Get your pathetic, grubby, woke hands off our flag. Next. At 9 01, heres the latest news from the gb newsroom. And jk rowling has hit back tonight for being reported under scotlands new hate crime laws, after Police Scotland said this afternoon her social media posts on the importance of biological sex would not be treated as criminal. The harry potter author posted on x saying i hope every woman in scotland who wishes to speak up for the reality and importance of biological sex will be reassured by this announcement and i trust that all women, irrespective of profile or financial means, will be treated equally under the law. Well, the new law brought in yesterday is aimed at banning hateful comments, but the harry potter author previously said the law risked silencing genuine debate on issues around gender, as well as ignoring the rights of women and girls. The Prime Minister backed jk rowling today , saying people should not be criminalised for stating biological fact. In other news, today, the Prime Minister has told Binyamin Netanyahu that the attack on aid workers in gaza that killed three british nationals was appalling. Rishi sunak said far too many aid workers and ordinary civilians have lost their lives in gaza, he was on a phone conversation with the israeli Prime Minister this evening, and it comes after lord cameron told his israeli counterpart today that major changes must be made to ensure the safety of aid workers in gaza. The israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, described the killing of seven aid workers, which included the three british people, as tragic. And he said un intended they were delivering vital food supplies, travelling in two armoured cars marked with the world central kitchen logo. The aid group claims the attack was carried out despite them coordinating their movements with the Israeli Military sports brand. Adidas will redesign its german football shirts following the number 44, causing concern over a resemblance to the ss nazi symbol. The new kits were launched last month ahead of germany hosting the european championship, but a historian flagged similarities with the logo for the ss logo, which was nazi germanys elite military guard under hitler. The countrys Football Association in germany say it didnt spot the similarity when the decision was approved, but it will now be changed. And gardeners are being warned this spring that some flowers that bloom at this time of the year could pose a threat to their pets, as beautiful as they are. Lilies, for example , they are. Lilies, for example, are poisonous to cats with the potential cause serious liver potential to cause serious liver damage, or if the petals or the leaves are eaten well. Now, with spnng leaves are eaten well. Now, with spring flowers blooming, the pdsa Animal Charity is urging people to take care after one nine month old kitten was poisoned and rushed for emergency treatment. Theyre saying pet owners should monitor their pets around harmful plant species, and anyone whose pets are affected should contact their thats the news their vet. Thats the news for their vet. Thats the news for the latest stories, do sign up to gb news alerts. Scan the qr code on your screen right now or go to gb news. Komsomols thats i welcome along. What a summer of sport it was shaping up to be. England and scotland battling out in germany to be european champions, then in paris, Great Britain coming together to defy the odds once again at the olympic games. But were simply not allowed to be patriotic anymore, are we. 7 first patriotic anymore, are we . First american brand nike broke engush american brand nike broke english hearts by changing the Saint Georges cross to whatever this monstrosity is. And now woke team gb have got in on the act. Theyve released a range of products that see the union jack altered using different shades of red, white and blue, along with a series of bizarre patterns just leave our flag alone now, a spokesperson for team gb said. Rest assured, the union flag will feature proudly on the team kit for paris, as it always does. This image doesnt replace the union flag, which we will wear with pride later this summer. Okay, fine, but why are summer. Okay, fine, but why are they trying to flog this tat to they trying to flog this tat to the British Public . Arent we allowed to wear the union flag with pride as well . Well, the answer is because the woke brigade, have respect for brigade, who have no respect for history or tradition, are being put in charge. Branding and Design Agency called this away are responsible for the team gb relaunch. So heres how they announced it. We needed to find announced it. We needed to find announced it. We needed to find a way of refreshing the team gb colour palette in a way that is both flexible and ownable. No both flexible and ownable. No you didnt, but they go on. The result is a vibrant and varied colour palette that has the versatility to be restrained , versatility to be restrained, toned and traditional in one breath and bold and contemporary in the next. What a load of guff and dont take my word for it. Gb news went to hull to get some consumer feedback. It disgrace why not leave it as it is . Its, you know, our traditional flag. Why mess with it like the england football shirt . Just leave it alone. Its that is the proper flag for our country. And thats what should be up. And thats what should be up. Well, i think its a bit weird. Theyre changing it. Its the flags, the flag, isnt it . Its been there centuries, isnt it . Keep it the same. Yeah, exactly. Now im now going bring in a british going to bring in a british sporting legend. It was absolutely livid at this. Welcome to the show. Former goalkeeper of englands goalkeeper and one of englands best is peter best ever players is Peter Shilton. Peter, thank you very, very much. How do you feel about the desecration of the union flag . Oh, i think were just flag . Oh, i think were just going to have to just double check on peters audio there for one second. But look, im going to bring in my panel now and then well get peter back. Lets get the thoughts of them, shall we . As gb news contributor, nana akua for akua conservative mp for romford, rosindell and romford, Andrew Rosindell and trade unionist andy macdonald. Just while we work on peter there, i think what ill do is ill come to my panel. Nana how do you feel about the needless desecration of our union flag . Well, it looks like if youve ever been to one of those shops, like tire rack, it looks like theyve just put a load of tires, of cross them over. Tires, sort of cross them over. And actually this is a and i actually think this is a mission creek. I think this is a mission creek. I think this is a mission creep. And the objective of is its edi, i think of it is its more edi, i think some sort of esg type scores, because if look at the because if you look at the colours, they are pinks and theyre purples. I think theyre trying of infiltrate the trying to sort of infiltrate the whole inclusion whole diversity and inclusion within accept within this so that we accept that are changing. That these things are changing. But bottom line is the flag but the bottom line is the flag is flag. And the reason why a is a flag. And the reason why a flag is flag represents something is because its colours. Because those are its colours. So white cross with red so a white cross with red background is denmark. And the other was it norway . Other way around was it norway . No, its denmark and the other way is england right. So way round is england right. So the actual thing about a flag, a flag is about colours. The actual thing about a flag, a flag is about colours. So if you flag is about colours. So if you start tampering with it, then it becomes something else. Well, im informed im reliably informed that we now have england footballing now do have england footballing legend, Peter Shilton. Second time lucky peter. Thank you very much. How thank you very, very much. How do feel about the do you feel about the desecration the union flag, desecration of the union flag, i just cant believe it. We just just cant believe it. We just seem to be changing things for the sake of it. And, you know, its a sacred flag. Its part of the country. Our history and, you know, it. You know, it. Oh, well, obviously, having a couple of technical issues there , unfortunately, when it comes to Peter Shilton, andrew, i will just ask you. I mean, youre obviously a patriotic individual. How do you feel about it all . Im appalled by it. I think its outrageous that these people can change our flag without anyone agreeing to it, thinking that its somehow smart. Well its not smart. It actually offends a lot of people. People fought and died for this country under that flag. And its not for any National Institution to decide to muck it up with all kinds of squiggles and dots and strange colours, the union flag or the union jack. Both terms are correct. Thats the flag of our nation , thats the flag of our nation, and it shouldnt be tampered with by the woke brigade. Okay . I mean, whats your okay . I mean, whats your view on this as a, as a as a trade unionist lefty . Do you choose it as a trade unionist. Left it. Well, i mean, i dont really see whats woke about pink and purple. Well, you know, well, when the know, well, when you mix the colours red white you get colours red and white you get pink. You mix the colours pink. When you mix the colours red and blue, you get purple. Its not some kind of woke eddy thing you were suggesting. Thing like you were suggesting. Its youre its just i think people youre wrong. People mixing wrong. Its just people mixing colours. About pink colours. Whats woke about pink and purple. Whats about pink and purple . What is woke about . What is woke about . Pink and purple. Part of the rainbow thats rainbow flag, isnt it . Thats the whole idea. So the they want. They said that the reason why theyve it is because they theyve done it is because they want empower people to want it to empower people to tell a diverse range stories. Tell a diverse range of stories. Red, red and blue. Red red, red, red and blue. Red and blue are part of the rainbow flag well. No. But so flag as well. No, no. But but so whats whats your point there . Because. Because and because. Because pink and purple are part of the union jack. But you can point, right . But you can point, right . A and its about a flag. And so every represents every colour represents something countries. Kick off in 2012 when did you kick off in 2012 when they put grey the olympic uniforms . If i what was it. Did you were making a flag were they making a flag with grey. Yes. Well then wouldnt grey. Yes. Well then i wouldnt have liked that. So you kick off then . So did you kick off then . So did you kick off then . Nobody asked me. Well, nobody asked me. Well, nobody asked me. I think British Airways well, nobody asked me. I thad British Airways well, nobody asked me. I thad br reverse ways well, nobody asked me. I thad br reverse their really had to reverse their decisions when they decided to get union flag from get rid of the union flag from the of the aeroplanes. That the tail of the aeroplanes. That was embarrassing them. Any was embarrassing for them. Any National Institution should be flying i think. Flying the actual flag, i think. I believe that an i dont believe that an organisation represents i dont believe that an organisoron represents i dont believe that an organisor england epresents i dont believe that an organisor england nationally britain or england nationally has the right to somehow come up with a new design thats really not acceptable, especially if its a business as well. So was it adidas just coming up with . Oh, well, do the up with . Oh, well, well do the design here. Right. Some of these people got to it these people got to do it proving know that proving it. And we know that these people are part of that whole know. Whole esg. How do you know. Know they are how how do you know they are how what of esg and what part of the esg and Diversity Inclusion they diversity and inclusion they are . How you know that are . How do you know that theyre is edi. Theyre part what is the edi. You know, whats inclusion. You know, whats that inclusion. But you said . But what is what you said . Theyre part of it. The point. Scoring for esg