Transcripts For GBN The 20240703

Least dennis may disagree on the boats issue. We should have just told the echr this is none of your business, rather like we did on prisoner voting, we should. Problem is the should. The problem is the Strasbourg Court historically always overreaches its own powers. Um, always overreaches its own powers. Um, and so i think our own sovereign parliament, just as we did on prisoner voting from time to time , would be from time to time, would be within our rights to say this is nothing do you. And if nothing to do with you. And if they accept that, we they dont accept that, then we should they dont accept that, then we sho Denis Macshane do you disagree . Yes , because prisoner voting yes, because prisoner voting was never. Prisoner voting was never a convention of the council of europe. Europe. It was a proposal. It was a proposal. And we said, no thanks. I discussed it with home secretaries. Theyre just very nervous of pubuc theyre just very nervous of Public Opinion in switzerland, other countries , very other countries, very democratic. Theyve had it for years. Not a democratic. Theyve had it for years. Not a big argument on this. Dont forget it was the council, rather the European Convention on human rights that stopped, frankly, hooding. And stopped, frankly, hooding. And lets be honest, mark, torture of ira terrorists. Theyre bad people. Theyll theyre bad people. Theyll be tortured by British Security services in a way that if it happenedin services in a way that if it happened in russia or china , we happened in russia or china, we would go crazy and they stepped in and stopped it. And you know something . It didnt affect the balance, as it were , of authority or power. So i dont know what ben wallace really is, why hes surfacing again, he tried to get the nato job. He was rejected by every he was giving his first interview since he defence agent. his hands hes saying his hands were tied wretched tied by this wretched organisation sorry, the defence secretary not put people in secretary does not put people in prison, does not arrest people. The police do arrests terrorist operations, the security operation. No. Well, hes involved in it. Hes secretary mod is not in charge of counter terrorism. That is. That is. No, but dennis, remember , no, but dennis, remember, ben, in fairness to him, was the security minister for more than two years before he moved to the mod and i spoke to him a few days after he left office and i said, was it true this thing about you having three phones by your bed . He said, yes. He said, one was my personal mobile, one was my departmental phone, and the third was a top secret phone. And he said, even now ive left office. When i get of a left office. When i get out of a car, still myself down to car, i still pat myself down to say, wheres where three say, wheres where are my three phones . Know i no phones . Even though i know i no longer have three, even seem it to me. But when i came back in the car with tony from trips, but when i came back in the car vsay, tony from trips, but when i came back in the car vsay, sorry from trips, but when i came back in the car vsay, sorry if from trips, but when i came back in the car vsay, sorry if yomm trips, but when i came back in the car vsay, sorry if you dont. S, hed say, sorry if you dont. Well, hes dropped ben wallaces now drop tony. Well, hes dropped ben wallaces novwell, drop tony. Well, hes dropped ben wallaces novwell, drop on. Iy. Well, hang on. Well, hang on. About ben were talking about ben wallace and tony say, have wallace and tony would say, have you mobile you . Wallace and tony would say, have youbecause mobile you . Wallace and tony would say, have you because the� bile you . Wallace and tony would say, have you because the security you . Wallace and tony would say, have you because the Security Services because the Security Services or number 10. Wallace or the number 10. Wallace wouldnt let blair go anywhere with a mobile phone because any mobile phone is penetrable by the chinese. I mean, there are very good yeah, very good reasons. Then. Even then. Even then. Yeah. Youve been watching this havent you . This morning, havent you . Something thats been going on at tell us youve at westminster. Tell us youve come hotfooting it from there, havent was. Was 90 there was. There was a 90 minute westminster minute debate in Westminster Hall, which parliaments hall, which is parliaments second debating about second debating chamber in about out government proposals to close Ticket Offices at train stations. Stations. Yeah, a mad idea. Well it was packed at and not a single backbencher who spoke from any of the parties. Not a single tory backbencher defended the governments position and i, amongst others , position and i, amongst others, said to the minister, look, look around you, take the hint, retreat gracefully, drop it. Retreat gracefully, drop it. And its been a gift for the wretched unions, mark, because theyre that as another theyre using that as another reason to on the reason to carry on with the strikes. The problem, in my opinion, i mean, this, but this came debate. Came out in the debate. Mean, could get the i mean, you could get the clips, the government are being completely eared about this. Completely tin eared about this. And to that was and i regret to say that was reflected ministers wife reflected in the ministers wife in order who in to order appease who Dennis Mcshane , let me ask you, who mcshane, let me ask you, who doesit mcshane, let me ask you, who does it who is it good for if we close the Ticket Offices . Bonkers. Dont its bonkers. I dont understand point a understand the point of being a cabinet secretary is to say no permanent secretary. And whatever that was a blob proposal, a Civil Service proposal. I dont even know who the transport secretary is. Mark harper. Well, whoever it is whos got if he walked into this building, i would say 99. 9 of people wouldnt know him anyway i its a low profile is an understatement. Understatement. Well, im glad mark was leaving, but its not about its about profit, surely. Look, i said in the well, look, i said in the debate at the game is not debate right at the game is not worth the candle sometimes you see this in government. See this in government. The Civil Servants come up with a proposal. The rail with a proposal. The Rail Industry backing backing it, industry are backing backing it, at least in part. And you get these benefits. And if youre a minister, you know, you look at this and if you if you apply some political antennae. Yeah. Dennis that you kind dennis will know that you kind of say is this really worth all the pain and the flap were going to take . And i going to take . No. And i honestly this very much honestly and this was very much the the debate, no the tenor of the debate, by no means me, the means was it just me, the absolute tenor of the debate was, if this worth it, do was, if this isnt worth it, do you know also sorry, but do you not rather than just not also rather than just saying, is it worth pain, saying, is it worth the pain, do you also is this right you not also say, is this right for people right . Oh, no, no. Oh, no, no. Well, yes, but dont misunderstand me. But but i think andrews was a sort of a political question. Yeah, it was. You know, its not good for people with disabilities. Its not who to not good for people who have to travel short notice. Oh, travel with short notice. Oh, no. This in the debate. Good. Good. And its not just that. Ill tell example. So recently and its not just that. Ill t and its not just that. Ill t and its not just that. Ill t recently i was getting a train to somewhere to somewhere in norfolk. I went to the machine. I couldnt believe how machine was asking. How much the machine was asking. Well, the ticket well, i went to the Ticket Office victoria. Half price. Office at victoria. Half price. Right. Cheaper. Right. Well, chris much cheaper. Thats to your point. Sweet. Sorry. Chris sweet. Chris sorry. Chris loder, who introduced the debate, worked. Yeah worked for years on the railways. Yeah. So you know, he knows what hes talking he made this talking about. And he made this point which is that point very well, which is that one reasons rail one of the reasons the Rail Companies you onto Companies Want to drive you onto their absolutely or to their website. Absolutely or to use machines is because use ticket machines is because your options may be limited and your options may be limited and you may itll all be in hansard. And he said quite often you get a much better deal. You speak to i mean, profit but profit. So you but you can see why some of the train Companies Want to get rid of the ticket. Of course it is a big tedious thing. Ive read over the weekend. I dont know whether mark will agree treasury agree or not. Is the treasury briefing. Want to kill briefing. They want to kill the triple can think of triple lock. Now, i can think of nothing that will guarantee more labour votes if the tories come up and say to all the pensioners of britain something youve of britain something that youve had, passed by labour, had, introduce passed by labour, the tories just before the election are going to take it away. So youll be poorer next yeah away. So youll be poorer next year. Well theyre briefing hard laboun year. Well theyre briefing hard labour, but labour today wes streeting to say whether streeting refused to say whether labour would keep triple lock. Labour would say nothing. Labour would say nothing. Youve heard of they are. Youve heard of defunding youve they are. Youve heard of defun� of g youve they are. Youve heard of defun� of de banking youve they are. Youve heard of defun� of de banking labour are heard of de banking labour are detargeting , you know, theyre detargeting, you know, theyre so far under the table that they wont commit to anything, will they . They wont. Quite right. Dennis you know when, when hes got his mobile phone on him. I havent tony blair on speed havent got tony blair on speed dial. You may do the dial. Right. You may do the suggestion ian is and i put it to you because youre youre a much better place to comment than am that starmer than i am that starmer is getting a lot of backstairs advice from blair. He talks to him a lot. He is. And the suggestion is that the essence of blairs advice is keep your head below the parapet. Dont commit to anything. Just, you know, kind of wind the know, kind of wind down the clock and let the tories screw everything. Is that true . Is that true . Dennis that so you dont need , tony to say it , need tony blair to say it would be great if harry kane could score goals. I mean, everybody in labours been agreed on that since starmer took over. Had to starmer took over. He had to drain the corbyn momentum poison out of us. The tories were the go into opposition will drain all the liz truss, Boris Johnson whack sort of brexit nonsense. Whack sort of brexit nonsense. Wacko brexit nonsense. How dare you . Brexit nonsense. Mr sunak is doing it now. Hes bought it. We did win the last general election by 80 seats. Dennis you do remember it, dont you . I campaigned in the red wall and and been in and i never and ive been in this encountered such much this time encountered such much anger by voters, labour voters at the impertinence of the labour party , suggesting that labour party, suggesting that somebody like Jeremy Corbyn was a suitable Prime Minister many other good qualities, just like when you put in liz truss. I dennis i hope shes very, very minor historic moment here. France soir agrees with mcshane live on national television. I did some campaigning for personal friends in the red wall in 2019. And what was really interesting and this bears out your point, to be fair, you knocked on a door. Lifelong labour voters , and they lifelong labour voters, and they didnt voting didnt say, im not voting laboun didnt say, im not voting labour. They im not voting labour. They said im not voting for corbyn stroke for him , for corbyn stroke for him, stroke for that bloke. And then there were a whole sort of variations theme variations on a theme by paganini, which got paganini, some of which got quite fruity. But youre absolutely lot of absolutely right in a lot of those it was viscerally those seats it was viscerally anti corbyn. But here is the difference between your man, blair, and your man. Starmer i was a tory candidate in 1997 and the die i was schlepping up and down the back streets of kilburn and green. The dying down the back streets of kilburn and of green. The dying down the back streets of kilburn and of the green. The dying down the back streets of kilburn and of the majorzn. The dying down the back streets of kilburn and of the major government. Years of the major government. So proper so that was a proper apprenticeship by that stage , apprenticeship by that stage, people had bought blair in a big way. You could feel it. They havent bought. Keir starmer absolutely, absolutely. Absolutely. I dont i dont particularly disagree. What thats twice now what they , what theyve also what they, what theyve also doneis what they, what theyve also done is theyve sold all their tory shares and sunak is just so weak , wobbly, indifferent, tory shares and sunak is just so weak , wobbly, indifferent , tin weak, wobbly, indifferent, tin eared doesnt get anything right. We know hes a billionaire. His wife is the Richest Woman in the world. Thats. Come on. Whats that got to do with it . Oh, its got everything. Married to a rich woman. Heavens sake , mark well, for heavens sake, mark will remember. Not in 1997 will remember. Maybe not in 1997 because came in in 2001. All because he came in in 2001. All you ever read the daily mail was what woman. And it what a terrible woman. And it was another beginning with was another word beginning with w cherie blair. Now, w used about cherie blair. Now, i think mrs. Sunak seems a very nice person. I know cherie. Shes exceptionally shes an exceptionally nice person. The trouble is, the sunaks are not remotely in touch with anybody in the country and nobody voted for him. Dennis ive never believed in the politics of envy , so i dont the politics of envy, so i dont think its fair to criticise the Prime Minister for the fact that, you know, to use a 19th century phrase, he married well. You know, i dont think its fair to attack him for that. You know, a at on his know, have a go at him on his policies, leave his family know, have a go at him on his poliiwe , leave his family know, have a go at him on his poliiwe , have e his family know, have a go at him on his poliiwe , have a his family know, have a go at him on his poliiwe, have a lookamily know, have a go at him on his poliiwe, have a look go ly and we can have a look go and a lot of his policies. Well, lets lets ask you quickly on triple lock. Are well, lets lets ask you quicgoing triple lock. Are well, lets lets ask you quicgoing to triple lock. Are well, lets lets ask you quicgoing to keep le lock. Are well, lets lets ask you quicgoing to keep it lock. Are well, lets lets ask you quicgoing to keep it lo� are are well, lets lets ask you quicgoing to keep it lo� are you you going to keep it or are you as as i know we as far as as far as i know we are. And you want to for the moment, i think we i think we have to. Because lets face it, yeah, because lets face it, people 60 are people over the age of 60 are the vote tory, if you the ones who vote tory, if you take the triple lock away, its another reason im going to take the triple lock away, its anotifor reason im going to take the triple lock away, its anotifor reastories. Going to take the triple lock away, its anotifor reastories. Well,oing to vote for the tories. Well, thats dennis to thats why dennis is trying to make course make an issue of it. Of course it well lets see if its raised. Thats what my curiosity. I think far important, think thats far more important, frankly, than what ben has. If were starmer, what so if you were starmer, what would today . Would you go on today . You go well what would you go on . Well i would. I would go on. Would. I would just go on. I think offices arent a think Ticket Offices arent a bad one. If somebody had somebody was in there in that 90 minute westminster somebody was in there in that 90 minu� its westminster somebody was in there in that 90 minu� its a westminster somebody was in there in that 90 minu� its a very westminster somebody was in there in that 90 minu� its a very good;tminster somebody was in there in that 90 minu� its a very good indicator hall, its a very good indicator of where mps are. Thats of where mps are. Thats absolutely big cheeses absolutely right. Big cheeses sitting in the ministerial or leader of opposition offices just actually dont know a lot of what happens in parliament. I hope somebody would listen to him on that. Oddly enough, i think mr sunak saying lets rejoin frontex. We have we have done as much as wed love to listen to you, wed rather listen to you, wed rather listen now to the Prime Minister, rishi sunak. Were over house were going over to the house of its prime of commons because its prime discretion him. Rishi discretion time for him. Rishi sunak the house of commons. Sunak and the house of commons. Service mr distinguished service. Mr speaken distinguished service. Mr speaker, with ministerial meetings with ministerial colleagues in colleagues and others in addition duties in this addition to my duties in this house. Have such house. I shall have further such meetings today. Meetings later today. Chris law. Chris law. Chris law. Mr speaker, the wealth of billionaires has skyrocketed over past decade , whilst over the past decade, whilst average working households in the uk the lowest living the uk have the lowest Living Standards since the 1950s was hard. Hardworking families are struggling to make ends meet. The welfare playing by a different set of rules, with reports even that members of the house of lords are trying to exploit the non dom status loophole paying their loophole to avoid paying their fair share. So does the Prime Minister agree that whether youre the wife of the most powerful man in the country or the host of the apprentice, no billionaire should qualify for special tax treatment. While my constituents face soaring levels of inequality and poverty. Of inequality and poverty. Prime minister. Well, mr mr speaken Prime Minister. Well, mr mr speaker, the facts tell a very different story to what the honourable gentleman said. He mentioned inequality. Inequality mentioned inequality. Inequality today is lower than it was in 2010. He he mentioned he mentioned the number. He mentioned the number. He mentioned the number of people in poverty. Mr speaker , again, in poverty. Mr speaker, again, im pleased to say there are 1. 7 million fewer people in poverty today than 2010, including many in scotland. But mr speaker, of course we understand that things are challenging right now with the cost of living, is why the cost of living, which is why weve in place record weve put in place record support to help families, particularly their Energy Particularly with their energy bills for bills and particular for the most vulnerable in our society with record amounts of cost of living payments going to millions the country , millions across the country, including in scotland, showing the of the United Kingdom the power of the United Kingdom government. Government. Thank you, mr speaker. Thanks to this conservative government, we have the opportunity to be the first country in the world to end new cases of hiv by 2030. And this is partially down to our world leading opt out hiv Testing Programme rolled out in very high prevalence areas. But very high prevalence areas. But to reach this goal and make this progress , we must roll out opt progress, we must roll out opt out testing to other high prevalence areas like in the West Midlands, which includes my constituency of West Bromwich east. The Prime Minister east. So will the Prime Minister commit meeting me and commit to meeting with me and the Terrence Higgins the incredible Terrence Higgins trust more about the trust to hear more about the merits of opt out testing . Merits of opt out testing . Prime minister well, can i thank my honourable friend for raising this important issue and indeed for her work in indeed thank her for her work in this we absolutely this area . We remain absolutely committed ending new hiv committed to ending new hiv transmissions within england by 2030, and im pleased that she highlighted that the provisional data from nhs england indicates that the opt out Testing Programme has been highly successful. Is currently successful. Is currently evaluating the impact of the programme, with a view to deciding whether it should be expanded in additional areas. And i know ministers will keep her and the house updated , but her and the house updated, but dont come to the leader of the opposition, starmer. Dont come to the leader of the oijes ion, starmer. Dont come to the leader of the oijes. n, starmer. Dont come to the leader of the oijes. Thank starmer. Dont come to the leader of the oijes. Thank you, � mer. Dont come to the leader of the oijes. Thank you, mrr. Dont come to the leader of the oijes. Thank you, mr speaker. Yes. Thank you, mr speaker. Yes. Thank you, mr speaker. Can i join the Prime Minister in his words, about the clerk of the house . Mr speaker , i pay tribute to mr speaker, i pay tribute to the police who tracked down the escaped terror suspect from wandsworth prison last week. Wandsworth prison last week. Despite being charged with terrorism and despite being a flight risk, he was not held in a category a prison. Why not minister . Minister . Well, mr speaker , id like to well, mr speaker, id like to thank the police and their partners for their efforts to find and arrest Daniel Khalife. There is now an ongoing Legal Process that must be allowed to take its course , but id like to take its course, but id like to reassure the public that while these cases are extremely rare, these cases are extremely rare, the justice secretary has launched an internal investigation about how this could happen. As well as an independent investigation of the incident so that we can learn the lessons from this case and make sure that it never happens again. Keir starmer the truth is there. Presiding over mayhem in the criminal Justice System , only criminal Justice System, only a few short months ago, zara aleena family said ministers had, and this is their words, blood on their hands. After probation failures that led to her murder. Probation failures that led to her murder. So it beggars belief that were back here once again. When the chief inspector of prisons said conditions in wandsworth are so bad it should be shut down again, the chancellor is telling anyone who will listen that he raised concerns as months ago probation in school buildings. Now prisons. Why does the Prime Minister keep ignoring the warnings until its too late . Warnings until its too late . Yes, Prime Minister. Mr mr speaker, the honourable gentleman with his background should know better that because of the because of the because of the wide variety obe because of the wide variety obe because of the because of the wide variety and considerable difference in severity of people charged under that act. It is not and has never been the policy that they are all held in category a prisons , something that prisons, something that i shouldnt need me to point out to him, given his experience. But talked resourcing. But he talked about resourcing. I am happy to tell him that over the last few years we have delivered an extra 4000 new prison officers Staffing Levels at wandsworth in particular are up. By 25 in the past six years up. By 25 in the past six years and because were boosting prison pay, were also improving retention and at the same time investing £100 million to improve prison security with new measures like x ray body scanners. But if he wanted to have a truly honest debate about this , perhaps hed acknowledge this, perhaps hed acknowledge that prison escapes under the Labour Government were almost ten times higher than under the conservatives. Mr then again. I did say last week and it will continue this week, who wants to start this session by leaving . Session by leaving . Please do so. Im happy to help you on your way. Keir starmer mr speaker , keir starmer mr speaker, every week, the topic, every week, whatever the topic, he picture if he paints this picture as if everything great and fine out everything is great and fine out there. Its so at odds with the lived experience in the real world. Let me turn to another serious security concern in some in this house face, sanction, intimidation and threats from the chinese state. When i ask the chinese state. When i ask the Prime Minister on monday whether the foreign secretary raised the specific issue of the alleged spy arrested in march when he visited china a few weeks ago , the Prime Minister weeks ago, the Prime Minister would only say that he raised that type of activity but avoided specifics. So i ask the Prime Minister again, did the foreign secretary raise this specific case when he visited china . Yes or no . Mr mr speaker, ill refer to my previous answer where ive said very clearly that the honourable the foreign secretary raised these issues with the with the Chinese Foreign minister who he met, as did i, when i had my meeting with premier li over the weekend. But when it comes to weekend. But when it comes to china, mr speaker, this government has put in place the most