Transcripts For GBN GB 20240703

Gbnews. Com forward. Slash your essay and join the conversation there. Or message me on our socials were at gbnews was, first of all though, heres the news with tatiana. News with tatiana. Darren, thank you and good afternoon. The top stories humza yousaf is said to be asking leaders of other parties to find Common Ground with him as he ianes Common Ground with him as he invites them to talks at his official residence to see how they can work with his minority government. The Scottish First minister says he will not resign ahead of a crucial test of his leadership next week, and is now reportedly attempting to build bndges reportedly attempting to build bridges with other political political leaders at holyrood. He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at bute house in edinburgh to discuss how they can contribute constructively. Letters were reportedly sent to the scottish conservatives, scottish labour, the scottish greens and the alba party last night. This all comes after the collapse of the snps power sharing deal with the greens on thursday. A major greens on thursday. A major rescue operation is still underway after a small boat carrying up to 50 migrants ran aground on a sandbank off the kent coast. Gb news home and security editor mark white has more. Well, this migrant boat ran aground on goodwin sands, which is a notorious sandbank a few miles off the kent coast near deal miles off the kent coast near deal. The coastguard helicopter and several lifeboats have been involved in this rescue, including some smaller rigid inflatable lifeboats have been ferrying the migrants from that sandbank to the larger lifeboats. This boat that ran aground is one of four migrant boats that made it into uk waters today, as the people smuggling gangs take advantage of a change in the to weather push these flimsy boats out into the English Channel in the hope of making it to the uk. A british tourist is in intensive care after being attacked by a shark on a canbbean attacked by a shark on a caribbean island. The 64 year caribbean island. The 64 year old is receiving Critical Care after serious injuries to his left arm, his left leg and stomach, according to a local official. He is said to be stable and doing well. The stable and doing well. The attack happened at turtle beach along Great Courland Bay in trinidad and tobago yesterday morning. Several beaches along the northwestern coast of the island have now been closed. The Foreign Office says its supporting the victims family. More than 20 sexual predators have been jailed for exploiting young girls in West Yorkshire , young girls in West Yorkshire, involving abuse described as abhorrent in the extreme. The 24 abhorrent in the extreme. The 24 men have been jailed for a total of 346 years following prosecution by operation torbay, which is West Yorkshire polices investigation into the rape, sexual abuse and trafficking of eight girls between 1999 and 2012. Four of the men convicted in the series of trials received sentences of more than 20 years. In other news, the king is to return to public duties with his medical team, saying theyre very encouraged by the progress made in his Cancer Treatment. A palace spokesperson says king charles is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public facing duties, and very grateful to his medical team. Buckingham palace medical team. Buckingham palace says his majesty and Queen Camilla will visit a Cancer Treatment centre on tuesday to meet medical specialists and patients. Prime minister rishi sunak also welcomed the good news, posting on x that it was brilliant news to end the week. Former royal correspondent charles rea told us the good news gives so many others, especially cancer sufferers, hope the fact that he is produced this news, this great news gives to hope so many other cancer sufferers as well as as it did when he first announced in february that he has got cancer. Cancen and we know that the very first thing hes going to do is on tuesday. Hes going to a Cancer Treatment centre where hes going to be meeting medics and, you know, people who are being treated for cancer. Again this will be this will be a great for people who are suffering from this dreadful disease. Disease. And a gold pocket watch that was recovered from the body of the richest man on the titanic will be auctioned today in wiltshire. It could fetch up to £150,000. Businessman John Jacob Astor, who was 47, went down with the ship in 1912 after seeing new wife madeleine go onto a lifeboat rather than try his own luck with another lifeboat. The impeccably dressed businessman, a prominent member of the wealthy astor family, was last seen smoking a cigarette and chatting with a fellow passenger. And chatting with a fellow passenger. 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 gb news. Com alerts. Now its back to. Darren. Its back to. Darren. Thanks very much, tatiana. Lets get stuck into todays topics. Let him get on with the job. Those were the words of defence secretary grant shapps to tory mps concern hiring, ousting rishi sunak before the general election. Shapps says now is not the time or place to try to put in place yet another conservative party leader. It comes as downing street brushed off rumours on friday that the Prime Minister could fire the starting gun on an Election Campaign next week, in a bid to thwart a possible challenge from restive mps. Well, joining me now is gb news Political Correspondent olivia utley. Correspondent olivia utley. Olivia, good to see you as ever. Youre in westminster. I mean, how much are you hearing from conservative Party Politicians that if there is after the local elections, you know, far fewer conservative elected representatives, that actually thats going to mean rishi sunak is. Well, by by. Well, theres a lot of worry among the ranks of conservative mps that the local elections next week are going to be devastating for the conservatives. What theyre most worried about is the loss of ben houchen, the teesside mayor who won with 72 of the vote. I think it was last time. Think it was last time. Obviously it would be very, very badindeed obviously it would be very, very bad indeed for morale if he ended up losing that mayoralty. There are plenty of other councillors who think that they are at risk of losing their seats too. And of course, if it is catastrophic for the conservatives, then it does seem quite likely that quite a few mps will start to think, well, hang on a minute. Yes, changing leader , six months before an leader, six months before an election isnt a great look , but election isnt a great look, but do we want to sort of go down with this ship . They might just with this ship . They might just think maybe now is the moment for a final roll of the dice. If rishi sunak is still polling so, so badly and morale becomes that low, then i think , becomes that low, then i think, yes, we can expect a number of letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister. That said, i think its unlikely that it would reach the threshold required to actually trigger a vote of no confidence. The conservatives have quite a big majority in parliament still, although its quite easy to forget that. So the number of mps that it would take to trigger that no confidence vote would have to be quite high. The question is, if you know, ten, 15, 20, 30 conservative mps publicly said that they had no confidence in rishi sunak. Publicly said that they had no confidence in rishi sunak. Might confidence in rishi sunak. Might the Prime Minister decide that his position is untenable anyway . There are certainly a few cabinet ministers Penny Mordaunt probably grant shapps two among them, who would be ready to jump into his shoes, and a couple of them seem to be trying to garner some support among the backbenchers even now. Yes, i yeah, i was in Parliament Last week and, Penny Mordaunt, shall we say, was doing the rounds , thats an doing the rounds, thats an interesting one, isnt it. But olivia, i wonder then the Prime Minister, is he going to do a john major and turn around and say, put up or shut up . Because ireland have said that actually rwanda is working because theyre saying that actually migrants that have arrived here are now are ending up in ireland. So he can turn to conservative Party Politicians and say , look, Party Politicians and say, look, im delivering. Im delivering. Well, i think he might well do that. And actually, this week has been an unusually good week for rishi sunak. He did manage to get that rwanda legislation over the line. We are expecting flights to take off in the next. I think its 10 to 12 weeks. And what rishi sunak is hoping that at that point he will get some sort of boost in the polls. So sort of boost in the polls. So even if the local Election Results are as disastrous as is being predicted, i think what rishi sunaks message to mps will be is, well, rishi sunaks message to mps will be is, well , yes, its not will be is, well, yes, its not looking good now, but hang on a minute. The changes that ive made are only just coming to fruition. Hold out, give it a bit. Lets wait and see what happens with rwanda. Lets wait happens with rwanda. Lets wait and see what happens. As inflation continues to come down, Interest Rates hopefully start coming down. Rishi sunaks best bet is that in five months time, six months time, whenever an election is actually called, the country will actually be in a better state. Hes also managed to get quite a few backbench mps on side this week by promising that he is going to raise defence spending to 2. 5 of gdp. Thats something that bofis of gdp. Thats something that Boris Johnson promised in 2022, and rishi sunak failed to promise to do during the leadership election between him and liz truss. Well, that made a lot of enemies in the conservative party who think that with the global state as it is, we should be putting lots and lots of investment into defence now promising to invest that cash. Rishi sunak has managed to garner a bit more support among some of the more right wing backbenchers in the conservative party. Yeah, i mean, especially at this moment, right this moment in time, it seems somewhat negligent that the uk isnt fully operational right when there are threats across the piece. I mean, so many people email in to us, olivia, and say , email in to us, olivia, and say, what on earth is going on, right. Were not fit to defend a sand castle. Sand castle. Well, exactly. And i mean, thatis well, exactly. And i mean, that is a message thats been echoed up and down the country by generals, retired generals, really senior officials in the armed forces. Labour has cottoned on to this. Labour, too, is saying that it is going too, is saying that it is going to invest in defence spending, but it hasnt promised that 2. 5 figure. So the fact that rishi sunak has now done that , he is sunak has now done that, he is hoping its going to get some clear blue water between himself and keir starmer and defence increasingly , is something which increasingly, is something which the country is showing in polling that it really, really cares about. And that is no surprise. The world has has surprise. The world has has rarely looked so unstable as it does right now, at least in the last sort of 2030 years. So investment in defence is a really good way to get voters on side and to get conservative politicians on side two. I think we can expect to hear some more about that in the next few weeks and months from the Prime Minister. All right. All right. Olivia utley always a pleasure. Thank you very much for that. Expert analysis there. Right. Joining me in the studio is the journalist and political consultant emma burnell and former special adviser to michael gove. Charlie rowley , michael gove. Charlie rowley, charlie, ill start with you then. You heard what olivia had to say there. She makes it sound quite promising for rishi sunak. You wouldnt know it by looking at the opinion polls, but actually a good week, would you argue . Yes, i would, and i think , yes, i would, and i think, look, you know, these polls have been quite stubborn for a number of months now, but they will naturally narrow. They always happens in the run up to a general election. And when you have announcements that weve had over the last couple of weeks. So the increase in defence spending, something that will go down very, very well with tory mps and tory voters in particular, couple that with getting rwanda. Whatever you think about the rwanda policy, getting it through the difficult times that it had in the house of lords, its now into law. And rishi sunak saying at the start of 2023 that, you know, he was going to stop the boats, he was going to stop the boats, he was going to stop the boats, he was going to deliver on rwanda. If you then see those flights take off in the next 10 to 12 weeks, as olivia was saying. Then thats a success for rishi sunak. He said hes going to do it. He will deliver on it. That will happen. And voters will, i think, have a second look at rishi sunak and think, okay, difficult problems within the conservative party. Theres been a lot of internal politics within the conservative party, but this is a man who says what hes going to do and does it. Emma, do you think charlies got a case of the old rose tinted spectacles . Tinted spectacles . The rose tinted spectacles definitely. Look , charlie, youre doing a look, charlie, youre doing a great job. I know you have to come on and say these things however little you believe them. Look he rishi sunak didnt say in his five pledges i will get a flight to rwanda. He said i will stop the boats. The boats have not stopped. Look, whatever you think of the rwanda plan, i am wholly opposed to it. But i dont think its going to get to a point where the boats have stopped. And that is the pledge that was made. And that is what voters are judging. Rishi sunak by, if thats their key issue. So i dont think even though he has had a good week, im not going to deny that i try not to spin these things too much. But, i dont think one good week is enough to change the election result. On the other hand, i think the tories would be mad to go for another leadership contest , you know, theres this contest, you know, theres this terrible, terrible Infectious Disease in politics called something must be done. Yeah. Something must be done. Yeah. And the problem is, yes, things are going wrong, but that doesnt mean that you have a plan and a right answer. At the other end of that, its exacerbated by social media. Absolutely. Absolutely. Theyre all sat on twitter, scrolling through all day and thinking, oh, dear, what are we going to do about this . You know, all these journalists are saying that were going to hell in a handcart. Something must be done. And i think it must be very, very hard. Ive tried to put myself into the head of a tory mp who at the last election had a stonking landslide. And yeah, a stonking landslide. And yeah, as recently as 2021, when there was the vaccine bounce , you was the vaccine bounce, you know, real kind of popularity. Keir starmer had been in for about a year. He was not making waves. It just felt like they waves. It just felt like they were in undefeatable role. So to have gone from that to this in just three years must be incredibly complex and difficult emotionally and politically to go through. That doesnt mean go through. That doesnt mean that theres an answer that will get you out of the hole that theyre in. Do you think actually, on that point that olivia made on the 2. 5 defence spending commitment of gdp, do you think labour will end up matching that . I expect that they will get. I think the pressure on them will be too high not to. Yeah, but i think it will be much like the conservative pledge. It will be by x year rather than immediately. Yes. I mean, on that point, charlie, the conservative party, on the economy, on defence, on law and order, its lost the pubuc law and order, its lost the public according to the polls , public according to the polls, on all of those fronts, which should be key conservative territory. Where do you think . Actually, they can win that back . Do you think actually the pubuc back . Do you think actually the public have just tuned out. They public have just tuned out. They wont hear rishi sunak saying, well meet 2. 