last 15 20 minutes. Chloe kelly coming off the bench to score a goal after 76 minutes. But it is probably lauren james whos i think got three so far whos leading on the scoresheet. So fantastic. Well have all the fantastic. Well have all the latest for you and latest weather for you now a brighter outlook with boxt solar. Proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hi there. Its time for the gb news forecast. With me Aidan Mcgivern from the met office. Largely cloudy for many of us today. A few light showers, but actually drier compared with yesterday. Certainly drier yesterday. And certainly drier and less windy compared with tomorrow. Weve got low pressure approaching for tomorrow. But in approaching for tomorrow. But in the meantime, one low pulls away, leaving a large amounts of cloud, leaving some light rain across southern scotland. Northern england. This turns more showery into the afternoon and weve got a scattering of showers elsewhere, especially through southern counties of england into parts of Central Scotland as well. But actually plenty of fine weather out there. A lot of cloud, but in any brighter spells , any brighter spells, temperatures managing to get into the low 20s in the south, for example. Then well, the weather turns more unsettled once again into the evening. A band of rain heavy at times moves into southwest and then across much of england, wales, Northern Ireland, as well as by the end of the night, southern scotland, the winds pick up as well. But of course, with the cloud, the rain and the wind, its not going to be a cold night. Temperatures staying in the low to mid teens in many spots. As go into spots. Then as we go into wednesday , its a and windy wednesday, its a wet and windy start to the day for many places, the strongest winds will affect english coasts , a affect English Channel coasts, a risk 60 mile per hour gusts. Risk of 60 mile per hour gusts. So out for that youre so watch out for that if youre camping, for example , and some camping, for example, and some lively and thunderstorms lively showers and thunderstorms starting to develop as well. They could also cause impacts in places. Places. A brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. On. Gb news. Like all families, we have arguments every now and then, but actually we agree on what the mission of gb news is. And thats the most fundamentally important thing. Fundamentally important thing. Gb views provides the kind of platform that lets all voices be heard. Heard. We dont hold back. Were free to say what we really think. Just because some people who live in a tiny little westminster bubble think that their particular store is important. Thats not the most important. Thats not the most important story for me. And often they will be difficult stories, story wise that find on the that you wont find on the establishment media, because what people in the north what people think in the north of may different of england may be very different to theyre thinking to what theyre thinking in the home counties. To carry on were going to carry on telling the world what life is really like for households up and the uk. And down the uk. We love to be your car in we love to be in your car in your kitchen, as youre having your kitchen, as youre having your breakfast. Whatever youre doing, show. Your breakfast. Whatever youre dcitig, show. Your breakfast. Whatever youre dcit matters show. Your breakfast. Whatever youre dcit matters to show. Your breakfast. Whatever youre dcit matters to you, show. Your breakfast. Whatever youre dcit matters to you, it show. Your breakfast. Whatever youre dcit matters to you, it mattersrv. If it matters to you, it matters to us. Britons watching, britons watching britons watching. Watching britons watching. Were proud to be gb news the peoples channel. Britains news channel good afternoon. It is 2 pm. Youre watching the live desk on gb news. Coming up this tuesday lunchtime, the Prime Minister heckled at a beer festival after announcing a record rise in alcohol duty. Today, the industry saying it could cost him 225 million. British sunak says its all to benefit consumers. Benefit consumers. A gb news exclusive. How luxury flats are being offered to Asylum Seekers in chelmsford. Its angered some local families who have urgent housing needs. Who have urgent housing needs. Fire safety fears caused further delays to the Asylum Seekers trying to be moved into the bibby stockholm barge. A government minister says theres no timeframe for the move. Were live in portland with the latest plus the latest News Headlines for you. Mark is very proud of writing that while Boris Johnsons plans Swimming Pool at his oxfordshire mansion could be sunk by the great crested newt. All about that shortly. But first, heres your headlines with. Ray your headlines with. Ray thanks both. Good afternoon. Thanks both. Good afternoon. One minute past to our top story this hour. The british beer and Pub Association is warning the governments alcohol duty changes will cost the industry an extra £225 million in tax. The Prime Minister, however, has defended the overhaul, saying it will benefit thousands of businesses. The new system sees a shift from taxing alcoholic dnnks a shift from taxing alcoholic drinks based on their type, focusing instead on their strength duty on certain drinks such as wine and vodka, will rise while tax on draught pints will be cut by around £0. 11. Gb news spoke to pub landlord david lonsdale. He says its the worst lonsdale. He says its the worst time to be hitting pubs with extra costs. Extra costs. I think its fair enough that alcohol is taxed according to strength. I dont have a problem with that, but actually overall the taxes are going up by 10. 6. So although the minister will point out that on draft beer, the taxes has remained more or less unchanged on on a glass of wine is going up by 20. So overall taxes are going up by well above the rate of inflation, 10. 6. The home office has delayed moving Asylum Seekers to the bibi bibi stockholm barge in dorset over Fire Safety Concerns. Thats despite previously saying that 50 migrants would move to their new accommodation in portland today. Further inspections are taking place to ensure that it fully complies with regulations. Once complies with regulations. Once up and running, the facility will host around 500 men. Former immigration security advisor henry bolton told us that proper evacuation plans are vital. Whats quite incredible about this is the demonstration that the home office has not done its planning and preparation correctly or thoroughly. You know, the problem here is one of the fire inspectors and the signing off the accommodation as suitably fireproof. And you know, to be fair in a sense , the know, to be fair in a sense, the probability of a fire on there, the fire control on board the bibby stockholm is adequate. What the problem is, is evacuation. Should there be a fire . Well, meanwhile, more than 3000 people crossed the channel in 63 small boats last month with an average of 52 migrants per boat. Thats the highest number on record. So far this yean number on record. So far this year. More than 14,000 migrants have made that dangerous crossing. A british man who crossing. A british man who killed his seriously ill wife has visited her grave for the First Time Since being released from prison in cyprus. David hunter was sentenced to two years for manslaughter after after claiming his wife asked him to end her life at their home in paphos in 2021. The couples daughter says she believes her father wanted to say his goodbyes properly. He say his goodbyes properly. He two teenage girls aged 16 and 17, have been killed after a road crash in County Monaghan in ireland. An 18 year old woman ireland. An 18 year old woman and the cars driver, a 60 year old man, are in hospital in critical condition. An 18 year old man is receiving treatment for non life threatening injuries. Its understood some injuries. Its understood some of those involved were on their way to a Debutante Ball, which was being held at a secondary school last night. House Prices School last night. House prices have fallen at their fastest annual rate for 14 years nationwide, saying that the average price dropped by 3. 