Dwellers in marble halls or ivory towers. Moreover she merely reiterated what David Cameron , Angela Merkel and cameron, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy all said about ten years ago. Where was the outrage then . William gladstone , a liberal, once said that money ought to fructify in the pockets of the people rather than be taken by the state. But the labour party has announced that it would extend vat to private schools in its first yearif private schools in its first year if elected. But is this just the same old class warfare that weve always seen from the socialists . Plus has anyone ever visited the great city of glasgow and thought what it really needed was a special zone in which the laws set by parliament were suspend, did and individuals were free to take Illegal Drugs. Well thats exactly whats happened. And well be debating it shortly. State of the nation starts now. State of the nation starts now. And ive got a particularly pugnacious panel this evening. The former editor of the sun, Kelvin Mackenzie, and the former adviser to Jeremy Corbyn. James schneider, as always , i want to schneider, as always, i want to hear from you. You know what an important part of the programme it mail it is. Email me. Mail gbnews. Com. But now its time for the news of the day with polly it. Polly middlehurst. It. Jacob, thank you and good evening to you. Well, we start this bulletin with the news that a 15 Year Old Girl has died after being stabbed on her way to school in south london. An Emergency Services were called to wellesley road in croydon at around 8. 30 this morning. One eyewitness describing seeing a bus driver and a passer by trying to resuscitate her. She was a student at the private girls school old palace of john whitgift. But a 17 year old boy whitgift. But a 17 year old boy has been arrested. Police say he was known to the victim. Was known to the victim. This is every parents Worst Nightmare and i know the officers who responded this morning, along with our Emergency Service colleagues , Emergency Service colleagues, are devastated at the victims death. This is an emotion i share and i know people across croydon will be feeling the same way. The victims family has been informed and our thoughts are with them at what must be an incredibly difficult time. Incredibly difficult time. Five labour mayors from across the country have met in leeds today to urge the Prime Minister to stay on track with hs2. They warn that failure to hs2. They warn that failure to deliver in full will leave great swathes of the north with victorian Rail Infrastructure unfit for purpose. Rishi sunak faces a political backlash over reports hes considered axing the link between birmingham and manchester amid soaring costs. Manchester amid soaring costs. This company , gb news, has this company, gb news, has suspended its presenter, dan wootton. It comes after offensive comments were made by laurence fox during an interview on this channel during dan wootton programme last night. He made a series of derogatory remarks about the journalist ava evans , who is a political evans, who is a Political Correspondent for the news website. Joe presenter laurence fox has also been suspended with immediate effect and taken off air. In a statement, gb news called the comments totally unacceptable , adding they didnt unacceptable, adding they didnt reflect the companys values. Gb news has now made a formal apology to ms evans and launched apology to ms evans and launched a full investigation. The uks a full investigation. The uks largest untapped oil and gas field, rosebank in scotland , has field, rosebank in scotland, has been approved for development. Been approved for development. Thats despite a row over climate concerns regulators say net zero considerations have been taken into account, but scotlands first minister, humza yousaf , says hes disappointed yousaf, says hes disappointed the project has been given the go ahead. The uk government, however, has welcomed the decision, saying it will generate billions for the economy. The United Nations economy. The United Nations today rejected the home secretarys calls for International Law on refugees fees to be changed. In a speech in washington in the United States yesterday, Suella Braverman suggested the un 1951 Refugee Convention needed updating. She argued, fearing discrimination for being gay or a woman shouldnt be enough to qualify for International Refugee status. And lastly , a refugee status. And lastly, a yellow yellow weather warning is in place for most of the uk tonight, as forecasters have warned, conditions are going to worsen after the arrival of storm agnes, which is set to make landfall in the uk after already battering the south of ireland with Gale Force Winds causing damage to buildings , causing damage to buildings, Power Outages and travel disruption in the area. The met office has warned storm agnes may lead to an increased risk of flooding in some areas. Strong and disruptive winds are expected to last until tomorrow morning with the storm at its worst in about an hours time, 9 00 with gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. This is britains news channel. Today. Britains news channel. Today. The north sea transition authority, the oil and gas regulator, approved a drilling licence for the rosebank north sea oil field. This is really good and exciting news. I was Energy Secretary for all of seven weeks and one of the things i really wanted to do was to make sure we maximised the use of our own resources. So we didnt have to get them from other people. And this attracts international investment. Nonnays equinor , along with nonnays equinor, along with britains Ithaca Energy , britains own Ithaca Energy, will commence the £34 billion development, which is expected to yield about 300 Million Barrels of oil. This is a barrels of oil. This is a victory for britains economy and Global Energy security. The and Global Energy security. The project could create 6500 jobs, and with the effective tax rate of 75 on Energy Produced in the uk , it will raise a fortune for uk, it will raise a fortune for the treasury. Most importantly, it will boost Global Energy security not, of course, on its own, but as part of other countries and are doing more of this where we can because the more production that comes from outside opec or dictatorial states , the safer supplies will states, the safer supplies will be and the lower price rises, were often told by the likes of ed miliband that using Domestic Energy resources wont affect the price of energy because its sold on the International Market. But this is inaccurate. Yes, of course its sold on the International Market kit. But the International Price , as with the International Price, as with all pricing, is set at the margin, which means that a boost to supply high will lower prices rise overall as you know, saudi and Russian Oil Production has been affected and the saudis have cut production by more than a Million Barrels a day, which pushes the oil price up. And its at its highest since autumn of last year, when the cost of energy was is still in a crisis mode. And recovering from its peak. Mode. And recovering from its peak. Which is why its more peak. Which is why its more important now than