Transcripts For GBN The 20240703

Been postponed after the met. Police said it received a report of an alleged Sexual Assault in 2003. Its after allegations of rape, Sexual Assault and Emotional Abuse were published as part of an investigation by the sunday times and channel 4 at the weekend. Russell brand at the weekend. Russell brand denies all allegations of criminality rules ensuring a minimum level of cover in hospitals could be extended as the nhs prepares for a four day staff walkout. Under the governments proposal, doctors and nurses would be required to maintain necessary and safe levels of Service Consultants in england are walking out for 48 hours today over pay with Junior Doctors joining them tomorrow and picketing until friday. For the first time, Junior Doctors and consultants are striking at the same time. Tomorrow, Health Secretary Steve Barclay says minimum Service Levels will protect patients. Protect patients. S its about saying how do we get the balance right. 7 how do we protect those time . Critical services . Weve got primary legislation now in place and were going to look at how that in hospitals so that we applies in hospitals so that we can ensure things like chemotherapy are not disrupted by strikes and really make sure were protecting patients. So thats what were consulting on. We want to get that balance right. It is important that peoples right to strike and we respect that. But it is at the same time key that we have things like chemotherapy, dialysis and other Time Critical services. Services. The number of schools in england where crumbling concrete has been found has risen to 174. Hundreds of surveys have been carried out in schools across england to determine the extent of the problem. An initial list published last month showed that 147 schools and colleges were identified as having crumbling prone concrete known as rack on site. All almost 250 temporary classroom arms have been ordered by at least 29 schools in response to the situation on a police unit in which murderer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick once served , has David Carrick once served, has had a third of its officers removed. The elite squad was removed. The elite squad was highlighted in a scathing review by baroness louise casey last yeah by baroness louise casey last year. It described as a male dominated culture with little supervision in which offensive comments were often seen as harmless banter, nearly 50 serving officers are currently accused of breaching standards, with 24 subject to restrictions. Rule changes will see officers rotated out of the squad every eight years. Plans are also in place to increase the number of women which currently amounts to just over 3 of armed officers. Just over 3 of armed officers. The uks economy will see the highest inflation rate of the worlds g7 economies this year , worlds g7 economies this year, according to the oecd. The according to the oecd. The organisation for economic co operation and development has raised its 2023 inflation forecast for the uk , which is forecast for the uk, which is now at 7. 2. Chancellor jeremy hunt described the Global Outlook as challenging, but he said expected drop in to inflation below 3 next year is good news. The government is reportedly set to announce plans to appoint commissioners to take over the day to day running of Birmingham City council. The authority recently declared itself effectively bankrupt with all non essential new spending frozen. The council is also facing a growing equal pay liability of around £1 billion and an 87 million financial gap report suggests that assets, including the council stake in birmingham airport, may be sold off and the met office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in parts of the country. Later, strong winds and coastal gales are expected to develop in parts of england and wales. Heavy rain and storms wales. Heavy rain and storms have hit much of the country since the weekend. Even the cast since the weekend. Even the cast of coronation street were forced to abandon their famous cobbled set due to sudden downpours. The set due to sudden downpours. The met Office Predicts unsettled weather for the week ahead, with blustery showers and sunny spells. This blustery showers and sunny spells. This gb blustery showers and sunny spells. This gb news across the spells. This gb news across the uk on in your car on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now its back to martin and. Pip thanks , tatiana. Our top story to bring you this hour, the chief financial regulator has found no evidence that politicians have been denied Bank Accounts because of their views. Their views. The ceo of the Financial Conduct Authority has said while no bank building, society or payment firm reported to us that they had closed accounts primarily due to someones political views. Further work is needed for us to be sure. Needed for us to be sure. The watchdog launched the probe in august after coutts stopped offering its services to former ukip leader and now gb news presenter nigel farage. Joining us in the studio now is our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan with on the money. Liam, according to the money. Liam, according to the statement what they say this probe doesnt really sound that thorough and even they seem to admit that themselves. The fca ive been a financial journalist for 30 odd years, pip. Im older than i look like this report leaves me completely baffled. And i dont use that baffled. And i dont use that word lightly. I mean , has the word lightly. I mean, has the fca even read the 40 page document that the telegraph published in full that the daily mail published in full . Thats on our website, the 40 page document that natwest coots put together about nigel farage is a document that says is theres a significant Reputational Risk of being associated with him. Being associated with him. Thats what coutts said about farage. His views are at odds with our our position as an inclusive organisation. Thats what coutts said about farage. Alison rose , the now removed alison rose, the now removed chief executive of natwest, coutts parents company. She wrote to nigel farage publicly to apologise for the deeply inappropriate comments rishi sunak the Prime Minister at the despatch box, said that we need to people need to be able to have lawfully held views that we might not agree with, but they shouldnt be defined, denied Financial Services because of them. Does the fca not read them. Does the fca not read hansard . Do they not follow hansard . Do they not follow whats going on in parliament . It and what theyve done is a typical establishment fudge im afraid theyve said theres no evidence that political views are the primary cause for or de banking people, which of course is meaningless because is are they a contributory cause . Well, what is the primary cause that coutts wanted to get rid of . Nigel farage nigel can speak for himself and he will in no uncertain terms. Im an economic uncertain terms. Im an economic and business journalist and a very experienced one and i am absolutely gobsmacked that the fca has got the gall to put out a report thats so clearly the establishment circling the wagons and utter disgraceful fudge. I can see you are absolutely raging. This is the fca, right . We are the Financial Capital of the world under a lot of headings, the city of london generates enormous wealth for this country. The fca generates enormous wealth for this country. The fca is generates enormous wealth for this country. The fca is the this country. The fca is the regulator of the city of london. It is now playing pathetic politics with its own reputation in order to save establishment faces. Its completely outrageous. Report and liam even more baffling when you look at the leaked dossier from coutts to nigel farage mentioned brexit 86 times. It mentioned russia 144 times clear as the nose on your face. The political motivation was in there. What do you make of the fact that its been leaked to the ft , this report . The ft, this report . Well, theyre clearly going to get a very favourable right show from the ft, arent they . I mean, the city of londons house magazine , somewhere where i once magazine, somewhere where i once worked back in the day. Ive got no bitterness about the ft. You know, i walked away the ft know, i walked away from the ft for many reasons, mainly because i got a big break in television. But the fact that this report has been put out in the way it has been put out in the way it has , its just galling. Its has, its just galling. Its just treating the public as if they are thick. And this is a they are thick. And this is a deep red invitational blow for the fca because everyone around the fca because everyone around the world can see whats happened here. Alison rose apologised to farage publicly and she was removed. The Prime Minister said at the despatch box of the house of commons. Whats happening here . Weve all read the 40 page document on cootes letterhead. How can they possibly say that politics played no role in couttss attempts to debunk nigel farage . But its also understood , ed, but its also understood, ed, that the fca the investigation was done very quickly and that there was inconsistencies in the Data Available and theyre going to carry out further inquiries. So how can they now come out today with this conclusion when theyre still clearly so much more work to be done . More work to be done . Well, this is the ultimate duo bar move, you know, from duo on bar move, you know, from up above. Lets just tell the Little People off. Frankly Little People to off. Frankly sorry for the use of daytime language or maybe not daytime language. You know , i spent a language. You know, i spent a lot of my career , a lot of my lot of my career, a lot of my life analysing regulation in the city of london. I know there are a lot of really good people at the fca, many of whom i studied with written papers with written academic papers with written academic papers with years ive been with over the years ive been inside fca, many times inside the fca, many times helping people there understand the media. Its a Good Organisation open, its full of good people. What the high ups good people. What the high ups at the fca have done here with this deeply political fudge is sully. The reputation of one of the great financial regulator authors of the world in the city of london, one of the Financial Capitals of the world . Yeah. Liam weve got nigel farage coming up shortly. No doubt give on doubt he will give us whats on his mind, what would you his mind, but what would you like see happen now . Mean, like to see happen now . I mean, is the even for purpose . Like to see happen now . I mean, is the was even for purpose . Like to see happen now . I mean, is the was talking for purpose . Like to see happen now . I mean, is the was talking earlierrpose . Like to see happen now . I mean, is the was talking earlier about nigel was talking earlier about sackings on the board. Is that likely to happen . Seems like likely to happen . It seems like the internal chumocracy out the most internal chumocracy out there. Theyre marking own there. Theyre marking their own homework. Can be homework. How can they be accountable to the outside world . I wont steal nigels thunder as if i ever could, but id like to senior cabinet to see a very senior cabinet minister say publicly to the fca really , really have you read the really, really have you read the cootes dossier about nigel farage . That was published in Many National newspapers . Ill Many National newspapers . Ill just call this out for what it is a complete fudge. Wow. Strong words there. Liam halligan as ever. Well, we will have we will, as we say, be bringing you Nigel Farages reaction. But if you farages reaction. But if you thought liam was angry, then youve got a good idea of how nigel farage is going to be onto another big story today is getting people going. Another big story today is get of] people going. Another big story today is get of course,e going. Another big story today is get of course, Russell Brands of course, Russell Brands Youtube Channel has been suspended serious suspended amidst the serious allegations against the 48 year old comedian follows the old comedian as he follows the announcement yesterday that the mets investigating an mets police is investigating an alleged reports in soho. Alleged sexual reports in soho. In 2003, Russell Brand has also had his tour dates postponed amidst the ongoing investigations into his tenure as a high profile profile broadcaster. The bbc is under pressure to pubush the bbc is under pressure to publish its full list of complaints received about him when he was one of its presenters. And it must be said presenters. And it must be said that Russell Brand strenuously denies all allegations against him. Lets turn now to our Home Security editor , mark white, who security editor, mark white, who joins us in the studio. Mark, again, lots of things happening quickly on this. Russell brand was de platformed by youtube early, a significant tranche of his income , reportedly £4 his income, reportedly £4 million per annum. He turns in and we just learned that the bbc has removed brand from its iplayer platform, along with yesterdays book cancellation and his talk cancellation. The quys and his talk cancellation. The guys been demonetised left, right and centre. Yeah , were at that phase now yeah, were at that phase now where with allegations swirling around an individual organisations that were clearly happy to be associated with Russell Brand and to profit from nato association are now running for the hills. Theyre doing that because , because we live in that because, because we live in a Risk Averse Society and these corporations and companies are absolutely petrified of being associated with someone who is rapidly becoming toxic within the sort of public eye. And its all about reputational damage. Now you can absolutely argue that this is unfair , given that that this is unfair, given that Russell Brand has not had due process. We are not even at the process. We are not even at the stage where a proper criminal investigation has been launched. The police have confirmed that they received a complaint. And so far just one they received a complaint. And so farjust one complaint. So no , no full investigation launched , never mind an arrest of Russell Brand or a charge or any kind of court case yet his life clearly is falling apart in that sense. Having said that, of course , these people who are course, these people who are coming forward all also need due process and they need the law to be followed. But part of that be followed. But part of that will rest with them. And whether they decide to be brave enough to take the next step and as well as speaking to the media, come and speak to the police. Theres all kinds of reasons why people might not want to do that , but that would be probably be what it takes for them to get probably the true justice that they say they want it begs the question, though, with with all the huge amounts of publicity surrounding this as to whether there will end up being any sort of prosecution because how could he get a fair trial . He get a fair trial . Well, im not as pessima mystic on that. Ive heard a few people say that theres no way this man could ever get a fair trial. But if you think about just the very recent case of kevin spacey and what that man has gone through, finally to be cleared, has gone through to a civil trial in the us , which he won. Then us, which he won. Then a criminal trial in this country where many people believed that actually theres no smoke without fire. Multiple allegations here this man must be guilty. But a jury, when presented with the facts, when told to disregard all the other noises off, came to a decision that this man was not guilty. That this man was not guilty. Will he ever be able to pick up the pieces of what was a very successful career before and his life before . Probably not. So in that sense , you know, he has that sense, you know, he has been deeply damaged. Russell brand , whatever the eventual brand, whatever the eventual outcome might be for him, is no doubt deeply, deeply damaged by by what is swirling around at the moment as well. There is a suggestion that by being by whats what the youtube announcement has been today, that actually thats going to just empower power. All the conspiracy theorists his if you like cult followers that support him its just going to add fuel to the fire doing this. Yes, there is no doubt it will. But in the same way that i think you can absolutely argue that its deeply unfair that this man is being tried in the court of Public Opinion, that people are disassociating themselves from him. And he has not had due process. There is an inherent unfairness in that. I also worry about those who are very quick to point the finger towards her being some kind of organised conspiracy here because what does that do . It it de legitimizes those women who have come forward and whove told their stories and who may well go to the police eventually with their complaints as well. With their complaints as well. One woman has already done that. So while i can see supporters for Russell Brand looking deeper into motives. In for Russell Brand looking deeper into motives. In a light, for Russell Brand looking deeper into motives. In a light, weve into motives. In a light, weve got to remember that taking that path also, you know, has a consequence for those women whove come forward in that they are being disbelieved or delegitimized by some any legitimises as the clearly very thorough, brilliant journalism that went into this over the course of four years or so. Yes and i mean, this is its a difficult one as well, because, you know, there is a lot of distrust of the Mainstream Media thatis distrust of the Mainstream Media that is out there. And that that is out there. And that distrust has only grown in the last few years. So there are plenty people who would be only too willing to believe about conspiracy theories. But listen, i know and i was talking to my boss out there , i know the way boss out there, i know the way that newsrooms work. And ive worked a lot of newsrooms. We worked in a lot of newsrooms. We barely get from one day to barely get by from one day to the next chaotic atmospheres. The next in chaotic atmospheres. You know, just doing the stories that were meant to do without having the time or or the willingness to go into deep conspiracies. And i you know, conspiracies. And i you know, im very concerned about actually casting aspersions on people working for legitimate news organisations as like the times of the sunday times or indeed the Dispatches Programme i but its worth pointing out we talk about the court of pubuc we talk about the court of Public Opinion, but we also have the courts of corporate opinion and what happens here is that the fear as you said, of the association of toxic toxicity meme is that youtube is demonetising is publishers of him. So hes effectively become persona non grata in his ability to earn without absence of any actual legal capacity. Actual legal capacity. I completely agree with you, which is exactly the point i was making at the beginning. Here. There is an inherent unfair ness in that this man is being tried in that this man is being tried in the court of Public Opinion , in the court of Public Opinion, never having had those allegations means tested in any meaningful way other than just allegations that have been put to members of the press and a documentary maker. To members of the press and a documentary maker. But, you know, at the end of the day as well, i can see, again, knowing the way that that journalists work, how people might want to come and tell their story to a journalist rather than necessarily summarily the police, it can be distrustful of the police. They dont want to put through put themselves through a process. But then years later, statistics about the number of, of course, rapes. But then years of course, rapes. But then years later, they were approached by a journalist wants to journalist who just wants to listen. It can be a very listen. And it can be a very cathartic experience for an individual to just be able to tell someone what happened to them and to get some kind of, you know, sympathetic ear and then the process of the journalist trying to persuade that person to eventually come and speak takes place. And you and speak takes place. And you can see then how people would speak to the media before they might speak to the press. What about the police . I should say that Russell Brand new that that allegations might surface against him. So he might surface against him. So he spent the last few years building up this profile away from the Mainstream Media because he knew this might happen. You know, i dont buy that just as i dont really buy the overarching conspiracy surrounds him. I just think, you know, things things happen. This is the trajectory and the direction that his life has taken. And i think hes probably sincere in what he believes. Im not i mean, i dont have any insight into the guys mind, but i do think its a little bit of a stretch to say that hes planned the last however many years of his life in the expectation that all the stories are going to come out about, you know, him potentially sexually assaulting other women. I mean , remember, other women. I mean, remember, this is a man whos been very , this is a man whos been very, very open about his life and about the way he is treated, women and the way he very badly treated women over the years. Hes never hidden that. So as i say, just as i dont believe necessarily the conspiracy around the allegations facing him at the moment, i dont believe the conspiracy about him inventing it all either. But who am i . Who are you . Who are you . Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, mark. Thank you, mark. Thank you, mark. Thank you. Thank you. Stay with us here on the live desk, nigel farage will be giving his reaction to our top story, a review which found no evidence that he was denied a bank account because of his political views. Talk to you shortly. Shortly. That warm feeling inside from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hello. Its wet. Its windy. Im alex burkill and heres your latest weather update from gb news in association with the met office. More unsettled weather to come this week, but perhaps something drier end friday. Something drier to end friday. Meanwhile, for the here and now, were under the influence of this pressure. The this low pressure. Its the remnants hurricane and remnants of hurricane lee and the associate fronts have already started to cross the uk bringing weather. Already started to cross the uk bringing weather. You bringing some wet weather. You can see as we go through tuesday evening, we are going to have some rain, some further heavy rain, particularly across parts of scotland. Could be scotland. Totals here could be building up, which is why a warning place here. Warning is in place here. Otherwise lots of wet weather coming in from the west as we go through the night. Coming in from the west as we go through the night. Quite coming in from the west as we go through the night. Quite a cloudy and so cloudy picture. And so particularly get particularly by the time we get to Hours Wednesday to the early hours of wednesday morning, going to quite morning, it is going to be quite a mild but very wet and a mild start, but a very wet and windy one. Many us. This windy one. For many of us. This front then is going to make its way eastwards as through way eastwards as we go through the day. Some heavy bursts of rain on it and also squally rain on it and also some squally winds. So even inland, we could winds. So even inland, we could get some strong gusts at times. Get some strong gusts at times. So as that rain pushes its way eastwards, we will have heavy showers following into the north west. Of them north west. Some of them could be some and be heavy with some hail and thunder mixed in temperatures peaking into the low 20s towards the under that the south east. But under that intense rain with the strong intense rain and with the strong winds , its not going to feel as winds, its not going to feel as warm that. That rain warm as that. That rain continues in the south east as we through wednesday evening continues in the south east as vieventuallygh wednesday evening continues in the south east as vieventually clearingzsday evening , eventually clearing away towards south east with towards the south east with showers continuing towards the north west. Unsettled north west. More unsettled weather to come as we go through the of the week. But like i the end of the week. But like i said, start, perhaps said, at the start, perhaps something drier to friday something drier to end friday into saturday. That warm feeling inside aid from boxt boilers proud sponsors of weather on 9 00. Only on gb news. Britta is news. Channel news. Channel youre with the live desk and the top uk financial regulator has found no evidence that politicians are being refused Bank Accounts because of their political stance. Economic secretary to the treasury Andrew Griffith has said free speech is a fundamental human right. No ifs, no buts. Everyone must be able no buts. Everyone must be able to express their lawful opinions without fear of losing the vital access to a bank account. Access to a bank account. The watchdog launched the review in august after coutts stopped offering its services to former ukip leader and now gb news presenter nigel farage. And i believe we are joined by nigel farage. Yes, you are here nigel. Weve also got Liam Halligan, our economics and Business Editor in the studio. He is absolutely incandescent. Well, what is your reaction . What is your reaction . Well, ill do my best to control myself. What a complete and utter farce. What a joke. The fca are told by the government. Youve got to look into this. So the fca go to the banks and say, have you de banking anybody . The banks say, oh no, we wouldnt do that. And the fca , the fca say, oh, and the fca, the fca say, oh, thats just great, isnt it . Its a nonsense. I can give you a list as long as your arm of people who are high profile , people who are high profile, either up at the front or in terms of funding or organised using the Referendum Campaign of 2016, who have been debunked. It is perfectly clear that politics played a role. And look at my own situation in my own situation is obvious. A 40 page situation is obvious. A 40 page report in which it says theyre going to close my account when my mortgage runs off, not for economic reasons , but because my economic reasons, but because my views do not align with those of the bank. What about Royston Smith , the conservative member smith, the conservative member of parliament whose accounts been suspended over the course of the last year . This is a farce and frankly , it shows me farce and frankly, it shows me something the people at the top of the fca are deeply political themselves. Think of sheldon mills , the executive director. Mills, the executive director. He of stonewall. He of endless political campaigns on gender and much else. And when you ask and much else. And when you ask and much else. And when you ask a group of biased people to examine bias , dont be surprised examine bias, dont be surprised when they dont find anything on the broader issues around de banking and the fact that people should have a right to a bank account. They say theyll report back in the next few months. But how can i have any confidence in the people running this organisation if this is their initial conclusion . Their initial conclusion . Well, nigel, youre absolutely furious and with every right, what would you like to see happen at the fca now, today . Today . Well, im pleased that Andrew Griffiths has responded, but its not good enough just to repeat the point that hes made over and over that nobody should be de banking for their perfectly legally held views. Fine the problem here and this goes right throughout our Financial Services industry is the fish rots from the head down. Its the fca that have been pushing on to the banks and Insurance Companies and many others. This extraordinary diversity and inclusion agenda. Diversity and inclusion agenda. And i think the people running the fca are not fit for purpose. I think government needs to act. Lets get a Financial Markets regulator made up of people who have actually worked in Financial Markets, wouldnt that be a change . And lets get politics completely out of it. The organisation is run by the wrong people. It is part of the problem and not the solution. Liam whats whats your reaction to what nigel is saying . Part of the problem and not the solution . The fca, i think hes exactly right and hes been remarkably restrained. This is almost kafkaesque. As said, the kafkaesque. As i said, the dossier, which absolutely proved the point that Coutts Natwest were being deeply political in their attempts to debunk nigel farage is in the public domain. The Prime Ministers responded to it at the despatch box at the house of commons. Alison rose has written to nigel farage, the now ousted head of natwest. Coutts apologised for quotes the deeply inappropriate aureate language and yet the fca, you know, full of people who are ex treasury, ex natwest by the way, just looking at the board of directors now very little financial expertise is saying that theres nothing to see here. Please move on. What really worries me , martin and really worries me, martin and pip and i dont want to sort of extend this analogy further than i should, but i do think theres something here Financial Markets are quite shaky at the moment. Okay . Theres a lot of fear out there Global Economy there at the Global Economy could slow down. You know, were looking down barrel of some looking down the barrel of some kind of financial correction, maybe need to maybe a crisis. People need to believe the fca , when they say believe the fca, when they say to the markets that this is true and that is true. And what the fca have done today is totally undermined. Their reputation as responsible grown ups. Responsible grown ups. Okay, nigel, why do you think your bank account was shut . Your bank account was shut . I know why it was shut. It perfectly clear the was perfectly clear in the report because my views did not in with those z in with those of in with those of the bank. Align in with those of the bank. I wasnt a campaigner for diversity and inclusion, and that must have made me a very bad human being when it came to the natwest board and getting rid of a few of them, you were quite successful. Are you going to take the same approach with the fca now . Much so. I mean, i oh, very much so. I mean, i have to say appalled that have to say im appalled that sir Howard Davies has been allowed stay chairman allowed to stay on as chairman of natwest to see out his term until end of next april. Until the end of next april. That strikes me as being very wrong. Look , this is not wrong. But look, this is not good you know , this is good enough. You know, this is britains important britains most important industry and its beginning to wither. Liam will back me up on this. The importance of a london stock exchange, for example, in very serious decline questions about britains banks every body tells me International Customers tells me International Customers tell me london is now the most difficult place to get a bank account open. So it really account open. So it really matters who controls britains biggest industry. And its been biggest industry. And its been filled up. That board with political appointees rather than experts in Financial Services. So yes, we need a change in personnel. Absolutely nigel, how captured do you think a big business and finance has been by the diverse , the has been by the diverse, the inclusivity, the stone walls of this world, and how how damaging is that . Is that . Yes, i mean, its the stone walls of the world. Martin but its also because this extraordinary organisation , extraordinary organisation, which comes from the west coast of america , which recommends not of america, which recommends not just employing going up to limits along the grounds of race, religion and ethnicity, but actually going to 200 of those numbers. So you start to those numbers. So you start to employ people in a bank or elsewhere, not on their ability , but literally on their identity. And this way lies financial disaster. You know, liam is right when he says that anybody involved with Financial Markets is deeply fearful of a major correction taking place over the course of the next 18 months, or whatever it may be. If you have banks and organisations run by incompr stance who are put there because of their religion or their race or their Sexual Identity , then or their Sexual Identity, then goodness me , 2008, here we come again. Well, nigel farage, i havent seen you this angry since the old days of being in brussels. The Financial Conduct Authority have sent you incandescent and Liam Halligan is sharing that sentiment. Thank you forjoining sentiment. Thank you for joining us on the live desk. Us on the live desk. I think its only just right. We just tell viewers what the fca they acknowledge fca have said. They acknowledge that gathered information that they gathered information at said it will do at speed and said it will do more gaps in the more to address gaps in the data, whatever that means. Well, data, whatever that means. Well, thats what theyre saying. Thats what theyre saying. Plenty more to come after your headune plenty more to come after your headline news. Heres tatiana. Pip. Thank you very much. And good afternoon. This is the latest from the newsroom. Russell brand will no longer make money via his Youtube Channel after the website suspended him from its Creator Program in a statement, the Company Owned by google said they take action when a creators off platform behaviour harms its users. Mr brands comedy tour has also been postponed after the met. Police said it received a report of an alleged Sexual Assault in 2003. He denies all allegations of criminality. Theres been no criminality. Theres been no evidence found of banks closing the accounts of customers due to their political views. Thats according to a review by the regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority says evidence its gathered suggests that no firm has closed an account since july last year due to political views. It follows the closure of Nigel Farages account by coots, which the gb news presenter claimed was politically motivated economic secretary to the treasury Andrew Griffith says. He notes the initial report of the fca clearly there is more to be done. Rules is more to be done. Rules ensuring a minimum level of cover in hospitals could be extended as the nhs prepares for a four day staff walkout. Under a four day staff walkout. Under the governments proposal, doctors and nurses would be required to maintain necessary and safe levels of Service Consultants in england are walking out for 48 hours today over pay, with Junior Doctors joining them tomorrow and picketing until friday. For the first time, Junior Doctors and consultants are striking at the same time , the number of schools same time, the number of schools in england where crumbling concrete has been found has risen to 174. Its after hundreds of surveys have been carried out in schools across england to determine the extent of the problem. A number of schools were forced to fully or partially close just days before the start of the autumn term, with almost 250 temporary classrooms ordered to cope with the crisis. Minister for the school system, baroness diana barron , told the committee why barron, told the committee why the why the schools were not closed earlier to clearly the advice we received went through advice we received went through a range of options from immediate closure to staged closure and a kind of, if you like, warning period. Our advice to the secretary of state was that we should take the most cautious route. The most cautious route. For more, you can visit our website gbnews. Com. Patrick christys weekdays from three on gb news choose. From three on gb news choose. Welcome back to the live desk. Its 1241 welcome back to the live desk. Its1241 now. Its been its 1241 now. Its been eight months since scottish secretary alister jack blocked scotlands controversial gender reform bill. The legislation sought to make it easier for trans people to change gender in the eyes of the law, but instead said it launched a heated debate as scotland reporter tony maguire recounts the dispute that led to holyrood facing off with westminster. On the 17th of westminster. On the 17th of january this year for the First Time Since the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999. The uk government signed a section 35 order blocking the gender recognition reform bill from attaining royal assent. Despite gender recognition being devolved to scotland, the Scottish Government had sought to speed up the process that issues only 30 gender recognition certificates each year by making it easier for scots to self id. But after weeks of speculation since the passing of the bill, scottish secretary alister jack announced that he would block the controversial reform for its incompatibility with the uk equality act. I have not taken this decision lightly. The government has looked closely at the potential impact of the bill and ihave potential impact of the bill and i have considered all relevant policy and operational implications , together with the implications, together with the minister for women and equalities and it is our assessment that the bill would have a serious adverse impact , have a serious adverse impact, among other things, on the operation of the equality act that evening , social justice that evening, social justice secretary Shona Robison , an secretary Shona Robison, an stood before the Scottish Parliament, putting into words the governments collective shock and disappointment, preventing the gender recognition reform bill, which was passed with an overwhelming majority from proceeding to royal assent, is a dark day for trans rights and a dark day for democracy. Democracy. The bill took five years to pass through the parliament at all times, met by frequent opposition, including the largest snp rebellion in 15 years of government concerns , years of government concerns, underlined womens safety and single sex spaces and the risks of lowering the age of self id from 18 to 16. Susan smith was a constant in that opposition leading Campaign Group for women scotland. She believes the bill is a threat to womens safety. What we ended up with was a bill that was very similar , in bill that was very similar, in fact, to the one that had been proposed five years before. So despite all the discussion and all the conversation, nothing really got resolved. And our main concern, obviously, is womens rights activists was the knock on impact on Womens Services and spaces. February saw the shock resignation of Nicola Sturgeon at the height of a reignited self id debate following the chaotic incarceration of transgender double rapist ella bryson humza yousaf emerged victorious from the snp leadership race to replace her. And just two weeks after being sworn in as scotlands sixth first minister, he submitted a legal challenge to fight the section 35 order. Five months on each side remains steadfast and vocal , but the each side remains steadfast and vocal, but the time has now come to listen in as the final word of the future of the gender recognition reform bill is decided by the scottish courts. Decided by the scottish courts. Tony maguire, gb news okay, lets go to our scotland reporter tony maguire now who joins us from edinburgh. Good afternoon to you, tony. So it seems that holyrood is going head to head with westminster on this one. How much of this do you think is about this bill and how much of it actually is just a pure political theatre of scotland versus england . Versus england . Well, i think its one of those cases, martin, where two things can be true at the same time. Certainly gender reform is devolved to scotland. And i devolved to scotland. And i think that really formed a lot of the animosity coming out of holyrood when alister jacks signed that 35 order now on the other side, obviously the westminster approach is that the even though gender reform is devolved to scotland and contravenes quite a few parts of the equality act and certainly some of the more pressing concerns about the gender recognition reform bill were for the gender tourism aspect at the age. And of course , those issues age. And of course, those issues have overlapping with certain issues of the equality act. Now this is the first day of three days of expected hearings in front of lady haldane. The court of session in edinburgh today. It was the turn of lord advocate dorothy bain kc, who is really laying out the points that this the gender recognition reform dispute should be a political issue, not so much a judicial issue, not so much a judicial issue , and therefore the use of issue, and therefore the use of the section 35 of the scotland act should not have been implemented. And so its were implemented. And so its were to going hear from the rep resentative of westminster tomorrow, which is david johnson, kc , and he will johnson, kc, and he will continue on until the end of thursday. Were not really thursday. Were not really expected to hear an outcome of this for several weeks , but you this for several weeks, but you can be sure that no matter who the court of session finds in favour of that it will appeal will be launched by the losing side of the battle. And one side of the battle. And one might expect that this could end up all the way in the Supreme Court. Okay, tony mcguire, thank you very much for that update from edinburgh. Can you believe that . Edinburgh. Can you believe that . It is already one year since the funeral of Queen Elizabeth ii and the late queen was honoured on the 19th of september 20, 22 with an elaborate and poignant state funeral in london before being taken to her final resting place at Saint Georges chapel in windsor castle. Ellie costello reflects on that remarkable day , the day the remarkable day, the day the nafion remarkable day, the day the nation fell silent. At after nation fell silent. At after lying in state for four days. Queen elizabeth the seconds coffin was taken in procession on the state gun carriage for the short journey from the palace of westminster to the abbey for the state funeral. The abbey for the state funeral. The service was attended by heads of state and Senior International figures. State and Senior International figures. Its estimated that 4 billion people watched it from around the world. At the end of the service, her majestys coffin was taken to wellington arch on the streets of london. Thousands of people gathered on the route of the procession to pay the route of the procession to pay their respects , taking pride pay their respects, taking pride of place in front of the gun carriage was apollo, the drum horse . Hugh murphy is the owner horse . Hugh murphy is the owner of the david shire horse farm in west wales. Of the david shire horse farm in