Own drinks. The admission is. Free. On tonights say my friday, friends, britains best known political double act, neil and Christine Hamilton. Plus tv Christine Hamilton. Plus tv legend sue cook live in the studio. Journalist and royal expert pandora forsythe and fearless us commentator mel k. Would a donald Trump Victory be an early Christmas Present for the uk . My friday big opinion is on the way. Britain is broke and politicians are not being honest with you about why. So some truth bombs coming after the News Headlines and a good friend of mine, sam francis. Of mine, sam francis. Mark, thank you very much. Mark, thank you very much. Good evening from the gb newsroom just after 8 00. And we start with news from northern ireland, families ireland, where families of alleged who were alleged informers who were killed by the ira say another step towards truth has been made after a report into the activities of a double agent was published today. The investigation revealed that more lives were probably lost than saved by the spy code named stakeknife. He was working covertly for the british army inside the iras internal security unit, known for abductions, torture and murder. Northern irelands first minister has apologised today to the bereaved families and said shes wholeheartedly committed to healing wounds of the past. Stakeknife is widely believed to have been a west belfast man who was 77 when he died last year. Solicitor kevin winters, who represents a number of the victims families, says the agent needs to be officially identified. Identified. The decision not to name Freddie Scappaticci as the agent stakeknife has been difficult for many to accept the legal and tactical rationale for doing so will be lost on many people, particularly the next of kin of those murdered. Those murdered. In other news, George Galloway says that he has hundreds of candidates ready to run in the next general election. The leader of the Workers Party of britain was sworn into parliament on monday following his by election win last week. Speaking to neil oliver, the mp said his success in rochdale was the straw that broke the camels back. The spread of candidates, challengers , new parties, challengers, new parties, independent candidates and so on is now proceeding like wildfire. Is now proceeding like wildfire. If i tell you that i have now in my pocket, more than 300 prospective parliamentary candidates , all paying their own candidates, all paying their own election expenses by the way, because we cant pay them more than 300 Workers Party parliamentary candidate. Imagine parliamentary candidate. Imagine that. Well, you can see that full interview with George Galloway on youtube and online on gb news. Com, thats from tonight at 9 00. And then again on sunday with neil oliver at 6 pm. If you miss it. In other news, downing street says the Prime Minister does take concerns about the impact of pro palestine protests extremely seriously. Thats following claims that london has become a no go zone forjews. It comes no go zone for jews. It comes after rishi sunak said that forces are trying to tear the country apart. Writing in the country apart. Writing in the telegraph the governments counter extremism tsar said it was right that rishi sunak raised concerns about the increase in extremist disruption. And he also said ministers need to be willing to accept higher legal risk when they tackle extremism. Well, you they tackle extremism. Well, you may have heard earlier this afternoon that a historic piece of artwork was damaged by a group of pro palestinian activists at Cambridge University. If youre watching on television, you can see here footage showing that painting of the former Prime Minister, lord balfour, being sprayed with red paint before it was slashed by an activist. The government an activist. The government adviser on Political Violence and disruption , has described and disruption, has described those actions as outrageous. And he said senseless , yes. But the he said senseless, yes. But the Palestine Action group claims the piece symbolised the bloodshed of the Palestinian People since the Balfour Declaration in 1917. Police have confirmed tonight that the broadcaster, india willoughbys accusation of misgendering the author, jk rowling, does not meet the criminal threshold. Willoughby, who is transgender, had reported rolling to the police for an alleged hate crime after calling her a man on social media. The harry potter author, though, rejected those allegations, saying that its not a crime to hold gender critical views. And finally, critical views. And finally, some quite astonishing news that weve heard in the last hour or so that police in North Yorkshire have arrested an 11 year old boy who was caught driving a bmw on the m1 and towing a suspected stolen caravan. Officers said they were caravan. Officers said they were staggered when they found the boy driving down the motorway. He now faces charges including theft , burglary he now faces charges including theft, burglary and dangerous driving, but thankfully no injuries were reported. Those injuries were reported. Those are the headlines for now. Ill be back at 9 00. In the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts. Just scan the qr code there on your screen or go to gb news common alerts. Now though, its back to. Mark. Though, its back to. Mark. Thanks, sam. So is International Womens day Still Necessary . Could joe biden survive another four years in the white house . Is it wrong to slap your child on the wrist . And as Rupert Murdoch gets engaged at 92, does marriage in later life work . And what about this developing story . Absolutely shocking. It broke this afternoon. Should the pro palestinian protester who did this slashing a historic painting at Cambridge University with a knife, go to jail . All of with a knife, go to jail . All of that, plus much more on friday night live with me, mark dolan, sue cook, live in the studio, pandora forsythe and the hamiltons. This is not a drill. First, my friday big opinion. First, my friday big opinion. Good evening. Now the chancellors budget statement ran to over 7000 words, but can be summed up in two. Were broke as the cost of the Public Sector goes up, the quality of our pubuc goes up, the quality of our Public Services goes down. Were running a deficit, which means that more income goes out than comes in for day to day spending. The National Debt is well north of £2 trillion. 10 million brits of working age are not active in the economy. 10 not active in the economy. 