Transcripts For GBN GB 20240704

Tatiana sanchez. Dawn, thank you and good afternoon. Your top stories from the gp newsroom . Transport the gp newsroom . Transport secretary mark harper says rishi sunak will lead the tories into the next election. It comes after Senior Tories were reported to have attempted to downplay claims of a conservative plot to replace the Prime Minister with Penny Mordaunt. The move would mean a fourth leader of the party in just five years. Mr harper says that, unlike labour, the conservatives have a plan on delivering for the country. Youve got to show them by the time of the election two things weve got to show them that weve got a plan. The plan is working and its delivering for them, and i think we can see that is on inflation and on that it is on inflation and on taxes. Weve also then got to show that labour party show them that the labour party doesnt have a plan and will be a big risk. For example , we know a big risk. For example, we know the labour party wants to spend £28 billion on their green plan. Theyve hidden the price tag now, but they dont know how to pay now, but they dont know how to pay for it. That would mean taxes going up, but shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth told gb news the governments priority are all wrong. Rishi sunak hes not acting in the National Interest. Its reckless, its irresponsible. He should name the day of a general election and stabilise matters at the moment, hes more preoccupied with his own leadership and saving his own skin than governing in the National Interest. And i think National Interest. And i think after 14 years, this is a pretty discredited government. He needs discredited government. He needs to name the day, i mean, but if he doesnt name the date soon, we could have a leadership election soon. The ministry of defence says grant shapps was forced to abandon trip to southern abandon a trip to southern ukraine last week for security reasons. British intelligence warned of a credible missile threat from russia , saying the threat from russia, saying the kremlin had got wind of his visit. Thats according to the sunday times. Mr shapps was due to travel to odesa a day after a missile hit the city while the ukrainian president and the greek Prime Minister were visiting. Five people were visiting. Five people were killed in the explosions, according to ukrainian authorities. Meanwhile, the latvian has told latvian Prime Minister has told the sunday telegraph that britain should consider conscription and a total defence model to deter russian aggression. Latvia reintroduced aggression. Latvia reintroduced the model last year with all able bodied men required to complete 11 months of military service. However in january, the uk armed forces minister, james heappey, said any talk of the uk introducing conscription to the army of nato goes to war with russia was nonsense that as russians are casting their ballots on the final day of voting for the countrys next president , Vladimir Putin, whos beenin president , Vladimir Putin, whos been in power since 1999, is expected to win another six year tum with a landslide victory. Tum with a landslide victory. The election comes just over two years since russias invasion of ukraine. The first two days of the vote saw dozens of incidents of vandalism at polling stations, with several people detained across russia. Councils detained across russia. Councils will have to consider whether residents support low traffic neighbourhoods in their area before going ahead with the schemes. The draft guidance is due to come into force this summer. Theyre designed to encourage cycling and walking by limiting driving in side roads and include wider pavements and barriers to restrict vehicles. Ltns often use signs and bollards to prevent traffic being able to drive along a certain route, as well as local residents, businesses and Emergency Services will also need to approve of the move. A need to approve of the move. A volcano in iceland has erupted for a fourth time in just three months. Previous eruptions destroyed roads and forced a town to evacuate fountains of molten rock could be seen soaring into the night sky from fissures in the ground. Authorities had warned for weeks that an eruption was imminent. Just south of icelands capital, reykjavik. And steve harley, reykjavik. And steve harley, best known as the front man of british rock band Cockney Rebel, has died at the age of 73. Come up and see me to make me smile. The band enjoyed success in 1975 with the number one hit make me smile. Steve harley had still smile. Steve harley had still been touring until recently , but been touring until recently, but cancelled dates to have treatment for cancer. His daughter greta says he died peacefully with his family by his side. For peacefully with his family by his side. For the peacefully with his family by his side. For the latest stories his side. For the latest stories sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen. Or you can go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Now back to dawn. Thank you very much, tatiana. Right. Lets get straight to todays stories, shall we . The leader of the lib dems , sir ed leader of the lib dems, sir ed davey, just in case youve forgotten, has called for a once in a generation election. He called for transfer locational change to bring the blue wall tumbling down. He accused labour and the conservatives of tinkering around the edges and trying to cloak themselves in the costume of change, but theyre both really saying keep things the same. He also poked fun at the Prime Minister over the calling of the election. The calling of the election. Lets have a listen to what he said on that, shall we . Now, of course, we dont yet know when election day will be. We dont know because its in the hands of just one man. Its pretty much the only thing left that rishi sunak controls. He that rishi sunak controls. He certainly doesnt control his party, certainly not his cabinet, certainly not the Health Care Crisis or the economy. Economy. Cracking bit of sand up there a. Joining me now is gb news Political Correspondent olivia utley, who is holding a aching sides and explaining exactly what is going on with the lib dems today. Dems today. Well, its the lib dems spnng well, its the lib dems spring conference today. This is the sort of meeting of the party faithful. It was a very exciting hall full of people whove come up and down the country to watch ed davey in terms of what he was talking about. There were a lot of attacks specifically on the conservatives. I thought it was quite notable how he pretty much laid labour and keir starmer laid off labour and keir starmer all together, which might get tongues that there could tongues wagging that there could be some sort of pact between the lib dems and labour later down the line. There were a couple of moments where it seemed as though ed davey was very, very keen to sort of steal the tories clothes. He talked about reversing rishi sunak cuts to the british a strong the british army, now a strong defence, a strong defence budget is territory which is traditionally the conservatives. But obviously in recent months and weve seen rishi sunak and years weve seen rishi sunak and years weve seen rishi sunak and his government shy away from that 3 gdp commitment to defence. Ed davey stepped in there and said that that is something that he would do to huge cheers from his audience. Huge cheers from his audience. He talked a lot, too, about specific conservative seats, and i think thats something which were going to hear a lot more from in the lib dems in the coming coming months. Traditionally, the lib dems dont particularly dont tend to do particularly well but well in general elections, but they do well indeed in they do do very well indeed in by elections because they are very , very getting their very, very good at getting their resources ground when resources on the ground when their targeting, when theyre really pinpointing specific their targeting, when theyre reallytheyveiting specific their targeting, when theyre reallytheyve actuallypecific their targeting, when theyre reallytheyve actually wonic their targeting, when theyre reallytheyve actually won four area, theyve actually won four by elections in the last couple of years , which im pretty sure of years, which im pretty sure is a record for any party. It sounds as though they are going to be treating the next general election essentially like a series of by elections. Theyll be looking at target seats across the country, probably 20 or 30 target seats, and they will be putting all their will be putting all of their resources into those seats. And its quite that in at its quite likely that in at least of those seats, least some of those seats, labour hardly bother labour will hardly bother to campaign at all. Therell be some element of sort of tactical voting, quite few of those voting, quite a few of those seats are belonging to sitting cabinet jeremy hunt cabinet ministers jeremy hunt seat in surrey is a target. Lib dem seat and Penny Mordaunt seat down in portsmouth is a target. Lib dem seat two. So the lib dems look set on humility , dems look set on humility, putting the conservative party, and it felt as though that was sort of the theme of that speech today. Get out tory mps and get lib dem mps in. But not much mention of labour. Its very interesting, isnt it, olivia . The fact that it could be a between the two could be a pact between the two parties, they have parties, although they both have denied they . Denied it, havent they . They have denied it and its it sounds unlikely that therell be a sort of official pact between the two parties. But we have seen in previous elections theres some element of tactical voting. And even if its not announced on the in the sort of national media, there can be sometimes agreements between associations of labour and the lib dems. And even if it isnt as official as that, you can see voters taking it into their own hands to get involved in tactical voting. In a recent by election, actually, the lib dem has managed to lose their deposit in a seat where theyd previously come third, and it was thought that was because labour stood a much, much higher chance of winning that seat up in the up in red wall constituencies. So i think we constituencies. So i think we can possibly expect some element of tactical voting between the lib dems and labour, even if it isnt official. And i thought it was very telling, actually, that that ed davey almost entirely laid of keir laid off criticism of keir starmer. The only moment where there was a little bit of criticism was when he talked about gaza and israel. Obviously, the dems have obviously, the lib dems have been calling for an immediate ceasefire gaza israel ceasefire in gaza and israel from the very beginning of this crisis. So thats a thats one clear blue dividing line between the lib dems and labour. Other than that, it was all the tories that davey was laying into. That davey was laying into. Olivia, seeing as ed davey has set the stall out for us, talking about the tories, should we carry on . Rishi sunaks not going to be a happy bunny again today. Part 356. Hes being portrayed as an indecisive wimp and penny morden is set to take over the reins. What do you make of what the papers are saying today . Today . Well, theres all sorts of briefings and counter briefings in the sunday papers this morning. There is this rumour that Penny Mordaunt is pitching herself to be the next conservative leader and importantly, not conservative leader after the election, but before it, her allies would like to see her lead the conservative party into the general election rather than rishi sunak. This was reported yesterday. We were was reported yesterday. We were digging around yesterday and it did indeed sound as though there had been some sort meeting had been some sort of meeting going sunday telegraph going on. The sunday telegraph now that actually what now suggests that actually what was going that right wing was going on is that right wing mps were sort of using Penny Mordaunt. They suggesting mordaunt. They were suggesting that they would like to see Penny Mordaunt become the next leader , so that could spur leader, so that they could spur a leadership penny a leadership contest. Penny mordaunt is popular among the centrists wants get the centrists and wants to get the centrists and wants to get the centrists side , spur centrists on side, spur a leadership contest and then put centrists on side, spur a letheir1ip contest and then put centrists on side, spur a letheir own ontest and then put centrists on side, spur a letheir own candidate then put centrists on side, spur a letheir own candidate , hen put centrists on side, spur a letheir own candidate , be| put centrists on side, spur a letheir own candidate , be that in their own candidate, be that Suella Braverman or perhaps priti patel. So those are the priti patel. So those are the rumours. Rishi sunak, for his part, his allies are saying that Penny Mordaunt has no values , Penny Mordaunt has no values, that she is just an empty vessel. It sounds as though he wants to show that there is a clear line between himself and penny over those trans issues. Penny over those trans issues. Penny mordaunt for some on the right of the party, Penny Mordaunt has never managed to win back plaudits after saying at the despatch box that trans women are women. Rishi sunak, it seems, wants to mine that seems, wants wants to mine that bit of reluctance that lack of trust in the leader of the commons. But the very fact that the Prime Minister and the leader of the commons seem to be pretty much at each others throats behind closed doors over this shows the extent to this issue, shows the extent to which the conservative party is divided, and its not surprising. Today it was real that polls show conservatives are now lower than they were any time since liz trusss budget disaster budget last year. So thats where the conservatives are sitting. And there are some people now saying that in the conservative party that, yes, it would be bad to replace a leader, a fourth leader in as many years. But as things are going, rishi sunak cannot hold on. Oh gosh, olivia, im not sure youre helping, my lovely. I know weve sent you up to spend the afternoon with the lib dems, but i mean, its like rats fighting in a sack, isnt it . Olivia utley, thank you very much us up speed much for bringing us up to speed on whats happening the lib on whats happening with the lib dems now lets see what my brilliant today make of Brilliant Panel today make of all im joined by author all this. Im joined by author and broadcaster the amy and broadcaster the lovely amy Nicole Turner and the equally lovely about it, lovely i thought about it, broadcaster mike parry. Thank you both for joining broadcaster mike parry. Thank you both forjoining me. And happy Saint Patricks day to you both. Indeed im the only one wearing green, but hey, whatever, now youve the lib dem conference. Seemed quite excitable, didnt it . What do you make of what youve heard olivia say . Im going to come to you first. Mike on this one. Well, you used a very good expression just now. You said, stand up comedian. Dont think stand up comedian. I dont think you comedian. Thought you said comedian. I thought you said up. Right. That said stand up. Right. And that was wed seen some was after wed seen some