Transcripts For GBN GB 20240704

Rumour mill went into overdrive when the prince of wales pulled out of an event on tuesday at very short notice because of. Very short notice because of. What was called a personal matter. But what was called a personal matter. But this show isnt about me. Its about you. Its nothing without your views, so let me know your thoughts on all the stories were discussing today or anything you want to talk about. Today or anything you want to talk about. Basic today or anything you want to talk about. Basic saturday talk about. Basic saturday afternoon . Um email me at gb views at gb news. Com or message me on our socials. Were at gb news. Used very, very simple, but lets get those news headunes but lets get those News Headlines with sam. Headlines with sam. Dawn, thank you very much. Good afternoon from the gb newsroom. Its just good afternoon from the gb newsroom. Itsjust gone good afternoon from the gb newsroom. Its just gone 12 01. Newsroom. Its just gone 12 01. And we start with that news. Dawns just been touching on there. That more pro palestine protests are planned. This weekend. Thats following rishi sunaks warning last night that islamist extremists and far right groups are, he says, spreading poison and trying to tear us apart. In that speech, delivered from downing street, he called for the nation to unite, highlighting the rise in extremist, disruptive intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence. It followed George Galloways controversial win in rochdales by election this week, which the Prime Minister described as beyond alarming. Beyond alarming. In the rochdale by election, returned a candidate who dismisses the horror of what happened on october the 7th, who. Glorifies hezbollah and is endorsed by nick griffin , the endorsed by nick griffin, the racist former leader of the bnp. Ineed racist former leader of the bnp. I need to speak to you all this evening because this situation has gone on long enough and demands response, not just demands a response, not just from government, but from all of us. Us. Well, opposition parties have given their mixed reactions to those comments from the Prime Minister yesterday , with the minister yesterday, with the liberal democrats accusing him of sowing seeds of divisions. However, labour leader sir keir starmer said rishi sunak is right to call the country to right to call for the country to unite and to condemn what he called unacceptable and intimidating behaviour. Meanwhile, the new mp for rochdale , George Galloway, whos rochdale, George Galloway, whos also former presenter for also a former presenter for Iranian State tv , says the prime Iranian State tv, says the Prime Minister is playing a very dangerous game that could drive young muslims into extremism. Its worse than a lie. Its dangerous because you see, if youre saying to muslims who vote that your vote will be delegitimized. If you cast it delegitimized. If you cast it the wrong way, and if you go out on a demonstration peacefully to demonstrate, then then youll be called a terrorist. And new called a terrorist. And new laws, new police, uh, approaches will be conjured forth against you if. You do that, you are you if. You do that, you are driving people away from the path of democracy and peaceful democratic protest. Right . Well democratic protest. Right . Well organisers of this weekends protests have now responded to the Prime Ministers pledge to back Stronger Police action, suggesting that he expels some senior mps from the conservative party. Its after rishi sunak pledged last night to support the robust policing of demonstrations. Particularly, he demonstrations. Particularly, he said, pro palestine marches the metropolitan police have in the past said that showing support for a terror group is a criminal offence, adding that the right to come with a to protest does come with a response. Ability to act lawfully several local marches lawfully. Several local marches are planned for today and tomorrow before another National Demonstration in london, coming up on the 9th of march. Well to the us now, where President Biden says that he hopes to see a ceasefire agreement between israel and hamas before the start of ramadan on the 10th of march. It comes as the us announced plans for a military airdrop of food and supplies into the growing into gaza to tackle the growing humanitarian. And humanitarian crisis. There. And the United Nations is also warning around 25 of gazas population. Thats more than half a Million People are on the bnnk half a Million People are on the brink of famine. Half a Million People are on the brink of famine. Meanwhile, brink of famine. Meanwhile, a manhunt here in the uk is underway. After three people underway. After three people were injured in a shooting last night in an area of the capital popular with bars and restaurants. The shots were fired by assailants on a moped as they were being pursued by police in clapham in south london. At around london. That was at around 5 00 last night. Two people suffered shotgun pellet injuries as they were drinking at a nearby pub, and we understand a third person was also injured by moped was also injured by the moped itself. Though, say the itself. Police, though, say the injuries not life injuries are not life threatening. Now you may threatening. Now you may remember that a cargo ship was abandoned in the red sea. A few abandoned in the red sea. A few weeks ago. That was after Houthi Missiles attacked it. Off the missiles attacked it. Off the coast of yemen. Well, that ship coast of yemen. Well, that ship has now sunk. It comes after the crew on board a uk registered ship abandoned that vessel after an explosion in the red sea last month. If youre watching on tv here, these are pictures. As the ship was preparing to be towed for though now, for repairs, though it has now, we understand, as i said, we understand, sunk as i said, the uk, the us and eu all have military ships in the region patrolling and protecting commercial vessels passing through important shipping through the important shipping route. And comes as attacks route. And it comes as attacks on vessels by Houthi Rebels backed by iran, are now having an economic impact, disrupting International Cargo shipments. International cargo shipments. And finally the retirement of 30 jets that were used to protect. Jets that were used to protect. British skies from potential attacks. It has been likened to scrapping spitfires before the battle of britain, raf bosses are grounding a fleet of typhoons in an effort to save a reported £300 million. Thats despite only completing 40 of their predicted flying hours dunng their predicted flying hours during their lifetime. It comes as defence secretary grant shapps urges the chancellor to increase military spending to 2. 5 of gdp, something jeremy hunt has said wont be in next weeks budget. Those are the weeks budget. Those are the headunes weeks budget. Those are the headlines for now. For more, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen. Or, of course, go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Com slash alerts. Thank you very much, sam. Happy saturday. I hope youre having a wonderful weekend. Having a wonderful weekend. Lets get straight into todays stories. Weve got a cracking stories. Weve got a cracking show for you now , rishi sunak. Show for you now, rishi sunak. You might have seen it has claimed that democracy is under threat from extremism in the wake of hamass october seventh attack on israel. In a speech to attack on israel. In a speech to the nation, he also said there are forces here at home trying to tear us apart. Lets have a listen. Life here that our great achieve in building the worlds most successful multi ethnic , most successful multi ethnic, multi faith democracy is being deliberately undermined and on too many occasions , as recently, too many occasions, as recently, our streets have been hijacked by small groups who are hostile to our values and have no respect for our democratic traditions, threats of violence and intimidation are alien to our way of doing things. They must be resisted at all times. Must be resisted at all times. Those who are so exciting, isnt it right joining me now is gb news senior political commentator, nigel nelson. Nigel, hello, good afternoon, happy weekend, etc. Etc. So glad im talking to you. Honestly, nigel, i have never seen anything like what i saw last night with rishi sunak making that speech straight after George Galloway winning the rochdale by election. What do you make of it . You know what youre talking about with politics. What do you make of it all . Well, i find it pretty weird too, actually. Um, i cant see why it justified a homily to the nafion why it justified a homily to the nation on the steps of number 10. Normally, thats reserved for big announcements. And there werent big announcements werent any big announcements actually, speech. Actually, in the speech. A couple of. Couple of sort of. Small ones, really. Um, so he could have really. Um, so he could have delivered that statement to parliament on monday, but quite clearly hes been spooked by George Galloways election. Now ive truck with george ive got no truck with George Galloway his opinions, galloway or his opinions, but unless that, um, its subsequently that any subsequently shown that any electoral rules were broken. Subsequently shown that any electisunak. Es were broken. Subsequently shown that any electisunak. Es making oken. Subsequently shown that any electisunak. Esmaking a;en. Subsequently shown that any electisunak. Esmaking a speech rishi sunak is making a speech about british democracy and democratic values. Well, of course , George Galloway was course, George Galloway was elected under the very principles of that british democracy. Democracy. Nigel. Nigel. So, i mean, how rattled, how rattled are both the conservative party and the labour party by what happened in rochdale . This is the only conclusion i can come to because normally when they, as you say, when they will, the lectern at number 10, it was a friday night. It was raining. No need to do this. And you thought, oh god, theyre to announce a god, theyre going to announce a general election or something or other. How rattled both of other. How rattled are both of our who did our main parties who did appallingly this by election appallingly in this by election run man being run by one man . That man being George Galloway . George galloway . Yeah. And there seemed to be actually a bit panicky where they dont need to be. Had they dont need to be. Now, had that a normal by election that been a normal by election and George Galloway had defeated and George Galloway had defeated a proper labour candidate , then a proper labour candidate, then yes, i think that would be really concerning thing. But it wasnt that the labour candidate wasnt that the labour candidate wasnt really the labour candidate. So people , people candidate. So people, people were work out where were trying to work out where their was their votes went. It was significant that it was a local businessman who came second. So a lot of who decided to put their votes there were other people there in a constituency which is 30 muslim. Um decided to go with George Galloway. So i mean, this is this is actually a freak by election rather than than a standard one. So. As than a standard one. So. As things stand, i dont think the two leaders should be too worried. Right. Okay. Well, um, they obviously are. Theyre not listening to us neither. Now, lets i mean, i was astonished by the things rishi by some of the things rishi sunak had to say. We heard a lot of rhetoric. You know what, rishi sunak did for me last night, nigel . He me the night, nigel . He gave me the problem , which im aware of, problem, which im aware of, which were all aware of what he seems short of was a solutions. Seems short of was a solutions. Youre absolutely right there. And that was the bit that surprised me when you normally those things are reserved for big statements. So i couldnt see very much of a solution there. There were three things that were announced a beefing up of prevent um, a clampdown on, uh, on extremism in universities and chucking people out whove come here on a visa if they get involved in extremism. Now, involved in extremism. Now, those are all things that exist anyway. So unless hes going to put some flesh on the bones of that over the over the coming weeks , it doesnt seem to be a weeks, it doesnt seem to be a major announcement. Look, i agree with the sentiments he expressed. I think democracy is under threat. And we have worried about extremism. But why worried about extremism. But why he felt the need to make a landmark Statement Like that is beyond me. You know what . If i was George Galloway this morning and thankfully im not. Um, id be waking up this morning thinking, blimey, ive got on the ropes. Every got them all on the ropes. Every single main political party. Shall we have a listen to what george after rishi george himself said after rishi sunaks announcement or speech . Sunaks announcement or speech . Its worse than a lie. Its dangerous because you see, if youre saying to muslims who vote that your vote will be delegitimized if you cast it the wrong way and if you go out on a demonstration peacefully to demonstrate , then youll be demonstrate, then youll be called a terrorist and new laws, new police , uh, approaches will new police, uh, approaches will be conjured forth against you if you do that, you are driving people away from the path of democracy and peaceful democratic protest. Democratic protest. You know what i thought was really interesting about that, nigel . I mean , sort of like, you nigel . I mean, sort of like, you know, playing the race card is old hat now, but George Galloway always that muslim card. Always plays that muslim card. I mean, know, i think any mean, you know, i think any sensible people will realise in this democracy is this country that democracy is under threat, there is extremism, there is hate and there is division not helped by George Galloway. But it was the fact that he said, you know, what rishi sunak said was, was telling muslims wrong. Telling muslims they are wrong. Muslims this. Muslims shouldnt do this. Muslims shouldnt do this. Muslims protest, they muslims if they protest, they are always playing are wrong. Its always playing that card with george that muslim card with George Galloway, it . Galloway, isnt it . Yeah. And that was actually typical george. I mean, to actually round and say that actually turn round and say that we consider Peaceful Protesters as terrorists , which is just as terrorists, which is just going too far. We dont consider that. We dont think that , um, that. We dont think that, um, everyone has the right to peaceful protest. And they peaceful protest. And so they should. So um, george is then stoking up the kind of hatred that we are trying to diminish, but all the Party Leaders are leaders seem to be doing this. We have the extraordinary, uh pmqs session on wednesday where both rishi sunak and keir starmer seem to be playing that card. One was accusing the labour party of being islamic, of being anti semitic , which it of being anti semitic, which it isnt. Um keir starmer seemed to be accusing rishi sunak of islamophobia , to which the islamophobia, to which the tories are not. Theyre not helping the matter either. What we should all try to calm things down. Oh , wouldnt it be nice, oh, wouldnt it be nice, nigel . Its very calming to talk to you this afternoon. Thank you very much. Youre going to be with me later, though, so dont go too far. You stay right where you are. But i for now, im going talk to my brilliant, going to talk to my brilliant, um, political i have with um, Political Panel i have with me two experts in the me today. Two experts in the field, political commentator field, uh, political commentator matthew and broadcaster field, uh, political commentator mattiparry and broadcaster field, uh, political commentator mattiparry. And broadcaster field, uh, political commentator mattiparry. Um, and broadcaster field, uh, political commentator mattiparry. Um, ind broadcaster field, uh, political commentator mattiparry. Um, i have oadcaster field, uh, political commentator mattiparry. Um, i have never;ter field, uh, political commentator mattiparry. Um, i have never im mike parry. Um, i have never im actually be very, very careful with mike parry because we support opposing football sides who are playing each other this afternoon, which puts afternoon, which which puts which puts politics into perspective , doesnt it . Uh, perspective, doesnt it . Uh, right. Okay. So im going to come to you first, mike, on this one. I have never i come to you first, mike, on this one. I have neveri mean, im one. I have never i mean, im quite elderly. I have never in all years covering politics all my years covering politics seen anything quite like ive witnessed over the last 24 hours. Yeah, well, eight hours. Well, not just that. I mean, the whole weeks been extraordinary, know, because i mean, the whole weeks been ext hadiinary, know, because i mean, the whole weeks been ext had the y, know, because i mean, the whole weeks been ext had the by know, because i mean, the whole weeks been ext had the by elections because i mean, the whole weeks been ext had the by elections lastause we had the by elections last week, and then we had a weeks gap and it got and more gap and it got more and more bizarre the week went on, i, bizarre as the week went on, i, i thought he was statesmanlike. Last night when he came uh, last night when he came out street and stood out of downing street and stood at lectern. But not sure at the lectern. But im not sure it the right issue to be it was the right issue to be statesman like about, because what me was i what it seemed to me was i suddenly thought, what are you doing, thought, doing, man . Then i thought, he must been at his must have been sitting at his office in downing street, when suddenly light bulb went on suddenly this light bulb went on in he thought, do in his head and he thought, do you know what . What it that you know what . What was it that Suella Braverman was telling you know what . What was it that s|fewa braverman was telling you know what . What was it that s|few weeks rman was telling you know what . What was it that s|few weeks ago . Was telling you know what . What was it that s|few weeks ago . Extremism] you know what . What was it that s|few weeks ago . Extremism in a few weeks ago . Extremism in society, the police not clamping down it. Think go out down on it. I think ill go out to lectern and people to that lectern and tell people this problem, because all this is the problem, because all he echo the very things he did was echo the very things that braverman, the that Suella Braverman, the former secretary, had been former home secretary, had been trying to tell country in a trying to tell the country in a in a far more precise way than anybody else, that the problems were. Weve got extremism, the problems are that the police dont seem to respond and to extremism on the streets that, you know, there is an islamic influence which is out of proportion to the number of people here who are muslim. And the police are not clamping down on it. Thats what she was sacked for. And thats the message he gave last night. Similar mike, similar to lee anderson as well. Yeah, well, similar sentiment. Sentiment. Similar sort of sentiment to lee anderson. Suella lee anderson. But Suella Braverman much better. Braverman put it much better. You know what i mean . So target exactly. Suella braverman it exactly. Suella braverman did it in a a way that people could in a in a way that people could start thinking and debating about. But when the Prime Minister said night, this minister said last night, this week, with senior week, ive met with Senior Police and made clear Police Officers and made clear that the publics that at the publics expectation, expectation is that not to merely manage these protests, but to police them. And i say to the police, we will back you when you take action. He should have been saying that months ago. And not only that, i sincerely believe the police have all those powers now. The problem is nobody in government, nobody the home office, nobody at the home office, nobody at the home office, nobody in downing is nobody in downing street is ordering police. Use the ordering the police. Use the powers. Got to take powers. Youve got to take extremism off our streets , which extremism off our streets, which intimidates and worries large sections of our communities. So why coming to you, matt . Why coming to you, matt . Why did it take George Galloway winning a by election in rochdale for rishi sunak to get his bottom in gear, putting it politely and say what many of us have been thinking for ages, especially the other week when we saw that that fiasco in the houses in the house of parliament where there was a mob outside there were beaming from the river to the sea on big ben, and we were all screaming at our tellies then do something about this. This is wrong. But now sudden we get this grand announcement after a rochdale by election. Let me just deal with George Galloway first. Good luck. Good luck. Okay. Okay. I think that this is a by the way, George Galloway isnt here to defend himself. We would like to defend himself. We would like to that. So no, id be very to say that. So no, id be very id be great if he was. If he did turn up, id be very happy to debate him. Hmm. Hmm. Its a dark moment, actually, for politics in this country that democratically that he was democratically elected yesterday. That he was democratically elected ye ask day. That he was democratically elected ye ask any. That he was democratically elected ye ask a lot of jewish if you ask a lot of jewish people, they will feel a chill about this. Now, he was democratically elected, but the turnout was minuscule and it was Something Like 39. So its higher than the previous two by elections to be. Still, it is still very it is still very low. And we hope that at the next election, the big set piece, the general election, labour will actually have a candidate that they get behind he they can get behind and that he will defeated. It is dark will be defeated. It is a dark moment. Okay. But it was nonetheless a democratic process. Want to turn to what. Yes. I want to turn to what mikes been saying because i disagree very strongly with some of you have of what you have said. My view , my criticism of in my view, my criticism of sunakisnt in my view, my criticism of sunak isnt so much that he came out , sunak isnt so much that he came out, although he should have come out before. It isnt some come out before. It isnt some of the words he used which i would support you trying to unify us, its the fact that it was coming from him. A man who decided to employ Suella Braverman in the first place as his home secretary, a woman who actually is fanning the flames of division by saying the ridiculous suggestion that islamists are in charge. Islamists are in charge. Islamists are in charge. Islamists are not in charge. Yes, there was a worrying moment a week or so ago when the speaker caved to threats to mps. That was more than worrying. That was more than worrying. It was worrying and indeed, that must never happen again , that must never happen again, because our democracy must never give in to threats or to the mob. But are we, generally speaking , as a society, as speaking, as a society, as a political system, as a democracy, giving in to the mob . No, were not. And sunak is responsible for some of the division that he