west wales. He reared of the david shire horse farm in west wales. He reared apollo west wales. He reared apollo before he joined the household cavalry. He told me that apollo cavalry. He told me that apollo , then named ed, was always something special. Im convinced certain horses just get it and they just know that they are actually very important and ed just has a little bit of charisma. Give me little bit of charisma. Give me that inner confidence. You can that inner confidence. You can see it in his eye. He knows he is the main man, the main attraction. There was a sense of attraction. There was a sense of huge fight for us down at the vityaz. For myself and the family, and we were proud that we had a small but significant role in what was a historic occasion. Occasion. For some, the emotion became too much. Its one of the things, of course, monarchy does. It gives you that collective sense of identity , unity. The monarch identity, unity. The monarch there family goes through the ordinary processes of human life , of birth, of marriage, of death , of children, of middle death, of children, of middle age, of old age. But you do it on a bigger, grander scale. Once the coffin reached wellington arch, it was placed in the state hearse. Her majesty left london for the last time on her final journey to windsor, the castle that held a special place in her heart as the coffin was being driven through the park. And there was the extraordinary moment when one of the queens ponies , her the queens ponies, her favourite pony, seemed , and favourite pony, seemed, and somehow to the bow to the coffin of its mistress. These again , of its mistress. These again, there things, you know, these moments , they stick in the mind moments, they stick in the mind and the collective mind, the queens corgis , muick and sandy queens corgis, muick and sandy were also present as the procession passed britains longest serving monarch was buned longest serving monarch was buried later that day at Saint Georges chapel after a 70 year reign. Reign. Queen elizabeth ii was laid to rest next to her beloved husband, prince philip. Ellie husband, prince philip. Ellie costello , gb news. Costello, gb news. Its just such poignant stuff. It seems hardly yesterday. I still fill up now when i see some of those images. I mean, it was it was when you saw emma, the horse race as the hearse went past standing there in in like silent recognition of what was going on. And the dogs i think its things like that that really pull at your heartstrings. But somebody who was there that pull at your heartstrings. But som um, i was very, very fortunate to receive the invite very humbled by it. It was a call on the saturday after the queen died to say, would i like to go to the funeral . And i sort of said, why me . Why me . And it was the Cabinet Office but it was the Cabinet Office but it was a genuine call, even though it was no caller id and i just felt so honoured and privileged. Um, and thats probably the first memory that i really hold on to. Of the funeral, that phone call that invited me that that saturday lunchtime. Um, that saturday lunchtime. Um, beyond that , that, um, the early beyond that, that, um, the early start on the morning of the funeral. Obviously i left my daughters house at 4 45 in a taxi into the city of london to get there. Um, and after going get there. Um, and after going through an interview and security and getting into the abbey, the Biggest Surprise of all was that i was actually able privileged to sit on the front row of the aisle, not very far in from the main door. Um, unbelievable because i expected being a mere mortal and one of the 200 from the queens last honours list , um, to be sort of honours list, um, to be sort of behind a pillar of 15 rows back. I was actually on the front row and uh, purely coincidentally , and uh, purely coincidentally, very shortly after i sat down the lord lieutenant of rutland, which is where i live, who had put in my nomination , um, gained put in my nomination, um, gained a seat right opposite me. It was really purely coincidental , but really purely coincidental, but memories of the service, it was just unbelievable. The music, um just unbelievable. The music, um , somebody mentioned the bugles before for, um, the haunts of the piper as a as he went backwards from where and where i was sitting, i could look up and see him actually going backwards. Uh, the royal family, the coffin, the leaders , everybody coffin, the leaders, everybody was within touching distance of them. And i actually felt my phone going as i, as i was sitting in the service because people were sending me pictures that taken off the screen of me being right there and everything just is still so fresh in my i hope your phone was on vibrate , hope your phone was on vibrate, but not on full. You say your phone was going off in Westminster Abbey . Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely. What about what about the sounds . You know, the sounds of the footsteps as as the procession made its way to the abbey. Procession made its way to the abbey. That must have been abbey. That must have been incredible as well. All every incredible as well. All every single sound at all from the buglers to the piper to all the music. But as you say, the footsteps , as they sort of it wasnt a shuffle, but it was a very, very, very, very quiet, um, sound as they all stepped in. Obviously some of the time theres music playing, so it wasnt quite as poignant. Theres music playing, so it wasnt quite as poignant. But wasnt quite as poignant. But no, it was just absolutely beautiful, humbling experience. Yes. And was there any sort of acute observations you could make from inside the abbey that we might not have seen on the television , be it, you know, television, be it, you know, members of the royal family or little louis maybe misbehaving and getting a bit bored, princess and princess of wales soh. 5011. Son. Um , i think the one thing um, i think the one thing that struck me initially was the lack of or the seemingly lack of security. I expect to see people security. I expect to see people with guns and things, and it just was not obvious. But they must have been there. Uh, the royal family thats really struck me, the two children, george and charlotte, in between their parents was, was really just something to behold. But the fact that if it was a normal funeral, a family funeral , the funeral, a family funeral, the people would have been hugging each other, arms around each other. And they were so other. And they were just so dignified and it was unbelievable. One thing i did have and this is absolutely genuine, um, weve got im sure your thoughts and reflections are just wonderful. Im so sorry to interrupt you. We could, of course, talk to you a lot longer, but we do need to get top of the need to get to the top of the houn need to get to the top of the hour. Youre with live hour. Youre with the live desk here news. Its coming up here on gb news. Its coming up to 1 00. The temperatures rising, but first, solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Hello . Its wet. Its windy. Hello . Its wet. Its windy. Im alex birchall, and heres your latest weather update from gb news in association with the met office. More unsettled weather to come this week, but perhaps something drier to end friday. Meanwhile for the here and now, were under the influence this pressure. Influence of this low pressure. Its of hurricane its the remnants of hurricane lee and the associated fronts have already started to cross the uk bringing some wet weather. You can see as we go through tuesday evening, we are going to have heavy rain, have some further heavy rain, particularly parts of particularly across parts of scotland. Totals here could be building why a building up, which is why a warning is in place here. Otherwise lots of wet weather coming the west as go coming in from the west as we go through the quite through the night. Quite a cloudy picture. And so particularly by the time we get to hours of wednesday to the early hours of wednesday morning, it is going to be quite a start, but a very wet and a mild start, but a very wet and windy for of us, this windy one. For many of us, this front is going to make its front then is going to make its way as through way eastwards as we go through the heavy bursts of the day. Some heavy bursts of rain on it and also some squally winds. Even inland we could winds. So even inland we could get some strong gusts at times as that rain pushes its way eastwards, we will have heavy showers falling into the north west. Some of could north west. Some of them could be some hail and be heavy with some hail and thunder mixed temperatures thunder mixed in temperatures peaking the low 20s towards peaking into the low 20s towards the south east. But under that intense rain and with the strong winds, its not going to feel as warm that. That warm as that. That rain continues south east continues in the south east as we through wednesday evening, we go through wednesday evening, eventually clearing away towards the with showers the south east with showers continue wing towards the north west, unsettled north west, more unsettled weather to come as we through weather to come as we go through the the week. But like i the end of the week. But like i said at the start, perhaps something drier to end friday into saturday. Something drier to end friday intcthe urday. Something drier to end friday intcthe temperatures rising , boxt the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on gb news. Good afternoon. Its 1 gb news. Good afternoon. Its1 p. M. Good afternoon. Its 1 pm. And youre with the live desk here on gb news. Coming up for you this tuesday lunchtime on the de banking row. There is no evidence to say the likes of nigel farage had accounts closed because their accounts closed because of their political views. Thats political views. Thats according to the uks financial regulator. Farage doesnt regulator. Nigel farage doesnt exactly agree what a complete and utter farce. What a joke and brand demonetise as the actor and comedian suspended from making money on youtube following accusations of Sexual Assault. Well have all the latest on this breaking story unpressed strikes in the nhs with consultants and Junior Doctors walking out this week. Health secretary says the industrial action is politically timed. Were live from a picket line. Line. In plus, were also discussing sir Keir Starmers visit to paris. Keir starmers visit to paris. He is meeting with the french president , Emmanuel Macron. But what exactly is he after . Could it be to renegotiate the brexit deal . Heres your headlines now deal . Heres your headlines now with tatiana. Pip. With tatiana. Pip. Thank you very much and good afternoon. This is the latest from the newsroom. Breaking news, some content featuring the comedian Russell Brand has been removed the bbcs iplayer removed from the bbcs iplayer and sounds apps. It comes after google announced that hell no longer make money via his Youtube Channel after the website suspended him from its Creator Program. Mr browns Creator Program. Mr browns comedy tour has also been postponed after the met police said it received a report of an alleged Sexual Assault in 2003. Its after allegations of rape, Sexual Assault and Emotional Abuse were published as part of an investigation by the sunday times and channel 4 at the weekend. Brand denies all allegations of criminality. A allegations of criminality. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister says it remains the bmas gift to step back from this weeks strike action. Its after rules ensuring a minimum level of cover in hospitals could be extended as the nhs prepares for a four day staff walkout at consultants in england are walking out for 48 hours today over pay with Junior Doctors joining them tomorrow and picketing until friday for the first time Junior Doctors and consult points are striking at the same time. Tomorrow Health Secretary Steve Barclay says minimum Service Levels will protect patients. Protect patients. Its about saying how do we get the balance right . How do we protect those Time Critical services . Weve got primary services . Weve got primary legislation now in place and were going to look at how that appuesin were going to look at how that applies in hospitals so that we can ensure things like chemotherapy are not disrupted by strikes and really make sure were protecting patients. So were protecting patients. So thats what were consulting on. We want to get that balance right. It is important peoples right. It is important peoples right strike and we respect right to strike and we respect that. But it is at the same time key that we have things like chemotherapy, dialysis and other Time Critical services. Time critical services. Theres been no evidence found of banks closing the accounts of customers due to their political views that according to a review by the regulator for the Financial Conduct Authority says evidence its gathered suggests that no firm closed an account between july last year and this june due to the account holders political views. It follows the political views. It follows the closure of nigel farage account by coots, which the gb news presenter claimed was politically motivated. Politically motivated. And this is a farce. And frankly, it shows me something. The people at the top of the fca are deeply de political themselves. Think of sheldon mills, the executive director. He of stonewall all he of endless political campaigns on gender and much else. And when you ask a group of bias people to examine by bias, dont be surprised when they dont find anything. Anything. The number of schools in england where crumble prone concrete has been found has risen to 174. Its after hundreds of surveys have been carried out in schools across england to determine the extent of the problem. A number of schools were forced to fully or partially close just days before the start of the autumn term, with almost 250 temporary classrooms ordered to cope with the crisis. Education secretary Gillian Keegan says the government is finishing surveying the schools for rack. Surveying the schools for rack. Last time i was at this despatch box, 95 of all questionnaires had been responded to. Now we have 98. 6. So actually the publicity has really helped to drive those people who had not responded and were grateful for them for doing that. I also committed that all of those that we had waiting to be surveyed would be surveyed by the end of this week. I can confirm that absolutely will be done. We have a good rate of surveys. We have eight companies surveys. We have eight companies doing it , a surveys. We have eight companies doing it, a police unit in which murderer Wayne Couzens and serial rapist David Carrick , serial rapist David Carrick, once served, has had a third of its officers removed. The elite squad was highlighted in a scathing review by baroness louise casey last yeah by baroness louise casey last year. It described a male dominated culture with little supervision, in which offensive comments were often seen as harmless banter, nearly 50 serving officers are currently accused of breaching standards, with 24 subject to restrictions. Rule changes will see officers rotated out of the squad every eight years. Plans are also in place to increase the number of women, which currently amounts to just over 3 of armed officers. As and the met office officers. As and the met office has issued a yellow weather warning for rain in parts of the country. Later, strong winds and coastal gales are expected to develop in parts of england and wales. Heavy rain and storms wales. Heavy rain and storms have hit much of the country since the weekend. Even the cast of street were forced of coronation street were forced to famous cobbled to abandon their famous cobbled set due to the sudden downpours. The met Office Predicts unsettled weather for the week ahead, with blustery showers and sunny spells. This is gb news sunny spells. This is gb news across the uk on tv , in your across the uk on tv, in your car, on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news. Now its back to martin and. Pip martin and. Pip tatiana thank you. Now back tatiana thank you. Now back to our top story this hour , the to our top story this hour, the top uk financial regulator has found no evidence that politicians ions are being refused Bank Accounts because of their political stance. Their political stance. Economic secretary to the treasury Andrew Griffith has issued this statement. Urgent issued this statement. Urgent free speech is a fundamental human right. No ifs, no buts. Everyone must be able to express their lawful opinions without fear of losing the vital access to a bank account. The watchdog launched a review in august after coutts stopped offering its services to nigel farage, who has not held back in his response. Back in his response. Complete and utter farce. What a joke i the fca are told by what a joke the fca are told by the government. Youve got to the government. Youve got to look into this. So the fca go to the banks and say, have you de banking anybody . The banks say, oh no, we wouldnt do that. And the fca, the fca say, oh, thats just great, isnt it . Its a nonsense. I can give you its a nonsense. I can give you a list as long as your arm of people who are high profile either up at the front or in terms of funding or organising the Referendum Campaign of 2016, who have been debunked. It is perfectly clear that politics played a role and look at my own situation. My own situation is obvious. A 40 page report in which it says theyre going to close my account when my mortgage runs off, not for economic reasons , but because my economic reasons, but because my views do not align with those of the bank. The bank. Economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan. Hes also seething and hes here with on the money. Liam. Seething and hes here with on the money. Liam. I just wonder whether the key word here is primarily the fca suggesting , primarily the fca suggesting, saying the evidence they gathered suggests no firm closed an account primary. Gathered suggests no firm closed an account primary. Billy an account primary. Billy because of a customers political views. Political views. Well, thats not how the Coutts Natwest dossier on nigel farage reads a 40 page dossier with endless references to brexit, endless references to nigel farage is apparently problematic views, views, of course, which are legally held views, which have seen him win two National Elections with different parties. No one else in history has ever done that. Look, nigel and i disagree about many, many things. Look, nigel and i disagree about many, many things. Right. Lets many, many things. Right. Lets just be clear. But he is my colleague here at gb news and he absolutely has a point in what he says about this situation. Even some of his worst political enemies, like rishi sunak, the Prime Minister farage, has spent his entire career taunting the conservative party, winding them up and even sunak and his city minister, Andrew Griffiths, has said there really is a problem here. Just wonder if the fca here. I just wonder if the fca coming to this conclusion, this conclusion can even read that farage dossier. Did they even read the apology to farage from now ousted natwest ceo alison rose, fca its a revered institution , would it not . Institution, would it not . Would it have really failed to have . This is the problem. I have pip. I dont think the people running the fca actually realise the importance the institute the importance of the institute when they are running. I dont think they really have much in the way of financial experience. Many of them, theyre sort of political panjandrums look , if political panjandrums look, if we face a serious correction on global Financial Markets and there are many, many people who think thats coming down the track, i have to be very responsible talking that. Responsible talking about that. Im prominent financial im a prominent financial commentator. I dont want to help cause any but the help to cause any alarm, but the newspapers are full. The internet is full of very authoritative commentary saying there are problems in china, there are problems in china, there are problems with quantitative easing, there are problems with Interest Rates going up, global recession, etcetera. If we face a serious etcetera. If we face a serious financial correction, we are the financial correction, we are the Financial Capital of the world. In this country under many headings. What the regulator says, what the fca says has to be seen as grown up, non political, technical and true. And under all those headings, this report from the fca today has. I cant headings, this report from the fca today has. I cant believe fca today has. I cant believe that the extent to which they are undermining their own absolutely vital reputation in order to score a political point. Yeah, well, liam, nigel was on fine form. He said it was a on fine form. He said it was a farce, a whitewash. He said the fca is not fit for purpose. The fish rots from the head down. And the big question now is what happens to the fca . Will anything be reformed or will anything be reformed or will anything change . Know , youve had well, you know, youve had all people saying , i all kinds of people saying, i dont like nigel farage, but hes this. The hes right about this. Even the bbcs john sopel, you know, one of the ultimate sin balls of anti farage is bbc worldview was man enough was big enough to say on twitter im really sorry nigel i disdained you over this subject but you are clearly right and you should not lose