5 defence spending. Theyre just totally tuned out of the conversation altogether. Well, i think thats right. I think voters arent listening at the minute. And i think because theres been far too much politics thats happened over the last few years. And so i think but when you see those dividing lines being drawn, so when youre absolutely right, you see the economy getting better, starting to see a little bit of growth when youre seeing inflation come down as olivia was saying, tory mps will want to see Interest Rates come down. When you see that increase in defence spending that goes down very well with tory mps, when you then start to see those dividing lines with the labour party. So a commitment, a solid commitment from the conservatives to increase defence spending, not a commitment that weve had from the labour party. When you then the labour party. When you then hear the labour party wanting to nationalise the railways again, something the very popular policy conservatives would well, its very costly. And in the first five years, you know, with because theyre taking them back in to Public Ownership as the franchises expire. So theyre not going to be paying so theyre not going to be paying the franchise owners for them when youll have, you know, a party thats in ad hoc to the unions, where therell be more strikes and increase in fares because the Services Wont run. And, you know, the taxpayer will have to pick up the. Have you noticed fewer strikes over the last few years . But the point the fundamental point is that there are dividing lines now being drawn between the conservatives and the labour party, and thats where the voters will then start to have to make a real choice here, right now, as the general Election Campaign. Election campaign. But do you i mean, on those points, that i guess the dividing line does become clearer because on water, for example. Right. Obviously labour example. Right. Obviously labour has a different position on Water Companies and what might happen with them. But on rail, as well, i mean, lner, i come down every weekend and you know, lner goes on strike more than a very tired and somewhat grumpy Television Presenter , and there Television Presenter, and there are many of those. Are many of those. But you havent been a Television Presenter under a Labour Government, have you . So these strikes are happening under a conservative government. Its my point. So its not that its my point. So its not that were going to suddenly see a whole load of more strikes under a Labour Government. Well, just look at london. Look at london, you know, under, look at london, you know, under , you know, london sadiq under, you know, london sadiq khan you know, who said, you know, he wouldnt have a single strike under his watch. Youve had more strikes in london than ever before. Thats a good point, is it not . There are. Yeah. Im not saying there have been strikes in labour wales as well. I trying to be straight talking here. Im saying that you get strikes under a conservative government. You may well get strikes under a Labour Government. If you do, then its slightly belies the argument that labour are in hock to the unions. Yeah. Do you both think then the polls will close . Are you both agreed on that . As in the narrow . They traditionally do , but they traditionally do, but then things that traditionally happen havent been happening over the last few years, so who knows. I mean, i dont claim to have any prognostication ability. I im not mystic meg. Not well, god rest her. God rest her. That talent. We need it right now. Yes no. Youre right. I mean, i think i think they will, close because i think, you know, emmas right. I think that naturally happens. But my only, you know, vote of optimism. I suppose, to anyone is that you just look at the polls over the last few years, you know, back in 2010, you know, David Cameron was supposed to come in with a sweeping majority to kick out gordon brown. Didnt happen. It was a coalition. In 2015, ed miliband was going to become Prime Minister. Cameron won a good majority there in 2016. We were supposed to remain in the eu if those polls were to be believed , you know, 2017, believed, you know, 2017, theresa may was going to win a great big majority with a 20 point lead. That didnt happen in 2019. It could have been a Jeremy Corbyn Prime Ministership. So these polls havent got it right in the past. So well just have to see what happens. I mean, i think charlies right. And if they do tighten it may well be that there isnt the stonking labour majority that people are currently talking about, where i think the conservatives have a bigger problem than labour is even if one or other ends up as largest party, the tories have isolated themselves politically so much that very few other people would go in with them into a coalition how. Now. Well, yes, that is true. Well, yes, that is true. All right. Journalists there and political consultant emma burnell, thank you very much. Burnell, thank you very much. And before that was the former special adviser to michael gove, Charlie Rowley , thank you very Charlie Rowley, thank you very much to both of them. Now, folks, for all the very best analysis and opinion on that. You can go to our website gbnews. Com. Now summer is just around the corner and we want to make it sizzle for you with an incredible £20,000 in cash up for grabs in the latest Great British giveaway, its our biggest cash prize to date and it could well be yours. Biggest cash prize to date and it could well be yours. Heres how you could make a winner of yourself. Yourself. Weve blown the budget by giving you the chance to win a totally terrific £20,000 in tax free cash to make your summer spectacular. You could use that cash to splash out on a holiday, make the garden glam , buy a new make the garden glam, buy a new car, or just save it for a rainy day. Whatever youd spend day. Whatever youd spend £20,000 on, make sure you dont miss the chance to make it yours. For a chance to win £20,000 in tax free cash text win to 63232. Text cost £2 plus one Standard Network rate message or post your name and number two gb zero five, po box 8690. Derby rd one nine double tee, uk only entrance must be 18 or over. Lines close at 5 pm. On the sist lines close at 5 pm. On the 31st of may. Full terms and Privacy Notice at gb gbnews. Com win. Please check the closing time if listening or watching on demand. Good luck. Watching on demand. Good luck. Youre with me Darren Grimes on gb news saturday. Lots more coming up on todays show. His majesty the king is to resume pubuc majesty the king is to resume public duties next week. After public duties next week. After doctors said they were pleased with the progress of his Cancer Treatment. His majesty returns full swing to public duties. All of that and more to come. Youre with gb news, britains news channel welcome back to gb news saturday with me. Darren grimes. On your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Lots of you have been sending in your thoughts to gbnews. Com forward slash york. Alans written in and alan says conservatives really think that improving the economy and getting rwanda across the line will save them. After all, the infighting, the backstabbing, the sleaze, the scandal only a scalp will do. Rishi needs to go or they are sunk and i, for one, am backing elsewhere. Brent says am backing elsewhere. Brent says your female guests at emma burnell was not around when labour was in power and absolutely nothing worked properly as the unions ran everything or didnt because they were working to rule or to strike. And nigel says there were fewer strikes under the last Labour Government because they gave in to them in the 70s. There was absolutely no money to give. So theres a fair few warnings there. Let me know your thoughts, though, on all the stories well be discussing today. The website you need gbnews. Com forward slash your say and join that conversation or message me on our socials were at gbnews now in what will come as uplifting news. Im sure for everyone up and down the country, Buckingham Palace has announced that his majesty king charles will resume public facing duties on tuesday. A spokesman said the kings medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far. Now his majesty will mark his return to public life by making a visit to public life by making a visit to a Cancer Treatment centre to meet medics and patients. Hell meet medics and patients. Hell also host a visit from the emperor of japan in june. Well, joining me now is a man in the know , the royal broadcaster and know, the royal broadcaster and commentator rafe heydel mankoo. Commentator rafe heydel mankoo. Rafe. As ever, thank you very much. Im wondering then we were told, were we not, that the king not too long ago it was advised he couldnt shake hands and all the rest of it because actually maybe that would present a danger to his health. What would have changed since then is this doctors advice saying, you know, youre on the mend , your know, youre on the mend, your majesty. Is this good news or right . Can we, the nation, breathe a sigh of relief . Well, its uplifting news. As youve just correctly said. And youve just correctly said. And its lovely to see that essentially what whats happened now is because of medical consultation. Theyve decided that the king is able now to greet people both indoors and outdoors , which is very outdoors, which is very encouraging. However, of course, we know that his majesty still isnt fully recovered and far from it. Theyre very positive about his continuing recovery, but at the same time, all of these engagements now are going to have to be reviewed on a case by case basis to make sure that they are appropriate and suitable for somebody in his majestys condition. And also the pacing of these engagements needs to be carefully calibrated with the medical teams to ensure that they that his majesty doesnt get too tired , of doesnt get too tired, of course, as well. What does this mean . Well, as youve said, he is going on tuesday to mark this milestone event to this Cancer Treatment centre. Its not one of the centres that treated his majesty, but he and the queen are going there as patrons of Cancer Research uk and macmillan Cancer Research uk and Macmillan Cancer support, as you said, also , weve had confirmation also, weve had confirmation that his majesty will be, presiding over the state visit of their imperial majesty the emperor and empress of japan. But beyond that, we dont really know what engagements will be undertaken over, over the summer. Really. I mean, the major event is, of course, on june the 6th. Were marking the 80th anniversary of d day, june 6th, 1944, when british, american and Canadian Forces landed on normandy, opening up the west front against the nazis. It may be the last time an event like this is held because of the age of the veterans. So the king will, of course, really want to be a participant in that. And then a week later or so you have on the 15th of june, of course, its trooping the colour , the kings official colour, the kings official birthday. Will his majesty be there . Thats another question there . Thats another question we need to know about. And then on from the 18th to the 21st of june, if im correct. Yes it is, june, if im correct. Yes it is, its royal ascot. And of course, we know that the queen, the her late majesty Queen Elizabeth ii, was religiously attending that event. And we understand that the king is very keen to be there for at least one day in order to continue the legacy of his mother and the tradition there. But it really is, you there. But it really is, you know, a very, very busy month for june. And so how much the for june. And so how much the king can do . Were going to have to wait and see. And what the palace have said is that essentially theyre going to reveal this information nearer to the time when they can make a more expert evaluation about his majestys condition. In your view, then, as someone whos followed the royal family and monarchy in general for a long time, if you dont mind me saying, do you actually think that there is a problem here with charles, his majestys ambitions for a slimmed down monarchy, has that actually come back to bite the institution in the bottom . Because we have, of course, her Royal Highness the princess of wales. Out of action. We have the king himself. Limited duties, thankfully coming back to public duties. Has it been a real mistake . Mistake . Well, you might certainly think that when the king was prince of wales and he first put forward this idea of a slimmed down monarchy, the idea was that the monarchy would have ten core members in it. The monarchy would have ten core members in it. Of the monarchy would have ten core members in it. Of course, fast forward a few years and weve lost the duke of york. Weve lost the duke of york. Weve lost the duke and duchess of sussex. And that also means that were actually going to also lose archie and lilibet, the children of the sussexes. Once they come of age. At the same time that thats happening, they come of age. At the same time that thats happening , the time that thats happening, the dukes of kent and gloucester and the are getting very old 90 and 80 each. So the actual working royals are much more restricted and unfortunately we are not like for example, belgium or norway or holland. Were not a bicycling monarchy, were a much larger country. So we need the larger country. So we need the full royal family to be able to go full royal family to be able to 9 up full royal family to be able to go up and down the breadth of this country, to take part in those vital functions of the monarchy opening hospitals, visiting soup kitchens, saint johns ambulance the queen famously said , said i have to be famously said, said i have to be seen to be believed and we need to see the monarchy in action. And unfortunately at the current time, thats not possible, particularly with the princess of wales also out of action and in a word, then meghan and harry coming back to fill the gap would you like that . Well, harry doesnt know. Doesnt have a role in america. So thats one of the reasons i think he wants to come back, because all he knows to do is to be a royal. Were finding out. But i dont think the royal family are very keen on that at the moment. No, indeed. All right. Rafe, thank you. Always a pleasure. Now, folks, youre with me. Darren grimes on gb news saturday. Weve got loads more coming up on todays show. First of all though, were show. First of all though, were going to get your News Headlines with tatiana. Darren. Thank you. The top stories humza yousaf is said to be asking leaders of other parties to find Common Ground with him as he invites them to talk that his official residence to see how they can work with his minority government. The his minority government. The Scottish First minister says he will not resign as leader ahead of a crucial test of his leadership next week , and is now leadership next week, and is now reportedly attempting to build bndges reportedly attempting to build bridges with the other political leaders at holyrood. He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at bute house in edinburgh to discuss how they can contribute constructively. Letters were reportedly sent to the scottish conservatives, scottish labour, the scottish greens and the alba party last night. This all comes after the collapse of the snps power sharing deal with the greens on thursday. In other news, up to thursday. In other news, up to 50 migrants were rescued in a dramatic race against the tide after their boat ran aground on after their boat ran aground on a sandbank off the kent coast. The small boat ran aground this morning on goodwin sands. No one is believed to have been injured. The incident comes as gb news can reveal the numbers crossing illegally from france have now passed 7000 for the year so far , at least five small year so far, at least five small boats have made it to uk waters, so far today, carrying more than 250 migrants. Pro Palestine Protesters are gathering at Parliament Square for a march that could attract hundreds of thousands of people. Police allowed it to go ahead , as they allowed it to go ahead, as they said the risk of disorder wasnt high enough to ban it. The protest group Palestine Solidarity Campaign says the eventis Solidarity Campaign says the event is in response to israels brutal attack on gaza. Brutal attack on gaza. Meanwhile, a Demonstration Organised by the campaign against anti semitism was also due to take place today, but that was cancelled yesterday as organisers said the safety of jews was at risk following threats made. And a british threats made. And a british tourist is in intensive care after being attacked by a shark on a caribbean island. The 64 on a caribbean island. The 64 year old is receiving Critical Care after serious injuries to his left arm, his left leg and stomach, according to a local official. Hes said to be stable and doing well. The attack and doing well. The attack happened at turtle beach along Great Courland Bay in trinidad and tobago yesterday morning. The Foreign Office says its supporting the victims family. And 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 gb news kamalat. Now its back to. Darren. Thank you as ever, tatiana. Now remember you can let me know your thoughts on all of the stories weve been discussing today by visiting gbnews. Com. Forward slash your c ive got the conversation up right in front of me or message us on our socials. Were gbnews lots more coming up on todays show. The government will begin physical checks at the border on medium risk and high risk goods coming into the uk at the end of the month. So what will that mean for Northern Ireland . All of that and more to come. Im Darren Grimes and youre with gb news, britains news channel 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. For every moment. The highs, the lows , the twists and turns. 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 today with me, Darren Grimes on your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Now, lots of you have been sending in your thoughts to gbnews. Com yoursay and actually john has written in and john says hes watching this show before he goes shopping in concert, which is where im from. So hello to you, john, there , isabel says, i would there, isabel says, i would rather have. And this is our last conversation with rafe heydel mankoo. She says, i would rather have a slimmed down royal family than have to put up with the awful meghan and harry. Now thats a sentiment shared by a few of you in there. Is there any meghan and harry fans in . Let us know comment in. And, actually the darren from , who actually the darren from, who says he supports the reform party, says ditching sunak will make no difference. Theyll be finished come the election. The only hope they have is farage becoming leader of the conservative party and clearing out the likes of hunt and cameron and all the rest of them, and yeah, its thats thats a sentiment shared by a fair few of you, but i think even nigel farage says thats a bit far fetched. Aint going to happen. Unfortunately for some of you. But now the government is going to begin physical checks at the border on medium risk and high risk goods coming into the uk at the end of this month. The final major change month. The final major change will come in october, with the government requiring safety and security declarations while also introducing a single trade window aiming to reduce the number of forms needed for imports. Orders, which i hear imports. Orders, which i hear anecdotally is pretty substantial. But meanwhile in substantial. But meanwhile in ireland, goods coming in will be checked after october this year. Well joining me now is a man in the know gb news is very own Northern Ireland reporter Dougie Beattie dougie, thank you very much for your time as ever. Is this going to actually help exporters and importers then . Exporters and importers then . Well no it wont it wont help importers that that is for sure. I mean what why were talking about this from belfast is because of the protocol in the last two years it was the bane for me. I mean , i knew it bane for me. I mean, i knew it inside and out. And what actually happened in that stage was because we are still part of europe, goods coming from britain into Northern Ireland, which is held inside eu regulation and legislation, were then checked at the borders. We had green and red lanes. We had so much bureaucracy. It was unbelievable. And for many manufacturers and suppliers it just wasnt worth the while financially to bring products into Northern Ireland. So we ended up with shortages on our shelves and indeed then rising prices. Now the framework document sorted a lot of that out and we do believe that the deal that was sold to the dup that put Government Back up in here again will allow us to, because we are part of the uk, to go straight in to Great Britain, where goods from the repubuc britain, where goods from the republic of ireland that are part of the eu, they will not. They will have to be checked on the way in. And that is a very, very delicate point for politicians in Northern Ireland. Because if that happens, well, you could see stormont coming down again. But really and truly down again. But really and truly what this is about this morning and im talking to you about it or this afternoon now is really the prices that may go up in your supermarkets because of these checks. So this is customshouse square behind me. And before the eu, cities , and before the eu, cities, especially port cities all around britain, would have had a Customs House there, and beside it would have