8 over the last 12 months. The average home in the uk now costs. Around £260,000. Well banking giant hsbc has announced strong first half pre tax profits. Of first half pre tax profits. Of £169 first half pre tax profits. Of £16. 9 billion. Thats an increase for them of 10. 1 billion compared to the same penod billion compared to the same period last year. The companys revenue also rose by 9. 6 billion, with Interest Rate increases. A key driver , russia increases. A key driver, russia is accusing ukraine of an attempted terrorist attack. Quote them after a building appeared to be targeted for the second time. The high rise in moscows Business District houses three government ministries. There were no ministries. There were no casualties, but the towers glass facade was damaged. Kyiv hasnt claimed responsibility for the incident, but said russia can expect more. Unidentified drones and more war. And finally , a drone war. And finally, a Drone Delivery Service has been launched in orkney, helping locals to receive their mail. A collaboration between royal mail and skyports, the scheme will transport letters and parcels between the islands. Its between the islands. Its expected to significantly improve delivery times. While improve delivery times. While the service will initially operate for three months, it could be continued on a permanent basis. This is gb news permanent basis. This is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now its back to mark and. Mark and. Pip welcome back to the live desk. Now lets just update you on a bit of reaction. Well direct reaction to the announcement of the increase in the alcohol duty today. Rishi sunak apparently heckled this afternoon as he toured a beer festival. He was at the stall of festival. He was at the stall of the wensleydale brewery, which of course, operates from his own constituency. When an onlooker called out Prime Minister. The irony for raising alcohol duty on the day that youre pulling a pint, whereas another man shouted at the teetotal Prime Minister, of course, Prime Minister, of course, Prime Minister, its not coca cola. So clearly a little bit of reaction there to the announcement about there to the announcement about the alcohol duty increase. Yeah, because the cost of your daily tipple could well cost you a lot more from today with britains pubs and brewers claiming the increase in alcohol duty could cost their industry £225 million. Well, in detail drinks now to be taxed on their strength rather than by category. So pints of beer prosecco to cost less but then wine, whisky and gin all costing more indeed duty increasing by 10. 1 or more. So a bottle of wine . Well, thats going to be an extra £0. 53, including vat. And it could be more than a pound on a bottle of gin vodka or whisky. Our east Midlands Reporter will hollis has more on this. When youre in the business of helping brits get leathered, theres no better place to set up a brewery than an old leather factory. When you drink too much beer, you get a pot belly. So we call you get a pot belly. So we call it pot belly brewery. It pot belly brewery. Pot belly has been brewing beer here in kettering for nearly 20 years with ian as head brewer. So making barrels and bottles , hes seeing a shift in sales. Years ago , we delivered big years ago, we delivered big barrels, 144 pints, but theres too much now. Nobody will touch one of these. A lot of pubs that ideal one of these. A lot of pubs that i deal with want the little ones with 36 pints because its cheaper and it lasts twice as long from grain to glass. Long from grain to glass. A single brew takes a week. A single brew takes a week. This one just in time to be taxed under the new system. From taxed under the new system. From today, duty will be measured on booze of all kinds, using alcohol by volume. A simplified tax on strength. Meanwhile a new draught relief dubbed the brexit pubs guarantee lowers the price of a pint by up to £0. 11, compared to supermarkets, to according the treasury. But the new system puts pot belly in a pickle. The beer here in the pint glass is exactly the same as the one in the bottle. Its just that the duty is calculated differently now under the new rules , the bottle costs about an rules, the bottle costs about an extra £0. 30 in duty and the government is making them more expensive because ultimately they want drinkers to choose to dnnk they want drinkers to choose to drink weaker beers in the pub rather than stronger ones at home. Greg says the system will squeeze businesses like his. The price is on a barrel of beer should remain fairly constant. The one anomaly is when you then dispense beers in less than 20l, so. So anything less than 20l, so. So anything thatis less than 20l, so. So anything that is in a small ten litre box or in a bottle of beer, the price is then doubled in the duty side of it. Emma is chief exec at the british beer and Pub Association. She says the industry will have to pay an extra £225 million in tax because of the reform comes at a time of high production costs. Beer duty. Unfortunately is still one of the highest in the whole of europe. Here in the uk , and we hope that some of these changes will incentivise people to be brewing lower strength beers to help consumers moderate their consumption. But their consumption. But unfortunately we probably wont see a much difference in prices at this moment time in terms at this moment in time in terms of lowering them at pub, the of lowering them at the pub, the cost of beers and at home cost of beers and cans at home are going to be increased. Some 10. 1 because of the changes that are being introduced today. Back at the brewery, sam, the teams youngest, is on clean up and my favourite job of the day digging out the hops out the coppen its a its a bit warm in there and dirty, but. Its one of them. Jobs have got to be done, im afraid. My washing done, im afraid. My washing away the old duty is gone and its replacement needs to pump up the industry rather than drain it dry. Will hollis gb news in kettering. Kettering. Well, lets just bring you some breaking news from adelaide. And the lionesses are through to the next stage of the world cup. They have beaten china six one, so theyre through to the last 16. Nigeria is next. Well update you, of course, as we get more. Im hoping they all went wild at box park in croydon. But judging by what weve seen earlier, while theyve gone, apparently havent even apparently we havent even got the so there are so excited so there we are so excited theyve left. Right. Lets lets go back to the alcohol tax story we have been talking about. And joining been talking about. And joining us is our West Midlands us now is our west Midlands Reporter jack carson, who is in birmingham our scotland birmingham while our scotland reporter tony is at the reporter tony maguire is at the glengoyne distillery in dumgoyne. Lets start with you, jack, who is in brummie land now , who is in brummie land now, rishi sunak hes hailed this today as using our brexit rishi sunak hes hailed this freedoms. Protect the price of your pint and backing british business. Thats not quite the full story though, is it . Especially the more and more we talk to people about this. No exactly. I mean, ive been getting reaction today in birmingham. Its a very mixed feeling around the these new reforms to the alcohol duty is very much the biggest shake up in this as he as rishi sunak called it, 140 years as to how, of course , the years as to how, of course, the duty is applied to two different alcohols. Its moving now to a more simplified system of applying it to the volume of alcohol within it, within a drink. But the treasury saying today that over 38,000 pubs are going to benefit from this lower alcohol tax. Theyre calling it the brexit pubs guaranteed that they say compared to the price of a pint of what would be a pint in the supermarket, youre paying pint in the supermarket, youre paying pub off for paying in a pub off for a draught pint or around £0. 