ever that we need to boost whatever supply we can can from the democratic world to provide supplies to the International Market. It also helps our own economy because some of this oil will be used domestically and that part that is used domestically is cheaper and more efficient than imported oil because you dont have the import costs. Oil because you dont have the import costs. This applies to gas as well in britain. Gas suppues gas as well in britain. Gas supplies , about a third comes supplies, about a third comes from domestic resources. A third from domestic resources. A third comes via pipeline , mainly from comes via pipeline, mainly from nonnay. And the other third comes from liquefied natural gas. And the problem with natural gas, liquefied natural gas is the shipping costs, and thats coming from the United States and qatar. And it has to be liquefied and then regasified both of which use energy. So by both of which use energy. So by the time it arrives on land and is injected into the gas grid , is injected into the gas grid, its cost you more. And its had more emissions. And this is true that oil and gas, even if the supply doesnt make a huge effect on the International Price, it will save on the attached costs by using domestic supply. And it adds to a carbon efficiency, which is an interesting dilemma for the green lobby because they dont want to use our domestic oil and gas, even though using imported oil and gas increases co2 emissions. Chairman of Ithaca Energy, one of the investors, pointed out in terms of co2 emissions importing oil. Listen to this. Importing oil is roughly six times the amount of producing it locally in a new field. And importing gas can be field. And importing gas can be up to ten times as much as producing it locally. So the Prime Minister pointed out earlier this year when he announced new north sea licences , even in 2050, when we reach net zero, a second portion of our energy will still be derived from fossil fuels. Its net zero, its not absolute zero. And this is a simple reality and its why it makes sense to use our own domestic supply, provide cheaper energy, lower Carbon Emissions and make sure that we get the economic benefit rather than it seeping abroad. Of course, i want to hear from you. Dont forget to let me know your thoughts. And you know the email off by heart by now. Male mogg at gb news dot com. Im delighted to be joined now by bob policy director at the bob ward, policy director at the Grantham Institute at Grantham Research institute at the London School of economics. The London School of economics. Bob, thank you very much for coming in. Evening and good evening and congratulations again on your knighthood, sir. You. Thats jacob thank you. Thats extremely. Doesnt it make extremely kind. Doesnt it make sense to make sure that we use our resources first on the basis that 2050 is net zero, not absolute zero. So. So it would make sense if so. So it would make sense if what we did didnt make any difference to what happens around the world. But unfortunately, todays decision is a signal to all fossil fuel producers that you can carry on with business as usual because thats what the uk does. Its acting as if Climate Change isnt an issue and as if burning fossil fuels doesnt produce carbon dioxide. The economic carbon dioxide. The economic benefits , there are going to be benefits, there are going to be some investment benefits, jobs, benefits. These are good, but they are going to be outweighed by in the long term, by the damage to the economy of us being dependent on fossil fuels. Remember were at peak production in rosebank is expected to produce 70,000 barrels of oil every day. Last barrels of oil every day. Last year , Global Production daily year, Global Production daily was 93 million. So the production of rosebank will be 0. 07. That will make no difference to energy security, and it will make no difference to the global price of oil. It also wont make us more secure because 70,000 barrels a day is roughly 5 of our oil consumption. Even if the private consumption. Even if the private companies that own the oil decide to sell it to British Consumers rather than to the highest bidder abroad, actually , 5 is quite an important part of our demand. Its not trivial, but it wont make any difference given the decline in production from all the other fields in the north sea. Id go to your first point that this encourages other countries. You want the democracies around the world to be producing the fossil fuels. So were not dependent on the non democratic states. If you look at whats happened over the last few months, saudi arabia and has decided reduce and opec has decided to reduce production, pushed the production, which has pushed the oil up from, what, 70 ish oil price up from, what, 70 ish dollars a barrel to nearly 100 a barrel, having an effect on the whole global economy. We dont want to be held to ransom by non democratic states , do we . By non democratic states, do we . Yeah, but british oil being pumped now is being sold at that. Market prices controlled by remember , by saudi arabia. And remember, the oil is the saudi arabias oil is produced at much lower operating costs. Absolutely than than the north sea oil. And so it is not going to be controlled by what we do. So we do. S0 saudi arabia has the lowest cost of production of anywhere in the world. Thats thats absolutely right. But thats absolutely right. But that the more diversity of supply there is, the harder it is for saudi arabia by cutting a Million Barrels a day or 2 Million Barrels a day or 2 Million Barrels a day, the harder it is for saudi to control the price in that way, because youve got alternative suppues because youve got alternative supplies coming in and this is the lesson from the previous oil spikes in the 70s and the 80s that diversity of supply helps keep pricing diversity supply might help. Might help. But remember, in 2019, even before the pandemic , the oil before the pandemic, the oil price was relatively low and we had relatively low petrol and diesel prices. There was no investment going into the north sea because the price of oil was too low. Our oil and gas in the north sea is only economic when consumers are paying high prices. Thats the problem at the moment is we have high prices. Remember weve had cost of living crisis partly triggered by the spike in natural gas pnces by the spike in Natural Gas Prices because of russias invasion of ukraine. But i dont really see that were disagreeing because this is the marvellous effect of the market that when prices are high, investing in the north sea is really worthwhile. Pay. Its not good consumers pay. Its not good news for consumers because it stops the price going up even higher if we didnt do higher that if we didnt do this, didnt add to this, if we didnt add to supply, its economic to do supply, when its economic to do so, price would way up so, the price would go way up above a barrel. Above 100 a barrel. Rosebank the decision about rosebank today will not protect us this winter. If we have a cold, long, thats obviously winter or in future winters because its not to going be significant. We will end up being vulnerable to increased in the global price of natural gas. And remember, oil and diesel Oil Prices