Transcripts For GBN The 20240703

Headlines with lisa hartle. Good afternoon. Its just after 12 00. Im lisa hartle in the newsroom. Roads and local transport minister Richard Holden says the government will not rule out stop and search after a 15 Year Old Girl was stabbed to death on her way to school in london. A 17 year old boy who knew the victim remains in custody after being arrested in custody after being arrested in croydon yesterday morning. In croydon yesterday morning. The girl named locally as eliana , was described by her school as a valued friend and pupil. Mr holden told gb news whats being done to tackle knife crime. New legislation has been brought in. Sentences are being strengthened, which is vitally important as well. But overall , important as well. But overall, i think this is about us as a society, really ensuring that we get across to people , that there get across to people, that there is no place for possession of a knife and that, yes, the government will act with tougher sentence thing. You know, weve got extra police, 20,000 plus now, extra since when . I was elected in 2019. Out on the streets. Streets. Meanwhile, former met Police Detective Peter Bleksley says that police need to be more robust in tackling knife crime. Robust in tackling knife crime. Knife crime is at epidemic proportions. There are so far proportions. There are so far this year, up until august. Proportions. There are so far this year, up until august. So this year, up until august. So in the 12 months up until august , there had been 211 on knife crime incidents with injury. In croydon alone, and that only makes it the 10th most prevalent borough in london. So theres nine boroughs worth less than croydon. There are too many knives. There are too many stabbings, there are too many deaths. Deaths. The new defence secretary has visited the ukrainian capital kyiv, for the First Time Since taking up the post. Grant shapps discussed how to bolster ukraines air defences during talks with ukraines president Vladimir Zelenskyy. Mr shapps replaced ben wallace as defence secretary last month and vowed to keep up britains support for ukraine. The labour leader has denied launching an attack on private schools with his plans to impose vat payments on fees if he wins an election. Sir keir starmer says hes comfortable with the institutions but wants to ensure state schools are of equal quality. Sir keir says his equal quality. Sir keir says his plan is about the removal of a tax exemption. He also tax exemption. He also encourages private schools, not to raise fees due to the additional costs imposed by the policy. It experts are calling policy. It experts are calling on the Prime Minister to prioritise ai ethics during a safety summit next month. A safety summit next month. A survey by bcs, the chartered institute for it , found that 88 institute for it, found that 88 of tech experts want the uk to lead in setting Global Ethical standards. The survey also shows that 82 believe companies should publish ethical policies on al use. New laws should publish ethical policies on al use. New laws in should publish ethical policies on al use. New laws in northern on al use. New laws in Northern Ireland have been implemented , ireland have been implemented, implemented, preventing the pubuc implemented, preventing the public from attending trials for serious sexual offences. The law extends the anonymity for victims until 25 years after their death and provides anonymity for suspects until they are charged. The measures aim to protect victims and encourage reporting of sexual crimes. Any violations carry crimes. Any violations carry penalties of up to six months in pnson penalties of up to six months in prison. Car production in august prison. Car production in august dropped by nearly 10 following six months of growth. Thats according to the society of Motor Manufacturers and traders. The slowdown was due to summer shutdowns and production pauses at some plants for planned maintenance. Exports also maintenance. Exports also declined by 5. 5, mainly due to fewer shipments to the us , china fewer shipments to the us, china and japan and an extreme , namely and japan and an extreme, namely rare, silvery gibbon has been born at a wildlife park on the isle of man. The pictures show the yet to be named gibbon, nestled in its mothers lap. Its the third silvery gibbon arrival at the zoo since the babys parents were brought over to the island in 2016 as part of a global breeding programme. Theyre an endangered species with only 2000 left in the wild. 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 back to mark and. Ellie to mark and. Ellie lisa, thanks very much indeed and welcome back to the live desk. Now, one of waless biggest Bus Operators says its new national 20 mile an hour speed limit is causing challenging operational conditions. And that means its conditions. And that means its having to review both routes and timetables. Timetables. Yes, the new limits for urban areas has also triggered a backlash from drivers, with a petition calling for it to be scrapped now gaining more than 440,000 signatures in response , 440,000 signatures in response, the minister responsible, lee waters , says that local councils waters, says that local councils can change the limit now if they want to. Want to. Lets get more with our reporter jack carson, whos in mould in north wales covering the story. And clearly its getting a bit confusing for the motorists and it seems now the local authorities and the Bus Companies. Companies. Yeah, its confusing and dividing here in wales. This issue, of course , its only 11 issue, of course, its only 11 days since its 20 mile an hour default speed limit in wales has beenin default speed limit in wales has been in place. But already, as you mentioned , 450,000 people you mentioned, 450,000 people have signed a petition on the Senate Website calling for this policy to be revoked. There was protests in cardiff at the weekend. Theres more planned protests this weekend with dual carriageways and kind of cars coming together on both sides of the carriageway to slow down traffic in a slow protest. And so thats the kind of Clear Division here. But of course as well, its the companies, its the livery companies, its Bus Companies that are now coming out saying that there is an issue here with their timetables and their schedules. Now, arriva and their schedules. Now, arriva wales told gb news that they have been closely monitoring this 20 mile an hour speed limit since its come into force in wales and its planning a review essentially of its essentially of all of its networks across the country. It says found that says so far they have found that there in there has been an impact in punctuality as journey times have been lengthened , which has have been lengthened, which has been particularly noticeable on longer journeys or those journeys connecting towns , towns journeys connecting towns, towns like in mould where i am like this in mould where i am here they say this is here today, they say this is creating challenging operational conditions and they are undertaking a large scale review of their networks and of their schedules. I mean, speaking to people high street today, people on the high street today, its clear that of its very clear that some of them who got today them who have got the bus today have conversations have been having conversations with those drivers about actually how unhappy they are with limit. Lots of with the speed limit. Lots of people, as i said, divided on this issue. But heres what the people on the high street of mould told me earlier today. Its okay. Round schools and bungalows that but in other places its a complete waste of time. I think places its a complete waste of time. I think its places its a complete waste of time. I think its just slowing time. I think its just slowing everybody up, isnt it . I feel that cutting it down to 20 miles is saving peoples lives. And thats the main thing. You the driver be five minutes later to work and then be involved in an accident. Be involved in an accident. I think its like a funeral procession going through the roads. I understand. And on the side i understand. And on the side roads going to schools and things like that. But on the main arterial roads is why cant stick to 30. 30 was fine. Im used to it. Im used to it. Getting used to it. But if it getting used to it. But if it saves one life, its got to be worth it. Worth it. Yeah, that sense of it being a funeral procession was something that many people told me on the high street. Not just that lady that you heard there, but across now, before but across wales. Now, before this there around just this ban, there was around just over a third of roads in wales were 30 miles an hour there. Of course, down to 20. But the course, now down to 20. But the Welsh Government cleared that. This is about safety and pedestrain well. Pedestrain and safety as well. They that this 20 mile an they say that this 20 mile an hour speed limit is to going cause fewer collisions on cause 40 fewer collisions on roads the wales save roads across the wales and save the nhs £92 million. And the welsh nhs £92 million. And of course the deputy Climate Change minister , lee waters, who change minister, lee waters, who survived a no confidence vote last night in the senate, has said that actually as you mentioned, that councils can now review this speed limit and if they find it appropriate, they can also change that limit as their local authority. Their local authority. And do you think thats something that would be welcomed, jack, based on the people that you were speaking to today . Today . I think certainly with with high streets and areas where pedestrians are very close to the road, there was a feeling across people that actually those 20 mile an hour speed limits are effective. And actually they are safer for both them driver , not going as them as a driver, not going as fast down high and fast down the high street. And also safer for the pedestrians. But myself driving here but even myself driving here today , when not today, when you are not necessarily driving around where there pavements, theres there are pavements, theres certainly feeling the certainly a feeling from the people speaking to today people i was speaking to today that those kind routes , that on those kind of routes, when got out the high when youve got out the high street youre going kind of street and youre going kind of out onto an a road and out onto more of an a road and its still 20 miles an hour, there here there is a feeling here certainly is maybe certainly that that is maybe a bit far. And of course, that bit too far. And of course, that petition four of around petition of over four of around 450,000 signing that 450,000 people signing that petition, this limit petition, wanting this limit revoked , i think certainly does revoked, i think certainly does prove that there is widespread support across across wales, across this country for a little bit of change and certainly some consultation on on this speed limit fonnard. Limit going fonnard. Very much , yes, thank you very much, jack carson there in molde for us in wales. With the buses still running just behind him there. Lets slowly indeed, lets get more with welsh shadow minister with the welsh shadow minister for transport and natasha housego thank you housego can join us. Thank you very for your time. As jack very much for your time. As jack was indicating, i mean, lee waters survived that. No confidence night, 42 confidence vote last night, 42 to 61, which , you know, was was to 61, which, you know, was was pretty indicative of the political backing hes got in the senate. But it doesnt seem to be quite the same out on the roads with this 440,000 petition and growing or two, youre absolutely right. And i think its just shown that the welsh Labour Government here is completely devoid of what people think, what what the people think, what the people people people feel and what the people want going fonnard. Its evident in this and its evident in this result that weve seen is that labour and pirate together. And ultimately the sad part is that the people are going to the people of wales are going to be ones who suffer. Be the ones who suffer. But natasha, there really was a response jack a mixed response there in jack carsons for us. Carsons report there for us. I mean, lots of people saying that if it saves one persons life, then this is worth it. They welcome the move to reduce deaths on the road and they hope that once they get used to it, it will push more and more people to walk, to work or cycle, and that will in turn be better for the environment. Better for the environment. Agree with you i completely agree with you and politicians, none and as politicians, none of us want to the loss of lives. Want to see the loss of lives. But same time, we have but at the same time, we have a crumbling Health Service here in wales, £33 million being spent on on the project and i, alongside everybody else who would much rather say that that money be spent on health, education, transport, infrastructure, the issues and areas where it actually matters and where it actually counts. Spending this money on this particular is seen as particular project is seen as potentially a frivolous exercise. I offered the welsh. As i offered the Welsh Government look, none government solutions. Look, none of us people, as politicians of us as people, as politicians want death people, want to see the death of people, children on the thats children on the roads. Thats the worst that could the worst thing that could possibly i dont possibly happen. And i dont want that from want to take that away from anyone whos lost loved one on anyone whos lost a loved one on the there are anyone whos lost a loved one on themany there are anyone whos lost a loved one on themany other there are anyone whos lost a loved one on themany other measures1ere are anyone whos lost a loved one on themany other measures theyrre so many other measures they could i, alongside could have done. I, alongside any colleague in that welsh parliament, would never have objected want objected if theyd said we want to a gosafe to do potentially a gosafe Campaign People from campaign to stop people from drinking driving drinking and driving from reckless being reckless driving whilst being on a etcetera. A phone for speeding, etcetera. But out this blanket or but bringing out this blanket or this Welsh Labour Party manifesto pledge , which they manifesto pledge, which they keep claiming again and again that they made, something that they made, is something that they made, is something that people wales that the people of wales sincerely werent aware of, perhaps extremity perhaps to the extremity that it was be affecting was going to be affecting their day lives and its not day to day lives and its not just people just affecting people like myself, its affecting businesses , its affecting businesses, its affecting industry, its affecting bus drivers, of these drivers, all of these individuals from different groups, charities groups, organisations, charities , carers, for example. Every one of them have been contacting not just me, but members across the board. Labour, lib dem implied members been members havent even been responding the responding to them. And the frustrating part is that we dont seem to be seeing any light at the end of the tunnel. If look scotland if you look at scotland or london , youll see london as examples, youll see that they have much stronger pubuc that they have much Stronger Public infrastructure. Public transport infrastructure. They have tubes, they have buses, trains that buses, they have trains that actually run on time. Whereas here we have failing Customer Satisfaction surveys. Our bus providers are already saying that theyre struggling as it is. On top of that , now with is. And on top of that, now with this 20 mile per this added 20 mile per hour pressure, really know pressure, they really dont know where i love how the where to go. And i love how the deputy minister keeps flip flopping this policy. Flopping on this policy. Left, right one minute right and centre. One minute its of the its for the benefit of the environment. Doesnt environment. When that doesnt hold it hold weight, were now doing it to lives. Well, to save lives. Well, now the argument of saving lives. Yes 100 is there. Then hes 100 is there. But then now hes backtracking well, backtracking and saying, well, im to give power the im going to give power to the council with it. Council to deal with it. Well, lets lets pick yeah, well, lets lets pick up pick up that. Up lets pick up on that. I mean, should point out that mean, we should point out that this cymru this was in the plaid cymru manifesto labour. So manifesto as well as labour. So it shared with them. I it is shared with them. But i understand lee waters saying, look, apply look, local councils can apply for exemptions. So does for exemptions. So where does this leave local authorities this leave the local authorities and what would the exemption be if youve got a National Limit . So this is where it gets contentious and this is where the deputy minister has always shied away from the questions that ive been him over that ive been asking him over the weeks. A resident that ive been asking him over thnnorth weeks. A resident that ive been asking him over thnnorth waleseeks. A resident that ive been asking him over thnnorth wales got. A resident that ive been asking him over thnnorth wales got in\ resident that ive been asking him over thnnorth wales got in touch ent that ive been asking him over thnnorth wales got in touch with in north wales got in touch with me, and displaying a me, saying and displaying a letter that had sent from letter that had been sent from the council to them the local council to them stating that the Welsh Government going be government is now going to be making fonnard government is now going to be m. Have fonnard government is now going to be m. Have actually fonnard government is now going to be m. Have actually a fonnard government is now going to be m. Have actually a say fonnard government is now going to be m. Have actually a say when vard government is now going to be m. Have actually a say when itrd to have actually a say when it comes to 40mph, 50mph and as you mentioned, National Speed limits. Having asked him in the chamber, he backtracked again when relation to going back to the 30mph. Ive read the labour party or the Welsh Governments plans order to revert plans and in order to revert back to 30, they to be a back to 30, they have to be a number of steps and stages that a local council has to go through. Mentioned it through. Ive mentioned it before, jumping before, its like jumping through youd through hoops of fire. Youd have only through have to not only go through a traffic traffic sort of integration, you then have to spend money on road signs again, which have already been spent on. Its a really difficult process get the ball rolling, process to get the ball rolling, to go back to 30 miles an hour, which really underestimating which is really underestimating and clear and not exactly giving clear information to how its going information as to how its going to how its to going to look and how its to going be, for myself, be, not just for myself, but local councils as well. Its just case in the its not just the case in the local council can actually decide, this is okay decide, no, this this is okay for to stay its got to go for to stay 30. Its got to go back hoop, you like i absolutely. 100. Absolutely. 