Transcripts For GBN Martin 20240704

85 of emails from pensioners who felt left out, ignored, taken for granted. Dont forget about 75 of those of pensionable age vote for the conservative party, but they didnt feel they would be treated with respect, and the rest of the emails were about this muslim war memorial went down in extremely badly. We put that to jeremy hunt , the that to jeremy hunt, the chancellor of the exchequer. The man next to me, christopher hope, cornered him on that. He defended his position. He defended his position. But let know what you but let me know what you think. £1 million, thats an expensive signal isnt expensive virtue. Signal isnt it . Get expensive virtue. Signal isnt it. 7 get in touch. Gb views at gb news. Com lets crack on. Now its news. Com lets crack on. Now wsfime news. Com lets crack on. Now its time for your latest news headunes its time for your latest News Headlines tatiana sanchez. Headlines with tatiana sanchez. Martin. Thank you. The top stories from the gb newsroom. The Prime Minister refused to say how the government would fund a plan to abolish employee contributions to National Insurance. Around £10 billion has been spent on a £0. 02 cut to the insurance rate, but its benefits are likely to be cancelled out by an expected rise in council tax. Rishi sunak rise in council tax. Rishi sunak says british workers deserve to be recognised. Be recognised. The direction of travel is now crystal clear. Our plans are working because of the improvement in the economic environment, because of the fact weve been able to get inflation down from 11 to 4, Mortgage Rates , energy bills falling, rates, energy bills falling, wages rising, weve been able to start cutting peoples taxes responsibly. And that shows that our plans are working. I believe in a society where hard work is rewarded. Were delivering that rewarded. Were delivering that for people and they can see that the change were talking about is to happen. And we is starting to happen. And if we stick the we make stick to the plan, we can make sure has of sure that everyone has peace of mind. Mind. Sir keir starmer says that the tories are giving with one hand and taking with the other. And unlike the government, labours policies are fully funded. Contrast that with the government, where yesterday, at the end of the budget, the chancellor made a staggering £46 billion unfunded commitment to aboush billion unfunded commitment to abolish National Insurance. Thats bigger than liz trusss commitment. So theyve learned absolutely nothing. We need absolutely nothing. We need change. Its time for change. A boy sentenced for the murder of transgender teenager brianna ghey is to appeal the decision. Eddie ratcliffe and scarlett jenkinson, who are both 16, were jailed for life last month with a minimum of 20 and 22 years. They were 15 when they hatched a plan to kill brianna with a hunting knife, in an attack described as frenzied and ferocious. Briannas parents say the killers should never be released prison. Mps are released from prison. Mps are warning the post office is not fit to run any compensation schemes for victims of the horizon. It scandal, and should be excluded. The business and trade Committee Published recommendations for delivering payments to hundreds of victims , payments to hundreds of victims, describing efforts so far as abject failure. The Committee Says an independent body should be appointed to lead the process. The chairman described it as a National Disgrace that only £1 out of every £5 of the budget for compensation has been paid out. For compensation has been paid out. Christian horners for compensation has been paid out. Christian horners accuser out. Christian horners accuser has been suspended following red bulls investigation into inappropriate behaviour against the Formula One Team principal. Mr horner, whos 50, was allowed to remain in his role after red bulls Parent Company gmb , bulls Parent Company gmb, dismissed the accusations made against him. Understood the against him. Its understood the female member of staff has been suspended as a direct result of the inquiry. The number of potential victims of modern slavery referred to the home office is at an all time high. Just over 17,000 people were referred as possible victims of Human Trafficking , slavery, Human Trafficking, slavery, servitude or forced labour. Children made up more than 4 in 10 of the cases, which was also the highest on record. The average time it took for a referral to eventually get support was 23 days, up from six days in 2022. The government will attempt to overturn amendments to its flagship immigration policy after it suffered heavy defeats in the house of lords, commons leader penny morton confirmed today that the safety of rwanda bill will return to the lords on the 18th of march. Mps will get a chance to debate and vote on the amendments in the following week. The governments plan would compel judges to regard the east african as safe the east african country as safe , clearing the way to send people who crossed the channel in small a way in small boats on a one way flight , to the united flight to rwanda, to the United States, where President Biden is preparing to deliver his state of the union speech later this evening. Hes expected to use his fourth address to present a sharp distinction between his style of leadership and his likely opponent, donald trump. Likely opponent, donald trump. Touting a strong economic performance, hell also to performance, hell also look to allay voters concerns about his age, despite being just four years older than mr trump, and tails are wagging in birmingham as the worlds biggest dog show returns. Canines in colourful coats, scarves and leg warmers have descended on the city for the start of this years crufts. A selection of agility and jumping tasks are on the agenda for the opening day, as well as a heelwork to music competition. Obedience challenges and a West Midlands police dog display. For the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen or go to gb news. Com slash alerts now back to. Martin. Back to. Martin. Great stuff. Now we start with our big interview with jeremy hunt and hes told gb news that the government must change the uks economic model. So we dont rely on mass migration to boost the economy. At last, the chancellor was speaking after the all powerful office for budget responsibility has now accepted that net migration could be 315,000 every yean migration could be 315,000 every year, and thats up from their own prediction in november of 245,000. Hes also defended the decision to give £1 million towards the cost of building a memorial to solely honour the muslims who died in the first and Second World Wars. Mr hunt was speaking to our political edhon was speaking to our political editor, christopher hope. Editor, christopher hope. Jeremy hunt, thanks for joining us today on gb news. Were looking back at your budget yesterday, the Spring Budget, the first announcement you a for you made was a statue for muslims who died in the first and Second World War. Why do you need a war memorial for muslim soldiers we already have soldiers when we already have one faiths none . One for all faiths and none . Think it is well, because i think it is important recognise the important to recognise the contribution of 170,000 muslims who died defending our freedoms, we have already, as a government supported a memorial to sikh soldiers who died. We supported soldiers who died. We supported a memorial to black and african soldiers who died in Windrush Square in brixton, and a very good proposal. I also, by the good proposal. I also, by the way, remembered, the sufferings, and worries of people of the jewish faith in my autumn statement. So a very good statement. So a very good proposal was made to me by sajid javid. Yes. Who is a colleague and a friend. And i decided that had merit. Had merit. And the way you framed it, you framed the answer saying, you framed the answer by saying, we fight extremism and we need to fight extremism and heal divisions. Loss of life in after the loss of life in israel gaza. Israel and gaza. Will that do that . Will that memorial do that . Will that memorial do that . I believe it will, because i think it shows what unites us. Just as the funding that i gave to the Holocaust Education trust after the autumn statement did it, it reminds us that on many things , whether its the things, whether its the holocaust, whether its the sacrifices made in the world wars for our freedom, we stand together as human beings, and that was the purpose of that fund. It shouldnt be a divisive thing. No. No. On immigration, you said three times that growth cannot come from unlimited migration. But the obr, as know, has but the obr, as you know, has increased the net migration forecast to 315,000, up by about a third. So youre relying on more migration to grow your economy. When cant rely on when you say you cant rely on it . It . Have had a big no. We have had a big increase in migration in recent years because of ukraine, because of afghanistan, because of hong kong, very specific factors where as a country, we did the right thing, but the current levels of migration are not sustainable. This government not sustainable. This government wants to bring it down, its currently, as you know, over 700,000, far too high. The governments brought in some very clear policies to bring those numbers down. The obr make an estimate of where that will get to based on what the office for National Statistics say, its a small increase on the numbers. The ons previously said. What im saying is weve got to change that. We need to change our model. So that we are not relying on companies being able to expand by hiring more and more workers from overseas , and more workers from overseas, because weve got 10 million adults of working age in this country who are not in work. And thats why in every budget ive done, ive taken big steps to try and break down the barriers to work, whether its the childcare measures , getting rid childcare measures, getting rid of the lifetime allowance on pensions, the back to Work Programme for disability benefits , its, all those things benefits, its, all those things are going to make a difference and that is how we need to help our businesses grow. Your old colleague wants to maybe cut taxes for companies that employ british workers and dont employ foreign workers. Is that an idea you might look at . Well, i think we want all companies to employ british workers. We dont want to be dependent on unlimited migration. Theres always going to role for people with to be a role for people with very skills we very particular skills that we dont have here, but we should be aiming to tap into the potential of the brilliant people that we have at home, first and foremost. Tory mp say youre too wedded to the obr , are you . I mean, to the obr, are you . I mean, youre free to do what you like, but of course the obr must, must score your, your , your tax cuts score your, your, your tax cuts or spending choices against what they plan to the economy. Do you think its got too much power how. Now. Well i think we are better having an obe. It was set up by a conservative government because we didnt believe the forecasts that gordon was forecasts that gordon brown was making when making in his budgets. When chancellors announce chancellors would announce treasury forecasts and people worried chancellors were worried that chancellors were cooking the books to make things look more favourable than they actually are, all the obr does is, it says independently, is the government meeting its own fiscal rules. And so it doesnt decide those fiscal rules. It just takes the rules that i decide and says if were meeting them or not. Im not saying we cant improve the system. We have , but if i give you one have, but if i give you one example, im the first chancellor where the obr has actually scored the dynamic impact of my policies. So they said that my the cuts in National Insurance in the autumn and in this budget are going to add nearly half a percent to gdp. Thats a positive thing and thats flows in the numbers. I think , you know, when were think, you know, when were trying to rebuild trust in politicians , its better to have politicians, its better to have bodies who independently verify what we say on something as important as the budget. A real time scoring, you havent income tax. Some havent cut income tax. Some thought you might do. Jacob rees mogg, your colleague in parliament, also works with gb news. He said this kind of nickel and diming wont make a lot of difference. Have you been fiddling around could fiddling around when you could have dramatic . More. Have been more dramatic . More. More maybe. More political . Maybe. Its not nickel and well, its not nickel and diming to cut National Insurance payments by one third. That means three months. In three months, that means that the person on the average wage is going to see their tax bill fall by about £900. That is a very significant reduction in taxation in the context of taxes that have overall had to go up to pay for the pandemic and the Energy Crisis that weve had. You know, we accept that. I think it was the right thing to support families through a difficult period. But the choice now in british politics is that the conservatives want to bring taxes want to start taxes down. So we want to start that journey. Weve done it in that journey. Weve done it in yesterdays budget. We did it in the autumn statement and both times we did it without increasing borrowing, without , increasing borrowing, without, reducing the Resources Available for Public Services. And wed like to continue on that path because we think its wrong to have a double tax on work. We need to be an economy that makes work pay. But at the moment, if you work , it gets taxed twice you work, it gets taxed twice through National Insurance and through National Insurance and through tax. Through income tax. So might go is that the so nics might go is that the target eventually. Weve said we want to well weve said we want to end unfairness, the end the unfairness, the direction of travel weve gone is to reduce National Insurance by one third. The fact that labour are opposing this today is really because labour dont have any plans to reduce taxation. It sort of makes my point for me, their plan is basically that tax should remain at its current levels. We say we dont have to accept the status quo if you make difficult decisions, if you stick to our plan for the economy, thats seen inflation falling and growth starting to rise, we can bnng growth starting to rise, we can bring down the tax burden and thats what were committed to doing. You fix those tax thresholds havent you . Which allows the treasury to hoover up all sorts of tax revenues from millions of people almost and people in almost increase and eventually increase the eventually probably increase the size of state. Those those size of the state. Those those thresholds the problem, thresholds are the problem, arent well what increased arent they . Well what increased the of state the the size of the state was the government stepping in to help businesses and families in a once century pandemic . Once in a century pandemic . That was 370 billion. And then 100 billion, then another 100 billion, actually, when it came to the Energy Crisis , we had to pay for Energy Crisis, we had to pay for that through tax rises, the freezing of the thresholds was one of those. But take someone one of those. But take someone on an average salary, which is £35,000, the freezing of the thresholds in this coming year will cost them about £230. The reduction in National Insurance will save them about £900, so they are seeing their taxes going down. Okay, you said in your speech the average earner has the lowest effective tax rate since 1975. What does that mean . Does that include indirect taxes Like Council Tax , vehicle taxes Like Council Tax, vehicle tax, other taxes we all pay . No. The effective tax rate is on income and Social Security contributions. So its income contributions. So its income tax. So youre ignoring the elephant in the room arent you. The other indirect taxes we pay more than we used to in the 70s. Because im accepting no, not because im accepting that burden gone that the tax burden has gone up and im saying i want to bring it yes. But im also it down. Yes. But im also saying in society saying that in a society where we pay, then the we want work to pay, then the effective tax rate that you pay for the work you do matters as and because were cutting National Insurance , the obr National Insurance, the obr independently. Thats why its useful to have someone who makes these numbers independently. So, you know, its not something im making independently say that making up independently say that will equivalent will bring the equivalent of around 200,000 more into around 200,000 people more into the phil, about 20 the workforce. Phil, about 20 of the vacancies across the country. Now, what you see is country. Now, what you see is that the effective tax rate, which takes account of thresholds and headline rate thresholds and the headline rate for tax and the headline rate for tax and the headline rate for National Insurance, that is now at its lowest level since 1975. But one thing i would also say , it is also lower than every say, it is also lower than every other major economy. Its lower than america, than germany and than america, than germany and than france. Than france. Okay, okay, okay. Theres been frustration amongst our viewers and listeners about when you remove a threat. Five he wont go on unleaded petrol , you remove a threat. Five he wont go on unleaded petrol, on a litre of it. Theres a freeze in fuel duty. Why not cut charges for hospitality, for example . Pubs are screaming out example . Pubs are screaming out for more support than not being taxed more. Taxed more. Well, i think pubs have done incredibly well. We have said this year we will reduce the Business Rates that pubs pay and indeed shops by 75. Thats a three quarters reduction in their Business Rates. Theres about £13,000 for the average pub, so on top of that, yesterday i announced that were freezing fuel duty until february of next year. So we absolutely want to support the Great British pub. Yeah, and cutting taxes for them. Thats what the point is. Rather than not increasing thats the difference. Well we have cut taxes for them. Weve reduced , business them. Weve reduced, Business Rates by chris. Rates by 75, chris. Very, very , very just ve quickly, ry, very, very just very, very, very quickly, some some viewers have sent in some questions to our email address , christopher, not email address, christopher, not me, veteran me, but a veteran and a pensioner has said that you havent got a clue about living on a pension. You give one hand, take away with another. Why are pensioners feeling worse off . I know youll say theyre going up. Increase in april, up. With the increase in april, but worse off. Is that right . Well, i think everyone feels worse mean, you know, we worse off. I mean, you know, we have be honest with people. Have to be honest with people. Weve had a once in a century pandemic. We stepped in with pandemic. We stepped in with things like the furlough scheme, which meant that the government paid your even if you paid your salary even if you didnt to work. That saved didnt go to work. That saved over million jobs. It was the over 10 million jobs. It was the right thing to do. And as a result of that, businesses, emerged with limited damage and unemployment has stayed low. But there was a cost to that for all of us. Now, when it comes to what the government wants to do is to try and help everyone. So what we have done with pensioners is weve weve stuck to our triple lock promise that means that pensioners have seen their pension go up by 10 last yean their pension go up by 10 last year, and its about to go up by 8. 5. So thats £900 in the coming year. That is a big increase. The other thing weve increase. The other thing weve done for pensioners yesterday is weve put, many billions of pounds into completely modernising the nhs so that, you know, without employing more doctors, wed be able to do more operations. People wont have to wait so so i think weve wait so long. So i think weve done a lot to recognise the great contribution that pensioners make. And defence spending appear to fall in the red book, but it might be going up slightly because of other numbers that arent in the red book, given the situation. Dennis the world situation. Dennis northumberland no northumberland says why was no more money we will more money for defence . We will need to spend more on defence. You know, the world is a very volatile and dangerous place. Britain has a very special global vocation alongside america. Were one of the two countries that have done more than anyone else to maintain peace and security since the Second World War. 2. 5 of gdp is the idea. 2. 5 of gdp is the idea. Weve said that we want to increase it to 2. 