Going up, petrol and diesel prices are going up at the pump, at the moment. We are not protected by the stuff we pump out of the north sea, but its no individual field will make a fundamental difference to the market. M arket. Market. But pricing is at the margin. And if investment in the north sea is economic and its economic in other countries with similarly high cost exploration, then that actually does bring then that actually does bring the price down because to your very first point, the rest of the world sees were doing it and follows. And this is really good news. Im sorry, thats not how, as you isnt how it you know, that isnt how it works its controlled by works because its controlled by a you as you admit, a cartel. As you as you admit, the organisation. Yeah. But they the organisation. Yeah. But they set the they set the Global Oil Price at the moment our dependence on fossil fuels is funding Vladimir Putins war machine because the money that were paying into the market, some of that goes to russia who are helping, who are working with saudi arabia to control the global oil. If you look at opec going right back the 70s, when the right back to the 70s, when the price has gone up and other participants come the participants have come into the market, monopolistic market, the monopolistic oligopolistic behaviour opec oligopolistic behaviour of opec has been undermined. So thats why its so important that other countries such oil as countries do produce such oil as they can to stop opec and russia have fingers where they want us. This is these supernormal. Yeah but remember this isnt the uk producing this oil. These are private companies as the majority in rosebank is majority share in rosebank is 80 is owned by a nonnegian company equinor yes, but were working really closely with nonnay. As you know , the profits are as you know, the profits are going to equinors owners, not to british owners , but 75 will to british owners, but 75 will come to the treasury. Well, they will get the theyll get some tax, but remember, we have been paying oil and Gas Companies in the north sea and all format. In fact, we were paying them more in tax rebates two years ago to help them decommission. So it is not a big bonanza for the british taxpayer being dependent. Tax rebates are something weve discussed before and is completely normal amongst all other companies. But bob, im afraid were going to have to stop. So you must come stop. Im so sorry you must come back again, because theres so much to discuss on this. Thank you much. Dont to you very much. Dont forget to let what you think. Male let me know what you think. Male margaret gbnews. Com. The margaret gb news. Com. After the break, the messages from our sponsors, secretary is sponsors, the home secretary is under once again. And under attack once again. And ill has ill be asking, has multiculturalism . Plus, multiculturalism failed . Plus, is supreme or. 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. Colin, sirjacob, now youve had colin, sir jacob, now youve had a on your shoulder. Do you a tap on your shoulder. Do you have to rescue have the power to rescue our country . Dame pretty patel country . Well, dame pretty patel got her damehood shortly after me from the Princess Royal me also from the Princess Royal and ive always thought she might be a saviour of our country at some point. David we need to obtain gas from shale rocks in. David, you are so right. From shale rocks in the uk, from yorkshire and lancashire, oil and gas lancashire, sourcing oil and gas this really transform this way would really transform our has done in our economy as it has done in the usa and incidentally, its reduced emissions. Is now reduced emissions. Is now yesterdays speech from the home secretary in washington dc. It was an important step in looking at the root causes of the migrant crisis. As we discussed yesterday, the current definition of a refugee from the 1951 convention is so broad that its unrealistic. But it seems its unrealistic. But it seems her speech has attracted criticism, particularly because she claimed that multiculturalism has failed. Perhaps unsurprisingly , the perhaps unsurprisingly, the dwellers in marble halls or ivory towers and some daytime radio presenters have taken it upon themselves to point out that there was hypocrisy in this statement because suella comes from a kenyan and mauritian background and is married to a jewish man. I think this is a really awful attack to make on her, but multiculturalism is not the same as multiracialism. Um, the same as multiracialism. Um, many of the problems we have seen with multiculturalism are to do with an unwillingness to be and to affirm a state of britishness, whereas suella and her family have thoroughly embraced britishness as they show the success of the melting pot approach to building society. See whats suspicious about this criticism of the home secretary is that she is merely reiterating what David Cameron, Nicolas Sarkozy , Angela MerkelNicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel all said about a decade ago. Why is the criticism reserved for Suella Braverman . Well, im now Suella Braverman . Well, im now joined by eric hinds , the author joined by eric hinds, the author and law professor. Eric, why do you think suella upsets people so much more than Angela Merkel or David Cameron . Or David Cameron . Well, its probably just because she speaks very, very bluntly and problems of immigration and multiculturalism have become perhaps even more heated in recent years than they were, say, ten years ago, particularly through the growing influence of social media. But what really matters here is whether shes right about her core claim, whether multiculturalism has failed or it hasnt. It hasnt. Of course, we can always find a few failures, but ovennhelmingly , failures, but ovennhelmingly, multiculturalism has been a Great Success. Its a Great Success for britain in i think its the most patriotic policy that britain can have is a multi cultural policy. Okay. How would you define multiculturalism . There are many multiculturalism . There are many ways of defining it and clearly certain programs work better than others, but its very, very simply a reasonable openness of borders. Its not completely open borders, but a reasonable openness of borders , which openness of borders, which allows us a. Critical mass of allows us a. Critical mass of people to integrate success fully, as ovennhelmingly they do , and then to contribute to culture, to society, to the economy as ovennhelmingly they do not withstanding the occasional failures. Occasional failures. Okay. Well, thank you very much, eric. Im now joined by my panel much, eric. Im now joined by my panel, former editor of the sun, Kelvin Mackenzie, and former Jeremy Corbyn adviser james schneider, and james, the key to me seems to be the definition of multiculturalism because as if multiculturalism because as if multiculturalism is integration, then thats really easy. Most people are in favour of people who come here integrating and becoming british. If it is separatism and ghettoisation thatis separatism and ghettoisation that is a different question. And if its open borders, thats a different question. Again how do you define it more towards