100. Natasha , is this not a case . Natasha, is this not a case . I mean, this has only been in place for 11 days and we know its a divisive issue. But does its a divisive issue. But does it then not need to be more time given to this . I mean, you can even hear it with jack carson, our reporter there, talking to people in mould. Were people in mould. They were saying they getting used to saying they were getting used to the is it not just a sense the idea. Is it not just a sense that people need to get that people just need to get used this new National Limit . Used to this new National Limit . I i understand that with every policy there can come difficulties. I mean , the Welsh Government i mean, the Welsh Government has very fonnard thinking has been very fonnard thinking when came to charging when it came to charging for carrier when it came to carrier bags, when it came to making seat belts, worn making seat belts, legally worn in. These are some of the in cars. These are some of the things Welsh Government things that the Welsh Government should have should give them credit for have been of. But been at the forefront of. But this something that affects this is something that affects everybody looked at everybody they havent looked at to the difficulties that its going to have an impact on peoples day to day lives, peoples day to day lives, peoples professions and above all, that, like keep all, on top of that, like i keep saying, we dont have that pubuc saying, we dont have that public transport infrastructure saying, we dont have that pso ic transport infrastructure saying, we dont have that pso ic trguidanceifrastructure saying, we dont have that pso ic trguidanceifrasthezture saying, we dont have that pso ic trguidanceifrasthe public saying, we dont have that pso so trguidanceifrasthe public saying, we dont have that pso so poor,ianceifrasthe public saying, we dont have that pso so poor, they ifrasthe public saying, we dont have that pso so poor, they putthe public saying, we dont have that pso so poor, they put out public was so poor, they put out a flimsy little leaflet to people which many households across wales didnt receive. This went on with only 6000 people responding consultation on. Responding to a consultation on. Youve seen yourself and i know you this you mentioned in this in this particular segment that over 440,000 people have signed the petition saying they dont want to have 20mph. It doesnt take a Rocket Scientist to work out the math. Between 6000 and 440,000. Yeah , lets just reflect on yeah, lets just reflect on what lee waters has said about your position. Hes accused you of making Party Politics out of this. What would your response be to that . I think its quite be to that . I think its quite disgusting that hes even thinking that thats the line im taking. Im a huge believer that i represent the people i care about the people of wales. They dont as a blanket. Dont want it as a blanket. Listen, were all saving lives. Listen, were all saving lives. We all believe in road safety. And ive said from day one have 20mph outside the place where its needed, have them outside schools, hospitals, place of worship where theyre needed. But it all across wales but having it all across wales is going to be detrimental for the economy. Its going to be detrimental for the environment and importantly, its going and more importantly, its going to state to be detrimental for the state of Tourism Industry of wales. Our Tourism Industry is to take is already going to take a massive and its not theyre massive hit and its not theyre not thinking fonnard. Theyre going little going back to the days of little house prairie, is house on the prairie, which is really and really disappointing to me. And im happy to stand up im more than happy to stand up and be voice of the people and be the voice of the people of if thats the case. Of wales if thats the case. Natasha welsh, okay. Natasha asghar welsh, shadow transport, shadow minister for transport, very you on the very good to have you on the program thank program this afternoon. Thank you well coming up, you very much. Well coming up, well issue of well stay with the issue of transport a gb news transport with a gb news exclusive mayor of Greater Manchester, burnham , manchester, andy burnham, speaking Political Editor speaking to our Political Editor about happening about what should be happening on of manchester with on the roads of manchester with the minister saying hes the Prime Minister saying hes going to drive to the Party Conference this weekend. Patrick christys on gb news and gb news radio. Gb news radio. Welcome back to the live desk. Now the mayor of Greater Manchester, andy burnham, says he opposes the creation of any traffic charging zone in his city. Hes been speaking exclusively to our Political Editor, chris hope, saying that ulez limits for him. Ulez is was off limits for him. He was speaking as he launched the b network in Greater Manchester and integrated transport system with affordable and locally affordable tickets and locally set bus services. Set bus services. As youre doing here, youre creating this new network to connect trams and buses and make it much more seamless for travellers. Exactly. So were putting exactly. So were putting buses back under public control so that then we can link the bus fare system to the tram fare system. A tap in tap out system. Weve cut the cost of weve already cut the cost of pubuc weve already cut the cost of public transport in Greater Manchester by 20 to mark the arrival of the b network. So now today people can get tickets that are combined bus and tram tickets that are 20 cheaper than what they would have been before the b network. The thing about moving to a system under pubuc about moving to a system under public control like the b network is finally , after 40 network is finally, after 40 years of routes being cut , of years of routes being cut, of fares going up. Finally, the people of Greater Manchester and now the bosses of the buses, its the other way round. Okay. Can you pay in cash on the network . Its the bus network . You can. Its very important have very important to have a campaign. Im aware. And you know, we have conversations. So that will have conversations. So that will stay. That will stay. That will stay. There are cash trays on the new electric buses that we and new electric buses that we and new electric buses can i just say to gb news built in britain. Yeah, built in britain. In scotland, 50 new buses went onto the roads of wigan and bolton in the last 2 or 3 days, built in, built in scotland. I think thats a great story, isnt it . And i think one of my appeals to the government is kind of, okay, give you kind of, okay, well give you credit for helping us do this. So more it because so lets have more of it because actually it wont just help people in a cost of living crisis. It could also help us with our clean air. Youll cut emissions enough with your new or 50 new electric buses, 50 more coming and the rest of it. That will that will rest of it. That will that will mean you dont need to do any kind of ulez zone here. Well its not quite as simple as but let explain this as that but let me explain this really clearly. We are confident really clearly. We are confident and that the evidence backs this up , that if we were to if the up, that if we were to if the government was to back the network, i. E, help us bring more electric buses into Service Across the city region. But if across the city region. But if it was also to back us with investment to help our our taxis improve our hackney cabs, upgrade , we believe we can do it upgrade, we believe we can do it via an investment led approach rather than a charging based approach. Can we now then agree approach. Can we now then agree that a clean air zone is not right for Greater Manchester . A charging zone Prime Minister, you can come here this weekend, you can come here this weekend, you can come here this weekend, you can back the b network with the investment that it needs. The investment that it needs. You can back the taxi industry with the investment which it needs, and you could have an example saying this is how example of saying this is how you zero. But in a you get to net zero. But in a fairer way for the public. Greater manchester is your opportunity. Its not or never then, is it . Mean, how much do you i mean, how much money do you need the government not to i mean, how much money do you need ulezthe government not to i mean, how much money do you need ulez here . Vernment not to bring ulez here . I wont have one. I, no, i wont have one. I, i said when i came mayor said when i came in as mayor that wouldnt have that i wouldnt have a congestion and, and ive congestion charge. And, and ive also saying i wouldnt have a charging clean air zone. Why is why . Because, i mean, when we first the clean air first developed the clean air zone idea, it was meant to be enough money in the system to help upgrade help everybody upgrade their vehicles. The vehicles. And then with the pandemic vehicles pandemic, the cost of vehicles spiralled and hence there was the backlash, which was understood and justified. And why gm is now in a in a different position. We are saying that you can do this in a different way as long as im there. No i will not have a charging zone either. A congestion charge scheme or a clean air style scheme. The clean air style scheme. The reason being the north of england has never had the investment in transport to allow some people to live without their car for well, there we are i labour mayor says no clean air zone or charging zone shock. So lets get more with chris now whos back in westminster having survived that rail route from manchester back down to london. Chris its quite a stance for him to take a polar opposite to sadiq khan in london. Yeah yeah. Its certainly a challenge, isnt it, to sadiq khan who taken this ulez idea to extremes in london and expanding it out to the Greater London area that has not and will now has not happened and will now not manchester. Its not happen in manchester. Its quite a big deal is because there are are 1300 signs up in manchester warning of this new what they call a caz scheme, a clean air zone scheme. Theres also a 400 or so mask with cameras on which the police might now take over to do more detecting of crimes. Mr burnham detecting of crimes. Mr burnham told me also that those those cameras are now catching criminals and thats why theyll theyll stay there. But the idea is a different way of doing it. Hes looking for more money from central government. Maybe maybe over for buses. Over 120 million for more buses. These will these are electric buses will reduce emissions. And his point in Greater Manchester is that they havent got the same kind of Public Transport Network that london has with the tube and the overland and the docklands overland buses and the docklands light railway, all that kind of thing. They havent got that in manchester. They have trams manchester. They have got trams and b network to and this b network is meant to bnng and this b network is meant to bring it all together under under one over, over arching authority. Quite authority. But its quite a challenge think, to the trend challenge i think, to the trend for lots of towns and cities to try bring in new ulez try and bring in these new ulez zones. Mr burnham is doing it differently. Yes, he saying no to ulez yes, he is saying no to ulez or that sort of zone. But he or that sort of zone. But he makes the point, doesnt he . And makes the point, doesnt he . And he explains why hes perhaps an outlier outlier in all of this by saying the north has never had enough public transport in order to get rid of their cars. Youve got rishi sunak making that point for him by admits today that hes going to be driving to the tory Party Conference at the weekend as well. Well. Thats right. Im sure he wont be hell be doing it in a ulez clean air zone compliant car because its only older vehicles which are, of course caught by these rules. Certainly in london. But thats right. There isnt the same level of transport links and thats why the hs2, northern spur is so important north of birmingham, because part of that does form this link in the Northern Powerhouse rail. If that doesnt happen , theres a real problem happen, theres a real problem with of linking hull with this idea of linking hull to to liverpool. To manchester, to liverpool. Thats its important. Thats why its so important. I think challenge to the think this is a challenge to the government, of course, is being saying statistics and saying to these statistics and towns, going towns, show us how youre going towns, show us how youre going to your air. They to clean up your air. They almost and in ways almost try and in some ways policy trying push them policy is trying to push them towards go policy is trying to push them towetown go policy is trying to push them towetown centres go policy is trying to push them towetown centres. Go policy is trying to push them towetown centres. As go policy is trying to push them towetown centres. As i go policy is trying to push them towetown centres. As i thinkgo into town centres. As i think burnham saying, this far and burnham is saying, this far and no further to the government of course is course the context is everything. Theres big everything. Theres a big election may next election coming up in may next yean election coming up in may next year. Tories could well run year. The tories could well run mr quite closely, as mr burnham quite closely, as well as as might happen i think, in london. So i think the context of this is an election approaching in may. Mr burnham wants to win a third successive term, but it does mean that there could well charging there could well be no charging in manchester until 2028. If he wins. Wins. And of course, still these questions , chris, about hs2, the questions, chris, about hs2, the Prime Minister speaking to all these local radio stations this morning. Theyre all wanting to know, or at least put to him, you know, people feeling betrayed by his wavering over hs2. And then i think he replied by saying, well, were investing by saying, well, were investing by filling potholes as well. By filling in potholes as well. Hes right. I mean, i think we shouldnt be snooty about potholes. I think potholes are a complete nightmare. If you drive around anywhere on on roads in britain, the particularly in the rain or at time, can easily at night time, you can easily hit one and get a puncture potholes because potholes are vital because councils say they are Money Councils say they are need money for potholes because theyve lost from the central lost money from the central government. Thats government funding. So thats part regular upgrading of part of the regular upgrading of and restoring our roads to and restoring of our roads to safe, safe but you safe, safe levels. But you certainly this is a mess of his own making. Hes on the way to manchester in his own car, as you say, this weekend, as is massive uncertainty over massive uncertainty hanging over the northern route on the northern northern route on hs2. Its really the tories hs2. Its really the tories fault. Theyve allowed it to fault. Theyve allowed it to get. Get the to allow this get. So to get the to allow this speculation carry on and its speculation to carry on and its not no of being of not no sign of it being of ending despite what were told it only decided the it might only be decided in the autumn statement november, it might only be decided in the autlit|n statement november, it might only be decided in the autlitlooks ement november, it might only be decided in the autlit looks like nt november, it might only be decided in the autlit looks like nt williovember, it might only be decided in the autlit looks like nt will hang ber, but it looks like it will hang over the conference and not in a good if the tory party. Good way if the tory party. Christopher our okay. Christopher hope, our political there in Political Editor there in westminster for us. Thank you very up , a very much. Now, coming up, a Sudanese National is expected to appear at Folkestone Magistrates Court today charged with facilitating illegal immigration. Well have the latest with our Home Security editor after your headlines with lisa hartle. Its 1230. Lisa hartle. Its1230. Im lisa hartle in the gb news room. Local transport minister Richard Holden says the government will not rule out stop and search after a 15 Year Old Girl named locally as eliana was stabbed to death on her way to school in london. A 17 year old boy who knew the victim remains in custody after being arrested in croydon yesterday morning. The girls school morning. The girls school described her as a valued friend and pupil while more migrant boats are expected to arrive on the italian island of lampedusa tomorrow as weather conditions improve. Strong winds in the improve. Strong winds in the mediterranean prevented any crossings for more than a week. Crossings for more than a week. Gb news understands that tunisian people smugglers have now begun preparing boats to launch into the sea. The new launch into the sea. The new defence secretary has visited the ukrainian capital kyiv, for the ukrainian capital kyiv, for the First Time Since taking up the First Time Since taking up the post. Grant shapps discussed how to bolster ukraines air defences during talks with ukraines president Vladimir Zelenskyy. Mr shapps replaced host ben wallace as defence secretary last month and vowed to keep up britains support for ukraine in the labour leader has denied launching an attack on private schools, with his plans to impose vat payments on fees if he wins an election. Sir keir if he wins an election. Sir keir starmer says hes comfortable with the institutions but wants to ensure state schools are of equal quality. Sir keir says his equal quality. Sir keir says his plan is about the removal of a tax exemption. You can get more tax exemption. You can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website , gbnews. Com visiting our website, gbnews. Com weekdays from 330 on. Gb news. Weekdays from 330 on. Gb news. Welcome back to the live desk. Lets bring you some very sad breaking news that the death has been announced of actor Sir Michael Gambon. Were being told Michael Gambon. Were being told that he died peacefully in hospital at the age of 82. According to his family. The statement coming from his wife, lady gambon, a son, fergus. Were devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Of course. He was one of our course. He was one of our greatest classical actors, i think a member of the royal shakes beer company. But taking over the role of dumbledore in the harry potter films from Richard Harris and then having the honour of having a corner named on the top gear test track after his outing in one of the cars on that program. But a much loved film stage and Television Actor yes, the statement from the family describes him as a beloved husband and father. Beloved husband and father. Sir michael died peacefully in hospital following a bout of pneumonia, they say we ask that you respect our privacy at this painful time, and we thank you for your messages of support and love. So very, very sad news that the actor Michael Gambon, Sir Michael Gambon, has died at the age of 82. And no doubt the tributes will be coming in thick and fast. Well update you on those as as we get them. Sad news now. Ileana arade dam has been named as the pupil at old palace of John Whitgift school in croydon , who is the victim of croydon, who is the victim of yesterdays knife attack in croydon , arent speaking to croydon, arent speaking to reporters today to reveal her dream of becoming a lawyer. Its believed that shed intervened to help a friend before she was fatally stabbed. Well, a witness said there had been an argument after an attempt to give alanas friend flowers before she was stabbed. A boy aged 17, believed to have been known to the victim, was arrested shortly after she died. Police have been given more time to question him until tomorrow morning. And now at least 40 bunches of flowers have been laid at the scene in croydon as local people pay their respect. Its and renewed their respect. Its and renewed calls to cut down on knife crime because shes the 16th teen age victim of a fatal attack in london this year. Our reporter Charlie Peters is at the scene there for us. And charlie, i guess were learning the human cost now with her name being issued locally. The picture and of course, the whole issue of such a young promising life being lost. Being lost. Thats right, mark and her family spoke of the heartbreak of her great future, a promising and aspiring lawyer being stolen from her. Bunches of flowers that you referenced left at the scene, but also forensic officers working hard behind us since we arrived, as reported that they collected both a love note and flowers as they conducted their investigation early yesterday. And now she is the first teenager to have been killed in croydon since december 2021. She marks the 15th teenage murder of this year , already murder of this year, already superseding the figures last yean croydon itself has had over 200 stabbing incidents this year and speaking to locals this morning on the street, many of them told me that they just dont feel safe. Dont feel safe. Mother of daughters spoke to me and said that the first thing she did when she heard the incident was cry. And the second thing looking for thing was start looking for properties outside the area. Properties outside of the area. Has really charlie, this has really affected the local community, hasnt it . Weve seen scenes of flowers being laid in tribute to euana. Flowers being laid in tribute to eliana. Thats right. Eliana. Thats right. And people here, they said that its business as normal and its a return to the normal hustle and bustle that youd expect of a work day in croydon. But there is a renewed sense of the of that many the lack of safety that many people that they feeling people say that they are feeling in and people, of in the area. And many people, of course, starting by saying that its a terrible, sad its just a terrible, sad scenario. Most people , when they its just a terrible, sad scen. Aboutiost people , when they its just a terrible, sad scen. About stabbingse , when they its just a terrible, sad scen. About stabbings in when they its just a terrible, sad scen. About stabbings in london, zy hear about stabbings in london, they anticipate victim they dont anticipate the victim to teenage girl. And this to be a teenage girl. And this added added element that added an added element that there a reported her stepping there is a reported her stepping in to prevent an attack , in to prevent an attack, possibly on a friend of hers. Also adds to the grave sense of the sense of her stepping in and standing up for her friend, which many people say a which many people say is a tragic that they have tragic scenario that they have been reflecting on over the last 24 hours. Now, charlie, we can still see a bus behind you there. Is that still a bus in situ . Because clearly this is still a crime scene as such. There thats correct. And forensics officers are still sweeping around the area. We saw them Walking Around the bus earlier andindeed Walking Around the bus earlier and indeed still searching through the bushes around the bus and indeed, further down the road , the whole street is road, the whole street is blocked off. Cars are being blocked off. Cars are being blocked from going anywhere near it and diverted by Police Officers at both ends. And there are dozens of officers here, both reassuring the public, but also conducting further investigations and looking through the area. Indeed. Charlie, thank you indeed. Charlie, thank you very much indeed for updating us there at the scene. Just to remind you , police say theyve remind you, police say theyve been given extra 24 hours until tomorrow morning to question a 17 year old boy arrested just an hour after the attack on wellesley road. There at around 830 yesterday morning. More, of course, as we get it. Now, Sudanese National is expected to appear before Folkestone Magistrates Court today charged with facilitating illegal immigration. Well, the 21 year old was arrested by the National Crime agency as part of an investigation into the death of a 24 year old woman whose body was found on bleriot beach near calais. Remember we updated you calais. Remember we updated you on that. But lets get more now. The home and securing editor mark white, whos still on the island of lampedusa , of course, island of lampedusa, of course, where authorities there to mark are trying to cope with the influx of people with, i think more boats are being expected imminently, to according the authorities there. Authorities there. Yes, thats right. First of all, on this charge that relates to 21 year old jamal mwendwa , to 21 year old jamal mwendwa, who is a Sudanese National, the National Crime agency believe that he was piloting the boat at the centre of that tragedy off the centre of that tragedy off the coast of calais. The belief the coast of calais. The belief is that this woman, an eritrean woman, had been trying to get on that board, that boat when she fell off and drowned. Her body fell off and drowned. Her body was then found on the beach early the next morning and tuesday morning. So this man has tuesday morning. So this man has been charged with soliciting or facilitating, i should say , facilitating, i should say, illegal immigration into the uk. He will be appearing in Folkestone Magistrates Court today. What often happens mark, is that many of the migrants are given a discount on the price that it will cost for them to cross the english channel. If they agree to get be behind the wheel of that boat effectively to get on the motor and power that boat across. But of course that boat across. But of course that then leaves them open to being charged. Now, as you were saying in your introduction, there , they are based here in there, they are based here in lampedusa for a significant migrant arrival as early as tomorrow. So now we filmed in tomorrow. So now we filmed in the harbour actually just an hour or so ago as a delegation of human rights officials and other officials arrived here in lampedusa. They were taken around the harbour and shown an area where there are dozens of these empty migrant boats still tied up. They are in all shapes and sizes and are made of makeshift vessels. What they all makeshift vessels. What they all have in common is that none of them are seaworthy. And of them are seaworthy. And of course, in each of the boats there are the rubber tire inner tubes that are used as makeshift lifejackets for the migrants. The last of the 11,000 migrants that came here, the last boat actually was a week ago last thursday , when 75 people thursday, when 75 people arrived. They have now all been cleared off the island. 