been the veterinary where they checked animal products coming in, where they checked live cattle coming in, etc. And of course, then they would have said was that , they would have said was that, beef produced to the same regulation and legislation that was acceptable to britain, and then it was allowed in. But now or when we joined the eu , that or when we joined the eu, that all went. But now, of course, because were out of the eu, we are. Britain is having to check products that are coming in, as well as for veterinary cfd as as much as anything else. But the problem being, of course, is in the time that we were in europe, we didnt do enough manufacturing ourselves that we exported most of the manufacturing and therefore we are highly dependent on imported goods coming back into britain and right in the middle of when, rishi sunak is trying to get inflation down, especially around food, this could put pnces around food, this could put prices up again because many manufacturers will say, well , it manufacturers will say, well, it wasnt worth our while coming in. Now, during the protocol , in. Now, during the protocol, the Northern Irish politicians had asked for a trusted trader scheme. In other words, very light touch. And we were told it wasnt acceptable by europe, but thatis wasnt acceptable by europe, but that is the scheme that britain is intending to use. And i can tell you by reporting on this, we have trusted , support we have trusted, support services here in our trader support services in Northern Ireland. And the bill for it is astronomic. It ireland. And the bill for it is astronomic. It is ireland. And the bill for it is astronomic. It is away into the astronomic. It is away into the millions. And what you then have is hauliers having to do the paperwork in advance of bringing the goods in and out, and that puts many of them off. And again, that will add cost to whatever is going on to the retail shelves in britain. So youre not confident whatsoever then, that this is actually because the, the premise there that i read out at the start, you know, its actually saying it will reduce the number of forms needed for importers. Are you not confident importers. Are you not confident at all that it will mean a reduced bureaucracy . Reduced bureaucracy . No, i mean, we have seen this in Northern Ireland. It was all to be light touch and the forms keep on growing and getting more. So if you take it. We have now vets employed at the ports. We had to have an extension of those vets. Many more recruited in order to look at live animals that were coming in. That used to not be the case. We always had light touch checks, light touch checks, and that even when we were part of europe, even animals moving from, say , animals moving from, say, scotland in the Northern Ireland had veterinary requirements. They did have paperwork. It kept they did have paperwork. It kept things like tuberculosis and bluetongue out, etc. But of course now that paperwork is getting even more and more so once you start that bureaucracy rolling , it never knows when to rolling, it never knows when to end, and especially when youre bringing it in in stages. So these controls have been starting to appear in britain over the last three years, but this is really the main parts of it coming in now on food. And then when we go to the 31st of october that will be on things like security. So, no, i dont like security. So, no, i dont think that i think itll get worse, if anything. All right, dougie, thank you very much. As ever. I mean, its going to be Interesting Times because youve got the Irish Government complaining now that there are migrants going to ireland from the United Kingdom. And perhaps thats going to lead to some border concerns there. We shall see. Folks, you are with me, Darren Grimes on gb news saturday. I thank you very much for your company. Weve got loads more coming up on todays show. Liverpool have confirmed that arne slot will be their new manager next season, meaning that all of the premier leagues nonh that all of the premier leagues north west clubs will have bold managers for the first time. Lets hear it for the baldies. All of that and more to come. Youre with gb news, britains news channel welcome back to gb news. Saturday with me, Darren Grimes. On your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Im reading through some of your comments that youve been sending in to gbnews. Com forward slash. Your say jim has written in, and jim says having that many bald managers in football is definitely hairiest. We need to organise a protest march to protect the jobs of people with hair. Do you know at the rate im going, my next guest, ill explain. You know , i think ill explain. You know, i think ill join you on that march and richard says voting reform will not win a single seat in tory held seats is basically voting for a Labour Government. Im sure many of us disagree with that sentiment as well. Now, yesterday was a very good day for Leicester City fans as leeds united defeat to Queens Park Rangers confirmed the foxes promotion back to the premier league afterjust one season. Happy days for them. Meanwhile, liverpool, of course , confirmed liverpool, of course, confirmed their new manager next season, meaning that all of the premier League North West clubs will have bald managers for the first time. Im sure theyll all give a very polished performance. Do you see what i did there . Now joining me in the studio is aidan magee eden. See you very much for your time. Now, has much for your time. Now, has this ever happened before. This ever happened before. Someone asked me that earlier on. I dont recall it happening before. Weve had ball managers before, dont get me wrong, but it just seems very peculiar that its man city, man united, liverpool, everton. We should caveat that though, by saying that i think its unlikely erik ten hag will be will be in situ next. Next august. But you know, as things stand right now, technically all four managers are well, as soon as as soon as liverpool make the official announcement that hes going to get the job. So when will liverpool make that announcement . I think theyll do it in the next 48 hours. What a thought. Yeah. And how big will this be for the club . You know this is this is sort of its really a big move. Well its a huge move because theyre replacing Jurgen Klopps at any any, any call is going to be absolutely enormous in fact. But i think its a huge gamble actually, if you look at his record its pretty good. I mean, youll say to me, ill say, look, hes done a good job at feyenoord, but youll say to me, well, actually theyre one of the biggest clubs in holland, so he should do well. But to be fair, before that League Title Win in 2023, feyenoord had only won one league title in the previous 24 years. So he initiated a culture change there. They like his record developing young players, everyones into that. Doesnt matter how much money youve got, its better to get a player at age 16 when they cost nothing than buy them when theyre the finished article at age 25, costing £100 million. So thats good as well for them in terms of personality, a very similar personality to klopp, youll see him being very active on the on the touchline. Youll see him the touchline. Youll see him very animated and very forthright in press conferences as well. Youll see him getting as well. Youll see him getting into the odd spat with reporters. So i think they know what theyre getting. I think they understand that theyve done their due diligence. Done their due diligence. Theyve known for quite some time now that theyre going to need a new manager. I just feel it was a mistake, as it was for sir Alex Ferguson in 2002 to announce that youre leaving halfway through the season. I halfway through the season. I think its natural when the players are in situ in the squad, they know the managers leaving. Its normal for them to think a few months in ahead. Lets impress the new guy, whoever that might be, and in the same way, it disrupted united in 2002 and it handed the league title to arsenal. And that was daft, actually, when fergie did that, because all he wanted was a new contract, which he eventually got, he stayed for another for another 11 years. Yes. So this time i thought i did say in january , i thought, did say in january, i thought, i thought it would backfire. And i think in the recent games youve seen that being borne out. Yeah. Now do you think actually men in sport being bald is just coming back into fashion because, you know, wayne rooney, hair transplant . I can think of hair transplant . I can think of a whole load of them that have had hair transplants. Do you actually think this might have a renaissance for the bald man in sport . I think itll look a bit weird if wayne rooney, wayne rooney had his hair transplant. I was working at the news of the world at the time, and we were about to run the story that he was having a hair transplant, and then he just he blew our cover by by announcing it on twitter. And the very early stages of twitter. So i think but all these years later, i think it would be a bit strange if he then went and became bald again. You know, i just dont know if people would any somebody whos always been a target as well because of his appearance but in terms of a renaissance dont know. Fashions come and go. I mean, weve, weve seen weve seen mohawk. I mean, look, David Beckham must have had about 15 hairdresser haircuts in the last since he since he made his debut for united in 92, mustnt he . Right. Right. Weve got a picture of you here looking like a very happy chappy. Oh, yeah. This week. Was this yesterday . It was last night. Yesterday . It was last night. Late last night . Yeah, yeah, at, there you are, there i am, yeah. So thats right. At the end of the game, darren, thats. I was going to wear i was going to wear the same outfit today, but i realised youd probably, youd probably know that i didnt bother changing, but i managed to change today. Didnt bother changing, but i managed to change today. But managed to change today. But that was late last night. That was about about a 10 45 because it was a late kick off. But yeah, qpr won four nil and that defeat for leeds united meant Leicester City got promotion to the premier league after one season without even kicking a ball. Perfect. Perfect. Thank you aidan magee there as ever, youre with me. Darren grimes on gb news saturday. Weve got loads more coming up on todays show. First of all, were going to get a look at the weather with marco. Weather with marco. A brighter outlook with boxt solar, sponsors of weather on. Solar, sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello heres your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. As we hold on to mixed weather conditions across the uk over the next few days, all of us seeing some rain at times, often breezy and temperatures though starting to recover, actually becoming fairly warm in places during the middle to second stage of the coming week. Low pressure sitting towards the south of the uk at the moment thats starting to throw outbreaks of quite persistent rain in across the south and east of the uk as we head through the evening into the overnight period, some of that rain turning quite heavy dunng that rain turning quite heavy during the early hours of sunday, especially ones towards the north and northwest. Its a clearer picture. Showers here starting to ease. Well see a clear spells at times and here will turn quite chilly by sunday morning. Could see a touch of frost in places in rural spots. Temperatures here locally down below freezing, whereas towards the south and east with the wind, cloud and rain around , wind, cloud and rain around, temperatures hold safely above zero into tomorrow. A bit of an east west split developing some heavy outbreaks of rain across eastern parts of the uk. It could brighten up for a time across east anglia, setting off across east anglia, setting off a few heavy showers but feeling chilly with a cloud, wind and rain here. Quite a blustery day out towards the east, whereas out towards the east, whereas out towards the west and northwest brighter skies , a northwest brighter skies, a mixture of sunshine and scattered showers. But wherever you are, temperatures are staying. Pretty disappointing for the time of year. Highs of 12 to 13 celsius 13. In the southeast is 55 in fahrenheit. As for monday, well, an east west split once again, but this time a reversal of fortunes with the east and southeast seeing the east and southeast seeing the better conditions, brighter skies. Whereas out towards the west and rain at times, all of us seeing rain at times during the week ahead. But notice those temperatures picking up too into the high teens or low 20s in places. Looks like things are heating up. Boxt boilers sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Thank you very much, michael. Weve got loads more coming up on todays show. Let them get on with the job. Those are the words of defence secretary grant shapps to tory mps considering ousting rishi sunak before the general election. Could we see yet another tory leader this summer . Weve got all of that and more to come. Youre with gb news, britains news channel hello and welcome to gb news saturday, im Darren Grimes, and for these next two hours, ill be keeping you company on tv, onune be keeping you company on tv, online and on Digital Radio. Well keep you up to date on the stories that really matter to you coming up this hour. Let them get on with the job. Those are the words of defence secretary grant shapps to tory mps who could be considering ousting rishi sunak before the general election , could we see general election, could we see yet another tory leader this summer . Then the government will begin physical checks at the border on medium risk and high risk goods coming into the uk at the end of this month. So what does that mean for Northern Ireland and dead man walking . Humza yousaf says he will not resign as scotlands first minister, ahead of a crucial test of his leadership next week, saying as a minority government, his party will need to make some concessions as it negotiates with other parties. But will he survive until the next election . And this show is next election . And this show is nothing without you and your views. Let me know your thoughts on all of the stories well be discussing today by visiting gbnews. Com. Forward slash your essay and join that conversation or message us on our socials. Or message us on our socials. Where gbnews. First of all though, heres your news with tatiana. Tatiana. Darren. Thank you and good afternoon. These are the top stories from the gb newsroom. Up to 50 migrants were rescued in a dramatic race against the tide after their boat ran aground on after their boat ran aground on a sandbank off the kent coast. Gb news captured this exclusive video of the migrant arrivals. The small boat ran aground this morning on goodwin sands. No one is believed to have been injured. The incident comes as gb news can reveal the numbers crossing illegally from france have now passed 7000 for the year so far at least five small boats have made it to uk waters so far today , carrying more than so far today, carrying more than 250 migrants. Humza yousaf is said to be asking leaders of other parties to find Common Ground with him as he invites them to talks at his official residence to see how they can work with his minority government. The Scottish First minister says he will not resign as leader ahead of a crucial test of his leadership next week, and is now reportedly attempting to build bridges with other political leaders at holyrood. He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at bute house in edinburgh to discuss how they can contribute constructively. Letters were reportedly sent to the scottish conservatives, scottish labour, the scottish greens and the alba party last night. Well, this all comes after the collapse of the snps power sharing deal with the greens on thursday. They pro Palestine Protesters have been gathering at Parliament Square for a march that could attract hundreds of thousands of people. Police allowed it to go ahead as they said the risk of disorder wasnt high enough to ban it. Disorder wasnt high enough to banit. The disorder wasnt high enough to ban it. The protest group Palestine Solidarity Campaign says the event is in response to israels brutal attack on gaza. Meanwhile a Demonstration Organised by the campaign against anti semitism was also due to take place today, but that has been cancelled yesterday as organisers said the safety of jews was at risk following threats made. More following threats made. More than 20 sexual predators have been jailed for exploiting young girls in West Yorkshire, involving abuse described as abhorrent in the extreme. The 24 men have been jailed for a total of 346 years, following prosecutions by operation today, which is West Yorkshire Police Investigation into the rape, sexual abuse and trafficking of eight girls between 1999 and 2012. Four of the men convicted in the series of trials received sentences of more than 20 years. A british tourist is in intensive care after being attacked by a shark on a canbbean attacked by a shark on a caribbean island. The 64 year old is receiving Critical Care after serious injuries to his left arm , his left leg and left arm, his left leg and stomach. He is said to be stable and doing well. The attack happened at turtle beach along Great Courland Bay and trinidad and tobago yesterday morning, said all beaches along the northwestern coast of the island have now been closed. The have now been closed. The Foreign Office says its supporting the victims family. The king is to return to public dufies the king is to return to public duties with his medical team, saying theyre very encouraged by the progress made in his Cancer Treatment. A palace Cancer Treatment. A palace spokesperson says king charles is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public facing dufies resuming some public facing duties and very grateful to his medical team. Buckingham palace says his majesty and Queen Camilla will visit a Cancer Treatment centre on tuesday to meet medical specialists and patients. Prime meet medical specialists and patients. Prime minister rishi sunak also welcomed the news, posting on x that it was brilliant news to end the week. Former royal correspondent charles rea told us the good news gives so many others, especially cancer sufferers, hope. The fact that he is produced, this news, this great news gives hope to so many other cancer sufferers as well as as it did when he first announced in february that he has got cancer. And we know that the very first thing hes going to do is on tuesday. Hes going to a cancer tuesday. Hes going to a Cancer Treatment centre where hes going to be meeting medics and, you know, people who are being treated for cancer. Again, this will be this will be a for great people who are suffering from this dreadful disease. This dreadful disease. And