the first one . I would say multicultural ism is really mixed society where people come from different backgrounds, they have different faiths, they have different cultural traditions , and theyre cultural traditions, and theyre all given equal levels of respect and equality under the law and with culture. And theres no victimisation of one or other by major parts of society like the media or parts of politics. Well, theres nothing youve said in that that i disagree with. So lets have what suella had to say, which i think weve got a little video and then, kelvin, ill come to you. Multiculturalism makes no demands the incomer demands of the incomer to integrate it. It has failed because it allowed people to come to our society and live parallel lives in it. They could parallel lives in it. They could be in the society party, but not of the society and in extreme cases they could pursue lives aimed at undermining the stability and threatening the security of our society. Security of our society. Kelvin thats just a completely different view of multiculturalism. And completely different view of multiculturalism. And im multiculturalism. And im finding im agreeing with both james is with suella that if people come here and they dont want to be part of British Society, that doesnt work. But if integrate, im if they want to integrate, im more happy. Im strongly more than happy. Im strongly in favour of tolerance and allowing people to get on with the lives they want to lead. Yes look, i. Look, i. I agree. I agree. Personally feel about our i personally feel about our country that we are a great country that we are a great country in the way that we have embraced people from all over the world. And the exposure in in our in our population is caused by people coming in. The question is that is caused by the speech to make you think about this is what is the volume that we can take without actually destroying or damaging the fundamental of what we thought was our nation. And that thought was our nation. And that is what upsets most people, that if, for instance, if you go go to east london, for instance, east london massively a muslim sort of enclave. Right. And with sort of enclave. Right. And with with the signs up there in in in a in another language , i think a in another language, i think people dont feel that that is multicultural. What they think about that is have are we in a different country and if we carried on at the numbers, the numbers which supposing we went down the eu route and they started parcelling out , the started parcelling out, the times editorial was quite clear about that 13 of europe is the uks equivalent population. That would. Be 180,000 refuge. Jeez, would. Be 180,000 refuge. Jeez, mine currents, whatever you want to call them. Every year forever. Nobody can tell me that that wont have a decided effect on our country. And thats an important point, that if you conflate multiculturalism , as eric did multiculturalism, as eric did with open borders, theres a real problem because we cant practically have open borders. I just want to come back to two things. First one, something that kelvin said. One, something that kelvin said. One, something that Suella Braverman said. I mean, i Suella Braverman said. I mean, i spent this afternoon in that exact part of london that you were that talking about. Were that youre talking about. And its a well integrated and lovely, tolerant but normal part of london. And in some cases the street signs are in two languages, which is very normal for most countries in the world. In some parts of the thing, the idea that that should be alien to our culture is absolutely wrong. And in fact , i find that wrong. And in fact, i find that idea to be alien to our culture. I think that its completely its completely normal. Yes, there are people who practise other faiths. Yes there are people who have different ethnic backgrounds. Also. That part of london has had that for centuries. When my great grandparents from the jews, when my great grandparents came here a hundred years ago, thats where thats where they lived. And i think, you know, to try to single that i was talking about the of was talking the volume of it, i was talking about volume of it. Mean, about the volume of it. I mean, lets back the to the lets go back to the to the singling out, because the reason why theres a difference in my definition multiculturalism, definition for multiculturalism, which agree and which you seem to agree with and why issue with what why i would take issue with what Suella Braverman is saying is because say because shes trying to say there big scary problem there is this big scary problem that should really, that you should be really, really there are really worried about. There are people and theyre people coming here and theyre trying to, as she was saying, undermine our society. Dont want cetera. Et want to integrate. Et cetera. Et cetera. Is just not the cetera. Which is just not the case for the vast, vast , vast, case for the vast, vast, vast, vast, 99 point blah, vast, vast, vast, 99 point blah, blah, percent of people blah, blah. Percent of people who come in so what is the actual political purpose of her speech . It is trying to say the problem problems in British Society arent caused by the actions of our government, but by the financial crisis or anything else. Theyre caused by this small minority over here. So you should hate them. You see, what i think is the numbers, and i think this is what you think the numbers are. The problem. Think jamess the problem. I think jamess view integration is view of integration is absolutely spot on and that takes bit of time because it takes a bit of time because it does take time for people to learn english and to get used to british ways and so on. And thats fine. Im very relaxed about that. But 600,000 legal about that. But 600,000 legal migrants, basically two thirds of the population of somerset coming in in a single year is just unmanageable. Yes. No and the truth about the matter is that you know, ordinary people for feel that they havent got a voice in this argument. Because any time you ever say anything right, like, oh , this is a problem, you get oh, this is a problem, you get called a racist. And so what i enjoyed about the speech , i enjoyed about the speech, i write the strongest speech ive seen on this subject in i dont know, decades anyway, is that at least i felt that somebody was saying a fear that i have a and it wasnt a white person. I know. You know, so i, i, i felt that i could embrace that speech without without either of us being accused of being a racist because we are called racists by the left. Im not being unkind about this, but the left immediately, immediately. You immediately, immediately. You have any discussion about this . The first thing you get accused of is being a racist. And all you really are is youre worried about ken. Our schools. Ken our roads. Ken. Our. Ken our ken. Our doctors. Can they cope . And our doctors. Can they cope . And the is they cant cope. The answer is they cant cope. Now what the future now so god knows what the future looks like. Were going to have to move on. Unfortunately but panel on. Unfortunately but my panel will the break will be back after the break because were