Transcripts For GBN Good 20240704

For you on the ground. And the big question around mp safety. So the government have announced £31 billion of package to improve the safety, 31 million, 31 million. Did i say billion . Billion . I think i maybe, maybe, maybe my that would be the cost of hs2. So far. Um, no, not 31 billion. Thank you for Fact Checking me now im mixing myself as to whether or not no, £31 million. Its quite a lot of money. Nonetheless, its quite a lot of money and something quite cunous money and something quite curious came from the mouth of Harriet Harman. She seemed to suggest that a kind of covid style hybrid working practice for mps. So if working practice for mps. So if youre feeling a bit vulnerable as an mp, perhaps youve had a few threats through your door. Perhaps youve been challenged onune perhaps youve been challenged online and received awful abuse , online and received awful abuse, perhaps on the streets even you could just decide to. That actually , im going to vote from actually, im going to vote from home. Im going to conduct my business from home. And, you know, like back in the day , back know, like back in the day, back in the lockdown days to zoom in to a parliamentary debate , to a parliamentary debate, appearing on a television rather than in person. I dont understand where Harriet Harman i mean, i do understand where shes coming from , but i was always taught from, but i was always taught that if youre threatened, the idea of terrorism is to get you to change the way you live your life. As soon as you make changes to accommodate it. Those terrorists , in a way, theyve terrorists, in a way, theyve won. Yes this would be appeasing the mob, in my view. And it reminds me of was it sadiq khan or someone else who suggested we should have suggested that we should have all group, perhaps, all a feminist group, perhaps, who should who suggested that we should have carriages on have female only carriages on the resolve the issue the tube to resolve the issue of, uh, you know, harassment of women . I think that would be women . I think that would be that reminds me of this. This reminds me of that. That reminds me of this. This reminds me of that. Yeah. So reminds me of that. Yeah. So there go. You dont to there you go. You dont want to appease bad behaviour. There you go. You dont want to app noe bad behaviour. There you go. You dont want to app no you d behaviour. There you go. You dont want to app no you dont. |viour. There you go. You dont want to app no you dont. And r. There you go. You dont want to app no you dont. And actually, no you dont. And actually, the example should perhaps the example we should perhaps look is on the morning after look to is on the morning after the brighton bomb, which , uh, the brighton bomb, which, uh, killed a number of attendees of the conservative Party Conference in 1984. Did thatcher do . Did thatcher do . Margaret thatcher turned up only hours after her room was blown to bits, turned up. Shed dusted herself off, got a new suit, i think, and stood there opening the next morning of the conference. She was not cowed. Well, let us know at home. Do you think £31 million to help protect mps is money protect our mps is money well spent needed . Or do you spent and much needed . Or do you think should be going think it should be going on pubuc think it should be going on public priority . And second, what of harriet what do you make of Harriet Harmans about working harmans comments about working from appeasing the from home . Is that appeasing the mob . Know. Mob . Let us know. Vaiews gbnews. Com. But first its headlines. Good afternoon. Its 1 03. Afternoon. Its1 03. Im sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. Your top in the gb newsroom. Your top story hundreds of farmers are demonstrating outside the Welsh Parliament protesting against changes which they say will threaten the whole industry. Proposed new rules on subsidies will require 20 of all Agricultural Land to be set aside for trees and wildlife habitats. The Labour Government habitats. The Labour Government in wales insists the changes are necessary to fight climate change, and that the plan could still be adjusted at the end of the consultation. Unions warn therell be thousands of job losses and the leader of the welsh conservatives , andrew welsh conservatives, andrew davies, told gb news it will be disastrous for the industry. Well, lets not forget people need food to survive and live on their everyday existence. So their everyday existence. So were talking about an were not talking about an industry here that isnt required feed nation. And required to feed the nation. And if we dont have farmers, we dont the dont have food. And by the governments figures, if governments own figures, if this ahead and this scheme goes ahead and changed, 5500 farmers will lose their livelihoods 125,000 cattle will be lost in wales, 800,000 sheep and £200 million worth of Economic Activity will be lost. So it will be a devastating income impact on rural communities. The length and breadth of wales. Breadth of wales. The duke of sussex plans to appeal a High Court Ruling after he lost his challenge against the government over his personal security. Prince harry launched security. Prince harry launched legal action in february 2020 after he was told he would no longer be given the same degree of taxpayer funded protection when hes in the uk. His lawyers told the court he was treated less favourably and his children wouldnt feel at home if they couldnt be kept safe. The government had argued prince harrys protection should be dismissed because its considered on a case by case basis. The home office has welcomed the ruling and said its considering its next steps. Its considering its next steps. Mps facing threats to their safety will get extra security as part of a new £31 million government package. It follows growing concerns over mps being targeted by protesters in the recent months since the outbreak of the israel hamas war. The Home Office Said the package would be used to increase private sector security provisions, with all elected representative lives to have a dedicated, named Police Contact to liaise with on security matters, policing minister chris philp says democracy wont function without their safety. Function without their safety. Its vital for democracy that elected representatives, members of parliament and others can discharge their duties without fear or intimidation. If mps cant do their jobs and use their judgement without any cant do their jobs and use theirjudgement without any sort their judgement without any sort of external intimidation , then of external intimidation, then democracy itself cant function , democracy itself cant function, said labour mp for greenwich and Woolwich Matthew Pennycook says every mp has experienced threats. I think every mp , particularly. I think every mp, particularly over recent years, has experienced threats. Some of my colleagues in far greater numbers than i certainly have, particularly female mps and i think intimidation , threats and think intimidation, threats and hate crime have absolutely no place in our democracy. And we place in our democracy. And we think the government are right to be taking action on this. No one, either for themselves or their families, should face threats simply because of the role they play in the democratic process. Piocess. Process. The labour party has accused the tories of another broken promise over National Insurance tax cuts, saying any savings will be wiped out by council tax rises. It comes after the chancellor promised the largest ever tax cut for workers with a 2 cut to National Insurance , 2 cut to National Insurance, but with 95 of councils expected to put up council tax to the maximum of 4. 99 from april, its set to cancel out any savings. Labours shadow any savings. Labours shadow financial secretary, james murray, says people across britain are feeling worse off. The government are effectively forcing councils to put up council tax , and what that council tax, and what that increase in council tax means is that any savings families might make from National Insurance cuts this year are being wiped out. Out. So when rishi sunak says that hes cutting taxes, its another broken because taxes are broken promise because taxes are still on course to be their highest in 70 years. 25 tax rises in this parliament alone, you know, and the low Economic Growth combined with those tax rises is why people across britain are feeling worse off. Court in belfast has the high court in belfast has ruled the uk governments controversial legacy act breaches human rights laws. The case was brought by the relatives of troubled victims. The act includes a conditional amnesty for people suspected of committing offences. In committing offences. In delivering his ruling, the judge said theres no evidence immunity will in any way contribute to reconciliation in the country. Northern ireland the country. Northern ireland secretary Chris Heaton Harris says the government still intends to implement the act. This is a complex case and is likely to head to further uh court cases further action in higher courts. But we want to i do want to consider this judgement carefully , and i want judgement carefully, and i want to look at all the 200 pages and take the legal advice that he would expect me to take in such circumstances , and for the circumstances, and for the latest story, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Now its back to tom and. Emily back to tom and. Emily well, the governments announced new funding of £31 million to protect mps and other elected representatives from possible security threats. Possible security threats. The new measures include the provision of bodyguards for mps and extra policing of protests and extra policing of protests and local demonstrations. What is this exactly we look like . What will we be . What we will paying for . We can will we be paying for . We can speak to our Political Correspondent, Katherine Forster catherine interested to catherine very interested to know the detail of this package. What exactly is this money going to be spent on . Yes. Well, i was in Prime Ministers questions. I then went into the lobby huddle of political journalists straight after and all of the questions were about this 31 million of money thats going to be allocated to help keep mps safe and to protect them in their constituencies , in their homes, constituencies, in their homes, and also to protect parliament itself. Of course, this is all in response to the scenes last week, the fact that the vote at that was supposed to be held over gaza never happened because sir Lindsay Hoyle pulled it because he said of his fears for the safety of mps. We know from the safety of mps. We know from the safety of mps. We know from the sunday papers that three female mps have not been named, have now gone out bodyguards at this money will take measures a lot further , but the government lot further, but the government is not being drawn on the operational details and, as they say, for security reasons, which is perfectly understandable. One thing i did note was the comments by Harriet Harman that perhaps mps should revert to working from home, as they did dunng working from home, as they did during covid. The Prime Ministers spokesman said the Prime Minister thought that was a, quote, appalling idea, really. They dont want mps to have to change the way in which they work. They dont want people to work. They dont want people to feel that they are giving in. I suppose to the mob , but they suppose to the mob, but they want to keep them as safe as they can. We know that some mps are now having constituency surgeries remotely. The surgeries remotely. The governments not keen on that. But you know , needs must. A lot but you know, needs must. A lot of them used to have the ability for people just to walk in most of them now have to be booked andifs of them now have to be booked and its all much more carefully planned than it used to be. But i mean, threats to mps are nothing new, and ive talked to mps over many years about really awful abuse and threats that they have received. This is nothing new, but it is clear that since the atrocities on october the 7th, the temperature has risen. Weve seen all of these marches, weve seen from these marches, weve seen from the river to the sea, projected on big ben and a lot of mps feeling even more worried than even feeling even more worried than ever. And of course , not just ever. And of course, not just a worry for the for them, but also for our democracy. Because people will who might think of standing to become an mp that might want to serve the public in that way , you know, some of in that way, you know, some of them likely to be put off. But now, looking at the reality of whats involved , yes, we whats involved, yes, we certainly dont want that. Certainly dont want that. Thank you very much. Katherine forster Political Correspondent, correspondent for bringing us a little bit of the detail there on this. You know, ive got two questions really on this, tom. Yeah firstly, what about the public . Were warned about the public . Were warned about how terrorism is off the charts in terms of we have these massive watch lists of extremists, 44,000 people on this watch list that im concerned about. And secondly, also arent politicians to blame for fostering an environment where in which extremists feel emboldened . I think do they not say sorry to us . Theyre allowing this to happen . There have always been extremists in in the uk, in every country , but theyre every country, but theyre asking for £31 million for, you know , to protect mps from threats. So things are clearly getting worse. Woise. Worse. I dont think things are necessarily worse than they were in the late 1970s or early 19805, in the late 1970s or early 1980s, where multiple mps were being killed by irish republican terrorists. Um, uh, the john terrorists. Um, uh, the john major government had a mortar lobbed at the cabinet room dunng lobbed at the cabinet room during a cabinet meeting. So during a cabinet meeting. So were you saying they just theyre just wimpy now. There are still chips on the exterior wall in the downing street garden where the bomb went off and blew off bits of the wall and blew off bits of the wall and out the window. And out the window. But, tom, are you saying that perhaps theyre a little bit snowflakey these days , that the snowflakey these days, that the threat is in no way worse , and threat is in no way worse, and that they dont need this £31 million at all . I think the threat is significant and we shouldnt baulk at that. Shouldnt baulk at that. But i think theres always been a threat and i think its wrong to describe this threat as something that is more dangerous now than it was three years ago, when an mp was killed, very volatile. Volatile. It feels very volatile. It feels very volatile. An mp was killed. An mp was killed. And, um, i mean, i hope youre right that this is nothing new, but it does feel as though democracy is at though our democracy is at threat by extremist mobs at the moment. Completely agree with you. But i think our democracy has always been under threat. Our