11 left. They say to protect pubs and Jeremy Jeremy hunt, the chancellor today, saying that he recognises how important pubs are to communities. But of course, as you mentioned, this is not the full story. The fact is not the full story. The fact is for pubs, yes, draught beer may not well be changing. On, on, on the issue of how much duty is on it. But of course so much of the Beer Industry is also with bottles and thats what the pub and beer and Pub Association have been saying today that actually for breweries theyre to going pay around 10. 1 more on tax and if you have a 500ml bottle of beer around 30 of bottle is around 30 of that bottle is going to just be taxed. They say that despite that freeze, of course , on draught beer with the course, on draught beer with the tax increase added on packaged been tax increase added on packaged beer, its going to cost the industry around £225 million more per year. Thats not necessarily the best news for, of course, for a lot of pubs, particularly here on on broad street, which is one of the main bar strips in birmingham, where of course, buying buying those bottles in, of course, recovering still after the pandemic cost is pandemic is going to cost is going to come at a big cost as well. But i have been here in birmingham the birmingham today getting the reaction people on alcohol reaction of people on alcohol duty. And heres what theyve reaction of people on alcohol duty me. I heres what theyve told me. So what ive heard is, is that youll pay less in pubs, but more in the supermarket. And but more in the supermarket. And so think thats a good thing so i think thats a good thing for but its not so good for pubs, but its not so good if want just drink at if people want to just drink at home dont like going out home and dont like going out and being social. I think that its really difficult because theres lot pressure on the theres a lot of pressure on the nhs. If some of that money nhs. So if some of that money for the alcohol duty goes into health care, then thats obviously a good thing. On i think its ridiculous. I think everythings going up and sometimes you just want to enjoy yourself and not everybody likes beer. Id much rather have wine and if its to going be more expensive, then its more unaffordable double. But then at the same time, it does have some Health Benefits not to drink as much, but i still think everythings going up and its just as a young person, its becoming so unaffordable to do normal , becoming so unaffordable to do normal, normal things. And its just Something Else thats been taken away from us. Its fiddling around the edges , to be honest with you. I edges, to be honest with you. I mean , gin seems to be the big mean, gin seems to be the big one. Everybody wants gin these days. Go now, im a days. Everywhere i go now, im a non drinker. Dont drink any non drinker. I dont drink any alcohol at all, but im out on business all the time with people and people that people drinking and people that dnnk people drinking and people that drink are still to drink beer are still going to dnnk drink beer are still going to drink and people that drink drink beer and people that drink gin still going drink gin are still going to drink gin. Around the gin. Its fiddling around the edges. Another edges. Its just another nonsense. Paperwork for the nonsense. More paperwork for the tax office. And does it really take care of the Health Issues . Take care of the Health Issues . Im not sure because i think our alcohol is more damaging than cocaine personally, what i cocaine. Personally, from what i see in the music business, which i work in, you know, the government have got to raise tax somehow. Theyve about somehow. Theyve just about drained of the drained every penny out of the motorists possible. Motorists. Thats possible. I dont probably dont think theres probably a higher tax will be next. I would have yeah, its have thought. But yeah, its just around the edges just fiddling around the edges but makes for an interesting news story. As you heard from the feeling theyre very much a feeling of some people saying quite some people saying its quite a necessary actually raising the price else is price when Everything Else is still at the still quite costly at the moment, but just breaking for down few of those down you, a few of those individual prices for a 70 centilitre bottle of vodka with this new duty, going to this new duty, youre going to be around £0. 76 more in be paying around £0. 76 more in tax. For a bottle of red tax. And for a bottle of red wine around £0. 44 in tax. There is some good for news sparkling wine. We know, of course, england is quickly becoming a big producer of sparkling wine because of these revised duty rates. A bottle of sparkling rates. A bottle of sparkling wine of 12 alcohol. Its going to be around £0. 19 less per tax. So some a little bit of good news there for some wineries around the country. But overall, around the country. But overall, a mixed feeling on the introduction of this new duty. Introduction of this new duty. Jack in the midlands, thank you for that. Lets head north of border to scotland. Of the border now to scotland. Tony mcguire glengoyne tony mcguire at the glengoyne distillery dumgoyne, distillery there at dumgoyne, near loch lomond. The near loch lomond. And the heaviest burden being felt by them, tony, i mean , this them, tony, i mean, this extraordinary figure from the scotch association, three Scotch Whisky association, three quarters of a bottle now of scotch is duty or tax. Scotch is duty or tax. Yes , thats correct, mark. Yes, thats correct, mark. You know , in the last hour you know, in the last hour i actually took a little Wander Around to talk to some of the staff. And, you know, when i told them the story i was doing, you know, theyre the shoulders just dropped every single time. Just dropped every single time. And glengoyne behind and certainly glengoyne behind me scotlands smaller me is one of scotlands smaller distilleries , as you know, and distilleries, as you know, and they are gearing up for the imminent launch their 10th imminent launch of their 10th batch cask strength whisky, batch of cask strength whisky, which will be about £85 or but at what if i told you thats £63 of that would actually end up in the coffers at the treasury , the coffers at the treasury, which leaves 22 coming back to the distillery. Now, you know, the distillery. Now, you know, not saying that thats all the maths thats involved in this equation, but certainly all of these distilleries around scotland, big and small, will really feel this today. Glengoyne here has a capacity of about 1. 