As a glitch in the matrix has led to an epidemic of tripping pedestrians. Plus, weve been pedestrians. Plus, weve been promising you a tour of West Harptree all week, and today is the day here. The trees rustle with the rhythm of west country, jovial tea. The apples are cnsper, jovial tea. The apples are crisper , pollen encrusted bees crisper, pollen encrusted bees hop around the lavender sprigs , hop around the lavender sprigs, the stars scintillate with enthusiasm. And as ever, the sun enthusiasm. And as ever, the sun shines even through the crop watering rain. State of the nafion watering rain. State of the nation starts now. Nation starts now. As always, i want to hear from you. Its the most important you. Its the most important part of the programme. Email me mal mogg at gbnews. Com but now its mal mogg at gbnews. Com but now wsfime mal mogg at gbnews. Com but now its time for the news of the day with ray addison. Day with ray addison. Thanks, jacob. Heres the latest from the newsroom. Our top story, the Police Federation for Northern Ireland says urgent answers are required after details emerged of two data breaches as police in Northern Ireland saying that the names of more than 200 serving officers and staff were stolen from a private vehicle on july 6th, along with a police laptop and radio. Earlier, the psni announced a Critical Incident after admitting that the details of thousands of Police Officers had been published online. A british man is among five people whove been shot dead in violent protests in south africa. The 40 year old reportedly a doctor who was visiting the country was killed in cape town last thursday. Its believed that he was shot after taking a wrong turn and a group approached his vehicle. Unrest began after minibus taxi drivers announced a week long strike, a fire that destroyed the 18th century crooked house pub in dudley last saturday is now being treated as arson. The announcement from Staffordshire Police comes after a specialist Detection Dog was used to search the site earlier on today. The pub was demolished two days after the blaze. The force is asking the public to not speculate on the cause of the fire, describing it as extremely unhelpful. They extremely unhelpful. They theyre urging anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101. Waless first minister has confirmed that he will stand down and leave the Welsh Parliament at the next election. In mark drakeford, who election. In mark drakeford, who represents cardiff west, previously said he would leave before the end of the senate term in 2026. Speaking at a festival in North West Wales , mr festival in North West Wales, mr drakeford reportedly said it was important to have a refresh. Important to have a refresh. Five people have been arrested on londons Oxford Street after social media posts encouraged people to steal from stores. The people to steal from stores. The tiktok posts prompted a heavy Police Presence and two young men were seen being led away in handcuffs. Some outlets shut their doors while crowds gathered and officers issued 24 dispersal orders. A spokesperson for the mayor of london told us anyone whos seen content encouraging them to commit crime should ignore it and strikes by staff at Gatwick Airport will cause disruption during the bank houday cause disruption during the Bank Holiday Weekend as workers announce fresh walkouts as part of an ongoing dispute over pay. Of an ongoing dispute over pay. The unite union saying that around 230 workers, including ground handlers, will walk out for eight days from august 18th. And then again from the 25th. 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 lets get straight back to. Jacob get straight back to. Jacob well , get straight back to. Jacob well, welcome get straight back to. Jacob well , welcome back. Get straight back to. Jacob well, welcome back. Douglas murray once said, any programme set up by government will inevitably metastasise unless consciously cut back by observant officials. And todays observant officials. And todays troubling news about the Civil Service only further proves this point. In 1949, when the sun never set on the british empire, we ruled over 413 Million People across the world, about a quarter of the worlds population. And we did it rather efficiently. Now there are more efficiently. Now there are more than 17,000 staff in the Foreign Office , but with no empire to office, but with no empire to show for it. And this is part of a broader problem. The Civil Service was about 24,000 strong in 1920 when we had a population of 40 million. Now there are over half a million Civil Servants and a population of about 67 million. So the Civil Service has grown by 2,000, whilst our population has grown by 67. And this shows no sign of stopping. Between 2016 and 2023, the Civil Service has grown by nearly 25 over 100,000 extra employees. The sharpest increase employees. The sharpest increase in 50 years. More now in growth than in the british army. Now when i was the minister for government efficiency, we had a plan very much led by Boris Johnson and steve barclay, which i was in a way the spokesman for , to reduce the Civil Service by 91,000 to get it back to 2015, six teen levels. The civil six teen levels. The Civil Service had grown because cause theyd latched on to covid and to brexit to say they needed more people and they needed them to be in london and wed come to the conclusion that actually the increase in Civil Servants wasnt providing a Better Service for you. The subject of his majesty, it was in fact it bloating the system. And of course they were getting themselves higher pay at the same time. And weve seen a very big increase in pay within the Civil Service as grade inflation has been used to get round wage restraint. And this has happened again and again over the years. Again and again over the years. And the government efforts have been ignored. One of the things that i was most concerned to read about in todays figures was the increasing growth in london, because the government had a places for growth scheme to move people out of london to the rest of the country. And it the rest of the country. And it was led by one of the best Civil Servants that i worked with an absolutely brilliant , driven man absolutely brilliant, driven man who working out how you who was working out how you could move Civil Servants out. Now they hated it. I tried to get the Serious Fraud office to move to wrexham because they have wonderful offices is eyeballing, to use a ghastly word. And nelson, on top of his column there in Trafalgar Square in the High Commission of canada building. And they didnt want building. And they didnt want to move from this glorious luxury place, even though it cost a fortune. And they werent using it. Row after row of empty desks, acres of empty space. And it wasnt being used, but when it wasnt being used, but when it wasnt being used, but when it was suggested they should move to space, they might actually