5 of gdp as soon as its economically possible to do so, but theres a lot of things we have to work out, in particular, what we would any extra money on. Would spend any extra money on. If you look at the in if you look at the war in ukraine, you can see that drones have become incredibly important. So we need to do that. We need to reform our defence procurement , which is defence procurement, which is not working in the way it does, but we recognise that this is a world in which were going to spend more on defence. A final question, just as a final question, and thank your time, thank you for your time, chancellor. Last chancellor. Is this the last well hear from you with the red box giving a fiscal box or even giving out a fiscal statement . Theres rumours of a autumn statement again, which might cut income tax maybe in September November september ahead of the november election. But three ifs in election. But three ifs in there. But i can ask you the question. Yeah, i its not the yeah, i hope its not the last you hear from me because, you know, i loving being chancellor. To chancellor. I want to be chancellor. I want to be chancellor for time. We chancellor for a long time. We have to have a general election. The Prime Minister says itll be before the end of the year. And so in the end, its in the hands of the electorate. When would you have well, up to you have it . Well, thats up to the minister. Way the Prime Minister. Its way above make those calculations. Chris. Jeremy hunt, thank you for asking. To number for asking. Today in to number 11 thank you. 11 downing street. Thank you. Thank you. Jeremy was talking well, jeremy hunt was talking to editor, chris to our political editor, chris hoban. To our political editor, chris hoban. He now in the hoban. He joins me now in the studio. Chris, great interview and well done for pulling him up on muslim war memorial. Its on the muslim war memorial. Its really, really divided people. Wasnt explained, well, it wasnt explained, was its the first thing was it . So its the first thing he out on the budget he came out with on the budget yesterday and everyones watching. Then wasnt watching. And then it wasnt really what meant, really explaining what he meant, what hed in the autumn what hed done in the autumn Statement Given £7 million statement was given £7 million to the Holocaust Educational trust, this almost kind of trust, and this almost kind of balance that. So hes trying to do for the muslim do something for the muslim community. And did say he did community. And he did say he did link didnt in that link it, didnt he, in that interview there to the to the divisions by fighting divisions caused by the fighting in between israel and hamas in gaza between israel and hamas and the Palestinian People , and the Palestinian People, others, muslim people concerned in the uk about that. And he in the uk about that. And he wants to heal divisions. So he unked wants to heal divisions. So he linked what hes doing there with the trouble in israel. I think, you know, hes open about what you should do with it, but it was his opening sentence, the opening test. Opening bowl of a test. And it just felt to many people, certainly yesterday when they us very they emailed into us very, very tin and timed well, tin eared and badly timed well, hopefully people what hopefully when people hear what he about that, they he had to say about that, they understand better because i understand it better because i think needs explaining. Okay, think it needs explaining. Okay, thanks much. Have thanks very much. Well have loads more, of course, on that interview entire interview throughout the entire show, back on show, and well be back later on with halligan pick over with Liam Halligan to pick over the winners and the losers in yesterdays and guess the winners and the losers in yesteriitys and guess the winners and the losers in yesteriitys like and guess the winners and the losers in yesteriitys like andvoters what . It looks like tory voters didnt do too well. Well, a tory minister is facing calls to resign after the taxpayer footed a whopping £15,000 for damages in that £15,000 bill for damages in that libel case. Astonishing. I Martin Daubney on gb news, britains news channel welcome back 325 is your time. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news now, yesterday, i was inundated by emails from angry pensioners. After yesterdays budget. And later on this hour, budget. And later on this hour, ill ask if older people have been ignored or worse by jeremy hunt. Now government minister Michelle Donelan is facing calls to resign today, and thats after the taxpayer footed an astonishing £15,000 damages bill after the science secretary falsely accused an academic of supporting hamas. Sir keir starmer said it was totally insulting. Totally insulting. I think most people watching this would be aghast. The government is telling them every day that they cant do any more to help them. People are really struggling to pay their bills and the government says we cant afford to help you anymore. Afford to help you anymore. People Public People know their Public Services then services are crumbling and then youve a minister here who youve got a minister here who says something she shouldnt have said , then has to pick up a have said, then has to pick up a legal action and pay damages and costs, and then says the taxpayer is going to pay for that. Totally insulting. We need that. Totally insulting. We need a change. Ill tell you something else. If were privileged enough to come into power and have a Labour Government, we will never allow that sort thing to happen. That sort of thing to happen. That be history. That will be history. If this budget can change your electoral fortunes. Your electoral fortunes. Well, this is a budget that will grow the economy. Will grow the economy. And rishi sunak was asked why Michelle Donelan was still in the cabinet, and whether it the cabinet, and also whether it was public money was was fair that public money was being to settle matter. Being used to settle the matter. Youll understand obviously youll understand ive focussed on the ive been focussed on the budget, but my understanding of this raised this is that michelle had raised some concerns about some articles that been shared, articles that had been shared, about about what about talking about what happened on october the 7th. I think that , those think subsequent to that, those those, thoughts and everything have and michelle have been clarified and michelle has withdrawn those concerns with regard to the settlement. It is a long standing convention stretching back many years over different governments. Of all different governments. Of all different parties, including laboun different parties, including labour, that the government will fund those legal disputes when it relates to government ministers doing their work. Well, im joined now in our studio by our Political Correspondent , olivia utley correspondent, olivia utley olivia. Why on earth are secretaries of state getting involved in social media spats, making these sort of allegations . 15 grand tax for bill you and i, the taxpayer. Surely she has to go for the high jump. High jump. Well, it does feel pretty extraordinary. Essentially what happenedis extraordinary. Essentially what happened is Michelle Donelan retweeted an article which this academic had shared, the academic had shared, the academic had shared it with a comment saying this is very troubling about the events of october the 7th. And Michelle Donelan said that it was outrageous and, suggested that she was being , anti semitic. She was being, anti semitic. Now, she ended up having to pay £15,000 to this academic in damages. The government has said again and again that that she she she paid the settlement without accepting any blame. And the reason that she did it was to avoid a bigger cost, which would the taxpayer would have to foot if this turned into a long, protracted court settlement. Of protracted court settlement. Of course, people sitting at home might think, well, hang on a minute, why didnt she a not get involved in this debate on social media in the first place . Or b pay that £15,000 herself . Now jeremy hunt and sunak now jeremy hunt and rishi sunak have both made the point that there is a long standing precedent where ministers who incur civil costs like this in the course of their ministerial work that cost is picked up by the taxpayer. Well, keir starmer has come back to that and said it shouldnt be. We would change that precedent as a Labour Government. It does feel now as though Michelle Donelans job is sort on the line sort of hanging on the line because the budget. Yesterday because of the budget. Yesterday this this story didnt get quite as much attention yesterday as perhaps it should have done, but it as though in the it does feel as though in the next few donelan is either it does feel as though in the next fto donelan is either it does feel as though in the next fto have donelan is either it does feel as though in the next fto have to nelan is either it does feel as though in the next fto have to resign,s either it does feel as though in the next fto have to resign, orither it does feel as though in the next fto have to resign, or ater going to have to resign, or at the least, pay back that the very least, pay back that £15,000 herself. Now Penny Mordaunt , the leader the mordaunt, the leader of the house commons, made this house of commons, has made this intervention bizarre. Intervention slightly bizarre. Intervention i thought, in the house where she house of commons, where she suggests of speak up suggests she sort of speak up for Michelle Donelans character, and she points out that donelan didnt that Michelle Donelan didnt take of £16,000, take a payout of £16,000, that she technically entitled to she was technically entitled to after being education secretary for two days at the end of the bofis for two days at the end of the Boris Johnson government. I think that lots of people sitting at home will think, well, yes, obviously she shouldnt £16,000 for two well, yes, obviously she shou|ast £16,000 for two well, yes, obviously she shou|as education�. 16,000 for two well, yes, obviously she shou|as education secretaryr two well, yes, obviously she shou|as education secretary that days as education secretary that doesnt mean that she should be entitled to £15,000 of taxpayers money. Now all bit money. Now its all a bit complicated, but one way or another it feels as though shes going to have to go or shes going to have to go or shes going have to hand back that money. Im sort of nodding at you and in real and listening to this in real time, a sense of time, with a sense of what planet are they mean, what planet are they on . I mean, what planet are they on . I mean, what planet they on . If they planet are they on . If they think its a good idea to fall out on social media, fling around these accusations, and then land the taxpayer with a 15 grand bill . Oh, its okay, because didnt accept because i didnt accept a £16,000 bonus, which is the salary a care worker. Im salary of a care worker. Im going to say lets lets read out a statement because we have got a spokesperson for the department for science, Innovation Technology who innovation and technology who said this. And thank you, by the way, olivia utley, there is an established precedent under multiple administrations that ministers are provided with Legal Support and a representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a minister, as was the case here, the secretary of state received the appropriate advice from relevant officials at all times. A sum of £15,000 was paid without admitting any liability , and admitting any liability, and this approach is intended to reduce the overall cost of the taxpayer that could result from protracted legal action, no matter what the result would have been. So there you have it. Have been. So there you have it. Now theres lots more still to come between now and 4 00, and in a few minutes ill speak to a former tory minister who says jeremy hunt should have gone further in yesterdays budget. But first, its time for your latest News Headlines with tatiana sanchez. Tatiana sanchez. Martin. Thank you. The top stories from the gb newsroom. Stories from the gb newsroom. Downing street says the governments long terme aim to end. National insurance will only be done when it can be achieved without increasing borrowing. The chancellor delivered another £0. 02 cut to National Insurance in yesterdays budget, costing around £10 billion. However the benefits are likely to be cancelled out by an expected rise in council tax, jeremy hunt told gb news. Although he thinks its wrong to tax workers twice, the governments aim to end National Insurance altogether wont happen any time soon. We want to end the unfairness. The direction of travel weve goneis. The direction of travel weve gone is to reduce National Insurance by one third. The fact that labour are opposing this today is really because labour dont have any plans to reduce taxation. It sort of makes my point for me, their plan is basically that tax should remain at its current levels. We say we dont have to accept the status quo. If you make difficult decisions , if you stick to our decisions, if you stick to our plan for the economy, thats seen inflation falling and growth starting to rise, we can bnng growth starting to rise, we can bring down the tax burden. Bring down the tax burden. Well, some breaking news from scotland in the last half an houn scotland in the last half an hour. An independent Public Inquiry will be held to examine the polices response to the murder of Emma Caldwell almost 20 years ago. The announcement comes Scottish First comes after both Scottish First minister humza yousaf and his justice secretary met with emmas mother earlier this week. Mrs. Caldwell was killed by serial rapist ian parker in 2005, when it was only last week he was convicted of the murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences. Her family says other offences. Her Family Says Police failed their daughter due to a toxic culture of misogyny and corruption. A boy convicted and corruption. A boy convicted of murdering transgender teenager brianna ghey is to appeal his sentence. Eddie appeal his sentence. Eddie ratcliffe and scarlett jenkinson, who are both 16, were jailed for life last month with a minimum of 20 and 22 years. They were 15 when they hatched a plan to kill brianna with a hunting knife, in an attack described as frenzied and ferocious. Described as frenzied and ferocious. Rihannas parents say the killers should never be released from prison. For the latest stories, sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the qr code on your screen, or go to gb news. Common alerts. News. Common alerts. For stunning gold and silver coins , youll always value coins, youll always value rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report. The gb news financial report. Heres a quick snapshot of todays markets. The pound will todays markets. The pound will buy you 1. 2768 and ,1. 1700. The price of gold is £1,688. 70 per ounce, and the ftse 100 is at 7700 points. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report. Report. Now, jeremy hunt says the government has done an enormous amount for pensioners. But my inbox yesterday told a very, very different story. Please get in touch. If youre a pensioner, in touch. If youre a pensioner, what do you think of the budget . Turns out 8 million pensioners will be at least £1,000 worse off due to a six year freeze on pension limits, which thresholds . So the dreaded fiscal drag will wipe out any gains. Get in touch. Are you an oap whos severely not happy with yesterdays budget . I want to hear from you. Im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains news channel brand new sundays from 6 pm. The neil oliver show. Its the neil oliver show. Its absolutely vital that people are given the opportunity to take part in the debate. To say the things that matter to them. To be challenged. To them. To be challenged. Country is only really a country is only really a shared dream. As long as enough people have a idea of what it is , a shared idea of what it is, then that country exists. What gb news does is give voices somewhere they can be heard. The neil oliver show sundays from 6 pm. On. The neil oliver show sundays from 6 pm. On. Gb news. From 6 pm. On. Gb news. Welcome back. Its 339. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Now, later in the show, ill discuss jeremy hunts controversial decision to spend £1 million on a muslim war memorial. But before that, we must go further. Before that, we must go further. That was the reaction of one former tory minister to jeremy hunfs former tory minister to jeremy hunts budget. And clearly a soup cooked on National Insurance wasnt enough for dame andrea jenkyns. Insurance wasnt enough for dame andrea jenkyns. Im delighted to say that she joins me now. Dame andrea, welcome to the show. Always an absolute pleasure. You gave out what you called a common sense budget on social media. It was a veritable red meat feast. Talk us through what was on your menu. Was on your menu. I mean, to me, we need to get money back, and put the our country first. And the first thing i would do would be ditch these net zero policies. I personally think its a vanity project, i dont mind looking at different sources of energy for energy security, martin, but i do believe in letting the markets choose, letting the pubuc markets choose, letting the public choose. And that freedom of choice and the announcement, what is it, 390 million on green projects in the budget . I was very dismayed by, i think we need to drastically reduce International Aid now. I say reduce , not get rid of, because reduce, not get rid of, because if theres some catastrophe globally , you know, where like globally, you know, where like we saw a tsunami, youve got to be prepared to chip in and help. So, so i think we need to drastically reduce International Aid. Why the heck are we still paying aid. Why the heck are we still paying money to france . They theyre not helping us stop the boats. I would stop that immediately. And to me, why are we putting people in hotels who get illegally . I mean, im get here illegally . I mean, im sure wed, chlo, blow billions back from this, and so i think that would a good start, and that would be a good start, and its about powering up our economy to, upskilling the economy to, upskilling the economy. Make sure that were economy. Make sure that were global leaders, in the stem skills , etc. And, i mean, i am skills, etc. And, i mean, i am pleased with im a low tax conservative. So i think definitely with the chancellor , definitely with the chancellor, its a move in the right direction, martin. But we needed to be a bit more common sense, to be a bit more common sense, to some its radical. To me, its common sense. And im sure again, to you, martin, we have quite similar views on a lot of areas. Its more common sense politics for isnt it . Politics for you, isnt it . Well apart from my own yeah. Well apart from my own personal views, yesterday, dame andrea , we were having hundreds andrea, we were having hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of emails. Basically, they all agree with everything you just said. And you said here, british citizens should be prioritised in terms of housing. The thing about not giving money to france, lets stop the boats. France, lets stop the boats. Why didnt we get that budget yesterday . The budget that conservative voters seem to be crying for, because were crying out for, because were decidedly and conservative at times at the moment, we i mean, i thankfully weve finally got low taxes. I mean, what happened in covid, obviously the, war between russia and ukraine, the money spent during lockdown , money spent during lockdown, that, was overspent. And i did that, was overspent. And i did say at the time, you know, if we overspend on the public credit card, theyll people will elect a socialist government next time if, so i think that, its good that we are low tax conservatives. We, i mean, we conservatives. We, i mean, we saw the headlines as every government do whatever party about the investment into the nhs, but i think the nhs needs reforming. Martin. We cant just put this never ending pot of money into the nhs. I mean, is money into the nhs. I mean, is it always Better Health care outcomes . I mean, its a Postcode Lottery still. I mean, my mum and my dad had appalling care before they died, but my sister in a cottage hospital, you know, they saved her life, had amazing care. And i think that we its got too big. The nhs and i love the matrons, the cottage hospitals where where Compassionate Care was at the heart of it. Heart of it. De man is chris chris hope here in the studio , thanks for here in the studio, thanks for joining us today. Just very, very quickly. Do you do you worry about the weather, the chancellor and the Prime Minister are conservative enough. Many of the parts of the budget, you could see a Labour Government pushing forward. I mean, Great British nuclear is nearly the same as Great British energy and others too. I mean, do you worry theres no differentiation now between the two and youre part two big parties, and youre part of one of them . I mean , i do get that on the i mean, i do get that on the doorstep, chris, people say to me, you know, if you dont fear a Labour Government, then youve got problems, havent you . Actually, we know what theyre like with the purse. We like with the public purse. We know wokeist policies. Its know the wokeist policies. Its going be immigration be worse going to be immigration be worse under think the fact under them. And i think the fact that people a labour that people dont fear a Labour Government the moment shows that people dont fear a labour gover not nt the moment shows that people dont fear a labour gover not in the moment shows that people dont fear a labour gover not in a the moment shows that people dont fear a labour gover not in a good� noment shows that people dont fear a labour gover not in a good place, it shows were not in a good place, actually, and need to actually, chris. And we need to go back to more thatcherite, pro business policies. I mean, were doing pretty okay on businesses , i dont think we businesses, i dont think we should be punishing the landlords like we have done over the years personally. You know, we, and for those who work hard, and like, weve seen about the pensions, you know, they, they should be rewarded in old age. Those who work hard should be rewarded, actually, for doing things right. And thats the kind of conservative policies id to see. Id like to see. Yeah. Dame andrea, about 85 of the emails we got yesterday were from pensioners who felt like theyd been shafted this like theyd been shafted in this budget. Out that was budget. It turns out that was right. 