10 million are they all ill and depressed . And the cost of depressed . And the cost of interest on our debt alone is £100 billion a year, which is almost double the defence budget. So how did we get here . Well, notwithstanding the years of anaemic growth with low gdp and low productivity being a british disease that goes back not just years but decades, there is the small matter of our two and a half year failed attempt to stop a seasonal respiratory virus called covid 19. Now, yes, it was a nasty bug which took too many from us, but one non fatal to the vast majority of the population. Remember the ad campaign . Act like youve got it. A disease so bad you had to pretend you had it. A disease for which a third it. A disease for which a third of the population had no symptoms at all. And for that we closed schools. We mothballed closed schools. We mothballed our health service, we created a Mental Health tsunami. We borrowed half £1 trillion. We paid perfectly Healthy People to stay at home and bake banana bread, watch netflix and start a wine collection. We closed down thousands of once viable businesses. It was mad if we taken the approach of sweden, who didnt bother with lockdowns or mask mandates or vaccine tyranny. We wouldnt have the debt, we would have a thriving economy and there wouldnt be 8 Million People waiting for nhs treatment or a generation of damaged kids with post pandemic excess debts through the roof, lockdowns have got to be the most failed so called Public Health policy in history. When excess deaths were high during the pandemic, we had to destroy the pandemic, we had to destroy the country to tackle it. Now that theyre still high, no one gives a toss or even wants to ask why . Why . Well, its not ask why . Why . Well, its not just covid. Theres another big thing britain lives beyond its means. Youve been lied to by successive governments about just how much the state can do for you, whether its the provision of welfare , the scope provision of welfare, the scope of the nhs and the wider Public Sector footprint. Now, i believe in all of these things, including welfare , but the cost including welfare, but the cost and scale of the state is out of touch with the balance sheet, andifs touch with the balance sheet, and its out of touch with reality. In the last two decades, weve only evaded this truth with money printing and the accumulation of debt. This the accumulation of debt. This is dishonest and gravely immoral. Why . Because the buck will eventually stop with future generations. British kids who generations. British kids who havent even been born yet, who will pick up the bill and inherit a country which is no longer financially solvent. Solvent. Were already nearly there. All because politicians couldnt be honest with you about how much governments can do and how much needs to be personal responsibility. For personal responsibility. For example, we should all look after our health better, rather than burdening the nhs to the extent that we do. But when its extent that we do. But when its free, who cares, right . But that is simply not sustainable. The state has been wiping our backside expensively for years now , and the result is that now, and the result is that britain is on the skids. Now, and the result is that britain is on the skids. Now, to britain is on the skids. Now, to be fair to sunak and hunt, they have steadied the ship and the problem is that ship is the titanic. And at the moment its titanic. And at the moment its at a very awkward angle in the sea, and the deckchairs have long since washed away. The politicians wont tell you so i will. As well as the historic and disastrous covid overreaction, the real elephant in the room is that britain lives beyond its means. That is some big elephant tusk. Tusk. Some big elephant tusk. Tusk. For reaction to the big stories of the day, my friday friends tonight dont get better than Neil Hamilton, former leader of ukip current leader. But on his way out, i should say. And the way out, i should say. And the brilliant Christine Hamilton, author and broadcaster. Great to have both of you with me. First of all, christine , do you think of all, christine, do you think and would you agree that generations of politicians have not been honest with the british pubuc not been honest with the British Public about how much the state can do . Well, how do you know when a politician is lying . His lips politician is lying . His lips are moving. I mean, does that include way . Of include neil, by the way . Of course not. Even he course not. Even n course not. Even i love you, even when he says i love you, hes hahahahahai hes about hahahahahai of course they have. And no, of course they have. And they doing it even they were still doing it even after the budget. I couldnt believe on social media believe it. Out on social media they about a they were talking about a tax cutting budget. Its not. Cutting budget. No, its not. They havent cut taxes at all by not changing thresholds. Not changing the thresholds. Theyre still raking in four times i mean, they they times as much. I mean, they they do lie and the public arent taken in anymore. People know you know, its the economy stupid. Its the economy stupid. And people from pay and people know from their pay packets pensioners and packets where pensioners and were of the millions who were part of the millions who know all too well that the budget been really bad for budget has been really bad for pensioners. Okay, pensioners. Now were okay, obviously, because were in a lucky bracket, but, millions of pensioners to be pensioners are going to be seriously worse off. What about that triple lock, though . That was good for pensioners. Pensioners. But were not going it was. But were not going to be to the triple to be able to afford the triple lock the triple lock will lock and the triple lock will get whittled anyway. Get whittled away anyway. If they change the they dont change the thresholds, lock will thresholds, the triple lock will become course. Become meaningless. Of course. Now, neil, setting aside the pandemic because i do think thats one major elephant in the room. Borrowed £1 room. We borrowed half £1 trillion to pay Healthy People to at home. The government to stay at home. The government and the Health Authorities are very like very clear that measures like mask , Vaccine Mandates mask mandates, Vaccine Mandates and lockdowns saved and the lockdowns saved countless lives. Theyre very clear about that. That is mainstream scientific view. Its not mine, but thats its important to point that out. But what about that other side of it . Generations of politicians , it . Generations of politicians, even when you were in the house of commons, not honest with the pubuc of commons, not honest with the public about what the state can actually public about what the state can act|well, think we were in my well, i think we were in my time because when Margaret Thatcher minister thatcher was the Prime Minister of country, i came into of this country, i came into office after the winter of discontent in where we discontent in 1979, where we were even able to bury the were not even able to bury the dead and rubbish piled up on the streets, or all over the country. It was a crisis which couldnt be avoided. And the thatcher government made a decisive change in this profligate attitude, which has now come back again , because now come back again, because todays tory party has failed to learn the lessons of the 1980s, which at considerable cost, we managed to turn the country round again. But then, of course, the benefits of all that have now been thrown away. And todays government is nothing like what a conservative government should be. As christine said, weve had lies pounng christine said, weve had lies pouring out of them over the effect of the budget. They lie about National Health about the National Health service, clearly service, which is clearly unsustainable in its current incarnation , we, know, incarnation, we, you know, cannot level of cannot afford the level of health care that a country as wealthy as ours should be able to get with a soviet style model of health services, which nobody else in the world has copied, supposedly the envy of the world. Nobody, absolutely world. But nobody, absolutely