a gold pocket watch that was recovered from the body of the richest man on the titanic, will be auctioned today in wiltshire. It could fetch up to £150,000. Businessman John Jacob Astor, who was 47, went down with the ship in 1912 after seeing new wife madeleine onto a lifeboat rather than try his own luck with another lifeboat. The luck with another lifeboat. The impeccably dressed businessman, a prominent member of the wealthy astor family, was last seen smoking a cigarette and chatting with a fellow passenger. For the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. E commerce. Now its back to. Darren. Back to. Darren. Thanks very much, tatiana. Lets get stuck into todays topics. Let him get on with the job. Those are the words of defence secretary grant shapps to tory mps who are reportedly considering ousting rishi sunak before the general election , before the general election, shapps says now is not the time or place to try to put in place yet another tory leader. It comes as downing street brushed off rumours on friday that the Prime Minister could fire up the starting gun on an Election Campaign next week in a bid to thwart a possible challenge from restive mps. Well, joining me now is a woman in the know gb news Political Correspondent olivia utley. Olivia, thank you very much for your company. I mean, to what extent are you heanng mean, to what extent are you hearing that the conservatives really are taking this seriously . Because there are so many people out there in the country who may well say, oh my word. Brenda and bristol style. Not another one. Well , all the conservative well, all the conservative mps ive been talking to are very much talking down the prospect of a summer general election. And also they are all election. And also they are all saying, as you might expect publicly at least, that they plan to stand by rishi sunak. I think it all depends on what happens at those local elections next week. The polls predict that it next week. The polls predict thatitis next week. The polls predict that it is going to be disastrous for the conservatives, and if that does turn out to be the case, then i think it is possible that we see a slew of letters of no confidence from backbench conservative mps. At the moment, the thinking is that changing a leader 6 or 7 months before a general election would be a really, really bad look. But if those if those local Election Results are terrible, morale will become very low indeed. And actually mps might start to think maybe the worst thing we can do is keep the current leader. Maybe its worth a final roll of the dice to try and see match some sort of mitigate the damage. And you know , snatch damage. And you know, snatch some sort of victory from the jaws of defeat. Rishi sunak, for jaws of defeat. Rishi sunak, for his part, is hoping that as the year progresses, things will get steadily better for him, which is why i think it is unlikely that he calls a summer election. The rwanda plan has just been passed through parliament, and rishi sunak is expecting flights to take off in the next 10 to 12 weeks. Illegal immigration is something that voters care a lot about, so if we do start to see about, so if we do start to see a reduction in the number of boats coming here as a result of the rwanda deterrent effect and sort of three months time, then that could give sunak the little boost in the polls that hes been waiting for. As for the economy , inflation is still economy, inflation is still slowly going down and eventually that should have a knock on effect on Interest Rates, which could make peoples mortgage perils that little bit easier. So thats another reason why sunakis so thats another reason why sunak is hoping for a little boost in his fortunes in the second half of this year. My instinct is still that we can expect an election sort of october, november time rather than june july time as being talked up this week. But as i say, i mean, that is with the caveat of what happens in those local elections next week. Yeah, and clive has written in olivia and clive says a vote for reform is not a vote for laboun for reform is not a vote for labour. Its tory voters showing their dismay with the action of their dismay with the action of the current leader, of course, rishi sunak, a Labour Government will be worse, but the tories need to change and since they wont listen , they need to be wont listen, they need to be shown by the voters. Its the parliamentary conservatives fault labour will get in. I mean , are you hearing a lot of conservative mps who, lets not forget, secured a big majority in 2019 only to find themselves in 2019 only to find themselves in this position now, where youve got people like clive, who i assume have voted conservative in the past, who are just totally switched off now, olivia , i think that is a now, olivia, i think that is a huge problem. And actually i dont think its just a problem for the conservatives. The labour party too, is struggling with sort of voter apathy. What labour is worried about isnt a huge number of people suddenly deciding that they love the conservatives. Its that no one will bother or, you know , will bother or, you know, turnout will be incredibly low in the election. People just wont bother to turn up. And thats what mps ive spoken to whove been knocking on doors are quietly whispering that voter apathy seems to be at an all time high. And thats not really good for either party. But possibly it is worse for the incumbent party. The idea that that people will will actually bother to turn up even, you know, conservative voters will actually get out of their chairs and vote conservative on polling day , it seems quite unlikely day, it seems quite unlikely there was a mention of reform there was a mention of reform there. And i think thats really there. And i think thats really interesting. That to me is the only reason why rishi sunak may decide to call an election a little bit earlier. At the moment, reform still isnt polling nearly as well as ukip was back in 20 1415, but the numbers are going up slowly and there is a chance that rishi sunak chooses to call an election a little bit earlier than we were expecting , because than we were expecting, because he doesnt really want reform to have a chance to get its ducks in a row. So thats my only real caveat to the idea of an election in sort of october, november this year. All right. Olivia utley there. Thank you as ever from westminster. Now for all the best analysis and opinion on that story and much more. You that story and much more. You can go to our website which is gb news. Dot com now humza yousaf. He says he wont resign as scotlands first minister, a head of a crucial test of his leadership this coming week. He says that as a minority government, his party, the snp, will make some concessions as it negotiates with other parties. Its after the collapse of the governments power sharing deal with the greens in the Scottish Parliament yesterday. But humza yousaf says he will fight on now. Joining me to join in to discuss this in the studio is the political commentator Matthew Stadlen and former adviser to michael gove. Charlie rowley. Now ill start with, rowley. Now ill start with, with you, matthew, if i may. With you, matthew, if i may. Hes somewhat snookered, right . Hes somewhat snookered, right . Hes somewhat snookered, right . Hes never looked more powerless. Really because hes sort of reliant on the likes of ash regan, who, for those that dont know, is an msp who defected from the Scottish National party to alba, which is Alex Salmonds other independent si king Political Party and she says she wont back humza yousaf unless he gets rid of self identification trans laws. So he aint going to do that, is he . So hes somewhat snookered and my understanding is that those two havent actually spoken since humza yousaf prevailed in that leadership election last year, so hes in a very tricky spot. Theres no doubt about it. Hes being defiant, but both for the Scottish Parliament, for the snps representation in the Scottish Parliament and for their leadership of scotland, and also for the wider Political Landscape across the uk. This is chaos for the scots nats. We shouldnt forget that, although theyve been running scotland now for some time, there is no majority in scotland for their raison detre for their flagship policy, which is, of course, as the name suggests , scottish the name suggests, Scottish Independence. What i would say is that this is an enormous and im sure charlie will say its an opportunity for the scottish conservatives. But this is a huge opportunity for keir starmer and for labour, because dont forget those whopping majority that tony blair won for labour three times in a row. They did go down were partly built on huge and actually assumed in the end, success in scotland. So theres a real opportunity to win back a lot of seats there for labour at the general election. Now for humza yousaf, i must say, is a man that inspires a unique amount of comments in our inbox here, and the answer being anas sarwar is heavily disputed by some viewers in scotland as well, because he also stood up in parliament after the blm summer that we had in 2020, the black lives matter summer and gave a similar speech to Humza Yousafs white, white, white speech, which has gone viral around the internet. Now , do you think, actually, now, do you think, actually, nothings going to change in scotland because thats what some of the viewers are well, saying. Well well, i never thought id be agreeing with matthew so much to what he said, but hes hes absolutely right. You know, its over, hes not going to win that vote of no confidence. You dont adhere. And im not surprised hes not spoken to ash regan because when she left to go and join alba, he said she was no great loss to the snp. So i dont think shes going to be backing him any time soon. But youre right. You know, when it comes to an end and because of what matthew was saying, that, you know, the snp are focused far too much on just pushing independence. Thats not something that has a majority in terms of the scottish people, what the scottish people want , what the scottish people want, they have failed on education, they have failed on education, they have failed on education, they have failed on health, they have failed on crime , they have have failed on crime, they have failed on policing, they have failed. When it comes to the criminal Justice System, they have failed on the basic principles that people want to be governed by, including pushing things like self identification and gender identification, something that Nicola Sturgeon sort of wanted to push through, which hamza said he was sort of the heir to sturgeon, which is all a good nonsense because hes terrible and thats why hes found himself in the position that hes in. But youre right, the idea that there could be an alternative change in, you know, alternative change in, you know, a scottish labour movement, i think will raise questions. The only change that youll get probably in scotland , a real probably in scotland, a real change, is actually a conservative Scottish Government i buti but i mean, im assuming, matthew, that you vehemently disagree with that sentiment, but also, would humza yousaf not be able to point at the fact that we have since 2014, since before 2014, been talking about independence as a genuine prospect . Admittedly, were not talking about it so much now, but the snp has put that issue front and centre of much of our political discourse over that penod political discourse over that period of the last ten years. Theres an interesting tension because i think when politicians taste power, they tend to want to hold on to it. So if youre Nicola Sturgeon or if youre now humza yousaf and you are the first minister of scotland, you probably rather enjoy that power, enjoy running a nation and yet you are supposed to be, as you say , supposed to be, as you say, pushing Scottish Independence. If there were to be another referendum, i think remain would win again and that would be disastrous for the snp. So in a sense, theyve got to talk with fork tongues. Yes, we want Scottish Independence. Yes, maybe one day we will have another vote, but im not sure either sturgeon or humza yousaf now are particularly keen on a vote when it looks like they would lose it now, do you think actually the snp would be able to point at labour in wales, for example, and say, well, it aint going to get better here in scotland. I mean, if we judge wales as a test case, they might well do that. And thats what conservatives like to do in this country, like to say, well , and like to do in this country, like to say, well, and this isnt my view. But wales has failed under labour rule with devolution and therefore dont experiment with a Labour Government nationally. I think thats personally nonsense. I think theres a big difference between the Labour Administration in wales, the devolved administration and what the starmer government, and we expect it to be a starmer government will bring. But i do want to return to that earlier point. This is want to return to that earlier point. This is interesting and very important for scots and how they are governed north of the border, and we shouldnt ignore that. Youve just come out with some very punchy comments on how the Scottish Nationalists have failed in various important areas. Im not an expert on scottish politics. What im more interested in is a are we going to get Scottish Independence , to get Scottish Independence, which is something i dont think we should have either for the sake of the scots or for us and scots agree with me, but also with a general election coming up here. What impact will this have when people come to vote in that uk wide election . And if that uk wide election . And if you have a party in chaos, which is what id humbly, humbly suggest the snp is in at the moment, that is not good for them. I think it will be good for labour. Yes i mean, well, i mean that is what it looks like, right . It what it looks like, right . It looks like labour are going to do well out in scotland. What do well out in scotland. What can the conservatives do. Because you know, youve got your former boss, for example, he is in charge of sort of looking at devolution. Now some conservatives are saying maybe we made a bit of a mistake on devolution. Devolution. Well, i think, you know, devolution is important. You know, giving local communities the right to have a say over what is important to them and impact on them. I mean, come on, its just a wind up, isnt it . Well, i think, the proposed that the people, you know, look, i think the devolved assemblies have a role to play, and theyre doing particularly, particularly well in scotland. But i think, look, you know, you what you cant do is with devolution is devolve and forget. And i think for far too long, both under labour and probably under successive conservatives administrations, its just been devolving power to local authorities or, or , devolved authorities or, or, devolved assemblies without remembering that actually there is still a responsibility of the uk government to assist , say, one government to assist, say, one more very, very quick thing. No, i think voters has got to realise because youd say the snp are progressive. Maybe you say labour are progressive , say labour are progressive, theyll say, okay, were not going to get independence. This is a general election. We want is a general election. We want the tories out. Lets not vote for the snp. Lets vote for laboun okay. Well, thank you very much. There. Thats Matthew Stadlen, the political commentator and the former adviser to michael gove. Charlie adviser to michael gove. Charlie rowley before him there now, folks, summer is just around the corner and we want to make it sizzle for you. 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Com forward slash win. Please check forward slash win. Please check the closing time if listening or watching on demand. Good luck. Youre with me Darren Grimes on gb news saturday. Lots more coming up on todays show. Labour has warned that the cost of tory chaos is hitting business turnover, with new analysis from the labour party revealing that a staggering 1 in 5 businesses report Economic Uncertainty as the number one factor negatively impacting business turnover. Well discuss and debate that. All of that and and debate that. All of that and more to come. Youre with gb news, britains news channel welcome back to gb news saturday with me. Darren grimes on your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Lots of you have been sending in your thoughts. I thank you very much for doing so. So, dave says much for doing so. So, dave says scottish labour agree with the hate crime bill, of course, championed by humza yousaf and will be the snp without the independents agenda. The people of scotland have an even worse choice than we do in england now , reform, graham says, are seem to be the only sensible option and, wayne says the decline of britain and British Values the birth of loony left snowflake culture began in 97 with the election of tony blair and new laboun election of tony blair and new labour. And then simon says, the only common sense is reform. If you vote labour, youre a turkey voting for christmas. So thats that one. And were going to get into the, labours new report on Economic Uncertainty harming business turnover , because business turnover, because thats a claim theyve made in this new analysis that theyre pumping out, which reveals 1 in 5 businesses say uncertainty surrounding the economy as a whole is the number one factor harming their turnover. Now that analysis comes as rishi sunak is under increasing scrutiny for his claims that the economy is turning a corner. I mean, do you at home feel like its turning a corner . Thats despite the corner . Thats despite the economy being hit by recession even earlier this year and, you know, pretty low Economic Growth . Well, a man in the know is the economist and co founder of regionally, Justin Urquhart stewart , who joins me now. Stewart, who joins me now. Justin, thank you very much for your time. My pleasure. Now, your time. My pleasure. Now, justin, do labour have a point here, or is this just Party Political guff thats being pumped out from the leader of the oppositions office . Well, certainly it is an element of guff and see how its being described. But actually, fundamentally, theyre right , fundamentally, theyre right, because what runs an economy and it really is very straightforward , not so easy to straightforward, not so easy to achieve confidence if you and i dont have confidence , we dont dont have confidence, we dont go and spend as much. We dont go to the restaurants. If you dont have so much confidence, im not going to take my savings and invest in something because im not too sure whats going to happen. Interest rates up, down, i dont i cant see it. And the same also. Then with businesses setting up, people coming to invest in britain, theyll say, ill