democracy has always had to be resilient. And perhaps and resilient. And perhaps and perhaps. And your point about Margaret Thatcher getting up the day after bomb threat and, you after a bomb threat and, you know, getting not just bomb know, getting not just a bomb threat, an actual bomb, an actual and getting on actual bomb bomb and getting on with the job, carrying on, people were killed in that her room. Theres an old story that if Margaret Thatcher hadnt been up at her desk working at three in the morning on her speech for the morning on her speech for the next day, if shed have been where she had had been in where she if she had had been in her asleep, bomb could her bed asleep, the bomb could have her. Thats thats have killed her. Thats thats thats argument about thats an old argument about about the brighton bomb. Its the astonishing close call. The most astonishing close call. Although for many people, it wasnt a close call. It did kill many people. But i think it is. Many people. But i think it is. Its right to remember all of these threats the in the these threats in the in the context history. Context of history. No, are right. You are no, you are right. You are right to. Sometimes we feel like we always in exceptional we always live in exceptional times are times when actually there are parallels. Speak the parallels. Shall we speak to the Member Parliament member of parliament for scarborough and whitby who is also chair rural also the chair of the Rural Affairs sir robert affairs committee, sir Robert Goodwill . , thank you goodwill . So robert, thank you very for joining goodwill . So robert, thank you very forjoining us on the very much for joining us on the show. Weve start show. I guess weve got to start with this announcement this with this announcement of this £31 million for mps security. Do you think this is money well spent . Spent . Well , obviously, because its well, obviously, because its a security matter. Were not quite sure how its being spent. I understand quite a going to be a lot is going to be spent actually in the palace of westminster, securing the Building People in building and, and the people in it. Its nothing building and, and the people in it. Was its nothing building and, and the people in it. Was a its nothing building and, and the people in it. Was a candidateiing building and, and the people in it. Was a candidate ing building and, and the people in it. Was a candidate in the 92 new. I was a candidate in the 92 election, and they gave a election, and they gave us a mirror look under our cars in mirror to look under our cars in case the ira wanted to put bombs into vehicles. You know, into our vehicles. So, you know, its particularly new. Its nothing particularly new. And, you know, we take precautions. Example , i precautions. So, for example, i have appointments my surgery. Have appointments at my surgery. Dont have in. We dont just have walk in. We dont put on my website where im going to be until afterwards. So you know, little precautions but um, precautions like that. But um, you know, its very difficult to protect members of parliament because we need be contact because we need to be in contact with people need come with people and we need to come to parliament. Its to parliament. You know, its ridiculous, this idea that were going from home, going to work from home, particularly london particularly from a london mp who to travel who doesnt have to travel up from of england. From the north of england. Good its thats a good point. Its a very, point. Very, very good point. But we do, of course. Um, but we do, of course. Have you here for your expertise um, but we do, of course. Hafood,j here for your expertise um, but we do, of course. Hafood, rurale for your expertise um, but we do, of course. Hafood, Rural Affairsur expertise um, but we do, of course. Hafood, Rural Affairs andeertise on food, Rural Affairs and the environment, chairing that committee parliament, committee in parliament, because today protest today were seeing a protest outside the senate. The Welsh Parliament, as they now call it, used to be known as the welsh assembly. Uh, due to Welsh Government policy. What government policy. What precisely is riling up welsh farmers so much about how the Welsh Government has been handung Welsh Government has been handling all of this . Well, i mean , the labour well, i mean, the labour party here in england keeps talking about wales as being the blueprint for a government. If blueprint for a government. If they win the election and to be honest, you know what the Welsh Government is doing to farmers is nothing short of criminal in particular, their suggestion is that 10 of farmers land should be taken out and planted with trees and a further 10 put into sort of habitat restore. And sort of habitat restore. And that means, you know, 20 of the farmers gone. And on top farmers land is gone. And on top of of course, there of that, of course, there extending nitrate vulnerable extending the nitrate vulnerable zone across the whole country, which hasnt happened in england. Of course, there england. And of course, there withdrawn some the important withdrawn some of the important tools that we have in protecting livestock and wildlife from bovine tuberculosis, that terrible disease which can decimate herds and has led to suicides amongst farmers. So i can understand why the welsh farmers are angry. And i think if into if labour were to come into power england, english power in england, english farmers would be just as angry. Not farmers but are not english farmers already quite we have already quite angry . We have seen protests among english farmers down dover by the farmers in down in dover by the port there. I think were looking at images actually there of protest. Theyre still of that protest. Theyre still very angry about things like cheap imports. Also um, regulations, environmental regulations, environmental regulations too. We could see similar protests in england. Could we not . Yes. Well, i think farmers in england have got used to the measures that are coming under whats called the Environmental Land Management schemes. And many actually many farmers are actually plugging to plugging into those schemes to get. Money um, what the protests get. Money um, what the protests in dover is about, a lot of it is about unfair prices, particularly things like apples, where, you know, a lot of cheap french on the french apples on the supermarket. Indeed, supermarket. And indeed, my committees inquiry committees doing an inquiry into the power of the supermarkets, how they dictate pnces supermarkets, how they dictate prices and, you know prices to farmers. And, you know , farmers cant their , farmers cant cant put their pnces , farmers cant cant put their prices up or down. They have to take price. Thats take the price. Thats being offered take the market offered or or take the market price. You know, farming is price. So, you know, farming is under pretty tough time, under a pretty tough time, particularly the weather. Particularly with the weather. Weve farm weve had this winter. We farm at home. We you know, a lot of our land has been flooded. Fortunately not as bad as some of my neighbours, but, you know, farmers a pretty farmers are having a pretty tough time, not here in tough time, not only here in england wales, course, england and wales, of course, across similar across europe, where similar schemes being in. Schemes are being brought in. And of course, you know, the red diesel farmers in the diesel that farmers get in the united thats being United Kingdom thats being threatened taken away United Kingdom thats being th|germany, taken away United Kingdom thats being th|germany, provoked vay in germany, which provoked those big in berlin and elsewhere. So robert, we really dont have just in a have much time. But just in a sentence, why is sentence, why shouldnt why is the Labour Government the welsh Labour Government so wrong shouldnt wrong . Why shouldnt farmers give of land give up one fifth of their land to environmental causes . To environmental causes . Well, basically because they cant make a living if they do that. And thats the problem. You know, in england weve got more proposals where more sensible proposals where farmers in to doing farmers can opt in to doing various schemes, nothing to compulsory this is going to be compulsory this is going to be compulsory across wales. And on top of all the other things theyre doing in wales. You know, why the know, i can understand why the farmers indeed, farmers are angry and indeed, you know, rishi sunak sunak got farmers are angry and indeed, y question rishi sunak sunak got farmers are angry and indeed, y question from sunak sunak got farmers are angry and indeed, y question from arnak sunak got farmers are angry and indeed, y question from a welshrnak got farmers are angry and indeed, y question from a welsh member a question from a welsh member at back with a at pmqs and came back with a very backing welsh very good report backing welsh farmers. Know back farmers. And i know hell back british the nation. T nation. Robert goodwill, well, sir Robert Goodwill, thank you so much for your time. Really appreciate it. Well, speaking angry really appreciate it. Wellinpeaking angry really appreciate it. Wellin wales,] angry really appreciate it. Wellin wales, lets ngry really appreciate it. Wellin wales, lets goy really appreciate it. Wellin wales, lets go live farmers in wales, lets go live to in cardiff and to the protests in cardiff and join Political Correspondent join our Political Correspondent olivia utley. Olivia, the olivia utley. Olivia, whats the feeling on the ground . Feeling on the ground . Well, hello. Yes, im here in front of the senate and there is real anger on the ground here, as you can probably see behind me, there are hundreds if not thousands welsh farmers thousands of welsh farmers here today. Are protesting, as today. They are protesting, as you were discussing there, the new subsidies farming scheme, which is planned to be brought in by the labour first minister, Mark Drakeford, and they would have to , under this scheme, give have to, under this scheme, give over 10 of their farming land to environmental causes. They would have to give over 10 of their land, specifically to growing trees. Now, ive seen a lot of signs around here saying, Mark Drakeford, my sheep dont grow on trees. And i think thats emblematic of the sentiment here today. Im here with Wynford Williams, who is one of these actually a retired farmer, but hes got lots of niece and nephews who are going to be affected this. Can you to be affected by this. Can you just a little more just tell me a little bit more about how feeling at the moment . Well, theyre feeling is very strong. Uh. Strong. Uh, regarding, uh. Sorry. Uh they are on the upland farming between 6000 and 600,000ft. Unless the Government Support them up there, theyve got no chance at all. Um, i think these labour politicians should go up there for a couple of months, especially in the spring when the grass is not growing, when the grass is not growing, when the feed are so expensive. The feed are so expensive. And i want to come back to when i was farming for 50 years on a dairy farm in devon , south wales. Its a National Trust farm and they have planted 50 acres of the 120 acre farming trees already. So half of the farm has now been given over to trees already. Yes, it has been. Yes, it has been. And do you think ive heard lots of people saying today that this is a case of the Labour Government led by Mark Drakeford, prioritising net zero over and over food over farmers and over Food Security. Is that how you feel . Security. Is that how you feel . No, no no its not its not wrong um, problem is too wrong. Um, the problem is too many people on their holidays, on the aeroplanes. Look at that first. Too many people on their holidays on the aeroplanes. I can see where Wynford Williams is coming from. So thats the feeling on the ground here in cardiff today. I think ill speak to you again very soon. But for now, to you. But for now, back to you. You very much indeed, thank you very much indeed, olivia. Good to hear from that chap yes. Blame the blame chap there. Yes. Blame the blame the on their private the people on their private jets. Us farmers. Jets. Not us farmers. Yes. Well, well be back with olivia bit later in the olivia a little bit later in the Programme Speak some more programme and speak to some more voices the ground there, voices on the ground there, because its hard to overstate. I people who rely on their i mean, people who rely on their farms for livelihoods are farms for their livelihoods are now give up now having to give up compulsorily , 10 of their farms compulsorily, 10 of their farms to trees and 10 of their farms to trees and 10 of their farms to other environmental causes. Does that remind you of their farms have gone that sort of thing, a sort of authoritarian regime, sort of. Yeah, land seizures, seizures is not great. But still to come, prince harry is to appeal a High Court Decision, which means the level of security for him in the uk will be downgraded. Not will be downgraded. Hes not going happy about going to be very happy about this. Watching this. Youre watching good afternoon britain gb news. Good afternoon britain. 1 25 good afternoon britain. 