Transcripts For GBN Sunday 20240703

Debating whether the oil industry has been a good thing for the world. And before all of that, here are your latest news headunes that, here are your latest News Headlines with ray addison. Headlines with ray addison. Thanks, michael. Good thanks, michael. Good morning. Its 11 01. Thanks, michael. Good morning. Its11 01. Our top stories this hour. The Prime Minister will work to convince voters and the Party Faithful that hes ready to make tough decisions for the country. As the conservative Party Conference gets undennay. You conference gets undennay. You are not welcome in manchester, where protesters are making it clear that they want their voice heard during the four day event, which starts this afternoon as questions continue over the future of the hs2 rail project and levelling up in the north. Rishi sunak is announcing a £1 billion fund to help regenerate high streets across the uk. 55 high streets across the uk. 55 towns will be given £20 million towns will be given £20 million to help improve their communities over the course of a decade. Communities over the course of a decade. Well meanwhile , former decade. Well meanwhile, former Prime Minister liz truss will urge the government to cut Corporation Tax during her speech , she will say the tory speech, she will say the tory party must position themselves as the party of big business again. Shes also one of more than 30 tory mps whove promised not to support the chancellors autumn statement if it contains tax rises. Levelling up secretary michael gove told us theres a more urgent priority. Theres a more urgent priority. I think every conservative wants to bring taxes down and to reduce the tax burden. But at the thing we must do first is to bnng the thing we must do first is to bring inflation under control. The biggest tax cut that we can give to the country is bringing inflation down. Well, meanwhile, Shadow Health secretary wes streeting says tory mps are right to question rishi sunaks tax policies , including inheritance policies, including inheritance tax. Tax. After 13 years of conservative government , we end conservative government, we end up in a position where even its own mps are having to campaign against their unfair tax policies. And i think policies. And i think conservative mps are quite right to say how is it that weve got the worst, highest tax burden in 70 years . They should also be asking rishi sunak why now . Instead of thinking about cutting taxes for working people, hes looking to give himself another super rich people a tax break by cutting a tax that affects 4 of people in this country. A tax cut that would earn him personally £300 million, a key part of the Windsor Framework has come into effect for Northern Ireland with a green and red lane system to move goods from Great Britain. Our Northern Ireland reporter Dougie Beattie has more. As the protocol grace periods end, the framework document comes into place. Although we comes into place. Although we must say this is a phased approach. This today really affects the retailers , the large affects the retailers, the large supermarkets that have had problems with their supply chains as those using groupage may still face problems and that will really hit smaller retailers. But the real battle lines here will be drawn in january and right through to october next year when customs not only look at goods travelling from gb into Northern Ireland, but also from goods leaving ireland to go back in to the uk. The uk. Ofgems Energy Price Cap has now fallen across england, wales and scotland in place for the next three months. The average household bill is set to be reduced by around £150. Thats still more than 50 higher than pre crisis levels. The government is yet to announce any Financial Support for struggling households. Some struggling households. Some single use plastic items are now bannedin single use plastic items are now banned in england. Businesses can no longer sell products like plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups, and they face fines if they do. Local authorities will be able to carry out inspections to make sure that the rules are being followed. Andrew crook is president of the National Federation of fish friers. He says people need to be educated on to how recycle the new packaging. Packaging. This is a product called bagasse, which is a compostable. Its made from sugarcane. So it its made from sugarcane. So it does have a Carbon Footprint because it comes from china. The problem is they look very similar to whats banned, which is the expanded polystyrene. So is the expanded polystyrene. So i think theres still an education piece from the government for consumers about how to dispose of them correctly if find their way if they dont find their way into a bin theyre just into a bin and theyre just discarded, just act the discarded, theyll just act the same as plastic. And of same as plastic. And a lot of it, even if it ends up in general waste, will either be incinerated produce incinerated to produce electricity up in landfills. Is gb news across the uk this is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now lets get straight back to michael. Michael. Thank you very much. Ray addison. The conservative Party Conference gets under way in manchester today. Above the drum beat of the approaching general election. One minister can be heard opining on the International Refugee convention , the European Convention on human rights and multiculturalism. Home secretary Suella Braverman in Suella Braverman argued in washington that the 1951 Refugee Convention is too loose and could potentially result in almost 800 Million People qualify for refugee status. In a move that was backed by number 10 downing street, she also indicated that the government could leave the European Court of human rights if it impedes the transfer of Illegal Migrants to rwanda. Rishi sunak will attempt at this conference to present a united party ready for an election with an agreed set of policies and supposedly poised for another term in office. Let us hear from manchester, where the conference is taking place. Im joined by eric pickles now, lord pickles, who served in David Camerons cabinet and was tory chairman before the 2010 election. Eric welcome to gb news. What do you think are the chances . Its very nice to be here. Good. What do you think of the chances that the party will look as though it is united a clear set of is united with a clear set of agreed policies poised for another term in office . Well, that will be the aim to for it to be at the end of the conference at right now on a sunday. Its difficult to say. Party manager will be trying to do that. But what Party Managers need to understand is not for years have they entirely been in control of the agenda of the conference because its now the fringe that dominate it. So it will depend on those various cabinet ministers, people of varying ambition as to what they say at the fringe. Theyll probably be very disciplined on the stage because everything is worked out. The speeches are worked out. The speeches are agreed , some fringe speeches agreed, some fringe speeches that are agreed. But its that that are agreed. But its that off the cuff remark. Its been suddenly surreptitious be recorded like the chancellor was about when the general election is going to take place, when inflation reached 3. Those are the things that could throw the conservative party off balance. Conservative party off balance. But more than that, theyre is joined up thinking by some members of the tory party. They want to put pressure on the government over taxation. For government over taxation. For example, i was arguing earlier, having listened to priti patel, that what these people do is really to put a spotlight on the impotence of the conservative government, the conservative government, the conservative government is not bringing down taxes. Its putting them up. The conservative government is not controlling immigration. Immigration is flowing strongly and steadily and people making protests about this really kind of just call attention to the governments failures. Or governments failures. Or perhaps you disagree. Perhaps you disagree. Im not going to put it going to put it better myself. I mean, any conservative wants to see a lower level of taxation. Of course, at and people go back to the glory days of Lady Thatcher. But what they forget about Lady Thatcher is not only was she a tax cutter, but she also believed in sound money. And given the level of inflation, given the level of inflation, given the level of inflation, given the cost of the pandemic , given the cost of the pandemic, particularly the furlough scheme and given this , the societys and given this, the societys view that the more money you put into the Health Service rather than what comes out of the Health Service, the fact that there are lots of people like me about old people is growing is going to mean that that taxation burden is going to remain high for a long time. And let me put another point to you. I understand that there are lots of tories who have absolutely given up on the next general election. Many of them, general election. Many of them, of decided not to of course, have decided not to stand. There is a poll today stand. But there is a poll today that conservatives only that puts the conservatives only ten points behind labour, and thats a change of ten points or more in recent months. Are you one who takes the view that the election is lost, or would you think that with a with a rather uncharismatic labour leader, its everything to play for . Well, course is everything to play well, course is everything to play for, but the party needs to get its act together. I think we really what we need to offer is some hope. These various sort of consumer offerings that we get will stop the 20 mile an hour. Well do something about dangerous dogs. Well do this, dangerous dogs. Well do this, that and the other. What we need actually need to do is to give people some hope and my worry is that the Party Leadership have misread the uxbridge by election results. I think the uxbridge by election was a classic protest vote. And the thing was that sadiq khan was was more annoying than than the conservative party. And thats conservative party. And thats what happened. It wasnt particularly a desire in our love of the of the motor car. And i think what i want to really see is, you know , a really see is, you know, a collection of policies that says youre going to be better off. Your kids are going to be better off, theres going to be a degree of progress. And thats what the conservative party is traditionally happened. I mean, i come from obviously from my accent, from the north of accent, i come from the north of england come from working england and i come from working class. Red wall wasnt class stock. The red wall wasnt just like a phenomenon. Its just like a new phenomenon. Its always there. And people always been there. And people who conservative in working who vote conservative in working class areas are doing it, not because various buttons have been pressed. Its because they want to see a better life for themselves and more particularly , they want to see a much better and prosperous for and more prosperous life for their children. They their their children. They want their children than them children to do better than them. What Lady Thatcher. And thats what Lady Thatcher really got into. And its what the conservative party need to offer. Now, if the Prime Minister could offer us some hope, some optimism, some understanding that those communities are going to be better off, not that were going to offer a special fund for this and a special fund for that. They need to understand that the conservative party, the conservative party, the conservative government, is on their side. Eric eric pickles to 70 year olds discussing Lady Thatcher. Were at weve got our finger on the button here. Thank you very much, eric pickles. Now to discuss this further, im joined in the studio by conservative peerin in the studio by conservative peer in the house of lords, daniel and labour Daniel Moylan and labour councillor assad. Welcome councillor nana assad. Welcome to both. Pamela thank you. To you both. Pamela thank you. Youve with me youve not been on with me before. Its great to see you and the 1951 convention on human on refugees. 1951 is a long time on refugees. 1951 is a long time ago. You and i dont drive 1951 cars. Is there any reason at all why we shouldnt look at reforming a 1951 convention so i think the first thing we need to understand is that why did the convention come about . And that was because in the wake of world war ii, with refugees having to leave their home and seek refuge home countries and seek refuge elsewhere, and these conditions were put in place in order to have a more welcoming and open armed policies in the countries that were receiving. These refugees. We saw what happened refugees. We saw what happened in world war ii with the kindertransport coming to the United Kingdom , with refugees United Kingdom, with refugees coming here. And so i believe that those years laid the foundations of where we start. But arent you making my point . No, the conditions were very different. So i agree that conditions have changed and things have changed and moved on. And were seeing different types of migration in different of migration in different types of refugees coming here. But we have to try and think about what that Foundation Actually says to us, that foundation says that one of the first things is that you have claim refugee you dont have to claim refugee refuge in the first, quote unquote, safe country that you arrive. All right. But lets put it another way. And does it say that if youve come from a perfectly safe country like france, that youve be france, that youve got to be treated as though come treated as though youve come from dangerous place . Heres from a dangerous place . Heres the thing. Where are those refugees actually so when we actually coming from . So when we look the boat migration look at the small boat migration to most of the refugees to the uk, most of the refugees that are libya , that there are from libya, syria, afghanistan, you dont see on those boats. See ukrainians on those boats. You ukrainians you dont see ukrainians drowning why is drowning on those boats. Why is that . Because we that . Its because we have a different policy for ukrainians than do those kinds of than we do for those kinds of refugees. Now we have try and refugees. Now we have to try and make that theyre make the point that theyre coming country, but coming from a safe country, but theyre coming from safe theyre not coming from a safe country because country technically, because thats a journey