now claims he wants to set aside. Yeah, but , wants to set aside. Yeah, but, matt, im sorry. How can you say were not giving to in the mob when the police just stand there impotently and put those messages on big ben from the to river the sea . Thats genocidal talk. That a thats genocidal talk. That is a genocidal mantra to get rid of 7 million jewish people who live in so i dont know how in israel. So i dont know how you can say that. And theres one thing i agree with you on, or maybe disagree with you on. I dont think im not frightened about are about this result as people are saying because in saying they are, because in rochdale there is 30 of the people, there are muslims. Only people, there are muslims. Only one sixth of people voted for George Galloway. Okay and i do think it will reverse again at the general election. So i do think people are spending a lot of terror about this outcome. It was bound to have an influence on muslim people in that part of the world. And George Galloway is incredibly astute politician, a great campaigner , did exactly a great campaigner, did exactly what he knew he could do touch the blue, touch paper lit the blue touch paper set the rocket off and people respond to him. But not very many compared to the overall population of the town. Lets address what happened then parliament, right . Yeah then at parliament, right . Yeah weve be able to weve got to be able to distinguish between individual decisions made by Police Officers. May be empowered and encouraged. We dont know by their superiors and the general state of society. I wouldnt touch those marches with a bargepole. Although i am very, very, very strong in my view that israels reaction to october the 7th is wrong. I october the 7th is wrong. I wouldnt go near those marches because i know that there will because i know that there will be some anti semite on them, but ihave be some anti semite on them, but i have to say that they have been larger, peaceful, if individual police know theyve instilled terror, if , well, they instilled terror, if, well, they shouldnt have. They have instilled terror thats been whipped up, i think, by the media. I dont think it has. Police officers are getting it wrong. That does need to be addressed. But lets not confuse operational decisions operational policing decisions with state of with the general state of british society. We are not overall being ruled by the mob and we need to distinguish. And you would agree me on this you would agree with me on this between islamists i between islamists for whom i have time whatsoever for, and have no time whatsoever for, and the vast majority of british muslims are law abiding , muslims who are law abiding, many of whom are generous and charitable. Just as we need to distinguish by the way, between right wing people, you would describe roughly describe yourself roughly of the right, think the far right, i think small c the far right. Okay there is a distinction made. Yeah distinction to be made. Yeah not be getting run we might not be getting run by islamists the and all by islamists and the mob and all that, mob are having a that, but the mob are having a very frightening on our very frightening effect on our society. People go out into society. When people go out into the streets wave their flags the streets and wave their flags around these around and chant these despicable slogans, and our police , who work for all of us, police, who work for all of us, stand aside and let them do it. That it is a terrible, terrible indictment of the rule of law in that country and even the Prime Minister now has finally discovered and i hope discovered that, and i hope hell more than just talk hell do more than just talk about and introduce some new about it. And introduce some new laws this week to make sure the police do crack down on terror. My hope and my expectation is that where there is law breaking Police Officers, if they think that they are outnumbered in a particular moment and they dont respond and that they respond there and then that they will photographs and will take photographs and videos, they shouldnt. Doing that theyve been doing that already they will arrest already and they will arrest after event. Shouldnt they after the event. Shouldnt they have already . Have been doing that already . Decision if the police are but yes, if the police are not being tough enough, they need to be tough. Any criminality said this from criminality ive said this from the vis these the beginning vis a vis these marches, any criminality, any anti semitism, be clamped down. Of course it has. And instilling terror the streets instilling terror on the streets is crime. Is a crime. It and well, we are where it is. And well, we are where we at the moment, arent we . We are at the moment, arent we . Unfortunately, leave unfortunately, i have to leave it could listen to you it there. I could listen to you all a huge topic. All day. Its such a huge topic. It really is. Um, but if you want to find out more analysis and opinion on that, even better than these two, just go to our website gbnews. Com. Dawn website gbnews. Com. Im dawn neesom gb news on neesom and this is gb news on saturday. The weekend. Hope saturday. Its the weekend. Hope youre enjoying it. Lots more coming todays show. Uh, coming up on todays show. Uh, pro palestinian. Pro Palestinian Protesters. Weve just been talking about them. Are occupying branches of barclays across the uk today calling for boycott , a boycott calling for a boycott, a boycott of bank after links to of the bank after their links to israel manufacturers. We israel arms manufacturers. We met one of those protesters live to see if they are indeed listening to rishi sunaks words. Of that and much more words. All of that and much more to with gb news, to come. Youre with gb news, britains channel. Dont britains news channel. Dont go too far. Welcome back to gb news saturday with me. Dawn neesom im happy weekend people. Im on your tv, onune weekend people. Im on your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Lucky you eh . And now thousands of pro Palestinian Protesters are marching across the country once again today, calling for a ceasefire in gaza. Theyve been going on for over four months across the country, in cities like london, london, manchester and edinburgh. Like london, london, manchester and edinburgh. But like london, london, manchester and edinburgh. But the protests and edinburgh. But the protests arent just happening in the street now. Pro palestinian street now. Pro Palestinian Protesters are also occupying branches of Barclays Bank, calling for a boycott of the bank over links to israel arms manufacturers. Joining me now is manufacturers. Joining me now is our West Midlands reporter, jack carson, who is loitering somewhere near a Barclays Bank. I believe yesterday you are jack outside of Barclays Bank. Jack whats going on . How many protesters are there and what are they up to . Well were probably looking at less than 100 protesters here, particularly here in wolverhampton. But this is all action organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign all across the country today at multiple branches of Barclays Bank, from wales to the south east of where we are here in the West Midlands, there are protesters on this day of action calling for people to try and boycott this bank. Its a little bit of a change in tactic as well from the campaign. Who is saying that they like boycotts are they feel like boycotts are working than other working more maybe than other methods, saying the methods, but theyre saying the palestinian campaign, Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, that theyre from their own research. That barclays research. They say that Barclays Bank holds over £1 billion in shares and provides £3 billion in loans and underwriting to Nine Companies, they say, whose weapons , components and military weapons, components and military technology are being used by israel on its attacks, of course, against the likes of hamas and those people within gaza. Hamas and those people within gaza. So thats why theyre here gaza. So thats why theyre here outside the likes of barclays, here in the West Midlands and also across the country as well. The protests here, particularly today, theyve had some music , today, theyve had some music, not in terms of the chanting that weve seen at other protests. So like the music play protests. So like the music play in the background that you might be able to here behind me with their flags demanding a ceasefire now. And theyve been waving flags as cars have gone by, trying to encourage people to beep their horns in support. But course, with these but of course, with these protests, does come protests, there does also come some opposition from some people that have been walking by these protesters feeling angry at, of course, their cause trying to put their side across. There has been a one member of the public that was spoken to by West Midlands police here. There have been a few police in attendance, but of course this all goes, doesnt it . Back to what rishi sunak was saying on the streets of street last night of downing street last night about him , him wanting about wanting him, him wanting the police to Police Protest rather than just stand by. So the police have got involved when theyve needed to here, particularly. But just in the particularly. But just in the case of protest case of this protest specifically, there hasnt been any necessarily kind of important steps that our action that theyve had to take against any of them. Just a few talking to a few members of the public who were who very quickly were starting to kind of rise, rise, tensions but thats very much tensions. But thats very much how these things do overspill in the of course, the first place. Of course, around country there might around the country there might well be more, um, more tend tensioned protest sites, particularly as well in birmingham as we saw a few weeks ago. Then birmingham as we saw a few weeks ago. Then the actual people actually occupying the bank inside, these protesters havent actually the bank inside, these protesters havent actualisimply the bank inside, these protesters havent actualisimply standinge bank inside, these protesters havent actualisimply standing outside today. Simply standing outside it. That will be very much the case across the country. Unless, of course, some protesters decide take it into their decide to take it into their their hands, particularly. Decide to take it into their their hands, particularly. But responding to what rishi what rishi sunak was saying on the streets of, of downing street uh, yesterday about feeling like that there have been there is some intimidation going on around the country , um, that the around the country, um, that the actual leader of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign by ben jamal, he said on twitter , um, jamal, he said on twitter, um, that rishi sunak, if we want to deal with with extremists , uh, deal with with extremists, uh, should, should start to look at the politicians, political commentator , as he says, and commentator, as he says, and religious leaders who are supporting what they are saying is a genocide. Um, in, in palestine. And he says that he should look in the mirror around his cabinet table and kick out the likes of Suella Braverman. Uh Robert Jenrick and michael gove. First, jack , just, just gove. First, jack, just, just very briefly, were running out of time. When you say the police got involved was that with the protesters or with that with a member of the public walking past who was angry at the protest was that was just protest that was that was just a member of the public who was who was angry the protesters. Was angry at the protesters. Shouting lot. He was shouting quite a lot. Um, obviously supporting israel over likes of palestine and over the likes of palestine and obviously not feeling like these protests are still be going on. So no formal arrests made so wasnt no formal arrests made just a talking to from just simply a talking to from the uh, to calm down. Okay, brian, thats jack carson there. Um, in westminster and reporter in wolverhampton, i think he said renee outside of Barclays Bank where there are protests going on as you saw there. Interesting police there. Interesting of the Police Taking action straight away taking more action straight away after rishi sunaks statement yesterday. Okay. Youre yesterday. Right okay. Youre with dawn neesom on gb news with me. Dawn neesom on gb news saturday. Lots more coming up on todays show. But heres the News Headlines sam before News Headlines with sam before we. We go there. Dawn , thank you very much and dawn, thank you very much and good afternoon. From the newsroom. The headlines just after 1 00, as weve been heanng after 1 00, as weve been hearing more pro palestine protests are taking place today following rishi sunak warning last night that islamist extremists and far right groups are, he says, spreading poison and trying to tear us apart. In that speech, delivered from downing street, he called for the nation to unite, highlighting the rise in extremist disruption, intimidation , threats and intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence. It followed George Galloways controversial win in the rochdale by election this week, which the Prime Minister described as beyond alarming. Described as beyond alarming. Organisers of those protests this weekend have now responded to the Prime Ministers pledge to the Prime Ministers pledge to back Stronger Police action, suggesting that he expels some senior mps from the conservative party its after rishi sunak pledged to support support the robust policing of demonstrations, particularly pro palestinian marches. The demonstrations, particularly pro palestinian marches. The met pro palestinian marches. The met police have in the past said that showing support for a terror group is a criminal offence, adding that the right to protest does come with a responsibility to act lawfully. Responsibility to act lawfully. Several local marches are planned today and more tomorrow before another National Demonstration in london on the 9th of march, a cargo ship which was abandoned in the red sea after a Houthi Missile attack, has now sunk. And that comes as has now sunk. And that comes as the uks Maritime Agency has reported in the last half hour that a fresh attack on another vessel off the coast of yemen , vessel off the coast of yemen, where the militant group backed by iran , have been attacking by iran, have been attacking shipping lanes , has also been shipping lanes, has also been attacked. The uk, the us and eu attacked. The uk, the us and eu all have patrols in the region to protect commercial vessels that are passing through that important shipping route. For important shipping route. For the latest stories , you can sign the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gbnews. Com slash alerts. Now though, lets get back to dawn. Dawn. Thank you sam. Now remember you can get in touch about all the stuff were talking today by emailing me. Really simple gb views at gb news. Com. On your views at gb news. Com. On your screen there you can say or message me on our socials. Were at gb news and theres loads more coming up on todays show for you. Now the princess of wales remember her . She hasnt been seen since undergoing a major Abdominal Surgery and the rumour mill has gone into overdrive. When the prince of overdrive. When the prince of wales pulled out of event wales pulled out of an event on tuesday short notice tuesday at very short notice because of what was called a personal matter, i want to know, should the royals break their silence to put those rumours to bed . All of that and much more to come. Im dawn neesom and youre with gb news. Britains news channel 2024 a battleground year. The year the nation decides as the parties gear up their campaign for the next general election. For the next general election. Who will be left standing when the british people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives . Who rise and who will who will rise and who will fall . Lets m fall . Lets out together for lets find out together for every. Every moment. The highs, the lows, the twists and turns. Well be with you for every step of this journey in 2024 gb news is britains election. Channel welcome back to gb news saturday with me dawn neesom on your tv online and on Digital Radio. Happy saturday hope youre having a wonderful weekend. It is the weekend. I know it seems like its been a long week now. Lots of you have long week now. Lots of you have been getting in touch with your thoughts on well, the political dramas of the basically dramas of the week. Basically rishi sunak rochdale George Galloway i mean, you couldnt make this up, could um, so make this up, could you . Um, so lets see what youve got to say. Uh, right. Lets go to michael first. Michael uh, good afternoon. Michael, thanks for getting you getting in touch. Um, uh, you say our government and local authorities dont work for us. They use us as a cash cow. And we pay them for it as well. So we pay them for it as well. So we deserve everything. We are going to get. You know what, michael . I think an awful lot of people feel the as you at people feel the same as you at the thats why i think the moment. Thats why i think labour and conservatives did labour and the conservatives did so that by election, so badly in that by election, because they really and so badly in that by election, bec dems hey really and so badly in that by election, bec dems wereeally and so badly in that by election, becdems were nowhere and so badly in that by election, becdems were nowhere inand so badly in that by election, becdems were nowhere in sight, lib dems were nowhere in sight, were they . Meanwhile, were they . Uh, meanwhile, william on George Galloway. Good afternoon, william. He says afternoon, william. He says george all members of George Galloway all members of parliament should stand together at the doors of parliament and by of him entering his by the way of him entering his no more than a hate preaching person thats bit strong. Person. Now thats a bit strong. Hes democratically elected and george isnt here to defend himself, which he will do because he is brilliant at doing that sort of thing. And he has had lot practice, hasnt had a lot of practice, hasnt he . Um, lets go now to alan he . So, um, lets go now to alan on rishi sunak. This is one conversation thats really got you all. Uh, alan says , um, it you all. Uh, alan says, um, it was correct for the to pm highlight that people need to wake up and smell the coffee if we wish to maintain our democratic way of life. And you know what i thought it was very dramatic when he came out. You can there now, out of number can see there now, out of number 10 lectern there. And 10 with the lectern there. And who think right. Okay, who didnt think right. Okay, you announcement. You heard the announcement. Rishi is going make an rishi sunak is going to make an announcement. And you thought, oh its the general oh my god, its the general election. Theyre to election. Theyre going to do it. And then happened and it. And then that happened and its never witnessed its like, ive never witnessed anything all in anything like that at all in many, many years of politics. But is talking for you . Its but is he talking for you . Its really its really talking for you. Gb views at gb news. Get in touch as marion has done. And marion, youre talking about George Galloway. Thank you so much for getting in touch. Um, marion , you say, um, sunak is marion, you say, um, sunak is reacting to the strength of feeling of many of the people in this country. Youre not alone on this one. Um and you say you only had to listen to your own interviews with the people of rochdale. This by election was rochdale. This by election was won a point of policy won on a point of Foreign Policy issues. And not anything to do with the needs of the people of rochdale. And, you know, i think rochdale. And, you know, i think that sums it up, isnt it . I mean, i wasnt counting, but if i counted how many times George Galloway mentioned rochdale and how many times he mentioned palestine and gaza, i bet there wasnt that much difference. But i and im not having a i wasnt, and im not having a go. George isnt here and i said if he was be great. George, if he was and be great. George, if he was and be great. George, if fancy giving a call, if you fancy giving us a call, um, would be great talk to um, it would be great to talk to him, wouldnt it . Really fascinating to talk to him. Now, lets talk about lets move on. Lets talk about spooks. A saturday. Spooks. Its a saturday. One of the powerful in formula the most powerful men in formula one continuing deny one is continuing to deny allegations inappropriate allegations of inappropriate behaviour against red behaviour against him. Red bulls Team Principal Christian Horner, whos married to the former spice girl Geri Halliwell , was cleared of misconduct this week after an internal investigation into his behaviour towards a female colleague. But the scandal continues to dominate the start of the f1 season after a series of messages allegedly involving horner were leaked. Um horner has continually denied all allegations of inappropriate behaviour in a statement, he said im not going to comment on anonymous speculation from unknown sources. I followed in unknown sources. I followed in full the grievance process, which was completed in a thorough way. The result of which was the grievance, was dismissed and as i said, i cant comment on unknown sources. Wow. Comment on unknown sources. Wow. Its been an amazing week for news, hasnt it . Joining me now is sport broadcaster , journalist is sport broadcaster, journalist and all round guru and all these sort of things. Aidan magee aiden , thank you so much for aiden, thank you so much for coming in. Now can i just say though, dawn, you said former spice girl, apparently youre a spice girl, apparently youre a spice girl life. Uh your head talk girl for life. Uh your head talk about sport. About sport. I know, i know, stick to it, but nothing. I know but i know nothing. I know nothing the spice girls nothing about the spice girls quite clearly. I know very little about formula one, but this has me interested. Well, know, its actually well, you know, its actually not very interesting the not been very interesting in the last been quite last few years. Its been quite processional with Max Verstappen winning it. Its rare. Its rare that the back page that ive seen on the back page of of the tabloids, let of the, of the tabloids, let alone on front, as it was alone on the front, as it was emblazoned across sun this emblazoned across the sun this morning, halliwell morning, with Geri Halliwell having heading having been mid air heading to bahrain file of bahrain when the latest file of the mirror and the sun. Yeah, exactly. Its an amazing exactly. Well, its an amazing story. Mean, was i she was story. I mean, it was i she was flying. She was mid air the flying. She was mid air as the latest file of whatsapp messages were dropped, should as were dropped, we should say as well not actually well that were not actually sure knows for certain sure nobody knows for certain if these actually no uh, these were actually real. No uh, and know, we its and so, you know, we cant. Its difficult to make suppositions in of with kind in these kind of with these kind of however whoever has of stories. However whoever has decided is behind this, assuming they are true, supposing they are is obviously not are true, is obviously not