going to be talking about a labour talking about if a Labour Government us into government would lead us into class plus, is there class warfare. Plus, is there a safe way of taking Illegal Drugs i looks like things are heating up. Boxt boilers proud sponsors up. Boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Of weather on. Gb news. Hello there. Im jonathan hello there. Im Jonathan Vautrey who with your latest gb news Weather Forecast provided by the met office. Storm agnes is continuing to provide some quite blustery , very strong quite blustery, very strong winds. Those winds really peaking throughout this evening through the irish sea. Still potential for 65, 75 mile an hour winds along some very exposed coastal areas and over hills. So do continue to take care. It will be accompanied by some heavy pulses of rain pushing across Northern England up scotland, generally up into scotland, generally elsewhere across Northern Ireland, wales, southern half of england, into england, it will turn drier into the half the night the second half of the night and the second half of the night and the slowly begin to the winds will slowly begin to ease but theres enough ease out. But theres enough breeze around to really up breeze around to really mix up the and that will prevent the air and that will prevent temperatures too temperatures from dropping too much at all. So a relatively mild to thursday, whilst mild start to thursday, whilst the winds be the strongest winds will be easing be easing tomorrow will still be a fairly breezy for many of fairly breezy day for many of us. Once the rain across the us. But once the rain across the far north clears off, a good chunk see a largely chunk of us should see a largely dry still with a fair dry day. Still with a fair amount of cloud around some bnght amount of cloud around some bright intervals trying to push amount of cloud around some brighwayervals trying to push amount of cloud around some brighway throughying to push amount of cloud around some brighway through before push amount of cloud around some brighway through before this1 their way through before this rain spread its way in rain begins to spread its way in from west. Later on, from the west. Later on, temperatures around temperatures generally around 17 to we start to to 19 c. On friday, we start to see this area of high pressure, want to build its way in from the south. So low pressure is still on in the north still clinging on in the north and will continue to and that will continue to provide some winds at provide some gusty winds at times scotland, times for parts of scotland, continuing to bring some showers as well. But once the rain in continuing to bring some showers as ifar. But once the rain in continuing to bring some showers as ifar south east he rain in continuing to bring some showers as ifar south east doesin in continuing to bring some showers as ifar south east does clear the far south east does clear its way on friday, a good its way off on friday, a good amount of england, wales and southern half of Northern Ireland see ireland as well should see a fairly fine day with some sunny intervals as intervals in the mixture as well. Well be, though relatively changeable as we head into weekend. Some showers into the weekend. Some showers and spells for and longer spells of rain for some by by looks like some of us by by looks like things up. Things are heating up. Boxt proud sponsors boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on. Youre listening to gb news radio. Radio. Welcome back. Iron man, jacob welcome back. Iron man, Jacob Rees Mogg. And youve been getting in touch with your thoughts. Peter says is after all thats been said, its clear that multiculturalism is just a utopian fantasy that cant be fully achieved anywhere. As much as it pains me to say and simon, simon, i think, has hit the nail on the head, most people dont seem to be able agree on what seem to be able to agree on what the multiculturalism the term multiculturalism actually means, and thats key to the discussion. If it means to the discussion. If it means open borders, thats a problem. If it means integration , then if it means integration, then im actually all in favour of that. The labour leader, the socialist leader, sir keir starmer, has pledged to abolish the charitable status of private schools and impose a punitive vat of 20 on school fees if labour were to win next years general election. Sir keir and his colleagues claim that imposing 20 vat on private school fees could yield an annual revenue of approximately £1. 5 billion a year, which they would use to boost the state sector. But what were the consequences of such a proposal be . And i want to declare my interest now. I have six children, all of whom are in the private sector, so it would id have to do an hour or two more for gb news to pay this extra 20. I think. Anyway the independent education sector, which been a central which has long been a central part countrys landscape, part of our countrys landscape, has deep concern. Has expressed deep concern. Understandably, it argues that such a draconian government policy could have devastating repercussions , actions repercussions, actions potentially to the potentially leading to the closure of numerous smaller schools as parents too, would bear the brunt of this approach. Facing the prospect of higher unaffordable fees. Hence, unaffordable fees. Hence, thousands of people would actually move from the private to the state system, wiping out any increase in revenue. So the labour partys proposal appears dnven labour partys proposal appears driven centrally by a desire to close private schools as it would price them out of the market. Therefore it wouldnt raise the cash for the state sector and would come purely the politics, the destructive politics, the destructive politics of envy. Well, with me, my excellent panel, Kelvin Mackenzie and james schneider, james, that eton will be fine because it could put its fees up by 20 and itll still have 1300 boys there. Actually, the schools that get hit are the schools that get hit are the schools are educating a couple of hundred children whose parents are rich , struggling to parents are rich, struggling to pay parents are rich, struggling to pay the fees already. And their pay the fees already. And their children will go into state sector. Therell be no saving, therell be no cash for the treasury to give to state schools. Schools. So i think its high time to end this subsidy for private schools because thats what it is. Theyre exempt from charging vat at the moment on their fees and they wont have that exemption. Okay. But undertakers are exempt from charging vat on funerals. Is that a subsidy for funerals or is it just youre not taxing something . Well, if Everything Else is taxed, i mean, i think taxed, but i mean, i think thats taxed, but i mean, i think tha dont have vat on them. Is dont have vat on them. Is that subsidy for books . No, that a subsidy for books . No, you something isnt you dont. Tax something isnt a subsidy. Two are completely subsidy. The two are completely different concepts. Are basically private schools are basically businesses and businesses in general for most things. Charge general for most things. Charge vat. But let lets