that thats a thats a journey that theyre and final theyre making. And their final destination united destination is the United Kingdom. Can france be kingdom. So how can france be the country that they should you know, the Refugee Convention says you dont have to actually claim asylum in france just because you arrive there. If their final destination is coming to the United Kingdom. Who that they have to claim who says that they have to claim asylum in france would you would you a think of yourself if you as a think of yourself if you as a think of yourself if you were a refugee fleeing somewhere like afghanistan from the taliban in the taliban currently imprisoned . Torture currently imprisoned . Torture men boys dont allow women men and boys dont allow women to go to work , dont allow girls to go to work, dont allow girls to go to work, dont allow girls to go to school. You dont have economic prospects in that country either. So this is all very emotive, but i dont think it meets the point theyre coming to britain from france. No, theyre not. Well, no, theyre not. Theyre from afghanistan. Theyre coming from afghanistan. Theyre coming from afghanistan. Theyre france theyre just using france as a route to get here. Okay. Daniel moylan , lets stick Daniel Moylan, lets stick with this point for the moment. Do you think that a convention is drawn up in 1951 . In the circumstances that have been described following the described to us following the second is fit Second World War is fit for purpose today . There anything purpose today . Is there anything wrong it . Wrong with questioning it . Course we can well, of course we can question and whether fit question it and whether its fit for or not, its for purpose or not, its certainly used in a very certainly being used in a very different way. The idea very often in the 1951 convention is that people would suffer some terrible catastrophe in their home country and they would have to flee into another and neighbouring country because they were not safe where they were and that there they would find safety and some sort of accommodation and basic facilities with a view as facilities always with a view as far as possible to returning to their home country when safe when it was safe and circumstances allowed. What its now become is a charter whereby huge travel agencies, criminal travel, travel agencies arranged transcontinental travel with a view to permanent settlement in the place where youre actually arriving. And yes , we know japan arriving. And yes, we know japan is right. We know their final destination is the uk because they bought a ticket to the uk from these criminal travel agencies. None of this was agencies. None of this was envisaged when the convention was drawn up. So its operating in totally different circumstances. Circumstances. On the other hand, can you understand that our european neighbours that just because neighbours say that just because britain has left the European Union doesnt Britain Union doesnt mean that britain shouldnt to share the shouldnt have to share in the burden being borne by burden which is being borne by europe. Do you think of an island like lampedusa where thousands people arriving, thousands of people arriving, i mean, daily dwarfing mean, on a daily basis dwarfing the local population and the italians and the french for that matter, say, why on earth should britain not share in the immigration problem, which which afflicts europe . Afflicts all of europe . Of course, theyre well, of course, theyre going say that. And can going to say that. And you can understand that. Understand why they say that. But an answer to it. But there is an answer to it. Theyre not. Everybody will like the the is the answer. And the answer is that actually matters. That actually geography matters. And were an and the fact that were an island that we are. In island means that we are. We in principle are likely to get fewer arriving here fewer refugees arriving here than you are going to get in lampedusa and greece. And so on, closer to the places where the migration often starts. And if we want to do something to help refugees and its perfectly common and humane , common, common and humane, common, humane ambition to want to do so, taking them into britain and throwing away that geographical advantage is not necessarily the only thing to do. We can be only thing to do. We can be giving money and we do give money to help refugees in camps, refugees whove been displaced elsewhere. We do it directly. We do it through the un high commissioner for refugees. So its not our obligation to take refuge refugees in and the french may not like it, that were at the end of the, you know, the end of the continent. But thats where geography is placed us de man suella also spoke about multiculturalism, how do you assess it . Do you think its been a success, a failure or a bit of a mixed bag . Well, i think its very mixed to be honest. But one thing i do want to say about her comments, you know, when i when i listen to them first well, i listened to them first well, i listened to them first well, i listened to the speech and i kind of felt sick. But at that particular comment, i thought very comment, i thought its very mixed comment, i thought its very mixeyou can be your full true that you can be your full true self in the country that that you grow up in right. If you look me, example, i come look at me, for example, i come from an afghan background, but i very myself very much consider myself british. , and theres british. You know, and theres lots of mannerisms and things that that says that i do that my mother says thats english and theres thats so english and theres nothing but nothing wrong with that. But i think that, you know, we have to look at this as making sure that people dont live in bubbles and are have access to opportunity is how do we make sure they dont live in bubbles . Well, one, we dont have an actual integration scheme like other countries in europe do. You know, i heard in holland, for example, of the things is example, one of the things is that you have learn how to that you have to learn how to ride for example, as ride a bicycle for example, as part of your citizenship journey , you know, so these are cultural things that people are sort of we now have what the life in uk test that people have to take before they get naturalisation so naturalisation in the uk. So i think that there are things that we can do to try and help encourage that. I see encourage that. But what i see you cutting english you know, cutting english language cutting language lessons or cutting funding to schools, cutting funding to schools, cutting funding to schools, cutting funding to these kinds of services needed to help services that are needed to help progress that kind of integration isnt exactly beneficial. Beneficial. Pamina and daniel, excuse me, and thank you. The Prime Minister apparently has been speaking, and were going to have a listen to what rishi sunak has been saying. Well, look , weve spades well, look, weve got spades in on hs2 and were in the ground on hs2 and were cracking on with delivering it. Cracking on with delivering it. But i was just but funnily enough, i was just talking berlin talking to people here in berlin about were doing for them talking to people here in berlin ablevel were doing for them talking to people here in berlin ablevel up. Were doing for them talking to people here in berlin ablevel up. Weveioing for them talking to people here in berlin ablevel up. Weve just] for them to level up. Weve Just Announced £1 billion of investment in 55 towns across the uk because there are lots of different that can level different ways that we can level up. Its not just about big up. Its not just about our big cities. More people live in towns big cities, and we towns than big cities, and we want back with long term want to back them with long term funding, which were going to put people control put local people in control of. I talking to the team i was just talking to the team here how they can be here about how they can be involved each of these towns is going £20 million in long going to get £20 million in long term funding and they can focus on nicer on their priorities. Nicer high streets, and streets, Safer Communities and preserving community preserving Civic Community assets. Those are the types of things people to do to things that people want to do to level up their areas. And now theyre being backed with £1 billion term funding billion in long term funding and putting local people in charge to bring about that change. Liz trust is going to say she wants tax cut. Wants Corporation Tax cut. Michael he michael gove has said that he would see tax cuts would like to see tax cuts before the next election. Would you like tax cuts before the next election . You like tax cuts before the nexweretion . You like tax cuts before the nexwere all . You like tax cuts before the nexwere all conservatives. Of were all conservatives. Of course cut taxes. The course we want to cut taxes. The best tax cut, though, that i can deliver now for the deliver right now for the country is to halve inflation. Its which putting its inflation, which is putting the of things up, the prices of things up, inflation impacting the cost of living, inflation thats eating inflation impacting the cost of livinpeopleson thats eating inflation impacting the cost of livinpeoples savings, eating into peoples savings, their bank wallets. Bank accounts, their wallets. And thats why the first of my priorities is to bring inflation down, halve it. And down, to halve it. And im pleased that were making progress. Know are progress. I know things are still tough, but the few still tough, but the last few months data give us months of data should give us comfort reassurance that we comfort and reassurance that we are there. Inflation are getting there. Inflation is coming said it would. Coming down, as i said it would. Were going to stick the were going to stick to the course the best way course and that is the best way for to help people more than for me to help people more than 30 of your colleagues have said they wont vote for your budget, but it raises taxes, can you but if it raises taxes, can you reassure them that they wont be put in that position . Thats what all conservatives wants to see are taxes coming down. Of course do. Thats what course they do. Thats what i want to see. But the best tax cut we deliver right cut that we can deliver right now is to halve inflation. And thats something that im deeply committed first of committed to. Its the first of my priorities. Why . Because my five priorities. Why . Because thats we help people thats how we can help people with the cost of living. We just want to more money in want to put more money in peoples and the best peoples pockets. And the best way now is way to do that right now is through inflation and through halving inflation and thatis through halving inflation and that is a deeply conservative approach to and approach to this. And my colleagues this colleagues understand that this is margaret did, is what Margaret Thatcher did, this nigel lawson did. This is what nigel lawson did. This tradition of this is in the tradition of great conservative governments bringing because bringing inflation down because thats which you thats the bedrock on which you build economy. That build a strong economy. And that is help people is the best way to help people with cost living. With the cost of living. Inflation actually a inflation isnt actually a tax, it . Tax, though, is it . Effectively acts like but it effectively acts like a tax, and its a tax that impacts the poorest the most. Thats why Margaret Thatcher made priority combat made it a priority to combat inflation, and thats what im doing, bring doing, because when we bring inflation down, that will then unlock so many good things for the country. But crucially, it will ease the burden the cost will ease the burden on the cost of living. And thats what i want to do as Prime Minister thats why its the first of my five priorities and the is five priorities and the plan is working. Inflation is coming down. Weve got down. I said it would. Weve got to stick to the course and we will get the job done. And finally, on ukraine, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has today british has said today that any British Military are in military person who are in ukraine the ukrainians Ukraine Training the ukrainians would a legal target for the would be a legal target for the russians. Can you see a time when british troops will be in Ukraine Training the ukrainians , as your defence secretary has suggested . Suggested . Yeah, i think theres been some misreporting about this, so im pleased to just be absolutely clear about whats happening now. People will know for long time weve been for a long time that weve been training citizens and training ukrainian citizens and soldiers. Doing that soldiers. Weve been doing that here britain. Weve here in britain. Weve taken a lead lots of other lead on that and lots of other countries joined our effort countries have joined our effort andits countries have joined our effort and its making a huge difference to difference and well continue to do what the defence do that. And what the defence secretary saying that it secretary was saying was that it might possible one day might well be possible one day in future for us to do some in the future for us to do some of that training ukraine. But of that training in ukraine. But thats for the long thats something for the long term, the and now. Term, not the here and now. There british soldiers there are no british soldiers that be sent to fight in that will be sent to fight in the current conflict. Thats not whats what are the current conflict. Thats not whatsis what are the current conflict. Thats not whatsis training what are the current conflict. Thats not whatsis training ukraine are the current conflict. Thats not whatsis training ukraine means doing is training ukraine means were doing that here in the uk. Its that everyone its something that everyone should proud of because its should be proud of because its making enormous difference. Making an enormous difference. The very grateful the ukrainians are very grateful for its something that for it and its something that lots have lots of other countries have joined in doing. Prime joined us in doing. Prime minister, very much. Minister, thank you very much. Thanks much. Great rather thanks very much. Great rather bouncy looking Prime Minister rishi sunak at a Basketball Court in manchester rowing back on the idea that british soldiers are going to be sent to ukraine to train ukrainian soldiers. Soldiers. Im sorry that we cut short, but nonetheless, my great thanks to lord moylan and mana assad. To