1 million litres and just think, i just rhymed off what 70cl was, you know, so theyll be planning them the next stage and some of the construction work you can see behind me is about getting the new roof done. And now that is really feeds into quite an important thing. You know, important thing. You know, whisky tours and you know, from tourists and actually just from people ive people around scotland. Ive been fair few myself and been in a fair few myself and theyre a big part of the industry. Its Something Like 99 of Scotch Whisky in scotland is exported. But actually around 60 of that. It goes towards our gdp. So that only accounts for gdp. So that only accounts for 60 of our whisky gdp. The rest 60 of our whisky gdp. The rest comes from the tourism aspect and certainly while that will still be popular with many tourists , you know, locals might tourists, you know, locals might might decide that it might just be cheaper to pick up a bottle. So distillery is not happy. Who tell you who else is not happy . The snp. Although given the last the snp. Although given the last few months and those two things might not be mutually exclusive and certainly theyre looking at really hitting out and lashing out strong at rishi sunak for this move and the scotlands whisky pricing rural and island communities have been the goose laying the governments golden 999 laying the governments golden egg these past few years , said egg these past few years, said brendan ohara. He is the mp for the speyside region for argyll and bute, and he also said that the government are squeezing the life out of the Scotch Whisky industry. So certainly theres some really strong words being exchanged over this, as well as a lot of number crunching going on in the background. On in the background. Indeed, tony, thank you for that in scotland and jack in the midlands, as well. We midlands, as well. As we indicated rishi sunak being indicated with rishi sunak being heckled he went to a beer heckled as he went to a beer festival, a little earlier. Earlier alia , too much time. I earlier alia, too much time. I havent even had one yet. Do stay with us here on gb news well be talking about former snp mp Margaret Ferrier. Would you remember her . She fancies losing faces, losing her seat today after being suspended for breaking covid rules will be filling you in on that in just a moment. Moment. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hi there. Its time for the gb news forecast. With me Aidan Mcgivern from the met office. Largely cloudy for many of us today. A few light showers, but actually drier compared with yesterday. Drier yesterday. And certainly drier and less windy compared with tomorrow. Weve got low pressure approaching for tomorrow. But in approaching for tomorrow. But in the meantime, one low pulls away, leaving a large amounts of cloud, leaving some light rain across southern scotland. Northern england. This turns more showery into the afternoon and weve got a scattering of showers elsewhere, especially through southern counties of england into parts of Central Scotland as well. But actually plenty of fine weather out there. A lot of cloud, but in any brighter spells, temperatures managing to get into the low 20s in the south, for example. Then well, the weather turns more unsettled once again into the evening. A band of rain heavy at times moves into south western and then across much of england, wales and Northern Ireland as well as by the end of the night, southern scotland and the winds pick up as well. Southern scotland and the winds pick up as well. But of southern scotland and the winds pick up as well. But of course pick up as well. But of course with the cloud, the rain and the wind, its not going to be a cold night. Temperatures staying in the low to mid teens in many spots. As we go into spots. Then as we go into wednesday , a and windy wednesday, its a wet and windy start to the day for many places, the strongest winds will affect english coasts , a affect English Channel coasts, a risk 60 mile per hour gusts. Risk of 60 mile per hour gusts. So watch out for if youre so watch out for that if youre camping, for example , and some camping, for example, and some lively and thunderstorms lively showers and thunderstorms starting to develop as well. They also cause impacts in they could also cause impacts in places that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. Proud sponsors of weather on gb news. Welcome back to the live desk. Now the snps former mp Margaret Ferrier due to find out whether shell lose her seat after being suspended for breaching covid regulations. You remember she had travelled on a train while having coronavirus back in 2020. A recall petition in rutherglen and Hamilton West was called after ms ferrier was found to have damaged the reputation of the commons. A by election will be held if more than 10 of voters have signed the petition on. Well, joining us now to discuss this is the Political Editor at the Scottish Daily mail, michael blackley. Good afternoon to you, michael. Good afternoon to you, michael. Correct me if im wrong, but i think the recall petition, which could lead to this by election, has now closed. And it has has now closed. And it has closed. Closed. Theyre going to start counting the results at about 330 today. We should have results by early in the evening. Polls closed. There was postal votes for this as well as people able to show up in person to vote. So its been a process thats going on a long time. Indeedit thats going on a long time. Indeed it seems like a long, long time ago that Margaret Ferrier broke those rules and theres been a lot of coverage of what she did ever since then. So its going to be fascinating to see what what happens. It seems almost inevitable that its likely that the 10 of stituents will have voted for her removal and it will now be a question of who comes in her place and what this this by election will be, should it happen as a real test for sir keir starmer and also for humza use of the snp leader and certainly the political starting gun already seems to have been fired. When we saw rishi sunak and his team arriving there and well, scoping out the territory , i guess its, i mean this is theres no doubt that this is going to be a two way fight between labour and the snp. Labour had. The snp had a labour had. The snp had a majority of about 5000 last time round and this is a constituency thats swung between labour and the snp. So it is certainly the case that it will be a head to head battle between labour and the snp in this constituency if the snp in this constituency if the by election happens and if labour dont win this seat, it raises Big Questions about whether are really likely to win a general election because this is exactly the type of seat that they need to win back. They need to do well in scotland and if theyre to do well in scotland, former labour heartlands in in and around the glasgow area are absolutely crucial to them. So this is this is going to be a fascinating battle. Fascinating battle. Okay. Political editor at the Scottish Daily mail, michael blackley. Thanks for talking to blackley. Thanks for talking to us on gb news us. Were joined by Political Editor. Were not joined by the Political Editor. Weve just been speaking to him. Were now joined by Political Correspondent forster correspondent catherine forster. We can talk about this, but we could also talk about some new news involving Boris Johnson, which is actually quite fascinating. It is. It is back fascinating. It is. It is back in 2020. Boris johnson was saying how hard it was to get houses built, how difficult planning permission was. He was talking about, planning permission was. He was talking about , quote, newt talking about, quote, newt counting red tape. Now it appears that to get the Swimming Pool that he wants in his new pad in oxfordshire , his newt pad in oxfordshire, his newt pad, his new thank you. See what you did there. Great crested you did there. Great crested newts are to going be have to be not only counted , but captured not only counted, but captured and rehomed because where he wants to put the Swimming Pool unfortunately for Boris Johnson is a sort of hotspot of these creatures that