robust policy that has existed ever in our countrys Foreign Policy. It is to protect our country , to protect our our country, to protect our country for the values of the interests that we stand up for. It is to align our approach with our closest allies, including those in the g7 and the 5 5, and is to engage where it makes sense, either to advance our interests or, as i did at the weekend, to raise our very significant concerns. That is the right approach to china. It is one that is welcomed by each and every single one of our allies. And id be interested to know what he thinks that he would differently. Keir would do differently. He keir starmer well, that certainly wasnt a yes. Wasnt a yes. And what he says now is totally at odds with the parliaments intelligence and Security Committee report of july this year that set out that the government has no Clear Strategy when it comes to china has failed to support the intelligence agencies and is leaving the uk severely handicapped in managing our future security. This has been raised time and time again, but yet again the Prime Minister fails to heed the warnings and is now desperately playing catch up. So will he finally commit to the full audit of uk china relations, which so many in this house have so long demanded . And house have so long demanded . And mr well mr speaker, as always, the leader of the opposition is just playing catch up and hasnt caught up with the reality of whats actually happening. He talks about the isc report again, actually went again, if he actually went through he would realise through it, he would realise that related period of that it related to a period of investigation , which was in 2019 investigation, which was in 2019 and 2020. Since then , mr and 2020. Since then, mr speaken and 2020. Since then, mr speaker, we have launched a whole new integrated review refresh of our china strategy. Its published. Weve put in place a range of new measures, including for example, the National Security protective agency, which is supporting which is staffed out of m15, supporting businesses and organisations and being alert to the risks from cyber and from china. But if he wants to talk china. But if he wants to talk about Foreign Policy, mr speaken about Foreign Policy, mr speaker, he should perhaps reflect on his own record because this was the man who said he was 100 behind the former labour leader , a person former labour leader, a person who wanted to abolish the army, scrap trident and withdraw from nato. Its clear what he did. He nato. Its clear what he did. He put his own political interests ahead of britains as. Mr speaker , probation prison speaker, probation prison schools, china and yet again inaction. Inaction. Man fails to heed the warnings and then blames everyone else for the consequences. Mr speaker, on consequences. Mr speaker, on sunday, the home secretary celebrated her First Anniversary in post. That is, if you overlook the six days she missed when she was deemed a National Security risk in that year , Security Risk in that year, 40,000 people have crossed the channel on a small boat and the taxpayer is now spending £6 million a day on hotel bills. He million a day on hotel bills. He is failing to stop terrorists strolling out of prison for failing to guard britain against hostile actors. His complete failing to stop the boats. How can anyone trust him to protect the country. Mr the country. Mr mr speaker , he he talks about mr speaker, he he talks about trust. He talks about action. Trust. He talks about action. Just today, this government is taking to action reform defective eu laws to unlock over 100,000 homes, boosting our economy, supporting jobs , and economy, supporting jobs, and ensuring that we can realise the aspirations of homeowners. Now he tried. He talks about trust. He tried in this house to talk the talk on housebuilding. But the talk on housebuilding. But at the first sign of a cheap political hit, what did he do . Hes caved in. Mr speaker , hes caved in. Mr speaker, rather than make the right long term decisions for the country , term decisions for the country, hes taken the easy way out. It is typical of the principles free conviction , free type of free conviction, free type of leadership that he offers flip flopping from being a builder to a blocker. Mr speaker, the a blocker. Mr speaker, the British Public cant trust a word he says. Word he says. Mr speaker, every week he comes here protesting that nothing is his fault, trying to convince anyone whos still listening that everything is great. The truth is, the floor fell in for millions of families because of their economic mayhem. The classroom ceilings collapsed because he cut vital school budgets. And now the school budgets. And now the walls of our National Security have been breached because they have been breached because they have ignored repeated warnings. No one voted for this shambles. No one voted for this shambles. No one voted for this shambles. No one voted for this shambles. No one voted for him. So how much more damage do the british pubuc much more damage do the British Public have to put up with before he finally finds the stomach to give them a say . Mr mr mr speaker, we are we are getting on for the british pubuc getting on for the British Public just in the last week announcing a new landmark deal for british scientist. Its for british scientist. Its attracting £600 million of new investment for our world leading Auto Industry and wages now rising at the fastest rate on record , mr speaker. And where record, mr speaker. And where has he been this week . Locked away with Labours Union paymasters promising to give them more power and scrap the laws that protect british families and their access to pubuc families and their access to Public Services . Its clear its Public Services . Its clear its only the conservative lives that are on the side of the hardworking British Public. Good jobs. Thank you very much, mr speaken last week with yorkshire colleagues, i met with our local integrated care board to discuss plans for improving dentistry provision. But when surgeries suddenly closed to nhs patients without notice, as one in harrogate did very recently , an harrogate did very recently, an immediate strain is put on local provision will the Prime Minister look at what can be donein minister look at what can be done in these circumstances to ensure that no one is left . No one is left without access to an nhs dentist . The Prime Minister. The Prime Minister. My honourable friend is absolutely right to raise this and we will look into this issue. Hell hell be reassured to know were investing £3 billion a year into dentistry. There is no geographical restriction on on which dental practise a patient may attend and practises should keep all their records up to date, including whether they are accepting new patients. And typically, where a practise ends, a contract , nhs typically, where a practise ends, a contract, nhs england andchs ends, a contract, nhs england and chs should Work Together to ensure that that funding is reallocated and patients continue to have access to nhs dental care. Dental care. As snp leader Stephen Flynn yeah, mr speaker , as someone who yeah, mr speaker, as someone who spends more money on heating their Swimming Pool than the total value of the uk state pension, i think its safe to say that the Prime Minister might not be as invested in this topic as some others, but lets afford him the opportunity to clear up any confusion. Clear up any confusion. Will he commit his party, the conservative party, to maintain the state pension triple lock beyond the next general election 7 beyond the next general election . Yes or no . Prime minister. Prime minister. Mr mr speaker, this is the party that introduced the triple lock. Mr speaker , this is the lock. Mr speaker, this is the party that has delivered a £3,000 increase in the state pension since 2010. Its also the parties that ensure that there are 200,000 fewer pensioners living in poverty today, and this winter, ensuring that pensioners get an extra £300 alongside their winter fuel payment to support them through the challenging times with inflation. So, mr speaker , our inflation. So, mr speaker, our track record is clear. There is one party in this house that is always stood up for our pensioners and is the pensioners and that is the conservative party. It gives them a mr speaker, i dont think we heard a yes there and youll imagine my shock, my utter surprise that we appear to have consensus once again between the conservative party and the labour party on this most important of issues. Despite the promises that were made to the people of scotland in 2014 and despite the clear statements from the likes of gordon brown that the only way to protect your pension is to remain within the uk, how hollow those words are now. So may i ask the Prime Minister who does he think will scrap the state pension triple lock . First, his government or the labour partys government . Labour partys government . Prime minister, mr speaker said thanks to the actions of this government, pensioners in scotland are receiving record increases in their state pension. £870 this year. Extra support with the cost of living this winter. This is the government winter. This is the government that introduced and remains committed to the triple lock. But he does raise a good point. Mr speaker , pensioners in mr speaker, pensioners in scotland should know the reason they can rely on the state pension, not just today, but for years to come because of the strength of our union and the strength of our union and the strength our United Kingdom strength of our United Kingdom government lined up. Mr speaker , beautiful so mr speaker, beautiful eastbourne is perhaps best known as a top visitor destination, but there is important work being done also to put us on the digital map. Digital west, the first local event of its kind , first local event of its kind, is coming to the wellcome building next week and will showcase some pretty stellar local tech talent and open doors of opportunity with an ambition to create 10,000 local jobs in this sector. To create 10,000 local jobs in this sector. Would to create 10,000 local jobs in this sector. Would the to create 10,000 local jobs in this sector. Would the Prime Minister applaud . Event minister applaud . Event organisers chalk eastbourne and switch plane and lay out what this government is doing to make sure Great Britain and eastbourne is one of the best places in the world to be involved in this continually growing and breaking sector. Mr mr speaker, the government has a mission to make the uk the most innovative economy in the world and the growth of our Tech Industry is one of the key ways we achieve that. Im we will achieve that. Im delighted join my honourable delighted to join my honourable friend thanking paying friend in thanking and paying tribute chalk eastbourne for tribute to chalk eastbourne for their terrific organisation of their terrific organisation of the digifest. This is a great the digifest. This is a great example of how in local areas we can bring together people to create Jobs Opportunity and create jobs and opportunity and ultimately drive the growth that our wants to see and our country wants to see and david, thank you, mr speaker. And last year, after being referred by their. Gp, 22,000 referred by their. Gp, 22,000 people waited more than four months to start sought urgent treatment for cancer for a terrible wait twice as long as the governments maximum 62 day pledge. I cancer target. It hasnt met once since 2015. We all have loved ones whose lives have been turned upside down by cancer , and we all know down by cancer, and we all know that every day counts. Wait thing reduces the chances of survival. So will the prime survival. So will the Prime Minister tell the people waiting anxiously to start their Cancer Treatment when will this cancer target be met, minister . Mr speaker, its absolutely right that we do everything we to can speed up cancer diagnosis. The pandemic has had a Significant Impact on cancer recovery. Hell know that before recovery. Hell know that before the pandemic, we had Something Like 200,000 cancer referrals a month. But during the pandemic, it dropped to around 80,000. And now as those referrals come through, thats having an impact. But mr speaker, were ensuring that there are hundreds more oncologists and radiologists working this year compared to last year. Were rolling out over 160 Community Diagnostic Centres because the honourable gentleman is right that early diagnosis is key and that early diagnosis is key and thatis that early diagnosis is key and that is why, mr speaker, even though there is work to do. Cancer treatment today is at record levels. So we are making progress. And the 62 day backlog progress. And the 62 day backlog is now falling lately, recently , the nhs wrote to all trusts streamline our targets, clinically advise , and now all clinically advise, and now all the focus is on meeting them as quickly as possible. Chris green thank you, mr speaken in 2017, bolton custody suite was closed by the police and crime commissioner and the then chief constable because they had given on arresting criminals. Given up on arresting criminals. The new chief is delivering on the peoples priorities so that emergency answered emergency calls are answered promptly. Are promptly. Crimes are investigated and arrests are made, which means the newly reopened custody suite is always full. Will my right honourable friend join me in thanking Greater Manchester police . And does he think that this approach ought to catch on around the country the minister. Country . The Prime Minister. Well, mr mr speaker, i am delighted with the improvements that have been made in Greater Manchester police and indeed the home secretary recently met home secretary just recently met with chief there. They have with the chief there. They have made improvements to made significant improvements to answering 999 calls. For example , and have seen almost a 50 year on year increase in the number of charges recorded by the force. I very much welcome their focus on getting the base on crime and anti social behaviour right, and they are a model for Police Forces across the country. The country. Ashley dalton thank you. Ashley dalton thank you. Ashley dalton thank you. Thank you, mr speaker. Thank you, mr speaker. I thank the Prime Minister for his answer to my honourable , the honourable member for aberdeen south, but im still confused on this matter because just yesterday day the secretary of state for work and pensions said that the pensions triple lock is not sustainable. Lock is not sustainable. All the chancellors economic advisers have suggested that it isfime advisers have suggested that it is time to review the policy. But number 10, when questioned , but number 10, when questioned, has said theyre committed to it. So mr speaker, which is it . Mr speaker . This government is committed to the triple lock. It was this government that introduced first the triple lock. She might want to she might want to have a word with her own deputy leader, who i dont think provided clarity on the provided much clarity on the matter. Remember, mr matter. And remember, mr speaken matter. And remember, mr speaker, all remember speaker, i think we all remember when came to pensions. When it came to pensions. What we remember is gordon we can remember is Gordon Browns 75 per week increase came back. Thank you, mr came back. Thank you, mr speaken came back. Thank you, mr speaker. We can week out as i meet businesses in my constituency of meriden, i hear about how Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we work in sectors like life sciences, the automotive sector and financial services. Does my right honourable friend agree that artificial Artificial Intelligence will transform the way humanity will live in the 21st way humanity will live in the 21s1and through upcoming and through his upcoming global ai summit, will we ensure that appropriate are that appropriate guardrails are put protect society put in place to protect society as World Leaders in as we become World Leaders in this technology . Prime minister, my honourable friend is right to highlight the incredible power of ai friend is right to highlight the incredible power of al to transform not just businesses and our productivity, but also pubuc and our productivity, but also Public Services in areas like health and education. But we do need guardrails to allow us to make the most of the opportunities of ai and to address. Our regulatory address risks. Our regulatory approach out a responsible, approach sets out a responsible, proportionate approach to ai that balances risk and innovation. And i look forward to working with International Partners about how we do this at a global level. Partners about how we do this at a global level. At our upcoming a global level. At our upcoming ai safety summit. Ai safety summit. Cooper thank you, mr speaker. Luton airport is trying to massively expand its airport capacity from 18 million passengers per year to a whopping 32 million passengers per year. This will blight the lives of thousands of residents across hertfordshire and bedfordshire and especially in nonh bedfordshire and especially in north saint albans , who live north saint albans, who live under the flight path. But it will also fly in the face of the advice from the governments own climate advisors. As its been climate advisors. As its been reported minister reported that the Prime Minister is ready ignore his is getting ready to ignore his climate advisors. Is that true. Climate advisors. Is that true. Prime minister . No, mr speaken but what i would say is my approach to getting to net zero is not one that requires people to give up doing the things that they want to do and enjoying life flying the right thing to be doing is, as we are investing in and funding in new technologies and funding them, things like Sustainable Aviation fuel, because thats how well decarbonise aviation on the transition to net zero, not force people to give everything up if malthouse mr speaken everything up if malthouse mr speaker, when the Prime Minister was chancellor of the exchequer, he put the full might of the treasury the year treasury behind the ten year drug strategy with which with its outer projects, is now turning around across turning lives around across england and wales. But part of that but a key part of that strategy was developing a new approach to possession, he will know from his own constituency that in towns like andover in mine possess an is of a huge concern, particularly to parents of young people who spend some time in the town centre. Now the home Office Issued a white paper on this over a year ago. The consultation closed in october last year. So can i ask the Prime Minister to commit that in the forthcoming kings speech we can see some legislation to finally deal with this pernicious problem. Minister, can i thank Prime Minister, can i thank my right honourable friend for all his work and attention on all of his work and attention on this area . Was good work with him it was good to work with him on in particular. It was good to work with him on right in particular. It was good to work with him on right highlight� ticular. Hes right to highlight that drugs lives and families drugs destroy lives and families hitting the vulnerable in hitting the most vulnerable in our society. Hardest. The our society. The hardest. The ten year drug strategy, which he helped put in place is ambitious and backed with a record £3 billion funding. As my right honourable friend highlighted, we consulted on a new drug we have consulted on a new drug possession offences framework work and i can assure him that ministers will keep and this ministers will keep him and this house updated on future plans alone. Thank you, mr speaker. In the last few hours ive been contacted by the headteacher of saint jamess church of England Primary School in blackburn , and Primary School in blackburn, and the headteacher is desperately seeking help after a rac survey conducted on the 7th of september was inconclusive of the urgent , intrusive inspection the urgent, intrusive inspection that was supposed to follow has not been arranged by the department of education. The potentially affected part of the building has been closed off with children crammed in a dining room , learning on tables, dining room, learning on tables, staff are unable to access facilities and the whole school is being hugely inconvenienced. The headteacher has been unable to. The headteacher is unable to meet the department of education can implore the Prime Minister to get the secretary of state to education to investigate this urgently. Urgently. The minister. The minister. Mr speaker of course im sorry for the disruption at schools as we work hard to identify those affected. But identify those affected. But what is doing is fully funding the inspection process , ensuring the inspection process, ensuring that we are rapidly now inspecting and surveying all potentially affected schools, paying potentially affected schools, paying for that work, but also now with the increase of up to 80 dedicated caseworkers , saint 80 dedicated caseworkers, saint jamess Primary School, like others, should have a dedicated point of contact to work through those issues, ill ensure that the secretary of state and the department the department are in touch with the school the honourable school and the honourable member on Stephen Hammond thank you, mr speaken personally, i know the stark impact of dementia and the effect it has on the families of our million citizens who live with it. It was my honour last week to sponsor Alzheimers Research here in the uk to highlight the recent progress on a diagnostic test and new a new diagnostic test and new drugs that could be available as early as next january. I welcome early as next january. I welcome dementias inclusion in the governments major condition strategy , but would my right strategy, but would my right honourable friend ask the secretary of state to convene a dementia medicines taskforce so that we can take advantage of these progress . This progress in research . And would you consider Alzheimers Researchs request for a Dementia Champion . Prime minister. Prime minister. Mr speaker, can i start by thanking my honourable friend for his work in this important area . Regulators are working area . Regulators are working closely with industry to evaluate new dementia medicines because of course we want patients to benefit from rapid access to safe and effective treatments. Were also strongly committed to funding dementia research, including doubling the amount allocated to this to £160 million a year by next year. Amount allocated to this to £160 million a year by next year. And million a year by next year. And last year we launched the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission backed up with new funding of which we will work with industry to develop biomarkers , data and to develop biomarkers, data and Digital Science innovations and strengthen our trials in dementia. And i look forward to dementia. And i look forward to heanng dementia. And i look forward to hearing from more hearing from him. More suggestions hearing from him. More sugthankrs very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Speaker. In the 1990s mr speaker. In the 1990s under the conservative government, people were dying because of the length of time they nhs waiting lists. In 2023, weve seen an increasing number of people dying while theyre on nhs waiting lists, before theyre getting treatment. It is the Prime Ministers shame that people are needlessly people are dying needlessly under. Under his watch. It Prime Minister. It here. Prime minister. It here. Prime minister. Well, mr mr speaker, of course the number on waiting lists has been impacted significantly by the pandemic , significantly by the pandemic, but thats why weve put record funding in place to help address it, including new innovations like surgical hubs, same day emergency care, virtual wards and suchlike. But i would gently point out to the honourable gentleman in in england, partly the reason that the waiting lists are not coming down as fast withdrawal like we would like is because of a strike action by doctors, something that that is that is something that is supported him and his supported by him and his colleagues who have stood on the picket lines, ensuring that patients cannot get access to care. It is also him and his party that is saying that they will repeal the laws that we have put in place that will guarantee safe access have put in place that will gumedical safe access have put in place that will gu medical treatment fe access have put in place that will gu medical treatment in access have put in place that will gu medical treatment in theess to medical treatment in the event of industrial action. So if he wants to make this issue emotional, he should say to people, is it he people, why is it that he believes should be believes patients should be depnved believes patients should be deprived access to lifesaving deprived of access to lifesaving care because of industrial action . Mr survival applicant close question. Close question. Question 11 Prime Minister. Prime minister. Mr speaker , we regularly mr speaker, we regularly engage with local partners across the West Midlands to gather insight and intelligence on the economy. Earlier this year , we initiated the year, we initiated the trailblazer devolution