Were going to get stuck into all of that and more. But before we do, lets cross live for tonights latest news headlines. Michelle, thanks very much. Good evening from the gb newsroom. Itsjust good evening from the gb newsroom. Its just gone 6 00 and we start with more budget reaction. We understand that stabilising british economy will likely mean more taxes. Thats according to the International Monetary fund. Despite yesterdays cut to National Insurance , the £0. 02 cut from insurance, the £0. 02 cut from jeremy hunt comes as a cost to the government of around £10 billion. However any benefits for the taxpayer are likely to be cancelled out by an expected rise in council tax. But jeremy hunt told gb news earlier that the budget is proof that the governments fiscal plan, he says, is working. We want to end the unfairness is the direction of travel. Weve gone is to reduce National Insurance by one third. The fact that labour are opposing this today is really because labour dont have any plans to reduce taxation. It sort of makes my point for me, their plan is basically that tax should remain at its current levels. We say we dont have to accept the status quo. If you make difficult decisions, if you stick to our plan for the economy , thats plan for the economy, thats seen inflation falling and growth starting to rise , we can growth starting to rise, we can bnng growth starting to rise, we can bring down the tax burden. Bring down the tax burden. Well, sir keir starmer says that the conservatives are giving with one hand and taking with the other. And he said that unlike the government, labours policies are funded. Policies are fully funded. Contrast that with the government where yesterday at the end of the budget, the chancellor made a staggering £46 billion unfunded commitment to aboush billion unfunded commitment to abolish National Insurance. Thats bigger than liz trusss commitment. So theyve learnt absolutely nothing. We need change. Its time for change. Well, i just want to bring you some breaking news that were getting from kyiv tonight, that secretary has that the defence secretary has announced a further £125 million of British Military support to ukraine in a major move against putins invasion. Our home and security editor, mark white joins us live now for more on that. Mark, thanks for being with us tonight. What does this latest announcement from grant shapps mean for ukraine . Well, it is significant. Well, it is significant. Since the start of this war, the uk has committed more than £7 billion to ukraines defence. But theres no doubt that this extra package announced by grant shapps on a visit to ukraine is very significant. Hundreds of pounds millions of pounds in extra commitment from the uk to provide 10,000 military drones. Now the vast majority will be first person view drones, fpv drones , which can loiter over drones, which can loiter over the battle space and drop their munitions on russian tanks and artillery. But it will also provide a thousand new one way attack drones. In addition to that, more maritime attack drones that are being used to devastating effect in recent months. In fact , just this week, months. In fact, just this week, a maritime attack drones attacked and sunk a russian patrol ship in the black sea. Mark, thank you very much. Mark white, there are home and security editor with the latest coming to us from kyiv tonight. Well, that news comes as sweden has officially today joined nato, marking a historic moment for the nation and the military alliance. The move in response to russias invasion of ukraine strengthens natos defence. And its also a significant shift for sweden, ending its long standing policy of military neutrality. Russia though, has threatened retaliation, although with unspecified countermeasure measures. With unspecified countermeasure measures. Back here in the uk, an independent Public Inquiry will be held to examine the polices response in scotland to the murder of Emma Caldwell almost 20 years ago. The announcement comes after both the Scottish First minister, humza yousaf, and his justice secretary met with emmas mother earlier this week. Miss caldwell earlier this week. Miss caldwell was killed by serial rapist ian parker in 2005, but it was only last week that he was convicted of her murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences. Her family says that the police failed their daughter due to a toxic culture of misogyny and corruption. At the time. Christian horners accuser time. Christian horners accuser has been suspended following red bulls investigation into an alleged inappropriate behaviour. The formula one teams principal was allowed to remain in his role after red bulls parent company, gm , dismissed the company, gm, dismissed the accusations that were made against him. We understand that the female member of staff has now been suspended as a result of that inquiry , and to the of that inquiry, and to the united states, where President Joe Biden is preparing to deliver his state of the union speech later this evening , hes speech later this evening, hes expected to use his fourth address to present a sharp distinction between his style of leadership and that of his likely opponent , donald trump. Likely opponent, donald trump. Touting a strong economic performance. Hell also look to allay voters concerns about his age, despite being just four years older than mr trump. And years older than mr trump. And finally, tails are wagging in birmingham today as the worlds biggest dog show returns. Canines in colourful coats and scarves, even in leg warmers, have descended on the city for this years crufts. A selection of agility and jumping tasks are on the agenda for the first day of the show , as well as a music of the show, as well as a music competition, obedience challenges and of West Midlands police display. Those are police dog display. Those are the headlines. For more, you can sign up to gb news alerts. Just scan the qr code there on your screen or if youre listening on radio, go to gb news. Common alerts. Thank you very much for that. Ive got to say, im in awe of those dogs and some