utilise the squeaking and squalling could be heard all the way from london to wrexham. The way from london to wrexham. And this is part of the problem. Unless you have a government thatis. Unless you have a government that is really driven and wants to reduce the Civil Service it will just grow. So to reduce the Civil Service it will just grow. So stability and will just grow. So stability and stasis is not enough. If youre stasis is not enough. If youre lax about it , if stasis is not enough. If youre lax about it, if youre if youre lax about it and you dont try and squeeze it down, it will grow only by seeking to cut will you achieve the efficiencies that are needed. And this is why previous conservative ministers were so successful and Michael Heseltine did it. Francis moore did it under Boris Johnsons leadership. We were beginning to do it. We owe it to you as do it. We owe it to you as taxpayer payers to get the numbers down, down so that services are good , Productivity Services are good, productivity is higher, people work in the offices theyve got and we have a smaller Civil Service but now im delighted to be joined by Michael Walker from novara media, whos a great friend of the programme team. Michael, how can we defend this Enormous Growth in the Civil Service since 20 1516 when . Well i suppose one way we can defend it is by looking at, i think, some of the nonsense arguments youve just and showing why just made and showing why theyre wrong. So this idea we cut so this idea that we cut organisations to them organisations to make them more efficient, so efficient, i think we have so many examples of how that constantly backfires. For constantly backfires. So for example, home office example, with the home office cuts 25 after 2010, now the cuts of 25 after 2010, now the idea was this would give us all of efficiency savings of these efficiency savings which would make it much more productive, efficient, which would make it much more p|much ve, efficient, which would make it much more p|much better efficient, which would make it much more p|much better taxpayers , a much better use of taxpayers money. Happens in the end . Money. What happens in the end . Oh, well , you suddenly have a oh, well, you suddenly have a huge backlog of asylum cases. And what that mean . You and what does that mean . You have spend £7 million a day have to spend £7 million a day keeping these people in hotels, which, the way, are not which, by the way, are not luxurious. Want to debunk michael. Michael . Michael, you know thats not right. You know thats not right. You know thats not right. But the reason theyre in hotels is because the human been used human rights law has been used to throw endless sand in the machine to stop people being deported. We those deported. If we had got those people last year who landed people last year who had landed illegally on to the plane off to rwanda, the backlog would be shrinking rather than growing. Its the lefty lawyers who are the heart of the problem. The heart of the problem. You to look at well, you have to look at whats changed. So what has changed labour were changed since when labour were in government and the conservatives in conservatives were in government . Conservatives were in gov squeeze on nhs budgets. I know youll that. Sorry, go on. Youll say that. Sorry, go on. You if you look but if you if you if you look but if you look at the Public Services that are working well, if you look at the bits that work, the bits of dvla that work, theyre the ones that have been automated where you need fewer people. So that if you update your address on your car registration document, thats done straight away, its really efficient. If you have to do anything that involves human intervention because of the backlogs that built up with working from home, thats where the delays are. Thats where the inefficiencies are there. The populated services are the inefficient ones as well. Thats just an argument against people, isnt it . And i mean, there are there are many parts of public life where you cant replace with cant replace people with robots. Example , i robots. I mean, for example, i mean, again thats true. But you mean, again thats true. But you want is what you focus on at gb news, which is always the Public Sector. And i really see this as an attack on the Public Sector by the back door. For by the back door. So for example, at the top example, if you look at the top Civil Servant in the treasury now , i cant say about now, i cant say much about their competence. I dont know them theyre them personally, but theyre getting 200 grand getting paid about 200 grand a yeah getting paid about 200 grand a year. Now, if you are a ceo of a major £6 major bank, youre getting £6 million now for me, million a year. Now for me, being in charge of the treasury is important. In fact, is just as important. In fact, more important to my life than being bank. And i being charge of a bank. And i want organisation to want that organisation to be able attract the and able to attract the best and the brightest. Therefore , i brightest. And so therefore, i think it seems bit silly to think it seems a bit silly to complain pay in the complain about high pay in the civil also Civil Service if youre not also going complain about high pay going to complain about high pay in sector because in the private sector because its thats the its those thats the competition that essentially pubuc competition that essentially Public Sector employers are having. If youve got a problem with pay in civil with high pay in the Civil Service, you need to have a problem. Lets problem. Michael, lets we can actually we can find some agreement here because actually one of the things i was trying to do minister for government to do as minister for government efficiency reduce efficiency was to reduce the number have better paid number but have a better paid Civil Service, i agree Civil Service, because i agree with , you want to attract with you, you want to attract first people and first class people and ultimately you have to pay them properly. But you need bear properly. But you need to bear in Civil Service pay, in mind with Civil Service pay, youve what is it, 26 to youve got, what is it, 26 to 30 on pension contributions against an average of about 4 in the private sector. So the comparables have to be worked through quite carefully. And what find in the civil what you find in the Civil Service is that top end pay does not with top end in the not compare with top end in the private sector , but middle private sector, but middle ranking pay compares very well with the private sector potentially. I mean, its also the case that Civil Servants have had a pay that Civil Servants have had a pay cut over the past ten years. So i suppose, i mean , so i suppose, i mean, potentially you might argue that the pay structure is wrong in certain parts of the organisation , but the fact is organisation, but the fact is that this channel, what that on this channel, what youre constantly doing and what youre constantly doing and what you be obsessed with, you seem to be obsessed with, jacob attacking sector jacob is attacking Public Sector workers. Got the workers. Now weve got the bosses of thames water who are getting paid £1. 