invest in britain maybe later. And this sort of negative attitude is infectious. What you have to do is, im afraid, turn it around and say, look, stop moaning. The entire time there are some very positive aspects to the british economy. Yes, we have been through some bad things, as has the rest of the world as well. We seem to have some unusual politicians who dont really seem to understand quite whats happening. But fundamentally, weve got new businesses starting up around the tech area, which is the area which is growing and is our future, but we dont have the structure to properly invest in them. Our Stock Exchange is vanished as far as i can actually see, it doesnt seem to be doing very much to help. And new businesses are being bought up by private equity disappearing off to off to the states. No, no. Give people the no, no. Give people the confidence to know that actually were not just turning a corner or, you know, reaching another bendin or, you know, reaching another bend in the road or whatever phrase you want to try and use. But some practical things to say, look , stop moaning. Were say, look, stop moaning. Were actually rather good at setting up businesses. We set up more Small Businesses than france and germany put together. The bit were not good at is actually financing financing to grow. We can fix that. There is no shortage of money. Lots of pension money does not have to be focused on global investment, some of it not by way of charity , but for good. Investment can be diverted into britain and do it that way. Why do you think there never has been a big Tech Breakthrough . Of course you know, youve mentioned in the when we were chatting just earlier about some examples in Northern Ireland, for example, and in cambridgeshire, but why has there never been, you know, an apple of the United Kingdom, for example . Is it Corporation Tax rates . Are we just too tax heavy . Whats the answer . Heavy . Whats the answer . Well i certainly tax doesnt help with this. But really what it has happenedis but really what it has happened is the city and okay thats a creature im from in one way or another, be it actually in ulster or in glasgow, we used to have Stock Exchanges there, and the whole point of it was raising local for money local business. But you dont need silicates in red braces to do that. But we got braces to do that. But we got away, got rid of those things and we replaced them with what . Banks. Banks dont lend much money out, certainly not at the moment. So theyre terrified because they get blamed for whats going on. Hardly surprising. So you have private eqtu surprising. So you have private equity coming from the states and their view is short term. If and their view is short term. If they make a good investment, its done in three years, five years, if they get it wrong, you want longer Term Investment ten, 15 years. So actually theres no reason why you couldnt have a British Sovereign wealth fund. There are certain elements of it there but never really put together. Also then giving tax breaks to make sure that people are investing. Weve got the enterprise Investment Scheme now. Make that regional. So up in belfast youve got a very good example there of a sort of Silicon Group there. So silicon dockis Silicon Group there. So silicon dock is matching anything else. But youve got silicon fen glen. Silicon bridge apparently thats bristol silicon implant doesnt work. And so all of those other elements means that youve got the lego bricks. Now put them together. The problem the lego bricks. Now put them together. The problem is the treasury doesnt have the experience anymore because they all be in their relative short term to really understand this. And the politicians certainly dont understand it. But hang on. But hang on. I mean, just in a lot of people may well be saying, but didnt liz truss try some of this, you know, regional investment devolving Corporation Tax to parts of the country and all these other things to actually make regions competitive on a tax basis. And she tried that. And the market said, oh, hang on a minute. No way, jose. No. Markets were complaining no. Markets were complaining that what shes talking about, we need growth. Yeah we need growth. We need to come back to it. Thats what you you cant grow the economy. Youve got grow the economy. Youve got a big problem. Says youve got to do that. What you have to do is actually make sure that people have confidence in what youre doing. And the simple issue doing. And the simple issue there is she was coming up with things which, well, how are you going to fund this in the short term, let alone the longer term . And its not just someone like me moaning about it. You look at the markets and domestically and internationally and they turn around and say, we dont trust what youre saying. Show me what youre saying. Show me something which has got some credibility for it, as opposed to something which looks like, heres the magic wand. I didnt know we had. They didnt know you had this. Here. We can fix all of this. Thats not going to work. What you can do, though, is go back to some Old Fashioned principles of investing medium term with tax breaks, not government money. Have that. So its good for people to invest, good for companies to invest and to attract businesses into britain , to say all over the britain, to say all over the country here this is worthwhile doing and have labour proposed that they would do anything like that . Theyre hinting towards it, but they too dont really seem to understand it. No. And thats what you need. Yeah. Thats what you need. Yeah. All right, justin, its always a pleasure. Thank you very much for that insight and analysis there. Thats the economist and co founder of rikki neave , Justin Urquhart rikki neave, Justin Urquhart stewart. Now folks, youre with me. Darren grimes on gb news saturday. Weve got lots more coming up on todays show. First of all though, were going to get the news with tatiana. Darren. Thank you. The top stories this hour. Up to 50 migrants were rescued in a dramatic race against the tide after their boat ran aground on after their boat ran aground on a sandbank off the kent coast. Gb news captured this exclusive video of the migrant arrivals today. The small boat ran aground this morning on goodwin sands. No one is believed to have been injured. The incident comes as gb news can also reveal the number of numbers crossing illegally from france have now passed 7000 for the year, so far, at least five small boats have made it to uk waters so far today, carrying more than 250 migrants. Humza yousaf is said to be asking leaders of other parties to find Common Ground with him, as he invites them to talks at his official residence to see how they can work with his minority government. The Scottish First minister says he will not resign as leader ahead of a crucial test of his leadership next week, and is now reportedly attempting to build bndges reportedly attempting to build bridges with the other political leaders at holyrood. He hopes to leaders at holyrood. He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at bute house in edinburgh to discuss how they can contribute constructively. Vie contribute constructively. Vie letters were reportedly sent to the scottish conservative and scottish labour party, the scottish labour party, the scottish greens and the alba party last night. Well, this all comes after the collapse of the snps power sharing deal with the greens on thursday. The greens on thursday. Thousands of pro Palestinian Protesters have begun marching in central london, calling for an immediate ceasefire in gaza. The pro palestine protest group Palestine Solidarity Campaign says the event is in response to israels brutal attack on gaza. Former Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those holding banners at the front of the crowd. Meanwhile, a Demonstration Organised by the campaign against anti semitism was also due to take place today, but that was cancelled yesterday as organisers said the safety of jews was at risk following threats made and a british tourist is in intensive care after being attacked by a shark on a caribbean island. The 64 year old is receiving Critical Care after serious injuries to his left arm , his injuries to his left arm, his left leg and stomach. Hes said to be stable and doing well. The attack happened at turtle beach along great colon bay in trinidad and tobago yesterday morning. The Foreign Office says morning. The Foreign Office says its supporting the victims family. For the latest stories, family. For the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Now its back to. Darren. Thank you as ever, tatiana. Now remember, folks, you can let me know your thoughts on all of the stories weve been discussing today by visiting gbnews. Com. Forward slash yours and join that conversation there. Your voice much more important than ours. Or message me on our socials. Were me on our socials. Were gbnews. Lots more coming up on the show today. The government will begin physical checks at the border on medium risk and high risk goods coming into the uk at the end of this month. So what does that mean for Northern Ireland . Well find out all of that and more to come. Im Darren Grimes and youre with gb news britains news channel 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. For every moment 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 saturday with me, Darren Grimes , saturday with me, Darren Grimes, on your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Now. Lots of you have been getting in touch. Sending in your thoughts to gbnews. Com forward slash your say paul send some for love Justin Urquhart who weve just had on discussing some economic stories and he wants him back and i couldnt agree more. I think hes an absolutely brilliant voice with a pretty worthwhile analysis. And roger says on that economic story, theres never been a british apple because the special relationship lets the yanks buy all our best companies. Is that all our best companies. Is that a point . Do you . Actually, the a point . Do you . Actually, the americans hold too much sway over being able to gobble up british ingenuity and actually stifle it there . And alistair says with inflation near the 2 target and the economy growing and that growth accelerating, the pmi figures are correct. If they are correct, business is increasing investment. So thats some positive news there from alistair. But of course your thoughts more important than mine. So do continue to get in touch. Gbnews. Com yoursay now folks, the government will begin physical checks at the border on medium risk and high risk goods coming into the uk at the end of this month. The final major change will come in october, with the government require and safety and security declarations, while also introducing a single trade window aiming to reduce the number of forms needed for importers. Now meanwhile, in ireland, goods coming in will be checked after october of this yeah checked after october of this year. Well, joining me now is gb news Northern Ireland reporter Dougie Beattie. Dougie, it Dougie Beattie. Dougie, it stopped raining there. Im delighted to see. But you know this the forms aint going to stop raining for importers are they. No. Definitely not. In fact , no. Definitely not. In fact, it is. It is quite strange that we now see this coming forward, because this has been in the pipeline for the last few years. Pipeline for the last few years. And of course, during those brexit negotiations, things that were put on British Goods coming into Northern Ireland because we are still held inside eu markets , because of our land border with the republic of ireland , with the republic of ireland, those, Customs Declarations that were put on British Goods coming into this part of the uk will now be reversed ever so slightly on european goods travelling back into the uk. And thats not back into the uk. And thats not just from ireland, but from all over europe and indeed the world. Now during the those protocol talks, youll remember that the government and everything collapsed in Northern Ireland. And it was interesting to hear your last contributor talking about local government. Not really our politicians not really having any sense of how investment went regionally. I was absolutely amazed and astounded at how many politicians didnt really know how trade works, because trade doesnt start with people. Trade doesnt start with people. Trade starts with taxation, energy, food. I think people down about number 18 on that list. So when you look at the deal that got Northern Ireland back into place, says that we are part of the uk and any goods coming from Northern Ireland can travel straight into the into britain, into mainland uk, without those checks that are coming on the april the 30th, but that also causes problems for the republic of ireland, whose lorries will be stopped going in. And many of them may just head across a borderless border into the belfast ports. Larne port and cross back into britain again, hopefully avoiding those checks. So thats thats what they will be hoping for, because those checks, no matter what anybody says, will increase the price of our goods because those goods, have forms or those goods will require forms, applications to be set , etc. And require forms, applications to be set, etc. And most of those dunng be set, etc. And most of those during this deal here fell at the feet of the hauliers. And the feet of the hauliers. And the feet of the hauliers. And the hauliers now have serious amounts of paperwork to do in order to get goods in and out of britain , and that will also send britain, and that will also send the same thing across to europe. And if you take that in and around midlands and so forth, there is an awful lot of goods that come in to there, loads of ready meals, etc. Being made and then shipped back out again. That means theres paperwork on the way into britain and therell be paperwork on the way out of britain. So things like pizzas, red meals all have meat and products that come from other parts of the world that will now be held up in that customs area. So theyre the only answer to that in the labour party will tell you this is closer regulation and legislation backed with europe. Legislation backed with europe. And that brings us to the conversation. Well, what was the point of brexit in the first place . If you dont have the advantage of having to be able to compete using different regulations . Well, why would people not point to that building behind you there and say, well, hang on a minute. You know, we used to a minute. You know, we used to manage it pretty well without the eu before, so why cant we do it now . Is it really beyond the wit of man . Well, because quite simply, when we used to manufacture ourselves, we had our own coal, ourselves, we had our own coal, our own fertiliser , our plants, our own fertiliser, our plants, our own fertiliser, our plants, our own fertiliser, our plants, our own Food Production, our Food Production , own security is Food Production, own security is now way down to what it used to be. Or we dont manufacture any vast amounts of fertiliser anymore. In fact, when you went down close to birmingham, there used to be milky with the amount of nitrogen and so forth product that was in the air. Thats all gone out to belarus, russia, etc. So we are having to import Raw Materials no matter how we like it or not. Loads of our electronics that maybe are assembled in england or indeed assembled in england or indeed assembled here in Northern Ireland, those primary products are actually coming from china and abroad to come in to, uk , be and abroad to come in to, uk, be put together and then shipped on. So the World Economy has really changed to getting bits and pieces from all over the place. I mean, we are now taking an amazing amount of milk, from india, china. Theres a pacific deal signed where we get our eggs from mexico , peru, poland. Eggs from mexico, peru, poland. That was never the case before the eu, before we entered that, because we were manufacturing for ourselves. Even if you look at your clothing brands, most of those are done in the far east. So all of a sudden when youre having to put customs in place to actually look at those products coming in, you can only but say that buildings like this behind me, that used to be customs will that knowledge has gone and were now starting afresh. And most of that will unfortunately fall onto the hauliers. All right. Yeah. I mean , i all right. Yeah. I mean, i think theres a robust and correct words there for british farming and the struggles that theyre going through, dougie. But thats another story. But Dougie Beattie there. Thank you very much. As ever from ulster. Now youre with me, Darren Grimes on gb news saturday. Weve got lots more coming up on todays show. Another day, todays show. Another day, another record broken by taylor swift as her latest album topped the uk charts with the biggest first week sales in seven years. All of that and more to come. All of that and more to come. Youre with gb news, britains news channel welcome back to gb news saturday with me, Darren Grimes. On your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Now, speaking of radio, you may have heard this woman played once or twice on there. Another day, another record has been broken by taylor swift. Her latest album has topped the uk charts, with the biggest first week sales in seven years. The tortured Poets Department shifted 270,000 uk units in just seven days. That eclipses her previous record of 204,000 for her 2022 album midnights. It also means she now matches madonna as the female artist with the most uk number ones. Well, joining me now is the Showbiz Reporter Stephanie Takyi stephanie a pleasure as even takyi stephanie a pleasure as ever. Hi darren, theres no stopping this woman. She is a juggernaut, right . No , she is literally right no, she is literally right now its all about taylor swift fever in the uk. She is definitely a groundbreaker. You know , since she announced this know, since she announced this album back in february, theres been a lot of anticipation on what is it going to sound like . Is it going to be one of taylors best work . And in her fans eyes, shes done no wrong with this. And because she gave Little Information about this album when it was released last friday, she broke records for spotify and the week its been out a billion streams, darren. And you know, in an era where people are not buying vinyl or cds this week alone, its predicted that shes going to sell 700,000 copies of vinyl of this new album and its because taylor swift is just amazing at her work. And what she does. Shes a true musician when she comes to work , she writes all of comes to work, she writes all of her songs, and the last album she released was only two years ago. So already shes put a body of work of 31 tracks. So that is a lot of work for people to consume music wise. And even if youre not a taylor swift, because theres