lord moylan and mana assad. In a few minutes, ill be joined in the studio by former Supreme Court justice lord sumption, whos just published the fifth and final volume of his magisterial history of the 100 years war. Stay with. Us years war. Stay with. Us hello there and Greg Dewhurst, and welcome to your latest gb news weather forecast. We do have rain in the forecast over the coming days, but therell be some bright spells at times too, and temperatures generally on the warm side, particularly as we head towards next weekend. Low pressure generally dominating the pressure over the next pressure pattern over the next few days, bringing spells of rain. But eventually High Pressure should start move in pressure should start to move in by of the week. This by the middle of the week. This afternoon, we do bright afternoon, we do have bright spells across Northern Ireland, scotland scattered spells across Northern Ireland, scotland here, scattered spells across Northern Ireland, scotlandhere, some scattered spells across Northern Ireland, scotlandhere, some thickered spells across Northern Ireland, scotlandhere, some thicker rain showers here, some thicker rain towards parts of shetland. This cloud as well , stretching from cloud as well, stretching from southwest england into wales , southwest england into wales, the midlands, parts of east anglia will some spells of anglia will give some spells of rain times brighter to the rain at times brighter to the southeast. And temperatures southeast. And here temperatures lifting to around 24 lifting to around 23, 24 celsius. Elsewhere generally the high teens to low 20s. So on the warm side for the time of year, this frontal system tries to move a little further south and eastwards as go through this eastwards as we go through this evening the early hours. Evening into the early hours. Clear spells elsewhere clear spells generally elsewhere still showers still a scattering of showers across Northern Ireland, particularly northwest scotland. Some on the side. Some of these on the heavy side. The winds up here, the winds picking up here, too. And most temperatures , and for most temperatures, largely in double largely staying in double figures. And a warm night across figures. And a warm night across the far south where it will be quite a cloudy start to monday morning. Some outbreaks light morning. Some outbreaks of light rain drizzle and then rain and drizzle and then through the day, this frontal system push little system starts to push a little further and further north again and reactivate. See spells reactivate. So well see spells of across england and of rain across england and wales. Be some brighter wales. Therell be some brighter interludes some interludes at times, too. Some of could be heavy, of that rain could be heavy, perhaps thundery later on in the day and temperatures getting into the low news. The peoples channel. Britains news channel. Britains news channel. Well come back the 100 years war has furnished the english imagination with some of its finest tales. The black prince winning his spurs at crecy and king howes band of brothers triumphing at agincourt. But with the death of king henry the fifth, and his replacement by his infant son, henry, the sixth englands fortunes changed, and with the appearance of joan of arc, french morale and military skill improved vastly. Englands improved vastly. Englands heroism eventually came to nought as the english empire in france imploded in the 15th century. The defeat of the engushis century. The defeat of the english is the subject of lord sumptions fifth and final volume in his history of the hundred years war. It self the product of decades of effort and lord sumption joins me now to discuss it. Well the first thing to say is congratulations on 43 years of work. Thank you. Shall years of work. Thank you. Shall we start with henry . The fifth . Your book begins more or less with his death. He was an with his death. He was an extraordinary figure. And would i be right to assume then that the change in english fortunes begins with his removal from the scene, his premature death . Yes. Scene, his premature death . Yes. You would , henry. You would, henry. The fifth was not a man that you and i would have enjoyed a walking tour with. He was rather prissy, prim, but he was a brilliant leader and he was a brilliant politician. He grasped the fact that in a country like france , that in a country like france, which had been had a decade of civil war by offering the them a clear victory and an ordered society, he would be able to get the loyalty of a lot of frenchmen, which he did. And much of that disappeared after his death. Describe because people may not be familiar with this. Describe the area of france that was ruled by the english king at the end of henry, the fifth reign. Well, henry the fifth directly controlled through his own troops and bureaucrats , own troops and bureaucrats, normandy and the provinces immediately around normandy , but immediately around normandy, but through his ally, philip, the good duke of burgundy, he actually theoretic he ruled and practically controlled the whole of france, north of the loire, the great problem at his death was that he had failed to prevent at the depher from setting up an alternative government. The depher, the future. Charles the seventh was his support. He charles the seventh was his support. He was himself charles the seventh was his support. He was himself the support. He was himself the beginning of his reign, rather an unimpressive figure , but he an unimpressive figure, but he was supported by some brilliant advisors and Civil Servants and they created a complete duplicate of the french state in paris based in bourges , poitiers paris based in bourges, poitiers and toulouse. And once that had and toulouse. And once that had happened , there was no chance happened, there was no chance that the english were going to be able to conquer the rest of france, south of the loire. That was the dilemma. His successors faced an extraordinarily important moment was the coronation of that depher as king charles, the seventh in race . Yes. And why was that so important . And do you want to tell us how it came about . Well, it came about because joan of arc persuaded charles the seventh to ignore the advice of almost all his military advisers as who had told him that it was impractical to march to rheims across 200 miles of enemy held territory with no siege train and no supply train. And of course, strictly speaking, they were right. Joan speaking, they were right. Joan of arc persuaded him to ignore that, and she basically bluffed her way into all the english held fortresses on the way to rheims. And finally, rheims herself. People were frightened about the reports of her triumphs in the loire valley siege of orleans. They believed that by resisting her, they would be resisting the will of god. And they just opened their gates. It was a pure bluff. It was a risk. But then in war. Wars are won by risk takers. And joan of arc was the most spectacular of all risk takers. Spectacular of all risk takers. I was half prepared for your book to say that joan of arc was a kind of myth. I expect you to kind of to debunk her because it just seems too improbable for words that a teenage girl can have such an impact. Act upon military affairs and the coronation of a king. But you do not her. She really did not debunk her. She really did have that she really did have that role. She really did have that role. She really did have role, certainly in the have that role, certainly in the later part of her career. I think you can say that her role at siege of orleans has role at the siege of orleans has been perhaps overstated. It had a on morale, but a terrific effect on morale, but the decisions were made by the basic decisions were made by professional soldiers. Same was professional soldiers. Same was true of the battle of patay , in true of the battle of patay, in which the french defeated and largely destroyed an english army in the loire valley. But the coronation expedition really was her doing. Was her doing. And meanwhile, lets look at the english henry the sixth had succeeded. Henry the fifth. But as an infant. So there was there was a regency and how successful was a regency and how successful was the king and those who ruled in his name . Well, during his in his name . Well, during his infancy, before he became he basically took control to some extent so far as he was mentally capable of doing so in 1437. For most of that time , the for most of that time, the french empire of england had been ruled by his uncle, john duke of bedford. One of the rare duke of bedford. One of the rare examples in history of a good uncle and a very formal administrator , a formidable administrator, a formidable administrator, a formidable administrator who got on very well with with the french. He was a clever diplomat. He was widely respected by french and engush widely respected by french and english alike. And he kept the show on the road basically until joan of arc came along. Joan of arc came along. Thereafter, it was it was decline. When henry the sixth took the reins over personally, he proved to be completely inadequate. He wasnt interested inadequate. He wasnt interested inadequate. He wasnt interested in the war. He was essentially he had a sort of christian pacifism. He wanted an end to pacifism. He wanted an end to it. He knew , or at least his it. He knew, or at least his advisers knew that they couldnt simply give up without dishonouring the memory of the legendary henry the fifth. And really, it was the it was the shadow of henry the fifth that loomed over for most of his reign. It was the shadow of henry the fifth that prevented the english from compromising or withdrawing long. They were doomed , therefore, to fight a doomed, therefore, to fight a war which increasingly they realised they werent going to win. And the result was a predictable disaster. Predictable disaster. And talking of shadows , ive and talking of shadows, ive done work. On the long term done work. On the long term impact of joan of arc. I mean, for example, she is resurrected dunng for example, she is resurrected during the great war as the great french symbol of resistance. It is hoped that she resistance. It is hoped that she will once again inspire the french to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. Yes, joan of arc has. Shes been adopted as a patron of monachism of catholicism , um, of monachism of catholicism, um, of french patriotism , and french patriotism, and periodically of anti english sentiment. Csc has always been sentiment. Csc has always been an a formidable symbol. And what can understand that, given the extraordinary , dramatic extraordinary, dramatic character of her one year on the pubuc character of her one year on the public stage before she was eventually captured and chernihiv one year youve spent 43 years doing this. 43 years doing this. Why . Well i think everybody should have another dimension to their lives. Ive been a lawyer for most of my adult life, although i started as an academic historian. And you need a hinterland. This is what i had taught when i was a don at oxford and i didntjust want to give it up simply because i had turned to what a famous soldier in the 100 years war called the needless business of law. Needless business of law. Jonathan sumption , thank you jonathan sumption, thank you very much. The book is called triumph and illusion. Its the triumph and illusion. Its the fifth volume of his history of the hundred years war and by the way, its beautifully written and anguish followed the news that one of the countrys most famous and beautiful trees was illegally felled. This week, the sycamore in northumberland had stood like a lonely sentinel on englands Northern Frontier for over 200 years. It became a pilgrimage destination. Many people would leave heartfelt messages there by the tree. Proposals of marriage were made and ashes of the deceased were scattered. Details of exactly how it was felled remain murky as 16 year old and a man in his 60s had been arrested. Amateur photographer ian sproat took many pictures of the tree and joins me now. Ian, you must be joins me now. Ian, you must be very, very sad. Lets not dwell on that too long. Tell me your approach to photographing this tree. Tree. Um , its always been pretty um, its always been pretty magical place, you know . Um right from the very beginning when a friend of mine, andrew, took us up to the tree, i took my first astro shot there. Um, my first astro shot there. Um, and ever since that shot, when the stars glistened in the sky and the silhouette of the tree in the distance, itjust. I just in the distance, it just. I just fell in love with it. From that moment. And how many photographs do you think you took of it . And presumably you wanted to be there at all times of day and in all seasons . Yeah, i mean , it didnt yeah, i mean, it didnt matter what time of the day you used to go there. I mean, my preferred time of the day was was night time. I used to go there during when the stars were out because it was at its quietest most peaceful. Quietest and its most peaceful. Um just, i mean, the amount of um i just, i mean, the amount of pictures ive taken there is probably uncountable. Um, when i used to there, used to used to go there, i used to shoot time lapses. So the one thats on the screen now, for example, like over example, is like, its like over 280 shots just for that one shot. So its literally shot. Um so its literally uncountable. Thered be tens of thousands of images ive taken there over the last few years since ive started. Since ive started. And tell me in your experience as a photographer, have you ever come across a tree that was quite as beautiful or quite as affecting . I mean, it quite as affecting . I mean, it is emotionally affecting this tree, isnt it . It is, yeah. I mean, i think people people just class it as a tree. Ive read a lot of quite, quite saddened and comments on social media and stuff, but you know, its just you know know, its just a tree. You know theres thousands of trees get felled and felled daily and like rainforests collapsing. And rainforests are collapsing. And it more than a tree. It rainforests are collapsing. And it it more than a tree. It rainforests are collapsing. And it it wase than a tree. It rainforests are collapsing. And it it was almost a tree. It rainforests are collapsing. And it it was almost a a tree. It rainforests are collapsing. And it it was almost a sacred 3. It was it was almost a sacred place. Um, people visit place. Um, when people visit this tree, you know, whether it be through a Marriage Proposal or the death a loved one or the death of a loved one somewhere that shared a moment with you