deal, which will help include measures to help businesses thrive. And i to help businesses thrive. And i see that just the other week business growth, West Midlands was launched by the mayor, backed with a £100 million in funding for business support. Michael fabricant sir , i Michael Fabricant sir, i thank the Prime Minister for that answer and im glad to hear that answer and im glad to hear that the West Midlands Growth Continues to expand. However , we do have a problem however, we do have a problem in litchfield and that is road closures. Closures. Road closures , and we dont road closures, and we dont know how long theyre going to go for on more footpath closures i we we dont know how long theyre going to go on for hs2 who are doing these closures. Who are doing these closures. They one hand doesnt know what the other hand is saying on hs2, mr speaker, is the most dysfunctional organisation that ive ever had to deal with. Will the Prime Minister in the short term try and restructure future hs2 so it works like a company should . Should . And in the longer term, can he save other constituencies by stopping hs2 at the end of phase one . Yes. Mr yes. Mr well, mr speaker , i know that well, mr speaker, i know that the frustration that this is causing to my honourable friends constituents, i am told that hsz friends constituents, i am told that hs2 limited is prioritising the completion of works under way to keep disruption to a minimum, including road works in lichfield. But i know the transport secretary will continue to hold them to account and the company will local and the company will keep local communities informed about future. Future works. Bahadi. Thank you, mr speaker i uk billpayers are facing an extra £1 billion because of the governments failure to agree new offshore wind with russia using energy as a weapon. When will the Prime Minister take Energy Security seriously and protect us from the whims of fossil fuel . Autocrats fossil fuel . Autocrats Prime Minister. Prime minister. Mr speaker , we do take energy mr speaker, we do take Energy Security seriously. Indeed, we security seriously. Indeed, we created a brand new to department focus on Energy Security. But its a bit rich. Security. But its a bit rich. Its a bit rich coming from the labour party. Mr speaker, that that wants that wants to cut off our access to home grown british oil and gas , mr speaker, which oil and gas, mr speaker, which will increase our reliance on foreign oil and gas, increase our reliance on dictators and exposure to those markets. And as the independent reports have also said, it also said would be bad for the climate as those imported fossil fuels come with Something Like 2 or 3 times the emissions, there policy is not just bad for the environment, mr speaken just bad for the environment, mr speaker. Its bad for our Energy Security and bad for security and its bad for British Security and its bad for britarlene foster you. Arlene foster thank you. Arlene foster thank you. Speaker. Mr speaker. Mr speaker. The collapse of a potential rescue deal for wilko this week bnngs rescue deal for wilko this week brings added urgency to the regeneration our town centres regeneration of our town centres and driving that forward , would and driving that forward, would he agree to meet myself and the leader Torbay Council to leader of Torbay Council to identify government leader of Torbay Council to identify and government leader of Torbay Council to identify and planning Government Support and planning reform . This accelerated. This can be accelerated. Why . Why . Why . Why, mr speaker, investment through both arms of our towns fundis through both arms of our towns fund is part of how will fund is part of how we will regenerate and unleash the potential our centres. Potential of our town centres. Im delighted to hear that that investment includes torbays £21. 9 million town deal and indeed 13. 5 million for paignton via the future high streets fund. But my honourable friend is right about ensuring that our Planning System is friendly for Small Businesses and thats what were doing, making much were doing, making it much easier to convert a new shops into cafes , restaurants or into cafes, restaurants or indeed new homes and its an example of how were helping our high streets adapt and thrive. Lawrence eshalomi mr speaker , mr lawrence eshalomi mr speaker, mr speaken lawrence eshalomi mr speaker, mr speaker, the new defence secretary has been quoted as saying that there could be rack present in military buildings. So can the Prime Minister today guarantee the safety of our military personnel and equipment, or is this yet another ticking time bomb that the government has failed to see coming . Yeah Prime Minister. Mr mr speaker, actually, across the Public Sector department to make sure that they follow the technical guidance with regard to rack, identify and mitigate as required and as youve seen with the example in the nhs, we have moved hospitals affected into the new Hospital Programme , but the new Hospital Programme, but also generally , this is the also more generally, this is the government that has invested record sums in defence, £24 billion at the last Spending Review , the single biggest review, the single biggest uplift in defence spending since the end of the cold war. Sir philip davies, thank you, mr speaker. Its vitally important that we retain, recruit and protect our prison officers. So will the our prison officers. So will the Prime Minister agree to stop any prisoner who assaults a prison officer from being released early from jail . This simple measure would be very popular with prison officers. It will be very popular with the public, and you never know. Mr speaker, it might even find favour with the parties opposite who normally think that the only people who should be in prison are people who misgender people. Im very well. Mr mr speaker mr speaker. Mr speaker. Prisoners. Mr speaker. Prisoners. My mr speaker. Prisoners. My wonderful friend is right. The prisoners who are violent towards people working and living in prisons will and should face the full consequences of their actions. Im pleased that the recent police crime, sentencing and courts act actually increased the maximum penalty for up to two Years Imprisonment for those who assault emergency workers , who assault emergency workers, and that includes prison officers. And the ministry of officers. And the ministry of justice will continue to press for charges for more serious offences such as abh , where appropriate. Sarah owen thank you, mr speaker. Speaken at the weekend, seven Global Economic powers came together, including india , the us and the including india, the us and the eu , to agree on monumental trade agreement. But not the uk. But not the uk. Can the Prime Minister say if he chose not to sign up because he chose not to sign up because he thought it was presumably a bad deal, or was the uk left out altogether because this Prime Minister has as weak a reputation on the world stage as he does at home . Hey mr speaker , i think im not sure if the honourable lady was here for the statement on monday. I rather assume not. I think what shes describing wasnt a trade deal. So first of all, she should get her facts right. And as i explained on monday , as as i explained on monday, as i explained on monday , there are explained on monday, there are lots of different ways that countries will participate in solving International Issues at the same conference that she mentioned at the same summit, we announced a record investment to the Green Climate fund. It is the Green Climate fund. It is the single biggest investment by this country to help with International Climate finance, and it was warmly welcomed by countries at the summit who can see that the uk is taking a leadership role and help helping countries adapt and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Brendan clarke smith thank you , mr speaker. You, mr speaker. This week we were hit by the devastating news that all wilko stores closing, meaning stores would be closing, meaning the loss of 12,500 jobs and bassetlaw and worksop of the home of wilko hq and a Distribution Centre with 1500 jobs set to go. Jobs set to go. But wilko has been mismanaged for years, and in the last decade over 77 million has been paid out to shareholders , heirs paid out to shareholders, heirs and recently the hq was sold for 48 million before being leased back. 48 million before being leased back. So can the prime 48 million before being leased back. So can the Prime Minister reassure my constituents and all those nationally affected by the demise of wilko that he and the government will do everything in their power to help support people into jobs and make sure their redundancies and pensions are protected. And we will take whatever action is available to us to hold the ownership to account. Account. Prime minister. Prime minister. Well, mr mr speaker, as my honourable friend knows, some of the topics that he raised will be commercial matters for the company. But i do know that this is a concerning time for workers at wilko. My right honourable friend the business secretary is keeping close to developments and we have already started supporting those who have been made redundant and we stand ready to support others to the fullest of our abilities. The greenwood , the head the lee greenwood, the head of army general sir patrick of the army general sir patrick sanders, has said. Sanders, has said. Well, interesting there that we had Brendan Clarke smith, of course, who spoke to us here on gb news yesterday , the bassetlaw gb news yesterday, the bassetlaw mp on wilko with his observation on paralleling that of the gmb , on paralleling that of the gmb, that there had been alleged mismanagement in terms of the company and the shops. Of course, with the 12,500 Staff Members now facing redundancy. But we have the second pmqs of this parliamentary session and we have in the studio to award their points or take away points. Maybe even Dennis Mcshane , the former labour mcshane, the former labour minister for europe and conservative mp for rayleigh, and Wickford Mark francois , and Wickford Mark francois, obviously a member too many commons committees. I thought it was flat , very flat. Was a bit flat, very flat. I only sparky line was the new star sir keir starmer insult of action inaction. Of action inaction. Thats about the only thing i wrote down. Yeah, it was a change from captain hindsight from the other side. Like the question about side. I like the question about Artificial Intelligence. I must Artificial Intelligence. I must say, mark, i thought a bit of sort submitting mps to sort of submitting mps to Artificial Intelligence help might liven up pmqs instead of the whip sort of writing the question. I think i think the whips would have been trying to do that years actually. Dennis that for years actually. Dennis but i, as said, but i mean i, as i said, i scored that im trying to be scored that if im trying to be as possible, as objective as possible, i scored that as a no score draw. I dont think, i dont think there was a sort of killer line on either side really. In some ways, the most interesting answer was to a backbench question from the labour party about about the triple lock where the Prime Minister appeared to me to give a very emphatic answer and it took stephen Stephen Flynn from the scottish nationals to actually raise the issue at all. He i mean the snp are in a bit of a theyre having a torrid time at theyre having a torrid time at the so he sort kicked the moment. So he sort of kicked it off. But but in response to a labour question about labour backbench question about 15 later, the prime 15 minutes later, the Prime Minister said i wrote it down. The government committed the government is committed to the lock , so i think the triple lock, so i think thats fairly emphatic really , thats fairly emphatic really, and think thats one of the and i think thats one of the biggest things came of biggest things that came out of the but it doesnt that they but it doesnt mean that they might with it. Might not suspend or with it. , well think thats yeah, well i think thats fairly emphatic wording from the Prime Minister, but lets see what happens in the budget. Prime minister, but lets see wh. Butippens in the budget. Prime minister, but lets see wh. But i pens in the budget. Prime minister, but lets see wh. But i mean,1 the budget. Prime minister, but lets see wh. But i mean, that,budget. Prime minister, but lets see wh. But i mean, that, you|et. Prime minister, but lets see wh. But i mean, that, you know, but i mean, that, you know, he accused dodging it he he was accused of dodging it in reply to the snp spokesman, but i think in response to that, labour backbencher he gave a pretty clear answer to me. Yeah, stephen we didnt stephen flintstone, we didnt get his response. Get a yes was his response. Yeah. But then as i say, another labour backbencher forgive me, yeah. But then as i say, another lab know ckbencher forgive me, yeah. But then as i say, another lab know , of how Prime Ministers question 30 minutes so and if question 30 minutes or so and if you worry, worry, worry and more than one mp and from all sides is said up and says is mark said gets up and says but what about triple lock but what about the triple lock to begin with i think mr sunak was wriggling and ducking and diving and because the treasury hated and would like to get rid of it. But at the end he just of it. But at the end he just had to sort of almost swear on his mothers milk that yes, the tories would keep it. And why did you say i think you said that starting with Foreign Policy or was was going down lose lose the room. Yeah. Yeah. Just generally Foreign Policy in Prime Ministers questions unless theres an absolutely outrageous example of invasion of ukraine or some isnt a possible sparring at west minster sparring, i think that is complete and utter drivel. If you want to know about chinese influence , look at all the influence, look at all the retired Civil Servant ministers of all parties and bigwigs from england who sit in chinese boards. They give all the information thats possible about english policy, commercial intelligence , young boy, intelligence, young boy, a young, a young researcher , im young, a young researcher, im afraid, pillorying him , a good afraid, pillorying him, a good newspaper headline, but not very i mark, i 5mm mark, i know youre looking at this in more detail, but was it the fact that the speaker warned the chamber off this earlier in the week . Earlier in the week . Well, i mean, i think the speaker was quite right. You know, he did what you would expect to do. He reinforced expect him to do. He reinforced the legal position. I mean , i the legal position. I mean, i just think starmers tactics were a bit odd today. I mean , were a bit odd today. I mean, dennis and i have been in the chamber many times. Generally, chamber many times. Generally, the most effective attack from a leader of the opposition is the where you you hammer on one issue, you get up to six, goes at it and youre backbenchers then all row in behind you. You know they follow the leaders lead and they were pretty subdued today both sides were yeah it was it was sort of low octane but starmer seemed to want to cram five issues into one sentence. This is where i think went wrong. Now, think he went wrong. Now, i mean, another way of mean, theres another way of looking which you looking at it, which is, you know, one subject know, you start on one subject and switch fire very and then you switch fire very quickly try and catch and then you switch fire very qui questions of 2024 Election Year , thats when its going to get taste. Taste. So a few defensive strokes dont hit for the boundary quite yet. Yeah, exactly. While youre here, mark, we discussed Foreign Affairs, however , there may be affairs, however, there may be some interest in Foreign Affairs later because you going to raise this issue of Tobias Ellwood and whats described as his whats been described as his afghanistan right i theres a meeting of the Defence Committee this afternoon to discuss that. But we all agreed we would not comment publicly because to be fair, we need to give tobias a chance to put his side of the story, which we havent heard yet, that really is the purpose of the meeting. Perhaps we can say meeting. Perhaps we can Say Something after that. But, you know, in terms of due process, i think fair to hear from know, in terms of due process, i think fairto hear from him first. But you can say he will be at that committee and he will be questioned. Are to have a we are going to have a discussion in room. Discussion with him in the room. Hell to hell have an opportunity to explain to everybody why he did what he did. But i think beyond that, its not its not you did say you had no confidence in him, earlier him, though, earlier in the summer. A motion has been summer. Well, a motion has been tabled, but that is public. But i to be fair to tabled, but that is public. But i to be fairto him, tabled, but that is public. But i to be fair to him, we i think to be fair to him, we should wait for 2 00 to hear what hes to say. Im not what hes got to say. Im not going try and continue that going to try and continue that discussion. Discussion anyway. Youve scored draw youve scored no score draw nil i think at the end of the i think at the end of the day, if im trying to be as objective as possible, it was a no draw. No score draw. Yeah, its like a couple of chelsea watched chelsea matches ive watched already. Nil, nil. Already gone boring. Nil, nil. Nothing. Not nothing really happening. Not even an own goal. Lets i genuinely think , you know, these genuinely think, you know, these things have got their own rhythms and it will take a little bit of time before the parties are into it. Also, what they really want to say to win voters at the next well, for those who werent with us earlier, dennis and i agreed on two things earlier on. So to continue the footballing analogy , that is a footballing analogy, that is a macshane, hat trick, macshane, francois hat trick, and who would have predicted that . That . Well, there go. Yeah well, there we go. Yeah well, there we go. Yeah on that sporting note, gentlemen , thank you very much gentlemen, thank you very much indeed. And we shall see you soon. And of course , well get soon. And of course, well get the that foreign the latest on that Foreign Affairs as well. The latest on that foreign aff. As as well. The latest on that foreign aff. A defence as well. The latest on that foreign aff. A Defence Committee,. The latest on that foreign aff. A Defence Committee, Defence Committee . Pardon. Yeah, i beg your pardon. Yeah, plenty more still to come. With live desk youre with the live desk here on gb news. Hi, joan gb news. Because i was sick and tired of not hearing my views being represented, not just mine, but so many people that i knew and spoke to. I just couldnt get my voice out there. I couldnt say anything. Do anything. I couldnt do anything. I couldnt do anything. Narrative anything. Whatever the narrative was, follow it. Was, i kind of had to follow it. News is there to provide gb news is there to provide a voice for those who have been ignored establishment media. Think different things. We think different things. We think different things. Weve got a different style. Weve got a different style. Weve got a different style. Here to be gb news is here to be optimist and positive about the future. Future. Its real kind of dynamic and flowing with the audience very much at the heart of it. Like a big family. 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The show right tackle the weeks biggest stories in politics and Current Affairs with help of my two with the help of my two comedian, panellists and a variety of special guests, free speech nation sunday nights from 7 00 on gb news. The peoples channel britain news. News. Channel hello, welcome back to the live desk on gb news. So what did you make of Prime Ministers questions the consensus here was it was all a bit dull, to be honest sunak honest with rishi sunak questioned on chinese espionage. Daniel escaping from Daniel Khalife escaping from prison the triple lock on prison and the triple lock on pensions. But did sir keir starmer land any punches . Well, lets cross to westminster and speak to our Political Correspondent , olivia utley. Olivia inaction man was the. Olivia inaction man was the. Yeah. Yeah. The main hit on rishi sunak we didnt get captain hindsight coming back the other way. But speaking of inaction , i mean the speaking of inaction, i mean the backbenchers didnt really take fire on it. It was all a bit dull. Dull. It did all feel a bit dull. I very much agree with both you and your panel. It was all just and your panel. It was all just a bit flat. It felt like more of the same. Keir starmer laid into the same. Keir starmer laid into rishi sunak for being in action man, which is a new name, but its a theme which hes touched on many, many times before. We had rishi sunak having a go at the corbyn government , which the corbyn government, which gets tiresome week after gets more tiresome week after week. And you dont even think that his own backbenchers are really with that any really behind him with that any more. Starmer done such really behind him with that any mcomprehensiveer done such really behind him with that any mcomprehensive job done such really behind him with that any mcomprehensivejob washing h a comprehensive job of washing his hands of Jeremy Corbyn and all of his allies in the last yean all of his allies in the last year, that those insults just dont really hit home any more. Dont really hit home any more. |, dont really hit home any more. I, i agree that the fieriest moment really of the whole thing was when the leader of the snp stood up and asked about the triple lock. Pretty astonishing that keir starmer didnt ask about that given what a mess the tories have been over whether or not theyre going to stick with the triple lock as it is or around the edges in order to save treasury a lot of save the treasury a lot of money. It was quite interesting as well that the snp leader had as well that the snp leader had a both labour and the a go at both labour and the tories. We know that the snp is in a lot of trouble at the moment are very, moment and they are very, very worried about the labour resurgence in scotland, particularly in light of the rutherglen by election next month. So it was the snp that was really the winner for me there. Otherwise all a little bit flat. What not what youre expecting one year out from a general election. Yeah and could it be that labour couldnt go in the line couldnt go in the attack line on triple because of what on triple lock because of what angela leader Angela Rayner, the deputy leader , reporters up liverpool , said to reporters up liverpool , indicating that labour werent exactly to it. Exactly wedded to it. Well, yeah, exactly. Well, yeah, exactly. Well, yeah, exactly. I think that was the problem for labour. Keir starmer couldnt really go too in hard given what his deputy had said. Generally weve seen labour quite a lot, refusing to go down too hard on tory policies because at this point labour really is the government in waiting and it wants to tread very, very carefully now because it knows that it will be held just next year probably to any promises that it makes at the moment. So every time you hear a labour shadow minister being questioned, it was wes streeting this morning. Keir starmer today questioned, it was wes streeting this italkiing. Keir starmer today questioned, it was wes streeting this italk aboutair starmer today questioned, it was wes streeting this italk about theirarmer today questioned, it was wes streeting this italk about their fully today they talk about their fully costed manifesto will be with us soon. Somewhere down the line, but right now they wont quite commit to anything. And of course the triple lock is really very expensive for any government getting more government and getting more expensive by the year. Expensive by the year. Olivia there was a suggestion that we were talking about this in the studio that that sir keir starmer used somewhat of a scattergun approach. That was his tactic , trying to cram in his tactic, trying to cram in lots issues into into lots of issues into into a sentence which didnt really seem to to, work. Seem to to, work. Yeah, i completely agree with your guests. It did seem like it just didnt work as a tactic normally. Keir starmer is very, very good actually. You see his lawyer side coming out of doing sort of forensic analysis of rishi sunak answers. He goes in on one topic and then asks five follow up questions. Really follow up questions. Really putting rishi sunak on the spot. He didnt do that today. He went all out and about with with a scattergun approach, as you call. Call it. And if he was trying to put rishi sunak on the spot, it didnt really work. , for his rishi sunak, for all his faults, certainly very well faults, is certainly a very well prepared i could see prepared politician. I could see him in the chamber with his folder colour coded, folder all colour coded, everything and he everything highlighted, and he was absolutely ready for everything that starmer everything that keir starmer threw at him. It will be really interesting to see starmer back to see whether starmer goes back to see whether starmer goes back to tactic next week. To his usual tactic next week. Of those sections of the one of those sections of the file, the biggest section perhaps despite that perhaps on china. Despite that warning from the speaker earlier in the week, you know, not not to touch because clearly to touch it because clearly of ongoing legal issues, but they did go on what the foreign secretary may have actually raised china. Secretary may have actually raised china. But for secretary may have actually raised china. But for the raised in china. But for the moment, well have to leave it there. Olivia, thank you for that. And indications that weve still got others trying to get into the picture politically. Into the picture politically. Coming up, kim jong un and his historic trip to russia will have the very latest after hes been meeting putin. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hello. Very good day to you. Hello. Very good day to you. After a fine but chilly start for some of us this morning, we are going to see some wet and windy weather arriving the northwest. Meanwhile, most places staying sunny. Thats staying dry and sunny. Thats because High Pressure is dominated the picture across the uk at the moment, though, there is this waiting out in the is this low waiting out in the atlantic its associate atlantic with its associate fronts. As we look through this afternoon, then across much of england and wales, plenty of fine weather , though. Fine sunny weather, though. Watch a few showers watch out for a few showers developing towards the southeast. Have some southeast. Then we have some clouds, rain and strong clouds, some rain and strong winds pushing across parts of winds pushing in across parts of Northern Ireland and into western this afternoon western scotland this afternoon. We going to see. Soon we are going to see temperatures bit lower temperatures a little bit lower than recent but still than recent days, but still getting to highs around 20 to perhaps celsius the south. Perhaps 23 celsius in the south. A bit cooler further north and feeling cooler as the wet and windy weather sweeps in that rain. Then is going to push its way eastwards and southwards as we overnight. And so through we go overnight. And so through the early of thursday the early hours of thursday morning , likely to some morning, likely to have some heavy, rain across heavy, persistent rain across parts of Northern England and into blustery into north wales to blustery showers across parts scotland showers across parts of scotland and the winds keeping temperatures from dropping too low relatively warm low here. A relatively warm night towards south as we night towards the south as we start thursday. Then a cloudy, wet picture across parts of Northern England and much of wales. Staying this way wales. And staying this way through the day as that through much of the day as that front anywhere front doesnt go anywhere particularly north particularly fast. Further north across scotland, of across scotland, plenty of blustery showers with the risk of gales drier , sunnier of coastal gales drier, sunnier towards and here its towards the south. And here its also going to be relatively warm with temperatures a with temperatures likely to be a touch than today , getting touch higher than today, getting into , that warm into the mid 20s, that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers, proud gb news. Good afternoon. It is 1 00 and youre with the live desk here on gb news. Coming up this wednesday lunchtime in action. Man sir keir starmer attacks rishi sunak at pmqs over escaped prisoners and chinese spies. But the Prime Minister says hes committed to that pensions triple lock. Triple lock. Kim jong un heads back to nonh kim jong un heads back to north korea after pledging his loyalty to Vladimir Putin in the so called fight against imperialism. Praise the russian leader for fighting a sacred war. But what could be the consequences of this historic meeting . Meeting . More than 5000 dead, another 10,000 still missing as more bodies wash up on the beaches of libya after a devastating flood. The British Red Cross launches an aid effort. Can rescuers an aid effort. Can rescuers access the fragmented. Access the fragmented. State plus , what a source as rick plus, what a source as rick stein charges £2 for a sachet , stein charges £2 for a sachet, £2 at his fish and chip shop in cornwall. Consumer groups point cornwall. Consumer groups point out that buying a bottle at the supermarket works out at just 12. 5 pence a portion. So as one 12. 5 pence a portion. So as one source, just a bit too rich. First, the latest headlines with. Lisa good afternoon. Its just after 1 00. Im lisa hartle in the newsroom. So keir starmer accuses the Prime Minister of failing the country during a heated Prime Ministers questions. He also attacked rishi sunaks record on the criminal Justice System, immigration and security. It immigration and security. It follows the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife and the china spy scandal. Sir keir sir keir says the pm cant be trusted to protect the country. Trusted to protect the country. Rishi sunak hit back, accusing the Opposition Leader of being a conviction free leader. Conviction free leader. Probation prison schools, china. Yet again inaction. Man fails to heed the warnings and then blames everyone else for then blames everyone else for the consequences. Hes failing to stop terrorists strolling out of prison for failing to guard britain against hostile actors. Hes completely failing to stop the boats. How can anyone trust him to protect the country . Mr him to protect the country . Mr mr speaker, he he talks about trust. He talks about action. Just today , this government is just today, this government is taking action to reform defective eu laws to unlock over 100,000 homes, boosting our economy, supporting jobs , and economy, supporting jobs, and ensuring that we can realise the aspirations of homeowners. It is aspirations of homeowners. It is typical of the principal free conviction free type of leadership that he offers flip flopping from being a builder to a blocker. Mr speaker, the British Public cant trust a word he says. Word he says. Meanwhile, the shadow environment secretary says nothing represents 13 years of conservative failure more geographically than the sight of stinking toxic sewage pouring into our rivers , lakes and seas. Into our rivers, lakes and seas. Steve reid says tories cut back on monitoring the water companies. But the government says they are cleaning up the mess that labour left. The conservative lives cut. The conservative lives cut. The conservative lives cut. The environment agencys budget in half. Budget in half. That led to drastic cuts in monitoring enforcement and prosecution and that led to a drastic increase in illegal discharges , trashing nature discharges, trashing nature damage , tourism and putting kids damage, tourism and putting kids health at risk. And this health at risk. And this government are up to their necks in a sewage crisis of their own making. The chancellor says the making. The chancellor says the government is sticking to its plan to halve inflation as the economy shrunk by 0. 5 in july. Jeremy hunt remains confident about the future , saying the about the future, saying the country quickly recovered from the pandemic and is growing faster than countries like germany and italy. In the long term. But labour says its a failing of the government. A man failing of the government. A man has been arrested after an 11 Year Old Girl and two men were injured by an american bully crossbreed. A warning. The crossbreed. A warning. The following footage includes graphic images. Footage emerged on social media of the attack in birmingham on saturday. West Midlands Police say the 60 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a dog dangerously out of control. The dangerously out of control. The conservatives have dropped two potential candidates to become mps after the Security Service warned they could be spies for china. It comes after china. It comes after a parliamentary researcher was arrested in march under the official secrets act. The Times Newspaper says m15 advised the tory party in 2021 and 2022 that two potential candidates should not be considered. The conservative party says it will always act on advice from credible security sources as a top medic says, the nhs is not sufficiently resilient. Ahead of winter. Dr. Sufficiently resilient. Ahead of winter. Dr. Adrian boyle, sufficiently resilient. Ahead of winter. Dr. Adrian boyle, who sufficiently resilient. Ahead of winter. Dr. Adrian boyle, who is a president of the Royal College of emergency medicine , says last of emergency medicine, says last winter was one of the worst on record for the nhs. He fears the Health Service could face a similar situation this winter , similar situation this winter, with 7. 6 Million People still on the waiting list in england. But the waiting list in england. But the government says it recognises the pressures and will meet with Health Ministers. Will meet with Health Ministers to address them. Englands local to address them. Englands local road maintenance has hit a four year low just over 1000 miles of roads were resurfaced in the previous financial year. Roads were resurfaced in the previous financial year. Surface previous financial year. Surface redressing a Cost Effective method of road maintenance also dropped by 34. The rac estimates it would cost £14 billion to fix local road potholes in england and wales. Local road potholes in england and wales. But the local road potholes in england and wales. But the government and wales. But the government says it increased the pothole fund to £700 million for this year. Fund to £700 million for this year. This is gb news fund to £700 million for this year. This is gb news across the uk on tv , on Digital Radio and uk on tv, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now its back to mark and. Pip and welcome back mark and. Pip and welcome back to the live desk. To the live desk. So no captain, hindsight this week but in action man made an appearance at pmqs, sir keir starmer making that charge against rishi sunak over escaped prisoners and chinese spying. Prisoners and chinese spying. But it was sir keir himself who failed to act on the pensions triple lock, leaving it to the snp to question the Prime Minister after it all failed to rally the troops on either side of the house. And gb news is Political Correspondent ant olivia utley joins us now. A bit of a lacklustre pmqs. Then olivia in here. We thought it was a bit of a nil nil draw to be honest. Be honest. I absolutely agree with both you and your guests. It did feel a little bit lacklustre. I thought that in this new parliamentary term , gearing up parliamentary term, gearing up to an election possibly at the beginning of next year, possibly at of next year, wed be at the end of next year, wed be seeing of energy at the end of next year, wed be se� pmqs. Of energy at the end of next year, wed be se� pmqs. But of energy at the end of next year, wed be se� pmqs. But actually energy at the end of next year, wed be se� pmqs. But actually ianergy at the end of next year, wed be se� pmqs. But actually i felt gy in pmqs. But actually i felt like was sort of more of like this was sort of more of the action man was a new the same in action man was a new and effective from and pretty effective insult from keir starmer to rishi sunak. Rishi sunak went with his old flip flopping. He even talked about keir starmer standing by Jeremy Corbyn in the last election. This jibe has gone down worse and worse every week, really. And now it feels like a bit of a lead balloon. Keir starmer has worked very hard over his time as labour leader to wash his hands to sort of wash his hands of jeremy all his Jeremy Corbyn and all of his allies. So doesnt really allies. So that doesnt really land. That said, keir starmer didnt do a great job either. He had a sort of scattergun approach. He talked about six approach. He talked about six different topics over the course of his six questions. Keir starmer is normally much, much better when he is doing his lawyerly thing, if you like, and doing forensic analysis of rishi sunak answers. Hes best when he goes and then goes in on one topic and then continues to chase up that topic with five subsequent questions. He didnt do that today and i think really thats what resulted in this in this pretty flat pmqs all round to raise this question of the triple lock and then there was a backbench labour question as well. And we had from the Prime Minister, we are committed to the triple lock, but of course many those mps saying, well, many of those mps saying, well, thats exactly yes in thats not exactly a yes in terms of defending triple terms of defending the triple lock. Well absolutely. Theres been a lot of controversy at the moment around the triple lock, the government is desperately looking for some sort of loophole in the pensions triple because triple lock because it is proving exceptionally expensive for its a noose for the treasury. Its a noose around the treasurys neck. There is talk, although it sounded as though the pensions minister refuted it this morning that the government might with the way that they calculate how the way that they calculate how the triple lock works in to order save the treasury £630 million. They normally calculate it by average wages and include bonuses in wages. If you dont include bonuses, that figure goes down from 8. 5 to 7. 6, saving the treasury 630 million. But of course theres been a lot of criticism for the government that they would be breaking their promise if they did. Their promise if they did. That. Triple lock is a really, really interesting subject very subject because it is very controversial across board. Controversial across the board. Was in london and i was actually in london this morning talking some this morning talking to some voters made of it. Heres what they had to say. Heres what they had to say. Think it is fair enough. I think it is fair enough. Actually. I do. I have to be actually. I do. I have to be honest with you. I believe honest with you. I believe thats something we need desperately need some of us and not myself personally. But i do know people who do i need it to a lesser extent, shall we say, than they do. Thats what i mean i i i have a sister whos 80 and she has to say the triple triple lock has been incredible and she couldnt believe and its made all the difference to her. I dont think so. I dont think so. I dont think so. But im a pensioner, so i would like to see it sticking, you know. But i think in all fairness to the younger people , fairness to the younger people, i think we should have to bear some of the burden as well. I, being a pensioner , yes, i, being a pensioner, yes, i think it is. I think the pensions should be raised. The triple lock has worked for many years and i think it should continue. Yes, i think that pensions triple lock should be scrapped. Triple lock should be scrapped. I started receiving my pension last year and i was amazed by how much i got. Its going up again. And its going up again. And its going up again. And its going up again. And well, its the young people who are struggling and not so much the pensioners now. I mean, i absolutely agree. I think if youre giving across the board help to any any particular group of people, it shouldnt be pensioners. I think i think it should be definitely young people or people starting off with the family. Family. So, you know, sort out the housing crisis and make it easier for young people. Easier for young people. So theres a bit of a mixed reaction in clapham this morning. Itll be really , really itll be really, really interesting to see how the conservatives and labour for that matter, handle this issue as we get closer to the election i okay, olivia utley thank you for that. Lets talk to Rebecca Oconnor , who is the director of oconnor, who is the director of pubuc oconnor, who is the director of Public Affairs at pensionbee and join us on gb news now. Good afternoon to you, rebecca. Some people are suggesting and we heard a Cross Section of views there, that this is about fairness between the younger and older generation. Ian and at the older generation. Ian and at the moment it is far too swayed towards pensioners. Towards pensioners. Im considering this question. We have to remember that were all future pensions and although it is being portrayed as an issue of intergenerational fairness or unfairness, depending on your point of view , and one day im going to get the state pension and i have been working and planning my retirement on the basis of receiving the state pension. So to undo it now would potentially leave a nasty legacy for decades for future pensioners. So you know, it would affect todays 18 year olds as much as its going to affect todays 70 year olds. But the way its calculated now isnt it all getting a bit out of control . Well, yeah. Out of control . Well, yeah. I mean, its hugely costly and when the triple lock was first introduced, it was introduced to sort of get pensioners incomes up to a satisfactory level. Some argue satisfactory level. Some argue thats now happened. Thats now happened. Some think its were still a little bit further to go on that path. Path. And but it is very costly. There are other levers that the government can pull, but perhaps its worth considering review and reform to increase the state pension by earnings or inflation and remove the 2. 5 backstop. Thats one cause of action the government could take. Of course, if that happened, we would have to be prepared to accept that sometimes the state pension wouldnt rise at all in those years where inflation was low or earnings were low. So low or earnings were low. So its really what were prepared to accept. I mean, remember, of course, gordon brown raising the pension by £0. 75 a week. I mean, by i think £0. 75 a week. I mean, the is , of course, that by i think £0. 75 a week. I mean, the triple is , of course, that by i think £0. 75 a week. I mean, the triple lockf course, that by i think £0. 75 a week. I mean, the triple lock or ourse, that by i think £0. 75 a week. I mean, the triple lock or thee, that by i think £0. 75 a week. I mean, the triple lock or the statet the triple lock or the state pension is effectively a contract with people. Theyve paid their National Insurance over the years to actually receive that. So i guess thats the issue of trust , as you would the issue of trust, as you would do with an occupational pension scheme. If you sign a contract that that has to be honoured. That that has to be honoured. Yeah, i mean over many years weve seen lots of changes to the state pension. We saw the womens state pension age rise from 60 to 65 and now 66, for instance. That caused many instance. That caused many issues because again, that was this issue of there was an expectation throughout working life someone would have life that someone would have something and then they didnt get that they get it at the point that they were get it. Now, the were hoping to get it. Now, the state pension a benefit. Its state pension is a benefit. Its not about how much you put in. I think, you know, sometimes theres a little of theres a little lack of understanding around that and the government can change the triple lock, but clearly we know we we go for through life we go we go for through life with an expectation that were going get something. Going to get something. And youre is social youre right, there is a social contract there that needs to be handled very, very carefully. Handled very, very carefully. And interestingly, this does seem like an issue to that. Both labour and the tories might actually agree on in that it needs some sort of reform. Needs some sort of reform. Yeah, but also interestingly, they both feel very, very reluctant to be the ones to go above the parapet and say that knowing that its a huge voter issue. So people do rely on the issue. So people do rely on the state pension, even those that have some private savings on top rely on it for most of their pension income. So its going to pension income. So its going to be very difficult. I think, to make decision. Make that decision. That a key issue that is that a key issue that obviously you represent the private occupational pensions industry, personal pensions and so on, and perhaps our provision is slightly better than elsewhere in europe on that scale. But our state pension is still well below whats offered elsewhere in europe. Elsewhere in europe. Yeah, it is. It is still low relative to other countries as our private pension provision is good. But of course that is changing too, as we move away from final salary defined benefit schemes and more people retiring with defined contribution or pot of money schemes where the amount that you get at the end depends on how you put in yourself and how much you put in yourself and those pensions. Although we are those pensions. Although we are saving into them in generally more and more and they are actually with the minimum contributions of 8 not providing enough really to generate a moderate Living Standard in retirement for most people, even with the state pension included. So if you take the state pension out of the equafion the state pension out of the equation or even reduce it slightly, amount needed from slightly, the amount needed from a private pot goes quite dramatically. Dramatically. Yeah, really interesting to talk to you this afternoon. Rebecca. Rebecca oconnor, their director of Public Affairs at pensionbee now who said this we will be together in the fight against imperialism. Against imperialism. Well, the words of kim jong un and the station platform pledging support for putin pledging his support for putin and the war against the west, doing the doing that visit to the vostochny cosmodrome in southeastern russia. Southeastern russia. The pair also sat down for an official lunch before kim jong un boarded his armoured train back to pyongyang with the pair toasting each Others Health and the friendship between their two countries. Oh, it all sounds so romantic, doesnt it . Lets get the thoughts now of kia giles from the russia and Eurasia Program at chatham house. So how worried should the rest of the world be then about these rogue states that seem to have agreed on quite a few things . Well on quite a few things . Well theres no doubt its bad news because , yes, they each have because, yes, they each have something that the other wants and each of those things is bad news for everybody else. And each of those things is bad nevinfor everybody else. And each of those things is bad nevin fact, erybody else. And each of those things is bad nevin fact, one ody else. And each of those things is bad nevin fact, one ofy else. And each of those things is bad nevin fact, one of the ;e. And each of those things is bad nevin fact, one of the key in fact, one of the key outcomes from this meeting is likely to be russia being able to prosecute its war against ukraine, to try to rebuild the russian empire even more efficiently , which is what makes efficiently, which is what makes for that grim in for that grim irony in them saying together saying they stand together against ism. Thats against imperial ism. Thats exactly theyre standing exactly what theyre standing for russia. But for by supporting russia. But even at the other end of the country, the other end of russia in the far east, that in the far east, anything that russia korea in the far east, anything that rl bad korea in the far east, anything that rlbad news korea in the far east, anything that rl bad news for korea in the far east, anything that rl bad news for north korea in the far east, anything that rlbad news for north koreasea is bad news for north koreas neighbours. Korea , japan, is bad news for north koreas neig already korea , japan, is bad news for north koreas neig already live korea , japan, is bad news for north koreas neig already live in orea , japan, is bad news for north koreas neig already live in area , japan, is bad news for north koreas neig already live in a rough|pan, who already live in a rough neighbourhood, not russia, neighbourhood, not just russia, to , but also north to deal with, but also north korea, well. Fact, korea, china as well. In fact, it coalition of rogue it is this coalition of rogue states that seem to be getting together to help other out. Together to help each other out. And a coalition of people and its a coalition of people who bring world who want to bring the world crashing on crashing down and then dance on the is there another the ruins is there another analysis, . Analysis, however . And that that we still and that is that we still have no detail on any kind of have no no detail on any kind of arms deal. They were at the cosmodrome and basically they talked about satellites and maybe thats all that russia is prepared to give up. North korea is a bit of satellite technology. See, i think both their recent launches and perhaps , you launches failed and perhaps, you know, hes going to get some rather out of date munitions in return for that. Return for that. There are a lot of maybes. We wont know the fine detail of what exactly has been agreed, not soon, possibly not ever, unless we have details of that. Fine very closely held intelligence whats actually intelligence of whats actually happening between the two countries to whats countries as opposed to whats been publicised. But in terms of what russia needs, those what russia needs, its those outdated munitions that russia what russia needs, its those outcbeen