been so much promotion around it, people are just interested and curious to listen to this, to see what all the fuss is about. I heard yesterday, i was out with a gb news presenter discussing taylor swift, actually, as you did, as you do, and resale of her tickets on toun and resale of her tickets on tour. Theyre going for, like, really mad amounts of money. Yeah. Darren when these tickets came out, because its been one of the best selling tours worldwide. So to get a ticket for this concert is like gold dust and whats happening, a lot of ticket touts are actually bought them when they all came out, and now theyre selling up to, like £1,000. And can you imagine for taylor swift, most of them are for her fans. Most of them are quite young, so they will pay that kind of money to see her. But the problem last week i was talking about it on air is a lot of people are being scammed for those tickets as well, so people need to be really ensuring that they are getting credible tickets. All right. Now tickets. All right. Now i want to tickets. All right. Now i want to talk all right. Now i want to talk about itv. Yeah. And rageh omaar who yesterday it seems , really who yesterday it seems, really wasnt very well at all was giving a live broadcast. It was, as you were saying, steph, this is a veteran broadcaster. Hes a very accomplished broadcaster. You hes a very accomplished broadcaster. You know, hes a very accomplished broadcaster. You know, hes very easy to watch. Hes very a man who knows what hes talking about. But last night on online, there was concerns for him. If anyone was watching the news at ten on itv yesterday because he was slurring his words, he couldnt read the bulletin. Okay, so clearly we were watching an emergency happening live on air, which as you know, for any presenter, its almost what you do not want. But being the professional he is, he still continued as itv have come out and said thanked people for their concerns. But they said he their concerns. But they said he is now receiving medical care and it is quite scary because, you know, there is a lot of talk online, what it could have been, but they are. Itv are receiving a bit of criticism for it because, you know, if something had gone wrong in that studio, he wasnt pulled off air. They kept him on air for half an hour and people could gradually see that actually hes not okay. So and what what have itv said in their comments. Well, theyve just said theyve thanked people for their well wishes. But they said he is receiving medical care. Thats all theyve said. And theyve also pulled the show from their playback service. And it was supposed to be back on their plus one service. Theyve taken it all down, which i think its the right thing to do because to be honest to watching it last night, it was very uncomfortable. Yeah. God bless him. God bless him. So i hope he has a speedy recovery. Yeah. Thank you very much as even yeah. Thank you very much as ever. Always a pleasure. Thats the Showbiz Reporter Stephanie Takyi there. Youre with me, Darren Grimes on gb news saturday. Lords. More coming up on todays show. First of all though, the weather with marco. Though, the weather with marco. A brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather solar, the sponsors of weather on. Gb news. On. Gb news. Hello. Heres your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. We hold on to mixed weather conditions across the uk over the next few days, all of us seeing some rain at times, often breezy and temperatures though starting to recover, actually becoming fairly warm in places during the middle to second stage of the coming week. Low pressure sitting towards the south of the uk at the moment, thats starting to throw outbreaks of quite persistent rain in across the south and east of the uk as we head through the evening into the overnight period, some of that rain turning quite heavy dunng that rain turning quite heavy during the early hours of sunday, especially ones towards the north and northwest. Its a clearer picture. Showers here clearer picture. Showers here starting to ease. Well see a clear spells at times and here will turn quite chilly by sunday morning. Could see a touch of frost in places in rural spots. Temperatures here locally down below freezing , whereas towards below freezing, whereas towards the south and east with the wind, cloud and rain around, temperatures hold safely above zero into tomorrow. A bit of an east west split , developing some east west split, developing some heavy outbreaks of rain across eastern parts of the uk. It could brighten up for a time across east anglia, setting off across east anglia, setting off a few heavy showers but feeling chilly with a cloud, wind and rain. Here quite a blustery day out towards the east, whereas out towards the east, whereas out towards the west and northwest brighter skies, a mixture of sunshine and scattered showers. But wherever you are, temperatures are staying. Pretty disappointing for the time of year. Highs of 12 to 13 celsius 13. In the southeast its 55 in fahrenheit. As for monday , well, an east as for monday, well, an east west split once again, but this time a reversal of fortunes with the east and southeast seeing the east and southeast seeing the better conditions, brighter skies was out towards the west and rain at times, all of us seeing rain at times during the week ahead. But notice those temperatures picking up to into the high teens or low 20s in places that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Thank you very much, marco. Hey, im wondering where spring i could do with some spring. Lots more coming up on todays show. Let him get on with the job. Those are the words of defence secretary grant shapps to tory mps who are considering ousting rishi sunak before the general election. Are the conservatives changing their leader as often as the change in their underwear . Thats what we want to know. All of that and want to know. All of that and more to come. Youre with gb news, britains news channel hello and welcome to gb news saturday, im Darren Grimes, and for this next hour, ill be keeping you company on tv, onune keeping you company on tv, online and on Digital Radio. Ill keep you up to date on the stories that really matter to you coming up this hour. Let him get on with the job. Those are the words of defence secretary grant shapps to tory mps who are considering ousting rishi sunak before the general election. Could we see yet another tory leader this summer . Not another one, says brendan bristol. Then the government will begin physical checks at the border on medium risk and high risk goods coming into the uk at the end of the month. What will that mean for Northern Ireland and for consumers in gb and us President Joe Biden . President joe biden says he is happy to face off with donald trump in a debate before the november election. I mean, thats going to be an absolute blockbuster, ill tell you that. But this show is you that. But this show is nothing without you. And your views. Let me know your thoughts on all the stories well be discussing today by visiting gbnews. Com. Forward slash york. You can join the conversation there or message me on our socials. Where gbnews. First of all though, heres your news with tatiana. With tatiana. Darren. Darren. Thank you. The top stories up to 50 migrants were rescued in a dramatic race against the tide after their boat ran aground on after their boat ran aground on a sandbank off the kent coast. Gb news captured this exclusive video of the migrant arrivals. The small boat ran aground this morning on goodwin sands. No one is believed to have been injured. The incident comes as gb news can reveal the numbers crossing illegally from france have now passed 7000 for the yeah have now passed 7000 for the year. So far, at least five small boats have made it to uk waters, so far today, carrying more than 250 migrants. Humza yousaf is said to be asking leaders of other parties to find Common Ground with him, as he ianes Common Ground with him, as he invites them to talk at his official residence to see how they can work with his minority government. The Scottish First government. The Scottish First minister says he will not resign as leader ahead of a crucial test of his leadership next week, and is now reportedly attempting to build bridges with the other political leaders at holyrood. He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at bute house in edinburgh to discuss how they can contribute constructively. Letters were reportedly sent to the scottish conservatives, scottish labour, the scottish greens and the alba party last night. This all comes after the collapse of the snps power sharing deal with the greens on thursday. Thousands of thursday. Thousands of pro Palestinian Protesters have begun marching in central london, calling for an immediate ceasefire in gaza. The pro palestine protest group Palestine Solidarity Campaign says the event is in response to. Israels brutal attack on gaza. Former labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those holding banners at the front of the crowd. The march passed a fixed pro israeli demonstration on pall mall peacefully. Meanwhile, a Demonstration Organised by the campaign against anti semitism was also due to take place today, but that was cancelled yesterday as organisers said the safety of jews was at risk following threats made more than 20 sexual predators have been jailed for exploiting young girls in West Yorkshire, involving abuse described as abhorrent in the extreme. The 24 men have been jailed for a total of 346 years, following prosecutions by operation tor, which is West Yorkshire polices investigation into the rape, sexual abuse and trafficking of eight girls between 1999 and 2012. Four of the men convicted in the series of trials received sentences of more than 20 years. A british tourist is in intensive care after being attacked by a shark on a caribbean island. The 64 year old is receiving Critical Care after serious injuries to his left arm, his left leg and stomach, according to a local official. He is said to be stable and doing well. The attack happened at turtle beach along Great Courland Bay in trinidad and tobago yesterday morning. Several beaches along morning. Several beaches along the northwestern coast of the island have been closed. The island have been closed. The Foreign Office is supporting the victims family. Foreign office is supporting the victims family. The king is to victims family. The king is to return to public duties with his medical team, saying they are very encouraged by the progress made in his Cancer Treatment. A palace spokesperson says king charles is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public facing duties, and very grateful to his medical team. Buckingham palace says his majesty and Queen Camilla will visit a Cancer Treatment centre on tuesday to meet medical specialists and patients. Prime minister rishi sunak also welcomed the news, posting on air that it was a brilliant news to end the week. Former royal correspondent charles rea told us the good news gives so many others hope. The fact that he is produced, this news, this great news gives hope to so many other cancer sufferers as well as as it did when he first announced in february that he has got cancer. And we know that the very first thing hes going to do is on tuesday. Hes going to a Cancer Treatment centre where hes going to be meeting medics and, you know, people who are being treated for cancer. You know, people who are being treated for cancer. Again, this will be this will be a great for people who are suffering from this dreadful disease. This dreadful disease. And a gold pocket watch that was recovered from the body of the richest man on the titanic will be auctioned today in wiltshire. It could fetch up to £150,000. Businessman John Jacob Astor , who was 47, went down astor, who was 47, went down with the ship in 1912 after seeing new wife madeleine onto a lifeboat rather than try his own luck with another lifeboat. The luck with another lifeboat. The impeccably dressed businessman, a prominent member of the wealthy astor family, was last seen smoking a cigarette and chatting with a fellow passenger. For the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news complex. Now back to. Darren. Now back to. Darren. Thank you as ever. Tatiana. Right, lets get stuck in to todays topics. Let him get on with the job. Those are the words of defence secretary grant shapps to tory mps who are considering ousting rishi sunak before the general election. Before the general election. Shapps says now is not the time or place to try to put in place yet another tory leader. It yet another tory leader. It comes as downing street brushed off rumours on friday that the Prime Minister could fire the starting gun on an Election Campaign next week, in a bid to thwart a possible challenge from restive mps. Well, joining me now is gb news Political Correspondent, live from westminster. Olivia utley westminster. Olivia utley olivia, i mean, the rest of nature of conservative party mps seems to have been a theme of the last few years. Lets be honest. I the last few years. Lets be honest. I mean, the last few years. Lets be honest. I mean, how the last few years. Lets be honest. I mean, how serious and credible do you think these reports are . Especially if we consider that what 400 seats are predicted to potentially be lost or in play or in question come the local elections . The local elections . Conservative mps certainly have a bit of a history for being restive. I would say that i think a the idea of number 10 triggering a general election very soon is still pretty unlikely. It is possible that if the conservatives do as disastrously as being predicted in the local elections, there will be a slew of letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister coming in over the next couple of weeks. But it seems very, very unlikely that it will be enough to actually trigger a no confidence vote. It would have to be 15 of the party to actually trigger that vote. And if its only sort of even 20 mps writing that letter of no confidence, then rishi sunak i predict will will want to try and ride out the storm. The policies that hes putting in place now , we will only start to place now, we will only start to see the benefits of those. Hopefully later in the year. The rwanda plan has now been passed through parliament. Were expecting planes to take off in the next 10 to 12 weeks, and rishi sunak hopes and expects that that will mean the numbers of Illegal Migrants start to tick downwards. Also so inflation is now beginning to go down. Interest rates hopefully will start to go down to soon. Two, and that will hopefully mean a knock on effect on peoples mortgages. So i think that although mps might be a little bit restive after the local elections and although there will probably be an uptick in the number of letters of no confidence going in, rishi sunak would prefer to hold out to see what happens, to wait until some of his policy proposals come to fruition later in the year. So i think although, yes, there might be a few letters of no confidence, a general election in sort of july seems unlikely to me. I mean, olivia is there any method to the madness or the perceived madness that is in getting rid of rishi sunak . I mean, are they predicted bounces in the polls that would suggest getting rid of him . Would would be a net benefit to the Political Party . I mean, what is the thinking here behind such a move . Move . Well, to be honest, there isnt much evidence to suggest that there would be a real bounce in the polls if the conservatives replaced their leader. I think the method behind the madness, as you put it, is simply that its it might be worth rolling the dice one more time when rishi sunak became leader, he said that he wanted to steady the ship. Well, wanted to steady the ship. Well, as far as the polls are concerned, he has steadied the ship. But he studied it at the bottom of the ocean. The polls now are just as bad as they were for the conservatives. When rishi sunak took over from liz truss after her disastrous 49 days in power. So i think some conservatives are quietly thinking, well, things cant really get any worse. Maybe its really get any worse. Maybe its just worth the try. And i think there are some cabinet ministers who think similarly. I mean, someone like penny morden appears to be, you know, she keeps telling us publicly that sheisnt keeps telling us publicly that she isnt on manoeuvres, but behind the scenes she seems to behind the scenes she seems to be intent on buttering up all sorts of backbenchers. So there sorts of backbenchers. So there are some mps who would quite like a shot at the top job. And there are others who simply think it might be worth another roll of the dice on the grounds that things can hardly get worse for the tories. Yes, i was in parliament on wednesday for a Saint Georges day reception , and penny morden day reception, and penny morden was the keynote speaker. Olivia was the keynote speaker. Olivia utley. So it suggests to me that she may well be on manoeuvres. I mean , the question here for the mean, the question here for the tories, olivia would surely be will penny morden even keep her seat . You know, at this rate, some polls are suggesting no. Some polls are suggesting no. Well, exactly. And i think thats a really important consideration for Penny Mordaunt herself. You know , it might be herself. You know, it might be worth trying to depose rishi sunak and trying to take the leadership herself on the grounds that she doesnt have much to lose. She might well lose her seat anyway, but obviously it would be hugely embarrassing for the conservative party as a whole if their leader was to lose her seat in a general election. And actually, polls are suggesting that quite a few cabinet ministers could end up losing their seats, among them jeremy hunt, his seat in surrey is a real target seat for the lib dems. Rishi sunak, on the other hand, has a very , very strong hand, has a very, very strong seat in richmond in yorkshire , seat in richmond in yorkshire, so everything added up all together. I think conservative mps , restive as they might be mps, restive as they might be feeling, will probably keep their heads and hold on to rishi sunak even if there are sort of ten, even 20 letters of no confidence in the next couple of weeks. All right, olivia, jacks just written in, and jack says, id rather vote for larry the cat. Hes seen off plenty of no hopers, so that may well be a sentiment shared by a few viewers. There go larry. Thank viewers. There go larry. Thank you very much, olivia utley there gb news is brilliant Political Correspondent. Now, folks, for all the best analysis and opinion on that story and very much more, you can go to our website gbnews. Com. Now the migrant crisis shows absolutely no signs of abating. Dozens of migrants who were stranded on a sandbank off of the kent coast after their boat ran aground have been rescued. Now