Armstrong here in the newsroom. Armstrong here in the newsroom. A 14 Year Old Girl and a coach driver have died after a school bus overturned on the m 53 on the wirral this morning. Pupils were on their way to college. Grange Grammar School in west kirby Grammar School. The bus was carrying 54 people when it collided with a car and struck a central reservation between huyton bebington. Ten huyton and bebington. Ten children were taken to hospital , with injuries. , two with serious injuries. Parts of the motonnay remain closed. Mark thomas, area closed. Mark thomas, area manager of merseyside fire and rescue service, says investigations are undennay by firefighters worked with Emergency Services colleagues at scene to stabilise the vehicle. Scene to stabilise the vehicle. We ensured the student was safe and we assisted casualties. Exiting the bus , working jointly exiting the bus, working jointly with our police and ambulance colleagues. Shortly after we were able to assist the casualties onto a second coach to receive care for away from the scene. Our operations are the scene. Our operations are currently scaling down and currently scaling down and currently we stay at the scene in attendance to preserve the scene with merseyside police. Scene with merseyside police. University hospitals. Birmingham has been named as the trust where 19 year old died after a legal battle with the nhs. Tara pteromalus wanted to nhs. Tara pteromalus wanted to travel to north america for a potential Clinical Trial to treat a rare mitochondrial disorder. The trust disagreed with the teenagers family about what was in her best interests. The 19 year old died on the 12th of september. The University BirminghamHospitals Trust says the illness was incurable, and siddiqa didnt understand her condition. Theyve offered condition. Theyve offered heartfelt condolences to her family. A 17 heartfelt condolences to her family. A17 year old boy family. A 17 year old boy charged with the murder of a 15 Year Old Girl has been remanded in custody after appearing in court. Elianne andam was stabbed to death in croydon on wednesday while she her way to while she was on her way to school. Teenager , who cant school. The teenager, who cant be for legal reasons, has be named for legal reasons, has also been charged with possessing a knife. The chancellor says the economy has recovered from the pandemic faster than expected after it grew by 0. 3 in the First Quarter of this year. The office for National Statistics initially expected to rise by 0. 1. The government says it will stick to its plan of halving inflation this year. A teenage boy has been arrested in connection with the cutting down of one of the uks most photographed trees while hes been released now on bail, the tree at sycamore gap next to hadrians wall, close to northumberland , featured in the northumberland, featured in the 1991 film robin hood, prince of thieves, the National Trust says it was shocked and saddened to see the iconic tree felled and. Torrential downpours have caused flash flooding in new york city. Disrupt ing transport services. Disrupt ing transport services. A state of emergency has been declared thereafter for some three inches of water fell overnight and up to seven more are expected in some areas. Cars are expected in some areas. Cars have been submerged. Major roads and subways disrupted. Around 18 and subways disrupted. Around 18 Million People in the city are under a weather warning. And the governor of new york, kathy hochul governor of new york, kathy hochul, has described it as dangerous and life threatening. Dangerous and life threatening. Dame priti patel is calling for a tax cut for hard pressed brits around the country in an exclusive interview with gb news Political Editor chris hope. The former home secretary says the government should cut public spending to ease the tax burden. Her comments add pressure on the minister and the the Prime Minister and the chancellor ahead of the conservative conference in conservative Party Conference in manchester, which gets undennay on sunday. The tax burden is now at a 70 year high that is unsustainable , winnable and the people that pay , winnable and the people that pay the taxes are hard pressed. Pay the taxes are hard pressed. Brits around the country. As brits around the country. As conservatives, we believe in lower taxes. As conservatives , lower taxes. As conservatives, we believe being on the side of hard working households and families as conservatives, we believe in hope and aspiration. Believe in hope and aspiration. So what does that look like now . That should mean lower taxes. The burden of tax has to start to down, reduce the size of to come down, reduce the size of the state ensure that people the state and ensure that people keep of their income. Keep more of their income. The labour leader, sir keir starmer, meanwhile, speaking in glasgow earlier, says the government dont have the capacity to fix the economy. I think theres a driving reason weve got the highest reason why weve got the highest taxes pretty well on record and thats because of the dismal failure of this government on growth and having failed on growing our economy. They have chosen to put up tax over and over again on working people. And now that is the burden that they are carrying because the governments failure. There is a different choice , which is to different choice, which is to have a mission to grow the economy right across the United Kingdom. Thats the mission the labour party has put out and thats the choice that we would make. And some breaking news to bnng and some breaking news to bring you from the United States. A man has reportedly been arrested murder of been arrested over the murder of the tupac shakur. Been arrested over the murder of the tupac shakur. Tupac, the rapper tupac shakur. Tupac, the rapper tupac shakur. Tupac, the 25 year old, was killed in a drive by shooting in las vegas. 27 years ago. Dwayne cepheidae davis was detained earlier today and indicted with the exact charges is expected later. Davis has long been known to investigators and has previously admitted that he was in the cadillac when the shots were fired. On rail. Passengers are fired. On rail. Passengers are likely to face serious disruption over the next couple of days as train drivers begin more industrial action. Aslef members began a ban on overtime today. Thats ahead of a strike at 16 Rail Companies tomorrow. The union says the walkout will force operators to cancel all services. Aslefs general services. Aslefs general secretary mick whelan is arguing that members havent had a pay rise for four years. The government and the Rail Delivery Group say there is a fair and reasonable offer on the table. Reasonable offer on the table. Just say play gb news to get us on your smart speaker. Were on tv and Digital Radio as well. Now its over to. Michelle now its over to. Michelle hello there. Im michelle hello there. Im michelle jubin. Im keeping you company till 7 00 tonight alongside me , till 7 00 tonight alongside me, a new face to dewbs co boats, not new to the channel. You recognise this fella . Richard tice, the leader of the reform uk party. Welcome. Great to be here. Fantastic to be on your show. Michel, youve not filled this chair before, have you . I havent, no, not on the right. Its strange. Im normally on the right. Yeah youre not. Well, there you go. You yeah, well, there you go. You are welcome tonight. Also are very welcome tonight. Also my friday, our regular cat. Get rid can we . I think its rid of him. Can we . I think its a beer. A free beer. Wouldnt want to get rid you wouldnt want to get rid of me friday. No, we wouldnt. Wouldnt no, we wouldnt. We wouldnt be would i debate be back. Who would i debate facial with on friday if facial hair with on a friday if we get rid of you . We were to get rid of you . Everyone else is clean shaven around here, think, arent they . And in your viewers, yeah. And in your viewers, you wont know im talking about. Dont worry. Its a long running story, a long running debate, the biggest debate we ever friday ever have on a friday about whether which is looking whether or not which is looking so confused that dont worry, dont wont on dont worry, we wont start on facial hair richard. Well facial hair with richard. Well give a or to ease in give him a week or so to ease in anyway, we you know the drill on dewbs. Uk not just about dewbs co. Uk is not just about us here. Its very much us three here. Its very much about you guys at home. What is on your mind tonight . Vaiews gbnews. Com. Can vaiews gbnews. Com. Or you can tweet news. Lots of you tweet me at gb news. Lots of you are getting in touch already. Graham. Enjoyed graham. You enjoyed our conversation on Good Morning Britain you. Britain this morning. Thank you. You early as was you were up as early as i was then. I havent had a sleep, so hopefully ill still be able to string sentence together given string a sentence together given it 6 00 now on the evening, it is 6 00 now on the evening, not 6 00 in the morning when i think started. Anyway, any new think i started. Anyway, any new viewers very viewers youre very, very Welcome Program tonight. Welcome to the program tonight. I thought, you know for what once, were going to kick off with some optimism, some good news. Can you believe it is all doom and gloom in the news, isnt it . But get this, britains Economic Performance apparently since the start of the covid 19 pandemic, has been much than previously much stronger than previously anticipated. No more doom and anticipated. No more doom and gloom, everybody, because weve apparently got faster growth than france. This is than germany or france. This is all about revisions to the ons data that are being released today. Just to be clear , the today. Just to be clear, the estimates was originally that we was going to have shrunk apparently 0. 