your Banking Services because your Banking Services because you have political views that i disagree with. Chapo jon sopel so theres clearly is a problem and sunak as well, and Andrew Griffiths is city minister should put all political differences aside, all tribal loyalties aside and say publicly to the fca your report simply is not credible. No one believes you. You are an important regulator matter. Go back and do some more. What i think will baffle a lot of people is the fca says its a review, but then they say that they gathered this information at speed and will do more to address gaps in the data. Well, how is that a thorough review . Well, its clearly a kind of holding position, right . Theyre putting and they putting out a review and they fed certain fed the feet, a certain spin on it. And yet if you actually read the review, it says all well be doing work. And there doing more work. And there are clearly data hoping clearly gaps in our data hoping the caravan will move on the media caravan will move on and all people will remember. Here are actual headlines or here are the actual headlines or the idea. I dont know whos advising them on their pr or their media strategy , but the their media strategy, but the idea report is thin and idea that a report is thin and lacking in credibility is this. Well, possibly could possibly be the end to this matter. Will possibly satisfy people. All possibly satisfy people. All that everything is under control. And theres no issue here is crazy. There are many , here is crazy. There are many, many Small Businesses out there who cant get Bank Accounts. Many charities that cant get Bank Accounts. Banks dont really like the cost of regular banking. They like to do Investment Banking and make lots of money in Financial Markets. And of course, then they have to be bailed out when it all goes wrong. Periodically if you have a Banking Licence in this country, it is literally a licence print money. There licence to print money. There should universal banking should be a universal Banking Service obligation that people, whatever their means , whatever whatever their means, whatever their situations, have a right to a bank account. How can you possibly live in this country at the moment without a bank account as cash disappears is and this this case is all about high politics and tribal political rules. But many people listening to this will know that the fcas disdain also applies to them. And thats why this is so politically potent. So politically potent. Liam halligan thank you for that fantastic insight. Okay moving on to our next story now, Russell Brands Youtube Channel has been suspended amidst the serious allegations against the 48 year old comedian. It follows the announcement yesterday that the announcement yesterday that the mets police is investigating an alleged sexual report in soho in 2003. It comes as the bbc removes some of Russell Brands content from its iplayer and sounds apps , which now falls what they say is below public expectations as Russell Brand strenuous. He Russell Brand strenuous. He denies all allegations against him and roger bolton , former bbc him and roger bolton, former bbc executive and presenter , joins executive and presenter, joins us now. Us now. Us now. Thanks for joining us now. Thanks forjoining us, roger, on the live desk. So now the bbc is the latest institution to wade in and remove content. This this time in the form of the iplayer. How relevant do you iplayer. How relevant do you think that is . And is the bbc in effect, holding its hands up and leading the cancel culture against Russell Brand . Against Russell Brand . Well, i dont think there is a cancel culture against Russell Brand and hes clearly got a Youtube Channel with millions of supporters, even though hes not been monetising at the moment. So hes got plenty of ways of contacting his audience. I mean, contacting his audience. I mean, i think the bbc is trying to tidy up, but rather late in the day. But i think its a bit unfair to pick on the bbc. I mean, we should pick on everybody. All involved in everybody. Were all involved in this channel this one. Its on channel 4. You know, the Sun Newspaper know, you had the Sun Newspaper making him shagger the year making him shagger of the year three succession and so three years in succession and so on. Miliband talked to him. On. Ed miliband talked to him. He was on news. I mean, you know, what happened here is that somebody celebrity and somebody was a celebrity and the, you know, older editors in broadcasting and in newspapers thought, hey, its very popular. We should have him on. Maybe hes bring a different hes got bring a different audience us. And people audience to us. And people didnt ask too many questions about or rather. About his behaviour or rather. Now, i dont know whether hes guilty or not. We dont know of these allegations. Do these allegations. What we do know is he had an appalling attitude to women, treated them extremely badly and had relationships with young women who are much , much younger than who are much, much younger than he was, including somebody who was 16. I mean, we also ask ourselves, you know, because we watched , we listened and 6 watched, we listened and 6 million, if it says, you know, use his Youtube Channel. What are we doing . We knew what he was like. Im not suggesting hes a rapist. I dont know. We havent seen the evidence. What i do say is behaviour was appalling and yet somehow we were all vaguely titillated by it. I think we should look at it. I think we should look at ourselves, you know, and should should the likes of the bbc channel 4 not look at themselves as well . If it was as it seems to be, an open secret in terms of the way he spoke about women, in terms of the way he he treated women, he says himself he was openly promiscuous. He was given that award by the sun, apologised to viewers who were offended by. Roger, your your language there. But it was it was no it was factually correct just in case anyone was offended. So should these questions not have asked by questions not have been asked by Media Companies years ago . No. Media companies years ago . No. Yeah, they should. And so yeah, they should. And so should i. But so should you. Were all involved in this process. You know, where we look at these people and we want an audience. We want to employ them because we want to get an audience. And we are not too lax. You know, the bbc on the one hand and organised nations regulated audience on the one hand dont want to be regarded as censors. And there have been cases the past when were cases in the past when they were. On the other hand, they dont want offend audience, want to offend their audience, but theyre desperate for new audiences. They look at audiences. And when they look at somebody you know, somebody whos, you know, superficially attractive, somebody whos, you know, sup audience, attractive, somebody whos, you know, sup audience, oh, attractive, somebody whos, you know, sup audience, oh, well, tive, somebody whos, you know, sup audience, oh, well, weve big audience, oh, well, weve got touch and, oh, got to keep in touch and, oh, lets the fundamental lets ignore the fundamental thing thats changed, i think, since the last 20 years is , you since the last 20 years is, you know, 20, 25 years ago is that people tended in broadcasting to be on the staff. There were some be on the staff. There were some unions involved and so, you know, if there was trouble, they could appeal to people. Nowadays youve got young people 22, 23 short term contracts. Are they going to complain when some extremely powerful personality makes an approach to them in that way . Theyre very , very that way . Theyre very, very brave. If they do, they probably dont have a contract that lasts more than weeks. So the more than six weeks. So the response very heavily response ability is very heavily on executive producers. People in charge to make sure that, you know, monsters and people, some presenters become monsters are controlled and they know and are not allowed to behave in this particular way. So i think i wouldnt pick out the bbc. I wouldnt pick out the bbc. I wouldnt pick out channel 4. Id say were involved this say were all involved in this one. Dont know about you gb news. Were all involved in that. The other thing by that. And the other thing is, by the your presenters, the way, one of your presenters, i think bev turner, called him a hero when she heard the story. I mean, heard mean, really, she heard about that times already. That a few times already. And she should apologise. Its its still its still being its still being widely debated , as you being widely debated, as you would expect. Some people agree with her and others like her co presenter. Do not. Yeah and they she was called out on the channel uniquely we have that platform here. Roger, we have to leave it there because theres some breaking news paris. Isnt it . News from paris. Isnt that it . Because last few yes, because in the last few minutes, keir starmer , weve minutes, sir keir starmer, weve been hes in paris been saying hes in paris meeting Emmanuel Macron. Meeting with Emmanuel Macron. And heres the latest. If and and heres the latest. If and positive meeting, which, as you can imagine, covered a wide range of issues. It was my first opportunity to say how much i value the relationship between our two countries, particularly when it comes to prosperity and security , and how if we are privileged enough to be elected into power , i intend to build on that relationship and make it Even Stronger than it is today. So a very, very good meeting. Did you get on did you speak french . We had good meeting. We had a very good meeting. We covered a wide of issues covered a wide range of issues as we there for some time , as we were there for some time, started exchange of started with an exchange of gifts. And it was was really gifts. And it was it was really good to have opportunity to good to have that opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues , discuss a wide range of issues, as you would imagine, covering a lot of ground, but in particular for that relationship between our two countries. Yes. So covering a lot of ground. Were you talking politics or were you kind of just getting to know were you kind of just getting to knoas you will imagine, im not as you will imagine, im not going disclose all the going to disclose all of the details we had a very details. But yes, we had a very political covering political discussion covering a lot of issues to do with global politics. But also it was that opportunity to look at future prosperity and future security. Some of the most pressing issues on my mind and on the president s mind and to discuss ideas about how we would prove the relationship between our two countries for and me to put on the table my ideas, if were privileged enough to win the election and strengthen further those relations and on improving relations between the two countries, do you think president macron is hoping for a Labour Government that could mean closer relations with europe look, this was the first europe . Look, this was the first meeting that weve had and its very important that we get to know each other and have that initial exchange of views. And it was constructive and positive. Covered a lot of positive. We covered a lot of ground and it went very well. Do you think some of the way youve been painted by the government as on closer ties with europe and europe , do you think thats and europe, do you think thats fair . Look, i think its very important me to say at the important for me to say at the outset that the election is not until next year, no votes have been cast and we have to fight for every vote. And that is my focus. � focus. Of course , its major focus. Of course, its important for me to have discussions with the president about what the relationship between our parties and our countries. Im sorry. And you countries. Im sorry. And you know what might happen if were privileged enough to come into power. But i know too only well that my first job, my first task and my absolute focus has to be on winning that election in the first place. Did macron did president macron tell you to be willing to renegotiate a brexit deal . Deal . Well, look, we covered a wide range of issues and we did focus in particular on that relationship between our two countries. Thats realistic. Is that not thats realistic. Is that not just Wishful Thinking . Just Wishful Thinking . How are you different . How are you different . Look , im very clear that look, im very clear that this was a positive and constructive meeting. As i expected , as you would expect , expected, as you would expect, in which we could exchange views. And it went very well. Im very pleased with the outcome you were born on. Quickly yesterday. Quickly yesterday. Nick thompson has promised that labour would build the hs2 line in full, including the leg of the journey that will go to leedsif of the journey that will go to leeds if we win the next general election. Is that your position . Well, look , this government well, look, this government has that its committed to has said that its committed to building hs2 and they should get on with it. And the only doubt on with it. And the only doubt thats been cast now and the only reason were having this discussion is because its now possible that theyre going to fail on yet another infrastructure project. So my message is actually to the government. You promised this , government. You promised this, you should get on with it. Weve always supported it. And i think that the government needs to end the chaos now, make a statement and make clear that it will hold good on the promises that it has made. Thank you very much. Made. Thank you very much. Thank you. If youre just thank you. If youre just tuning in to the live desk here on gb news, that was the labour leader, sir keir starmer, who has with the french has been meeting with the french president , Emmanuel Macron today. By today. He finished there by talking about hs2, but what was particularly interesting was him being quizzed about what are believed to be his attempts to forge a closer relationship with brussels. But he did seem to be keeping his cards close to his chest, talking about how they discussed a wide range of issues, said the meeting issues, but said the meeting went very well and i am pleased with the outcome. Yeah , and he was he was very yeah, and he was he was very evasive. I fell on the issue of the european brussels the European Union and brussels because there has been a lot of talk ahead his that talk ahead of his visit that thats was about. He thats what he was about. He himself said he would seek closer with the closer relationships with the European Union a much better European Union and a much better brexit deal, he has called brexit deal, which he has called weak. Hes been criticised widely for that as overstepping the mark. Dont forget hes still in opposition. But i think this is the true starmer. Now we are we are seeing a guy whos so confident of winning the next election. Hes putting all of his cards on the table. Hes hes a can you blame him . Look, hes a can you blame him . Look, hes a can you blame him . Look, hes a globalist. He cant. Hes a can you blame him . Look, hes a globalist. He cant. The hes a globalist. He cant. The funny thing about this is, is hes a globalist. He cant. The funnthe ing about this is, is hes a globalist. He cant. The funnthe european this is, is hes a globalist. He cant. The funnthe European Union, is that the European Union themselves, yesterday were saying he doesnt have the power to do a new deal because unless labour wants to dramatically shift the position of the european of the united kingdom, as in rejoin in or join the free as in rejoin in orjoin the Free Trade Agreement or the single market, but they dont want to dance to his pipe. So i wonder if this is him posturing to the right main base when actually he knows he cant do much about it or is this him doing what you would expect him to do . Were only a year off from a general election. Labour are riding high in the polls, he believes himself be a prime believes himself to be a Prime Minister in waiting. So hes taking a very pragmatic approach and hes meeting with the french president. Lets talk to our gb news Political Editor, Christopher Hope, who can also give us a little bit more analysis. Christopher is in paris. Good afternoon. What did you make of what keir starmer had to say . He didnt really give much away , did he . Chris no. Well, bizarrely , ive just well, bizarrely, ive just literally walked into him behind the camera about 200 yards away. So ive got a bit more to add. Yeah hes met with macron for 45 minutes. He gave the french president an arsenal shirt with 25 on the back and macron ablaze across the top of it. And he across the top of it. And he received some cuff links in return from the french president. And it seemed like quite a positive meeting from what he was saying. Constructive were the words used when we asked how it went sir keir did not it went that sir keir did not speak french, as far as i understand it, certainly not in any meaningful so it was any meaningful way. So it was conducted english and the two conducted in english and the two men met alone. Advisers were meeting separate meeting alongside in a separate room. So two met guys, met room. So the two met guys, met together. So its definitely all about constructing a personal relationship. For sir keir relationship. For sir keir starmer, if , relationship. For sir keir starmer, if, as the poll suggested, he was going to become our Prime Minister next yeanl become our Prime Minister next year, i wonder, chris, if its the right thing to do to give an arsenal away. Arsenal shirt away. Certainly going find arsenal shirt away. Lot certainly going find arsenal shirt away. Lot of ertainly going find arsenal shirt away. Lot of other|ly going find arsenal shirt away. Lot of other peopleg find arsenal shirt away. Lot of other people who find arsenal shirt away. Lot of other people who arent a lot of other people who arent arsenal fans. Joking aside, a lot of other people who arent arseifrostins. Joking aside, a lot of other people who arent arseifrostins. Been king aside, a lot of other people who arent arseifrostins. Been very aside, a lot of other people who arent arseifrostins. Been very vocal lord frost has been very vocal today about the opportunity thats been granted to starmer to go and cosy up to brussels basically by saying this government is paving the way for labours great brexit betrayal. So it might be about cufflinks and au revoir from starmers point of view. But no doubt back point of view. But no doubt back in britain were seeing this as the beginnings of starmer positioned himself as somebody who wants to renegotiate brexit, perhaps with a view to rejoining the European Union. The European Union. Well, thats that would be the concern on the tory, right . Martin definitely. But what starmer has always said is brexit done. Hes not going brexit is done. Hes not going to reopen that deal. And what he wants to do is get deal wants to do is get the deal better. Means is better. Now, what that means is theyre to renegotiate the theyre going to renegotiate the terms trade deal or the terms of the trade deal or the tca. They call it the agreement in mid 2025. Whats on the table then . Is fisheries the uks should get back control of all of its fisheries. Fisheries that were temporarily left with the eu at the stage when we left the European Union. What deal will starmer do if he dared do a deal frankly about uk fishing waters . It could be a deal on on batteries for electric vehicles and ensuring theyre not theyre not hit by tariffs when traded back into the eu trading bloc. So what is clear is the b word thats brexit and britain. But thats brexit and britain. But came up. Martin so Brexit Brexit came up. Martin so brexit is what it was definitely a key talking point. I did say was there any chat about small boats , to which there was no answer, so they stopped doing a Shopping List subject areas list of comet of subject areas they but its quite they spoke about. But its quite clear that this is an attempt by sir keir form personal sir keir to form a personal relationship and there was also quite interesting because malcolm macron is not necessarily same part necessarily from the same part of keir starmer , but of politics as keir starmer, but perhaps they both have a shared interest trying interest in football and trying to get the uk and eu to trying to get the uk and eu closer together on some areas. Do you think that sir keir starmer has achieved what he wanted over the last few days . I mean, hes, hes been to the hague , hes been to montreal, hague, hes been to montreal, hes paris. You know, he hes now in paris. You know, he has packed quite a lot in and he is being talked about. Has packed quite a lot in and he is being talked about. At well, is being talked about. At well, he is. And im here. I mean, gb news is here following him around. Is here following him around. Exactly right. I mean, i think he is showing i think in the past this world tour by past week, this world tour by sir starmer. Ive asked sir keir starmer. Ive asked the party paying for it. They party whos paying for it. They wont me. Im party whos paying for it. They wont me. Im assuming hes wont tell me. Im assuming hes coming out of donor funds or whatever. But i guess for the bang, buck, they bang, for the buck, they are getting they are getting it because they are showing keir starmer on the showing sir keir starmer on the world with the canadian world stage with the canadian premier Justin Trudeau last week. Last week, last weekend before that in the hague. Talking to europol and idea talking to europol and the idea of enforcing better to stop the small boats coming across the channel uk and now the channel to the uk and now the big which meeting big one which is meeting Emmanuel Macron the eve of a Emmanuel Macron on the eve of a state visit to paris by the king and queen. Theres loads of union jacks and tricolours festooned around around the place. They are not put out for sir keir starmer martin dont worry about that. Its the king and queen arriving tomorrow. But and queen arriving tomorrow. But i it has worked. I think i think it has worked. I think it its definitely i was it has. Its definitely i was talking senior cabinet talking to a senior cabinet minister just yesterday and i said, is he going why why is said, why is he going why why is he this . And he said, he doing this . And he said, well, try and well, if you can just try and convince maybe a quarter of tory voters starmer can punch voters that starmer can punch and punch well on the world stage, then thats job done. And stage, then thats job done. And it hes getting it looks like hes getting there. Chris thanks for joining us from paris with that update. Isnt it fascinating the way that they kind of parade themselves around . But, you know, it seems to making him know, it seems to be making him look Prime Ministerial, but its going more than few going to take more than a few days, isnt it . Renegotiate what he wants any renegotiate what he wants or what he wants to achieve. There is going to take a long, long time. Its going to a lot its going to take a lot longer that convince red longer than that to convince red wall well that wall brexiteers as well that about position on brexit. About his position on brexit. Thats unknown all thats the great unknown and all the photocalls in paris wont change that. Change that. Now onto nhs strikes because thousands of consultants are walking out again in their dispute over pay. Health dispute over pay. Health secretary Steve Barclay has called the action politically motivated. Motivated. Yeah, Junior Doctors will be joining the picket lines later this week in the first joint strike in history of the nhs. Nhs providers say the Health Service is in uncharted territory as it faces four days of mass walkouts. Of mass walkouts. And now east Midlands Reporter will hollis is on a picket line outside the royal Derby Hospital. Now hello to you there. Whats the mood on the ground . Theres been quite a lot of outside token criticisms about these strikes, saying its going to put people danger , going to put people in danger, extend lists and still extend waiting lists and still no sign of an end to this. Yes. Well, waiting lists are all ready. Record levels, 7. 