come back to your point. Bookselling is a business. Bookselling is a business. Bookselling is a business. But books are a public good. Private schools are not. Education is a public good. Private schools not education is a public good. P|Public Schools not education is a public good. P|public good. Schools not a public good. Has been a education has been a charitable idea. Back to elizabeth. The first charities act. Role that the elite the role that the elite pubuc the role that the elite Public Schools have played in our country is not a positive one. The our country is not a positive one. The self perpetuating elite that they put fonnard that governs our country does not do so in the interests of the ovennhelming majority of people. It is not a charitable endeavour. Now, to your point about saying that too many children will leave and so on, this is scaremongering. If you look at scaremongering. If you look at the figures and the number of people that might leave, even if you take the special pleading from the private schools own industry bodies, which is the ones that you were quoting beforehand, its a small number relative to the a take. So i think most people at home can see why. Why do you, for example see why. Why do you, for example , all need to have this subsidy for your six children . Its not a subsidy as weve established, to go to go to private school when that money could be used for the for education all for people. Okay. But james, why doesnt the Labour Party Just tell the truth and it wants to abolish and say it wants to abolish pubuc and say it wants to abolish Public Schools, which be Public Schools, which would be more Public Schools, which would be mo |. Public schools, which would be mo i mean, Public Schools, which would be moi mean, dont Public Schools, which would be mo i mean, dont think the i mean, i dont think the keir actually does. Keir starmer actually does. I mean, he said that he didnt. So i know you want to present him as being great socialist, as being some great socialist, but mean, he isnt. But i mean, he really isnt. Hes basically of hes basically a kind of establishment guy. This is establishment guy. And this is just very reform. It just a very sensible reform. It bnngs just a very sensible reform. It brings in some brings in it brings in some money needed for money thats needed for education system. Know, education in system. You know, lets that a few lets not forget that just a few weeks some schools werent weeks ago, some schools werent able to back the start of able to go back at the start of the new school year because their buildings were in danger of we need money of falling down. We need money for here is a place for education. Here is a place where it can come from very easily. Kelvin easy to put up easily. Fees n easy to put up easily. Fees by easy to put up easily. Fees by 20. Asy to put up easily. Fees by 20. Everyonet up easily. Fees by 20. Everyone paying, the fees by 20. Everyone paying, thats fine. Well, lot. It would be well, its a lot. It would be a of money. Mean, to be a lot of money. I mean, to be honest with you, i mean, i think for most of the middle ranking private schools, think its private schools, i think its coming if youre boarder coming up to if youre a boarder is coming somewhere near is coming up to somewhere near just south of 40,000. So youd be talking about them up be talking about taking them up to 50,000. So the to nearly 50,000. So the grandparents would dig grandparents would have to dig a little bit deeper. I think. I think truth the matter think the truth about the matter is put fonnard, the is the labour put fonnard, the idea of the 1. 5 billion very important or everything. Lets be honest it, 1. 5 billion be honest about it, 1. 5 billion is 1. 5 of the cost of hs2. Its is 1. 5 of the cost of hs2. Its neither here nor there. Its being done because its it warms it warms the cockles of your heart and it aggravates the other side. And therefore, its other side. And therefore, its something that can be done to make it to make it clear that this is our path. So this is the this is our path. So this is the path anyway , eddie, who wants to path anyway, eddie, who wants to wants to spend their money. They can spend their money on health if they like. They can do this, that and the other. But youre going to pay a lot more going to have to pay a lot more to educate your children if you want to. So i went to alleynes. Right. Very good school in. Right. A very good school in dulwich. Become dulwich. Right . Its become a Better School since i left, actually, to to fair, actually, to be to be fair, it was for by the london was paid for by the london borough of southwark, which is a massively socialist organisation because scheme you because under the old scheme you could now all those could do that. Now all those ideas have all gone out the window. I just think this is a piece of kind of class war ish. Piece of kind of class war ish. You know, theyve, theyve, theyve, theyve said in order for you to pay for for, those children you must have a few bob and case, i tell you and in that case, i tell you what were going to attack it. Lots parents arent but lots of parents arent that who send their that well off who send their children to private school. And they because the state they do it because the state system enough system isnt good enough in their area. So taking on kelvins i mean, so taking on kelvins point first about the role of private schools in our society, i think it is a problem that there are three of us sitting here in this studio, all of whom went to pretty elite private schools. Did you which one did you go to . I went to winchester. That is a yeah. I mean, that that that is a problem. The over preponderance of people who went to these kinds of schools who have these kinds of elite background in every single background ends in every single major area that is dominant in our society is itself a problem. Now does this deal with does this deal with that . No. But the this deal with that . No. But the idea that taxing people. Well, idea that taxing people. Well, who who decide to make that decision is some kind of terrible thing. Thing is terrible thing. Thing is completely wrong. Its a good thing. Its a small reform. Um, thing. Its a small reform. Um, it doesnt do all the things that you need to do to undo terrible educational inequality. But it wont hit winchester allens or eton. It will hit that tier of schools which has the less well off parents using private education and are just struggling to get by. And if they lose ten pupils, theyre out of business. Its a really mean policy. I mean, i think youre always going to try to find some boundary case to show that theres something terrible happening. And im sure there could be a case where, you know, a special needs school here or there should be exempt from it completely, except those things. But in in, in general terms, for the ovennhelming majority of the 7 of kids who go to private schools, they shouldnt be subsidised by having no vat. Their parents should. You are right. Yeah, but he went to reigate starmer, didnt he . He went to reigate grammar, which is a private school. Right so he pulls the drawbridge , right pulls up the drawbridge, right immediately. Immediately gets