Transcripts For GBN Jacob 20240705

Hello. Good evening. Its me, Jacob Rees Mogg on state of the nafion Jacob Rees Mogg on state of the nation tonight. Hes got a date for the Spring Budget, but will the chancellor, jeremy hunt, be announcing the scrappage of inheritance tax on the 6th of march. 7 thats what ill be arguing in my monologue, arguing for in my monologue, as it emerges nearly 400 it emerges that nearly 400 children the age of six children under the age of six were referred tavistocks were referred to the tavistocks controversial gender clinic. Ill be asking whether its ever all right for children this young to be referred for those sorts. With war sorts of consultations. With war raging in the middle east, ukraine has been somewhat forgotten about in recent months. There have been months. But there have been important developments there over christmas period, the over the christmas period, the ukrainians sunk ukrainians have sunk a key russian warship in the black sea, russians have taken sea, and the russians have taken a town in the donbas region. A town in the donbas region. Well be getting the latest and were in the middle of a shoplifting epidemic. Thats according to a new analysis showing that over 200,000 cases went the year to went unsolved in the year to july. I will speaking to a july. I will be speaking to a former metropol Police Detective, inspector , who detective, chief inspector, who now runs his own Security Firm , now runs his own Security Firm, whos privately prosecuted hundreds of shoplifters. What does he think is behind this epidemic . State of the nation starts now. Starts now. Energetic and dynamic are the watchwords of my panel today. Journalist and broadcaster Benjamin Butterworth will be with me alongside conservative homes assistant editor William Atkinson. As always, i want to hear from you. Its a crucial part of the programme. Email me today on a different email. A special christmas email gbviews gbnews. Com. But now its what weve all been waiting for. The news of the day with polly middlehurst. Jacob. Middlehurst. Jacob. Thank you and good evening to you. Well, the uk was battered by snow, wind and rain today as storm garrett barrelled in, leaving homes without power and drivers trapped in their cars. Police scotland declared a Major Incident as snow brought cars to a standstill on the a9 to aviemore, and 27,000 homes in northern scotland also experienced power cuts, with local Energy Company sgn saying theyve now restored power to 8000 homes and are currently working hard to reconnect the rest. Passenger cars on the east coast main line between london and scotland were told not to bother travelling, and thousands of other travellers at airports had delays as well, with flights grounded, multiple weather warnings remain in place, not just in scotland but across the rest of the uk today and ferry passengers were facing long delays today of up to an hour and a half at the port of dover due to French Police going sick. Due to French Police going sick. And there was increased demand at the port today as well as people tried to get away for a post christmas trip, enhanced passport checks by French Border officials following the uks withdrawal from the eu have also increased processing times. Now increased processing times. Now the chancellor, jeremy hunt , has the chancellor, jeremy hunt, has announced that the Spring Budget will be set out on the 6th of march, reports also suggesting that downing street could axe inheritance tax and reduce income tax. Sir keir starmer has income tax. Sir keir starmer has seemingly instructed his frontbench team to finalise their manifesto plans, telling shadow ministers to have their policy proposals ready by mid january. Now policy proposals ready by mid january. Now in the united states, the Michigan Supreme Court has rejected an attempt to remove the former president , remove the former president , donald trump, from the 2024 president ial ballot that ruling, in stark contrast to the recent legal ruling in colorado , where legal ruling in colorado, where mr trump was, disqualify from running for president due to his alleged role in the capitol hill riots. That decision has now been paused pending an appeal. Been paused pending an appeal. In france, the former president of the European Commission and architect of the euro, Jacques Delors , has died at the age of delors, has died at the age of 98. Monsieur delors was a leading figure on the french political left during the 1980s, and was perhaps best known in britain for his feisty relationship with the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Frances president emmanuel macron, has honoured his fellow politician today , saying hed politician today, saying hed been a tireless architect of our europe. The number of people europe. The number of people shopping in high street sales across the uk was down more than 20 on boxing day yesterday. 20 on boxing day yesterday. Figures from the mri Software Found that whilst footfall was up before 3 00 in the afternoon, it was significantly lower across the whole day. The group across the whole day. The group said the only location to experience an overall rise in high street visitors was centre. High street visitors was centre. London thats the news on gb news across the uk on tv , in news across the uk on tv, in your car, on Digital Radio and on your smart speaker. This is britains news channel. Britains news channel. Well , before i get into the well, before i get into the monologue, i thought id say welcome back and hope you had a very Merry Christmas if you listened to the special that i did with David Starkey and tessa dunlop on christmas day, you know that the medieval people had 12 days of celebration and were only three days into it. So i hope you enjoy the next nine days as well. But lets nine days as well. But lets hope can have bigger hope we can have bigger celebrations later into next year with the budget on the 6th of march on inheritance tax , of march on inheritance tax, because inheritance tax is a pernicious and bad tax, which ought to be scrapped. Why not . Ought to be scrapped. Why not . Because youve been taxed twice, actually, in many ways youre taxed twice on lots of things. When you go shopping and you pay vat or paying tax a second time on money that you earned on which youve paid income tax. So i dont think thats the strongest reason strongest argument. The reason inheritance tax is such a bad tax is because of its economic consequences , as it leads to the consequences, as it leads to the misallocation of capital, and that undermines economic progress , us and investment. That undermines economic progress , us and investment. Why progress, us and investment. Why and how . Well because people are worried about inheritance tax. They invest in things that they know will be limited in their inheritance tax burden. So inheritance tax burden. So instead of buying, for example , instead of buying, for example, a ftse 100 company, they will buy a Small Company because a ftse 100 Company Always is liable to inheritance tax. If youre over the threshold, where is a Small Company may be exempt. You see the same with farmland , farm businesses and farmland. , farm businesses and farmland. Within them is inheritance tax free. But if you own a house or a property thats built on something that was farmland, its not right. So you distort the investor payment and you also encourage people to hold on to investments that theyd otherwise be better off selling. And reallocating the capital. Why is that . Well, because of the combination of Capital Gains tax followed by inheritance tax. If you are elderly and you have an asset, an investment that in the accountants phraseology is pregnant with gain, you dont want to sell it because youll pay want to sell it because youll pay 20 or potentially 28 on the capital gain. And then if the capital gain. And then if you die the next day, youll pay 40 on inheritance tax. And this 40 on inheritance tax. And this means that you hold on to weak investments rather than realising the gain and putting it into a new and better investment. And what economic consequence does this have is it means that money is not used as productively as it ought to be. Its not invested in those things that will drive the economy in, in to the next century. So thats why its century. So thats why its a bad tax. And what is taxation all about . Well, its about raising the amount of money a government needs to raise