Fury and why the period of remembrance is more important than ever for our veterans. Well hear about former soldiers struggling to move on from war and conflict. Its worse. I got up crying and i went to sleep crying and mel turned to alcohol to cope with the ptsd, losing her job, running the local pub and her home with it. Home with it. Well , its looking rather wet well, its looking rather wet and windy out there today. Well get an update throughout the morning with from Aidan Mcgivern. Rain showery Aidan Mcgivern. Rain showery rain and longer spells of rain for many of us today will definitely need to keep an umbrella handy. Ill have the full details in the forecast coming up. And as always, paul coyte will have the latest in the world of sport. Good will have the latest in the world of sport. Good morning. Good morning, Newcastle United got our Champions League reality check last night. What reality check last night. What else did we have . Manchester city beat young boys of switzerland they should have switzerland as they should have done and everton are in a bit of trouble because they face a 12 point deduction. But well look into that a bit later. Into that a little bit later. Okay, thank you. Okay, paul, thank you. Okay, paul, thank you. That casual . Was that overly casual . No. Are we like sure here. Are you sure . We like sure here. Where should it be more formal . You stay are. No, no. You stay as you are. Im stephen dixon. More importantly, costello, importantly, im Ellie Costello, and this is breakfast on. And this is breakfast on. Gb news. Now to the situation in the middle east. A 20, would you believe it, of the escalation of the israeli gaza conflict. The the israeli gaza conflict. The israeli Prime Minister has reiterate noted that his country is prepared for a Ground Invasion of gaza. This is what invasion of gaza. This is what he had to say. He had to say. Hamas is of it. Hamas is of it. We are raining hell fire on hamas. We have already killed thousands of terrorists. S. And thousands of terrorists. S. And this is only the beginning. Simultaneously we are preparing for a Ground Invasion and i will not elaborate on when, how or how many. It not elaborate on when, how or how many. It will not elaborate on when, how or how many. It will also not how many. It will also not elaborate on the various calculations we are making, which the public is mostly unaware of. And that is how things should be. Well, International Efforts to stop the conflict from escalating seem to be falling flat. United nations resolution addressing the situation Mission Failed at the Un Security Council after vetoes from russia and china, only to be followed by a russian led resolute motion calling for a ceasefire. Also failing. Well, we know one of the reasons why israel has not yet invaded gaza in earnest. As invaded gaza in earnest. As yesterday, reports came out that the country agreed to delay a ground offensive so the United States can move Missile Defence and air Defence Systems to the region to protect us troops. Region to protect us troops. Well, as israel ramps up overnight raids in the occupied west bank, un agencies are warning that fuel in the gaza strip could run out imminently, with hospitals there stopping all but Emergency Services. All but Emergency Services. Gaza Health Ministry now says more than 6400 people have been killed in israeli bombing since october. The seventh. The Israeli Death toll from the attacks that day excuse me, stands at more than 1400 with 200 people still missing , being 200 people still missing, being held hostage. Held hostage. Well, inside israel, reaction has been swift and harsh to the United Nations. Secretary general Antonio Guterres , for general Antonio Guterres, for comments he made yesterday about hamass attacks not happening in a vacuum. A vacuum. A vacuum. Well, our security editor, mark white, is in israel and has this report. This report. 20 days into the war on hamas and there is no let up in the intensity of the israeli airstrikes fighter jets and missiles are now hitting targets right across the gaza strip as israel accuses hamas of entrench itself within civilian areas everywhere. The inevitable everywhere. The inevitable consequence of that are huge numbers of dead and injured among the local population. They among the local population. They are desperate for aid supplies here in the uk. Among a growing number of countries now urging israel to consider short humanitarian pauses is to let more aid trucks across the border from egypt at 21 tonnes of uk aid into including medical suppues of uk aid into including medical supplies have now arrived in egypt. But they join a huge queue waiting for permission to enter gaza. The un enter gaza. The un secretary general has been trying to repair some of the damage in relations with the Israeli Government, damage in relations with the Israeli Government , who damage in relations with the Israeli Government, who accused him of effectively justifying hamas. October 7th attacks with hamas. October 7th attacks with comments that palestinians had suffered 56 years of a suffocating occupation. I spoke of the grievances of the palestine people and in doing so, i also clearly stated, and i quote , but the grievances of the quote, but the grievances of the Palestinian People cannot justify the appalling attacks by hamas. But israeli Officials Say hamas. But israeli Officials Say his comments were clear. It has deeply damaged this country , is deeply damaged this country, is already fractious relations with the un. These blindfolded teddy bears are the latest symbol of the horrors of october seventh, a reminder of the more than 200 hostages is still being held. Hostages is still being held. They include 85 year old yaffa after whose image was seen around the world, filmed as she was kidnapped and driven on the back of a golf cart and savagely after the release of two hostages earlier this week, her granddaughter is desperately hoping she could be next. But also very fearful she may not have survived her ordeal if they released those those two women, then maybe until the next time they will release someone else. My grandmother wont be alive to survive it and to be brought back home. The fate of the hostages is likely to be one of the main reasons israel has not launched its ground war. There is intense International Pressure to hold off and allow hostage negotiations to continue, but theres only so long. Israel is likely to be willing to wait. Mark white gb news tel aviv. Well, lets get the latest now live from mark white in tel aviv. Very good morning to you, mark and Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating that israel is preparing for that Ground Invasion, but he wont say when it will happen. It will happen. No, but its clear from the words of the Prime Minister that there is no way that israel is going to be diverted from, um, this ground war against gaza. And overnight news coming through of a very significant raid, it seems, involving tanks and a number of Israeli Ground troops into northern gaza targeting, were told, called Hamas Terrorists and also their infrastructure and positions, including anti tank missile posts. Now, one of the reasons posts. Now, one of the reasons i think why it is inevitable that there will be a ground war is because israels stated aim of destroying hamas cannot take place. The military analysts place. The military analysts believe , from aerial bombardment believe, from aerial bombardment alone. And i think that is true when you consider that two and a half weeks into this war, there are still six different rocket barrages is coming across into israel. We had another one into Central Israel last night into tel aviv, particularly in the south of tel aviv. Are for security chief here filmed as one of the rockets was intercepted by an iron dome missile. But another rocket , it missile. But another rocket, it seems, got through. It hit a community in Rishon Leziyyon lezion, which is just on the southern outskirts of tel aviv , southern outskirts of tel aviv, causing quite a bit of damage and injuring four people. So while that is happening, while hamas still has the capabilities of launching significant, significant air attacks into israel, then i think a ground war is inevitable. War is inevitable. Okay , mark, for now, thanks okay, mark, for now, thanks very much indeed. And back to very much indeed. And back to mark. Throughout the course of the morning. Now, just when it looked like they had it going all going for them with a united team, fractures are appearing in the labour party over sir Keir Starmers firm support for israel. Yes. A new report in the times today suggests that muslim voters feel betrayed by the party and up to four shadow cabinet ministers are on resignation. Watch. This all comes as our gb news peoples poll reveals that labour well and truly have the backing of the british people. Were an of the british people. Were an election to be held tomorrow. So election to be held tomorrow. So labour having the support of 49 of voters concerned , lives on 21. Well, the peoples poll has also revealed that 74 of brits think that foreign nationals in britain who glorify islamist terrorism should be expelled from britain. 45 of brits also believing immigrants are not integrating very well into wider british society. Well, lots to get through there. Our deputy political editor, tom hannood has been going through the detail for us and he joins us live now from westminster. Very good morning westminster. Very good morning to you, tom. And first of all, whats going on with labour . Because there is a problem for sir keir starmer here. And that problem is growing and its over this rift over israel and gaza. This rift over israel and gaza. The yes, its clear this problem has not yet borne itself out in the polls, but its certainly is causing Division Within the labour party, which might well go on to have knock on effects. Go on to have knock on effects. Its interesting to see sir Keir Starmers shifting position on the israel gaza conflict because it was only at the start of this month that sir keir starmer went on National Radio to say that israel had the right to say that israel had the right to cut off food, water and electricity supplies to the gaza strip. There was huge constant after that within his party and he subsequently rowed back from that position, saying that he never held that position in the first place, despite there being video and audio evidence that he did. But perhaps more pertinently, in the last few days, there has been internal pressure coming from 150 labour muslim councillors allegedly coming from within the shadow cabinet as well, with reported threats to resign coming second handin threats to resign coming second hand in some news organisations and this has led to a statement put out by sir keir starmer last night on his twitter feed saying that much more aid needs to go into the gaza strip, talking a lot about what more help must be done towards the Palestinian People in the gaza strip, although strangely , that although strangely, that statement, that new statement that came out yesterday didnt mention hamas and didnt condemn her mass either. And some her mass either. And some eyebrows have been raised in terms of how much has sir keir starmer been pushed from one position to another by some of these elements of his party, certainly by that open letter that we saw this week and by some of these voices allegedly around the shadow cabinet table. There is some suggestion that sir keir starmer has felt compelled to put this fresh statement out at apropos of those two twin pieces of internal party pressure. Well, certainly , look, its well, certainly, look, its something that is going to have to deal with. But that aside, tom, as you look at the latest polling, i mean, this election , polling, i mean, this election, whenever it happens, is his to lose, isnt it . It certainly is 49. These are numbers that tony blair was enjoying in 1997. And the tories down on 21. That is a huge, huge low. These were numbers that we were seeing at the nadir of the liz truss administration. Now liz truss administration. Now that 21 is a little bit out of line with some other polls, but clearly it is showing that the tories are not finding pockets of support. In tories are not finding pockets of support. In fact, if we look at the north, the conservatives are doing historically badly within the data of this poll and drilling down further actually , drilling down further actually, the labour party is soaring high in scotland this poll has the has the snp below the labour party now in scotland . Yes, its just a subsample of the overall sample, but it is an indication that the labour party is recovering strongly in scotland, but also is taking across the United Kingdom a huge number of people who havent previously been voting labour. A third of people who voted leave in 2016 are now backing the labour party. Thats and only around 40 of people who voted leave are backing the conservative party. Meanwhile around 60 of people who voted remain are backing the labour party. They seem to have a much broader spread of these two groups, whereas the conservative party has slipped back amongst both leavers and remainers, but signifying recently no longer a majority of people who voted leave are backing the conservative party and the labour party seems to have ameliorated its brand when it comes to people who previously werent voting labour, they might now feel that its slightly safer to do so. That project of moderation from sir keir starmer appears to have been successful in the eyes of much of the electorate. Okay , tom hannood there for okay, tom hannood there for us in westminster. Thank okay, tom hannood there for us in westminster. Thank you very much indeed. Very much indeed. At 615 this is breakfast on gb news with stephen and ellie. Lets just remind you of our top stories this morning. And theres a barrage hamas theres a barrage of hamas rockets shot tel aviv overnight. The israeli Prime Minister has doubled down on a Ground Invasion of gaza as a councils hiding their spending from us. Hiding their spending from us. Were going to bring you the latest finding which will make anyone who pays council tax in the uk pretty furious. Thats in just a moment. And as you just heard, sir keir starmer has come under fire from his own side over his support of israel. A new gb news peoples poll reveals what the public really think about glorifying islamic terrorists integration and of course, he would vote if there were a general election tomorrow. Now we all pay a lot of council tax, but do you know where its going . And with the annual charge going up recently, for many of us, most of us, would you like to know if your money is being spent while easley well, good luck with that. According to the Taxpayers Alliance, there is a transparency crisis in local government with very few councils publishing any of their accounts. Ellie has got more accounts. Ellie has got more details at the wall. Thanks stephen. Yes, weve been taking a look at this new analysis. Lets have at this new analysis. Lets have a look at some of the main points that we found. So first of all, there are 371 local councils across england. Guess how many of those filed audits accounts for every year since 2019, 20, 20 . Well, the results are staggering. Just 15 councils filed their accounts. Northern ireland did well, though ten out of 11 councils there have published their accounts for the last four years. While only six of scotlands 32 councils have done so. Just 31 councils across the uk. Thats under 10 have the uk. Thats under 10 have released their accounts for the last Financial Year. The deadune last Financial Year. The deadline was. The 30th of deadline was. The 30th of september and in wales not a Single Council had published accounts for the last Financial Year. Accounts for the last Financial Year. So which councils are the year. So which councils are the worst offenders as well . Barking and dagenham in east london. Coventry in the midlands and copeland in cumbria. They havent published accounts for the last three years. They didnt even begin a draft on their spending history. Well, we their spending history. Well, we contacted those councils for a response and stephen has those for us. Okay, ellie, thank you. Well, we have had some response actually from coventry. They tell us weve published our report for the last financial yean report for the last Financial Year, but the formal statement has been delayed due to technical issues relating to previous years. These have no previous years. These have no direct Financial Impact on the city council and are now resolved, which will enable the council to get up to date. Statements of account published quickly. They this is a quickly. They say this is a national issue. With cipfa national issue. With cipfa recently reporting that over 900 sets of accounts were outstanding nationally and only five out of approximately 400 councils have published their accounts for the last Financial Year on time. Barking and dagenham said theres been a National Shortage of local government auditors since the abolition of the National Audit office in 2015. By july this yean office in 2015. By july this year, the department for levelling up said there was a backlog of almost 520 local government audits going back to 20 1516. They went on to say, the department has announced its looking at a practical way to address this national backlog and get local government audits up to date in barking and dagenham, we have draft accounts awaiting audit for 2019, 20, 20, 21, 21, 22 and 22, 23. And we look fonnard to working with the National Government to get accounts audited and published out as soon as possible. Out as soon as possible. Nottingham city council havent got back to us yet, but well let you know when they do. Well to go through all of this. With us now, were joined by the head of campaigns from the Taxpayers Alliance. Thats the Taxpayers Alliance. Thats the come out with the group thats come out with these new findings. And eliot keck. Joins us this keck. Eliot keck joins us this morning. Very good to see morning. Eliot, very good to see you. Your reaction to you. Whats your reaction to these statistics . Its pretty staggering, isnt it . Yeah. So we view this as a transparency crisis. So every year publishes or is year the Council Publishes or is supposed to publish a statement of accounts, looking of accounts, basically looking at how it spent your money, how it spent, your dollars that it spent, your tax dollars that youve paid and council taxes now over £2,000 for the now are over £2,000 for the average band household. And the problem is, is were seeing an increasing problem where not only not publishing only are they not publishing their accounts on time their audited accounts on time and audits can be delayed if the auditor with auditor has issues with the document and to some document and thats to some extent outside the extent without outside the councils the problem councils power. The problem i think for us in particular is theyre not even publishing their draft accounts. Weve their draft accounts. So weve seen, i think 97 have not published their draft accounts and deadline was and the deadline for that was july were july the 31st. So were now talking months and months talking about months and months beyond the deadline. It just beyond the deadline. And it just means Council Taxpayers means the Council Taxpayers cannot money is cannot see how their money is being spent. And you need to know how your money is being spent. But the problem where point problem is its where to point the isnt because is the finger isnt it . Because is this the councils not doing what theyre or is it theyre meant to do or is it down the fact barking down to the fact as Barking Dagenham say, know, the dagenham say, you know, the National Office was shut National Audit office was shut down, of so theyre down, none of that. So theyre not support , the not getting the support, the infrastructure place to be infrastructure in place to be able to it. Able to do it. I the fact that listen, i think the fact that 252 councils have published draft accounts, they not draft accounts, they may not have accounts draft accounts, they may not hav shows accounts draft accounts, they may not hav shows that accounts draft accounts, they may not hav shows that it accounts draft accounts, they may not havshows that it is accounts draft accounts, they may not havshows that it is possible. Ints yet shows that it is possible. I personally and we personally point the finger squarely at local councils if theyre not at least getting a draft up. And its really important that we get these accounts. Lets take one example. Birmingham council where we know recently theyve gone bankrupt over equal pay issues. Well, equal pay actually started cropping up in council accounts in birmingham in around 2006, two thousand and seven. So. Okay they may not have actually dealt with that issue, but that issue was demonstrated and revealed in accounts 15 and was revealed in accounts 15 years before it ended up blowing up. So these are really important. Up. So these are really important. Financial Health Checks and councils need to get them out. Yeah, and thats why theyre so important, they . And so important, arent they . And i can imagine the people that so important, arent they . And i can listeninggine the people that so important, arent they . And i can listeningginfthez people that so important, arent they . And i can listeningginfthe radioyle that so important, arent they . And i canlisteningginfthe radio now1at are listening on the radio now and telly who and watching on the telly who are feeling so frustrated because its not only the cost of council tax, as say, of council tax, as you say, about £2,000 on average. Theres such a disparity as well in council there . Up and council tax, isnt there . Up and down country. And on down the country. And then on top of that, not being able to see where your hard earned money is and then you is being spent. And then you hear as birmingham, hear stories such as birmingham, and if the and then you wonder if the council even be trusted to council can even be trusted to spend your money properly. Yeah, absolutely. Lets yeah, absolutely. And lets take notorious take a particularly notorious example. Cambridgeshire take a particularly notorious exampleouncil, cambridgeshire take a particularly notorious exampleouncil, cambr has shire take a particularly notorious exampleouncil, cambr has been district council, which has been running week trial running a four day week trial for staff since january. For its staff since january. So thats reduction in hours for its staff since january. So that no reduction in hours for its staff since january. So that no loss reduction in hours for its staff since january. So that no loss ofduction in hours for its staff since january. So that no loss of pay. On in hours for its staff since january. So that no loss of pay. They hours with no loss of pay. They havent published audited accounts since 2019 to 20, and yet theyre talking about massive increases in productivity a result of productivity as a result of their day week. Yet their four day week. And yet theyre not fulfilling theyre not even fulfilling their most obligation to their most basic obligation to taxpayers and to the public. Okay , elliot, thank you very okay, elliot, thank you very much indeed. Good to see you this morning. If youve got any thoughts on that, do let us know. Gb views at gbnews. Com now, its been a big week of weather, hasnt it . So lets get a weather update from aiden. Hello. Very good morning to you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from office with the from the met office with the gb news forecast. A gloomy news forecast. Bit of a gloomy one there this morning. Lots one out there this morning. Lots of clouds, mist and fog of low clouds, some mist and fog patches well, and further patches as well, and further rain or showers come. Rain or showers to come. For many its a windy one as many of us, its a windy one as well. For the far north of scotland, northern isles, seeing some through some Gale Force Winds through the morning early afternoon the morning and early afternoon combined rain. Combined with some heavy rain. Its very its not going to feel very pleasant here. Rainfall pleasant here. The rainfall increasingly across increasingly mounting up across eastern scotland over next eastern scotland over the next few not much as last few days, not as much as last week, but any additional rainfall, of course, could cause further also be further issues. Therell also be some persistent rain at times for eastern england. Showers elsewhere interspersed sunny elsewhere interspersed by sunny spells , and it feel a bit spells, and it will feel a bit milder compared with yesterday. But will carry the but a gusty wind will carry the showers across showers through across southwestern and southwestern areas. Hail and thunder coasts. So quite thunder around coasts. So quite a lively day of weather where ever you are into the evening , ever you are into the evening, the showers continue. And the longer spells of rain continue as well. Central and as well. Across central and eastern parts of eastern scotland, parts of eastern scotland, parts of eastern , a of low eastern england, a lot of low cloud once again, reforming some mist patches by dawn, but its another mild start to the day. Tomorrow with temperatures in the double figures in places. The double figures in places. Now, friday is a day of two halves across the uk. Weve got a lot of stubborn cloud for scotland , for northern and scotland, for northern and eastern england, some persistent rain at times, along with a gusty breeze elsewhere, brighter skies , some sunny spells, but skies, some sunny spells, but frequent and heavy showers coming through across Northern Ireland, wales, the southern half of england, temperatures reaching 15 celsius, a touch cooler compared with today. Cooler compared with today. Still to come, paul coyte will be here with all of the reaction from the Champions League last night. Thats. N ext good next good morning. Welcome back. The time has just gone 6 27. And you may have noticed myself and stephen wearing our poppies today. And thats because the poppy appeal today. And thats because the poppy appeal starts today and we are all being asked to buy and wear one of these. And this one of your special ones, isnt it . These the special ones i these are the special ones i bought royal bought from the Royal British legion. Legion. Yeah, because its their Biggest Fundraising Campaign held every year during the penod held every year during the period of remembrance and the money is used to support veterans and their families and its needed, according to research by kings college, 7. 