4 million or £16 million a year. Now that is £1. 6 million a year. Now that is a huge reward for failure. But because its in the private sector, because its also shareholders who are getting a benefit dont so benefit, you dont seem so concerned about it. Concerned about it. Well , concerned about it. Well, michael, you clearly dont watch Program Every night because if youd heard what id said on water, i said we said on thames water, i said we should allow it to go should just allow it to go bankrupt because the shareholders bankrupt because the share money. The assets would their money. The assets would still there. They could be still be there. They could be brought bankruptcy. I am brought out of bankruptcy. I am no advocate of reward for failure private sector , failure in the private sector, and was specifically and i was saying specifically that the Civil Servant who i wont embarrass by naming, who ran the places for growth scheme for me was a fantastic Civil Servant. One the best people ive worked with. So credit ive ever worked with. So credit needs to go where its due, but going up by 25 in a few years seems to me an unfair burden on taxpayers , which this channel is taxpayers, which this channel is trying to stand up for. I mean , potentially, i mean, i mean, potentially, i mean, isuppose i mean, potentially, i mean, i suppose my question here is one about this focus. One about this focus. So the focus i think, on the Civil Service misses is that the big problem is the inequality in pay big problem is the inequality in pay in the private sector, which means sector means that Public Sector organisations do have to pay more than should. I dont more than they should. I dont think service should think the Civil Service should be trying compete with be trying to compete with natwest paying their ceo £5 million. Think its silly that million. I think its silly that anyone gets paid £5 million. I also a mistake that you also think a mistake that you guys make is thinking that if its that its in the private sector, that means that there must have been some risk involved. Now now i was up how much me and was counting up how much me and my our my two flatmates pay our landlord a year and it is about 33 grand a year. Now, all you need to do in this country at the moment over 100 the moment to earn over 100 grand own free ex Council Grand is own free ex Council Flats major city. Now that flats in a major city. Now that is someone in my mind who is getting paid too much money for not doing any work. Getting paid too much money for not doing any work. And this not doing any work. And this focus the Civil Service focus on the Civil Service i find bizarre. Find bizarre. Say youve got to you might say youve got to have money have saved quite a lot of money though basically though to rent is basically a tax got no choice tax because ive got no choice but it. No, because but to pay it. No, because youve got the choice of getting a mortgage instead , and that the a mortgage instead, and that the person who has bought the property because i invested capital and Capital Capital to buy it and capital must return called a must have a return called a captive there. Captive market, there. Well , i captive market, there. Well, i think were going to have to finish on that note next time. Well have to get martin lewis on and have Financial Advice for you. But thank you for joining me as always. Dont forjoining me as always. Dont forget know what you forget to let me know what you think. Mortgage gbnews. Com think. Male mortgage gbnews. Com coming we be heading coming up, could we be heading back to age of stagflation . Back to the age of stagflation . Plus, dont forget about the tour of West Harptree youre listening to gb news radio. Radio. Welcome back. Im still Jacob Rees Mogg and this is state of the nation. Youve been getting in touch with your thoughts. Pat in touch with your thoughts. Pat morris, civil quote, servants unquote , should remember from unquote, should remember from where their payment originates. The private sector is after all, the paymaster who unfortunately getting poorer and poorer whilst the bloated Civil Servants sector is getting bigger and better salaries together with the enviable index linked pension fund. Well, the pension the enviable index linked pensipoint� nd. Well, the pension the enviable index linked pensipoint is. Well, the pension the enviable index linked pensipoint is veryll, the pension the enviable index linked pensipoint is very importantsion fund point is very important point. And Michael Walker was saying that they had pay cuts in recent years have been recent years there have been banned pay freezes, but theres been an awful lot of band promotion , which has meant that promotion, which has meant that overall people have seen their pay overall people have seen their pay increasing , mick says. Jacob pay increasing, mick says. Jacob iused pay increasing, mick says. Jacob i used to be a Civil Servant for a short time and ive never worked for a lazy bunch in my life. Oh, they very life. Oh, they have a very cosseted not used cosseted life and are not used to working a full day. They need to working a full day. They need to reduced and to be reduced in number and whats made to a whats left should be made to a full well i think full days work. Well i think i think youve got to be fair that some of the Civil Servants i worked with worked really, really and long hours. Worked with worked really, really and long hours. Some really hard and long hours. Some people worked from home and you never saw them. Well, if you didnt see them, you didnt know how they were working. How hard they were working. I suppose its a good of suppose its a good way of hiding indolence. So its a question getting question of balance and getting the best of good civil the best out of the good Civil Servants, reducing the servants, but reducing the number because theyre definitely you. Definitely too many. Thank you. Keep sending in the mail mugs, as think anselms keep sending in the mail mugs, as to think anselms keep sending in the mail mugs, as to be think anselms keep sending in the mail mugs, as to be readinglnselms keep sending in the mail mugs, as to be reading them1s keep sending in the mail mugs, as to be reading them out going to be reading them out later in the program. According to institute of to the National Institute of economic research, to the National Institute of ecoiukiic research, to the National Institute of ecoiukiic on research, to the National Institute of ecoiukiic on track research, to the National Institute of ecoiukiic on track to research, to the National Institute of ecoiukiic on track to experience the uk is on track to