with the least disadvantage to the economy. Accepting that the extraction of all taxation has to some extent, a negative effect. But inheritance tax is particularly bad. And its also particularly bad. And its also bad because its not linked to a transaction where income tax and vat are. There is a cash transaction going through at which the government, Inland Revenue , hmrc takes a bit. The revenue, hmrc takes a bit. The inheritance tax assets need to be sold potentially at the wrong time in the cycle of the investment. Also raises comparatively little money. £7 billion well under 1 of the total income received by the state each year. So you have total income received by the state each year. So you have a knock on a bigger economic effect for a low amount of tax, which is the definition of an inefficient form of taxation. And you get enormous efforts for people to try and get round it using the legitimate schemes that the government has invented, including in one occasion i knew an old man who decided to get married to get round inheritance tax. It had a certain degree of success, though not necessarily entirely what he would have wanted, but thats another, another matter. So it is an inefficient, bad economic tax, but also the politics of it. Fascinating although only 4 or 5 of estates pay although only 4 or 5 of estates pay the tax , 31 of people think pay the tax, 31 of people think that they will pay the tax. Its oddly an aspirational tax. People hope they will be well enough off that theyll be caughtin enough off that theyll be caught in the trap. And 15 of people think theyll get an inheritance that will be hit by it. So for scrapping a single tax that raises a small amount of money, the government gets a relatively big bang for its buck. And it would scrap something that labour and the lib dems would be committed to reintroduce. And so if you think of all those People Living in the south of the country who have housing eyes that are valuable and children or grandchildren or nieces and nephews who they might like to leave it to, they will face a real choice at the next election. If the conservatives have got rid of it, because nobody else would do the same economically and efficient politically powerful. Its time to scrap the inheritance tax in the Spring Budget. As you know, as always , budget. As you know, as always, i want to hear from you. And as i want to hear from you. And as i said, its a different email today. I said, its a different email today. Hey, its gb views at gb today. Hey, its gb views at gb news. Com, but im not delighted to be joined by a very distinguished panel who im very grateful to for turning out on the third day of christmas. Journalist and broadcaster Benjamin Butterworth and assistant editor at conservativehome William Atkinson, benjamin, you atkinson, um, benjamin, you would like inheritance tax to stay. You think it is a fair tax . Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you make the economic argument and i dont agree at all. If you take people like Mark Zuckerberg or simon cowell or bill gates, very, very rich people to various degrees, they have said for example, that they wont pass their wealth, their huge wealth onto their children because they think it stifles creative liberty that the children of the very wealthy, who know theyll get millions of pounds in some cases pounds or billions in some cases , are not motivated to work for themselves. Think i , are not motivated to work for themselves. Think i think themselves. So i think i think thats flawed but thats a thats a flawed but thats a completely different economic point saying, not that point that that saying, not that capital will more efficiently capital will be more efficiently allocated if people arent planning inheritance tax. Planning for inheritance tax. Youre saying that some parents dont want their children have but thats children to have it, but thats an different argument. An entirely different argument. Well, i think i think i think its a strong argument it its a strong argument that it affects the decisions work affects the decisions to work hard, kids will hard, that those kids will have. Its unfair on and i think its unfair on that principle. But then you have fact if youre not have the fact that if youre not taxing it on inherited rights, then that theres then that means that theres a gap has to be made up in gap that has to be made up in the real world. And that means that you cant taxes on that you cant cut taxes on peoples income. That peoples earned income. That there might harder there might be harder to cut those tax rates and vat those income tax rates and vat and that affect and other things that affect peoples. And i peoples productivity. And i think the reality, jeremy think in the reality, jeremy hunt, know, has hunt, who, you know, has a pretty hard at moment pretty hard job at the moment because things pretty bad , because things are pretty bad, then he really going to want then is he really going to want to the very rich to to take it off the very rich to not take it off . Ordinary people going work . Not take it off . Ordinary people goiiwilliam,k . Not take it off . Ordinary people goiiwilliam, the reason i dont william, the reason i dont agree with that is twofold. One is think should cut is that i think we should cut expenditure billion and expenditure by £7 billion and pay expenditure by £7 billion and pay that way. But pay for it that way. But secondly, the engine economic secondly, the engine of Economic Growth efficient growth is the efficient allocation and allocation of capital and removing that leads to bad removing a tax that leads to bad allocation of capital shrinks the economy as well. I agree that inheritance tax has various negative consequences. But as you said consequences. But as you said yourself, jacob, so do all taxes. And also, you know, i would also agree that i would like the government be more efficient. Government to be more efficient. And for it to be spending less so can lowered. And so all taxes can be lowered. And but yourself and your but again, yourself and your colleagues are struggling to actually way can actually agree on any way we can actually agree on any way we can actually cut public spending. So then think that looks like then i think that looks like something of a pipe dream. Then i think that looks like so aething of a pipe dream. Then i think that looks like so a basic of a pipe dream. Then i think that looks like so a basic sense, ipe dream. Then i think that looks like so a basic sense, he dream. Then i think that looks like so a basic sense, he drefew in a basic sense, i think few politicians get credit for politicians ever get credit for stuff already done stuff theyve already done going into election. So if the into an election. So even if the chancellor did find some money back the back the obr back down the back of the obr sofa cut inheritance tax, sofa and cut inheritance tax, i dont think youd any dont think youd get any political it First Political benefit from it first of all. But secondly, i think its unfair as its simply unfair as as benjamin um, that benjamin has suggested, um, that at when millions at a time when millions are being taken into higher tax thresholds due to fiscal drag to be any that the be spending any money that the chancellor can to on chancellor can find to spend on tax cut, that tax cuts on a tax cut, that essentially makes it easier for wealthy men like himself. And the hand on the Prime Minister to hand on wealth own children in wealth to their own children in is a bad political look for is a very bad political look for the and as the conservatives. And as somebody who has a vested interest conservatives interest in the conservatives trying next election, trying to win the next election, i trying to inheritance i think trying to an inheritance tax rather say, taking tax now rather than say, taking a off income tax, would be a penny off income tax, would be politically morally unwise. But politically, isnt it very because and very strong because labour and the would have to the lib dems would have to promise to bring it back, and therefore its not the past, it is in terms what is the future. In terms of what the others do. The others would do. Um, yes and no. Because i think they the argument think if they made the argument that they would reinstitute the inheritance or indeed inheritance tax cuts or indeed just jeremy just scrap any cut that jeremy Hunt Institute introduces and just