is the point. Scoring for different the different businesses. So the more more more diverse they are, the more points they get. And diverse and whats diverse about putting a bit of pink and purple on flag . Well, is diverse on a flag . Well, what is diverse about that . Colours, the rainbow colours, they are part the rainbow colours, they are parwell, gb news news weve well, gb news gb news weve got colours the got the rainbow colours on the gb logo, you know, gb news gb news logo, you know, gb news logo, okay. Logo, right . Okay, okay. A pin in this for just to put a pin in this for a second, were going for the hat all right peter hat trick. All right Peter Shilton right. Okay. Sorry shilton yeah right. Okay. Sorry about patrick. You are about that patrick. You are angry flag peter. Go about that patrick. You are angyeah, flag peter. Go about that patrick. You are angyeah, i, flag peter. Go about that patrick. You are angyeah, i, im flag peter. Go about that patrick. You are angyeah, i, im also peter. Go about that patrick. You are angyeah, i, im also angry go on. Yeah, i, im also angry about losing the sound. But anyway , sorry about that. But anyway, sorry about that. No, i mean, you know, im a traditionalist. I played for england for 20 years at football. And, you know, the playing for the flag was, was everything, you know, and i think this day and age, its not just a few colours. Its the way lifes going. I think theres a lot of people who want to change this country and the way it is. This country and the way it is. And, you know, i think this is just one of the things that changing our National Flag is, is, is one of those things. And i certainly feel that, you know, its a fantastic country. Its its a fantastic country. Its very diverse, but theres still people who want to change our history and want to change what our country represents. Really. Our country represents. Really. I mean, do you think that there is , you know, a determined there is, you know, a determined attempt here by certain people to, like, do away with anything thats british about it . Do you think because they would say its just a playful update on on things . Hopefully we can actually flag at some actually see this flag at some point well . Actually see this flag at some poiiyeah,nell . Actually see this flag at some poiiyeah, yeah. I mean, i do yeah, yeah. I mean, i do think that, know, people , think that, you know, people, you know, in this country, the genuine sort of, you know, british people, i think theyre very proud of, our traditions and our flag and everything else. But i do think theres an element that of trying to undermine , you know, the way our undermine, you know, the way our country is. And, you know, and i just feel that theyre looking for anything. I mean, theyre for anything. I mean, theyre desecrating, you know, statues and pulling down statues. Theres a lot of stuff going on, and i think this is a small part of it, but it is a start of, you know, trying to change, change our National Flag, which i think majority of people in this country would just say, no, no way. You know, weve had it for hundreds of years. And this is this is our flag. Do you think, though , do you do you think, though, do you think, though, peter, that maybe some athletes maybe some of the athletes or maybe when to the saint when it came to the Saint Georges some of the georges flag, some of the football , they should georges flag, some of the footb actually , they should georges flag, some of the footb actually stood ey should georges flag, some of the footb actually stood up should georges flag, some of the footb actually stood up against georges flag, some of the footb i ctually stood up against georges flag, some of the footh knowy stood up against georges flag, some of the footh know thatod up against georges flag, some of the footh know that ri0|p against georges flag, some of the footh know that Rio Ferdinand this . I know that Rio Ferdinand was talking. Said. It never was talking. He said. It never would have happened in day. Would have happened in his day. They stood it. They wouldnt have stood for it. But havent got that now, but we havent got that now, have i dont know have we, i dont i dont know what players are thinking , what the players are thinking, you know . I mean, they just want to out and represent the to go out and represent the country other side of it country and the other side of it is left to the is normally left to the officials. You know. But, yeah, i think at the end of the day, it is it is down to the officials. I mean, obviously players can say, look, im players can can say, look, im not with wearing that not happy with with wearing that shirt or whatever. I mean, look at the germans. They, they just changed it straight away when they had a problem. They thought they had a problem. I know flags i dont know how many flags around the are getting around the world are getting changed, you know, national. Why is it just us . Peter, this is what i want to know. Why is it just us . They obviously think were soft. I think you be well, i think you could be right there. Think we are so right there. I think we are so tolerant everything. Tolerant with everything. You know , with with freedom of know, with with freedom of speech and the values that our country have been brought up on. And i think, you know, weve got a feel well, well pleased about that. You know, our values are fantastic, but sometimes, you know, we maybe let things go a bit too far. And, there is an element of, as i said, you know, i think that, in the country that want to try and, you know, degrade our values, really and, you know, i dont know why that is, but maybe its political. Im not sure. Yeah. Well, look, peter, thank you very , very much. Can thank you very, very much. Can i just ask you just just quickly, just ask you just just quickly, just very quickly while weve got yeah. What does got you . Yeah. What does the flag to like, this is flag mean to you . Like, this is the people the thing when people go, oh, theyve changed theyve only just changed the colours theyve just colours on it or theyve just added you know, whether its added a, you know, whether its like a tribal pattern or something, you know, you represented country the represented our country at the highest heck of a highest level for a heck of a long youre proud, long time. Youre a proud, patriotic long time. Youre a proud, patriowho has served his right. Who has served his country. Does the flag in country. What does the flag in its, in original proper form its, in its original proper form mean to you . It means history well, it means history doesnt it . You know, i mean, you go back over the years, you know, we fought wars, you know, with the union jack, you know, people died , you know, for, for people died, you know, for, for our country. And, you know, we had that pride of, of the union jack. And when as a player, you know , it was it was know, it was it was unbelievable. It was the highest honour to represent your country. And flag was part country. And the flag was part of you know, union of that. You know, the union jack. And to start, to start , jack. And to start, to start, you know, sort of trying to change it now, i just think its an attack on, on the way we, we, we look on our country. Well, look, peter, thank you very, very much. Incredibly strong words there. Absolutely great to be able to make that work with you. In the end. That is Peter Shilt
Time the news of the day time for the news of the day with polly middlehurst. With polly middlehurst. Jacob thank you and good evening. Well, the main news tonight is that the israeli Prime Minister has been speaking within the last 15 minutes or so, addressing the nation, saying airstrikes in gaza are just the beginning. He compared hamas and the atrocities theyve committed as being on par with isis. Earlier, hamas threatened isis. Earlier, hamas threatened to kill hostages if israel continue retaliating without warning. More than 800 people have been killed in israel and 500 in gaza since the first attack on saturday. Israel today ordered a complete siege on gaza, cutting off food, power and fuel to the palestinian territory. But the un secretary general, antonio guterres, said the siege was a deeply distressing idea. Deeply distressing idea. The humanitarian situation in gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities only deteriorate exponentially. Deteriorate exponentially. Medical equipment , food, fuel medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed , along are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel relief and entry of essential supplies into gaza must be facilitate , noted, and must be facilitate, noted, and the un will continue efforts to provide aid to respond to these needs. Well, while support for the palestinian cause was being shown outside the Labour Party Conference in liverpool today, tonight, hundreds of people have gathered at a Jewish Community vigil in westminster in support of israel following sevilla politicians who spoke at the rally tonight expressed a cross Party Support for israel from the uk. Meanwhile, parts of from the uk. Meanwhile, parts of the Israeli Embassy appear to have been boarded up amid a pro palestine demonstration outside that building. Hundreds gathered this afternoon chanting israel is a terrorist state and free palestine. The foreign secretary, James Cleverly responded , saying the uk responded, saying the uk government will review its support for british nationals in the country. We reaffirmed our support to israel in its Self Defence Force against this terrorist attack perpetrated by hamas, against unarmed civilians in many instances, this is an ongoing situation and of course we will be reviewing our support to israel. And of course , british israel. And of course, british nationals in israel as the situation progresses. Situation progresses. Politics here at home and the shadow chancellor says labour is ready to rebuild britain and restore Economic Security after what she called the chaos of the tory years. Speaking at the tory years. Speaking at the Labour Party Conference in liverpool today, Rachel Reeves said labour plans to revamp the uks local Town Planning departments in order to boost the economy out of the wreckage of tory misrule. Of tory misrule. Labour will restore our economic credibility. We will economic credibility. We will lift our living standards, make work pay, rebuild our public services, invest in home grown industries, in every corner of our country , and together we our country, and together we will get britain its future back i well, also today, the government has been defending its plan to send Asylum Seekers to rwanda in the Supreme Court. Sir james eadie kc represents the home office, told the court the home office, told the court the policy is safe and is lawful despite the east african country being less attractive to migrants than the uk. Thats after the court of appeal ruled the policy was unsafe as there was a risk that rwanda could send migrants back to their country of origin. Thats the country of origin. Thats the news. This is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. This is britains news channel. Britains news channel. Nearly 80 years ago, the extermination camps were liberated by the allies and soviet forces across german occupied europe. A total of 6 million jewish people were killed. It is a stain on global killed. It is a stain on global history and nothing has ever or will ever compare to it. And shortly after this great tragedy, the state of israel was born. But saturdays terrorist attacks on israel saw more jewish people murdered in a single day than has happened since the holocaust. Hamas has massacred over 700 israelis, as many as 5000 rockets were fired into its territory. But perhaps into its territory. But perhaps most disturbingly, Hamas Terrorists broke into the country and killed countless Israeli Citizens in cold blood. But first of all, filled with young people , was ransacked and young people, was ransacked and 250 people were killed. Roughly 250 people were killed. Roughly 100 hostages have been dragged back over the border into gaza. And tragically, unbelievably , a and tragically, unbelievably, a grandmother who was a survivor of the holocaust has been taken as a hostage. But the context of as a hostage. But