of their behaviours. The better behaved than most children these days arent i think what we arent they . I think what we could do, perhaps thats a new strategy. Some of those dog strategy. Get some of those dog trainers out about in some trainers out and about in some of theyd be of the nurseries, etc. Theyd be able some of the able to sort out some of the Problems Society overnight. Problems in society overnight. Those dogs. You have you those dogs. How do you have you got . Oh, im just to start got . Oh, im just about to start to talking my panel. I forgot to even introduce i even introduce them. I was getting about that getting so excited about that story. Alongside story. Everyone alongside me, ive story. Everyone alongside me, pve the story. Everyone alongside me, ive the editor of ive got the former editor of the sun, kelvin mackenzie, and the unionist and the trade unionist and broadcaster macdonald. Have broadcaster Andy Macdonald. Have you dog, andy . You got a dog, andy . I dont know. I dont know. Dog . Kelvin yes do you have a dog . Kelvin yes i is it as well behaved as i do. Is it as well behaved as some those ones at crufts, some of those ones at crufts, no. But interesting thing, no. But the interesting thing, apart dramatic news of apart from the dramatic news of the military drones the 10,000 military drones going to ukraine, is thing that to ukraine, is the thing that really you to the news really attracts you to the news is see, dogs on there, is when you see, dogs on there, well, say, it did well, ive got to say, it did really prick my ears up there. Now, some of the way that i just think some the way that just think some of the way that groomed these dogs, the behaviour, are just behaviour, they are just so obedient. Think cracked obedient. I think ive cracked it, you get these dog it, you know, get these dog trainers into some of the schools of britain sort schools of britain that sort them wouldnt them right out, wouldnt they . I want about the schools want to talk about the schools of little bit later on of britain a little bit later on in the programme. Many kids, in the programme. So many kids, you theyre not attending you know, theyre not attending schools. About schools. What do you do about it . One headmaster, hes decided to round the houses make to go round the houses and make sure everythings well, sure that, everythings well, which good, isnt it . Which is right. Good, isnt it . Apparently, its not. Apparently, no its not. Apparently its all snooping. Strange these strange world. We live in these days, anyway, i want days, isnt it . Anyway, i want your on all of that. Your thoughts on all of that. And thank by the way, to and thank you. By the way, to everyone who came to whitehaven last night, much enjoyed last night, very much enjoyed that it was a very that programme. It was a very lively audience, but lively audience, wasnt it . But were a more calm were back in a more calm environment tonight, back the environment tonight, back in the studio know the drill, studio and you know the drill, dont its not just about dont you . Its not just about us here. Very much us three here. Its very much about guys home well. About you guys at home as well. Whats on mind tonight . Whats on your mind tonight . Vaiews gbnews. Com you whats on your mind tonight . Va hold 2gbnews. Com you whats on your mind tonight . Va hold of news. Com you whats on your mind tonight . Vahold of me. s. Com you whats on your mind tonight . Vahold of me. Orom you whats on your mind tonight . Vahold of me. Or you you whats on your mind tonight . Vahold of me. Or you can you whats on your mind tonight . Vahold of me. Or you can tweet get hold of me. Or you can tweet or text me at gb news. And yes, i its not called twitter i know its not called twitter anymore. Pound for anymore. Ive had a pound for everyone in touch everyone that gets in touch saying, you tell michelle to saying, can you tell michelle to educate its not called educate herself . Its not called twitter. Know that just twitter. I know that it just sounds better, it . Sounds better, doesnt it . Anyway, you know drill. Get anyway, you know the drill. Get in your thoughts are very in touch. Your thoughts are very Welcome Programme welcome on the programme tonight, to cast your tonight, but i want to cast your mind yesterday. Of mind back to yesterday. Of course, indeed the course, it was indeed the budget. Eyebrows budget. Many peoples eyebrows were by the were raised, though, by the opening the Opening Statement of the chancellor. Remind chancellor. Lets remind ourselves that was ourselves about what that was about as we mourn the tragic loss of life in israel and gaza. The Prime Minister reminded us last week of the need to fight extremism and heal divisions. So i start today by remembering the muslims who died in two world wars in the service of freedom and democracy. We need a memorial to honour them. Need a memorial to honour them. Ihave need a memorial to honour them. I have decided to allocate £1 million towards the cost of building one. Whatever your faith or colour or class, this country will never forget the sacrifices aussies made for our future. Well, our Political Editor , well, our Political Editor, christopher hope, today interviewed the chancellor of the exchequer and asked him about a variety of things, but of course touched on the opening sentiment. Lets have a listen. I think it is important to recognise the contribution of 170,000 muslims who died defending our freedoms. 