2. Now apparently gdp is estimated to be 1. 8 larger. Yes are you excited and happy . Well as a brexiteer, michel, obviously its good news to show that actually leaving the European Union at the end of 2019, beginning of 2020, actually , were doing were actually, were doing were doing better than germany. Were doing better than france. Thats encouraging. Im slightly troubled how the ons thatis slightly troubled how the ons that is obviously a significant statutory body can get things so significantly wrong. Thats probably for a whole separate debate. But amongst your optimism, i caution on our competitors like the United States in that same period, yes, we did 1. 8 growth rate. The us did 6. 1. Are you going to rain on my times . Well, im just going to bring a little reality as brexiteers, michel, we could be doing so much better if the government did what we should be doing. Did brexit properly , we doing. Did brexit properly, we cut taxes, cut wasteful Government Spending, cut daft eu regulations and put the foot flat on the accelerator of growth . Michel then wed be competing with the us. Wed be even more excited. I remember a particular tory Prime Minister and were very short lived one and it was all her mantra growth, growth, growth. Ill tell you who is happy tonight. Jeremy hunt. He is pleased about the news he was tweeting about. I think i could just bring that up on the screen for you. The ons today have confirmed british confirmed the british economy recovered the recovered faster from the pandemic anyone. Thoughts . Pandemic than anyone. Thoughts . Hes lot of hes saying, though, a lot of the data has been rewritten and apparently other countries are revisiting data , too. He revisiting their data, too. He went on. He says , but this shows went on. He says, but this shows our economic fundamentals are stronger than the decline is narrative of recent years suggest, he says , do not bet suggest, he says, do not bet against britain. I like it. Do against britain. I like it. Do you, paul . Well great. But the truth is, michel , but the truth is, michel, that our country is still hideously disfigured by wealth and income inequality now. But you know , this is true. And the you know, this is true. And the point needs to be made. Look, of course, we welcome any growth in the economy. I mean , its been the economy. I mean, its been its been a pretty tough last 15 years or so, hasnt it . But you know, for the growth that weve enjoyed in terms of this, our nafion enjoyed in terms of this, our nation is still racked by economic unfairness when youre in a situation where the 50 richest families in the uk have got the same wealth as the poorest half of the population , poorest half of the population, when youre in a situation where real wages have been falling year on year, when youre in a situation where were in the tightest wage squeeze since napoleonic times in this country where people are struggling to pay where people are struggling to pay their energy bills, struggling to pay their mortgages, worried now about whether theyre going to be able to heat their homes this winter, then, yes, great. Were getting this growth. Lets keep this growth. But lets keep things perspective. Theres a things in perspective. Theres a much picture there. Much Bigger Picture out there. And the economy is fundamental , and the economy is fundamental, unbalanced fundamentally unbalanced and fundamentally unfair. And until deal with unfair. And until we deal with some those fundamental some of those fundamental titles, dont think we should titles, i dont think we should be crowing or rejoicing. But but the way to do that is actually growth, because but but the way to do that is atrising growth, because but but the way to do that is at rising lifts growth, because but but the way to do that is atrising lifts allvth, because but but the way to do that is atrising lifts all boats. Cause a rising tide lifts all boats. This 1. 8 over three and a half years, about half a years, its about half a a yean years, its about half a a year. Frankly thats woeful, right . So the short version of that is its a party for one. Nobody is its a party for one. Nobody is massively selling sitting alongside me tonight, but thats all right, because priti patel , all right, because priti patel, she has been speaking out. Shes got some ideas of what we could potentially do to boost the economy and to help with things like paul suggesting lets listen. The burden of tax has to start to come down. However, look at the cycle that were in right now. Weve got one more fiscal cycle potentially before general election. How and its not just about being bold general election. How and its notjust about being bold or not just about being bold or ambitious. Its about being conservative and ensuring that the public keep more of the money they earn. Thats the money that they earn. Thats the space we need to in. Space that we need to be in. Reduce the size of the state and ensure that people more of ensure that people keep more of their income. Their income. I like it. Do you agree with her . Yeah, absolutely. Thats why i mean , our Economic Policy is i mean, our Economic Policy is actually, you should have zero income tax below £20,000. So you lift the threshold from 12. 5 grand to 20 grand. That would free up 6 million of the lowest paid from paying any income tax whatsoever. Thats a great motivator to help people who are trapped on out of work benefits to get them back into work. Thats £30 a week net and you pay thats £30 a week net and you pay for it, michel, by cutting the obscene, wasteful the vast, obscene, wasteful government we Government Spending that we see all place. That drives all over the place. That drives us bonkers, frankly. Grand, tax free, is so 20 grand, tax free, is that going to solve the things that going to solve the things that youre talking about, inequalities and stuff like that . Would you support that kind of policy . Wouldnt necessarily well, i wouldnt necessarily rule i mean, its quite rule it out. I mean, its quite a radical proposal, but i wouldnt necessarily rule it out. Certainly needs out. There certainly needs to be a of wealth a redistribution of wealth in this country. If we can find this country. And if we can find ways of making sure people ways of making sure that people on the poorer incomes keep more of wages. And in my view, of their wages. And in my view, people are richer to people who are richer to contribute more, then i wouldnt be of course, i wouldnt be against that in principle. I think the real thing we need to do in terms of stimulating growth, we need to get real wages up. You know, we cannot have situation we have this situation where we have this situation where we have falling year on have real wages falling year on year people have less year and people have less disposable income. That isnt going create a recovery. We going to create a recovery. We need get investment into the need to get investment into the economy. We an investment economy. We need an investment led economy and recovery and to get us out of this lacklustre performance and this sluggish growth, because thats what it still if honest about still is, if were honest about it. In terms of priti patels comments about the size of the state, i mean, look, there are always ways that can trim always ways that you can trim the state. There are always places where perhaps its a little bit flabby, but i always i give me your top example of flabbiness no, im saying im saying generally there are always