101 people left on wednesday night for the mainland. And in italy, for the mainland. And in italy, just to clear the red cross camp there to make way for other migrant boats that they are expecting to start arriving tomorrow. And they will be preparing for that migrant surge because the authorities in lampedusa will be all too aware of what happened there a decade ago. Happened there a decade ago. There will be keen to avoid another tragedy. And the reminder that death of the eritrean woman in the channel will be a stark reminder to the authorities in lampedusa. This is the real human cost of this migrant crisis. Migrant crisis. These tragedies in the mediterranean are regular. Remember we were reporting yesterday about two boats that had disappeared , that all had disappeared, that all contact had been lost with them. Thatis contact had been lost with them. That is still the case. These boats set off 48 hours ago, one carrying 145 people on board. The other 90 people they left from west libya to benghazi area. They may eventually end up in lampedusa. What happens is these boats can be out there at sea for several days. Some dont sea for several days. Some dont make it. Of course , others do make it. Of course, others do make it. Of course, others do make it. Of course, others do make it. But maybe not to the intended location. And they end intended location. And they end up in greece or italy or some of the spanish islands. It just the spanish islands. Itjust depends on the wind and the currents where that takes them. But they are preparing yet for a significant wave of new arrivals here because they have been told and by their intelligence that the people smugglers in tunisia to the closest country to lampedusa are now preparing their boats to launch. Now that their boats to launch. Now that the winds have died down in the mediterranee region. Mark, on lampedusa, thanks for updating us there. Back to for updating us there. Back to you. Of course, as we get more details about those two boats still there the still missing out there in the mediterranean. Mediterranean. Now the average five year fixed rate has fallen fixed Mortgage Rate has fallen back below the 6 mark for the first time today since july. Well, thats according to the Financial Information website moneyfacts. But i can do a little better for you because as Mortgage Brokers are saying , Mortgage Brokers are saying, actually you can get below 5 now, at least six major lenders going below 5, virgin money, 4. 82, natwest and hsbc 4. 89. But thats for a five year Mortgage Rate. So still a fixed rate. So rate. So still a fixed rate. So slightly encouraging now for those trying to get onto the housing ladder. Yes, encouraging. Is it good yes, encouraging. Is it good news for buyers as homes are being sold £12,000 below the average asking price . Thats according to the property website zoopla. So could buyers website zoopla. So could buyers be tempted back into the Property Market . Well, joining us now is our business and economics editor Liam Halligan with on the money. With on the money. So higher, higher, lower , so higher, higher, lower, lower. Freeze freeze. Yeah didnt he do well that was that was pretty stunning. Yeah. Okay 12 mark. Yeah cuddly toy. No its interesting that obviously we the Mortgage Market is trying to second guess where the bank of england is going. Significant to go below 6. But as we say now, these deals out there , according these deals out there, according to the brokers, below 5 as well. Why is that . Because as the bank of england froze Interest Rates this last week, of course , we this last week, of course, we were going to get a 15th successive raise. But actually the inflation number the day before was down. There was some good signs of wage pressures easing in the economy , strikes easing in the economy, strikes being solved and so on. And so the bank of england kept rates where they were and the Mortgage Market is fonnard looking. If this is if Interest Rates at 5. 25 from the bank of england are now the peak, by definition, if youve got five year if youve got a five year mortgage later on in that mortgage, the bank of englands rate is going to be much lower. Its to thats why its going to cost. Thats why theres theres a of theres a lot theres a lot of things in this country that arent particularly competitive. Right. A lot of rigging and fixing the fixing of markets. But the market if youre market for cash, if youre buying is pretty buying a house is pretty competitive. So now youve got Mortgage Companies offering better rates for home buyers , better rates for home buyers, and that will be felt when it comes to house prices. And indeed whats happening to asking prices. Yeah and the figures is the latest evidence that people are starting to struggle with those higher mortgage costs that weve seen in the past year or so. The number of First Time Buyers in the uk has fallen by a fifth, and its homes that are in renovation are in need of renovation that are most so its people most in demand. So its people looking for cheaper housing. Yeah, exactly. Bargain. Yeah, exactly. A bargain. Look. Lets have a look. So what weve got weve got some weve got here, weve got some numbers zoopla numbers from zoopla. Now zoopla is information is a Property Information website. As you may know, and ive some the numbers in ive put some of the numbers in a what zoopla is a graphic. So what zoopla is saying is that on average, sellers are now dropping their asking prices by £12,000 and thats an average discount of 4. 2. So it is a buyers market. Buyers can push push , push for buyers can push push, push for sellers to lower their prices. And why is this happening . Because higher Interest Rates are curtailing demand. You cant you cant borrow as much money for the same given monthly outlay of a mortgage payments. So unless your wages go up, you cant borrow more. So thats sort of curtailed what buyers can afford to offer. And of course , as you say, were course, as you say, were getting fewer First Time Buyers on zoopla say that while the average discount is 4. 2 on the asking price and we know a lot of Estate Agents will jack up the asking price to get the instruction zoopla is saying that one in in ten are sales that one in in ten are sales that go through the offer is dropped by more than 10. Wow so really, really chunky. So if you think the average house is like 280 grand, thats like 30 grand reduction. Yeah. Yeah. However there is there still a problem in that to get some these mortgage deals, some of these mortgage deals, particularly need still to particularly you need still to have a good deposit have a pretty good deposit to put are finding put in. And people are finding that difficult get that cash that difficult to get that cash together , especially if theyre together, especially if theyre coming sector. Coming from from rental sector. Been the thats always been the difficulty deposit difficulty getting a deposit together. Renting as together. If you are renting as well and you know people are spending a third or half of their income on rent, its absolutely its absolutely terrible. And so what weve got now is a situation where the market is starting to turn. We market is starting to turn. We have seen a fall in house prices. It has been a buyers market as ellie says, people are looking for bargains. As ellie says, people are looking for bargains. Theyre looking for bargains. Theyre looking for bargains. Theyre looking for bargains. Theyre looking for fixer uppers, as they in america, rather than they say in america, rather than they say in america, rather than the finished objects. And it may be if the Interest Rate does peak here, then the Housing Market will turn one blot on the landscape. And said this landscape. And ive said this before, if we have an inflation spike autumn and spike again this autumn and winter , particularly with the winter, particularly with the oil going to say oil price, i was going to say that be because bank of that could be because bank of england not be then talking england will not be then talking about peaking. About Interest Rates peaking. Theyll about theyll be talking about interest having Interest Rates possibly having to again. Again to go up again. And that again will have pushed through, implicate actions on the Housing Market. M arket. Market. And i guess its good to have liquidity, as they say, in the Housing Market things because people then go out and spend , people then go out and spend, you know, they get the curtains, they get the furniture, whatever, and it feeds into the economy. But this still they do. But this is still a very slow market, not least because buyers want to because buyers dont want to drop prices and sellers drop their prices and sellers are trouble getting are having trouble getting proper mortgage through. Proper mortgage offers through. So, i mean, zoopla is saying by the end of this year, the turnover in the Housing Market will be theyre predicting a fifth lower than in 2022. So 20 fewer housing transactions. With fewer housing transactions. With all those economic benefits and knock ons that you talk about, mark, this is what happens when you raise Interest Rates. Its not Just Companies find it hard to its not just to invest. Its notjust consumers dont want to spend, but its that people cant but its also that people cant borrow money to buy a borrow enough money to buy a home, over their head. So home, a roof over their head. So house start falling, house prices start falling, which then which means everyone then panics. Im going panics. Oh, im not going to sell you know, i could talk sell now. You know, i could talk to people in the news to a dozen people in the gb news newsroom been talking to me newsroom have been talking to me about terms of their own about this in terms of their own personal circumstances. Is this really sell really the right time to sell your when prices are your house when prices are falling . No. Youre probably going thats going to wait. And thats whats happening. Ever, thanks for liam, as ever, thanks for taking through all and taking us through all that and the latest figures. As i say, 4. 82. I heard it from me first. Yeah, very good. Good journalist in iraq now research in nottinghamshire has revealed that tourism has recorded £2 billion, brought into the nottinghamshire economy last year by visitors from other parts of the uk and abroad. Biggest draws football, nightlife. Nightlife. And someone called robin hood. We sent our east Midlands Reporter will hollis to find out more. More. Yes, i know you can scarce believe your eyes. Tis i robin hood fame. A son of Nottingham Hood fame. A son of nottingham hero of shennood forest champion of england, a story passed down through the centuries, taking from the rich, giving to the poon Aiden Andrews has played robin hood for 30 years. Is his heritage. Tours of nottingham have themselves become legend. Have themselves become legend. Robin hood is great for nottingham and for england. Shes world famous , but there is shes world famous, but there is a lot more to nottingham than robin hood as well. And people when they come here and scratch the surface of this concrete jungle, look a bit deeper. What they is the unsung hero they do find is the unsung hero of tourism in of england tourism in nottinghamshire is built upon the bedrock of the robin hood legend. Legend. But its much more than that. An industry so vibrant that last year it brought £2 billion into the local economy. Its into the local economy. Its a record spend from last years 32 million visitors as they come for football and culture, history and pubs in newark on trent bus loads of tourists arrive every day attracted to the ruins of a civil war fortress. Theres more of it than you are, than you were expecting. Ruins. Ruins. We really heard that this area was a lovely place to tour i my mums come today to visit me, so i thought id sure around the site its a really lovely town for history. Town for history. King john died here and he was big, bad king, wasnt he . Where . Councillor Keith Girling is in charge of Economic Development nottinghamshire in charge of economic develecouncil nottinghamshire in charge of economic develecouncil , nottinghamshire in charge of economic develecouncil , tourism amshire vital. Its a massive economy. Absolutely huge , and it employs absolutely huge, and it employs lots of people for a start. So it means a lot to those people in the industry, but it also means a lot to the peripheries tourism is worth £127 billion a year to the uk , according to year to the uk, according to visit britain. Visit britain. Thats almost a 10th of gdp. Thats almost a 10th of gdp. Back in the city, the sector has almost recovered after being trashed during the pandemic. Trashed during the pandemic. Black jack is from visit nottinghamshire for nottinghams tourism economy has done really, really well amongst the backdrop of a really difficult last year. People are feeling the pinch in the pockets right now because of whole host of different of a whole host of Different Reasons and were actually seeing the tourism economy seeing that the tourism economy continues to back. Continues to bounce back. Robin hood knew how to keep the cash in. Different the cash coming in. Different methods , maybe, but the aim is methods, maybe, but the aim is the same. Will hollis gb news in nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire. Lets reflect again on that very sad breaking news we brought you that the actor Sir Michael Gambon, has died at the age of 82. His family saying he died peacefully in hospital. They were at his side , of they were at his side, of course, a classical actor appearing on stage back in 1962. First playing othello, but then more recently , of course, huge more recently, of course, huge worldwide fame, playing professor dumbledore in the harry potter films, taking over from Richard Harris. From Richard Harris. Yes. He won four bafta was and he is known for his extensive back catalogue of work across tv , film, radio and across tv, film, radio and theatre. And his career spanned theatre. And his career spanned five decades. Hes also known for playing the french detective Jules Maigret in the itv series and for starring in the bbc series the singing detective. Yeah, as well as those baftas , two Screen Actors Guild awards , three Olivier Awards as a knighted for his contribution to the Entertainment Industry in 1998. His family saying, were devastated. A beloved husband and father and please, they say to look at the privacy of the family. But no doubt the family. But no doubt the tributes will be coming thick and fast. Well update you on those here on gb news. Stay us well. Good afternoon. Its 1 well. Good afternoon. Its1 p. M. Well. Good afternoon. Its1 pm. And youre here its 1 pm. And youre here with the live desk on gb news coming up for you this thursday lunchtime. Lunchtime. Your life taken away at your prime. The tributes being paid to the 15 Year Old Girl named locally as elliana stabbed to death yesterday in croydon, the 15th teenage victim of homicide in london this year. Uproar in wales as their biggest bus operator says the new national 20 mile per hour limit is causing timetable, chaos and the minister behind the scheme says local councils can now change the limit if it suits them. And the limit if it suits them. And the limit if it suits them. And the tributes being paid to this man actor Sir Michael Gambon, whos died at the age of 82, celebrated of course, most recently as professor dumbledore in the harry potter films. In the harry potter films. And well also be hearing from the mayor of Greater Manchester in an exclusive interview on his citys new transport system. As rishi sunak says , he will as rishi sunak says, he will be driving to the Party Conference in manchester this weekend and refuses to answer. Repeated questions about the future of hs2. Well first, the latest News Headlines with lisa hartle. Good afternoon. Hartle. Good afternoon. Its 1 01. Hartle. Good afternoon. Its1 01. Im lisa hartle in the newsroom. Film television and stage actor Sir Michael Gambon has died at the age of 82. Sir michael, who was best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the harry potter films , won one for tv. Baftas in films, won one for tv. Baftas in a career that spanned five decades. He made his first appearance on stage in 1962, going on to perform with the National Theatre and the old vic. His family issued a statement saying, our beloved husband and father, michael, died peacefully in hospital following a bout of pneumonia. Following a bout of pneumonia. Roads and local transport minister Richard Holden says the government will not rule out a stop and search after a 15 Year Old Girl was stabbed to death on her way to school in london. A 17 year old boy who knew the victim remains in custody after being arrested in croydon yesterday morning. The girl named locally , as eliana, was named locally, as eliana, was described by her school as a valued friend and pupil. Mr holden told gb news whats being done to tackle knife crime. New legislation has been brought in. Sentences are being strengthened, which is vitally important as well. But overall, i think this is about what us as a society really ensuring that we get across to people, that there is no place for possession of a knife and that, yes, there is no place for possession of a knife and that , yes, the of a knife and that, yes, the government will act with tougher sentencing and weve got extra police, 20,000 plus now, extra since when . I was elected in 2019. Out on the streets. 2019. Out on the streets. Meanwhile, former met Police Detective Peter Bleksley says police need to be more robust in tackling knife crime. Tackling knife crime. Knife crime is at epidemic proportions. There are so far this year up until august. So in the 12 months up until august , the 12 months up until august, there had been 211 knife crime incidents with injury. In croydon alone and that only makes it the 10th most prevalent borough in london. So theres nine boroughs worth less than croydon. There are too many knives. There are too many stabbings, there are too many deaths. Deaths. More migrant boats will arrive on the italian island of lampedusa tomorrow as weather conditions improve. Strong winds conditions improve. Strong winds in the mediterranean prevented any crossings for more than a week. Gb news understands that week. Gb news understands that tunisian people smugglers have now begun preparing boats to launch in the sea. This morning, launch in the sea. This morning, a group of human rights lawyers and other visited the and other officials visited the island to understand the impact of the crisis. The new defence of the crisis. The new defence secretary has visited the ukrainian capital kyiv for the First Time Since taking up the post. Grant shapps discussed how to bolster ukraines air defences during talks with ukraines president Vladimir Zelenskyy. Mr shapps replaced ben wallace as defence secretary last month and vowed to keep up britains support for ukraine. The labour leader has denied launching an attack on private schools with his plans to impose vat payments on fees if he wins an election. Sir keir starmer an election. Sir keir starmer says hes comfortable with the institutions, but he wants to ensure state schools are of equal quality. Sir keir says his plan is about the removal of a tax exemption. He also encourages private schools, not to raise fees due to the additional costs imposed by the policy. It experts are calling policy. It experts are calling on the Prime Minister to prioritise ai ethics during a safety summit next month. A safety summit next month. A survey by bcs , the chartered survey by bcs, the chartered institute for it , found that 88 institute for it, found that 88 of tech experts want the uk to lead in setting Global Ethical standards. The survey also shows standards. The survey also shows that 82 believe companies should publish ethical policies on al use new laws in Northern Ireland have been implemented to prevent the public from attending trials for serious sexual offences. The law extends sexual offences. The law extends the anonymity for victims until 25 years after their death and provides anonymity for suspects until they are charged. The measures aim to protect victims and encourage reports of sexual crimes. Any violations carry penalties of up to six months in pnson penalties of up to six months in prison and an extremely rare, silvery gibbon has been born at a wildlife park on the isle of man. The pictures show the yet to be named gibbon, nestled in its mothers lap. Its the third silvery gibbon arrival at the zoo since the babys parents were brought over to the island in 2016 as part of a global breeding programme. Theyre an endangered species with only 2000 left in the wild. This is 2000 left in the wild. This is gb news across the uk on tv , on gb news across the uk on tv, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now back to mark and nelly. Thank you so much. Lisa now euana thank you so much. Lisa now eliana adam, a pupil at old palace of John Whitgift school in croydon , has now been named in croydon, has now been named locally as the victim of yesterdays knife attack in croydon. Her aunt spoke to croydon. Her aunt spoke to reporters today , revealing reporters today, revealing elianas dream of being a lawyer. Its believed she intervened to help her friend before being fatally stabbed. One witness said there had been an argument that had broken out as elianas friend was given