pictures walking was after wed seen some picturerthe walking was after wed seen some picturerthe stage walking was after wed seen some picturerthe stage walkwaving around the stage waving, waving like its a great like this. And its a great description of ed davey and the image he has of himself and, you know, Everybody Loves me. He seems to constantly have this sort of grimace on his face and calling for peoples resignation. But i dont hear many policies and i think also that he has this huge ability to forget that he has been very responsible in the scandal that has surrounded the scandal that has surrounded the post office , submaster, the post office, submaster, subpostmasters and mistresses because he was a minister at the time who simply said it wouldnt have been worthwhile him talking to subpostmasters and mistresses whose numbers were building up. Didnt he have the intelligence to think to himself well, hang on, for the last ten years theres only been three. Suppose master mistresses whove had a problem, and now weve got thousands. Something might have gone wrong. Hes not here to defend himself. Ill defend him. Ill defend him. Thats no problem. Thats no problem. Ill defend him on that one. Because now who is the compensation in the hands of who could wrong with the could right the wrong with the subpostmasters . Yes. Kemi subpostmasters . Yes. Kemi badenoch of badenoch came out and said of course should their course they should get their compensation. But the tory party are it and keeping are holding it up and keeping that back. And i think that money back. And i think thats probably because they cant the at the cant foot the bill at the moment. So theyre to moment. So theyre hoping to kick the can down the line. So labour more money. Labour inherit even more money. But a its such mess. Its a hugely complicated structure. Now to get all the payments out to the people who deserve them. Seriously, is deserve them. Seriously, it is now problem. Now such an enormous problem. Its going to involve millions, if not billions of pounds, and theyre simply trying to work it out. But at the start, out. But surely at the start, amy, must agree with ed amy, you must agree with me. Ed davey could have something davey could have done something about chose not to. About it. And chose not to. Yeah, im in out on that yeah, im in and out on that because i think hes a convenient scapegoat at the moment. We back to moment. But if we go back to what olivia talking about what olivia was talking about with prospect of penny more, with the prospect of penny more, i dont want to go too far down the rabbit hole of the post office. And yeah, yeah, sure, sure has got questions to answer. But rishi sunak also appears to have questions to answer this morning. If you read any of the papers take your pick. Papers today, take your pick. Im and im sure he probably isnt, and theyre not exactly complimentary. I mean, implied complimentary. I mean, implied that its an indecisive wimp, and is cunning plan to and there is a cunning plan to get penny morden in. Really funny , isnt it . Its really funny, isnt it . Its like theyre just throwing anything at the wall hoping anything at the wall and hoping something sticks. Because i think when stood up at think when rishi stood up at conference, we thought we were getting more of this right wing side of the conservative party. But now he seems to have shifted back over to the centre and thinking, oh no , its not the thinking, oh no, its not the red wall im worried about. Its the blue wall. I think hes worried about all, all, all the walls ive lost. Ive lost at this point. Ew e are what, colours. Ultimately hes i but but ultimately hes i think thought National Think he thought his National Insurance cut. I think he thought would impress. But thought that would impress. But actually coincided actually the £0. 02 cut coincided with a two point drop in in polling. So now they are now the lowest. As olivia said popularity since liz truss. Yeah. Do we think the whole Penny Mordaunt thing i think its at least three of the papers front page. Yeah, papers on the front page. Yeah, the Penny Mordaunt thing. The whole Penny Mordaunt thing. Theyre describing her as a stalking horse, usually stalking horse, which usually means theyre to use her. Means theyre going to use her. Thats someone else in. Thats mad. Get someone else in. Would she to be a why would she want to be a stalking her ambition is stalking horse . Her ambition is to Prime Minister. What to be Prime Minister. Well, what i is when she threw i dont get is when she threw her hat into the ring. Liz her hat into the ring. When liz truss minister. Truss became Prime Minister. And then rishi sunak, then again, rishi sunak, although that was obviously a sort of coronation to follow. Liz truss. But was reading all liz truss. But i was reading all sorts of politicians anonymously saying, oh, pennys no good. She doesnt have the, you know, she doesnt have the, you know, she doesnt have the, you know, she doesnt have an eye for detail. Shes these are accusations made against her. I dont know her personally. They were saying she doesnt work hard enough. She doesnt work hard enough. She doesnt grasp her subject, she doesnt grasp her subject, she doesnt get enough. And doesnt get around enough. And also, is middle of the also, she is very middle of the road. If theyre going to have a road. If theyre going to have a new Prime Minister to try and boost , rishi new Prime Minister to try and boost, rishi sunaks right wing appeal boost, rishi sunaks right wing appeal, its not penny morton, but think thats exactly why but i think thats exactly why Penny Mordaunts been Penny Mordaunts name has been brought they dont brought up, because they dont want that right wing appeal. They want to move to the they want to move back to the centre. Best for centre. And the best option for a voice perhaps a centrist voice is perhaps penny morden. Shes. Penny morden. Shes. I dont think so. I dont think so. The only people, the support of people like david davis bobby seagull Alicia Kearns is a very popular figure in the conservative party at the moment. Yeah. And caroline nokes, you know we might as know what we might refer to as the tory which i think the tory wets, which i think actually have, a more of a general appeal rather. But i think theyre wet enough already. The members and the the Party Members and the country whole. Country as a whole. Theyre wet enough already. What i saw, lord cameron get out of the 4x4 walking up downing street, i thought, this cant is a man who cant be true. This is a man who single handedly , view, single handedly, in my view, turned tory into turned the tory party into Something Like the lib dems. He ran a Coalition Government with them and seemed to like the lib dem more than dem politicians more than he liked people. Dem politicians more than he likethe people. Dem politicians more than he likethe bottom eople. Dem politicians more than he likethe bottom line a. Dem politicians more than he likethe bottom line with me is it the bottom line with me is it doesnt matter whether its grant Penny Mordaunt, grant shapps Penny Mordaunt, kemi braverman Kemi Badenoch Suella Braverman robert patel, Robert Jenrick priti patel, father christmas does it actually who is leading father christmas does it acthonservative nho is leading father christmas does it acthonservative party leading father christmas does it acthonservative party at ading father christmas does it acthonservative party at theig moment . No, i think it absolutely does because what were seeing is this right wing takeover of the party. And as figures like Suella Braverman figures like Kemi Badenoch rise up the ranks, i think it pushes people to think that the tory party is morphing into a ukip party. And i think thats why now they want to pull it back to the centre, to pull it back to the centre, to be palatable to the main. What good is that, amy . What good is that, amy . Because then if theyre pulling back to the centre, there is no clear water there is no clear blue water between them labour anymore. Between them and labour anymore. All now is imitate all labour do now is imitate tory and tories tory policies, and tories imitate labour policies. And i think the movement i saw, i heard duncan smith talking heard Ian Duncan Smith talking this he made this morning. Okay. And he made it clear if we adopted what it very clear if we adopted what we regard as traditional tory values low tax, low tax, small state, you know, people standing on their own two feet that at least will invite another group of voters in, unfortunately running out of time. One very, very quick answer , one very, very quick answer, amy, who would you like be amy, who would you like to be the Prime Minister . The next Prime Minister . Starmer, but okay, well, keir starmer, but okay, not starmer. Not keir starmer. Its a not keir starmer running no but i dont want keir starmer please. Itll be chaos. Carol Vorderman Carol i wasnt aware she wouldnt get your vote. No definitely not right. No definitely not right. Okay. Well for all the best analysis and opinion on that story and so much more just go to our website gb news. Com im dawn neesom. This is gb news sunday Saint Patricks day and theres loads more coming up on todays show. Should we . While todays show. Should we . While youre having your sunday lunch relaxing, bring back conscription. Yeah. Get off that sofa, you. The latvian foreign minister says uk and other members should follow his country in adopting the finnish model of National Service in an effort to deter russian aggression. So what do you reckon . Should we bring back conscription . Would it be a good thing for young men or women . All of that and much more to come. Gb news, britains come. This is gb news, britains news depher. Welcome back to gb news sunday with me. Dawn neesom on your telly. Online and on digital radio. Now should we bring back conscription . One key nato ally says we should. The latvian foreign minister. Theyve got very long border with russia by the way. Latvia says uk and other members should follow his country in adopting the finnish Model Service in an model of National Service in an effort to deter russian aggression. Considering the growing threat from the east, is it inevitable we actually see this happen . Oh blimey. It inevitable we actually see this happen . Oh blimey. Lets this happen . Oh blimey. Lets see what my panel make of this one. Its a bit heavy for a sunday afternoon, amy. I mean, would you sign up . Lovely no, i wouldnt, and im the first time somebody asked me that, i felt like i should be all, like, embarrassed about it. But actually, i think i speak for most people this country. Most people in this country. What if conscription what about if conscription means wouldnt a choice . Well, exactly. And i dont think need to go that think we need to go to that level, do we . We . Latvia . Do we . Latvia . Do we . Latvia . I think we might. So latvia have actually. And have conscription actually. And then to do then they want to do this finnish where get finnish model where you get conscripted one of conscripted for one year of military and military service. And when i looked into it, its more just military so theyre military training. So theyre ready go, which i actually ready to go, which i actually thought idea. But thought is a good idea. But i dont think we need to do conscription because if you do that, you get un, you get that, you get an un, you get a workforce , an army that dont workforce, an army that dont really want to there, which really want to be there, which is going to be the most is not going to be a the most productive army. Think what we productive army. I think what we need do, first all, is put need to do, first of all, is put everything into making the army attractive, making army an attractive, making the army an amazing job. Like perhaps it was amazing job. Like perhaps it was a few years ago. And then a few years ago. And then i think we would see much more voluntary people wanting to join, people wanting to join voluntarily. We, our national voluntarily. We, our National Defence spending under this government has been eroded, eroded, eroded, eroded , and eroded, eroded, eroded, and therefore the job prospects of anyone in, in, in doing service have also been eroded. The have also been eroded. The conditions they live in the payments after they finish their service, the support for their families. If all that was boosted, we would not need to have these discussions about conscription. Mike. Conscription. Mike. Its a fair point, isnt it . We having recruiting we are having trouble recruiting for armed forces, army, for all our armed forces, army, navy force. We are in navy and air force. We are in particular is struggling. We navy and air force. We are in parti we r is struggling. We navy and air force. We are in parti we dontruggling. We navy and air force. We are in parti we dont haveing. We navy and air force. We are in parti we dont have enough, they have we dont have enough, they wouldnt wembley out, to be wouldnt fill wembley out, to be honest with you, at the moment, the personnel we have, mean, the personnel we have, i mean, we have you mothball we have to, you know, mothball ships havent got ships because we havent got enough royal enough people joining the royal navy ive been to latvia, and now, ive been to latvia, and latvia country. Okay. Latvia is a great country. Okay. But right on the front line. Theyve got very long theyve got a very long border with russia 133 miles, along with estonia and lithuania. Okay, its very lithuania. Okay, so its a very sensitive part of the world. Now, i kind of agree with amy a bit. The problem is the army is too now to give over or too small now to give over 2 or 3 of to training new young 3 of it to training new young men who dont want to be in the army. Do you see what i mean . Yeah, because its a huge job. Now, if we just started 20 or 30 years ago with this system, which civilian training, and which is civilian training, and you do 3 or 4 days, each quarter , i think it was in latvia. Thats the way they started. Okay. So eventually you end up being able to be called up and fully trained after about 4 or 5 years. Its a long term thing. I years. Its a long term thing. I mean, the first time i got shocked by the presence of the military in civilian areas was the first time i went to israel and i was on the beach and these two beautiful girls sitting next to me were sitting there with machine guns, literally, because they were part of the, you know, they were part of the, you know, the civilian army, which they have was sitting next have because i was sitting next to you. Gm to you. Probably probably well, its probably probably trying away. Trying to keep me away. You know what absolutely. But you know what i mean . I mean, shocking to i mean . I mean, its shocking to think, are they i mean . I mean, its shocking to think, with are they i mean . I mean, its shocking to think, with these are they i mean . I mean, its shocking to think, with these machine1ey on doing with these machine guns on the ready and the beach . But theyre ready and on all the time. But i do on alert all the time. But i do not believe the youth of not believe that the youth of today respond to today would respond to conscription in the way. For instance, my father did pre war for National Service because, of course, it was different