are protected by law. So the planning approval is on hold. They are to going have to work out if these newts are there and then if they are there, they will have to make like compensation ponds for them because obviously theyre not going to hes not going to want them in their swimming Swimming Pool and this is this is there is a newt person in question thats not the great crested newt. Thats not the actual size. Perhaps we should make you know, plain theyre a slightly smaller however, i gather edward church, who is the south and vale countryside officer , has been countryside officer, has been sort of investigating at some length and found that there probably some 250m from the proposed pool, which is why this is such a danger. So the thought is such a danger. So the thought is if they obviously go into a chlorinated pool, its not going to be very good for them. Yes, the propose development falls within the red zone of highest risk to great crested newts. And not only that , but newts. And not only that, but bons newts. And not only that, but Boris Johnsons Swimming Pool, if and when he gets it, is going to be 11 by four metres. But rishi sunak , who, as we all rishi sunak, who, as we all know, has got a large Swimming Pool up in richmond in North Yorkshire and his Swimming Pool is 12 by five metres. I just thought Boris Johnson and not to be seen, not a newt to be seen and indoors and heated. And indoors and heated. However i and indoors and heated. Howeveri mean and indoors and heated. However i mean just to address this seriously because as you say, the threat to the species , i mean this could species, i mean this could actually technically be blocked , even though obviously Boris Johnson has said or this is sort of red tape previously and bureaucracy, whatever , this is bureaucracy, whatever, this is actually a serious issue for this this countryside officer. It is. And also, theres many times things like bats or other things or protected species and species that people wanting to get permission to build this or that do come up against this. And of course, it is right that these these creatures are protected. But it does sound like a bit of a nightmare, although theres apparently bons although theres apparently Boris Johnson has a couple of options. Boris johnson has a couple of opfions. Soit Boris Johnson has a couple of options. So it sounds like hell get his pool eventually , but it get his pool eventually, but it could be very much delayed and it could be extremely costly. Well have to get his shovel out to build a compensation pool for the newts. Hes lucky hes got that column in the daily mail. Why doesnt big doesnt he just get a big paddung doesnt he just get a big paddling pool . Nothing wrong with there . With that, is there . Right. Yes. Right. Yes. Right. Yes. Doesnt matter. Well see if its 11 by four metres anyway. Okay. Coming up, weve got an okay. Coming up, weve got an exclusive for you on how Asylum Seekers are being housed or will be housed in luxury flats in chelmsford. Thats coming up with mark white. First, heres ray latest headlines. Ray with the latest headlines. Thanks , mark. 2 31. Heres thanks, mark. 2 31. Heres the latest. Rishi sunak has been heckled by a publican after announcing an overhaul of alcohol duty. The Prime Minister was touring a london beer festival after claiming the changes would benefit thousands of businesses. However, the british beer and Pub Association warns it will cost the industry an extra £225 million in tax. The new system focuses on taxing alcoholic drinks on their strength with duty, on wine and vodka set to rise , the home vodka set to rise, the home office has delayed moving Asylum Seekers to the bibby stockholm barge in dorset over Fire Safety Concerns. Thats despite previously saying that 50 migrants would move to their new accommodation in portland today. Further inspections are now taking place to ensure it fully complies with regulations to house around 500 men. Well meanwhile, more than 3000 people crossed the channel in 63 small boats last month with an average of 52 migrants per boat. Thats the highest number on record. So far this year. More than 14,000 migrants have made that dangerous crossing. House prices dangerous crossing. House prices have fallen at their fastest annual rate for 14 years. Nationwide saying that the average price dropped by 3. 8 over the last 12 months. The average average uk home now costing around £260,000, is and in adelaide the lionesses have beaten china six one in their final group game to progress to the last 16 of the womens world cup. Theyve made history as the first side to score in 16 consecutive matches , as lauren consecutive matches, as lauren james had a hand in five of the six goals, scoring two and assisting three. So lena wiegmans side will now face nigeria in brisbane on monday. You can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website , gbnews. Com. Well, welcome back to the live desk. Now, what were supposed to be final preparations taking place to try to house those migrants on the bibby stockholm barge at portland in dorset today . But reports that the vessel is still not receiving its safety certification from local certification from the local fire service. The home office had been expecting send an initial expecting to send an initial group of 50 Asylum Seekers there today , but the times and today, but the times and Guardian Newspapers have reported serious safety concerns have been raised about the barge, with one source suggesting the vessel could become a floating grenfell. Now. Become a floating grenfell. Now. Well, lets get more on this with our South West England reporter jeff moody, who joins us live from portland. There was a report thoughts, jeff, that there werent even life jackets on board this barge. On board this barge. Well, thats right. No life jackets, very limited smoke detectors. The corridors are said to be far too. No throw the whole barge is designed for one person, one berth. And were talking now about two people per berth , sometimes three, berth, sometimes three, sometimes even more rumours of up to six people per room. So up to six people per room. So its creating all sorts of problems. We dont think that these are long term problems. We these are long term problems. We think that by the end of this week they would have resolved those problems and the barge will be fit for purpose and theyll be the home office will be able to start moving people in. Theyre saying theyre going to move in around at the to move in around 26 at the beginning, that will then go up to few days afterwards or to 50 a few days afterwards or maybe a few weeks afterwards. And then gradually, incrementally , that will incrementally, that will increase and increase and increase and increase and increase until you have 500. As to the welcome they receive here. Well, as weve been reporting in the past few weeks and months, there have been there are two very active and very vocal campaigns down here. The stand up to Racism Campaign that say they really shouldnt be here at all because its they call it a prison barge. And they say that its not not fit for purpose. And the no to the barge campaign that say that portland isnt fit for purpose. It isnt fit for that particular purpose. Alex bailey is with me again. Hes the Campaign Leader from no to the barge. Alex, youve been to the barge. Alex, youve been working incredibly hard on this for a very long time. I mean, you you very often phone me in the middle of the night to comment on something or other. Ive always been very grateful for it, mostly. How difficult for it, mostly. How difficult has it been for you managing this whole project, do you think . So . Just two parts of that, really . Yes, it has been exhausting, but its also been a