satisfied with how red bull deau satisfied with how red bull dealt with it in their headquarters in in austria. It is an internal case. Its not something fia felt they something that the fia felt they needed get involved but needed to get involved in. But theyve dropped bombshell theyve dropped this bombshell and it. Dawn, and everybody received it. Dawn, its like sending one of its almost like sending one of those rounder emails those all rounder emails to everybody 400 people. Ill fit this instructor who randomly received this. Yes, this tranche of emails. They wanted everybody to see it. And i think the next stage , it. And i think the next stage, from point of view from a strategy point of view for people behind it would for the people behind it would be say, well, okay, we be to say, well, okay, we werent happy the red werent happy with the way red bull it. We thought bull dealt with it. We thought theyd him on account theyd get rid of him on account of but the next stage is of that. But the next stage is to maybe take it further, prompt the prompt the investigation or the prompt the investigation or the probe. You like, if there the probe. If you like, if there is be a probe to go further is to be a probe to go further to point where in such to the point where in such a commercially sport, maybe commercially ized sport, maybe some big names big some of the big names are big sponsors say, you know, sponsors might say, you know, all its not a perfect all right, its not a perfect storm perfect situation to storm or perfect situation to remove him his job for remove him from his job for something happened something thats happened internally but internally with an employee. But goodness reflecting goodness me, its not reflecting well its not well on the sport. Its not reflecting on sponsors. Reflecting well on sponsors. Hes somebody as hes not somebody we as an individual to be individual that we want to be associated with. And its a bahrain grand prix. Weekend. Its today and its a bahrain grand prix. Today eekend. Its today and its a bahrain grand prix. Today at kend. Its today and its a bahrain grand prix. Today at 3 00. Its today and its a bahrain grand prix. Today at 3 00. Its to okay 3 00 today at 3 00. Yeah. Okay right. And there. Right. And hes there. He is with with Geri Halliwell. Yeah right. Been seen with geri. Theyve been seen with geri. Theyve been seen with geri. He has indeed. He has indeed. Okay and do they yes. Right. Okay and do they look yes. Right. Okay and do they loo well theyre putting on a well theyre putting on a unhed well theyre putting on a united so i dont know if united front. So i dont know if you probably happy. You you can probably look happy. You can probably you can probably fake it in some ways currently. But you know i dont know maybe hes her assurances that hes given her assurances that its fake. Its its all its all fake. Its part of a sting. Its something that is on. I that untoward is going on. I dont nature of their dont know the nature of their conversations, but they are there. Would looked there. It would have looked a bit shed not been there. Bit sus if shed not been there. I would have thought, because she normally goes to the races i would have thought, because sh be ormally goes to the races i would have thought, because sh be alongsideyes to the races i would have thought, because sh be alongsideyes to its races i would have thought, because sh be alongsideyes to its aaces i would have thought, because sh be alongsideyes to its a very to be alongside him. Its a very important man in f1. This is the problem. How important is he and how goodis how important is he and how good is he his job . Good is he at his job . Well, hes exceptionally good at to get of him and at his job to get rid of him and what done not well, what hes done or not done well, the main, the main person in the in team the driver. In the team would be the driver. Max won 22 out of Max Verstappen won 22 out of 23 races its races last year. Thats why its become quite dull. And is become quite dull. And this is why this, why f1 doesnt really need this, because in because it needs some fire in it. It needs some sparks. It needs on the on the track literally were literally because were not going Lewis Hamilton going to see Lewis Hamilton moving to ferrari until next season. Lewis season. So although lewis although Lewis Hamiltons ferrari sorry hes his mercedes car has shown signs of improvement over the practice and qualifying, i dont and over the qualifying, i dont think theyre going to catch Max Verstappen. Anyone think theyre going to catch max verstis, pen. Anyone think theyre going to catch max verstis,perthey anyone think theyre going to catch max verstis,perthey somethinge else is, so they need something to happen on the track at the moment is happening the moment this is happening off the track, damage the track, its going to damage the reputation of the sport. Reputation of the of the sport. But terms how important but in terms of how important christian yeah, hes Christian Horner is, yeah, hes been part of that team. Max verstappen him. Verstappen rates him. Max verstappen rates him. Max verstappen that he was verstappen said that he was a little bit distracted in the last so. Admitted last 48 hours or so. He admitted that didnt just say, he that he didnt just say, he didnt say, oh yeah, nothing. Nothings happened. Everything. Everythings his boss was did concede that his boss was was as you might was was distracted, as you might imagine. Would be the imagine. Would be would be the case. But from for them imagine. Would be would be the casybusinessm for them imagine. Would be would be the casybusiness as for them imagine. Would be would be the casybusiness as usual. Or them imagine. Would be would be the casybusiness as usual. Hesem its business as usual. Hes fastest qualifying. I think its business as usual. Hes faste win qualifying. I think its business as usual. Hes faste win theilifying. I think its business as usual. Hes faste win the bahraini think its business as usual. Hes faste win the bahrain grand prix hell win the bahrain grand prix this so thatd be this afternoon, so thatd be interesting what happens there. It will. Wow. Magee. It will. Wow. Aidan magee. Thank good to see thank you so much. Good to see you. Its interesting. You. Really. Its interesting. Right. Dawn neesom right. Okay. Im dawn neesom on gb saturday theres gb news saturday and theres lots on todays lots more coming up on todays show. Princess of wales. Show. The princess of wales. Remember she remember her . Thats what she looks hasnt seen looks like. Hasnt been seen since undergoing major Abdominal Surgery. Mill since undergoing major abdominal surgeinto mill since undergoing major abdominal surgeinto overdrive mill since undergoing major abdominal surgeinto overdrive when � nill since undergoing major abdominal surgeinto overdrive when the went into overdrive when the prince out of an prince of wales pulled out of an event tuesday. A very short event on tuesday. A very short nofice event on tuesday. A very short notice what notice because of what was called a personal matter. I want to know, should royals break called a personal matter. I want to kn silence uld royals break called a personal matter. I want to knsilence and royals break called a personal matter. I want to knsilence and neverals break their silence and never complain, never explain to put those to bed all of that those rumours to bed all of that and much more coming up. Im dawn youre with gb dawn neesom and youre with gb news, britains news channel. Welcome back to gb news saturday with me. Dawn neesom on tv, onune with me. Dawn neesom on tv, online and on Digital Radio. Its about 1250, but you dont need to know because its saturday afternoon and hopefully youve rush off youve got nowhere to rush off to. Here. Me right to. Stay here. Watch me right now. To lots of now. Were used to lots of rumours royals, but rumours about the royals, but has social media gone too far . Has social media gone too far . Royal aides are slamming online conspiracy theories about Kate Middletons health. The princess of wales spent almost two weeks in hospital after undergoing major Abdominal Surgery in january , and the rumour mill january, and the rumour mill really went into overdrive when the prince of wales pulled out of an event on tuesday. A very short notice because of what was called a personal matter. Now, called a personal matter. Now, um, im sorry, i dont do conspiracy theories, but im absolutely fascinated. I know i hate myself to find out what is happening to kate or catherine. Joining me now is royal correspondent and writer michael cole. Michael, thank you so much cole. Michael, thank you so much for joining us this afternoon. Now i hate myself. I pride myself on being professional on these matters , but i am these matters, but i am desperate to know whats going on with kate. Why can they just not give us a clue , put a not give us a clue, put a picture out a statement, give us an update. Whats going on . Good afternoon dawn. Um, good afternoon dawn. Um, yeah. Let us start. I think by sending our collective good wishes to the princess of wales for a speedy and complete record. And complete record. Avery, um, as youve said comprehensively , she was a long comprehensively, she was a long time in hospital. 13 nights, time in hospital. 13 nights, obviously , it wasnt a minor obviously, it wasnt a minor matter, but the palace, Kensington Palace was candid. It said there was nothing cancerous about what went on there. And of course, shes not housebound and she is living at adelaide cottage in the middle of windsor great park. But shes also been up to their house and mahal on the sandringham estate for the half time holiday with the children, i think its worth children, and i think its worth just saying what she has said through the press office at Kensington Palace and she said i do hope that the public will understand , uh, her desire to understand, uh, her desire to maintain an as much normality for her children as possible and her wish that her personal medical information remains private. Well, of course , i private. Well, of course, i think thats entirely appropriate and proper and understandable. No woman or any person wants their private medical matters discussed out in public. And i think probably at the back of her mind is the thought of her children going to school. And one of the kids saying to Prince George or princess charlotte, you know whats your mum . And whats wrong with your mum . And then the word out, uh, then the word coming out, uh, through the, the rumour mill and of course , as youve said, uh, of course, as youve said, uh, social media, media, which is very valuable. Im sure, in some ways is also a very evil brew at other times. And rumour is a lying jade and is halfway around the world before truth has got its boots on. Having said all that, having said all that , i that, having said all that, i gave big brownie points to kp and also Buckingham Palace for being candid. When the king went into hospital and when she went into hospital and when she went into hospital, the princess was. And i think they could be a little bit more candid. Give us some, um, some understanding of whats going on, because there is obviously a genuine concern as well. Shes a fit, young, healthy woman. Shes got three small children. And, you know, i completely your point completely understand your point , michael, sort like, michael, about sort of like, you children want you know, the children want to be of but, you be kept out of it. But, you know, kids are going to be asking any case, because asking them in any case, because kids mean, you know, kids are kids. I mean, you know, theyre on social media theyre all on social media these so there will these days. So there will be saying katherines saying to, to katherines children, wrong with your children, whats wrong with your mum . Asking these mum . So well be asking these questions so, questions in any case. And so, you a combination of you know, its a combination of some the rumours some of the, some of the rumours out astonishing. Out there, um, are astonishing. So just were they ever give us any more dodi . Youre not just a woman, youre a distinguished woman. And im sure that you would share catherines inhibitions about sharing too much of her personal life and do bear in mind that when she went into hospital before the birth of Prince George with very , very Prince George with very, very severe morning sickness afterwards, she was quite candid about that. And i think shes referred to it at least so at the appropriate time i think she will come forward and she will explain. I mean , in the explain. I mean, in the meantime, we just have to pray and hope that everything is okay and hope that everything is okay and theres no reason to believe it isnt. Kensington palace has said that shes making Good Progress. I dont think they would say that , unfortunately. Would say that, unfortunately. Well leave it on the word Good Progress because that is a nice thing to end on. Were running out of time. But michael cole, thank you much. Cole, thank you so much. A pleasure as always to talk to you. Dawn this is you. Uh, im dawn neesom this is gb and theres gb news on saturday and theres loads coming i loads more coming up, but i think we need to have a look at the weather. Getting told the weather. Im getting told off the weather off here, so heres the weather with greg. Outlook with boxt a brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello there. And Greg Dewhurst and welcome to your latest gp news, weather, we still have areas of rain, sleet and snow pushing northward through today. And snow pushing northward through today. Frost and fog and through today. Frost and fog and some icy stretches for tonight and staying quite cold and we can see that nicely on the air mass chart. This pool of cold air saturday over the uk. Something trying come something milder trying to come in beginning of next something milder trying to come in butbeginning of next something milder trying to come in but a ginning of next something milder trying to come in but a cold ng of next something milder trying to come in but a cold weekend. T something milder trying to come in but a cold weekend to come week, but a cold weekend to come for rest of the afternoon for the rest of the afternoon into the evening weve got into the evening time. Weve got these outbreaks of rain, these areas outbreaks of rain, sleet pushing sleet and snow pushing northwards across Northern England scotland , perhaps england into scotland, perhaps affecting northern affecting parts of Northern Ireland too, are covering over the ground overnight, the high ground overnight, clearing , particularly clearing skies, particularly across central and southern parts of england and wales. We could see dense fog patches could see some dense fog patches , some frost icy stretches , some frost and icy stretches as temperatures fall below freezing bright start freezing here, so bright start in some places. Drier than it was on saturday morning. But was on saturday morning. But some dense fog patches, particularly across central southern england, this slowly lifting and breaking through the day and then sunday will day and then overall sunday will be bright day. Some sunny be a bright day. Some sunny spells, showers across spells, scattered showers across western again bit Western Areas, again a bit wintry higher ground. Wintry over the higher ground. This could give this weather front could give some across some thicker cloud across the far east of the country. Temperatures quite cool. Still 7 to 9 celsius, but in any sunshine. Not feeling too bad and in for monday. A cold and frosty start. Some fog patches and then that milder starts to come but in association with come in, but in association with this area of rain across southern and southWestern Areas over the next few days, it brightens up a little. There brightens up a little. There will sunny spells and will be some sunny spells and temperatures rise temperatures start to rise as well, into figures , well, back into double figures, particularly the south. Particularly in the south. Looks like things are heating up boxt boilers sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello. Good afternoon, hello. Good afternoon, welcome to gb news saturday. I hope youre having a wonderful weekend. Im dawn neesom for the next two hours. Ill be keeping you company on your telly, onune you company on your telly, online radio, online and on Digital Radio, keeping to date on all keeping you up to date on all the really matter the stories that really matter to a cracking to you. Now ive got a cracking show dont go too far. Coming show so dont go too far. Coming up this hour is democracy under threat . The Prime Minister has warned extremists are trying to undermine british democracy. Undermine british democracy. Rishi sunak, also called on Palestinian Protesters to reject radicals who are hijacking their marches and urge police to take a tougher stance. A tougher stance. Pro palestinian protests. Thats pro palestinian protests. Thats them. There occupy branches of barclays across the uk, calling for a boycott of the bank over their links to israel, arms manufacturers. Well be live in wolverhampton, where one of those protests are taking place , those protests are taking place, and new government review is and a new government review is recommended that trans Police Officers may no longer be allowed to strip search suspects of the opposite biological. Sex of the opposite biological. Sex but contrary to popular belief, this show isnt about me. Its about you. Nothing without your views. So let me know your thoughts on all the stories were discussing about today or anything you want to talk about. Basically gb views at gbnews. Com or message me on our socials. Were at gb news. But first lets get those News Headlines with the lovely sam francis. With the lovely sam francis. Dawn , thank you very much. Dawn, thank you very much. Good afternoon. I have been informed it is now 101. Exactly. And we start with a recap of that top story that weve been covering all day that more pro palestine protests are planned this weekend following rishi sunak warning last night that islamist extremists and far right groups are, he says , right groups are, he says, spreading poison and trying to tear us apart in that speech, delivered from downing street , delivered from downing street, he called for the nation to unite, highlighting the rise in extreme disruption, intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence. It planned acts of violence. It followed George Galloways controversial win in the rochdale by election this week , rochdale by election this week, which the Prime Minister described as beyond alarming. The rochdale by election returned a candidate who dismisses the horror of what happened on october 7, who glorifies hezbollah and has endorsed by nick griffin the racist former leader of the bnp. Racist former leader of the bnp. I need to speak to you all this evening because this situation has gone on long enough and demands a response not just from government, but from all of us. In response to that statement, by the Prime Minister last night, opposition parties have given mixed reactions , with have given mixed reactions, with the liberal democrats accusing him of sowing seeds of divisions. However, the labour leader, sir keir starmer , said that sir keir starmer, said that rishi sunak is right to call the country to unite and to condemn what he called unacceptable and intimidating behaviour. Meanwhile, the new mp for rochdale , George Galloway, whos rochdale, George Galloway, whos also a former presenter for Iranian State tv , has said the Iranian State tv, has said the Prime Minister is playing a very dangerous game that could drive young into extremism. Young muslims into extremism. Its worse than a lie. Its dangerous because you see, if youre saying to muslims who vote that your vote will be delegitimized , and if you cast delegitimized, and if you cast it the wrong way , and if you go it the wrong way, and if you go out on a demonstration peacefully to demonstrate their , peacefully to demonstrate their, then youll be called a terrorist. And new laws, new terrorist. And new laws, new police, uh, approaches will be conjured forth against you if you do that, you are driving people away from the path of democracy and peaceful democratic protest organisers of the protest. This weekend have now responded to the Prime Ministers pledge to back Stronger Police action. So that he should expel some senior mps from the conservative party. Its after rishi sunak pledged last night to support robust policing of demonstrations. Policing of demonstrations. Particularly, he said, palestinian pro palestinian marches the metropolitan police have in the past said that showing support for a terror group is a criminal offence, adding that the right to protest does come with a responsibility to act within the law. Several local marches are planned today as weve been hearing and more tomorrow before another National Demonstration here in london on the 9th of march to the us. And President Biden says that he hopes to see a ceasefire agreement between israel and hamas before the start of ramadan on the 10th of march. It comes as the us announced plans for a military aid drop of food and supplies into gaza to tackle the growing humanitarian crisis there. United nations is also warning around 25 of the population in gaza. Thats more population in gaza. Thats more than half a Million People are on the brink of famine now. Back on the brink of famine now. Back here in the uk, a manhunt is now underway after three people were injured in a shooting in an area of london thats popular with bars and restaurants. Shots were fired by assailants on a moped as they were being pursued by police in clapham, in the south of the city, at around 5 00 last night, two people, we understand suffered shotgun pellet injuries as they were drinking at a nearby pub and a third person was also injured by the moped itself. Police say the injuries, though, are not life threatening and a cargo ship, which was abandoned in the red sea after a recent Houthi Missile strike off the coast of yemen , has now the coast of yemen, has now sunk. We understand. It comes as sunk. We understand. It comes as reports from the uks maritime crime agency has also suggested in the last hour or so that the militant group, backed by iran, have also attacked another vessel in the region just off the coast of yemen and the uk. The us and eu all currently have military ships patrolling the region to protect commercial vessels passing through the important shipping route and finally the retirement of 30 typhoon jets that were used to protect british skies from potential attacks has been likened to scrapping spitfires. Likened to scrapping spitfires. Before the battle of britain. Before the battle of britain. Raf bosses are grounding the fleet of typhoons in an effort to save a reported £300 million. Thats despite only completing completing 40 of their predicted flying hours during their lifespan. It comes as the defence secretary, grant shapps , defence secretary, grant shapps, is urging the chancellor to increase military spending to 2. 