times. But i do think somebody has got to get a grip of our whole defence strategy, which is appalling. And find us ways to spend the money better, because defence procurement is one of the most wasteful areas of government expenditure and it can be used properly for a training policy like this. They have wasted millions. Did you hear . Theyve wasted billions. Example of they built a load of tanks. Yes, about 400. Yes, about 400. And then it turned out that the tanks were so loud that people couldnt be around them. So be discarded. Couldnt discarded. People couldnt get in them, things that. Things like that. Couldnt get them people couldnt get in them because the vibration in the tank sending people i tank was sending people deaf. I mean, unbelievable, mean, i mean, unbelievable, you know what i mean . I think interesting thing know what i mean . I tconscription resting thing know what i mean . I tconscription resthat thing know what i mean . I tconscription resthat its|g about conscription is that its aimed at 18 to 27 year olds. Now, who is the current government most unpopular government the most unpopular with to 24 year with is 18 to 24 year olds. Right. So if youre going to say have conversations about conscription, you need to give young people something that they feel fighting for. Young people something that they feel fighting for. At feel is worth fighting for. At the moment. They dont i dont think theyre most patriotic think theyre the most patriotic bunch has bunch because what has the country given years of country given them . Years of austerity. They cant buy austerity. They cant buy a house. They have the lowest living standards, the living standards, like the inequality levels we have inequality levels have. We have not the Victorian Era not seen since the Victorian Era. Its not a popular age group. Theyre going to step forward and say, i want to for stand up this country. You are. I think you are. I think you are. I think youve asked most young between about the young people between about the age and they vaguely age of 18 and 23, they vaguely know Vladimir Putin was. Do know who Vladimir Putin was. Do you i sort you know what i mean . Sort of thing. Hes causing bit thing. Hes causing a bit of trouble, if trouble, isnt he . Whereas if youre 21 and you live in youre age 21 and you live in the baltic that weve the baltic states, that weve just named, you see it just named, you can see it across border. Thats across your border. Thats russia. Theyre the people who russia. Theyre the people who invaded could be invaded ukraine. We could be next. A much more next. So its a much more imminent threat. Finland is doing job, spent a lot doing a great job, spent a lot of money that i think theyve upped to about upped their budget to about 6. And its model. And i think its a great model. But whether weve got the will, the capacity or the money to replicate it, i dont know. The human side of things, on the human side of things, amy, given given the amy, given that given the problems have with with gang problems we have with with gang crime and knife culture in this country, it might be a positive thing for young men to be conscripted to do some kind of National Service. Do you mean conscripting people from, like, Young Offenders . Yeah, i actually saw a really interesting interview with simon weston on this very channel. You can look it up on youtube. And he said this idea, he didnt. To be in the army, you have to really, really want to be there. And that makes a i totally agree. If it seems like a punishment, a really punishment, like a really good idea practice, if it. Idea in practice, but if it. Like like as mike says, yeah, like like as mike says, if it seems a punishment, if it seems like a punishment, it wouldnt work it just wouldnt work practically. Right. What practically. Thats right. What i good idea. Lets i reckon is a good idea. Lets conscript the politicians who made decisions. Oh, hold on, made the decisions. Oh, hold on, hold on. Started off the aggression in the first place. Rishi sunak the front rishi sunak on the front line. See you want to me, me. I wouldnt give most of our politicians a machine gun because could happen. I because anything could happen. I dont because anything could happen. I dont be because anything could happen. I dont be able to dont think theyd be able to find honest god. Find the trigger, honest to god. Think why a lot but i think thats why a lot of people have a problem with this. People keep saying the word conscription what were conscription because what were seeing politics, politicians seeing is politics, politicians making are making decisions which are leading to wars, and then who who serves in the army first, its our white, not white. Our working class boys. Yeah. So thats why people have a problem with this. Yeah, they you see, the other issue that weve got a very issue is that weve got a very professional army. And bringing professional army. And bringing in just lower in conscripts will just lower the they the professionalism because they wont standard. But we wont get up to standard. But we do all around the do train people all around the world. Weve had more people training ukrainian soldiers on Salisbury Plain here than anywhere else. So if we can do it for the ukrainians, should it for the ukrainians, we should be do it for ourselves. Be able to do it for ourselves. It a rethink and thats it needs a rethink and thats where re always it needs a rethink and thats whereto re always it needs a rethink and thats whereto end re always it needs a rethink and thats whereto end on re always it needs a rethink and thats whereto end on a re always it needs a rethink and thats whereto end on a rethink. Ys good to end on a rethink. Thats why we have to leave that unfortunately we are running of im dawn that unfortunately we are running gb of im dawn that unfortunately we are running gb of sunday awn that unfortunately we are running gb of sunday and neesom gb news sunday and theres coming up on theres loads more coming up on todays first lets todays show. But first lets get News Headlines get the News Headlines with tatiana sanchez. Dawn thank you. The top stories from the gb news room. Stories from the gb news room. Transport secretary mark harper says rishi sunak will lead the tories into the next election. It comes after Senior Tories were reported to have attempted to downplay claims of a conservative plot to replace the Prime Minister with Penny Mordaunt. The move would mean a fourth leader of the party in just five years. Mr harper says that, unlike labour, the conservatives have a plan on delivering for the country. The delivering for the country. The ministry of defence says grant shapps was forced to abandon a trip to southern ukraine last week for security reasons. British intelligence warned of a credible missile threat from russia, saying the kremlin had got wind of his visit. Thats according to the sunday times. Mr shapps was due to travel to odesa a day after a missile hit the city, while the ukrainian president and the greek Prime Minister were visiting. Five people were killed in the explosions, according to ukrainian. The widow ukrainian authorities. The widow of russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny was cheered by voters outside the Russian Embassy in berlin. Yulia navalny embassy in berlin. Yulia navalny was protesting on the final day of voting for the countrys next president , Vladimir Putin, whos beenin president , Vladimir Putin, whos been in power since 1999, is expected to win another six year term with a landslide victory. The election comes just over two years since russias invasion of ukraine. Work on the m25 in surrey is on schedule to reopen for monday rush hour. National highway says Good Progress is being made after the unprecedented closure. Motorists reported miles of tailbacks yesterday on the approach to the five mile closure between junctions ten and 11, and steve harley, best known as the front man of british rock band Cockney Rebel man of british rock band Cockney Rebel, has died at the age of 73. Come up and see me to make me smile. The band enjoyed me smile. The band enjoyed success in 1975 with the number one hit make me smile. Steve harley had been touring until recently, but had to cancel dates to have treatment for cancen dates to have treatment for cancer. His daughter greta says he died peacefully with his family by his side. 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 back to dawn. Thank you tatiana. Now remember you can get in touch about all the stories were discussing today by emailing me on gb views at gb news. Com or message me on our socials at gb news. Loads more coming up on todays show now at. Londons best fish and chip shop has been ordered to remove the mural by council officials. Join us in council officials. Join us in a moment to find out exactly why thou all of that and much more to come. Im dawn neesom and youre 2024 a battleground year. 2024 a battleground year. The year the nation decides. The year the nation decides. As the parties gear up their campaigns for the next general election. Who will be left standing when the british people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives . Who will rise and who will fall . Lets find out together. Every moment. For every moment. For every moment. Highs, the lows , the the highs, the lows, the twists and turns. Well be with you for every step of this journey in 2024. Gb news is britains election. Channel. Welcome back to gb news sunday with me. Dawn neesom on your tellys online and on digital radio. Now, before we move, i want to tell you about this conservative mp Elliot Colburn left the house of commons in stunned silence last month when he revealed details of his suicide bid during Prime Ministers questions. He sits down for an interview with a Gloria De Piero where he describes his feelings in the build up to trying to end his life in december 2021, and urges others who need help to ask for it. Lets have a quick listen, shall we . Felt as if theres no point going on anymore. You know, theres absolutely no point. You are unwanted. No no point. You are unwanted. No one wants to see or hear from you and you cannot do anything right. So why waste everyone elses time and your own time . You might as well remove yourself from the equation now and after hours of stewing on that that day i took out my notepad from my bag. I wrote a goodbye message and tried to do something really stupid. And glad it didnt work. And im glad it didnt work. And im glad it didnt work. You can watch the full interview at 2 00. So thats in 25 minutes or so. So stay tuned. And believe me, it is an interview that no man or woman who loves a man wants to miss because male suicide in this country is at catastrophic levels. So please do tune in for levels. So please do tune in for that. Now londons best fish and chip shop has been ordered to remove a union flag by council officials. The golden chippy in officials. The golden chippy in greenwich thats in south london, has been asked to remove its mural depicting the union flag being held by a humanoid fish. You can see it there. Its a bit of fun, isnt it . Made me laugh. Anyway, the slogan saying a Great British meal because its been deemed in appropriate for the area joining me now is gb News National reporter theo shikomba to explain exactly why its inappropriate. Theo, lovely its inappropriate. Theo, lovely to see you with hopefully a nice bag of fish and chips there. Bag of fish and chips there. Yeah, well, when it comes to fish and chips, we all know theyre a part of a british tradition and the golden chippy is an Award Winning restaurant. And for years theyve been serving the community here in greenwich. And even today, on a sunday, they are fully packed today. But this is the issue here. Weve got a mural and which says a Great British meal, and this has been called , its and this has been called, its been an issue for residents who live in this area whove complained to Greenwich Council, who say its inappropriate considering its in a conservation area. But is it a conservation area. But is it a really inappropriate . Heres what some of the local people weve been speaking to had to say. I probably got down because of the flag and they were like, whats wrong with it . It looks all right, doesnt it . I mean, look some of the graffiti look at some of the graffiti theyve in greenwich. Theyve got around in greenwich. They take that they dont want to take that down but youve down today. But when youve got something half Something Like this, its half decent. Remove it. Decent. They want to remove it. Artwork. I really fantastic artwork. I really like reminds me of banksy. Like it. Reminds me of banksy. So was banksy there, so if it was a banksy there, they wouldnt complain. And so why cant other artists who do fantastic work like that also have an opportunity to lighten up streets joyfully . Up the streets joyfully . Well, those are the views here from people who live in this local area. But im kindly joined by chris, the owner. Thank you so much for your time this youve for this afternoon. Youve been for here 20 now, tell tell me here 20 years now, tell tell me how issue has come up. How this issue has come up. This issue has come up. Ive got so Many International people that come here from different, different places, tourists. And they like taking pictures, selfies, blah, blah, blah. So they come and stand against this wall here. They take pictures. Its only been up for about a month, and, its been very, very popular. I month, and, its been very, very popular. I dont want to month, and, its been very, very popular. I dont want to believe popular. I dont want to believe that any of the locals are complaining that this is too loud or anything like that. Its just, they say its it Needs Planning permission. How . A little thing like this Needs Planning permission. I dont know, but this is not Greenwich Council. This is royal borough of greenwich now, so theyre cracking up a little bit. Cracking up a little bit. And just finally, how did this come about . Are you working with an artist in this local area . Ive got a local, guy that , ive got a local, guy that, does, murals. So he said, would you like me to do something for you . I said, yes, why not . So i gave him £250, and i said, make sure you leave a bit of space for people to stand there so they can take some or pictures or some selfies or pictures or whatever they want to do from golden chippy. Been golden chippy. And its been extremely and not one extremely popular. And not one person has come to me and said, that looks terrible. So i cannot that looks terrible. So i cannot imagine the person that complained about this. I think its just council. Its just council. Well, chris, thank you so much for your time in terms of popularity, though, weve seen people come here as family members coming together to take pictures here, and they see they say its not an issue, but at the moment its still here for now. And the council will be now. And the council will be providing further information whether or not this is definitely going to go away. Theo thats thats ridiculous. I won one of the lovely ladies you interviewed there. She said it was a banksy. No one would be complaining, would they . I would be complaining, would they . I bet the council wouldnt be in be getting their knickers in a twist. Is a banksy, would twist. If it is a banksy, would