the context of the holocaust is crucial to understanding this conflict. The holocaust was the culmination of hundreds of years of european anti semitism. Perhaps best embodied by the fabricated text known as the protocols of the elders of zion. An early 20th century work published in imperial russia, which characterised the jewish people as the drivers of a global conspiracy. It was written amidst the backdrop of the russian pogroms and was eventually as fact in eventually taught as fact in germany. Well, hamas founding charter in 1988 endorsed sees the protocols of the elders of zion. So this is what israel is zion. So this is what israel is facing , not resistance or rebels facing, not resistance or rebels or militants , but inspired or militants, but inspired islamist terrorists whose main aim is to wipe the jewish people off the face of the earth. And off the face of the earth. And yet, in spite of these facts and in spite of these recent events, the bbc continues to refer to hamas as militants. This is shameful, and it seems to suggest that kidnapping elderly Holocaust Survivors or murdering young people at a festival in cold blood is some sort of legitimate military tactic. It is not. But its also important to remember this conflict extends far beyond the borders of israel. Hamas is an iranian puppet whose strings are being pulled to obstruct a us brokered peace deal between saudi arabia and israel. The major fissure of and israel. The major fissure of the middle east remains the saudi iranian conflict. Hence the iranians encourage hamas to launch the act of terror to scupper the saudi peace deal. It is essential to remember the importance of iran behind this conflict. Iran iran hates the west as much as it hates israel , and unfortunately, we have been funding our enemy as last month, the Biden Administration handed 6 billion to the iranians in a prisoner swap deal iranians in a prisoner swap deal. We have allowed ourselves to appear to be weak since the withdrawal from afghanistan and softness to iran has encouraged the russia iranian axis. Now we must show strength. Israel is a fundamental, important ally of britain and indeed of the broader western world. We owe it to this ally to help it to restrain irans aggression. Israel is the beacon of freedom in a democratic desert, and it currently faces an existential crisis. Now more than ever, it needs our support. And i also want to hear from you, as always. Please send me your thoughts mail. Margaret gbnews. Com. But im very grateful to be joined not only by the editor of the jewish chronicle, jake wallis simons, as well as eyal biram, the reserve captain in the idf special forces. You told me just special forces. You told me just before we went on air that five of your friends have been killed. And i think thats so tragic. But so important because when talking about terrible events like this , sometimes the numbers like this, sometimes the numbers become deeper personalising. But when youve had such a real personal experience s it must be so hard to bear and difficult. Come on television to talk about i yeah, im here today to try to give the sense and feeling because the numbers is one thing and we can look at the numbers and we can look at the numbers and imagine a war far away. But i see the faces of my friends in tv and thats the way i recognise five of my friends and ihope recognise five of my friends and i hope that i will not see more. But there is 250 people that are being murdered in this festival and i have many friends that are still there or they are right now kidnapped by hamas. I dont know. Thats the truth. And im here try to give this sense here to try to give this sense of understanding for whats happened that is, as of understanding for whats hapjmentioned, that is, as of understanding for whats hapjmentioned, thist is, as of understanding for whats hapjmentioned, this is is, as of understanding for whats hapjmentioned, this is not s, as you mentioned, this is not militants. Terror militants. This is a terror attack. And more than that, this is a pogrom like whats happened in auschwitz. Unfortunately jake in auschwitz. Unfortunately jake , how should the state of israel respond . Because its a very strong military. Its a very powerful force. This has been an extraordinarily provocative attack and continues to be with hostages being murdered. What is the right balance for the netanyahu government to get in responding . Well, i think to get a sense of the scale of whats gone on, israel is a very small population by comparison to that of the uk. Its even smaller than the population of london. So proportion it would be the equivalent of about 7500 britons being killed by terrorists. Being killed by terrorists. Thats how it feels in israel at the moment. This is a National Trauma and the real threat, of course, is not just hamas, but course, is notjust hamas, but is hezbollah off the northern border in lebanon, which has up to 150,000 missiles pointing at israel . Thats more than the arsenal of most nation states. As you mentioned in your introduction, funded and controlled to a large extent, even founded actually by the iranians. And so from israels iranians. And so from israels point of view , the thing to point of view, the thing to avoid is wider regional conflagration and in the middle east, the main language that is spoken and understood is that of power. Unfortunate lately, as weve seen and so for israel to sit back and listen to the western liberal voices of kumbaya air and open the borders and all be friends, that will lead to just more massacres and will encourage more attacks from the north. So israel does have to respond. Indeed britain would respond. And we did respond when we were under actual central threat during world war ii. Its got to be hard. Its got to be tough, its got to be within tough, but its got to be within the rules of warfare and a strong defensive strategy, closed borders and so on, has been very successful until now. So how does it get back to that situation version and what should it do about iran . Well these are huge questions. These are huge questions. I mean, the fact that gaza has been sealed off is something thatis has been sealed off is something that is criticised a lot, particularly by the left in britain and across the west. They call it an open air concentration camp because theyve sealed the borders well , imagine if the borders werent sealed. We dont have sealed. In fact, we dont have to weve has to imagine weve seen what has happened, what have happened, what would have happened, what would have happenedin happened, what would have happened in recent years. Now what does with iran is what israel does with iran is another question. You are right another question. You are right to point out that the Biden Administration has released 6 billion as part of this prisoner swap. Thats not the only pot of money that its released. Theres 10 billion that have been from escrow been released from escrow accounts theres accounts in iraq. Theres a further pot of 3 billion in japan thats under under question. And elsewhere, as well as america turning a blind to eye Oil Sanctions at the moment, not enforced them. As a result, iran is able to produce 2 Million Barrels of oil a day and sell many of them to china. So sell many of them to china. So we have been engaging particularly the american administration, engaging in a policy of, im afraid to say, appeasement, which they call de escalation. And we see the results. So what well need to results. So what well need to be done is a tough response has got to be adopted towards iran. Got to be adopted towards iran. And nobody wants to see a Nuclear Weapon arising in iran and in order to prevent that, a military strike may be necessary. If we dont get tough now. Well, what would you like to see the British Government do to help israel in this hour of need . What could we do that is practical and effective . Help because its very easy to talk, but something more than talk needs to be done in these circumstances. What i hope to have to see, and ive been training and working with british officers dunng working with british officers during my military service , is during my military service, is that the british army will send an army not to fight at the beginning, butjust an army not to fight at the beginning, but just to an army not to fight at the beginning, butjust to show an army not to fight at the beginning, but just to show the existence in israel, to show that not alone. Similar that we are not alone. Similar to the did. And i think to what the us did. And i think this is a necessary move and this is a necessary move and this way to show, as you this is a way to show, as you mentioned, both of you, this is not israel and not a war between israel and hamas this is not a war hamas and this is not a war between israel and gaza, which is small geographical is a very small geographical area. A larger war that area. This is a larger war that started a few years ago in ukraine and will continue right now middle east. And in now in the middle east. And in order to stop thats the order to stop it, thats the only to prevent it. Only way to prevent it. And thats very important, isnt russian isnt it, that the russian iranian axis key to this . Iranian axis is key to this . Russia iran are very close russia and iran are very close and in. Obviously with and tied in. Obviously with north korea as well , and that north korea as well, and that they want to destabilise the area. They want to upset the prospects of a saudi peace deal with israel and we need to be clear that its not just a narrow localised issue, it is part of a global problem. Absolutely it would not happen without it and i just want to mention another point. We do need to make a debrief and understand whats happened in israel and why the intelligence did not know about it. But more than that, what changed from the last conflict had been last ever conflict had been before last wars before that the last wars and operations gaza that right operations in gaza is that right now is not a war between now this is not a war between hamas israel. This is a war hamas and israel. This is a war between iran that decided to attack the west. And theyre the one founded it, the one one that founded it, the one that and now they that planned it. And now they want send the ammunition, the want to send the ammunition, the same had been same ammunition that had been attacked. Forces, attacked. The ukrainian forces, the and the the British Forces and the american right now in American Forces right now in ukraine, in jake. Ukraine, in jake. Are we really saying that actually donald who actually donald trump, who got iran when he pulled out of iran right when he pulled out of the deal iran , he the deal with iran, he recognised it for the dangerous state this state that it was. And this attempt to cosy up to iran is behind all of this problem because its provided the money and the resources for this attack to be launched. I think theres a lot to be said for Donald Trumps maximum pressure policy whereby he sought to squeeze iran rather than indulge it. It. And i mean, on the one hand, its true that after pulling out of the nuclear deal without a real solid plan, the iranians made progress towards made a lot of progress towards a weapon. True. And at the weapon. Thats true. And at the same time, the iranian coffers were drained. It was unable to fund militant groups overseas and terrorist groups overseas in the same way and to the same extent it had been doing before. Maximum pressure has. For so maximum pressure has a place and it should have a place in Foreign Policy in american Foreign Policy rather than when the iranians took, you know, for american hostages, than paying hostages, rather than paying them 1. 