experience five years of lost Economic Growth and is at risk of a recession next year. The think tank has predicted that elevated housing, energy and food costs would continue into next year, while Gross Domestic Product gdp would probably barely grow. It even warned of gdp growth contracting by the end of 2023 and a roughly 60 risk of a recession at the end of 2024. Eerily reminding us of the economy of the 1970s and the era of stagflation. But remember, as of stagflation. But remember, as victor hugo once said , even the victor hugo once said, even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise. I think theres a musical in which they say they always turn on the lights at some point anyway. In this case, average earnings will rise eventually, we hope. And in a more optimistic outlook, some economists have said that the average pay is about to start rising faster than inflation for the first time in more than a yeah the first time in more than a year. In signs that the cost of living crisis is beginning to ease. Well, im delighted to be joined now by somersets favourite historian favourite economic historian edward. Edward, thank edward chancellor. Edward, thank you for coming back on the programme. Programme. You for having me. Um, thank you for having me. Um, thank you for having me. About are you concerned about stagflation . You think that stagflation . Do you think that is the consequence of the failures of central banking that weve discussed before . Weve discussed before . Well, first of all, id say you dont need to predict stagflation. Weve been in stag. Stagflation. Weve been in stag. Stag flation for the last couple of years, so i think no Economic Growth since slight Economic Contraction in the uk economy since 2019 with what sort of 20 increase in in the Consumer Price index. So that that is pretty much a definition of stagflation. So the question then would be, can one predict in relation high inflation with weak growth Going Forward . And the problem there is that economies , if your viewers may economies, if your viewers may remember, are extraordinarily poon remember, are extraordinarily poor, have recently been extraordinarily poor at predicting inflation. Im not saying that were not going to get more stagflation, but the prediction does tend to be a bit awry. Awry. Well, the forecast is are worst at getting right. A turning point, isnt it . So they keep on saying things will carry on exactly as they are. So when on exactly as they are. So when theres low inflation, they keep on exactly as they are. So when the sayingn inflation, they keep on exactly as they are. So when the saying theyll ion, they keep on exactly as they are. So when the saying theyll ion,lowy keep on saying theyll be low inflation. Inflation inflation. When inflation goes up they inflation up, they say inflation will remain high. And the question is whether england has whether the bank of england has got right in the got the balance right in the increases in Interest Rates. Its done so far. So well. First of all, as you say, they get the turning turn points wrong. In other words, the best forecast is the rear view mirror until you come to a kink in the road. The do we to a kink in the road. The do we know that were not at a kink now . One of the things that concerns me is that the Central Banksinin concerns me is that the Central Banks in in britain and in the us and europe are hiking Interest Rates at a time when theres a huge amount of leverage in the system and so forth. And then you can quickly flip into a deflate scenario. If you think back , jacob, to what, you think back, jacob, to what, two thousand and seven, the Central Banks were tightening. I think even after i think around the time of the lehman bust, the European Central bank continued to be tightening and then the next minute we were all running for fear of deflation. So its not inconceivable that as in as inflation falls, that we then suddenly the deflation concerns rise. And certainly some of the monetarist economists who look at money supply growth, who were actually quite accurate or more than very accurate in predicting the inflation back in 2020, 21, are now warning of a deflationary bust. Now, i dont i think that theyre not theyre not getting enough time on the airwaves. Instead, its the sort airwaves. Instead, its the sort of inflation beat that were hearing. And if you look at the monetary aggregates, they have fallen extremely sharply from their 2021. Their peak in 20 2021. Yeah. So it could be yeah. So it could be particularly if we get a collapse in the housing markets around the world. China australia, canada, us and not least here where i think we mentioned before house prices are have been more elevated and the amount of Household Debt in mortgage is much higher relative to incomes. So theres a very perilous situation and thats such an important point because people have focussed on the number households who still people have focussed on the numlmortgageszholds who still people have focussed on the numlmortgages andis who still people have focussed on the numlmortgages and its ho still people have focussed on the numlmortgages and its aboutl have mortgages and its about a third, actually if you look third, but actually if you look at economy as a whole , it is at the economy as a whole, it is much more indebted. Sector debt than private sector debt than there in 1980, when interest there was in 1980, when Interest Rates were last used to bring an inflation down. Yeah, and theres one other point about the when you mention how the Central Banks gone too far, one of problems of far, one of the problems of Central Banks hiking is it does it in principle at least it should curtail credit growth and money supply growth, but it also feeds into peoples costs. It feeds into peoples costs. It feeds into peoples costs. It feeds into business costs, farmers costs. It feeds into farmers costs. It feeds into more , you know, as mortgage more, you know, as mortgage payments rise and housing costs rise. So actually , almost rise. So actually, almost counterintuitively , the rise in counterintuitively, the rise in Interest Rates can then feed the inflationary forces. So you get this inflation deflation in sort of a tug of war. But thats really important in terms of the Labour Market that as long as the Labour Market is strong, people are facing cost increases, whether they are higher mortgages or higher food pnces higher mortgages or higher food prices will say to their employer, i need more money, otherwise im going to work for the next door. Yeah, the chap next door. Yeah, i mean, you if you mean, think of it if you if you had a 2 fixed Mortgage Rate from 2 or 3 years ago now resetting at 7 and you were devoting 20 of your income as many people were to the mortgage at 2. Well, suddenly you you need a pay rise so that that is potentially be a very inflationary impetus, at least a demand for an inflationary force i and the bank of England Monetary Policy Committee