7 million. The last time i checked today here at the royal Derby Hospital , all its consultants, those are the most senior doctors that are on strike. And theyre on strike across england. But tomorrow is the day thats really being focussed on. Thats because their colleagues in the profession of Junior Doctors, theyre going to be joining them on strike. As you say, its the first time this has happened for the long history that weve had. That seems quite a long history , december when , certainly since december when it of course, nurses it was, of course, the nurses that first went on strike. Most of these unions and these profession ones havent decided to do so at the same time. But i suppose this could be seen as how serious lee, the British Medical Association , which is medical association, which is the union that represents both of those two professions, the consults its and the Junior Doctors are taking this fight for more pay. The doctors arent here anymore at the picket line. Theyve gone home at around 11. Its probably good that theyve done that because its absolutely slinging it down here as well. But there are still people that are going into this hospital , people that are going into this hospital, and ive had the chance to ask them how they feel about strikes. And i spoke about these strikes. And i spoke to two friends who were going in to two friends who were going in to see friend whos at the to see a friend whos at the hospital whos had to have her appointments cancelled today because of the strike. Im quite angry about it, actually. We have a very, very poorly friend and shes had lots of delays with her treatment. She has shes had appointments not fulfilled, not cancelled and all sorts, doesnt she . Yes and what she should have had an appointment today about what her treatment is going to be. And thats been cancelled for a week. Well, because shes so ill, its. Just so difficult because its. Just so difficult because she needs to have the treatment, doesnt she . She needs to have this. Yeah. I would think her family are pretty upset about it. I yeah, pretty upset about it. I yeah, we do. Yeah. They are worked really really hard and the Junior Doctors do need more money but i dont think striking i dont think its the answer i dont know what the answer is, but i dont think its that. No well ultimately the British Medical Association say they want more pay for those two professions, but the government and the Health Secretary say theyre not willing to open any sort of negotiation. Theyve already given them a 6 pay increase last march. But it seems that this is going to be one of the most impactful strikes that the nhs has seen well, across those two professions. Okay. Well thank you very much for that. Lots more to much for that. Lots more to come. Were taking to you to new york, where Prince William has taken a dip in the hudson river. Talk about that shortly. Well talk about that shortly. Now heres your headlines with tatiana. Pippa. Tatiana. Pippa. Thank you very much. 133 this is the latest, some content featuring the comedian Russell Brand has been removed from the bbcs iplayer and sounds apps. It comes after google announced that hell no longer make money via his Youtube Channel after the website suspended him from its Creator Program. Mr browns comedy tour has also been postponed after the met police said it received a report of an alleged Sexual Assault in 2003. He denies all allegations of criminality. A spokesperson for criminality. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister says it remains the bmas gift to step back from this weeks strike action. Its after rules ensuring a minimum level of cover in hospitals could be extended as the nhs prepares for a four day staff walkout. Consult agents in england are walking out for 48 hours today over pay, with Junior Doctors joining them tomorrow and picketing until friday for the first time. Junior doctors and consultants are striking at the same time tomorrow. Theres been same time tomorrow. Theres been no evidence found of banks closing the accounts of customers due to their political views. Thats according to a review by the Financial Conduct Authority. It follows the closure of Nigel Farages account by cuts, which the gb news presenter claimed was political motivated. Sir keir political motivated. Sir keir starmer is in paris discussing post Brexit Relations with french president Emmanuel Macron. The labour leader says he wants to secure a much better deal for the uk by reassessing the trading ties with the bloc. The trading ties with the bloc. Sir keir says our relationship with france is important for the uks security. Uks security. We had a very constructive and positive meeting which, as you can imagine, covered a wide range of issues. It was my first opportunity to say how much i value the relationship between our two countries, particularly when it comes to prosperity and security , and how if we are security, and how if we are privileged enough to be elected into power , i intend to build on into power, i intend to build on that relationship and make it Even Stronger than it is today. So a very, very good meeting. So a very, very good meeting. For more, you can visit our website at gbnews. Com. Website at gb news. Com. Website at gbnews. Com. Direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for gold and silver investment. Gold and silver investment. Heres a quick snapshot of todays markets. The pound will todays markets. The pound will buy you 1. 24 to 1 and ,1. 1592. The price of gold. £1,559. 30 per the price of gold. £1,559. 30 per ounce. And the ftse 100 is. At ounce. And the ftse 100 is. At 7656 points. Direct bullion sponsors the finance report on gb news for physical investment 7 00 this evening. Gb news the peoples. Channel peoples. Channel welcome back to the live desk. Prince william spent his first day in new york city, wading in to the hudson river to see how oysters are being reintroduced to the environment. Yeah, prince of wales is yeah, the prince of wales is in york ahead todays in new york ahead of todays earthshot prize innovation wmmw earthshot prize Innovation Summit. Our royal correspondents , Cameron Walker, reports from. , Cameron Walker, reports from. New york. The prince of waders is entering the hudson river in new york city to learn about a unique project to restore oyster reefs with discarded shells. But reefs with discarded shells. But why does it matter . Well imagine a world with no trees , no more a world with no trees, no more clean air, no more wildlife living among them. And weather and flooding gets worse. Thats what experts say happened to new york harbour. But instead of trees, its oysters. Have been wiped out and ended up in restaurant menus. Pete malinowski, executive director of billion oyster project, explains. Explains. Its an ecosystem. Its a landscape. So its just like clearcutting a forest. We had used to have 220,000 acres of oyster reefs. Those reefs provide good food and habitat for hundreds of species. They filter water, stabilise the filter the water, stabilise the bottom protect the shore bottom and protect the shore from so without the from waves. So without the oysters, you lose all, lose oysters, you lose all, you lose that landscape. Oysters, you lose all, you lose tha billion landscape. Oysters, you lose all, you lose tha billion oyster ape. Oysters, you lose all, you lose tha billion oyster projects billion oyster projects mission restore 1 billion mission is to restore 1 billion oysters to new york harbour to create a self sustaining wild population. Enough to filter the standing water in new york harbour. In just three days, Prince William met with volunteers and restaurant tours who helped collect £1. 8 billion of discarded shells across the city. At the projects enormous shell pile on governors island, where the shells are dried out before going back into the harbour for live baby oysters to attach to and those babies begin life in the Hatchery Centre where the prince met, High School Students who use fish waste to grow algae. The babies then feed off this earth. Its a way of keeping the next generation optimistic about the environment and interested in conservation and fraioli, whos the education director at billion oyster project, explains i having them here and being able to mix up their school day between their traditional academics. And this kind of hands on work makes for a really, you know, a really wonderful High School Experience for them. And were very lucky for them. And were very lucky to have blocks of time with them in the afternoon where they can come into these kinds of labs and do their work. Today , Prince William is today, Prince William is expected to speak at the second earthshot prize Innovation Summit alongside some high profile guests , including bill profile guests, including bill gates and former Prime Minister of new zealands jacinda ardern. 15 finalists will be unveiled and will showcase their new solutions to repair planet earth on a global stage. Cameron walker gb news in. New york city. Sterling stuff. Always good to see a royal mucking in. And our royal correspondent Cameron Walker can join us now from new york. Package. York. Cameron, superb package. Good to the prince getting good to see the prince getting stuck in there and a few eyebrows might be raised, though, some of the people though, about some of the people hes speaking alongside, bill gates and jacinda ardern. Yeah, gates and jacinda ardern. Yeah, its certainly a wide variety of high profile figures that the prince will be speaking alongside at the earthshot Innovation Summit here in new york. A little bit later on today. A little bit later on today. Speaking to people yesterday who met the prince, ordinary people , as well as, lets be frank, pretty, pretty rich people who are kind of helping to finance the billion oyster project. They were telling me that he was incredibly down to earth , was incredibly down to earth, but surprised but something that surprised them his eye for detail. He them was his eye for detail. He seemed to be really on top of the in the specific scientific detail as to why its good to have oysters put back into the harbour and having such a high profile figure, such as Prince William championing their cause has really helped lift their spirits. And also what theyre going to be doing in the harbour as well. But here today at the earthshot prize Innovation Summit, Prince William has been dubbed a bit of a global statesman, really in the last couple of weeks and last night he met the United Nations general, general general, secretary general Antonio Guterres, a Kensington Palace spokesperson described the meeting last night as warm and concise , effective. And concise, effective. Im told they discussed efforts to accelerate the fight against Climate Change, as well as the finance of a sustainable development, and also expressed his support for Prince Williams earthshot prize. Now later on today, 15 finalists are going to be unveiled out of 1100 applicants. So it was very, very difficult to become a finalist here. Theyre from six continents, different organisations or Companies Set up with a new solution to repair our planet over the next decade. Theres five categories protect and restore nature, clean our air, revive our oceans, build a waste free world, and fix our climate. And world, and fix our climate. And theyre all competing for a £1 million prize or a 1. 2 million prize. And Prince William will be sitting on the panel later this month alongside another a number of other experts to decide who is going to win. And those winners are going to be unveiled at the earthshot prize in singapore in november. But we mentioned a few names in my report there. Bill gates, jacinda ardern, Prince William is expected to speak here. But how are the American Public and the British Public perceiving his visit here . Just a quick browse of American Publications here. There are articles written about Prince Williams visit , about Prince Williams visit, but they are very much focussed on President Biden being in town in new york and indeed president zelenskyy as well. So competing for perhaps his has for air time, perhaps his has proven a bit more difficult than it has been for the british papers are all over prince papers who are all over Prince Williams visit. But itll be interesting say what prince interesting to say what prince to hear what Prince William says on suspect hes on stage today. I suspect hes definitely not going to be straying into politics. He will remain much diplomatic , but remain very much diplomatic, but i it will also be very i suspect it will also be very much optimistic the fight much optimistic about the fight against Climate Change rather than this kind of doom and gloom scenario , which seems to put scenario, which seems to put people off, according to the people off, according to the people i spoke to yesterday. Okay. Cameron walker , our royal Cameron Walker, our royal correspondent, thank you so much. Thank you very much. Looking smart there, isnt he . Always does very dapper young man. Now , weve had weve got lots now, weve had weve got lots of eagle eyed viewers and were always so grateful for all the emails us. And this emails you send us. And this one, this one grabbed our attention. Its from steve in cumberland in cumbria. Thank you for getting in touch to let us know Christopher Hope , our know that Christopher Hope, our Political Editor, was saying that sir keir starmer presented president an arsenal president macron with an arsenal shirt and hes pointed out that on the sleeve of that arsenal shirt are the words visit rwanda , which is ironic indeed , if you , which is ironic indeed, if you think because of course, the labour party has said that rwanda is definitely off the table, at least when it comes to any kind of offshore containment or of immigrants or deportation of immigrants overseas, Asylum Seekers. Overseas, Asylum Seekers. So i did say didnt i pip that if you give a football shirt away, it always comes with baggage. A shirt away, it always comes with baggage. A lot of fans dont like arsenal supporters, of course. By Jeremy Corbyn before starmer is like islington united. It seems to be their favourite club. Visit rwanda on their on their arm of their shirt, their current shirt. Its a delicious irony, isnt it . Is a delicious irony. It it is a delicious irony. It is also a beautiful country to visit having having known people whove gone there. It is. But thank in cumberland whove gone there. It is. But tha getting in cumberland whove gone there. It is. But thagetting touch. Cumberland whove gone there. It is. But thagetting touch. Nowerland whove gone there. It is. But tha getting touch. Now now,d for getting in touch. Now now, it has been eight months since scottish secretary alister jack blocked scotlands controversial gender reform bill. Yeah, the legislation sought to make it easier for trans people to change gender in the eyes of the law. But instead it launched a huge and heated debate. Scotland reporter debate. Now scotland reporter tony recounts the tony mcguire recounts the dispute that led to holyrood face off with westminster. On face off with westminster. On the 17th of january this year, for the First Time Since the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999. The uk government signed a section 35 order blocking the gender recognition reform bill from attaining royal assent, despite gender recognition being devolved to scotland, the Scottish Government had sought to speed up the process that issues only 30 gender recognition certificates each year by making it easier for scots to self id. But after weeks of speculation since the passing of the bill, scottish secretary alister jack announced that he would block the controversial reform for its incompatibility with the uk equality act. I have not taken this decision lightly. The government has looked closely at the potential impact of the bill and ihave potential impact of the bill and i have considered all relevant policy and operational implications , together with the implications, together with the minister for women inequalities and it is our assessment that the bill would have a serious adverse impact , the bill would have a serious adverse impact, among the bill would have a serious adverse impact , among other adverse impact, among other things, on the operation of the equality act that evening , equality act that evening, social justice secretary Shona Robison stood before the Scottish Parliament, putting into words the governments collective shock and disappointment, preventing the gender recognition reform bill, which was passed with an overwhelming majority from proceeding to royal assent, is a dark day for trans rights and a dark day for trans rights and a dark day for democracy. The bill took five years to pass through the parliament at all times, met by frequent opposition, including the largest snp rebellion in 15 years of government concern is underlined. Womens safety in single sex spaces and the risks of lowering the age of self id from 18 to 16. Susan smith was a constant in that opposition leading Campaign Group for womens scotland. She believes the bill is a threat to womens safety. Safety. What we ended up with was a bill that was very similar, in fact, to the one that had been proposed five years before. So despite all the discussion and all the conversation , nothing all the conversation, nothing really got resolved. And our really got resolved. And our main concern, obviously, is womens rights activists was the knock on impact on Womens Services and spaces. Services and spaces. February saw the shock resignation of Nicola Sturgeon at the height of her reignited self id debate following the chaotic incarceration of transgender double rapist isla bryson humza yousaf emerged victorious from the snp leadership race to replace her. And just two weeks after being sworn in as scotlands sixth first minister, he submitted a legal challenge to fight the section 35 order. Five months on each side remains steadfast and vocal each side remains steadfast and vocal, but the time has now come to listen as the final word of the future of the gender recognition reform bill is decided by the scottish courts. Tony mcguire gb news okay, lets go to our scotland reporter tony mcguire now, who joins us. Tony, thanks for coming on the live desk. This is a hugely the live desk. This is a hugely divisive topic north of the border. In fact , it led to the border. In fact, it led to the downfall of sturgeon and Huge Division within the snp and yet here theres going be here we are, theres going to be a case, holyrood a legal case, holyrood versus westminster. Peter, tell us all westminster. Peter, tell us all about it. About it. Indeed. So eight months ago, Alastair Jack he told westminster that he was to going be issuing a section 35 order, a provision of the scotland act to essentially block the gender recognition reform bill. Now the bill had has really been growing. Since 2017, where it started going into consultation and over the course of the next five years, it went through many changes until december last yean changes until december last year, where 150 different amendments had to be whittled down to just 19. And after that, five years of preparation towards the bill, well, it took just 28 days for alister jack to hand down his decision. Of hand down his decision. Of course, gender recognition is devolved to scotland and that then really forms part of the argument of the Scottish Government of overstepping. However on the other side of the coin , it is well within the coin, it is well within the remit of westminster. If they feel that scottish legislation impedes or impacts negatively in any way, any of the uk legislation and in this case its the equality act that is mainly affected. Now over the last eight months ive spoken to so many people and so many sides of this debate and it has been heated. And you mentioned there heated. And you mentioned there right up in scotland and its been, you know, such a huge point of contention and, you know, argument and quite a lot of divided opinions. But i would say actually it stretches not just across the uk but all around the world. When the act was approved by the Scottish Parliament last december , you Parliament Last december, you know, there was quite a lot of congratulations from around the world. And at the same time there was also some voices of dissent from around the world. So this isnt i think the world is certainly looking at how this happens here. And of course, today is the first of this three days of Court Hearings where the judicial review really lays bare both arguments of westminster and holyrood about what makes this case good or bad. But this case good or bad. But believe me, i think this is safe to say, is only the beginning of this legal battle. This legal battle. Okay, tony mcguire, thanks for that update. What do you make of this topic . Because i mean, when this broke as a huge story in scotland, because, of course, isla bryson, the double rapist , course, isla bryson, the double rapist, which holyrood granted that a biological man could go into a womans prison and cause a huge backlash amongst the public, and yet theyre still pursuing this case legally. Do you sometimes think that politicians are just completely out of touch with the public . Wonder whether theres i just wonder whether theres bigger transgender bigger issues for transgender people to have to fight such as hate crimes, for example , which hate crimes, for example, which is a huge issue for them. Im not sure this is the one to go this far with. And the funny thing when you look at the number of people based on census data, its about 0. 