2 billion a head engage in maximum pressure, go after the people by overt and covert means who have taken those hostages and placed them under enough pressure that they wont do again. On the do it again. On the understanding that they will never to penny them. Never pay a to penny them. Thats way fonnard. And thats the only way fonnard. And i just what eyal i would just add to what eyal has saying and yourself, has been saying and yourself, that is regional that this is a regional struggle, not just actually between israel as the representative of the Democratic Free world and the forces of islamism , but also its part of islamism, but also its part of a Greater Cultural war that takes place in the west and indeed here in britain. Its been astonishing to me and sickening to me and to many in the Jewish Community and right thinking people all over britain to that many people, their to see that many people, their First Response to seeing this terror barbarism, this mediaeval pogroms, as you said , against pogroms, as you said, against jews, the like of which we havent seen for a long time, but evokes memories , is going but evokes memories, is going back centuries, even millennia , back centuries, even millennia, the response that for most people has been to take up a palestinian flag and go into the streets in support of these murders, now supporting the palestinians is not an illegitimate cause. Its a respectable cause. But supporting hamas in this way now completely is completely shameful. Shameful. Most disgusting behaviour. Most disgusting behaviour. Thank you to jake and al. Im joined now live from israel by uri dromi, a founder of the Jerusalem Press club. Uri it must be very difficult, nervous time at the moment. It is indeed the morning started for me by driving. My a 2081 year old driving. My a 2081 year old granddaughter to her military base because she was called back on the reserve. Shes a paramedic and they asked her, what are you going to do . And she said she already knows theyre going to take the wounded from the a Field Hospital into the real hospitals. According to the wounds. And then i came back here and immediately there was a barrage of rockets on our city. So i had to go to the shelter. And if this is not enough, then just an hour ago , the neighbour from the hour ago, the neighbour from the floor above us just told us that his brother was killed in his house. So so its all really every israeli is now surrounded or involved in the in the in the unfolding events. Yes. But as unfolding events. Yes. But as much as this is a tragic a event , uh, the Israeli Society is now showing its strength and people are coming together and device is pushed aside and we are there. Theres a consensus. We were attacked and we going to fight back and bring the war to the home of hamas and were going to persevere and what is the political effect of this . Because obviously israeli politics has been very complex in in recent years. Is it having any effect, people uniting behind the government or are
Ellingtonian eating habits onto your pets going vegan or vegetarian could be a way of reducing Greenhouse Gases. State reducing Greenhouse Gases. State of the nation starts now. Of the nation starts now. This evening. Historian and new this evening. Historian and new Culture Forum senior fellow Rafe Heydel Mankoo and the author and broadcaster amy nicholl turner. As always, i want to hear from you. Its a crucial part of the programme. Email me mail more at gb news dot com. But now its time the news of the day time for the news of the day with polly middlehurst. With polly middlehurst. Jacob thank you and good evening. Well, the main news tonight is that the israeli Prime Minister has been speaking within the last 15 minutes or so, addressing the nation, saying airstrikes in gaza are just the beginning. He compared hamas and the atrocities theyve committed as being on par with isis. Earlier, hamas threatened isis. Earlier, hamas threatened to kill hostages if israel continue retaliating without warning. More than 800 people have been killed in israel and 500 in gaza since the first attack on saturday. Israel today ordered a complete siege on gaza, cutting off food, power and fuel to the palestinian territory. But the un secretary general, antonio guterres, said the siege was a deeply distressing idea. Deeply distressing idea. The humanitarian situation in gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities only deteriorate exponentially. Deteriorate exponentially. Medical equipment , food, fuel medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed , along are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel relief and entry of essential supplies into gaza must be facilitate , noted, and must be facilitate, noted, and the un will continue efforts to provide aid to respond to these needs. Well, while support for the palestinian cause was being shown outside the Labour Party Conference in liverpool today, tonight, hundreds of people have gathered at a Jewish Community vigil in westminster in support of israel following sevilla politicians who spoke at the rally tonight expressed a cross Party Support for israel from the uk. Meanwhile, parts of from the uk. Meanwhile, parts of the Israeli Embassy appear to have been boarded up amid a pro palestine demonstration outside that building. Hundreds gathered this afternoon chanting israel is a terrorist state and free palestine. The foreign secretary, James Cleverly responded , saying the uk responded, saying the uk government will review its support for british nationals in the country. We reaffirmed our support to israel in its Self Defence Force against this terrorist attack perpetrated by hamas, against unarmed civilians in many instances, this is an ongoing situation and of course we will be reviewing our support to israel. And of course , british israel. And of course, british nationals in israel as the situation progresses. Situation progresses. Politics here at home and the shadow chancellor says labour is ready to rebuild britain and restore Economic Security after what she called the chaos of the tory years. Speaking at the tory years. Speaking at the Labour Party Conference in liverpool today, Rachel Reeves said labour plans to revamp the uks local Town Planning departments in order to boost the economy out of the wreckage of tory misrule. Of tory misrule. Labour will restore our economic credibility. We will economic credibility. We will lift our living standards, make work pay, rebuild our public services, invest in home grown industries, in every corner of our country , and together we our country, and together we will get britain its future back i well, also today, the government has been defending its plan to send Asylum Seekers to rwanda in the Supreme Court. Sir james eadie kc represents the home office, told the court the home office, told the court the policy is safe and is lawful despite the east african country being less attractive to migrants than the uk. Thats after the court of appeal ruled the policy was unsafe as there was a risk that rwanda could send migrants back to their country of origin. Thats the country of origin. Thats the news. This is gb news across the uk on tv in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. This is britains news channel. Britains news channel. Nearly 80 years ago, the extermination camps were liberated by the allies and soviet forces across german occupied europe. A total of 6 million jewish people were killed. It is a stain on global killed. It is a stain on global history and nothing has ever or will ever compare to it. And shortly after this great tragedy, the state of israel was born. But saturdays terrorist attacks on israel saw more jewish people murdered in a single day than has happened since the holocaust. Hamas has massacred over 700 israelis, as many as 5000 rockets were fired into its territory. But perhaps into its territory. But perhaps most disturbingly, Hamas Terrorists broke into the country and killed countless Israeli Citizens in cold blood. But first of all, filled with young people , was ransacked and young people, was ransacked and 250 people were killed. Roughly 250 people were killed. Roughly 100 hostages have been dragged back over the border into gaza. And tragically, unbelievably , a and tragically, unbelievably, a grandmother who was a survivor of the holocaust has been taken as a hostage. But the context of as a hostage. But the context of the holocaust is crucial to understanding this conflict. The holocaust was the culmination of hundreds of years of european anti semitism. Perhaps best embodied by the fabricated text known as the protocols of the elders of zion. An early 20th century work published in imperial russia, which characterised the jewish people as the drivers of a global conspiracy. It was written amidst the backdrop of the russian pogroms and was eventually as fact in eventually taught as fact in germany. Well, hamas founding charter in 1988 endorsed sees the protocols of the elders of zion. So this is what israel is zion. So this is what israel is facing , not resistance or rebels facing, not resistance or rebels or militants , but inspired or militants, but inspired islamist terrorists whose main aim is to wipe the jewish people off the face of the earth. And off the face of the earth. And yet, in spite of these facts and in spite of these recent events, the bbc continues to refer to hamas as militants. This is shameful, and it seems to suggest that kidnapping elderly Holocaust Survivors or murdering young people at a festival in cold blood is some sort of legitimate military tactic. It is not. But its also important to remember this conflict extends far beyond the borders of israel. Hamas is an iranian puppet whose strings are being pulled to obstruct a us brokered peace deal between saudi arabia and israel. The major fissure of and israel. The major fissure of the middle east remains the saudi iranian conflict. Hence the iranians encourage hamas to launch the act of terror to scupper the saudi peace deal. It is essential to remember the importance of iran behind this conflict. Iran iran hates the west as much as it hates israel , and unfortunately, we have been funding our enemy as last month, the Biden Administration handed 6 billion to the iranians in a prisoner swap deal iranians in a prisoner swap deal. We have allowed ourselves to appear to be weak since the withdrawal from afghanistan and softness to iran has encouraged the russia iranian axis. Now we must show strength. Israel is a fundamental, important ally of britain and indeed of the broader western world. We owe it to this ally to help it to restrain irans aggression. Israel is the beacon of freedom in a democratic desert, and it currently faces an existential crisis. Now more than ever, it needs our support. And i also want to hear from you, as always. Please send me your thoughts mail. Margaret gbnews. Com. But im very grateful to be joined not only by the editor of the jewish chronicle, jake wallis simons, as well as eyal biram, the reserve captain in the idf special forces. You told me just special forces. You told me just before we went on air that five of your friends have been killed. And i think thats so tragic. But so important because when talking about terrible events like this , sometimes the numbers like this, sometimes the numbers become deeper personalising. But when youve had such a real personal experience s it must be so hard to bear and difficult. Come on television to talk about i yeah, im here today to try to give the sense and feeling because the numbers is one thing and we can look at the numbers and we can look at the numbers and imagine a war far away. But i see the faces of my friends in tv and thats the way i recognise five of my friends and ihope recognise five of my friends and i hope that i will not see more. But there is 250 people that are being murdered in this festival and i have many friends that are still there or they are right now kidnapped by hamas. I dont know. Thats the truth. And im here try to give this sense here to try to give this sense of understanding for whats happened that is, as of understanding for whats hapjmentioned, that is, as of understanding for whats hapjmentioned, thist is, as of understanding for whats hapjmentioned, this is is, as of understanding for whats hapjmentioned, this is not s, as you mentioned, this is not militants. Terror militants. This is a terror attack. And more than that, this is a pogrom like whats happened in auschwitz. Unfortunately jake in auschwitz. Unfortunately jake , how should the state of israel respond . Because its a very strong military. Its a very powerful force. This has been an extraordinarily provocative attack and continues to be with hostages being murdered. What is the right balance for the netanyahu government to get in responding . Well, i think to get a sense of the scale of whats gone