for those listening on radio, were showing exclusive footage of a rescue effort which involved a coastguard helicopter and several lifeboats. Now this incident comes as gb news can reveal the number of migrants crossing illegally from france has now passed 7000 for the year so far , 7000 now, considering so far, 7000 now, considering the rwanda bill passed earlier this week in parliament, is this an Early Warning sign that the bill isnt working . Because we bill isnt working . Because we also just to provide some balance there had ireland saying it is working because theyre ending up with the migrants that have come here who are scared about going to rwanda and therefore end up in ireland. So is it working or isnt it . Joining me now is former labour writer and adviser Scarlett Mcguire and political commentator reem ibrahim. Now commentator reem ibrahim. Now scarlett. I was with the other scarlett. I was with the other Scarlett Mccgwire last night, so thats going to get very confusing very quickly. But scarlett, do you think actually, what do you agree with what ireland are saying, what do you agree with what ireland are saying , that ireland are saying, that actually theyre ending up with people going to ireland because theyre worried about being sent to rwanda . Is that having a deterrent effect already . Well, obviously, if ireland are noticing that the number of , are noticing that the number of, of Asylum Seekers have come up, then its true. But but as weve seen , it isnt working. It isnt seen, it isnt working. It isnt working for lessening. People coming over here, it was never going to work. I mean, were talking that what is it, three. Just over 300 people might be flown to rwanda in 12 weeks time. Theyre not worried about it. I mean, you know, frankly , there i mean, you know, frankly, there are at least one person a month drowns in the channel. I mean, and for many of them , theyve and for many of them, theyve come across the mediterranean. These people are desperate , these people are desperate, right . The odds that those odds about rwanda, they dont matter. Theyre not going to make a difference if you want to make a difference, you you need to sort out the asylum system. Now ream a lot of viewers will be saying these people arent desperate in the sense of theyre in france , right. Which theyre in france, right. Which ihave theyre in france, right. Which i have been on holiday to france. Ive enjoyed wines and cheeses in france. Bit too much in the way of wine. And i didnt feel desperate whilst there. So, you know , do our viewers have a know, do our viewers have a point . Oh, no. Youre absolutely right. And i think that its really disingenuous to claim that every Single Person that crosses the channel illegally is genuinely claiming asylum because they they fear for their lives. There is absolutely no reason why somebody should be fearing for their lives in france now , for their lives in france now, there is an understanding about there is an understanding about the fact that france has actually taken a lot more Illegal Migrants than we have, but that doesnt mean that those people that do cross the channel between france and the uk feel unsafe. Theyre coming here for many reasons because britain is a fantastic country. Fantastic country. But as scarlett says, we need to fix the asylum system in order for people to stop doing this. Labour say they want to open up safe and legal routes elsewhere. Where are you on that . What is the solution to this . Because obviously its a dangerous thing to do, as weve seen today with that rescue operation, what can be done to actually stop this if it isnt rwanda . Well, look, i mean, i actually do agree with scott. I think that the rwanda policy is a bit of a gimmick. I think that its politically going to bode quite well if we can at least get a couple of Asylum Seekers and get a photograph of sunak Election Campaign, i think that will look really well. I also think its very disingenuous to start calling rwanda an unsaved country or effectively saying that. And we saw in the telegraph this morning that cleverly and doctor vincent beretta, who is the foreign minister in rwanda, they both co wrote an article effectively saying , you know, rwanda has saying, you know, rwanda has made huge strides politically and we know that the rwandan genocide had a huge impact economically about 10 of the population were wiped out in the 90s, but since then, over the last 30 years, rwandas gdp has increased by about 8. 1. There are huge strides with regard to rwanda, and i think its disingenuous for people like Emmanuel Macron to effectively be saying that the rwanda policy doesnt align with our values, but that doesnt necessarily mean that the rwanda policy is actually going to work. I think we just need to tell people they cannot come to this country and deport them elsewhere, get them out of the country if they are coming here illegally. We cannot allow people to break the law. Scarlett , what is what is the scarlett, what is what is the labour response in full then . Because you know, these safe and legal routes. Fine. But what do you do, scarlett, about those who say, well, i couldnt come here under safe and legal routes, so i need to take an unsafe and illegal route. There isnt. There isnt a safe and legal route at the moment. Okay, so theres no question about it. There is only one way, i mean, unless , you one way, i mean, unless, you know, you can somehow get into heathrow and then claim asylum, but but basically there is not a safe there is no there are no safe there is no there are no safe and legal routes. If we go back to rwanda, its actually quite important is rwanda. Its not i mean, its not libya, its not i mean, its not libya, its not syria. Its not a terrible country. But this is not a functioning democracy. 99 of functioning democracy. 99 of the people voted for the president. That means that , you president. That means that, you know, in a proper democracy, you do not get 99. So there there is there is a lot of people which britain has allowed people , britain has allowed people, rwandan refugees to stay here, right about one a month is allowed to claim asylum , but allowed to claim asylum, but thats more so an indictment on our current immigration system. No, no no rwanda. No, no no rwanda. No, no its not, because actually its very difficult. I mean, we have a terrible, asylum, but when you actually get to be decided. Right, most people are found are found not to not be okay, but about one person a month from rwanda , they person a month from rwanda, they say, cannot be sent back because theyre in fear of their lives. I mean, the Us Government says renee look, i could go on houday renee look, i could go on holiday to rwanda. You could both go on holiday to rwanda. People go on holiday and see the gorillas. The problem is, people go on holiday and see the gorillas. The problem is, is that if youre an opponent, right, i mean, here im allowed to come on television and say why i think our government is rubbish. Right. And its fine. And you might disagree with me, but nothing will and nothing will happen to me when i go out. If i said it in rwanda, i would be in danger. The problem with rwanda so im north african, half moroccan and half egyptian. If i went to egypt and said anything about the egyptian government, id also probably not be okay. And i wouldnt send i wouldnt send people to egypt because i do not think its a safe country. Okay. So i think its incredibly offensive to sit here and effectively say that an entire african continent is unsafe and that all of these people are unsafe in their own country. Country. Explaining why im explaining why rwanda is not a safe country to be sent to, that it doesnt have a functioning democracy. Right. And that if you are a political opponent, it is very dangerous. Sorry, but this is such a western, i will i will use the word imperialist kind of perspective on other countries, effectively saying that, you know, because your system isnt like our system. Its therefore wrong. And i think thats entirely wrong to mischaracterise these countries across the african nations theyre making. Im talking about one economic liberalism. Im talking about one free trade, economic fine. Im talking about one country. You mentioned egypt there as well, though you wouldnt send people to egypt. So where do we draw the line, scarlett . Where do we say . Well actually, you cant you cant come here from every single nation around the world. Surely you accept. No. So im were talking about where we would send people as safe countries, right . No. Look i went after the revolution, after the revolution in egypt. I went there to help the social democratic country, the social democratic country, the social democratic party. I wouldnt i couldnt go there anymore because it would be dangerous for them. Right. So, i mean, egypt is repressive. There is absolutely no question about it. I am not saying the whole of africa is. I think morocco is fine. The last time i was in fine. The last time i was in morocco, i was there for for, a conference about violence against women, nobody was complaining in morocco about about it. I am complaining in morocco about about it. I am saying that rwanda does not have a functioning democracy. You might think that all matters is economic. Im saying it doesnt have a functioning democracy. Have a functioning democracy. And the us my point. My point primarily is that we cant sit here in a western country and implement our perspective on what a good country is. Rwanda is perfectly fine for those people to go. Now. Again, i think the rwandan policy is probably going to be incredibly ineffective because its a waste of british taxpayer money at £2 million a refugee. It certainly is completely , it certainly is completely, completely agree. But the if the question is rwanda a safe enough country for these people to go to . Absolutely it is. Absolutely it is. All right. Thank you very much. Not what the United States says. That was reem ibrahim there and then that was a former labour writer and advisor. Scarlett mccgwire reem, of course, a political commentator. Thank you very much to both of you. I mean, some studies folks said that actually rwandas Capital Cities more safe than london. So make of that what you will, but only if you agree with the president. Well, summer is just around the corner, folks, and we want to make it sizzle for you with an incredible £20,000 in cash up for grabs in the latest Great British giveaway. Its our biggest cash giveaway. Its our biggest cash prize to date and it could be yours. Heres how you could be a winner. Weve blown the budget by giving you the chance to win a totally terrific £20,000 in tax free cash to make your summer spectacular. Or you could use spectacular. Or you could use that cash to splash out on a houday that cash to splash out on a holiday , make the garden glam, holiday, make the garden glam, buy a new car, or just save it for a rainy day. Whatever youd spend £20,000 on, make sure you dont miss the chance to make it yours for a chance to win £20,000 in tax free cash. Text £20,000 in tax free cash. Text win to 63232. Text cost £2 plus one Standard Network rate message or post your name and number two gb zero five, p. O. Number two gb zero five, po. Box 8690, derby rd one nine, double tee, uk. Only entrants double tee, uk. Only entrants must be 18 or over. Lines closed at 5 pm. On the 31st of may. Full terms and Privacy Notice gbnews. Com forward slash win. gbnews. Com forward slash win. Please check the closing time if listening or watching on demand. Good luck. Good luck. Well, youre with me Darren Grimes on gb news saturday. Weve got lots more coming up on todays show. Us President Joe Biden said on friday that he would be happy to face off with donald trump in a debate before the november election. I mean, that would be one hell of a blockbuster, right . Id have the popcorn ready. All of that and popcorn ready. All of that and more to come. Youre with gb welcome back to gb news saturday with me, Darren Grimes. On your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Lots of you are sending in your thoughts to gbnews. Com yoursay c, thank you very much for doing so, one of you asks if our giveaway location is rwanda and i mean, that would be that would be funny. And im sure actually the trump and biden will debate and who will give us 100 assurance that biden doesnt have a wire feeding him his script and that the moderator will be neutral . Asks jan, and, will be neutral . Asks jan, and, one question here asks why the government is ignoring the people and still allowing all those who hate us to enter the country. And phil rightly points out that, refugees vie a refugee from morocco, came over and is in the press this week. Of course, after being charged for murder in hartlepool. So there murder in hartlepool. So there are genuine concerns going on in this inbox and, i think rightly so. Now, folks, joe biden has so. Now, folks, joe biden has thrown down the gauntlet to donald trump by saying he is happy to debate his predecessor ahead of the president ial election in november. This is the first time that the president has committed to a debate with his rival for the white house. He previously remarked that his willingness to appear on a stage with donald trump depended on his behaviour. How patronising. Well, lets get our thoughts on this from the us political analyst eric ham. Political analyst eric ham. Eric, thank you very much for your time. I mean, eric, do you your time. I mean, eric, do you think actually hell roll back on this . Do you think President Biden will say, no, its too risky. Lets not do that. Risky. Lets not do that. Well, to be clear, i dont believe that joe biden wants to actually debate donald trump. However, i do believe if his feet are held to the fire, he will absolutely do so. But i and we also have to remember, in the United States, there is the us president ial commission on debates that actually puts together these debates. And typically and already we know that there are three debates that there are three debates that theyve already put together. Its unclear at that theyve already put together. Its unclear at this time if joe biden will actually commit to all three of those debates. And youre right, while he did say that he would debate donald trump, i do believe its unclear at this time if he will debate donald trump three times, which is custom for president ial debates to actually happen. So well see how this plays out. We know that donald trump has been pushing for these debates and of course, typically what happens is the candidate who perhaps feels they need the debates the most are the ones that actually call for them. Call for them. Yeah. I mean, eric, do you think actually who do you predict would do better in that format . Who do you think is the strongest debater . Strongest debater . Well, i think Many Americans certainly know who these candidates are. They they have a good sense of both of them, and quite frankly, i think if you asked and polled most americans , asked and polled most americans, they would say that a debate is not even required or necessary , not even required or necessary, and they probably would not get much out of it. We know donald trump wants to take joe biden in the mud. We know joe biden wants to have a much more substantive policy conversation thats unlikely to happen with donald trump. In fact, we saw what happened when the two men debated in 2020. There was a lot of talking over one another. And quite frankly, i dont think it will be a good a good moment for either men if in fact it actually happened. But we know the Media Networks are certainly clamouring and calling for this to happen. I eric, is there any way that because from a british perspective, a british audience watching President Trump embroiled in legal affair after legal affair, is there any way that President Trump wont be the republican nominee come november . November . No. Donald trump has secured all of the requisite, number of electors to be the nominee. And electors to be the nominee. And quite frankly, donald trump now controls the Republican Party with an iron grip. Hes not letting it go. And even if donald trump is convicted in this manhattan criminal trial, its unlikely he will see any jail time. And also, given the fact that we know the Supreme Court is still weighing its opfions court is still weighing its options on this january 6th, intellect and election interference case, its unlikely that trial will happen before the election. So donald trump is going to be the gop nominee. And going to be the gop nominee. And right now, on good or bad, the Republican Party is actually stuck with them all right. I mean, a lot of viewers are watching again from over here. This this side of the pond are of the view , like, hang on a of the view, like, hang on a minute. You know, maybe hes got a point on election interference because, you know, hes talking about this, the trial. He says about this, the trial. He says its a its an act of democrat backed lawfare. The media backed lawfare. The media certainly isnt on his side, much of it anyway , it seems that much of it anyway, it seems that the cards are stacked against President Trump at every twist and turn , and i dont think that and turn, and i dont think that thats thats conspiracy theory. Thats thats conspiracy theory. I think a lot of people see it as bitterly unfair in the United States. States. Well, we have to remember , well, we have to remember, the United States is a nation of laws. In fact , even though we laws. In fact, even though we heard from the Supreme Court, the implication that somehow these federal elections are actually politically motivated. What we do know is the manhattan criminal trial, as well as the Georgia Election interference case. Those are cases that were brought by independent prosecutors against donald trump and several other co defendants. We also know that there is an election interference case in arizona, where a number of fake electors have been charged. And so what were seeing play out right now is this is the us criminal Justice System at work. And donald trump will certainly have a opportunity to defend himself. He will be judged by a jury himself. He will be judged by a jury of his peers. And he also jury of his peers. And he also has the entire appeal process before him as well. So i dont think donald trump is actually getting. Getting. All right. Well, i think we lost eric there. Thats the us, political analysis there. Eric hamm i thank him very much for his thoughts, grahams written in and graham says biden doing a debate. Not sure he can ask for a cup of tea. Never mind a debate. Well, thats one view. Youre with me, Darren Grimes on gb news saturday. Weve got loads more coming up. First of all, though, were going to get your news with tatiana. Your news with tatiana. Darren. Thank you and good afternoon. The top stories from the gb news room. Up to 50 migrants were rescued in a dramatic race against the tide after their