nobody, it. And yes, nobody, has copied it. And yes, it a for telling truth. It is a time for telling truth. But dont expect it. Of the moral cowards that weve got in this government, you moral cowards that weve got in this government , you they this government, you know, they never to the real costs never faced up to the real costs of im pleased to say of covid. Im pleased to say that a member of the welsh that i was a member of the Welsh Parliament the time that the parliament at the time that the covid hit us, covid pandemic hit us, and i voted against all these control measures i asked the measures because i asked the right questions, which was whats the cost . As well as the so called benefits of doing this and are other countries and what are other countries doing . As say in sweden, doing . And as you say in sweden, they had a completely different approach. Got nothing approach. They have got nothing like problems weve got like the problems that weve got today. We havent got today. And but we havent got politicians with moral politicians with the moral courage to face up to these problems. Of course, now, the government would argue that without those lockdowns, the country would be in a far worse shape, and have seen many shape, and wed have seen many more casualties from the pandemic. Its all pandemic. Of course, its all a debating point. Also, the government will defend tax government will defend major tax cuts unprecedented reductions in national insurance. But listen, lets another story if we lets get to another story if we can, neil and christine, because this one broke this afternoon. Pro palestinian protests. Otters pro palestinian protests. Otters have destroyed a painting of lord balfour at trinity college, cambridge. Take a look at the video and if youre listening on the radio, let me describe it. This is protest action group Palestine Action filming a video of demonstrator slashing of a demonstrator slashing a portrait of lord balfour and spraying it with red paint. Now the conservative politician balfour gave his name to the balfour gave his name to the Balfour Declaration, a Public Statement issued by the British Government on the creation of a jewish homeland in palestine, paving the way for the founding of israel in 1948. Is this neil . What serious Public Discourse now looks like . Well, i suppose sadly it is by and large, for dim witted idiots like whoever that was who was slashing the painting. Curiously, i think Arthur Balfour might have been rather more relaxed about it, because he famously said that in this life, no, nothing matters very much, and hardly anything matters he was a matters at all. Yes he was a philosopher as well as a politician, but balfour was a great statesman in his day. He was Prime Minister and then became foreign secretary, and later only person whos ever later the only person whos ever done before since is david done that before since is david cameron. The cameron. But i dont think the comparison is quite leave it there. But, but no, i think its outrageous, actually. And we should expect that our legal system would be used to stop this. When i was up at cambridge in the mid 1970s, we had riots at the garden house hotel. They were suppressed by condign sentences that passed. Sentences that were passed. Students were sentenced to six months or a year in prison for the damage that they caused. And thats what should happen in this case too. Well, indeed. I mean, your reaction to this, christine, because this this person is probably a middle class kid. Oh, and for those listening on the radio, she didnt just slash that painting one once. I mean, it was one, two, three, four, almost five big slashes. Its been completely will never be the same again. It can be repaired, but itll never be the same. And of course, shes educated. Why did they choose balfour . Because she knew the implications of balfour to the current wasnt current situation. It wasnt just random painting. She just a random painting. She should in prison. Is should be in prison. There is absolutely no doubt about it. And if she will end up before some judge, and if we get some wishy judge, remember wishy washy judge, you remember the pulled the the judges when they pulled the colston statue down, threw it into river . That clear. Into the river . That was clear. Criminal damage. Theres nothing else they were all else for it. And they were all let off. So there was a jury that was a jury, wasnt . They were found not guilty by a jury. Youre quite good to have a lawyer in the house. Its very useful. Its very useful. Neils back. Yeah. Neils got our back. Yeah. Neils got our back. Yeah. Have lawyer very useful to have a lawyer and economist, its and an economist, because its been week for gb news. Been a good week for gb news. But we dont want a court case. No, we dont want a court case, so, of course they should be prison. It is criminal be in prison. It is criminal damage, no two ways damage, and theres no two ways about i know where about it. And i dont know where that its trinity that painting is. Its trinity college, exactly college, cambridge, but exactly where chose where they obviously chose when there very easy. Are 9 are these easy. Are these folks 9 are these folks but are these folks are these folks not the suffragettes of their generation . What their generation . And what theyre is stop theyre trying to do is stop children and women being killed in. Isnt that you get in gaza. Isnt that how you get attention . Talking about attention . Were talking about them this not of speech . Well, when only talking about them theyre common them because theyre common criminals, not. But what criminals, i will not. But what about right protest . About the right to protest . I mean, this is what the suffragettes did. The right . Of course is that the right . Of course its not comparable. One if you and thats one that if you take the opposite have take the opposite view, you have a the a right to knock down with the club who was causing club the person who was causing the this works two ways, the damage. This works two ways, you know. If you get you know. And if you get a reaction to a political reaction to what is happening, then all you get on the streets is violence and chaos. Okay . No society can survive on the hamilton. They constantly try and justify their actions. These justify their actions. These people, by mentioning the suffragettes, the women do. And i think that is outrageous as well. Were talking about women in just moment. International just a moment. International womens this womens day. But i love this from my favourite women. From one of my favourite women. Its fox who was on its claire fox who was on twitter earlier and she twitter earlier on x and she said, longer just said, no longer just performative said, no longerjust performative philistines, real perform ative philistines, real life performative philistines, real life , self indulgent, nihilistic life, self indulgent, nihilistic destroyers of art and history. Destroyers of art and history. What an insult. Narcissists hiding behind the palestinian cause to indulge in their own regressive , visceral culture regressive, visceral culture war, to declare they are virtuous activists. Look at me, look at me. Meanwhile, not one person in gaza will be helped or saved by this act of wanton cultural vandalism. Eamonn to vandalism, criminal vandalism. Fascinating stuff. Well, look , fascinating stuff. Well, look, lots more to come. The hamiltons with me right through until 9 00. But next up is the International Womens day. Still necessary . Well debate that with Christine Hamilton, royal journalist pandora forsythe and tv legend live in the studio sue cook. Thats. Next. Coming up. Is it wrong to slap your child on the wrist . And as Rupert Murdoch gets engaged at 92, does marriage later in life work . But first, today is International Womens day, which is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and which seeks a gender equal world free from bias, stereotypes and discrimination. But is International Womens day Still Necessary . Well, to debate this, we have sent Neil Hamilton into the sin bin for ten minutes. Hes in the green room. I think hes got a gin and tonic, and with me in the studio , three fabulous and deeply inspiring political inspiring women. Political commentator Christine Hamilton, journalist pandora forsythe and tv news legend sue cook. Sue, do tv news legend sue cook. Sue, do women still need International Womens day . Well, we shouldnt, should we . Its a shame that we have to have it at all, but unfortunately, i think maybe we still do. I mean, womens wages still do. I mean, womens wages are below of men even are still below that of men even after all these years, all these battles fought and, i think battles we fought and, i think one one of the things that worries me a lot is that women, still two women are weaker, killed by their partners in Domestic Abuse every week. Nothings changed. Its not getting any better. Its getting worse. So wheres International Womens day . You know why cant we do something about that . Right. And wheres the substance . The sexual assaults. Rapes are famously, horribly underreported. And of course, as a former presenter of crimewatch, youll have been across that it was a problem when you were the beeb. And when you were at the beeb. And its still a problem now. Yes its still a problem now. Yes its problem. Its still a problem. Have tried to and the police have tried to take on. Theyve take it on. Theyve tried different methods, you different methods, but, you know, the know, its still still the figures the same and its shocking. Pandora, do you think that women still need International Womens day . Think we need yeah, i do think we need International Womens day. As you said, domestic violence. We you said, domestic violence. We only have to look at the Sarah Everard case, but its actually looking at institutions such as the police theres still the police where theres still misogyny within it, and its actually looking deeper than just a day. You know, real work does need to be put in money needs to be put into this. And actually changing these institutions which run our society to make sure that, you know, we actually put an end to domestic violence, to rapes, to sexual assaults, which are so predominantly aimed at women. But its a societal problem. But one day of the year saying International Womens day, you know, from commercial companies, lets give women cupcakes. We dont want cupcakes. We just want change. And you feel that businesses have jumped on the bandwagon a bit. Theyre virtually signalling they they honour International Womens day and 364 other days it doesnt really register. Well, quite exactly that, lets put together a panel and speak about International Womens day. But actually, when it comes down to equal pay, getting a you know, theres such a small percentage of women who are ceos and yes, things do take time granted. And weve come a long way, but not far enough. Christine are you going to put a spannerin christine are you going to put a spanner in the works . Are you going to upset the apple cart . Do you think we should have International Womens day . Absolutely not. Going to upset the apple cart. And im delighted three delighted that youve got three strong, the panel strong, real women on the panel to the key, i think, to discuss it. The key, i think, is word international. I is in the word international. I dont would be so dont think i would be so enthusiastic day enthusiastic about womens day just country, although just in this country, although all these issues two all these issues that the two others spoken about others have just spoken about obviously still so obviously still exist. So theres for women to theres a long way for women to go. Dont think a womens day go. I dont think a womens day would but taking the would hit it, but taking the world as a whole, women are in the most appalling situations across the world. They are in penury, theyre in slavery. I penury, theyre in slavery. I mean, you know, you name it, second class citizens in many societies, third class citizens, not many parts not even citizens in many parts of the world. So i think if it can draw attention to that , the can draw attention to that, the situation of women across the world, then im all in favour. But think international but i think International Womens it should be womens day is what it should be and and should remain. And is and should remain. Were this with we were debating this with the before we came on air, the team before we came on air, and one person, of my and one person, one of my colleagues, suggested that international is International Womens day is patronising. Do you think, sue . Well, it it isnt really. And it sounds as though it is, but there is, there are so many issues that we really need to tackle, as christine was saying, and think of all the women we have to sit on our sofas, watching television, watching the television, the women theyre women in gaza, the way theyre suffering. And what about the women hostages the un women hostages in israel . The un finally in a report finally acknowledged in a report two days ago that that something needs to be done and that women are being actually assaulted and raped on an ongoing daily basis since october the 7th. Nobodys mentioned. Nobodys debated mentioned it. Nobodys debated it in the un, the Mainstream Media in the worlds media, the worlds politicians dont mention least on a day mention it. At least on a day like today, we can perhaps bring it to peoples attention. And lets women home. Lets bring these women home. Obviously fully, fully now, i obviously fully, fully back this day we dont do back this day and we dont do nearly and it should be back this day and we dont do n get into womens sports, which seems completely utterly seems completely and utterly ludicrous. How ludicrous. I cant think how thats must thats allowed. There must be a way that. You know, way around that. Just, you know, hormone or something. Well, indeed. What was your reaction story this reaction to that story this weekend . Local weekend . Okay. Its a local story, but i think it has national and its national implications. And its a north london. A womens pond in north london. I know the patrons voted to allow trans women to use the womens pond, where that would be a biological male, fully intact, usually male, who identifies as female in the womens pond. I think thats a topic thats relevant to International Womens day , International Womens day, because i just wonder whether this concept of womens only spaces being sacrosanct is now being eroded. Yes, at least we can talk about issues like that for once. Yeah, know those ponds very yeah, i know those ponds very well. Theres well. And theres a great freedom pond freedom about