1 25 and prince harry is to appeal a High Court Decision which effectively means the level of security he receives in the uk could be downgraded. Could be downgraded. Yes. Joining us now in the studio is gb news royal correspondent Cameron Walker. So his legal team have already released what does released a statement. What does it. It say. Yeah, they absolutely have emily. So the legal statement says from his lawyer, the duke is asking for preferential is not asking for preferential treatment for a fair and treatment but for a fair and lawful application of ravitchs own rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others in accordance with ravitchs own written policy. Let me try and translate that from legal speech for you. So ravecis from legal speech for you. So ravec is the Home Office Committee made up of Senior Police officers, Home Office Officials and members of the Royal Household. Its a Home Office Committee which made the decision way back in 2020 that following prince harrys stepping back as a working member of the royal family, he would not be provided with the same degree of Police Protection when he the uk , and when he is in the uk, and instead it will be provided on a case by case basis. Now, prince harry is challenged in the high court, that decision saying that its unfair and that he doesnt feel safe when hes in the uk and his family isnt safe when in the uk , uh, either. He also in the uk, uh, either. He also made the point during the High Court Case that members of the royal family , of course, are on royal family, of course, are on that ravec not sorry, not royal family members of the Royal Household are on that ravec committee. And during the time , committee. And during the time, as weve heard in his memoir, spare that he was stepping back as working there were as a working member, there were significant tensions, particularly with sir edward young, who was the late queens private secretary, and he essentially alleged during this court case or his lawyers did, that there was a bit of unfairness because they had the potential to influence government policy. The judges ruling today , uh, disagrees with ruling today, uh, disagrees with prince harry in that case. He concluded , judge sir peter lane, concluded, judge sir peter lane, that that ravetchs approach was not irrational, nor procedurally unfair or unlawful. But prince harry is not giving up this fight. He is going to appeal that court decision. But as it stands, prince harrys, uh, protection has not changed since it was changed back in 2020. So yeah, a bit of a bitter blow. But of course hes not giving up i and of course, the big contentious issue there has been picked up many people in this picked up by many people in this case frankly , where the cost case is frankly, where the cost lies. And and the headlines seem to be that prince harry wants the british taxpayer to pay for his security fee rather than his own considerable wealth. Own considerable wealth. Well, prince harry did actually offer to pay for his own Police Protection when hes in the uk. And last year he did actually launch another challenge against the home office because they wouldnt allow him to pay for his own Police Protection. And he used a Police Protection. And he used a law which is the same one used to allow, uh, football stadiums , to allow, uh, football stadiums, for example, to pay Police Officers to do crowd control on match days. But the judge says that thats, uh , that that was that thats, uh, that that was that thats, uh, that that was that wasnt okay and didnt allow prince harrys case in that case to go to trial because as if prince harry can pay Police Officers for private protection , so can rich saudi protection, so can rich saudi billionaires, for example. So thats thats why that case was rejected. So this case that rejected. So this case that weve just found out about today is all about that initial decision by the home office, uh, to change the way prince harrys security , uh, happens. But there security, uh, happens. But there is a big cost to the taxpayer here. And thats the home offices legal bills. Who is offices legal bills. Who is going to be paying that if prince harry . Uh either wins the appeal or indeed loses . Well, Cameron Walker, thanks for clarifying that. This is the prince wanting Police Protection rather than just private protection through different security agencies as well. Uh, i guess it will run and run. Cameron walker, thank you. Cameron walker, thank you. Hes not going to let this one lie. I dont think. Well, lets take a quick look back at pmqs because there was pmqs now, because there was a rather Heated Exchange between the ahead the two Party Leaders ahead of rochdales lets rochdales by election. Lets have listen. Mr have a listen. Mr speaker, he wants to talk about values , but tomorrow in about values, but tomorrow in rochdale , the people will have rochdale, the people will have a choice of three former labour candidates , two of which are candidates, two of which are anti semite. Mr speaker, the anti semite. Mr speaker, the truth is his party is so mired in hate that despite three ex labour candidates standing, he cant back a single one of them. Mr speaker , its because we mr speaker, its because we expel anti semite whites. He makes them labour candidates. Starmer candidates. Starmer mr speaker , the truth is mr speaker, the truth is these are no longer the tories your parents voted for. And the pubuc your parents voted for. And the public can see it. The Prime Minister has lost control of his party to the hordes of records of malcontents. Oof of malcontents. Oof well, rishi sunak certainly had his weetabix this morning. Not intermittent fasting today. Not intermittent fasting. Well it is a wednesday, so hes not a wednesday. I i thought that a really powerful prime that was a really powerful Prime Ministers question. Actually, probably. Probably the best ding dong. Between leaders that between the Party Leaders that weve quite a long time, weve seen in quite a long time, but also so an important point about tomorrows by election uh, which perhaps has not been remarked upon enough. Three of the candidates are, uh, formally endorsed by the labour party at one point in their careers. And now the labour Party Endorses no candidate in that election. And why is that . Well well, one of them was found to have made anti semitic remarks , not, made anti semitic remarks, not, uh, just remarks that were enough for a bit of a rebuke, but remarks that ran for days until keir starmer couldnt put up with the pressure anymore. And , uh, and dropped the and, uh, and dropped the endorsement. Endorsement. I mean, it is pretty shocking that the labour party do not have a candidate standing on their in this, but it their behalf in this, but it means that this is an incredibly unpredictable by election because theres no official labour party candidate, George Galloway, whos, of course, a former labour party former former labour party mp, a former respect party mp as well, now running for the Workers Party of britain. And hes he is, uh, mounting a fairly strong challenge and on some on some um odds is the bookies favourite. Yeah. Bookies favourite. Yeah. Yeah. Would be very interesting to see youll be doing the overnight coverage. I will be from midnight to midnight. 6 am. Tomorrow night. You get all coverage , all you get all the coverage, all the results and all the unpredictability right now because weve mentioned rochdale by election. Now we have to read out the candidates and they are as follows. Azhar ali, independent now formally labour paul ellison , conservative ian donaldson, liberal democrat , conservative ian donaldson, liberal democrat, Simon Danczuk reform uk George Galloway , reform uk George Galloway, Workers Party of britain. Mark coleman, reverend mark coleman, independent Michael Howarth , independent Michael Howarth, independent Michael Howarth, independent anthony tully, independent David Anthony tully, independent David Anthony tully, independent william howarth, independent. Guy otten, green party on ballot paper but not campaigning. Course was campaigning. Of course he was disowned green party over disowned by the green party over comments he made. Uh, even rodent sebbys corner official Monster Raving Loony Party and david tully, independent. Well, there you go. Now, still to come a gb news exclusive. Why some Security Experts say cranes made in china could be a risk for British Ports. But first, your news ports. But first, your news headunes ports. But first, your News Headlines with severe. Headlines with severe. Thanks, emily. Its 132. Headlines with severe. Thanks, emily. Its132. Your headunes thanks, emily. Its132. Your headlines this half hour. Hundreds of farmers are demonstrating outside the Welsh Parliament protesting against changes which they say will threaten the whole industry. Proposed new rules on subsidies will require 20 of all Agricultural Land to be set aside for trees, and wildlife habitats. The Labour Government in wales insists the changes are necessary to fight climate change, and that the plan could still be adjusted at the end of a consultation. Iron unions warn a consultation. Iron unions warn therell be thousands of job losses. The duke of sussex plans losses. The duke of sussex plans to appeal a High Court Ruling after losing a challenge against the government over his personal security. Prince harry launched legal action in february 2020 after he was told he would no longer be given the same degree of taxpayer funded protection when he was in the uk. The home office has welcomed the ruling and says its now considering its next steps. Its mps are its next steps. Its mps are facing. Threats to their safety will get extra security as part of a new £31 million government package. Of a new £31 million government package. It follows growing package. It follows growing concerns over mps being targeted by protesters since the outbreak of the israel hamas war. The home office says the package would be used to increase private sector security provisions , with all elected provisions, with all elected representatives to have a dedicated, named Police Contact to liaise with the high court in belfast. It has ruled the uk belfast. It has ruled the uk governments controversial legacy act breaches human rights laws. The case was brought by laws. The case was brought by the relatives of troubles victims. The act includes a conditional amnesty for people suspected of committing offences and for the latest story , sign and for the latest story, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen , or the qr code on your screen, or go to gbnews. Com slash alerts. Go to gbnews. Com slash alerts. For a valuable legacy your family can own gold coins will always shine bright. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news Financial Report. News Financial Report. Heres a quick snapshot of todays markets. The pound will buy you 1. 2639 and ,1. 1691. The price of gold is £1,608. 73 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is. At ounce, and the ftse 100 is. At 7632 points. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news Financial Report i good afternoon britain. Its. Good afternoon britain. Its. 1 38 and youve been getting in touch with your views on on this story about politicians safety. £31 million extra for politicians safety. Richard says £31 million works out at about £47,000 per person, presumably you mean per mp, right , person, presumably you mean per mp, right, nicholas, he person, presumably you mean per mp, right , nicholas, he says, mp, right, nicholas, he says, that does sound quite expensive, actually. But if you think about the kind of very senior politicians who need full time protection , who need full time protection, full time Close Protection officers, perhaps its a lot of money, isnt it . Perhaps it makes you imagine some of them would prefer it on their salary. Mike says these people have allowed the situation to reach this stage by their weak leadership decisions. They leadership and decisions. They refuse acknowledge the truth. Refuse to acknowledge the truth. Now, that is now, mike, i think that is exactly the point here. Well, one of the main points here, you had saying, oh no, there had mps saying, oh no, there arent any no go areas. Oh, you know, islamist extremism isnt a big deal. You know, far right. Extremism is just as bad. Extremism is, is just as bad. And all of this. But theyve and all of this. But theyve theyve fostered this situation , theyve fostered this situation, ian. They havent clamped down enough on extremism. The prevent scheme doesnt seem to work very well on fortunately. You know thats now they need their safety monitored. Now they need their bodyguards. Their bodyguards. But i dont think that the safety of mps has got in a more precarious position than it was ten years ago. A different threat. A different threat. No, no, i think there was there was a different threat. There are people in this in 20 are in this 20 there are people in this country who had an mp stabbed by an islamist extremist. Yes. There this. Yes. There are people in this. Yes. There are people in this. Yes. The thing isnt it . Yeah. There are people in this. Yes. Thethat thing isnt it . Yeah. There are people in this. Yes. Thethat was ng isnt it . Yeah. There are people in this. Yes. Thethat was 14 isnt it . Yeah. There are people in this. Yes. Thethat was 14 yearsit . Yeah. There are people in this. Yes. Thethat was 14 years ago. Eah. There are people in this. Yes. Thethat was 14 years ago. Yeah that was 14 years ago. Yeah that was 14 years ago. Yeah probably should. He and they probably should. He probably have more probably should have had more security then. Security back then. Quite not speak. Quite possibly not to speak. Quite possibly not to speak. Not saying. Im just im just not saying. Im just saying hasnt getting w0 ise. Woise. Worse. Well, you know . Well, how do you know . Well, how do you know . Because we had mps well, because we had mps attack it. Might might attack it. We might they might be the problem. Be more aware of the problem. Weve had who weve always had mps who are under specific will under a specific threat will probably having more probably be having more monitoring used to monitoring now than they used to. Yes, yes. So we cant really say because it may well be that there are many mps who already have tougher security have to have tougher security and to live their lives and have to live their lives differently because the differently because of the threats differently because of the thnlds differently because of the threl just think had an we had i just think we had an we had a minister assassinated in a Prime Minister assassinated in this in the in this country. Yeah, in the in the early 1800s. Weve only had one Prime Minister assassinated. Its actually a rather safer job than being us president , whove had several. But um, keep your ds coming in has always been the case. Yeah. Gb views are gb news. Com is it just the same as it used to be . Have things got worse . What do gb news. Do you say . Gb views at gb news. Com. Now for a news com. But now for a gb news exclusive. Could British Ports be risk of sabotage by be at risk of sabotage by Chinese Software . Senior tory mp has told gb news that the government must investigate china made cranes at ports across britain after the us announced plans to spend billions replacing their own. Well, the concerns have been raised after washington. Thats raised after washington. Thats the americans, said the cranes , the americans, said the cranes, manufactured by a Shanghai Firm , manufactured by a Shanghai Firm, were a real Strategic Risk. Were a real Strategic Risk. Joining us now to discuss this is our reporter, charlie peters. Now charlie, why is this concern being raised . Well, last week , us president well, last week, us President Joe Biden announced that his administration is going to spend 20 billion over the next five years to replace all of the cranes manufactured by Shanghai Firm z. Pmc across the united states. That accounts for 80 of all ship to shore cranes in the country. It is a vast undertaking, and its been ordered because of this Strategic Risk that has been recognised by his National Security advisor , who have security advisor, who have warned that there is a potential for not only surveillance but also sabotage by beijing. If also sabotage by beijing. If a conflict were to break out between the us and china, we have seen tensions rising over the situation in taiwan in recent years as well. Since that announcement was made, there was announcement was made, there was a rather muted response in europe and indeed in britain , europe and indeed in britain, where many zpmc cranes operate, at least 75 of ship to shore cranes across the world are provided by this one firm. The market leader. So ive been looking at the various ports across the country that have them , and several did not them, and several did not respond when contacted about these concerns , ones raised by these concerns, ones raised by neil obrien, a senior tory mp and founder of the