flowers she was then flowers before she was then stabbed. A boy, aged 17, has been arrested shortly after she died and police have been given more time to question him until tomorrow morning. At least 40 bunches of flowers have now been laid at the scene as local people pay their respects there. Theres also been renewed calls to clamp down on knife crime. Eliana is the 15th teenage victim of a fatal attack in london this yean fatal attack in london this year. Well Charlie Peters is still down there live for us in croydon. Croydon. And charlie, we were saying that we can see the bus there still behind you at the centre of this incident. I guess this is still effectively a crime scene there in the middle of this busy shopping area. The this busy shopping area. The thats correct. Its a calm but but sorrowful scene. Weve seen in the last 20 minutes. Senior Police Officers leading people to collect and gather more flowers past the bus where the altercation is believed to have started. That led to elianas death. The very calm elianas death. The very calm and scene here flooded with Police Officers contrast quite sharply with what local reports shared with us last night, where croydon was said to be overrun with a sense of unrest and a moody atmosphere , with police moody atmosphere, with Police Officers flooding on reassurance patrols in the centre of croydon. One witness here today said yesterday there was a complete change in the atmosphere as the news spread through the town and the local area about the murder and charlie, there really has been an outpouring of grief from the community there in croydon as witnesses have been speaking a picture has started to build of euana picture has started to build of eliana and the person that she was a and reports locally that she was actually stepping in to protect her friend. Thats protect her friend. Thats right. And the bus you can see behind me, its understood that she she stood in to prevent an attack and a rising argument that had started between the lead suspect who is still being questioned by police and her friend. Now, the forensics friend. Now, the forensics officers here are still working, looking under cars , looking looking under cars, looking through bushes. But its understood that yesterday they collected both a love note and indeed a set of flowers left on the bus. Believe it to have been offered to the girl that eliana was stepping in to protect. Offered to the girl that eliana was stepping in to protect. Many people i spoke to this morning said the sense loss they said that the sense of loss they feel is not only just for the girl whos been killed, but also a sense a hero who was a sense of a local hero who was willing stand her willing to stand up for her friend and the wider context. Now, of course , is with now, of course, is with police pointing out the number of attacks involving teenagers in the london area. 15 fatal attacks now in this past year alone. Alone. Thats right. And croydon, this is its first teenage killing since december 2021. But if you look back and look across the capital, there have been 2290 knife related incidents in the capital since january and over 5 increase since last yean over 5 increase since last year. Clearly a big issue on the agenda and something that both the mayor and indeed local ministers are urging more focus on. Now, clearly, shes been named locally as this very promising student. Do we named locally as this very promising student. Do we know promising student. Do we know what the school is doing for other pupils . Because this we assume, was the school or a bus going towards school with them all on board, a very traumatic event for all these youngsters. Event for all these youngsters. Thats right. Elianas family spoke of their heartbreak at how euana spoke of their heartbreak at how eliana was a keen future lawyer and aspiring lawyer, and that her future had been taken from her. And the school issued a statement saying that they were standing in solidarity with all pupils were deeply pupils and were deeply disturbed by attack. And that feeling, by the attack. And that feeling, that sentiment really shared on the streets of croydon today. Many people saying that you know, they thought of her as they conducted their run they conducted their school run this. The mother of this morning. The mother of daughter is saying that she was looking the as looking to leave the area as soon could. Soon as she could. An absolute the an absolute shock to the community there. Charlie peters in , who will across in croydon, who will stay across that developing story for us on the live desk now, one of waless biggest Bus Operators says its new national 20 mile, an hour speed limit is causing challenging operational conditions. Conditions. That means its having to review both its routes and its timetables. Well the new limit for urban areas has also triggered a backlash from drivers with a petition calling for it to be scrapped now gaining more than 440,000 signatures in response , the signatures in response, the minister responsible, lee waters, says the local councils can now change the limit if they want to. Well, our reporter jack carson is in mould to catch up with. With. Well, it wont take you long to catch up with 20 miles an houn to catch up with 20 miles an hour. I guess, jack. But some pretty mixed sort of messages coming from motorists. The Bus Companies and the local authorities on this. Yes authorities on this. Yes yeah, its certainly a divisive issue. Mark, this is only, of course , been in place only, of course, been in place for 11 days. It feels like theres not necessarily from the Welsh Governments point of view, there not being enough time to see this implementation to court, you know, to change anything necessarily. But of course there is a big petition for 150,000 people, almost 450,000 people have now signed that petition on the Senate Website calling for this policy to be revoked. There was protests in cardiff at the weekend. Theres more planned weekend. Theres more planned slow protests on carriageways around this area this weekend as well because people are deeply unhappy. Well because people are deeply unhappy. But well because people are deeply unhappy. But of course it is a mix of people because theyre also understanding of the safety aspect. Thats certainly something welsh something that the Welsh Government trying push government are trying to push the with the safety aspect with pedestrians particularly. They say 20 miles an hour is to say that 20 miles an hour is to going reduce serious injuries, save the welsh nhs £92 million and cut down on those accidents at 20 miles an hour by 40. But of course it is those Bus Companies. It is those Delivery Companies. It is those Delivery Companies that are often just in time trying to keep to a schedule where there has been a little bit of some teething problems with this new change in in the miles an hour there were eight trial zones across wales for this 20 mile an hour speed limit. But of course, with the whole now default limit, whole now default speed limit, 20 hour and all those 20 miles an hour and all those residential areas to residential areas changing to that limit , it does that lower speed limit, it does mean are coming mean that timetables are coming out a little bit out of what was planned. Wales told gb planned. Arriva wales told gb news that theyve been closely monitoring this situation since the since the speed limit came into force. They say so far there been an impact on there has been an impact on punctuality as journey times have been lengthened. They say thats been particularly noticeable on those longer journeys or journeys journeys or those journeys connecting. They say its connecting towns. They say its creating challenging operation conditions and that theyre undertaking a large scale review of the network and its going to require combination require a combination of additional changes to additional resource changes to frequencies and changes to routes to improve punctuality. So they can better serve their customers. But they do also customers. But they do also acknowledge that it is very early stages and they do need more time. But of course ive also wanted to find what the also wanted to find out what the people here in mould how people here in mould think, how theyve adapt to this change of 20 miles an hour. And heres what told on high what they told me on the high street a bit earlier on. Street a little bit earlier on. Its okay around schools and bungalows that but in other places its a complete waste of time. I think places its a complete waste of time. I think its places its a complete waste of time. I think its just slowing time. I think its just slowing everybody up. It i feel that cutting it down to 20 miles is saving peoples lives. And thats the main thing. Yeah driver be five minutes later to work then be involved in an accident arent i think its like a funeral procession going through the roads i understand on the side roads going to schools and things like that. But on the main arterial roads why cant stick to 30 . 30 was fine. Used to it, getting used to it, but if it saves one life, its got to be worth it. Its got to be worth it. The thoughts of the people of mould there, jack, who you were speaking to, it seems to be dividing people and also dividing people and also dividing the senate with lee waters, the minister behind this, facing a vote of no confidence since last night. Confidence since last night. Yeah he did survive that vote of no confidence that was put fonnard by the by the welsh conservatives. Of course, theyre concerned around the impact this is going to have on the economy. They were quick this were being quick to jump on this petition reaching more than 400,000 signatures. Theyve been quick to jump on and say that thats now more people have signed petition than voted signed that petition than voted for party, for the Welsh Labour Party, which course, are the which of course, are the governing party in wales. But Mark Drakeford has been clear in the says that 20 is the past. He says that 20 is plenty. He says that if 20 miles an hour is the price you pay for saving a few more lives, then thatis saving a few more lives, then that is a price worth paying it. Certainly, there, certainly, as you heard there, a few of views that have come few of the views that have come on the streets today. On the streets from me today. Those spoken to me those people have spoken to me today. But course, this issue today. But of course, this issue will on that petition will rumble on and that petition is serious force of people is a serious force of people behind it in this well in this country. And so that will, of course, have to be answered to as of course from the as well. But of course from the Welsh Governments point of view, they will say, will they put in manifesto . Put this in their manifesto . People knew when were people knew when they were voting party and when voting for this party and when they government that voting for this party and when thej 20 government that voting for this party and when thej 20 mile government that voting for this party and when thej20 mile an government that voting for this party and when thej20 mile an hourernment that voting for this party and when thej20 mile an hour speed nt that voting for this party and when thej20 mile an hour speed limit|t the 20 mile an hour speed limit was of their plan. And so the 20 mile an hour speed limit was should their plan. And so the 20 mile an hour speed limit was should comeplan. And so the 20 mile an hour speed limit was should comeplan. Isurprise this should come as no surprise to people of wales. This should come as no surprise to yeah,ople of wales. This should come as no surprise to yeah,ople then ales. This should come as no surprise to yeah,ople the confusion yeah, and the confusion continues , i guess, as well , continues, i guess, as well, because weve got this situation where this minister is saying , where this minister is saying, well, local authorities can actually look at opting out or changing the limit. And one wonders how many will actively be looking to do that. Now yeah, a lot of local authorities considering it, but also concerned about possible legal challenges as well. How they can actually do that. But of course, what you might well see if local authorities do put in requests to change it, have a have a zone, move back up to, say, the traditional 30 miles an houn say, the traditional 30 miles an hour, what you do then start is maybe you then start a precedent. Theres worries that other councils across wales will say, well, can a 30 mile well, if they can have a 30 mile an hour zone outside of school , an hour zone outside of school, why cant we . And then theres a certain might certain precedent that might well yeah, well be set there. So yeah, difficulties for local authorities , but of course with authorities, but of course with the power and certainly the people power and certainly the people power and certainly the power of this petition, there are questions and certainly consultations certainly some consultations that take place after that need to take place after this implementation session. Okay. Carson for us in okay. Jack carson for us in mould. Thank you very much. Now, mould. Thank you very much. Now, coming at gb news exclusive coming up at gb news exclusive with the mayor of Greater Manchester our political manchester and our Political Editor, christopher see editor, Christopher Hope. See you. Gb news radio show. Gb news radio show. Well, welcome back to the live desk. Lets bring you live desk. Lets bring you another gb news exclusive live with labours mayor of Greater Manchester, andy burnham. Opposing he says the creation of any clear air or traffic charging zone in his city. He was speaking exclusively to our Political Editor, chris hope , and this is what he had to hope, and this is what he had to say. Say. Youre doing here. Youre creating this new network to connect trams and buses and make it more seamless travellers. So were putting exactly. So were putting buses back under public control so that then we can link the bus fare system to the tram fare system. A tap in, tap out system. A tap in, tap out system. Weve already cut the cost of public transport in Greater Manchester by 20 to mark the arrival of the b network. So now today people can get tickets that are combined bus and tram tickets that are 20 cheaper than what they would have been before the b network. The thing about moving to a system under public control like the b network is fine. Finally, the b network is fine. Finally, after 40 years of routes being cut , of fares after 40 years of routes being cut, of fares going up, finally the people of Greater Manchester and now the bosses of the buses, its the other way around. Okay. Can you pay in cash on the bus network . You can. Its very important to have campaign. Aware and you know, we im aware and you know, we have conversations. Have conversations. So that will stay. That will stay. There are cash trays on the new electric buses that we and new electric buses that we and new electric buses that we and new electric buses. Can i just say to gb news built in britain. Yeah, built in britain in scotland, 50 new buses went onto the roads of wigan and bolton in the roads of wigan and bolton in the last 2 or 3 days. Built in, built in scotland. I think thats a great story, isnt it . And i think one of my appeals to the government is kind of, okay, well give you credit for helping us do this. So lets have more it because actually have more of it because actually it wont just help people in a cost of living crisis. It could also help us with our clean air. Youll cut emissions enough with your new 50 new electric buses, 50 more coming and the rest of it. That will that will mean you dont need to do any kind of ulez down here. Well, its not quite as simple as that. But let me explain really clearly. We explain this really clearly. We are confident and that the evidence backs this up, that if we were to if the government was to back the network, i. E. Help us bring more electric buses into Service Across the city region. But if it was also to region. But if it was also to back us with investment to help our our tax us improve our hackney cabs upgrade, we believe we can do it via an investment led approach rather than a charging based approach. Can we charging based approach. Can we now then agree that a clean air zone is not right for Greater Manchester a charging zone . Prime minister, you can come here this weekend. You can back the b network with the investment that it needs. You investment that it needs. You can back the taxi industry with the investment which it needs. And you have example and you could have an example all saying this is how you all of saying this is how you get in a fairer get to net zero, but in a fairer way for public. Greater way for the public. Greater manchester opportunity. Manchester is your opportunity. Not or never then, is its not or never then, is it . I mean, how much money do you need from the government not to here . To bring ulez here . I wont one. I said no, i wont have one. I said when i came in mayor when i came in as mayor that i wouldnt have congestion wouldnt have a congestion charge. Ive also saying i charge. And ive also saying i wouldnt have a charging clean air zone. Why is why . Because, i mean, when we first developed the clean air zone idea, it was meant to be enough money in the system to help everybody upgrade their then with their vehicles. And then with their vehicles. And then with the cost of the pandemic, the cost of vehicles spiralled and hence there the backlash, which there was the backlash, which was understood and justified. And why gm is now in a in a different position. We are saying that you can do this in a different way. As long as im there. No, i will not have a there. No, i will not have a charging zone either a congestion charge scheme or a clean air style scheme. The reason being the north of england has never had the investment in transport to allow some people to live without their car. Well lets get more now with chris. And of course weve got the Prime Minister revealing he is going to manchester by car for the Party Conference there this weekend. Do we know whether therell be any meeting of minds with andy burnham when he gets there . The yeah, were not sure there . The yeah, were not sure what car hell be driving. I doubt itll be one which will be caught by any kind of emissions missions legislation as might find in greater as you might find in Greater London where of course the ulez zone upset after zone has caused such upset after sadiq khan aggressively expanded it far further than most people thought he would do into basically the entire area of Greater London that option was open burnham because the open to andy burnham because the government said it wants to government has said it wants to see for number see clean air plans for a number of cities around the of towns and cities around the country, and they have put a country, and they have put in a lot network, a of gear lot of network, a lot of gear already. Theyve put in 1300 signs. Theyve put over 400 polls cameras on all ready polls with cameras on all ready to do this. But its been under review since may last year when it was due to come in. And hes told us on gb news today exclusively it now not exclusively that it will now not go ahead. That means that they go ahead. That means that they are for a more money are looking for a bit more money from maybe from central government, maybe £100 million more for more electric buses to bring down pollution. His point to us is that manchester is not london and thank goodness people might say manchester. Its not london, but its not london because its basically hasnt got the same kind level of infrastructure. Kind of level of infrastructure. The network overland the tube network overland trains a more developed bus network and thats why it wont work there. Thats why it wont work there. And hes putting his money where his mouth is with this be network. I mean, speaking to you earlier on this week, andy burnham saying that burnham was saying that manchester in manchester People Living in manchester, they shouldnt have to choose. Should have to choose. They should have opfions to choose. They should have options comes to public options when it comes to public transport, just the same as you would in london. Hes seeking re election with this isnt he . Hes looking ahead to next year. Thats right. Hes standing again , ellie, hes standing again, ellie, for a third term as Greater Manchester mayor in may. And the tories are running in quite close according to recent polling. So theres half an eye on the polling. But yeah, he on the polling. But yeah, he recognises that this idea why he says why he should the south get all the money, why should the south get all the attention, why should the south get in london, get a crossrail when they cant even get idea of this even get this idea of this Northern Powerhouse rail properly linking hull, properly linking up hull, manchester let manchester and liverpool, let alone of the alone the northern spur of the high speed rail link, which is which which is a big issue which is which is a big issue for weekend as the tory for this weekend as the tory party heads to for manchester the all these things the conference. All these things hes i think youre seeing hes i think what youre seeing here a more muscular here is a more muscular behaviour from these city mayors. I they seeing behaviour from these city may they they seeing behaviour from these city maywthey can they seeing behaviour from these city maywthey can th on seeing behaviour from these city maywthey can th on central1g now they can take on central government. Revealed earlier government. We revealed earlier this that this week that they that burnham, mr burnham may look at suing the government if it does try access leg try to access northern leg of hs2 without consultation. So hs2 without any consultation. So i we are seeing a more i think we are seeing a more powerful talk from now. Powerful talk from them now. Sunak has been speaking rishi sunak has been speaking to of radio stations to a lot of local radio stations on these very issues, saying the governments record governments investing record sums transport sums in transport infrastructure. But again, hes talking about, yes, buses, but filling potholes, not talking about hs2. It seems oddly, thats the one thing they dont want to talk about is hst. They are spending money and giving more money to council to fill in those potholes, which are the bane of anyone who lives outside its a big outside london. Often its a big issue