4 of veterans suffer from post Traumatic Stress disorder. Traumatic stress disorder. Thats compared to 4 of the general public. Well, of course, many veterans support charities. They say money is running out, putting thousands of veterans at risk of unemployment and homelessness. This will hollis homelessness. This will hollis has met mel bensley, a british army veteran, to hear her story. Army veteran, to hear her story. Well, this is me on one of the proudest days of my life. This is me in my number twos with my forage cap. On the day with my forage cap. On the day i actually passed out, a soldier at just 17, mel bensley from nottingham served for queen and country. After 91 when we were country. After 91 when we were all amalgamated into one army, i came out as the royal signals, the medal. Theyre actually explains that i served in Northern Ireland during the conflicts in 1989 and 1990. It was my first posting and i was still only 18 when i first went out there. It was decades later dunng out there. It was decades later during lockdown that the trauma she had buried resurfaced and at its worse pace. I got up crying and i went to sleep crying. Mel turned to alcohol to cope with the ptsd , losing her job, with the ptsd, losing her job, running the local pub and her home with it. Home with it. I didnt know what to do with myself and became very lonely, very scared, and started closing down. And the only thing i knew what to do was to reach for alcohol, to make me feel human is the best way of describing it. It gave it made me feel something. Something. Its estimated that around 4000 veterans are homeless , with 4000 veterans are homeless, with many living in hostels, but hundreds on the streets. The hundreds on the streets. The government is pledging to end homelessness amongst veterans by next year, reinforced by an 8. 5 million fund named op for titude. Critics say theyll miss the target. The british legions the target. The british legions poppy the target. The british legions pppy appeal the target. The british legions poppy appeal raises cash to help veterans and their families. Veterans and their families. Like most places, homeless , ness like most places, homeless, ness is increasing in nottingham by at least 50 this year. The Charity Framework is trying to plug the gaps. Andrew is chief exec. Well, we have a National Housing shortage and thats exacerbated by a cost of living crisis and it means that people, for instance, who we are trying to resettle with private landlords, simply cant afford the rents. The rents. I melanie ducker swear by almighty god that i will be faithful and bear allegiance to her majesty Queen Elizabeth. The second meals now in recovery and has a home again through framework. Framework. Her experiences while serving took a lot from her, but still shes giving back to her armed forces family. Forces family. I still am and always have been very proud of the fact that i was able to serve my queen and country and until the age of 55, i am still actually a registered reservist. So i could get called reservist. So i could get called up if things go wrong. Up if things go wrong. Will hollis gb news in nottingham . Nottingham . Yeah. Do your bit. Do your bit. These are people who put their lives on the line for us. Actually absolutely. And this year actually , just worth saying actually, just worth saying before we go to paul coyte is this year the poppies are all green. Theyre out of green. Theyre made out of recycled remnants of coffee cups. Recycled remnants of coffee cques , well, green. Theyre not yes, well, green. Theyre not as in not green in colour as in recyclable. Theyre made of paper. Theyre made of paper. Theres a picture of made of paper rather than plastic. Probably not camera. Probably not camera. Its a bit its a bit small isnt it. Yeah. Made of paper rather than a picture of the front of the sun. Can we zoom in on that . There you go. So theyre all just paper and theyre a bit different. Redesign since paper and theyre a bit diff|80s. Redesign since paper and theyre a bit diff|80s. Thereiesign since paper and theyre a bit diffn 80s. There iesig go. Nce the 80s. So there you go. Recyclable and the fully recyclable and the poppies are green in the sense that they are good for the environment. Okay, its time to go all the latest sports go through all the latest sports news now with paul coyte. Have to say, look, theres i have to say, look, theres no i have to say, look, theres 0 puppy i have to say, look, theres no puppy there. No, but we havent got any. The last night i went the reason is last night i went round everyone there. I mean, i went round everywhere because i always wear my poppy everywhere because i always wear my pppy very everywhere because i always wear my poppy very early. Yeah me too. To try and i couldnt find them anywhere. Well today is the day. Today is the day. Today the day. It starts today is the day. It starts today. The reason ive got today. The only reason ive got one because stephens one is because stephens got some at and some lovely ones at home and hes. Let me borrow this today. Yeah okay. I like to buy the nice ones from because you can buy the ones from the royal the nice ones from the Royal British which quite like. They are nice, but im really old school. I like the old one. I how do you feel i do like the how do you feel about the new one . That i like that paper. That i like that paper. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Made Recycled Coffee cups. Made of Recycled Coffee cups. Made of Recycled Coffee cups. Very nice. Oh, is it . Very nice. Oh, is it . Yeah. Well, fair enough. Yeah. Well, fair enough. Enough. Fair enough. Fair enough. For the environment. Should we talk about Newcastle United . Lets do. I mean yeah, lets do. I mean theres a theres phrase theres a theres a phrase thats going that thats going around that everybody so ill use everybody is using. So ill use it as well if good enough everybody is using. So ill use it aeverybody good enough everybody is using. So ill use it aeverybody else,yd enough everybody is using. So ill use it aeverybody else, itsnough everybody is using. So ill use it aeverybody else, its reality for everybody else, its reality check. Everybodys saying check. Yeah. Everybodys saying a champions check a Champions League reality check because great because newcastle had a great start Champions League start in the Champions League against saint germain. Start in the Champions League against sand germain. Start in the Champions League against sand everybody they won 4 1 and everybody around to jamess park. Everybodys this everybodys saying, this is fantastic. At the san fantastic. Then drew at the san siro milan then siro against milan and then borussia came to town Borussia Dortmund came to town again to beat again and managed to beat newcastle last night. Newcastle united 1 0 last night. It pounng Newcastle United 1 0 last night. It pouring a bit of a it was pouring rain, a bit of a miserable night up the miserable night up in the north east. I think its just proving, think. Think proving, i think. I dont think they to be told that the they need to be told that the champions is that Champions League is not that easy a very easy and theyve got a very difficult group with those those teams there as well. Um, also teams in there as well. Um, also as far as newcastle are concerned , sandro tonali is concerned, sandro tonali is a name thats going around a lot and youve probably heard about sandro tonali now this gambling thing. Thats right. He came on for the last 25 minutes for newcastle , been accused of newcastle, been accused of gambling and obviously its bannedif gambling and obviously its banned if youre a Football Player because you could have inside knowledge. Et cetera. You cant be doing that sort of thing. So he was placing bets on matches and using illegal gambling websites in italy , gambling websites in italy, lawyers are trying to work out a plea bargain with him in italy, but when push comes to shove, it means its going to get a ban. So its probably going to be ten months. So its when it happens. So it happened with ivan toney at brentford where he wasnt even to train with even allowed to train with brentford, tonali, brentford, but with tonali, it looks hell able to looks like hell be able to train newcastle. Well see train with newcastle. Well see because has all worked because this has all been worked out moment. But hes not out at the moment. But hes not going to able to play for going to be able to play for about ten months. Thats one to watch, isnt it . Manchester theyve had Manchester City. Theyve had a havent they . A good night, havent they . Have a bad night. Young i did have a bad night. Young boys away in bern in switzerland. Being not switzerland. And now being not only and pastimes only the sports and pastimes correspondent you know, fashion, fashion is also my other. Fashion is also my other. Id be very good on your fashion. Very good. Well, have a look at this. We got Manchester City usually get the from shell to tracksuits but theyve got a very nice cardigan on i hopefully weve got this have you heard of the letterman sweaters . They used to wear them sweaters . They used to wear them there we go. Look at this. This is them. Theyre over in switzerland. Look at those very new look. They look good. Yes. See, look, thats thats thats the stadium there. But. Oh yeah, very american. Very, very , very high school very, very, very High School Musical. Yeah, it is. Yes. Very high yeah, it is. Yes. Very High School Musical jerseys. Is that what they called it . Is that what they called it . Its a sweater. Sweater its a letterman sweater sweater. Its a sweater. Sweater its a letquiten sweater sweater. Its a sweater. Sweater its a letquite like eater sweater. Its a sweater. Sweater its a letquite like that. Sweater. I quite like that. I quite like that. I quite like that. I like it, too. I like it, too. I like it, too. I thought i was going to hate it. No, like it, too. No, i like it, too. No, i like it, too. No, i like it, too. No, thats quite nice. I like the colours very nice. But do you remember the last person away with the person that got away with the cardigan professional sport cardigan in professional sport was daley . Federer is was tom daley . Roger federer is what im thinking. Oh, tom daley. More of daley. Daleys was more of a knitted knitted wasnt it . Knitted knitted one, wasnt it . You but but federer got you know, but but federer got away it. Yeah. And you away with it. But yeah. And you think sweaters there . Away with it. But yeah. And you think theyre sweaters there . Away with it. But yeah. And you think theyre allneaters there . Away with it. But yeah. And you think theyre all goings there . Away with it. But yeah. And you think theyre all going to 1ere . Away with it. But yeah. And you think theyre all going to start maybe theyre all going to start wearing i so. Wearing cardigans . I think so. The way fonnard. This is the way fonnard. Were going back to val were all going back to val doonican and all that, arent we . Yeah. We . Yeah, yeah. Rocking chairs, whole rocking chairs, the whole lot. I letterman lot. And i think letterman sweaters lot. And i think letterman sweares lot. And i think letterman sweare we going to spot you two are we going to spot you two in a cardy . Ive got some. Ive got some. I ive got some. I do ive got some. I do avocado. Yeah, ive got a cardi. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Ill have to see you in those. What do you think . Well, of an age, arent well, men of an age, arent we . M we . Men of a certain age. We are men of a certain age. You have have a cardigan, you have to have a cardigan, some of us more of a certain age than others. Well, yeah. Celtic two, atletico, good two, atletico, madrid, 2 2. Good result although not result for celtic, although not really enough really good enough because unfortunate with lazio and feyenoord group, unfortunate with lazio and feyenonnot group, unfortunate with lazio and feyenonnot going group, unfortunate with lazio and feyenonnot going to roup, unfortunate with lazio and feyenonnot going to go 3, unfortunate with lazio and feyenonnot going to go through theyre not going to go through to stage of the to the next stage of the champions but its all Champions League, but its all about trying qualify about trying to qualify for third, which they could go third, which means they could go into europa league. But into the europa league. But thats to be as well. Okay. Okay. Well see you a little bit later on. Thank you. In a cartoon cardi, dont grab from somewhere. Grab on from somewhere. Be one somewhere. I brought today can i brought one in today can pinch if you like. Pinch mine if you like. I very much like that. Thank you. Yeah, youre welcome. A bit of crop top its a bit of a crop top thing, one, isnt it . Thing, that one, isnt it . Is a bit. It is a bit. It is a bit. It is a bit. I would look fabulous. I would look fabulous. Is. It is kind of morning. It is. It is kind of always wanders in in some strange and then whips strange outfit and then whips it all reveal the vision. It all off to reveal the vision. It was very early this morning to be very, very cold. Now still to come oil come after Just Stop Oil vandalise another vandalise is yet another historical monument. Whats the way of whats the best way of deaung whats the best way of dealing with a french nun dealing with them . A french nun has rather unconventional has a rather unconventional idea. More in idea. Well tell you more in headune it is 638. This is breakfast with stephen and ellie. Lets just remind you of the top stories this morning as the keir starmer comes under fire from his own side over his support of israel. Israel. A new gb news peoples poll reveals what the public really think about glorifying islamic terrorists into integration and most importantly, who would win if a general election were to be held tomorrow . Stay with us for held tomorrow . Stay with us for all of the analysis. All of the analysis. Well, theres a barrage of hamas rockets tel aviv hamas rockets shocked tel aviv overnight. Prime overnight. The israeli Prime Minister down on his minister has doubled down on his plans for a Ground Invasion of gaza. And our councils hiding their spending from us. Well bring you the latest findings, which could make anyone who pays council tax in the uk vent with fury. Fury. Lets whip you through the front pages this morning. Should we start with the guardian . Leads on the growing humanitarian crisis in gaza and fears that fuel could soon be running out. Running out. The mail looks closer to home and reports that labour are tearing themselves apart over who back. In the israel gaza who to back. In the israel gaza conflict, the metro leads on a file Police Officer whos been sent to prison. The mirror reports that one of james the mirror reports that one ofJames Bulgers the mirror reports that one of James Bulgers killers the mirror reports that one ofJames Bulgers killers is to of James Bulgers killers is to have a secret parole hearing after fears that holding it in pubuc after fears that holding it in public would damage his Mental Health. And the daily star headune health. And the daily star headline mystic mugs, it says astrology is not that scientific. They call this revelation shocking. Revelation shocking. Yeah, im not sure about that one myself. Well, joining us to go through some of the days headunesis through some of the days headlines is Deputy Editor of the spectator. Freddie grey, and former labour adviser Scarlett Mccgwire. You mccgwire. Very good to see you both this morning. Thank you so much your me much for your company. Me and scarlett, start you, scarlett, lets start with you, shall we . And this is the front page of the daily mail, which we just referenced labour tearing its israel. Its self apart on israel. I i think one yes, i think i think one could say that is a massive exaggeration. Certainly exaggeration. Theres certainly a l exaggeration. Theres certainly a , um, that , exaggeration. Theres certainly a , um, that, uh, at the a problem, um, that, uh, at the beginning when the horrific attacks happened in southern israel, what labour said was they are inexcusable , awful, they are inexcusable, awful, terrible. But but, you know, you mustnt take it out on the Palestinian People. So it was a very evenhanded and then and then the problem is, is that the labour party , i mean it does labour party, i mean it does feel very strongly. I mean you feel very strongly. I mean you do have labour friends of israel and, and pro Palestinian People. I mean in the Parliamentary Party theyre not ripping themselves apart, but they are having a very serious debate. I mean, i yeah, but hold on minute. The point with this is the fact that keir starmer said would you back switching off food , fuel and water to the gaza food, fuel and water to the gaza strip . And he said, yes, i know. Strip . And he said, yes, i know. And it was a mistake. I mean, theres no question that that that he was thinking about the question before it was a quick fire questions. It was a mistake. Of course, as a human rights lawyer, he couldnt possibly say right . Possibly say that. Right . He say that. Well, he did say that. Well, he did say that. But i mean, it was no, but i mean, it was a mistake. The problem was that they didnt they didnt back they didnt they didnt go back on it enough. Right and on it fast enough. Right and actually , you know, a lot of actually, you know, a lot of people in the party minded because they do feel that while there is no question and i have to say all the muslim councillors feel like this that what happened that what hamas did was absolutely terrible. But did was absolutely terrible. But actually whats happening in gaza is, is appalling. I mean, you know, a child forgive forget. I dont i dont want to give you a proper grilling. Give me grilling. Give me a grilling. Give me a grilling. But how can you say as a human rights lawyer, they said, oh , it was just a mistake . Well, oh, it was just a mistake . Well, he was asked a question. It wasnt a rushed jollied question. He was asked a question. He was asked a question and he quite calmly said would that. Said yes, i would do that. I would. I support that. Would. I support that. I dont i dont i dont think yeah, i watch the clip to i dont think it was it was a mistake. Right. I mean, you know , he misspoke. What do you make of this . Because i mean, scarlett, theyre saying that he misspoke, but theres a source the but theres a source in the times today saying its his biggest so far. Biggest misstep so far. I think a big well, i think it is a big mistake. Hes obviously traumatised labours traumatised by labours anti semitic problem. And, you know, a lot of labour people are. And it was a big win for the tories. I think. On the other hand, i do think scarlett will agree with this. I think the tories are are in danger of over egging this pudding. You over egging this pudding. You know, theres this sort of there are people in tory circles now who think that this could be the way wins if your way rishi wins and if your reaction terrible war reaction to this terrible war thats developing is to think, oh, great, this we can use this to in to expose anti semitism in laboun to expose anti semitism in labour, thats beyond cynical politics and is also quite dumb. Politics and is also quite dumb. I do think that labour is going to it isnt tearing itself apart yet, but there will these divisions will sharpen on, and particularly once we assume the Ground Invasion starts. Ground invasion starts. Well, theres talk of several cabinet shadow cabinet ministers being resignation watch. Being on resignation watch. Yeah, well i think thats absolute rubbish, actually. I mean, isnt true. I mean, that just isnt true. I mean, that just isnt true. I mean, you know, there were supposed be a lot of supposed to be a lot of councillors resigning. I think were up to ten and, and there is no question that that , that is no question that that, that yes , theres a, i mean yes, theres a, i mean i remember many years ago in 1997 when labour was tearing itself apart over the lack of benefits to Single Parents and Claire Schultz saying the thing about labouris schultz saying the thing about labour is we just feel so passionately about everything. So everything is a serious, serious debate, which i think is fine, but i but thats where its going to stop. There are not honestly, there really are not. Shadow cabinet members on resignation watch. I mean, people people are trying to resolve the issue to so that it is seen as. Yes 1 1 is wrong. And i have to say that, you know, one of the first labour councillors to resign if not the first shaista aziz from oxford , first shaista aziz from oxford, i mean was interviewed last night and said, of course what happenedin night and said, of course what happened in southern israel was appalling. I mean, so its not there isnt an argument about that. The argument is about is about both sides and is and is saying whats happening in gaza is terrible. But scarlett, what is an issue for sir keir starmer . Issue for sir keir starmer . Could be the fact that these voices of opposition arent even just coming from the left of the labor theyre coming from labor party. Theyre coming from across the arent they, across the party, arent they, including phillips and including Jess Phillips and shabana mean that shabana mahmood. I mean that shadow ministers shadow cabinet ministers and theyre yeah but theyre not happy. Yeah but theyre not happy. Yeah but theyre not. What im saying is theyre not resign. Yes, there not to going resign. Yes, there is who are , according is four names who are, according to the times, according to the mail, mean, its, its mail, right. I mean, its, its not what im hearing. But not what im hearing. But but i mean, what theyre saying is lets lets get it right. Lets lets lets get it right. Lets try and sort it out. Lets lets get it right. Lets try and sort it out. You know, try and sort it out. You know, this this is not saying that israel has a right because of what happened to it, because of the rage that must have happened after methods that israel has a right to take it out collectively on the palestinian cause. And thats what these people are saying. People are saying. Okay. Well, look, this is headune okay. Well, look, this is headline makers. So like to mix it up bit. Yes, thats fine, stephen. Yes, thats fine, stephen. We do. We do. We do. And we do. And im we do. And im throwing we do. And im throwing this one especially out to freddie because i know freddie is a huge britney fan, too. Britney spears fan, too. Very partial to im very, very partial to britney, partial a bit britney, very partial to a bit of and her new books out of britney and her new books out and all rest of it. And all the rest of it. Lets talk to someone very much in the know with this sort of thing, celebrity, american blogger, good blogger, blogger isnt good enough. Hilton , enough. Really. Perez hilton, who joins us now. Good morning to its lovely to see you. To you. Its lovely to see you. We were flicking through the book yesterday. Dont know if book yesterday. I dont know if would it a book or an would you call it a book or an extended essay . Extended essay . I would call it a paycheque , i would call it a paycheque, which is what i think the main reason that britney had a ghost writer put her thoughts together as a writer myself amongst other things. It does upset me that there is not a profession writer credited to britneys memoir, as if anyone believes she wrote it herself. Believes she wrote it herself. I mean, interesting you say that. Perez thats exactly what we were saying on the show yesterday. We did have a little flick through the book. It is very revealing, isnt it . In some parts, feels though some parts, it feels as though perhaps not everything should have revealed. What was have been revealed. What was your reaction to reading the book . You know, i do believe that there should be an asterisk. There should be an asterisk. Next to discussions on the book because britney is somebody who does struggle with Mental Health issues. Does struggle with Mental Health issues. And im not saying that issues. And im not saying that we shouldnt believe what happened, but some of the claims i would like to hear from the people that are being discussed , people that are being discussed, for example, something that really surprised me was this allegation that her mother gave her alcohol when she was in eighth grade, which is about 13 or 14 years old. Thats how britney might remember it. But that might not actually have happened. That might not actually have happened. And britneys mother happened. And britneys mother might argue , oh, i made her might argue, oh, i made her a virgin daiquiri and i put the alcohol in mine, or she spent a lot of the book talking about her relationship with justin timberlake. If we spoke to him , timberlake. If we spoke to him, he might recall certain experience ages differently. I do hope, though, that the process of writing the book is healthy for her and it helps her move fonnard. And also, move fonnard. And also, surprisingly, she chose not to discuss her divorce from her current husband , sam asghari, current husband, sam asghari, even though she could have added that in and instead actually said very nice things about sam asghari. Which leads me to believe that two thoughts can coexist at one time. I believe that sam asghari loved Britney Spears and also loved being with Britney Spears. Both could be true and he was in over her head because he was her entire support system. Um, britney is support system. Um, britney is sadly still estranged from her entire family , estranged from entire family, estranged from her mother, father , sister. Her her mother, father, sister. Her children live in hawaii and are arranged from her. And all of her friends are hangers on and people that are you cant trust their motives. No , its very sad, isnt it . No, its very sad, isnt it . Look lets move on from britney. Should we to the sussexes . Oh, dear me. Who are now starring in family guy. Lets have a quick look. Well, lets. That look. Well, lets. That definitely wasnt the family guy clip, obviously, was it . Here it is. Is. The millions from netflix for no one knows what put it with the rest of them. The rest of them. Babe time to do our daily 250,000 sponsored Instagram Post for del taco. Post for del taco. Oh, i shouldnt have left the made up nonsense. Made up nonsense. Perez, what do you make of that . Its quite interesting viewing this from across the pond because we assume that harry and meghan are huge celebrities with huge popularity overin celebrities with huge popularity over in hollywood. But this might suggest that their relationship is actually changing in the us and theyre poking fun at the sussexes. Well poking fun at the sussexes. Well they are big celebrities here, but thats the thing that they are you know, theyre not royals to us and they need to cultivate their celebrity. Their celebrity. So i think that the best response for them is to say nothing. Obviously, dont be upset. You know, megan was upset. You know, megan was talking recently about how shes concerned for her children and social media for, um, you know, in a way, the sussexes are kind of like the kardashians here. Theyre famous because of their names , but they havent really names, but they havent really done much of note yet. And um, they need to play the fame game because at the end of the day, its all about money. The more famous they are, the more money they can make. Okay, look, perez is really good to you this morning. Good to see you this morning. Thanks much