munitions that russia what russia needs, its those outcbeen lacking. Is that russia what russia needs, its those outcbeen lacking. Theyve ussia what russia needs, its those outcbeen lacking. Theyve been has been lacking. Theyve been burning their own old burning through their own old cold war stocks of dumb shells. Cold war stocks of dumb shells. And north korea a source for and north korea is a source for them. Of course, in that respect, russia is the same respect, russia is much the same as the Coalition Backing ukraine. Casting ukraine. Everybodys casting around weapons to find around for more weapons to find to ukraine in the fight, as to keep ukraine in the fight, as well as russia looking for old munitions pummelling munitions to keep pummelling ukraine with artillery. Ukraine with its artillery. Were just looking at pictures now of the meeting and we know they toasted each other with these very warm, lovely with all these very warm, lovely words. But are they to not leaders who are or particularly putin, hes very , very desperate putin, hes very, very desperate. There was once upon a time a time when putin would have used warm, lovely words about western countries, about countries with whom he could have constructive relations. Relations. And of course, hes burned those bridges. So to look those bridges. So he has to look for his where he can for his friends where he can actually them. Yes, it for his friends where he can acveryy them. Yes, it for his friends where he can acvery disturbing. Yes, it for his friends where he can acvery disturbing. People as, it for his friends where he can acvery disturbing. People aret is very disturbing. People are talking an alliance talking about an alliance between these two countries. They need to go far they dont need to go that far to cause a problem simply by cooperating together against the rest of the world. Russia was actually one of the key supporters against supporters of sanctions against nonh supporters of sanctions against north to try to prevent it north korea to try to prevent it developing nuclear weapons. If that evaporates , the world that evaporates, the world becomes a much more dangerous place. Where does china fit in all this . Because we understand that this . Because we understand that the Chinese Foreign minister will be meeting Sergey Lavrov from russia. And clearly there from russia. And clearly there have been discussions with putin as well. The deputy premier of china. Traditionally, theyve china. Traditionally, theyve tried to sit on north korea a little bit, havent they, because they see it effectively as a bit of a difficult local problem. Problem. Thats correct. Sitting on nonh thats correct. Sitting on north korea, but also at the moment sitting on the fence, much in the same way as china is doing in this dispute between russia and ukraine, backed by the they are using very the west. They are using very neutral about this neutral language about this meeting. Talking about meeting. Theyre talking about their of relations their construct of relations with korea itself. Theyre with north korea itself. Theyre not stepping in say not actually stepping in to say anything even remotely anything that is even remotely critical about the meeting. And yes, this this news of the Foreign Ministers meeting , china Foreign Ministers meeting, china and has come during the and russia has come during the dunng and russia has come during the during the meeting between putin and kim. We shouldnt read too much timing, perhaps, much into the timing, perhaps, but interesting much into the timing, perhaps, but what interesting much into the timing, perhaps, but what intout. Ting much into the timing, perhaps, but what intout ofg much into the timing, perhaps, but what intout of those see what comes out of those discussions in moscow later with regard to the course of the war on ukraine overall. On ukraine overall. And it will be interesting as well to see how north korea itself reports on this trip by their leader. Itself reports on this trip by their leader. The thats their leader. The thats absolutely right. Yes. North korean domestic reporting for its own population, telling them whats going on in the outside world and even in their own country is sometimes far removed from sometimes very far removed from whats actually happened. Both in reality and time. So how in reality and in time. So how this is going to play at home, we still dont know. We still dont know. Okay. Well, it is going to be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks and months. Keir over the next few weeks and months. Keir giles from the Russia Eurasia Program at russia and Eurasia Program at chatham thank you for chatham house, thank you for your analysis. Your analysis. Coming up, well have the latest on the floods and devastation in libya with another 10,000 still missing, bodies being washed up, were being told, on the beaches. What can the International Aid effort do in a fractured state . More on that in a moment. Looks like things are heating up. Things are heating up. Boxed boilers proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Of weather on. Gb news. Hello, very good day to you. After a fine but chilly start for some of us this morning, we are going to see some wet and windy weather arriving in the northwest. Meanwhile, most northwest. Meanwhile, most places staying dry and sunny. Thats because High Pressure is dominating the picture across the uk at the moment, though, there is this low weighting out in the atlantic with its associated fronts. As we look associated fronts. As we look through this afternoon. Then across of england and across much of england and wales, of fine sunny wales, plenty of fine sunny weather, watch for weather, though. Watch out for a few towards few showers developing towards the southeast. We have some the southeast. Then we have some clouds, some rain and strong winds pushing in across parts of Northern Ireland into Northern Ireland and into western afternoon western scotland this afternoon , we are going to see temperatures a little bit lower , we are going to see temprecentes a little bit lower , we are going to see temprecentes a libut bit lower , we are going to see temprecentes a libut still wer than recent days, but still getting highs around 22, getting to highs around 22, perhaps celsius in the south, perhaps 23 celsius in the south, a bit cooler further north and feeling cooler as the and feeling cooler as the wet and windy weather sweeps in that feeling cooler as the wet and windthen ther sweeps in that feeling cooler as the wet and windthen isar sweeps in that feeling cooler as the wet and windthen is going eps in that feeling cooler as the wet and windthen is going to; in that feeling cooler as the wet and windthen is going to pushiat feeling cooler as the wet and windthen is going to push its rain. Then is going to push its way eastwards and southwards as we go overnight. And so through we go overnight. And so through the early hours of thursday morning, likely to some morning, likely to have some heavy, persistent rain across parts Northern England and parts of Northern England and into north to blustery into north wales to blustery showers parts of scotland showers across parts of scotland. And the winds keeping temperatures too temperatures from dropping too low here. Relatively warm low here. A relatively warm night towards the south as we start thursday. Then a cloudy , start thursday. Then a cloudy, wet picture across parts of Northern England and much of wales. Staying way wales. And staying this way through day as that through much of the day as that front anywhere front doesnt go anywhere particularly fast. Further north across of across scotland, plenty of blustery showers with the risk of coastal gales drier, sunnier towards south and here its towards the south and here its also going to be relatively warm with be with temperatures likely to be a touch today, getting touch higher than today, getting into the mid 20 s , looks like into the mid 20 s, looks like things are heating up. Things are heating up. Boxed boilers, proud sponsors of weather on. From three on. Gb news now emergency workers in libya have so far recovered more than 5300 bodies. That number expected to maybe even double after the catastrophic tsunami flood, which swept through the eastern coast of the city of derna. Thousands of people are still missing with bodies sometimes of whole families who were washed away. Those bodies washing whole families who were washed away. Those bodies washing up on beaches along the waterfront, multiple dams. Dams have burst after torrential storms flooding entire neighbourhoods and sweeping people out into the mediterranean. Mediterranean. Now, the International Organisation for migration says 30,000 have been displaced by the disaster. But the 30,000 have been displaced by the disaster. But the political the disaster. But the political fracturing of libya, the city being in the east is complicating any of the International Aid or rescue efforts. Well, lets speak now to ahmed bayram, whos media and Communications Advisor rather, at the Norwegian Refugee Council involved in that relief effort. Involved in that relief effort. Thank you very much indeed for joining us on this political complication means its difficult to assess who you contact to get the aid to the right place. Good evening. I mean, not always quite so. We have been operating in that area, in that vicinity. We that area, in that vicinity. We in benghazi and other eastern, you know, villages and towns in libya since 2017. So for us, we have been navigating that all over these years. And we have been able to get aid to people who need it when we can. I think the main problem now that ive been talking about is around the infrastructure damage. There is agreement that help needs to get in as soon as we can. I mean, body bags are not available for rescue workers , and thats rescue workers, and thats because the infrastructure damage, because of the two dams that collapsed and overwhelmed the whole area. And the other reason being the, you know, the very low toolbox resources that these these rescue workers have , um, you know, are paying for body bags while bodies are scattered around the town of derna can give you a glimpse of the, you know, sheer suffering and the big challenge that these , you know, search and rescue workers are facing. Workers are facing. And we are just we are just looking at some pictures. But its right, isnt it, that whole families were swept away. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yes, indeed. And its very tragic. Um families who lost their you know, i mean, entire families, as you say, were lost. Some family members still waiting to hear a word from their relatives. Theres no power, theres no electricity , power, theres no electricity, theres no water, theres no connection, theres no internet. Um, i mean, the number of missing , you know,. Um, i mean, the number of missing, you know, as is now at 10,000, anything that we, you know, rescue workers can can pull out alive would be a miracle. This is the third day. Um, and yeah it is it is going to be a huge you know a large death toll unfortunately that were looking at. Were being told the Italian Government is just sending 2 2 c 130 30 military aircraft loaded with personnel and water risk experts as well, because disease now, of course, may be one of the problems, but theyve also a naval ship. The san also got a naval ship. The san giorgio already departed for derna logistical help on derna with logistical help on board. But is part of the problem that in terms of dealing with administration tripoli , with administration tripoli, which is the government that western powers deal with, is disconnected , if you like, from disconnected, if you like, from this area. This area. I mean, that is that is the reality of the state of the political status quo on which cant , you know, comment. Cant, you know, comment. However other we know that there is coordination that is happening through the un bodies and that should help, you know, make all these connections. I make all these connections. I dont havent seen anything that would as of now obstruct the delivery of aid to any area. I mean, again, this is a political question for us. What matters is to get these shipments in and to get these ships in. The only way into derna. As of now is through, you know , a narrow through, you know, a narrow north southern corridor. And north southern corridor. And then theres this. The sea , as then theres this. The sea, as you said, there might be some, you said, there might be some, you know, infections , you know, infections, infestations and dead bodies are all scattered. All around town. Theres some bodies that are washing up on the on the coast. Theres a very harrowing and i think it is now is the time to put politics aside and bring libya back on the agenda. Do you think . Actually, on do you think . Actually, on that note, it could bring the two sides together in dealing with such a huge humanitarian disaster . Disaster . I mean, definitely we definitely are calling for humanitarian. You know, for the humanitarian. You know, for the humanitarian needs to overshadow everything else. These are everything else. These are people that are stranded. We people that are stranded. We are, you know, a few months away from not not even once, a few weeks away from from winter proper. And weeks away from from winter proper. And the spread of disease is a real, real risk. The mental toll that that this , the mental toll that that this, you know, loss will take on on children and on their families is going to be huge. And on top of that, expect another wave of displacement. Another wave is displacement. Another wave is massive displacement. You know, massive displacement. You know, you mentioned the numbers that probably as high as 60,000 as we read an ad, its going to be very, very harsh times ahead for the people of libya. I mean , how the people of libya. I mean, how how many years could this set libya back, a place thats been in crisis for over ten years now 7 in crisis for over ten years now . Yes, definitely. Thats i mean, weve learned that from other tragedies in the middle east and north north africa recently, morocco and before that in syria and turkey. These these population is i mean, they were not even , you know, back on were not even, you know, back on on their feet. They were not even making that full recovery in terms of humanitarian needs and in terms of their lives and livelihoods. And this is going livelihoods. And this is going to as bad as it, you know, to be as as bad as it, you know, is to take a lot, you is going to take a lot, you know, back lot of bad know, bring back a lot of bad memories, dark memories for the people and thats why people of libya. And thats why we urgent support. Thats we need urgent support. Thats why international why we need International Community to come together and pledge of libya. Pledge for the people of libya. Ahmed, thank you very much indeed for updating us and bringing your story there. Bringing us your story there. Just you know, the just to let you know, the british has launched just to let you know, the bri international has launched just to let you know, the bri International Aids launched just to let you know, the bri International Aid effort ched just to let you know, the bri International Aid effort ased an International Aid effort as well. Well be trying to update you on that. But lets get the latest headlines now with. Lisa its just after half one. Im lisa hartle in the newsroom. We start with some breaking news in the last few minutes, the former chief Financial Officer and three others from the collapsed bakery patisserie, valerie , have bakery patisserie, valerie, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud. Well bring you more on this as we get it. Sir keir starmer has accused the Prime Minister of failing the country dunng minister of failing the country during a heated Prime Ministers questions he also attacked rishi sunaks record on the criminal Justice System. Immigration and security. It follows the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife and the china spy scandal. Of terror suspect Daniel Khalife and the china spy scandal. While and the china spy scandal. While sir keir says the pm cant be trusted to protect the country. Trusted to protect the country. Rishi sunak hit back, accusing the Opposition Leader of being a conviction free leader. Conviction free leader. Meanwhile, the shadow environment secretary says nothing represents 13 years of conservative failure more graphically than the site of the stinking toxic sewage pouring into our rivers, lakes and seas. Steve reid says tories cut back on monitoring the water companies, but the government says they are cleaning up the mess that labour left. The mess that labour left. The chancellor says the government is sticking to its plan to halve inflation as the economy shrunk by nought point 5 in july. Jeremy hunt remains confident about the future , saying the about the future, saying the country quickly recovered from the pandemic and is growing faster than countries like germany and italy in the long term. But labour says its a failing of the government that you can get more on all of those stories by visiting our website gbnews. Com. Direct bullion sponsors. The finance report on gb news for gold and silver investment. For gold and silver investment. Heres a quick snapshot of todays markets. The pound will buy you 1. 24, six, 6 and ,1. 1616. The price of gold is £1,533. 12 per ounce. And the ftse 100 is at 7506 points. Direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical investment peoples. Channel now, latest snapshot of the economy. Economy. And it shrank by 0. 5, half a in july , according to the in july, according to the office of National Statistics. But its added at the broader picture looking more positive. Picture looking more positive. Live with Services Production construction sectors between march and june looking a bit healthier. One sector that has been growing is car production, particularly the manufacturing of electric vehicles or evs. But of electric vehicles or evs. But are they really the key to clean emissions free motoring . Our emissions free motoring . Our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan has this special report from Ellesmere Port. Ive made cars at Ellesmere Port since the early 60s. This cheshire plant is now leading the charge towards emissions free motoring , the first uk free motoring, the first uk factory for electric vehicles only. This repurposed facility will make 50,000 electric vans a yeah will make 50,000 electric vans a year. The first of which just rolled off the production line. Theyll be sold under the vauxhall, fiat, citroen and peugeot brands, all owned by the global conglomerate stellantis often threatened with closure. Ellesmere port now looks secure. Firstly, fantastically flexible and resilient workforce here. So thats an absolute key part of it and a real testament to them driving down the cost of production. And the second part is that vauxhall is the Market Leader on electric commercial vehicle sales over 30 market share for fantastic product range. And again , it just shows range. And again, it just shows the confidence weve got in that product more here. Workers understand to their fingertips what this new investment as its a big investment means as its a big boost to the local economy. A lot of other Big Companies have been relocated from Ellesmere Port over the years, and the fact that stellantis have felt that they can keep the factory here, its just a massive boost for everyone. Ev production is complex. As plant manager diane miller explains, it relies on these heavy battery units expensive to transport. The uk has only one battery making gigafactory , battery making gigafactory, which is chinese owned and for now, power units used at Ellesmere Port will be shipped from china , where the modules from china, where the modules are not made in the uk. Yes, they come from china, but we put them together into the battery pack to what the customer would effectively see as pack. So we have as the battery pack. So we have 22 people working, doing that and putting 18 of the modules that come from china together, connecting them together, testing them, putting them in the safe, secure area. And thats how we produce the battery pack evs now make up 40 of uk car production , sales of of uk car production, sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles are set to be banned in britain from 2030. But electric vehicles need huge amounts of lithium , cobalt huge amounts of lithium, cobalt and copper commodities , often and copper commodities, often found in difficult parts of the world. Theyre also expense lviv and with a relatively short lifespan in and given the uks patchy charging network, will the 2030 ban really happen . The 2030 ban really happen . Were just not going to have the infrastructure in place. And if you havent got the infrastructure, its not going to not going to work. To its not going to work. And i think the reason is that think the second reason is that there to be increasing there are going to be increasing doubts about whether are the doubts about whether evs are the right technology. Agree right technology. We all agree that get to net zero that we want to get to net zero and have cleaner cities and the transport be big transport is going to be a big part of that. But our evs, answer might. It be other it might be other technologies. We need a little bit find bit longer to find out. Carmakers betting big on carmakers are betting big on evs. Stellantis here at Ellesmere Port with bmw making the new mini ev at cowley. But is this the right technology . Much of the car buying public remain unconvinced. Liam halligan gb news at Ellesmere Port. Port. Lets get more from liam because weve got other figures out today. Liam here with on the out today. Liam here with on the money. Were looking at figures money. Were looking at figures showing that the economy is down, gdp down 0. 