China Research group , who says that research group, who says that concerns need to be looked at. Here he is asking, as are many analysts, has britain seen the intelligence that the us has clearly seen and has it . Has it made its own assessment . Well, made its own assessment . Well, the government , when contacted the government, when contacted by gb news, did not offer a comment on this issue. But the report from the us released last week and the investigation carried by the wall street journal , did carried by the wall street journal, did document some serious allegations and grave concerns. Burns serious allegations and grave concerns. Burns in particular. This idea that zpmc the Shanghai Firm, could be a so called trojan horse for beijing. They trojan horse for beijing. They also said that the fbi found surveillance devices on a crane in the port of baltimore, and they also have pointed to the fact that it is a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Group , which has Construction Group, which has been designated as a Chinese Military entity by the Us Department of defence. So while these concerns have been going on, what can britain do to combat this threat . Well a Cyber Security expert based at stanford in california told me last night that if a conflict were to arise between britain and china, there is a severe risk that sabotage of software could allow for the surveillance of goods, but also the total disruption of our ports network. Only one Ports Company , port only one Ports Company, port operating company, told gb news yesterday that it only buys the steel equipment from mec. It steel equipment from mec. It doesnt engage with the software , which is provided by a european company, but other major ports , including major ports, including liverpool, two and felixstowe, which is the largest port in britain, and indeed the london gateway did not offer comment when contacted by this broadcast. So is britain at risk . Serious questions need to be answered here. After the severe allegations made by the united states. Big, Big Questions certainly, charlie, thank you very much for bringing us that report. Bringing us that report. Although i suppose also perhaps some questions for joe although i suppose also perhaps some questions forjoe biden. Why is he asking for loads of cranes to be built in america suddenly in an Election Year when lots of those swing states are formally manufacturing hubs, is it all to do with chinese spies, or might it be trying to spur some Economic Activity in michigan . I mean, you might be and you might be, right . You might be right about. But there may also be a risk. There might they might be. There might be. Smith, be. I mean, ian duncan smith, for been warning for example, has been warning for example, has been warning for years about chinese infiltration infrastructure infiltration in infrastructure over here. You know, well, i mean, so, you know, well, i mean, it could it could it could be it could be it could it could be a both mixture of a a mixture of both a mixture of a bit both and obviously bit of both and obviously relying company bit of both and obviously relyalg company bit of both and obviously relyalg proportion company bit of both and obviously relyalg proportion of mpany bit of both and obviously relyalg proportion of any|ny for a huge proportion of any domestic bad , domestic market is bad, especially might be a especially if there might be a situation where there be situation where there could be trade friction in the future. You dont you dont want to deplete domestic industry completely. Just something about completely. Just something about election and spurring Election Year and spurring domestic manufacturing. I think its a bit, um, you know, american jobs. I think for american , i think it might be it american, i think it might be it it might be bit of it might be a bit of protectionism there. Maybe might it might be a bit of protecti� comingiere. Maybe might it might be a bit of protecti� coming up,. Maybe might it might be a bit of protecti� coming up, the ybe might it might be a bit of protecti� coming up, the labourght be. But coming up, the labour party revealed what it would party has revealed what it would spend defence spend on britains defence budget if it came to power. Well the details very well have the details very shortly. Good afternoon shortly. Watching good afternoon britain gb news. News. In 2024, gb news is britains election channel, so join me tom harwood for the rochdale by Election Results from midnight through to 6 am. Well discover the twists and turns of the most unpredictable by election in a long time. Ipp celebrated. I slept dunng ipp celebrated. I slept during it, you know, and from 6 am. Friday, join Michael Portillo on gb news breakfast for his take on the results. For his take on the results. Gb news. Britains election. Channel. Well, its coming up to 150 and labour has announced that it will create a stronger Defence Centre capable of enabling britains new government to face increasing threats head on. So shadow defence secretary john healey, speaking in the past hour, said that britains Current Defence arrangements are not Strong Enough to deal with the growing global conflict. The growing global conflict. The next decade. We face putin and an act of alliance of aggression from autocrats who have contempt for International Law and freely squander the lives of their own people, and we face a reality that european allies must take a greater responsibility for european security. As the us increasingly focus on china and the indo pacific. One of the most indo pacific. One of the most forgettable men in politics, charming tom. Joining us now is our very unforgettable home and security editor , mark white. Mark, thank editor, mark white. Mark, thank you very much. Its very you very much. Its very important for the labour party to show that theyre tough on defence and they take it very seriously. Following, of course, seriously. Following, of course, Jeremy Corbyn at the helm. Um, Jeremy Corbyn at the helm. Um, so have they so what exactly have they announced, and are you convinced . Well, 7 well, youre . Well, youre absolutely right, emily. We were gearing up, actually, because this was billed as a keynote speech by john healey in terms of what labours aims would be for the defence of the realm if they were lucky enough to get into power at the next election. But we did not get that at all, he said quite bluntly that he is not in a position he will not commit to seeing. What labour will spend on defence s when it gets into power, if it gets into power because theyre not in a position , he said. Quite simply, position, he said. Quite simply, to be able to assess exactly what the threats are , what the what the threats are, what the issues are at the mod, what the spending. Uh available to them will be until they actually get into office and can see all of these issues for themselves. So, mark, what did we actually learn then if he ducked the question, the crucial question of how much money were actually going to spend, what did he say . Did he say . Good point. Uh so he spoke more of an evolution rather than a revolution. Uh, very unsexy , a revolution. Uh, very unsexy, to be honest. And he said and admitted this himself. So what . He concentrated on was the ministry of defence as an entity and trying to make the ministry of defence more efficient. Now, thats important because there have been very significant and i think legitimate questions asked of the ministry of defence over the years about noted department of some 60,000 Civil Servants. Of some 60,000 Civil Servants. When you consider the total strength of the armed forces , strength of the armed forces, those men and women on the front line is 152,000. In the air force and the army in the royal navy, youve got a Civil Service backing them up. Thats almost half the size. Again of those troops on the front line. Um, but but there have been concerns over just how the ministry of defence operates, its lack of strategic command, its ability to really properly assess what the threats are and how to ensure that the various forces and equipment are in place to deal with those threats. So he announced the establishment of a military strategic headquarters within the ministry of defence. Within the ministry of defence. As i say, you know, its , uh, as i say, you know, its, uh, its all head scratching stuff , its all head scratching stuff, really, in terms of, uh, its all head scratching stuff, really, in terms of , uh, the way really, in terms of, uh, the way in which there will be a sort of organisation level, um, redeployment , etc. Within the redeployment, etc. Within the ministry of defence. Crucially, though , he didnt go anywhere though, he didnt go anywhere near what a lot of people have been talking about, which is getting rid of quite a number of these Civil Servants to try and save money way. Save money that way. And theres been a lot made about the recruitment processes for our armed forces, too, about how that may be failing to recruit the best and brightest for the job. Did he say anything about . No about that . No he never spoke on recruitment at all. So not on recruitment , at all. So not on recruitment, not on what they will do. You not on what they will do. You know, theres been so much talk about, uh, the under strength of the army at the moment. Of course, uh, as under strength as it was, uh, back in napoleon times. Um, it was, uh, back in napoleon times. Um, and hes not, as i say, gone anywhere near suggesting that they would increase the level of the army. The navy, we know, is in a parlous state at the moment. They are laying up and disposing of frigates because they cant be manned or the cost of refurbishing them is too expensive at the moment. And of course, as you say, the recruitment crisis there is massive in the navy, in the army and elsewhere. But so hes talking about an evolution , not talking about an evolution, not a revolution in terms of restructuring. The ministry of defence , exciting whites, our defence, exciting whites, our Home Security editor, thank you very much for giving us all of that, because my goodness, it just seems it wont be priority. Well, yeah, indeed. Well, yeah, indeed. But coming up, should mps work from home to avoid intimidation what intimidation . Thats what harriet suggested. Harriet harman has suggested. What think . What do you think . A brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hi there. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. Cloudy for most of us today. Outbreaks of rain moving from west to east, but it will be milder compared with recent days. Weve got a warm front moving in thats bringing a slice of mild and moist atlantic air, and its bringing outbreaks of rain, the wettest weather through the rest of the day will be across western hills, especially wales, north west england, later for england, and then later for western does push western scotland. It does push its way south eastwards, so a spell rain through spell of rain through the evening the south east and evening for the south east and then clearer spells for scotland and Northern Ireland by the end of night, albeit with of the night, albeit with a strengthening wind and frequent showers in. Colder here showers moving in. Colder here but staying mild for england and wales, and a damp start for much of england and wales. First thing thursday. The rain does thing thursday. The rain does tend to push south eastwards so it dries up across wales , the it dries up across wales, the midlands and certainly a bright day to come for scotland and Northern Ireland, albeit with those blustery showers and gales for the north and northwest of scotland feeling cold in scotland and feeling cold in that wind. But it stays damp through out the day across east anglia and the south england. Anglia and the south of england. 12 celsius here, 6 or 7 in the far north and northwest. Then the colder air that exists in the colder air that exists in the northwest on thursday pushes across the whole of the uk through friday, with a spell of rain , sleet and significant rain, sleet and some significant hill snow for wales and northern england, as well as later on for scotland and Northern Ireland. That clears through drier conditions for many on saturday and sunday and milder in the south. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers , sponsors of boxt boilers, sponsors of weather gb news. Good afternoon britain. Its 2 00 on wednesday, the 28th of february. Mp safety a multi Million Pound fund has been announced to protect it politicians, but one senior mp says that they should simply work from home to avoid danger. Does Harriet Harman have a point and harry defeated the duke of sussex , is to appeal duke of sussex, is to appeal a humiliating defeat in his High Court Battle against the home office. He wanted your money to pay for his bodyguards after leaving his role as a working royal. But will his fight end here . Welsh farmers are descended on cardiff in their hundreds in a mass protest. They claim the Welsh Governments environmental laws are crippling their livelihood , with 20 of farms to livelihood, with 20 of farms to be put over to environmental measures. Well be live on the ground. Now were going to be debating whether author Harriet Harmans suggestion there that mps could go back to sort of covid style working from home, hybnd covid style working from home, hybrid working if they feel vulnerable to threats. Vulnerable to threats. I dont like this. I dont like it at all. No, i think that ultimately youve got to be resilient in the face of terror. And by changing the way that you conduct your democracy , thats conduct your democracy, thats not standing up to terror. Thats capitulating. What do you think security . Think about security . That appeasing the mob, or is that appeasing the mob, or is that just a sensible measure . I think that there probably should be more security for british members of parliament. Have less security of we have less security of British Parliament british members of parliament than american than, for example, american politicians. So. Yeah, politicians. Massively so. Yeah, but but then again , access to but but then again, access to politicians something thats politicians is something thats unique brilliant about our unique and brilliant about our system. And it was actually system. And it was actually quite poignant david quite poignant that david amess, sir david amess, course, was quite poignant that david amess, sir [murdered ss, course, was quite poignant that david amess, sir [murdered by course, was quite poignant that david amess, sir [murdered by an course, was quite poignant that david amess, sir [murdered by an islamist. 