roads, but is under issue on roads, but hs2 is under review. The government review. They felt the government felt they couldnt lie about it or or even i dont know why they havent said its an issue for the autumn statement in november and it there they and park it there instead. They simply talk about it. Simply wont talk about it. Which makes means everyones which makes it means everyones talking about it, of course, because thats we in because thats how we are in politics because thats how we are in poliweekend it will dominate , i this weekend it will dominate, i think, lot of the westminster think, a lot of the westminster rishi in rishi sunak yeah, based in manchester, course. Manchester, of course. Chris, as ever, thank you for updating us that well updating us on that and well see emerges in that Party Conference. Now, the princess of wales spent time with children with special Educational Needs and disabilities yesterday , disabilities yesterday, highlighting the importance of Early Childhood development. Well, services are stretched, with families saying they require more help across the country. Our royal correspondent Cameron Walker has more details for us. You can really see that she wants change, i think, and its really refreshing to see somebody in and show that somebody come in and show that interest that change. So for us, in early years, i think its really exciting. Think its really exciting. The princess of wales launched her centre for Early Childhood in 2021, driving awareness and action on the impacts the first years of life has on our futures is in kent. Yesterday the future queen visited a service supporting Young Children with special Education Needs and disabilities. Portage, which is available across england and wales through local authorities , also helps local authorities, also helps parents and carers to cope. Emilys daughter, beatrice , was emilys daughter, beatrice, was developing more slowly than other children when we first came about with portage , she was came about with portage, she was almost mute, wasnt speaking and her swallow was really poor. She wasnt able to interact with other children or be in rooms with this amount of people. So to do all rooms with this amount of people. Soto do all this rooms with this amount of people. So to do all this today, its. Soto do all this today, its a huge step. The princess met children, parents and carers, but hers not everyone has enough time or to money nurture a child with complex needs. Charlottes beer complex needs. Charlottes beer is a portage practise listener and agrees with princess catherine that early support is crucial. Crucial. It can be quite ovennhelming for families. You know, youre for families. You know, youre going through lots of process is lots of emotions. Theres lots to take in. But i think its really important to remember that these years are crucial and to all of this support in to get all of this support in now really makes that difference. And ultimately, all here. And ultimately, were all here working together, just trying to make those children make sure that those children are to going thrive. Sadly, in some areas, but sadly, in some areas, support stretch far support doesnt stretch far enough. From the enough. A backlog from the pandemic and more children who need extra support have created challenges nationwide. Heres janet rickman, chair of the national portage association. Theres certainly been an increase in in the numbers of children that are referred to lis. Us. Us. And sadly, in some areas theres a decrease in the number of practitioners. Of practitioners. Princess catherine launched a campaign shaping us this year, spotlighting the first five years of a childs life and how crucial developments can be crucial good developments can be for their futures. Todays visit is expected to be the first of many in the run up to christmas, focusing on children and their families. Cameron walker gb news families. Cameron walker gb news in kent. In kent. Well, when we come back, just who were republican . Me. Bless you. Not to be sneezed at. Not to be sneezed at. Who were they calling . Donald duck last night. Stay with to us find out. First, the headlines with lisa hartle. With lisa hartle. Its 130. With lisa hartle. Its130. Im lisa hartle in the newsroom. Film television and stage actor Sir Michael Gambon has died at the age of 82. Sir michael, who was best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the harry potter films, won four tv baftas in a career that spanned five decades, he made his first appearance on stage in 1962, going to on perform with the National Theatre and the old vic. His family issued a statement saying, our beloved husband and father, michael, died peacefully in hospital following a bout of pneumonia. Following a bout of pneumonia. Local transport minister Richard Holden says the government will not rule out stop and search after a 15 Year Old Girl named locally as eliana was stabbed to death on her way to school in london. A 17 year old boy who knew the victim remains in custody after being arrested in croydon yesterday morning. The girls school described her as a valued friend and pupil. Girls school described her as a valued friend and pupil. All valued friend and pupil. All more migrant boats are expected to arrive on the italian island of lampedusa tomorrow as weather conditions improve and strong winds in the mediterranean prevented any crossings for more than a week. Gb news understands that tunisian people smugglers have now begun preparing boats to launch into the sea. The new to launch into the sea. The new defence secretary has visited the ukrainian capital, kyiv for the ukrainian capital, kyiv for the First Time Since taking up the First Time Since taking up the post. Grant shapps discussed how to bolster ukraines air defences during talks with ukraines president Vladimir Zelenskyy. Mr shapps replaced ben wallace as defence secretary last month and vowed to keep up britains support for ukraine. You can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website gb news. Com stories by visiting our website gbnews. Com. Gbnews. Com. Direct bullion sponsors the Financial Report on gb news for gold and silver investment. Gold and silver investment. Heres a quick snapshot of todays markets. Todays markets. The pound will buy you 1. 2206 and ,1. 1583. The price of gold is £1,538 and £0. 27 per ounce. And the ftse 100 is at 7573 points. Direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical investment peoples. Channel welcome back to the live desk. Now, during a heated debate last night, Donald Trumps rivals for the republican nomination for next years election attacked the former president for being missing in action as he skipped a second successive debate. Successive debate. Indeed, he was described as donald duck in terms of ducking out by rival Chris Christie. However with Trump Holding a 40 point lead, would you believe, over the rest of the field . According to some opinion polls, at least, his rivals facing an uphill battle to beat him the uphill battle to beat him in the race to take on joe biden in 2024. Lets get more with professor of International Politics at University College dubun politics at University College dublin , scott lucas. You can dublin, scott lucas. You can join us. Scott, thanks very much for your time. It join us. Scott, thanks very much for your time. It wasnt perhaps for your time. It wasnt perhaps one of the most edifying debates, was it . Debates, was it . No. There was a lot of basically back and forth , a lot basically back and forth, a lot of trying to get digs on each other, scrambling for position. Other, scrambling for position. But that said, i think you got a couple of points that we should watch. Should watch. First, in terms of the issues, i think there was a lot of misinformation on a lot of even falsehoods , but they are even falsehoods, but they are attack lines. You can expect from at least some of the republicans, some of that misinformation was about immigration with even a couple of candidates like ron desantis saying that the us military would be sent into mexico. Some would be sent into mexico. Some of it was about the economy failing to note that in fact inflation has gone down significantly the United States and there has been growth over the past year and we even got at one point candidates instead of responding to the issue of hate crimes against members of the lgbt community, he actually calling for bans on gender recognition. So i think theres a question about whether the issues are going to come out. But that leads me to my second point. I think the one candidate who did take a position firmly on certain issues Like Health Care like abortion was nikki care, like abortion was nikki haley. And i think nikki haley , haley. And i think nikki haley, if the media doesnt simply turn this into a donald trump circus between now and the first republican contest in january , republican contest in january, nikki haley could give him a run for his money and do you think the absence of donald trump in these debates is allowing those such as nikki haley to come up through the ranks . And lets talk about the absence of donald trump as well. Why do you think he continues to be a no show . Is it because of this 40 point lead he feels as though he doesnt need to be there. If anything, it would there. If anything, it would weaken his stance . Or is it that hes preoccupied by these number of trials that are coming up . Well, lets be very honest with all your viewers out there. The reason why donald trump is not these debates is because he wants the media, including tv news and all other outlets , to news and all other outlets, to talk only about donald, donald, donald. He doesnt want them to talk about the other candidate. Talk about the other candidate. So thats why he pitched up for a photo opportunity in michigan yesterday. And to an extent in yesterday. And to an extent in the past 24 hours, weve had a window of opportunity where there has been a discussion of there has been a discussion of the other republican candidates. But what happens tomorrow and the day after that and the week after will the media just after that, will the media just simply saying polls, polls simply keep saying polls, polls , look at the , polls and not look at the candidates and the issues . Lets candidates and the issues . Lets add the one other development this week thats significant that could affect this whole question trump versus the question of trump versus the others is the fact that trumps business, the trump organisation, is facing a ban in new york. Is facing almost a corporate death sentence because a judge found systematic fraudulent practise has been committed there. I think if you continue to get those types of headunes continue to get those types of headlines , which dont reflect headlines, which dont reflect well on trump , it could open headlines, which dont reflect well on trump, it could open up space for others as well to say, i dont have that kind of baggage. Yeah, and the allegations hes overestimated his his wealth and those of his businesses so but its businesses and so on. But its interesting, ron desantis used this phrase missing in action regards to joe biden. And one regards to joe biden. And one wonders how that fits into the whole political jigsaw. It seems theyre taking more time attacking trump than they are. Biden well, yeah. Desantis used that line missing in action on biden , missing in action on biden, which if i had a nickel every time that was used, id be a rich man. Its quite tired. But then he shifted for the first time to really go after trump. Ron desantis is held back from going after trump. And i think going after trump. And i think the question here is , all right, the question here is, all right, if youre going to take on trump , how are you going to differentiate yourself from him . And i think ron desantis has simply tried out trump trump simply tried to out trump trump with of the wild attack with some of the wild attack lines about culture wars and about the fact that liberals and radicals are running the us straight to hell. Where as other candidates and again , i look at candidates and again, i look at nikki haley arent just simply trying to out trump trump. Theyre trying to define themselves issues as themselves on certain issues as being distinctive. And i think if this does come down, when the republican field narrows this winter to nikki haley or ron desantis versus trump, i think haley may have an ability to distinguish herself from the donald and not just the fact that shes a woman and we mentioned donald duck. That was the line from Chris Christie , who, despite his sort christie, who, despite his sort of combative performances in new jersey, i mean , hes really not jersey, i mean, hes really not getting any traction in the polls, is he . Polls, is he . Well, Chris Christie is just there to dent donald trump. Chris christie, i think. And hes a smart politician, whether you like him or dont, he knows hes not going to get the republican nomination. But Chris Christie always believed that there should be a position in this nomination process that did not let trump slide. And hes continued to do that. And to the extent that you have seen even ron desantis start to move and find take trump on head on, then theres been a little bit, i think, of movement, at least in that respect. That respect. Professor scott lucas always very, very good to see you. Thank you for your company this afternoon. Now, research in nottinghamshire reveals a record £2 billion was brought into the economy last year by visitors from other parts of the uk and abroad. Well the biggest draws football, nightlife. Football, nightlife. And someone called robin hood as our east Midlands Reporter will hollis has been finding out i oh yes , exam oh yes , i know you can scarce oh yes, i know you can scarce believe your eyes and tis i robin hood famous son of nottingham , hero of shennood nottingham, hero of shennood forest , nottingham, hero of shennood forest, champion of england. Forest, champion of england. A story passed down through the centuries, taking from the rich, giving to the poor for aid. Andrews has played robin hood for 30 years. His heritage tours of nottingham have themselves become legend. Robin hoods great for nottingham and for england. His well famous. But there is a lot more to nottingham than robin hood as well. And people when they come here and scratch the surface of this concrete jungle look a bit deeper. What they do find is the unsung hero of england tourism in nottinghamshire is built upon the bedrock of the robin hood legend. But its much more than that. An industry so vibrant that last yearit an industry so vibrant that last year it brought £2 billion into the local economy. Its a record the local economy. Its a record spend from last years 32 million visitors. They come for football and culture here, history and pubs in newark on trent, bus loads of tourists arrive every day attracted to the ruins of a civil war fortress. Theres more of it than you are, than you expect in ruins. We really we heard this area was a lovely place to tour. My mums come today to visit me, so i thought id show her around the sights. Its a really lovely town for history. King john died here, and he was a big, bad king, wasnt he . We councillor Keith Girling is in charge of Economic Development nottinghamshire in charge of economic develecouncil. Nottinghamshire in charge of economic develecouncil. Nottininsnshire in charge of economic develecouncil. Nottinins vitale county council. Tourism is vital. Its a massive of economy, absolute huge. And it employs lots of people for a start. So it means a lot to those people in the industry , but it also in the industry, but it also means a lot to the peripheries. Means a lot to the peripheries. Tourism is worth £127 billion a year to the uk , according to a year to the uk, according to visit britain. Thats almost a 10th of gdp. Back in the city, 10th of gdp. Back in the city, the sector has almost recovered after being trashed during the pandemic. Jack is from visit nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire. Nottinghams tourism economy has done really, really well amongst the backdrop of a really difficult last year. People are feeling the pinch in the pockets right now because of a whole host Different Reasons and host of Different Reasons and were actually seeing that the tourism continues to tourism economy continues to bounce. Bounce back. Robin hood knew how to keep the cash different the cash coming in. Different methods , maybe, but the aim is methods, maybe, but the aim is the same. Will hollis gb news in nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire. Now lets bring you some better encouraging news on the Mortgage Market because were being told the average five year fixed deal has fallen back below 6 for the First Time Since july, to according moneyfacts. But Mortgage Brokers say actually you can get a deal below 5. Now six major lenders are saying, including virgin money, natwest, hsbc offering those rates on the five year fixes. So could buyers be tempted back into the property m arket . Well, market . Well, joining us now is our business and economics editor Liam Halligan with on the money. And marks been doing his own research on this so we cant keep weve been talking 4. 82 i can offer you. Tell me what im going to say on virgin money. Thats the one at the moment. Natwest and hsbc 4. 89 nationwide, 4. 94. So actually below 5, not just 6. Interesting, isnt it . Because the bank of englands base rate is 5. 25, five and a quarter. They froze it there last week after 14 successive rate rises. They finally thought enough was enough. But now enough was enough. But now Mortgage Rates are below the bank of englands base rate. Why are they . Because theyre two are they . Because theyre two and five year fixes and the market is predicting that over that two and certainly over the five year period, rates will come below that. So if you come down below that. So if you offer a rate thats below the bank of englands base rate and then the Interest Rate then the actual Interest Rate goes evens goes lower, still, it evens itself out. But interesting, there competition now in the there is competition now in the Mortgage Market. But what i wanted to mention in this section was the fact that the Housing Market itself, prices have been falling and were seeing that through evidence presented by the property website zoopla. Lets have website zoopla. Lets have a look at that. What zoopla are stressing today is that sellers people selling houses are having to drop their asking prices because buyers havent got the mortgage in power to get enough money together to meet those asking prices or even trying to get enough for the deposit. Thats right. Thats right. Yeah. So asking prices on average have been dropping by £12,000. And if you think the average house price is like 280 grand right across across the country and thats an average discount. So country and thats an average discount. So zoopla of 4. 2 and its happening, as we discount. So zoopla of 4. 2 and its happening , as we say, its happening, as we say, because high Interest Rates are curtailing demand. So that means curtailing demand. So that means it is a buyers market because sellers cant choose between lots of buyers. So buyers who can raise a mortgage or buyers who are lucky enough to have cash can get really good prices. And were also getting a lot fewer time buyers in fact, fewer First Time Buyers in fact, over the course of this year , over the course of this year, zoopla says the Property Market has slowed both in terms of pnces has slowed both in terms of prices and the number of transactions. Those things are linked, course, so therell linked, of course, so therell be about 20 fewer house sales in 2023, says zoopla. On the evidence so far this year than in 2022. So thats a big hit to the economy. Yeah, and what people are looking for on the Housing Market has changed as well, hasnt it . Really interesting which is really interesting in figures today. In these figures today. Apparently looking for apparently were now looking for houses in need of renovation. Were looking for bargain. Were looking for a bargain. When were before when people were feeling Interest Rates feeling flush and Interest Rates were and you could borrow were low and you could borrow lots money not very big lots of money at not very big cost, wanted the dream cost, people wanted the dream home to move into. Were not home to move into. Were not going to have all that dust flying around. Not going flying around. Were not going to family and kids to put our family and kids through want to move through that. We want to move into where into the dream home where everythings now because everythings done now because theres less money around and because the buyers have become a lot more discerning. Theyre lot more discerning. Theyre looking what americans call looking for what americans call fixer theyre looking looking for what americans call fixebargains. Theyre looking looking for what americans call fixe bargains. Theyree looking looking for what americans call fixe bargains. Theyre looking| for bargains. Theyre looking for bargains. Theyre looking for in. Even if the for location in. Even if the house isnt right, you can fix the house. You cant fix the location. Signs of location. There are big signs of that the market that happening in the market at the moment. Other big problem, but is the other big problem, not the mortgage itself, not just the mortgage itself, its enough money its getting enough money together to get the deposit needed. Now for these properties, particularly , as you properties, particularly, as you know, youngsters know, a lot of youngsters starting out renting their money, going out through money, just going out through the on rent. The door on rent. Lets be clear. You well, lets be clear. You know, todays 25 to 34 year olds, theyre spending more on their housing, either rent or if theyve got a mortgage and theyre less likely to own their own home than any generation since the 1930. So this is a serious situation. And then, of course , the lack of housing course, the lack of housing means that the sharp end there isnt enough social housing and council housing. Im sure council housing. And im sure many gb news viewers and listeners that will resonate with well. But a big with them as well. But a big problem getting on the property ladder getting a deposit. You ladder is getting a deposit. You know, half or know, if youre paying half or even more of your salary on rent to live in a shared house in london or manchester or birmingham, and youre doing a