8 million oaps today, we right. 8 million oaps today, we found faced a £1,000 hit found out, faced a £1,000 hit and many more even greater. But another thing that really got them going was this Million Pound to a muslim war memorial. I would like to ask you about that , your i would like to ask you about that, your reaction there speaks volumes. Think it was volumes. Do you think it was completely eared to have completely tin eared to have mentioned especially mentioned that, especially in the of budget the first sentence of the budget , i think on two levels. To me, what does a cenotaph do . Isntit to me, what does a cenotaph do . Isnt it supporting . It shouldnt matter. You know what background, what religion somebody is . Isnt that symbol a symbolism of coming together as a country . As, you know, a country . As, you know, everyone back britain to help, win the war. Why do we need to spend £1 million . What a waste of plumbing money. And also. So of plumbing money. And also. So what worries me, actually, martin, is weve seen people. Martin, is weve seen people. Well, at the moment, the pro palestinian lobby take to the street. Weve seen whats happenedin the street. Weve seen whats happened in rochdale with, and who theyve elected there. Weve seen the awful situation with, starmer putting pressure on the speaken starmer putting pressure on the speaker. What does message does this send out, martin. Well, it sends out a message. Well, it sends out a message. Well, it sends out a message. Voices, those with the loudest voices i mean i think fantastic. Anybody who fought in our war and is wonderful and should be honoured and respected and remembered, you know, because we, the britain, would look a lot different today if , look a lot different today if, you know, the nazis had won, wouldnt it, however , however, wouldnt it, however, however, i dont see any colour or any gender or, any religion to me, people are people and why do we need separate, monuments . Why do we want one for christians then . For the jewish community, for the sikhs . It could just go on and on. Why not just have one for everybody . Okay. Dame Andrew Jenkins , an okay. Dame Andrew Jenkins, an absolute smorgasbord of common sense. Thank you sense spoken today. Thank you very much for joining sense spoken today. Thank you very much forjoining us on the very much for joining us on the show. Its always an absolute pleasure. Now its time now for the latest Great British giveaway and your chance to win. £12,345. 12345 in cash and a whole host of a whole host of seasonal treats on top of that. And heres how you get your mitts on all of that. Were springing into spring and giving you the chance to win the seasonal essentials. First, the seasonal essentials. First, theres an incredible £12,345 in tax free cash to be won, plus a spnng tax free cash to be won, plus a spring shopping spree with £500 in shopping vouchers to spend in the store of your choice, and finally, a garden gadget package to enjoy, including a handheld games console, a portable Smart Speaker and a pizza oven for your chance to win the vouchers, the treats and £12,345 in tax free cash, text gb win to 84 902. Text cost £2 plus one Standard Network rate message or post your name and number two zero gb three p. O post your name and number two zero gb three po box 8690 derby rd one nine double tee uk. Only rd one nine double tee uk. Only entrants must be 18 or over. Lines closed at 5 pm. On friday the 29th march. Full terms and Privacy Notice at gbnews. Com win. Please check the closing time if watching or listening on demand. Good luck i listening on demand. Good luck great stuff. Now its been claimed today that pensioners in this country are facing an £8 billion hit after jeremy this country are facing an £8 billion hit afterjeremy hunts spnng billion hit afterjeremy hunts Spring Budget yesterday. So has the government abandoned the older generation . Please get in touch if you feel thats the case. Im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains welcome back 351. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news now at 4 00, ill bring you our big interview with the chancellor of the exchequer, jeremy hunt, and get expert from the best in expert analysis from the best in the business, chris hope and Liam Halligan. But before that, Liam Halligan. But before that, lets get more on the budget now. Yesterday i was bombed , now. Yesterday i was bombed, bombarded emails bombarded with emails from pensioners all pensioners who werent at all happy with what they got. And indeed, one think tank thinks theyre right to be angry. Torsten bell , whos the chief torsten bell, whos the chief executive of the resolution foundation, said this. The foundation, has said this. The Biggest Group of losers are pensioners who face an £8 billion collective hit. Lets billion collective hit. Lets get more reaction now and im joined by my colleague ray addison in waterlooville in hampshire. Ray, people yesterday in gb news land very, very unhappy. What they got in terms of pensioners, whats the mood on the ground there in waterlooville . Waterlooville . Yeah, absolutely. Martin chancellor, chancellor jeremy hunt being accused of just simply not doing enough for pensioners in that Spring Budget. Age uk describing it as a non event for older people and pensioners that ive been speaking to here in waterlooville , saying that they waterlooville, saying that they feel like theyve just simply been overlooked by the government in this budget. Now, of course , we do know that the of course, we do know that the chancellor restated the governments commitment to the triple lock for the state pension, but theyre telling me that they would have liked to have heard that they would pay less tax on their private pension pots, because obviously theres theyve got those amounts of money coming in from the state pension. Theyve got the state pension. Theyve got the private pension as well, but they taxed that one man they get taxed on that one man telling gets £200 every telling me he gets £200 every month taken off of his military pension, because it takes him over that threshold. Theyre also telling me theyd like to have heard the less money would be spent on things like foreign aid. Now, of course, we weve aid. Now, of course, we weve heard, you know, with the cost of living crisis, we know that people a in people are suffering a fall in Living Standards, prices have gone up everyday, household items, has gone up items, food has gone up dramatically and that has significantly impacted pensioners that ive been speaking to as well. That disposable income , even though disposable income, even though people may be retired, theyve got their pension pots, but that disposable income effectively falling by 0. 9. And many of these people who are traditional tory voters, simply saying they now dont know who theyre going to vote for in the next general election. Heres what they had to say to me earlier. Part of it as being an old age pensioner. Im not getting any money. Im just its all my money is going. I mean, when you get to my age, 88, ive seen so many of them. You know, nothings different to me. You know, you either get it or you dont. I must admit, i would like the state pension to be withdrawn totally from the tax system. Its still used as your towards your tax free allowance. If its taken off that , that if its taken off that, that would make a great benefit. Would make a great benefit. Now to counter that martin, one pensioner i just spoke to told me he just got a letter from the Pensions Department saying that his pension going saying that his pension is going to go up by £18 a week. He actually says he thinks thats wrong because he doesnt need the extra money. Hes worried about the National Debt. So a range of views here. Okay. Readers in waterlooville, thank you very much. Now well have loads more on that interview with jeremy hunt pensioners and hunt after this. Pensioners and thats that statue for muslims. But first its time for your Weather Forecast with alex borger. A brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello again. Welcome to your latest gb news weather update brought to you by the met office. Tomorrow is going to be a mostly fine day for many of us, but before then we do have a few showers to watch out for. At the moment there is a southeasterly across the southeasterly flow across the country being brought country thats being brought on by towards the by High Pressure towards the north east of the uk. Worth beanng north east of the uk. Worth bearing this flow is bearing in mind this flow is quite bearing in mind this flow is quhe and bearing in mind this flow is quite and those winds are quite brisk and those winds are going as we go into going to pick up as we go into tomorrow. Will be a few tomorrow. There will be a few showers this evening across parts will then parts of wales. They will then push Northern Ireland push into Northern Ireland overnight some overnight and also some showery outbreaks parts of outbreaks across parts of northeast england and scotland. Two bit sleet or two could be a bit of sleet or snow over highest ground, snow over the highest ground, otherwise dry night and otherwise mostly dry night and even some clear skies developing in south and across parts of in the south and across parts of northwest scotland. Clear skies and the wind in and shelter from the wind in prone rural spots could lead to a touch of frost. Tomorrow morning otherwise, we go morning. Otherwise, and as we go through from through tomorrow, apart from a few outbreaks of rain few showery outbreaks of rain through across parts through the morning across parts of northeast of scotland and northeast england , its looking a dry england, its looking like a dry day will see increasing day and we will see increasing amounts of sunshine, particularly across many parts of england wales, and also of england and wales, and also western scotland. Meanwhile, areas exposed to that southeasterly wind are likely to remain a bit cloudier and temperatures will be a touch lower today. For many us lower than today. For many of us with a chill, especially with a wind chill, especially across parts into the across northern parts into the weekend, looking a bit weekend, and its looking a bit wetter for many us. There wetter for many of us. There will some unsettled weather will be some unsettled weather pushing in from pushing its way in from the southwest we through southwest as we go through saturday, in southern areas saturday, so in southern areas its likely to turn pretty wet at times over the next few days at times over the next few days a bit showery. Further a bit more showery. Further north, may pick up north, temperatures may pick up on saturday before dropping down by monday. Warm feeling inside from that warm feeling inside from boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. A very good afternoon to you. Its 4 pm. And welcome to the Martin Daubney show on gb news. Broadcasting live from the heart of westminster. All across the uk. Today. Its the morning after the night before. And after the night before. And jeremy hunt has defended that controversial decision to give £1 million towards a memorial for muslim soldiers killed in the two world wars. And he says it will heal the divisions on the conflict in gaza. Is he right . Well have full analysis. Right . Well have full analysis. And the chancellors also told gb news that the government must change the uks economic model, so we dont rely on mass migration to boost the economy. Thats despite the fact theres high immigration figures baked into his own forecast. And this story really, really got you going yesterday. And ill get more reaction to news that pensioners will cop for a staggering £8 billion hit after the budget. Thanks forjoining me on the show. So weve got a corking interview with jeremy hunt coming up. Chris hope is in the studio to go over that. We asked him about that controversial muslim war memorial. We asked him about immigration figures. We held him to account on your behalf. And yesterday, so many of you got in touch , feeling as pensioners touch, feeling as pensioners particularly abandoned by this budget, left behind, taken for granted. And lo and behold, the granted. And lo and behold, the morning after the figures come out and £8 billion sting affecting pensions , are you one affecting pensions, are you one of them . Are you cheesed off with this budget . If so, please with this budget . If so, please get in touch gbviews gbnews. Com and ill read out your accounts. Well hold them to account. But before all of that, its time for your latest News Headlines with sam francis. With sam francis. Martin, thanks very much. Martin, thanks very much. Good afternoon from the gb newsroom. Its just gone 4 00 and leading the news this hour. Downing street says the governments long terme aim to end. National insurance will only be done when it can be achieved without increasing borrowing. The chancellor borrowing. The chancellor delivered another £0. 02 cut to national in his budget National Insurance in his budget yesterday, costing around £10 billion. However, the benefits are likely to be cancelled out by an expected rise in council tax. Earlier, jeremy hunt told tax. Earlier, jeremy hunt told gb news that although he thinks its wrong to tax workers twice the plan, he says to end National Insurance end National Insurance altogether wont happen any time soon. We want to end the unfairness. The direction of travel weve goneis. The direction of travel weve gone is to reduce National Insurance by one third. The fact that labour are opposing this today is really because labour dont have any plans to reduce taxation. It sort of makes my point for me, their plan is basically that tax should remain at its current levels. We say we dont have to accept the status quo. If you make difficult decisions , if you stick to our decisions, if you stick to our plan for the economy, thats seen inflation falling and growth starting to rise, we can bnng growth starting to rise, we can bring down the tax burden. Bring down the tax burden. Giving his response to yesterdays budget, the Prime Minister has said that british workers deserve to be recognised i the direction of travel is now crystal clear. Our plans are working because of the improvement in the economic environment, because of the fact weve been able to get inflation down from 11 to 4, Mortgage Rates, energy bills falling, wages rising, weve been able to start cutting peoples taxes responsibly. And that shows that our plans are working. I believe in a society where hard work is rewarded. Were delivering that for people and they can see that the change were talking about is starting to happen. And if we stick to the plan, we can make sure that everyone has peace of mind. Mind. F starmer, mind. Starmer, though, says so keir starmer, though, says that are that the conservatives are giving with one hand and he says taking the other. And taking with the other. And unlike the government, he says labours policies are fully funded. Contrast that with the government, where yesterday, at the end of the budget, the chancellor made a staggering £46 billion unfunded commitment to aboush billion unfunded commitment to abolish National Insurance. Abolish National Insurance. Thats bigger than liz trusss commitment. So theyve learned absolutely nothing. We need change. Its time for change. Weve learned today that an independent Public Inquiry will be held to examine the polices response in scotland to the murder of Emma Caldwell, almost 20 years ago. The announcement comes after both the Scottish First minister, humza yousaf, and his justice secretary met with emmas mother earlier this week. Mrs. Caldwell was killed by serial rapist ian parker in 2005, but it was only last week that he was convicted of that murder, along with a series of other rapes and offences. Her other rapes and offences. Her family says the police failed their daughter due to what theyve called a toxic culture of misogyny and corruption. A of misogyny and corruption. A boy sentenced for the murder of teenager brianna ghey is to appeal that decision. Eddie appeal that decision. Eddie ratcliffe and scarlett jenkinson, who are both 16, were jailed for life last month with a minimum terms of 20 and 22 years respectively. They were 15 when they devised a plan to kill brianna with a hunting knife, in what was described by the judge as a frenzied and ferocious attack. Briannas parents, though, killers should though, say the killers should never released from prison. Never be released from prison. Christian horners accuser has been suspended following red bulls investigation into inappropriate behaviour against the Formula One Team principal. Mr horner, whos 50, was allowed to remain in his post after red bulls Parent Company gmb, dismissed the accusations that were made against him. Its understood the female member of staff has now been suspended as a direct result of that inquiry. Horner told a press conference earlier this afternoon that hes very fortunate to have a beautiful family and he says a very supportive wife, and added its been very trying and very its been a very trying and very challenging. Well, in the challenging time. Well, in the last few moments, lord cameron has been speaking in berlin and he says its essential that the west continues to support ukraine in its ongoing conflict with russia. On a visit to germany today, the foreign secretary said that peace can only be achieved by demonstrating strength. And, he says that putins says ensuring that putins defeat. His comments come as the international community, including germany, where the foreign secretary has been speaking , is under pressure to speaking, is under pressure to assist ukraine in its defence against the invasion. Speaking moments ago, lord cameron said britain is one of the biggest contributors to ukraines war effort. Effort. I dont have any doubt that the ukrainians are brave enough. I dont have any doubt in their leadership. I do not have any doubtin leadership. I do not have any doubt in their ability to fight and to resist this appalling russian aggression. The question is for us, are we the european countries, the euro atlantic community, the allies of ukraine . Are we going to see this through . Are we going to give them what they need . Are we going to back them with everything that we have . Everything that we have . And finally, to the United States , where President Biden is states, where President Biden is preparing to deliver his state of the union speech later this evening, hes expected to use his fourth address to present a sharp distinction between his style of leadership and his likely opponents. Donald trump, touting a strong economic performance. Hell also look to allay concerns about his allay voters concerns about his age. Thats despite being just four years older than mr trump. Four years older than mr trump. Those are the headlines for now. More in the next half hour. In the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen, or go to gb news. Carmelites. News. Carmelites. Now