5 of gdp, which is something jeremy hunt has said wont be in next weeks budget. Those are next weeks budget. Those are the headlines. Ill be back in half an hour. In the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on screen or of course, go on your screen or of course, go to gbnews. Com slash alerts. Thank you very much , sam. Now thank you very much, sam. Now rishi sunak has claimed that democracy is under threat from extremism in the wake of hamas october 7th attack on israel. In october 7th attack on israel. In a speech to the nation , he also a speech to the nation, he also said that our forces here at home, trying to tear us apart. Lets take a listen. Lets take a listen. But i fear that our great achievement in building the worlds most successful , worlds most successful, multi ethnic, multi faith democracy is being deliberately undermined. And i want to speak undermined. And i want to speak directly to those who choose to continue to protest. Dont let continue to protest. Dont let the extremists hijack sukh your marches. You have a chance in marches. You have a chance in the coming weeks to show that you can protest decent , you can protest decent, peacefully and with empathy for your fellow citizens. Let us your fellow citizens. Let us prove these extreme wrong and show them that even when we disagree , we will never be disagree, we will never be disunited from our common values of decency and respect. Right of decency and respect. Right okay. Well, joining me now is gb news senior political commentator , nigel nelson. Nigel commentator, nigel nelson. Nigel thank you very much for joining us this afternoon , nigel. Quite us this afternoon, nigel. Quite the most astonishing time in politics. Weve been around for a long time, i think combined possibly 400 years. Um but possibly about 400 years. Um but i dont remember a week quite as mad as weve had the lectern the friday night, the dark. Mad as weve had the lectern the friday night, the dark. Were friday night, the dark. Were expecting a general election announcement, maybe. And instead we got this speech. What did you we got this speech. What did you make of it . Make of it . Well, i just think that that rishi sunak is putting, uh, too much on George Galloways election in rochdale. Well, uh, election in rochdale. Well, uh, this is the fourth time that George Galloway has been an mp. And while hes a skilful speaken and while hes a skilful speaker, and i know from experience you have to be on your toes to debate with him. Your toes to debate with him. Hes always created more noise than sense. So the idea that suddenly politics has changed because hes just been elected as an mp, he seems to be going a bit far, but certainly that that appears to have spooked rishi sunak and to an extent, keir starmer. Starmer. Hes got not just rishi sunak, but hes got keir starmer rattled. He seems to have everybody in the political establishment rattled now. He is an incredibly successful campaigner , as you say, nigel, campaigner, as you say, nigel, ive tried to interview him. Its hard going. Hes very, very clever, very sharp. And he can be it has to be said, quite intimidating. Um so why is this one man rattled the whole of british politics so much . British politics so much . I think the british politics just basically needs to calm down at the moment. Just basically needs to calm down at the moment. Um, and its incumbent on our political leaders to stop fostering the illusion that if youre on the right of politics, youre somehow now islamic islamophobe left your anti semitic. Um, this is an election year, and you dont want those two things to become the subjects of an election. But why someone like George Galloway should should suddenly up end british politics. He hasnt done it before. Hes often claimed thats what his election means , thats what his election means, just as hes done in rochdale. Just as hes done in rochdale. But he will just be another one of 650 mps, even if a very loud one. So do you think rishi sunak, i mean , it was very dramatic. Do you think rishi sunak was right to come out and say what he said in the way he said it last night . Um, its the way he said it. I think that that im a bit disturbed about. I mean , ive disturbed about. I mean, ive got nothing against the sentiments he expressed. Its sentiments he expressed. Its that its absolutely right. We should all behind all the should all unite behind all the principles of british democracy. Principles of british democracy. What was a bit weird , though, is what was a bit weird, though, is he felt hed had to come out on a friday night onto the steps of downing street, which is usually reserved for urgent and major announcements , and say it there. Announcements, and say it there. Youre quite easily have tweeted everything he said. Or everything he said. Or alternatively, give a statement to the house of commons on monday. Monday. And of course, its all red to meat George Galloway himself, who i think can we see what he had to in response . Had to say in response . Yes, its worse than a lie. Yes, its worse than a lie. Its dangerous you see, its dangerous because you see, if youre saying to muslims who vote that your vote will be delegitimize wokeist if you cast it the wrong way and if you go out on a demonstration peacefully to demonstrate , then peacefully to demonstrate, then youll be called a terrorist and new laws, new police , uh, new laws, new police, uh, approaches will be conjured forth against you if you do that, you are driving people away from the path of democracy and peaceful democratic protest. And peaceful democratic protest. The thing is right. I think most people. Im going to read most people. Im going to read you this email. Actually, nigel, this is a viewer whos got in touch. Mike. Good afternoon mike. Thank you for this. So mike. Thank you for this. So mike saying right i got i got and we all did the same didnt we. I made tea got ready to watch this very unusual broadcast. All for what sunak broadcast. All for what sunak told us what we already knew. He told us what we already knew. He told us what his colleagues had been him and getting in been telling him and getting in trouble for, le. Suella braverman. Um uh um. Lee braverman. Um uh um. Lee anderson and several others. And anderson and several others. And they got in trouble for it. Rishi sunak just said it in a slightly different way. Uh, slightly different way. Uh, well, this is mike saying now i was so shocked that he came out and all already and said, what we all already know nothing about what hes going to do with it or do about it. And thats what i heard as well. I it. And thats what i heard as well. I heard it. And thats what i heard as well. I heard what the problem well. I heard what the problem is, which were all aware of. I didnt hear what the solutions were or no , i think thats were or no, i think thats right. I agree with mike totally. Everything hes actually just said there, um, he didnt come up with solutions. I mean, what rishi, the announcements he did make was to beef up the, um, beef up prevent, which is designed to stop radicalised asian. He hasnt explained how he will do that. And theres an example of something thats a bit peculiar that in the same breath, he was talking about, uh, dealing with extremism on university campuses. Now prevent training has actually just changed. Uh, what it used to say is that extremists should not be allowed to speak in universities. Now, the prevent guidance is, uh, yes, they should be allowed to speak, but they should be challenged when they do so it seems to be that the governments all over the place where they actually try and deal with this issue , well, things you never issue, well, things you never hear about politics at the moment. Its all over the place. Its divided and i think yesterday or this week in general really has just proved that point. Uh, nigel, thats nigel nelson there. Our, our gb news senior political commentator who is joining us later on as well. Thank that. Now thank you, nigel, for that. Now for all the analysis and for all the best analysis and opinion on that story. And much more, go to our website at gb news. Com. Now, should the news. Com. Now, should the government crack down on health, tourism , some nhs hospitals have tourism, some nhs hospitals have lost over 180 million to health tourists. People who travel abroad from abroad for medical treatment here, since a government pledged to crack down on the scandal with some services losing equivalent of £100,000 a day. Now this affects my local hospital, which is a London Hospital. Im not going to name it, but i mean, ive got a friend who works there and some of the stories they tell me would make your hair go. Now joining me former labour joining me now is former labour adviser Scarlett Mccgwire and host gb news. Saturday, five host of gb news. Saturday, five albie amankona. Thank you very much for joining albie amankona. Thank you very much forjoining me. Now they much for joining me. Now they say i always say this about these two. My favourite pairing, but dont say about but i dont say it about everyone and i genuinely mean everyone and i do genuinely mean it. Honestly. Um so im it. Scarlet honestly. Um so im going to come to you first gala now. Now, as i said, this, this Health Tourism thing, i think various governments said various governments have said over were clamping over the past, were clamping down on it. Unless youre here and youre, you know, youre paying and youre, you know, youre paying your national insurance, you cant get free. Cant you cant get free. You cant get healthcare. Do get free healthcare. So why do i hear horrific stories hear the most horrific stories from friend who works this from my friend who works in this big hospital about people big London Hospital about people literally off a plane, literally getting off a plane, giving birth, taking their babies going home again, babies and going home again, sometimes flying in on private jets, the oh is it still jets, by the way. Oh is it still happening . Look , look, um, the but but look, look, um, the thing, the thing is, is, is that britain tries to attract what we call Health Tourism. I mean, its done as a scandal. Oh, isnt this terrible . These isnt this terrible . These foreigners come in. I mean, actually , for the most part, we actually, for the most part, we charge them. Just lot of its just that a lot of hospitals are not very good at picking up the bill. And i was reading a National Audit Office Report, which is where this comes from and what theyre saying is the hospital, the trusts have get better at trusts have to get better at this is they keep saying this, is that they keep saying that they will get better. So its not about, oh god, these dreadful foreigners. This is dreadful foreigners. This is great. Mean , were number five great. I mean, were number five in the world and its because were so good that we that we attract people. You know, canada doesnt go, oh, these dreadful people , they have far more. People, they have far more. Theyre number one, singapores number two. Um, so what its about is, is, is its actually getting the trusts to sort out their finance departments and to, to do it. But i mean, some of it is actually the british pensioners, uh, at and pensioners that, that, that , that are living in that, that, that are living in and living some well hundreds of thousands , hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands are british pensioners. Um, and, and i mean, and the and the, uh, i mean, the other thing is, is look, the other somebody i was reading, i think it was reform who said we should be like america and we should judge it. But actually, you know, i go on houday but actually, you know, i go on holiday a lot italy. Holiday a lot in italy. Italian hospital has the, the Italian Hospital has had me with a possible concussion and my son with a broken nose , all for that one broken nose, all for that one hell of a holiday card. Hell of a holiday card. My daughter. No, no, this is sounds awful, but big one was was somebody falling out of a window and breaking his pelvis, for which they charged. But most of it , they they go, of it, they just they just go, oh, thats fine. You know, oh, no, thats fine. You know, well just deal with it. That we were part of was that when we were part of before said and before brexit . I said the and you still a little card. That means that you can be you can do it for free in europe. But i think instead of talking about the scandal of Health Tourism , what got Health Tourism, what weve got to is the trusts have got to to say is the trusts have got to get their act together and charge properly. Charge people properly. But heres the thing, albie, why dont we do like america , why dont we do like america, for example . And they say, well, give us your credit card as soon as you go in there. Look, i think there are a number of things can do number of things that we can do to this. First of all, to address this. First of all, £180 million lost over a £180 million being lost over a five year period. Thats a lot of money could used of money that could be used to train of doctors, train thousands of doctors, thousands pay for thousands of nurses pay for thousands of nurses pay for thousands replacements thousands of hip replacements and scarlett is and i think scarlett is absolutely right to say nhs absolutely right to say the nhs needs better at needs to get better at collecting debt. I think theres probably that we can probably something that we can do border sure do at the border to make sure that were letting people that were only letting people in or in with Health Insurance or a certain of money ensure certain sum of money to ensure that could any that they could afford any health in the health care. When theyre in the country, actually , scarlett country, but actually, scarlett is right on health care is also right on the Health Care Tourism care tourism point. Health care tourism point. Health care tourism £4 billion for tourism generates £4 billion for the nhs. Between 2016 and 2022. The nhs. Between 2016 and 2022. So if you take 180 million away from 4 billion, that leaves a net gain of £3. 82 billion. So this is actually making money for the nhs . Yes, we should be better at collecting the debts that people accrue, but ultimately this has been a net gain for the nhs over the period where theres £180 million was lost. It wasnt actually lost. We actually made £3. 82 billion dunng we actually made £3. 82 billion during this period because of Health Care Tourism. But we could be making more. We could be we could be making £180 million more. But i just wanted to make the point that actually over this period, we made £3. 82 billion from health care, tourism. Yes, we should get tourism. Yes, we should get better at collecting debt , better at collecting the debt, but lose sight of the but lets not lose sight of the headune but lets not lose sight of the headline figure, which what headline figure, which is what should reported that we made should be reported that we made almost £4 billion as a net profit, a net gain to the nhs from health care, tourism. From health care, tourism. So its another thing i dont understand here, scarlett, is we have managers, said all layers of management in the nhs who are paid vast amounts of money, a lot more than doctors and lot more than the doctors and the are actually doing the nurses are actually doing the nurses are actually doing the vast amounts of money. The job. Vast amounts of money. Why . Why cant we get one of them of £200,000 a year to actually start doing this properly . Properly . Yeah, and this is exactly what the audit Office Report says. The, the, the Public Affairs committee, they interviewed lots of people and what they said is, is it different trusts do it differently. Some are fine and some actually , you know, theyre some actually, you know, theyre theyre left , uh, being very bad theyre left, uh, being very bad at picking up bills. So yeah, at picking up bills. So yeah, you have to get the right people. You have to you actually have to spend the problem is you have to spend the problem is you have to spend the problem is you have to spend money to it back. To spend money to get it back. You have have people who you have to have people who understand financing. I understand about financing. I mean, alby quite rightly, i mean, alby says quite rightly, i mean, alby says quite rightly, i mean, maybe you do say you need you need you you need travel insurance to make sure that to make sure that you do it. Because, i mean, obviously, some of these people literally fly in for operations, which is a good thing. But what we really dont want to be like america, where if something goes wrong, the first thing they do is ask you for your. But why not . I dont im not necessarily opposed that for i think for opposed to that for i think for people who are tourists coming to the country, i wouldnt be opposed to that of system. Opposed to that sort of system. I whats different in i think whats different in america which might america to britain, which might explain theyre at explain why theyre so bad at collecting debt , is that health collecting debt, is that health care a business in care is run as a business in america, and if nhs was america, and if the nhs was a business, would not accept business, they would not accept losing £180 million over a five year period when they could be making that money back. So i think its partly, partly to do with mentality of nhs with the mentality of nhs managers that they think managers in that they just think , well lost this , okay, well weve lost this amount its going to amount of money, its going to be underwritten by the government, thats going be underwritten by the go happen1t, thats going be underwritten by the go happen in thats going be underwritten by the go happen in america. ; going be underwritten by the go happen in america. ; theyre to happen in america. So theyre much collecting much more hot on collecting debts and theyre debts from people. And theyre not here the uk because its not here in the uk because its a health system. Youre a Public Health system. Youre right. The other difference is that actually somebody has actually if somebody has an emergency, they get treated, then they get asked afterwards about the money. Whereas we know in america the first thing the ambulance does is have you got a credit card and i and id rather have our system and its not about our system being abused. About our system being abused. Its about like everywhere else is that if you can get away with not paying it and probably a lot of it is Insurance Companies. I mean , this friend of mine who mean, this friend of mine who fell out of the window and broke his pelvis on your amazing holiday, holiday this holiday, my amazing holiday this is on a lot of holidays in italy, to be fair. But on this particular one he, um , uh, i particular one he, um, uh, i mean, the Insurance Company took over a year to pay and argued all the way through. So actually thats one of the things is, is , thats one of the things is, is, you know, we need we need accountants or whoever who can argue with the Insurance Companies who can say this is, this is this is what it is. Thats what the private hospitals have. I mean, it would hospitals have. I mean, it would be interesting to know how many people leave a private hospital without. Because actually, if youre private hospital, as i youre a private hospital, as i know, when the nhs has sent me to them, the first they do to them, the first thing they do is give you saying, is they give you a thing saying, how to pay for it . How are you going to pay for it . So maybe, maybe it does need to be run more like business. To be run more like a business. Learnings from theres always learnings from the sector that can be the private sector that can be appued applied to the public sector. In my were not talking my opinion, were not talking about privatising the nhs though. No ones mentioned that, by though. Way. Nes mentioned that, by though. Way. But mentioned that, by though. Way. But we ntioned that, by though. Way. But we ntio all that, by though. Way. But we ntio all going by though. Way. But we ntio all going on the way. But we are all going on houday the way. But we are all going on holiday with scarlett because it sounds a riot. Were just getting first. Getting Health Insurance first. Uh, you both. Weve run uh, thank you both. Weve run out unfortunately and out of time. Unfortunately and thatis out of time. Unfortunately and that is a lovely Scarlett Mccgwire. And be conor mccgwire. And ill be ama conor there talking about healthcare. Mccgwire. And ill be ama conor theryoure ng about healthcare. Mccgwire. And ill be ama conor theryoure wilhioul healthcare. Mccgwire. And ill be ama conor theryoure with me. Healthcare. Mccgwire. And ill be ama conor theryoure with me. Dawn care. Mccgwire. And ill be ama conor theryoure with me. Dawn neesom uh, youre with me. Dawn neesom on gb news and theres on gb news saturday, and theres loads coming on todays loads more coming up on todays show. Uh, pro palestinian show. Uh, pro Palestinian Protesters are occupying branches of banks across the uk calling for a boycott of the bank over their links to israel arms manufacturers. All of that, arms manufacturers. All of that, and much more to come. Youre with me. Dawn neesom gb news. Britains news channel thank you hello. Welcome back to jemmy news saturday with me dawn neesom on your telly, online and on Digital Radio. Hope youre having a wonderful weekend out there now. Lots of you have been sending messages and sending in your messages and thats good because program thats good because this program is and rishi sunak is all about you and rishi sunak and George Galloway have really got you going and not necessary in a good way. Got you going and not necessary in a good way. Uh, susan, on on George Galloway. Um, galloway is George Galloway. Um, galloway is twisting , George Galloway. Um, galloway is twisting, manipulating and confusing the public. Now, as i keep saying, George Galloway isnt here to defend himself. This is your opinion and feelings are running high. Uh, meanwhile. Alison. Good meanwhile. Alison. Good afternoon. Allison. Yeah, everyone remembers this one, dont they . Um, is George Galloway that idiot that pretends to be a cat on big brother . What an absolute bit of rude word. And people voted for rude word. And people voted for him. Incredible ill be interesting to Wander Around the streets rochdale now asking streets of rochdale now asking who and why. They who voted for whom and why. They did he a huge majority, did. He did win a huge majority, so lots of people did obviously vote for him. This is how vote for him. And this is how democracy works. Uh, meanwhile, democracy works. Uh, meanwhile, youre not over keen on rishi sunak either, are you . This is harold sunak. Um, would harold on rishi sunak. Um, would someone ask suella someone please ask Suella Braverman to take over the reins and actually get something done . Youre the only one to think youre not the only one to think that harold. Right. Okay, now that harold. Right. Okay, now well move shall we . Uh, well move on, shall we . Uh, well, kind of move now. Well, kind of move on now. Thousands pro palestinian thousands of pro Palestinian Protesters are marching across the country today once again calling ceasefire in gaza. Calling for a ceasefire in gaza. Theyve been going for over four months now across the country, in cities like london, manchester and edinburgh. But the protests are just happening in the streets. Uh, in the streets. Uh, pro Palestinian Protesters are also occupying branches of Barclays Bank calling for a boycott over their links to israeli arms manufactures. Drs israeli arms manufactures. Drs joining me now is our West Midlands reporter , jack carson. Midlands reporter, jack carson. I believe hes in wolverhampton, still outside, loitering outside the bank again. Jack, youre going to get a reputation. Jackie. It looks quite quiet behind you now. Whats happening . Yeah so essentially the protest is over for today. Dawn. So 11 am. To 1 pm. Was the time that this national day of action that was organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. They want people to boycott Barclays Bank. These protests today have been going on all around the country from the likes of abergavenny in south wales, um, as as here south wales, um, as well as here in West Midlands, in in the West Midlands, in wolverhampton, i am, and wolverhampton, where i am, and across the across different parts of the country. Up country. They are setting up their the their very clear reasons. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, as why want people to as to why they want people to boycott bank, they say boycott Barclays Bank, they say that have research which that they have research which which says barclays holds which says that barclays holds over £1 billion in shares and provides £3 billion in loans and underwritings to Nine Companies who this campaign say weapons components and military technology are then being used by israel on, of course, when they are likes of attacking hamas and of course, um , they hamas and of course, um, they say attacking civilians in gaza and palestinians. So one of and palestinians. So one of those companies is general dynamics, which they say includes the gun systems and things like that. So essentially they say theyre argument is, is that by encouraging people to boycott Barclays Banks, they wont the money be able wont have the money to be able to, um , of course, have these to, um, of course, have these shares and course, write shares and of course, write these loans to these companies. So thats theyve been so thats why theyve been taking their their protest, so thats why theyve been takiprotestations heir protest, so thats why theyve been takiprotestations acrossotest, so thats why theyve been takiprotestations across thet, uh, protestations across the country in england and wales and scotland. But their protest scotland. But their protest today, now over. We scotland. But their protest today, now over. We did see some confrontation from one member of the public here in wolverhampton who seemed to keep coming back three times. He came back to try and voice own opinions about and voice his own opinions about these protesters today. West Midlands Police did get involved all three times to try and move him on. They have moved him on and now these protesters have gone. Hes not back again, gone. Hes not been back again, but he was certainly confronting those protesters today. But of those protesters today. But of course it all comes. Um as rishi sunak yesterday on the on the steps of downing saying steps of downing street saying that feels like forces here that he feels like forces here at are trying to tear us at home are trying to tear us apart. He that he has no apart. He says that he has no problems with those protesters that are going about their job that are going about theirjob peacefully. To say, from peacefully. I have to say, from watching and observing these protests there were protests here today, there were some were some music, but some there were some music, but there chanting there was certainly no chanting that here and seen that weve seen here and seen around the country with these palestine certainly around the country with these palestmusic, certainly around the country with these palestmusic, but certainly around the country with these palestmusic, but no ertainly around the country with these palestmusic, but no chanting as some music, but no chanting as such, just holding the palestinian holding their palestinian flag, holding their placards, uh, end placards, saying, uh, end, end the now. But of the ceasefire now. But of course, rishi sunak feels like more has to be done. Um, saying more has to be done. Um, saying particularly around the police, that he wants these protests to be rather just be policed rather than just watched minded. Um, so watched and minded. Um, so thats certainly what we saw here in wolverhampton when here in wolverhampton today when there altercation there was some altercation between protesters and the between the protesters and the member the public. I have to member of the public. I have to say it does look incredibly peaceful and calm where you are. Um , as jack carson as gb news um, as jack carson as gb news West Midlands border. Thank you very much joining this very much forjoining us. This afternoon report. It afternoon with that report. It does calm. Maybe, maybe does look calm. So maybe, maybe rishi sunak words have made a difference. Well find out. Wont we . Youre with dawn neesom on gb news saturday and theres lots more coming up on todays show, but first, its time News Headlines with time for the News Headlines with sam francis. Sam francis. Dawn, thank you very much. Dawn, thank you very much. Good afternoon from the newsroom. Its 131. The headlines good afternoon from the newsroom. Its131. The headlines this half hour. Well, as weve been hearing, more pro palestinian protests are taking place across the country today. And that follows rishi sunak warning last night that islamist extremists and far right groups are, he says , spreading poison and says, spreading poison and trying to tear the country apart in his speech delivered from downing street , he called for downing street, he called for the nation to come together and unite, highlighting the rise in extremist disruption , extremist disruption, intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence. It planned acts of violence. It followed George Galloways controversial win in the rochdale by election earlier this week, which the Prime Minister described in his speech as beyond alarming. He developed as beyond alarming. He developed agents in a manhunt thats underway after three people were injured in a shooting in an area of london popular with bars and restaurants. The shots were fired by assailants on a moped as they were being pursued by police in clapham. Thats in south london at around 5 00 last night. We understand two people did suffer shotgun pellet injuries as they were drinking at a nearby pub and as weve heard in the last few hours, a cargo ship which was abandoned in the red sea after a Houthi Missile attack has now sunk. It comes as reports from the uks Maritime Agency also suggest that the militant group, backed by iran, have also attacked another vessel off the coast of yemen today , the uk, the us and yemen today, the uk, the us and eu all have patrols in the region to protect commercial vessels that are passing through that important shipping route. That important shipping route. Those are the headlines for the latest stories. You can sign up to gb news alerts. Just scan the code on your screen or visit our website gbnews. Com slash alerts. Website gbnews. Com slash alerts. Thank you sam. Just a little tiny bit of news to add to that is that gerry and chris horner have arrived hand in hand at the bahrain grand prix. Sign of unity there, right now. Remember you can get in touch about all the weve been discussing the topics weve been discussing today by email me on gbviews gbnews. Uk. Com or gbviews gbnews. Uk. Com or messaging me on our socials. Messaging me on our socials. Were at news. Loads more were at gb news. Loads more coming up on todays show. Would you be comfortable strip you be comfortable being strip searched by a Transgender Police officer . The government has officer . The government has ordered a review after concerns were raised about people being searched by members of the opposite biological sex. All of that, and much more to come. Im dawn neesom and youre with gb news, britains news channel. Put kettle on, put the kettle on, 2024 a battleground year is the year the nation decides, as the year the nation decides, as the parties gear up their campaigns for the next general election. Who will be left standing when the british people make one of the biggest decisions of their lives . Who will rise and who will fall . Lets find out together. Lets find out together. Lets find out together. Moment, the highs , for every moment, the highs, the lows, the twists and turns. The lows, the twists and turns. Well be with you for every step of this journey. In 2024. Gb news is britains election. Channel election. Channel hello. Welcome back to gb news saturday with me dawn neesom on your tv, online and on Digital Radio. Now loads of you have been sending your thoughts in on the stories weve been talking today. Mainly it talking about today. Mainly it has about rishi sunak has to be said about rishi sunak and galloway cant and George Galloway and i cant blame feelings running and George Galloway and i cant blam very feelings running and George Galloway and i cant blam very high lings running and George Galloway and i cant blam very high ongs running and George Galloway and i cant blam very high on this running and George Galloway and i cant blam very high on this story. Iing very, very high on this story. So put me specs on. Um, derek on rishi sunak says , um, empty rishi sunak says, um, empty words from an empty suit. 14 months in and were still waiting for something to happen. Waiting for something to happen. Now, this is interesting that i dont know if youve got your tongue in cheek on this one. This is billy. Good afternoon billy, says , and its all in billy, he says, and its all in capitals, by the way. Uh George Galloway may be proud to be a scotsman again last night, with three marks make three explanations. Marks make of that what you will. Um, and chris, on rishi sunak says if he wants to portray strength, he needs to shout a bit more for. Im not quite sure what you mean about that. I shouted enough people shouting on one final one to read because i like this one. Natasha on George Galloway hey dawn looking glam always. Dawn, looking as glam as always. Thats it. No, no. Thats it. Thats it. No, no. Theres more. Um, i find i find it hard believe how you it hard to believe how you could win vote by sending two win a vote by sending two Different Campaign do Different Campaign letters to do different demographics. Im pretty deception wrong. Pretty sure deception is wrong. Well, know. We dont well, we dont know. We dont know. Not confirmed. And know. Thats not confirmed. And it was a democratic vote. But it was a democratic vote. But thanks for the glam comment. Thanks for the glam comment. Love that bit. Now would you be comfortable being strip searched by a Transgender Police officer . Currently, officers who were born male but identify as female are allowed to strip search female suspects if they have their gender recognition certificate. The government has now ordered a review after concerns were raised about people being searched by members of the opposite biological sex. This is such a toxic , diverse, this is such a toxic, diverse, if complicated subject that im really glad ive got someone who talks sense on it and theres not that many around , and thats not that many around, and thats diversity and inclusion. Diversity and inclusion. Facilitator katie john went. Facilitator katie john went. Katie, thank you so much for joining me this afternoon. This is one of those topics that instantly gets people screaming at one another. Um, understandably so in some cases. However, i like talking to you a voice of reason. Now, what do you make of this story . You make of this story . Its a difficult one because weve actually got three laws that, if not more than three, four kind of laws that are in play four kind of laws that are in play here. Weve got the police and criminal evidence act of 1984. Weve got the gender recognition act of 2004. Weve got the equality act of 2010, and weve got human rights, um, acts, etc. And they all kind of none of them kind of meld perfectly. And them kind of meld perfectly. And what it actually does leave room for is codes of practice is common sense is kind of best practice his. And for years weve kind of muddled along with best practices. And then people best practices. And then people have come along with absolute attitudes around sex and gender in both directions. In the sense that no man is ever a woman or that no man is ever a woman or that a trans person is absolutely a woman. When you have these two absolutes, you then get these situations where, okay, so what do we do in this situation . And the searching situation . And the searching situation both ways. Situation works both ways. In fact, youve got the fact, because youve got the issue around, what do you do with trans detainees . Who with trans detainees . Who searches the trans person in whichever direction the trans person has either gone or is arriving at . And there are there are rules and codes of practice that already exist for that. But theres also the equality act, which to some degree is actually the sensible act because it trumps all of them to a degree where it says that there can be reasonable exceptions. And this is what we need to apply. Look, the reasonable exception is dont it. The reasonable exception is dont it. Its as simple as dont do it. Its as simple as that. Dont do it. Its as simple as that. Um, you know, there is no that. Um, you know, there is no absolute right as a Police Officer to search someone of the same sex as your identity. It isnt about the right of the Police Officer. Its about the respect and the safety of the detainee and not kind of adding a further kind of insult to injury. If they turn, if they are an innocent person of actually adding trauma. And actually adding trauma. And particularly when you look at womens with 50 womens prisons with 50 of womens prisons with 50 of women womens prisons being women in womens prisons being people suffered people who have suffered Domestic Abuse and sexual assault, the thing want assault, the last thing you want to them through the to do is put them through the trauma searched trauma of being searched by someone to make someone that is going to make them feel assaulted, and that can anyone. It could be can be anyone. It could be a male author, be a trans male author, it could be a trans officer. Could the officer. It could even be the burly officer. They burly female officer. If they went to a female single sex school in their past and got abused teacher, nun, abused by a female teacher, nun, or whomever , then will or whomever, then people will have. Have sensitivities. So, katie, obviously its never one size fits all right. Never one size fits all right. Its not all black and its not all white. There are always, always grey. Always shades of grey. Interesting. Mentioned the interesting. You mentioned the prison situation because we heard this week that a trans prisoner was found dead in their cell, um, after moving to after their move to a womans jail was blocked. Now the whole prison issue, obviously in scotland became a huge, huge talking point. Where do you stand on point. Where do you stand on thatissue point. Where do you stand on that issue . That issue . Ive moved my position on as i think its kind of well known that i have shifted my position because im open to debate and open to discussion, open to new evidence, and open to better arguments. And the prison situation has changed radically. Situation has changed radically. Ispent situation has changed radically. I spent a fair amount of time in in prison as a as an offender, but engaged with the prison system , um, 10 or 15 years ago. System, um, 10 or 15 years ago. So ive been to about 50 odd uk prisons in my past in that respect. And one of the things i noficedis respect. And one of the things i noticed is they actually had local policies more than national policies. Local policies more than national policies. But from Kind National policies. But from kind of 2011 onwards, had national of 2011 onwards, we had national pfison of 2011 onwards, we had National Prison Service Instructions on what to do. Everyone erred on the side of respect, erred on the side of respect, erred on the side of caution, and erred on the side of inclusion. And it on the side of inclusion. And it was only in the years following that that people began to realise, oh, but if we err on the side of inclusion, we havent erred on the side of who the side of inclusion, we havwe erred on the side of who the side of inclusion, we havwe now d on the side of who the side of inclusion, we havwe now kind the side of who the side of inclusion, we havwe now kind of; side of who the side of inclusion, we havwe now kind of lumping who are we now kind of lumping people in with . And there were a number there going back five, six a number six years or more. A number of transgender suicides prison transgender suicides in prison and that led a lot of people to err on the side of caution quick, get them into the womens prison avoid you prison to avoid suicide. You know, and putting people on suicide and avoiding suicide watch and avoiding suicide watch and avoiding suicide prison right suicide in prison is a right thing to do. Um, but also putting transgender prisoners , putting transgender prisoners, particularly those who are still male bodied have a history of male bodied or have a history of sexual violence, not sexual violence, etc, should not be transferred to the female estate. Easy answer is come estate. The easy answer is come up with a third solution, which they already done at one they have already done at one prison which transgender prison which has a transgender wing. What they should do with 250 prisoners, of whom 70 have been convicted of sex or violence related crimes. Violence related crimes. Although that doesnt mean always that theyre a perpetrator. They could be in for sex you know, in that for sex work, you know, in that sense, that number in sense, um, but that number in there but 25 of them are transgender men. Its not just transgender men. Its not just trans have these trans women who have these crimes linked to them, but with 250 people, youve got capacity to create a transgender jail and to create a transgender jail and to separate it by the different transgender sexes and genders and the degrees of risk and violence to each other. Its something thats been in the considered in the past in italy and in california. And i think they should actively do it in they should actively do it in the uk. And would solve the uk. And it would solve everyones and safety. Everyones rights. And safety. It there are theres so much mess around this, isnt there . Finally, katie , one other thing finally, katie, one other thing i want to talk to you about was our, um, Suella Braverman has spoken again about how she spoken out again about how she fears she could be criminalised if trans conversion therapy is banned. I mean, her, her her, her viewpoint is that if you are a boy, you cannot become a girl, and vice versa. Now she fears just by explaining that to her children on that could see her criminal ized. If you were were. Criminal ized. If you were were. Where do you stand on the trans conversion therapy . Well having conversion therapy . Well having kind of undergone it many years ago, um, by choice actually , ago, um, by choice actually, because i was trying to avoid being trans. So i actually went through transgender conversion therapy. But also just transgender conversion therapy. But through also just transgender conversion therapy. But through regular. So just transgender conversion therapy. But through regular therapy and went through regular therapy and which wasnt kind of affirmative. Was just affirmative. It was just explorative. And was really , explorative. And it was really, really helpful. Dont think really helpful. I dont think there situation you there is any situation you should kind penalising should be kind of penalising people who actively seek out therapy , but theres no way therapy, but theres no way which anyone should actually sensible be thinking. Were sensible be thinking. Were going criminalising, going to start criminalising, stating fact, biological facts. Im im a male. I was born male, im im a male. I was born male, im trans. Im im a male. I was born male, im trans. You know, those two im trans. You know, those two can both be true. And its can both be true. And its possible to state fact without getting your kind of knickers in a twist sense. And a twist in that sense. And i think it should be quite doable to create good law. But what i dont want is any bad law rushed through that does create these kind of new dilemmas that then have be tested in court, and have to be tested in court, and then cases get thrown out because has passed bad because someone has passed bad law what needs to law, and thats what needs to happen. Most of the aspects happen. And most of the aspects of kind of, uh, conversion therapy are already prohibited anyway because of, you know, harassment and attempts to change anyones kind of religion , sexuality or gender by force are already outlawed. You know , are already outlawed. You know, simply under existing and its but a kind of a conversion therapy law should be really, really good law. And and should still allow the possibility of, of speaking truth, whatever it is, but also just you know, decent human rights, respect and expression. Expression. Just. Absolutely. Katie, just one final very quick question. One final very quick question. Yes or no answer. Do you still read or watch anything by jk rowling . Ive said this on rowling . Ive said this on record before. I still love harry potter and i would still sit down for a wee dram with jk rowling any time to discuss these things. We should never have got to the position where stopped discussing never have got to the position where andtopped discussing never have got to the position where and putting discussing never have got to the position where and putting people ng things and putting people in permanent sin bins at extreme ends, and just allowing people to more of to become kind of more kind of side road within their viewpoints. I always engage across the barricades, and i dont actually see myself as on the other side of any barricade, but usually in the middle of the road being run over everyone. Road being run over by everyone. Always to talk katie, always a joy to talk to you. Thank you so much for joining today, and thank you to you. Thank you so much for joirbeing today, and thank you to you. Thank you so much for joirbeing aoday, and thank you to you. Thank you so much for joirbeing a voice and thank you to you. Thank you so much for joirbeing a voice ofd thank you to you. Thank you so much for joirbeing a voice of reason you to you. Thank you so much for joirbeing a voice of reason inyu for being a voice of reason in the debate that gets so toxic. Thats katie. John went there. Thank you very much. Now youre thats katie. John went there. Thanme. U very much. Now youre thats katie. John went there. Than me. U very neesom ow youre thats katie. John went there. Thanme. U very neesom on youre thats katie. John went there. Thanme. U very neesom on vol news with me. Dawn neesom on gb news saturday and theres lots more coming todays show coming up on todays show showbiz the 2024 brit awards will see some major changes to their categories in response to their categories in response to the backlash of gender neutral categories. There we go again. Everything all of that and much more to come. Youre with gb news, britains news channel. Dont far oh, hello. Welcome back. Its gb oh, hello. Welcome back. Its gb news saturday with me. Dawn neesom happy saturday. Hope youre having a wonderful time. Youre having a wonderful time. Im your telly online and on im on your telly online and on Digital Radio now. Were going Digital Radio now. Were going there again. Woke, gender neutral categories will once again take centre stage at the uks biggest music awards. Again take centre stage at the uks biggest music awards. But the brits are making whole the brits are making a whole sail changes after receiving criticism last year when major female acts such as florence and the machine were snubbed for the non binary artist of the year. Huh now the category has been doubled from 5 to 10 nominations, so everybody gets a go. Isnt it lovely . Uh, joining go. Isnt it lovely . Uh, joining me now because she knows what shes talking about and frankly, i dont is a showbiz reporter. Stephanie takyi stephanie dawn, the brits. Yeah. Isnt this one. However however, bit of breaking news. Yes. Slightly earlier on the horners. Horners , gary and Christian Horners, gary and Christian Gerry stanton by her man. As to be expected. You know as to be expected. You know through all of these allegations of inappropriate behaviour which christian firmly denies, she stood by his side and you know , stood by his side and you know, theyve always had a very Strong Family image. There we go. There family image. There we go. There we go. She, she , shes shes masking she, she, shes shes masking a lot of pain there, i have to admit. But you know what . She is someone whos all about her family. And shes worked very hard over the past few years to have this good family image. And shes changed her own image. So i dont think shes going to let these which been these texts, which have been leaked, their family leaked, defeat their family unit, not publicly anyway. Well, no, i wouldnt want to be here. Yeah, id be talking quite pitched voice later be here. Yeah, id be talking quitoday, pitched voice later be here. Yeah, id be talking quitoday, butched voice later be here. Yeah, id be talking quitoday, but thatsoice later be here. Yeah, id be talking quitoday, but thats. Ice later be here. Yeah, id be talking quitoday, but thats. Ive ater on today, but thats. Ive arrived at the bar and grill, which is happening this afternoon. Yeah in hand afternoon. Yeah um, hand in hand hands. Ijust afternoon. Yeah um, hand in hand hands. I just think again with yeah. I just think again with gerry, shes supported him every step of this way isnt a very strong relationship. They do have a strong relationship. And i you know be i think, you know what, to be honest, that honest, its kind of good that its there in the open its out there in the open because they start because then now they can start working privately on their marriage. Christian is marriage. And christian is adamant that hes going be adamant that hes going to be staying at red bull. So eventually, know how it is, eventually, you know how it is, dawn. Next dawn. Its news today. By next week, be another couple week, therell be another couple well about. Well be speaking about. Hopefully not same hopefully not in the same regard. Exactly. Regard. No, exactly. Yeah. Well, it could be a couple of coming from tonights brits. Oh yes. Could brits. It oh yes. It could be brits. It could be. We know, we know these after parties. We do. Well after parties. Yes we do. Well the brits i feel like its a bit of a tick boxing exercise because you know they did get rid of the gendered categories which year saw that women which last year saw that women were didnt get were the ones who didnt get awarded artists of the year. Awarded for artists of the year. This theyve above and this year theyve gone above and beyond. 