3s quite poignant that david amess, sir [murdered by an islamist. Um, was murdered by an islamist. Um, he and his book that was published just a year or two before he spoke about how before he died, spoke about how important was to that important it was to have that access to mps that people could come their politicians, come up to their politicians, that werent world apart that they werent a world apart from rest of country. From the rest of the country. But , from the rest of the country. But, i mean, neither of us know what its like to be an mp receiving Death Threats day after day after day. It must be after day after day. It must be terrifying. And if this security can keep them safe and therefore our democracy safe, more importantly, then im supportive of it. Do i think the money will be well and efficiently spent . Possibly not, but we await to see that. But then again, you look at how much money the government spends just about everything. How much money the government s mean, just about everything. How much money the government s mean, lookst about everything. How much money the government s mean, lookst how everything. How much money the government smean, lookst how much thing. How much money the government smean, lookst how much money i mean, look at how much money was spent on subsidising energy bills on furlough or bills or on furlough or whatever. I mean , sad, sadly , whatever. I mean, sad, sadly, sadly, 31 million. Its a rounding error. So working from home to avoid Death Threats, well, good idea , Death Threats, well, good idea, well be debating that a bit later. Later. But thats after your headunes but thats after your headlines with sophia. Headlines with sophia. Thanks, tom. Good afternoon. Its 2 02. Im sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. Your top story. Hundreds of farmers are demonstrating outside the Welsh Parliament protesting against changes which they say will threaten the whole industry. Proposed new rules on subsidies will require 20 of all Agricultural Land to be set aside for trees and wildlife habitats. The Labour Government in wales insists the changes are necessary to fight climate change, and that the plan could still be adjusted at the end of a consultation. Unions warn therell be thousands of job losses as well. Lets not forget people need food to survive and live on their everyday existence. So were about an were not talking about an industry isnt industry here that isnt required nation. And required to feed the nation. And if dont have farmers, we if we dont have farmers, we dont food. And the dont have food. And by the governments own figures, if this and this scheme goes ahead and changed, 5500 farmers will lose their livelihood , adds 125,000 their livelihood, adds 125,000 cattle would be lost in wales, 800,000 sheep and £200 million worth of Economic Activity would be lost. So it will be a devastating income impact on rural communities. Devastating income impact on rural communities. The length rural communities. The length and breadth of wales. Former rugby referee and farmer nigel owens says the privilege of being at the protest is greater than when he was referee. Was a referee. Its taken years and years of hard work to achieve a goal, to get a smallholding and a small herd of pedigree herefords , and herd of pedigree herefords, and i do it because i care, because im passionate about the industry that we are in, not just for our way of life , but just for our way of life, but without farmers. There is no food. There can be no six food. There can be no six nafions food. There can be no six nations game in cardiff during next saturday against france , so next saturday against france, so there is no referee. There can there is no referee. There can be no food on the table if there is no farmers. Is no farmers. In other news, the duke of sussex plans to appeal a High Court Ruling after he lost his challenge against the government over his personal security. Over his personal security. Prince harry launched legal action in february 2020 after he was told he would no longer be given the same degree of taxpayer funded protection when hes in the uk. His lawyers told the court he was treated less favourably and his children wouldnt feel at home if they couldnt be kept safe. The government had argued prince harrys protection should be dismissed because its considered on a case by case basis. The home office has welcomed the ruling and said its its next steps. Its considering its next steps. Mps facing threats to their safety will get extra security as part of a new £31 million government package. It follows government package. It follows growing concerns over mps being targeted by predators voters in the recent months since the outbreak of the israel hamas war. The Home Office Said the package would be used to increase private sector security provisions , with all elected provisions, with all elected representatives to have a dedicated, named Police Contact to liaise with on security matters. Policing minister chris philp says democracy wont function without their safety. Function without their safety. Its vital for democracy that elected representatives, members of parliament and others can discharge their duties without fear or intimidation. If mps cant do their jobs and use their judgement without any cant do their jobs and use theirjudgement without any sort their judgement without any sort of external intimidation , then of external intimidation, then democracy itself cant function , democracy itself cant function, said labour mp for greenwich and Woolwich Matthew Pennycook says every mp has experienced threats. I think every mp, particularly over recent years , particularly over recent years, has experienced threats. Some of has experienced threats. Some of my colleagues in far greater numbers than i certainly have have particularly female mps and i think intimidation, threats and hate crime have absolutely no place in our democracy and we think the government are right to be taking action on this. No one, either for themselves or their families, should face threats. Simple because of the role they play in the democratic process. Piocess. Process. Now, the high court in belfast has ruled the uk governments controversial legacy act breaches human rights laws. The case was brought by the relatives of troubles victims. The act includes a conditional amnesty for people suspected of committing offences in delivering his ruling, the judge said theres no evidence immunity will in any way contribute to reconciliation in the country. Northern ireland secretary Chris Heaton Harris says the government still intends to implement the act. This is a complex case and is likely to head to further court cases. Further action in higher courts. But we want to i do want to consider this judgement carefully and i want to look at all the 200 pages and take the legal advice that he would expect me to take in such circumstances. Circumstances. And for the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. Com slash alerts now its back to tom and. Emily. Tom and. Emily. Good afternoon britain. Its 2 07 and the government has announced this new funding of £31 million to protect mps and other elected representatives from possible security threats. Yes, the new measures include the provision of bodyguards for some mps and extra policing of protests and local demos as well. We can speak to our Political Correspondent Katherine Forster, who has all the details for us and catherine. Some people will say this is a significant amount of money that should ultimately be spent well. Be spent well. Well, yes. £31 million be spent well. Well, yes. £31 million is a lot of money, but of course, as people like Tom Tugendhat , the people like Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, james cleverly, uh, the home secretary , have stressed, this is about protecting our democracy because last week a vote on gaza was pulled. Primarily, were told, by the speaker of the house of commons because he was very, very concerned and about mps safety. Now hes come in for a huge amount of criticism for the decision that he made. Nearly 90 mps have signed a petition, effectively saying that they think that he should go. But just imagine for a minute, um , just imagine for a minute, um, if he hadnt allowed the motion, if he hadnt allowed the motion, if , um, the votes if he hadnt allowed the motion, if, um, the votes had gone ahead, it had been very divisive. If somebody following that had been injured or killed as a result of that vote, then everybody would say, how appalling this is. Why did we follow these arcane procedures . Follow these arcane procedures . Because we need to keep mps safe. So yes, its a lot of money, but they think that it needs to be spent. Its going to be spent in a range of ways , be spent in a range of ways, both protecting mps in their homes. A lot of them have got panic buttons and other things to keep them safe at home, at their constituency surgeries. Their constituency surgeries. Um, they will local Police Forces will be able to apply for funding for what theyre calling surge policing. Uh, for constituency events and such like and also , um, for the like and also, um, for the palace of west minster itself. Um keeping people safe within the palace. Of course, we remember that terrible, um, stabbing of , remember that terrible, um, stabbing of, uh, pc palmer, a few years ago when that terrorist rushed in and killed him in the grounds of westminster. So, um, him in the grounds of westminster. So, um, you him in the grounds of westminster. So, um, you know, westminster. So, um, you know, they wont go into the nitty gritty of the details beyond what ive just told you of how this is going to be spent, obviously, for security reasons. But we do know that three, um, female mps, we dont know their identity , have been given identity, have been given security guards because of the threats that they face. And while it is nothing new, mps have had threats , Death Threats, have had threats, Death Threats, a lot of abuse for many years. It does feel like the temperature is very, very high at the moment. And also , of at the moment. And also, of course, its potentially putting good people who might be looking , thinking, would i like to stand to be candidate for this party or that party in the forthcoming general election . Forthcoming general election . Looking at the threats to mps and thinking no , im not going and thinking no, im not going to go there. And thats very serious also, certainly a big, big issue. Thank you very much indeed, catherine. Katherine forster, our Political Correspondent there. Yeah, lots of people have there. Yeah, lots of people have been getting in touch about this. John says bit odd that the government are downgrading prince protection prince harrys protection when they fairly rapidly they have just fairly rapidly increased their own. So you go the two, do those two stories go handin the two, do those two stories go hand in hand, perhaps ever so slightly. Marianne has said, i dont think the police enforce the law as should these days. It as they should these days. It therefore gives license to bad behaviour. Hope that that behaviour. I just hope that that £31 million will mean the police are vigilant and take are more vigilant and take a much tougher stance. Much tougher stance. Yes, and hopefully it wont take resources from take resources away from policing. You know, the rest of policing. You know, the rest of the rest of the country. I do think were but i do think that were just pluck out new just going to pluck out new police , i think, from Police Officers, i think, from nowhere, because of this nowhere, because so much of this is house of is going on, the house of commons and the commons itself and the parliamentary estate itself , parliamentary estate itself, sometimes it does seem extraordinary what can happen on that estate. I mean, we only that estate. I mean, we only have to remember back to the murder keith palmer and murder of Pc Keith Palmer and the Westminster Bridge attacks, that got through the that terrorist got through the gates of parliament, got into the courtyard there in parliament, and just so happened that he killed a policeman. But i i mean, the idea, the i mean, i mean, the idea, the idea working from home to idea of working from home to avoid threats is, is pretty depressing , isnt avoid threats is, is pretty depressing, isnt it, avoid threats is, is pretty depressing , isnt it, really, depressing, isnt it, really, that someone would even suggest that, oh, should we all just sort of live in our cotton wool silos and not, not interact with anyone . Because of the Terror Threats . I dont i dont think thats think way to thats right. I think the way to stand the Terror Threat is stand up to the Terror Threat is yes, resilient. Yes beef up. Yes, be resilient. Yes beef up. Perhaps security measures perhaps the security measures around house of commons. And perhaps the security measures aro those house of commons. And perhaps the security measures aro those that use of commons. And perhaps the security measures aro those that are of commons. And perhaps the security measures aro those that are of conthe ns. And for those that are under the most threat, sure, full time security, but but not change the way that we do politics, not change the rules of the house of commons. And not change the way that we engage in debate. That we engage in debate. Yeah, i think catherine was right to say that there right there to say that there have always been to our have always been threats to our elected the elected politicians, but the temperature seems very much higher at the moment. But in other news, hundreds of welsh farmers are gathering in cardiff to the governments new to protest the governments new climate plans. Their Climate Action plans. Their farmers must follow if they want to accessing to continuous accessing financial support. To continuous accessing fineyeah, support. To continuous accessing fineyeah, theres. To continuous accessing fineyeah, theres been huge yeah, theres been huge resistance new resistance to the new requirement for all farms to have a minimum 10 tree coverage, but also 10 of land to environmental causes in other means. So thats one fifth of land taken away from farmers. In effect , for their own farming. Effect, for their own farming. What was one of the placards that olivia told us about Mark Drakeford . My sheep dont grow on trees. Well be live at the protest in just a moment. But first, lets speak to paul williams, who is a beef farmer. Paul williams, who is a beef farmer. Paul, you much indeed paul, thank you very much indeed for joining us. As you can see, forjoining us. As you can see, there scenes of protest in there are scenes of protest in cardiff today. Hundreds if not thousands of farmers and friends of farmers down there protesting what would you say the Welsh Government have got wrong here, but be probably easier to ask me or shorter answer would be what have they got right . To be honest with you there, emily. Um uh, they they really , um uh, they they really, really havent been listening to us. Us. Um, this isnt something thats happened overnight. This has been years in the making. Uh, you know, they they they tell us that theyve been in consultation on. Yes, we have from an sfs scheme point of view, this is the third consultation were on now. They consultation were on now. They clearly havent listened from the first consultation weve had. Otherwise we simply wouldnt be in this mess. And fundamentally, the difference between whats going on in wales and whats going on in england is the matter of choice. As far as i understand it. I mean, just about all over the developed