know, its with a loved one, you know, its different. Its not just a tree. Its almost like a holy ground, you know, a sacred place. And ian , your photographs are and ian, your photographs are really fantastic. And i think really fantastic. And i think now theyre going to be even more valuable than we imagined before. Uh, because the tree is before. Uh, because the tree is no longer with us. But your images will live and i thank images will live on, and i thank you very much for taking them and with us today and sharing them with us today in a few minutes, ill have Stefan Kyriazis in the studio, whos been to an unusual ballet in birmingham had dbs and co weeknights from. Six well , come back. Well, come back. Stefan kyriazis is here rounding off an action packed week in which he took in four shows as stefan that included a musical on a 1960s icon twiggy. Musical on a 1960s icon twiggy. Yes, twiggy, which is a brilliant idea for a musical. Her life is extraordinary. See her life is extraordinary. See the 60s, your heyday, michael. The 60s, your heyday, michael. All youre welcome. Immensely all youre welcome. Immensely exciting. Seismic, changing time exciting. Seismic, changing time in society, pop culture, class, culture, everything. So its just a brilliant, fantastic idea for a show. Theres a very for a show. Theres a very powerful lead from elena skye, whos a strong young actress , whos a strong young actress, Musical Theatre actress. Coming up , really great cast , really up, really great cast, really fine band. But i would like you fine band. But i would like you to use your parliamentary contacts, please. Michael and can we make sure that ben elton never writes or directs another show musical . This is hot on the heels of a very disastrous we will rock you over the summer. Will rock you over the summer. But whats disastrous . You just you just described a show that sounded rather nice. Ive described all the bare bones and the sort of bones and all the sort of fundamentals. Unfortunately the framework of its directed framework most of its directed to the audience. So the twiggy character narrates to us, as do her parents. Theres two girlfriends that are a bit like a chorus. I promise. Hand on a chorus. I promise. Hand on heart. At the interval i said to my colleague, i just feel like im watching wikipedia entry. Im watching a wikipedia entry. They dump a lot of the they just info dump a lot of the time. Well, in this year this was of course time when this was of course the time when this was of course the time when this was happening i my first was happening or i had my first haircut then towards the haircut and then towards the very of show, the mother very end of the show, the mother character, get to sort the character, we get to sort of the late 80s 90s goes well, of late 80s and 90s goes well, of course, later on twiggy went back to broadway. She starred on course, later on twiggy went bac she broadway. She starred on course, later on twiggy went bac she broadary. She starred on course, later on twiggy went bacshe broadary. Shnsheirred on course, later on twiggy went bacshe broadary. Shnshe did] on tv, she made a film, she did this and then saved m s. But if you and the character says, but if want know more, look if you want to know more, look it on wikipedia and youre it up on wikipedia and youre like close to the like a little bit close to the bone and also ben eltons writing, he cant resist social commentary with bells and whistles. Did you notice my commentary . So the twiggy character will literally say , of character will literally say, of course, i was 15 at the time with my first boyfriend, justin de villeneuve, who was a complete chancellor and used her, and he was 25. But then shell say, but of course, these days we talk about the Metoo Movement or we talk about gaslighting thing. And then it does extremely clunky. Does sound extremely clunky. Its clunky and preachy. Does a playwright have any alternative because arent alternative now . Because arent the lawyers or the promoters saying , youve youve got saying, youve got to youve got to trigger warnings, youve saying, youve got to youve got to to trigger warnings, youve saying, youve got to youve got to to tellgger warnings, youve saying, youve got to youve got to to tell people rnings, youve saying, youve got to youve got to to tell people thatjs, youve saying, youve got to youve got to to tell people that things ve got to tell people that things are then youve got are different, then youve got to the context is there to explain. The context is there any is there alternative to this . Well, these arent trigger warnings these are warnings in as such. These are just know how times just letting us know how times have changed and have you noticed . And were like, yes, we have so just its have noticed. So its just its very, handed like very, very heavy handed like that ruins the evening for you. It completely makes it completely i mean, it makes slightly faster elements of really serious, interesting , really serious, interesting, powerful, fascinating story. I powerful, fascinating story. I mean, the husband, her husband , mean, the husband, her husband, michael de winter, is an alcoholic. And she mentions its alcoholic. And she mentions its like living with two people. You then get this trailer playing for a 1940s, black and white film of jekyll and hyde and were like, oh, oh, yeah, two. It hammers it home. And then we do get footage of tricky every now and then when she absolutely shot down woody allen magnificently , you realise what magnificently, you realise what agency she had what power and that doesnt translate. The show is called close up a twiggy story and it fails in that remit i and where is it . And where is it . This is playing at the menier Chocolate Factory and it is on there until november the 18th, very good. Frank and which does come with trigger warnings and this starring ian mckellen and roger allam. And mckellen himself has spoken out against trigger warning, saying , darlings, quite warning, saying, darlings, quite frankly, id like to be surprised by a little bit of bad language in action when i get to the yes, see him the theatre. Yes, i see him saying that. I thought was very, very i thought that was very, very interesting and welcome. Yeah. This the warnings. Are for bad language. Theres lots of swearing, sexual references. This is this is exciting news. And i feel like they possibly underestimated interest. Its also it is going on tour. There are there are still returns. So its coming to plymouth. The Theatre Royal there , october 12 Theatre Royal there, october 12 to 14. And then sadlers wells in london, october 18 to 21. I would be very sure that they are filming it at some stage as well. So we would hope that it will be streamed or possibly shown on television. Yes, we saw that thrilling rock music. That thrilling rock music. Theyve worked with tony iommi, whos the founding whos one of the founding members black sabbath. Press members of black sabbath. Press night. Came on the end night. He came on at the end with his guitar, which was explosively and explosively exciting thing. And what seeing is, you know, what were seeing is, you know, i looked around audience , i looked around the audience, there of men with long there are a lot of men with long hair and rock t shirts. Its an utterly different audience coming thats exciting coming in. Thats very exciting andits coming in. Thats very exciting and its always fun to see ballet. Ballet taking something and revolutionising updates , and revolutionising updates, ing, grabbing, sort of modern pp ing, grabbing, sort of modern pop culture. So all of this is absolutely thrilling. Its all the original music, but often really orchestrated. So its not classic rock music, but its beautifully done, fabulously danced by three different acts. Danced by three different acts. No storyline. An and for me, no storyline. An and for me, i was a little bit of a dissenter. I wanted a little bit more umph and punch , which i never quite and punch, which i never quite got the raw power of it. I was left wanting a little bit more. Im sorry, itjust turned left wanting a little bit more. Im sorry, it just turned the volume up a bit, but its exciting and im very thrilled that its happening. And finally, a classical ballet. Youve been to see don quixote. Quixote. Don quixote last night at the royal ballet. Royal ballet. I wore my jacket. I loved it so much. Im like, im wearing it again today. This is classical ballet. Also, we must say birmingham royal ballet. Carlos acosta, x world class dancer, now directing there. Created this don there. He also created this don quixote royal ballet. Quixote at the royal ballet. Busy popped up on busy man this week. Popped up on the the end for the the stage at the end for the curtain call and its his 2013 version of the classic 1900 petit pas bolshoi bolshoi show, don is off don quixote, cervantes is off tilting but main tilting windmills, but the main storyline about kitri, storyline is about kitri, the young, girl falling in young, gorgeous girl falling in love the penniless love with basilio, the penniless barber. Marianella. Barber. Weve got marianella. Nunez. Shes 41. She gives us all hope. Shes more powerful, more lithe, more beautiful, more delightful. On stage now than even delightful. On stage now than ever. Looks like she can go ever. It looks like she can go forever. She these forever. She unfurl these incredibly beautiful limbs, partnered handsome partnered with a young, handsome vadim muntagirov, russian vadim muntagirov, huge russian russian them russian megastar, two of them together are sublime. Youve got tambourines, capes, tambourines, maracas, capes, fans gypsy guitarists on fans for gypsy guitarists on stage, love story , stage, beautiful love story, tonnes of comedy, brilliant choreography , very gorgeous choreography, very gorgeous music. I loved every second of it. Its stunning. Its absolutely spectacular. Absolutely spectacular. And let me just add, if i may, i went to hear see peter grimes last night at the English National opera. Martin brabbins conducting the audience was immensely enthusiastic, particularly for the playing of the music. The Benjamin Britten music. Funnily enough, my father went to at sadlers to the premiere at sadlers wells june 1945 and wrote wells in june of 1945 and wrote about for a spanish about it for a spanish publication. Given it was brittens first opera, it is absolutely sensational. Well, it is extraordinary is an extraordinary piece because it starts grim and gets grimmer it goes along. So grimmer as it goes along. So its not bundle of laughs, but its not a bundle of laughs, but its not a bundle of laughs, but it is a fantastic show. Stephen kyrees, thank you so much for coming on. I hope to see you again next week. Thats it for the first hour of sunday with michael portillo. In a few minutes ill be asking what would we did stop oil would happen if we did stop oil or indeed, where would we be today without oil . Stay with us. Hello there. Greg hello there. Im Greg Dewhurst welcome to your dewhurst and welcome to your latest weather forecast. Latest gb news weather forecast. We in the forecast we do have rain in the forecast over coming days, but over the coming days, but therell bright spells therell be some bright spells at temperatures at times too, and temperatures generally warm side, generally on the warm side, particularly we head towards generally on the warm side, parti weekend. We head towards generally on the warm side, parti weekend. Low1ead towards generally on the warm side, parti weekend. Low pressureirds next weekend. Low pressure generally the generally dominating the pressure the next pressure pattern over the next few. Days, bringing spells of few. Days, bringing spells of rain, but eventually. High rain, but eventually. High pressure should start to move in by the middle of the week. This afternoon, we do have bright spells across Northern Ireland, scotland, with a few scattered showers here, thicker rain showers here, some thicker rain towards of shetland. This towards parts of shetland. This cloud as well, stretching from southwest england into wales, the midlands, parts of east anglia will give some spells of rain brighter the rain at times brighter to the southeast. Temperatures southeast. And here temperatures lifting 2324 celsius lifting to around 2324 celsius elsewhere. Lifting to around 2324 celsius elsewherlow 20s. So on the warm teens to low 20s. So on the warm side for the time of year, this frontal system tries to move a little further south and eastwards as we go through this evening early hours, evening into the early hours, clear generally clear spells generally elsewhere, scattering. Elsewhere, still a scattering. Of showers across Northern Ireland, particularly northwest scotland. Some of these on the heavy side. The winds picking up here, too. And for most temperatures, largely staying in double night double figures and warm night across south where it across the far south where it will cloudy start to will be quite a cloudy start to monday morning. Some outbreaks of and of light rain and drizzle and then through day, this then through the day, this frontal starts to push frontal system starts to push a little further north again. And reactive late. So well see spells rain across england spells of rain across england and some and wales. Therell be some brighter interludes at times too. Some rain could be too. Some of that rain could be heavy, perhaps thundery later on in the day temperatures in the day and temperatures getting the low 20s join getting into the low 20s join me, tominey. On sunday me, Camilla Tominey. On sunday mornings from 930, taking the politicians to task and breaking out of sw1 to see how their decisions are affecting you across the uk. But ousting the westminster bubble ina in a world of dull and predictable radio and tv shows. Oh hi on mark dolan. Tonight weve got big guests. We drill into the big stories of the day. The show adds up to a brilliant listening and viewing experience. Mark dolan tonight is most entertaining current is the most entertaining Current Affairs ever. And thats a affairs show ever. And thats a fact. Thats mark dolan tonight, friday, saturday and sunday from nine only on gb news britains news channel. News channel. Welcome back to sunday with michael portillo. Join me as we shimmy into a sunday afternoon of good conversation covering music travel the arts and oil. When i began in politics, north sea oil and gas were a source of Great National pride. They offered us self sufficiency. They rescued the public finances, demonstrated extra ordinary engineering skills, and made the idea of an independent scotland plausible. How things have changed. This government seemed apologetic as it approved