they . Mean, looks great. It they . I mean, it looks great. It makes smile. Plus makes people smile. Plus its good business. Good for business. Yeah, absolutely. And thats yeah, absolutely. And thats what everyone here who weve been speaking to is saying. Theyre saying, whats the issue . I dont quite understand, residents weve been speaking to all morning saying dont really understand what issue is. Understand what the issue is. Probably say probably one person did say maybe it shouldnt be here. It should blank but should just be a blank wall. But apart from that, everyone else seems it and seems to be enjoying it and everyones going inside and eating chips. Eating the fish and chips. Well i hope you brilliant. Well i hope you enjoy your. Deserve it. You enjoy your. You deserve it. You worked young man, worked hard today, young man, thats down in thats Theo Chikomba down in greenwich well, one Greenwich Forest with. Well, one of the londons best fish and chip which seems upset chip shops, which seems to upset the council. What do the local council. Well, what do you make of this, mike . Its ridiculous, isnt it . Think its pathetic, the i think its pathetic, the greenwich very Greenwich Council is very heavily labour. I think its 52 to or Something Like that. You to 3 or Something Like that. You know mean . Know what i mean . Fish and chips then. So your fish and chips then. So your fish and chips then. No, that. What well, no, its not that. What i is right. I suspect i suspect is right. I suspect its the union jack they its the union jack that they object to not the mural object to and not the mural itself. Because we all itself. Okay. Because we all know that with inside the labour party, theres a self loathing about being british and a dislike of the traditions of their country. They would call that colonial because its a union jack. Its a beautiful mural. It sits outside his shop. It sits outside his shop. Right. They come along, buy their fish and chips , want their their fish and chips, want their picture taken in the white space to the right of the flag . Do you see what i mean . And its a wonderful business initiative. You said its good for business. Its good for area. People its good for the area. People are from all over the are coming from all over the world, who are in world, literally, who are in london just to go to that fish and chip shop, to buy the fish and chip shop, to buy the fish and chips and have their picture taken. Now, a few and chips and have their picture taken ago, now, a few and chips and have their picture taken ago, that now, a few and chips and have their picture taken ago, that owner, a few and chips and have their picture taken ago, that owner, very� w years ago, that owner, very enterprising man, had a 70 foot, high sign above his shop. Okay, with the same sort of thing, but he was told to take it down because it was obtrusive to the local area. And i can perhaps understand a little bit of that, but theyve clearly got the hump that hes shown the initiative to design a much smaller one on the wall next to his shop with the wall next to his shop with the union jack on it. And thats what they hate. I think theyre pathetic. I intensely, i, i intensely dislike them doing this , and dislike them for doing this, and i wish they would all just get real. Go, amy go, amy get away for consistency. Get away for consistency. Werent you one of the voices who got rather wound up by the rainbow flag at Kings Cross Station . No or would you be happy if that was like that said, you know, trans rights are rights and had a big rainbow. I dont care what it says. I honestly dont care what it says. I honestly dont care what it says. I think its a great marketing ploy. I think it entertains the locals. People come to see it. I dont care what come to see it. I dont care whtl agree, and think that i agree, and i think that little of local democracy little bit of local democracy shows its wanted there. Shows that its wanted there. However, brought however, i know you brought up banksy and actually banksys have up by local have been covered up by local councils. An example councils. There was an example in usually to protect councils. There was an example in because ually to protect councils. There was an example in because they to protect councils. There was an example in because they want otect councils. There was an example in because they want to, ct councils. There was an example in because they want to, they them because they want to, they want protect tradition of want to protect the tradition of the area. So its kind of like preservation of the old world. Do you think, do you have like coronation street . Do you think coronation street . Do you think that detracts from the area . And then you put a massive anthropomorphic fish on the side of the cobbles. Mean, i mean, do you think i mean, i mean, do you think thats problem . That thats the problem . Does that detract that street or that detract from that street or that area think it area like, well, i think it lightens up. Lightens it up. It lightens it up. I i think it lightens it up. I agree with you and i think the locals with you, but i locals agree with you, but i think thinking behind the think the thinking behind the council we have to council would be, oh, we have to preserve a preserve this because its a certain tradition. Certain way and its tradition. And channel and normally on this channel youre tradition and you youre all for tradition and you want to things as they are. Want to keep things as they are. Got traditional flag its got a traditional flag in thats what i like about in it. Thats what i like about it. You em ma h h you wouldnt be as hot on that anthropomorphic if that anthropomorphic fish if it wasnt union jack. Wasnt holding the union jack. No, like a no, if it was holding like a palestinian flag. The thing is, the not at all. The thing is, the union is a very Colourful Union Jack is a very colourful flag, thats why its a flag, and thats why its a nice, sign. Now, when nice, colourful sign. Now, when i live shows, take i do live shows, right, i take along cardboard cut out of along a cardboard cut out of myself because people to along a cardboard cut out of mysetheir ause people to along a cardboard cut out of mysetheir picture eople to along a cardboard cut out of mysetheir picture eople nexto have their picture taken next to my porky pig when im there, okay . Makes stay. Okay . And it makes people stay. You know, they something to you know, they its something to take of. You sure. Take a picture of. You sure. I mean, just a picture of the mean, not just a picture of the shop. I think its a shop. And i think its a horrendous attack on business on the on the fish and chip holder and local people. And the local people. Shrewd businessman, hes a shrewd businessman, though, going though, because hes going to have all the down have a queue all the way down the road until hes got to paint over and hell do over it, and then hell do something else. The council are making him paint disgraceful. Paint over it. Its disgraceful. Lives just down the road paint over it. Its disgraceful. Liiss just down the road paint over it. Its disgraceful. Liis from down the road paint over it. Its disgraceful. Liis from down thecyprus, and he is from northern cyprus, and he is from northern cyprus, and the one thats actually and hes the one thats actually looking said its out of i think i said its out of character with the area and its not to do with union jack. Not to do with the union jack. Can clear . Can we just make that clear . Well how do you know that . Well, of they would of course its not. They would have with any art. Any have done it with any art. Any art dont know amy. Art you dont know about. Amy. Im sorry. Art you dont know about. Amy. Im sthink youre too trusting. I think youre too trusting. If he did in bristol. If he did it in bristol. If didnt, im going to if he didnt, im going to leave image leave you with the mental image of parris, the real of two. Mike parris, the real one a cardboard cut out. Absolutely okay. Em 5 you need that in your because you need that in your life, my. Go. Blimey, life, right . Oh, my. Go. Blimey, who it . Im dawn neesom. Who does it . Im dawn neesom. This news and this is gb news sunday and theres up on theres loads more coming up on stage councils ignore stage show, councils ignore local low traffic local opposition to low traffic neighbourhoods mile neighbourhoods and 20 mile an hour could stripped hour zones could be stripped of their powers issue penalties. Their powers to issue penalties. Could the beginning of could this be the beginning of the those low traffic the end for those low traffic neighbourhoods . All of that to come britains come with gb news, britains news dont go too far news channel. Dont go too far now. Welcome back to gb news thunder with me. Dawn neesom on your with me. Dawn neesom on your telly. Online and on digital radio. Now. Councils that ignore local opposition to low traffic neighbourhoods and 20 mile an hour zones could be stripped of their powers to issue penalties. Their powers to issue penalties. Yay guidance, to be yay draft guidance, due to be published state that published today, will state that authorities must gain support from local residents and businesses Emergency Services before introducing new ltn. It makes perfect sense to me, amy. Well , i had makes perfect sense to me, amy. Well, i had a look at the research that led to this, and it was four years in development. It had Cross Party Consensus all the way through. The biggest cause of child death in was road traffic in wales was road traffic incidences. And if youre hit by a car at 20 miles an hour, youre times more likely to youre five times more likely to die. It protects children, it die. So it protects children, it saves the nhs and saves money for the nhs and it just makes sense when it when you down. You boil it down. What about local one . What about the local one . Weve had installed and weve just had installed and ours, youve got dual ours, where youve got a dual lane carriageway, theres no access side access on either side to pedestrians schools or pedestrians or schools or anything. No one can get to it. Anything. No one can get to it. Why is that 20 mile an hour with those though . Why is that 20 mile an hour with those localiough . Why is that 20 mile an hour with those local authority apply why is that 20 mile an hour with thoseto local authority apply why is that 20 mile an hour with thoseto be al authority apply why is that 20 mile an hour with thoseto be changed ty apply why is that 20 mile an hour with thoseto be changed to apply why is that 20 mile an hour with thoseto be changed to a apply why is that 20 mile an hour with thoseto be changed to a 30, itly for it to be changed to a 30, it just it around. So it used just swaps it around. So it used to be 30, now its to be blanket 30, now its blanket but they dont. Blanket 20, but they dont. This is my objection to them. First hour first of all, 20 miles an hour at a. M. First of all, 20 miles an hour at am. The morning when at 4 30 am. In the morning when theres there is theres nobody there is ludicrous. Its part of the war against motorist. It against the motorist. It actually knackers cars going that me. That slow, believe me. And because gearing of a car, because of the gearing of a car, it pushes out more filth into the air. When a car is having to chug along at 20 than it does if it was going at 30. And as for the low Traffic Zones or whatever called, that whatever theyre called, that again, just wore on. The again, is just wore on. The motorist, which pushes and motorist, which pushes tons and tons roads tons of traffic onto main roads and pollution in and causes terrible pollution in the atmosphere. It does the opposite and saves your tires. You hit saves your tires. Have you hit a pothole at 30 . Youre getting a new tire. Hit it at 20 on the potholes. This is all about allegedly the of the the this is all about allegedly theis of the the this is all about allegedly theis clean of the the this is all about allegedly theis clean in f the the this is all about allegedly theis clean in some the this is all about allegedly theis clean in some of the this is all about allegedly theis clean in some of these areas. The car. Sorry, you were talking about knackering your car. Knackered car car. Ive knackered my car by driving fast. Driving over a pothole too fast. Sure have, but well, im sure you have, but it knackers the engine of it also knackers the engine of the for more. Seriously, the car for more. Seriously, if its scuttling the its scuttling along and the concentration of the driver to keep on that speedometer, concentration of the driver to keep under n that speedometer, concentration of the driver to keep under 20. |at speedometer, concentration of the driver to keep under 20. Have aedometer, concentration of the driver to keep under 20. Have aedo seenr, keep it under 20. Have you seen the figures morning about the figures this morning about the figures this morning about the fines . 60 the number of fines . 60 and 70,000 a year in some 70,000 fines a year in some towns where the 20 mile an hour limit has been brought in, and penalising people for driving into traffic zone. Into the low traffic zone. Ive seen the figures over the four Year Development of this child deaths went down. The four Year Development of thisthats deaths went down. The four Year Development of thisthats the ths went down. The four Year Development of thisthats the very ent down. The four Year Development of thisthats the very pleased 1. The four Year Development of thisthats the very pleased at thats the very pleased at that. They should that. And they should be controlled to miles an hour controlled to 20 miles an hour outside outside outside schools, outside hospitals thats an areas hospitals. Thats not an areas where are parks. Where children are in parks. Okay thats that should be done quickly. Surely its a good idea to consult the residents to consult with the residents though, possibly. Though, amy. Yeah, possibly. This evidence. But show them this evidence. But show them this evidence. Oh, yeah. I love bit of oh, yeah. I love a bit of local democracy, but i think that give people a say in that this give people a say in how but what im how they live. But what im saying what are you going to saying is, what are you going to put front of them . Because put in front of them . Because theres of press around theres a lot of press around this that reminds the ulez this that reminds me of the ulez stuff, which is actually very, very put very biased. So what i would put forward the house of commons forward is the house of commons debate this subject then debate on this subject and then let decide. And im pretty let them decide. And im pretty sure decide in the end, sure theyll decide in the end, these sense. Sure theyll decide in the end, the i; sense. Sure theyll decide in the end, the i think sense. Sure theyll decide in the end, the think sadiqa. Sure theyll decide in the end, the think sadiq khan an i think sadiq khan is an example of a mayor. Stop it. Who has a war against has who has a war against motorists . Biased . Has who has a war against motheyre biased . Has who has a war against motheyre motoring biased . Has who has a war against motheyre motoring into ased . Has who has a war against motheyre motoring into thei . Theyre motoring into