indeed. Thanks very much indeed. Freddie, do you of all that . Well, i think it is it is funny to me that theyre so widely mocked. I mean, remember the i mean, do you remember the south park episode . Oh yes. It was brilliant. South park episode . Oh yes. It wasalrilliant. South park episode . Oh yes. It wasa brilliant international a brilliant International Privacy tour. Im not sure theyve ever recovered from i think im not sure theyve ever rec0lmarkedlm i think im not sure theyve ever rec0lmarkedlm pointthink im not sure theyve ever rec0lmarked lm point where that marked the point where everybody out everybody sort of finally out loud willing to say, yes, loud was willing to say, yes, they are ridiculous. Yes, we like laughing at them. And this like laughing at them. And this sort of pretence that they were actually just, you know, a couple who were really struggling with something very real. So i think its real went away. So i think its good that theyre being mocked because they are absurd. Perez theyre drawing a parallel with the Kardashian Family for harry and meghan. What make of that . What do you make of that . Scarlett yeah, well, i mean , i scarlett yeah, well, i mean, i mean, of both of them are mean, sort of both of them are both lots famous for just both lots are famous for just being famous, right . Both lots are famous for just beiii] famous, right . Both lots are famous for just beiii mean, 15, right . Both lots are famous for just beiii mean, i, right . Both lots are famous for just beiii mean, i mean, they i mean, i mean, they, they theyre the kardashians are rather better at making money than i mean, they i mean, in a way they theyre much more street smart than harry and meghan. They really, really get meghan. They really, really get it. I mean, i meghan. They really, really get it. I mean, i am not a fan, but it. I mean, i am not a fan, but it i did have a lodger who made me watch watch keeping up with the kardashian. And i watched the kardashian. And i watched one episode. But but but it was all about how to do an Instagram Post. How to do how i mean , it post. How to do how i mean, it was about selling them, selling things and they do it well. The problem with harry and meghan is they dont know what they are. They cant. Actions are very clear about what they are. Well, i dont think harry wants to necessary sell himself. No. He . No. Does he . No. Thats the problem. No. But thats the problem. No no. But i think that thats their problem is they want lots and lots money, but they want and lots of money, but they want it for sort of saying the obvious. Yeah, well , i think you put yeah, well, i think you put your finger on it there, steven. If they stick together. Sorry my voice is going. If they stick together , then they will have to together, then they will have to go down the kardashian route. I think thats the only way a structured reality show based on the lives of the windsors. The lives of the windsors. And wonder how prince harry and i wonder how prince harry and Meghan Markle feel actually coming down from royalty to the mere celebrity that you can be poked fun at. Really . Yeah. Well, thats i mean , i yeah. Well, thats i mean, i mean, considering how how how, how how little they do and how almost everything that is ever written about them is, is really rude. I mean, written about them is, is really rude. I mean, one written about them is, is really rude. I mean, one does wonder rude. I mean, one does wonder why they get the column inches that they do. It is incredible. That they do. It is incredible. Okay. Lets have a look at eco protesters. Well just a point. In this case, theyve been spraying the wellington arch in london, an orange as you do. So lots of people say how do you deal with eco protesters . Well thankfully, a nun in france s has got the answer for us. Lets have a look at what she did. Wow. Did. Wow. Hey, there you go. Hey, there you go. So she rugby tackled him into the mud. There you go. They were trying to stop the construction of a church, but apparently in the south of france. So she just the south of france. So she just hurled herself at him and that was it. Downey downey went and she was like a whippet, wasnt she . She came out of nowhere. She came out of nowhere. She came out of nowhere. She was brilliant. If only the french had had her against south africa rugby. I think. I think. No, thats one i love watching clips of people tackling Just Stop Oil protesters because everybody finds them deeply irritating. I finds them deeply irritating. I suspect even scarlett, you probably find them pretty irritating. Well. Oh, now here we go. Well. Oh, now here we go. No, no, actually , i do agree no, no, actually, i do agree with freddie, because what i feel is that they dont do their cause any at all. I dont cause any good at all. I dont think they came back in week think they came back in a week and oh, was a mistake. And say, oh, that was a mistake. Never say that was a i never say that was a mistake, stephen. No, i do think that they dont convince anybody. I mean, dont convince anybody. I mean, you know, if what theyre trying to do is to persuade us that we are in a Climate Crisis , it are in a Climate Crisis, it isnt working. Isnt working. We got stuck behind a just the oil protest near portsmouth. The oil protest near portsmouth. And what annoyed me was the cars were all backed up with their engines exhaust. Were all backed up with their engines exhaust. And you think youre not youre not just long term harming your cause, youre short term harming your cause because were emitting far more emissions than would be on emissions than we would be on our thanks to what our journey. Thanks to what youre doing. I know i dont think i really dont think theyre thinking it through. They think through. I think they just think any is good publicity. Any publicity is good publicity. But because i dont but its not because i dont know i less sympathy for know if i have less sympathy for the sort of stroppy, well to do teenagers who are rebelling against mummy and daddy or these very tearful grannies who seem to think that theyre saving the world for their grandchildren. I dont know who irritates me more, but actually its really funny. My son, who is a very left wing, i mean, he thinks im, you know, really quite right. Very left wing , eco person thinks left wing, eco person thinks theyre rubbish. I mean, and Extinction Rebellion and, and yeahi Extinction Rebellion and, and yeah i mean it is, it is divided because he just thinks that that that they are very well off people who dont mind going to jail whereas you know for some people i mean he just thinks that theyve split the movement. Well it has split the movement. I mean, ive been out with Extinction Rebellion protesters before on some of their marches. Theyre like, oh, no, involved with no, we dont get involved with just theyve Just Stop Oil. I mean, theyve gone far for extinction gone even to far for Extinction Rebellion. But it is your point on young people who are on on those young people who are rebelling and rebelling against mommy and daddy, posh. Daddy, usually very, very posh. They so distressed they are genuinely so distressed by what they think is happening to our planet. Well theyve traumatised themselves and they also think that the more hated they are, the more right they are, which is very teenage behaviour. Yeah. But also, but actually just to be fair on them, theyre right. It is terrible whats happening planet and its happening to our planet and its terrible about the people terrible about all the people who taking it seriously who arent taking it seriously early in that theyre right. Early and in that theyre right. Ijust early and in that theyre right. I just theyre not i just think theyre not persuading people. I just think theyre not peryeah,|g people. I just think theyre not per yeah, faireople. I just think theyre not peryeah, faireople. Scarlett. Yeah, fair point. Scarlett. Freddy well, shall see you a little bit later on. Thanks very much indeed. And still to come, well have the latest on the situation in gaza. Were going to return to mark white in tel aviv first. So lets have a look at your weather. Hello. Very good morning to you. Mcgivern here hello. Very good morning to you. The mcgivern here hello. Very good morning to you. The office vern here hello. Very good morning to you. The office with here hello. Very good morning to you. The office with the gb from the met office with the gb news forecast. Of a gloomy news forecast. Bit of a gloomy one out there this morning. Lots of some mist and fog of low clouds, some mist and fog patches well, further patches as well, and further rain come. For rain or showers to come. For many its a windy one as many of us, its a windy one as well. For the far north of scotland, northern isles, seeing some winds through some Gale Force Winds through the early afternoon the morning and early afternoon combined heavy rain. Combined with some heavy rain. Its going to feel very its not going to feel very pleasant here. The rainfall increasingly pleasant here. The rainfall increasiiscotland over the next eastern scotland over the next few days, much as last few days, not as much as last week, but any additional rainfall, of course, could cause further be further issues. Therell also be some persistent at times some persistent rain at times for england. Showers for eastern england. Showers elsewhere interspersed by sunny spells , and it will feel a bit spells, and it will feel a bit milder compared with yesterday. But gusty wind carry the but a gusty wind will carry the showers across showers through across southwestern and southwestern areas. Hail and thunder so quite thunder around coasts. So quite a lively day of weather where ever you are into the evening , ever you are into the evening, the showers continue. And the longer spells of rain continue as well. Across central and eastern parts of eastern scotland, parts of eastern scotland, parts of eastern , a lot low eastern england, a lot of low cloud once again , reforming some eastern england, a lot of low clou patchesgain , reforming some eastern england, a lot of low clou patches by1 , reforming some eastern england, a lot of low clou patches by dawn. Rming some eastern england, a lot of low clou patches by dawn. But|g some eastern england, a lot of low clou patches by dawn. But itsome mist patches by dawn. But its another mild start to the day tomorrow with temperatures in the double figures in places. Now friday is a day of two halves across the uk. Weve got a lot of stubborn cloud for scotland and for northern and eastern england. Some persistent rain at times along with a good morning to you. Its good morning to you. Its 7 00 thursday, the 26th of october. Today as sir keir starmer comes under fire from his own side over his support of israel. A new gb news peoples poll reveals what the public really think about glorifying islamic terrorists into action. And most importantly , who would win a importantly, who would win a general election if it were to be held tomorrow . Well, olivia be held tomorrow . Well, olivia utley will bring us the latest from westminster. From westminster. Could keir starmer really be losing a shadow minister . Those are the rumours in westminster as anger deepens that the leader of the opposition over his stance on israel , theres a stance on israel, theres a barrage of hamas rockets shocked tel aviv overnight. The israeli Prime Minister doubled down on a Ground Invasion of gaza and hamas is stuffed. Stuffed. We are raining hellfire on hamas and this is only the beginning. Simultaneously we are preparing for a Ground Invasion on well, it comes as western allies continue to call for calm. Mark white has the latest from tel aviv. From tel aviv. Well, the israeli drone forces launched a significant raid into gaza overnight targeting outing Hamas Terrorists and their positions. Terrorists and their positions. Our council is hiding their spending from us. Will bring you the latest findings, which could make anyone who pays council tax in the uk a little cross. In the uk a little cross. And why the period of remember that were entering now is more important than ever for our veterans. We hear about a former soldiers struggle to move on from conflict. Move on from conflict. Worse , i got up crying and worse, i got up crying and i went to sleep crying. Went to sleep crying. Mel turned to alcohol to cope with the ptsd, losing her job, running the local pub and her home with it all. Its looking rather wet out there today. Aidan mcgivern has an update for us. Rain , showery rain and longer rain, showery rain and longer spells of rain for many of us today will definitely need to keep an umbrella handy. Ill keep an umbrella handy. Ill have the full details in the forecast coming up. And paul coyte has the latest from the world of sport. Paul, do i feel like dickie davis, the way you did that with the world of sport and newcastle faced a Champions League reality check last night and everton , check last night and everton, well, theyre facing a points deduction. Paul thank you. Good morning. Im stephen dixon. Im Ellie Costello and this is breakfast on. This is breakfast on. Gb news. Now lets just start in the middle east. Should we . Its day 20 of the escalation of the palestinian israeli conflict. The israeli Prime Minister has reiterated that his country is preparing for a Ground Invasion of gaza. This is what he had to say. To hamas. Say. To hamas. Is it we are raining hellfire on hamas. We have already killed thousands of terrorists and this is only the beginning. Is only the beginning. Simultaneously, we are preparing for a Ground Invasion. And i for a Ground Invasion. And i will not elaborate on when, how or how many. Will not elaborate on when, how or how many. It will also not elaborate on the various calculations we are making, which the public is mostly unaware of, and that is how things should be. Well, International Efforts to stop the conflict from escalating seem to be falling flat with a diplomat stick. Tug of war going on. A united nafions of war going on. A United Nations resolution addressing the situation failed at the Security Council after vetoes from russia and china, only to be followed by a russia led resolution calling for a ceasefire, also failing because of a lack of support from the west. It. West. It. Well, we know one of the reasons why israel hasnt yet invaded gaza. As yesterday invaded gaza. As yesterday reports came out that the country agreed to delay a ground offensive. So the United States can move Missile Defence and air Defence Systems to the region to help protect us troops as well as israel ramps up overnight raids in the occupied west bank, un agencies are warning that fuel in the gaza strip could run out imminently with hospitals there stopping all but Emergency Services. The gaza Health Ministry says more than 6400 people have been killed in israeli bombings since october the 7th. The Israeli Death toll from the attacks that day stand at more than 1400, with 200 people still being held hostage. Well, inside israel , reaction well, inside israel, reaction has been swift and harsh to the United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres, for comments he made yesterday about hamass attack. Its not happening in attack. Its not happening in a vacuum in our security editor mark white is in israel and has this report. This report. 20 days into the war on hamas and there is no let up in the intensity of the israeli airstrikes. Fighter jets and airstrikes. Fighter jets and missiles are now hitting targets right across the gaza strip as israel accuses hamas of entrenching itself within civilian areas everywhere. The civilian areas everywhere. The inevitable consequence of that are huge numbers of dead and injured among the local population in they are desperate for aid supplies. Here. The uk among a growing number of countries now urging israel to consider short humanitarian pauses to let more aid trucks across the border from egypt. 21 across the border from egypt. 21 tonnes of uk aid, including medical supplies , have now medical supplies, have now arrived in egypt , but they join arrived in egypt, but they join arrived in egypt, but they join a huge queue waiting for permission to enter gaza. The un permission to enter gaza. The un secretary general has been trying to repair some of the damage in relation with the Israeli Government who accused him of effectively justifying hamass october seventh attacks with comments that palestinians had suffered 56 years of a suffocate occupation. I spoke of the grievances of the Palestinian People and in doing so , i also clearly stated and so, i also clearly stated and i quote, but the grievances of the Palestinian People cannot justify the appalling attacks by hamas. But israeli Officials Say hamas. But israeli Officials Say his comments were clear. It has deeply damaged this country , his deeply damaged this country, his already fractious relationship with the un. And these blindfolded teddy bears are the latest symbol of the horrors of october 7th. A reminder of the more than 200 hostages is still being held. They include 85 year being held. They include 85 year old yaffa after whose image was seen around the world, filmed as she was kidnapped and driven on the back of a golf cart. Xl bully. Xl bully. Xl bully. After the release of two hostages earlier this week, her granddaughter is desperately hoping she could be next. But also very fearful she may not have survived her ordeal if they released the those two women, then maybe until the next time they will release someone else. My grandmother wont be alive to survive it and to be brought back home. The fate of the hostages is likely to be one of the main reasons that israel has not launched its ground war. There is intense International Pressure to hold off and allow hostage negotiations to continue, but theres only so long israel is likely willing to wait. Theres only so long israel is likely willing to wait. Mark white gb news, tel aviv. Lets get the latest now live from mark white in tel aviv. Very good morning to you, mark. And comments from Benjamin Netanyahu reiterating that israel is preparing for that Ground Invasion. It does appear to be a diplomatic tug of war. Yes, indeed. Hes determined that the ground war will go ahead despite the clear pressure that there is from allies , that there is from allies, including the us, the us desperately scrambling to get Missile Defence systems around its assets in the region. We know , for instance, that troops know, for instance, that troops in israel, in syria and in iraq have come under attack in recent days. So those Missile Defence systems are needed there, but also in saudi arabia and in jordan and kuwait and other locations around the middle east ahead of that inevitable ground war and a ground war that may well spark a wider conflict, which is why the us want to get those positions in place as soon as possible. But i think one of the reasons that points to the ground war as being inevitable is the continued rocket barrages from hamas that have been coming over on a daily basis throughout the day. Hundreds of rockets targeting communities right across israel , particularly in across israel, particularly in southern and even in Central Israel, where we are in tel aviv. There was a second day of rocket attacks targeting this City Community of Rishon Leziyyon, which is in the southern outskirts of tel aviv, was targeted , a building badly was targeted, a building badly damaged and four people were injured. So while hamas still injured. So while hamas still has the capability of attacking israel like this, it is clear that the israeli goal of degrading and destroying hamas has not been completed. It cant be completed by an air war alone. And thats why they want to go in on the ground. Yeah i mean, it does beg the question because this full blockade has beenin because this full blockade has been in place for 20 days now. Been in place for 20 days now. And quite what sort of suppues and quite what sort of supplies and munitions hamas have got . Because as you say, theres absolutely no let up at theres absolutely no let up at the moment. The moment. No, its absolutely clear if it was ever in doubt that hamas has been preparing for this war, for a long time, some analysts believe more than a year , as we believe more than a year, as we know about their network of tunnels, hundreds of miles of tunnels, hundreds of miles of tunnels under gaza, very complex system, according to israel as well. They are still pouring hundreds of thousands of litres of fuel , even as they are saying of fuel, even as they are saying that the hospitals and infrastructure in gaza is running out of fuel. So yes, theyre well dug in. Theyre well equipped. And i think israel acknowledges they know that theres no way that just strikes from the air, from missiles and from fast jets that that will do the trick. They need to get in on the ground and fight a slow , house to house war fight a slow, house to house war for to. Absolutely as satiate eradicate hamas. Eradicate hamas. Okay. Mark white for us in tel aviv, thank you very much indeed. Now, just when it looked like they maybe had it all going for them with the united covid team, it looks like fractures are appearing in the labour party. Over, sir Keir Starmers support for israel. For israel. Yes. A new report in the times today suggests that muslim voters betrayed by the voters feel betrayed by the party and up to four shadow cabinet ministers are on resignation watch. Well, it comes as our gb news peoples poll reveals that labour well and truly have the backing of the british people. A general election were if a general election were going be held tomorrow, 49 going to be held tomorrow, 49 of voters apparently the conservatives way down on 21. Well, the peoples poll has also revealed that 74 of brits think that foreign nationals in britain who glorify islamist terrorism should be expelled from britain. And 45 of brits also think that immigrants arent integrating very well into wider british society. British society. Well, theres lots to go through there. Well, our Political Correspondent olivia utley is in westminster for us this morning. Good morning to you, olivia. And lets start with labour rift , you, olivia. And lets start with labour rift, shall we, with this labour rift, shall we, which has only deepening over sir Keir Starmers support for israel. Israel. Well, absolutely. It feels now as though keir starmer is desperately trying to dig himself out of a hole. Desperately trying to dig himself out of a hole. And this himself out of a hole. And this all started about a week ago when the leader of the opposition went on live radio and in answer to a question from nick ferrari from lbc, he said, and im paraphrasing here, but he said that israel did have the right to cut off Water Supplies to gaza. He didnt immediately row back on that position and a lot of labour, both mps and labour members , labour labour members, labour councillors have taken that to mean that he doesnt care about the fate of palestinians or that he is overly aligning himself with israel already 150 labour councillors there are 6500 altogether have written a letter to keir starmer asking him to call for a ceasefire. Now the call for a ceasefire. Now the Prime Minister is very deliberately not calling for a ceasefire because the uks line is that israel has the right to defend itself and it should. It should be able to strike back after the atrocities committed on october the 7th, 25 labour councillors have resigned over theissue councillors have resigned over the issue and there are now 37 labour mps within the Parliamentary Party calling for a ceasefire which is at odds with both the uks position and labours position. Yesterday keir starmer tried to sort of brush, to make the situation better by meeting with a group of labour muslim mps. Those are of labour muslim mps. Those are mps who are particularly concerned about it, perhaps feel particular affinity with the palestinians and he said to them that he agrees with them that the humanitari situation in gaza isnt good enough and aid getting into gaza is insufficient. Will that be enough to prevent, perhaps the resignation of more than one shadow cabinet minister there . It remains to be seen , but the it remains to be seen, but the thinking here in westminster is that unless keir starmer rows back even further on those comments made a week ago, unless he starts backing the palestine cause a little bit more, then he could really be at risk of losing some of his top team just at the moment, as you were just saying there, that it seemed like everything was going so well for him. But were talking to the but we were talking to the former labour adviser, Scarlett Mccgwire, little bit earlier former labour adviser, scarlett mc shes, little bit earlier former labour adviser, scarlett mc shes one ttle bit earlier former labour adviser, scarlett mc shes one ofe bit earlier former labour adviser, scarlett mc shes one of ourt earlier former labour adviser, scarlett mc shes one of our headline on. Shes one of our headline makers today and said, well, makers today and she said, well, look, made a mistake. He look, he made a mistake. He obviously doesnt think that look, he made a mistake. He obvio should esnt think that look, he made a mistake. He obvio should bet think that look, he made a mistake. He obvio should be this nk that look, he made a mistake. He obvio should be this complete there should be this complete blockade of gaza. It was just a blockade of gaza. It was just a mistake. No one really is going to resign in the shadow cabinet. Well, thats the line that keir starmer is taking as well. Hes saying that he didnt mean to say that israel has a right to say that israel has a right to turn off the Water Supplies in gaza. He simply tried to say that israel has a right to defend itself. The problem is that he didnt row back on those comments immediately. And every comments immediately. And every pubuc comments immediately. And every public appearance made public appearance hes made since the commons and in since both in the commons and in interviews , he has taken a very interviews, he has taken a very similar line to the Prime Minister, essentially , israel minister, essentially, israel has the right to entirely defend itself and not talking very much about the palestinian cause. Now, for concern of voters, that that probably goes down quite well. But for labour voters, particularly in in towns and cities where there are a lot of muslims, which are towns and cities, lets remember that labour really, really is depending to on win its majority in the next election. That goes down very badly indeed. So yes, down very badly indeed. So yes, the original comments might have been a sort of slip of the tongue, but its more than that. It is the overall position that keir has taken. He is keir starmer has taken. He is now beginning to water that position down a little he position down a little bit. He has said that he believes that the getting gaza is the aid getting into gaza is insofar decent. But will that be enough to put minds at rest in what is obviously a very heated and difficult situation . Labour feels like a tinderbox about to explode and okay for now. Explode and okay