world, there are environmental schemes for farmers , but seems to be the farmers, but it seems to be the uk government in england is saying you can opt these saying you can opt into these schemes you want to and schemes if you want to and youll in wales youll get money. But in wales its being forced farmers as, its being forced on farmers as, yeah , please dont, dont get us yeah, please dont, dont get us wrong, you know, we want to be part of the environmental solution. Solution. We work with the environment every single day of our lives. The minute we step out onto the farm, we are in the middle of the environment. We work with it, we live with it. So thats not the case. Its not the case of farmer and the environment. It is farming with the environment. The problem that we see here in wales is that the, the, the scheme as its written, they are basically forcing us to take effectively to 90 of agricultural, productive, agricultural, productive, Agricultural Land outs. Uh, and, you know, that is an impossible city because in this day and age, you know, we need , if age, you know, we need, if anything, we need more agricultural productivity because we constantly seeing more and more people on this planet getting hungrier every day. Day. Yes. And you make a good point. There farmers know best what to do with their land. And i that would be logical. I imagine that would be logical. Well, thank very much well, thank you very much indeed, for indeed, paul williams, for joining a beef joining us. You are a beef farmer of thank you. Farmer, of course. Thank you. Great to you. Well now great to speak to you. Well now lets across to cardiff , lets cross across to cardiff, where our Political Correspondent utley is correspondent olivia utley is getting a small taste of what rural life is like. Rural life is like. Youre absolutely drenched, olivia. Olivia. I am absolutely drenched here in wales. My ears earpiece is slipping out because its so wet. Um, the protest here has just wrapped up as you can probably hear from around me , it probably hear from around me, it is very, very big indeed. Estimates are there are sort of between 5 and 10,000 welsh farmers whove come here today. There is real anger here with Mark Drakeford , who is being Mark Drakeford, who is being blamed for this new, uh, farming subsidy scheme, which is going to be brought in, which would , to be brought in, which would, as youve been discussing, mean that farmers would have to hand over 10 of their land for, to, to, to grow trees , give it up to, to grow trees, give it up for Food Production and give it over to growing trees. Now, over to growing trees. Now, farmers here say that the pressure that would put on the normal family farm would just lead them to financial ruin. Lead them to financial ruin. Real lead them to financial ruin. Real, real anger here today, i probably cant repeat whats on some of the signs that ive seen, but definitely there is not many fans of the Labour Government here in wales and im here now with james evans, who is a member of the senate for brecon and radnor. Is a member of the senate for brecon and radnor. And james, brecon and radnor. And james, thank you very much for talking to me today. Uh what do you think of how today went, how the turnout was the feeling on the ground . I think its been amazing. You can just see the amount of people that have been here today. To 10,000 farmers who today. Up to 10,000 farmers who are the welsh are very angry with the Welsh Government. This has been seven government. This has been seven years in the making to get to this scheme still no this scheme and were still no further forward. Theyve ignored farmers and the welsh farmers concerns and the Welsh Government, following this protest really need to listen protest really do need to listen to Agricultural Community to the Agricultural Community because had enough. They because theyve had enough. They want table want to get back to the table with to create with Welsh Government to create a works them and a scheme that works for them and not against them. I mean, there are people who ive to today who ive spoken to here today who say that the problem really is that the government is rushing too net zero. And too quickly to net zero. And actually, youre a conservative. The conservatives want to do something similar , dont they . Something similar, dont they . Something similar, dosure1ey . Something similar, dont they . Something similar, dosure that we need to make sure that weve got an agricultural system which protects the environment. But protects but first and foremost protects our Food Security here in the country. The Sustainable Farming country. The Sustainable Farming scheme doesnt do that. So what i to see is a welsh i want to see is a welsh conservative is to get back round the table. Welsh round the table. The welsh Labour Government get back Labour Government here, get back round the farming round the table with the farming unions, the industry to unions, with the industry to create scheme that, yes, create a scheme that, yes, protects environment and protects the environment and enhances biodiversity. But in doing that as well, it makes sure that weve got Sustainable Food and safe food, and our farmers keep producing food for the nation because Food Security, i think, is the number one good. And welsh one public good. And the Welsh Government seem to care government dont seem to care about theyve about that because theyve all said no farmers said here today, no farmers means food. Means no food. Thank you very much, james. Well, a clear message from the welsh conservative here that Food Security must come first, must come above environmental ism, must become above net zero. Will the Welsh Government here, though . Listen in to those farmers here today say, well, thats a very good question. Thank you very much. Olivia utley. Our political utley. Our Political Correspondent there in cardiff, outside the Welsh Parliament there, um , clearly the farmers there, um, clearly the farmers feel totally under attack by the welsh administration. De man. Welsh administration. De man. But but but from the Welsh Governments perspective, theyve got all of these commitments to the environment, to hit. Um, and maybe theyll hit those environmental targets faster than the english government or the uk government in england, which is saying all of this stuff should be voluntary, mandatory. Voluntary, not mandatory. What annoys me is voluntary, not mandatory. Dont what annoys me is voluntary, not mandatory. Dont people at annoys me is voluntary, not mandatory. Dont people inannoys me is voluntary, not mandatory. Dont people in government; that dont people in government dont they think that farmers care about the environment . Farmers care more about the environment than most people. Its where they live. Its where they its they they work. Its what they do. Its animals they care for its the animals they care for anyway. Coming up, should mps be allowed to work from home to avoid threats . Well be hosting avoid threats . Well be hosting a debate straight after this break. Stay with. Us. Okay. Welcome back. Its 222 and okay. Welcome back. Its 222 and £31 million is to be used to protect mps, but labours Harriet Harman has suggested that mps should be allowed to return to hybrid working over heightened about heightened concerns about security. Security. Getty well, is this surrendering to the mob or a serious risk to our representatives . Safety . Well this is what Harriet Harman told andrew marr when asked about the proposal. Proposal. Harriet harman, who is the mother of the house, has not been interested in the safety of mps for the last 48 hours, but for a lot longer than that. And harriet, you have a proposal for how parliament might start to look resolve this big problem. Well, i think we need a mechanism to address all the conflicting issues that need to be balanced here. And i think the right mechanism is something called a speakers conference. One of the things that i think could come out of a speakers conference is an agreement that actually could go back to actually we could go back to hybnd actually we could go back to hybrid which is that hybrid again, which is that sometimes mps could speak in the chamber, sometimes they could speak from their constituency , speak from their constituency, they could sometimes vote through division lobbies, or through the division lobbies, or they sometimes vote they could sometimes vote online. I well, those are Harriet Harmans view too. Uh, but joining us now to discuss this is gb news presenter Patrick Christys, who believes that Harriet Harman is wrong , and broadcaster and wrong, and broadcaster and author turner , who author amy nicole turner, who says already come says that mps lives already come with so much risk and working from productive from home is a productive solution. Go on then, amy, ill let you go first. Why do you think Harriet Harman is right . So in the last few weeks, ive sat with mps from both sides of the house, and ive heard about how utterly worried they are about going into parliament. And i dont think that people have to be physically present to participate in democracy. And i dont think that has to be an expectation because its progressive for parliament to be able to online vote. Weve seen it during covid. Weve seen it work, and its also really, really practical. Think about all the money we could save on the travel, on all the time. We could save with people not to be people not having to be physically present. We have such an antiquated system anyway, and i could be a nice, i think this could be a nice, helpful first step of making sure we have the best people in the best places who dont feel, um, put off of the job because of things like intimidation, security threats, or even just practical reasons. Patrick, this could modernise and improve parliament, the mental gymnastics that this lot have to do in order to avoid confronting the real issue. What we seeing here, and what we are seeing here, and lets be honest about the lets be honest about it, is the left cowering away the left cowering away from the devastating consequences of their own ideology. They welcome these in. They let these extremists in. They let this ideology fester , and now this ideology fester, and now they are running scared from it, and theyre running scared from it. Taxpayers expense. And theyre running scared from it. The taxpayers expense. And theyre running scared from it. The way, xpayers expense. And theyre running scared from it. The way, theyers expense. And theyre running scared from it. The way, theyers ex perfectly by the way, they were perfectly happy when mob was voting happy when this mob was voting for theres a bit for them. And now theres a bit of they want to sit in of pushback. They want to sit in a probably funded a probably taxpayer funded bunker with bullet proof glass and from it. You know, and hide away from it. You know, this million package. Well this £31 million package. Well add that, shall we, to the £25 million its cost to police. All of these marches. That equates to £56 million. You know, if we instead of making them work from home, actually confronted home, if we actually confronted the and stop the the ideology and stop the marches, could give everyone. Marches, we could give everyone. Amy, know you care about the amy, i know you care about the cost of living crisis. We give everyone £800,000 each in this population. Surely would population. Surely you would rather lot rather have that. Thats a lot of hungry feeding, isnt of hungry kids feeding, isnt it . Think the maths quite it . I think the maths quite works there. Patrick £50 million is a little bit less than £800,000 for 56 Million People. But yes. Anyway there we go. Because its lots of money. Its a lot of money. Amy, is this all a bit of a distraction from real issue . That is from the real issue . And that is that have allowed an that our mps have allowed an ideology to fester, whereby we have extremist activists threatening our politicians. Theyve allowed this to happen on watch, right . Theyve allowed this to happen on dealingtch, right . Theyve allowed this to happen on dealing withight . Theyve allowed this to happen on dealing with extremism is one dealing with extremism is one thing. Lets put that over there and we can deal with that. But and we can deal with that. But then talking about then what were talking about today changing today is changing the parliamentary that parliamentary process so that people can work from home in a hybnd people can work from home in a hybrid model, which would make things it things much more. We saw it dunng things much more. We saw it during brexit. Things were so divisive that people felt too intimidated to come in. So if we could just make it more safe, more practical, then its just a better move. And also westminster is in desperate. Westminster is in desperate. Westminster is in desperate. Westminster is in desperate need of glow up. Westminster is in desperate need of glow up. Um, westminster is in desperate need of glow up. Um, lets get of glow up. Um, lets get everyone out and lets sort it out. Why does everything have to be so centralised . Unnecessarily why do they have to be physically present . Cant physically present . Why cant we do votes . What do online votes . What what about when they turn up at houses . What when at mps houses . What about when they that . What about when they do that . What about when they do that . What about when they turn like at they turn up like they did at tobias just top Tobias Ellwood house . Just top oil, i believe ive oil, by the way. I believe ive just tweeted something along the lines see lines of keir starmer will see you few hours, the you in a few hours, put the kettle what does that really kettle on. What does that really mean . Its not just the fundamentalist that fundamentalist extremists that were fundamentalist extremists that we|mob well. Yet again, the eco mob as well. Yet again, the left have been perfectly happy to into bed with them, quite to get into bed with them, quite literally the literally in the case of the labour party, until very recently donations. And recently with the donations. And now to cower away from recently with the donations. And ncall, to cower away from recently with the donations. And ncall, do to cower away from recently with the donations. And ncall, do they . To cower away from recently with the donations. And ncall, do they . I cower away from recently with the donations. And ncall, do they . I find er away from recently with the donations. And ncall, do they . I find thisnay from it all, do they . I find this absolutely staggering, to be honest. About the honest. And also, what about the rest oh great get rest of us . Oh great mps get a £31 million protection package and bodyguards they get £31 million protection package anworkiyguards they get £31 million protection package an work from � ds they get £31 million protection package anwork from home . Hey get £31 million protection package anwork from home . All get £31 million protection package anwork from home . All the get £31 million protection package anwork from home . All the time . To work from home . All the time . What of