5. However, cammy badenoch, the business secretary, saying, well, hold on a minute exports up 16 on last yean a minute exports up 16 on last year, particularly with the motor manufacturing industry. Thats an important thing to remember. So about 70 odd of the cars we make in this country are exported. Are exported. Thats one thing. Exports are also up because the uk has been importing an awful lot of uquefied importing an awful lot of liquefied natural gas from the us and then turning it around and selling it on to mainland europe in order to replace gas that would previously have come from russia. So there are two big trends in our export industry. But look on evs, its great news, of course, that stellantis of the Parent Company of vauxhall, peugeot , citroen , a of vauxhall, peugeot, citroen, a lot of fear, a lot of other companies , theyve invested £100 companies, theyve invested £100 million in Ellesmere Port. A car million in Ellesmere Port. A car making mecca has been making cars since the early 60s. And thats great news because thats secured that factory. Thats the first only factory in the uk first ev only factory in the uk and of course, Kemi Badenoch visited ed, the cowley plant , visited ed, the cowley plant, the bmw minis, cowley , where the bmw minis, cowley, where theyre going to be making ev minis. All this is good news on the other hand, mark and pip increase missing numbers of people both within politics, high up and within the car industry, high up. But sotto voce for now, not sort of putting their head over the parapet a questioning and talking to people like me, is this really the right way to go . These evs , because theyre very these evs, because theyre very heavy. These evs, because theyre very heavy. Theyve got a short life heavy. Theyve got a short life span. Heavy. Theyve got a short life span. We need those rare earth span. We need those Rare Earth Minerals for the batteries. I mean, look, hats off to Ellesmere Port stellantis. But Ellesmere Port stellantis. But as i made clear there , the fuel as i made clear there, the fuel cells that theyre using, theyre still coming from china. Theyre sort of wrapping them up and making them into battery packs that they can this is and making them into battery p. I ks that they can this is and making them into battery p. I ks lhii they can this is and making them into battery p. I ks lhii thinkcan this is and making them into battery p. I ks lhii think people this is and making them into battery p. I ks lhii think people are; is a i think i think people are quite nervous. A i think i think people are quiimervous. A i think i think people are quiimerv01to change my car next im due to change my car next year and i have been genuinely thinking about getting an ev , thinking about getting an ev, but i am really nervous about it. You are it. You are not. Im it. You are not. Im thinking how much is it going to cost me to do at home . Do all the installation at home . You know, its and theres you. You. And with with huge respect to you, to going be a you, youre to going be a relatively in relatively prosperous person in maybe, your your maybe, you know, your your youre particularly interested in the environmental cause therell be many people to whom none of that applies. They just none of that applies. They just want buy the right car or want to buy the right car or particularly they can particularly van so they can make a living, so they can get about live about particularly if they live in areas and there is a in rural areas and there is a glut now of evs, a lot of evs are produced that arent are being produced that arent being and in us, being sold and teslas in the us, other evs here in the uk. And so pnces other evs here in the uk. And so prices are going down. Dealerships are quietly discounting these evs. But where do you plug it in . But where do you plug it in . Thats the problem as well, because were producing 2 5 of the cars we now produce here in the cars we now produce here in the uk. So hundreds of thousands every from just 10 every year revs up from just 10 back in 2020. So an incredible surge , yet each new ev we surge, yet each new ev we produce that isnt exported and were not really adding more charging points. Thats going very, very slowly. So there is this range anxiety and i think some of the manufacturer are making it worse because the range , they tell you the car is range, they tell you the car is not quite it often works out to be a lot shorter in real life. Yeah youre back next hour to talk about the bigger figures in the economy because its all going to into what of to feed into what the bank of england will week. England will do next week. Growth figures this growth figures came out this morning. Theyll be worth running gb news rule running our gb news slide rule over but do that over them, but well do that in the next week. And bigger and a bigger and bigger and bigger. Liam for the moment, thank much. Thank you very much. Back british farming it is back british farming day and in fact at pmqs they were all wearing wheat sheafs on their lapels. The mps to mark their lapels. The mps to mark it, its an annual failed miserably. We yeah. We yeah. I shouldnt have mentioned it , should i. But it is an annual campaign by the National Farmers Union Support what the union to support what the british food and farming sector i well indeed, the food and farming secretary, Therese Coffey a boost coffey today providing a boost for farmers a package for those farmers with a package of to help people buy of measures to help people buy british and provide farmers with cash flow they to reinvest cash flow they need to reinvest in businesses. Lets get in their businesses. Lets get more now with national more now with our national reporter, Ellie Costello and see if got the wheat on her. If shes got the wheat on her. Oh, no, shes actually in a tractor. Shes gone one better. What are you off to . Plant what are you off to . To plant something so something or dig it up. Up. Good afternoon, mark and pip. Good afternoon, mark and pip. Well, ive never sat in the cab of a tractor before, so i just had to get in here and it is huge. You wouldnt believe is huge. You wouldnt believe it. And im now to going try and come gracefully come down really gracefully because back british because it is back british farming day today. Its a huge day for the Agriculture Sector and the message is very , very and the message is very, very simple to the British Public. Its back british and support your local farmers. Were here your local farmers. Were here on childerditch farms here in essex where they farm wheat and barley and oats. So these are barley and oats. So these are the most commonly grown crops in in Great Britain. We see these in Great Britain. We see these in our cereals and our breads, in our cereals and our breads, in our cereals and our breads, in our flours. In our cereals and our breads, in our flours. And generally, if in our flours. And generally, if youre sat at the breakfast table in Great Britain, youre for your wheat, your oats, your barley would come from a british farm. And ive got one with me right this is ed ford, right now. This is ed ford, whos a partner at childerditch farms. See you, farms. Really good to see you, ed, is buy ed, so the message today is buy british and buy local. And that sounds great, doesnt it . But we are of living crisis are in a cost of living crisis andifs are in a cost of living crisis and its generally more expensive. Should people expensive. So why should people do it . We are we are in cost of we are we are in a cost of living crisis, really. And i fully that. But when fully appreciate that. But when youre youre youre buying, when youre buying best food that you buying the best food that you can afford, try and buy british. Try for that red try and look for that red tractor dean cameron tractor logo. Dean cameron sustainable responses source produced britain by a produced in Great Britain by a trusted farmer. What more could you want . You want . And youve had a really challenging 18 months, havent you . Paint a picture of what thats been like for you so the last 18 months has been pretty crazy, really. Crazy, really. Back in march last year, obviously we had the ukraine crisis unfolding in front of our eyes, our prices of inputs has doubled and tripled and overnight costs were just going through the roof and we couldnt do anything about it. Then we got through, managed to get through that, and then we got into harvest last year where we hadnt into harvest last year where we hadnt had rain for Something Like eight weeks. In the up hadnt had rain for something likharvest. Veeks. In the up hadnt had rain for something likharvest. Veeks. Was1e up hadnt had rain for something likharvest. Veeks. Was a up hadnt had rain for something likharvest. Veeks. Was a drought to harvest. There was a drought declared. Wild fires at declared. We had wild fires at and it was it was a very average harvest. But and it was it was a very average harvest. But the and it was it was a very average harvest. But the heat, the harvest. But the heat, the intense heat had ruined a lot of the crops. Then then we had a very dry autumn again , a wet, very dry autumn again, a wet, cold spring, followed then by a wet harvest that weve just had and that wet harvest its actually taken you double the time, hasnt it, to harvest, than it usually would because the rain it has. It took us double time weve got double the time and weve got some here that we harvested some crop here that we harvested and you know, its not as gold and you know, its not as gold and shiny it should be. And as shiny as it should be. And because the rain has and as shiny as it should be. Andto because the rain has and as shiny as it should be. Andto it because the rain has and as shiny as it should be. Andto it andecause the rain has and as shiny as it should be. Andto it and it|use the rain has and as shiny as it should be. Andto it and it ise the rain has and as shiny as it should be. Andto it and it is what rain has and as shiny as it should be. Andto it and it is what itiin has and as shiny as it should be. Andto it and it is what it is. Has got to it and it is what it is. We cant do anything about the weather. Were governed by the weather. Were governed by the weather. The biggest factor weather. Its the biggest factor involved in producing and involved in producing food. And we anything about it. Involved in producing food. And we okay. Anything about it. Involved in producing food. And we okay. Ed, nything about it. Involved in producing food. And we okay. Ed, really,] about it. Involved in producing food. And we okay. Ed, really, reallyt it. Involved in producing food. And we okay. Ed, really, really good okay. Ed, really, really good to speak you and well chat to speak to you and well chat a little next hour little bit more in the next hour about the support that the government has been speaking about pippa mark, about in pmqs. But pippa mark, the nfu had a poll out this morning that actually revealed that after nurses , farmers and that after nurses, farmers and the work that they do is the second most respected profession in the United Kingdom. So the respect seems to be there amongst the British Public, but theyre asking for people to go that shop that one step further, to shop local, to support their local farmers and to look for that red tractor logo when theyre shopping supermarket. Shopping in the supermarket. That means its being grown that means that its being grown or Great Britain and or reared in Great Britain and its the best quality and the very best standard grown by people like ed. So do if you can if youre in the supermarket today, do buy british and do support your local farmer. Well, well be back to you and see how straight the furrow is you actually plough is that you can actually plough with that particular tractor. There was challenge for you there was a challenge for you should do as well. She will. She will. That was a challenge that you laid down for her. Prince william has now, Prince William has visited site in visited a construction site in west london today to highlight the issue of suicide in the construction industry. During the visit , he raised the crucial the visit, he raised the crucial need to focus on prevention rather than Crisis Management when it comes to Mental Health support it. Well, the visit also coming in the week of world Suicide Prevention , which was the day prevention, which was the day itself , sunday, the 10th of itself, sunday, the 10th of september. Lets get more with our royal correspondent, Cameron Walker , joining us now from west walker, joining us now from west london. And something thats very close , of course, this very close, of course, this mental issue to the Mental Health issue to the princes. Highlighted it for princes. Hes highlighted it for some before even becoming some time before even becoming prince of wales. Yeah thats prince of wales. Yeah thats right, mark. Its, of course, his champions for years. Really. And theres some really staggering statistics, which Kensington Palace have made us aware of today , 42 construction workers today, 42 construction workers take their own life every working day in Great Britain. Working day in Great Britain. And the suicide rates amongst construction workers is over three times the National Average in this country. Three times the National Average in this country. And as you in this country. And as you mentioned, it was world Suicide Prevention day on sunday. So Prince William came to the construction site that you can see behind me earlier on to spotlight the need for more prevention, rather than Crisis Management when it comes to Mental Health issues. And that means tackling the problem early before it becomes too late and people are suffering very serious, suicidal thoughts. Now, his Royal Highness sat down with construction workers at the site behind me, as well as other people within the industry who make up that supply chain. He make up that supply chain. He also heard from the charity mates and minds, which have helped hundreds of construction related charities since 2017 to really ramp up their Mental Health provision for their workers. So things like well being, training and also kind of digital Mental Health support as well. Theyve got a support as well. Theyve got a free consultation. Com confidential tech service, which is available 24 hours a day for those who need support. Getting the right support at the right time. Now, Prince William has time. Now, Prince William has spoken openly about his own Mental Health in the past, particularly the trauma he suffered following the death of diana, princess of wales, and when he was working as an air ambulance pilot in east anglia anglia. He spoke quite openly, anglia. He spoke quite openly, actually about an incident involving a very gravely ill ten year old boy that he had to transport to hospital. He transport to hospital. He launched the Heads Together initiative with the princess of wales and prince harry, trying to break the stigma when it comes to Mental Health. Hes also worked on Digital Innovation with a number of charities and the Emergency Services as well, with the blue lights together initiative looking after mental looking after the Mental Health of Emergency Service is now, as i mentioned , mates in mind. The i mentioned, mates in mind. The charity Prince William met here today. Charity Prince William met here today. Theyve got a tech today. Theyve got a tech services. If you are a tech service, if are struggling service, if you are struggling so can text mates to eight so you can text mates to eight 5 2, five, eight and of course you contact samaritans. Now you can contact samaritans. Now next Prince William is in next week, Prince William is in new york for the earthshot innovation summit, but hes also expected to visit Emergency Services at a local firehouse in new york, where he is expected to talk about Mental Health as well. Okay royal correspondent Cameron Walker , thank you for that. And walker, thank you for that. And actually, while cameron was talking there are pictures of harry and meghan that will try and bring you in the next hour at the invictus games. Of course, both brothers very strong issue of mental strong on the issue of Mental Health. Yeah. And course , they had and of course, they had launched that as the famous for that. You remember before. Well that. You remember before. Well splitting the beatles splitting up like the beatles did coming up kim jong un has been to talking putin. So what exactly has he got with him as hes on his armoured train going back to north korea . And should we be worried . We be worried . A brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. On. Gb news. Hello very good day to you. After a fine but chilly start for some of us this morning, we are going to see some wet and windy weather arriving in the north west. Meanwhile, most places staying dry and sunny. Thats because High Pressure is dominating the picture across the uk at the moment, though, there is this low weighting out in atlantic with its in the atlantic with its associated fronts. As we look associated fronts. As we look through this afternoon. Then across much of england and wales, fine sunny wales, plenty of fine sunny weather though watch out for a few developing towards few showers developing towards the we have some the southeast. Then we have some clouds, rain and strong clouds, some rain and strong winds pushing in across parts of Northern Ireland and into western afternoon western scotland this afternoon , we are going see , we are going to see temperatures bit lower temperatures a little bit lower than recent days, but still getting around 22, getting to highs around 22, perhaps the south, perhaps 23 celsius in the south, a bit cooler further north and feeling cooler as the wet and windy weather sweeps in that rain. Then is going to push its way eastwards southward as way eastwards and southward as we overnight. And so through we go overnight. And so through the early hours of thursday morning, likely to have some heavy, rain across morning, likely to have some heavyof rain across morning, likely to have some heavyof northern rain across morning, likely to have some heavyof Northern England ss parts of Northern England and into wales blustery into north wales to blustery showers across parts of scotland and the winds keeping temperatures from dropping too low relatively warm low here. A relatively warm night south as we night towards the south as we start thursday. Then a cloudy, wet picture across parts of Northern England and much of wales. And staying this way through day as that through much of the day as that front go anywhere front doesnt go anywhere particularly fast. Further north across of across scotland, plenty of blustery showers with the risk of gales drier , sunnier of coastal gales drier, sunnier towards south and here its towards the south and here its also going to be relatively warm with temperatures likely to be a touch today, getting touch higher than today, getting into , a brighter into the mid 20s, a brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on gb news. Good afternoon. It is 2 00 and youre with the live desk here on gb news. Coming up this wednesday afternoon. Wednesday afternoon. Kim jong un heads back to pyongyang after pledging his loyalty to Vladimir Putin. Will the so called fight against imperialism praising the russian leader in a fight of a sacred war . How worried should the west now be in action . Man . Sir keir starmer attacks rishi sunak at pmqs over escaped prisoners and chinese spies. But the Prime Minister says he is committed to the pensions triple lock. More than 5000 dead. Lock. More than 5000 dead. Another 10,000 still missing. More bodies start to wash up, too, on the beaches of libya after the devastating floods. The british cross now the British Red Cross now launching an aid effort. But can they access the fragmented state of. Of. And would you pay £2 for a sachet of sauce . Because that is sachet of sauce . Because that is what rick stein is charging at his fish and chip shop in cornwall. Consumer groups are cornwall. Consumer groups are pointing out that buying a bottle at the supermarket works out at just 12. 5 pence a portion. So is one source just a bit too rich . First, lets get all too rich . First, lets get all your headlines with. Lisa your headlines with. Lisa good afternoon. Its 2 01. Im lisa hartle in the newsroom. Sir keir starmer has accused the Prime Minister of failing the country during a heated Prime Ministers questions. He also attacked rishi sunaks record on the criminal Justice System, immigration and securing money. It follows the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife and the china spy scandal. Sir keir says the pm cant be trusted to protect the country. Rishi sunak protect the country. Rishi sunak hit back, accusing the Opposition Leader of being a conviction free leader. Proposed in prison schools. In prison schools. China yet again inaction. Man china yet again inaction. Man fails to heed the warnings and then blames everyone else for then blames everyone else for the consequences. Hes then blames everyone else for the consequences. Hes failing to stop terrorists strolling out of prison, failing to guard britain against hostile actors. Britain against hostile actors. Hes completely failing to stop the boats. How can anyone trust him to protect the country . He mr mr speaker , he he talks about mr speaker, he he talks about trust. He talks about action. Just today, this government is taking action to reform defective eu laws to unlock over 100,000 homes, boosting our economy, supporting jobs , and economy, supporting jobs, and ensuring that we can realise the aspirations of homeowners. It is aspirations of homeowners. It is typical of the principles free conviction, free type of leadership that he offers flip flopping from being a builder to a blocker. Mr speaker, the British Public cant trust a word he says. Meanwhile the word he says. Meanwhile the shadow environment secretary says nothing represents 13 years of conservative failure more graphically than the sight of the stinking, toxic sewage pounng the stinking, toxic sewage pouring into our rivers , lakes pouring into our rivers, lakes and seas. Steve reid says tories cut back on monitoring the water companies. But the government says they are cleaning up the mess that labour left after the conservatives cut the environment agencys budget in half. That led to drastic cuts in monitoring and enforcement and prosecute action and that led to a drastic increase in illegal discharges. Is trashing nature , discharges. Is trashing nature, damaging tourism and putting kids health at risk . This government are up to their necks in a sewage crisis of their own making. Making. The chancellor says the government is sticking to its plan to halve inflation as the economy shrunk. By 0. 5 plan to halve inflation as the economy shrunk. By 0. 5 in july. Jeremy hunt remains confident about the future, saying the country quickly recovered from the pandemic and is growing faster than countries like germany and italy in the long term. But labour says its a failing of the government. The failing of the government. The former chief Financial Officer and three others from the collapsed bakery patisserie, valerie, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud. And the conspiracy to defraud. And the senous conspiracy to defraud. And the Serious Fraud office says its charged christopher marsh and his wife, along with the Financial Controller and Financial Controller and Financial Consultant in relation to the alleged offence. The sfo to the alleged offence. The sfo accused them of conspiring to inflate the cash on their Balance Sheets and annual reports from 2015 to 2018. Theyll appear at Westminster Magistrates Court in october. A man has been arrested after an 11 Year Old Girl and two men were injured by an american xl bully crossbreed. A warning. The bully crossbreed. A warning. The following clip contains graphic images. Footage emerged on social media of the attack in birmingham on saturday. Westminster West Midlands police say the 60 year old has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a dog dangerously out of control. The conservative of control. The conservative have dropped two potential candidates to become mps after the Security Service warned they could be spies for china. It comes after a parliamentary researcher was arrested in march under the official secrets act. The Times Newspaper says m15 advised the tory party in 2021 and 2022 that two potential candidates should not be considered. The conservative party says it will always act on advice from credible security sources as a top medic says, the nhs is not sufficiently resilient ahead of winter. Dr. Adrian boyle, who is president of the Royal College of emergency medicine , says last emergency medicine, says last winter was one of the worst on record for the nhs. He fears the record for the nhs. He fears the Health Service could face a similar situation this winter with 7. 6 Million People still on the waiting list in england. But the waiting list in england. But the government says it recognises the pressures and will meet with the Health Ministers to address them. Ministers to address them. Englands local road maintenance has hit a four year low just over 1000 miles of roads were resurfaced in the previous financial year. Resurfaced in the previous financial year. Surface. Surface financial year. Surface. Surface dressing are Cost Effective. Method of road maintenance also dropped by 34. The rac estimates it would cost £14 billion to fix local road potholes in england and wales. Local road potholes in england and wales. But the local road potholes in england and wales. But the government and wales. But the government says it increased the pothole fund to £700 million for this year. Fund to £700 million for this year. This is gb news fund to £700 million for this year. This is gb news across the uk on Digital Radio and tv and on your Smart Speaker by saying play on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now back to mark and. Pip and. Pip lisa, thanks very much indeed. So lets reflect on pmqs, where there was no captain hindsight this week , but in hindsight this week, but in action man made an appearance. Action man made an appearance. Is sir keir starmer making that charge against rishi sunak over the issue of. Well, plenty of the issue of. Well, plenty of things, indeed. Missing things, indeed. Missing prisoners and also chinese spies. But it was sir keir himself who failed to act on the pensions triple lock amid the muddled stance taken by everyone on the policy. Instead , one of his instead, one of his backbenchers, Ashley Dalton , backbenchers, Ashley Dalton, challenged the Prime Minister on what the government policy is on the state pension. Im still confused on this matter because just yesterday the secretary of state for work and pensions said that the pensions triple lock is not sustainable. The chancellors sustainable. The chancellors economic advisers have suggested that it economic advisers have suggested thatitis economic advisers have suggested that it is time to review the policy. But number 10, when policy. But number 10, when questioned , has said theyre questioned, has said theyre committed to it. So, questioned, has said theyre committed to it. So, mr questioned, has said theyre committed to it. So, mr speaker, committed to it. So, mr speaker, which is it , committed to it. So, mr speaker, which is it, mr speaker . This this government is committed to the triple lock. It was this government that introduced the triple lock. She might want to she might want to have a word with her own deputy leader, i dont leader, who i dont think provided much clarity the provided much clarity on the matter. Remember , mr matter. And remember, mr speaken matter. And remember, mr speaker, i think we all remember when to pensions, what when it came to pensions, what we is gordon we can remember is Gordon Browns 70 5pa week increase. Browns 70 5pa week increase. Lets get some analysis then from gb news Political Correspondent olivia utley. Correspondent olivia utley. Olivia. Good afternoon. So, rishi sunak said in parliament in pmqs that the government is committed to the triple lock, but he didnt exactly say whether that would continue beyond the next election , did he . Well, 7 well, no, he . Well, no, he didnt 7 well, no, he didnt , and . Well, no, he didnt , and that well, no, he didnt, and that is pretty significant. For quite is pretty significant. For quite a few years now, the conservatives have been desperately trying to find some sort of loophole in the triple lock. Its become a noose around lock. Its become a noose around their necks. The government knows that it is going to cost them more and more year year knows that it is going to cost thethe nore and more year year knows that it is going to cost thethe numberi more year year knows that it is going to cost thethe number ofiore year year knows that it is going to cost thethe number of pensioners year knows that it is going to cost thethe number of pensioners inear as the number of pensioners in this proportion of this country, the proportion of pensioners country gets pensioners in this country gets bigger and bigger. One way that the conservatives are looking at to try and work around the triple lock is by tinkering with the calculate an the way they calculate an average earnings. So at the moment the triple lock is calculated by pensions must rise by inflation. 