the development of the new rosebank field. The modern world would be unimaginable without the hydrocarbons that powered cars, trains , ships, aircraft cars, trains, ships, aircraft power stations and supplied chemicals, plastics and fertilisers with that perspective, what does Just Stop Oil mean . After months of oil mean . After months of travelling the country, interviewing the rising Classical Music stars of the future, Julian Lloyd Webber will be in the studio to tell us what concerts and shows we should see. Plus, the beloved british star of screen glynis johns is just days away from her 100th birthday. Is it time that she will recognised by the nation for her almost century long contribution to the stage and film . Her grandson thinks so , film . Her grandson thinks so, and hell tell me why. A month and hell tell me why. A month ago we reported the hopes of conservationists that venice , conservationists that venice, queen of the adriatic would be added to unescos list of endangered heritage sites after a typically contentious two week unesco summit. The Italian Government succeeded in avoiding the citys listing and as somers cocks journalist and tireless campaigner will lament at that decision. All of that to come. But first, the news headunes come. But first, the News Headlines with ray addison. Headlines with ray addison. Thanks, michael. Good afternoon. Its 12 02 and we afternoon. Its 12 02 and we start with some breaking news. One person has been killed and another is in a Critical Condition after three men were stabbed in halifax. The third stabbed in halifax. The third person was treated for a non life threatening injury. Non life threatening injury. West Yorkshire Police says the attack happened just before 4 am. This morning. The crime scene is still in place while Police Conduct specialist searches and forensic enquiries. Well bring you more on this developing story as we get it. Developing story as we get it. Now, the Prime Minister has refused to commit to tax cuts as the conservative Party Conference gets undennay. Rishi sunak says his focus is on halving inflation because it impacts the poorest the most on a visit to burnley ahead of todays gathering, the pm insisted his approach is deeply conservative, saying its a thatcherite policy. What all conservatives wants to see are taxes coming down. Of course they do. Thats what i want to see. But the best tax cut that we can deliver right now is to halve inflation. And thats something that im deeply committed to. Its the first of my priorities. Because my five priorities. Why . Because thats how can help people thats how we can help people with living. We just with the cost of living. We just want put more money want to put more money in peoples pockets. And the best way that right now is way to do that right now is through inflation through halving inflation and that conservative that is a deeply conservative approach this. And my approach to this. And my colleagues that this colleagues understand that this is Margaret Thatcher did. Is what Margaret Thatcher did. Secretary is what Margaret Thatcher did. Streeting, secretary is what Margaret Thatcher did. Streeting, toryzcretary is what Margaret Thatcher did. Streeting, tory mpsrry is what Margaret Thatcher did. Streeting, tory mps are wes streeting, says tory mps are right question rishi sunaks right to question rishi sunaks tax policies , including tax policies, including inheritance tax. Inheritance tax. After 13 years of conservative government , we end conservative government, we end up in a position where even its own mps are having to campaign against their unfair tax policies. And i think conservative mps are quite right to say how is it that weve got the worst , to say how is it that weve got the worst, highest to say how is it that weve got the worst , highest tax to say how is it that weve got the worst, highest tax burden in 70 years . They should also be asking rishi sunak why . Why, asking rishi sunak why . Why, instead of thinking about cutting taxes for working people, hes looking to give himself another super rich people a tax break by cutting a tax that affects 4 of people in this country. A tax cut that would earn him personally. £300 would earn him personally. £300 million, a key part of the Windsor Framework has come into effect for Northern Ireland with a green and red lane system to move goods from Great Britain. Move goods from Great Britain. Our Northern Ireland reporter Dougie Beattie has more. As the protocol grace periods end, the framework document comes into place. Although we comes into place. Although we must say this is a phased approach. This today really affects the retailers, the large supermarkets that have had problems with their supply chains , those using groupage may chains, those using groupage may still face problems and that will really hit smaller retailers. But the real battle lines here will be drawn in january and right through to october next year , when customs october next year, when customs not only look at goods travelling from gb into Northern Ireland, but also from goods leaving ireland to go back in to the uk. The uk. Ofgems Energy Price Cap has now fallen across england, wales and scotland and in place for the next three months. The average household bill is set to be reduced by around £150. Thats still more than 50 higher than pre crisis levels the government is yet to announce any Financial Support for struggling households. Some for struggling households. Some single use plastic items are now banned. Single use plastic items are now banned. In england. Businesses banned. In england. Businesses can no longer sell products like plastic cutlery, plates and polystyrene cups, and they face fines if they do local authorities will be able to carry out, inspect ons to make sure that the rules are being followed. Andrew crook is president of the National Federation of fish friers. He says people need to be educated on how to recycle the new packaging. Packaging. This is a product called bagasse, which is a compostable. Its made from sugarcane. So it does have a Carbon Footprint because it comes from china. The because it comes from china. The problem is they look very similar to whats banned, which is expanded polystyrene. So is the expanded polystyrene. So i think theres still an educational piece from the government consumers about government for consumers about how to dispose of them correctly if they dont their way if they dont find their way into and theyre just into a bin and theyre just discarded, theyll just act the same a lot of it, same as plastic and a lot of it, even if it ends up in general waste, will either be incinerated produce incinerated to produce electricity landfills. This is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now lets get back to michael. Lets get back to michael. Thank you very much. Ray addison after last weeks u turn on some of the governments climate measures, rishi sunaks decision to approve further development of oil and gas in the north sea was denounced by campaigners labour has attacked the decision and says it wont approve any more drilling in the north sea, but neither will it rescind the licences granted by this government. How did britain move from feeling very proud of its Oil Gas Production to oil and Gas Production to regarding companies as regarding Oil Companies as panahs regarding Oil Companies as pariahs to answer that question, ive invited tom burke , ive invited tom burke, co founder climate think co founder of the climate think tank e 3g, Richard Richie , tank e 3g, and Richard Richie, who was for many years director of Government Affairs at bp. Welcome to you both. Richard, welcome to you both. Richard, i should mention that i used to work for an oil company as well. Well, how should you and i feel about the fact that Oil Companies are more and more being treated as pariahs with surprise . Surprise . And i dont feel any sense of shame for having worked for one for so long. I believe that Oil Companies and the gas industry as well. Oil and gas provides an essential public service, but its done by the private sector. It keeps all the vital mechanisms of the of this country going. And im very proud to have played a part in it. Now, whether it will forever or that doesnt worry me. I or that doesnt worry me. I mean, every type of energy is eventually made obsolete by something else. But there is something else. But there is nothing to be ashamed of in terms of ones past. And theres nothing to be ashamed about in terms of its present. As long as one is not holding up the opfions one is not holding up the options of future developments elsewhere. Elsewhere. I mean, for example, arts bodies have decided to sever their connections and their sponsorship with Oil Companies. Sponsorship with Oil Companies. I imagine you like. I might think thats a mistake, but do you also think that Oil Companies, because because theyre big and powerful and their experience in engineering can play quite a part can play quite a big part in solving of future . I . I certainly think the oil and gas industry has a part to play in whats called the transition from where we are today to where we will have to go tomorrow. I we will have to go tomorrow. I have absolutely no doubt about that. You raise an interesting thing about the opera and Oil Companies. Mean, think one companies. I mean, i think one of the reasons why the Oil Companies may be disliked is because they have appeased those who dislike them. And i was never very much i mean , as you never very much i mean, as you know, im a great i know that you adore opera. I adore opera. But i was never convinced that it was in bps interest. Its to sponsor those occasions. And i think stop oil may have done us a favour. And certainly done bps shareholders a favour in saying they dont want our money. We can put it somewhere else. Tom does Just Stop Oil make any sense . We cant Just Stop Oil. Were still heavily dependent upon it. And by the way, if we dont just use it to burn, we also use it in chemicals, plastics, fertilisers and other things which are very important in our lives. No, i agree with that. We cant Just Stop Oil. Nobodys proposed that we should Just Stop Oil people are campaigning using the oil company in a sense to give expression to their frustration at the shortage, the slow pace at which governments are doing something we need to do much faster than were doing now. By the way, i also used to work for bp, so im another so we have a trio of people whove worked for bps. I was a colleague with richie for some time, i completely agree with time, so i completely agree with him about nothing to be him about theres nothing to be ashamed working an ashamed about in working for an oil company. There oil company. I think there really thing about some of really is a thing about some of the American Companies that the american Oil Companies that work to suppress work very actively to suppress and challenge in a in a in a underhand way the science of climate change. Earlier on, which slowed down the transition. I think thats something the Oil Companies everywhere have got to deal with , but that were not going to get rid of oil or gas overnight i when you see the engineering challenges that were faced, not least in the north sea, you saw these enormous platforms that were taken out there. And by the way, were were way, they were they were constructed quickly. Constructed super quickly. You know , wasnt high speed know, it wasnt like high speed two. Were done in year or two. They were done in a year or two. They were done in a year or two they went and they two and out they went and they produced you think produced this oil. You think that engineering skill produced this oil. You think that be engineering skill produced this oil. You think that be jolly gineering skill produced this oil. You think that be jolly usefulng skill produced this oil. You think that be jolly useful forskill produced this oil. You think that be jolly useful for the. Could be jolly useful for the future . Because, know, with future . Because, you know, with wind were also wind turbine, were also building colossal Engineering Projects this thats projects on this scale. Thats absolutely certainly its not and we certainly its not just the engineering, its the project management skills as were with hs2. You were discovered with hs2. You know , the absence really good know, the absence of really good project management leads know, the absence of really good pr things anagement leads know, the absence of really good pr things going ment leads know, the absence of really good pr things going completely leads know, the absence of really good pr things going completely outis to things going completely out of control. And what the Oil Companies have are very good project skills. Project management skills. We certainly skills , so certainly need those skills, so we dont need to, as it were, get rid of the Oil Companies. We do need to accelerate the transition away it. The use transition away from it. The use of oil and gas. And youre absolutely right, its absolutely right, too. Its about fuels. Its about burning fossil fuels. Its not the existence of not about the existence of fossil fuels. We will go on needing fossil fuels for plastics , other chemicals and so plastics, other chemicals and so on, and that will go on. But it wont be the industry. We now have. Tom refers there to the efforts of some of the Oil Companies to suppress the transition. But the image i have transition. But the image i have of the Oil Companies at the moment is not that theyre kind of all powerful and able to stop progress, but rather that theyve made no difference sense. I theyve made no difference sense. I mean, where is the narrative that tells us what the last 50 or 100 years would have been like without oil . And as we say, its not only about burning oil without about the fertilisers. We would not have been able feed the world and been able to feed the world and those fertilisers were petrochemical products which came production oil. Came from the production of oil. Why this not being told . Because i think people have in this country have a capitalists have always been on the defensive. Its not just the the defensive. Its not just the oil industry. The capitalists in oil industry. The capitalists in this country have not served their country well in terms of defending the free market and the way it works. And the wealth that it brings overall, not just for the theres a sense, i think, in this country that if youve got shares in an oil company, youre selfish and will be doing very well yourself, but you wont be doing any good to anybody else that it is the sort of mindset that that the oil industry has allowed people to get into. I, i just mentioned at the beginning, ive always regarded