wonderful experience. I have met some delightful people on this isle of portland, weymouth and dorset, really telling me their stories and reclaiming their voice. But everybodys story is different, though, isnt it . Different, though, isnt it . Everybody has a different perspective. Some people, some perspective. Some people, some people say, look, give them a fair chance. We dont know who they are. Innocent until proven guilty. Others say, oh, no, no, no. Weve examples from no. Weve seen examples from other places. We really think other places. We really think that everything is going to that that everything is going to kick off here. Youve got so many different views , points many different views, points coming in. How do you manage that . It so coming in. How do you manage that . It so this coming in. How do you manage that . It so this is coming in. How do you manage that . It so this is about balance , jeff, and keeping the balance, jeff, and keeping the area peaceful. We have been trying to guide the community in this way as we also part community. Also part of this community. A community, unfortunately, that wasnt consulted and therefore never gave their consent. But we will try our best. This is one of the big issues that you guys have been talking about for a long time, isnt it . The fact that this has been three forced upon you, thrust upon Community Without any upon your Community Without any consultation whatsoever for has anybody at any point from Dorset Council , from Portland Port , council, from Portland Port, from the home office, has anybody tried to explain to you the situation , try to explain to the situation, try to explain to you where these guys have come from, tried to explain what theyre trying to achieve here, trying to allay the fears that are really now beginning to bubble up in this community. To answer that simply no , to answer that simply no, jeff, the true villains of this piece are the home office who clearly do not have the person power. The resources to deal with the problem of their own making. And then we have making. And then we have Portland Port, which is owned by langham industries. Portland port, which is owned by langham industries. Again, langham industries. Again, theyre not answering the questions. And really have made a faustian deal, a questions. And really have made a faustian deal , a secretive a faustian deal, a secretive deal with the home office. Where deal with the home office. Where if they had consulted you, if they had set you all down here and said, this is what we intend to do, these people have been fleeing war zones. Fleeing war zones. These people are desperate to stay here. Therefore, theres no incentive for them to go out there and commit crimes. They want to be well behaved because they want to stay here. Weve weve talked to them considerably about how we integrate them in the community. We need a national effort. This is all things that Portland Port are telling me in various statements that theyre trying to do. If they had made all that clear to you, do you think from the beginning to your group, from the beginning, do you think wed are now . Wed be where we are now . I strongly believe in british values. Values. One of those democracy , and one of those democracy, the second one, the rule of law. And now, unfortunately, the Portland Port chose not with their deal with the their faustian deal with the home office to abide those home office to abide by those two. And a group, were two. And as a group, were looking to reclaim the voice , looking to reclaim the voice, reclaim the voice of the voice excuse me, of portland. What is the voice of portland 7 what is the voice of portland . What do you think the main message that the portland people are trying to get out there is there are many different messages, many different stories, and we as a group want to really reclaim their voice and understand and what theyre trying to say because it has been stolen. Unfortunately , by this unfortunately, by this faustian deal between home office and portland board. Office and portland board. Okay, alex, for now, thank you very much indeed. No doubt well be speaking again well be speaking to you again in the days. And weeks. In the next few days. And weeks. We still dont know exactly when theyre going to be arriving here, but we do think that it is imminent and that it should be by the end of the week. So whatever problems on whatever those problems are on board to the fire board when it comes to the fire safety, feel we have been safety, we do feel we have been told the home office that told by the home office that they are being sorted out very quickly. Theres certainly been they are being sorted out very q|lot ly. Theres certainly been they are being sorted out very q|lot of theres certainly been they are being sorted out very q|lot of activity certainly been they are being sorted out very q|lot of activity down nly been they are being sorted out very q|lot of activity down there sen they are being sorted out very q|lot of activity down there on a lot of activity down there on the barge today. Weve seen builders seen builders go in. Weve seen welders so certainly welders go in. So certainly plenty done to make plenty is being done to make the barge ready it can be for barge as ready as it can be for its new arrivals. Jeff moody speaking to us live from portland. Thank you. The minister has been live from portland. Thank you. The asminister has been live from portland. Thank you. The as heiister has been live from portland. Thank you. The as he touredas been live from portland. Thank you. The as he toured a been live from portland. Thank you. The as he toured a london heckled as he toured a london beer festival to highlight a government shake up of alcohol duty. Duty. Well, hes pouring a pint of stout a brewery from his stout from a brewery from his own constituency. When he was mocked by a publican and also a allegations, of course, that hed been pouring coca cola. He hed been pouring coca cola. He is teetotal. This is what he had to say, though, on the alcohol tax hike in nearly 50 years. Speaking to reporters earlier. Speaking to reporters earlier. Well, today marks the biggest shake up of alcohol taxes in a century. I announced them as chancellor and today theyre being delivered the centrepiece of those reforms is backing british pubs. Now that weve left the eu, we can ensure that the tax you pay for beer on draught at pubs is lower, less than the tax you pay for beer at the supermarkets. But were also radically simplifying the system so that the lower the alcohol in a drink, the less tax you pay and that means price cuts on a range of popular whether of popular drinks, whether thats fruit cocktails thats fruit ciders, cocktails in a can baileys or sparkling wine like prosecco. Were also growing the economy by cutting taxes for small producers so they can expand and employ more people. Taken together, taken advantage of our brexit freedoms to back british pubs aside from the simplification, though, youll acknowledge we are also seeing a 10. 