into , okay, think weve got to into, okay, i think weve got to stop into, okay, i think weve got to st0|but thank you to my panel, as but thank you to my panel, as always. Coming up, is always. Brilliant. Coming up, is the of being flouted the rule of law being flouted north of Hadrians Wall welcome back. I continue to welcome back. I continue to identify as Jacob Rees Mogg and youve been getting in touch with your mail moggs pat, sadly , class is a major problem in the uk and we still see Senior Civil Service roles. The Civil Service roles. The judiciary et cetera dominated by the minority who attended private schools. Thus we dont private schools. Thus we dont have the best people at the top, but those from the Old Boy Network and james says, i think we dont need vat on private schools like labour says, as it would destroy this country. Would destroy this country. Well, i confess, as i said earlier, im biased now. Ive got children private got six children in private schools. Be there myself schools. Be i went there myself and i think its been a very important part of our nations history and indeed made a huge contribution to our society. One contribution to our society. One of the fundamental principles of british democracy is the rule of law, statute law can only be changed by parliament and not at the discretion of other bodies. However important , the discretion of other bodies. However important, including the courts, if theyre a bad laws, its for parliament to change them. But today the rule of law seems to have been forgotten as a facility for the consumption of illicit drugs will be opened. Glasgow city integration joint board approved the proposed pilot facility today that aims to provide clean and hygienic environments for those addicted to Illegal Drugs. The scottish to Illegal Drugs. The Scottish Government has offered £2. 4 million for the project, in spite of the home office firmly stating that there is no safe way to consume drugs. But the broader point is that drugs are either legal or theyre not. There is no way in any law passed by Parliament Something that permits this facility. And if we want such facilities to exist, then we should legislate to allow them. But we havent. So they shouldnt. And this lack so they shouldnt. And this lack of willingness to enforce the law was emphasised when scotlands unelected , scotlands unelected, unaccountable officer unaccountable top law officer arrogantly abrogated to herself the right to decide the law, saying it would not be in the pubuc saying it would not be in the Public Interest to prosecute drug users for simple possession offences, simple possession offences, simple possession offences which under the current law are punishable by up to seven years in prison. Seven years in prison. Parliament thought that was pretty serious. Well, im joined pretty serious. Well, im joined now by leon policy lead at cranston , a Harm Reduction cranston, a Harm Reduction charity and thank you for coming in. Thank charity and thank you for coming in. Thank you, sir. Jacob thank you very much. How do we square this circle . Because it must be this circle . Because it must be right to look at other ways of making the drug laws work because they dont work. Youre a Harm Reduction charity. How would you like to see the law reframed . Its a very good question. As you say, this is a prosecution policy which was legislated or sort of given prudence by the lord advocate. Now, in an ideal world, opcws drug consumption rooms, call them what you will, would be legislated by parliament. In fact, the Home Affairs Select committee recently recommended this pilot scheme. As recently as about a month ago , i think it as about a month ago, i think it was including a gb news presenter, lee anderson and some of your conservative colleagues. Of course, that would be an ideal world. But the fact of the matter is that it scotland matter is, is that it scotland has the highest drug death rate in europe. Its doubled the next country. Whole of uk has country. The whole of the uk has an incredibly tragic high level of drug related deaths every single year, and it remains among the highest. However, without action from westminster, without action from westminster, without action from westminster, without action on recommendations such as the report from the Home Affairs Select committee is select committee scotland is left option. Now, i left with no option. Now, i agree you. Think it would agree with you. I think it would be most pertinent, safe for be most pertinent, most safe for this to be written into westminster legislation. But they dont have the option and i guess you cant really sit there and people tragically die and let people tragically die from without from preventable deaths without taking action. That must be right. Taking action. That must be right. You no, that must be right. You certainly want to stop preventable deaths. But isnt there something worrying when a prosecutor just decides, well, i wont enforce this law . What other will she decide not other laws will she decide not to and doesnt that to enforce . And doesnt that then the law arbitrary and then make the law arbitrary and that citizens in scotland wont know whether they are following the law or breaking the law . According to somebody unelected and unaccountable . Now i agree with you in that. I think having guidance and i think having a guidance and a policy which a prosecution policy which is put by the lord advocate put fonnard by the lord advocate is not the ideal situation because does create because it does create a non uniform approach to policing. If youre south of the border, you would be or if youre outside of glasgow in this pilot scheme, you would be arrested possession arrested for the possession offence, wouldnt be if offence, but you wouldnt be if you within that. This is you were within that. This is not situation. However not an ideal situation. However its reaction an emergency its a reaction to an emergency situation action is not situation whereby action is not being taken and im sure you know from your know politely from your conservative colleagues and from the opposition to that, drugs has a wedge issue whereby has become a wedge issue whereby people want to be tough on drugs irrespective evidence. Irrespective of the evidence. Now, shows that in now, the evidence shows that in 18 countries, countries very similar our own, including similar to our own, including switzerland, that these work there are 200 in operation. We there are 200 in operation. We had 1051 people die from drug related deaths in scotland in 2022 alone. I dont believe anyones ever died in an opc or at least if they have. Very few people have died. How can you not take action . Scotlands figures, as you point are dramatically point earlier, are dramatically worse than other countries. Dramatic rest of dramatic worse than the rest of the have the uk and have been deteriorating sharp rate, deteriorating at a sharp rate, whereas the of the uk has whereas the rest of the uk has been pretty there do been pretty stable. So there do seem some particular seem to be some particular factors scotland. But do you factors in scotland. But do you think is right think the home office is right when says that there is no when it says