the oil industry and the gas industry as an essential pubuc the gas industry as an essential public service. I mean, theres public service. I mean, theres no hospital that can survive without it. When you when you consider how a country the quickest way to bring a country to a halt is to have a petrol strike. Nothing shuts it down as quicker. The rail bit, theyre still trying to shut the country down. You know, were all going on quite happily and quite normally after 2 or 3 of normally after 2 or 3 days of the petrol tankers going on strike, were immobile. The petrol tankers going on strike, were immobile. And that strike, were immobile. And that remains the case. So that is. But the oil industry is frightened of pointing it out. Frightened of pointing it out. Theyre frightened of pointing it out because theyre worried that people like tom not that tom is by any means one of the worst ones, but theyre worried that tom will give them a bad time. Tom and ellie hold them to account. Isnt it rather important to have a very balanced discussion on this subject, which i hope were having the studio just were having in the studio just at you know, at the moment . But, you know, people themselves to people glueing themselves to pavements though oil could be pavements as though oil could be stopped tomorrow. Is absurd. And i would like to bet that those people have at least been on a diesel powered train, even if they didnt arrive at the demonstration in a motor car. And i bet theyve taken a package holiday. Well well, michael, youre absolutely right. That expecting that in a profession that youve been in a profession where idea of consistency is where the idea of consistency is the sort of remote application. So wouldnt expect that so i wouldnt expect that of anybody of course, anybody else either. Of course, there inconsistent in there are inconsistent forces in there are inconsistent forces in the way behave. I think the way people behave. I think its a very long and proud tradition country of tradition in this country of people. Now you can people dissenting. Now you can everybody differently everybody can judge differently about boundaries of about where the boundaries of that where youre that are and where youre beginning cause a problem for beginning to cause a problem for somebody else. But i wouldnt want that tradition, want to suppress that tradition, which think a central part which i think is a central part of are as a people. Of who we are as a people. But wouldnt they do better to themselves to Tiananmen Square . Actually, an even actually, ive got an even better idea than that. Theyd do better idea than that. Theyd do better to vote. Whats really clear that people clear is that that young people disproportionately clear is that that young people dispyetyrtionately clear is that that young people disp yet theyrezly clear is that that young people disp yet theyre the clear is that that young people dispyet theyre the people and yet theyre the people whove got most at of whove got most at stake of getting this right. So if getting this policy right. So if they want to something they really want to do something that a difference at that will make a difference at the election make sure the next election is make sure they actually out and vote. The next election is make sure the� cantually out and vote. The next election is make sure the� can i ally out and vote. The next election is make sure the� can i say, out and vote. The next election is make sure the� can i say, michael,ind vote. The next election is make sure the� can i say, michael, id vote. The next election is make sure the� can i say, michael, id have can i say, michael, id have more in young people if more faith in young people if they were to signs of they were to show signs of reducing their air traffic use. Reducing their air traffic use. I mean, they use air flights. They go abroad for weekends and days, far more than any of us ever used to. They dont show any sign myself in practise i know quite a few young greens when it comes to their practise. Theyre nothing. They dont act theyre nothing. They dont act any differently. Any differently. As they said , main anchor so as they said, main anchor so one thing, just very briefly, at the end, will the development of roads bank make any difference . No will make any difference to Energy Security or to the bills that people pay . Will it make a difference or operational difference or operational difference to the world . No will it make a symbolic difference to the ability of britain to lead other countries into doing what they do to keep us safe . Yes, it will. You mean its reputationally damaging for. Yes. Yes. Interesting , richard, is it interesting, richard, is it not that labour has not said or has in fact, i think is guaranteed that it will not rescind the exploration licences which are now being given by the government. And the significance of that is that exploration takes a while. Exploration may discover more fields and therefore may more to therefore there may be more to come. Yes, and i dont agree with tom actually that it doesnt contribute to our Energy Security. I mean, i know that its not all to used here and all going to be used here and that its more oil than gas. But nevertheless, in the general scheme things, a discovery scheme of things, a discovery of this size and its a very significant discovery. It would significant discovery. It would youd be mad if youd left it in the ground unless you knew you could do without it. And we know we cant do without it. And the next labour government, if it is a labour government, will know they cant do without either, they cant do without it either, which why theyre not going which is why theyre not going to cancel it. Well, thank you. I really value the tone of the discussion that and thanks tom that weve had and thanks to tom burke richie, julian burke and Richard Richie, julian lloyd has been traversing lloyd webber has been traversing the land, interviewing the future Classical Music future stars of Classical Music after break, he will return after the break, he will return to base to tell me which shows to base to tell me which shows to for the rest of the to seek out for the rest of the year. Yean hello there. Im Greg Dewhurst and welcome to your latest weather for gb news. Were looking at a mixed picture. Over the next few days, we will see some rain, some showers as well, but therell be some warm spells of sunshine and turning drier as High Pressure moves in by middle of the moves in by the middle of the week. Pattern the week. Pressure pattern at the moment is dominated low moment is dominated by low pressure, bringing in spells of rain across the country and weve got patchy rain across southern parts of wales into the midlands as we move through this evening generally evening time. This generally remaining cloudy across the southern half of the uk, further north, drier, clearer spells, but a scattering of showers for Northern Ireland, northwest scotland, some of these heavy at times being blown in on a brisk breeze and temperatures across the board generally staying in double figures and muggy start to monday morning. Cloudy to monday morning. A cloudy start. Southern counties of start. Southern counties of england and patchy rain england and wales patchy rain developing as we move through the morning into the the morning and into the afternoon. This rain the morning and into the aftern be|. This rain the morning and into the aftern be heavy this rain the morning and into the aftern be heavy at this rain the morning and into the aftern be heavy at times. Ain could be heavy at times. Brightest skies for Northern Ireland, england and ireland, Northern England and scotland with a scattering of showers. Staying showers. Again staying quite windy across the northwest of scotland and temperatures high teens to low 20s across the board into tuesday. We continue to remain fairly unsettled. To remain fairly unsettled. Well see showers or longer spells of rain. Well see some sunny spells, though, developing in between cloud across the southeast taking its time to clear. And temperatures generally again reaching the high into the low 20s for high teens into the low 20s for many and then High Pressure starts to build in towards the middle of the week. Temperatures near news. The peoples channel. Britains news channel. Britains news channel. Welcome back. Having travelled the land , interviewing travelled the land, interviewing the next generation of Classical Music talent, Julian Lloyd Webber has returned to the studio today with a selection of shows from the four corners of the United Kingdom that everyone should see before the end of the yean should see before the end of the year. Julian very nice to see you in the studio. Welcome back from your tour. Thank you. Im very pleased about this item because were going because we really were going to go cities go to six different cities in the kingdom. I hate being the United Kingdom. I hate being london centric. And shall we begin , though, with london . The begin, though, with london . The barbican, the london symphony orchestra. And were talking about ravel and recommended offer. Yes, this is very soon. This is actually next week, october the 8th. Its a really good concert. Its at the barbican and it has a the ls0 have been very clever because with their concerts this season theyre programming a big new work alongside well known favourites. And this concert is very interesting because its got a great violinist called one of the younger violinists called Patricia Kopatchinskaja and shes understanding and understandably known as pat copp in the profession because no one can pronounce it. She is playing a new violin concerto by a really brilliant musician called fazil say from turkey. Hes a great pianist and he writes really lovely, not scary new music. This piece is subtitled 1001 nights in the harem , which 1001 nights in the harem, which is interesting in itself , so is interesting in itself, so goodness knows what its going to be like. But hes a lovely composer and hes very jazz influenced and do try to catch that one. Is it going to be conducted by sir Antonio Pappano . It is. It is indeed. Pappano . It is. It is indeed. Now, pappano has been oh, i dont know, ten years at the Royal Opera House and is just moving over. Yes hes done a lot of work with the ls0 before. Yes. Yes. And so hes now going to be their principal conductor. Yeah so this begins a new reign so this this begins a new reign pappano at the ls0 although i still caught him the other day conducting rhinegold at the Royal Opera House. Lets move to birmingham amongst other things, beethovens symphony. Number beethovens symphony. Number three, the eroica , which was three, the eroica, which was written in 1803 and originally dedicated to napoleon. Beethoven dedicated to napoleon. Beethoven later withdrew to the dedication when he saw what napoleon turned into. Well this is another interesting concert. Its at the Symphony Hall in birmingham, which is a magnificent concert hall. Yes. And its conducted by the cbso city of birmingham symphony orchestras new principal conductor kazuki yamada. Now, conductor kazuki yamada. Now, hes making great waves and people are excited by him. And the cbso has a fantastic track record of choosing conduct actors. And its interesting because the players choose the conductors themselves, usually the managements get involved in all kinds of deals , go on with all kinds of deals, go on with agents and stuff. But the players choose the conductors. And so from simon rattle onwards, theyve got a great track record. So this programme, as you say, its got the Beethoven Eroica and also the title of the concert is better than usual because its called and kazuki conducts beethovens eroica where coming up ill explain that some of the titles that now seem to be obligatory are very silly. Yes, but this is good. They rather annoy you. Yes. They rather annoy you. Yes. So were to going were going to move as far as manchester. Were probably going beyond high speed to from birmingham to manchester. And we whats going on there at the this one, porter hall. This doesnt need any subtitle because its the National Orchestra of ukraine. Theyre on a tour first tour for many, many years in the uk and theyll be at Bridgewater Hall in manchester on october 27th with a programme which includes brooks violin concerto , along brooks violin concerto, along with the lovely first symphony by sibelius, a really urgent, fresh work. Fresh work. Yes, one of my favourite pieces. My mother was a huge sibelius fan. Sibelius fan. And my father too. And my father too. Oh really . Well absolutely love the first symphony and gosh, i should think there will be a lot of emotion with the. Im sure. Im sure there will. And im sure that it will be a fantastic concert. And Bridgewater Halls a lovely hall from sibeliuss first to elgars first, and from manchester we go even further to north the usher hall in edinburgh. Even further to north the usher hall in edinburgh. Yes, well, hall in edinburgh. Yes, well, thats another one of my absolutely favourite halls. Its absolutely favourite halls. Its absolutely favourite halls. Its a beautiful concert hall , and a beautiful concert hall, and this time its the bbc scottish symphony. Its a lovely programme. Unfortunately, theyve subtitled it escape into sweeping melodies, which okay, its mozart piano concerto, one of his very best in d minor, and its played by one of our best pianists, martin james bartlett, a really, really great young player. And the elgars, the player. And the elgars, the wonderful first symphony and all conducted by ryan wigglesworth, whos a really excellent conductor. I had not noticed the development of these sort of subtitles, obviously obligatory , which is yes, obviously the Marketing Team has been out there. Theyre hard at work. Theyre hard at work. And the worst offender, from your point of view in terms of the subtitles is were going to come across now in in cardiff. Whats whats going on in cardiff . This is the most ridiculous title because its called postcards from liverpool. Okay, postcards from liverpool. Okay, so it is the Royal Liverpool philharmonic, but the conductor happens to be venezuelan. The soloists are dutch and belgian and the music is by brahms , and the music is by brahms, debussy and rimsky korsakov. So debussy and rimsky korsakov. So no lennon mccartney. Im not sure what those postcards are, but its a lovely programme and theyre a great to orchestra also. Theres another one in cardiff , the also. Theres another one in cardiff, the cardiff also. Theres another one in cardiff , the cardiff concert cardiff, the cardiff concert series, by the way , is one of series, by the way, is one of the best in the country. I was the best in the country. I