that pond in hampstead. Are, know, hampstead. There are, you know, women can all shapes, women you can be of all shapes, all shapes, sizes. You all shapes, all sizes. You neednt all shapes, all sizes. You neednt about your body. Neednt worry about your body. All you can relax, all you can do, you can relax, you have a swim. If you can have a swim. But if youve got you know youre youve got men you know youre feeling, your body is being judged and scrutinised and looked it changes whole looked at. It changes the whole atmosphere. Atmosphere. Yeah, well, what do you think abouti yeah, well, what do you think about i mean, what that about i mean, what does that story us about the story tell us about the challenge face . Because challenge women face . Because i think group here are think the whole group here are very open liberal it very open and liberal when it comes if youre a trans comes to if youre a trans person, luck to you or person, good luck to you or respect your identity. But respect your new identity. But what about this issue around womens , christine . Womens spaces, christine . Well, i mean, i know 2 or 3 trans people and they in a million years would never want to invade our spaces. They would to invade our spaces. They would never want to go into join womens sports , etcetera, womens sports, etcetera, etcetera. But as sue said, its the ones who are, frankly, theyre bogus women. Theyre bogus they you see bogus trans women. They you see the pictures of them on social media all the time. I mean, they are just they are a bloke in a skirt and a wig and those are the people who do a tremendous disservice to the genuine trans gender people. Ive forgotten the question. Gender people. Ive forgotten the questiin. Gender people. Ive forgotten the questi think you answered it well, i think you answered it and you answered it and you put it to me as well. And what do you think about all of this, pandora . Is that a rabbit hole to get this issue, the idea to get down this issue, the idea of being cancelled or erased . Think its really well, i think its really important were having important that were having conversations and conversations like this and openly about this, openly talking about this, because people are so because i think people are so afraid of saying the wrong thing. But when you have conversations and you have debates and you have fair and balanced arguments, and then real change can happen, you know, unfortunately, there have been cases in womens changing rooms, etc. Which is which is really actually brought down the trans community. And as you said, its a very , very small said, its a very, very small percentage. I just want to clarify that very small percentage. And there are people who are genuinely suffering and would like to go through that process, and that does take many, many years. And obviously, you know , im not in that you know, im not in that position, so i cant imagine what it would be like all i can be is very sympathetic. But we do also need to report on the stories such as, you know, such as these awful incidences in changing etc, because it changing rooms, etc, because it needs to be fair, it needs to be balanced. And just because people are afraid of having these conversations, they shouldnt we should be open shouldnt be. We should be open to it briefly, if you can. Christine, what were you going say . Well, things going to say . Well, two things i think should stop encouraging think we should stop encouraging children they , 4 or children as young as they, 4 or 5, i want to be a boy. 5, who say, i want to be a boy. Me. Just end it there excuse me. Just end it there or yes, go and play in a tree or something. Yeah. I think the something. Yeah. And i think the vast people, not vast majority of people, not just but people just women, but people are behind the views all behind the views that we all seem share. Yes. But somebody seem to share. Yes. But somebody like rowling out and like j. K. Rowling speaks out and look what happens to her. So normal, ordinary people are terrified of speaking out because they think that the world will cave in on them in the way that it has attempted to cave in on jk rowling. Cave in on jk rowling. Well, a fascinating debate. I think what weve learned from this is that International Womens day. Womens day should be every day. Listen ill get to more of these issues shortly. But next up, is issues shortly. But next up, is it wrong to slap your child on the wrist and as Rupert Murdoch gets engaged at 92, does marriage in later life work . Well debate that with the hamiltons and tv news legend staying with me in the studio. Sue cook, see you in two. Earlier on breakfast, that breaking news in the past few moments that theresa may, the former pm and of course, maidenhead mps to stand down after 27 years. Well, im learning it through you. Im so disappointed to hear this. Well, this is obviously a really significant decision from theresa may to stand down at the next election as you said, it is a surprise people remember that, and the british are stubborn, were known for being quite stubborn, so im not sure how this will help them. This will help them. My holiday was the holiday from hell from six. Its breakfast on gb news coming up. Could joe biden survive another four years in the white house . And would a Trump Victory in november be an early Christmas Present for britain . Will head to the us and speak to a top commentator. But first, this is an astonishing story. A Primary School headmistress unfair headmistress has won an unfair dismissal case after she was sacked for assault. This was for sacked for assault. This was for tapping her toddler sons hand whilst disciplining him. Shelly ann mahlab , the goulbourne, was ann mahlab, the goulbourne, was trying to get her three year old to stop playing with the hand sanitiser in her office, when she used two fingers to attract his attention. The incident was witnessed by the teacher in charge of child safety, who accused her of hurting her son and completed a cause for concern form to report a safeguarding incident. The head teacher was found guilty of gross misconduct and sacked. Gross misconduct and sacked. Well, shes now in line for compensation after an employment judge concluded there was no evidence that shed committed physical chastising or an assault and ruled her dismissal unfair. So is assault and ruled her dismissal unfair. So is it wrong to tap your childs hand as a form of discipline . Lets get the views of Television News legend sue cook and my friday friends tonight. Neil and Christine Hamilton. Neil this sounds to me like a ridiculous story. Potentially this womans career in ruins. Your reaction . Well, of course theres a complete lack of common sense in lots of these kinds of situations today , and a stasi situations today, and a stasi mentality on the part of individuals who are extra officious in trying to enforce what clearly in this case was a misinterpretation of the law. Yeah, but its the lack of common sense and the busybody ness of the whole thing, which i think is so redolent of the nature of which our society is descended. And since this old descended. And since this old air culture. Yeah this army of busybodies out there who are now being employed basically at everybody elses expense, because we all pay the bills in one way or another the cost one way or another for the cost of this thing. And, you know, what about