for now. Olivia, thank you. Now do you olivia, thank you. Now do you like to know exactly where your council tax is going . Its a fair question , actually, isnt fair question, actually, isnt it . And the annual charge is going up many of us at the going up for many of us at the moment. So do you want to know, dont you, your money is dont you, if your money is being wisely . Well, being spent wisely . Well, you might keep your fingers might need to keep your fingers crossed for that because to according taxpayers according the Taxpayers Alliance, there is a transparency crisis in local government with very few councils publishing any of their accounts. Has got more details. Accounts. Has got more details. Thanks, stephen. Yes, weve been looking at this new analysis. Lets take a look at some of the main points that we have found. Well, first of all, theres 370 local councils across england. Guess how many of those filed audited accounts for every year since 2019, 2020 . Well, the results are staggering. Just well, the results are staggering. Just 15 councils filed their accounts. Northern ireland did well, though ten out of 11 councils there have published their accounts for the last four years. While in scotland, only six of the 32 councils there have done so. Just 31 councils in the uk published their accounts. Thats under 10 for accounts. Thats under 10 for the last Financial Year. The deadune the last Financial Year. The deadline for that was the 30th of september in wales. Not a of september in wales. Not a Single Council published accounts for the last Financial Year. Accounts for the last Financial Year. So which councils are the year. So which councils are the worst offenders . Well barking and dagenham in east london is one of them. Coventry in the midlands and Nottingham City Council as well. And we have reached out to each of those councils for their response and stephen has those. Stephen has those. Yeah, indeed, because its interesting to hear what they have to say. Coventry city council said we published our report for the last financial yean report for the last Financial Year, but the formal statement has been delayed because of technical issues relating to previous years. They say this is previous years. They say this is a national issue. Over 900 sets a national issue. Over 900 sets of accounts are outstanding. Of accounts are outstanding. Nationally, only five out of about 400 councils have published their accounts for the last Financial Year on time barking and dagenham say theres been a National Shortage of local government auditors since the abolition of the National Audit office in 2015. They say the department has announced its looking at a practical way to address a national backlog and get local government audits up to date in barking and dagenham, we have draft accounts awaiting audit and we look fonnard to working with the National Government to get these accounts published as soon as possible. Now, nottingham city possible. Now, Nottingham City Council still hasnt got back to us yet , but hopefully they will us yet, but hopefully they will soon. And if and when they do , soon. And if and when they do, we will let you know. We will let you know. So and its important so many people , isnt it, to know where people, isnt it, to know where their money is being spent. A lot of money so expensive isnt it . Its a lot of money. Its crazy, actually. Now, lets talk to the head of the campaigns taxpayers of the campaigns from Taxpayers Alliance, kirk, joins of the campaigns from taxpayers all now. 1, kirk, joins of the campaigns from taxpayers allnow. Good kirk, joins of the campaigns from taxpayers allnow. Good to zirk, joins of the campaigns from taxpayers allnow. Good to see joins of the campaigns from taxpayers allnow. Good to see you. Joins of the campaigns from taxpayers allnow. Good to see you. Once us now. Good to see you. Once again, elliot. This morning isnt there a legal obligation for these audited accounts to be published . Published . Yes. So theres a legal obugafion yes. So theres a legal obligation that councils have to pubush obligation that councils have to publish accounts by publish their draft accounts by the 31st of july, and that gives the 31st of july, and that gives the public time to an auditors time them ahead of a time to review them ahead of a deadune time to review them ahead of a deadline at the end of september for audited accounts. For the audited accounts. Unfortunately, that legal requirement is a pretty loose one. All you have to do is pubush one. All you have to do is publish whats called a notice of delay and that basically gives you essentially Carte Blanche delay almost as long blanche to delay almost as long as you want. And i think that is as you want. And i think that is a big problem that we need to look at. A big problem that we need to loo whats your reaction to the whats your reaction to the stats . Listen, local stats . Well, listen, local government spends huge amount stats . Well, listen, local go money. Tt spends huge amount of money. Its about £110 billion a year thats funded in significant part by Council Tax Payers now pay. Youre payers that now pay. Youre looking £2,000 on looking at over £2,000 on average for a band household. And think the public taxpayers and i think the public taxpayers deserve to have a right to see how thats money, how that money is being spent, deserve to trust the fact that councils are being open and transparent about that , open and transparent about that, how that money is being spent. And weve now got 97 councils in the latest Financial Year have not even published a draft, so we have idea what exactly we have no idea what exactly their financial is their Financial Health is looking like. And given the number councils that are number of councils that are teetering the brink, already teetering on the brink, already gone bankrupt, really gone bankrupt, its really important about the important that we know about the financial local authorities. Is there anything do is there anything we can do in sort of in the interim, in the sort of in the interim, if you like, if you go to your local council, you send in local council, if you send in letters and emails and say, well, certainly my area, theres a so everyones a new bin scheme. So everyones getting new massive getting three new massive plastic bins. Well, maybe its plastic bins. Well, maybe its a good for recycling, but good idea for recycling, but maybe costing a load of maybe its costing a load of money. How do we find out . So councils publish so councils also publish or are publish are supposed to publish a spending over £500 over various intervals. So there are other intervals. So there are other ways that you can find out, at least parts of how a council is spending money. You can use the freedom of information act to find out examples of how councils are spending money. What you wont get, though, is that complete picture that the statement of accounts gives and that big problem it that is a big problem and it shouldnt really on us, shouldnt be really on us, shouldnt be really on us, should it . Find where our money to find out where our money is spent. You said is being spent. As you said earlier, its about transparency, isnt it . Absolutely. Thats yeah, absolutely. Thats why we transparency we call it a transparency crisis. Think that the crisis. And i think that the government local government minister possibly need to government local government mini atr possibly need to government local government mini at ways possibly need to government local government mini at ways to ossibly need to government local government mini at ways to encourage d to look at ways to encourage councils to release their accounts. One thing that i think would consider would be interesting to consider would be interesting to consider would or not councils would be whether or not councils should prevented from should be prevented from increasing council tax if they cant publish a draft cant actually publish a draft statement of accounts. If youre going to ask taxpayers to cough up more money, they should have that right to see how its being spent. Okay. Okay. A point. Elliot, thats a fair point. Elliot, thanks very indeed. Because thanks very much indeed. Because its money. Yeah. At the end its our money. Yeah. At the end of the day, ill tell you what. You just made me think what elliot was saying there. If theyre asking for an increase and they cant tell you how they spent it last year, how do they know need more . Know they need more . Point. Know they need more . I point. Know they need more . I mean, point. Know they need more . I mean, just1t. Know they need more . I mean, just dont know. I mean, i just dont know. But you just go up every single yean but you just go up every single year, doesnt it . Substantially at as well. At the minute as well. Know what you make of let us know what you make of that. Vaiews gbnews. Com. Im sure frustrate sure its going to frustrate many of you because very, many of you because its very, very expensive. Theres such very expensive. And theres such a there, a disparity, isnt there, depending are in a disparity, isnt there, depcountry, are in a disparity, isnt there, depcountry, council are in a disparity, isnt there, depcountry, council tax are in a disparity, isnt there, depcountry, council tax cans in a disparity, isnt there, depcountry, council tax can be the country, council tax can be absolutely astronomical anyway, let you think of let us know what you think of that before we do any of that and before we do any of that, get your weather that, lets get your weather update with ethan. Morning hello. Very good morning to you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from office with the gb from the met office with the gb news forecast. Of a gloomy news forecast. A bit of a gloomy one there morning. Lots one out there this morning. Lots of low clouds, mist fog of low clouds, some mist and fog patches further patches as well, and further rain or showers to come. For many of us, its a windy one as well. For the far north of scotland, northern isles, seeing some winds through some Gale Force Winds through the early afternoon the morning and early afternoon combined rain. Combined with some heavy rain. Its very its not going to feel very pleasant the rainfall pleasant here. The rainfall increasingly mounting across increasingly mounting up across eastern next increasingly mounting up across east days, next increasingly mounting up across eastdays, not next increasingly mounting up across eastdays, not much next increasingly mounting up across eastdays, not much as next increasingly mounting up across eastdays, not much as lastt few days, not as much as last week, any additional week, but any additional rainfall, course, could rainfall, of course, could cause further. There will also further issues. There will also be some persistent rain at times for england. Showers for eastern england. Showers elsewhere by sunny elsewhere interspersed by sunny spells , and will feel a bit spells, and it will feel a bit milder compared with yesterday. Spells, and it will feel a bit mil ar compared with yesterday. Spells, and it will feel a bit mil a gusty ared with yesterday. Spells, and it will feel a bit mil a gusty wind with yesterday. Spells, and it will feel a bit mil a gusty wind will yesterday. Spells, and it will feel a bit mil a gusty wind will carryerday. Spells, and it will feel a bit mil a gusty wind will carry they. But a gusty wind will carry the showers through across southwestern areas. Hail and thunder coasts. Quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively coasts. Quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively day coasts. Quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively day of coasts. Quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively day of weather quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively day of weather wherever a lively day of weather wherever you are into the evening, the showers continue and the longer spells of rain continue as well. Across central and eastern scotland, parts of eastern england, a lot of low cloud once again, some mist again, reforming some mist patches by but its patches by dawn. But its another mild start to the day. Tomorrow with temperatures in the double figures in places. The double figures in places. Now, friday is a day of two halves across the uk. Weve got a lot of stubborn cloud for scotland, for northern and eastern england, some persistent rain at times, along with a gusty breeze elsewhere, brighter skies , some sunny spells, but skies, some sunny spells, but frequent and heavy showers coming through across Northern Ireland, wales, the southern half of england, temperatures reaching 15 celsius, a touch cooler compared with today now, have you ever had to bite your tongue at work . Not express certain political opinions in case you get into trouble . Well, you might be trouble . Well, you might be right to. As its been reported, right to. As its been reported, that raf bosses are considering stripping bing, the tv star Carol Vorderman , of her honorary Carol Vorderman, of her honorary title of Honorary Group captain after she branded the tories a party of lies and corruption. But what about free speech . And shouldnt we be able to express our opinions on politics without being worried that we could lose our jobs . Well, weve got a clip of carol in action, letting her views be known. Yesterday im appalled at whats happenedin im appalled at whats happened in the last 13 years and i want them to be reduced to the absolute bare minimum. The conservative party of members of parliament that we can possibly have tactical voting is the way to go because thats all we have i oh, well, there you go. I oh, well, there you go. I guess it depends on what sort of job youve got. And as an individual person, why cant she say that . But can she say it when she is linked to the raf . Lets talk to oliver lawrence, who is a former Police Officer , who is a former Police Officer, and he now does the protection and he now does the protection and serve podcast. Good to see you this morning. Good morning. Should i mean, shouldnt she have the right to say what she wants . She should. But when youre representing an organisation which is instructed by the government, impartial, government, theres impartial, you apolitical, government, theres impartial, you know, apolitical, government, theres impartial, you know, they apolitical, government, theres impartial, you know, they takenolitical, government, theres impartial, you know, they take theiral, you know, they take their instructions from the government, dont take a government, they dont take a particular persuasion either particular persuasion on either the or right. So the left or the right. So i would that those sort of would say that those sort of comments divisive comments and sort of divisive language is in appropriate and very unhelpful in appropriate and unhelpful. Should she have her but should she have her honorary titles stripped, do you think, the think, from the raf . Well, i think thats a question officers question for Senior Officers within raf to make that within the raf to make that decision as whether shes decision as to whether shes crossed line. You know, crossed that line. You know, they that they probably argue that obviously her public persona allows able have allows her to be able to have certain levels of commentary as sort of gary lineker was a long time ago his. So time ago having his. So certainly a policing certainly from a policing perspective, you want an perspective, when you want an organisation, be organisation, the people to be apolitical, y apolitical, all you y y y y cant Police Officers for example , or people in the Armed Services. Why cant they go in and have a strident political opinion . A strident political opinion . You know, they execute their duties without fear or favour, and we want them to be impartial in every scenario. Theyre placed into. And if you start having conversations around the political atmospheres of the country, very divisive. It country, its very divisive. It can people, can can isolate people, it can intimidate its not intimidate people. So its not something our men and something we want our men and women law enforcement, our women in law enforcement, in our Armed Services necessarily talking openly. Itd be Armed Services necessarily talkinto openly. Itd be Armed Services necessarily talkinto thinkopenly. Itd be Armed Services necessarily talkinto think op doesnt i be naive to think it doesnt go on, but not something that but its not something that should be overly advertised because topic should be overly advertised becpeople topic should be overly advertised becpeople to topic should be overly advertised becpeople to be topic should be overly advertised becpeople to be enteringtopic should be overly advertised becpeople to be entering into. For people to be entering into. Is that the reality, though . Is that experience a is that your experience as a former officer the former Police Officer within the ranks that people just do not discuss their political views . I remember discuss their political views . Back i remember discuss their political views . Back i first ember discuss their political views . Back i first joined going back when i first joined my sergeant first my First Sergeant said the first thing, the one thing we dont talk about two things we talk about or two things we dont about inside these talk about or two things we dont is about inside these talk about or two things we dont is police |t inside these talk about or two things we dont is Police Station these talk about or two things we dont is Police Station is1ese walls is Police Station is religion politics because religion and politics because it divides team. Were divides us. Were a team. Were here serve the public here to serve the public impartially, to look out for their needs expectations. Their needs and expectations. Were about our were not here to talk about our political our religious political views, our religious views. Understand each views. We understand we each have each have our own views, and that. But and we respect that. But were not have those not here to have those conversations right its conversations right here. Its part issue with this to part of the issue with this to twitter because, mean, carols twitter because, i mean, carols been spouting off online been been spouting off online and then being interviewed and things as a result of that. Whereas i mean, previously perhaps, you know, itjust perhaps, you know, it just wouldnt have got out there now. And i think this is what we forget. You know, Carol Vorderman has had quite a long, heated debate with Johnny Mercer and his wife in that political arena, which caused lot of arena, which is caused a lot of issues. Sometimes think with issues. I sometimes think with twitter realise the twitter we dont realise the ramifications tweet mean. You just doing it from your kitchen. Exactly. We become keyboard warriors and the ramifications that can have welfare, their have on peoples welfare, their safety, health safety, their Mental Health can be significant. And sometimes i wonder whether people take to twitter to greater twitter to get a greater audience stay audience and always stay relevant. Relevant in society. I mean, when were talking about well being and Mental Health, mean, people say, what health, i mean, people say, what about free speech . What about why i feel like im being why should i feel like im being silenced not able to express silenced or not able to express how i truly feel about something . Think theres a time well, i think theres a time and for and just and place for that. And just because doesnt mean you because you can doesnt mean you should. And i think, you know, in for instance, the in terms of for instance, the Police PolicingPolice Regulations in policing stipulate have stipulate that you cant have strong you cant Strong Political ties. You cant run to be an mp, you can be a local parish councillor, but thats thats the end of it. But you know, its important that people be able to commentate. But they reflect and but remember, they reflect and they organisations they represent organisations and they represent organisations and they they sign up they represent organisations and thnthem, they sign up they represent organisations and thnthem, i they sign up they represent organisations and thnthem, i mean, they sign up they represent organisations and thnthem, i mean, so they sign up they represent organisations and thnthem, i mean, so ithey sign up they represent organisations and thnthem, i mean, so i meanign up they represent organisations and thnthem, i mean, so i mean in up to them, i mean, so i mean i guess what you dont want is, you know, people within the raf, for sort of falling out for example, sort of falling out saying, carol, saying, well i back carol, i dont back carol, you know, you dont, you dont want that sort of split within a, an organisation like the raf. It creates an incredible amount of dysfunction. Creates of dysfunction. It creates a lot of hostilities groups hostilities amongst groups of teams that we want to teams of people that we want to work together, particularly when teams of people that we want to wori look ether, particularly when teams of people that we want to wori look at er, particularly when teams of people that we want to wori look at theyarticularly when teams of people that we want to wori look at the ifticularly when teams of people that we want to wori look at the if we|larly when teams of people that we want to wori look at the if we want when teams of people that we want to wori look at the if we want ourln you look at the if we want our men women, Defence Force men and women, our Defence Force to ready, we dont to be combat ready, we dont want at the frontline want them at the frontline discussing whos going to win the election or who theyre the next election or who theyre voting thats voting for. Thats not appropriate. To appropriate. So we want them to be apolitical obviously just be apolitical and obviously just reflect of the day reflect the orders of the day from the government. Should she to . What should she stick to . What should she stick to . Numbers probably from the numbers probably from from three from the from the top three from the bottom. That would be my advice. Yeah. Okay. Are a really good okay. Are there a really good to you. Thanks much to see you. Thanks very much indeed. What you indeed. Let us know what you think. A difficult one think. Its a difficult one because we like free speech on this channel. But what we it depends role you have. Depends what role you have. Depends you work. It depends where you work. I think its the answer to that one. Yeah and what responsibilities you have when youre have to other people when youre representing people. Yeah. Representing other people. Yeah. Very point. Representing other people. Yeah. Ver let point. Representing other people. Yeah. Ver let us point. Representing other people. Yeah. Ver let us know. Representing other people. Yeah. Ver let us know what you think. Let us know what you think. Vaiews gbnews. Uk hmm. Coyte may have whereas paul coyte may have may have views we used really care what they are. Paul thats right. Nobody cares exactly when i speak, unfortunately. But there we are. But you got lots of but you have got lots of sports news. Was just going to walk out. I was just going to walk out. I was just going to walk out. Do care about that. Yes, i do care about that. Yes, i do care about that. You castle of borussia you castle lots of Borussia Dortmund. Changed my view dortmund. Ive changed my view slightly. The reality check the reality. Is the other good reality. This is the other good thing is that you can change your views. Thats all right. You one thing and if you you can say one thing and if you feel differently little bit feel differently a little bit later, allowed. And as later, its all allowed. And as far Borussia Dortmund are far as Borussia Dortmund are concerned, they beat newcastle in rainy saint jamess in a very rainy saint jamess park yesterday and all the papers are saying, oh , see, this papers are saying, oh, see, this is the reality check. They beat is the reality check. They beat Paris Saint Germain in the first game and then they they got a draw over at the san siro. Its just football. You win games, you lose games. Theres still a you lose games. Theres still a Champions League theyve got to go through. Its going to be tricky. Yes, because its a very tricky. Yes, because its a very tricky group that theyre in, but theyre going to lose games. So it a check . I so is it a reality check . I think know what theyre think they know what theyre doing. Dont really think doing. So i dont really think it reality check all. It is a reality check at all. And now what would they do with young boys of bern . With the young boys of bern . I mean, what do they do . I dont know if they go around bern and round everyone under the age round up everyone under the age of make play of 20 and make them play football manchester football against Manchester City. They didnt as well city. But they didnt do as well as have done. As he could have done. Thats the thing. In see, thats the thing. In argentina, theyve got newells old got boys, old boys. Youve got old boys, youve boys. So youve got young boys. And so the young have bern. The young boys have bern. Theyre really expected to theyre not really expected to do anything manchester do anything against Manchester CityManchester City because Manchester City are the do have the champions and they do have the champions and they do have the champions and they do have the champions and they did1ave the champions and they do have the champions and they did goe the plastic pitcher. They did go 1 0 up, erling haaland, 1 0 up, but erling haaland, everybodys going he hasnt scored the kids scored in five games. The kids are. What can i are disaster. What else can i happen managed to score a happen but he managed to score a couple yesterday so 3 1 Manchester City won that and celtic who are not really celtic who you are not really honestly expected to get out of the group and the Champions League but they drew 2 2 with atletico which a good Atletico Madrid which is a good result its not really going result but its not really going to be enough to get them through. And tonights game is tonights games. Got a few ham play weve got a few west ham play olympiakos are from from olympiakos who are from from greece, correct . 