examples where if you sat down and did an audit, you could probably find those examples. We dont any examples. Dont have any examples. I didnt bring with i didnt bring them with me. Michelle its general. Michelle no, its a general. Its give a clue. Its a general. Give you a clue. Its a general. Give you a clue. Its general im making. Its a general point im making. But just finish the but but let me just finish the point. I always get weary when tory politicians talk about slashing the state, because the truth of large parts truth is lots of the large parts of the state have been slashed over the last or 40 years. Over the last 30 or 40 years. Weve sold off of our weve sold off so many of our pubuc weve sold off so many of our public utilities. Used to run public utilities. We used to run the railways, we used to run the water you know, all of water system, you know, all of this system, this stuff. The energy system, all stuff that we use, all of this stuff that we use, we used to run it well. Well, i think well, if you come to the trains, for example, certainly they were run better they they were run better than they were private were run by the private companies at the moment. If you look at water system and the look at the water system and the fact there are many fact that there are so many defects and and peoples defects and leaks and peoples bills undoubtedly bills going up, undoubtedly we ran than ran it better than the privateers. And sharks are privateers. And the sharks are running the moment. Running it at the moment. In scotland whose people in scotland whose water nationalised water is nationalised pretty much with that much will be arguing with that and saying, look at the and saying, well, look at the state whats going on in state of whats going on in places scotland. Places like scotland. That right wing so this idea that right wing politicians have slash politicians say we have to slash the when in fact weve the state when in fact weve sold so much of the family sold off so much of the family silver over the last half century, you know, it always be cause for concern. Ago, the state 20 years ago, the state spending 35 gdp. Spending was about 35 of gdp. Its now its a third its now 47. Its a third bigger. Yet everybody would bigger. And yet everybody would probably state of probably agree that the state of our services is the worst our Public Services is the worst in our living memory. And thats because the state is because generally the state is woeful other woeful at spending other peoples terrible peoples money. It gets terrible value and weve value for money. And so weve ended highest taxes. You ended up the highest taxes. You and agree. Actually, its the and i agree. Actually, its the least well off for not keeping what should of their what they should of their earnings. Our policy earnings. Thats why our policy helps lowest paid the helps the lowest paid the fastest and creates the greatest incentive back into work. I just ijust incentive back into work. I just i just hate this hopelessly wasteful Government Spending everywhere. Ill give you another example. There are 600, 600 government agencies, department quangos, commissions. Im going through the list at the moment. Half of them youve never heard of. You have no idea what they do. I im inclined to accept your argument on that and that was my point. So michelle, there are undoubtedly areas where its flabby comes the flabby when it comes to the crucial infrastructure for of the utilities, the country and the utilities, Things Energy things like the country and the utilities, thinrailwaysenergy things like the country and the utilities, thin railways , ergy things like the country and the utilities, thin railways , thingsthings like the country and the utilities, thin railways , things likejs like the country and the utilities, thin railways , things like the e the railways, things like the water system , then absolutely water system, then absolutely that should be in public hands as far as im concerned. And we sold them off. Most of them have been unmitigated disasters. These privatisations , if were these privatisations, if were honest it, people honest about it, and people often, you know, take take the mick out of british rail and the curly sandwiches that kind curly sandwiches and that kind of but actually, in of thing. But actually, in my view, rail better view, british rail was better than what weve got now. We have got dirty, fragmented, got a dirty, fragmented, expensive, system and expensive, disjointed system and weve got people making a mint out it and we, the taxpayer, out of it and we, the taxpayer, are still subsidising this system. By the that is not system. By the way, that is not better than what shining beacon of is. Of excellence is. Is our government currently running so well that youre looking at thinking they are so good at what theyre doing that we actually need to expand their remit into all these new services dont necessarily services that dont necessarily i dont think necessarily the government in that hands on way runs Public Services. I think of my own industry. Three, the fire and rescue service, example , the service, for example, the government run government doesnt directly run it but think if you spoke to it, but i think if you spoke to the average punter there who the average punter out there who comes contact with the fire comes into contact with the fire service, they would say actually , is good they , that is a good service. They do job. And we like the do their job. And we like the fact its publicly owned. Fact that its publicly owned. If say to somebody that if you say to somebody that were sell off the fire were going to sell off the fire and rescue service bp, and rescue service to bp, i think theyd i think theyd have a is not the a heart attack. That is not the sort vision that should sort of vision that we should have our Emergency Services, have for our Emergency Services, for our public utilities, for services that provide crucial crucial for the functioning of this. This country. Just ask you about let me just ask you about this slashing tax free 20 grand. It sounds great. Yes. People will turn out vote because will turn out to vote because who doesnt want more in who doesnt want more cash in their really, isnt their pocket . But really, isnt that a fantasy economics . That a just fantasy economics . No, its not fancy economics, michel. Its cash in your pocket. £30. Its £30 a week net. The treasury. The treasury. Right. So its about £40 billion a year. Right. Most of us in our household budgets, were saying. Right. Its tough. Were saying. Right. Its tough. Theres a cost of living crisis. Ineed theres a cost of living crisis. I need to save £5 and a hundred. If you save £5 in 100 to every single spending manager of every single spending manager of every single quango commission, government local government department, local authority. Cant cut authority. But you cant cut frontline or youre Frontline Services or youre fired. Guess what . Theyll save 501 hundred. Thats £50 billion. Thats how you pay for it. Thats how you pay for it. Thats how you create growth. People have already thought about this because weve had so many rounds of efficiency savings, havent. Savings, but we havent. Got 100,000 more civil weve got 100,000 more Civil Servants we had couple of servants than we had a couple of years ago. They havent thought about it at all. Theyve become flabby, theyve become wasteful, and everybody and its driving everybody absolutely. Absolutely bonkers. Got a couple of graphics ive got a couple of graphics very quickly just to pop up onto the screen in case youre wondering, guys wondering, what are these guys talking about when it comes to tax and stuff that . Tax burdens and stuff like that . A graphic for you to a little graphic for you to demonstrate in terms uk demonstrate in terms of the uk and we sit in terms of the and where we sit in terms of the tax burden among the g7. There you see is pretty you go. You can see is pretty much the middle there. And much in the middle there. And i think one more for the road. Think one more for the road. Weve anything else . Yep. Weve got anything else . Yep. Here we go. So in terms of the here we go. So in terms of the tax uk tax as a percentage of the gdp , we look obviously the gdp, we look obviously towards the right hand side of the screen, the grey shaded area. That is the estimates. You can see if youre listening, not watching, take it from me. That percentage is increasing. Would percentage is increasing. Would you be happy to pay less tax . I can hear you shouting. Yes, of can hear you shouting. Yes, of course you wouldnt. Michelle but is it realistic, though, where