scrap any cut that jeremy hunthattitute introduces and just scrap any cut that jeremy hunthat to, te introduces and just scrap any cut that jeremy hunthat to, say, troduces and just scrap any cut that jeremy hunthat to, say, spendes and just scrap any cut that jeremy hunthat to, say, spend more use that to, say, spend more money on public services, which i think widely believes that under a lot of pressure, nobody believes that. I mean, weve had that from blair and brown, and more and more spent on the nhs, and it more is spent on the nhs, and it gets and worse. It doesnt gets worse and worse. It doesnt solve problems. Gets worse and worse. It doesnt sobwell,blems. Gets worse and worse. It doesnt sobwell, items. Gets worse and worse. It doesnt sobwell, it might you might well, it might not you might know that jacob and i might know that as that tories that as well, that the tories have, know, increased have, you know, increased nhs spending, record spending, for example, to record levels. But services are getting worse. I dont think worse. And i dont think the pubuc worse. And i dont think the public tories at public will trust the tories at the election to be to the next election to be able to fix stuff for 13 years where they believe that services have got i think theyd got worse. And so i think theyd actually be more conducive an actually be more conducive to an argument spending. Argument for higher spending. But know, i think but also, you know, i think i saw i think, from saw a recent poll, i think, from ipsos, suggesting that actually inheritance tax is the sixth most people inheritance tax is the sixth most to people inheritance tax is the sixth most to cut. People inheritance tax is the sixth most to cut. And people inheritance tax is the sixth most to cut. And asaople inheritance tax is the sixth most to cut. And as you; want to see cut. And as you point out, you know, very few people actually pay it. And i think a tax cut like income tax, for example, but reducing for example, or but reducing council more council tax, but no much more popular. Will notice. Popular. Nobody will notice. Well though, the cut in income tax, type of income tax, like the type of national nobodys national insurance, nobodys noficed noticed that. Indeed. Actually you indeed. And actually you know, drag, indeed. And actually you k|huge drag, indeed. And actually you k|huge of drag, indeed. And actually you k|huge of people drag, indeed. And actually you k|huge of people have g, a huge number of people have gone that second tax gone into that second tax bracket, that £50,000, one that really are not rich, especially if they in the london or if they live in the london or south east. The politics of it is interesting because people, a lot think its unfair lot of people think its unfair because money because theyve earned the money already. Dispute already. But i would dispute that really is earned income that it really is earned income because the people bearing in mind if youre in a couple, you get £1 million before this kicks in and so vast majority of in and so the vast majority of people, even that are affected, are affected because of the value of their house gone value of their house has gone up considerably. Would considerably. And i would dispute that. Thats earned income. Theres another income. But then theres another point politics of it point here on the politics of it that referenced, which is that you referenced, which is that you referenced, which is that would people like it because want it to go, and because they want it to go, and it would a very good wedge it would be a very good wedge issue the party. They issue for the labour party. They would struggle with the politics of that. Well you say that i think about whether the think its about whether the tories to keep the blue tories want to keep the blue wall in the south east or the red in the north red wall largely in the north and east midlands. Right. And the east midlands. Right. Because those people will not benefit okay benefit at all. Okay i dont agree with this because i the in because i think the people in the red are aspirational the red wall are aspirational and a commitment to and made a commitment to a different were different party. But but were going to have to move on. But thank you to my panel, benjamin and william coming up, its emerged than 70 emerged that more than 70 children three four children aged three and four have to the have been sent to the controversial nhs tavistock controversial n hs tavistock transgender. Controversial nhs tavistock transgender. My panel transgender clinic. My panel will be discussing whether its ever for children to ever right for children to receive this treatment. Receive this sort of treatment. And war in ukraine may have and the war in ukraine may have been knocked off. The news front pages, but we havent forgot about get an update about it. Well get an update after busy few days there from after a busy few days there from my conservative colleague my former conservative colleague in and in the house of commons and ukraine brooks newmark. Radio. Welcome back. Im still Jacob Rees Mogg and this is still the state of the nation. Weve been discussing the potential scrapping of inheritance tax, and been sending your and youve been sending in your forthright views. Pamela wood says is unfair for we says the tax is unfair for we sacrificed holidays, nice clothes , meals out and lots more clothes, meals out and lots more in order to afford a property in the south east we have to the south east where we have to live. For my husbands why live. For my husbands job. Why should i be allowed to leave should i not be allowed to leave it children . They also it to my children . They also without when they without many things when they were could were younger so that we could have a house. And celia says, ive worked hard to buy my house and my kids without and bring up my kids without claiming any benefits. Went claiming any benefits. We went without claiming any benefits. We went withotpay my mortgage and bills. Could pay my mortgage and bills. Why are the government punishing hard shouldnt i be hard work . Shouldnt i be rewarded paying hard work . Shouldnt i be rew andd paying hard work . Shouldnt i be rewand contributing payingthe tax and contributing towards the state . This is unfair. Its state . This tax is unfair. Its very simple. And brian says yes , very simple. And brian says yes, i agree that inheritance tax should be cut. Its very unfair should be cut. Its very unfair and tax is the hardest working, but far more important to but its far more important to cut income so william has cut income tax. So william has a supporter, at least on that. So we learned today that more than 70 children aged three and four were sent to the controversial tavistock transgender clinic while was operating. In while it was operating. In total, 382 children aged six and under were referred to the gender Identity Development service. Gids gids gender Identity Development service. Gids gids , run by gender Identity Development service. Gids gids , run by the service. Gids gids, run by the tavistock and Portman Nhs Foundation trust in north london. The figures, which were first reported by the daily mail and released by the trust, showed the past decade 12 three year olds were referred to the clinic, along with 61 four year olds, 145 year olds and 169 six olds,145 year olds and 169 six year olds. The clinic had no lower age limit on referrals and was shut down after a damning independent review by doctor hilary cass in 2022 found it was not safe for children. It is set to be replaced with two regional hubs, the nhs trust that runs the gender Identity Development service stressed that no three year olds would have received, quote unquote, treatment with staff normally holding a, quote, one off discussion with parents or carers to provide support and advice. But should children ever advice. But should children ever be eligible for these sorts of referrals at such young ages referrals at such a young ages should be some sort of should at least be some sort of lower age limit referrals . Lower age limit for referrals . Well, this back to my well, to discuss this back to my panel broadcaster panel, author and broadcaster benjamin and Benjamin Butterworth and assistant editor at assistant news editor at conservative home, William Atkinson, william , this does atkinson, william, this does seem very odd that three year olds were being