57 of the nominations beyond. 57 of the nominations are going to women. Rte one are going to women. Rte one singer. You may hear about tonight. Shes up for seven nominations. Yes and then weve got the International Artist of the year, which is heavily dominated by women. Again with taylor swift in taylor smith, taylor swift in there. So i think it is going to be a night for the women. But whether how its going whether how genuine its going to know. Dawn, you to be, i dont know. Dawn, you know, about the record know, all about the Record Companies and how it is invested andifs companies and how it is invested and its not really rock and roll. No, its not im sorry. Im and its not. And you know, like the audience does get to pick tonight whos going to win in genre category. We may in the genre category. So we may see stones pick up see the Rolling Stones pick up rock and alternative, which is their first nomination in a decade. But the rest of the acts, you know, if youve kind of gone off music over the past few years, its the new few years, its all the new generation thats coming up. But one thing its going to be all eyes the battle of the eyes to see the battle of the sexes. I do think be sexes. But i do think it will be the women at the brits. Basically all theyve done is right. Theyve taken sort of like female, male. Like best female, best male. Yeah. All in one yeah. And lump them all in one big, big. But theres ten of them. The same it them. So its the same as it used to be. A shame because i think its a shame because i think some women the fact that some women like the fact that they be best female artist they could be best female artist. You know, adele won a few. You know, when adele won a few years like, i like years ago, she was like, i like being woman want to be being a woman and i want to be referred woman. So its referred to a woman. So its shame they them all in shame that they put them all in the you know, the same category. You know, music , they listen to music fans, they listen to female artists for one reason. Listen male artists for one listen to male artists for one reason. Why reason. And the reason why theyve done is to appease theyve done this is to appease non non binary artists such as sam smith. Hes far and few between. Yeah quick question. Were running out of time. Are you going tonight. Yes i am got the gladrags. I will be bleary eyed in the morning. Have your breakfast tomorrow. Have your breakfast tomorrow. I am hey tune in for that one. You dont want to miss it. Um, thank you very much. No worries. In. Tomorrow shall um, thank you very much. No wo away in. Tomorrow shall um, thank you very much. No wo away with in. Tomorrow shall um, thank you very much. No wo away with in. Uh,rorrow shall um, thank you very much. No wo away with in. Uh,rorrc dawn ll be away with it. Uh, im dawn neesom. Its gb news saturday. Lots up, lets lots more coming up, but lets have a look at the weather with greg, shall we . A brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello there. And Greg Dewhurst and welcome to your latest gb news, weather, we still have areas of rain, sleet and snow pushing northward through today. And snow pushing northward through today. Frost and fog and through today. Frost and fog and some icy stretches for tonight and staying quite cold. And we can see that nicely on the air mass this pool cold mass chart. This pool of cold air the uk something air sat over the uk something milder trying in by the milder trying to come in by the beginning next week, but beginning of next week, but a cold weekend to come for the rest of the afternoon into the evening weve got these evening time. Weve got these areas sleet areas outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow pushing northwards across england into across Northern England into scotland, affecting scotland, perhaps affecting parts Northern Ireland, to parts of Northern Ireland, to recovering over the high ground overnight, clearing skies, particularly across central and southern parts of england and wales. We could see some dense fog patches, some frost and icy stretches as temperatures fall below here so a bright below freezing. Here so a bright start in some places drier than it was on saturday morning. But it was on saturday morning. But some dense fog patches, particularly across central southern england, this slowly lifting and breaking the lifting and breaking through the day and then sunday will day and then overall sunday will be bright day. Sunny be a bright day. Some sunny spells, showers across spells, scattered showers across western again a bit Western Areas, again a bit wintry over the higher ground. This front could give this weather front could give some thicker cloud across the far country. Far east of the country. Temperatures cool. Still temperatures quite cool. Still 7 to 9 celsius, but in any sunshine. Not feeling too bad. Sunshine. Not feeling too bad. And then for monday, a cold and frosty start, some fog patches and milder starts to and then that milder starts to come in association with come in. But in association with this area of rain across southern and southWestern Areas over the next few days, it brightens up a little. Therell be some sunny spells and temperatures start to as temperatures start to rise as well, into double figures, well, back into double figures, particularly the south, so particularly in the south, so that feeling inside from that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello welcome to gb news saturday im dawn neesom and for the next hour ill be keeping you company on tv, online and on Digital Radio. Keep you up to date on all stories that date on all the stories that really to you. Cracking really matter to you. Cracking our up for you. Is our coming up for you. Um, is democracy threat . The democracy under threat . The prime warned Prime Minister has warned extremists are trying to undermine british democracy, as he called for country to he called for the country to come and beat this come together and beat this poison. Also issuing a direct plea to pro palestine protesters, calling them to reject radicals who are hijacking their marches and urge police to take a tougher stance. Police to take a tougher stance. And then is the Royal Air Force leaving Britain Defenceless . Its leaving Britain Defenceless . Its decommissioning 30 typhoon jets . I didnt know we had any. Amid i didnt know we had any. Amid strenuous budget cuts , but strenuous budget cuts, but considering the growing threat from russia, not to mention the middle east, is this the smartest move . And new research smartest move . And new Research Shows the number of people taking their drive , saving tests taking their drive, saving tests and romantic car has increased by over 200 over the last decade. By over 200 over the last decade. Im asking is britain decade. Im asking is britain having a gear. Change but hey, this show is nothing without you and your views, so let me know your thoughts on all the stories were discussing today or whatever you want to chat about. Bafic whatever you want to chat about. Basic saturday afternoon. Email basic saturday afternoon. Email me gbviews gbnews. Com or me on gbviews gbnews. Com or message me on our socials at gb news. But first, heres the news headunes news. But first, heres the News Headlines with sam francis. Dawn headlines with sam francis. Dawn thank you very much. Good afternoon from the newsroom. Just coming up to 2 02, and we start with a recap of the news weve been covering for most of the day today that dozens of pro palestine marches are to take place in are expected to take place in towns and cities across the uk this weekend , after rishi sunak this weekend, after rishi sunak called on organisers not to let extremists hijack those protests. In his speech , protests. In his speech, delivered from downing street last night, he called for the nafion last night, he called for the nation to unite, warning that islamist extremists and far right groups are spreading poison. And, he said trying to poison. And, he said trying to tear us apart. It followed george , George Galloways george, George Galloways controversial win in rochdales by election this week, which the Prime Minister described as beyond alarming. Beyond alarming. The rochdale by election returned a candidate who dismisses the horror of what happened on october the 7th, who glorifies hezbollah and is endorsed by nick griffin , the endorsed by nick griffin, the racist former leader of the bnp. Racist former leader of the bnp. Ineed racist former leader of the bnp. I need to speak to you all this evening because this situation has gone on long enough and demands a response, not just from government, but from all of us as well. Opposition parties have now given their reactions to the Prime Ministers speech , and Prime Ministers speech, and those reactions have been mixed with the liberal democrats accusing him of sowing seeds of division. However labour leader sir keir starmer has said that rishi sunak was right to call for the country to unite and to condemn what he called unacceptable and intimidating behaviour. Meanwhile the new mp for rochdale, George Galloway , for rochdale, George Galloway, whos also a former presenter for Iranian State tv, says the Prime Minister is playing a very dangerous game that could drive young muslims into extremism. Its worse than a lie. Its dangerous because you see, if youre saying to muslims who vote that your vote will be delegitimized if you cast it the wrong way , and if you go out on wrong way, and if you go out on a demonstration peacefully to demonstrate their , then youll demonstrate their, then youll be called a terrorist. And new be called a terrorist. And new laws, new police, uh, approaches will be conjured forth against you. If you do that, you are you. If you do that, you are driving people away from the path of democracy and peaceful democratic protest. All organisers of those protests, this weekend have now responded to the Prime Ministers pledge to the Prime Ministers pledge to back Stronger Police action, suggesting that he should expel some of his own mps from the conservative party because of their divisive views. Its after rishi sunak pledged last night to support the robust policing of demonstrations. Particularly, he demonstrations. Particularly, he said, pro palestine marches the metropolitan police have in the past said that showing support for a terror group is a criminal offence, adding that the right to protests comes with a response. Ability to act within response. Ability to act within the law, says several local marches are planned today and tomorrow before another National Demonstration in the capital, coming up on the 9th of march, a manhunt is underway after three people were injured in a shooting in an area of london thats popular with bars and restaurants. The shots were fired by assailants on a moped as they were being pursued by police in clapham, in the south of london, at around 5 00 last night. Two people we understand and did suffer gunshot pellet injuries as they were drinking at a nearby pub , and a third at a nearby pub, and a third person was also injured by the moped itself. Police though, say the injuries are not life threatening. Well, weve learned threatening. Well, weve learned today that a cargo ship , which today that a cargo ship, which was abandoned in the red sea after a Houthi Missile strike off the coast of yemen, has now sunk this afternoon. It comes as reports from the uks Maritime Agency suggested in the last few hours that the militant group, backed by iran , have also backed by iran, have also attacked another vessel off the coast of yemen. The uk , the us coast of yemen. The uk, the us and the eu all have military ships patrolling the region to protect commercial vessels that are passing through that important shipping route. And in important shipping route. And in the last hour or so weve heard that the fashion icon iris apfel has died today at her home in florida at the age of 102. Known for her distinctive glasses and her fun, no nonsense approach to fashion, she founded the Luxury Company old world weavers with her husband in 1950, and she went on to lead a long career in fashion. Then at the age of 97, she signed a major major modelling contract with Global Agency img, and that was just a year after a limited Edition Barbie doll was created in her image. And finally , the best of image. And finally, the best of britains Music Industry are gathering in london for this years brit awards, including the princess of pop. Everybodys the princess of pop. Everybodys doing a brand new dance now , so doing a brand new dance now, so come on, ready to bannau commerce . She needs no commerce . She needs no introduction. The singing superstar Kylie Minogue will be crowned this years global icon, and shell be performing a medley of some of her greatest hits, leading the main awards, however, is ray, whos already broken records with seven nominations. Thats the most in a single year shes up against some stiff competition, though, with dua lipa and olivia dean also up for key awards tonight. Also up for key awards tonight. Those are the headlines for now. For more, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen. Or go to gb news. Com alerts. Now though, its. Com alerts. Now though, its back to dawn. Thank you very back to dawn. Thank you very much, sam and i challenge you now not to be singing the locomotion in your head by Kylie Minogue. Actually iconic, wasnt it . And ive heard of someone actually performing at the brits, her and the Rolling Stones. Oh my god, thats my age, right . Get age, right . Okay, lets get straight story, straight into todays story, shall rishi sunak shall we . Uh, now rishi sunak has claimed that democracy is under threat from extremism in the wake of hamass october 7th attack on israel. In a speech to attack on israel. In a speech to the nation, he also said there are forces here at home trying to tear us apart. Lets have a listen. But i fear that our great achievement in building the worlds most successful , worlds most successful, multi ethnic, multi faith democracy is being deliberately undermined. And i want to speak undermined. And i want to speak directly to those who choose to continue to protest. Dont let the extremists hijack your marches. You have a chance in the coming weeks to show that you can protest decently , you can protest decently, peacefully and with empathy for your fellow citizens. Let us your fellow citizens. Let us prove these extremists wrong and show them that even when we disagree, we will never be disunited from our common values of decency and respect. Of decency and respect. Blimey , right. Joining me now blimey, right. Joining me now is political. Astute commentary there. Joining me now is gb news senior political commentator nigel nelson, who will say more than the word blimey , possibly, than the word blimey, possibly, uh, nigel, um, is democracy under threat . Should we be under threat . Should we be worried . Were getting lots of messages in from viewers here who are saying they are actually seriously worried where were going in this country with extremists interfering with our democracy . Democracy . Well, i think unless theres some intelligence we dont know about , uh, that theres some about, uh, that theres some sort of horror lurking around the corner. Uh, then i really, really feel we ought to actually keep a sense of perspective about this. Weve had during the week. Harriet harman turning around and saying that mps should be allowed to join house of commons debates by zoom in the same way they did during the pandemic. Thats been rightly rejected because that really would be sort of, um , uh , would be sort of, um, uh, letting the mob take over. Uh, and also just you know, remember that that entire nation has been worse in the past, that that entire nation has been worse in the past , that when the worse in the past, that when the ira were active on the mainland, mps were were being assassinated and bombed on a reasonably regular basis. So were not at that kind of level yet , which is that kind of level yet, which is why i think everyone should actually calm down a little bit, dont you think . I mean, the one thing that struck me yesterday, lots of things struck me yesterday. The one thing that struck me, i listened speech listened to the speech expecting, everybody else , expecting, like everybody else, that going to some that there was going to be some grand that grand announcement, maybe that general the general election when the lectern its all very lectern came out. Its all very dramatic. Um, you know, dark on a night. All. A friday night. Its all. Blimey, what . Blimey. Again . Whats happening here . Um, and then we had this speech and. Yeah, i nodding along. Yeah. Yeah, i was nodding along. Yeah. I there are things going i mean, there are things going on we saw the chaos in on here. We saw the chaos in parliament day. We had parliament the other day. We had the outside. We had from the the mob outside. We had from the river sea, um, flashed up river to the sea, um, flashed up on big and then we went on big ben, and then we went straight after that. We went straight after that. We went straight to, um, to our to rochdale and, and a report was interviewed saying George Galloway and i thought that i dont know if you saw it in archewell. Im sure you probably did. I was with sam coates and i think that interview proved everything that rishi sunak was saying. I mean, were used to saying. I mean, were used to doing you and i intimidating interviews in political circumstances , but there was a circumstances, but there was a mob around George Galloway that were trying to shout the interviewer down and basically trying to close down that debate. And i thought to me, that just proves pretty much everything. Rishi sunak said that there is something to worry about. Something to worry about. Yes , i did. I did see that yes, i did. I did see that interview, and i think youre absolutely right that it looked very uncomfortable for the reporter who was doing it, but what he was trying to interview , what he was trying to interview, um, a by election victor. And um, a by election victor. And there was a somewhat intimidating crowd of people around him. So im not denying all these things exist. What im actually saying is just how serious is it . Uh, George Galloways election was was really a one off, i think, because it was such a strange by election that labour didnt really have a candidate in the field. So there was a there field. So there was a there wasnt a place for peoples votes to go if they wanted to support somebody from the left and George Galloway is the only one there. But again, i dont think we should actually give too much importance to this. Too much importance to this. Its the fourth time hes been an mp. Um, he does create a lot an mp. Um, he does create a lot of noise, but he doesnt change british politics and the way he keeps claiming. No, he i mean , the one thing no, he i mean, the one thing you can say about george is he was democratically elected. It was democratically elected. It was an amazing victory. Hes a great politician. Um and he does have an amazing ego. Maybe have an amazing ego. Maybe thats what we need in our politicians. Is that, uh, nigel nelson, thank you very much for joining us this afternoon. Really time. Really appreciate your time. Now, ive got a great panel to discuss this one, and its good to younger perspective to get the younger perspective on it well, because nigel and on it as well, because nigel and i of that generation. Uh, so i are of that generation. Uh, so joining me now is the host of gb news five, benjamin news saturday five, Benjamin Butterworth former special butterworth and former special adviser gove charlie adviser to michael gove Charlie Rowley , im coming to rowley charlie, im coming to you first. What what did you make of rishis . Not just his make of rishis . Not just his speech, but the way he delivered it yesterday. It yesterday. Um, i thought he actually got it. Spot on. I thought the tone was right. I mean, it could have come a bit earlier. Actually. Not a moment too soon in my view. Um on a friday view. Um 20 to 6 on a friday