545 amazing how you throughout the state, greece , right . , right . Yeah, i thought it was a trick question. It was no, no trick question. It was no, no trick question. It was no, no trick question. No, no, no. Its just a straight one. Its not Carol Vorderman youre dealing with now. I mean, its just a straight question. Rangers go to sparta, prague. Afternoon. Sparta, prague. This afternoon. Brighton will be playing ajax. Ajax very famous dutch side, legendary dutch side. But they make great, cleaner. But they make great, cleaner. They do. They do. Thats it . Yeah love it. Oh, yeah. Love ajax. But brighton are doing a hot clean. That ajax are terrible at the moment. Moment. They really are awful. And they really are awful. And theyre almost there. Theyre almost there. Theyre going to win tonight, arent they . Yeah. Now ive said that im really sorry to from really sorry to anybody from brighton, liverpool playing brighton, but liverpool playing toulouse. Toulouse tonight. Toulouse . Yes. Toulouse . Yes. Why dont they play to win . Why dont they play to win . Well, id hope they would be playing to win, but theyre playing to win, but theyre playing toulouse. That was so good. Oh, that was so good. Oh, that was so good. I may that later. I may use that later. I may use that later. Not bad, is it . Yeah, its not bad, is it . Can i steal that for a fiver . Yeah. In conference yeah. In the Conference League ask 2 az alkmaar. League a z or ask 2 az alkmaar. Although im saying like tommy cooper saying it, they play aston villa in the european conference. Where are they from . Where are they from . They are from the netherlands i oh, very good. From the netherlands. Netherlands. And do we have time to talk about the rugby . I think we should. I mean, england are playing argentina. Theyve play theyve got the third place play off in the world cup. Why they do this . Its the same as in the football. Well, nobody cares football. Well, nobody cares about playoff. About the third place playoff. They played argentina, beat them in first game the world in the first game in the world cup. When it comes to, you cup. But when it comes to, you know, want to get to the know, you want to get to the final of course thats south africa against zealand. But final of course thats south afri third ainst zealand. But final of course thats south afri third place zealand. But final of course thats south afri third place playoff,. And. But final of course thats south afri third place playoff, which ut the third place playoff, which is night, its like, is tomorrow night, its like, wow, did well. We got third wow, we did well. We got third place. Nobodys really terribly bothered about it. No. And i dont to sound flippant dont want to sound flippant about but its about the whole thing, but its no nobody really. I am. But am. Nobody but i am. But i am. Nobody wants it there. Nobody really cares about bronze, lets honest i i i dont know. Id be happy with bronze. I think id be happy be involved. Think happy to be involved. I think one of those one of those happy to take part. Happy to take part. Happy to take part. Is always british, which is always very british, isnt it . Just happy be there. Im just happy to be there. Im just happy to be there. There is the problem. But there is the problem. This the mbonambi this is the Bongi Mbonambi situation where england played this is the Bongi Mbonambi situatiafrica are england played this is the Bongi Mbonambi situatiafrica are ehe and played this is the Bongi Mbonambi situatiafrica are ehe is d played this is the Bongi Mbonambi situatiafrica are ehe is accused south africa and he is accused of basically , what should we of basically, what should we say, a racist slur at tom curry, which people in south africa are now saying and certain supporters, by the way, some are giving tom curry a horrendous time. Hes getting dogs abuse on time. Hes getting dogs abuse on on twitter at the moment, which is basically hed reported to the referee, i was called something like, what are you going to do about it . Hes not spoken about it since, but then its got bigger and bigger. South africans are saying that the actual confused with the actual term is confused with something afrikaans, which something in afrikaans, which then the south african players and coaches in training yesterday were using the word a little too much to try and prove a point. But its not a very nice situation and its really not been very good. And it keeps getting bigger and bigger, doesnt it . This really it really does. They said theyre going to invest theyre saying that invest gate. Theyre saying that mbonambi the mbonambi will be playing in the world. So its not World Cup Final. So its not going to him playing in going to affect him playing in that. Its going to end that. But how its going to end up, dont know whether it has up, i dont know whether it has been a is it africans or is it Something Else . Its really Something Else . Its a really difficult thing try and prove. Yeah, okay. Thats the moment. Thanks very much indeed. Thank very much. Stay with thank you very much. Stay with us. Come, well be us. Still to come, well be taking a look top stories taking a look at the top stories in headlines makers, including taking a look at the top stories in tlatest es makers, including taking a look at the top stories in tlatest on makers, including taking a look at the top stories in tlatest on theers, including taking a look at the top stories in tlatest on the massicluding taking a look at the top stories in tlatest on the mass shooting the latest on the mass shooting in america. Thats. N ext next it was time to go through the newspapers this morning at 742. Lets start with the guardian. Should we . And here we go. It leads on the growing humanitarian crisis in gaza and fears that fuel supplies could soon be running out. The mail looks closer to home and reports that labour are tearing themselves apart over who to back in the conflict. Who to back in the conflict. The metro leads on a Police Officer who committed more than 100 offences, more than 200 offences against young girls. The mirror reports that one of james the mirror reports that one ofJames Bulgers the mirror reports that one of James Bulgers killers the mirror reports that one ofJames Bulgers killers is to of James Bulgers killers is to have a secret parole hearing after fears that holding it in pubuc after fears that holding it in public would damage his Mental Health. And theres controversy on the front of the daily star this morning over astrology because theyve talked to a space scientist who says she doesnt quite believe its all true. Mystic mugs were being called. Yeah well, joining us to go through some of the days headunesis through some of the days headlines is Deputy Editor of the freddie grey , and the spectator, freddie grey, and former adviser former labour Party Adviser maguire and, scarlett, lets start with this massive manhunt thats way undennay in the thats over way undennay in the us. In maine, thats over way undennay in the us. In maine, 22 people reportedly being killed in a mass shooting there. 660 people injured on a i mean, it is just horrendous, isnt it . It began at a Bowling Alley. It began at a Bowling Alley. So although we dont have the details, we can use our imagine nafion details, we can use our imagine nation to what happened. And this guy whos an Army Reservist who had been sectioned, he had heard voices. They were worried about him, were let out , not, about him, were let out, not, you know, watch to make sure he didnt get hold of guns. I mean, this is this is what is the madness. They found his his his his car. But its empty. So whether hes out there still killing people or whether hes turned it on himself, we dont know. But but i mean, you just think , when is america going to think, when is america going to wake up and think guns are appalling . Never. Never. Never. I mean, this is the never 500th mass shooting. This year in the states. You know what . Over here, we just look at this and go, well, this is utterly, utterly crackers. And over in the states, after people turned around and said, we need the answer this is more guns answer to this is more guns installs. And schools installs. Yeah. And schools armed guards in schools teachers should have a gun in every classroom and all that sort of thing. As if thats not going to make it ten times worse. Ive learnt the hard way not to talk about guns with america. I a of time in i spent a lot of time in america. I love america, but if you ever talk guns with you ever talk about guns with americans ever americans and if you ever even voiced of doubts about voiced sort of doubts about whether people should get a ar voiced sort of doubts about wiseconds,ople should get a ar voiced sort of doubts about wiseconds, should ould get a ar voiced sort of doubts about wiseconds, should havejet a ar voiced sort of doubts about wiseconds, should have accessr 15 seconds, should have access to a ar seconds, you know, to a ar 15 seconds, you know, you can really offend people because very because its very its very fundamental the right fundamental to them, the right to arms. But clearly, this to bear arms. But clearly, this is just this is a system failure. Yeah. I mean, he was a section man should not be have access to an ar 15. This is an optic fibre shooter you know a laser guided ar 15. So he was able to kill quite a lot of people in quite a short space of time. And its another , another horrific mass another, another horrific mass shooting in america. The problem is we i mean, we look at it and we just and you end up going, thats another one. One. Yeah. No, no, no. I mean, you yeah. No, no, no. I mean, you do. And you just you just go see, theyre all mad. Theyre. I mean. I mean, because we know. I mean, freddies absolutely right. I mean, the debate is not going a few people will be saying guns , but most people saying guns, but most people will be going. Well you know, this is something that went wrong. But basically, its okay. Guns dont kill people. Guns dont kill people. Guns dont kill people. People kill. Yes. People kill. Yes. Yes , absolutely. Yes, absolutely. Yes, absolutely. And that is part of the problem, isnt it, freddie . I mean, gun lobby in the us is mean, the gun lobby in the us is just so powerful. Just so powerful. The nra, National Rifle association extremely association is extremely powerful. A lot of powerful. It has a lot of support , it support it. And, you know, it varies state by state. Maine, where this shooting took place, has quite liberal gun laws, liberal favourable liberal meaning favourable towards guns and so but then again, maines gun death rate is quite low. The problem with mass quite low. The problem with Mass Shootings is, yes , its to do shootings is, yes, its to do with gun rights, but its also to do with Mental Health and the number of very, very mentally unwell people who are out and aboutin unwell people who are out and about in america. And that has got worse. Well , but what they say so well, but what they say so and this is what we said is so you need to lock them up not may not i mean, you know, how and how many people are are you going to lock up . And presumably america has the same problem as britain does with Mental Health facilities. Is theres not enough of them. Theyre not. Theyre not good enough. Mean , and so you get enough. I mean, and so you get the double thing of you get a man with serious Mental Health problems and then hes allowed near guns. Well, one of our columnists at the spectator is lionel shriver, who wrote the book we need to talk about. Kevin, which is about a mass killing. And she deliberately didnt a gun. Her killer did didnt use a gun. Her killer did not have a gun. It was a crossbow. But shes very interesting on on this phenomenon and it is and phenomenon and why it is and i think part of it is the spectacular. And you see that we dont know whats happened with this it looks like he this one. It looks like he didnt himself, a lot didnt film himself, but a lot of shootings recently. The of Mass Shootings recently. The shooter filmed themselves shooter has filmed themselves and sort of posted online and sort of posted it online because its viral. Its it because its viral. Its it causes a spectacle for online reaction. And thats what people want. They want that celebrity. Want. They want that celebrity. They want that. They want that. I think theres a lot theres a lot of i am very concerned about social media. Yeah. So its used well, great. But it just its getting the way people use it. I dont think you can blame social media for mass killings. No, no, no. I think i think no, no, no. But youre right, stephen. I mean, look, look at the sort of the want to famous for the people want to be famous for sharing baby pictures. Sharing of dead baby pictures. Yeah. Whats going in yeah. About whats going on in gaza. Think sometimes gaza. And i think sometimes thats sick. Yeah. Thats quite sick. Yeah. Lets turn our attention to something a little bit different in freddie. Yeah in the telegraph. Freddie. Yeah were spending worked this out. I dont know. Were spending 33 billion fewer minutes making phone calls than we were ten years ago. And ofcoms worried. This is whatsapp. So this is social media. All stories are social. Yeah, but whatsapp is not social media, is it . Its because of whatsapp children are or teenagers are texting and not telephoning at all. And i think if ever youve worked with young people now in spectator, we have quite a lot of young people in or you need to stop that immediately. I know things are getting really out of hand , but its really out of hand, but its very hard to make them do a phone call. Ive noticed you say, can you bnng ive noticed you say, can you bring someone and you come back and then realise they have and then you realise they have severe making severe anxiety about making a telephone. Really . Yes. Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I have heard this over and over again about young, young journalist. Over again about young, young journalist. Thats who over again about young, young journalist. Thats who theyll journalist. Thats who theyll theyll email , theyll whatsapp, theyll email, theyll whatsapp, theyll email, theyll whatsapp, they actually , i mean they wont. But actually, i mean i was living with an independent journalist quite a while ago and i remember having an argument with him about, you know, why dont you just phone people in the office . And theyd all message. So mean, i think this message. So i mean, i think this trend began, began ages ago, but now , i mean, young people, they now, i mean, young people, they just they just text, dont they . Just they just text, dont they . Yeah. I mean, you know, we say 33 billion fewer minutes making phone calls, but i guarantee theres a lot more billion minutes spent texting. Yeah but but why is ofcom is warning that a shift to messaging apps pose a threat to the publics access to Emergency Services . I dont understand why it is a bit mysterious that because the report didnt really say. Because its not as though people arent going to know to how dial 999. No or frightened of saying yeah. I mean, that is i think sometimes things just people get slightly over the top about about what can happen. But i mean, its quite interesting that you say you phone calls. That you say you phone calls. When my daughter was living in australia, of course she used to phone me on whatsapp all the time. I mean, it was it was great because it was free. Yeah, well, thats the thing. And so actually i spoke to a far more often than i would have done in the old days in australia when you had to pay. And then i might have got the odd email and possibly if she had been a lot, you know, many, many years ago, i would have got the very odd, odd letter. But its a blessing in that sense, isnt it . Platforms such as whatsapp, its so instantaneous connects lis. Us. Us. Us. Its great. So its great. So its great. Its always whatsapp noting and video calling, calling on whatsapp and the rest. Yeah, but when i video call, youre always in bed. Youre always saying, im in bed because you always ring me after a and i always go for nap. Long nap. Long nap. I just ive just quit some Whatsapp Groups that im of Whatsapp Groups that im part of because theyre just taking up too thats do hate whatsapp thats it. I do hate Whatsapp Groups, group chats. I hate groups, group chats. I do hate those, young people. Those, but also young people. Remember this well actually i remember this well actually the other Scarlett Mccgwire got very because she would very hurt because she would whatsapp and i wouldnt whatsapp me and i wouldnt always get back to her right away. Hey, there are two of us. Ill tell you about it. Another time. Yeah, absolutely. She is lovely and very young and freddie her and. And shes freddie knows her and. And shes great. But she would get shed get and a mutual friend had get hurt and a mutual friend had to say to her, scarlet is an old person. She doesnt. She doesnt person. She doesnt. She doesnt reply all the time. I mean, thats the other thing is they might not make phone calls, but young people can spend all day on whatsapp. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatsapp and snapchat, isnt it . Constant. It . Its constant. Think just get off it. Well i think just get off it. Well i think just get off it. How how old are your how old, how old are your kids . Are they whatsapping. No theyre not allowed. Smartphones and very the smartphones and theyre very the eldest and very eldest is now 12 and hes very upset that. Upset about that. That going with him . Badly, although we some badly, although we had some there was a there was a there was a the school had a problem. There a Whatsapp Group where there was a Whatsapp Group where some indecent images were shared. And ferdy upset about. And ferdy very upset about this because its given us a perfect justification to not give him a phone for another few years. Years. I think its very difficult for parents now, isnt it . Its awful, yeah. Especially when they get to that 1112 and theyre secondary school. Theyre in secondary school. I think i but i do think i mean, i think stick with it because think ill stick with it because i as were concerned, i as far as were concerned, hes the rest of his life to hes got the rest of his life to spend on phones. We spend our lives hes got this lives on phones. Hes got this blissful now where blissful period now where he doesnt have to. But are his parents on the phone . I phone . I mean, thats the problem. If youre on the phone and youre saying you cant have one and permanently whatsapping youre saying you cant have one and he permanently whatsapping youre saying you cant have one and he pernends. ly whatsapping me, he never ends. Say, oh, its he cant say, oh, its freddie again. Childhood memories all their childhood memories will me just staring at will be of me just staring at no, i think its good because its of things its one of those things therell furious you therell be furious with you now, theyre older, now, but when theyre older, theyll oh, thank heavens theyll say, oh, thank heavens you did that, because youre not going sucked into that going to get sucked into that instagram that. Instagram stuff and all that. Instagram me well. Well, the internet worries me. I just think if youre giving a 11 or 12 year old a phone, can they see online . Phone, what can they see online . I mean, its very, very its horrific see twitter horrific what you see on twitter every single day. Its all horrific. And it needs stopped somehow. But needs to be stopped somehow. But it be it wont be mr free speech. Freddie thinks things should be stopped, down social media. Yeah, by all means. Say what you just leave social you want. Just leave social media alone. Yeah. Yeah. People people. If we if people just people. If we just back to having just got back to having conversations. It sounds conversations. Oh, it sounds so old but having conversations. Old fashioned, you we are old fashioned, you know, just go. We are old fashioned, you knoyoqut go. We are old fashioned, you knoyou can|o. We are old fashioned, you knoyou can say what you like in you can say what you like in the and theres loads of the pub and theres loads of stuff you might say that you wouldnt to anyones face, wouldnt say to anyones face, but say but on social media, they say what like and theres what they like and theres abuse, and rude and abuse, live and rude and horrible and yeah. Ever get into do you ever get into arguments on social media . Used now i dont. Now i i used to. Now i dont. Now i dont. I just ignore it. I leave, you know. I leave, you know. I leave, you know. I dont engage. No, i dont engage. No, i dont engage. Engage. No, i dont engage. Engagabout you . What about you . What about you . I have done. Its always regret it. I think you can ever win. Well, you cant win. Lineker once that was gary lineker once that was a big mistake. Well, hes got many fans. I didnt realise. I didnt realise. Yes. Yes. Yes, he does have rather more than you. Yeah. Yeah. Shocking in and of itself. Thank you very much indeed. You too. See you later on. Lets get a check on the weather with aiden. Hello. Very good morning to you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from met office with gb you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from forecast. ffice with gb you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from forecast. Bite with gb you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from forecast. Bit ofvith gb you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from forecast. Bit ofvitgloomyi news forecast. Bit of a gloomy one there morning. Lots one out there this morning. Lots of clouds, some mist and fog of low clouds, some mist and fog patches as well, and further rain showers to come many rain or showers to come for many of a windy one as well. Of us, its a windy one as well. For far north of scotland, for the far north of scotland, northern isles, some northern isles, seeing some Gale Force Winds through morning force winds through the morning and early afternoon combined with rain. Its not with some heavy rain. Its not going very pleasant going to feel very pleasant here. Increasingly here. The rainfall increasingly mounting up across eastern scotland the next few days. Scotland over the next few days. Not much as last but not as much as last week, but any additional of any additional rainfall, of course, cause further course, could cause further issues. Be issues. Therell also be some persistent times persistent rain at times for eastern showers eastern england, showers elsewhere interspersed by sunny spells. Feel a bit spells. And it will feel a bit milder yesterday. Milder compared with yesterday. But wind will the but a gusty wind will carry the showers across showers through across southwestern areas. Hail and thunder coasts. So quite thunder around coasts. So quite a lively day of weather wherever you are into the evening. The showers continue longer showers continue and the longer spells rain continue as well spells of rain continue as well across central and eastern scotland, parts of eastern england, of cloud once england, a lot of low cloud once again, reforming some mist patches dawn , but its patches by dawn, but its another mild start to the day tomorrow with temperatures in the double figures in places. Now, friday is a day of two halves across the uk. Weve got a lot of stubborn cloud for scotland, for northern and eastern england, some persistent rain at times, along with a gusty breeze elsewhere, brighter skies and some sunny spells, but frequent and heavy showers coming through across Northern Ireland, wales, the southern half of england. Temperatures reaching 15 celsius a touch cooler compared with today. Well cooler compared with today. Well stay with us. Still to come, well be taking a look at gb news exclusive peoples poll. Thats n ext next a very good morning. It is a very good morning. It is 759 hurtling towards 8 00 on thursday, the 26th of october. Today as sir keir starmer comes under fire from his own side over region of gaza and hamas of it. We are raining hellfire on hamas and this is only the beginning. Simultaneously, we are preparing for a Ground Invasion. Invasion. Well, it comes as western allies continue to call for calm. Mark white has the latest from tel aviv. Israel launched its largest ground incursion into northern gaza. Ground incursion into northern gaza. Tanks and troops targeting gaza. Tanks and troops targeting Hamas Terrorists and their infrastructure. Infrastructure. Our councils hiding their spending from us. Well bring you the latest findings , which you the latest findings, which could make anyone who pays council tax in the uk a little cross. Cfoss. Cross. And why the period of remembrance more important than ever for our veterans. We hear about a former soldiers struggle to move on from war and conflict. Conflict. But its worse. I got up but its worse. I got up crying and i went to sleep crying and i went to sleep crying. And its looking rather crying. And its looking rather wet out there today. Aidan mcgivern has a weather update for us. Rain, showery, rain and longer spells of rain for many of us today. Youll definitely need to keep an umbrella handy. Ill have the full details in the forecast coming up. And paul coyte has got the sport. So the way things for british clubs in the Champions League last night, we had one win, one draw, one loss, and that is referring to Manchester City and celtic and Newcastle United and also we will be demonstrating sports whistles also , which sports whistles also, which were very much looking fonnard, very much looking fonnard to. Yes, i am indeed. Yes, i am indeed. Okay. Im stephen dixon. Okay. Im stephen dixon. And im Ellie Costello , and and im Ellie Costello, and this is breakfast on. This is breakfast on. Gb news. Now, just when it looked like they had it going for them with a united team, fractures looked like theyre appearing in the labour party. Over sir Keir Starmers firm support for israel. Yes. In a new report in the times today suggests that muslim voters feel betrayed by the party and up to four shadow cabinet ministers are on resignation watch. Well, it all comes as our gb news peoples poll reveals that labour actually at the moment well and truly have the backing of the british people. Thats if there were to be a general election tomorrow. So figures election tomorrow. So figures are quite outstanding for laboun are quite outstanding for labour, 49 of voters would back them. The conservatives on just 21, the peoples poll has also revealed that 74 of brits think foreign nationals in britain who glorify islamist terrorism should be expelled from britain. 