referred, even if the number of three year olds was very small. I think its incredibly yes, i think its incredibly concerning because three year olds are already all over the place when it comes to things like gender identity in brackets. You know, i think when i was 3 or 4, i had brackets. You know, i think when iwas3or4, i hada brackets. You know, i think when i was 3 or 4, i had a love of watching, say, cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and very camp Sleeping Beauty and a very camp voice. And i dont think that was because was a sort of was because i was a sort of would woman. Thats would be woman. I think thats because three years old. Because i was three years old. And when youre three, you like lots Different Things and and when youre three, you like lots noiifferent things and and when youre three, you like lots no ideaent things and and when youre three, you like lots no idea wh0|ings and and when youre three, you like lots no idea who you and and when youre three, you like lots no idea who you are. And have no idea who you are. And i think can safely say that the think we can safely say that the tavistock clinic is probably one of the worst medical scandals, um, this this century. Um, um, of this of this century. Um, you a number of children you need a number of children who unnecessarily on who were unnecessarily put on puberty then puberty blockers and then recommended for things like surgery and surgery at a young and vulnerable when many vulnerable age, when many of them had pre existing them already had pre existing Mental Health issues. Was them already had pre existing mscandal. Alth issues. Was them already had pre existing mscandal. Andissues. Was them already had pre existing mscandal. Andisslyou was them already had pre existing mscandal. Andisslyou can was them already had pre existing mscandal. Andisslyou can say,s a scandal. And as you can say, you know, it appears no you know, it appears that no child as 3 or was child as young as 3 or 4 was approaching any sort of, um, sort service, like that. But sort of service, like that. But nevertheless, that nevertheless, its worrying that they even being suggested they were even being suggested to be put on that pathway or any they were even being suggested to binear on that pathway or any they were even being suggested to binear it. That pathway or any they were even being suggested to binear it. Yout pathway or any they were even being suggested to binear it. You know, vay or any they were even being suggested to binear it. You know, that r any way near it. You know, that slippery i know slippery slope. And i know thats of classic thats a sort of classic argument to but i find it argument to make, but i find it incredibly worrying that, say, activists or even gps or indeed parents the stage parents have got to the stage where they thought, know, where they thought, you know, a child a normal kid aged child being a normal kid aged 3 or 4 was in any way it was anyway necessary for them to be taken like this. Taken to a clinic like this. Benjamin, isnt it a well, benjamin, isnt it a worry that something that a rare child have a problem with . Child may have a problem with . Its actually become deeply ideological. And the tavistock clinic was basically following an to an ideology that it wanted to push agenda. Push this agenda. No, i dont accept this. I mean, 70 children over ten mean, look, 70 children over ten years an incredibly years is clearly an incredibly small so while, of small amount. So while, of course the vast majority , the course the vast majority, the overwhelming majority of three and four year olds are going to have absolutely no concept of this and may indeed call themselves dinosaurs day, themselves dinosaurs one day, thats same as the small thats not the same as the small number might be recognising number who might be recognising a trait in their a fundamental trait in their character that going to go on character that is going to go on to illustrate that they are transgender. Think the transgender. And i think the suggestion that a parent who sees that in their child , who sees that in their child, who hears comments bear hears these comments and bear in mind these are decades figures. So a decade ago, this wasnt the popularity popular popularity of Popular Culture that at moment. That it is at the moment. I think its right that a parent would want to have them sit down with an expert to work out whats going on, to assess the root, but a root, really age three, but a three doesnt have that three year old doesnt have that mental to be able to mental formation to be able to say, i think im of a different sex. But say that because sex. But you say that because youre somebody who is cisgender, born in the body, that you identify as and youre heterosexual and so you havent had to question the very basics of your existence as a gay person. I know that before i started puberty and could have sexual feelings, but at three i recognised that i was different. Absolutely. And i think there are many gay people who would tell you that in Primary School before sexually before they had sexually developed, recognise developed, they recognise something about their traits. And transgender people would tell you that too. And i think it is a mistake to think that we shouldnt try and help them. That mean should be that doesnt mean they should be medicated of course medicated at three. Of course it doesnt. Surgery legal doesnt. And surgery isnt legal until theyre anyway, right . Until theyre 18 anyway, right . In its much later in reality, its much later because the waiting so because of the waiting lists. So no that. But no ones saying that. But i think would be completely think it would be completely wrong that there is this wrong to say that there is this one condition that a child should have that shouldnt be acknowledged by acknowledged and assessed by a doctor Mental Health expert i but, william, is that a fair enough point that, you know, children do know more than were giving credit at three . Giving them credit for at three . Would have to say now, i would have to say i think it isnt. And i think, you know, comparing to the know, comparing it to the example of charleton, sort example of charleton, whos sort of puberty just of just before puberty or just after, might be after, you know, they might be homosexual is fundamentally different three year old homosexual is fundamentally diffe might three year old homosexual is fundamentally diffe might think ee year old homosexual is fundamentally diffe might think thatear old homosexual is fundamentally diffe might think that theyre, who might think that theyre, you know, thomas the tank engine or disney or a power ranger or a Disney Princess course, princess because, of course, lots of kids think theyre a tank engine or a dinosaur, and it Means Nothing but were talking over ten years. Talking about 70 over ten years. Are saying that no are you saying that no transgender recognised are you saying that no transtraitorr recognised are you saying that no transtraitor themselves� gnised that traitor themselves as a child . Really believe that . Well, i they might. Well, i think they might. Well, i think they might. But otherwise, if as an adult, they look back and say, you know, years you know, at five years old, i enjoy dressing as a princess enjoy dressing up as a princess and Sleeping Beauty and watching Sleeping Beauty after theyve sort of transitioned, after theyve sort of transit say� d, after theyve sort of transit say that they had evidence might say that they had evidence for it. Then, but there are an awful lot people who might enjoy lot of people who might enjoy doing then grow up to lot of people who might enjoy doi|you then grow up to lot of people who might enjoy doi|you know, then grow up to lot of people who might enjoy doi|you know, cisgender. R up to lot of people who might enjoy doi|you know, cisgender. So to lot of people who might enjoy doi|you know, cisgender. So why be, you know, cisgender. So why should they . Shouldnt therefore they why shouldnt therefore they be experts . You have be assessed by experts . You have somebody understands the somebody who understands the intricacies of children and their who look their development who can look at because youre at this because you know, youre really sorry that really saying, sorry that a doctor could tell the difference between tom boy a tom girl between a tom boy and a tom girl and whos going going