people what about all of these people who out there at the who are out there at the coalface, in british coalface, especially in british media . Mps can sit in their basement via zoom and call people like me and extremist and far right and a racist for calling out the reality that islamist extremism is a massive problem this country. You problem in this country. You know, look to the days know, i look forward to the days of being lectured by of being lectured on zoom by someone scared to someone whos too scared to front up to their own consequences, their ideology. Ahead. Well, amy, go ahead. Well, amy, go ahead. Saying im here no, im just saying im here working from home, being just as, um , um, taking part in the as, um, um, taking part in the debate, just as much as. But its the reason behind it, isnt it, amy . Its the reason behind it. We can discuss hybnd reason behind it. We can discuss hybrid working and flexible working. Thats thats one debate. But the debate here is the reason for it. Harriet harman is saying that working from home is a solution or something that mps should do, or could be able to do , or should could be able to do, or should be able to do because of this threat. Threat. I think this is a way we are where we are, and its a way to currently try and deal with the threat. Whilst we look at working in public life has always really , really always come with really, really dangerous precedent. And if this is that we can make it is a way that we can make it safer temporarily look safer temporarily while we look at the causes and the at the root causes and the things youre youre things that youre youre youre discussing well, surely discussing as well, then surely this is a way to make mps feel safer temporarily when theyre doing really, but wont, doing really, but they wont, though, amy . Though, will they, amy . Look at the root they wont look at the root causes it because they causes of it because they havent. Stabbed havent. Weve had mps stabbed to didnt look the havent. Weve had mps stabbed to causeiidnt look the havent. Weve had mps stabbed to cause of1t look the havent. Weve had mps stabbed to cause of it. Look the havent. Weve had mps stabbed to cause of it. Wed the havent. Weve had mps stabbed to cause of it. Wed have mike root cause of it. Wed have mike freer because freer quitting, in part because of islamist they of an islamist threat. They wont the causes of it. Wont look at the causes of it. Weve had our Voting System changed. Saw changed. Essentially. We saw with, very with, uh, Lindsay Hoyle very recently they wont look the recently they wont look at the consequences of now. They consequences of it. Now. They want to work from home. Now they want to work from home. Now they want pay. Want the taxpayers to pay. I mean, actually deal mean, they wont actually deal with coming mean, they wont actually deal witwith coming mean, they wont actually deal witwith excuses. Coming mean, they wont actually deal witwith excuses. Every coming mean, they wont actually deal witwith excuses. Every excuse| mean, they wont actually deal witwith excuses. Every excuse in mean, they wont actually deal witbookexcuses. Every excuse in mean, they wont actually deal witbook t01ses. Every excuse in mean, they wont actually deal witbook to not. Every excuse in mean, they wont actually deal witbook to not address xcuse in mean, they wont actually deal witbook to not address xcusroot the book to not address the root cause of this problem. But i agree with you, but um, but i agree with you, but its been in the conservative government that have Less Government that have put less into dealing with extremism and the planning for extremism, but i think were talking about two separate things. Talking separate things. Were talking about hybrid which about hybrid parliament, which could completely work. But why are we talking about it . But are we talking about but why are we talking about were talking about well, yeah, thats point. Were talking about well, yeah, tha and point. Were talking about well, yeah, tha and this point. Were talking about well, yeah, tha and this hasint. Were talking about well, yeah, tha and this has been provoked by and this has been provoked by what weve recently. But what weve seen recently. But this time that this isnt the first time that weve feeling weve had people feeling intimidated about going into parliament. It parliament. Like i said, it happened but then happened over brexit. But then what was what we saw during covid was that online hybrid working, hybnd that online hybrid working, hybrid voting can really work. So if it works, why dont we just put it to use for now . Amy did it. Did it work dunng amy did it. Did it work during covid . Because there is this sort of weighty sense that legislation should matter , that legislation should matter, that there should have a sort of weight to changing the law in this country to changing the way in which people are allowed to do things or otherwise just tapping a phone from your from your living room or your kitchen doesnt perhaps attach the amount of substance that changing law in countries should have. That feels like a bit of a sentimental rental. Um, and equated way of looking at it. Surely thats just a mindset. We do absolutely everything online. The only argument i can really see against this is , is, is this see against this is, is, is this is this Cyber Security one. And thats honestly the only thing. Otherwise what, what you have to provide though, amy, i would have thought that you i would have thought that you i would have that would have thought that you would think mps should face up to think that mps should face up to protesters, should into protesters, should go into parliament and face up to the people that disagree with them, instead cowering at home. Why instead of cowering at home. Why would think . I would never would i think . I would never think that mps should be putting themselves in in danger . If you say its antiquated, if you say its antiquated , you if you say its antiquated, you know what i for . Long the days know what i for . Long the days of the antiquated political system where mps could go in and conduct a variety of Different Committee hearings and vote without a baying mob outside , without a baying mob outside, putting genocidal slogans on the side of big ben, hammering them whether its or not in the street, whether theyre out for a with their friends or a meal with their friends or whatever. Is whatever. Yeah if that is antiquated, then for long it, antiquated, then i for long it, amy. For it. Amy. I long for it. Last word. Amy. Last word. Amy. Last word. No, im just thinking we want to save mps money. We want. Its just easier. To save mps money. We want. Its just easier. Its not about this subject that we keep veering into. Its about that hybrid model working in the future for a more productive. Well, why do they need bodyguards, then . Well, why do they need bocwell,ds, then . Well, why do they need bocwell, werean . Well, why do they need bocwell, were gonna to well, were gonna have to end it thanks, guys. Gb it there. Thanks, guys. Gb news presenter and presenter Patrick Christys and of course, amy nicole turner. Of course, amy nicole turner. Thank you very much indeed for that feisty debate. Yes, i think i should just make one slight, uh, sly. Right. Uh, are you correcting patricks maths Correction System . My maths. My maths. Dont correct it. 67 million dont correct it. 67 Million People in the uk , £56 Million People in the uk, £56 million spent so far on the £0. 43 patrick each, £0. 83 each. Okay £0. 83 fine. Fine whatever. Its still a lot of money. Its still a lot of money. Well give you that. Well give you that. Well give you that. Well give you almost get an ice cream for that. Yeah. Yeah. I wont stand for bullying of our our fellow presenters. Our of our fellow presenters. No, its, uh, its a its. No, its, uh, its a its. Yeah. No. Good. Well, lets move on. Just hours after prince harry lost a High Court Battle over his security levels in the uk, the duke has released a Charity Video message. Well Charity Video message. Well hear what he has to say. But first, its your News Headlines with sofia. With sofia. Thanks, tom. Its 232. Im sophia wenzler in the gb newsroom. Hundreds of farmers are demonstrating outside the Welsh Parliament protesting against changes which they say will threaten the whole industry , proposed new rules on subsidies will require 20 of all Agricultural Land to be set aside for trees and wildlife habitats. The Labour Government in wales insists the changes are necessary to prevent climate change, but concedes the plan could still be adjusted at the end of a consultation. Us warn therell be thousands of job losses as. The therell be thousands of job losses as. The high court in belfast has ruled the uk governments controversial legacy act breaches human rights laws. The case was brought by the relatives of troubles victims , as the act includes a victims, as the act includes a conditional amnesty for people suspected of committing offences. Mps facing threats to their safety will get extra security as part of a new £31 million government package. It follows government package. It follows growing concerns over mps being targeted by protesters since the outbreak of the israel hamas war. The home office says the package would be used to increase private sector security provisions, with all elected representatives to have a dedicated, named Police Contact to liaise with and the duke of sussex plans to appeal. A High Court Ruling after losing a challenge against the government over his personal security, prince harry launched legal action in february 2020 after he was told he would no longer be given the same degree of taxpayer funded protection when hes in the uk. The home office has welcomed the ruling and says its now considering its next steps. For the latest story, steps. For the latest story, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. Common alerts its 238 youre watching and listening to good afternoon britain. Britain. Now prince harry is to appeal a High Court Decision, which effectively means level of effectively means the level of security he receives in the uk is to be downgraded. Is going to be downgraded. Us is the well, joining us now is the royal broadcaster Rafe Heydel Mankoo and ralph this is a this is a more complicated story than it appears in first description because prince harry isnt just after security. Hes isnt just after security. Hes after a very specific form of security. Thats right. Security. Thats right. I mean, fundamentally, i think the most salient issue here for gb news viewers about this ruling is should the british taxpayer pay, provide non working royals with the same level of security as working royals now ravec, which is the body that makes decisions on royal security, which comprises , royal security, which comprises, you know, senior members of the police, the home office and in the Royal Household. They said no. Prince harry said yes and that he and he said that by reducing his level protection reducing his level of protection , ravec were him , ravec were treating him unfairly. Essentially, his unfairly. Essentially, his lawyers were saying they lawyers were saying that they were they have were biased because they have senior members of the Royal Household amongst its members influencing , maybe out of influencing policy, maybe out of prejudice and perhaps in an attempt to punish for harry abandoning his role and for his attacks on the monarchy. In his documentaries and interviews and his spare now , the case his memoir spare now, the case of unfairness and prejudice is very hard for prince harry to make because Prince Andrew also lost his security detail once he stopped being a working royal. Now, this was a High Court Judicial review where the judge needed to rule, whether his decision was rational and justified, and the judge there, sir peter lane, said, yes, it was. And he said that the procedure that ravec did took was not unfair at all. And he actually criticised prince harrys lawyers. They claimed that ravec had failed to consider, for example, the impact that a proper attack would have on prince harry. And he said that was absurd. The core purpose of ravec is to consider just those sorts of issues, and it would be bizarre for them not to consider that. For them not to consider that. And also that it was and he also said that it was silly for prince harrys team to claim that 28 days notice was irrational , 28 days notice to be irrational, 28 days notice to be given before he comes to the uk. He said that was perfectly fine for to say that. So for ravec to say that. So basically, nutshell, what basically, in a nutshell, what does mean . It means does this all mean . It means prince harry to that prince harry has to accept that actions consequences and actions have consequences and with privilege comes responsibilities and his decision to abandon his duties and stop being a working royal means that he loses the privilege of having the same level of security as working royals. But of course, he is appealing this. Well, thank you very much indeed. Were going have to indeed. Were going to have to keep and sweet there, keep it short and sweet there, but great but appreciate your time. Great summary Heydel Mankoo royal summary Rafe Heydel Mankoo royal broadcaster, summary Rafe Heydel Mankoo royal bro meanwhile , while prince harry meanwhile, while prince harry has appeared in a new video calling for wellchild awards nominations, it came very soon after the high court judgement. So some eyebrows raised. But lets have a listen. Lets have a listen. Child awards is our chance to celebrate the extraordinary strength and spirit of young people with complex medical conditions from across the United Kingdom. United kingdom. It allows us to shine a spotlight on the resilience and positivity that they demonstrate every single day , and to every single day, and to recognise the incredible support from the families , friends and from the families, friends and professionals around them. Professionals around them. It is such a privilege to honour the immense courage and compassion of this incredible community. But to do that, we need you to take a moment and nominate the remarkable individuals who inspire you through your involvement. Makes through your involvement. Makes a huge difference. So please join us in celebrating the amazing superstars that will be recognised at the 2024 world child awards. Child awards. Oh well , a lovely video. Its oh well, a lovely video. Its a nice video. Our royal a nice video. Our royal correspondent Cameron Walker joins us. This is just hours after the High Court Ruling. Does that mean anything . Yeah. Yeah. Well, presumably this video was filmed before the High Court Ruling came out. Although it was certainly published posts ruling by wellchild , a charity, a uk by wellchild, a charity, a uk charity which supports , uh, charity which supports, uh, young people with complex medical conditions. Prince harry has been patron for a number of years now. Now. So they were the years now. Now. So they were the ones that posted it rather than prince harrys team. Perhaps the prince harrys team. Perhaps the cynic