on, israel is a very small population by comparison to that of the uk. Its even smaller than the population of london. So proportion it would be the equivalent of about 7500 britons being killed by terrorists. Being killed by terrorists. Thats how it feels in israel at the moment. This is a National Trauma and the real threat, of course, is not just hamas, but course, is notjust hamas, but is hezbollah off the northern border in lebanon, which has up to 150,000 missiles pointing at israel . Thats more than the arsenal of most nation states. As you mentioned in your introduction, funded and controlled to a large extent, even founded actually by the iranians. And so from israels iranians. And so from israels point of view , the thing to point of view, the thing to avoid is wider regional conflagration and in the middle east, the main language that is spoken and understood is that of power. Unfortunate lately, as weve seen and so for israel to sit back and listen to the western liberal voices of kumbaya air and open the borders and all be friends, that will lead to just more massacres and will encourage more attacks from the north. So israel does have to respond. Indeed britain would respond. And we did respond when we were under actual central threat during world war ii. Its got to be hard. Its got to be tough, its got to be within tough, but its got to be within the rules of warfare and a strong defensive strategy, closed borders and so on, has been very successful until now. So how does it get back to that situation version and what should it do about iran . Well these are huge questions. These are huge questions. I mean, the fact that gaza has been sealed off is something thatis has been sealed off is something that is criticised a lot, particularly by the left in britain and across the west. They call it an open air concentration camp because theyve sealed the borders well , imagine if the borders werent sealed. We dont have sealed. In fact, we dont have to weve has to imagine weve seen what has happened, what have happened, what would have happened, what would have happenedin happened, what would have happened in recent years. Now what does with iran is what israel does with iran is another question. You are right another question. You are right to point out that the Biden Administration has released 6 billion as part of this prisoner swap. Thats not the only pot of money that its released. Theres 10 billion that have been from escrow been released from escrow accounts theres accounts in iraq. Theres a further pot of 3 billion in japan thats under under question. And elsewhere, as well as america turning a blind to eye Oil Sanctions at the moment, not enforced them. As a result, iran is able to produce 2 Million Barrels of oil a day and sell many of them to china. So sell many of them to china. So we have been engaging particularly the american administration, engaging in a policy of, im afraid to say, appeasement, which they call de escalation. And we see the results. So what well need to results. So what well need to be done is a tough response has got to be adopted towards iran. Got to be adopted towards iran. And nobody wants to see a Nuclear Weapon arising in iran and in order to prevent that, a military strike may be necessary. If we dont get tough now. Well, what would you like to see the British Government do to help israel in this hour of need . What could we do that is practical and effective . Help because its very easy to talk, but something more than talk needs to be done in these circumstances. What i hope to have to see, and ive been training and working with british officers dunng working with british officers during my military service , is during my military service, is that the british army will send an army not to fight at the beginning, butjust an army not to fight at the beginning, but just to an army not to fight at the beginning, butjust to show an army not to fight at the beginning, but just to show the existence in israel, to show that not alone. Similar that we are not alone. Similar to the did. And i think to what the us did. And i think this is a necessary move and this is a necessary move and this way to show, as you this is a way to show, as you mentioned, both of you, this is not israel and not a war between israel and hamas this is not a war hamas and this is not a war between israel and gaza, which is small geographical is a very small geographical area. A larger war that area. This is a larger war that started a few years ago in ukraine and will continue right now middle east. And in now in the middle east. And in order to stop thats the order to stop it, thats the only to prevent it. Only way to prevent it. And thats very important, isnt russian isnt it, that the russian iranian axis key to this . Iranian axis is key to this . Russia iran are very close russia and iran are very close and in. Obviously with and tied in. Obviously with north korea as well , and that north korea as well, and that they want to destabilise the area. They want to upset the prospects of a saudi peace deal with israel and we need to be clear that its not just a narrow localised issue, it is part of a global problem. Absolutely it would not happen without it and i just want to mention another point. We do need to make a debrief and understand whats happened in israel and why the intelligence did not know about it. But more than that, what changed from the last conflict had been last ever conflict had been before last wars before that the last wars and operations gaza that right operations in gaza is that right now is not a war between now this is not a war between hamas israel. This is a war hamas and israel. This is a war between iran that decided to attack the west. And theyre the one founded it, the one one that founded it, the one that and now they that planned it. And now they want send the ammunition, the want to send the ammunition, the same had been same ammunition that had been attacked. Forces, attacked. The ukrainian forces, the and the the British Forces and the american right now in American Forces right now in ukraine, in jake. Ukraine, in jake. Are we really saying that actually donald who actually donald trump, who got iran when he pulled out of iran right when he pulled out of the deal iran , he the deal with iran, he recognised it for the dangerous state this state that it was. And this attempt to cosy up to iran is behind all of this problem because its provided the money and the resources for this attack to be launched. I think theres a lot to be said for Donald Trumps maximum pressure policy whereby he sought to squeeze iran rather than indulge it. It. And i mean, on the one hand, its true that after pulling out of the nuclear deal without a real solid plan, the iranians made progress towards made a lot of progress towards a weapon. True. And at the weapon. Thats true. And at the same time, the iranian coffers were drained. It was unable to fund militant groups overseas and terrorist groups overseas in the same way and to the same extent it had been doing before. Maximum pressure has. For so maximum pressure has a place and it should have a place in Foreign Policy in american Foreign Policy rather than when the iranians took, you know, for american hostages, than paying hostages, rather than paying them 1. 2 billion a head engage in maximum pressure, go after the people by overt and covert means who have taken those hostages and placed them under enough pressure that they wont do again. On the do it again. On the understanding that they will never to penny them. Never pay a to penny them. Thats way fonnard. And thats the only way fonnard. And i just what eyal i would just add to what eyal has saying and yourself, has been saying and yourself, that is regional that this is a regional struggle, not just actually between israel as the representative of the Democratic Free world and the forces of islamism , but also its part of islamism, but also its part of a Greater Cultural war that takes place in the west and indeed here in britain. Its been astonishing to me and sickening to me and to many in the Jewish Community and right thinking people all over britain to that many people, their to see that many people, their First Response to seeing this terror barbarism, this mediaeval pogroms, as you said , against pogroms, as you said, against jews, the like of which we havent seen for a long time, but evokes memories , is going but evokes memories, is going back centuries, even millennia , back centuries, even millennia, the response that for most people has been to take up a palestinian flag and go into the streets in support of these murders, now supporting the palestinians is not an illegitimate cause. Its a respectable cause. But supporting hamas in this way now completely is completely shameful. Shameful. Most disgusting behaviour. Most disgusting behaviour. Thank you to jake and al. Im joined now live from israel by uri dromi, a founder of the Jerusalem Press club. Uri it must be very difficult, nervous time at the moment. It is indeed the morning started for me by driving. My a 2081 year old driving. My a 2081 year old granddaughter to her military base because she was called back on the reserve. Shes a paramedic and they asked her, what are you going to do . And she said she already knows theyre going to take the wounded from the a Field Hospital into the real hospitals. According to the wounds. And then i came back here and immediately there was a barrage of rockets on our city. So i had to go to the shelter. And if this is not enough, then just an hour ago , the neighbour from the hour ago, the neighbour from the floor above us just told us that his brother was killed in his house. So so its all really every israeli is now surrounded or involved in the in the in the unfolding events. Yes. But as unfolding events. Yes.
Paul coyte is here with the latest from the world of sport and some canoeing work, canoeing news, i cant say canoeing news, Rugby World Cup last night england saw off japan. It wasnt down to hands, wasnt down to feet. It was actually down to joe millers head. Actually down to joe millers head. But ill tell you more head. But ill tell you more about that. Okay, look forward to that. Okay, look forward to that. And as always, you can join in any our discussions, email in any of our discussions, email us gb gbnews. Com you us gb views. Gbnews. Com or you can at. Gb news. Well can tweet us at. Gb news. Well the top story this morning is urgent investigations are being launched by the bbc and channel 4 in the wake of allegations of Sexual Assault, including rape against Russell Brand. But concerns have also been raised over how long the broadcasters knew about the allegations. Owns knew about the allegations. Owns the comedian and actor has been accused of attacking women between 2006 and 2013. On when he was at the height of his fame, now launched their own investigation. The metropolitan police has asked victims to come forward and speak to them if they believe theyve been assaulted. No how long ago , how well no matter how long ago, how well their interviews were voiced by actors in the channel programme. You may find some of the content distressing. Content distressing. Hes grabbing at my underwear , pulling it to the side. Im telling him to get off me and he wont get off. Im like holding me up against the wall, pushing himself in me. He grabbed me and got me on the bed. I was fully clothed and he was naked. At this point i was like, oh my god, he raped me i i i was m i was crying. And he said, i was crying. And he said, oh, i only want to see your mascara run. Anyway i phoned and somebody asked what it was regarding and i said, thats regarding and i said, thats regarding Russell Brand being a sex offender. Now sex offender. Now now social media brand has denied these allegations. He said his relations ships have all been consensual. All been consensual. Well, midst this litany of astonishing , rather baroque astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations , ones that i allegations, ones that i absolutely refuse suit these allegations pertain to the time when i was working in the mainstream, when i was in the newspapers all the time when i was in the movies. And as ive written extensively in my written about extensively in my books, i was very, very promiscuous. During that