between a tom boy and a tom girl an go whos going going between a tom boy and a tom girl an go to whos going going between a tom boy and a tom girl an go to be whos going going between a tom boy and a tom girl an go to be transgender going between a tom boy and a tom girl an go to be transgender when to go on to be transgender when theyre 3 or 4 years old. Fundamentally thats fundamentally ludicrous thats fundamentally lud itst thats fundamentally lud its not at all, you know, its not at all, you know, i may be being very unfair and i think its very good of you to take up the baton on this, but do you really believe this, that a year old and i mean, a three year old and i mean, ive got children and ive got six children and i think children are brilliant, think my children are brilliant, but three, were not but at three, these were not concepts that they would have understood at but that understood at all. But that illustrates point exactly. Illustrates my point exactly. The that the examples that that william gives many people gives and that many people would offer external offer are of an external perception of what gender is. But the truth about and i say this as a gay person, so i have a certain degree insight, is a certain degree of insight, is that these things on that you feel these things on the inside. You recognise that there is a very different trait in you, you see. And many transgender adults would tell you understood good you that they understood good that themselves, even if that about themselves, even if they on it they couldnt put a label on it at very young age. At a very young age. Im sure i on instagram im sure i put on instagram one of my children, age three, saying about brexit saying something about brexit being marvellous. Three year being marvellous. Um, three year olds very are very olds are very are are very subject to parental influence and what worries me is that these three year olds havent suddenly worked out that theyre of different gender. It doesnt occur to them, doesnt arise, but parents pushing but their parents are pushing this agenda on them. And that seems me be quite seems to me to be quite worrying. And tavistock worrying. And the tavistock clinic going clinic is then being going along with ideology agenda. With this ideology agenda. I think the mistake that places tavistock places like the tavistock clinic have is that they didnt have made is that they didnt have made is that they didnt have enough resource to properly assess some these young assess some of these young people, theres no people, you know, theres no doubt there are examples doubt that there are examples where route where the appropriate route wasnt problem wasnt taken. But the problem i have is that a lot of people that oppose that clinic are opposed. Clinic dont opposed. The clinic dont advocate for more counsellors to be able to deal with these young people. You dont those people. So you dont make those mistakes. Also say mistakes. And i would also say that when you talk about parental influence , i think parental influence, i think it is far more certainly is far more common, certainly historically, that parents would have discouraging have been discouraging their children acknowledging children from acknowledging who they , because that is they are, because that is completely the vast completely out of the vast majority parents majority of parents understanding. You know, understanding of life. You know, thats why we have far more people would say theyre people who would say theyre openly today openly gay or bisexual today than years ago. Not because than 50 years ago. Not because there are fewer gay people in britain , but because are britain, but because they are more able to tell the world who they and thats the they are. And thats the difference. Suspect more difference. I suspect more parents would their kid, parents would tell their kid, no, not trans. Rather no, youre not trans. Rather than say, oh, i wish you were all right. Benjamin was so well, as benjamin was so nobly up the cudgels on nobly taking up the cudgels on that account, i gave him the last word. So you to last word. So thank you both to benjamin william, spokesman last word. So thank you both to benjamtavistock,. Liam, spokesman last word. So thank you both to benjamtavistock, said, spokesman last word. So thank you both to benjamtavistock, said the okesman for the tavistock, said the gender Identity Development for the tavistock, said the gender Pathway Development for the tavistock, said the gender pathway provides|ent Service Pathway provides psychological assessment, treatment and support for families so we are unable to provide figures on those who have undergone physical interventions. The outcome of gender Identity Development in younger prepubertal young people is uncertain and so treatment is not provided most often there would be a one off discussion with the parents carers to provide support and advice. Well, thank you to them for providing a response. Um, coming providing a response. Um, coming up, the war in the middle east may have taken precedence in the news cycle, but we havent forgotten the war in ukraine. There have been big developments there days with there in the last few days with there in the last few days with the russians taking a key town in ukraine sinking in donbas and ukraine sinking a russian warship in the black sea. Well be getting the latest in just a minute or two. Radio. Welcome back. Now since hamass deadly attack on israel on the 7th of october, it may seem like the worlds eyes have been focussed firmly on the middle east. But the war in ukraine is raging on, and the last few days have seen some major developments. Yesterday, kyiv that the russians kyiv confirmed that the russians had retaken the town of marinka in the countrys Eastern Donbas region, before the war, the town was home to around 10,000 people, has been largely people, but has been largely destroyed course of the destroyed over the course of the last two years. It does , last two years. It does, however, have Strategic Value to the russians and is their biggest victory since wagner biggest victory since the wagner mercenaries captured bakhmut in may. But it hasnt been all bad news for the ukrainians. It was also confirmed yesterday that ukrainian planes had destroyed the novocherkassk navy ship, which was stationed in crimean waters controlled by russia. In waters controlled by russia. In a separate statement on monday, the Ukrainian Military said it had shot down five russian fighter jets in three days, which, if confirmed , would mark which, if confirmed, would mark one of the biggest weekly losses for the Russian Air Force since the war began. Tweeting this the war began. Tweeting this morning the uks defence secretary, grant shapps, said the latest destruction of putins Navy Demonstrates that those who believe theres a stalemate in the ukraine war are wrong. Shapps said in a statement on x. Formerly twitter. They havent noticed that over the past four months, 20 of russias black sea fleet has been destroyed, so to help us make sense of everything thats happened over the last few days, indeed before that in ukraine, im joined by brooks newmark, the former conservative mp and minister and founder of angels for ukraine, an organisation that provides humanitarian assistance to people in ukraine. And hes helped evacuate over 30,000 ukrainians since the outbreak of the war. Brooks, first of all, thank you so much for coming in over the christmas break. I am worried that people havent been talking about ukraine as much as they were earlier in the year , and yet earlier in the year, and yet its still going on. And the defence secretary has said theres not a stalemate. Is that right . Or are you worried that right . Or are you worried that there is a stalemate . I mean, there is there is pretty much a deadlock. So i think we to be honest about think we have to be honest about that. The question how do we that. The question is how do we break deadlock . So, so ive break that deadlock . So, so ive spent time in in donetsk region, which is part of donbas. Um and you know, many of the villages that i have been providing humanitarian support there. Um so the russians have been pushed out of some areas. Those villages that they pushed out in, you know , probably 70, 80 in, you know, probably 70, 80 of those villages are destroyed. Of those villages are destroyed. If you take somewhere like marinka , a bit like bakhmut, marinka, a