we kick off this hour with our big interview with jeremy hunt and his defended that controversial decision to give £1 million towards the cost of building a memorial specifically to honour the muslims who died in the first and Second World Wars. Well, im now joined in the studio by our political editor, chris hope, and also got the pleasure of having our economics and business editor, Liam Halligan. Welcome to you both, gentlemen. Guns. It is a caught between two big guns here. Better be on top of my brief. Lets start with you, chris, when that announcement came out, the opening bowl of the test, the opening bowl of the test, the opening sentence yesterday , £1 opening sentence yesterday, £1 million to that war memorial, a lot of people gasped. And the lot of people gasped. And the emails that we got yesterday certainly reflected that lot certainly reflected that a lot of people not happy has the chance exchequer got tin ears. It was surprising, wasnt it . That was the first thing announced. £1 million for this muslim war memorial, he muslim war memorial, and he framed it, didnt in the framed it, didnt he . In the context the of the fighting context of the of the fighting in, in, in gaza post the october 7th attacks. I asked them about that in this interview. Hes done with gb news at this lunchtime and he framed it by saying, well, i did give £7 million to Holocaust Education trust back in the autumn statement , but that wasnt trust back in the autumn statement, but that wasnt said. So it came out of nowhere. Heres he had to say. Heres what he had to say. I think important to i think it is important to recognise the contribution of 170,000 muslims who died defending our freedoms. We have already , as a government, already, as a government, supported a memorial to sikh soldiers who died. We supported a memorial to black and african soldiers who died in Windrush Square in brixton, and a very good proposal. I also, by the good proposal. I also, by the way, remembered, the sufferings and worries of people of the jewish faith in my autumn statement. So a very good statement. So a very good proposal was made to me by sajid javid, who is a colleague and a friend, and i decided id have merit. Merit. I asked him in that interview also whether he thought this memorial would be divisive, and he said, no, hes very clear. We know we had feedback from gb news viewers and listeners who were about it. They were concerned about it. They thought, how is this happening . Why is it is why is this happening . Is it is it to you know, weve got it trying to you know, weve got these protests around War Memorials. Palestinians memorials. Why now . Palestinians dont the dont know. And that is the problem hes politicised, problem is hes politicised, something be something which shouldnt be very and very political basically. And thats whats thats the problem. What whats happened talked to happened here we also talked to him fascinating. Im him about so fascinating. Im sure to that. He sure liam was to that. He mentioned controlling migration three times in his budget speech. And yet obr there speech. And yet the obr there makes very clear they expect net migration to go up by 30. And thats baked in now in the obr forecast and more on the obr shortly. Liam im sure. Shortly. With liam im sure. I asked him why that was where hes relying on economic hes relying on for Economic Growth , on migration. Hes growth, on migration. Hes trying disavow time. Trying to disavow the same time. Heres he had to say. Heres what he had to say. Have had a big increase in we have had a big increase in migration in recent years because of ukraine, because of afghanistan, because of hong kong, very specific factors where as a country, we did the right thing, but the current levels of migration are not sustainable. This government sustainable. This government wants to bring it down, its currently, as you know, over 700,000, far too high. The governments brought in some very clear policies to bring those numbers down. The obr make an estimate of where that will get to based on what the office for National Statistics say, its a small increase on the numbers. The its a small increase on the numbers. The ons its a small increase on the numbers. The ons previously its a small increase on the numbers. The ons previously said what im saying is weve got to change that. We need to change our model so that we are not relying on companies being able to expand by hiring more and more workers from overseas, because weve got 10 million adults of working age in this country who are not in work. Country who are not in work. Okay, lets bring in Liam Halligan now. Liam it struck me as staggering three times in the budget yesterday , jeremy hunt budget yesterday, jeremy hunt specifically weaponised the fact that the labour party would be reliant upon Migrant Labour. And yet he kicks off by referencing the obr stats which have upgraded their own figures to show that actually we are reliant on Migrant Labour and that hasnt really been factored into the budget. Whos in control . Control . Well, well come on to whos in control in a moment because there is something to discuss about, you know, the obr , the about, you know, the obr, the bank of england, unelected people really pulling the economic levers. Now, instead of elected politicians that are accountable to the electorate, which is how our system should work. But on migration, look, ive been , knocking around the ive been, knocking around the economics profession, such as it is for about 30 years, and the economic orthodoxy has always been certainly in this country, that migration is economically good. Migration means you have more young people. Migration means that the financial, you know, the fiscal accounts are improved because as were an ageing society, weve got more workers to pay taxes to pay for peoples pensions, migration and migrants are dynamic. You know, ihave migrants are dynamic. You know, i have always embraced that orthodoxy, being of migrant stock myself. My people have stock myself. My people have been coming over here from the west of ireland for centuries and weve done pretty well for ourselves and by the country. I would say. But when look not would say. But when you look not just gdp, not just at the just at gdp, not just at the economy, the size of the economy, the size of the economy, when you look at gdp per head, crucially, and when you that public you consider that Public Services are now so stretched that a big influx of people, net migration in 2022 was 725,000. Thats equivalent to the city of leeds, which is our sixth biggest city in one year. Thats net. Thats net when you have pubuc net. Thats net when you have Public Services so stretched when you have, businesses used to just employing more people relatively cheaply, rather than investing in plant and technology and capital, we have a productivity problem precisely because weve just chucked more people at problems rather than being smart and investing in new products and all the rest of it, you now have a situation where the Economic Establishment is starting acknowledge martin, starting to acknowledge martin, that evermore migration might not always and everywhere be a good thing for the economy. And there was a very, very important interview in the telegraph, a paper that christopher and i very well with a very bright man who a lot of respect who ive got a lot of respect for, known many years, for, known for many years, called miles, hes the called david miles, and hes the chief the office chief economist of the office for budget responsibility. Hes chief economist of the office for justjet responsibility. Hes chief economist of the office for just at responsibility. Hes chief economist of the office for just a card ponsibility. Hes chief economist of the office for just a card carryingty. Hes not just a card carrying economist. Hes also very economist. Hes also very politically small p, politically a small p, politically a small p, politically astute. Im not accusing him of any Party Allegiance at all. And he gave an interview where he acknowledged that that more migration might actually sometimes be bad for gdp per head, might be bad for the experience of people here, whether of migrant stock or not, as they try and access Public Services that is a sea change thatis services that is a sea change that is now starting to shift. Youre right. It has been the orthodoxy for years that the treasury was more immigration, more immigration, more. Might more immigration, more. It might not always be good for the economy. I think on balance it generally but when you reach generally is. But when you reach a inflection where a real Inflection Point where pubuc a real Inflection Point where public stretched , Public Services are stretched, the economy has stagnated and population has gone up very, very quickly. Gdp per head and experience of Public Services fall. But also before you get away from that pure gdp thing, people certainly notice that difference in in doctors appointments, dentistry and all the rest of it. And that strain, chris. But believe me when he says, is there three times we cant rely migration to fuel rely on mass migration to fuel economic his Economic Growth . And then his own obr forecasts the own obr forecasts increase the forecast of net arrivals forecast number of net arrivals by a third. Whats that about . Be very, very weve got to be very, very careful here. And i thought there confusion of there was confusion in some of there was confusion in some of the morning interviews as well. Not gb but on rival news not on gb news but on rival news channels, i wont channels, which i wont embarrass by mentioning, embarrass them by by mentioning, look. So we went up to 725,000 net in 2022, the new number in 2023 when it comes out will be much lower. Why . Because we havent got the influx of people from hong kong who almost everyone the uk would, would everyone in the uk would, would say yes, of course, these hong kong people must kong Chinese People must absolutely here. Are absolutely come here. They are british are british people. They are fantastically dynamic people. We owe them or little owe them or very little opposition , very little fuss. A opposition, very little fuss. A lot of pride actually, that we had. Lots of people come from ukraine. You know, i housed for ukrainians myself with my family in there was in my house there was a wellspring of goodwill towards them, wasnt there . So i do think there were very special circumstances which drove that 725,000 figure in 2022. The 2023 number will be quite a lot lower. It will probably start with a three. Now, its true that the obr increased the projection for immigration for 2023 a little bit, but its still much , much lower than still much, much lower than 2022. And i dont think the chancellor is properly articulated that point. But look, its still really high. Its still you know, when blair came in in 1997, net migration was 50,000. And the year before the brexit vote in 2016, it was about 350,000. Were roughly around the 300 to 350,000 territory, which is still very, very high when Public Services are so stretched and the economy isnt growing. I have to ask you about pensions. We were inundated with emails yesterday, liam, from pensioners who feel take for granted overlooked. And youve been calling this time and time again. The dreaded fiscal drag was pulled them into a taxation bracket and we found out today staggering figures, £8 billion of hits to british pensioners. And theyre not at all happy about it. Well, ive been saying for many, many years that we should raise the, personal allowance from 12. 5 grand where its been frozen for a long time to at least £20,000, taking a lot of pensioners out of taxation altogether. Reform uk policy right there. Reform uk policy right there. I think youll find it was. I think youll find it was the other way around, chris. But no, it is it is, is, it is a it is it is, it is, it is a policy that reform have adopted and this instance, im not and in this instance, im not here political party, here for any political party, but do think theres a lot in but i do think theres a lot in that. Do think you need to do that. I do think you need to do something take people something radical to take people out i think a lot of the out of tax. I think a lot of the people between 12 and people who earn between 12 and 20 are getting 20 grand anyway are getting benefits back. So its so complicated. Just them out complicated. Just get them out of get the state off of benefits, get the state off their. You dont all their back. You dont need all their back. You dont need all the servants, know, the civil servants, you know, serving people. So i would serving those people. So i would say this to pensioners and hunt made a mistake in his speech. He should have said im doing National Insurance instead of income tax. We know why he did National Insurance instead of income tax because its cheaper, because pensioners income because pensioners pay income tax, pay national tax, they dont pay National Insurance. National insurance. If you lower National Insurance. If you lower National Insurance the state insurance it costs the state less if lower, income less than if you lower, income tax. Same with landlords, tax. The same with landlords, right. Landlords pay right. Landlords dont pay national do pay National Insurance. They do pay income tax. Thats why a National Insurance is National Insurance reduction is cheaper for the state. But he should have said i see and acknowledge that this National Insurance drop wont benefit pensioners. But pensioners. Ive just confirmed last week, which he did , that under he did, that under a conservative government, the triple lock will remain in place. The triple lock is that the basic state pension each year increases by the growth of earnings, inflation 2. 5 or whichever is greater. And that means that at last april, the bafic means that at last april, the basic state pension went up by around 10 because that was inflation. The september before very high. And then this april, the basic state pension is going to 8. 5, is the to go up by 8. 5, which is the increase earnings last increase in earnings last september , which is how we september, which is how we calibrate the system. Look, calibrate the system. So look, im to anyone whos im not saying to anyone whos a gb news viewer or listener or otherwise that there isnt pensioner poverty this pensioner poverty in this country. Pensioner country. There is pensioner poverty in this country. The poverty in this country. On the other pensioners have had other hand, pensioners have had a pretty, you know, chunky increase in the basic state pension. It hasnt always kept up with inflation. But, you know, wages have been falling against for inflation many, many months as well. They are now recovering the basic state pension is now recovering. But that was a mistake. Hunt should have said im doing National Insurance. These are the reasons insurance. These are the reasons pensioners will feel hard done by. But remember we will stand by. But remember we will stand by the triple lock and labour say the same thing as well. Theres almost no chance that the triple lock is going to be removed in the next parliament, because main are on because both main parties are on the hook. Okay, halligan expert okay, Liam Halligan expert analysis. As ever analysis. Beautiful as ever chris. Same from my friends. Chris. Same from you my friends. Great but do you buy that great stuff. But do you buy that out there . Do feel that out there . Do you feel that thats case or do you feel thats the case or do you feel as you certainly did yesterday, overlooked, for granted overlooked, taken for granted and so much more overlooked, taken for granted and to so much more overlooked, taken for granted and to vote so much more overlooked, taken for granted and to vote conservative . Nore likely to vote conservative . Will it affect your decision . Come the next general election . Let me know. Gb views at gb news. Com now well have lots more on that story later in the show, and ill be joined by a member of labours shadow cabinet at around a 4 45. Theres plenty of coverage on cabinet at around a 4 45. The website |ty of coverage on cabinet at around a 4 45. Thewebsite gbnews. Com. � on cabinet at around a 4 45. Thewebsite gbnews. Com. Youve our website gbnews. Com. Youve helped to make it the Fastest Growing National News website in the country, so thank you very much. Now you could win the much. Now you could win the spnng much. Now you could win the spring essentials in our latest Great British giveaway. Theres a garden gadget package , a a garden gadget package, a shopping spree, and a whopping £12,345 in cash. 12345 and heres Little Details for you to get your hands on that dosh. We have a ton of top prizes to be won in our spring giveaway. 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Please check the closing time if watching or listening on demand. Good. Good luck. Now its been claimed today that pensioners in this country are a staggering £8 billion worse off after jeremy are a staggering £8 billion worse off afterjeremy hunts worse off after jeremy hunts budget yesterday. So has the budget yesterday. So has the government abandoned the older generation . Let me know. Gb views at gb news. Com im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains news channel. This sunday on free speech nafion this sunday on free speech nation with me, andrew doyle. Ill be delving into the w path files. Explosive revelations leaked by whistleblowers that show how the worlds top transgender medical experts put a whole generation at risk. Ill be speaking to a range of guests, including journalist michael shellenberger, best selling helen joyce, selling author helen joyce, leading physician doctor kerry mendoza , psychotherapist stella mendoza, psychotherapist stella omalley, and many more. Omalley, and many more. Find out about one of the biggest medical scandals of the century in free speech nation this sunday at 7 pm. On. Gb news. Welcome back. Its 426. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Now, later in the show, ill get much more reaction on jeremy hunts controversial decision to spend £1 million on a muslim war memorial. £1 million on a muslim war memorial. Now, jeremy hunts budget speech yesterday lasted an hour and five minutes. Of course, he talked about a2p cut in National Insurance, a freeze in National Insurance, a freeze in alcohol and fuel duty and various other policies. But as always, the devil is in the detail , and always, the devil is in the detail, and the always, the devil is in the detail , and the chancellor of detail, and the chancellor of the exchequer didnt mention that the all powerful office for budget responsibility has now accepted that net migration could be 315,000 every single year , up from their prediction year, up from their prediction in november of just 245,000. Now of course, increased migration means that while money raised by tax might go up, they will certainly be even more pressure on Public Services that are already creaking. Well, join me already creaking. Well, join me now to go over. This is immigration lawyer Hardeep Singh bhangal immigration lawyer Hardeep Singh bhangal, good friend of the show. Welcome to the show, hardeep. So here we go. The figures on our baked in. And despite the fact that three times jeremy hunt criticised sir keir starmer for the labour partys so called reliance on migration, the figures speak for themselves. The conservative partys they are too. Yeah, i mean , its quite yeah, i mean, its quite ironic that the party which holds itself out to be tough on immigration and gave it all the talk for the past 14 years, actually is a party undergoing and under overseeing the rise in net migration to levels, as we saw last year, 750,000 it was, and roughly now over 300,000. You might remember that through the theresa may and David Cameron era, they were trying to get it down to about 50,000 to 100,000. And but then sort of figures but those figures are now out of the water. I mean, those figures were only really dunng those figures were only really during sort of tony blairs times and pre 2010 times. So i think that the fact is this government has accepted that theres going to be around about 300,000 people coming in, which under the system that theyre tweaking next month will mean that every migrant essentially, except those employed in the care sector , will have to earn care sector, will have to earn over 38,700, in order to get a visa to come here. So that will be an increase in tax. Currently, its 26,200. So there will inevitably be an increase in tax. But then once again, if dependents are coming then will that be an increase on the pressure on Health Services and in the Education Sector , in in the Education Sector, in school places, etc . That really has to be, you know, we have to wait and see that. But it the government doesnt look like its accepting that it can take these figures down and this is legal migration. This is not people coming small boats. People coming on small boats. These are people coming on. Small make up about small boats only make up about 6 750,000 odd so 6 of the 750,000 odd figure. So this is people who are getting visas for qualifying to come into the uk. Visas for qualifying to come into the uk. Being visas for qualifying to come into the uk. Being allowed to into the uk. Being allowed to come here, allowed to work here, allowed settle here, allowed to settle here, eventually and it eventually this is them and it stands to reason that if youre bringing in dependents who are using the National Health service, theyre using schools, theyre using everything in britain but not contributing, then there will be not always a rosy picture. And it seems at last, the obe themselves today have said, well, migration might not be entirely a positive thing. Entirely a positive thing. Whats taking them so long to wake up people in gb news land every single day tell us theyre struggling to get to the dentist. Theyre struggling to get a gp appointment. They finally appointment. Are they finally waking to this . Waking up to this . Well, a lot of is down to well, a lot of it is down to the lack of input. Investment. And infrastructure we and in the infrastructure we know is slowly know that the nhs is slowly deteriorated under this government. Know that stuff government. We know that stuff like roads, travel even by the home has broken down home office has broken down under this government. So its a lack of investment. Also, the lack of investment. Also, the migrants actually do get double taxed in relation to the nhs, so they do pay their way on top of they do pay their way on top of the tax that they pay, out of their wages. They also pay £1,000 a year per person. So for a family of four is coming over for five years, theyre looking at paying £5,000 each for that person. So theyre paying what, £20,000 in order to use the nhs. But however, that even if youre paying but however, that even if youre paying for something, youre still being a burden on resources. And this is once down to the government , resources. And this is once down to the government, perhaps it needs to have a look around its definitely a big cut down from the 750, to about 300,000 and you know, but its not the figures that people were promised. Pre brexit or when this government first came to power in 2010 or under the coalition government, that is pretty much a clear and once again, you cant blame illegal immigration or people on small boats for this. This is people who have been allowed to come here. People been settled here. People have been settled here, over by here, invited over by businesses. The counterargument is, coming is, well, if someones coming here and paying their own way, then surely theyre not the problem. The problem are people problem. The problem are people who working the uk and who arent working in the uk and are then putting pressure on, the resources. Surely they the resources. Surely they should be in work and we should get them in work , and in that get them in work, and in that way there will be less migrants needed to do the jobs, and also people will be contributing instead , being a burden on instead of, being a burden on the state. So theres a counter arguments either way. Okay. Well, thats a great point. You know, it is legal migration. Thats the majority of the problem through the front doon of the problem through the front door, not through the cat flap hole. Jab sing. Bingo. Thank you for your analysis. And of course its everyone is its not everyone is contributing by tax. A contributing by paying tax. A lot coming here on lot of people coming here on benefits who arent putting anything indeed free has anything and indeed free has just decided to put a five year cap on the ability to claim benefits. But thank you for joining on the show. Joining us on the show. Excellent stuff. Now theres lots still come between lots more still to come between now 5 00. Mordaunt is now and 5 00. Penny mordaunt is now and 5 00. Penny mordaunt is now the most popular now apparently the most popular member of the cabinet among tory activists. Could she be the activists. Could she be the partys only chance of winning the next general election, or is it simply a lost cause . But before all that, it is time once again for your latest news headunes again for your latest News Headlines with sam francis. Headlines with sam francis. Martin, thanks very much. Good afternoon. From the newsroom. The headlines at 432 downing street says the governments long terme aim to end. National insurance will only be done when it can be achieved without increasing borrowing. It follows the chancellors announcement yesterday in his Spring Budget, where delivered another £0. 02 where he delivered another £0. 02 cut to National Insurance, costing around £10 billion. However, the benefits are likely to be cancelled out by an expected rise in council tax. Expected rise in council tax. However, jeremy hunt said removing National Insurance altogether would be a huge job, which he says wont happen any time soon. We want to end the unfairness. The direction of travel weve goneis. The direction of travel weve gone is to reduce National Insurance by one third. The fact that labour are opposing this today is really because labour dont have any plans to reduce taxation. It sort of makes my point for me, their plan is basically that tax should remain at its current levels. We say we at its current levels. We say we dont have to accept the status quo. If you make difficult decisions, if you stick to our plan for the economy, thats seen inflation falling and growth starting to rise, we can bnng growth starting to rise, we can bring down the tax burden. Bring down the tax burden. An independent inquiry will be held to examine the polices response to the death of Emma Caldwell almost 20 years ago. The announcement comes after both the Scottish First minister, humza yousaf, and his justice secretary met with emmas mother earlier this week. Miss caldwell was killed by serial rapist ian parker in 2005, but it was only last week that he was convicted of her murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences. Murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences. Emmas family say the police in scotland failed their daughter due to what they called a toxic culture of misogyny and corruption. At the time. And corruption. At the time. And lord David Cameron says its essential that the west continues to support ukraine in its ongoing conflict with russia. Speaking on a visit to berlin earlier, the foreign secretary said that peace can only be achieved by demonstrating strength and ensuring putins defeat. His comments come as germany is facing increasing pressure to supply its long range missiles to kyiv. Those are the headlines. For more, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen, or go to gb news. Common alerts. Common alerts. Thank you sam. Now its been claimed today that pensioners in this country are facing a whopping £8 billion hit after jeremy hunts budget yesterday. So has the government abandoned the older generation . Let me know what you think. Vaiews gbnews. Com. Im Martin Daubney on gb news britains news channel brand new sundays from 6 pm. Brand new sundays from 6 pm. The neil oliver show. The neil oliver show. Its absolutely vital that people are given the opportunity to take part in the debate. To to take part in the debate. To say the things that matter to them, to be challenged. A country is only really a shared dream. As long as enough people have a shared idea of what it is, then that country exists. What gb news does is give voices somewhere they can be heard. Renewal of a show sundays from 6 pm. On. Renewal of a show sundays from 6 pm. On. Gb news. From 6 pm. On. Gb news. Welcome back 438 is your time. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news now later this hour ill be joined by a labour shadow minister. Ive got lots to ask her now. Yesterday i was bombarded with emails about two topics. One was jeremy hunts decision to give £1 million towards a war memorial solely for muslim soldiers. Ill have more on that issue later in the show, but also lots and lots of pensioners who werent at all happy about the budget. Also got in touch. And indeed, one think tank reckons that theyre right to be angry because torsten bell, whos the chief executive of the resolution foundation, has said this. The Biggest Group of losers are pensioners who face an £8 billion collective hit, and its fair to say that lots of you got in touch with me on that topic yesterday. But the other issue that really got you going was the lack of extra support for pensioners in the budget. Okay, so now im joined budget. Okay, so now im joined by ryan, tv personality and commentator ryan mark parsons, who of course was the youngest ever contestant on the apprentice, which is the case currently running. Thank you very much. Lets start with pensioners , youre obviously pensioners, youre obviously a younger person than a pensioner, but they have a right to be angry. £8 billion and the dreaded fiscal drag has meant that many of them are getting taxed more than theyre getting in. Well, i dont think they need to be moaning as as they to be moaning as much as they are. I think youve got to look at spring at the Spring Budget. Actually, the triple lock has been 2024, been guaranteed for april 2024, so them. So thats a win for them. And theres been and also theres been a massive billion injection massive £3. 4 billion injection into , which of course into the nhs, which of course benefits the elderly more than anyone else. So when you evaluate all of those factors, i think they need to maybe shut up for a second. And also lets think about young people. Im 23. Theres a young people. Im 23. Theres a lot of my age we cant lot of people my age we cant even afford to stop renting because we just cant buy a house. Its so expensive now. I was looking at figures back in 1971, the average uk house price was about £4,200. Now, early 2021, it was £249,000. Thats the 58 times increase. So were the 58 times increase. So were now finding that a lot of young people, they cant afford to even get their own house. Thats not pensioners fault. Thats not pensioners fault. Thats not pensioners fault. But what were now seeing in the budget is the National Insurance which insurance reduction, which actually people. Actually helps young people. Obviously, that doesnt affect those that are stage state age pension theyre not pension because theyre not making contributions. Pension because theyre not making contributions. But making any contributions. But for earning £35,000 for anyone earning £35,000 a yean for anyone earning £35,000 a year, the new reduction in National Insurance will actually give them about £450 extra each yean give them about £450 extra each year, which is great because if you are saving up for a deposit and you are a young person that extra £450 could go quite a long way into an isa or way if you put it into an isa or savings account or whatever you decide it. Decide to do with it. So and young people actually were winners in were the biggest winners in yesterdays 25 to yesterdays budget. The 25 to 34, youre not quite there yet benefited most, average benefited the most, an average of per house, 18 to 45 of £620 per house, 18 to 45 gain, 590 on average. Why arent young people more angry about immigration if you if you cant get on the housing ladder . Isnt this about supply and demand . Well, i guess i mean, i have ive been on gb news before to talk this whole thing. Talk about this whole thing. There is an actual i think there is an actual issue with gen z, gen z being people my age. I said, im 23. Theres like i said, im 23. Theres a snobbery think a lot of snobbery and i think theres a of apathy. Weve theres a lot of apathy. Weve got about a million jobs at the moment need to be moment in uk that need to be filled, but theres a lot of young people dont young people that just dont want seeing want to do it. Were seeing about people in long about 2. 8 Million People in long terms think they are terms work shy. I think they are work thats what ive come work shy. Thats what ive come on show to argue , on this show before to argue, and that needs to change and i think that needs to change that mentality to that working mentality needs to change. Perhaps does, change. And perhaps if it does, then see more younger then we might see more younger people getting there making people getting out there making money economy. People getting out there making mo but economy. People getting out there making mo but the economy. People getting out there making mo but the moment. People getting out there making mo but the moment theyre not but at the moment theyre not a lot them. A lot of them. Can i quickly you about can i quickly ask you about this the apprentice . This season of the apprentice . I watch and ive watch it with my kids and ive got theory. I think the got a theory. I think the apprentice proof that human apprentice is proof that human intelligence going backwards. Apprentice is proof that human intel agreea going backwards. Apprentice is proof that human intel agree , going backwards. Apprentice is proof that human intel agree , i going backwards. Apprentice is proof that human intel agree , i agree, backwards. Apprentice is proof that human intel agree , i agree, and wards. Apprentice is proof that human intel agree , i agree, and itsds. I agree, i agree, and its probably because of lord sugar. Hes dont know, on hes actually, i dont know, on the being sinner the verge of being sinner because karren brady is constantly having to remind her. This was my days of i and this was my days of i think thats thing to say. It seems as sharp as a pin to me. Well, you dont see what happens behind the scenes. I mean, a lot of mean, theres a lot of production goes into the show. Hes not here to vet himself and very litigious and hes and hes very litigious and hes got deep pockets. I wouldnt go there if i were you. Lets talk about contestants. There if i were you. Lets talk aboyes. Contestants. Yes. Yes. The contestants. Think they the contestants. I think they are this year. Are very lacklustre this year. I think that my season. Im not biased, but i think we had the best season yet. Me, Thomas Skinner leading best season yet. Charge. Ymas skinner leading the charge. Think was tv. I think it was great tv. I think it was great tv. Now think the bbc are just now i think the bbc are just becoming really, dont know, becoming really, i dont know, conservative, sure conservative, making sure theres controversial characters. Cant cause a scandal here, cant cause a scandal here, cant a scandal there. Now cant cause a scandal there. Now youre seeing the casting. Yeah, i think youre right. And it feels me like and it just feels to me like a box ticking exercise. And not a lot to but thank very box ticking exercise. And not a lot to youvet thank very box ticking exercise. And not a lot to youve certainly very box ticking exercise. And not a lot to youve certainly gotery box ticking exercise. And not a lot to youve certainly got ay box ticking exercise. And not a lot to youve certainly got a lot much. Youve certainly got a lot to thanks joining us, to say. Thanks forjoining us, ryan. Youngest ryan. Mark parsons, youngest ever contestant on the ever contestant still on the apprentice. Hes got a lot to apprentice. Hes got a lot to say, too. Now, tory website has written an open letter calling on rishi sunak to resign now and surely we cant have a fourth Prime Minister in just 18 months. Im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains news channel welcome back. Its 447. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Thats more than 24 hours now since jeremy hunt delivered his final Spring Budget before the next general election. But the news agenda is still dominated by what he said and also what he didnt say. Lets get more reaction to that now. And im joined by louise hay, whos the shadow transport secretary. Louise welcome to the show. So picking over the bones this morning after the night before £8 billion hit to pensioners, highest earners. Pensioners, highest earners. Also the worst off young people are the best off including those on benefits and he nicked your non dom policy. Youve got to be delighted. Basically jeremy hunt gave a Labour Party Budget yesterday , didnt he . Yesterday, didnt he . Well, he did indeed. Not only did he nick non dom tax policy, but he also nicked part of our windfall tax policy as well, both of which weve been calling for and campaigning for over the last couple of years. And do last couple of years. And i do think it was, you know, the final humiliation of this desperate that desperate government that theyve to nick straight out theyve had to nick straight out of policy proposals for the of our policy proposals for the next general election in order to plug the black hole that liz truss in the public truss left in the public finances. But we know this was a very lacklustre budget. It didnt go anywhere near far enough. The didnt go anywhere near far enough. The growth figures are increasing , enough. The growth figures are increasing, only anaemic and the economy is still in recession. The number of people out of work and economically inactive is set to grow still further, and growth is only where it even is at these very low levels. Because of the record high levels of immigration, so , you levels of immigration, so, you know, this budget went nowhere near enough to tackle the levels of Living Standards and the kind of Living Standards and the kind of growth we need to see in of growth that we need to see in our economy now. Of growth that we need to see in ourwell, my now. Of growth that we need to see in our well, my leave 1ow. Of growth that we need to see in ourwell, my leave you with a well, but leave you with a bit a headache, isnt bit of a headache, though, isnt it, because your it, louise . Because your flagship taxes flagship policy of raising taxes has been snaffled up by the has now been snaffled up by the conservative party and theres a second problem. And when liam byrne left that infamous note in 2010, when David Cameron came in saying theres no money left, National Debt was a mere 960 billion, now its 2. 