boat ran aground on after their boat ran aground on a sandbank off the kent coast. Gb news captured this exclusive video of the migrant arrivals. The small boat ran aground this morning on goodwin sands. No one is believed to have been injured. The incident comes as gb news can reveal the numbers crossing illegally from france have now passed 7000 for the year so far, at least five small boats have made it to uk waters so far today , carrying more than so far today, carrying more than 250 migrants. Humza yousaf is asking leaders of other parties to find Common Ground with him as he invites them to talks at his official residence to see how they can work with his minority government. The Scottish First minister says he will not resign as the leader ahead of a crucial test of his leadership next week, and hes now reportedly attempting to build bridges with the other political leaders at holyrood. Political leaders at holyrood. He hopes to hold separate meetings with each group at bute house in edinburgh to discuss how they can contribute constructively. Letters were constructively. Letters were reportedly sent to the scottish conservatives , scottish labour, conservatives, scottish labour, the scottish greens and the alba party last night. This all comes after the collapse of the snps power sharing deal with the greens on thursday. Thousands of greens on thursday. Thousands of pro Palestinian Protesters have begun marching in central london, calling for an immediate ceasefire in gaza. The pro palestine protest group Palestine Solidarity Campaign says the event is in response to israels brutal attack on gaza. The march passed a fixed pro israeli demonstration on pall mall peacefully. Meanwhile, pall mall peacefully. Meanwhile, a Demonstration Organised by the campaign against anti semitism was also due to take place today , but that was cancelled yesterday as organisers said the safety of jews was at risk following threats made. And a following threats made. And a british tourist is in intensive care after being attacked by a shark on a caribbean island yesterday morning. The 64 year old is receiving Critical Care after serious injuries to his left arm , his left leg and left arm, his left leg and stomach, according to a local official. He is said to be stable and doing well. The attack happened at turtle beach along Great Courland Bay in trinidad and tobago. The foreign trinidad and tobago. The Foreign Office says its supporting the victims family. Office says its supporting the victims family. For the latest victims family. For the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Now back to. Darren. Thank you very much, tatiana. Now, folks , theres plenty more now, folks, theres plenty more coming up on todays show. But before i tell you what weve got lined up for you, nana akua has joined me in the studio. Everyone needs their nana. Yeah nana. What have you got coming up then . Well, very excited because simon and coco are coming in. Were talking about rwanda because i am actually, i wrote a piece in the daily mail because im sick to my back teeth of what i feel is a sense of racism towards the country, as though we are so much higher and so much better. And so well be discussing why there is this narrative that rwanda is an unsafe place, and whether it really is. Also, my monologue is on rwanda, and i thought id do a little piece on the bbc, and that time chris philp and his comments there, which i thought he was treated a little bit unfairly because what he was, he was, he was sort of asking a rhetorical question and couldnt quite understand what the outrage was. And frankly, neither could i. So ive got a little monologue coming up about that. I mean, on the rwanda point, do you find it a bit rich nana that the likes of sadiq khan turn around and say its unsafe to send migrants to rwanda, yet you actually look at International Studies that suggest that kigali in rwanda is safer than london. Of course it is. And thats the point. Its a lot safer than parts of this country. I think theres sort of not a colonial hangover, but a sort of white saviour hangover. We always this country often went to these african countries to give them something. So it to give them something. So it was always we were doing some sort of fund raising or some sort of fund raising or some sort of fund raising or some sort of water aid or something. So these i think they cant quite get their head around. Some people cant quite get their head around it that actually rwanda is pretty safe. And thats a really progressive african nation. And its probably a lot safer than many parts of this country. So ill be talking about that. Ive got an amazing, difficult conversation. It is a gentleman who is disabled, who is about to do an incredible feat. I wont spoil it by giving it away , but spoil it by giving it away, but make sure you join me because hell be on at five as well. All right, nana akua, thank you very much. Well be sure to tune in later for nana show. Now, remember, you let me know all your thoughts on all the stories weve been discussing today by visiting gbnews. Com yoursay to join that conversation or message us on conversation or message us on our conversation or message us on our socials. Were gbnews now our socials. Were gbnews now coming up on this next half houn coming up on this next half hour, the government will begin physical checks at the border on medium risk and high risk goods coming into the United Kingdom at the end of this month. What does that mean, though , for does that mean, though, for Northern Ireland . All of that and more to come. Im Darren Grimes and youre with gb news, britains news channel. 2024 a battleground year. 2024 a battleground year. The year the nation decides. 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. Lets find out together. For every moment. 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. Hey guys, welcome back to gb news saturday with me, Darren Grimes tv, online and on Digital Radio now loads of you are very active. Sending in your thoughts on gb news. Com forward slash kwasi. And actually a lot of you are somewhat incensed by Scarlett Mccgwire comments earlier, especially on, morocco and actually saying if there are no safe and one comment says if there are no safe and legal routes to get to this country, then why on earth did we have, what, then why on earth did we have, what, 700,000 then why on earth did we have, what, 700,000 visas granted to people last year that clearly are safe and legal routes to a very large extent. And, well, jack said it was nice to hear an american voice when we were discussing, trump and biden earlier. And, trudy was very excited because she says, wow, were being spoilt today. Ben ben, leo, darren and nana. She says, i better get the treats out. 6 00 me and ben are back, so dont forget about that trudy as well. Now folks , the as well. Now folks, the government will begin physical checks at the border on medium risk and high risk goods coming into britain at the end of the month. Now, the final major change will come in october, with the government requiring safety and security declarations while also introducing a single trade window that aims to reduce the number of forms needed for importers. Meanwhile, in ireland, goods coming in will be checked after october this year. Checked after october this year. Joining me now is gb news Northern Ireland reporter Dougie Beattie dougie, is there any update on, because ireland are saying, hang on a minute. You know, were getting people migrant s coming over from the uk, to the island. Is that a border concern as well . Dougie oh, it most definitely is. And we have commented on this for the last two years. Of course, theres a common travel area that is in place between the United Kingdom and the repubuc the United Kingdom and the republic of ireland that has beenin republic of ireland that has been in place since 1926. It came up and down for various reasons , but the one that we reasons, but the one that we really operate on is the 1 in 1970, because of course, after that we all joined the eu and we didnt need that at that stage. But yes, there is a big, big problem with, immigrants coming from britain and going into ireland. And it must be said , ireland. And it must be said, vice versa. I have said on this show on many occasions, you can fly into dublin, never mind a boat, you can fly into dublin , boat, you can fly into dublin, rip your passport up on the way in the plane, youre put for in processing let out into the general public. In the republic of ireland, cross a borderless border into Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom, and from there you can get a ferry into britain without being asked for a passport. So therefore , there we are going to therefore, there we are going to see borders come into the irish sea for british citizens, i. E. People that live in Northern Ireland going in to, well, britain. And that is the britain. And that is the absolute mental case of this. And of course, because the rwanda bill takes away some of the echr under the good friday agreement, we run with the echr so it cant be taken from there. But what weve seen happening over the past couple of years, i mean, rishi is claiming this is a great victory because so many are appearing in the republic of ireland. Its actually been over ireland. Its actually been over the last two years. I was down there in january last year and interviewed lots of people who were former immigrants into britain who were afraid of rwanda actually going through, and then came through Northern Ireland, crossed across the border into the republic of ireland. And of course, because ireland. And of course, because they are under european laws that really upsets the situation. And we have seen many, many protests in the repubuc many, many protests in the republic of ireland because of the amount of immigrants that are actually arriving there. And, you know, there has some of those protests have turned violent and, yeah, things are are getting heated in the repubuc are getting heated in the republic of ireland because, i mean, in the last, the last five years, i think it has risen 10 of non irish People Living in the republic. And if you take it, thats only people that will actually fill in a census because they have came in legal vie the amount of Illegal Immigrants will be much, much bigger than that. Yeah. And dougie, dare i say , yeah. And dougie, dare i say, actually a moment of reconciliation because i think its a reminder of the shared problems both north and south, is it not . But Dougie Beattie , is it not . But Dougie Beattie, thank you very much for your time and analysis. As ever , time and analysis. As ever, folks, you are with me. Darren grimes on gb news saturday. I thank you very much for doing so. Weve got loads more coming up on todays show. A business in the West Midlands has been officially handed its kings award for enterprise in a ceremony at their factory yesterday. What was that for . Yesterday. What was that for . All of that and more to come, youre with gb news, britains news channel welcome back to gb news. Saturday with me, Darren Grimes. On your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Thank you for your company. Now, a business in the West Midlands has been officially awarded a handed. Its kings award for enterprise in a ceremony at their factory yesterday. Now, this award, its the highest official uk honour for a British Business to receive eamonn to actually promote both small and large enterprises. Our brilliant West Midlands reporterjack enterprises. Our brilliant West Midlands reporter jack carson. Hes got the story here and now for a business in the uk, its the highest accolade achievable and the West Midlands is not afraid to make its mark. At a ceremony at their factory in smethwick, the lord lieutenant of the West Midlands, sirjohn lord lieutenant of the West Midlands, sir John Crabtree obe, presented the team at remedy health with the prestigious kings award for enterprise in the innovation category. We recognise in the Outstanding Achievement of the said Award Recipient as demonstrated in the application of innovation in our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Our Channel Islands and isle of man and wishing to show our royal favour, confer upon it the kings award for enterprise innovation. The prize aims to reward both small and Large Businesses with an innovative product or service and recognise their contribution to enterprise with last year being the first awarded by his majesty king charles. Remedy health and their nourished brand won the award for their 3d printed customisable nutritional gummies. The business has gummies. The business has developed and innovated to be able to combine seven different active ingredients into one daily personalised stack. Customers can choose their favourite vitamins and supplements and at their factory in birmingham, theyll 3d print the selection on demand. Award the selection on demand. Award winning female entrepreneur Melissa Snover is the brains behind the business. She describes what it means to be honoured with the kings award for our business is really the highest honour that we could ever receive. Ever receive. We were really founded on the idea that innovation is going to be the single biggest factor in changing the world, and so you can imagine were all overwhelmed with pride. Overwhelmed with pride. The nourish brand was only one of ten West Midlands winners out of the 262 rewarded in total, and the only winner in birmingham in the innovation category. But it isnt just about running a business. Melissa says shes passionate about the next generation of female entrepreneurs and works with by women, built a platform for female owned businesses. For female owned businesses. Less than 80 of young people can name a female entrepreneur, and that is something that were really committed to changing the narrative on at bwb. I think you narrative on at bwb. I think you cant be it if you cant see it and so myself and the other women involved in that cause are really trying to raise the profile of female entrepreneurs and make sure that young people are seeing them at the beginning of their career , where theyre of their career, where theyre starting to think about what will i be having launched in 2019, this business has already had to navigate a pandemic and high inflation. But with its kings award for enterprise proudly on display, their future has the royal seal of approval. Jack carson gb news, smethwick. Well, lots of you who have been sending in your thoughts and helen says 7000 arrivals over the English Channel already. God help us in the summer. The floodgates will be well and truly open and we will be swamped. I feel so angry and so sad for our great country. Thats a sentiment shared by many of you, lickey says. Instead of cancelling the jewish march today, which was a counter protest for one of the palestinian ones, why didnt the police sort out the people who were threatening the jewish people . Thats a good question , people . Thats a good question, right . Were supposed to be a country that allows freedom of expression and freedom of association, and actually a lot of you blame diversity, equity and inclusion for a lot of, the problems in britain today, and, and he says the irish cant complain about immigration. 100 of americans, even if theyre the mexican population and their own president , claim irish ancestry from irish immigrants. Its true. Well, thank you very much to you for sending in your thoughts throughout the show. Thoughts throughout the show. Youve been with me, Darren Grimes on gb news saturday. I thank you indeed for doing so, but dont go anywhere because theres plenty coming today on gb news in just a moment. Its fiery debate with nana akua , and fiery debate with nana akua, and at 6 pm. Im back with the saturday five. First of all, its your weather with marco. Its your weather with marco. A brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello heres your latest weather update from the met office for gb news. We hold on to mixed weather conditions across the uk over the next few days, all of us seeing some rain at times, often breezy and temperatures though starting to recover, actually becoming fairly warm in places during the middle to second stage of the coming week. Low pressure sitting towards the south of the uk at the moment thats starting to throw outbreaks of quite persistent rain in across the south and east of the uk as we head through the evening into the overnight period, some of that rain turning quite heavy dunng that rain turning quite heavy during the early hours of sunday, especially ones towards the north and northwest. Its a clearer picture. Showers here starting to ease. Well see a starting to ease. Well see a clear spells at times and here will turn quite chilly by sunday morning. Could see a touch of frost in places in rural spots. Temperatures here locally down below freezing, whereas towards the south and east with the wind , cloud and rain around, temperatures hold safely above zero into tomorrow. A bit of an east west split developing some heavy outbreaks of rain across eastern parts of the uk. It could brighten up for a time across east anglia, setting off across east anglia, setting off a few heavy showers but feeling chilly with a cloud, wind and rain. Here. Quite a blustery day out towards the east, whereas out towards the east, whereas out towards the west and northwest brighter skies , a northwest brighter skies, a mixture of sunshine and scattered showers. But wherever you are, temperatures are staying. Pretty disappointing staying. Pretty disappointing for the time of year. Highs of 12 to 13 celsius 13 in the southeast is 55 in fahrenheit. As for monday, well an east west split once again, but this time a reversal of fortunes with the east and southeast seeing the better conditions, brighter skies. Whereas out towards the west and rain at times, all of us seeing rain at times during the week ahead. But notice those temperatures picking up too into the high teens or low 20s in places that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. Hello. Good afternoon, and welcome to gb news on tv , online 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 theirs. And of course its yours. Well be debating, discussing and at times we will disagree. But no one will be cancelled. So joining me in the next hour, broadcaster and columnist lizzie cundy, and also former labour Party Adviser Matthew Lazar in a few moments time, ill be mocking the week with comedian Diane Spencer ill be speaking to. Also coming up, ill be speaking to a brave sexual abuse survivor still fighting for those who dont have a voice. And. Yes. The noise of humza yousaf as he falls off a little tricycle or whatever hes on is humza yousaf the match in the powder barrel for the snp and Scottish Independence . And later Scottish Independence . And later ill speak to a brave, wheelchair bound veteran looking to climb Mount Snowdon this year. And. Well,