5 of people trans or or 0. 5 of people are trans or or the identity was the gender identity was different they were different from they were registered with at birth and that equates to 26,000 people in scotland versus 2. 8 million women. A lot of people feel that trans rights are surpassed being womens rights, particularly around safety of single sex spaces. And yet the snp just seemed dogmatically wedded to this idea to the point where theyre taking us to the court. I think i think as you hinted there, its so politically all it is a battle, isnt it, between scotland and between between scotland and england essentially between holyrood thats england essentially between holjwayi thats england essentially between holjway its thats england essentially between holjway its going. Thats england essentially between holjway its going. That thats england essentially between holjway its going. That ahats the way its going. That is a massive part i wonder if massive part of it. I wonder if it is about gender anymore, if its about westminster it is about gender anymore, if its holyrood . Estminster it is about gender anymore, if its holyrood . Estmin well, versus holyrood . Yeah, well, well be exploring the well be exploring that in the next plus rise next hour. Plus a shocking rise in of housing, asylum in the cost of housing, Asylum Seekers in hotels. Were going seekers in hotels. Were going to bring you the latest figure figures with our home and security editor. Theres a lot of figures. Ill see you shortly i the temperatures rising. The temperatures rising. Boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hello . Its wet. Its windy. Im alex burkill and heres your latest weather update from gb news in association with the met office, more unsettled weather to come this week, but perhaps something drier to end friday. Meanwhile for the here and now, were under the influence of this its the this low pressure. Its the remnants lee and remnants of hurricane lee and the associated fronts have already started to cross the uk bringing wet weather. You bringing some wet weather. You can see as we go through tuesday evening , we going to have evening, we are going to have some rain, some further heavy rain, particularly of particularly across parts of scotland. Totals here could be building a building up, which is why a warning is in place here. Otherwise weather otherwise lots of wet weather coming in from the west as we go through night. Quite through the night. Quite a cloudy picture. And so particularly by we get particularly by the time we get to hours of wednesday to the early hours of wednesday morning, going quite morning, it is going to be quite a mild but a very wet and a mild start, but a very wet and windy for of us. This windy one. For many of us. This front then is going to make its way eastwards as through way eastwards as we go through the some heavy bursts of the day. Some heavy bursts of rain on it and also some squally winds. So even inland, could winds. So even inland, we could get some strong gusts at times as that rain pushes its way eastwards, we will have heavy showers following into the north west. Some of them could be heavy hail be heavy with some hail and thunder temperatures thunder mixed in temperatures peaking into the low 20s towards the south east. But under that intense and with the strong intense rain and with the strong winds, not going to feel as winds, its not going to feel as warm as that. That rain continues in south east as continues in the south east as we through wednesday evening, we go through wednesday evening, eventually away towards eventually clearing away towards the showers the south east with showers continuing towards the north west, unsettled north west, more unsettled weather to come as we go through the end of the week. But like i said, at the start, perhaps something drier end friday something drier to end friday into saturday. The temperatures rising , boxt the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on gb news. Good afternoon. Its 2 pm. And youre all here with the live desk with me, Martin Daubney and pip. This is coming up for you in todays lunchtime this , the de banking row i theres no evidence to say the likes of nigel farage had accounts closed because of their political views. Thats political views. Thats according to the uks financial regulator. Nigel farage doesnt exactly agree what a complete and utter farce. What a joke. What a joke. What a joke. Brand demonetise the actor and comedian suspended from making money on youtube following accusations of Sexual Assault. Well have all the latest on this breaking story. And gb news can reveal a surge in the cost of housing Asylum Seekers in hotels, a home and security editor mark white will bring us the latest. Will bring us the latest. And it prompted a massive row within the Scottish Parliament and with westminster eight months on from the snps gender recognition bill, we hear from both sides of the debate. But before all of that, heres your News Headlines with tatiana. Martin. Tatiana. Martin. Thank you. 2 01. This is the latest from the newsroom. Some content featuring the comedian Russell Brand has been removed from the bbc, iplayer and sound apps. It comes after google announced hell no longer make money via his Youtube Channel after the website suspended him from its Creator Programme. Mr browns comedy tour has also been postponed after the met police said it received a report of an alleged Sexual Assault in 2003. Its after allegations of rape, Sexual Assault and Emotional Abuse were published as part of an investigation by the sunday times and channel 4 at the weekend. Brand denies all allegations of criminality. A allegations of criminality. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister says it remains the bmas gift to step back from this weeks strike action that that as rules ensuring a minimum level of cover in hospitals could be extended amid a four day nhs walkout. Consultants in day nhs walkout. Consultants in england are striking for 48 hours today over pay , with hours today over pay, with Junior Doctors joining them tomorrow and picketing until friday. For the first time, Junior Doctors and consultants are striking at the same time. Tomorrow, Health Secretary Steve Barclay says minimum Service Levels will protect patients. Levels will protect patients. Its about saying how do we get the balance right . How do we protect it . Those Time Critical services. Weve got primary services. Weve got primary legislation now in place and were going to look at how that appuesin were going to look at how that applies in hospitals so that we can ensure things like chemotherapy are not disrupted by strikes and really make sure were protecting patients. So were protecting patients. So thats what were consulting on. We want to get that balance right. It is important peoples right. It is important peoples right to strike and we respect that. Is at the same time that. But it is at the same time key that we have things like chemotherapy, dialysis and other Time Critical services. Time critical services. Theres been no evidence found of banks closing the accounts of customers due to their political views. Thats their political views. Thats according to a review by the regulator. The Financial Conduct Authority says evidence thats gathered suggests that no firm closed an account between july last year and this june due to the account holders political views. It follows the closure of Nigel Farages account by which the gb news presenter claimed was politically motivated. This is a farce and frankly, it shows me something the people at the top of the fca are deeply political themselves. Political themselves. Think of sheldon mills, the executive director. He of stonewall and he of endless political campaigns on gender and much else. And when you ask and much else. And when you ask a group of biased people to examine bias, dont be surprised when they dont find anything. So keir starmer is in paris discussing post Brexit Relations with french president Emmanuel Macron. The labour leader says he wants to secure a much better deal for the uk by reassessing trading ties with the bloc. Sir keir says our relationship with france is important for the uks security. Security. We had a very constructive and positive meeting which, as you can imagine, covered a wide range of issues. It was my first opportunity to say how much i value the relationship between our two countries, particularly when it comes to prosperity and security , and how if we are security, and how if we are privileged enough to be elected into power , i intend to build on into power, i intend to build on that relationship and make it Even Stronger than it is today. So a very, very good meeting. So a very, very good meeting. The number of schools in england where crumble prone concrete has been found has risen to 174. Its after hundreds of surveys have been carried out in schools across england to determine the extent of the problem. A number of schools were forced to fully or partially close just days before the start of the autumn term, with almost 250 temporary classrooms ordered to cope with the crisis. Education secretary the crisis. Education secretary Gillian Keegan says the government is finishing surveying the schools for rack. Surveying the schools for rack. Last time i was at this despatch box, 95 of all questionnaires had been responded to. Now we have 98. 6. So actually the publicity has really helped to drive those people who had not responded and were grateful for them for doing that. Were grateful for them for doing that. I were grateful for them for doing that. I also were grateful for them for doing that. I also committed that all that. I also committed that all of those that we had waiting to be surveyed would be surveyed by the end of this week. I can confirm that absolutely will be done. We have a good rate of surveys. We have eight companies doing it now. A Power Company has apologised for an error that saw apologised for an error that saw a 72 year old woman paying her neighbours energy bills for six years due to stenas bills rose steeply from £60 a month to more than 400. Scottish power told the retired midwife that she was simply a high energy user, despite her trying desperate plea to reduce her usage includes turning the heating off even during the colder months. The company eventually found that a crossed metre had led to her paying the bills for a family of four living next door. The this is gb news across the uk on tv, in your car on Digital Radio and on your Smart Speaker by saying play gb news now its back to martin and. Pip back to martin and. Pip thanks, tatiana. Now nigel farage says it is a farce that the top uk financial regulator has found no evidence that politicians are being refused. Bank accounts because of their political stance. Political stance. As an economic to secretary the treasury, Andrew Griffith says this free speech is a fundamental human right. No ifs, no births. Everyone must be able to express their lawful opinions without fear of losing the vital access to a bank account. The watchdog launched a review in august. Only last month, after coots stopped offering its services to former ukip leader nigel farage, who has not held back in his response. Response. Its complete and utter farce. What a joke the fca are farce. What a joke the fca are told by the government. Youve told by the government. Youve got to look into this. So the fca go to the banks and say, have you de banking anybody . The banks say, oh no, we wouldnt do that. And the fca, the fca say, oh, thats just great, isnt it . Its a nonsense. I can give you its a nonsense. I can give you a list as long as your arm of people who are high profile either up at the front or in terms of funding or organising the Referendum Campaign of 2016, who have been debunked. It is perfectly clear that politics played a role. And look at my played a role. And look at my own situation. My own situation own situation. My own situation is obvious. A 40 page report in which it says theyre going to close my account when my mortgage runs off. Not for economic reasons, but because my views do not align with those of the bank. The bank. Okay, well joined now in studio by our economics and Business Editor Liam Halligan. Liam this report landed nigel is not sparing his words. He called it a farce, a whitewash. The fca is not fit for purpose. He even said the fish rots from the head down. Woods. Whats the reaction been to this report . You were absolutely furious yourself earlier. Yeah. Look, from a business and Economic Perspective , im completely perspective, im completely gobsmacked that the fca can be can call black white can be so disengaged uus did they even read the 40 page report which Natwest Coutts did into nigel farage, which he only extracted from them using a legal process. They didnt offer it up. That they didnt offer it up. That refers endlessly to his Reputational Risk, refers endlessly to brexit. His connections with russia, his views dont align with our views as a as an inclusive organiser nation. Did the fca read out the apology that alison rose issued to nigel farage under huge pressure from the Prime Minister and the city minister apologising on behalf of natwest, coutts for the quote , natwest, coutts for the quote, deeply inappropriate language that Natwest Coutts used about nigel farage. What really worries me isnt so much the fate and the plight of nigel, who obviously can look after himself. What worries me is the reputation ian of the fca. Lets reputation ian of the fca. Lets be in no doubt here. Martin and this is the most important regulator in britain. Why . Because it oversees our most important industry , which important industry, which happens to be Financial Service , aces. And a lot of gb news viewers and listeners will think, oh, Financial Services, thats what people in london do, thats what people in london do, that doesnt apply to me. Look, when the Financial Services industry you get industry goes wrong, you get 2008, you get the. Com 2008, okay . You get the. Com crash economic mess everywhere changes politics everywhere changes. And whats vital is that a regulator of a major market or set of markets like the city of london has credibility. It is believed it is seen to be worldwide run by adults rather than , frankly, adults rather than, frankly, political panjandrum who who are who seem to me to be playing out some kind of tribal ritual. Liam, can i just come in . Only because i just want to mention this because its being reported that nigel farage is case is not believed to be covered by the fcas probe as the account was not actually closed. Well, you know, talk about dancing on the head of a pin, okay. No one in almost no one in britain except nerds like me had even heard of the idea of banque de banking and politically exposed people. Of course, the report has to address the most important test case that features a very high profile in individual who can who can speak out. And again, it just strikes out. And again, it just strikes me that the fca with this report saying nothing to see here, please move on. Theyre treating us as if were stupid and also they are sullying their own reputation. Just finally, im not going to mention this persons name, but i would say you can see the name here. Martin probably britains one of the top 2 or 3 most respected financial commentators in this country. No political axe to grind, no friend of nigel farage, somebody ive known for many, many years. And this person says this having seen me an hour ago. Bravo, liam. This an hour ago. Bravo, liam. This fca statement is quite pathetic and seems to ignore the facts. Not opinions, but facts. How dumb are they and how dumb do they think we are . Yours as even they think we are . Yours as ever. And this is a guy who has a massive reputation across the city of london as a non political financial analyst, not of the highest repute. Of the highest repute. And do you think theres an element in this, liam, of they put out a report to get the answer they want just like when they get an election, they dont like the answer too. They try and change that. And how much of and change that. And how much of this links up this kind of feeling theres a remain feeling that theres a remain establishment within friendly media the feet. This was leaked to and the banks themselves and it is irrefutably political i think its political. I wouldnt want to character summarise it in terms of leave or remain. Thats for nigel to do. Hes the front did it themselves. They did 86 mentions of im not a politician, im just a very, very experienced financial and business journalist who follows politics closely as well. And im saying as somebody who is interested in the technicalities of this, whos interested in the reputation of the fca in the face of Global Financial practitioners everywhere, this will not do the fcas reputation as a techno technical non aligned , technical non aligned, independent, truth telling organisation , which it organisation, which it absolutely needs to be because its regulating some of the most important Financial Markets in the world. And we are in a very shaky time financially. The world. And we are in a very shaky time financially. A load shaky time financially. A load of market commentary , which im of market commentary, which im not going to repeat that we face big corrections. Theres problems with quantitative easing. Theres problems in china. Is the Global Economy to going collapse . The fca is absolutely centre stage in steering our great nation through those squalls. And if its playing politics and sullying itself the way it is , sullying itself the way it is, it does them and us. No good at all. Liam halligan thanks for that expert insight. Thank you. The fca , we should add, has the fca, we should add, has admitted that the information collected for their review was limited and says it needs to investigate further to be sure. Investigate further to be sure. What do you say to that . His what do you say to that . His face palming over here. Look. What do you say to that . His face palming over here. Look. Gb news can reveal a shocking rise in the cost of housing Asylum Seekers in Hotels Across the uk contained within the home offices annual report. The revelation that the Hotel Accommodation costs for migrants has risen from around £6 million a day to wait for it £8 million a day to wait for it £8 million a day. The report , published the report, published earlier, said the current migrant crisis is putting unsustainable pressure on the uks asylum system. Well, you uks asylum system. Well, you can say that again. I mean , this can say that again. I mean, this these costs just keep going up and up. Mark, i think this report will alarm and infuriate many in equal measure here for the government. The Prime Minister, government. The Prime Minister, rishi sunak , says stopping the rishi sunak, says stopping the boats and ending