would you make the savings . Were talking about efficiencies. Where would be your number one place to start with efficiencies. Keep it with efficiencies. Keep it clean, please. Vaiews gbnews. Com is how you get ahold of me. Weve been talking about the wealthy and the poorest society. A couple the poorest in society. A couple of things caught eye today. Of things caught my eye today. Conversation or conversation about whether or not energy not there should be an Energy Social Tariff for the poorest in society. Would you support that . And i simultaneously was hearing conversations about removing the winter fuel allowance from pretty much all pensioners except the very poorest. What do you make of that . You tell me and ill see you news radio. Hello there. Im Michelle Dewberry and im with you till 7 00 tonight along side me richard tice , the leader of the richard tice, the leader of the reform uk party and paul embery, a trade unionist and writer. A trade unionist and writer. Lots. One of the things that just got us talking a second ago, someone just got in touch saying the thing that i would first of all scrap is fine old salary pensions within the pubuc salary pensions within the public sector. Well you cant obviously if someones joined in an employment with a set of terms and conditions, i think youre going struggle to try youre going to struggle to try and tweak their final salary pension. If thats what pension. Now, if thats what they up to, were just they signed up to, were just debating whether or not new recruits get those kind of final debating whether or not new recruit pensions. E kind of final debating whether or not new recruit pensions. E kirjust final salary pensions. You just describing fire service, describing in the fire service, theyre really thing for theyre not really a thing for new recruits. Well, certainly in the fire and rescue service and i think in a lot of the public sector, final salary pension schemes have gone certainly for new recruits and in many cases for people who, as you said, the scenario that you raised signed up under a certain scheme. But unless they were within a few years of retirement and they got put onto the new scheme, which was an outrage, to be perfectly honest. And i think there should have been more of a reaction than there was. Fair enough. Trevor, one of the completely disagrees the viewers completely disagrees with at the start of with my optimism at the start of the programme. What the programme. Hes saying, what do dare to do you want us to do . Dare to dance in the street. Even though inflation rampant and inflation is rampant and interest still much Interest Rates are still much too maybe , he says, when i too high, maybe, he says, when i see bigger gdp, green shoots about 2 or 2 thirds that have basically what hes saying is when he sees better mechanics of Interest Rates coming down, inflation falling, maybe then he will start to party. I get it. I get it. Its just me on my own if you do. Actually if you do share my optimism for one year, literally now, arent you . Im always used to it. No one ever always used to it. No one ever agrees with me, which is absolutely fine. So if you do, if you are out there and im not alone, get in touch and tell me whether or not youre feeling optimistic our economic optimistic about our Economic Situation right now in this country. Do people country. And also, why do people like the ons seem their like the ons seem to get their projections so there projections so wrong . There forecasts so wrong. You get in touch tell me thoughts. Touch and tell me your thoughts. Now, of more than now, a coalition of more than 140 organisations alongside 140 organisations is alongside some mps, people like martin lewis as well have of been lewis as well have kind of been coming together. This been coming together. This has been like noise and a chunter for like a noise and a chunter for quite some time now. A call for a while. Its all about an Energy Social Tariff and its all because of course we all know by now that bills are going up. Lots of people are going to be struggling to afford their their winter heating. Where are you on do you think we you on this . Do you think we should have social tariff for should have a social tariff for the in society . The poorest in society . Absolutely we should. Its a no so far as i can see. No brainer, so far as i can see. I this winter is i mean, this this winter is going to be a crisis time for potentially millions of families in our country. They are going to find the increases in their energy bills crippling, what with the rises in Interest Rates as well. Where some of them are paying as well. Where some of them are paying a lot more on their mortgages. What with the fact that as we touched on before the break, real wages are still falling. How much can ordinary people be expected to take . So absolutely, for me, its a no brainer. The government is brainer. The government is there. What would it look like then . What kind of discount, what kind of tariff do you get . Well, i think who would qualify . Lets brainstorm it. Lets brainstorm it. Im open minded on that. And clearly that would need to go through consultation process. Clearly that would need to go thro but consultation process. Clearly that would need to go thro but you insultation process. Clearly that would need to go thro but you would tion process. Clearly that would need to go thro but you would expectwcess. Clearly that would need to go thro but you would expect the;. But but you would expect the poorest people finding poorest and the people finding it most difficult to get by to be first of all. And it most difficult to get by to be would first of all. And it most difficult to get by to be would berst of all. And it most difficult to get by to be would be right. All. And it most difficult to get by to be would be right. I l. And it most difficult to get by to be would be right. I thinki it most difficult to get by to be would be right. I think the that would be right. I think the bigger question, michel, which weve on show weve discussed on this show before, is how we get before, is how did we get ourselves situation as ourselves into this situation as a country in the place, as a country in the first place, as an western off air at an advanced western off air at seven . Well, well, exactly. We seven . Well, well, exactly. We could exactly three could go on exactly three minutes advanced western minutes as an advanced western industrial country, we have got no Energy Security , no energy no Energy Security, no energy independence, and that for me is bordering on criminal and ordinary people are paying the price for it. And paul is absolutely right. And its gross negligence by our leaders. Michelle because we are sitting on decades worth of energy treasuries, what i call it, oil , gas, energy treasuries, what i call it, oil, gas, shale energy treasuries, what i call it, oil , gas, shale gas, energy treasuries, what i call it, oil, gas, shale gas, coal, lithium. Weve got all this stuff. These clowns in stuff. These clowns in westminster have refused to use it. The Prime Minister, he lied in his Leadership Campaign last yean he in his Leadership Campaign last year. He said he was going to back fracking. The first thing he did in the house of commons when was pm was to scrap that when he was pm was to scrap that pledge. And, you know, got pledge. And, you know, weve got all treasure. Shouldnt all this treasure. We shouldnt be overseas. Be buying it from overseas. Whats of buying shale whats the point of buying shale gas from the us, sending our jobs and money over there . When weve weve weve got it over here . Weve got expensive got the most expensive electricity in the whole of the 20 thats 20 main. The g20. And thats because the growth in because of the growth in renewables, huge expansion renewables, the huge expansion of which of offshore wind farms, which im on stuff is im with paul on this stuff is foreign owned, over 80 is foreign owned, over 80 is foreign owned. So all of these subsidies profits going subsidies and profits going overseas pauls this. Overseas, pauls right on this. Whether call it a social whether you call it a social tariff, a subsidy, remember our energy bills are double what they they were two they are what they were two years and thats years ago. And thats fundamentally because of this failed energy policy. Fundamentally because of this failso energy policy. Fundamentally because of this failso if ergy policy. Fundamentally because of this failso if rishijolicy. Fundamentally because of this failso if rishi sunak was here so if rishi sunak was here now, hes watching now, im sure hes watching at home notes. But if he