the weather here. Im neesom gb weather here. Im dawn neesom gb news loads more news and theres loads more coming lets have a look coming up, but lets have a look at the blue weather, shall at the blue moon weather, shall we . Nice. We . Hope its nice. Outlook with a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello there welcome to your latest gb news Weather Forecast from the met office. Well, for the week ahead its remaining changeable across the board for most the week. It will be most of the week. It will be fairly mild, but towards the end of the week into the weekend it does like it will turn does look like it will turn briefly colder. For rest briefly colder. So for the rest of sunday still got low pressure. In charge pressure. Generally in charge across the country, but any showers generally fizzling out as the evening goes on. So some fairly clear skies developing across england and wales, but it doesnt last long in the west. Another band of cloud and rain beginning to work its way into by the end of the night, clear skies out towards the east and maybe across Northern Ireland. And all it is going and for all of us, it is going to be a mild one, temperatures not falling much lower than 5 to 7 so into monday 7 degrees. So into monday morning, a bright start in the east, but the cloud and rain across central parts move across central parts will move its eastwards as the day its way eastwards as the day goes on behind it. Some drier and brighter for a time. And brighter weather for a time. This transfers towards the east into the afternoon and that allows another band of cloud and rain to work its way in from the west. So wet end to the west. So quite a wet end to the day for Northern Ireland. But for another mild day. For many another mild day. Temperatures to 17 degrees in temperatures up to 17 degrees in the south east. Tuesday for a lot of us its going to be a rather cloudy picture. Outbreaks of rain moving their way south eastwards. It does brighten up later on in the day across Northern Ireland and scotland, but on the whole middle of the week, remaining unsettled. But for all of us, temperatures staying on mild side the staying on the mild side for the time of year looks like things are heating up. Boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. Hello and welcome to gb news sunday, a happy Saint Patricks day. If youre celebrating, i hope youre having a wonderful time. Thank you forjoining us time. Thank you for joining us this though im dawn this lunchtime, though im dawn neesom, the next hour, neesom, and for the next hour, ill company on ill be keeping you company on telly, online and digital telly, online and on digital radio. Cracking for this radio. Cracking show for this houn radio. Cracking show for this hour. Got. Has the penny hour. Weve got. Has the penny dropped for tories plots are dropped for the tories plots are apparently rife in the conservative party, as right wing mps reportedly unite with moderates, replace rishi sunak with Penny Mordaunt. But would a change in leader really save the tories, then . A nurse has claimed that not all people who have babies might call themselves a she or a woman or a mum. So i want to know, do you think a man can give birth . Basically and a special exhibition at the v a about punch and judy has described Margaret Thatcher as a villain in, piling her in with adolf hitler and Osama Bin Laden. Im asking , is hitler and Osama Bin Laden. Im asking, is Maggie Thatcher really that much of a villain . Really that much of a villain . But even ive got a Brilliant Panel here. This show is nothing without you and your views, so let me know your thoughts on all the stories were discussing today or anything else you want today or anything else you want to about. Basically email to gossip about. Basically email me gb views at gb news. Com me at gb views at gb news. Com or message me on our socials. Very simple at gb news. But first its the all important News Headlines with Green Goddess tatiana sanchez. Goddess tatiana sanchez. Dawn thank you. The top stories from the gp newsroom. Transport secretary mark harper says rishi sunak will lead the tories into the next election. Tories into the next election. It comes after Senior Tories were reported to have attempted to downplay claims of a conservative plot to replace the Prime Minister with Penny Mordaunt. The move would mean a fourth leader of the party in just five years. Mr harper says that, unlike labour, the conservatives have a plan on delivering for the country. Delivering for the country. Weve got to show them by the time of the election two things weve got to show them that weve got to show them that weve got to show them that weve got a plan. The plan is working and delivering for working and its delivering for them, think we can see them, and i think we can see that is on inflation and on that it is on inflation and on taxes. Weve also then got to show that the labour party show them that the labour party doesnt plan and will be doesnt have a plan and will be a big risk. For example, we know the labour party wants to spend £28 billion on their green plan. £28 billion on their green plan. Theyve hidden the price tag now, but they dont know how to pay now, but they dont know how to pay for it. That would mean taxes going up. But shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth told gb news the governments priorities are all wrong. All wrong. Rishi sunak is not acting in the National Interest. Its reckless, its irresponsible. He should name the day of a general election and stabilise matters. At the moment, hes more preoccupied with his own leadership and saving his own skin than governing in the National Interest and i think after 14 years, this is a pretty discredited government, he needs to name the day, i mean, but if he doesnt name the date soon, we could have a leadership election soon. The ministry of defence says grant was to grant shapps was forced to abandon a trip to southern ukraine last week security ukraine last week for security reasons. British intelligence warned of a credible missile threat russia , saying the threat from russia, saying the kremlin had got wind of his visit, according to the sunday times, mr shapps was due to travel to odesa a day after a missile hit the city, while the ukrainian president and the greek Prime Minister were visiting. Five people were killed explosions, killed in the explosions, according ukrainian according to ukrainian authorities. Meanwhile, the authorities. Meanwhile, the latvian minister has told latvian Prime Minister has told the sunday telegraph that britain should consider conscription and a total defence model to deter russian aggression. Latvia reintroduced aggression. Latvia reintroduced the model last year with all able bodied men required to complete 11 months of military service. However, in january the uk armed forces minister, james heappey, said any talk of the uk introducing conscription to the army of nato goes to war with russia was nonsense. The widow russia was nonsense. The widow of russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny was cheered by voters outside the Russian Embassy in berlin. Yulia navalny embassy in berlin. Yulia navalny was protesting on the final day of voting for the countrys next president , Vladimir Putin, whos beenin president , Vladimir Putin, whos been in power since 1999, is expected to win another six year term with a landslide victory. Term with a landslide victory. The election comes just over two years since russias invasion of ukraine. Work on the m25 in surrey is on schedule to reopen for monday rush hour. National highway says Good Progress is being made after the unprecedented closure. Motorists unprecedented closure. Motorists reported miles of tailbacks yesterday on the approach to the five mile closure between junctions ten and 11 in surrey , junctions ten and 11 in surrey, a volcano in iceland has erupted for a fourth time in three months. Previous eruptions destroyed roads and forced a town to evacuate for mountains of molten rock soared into the night sky from fissures in the ground, authorities had warned. For weeks that an eruption was imminent. Just south of icelands capital, reykjavik. Icelands capital, reykjavik. And steve harley, best known as the front man of british rock band Cockney Rebel, has died at the age of 73. Come up and see me to make me smile. The age of 73. Come up and see me to make me smile. The band me to make me smile. The band enjoyed success in 1975 with the number one hit make me smile. Number one hit make me smile. Steve harley had still been touring until recently, but cancelled dates to have treatment for cancer. His daughter greta says he died peacefully with his family by his side for the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen. Or you can go to gbnews. Com slash alerts. Now back dawn. Back to dawn. Thank you very much, tatiana. Thank you very much, tatiana. Now lets get straight into todays story, shall we . A conservative mp, Elliot Colburn, left the house of commons in stunned silence last month when he revealed details of his suicide bid during Prime Ministers questions. He sat ministers questions. He sat down for an interview with Gloria De Piero , describing his Gloria De Piero, describing his feelings in the build up to trying to end his life. In december 2021. Elliot colburn, conservative mp since 2019. Last month , there mp since 2019. Last month, there was quite a moment at Prime Ministers question time when you stood up to ask a question and in which you revealed that in december 2021. So about two and a half years ago , you tried and a half years ago, you tried to take your own life. Why did to take your own life. Why did you make that that statement in parliament . To be honest, i didnt make the decision really until that day that i would have done if i was lucky enough to be called. You know what its like . Its a lottery system. We dont know if were going to get called that day or not for sure. F for sure. Been thinking about so i had been thinking about it while. Been very it for a while. Id been very blessed in my recovery since 2021, and i just started to pick up and notice that particularly through constituency casework and things like that, that even if people werent bringing up Mental Health, it seemed to be a feature actually lot feature of actually quite a lot of what on a day to day of what i do on a day to day basis. So something just said, you know what, now might be a good time for you to share this experience that youve i experience that youve had. I felt was in a strong felt like i was in a Strong Enough talking felt like i was in a strong enougit. Talking felt like i was in a strong enougit. Hadnt talking felt like i was in a strong enougit. Hadnt saidtalking felt like i was in a strong enougit. Hadnt said anything about it. I hadnt said anything outside my immediate family, since it happened. So something since it happened. So something to said, you know what . I think youre in a good enough place to share your story now and hopefully start a bit of a conversation about what we might be able for other people be able to do for other people about it. I didnt really know what expect, but something what to expect, but something just felt right that day. But you know what its like with pmqs. You to sort of read pmqs. You have to sort of read the you dont know its the room. You dont know if its going to be the right moment for a topic certain a certain topic or a certain something. So i have to admit, i something. So i have to admit, i did have a back up question just in didnt feel like it in case i didnt feel like it was yet, the pm wasnt was right yet, and the pm wasnt aware of what i was going to say outside of the broad topic around suicide prevention. So i cant say that it was something that id been building up to for a while, or planning necessarily that id been building up to for abut le, or planning necessarily that id been building up to for abut somethingning necessarily that id been building up to for abut something aboutecessarily that id been building up to for abut something about that;arily that id been building up to for abut something about that day , but something about that day felt right, and i was lucky enough be called by the enough to be called by the speaken enough to be called by the speaker, there i go. Speaker, and there i go. Wow, thats thats remarkable that you werent sure up until that you werent sure up until that last moment whether you were going to reveal it. I remember watching it and, you know, we were like, oh my gosh, that is a brave thing to do. I was with a couple of other mps at the time. Tell me, as mps at the time. Tell me, as much as youre comfortable to tell me , what led you to the tell me, what led you to the point where you thought theres no other way . I want. I want to take my own life that had been building up throughout most of 2021. It began , i suppose, what it began, i suppose, what youd call quite almost low level , periods of anxiety or level, periods of anxiety or feeling depressed or down. I didnt think it was anything unusual or outside the normal day to day stresses of the job, things feeling difficult or whatnot. But as the year went by, those sort of negative thoughts became more and more extreme, and i started telling myself things like, you know what . You dont. Youre not what . You dont. Youre not wanted by people around you. My relationships at home, my relationships at home, my relationships at home, my relationships at work, all started to really start to crumble. They all became really difficult. And i began isolating myself because thats what i was telling myself, that other people wanted. I said to myself that they didnt want me around and it was completely irrational. Now, looking back. And got worse and worse as and it got worse and worse as the year went on. I had a number of Death Threats come through that new to me that year which were new to me at that time, become more accustomed to them now, but at that time they were a fairly new experience for me and all of this just fed into this awful thought cycle and culminated in a night in december where again , a night in december where again, i didnt wake up that morning thinking, todays the day im going to do it. I guess the same with asking my Prime Ministers question. Really . Something happened that day where everything just snapped into place and i felt as if theres no point going on anymore, you know, theres absolutely no point. You are unwanted. No one wants to see or hear from you , wants to see or hear from you, and you cannot do anything right. So why waste everyone elses time and your own time . You might as well remove yourself from the equation now and after hours of stewing on that that day i took out my notepad from my bag. I wrote a notepad from my bag. I wrote a goodbye message and tried to do something really stupid. And im something really stupid. And im glad it didnt work, is all i can say, im really glad it didnt work, but i. I cant say that id been planning necessarily to do that , but i necessarily to do that, but i guess that day everything came at once. Everything felt like it was on me that day. And did something really silly. What happens the next day after you, after you attempt to take your own life . It was all a bit of a whirlwind. I was taken to whirlwind. I was taken to hospital that night, to saint heuen hospital that night, to saint