the use of hotels to house Asylum Seekers, migrants from the channel is something that he wants to stop, but yet that price keeps rising. And in fact Yvette Cooper , the and in fact Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, has highlighted that it has risen by a third in the time since rishi sunak took over. As Prime Minister. And in a statement she says this afternoon this report illustrates a staggering costs of the tories asylum , chaos with of the tories asylum, chaos with the taxpayer now spending an astronomical. £8 million a day astronomical. £8 million a day on hotels and the cost still going up and up. That surprise , going up and up. That surprise, she says of the conservatives utter failure to get a grip of the issue now costing over £3 billion a year. Well now, clearly it is a big issue for the government. Its something that were told they are determined to tackle. Its why we are seeing the increase in use or at least an attempt at to use or at least an attempt at to use former military bases and that bibby stockholm home barge down in portland , the ill fated down in portland, the ill fated barge that just a week after unless than a week after the first Asylum Seekers went on their they discovered the legionella bacteria in the water system and still no Asylum Seekers are back on that barge. But that barge is only have housed a fraction of the number it would have housed. We are told around 500 Asylum Seekers and whether actually at the end of the day, it even houses that number is in doubt now because there are some real concerns. Burns that have been raised by portland , the dorset raised by portland, the dorset fire and rescue to service around around the evacuation of people if they are there in significant numbers because it was only ever designed to house about 220 odd people and they want to double the number that would be on this barge. The other issues , of course, are other issues, of course, are around wethersfield in essex and scampton up in lincolnshire , scampton up in lincolnshire, both really struggling scampton there are no Asylum Seekers on site there. They were supposed to have been on site by now, or at least the first cohort that were supposed to be on site. But theyve had difficulties in trying to establish proper contracts with the builders and contractors who would repurpose some of the accommodation blocks on there to house the Asylum Seekers. And then youve got wethersfield thats also in, it seems , a slower process of seems, a slower process of getting Asylum Seekers onto that base. Getting Asylum Seekers onto that base. Then there has been then base. Then there has been then i think originally envisaged , think originally envisaged, were supposed to be looking towards 1500 odd Asylum Seekers there by christmas. Were only there by christmas. Were only less than 200 now. So when you think there have been 24,000 dinghy arrivals this year alone, more 109,000 now since 2018, when this became the primary method of arrival in the uk. Is there a fear now that whatever the Political Party they can play politics about this Yvette Cooper can have a p0p this Yvette Cooper can have a pop at rishi sunak , but none of pop at rishi sunak, but none of them can control our borders anymore, can they . If they carry on like this and the £8 million today is likely to be 9 or £10 million later on this year even. Yeah i yeah i mean ive obviously no, as we all have seen what labour plan to do in terms of trying to tackle this with more money to the National Crime agency. Thats obviously got to be welcomed better cooperation with Law Enforcement agencies is on the continent. Its got to be welcomed. But i have to say thats already happening to an extent. You know, theres a big part of the National Crime agencys casework is on tackling those people, smuggling gangs. What about the processing . Why doesnt the government employ more people to do the processing to speed , speed it processing to speed, speed it all up to tackle this backlog . All up to tackle this backlog . Taoiseach well, they are doing that. They are taking more doing that. They are taking more people to on assess these asylum claims. But, you know, i think its a little bit of a red herring. Anyway, this issue of processing them more quickly and people suddenly thinking, well, thatis people suddenly thinking, well, that is the solution , because that is the solution, because once you tackle the backlog, youre going to be, well, absolutely. Once you process absolutely. But once you process them, the point of them, whats the point of processing them if you cant actually then remove these people from the country anyway because thats going to be the net result because we dont have a returns agreement with the big countries where most of these people come from iran and iraq and syria and afghanistan. If you cant return them to these countries , processing them and countries, processing them and saying, yeah, you have the right to remain here or no, you dont have the right to remain here, doesnt really make that much difference. You cant get rid of difference. You cant get rid of them anyway. Mark, what you say you mark, what would you say you know how these things work. Talk of an improved theres talk of an improved or even a new returns agreement with the European Union. Keir starmer has been touting this around. Is that politically around. Is that politically likely and if so, what would they expect in return . They expect in return . The only way i could ever see the European Union accept a returns agreement and it would have to be them. You cant do it by laterally with france, france has already told the uk no , it has already told the uk no, it has already told the uk no, it has to go through the eu. There is no way the eu would accept a returns agreement without then britain entering into the agreement that already exists throughout the European Union , throughout the European Union, where there is burden sharing , where there is burden sharing, where there is burden sharing, where each country has to take a proportion of those Asylum Seekers and with the situation in lampedusa at the moment and in lampedusa at the moment and in also in greece and in spain and in the western balkans , with and in the western balkans, with record numbers of people coming into the European Union, we could have a perverse situation where youre actually you could be taking more as a quarter into the country of Asylum Seekers than you would have done if you just had the status quo , which just had the status quo, which is dealing with those coming across the channel. So its a very difficult situation to try and solve and i dont think anyone really has the answer at the moment , anyone really has the answer at the moment, not even you especially me. Not me. Well mark, thank you. Mark, thank you. Right. Coming up, we are live in paris as labour leader sir keir starmer meets french president Emmanuel Macron in the french capital and hands him an arsenal shirt. Youre with the live desk. Live desk. The temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. On. Gb news. Hello, its wet. Its windy. Im alex burkill and here is your latest weather update from gb news in association with the met office, more unsettled weather to come this week, but perhaps something drier to end friday. For the here friday. Meanwhile, for the here and now, were under the influence this pressure. Influence of this low pressure. Its remnants of hurricane its the remnants of hurricane lee the associated fronts lee and the associated fronts have already started to cross the uk bringing some wet weather. You can see as we go through tuesday evening, we are going to have heavy rain, have some further heavy rain, particularly of particularly across parts of scotland. Be scotland. Totals here could be building why building up, which is why a warning place here. Warning is in place here. Otherwise lots of wet weather coming from west as we go coming in from the west as we go through night. Quite a through the night. Quite a cloudy picture. So cloudy picture. And so particularly by the time we get to early hours of wednesday to the early hours of wednesday morning, to be quite morning, it is going to be quite a start, but very wet and a mild start, but a very wet and windy for many of us. This windy one. For many of us. This front going to make its front then is going to make its way eastwards go through way eastwards as we go through the some heavy bursts of way eastwards as we go through the on some heavy bursts of way eastwards as we go through the on itome heavy bursts of way eastwards as we go through the on it and heavy bursts of way eastwards as we go through the on it and also ly bursts of way eastwards as we go through the on it and also somests of way eastwards as we go through the on it and also some squally rain on it and also some squally winds. So even inland, we could winds. So even inland, we could get some strong gusts at times as that rain pushes its way eastwards , we will have heavy eastwards, we will have heavy showers following into the north west. Some of them could be heavy with some hail and thunder temperatures thunder mixed in temperatures peaking into the low 20s towards thunder mixed in temperatures pea south east. Low 20s towards thunder mixed in temperatures pea south east. But 20s towards thunder mixed in temperatures pea south east. But underowards thunder mixed in temperatures pea south east. But under thatis the south east. But under that intense rain and with the strong winds , its not going to feel as winds, its not going to feel as warm that. That rain warm as that. That rain continues in the south east as we wednesday evening we go through wednesday evening , away , eventually clearing away towards southeast with towards the southeast with showers towards the showers continuing towards the north west. More unsettled weather as we go through weather to come as we go through the the week. But like the end of the week. But like i said, the perhaps said, at the start, perhaps something end friday something drier to end friday into saturday. The temperatures rising , boxt the temperatures rising, boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on. From three on gb news. From three on gb news. Welcome back to the live desk. Just bringing you some breaking news about Birmingham City council because it looks like now the government is officially intervening. Michael gove has announced he will appoint commissioners to take over Birmingham City council and will launch a local inquiry into the authority after it declared itself effectively bankrupt. Itself effectively bankrupt. Yeah, and thats a £760 million legal bill facing over equal pay backlogs and thats going up by 5 to £40 million every month. So now theyve had to step in to save Birmingham City council. Well bring you more on that as that story develops. And big because dont and its big because dont forget Birmingham City council is the largest Unitary Authority in europe , but they really are in europe, but they really are having an absolute storm of cnses having an absolute storm of crises at the moment. Labour crises at the moment. Labour leader sir keir starmer has met french president Emmanuel Macron in paris and asked. My in paris and asked. My broadcasters if he will push for a stronger ties with europe. He wouldnt comment but insisted his main focus was to win next election. Win the next general election. And had a very and we had a very constructive and positive meeting which, as you can imagine, covered a wide range of issues. It was my first opportunity to say how much i value the relationship between our two countries, particularly when it comes to prosperity and security , and how if we are security, and how if we are privileged enough to be elected into power , i intend to build on into power, i intend to build on that relationship and make it Even Stronger than it is today. So a very, very good meeting. So a very, very good meeting. Joining us now from paris is gb news is Political Editor Christopher Hope. Hi, chris. Im not sure we really learned much from that, apart from it was a very positive meeting. Yes very positive meeting. Yes yeah, that was the idea. We got more from going into the meeting. Of course, keir starmer talked about he wanted to improve our relationship with europe and make britain work for brexit or rather brexit work for britain. Forgive me. And i know that brexit was discussed. I happened to bump into keir starmer and his team after the meeting they did. It was meeting and they did. It was made clear to me that brexit was discussed. Asked about small discussed. I asked about small boats martin was boats as martin white was talking issues there talking about the issues there and raised , that and that wasnt raised, that wasnt disclosed to me. It was discussed rather, but he seemed to be a warm meeting, constructive meeting. They gave each other presents. Keir starmer gave Emmanuel Macron an arsenal shirt with 25 on the back because hes a 25th french president. And macron in big president. And macron in big letters. In return, mr starmer letters. In return, mr starmer received some cufflinks. Yes, received some cufflinks. Yes, ill let you decide which youd rather receive yourself because an eagle eyed viewer, steve from northumberland, pointed out that, of course , on the arm of that, of course, on the arm of the current arsenal shirt, it says visit rwanda, which of course keir starmer has completely ruled out in terms of sending Asylum Seekers to rwanda and i said all along, never give out football shirts. It always ends badly. Its always a very tribal thing to get involved with. But heres get involved with. But heres a question for you, christopher. When is starmer going to come on gb news . Because hes making all the right noises as youre following him around. Were giving him publicity. Giving him good publicity. Theres lot of people out theres a lot of people out there in red might want there in the red wall might want to think about changing their votes. They be on votes. They should be coming on this our this channel and wooing our viewers. Well viewers. Well well, as you might expect, as the Political Editor of our brilliant channel, i asked that regularly , almost daily. I asked regularly, almost daily. I asked the team. I think well be able the team. I think well be able to to to properly in to get to get to him properly in our own the questions our our own asking the questions our viewers want to ask the viewers want to ask him at the labour conference. Labour party conference. Until then, him then, were stuck following him around him on around and bumping into him on the in paris. The streets in paris. Okay. And on the issue of brexit, obviously domestically, back here, it is the number one topic. People are seeing this as a Charm Offensive , not just the a Charm Offensive, not just the macron, but macron as mr european mr eu and lots European Union. Mr eu and lots of talk about the government paving the way for labours great brexit betrayal. That was lord frost and even talk among eu officials. The storm assembly eu officials. The storm assembly doesnt have the power to negotiate a fresh deal because they say, whats the point . Meddling unless you want a bigger proposition of rejoining the European Union . I think the the European Union . I think the European Union are a bit like lots of brits who are slightly traumatised by the effort to get that deal and theres that brexit deal and theres lots of resistance, as i understand it, to reopening it. Areas that be theres areas that need to be looked again in mid 2025 looked at again in mid 2025 because the terms of the of the deal allowed for that. So on fishing the uk should fishing rights, the uk should get back all of its access to fishery waters. So thats an area which can which may be negotiated, negotiated on by a future government. Of course plenty of communities in around the coast of our island would not want that to happen. So that could well be a big issue at the next we want or next election. We want access or more for our burgeoned more support for our burgeoned electric electric battery. We electric electric battery. We market for electric cars. Market for electric cars. Forgive me. And whether we can get access for the eu. Thats one area the bargains may take place, but the idea of going into the whole the whole issue of sovereignty , think of sovereignty, i think is something which even keir starmer turned face starmer has turned his face against. Theres no against. But theres no guarantees that. And think guarantees of that. And i think thats debate thats why this whole debate about happen to the to about what will happen to the to the settlers isnt will the brexit settlers isnt will be an issue at the next election. Doubt that. And theres no doubt that people frost, who people like lord frost, who wants an mp some wants to become an mp at some point will raising it point will be raising it whenever he can. Chris, thank you for joining us paris. And please us live from paris. And please dont start giving out any football shirts. Thank you. Football shirts. Thank you. Any worries on that front . You should go for a nice walk. It looks lovely. Behind him, doesnt riverside. Go doesnt it . The riverside. Go for nice lunchtime walk and for a nice lunchtime walk and grab baguette paris. Grab a baguette from paris. Were to off new york. Prince william has been taking a dip in the hudson river. All about that the hudson river. All about that shortly. Headlines shortly. First, your headlines with tatiana. Pip. With tatiana. Pip. Thank you very much and good afternoon. This is the latest afternoon. This is the latest from the newsroom. The bbc has announced a review of Russell Brands tenure with the corporation. It comes as some corporation. It comes as some content featuring the comedian has been removed from the bbcs iplayer and sounds app. Earlier, iplayer and sounds app. Earlier, google confirmed that hell no longer make money via his Youtube Channel after the website suspended him from its Creator Program. Mr browns Creator Program. Mr browns comedy tour has also been postponed after the met police said it received a report of an alleged Sexual Assault in 2003. He denies all allegations of criminality. A spokesperson for criminality. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister says it remains the bmas gift to step back from this weeks strike action in its after rules ensuring a minimum level of cover in hospitals could be extended as the nhs prepares for a four day staff walkout. Consult patients in england are walking out for 48 hours today over pay with Junior Doctors joining them tomorrow and picketing until friday. For the first time, Junior Doctors and consultants are striking at the same time tomorrow. Theres been same time tomorrow. Theres been no evidence found of banks closing the accounts of customers due to their political views. Thats according to a views. Thats according to a review by the Financial Conduct Authority. It follows the closure of Nigel Farages account by coots, which the gb news presenter claimed was politically motivated. More politically motivated. More michael gove says commissioners will be appointed to take over the day to day running of Birmingham City council, while there will also be a local inquiry into the authority after it was declared effectively bankrupt. All non essential new bankrupt. All non essential new spending is now frozen with the council also facing a growing equal pay liability of around £1 billion and an 87 million financial gap. The communities financial gap. The communities secretary says todays action is aimed at protecting the interests of the citys residents. Residents. Birmingham city council has not served the citizens of that great city as it should have for years now. The city has suffered, as the council has failed to grip underperformance or poor leadership. We governance woeful mismanage of Employee Relations and ineffective Service Delivery have harmed the city. Senior leaders, both elected members and officers have come and gone. But the one constant has been a failure to deliver for residents. As for more on all of those stories, you can visit our website gbnews. Com. Patrick christys on gb news. Im gb news radio. Gb news radio. Welcome back. Its been eight months since scottish secretary alister jack blocked scotlands controversial gender reform bill. Yeah, the legislation sought to make it easier for trans people to change gender in the eyes of the law, but instead it launched a huge and heated debate in scotland. Reporter tony mcguire recounts the disputes that led to holyrood facing off with westminster. On facing off with westminster. On the 17th of january this year for the First Time Since the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999. The uk government signed a section 35 order blocking the gender recognition reform bill from obtaining royal assent, despite gender recognition being devolved to scotland, the Scottish Government had sought to speed up the process that issues only 30 gender recognition certificates each year by making it easier for scots to self id. But after weeks of speculation since the passing of the bill, scottish secretary alister jack announced that he would block the controversial reform for its incompr. Ability with the incompr. Ability with the equality act. I have not taken this decision lightly. The government has looked closely at the potential impact of the bill and ihave potential impact of the bill and i have considered all relevant policy and operational implications together with the minister for women and equalities. And it is our equalities. And it is our assessment that the bill