was home making notes. But if he was watching, would well, watching, he would say, well, firstly, what firstly, i didnt lie. What happened he made these happened was he made these promises. Probably he promises. Probably when he looked detail and looked at the detail and probably the probably listened to some of the opposition, probably started opposition, he probably started tweaking things. But whilst all thats about thats fascinating about the longer and longer term picture and the history how got history of how weve got ourselves the here and ourselves here in the here and you know, historically in the here now, now you know, here and now, now you know, coming winter, the next coming up to winter, the next couple of months, whatever, youre to really youre going to start to really that going to chip in. That cold is going to chip in. So what would you do about that . Would you offer i mean, how do you offer this social you even offer this social tariff . What would you well, tariff . What would you do . Well, essentially, its as i essentially, i think its as i understand what theyre proposing similar proposing is something similar to last year, proposing is something similar to basically last year, proposing is something similar to basically liwhenir, proposing is something similar to basically liwhen there proposing is something similar to a basically liwhen there proposing is something similar to a basic. Subsidyzwhen there proposing is something similar to a basic. Subsidy foren there proposing is something similar to a basic. Subsidy for many, e was a huge subsidy for many, many families. And assuming that we and thats assuming that we have an average winter, heaven forbid, get a cold, sharp forbid, if we get a cold, sharp wind , less winter, are in wind, less winter, we are in deep, deep trouble. And i do worry severely about that. Weve got to be, as paul rightly said, weve got to have Energy SecurityEnergy Reliance and security and Energy Reliance and if were exposed to buying energy from overseas, we are vulnerable. This winter what about this winter fuel allowance for pensioners . Allowance then for pensioners . What you do with that . What would you do with that . Well, rishi sunak, hes been apparently looking at whether or not you could get rid of that for most pensioners instead of, you apart the poorest you know, apart from the poorest and it would be to help with things like maintaining the triple lock. Would be the triple lock. That would be the argument it. Would you argument for doing it. Would you support. I think i think once youve once youve given a particular group benefit, it group of people a benefit, it then very hard then becomes very hard to withdraw it. So that would, i think, a massive can of think, open a massive can of worms and stir all sorts of worms and stir up all sorts of political problems the political problems for the tories if did and tories if they did that. And i wouldnt be in wouldnt particularly be in favour doing anyway. Favour of them doing it anyway. The government got to the government has got to intervene order to subsidise intervene in order to subsidise the poorest families and those who are going to be struggling to make ends meet. It really is that simple. All government that simple. All the government is as an agent to be on is there as an agent to be on the side of ordinary people when they struggling cope, they are struggling to cope, whether economically or whether thats economically or in any other way. And this seems to be a fundamental to me to be a fundamental example why the government example of why the government should where government should where the government should where the government should widely. We should intervene more widely. We need you might call it, need to, as you might call it, re energise we do re energise the country. We do need you know, i think richard hit the nail on the head. We do need to look at fracking. We were behind the terribly were behind the curve terribly on nuclear when , you know, some on nuclear when, you know, some of our competitors were marching ahead and were paying the price of our competitors were marching ahethat. |d were paying the price of our competitors were marching ahethat. Now. � re paying the price of our competitors were marching ahethat. Now. We aying the price of our competitors were marching ahethat. Now. We need| the price of our competitors were marching ahethat. Now. We need to |e price of our competitors were marching ahethat. Now. We need to look ce for that. Now. We need to look even things like clean coal even at things like clean coal technology, which we not technology, which we have not properly then once properly explored. And then once weve in place, weve got those things in place, weve got those things in place, we all into we should take them all into pubuc we should take them all into public i suspect public ownership. I suspect thats richard, know , thats where richard, you know, im clear , actually, im very, very clear, actually, paul might be surprised. So our policy this is that so our policy on this is that many the utilities that many of the key utilities that are effective monopolies and water is one of them. For example, the grid, the sort of the Gas Transmission network, the Gas Transmission network, the electricity transmission, these things are complete monopolies. They should be 50 pubuc monopolies. They should be 50 public ownership, 50 owned by british Pension Funds on behalf of british pensioners who are long term investors seeking a sensible, modest return. But where we differ i suspect, is privately managed by smart people in the private sector. People in the private sector. And you have a Long Term Plan thats the best solution. Are you suggesting if youre keen on offshore wind, renewables, thats keen on offshore wind, renev we. Es, th ats keen on offshore wind, renevwe should thats keen on offshore wind, renevwe should be thats keen on offshore wind, renevwe should be doing thats keen on offshore wind, renevwe should be doing withs those. But youre presenting this as though its rocket science. I mean, private organisations youre smart youre saying will get smart people private. People running these private. The. Now theyre the organisations. Now theyre not around recruiting not going around recruiting thick already thick people. Theyre already proactively trying to seek the best people to run those private enterprises as they currently stand. Correct . I agree. But my point being generally point being that generally governments are very good at funding things. Theyre very bad at managing things. So you want, you joint venture between you want a joint venture between pubuc you want a joint venture between public 50 then public ownership, 50 and then the Pension Funds with private sector management. So thats the win win win. But, you know, you cant have a 5050 ownership model because you can absolutely be 49 and 50. Who gets the final say then in a dispute . Who gets, you know, do we do it this way . Do you have an odd number on the board of directors . Its simple, michel. Its very simple, michel. Its very simple, michel. Well, would you what you well, would you what do you think do you think think to this . What do you think to this . Because theres a lot of chat about this is im not in favour when it comes to just this kind concept this general kind of concept about things. About renationalising things. Because when you talk because i look to when you talk about use this about water and i use this example time, places example all the time, places like for example, and like scotland, for example, and people point to wales, for people will point to wales, for example, there be example, why should there be water in scotland is not a beacon. Im going to the water in im going to say the water in majorca then. No the water, the yeah. No, the water, the situation in scotland, situation in in scotland, when it comes to the for example, when it comes to cleanliness or whatever leaks in terms of the Monitoring System comes the Monitoring System comes the Monitoring Systems that they even have to track. The quality is way behind england. It should be improved where there are shortcomings. But ive never understood why never understood this idea. Why should there things like should there be things like people , you know, people say, you know, competition things like the competition in things like the energy why should an Energy Sector . Why should an elderly or a Vulnerable Person when all it is, is getting the power supply, the Energy Supply into their home, be expected to go on to the internet and spend 4 or 5 hours looking for the most attractive. If you go for it to a restaurant, you