professional job, you havent got you havent got money to put to a five or 10 or to aside get get a five or 10 or 15, 20 grand deposit together out of your post tax income. Its really, really difficult. Its really, really difficult. But really, think what were but really, i think what were going is mortgage going to see is Mortgage Companies offering, know , companies offering, you know, not mortgages, but 5 not just 10 mortgages, but 5 mortgages. So you need a 5 deposit, even even 1 mortgages. But the regulators will push back against that because we had those kind of 1 mortgages, even 110 mortgages where the they lend you money to fix the house up. So you have no deposit. We had those in the run up to the global crisis, the Global Financial crisis, the collapse of lehman brothers. Thats when the thats what happens when the market starts getting really juiced dangerously toppy. Juiced up and dangerously toppy. As we say in financial circles. So i do think there will be pushback from the regulators against offering mortgages which dont require, im afraid, mark, a pretty chunky deposit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Liam halligan our business economics editor. Business and economics editor. Very see you. Thank you very good to see you. Thank you very the tributes coming in to now the tributes coming in to actor Sir Michael Gambon. Of course, most recently Getting International fame with the role of professor dumbledore in those harry potter films. His family saying hes died peacefully in hospital today at the age of 82. Yes, a Statement Issued on behalf of lady gambon and his son Fergus Gambon said, we are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon, beloved husband and father michael died peacefully in hospital with his wife, anne, and son fergus , at wife, anne, and son fergus, at his bedside following a bout of pneumonia. Joining his bedside following a bout of pneumonia. Joining us now is pneumonia. Joining us now is showbiz journalist ellie phillips. Good afternoon to you, ellie. And what a loss he has been described as he as one of britains most versatile performers across stage and screen. Yeah i mean, its such a such a loss. An irish actor who came from very little , you know, who was very little, you know, who was a working class boy and born in dubun working class boy and born in dublin , was a seamstress. His dublin, was a seamstress. His father was an engineer. And he actually going to be a toolmaker. Is that what he left school at 15, became an apprentice toolmaker by 21. He was an engineer , but after he was an engineer, but after here he was like, no, i want to be an actor. And my gosh , did he become an and my gosh, did he become an actor . Know, he made his actor . You know, he made his first appearance back in 1962 on stage in dublin. It was a production of othello at gate theatre and hes gone on to win four baftas, an emmy, and olivier a tony award, and his back catalogue is just exceptional, you know, we know him for his roles as in the kings speech, gosford park , and kings speech, gosford park, and of course most recently for playing Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight harry potter films. And his his contribution to the industry cannot be underestimated. He won. He was underestimated. He won. He was knighted for it in 1998 and sadly , he did retire from the sadly, he did retire from the stage in 2015 because he struggled to remember his lines with his advancing age. But, you know what . A character loves sports cars is very protective over his private life, which was controversial at times. And he leaves behind three children and his wife and just an incredible legacy when it comes to his career. There is no other like him. And i think most people will remember him most fondly for that, that that last role in harry potter, because you so longed for that role playing someone who was very strong and the top of his game , which he the top of his game, which he was in real life and respected through throughout and just a great guy. So yeah, real, real great guy. So yeah, real, real loss for talent. One of those few actors, of course, who is able to make an impact on Stage Television and screen , but also having a corner screen, but also having a corner named after him at the top gear test track, Jeremy Clarkson indicating gambon corner. You know what . Great attribute could he have after his appearance on top gear . Top gear . Exactly. And hes he was obsessed with sports cars, had a huge collection of incredible cars and which were his pride and joy he spoke of very fondly. And it was always nice to know that someone who plays these different roles has quite a strong role in themselves, their own interests and his sports cars. And he loved it. And so, yes, im certain that that would be one of his, um , that would be one of his, um, one things that he would have loved. E loved. The tributes are and ellie, the tributes are pounng and ellie, the tributes are pouring in, arent they . I mean, weve heard there from from jeremy but we can Jeremy Clarkson, but we can expect as well harry potter expect as well the harry potter crew and the stars of that will be be coming their be will be coming out with their own tributes well. Own tributes as well. Absolutely. Absolutely. Obviously, this news only broke the hour. Obviously, this news only bro and the hour. Obviously, this news only bro and im hour. Obviously, this news only bro and im assuming most of them and im assuming most of them will finding out the way we will be finding out the way we all did with the news announcing it. So, yeah, a lot it. And so, yeah, expect a lot more heartfelt come more heartfelt tributes come through you work through because when you work with over an with someone over such an extended time , extended period of time, especially when it comes to harry films , i remember harry potter films, i remember watching younger actors just watching the younger actors just be so in awe of working with the likes of Michael Gambon and the others. They got to. So im certain that this loss will hit them heavily. Certain that this loss will hit the yeah. Ivily. Certain that this loss will hit the yeah. And certain that this loss will hit theyeah. And having follow yeah. And having to follow richard course, Richard Harris, of course, taking dumbledore role, taking on the dumbledore role, which a pretty big set of which is a pretty big set of shoes to fill. But i just shoes to fill. But i just thought, you know , a wonderful thought, you know, a wonderful man with a sense of humour in everything he did. I remember him as the villain in layer cake with craig. Terrific role i yeah. What a versatile actor, like you said. I mean, everything. I dont remember everything. I dont remember anyone ever saying, oh, well, he wasnt great in that. You dont get that with Michael Gambon. Its always wow, its always like, wow, what a performance whatever. Turned performance. Whatever. He turned his whatever role was. And you know , he was just so and you know, he was just so talented and like you mentioned earlier, to be able to do it on stage, on screen , and in all stage, on screen, and in all these these these platforms , these these these platforms, often best in every way. And i think he is one of the old school actors, you know, like the going to be Something Else realise the passion and then worked hard for it treading then worked hard for it treading the boards worked his way up and had that success. Ellie, thank you very much indeed for bringing us your tribute. Remembering him three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild awards and four baftas and a knighthood to add to that as good afternoon. Its 2 pm. Good afternoon. Its 2 pm. Youre here with the live desk on gb news coming up for you this thursday lunchtime. This thursday lunchtime. Your life taken away at your prime. The tributes paid to a 15 Year Old Girl named locally as euana Year Old Girl named locally as eliana arade dam stabbed to death yesterday in croydon. The 15 teenage victim of homicide in london this year. Uproar in wales as their biggest bus operator says the new national 20 mile per hour limit is causing timetable , limit is causing timetable, chaos. And the minister behind the scheme says local councils can now change the limit if it suits them. Suits them. And tributes to actor Sir Michael Gambon , internationally Michael Gambon, internationally famous horse, most recently as professor dumbledore in harry potter. Hes died at the age of 82. His family saying peacefully in hospital. In hospital. All and donald duck , the latest and donald duck, the latest political attack on trump at the second Republican Debate last night. Is it all getting a bit, mickey mouse stateside before that . Your headlines with lisa hartle. Hartle. Good afternoon. Its just after 2 00. Im lisa hartle in the room film , television and the room film, television and stage actor Sir Michael Gambon has died at the age of 82. Sir michael, who was best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in the harry potter films, won four tv. Baftas in a career that spanned five decades, he made his first appearance on stage in 1962, going on to perform with the National Theatre and the old vic, his family issued a statement saying, our beloved husband and father, michael , husband and father, michael, died peacefully in hospital following a bout of pneumonia , following a bout of pneumonia, roads and local transport minister Richard Holden says the government will not rule out, stop and search after a 15 Year Old Girl was stabbed to death on her way to school in london. A 17 year old boy who knew the victim remains in custody after being arrested in croydon yesterday morning. The girl named locally , as eliana, was named locally, as eliana, was described by her school as a valued friend and pupil. Mr holden told gb news whats being done to tackle knife crime. Done to tackle knife crime. New legislation has been brought in, sentences are being strengthened , which is vitally strengthened, which is vitally important as well. But overall i important as well. But overall i think this is about us as a society , really ensuring that we society, really ensuring that we get across to people that there is no place for possession of a knife and that, yes, the government will act with tougher sentencing. Weve got extra sentencing. Weve got extra police, 20,000 plus now, extra since when . I was elected in 2019. Out on the streets. 2019. Out on the streets. Meanwhile, former mets Police Detective Peter Bleksley says police need to be more robust in tackling knife crime. Robust in tackling knife crime. Knife crime is at epidemic proportions. There are so far this year up until august. So in the 12 months up until august, there had been 211 knife crime incidents with injury. In croydon alone and that only makes it the 10th most prevalent borough in london. So theres nine boroughs worse than croydon. There are too many knives, there are too many stabbings , there are too many stabbings, there are too many deaths , more migrants. Deaths, more migrants. Boats are expected to arrive on the italian island of lampedusa tomorrow as weather conditions improve. Strong winds in the mediterranean have prevented any crossings for more than a week. Gb news understands than a week. Gb news understands that tunisian people smugglers have now begun preparing boats to launch in the sea. This to launch in the sea. This morning, a group of human rights lawyers and officials lawyers and other officials visited to understand visited the island to understand the impact of the crisis. Its the impact of the crisis. Its the impact of the crisis. Its the new defence secretary has visited the ukrainian capital kyiv for the First Time Since taking up the post. Grant shapps discussed how to bolster ukraines air defences during talks with ukraines president Vladimir Zelenskyy. Mr shapps replaced ben wallace as defence secretary last month and vowed to keep up britains support for ukraine. The labour leader has denied launching an attack on private schools with his plans to impose vat payments on fees if he wins an election. Sir keir starmer says hes comfortable with the institutions but wants to ensure state schools are of equal quality. Sir keir says his plan is about the removal of a tax exemption. He also tax exemption. He also encourages private schools, not to raise fees due to the additional costs imposed by the policy. It experts are calling on. The policy. It experts are calling on. The Prime Minister to prioritise ai ethics during a safety summit next month. A safety summit next month. A survey by bcs, the chartered institute for it, found that 88 of tech experts want the uk to lead in setting Global Ethical standards. The survey also shows that 82 believe companies should publish ethical policies on al use new laws in Northern Ireland have been implemented , ireland have been implemented, preventing the public from attending trials for serious sexual offences. The law extends sexual offences. The law extends the anonymity for victims until 25 years after their death and provides anonymity for suspects until they are charged. The until they are charged. The measures aim to protect victims and encourage reporting of sexual crimes. Any violations carry penalties up to six months in prison in and the royal mint has introduced a £0. 50 coin celebrating cs lewiss book the lion , the witch and the wardrobe lion, the witch and the wardrobe as part of its childrens literature series. The coin literature series. The coin features an illustration of mr tumnus and lucy in the snowy woods of narnia. Other coins in the series also incorporate colour printing techniques. This colour printing techniques. This is gb news across the uk on tv, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news now back to mark and. News now back to mark and. Ellie lisa, thank you very much and welcome back to the live desk. Lets bring you some breaking news which concerns dan wootton, who is, of course, a gb news presenter, but also a journalist on main mail, online mail online, saying they have terminated his contract. A terminated his contract. A spokesperson for the news site Parent Company saying that in the past few minutes it is, of course, the case that dan wootton is also suspended currently by gb news, in addition to laurence fox. While an internal investigation is carried out. And also ofcom, the carried out. And also ofcom, the regulator , investigate other regulator, investigate other matters concerning comments made about ava evans. Dan wootton had apologised and he said unreservedly for an unfortunate lapse in judgement following an earlier apology suggesting that it he had in terms of his comments , embarrassed by it all. Comments, embarrassed by it all. I am appreciative of everyone who has kindly stood up for me, said ms evans. But its the other side of it, which is half of the comments, the other side very but the latest very threatening. But the latest development mail online terminated his contract immediately. More reaction, of immediately. More reaction, of course, we get it. Course, as we get it. Youre watching the live desk. Time is 2 07 now. Desk. The time is 2 07 now. Euana desk. The time is 2 07 now. Eliana and a pupil at old palace of John Whitgift school in croydon has been named locally as the victim of yesterdays knife attack in croydon. Her knife attack in croydon. Her aunt spoke to reporter reporters today revealing elianas dream of being a lawyer is believed she intervened to help her friend before being fatally stabbed. Well one witness at the scene saying there had been an argument as there had been an effort to make or give elianas friend flowers before eliana was stabbed. Stabbed. A boy aged 17, had been arrested shortly after she died, remains in custody and police say they have extended that until tomorrow. While he is being questioned. Being questioned. At least 40 bunches of flowers have now been laid at the scene as local people pay their respects. And theres also their respects. And theres also been renewed calls to clamp down on knife crime. Eliana being the on knife crime. Eliana being the 15th teenage victim of a fatal attack in london this year. Well, lets get more now with Charlie Peters, a reporter who is still at the scene there in croydon. And this incident, of course, charlie, was 830 yesterday morning, we can yesterday morning, but we can see the there behind you see the bus there behind you still in situ. So the police inquiry, the criminal scene or the crime scene is still there. This is a fairly intensive investigation continuing. Thats investigation continuing. Thats right, mark. The Forensics Team have actually upped their moves in the last half hour. A new set of officers have moved into a abandoned office block, an empty office block about 50m down from the number 60 bus behind me where theyve gathered a large ladden where theyve gathered a large ladder, which theyve put in. It appears to be into the basement of the building there. Police staff i spoke to confirmed that it was part of the investigation but wont confirm what theyre looking for. Multiple officers gathering hard hats and gathering with hard hats and utility belts. It appears that some of them have gone down into the of that empty the basement of that empty office its a busy office block. But its a busy scene here and beyond croydon. We heard Richard Holden, we have heard Richard Holden, the minister, breaking into the tory minister, breaking into a of political row with a bit of a political row with london mayor khan, arguing london mayor sadiq khan, arguing over the political point scoring, as mr khan put it, over the situation. Mr holden accusing the mayor of being distracted by ulez. Amid this situation with a teenage girl being killed. But at gb news we being killed. But at gb news we heard from activist mark prince, who said thats whats needed is more support for parents parenting. I think there needs a lot of support for parents now. Im never down for knocking people. Im always down for support. And where do we find support. And where do we find the problems coming from . The problems coming from . We find the problems coming from home. From the home. You want to support so you want to support parents their parents in the home with their young people. Young people. All the other and we know all the other challenges that are coming from the media coming from social media coming. Any means that young people can get information , which is theyve got access to it now at their fingertips , how it now at their fingertips, how do you monitor what is affecting your childs mindset. Do you monitor what is affecting your childs mindset. At plenty your childs mindset. At plenty of parents ive spoken to this morning and this afternoon , morning and this afternoon, echoing those sentiments from mr mark prince, one mother of young daughters saying that she was now looking to leave the area , now looking to leave the area, feeling that she no longer felt safe in croydon. Safe in croydon. Charlie, as these details are coming out, we are getting more of a picture, arent we, of what kind of person eliana was and what may have happened on her way to school yesterday. Way to school yesterday. Thats right. Her parents have described the heartbreak at losing an aspiring and promising young lawyer at just aspiring lawyer at just 15. But people we spoke to here have also remarked upon what appears to be reports of her extreme bravery interfering when a man who has been arrested appeared to create an altercation with her friend. Many are describing her as a young hero in croydon this morning. And theyre not just the loss of a 15 year old, but someone who died so bravely. Someone who died so bravely. And we can see behind you it is a main thoroughfare weve just seen quite a heavy Police Presence just walk behind you. There charlie. And there is this outpouring of grief in the community, isnt there . We hear community, isnt there . We hear that there are many bouquets of flowers laid in tribute. Flowers being laid in tribute. Thats right. The scene behind me is being quite mixed over the last few hours in between forensic operations and officers looking around and inspecting bushes, looking under vehicles. And indeed, that new vehicles. And indeed, that new ladder work going on. Weve also seen senior Police Officers guiding people who are going to lay flowers near the scene and bringing in what appear to be kind of senior local officials into the area to show them around the theyre doing around the work theyre doing and pay their and allow them to pay their respects. So both an operation eagle also area of eagle and also an area of sadness and remembrance. Sadness and remembrance. And last night we heard that there were a sense of unrest in croydon as a result of this attack. Thats right. Attack. Thats right. Some of the parents i spoke to this morning said that while the atmosphere today is more calm , especially with the surge calm, especially with the surge Police Presence thats been around in the borough since yesterday morning, they said the atmosphere yesterday was extremely charged across the high street and in areas nearby. Police officers were surging to kind of calm tensions that they said they had noticed rising. One witness online said that it felt like a return to the atmosphere before the 2010 london riots, which, of course, were extremely devastating. Were extremely devastating. Charlie, thank you for that. Charlie, thank you for that. Lets just update you that police have now officially named her as the victim. Her family saying that she was the light of our lives. In addition , her our lives. In addition, her school old palace of John Whitgift saying in a statement, we are deeply shocked by her senseless and tragic death, a much loved and valued friend and pupil. It will take some time for the old palace community to come to terms with this terrible news, and we will offer support to we try to do to our pupils as we try to do so. Finished by saying , so. They finished by saying, above we send our love and above all, we send our love and deepest sympathies to the girls family unimaginable , family at this unimaginable, distressing time. Thats just coming through from the school. Coming through from the school. And thank you to Charlie Peters, who just joined us live on the scene there in croydon. Now, waless biggest bus now, one of waless biggest Bus Operators says the new national 20 mile per hour speed limit is causing challenging operational conditions. Thats forcing it to conditions. Thats forcing it to review both routes and timetables. Will that new limit for urban areas triggering a backlash , areas triggering a