parental responsibility . Thats what was being exerted in this particular case. Thats way it case. And thats the way it should be. Parents discipline should be. So parents discipline their children. Should be. So parents discipline the is hildren. Should be. So parents discipline the is hiwrong to tap your child is it wrong to tap your child on the wrist . I mean, just the very christine. Very action. Christine. From what i no, i mean, from what i understand, the child had already in a, already been disciplined in a, in a verbal way for messing around with hand sanitiser. Around with the hand sanitiser. So he was old enough so he knew he was old enough to know doing wrong. No. If know he was doing wrong. No. If shed him on the wrist. Shed slapped him on the wrist. Two fingers. What its two fingers. I mean, what its utterly, utterly and it utterly, utterly absurd. And it was own child now. Okay, you was her own child now. Okay, you may the school rules may say that the school rules are school rules, it was are the school rules, but it was her she her own child she was disciplining. I think disciplining. And i think parents allowed parents should be allowed to discipline children in discipline their children in their within limits, of their own way. Within limits, of course. Know , that was course. But you know, that was clearly nonsense. And that clearly a nonsense. And that woman of the trauma that woman think of the trauma that she has been through. Im not quite sure how long shes been suspended, she must quite suspended, but she must be quite a head teacher, former a young head teacher, former head shes got head teacher, because shes got small small, small small children, small, small child. Most child. Shes had the most unbelievable she unbelievable will. I hope she gets massive of money as gets a massive ton of money as compensation. Compensation. Now youve skin in the now youve got skin in the game, because i think game, sue, because i think youre school governor. Game, sue, because i think youthats school governor. Game, sue, because i think youthats right. School governor. Game, sue, because i think youthats right. Yes. l governor. Game, sue, because i think youthats right. Yes. And vernor. Game, sue, because i think youthats right. Yes. And v thats right. Yes. And i know i governor for an academy i was a governor for an Academy Trust, and i just know how stressful all the teachers feel all the time, because safeguarding is the thing, the thing theyre all worried about. And this safeguarding teacher, she was obviously the safeguarding lead in the school, and she decided as a safeguarding person that she shouldnt have witnessed this tap on the hand. And i mean, what sort of person she must be is totally bonkers. But anyway, the police didnt think it was worth , nor did the worth prosecuting, nor did the local council. But the Academy Trust itself thought, oh, you know, we dont want to be accused of any safeguarding , you accused of any safeguarding, you know, wed better. Know, problems. Wed better. Well discipline the woman and well sack her and she can go. Shell have to. Well have to sacrifice her. And of course, you then had to sue you know, she then had to sue for dismissal. For unfair dismissal. As christine must have christine said, she must have gone hell or gone through hell for 2 or 3 years, and i hope she gets decent definitely decent compensation. Definitely and a plum job at another school. Who will be lucky to have her. Meanwhile, Rupert Murdoch, the media magnate , is murdoch, the media magnate, is to tie the knot at the tender age of 92. Hes now engaged to russian molecular biologist elena sukova, who is just 67 and positive teenager. By comparison, the marriage is expected to take place at mr murdochs lavish vineyard estate in california later this year. Well, itll be his fifth and fifth marriage, i should say, and you have to hope it is going to be successful. But theres marriage in later life work. What do you think, sukuk . Well, i was. I was talking to well, i was. I was talking to prue leith only a couple of days ago. Name drop. Yes. And ago. Nice name drop. Yes. And shes. She got married seven years and shes and years ago, and shes 84 and looks amazing absolutely looks amazing and absolutely loves her marriage. And, you know, definitely say yes. Know, she definitely say yes. Otherwise im not entirely sure, but i think was sad that he but i think i was sad that he split up from jerry hall, but he looked very happy as a couple. Those two. But i think covid got in the way there. And i think she thought she was too she he thought she was being too overprotective and, and dumped her. Overprotective and, and dumped hen he overprotective and, and dumped her. He can be quite ruthless. Right. I think the thats right. I think the family allegedly, family were concerned allegedly, that to that they couldnt get access to their father shed their own father because shed wrapped cotton wool wrapped a sort of cotton wool around security fence. Around him as security fence. But so the principle is that but so, so the principle is that its never too late for love. But have to get married but do you have to get married when youre so old . He want to get why does he want to get married . Do you think . I mean, whats for . I mean, triumph whats it for . I mean, triumph of hope over experience, isnt it . I mean, its extraordinary. I mean, its extraordinary. I mean, its extraordinary. There speaks the voice of experience. Blimey, were dropping bombs tonight. When you. When youve had. What it . Is it four failed what is it . Is it four failed marriages or five failed marriages . Would be his fifth. This would be his fifth. This would be his fifth. One where he got he had one where he got engaged didnt actually get engaged and didnt actually get married. Can sort of married. So you can sort of almost count that well. Almost count that as well. I mean, it is he wants to get mean, it is why he wants to get married. I dont know, because clearly theres going to be massive prenups shes not going. He longer. He cant last much longer. I mean, be honest. I mean, mean, lets be honest. I mean, he might last another ten years. Will. We hope he will. We hope he will. Ten years, of course. Man. Youre absolutely older man. Youre absolutely right, theres bound be right, so theres bound to be all around prenups. All wrapped around with prenups. Whether but i have no idea whether marriage a good marriage in later life is a good thing. Hope to find out, thing. We hope to find out, dont darling . We get older. Neil. Neil, i hear that you made christine sign prenup so made christine sign a prenup so your safe. Its the your millions are safe. Its the other way. Other way round. Other way round. Actually, weve been married so that keeps so long, its inertia that keeps us do think . Mean, do you think . I mean, speaking , can you speaking as a gentleman, can you understand, you the understand, as you raised the question, murdoch wants question, why, mr murdoch wants to married and cant just to be married and cant just have a girlfriend this stage . Have a girlfriend at this stage . Think sign of well, i think its a sign of commitment, it . Commitment, isnt it . Age he is. He and hes the age he is. He grew up in the culture that he did, we want to things did, and we want to make things legal, dont we . Yes. It that he wants to or is it that he wants to make sure theres