was really impressed by it. And the other one ive picked out is john wilson and his sinfonia of london doing their hollywood programme and he is terrific at it and its really worth catching that. And thats on november the seventh. Excellent. And we can also go excellent. And we can also go to belfast this this is a most unusual concert. Tell us about this. It certainly is. Its at the ulster hall , its at the ulster hall, another lovely old hall. It has another lovely old hall. It has the rather silly title, glitter of waves , because it has of waves, because it has a couple of pieces that vaguely reference the sea. But most important, it features a wonderful, brilliant pianist, nicholas mccarthy, who was tragically born without his right hand. So hes playing too right hand. So hes playing too difficult. Works for the left difficult. Works for the left hand alone. And i think its hand alone. And i think its well worth catching that concert. Hes a brilliant talent thatis concert. Hes a brilliant talent that is the most extraordinary proposition. So, i mean, how much of a repertoire has he been able to work with in his career . Hes playing pieces by britten diversions for piano and ravel concerto for piano, left hand. Ravel concerto for piano, left hand. There are other pieces the hand. There are other pieces the prokofiev i think the fourth concerto is for left hand alone. He graduated from the Royal College of music. Nicholas anna and theres a precedent there because the wonderful pianist cyril smith , had a stroke while cyril smith, had a stroke while he was on tour in russia and he couldnt use his right hand again. And a big repertoire was created for two pianos with cyril smiths wife, phyllis sellick. And so im sure hes already exploring that. But its very poignant and thats a concert to catch, im sure. Concert to catch, im sure. Julian lloyd webber, thank you so much, taking us all the way around the United Kingdom with marvellous Classical Music available to us all. In a few minutes, the grandson of a british screen legend will tell me why. Glynis johns , whos been me why. Glynis johns, whos been delighting audiences since the 1920s, should receive a damehood before that. Heres a reminder of the latest News Headlines with ray addison. With ray addison. Thanks, michael. Its exactly thanks, michael. Its exactly 1230. Our top stories this hour. The Prime Minister has refused to commit to tax cuts as the conservative Party Conference gets under way. Rishi sunak says his focus is on halving inflation because it impacts the poorest the most on a visit to burnley ahead of todays gathering , the pm insisted his gathering, the pm insisted his approach is deeply conservative. What all conservatives wants to see are taxes coming down. Of course they do. Thats what i want to see. But the best tax cut that we can deliver right now is to halve inflation and thats something that im deeply committed its the first of committed to. Its the first of my priorities. Why because my five priorities. Why because thats we can help people thats how we can help people with cost of living. We just with the cost of living. We just want put more money in want to put more money in peoples and the best peoples pockets. And the best way right way to do that right now is through halving inflation. And that conservative that is a deeply conservative approach to and my approach to this. And my colleagues understand that this is thatcher did. Is what Margaret Thatcher did. Well. Meanwhile, protests is what Margaret Thatcher did. Wbeenieanwhile, protests is what Margaret Thatcher did. Wbeen gathering protests is what Margaret Thatcher did. Wbeen gathering outside; have been gathering outside of the in manchester the conference in manchester calling an end to the calling for an end to the conservative government. Some conservative government. Some have seen Holding Signs have been seen Holding Signs reading bring the tories reading bring down the tories and free the north. Others a protest against the minimum Service Levels act, defending the right to strike a key part of the Windsor Framework has come into effect for Northern Ireland, with a new system introduced to move products from Great Britain goods which are being transported to the eu will use a red lane which includes customs declaration and some checks while those bound for Northern Ireland will use a green lane with minimal papennork and no checks. Not for eu labels will start appearing on some products in stores. On some products in stores. Ofgems Energy Price Cap has now fallen across England Wales and scotland in place for the next three months. The average household bill is set to be reduced by around £150. Thats still more than 50 higher than pre crisis levels. The pre crisis levels. The government is yet to announce any Financial Support for struggling households and some single use plastic items are now banned. In england. Businesses can no longer sell products like plastic cutlery plates and polystyrene cups and they face fines if they do. Local authorities will be able to carry out inspections to make sure that the rules are being followed. You can get more on followed. You can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website gb news. Com all of those stories by visiting our website gbnews. Com now lets get back to michael. Get back to michael. Thank you, ray. Welcome back. Glynis johns is one of the very few people who can say that her career is pretty much as old as she is , because as the legend as she is, because as the legend of british stage and screen approaches her 100th birthday in four days time, shes also celebrating almost a century since she first took part in a stage performance as a baby in 1923. Since that time , johns has 1923. Since that time, johns has delighted her fans with appearances in movies like mary poppins , where she rallied the poppins, where she rallied the cause of womens rights as the suffragette mrs. Winifred banks , and tugged on our heartstrings with send in the clowns , which with send in the clowns, which was written for her by stephen sondheim. Lets take a listen. Were clearly soldiers in petty coats and dauntless crusaders for womens votes. For womens votes. And though we adore men individually , we agree that as individually, we agree that as a group, theyre rather stupid. Group, theyre rather stupid. Isnt it rich . I a were paer isnt it rich . I a were paer there a glass on the ground. He win mid air there send in on the clouds. On the clouds. Marvellous giving glynis his extraordinary accomplishment but her fans are calling for a damehood among them her grandson thomas fonnard who joins me now. Well come to gb news. It has been an extraordinary career and ihope been an extraordinary career and i hope youll be in a position to wish your grandmother a very happy 100th birthday in four days time. Why does it need to be crowned by a damehood do you think . Oh, well , i think cultural oh, well, i think cultural contribution has been massive. Contribution has been massive. Shes careers spans over eight decades, which i think dont think many actresses can claim to that. And you know, some of to that. And you know, some of her work has just been fantastic. Im still actually quite moved by, you know, just listening now to send in the clowns. So you to send in the clowns. So you know, and also, i think there are any, uh, you know, probably anybody that makes it to 100 could probably get a knighthood. And, you know, in itself is quite incredible. But, um , yeah, quite incredible. But, um, yeah, i think her career has been remarkable. I mean, sondheim actually wrote a track for her, you know , and tell me about your you know, and tell me about your own relationship with her. Were you were you very starstruck by your grandmother when you were young . When you were young . Yeah. I mean, it was quite incredible. Well, i do actually. Incredible. Well, i do actually. Ihave incredible. Well, i do actually. I have a memory of going to school and telling other children that my grandmother was in mary poppins and id get quite upset because they wouldnt believe me. Um, but no, wouldnt believe me. Um, but no, it was no, it was wonderful. It it was no, it was wonderful. It was wonderful to see her on the screen and then and then, you know, be visited by her and then, you know, meet up and did she have time for her grandchildren . Um, she was i grandchildren . Um, she was i mean , i was living in in, in mean, i was living in in, in sussex and she was obviously living in hollywood. So um, but we would see each other perhaps , you know, once, once a year, once a year. I mean, every time she would come over to london, she would come over to london, she would come over to london, she would give me a call and tell us about some of the great actors and actresses that she worked alongside. Well, shes worked alongside. Well, shes oh, lord, there are so many of them. Um, rex harrison , gary them. Um, rex harrison, gary cooper. Them. Um, rex harrison, gary cooper. Um, i them. Um, rex harrison, gary cooper. Um, i mean, them. Um, rex harrison, gary cooper. Um, i mean, the list, cooper. Um, i mean, the list, Peter Ustinov in the sundowners. I mean, the list just goes on. I mean, she did, you know, over 60 films in 60 films and 30 plays, which is a remarkable career. Ca reer. Career. You know, the only thing is im not particularly in favour of the honours system and im sorry to be a slightly dissenting voice. I i think the brilliance of your grandmothers career stands on its own. Im not sure that it needs im not sure that it needs a further adornment, a bauble. But but tell me why you think why . Tell me why you think why . Im not im not really pushing. Im not pushing for it that much. I think it does for stand itself. And i dont think she would really mind. Shed be watching this. And i think shed just very that were just be very happy that were talking and i dont talking about her. And i dont you know, i just think it would be it would cherry on the be it would be a cherry on the cake. Would be it be, cake. It would be it would be, um, you know, it would be a lovely thing for her to know that you know, still that people are, you know, still remember her because shes been in the past 15 in retirement for the past 15 years so. Um, know, so years or so. Um, you know, so but you know, i agree. I agree. Um, you know, i think her career suffices. Suffices. Um, thank you very much. And talking of cakes, lets hope she has the most tremendous cake on her 100th birthday in four days time. Thank you very much, thomas fonnard, grandson of glynis johns. After the break, well be speaking to arts journalist anna somers cocks, whos been disappoint in her hope that the beloved city of venice will be added to unescos list of endangered heritage sites. A two week summit of the sites. A two week summit of the un body in saudi arabia led to the nations gathered there , the nations gathered there, voting down the proposal. Stay gb news radio. Gb news radio. Welcome back. The twisting watennays and stately palaces of venice have for centuries captured the imagination and proved a fertile setting for literature and film , most literature and film, most recently in Kenneth Branaghs latest poirot adaptation a haunting in venice. Latest poirot adaptation a haunting in venice. But latest poirot adaptation a haunting in venice. But could it haunting in venice. But could it be that in a few decades well be that in a few decades well be able to experience the city dubbed the queen of the adriatic . Only in old movies. Rising sea levels threaten to ovennhelm venice and efforts to have it added to unescos list of endangered heritage sites have been consistently thwarted by the Italian Government. Its just happened again at unesco summit in saudi arabia. Im joined now by anna somers cocks, whos founder of the Art Newspaper and a tireless campaigner for the preservation of venice. Lovely to see you. Of venice. Lovely to see you. And welcome to gb news. Tell me what danger venice is in, please i well , people talk about all well, people talk about all kinds of dangers. The big ships, the tourism. But lets focus on the tourism. But lets focus on the big one. The big one is the rising sea level. Now, i expect people have heard of the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change. If they havent, climate change. If they havent, they should, because its the most authoritative body predicting whats going to happen. Its one that governments consult. And in their most likely scenario of whats going to happen by the year 2100, we will have a rise of water level of between. Let me think. Ive just turned it into inches for the benefit of. Into inches for the benefit of. Gb news 18 to 28in plus the subsidence because the whole of northeast italy is going down. Venice is not basically to going die because its sinking. Its going to die because the water is rising. But it gets you to very close to 39in in water rise, at which point the city will be falling down because the buildings are built on stone bases , which are relatively bases, which are relatively impermeable and the water is already being creep up against the brickwork. Its eating away at the brickwork crumbling it, and the buildings are going to start falling down in large numbers. And the extraordinary numbers. And the extraordinary thing is that the Italian Government is in denial about this. It has no plan whatsoever to deal with it. Now, people will say, weve heard of the barriers that go up between the adriatic sea and the lagoon. Adriatic sea and the lagoon. Fine. They work , but theyre fine. They work, but theyre there for the temporary flooding events , the things that, you events, the things that, you know, last about three days. They go up, you go down. This is an absolute constant rising water level. And you cant do anything about that except by basically keeping the level of the water inside the lagoon lower , permanently lower than it lower, permanently lower than it is outside. The only people i is outside. The only people i can think of who could actually organise that at the moment are the dutch, the dutch. No, theyre going to die if they dont deal with that anyway. In brief, that is the problem. Brief, that is the problem. Anna. I do understand the problem, the way youve explained it to us. Im just wondering though, why would a unesco listing make all the difference . You seem to have more faith in, as it were, a bureaucratic change than i would have. Yeah, its not the bureaucratic change. And i got, you know , great qualifications you know, great qualifications about unesco. It is like all of these international bodies, United Nations is riven by battles between the global south and the west. And its not exactly corrupt, but shall we say its full of people paying each other