backlash, too, from drivers . A petition now calling for it to be scrapped, reaching almost 450,000 signatures in response , 450,000 signatures in response, lee waters, whos the minister who put it in place, says that local councils may be able to change the limit if they want to. Well, our reporter jack carson in molde covering the story for us. And jack, confusion not just for the local authority but for motorists and particularly those Bus Companies as we see the buses trying to get to and fro behind you. Get to and fro behind you. Yeah, across the transport network in wales, mark henley there is obviously some confusion, some time that its taking to get used to this new 20 mile an hour speed limit. Its the default speed limit in wales. It meant that that 30 mile an hour limit, which we still see, of course, across england, rest of the england, across the rest of the united kingdom, now miles united kingdom, is now 20 miles an hour. The idea from the an hour. So the idea from the Welsh Government is that if you see pavements, if you see streetlights, think 20. But of course having to get streetlights, think 20. But of coursto having to get streetlights, think 20. But of coursto it. Having to get streetlights, think 20. But of coursto it. It having to get streetlights, think 20. But of coursto it. It was having to get streetlights, think 20. But of coursto it. It was only ng to get streetlights, think 20. But of coursto it. It was only trialledzt used to it. It was only trialled in across the in eight areas across the country. And so now its country. And so now that its been nationwide been rolled out nationwide and it course something for it is of course something for people used to, the people to get used to, the arriva wales who course arriva wales who are of course a big bus network here across the country. Theyve been saying country. Theyve been saying today theyve said that today and theyve said that since the start of , of course, since the start of, of course, this implementation this this implementation of this scheme monitoring scheme, theyve been monitoring their and a statement their services and a statement they to gb news, they said they gave to gb news, they said that there has been an that so far there has been an impact punctuality as journey impact on punctuality as journey times have been lengthened, which been which they say has been particularly on particularly noticeable on longer and on those longer journeys and on those journeys connecting towns , for journeys connecting towns, for example, mould here where example, like mould here where i am they this is am today, they say this is creating challenging operational conditions, they are conditions, but they are undertaking a large scale review of the network and they say its going to take a require a combination of additional resource to frequencies resource changes to frequencies and changes to routes to improve punctuality they can better punctuality so they can better serve their customers. But they do, acknowledge do, of course, also acknowledge that much early days that it is very much early days in in the this kind of in this in the in this kind of scheme. Very they need kind scheme. Its very they need kind of more time, i guess, to discuss and work out if they are going to reschedule those bus schedules, how theyre going to work of work in the grand scheme of things, of course, things, because of course, drivers being affected drivers are also being affected and been drivers giving a and it has been drivers giving a lot of backlash. Across wales. There protests cardiff on there was protests in cardiff on saturday. There are more planned protests and as you protests this weekend and as you said, 450,000 or nearly 450,000 people have now signed that petition on the Senate Website saying that they want this policy revoked. But here in mould, ive been speaking to people high street about people on the high street about how been getting used how theyve been getting used to the scheme. Round schools and its okay round schools and bungalows that but in other places its a complete waste of time. I think its just slow and everybody up there. I feel that cutting it down to 20 miles is saving peoples lives and thats the main thing. Yeah the driver be five minutes later to work then be involved in an accident but i think its like a funeral procession going through the roads , as through the roads, as i understand on the side, roads going to schools and things like that. But on the main arterial roads , why cant stick to 30, 30 roads, why cant stick to 30, 30 was fine. Used to it, getting used to it, but if it saves one life, its got to be worth it. So you can hear there from the people of mould that you spoke to, jack, it was dividing people on the it was also the street and it was also dividing People Senate dividing people in the senate last with lee walters, the last night with lee walters, the minister behind this change was facing a vote of no confidence. Facing a vote of no confidence. Yeah , thats right. Yeah, thats right. Yeah, thats right. That was a vote of no confidence. Put fonnard by the welsh conservatives in him. Of course, he is the deputy minister for Climate Change for the Welsh Government. Hes very much this policy the Welsh Government. Hes very muc hes this policy the Welsh Government. Hes very muc hes the this policy the Welsh Government. Hes very muc hes the person this policy the Welsh Government. Hes very muc hes the person that; policy the Welsh Government. Hes very muc hes the person that people and hes the person that people are looking to blame for the problems that they might well be having with this 20 mile an hour scheme. Know scheme. But of course we know the position the Welsh Governments position on this very much about on this is very much about safety, pedestrian safety, about pedestrian safety. Mark first Mark Drakeford, the first minister, clear on the minister, very clear on the floor senate in previous floor of the senate in previous first ministers questions, saying actually doesnt saying that actually he doesnt think its very think he thinks its a very small pay if it means small price to pay if it means saving lives. And of course that was the views of was also some of the views of the people on the street today. The Welsh Government estimate that around £92 that they will save around £92 million for the welsh nhs because course the lowest million for the welsh nhs becausthe course the lowest million for the welsh nhs becausthe injuries the lowest million for the welsh nhs becausthe injuries tlessywest speed the injuries are less serious. Do believe that it serious. They do believe that it will cause 40 fewer collisions on road and save thousands on the road and save thousands of injuries across the road network in wales. But of course with those protests and those that petition being signed and increasing as the day goes by, theres certainly a will from theres certainly a will from the people in wales, it seems, for a much more of a consultation, a much more of a conversation about how this 20 mile an hour scheme works going fonnard. Jack in molde, thanks very much indeed for updating us there. And lets update you with there. And lets update you with more on that breaking news that we brought you on dan wootton. Of course, the gb news presenter who is currently suspended by the male online, the channel and male online, have sustained , tended or have sustained, tended or actually now terminated his contract. This is coming through from dmg media. The Parent Company of mail online, who have just issued this statement to say following the events this week, dmg media can confirm that dan woottons freelance column with mail online, which had already been paused, has now been terminated along with his contract. As we say, he currently remains suspended from gb news. More details , of gb news. More details, of course, as they come through. Course, as they come through. Yes, both laurence fox and dan wootton have also been suspended by gb news amid an internal investigation and a probe by the regulator ofcom and ms evans. Avery evans, the ms evans. Avery evans, the journalist who this this is all about. Journalist who this this is all about. She says she has now about. She says she has now received an apology from gb news. Coming up, mayor of manchester, andy burnham, on why hes not taking inspiration from his colleague sadiq khan in london. N0 ulez in manchester. It seems as. Radio. Welcome back to the live desk. More details being released by Police Concern ring the death of ltn arade dam in croydon. This is from detective chief inspector rebecca woodsford, whos leading the investigation saying theyre now confident that ltn was attacked near this bus stop in wellesley roadin near this bus stop in wellesley road in croydon, rather than on board the bus itself. Board the bus itself. She says our Investigation Continues and we are making good progress. We have recovered cctv progress. We have recovered cctv from the area and have spoken to a number of witnesses, forensic scientists have also examined the scene. They know that many people were in the area at the time of the attack and would have witnessed it. This would have witnessed it. This would have been distressing and traumatic. She she traumatic. And she says she would needs would encourage anyone who needs support contact us. They can support to contact us. They can arrange that. Yeah. Yeah. Going to on that their going to on say that their thoughts thoughts of her thoughts and the thoughts of her team allions family are team with allions family are this is deeply upsetting time this is a deeply upsetting time for will do for them and we will do everything we can to support them, said detective chief inspector of course, inspector woodsford. Of course, more as we get them. More details as we get them. Weve got charlie down there on the scene in croydon as the forensic investigations continue to do. Now the mayor of Greater Manchester, andy burnham, hes been speaking to us with a pretty categorical message. No pretty categorical message. No clear air or traffic charging zone, no ulez in his city. Yes, he was speaking exclusively to our Political Editor , chris hope youre doing here. Youre creating this new network to connect trams and buses and make it much more seamless for travellers. Exactly so were putting buses back under public control so that then we can link the bus fare system to the tram fare system. A tap in, tap out system. Weve already cut the cost of public transport in Greater Manchester by 20 to mark the arrival of the b network. So now today people can get tickets that are combined bus and tram tickets that are 20 cheaper than what they would have been before the b network. The thing about moving to a system under public control like the b network is fine. After 40 years of routes fine. After 40 years of routes being cut, of fares going up. Finally the people of Greater Manchester and now the bosses of the buses, its the other way around. Okay. Can you pay in cash on the bus network . You can. Its very important to we have a campaign that im aware and, you know, we have conversations. So that stay. That will stay. That will stay. That will stay. There are cash trays on the new electric buses that we and new electric buses that we and new electric buses that we and new electric buses. Can i just say to gb news is built in britain. Yeah. Built in britain. In scotland. 50 new buses went onto the roads of wigan and bolton in the last 2 or 3 days, built in, built in scotland. I think thats a great story, isnt it . And i think one of my appeals to the government is kind of okay, well give you credit for helping us do this. So lets have more of it, because actually it wont just help people in a cost of living crisis. It could also help us with our clean air. Youll cut emissions enough with your new or 50 new electric buses , 50 more coming and the buses, 50 more coming and the rest of it. That will that will mean you dont need to do any kind of ulez zone here. Well its not quite as simple as that. But let me explain this really clearly. We are confident and that the evidence backs this up, that if we if the up, that if we were to if the government was to back the network, i. E, help us bring more , more electric buses into Service Across the city region. But if it was also to back us with investment to help our our taxis improve , our hackney cabs, taxis improve, our hackney cabs, upgrade , we believe we can do it upgrade, we believe we can do it via an investment led approach rather than a charging based approach. Can we now then agree that a clean air zone is not right for Greater Manchester . A charging zone . Prime minister, charging zone . Prime minister, you can come here this weekend. You can back the b network with the investment that it needs. You can back the taxi industry with the investment which it needs and you could have an example saying this is how example of saying this is how you get to net zero, but in a fairer public. Fairer way for the public. Greater manchester is your opportunity. Not or never opportunity. Its not or never then, is it . I mean, how much money do you need from the government not to bnng need from the government not to bring here . Need from the government not to brir no, here . Need from the government not to brirno, wont . Need from the government not to brirno, wont have one. No, i wont have one. No, i wont have one. Said i came in as i, i said when i came in as mayor i wouldnt have a mayor that i wouldnt have a congestion charge. And also saying i and, and ive also saying i wouldnt have charging and, and ive also saying i w0izone. Have charging and, and ive also saying i w0izone. Haveis charging and, and ive also saying i w0izone. Haveis whyging and, and ive also saying i w0izone. Haveis why . Ng and, and ive also saying i w0izone. Haveis why . Because, air zone. Why is why . Because, i mean, when we first developed the clean air zone idea, it was meant to be enough money in the system to help everybody upgrade their vehicles. And then with their vehicles. And then with the pandemic, the cost of vehicles. And hence there vehicles spiral. And hence there was the backlash, which was understood and justified. And why gm is now in a in a different position. We are saying that you can do this in a different way. As long as im there. No, i will not have a there. No, i will not have a charge ing zone either. A congestion charge scheme or a clean air style scheme. The clean air style scheme. The reason being the north of england has never had the investment in transport to allow some people to live without their car. Their car. Thats the mayor of Greater Manchester, andy burnham, speaking there to our Political Editor, chris hope. Lets speak editor, chris hope. Lets speak now to the conservative mp for bury north james daley. Very good to see you this afternoon, mr daley. And your constituency is in Greater Manchester. So first of all, lets get your reaction to andy burnham and what he was saying there, that there would be no clean air zone in greater. There would be no clean air zone in greater. Manchester um, well, mr burnhams nonsense as per normal and can i just tell you what this is . What ive just heard really made me feel. Want to see in march , march 2017, when andy march, march 2017, when andy burnham was standing mayor of Greater Manchester, he asked the government to add Greater Manchester to a list of six areas where a clean air zone could be could be imposed. He asked for the power to do that. He was elected as Greater Manchesters mayor in may of that year. After that, mark. And that year. After that, mark. And he has spent somewhere between 60, 60 and £70 million trying to impose. A 493 square mile impose. A 493 square mile charging zone upon the people of Greater Manchester. Now he appears to have the damascene moment at the moment, but for the six years where he was putting his plan that putting together his plan that cost £30 million of taxpayers money, its been quite categorical its not going to happen. And Christopher Hope pressed him on that. Him on that. Im afraid to accept what mr burnham said he was he was telling us until very recently, we were going to have a 490 holding zone. Thats what he holding zone. Thats what he wanted. Thats what the council in bury wanted. And its in bury wanted. And its december with andy burnham , with december with andy burnham, with the smoke and smoke and mirrors of his approach. He says that we can do this by Government Investment. He doesnt know what the and doesnt ask the figure is and doesnt ask for figure. Its ridiculous for the figure. Its ridiculous. It is utterly ridiculous. Ive been arguing for an non clean non charging zone for years and years and years to be to be ignored by mr burnham. And you know why he changed his mind . Because before the last mayoral election, the backlash against his plan much that man of his plan was so much that man of great principle that he is dropped the clean air charging plan at at that stage can plan at that at that stage can we also reflect that the Prime Minister has been to minister has been speaking to local radio stations this morning about Government Investment transport schemes. Investment in transport schemes. Hes not come with hes not come up with a figure either. Figure either. Well, the dont really know what youre talking about, mark, in the sense of what is mr burnham asking for . Everything that hes asked for. Hes got the money. The greater mayor no Greater Manchester mayor has no money. Everything the buses Greater Manchester mayor has no monyouve everything the buses Greater Manchester mayor has no monyouve seen thing the buses Greater Manchester mayor has no monyouve seen are g the buses Greater Manchester mayor has no monyouve seen are paid� buses Greater Manchester mayor has no monyouve seen are paid by|ses Greater Manchester mayor has no monyouve seen are paid by by; that youve seen are paid by by the taxpayer. This the british taxpayer. This b network, mark, please, i want to invite you to my constituency. Five minutes from where i am is something called the secaucus junction , part of mr burnhams junction, part of mr burnhams b network. I attended an event in london with representatives of transport for Greater Manchester, and they said the point of this investment hundreds of thousands of pounds, if not more, was to create congestion in that if people were stuck in their cars for 6 to 8 years on on glenway in bury, that would mean that they would, you know, see the light get on the bike and travel from ramsbottom into bury. Also ramsbottom into bury. Hes also building these these junctions for bikes and another such thing nobody uses them. Its all part nobody uses them. Its all part of his nonsense he just invests huge amounts of money, continues to waste them. The cameras that to waste them. The cameras that hes put in place are costing £375,000 per month, and nobodys using them. But to be sure that to be fair to andy burnham, he has made it clear that he is trying to give options to the people of Greater Manchester. That is what hes been saying from the very beginning. This is literally putting his money where his mouth is with this b network investing in buses and saying no to a clean air zone is because hes saying there isnt enough transport for people of the north to get rid of their cars. And his point is made for cars. And his point is made for him, isnt it, when rishi sunak, the leader of your party, is having to make his way up to for manchester tory conference manchester the tory conference on car , the reason why on sunday by car, the reason why is perhaps andy could have a chat with his mates in the trade unions and ask them to get the trains running because thats a purely political strike and theres justification theres no justification whatsoever for that. Have to him why until you have to ask him why until the local the month before the local election before election or two months before the election. The local election. Mayoral elections he so the mayoral elections he made no mention of this. Made no mention of any of this. Was determined to impose and was determined to impose a 493 square mile clean air charging zone, the biggest one in europe. And he wanted to do that. All it was voted on by all Labour Councils in Greater Manchester that his plan. Manchester that was his plan. Why do you think hes saying this he great this now . He is the great politic and hell say anything. He will say anything. King of the king of the routine. The king of the north routine. What with it, that is what you get with it, that is what get. Dont get any what you get. You dont get any whatsoever integrated. Manchester where andy burnham has , has made a jot of has done, has made a jot of difference to any of my constituents lives. Not to job but well have to leave it. Well have to leave it there. We getting of we are getting a bit of breakdown the sound signal, breakdown in the sound signal, but we got the message and i suspect well talking to you suspect well be talking to you about some stage. About this again at some stage. Thanks for us thanks very much for joining us here news time for the here on gb news time for the latest News Headlines now with. Lisa its 233. Im lisa hartle in the newsroom. The family of a 15 the newsroom. The family of a 15 year old stabbed in croydon in london have paid tributes to her as the Investigation Continues. As the Investigation Continues. Alien adnan was attacked while she was on her way to school. In she was on her way to school. In a statement, her family says, our hearts are broken by the senseless death of our daughter. Euan senseless death of our daughter. Elian was the light of our lives. A 17 year old boy who knew the victim remains in custody after being arrested in croydon yesterday morning. Film yesterday morning. Film television and stage actor Sir Michael Gambon has died at the age of 82. Sir michael, who was best known for playing playing Albus Dumbledore in the harry potter films , won four tv baftas potter films, won four tv baftas in a career that spanned five decades. He made his first appearance on stage in 1962, going on to perform with the National Theatre and the old vic. His family issued a statement saying, our beloved husband and father, michael, died peacefully in hospital following a bout of pneumonia. Following a bout of pneumonia. More migrant boats are expected to arrive on the italian island of lampedusa tomorrow as weather conditions improve of strong winds in the mediterranean have prevented any crossings for more than a week. Gb news understands that tunisian people smugglers have now begun preparing boats to launch in the sea. This morning, a group of human rights lawyers and other officials visited the island to understand the impact of the crisis. The the impact of the crisis. The new defence secretary has visited the ukrainian capital kyiv for the First Time Since taking up the post. Grant shapps discussed how to bolster ukraines air defences during talks with ukraines president Vladimir Zelenskyy mr shapps replaced ben wallace as defence secretary last month and vowed to keep up britains support for ukraine. You can get more of all of those stories by visiting the website gbnews. Com. Gb news radio. Well, welcome back to the live desk with some well, encouraging news perhaps on the Mortgage Market because were being told the average five year fixed deal has fallen back below 6 for the First Time Since july, according to moneyfacts. But i can do you a better deal. Mortgage brokers say you can actually get below 5 now with six major lenders, including virgin money, natwest, hsbc , all virgin money, natwest, hsbc, all offering rates on five year fixes below 5. So could buyers be tempted back into the Property Market . Well, joining us now is our business and economics editor Liam Halligan with on the money i and i guess theyve been listening intently to what the bank of england has been saying and the sort of indications theyre being giving as to whats going to happen in the months come. Months to come. I think right. Were i think thats right. Were not give financial not we cant give financial advice. But not we cant give financial advice. But youre not we cant give financial advice. But youre absolutely advice. But youre absolutely right. Citing headline rates right. In citing headline rates. Those lower headline rates, they may have things like redemption, penalties if you pay off early. So or you need a big chunk to put down a 50 deposit. So whatever it is youve got, youve got to check the fine print. But look, housing print. But look, the Housing Market market is in print. But look, the housing mstate market is in print. But look, the housing mstate of market is in print. But look, the housing mstate of flux. Market is in print. But look, the housing mstate of flux. Why . Market is in print. But look, the housing mstate of flux. Why . Becauses in a state of flux. Why . Because last the bank of england last week the bank of england decided after 14 straight Interest Rate rises to actually hold Interest Rates and that meant that the market now thinks the next fall, the next move in rates will be down and that means that Mortgage Rates over 3 or 5 years can start now going below the bank of englands base rate, which is 5. 