might want to look for the most attractive meal. If you buy a suit, you might want to go to the most attractive shop. Why would want the want would anyone want the most want to want for to be want to see for competition how electricity or gas their home . It gas comes into their home . It seems me to be bizarre that seems to me to be bizarre that people that. People want that. Of people are messaging a lot of people are messaging as well about the standing charge. Thats always that thats always the thing that people talk about on their bills. Its all well and good talking tariffs, talking about the tariffs, but if youve massive standing if youve got a massive standing charge, irrespective of anything else, well else, lots of you as well saying, what about this whole green tariff on all of the bills . We have to bills . Why do we have to continue with that . Give me your thoughts of that winter thoughts on all of that winter fuel allowance. That fuel allowance. Would that affect you think affect you . What would you think if rishi sunak did indeed come and that you if he said and take that off you if he said im taking it, but on the other hand, im doing to try and hand, im doing it to try and help keep triple so help you keep the triple lock so that pension keeps that your pension keeps increasing. Would that make increasing. And would that make you it or not . You get you support it or not . You get in let me know your in touch and let me know your thoughts on that. Vaiews gbnews. Com. Thoughts on that. Vaievl gbnews. Com. Thoughts on that. Vaievl want ews. Com. Thoughts on that. Vaievl want to s. Com. Thoughts on that. Vaievl want to s. Corto you break, i want to talk to you about mile an hour speed about 20 mile an hour speed limits. Its Something Like 28 million of us now live in Council Areas that support those limits. Are you one of the limits. Are you one of the residents that would back your council . All the way . You council . Go all the way . You tell me radio. Hi there. Im michelle hi there. Im Michelle Dewberry with you till 7 00 tonight alongside me. Richard tice the leader of the reform uk party and paul embery, a trade unionist and writer for lots more people getting in touch about the Energy Situation weve just been discussing. Again, just been discussing. Again, lots of people pointing out that same thing about about the standing charge mats. Youre not pulling any punches. You just pulling any punches. You just say cut the entire standing charge. You reckon its a con . Charge. You reckon its a con . Cor blimey. I reckon Energy Companies would disagree with that. All said, yes , absolutely. That. All said, yes, absolutely. A social tariff , but only for a social tariff, but only for the over 70s and for disabled people. Youre saying that people. Youre saying that younger people have a lot of choices in terms of expanding their their income that other people perhaps dont . Controversial. What do you think to that then that social tariff would you back it but restrict it based on age and ability . How it based on age and ability . How would you even police that when it comes to things like ability . I dont know. You get in touch and you tell me now lets talk 20 miles an hour zones. Do you have one of these near you . I mean, these things are popping up pretty all the up pretty much all over the place sunak , he place now. And rishi sunak, he knows what hes doing because many would say now he many people would say now he is starting aim at some of starting to take aim at some of these 20 mile hour zones. You these 20 mile an hour zones. You saw that went on in uxbridge saw all that went on in uxbridge when it came to things like ulez, many people saying that there motorists there is a war on motorists rishi sunak looking perhaps like he might start putting pressure on of these councils that on some of these councils that are wanting to enforce these 20 mile an hour zones to try and stop them. Cynical is that a vote winner or what . I dont know. You tell me. Lets get the view, though, of the founder of stop killing cyclists and the director climate media director of the climate media coalition, donica mccarthy. Good evening to you. 20 mile an hour evening to you. 20 mile an hour zones, do you support them . Of course we do. They really make a significant difference to safety for kids. The Prime Minister really seems to be declaring a war on kids. You know, 15,000 kids a year are dying from or sorry, are killed and injured on our roads. And so its really important that we should actually maintain the 20 mile per hour zones and expand them in urban areas. So i mean, rishi sunak would obviously dispute that its a war on kids. But if this is all about in your mind and protecting children, you know, children are not out and 24 hours not out and about 24 hours a day. Even i buy that day. So even if i buy that notion, why arent these limits timed then . So why dont they apply . I dont know. In the morning kids are going to morning when kids are going to schools the weekends when schools or on the weekends when there about and there might be out and about and stop, i dont know, p. M. Stop, say, i dont know, 9 pm. At night . Stop, say, i dont know, 9 pm. At rwell, its not just kids. We well, its not just kids. We want save. Its actually want to save. Its actually adults well. 135,000 adults adults as well. 135,000 adults and children were injured last yean and children were injured last year. The fatality rate has gone up, was Just Announced this week andits up, was Just Announced this week and its gone up 10. So the idea that we actually change the times of the of when 20 mile per hour zones are changing for a few streets in towns and cities would confuse drivers this actually makes sense to have consistent speed limits in towns and cities. Its pro kids and and cities. Its pro kids and its actually tackles confusion for drivers and reduce the amount of time that they will get fined unnecessarily. See, one of my view is shane. Hes listening to the conversation. Hes saying, can you ask your guest if people are driving at 20 mile an hour . Hes saying surely they put more co2 into the air driving than they would be driving at 30 . Is that an argument or not that that is said by some people. But what actually happens is because the traffic is smoother overall , all the pollution is overall, all the pollution is the same. There has been studies donein the same. There has been studies done in spain where they have introduced parisien and introduced 20 le parisien and they found that pollution did not up. But you introduced not go up. But you introduced the segment by talking about the war on motorists and im really tired of hearing that trite phrase. The real war is actually on safety and the war is on on people who use public transport. Over the last ten years, the government has cut £130 billion off fuel duty, making fuel duty significantly cheaper for drivers as well as at the same time, they insisted every year the funding for sorry , the fares the funding for sorry, the fares for public transport should be above inflation. So really hammering the poor who dont have cars. And the second thing have cars. And the second thing they did on the war in public transport is they slashed 50 of the bus routes in the United Kingdom since the tories came to power. Can you imagine if we actually eliminated 50 of the roads in the last ten years . Drivers would be then saying, rightly , there is war on rightly, there is a war on motorists. The real is motorists. The real war is on kids safety and on public transport. Under this government i well, there you go. You articulate your message well. Thats monica mccarthy. Thank thats monica mccarthy. Thank you for your time. Thats monica mccarthy. Thank you for your time. Do you agree you for your time. Do you agree with that . As rishi sunak got a war on kids . No, he hasnt got a war on kids. Look, i think donica is putting case, frankly, putting his case, but frankly, from evidence ive seen, i from the evidence ive seen, i mean, around schools, you mean, yes, around schools, you have restricted zones. You have 20 hour. But actually , 20 miles an hour. But actually, for rest of areas , 30 miles for the rest of areas, 30 miles an hour has worked extremely well. At the size of the well. Look at the size of the petition in wales. Its the biggest ever petition, i think, in this country. Its approaching 500,000 people now. It is think its in the order it is i think its in the order of 25 of all adults in the whole of wales. Are they saying enoughis whole of wales. Are they saying enough is enough . This is completely wrong. And the idea when see a cyclist go past when you see a cyclist go past you, youre