promiscuous. Now, during that time the time of promiscuity, the relationships i had were absolute always consensual. Absolute, always consensual. I was always transparent about that. Almost too that. Then almost too transparent. Im being transparent. And im being transparent. And im being transparent about it now as well. Well lets speak to the host of protect and serve podcast and former Police Officer oliver lawrence, who joins us in the studio. I mean, you only have to look at the front of the newspapers. This and once again, he this morning. And once again, he is splashed over them, is splashed all over them, i suppose whats different in this particular sex particular kind of celebrity sex scandal as he says, scandal is that, as he says, there he was well known to be a lothario. He was well to lothario. He was well known to have a a drink a have a sex, a drink problem, a drug problem. This may not come drug problem. This may not come as a huge surprise, but nevertheless, theres too many people coming out with the same story. Now, isnt there . Now, isnt there . There is very much so. And i think as we see the metropolitan police have asked for victims to come can be come forward so this can be investigated and investigated robustly and allegations looked allegations can be looked in, because moment, these because at the moment, these are allegations he allegations is so obviously, he has an entitlement to a presumption of innocence at this moment in time. Obviously, moment in time. But obviously, its for now, its important for victims now, hopefully, empowered hopefully, to feel empowered that have come that other women have come forward, come forward, that they may also come forward, that they may also come forward similar forward and report maybe similar or like stories. But as say, or like stories. But as you say, the front papers dont the front page papers dont paint a very good picture this morning for sure. Paint a very good picture this mo um, for sure. Paint a very good picture this mo um, and sure. Paint a very good picture this mo um, and are. Likely to see um, and are we likely to see an in the coming days . An arrest in the coming days . Why do you think this will play out . I think were quite away from that i think that at the moment. I think theres areas here, victims theres two areas here, victims may actually come forward to may not actually come forward to police. Two things here. Police. Theres two things here. Theres justice and theres criminal justice and then justice then theres social justice victims at moment will feel victims at the moment will feel empowered. Control of victims at the moment will feel em|situation. Control of victims at the moment will feel em|situation. This control of victims at the moment will feel em|situation. This is control of victims at the moment will feel em|situation. This is partntrol of victims at the moment will feel em|situation. This is part ofol of the situation. This is part of the situation. This is part of the healing process for them coming weve got coming forward. Weve got to remember our criminal remember that our criminal justice a very poor Justice System has a very poor reputation convicting reputation in convicting people of this type. So of allegations of this type. So they may see that this is what theyre pursuing. Is this social justice, recognition theyre pursuing. Is this social justithis recognition theyre pursuing. Is this social justithis pointcognition theyre pursuing. Is this social justithis point of|nition theyre pursuing. Is this social justithis point of being this this point of being listened public about listened to by the public about allegations which theyve been silent for a very long time. Some of the allegations relate to incidents happening in another here in the relate to incidents happening in anotwhat here in the relate to incidents happening in anotwhat happens here in the relate to incidents happening in anotwhat happens in1ere in the relate to incidents happening in anotwhat happens in ine in the relate to incidents happening in anotwhat happens in in thatthe uk. What happens in in that case, are there sort of rules around statute of limitations or any of that impact on on this particular person . Yeah, no limitation of time with this. And i think most important thing is obviously the metropolitan if they are metropolitan police, if they are the Police Service which takes this work this forward, can work for organisations united organisations in the United States allegations to states where allegations seem to be from can can be coming out from and can can collate statements , collate witness statements, victim statements, various different parts of the investigation any investigation and support any investigations which happen outside the country. So can very much in that full, much support in that full, complex environment. I what we know i suppose what we know historically , whether somebody historically, whether somebody is celebrity not, is that is a celebrity or not, is that actually allegation of actually from an allegation of rape or whatever it might be to conviction is very, very low conviction is a very, very low rate. And thats often for rate. And thats often for a number of reasons, victims often rate. And thats often for a nunwantingeasons, victims often rate. And thats often for a nunwanting to ;ons, victims often rate. And thats often for a nunwanting to go ;, victims often rate. And thats often for a nunwanting to go through; often rate. And thats often for a nunwanting to go through the en not wanting to go through the whole of a trial. And whole process of a trial. And i suppose, you know, you can look at the whole Cross Section of other big names that have been in kind of sex scandals. In similar kind of sex scandals. And cases have all been and those cases have all been dropped. There a big dropped. So there is a big question be asked about question to be asked about whether or people be whether or not people should be so publicly have these so publicly named. Have these trials media before the trials as by media before the evidence presented a Court Evidence is presented in a court of law. And just to go through those big names, were talking about paul Cliff Richard, paul gambaccini, Cliff Richard, kevin , john leslie and kevin spacey, john leslie and Harvey Proctor, who will be speaking to later in the programme this morning without doubt, one of the greatest challenges this generation is challenges in this generation is social and the 24 hour social media and the 24 hour news media cycle terms of news media cycle in terms of facing allegation allegations like and being to like this and being able to respond in of what respond to them in terms of what we say now is around the world very, very quickly. As youve pointed out, and as as youve pointed out, there been number of there have been a number of individuals profile who individuals of high profile who have of very have been accused of very serious equally have been accused of very seriouhave equally have been accused of very seriouhave gone equally have been accused of very seriou have gone through ally have been accused of very seriou have gone through the those have gone through the court havent reached court or havent even reached court or havent even reached court because theyre quite complex. The elements are significant and sometimes victims ability victims dont have the ability or through that or they fear going through that entire so it is entire process. So it is important that people are entitled that presumption of entitled to that presumption of innocence things to innocence before things go to court and they are found guilty through our judicial system, which important. Which is critically important. People are critical a lot of people are critical about Investigative Journalism in and what role in all of this and what role does Investigative Journalism have to play . Channel 4 cleared the schedule on saturday Night Entertainment night for a 90 minute docu commentary. For instance , before the sunday instance, before the sunday times and every other newspaper in the land printed headlines on the sunday. The media has a very important part to play in this, not only in communicating and empowering victims to have that control and power over particular matters , but to be particular matters, but to be able to get these stories out, which in the publics which are in the publics interest. Important get interest. It is important to get these to be able to these stories out, to be able to demonstrate what is going on, because broader issues because there are broader issues here is aware of here in terms of who is aware of these going on. Is there these issues going on. Is there allegations against broadcasters where were working . Where people were working . There are here to be are broad subjects here to be covered, i think its really covered, and i think its really important these do important that these stories do get that we can have get out so that we can have these discussions can these discussions and we can look into them with greater detail now. Its worth always hm well, its worth always reiterating course, reiterating that, of course, russell does these Russell Brand does deny these allegations. At moment allegations. And at the moment the bbc indeed channel 4 and the bbc and indeed channel 4 and a number of other newspapers and organisations all doing their own investigations at this time, including i should say, the metropolitan police. Metropolitan police. Lawrence, thank you oliver lawrence, thank you very indeed, sir. Keir very much indeed, sir. Keir starmer has said he will attempt a major rewrite of our brexit dealif a major rewrite of our brexit deal if labour wins power in the next election. Speaking to the financial times, the labour leader said that he would put closer relationships with brussels at the heart of his plans for government. Well, lets go to gb news Political Correspondent olivia utley. So correspondent olivia utley. So doesit correspondent olivia utley. So does it really matter what keir starmer wants . What does Europe Starmer wants . What does europe want . Well , i want . Well, i think thats a very, very important question. Its not a huge surprise that keir starmer has come out and said that he wants to renegotiate britains relationship with the eu. We know that as soon as britain voted for brexit, keir starmer essentially wanted to rejoin fronted a big rejoin the eu and fronted a big campaign arguing forthat. Campaign in arguing for that. Hes obviously backtracked from that since he now says that he wouldnt want rejoin the wouldnt want to rejoin the customs wouldnt Customs Union, he wouldnt want to Single Market, but to rejoin the Single Market, but he would want to renegotiate the deal Boris Johnson struck deal that Boris Johnson struck in 2021. Well thats all very well, but brussels interested well, but is brussels interested in renegotiation . It is true that Boris Johnsons brexit deal comes up for review , as they comes up for review, as they call it, in 2025, but as far as the eu concerned is concerned , the eu concerned is concerned, thats just a matter of sort of ironing things out. Whether they would prepared the would be to prepared open the negotiation again when of negotiation up again when of course in 2021, when the negotiation was being made. Eu businesses across the whole of the states had a lot of the 27 states had a lot of uncertainty. Be waiting to find out what that deal would be. Would they prepared to would they be prepared to go through that in through all of that again in order for starmer to get a new deal . At all. Deal . Its not clear at all. And i suppose its interesting that he feels bold enough to sort of tie his colours to the mast or pin his colours to the mast or pin his colours to the mast or pin his colours to the mast as were, colours to the mast as it were, because of because he will have lots of people conservative at people who voted conservative at the election the last election for traditional voters, but traditional labour voters, but they voted specifically on a brexit he now saying brexit issue. Is he now saying that thinks a lot of people that he thinks a lot of people think that brexit isnt working and has been a failure . Well i think essentially what and has been a failure . Well i thinisaying