night have been sort night might have been a bit sort of late in the day, but, um, but but but given everything that happened, were happened, just as you were talking nigel about talking there with nigel about the took place, the interview that took place, the interview that took place, the the media, the intimidation of the media, which is something is which is something that is alarming, everybody alarming, i think for everybody where hold politicians where the media hold politicians to shouldnt be to account, that shouldnt be happening in public happening in our public life. That shouldnt in that shouldnt be happening in our politics. But i think given the build up of events through an home an article by former home secretary braverman , we secretary Suella Braverman, we are talking about extremism in the , then by the country, then comments by lee which obviously lee anderson, which obviously caused a huge conversation to take across the country take place across the country about that right, about whether that was right, whether was the whether it was wrong, the sentiments there, what it meant and strength of feeling and peoples strength of feeling about what was meant by those comments, to then see the intimidation in rochdale. I think was about think it was about time, actually, prime actually, that the Prime Minister right to say ahead minister was right to say ahead of protests that were taking place london of protests that were taking place the london of protests that were taking place the country, london of protests that were taking place the country, thatondon of protests that were taking place the country, that theyn across the country, that the Police Police them police will police them properly, just manage properly, they wont just manage protests. There should be no room for speech this room for hate speech in this country. There should be no country. We there should be no room the mob who decide to room for the mob who decide to go protest outside mps homes go and protest outside mps homes to intimidate mps to do, to scale their their homes or to put um, uh, hate speech plastered across our buildings and public buildings, and our public buildings, particularly all particularly parliament of all places it getting a grip of places. It was getting a grip of the situation and saying to the country, this is not on this cannot will stop. Country, this is not on this canrpolice will stop. Country, this is not on this canrpolice will will stop. Country, this is not on this canrpolice will take vill stop. Country, this is not on this canrpolice will take firm top. The police will take firm action. As minister action. And as Prime Minister of this um told police this country, his um told Police Chiefs as firm as he chiefs to be as firm as he possibly can and it wont stand one second longer. I heard all that, i heard all that, and i heard all the problems we have, and i am actually worried about democracy especially when democracy, especially when journalists treated in that journalists are treated in that way trying just to way as well, trying just to interview winner of by election. What i didnt hear benjamin, was any answers. Was any answers. I mean, yeah, that is what i was going to say the first thing and not to people will point this out. Nigel nelson just did that nigel nelson just did is that George Galloway is the most extreme, ordinary egotist. This election is you know, this election is not about gaza. Its about George Galloway finding another way to execute his divisive aggression of self absorbed version of politics. This is a man that went in the big brother house while a member of parliament. He doesnt give a damn about the people that he claims to represent. Represent. All he cares is that were still talking about him, and hell be thrilled at 69 hell be thrilled that at 69 years hes got back in. Now years old, hes got back in. Now what i would say is that on the one hand, i can hear the Prime Ministers speech and look at it lots of objectively say, lots of it objectively and say, i certainly agree. We have i most certainly agree. We have seen a ratcheting up of tensions. We have seen a considerable abuse of intimidation towards the jewish community. That is appalling. And weve also seen that now reflecting back on many innocent muslims in this country. The problem is that , as charlie problem is that, as charlie basically pointed out , we have basically pointed out, we have had this for months now, and i fear that his choice to do it yesterday , way to do it on the yesterday, way to do it on the steps of downing street, which i think is slightly inappropriate. Thatis think is slightly inappropriate. That is a moment for the death of monarch , a terrorist of a monarch, a terrorist attack, general attack, calling a general election announcement. Precisely. I think the reason he chose to mention George Galloway as the touch flame for this is because he knows that that will cause Serious Division and angen cause Serious Division and anger, because those people, those a lot of muslims in this country who feel very angry at what the government, what the parliament is doing over gaza, i dont share their view, but theyre very angry. He knows theyre very angry. He knows that by making George Galloway the it will splash the centre of it, it will splash back on the labour party. A lot more than the conservative party and Party Politics in an and i think Party Politics in an upcoming is upcoming general election is definitely part of the way he definitely a part of the way he chose to go about this. Thats an interesting point. Thats an interesting point. Said actually. No one said that point. Lets actually point. So lets actually have a listen what George Galloway listen to what George Galloway himself rishi sunak himself said after rishi sunak speech. Worse than a lie. Speech. Its worse than a lie. Its dangerous because you see, if youre saying to muslims who vote that your vote will be delegitimized if you cast it the wrong way , and if you go out on wrong way, and if you go out on a demonstration peacefully to demonstrate, then youll be called a terrorist. And new laws called a terrorist. And new laws , new police, uh, approach arches will be conjured forth against you. If you do that, you are driving people away from the path of democracy and peaceful democratic protest. Democratic protest. Charlie. He notoriously charlie. He notoriously always stands and wins in in areas with a very high muslim constituency. Do you think he constituency. Do you think he plays the muslim race card . Plays the muslim race card . Um, well, i think he certainly , um, uh, galvanised certainly, um, uh, galvanised his support and the issues that care to a lot to people in these particular communities. But going back to that clip, i mean, thatis going back to that clip, i mean, that is sorry , that is just that is sorry, that is just testament to is the testament to what is the fundamental we fundamental problems that we have country. So, yes, have in this country. So, yes, of it the case, of course, it is the case, george, many people that go george, that many people that go on protests week after week end after weekend, they are peaceful protests. To say that protests. But to say that they are peaceful protests and are all peaceful protests and that isnt problem that there isnt a problem and theres nothing to see here. And if go on protest, if you just go on a protest, youre going be deemed a youre just going to be deemed a terrorist. Is, know, terrorist. That is, you know, turning blind eye. Frankly, turning a blind eye. Frankly, george, to george, i would say directly to the who are coming to the people who are coming to london else in any london or anywhere else in any other country other city across the country who jihad and that who shout for jihad and that plaster on our public buildings, you know, from the river the you know, from the river to the sea. Anti, uh , semitism. Sea. This is anti, uh, semitism. This is hate speech. This should this is hate speech. This should not be taking place in our city centres. This should not be taking country. Taking place in this country. And cant grasp that and if george cant grasp that or that that is or understand that that is happening this country, happening in this country, then he part the problem, not he is part of the problem, not the he is. The solution he is. Look, keep saying hes not look, i keep saying hes not here himself. George here to talk to himself. George give um, and is give us a call. Um, and he is democratic. He elected. And congratulations winning. Um congratulations for winning. Um benjamin, why do people vote for him . Why do you think people voted for him . Think theres a real sense i think theres a real sense now, as when the iraq war was going on, which you know, going on, which is, you know, when his triumphant when he had his first triumphant return to politics on this kind of agenda. There is a sense of agenda. There is a sense among british muslims that they are being othered, that theyre not that not being listened to, that theyre excluded. And theyre being excluded. And there to that. The there is truth to that. The problem is that he takes advantage of that divide and tries to tell them, yes , you are tries to tell them, yes, you are being excluded. Yes, they do hate you. You know, this is the politics of division that George Galloway peddles. You know, this is a man that only in the past couple of months was speaking at a universal party, and a student got up and he said, where are you from . And they said, oh, im from israel. And walked from israel. And so he walked out room. He refused to out of the room. He refused to talk to someone because the country are now, it is country they are from now, it is hard conclude that is hard to conclude that is anything than racist anything other than racist behaviour. Anything other than racist behaviour. And would also behaviour. And what i would also say in nelson kind of said say in nigel nelson kind of said it that will be keen in it is that he will be keen in these days exaggerate these days to exaggerate the impact and the extent to which he speaks for muslims in this country. Think to country. Lets think back to i think its bradford west where he against naz shah, he stood against naz shah, a muslim woman who is an extraordinarily strong woman. She had been sent back to a different country. Shed been different country. Shed been the victim of terrible abuse. Her mother had been killed, and she and he made fun of that. He mocked the election mocked that in the election against a muslim woman. This is someone stood in elections someone who stood in elections and said, allah knows who the true when against true muslim is when against a muslim labour candidate. That. Muslim labour candidate. And that. Muslim labour candidate. And tries. Muslim labour candidate. And tries to play the and so he tries to play the divisive card, but you know what . He wins it by elections over and over again. He never wins in general elections when people think seriously because they dont want that division. Muslims in this country , like muslims in this country, like most other people, actually want these solved. These issues solved. Want just live we actually want to just live in democracy, dont we . In a fair democracy, dont we . Which george was which i mean, george won. It was a democracy. George has a fair democracy. And george has constantly he is constantly denied that he is racist or anti semitic. He won that by election democratically , that by election democratically, and hes obviously not here to answer for himself. Benjamin butterworth and Charlie Rowley, thank you so much again , a thank you so much again, a subject that has very, very strong emotions. What are yours . Gb views and gb news. Let us know. And for the best know. And for all the best analysis and opinion on that one and that story, and any more you want to talk about, go to our website gb news. Com. Im dawn neesom. This is gb news saturday and theres loads more coming up on now. Crime on the show now. Knife crime its on the rise in britain with 50,000 offences a year. Thats a 5 higher compared to the year before. Well be discussing how before. Well be discussing how to tackle the scourge of knife crime. All of that and much more to come. Youre with gb news. Britains news channel. Hello welcome back to gb news saturday with me dawn neesom on telly onune with me dawn neesom on telly online and on Digital Radio. Now another hot topic that doesnt go away. Knife crime. Its on the rise in britain in the year ending september 2023. It increased to just under 50,000 offences. Thats 5 higher compared to the year before in South Yorkshire, ministry of justice data showed that two thirds of cautions or convictions for knife crime in the area were handed to first time offenders. Why arent kids time offenders. Why arent kids listening . Our yorkshire reporter, anna riley, has been to a charity run event in sheffield in involving young people to get knives off the street, giving a helping hand to stop young people from carrying knives. Anthony olatunde founded charity always an alternative. After growing up surrounded by knife crime in sheffield. He wants to get knives off the streets of the steel city and lodge an awareness event at showroom cinema. When i was 15, i saw someone get murdered. They got stabbed to death. Fortunately uh , but to death. Fortunately uh, but what was strange, it didnt really affect me because i was around that kind of stuff all the time. Growing up, violence was normal. Every day im looking over my shoulder every day. You know, someones getting locked up or someones getting injured. Surely life cant just injured. Surely life cant just be that. I had a few lucky escapes myself and i thought ive actually had enough. I worth this. This cant worth more than this. This cant continue happen. Ive got continue to happen. Ive got kids now. I dont want to not be there for them. So i made that decision. Decision. Keaton naylor is experienced the pain of losing a loved one to knife crime. His best friend, louis phillips, was stabbed to death at the age of 15 by a stranger during an unprovoked attack in South Yorkshire. Attack in South Yorkshire. Ever since i lost my best friend , its made me realise, friend, its made me realise, well , knives really friend, its made me realise, well, knives really arent needed. Like theres so much more to life than carrying a knife. Well, just a weapon in general. They were training for Barnsley Football Club , they Barnsley Football Club, they were doing well, getting grades and that it just applied for college. So it really wasnt a bad lad. Bad lad. Tackling knife crime to prevent further tragedies is a priority for South Yorkshire police. Police. The police are obviously doing a lot in terms of trying to identify, locate and target those individuals or or gangs that are prone to violence and use guns and knives , so theres use guns and knives, so theres a lot of work around that. But, a lot of work around that. But, um, prevention is really the, the more important thing. How do we stop young people back at showroom cinema, students from a Sheffield High School produced a short film to highlight knife crime amongst teenagers. It was really educational and you really you dont understand how bad knife crime is until like , youre being told the like, youre being told the figure, you know Something Like this could happen to me, could happen to anyone. Is concern and it is there is concern and it is something that, you know , that something that, you know, that i dont want to happen. Dont want to happen. With recent figures showing 17 of knife crime offenders in england and wales were under 18, its hoped schemes like this will deter children from carrying weapons and oreilly. Carrying weapons and oreilly. Gb news okay, right. Joining me now is knife crime campaigner ken hines. Ken, thank you so much forjoining me this afternoon. I really appreciate your time because youve been there. Youve one of those there. Youve been one of those kids. Why still having kids. Why are we still having this conversation, ken . Why is it still happening . Look, 50 years on, weve seen that we have the doll has not moved on. Right . Because we still doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome. The sort of different outcome. The sort of things were doing, were not investing in youth services. Investing in youth services. Were investing more in the prison services. And when you see that the Public Private partnership between the government and, and the and the investors is to say that theyre now making prison a proper a profitable business, it shows you where the real energy is going, because if youre spending billions on prisons and only tens of millions on youth services, its not surprising that weve got that disparity here. But let me say this much. What youve also got, because if you really want to tackle it, then what you would is to be then what you would do is to be much more, um, harsh on those who get caught with a knife the first time around when you dont take them out of our community, we as whatevers. Im not saying its always prison, but youve got like these youth borstal that we used to have where you get a lot of drills and you get things put into your heads that that really scare you straight. That really scare you straight. Then what do you when you instead what you give them as a slap on the wrist every time they get caught under the age of 18 . Its not surprising that were finding young people even younger from the age of 11, ten, 11 now, now carrying not. I used to carry a flick knife or a lock knife. These are small knives back in the day, because i was scared of being stopped and searched, and ive got a chance of getting away with it now. Theyre carrying rambo. Theyre theyre carrying rambo. Theyre carrying these to carrying swords before these to wave to scare people. Wave it around to scare people. Now theyre taking out to now theyre taking it out to murder has it gone . Murder you. Where has it gone . If we really want to stop it . Because particular in london, where am , im on the front where i am, im on the front line. Im of the group line. Im part of the group called street fathers. So were out we are , um, out there and we are, um, engaging with these youngsters. Engaging with these youngsters. And sometimes we come across youngsters who have these knives and we give them the option. Either they give it up to us to myself, and they may get a slap or they give it up to the police and they get themselves a criminal record. Theres no criminal record. But theres no opfion criminal record. But theres no option walk away. In option for them to walk away. In my community with knives my community with that knives and volatility. Its and with their volatility. Its not what what not happening. What what unfortunately, were running out of time. What are the kids saying to you, ken . What are you ten year olds . Weve seen ten year olds like you. A londoner, ten year olds knives in london. Olds carrying knives in london. Yeah. What are they saying to you you stop them saying, you when you stop them saying, why doing this . Simple you when you stop them saying, why say doing this . Simple you when you stop them saying, why say the|g this . Simple you when you stop them saying, why say the same . Simple you when you stop them saying, why say the same thing. le you when you stop them saying, why say the same thing. What they say the same thing. What theyre were walking theyre saying is were walking with because we dont with our knives because we dont feel our protection feel safe. If our own protection , because they may been , because they may have been robbed, have robbed, they may have been confronted, saying confronted, and theyre saying what now, we need to what were doing now, we need to we need protect ourselves we need to protect ourselves because dont believe because what they dont believe in the, the bias policing in is the, the bias policing that we have been part of for the last 50 years, that they havent held themselves accountable. And even now that accountable. And even now that theyre trying to reach out to those communities to find ways that they can better interact between the police those that they can better interact betweepeople,olice those that they can better interact betweepeople, its; those that they can better interact betweepeople, its not those that they can better interact betweepeople, its not happening young people, its not happening because its been too endemic , because its been too endemic, and the rot has gone too far. What they need to do is have people like myself and the group that i work with, community against violence, street, um, street fathers, father, father to father. These groups actually have a have an input to young people and help change their psyche. Its about growing their emotional resilience. Its emotional resilience. Its about, um, growing their, um, resilience and making them feel much more comfortable in their skin care and very wise words. We need more men like you out there talking to these kids, because message isnt getting through. Thank you much. Through. Thank you so much. Thats haynes, knife thats uh, ken haynes, knife crime campaigner. You so crime campaigner. Thank you so much joining us this much for joining us this afternoon. The afternoon. Just quickly, the Name Organisation you name of the organisation you work called a street work for, its called a street fathers street and fathers, street fathers, and its people look for it. Thats right. Thats right. Brilliant. Thank you very much ken. Right. Okay youre with neesom on gb news with me. Dawn neesom on gb news saturday. A lots more coming up on show. But first, on todays show. But first, lets News Headlines lets get the News Headlines with sam francis. With sam francis. Dawn, thank you very much. Dawn, thank you very much. Good afternoon. From the newsroom. Its 232. And the headunes newsroom. Its 232. And the headlines this hour we start with the pro palestine protests that are continuing to take place across the country following rishi sunak warning last night that islamist extreme lists and far right groups are spreading poison. And, he says, trying to tear us apart in his speech delivered from downing street, he called for the nation to unite, highlighting the rise in extremist disruption, intimidation, threats and planned acts of violence that followed George Galloways controversial win in the rochdale by election earlier this week, which the Prime Minister described as beyond alarming. A manhunt is underway alarming. A manhunt is underway after three people were injured in a shooting in an area of london thats popular with bars and restaurants. The shots were and restaurants. The shots were fired by assailants on a moped as they were being pursued by police in clapham, south london, at around 5 00 last night. Two people we understand suffered shotgun pellet injuries as they were drinking at a nearby pub and a cargo ship, which was abandoned in the red sea after a Houthi Missile attack, has now sunk. This afternoon it comes as reports from the uks Maritime Agency earlier suggested that the militant group, who are backed by iran, have also attacked another vessel off the coast of yemen. Meanwhile, the uk, the us and the eu all have patrols in the region to protect commercial vessels that are passing through that important shipping route. Those are the shipping route. Those are the headunes shipping route. Those are the headlines for now. For more, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code there on your screen, or go to gb news. Com slash alerts. Slash