someone to look in his old age . Look after him in his old age . Neil, a of tea . Exactly. Heres my carer. There go. There you go. Hear it. Not yet. Glad to hear it. Not yet. Lets hope its going to be a while before that happens. Now, coming speaking of coming up, speaking of carer, could survive another could joe biden survive another four years in the white house and a Trump Victory in and would a Trump Victory in November Christmas november be an early Christmas Present for britain . Will debate that with of americas top that with one of americas top political commentators. Next. Welcome back to friday night live with me. Mark dolan. Now, Donald Trumps team have launched an attack ad on joe biden questioning whether he could make it for another four years in office. Take a listen. Years in office. Take a listen. They want. Me they want. Me i guess i should clear my mind here a little bit. We can all see joe bidens weakness if biden wins , can he weakness if biden wins, can he even survive till 2029 . The real question is , can we make america question is, can we make America Great again . Inc. Is responsible for the content of this advertising. Content of this advertising. Powerful stuff. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has come out fighting in his annual state of the Union Address. In a fiery performance, he attacked his opponent , performance, he attacked his opponent, donald trump, calling him a threat to democracy. The 81 year old president also defended his record on the economy. Here he is in action. The middle class has finally has a fair shot and the wealthy have to pay their fair share in taxes. I see a future where we save the planet from the Climate Crisis and our country from gun violence. Above all. I see a violence. Above all. I see a future for all americans. I see a country for all americans, and i will always be president for all americans. So lets build the future together. Lets remember who we are. We are the United States of america. United states of america. So would a november victory for President Trump be an early Christmas Present for britain . Christmas present for britain . But first, lets look at that state of the Union Address from the sitting president , joe biden, in the company of one of americas most compelling political and social commentators, and the star of the hugely popular mel k show podcast, mel k. Mel, great to have you on the program. As joe biden proved as joe biden proved his critics wrong with this fiery performance. Fiery performance. Oh no. And thank you so much for having me. Its got to be for having me. Its got to be a real trip for the rest of the world to watch whats going on here. No, frankly. I mean, the American People as a whole are exhausted. The left and right, republican and democrat. It exhausted. The left and right, republican and democrat. It is proving to be a farce. More people see it ever. More people see it than ever. More people see it than ever. More people looking at dc and people are looking at dc and wondering is running and wondering who is running it. And i just biden i dont just mean joe biden or anyone america at anyone else. We in america at this have obviously had this point have obviously had some of capture by a some kind of capture by a i dont know, a rogue kind of, situation where they are keeping us divided. And he gets up there and basically says that 80 Million People in donald trump are the problem, hes the are the problem, and hes the uniter all of that, where uniter and all of that, where the is, the of dc the truth is, the entire of dc is actually proving itself to be a l is actually proving itself to be a , unworkable and a incompr, unworkable and corrupt situation that i believe the people are actually getting forced closer together, watching whats happening through this Administration Rather far Administration Rather than far apart, is what believe apart, which is what i believe these really want. These people really want. I mean, the question posed in that attack video from the trump camp is, could joe biden survive another four years in office . Whats your view , well, first whats your view, well, first and foremost, i believe that we should wait and see what happens at the democratic convention. Theres a lot of talk in the background about that. A and b, you know, the truth is that nobody really to continue nobody really wants to continue down endless war. And down a path of endless war. And america being all over the world. A lot of people want a different direction. Right different direction. And right now more about now its even more about ideology the american ideology and what the American People future, people want for our future, rather you a man. Rather than, you know, a man. Its really about trump or its not really about trump or biden at this point. And most americans getting that. Its americans are getting that. Its really direction of really about the direction of this our future. And this nation and our future. And i honestly believe that most people looking you people are now looking at, you know, is offering them know, who is offering them peace, to protect peace, whos offering to protect our border, whos offering to reinvest in america. That, reinvest in america. And that, obviously donald trump over obviously is donald trump over biden. But making it to election day seems very iffy. But we will see the democratic convention. Anything could happen there. There you go. Well, reading between the lines, i wonder if, in that answer, youre suggesting the democrats might just throw biden under the just throw joe biden under the bus someone like gavin bus and put someone like gavin newsom in the hot seat . But lets talk about donald trump, who could be successful in november. Lets if we can, mel november. Lets if we can, mel k, bring my brilliant friday friends into this conversation. Neil and Christine Hamilton , mel neil and Christine Hamilton, mel k, would a Trump Victory in november be an early Christmas Present for the United Kingdom . Present for the United Kingdom . Well, in my opinion, i think that it would be an early Christmas Present for everyone on planet earth that like on planet earth that would like to and would to see peace ahead and would like see negotiations. And like to see negotiations. And id to us back on id like to see us get back on track instead of continuing down a that is not really good a path that is not really good for anyone on planet we for anyone on planet earth. We just need have some just really need to have some open theres been open conversations. Theres been very talk about what very little talk about what peace like, what peace could look like, what prosperity could look like, and i think theres a lot of people looking at globalist looking at the globalist organisations and organisations like the un and the economic and the World Economic forum and other groups thinking what other groups and thinking what is what are is their part, what what are they playing and arent they playing and why . Arent nafions they playing and why . Arent nations getting nations and nations getting together things together to discuss things directly instead of going through third parties . So theres a lot out there that could happen for the world, and i believe for the better. Honestly, i dont think the direction is going direction for anyone is going in a good pattern, well, mel a good, good pattern, well, mel