that there is no safe level of drug consumption . Should you always to should you always be looking to get off and to stop get people off drugs and to stop the of drugs . I think the supply of drugs . I think its very good question and its a very good question and id respectfully say that uk id respectfully say that the uk as whole excuse me, england id respectfully say that the uk as wales, excuse me, england id respectfully say that the uk as wales, actuallyne, england id respectfully say that the uk as wales, actually their|gland and wales, actually their figures which recorded figures which are recorded separately, sure you separately, as im sure you know, was a nine year year know, there was a nine year year on year increase in drug deaths. There are unprecedented levels and have been for at least five years. Thats a nine year year on year increase now behind scotland is england and wales the death figures, wales in the drug death figures, the number of people who die from drugs. So were not doing brilliantly in england and wales respectfully regards to respectfully and in regards to what we could do better, we clearly need to look at globally evidence based policies. We want to be looking outward as a country to do what works and to protect people that need help. In of the excuse me, in terms of the point excuse me, around scotland and drug deaths and why its a particularly bad issue think there was issue there. I think there was a cut to drug treatment budgets by the snp in 2016, 23. That does have to be acknowledged. However, there also has to be acknowledgement that places like glasgow, dundee are some of the most deprived countries. So excuse me, deprived cities in the United Kingdom and the drug death figures very death figures fell very incrementally in 2022 in scotland. But in the deprivation figures they did not fall. This is of deprivation and is an issue of deprivation and of class. Of class. Thank you very much. This is a subject well have to come back to because it is a really important one. But thank you for joining us, sir jacob, this evening. Thats me. Up evening. Thats all from me. Up next, mark dolan. Mark, next, its mark dolan. Mark, what is on your bill of fare this evening . Plenty on well, weve got plenty on offer, to talk about. Jacob offer, lots to talk about. Jacob first all, rishi sunak says first of all, rishi sunak says not zero to net zero. Opening a gas field worth potentially 500 billion. Thats right, 500 billion. Thats right, 500 billion barrels of oil have the tories finally seen sense when it comes to the environment versus the economy . Plus, its been a tumultuous 24 hours for the channel, which ill be addressing head on at exactly 9 00. You wont want to miss it. Mark. It is definitely not 500 billion. That would be the most Enormous Oil Field in history. But never mind, never mind. It may be that in pounds, but in barrels of oil thats but not in barrels of oil thats coming up after the weather. Ill be back tomorrow at 8 00. Heaven whats happening ill be back tomorrow at 8 00. Heavagnes. Whats happening ill be back tomorrow at 8 00. Heavagnes. Agnes ts happening ill be back tomorrow at 8 00. Heavagnes. Agnes ts agony. 1ing ill be back tomorrow at 8 00. Heavagnes. Agnes ts agony. But with agnes. Agnes in agony. But somerset will glorious as somerset will be glorious as youll the weather a moment. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hello there. Im Jonathan Vautrey. Who is your latest gb news Weather Forecast provided by the met office. Storm agnes is continuing to provide some quite blustery, very strong winds. Those winds really winds. Those winds really peaking throughout this evening through irish sea. Still through the irish sea. Still potential for 65 to 75 mile an hour winds along some very exposed coastal areas and over hills. So do continue to take care it will be accompanied by some of rain some heavy pulses of rain pushing across Northern England up scotland, generally up into scotland, generally elsewhere northern elsewhere across Northern Ireland, of ireland, wales, southern half of england, drier into england, it will turn drier into the second half of the night and the second half of the night and the winds slowly begin to the winds will slowly begin to ease but theres ease out. But theres enough breeze mix up breeze around to really mix up the and that prevent the air and that will prevent temperatures too temperatures from dropping too much a relatively much at all. So a relatively mild start to thursday whilst the winds be the strongest winds will be easing tomorrow, it will still be fairly breezy day for many be a fairly breezy day for many of once the rain across of us. But once the rain across the far north clears off, a good chunk of us should largely chunk of us should see a largely dry still with a fair amount dry day still with a fair amount of around some bright of cloud around some bright intervals trying to push their way this rain way through before this rain begins to spread its way in from the later on. Temperatures the west later on. Temperatures generally on generally around 17 to 19 c. On friday, to see this friday, we start to see this area high pressure, want to area of high pressure, want to build its way in from the south. So low pressure still so low pressure is still clinging on the north and clinging on in the north and that will continue provide that will continue to provide some times for some gusty winds at times for parts scotland, continuing to parts of scotland, continuing to bnng parts of scotland, continuing to bring but bring some showers as well. But once rain in the far once the rain in the far southeast does clear its way off on friday, a good amount of england, and half england, wales and southern half of well of Northern Ireland as well should fairly fine day should see a fairly fine day with some sunny intervals in the mixture well be, mixture as well. Well be, though relatively changeable as we the weekend. We head into the weekend. Some showers spells of showers and longer spells of rain for of us by by that rain for some of us by by that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news. Its 9 00 on television, on radio and online in the United Kingdom and across the world. This is mark dolan tonight. 1 or 2 things to talk about this evening. First up, its lift off the countrys Largest Oil Field is officially open for drilling. So is rishi sunak right to ignore the net zero backlash and put britains prosperity first . Thatis put britains prosperity first . That is the topic of my digest. You wont want to miss it. Plus, well get the views of my panel this evening. Weve brought out the dream team. Weve got christine hamilton, adam brooks and Matthew Lazor , plus suella and Matthew Lazor, plus Suella Braverman delivered a powerful speech about illegal immigration. But do you agree with her that multiculturalism has failed in the uk . Nana akua chris rose and Joanna Jarjue debate that in what will be a fiery clash and after the thatcher donor and tory peer lord harris says the conservatives dont deserve to win the next election, lee anderson joins me live in the studio to give his unmissable reaction on. Meanwhile, the princess of wales sparkles as she steps out with children at a special