favours. But but if the town government would just recognise the problem, that would be half the battle. If it said we know that there is a really serious danger because its like an alcoholic, you know, the moment you recognise that youre an alcoholic, youre on your way to being cured. But on your way to being cured. But until you say i am an alcoholic, it doesnt matter what people say to you, youre not going to do anything about it. So thats number one. Number two, it does. Unesco give kind of unesco does still give a kind of Seal International approval seal of International Approval importance, which makes it easier to turn to the European Union for, you know, major, major, major funders. Its major, major funders. Its easier for the Italian Government to say, well, you know, lets get in the dutch. I keep going on about the dutch. The dutch really would know what to do. So thats why im very, very disappointed that for the third time im the italians have managed to weasel out of it. Managed to weasel out of it. And why . Why are the italians doing that . I mean, why do the italians regard a listing under unesco as being the worst possible thing that can happen to them as being, i suppose, a reproach to them . Reproach to them . Well, exactly. Its a reproach to them. I mean, there have been mismanaging venice now for decades , and people have for decades, and people have imagined that somehow venice is being looked after by a bunch of senior Civil Servants in rome. This is not the case. There is no department in rome thinking about venice. Its managed by about venice. Its managed by sort of eight minimum of eight different local authorities , all different local authorities, all of whom have their own fish to fry. And for example, one of the things that unesco says youve got to do is get the tourism under control. But nobody wants to get tourism under control to get the tourism under control because that is the big milch cow thats making everybody rich. You need to rich. Unesco says you need to have buffer zone it, have a buffer zone around it, and theyre building and theyre busy building high rise. So local pressure, rise hotels. So local pressure, local government pressure , but local government pressure, but right wing pressure on a right wing government that wants to keep all the various parts of right wing italy on side. Keep all the various parts of right wing italy on side. Very right wing italy on side. Very happy to go along with that, plus the fact that its considered humiliating. And i dont regard being right wing as necessary as sin against the grail, but have the italians not taken some quite important measures like keeping the cruise ships out of or out of the lagoon and charging tourists ,5 a head to come in . Yeah, well, first of all,5 is not going to stop the day trippers coming in. When you think that it costs 30 to visit the museum of modern art in new york,5 is not going to stop people. What you need to have is you need to have basically a kind of, um, a quota per day and, and this can all be done with digital means and so on. But you have to accept that you will limit the numbers. Currently even accept currently they dont even accept that need the that you need to live at the limit of numbers, number to. One, so that was just a bit of pr which they very cleverly announced just before the meeting the unesco meeting in riyadh of the unesco committee. The ships, the cruise committee. The ships, the cruise ships, okay, the cruise ships and no longer come into the lagoon , which they also lagoon, which they also announced before the previous meeting with the same effect. Meeting with the same effect. However, inside the lagoon, not visible from venice is a sodding great port into National Port with enormous cargo ships coming in. So the cruise ships are are not coming in anymore. But the cargo ships are still coming in. Theyre having to deep dredge in order to bring them in. They want to expand this port. This destroys the lagoon and even worse , one of the reasons why worse, one of the reasons why they dont close the mobile barriers in time to stop saint marks square and the basilica , marks square and the basilica, this wonderful, wonderful , this wonderful, wonderful, wonderful byzantine church in saint marks square from flooding is because if they raise the barriers too often, the big cargo ships get stuck outside the lagoon or inside the lagoon. And the ship owners say, well, we might not bring our cargo ships to you at all. Well take them somewhere else, like trieste. So they have thrown they have thrown the basilica under the bus. Under the bus. You put it very, very graphically. I was just thinking, i travel quite a lot for a living as well because i make a lot of travel programmes. Ive been horrified , ive been horrified, particularly this year in one place after another, where these enormous cruise ships , like vast enormous cruise ships, like vast blocks of flats with 6000 people on board to over some poor little town or city that theyre visiting. I mean, what were visiting. I mean, what were saying about venice is acute and urgent, but we actually have this problem much more broadly. Were probably going to have to get used to the idea of quotas, arent we . And that were going to have to apply long advance to have to apply long in advance and fee in order and possibly pay a fee in order to go and visit. I dont know, prague, venice, paris, you name it. It. I agree. I think the days of sort of laissez faire tourism are over. I mean, i compare it always with motorcars when motor cars were invented , you could cars were invented, you could buy a motorcar, put it on the road and you just drove it. Eventually there were so many you started to have have to have regulations people regulations because people were crashing so many crashing. There are now so many people wanting to visit the most famous sites that it has to be regulated and we can take our lead from the ecological sites like the galapagos islands, where again, the numbers are strictly limited and you have to pay a strictly limited and you have to pay a large fee to make up for any damage that your presence might cause. Might cause. Yes , of course, a lot of yes, of course, a lot of people will be very worried about the idea that tourism is going to be a thing to only be afforded by the rich. Its been very nice to talk to you. Anna somers. May i say that the somers. May i say that the background you. Have behind you background you. Have behind you is absolutely outstanding . The best that ive seen on. Gb news. Best that ive seen on. Gb news. Thank you very much. Thats it for me. Or very shortly will be Martin Daubney is here taking over at 1 00. What do you have up your sleeve . Well, course, the tory well, of course, the tory Party Conference kicking Party Conference is kicking off in manchester. Were going to in manchester. So were going to focus that. The day started focus on that. The day started with the tory lead with good news as the tory lead is the labour leader of the tories now down to points tories now down to ten points and an observer opinion and thats an observer opinion poll normally wouldnt give poll who normally wouldnt give the leeway. Its the tories much leeway. Its interesting, isnt it, michael, that that if you throw out some conservative policies to conservatives, they seem to like it this rollback on that zero, the 20 mile an hour limits talking tough potentially on the rwanda ruling. Will they go to war, as it were, with the echr over that . Theres also a £1. 1 billion levelling up fee being put out to 55 towns and theyre all in the red walls is tactical. Peter mansfield skegness, wigan the seats that will decide the next general election all being targeted. Will it be enough or is it the last chance saloon . Youve been to a few of these. Whats your state of play on this one . Oh im delighted not to go to them anymore. Oh, are you about actually, as you know, theyre very, very tough in that theres so much socialising and im afraid a bit of drinking and so on, isnt there . And also, of course, when i was a politician, we always theyre under immense stress , theyre under immense stress, partly about speech that you partly about the speech that you were also if were going to make, but also if youre in writing the youre involved in writing the leaders whatever. Leaders speech or whatever. So i associate with i associate them with with stress and alcohol, and im very pleased to not be there anymore. But think that some but i do think that some politicians might need to grow up on the very point that youve just mentioned. If the polls have really shifted ten points with a couple of announcements by rishi sunak , then why have so by rishi sunak, then why have so many tories completely given up already on the next general election . Well, thats a great point, and maybe its because people felt there wasnt any choice like the labour party and the tory party felt the same on taxation. Felt the on taxation. They felt the same on immigration. Theres lots control our borders. They control of our borders. They felt same zero. So felt the same on that zero. So maybe actually be offering a difference is opening up that gateway, although there is a bit of a sting in the town of this poll because the reform party is causing problems. A thorn in the side , especially in the side, especially in the midlands, 18 of people who voted tory last time said they wont and theyre going to go. So weve got loads to talk about. Its a tory Party Conference. Yes, of course. Its one thing for politicians to say things and its a very different thing for politicians to do things. Yes so, they can talk tough so, i mean, they can talk tough on immigration, the on immigration, but the immigrants arriving on immigrants are still arriving on the illegal the boats, the illegal immigrants. Mean , they immigrants. I mean, they can they they like they can say what they like about what wokery in government, but it continues anyway. Have but it continues anyway. Have a very good show. Martin daubney here at 1 00. Id like to say thank you to all my guests for giving up their sunday morning and afternoon with and early afternoon to be with me shall certainly be me today. I shall certainly be here next week and i look fonnard to very much. Until fonnard to that very much. Until then, bye. Then, bye bye. Hello there and Greg Dewhurst. And welcome to your latest weather for gb news. Were looking at a mixed picture over the next few days, we will see some rain, some showers as well, but therell be some warm spells of sunshine and turning drier as High Pressure moves in by the middle of the week. Pressure pattern is pattern at the moment is dominated pressure , dominated by low pressure, bringing in of rain bringing in spells of rain across the country and weve got patchy rain across southern parts wales into the midlands parts of wales into the midlands as we move through this evening time. Generally remaining time. This generally remaining cloudy across the southern half of the uk. Further north with drier, clearer spells. But scattering of showers over Northern Ireland, northwest scotland, some of these heavy at times being blown in on a brisk breeze. And temperatures across the board generally staying in double figures and muggy start to morning. A cloudy to monday morning. A cloudy start. Southern counties of england and wales patchy rain developing as we move through the morning and into the afternoon. Rain afternoon. Some of this rain could heavy times brighter could be heavy at times brighter skies Northern Ireland, skies for Northern Ireland, Northern England and scotland with scattering showers. With a scattering of showers. Again windy across again staying quite windy across the northwest of scotland and temperatures high teens to low 20s across the board into tuesday. We continue to remain fairly unsettled. Well see fairly unsettled. Well see showers or longer spells of rain. Well see some sunny spells, though, developing in between cloud across the southeast taking its time to clear. And temperatures generally again reaching the high teens into the low 20s for many and then High Pressure starts to build in towards the middle of the week. Temperatures near average farage. Middle of the week. Temperatures neajoinerage farage. Middle of the week. Temperatures neajoin mee farage. Middle of the week. Temperatures neajoin me camilla. Middle of the week. Temperatures neajoin me Camilla Tominey on join me Camilla Tominey on sunday mornings from 930. Taking the politicians to task and breaking out of sw1 to see how their decisions are affecting you across the uk bursting the westminster bubble every sunday morning only on gb news. The peoples channel. Britons watching. Aiden lee anderson watching. Aiden lee anderson here. Join me on gb news on my show, the real world. Every friday at 7 pm. Where real people get to meet those in power and hold them to account. Every week well be hearing your views from up and down the country. In the real world. Join me at 7 00 on gb news, britains news channel im doyle. Join me at 7 00 every sunday night for free speech nation. The show i tackle the weeks biggest stories in politics and Current Affairs with the help of the good afternoon and welcome to gb news sunday. Thank you for joining news sunday. Thank you forjoining me news sunday. Thank you for joining me this lunchtime. Im Martin Daubney for and the next two hours ill be giving you a company on your tv, online on your digital tv, online and on your Digital Radio. This hour. Its radio. Coming up this hour. Its the first day of the tory Party Conference manchester. Well conference in manchester. Well be live throughout the show bringing you the latest on tax cuts , hs2, and slashing hair cuts, hs2, and slashing hair brained 21 hour limits, but not everyone is happy that the tories are in manchester. Of course, the Peoples Assembly protest is in full swing. Thats live shots right there. Theyre hosting a festival of resistance in manchester with one clear message to is out now. And message to is out now. And coming up at the end of the houn coming up at the end of the hour, the Windsor Framework post brexit trade arrangements come into force today. They will come into force today. They will break down what it means for those in Northern Ireland. And please, as ever, do get in touch. This is your show as much as ours. Send us your thoughts on gbviews gbnews. Com or send us a message on our socials. Of course, were at gb news. But first, heres your news headunes first, heres your News Headlines with. Ray headlines with. Ray thanks, martin. Good afternoon. 1 01. Our top stories. The Prime Minister has refused to commit to tax cuts as the conservative Party Conference gets undennay. Rishi sunak says his focus is on halving inflation because it