must be looking at this and thinking is there any way of breaking the inflationary without inflationary cycle without causing a recession and asking themselves whether what theyve already done is already going to cause a recession . Because Interest Rates have a lagging effect and nobody quite knows the time lag, perhaps they are , the time lag, perhaps they are, is when you would hope that they are, wouldnt you . Well, i mean, you do. I normally they seem to be thrashing around, finding excuses for why other people , excuses for why other people, you know, who is responsible for inflation in other than anyone inflation in other than anyone in threadneedle street that seems to be their main source of occupation , then they are occupation, then they are certainly good at looking for other excuses , arent they . Other excuses, arent they . Yes. And the question of wages , Wage Inflation seems to wages, Wage Inflation seems to have caught up with Price Inflation just gone slightly ahead of it. Is that a worry or is that actually the natural course of events that you tend to get Price Inflation and a decrease in Living Standards followed by Living Standards catching up as the inflation comes to an end . But again, hard to determine the tipping point. To determine the tipping point. Well, i mean, its obviously not a worry if youre actually working and getting that pay increase. The question is, is it increase. The question is, is it a worry for the, you know, the economy at all . I i dont i, you know, i dont i dont think so. I think that if you have a sound monetary policy, some people will get pay rises. Now you were talking earlier about whether the Civil Service pay rises are justified. The question in the justified. The question in the private sector, unless theres sort of the cash flow to pay these people, these pay rises, is not going to happen. So some and as you probably know, during inflationary periods , certain inflationary periods, certain areas languish and other areas sort of managed to get the pay increases through and do reasonably well. And it depends purely really on on whether or not youre in a sector that has high demand and therefore whether your job is secure and if its secure, you can get the pay rise. And if theres lots of competition, you cant. Yes, theres something called the which the cantillon effect, which is named french a french named after a french a french irish economist, the 18th century, where inflation comes in through particular sectors and then spreads out in different parts of the economy. But we will have to discuss that the next time you come on. Edward, thank you very much. Coming in the coming up, is the glitch in the matrix thats taken on the matrix thats taken place on the streets somerset. Plus, your streets of somerset. Plus, your own personalised tour of West Harptree. Harptree. Looks like things are heating up. Boxed boilers, proud up. Boxed boilers, proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello there. Im Greg Dewhurst and welcome to your latest gb news weather forecast. It is briefly warmer temperatures reaching mid to high 20s. Plenty of sunny spells , but there will be some rain moving into the far west later on thursday. Looking at the on thursday. Looking at the bigger picture, brief spell of bigger picture, a brief spell of warmer weather, but into the weekend, this area of low pressure starts move in, pressure starts to move in, introduces something a little bit particularly across bit fresher, particularly across the north and the west. So looking at of wednesday, looking at the end of wednesday, still some cloud across western areas, murky around some areas, a bit murky around some coast, but plenty clear coast, but plenty of clear spells taking the early spells taking us into the early hours and most places dry. Quite a warm night to come, though. Temperatures for most holding up around 15, 16 degrees, perhaps 1 or spots no lower than 17, or 2 spots no lower than 17, 1 or 2 spots no lower than 17, 1 or 18 celsius for most. Thursday or 18 celsius for most. Thursday morning is a bright start. Plenty of sunny spells. There will be some low cloud that takes to lift and break takes its time to lift and break and then the day ahead, looking fine though, fine and dry. For many, though, the does start to increase the cloud does start to increase across the far west. By the end of day, perhaps 1 2 of the day, perhaps 1 or 2 showers developing over the higher and Higher Ground of wales and temperatures lifting 27 to 28, possibly even 29 celsius. Weve not seen these numbers for quite some time. So quite a warm some time. So quite a warm feeling day into friday, though. A weak weather front pushes its way east across the country. Way east across the country. First thing introducing then slightly fresher conditions into the afternoon. A mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. Some of these showers could be heavy the could be heavy towards the north west of the uk and temperatures still around 25 or 26 towards the south east, but fresher into the weekend looks like things are heating up by boxt boilers. Proud sponsors of weather on radio. Well come back. I remain Jacob Rees Mogg and youve been getting in touch with your thoughts. Peter why has the conservative Party Reduced the amount on interest on savings and shares . You can have tax free, which inevitably affects working people. Affects working class people. Its a really question its a really good question because youre now losing money in real terms on your savings , in real terms on your savings, even with higher Interest Rates, because theyre still negative against inflation. So this is a very fair point. And jamie says very fair point. And jamie says to counter stagflation , we need to counter stagflation, we need increased productivity. Competition and Wealth Creation in our economy. And so far we in our economy. And so far we have supply concerns, dominant big businesses and suppressed incomes. This needs to change. Jamie, youre an advocate for supply side reforms as it happens. So am i. I think youre spot on. If we could get those efficiencies into the efficiencies back into the economy, that helps keep prices down through competition, through taking obstacles out the war on the motorist. It through taking obstacles out the war on the motorist. It has taken a new direction in the form of an optical illusion. But this isnt just on the motorist, its on pedestrian cars as well. A cycle lane in keynsham rural somerset has caused quite a commotion among residents , owing commotion among residents, owing to the fact that the kerb and paintwork looks similar, the step disguised closed to step is disguised closed to pedestrians. A total of 59 injuries have reportedly been suffered there, with 21 of those claiming personal injury compensation. Local residents compensation. Local residents have described the new illusion as dangerous, especially during somersets equivalent of a rush hour, somersets