essentially what and has been a failure . Well i thinisaying andentially what and has been a failure . Well i thinisaying andertiesy what and has been a failure . Well i thinisaying anderties into at hes saying and it ties into what he saying last week, what he was saying last week, last he was saying that he last week he was saying that he wanted have a new migrant wanted to have a new migrant deal with the eu whereby britain would in a quota would take in a quota of migrants from eu, which migrants from the eu, which would essentially signing up would essentially be signing up wholesale eus deal on immigration. So it is a clear sign that that he seems to think that the electorate believes that electorate now believes that brexit was mistake. Is he brexit was a mistake. Is he right about that . I mean, presumably he the people around him have been doing lots and lots focus groups, and lots of focus groups, lots and lots of focus groups, lots and lots of focus groups, lots and lots of polling, etcetera. But i wonder if thats going to play well country. The well in the country. The conservatives will be conservatives certainly will be quite it. Quite gleeful about it. Its a good question. Again, its a good question. Olivia to put that to olivia wed like to put that to our viewers and listeners today. Youre ready for. Do you think youre ready for a change in the brexit rules . Gbp views a gbnews. Com let us know throughout the programme this morning and we will reflect those. Those. And just lastly, olivia, you know , are we seeing the sort of know, are we seeing the sort of head of steam being built up by sir keir starmer . Hes been on a sort of global stage the last few he seems to be doing few days. He seems to be doing sunday newspaper exclusive. Last weekend tim shipman weekend it was tim shipman in the times. Today, down the times. Today, big sit down with and obviously weve with the ft and obviously weve got the labour conference coming up. Making up. But i mean, hes making headunes up. But i mean, hes making headlines never before. It headlines like never before. It could be argued. Certainly absolutely. Hes certainly trying himself as a trying to portray himself as a prime in waiting. And Prime Minister in waiting. And it be working. It really seems to be working. Hes this meeting hes had this meeting in montreal with leaning montreal with with left leaning Party Leaders from around the world. Hes meeting Emmanuel Macron next week, which is pretty astonishing, really, given that macron only ever meets with people from his own centrist family. As he puts it, opposition leaders from his own centrist family. Making centrist family. So hes making headway the international headway on the international stage. You say, back stage. And as you say, back home, conference is home, labour conference is getting attention than it getting more attention than it ever before. It really feels ever has before. It really feels as though were gearing up to a general and it feels general election, and it feels as people at home as though people both at home and rightly or wrongly, and abroad, rightly or wrongly, think they know the result think that they know the result of election. Of that general election. An believe that he to an i believe that he wrote to president requesting this president macron requesting this this its not as if this visit. So its not as if macron had gone, oh, lets have a chat. But certainly, you know, as they were in europe as you say, they were in europe last he and shadow last week. He and his shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper meeting europol definitely trying know, improve trying to you know, improve relations the eu. Do you relations with the eu. Do you think that they will warm to sir keir starmer, given that hes gone these efforts of writing gone to these efforts of writing to macron, visiting them, sort of you know, dont know, of you know, i dont know, bringing them or sitting at the table with them again, in a way that happened a while that hasnt happened for a while for britain. That hasnt happened for a while for britai|i think that, yes, its well, i think that, yes, its quite possible that they do warm well, i think that, yes, its qu him ossible that they do warm well, i think that, yes, its qu him a. Sible that they do warm well, i think that, yes, its qu him a little that they do warm well, i think that, yes, its quhim a little bit, they do warm well, i think that, yes, its quhim a little bit, buty do warm well, i think that, yes, its quhim a little bit, but that warm to him a little bit, but that said, they have warmed to rishi sunak. Britains sunak. But britains relationship at relationship with france was at an low under boris an all time low under Boris Johnson, who said he couldnt. I cant the exact cant remember the exact wording, that he wording, but it implied that he didnt whether france was a didnt know whether france was a friend or a
Production company bannau uk have launched internal investigations against comedian Russell Brand for women have accused the 48 year old of rape and Sexual Assaults during the height of his popularity between 2006 and 2013. Russell brand denies all the allegations and says all of his relationships have been consent, while investigative journalist Mark Williams thomas says more people could come forward. Could come forward. Ive already had one person whos contacted me talk to me about brand. There will be about brand. There will be numerous other people who are contacting either the authority parties or other individuals. Contacting either the authority parties or other individuals. So parties or other individuals. So Russell Brand himself has been very clearly saying that there are things that have happened in the past. He puts it down to a promiscuous relationship that hes had. You know, there is obviously an issue where consent is the question. Is the question. The former Prime Minister, liz truss , has urged the liz truss, has urged the government to cut taxes , shrink government to cut taxes, shrink welfare spending and raise the retirement age. Speaking at the institute for government online event, liz truss has defended decisions made in her mini budget. Ms truss argued its unfair to say that she had had she pursued unfunded tax cuts. She says the government needs to act now before its too late. Late. Situation was urgent last yeah situation was urgent last year. Its even more urgent now. The uk is in a serious and precarious position and there is a real risk of a downward spiral. The National Debt was 525 billion in 2005. By 2022, it had quadrupled. To 2. 5 it had quadrupled. To 2. 5 trillion and its set to top 3 trillion and its set to top 3 trillion within 3 to 4 years as the labour leader says he would seek a much closer trading relationship with the eu if his party wins the next election. Sir keir starmer dismissed suggestions labour planned to join an eu wide migrant quota scheme to tackle migrant crossings. Sir keir has spent the weekend meeting canadas Prime Minister and is expected to meet the french president later this week. Conservatives say labour would accept 100,000 migrants from the eu each year if elected to power. A migrants from the eu each year if elected to power. A man has been charged with trespassing following an incident near Buckingham Palace. Awhad ravioli was arrested after climbing a wall and entering the royal mews area near the palace on saturday. The 25 year old has also been charged with attempted theft from a Motor Vehicle dunng theft from a Motor Vehicle during the same incident. He is appearing at Westminster Magistrates Court today. Magistrates court today. Conservative mp miriam cates has spoken exclusively to gb news about her belief that britains tax system is putting people off. Having children. She says off. Having children. She says shell keep on pushing for more flexibility and options for families. Families. As our country is really an outlier in the way we treat families. And one of the one of the reasons is our the reasons for that is our taxation system. So we dont recognise households taxation system. So we dont recogntaxation households taxation system. So we dont recogntaxation system ouseholds taxation system. So we dont recogntaxation system. Useholds taxation system. So we dont recogntaxation system. So holds taxation system. So we dont recogntaxation system. So itsis in the taxation system. So its actually disadvantageous to have children. And i asked whether theyd redistributing theyd look at redistributing this money so that it was much more flexible. Each family more flexible. So each family could budget, decide how could have a budget, decide how they that money, they want to spend that money, pay they want to spend that money, pay spend more at pay granny, spend more time at home, but have more home, go to work, but have more flexible childcare. But theyre not in that policy at not interested in that policy at the and said, the moment. And as i said, i think this this policy is fairly fixed for this parliament. Welcome pensions minister laura trott says the government cares about families, the priority is families, but the priority is cutting inflation. I spoke earlier about how that was a total focus for everybody in government at the moment and that is the biggest tax any family can get tax cut that any family can get right addition to right now. Now in addition to this , you would have seen this, you would have seen earlier year, done earlier this year, weve done a lot on childcare reform. So trying to make sure is trying to make sure that it is easier out work if easier to go out to work if thats what you want to do. So those are the kind of two things that the government is focussed on at the moment, but respect on at the moment, but i respect that. Is going to be that. Miriam is going to be pushing, you know, further things wants to do. Things that she wants us to do. Leaders say strikes by nhs leaders say strikes by junior consultants Junior Doctors and consultants this week will cause unprecedented disruption for patients. Consult rights in england will walk out for 48 hours from tomorrow with Junior Doctors joining them on wednesday and picketing until friday. The row between the unions and the government is over and working conditions. Over pay and working conditions. Emergency care will continue, but thousands of appointments will be postponed. Many doctors will be postponed. Many doctors are under pressure to address a surge in self harm related deaths in prisons. There have been ten self inflicted deaths in hmp wormwood scrubs between 2018 and 2022. Andy slaughter, the labour mp for hammersmith, believes investigations into prisoners deaths at the west london prison are taking far too long. But the government says its increased staff training on self harm prevention and is working with the nhs to improve Mental Health care. Torrential Mental Health care. Torrential downpours and strong winds caused flash flooding on part of southwest england overnight. Southwest england overnight. Exeter airport was forced to close yesterday after water from flash flooding poured into the terminal, causing severe delays. An airport spokesperson says they have reopened after crews worked through the night to clean up the damage. The Environment Agency has issued several fresh warnings with flooding expected after midnight as hurricane lee travels across the pond from america. This is the pond from america. This is gb news across the uk on tv, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now back to martin and. Pip now back to martin and. Pip in insulting and laughable. That is how one of Russell Brands accusers has described the comedians response to the Sexual Assault and rape allegations against him. As more women have reportedly come forward with accusations of Sexual Offences dating back as far as 2006. Meanwhile , the chair of the meanwhile, the chair of the women and Equalities Committee , women and Equalities Committee, Caroline Nokes, has said that a criminal investigation should be launched into the allegations on channel 4, where brand worked as a presenter and has announced it has launched its own internal investigation. Now, it must be said that Russell Brand strenuously denies all allegations against him. Well, we will speak to Caroline Nokes in just a moment. But first, lets speak to gb news home and security editor mark white. Mark so this is moving quickly. Calls for a moving quickly. Calls for a criminal investigation. Now, any criminal investigation. Now, any news on that or at the moment, is this just the kind of investigation with the bbc and channel 4 into their own affairs 7. 