bit like bakhmut, completely flat, flat, destroyed, a complete scorched earth policy. So yes, the russians have got a bit of land and theyve lost a lot of blood and theyve lost a lot of blood and a lot of treasure to get that relatively small town. But that relatively small town. But theyre not really making much progress. And the same is happening the other way. And the challenge at the moment is, what is it going to take to break this deadlock . And i think if you look along the donbas, that that line is not going to move much. I dont think even in the next 6 to 12 months where it will make a difference is in crimea. So the question is, what crimea. So the question is, what do we need to do to give the ukrainians is to make a difference in crimea. Sorry. Difference in crimea. Sorry. You want to. Okay. Well, i was going to say its sounding very like the first war very like the First World War that a front that that youve got a front that moves few yards every moves a few hundred yards every so often, but of places that have absolutely destroyed, have been absolutely destroyed, and little advantage have been absolutely destroyed, an either little advantage have been absolutely destroyed, an either side. Ittle advantage have been absolutely destroyed, an either side. Um,advantage have been absolutely destroyed, an either side. Um, what tage have been absolutely destroyed, an either side. Um, what do e have been absolutely destroyed, an either side. Um, what do you to either side. Um, what do you have . What do you can you get out that leads to the fundamental change and youre saying thats crimea. What should to help should the west be doing to help ukraine in to fight back in the crimea . Crimea . Well, things are well, two things are happening. Of all, um, happening. First of all, um, they are finally, after much delay getting training on the f 16s, the f 16s , i think will f 16s, the f 16s, i think will be a game changer. You cannot have a counteroffensive. Nato have a counteroffensive. Nato wouldnt expect it. We wouldnt expect it for our troops to have a counteroffensive, be successful without air support. Weve been asking the ukrainians to have a successful counter offensive without air support. Offensive without air support. They will be getting that. I think, in the next probably three months with the f 16s. Three months with the f 16s. Secondly, when it comes to crimea, knocking out the kerch bridge is critical. If you knock out the kerch bridge, you knock out the kerch bridge, you knock out all supply lines. You isolate crimea. At that point and i think you can then have an impact, not just in retaking crimea , but also retaking, crimea, but also retaking, ultimately kherson and zaporizhzhia. Now, what is it zaporizhzhia. Now, what is it going to take to actually knock out the kerch bridge . Nothing. Out the kerch bridge . Nothing. Not even the storm shadows , i not even the storm shadows, i think can do that. Which are the missiles were sending . Although it was very good because the storm shadow was used at taking out the russian , uh, ship that out the russian, uh, ship that was just taken out, which was , was just taken out, which was, by the way, bringing shahid down loans from from iran. Loans from from iran. And so that ship matters. That ship matters because it was bringing these shahid drones that are then being launched from crimea and then attacking, you know, all the major cities in, in ukraine, particularly the, the capital. So what is it going to take . Well, there is the atacms. Weve been talking about atacms, but there are two types of atacms. The atacms we finally given the ukrainians fragment, so they effectively its like a massive , effectively its like a massive, uh, um, uh, fragmentation bomb. Um, and what the new ones do, which is the m 48 attack them has a £500 warhead, and you need these £500 warheads to take out these £500 warheads to take out these massive pillars. If you just damage the rail line on the kerch bridge or you damage the road, the russians can fix that in in a few days or even a week or so. What they cant do is if you knock out the pillars, which you knock out the pillars, which you can do with the m48 atacms , you can do with the m48 atacms, then its game over. Then i think the ukrainians really take can take crimea and that is the only thing ultimately that will force to putin the negotiating table. Nothing else will. Okay. But theres a lot of money involved, isnt there . The missile that we provided was apparently £2. 5 million worth of missile funding the us is missile funding from the us is held congress. Funding held up in congress. Funding from the european community. Held up in congress. Funding from the european community. The from the european community. The European Union is held up because of hungary. The uk cant do it all on her own, so is the west sufficiently committed . Has it taken its eye off the ball because of what happened in israel . Well, jacob, youre a financial guy like me, so you need to figure out what is the best use of money. Now, to me , i best use of money. Now, to me, i think the new atacms cost just over 1 million. Maybe there are a million and a half dollars. Um, if you launch a dozen of those, frankly , we, uh, at the those, frankly, we, uh, at the kerch bridge, you take out those pillars, even if you have 100 of those. Okay lets say it costs 100,000,150 million. Were talking about the americans. I think giving them is it 60 or 80 billion . Were talking about the europeans giving 20 billion. Lets be a little bit smarter about how were actually giving the weapons to the ukrainians. And i think giving them Something Like the new atochem will make a difference for relatively low cost compared to the budgets were talking about. And without the risk that the russians will feel this as a major escalation, because since the war started, that nonsense of escalation is important to the beginning. Dont you think . No. Well, no, i think its. But honestly, jacob, i think its a complete bollocks. You know, were worried about winding up putin. This is sure youre allowed to say that word. So apologies to say that word. So apologies to apologise to your viewers then. Yeah. Um, you know, were constantly the americans are particularly upset with with provoking putin. Putin is provoked, you know , and you provoked, you know, and you know, he is invaded a sovereign nation, a nation recognised by the united nations, a nation who we told in 1993 94 that if you sign the budapest agreement, we will protect you. That was will protect you. That was signed by the uk, usa and russia. One of those three parties has broken it. How can we be provoking putin by helping a country protect itself . Well, simply as provoking him to go further and to make it a war and do what hes doing, everything that he could possibly and failing possibly do already, and failing by the way, hes lost 320,000 soldiers either dead or wounded, and cant go back into combat again. So this is a key thing that we dont hear about anymore. The number of casualties and the ukrainians, i understand, have lost a large number as well and are calling up ukrainians who are living outside the to ukraine go and help from, what, 16 to 60. So again , this is 16 to 60. So again, this is First World War levels of conscription. And this is the challenge of this war of attrition. So the this war of attrition. So the ukrainians have already had three waves of people who they have tried to recruit now. So were on the fourth wave. So the people who were really keen volunteered right at the start. Volunteered right at the start. Then you had the next level, then a third wave. Now were on a fourth wave. These are the people who were were reluctant to join earlier, who. Were now to join earlier, who. Were now telling to join and already when i meet the soldiers on the front line, they say the soldiers that are already keen to fight when they the front line, 70 they get to the front line, 70 out of 100 arent fit to fight right. And thats problem that right. And thats a problem that isindeed. Is indeed. Well, brooks, thank you very much were much for joining me. Um, were facing a shoplifting epidemic. Thats to according a new analysis from, of all people, the liberal democrats. They have revealed over 200,000 shoplifting cases were closed without being without a suspect being identified to july. Identified in the year to july. So has this happened and how so why has this happened and how can we fix it . Ill be speaking to a detective chief inspector shortly. Thank you welcome back. Some grim statistics on shoplifting were featured prominently in a number of newspapers. This morning. Analysis from the liberal democrats showed that unsolved shoplifting cases have hit a five year high. It is being claimed organised gangs are being let off the hook after analysis of Home Office Data by the party showed more than 200,000 reports of shoplifting, 560 a day went unsolved in the year ending july 2023, with the police apparently unable to deal with the increase in shoplifting. A number of retailers have been turning to private Security Firms to help deal with the issue. Well im now by issue. Well im now joined by David Mckelvey. Hes a former David Mckelvey. Hes a former metropolitan detective metropolitan Police Detective chief inspector, and he has subsequently founded the private security tmi , which Security Firm tmi, which provides security to retailers. Provides security to retailers. The firms my local bobby Service Provides 100 bobbies to Shopping Centres and retailers. They wear police like uniforms with red stab proof vests and 28 plain clothes detectives who mingle with shoppers. Since launching the scheme, the firm has privately prosecuted more than 300 shoplifters, two or so. So thank you very much for joining me. Um, you were a detective chief inspector. Thats the same rank as inspector morse, isnt it . So my viewers can understand where you were in the in the police service. Very senior and very clever. Very clever. Well, ill go back. Clever, but. Yes, but. Well, ill go back. Clever, but. Yes, but. Yes, i was but. Yes, but. Yes, i was a detective chief inspector retired in 2010. Excellent. And now youre running the service. Youve got 100 bobbies. They dont have the powers of arrest that a constable has, but nonetheless , constable has, but nonetheless, they can gather evidence and prosecute and should this be necessary, shouldnt this be the bread and butter of policing . Bread and butter of policing . Well, they actually do have a power of arrest. Um, we all have a power of arrest. Everybody has a power of arrest. Everybody has a power of arrest. Everybody has a power of arrest. Providing that somebody committing an offence or has committed an offence. Its no different to offence. Its no no different to the you can detain the police. You can detain someone whos committed an offence. But do arrest offence. So but we do arrest people. Uh, literally a people. Uh, and literally on a daily people. Uh, and literally on a daiioh, okay. And so. So how long oh, okay. And so. So how long can you detain people for . Can you detain people for . Well, we, we, we always call the police. And quite often the police wont attend. Uh, or they , theyll take quite a long time to attend. And in those circumstances , jacob, what we circumstances, jacob, what we will then do is look at, um, providing we can get their name and address and confirm that we will find weve got sufficient evidence. We will look at prosecuting them as a private prosecution. Prosecution. And do people have to give you their name and address or what powers do you lack that the police have, have . Uh, we dont have the power to, uh , ensure that someone to, uh, ensure that someone gives us the name of address, but you tend to find that the people we deal with on a daily basis, we know them probably 80, 90. We know them because they are prolific shoplifters. We deal with day in, day out, and then there those who simply then there are those who simply dont be arrested by the dont want to be arrested by the police. Theyll police. And theyll theyll rather a name and rather give us a name and address rather than wait potentially three, four potentially for two, three, four hours get taken off to hours and then get taken off to a Police Station a further a Police Station for a further up 24 hours. So they they up to 24 hours. So they they will you their details. Will give you their details. Dont understand but i dont understand why the turning out the police arent turning out for because this is the for this, because this is the bread butter of policing and bread and butter of policing and havent we learned in recent decades the broken window decades from the broken window theory that if you crack down on minor crimes, actually minor crimes, um, you actually make society much safer . Make society much safer . Absolutely. Jacob and thats the thats the strategy that we employ on all of the beats that we operate. Um, the broken windows policy. Um, we operate. Um, the broken windows policy. Um, and we ensure that we, you know, we deal with everything from the most minor stuff all the way up. Um, but the reality is, the police are under resourced. Theyve got huge priorities. You know, we know weve had all these, uh, demonstrations , ins, these, uh, demonstrations, ins, uh, etc. So their resources are stretched very thinly. Um, you stretched very thinly. Um, you know, sometimes on some of their beats. Well see. We wont see any Police Officers at all. Um, walking about. And so we fill that gap , if you like. That gap, if you like. And, and youre obviously a resource thats paid for privately , but that falls on the privately, but that falls on the shopper, doesnt it . Because the innocent shopper has to pay an extra amount for whatever it is theyre so that you can theyre buying so that you can be by the supermarkets , be paid for by the supermarkets, by the Shopping Centres, to use your by the Shopping Centres, to use you no , were actually, uh, no, were actually, uh, within the business areas we operate within the Business Improvement districts. So we are paid for by the Business Improvement districts. Um, okay. From that sort of supplementary rate that people pay supplementary rate that people pay. So youre very like a police force just without the powers of a constable funded from public funds, as its effectively funded by the Business Improvement districts. Business improvement districts. Um, and as you say, very like a police force insofar as we maintain law and order in that area. And the important fact is , area. And the important fact is, if you look at what weve done in those areas, weve proven that , as you in those areas, weve proven that, as you said, the broken windows policy works, Old Fashioned Community Policing works. Reduced crime works. Weve reduced crime across every single beat. That we operate, and were catching offenders. Um, and more importantly, we keep people safe. Thats the important thing. Well, thank you very much to David Mckelvey from tmi. And david, thank you for your public service, both before , as service, both before, as a detective chief inspector and now in what youre doing to make society that little bit safer. Society that little bit safer. Um, before i leave you, theres one final thing to talk about tonight, which is slightly embarrassing, actually , and embarrassing, actually, and i was equal parts surprised and was in equal parts surprised and delighted morning to get delighted this morning to get a message from a friend of mine saying that id been awarded awarded homes, awarded conservative homes, backbencher the year. My backbencher of the year. My initial thought was that paul goodman, a regular goodman, whos a regular panellist, had just done this out generosity thank out of generosity to thank me for coming programme. But for coming on my programme. But in it was after a poll of in fact it was after a poll of conservative Party Members where William Still with William Atkinson is still with us. The William Atkinson is still with us. The assistant news editor of conservative and one half conservative home and one half of panel. And, of tonights panel. And, william, very kind of william, this is very kind of your your readers to put me your of your readers to put me on your poll. Well, id say its both kind of readers that jake, amanda of our readers that jake, amanda testament your to your own testament to your to your own efforts on gb news. Efforts here on gb news. And so you sort of came first with 64 votes out of 611, and you were you pipped miriam cates by only three votes, i must say. But a sign that but i think its a sign that through your efforts on gb through your efforts here on gb news and through your frequent appearances and other outlets and and of course , and in the press and of course, previously on con homes excellent cast, you have excellent mod cast, you have made a sufficient impression on tory