equivalent of a rush hour , when a flurry of cyclists hour, when a flurry of cyclists pass through. Inevitably, some pass through. Inevitably, some injuries have been more serious than others, but its particularly problematic for the elderly there have been elderly as there have been broken bones and severe bruising in a project was surprise, in a project that was surprise, surprise late and over budget, the housed a cycle lane opened in march 2022 in a bid quote to rejuvenate the town centre. However this has been nothing more than a failed experiment. And one of the people who knows most it and pointed to most about it and pointed out to people. Im joined by now the keynsham councillor and keynsham south councillor and friend of alan hale. Alan, friend of mine, alan hale. Alan, thank you very much for joining me. The history of this lane and this development was an attempt to get the high street going, which everyone was in favour of i i i think hm i think some of it was due to air quality. Okay, thats where it started that we had to reduce flute throughput. Yes, because flute throughput. Yes, because the air quality was such that it needed to be brought down. And so the idea was then if you make it one way, yes. That would get a better flow of traffic. But i know at that point the traders wanted more parking, didnt they, so that people could stop and shop. And people could stop and shop. And instead there were a cycle lane put in and flower pots and things. Yes. And the cycle lane i think was funded by sustrans and the concern currently is that were we to rip it out , then wed were we to rip it out, then wed have to pay the money back. So have to pay the money back. So thats a financial concern with the administration. Its as you the administration. Its as you quite rightly say, you know, there are 59 record casualties and that was recorded a couple of months ago. And they are casualties which have been significant injuries, loss of teeth, many fractures, ambulances having to be called paramedics tripping over whilst theyre dealing with the casualty because of the curve. Casualty because of the curve. And it goes on. And its an optical illusion because it looks as if its level. But in fact, theres level. But in fact, theres a step and particularly for people who are unsteady on their feet. So the elderly who are likely to be more at risk from broken bones, this has been real problem. Yes. The optical illusion. Yes. The optical illusion. Well, if you go right back , well, if you go right back, because i was on the Delivery Group at and when we were presented with the plans and we had a Cross Section on and i actually made the point that youre designing a trip hazard. No, no, its fine. Itll be a its going to be made to regulate portions. And they still talk about the fact that its still made to regulate lanes. But clearly regulations dont always deliver what theyre designed to deliver. But alan, thats really important. So you actually warned the designers that what they were proposing would potentially harm people . Potentially harm people . Yes. Well, a trip hazard. A yes. Well, a trip hazard. A trip. I mean, yes, i didnt anticipate people ending up in hospital, but sadly , of course hospital, but sadly, of course they have. And they went ahead anyway. And this is one of the problems that society faces, isnt it, that if somethings in the regulations, theres no willingness to put common sense ahead and say, well, willingness to put common sense ahead and say, well , the ahead and say, well, the regulations may say this, but just look at it. It clearly wont work. Yeah, its been a long process. And i mean, i received the first report on the day it opened and went down to the high street and i have kept that interest going through because the other councillors within the town decided that i should lead on it because my road safety background and i was happy to do that. But its really been an uphill struggle and its not party political, is it . Because this scheme started when the conservatives were running council. Was running the council. It was delivered dems were delivered when the lib dems were in charge. It is genuinely a matter that both and i, as matter that both you and i, as elected representatives are elected representatives, are taking interest for taking up out of interest for our constituents facing our constituents who are facing a absolutely. A hazard absolutely. It took a while to get one of the directors to turn up in the high street, but when i said, look, there is an optical illusion, he looked and said, yes, youre right. Illusion, he looked and said, yes, youre right. And when yes, youre right. And when i wrote to the project manager , wrote to the project manager, first of all, the response i got basically was that i and other elected representatives ought to be educated , outing the public be educated, outing the public to use the crossing. To use the crossing. And so its the publics fault for falling over. So it seems and its my fault. My fault for not educating the constituents, but lets say i there a third person whod been copied in fed back a complaint and i got an apology of sorts because you were mentioning youve got a lot of experience in road safety. Youre retired policeman. Youre retired policeman. This was career was this was your career was understanding how to make traffic safer. I mean, it was on Road Traffic Department for 20 years. So dealing with all manner of vehicles , all movements. I was vehicles, all movements. I was trained as an advanced driving instructor for and then my last job after i retired from the police service, i was senior road Safety Officer for 12 years at South Gloucestershire council. So so its your background . It is. But so its your background . It is. But policing so its your background . It is. But policing is so its your background . It is. But policing is such an interesting subject. We actually interesting subject. We actually had the police and crime commissioner yesterday. You must have seen so many changes from when the police when you first joined the police force. , very, very many. When you first joined the police force. , very, very many. The yes, very, very many. The sort of changes that i dont know that i would want to go back into it where im young enough and fit enough. Right. And how would you make policing better in avon and somerset . Because the individual policemen i meet as a member of parliament is such a fine , parliament is such a fine, upstanding individual works hard, committed to the community and yet theres a feeling that the police are not where they used to be. How do you solve that problem . That problem . How did the problem start . I think is the big question. And mrs. May and David Cameron are the responses people for that you know, they slashed the number of Police Officers and then boris tried to lead a resurgence. But we still dont resurgence. But we still dont see people out or Police Officers out there are highly