170,000 muslims who died defending our freedoms. We have defending our freedoms. We have already, as a government, supported a memorial to sikh soldiers who died. We supported a memorial to black and african soldiers who died in Windrush Square in brixton. And a very square in brixton. And a very good proposal. I also, by the way , remembered, the sufferings way, remembered, the sufferings and worries of people of the jewish faith in my autumn statement. So a very good proposal was made to me by sajid javid, who is a colleague and a friend, and i decided that that had merit. Ive got to tell you as well, theres been a big reaction to that announcement, you know, very different opinions and quite strong opinions on both sides. Im pleased now to be joined down the line by naveed asghar, deputy chair of the asghar, the deputy chair of the conservative forum. Good conservative muslim forum. Good evening this evening to you. What does this memorial mean you . Memorial mean to you . Evening michelle. I good evening michelle. I think its very important. And as the chancellor has said, i dont want to repeat what he said. I think it goes a long way in healing the rifts have in healing the rifts that have been recently. The been caused recently. With the war middle east. We have war in the middle east. We have seen of thousands of seen hundreds of thousands of people marching in towns and cities uk, cities across the uk, and i think is really important think it is really important that, chancellor that, you know, the chancellor has the 4 million has shown that the 4 million population muslims uk are population muslims in the uk are valued members of society. And you that the chancellor, you know that the chancellor, the there to the government is there to represent protect everybody. The government is there to repr and let me ask you, because i must naveed, must confess, naveed, i personally thought very personally thought it was very odd to say the least, that here we are. Weve got very we are. Weve got a very important about, important announced all about, specifically finances specifically about the finances of the nation, how people at home, how their back pockets are going to look in the year ahead, whats going more whats going to be more expensive, whats hopefully going cheaper, i going to be cheaper, etc. I found utterly bizarre that to found it utterly bizarre that to start that process with talk about a memorial, irrespective of who the memorial is and for and all the rest of it was irrelevant, its the notion that that was the First Priority of the chancellor. What did you make to that . I cant give an that i cant give you an answer on, you know, im asking you what you thought it being priority number one at the top of a financial budget. Thats right. So heres the thing. I dont think thats what the opening would Opening Statement would be, i had that it was had some inclination that it was going part of the budget going to be part of the budget as somewhere the line. And as somewhere along the line. And because such a small because it was such a small amount compared to the amount of money compared to the 20 worth savings 20 billion worth of savings since the autumn and now since the autumn budget, and now that in for that theyre putting in for National Insurance and cuts, you know, self employed know, for self employed vat thresholds businesses thresholds for Small Businesses and system and and reforming the tax system and vapes, know, thats vapes, etc. You know, thats where were really focussed. Where we were really focussed. So this not something that i so this was not something that i thought anywhere thought was going to be anywhere near thought it near the start. I thought it might have been discussed as, you closing shot or you know, as a closing shot or something that. Be Something Like that. Ill be honest. Yeah. Let me ask you a yeah. And let me ask you a question, because i feel a little i worry little little bit and i worry a little bit, actually, naveed, whether or muslim vote is or not the muslim vote is essentially being weaponized, politicised, people now essentially being weaponized, politi this, people now essentially being weaponized, politi this vote people now essentially being weaponized, politi this vote in eople now essentially being weaponized, politi this vote in order now essentially being weaponized, politi this vote in order to now essentially being weaponized, politi this vote in order to gain using this vote in order to gain political advantage. Do you feel that way or not . Absolutely. Im really absolutely. And im really against and you know, it against that. And you know, it definitely should the definitely should not be the case because were just hard working know, working people. You know, a majority of muslims in this country hard country are moderate, hard working people into the working people who pay into the tax and, you know, they tax system, and, you know, they came third, fourth came here second, third, fourth generation. Grandparents came came here second, third, fourth genein ion. Grandparents came came here second, third, fourth genein 1950. Grandparents came came here second, third, fourth genein 1950. And,indparents came came here second, third, fourth genein 1950. And, you arents came came here second, third, fourth genein 1950. And, you know, came here in 1950. And, you know, here in 1950. And, you know, here based in scotland, here we are based in scotland, in glasgow. You know, were third, fourth generation. My kids adults and, you kids are now adults and, you know, here, were going to know, were here, were going to be for you know, be here for the, you know, eternity essentially. So were a part society and, and and eternity essentially. So were a pariprotection and, and and eternity essentially. So were a pariprotection ofld, and and eternity essentially. So were a pariprotection of the|nd and eternity essentially. So were a pariprotection of the uk. And eternity essentially. So were a pariprotection of the uk. The|nd the protection of the uk. The well being is my well being of the uk is my priority. Just like yourself. But, you know, i want to make sure my kids have a good sure my kids have got a good education. Theyve got good jobs, interest jobs, ive got low interest rates. Cost of living crisis rates. The cost of living crisis is affecting everybody. All these are dealt we these things are dealt with. We dont want to be just labelled as targeted for our faith or our religion. And i dont think any faith wants to be Faith Community wants that to be the i think we need to get the case. I think we need to get on and get past this. This is something that you used to see in, you know, in, you know, something that you used to see in, you 100 w, i