Party Members to remain at the political debate. The heart of political debate. Where should always be jacob. Well, thats very kind, but it fascinating to see miriam it was fascinating to see miriam cates well. Cates doing very well. Had excellent year, shes had an excellent year, very very strong on very forthright, very strong on the woke issues. And thats been powerful and anderson, my powerful. And lee anderson, my fellow broadcaster here. But theresa did well. Theresa may did very well. Thats quite rehabilitation thats quite a rehabilitation for her. Um, yes. No, i think of course, shes been very prominent recently in sort of debates over the echr, especially in sort of complaining the complaining about the governments bill. Governments immigration bill. But shows that a but i think it shows that a conservative remain conservative home, we remain quite church because it quite a broad church because it shows that readers from all different wings of the party. And i think perhaps i would id be enough suggest that be bold enough to suggest that you popular with you were more popular with perhaps writer you were more popular with petheis writer you were more popular with pethe party, writer you were more popular with pethe party, and writer you were more popular with pethe party, and theresa writer you were more popular with pethe party, and theresa mayter of the party, and theresa may might popular with those might be more popular with those towards left. Think towards the left. And i think its actually heartening for us at con home to see that we do actually a diverse actually get quite a diverse sort opinions within sort of set of opinions within our our readership. And our within our readership. And i think a poll like this, you know, when you throw it open to the readers to actually sort of choose would to choose who they would like to nominate themselves, always produces a sort of variety produces quite a sort of variety of answers. And its nice to see, you know, as i say, that sort of diversity and sort of in picks and when theresa may was prime wasnt Prime Minister, i wasnt necessarily greatest supporter. I must say it is but i must say it is fantastic to see a former Prime Minister as a backbench mp raising issues for her constituents, attending assiduously and bringing that wealth of experience of having held the high office to the house of commons, which is highly unusual. Yes, i think its really interesting because id say, you know, in terms of recent Prime Ministers, a lot of them have either kind of sort of skedaddled off to the private sector as quickly as they, um, could sort of could manage or to sort of discreetly disappeared after a penod discreetly disappeared after a period sort of chastising period of sort of chastising from electorate. From the electorate. So youre actually to and so youre actually to have theresa sort of stay in have theresa may sort of stay in parliament her parliament and fight for her legacy. Is very useful, legacy. Is, is very useful, obviously. And this is not always best thing for the always the best thing for the government. Bit edward government. A bit like edward heath of perpetual soul heath is sort of perpetual soul cover by margaret cover being replaced by Margaret Thatcher years. Um, but thatcher for 25 years. Um, but i think, you know, may think, you know, theresa may has, done a service to both has, has done a service to both her constituents has, has done a service to both herconstituents remaining has, has done a service to both her constituents remaining in her constituents by remaining in parliament, but also to the country. I think it country. And i think actually it speaks to her and her speaks very well to her and her legacy Prime Minister. Legacy as as Prime Minister. Thank you very well, william, thank you very much indeed. Um, up next, its Patrick Christys patrick. Youve been so been working all christmas. So what look forward to what can we look forward to tonight . I had a day off tonight . Yes i had a day off yesterday, im back with yesterday, but im back with a bang tonight. Preschoolers being to so preschoolers being sent to trans services. Really trans services. Whats really going trans services. Whats really goiiRicky Gervais teeing off on Ricky Gervais teeing off on the migrant crisis. Now a laughing stock. The migrant crisis. But now a laughing stock. The migrant crisis. But what a laughing stock. The migrant crisis. But what islaughing stock. The migrant crisis. But what is keir1ing stock. The migrant crisis. But what is Keir Starmers plan is it time to say enough is enough comes to tackling enough when it comes to tackling the crisis . The Climate Crisis . That we have actually, now that we have actually, uh, halved our carbon emissions, should car should we scrap hospital car parking have all of and i will have all of tomorrows newspaper front pages today. Lively show. Thats all from me. The well, thats all from me. The weathers coming up soon. Im back with a new year special on monday. Again with David Starkey. About tony starkey. Youre about tony blair . Im jacob blair . Actually, im Jacob Rees Mogg. This has been state of the nation. Heading down of the nation. Im heading down to somerset i hope were to somerset, where i hope were not get this snow bomb not going to get this snow bomb that i read about in an online thing earlier today. Heres the weather, a brighter outlook with boxt sponsors of weather boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. On. Gb news. Hello again. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. It stays wet and windy over the next 24 hours, but not as wet or as windy. The rain turns more showery the hill turns more showery and the hill snow in the far north eases snow in the far north also eases , but low pressure stays with us. Storm gareth was named because of the very treacherous conditions seen across conditions weve seen across northern scotland during the last 18 hours, and there last 12 to 18 hours, and there will continue to be some heavy rain and hill snow across the northern isles, along with 80 mile hour gusts for mile per hour wind gusts for a time overnight. Mile per hour wind gusts for a time overnight. Elsewhere across time overnight. Elsewhere across the country, stays the the country, it stays windy. The rain turns showers the rain turns to showers and the bulk the showers be in bulk of the showers will be in the with some clear spells the west, with some clear spells further east, but a further east, but with a blustery feel overnight. Its not going to be a particularly chilly start to thursday. Having said it stays cold across said that, it stays cold across scotland with further hill snow expected into the day on thursday. Outbreaks of rain at lower and certainly lower levels and certainly plenty showers longer plenty of showers or longer spells of elsewhere across spells of rain elsewhere across the country. Spells rain the country. The spells of rain will be interspersed by brighter intervals and its not going to be windy as it has been be quite as windy as it has been dunng be quite as windy as it has been during last hours, with during the last 24 hours, with wind 40 50 miles an wind gusts of 40 to 50 miles an hour at 12 celsius in the south, 5 to 8 further north. So staying chilly across scotland. And chilly across scotland. And friday starts off bright in many places, particularly towards central and southeastern parts of the country. But therell be of the country. But therell be further cloud and outbreaks of rain elsewhere. Again, hills , rain elsewhere. Again, hills, snow or even snow to lower levels across northern scotland and the weekend. Some heavy and into the weekend. Some heavy hill snow in the north, whilst elsewhere well see wet and windy weather. That warm feeling inside from boxt boiler as sponsors of weather on. Gb news. A very good evening. A very good evening. A very good evening. Its 9 pm. And this is Patrick Christys tonight. Mixed gender. Mixed gender. Me again. Okay multiple times both of you have wasnt intentional, but if you want to take it personal, thats also well, she did do it intentionally twice talking to do it to. Do it to. Yeah. They clap back against the transgender cry babies begins. Begins. But Pre School Children as young as three were referred to a transgender clinic. Is this not child abuse . I will be speaking to mike freer mp, whose office was set on fire in a suspected arson attack. I am asking how safe are our mps