k, that to neil k, let me put that to Neil Hamilton, who is the leader of ukip, a National Political party in this country. Neil. Mel k there says that a Trump Victory would be good for the world. Would it be good for britain . Well, i would, but i think if we got keir starmer as Prime Minister bets are off, of minister all bets are off, of course donald trump is half british. His mother was born in scotland. Hes an anglophile. Hes an anglophile. He hes an anglophile. And he would to have a trade would he wanted to have a trade deal with this country, which our government foolishly put on the back burner. And i think trump would be, as weve just heard from mel, good for the world. Putin, i dont think, would ever have dared to go into ukraine if trump were president of the United States. And i dont think, xi jinping would be threatening taiwan in the obvious way that he does. If trump were the president. So i think that, you know, a Trump Victory would be good for us all in so many different ways. In so many different ways. However, christine, this is a guy thats been found guilty in a civil court of a sexual assault. Hes mired in all sorts of legal woes. Many think hes a criminal. Is he fit for high office . Well, the American People, its their choice, not ours. The American People factored all that in when they voted for him in the first place. Just like the british people factored all boriss in when they boriss faults in when they voted so they know what voted for him. So they know what theyre getting with trump. And as think personally as neil said, i think personally the world would be safer the world would be a much safer place trump the place with trump because the other side, putins etc, other side, the putins etc, would know what he was going would not know what he was going to do next. My only big concern about trump is that he has said that he will stop sending money to ukraine, which i think will be tragic because ukraine is fighting on the front line for the of europe. And i would the rest of europe. And i would hope the United States hope that the United States would ukraine. Would stand by poor ukraine. Of time. A mel k, im out of time. A couple of seconds if you can. Do you think that donald wins you think that donald trump wins in november . Yes, 100, okay. Well, look, a straight answer to a straight question, let me tell you, you must check out the brilliant mel k show podcast. Wherever, wherever you get your podcasts. Its a brilliant listen, mel k, do join us again soon. Brilliant to you on program. To have you on the program. Okay. Thank you so much. Oh, its stuff. What an its great stuff. What an interesting debate that was, next christys. Whats next up patrick christys. Whats happening, . Yeah. Happening, big man . Yeah. Action packed show tonight. Weve the feminists weve got the feminists for palestine movement, which is a bit like turkeys for christmas, isnt ive got ellen isnt it . But ive got ellen levy the Israeli Government levy on the Israeli Government spokesperson to give them some home truths about exactly what hamas female hamas are doing to the female hostages there. British hostages over there. British seaside towns being desecrated as by mass migration. Seaside towns being desecrated as by mass migration. Ian. As well by mass migration. Ian. And should the art vandals be sent to prison and loads more, should we legalise cannabis . Mark . Listen, only if youre well, listen, only if youre going to join me in a in a toke. But you dont need it. Youre naturally high. Patrick i am. Yes. No, not for me, not for me. Brilliant. Stop listening to patrick. Looking forward to that. Patricks up in a couple of minutes. Do join me mark minutes. Do join me for mark dolan tonight saturday and sunday. The big sunday. The take at ten. The big opinion meets and of Course Opinion mark meets and of course my pundits. My to the my top pundits. My thanks to the brilliant neil brilliant christina, Neil Hamilton, daniels and hamilton, the two daniels and arc. You tomorrow at arc. Ill see you tomorrow at nine. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. Sponsors of boxt boilers. Sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hello again. Good evening. Welcome to your latest gb news weather update. It should stay dry through this evening for many areas, but rain and showers will push up from the southwest to some showery outbreaks to bring some showery outbreaks of of us this of rain. For many of us this weekend, thats as a result of this low pressure system bringing fronts bringing these weather fronts into southwest through this into the southwest through this evening. Will bring some evening. So that will bring some showery rain for showery outbreaks of rain for parts devon and cornwall parts of devon and cornwall through elsewhere through this evening. Elsewhere though, it should be dry for much evening and through much of the evening and through much of the evening and through much having said much of the night. Having said that, will be quite that, but it will be quite cloudy breezy that will cloudy and breezy that will limit frost just the far limit any frost to just the far northwest scotland , but it northwest of scotland, but it will be a fairly chilly start to the weekend, with that easterly breeze continuing the breeze continuing the. The wind will strong , will be quite strong, particularly over the high ground northwestern areas ground and northwestern areas throughout saturday and further south. Well see cloud thicken through afternoon with some through the afternoon with some drizzly outbreaks of rain to come around lunchtime across central and southeastern areas. There will some brighter there will be some brighter weather through the afternoon, but will allow some showers but that will allow some showers to out. Those showers to break out. Those showers could turn quite heavy across parts of southwest, so some parts of the southwest, so some very heavy rain is possible for parts of dartmoor, parts of south well. That rain south wales as well. That rain will more widespread will be much more widespread through sunday, particularly across , across eastern areas of england, as well as parts of scotland, where there will be some quite persistent and heavy rain at times, could be times, so there could be some flooding by end of Flooding Issues by the end of the weekend. Will be quite the weekend. There will be quite a cloud around on sunday, a lot of cloud around on sunday, but spells in the but some brighter spells in the southwest rain slowly southwest that rain slowly clears through monday to leave a much brighter day on much drier and brighter day on tuesday by. Tuesday by by. Looks like things are heating up. Boxt boilers sponsors of up. Boxt boilers sponsors of weather on youre watching and listening to gb news with me. Sam francis, the headlines at 11 00. Northern irelands first minister has apologised today to the families of alleged informers who were killed by the ira. And she says that she wholeheartedly is committed to healing the wounds of the past. Its after a major of the past. Its after a Major Investigation found its likely that more lives were lost than saved by a double agent during the troubles. Codenamed the troubles. Codenamed stakeknife, he was working covertly for the british army inside the iras internal security unit. Hes widely security unit. Hes widely believed to have been