helier, which is our local a e. I was assessed for physical damage first to check that what i had done hadnt left any thing that required any more intervention. Once they were happy and once theyd looked at me, they then referred me to Springfield Hospital in south london, which is a Mental Health hospital where i stayed for a while. And when up the while. And when i woke up the following day in springfield, because all of this happened overnight, i, i was in a bit of a whirl and a bit of a daze, really. I cant really describe the feeling i, i was feeling silly. I was feeling guilty. Part of me was upset. I think that i hadnt managed to do it, but another part of me had seen the pain that it had obviously inflicted on my family that had found me and felt unbelievable guilty about that. And it was not a good place. I still fear how i felt in those few days, immediately before and immediately before and immediately afterwards, and i never want to feel like that again. It was scary. I never, ever want to go back to that place and so the next day was was a real well, in fact , the was a real well, in fact, the next few weeks really, as i was released from hospital and i was put on a longer tum path of recovery , those early days were recovery, those early days were still quite difficult because i was still trying to process my own feelings and why id got so low, but also the guilt of what i had put my loved ones through and what theyd experienced too. And i still feel upset about what i put them through. I just what i put them through. I just wish that i had spoken to somebody beforehand and hadnt got to that point. Got to that point. Thats interesting. Thats interesting. So if somebody and we know how big a issue suicide is for men, i think its the biggest killer of men under 50. Yeah , yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah. So its a huge issue for those people who are watching this. And who can see, where the path that theyre on and where it may lead. Whats your what it may lead. Whats your what are your words . What can you tell them . How can you help . I always say, if i had a crystal ball in that moment where i was feeling at my lowest , and the thing i always wanted to know was will everything be okay in the end . Does everything work out . And of course, the answer is yes. Everything does. Things have a way of working out. They really do. And nothing is as ever as bad as all that for thing that didnt for me. The thing that i didnt do, think have do, which i think would have really helped, is to talk really helped, is start to talk to somebody. Anyone doesnt have to somebody. Anyone doesnt have to be a professional, can be a friend, a loved one, a colleague, anyone that isnt going to solve everything. Of course its not. And of course, these things do take longer. Recovery measured in a recovery can be measured in a very long space of time. It can take a very long time for people , and some people may always need for the rest of their life some kind of help, whether it be medication or therapy or counselling. Some people may have recovery , but it have a faster recovery, but it all starts by opening up and thats what i didnt do. And thats what i didnt do. And thats what i wish i had done. Thats what i wish i had done. If id have just spoken to someone about how i was feeling. Because looking back now, and when people tell me, you know what . I did think you were closed off during that period. I noficed closed off during that period. I noticed a change in you. I just noticed a change in you. I just wish youd said something. Yeah, wish youd said something. Yeah, i wish id said something as well. It is reliant on others to looking out for each other as well. Of course its a two way street, but if can find that street, but if you can find that energy that strength to energy and that strength to just Say Something to someone, i think you will feel a lot better and you will start your journey. You really will start your journey. And thats what wish journey. And thats what i wish id anyway. Id done anyway. Think your job, the do you think your job, the pressures of being an mp , do you pressures of being an mp, do you think it in any way contributed to the decision you took . I think it would be naive not to say yes, absolutely. The job definitely took its toll. As i said that year , there were said that year, there were a number of threats that had come in which was new to me. And whilst ive become accustomed to that now, sadly at the time it was something that i wasnt really sure how to deal with and how to respond to. But yeah, the how to respond to. But yeah, the job definitely took its toll. It was a shame because i do love doing it. I absolutely love doing it. I absolutely love doing it. I absolutely love doing it and you get to do an experience and meet people in a way that i never thought id have the opportunity to. So its a shame that i lost sight of that at that time, because the job definitely has more good days than bad , and i love doing days than bad, and i love doing it. But at that time i couldnt see the wood from trees. See the wood from the trees. And final question i found this totally mesmerising this chat totally mesmerising and so that were able and im so glad that were able to do it because you are still here as a result of you speaking out, youll have youll have had a significant response inside parliament. Outside parliament is there is there one, perhaps two things people remarks reach outs that that have stuck with you, that you thought , gosh, thats thats you thought, gosh, thats thats powerful or i didnt expect that person to get in touch. Person to get in touch. It was overwhelming. The response didnt really know response i didnt really know what to expect, but just the overwhelming response from colleagues, from loved ones, from constituents as well, was just amazing. I absolutely was blown away by it. But there was one example actually, of, a gentleman who called my office who i wasnt there at the time. Who i wasnt there at the time. A member of my team picked up the phone and hed said that he was planning to take his own life. That day. Hed made that decision. Hed been brought to that low point , but decision. Hed been brought to that low point, but hed decision. Hed been brought to that low point , but hed seen that low point, but hed seen that low point, but hed seen that Prime Ministers question. He. Im not quite sure if it popped up he. Im not quite sure if it popped up on his news feed or how, but he saw it and he decided to start his recovery journey and get in contact with a professional to try and get help and not go ahead with it. And it just completely blew me away that people would trust me with that story, and to hear other peoples stories, either of their own Mental Health struggles or people theyve lost along the way, its just really was humbling that people felt comfortable sharing that with me, and i sincerely hope it will encourage others to speak out about their own experiences or if they are in that bad place. Because, as i said earlier , i because, as i said earlier, i think starting that conversation is of a journey. Is the beginning of a journey. It was for me, and i think it can be for other people as well. Thank you so much for sharing. Thank thank you so much for sharing. Thank you. I think you helped so many people , and i think its so many people, and i think its incredibly courageous that you chose Prime Ministers questions to speak out. Elliot colburn thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Very sobering end for you there. And just a reminder that 3 in 4 suicides in the uk are by men. And the highest rate is between the ages of 45 and 64. If you are struggling, there is help out there. The samaritans are there 24 hours a day on 116123. Thats 116123. And you can see glorias full, very moving interview with elliot on our website. Now. Now we move on. The our website. Now. Now we move on. The leader of the lib dems, sir ed davey , has called for sir ed davey, has called for once in a generation election. Once in a generation election. He called for transformational transformational change to bring the blue wall tumbling down. He accused labour and the conservatives of tinkering around the edges and trying to cloak themselves in the costume of change, but really trying to keep things the same. He also poked fun at the Prime Minister over the calling of the election. Lets have a listen to that one, shall we . Now, of course we dont yet know when election day will be. We dont know because its in the hands of just one man. Its pretty much the only thing left that rishi sunak controls. He that rishi sunak controls. He certainly doesnt control his party. Certainly not his cabinet. Certainly not the Health Care Crisis or the economy. Economy. Right, im just going to go straight to gb news Political Correspondent olivia utley to bnng correspondent olivia utley to bring us up to speed on what is happening in lib dem land. Olivia, take it away. Olivia, take it away. Well, yeah, im here in york for the lib dems annual spring conference. Its basically a sort of jamboree for the members, and the members were certainly enthusiastic certainly very enthusiastic about whats ed davey had to say. Leader of the liberal say. The leader of the liberal democrats made repeated comparisons this comparisons between this election and the 1997 election, where he ed davey won his own seat. Seems quite interesting. It looks as though the lib dems are looking forward to a land slide, potentially Labour Government tying in with that. Pretty much all of the direct attacks that ed davey made today were at the conservatives, he mentioned by name a whole lot of conservative mps. There are lots of conservative seats which the lib dems are targeting, including a number of cabinet seats, jeremy hunts seat, michael gove seat , penny michael gove seat, penny mordens seat. Meanwhile, labour got a pretty easy ride from lib dem leader ed davey. Are we perhaps gearing up for some sort of pact . Whether its a whether of pact . Whether its a whether its an official pact between labour and the lib dems or a bit of tactical voting on the side, either way, it was definitely rishi sunak and his government who ed davey wanted to twist the knife into. Knife into. Olivia, thank you very much there for bringing us up to speed on the lib dem conference this afternoon. Now im dawn neesom , this is gb news sunday neesom, this is gb news sunday and theres lots more coming up on todays show. And nurse has on todays show. And nurse has claimed that not all people who have babies might call themselves a she or a woman or even mum. So i want to know, even a mum. So i want to know, do you a man can give do you think a man can give birth . All of that and much more birth . All of that and much more to come. Gb news welcome back to gb news sunday with me. Dawn neesom on your telly. Online and on digital radio. Now brace yourself. People can men give birth . Simple question, on an nhs sponsored podcast, a nurse claimed not all people who have babies might call themselves a she or a woman or a mum going on to say while reviewing teenage pregnancy documents, she noticed some of their language was incredibly gendered. So i want to know. Its simple , you know. Weve its simple, you know. Weve done. Can its simple, you know. Weve done. Can men have penises now . Okay, can women have penises even, can men give birth, im going to come to you, amy, on this one first. This is. I get quite annoyed about this subject because i do believe Womens Health can suffer because of the confusion about language in healthcare. Men cant give birth, can they . I will agree with you that Womens Health is suffering. And on the whole, Maternity Services are terrible at the moment, so its pretty dangerous for anyone to be giving birth. But it is also true that there are some men who choose to have children , men who choose to have children, who choose to get pregnant and have children. Theres a man. Theres a man called Freddy Mcconnell, and he made a film called seahorse, which is about his journey as a legal man , his journey as a legal man, having a baby. And i think, you having a baby. And i think, you know, when you when you say the question , can men give birth . Of question, can men give birth . Of course. It sounds instantly absurd. It does. And i think absurd. It does. And i think its framed that way, isnt it . Its like the whole old kind of man had a have a penis, and its designed make sound designed to make you sound silly. This guy have silly. And how did this guy have a these people do. These a baby . These people do. These people very few. This a baby . These people do. These pe how very few. This a baby . These people do. These pehow keir very few. This a baby . These people do. These pe how keir starmery few. This a baby . These people do. These pehow keir starmer gotn. This a baby . These people do. These pe how keir starmer got onhis a baby . These people do. These pehow keir starmer got on all is how keir starmer got on all that. All that trouble, isnt it . Because he was like, yeah, by bit, but but but its by being a bit, but but but its not true say a man hasnt not true to say a man hasnt given birth because Freddy Mcconnell is man by law. Mcconnell is a man by law. How did he have gave birth . How did he have a baby . Did what was implanted into body . Was implanted into his body . To start with. Yeah. So woman to start with. Yeah. So its a woman transitioned so according to the 2004 gender recognition act, hes now a legal man. Thus, you know , dawn, legal man. Thus, you know, dawn, humans are complex. Humans are humans are complex. Humans are humans are. He was a legal man, but not a biological man. Is that right . I mean, he had transitioned and he had transitioned so biological male. And there are a lot of people to be a woman and gay birth. Yes there are. He wasnt a biological man. He wasnt a biological man. Not a lot. Theres actually not because theres a vanishingly small number of men who have children, who who choose to have children, who choose to use their reproductive organs kept organs that they, they have kept are post transition on to give birth. Yeah. But biologically , a man yeah. But biologically, a man cant give birth, can he . I mean , is that the question . Well, the question is straightforward. Can men give birth . Well, and a biological man cant give birth unless s he goes to some clinic in switzerland and they reconstruct his body. But you know that, that example i give of Freddy Mcconnell in every respect. Hes a man, right . Hes transitioned. Hes transitioned to a man. The hes transitioned to a man. The law recognises him as a man and so but not biologically. Theres a huge biological. Theres a huge biological. Hes trans. Hes a transgender man , right. Transgender man, right. Biologically, hes a man who has trans whos a transgender man. So. So if we wanted to complete the sentence, transgender men can give my issue with this, right . Okay. This is where it gets confusing because freddy and ive with freddy and hes ive worked with freddy and hes a person. Okay was a lovely person. Okay but was born transitioned to born female, transitioned to become. Now were getting become a man. Now were getting confused about whos transitioning and you transitioning where and what you call. Now imagine was call them. Now imagine i was saying earlier live in saying earlier on, i live in