7 trillion, almost treble the amount. So youve got two problems. Your taxation policy has now been nicked and the biscuit tin is completely empty. How can the completely empty. How can the labour party afford to pay for the taxes . You would blatantly the taxes . You would blatantly need to be able to run the country. Well, look, none of us underestimate the scale of the challenge that the tories are going to be leaving us. If were fortunate and have enough to have the privilege of winning the election and the next general election and going government, they going into government, they have absolutely the economy. Going into government, they have abstrusss the economy. Going into government, they have abstrusss dangerousa economy. Liz trusss dangerous mini budget last year put thousands of pounds on ordinary peoples mortgages and as you say, they have near tripled the National Debt since labour left government. Thats why wed set out a number of tax rises. Yes, out a number of tax rises. Yes, theyve nicked our non dom policy, but weve still got an increase on the vat that we can collect from private schools. And closing a loophole on the private equity interests that people can, people can earn from that being taxed as capital rather than income. But we are committed to the pledges that weve made. Were committed to tackling those nhs waiting lists that at a record high, and that are at a record high, and to delivering breakfast clubs in every primary school, Rachel Reeves has been clear this morning that still morning that we are still committed to that, and were going away and look at the going to go away and look at the fine budget to make fine print of the budget to make sure we can find a way to sure that we can find a way to fund those still. But you wouldnt expect us. Just 24 wouldnt expect us. Just over 24 hours jeremy hours since jeremy hunt announced nicking our announced he was nicking our non dom found non dom policy to have found that immediately. It that money. Immediately. It wouldnt be credible if did. Wouldnt be credible if we did. So we will go away, and we will find that money to fund those pledges. Okay . Had Andrea Jenkins okay . We had Andrea Jenkins on show earlier. Was on the show earlier. She was saying shed get saying that shed like to get rid of vanity projects like net zero. Of course, keir zero. Now, of course, sir keir starmer that £28 starmer did drop that £28 billion per year pledge to hit green targets. Will that come green targets. Will that come back in . Well, i think thats extremely revealing to hear our efforts to tackle climate, climate change, dismissed as vanhy climate change, dismissed as vanity projects by Andrea Leadsom and also a complete dismissal of the opportunities that investment in the Green Industries that we so clearly need to compete with other countries, particularly economies like china and america, so we are still committed to a number of policies in order to invest in those jobs, invest in offshore and onshore wind in new nuclear, and onshore wind in new nuclear, and create a National Wealth fund. So that we can crowd in private Sector Investment and create good jobs in those areas of the country that desperately need it. But unfortunately , yes, need it. But unfortunately, yes, we did have to reassess our initial commitment of £28 billion a year because of the straitened Economic Conditions that the tories have created. Were committed were still absolutely committed to principle of investment to the principle of investment and with the private and working with the private sector order grow sector in order to grow the economy and deliver those jobs that people desperately need. Louise haigh, the okay. Louise haigh, the shadow transport secretary, okay. Louise haigh, the shadow triveryyrt secretary, okay. Louise haigh, the shadow trivery much retary, okay. Louise haigh, the shadow trivery much retajoining thank you very much for joining us the show and giving us us on the show and giving us your pleasure now, your opinion. Pleasure now, heres a question for you. Could Penny Mordaunt win the next general election for the conservatives . Well, shes the most cabinet minister, most popular cabinet minister, according to a poll of grassroots tory activists , ms grassroots tory activists, ms mordaunt has leapfrogged kemi badenoch, had previously badenoch, who had previously been the top minister. And it comes as another conservative website asks people to sign a letter calling for rishi sunak to resign now. Well, joining me to resign now. Well, joining me to discuss this is former labour minister Denis Macshane dennis. Welcome to the show. Always a pleasure. The tories are revolting again. They want rid of rishi sunak and they think Penny Mordaunt is the answer. Whats your take . Well, if, dear peties the answer, the problem is much bigger than any of us could ever have imagined. I checked with my have imagined. I checked with my daughter, 31 years old, university graduate, speaks languages, working in the Charity Sector in sheffield, helping blind people. And she just said penny who . So i think if penny needs a very, very big breakthrough into people knowing who she is, she did make an enormous splash once she remember she she dived off her swimming pool, i think in her constituency , and it was a belly constituency, and it was a belly flop. Weve all done them. But my goodness, that was the biggest belly flop ive ever seen on television in my life. So, my concern for her would be shes a doughty champion of the navy, but no ones mentioned this so far. The biggest victim of the cuts that jeremy hunt announced yesterday. What the government proposes to take away from the Public Sector is the royal navy. Its having the single biggest slice of its budget , single biggest slice of its budget, which is great news for mr putin and mr zigi , the mr putin and mr zigi, the dictator in china. But i would have thought penny wouldnt be very keen on that at all. Well, which goes what the labour party do about that. Would you, would you ramp up spending on defence . John healey, the shadow defence secretary, has been much clearer. He doesnt rush over to kyiv for photo calls with zelenskyy, like Boris Johnson, president zelenskyy and liz truss and all the rest of it, all the 5 or 6 defence ministers weve had since the war started, he is saying yes , britain, hes he is saying yes, britain, hes put forward lots of concrete proposals, has got to take defence seriously after the yean defence seriously after the year, literally the years and years, the last 13 years has been nothing happening on the Defence Sector at all, our military are very angry over housing. Were not sending them adequately equipped. Were adequately equipped. Were contributing far less than other countries, more than some, more than some. But in general terms, give you one example. Weve said 14 challenger tanks. Weve got 114 storage getting rusty. Get the british out. We have to leave it there. Im afraid. Denis macshane, i im afraid. Denis macshane, i know you can talk for a long time, but we have to not go in there. Thank you very much. Now weve got loads more on that jeremy hunt interview on that controversial war controversial muslim war memorial thats coming after this. Martin daubney this. Im Martin Daubney on gb news. Weather news. First your weather with alex. Alex burkill. A brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello again. Welcome to your latest gb news weather update brought to you by the met office. Tomorrows going to be a mostly fine day for many of us, but before then we do have few but before then we do have a few showers watch out for. At the showers to watch out for. At the moment is southeasterly moment there is a southeasterly flow across country thats flow across the country thats being brought on by High Pressure towards the north east of the uk. Worth bearing in mind this quite brisk and this flow is quite brisk and those winds are going to pick up as tomorrow. There as we go into tomorrow. There will be few showers this will be a few showers this evening parts of wales. Will be a few showers this eveniwill parts of wales. Will be a few showers this eveniwill then parts of wales. Will be a few showers this eveniwill then push of wales. Will be a few showers this eveniwill then push into iales. They will then push into northern overnight and Northern Ireland overnight and also showery outbreaks also some showery outbreaks across northeast across parts of northeast england scotland. Could england and scotland. Two could be sleet or snow over be a bit of sleet or snow over the highest ground, otherwise mostly night and even some mostly dry night and even some clear skies developing in the south across parts of south and across parts of northwest scotland. Clear skies and wind in and shelter from the wind in prone rural spots could lead to a of frost. Tomorrow a touch of frost. Tomorrow morning. Otherwise, and as go morning. Otherwise, and as we go through apart from through tomorrow, apart from a few of rain few showery outbreaks of rain through morning across parts through the morning across parts of northeast of scotland and northeast england its looking a dry england, its looking like a dry day will see increasing day and we will see increasing amounts of sunshine, particularly across many parts amounts of sunshine, pa england across many parts amounts of sunshine, pa england andyss many parts amounts of sunshine, pa england and walesny parts amounts of sunshine, pa england and wales and arts amounts of sunshine, pa england and wales and also of england and wales and also western scotland. Meanwhile, areas that areas exposed to that southeasterly wind likely to remain a bit cloudier and temperatures will be a touch lower than today. For many of us with a wind chill, especially across northern parts into the weekend. Its looking bit weekend. And its looking a bit wetter of us. There wetter for many of us. There will some unsettled weather will be some unsettled weather pushing way from the pushing its way in from the southwest through southwest as we go through saturday, so in southern areas its likely to turn pretty wet at the next few days, at times over the next few days, at times over the next few days, a bit more showery further north. Pick up north. Temperatures may pick up on saturday before down on saturday before dropping down by. By monday. Looks like things are heating up boxt boilers sponsors of weather on gb news. Hey. Very good afternoon to you. Its 5 pm. And welcome to the Martin Daubney show on gb news. Broadcasting live from the heart of westminster. All across the uk. Today, jeremy hunts told gb news that the government must change the uks economic model. So we dont rely on mass migration to boost the economy. Migration to boost the economy. He, the chancellor, has also revealed that he will spend more on defence, saying the world is very volatile and dangerous and this story really, really got you going yesterday. Ill get more reaction to news that pensioners will cop for a staggering £8 billion hit after yesterday. Budget. Yesterday. Budget. Welcome to the show. Its always a pleasure to have your company. Hundreds of emails coming in so far. I asked you earlier in the show throughout the past two hours, are you a pensioner . Do you feel are you a pensioner . Do you feel aggrieved what happened aggrieved by what happened yesterday . Fiscal drag seems to yesterday . Fiscal drag seems to have outweighed any gains that youve received in terms of your pension, and certainly those opinions echoing that, ill read out a bunch of those throughout the show. Well also go back on that extraordinary opening gambit to yesterdays budget, where chancellor jeremy hunt pledged £1 million to a muslim war memorial. Yesterday. You war memorial. Yesterday. You were getting in touch in your droves and that has rolled through into today. Well have a debate on that later on. Was that the right thing to do . The chancellor claims its not divisive. But what do you think . Let me know. Youre the only people who really matter on this programme. Gb views at gb news. Programme. Gb views at gb news. Com but first its time for your latest News Headlines with sam francis. Francis. Martin, thanks very much. Good evening to you. Its just gone 5 00 and we start with more budget reaction. Stabilising britains economy will likely mean more taxes. Thats according to the International Monetary fund. Despite monetary fund. Despite yesterdays cut to National Insurance, the 2 two £0. 02 cut rather comes at a cost to the government of around £10 billion. However, any benefits for the taxpayer are likely to be cancelled out by an expected rise in council tax. But jeremy hunt told gb news earlier that his budget is proof that the governments fiscal plan is working. We want to end the unfairness is the direction of travel. Weve gone is to reduce National Insurance by one third. The fact that labour are opposing this today is really because labour dont have any plans to reduce taxation. It sort of makes my point for me, their plan is basically that tax should remain at its current levels. We say we dont have to accept the status quo if you make difficult decisions, if you stick to our plan for the economy, thats seen inflation falling and growth starting to rise, we can bnng growth starting to rise, we can bring down the tax burden. Bring down the tax burden. Sir keir starmer, though, says that the conservative tvs are giving with one hand and taking with the other. And taking with the other. And unlike the government, he says labours policies are fully funded. Contrast that with the government, where yesterday, at the end of the budget, the chancellor made a staggering £46 billion unfunded commitment to aboush billion unfunded commitment to abolish National Insurance. Abolish National Insurance. Thats bigger than liz trusss commitment. So theyve learnt absolutely nothing. We need change. Its time for change. In other news, an independent pubuc in other news, an independent Public Inquiry will be held to examine the polices response to the murder of Emma Caldwell. Almost 20 years ago. That announcement comes after both the Scottish First minister, humza yousaf, and his justice secretary, met with emmas mother earlier this week. Mrs. Caldwell was killed by serial rapist ian packer in 2005, but it was only last week that he was convicted of her murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences. Emmas along with a series of rapes and other offences. Emmas family say the police in scotland failed their daughter due to a toxic culture of misogyny and corruption. At the time of Christian Horners accuser has been suspended following red bulls investigation into inappropriate behaviour against the Formula One Team. Principal mr horner, whos 50, was allowed to remain in his post after red bulls Parent Company gmb, dismissed the accusations that were made against him. Its understood the female member of staff has now been suspended as a result of that inquiry. Horner told a press conference this afternoon that hes very fortunate to have a beautiful family and he said a supportive wife, adding its been a very trying and very challenging time , lord David Cameron has said that its essential the west continues to support ukraine in its ongoing conflict with russia. Speaking on a visit to berlin this afternoon, the foreign secretary said that peace can only be achieved by demonstrating strength and ensuring defeat. Demonstrating strength and ensuring defeat. His ensuring putins defeat. His comments come as germany is facing increasing pressure to supply its long range missiles to kyiv. To kyiv. I dont have any doubt that the ukrainians are brave enough. I dont have any doubt in their leadership. I do not have any doubtin leadership. I do not have any doubt in their ability to fight and to resist this appalling russian aggression. The question is for us, are we the european countries, the euro atlantic community, the allies of ukraine . Are we going to see this through . Are we going to give them what they need . Are we going to back them with everything that we have . Everything that we have . Sweden has officially joined nato , marking a historic moment nato, marking a historic moment for the nation and the military alliance. Us secretary of state Antony Blinken has praised that decision, saying good news and good things come to those who wait. The move in response to russias invasion of ukraine strengthens natos defence. Its also a significant shift for sweden, ending its long standing policy of military neutrality. Policy of military neutrality. See. Russia, though, has threatened retaliation with unspecified countermeasures to the United States. Now, where President Biden is preparing tonight to deliver his state of the union speech. Later, hes the union speech. Later, hes expected to use his fourth address to present a sharp distinction between his style of leadership and his likely opponents. Donald trump, touting a strong economic performance. Hell also look to ally voters concerns about his age. Thats despite being just four years older than mr trump. And older than mr trump. And finally, tails are wagging in birmingham today as the worlds biggest dog show returns. Canines in colourful coats, scarves and even leg warmers have descended on the city for this years crufts. A selection of agility and jumping tasks are on the agenda for the first day of the show, as well as a heelwork to music competition, obedience challenges and a West Midlands police dog display. For the latest stories, you can sign up to gb news alerts. Just scan the qr code there on your screen or, if youre listening on radio, go to gb news. Com alerts. Thanks, sam. Now lets kick off with our big interview with jeremy hunt. And hes told gb news that the government must change the uks economic model so we dont rely on mass migration to boost the economy. Well, to discuss that, im joined. The chancellor was talking to our political editor, chris hope, and he joins me now. Chris. So so three times in that speech yesterday, you and i noted that the chancellor of the exchequer, jeremy hunt, weaponized migration against sir Keir Starmers labour party. And yet the figures the obr figures earlier in the day, chris, they had quite a large number of migration, net migration baked in forecasted to go up by third. And thats whats so fascinating. I think what we fascinating. I think what we heard was a change of language as an election year. Of course, half a nod to the reform uk party that wants do a one in, party that wants to do a one in, one out on to control one out policy on on to control migration properly if they ever get near reins get anywhere near the reins of power, looks unlikely power, which looks unlikely given and way that given the polls and the way that we a political system in we have a political system in this have, this country. And then you have, of on labour. Of course, the attack on labour. I. Yes, the one i mean, yeah. Yes, in the one hand, publicly, jeremy hunt was saying yesterday, we want to mass migration be a fuel mass migration cant be a fuel for Economic Growth. On the other, the his own other, the obr, his own forecasters say that the based on government policies, net migration will go up by about a third. I asked him in an interview earlier with gb news about this point. About this very point. Have had a big increase in we have had a big increase in migration in recent years because of ukraine, because of afghanistan, because of hong kong, very specific factors where as a country we did the right thing. But the current levels of migration are not sustainable. This government wants to bring it down on its currently, as you know, over 700,000 far too high. The governments brought in some very clear policies to bring those numbers down. The obr make an estimate of where that will get to based on what the office for National Statistics say , for National Statistics say, its a small increase on the numbers. The ons previously said. What im saying is weve got to change that. We need to got to change that. We need to change our model so that we are not relying on companies being able to expand by hiring more and more workers from overseas, because weve got 10 million adults of working age in this country who are not in work. Country who are not in work. Jeremy hunt there earlier, talk to me. I did start the interview with him by asking him about that remark at the beginning of the money announced for muslim memorial for this, muslim war memorial for this, muslim war memorial for those who 170,000 muslim brits and others , other brits and others, other countries who lost their lives fighting for the allied forces in the First World War and the Second World War. And he explained that and he didnt explained that and he didnt explain yesterday, the way, i explain yesterday, by the way, i think have more think he could have been more more explained more full about it. He explained that november last year, that back in november last year, this autumn statement, he found, £7 million for the Holocaust Educational trust. So its kind of balanced by that. He framed it, didnt he . In the Commons Chamber about the tensions post october seventh attacks on israel, and this might do some something to heal divisions as it is divisive though. And he said no. Others tell me, though there are issues here with using pubuc there are issues here with using public money, a billion, £1 million of our money to Fund Memorial , because statues and memorial, because statues and memorials are normally paid for by public subscription. Thats why they exist. When they do a statue for the queen, the late queen and late prince philip. Therell be well all put chip money in. We all pay it for ourselves, not our tax ourselves, not for our tax money. Caused a bit. Money. So he has caused a bit. He that whole memorial, i he made that whole memorial, i think, political. Think, needlessly political. Just want to read yeah. And i just want to read out a sample one email that out a sample of one email that we had in about this is we had in about this. This is from ivor. And he said, how do we get mobs outside we get from mobs outside parliament with Death Threats against to building a muslim against mps to building a muslim war memorial inside a fortnight . Now, you might not say the two things are linked. Of course, the proud muslims who serve britain, every single one of them should be commended and thanked endlessly. But the timing is what people feel is tin eared. I think it was clunky, it looked clunky, it wasnt really explained properly, obviously. Sajid javid, mp for bromsgrove, former chancellor, has been pushing for it, know, fair pushing for it, you know, fair enough. Mean we have gone down enough. I mean we have gone down this though. Used to this route though. We used to have cenotaph, which we which have a cenotaph, which we which commemorated the lost lives of, of faiths none. And now of all faiths and none. And now weve gone this down the route of, got for women, of, weve got one for women, weve think theres weve got, i think theres one for think in leicester. For sikhs i think in leicester. Yeah. Leicester i think yeah. In leicester i think theres animals isnt theres one for animals isnt it, park lane. We are it, on park lane. And so we are breaking all the memorials breaking down all the memorials i think. And, it causes this i think. And, and it causes this problem. Particularly in problem. I think particularly in the israel, but also the context of israel, but also coming to on defence. Are we coming to on defence. We are we pressed why it is that pressed him also why it is that the red book we should look out for detail of the budget for the detail of the budget showed of about 300 showed a decline of about 300 £300 on Capital Spending £300 million on Capital Spending on defence. And i did ask him, does that mean youre not going to anywhere near hitting the to get anywhere near hitting the 2. 