2. 5 or average earnings, whichever is the highest this year, the highest figure is average earnings at 8. 5. Average earnings traditionally is calculated by doing salaries and bonuses is and thats how they do it. But the conservatives are now thinking of taking bonus liz, out of the equation. You might not think that amounts to very much, but actually it would mean a rise of 7. 6 rather than 8. 5, saving the treasury about 630 million. Now that whether or not thats going to go ahead is still up for debate. Were heanng still up for debate. Were hearing pretty mixed messages from conservative ministers on it at the moment. And rishi sunak certainly was not prepared to say that he would continue with the lock after the with the triple lock after the next interestingly next election. Interestingly though, keir starmer wasnt really prepared to say so ehhen really prepared to say so either. Angela rayner spoke to reporters in liverpool over the last few days and essentially said that she thought the triple lock was probably unsustainable in term. Im in the long term. Im paraphrasing, but was paraphrasing, but that was definitely the gist that were definitely the gist that we were getting words. So it definitely the gist that we were gett only words. So it definitely the gist that we were gett only the words. So it definitely the gist that we were gett only the snonrds. So it definitely the gist that we were gett only the snp who. So it definitely the gist that we were gett only the snp who was it definitely the gist that we were gett only the snp who was able to was only the snp who was able to go in really, really hard on this itll be fascinating this topic. Itll be fascinating to see how it develops over the next few months because of course both parties are desperate get that grey vote desperate to get that grey vote as it isnt very respectfully called. Both parties know that pensioners tend to turn out in great numbers at elections, but they also know that as the number of pensioners gets bigger and bigger and bigger, the triple lock becomes more and more expensive for the treasury i yeah, and one wonders whether perhaps sir keir would have gone in on that attack line bearing in on that attack line bearing in mind the resonance it has in the ballot box. If Angela Rayner hadnt the ballot box. If Angela Rayner hadnt been quite so forthright with those reporters up in liverpool . Liverpool . Well absolutely. It felt a well absolutely. It felt a little bit today as though keir starmer didnt really have much more momentum behind him. He had that inaction man jibe, which did go down pretty well on the labour backbenchers , and im labour backbenchers, and im sure conservatives are sure some conservatives are worried thats going worried that thats going to stick. Otherwise a stick. But otherwise he had a bit approach. Bit of a scattergun approach. Much focus. There wasnt much focus. There wasnt much focus. Quite possible that he it is quite possible that he wanted heavy on the triple wanted to go heavy on the triple lock, which he knows would be very, the very, very damaging for the conservatives. Particularly conservatives. They particularly are really, reliant on are really, really reliant on the pensioner vote, but because of what his deputy said over the last few days, he didnt really have the Political Capital to do that. Angela rayner has described her relationship with keir starmer as arranged marriage. Wonder if theres a bit of trouble in paradise. Bit of trouble in paradise. Something else that stopped laughing, Something Else that did come up. As you would expect , it is china. China infiltrating british politics, infiltrating british politics, infiltrating westminster . And sir keir starmer is pushing for a full audit of uk china relations. Relations. Yeah, this is a pretty tricky subject for rishi sunak because in that conservative leadership election last year, liz truss said that she would be she would want to designate china as an official threat to the uk if she became Prime Minister. Rishi sunak didnt go that far, so there are plenty of china hawks in the conservative party and outside of it who worry that hes a little bit soft on china. Thats probably why keir starmer chose to go in on this subject with such sort of ferocity me this week, but it landed a little bit flat in the chamber sometimes these Foreign Affairs questions sort of loom as the interest of the chamber rightly or wrongly. Itll be really interesting to see how it does develop though, because think develop though, because i think we to see some sort we can expect to see some sort of line on china from of firmer line on china from sunakin of firmer line on china from sunak in the coming months. Sunak in the coming months. Olivia and that arranged marriage. Thank you very much marriage. Thank you very much indeed there at indeed for updating us there at westminster. Now, who westminster. Thanks now, who said this . We will be together said this . We will be together in the fight against imperialism before he got on to the train. Yes, that was kim jong un as he pledged support for president putin and the war against the west during this visit to the first stocznia cosmodrome in southeastern russia. In other words, a space centre. Words, a space centre. Following their bilateral talks, president putin said there were possibilities for military cooperation between russia and north korea. Opening the door to a possible arms deal the door to a possible arms deal. But no details on that. Deal. But no details on that. What they have talked about is a deal possibly on satellites, satellite technology, which may be why theyre at the space centre or cosmodrome. Lets get the thoughts now. Bob seely, mp member of the Foreign Affairs committee. For your committee. Bob, thanks for your time. Interesting that time. Its interesting that putin sort of wanted to talk about the offer of satellites and they were at this Satellite Centre because of course , i centre because of course, i think the last two launches of nonh think the last two launches of north korean spy satellites have actually failed. Actually failed. I understand, sir. I understand, sir. Yes. Yes. Look, both these people want some fairly nefarious things off each other. Putin, frankly, each other. Putin, frankly, needs a lot of shells, a lot of weaponry. And the one thing that weaponry. And the one thing that you can reliably depend on with communist states who are love to threaten violence against others and love to talk in militaristic terms is that theyve got a lot of kit. And i suspect kim has an of kit. And i suspect kim has an awful lot of soviet era kit. And awful lot of soviet era kit. And frankly, putin needs some of that stuff. And even if the tanks are very old, theyre not being used generally in the ukraine war in tank on tank battles, but more generally as a form of mobile artillery. So these older tanks still have value. And kim is probably sitting on millions of 152 artillery shells. So all this stuff putin needs and if putin can offer something back, hes more likely to get lots of kit to enable the russians to fight their intense artillery battles in southern and eastern ukraine. Yeah, but could it literally blow up in putins face . Were told that, as you say, a lot of it is soviet era era, rather perhaps not that well looked after. And such armament does become unstable after a while. Yeah, very good point. And an absolutely does. I suspect absolutely does. I suspect putins attitude is its not going to blow up in his face, so hes not too bothered. And if he can millions shells, even hes not too bothered. And if he catheyve|illions shells, even hes not too bothered. And if he catheyve gotyns shells, even hes not too bothered. And if he catheyve got a; shells, even hes not too bothered. And if he catheyve got a failurezlls, even hes not too bothered. And if he catheyve got a failure rate even hes not too bothered. And if he catheyve got a failure rate ofzn if theyve got a failure rate of 1 in its probably better 1 in 5, its probably better than nothing long as theyre than nothing as long as theyre not blowing up the barrels of the themselves. The weapons themselves. Bob, what do we know so, bob, what do we know about what russia is willing to do in exchange then . I mean, do in exchange then . I mean, its been suggested that north korea is after technology Sensitive Technology from russia i yes. I mean , i think its yes. I mean, i think its a question of how desperate the russians are and what theyre going to have to get and what theyre to going have to give to kim order to get that soviet kim in order to get that soviet era kit those era military kit and those shells, if thats what theyre after. Thinks that after. So part of me thinks that they are they dont want to damage their relations too much with china. So i suspect anything that they offer, kim is going to be cleared with the chinese first. I mean, russia, sadly, a china sadly, is becoming a china vassal state at the moment. If effectively a bigger version of nonh effectively a bigger version of north. North korea. Yeah, i was going to ask you where fit this where the chinese fit into this diplomat jigsaw now because, of course, weve got america having bought south korea and japan together to try and rebalance things. I mean, is this a reassessment now of east versus west . West . And sadly , yes. And we are and sadly, yes. And we are beginning to have that new sort of global division. It didnt of global division. It didnt have to happen this way. And its really sad that its happening. The biggest gainers happening. The biggest gainers thus far out of russias war in ukraine is probably china. Theyre making good money evading sanctions in a crafty way, not in too much of an obvious way , but also the obvious way, but also the russians have become increasingly dependent on china. Theyre becoming increasingly dependent on china, in part because they need to be selling their gas and oil to somebody key. And so china is getting a good much good deal on that energy. Much cheaper than the west was paying. Yeah, its very difficult to re orientate gas supply lines because youve got a lot of physical infrastructure there as well. Chinese are well, well. So the chinese are well, the russians are becoming much more dependent on on china doesnt have to be like that. Doesnt have to be like that. And actually its a terrible thing for china, for russia in the long run, because the only country territory country that has territory claims significant territorial claims significant territorial claims on the Russian Federation is china in eastern siberia. Bob seely from the Foreign Affairs select committee , thank Affairs Select committee, thank you very much indeed, bringing us to that. Us your reaction to that. The foreign well, from the Foreign Affairs select committee the Affairs Select committee to the Defence Committee, Defence Select Committee, because its chairman , tobias because its chairman, Tobias Ellwood, faces what could be his reckoning today because he is meeting with members of the committee ahead of a possible vote of no confidence concerning him tomorrow. Yeah, we heard about this earlier, of course, from Mark Francois here in the studio. The controversy stemming from this visit video in taliban visit and this video in taliban controlled afghanistan earlier this year in which he appeared to praise the regime for its security in the region, urging britain to reopen relations owns with the country and mr ellwood being accused of serving as a willing propagandist, rather, for the regime. Well, our political editor, christopher hope, has got more on this exclusive. Christopher. On this exclusive. Christopher. Tobias ellwood i think it was over the summer , did admit hed over the summer, did admit hed got it wrong , but members were got it wrong, but members were furious , apparently branding him furious, apparently branding him an f bleep, bleep, bleep, idiot i careful, pippa. Yes, thats right. They are very, very cross right. They are very, very cross with him. They feel that hes gone too far this time. Of course , hes the defence select course, hes the Defence Select Committee chairman since january 2020. A £16,000 a year 2020. He gets a £16,000 a year salary bump to do that job, to speak on behalf of the committee. But he he has been going outside of that that role recently , not not least. And the recently, not not least. And the final straw many of them was final straw for many of them was what this taliban what they call this taliban tourism he went to tourism video. And he went to afghanistan and spoke about how well the taliban were doing there. That annoyed some of there. And that annoyed some of them. Been called a them. Hes been called to a meeting happening meeting thats happening right now. To now. It started at 2 00 to explain himself a vote of motion of no confidence. Remember that with Boris Johnson . Well, one of with Boris Johnson . Well, one of those has been tabled against him on this committee the him on this committee on the Defence Select Committee. Theyll decide end of theyll decide at the end of that push that meeting whether to push that meeting whether to push that to a vote. I that motion to a vote. And i think right now now Tobias Ellwood is fighting for his political career. Does the committee actually have the power then to, you know , put him onto the backbenches effectively . Effectively . Thats right. He does, because its like having confidence of your work colleagues or wherever you might might be. Mark, if you if they feel that that youre there, the leadership following is leadership youre following is not what want to hear. Be not what they want to hear. Be then then that person can be moved and pushed he will he moved and pushed out. He will he will need a couple of tory mps on that to vote against on that group to vote against him. I think it may, may, may him. So i think it may, may, may end up him more end up him being a more chastened and bring himself back to where the committee wants. To where the committee wants. Because committee because if youre a committee chairman, got do chairman, youve got to do things on behalf the things on behalf of the committee go go your committee and not go not go your own i think thats the own way. I think thats the point this time, chris. We will, of course, stay across that. But lets also talk about the Ticket Offices, these controversial closures that were out to consultation. Now weve been hearing that tory mps are really angry over further plans to close them. What are they saying . Saying . Well, theyre furious, pippa, because what the government is, the government or the rail delivery group, the group which runs rail network in runs our rail network in england, looking closing england, is looking at closing ticket across the Ticket Offices across the country. And today its country. And today its interesting around 20 interesting because around 20 tory lined up in the tory mps lined up in the Westminster Hall behind me , Westminster Hall behind me, which is the second main chamber in the house commons, to in the house of commons, to attack the scale attack these plans and the scale of the attack, i think will worry the government is not really to a vote , at really subject to a vote, at least not a vote organised by the but labour could the government. But labour could do they do something about that if they wanted scale wanted to. But i think the scale of backbenches of the upset on the backbenches is serious. And with me now is is serious. And with me now is chris loder. Hes the tory mp for west dorset. Chris loder, you there in in that you were there in in that meeting was like . Well meeting. What was it like . Well i led the debate in Westminster Hall this morning at 9 30. Think it was probably one i think it was probably one of the best attended debates. Have seen in i have ever seen in Westminster Hall, which think Westminster Hall, which i think really furthers the message that collectively, the whole house of commons has significant reservations about the current proposals that the Rail Industry has put forward. The points i made in the debate specifically this morning were that what is being proposed, i staff coming from behind the glass or the window to go out on the station is actually not strictly strictly, right . Certainly not for me. In west dorset, strictly, right . Certainly not for me. In west dorset , where my for me. In west dorset, where my local operator is actually proposing to reduce staffing hours of stations by more than 50. The reason why you care, chris, is you once worked on railways yourself. I did when i left school, my first job was as a station assistant and i worked for the railways for 20 years before being elected. So for me, this being elected. So for me, this matters as a lot as someone who worked for the railway, who cares deeply for the railway, for its continued growth , both for its continued growth, both and for those people who have given their life in service to helping people move around the United Kingdom. Do you think then the government must drop these plans and will a vote loser at and will it be a vote loser at the election . The next election . The process basically is so the process basically is that the Rail Industry he consults on or the watchdog has consulted on the Rail Industry plan. Thats all being wrapped plan. Thats all being wrapped up. And that then goes to the up. And that then goes to the ministers for, in effect, a sign off or a veto. So the purpose of off or a veto. So the purpose of today was to make the message loud and clear to the ministers that a good number of us have reservations about this. You know, i personally im not opposed to reform. I think its important that it should have happened before. But to the happened before. But to the extent were seeing today , the extent were seeing today, the proposal before us today , i proposal before us today, i think is a step too far. Now we have mark and pippa , now we have mark and pippa, chris loder, tory mp there for west, also making quite clear that theres a big concern, i think, amongst backbench on the tory party. Were seeing it for the today in the first time today in westminster these rather westminster about these rather controversial closure closures to railway Ticket Offices. Over to railway Ticket Offices. Over to thank indeed. To you. Thank you indeed. Thanks very much, chris. Stay with us here on the live desk. Well be bringing you the latest on devastating floods in on those devastating floods in libya where we understand the death may now hit 20,000. Death toll may now hit 20,000. Youre with gb news, that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers. Proud sponsors of weather on gb news that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on gb news days from three on. Gb news. Welcome back to the live desk. Lets update you now on this extraordinary devastation in the east of libya. Emerging ac workers say theyve recovered so far more than 5300 bodies, the number expected maybe to even double after what was described as a catastrophic tsunami. Flood swept through the eastern coastal city of derna. Coastal city of derna. Thousands are still missing with bodies washing up on beaches along the waterfront at multiple dams had burst after torrential storms flooding entire neighbourhoods and sweeping people out into the mediterranean. Well, the mediterranean. Well, the International Organisation for migration says 30,000 people have been displaced by the disaster and the political fracturing of libya is complicating any International Aid or rescue efforts. Lets speak now to Andrew Thomas , whos media officer for thomas, whos media officer for the internal National Federation for the red cross. Thank you very much indeed forjoining us. And just to explain, of course, the government in in tripoli, in the government in in tripoli, in the west, the east, very the west, this in the east, very difficult to find out, i guess, what the command and control structure is. Thats right. And structure is. Thats right. And we stay out of the politics. So as you can imagine, a politically neutral organisation like ours needs to. But our partner affiliate the ground partner affiliate on the ground in libya, the libyan red crescent , has always been crescent, has always been politically neutral and has worked the governments worked with both the governments in far in that country and has so far faced no resistance with the aid that they are providing. Now, of course, are only or they are course, we are only or they are only one organisation, but they are best and theyve are doing their best and theyve been before this been there since before this disaster. Preparatory work disaster. The preparatory work that goes on, the training of volunteers , even in the city of volunteers, even in the city of derna, we had volunteers and then there was a risk that this might happen. There was some speculation a flood might speculation that a flood might occur. It did occur and occur. Then it did occur and they the first the they were the first on the ground with the search ground to help with the search and recovery efforts. Tragically three members of the three of the members of the libyan red crescent actually died in this flood. But there are many more hundreds who didnt who are helping the survivors and trying to establish some kind of life for those people who have survived. But as you see in these but as you can see in these pictures, in the pictures, the devastation in the city goes beyond city just goes almost beyond imagination. Is truly horrific. What is the first thing to do . I mean, were being told that, know, bodies and this do . I mean, were being told th upsetting ow, bodies and this do . I mean, were being told th upsetting for bodies and this do . I mean, were being told th upsetting for people and this do . I mean, were being told th upsetting for people are, this do . I mean, were being told th upsetting for people are, you is upsetting for people are, you know, families have know, the families have disappeared, are being washed up on back on the beaches, coming back in from mediterranean after from the mediterranean after they to sea. They were swept out to sea. There are certainly bodies in the streets. And yes, youre right, some are on the beaches as well. Finding retrieve as well. And finding retrieve ing bodies giving them ing those bodies and giving them a burial is one of the a dignified burial is one of the things that the red crescent volunteers there on the ground in and other and in derna and other cities and towns coastline are towns along that coastline are doing we an organisation or doing we as an organisation or the libyan red crescent in in libya has already distributed 500 body bags and they are collecting those bodies in a dignified way and making sure they get a dignified burial as well as reuniting families, finding people whove been displaced. The communications are there and bringing them are down there and bringing them back of back together to the relief of some thankful not everybody who went missing initially did die. Obviously, huge number did, obviously, a huge number did, but many have survived. And but many have survived. And bringing them back together is another part of work another crucial part of the work of red crescent and of the libyan red crescent and others, want say to others, too. I want to say to your viewers, though, we have, as organisation as an International Organisation launched an appeal. If they go to red cross website to the British Red Cross website page, can donate money. We page, they can donate money. We are aiming to raise 10 million chf. Thats just shy of £9 million for this appeal. And that money will go to the libyan red crescent. It will help to buy distribute shelter, buy and then distribute shelter, tents, food , clean water, tents, food, clean water, because what we dont want here is a disaster within a disaster already , this has been horrific already, this has been horrific enough for this part of libya. What we do not want now is a disaster of disease or worse, what is access like, andrew, into this area . I know International Aid is starting to get through, but how difficult is it to bring it to people . People . Very difficult. But its better than it was 24 hours ago. 24 hours ago, they couldnt even get into the city. All the roads into that city of derna were completely washed away or blocked. Authorities there blocked. The authorities there in libya have now reopened some roads, least aid can get roads, so at least aid can get into the city. And indeed, a three flights have flown in from turkey in the last 24 hours on board. Some of those flights were some red crescent volunteers from turkey. And those flights carried aid in as well. Is also thats well. There is also aid thats arrived egypt and no arrived in from egypt and no other is on its way. It can other aid is on its way. It can now get into the city now, thats say that areas