would have a serious adverse impact, among other things, on the operation of the equality act. That evening. Social justice secretary Shona Robison stood before the Scottish Parliament, putting into words the governments collective shock and disappointment at preventing the gender recognition reform bill, which was passed with an overwhelming majority from proceeding to royal assent is a dark day for trans rights and a dark day for trans rights and a dark day for democracy. The gra bill took five years to pass through the parliament at all times, met by frequent opposition, including the largest snp rebellion in 15 years of government concerns underlined womens safety in single sex spaces and the risks of lowering the age of self id from 18 to 16. Susan smith was a constant in that opposition leading Campaign Group for women scotland. She group for women scotland. She believes the bill is a threat to womens safety. Womens safety. What we ended up with was a bill that was very similar. In fact , to the one that had been fact, to the one that had been proposed five years before. So despite all the discussion and all the conversation, nothing really got resolved. And our really got resolved. And our main concern , obviously, is main concern, obviously, is womens rights activists was the knock on impact on Womens Services and spaces. February saw the shock resignation of Nicola Sturgeon at the height of her reignited self id debate following the chaotic incarceration of transgender double rapist ella bryson humza yousaf emerged victorious from the snp leadership race to replace her. And just two weeks after being sworn in as scotlands sixth first minister, he submitted a legal challenge to fight the section 35 order. Five months on each side remained steadfast and vocal. Each side remained steadfast and vocal. But the time each side remained steadfast and vocal. But the time has now come to listen as the final word of the future of the gender recognition reform bill is decided by the scottish courts. Decided by the scottish courts. Tony mcguire. Gb news. Tony mcguire. Gb news. I will speak now to former Community Safety minister ash regan , who quit her ministerial regan, who quit her ministerial role in protest against holyroods gender reforms. Thank you for joining holyroods gender reforms. Thank you forjoining us on the show you for joining us on the show today. Can we start please, with what was it about this bill that moved you so strongly that you decided to resign from your position . Position . Yes, so i was formally the for minister Community Safety. I was taking forward a number of policies designed to improve the protection of women and girls rights and so, in my view , there is no way that i was ever going to vote for anything that i felt had negative implications for the privacy, dignity and safety of women and girls. I believe that this bill was very flawed and that despite the fact that we did spend hours scrutinising the bill and many of the issues with the bill are still unresolved and its a strong thing to do to resign from your post to the public, from your post to the public, from the outside , at least this from the outside, at least this this issue drove a coach and horses through the snp the biggest revolt in its history. Huge public backlash to the jailing of eila bryce and the double rapist. And yet the snp double rapist. And yet the snp has still pursuing with this now set to go to court with westminster, why are they so obsessed with an issue which is so hugely divisive with yes, it certainly became quite a contentious issue and youre right to say that it was rebellion. And with a number of myself and a number of colleagues, both in my party, but there are also colleagues who rebelled in other parties across the Scottish Parliament well. I think this parliament as well. I think this did particularly crystallise in the mind of the public around about the time of the case as you rightly say, of isla bryson. I think this has brought home very much to the public that someone could be a double convicted rapist , could decide convicted rapist, could decide that they wanted to self identify as a woman and then end up being transferred into the womens prison estate and we should also remember that many of the women who are in the female prison estates have suffered trauma. Many of them have had head injuries , for have had head injuries, for instance, from domestic abuse. And so putting these Vulnerable Women in that sort of situation, i dont think thats acceptable. What about the campaigners who say that trans people , theyre say that trans people, theyre on a heck of a journey themselves and actually what this bill will do will make it much make the process much easier for them to be legally recognised. Recognised. Ed and it will be much more respectful for them and straightforward. Well of course, straightforward. Well of course, everybody wants trans people to be able to live their lives with dignity and respect. Thats what i want. I think most people would agree with that. We obviously have protected characteristics. Sex is one of those gender reassignment is another, and thats under equality act legislation. So everyone at the legislation. So everyone at the moment has their rights protected. What we needed to see with the gender recognition reform was an ability to consider and balance all of those rights. And i think thats those rights. And i think thats potentially where the problems arose, that their rights were not being balanced. I would say not being balanced. I would say that the process , the that the process, the legislative process that the bill went through, i think there was issues with that process and there were certainly a reluctance or we could even say a refusal to engage with some substantive issues around the legislation. And one of the main ones that i point out there would be the impact and potential impact on women and girls and their safety. And another one was a very late engagement on things like the cross border issues. So the Scottish Government doesnt have to take this course of action. Obviously theyre choosing to take this legislation to court and they dont have to take that action. My view on that would be that issue that weve that this is an issue that weve created in scotland that created in scotland and that actually we should seeking to actually we should be seeking to amend the bill. We should be seeking those issues amend the bill. We should be seyscotland those issues amend the bill. We should be seyscotland as those issues amend the bill. We should be seyscotland as indeed se issues amend the bill. We should be seyscotland as indeed the ssues in scotland as indeed the Scottish Government has done on other pieces of legislation. So theres another piece of legislation which is in incorporating the rights of the child and thats incorporating that into scots law. There have been some issues with westminster on that piece of legislation and in that case the Scottish Government has decided to reflect on that and is seeking the bill and seeking to amend the bill and ash estimates out there the cost to the taxpayer of taking this to the taxpayer of taking this to the taxpayer of taking this to the Supreme Court could be half £1 million and rise. Half £1 million and rise. Using professor tompkins , who using professor tompkins, who is a Supreme Court adviser , said is a Supreme Court adviser, said the Scottish Governments decision is manifestly transpac and obviously being done for political reasons, not legal reasons. Is this even about about trans rights any more . Ash or do you think this is actually holyrood trying to go to war with westminster for . Well, obviously this is happening under the devolution settlements and youll know that the operation of that is governed under the scotland act. That was from 1998. You know , that was from 1998. You know, im no fan of devolution. Its not really a secret. I would like scotland to be independent. I would like us to be in charge of our own affairs. So i think if this is a law that we are looking to forward looking to put forward in scotland, be to scotland, we should be able to take control that process. We take control of that process. We should it here by taking should amend it here by taking it court. Obviously one it to court. Its obviously one option. The one that i option. Its not the one that i would and certainly not would pursue. And certainly not on issue you at on this issue. If you look at the opinion polling on this, youll see that this piece of legislation is deeply unpopular with the scottish public. I wouldnt be able to make an estimate of how much this court case will cost. I would defer to other people who would know better on that than i would. But i would imagine this will be a significant cost to the taxpayer. Think many people across. And i think many people across scotland be looking at this scotland will be looking at this and asking and theyll be asking themselves, a good use themselves, is this a good use of public money at a time of a cost of living crisis . Cost of living crisis . Okay, ash regan, thank you. Well, we can speak to the founder of inclusion and belonging consultancy, see change happen. Thats to get the change happen. Thats to get the other side now from joanne lockwood. Joanne, good afternoon. Thanks for talking to us on gb news. Ash was claiming that most people in scotland dont want this and taking this action is a waste of taxpayers money. Whats your response to that . That . I dont have the exact stats on how many people are for or against it. What i can say is that the impact over the last 5 or 6 years since i think theresa may government started investigating gender recognition reform is weve seen a lot of negative rhetoric being piled on against trans people. Some of the comments that ash made just then were really highlighting some sound bites and some sort of dog whistles around how trans women are seen. We never reflect women are seen. We never reflect on the impact on trans men. So yes, there has been a swing away from trans rights and trans acceptance by the public due to the negative briefings in the press and the media and i would say largely the way the uk government are tackling this, this this challenges. And we saw that most prevalently in the tory leadership competition where liz truss took over, where it was a race to see who was the most trans critical, all seem to get the most votes and in fact one candidate, Penny Mordaunt , one candidate, Penny Mordaunt, was seen to be trans positive and driven out because of that. Joanne , its fair to say when joanne, its fair to say when you look at the numbers of trans people in scotland, its about 26,000 in total versus 2. 8 million women. And we heard there the case of isla bryce and brought into stark relief the issues facing women of around their own personal spaces and their own personal spaces and their safety being encroached upon. What would you say to people who said, we all agree trans rights are human rights, but trans rights seem to be surpassing womens rights. Surpassing womens rights. Lets not forget there are trans women and trans men and people who identify as non binary free. Nobody is trying to suppress anybodys rights. You know, if you look at a trans masculine person, there assigned female at birth, what about their rights . The focus needs be on the demonisation needs to be on the demonisation of trans women , and that seems needs to be on the demonisation of be ns women , and that seems needs to be on the demonisation of be the romen , and that seems needs to be on the demonisation of be the focus , and that seems needs to be on the demonisation of be the focus atand that seems needs to be on the demonisation of be the focus at and hat seems needs to be on the demonisation of be the focus at and iat seems needs to be on the demonisation of be the focus at and i do ;eems to be the focus at and i do accept that there are there are cases, there are minority cases of individuals like isla bryson that there could be thrown up in the media saying, look, this is what happens when we allow trans people to live freely. Um, people to be to live freely. Um, there here that we there is a danger here that we use one example and then to the entire population with entire trans population with that one person. You know, we saw nurse convicted of saw a nurse convicted of multiple murders of babies. That doesnt mean to say that every woman is a baby killer. Now, every trans person is a threat to women and i, as a woman, as a trans woman, fully support protected spaces for women, for me as well. I want to be able to go about my life without predatory men, without people we see in the media. You know, theres more cases of metropolitan police attacking and raping women. There are trans people in the country. So trans people in the country. So again, were picking up on this kind of availability bias where were picking on these small minority cases and then applying that rhetoric to everybody as a kind of a threat to women and girls. And i think that is largely unfounded and whipped up by the Mainstream Media and amplified by our government. Okay , joanne lockwood, good okay, joanne lockwood, good to hear your thoughts this afternoon. Youre from see change happen , the founder of change happen, the founder of inclusion and belonging consultancy. Consultancy. Its a very interesting debate that one, and one that no doubt will rattle on, especially with this legal case in the offing. Huge case. I want to know what would happen at the border if this i want to know what would hapjgoest the border if this i want to know what would hapjgoes through. Der if this i want to know what would hapjgoes through. Yeah,this i want to know what would hapjgoes through. Yeah, you get bill goes through. Yeah, you get to berwick. What do you have to what have to do . Well, what do you have to do . Well, and political going and theres a political going to be police border. Be gender police at the border. Yeah, be gender police at the border. Yeabut be gender police at the border. Yea but theres be gender police at the border. Yeabut theres political but theres a political ramification keir ramification because sir keir starmer quite keen on starmer seems quite keen on adopting snp stance. This adopting the snp stance. So this will mainstream the will go mainstream after the next you watch next general election. You watch now william has spent his now Prince William has spent his first new york city in first day in new york city in the hudson river to see how oysters are being introduced into the environment. Earthshot prize its the earthshot prize Innovation Summit tonight. Our royal cameron royal correspondent Cameron Walker is in new york. Cameron whats to then . Hes you whats he up to then . Hes you got some great pictures. Yeah. Got some great pictures. Yeah. Yesterday was really interesting, actually. Interesting, actually. He spent a lot of time on a boat and then, as you said, he even got into the hudson river at one point look at the at one point to look at the oysters being replenished in new york harbour. But the people involved in the projects which Prince William was visiting yesterday , were saying they were yesterday, were saying they were very surprised. Actually about how the scientific detail how across the scientific detail he was said he was he was and said he was incredibly down to earth. But, of course , that was just one of course, that was just one part of williams visit. Part of Prince Williams visit. Its a very short but very busy two days. Prince william is spending here york. Last spending here in new york. Last night, the United Nations night, he met the United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres , at the United Nations, guterres, at the United Nations, headquarter waters. Of course, it is the 78th session of united nafions it is the 78th session of United Nations General Assembly here in new york city. They discussed Climate Change and the efforts to accelerate the fight against Climate Change, as well as how to finance sustainable development. And the development. And the secretary general, im told in the warm meeting, according to mackenzie palace spokesperson, the warm and constructive meeting, he expressed his ongoing support for Prince Williams earthshot prize. Now its a prize. Prince william founded in 2020 to come up with Innovative Solutions to repair our planet over the next decade. And the Innovation Summit is happening in new york today, where 15 finalists for next 15 finalists are going to be unveiled with their new solutions to repair the planet. Solutions to repair the planet. Now, five of them will be lucky enough to win a £1 million or 1. 2 million prize. Those winners will be unveiled in november in singapore. November in singapore. Okay, Cameron Walker, thank you very much. That is just about it for today. Just before about it for today. Just before we go, we must just tell you that the bbc director general, tim davie, has announced a review of Russell Brands time at the corporation. Im sure at the corporation. Im sure Patrick Christys will be talking about that on his show. Plus plenty more. Sir Keir Starmers trip to paris chatting away to Emmanuel Macron and presenting him with an arsenal football shirt. So do stay with us for that. Thank you for watching the live desk here on gb news. Were back tomorrow. Bye bye. Back tomorrow. Bye bye. The temperatures rising. The temperatures rising. Boxt solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Weather on. Gb news. Hello. Its wet. Its windy. Im alex burkill and heres your latest weather update from gb news. In association with the met office, more unsettled weather to come this week, but perhaps something drier to end friday. Meanwhile for the here and now, were under the influence of low pressure. Influence of this low pressure. Its remnants of hurricane its the remnants of hurricane lee and associated fronts lee and the associated fronts have already started to cross the bringing some wet weather the uk bringing some wet weather. See as we go through. You can see as we go through tuesday evening, we are going to have heavy rain, have some further heavy rain, particularly of particularly across parts of scotland. Here could be scotland. Totals here could be building is why building up, which is why a warning is in place here. Otherwise wet weather otherwise lots of wet weather coming in from the west as we go through the night. Quite a cloudy and so cloudy picture and so particularly by the time we get to the early hours of wednesday morning, it is to going be quite a start. A wet a mild start. But a very wet and windy for of us. This windy one for many of us. This front then is going to make its way as we go through way eastwards as we go through the some heavy bursts of the day. Some heavy bursts of rain it and also some squally rain on it and also some squally winds. So even inland we could get some strong gusts at times as that rain pushes its way eastwards, we will have heavy showers falling into the north west. Some of could north west. Some of them could be some hail and be heavy with some hail and thunder in temperatures thunder mixed in temperatures peaking the low 20s towards peaking into the low 20s towards the south east. But under that intense rain and with the strong winds, its not going to feel as warm that. Rain continue warm as that. That rain continue in southeast as we go in the southeast as we go through wednesday evening, eventually away towards eventually clearing away towards the southeast showers the southeast with showers continuing the northwest continuing towards the northwest. More unsettled weather to come as through the of the as we go through the end of the week. I said, at the week. But like i said, at the start, perhaps something drier to friday into saturday. The to end friday into saturday. The temperatures rising by next. Solar proud sponsors of weather on. Gb news. Its 3 pm. Its Patrick Christys is gb news. And some big breaking news for you, which is the cost of the migrant hotels. This has gone up from 6 million a day to 8 million a day. How much more can we take . But the fear is that theres more coming because look whats going on in lampedusa, the invasion of this small italian island where the amount of people coming from africa, mostly men, is now double the original population of that island, the eu red really has to get their house in order and start deporting some of these people or the floodgates will well and truly be opened. But talking complete and utter talking of a complete and utter farce, farage is farce, yes, nigel farage is de banking it has taken de banking farce. It has taken another twist , but ill leave it another twist, but ill leave it to the big man to explain how he feels about the situation. What a complete utter farce. A complete and utter farce. Farce, what a joke. Farce, what a joke. Farce, what a joke. Yeah. Find out exactly why he is so enraged very, very shortly. Keir starmer in paris. Thats right. Why is he there . Why is he meeting macron . Is he going cap in hand to him . Im not sure its a good look and im not sure its a good political move for the labour leader. We will analyse whats going on with keir starmer paris. One more keir starmer in paris. One more for you as well. Yes, this one braun, a Razor Company , has braun, a Razor Company, has decided a trans model for decided to use a trans model for their latest razor advert. A couple of things there. If thats a model these days, then frankly i can quit this job, cant i . Patrick christys. Gb news. Right get your views coming in thick and fast. Gb views our gbnews. Com loads to go out today, but right now its your headlines