45 of brits also think that immigrants arent integrating very well into the wider british society. Society. Theres lots to go through, there isnt. There are. Political correspondent olivia utley is in westminster for us this morning. Good morning to you, olivia. And lets start you, olivia. And lets start with this rift that is only deepening in the labour party over the israel gaza conflict. Over the israel gaza conflict. Well, absolutely. Elliot does seem to be deepening. Keir starmer is desperately trying to dig himself out of a hole, but it seems the hole has got too deep. It all started when . About a week ago. He made some comments on National Radio suggesting, paraphrasing here, but in answer to a question he said that israel has the right to cut off the water supply to gaza. Now, he later sort of semi rowed back on those comments. He said that he didnt actually mean that. He just meant that israel had the right to defend itself. But those comments have attracted a lot of ire, both from labour Members Around the country. Labour councillors most importantly, and labour mps themselves. Weve now had 150 labour councillors write a letter to keir starmer calling for a ceasefire which is at odds with Keir Starmers position that israel has a right to defend itself and 37 mps are also backing that position. They want a ceasefire too. Now keir starmer met with a group of muslim labour mps yesterday. Muslim labour mps yesterday. Those mps who might feel more affiliated with perhaps the Palestinian Community and he tried to sort of smooth things over. Tried to sort of smooth things over. He said tried to sort of smooth things over. He said that he didnt go as far as to call for a ceasefire, but he did say that he would that he he backed a ceasing of the fire for a time being for a short pause to allow humanitarian aid in. Thats the same position as the un is holding and is rishi sunak is holding and is rishi sunak is holding to. Will that be enough for those labour mps . It seems unlikely at the moment. It sounds as though there are a number of shadow cabinet ministers relatively junior shadow cabinet ministers but frontbenchers nonetheless who are on resignation watch. And it are on resignation watch. And it feels to me as though this is the first real test of Keir Starmers leadership in a long time. In recent months, it feels as though hes been the luckiest man westminster. His man in westminster. His ducks have fallen into row with the have fallen into a row with the slow sort of implosion of the conservative party and the very dramatic implosion of the snp in scotland with nicola sturgeons arrest. Et cetera. He seems to arrest. Et cetera. He seems to be getting pretty lucky, just sort of hoovering up the votes from disenfranchised voters across the country. Now hes got across the country. Now hes got a real serious test on his hands and it will be fascinating to see how he copes with it in the days ahead. Days ahead. Okay, olivia utley there for us in westminster. Thank you very much indeed. Well, lets run through some of the details of the peoples poll then this morning. Johnny is politics, is now a professor of politics, matt goodwin. Matt good see matt goodwin. Matt good to see you always. Can we have a you as always. Can we have a look at this . 74 of brits thinking are foreign nationals in britain who glorify islamist terrorism. Should be expelled. I terrorism. Should be expelled. I mean, it sort of seems like common sense. But of course, this is proving to be a very difficult situation for the police. Police. Well, absolutely. This is a policy whereby three quarters of the country are supportive. So this is almost as close to a consensus position as you can find. And the other stat to keep in mind here is that only 4 of the country are opposed to this. Now, of course, this comes against the backdrop of the government struggling to deport foreign nationals who have committed crimes because were tied into things like the European Convention on human rights. Were tied into legislation and laws that mean we cant essentially deport who we cant essentially deport who we want to deport. But as we cant essentially deport who we want to deport. But as far as the British Public are concerned, this policy is a no brainer. Brainer. And matt, lets take a look, because it does all tie in, doesnt it, with with another result from the peoples poll, 30 of british people think that immigrants are integrating very or fairly well into british wider society. But 46 say not very well at all. What do we mean by this . What do we mean when were talking about people integrating into British Culture . Yeah, well , i think for culture . Yeah, well, i think for most voters and i spend a lot of my time sitting in focus with voters, what they mean is do do people share British Values . People share British Values . Are they following british laws . Are they subscribing to the british way of life . And i the british way of life . And i think for many voters , as weve think for many voters, as weve seen over the last few weeks with the protests, the sympathy for terrorism thats been shown by some, i think many voters out there are questioning, well , there are questioning, well, actually, is integration really working . It wasnt long ago we had those disturbances in leicester. Is the government doing enough on this issue to try and promote a more integrated and more cohesive lviv society . And i can tell you lviv society . And i can tell you ive been speaking to a cardiff where we had the nigel farage show last night and when this issue came up again , a lot of issue came up again, a lot of local people here were were really acas actually about the state and direction of the country. Country. Okay, matt, thanks very much indeed. Good to talk to you this morning. Its a difficult one into duration, i think multiculturalism was all the talk and then that seemed to disappear sort of 15, 20 years ago, if not slightly longer, actually. But how much integration would you expect from people . Because isnt it from people . Because isnt it good to have a mix of cultures and all the rest of it or or a people become, i think part of theissue people become, i think part of the issue is when you seem to get sort of enclaves of a Certain Group of people where its becomes a little bit of whatever it may be, a little bit of india, a little bit of poland or a little bit. And then is it harder if youre not part of that society to mix and integrate and become part of it . Its quite nice when everythings a bit more mixed up, and we all up, isnt it . Yeah, and we all get a little taste whats out there. Different cultures. Well, let us know what, what does integration you . What do integration mean to you . What do you of the results of our you make of the results of our peoples as well . Gb views peoples poll as well . Gb views gbnews. Com right. Lets turn our attention to the very, very tricky situation in the middle east. It is day 20 of the israeli gaza conflict and the israeli Prime Minister has reiterated that his country is preparing for a Ground Invasion of gaza. This is what he had to say. Hamas is of it. Hamas is of it. We are raining hell fire on hamas. We have already killed thousands of terrorists and this is only the beginning. Simultaneously, we are preparing for a Ground Invasion and i will not elaborate on when, how or how many. It not elaborate on when, how or how many. It will not elaborate on when, how or how many. It will also not how many. It will also not elaborate on the various calculations we are making, which the public is mostly unaware of, and that is how things should be. Well, International Efforts to stop the conflict from escalating seem to be falling flat with a diplomat tug of war going on. A United Nations resolution addressing the situation failed at the Security Council after vetoes from russia and china, only to be followed by a russia led resolution calling for a ceasefire. Also failing because of lack of support from the west. Well, we do know one of the reasons why israel hasnt invaded gaza yet. Yet because invaded gaza yet. Yet because yesterday reports came out that the country agreed to delay the ground offensive. So the United States can move Missile Defence and air Defence Systems to the region. Thats to protect us troops in the wider region because the concern is, of course the whole situation would escalate. Well, israel , as israel ramps well, israel, as israel ramps up overnight raids in the occupied west bank, un agencies are warning that fuel in the gaza strip could run out imminently , with hospitals there imminently, with hospitals there stopping all but Emergency Services as well. The gaza Health Ministry now says more than 6400 people have been killed in israeli bombings since since october the 7th. While the Israeli Death toll from the massacre on that day stands at more than 1400, with more than 200 people still held hostage inside israel , reaction hostage inside israel, reaction has been swift and harsh to the United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres, for comments he made yesterday about hamass attacks not happening in a vacuum. Our security editor, mark white, is in israel and has this report. This report. 20 days into the war on hamas and there is no let up in the intensity of the israeli airstrikes. Fighter jets and airstrikes. Fighter jets and missiles are now hitting targets right across the gaza strip , as right across the gaza strip, as israel accuses hamas of entrenching itself within civilian areas everywhere. The civilian areas everywhere. The inevitable consequence of that are huge numbers of dead and injured among the local population. They are desperate population. They are desperate for aid supplies here. The uk among a growing number of countries, now urging israel to consider short humanitarian pauses to let more aid trucks across the border from egypt. 21 across the border from egypt. 21 tonnes of uk aid , including tonnes of uk aid, including medical supplies , have now medical supplies, have now arrived in egypt , but they join arrived in egypt, but they join arrived in egypt, but they join a huge queue waiting for permission to enter gaza. The un permission to enter gaza. The un secretary general has been trying to repair some of the damage in relations with the Israeli Government, who accused him of effectively justifying hamass october 7th attacks with comments that palestinians had suffered 56 years of a suffocating occupation. I spoke of the grievances of the Palestinian People and in doing so, i also clearly stated, and i quote, but that the grievances of the Palestinian People cannot justify the appalling attacks by hamas. But israeli officials see his comments were clear. Comments were clear. Comments were clear. It has deeply damaged this countrys already fractious relationship with the un. These is blindfolded teddy bears are the latest symbol of the horrors of october 7th. A reminder of the more than 200 hostages are still being held. They include still being held. They include 85 year old yaffa after whose image was seen around the world. Filmed as she was kidnapped and dnven filmed as she was kidnapped and driven on the back of a golf cart. Cart. Jose , after the release of jose, after the release of two hostages earlier this week, her granddaughter is desperately hoping she could be next. But also very fearful she may not have survived her ordeal if they released those two women, then maybe until the next time they will release someone else. My grandmother wont be alive to survive it and to be brought back home. The fate of the hostages is likely to be one of the main reasons israel has not launched its ground war. There is intense International Pressure to hold off and allow hostage negotiations to continue , but negotiations to continue, but theres only so long. Israel is likely willing to wait. Mark white gb news, tel aviv. White gb news, tel aviv. Well, lets get the latest now live from mark white in tel aviv. Very good morning to you, mark. And Benjamin Netanyahu speaking last night, insisting that he is going to push ahead with that Ground Invasion. Thats despite reports hed been told by President Biden to delay it out. It out. There is no way that israel will not go into gaza at some point. The timing, will not go into gaza at some point. The timing, though, according to Benjamin Netanyahu, is dependent on a number of factors which he wasnt willing to go into in his public address to go into in his public address to the nation. But one of those factors is certainly seems to be the scramble by the United States to try to get Missile Defence systems in syria and iraq, where the troops have come under attack in recent days, but also in other countries around this region, such as saudi arabia, kuwait and jordan. But that Ground Invasion, according to netanyahu, has to happen for israel to achieve its stated goal of not just degrading but destroying hamas. Theres only destroying hamas. Theres only so much they can do from the air and overnight, we had the largest single ground incursion into northern gaza since this conflict began on the 7th of october. Tanks and dozens of soldiers getting through the border fence there into northern gaza and taking out, according to the idf multiple Hamas Terrorists and their positions , terrorists and their positions, guns, including anti tank missile launching posts , is now missile launching posts, is now one of the reasons, one of the imperatives is, i think for the Israeli Government to go in on the ground and properly dismantle the hamas is the fact that clearly it still has some very significant capabilities , very significant capabilities, despite 20 days of being pummelled by israeli airstrikes and missiles, its still able to launch dozens of rockets every single day into southern and Central Israel. Again, last night we had a rocket attacks into tel aviv targeting the east and the south of the city. One of those rockets managed to get through and struck the area of Rishon Leziyyon, which is in the southern outskirts of tel aviv, causing Severe Damage to an apartment block there and injuring four people. Mark looking at the wider picture slightly, theres so much International Pressure now for ceasefire. Is anyone asking the question, what would happen after a ceasefire was brought into place because hamas is not a group thats going to willingly enter negotiations. Willingly enter negotiations. Well, those calls for a ceasefire are not unanimous at all. In fact, the uk, us and other israeli allies are not calling for a ceasefire russia and some other countries are what the us, the uk and other allies of israel do want israel to contemplate. Would be some short humanitarian pauses around that area around the rafah crossing , which would allow more crossing, which would allow more aid trucks to come in with vitally needed supplies into gaza. Looking further ahead towards the ceasefire, of course. Towards the ceasefire, of course , theres no way that israel would ever contemplate a ceasefire until it is happy that it has achieved its stated goal of eradicating hamas, because as long as hamas remains a threat to israel , well, then there is to israel, well, then there is a potential for more attacks to be launched toward israel. And after the horrific events of the 7th of october, where there is no way that the people of this country or their political leaders will contemplate, wait, a terrorist group still remaining in power in gaza that has the potential to harm its citizens here in israel. Citizens here in israel. So, mark, for now, thanks very much indeed. Now, heres a very much indeed. Now, heres a question for you. Do you like to know exactly where your council tax is going . Its not an unfair thing to want to know. Actually would the annual charge going up recently for many of us, if not all of us . Would you like to know if your money is being spent wisely . Well according to the Taxpayers Alliance , there is the Taxpayers Alliance, there is a transparency crisis ipsis in local government with very few councils actually publishing any of their accounts. Ellie has of their accounts. Ellie has more details. More details. Thanks, stephen. Yes weve been taking a look at this new analysis and these are just some of the main points that we have found. So first of all, there are 317 local councils in england. Guess how many of those councils actually gave in their audited accounts for every year since 2019, 2020 . Well, the results are staggering. Just 513 of englands 317 councils actually filed their accounts , actually filed their accounts, as Northern Ireland did. Well, ten out of 11 councils there did so , and six of scotlands 32 so, and six of scotlands 32 councils did theirs. Just 31 councils did theirs. Just 31 councils across the uk. Thats councils across the uk. Thats under 10 of the total amount they have released their accounts for the last financial yean accounts for the last Financial Year. The deadline for that was the 30th of september. Here in wales, not a Single Council published accounts for the last Financial Year and which councils are the worst offenders . Lets take a look at that. On this next map. Barking and dagenham in east london, one of the worst offenders, coventry in the midlands and also Nottingham City Council. They havent published accounts for the last three years. Well, we have contacted those councils for their right to reply and stephen has those now. Stephen has those now. Yeah, it doesnt shed a massive amount of light and it has to be said Coventry City Council said we have published our accounts, our report for the last Financial Year, but the formal statement has been delayed due to technical issues relating to previous years. They relating to previous years. They also say this is a national issue. Over 900 sets of accounts are outstanding nationally, only five out of about 400 councils have published their accounts for the last Financial Year on time. For the last Financial Year on time. Barking and for the last Financial Year on time. Barking and dagenham time. Barking and Dagenham Council say theres been a National Shortage of local government auditors since the abolition of the National Audit office in 2015. They went on to say the department has announced its looking at a practical way to address a national backlog and get local government audits up to date in barking and dagenham , we have draft accounts dagenham, we have draft accounts awaiting audit and we look fonnard to working with the National Government to get accounts published as soon as possible. Nottingham city possible. Nottingham city council. Well, they havent got council. Well, they havent got back to us, but well let you know if and when they do. And it really matters to people, doesnt it, because councils tax is so very expense lviv, isnt it . Youre forking out all this money. You want to know what youre paying for. You do indeed. Its not unreasonable, is it . Lets talk to the local government editor at conservative home, harry phibbs, who joins us now. Morning to you, harry. Its trying to work out this a national out whether this is a national problem, a national failing, which is letting councils down in the auditing or whether its the councils themselves that arent doing what they should. Arent doing what they should. Its the councils who have responsibility for it and its something that they could and should do. Theyre obliged to do so. Bear in mind these finance directors are paid a lot of money. Local authorities, theyre paid in a six figure salaries. And they do that on salaries. And they do that on the basis of saying that if theyve got large budgets and if it was in the private sector, they would be paid that sort of money. If it was the private sector, theyd be out of there out of a job if they werent actually producing the accounts on time and the transparency rules have actually been improved over the years. Eric improved over the years. Eric pickles brought in spending transparency. So you can look up on the Council Website and see items of spending over £500, for example. So the rules are there , example. So the rules are there, but of course its no good at all if theyre not upheld and theyre not enforced. So i hope that i hope residents will that i hope the residents will actually look at this, Taxpayers Alliance and see what Alliance Report and see what their local councils doing and make a fuss if theyre if their council tax is being put up and theyre not being being shown where the moneys going. I mean, but harry, so many people would say they dont they shouldnt have to make a fuss. They will feel so frustrated seeing this, wont they . Because not only cost of council not only the cost of council tax, think average its tax, i think on average its about £2,000 a year now for people. But also the disparity in council tax up and down the country depending on where you live and then not being able to see your hard earned money see where your hard earned money is actually can we is actually spent. How can we fix this . Fix this . And i do think there should be there needs to be consequences. There need to be penalties if people arent carrying out the work that theyre theyre supposed to. But i would also say that that really istically local pressure is needed, that if they can if they can just get away with not publishing the information and hope that people will just give up and not not care about it, that does make it easy, easier for them. And its not just councillors or journalists or bloggers. I mean, this is something that people can get involved in with putting in freedom of information requests. There is a there is a period where anybody is entitled to go into the town hall and go through the books. So i do think that its important that Council Taxpayers who are who are rightly indignant about it, dont just give up rightly indignant about it, dontjust give up on it. But i dontjust give up on it. But i do think that there needs to be needs to be strong pressure, because at the moment, the theres a complete failure to get value for money from these councils. I dont know whether councils. I dont know whether their failure to publish these accounts is a is a cover up because they dont want people to go through and see and see some of the wasteful spending or whether they whether theyre just not up to it. And its theyre just incompetent. And neither neither explanation is particularly reassuring, is it . Yeah, no, its not. Harry, good to see you this morning. Good to see you this morning. Thanks very much indeed. And look, harrys hes absolutely right in that we should be putting pressure on our councils. If youre not happy or you dont, theres nothing wrong with saying, well, where is my money being spent . The money being spent . Put the pressure freedom of pressure on freedom of information requests, write letters, rest of letters, emails, all the rest of it. Its how do go about . I it. Its how do you go about . I wouldnt know where to start. No. And dont think many people and i dont think many people would to honest with you. And i dont think many people would its honest with you. And i dont think many people would its a honest with you. And i dont think many people would its a little ;t with you. And i dont think many people would its a little bitith you. And i dont think many people would its a little bit of you. So its a little bit of a little bit of research, a little bit of googling might do it, but its but again, why should it come us . Come down to us . Little people, to have the little people, to have to, you know, fight to find out where money is being spent. Where our money is being spent. What of what harry what do you make of what harry phibbs was saying there about perhaps fine earlier we perhaps a fine or earlier we were about the were talking about the suggestion that a fine the suggestion that a fine for the council, for councils council, fine for the councils or or councils not being able to put unless they put up council tax unless they can actually justify why what that money needed for. That extra money is needed for. Thats maybe an answer. Well, thats maybe an answer. The with fining the problem with fining the councils do councils is that well, what do you . You find the money. You find . You find the money. Well, that our money well, that money is our money anyway. So were paying fine anyway. So were paying the fine. So that sort of doesnt help us, does it . How do we fix it . Let us know what you think. Vaiews gbnews. Com. Lets have a look at some of the other stories heading into the other stories heading into the this morning. And the newsroom this morning. And the newsroom this morning. And the executive of the former chief executive of natwest Nigel Farages natwest infringed Nigel FaragesData Protection rights when she talked to a bbc journalist out about his relationship with coutts bank. The ruling from the information watchdog said the disclosure by the now former ceo Dame Alison Rose was unacceptable. Unacceptable. Several n hs unacceptable. Several nhs trusts in england are using foreign doctors as cheap labour. Thats just one of the accusations from an investigation by the british medical journal foreign doctors can work in english hospital trusts for two years as fellows to gain experience to implement in their home countries. But the bmj says the training schemes are exploited live, with some fellows being paid less than others and not receiving guaranteed guaranteed overtime pay pay. At pay at least 22 people have been killed, 60 injured in lewiston in maine, in the states after a gunman opened fire at a Bowling Alley. We believe more than 60 alley. We believe more than 60 people have been injured. The gunman himself. Police have named him , but he is still at named him, but he is still at large. Large. Lets get your weather update now. Now. Hello. Very good morning to hello. Very good morning to you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. Bit of a gloomy one out there this morning. Lots of low clouds, some mist and fog patches further patches as well, and further rain to come. For rain or showers to come. For many of us, its a windy one as well. For the far north of scotland, northern isles, seeing some through some Gale Force Winds through the early afternoon the morning and early afternoon combined some heavy rain. The morning and early afternoon connoted some heavy rain. The morning and early afternoon connoted to ome heavy rain. The morning and early afternoon connoted to feel heavy rain. The morning and early afternoon connoted to feel veryy rain. Its not going to feel very pleasant the rainfall pleasant here. The rainfall increasingly across increasingly mounting up across eastern over the next eastern scotland over the next few not much as last few days, not as much as last week, but any additional rainfall of course, could cause further also further issues. There will also be persistent rain at times be some persistent rain at times for england. Showers for eastern england. Showers elsewhere interspersed sunny elsewhere interspersed by sunny spells , and it will feel a bit spells, and it will feel a bit milder compared with yesterday. But gusty wind will carry the but a gusty wind will carry the showers through across southwestern areas. Hail and thunder so quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively so quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively day so quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively day of so quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively day of weather so quite southwestern areas. Hail and tilively day of weather wherever a lively day of weather wherever you are into the evening. The showers continue and the longer spells of rain continue as well across central and eastern scotland, parts eastern scotland, parts of eastern england, of low cloud once england, a lot of low cloud once again, reforming some mist patches dawn , but its patches by dawn, but its another mild start to the day tomorrow with temperatures in the double figures in places. Now friday is a day of two halves across the uk. Weve got a lot of stubborn cloud for scotland for northern and eastern england. Some persist rain at times along with a gusty breeze. Elsewhere, brighter skies , some sunny spells, but skies, some sunny spells, but frequent and heavy showers coming through across Northern Ireland and wales. The southern half of england, temperatures reaching 15 celsius a touch cooler compared with today. Cooler compared with today. Wet and warm and warm. There you go. Yeah , it doesnt sound too bad. Oh, it sounds a bit miserable to me. I like a bit of sunshine now or crispy autumnal weather. Yeah, thats the best, isnt it . Really . Today . It . Really . Today . Yeah, fraid so. Got all yeah, fraid so. Weve got all the news heading our way the sports news heading our way in just with paul. Okay this is the scene from the israeli gaza border. Were not israeli gaza border. Were not clear at this point what direction were pointing in. Sadly but there has been a very large plume of smoke there. So another explosion. Whether that is something fired from the israeli side or something fired from the gaza side, were not exactly clear at the moment. But clearly the barrage is from both sides. Actually a really continuing. Yes. It comes as the israel Defence Forces carried out a targeted raid overnight in northern gaza using tanks. They northern gaza using tanks. They havent yet launched their expected Ground Invasion of gaza. But Benjamin Netanyahu speaking last night, says that is still going ahead. Now, this is were told now are actually pointing into gaza. So this would be in we presume, an Israeli Attack into gaza, whether its north or south, we dont know. But but clearly, as elie was saying , there is elie was saying, there is a clear determination to keep up what theyre its the softening up , if you like, the idea that up, if you like, the idea that they can destroy by air as many hamas targets as possible. The concern is and why the death toll is rising. So significantly is that the Hamas Terrorists often plays things like. The often plays things like. The rocket sites and launch sites next to things like kindergartens , ones next to kindergartens, ones next to schools , next to hospitals, schools, next to hospitals, which is why then you see a lot of civilian casualties as a result of now the poppy appeal starts today and were all being asked to buy and wear one of these. Weve both got very special ones on today. These are from steven, which you had at home. But today , actually, were going but today, actually, were going to see the poppy appeal appeal going doesnt mean the going green. Doesnt mean the poppies are going to be green. It just means theyre going to be environmentally friendly. The first have been first ones that have been plastic years. Plastic free in over 50 years. Yeah , a new little sort of yeah, a new little sort of redesign. Redesign. Quite nice. A little bit different , little bit more different, little bit more modern, paper stems modern, all sort of paper stems and so quite nice and things. So quite nice apparently. And you can still wear them in the same way. Apparently me so coming a bit more up to date. But why does it matter whether whether you buy one of these or whether you like . I did these go on to like . I did with these go on to the website at the Royal British legion and order a sort of slightly fancier one, if you fancy that of thing. Fancy that sort of thing. But why matter . Because that why does it matter . Because that money to support money is used to support veterans and their families. And veterans and their families. And its really needed because according to research by kings college, 7. 