5 of gdp target for defence spending . Heres what we to say. We will need to spend more on defence. You know , the world is defence. You know, the world is a very volatile and dangerous place. Very place. Britain has a very special global vocation alongside america. Were one of the two countries that have done more than anyone else to maintain peace and security. Since the Second World War, 2. 5 of gdp, weve said that we want to increase it to 2. 5 of gdp as soon as its economically possible to do so, but theres a lot of things we have to work out, in particular, what we would spend any extra money on. If you look at the war in ukraine, you can see that drones have become incredibly important. So we need to do that. We need to reform our defence procurement , which is defence procurement, which is not working in the way it does, but we recognise that this is a world in which were going to spend more on defence. Yeah. Jeremy hunt, theyre not not saying how much more he wants to spend now. I grant shapps the defence secretary has been called to give evidence to the committee, which is the defence committee, which is away uk the moment. Away from the uk at the moment. Theyre really cross this. Theyre really cross about this. How you know, theres how can you you know, theres a war ukraine. Were war on in russia, ukraine. Were trying to arm the ukrainians. Whats friends of whats going on, friends of grant shapps got in touch with me, theyve very clear me, and theyve made very clear that red book that the numbers in red book show fall of, to 18. 9 show that fall of, to 18. 9 billion 19. 2 billion billion from 19. 2 billion doesnt ukraine doesnt include ukraine stockpiles nuclear in there for the year. So it does the next year. So it does include some things it did include. So theres some Jiggery Pokery numbers here. But on pokery with numbers here. But on the face it, percent in the face of it, 0. 9 percent in real is not enough. Given real terms is not enough. Given theres a war mainland europe. It doesnt even swallow inflation. Chris, stick with us. But id like to on but first id like to move on and speak the defence and speak with the Defence Analyst and the former British Army Lieutenant colonel army officer, Lieutenant Colonel stuart welcome the stuart crawford. Welcome to the show. Its always a pleasure. Show. Its always a pleasure. Jeremy hunts , the chancellor jeremy hunts, the chancellor exchequer. Theyre promising down the line we would aspire to more defence, but it seems astonishing to people when were facing perhaps an increased war effort in, in europe with ukraine and Vladimir Putin and let alone the rising threat in the red sea with the Houthi Rebels the only nod towards defence yesterday was £1 million for a muslim war memorial. Do you just pull your hair out that we just seem to take defence for granted , good afternoon martin. Granted, good afternoon martin. Well, thankfully ive still got some hair left to pull out, but. No, i think that, the interesting thing is that there is a major war, as Everybody Knows , going on in europe and ukraine. To all intents and purposes, is fighting our proxy war against russia. Against russia. In fact, you could argue that britains front line is on the eastern ukrainian border, most other countries in europe are, upping their defence spending and reorganising and increasing their defence forces. And yet, their defence forces. And yet, in yesterdays budget, as you pointed out so rightly, there has been a small decline. Has been a small decline. Now, the mod tried to spin this by saying, well, of course it doesnt include the money going ukraine. Going to the ukraine. Shouldnt include it shouldnt include the money to ukraine, money going to ukraine, the ukraine, send in ukraine, money that we send in terms of weapons and other Material Support should come out of the treasury and our defence budget should be for rebuilding our armed forces into some sort of shape where they are credible again, for conventional warfare in europe. Lieutenant colonel Crawford Christopher hope in the studio, do you think well ever get to 2. 5 of our gdp being spent on defence, and if so, when . Defence, and if so, when . Well, at the moment it doesnt look like it, because the government has other priorities. But i tell you what, the minute drones and the minute that drones and submarines start crossing the channel tackling , the channel and tackling, the mainland uk, if they ever do, and the minute that, russian or even perhaps chinese submarines begin interrupting our sea lanes , then i think youll see a very rapid increase of defence spending to 2. 5. And beyond , spending to 2. 5. And beyond, personally, i think it needs to go personally, i think it needs to 9 up personally, i think it needs to go up to at least 3 of gdp, and i know the government will have huge difficulty in finding that sort of uplift in money. But what is the existential crisis facing the uk at the moment . Its the prospect of renewed global war in europe , and we global war in europe, and we going to war is a come as you are party. You dont go with what you want to go with, you go with what youve got at the time. At the moment we dont have enough stuff. And, Lieutenant Colonel crawford, isnt this a case of priorities . I mean, we have a priorities . I mean, we have a ragbag army. The Smallest Army , ragbag army. The Smallest Army, in fact, since napoleonic times. We have the smallest raf since it was formed at the end of world war one. So few sailors were decommissioning ships. And yet we seem obsessed with pronouns and lgbtq initiatives. Pronouns and lgbtq initiatives. Vladimir putin must be laughing at us. Well, i mean, i think hell hell think that weve lost our senses, to be honest. And, you know, ive got to be careful because im one of the old and bold, that served in the 80s and 90s. But i and my former comrade arms are really aghast at what has happened to the Armed Services as a whole. And the army in particular, in which we served, since the beginning of this century and i dont think that putin has anything to fear in terms of the mass from from british army. Its perfectly formed and very small and wouldnt last very long in general war. And Lieutenant Colonel crawford, if grant shapps were here in the studio, what would you tell him now . What would you you tell him now . What would you be saying to him . Do you think hes got a got the necessary gumption in whitehall to fight for the extra money . Well, he hasnt proved that to be the case yet. One of the things that really surprised me about grant shapps was his declaration, on some other program, i cant remember which one it was, that britain had a sort of , 17,000, sorry, 1700 sort of, 17,000, sorry, 1700 kilometre sort of buffer zone between russia and our shores. And in terms of land operations, thats probably correct. But he seems to forget that russia has a very capable, naval presence, including submarines , it has including submarines, it has a very capable air presence. And it also has a very capable presence in space. So were we are on the front line. The only place that were not on the front line is on land operations. Operations. Okay. Lieutenant colonel stuart crawford, thank you very much for joining stuart crawford, thank you very much forjoining us, giving your much for joining us, giving your experts opinion. And also thank you to you, chris hope. And of course, catch chris course, you can catch chris hopes interview with the hopes full interview with the chancellor exchequer, jeremy hunt, news youtube hunt, on gb news youtube channel. And also theres also lots more on our website as well. And thanks to you, gbnews. Com is the Fastest Growing National News website in the got breaking the country. Its got breaking news and all of the brilliant analysis youve come to expect from gb news. So thank you very much. Now its time for the latest Great British giveaway and your chance to win £12,345 12345 in cash tax free and a whole host of seasonal treats. And heres how to get your claws on that. Were springing into spring and giving you the chance to win the seasonal essentials. First, the seasonal essentials. First, theres an incredible £12,345 in tax free cash to be won, plus a spnng tax free cash to be won, plus a spring shopping spree with £500 in shopping vouchers to spend in the store of your choice. And finally, a garden gadget package to enjoy, including a handheld games console, a portable Smart Speaker and a pizza oven. For your chance to win the vouchers. The treats and £12,345 in tax free cash. Text gb win to 84 free cash. Text gb win to 84 902. Text cost £2 plus one Standard Network rate message or post your name and number two gb zero three, p. O. Post your name and number two gb zero three, po. Box 8000 690 derby rd one nine, double tee, uk only entrants must be 18 or oven uk only entrants must be 18 or over. Lines closed at 5 pm. On friday the 29th march. Full terms and Privacy Notice at gbnews. Com win. Please check the closing time if watching or listening on demand. Good luck. Great. So fill your boots now, jeremy hunts defended the decision to give £1 million towards a controversial memorial towards a controversial memorial to honour sukh only muslims who died in the first and Second World Wars. He says it will heal divisions in the conflict in gaza. But is he right . Im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains news channel brand new sundays from 6 pm. The neil oliver show. The neil oliver show. Its absolutely vital that people are given the opportunity to take part in the debate. To say the things that matter to them, be challenged. A them, to be challenged. A country only really a shared country is only really a shared dream. As long as enough people have a shared idea of what it is , then that country exists. What gb news does is give voices somewhere they can be heard. Somewhere they can be heard. Jewel of a show sundays from 6 pm. On. Gb news. 6 pm. On. Gb news. Welcome back. Its 524. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news now later this hour ill discuss a story thats really, really got you going. Yesterday, pensioners you going. Yesterday, pensioners will cop an £8 billion sting thanks to the budget. Make sure you stay tuned for that. Now, its fair to say that one of the most eye catching announcements in jeremy hunts budget came in the first minute of his speech. He announced that £1 million will be given towards the cost of building a memorial to solely honour the muslims who died in the first and Second World Wars. And heres a reminder of how the chancellor of the exchequer began his budget speech yesterday. Yesterday. Madam deputy speaker, as we mourn the tragic loss of life in israel and gaza, the Prime Minister reminded us last week of the need to fight extremism and heal divisions. So i start today by remembering the muslims who died in two world wars. In who died in two world wars. In the service of freedom and democracy. We need a memorial to honour them. So, following representations from the right hon. Member for bromsgrove and others, i have decided to allocate £1 million towards the cost of building one. Whatever your faith or colour or class, this country will never forget the sacrifices made for our future. Future. Well, shadow cabinet member james murray told us today that labour are backing the announcement. I think its a respectful decision and its something we would support. I think its a its a its important to show respect to people. And i think, you know, thats something that we can agree on at the start we can all agree on at the start of the yesterday. Of the budget yesterday. Its money spent so its money well spent because argument is weve because the argument is weve got which got weve got the cenotaph which honours faiths honours war heroes of all faiths and theres plenty of and none. Theres plenty of other similar memorials across the you think £1 the country. You think £1 million on that . Regardless of who could have been who its for, he could have been for a, you know, for christian war thats war heroes. You think thats money . Spent . Money . Well spent . I think honouring people who have served our country is really important. And i support what the chancellor said yesterday on that. Yesterday on that. Okay. Well, join me now to go oven okay. Well, join me now to go over. This is doctor sheikh ramzy, whos a director at the oxford Islamic Information centre. Welcome to the show. So im two questions for you. Two questions for you, my friend. Questions for you, my friend. First of all, do we need one . And second, about the timing. So lets start with do we need a memorial for muslim soldiers at all . Bear in mind we already have the cenotaph, which of course acknowledges the brave sacrifice soldier , sacrifice of every soldier, irrespective of faith or skin colour. Thats right. Thats right. But what we also, of course, before i say , i believe its before i say, i believe its a great news for the all Muslim Muslim in the uk, uk and across it across the world. Because 750,000 people on the First World War and Second World War lost, lost their lives, lost their lives to bring democracy to, to help the uk and of course, to bring a freedom for freedom for all they lost. And of course , if you think and of course, if you think about it, you say 1 million, 1 million, 750,000 people, 1 million, 750,000 people, 1 million divided become £1. 20 for each. There is nothing for the safe. You know , sacrifice in your you know, sacrifice in your life for the freedom. However , it is a great news. However, it is a great news. It is not just coming. It is it is not just coming. It is because of the of course. Rishi sunak said more. There is sunak said more. There is division, there is. Moral of the muslim is very low because of the because of the, situation in gaza and because of the, of course, islamophobia. As you can see in television, islamophobia and the racism and the and the of course , they call him of course, they call him islamist and so on. So the morale is very low. 4 Million People, 4 Million People, respectable tax payer people in the country, which they take any country forward. They are not, in any way they take in. Okay. Shake, shake shake. Ramsay. Allow. Allow me to interject. 750,000 muslim soldiers served. 750,000 muslim soldiers served. 147,000 were killed every single one of those, you know, should be commended on their bravery and their service. Thats beyond doubt. And their service. Thats beyond doubt. What . My, my question is, doubt. What . My, my question is, at the moment, we live in times where, lets be honest, young british muslims have been seen clambering over british War Memorials while the police stand by the timing seems a bit suspect, particularly when we saw a mob outside parliament. Only a week wednesday. Is this the right time to do this . And the right time to do this . And do you understand why some people think the timing is all a bit tin eared . I wouldnt think so. As a as a Prime Minister said, we have to bring this is give the give the muslims something. Say somebody cares , at least somebody cares, at least somebody cares, at least somebody cares, at least somebody cares for us. It is not just now theyre doing it. Its the ten years ago. You believe me, ten years ago, i was talking to the government to put some monument. Because every day, every day they bring it, they they bring in muslim, muslim moral law. And they, they, they moral law. And they, they, they they the muslim is this muslim is this. We are all together. We are british family. Is this. We are all together. We are british family. We are all are british family. We are all one family, jewish, muslim, the regardless of religion, ethnicity, black and white and whatever. We are all together whatever. We are all together and we have to stay together. We do not shake, shake. Im not. Im. Allow me to tell you , we do im. Allow me to tell you, we do not need to work for a war. We want to spend for a peace, not a war anymore. Not shake, shake shake. Ramsay, i need to interject. Weve had this conversation before, my friend. And i pointed out to you that. Friend. And i pointed out to you that. And ill point out. And that. And ill point out. And i point out to you again, i agree all faiths should be living in peace together. But that isnt happening at the moment. Weve seen huge boom, a 700 boom in seen a huge boom, a 700 boom in anti semitism on british streets. And we have to accept some responsibility. Is coming for british muslims. So can you today call for those british muslims to act peacefully, to step down or to not go on War Memorials and to show some respect every day, every day i say every day to all peace, to all peace to the muslim. Muslim. Please dont do that jewish. Please dont do that, christian. Please dont do that. Lets get together. Have more lets get together. We have more many, im one of many, many interface. Im one of the interface in the the founder of interface in the united kingdom. When nobody was going each other. But going to come to each other. But what we need to do, we never give up. We have to boost the morale of all together. Jewish, muslim , christian, hindus all muslim, christian, hindus all together to Work Together as a british family. If we want to bnng british family. If we want to bring it here and there is a i am that and you are that that bnng am that and you are that that bring a division. And thats not bring a division. And thats not good for the morale of the morale of the country. Country must be united. One we do not need a war, we need peace. And we have to spend for a peace. And we love each other. I believe im saying by the bottom of i love the children of the jews, children of hindus, children of the christian, children of the christian, children of the christian, children of muslim, because they are my children. These are very important. We all think like important. We all think like this men. Few people are very few. But apple is there, here and there and there. But majority are good. Majority are caring about each other. This is happening and we are trying to eradicate hate. Those people taking off those people which are doing wrong are doing real extremism, doing no matter who is that muslim, christian, jew or whatever we are trying to and live together because we dont need to be in fear of each other. We are first human and the human must love human. Okay, doctor sheikh ramsey, you talk from the heart with great passion. And youre right. We need to call out extremism in all of its forms. But its fair to say we dont see a great deal of jewish or christian extremism on the streets, do we . But anyway, thank for joining anyway, thank you for joining us. Superb ever. Thank you, us. Superb as ever. Thank you, my friend. Have moral. We have a moral. We have a moral. We have leave it there. We have to leave it there. Theres lots more still come theres lots more still to come between including between now and 6 00, including the thats really got you the story thats really got you going. Ill the story thats really got you going. Ill get more the story thats really got you going. Ill get more reaction to going. Ill get more reaction to the pensioners will the news that pensioners will cop staggering £8 billion hit cop a staggering £8 billion hit after yesterday. But after that budget yesterday. But first, lets get to your latest News Headlines with sam francis. Martin, thank you very much. Good afternoon from good evening , in fact, from the gb newsroom, a recap of the headlines just after 530. Downing street has said that the governments long terme aim to end National Insurance will only be done when it can be achieved without increasing borrowing. The chancellor delivered another £0. 02 cut to National Insurance in his budget yesterday , costing in his budget yesterday, costing around £10 billion to the taxpayer. However, the benefits taxpayer. However, the benefits are likely to be cancelled out by an expected rise in council tax. But jeremy hunt said removing National Insurance altogether would be a huge job, which wont happen any time sooii. 