Tower Hamlets and a lot the Tower Hamlets and a lot of the healthcare notes there are written be gender neutral. Written to be gender neutral. Theres a lot women in my theres a lot of women in my area dont have english as area who dont have english as a first language. Its confusing for us. This is my issue with this. I think Womens Health care is suffering because we are afraid to use the word woman. Afraid to use the word woman. I saw a great interview this weekend. I cant remember which colour magazine it was in, but it was sharon davis, the swimmer who has campaigned endlessly to try and stop biological men entering womens world of sport. Okay, shes shes campaigned to erase trans rights and to prevent trans women from partaking. I dont believe so. I think shes tried to protect women only spaces from from men. I mean, look, she shes shes got a point because she could have been an even greater olympian had she not been beaten by somebody who, to this day, she believes was not fully a woman that she was racing against. But the point is, she interviewed Caitlyn Jenner and i think Caitlyn Jenner and i think Caitlyn Jenner and i think Caitlyn Jenner is one of the most sensible voices on the planet about the trans issue, because shes very famous. Shes not at all militant about it. She tells it as it is, and she does say a trans woman is not a man. Sorry, a trans man is not a man. Sorry, a trans man is not a woman. And it will get complicated. You already get mixed up. You already get mixed up. No, but shes says, no, but shes she says, a trans. I read the interview. Trans. I read the interview. Its interesting. A trans its very interesting. A trans man be a woman. If man cannot be a woman. Now, if she it, i think that she says it, i think that absolutely defines it. And instead of anybody, you know, wanting accept that they go wanting to accept that they go off into literally reams and reams and reams of cross talk and this and that. And this and that. Some of the arguments that you put in jenner, like Freddy Mcconnells passport, says male on it. And thats thats all thats as simple as it is to me thats as simple as it is to me that person, law, the that that person, the law, the country , every experience that country, every experience that he has in this world is male. He has in this world is male. And he also had a baby. Yeah. But any and thats anybody who wants to. And at the time he did get he said he fell out with i think it was one of his parents because they said but surely this feminine, this is the most feminine, womanly can do have this is the most feminine, wbabyly can do have this is the most feminine, wbaby. can do have this is the most feminine, wbaby. So can do have this is the most feminine, wbaby. So they can do have this is the most feminine, wbaby. So they feltan do have this is the most feminine, wbaby. So they felt likeo have this is the most feminine, wbaby. So they felt like it have this is the most feminine, wbaby. So they felt like it was|ve a baby. So they felt like it was at odds. The masculinity and it actually completely fractured that relationship. And he said the desire to be a parent is completely separate to your innate gender that you feel in your identity that is so immutable and something that you just cannot change. And his desire to be a parent put that, put that they were separate. Amy, where do you stand . Amy, where do you stand . You know, even hes admitting that its quite confusing concept. But where do you for stand instance, the womens instance, on the womens changing you know, changing room issue, you know, should to talk about should i just want to talk about this because i saw article this because i saw an article i had kept in my under stairs, i kept newspaper from 2001. Kept a newspaper from 2001. Right. And it was something that i cut out and on the other side it was from the sun. And this was 2001, and it said lesbian couple have baby. This is mad and outrageous and impossible. And it was all the impossible. And it was all the things we say at the moment about trans men giving birth. And i thought, this is what it is. Were just taking a while to catch up and really in in 2001, you imagine, oh, weve always been progressive about same sex couples. We really werent. We really werent. And the rhetoric really werent. And the rhetoric around trans people now is similar to that around same sex parents in the noughties. I dont agree with that. I think theres a huge amount of acceptance and understanding tolerance, but i just cant. Tolerance, but i just cant. When somebody asks me a question, can men give birth . I cant say how anybody can possibly answer in the affirmative. It seems counterintuitive. It seems counterintuitive. It seems counterintuitive. Thats why we have to go to the news. But what do you think . Do you think a man can have a baby biologically give birth to a im dawn a baby, a man . Im dawn neesom. This is gb news sunday, and theres lots more coming up on todays but first, heres todays show. But first, heres the News Headlines tatiana. The News Headlines with tatiana. Dawn. Thank you. The top stories from the gb newsroom. Transport secretary mark harper says rishi sunak will lead the tories into the next election. Tories into the next election. It comes after Senior Tories were reported to have attempted to downplay claims of a conservative plot to replace the Prime Minister with Penny Mordaunt. The move would mean a fourth leader of the party in just five years, mr harper says that, unlike labour, the conservatives have a plan on delivering for the country. The Ministry Defence says Grant Ministry of defence says grant shapps was forced to abandon a trip to southern ukraine last week for security reasons. British intelligence warned of a credible missile threat from russia, saying the kremlin had got wind of his visit, according to the sunday times. Mr shapps was due to travel to odesa a day after a missile hit the city, while the ukrainian president and greek Prime Minister and the greek Prime Minister were visiting. Five people were killed the explosions, killed in the explosions, according to ukrainian authorities. The widow of authorities. The widow of russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny was cheered by voters outside the Russian Embassy in berlin. Yulia navalnaya was berlin. Yulia navalnaya was protesting on the final day of voting for the countrys next president , Vladimir Putin, whos beenin president , Vladimir Putin, whos been in power since 1999, is expected to win another six year tum with a landslide victory. The election comes just over two years since russias invasion of ukraine began. Work on the m25 in surrey is on schedule to reopen for monday rush hour. National highways says Good Progress is being made after the unprecedented closure. Motorists unprecedented closure. Motorists reported miles of tailbacks yesterday on the approach to the five mile closure between junctions ten and 11 in surrey and steve harley, best known as the front man of british rock band Cockney Rebel, has died at the age of 73. Come up and see me to make me smile. The age of 73. Come up and see me to make me smile. The band me to make me smile. The band enjoyed success in 1975 with the number one hit make me smile. Number one hit make me smile. Steve harley had still been touring until recently, but cancelled dates to have treatment for cancer. His daughter greta says he died peacefully with his family by his side. For peacefully with his family by his side. For the peacefully with his family by his side. For the latest his side. For the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen. Or you can go to gp news. Com kaja kallas. Now back to dawn. Now back to dawn. Thank you very much, tatiana. Theres plenty more coming up on todays show. But before i tell you what weve got lined up for you what weve got lined up for you. Nana akua show is you what weve got lined up for you. Nana akua show is on you what weve got lined up for you. Nana akua show is on later, you. Nana akua show is on later, around 3 00. She joins us now. Nana. Whats coming up on your show today . Thank you. Dawn, everyones in green. Of course. Happy Saint Patricks day. First hour, day. Yeah. So in the first hour, well the clash. Weve got well have the clash. Weve got quite few different quite a few different debates, obviously about the quite a few different debates, obvio issue about the quite a few different debates, obvio issue because, out the quite a few different debates, obvio issue because, you he quite a few different debates, obvioissue because, you know, trans issue because, you know, this doesnt like its this doesnt look like its going and think a lot of going away. And i think a lot of people to have logic people seem to have lost logic sense and reality. Sense of logic and reality. Were have catch were going to have a catch up with olivia liberal with olivia at the liberal democrat conference. Have democrat conference. And i have an amazing mystery guest. I cant give you too many clues , cant give you too many clues, but he has reignited his career after a serious relationship break up and hell be my 5 00 mystery guest. Ill bet youre wondering who he is. So stay tuned. Sounds a cracker. Thank you so much , nana. And remember, you so much, nana. And remember, you can get in touch about all the topics weve been discussing today on gb views at today by emailing on gb views at gb news. Com or messaging on our socials at gb news. Lots more coming up on todays show. Happy Saint Patricks day, everybody as youve noticed, were all wearing green, here, up and down ireland people are celebrating the National Holiday and even more after they won the six nafions more after they won the six nations last night. Congratulations all of that and much more to come. Im dawn neesom and youre gb news, neesom and youre with gb news, britains channel welcome back to gb news sunday with me. Dawn neesom on your telly. Online and on digital radio. Happy Saint Patricks day, everyone wearing green. My everyone wearing green. My surname is neesom. I. You know, theres a link there somewhere, isnt there . Today is the day for parade. Irish music and plenty of guinness. Up and down ireland people will be celebrating the National Holiday and after they won the and even more after they won the six nations last night. Congratulations. Cross congratulations. So lets cross the live to gb. News Northern Ireland reporter, dougie beattie, in belfast . Beattie, who is in belfast . Dougie, dougie, wheres your hat gone . You had a hat on earlier. Yes its here, its here. Well put the hat on top, boy. Put it on. There we go. Is that. That looks there we go. Is that. That looks better, doesnt it . Marvellous yes, you can see behind us here. Actually, the, parade is arriving back into belfast and it has done a full circuit of the city, and it comes back in and there are thousands of people gathered here to have a look at what is going on here. And these are all community groups, circus acts. And, basically football teams. Everybody else has decided that theyre going to put floats together and get involved in the parade. Im sorry, i, im find it hard to hear you, but it is it hard to hear you, but it is it is quite the day and it is quite the weekend for ireland nonh quite the weekend for ireland north and south because as you say, the rugby and dance and patricks. But dont forget, we had some success in the cheltenham gold cup. And then of course we have a bank holiday tomorrow which will keep everything going even further. And it will be hangover tuesday. And it will be hangover tuesday. Dougie, good luck with that hangover my lovely. But i think you need to keep the hat on for the rest of the day. Enjoy yourself and try not to drink too much, man. Okay . Thank too much, young man. Okay . Thank you. Dougie. Thats dougie in Northern Ireland, enjoying Saint Patricks. Now, mike, you patricks day. Now, mike, you were telling me very were telling me a very interesting about your interesting story about your experiences with the nectar of the irish gods. Well, its guinness, isnt it . And Saint Patricks day always used to fall in the middle of cheltenham week. And i went to cheltenham for 20 years. Okay. Five years i held okay. And for five years i held the the first the record of having the first pint of the meeting the record of having the first pinthe of the meeting the record of having the first pinthe tuesday of the meeting the record of having the first pinthe tuesday morning,neeting the record of having the first pinthe tuesday morning, 10 01,g on the tuesday morning, 10 01, as guinness opened , as the guinness village opened, id get in there and i had my picture taken, taking the first pint, and sometimes that would go to about 12 on the go up to about 12 pints on the opening of pints time. Yeah, opening day of pints time. Yeah, yeah, but its the only time i ever drink it. I never drink it anywhere else. It it just seems to taste good on Saint Patricks day in the guinness tent. But anywhere else, if i take it i dont like it, id have to spit it out. The other thing i want to say about that is how much do you envy the irish to celebrate their national so their national day . So wonderfully, beautifully, wonderfully, so beautifully, so enthusiastically when in this country, my country, england, nobody even knows when Saint Georges day is. And if we all went around celebrating , wed went around celebrating, wed all be called colonialists and little englanders just for celebrating our national day. The irish arent ashamed to do it, and we shouldnt be ashamed here in england. So lets have lets have a celebration next yeah sorry. Your maypole. Do a bit sorry. Your maypole. Do a bit of morris dance. All on my own. All on my own . I dont think so. Local democracy. See how popular im singing . Okay. Amys. Youre like a pint of guinness, well, i remember when i was pregnant, my nan, whos since departed , used nan, whos since departed, used to tell me that guinness was good for. Full of iron. No, full of iron, full of iron. Yeah. Shes encouraged me to drink guinness. Thats only guinness. Thats my only, only anecdote about guinness. But i do anecdote about saint do have an anecdote about Saint Patricks good. When patricks day. Good. So when i come on this channel, a lot of people say, well, the odd person on social media will say, oh, why do you always try and disagree everything . Disagree with everything . And i think think, oh, shes think they think, oh, shes wearing blue. Even wearing blue. She cant even join Saint Patricks wearing blue. She cant even join and Saint Patricks wearing blue. She cant even join and green. Patricks wearing blue. She cant even join and green. However, did day and wear green. However, did you this that Saint Patrick you know this that Saint Patrick himself actually originally wore blue . But then the day became associated with green because they called it the emerald isle. And it was known for like the green rolling hills. But the original Saint Patrick himself wore blue. Yeah. Is that right . Well, i used to live in new york. I mean, Saint Patricks day parades there. And so i were ten times what youve just seen in belfast dublin. Oh, they belfast and dublin. Oh, they love but if you if you had love it. But if you if you had the not to walk around the audacity not to walk around in in manhattan on saint in green in manhattan on Saint Patricks you were patricks day, you were threatened