4 of veterans suffer from post Traumatic Stress disorder. And that compares to disorder. And that compares to just 4 of the general public. Well, many veterans support Charities Say that money is running out, putting thousands of veterans at risk of unemployment and homelessness. Will met mel bensley , will hollis has met mel bensley, a british army veteran, to hear more about her story. More about her story. This is me on one of the proudest days of my life. This is me in my number twos with my forage cap. On the day forage cap. On the day i actually passed out as a soldier at just 17, mel bensley from nottingham served for queen and country after 91 when we were all amalgamated into one army, i came out as the royal signals, the medal. Theyre actually explains that i served in Northern Ireland during the conflicts in 1989 and 1990. It was my first posting and i was still only 18 when i first went out there. It was decades later dunng out there. It was decades later during lockdown that the trauma she had buried resurfaced at its worst point. I got up crying and i went to sleep crying. I went to sleep crying. Mel turned to alcohol to cope with the ptsd , losing her job, with the ptsd, losing her job, running the local pub and her home with it. Home with it. I didnt know what to do with myself and became very lonely, very scared, and started closing down. And the only thing i knew what to do was to reach for alcohol, to make me feel human again is the best way of describing it. It gave it made me feel something. Its estimated that around 4000 veterans are homeless , with 4000 veterans are homeless, with many living in hostels , but many living in hostels, but hundreds on the streets. The hundreds on the streets. The government is pledging to end homelessness amongst veterans by next year, reinforced by an 8. 5 million fund named op 40 food critic say theyll miss the target. The british legions target. The british legions poppy appeal raises cash to help veterans and their families. Veterans and their families. Like most places, homeless , ness like most places, homeless, ness is increasing in nottingham by at least 50 this year. The Charity Framework is trying to plug the gaps. Andrew is chief exec. Well, we have a National Housing shortage and thats exacerbated by a cost of living crisis and it means that people, for instance, who we are trying to resettle with private landlords , simply cant afford landlords, simply cant afford the rents. The rents. I melanie ducker swear by almighty god that i will be faithful and bear allegiance to her majesty Queen Elizabeth ii. And mels now in recovery and has a home again through framework. Her experience says while serving took a lot from her but still shes giving back to her armed forces family. I still am and always have been very proud of the fact that i was able to serve my queen and country and until the age of 55, i am still actually a registered reservist. So i could get called reservist. So i could get called up if things go wrong. Up if things go wrong. Will hollis gb news in nottingham do you buy a poppy . Nottingham do you buy a poppy . If you can, yeah. If you can, yeah. Do do we need to show our thanks and respect to people who serve and have served . Yeah. And you can get them from today. Thats when the poppy appeal is launching. Thanks to will hollis for that report. Now time for the sport with paul coyte. Searched everywhere by the i searched everywhere by the way, yesterday. You know that . Yeah, yeah, yeah. Started tomorrow. Ernie started tomorrow. Ernie started tomorrow. Everything today . Yeah. Everything out today . Yeah. Yeah yeah. Weve an update yeah yeah. Weve got an update on the Bongi Mbonambi story and yeah yeah. Weve got an update tom curry that happened in the south africa england semi final where tom curry had accused him of racially abusing him on the pitch. And that is the fact that pitch. And that is the fact that bongi will start the World Cup Final now on sunday because as world rugby have said, that theres insufficient evidence as to what happened on the pitch. So thats the end of it. I guess i yeah. Yeah. As far as it stands officially. So he will be playing in the game. Tom curry has just faced awful abuse over in south africa. All he did was alert the referee story , got out alert the referee story, got out and then its got bigger and bigger and then its come back from south africa that it was actually an afrikaans phrase that was misinterpreted. So where we are. It so thats where we are. It sounds something pretty rude. It sounds something it sounds like something pretty yeah, absolutely. So pretty bad. Yeah, absolutely. So the yeah. Well, tom the update. Yeah. Well, tom curry not kicked curry is not kicked off. Raised it with the i mean, he raised it with the ref, but hes been spouting ref, but hes not been spouting off about anywhere else. Ref, but hes not been spouting off this1t anywhere else. Ref, but hes not been spouting off this is anywhere else. Ref, but hes not been spouting off this is whatvhere else. Ref, but hes not been spouting off this is what annoys se. Ref, but hes not been spouting off this is what annoys me this is what annoys me because the abuse that hes got, if on twitter and then if hed been on twitter and then hed been pointing the finger and they said he to and saying they said he spoke to the this what the referee, said, this is what i heard and this is what i think i heard and this is what i think i heard. That was it never said a word aftennards, when he was asked about he well, asked about it, he said, well, you the referee you know, i spoke to the referee about it, but now its all kicked off. Should talk about so should we talk about everton . Yes, we should. I mean, we had Champions League night, had Champions League last night, but a big but everton, there was a big story everton everton. Story about everton and everton. Its tough for everton its a tough time for everton because, course, bill because, of course, Bill Kenwright passed away. The chairman now this been chairman and now this has been spoken quite some spoken about for quite some time. Anythings time. Whether anythings going to and this down to come of this and this is down to come of this and this is down to financial fair play, which is ffp, sustainability. Ffp, profit and sustainability. The that theyve broken the fact that theyve broken that, that they had financial losses of £304 million over a three where only 105 three year period where only 105 million is allowed, but cut million is allowed, but to cut a very story short, its very long story short, its expected that the premier league want the book thrown at them and saying should get 12 saying that they should get a 12 point deduction on on the season. Now where they are at the moment would leave them minus and also so theyve got to try and make that 12 points up. Manchester city had a total of. Manchester city had a total of. 115 breaches thrown at them over 14 seasons. Thats all gone very quiet. Whereas everton is the big story at the moment and whether they lose those 12 points or not, were going to have to wait because theres always appeals. It always going to be appeals. It could for long but could run for a long time, but if they lose those 12 points, if they do lose those 12 points, theyre also up for sale as well. American group, seven, well. The american group, seven, seven, buy seven, seven, they want to buy them. And i do wonder whether theyre thinking if they theyre thinking long if they actually relegated. This actually do get relegated. This club going to less for us club is going to be less for us to pay than we would othennise. Might stall. They might stall. They might stall. Could be it could well it could be it could well stall. Thats whats going on at the with bells. Whistles the moment with bells. Whistles were rugby. Weve been watching rugby and watching football at the same time. Difference in the whistles. Spoken about it whistles. Ive spoken about it quite a lot. Have the rugby england are going to be playing on friday . Play tomorrow in on friday . They play tomorrow in the place playoff the third place playoff and there difference between there is a difference between there is a difference between the whistles. Now the the actual whistles. Now the rugby whistle has a p in it and has a slightly different tone. Has a slightly different tone. Would you like me to demonstrate for you this is the this is the acme thunderer 58 and ill count it in. So its one, two, three. Oh, see, thats it. Oh, see, thats it. Didnt go for the last. Didnt go for the last. Swallowed the p, that was it. Swallowed the p, that was it. So theres the p so that if you got that, that was the rugby. Let me try the, the football which is also made by acme. This is the this is now listen very closely and youll hear the difference. This the hear the difference. This is the acme tornado. Are you ready . Ready . Count me in and ready . Yeah. Count me in and ill go. One, two, 3 3. Youve got to blow hard for that one. Keep blowing. Keep blowing. Blowing. Keep blowing. Oh, whos going bright red . Oh, whos going bright red . Im going to pass out. Oh ill give you. Give up. Thats the difference. Can you hear the difference between the two . Yeah. Its a lot quicker isnt it. It is. It is slightly quicker. I was going to do a third, but quite frankly, im going to. Im going to bail out on the third. The third one, the third one that was that was the one for you to try if youd like to give it go. It a go. We can we can always try it, but i really think your but i dont really think your chances so good. Ipp. Thats chances are so good. Ipp. Thats it. Thats the. No, you never did it, right. It just didnt did it, right. Itjust didnt quite get that right. So it was either this is like a party whistle. You get party bag, its you get a party bag, its actually ducks that are actually circling around the outside. Theres the one oh, theres the other one which go. That was only which you can go. That was only for the because a lot of for the dogs because a lot of dogs enjoy the show. So, by the way, dudley and nellie, way, for dudley and nellie, there you go. Love it. Secret one. Theyre loving it. Well, look, its worth a try, paul. It was worth a try. You know. Thats it. I wont be here tomorrow. Thatll be the end of it. Ill. You wont take me whistles with me, and thatll be the end. Anyway. Thank you very much. Anyway. Thank you very much. Thanks katie. Thank you. Thanks katie. Thank you. Thanks katie. Some now, still to come, some jewish residents have said that they tower they feel unsafe in Tower Hamlets as videos have gone viral palestinian flags hung viral of palestinian flags hung from hundreds from thousands, while hundreds of lampposts the east london of lampposts in the east london borough. Well be discussing borough. Well be discussing that more in headline that and more in headline makers. Thats n ext next lets just bring a little bit more on the breaking news coming in from the states this morning. And we now know that at least 22 people were killed, 60 injured in lewiston down in maine. Thats after a gunman opened fire at a Bowling Alley and then at a bar. This obviously the scene at the hospital as the injured and the dead have been brought in armed Police Officers out and about. As you can see, because this man is still on the run and armed with a very serious Assault Rifle and just a warning that the next video has flashing images. Police have identified a 40 year old man called robert arcade who reportedly had been committed to a Mental Health facility over the summer as a person of interest in this case. Yeah, police have apparently found a white suv that they think card drove to lisbon, which is a town nearby. So people there, its all sort of pretty much on lockdown. People are just being told to stay in their homes, dont venture outside, dont approach anybody, because obviously this is a very dangerous and perhaps quite ill man who, for whatever reason has and an army reserve as well. We understand. So someone who even understand. So someone who even in that sense knows how to handle a weapon well, this is the most deadly shooting in the United States so far this year and the worst since the el paso shooting at a Walmart Store in 2019. So that massive manhunt that is undennay in maine. So that massive manhunt that is undennay in maine. And, of is undennay in maine. And, of course, well bring you more details on this as we get them. Its just horrific that it just seems to be another one of those things. We say its the most deadly shooting so far this yean most deadly shooting so far this year. Yeah. Lets talk to Deputy Editor of the spectator, freddie grey, former labour Party AdviserScarlett Maguire were both here just on that issue that that developing story, this morning. I just want to hold my headin morning. I just want to hold my head in my hands, frankly, because whatever happens, however horrific these things are, america will not budge. No, look , if they didnt budge over look, if they didnt budge over the sandy hook massacre, which was Primary School children , in was Primary School children, in fact, i mean, they did the opposite. Was was that there were some people who said the whole thing was fake. Right. Theyre not was fake. Right. Theyre not going to budge over this. I mean, i mean, nothing is going to move the majority of american those who believe in guns. Those who believe in guns. Yeah. And i mean, frederick, you spent a lot of time in the us, havent you . And it is just people there. Some people there feel it is their fundamental right arms. Yes. Right to bear arms. Yes. And as said before, i think and as i said before, i think as a brit, its quite easy for us to be quite sneery about americans their guns and americans and their guns and sort of make it. But it is its very important part of their identity and their sense of themselves it themselves and of course, it does actually to lead does actually seem to lead to people with ar15s having ar15s who shouldnt have them on actually whether things will change. I do think joe biden is probably more committed to gun reform than even obama was. Is reform than even obama was. Is however, is he going to find the political wiggle room to do it when hes got so many other problems on so many other fronts . Thats another question. Yeah. Yeah. Should we have a look at cobra . Theres going to be cobra . Theres going to be a cobra . Theres going to be a cobra meeting today , freddie, on cobra meeting today, freddie, on amongst other things, how to get british israelis , british jews british israelis, british jews who were apparently kidnapped by hamas out of gaza. Now how on earth we cant be sending our own people in, can we . Well, i mean, who knows whats discussed at cobra meetings. Theyre all meant to be top secret. Theyre not even meant to be paired. But the government quite keen on government seem quite keen on announcing moment. Announcing them at the moment. I think hostage situation is think the hostage situation is very intense and its very crucial to the reason why this Ground Invasion has been delayed because hamas is leverage is these hostages and the British Government is working with qatar quite closely. See to establish quite closely. See to establish back channels to hamas and maybe get these hostages out. I dont know of any actual operation thats going to happen. Its possible thats what theyre discussing. But ive heard nothing about that. Its very, very difficult, isnt it, with these hostages, scarlett . Because there have been four released. So far by hamas. And we believe there are 200 being held within gaza. I mean , at that rate, it could take. Oh, yeah. Well, i mean, days for which is exactly what hamas wants. I mean, they they took this number of hostages. They this number of hostages. They also know i mean, its interesting. Were talking about the british hostages and what well what were doing. But but what hamas knows is how how deeply felt the israelis feel about any of their number who are taken and which is why, i mean, we get very little , mean, we get very little, unfortunately, reporting of actually whats going on in israel, which which is a very divided country. The relatives of the hostages are keeping a vigil. They, of course, the last vigil. They, of course, the last thing they want is a ground war. Theyre very worried about whats going to happen to their relatives. A of people are relatives. A lot of people are blaming netanyahu for the whole thing. I mean, because he didnt thing. I mean, because he didnt listen to he didnt listen to the intelligence. I mean, it is it is. It is. And then there are the other who actually feel that what theyre doing isnt right. So weve got the whole situation in israel, which is which is a tinderbox. And then weve got britain coming in and you just think, yeah , freddies right. Think, yeah, freddies right. All they can do do is talk to the people in qatar who are doing a good job. But i mean, ellie yeah, i mean, one cant see hamas released hostages when thatis see hamas released hostages when that is the only lever theyve got. Yeah. Yeah. Look, lets change tack , look, lets change tack, cause were running out of time. We are , as you know, big we are, as you know, big supporters of the royal family, her majesty the queen his majesty, the king. I mean, what are 12 to 18 months . Its been actually. However, would you believe if we are simply flag waving idiots are not my words. The words of steve coogan, no less. Have a listen to this. Less. Have a listen to this. Because most of the people who are into it, all those flag waving plastic boats of people are just i think are kind of idiots because they support a power structure that keeps a foot on the throat of working class people. There you go. Well, well, there you go. Well, well, there you go. Steve coogan has gone down, in my estimation, a little bit careful. I think. I think i think he i think. I think i think he put it very, very badly. But i do think its a system. I mean, do think its a system. I mean, i think its incredible that you become a british ruler because of who your dad was. And so i do i mean, i am a republican. And i i mean, i am a republican. And i do think that that that it is not a good thing. How . Freddie. Freddie. Freddie. Freddie. Freddie. Freddie. Steven coogan makes me sad because i was a huge fan of him as a comedian. I spent my teenage years worshipping him. But hes a terrible human being. Hes a nasty piece of work. Everybody knows it. Everybody knows it. Well, i dont know if thats i dont know if thats fair. You might disagree with every interview, every interview ive seen him in. He comes across as arrogant. He is hes notorious in the entertainment world for being an unpleasant person. Well he is hes hes not a nice man. And i hes hes not a nice man. And i mean, he can say what he whatever he thinks about the royal family, but i do find when he puts on that sort of phoney, you on foot of working you know, on the foot of working class people, you know, mean, class people, you know, i mean, who is he to talk on behalf of working well you working class people . Well you know, view. Know, hes entitled to his view. Hes entitled his view. Hes entitled to his view. Thank both. Were out of thank you both. Were out of time. You this time. Good to see you this morning. Thanks very much, indeed. Now still to come, well be talking to our political editor, christopher hope, going christopher hope, whos going to bnng christopher hope, whos going to bring latest on the bring us the latest on the imminent meeting on the imminent cobra meeting on the situation thats n ext next good morning to you. Very nearly 9 00 tuesday, the 26th of october, today as a barrage of hamas rockets shocked tel aviv overnight. Overnight. Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu has doubled down on a Ground Invasion of gaza and hamas is it . We are raining hellfire on hamas and this is only the beginning. Simultaneously, we are preparing for a Ground Invasion. Invasion. Well, it comes as western allies continue to call for calm and the British Government calls and the British Government calls a cobra meeting at 930. Well, zacchaeus drama coming under fire from his own side over his support of israel and the new u. Gb news peoples poll reveals what you really think about glorifying islamic terrorists integration and who would win a general election. Kristen holt will bring us all the details. The details. Our councils hiding their spending from us. Well bring you the latest findings , which you the latest findings, which could make anyone who pays council tax in the uk a little cross us and why . Remember lawrence . More important than ever before for our veterans, were going to hear about a former soldiers struggle to move on from war and conflict. Conflict. Its worse. I got up crying its worse. I got up crying and i went to sleep crying and Aidan Mcgivern will have a weather update for us. Rain showery rain and longer spells of rain for many of us today. Youll definitely need to keep an umbrella handy. Ill keep an umbrella handy. Ill have the full details in the forecast coming up. Forecast coming up. Good morning to you. Im stephen dixon. Stephen dixon. And im Ellie Costello. And this is breakfast on. This is breakfast on. Gb news. Okay, it looks like theres going to be a cobra meeting this morning where the governments going to look at the situation in the middle east. Lets join our political editor, christopher hope. Morning to you, christopher. I christopher hope. Morning to you, christopher. I mean, clearly a sign that the clearly this a sign that the government is taking this extremely seriously, especially when comes to two british when it comes to two british israelis, british jews who are all entangled in this. All entangled in this. Thats right. Which youve got some some note in from number 10 saying this meeting will look to secure a cross governmental ministerial grip on the hostage crisis. This to me shows they are increasing the pressure on trying to get brits out. The british hostage , as you out. The british hostage, as you say, of gaza before any say, out of gaza before any invasion on how i mean, its very difficult to know how that even would work. Mean, they they looking at i mean, they they looking at negotiating and get negotiating to try and get people out negotiating people out and in negotiating with hamas, that would have to be, wouldnt it . Well stephen, as you know, the uk doesnt negotiate with hostages. There might be some some back channels. We saw, of course , the channels. We saw, of course, the Prime Minister last week in middle east talking with middle eastern be of eastern allies. They may be of some support. Eastern allies. They may be of some support. Meeting some support. The meeting this morning, mod Foreign Office, morning, the mod Foreign Office, cabinet office, the Security Apparatus of the uk whitehall structure will be in this meeting to try and work out how. How is the best way to try and get these hostages out in terms of how many there are we know theres probably at least two and as many as five more. I think it was in these numbers move of course, move around because, of course, sadly, these britons sadly, some of these britons are found died in this. But found to have died in this. But those the numbers who are those are the numbers who are missing. At least two we knew of maybe more. And thats why i think is saying maybe more. And thats why i thirmust is saying maybe more. And thats why i thirmust get is saying maybe more. And thats why i thirmust get on is saying maybe more. And thats why i thirmust get on with is saying maybe more. And thats why i thirmust get on with this;aying maybe more. And thats why i thirmust get on with this rightj we must get on with this right now, because the pressure for this invasion is building, as you know, on on the on the border gaza strip. Border of the gaza strip. Course. And it is yes, of course. And it is changing all the time. So, of course, going to be course, they are going to be discussing thing the hostage situation, but theyre situation, but im sure theyre also to talking about