thats not to say that all areas of many of the city are accessible. Many areas are still under water. The water still deep in some water is still deep in some streets, other areas are streets, but other areas are accessible. That aid needs accessible. And that aid needs to get there. There is one hospital, the one hospital in derna. It was destroyed by this inland tsunami , if you like. Inland tsunami, if you like. There is no medical treatment going on in that hospital at all. The needs now to be much more localised treatment for people whove been injured in this the people this and of course, the people to clean water and to make to get clean water and to make sure that they survive the afterm ath. Aftermath. Yeah, we understand the now, yeah, we understand the hauans now, yeah, we understand the italians have a ship that italians have got a ship that sailed with perhaps something akin hospital on akin to a Field Hospital on board and ameliorate the board to try and ameliorate the situation. But as you touched on, i guess now the danger is given so much stagnant water left and the number of bodies, cholera other diseases can cholera and other diseases can break quickly. Break out very quickly. They can. And thats exactly what were trying to ward against. Why clean what were trying to ward againzis why clean what were trying to ward againzis so why clean what were trying to ward againzis so important lean what were trying to ward againzis so important. Ean what were trying to ward againzis so important. That water is so, so important. That is why local Health Facilities like that, Field Hospitals you talk about on the italian ship are so important, talk about on the italian ship are so important , too. But that are so important, too. But that is always the danger after a disaster of scale. What disaster of this scale. What is quite and others quite remarkable is i and others were sitting just three days ago talking devastation talking about the devastation in morocco and of the dont morocco and some of the dont forget that. Right . Morocco is still place. We have still in a bad place. We have another for another emergency appeal for morocco as well. Im not trying to compare disasters here, and it is horrific that to have happenedin it is horrific that to have happened in the space of, what, 3 or days . But they have 3 or 4 days . But they have happened needs to happened and the world needs to respond. To step up respond. It needs to step up because lives are worth because peoples lives are worth living. And this needs to be reconciled with all the other things going on right now. It needs to be support for those two countries, real human disasters. Disasters. Well, Andrew Thomas from the red thank you much red cross, thank you very much indeed us there in indeed for joining us there in switzerland. Thank you. Terrible. Yeah, just terrible. Yeah, just terrible. Well, get your news well, lets get your news headunes well, lets get your News Headlines now with polly middlehurst. And good afternoon. Middlehurst. And good afternoon. The top stories this hour and our top story is that sir keir starmer has accused the Prime Minister of failing the country dunng minister of failing the country during a heated Prime Ministers questions. He attacked rishi sunaks record on the criminal Justice System, immigration and security. It follows the escape of terror suspect Daniel Khalife and the china spy scandal in westminster. Sir keir said the Prime Minister couldnt be trusted to protect the economy. Rishi sunak , however, hit rishi sunak, however, hit back, accusing sir keir of being a convict free politician. A convict free politician. Meanwhile, the shadow environment secretary has said nothing represents 13 years of conservative failure more graphically than the sight of stinking toxic sewage pouring into our rivers , lakes and seas. Into our rivers, lakes and seas. Steve reid says tories cut back on monitoring the water companies. But the government says theyre cleaning up the mess that labour left the chancellor says the governments sticking to its plan to halve inflation as the uk economy shrunk by 0. 5 in july. Jeremy hunt says he remains confident about the future , saying the about the future, saying the country quickly recovered from the pandemic and is now growing faster than countries like germany and italy. In the long term. But labour says the term. But labour says the economys contraction is a failing of the government and the former chief Financial Officer and three others from the collapsed bakery chain patisserie valerie have been charged with conspiracy to defraud the Serious Fraud office says its charged christopher marsh and his wife, along with a Financial Controller and Financial Controller and Financial Consultant in relation to the alleged offence, the fraud office accused them of conspiring to inflate cash indicators on the balance sheet, as well as altering annual reports. From 2015 to 2018. Reports. From 2015 to 2018. Theyll appear at Westminster Magistrates Court next month. Those are the headlines. More on all those stories by heading to our website gb news dot com. Gb news radio. Welcome back to the live desk. Lets bring you some breaking news were getting from Surrey Police who say that the father of sarah the little of sarah sharif, the little girl, a ten year old, found dead in surrey , is his in woking in surrey, is on his way back with his partner, bineesh batus and brother faisal malik from pakistan of course, all wanted for questioning over the ten year olds death. Yes , its understood that yes, its understood that they have been in hiding for a month now after fleeing to pakistan. On august the 9th with pakistan. On august the 9th with five children leaving the body of their daughter, their eldest daughter sarah, behind. And she daughter sarah, behind. And she suffered whats been described as multiple and extensive injuries over quite a period of time. And her body was found a day later at the familys home in woking. Her father , mr in woking. Her father, mr shanf in woking. Her father, mr sharif, alerted police from an unknown location in pakistan on where he had gone into hiding andindeed where he had gone into hiding and indeed he appeared in a video a few days ago with his current partner, we understand from Surrey Police that they boarded a flight from pakistan this morning travelling via dubal so they due to land at gatwick at 745 tonight where they will be met by Surrey Police who say that it may well be then that they are taken into custody. But well get more details for you as they come through from Surrey Police, the uk economy shrank by nought point 5 in july. Thats to according the office for National Statistics as well. Its putting pressure on the bank of england. Of course, theyre meeting next week, the Monetary Policy committee, to decide to do base decide what to do on the base rate and suggestions, of course, that could go even higher that they could go even higher above the 5. 25 current rate. Above the 5. 25 current rate. Fears that any further rises, though, could drive the economy into recession. Lets get more into recession. Lets get more with our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan with on the money. So on the face of it, money. So on the face of it, a half decline in the economy. Pretty alarming , but its quite pretty alarming, but its quite specific. Strike action and bad specific. Strike action and bad weather. Weather. Yeah. I think this month is a bit of a one off gdp. All goods bit of a one off gdp. All goods and services traded in the economy fell by 0. 5 of 1. So half a compared to july last year though in the Second Quarter revised figures show april, may, june, the economy actually grew by 0. 2, which isnt too bad. Lets have a look at these numbers now. So it came out this morning at 7 am. Gdp down 0. 5 in july. The ons said it was mainly due to the wet weather and also strike activity which hit gdp , in particular in which hit gdp, in particular in the Health Service. All those the Health Service. All those strikes there a big part of britains Service Sector , by the britains Service Sector, by the way, we measure our Public Services, goes into gdp. A rate rise, an Interest Rate rise is now less likely on the 21st of september. But i still think its more likely than not that will be the 15th Interest Rate rise in a row. And as i said, even though the headline number for july is a negative forjuly is a negative contraction in the Second Quarter, april, may, june, the economy actually grew by 0. 2. International the uk is doing okay among the big economies. Its not in recession like germany. We but two subsequent germany. We but two subsequent quarters. Lets remember negative growth, but its growing slower than america. Now we found all that so now we found all that extra growth down the back of the of the nations sofa. Were sort of middle of the g7. Middle of the pack of the g7. An i heard someone described the well. The the Economy Today as well. The way its going at the moment, its all the time. Its snakes and ladders. Its all the time. Its snakes ancitsiders. Its all the time. Its snakes ancits absolutely snakes and its absolutely snakes and ladders. Some really good ladders. We got some really good news new investment in car news like new investment in car plants. Weve had at Ellesmere Port, in cowley. A new port, bmw in cowley. A new gigafactory promised by tata over there in somerset, the uk figures showing were actually still a leading manufacturing power manufacturing more value than france over recent years. And then you have a negative gdp number and heres another sort of a snake rather than a ladder. I i think im afraid to say that when the next inflation number comes out for august, which will be on the 20th of september, before the bank of england makes that Interest Rate decision, im concerned that that inflation rate will be higher than in july at 6. 8 in july. And thats because of an oil price surge. And add the increases that weve seen in petrol and diesel prices dunng seen in petrol and diesel prices during august, which many, many gb news viewers have been in touch about. I spoke about the petrol forecourt you. Forecourt price with you. What is two ago its gone up is it, two days ago its gone up another £0. 02 litre. Thats another £0. 02 per litre. Thats right on my forecourt and thats going feed in directly going to feed in directly because of course it because on diesel, of course it feeds into transport costs and is a direct impact on inflation and we know that the petrol retailers , or at least the oil retailers, or at least the oil majors as sometimes the independent retailers dont get the margin. But , you know, the margin. But, you know, as soon as oil pnces but, you know, as soon as oil prices go up , petrol prices go prices go up, petrol prices go up almost immediately. Prices go up, petrol prices go up almost immediately. But its up almost immediately. But its not the same when they come down. And weve seen a 30, 30 rise in oil prices over the last since the end of june, which has been barely remarked upon. But been barely remarked upon. But its really feeding into the cost of transport and inflation and is this just because of what saudi arabia and russia are doing or are the oil brokers also looking at the time of year and thinking, you know, people need their heating oil , they need their heating oil, they want a more transport to get want a bit more transport to get out theyre maybe out and about and theyre maybe just sort trying hedge a just sort of trying to hedge a little bit. Well, oil market little bit. Well, the oil market is absolutely huge. Theres no way can really influence the way you can really influence the price youre a price if youre if youre a trader, can certainly trader, you can certainly influence the price youre influence the price if youre opec. Plus, thats opec or even opec. Plus, thats opec or even opec. Plus, thats opec plus russia. So opec plus opec plus russia. So opec plus russia , they control over half russia, they control over half of Global Oil Production and they control 90 of all known oil reserves. So its oil reserves. So its fashionable among certain circles in westminster to say opec doesnt matter anymore. If you say that you know nothing about Global Energy markets. And about Global Energy markets. And a lot of the reason for this hike in oil prices is happening , even though china is slowing down as china slows down. Biggest importer now of oil, youd expect the demand for oil to the price to go to go down and the price to go down. Even though china is down. But even though china is slowing down the price of oil is shooting up. And thats largely because shooting up. And thats largely bec opec export cartel. The opec export cartel. 90 plus dollars at the moment i its been its flirting with 91, 92 the first time its been in that range since last november. My in that range since last november. My fear is if the markets get 100 a barrel in their sights , then it becomes a their sights, then it becomes a foregone something they try and aim for and that will feed directly into inflation. Liam, thank you very much indeed. Quite lovely story to bring quite a lovely story to bring you the london taxi you now because the London Taxi Charity an event to charity has hosted an event to celebrate world war ii veterans surrounded by iconic planes at biggin Hill Heritage hangar. The veterans reminisce as they were entertained. Well, one chelsea pensioner taking to the skies in a spitfire for a day that well all always remember. Gb news london reporter lisa hartle has more for us. World war two veterans stood in front of the iconic spitfire , a plane that holds so many memories for them this day was about reminiscing the veterans taxi charity invited them along with other veterans , to biggin with other veterans, to biggin Hill Heritage hangar in south london. I feel like a little boy sitting with these. These aircraft here. Truthfully henry was in the royal navy during the Second World War on d day. He found himself on hms eastway and was asked to be a message carrier. Got to france , message carrier. Got to france, went alongside , emptied out all went alongside, emptied out all the stores and some of the soldiers they had on board turned around. By that time , i looked over by that time, i looked over the side and thought, oops , its the side and thought, oops, its not pleasant what i saw. So just bodies floating. And debris and bodies floating. And debris and all that sort of thing going, going to france when you dont know what youre going to do or where youre going. In fact, 50 is apprehension on i wont say cowardice or anything. I dont believe that apprehension. And the other 50, apprehension. And the other 50, it was a bit of exciting really, until you actually get get out there. Dorothea baron was part of the wrens during the Second World War. I think just talking to people is great fun and swapping ideas and reminiscences. Ideas and reminiscences. Its lovely to talk to them and to know what theyre doing now and how were all getting depher. And i think theyve got depher. And i think theyve got better figures than most people have nowadays. Have nowadays. You dont see the great potbellied men that you do. These days. These days. These days. As the other veterans watched chelsea pensioner mike smith was ianed chelsea pensioner mike smith was invited to fly in a spitfire. Invited to fly in a spitfire. It was absolutely awesome , it was absolutely awesome, awesome, amazing. Awesome, amazing. All of the above to be able to fly in one of these and to be actually flying in one of these over dover and the channel having read all the documents, seeing the documentaries , read seeing the documentaries, read all the history, and then actually flown in a spitfire , it actually flown in a spitfire, it was unbelievable. Was unbelievable. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. The event was funded by the taxi Charity Ambassador johnny gallagher. My granddad was in two wars and i grew up really close to my granddad and i just grew up with that generation and i really respected what they did. I mean, thats an understatement when you know the charity, you you get to know the charity, you realise mean realise how much these days mean to because the to them, you know, because the Lonely People and know, Lonely People and you know, something something Something Like this, something to them going. So when i do events like this , it makes them realise that a Younger Generation does care about them. About them. Bravery word mean. Bravery is the word mean. Theres 16, 17 years bravery is the word mean. Theres16, 17 years old going to war. The charity arranged days like this for veterans throughout the year, giving back to generation that to the generation that sacrificed so much. Lisa hartle sacrificed so much. Lisa hartle gb news. Sacrificed so much. Lisa hartle gb news. London wonderful sights and sounds. Now its back. British farming day an annual National Farmers Union Campaign to support the british food and farming industry by buying british food and farming secretary Therese Coffey has today provided a boost to british farmers with a package of measures and help to provide them with the cashflow they need to invest in their businesses. Lets go to our national reporter, Ellie Costello. The reporter, Ellie Costello. The last time we saw her was on a tractor. Oh, shes off. Have you have you have you been doing much work or just tooting . Ellie like you were last time . Like you were last time . Well, yeah. Well, yeah. Well, yeah. Well, yeah. Well, all i actually managed to do was toot the horn. They didnt trust me to plough the field behind me. I did ask, though, mark. Did set that though, mark. I did set that challenge, didnt challenge, but they didnt trust me dont them. I me and i dont blame them. So i am childerditch today, am in childerditch farms today, which is 1600 acres in essex. Which is 1600 acres in essex. And let me show you what they make because its oat barley and wheat. Weve got a big bucket of it here. So at the breakfast table in Great Britain, if youre tucking into your cereal and your bread, or perhaps youre making bread with flour, this is what youll be using. And nine times out of ten, its coming from a Great British farmer. So thats what happens on this farm here in childerditch. And the eagle eyed viewers amongst you may have noficed viewers amongst you may have noticed that pmqs today that many mps were wearing this lapel badge, a sheaf of wheat , and badge, a sheaf of wheat, and thats because it is back british farming day to day. And we have a Great British farmer with us now, ed ford, who is a partner at childerditch farms. Good afternoon to you, ed and i wanted to ask you about pmqs because we heard from tyrese coffey, didnt we, the secretary of state for Environment Food and affairs, she set and rural affairs, and she set out this package, didnt she , of out this package, didnt she, of grants of support , of grants of support, of accelerated payments for farmers who wish to be sustainable on their farms, putting things in like solar panels. What did you make of that package of support so basically what today she announced was an acceleration of payments for farmers who are signed up for the Sustainable Farming Incentive Scheme by october will be paid their First Tranche of money by the end of this year. , um, and, and obviously we um, um, and, and obviously we were promised with, with the diminishing payment, the basic Payment Scheme , we were promised Payment Scheme, we were promised a smooth transition into sfe and the process thus far has been far from smooth. Far from smooth. Im sensing disappointment from you. What would you have liked to have heard from tyrese coffey this afternoon . We would have liked to see a smooth transition remaining. The same. Obviously we that has not been the case. And what has not been the case. And what has happened with the sfe, the scheme has been delayed. It has scheme has been delayed. It has been changed. Things have been chopped changed around and chopped and changed around and it just hasnt been as smooth and less bureaucracy, less red tape. We were also promised and it simply hasnt happened. It simply hasnt happened. So okay, were talking to you now on Great British farming day. Just very briefly , why is day. Just very briefly, why is it so important that people buy British Brexit we left the british since brexit we left the eu and were on our own out in the uk now we are up against trade deals of food being imported from other countries is of a lesser standard. And less of a lesser standard. And less less welfare. Less welfare. If you buy british by red tractor labelled food, you know its of a High Standard produced the highest welfare standards and of the best quality. Okay ed, thank you so much. Really good to be with you all of today in essex. And you all of today in essex. And you heard the man, if you are shopping today for in the supermarket, that supermarket, do look for that red tractor label. Says that red tractor label. It says that its it says its its british. It says its the highest grown to the highest standard grown to the highest standard grown to the highest welfare and made by highest welfare and its made by a farmer. A local farmer. Ali, thank you very much for updating us there this updating us there on this special day. Special day. You the latest on just bring you the latest on this breaking news were getting and that is that the family of sara sharif , who was found dead sara sharif, who was found dead at woking last at her home in woking last month, they are now said to be on a flight to uk. Month, they are now said to be on a flight to uk. The group on a flight to the uk. The Group Includes year olds includes the ten year olds father, his partner father, irfan, his partner Beenish Batool and brother faisal malik. Theyre wanted for questioning over the little girls death due to land at gatwick. 745 Surrey Police say they will there to the will be there to meet the flight. Well the flight. Well have all the latest for you here on gb news. Stay with us. A brighter outlook with boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello on. Gb news. Hello very good day to you. After a fine but chilly start for some of us this morning, we are going to see some wet and windy weather arriving in the north west. Meanwhile, most places staying dry and sunny. Thats because High Pressure is dominating the picture across the uk at the moment, though, there is this low weighting out in atlantic with its in the atlantic with its associated fronts. As we look associated fronts. As we look through this afternoon. Then across much of england and wales, fine sunny wales, plenty of fine sunny weather though watch out for a few showers developing towards the we have the south east. Then we have some some rain some clouds, some rain and strong winds pushing in across parts Northern Ireland and parts of Northern Ireland and into western scotland this afternoon we are going see afternoon we are going to see temperatures little bit lower temperatures a little bit lower than still than recent days, but still getting highs around 22, getting to highs around 22, perhaps the south, perhaps 23 celsius in the south, a bit cooler further north and feeling cooler as the wet and windy weather sweeps in that rain. Is going to push its rain. Then is going to push its way eastwards and southward as we and so through we go overnight. And so through the early hours of thursday morning, likely to have some heavy, persistent rain across parts england parts of Northern England and into to blustery into north wales to blustery showers across parts of scotland and the winds keeping temperatures from dropping too low warm low here. A relatively warm night towards the south as we start thursday. Then a cloudy, wet picture across parts of Northern England and much of wales. And staying this way through day as that through much of the day as that front doesnt go anywhere particularly north particularly fast. Further north across scotland, plenty of blustery showers with the risk of drier , sunnier of coastal gales drier, sunnier towards south and here its towards the south and here its also going to be relatively warm with temperatures to be a with temperatures likely to be a touch than today, getting touch higher than today, getting into mid 20s , a brighter into the mid 20s, a brighter outlook with boxt solar are proud gb news very good afternoon. Its 3 pm. Its patrick christys. Its gb news. And im starting with the absolute madness thats taking place in pec cam after an asian shopkeeper allegedly got a bit too heavy handed with a black lady who was allegedly shoplifting. And now theres some kind of race riot taking place outside. Its completely place outside. Its completely bonkers. Ill be talking about the whole lot of it. Im also going to be talking about this as well. Ben wallace has come out basically said that out and basically said that human rights can actually benefit terrorists. Is there benefit terrorists. Is there such a thing as having too many human rights in other news, ill be discussing this as well. Tory, spygate, whats the latest on the chinese spy row . Have they really infiltrated the conservative party . And lets be honest , every conservative party . And lets be honest, every single other Political Party talking of politicians mull a Tobias Ellwood might be in hot water after he did the talibans pr for them. Could he now actually be at risk of losing his job . Patrick christys