1 rise in alcohol duty across the board. Duty across the board. The wine and Spirits Trade Association says its the biggest single rise in alcohol duty for almost half a century. How is that consistent with lowering inflation, Prime Minister . Well, if you look at it over the last few years, weve typically either frozen or cut spirits and other duties and scotch duty, for example. At the moment is the lowest its been in real terms for Something Like 100 years. And were moving to a system which is just inherently more sensible that the strength of that the lower the strength of alcohol a drink, the less tax alcohol in a drink, the less tax that you pay. I most people will i think most people will agree that common agree with that as a common sense principle. Thats what our reforms do. Thats what our reforms do. And i said, therell be and as i said, therell be a range of popular drinks that see reductions, whether thats cocktails fruits, cocktails in a can, fruits, ideas are growing in ideas which are growing in popularity baileys, popularity drinks like baileys, but also sparkling wine like prosecco. So look, i think theres something for everyone in there. But crucially, this is about backing pubs for the backing british pubs for the first ever time. The you for beer on the tax you pay for beer on draught pubs will be lower draught in pubs will be lower than the tax in the supermarket because british because we want to back british pubs and were taking advantage of advantage of our brexit of our advantage of our brexit freedoms to that. Of our advantage of our brexit freeyours to that. Of our advantage of our brexit freeyours tc announce yesterday you did announce yesterday that and gas that 100 new oil and gas drilling in north drilling licences in the north sea. E e of your conservative a lot of your conservative colleagues are upset with that. Former minister Chris Skidmore on the skidmore says as youre on the wrong history, are wrong side of history, are you or is he former minister who or is he the former minister who actually signed the net zero pledge . Well he also wrote a report praising the government for its leadership on climate change. And im grateful to him for that. But yesterday was about strengthening our Energy Security. You know, the independent assessments say that even when we meet net zero in 2050, around a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and will still come from oil and gas. So the question is, where should we get that from . Its eminently more i think its eminently more sensible from here sensible to get that from here at why . Its better at home. Why . Its better for our energy because so our Energy Security because so were not reliant on foreign dictators or better the dictators or better for the economy it supports economy because it supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. Better for public its better for Public Services the because Services Like the nhs because those revenues help pay those tax revenues will help pay for its actually better for it. And its actually better for it. And its actually better for carbon because if for Carbon Emissions because if we ship that energy we have to ship that energy here from around world, from halfway around the world, it would have 3 or 4 the it would have 3 or 4 times the carbon by the time it Carbon Emissions by the time it got so which way you got here. So any which way you look what were is look at it, what were doing is the thing for the country. The right thing for the country. Its a pragmatic thing and thats why we will continue to deliver it. Bp have announced bp have Just Announced quarterly profits £2 billion. Quarterly profits of £2 billion. How comfortable are . Are how comfortable you are . Are you profits , given you about those profits, given that watered down their that theyve watered down their climate pledges . You committed to a and are you committed to a windfall on north sea windfall tax on north sea production until 2028 . Know people will hear about i know people will hear about these profits from Energy Companies but companies and be frustrated, but i to know that i want people to know that thats exactly why, as chancellor here, i announced a windfall tax on these wartime profits Energy Companies. Profits of Energy Companies. That tax is 75. So its high by any international standards. By any international standards. Its already raised almost £6 billion since i announced it as chancellor. And were using that money to help pay for Peoples Energy bills. So around a half of a typical familys energy bill over the past few months has been paid for by the government that support is worth £1,500. Enormously helpful £1,500. Its enormously helpful to families. I know bills are high, but we have stepped in taxing the windfall profits of Energy Companies using that money to help lower those bills. I think thats the right approach i think most people approach and i think most people will agree us. Will agree with us. Prime minister, and finally, Prime Minister, are about fears of are you concerned about fears of fire safety on the bibby stockholm youre here that the Fire Brigades Union has called the governments approach to fire safety on these migrant barges , boats reckless . Barges, boats reckless . All migrant accommodation has to go through a series of checks and inspections to make sure it complies with regulations. Complies with regulations. Thats whats happening in this case. A step case. But lets take a step back. Is ultimately about back. This is ultimately about fairness. Dont think fairness. Yes, i dont think its fair that british taxpayers are out £6 million a day are forking out £6 million a day to house Illegal Migrants in hotels. I want to put an to house Illegal Migrants in hotels. I want to put an end to that. And thats why were passing new laws. That. And thats why were passing new laws. Ill that. And thats why were passing new laws. Ill stop the passing new laws. Ill stop the boats, bill. Its one of my five priorities because i believe that you here illegally that if you come here illegally , shouldnt able to stay. , you shouldnt be able to stay. We be detain you we should be able to detain you and send you back to your and then send you back to your own country if its safe or a safe alternative like rwanda. I think that is the right thing to do. Fair and do. Its the fair and compassionate to do. And compassionate thing to do. And thats im that thats why im pleased that weve put these new laws in place. I might add, were place. Laws, i might add, were vociferously the vociferously opposed by the labour voted against labour party who voted against them. 70 times. Thats them. I think, 70 times. Thats it for the Prime Minister there at that beer festival at olympia. Just to update you, he was heckled by a publican whos been named as kaiser as mr sunak named as rudy kaiser as mr sunak pulled a pint of stout at the stall of a wensleydale brewery from his own constituency. Mr kaiser saying, oh, the irony that youre raising alcohol duty on the that youre pulling a on the day that youre pulling a pint and another person also heckling him on the fact that hes a teetotaller. But i think hes a teetotaller. But i think the Prime Minister taking it all in his stride and he referenced there in that interview his plans, his ongoing plans to stop the boats. One of his key pledges. But its not actually going how he wants because figures show the average number of migrants crossing the channel per boat. Last month was the highest on record some 3299 people made the journey in july in 63 boats. Now thats an average of around 52 people per vessel. People per vessel. Lets speak to our home and security editor mark white, joining us in the studio. Mark, of course, youve been monitoring this from dover and the other side of the channel there in france. I mean, people raise eyebrows the raise their eyebrows at the number, average per number, the average number per boat, actually boat, 52. And youve actually seen these inflatables get seen these rigid inflatables get bigger and bigger. Yeah, theyre getting more sturdy, which means they can pack more people on board. So 52 is the average, but actually, there were a couple of incidents at the French Maritime authorities reported last month where they they stopped boats that had 74 people on board. And so we know that that is the way that its going. Weve got some images actually from social media that we can show you. This is one of these sturdier boats. They