driving at 20 you, when youre driving at 20 miles an hour, i mean, its just is its absurd. Its not just cyclists, is it . Some people have those electric scooters that they with, those things can zip past. You up to quite high you can get up to quite high speedsif you can get up to quite high speeds if theyve been tampered with. Seemed to with. Im sure labour seemed to be pushing a lot of this stuff. So over in wales weve just been talking about a situation there. That, do you think . Why is that, do you think . Well, i mean, i suspect because they believe its the right thing to do , combined with right thing to do, combined with the fact the fact that they perhaps think it might be electorally popular, thats generally the reason why a Political Party does does anything i detect on this one, its not universally popular. Do you do you agree with it . Do you do you agree with it . Do you agree with these . I have to say im not opposed to it in principle. I dislike the idea. Im not a car person. I dislike the idea of cars hurtling around our streets too quickly. I think it streets too quickly. I think it inhibits kids in terms of being able to play in the street. I able to play in the street. I think its a nightmare for pedestrians sometimes. So im pedestrians sometimes. So im not actually opposed to the idea in principle, but i just think its a bit silly to have different rules for different local authority cars and allowing local authority or devolved governments just to pick their own kind of rules when actually the road system is a national network. Its a national system. It strikes me that there should be a uniform policy for these things rather than going from one district into the next. And finding that actually a different actually theres a different set of i do think of rules there. I do think theres an argument to say there are too many cars on our road. We need to find ways of getting people out of their cars, onto bicycles, onto public transport. A bicycle to you cant go on a bicycle to get work if youre driving 30 get to work if youre driving 30 miles an hour. You in miles an hour. If you live in the countryside, people to the countryside, most people to get they need their get to work, they need their cars. Is what creates cars. And this is what creates growth. Creates economic growth. It creates Economic Activity that actually then helps well off the helps the least well off the most. Of look, im not of course. Look, im not suggesting that people live suggesting that people who live 30 work can can get 30 miles from work can can get i mean, People Choose to, mean, some people may choose to, but accept that that but i accept that in that scenario, people but scenario, most people cant. But i its fair to say also, i think its fair to say also, richard, that are people, richard, that there are people, especially of our larger especially in some of our larger cities and towns who drive to work probably dont need to. Work who probably dont need to. And i think we need to find ways of to of encouraging those people to take transport, but we take public transport, but we need to invest in public transport. Thing, ian says. I wales and the i live in wales and the blankets 20 mile an hour limit is hes put that is a nightmare. Hes put that in capitals, so i know he means business. He says it takes twice as to get to the as long just to get to the dentist as the a class road going now 20 miles an going there is now 20 miles an houn going there is now 20 miles an hour. The thing is, you can find a dentist. Well, thats the thing that astonishes than anything well, thats the thing that astonithat than anything well, thats the thing that astoni that sentence. Than anything about that sentence. Just said to me, ian, is you just said to me, ian, is that youre even managing to get a the a dentist appointment in the first place. He actually lives in london, but is in wales. But his dentist is in wales. Hes double the pain whilst hes dentist. Hes getting to the dentist. Need to know ian, where we need to know ian, where is this yours has this dentist of yours that has these appointments year . These appointments every year . Queue outside in tomorrow. Youll never get there. Never mind 20 mile an hour. Yeah. Mind your 20 mile an hour. Yeah. Therell jams, youll therell be traffic jams, youll be blocked and youll getting be blocked and youll be getting nowhere. Fascinated. Nowhere. Anyway. Im fascinated. Where is this dentist . Get in touch let me know. And now touch and let me know. And now here sentence i never here is the sentence i never thought would leave mouth. Thought would leave my mouth. After break, want to talk after the break, i want to talk to well. To you about trees as well. A tree particular, and another tree in particular, and another sentence always leaves sentence that always leaves my mind. Talk to you mind. I want to talk to you about pubs. Thats always on my mind. Tree and pubs. Whats not to about next segment . To love about our next segment . See in two. Hello there. Its 7 00. And im hello there. Its 7 00. And im michele. No, its not 7 00. I was just about to say its 7 00. Cheers. Goodbye im getting old. Ive not even had a sip yet. Ive not even had a sip yet. Yeah, im getting excited because juneberries havent is open. It is friday night. Richard tice alongside me. First time on the show. Thank you. Youre welcome. Paul. Embery. Cheers to you too. Cheers to you at home. The weekend begins now. Lots of you getting in touch about that. The topic that you about that. The topic that you were just talking about. Nobodys having any of your nonsense. What youre saying about the cars. Apparently please, can you ask paul to get me to work at 8 am. Without using my car . No i made the point that we need to invest in public transport. Backtracking now . No, no, no. Backtracking now . No, no, no. I did make that point. If we. If were going to get people out of their cars onto public transport, got to make it transport, weve got to make it cleaner, efficient, cleaner, more efficient, cheapen cleaner, more efficient, cheaper. Takes cheaper. And that takes investment. Well people well, a lot of people defending their cars and they actually their cars. Actually love their cars. Right. Absolutely right. Absolutely right. 20 an hour not 20 mile an hour is not getting lot of love. Ive ive getting a lot of love. Ive ive lived on a straight road in wales that was once National Speed limit, says mark. Then it went down to 40, then it was 30. And now its 20. Its ridiculous. Home off hour. Coming home off a 12 hour night shift. Almost fall night shift. I almost fall asleep, says. Cor blimey it asleep, he says. Cor blimey it before, but if it takes longer to travel like that then actually got more cars on actually youve got more cars on the people are trying the road when people are trying to get to and from work. Indeed. Indeed. Look, i want to talk to you about before leave about pubs before i leave you nearly 400 them have closed nearly 400 of them have closed their for good england their doors for good in england and wales. Thats just in the first of this year alone. First half of this year alone. And get this, almost as and get this, its almost as many the whole of 2022. Tell many as the whole of 2022. Tell me, how save british me, how do we save the british boozer things. Youve got to two key things. Youve got to reduce the Business Rates on Small Businesses, pubs , leisure Small Businesses, pubs, leisure so that that would make it the profit loss easier. And also as i touched on earlier, weve got to have much lower energy costs. Those are making it really difficult for pubs the way you can pay for cheaper Business Rates or zero Business Rates for Small Businesses on high Small Businesses is on the high street. Is that you street. Michelle is that you have a small delivery tax for the huge increase in delivery as the huge increase in delivery as the amazons, the the ebays, the amazons, the justeat and all of that. That creates level playing field, creates a level playing field, 2 or 3. Who pays out tax the consumer because oh well, yeah. But at the end of the day youve then got choice. Youve then got genuine choice. And whats happening at the moment havent got moment is you havent got a level playing and so its level playing field. And so its actually pubs, the small actually the pubs, the Small Businesses, high street businesses, the high street premises who are really struggling. Theyre getting absolute shafted by councils that keep raising Business Rates and you end up with with half empty high streets and sadly , empty high streets and sadly, tragically, hundreds and hundreds of our good british pubs shutting, its a disaster