in me would say that this is very interesting timing , is very interesting timing, considering weve just had this judgement. Is this just going to propel this into the limelight . Because of course, everybodys talking high court talking about this High Court Case which ralph has, has, has summarised for us. Um i suspect though, to be honest , uh, that though, to be honest, uh, that world child was just going to put this, this video out anyway. But what it does show us and what i have seen from prince harry and his team over the last couple of months is that they seem to be wanting to get away from this noise and playing the victim , which we have seen over victim, which we have seen over the last couple of years with his Netflix Documentary , uh, his Netflix Documentary, uh, documenting his exit from the royal family then, of course, we had spare, where he had his memoir, spare, where he clearly accused members of the royal of doing x, and royal family of doing x, y, and z, feel bad and z, which made him feel bad and like now to like a victim. Now they seem to very focusing on their very much be focusing on their charity work and kind of ignonng charity work and kind of ignoring noise and the ignoring all the noise and the various legal cases hes various legal cases that hes got going on. So it does now play got going on. So it does now play into that narrative that, okay, appealing, but its okay, hes appealing, but its only weve only had prince harrys lawyer say that hes appealing. We havent had a statement from prince harry himself indeed his himself or indeed his spokesperson. So perhaps this is turning over a new leaf for harry. But of course it is all with the background of him, uh, taking the home office to court. Well, maybe im sure he can mobilise lot support for mobilise a lot of support for some charities. That some of these charities. That can a thing. Thank can only be a good thing. Thank you cameron you very much indeed. Cameron walker, correspondent. Walker, our royal correspondent. To say, if i were but i have to say, if i were ever embroiled in legal trouble, id again and id want to appeal again and again again. Why . Because again and again. Why . Because then on then youd get people on Television Just saying, tom howard appealing. Howard is appealing. Im sorry. Im sorry. Im sorry. I should dignify that. Even with a giggle. Anyway, lets take a look at this, because Just Stop Oil has just tweeted what appears to be a slightly ominous message the leader of ominous message to the leader of the opposition. In it they say, hey keir starmer, we will be with you in a hours. Put the with you in a few hours. Put the kettle on and kiss. What do you make of that . Is a huge , highly that is a huge, highly concerning message. I mean, what concerning message. I mean, what doesit concerning message. I mean, what does it mean theyre going to turn up to his family home . Think what means. I think thats what it means. I think thats what it means. Kettle sort of yes, it kettle sort of implies family home. And well, it implies theyre coming for a cup of tea. Coming in for a cup of tea. I mean, suppose it but i mean, i suppose it could it could could mean his office. It could in they are going after in any way. They are going after him and want to intimid date him. And i suppose i suppose this gets back to Harriet Harmans point of mps. Oh, theyll be safe if theyre just in their homes. Long as in their homes. Yeah, as long as there sort of there is this sort of intimidation politics, it intimidation in our politics, it doesnt if mps are in doesnt matter if mps are in parliament or in their family homes or anywhere else, this will people its some people will say its just ridiculous. Itsjust just its ridiculous. Its just a but this is how a tweet out. But this is how people communicate this is people communicate now. This is how the threats are done. I can imagine , i can imagine i can imagine, i can imagine if you read that, if i read that high emily carver, were well be with you in a few minutes. In a few hours, put the kettle on. Id be terrified. Keir starmer finally , keir starmer finally, somewhere to go. Somewhere else to go. Be leaving school in theyll be leaving school in the so. I would be. The next hour or so. I would be. Well, anyway, not well, anyway, lets not encourage but if i were absolutely. But if i were keir starmer, id be so worried id be calling my wife. Id be perhaps changing plans that that sort tweet is incredibly sort of tweet is incredibly intimidating. Intimidating. Yeah, i think so. But graham did message because hes got something with us. He something to pick up with us. He says to see that we says hes amazed to see that we did not challenge the disgraceful protest welsh disgraceful protest of the welsh farmers, intimidating members of the parliament. I guess the Welsh Parliament. I guess thats a good point, but im not sure if they had any truly intimidatory placards. Intimidatory placards. Arent the welsh farmers arent turning outside the of turning up outside the homes of kenneth members. No welsh farmers are quite rightly protesting outside the welsh assembly, the Welsh Parliament, as people should be allowed to protest outside the uk parliament. Dont think theyd be i dont think theyd be making any Death Threats, but please correct im wrong, please correct me if im wrong, but coming up, remember the de banking but coming up, remember the de ba|was] but coming up, remember the de ba|was refused an account farage was refused an account by coots bank . Well, this also happened to thousands of Small Businesses in this country thats coming up very shortly. Youre watching afternoon youre watching good afternoon britain. Gb news. Its 249 and mps have raised concerns over the treatment of Small Businesses by major banks , Small Businesses by major banks, after figures showed more than 140,000 accounts were shut down by lenders over the past year alone. Well, joining us now in the studio to explain all about it is our business and economics edhon is our business and economics editor, Liam Halligan with on the money. The money. Liam , whats the story . Liam, whats the story . Liam, whats the story . The story , tom is that just the story, tom is that just as some individuals have been debunked, if you like, had their bank account taken away, we remember , of course, the famous remember, of course, the famous case of our colleague nigel farage being debunked by coots, owned by natwest. It led to the owned by natwest. It led to the ceo of natwest, alison rose , ceo of natwest, alison rose, standing down just to some individuals have been debunked. There are companies, particularly small and Medium Sized Enterprises, that are having their Banking Services withdrawn now. The major high withdrawn now. The major high street clearing banks , they deny street clearing banks, they deny any wrongdoing and theres no question that theyve broken any laws here. But mps on the Treasury Select Committee , a Treasury Select Committee, a Cross Party Committee of mps particularly interested and, dare i say, experts in economic and Financial Issues , news and Financial Issues, news theyve amassed some data. Theyve amassed some data. Theyve got a hearing this afternoon. Theyve amassed data afternoon. Theyve amassed data which shows that 150,000 150,000 Bank Accounts of small uk companies were closed down over the last year , out of about 4 to the last year, out of about 4 to 5 million. So thats sort of 2 or 3 in a single year. And we know from the likes of the federation of Small Businesses , federation of Small Businesses, many other lobby groups for Small Companies that small firms which account for half of our national income, which employ two thirds of us, the rural life blood of the british economy, they feel that a lot of the banks are ignoring them. They feel that the banks, because they dont make much money off they dont make much money off the small firms, they are not extending the Banking Services that need. So just imagine that they need. So just imagine youre small firm. Youre running a small firm. Your bank account absolutely your bank account is absolutely crucial. Youre making payroll, crucial. Youre making payroll, youre people, youre youre employing people, youre paying youre employing people, youre paying suppliers, youre getting revenues in a lot of Small Businesses. They really on businesses. They really run on the wits of the people who own them. A lot of hard working brits. And if you have the sort of basic plumbing of your business as your bank account taken away at short notice against your will, it really can threaten your business and the lives and livelihoods not just of the business owners, but the business employees too. And thats why the Treasury Select Committee is investigating this issue. And i would say to them, shapps and rightly so , liam, do shapps and rightly so, liam, do we know what proportion of these accounts that have been closed are for political reasons or otherwise . We dont, tom. That is, of course, the question i referred earlier to nigel farage. The question there was , farage. The question there was, was he closed down because he didnt have enough money for a ritzy, ditsy coutts bank account, because he was what account, or because he was what we call a pep, a politically exposed person . It turned out exposed person . It turned out that in the end, there was a huge internal coots dossier showing that coutts employees, and this is pretty unanswerable to be true, didnt really like the cut of our colleague nigel gibb politically , so they felt gibb politically, so they felt they should de banking him. They have now apologised for that, as has the company as a whole when it comes to small and Medium Sized Enterprises, its almost never because as the owner is politically exposed , because the politically exposed, because the sort of people that own small and Medium Sized Enterprises , and Medium Sized Enterprises, theres sort of honest to goodness salt of the earth people up and down the country rather than, you know, well known political figures or celebrities. Its largely, tom, i can surmise, because banks feel that theres not enough sort of political or financial meat, if you like, on the bone of operating Banking Services for Small Businesses, long gone are the days where your local bank manager are sort of captain mannering figure would assess the worth of various local Small Businesses and offer them working capital. Offer them loans in order to invest in those local Small Businesses and help them grow. Thats how you get a lot of growth in many other economies, particularly the also germany. Here the us, but also germany. Here in europe, bank finance is really, really important to small firms growing and becoming medium sized and big, and then world class, world beating International Firms in the uk. International firms in the uk. While were very, very, very, very good at starting small firms, inventing things, were very entrepreneurial people. Were not very good at growing our businesses. Were not very good at growing our businesses. And a big reason our businesses. And a big reason were not very good at growing our businesses is because of a lack of bank finance. For those lack of bank finance. For those Small Businesses , small loans to Small Businesses, small loans to Small Businesses, small loans to small firms can be expensive to monitor, expensive to administer. And thats why , for administer. And thats why, for the most part, a lot of our uk banking giants steer clear of them. I personally think personal view that should change. Well thank you very much indeed. Liam halligan there, our business and economics editor. Right. Well thats it for today. Thank you for all of your views and keeping us company this afternoon. Got martin afternoon. Weve got Martin Daubney up next. Shall we see whats on show . Whats going on on his show . A fantastic show for us. Thank you very much. So of course, lee anderson, will he revolt . Will he go to reform after the holiday inn bromance with richard tice . Will it trigger a red wall revolution . Will have all the latest on that huge story. Plus £31 million on mp security. Why should we pay for a mob that they cant control . Talking of which, ill speak to one of the organisers of those pro palestine marches and put James Cleverlys point to them. Them. Youve made your point. Youve made your point. Surely its now just time to stop. And also an historic ruling on knee soldiers in Northern Ireland. But thats after your latest weather forecast. Forecast. A brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hi there, its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. Cloudy for the gb news forecast. Cloudy for most of us today. Outbreaks of rain moving from west to east, but it will be milder compared with recent days. Weve got a warm front moving in thats bringing a slice of mild and moist atlantic air, and its bringing outbreaks of rain. The wettest weather through the rest of the day will be across western hills, especially wales, northwest england, and then later for western scotland. It later for western scotland. It does hs later for western scotland. It does its way south does push its way south eastwards , so of rain eastwards, so a spell of rain through evening the through the evening for the south east and then clearer spells for scotland and Northern Ireland by the end of the night, albeit with a stray wind and frequent moving in. Frequent showers moving in. Colder here, but staying mild for england and wales , and a for england and wales, and a damp start for much of england and wales. First thing thursday. The rain does tend to push south eastwards, so it dries up across wales , the midlands and wales, the midlands and certainly a bright day to come for scotland and Northern Ireland, albeit with those blustery showers and gales for the north and northwest of scotland and feeling cold in that wind. But it stays damp throughout the day across east anglia and the south of england. 12 celsius here, 6 or 7 in the far north and northwest. Then the colder air that exists in the colder air that exists in the northwest on thursday pushes across the whole of the uk through friday, with a spell of rain , sleet and some significant rain, sleet and some significant hill snow for wales and northern england, as well as later for on scotland and Northern Ireland. That clears through drier conditions for many on saturday and sunday, and milder in the gb news. A very good afternoon to you. Its 3 pm. And welcome to the Martin Daubney show on gb news broadcasting live from the heart of westminster. All across the uk. In a few minutes and uk. Now, in a few minutes and were speaking to conservative mp tim loughton. Theres loads and loads to talk about with him. Of course were getting his views on mps safety in the wake of all those pro palestine protests. The government spending. An astonishing £31 spending. An astonishing £31 million of taxpayer money on beefing up those security arrangements and the hardline , arrangements and the hardline, another highly. And the french another highly. And the french say it with fire. The welsh say it with a choir because thousands of welsh farmers are protesting outside the senate in cardiff ,