7 . Well, 7 well, its 7 well, its certainly internal investigation means that both those media broadcasters are under taking as a matter of urgency. As far as a criminal urgency. As far as a criminal investigation on it may be heading in that direction , but heading in that direction, but as of yet , the metropolitan as of yet, the metropolitan police says it has received no criminal complaints to assess with a view to launching a criminal investigation. It has had a conversation with with staff journalists at the sunday times and it plans to reach out again to the sunday times and channel 4 to discuss further the evidence and the allegations that theyve gathered. Likewise as the Los Angeles Police department has said, that it has not received any complaints from any member of the public with regard to Russell Brand. Youll regard to Russell Brand. Youll remember that in that Dispatches Programme on channel 4, where it was alleged that two of the alleged offence took place, while Russell Brand was over living and working in la. As for Russell Brand at the moment, well , hes nowhere to be seen. Well, hes nowhere to be seen. All weve heard from him really is that very strenuous denial of the allegations that have been made against him in that social media post on his Youtube Channel saying that he believes that this is just a Mainstream Media conspiracy. One of his alleged victims , a woman now alleged victims, a woman now called alice, not her real name, has been interviewed on radio four today on womans hour. She said she described the claim by Russell Brand that the allegations are part of a mainstream meme media conspiracy as laughable and insulting. Now, as laughable and insulting. Now, she claims that she entered into a three month relation ship with Russell Brand when she was just 16. She said she felt used cheap, dirtied by that episode. Cheap, dirtied by that episode. And she also said, and this is questioned, i think that the bbc will want to get answers to as a matter of urgency that she was effectively as a 16 year old girl, picked up from school and dropped. Russell brand home address in a bbc hired limousine. That at least is her allegation. So no doubt bbc managers as part of their ongoing investigation, will want to determine if that aspect of whats being alleged is indeed true. Mark, we are understanding, though, that a number of Companies Say they are severing ties with Russell Brand, even though there is no formal Police Investigation yet. But the talent agency, tavistock would terminates all ties with him. Terminates all ties with him. The book publisher bluebird said its pausing all future projects with him. Yes yes. With him. Yes yes. We see this so often in these high profile media scandals where lots of allegations might be made against an individual is not being proven in a court of law as yet. It may never even end up there. But just because big corporations in particular are always very concerned , are always very concerned, learned about the potential for Rapid National damage, you will see that they often then decide science themselves from someone. They may have had a relationship with for a very long time. And youre right, long time. And youre right, bluebird, the publisher, the latest to come forward and say that they are pausing their relationship with Russell Brand for the foreseeable he was due , for the foreseeable he was due, we understand, to publish a new bookin we understand, to publish a new book in december of this year that clearly will not now be happening. Happening. Okay. Mark white, Home Security editor, thank you very much for that. We can now speak to the chair of the women and Equalities Committee, Caroline Nokes. Mp. Thank you so much for nokes. Mp. Thank you so much for joining us on gb news this afternoon. Caroline, where do you stand with this at the moment. 7 the met police hasnt moment . The met police hasnt yet launched a formal investigation, but we know the investigations by the sunday times channel 4 lasted several years. As do you think the met years. As do you think the met police should be moving faster on this . On this . Well, i think the met police need to receive a formal complaint from one of the victims, and that is clearly challenging because victims are quite understandably afraid to come forward. Theyre anxious about the response that there will be to these allegations. Will be to these allegations. And in all too many cases , we and in all too many cases, we see victim blaming and shaming. So im not surprised that the victims are anxious about that. Victims are anxious about that. I would encourage them to come forward. I think what we need to forward. I think what we need to have is a proper formal criminal investigation. These are very, very serious allegations. And it should be happening not just here in london, but also in los angeles , where some of the angeles, where some of the allegations stem from. Allegations stem from. Next question, caroline. Im next question, caroline. Im pushing for a criminal investigation is a logical next step. But do you think that step. But do you think that Russell Brand would get a fair trial now . Theres been this trial now . Theres been this trial now . Theres been this trial by media. How important is that in this next stage of investigation, would you say . Investigation, would you say . Well, yes, i do. And i believe that our judicial system is fair. And there are good reasons why you were tried by 12 of your peers. And so its very of your peers. And so its very obvious that there should be a formal criminal investigation. If a complaint that is brought forward and then that will be down to the cps to decide whether they charge him or indeed, in any case like this, the ultimate decision lies with the ultimate decision lies with the cps. But of course, i have confidence in our judicial system. Its stood the test of time for many centuries. Is there not a risk, though , is there not a risk, though, that because of the media coverage, the social media coverage, the social media coverage, which we know has been so extensive over the weekend , so extensive over the weekend, is there not a risk that if he does end up being prosecuted in a crown court, how is a jury not going to have not seen all that that all that coverage over the last few days . How could they remain impartial while here . Well, every day in courts of law up and down the country, we ask jurors to remain impartial. Im not sure that any of us would suggest that celebrity should act as a cloak of protection for any perpetrate hater in any circumstances. And jurors and i know myself having done jury service very recently, are very carefully in formed and instructed on how they must view evidence, how they must view evidence, how they must view evidence, how they must disregard what they may well have seen on social media or in the press. But i think it is important that we focus on a the nature of the allegations. Allegations. Theyre very serious, but b, there has as yet been no formal complaint to the police. It would take courage for those victims to come forward to the police. I very much hope the police. But i very much hope that they will do so and that they be supported through they can be supported through that whether by they can be supported through th was whether by they can be supported through th was the whether by they can be supported through th was the independent by they can be supported through th was the independent sexual is was the independent Sexual Violence advisors who can support people in these instances. But its crucially important that we uphold the rule of law , the qualities of rule of law, the qualities of justice that we hold so dear, and that we dont let celebs cities, because they may be influential or powerful, get away with things that the member of the general public wouldnt know that wasnt actually the point i was making. What im saying is, if it is a celebrity and its been in the newspapers everywhere, then how is not to have seen is a jury not going to have seen it . Theres plenty it . You know, theres plenty of jurors that during criminal jurors that sit during criminal cases wont ever cases and they wont have ever heard or seen the defendant even heard or seen the defendant ever, from in that ever, apart from in that courtroom. Well as i said, the courtroom. Well as i said, the advice given to jurors in a court and indeed before trial proceedings start is very clear. And i think we must not suggest that our processes should be undermined just because theres been media reporting and social. Media okay. Caroline nokes, chair of the women and Equalities Committee, thanks very much for talking to us this afternoon. Yeah, we have a couple of statements to read out. The bbc spokesman said Russell Brand works for a number of different organisations , which the bbc was organisations, which the bbc was one. Is well known , russell one. As is well known, Russell Brand left bbc after brand left the bbc after a serious editorial breach in 2008, as did the then controller of bbc radio two and said the circumstances of the breach were reviewed in detail at the time. We hope that that that demonstrates that the bbc takes issues seriously and is prepared to act. Indeed, the bbc has over successive years evolved its approach to how it manages talent and how it deals with complaints or issues raised. We have clear expectations around conduct at work. These are set out in employment contracts. The bbc values the bbc code of conduct and the anti bullying and harassment policy. We will always listen to people if they come forward with any concerns on any issue related to any individual working at the bbc. Past or present. Past or present. A channel 4 spokesman said. Channel 4 is appalled to learn of these deeply troubling allegations , including behaviour allegations, including behaviour alleged to have taken place on programmes made for channel 4 between 2004 and two thousand and seven. We are determined to understand the full nature of what went on. Weve carried out extensive document searches and have found no evidence to suggest the alleged incidents were brought to attention of were brought to the attention of channel will continue to channel 4. We will continue to review this in light of any further information we receive, including the accounts of those affected individuals. Well be affected individuals. Well be asking Production Company asking the Production Company who produced programmes for who produced the programmes for channel 4 to investigate these allegations and report their findings and findings properly and satisfactorily to us. As and its worth pointing out again that Russell Brand has denied all of these allegations. And his agent, his ex agent has contacted , and thats has been contacted, and thats john said hed never john noel, who said hed never received any complaints about russell other than Russell Brand either other than him late. At the him turning up late. So at the moment, this is very much a court of public opinion. Theres court of public opinion. Theres no legal investigation yet, although quite clearly people like Caroline Nokes would like to see that happen. Yeah , i mean, it does all pip yeah, i mean, it does all come down to due process and there is so much circulating on social media. And look, i have no idea whether he is guilty or not, but what i do believe in is due process and the court of law. Yeah. And hes been very open in the past about his his addictions to sex, to drugs, to alcohol. And hes taken account alcohol. And hes taken account of some of his bad behaviour. In fact, i used to know russell, he used knock around when i was used to knock around when i was editing loaded magazine. He used to into our parties and to come into our parties and lets was magnetic lets just say he was a magnetic personality took time at personality who took no time at all to work a room. And he was, you know, around women. He was very popular around women, as you probably imagine the you can probably imagine at the time.