badly. You know whats buddy . Im whats wrong here, buddy . Im irish, but they didnt know where belfast was in relation to dublin, you know what i mean . Isnt that they were irish. Isnt. Biden well. Oh isnt. Biden does as well. Oh yeah, irish. Yeah, im irish. Im irish. Yeah most yeah im irish. Yeah most people you know, point yeah im irish. Yeah most peityle you know, point yeah im irish. Yeah most pe it on you know, point yeah im irish. Yeah most pe it on the you know, point yeah im irish. Yeah most pe it on the map. ou know, point yeah im irish. Yeah most pe it on the map. To know, point yeah im irish. Yeah most pe it on the map. To be ow, point yeah im irish. Yeah most pe it on the map. To be honest,|t to it on the map. To be honest, im wearing green not wearing blue i that blue because i got that one wrong. Probably pn em probably but amy probably got, i dont know, knickers on or know, green knickers on or something. Im dawn neesom dawn something. Im dawn neesom dawn neesom. News a e. And neesom. This is gb news a e. And theres more coming on theres lots more coming up on todays show. Special todays show. A special exhibition at the v a about punch and judy has described Margaret Thatcher as a villain, piling her in with adolf hitler and Osama Bin Laden. Yeah you might not agree with their politics, but i mean, is Maggie Thatcher really that much of a villain . All of that and much more to come. This is hello. Welcome back to gb news sunday with me. Dawn neesom on your telly. Online and on digital radio. Now, loads of you have been getting in touch, so we havent had time to go through. Ive got such a Brilliant Panel with me today that through the that getting through all the emails as well, but Brilliant Panels youre panels coming in. Hope youre having good saint having a really good hour. Saint patricks back to our patricks day going back to our earlier about earlier debate about conscription and should young people go and people be willing to go and serve the country, especially with the threat from russia coming up, and ursula. Good afternoon. Ursula says those afternoon. Ursula says get those young benefits who wont who young on benefits who wont who wont work to National Wont work to do National Service. So basically, lazy scroungers go and do National Service , and david, i love this service, and david, i love this one. David. Very funny , david one. David. Very funny, david says you would never get our young generation for conscription. They would rather conscription. They would rather join love island and mark says its crucial that conscripted soldiers are trained separately from regulars. This is imperative. It also stops the argument that many people have against conscription. And against conscription. And meanwhile, there was one on social media especially for you , social media especially for you, amy. Oh, yeah. This is from anna. And anna says a biological man can never be a woman. By definition, when a woman is an aduu definition, when a woman is an adult female, theres only one sex can give birth, and sex that can give birth, and thats a biological woman. Sex that can give birth, and tha is a biological woman. Sex that can give birth, and tha is thatological woman. Sex that can give birth, and tha is that helenil woman. Sex that can give birth, and tha is that helen joyce|an. Sex that can give birth, and tha is that helen joyce texting is that helen joyce texting in . Sounds just like sex m atters . Matters . No, no no, no , its a lady no, no no, no, its a lady called anna. So thank you for all your messages, do keep them coming up now. My favourite story of the day was Margaret Thatcher a villain . Now bear with me. A special exhibition at the v a on british humour, discussing punch and judy puppets and keep up, said the following. Over the years, the evil character in the seaside puppet show has shifted from the devil to unpopular public figures including adolf hitler, Osama Bin Laden and Margaret Thatcher, to offer contemporary villains, they say. But is it fair to poll Margaret Thatcher no matter what you thought of her politics . Okay with hitler a genocidal maniac, and Osama Bin Laden probably one of the worst terrorists weve ever had, what do you make of this, amy . I mean, i mean, you could disagree with her politics all you like, but i mean, to put her up there with hitler. Yeah, probably well, yeah, i probably that is bit far. However it is a little bit far. However it evil, theres always a button, theres always a but i kind of want to see where the. I always want to see where the. I always want to see where the. I always want to see where people are coming from, you know. Right yeah. Depends where yeah. I think it depends where youre it . Youre sitting, doesnt it . Because if youre a miner that lost lost their lost their job, lost their livelihood, everything. Livelihood, lost everything. Yeah. Think you probably yeah. I think you probably would regard thatcher as evil regard Margaret Thatcher as evil if you were a young gay teenager growing up under section 28. Yeah, you probably would think Margaret Thatcher was evil. There are plenty of pockets of society where she did untold damage. And i think its probably justified for those people to hold rather Margaret Thatcher rather large grudges to hitler. Not comparable, but as a villain, as a contempt. They they listed her as a contemporary villain. And i think in a lot of minds and in a lot of parts of the country, she certainly is regarded as a villain. Mike up there with Osama Bin Laden, i think its an absolute disgrace. Honestly , you know, to honestly, you know, to compare mrs. Thatcher to those sort of it wasnt a comparison. It what she was included in their company and that is an utter disgrace. The sheer evilness of the people mentioned and weve whitewashed history because amy said, if youre a miner now , harold wilson, in his miner now, harold wilson, in his two governments in the 70s, closed down twice as many coal pits as mrs. Thatcher did. Mrs. Pits as mrs. Thatcher did. Mrs. Thatcher was only continuing the work of Jim Callaghan and harold wilson. Arthur scargill decided to try and bring the government down by ridiculously striking in spring, when coal stocks were very high, and that caused the eventual closure of the coal industry, not mrs. Thatcher. She wanted to compromise and say, look, weve got to go on with the closures that the Labour Government started. Government have started. No, scargill it. As scargill wasnt having it. As a result, he smashed the coal industry. It became non productive and he closed it down. Isnt it odd, amy . Down. But now isnt it odd, amy . Sorry, just let me finish. Its an odd at a museum called the victoria and albert. Victoria, named after Queen Victoria , named after Queen Victoria, probably the greatest living woman politic or monarch weve ever had. Should be associated with this disgusting barb against mrs. Thatcher, who frankly, saved this country from bankruptcy when Jim Callaghan left power, the country was going down the tubes and we would have become what greece became ten years later. I think when people remember Margaret Thatcher, they think of deindustrialisation, privatisation , which perhaps in privatisation, which perhaps in the short tum did save the country from bankruptcy, as you say, however, set in motion this whole policy structure of neoliberal economics , which neoliberal economics, which doesnt invest in Public Services and it stagnates economic growth. So i think a lot of people would regard her legacy as what were seeing today in the fact that everything is absolutely stripped to the bone. Stripped to the bone. We have turned us into one of the countries in the world. But but that are you talking aboutin but but that are you talking about in terms of im talking about in terms of im talking about wealth, in national wealth. We became at what cost, the fifth Biggest Country in the world, at cost. World, at no cost. More people were but more people were working, but more were prosperous. More people were prosperous. More homes , more people own their homes, more people shares. We were more people own shares. We were a very prosperous country , a very, very prosperous country, an example of the home ownership. So thats correct. She so thats correct. She introduced right to buy. You buy your council house. However, because that stock was never replaced. And now there are less replaced. And now there are less and less and fewer and fewer council houses. Council houses. I totally agree with you. I totally agree with you. Councils cant generate. Councils cant generate. I totally agree. And successive governments private landlords. This privatisation may on so this privatisation may on paper look good for the. And tony blair had 13 years to start a House Building programme to replace those houses, which he approved of because labour didnt suddenly come in and say its wrong to sell the council houses, but they had 13 years to replace the Housing Stock and they did nothing Housing Stock and they did not well, would you well, maybe. Would you put him list . Him on the list . Oh, of course what . Oh, of course i wouldnt. I wouldnt compare anybody with and its a list of with hitler and its a list of contemporary villains. People regard and a lot of people regard tony as a villain for tony blair as a villain for reasons i would. Dont reasons that i would. I dont think a villain. And think hitler was a villain. And a of people regard margaret a lot of people regard Margaret Thatcher do share. Hitler was a genocidal maniac who to one third who tried to wipe out one third of because he didnt of the world because he didnt like wasnt a villain. Like them. He wasnt a villain. A villain is somebody is a villain is somebody who is perhaps, know, little bit perhaps, you know, a little bit controversial wicked. Controversial and wicked. Actually, hes the so actually, maybe hes the one off, off not in the one thats off, off not in the right place on list. Right place on this list. Mrs. Thatcher is in the no, mrs. Thatcher is in the wrong should wrong place. And hitler should be the, be rightly condemned for the, you know, probably one of the worst people in history. Worst people in history. They did. Also, the v a might have had a bit of woke history going back on this one because it also in mind its a it it also bear in mind its a fashion well. Did Fashion Museum as well. They did actually her clothing actually turn down her clothing collection 2015. Yeah, collection in 2015. Yeah, absolutely. Didnt absolutely. Because they didnt consider her important enough. Accused of refusing to exhibit items from the wardrobe of thatcher as the first of mrs. Thatcher as the first female Prime Minister, not as Margaret Thatcher, but as the first female Prime Minister. And they turned him down. Well, unfortunately, thats just nasty. Weve run out just nasty. Sorry. Weve run out of section 28 was nasty. Yeah, i think come on. Yeah, i think come on. Right. Okay. Im dawn neesom. This is gb news sunday. These two have been absolutely brilliant. Dont anywhere brilliant. But dont go anywhere because more because theres plenty more coming gb today. Coming up on gb news today. In just moment. Fiery debate just a moment. Its fiery debate with nana akua. And at 6 pm. Its neil oliver with free speech nation seven and mark speech nation at seven and mark dolan at nine as well. Thank you so forjoining me this so much for joining me this afternoon. Really appreciate afternoon. Really appreciate your its wonderful your time. Its been wonderful having dont having your company dont get anywhere. Nana next. Anywhere. Nana is up next. Before nana, lets have before we go to nana, lets have a look what weathers a look at what the weathers doing you. Enjoy the rest of doing for you. Enjoy the rest of your. Your day. Looks things are heating looks like things are heating up. Boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. Hello there welcome to your latest gb news Weather Forecast from the met office. Well, for the week ahead its remaining changeable across the board for most of the week. It will be fairly mild, but towards the end of the week into the weekend it does look like it will turn briefly colder. So for the rest briefly colder. So for the rest of sunday still got low pressure. Generally in charge across the but any across the country, but any showers generally fizzling out as the evening goes on, so some fairly clear skies developing across england and wales. But it doesnt last long in the west. Another band of cloud and rain beginning to work its way into. By beginning to work its way into. By the end of the night, clear skies out towards the east and maybe across Northern Ireland. And us it is going to and for all of us it is going to be a mild one, temperatures not falling than 5 to 7 falling much lower than 5 to 7 degrees. Into monday morning, degrees. So into monday morning, a bright start in the east, but the cloud and rain across central parts will move its way eastwards day goes on eastwards as the day goes on behind it. Some drier and brighter weather for a time. Brighter weather for a time. This transfers towards the east into the afternoon and that allows another band of cloud and rain its way in. From rain to work its way in. From the west. So quite a wet end to the west. So quite a wet end to the day for Northern Ireland, but another mild day. But for many another mild day. Temperatures 17 degrees in temperatures up to 17 degrees in the southeast. Tuesday for a lot of us, its going to be a rather cloudy picture. Outbreaks of rain moving their way south eastwards. It does brighten up later on in the day across Northern Ireland and scotland, but middle of the but on the whole middle of the week remaining unsettled. But for of us, temperatures for all of us, temperatures staying on the mild side the staying on the mild side for the time year. Time of year. That warm feeling inside from boxt boiler as sponsors of weather on gb news. Good afternoon. Hello and welcome to gb news on tv, online and on digital radio. Im nana akua and for the next few hours, me and my panel will be taking on some of the big topics hitting the headlines right now. This show is all about opinion. Its mine. Its this. And of course its yours. Well be debating, discussing and at times but no times we will disagree. But no one will be cancelled. So joining in the next hour, joining me in the next hour, broadcaster and journalist danny kelly and also broadcaster and author christine hamilton. In a few moments time, well be going head to head in the clash with the director of climate media coalition, donal mccarthy, and also the reform uk deputy leader ben habib. But before we get ben habib. But before we get started, lets get your latest News Headlines. Nana, thank you and good afternoon. The top stories from the gb newsroom. Transport secretary mark harper says rishi sunak will lead the tories into the next election. It comes after Senior Tories were reported to have attempted to downplay claims of a conservative plot to replace the Prime Minister with Penny Mordaunt. The move would mean a fourth leader of the party in just five years. Mr harper says that, unlike labour, the conservatives have a plan on delivering for the country. Delivering for the country. Weve got to show them by the time of the election two things weve got to show them that weve got to show them that weve got to show them that weve got a plan. The