visible people now , i dont visible people now, i dont blame the guys and girls on the ground because they are, im sure , working their socks off sure, working their socks off and im sure theyre going from this job to that job and from that job to the next job. And of course, its one of those jobs where everybody else is able to tell you how you can do it better. Yes. But, you know , they better. Yes. But, you know, they arent the people going into the risky situations and put their life on the line literally at times is clearly there is a need for more officers , more beyond for more officers, more beyond the figures that you quote and that weve tried to or the local authority or the local constabulary has tried to ring fruit. Id still like to know what the net figure is because whilst youre recruiting there are people retiring. Yes. So im are people retiring. Yes. So im not so sure that were anywhere near there. And i say that really off the top of my head. But i cant believe that we have got that net figure. But youd like to get the numbers back up. Youd like to have the experience there was and youd like visible policing, which is what was day. What it was in your day. Yes, because im i was told by inspector a of by an inspector a couple of years coming up to years ago who was coming up to retirement that in 3 or 4 years time. So were almost there , you time. So were almost there, you know, that there would be very inexperienced officers. Were going to have to finish that. But thank you so much. Thats okay. And thank you for your as your Public Service as a policeman. And youre welcome. A policeman. And youre welcome. A servant in keynsham. Welcome, thank youre welcome, jacob. Thank you. Welcome back. I continue to welcome back. I continue to identify as Jacob Rees Mogg , and identify as Jacob Rees Mogg, and youve kindly been in touch with your mailbox being read by my able assistant , anselm daniel able assistant, anselm daniel says hi, jacob. Regarding to the kerbs in keynsham, something very similar happened to me in widemarsh street hereford, and they just had have to rip it up again at huge cost. Peter says. Jacob, huge cost. Peter says. Jacob, what are the three coloured figures on your mantelpiece place . Great show by the way. Well thats very kind. Tell you what, three ill tell you what, the three figures are, perhaps figures are, but perhaps tomorrow said, tomorrow because as ive said, weve arrived moment weve now arrived at the moment. Been promising to you. Weve been promising to you all the tour of west all week the tour of West Harptree. Harptree. Well, welcome to West Harptree, an Historic Village in the domesday book that was part of the deganwy lands , which were the deganwy lands, which were confiscated by the crown as a consequence of the death of edward the second. It was also a First World War hospital. The First World War hospital. The house behind me recuperation hospital. But its part of a Community Set in a village where people know each other and some families have lived here for generations. The church of saint marys, whose bells you can hear the crown in the village pub thats the centre of so much activity. A village shop which were lucky to have. But why . I want you to join me here is because i join you every day in your home. And i thought itd be nice to welcome you to my home. My nice to welcome you to my home. My home, which is this wonderful village of West Harptree in somerset. Since Saint Augustine somerset. Since Saint Augustine came and converted mid england, christianity has been at the heart of our nation and its amazing to think how much wealth was devoted to building churches in small villages in the middle ages. In small villages in the middle ages. It is in small villages in the middle ages. It is one of the great glories of our nation , but in glories of our nation, but in every community we sacrifices have been made. And even here in have been made. And even here in West Harptree , there is a war West Harptree, there is a war grave commemorating sting hd king, who was in the Royal Air Force and died in the second world war. And its so important that we remember that community is also about sacrifice. So tell me, how are things at the moment . The moment . Well taken by of course, its a struggle. You know, energy a struggle. You know, energy bills, crisis, you know , food bills, crisis, you know, food prices, everything. So, of prices, everything. So, of course, most pubs, youve got to pass the cost on to the customers. And im trying not to because, of course, the customers have same customers have got the same problems. You know, problems i have. You know, i put the the of the the point the price of the dnnks the point the price of the drinks up that my landlord tells me no customers. Me to do. Id have no customers. So ive got to find a balance of getting enough for pub, but getting enough for the pub, but also keeping enough people also keeping enough for people to in. Still to be able to come in. Still youre so much the heart and youre so much the heart of Community Many of the community that so many events place here. Youve events take place here. Youve got thursday, got morris dancers on thursday, but Platinum Jubilee but you had the Platinum Jubilee here. Its such a crucial village. This is its basically an aduu this is its basically an adult youth centre. Thats what adult youth centre. Thats what i call it. Its an adult youth centre and im just a caretaker of it. Everybody behaves of it. Everybody behaves herself. If theres any problems in the village, they usually come the to come here to find out the to source the problem or to fix the problem. Oh yeah, no, were very problem. Oh yeah, no, were very much a community pub. Very much. Yeah. Yeah at the beginning. You are such Important Community hub. Such an Important Community hub. Thank you for all you do in being at the heart of West Harptree. This lovely village that im lucky enough to sensible. Thats a great sensible lad. Thats a great compliment. Thank you. Thank you compliment. Thank you. Thank you so much. Well, weve been to the so much. Well, weve been to the pub and ive had my half of cider , but my children quite cider, but my children quite like an ice cream. So were on like an ice cream. So were on route to the ice cream van, but we have to stop by the village shop. We have to stop by the village shop. Mr fortnum and mr mason , shop. Mr fortnum and mr mason, youre not a patch on this. That that bowdens of West Harptree has everything anybody could want , whether its bread and want, whether its bread and milk , a postage stamp. Its all milk, a postage stamp. Its all here. And West Harptree has survived modernity. Its kept survived modernity. Its kept its pub, its church and its village shop. Its a thriving community, but thats because of the people and the businesses. The people and the businesses. Here come on, chaps, lets go and get some ice cream. And get some ice cream. Afternoon weve got some good customers for you. How are you . Fine. Good fine. Good hows business . Hows business . Steady. Hoping for a bit of global warming. Definitely a bit global warming. Definitely a bit of sunshine. Of sunshine. Warm things up and bring your customers along the chew valley. Liquids , sunshine. Liquids, sunshine. Liquids, sunshine. Anyway, youve got some very enthusiastic customers who i think want to place their orders. Whos going to go. First orders. Whos going to go. First is it a problem that people arent using cash as much . Well, i keep telling people , well, i keep telling people, paypal, the main people are buying all the Small Companies out and before long therell be a minimum spend and theyll put the percentage up again, which ill have to pass on. So youd rather have cash . So youd rather have cash . So youd rather have cash . Of course we would. Cash is cash. Well , im cash. Well, im glad i paid in cash i im im glad of it as well. Good to see you. Thanks and you look after it. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Well, as always, the ice creams melt away and cause a certain discombobulation to the clothing of my children. But i just wanted to thank you for joining me. Im very conscious that the last few months , every that the last few months, every evening ive been coming into your living room , and i wanted your living room, and i wanted to invite you into my home community. Community of west community. The community of West Harptree, a small community, but one that has everything. The pub , the church, the village shop, even the ice cream van. Thank you for joining even the ice cream van. Thank you forjoining me and being part this community for this part of this community for this evening. Evening. Well, thats wonderful pictures from West Harptree. Im so lucky to live here and to be broadcasting from here this week. But now its over to the great professor daniel wootton. Daniel what have you got coming up this evening . Oh, my goodness. Jacob firstly, say i am firstly, i have to say i am moving to somerset. That was one heck of an advertisement. Absolute beautiful stuff. Jacob have you seen this despicable tweet from diane abbott trying to make a point against lee anderson, the Tory Party Deputy chairman , by referring to the chairman, by referring to the tragic deaths of the 41 migrants in a shipwreck off the coast of italy by saying they have indeed effed off to the bottom of the sea. Sea. An extraordinary thing for the labour mp to say. The pressure being piled on keir starmer now to make her suspension permanent. But were suspension permanent. But were going to get the reaction from my Superstar Panel and nigel farage himself. Well what lee farage himself. Well what lee anderson said was perfectly reasonable , though stated more reasonable, though stated more fruitily than i would have chosen to do. He was only saying they should go back to france, which most people think is a safe place anyway. Thats all from me. Tomorrow at me. Ill be back tomorrow at 8 00. Sunny in somerset. 8 00. It is sunny in somerset. Its been a lovely and now its been a lovely day and now its its been a lovely day and now wsfime its been a lovely day and now its time the weather. Its time for the weather. Feeling inside from that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. Proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hello there. Im Greg Dewhurst and welcome to your latest gb news weather forecast. It is briefly warmer temperatures reaching mid to high 20s. Plenty of sunny spells , but there will be some rain moving into the far west later on thursday. Looking at the on thursday. Looking at the bigger picture, brief spell of bigger picture, a brief spell of warmer weather, but into the weekend, this of low weekend, this area of low pressure starts to move in, introduces something a little bit fresher, particularly across the and the west. So the north and the west. So looking end wednesday, looking at the end of wednesday, still some cloud across western areas, murky around some areas, a bit murky around some coast, but plenty of clear spells taking us the early spells taking us into the early hours and most places dry. Quite a warm night to come, though. Temperatures for most holding up around degrees, perhaps around 15, 16 degrees, perhaps 1 or 2 spots no lower than 17 or 18 celsius for most. Thursday mornings. A bright start, plenty of sunny spells. Therell be some low cloud that takes its time to lift and break and then the day ahead, looking and time to lift and break and then the fory ahead, looking and time to lift and break and then the for manyd, looking and time to lift and break and then the for many ,. Looking and time to lift and break and then the for many , though, and time to lift and break and then the for many , though, the and time to lift and break and then the for many , though, the cloud dry for many, though, the cloud does start to increase across the far west by the end of the day, perhaps or 2 showers day, perhaps 1 or 2 showers developing the higher developing over the Higher Ground and temperatures ground of wales and temperatures lifting 27 to 28, possibly even 29 celsius. Weve not seen these numbers for quite some time. So quite a warm feeling day into friday, though. A weak weather front pushes its way east across the country. First thing introducing then slightly fresher conditions into the afternoon. A mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers. Some of these showers could be heavy the north west of heavy towards the north west of the uk and temperatures still around 25 or 26 towards the south east, but fresher into the weekend that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of gb news. No spin, no bias , no no spin, no bias, no censorship. Im dan wootton. Tonight after the tragic deaths of 41 migrants in a shipwreck off the coast of italy, labours diane abbott has unbeliever declared on twitter they have indeed left off to the bottom of the sea. Now that repulsive the sea. Now that repulsive tweet since deleted was in reference to Lee Andersons comments that migrants who dont like the bibby stockholm bar should return to the perfectly safe shores of france. My reaction to abbotts vile partisan attack coming up next in a special digest on why the left simply wont tackle the migrant emergency. Then, my Superstar Panel weigh in today , Superstar Panel weigh in today, im joined by Christine Hamilton , adam brooks and matthew lanza. Then ill ask nigel farage how much longer the establishment can turn a blind eye to those wicked people smugglers. And after exposing the de banking scandal, nigel has new updates on how our censorious state is even more prevalent than we first thought. Also coming up tonight, scheming Nicola Sturgeon has promised a deeply personal and revealing memoir after signing a big money book deal after signing a big money book deal. But should the scandal fidden deal. But should the scandal ridden ex first minister be cashing