indeed. There you go. Business rates the answer. Would you be happy to pay an extra . Dont know, to pay an extra . I dont know, 2 to pay an extra . I dont know, 2 to 3 on your online deliveries if it helped level the playing field. Paul. Saving field. You tell me, paul. Saving the pubs. How do we it . I dont how do we do it . I dont think we can, to honest. Think we can, to be honest. And think thats a tragedy. And i think thats a tragedy. I a decent pub, but i mean, i love a decent pub, but i mean, i love a decent pub, but i think the truth is that pubs are kind of on their way out. I think of the place where i grew up in east london and the number of pubs that were existence of pubs that were in existence when kid compared to when i was a kid compared to when i was a kid compared to when back there now and see when i go back there now and see just a smattering of pubs and usually pubs look like usually those pubs look like theyre ripe for closure as well. I think we are in many respects a very different country country that we country to the country that we were in the 70s and the 80s when i grew up, when things like pubs were the centrepiece of the community, they were a source of bringing i bringing people together. I think because of things like supermarkets selling cheap beer. I think because of changing demographics in some places , as demographics in some places, as i because as richard said, i think because as richard said, the energy bills, i think lockdown had a massive impact on these well. I think these things as well. I think also that the sort of advance of the internet and technology in the internet and technology in the home and entertainment in the home and entertainment in the home, people dont feel that need. They can speak to their friends online. Their youngsters can speak to their friends onune can speak to their friends online without go to online without having to go to the and have a pint. I think the pub and have a pint. I think all of those things combined have death have sounded the death knell really the and i do really for the pub, and i do think that is a crying shame because they are. I dont want a community. I dont want a community. Well, a community isnt a community. Well, a community isnt a commu|tavern still going . Yeah obviously. And thats important. And thats important. This is a very important announcement because ian got announcement because ian has got back about dentist. Back in touch about his dentist. Is. Nhs he says it is. It is nhs dentist. He says one of thats what hes telling me. He says its one of the few things our local health trust got local health trust has got right. Community dentists in local health centres. He caveats. It he says they dont do he says, do the private. He says, cosmetic provide cosmetic stuff, but they provide a dental service. Well a very good dental service. Well there go. Cant get into there you go. You cant get into a dentist, apparently, so it seems. I want to quickly ask you about tree. Youll be familiar about a tree. Youll be familiar with this. The sycamore gap tree or robin hood tree that or the robin hood tree that was cut been cut down. Somebody has been arrested because of it. Arrested about it because of it. So dont to get into the so i dont want to get into the whys and wherefores of who did it, has really upset it, but this has really upset a lot of people. I might try and get picture of it to remind get a picture up of it to remind you what were talking about. Is it upset you, richard . Has actually. It has actually. It has actually. Has. I mean, trees it really has. I mean, trees take long to grow and that take so long to grow and that was it was beautiful tree, was it was a beautiful tree, really historic and not so beautiful there. But its it is an but no, but its it is an absolute tragedy. And i cant imagine why and i just cant imagine why anybody in anything like that would want to cause such a vandalism. Just desperate, vandalism. Its just desperate, heartbreaking. Heartbreaking. It is, actually. It is, actually. Paul yeah, i thought this was such sad story, a really sad story. There are beautiful parts of our country which we dont chensh our country which we dont cherish and we should do. And this was one such example. And this was one such example. And to see it cut down like that, i know there was a report this afternoon that they may be able to regrow it from the shoots. I think they saying, think they were saying, which would a great thing. But why would be a great thing. But why would be a great thing. But why would to engage in would anyone want to engage in that kind of mindless van ism . What would possess a person to do that absolutely appalling and a really sad story. It is actually. And its upset a lot of people. I understand that, jeff says. Can you ask everyone, everyone thats this lovely thats upset about this lovely tree . All upset about tree . Are you all upset about what government did when it what the government did when it comes to historical woods trying to hs2 run to to get the hs2 to run to manchester, them down . Manchester, cutting them down . Mad about it. Im absolutely mad about it. Ive never supported hs2. It was a catastrophic from the a catastrophic scheme from the start. All of the investment should gone in the north should have gone in the north and up from to and levelling up from east to west, places that love, west, places that you love, like hull, up the east hull, michelle up the east coast, newcastle, leeds, liverpool, all of liverpool, manchester, all of that. And that would have made a massive difference. This is a catastrophe has destroyed catastrophe and it has destroyed really historic woodlands in in the home counties. And frankly , the home counties. And frankly, the home counties. And frankly, the whole thing should still be scrapped. Scrapped. Pull on hs2. Pull on hs2. No, on the trees. No, on the trees. I was upset about the trees being cut down for infrastructure projects. Yeah, absolutely. I yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean, hs2 is a folly. We should never never have never we should never have chopped down wooded areas chopped down those wooded areas for it. Not acceptable. I agree with richard. Um, aaron says the reason pubs are struggling is because theyre charged £7 a pint and £10 for a gin and tonic. I bet other people have got prices that are a bit higher than £10 for gin and tonic. That are a bit higher than £10 for gin and tonic. Carol says for gin and tonic. Carol says paul would get absolutely slated in wales with what he she said about pubs closing. Were doing absolute everything that we can to keep our pubs open and dentists apparently. Well, yeah, there you go. Dentists. Says youve got to carol says youve got to fight your local pub. We all fight for your local pub. We all sit here, dont we, and talk about how do we save pubs . The obvious answer is to go in there and spend our money in them. If we do that, then you use we dont do that, then you use it or you lose it. I think is the look, time flies the phrase, look, time flies when having fun. Paul, when youre having fun. Paul, thank you very much your thank you very much for your company tonight, debut. Company tonight, your debut. Absolutely fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Tice for thank you, richard tice for yours. You know as well how yours. And you know as well how important you thank you for important you are. Thank you for watching. And listen, i very much appreciate company n ext next welcome to my show. And tonight, were going to absolutely brilliant line up. Weve got the home secretary suella braverman. Shes just on her way back from america to talk our broken asylum talk about our broken asylum system. Henry smith, hes system. Also, henry smith, hes a conservative mp for crawley. Ive got james snyder. Hes back on at the left in the on the show at the left in the corner. Hes a former adviser to jeremy corbyn. Nigel nelson , jeremy corbyn. Nigel nelson, political correspondent. Hes back show for the second back on the show for the second time. Weve also got the legendary dj neil fox. Hes for on the first time, and katie waissel, whos a singer songwriter. But first, lets go to the. News to the. News hi, im aaron armstrong. Very hi, im aaron armstrong. Very good evening to you from the gb newsroom. Im a 14 Year Old Girl newsroom. Im a 14 Year Old Girl and a coach driver have died after a school bus overturned on the m50. Three on the wirral. The m50. Three on the wirral. Pupils were their way to pupils were on their way to caldy grange Grammar School in west kirby Grammar School this morning. The bus was carrying 54 people when it collided with a car and struck central