alerts. Thank you very much, sam. Now remember you can get in touch about all the stories were talking about and such amazing stories. Thank you for being stories. Thank you for being with me. I really appreciate it. Uh, very simple to find out uh, its very simple to find out. Um, where . To our website ,. Um, where . Go to our website, and if you to get in touch and if you want to get in touch with your views. Gb views gbnews. Com, or message me on our socials, please do get in touch. Such important stories. I cant tell you, but theres loads more coming up on todays show. Now is the leaving the britain is the raf leaving the Britain Britain list . The royal Britain Defence list . The royal air decommissioning uh air force is decommissioning uh 30 typhoon jets amid strenuous budget cuts. But considering the growing threat from russia not to mention the middle east, is this the smartest move . All of that and much more to come. Im dawn neesom and youre with gb news. Britains news channel hello. Welcome back to gb news saturday with me dawn neesom. Hope youre having a wonderful afternoon out there. Im on your telly online and on Digital Radio. So now the raf is decommissioning 30 typhoon jets amid strenuous budget cuts. Consider ing the growing threat from russia and the middle east. This decision has been likened to the uk scrapping spitfires before the battle of britain. So before the battle of britain. So i want to know is the raf leaving the British Isles defenceless right now . Proper experts talk about this air defence editor at the evening standard, robert fox. Robert, thank you very much for joining me. Now, i wasnt even if you read all the newspaper reports. Read all the newspaper reports. I mean, were so defensive. I wasnt even aware we had 30 typhoon jets left. Weve got 130. Weve got 137. Weve got 137. These are old typhoons which are used for one job, which is to take on other aircraft coming in, basically other aircraft. In, basically other aircraft. And they do it in pairs. Quick reaction force. You would have seen them preparing in the 2012 olympics. That was the way its actually old hat. And thats why theyre bringing out them out of service early, because they want to work on the more modern typhoons, which were seeing bombing the houthis at the moment. And if youre going to defend britain , youve got to do defend britain, youve got to do it with whats known as an air land concept. That means missiles and such like from ground to air. Woo and theres an enormous bill coming up for all of that. Right. Okay. Every time you right. Okay. Every time you say youre going to cheer me up and actually quite and you never actually quite achieve im achieve that. Robert, im talking houthis. Theyve talking of the houthis. Theyve sunk one of our ships, havent they . W since this well, finally, since this campaign began, mid november with the hijacking of a freighter called the galaxy leader crew still hostage. They one of their hits has finally sunk its british registered right. Ruby maher. And so that is a big strike. They not only struck it um, but it was under tow but sinking. And theres been another incident two days ago concerning this. So things are really hot. Ive just had arab tvs on me. They want me to sort of put my hand up and say, oh, its all over. Its failing against the houthis. No, this is the beginning of a very, very long campaign. And there will long campaign. And there will be, i think, a rather greater rather than lesser british commitment because there is a very direct british interest. So does this up the ante . Whats happened . It will up the ante. But theyve watching it but theyve been watching it all time. Theyre very all the time. Theyre very worried houthis. Worried about the houthis. Theyve been more adroit. Their tactics capable. Most of the Technology Comes from iran. It has to be it has to be said. And there is a fear that theres a much bigger game going on here that not only are the houthis, the houthis sort of almost the houthis are a sort of almost a test to see that they can what they can do to really control they can do to really control the Bab Al Mandab red sea for the Bab Al Mandab red sea for the iranians to work out what their parallel strategy and the parallel waterway on the straits of hormuz would be now , if were of hormuz would be now, if were talking about the straits of hormuz, where we have british hormuz, where we have a British Patrol 40 of the worlds exports of hydrocarbon gas and oil come through those straits. Oil come through those straits. That doesnt sound good news. That doesnt sound good news. Its not good news thats getting messy. Getting messy. Which brings us on to the other story. Well, theres two other story. Well, theres two more stories i want to talk to you about. Um, and this one is concerning the budget coming up on wednesday. So far, youre not on wednesday. So far, youre not portraying a very happy, uh, picture of whats coming up as far as the mod are concerned. Now grant shapps wants more money. Yeah in the budget, they always do. Jeremy hunt says not always do. Jeremy hunt says not likely, matey. Do you think the mod. I mean, currently were spending 2. 2 of our gdp on slightly under. Yeah. Um i think shapps wants 2. 5. Do you think we should be allocating more money to defence at the moment, given the situation youve just talked about in the middle east and obviously the ongoing situation in russia, if were serious about this with ukraine, the and whats going on the houthis and whats going on in the wider mediterranean and these kinds of waterways where britain by the imf rating is the fifth most effective power awful commercial maritime power still, with the us in fourth and the netherlands in sixth. Curiously , weve got to do it curiously, weve got to do it so , so much of maritime so, so much of Maritime Insurance as well as licensing and traffic comes through the uk. This is a vital interest. 50 of our of food is imported. I think they know behind the speakers chair or whatever goes on in the equivalent of the smoke filled corridors as they used to be, that they know theyve got to spend more on defence. Both labour and the conservatives know that labour is pledged to a defence review. When you get people as different, uh, varying as john major saying yes , youve got to major saying yes, youve got to do it. William hague um, i think theres pretty much agreement. But jeremy hunt, who is a great who does look at global strategy , he will be mr net, as they said of khrushchev back in my day and when i came into journalism, but he knows its a holding operation, stitching time, isnt it . And finally, we are running out of time. Unfortunately, robert, uh, the us beginning to aid airdrops into gaza. But aid airdrops into gaza. But critics are dismissing this as inadequate. Do desperate measure desperately risky can be quite dangerous where youre dropping this stuff , but it shows that this stuff, but it shows that something really is moving from biden regarding gaza and regarding net yahoos hard line from israel. But the thing is, from israel. But the thing is, thats not targeted. That could be going to hamas. Well, thats the problem. It comes up. But it also often hit civilians. I mean, it has a very , very difficult record, although there is experience, because of course, the Royal Jordanian force has been Jordanian Air force has been doing it to some degree. Right, okay. And im sure there would be some British Training and support but it does support behind that. But it does show that things are changing. Show that things are changing. And what is worrying as the israelis still talk about an assault on rafah goodness knows, with all those hundreds of thousands of refugees that there is no dialogue. Yeah frightening. Uh, weve had a very good dialogue this afternoon. Thank you very much, robert. Thats. Robert. Im sorry i couldnt cheer you up. No. Yeah, i know, try harder next okay. Uh, thats next time. Okay. Uh, thats defence at the evening defence editor at the evening standard, robert fox, thank you very dawn very much, robert. Im dawn neesom news saturday, neesom this is gb news saturday, and more up and theres lots more coming up on show. Uh, new on todays show. Uh, new Research Shows a number of people their driving people taking their driving tests in an automatic car has increased by over 200 over the last decade. But im asking, is last decade. But im asking, is britain having a gear change all of that and much more to come. Youre watching gb news, britains news channel dont go too far now welcome back to gb news saturday with me dawn neesom on your tv onune with me dawn neesom on your tv online and on Digital Radio. Hope youre having a wonderful weekend out there. Its a saturday afternoon. Enjoy yourselves now its britain having a gear change. I dont mean the outfits, by the way. Mean the outfits, by the way. New Research Shows the number of people taking their driving test in automatic car has in an automatic car has increased by 238 over the past decade. Increased by 238 over the past decade. And not only that, decade. And not only that, a whopping 70 of new cars registered , 70 of new cars registered, 70 of new cars registered, 70 of new cars registered in 2020 were automatic. Registered in 2020 were automatic. Uh, joining me now to demonstrate how to use a gear stick properly is broadcaster and motoring journalist danny kelly. Steady on there, danny. Danny, thank you very much for joining me this afternoon. Now joining me this afternoon. Now youre a car expert. Full confession. I havent driven confession. I havent driven a car for over 20 years now because i live in london and its impossible. Whats going on here . Arent people driving here . Why arent people driving proper cars anymore . Proper cars anymore . Because people have seen the light. Dawn, ive been banging on about the relative ease of driving an automatic car for years, and once you go to an automatic car, in my experience, very rarely will people want to go back to changing the transmission themselves, because dont forget, i know you havent dnvenin dont forget, i know you havent driven in 20 odd years, but you still have to use your left leg to put down the clutch and then your your left arm to wrestle with gear change. Theyre with the gear change. Theyre much of driving is to much easier way of driving is to let the car do it itself and just use the one leg, which is your right leg. So ive been saying its the easy way of driving. Dont forget our american they american cousins. They they dont really have they call them stick shifts. Yeah, man. You drive a stick. We call it manual. They call it stick shift. They dont really drive manuals the yanks have manuals because the yanks have had generations had it right for generations of cars. Had it right for generations of cars. And 70 of new cars are cars. And 70 of new cars are automatic. And that is for1 or automatic. And that is for 1 or 2 reasons. Basically, people wanting to just drive in an easier style dorm, but also a hybnd easier style dorm, but also a hybrid cars and electric cars. They dont have manual transmissions and more and more people are driving electric cars , of course. But i mean, the thing is, i was always taught when i was a kid, youre back in the dark ages. I mean, talking i mean, were talking flintstones. You were literally putting through the putting your feet through the floor along. Um, floor and running along. Um, joking. That old, but was joking. Not that old, but it was like, manual like, if you can drive a manual car, right, can drive car, right, you can drive anything. Get in any car anything. You can get in any car anywhere in the world and drive it if you can only drive an automatic, lumbered. Like automatic, youre lumbered. Like if you go on holiday and youre getting a higher car or Something Like that. America accepted. Its accepted. Um, its surely its better to have that skill in the first place, to be able to drive anything. Yeah i agree, because if you take an automatic only test that precludes you by law from actually getting behind the wheel. So i agree, dawn, its for example, i used to work in the hotel game. The best managers could manage each department. They used to spend time in the kitchen. They used to spend time doing used to doing the laundry. They used to spend as a barman. Spend time as a as a barman. And thats they mastered all thats because they mastered all of arts. And i think youre of the arts. And i think youre right, because right, thats an analogy because you can drive anything. You can drive an auto as long as you pass your manual test, but you cant a manual if you just cant drive a manual if you just take auto okay take your auto test. Okay other thing i want to and the other thing i want to talk danny, is talk about to you, danny, is our, speed limits. This our, um, speed limits. This is why dont drive , because in why i dont drive, because in london cant london you cant. You cant drive. Basically, its impossible. You certainly drive. Basically, its impozdrive. You certainly drive. Basically, its impozdrive over you certainly drive. Basically, its impozdrive over 20u certainly drive. Basically, its impozdrive over 20 miles|inly drive. Basically, its impozdrive over 20 miles any cant drive over 20 miles an houn cant drive over 20 miles an hour. But motorway speed limits of 60 miles hour restrictions of 60 miles an hour restrictions are to be scrapped. This sounds like good news. God , thank god for that. As a god, thank god for that. As a motorist who does 15 18,000 miles a year, i was just i didnt understand they put a 60 mile an hour stretch dawn across swathes of mostly midlands and northern motorways. It was to try to reduce air pollution, but guess what . The Highways Agency dont know if its because of more electric and hybrid cars that the air pollution has dropped, or whether its the speed limit. The Daily Telegraph did a great story. Dawn, youll love this because i know you. You do are flustered by you really do are flustered by people safe spaces. People who need safe spaces. They actually the they actually contacted the Highways Agency for some information and the Highways Agency couldnt comment because it needed a safe space in order to collate all the evidence. You to collate all the evidence. You heard me right. Seriously, youre making it up. I promise you, you couldnt make. This is glorious. You couldnt make it up. The Highways Agency couldnt give a comment Daily Telegraph comment to the Daily Telegraph because a safe because they needed a safe space. They worked space. Whilst they worked everything uh, and. Yeah. Everything out. Uh, and. Yeah. And as a motorist, know dawn, and as a motorist, i know dawn, i your face as i can see your face as a motorist. I want do excessive motorist. I want to do excessive 70 miles an hour. I want to do 70, 80 miles an hour, 70, 75, 80 miles an hour, because thats the unofficial speed limit. 80. The old speed limit. 75, 80. The old bill pull you over for bill wont pull you over for doing 75 or 80 miles an hour. And it to 60, it just and to reduce it to 60, it just makes people angry because they dont understand why why theyre makes people angry because they dont asked tand why why theyre makes people angry because they dont asked tord why why theyre makes people angry because they dont asked to do vhy why theyre makes people angry because they dont asked to do 60 why theyre makes people angry because they dont asked to do 60 miles1eyre makes people angry because they dont asked to do 60 miles an� re being asked to do 60 miles an houn being asked to do 60 miles an hour. Forbid you go hour. And god forbid you go under of those gantries with under one of those gantries with the 6870. Thats the cameras. You do 6870. Thats it. Three points on your licence, £100. Fine. Hmm yeah. I think they were making quite a bit of money on these as well, werent they . I mean, the thought. That mean, perish the thought. That was idea. Um. Uh, was ever the idea. Yeah. Um. Uh, danny, thank you so much for. Im to let you get back to im going to let you get back to playing with gearstick now, playing with your gearstick now, love. Uh, danny, thank you so much joining us this much for joining us this afternoon. Motoring afternoon. Danny kelly, motoring journalist. Afternoon. Danny kelly, motoring jourrtime. Thats for me. Your time. Oh, thats it for me. Come to the end of the show. Um, but stay tuned, because nana is up next and shes going to have a cracking because a cracking show because she always taoiseach nana. Oh always does. Taoiseach nana. Oh my god, look at you. I look so stunning all the time. Well, because my husbands so. Because my husbands coming so. Oh, nana. Oh, oh, mr nana. Oh, oh, mr nana. Oh, oh, mr nana. Oh , no, no, theres no such person. No. But coming up on my show today, very excited today, im very excited to announce uh, course announce that, uh, uh, of course well the usual. Well have a well do the usual. Well have a chat or catch up with chat with or catch up with whats going in israel. Whats going on in israel. Be discussing. Um, well be discussing. Um, well be discussing. Mean, you were talking i mean, you were talking about but rishi about it earlier, but what rishi sunak was too little, sunak speech, was it too little, too and are we at risk . Is our democracy really under peril . Is he right . You know, and then have jason gale coming then we have jason gale coming into then we have jason gale coming intcoh , yes. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. Now hes my, uh, special guest for difficult conversations. So well find out about entrepreneur does. About what an entrepreneur does. , uh, how up the and, uh, how he set up the lifestyle awards. Lifestyle awards. Yeah, its very exciting. So, yeah, its very exciting. So, yeah, its very exciting. The whole excellent. But the whole rishi thing , excellent. But the whole rishi thing, isnt that rishi sunak thing, isnt that just blowing . Could , you just mind blowing . I could, you know, expecting general know, i was expecting a general election werent election announcement, werent you . Okay. Oh you . It was like, okay. On right. Thats what youre going to him to say. Well, it took him ages to say. Well, it took him ages to get point and save any to get to the point and save any thing, but i mean, im glad hes finally but, finally said something, but, you know, too too know, is it too little, too late . Well isnt it late . So well be. Isnt it astonishing, though . Suella braverman says it, and she sort of and then of gets sacked, and then he comes stands by comes out and stands by a lectern its fine. Lectern and its fine. It does seem odd, it does seem very odd, doesnt it . Party, doesnt it . The tory party, they are imploding out. Imploding from the inside out. See where where this so well see where where this takes so well see where where this takybut looking forward to but im looking forward to chatting what george chatting about what George Galloway is waking in galloway is waking up in morning, ive everyone morning, and ive got everyone on here, on on the ropes here, everyone on the man, not really. One man, not really. One man, not really. Man, cat. He was cat. Oh no. We may well bring that back, so stay tuned. Towards the end of the show in clickbait, we have a fabulous. Youre showing that that you. Havent elm if you havent seen it you need right. Dawn need to see it right. Im dawn neesom. News saturday. Neesom. Its gb news saturday. Um, youve been a wonderful audience you much for audience. Thank you so much for watching. Really appreciate your time. Messages. Um, now. Time. All the messages. Um, now. But dont go anywhere because nanas next. Shes got nanas up next. Shes got a cracking , including that cracking show, including that cat scene. But lets get the weather first with. Greg. Weather first with. Greg. A brighter outlook with boxt solar. Sponsors of weather on. Solar. Sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello there. And Greg Dewhurst. And welcome to your latest gp. News, weather, we still have areas of rain, sleet and snow pushing northward through today. Frost and fog and some icy stretches for tonight and staying quite cold and we can see that nicely on the mass chart. This pool on the air mass chart. This pool of air over the uk, of cold air sat over the uk, something trying come something milder trying to come in beginning of next week in by the beginning of next week , but a weekend to come for , but a cold weekend to come for the rest of the afternoon into the rest of the afternoon into the evening time. Got the evening time. Weve got these outbreaks of rain, these areas outbreaks of rain, sleet snow pushing sleet and snow pushing northwards across Northern England scotland, perhaps england into scotland, perhaps affecting northern affecting parts of Northern Ireland too, are covering over the high ground overnight but clearing skies, particularly across southern clearing skies, particularly acrosrof southern clearing skies, particularly acrosrof england southern clearing skies, particularly acrosrof england and jthern clearing skies, particularly acrosrof england and wales. We parts of england and wales. We could see some dense fog patches, some frost and icy stretches as temperatures fall below freezing here. So a bright start in some places drier than it was on saturday morning, but some dense fog patches, particularly across central southern england. This slowly lifting breaking through the lifting and breaking through the day. Then overall sunday day. And then overall sunday will be a bright day. Some sunny spells showers across spells scattered showers across western bit wintry Western Areas again a bit wintry over higher ground. This over the higher ground. This weather front could give some thicker across the far thicker cloud across the far east of the country. Temperatures quite cool. Still 7 to 9 celsius, but in any sunshine. Not feeling too bad. Sunshine. Not feeling too bad. And then for monday, a cold and frosty start , some fog patches frosty start, some fog patches and milder starts to and then that milder starts to come but in association with come in. But in association with this area of rain across southern and southWestern Areas over the next few days, it brightens up a little. There brightens up a little. There will be some sunny spells and temperatures to rise temperatures start to rise as well, into double figures, well, back into double figures, particularly south. Particularly in the south. That feeling inside from that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello, good afternoon. Its 3 00. This is gb news on tv onune 3 00. This is gb news on tv online and on Digital Radio. Im nana akua and for the next few hours me and my panel will be taking on some of those big topics that are hitting the headunes topics that are hitting the headlines right now. This show is all about opinion. Its mine, its theirs. Course its its theirs. And of course its yours. Well be debating discussing and at times we will disagree. But no one will be cancelled. So joining me in an cancelled. So joining me in an hours cancelled. So joining me in an hours time , trade unionist and hours time, trade unionist and political commentator Andy Macdonald and also broadcaster and columnist lizzie cundy in a few moments time, ill be crossing a line to tel aviv to speak to world famous mr farage uri geller. But before we get started, lets get your latest News Headlines. Nana, thank you very much. Good afternoon from the gb newsroom. It is just coming up to 3 01. We start with the news thats been leading throughout the course of today that dozens of pro palestine marches are taking place across the uk this