also going to be talking about humanitarian which humanitarian pauses, which were heanng hearing a lot about at the moment, arent we, christopher, to into gaza . Moment, arent we, christopher, to thats into gaza . Moment, arent we, christopher, to thats righto gaza . Moment, arent we, christopher, to thats right. Gaza . Moment, arent we, christopher, to thats right. Nota . Moment, arent we, christopher, to thats right. Not a thats right. Not a ceasefire, ellie. Note the language there. A pause, a language there. A pause, not a cease fire. Thats very, cease fire. And thats very, very important, i think, for the kind of the western support for israel. We heard, didnt we, from rishi sunak yesterday in pmqs, Prime Minister, questions use that term pause that was immediately leapt on by sir keir starmer, whos got his own problems with his backbenches. He had a meeting yesterday with a dozen or so muslim mps and peers. Are very concerned peers. They are very concerned about remarks made to the lbc about remarks he made to the lbc shortly the invasion when shortly after the invasion when he said the israel was right to withhold power and water from the gaza strip shortly after the invasion. Now, of course, theres a big concern for the 2 million palestinians in the strip there who are innocent in a sense, nothing to do with war, nothing to do with hamas. Why are they being punished . Is what what the these mps are saying to keir that pressure will keir starmer that pressure will grow on him in coming days, particularly an particularly if theres an invasion on. And when invasion on. And thats when i think a lot of heat will go back onto sir keir starmer to condemn him. If israel are seen to go further than International Law as find a hamas as to try and find a hamas killers and find the killers try and find the hostages, therell be more and more pressure on starmer to say more pressure on starmer to say more and may see some more and we may even see some resignations shadow resignations from his shadow ministerial team. But i doubt from shadow cabinet. From the shadow cabinet. I mean, this is the problem with all of this, christopher, isnt it . I mean, this is such a fine line. I mean, not only for politicians in the uk to deal with, but actually for the International Community to deal with respecting israels right to protect itself, condemning this appalling mass massacre, horrific massacre that took place on october the 7th. But but then looking at the response and seeing whether it is just ified, whether its with International Law and how to deal with the casualties of war or. Or. Thats right. And those casualties, stephen, are innocent people. By and large, are children. Lots of children being killed in gaza. Weve seen over the past few weeks. Its distressing, upsetting. Long its hard to see what the long Term Solution is and what is israel doing to plan for after any invasion . Will it will it will it occupy gaza . I was talking to yesterday with some mps in parliament. They were saying maybe there should be some form of un force or us backed force to try and just backed un force to try and just have peacekeepers in gaza to try and maintain some form of stability going fonnard. But but stability going fonnard. But but the the initial trying the initial the initial trying to find the hostages. That must be the priority. Thats what the uk is prioritising today, of course, and getting aid for the southern border to help those people trapped palestine , people trapped in palestine, trapped in the gaza strip. And christopher , the times is and christopher, the times is reporting today that 150 muslim labour councillors have written to sir keir starmer and Angela Rayner , urging them to back an rayner, urging them to back an immediate ceasefire in gaza. And immediate ceasefire in gaza. And i think theres around 30 seats in the country with strong muslim voting population options. I mean that would be the difference between a majority and a hung parliament, wouldnt it . Yeah but theyre not mps, of course theyre councillors. Councillors. Yes, yes, of course. Youre right. Thats a big number and its a big issue i think for keir starmer. What does he do and how can he maintain some form of a line on this that the labour party impressed many of us with its reaction to the attacks on israel by hamas when they came out in their party conference, held him in its silence, gave a very strong statement david lammy, the statement from david lammy, the shadow secretary, about shadow foreign secretary, about israels to defend itself. Israels right to defend itself. But will get tested and but that will get tested and more and more as you go towards conflict innocent people conflict and innocent people start get hurt within all of this. Christopher, i mean , it does christopher, i mean, it does look Like Netanyahu is determined that this Ground Invasion will take place at some point and it is going to be messy because theres no other way around. It and whatever that is likely to provoke a Regional Response , isnt it . That has to response, isnt it . That has to be a concern even for government and for the Foreign Office thats right. That is a big concern. Is how wide any kind of conflict might go because theyre looking at the northern border there. Hezbollah pressuring israel to the north to north. That would be an issue. Whats iran up to . That is. Whats iran up to . That is why. And thats why youve got the these us uk military assets deployed to the eastern mediterranean. Some somewhere in the gulf, and also have two big us carrier groups on the way there. So thats why i think the west, the almost the Un Security Council members , the Permanent Council members, the permanent ones are trying to and the uk and the us are are trying to ensure that there is a degree of presence there to stop this this crisis escalating any further. Is there any concern i mean on on a on a National Front for us, christopher, because there is a obviously whats going on in the labour party is not looking good for sir keir starmer at the moment. Weve people have got to be very careful, havent they . They dont use this as an excuse for Typical Party politics. Yes, but for gloating , for taking for gloating, for taking advantage of a situation because we are talking about real people and real lives here. Thats right. Youre totally right, stephen. It is about real people, real lives. Those images are shocking. Coming in from the gaza strip. Every single day. And thats thats what must be the focus is not about putting one over on keir starmer one over on on keir starmer maybe left might feel a maybe the left might feel a chance back at sir chance here to get back at sir keir starmer we saw, we keir starmer we saw, didnt we yesterday statement out from yesterday a statement out from jeremy talking about Jeremy Corbyn talking about freeing and the rest freeing palestine and the rest of thats helpful at all of it. Thats not helpful at all and it will transfer to the uk as the issues get more heated. I think in gaza if this invasion happens. Ive noted how this past week the cenotaph on whitehall has been fenced off by the police. Now that is really , the police. Now that is really, really sad to see that happening so near to remembrance sunday when were all marching, wearing our shortly to mark our poppies and shortly to mark the of so many britons the sacrifice of so many britons in the past for our freedoms to see cenotaph fenced off see the cenotaph fenced off because of the probable demonstrations on whitehall over this weekend and going fonnard, is depressing. I think thats why i think politicians have to be very careful to recognise is this is this is an issue for gaza, an issue for israel. We should do all i can to try and all we all these politicians should do is try support an should do is try and support an end the to the bloodshed, but end to the to the bloodshed, but allow israel that it can defend itself. Its a very, very delicate line. Christopher, for okay, christopher, hope for now. Very much indeed. Now. Thanks very much indeed. Now, question for you now, heres a question for you this morning. Do you like to know where your council tax is going . Because youve got to pay it. Havent got any in it. Havent got any choice in that, have you . The annual charge going recently charge going up recently for many us. So its not many of us. So its not unreasonable, is it, to try to know where your money is being spent . Is it being spent wisely . Spent . Is it being spent wisely . Well, you may have some problems and according to the Taxpayers Alliance, there is what theyre calling transfer currency calling a transfer currency crisis local government with crisis in local government with hardly any councils at all publishing their accounts. Ellies got more details. Thanks stephen. Yes, weve been taking a look at this new analysis, and these are just some of the main points that we have found. There are 317 local councils in england. Guess how many of those actually audited, filed, audited accounts for the years . 90, 20, 19 to 2020 . Well, the result is pretty staggering. Only 15 Town Councils actually filed their accounts. Northern ireland did well, though ten out of 11 councils there have published accounts for the last year, while only six of scotlands 3032 Council Files have done so. Just 31 councils across the uk , just 31 councils across the uk, thats under 10 have released their accounts for the last Financial Year. The deadline for that was the 30th of september here in wales, not a Single Council published accounts for the last five Financial Year years. So which councils are the worst offenders. Well, barking worst offenders. Well, barking and dagenham in east london. Coventry in the midlands and Nottingham City Council as well. They havent published accounts for the last three years. Well we contacted those councils and they have replied and stephen has those. Has those. Yeah. Yeah. Whether itll enlighten you much or not, i dont know. Coventry city council says weve published our report for the last Financial Year, but the formal statement has been delayed because of technical issues relating to previous years. What that means dont years. What that means dont know. This is a national issue. Know. This is a national issue. They go on to say over 900 sets of accounts outstanding nationally. Only five out of about 400 councils have published their accounts for the last Financial Year on time in barking and Dagenham Council said theres been a National Shortage of local government auditors since the abolition of the National Audit office in 2015. They went to on say the department has announced its looking at a way to address a national backlog and get local government audits up to date in barking and dagenham , we have barking and dagenham, we have draft accounts awaiting audit and we look fonnard to working with the National Government to get accounts published as soon as possible. Nottingham city as possible. Nottingham city council hasnt got back to us yet, but if they do, well let you know. You know. Well , were joined now by the well, were joined now by the leader of local government for the conservatives, philip broadhead. Thank you so much for broadhead. Thank you so much for joining us this morning, philip. And whats your reaction to these . These stats . Well, look, its worrying, isnt it . Because a normal person looking at these would somehow think that councils are think maybe that councils are trying the glare of trying to avoid the glare of pubuc trying to avoid the glare of public the reality is public scrutiny. The reality is there is a crisis in the local audh there is a crisis in the local Audit Section at the moment. So there are about 100 different players can provide audits players that can provide audits to authorities and a few to local authorities and a few of the big players have actually left the market as well. So weve got this enormous backlog of sign offs from the official auditors that the vast auditors that in the vast majority of cases arent anything to do with councils anything to do with the councils whatsoever. Theyve provided all of all their of their all of their information. Theyve been upfront about accounts upfront about the accounts themselves. But its that sign themselves. But its that sign off thats pretty crucial. And off thats pretty crucial. And off thats pretty crucial. And of course, that then leads the pubuc of course, that then leads the public say our Council Public to say our council is trying hide is trying to hide something. Is there and as we know, there a problem . And as we know, there a problem . And as we know, there are some pretty bad players there. Weve seen players out there. Weve seen some big councils in real difficulty might well have difficulty that might well have been up this. So, you been picked up by this. So, you know, needs to know, clearly an answer needs to be quickly. Be found pretty quickly. Were not even getting draft accounts from councils. Accounts from some councils. Yeah, and of course what youve heard from some of the councils that you saw statements for today is that theres a theres a knock on effect in that you cant sign up for the current Year Accounts until the previous year. Accounts have been off. So youre been signed off. So youre left in this of limbo to give in this kind of limbo to give you an idea, my local council, im down im a councillor down here in bournemouth, and bournemouth, christchurch and poole. Our accounts poole. Last year our accounts were think 9 or 10 were delayed by i think 9 or 10 months because the main auditor that from our approved that we had from our approved audh that we had from our approved audit firm actually left to join another firm. And the accountants couldnt find somebody else. So were sat there not able to sign off our own accounts. But of course in the context of some big councils having difficulties, having real difficulties, it does lead to a lack of transparency. Precisely the time when its needed and transparency is so important. Transparency is so important. Philip i mean, what can people do . How can we fix this . Weve spoken this morning about perhaps submitting freedom of information requests. I mean, that quite people that is quite many people wouldnt know where to wouldnt even know where to start with that. And weve also spoken possibility of spoken about the possibility of councils allowed to up councils not being allowed to up councils not being allowed to up council tax unless they can actually justify where that money is being spent. What do you think the solution is . Look, i think theres well, look, i think theres you know, its worth a just a step back for a moment because what were not talking about here is the ability for councils to what theyre to keep on doing what theyre doing year, every council doing every year, every council has to a balanced has to sign off a balanced budget for the year ahead so that business carries on as normal. This is, is about normal. What this is, is about looking at the previous looking back at the previous budget of each Council Budget cycles of each council and getting fresh pair of and getting a fresh pair of independent eyes saying, have they all of this properly . They done all of this properly . So it wont you know, up to date accounts wont actually solve some of looming crises that some of the looming crises that weve moving with weve got moving fonnard with some councils that are in some of the councils that are in trouble. But they bring up trouble. But they will bring up bad the past. So bad practise in the past. So theres number ways to fix theres a number of ways to fix it. The Audit Companies are saying that their fees arent high enough. Clearly needs saying that their fees arent higbe enough. Clearly needs saying that their fees arent higbe more h. Clearly needs saying that their fees arent higbe more more arly needs saying that their fees arent higbe more more staff needs saying that their fees arent higbe more more staff in needs saying that their fees arent higbe more more staff in that eds to be more more staff in that system. But i think , you know, system. But i think, you know, at the same time, weve got to ensure that the real crisis, which is the next looming bad guys of councils that are really not looking after the council , not looking after the council, taxpayers are being looked after. A different after. Thats via a different mechanism. And im one of the lead peers the lga, for lead peers for the lga, for instance, and were always going into sure that into councils to make sure that theyre doing the best job for their taxpayers. Understand why people you can understand why people get frustrated, though, philip, cant we were cant you . I mean, we were talking to various guests this morning who were saying, well, look, its the councils responsibility. Councils responsibility. The councils need to it out. Councils need to sort it out. Councils are turning around saying are turning around and saying its not our responsibility, its not our responsibility, its a national problem. Well, its a national problem. Well, who believe . Who do we believe . And thats a problem. And, you know, and it gets tied up in politics because i know, again, taking it back to my own council, were lot of council, there were a lot of people year that were people last year that were saying, well, you must be hiding something. You know, the fact that had your that you havent had your own accounts signed off means that there something dodgy there must be something dodgy going theres nothing going on. And theres nothing more than being, you more frustrating than being, you know, elected council more frustrating than being, you know, trying elected council more frustrating than being, you know, trying do acted council more frustrating than being, you know, trying do theircouncil more frustrating than being, you know, trying do their best il more frustrating than being, you kn0\andling do their best il more frustrating than being, you kn0\and the do their best il more frustrating than being, you kn0\and the accounts ir best il more frustrating than being, you kn0\and the accounts are 5st il job. And the accounts are being held up by a firm that is just simply them. So simply not doing them. So theres a piece of work to do here. Weve been here. You know, weve been pushing for this for long pushing for this for a long time. Its absolutely unacceptable is moving unacceptable that this is moving fonnard. I think theres probably of probably a pragmatic way of maybe off some of the maybe writing off some of the pre existing standing pre existing long standing accounts that sat in a pile accounts that are sat in a pile on auditors desks. But what on some auditors desks. But what we know are very, very good councils that can focus on councils so that we can focus on the difficulty. But at the ones most difficulty. But at the ones most difficulty. But at the time, if youve got the same time, if youve got a local council, i just urge, urge you look at their last budget you to look at their last budget that will the direction that will show you the direction theyre with and what theyre happy with and what auditors do is, get rid auditors wont do is, is get rid of a council thats not performing correctly. Can performing correctly. That can only the box. Only happen at the ballot box. Broadhead, good okay. Philip broadhead, good to this morning. Thanks to see you this morning. Thanks very much indeed. , do stay us. Still well, do stay with us. Still to well bring you the to come, well bring you the latest whats going on to come, well bring you the laiisrael whats going on to come, well bring you the laiisrael as whats going on to come, well bring you the laiisrael as we whats going on to come, well bring you the laiisrael as we awaitts going on to come, well bring you the laiisrael as we await a; going on to come, well bring you the laiisrael as we await a cobra] on in israel as we await a cobra meeting on the situation. Thats n ext next its a big political day today in terms of the middle east, as far as britain is concerned. Theres a cobra concerned. Theres a cobra meeting in the take place in under ten minutes. Thats when it starts looking at britains response to what is going on in the middle east. And theres a lot to look at because its all about what we do about british hostages held by hamas. Hostages being held by hamas. What the implications are of a wider regional conflict act, which is likely. Those tensions are going to rise when that Ground Invasion begin is whenever that happens , as. Yes. Whenever that happens, as. Yes. And ministers that are attending that cobra meeting in about ten minutes time. Well it will be after the government joined calls for a humanitarian pause in this conflict to try and get more aid into the gaza strip. And look at these dramatic pictures of some of the art hilary being fired, presuming this is from this is idf footage, israeli Defence Force footage, israeli Defence Force footage of them firing into gaza. The Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu , determined to keep up netanyahu, determined to keep up the pressure before that Ground Invasion takes place. And in the invasion takes place. And in the meanwhile , it has to be said, meanwhile, it has to be said, the barrage of rockets heading over from gaza into israel is continuing at a pace most of those shot down by israels iron dome system. But some are still getting through and it does raise a lot of serious questions. 20 days in about the munitions that hamas has , how munitions that hamas has, how are they able to keep this going for as long as they have been . For as long as they have been . And it indicates theyve been planning this for a very long time. Time. Well, we can see live pictures now of the israeli gaza border looking into gaza there. Benjamin netanyahu speaking last night, reiterating that israel is preparing for that Ground Invasion of gaza, but he wont say when it will happen. No , theres been some no, theres been some discontent, it has to be said , discontent, it has to be said, because we were expecting it sort of really pretty quickly from the off. We do know the United States have asked them to hold off because of the concerns of a regional conflict and theyre wanting to get munitions in place as to prepare for any attack on their forces in various places around the region. Well keep you up to date with that, of course. And the cobra meeting that starts in about five minutes time from now. That is it from time from now. That is it from us this morning on breakfast. But tomorrow , breakfast is being but tomorrow, breakfast is being hosted by our very own anne diamond obe , who, if you missed diamond obe, who, if you missed this news yesterday and simon was at the palace receiving an obe from king charles for her services to charity , and doesnt services to charity, and doesnt she just look delighted . She just look delighted . Congratulations to her. Hello. Very good morning to you. Its Aidan Mcgivern here from the met office with the gb news forecast. Bit of a gloomy one out there this morning. Lots of low clouds, some mist and fog patches as and further patches as well. And further rain showers come. For rain or showers to come. For many its a windy one as many of us, its a windy one as well. For the far north of scotland, isles, seeing well. For the far north of scotlegale isles, seeing well. For the far north of scotlegale force isles, seeing well. For the far north of scotleGale Force Windsls, seeing well. For the far north of scotleGale Force Winds through; some Gale Force Winds through the morning and early afternoon combined with heavy combined with some heavy rain. Its feel very its not going to feel very pleasant the rainfall pleasant here. The rainfall increasingly up across increasingly mounting up across eastern over the next eastern scotland over the next few days, as much as last few days, not as much as last week, but any additional rainfall, of course, could cause further be further issues. Therell also be some rain at times some persistent rain at times for eastern england, showers elsewhere interspersed elsewhere for interspersed by sunny it will feel sunny spells. And it will feel a bit milder compared with yesterday. Wind will yesterday. But a gusty wind will carry showers through across carry the showers through across southwestern areas. And southwestern areas. Hail and thunder coasts. So quite thunder around coasts. So quite a lively day of weather wherever you are into the evening. The showers continue and the longer spells rain continue as well spells of rain continue as well across central and eastern scotland. Eastern scotland. Parts of eastern england, of low cloud once england, a lot of low cloud once again, reforming some mist patches by dawn , but its patches by dawn, but its another mild start to the day tomorrow with temperatures in the double figures in places. Now, friday is a day of two halves across the uk. Weve got a lot of stubborn cloud for scotland, for northern and eastern england, some persistent rain along with a rain at times, along with a gusty breeze. Elsewhere, brighter , some sunny brighter skies, some sunny spells, but frequent and heavy showers coming through across Northern Ireland, wales, the southern half of england, temperatures reaching 15 celsius a touch cooler compared with today where. Top of the morning, its where. Top of the morning, its 9 30 am. On thursday, the 26th of october. This is britains newsroom with myself, Martin Daubney and bev turner coming up this morning. So labour crisis talks. Sir keir starmer held a meeting with muslim mps last night tried to stop people night as he tried to stop people leaving the over. His leaving the party over. His stance on israel. Stance on israel. Hamas is doomed. Thats the message from israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu as he says israel is preparing for a Ground Invasion of gaza , but a Ground Invasion of gaza, but he wont say when. He wont say when. This comes as the government is holding an emergency cobra meeting this morning to discuss its strategy towards the israel hamas conflict. We will israel hamas conflict. We will have the latest from that. And closer to home, what is a woman . Well, an exclusive gb woman . Well, an exclusive gb news poll, it revealed that only 30 of brits think a transgender woman is a woman. Well do you agree with those findings . And agree with those findings . And the future of ai . Any minute now, rishi sunak will be addressing the risks and rewards of which they are significant of Artificial Intelligence at a speech in london. Were going to have the very latest from him. Very latest from him. And as if by magic, here is rishi sunak talking about al, unashamedly optimistic about the power of technology to make life better for everyone. So the easy speech for me to give the one in my heart, i really want to give would be to tell you about all the incredible opportunities before us. Just incredible opportunities before us. Just this morning i was at moorfields eye hospital. Theyre using Artificial Intelligence to build a model that can look at a single picture of your eyes and not only diagnose blindness, but predict heart attacks, strokes or parking signs. And thats just the beginning. I genuinely