look outwardly the same. But if you look down the middle , the centre line of that boat , the centre line of that boat, it almost peaks as it goes down the centre of the boat like a reinforcing section. It is because they just had plywood bottoms on before and they were ripping apart. There was two very tragic incidents over the last year or so. Now theyre a bit sturdier so. Now theyre a bit sturdier and so theyve started sitting people in the middle area of these boats as well, and they will pack out the people. Traffickers are in this to make maximum profit. So traffickers are in this to make maximum profit. So providing they deem it safe enough, they will pack out these boats to potentially 80 odd because we know that these boats have taken in the past as many as 80. And the fact that 74 were were found on boats twice last month just gives you the direction of travel. And they could be young children, babies as well. I children, babies as well. I mean, theres none looking at those pictures there. No, these are all young men. The vast majority, about 80, 85 of those crossing the channel are young men. But every now and are young men. But every now and again, you get a boat where there will be women and children on board as well. Now, as well as the sort of interception, direct physical interception, direct physical interception of the craft, the governments talked about the pull factor as to why so many are trying to land on our shores. And youve had this exclusive report for us today on these, well, plush apartments perhaps, is a phrase one can use. Chelmsford and essex, where theyre going to be housed. Theyre going to be housed. Yeah, i mean, there is an imperative from the governments point of view of moving away from, the overreliance on from, um, the overreliance on hotels. Currently, 51,000 people hotels. Currently, 51,000 people are being housed in hotels, hundreds of hotels right around the country at a cost of £6 million a day. So the government wants to move away from that. Thats why theyve got the bibby stockholm barge in port and theyre moving into old abandoned airfields and wethersfield and essex and scampton up in lincolnshire. But theyre also looking to sort of larger scale accommodation in, in the rented sector and theyve moved into an apartment block in chelmsford. But this is no ordinary apartment block. Its a luxury apartment block thats a multi Million Pound development where the flats are going. Some of them like this for almost half £1 million. Yeah and the significance being there are families in this area who are in substandard accommodation , accommodation, accommodation, accommodation, mould and so on, and you can see theyre just some of the substandard accommodation. We spoke to one woman, Tasha Burgess, who was put in this Property Five years ago and her and her family were in the property with all the mould and damp for four years before eventually being moved out to temporary accommodation. The temporary accommodation. The back in there now its been repaired, but not before they contract noted some chronic lung conditions. Conditions. And so its just luck whether you could be put in a luxury flat or in a tent. Well, lots of people are just in substandard accommodation while they see Asylum Seekers that are going into these very posh, posh aizawa. Thank you for updating us on that story. Thats it. Well have more on the Prime Minister. Speaking that beer speaking of course, at that beer festival half or festival. Glass half full or half empty. Well be assessing that. Patrick is with you next. Stay with us. Your company, the temperatures rising, boxt solar. Proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hi there. Its time for the hi there. Its time for the gb news forecast. With me aidan gb news forecast. With me Aidan Mcgivern from the met office largely cloudy for many of us today. Largely cloudy for many of us today. A few light showers, but today. A few light showers, but actually drier compared with yesterday. And certainly drier and less windy compared with tomorrow. Weve got low pressure approaching for tomorrow. But in approaching for tomorrow. But in the meantime, one low pulls away, leaving a large amounts of cloud, leaving some light rain across southern scotland. Northern england. This turns more showery into the afternoon and weve got a scattering of showers elsewhere, especially through southern counties of england into parts of Central Scotland as well. But actually plenty of fine weather out there. A lot of cloud, but in any brighter spells, temperatures managing to get into the low 20s in the south, for example. Then well, the weather turns more unsettled once again into the evening. A band of rain heavy at times moves into south western and then across much of england, wales, Northern Ireland, as well as by the end of the night, southern scotland the winds pick up as well. But of course, with the cloud, the rain and the wind, its not going to be a cold night. Temperatures staying in the low mid teens in many in the low to mid teens in many spots. Then as we go into wednesday, its a wet and windy start to the day for many places, the strongest winds will affect English Channel coasts, a risk of 60 mile per hour gusts. So watch out for that if youre camping, for example, and some lively showers and thunderstorms starting develop as well. Starting to develop as well. They could also cause impacts in places. Places. The temperatures rising , boxt the temperatures rising, boxt solar, proud sponsors of weather gb news a 3 pm. Its patrick christys. Its gb news and this is a very, very strong hour. Weve got a rishi sunak exclusive. Thats right. He sat down with liam halligan. Hes spoken about a whole load of stuff. Net zero, the illegal migrant crisis. Et cetera. And as well, hes waded in even more on Nigel Farages banking saga. So keep your eyes peeled for that one. Talking about the illegal stuff. Yes, posh , brand new taxpayer yes, posh, brand new taxpayer funded flats for Illegal Migrants. Funded flats for Illegal Migrants. But funded flats for Illegal Migrants. But single funded flats for Illegal Migrants. But single mums funded flats for Illegal Migrants. But single mums in funded flats for Illegal Migrants. But single mums in the chelmsford area are being forced to live in conditions that you wouldnt put a dog in it makes me sick. Were going to be getting stuck that. Getting stuck right into that. Im also to be talking im also going to be talking about well. Im also going to be talking abo now well. Im also going to be talking abo now , well. Im also going to be talking abo now , earlier. L. Im also going to be talking abo now , earlier on, a new now, earlier on, a new restaurant opened and it posted a picture of its chefs. Can you want to see whats wrong with this picture . No. Me neither. But apparently, they all apparently, well, they are all white thats a problem. White men and thats a problem. I out about and spoke i went out and about and spoke to people earlier see to some people earlier to see whether cared. Whether or not they cared. The may shock you. The results may shock you. And other news, were also to and in other news, were also to going be talking about this as well. Booze up. Well. Its a big booze up. Yes. The alcohol duty is on the good news for beer the rise. Good news for beer drinkers. Bad news for anyone who likes wine anything else. Who likes wine or anything else. A good time to be teetotal. Patrick christys. Gb news. Two sluices for you this hour. Then the rishi sunak interview that will be great. And also what our very own mark white has done an ad yes as well. We have just got some new footage for you in the last few minutes which youll see for the first time the illegal migrant time about the illegal migrant crisis the