25. And thats why youre talking, mark, there rightly about some mortgage deals are now 5 and below. This is interesting , but for now, the is interesting, but for now, the Housing Market does remain. How Housing Market does remain. How can i put it in a word, slug ish. Lets have a look at some details here from zoopla, a property website thats well known, of course, zoopla say that sellers on average over the last six months have dropped their asking prices by 12 grand. Thats a lot of money. If you think that the average house is about 280 grand, that amounts to 4. 2. This is a buyers market. What does that mean . It means there arent that many houses is it means that sellers have to drop their prices in order to get buyers to buy again. So the get buyers to buy again. So the average discount is 4. 2. This is happening because of higher Interest Rates curtailing demand mortgage people wanting to buy houses. They havent got the mortgage in power because with rates high they have to pay more per month for every amount that they borrow and their wages wont have gone up very much. So they havent got the kind of purchasing power and whats also interesting from zoopla is there are many fewer First Time Buyers in, in fact, zoopla say over the course they expect course of this year they expect there to be a 20 drop in the overall number of housing transactions in the uk. And thats significant because for every housing transaction theres diy, theres the removal people feeds into the economy, theres , you know, theres a theres, you know, theres a kind of splurge of spending as people make their new home and that feeds through into the broader economy. You we to say do you think we have to say goodbye to those super low rates of one 2 . I mean, were talking about six and 5 now. Will we ever get back down to. I dont think we ever will. Not in the absence of a massive financial crisis. The reason rates went that low to stop rates went that low was to stop basically the Global Banking system imploding after years of lack of regulation and greed, frankly, mainly it should be said in the us and the uk and also the eurozone. And that was also the eurozone. And that was the real epicentre. Thats why we needed those ultra low rates for so long. Now i think were going to get back to the norm of sort of 4 to 5, the kind of rates that mark and i knew when we were buying our first properties. But its not as bad as sort of ten, 12, 14, which it was during the 70s. And the 80s. So i dont think theres going to be a return to ultra low rates if the next move in Interest Rates is down. And that will depend on the next inflation number, then i think we can expect these Mortgage Rates to keep coming down. If rates to keep coming down. So if you can wait until rates you can wait, wait until rates come down more before you buy is it also interesting to reflect that weve not had a housing crash and that situation . Do you remember when we had negative people negative equity, i. E. People owed than house was owed more than the house was actually there were actually worth and there were fears at stage we could get fears at one stage we could get to happened. To that. Its not happened. Happened and it hasnt happened and i cant see it happening across the piece. I can see negative equity happening in certain locations. There might locations. You know, there might be a city where some be a town or a city where some speculators built too many two bedroom flats and the bottom falls out of the buy to let market. So but i think in the round i cant see that happening. Why . Because theres just such a fundamental shortage of this country, which of homes in this country, which is why is is why housing is so unaffordable with huge respect to you, for ellie, ellies, for ellies generation, for my kids generation, its the average houseis generation, its the average house is now 8 to 9 times the average annual income in the mid 90s. When i first bought a flat, it was four times. And that is the historic and you need that big chunk to put down a big chunk and you need that big chunk, which is very hard to amass when youre when youre shelling money shelling out lots of money on rent. Yeah, rent. Right, ellie . Yeah, youre telling you are telling me. Yeah, you are telling me. Yeah, you are telling me. Liam halligan. Very good to see economics business see our economics and business editor. Being editor. Now, despite being absent nights debate, absent from last nights debate, donald was the focus of donald trump was the focus of a lot attacks from rivals lot of attacks from his rivals for republican nomination. For the republican nomination. President well, a former president criticised for being missing in action, even being called donald duck. Yes, for ducking the debate. Chris christie, there he is with that attack line. Is with that attack line. However, with Trump Holding a 40 point lead over the rest of the field , according to some opinion field, according to some opinion polls. Rivals, of course, facing polls. Rivals, of course, facing a bit of an uphill battle to beat in the race to take on beat him in the race to take on joe for 2024. Joe biden for 2024. For more on this, lets well, for more on this, lets speak to political analyst eric ham. Afternoon to you, ham. Good afternoon to you, eric. No show again for donald trump or donald duck, according to Chris Christie, the former new jersey governor. Why not . Does he simply just not need to be there with a 40 point lead . No, he does not. In fact, if you look at the seven candidates that were on the stage last night, their total polling numbers come to around 30 to 35. Thats still double digits below where donald trump is in the polls. And right now , donald trump and right now, donald trump has pivoted from the primary to the general election. And thats what were seeing play and thats what were seeing play out in terms of just how strong donald trump is. And is there a danger for these republicans in that they become on this image of become fixed on this image of donald trump or donald duck, whatever you want to call him and where he is and not addressing the whole issue of certain joe biden, even though i think ron desantis says he too, was missing in action. Again yeah , well, i think we saw no yeah, well, i think we saw no shortage of candidates go after joe biden last night. But i think most of those candidates on the stage last night were auditioning either for Donald Trumps running mate or for a cabinet secretary. Positions if, in fact, donald trump becomes president of the United States. United states. Job applications in other words. Words. Exactly. Exactly. Exactly. And very interesting. And very interesting. Then on that note, and talking about desantis is hes been very slow, hasnt he , to been very slow, hasnt he, to criticise donald trump before now, but he actually has sharpened his critiques, hasnt he . Bearing in mind this was an he . Bearing in mind this was an endorsement that he once embraced . Embraced . Well, thats true in fact, it only was after he took he took the lead from Chris Christie, who went after donald trump last night. And we know thats pretty much been Chris Christies calling card going after donald trump. Trump. But still, what we see and what we are continuing to see is that donald trump is still not only the head of the party, but is likely going to be the nominee. Nominee. And even when you look at the early voting states of iowa and new hampshire, donald trump is leading in those polls by 42 points respectively , and 32 points respectively, and 32 points respectively, and 32 points in new hampshire. So this is going to be an uphill climb for any of these candidates. And its looking more and more like its looking more and more like its Donald Trumps race to lose. And what about the choice for the american body politic . Is it still all about personalities rather than policy . Because as were not getting a big message on Something Like the economy, are we or other issues . Are we or other issues . Well, thats interesting. I well, thats interesting. I do believe that that donald trump is seen as the biggest person ality. And i think thats what the Republican Party wants. But i what the Republican Party wants. Buti do what the Republican Party wants. But i do believe that joe biden is going to be running on something very different. He just doesnt have the personality to compete with with donald trump. But what we did, three of the biggest words we heard that we heard last night were ukraine, immigration and china. So it does appear as though at least some republicans want to see a larger discussion and debate around foreign policy, which which is actually something that i believe joe biden would actually welcome. Who won the debate for you last night . Eric . Eric . Donald trump, hands down. Donald trump, hands down. Oh, even though hes not there. There. Yeah, quite. But lets lets flip it to the democrat race. How much unease is there now as we head ever closer to 2024 . About the president s mental and physical faculties . Physical faculties . That is certainly been an issue that a number of people have have talked about. And have have talked about. And given joe bidens advanced age, as well as the advanced age of donald trump, its something that should be top of mind for all the electorate. And i think all the electorate. And i think it will be. But i but i dont believe its going to be the signature issue that is going to be the driving force of this campaign. Right. And the reason campaign. Right. And the reason for that, if you look at the last eight special elections , last eight special elections, going back to the midterm elections , democrats have won elections, democrats have won all of those races and so while polls may be showing that its a tight race between donald trump and joe biden , the actual voters and joe biden, the actual voters are saying something very, very different. So could it actually skip a generation . I mean, Kamala Harris , who told out of the harris, who told out of the picture in terms of her weak performance as Vice President , but what about people like Robert Kennedy jr, for instance , is well, Robert Kennedy jr i think is a non factor. Hes not gaining any traction. And look, joe biden and Kamala Harris are the president and Vice President. Theyre their incumbents. Theyre running. And so the question becomes can republic organs put up a viable candidate that can actually compete against those two . And eric, you touched there on Donald Trumps age also concerns about the number of upcoming trials for mr trump and how much youll actually be able to focus on the president ial campaign when hes got to appear in several courtrooms. In several courtrooms. And i think that is something that many of these republicans are actually thinking could give them the opening to actually catapult past donald trump, because we know that beginning in march of 2024, donald trump is going to be crisscrossing the nafion is going to be crisscrossing the nation , not talking to voters, nation, not talking to voters, but sitting before jurors to decide whether or not he is innocent or guilty. And thats something that Republican Voters at least should be deeply concerned about. Yeah, eric, as ever , thank yeah, eric, as ever, thank you for taking us through a fascinating Political Landscape there in the states. And of there in the states. And of course, we had evanier 2024 for that president ial race. Thank you. Yeah. And those upcoming trials as well for donald trump. Now research in nottinghamshire reveals a record £2 billion was brought into the economy last year by visitors from other parts of the uk and abroad. Well were told the biggest draws football, nightlife and somebody called robin hood, as will hollis now reports , this. Reports, this. Yes, i know you can scarce believe your eyes. Tis i robin hood famous son of nottingham , hood famous son of nottingham, hero of shennood forest , hero of shennood forest, champion of england. Champion of england. A story passed down through the centuries taking from the rich, giving to the poor for aid. Andrews has played robin hood for 30 years. His heritage tours of nottingham have themselves become legend. Robin hoods great for nottingham and for england. Nottingham and for england. Shes well famous, but there is a lot more to nottingham than robin hood as well. And people when they come here and scratch the surface of this concrete jungle, look a bit deepen what they do find is the unsung hero of england tourism in nottinghamshire is built upon the bedrock of the robin hood legend. Legend. But its much more than that. An industry so vibrant that last year it brought £2 billion into the local economy. Its into the local economy. Its a record spend from last years 32 million visitors as they come for football and culture, history and pubs in newark on trent bus loads of tourists arrive every day attracted to the ruins of a civil war fortress. Fortress. Theres more of it than you are than you expect. Expecting ruins. Expecting ruins. We really heard that this area was a lovely place to tour my mums come today to visit me, so i thought id tour around the sites. Its a really lovely town for history. History. King john died here and he was a big, bad king, wasnt he . Where . Councillor Keith Girling charge economic girling is in charge of Economic Development at nottinghamshire county council, tourism is vital i its. Its a massive economy , absolutely huge. And it employs lots of people for a start. So it means a lot to those people in the industry , those people in the industry, but it also means a lot to the peripheries as tourism is worth £127 billion a year to the uk , £127 billion a year to the uk, according to visit britain. According to visit britain. Thats almost a 10th of gdp. Thats almost a 10th of gdp. Back in the city, the sector has almost recovered after being trashed during the pandemic. Trashed during the pandemic. Black jack is from visit nottinghamshire for nottinghams tourism economy theres done really, really well amongst the backdrop of a really difficult last year. People are feeling the pinch in the pockets right now because of whole host of different of a whole host of Different Reasons and were actually seeing tourism economy seeing that the tourism economy continues back. Continues to bounce back. Robin hood knew how to keep the cash different the cash coming in. Different methods , maybe, but the aim is methods, maybe, but the aim is the same. Will hollis gb news in nottinghamshire. Nottinghamshire. And finally today on the live desk, lets pay tribute to Sir Michael Gambon , who has died Michael Gambon, who has died peacefully at the age of 82, in hospital, according to his family, many, many , many family, many, many, many tributes coming in to the actor. Three Olivier Awards, two Screen Actors Guild awards and four baftas. Of course , he took four baftas. Of course, he took over the role of professor dumbledore in the harry potter films from sir Richard Harris and jared harris. His son says a brilliant actor, he lives unforget ably in my memory. Now, heres the thing. He took over dumbledore from my father, which was fitting as he overtook brando as my fathers favourite actor. Actor. Oh, as we reflect, he played dumbledore in six of the eight. Harry potter films and the actor james phelps , who played fred james phelps, who played fred weasley in the harry potter film series, has paid tribute to Sir Michael Gambon , describing him Michael Gambon, describing him as a legend. He said, im very sorry to hear about the passing of Michael Gambon. He was on and off the camera , a legend, and he off the camera, a legend, and he shared a screenshot of a text describing one of the highlights of his time on the set with sir michael. And it said, in between michael. And it said, in between set ups, michael asked me what i was up to that weekend as it happened, my brother and i were reading peter and the wolf with the manchester orchestra, peter phelps said. Michael offered phelps said. Sir michael offered to notes with him and his to share notes with him and his twin oliver, played twin brother, oliver, who played george in the films. George weasley in the films. We spent what should have been his downtime going over my weekend gig downtime going over my weekend gig. A memory that was one gig. It is a memory that was one of the highlights of my harry potter days. But perhaps knighted in 1998, but perhaps the greatest accolade he had a corner named after him on the top gear test track. And thats something hell probably carry with him. Thats it from us. Patrick is next. Stay with us on. Gb news. Yes. Okay. Ill be with you from three until 6 pm. Were taking a close look at the echr. Calls are ramping up to get us out of that. The only way out of that. Is it the only way we can control borders . We can control our borders . Or would us like would it actually make us like belarus . Ill also be looking at the latest labour u turn this time on schools. Ill be asking, hey, be trusted on hey, can they be trusted on anything . Where do they really hey, can they be trusted on anythion . Where do they really hey, can they be trusted on anythion anything . They really hey, can they be trusted on anythion anything . Theres ally hey, can they be trusted on anythion anything . Theres loads stand on anything . Theres loads on today gps and Junior Doctors. Is it for okay Junior Doctors. Is it for okay Junior Doctors to train in this country, get a student loan in order to do it and then leave this nation and go and practise elsewhere, often for much more money . That mean when money . What does that mean when it comes to repaying their student feel a student loan . Does it feel a little bit like taxpayers are giving them a free ride for a free and they are Free Education and then they are just swanning off . Im also having a look at the latest madness in wales. Its quite literally a slow speed car crash. Whats going on up there with the enforced 20 mile an hour speed limit and arguably the worlds most famous tree has been hacked down overnight. If this doesnt return the Death Penalty , then i dont know what penalty, then i dont know what will. Patrick its 3 pm. Its Patrick Christys is gb news. Should we get out of the echr calls for it are ramping up. Would that make us like belarus or actually , is us like belarus or actually, is it the only way we can properly get back control our borders get back control of our borders . The other side of the political spectrum now were having a look at labour, another labour u turn, this time over schools. They really schools. Can they really be trusted on anything . And how many actually many u turns have they actually had in recent months . Im also to going be chatting about this as gps and also junior as well. Gps and also Junior Doctors well. Must be doctors as well. It must be said, their degrees over said, getting their degrees over here student in order to here student loans, in order to do. And then are they just do that. And then are they just swanning off abroad . Do they have to pay that loan back . Should stay . Can we should we make them stay . Can we isupposeis should we make them stay . Can we i suppose is the overarching question there. And finally, ill about this as ill be chatting about this as well. All going wales, well. Its all going wales, but very its go at very slowly. Its all go at about an hour. Its about 20 miles an hour. Its caused a massive hoo ha this. There a of no there was a vote of no confidence in wales. People up in arms about mile an confidence in wales. People up in arspeed ut mile an confidence in wales. People up in arspeed limit mile an confidence in wales. People up in ar speed limit chaos. 1ile an confidence in wales. People up in ar speed limit chaos. Could hour speed limit chaos. Could that town or a that be coming to a town or a city near you . Christys city near you . Patrick christys. Gb news. Oh, yes. Get your views coming in thick and fast. Gb views. Gbnews. Com. Do you think we should have a referendum on the echr . Have you had enough of referendums . And had enough of referendums . And you want our