500. Soon. We want to end the unfairness, the direction of travel weve gone is to reduce National Insurance by one third. The fact that labour are opposing this today is really because labour dont have any plans to reduce taxation. It sort of makes my point for me, their plan is basically that tax should remain at its current levels. We say we dont have to accept the status quo if you make difficult decisions, if you stick to our plan for the economy, thats seen inflation falling and growth starting to rise, we can bring down the tax burden. Burden. An independent Public Inquiry will be held to examine the polices response to the death of Emma Caldwell almost 20 years ago. The of Emma Caldwell almost 20 years ago. The announcement comes after both the Scottish First minister, humza yousaf, and his justice secretary met with emmas mother earlier this week. Mrs. Caldwell was killed by serial rapist ian packer in 22,005, but it was only last week that he was convicted of her murder, along with a series of rapes and other offences. Emmas family say the police failed their daughter due to a toxic culture of misogyny and corruption. At the time, lord corruption. At the time, lord David Cameron says that its essential that the west continues supporting ukraine in its ongoing conflict with russia. Speaking on a visit to berlin today, the foreign secretary said that peace can only be achieved by demonstrating strength and ensuring putins defeat. His comments come as germany is facing increasing pressure to supply its long range missiles to kyiv. And sweden has to kyiv. And sweden has officially joined nato, marking a historic moment for the nation and the military alliance. Us secretary of state Antony Blinken has praised the decision, saying good things come to those who wait. The come to those who wait. The move, in a response to russias invasion of ukraine, strengthens natos defence and its also a significant shift for sweden , significant shift for sweden, ending its long standing policy of military neutrality. Russia, of military neutrality. Russia, though, has threatened retaliation with unspecified countermeasures. Those are the headunes. Countermeasures. Those are the headlines. More coming up at headlines. More coming up at 6 00. In the meantime, you can sign up to gb news alerts by scanning the code on your screen or visit gb news. Common alerts. Or visit gb news. Common alerts. For a valuable legacy your family can own, gold coins will always shine bright. Always shine bright. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report, and heres a look at the markets this evening. The pound will buy you 1. 2789 and ,1. 1691. The price of gold is currently £1,687. 67. Thats per ounce , and the ftse thats per ounce, and the ftse 100 has closed the day at 7692 points. Rosalind gold proudly sponsors the gb news financial report. Report. Thank you sam. Now, jeremy hunt says the governments done an enormous amount for pensioners, but my inbox yesterday and again today tells a very, very different story. Theres still time to get in touch. If youre a pensioner, what do you think of that budget . Yesterday an £8 billion sting is whats reported. I sting is whats been reported. I read out a few of your best emails and a few minutes still get in touch on Martin Daubney on gb gb news is the home of free speech. We were created to champion it, and we deliver it day in, day out. Free speech allows us all to explore and debate openly the issues most important to us, our families, and of course, the british people having challenging conversations to enlighten each other. Why we hear all which is why we hear all sides of the argument. Are the peoples channel. We are the peoples channel. We are the peoples channel. We are the peoples channel. We will always stand by the freedom to express yourself on tv, radio and online. This is gb news is britains news channel. News channel. Welcome back. Its 539 on the final furlong and youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news. Now. Yesterday i was absolutely bombarded with emails from so many angry pensioners after jeremy hunts Spring Budget and indeed, one think tank reckons today that theyre right to be angry because torsten bell, whos the chief executive of the resolution foundation, has said this. The Biggest Group of losers are pensioners who face an £8 billion collective hit. An £8 billion collective hit. Well, we went out and about in waterlooville in hampshire early today to see what pensioners there thought about hunts budget , the worst part of it as budget, the worst part of it as being an old age pensioner. Im not getting any money, im just its all my money is going. I mean, when you get to my age, 88, ive seen so many of them, you know, nothings different to me. You know, you either get it or you dont. I must admit, i would like the state pension to be withdrawn totally from the tax system. Its still used as your system. Its still used as your towards your tax free allowance. If its taken off that that would make a great benefit. Would make a great benefit. Well, now speak with helen morrissey, whos the head of retirement analysis at hargreaves lansdown. Welcome to the show helen. Its always a pleasure. So my inbox was absolutely inundated yesterday. Helen. People who instinctively knew that the budget wasnt good news for them and indeed, when the data came in, they were proven to be right. Because pensioners are canny, they know their pounds and their pence, andindeed their pounds and their pence, and indeed numbers are and indeed the numbers are simply eye watering an £8 billion hit an average of £1,000 per pensioner due to a six year freeze on income tax thresholds. And of course, helen, what that means is that more and more pensioners are being dragged into that tax bracket. Into that tax bracket. Exactly. I mean, i think yesterdays budget, it was kind of quite surprising because , as of quite surprising because, as you say, there was nothing in there for pensioners at all. You know, all of the measures were very much aimed towards working age people. And even that headune age people. And even that headline tax reduction in National Insurance isnt a tax that, you know, people over state pension age dont even pay. So, you know, they are theyre not, you know, theyre not going to benefit from from that extra money in their pockets that working get it. Working age people will get it. And helen, when you speak to pensioners as we do, theres a feeling of what is this country prioritise. I mean, after all, theyve paid in for their entire lives. They paid their stamp, theyve paid their due, theyve paid their way, and now theyre not being repaid the state as not being repaid by the state as they approach their twilight years. fi e think the years. Think the whole issue yeah, i think the whole issue of, you know, tax, you know , in of, you know, tax, you know, in retirement is, is a really, really big issue. And , you know, as youve and, you know, as youve mentioned there, you know, weve had you know, weve got the state pension there and thats due to go up in april. So a four new state pension will be around 11,500 pounds. Now. Its great that thats increased. But as that thats increased. But as you say, all these income tax thresholds have been frozen for years. So were getting to a point where, you know, not its not going to take too long before even, you know, the state pension is going to become taxable. And you know that taxable. And you know that thats, you know, the people who, you know, theyre not exactly megabucks exactly earning megabucks here. And, you know, people maybe would have had the expectation that they wouldnt paying that they wouldnt be paying tax. Not are tax. But theyre not only are paying tax. But theyre not only are paying tax, they are going to be paying g0 paying tax, they are going to be paying go through paying more as they go through retirement. Can see why retirement. So you can see why a lot people are quite angry lot of people are quite angry and helen, the triple lock, is talked about at every budget. Do you think that will be able to survive . After all, more able to survive . After all, more and more of us are getting older and more of us are getting older and older and we will have a huge pensions time bomb down the line. In fact, weve already seen the pension age for change women and be pushed upwards across the European Union as well as in the uk. What can be done about this . Are pensioners going to be safe . Going to be safe . Yeah, i mean we i think that weve weve faced a real turning point with the state pension because i think the triple lock has done a great job in boosting pension incomes. But even as it pension incomes. But even as it was being introduced, there was always talk that , you know, how always talk that, you know, how long it would last and, you know, would it need to be replaced. I genuinely replaced. And i genuinely believe weve come to a real point with the state pension that got to step back and that weve got to step back and weve do review and weve got to do a review and say, keep this say, how do we keep this sustainable a terme sustainable on a long terme bafis sustainable on a long terme basis so that people can plan for retirement and without for their retirement and without having to worry about state pension age, you know, shooting up or, you know, people worry about state pension being about your state pension being available to them at all, and people should be able to plan ahead some degree of certainty. And helen, of course, were also faced by this double bind of care home costs and the fact that a lot of pensioners will be asset rich if theyre lucky enough to own their own property, but not necessarily cash rich. And so we face a prospect of that being drained away by the state. Another feels like an inequality and unfairness. Unfairness. Yeah. I mean, the whole issue of social care is massive. And, you know, obviously a few years ago , i think it was boris ago, i think it was Boris Johnson when he was Prime Minister, they did announce once potential reforms that would have, you know, capped care costs and kind of taken a huge financial burden away from families because, you know, the cost of care can be absolutely eye watering. But then these very much got kicked into the long grass. Weve not heard anything about them , you know, anything about them, you know, for at least a year or so. And, you know, if we are all going to be living longer, the chances are are going to be are we are going to be more likely to need some kind of care at point in working at some point in our working lives. To have lives. And so we need to have some of solution that some kind of solution that people rely on. Some kind of solution that peoand rely on. Some kind of solution that peoand what ly on. Some kind of solution that peoand what is on. Some kind of solution that peoand what is that solution . And what is that solution . I mean, we saw a lot of social housing was sold off in the 80s. A lot of people welcomed that of the retired generation. Now they were looking if to sell their Council House to make money out of that. But in terms of state provided social care, there seems to be hardly any of it. And we hear all the time about care homes being staffed by people from overseas who barely speak the language , and the speak the language, and the feeling that pensioners at the end of their lives are just simply a problem to be managed, rather than somebody to be thanked and cherished what theyve their entire theyve put in their entire lives. Yeah i mean, as you say, with with, you know, with care. And if youre looking to go into a care home, the costs are, quite frankly , astronomical and there frankly, astronomical and there is dont know when is nothing you dont know when you into care how long youre you go into care how long youre going to in there and thats going to be in there and thats the big problem is and so, you know, as i say , you know, a few know, as i say, you know, a few years ago, there were these plans in place to try and put some kind of on care to some kind of cap on care to allow families to plan. And i think that that would just go such long way to helping such a long way to helping people to manage costs. People to manage those costs. Superb. Well, thanks for joining us on the show. Helen morrissey, whos the head of retirement analysis at hargreaves. Thank you hargreaves lansdown. Thank you very much. I dont know, just makes you feel like we need some sort of silver revolution. The pensioners say no pensioners to kind of say no more. And ive been asking you throughout the show for your emails. I want to read out a few of them now. Weve had literally hundreds. So much hundreds. Thank you so much for taking to get in touch. Taking the time to get in touch. Lets start with this one from jacqueline. Jacqueline says this my husbands total pension is £13,990 per year. Despite the fact ive used my Marriage Allowance of £1,260 over to him. My pension is approximately £8,000. He now has to pay tax the First Time Since retired 15 years ago. Weve got loads more of these emails after the break. Well get through as many as we can now. Like a good news story here at gb news as well. Ive got just that coming up in a few minutes once really warm your cockles. Im Martin Daubney on gb news, britains channel this sunday on free speech nafion this sunday on free speech nation with me, andrew doyle. Ill be delving into the w path files. Explosive revelations leaked by whistleblowers that show how the worlds top transgender medical experts put a whole generation at risk. Ill be speaking to a range of guests , including journalist michael shellenberger, best selling author helen joyce, leading physician doctor kerry mendoza , physician doctor kerry mendoza, psychotherapist stella omalley, and many more. Find out psychotherapist stella omalley, and many more. Find out about and many more. Find out about one of the biggest medical scandals of the century in free speech nation this sunday at 7 pm. On. Gb news. Pm. On. Gb news. Welcome back. Its 551. Youre watching or listening to Martin Daubney on gb news now. Absolutely delighted to be able to bring you a real feel good story now, because on tuesday i talked about a tweet that had a photo with a message to jeremy hunt the day before the budget, and it read this. Hunt the day before the budget, and it read this. This elderly and it read this. This elderly lady is homeless in farnham and its your constituency. And what happened next is that i retweeted this picture of this very vulnerable, frail looking homeless woman. It was sent in by a, a viewer gb news viewer, called paul grindley, and i retweeted this image saying its an image that shames our nation. It turns out that only five, five miles away, there was an Asylum Seeker hotel , five miles away, there was an Asylum Seeker hotel, and three miles away there was a complex of luxury apartments about to be given to 300 Asylum Seekers. And i just said, this doesnt feel right. Well, thanks to our right. Well, thanks to our message, there was an intervention. This young lady whos called laura was taken off the streets and has been housed. The streets and has been housed. And i want to read out this message from paul who said, hi , message from paul who said, hi, martin, thanks for putting that out last night. You and gb news have made a real difference. Farnham tongues were set wagging and someone picked up laura at 7 pm. Last night and gave her p. M. Last night and gave her a room , and she is now going to room, and she is now going to get help to find somewhere more permanent for her. You know that brought a tear to my grizzled old eye. Just to know that you can reach out to us as a viewer, send us things like that. We can have an impact because politicians watch our shows. We know they watch our shows , and know they watch our shows, and when we put that out, it had an immediate impact. Now we cant do it for everybody. Of course i wish we bloomin well could. And wish we bloomin well could. And the injustice that you feel about £15 million a day about paying £15 million a day in Asylum Seeker hotels while our own homeless, particularly Vulnerable Women like that are left on the cobbles, freezing cold makes my heart break and it makes your heart break. But together we at least achieve a little bit of goodness. In fact, we have the image on screen right now. There she is, laura, look, god bless her in a shop doorway in farnham. My mate paul bought her a coffee, but that was small comfort. But when we put this image out, it went viral. Hundreds of thousands of people saw this image , and i people saw this image, and i think one of them was perhaps the chancellor of the exchequer, jeremy hunt, or at least his people, because this is on his constituency. This is his patch on the day of the budget itself, millions and millions of pounds given away, including as we all know, keeps saying £15 million a day on Asylum Seeker hotels. £4 billion per annum goes on the asylum system. And yet we see situations like that where poor women like laura are forced to huddle in a cold shop doorway. Im so proud of what we achieve. As i say, its a small victory in the face of overwhelming odds. It feels that way sometimes, but by you reaching out to us here, we got something positive done and i like to end the show on a positive note. I want to say thank you very much, paul want to say thank you very much, paul, getting in and paul, for getting in touch, and im blessed and honoured to im just blessed and honoured to be able to do something positive about it. Be able to do something positive about it. Right. Thats me done for today. Im back tomorrow three six. Of course dewbs three till six. Of course dewbs co after this until 7 co is back after this until 7 pm. But first its time for your with alex your latest weather with alex burkill. Burkill. A brighter outlook with boxt solar sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello again. Welcome to your latest gb news weather update brought to you by the met office. Tomorrow is going to be a mostly fine day for many of us, but before then we do have a few showers to watch out for. At the moment there is a south easterly the country easterly flow across the country thats on by high thats being brought on by High Pressure towards the north east of uk, bearing in mind of the uk, worth bearing in mind this is quite brisk and this flow is quite brisk and those winds are to pick up those winds are going to pick up as into tomorrow. There as we go into tomorrow. There will be a showers this will be a few showers this evening parts wales. Evening across parts of wales. They into they will then push into northern overnight, and Northern Ireland overnight, and also outbreaks also some showery outbreaks across northeast across parts of northeast england and scotland. Two could be a bit of sleet or snow over the highest ground, otherwise mostly some the highest ground, otherwise mostiskies some the highest ground, otherwise mostiskies developing some the highest ground, otherwise mostiskies developing in some the highest ground, otherwise mostiskies developing in the me clear skies developing in the south and across parts of northwest scotland. Clear skies and shelter from the wind in prone rural spots could lead to a of frost tomorrow a touch of frost tomorrow morning. Otherwise, we go morning. Otherwise, and as we go through apart from a through tomorrow, apart from a few showery outbreaks rain few showery outbreaks of rain through across through the morning, across parts scotland northeast parts of scotland and northeast england, looking a dry england, its looking like a dry day and we will see increasing amounts of sunshine, particularly many parts particularly across many parts of england and wales and also western meanwhile, western scotland. Meanwhile, areas exposed to that southeasterly wind likely to southeasterly wind are likely to remain cloudier and remain a bit cloudier and temperatures will be a touch lower for of lower than today. For many of us, with wind chill, us, with a wind chill, especially across northern parts, weekend , and parts, into the weekend, and its looking bit wetter for its looking a bit wetter for many us. There be some many of us. There will be some unsettled weather pushing its way southwest as we way in from the southwest as we go saturday, so in go through saturday, so in southern areas its likely to turn wet times over turn pretty wet at times over the next few days a bit more showery. North, showery. Further north, temperatures may pick up on saturday dropping by saturday before dropping down by monday. That warm feeling inside and from boxt boilers, sponsors of obsession also as well. Speaking of jeremy hunt, did you see the graffiti on his Office Windows . Tory scum die . How on earth do we calm things down in this country . And lets talk as well about policing , because about policing, because something caught my eye in new york. Theyve now got soldiers on the underground. When you look here in this country, apparently attacks on underground staff were up 75 last year, some suggesting it might be time to roll out the soldiers on our underground. Really your thoughts on that . And what do you do about the whole issue of truancy in schools . A headmaster in doncaster has been in trouble. Hes been going round to the houses of absent kids. Looking at your bins out. Are your cars on the drive . He says, is checking that everythings okay. Some people saying, though, some people are saying, though, that snooping its all that hes snooping and its all overreach. It time, though, overreach. Is it time, though, to bring back truancy officers or not . And lets talk e scooters. Theres been another accident which resulted in a death. Is it time to ban these things once and for